Royal news live: King Charles ‘axes’ Prince Andrew’s £1m allowance due to Royal Lodge row
King Charles cut the £1 million payment after Prince Andrew refused to move out of his current royal home
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Your support makes all the difference.The King will cut financial ties to the disgraced Duke of York after he refused to move out of his home, a royal writer has claimed.
Prince Andrew’s £1 million “living allowance”, received every year, has been withdrawn by Charles as he continues to seek to distance himself from his younger brother.
This is according to royal writer Robert Hardman, in the serialisation of a new book published by the Daily Mail.
The keeper of the privy purse was “instructed to sever [Andrew’s] living allowance”. It comes after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the 30-room Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor Great Park into the smaller Frogmore Cottage - previously inhabited by Harry and Meghan.
"’The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,’ confirms one familiar with the situation,” Mr Hardman writes.
"’He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs - which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case.
"’But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter."’
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Princess Diana biographer issues withering Meghan Markle verdict: ‘She’s flawless about getting it all wrong’
Meghan Markle rejected ‘golden opportunity’ in Hollywood
Meghan Markle reportedly turned down a “golden opportunity” that could have earned her millions, according to industry experts.
The Duchess of Sussex, who played Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama Suits from 2011 to 2019, previously earned nearly £40,000 per episode ($50,000) before stepping away from acting following her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.
The show recently gained renewed popularity, amassing 57.7 billion minutes of viewership on Netflix last year, and is set to expand into a “major franchise” with its upcoming spin-off, Suits: LA.
But Hollywood insiders have criticised Meghan’s refusal to return for the new series, which was reportedly written with her in mind, suggesting that she may have missed a lucrative opportunity.
Media finance analyst Mike Raia said: “This could become the costliest decision of her life and one that she may bitterly regret in years to come.”
Camilla’s son hasn’t been to a Royal family Christmas ‘for various reasons’
Tom Parker Bowles, stepson of King Charles and Queen Camilla, has revealed that he and his children have yet to join the royal family for their traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham.
In a candid interview with People, he said: “We are married in; we are not the royal family.”
Despite his close ties to the royals, he explained that various commitments, including as his job and his children’s schooling, have prevented them from attending the festive celebrations.
“I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly, and we’ve known them all for a long time. It does seem natural,” he added.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have fostered a blended family since their marriage nearly 20 years ago.
Bowles added that his children, Lola, 17, and Freddy, 14, have grown fond of their step-grandparents, affectionately referring to them as “Gaga and Uppa.”
His younger son even participated in the coronation ceremony, serving as a page alongside Prince George.
ICYMI: New book reveals how high society and British intelligence smeared Wallis Simpson
A new book investigates whether the scandalous stories surrounding Wallis Simpson’s time in China were the product of society gossip or an orchestrated effort by the British establishment to sabotage her relationship with the future Edward VIII.
Dubbed the “China Dossier”, this collection of rumours accused Simpson of affairs, connections to gangsters, and risque behaviours, but author Paul French argues in Her Lotus Year that none of these claims had any factual basis with Simpson.
Instead, they appear to have been drawn from unrelated incidents in 1920s China, and possibly amplified by figures in British intelligence.
French’s research suggests that the tales were carefully constructed to tarnish Simpson’s reputation, showing the lengths to which the establishment may have gone to block a royal union with a controversial American divorcee.
“They just wanted to scupper this relationship somehow,” French said.
Inside the King’s ‘holistic’ approach to his cancer diagnosis
Details of the King’s “holistic” approach to his cancer diagnosis have been revealed by the palace.
The King has been receiving treatment as an out-patient for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February, and initially postponed all public-facing duties, continuing to work behind the scenes, and returned to events with the public in late April.
Maintaining a work schedule after his diagnosis has been an important part of Charles’s holistic approach to his cancer, and during the recent trip with his wife he maintained a busy schedule for the benefit of “mind and soul” while the doctor on the trip looked after the body.
A palace official said about the large number of events the King attended during the recent tour: “It is also a great measure of the way that the King is dealing with the diagnosis.
“And he’s a great believer in mind, body and soul, and this combination works very well on a visit like this, because he feels that sense of duty so strongly that to keep his mind and his soul engaged and then the doctor is here to make sure that his body is properly looked after, you’ve got what makes for very successful visit in in these circumstances.”
I have no agenda other than helping those in need - Prince William
In Prince William’s We Can End Homelessness documentary, the 42-year-old is asked whether he is the right man to be leading the charitable programme, given his privilege.
“I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all,” the prince said.
“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need, and I see that as part of my role.
“Why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can. And I like a big challenge, I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own.”
The Waleses to celebrate Halloween together
Tonight, Princess Kate and Prince William are set for a special family evening with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as they enjoy their half-term break from school.
The young royals are expected to go trick-or-treating once again.
The couple has previously shared in this festive tradition, with neighbour Jay Rutland recalling a friendly Halloween visit from Kate and the kids last year.
Watch: Prince William hits back at critics over homelessness project
The Prince of Wales has hit back at critics over his homelessness project.
William responded to those questioning whether he is the right person to tackle the issue, given his privileged upbringing, in the first part of his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness.
William said: “I think everyone having a right to a safe home benefits us all.
“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need and I see that as part of my role, why else would I be here if I am not using this role properly to influence and help people while I can.”
‘It is possible to end homelessness’ says Prince William
Prince William has shared his new documentary We Can End Homelessness, displaying his new campaign against homelessness.
In the documentary, William visits the same homelessness charity which his mother first took him and Harry to when he was 11.
“Homewards. A programme that commits to working with six locations across the UK over the next five years, to show that it is possible to end homelessness,” he said in a video shared on X.
King to return to full schedule of overseas trips
King Charles is set to return to his normal schedule of overseas tours next year, amid his ongoing cancer treatment.
In an update given by a palace official, it was revealed Charles will fly abroad during the spring and autumn in 2025, provided doctors sanction the travel.
“We’re now working on a pretty normal looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms,” the official said.
An update about the state of the King’s health or his treatment has not been given but the news that Charles will take on more overseas trips suggests his cancer is being managed successfully.
ICYMI: Unseen picture of Meghan Markle posted by former Suits co-star
They played out the couple Mike Ross and Rachel Zane, now Suits actor Patrick J Adams has reminded us all of his friendship with Meghan Markle by posting an unseen photograph of her on Instagram.
The post is to promote the latest episode of his podcast with Sarah Raffery, who played Donna Paulsen in the legal drama series - but it’s also got fans hoping the Duchess of Sussex could be invited for a mini reunion.
One fan wrote: “Keeping my fingers crossed Meghan comes on, love those Suits days.” Another wrote: “I’d sign that petition.”
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