Royal news – live: Kate makes latest public appearance on return to work and Harry in surprise US TV outing
The princess announced that she had completed chemotherapy earlier this month
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
The Princess of Wales has continued her gradual return to work after completing chemotherapy by visiting an “inspiring” ballet performance in London.
Kate, 42, later praised the performance on official Kensington Palace channels, where she described the performance of Giselle at Sadler’s Wells Theatre as “creativity at its best”.
Other upcoming engagements for the princess include the National Service of Remembrance in Whitehall and her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster, which she has already attended a meeting for.
This comes as Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as he visits New York alone for a series of philanthropic engagements.
The pair hilariously took on a horror-themed maze based on Fallon’s own nightmares that saw the duke scream and swear on several occasions.
The maze was a light-hearted break from an otherwise important trip for the Duke of Sussex, 40, who has spent this week promoting several important causes.
This has included The Diana Awards, set up in memory of the late princess, which shine a spotlight on young people making an inspiring difference in the lives of others.
Buckingham Palace ‘did not ask’ Boris Johnson to intervene with Harry and Meghan
Boris Johnson was not asked by Buckingham Palace to try and persuade Prince Harry to stay in the UK, despite the former prime minister’s claims in his new book.
In a section serialised by the Daily Mail, Johnson claims he was asked to give the Duke of Sussex a “manly pep talk” to convince him to remain part of the working monarchy, which he described as “totally hopeless”.
He alleged that officials from the palace and Downing Street made the request in the belief it might encourage the Duke to change his mind.
However, The Telegraph understands this was not the case, and there was no specific request from the palace for such an intervention to take place.
Prince Harry ‘attempting a gradual re-entry’ to royal fold
Following the Duke of Sussex’s decision to step down as a working royal in 2020, it has been claimed that he is “attempting a gradual re-entry” to the fold.
Harry, 40, is currently in New York promoting several charitable causes on a visit not dissimilar to those undertaken by working royals.
Royal commentator Maureen Callahan told GB News America: “I think what’s happening here is that Harry is attempting to make a very soft, gradual re-entry.
“The paperback of his memoir is coming out next month, and he pulped the extra chapter of additional new information. It seems like a very small but meaningful steps to try to make his way back into the fold.”
What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like?
These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family.
Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler.
If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like? These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family. Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
Harry and Meghan slammed for refusing to publicly back Kamala Harris
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have come under fire for failing to use their platform to publicly back Kamala Harris in the upcoming US election.
While the couple have been encouraging unregistered voters to sign up and use their voices, they have not publicly endorsed a candidate in the presidential race.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine: “I don’t know why they won’t publicly back Kamala Harris.
“I only wish they would. They are trying to use their platform for good causes and in the view of any sane person it would surely be an excellent cause to try and persuade people that Trump is a danger to the civilised world.”
James Middleton reveals how Princess of Wales helped him with depression
James Middleton has opened up about how his older sister, the Princess of Wales, helped him through depression.
Mr Middleton, 37, is promoting his new memoir about the subject, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, which was published yesterday (26 September).
He told ITV’s Lorraine: “To open up to my family was a very challenging step, so initially I went into therapy, and at the right time my family got involved and I was very fortunate, because they did have to be patient with me.
“It was challenging for them to see me suffer but they understood a lot more than I actually thought.”
James Middleton shares how Kate helped him with depression in first live TV interview
James Middleton has shared how his family, including sister Catherine, Princess of Wales has helped him with his depression. The 37-year-old author spoke openly about how the Middleton family supported him with his mental health problems, when he appeared on ITV’s Lorraine show on Thursday (26 September). Mr Middleton said: “To open up to my family was a very challenging step, so initially I went into therapy, and at the right time my family got involved and I was very fortunate, because they did have to be patient with me. “It was challenging for them to see me suffer but they understood a lot more than I actually thought.”
Boris Johnson claims royal family asked him to convince Harry to stay in UK
Boris Johnson has claimed in his upcoming memoir that the royal family asked him to convince Prince Harry to stay in the UK.
The Daily Mail, which is serialising the memoir, claimed that the pair had a “manly pep talk” ahead of Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family in 2020.
A friend told the publication: “He [said he] thought they were a great asset to the UK and it was a real shame they were leaving when they were doing such great work,” the friend said.
“It was a man-to-man conversation, they were totally alone. But Harry wasn’t for turning – he was unpersuadable by that point.
“Boris succeeded in delivering Brexit, but even he couldn’t stop Megxit.”
Princess of Wales attends ‘inspiring’ ballet performance as return to duty continues
The Princess of Wales attended an “inspiring” ballet performance yesterday as she continues her gradual return to duty after completing chemotherapy.
Kate, 42, was forced to step back from her work after being diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer earlier this year.
Praising the performance of Giselle at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London on Twitter/X, the princes wrote: “Congratulations and thank you to @ENBallet and @Sadlers_Wells for the wonderfully powerful, moving and inspiring performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle. Creativity at its best! C.”
Congratulations and thank you to @ENBallet and @Sadlers_Wells for the wonderfully powerful, moving and inspiring performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle. Creativity at its best! C pic.twitter.com/YbnMd7j9Pi
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2024
Prince Harry makes surprise appearance with Jimmy Fallon
Prince Harry yesterday made a hilarious surprise appearance on The Tonight Show that saw him swear and scream his way through a haunted maze with Jimmy Fallon.
The New York-based attraction, based on Fallon’s nightmares, featured several terrifying rooms filled with actors who brought Halloween to life for the pair a month early.
The Tonight Show’s YouTube page said: “Brace yourself for 10 spine-chilling rooms that bring Jimmy’s worst nightmares to life with sinister characters and scares around every corner. Enter if you dare!”
James Middleton provides update on Princess of Wales’s health
James Middleton has provided an update on the Princess of Wales’s health now that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Her younger brother, 37, is opening up about his life and family following the release of his new memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life.
Speaking on the TODAY program, he said: “She’s doing ok. It’s not for me to share on her behalf, you know, how everything’s going.
“But she’s getting all the right support and focus that she needs. And like anything, it takes time to process.”
Prince Harry’s visa ruling slammed as ‘suspicious’
The think tank behind the investigation into Prince Harry’s US visa application has said the decision to keep his visa private is “suspicious”.
Harry’s visa application came under scrutiny following revelations about his prior drug taking in his 2023 memoir Spare, where he admitted to taking cocaine and psychedelics.
A judge later ruled that it is not in the public interest to disclose the result of the application following Donald Trump’s claim that he would treat Harry like any other citizen should it emerge that he was not honest.
Mike Howell, executive director of the think tank’s Oversight Project, told Newsweek: “The Prince Harry scandal just got a lot more suspicious. While our case is far from over as we explore appeal, I’d say that these very curious redactions point to something serious afoot.
“President Trump has already suggested that Prince Harry will be deported next year and the case for that just got a lot more compelling.
“Americans deserve an immigration system with both secure borders and also fairly applied rules for high-profile immigrants like Harry.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments