Royal family news latest: King Charles gives unexpected health update as Queen statue sparks flurry of debate
The monarch announced his cancer diagnosis in February
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King Charles has given a rare update on his health while meeting with New Zealand’s female rugby team at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
The monarch, 75, announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in February.
He expressed his regret that he would be unable to visit New Zealand too when he travels to Australia next month for a five-day tour.
Charles told the team: “I am extremely sorry I can’t come to New Zealand in later October because of doctor’s orders. But I hope there will be another excuse before too long.”
The monarch then encouraged the team to “make the most” of the opportunity, “as you don’t stay young for very long, as I discovered,” the Express reports.
This comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding a new statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II, which critics have demanded be “melted down”.
Unveiled at Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland on Friday (6 September), the bronze artwork has been slammed by many for allegedly failing to resemble the late monarch.
The statue has since been defended by the council, who said it shows the queen “in a dignified pose, reflecting her grace, steadfastness and lifelong dedication to public service.”
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Prince Harry’s unusual birthday treat
New details have emerged about Prince Harry’s alleged birthday getaway with friends in California.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, will celebrate his milestone 40th birthday on Sunday (15 September) and is said to be having a low key celebration with his family.
This will be followed by a “weekend getaway” with friends, with a source telling The Express that the group will travel to the Cold Spring Trail in California.
“The Cold Spring Trail has lots of streams and pools which people regularly take a dip in,” they said. “But there are also lots of snakes and other wildlife to contend with, like large cats.
“Harry and his friends will truly experience the outdoors as they take on one of the long hikes. Let’s hope he’s taking an experienced guide with him.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit Australia
King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to Australia next month on an official visit.
“The King and Queen will visit Australia and Samoa, and attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 18th v 26th October 2024,” an official statement read.
🇦🇺🇼🇸 The King and Queen will visit Australia and Samoa, and attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 18th - 26th October 2024.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 10, 2024
👇 Click to read more.
Meghan Markle’s bookstore speech interrupted by Oprah Winfrey
The Duchess of Sussex’s speech at a bookstore opening in California was interrupted by none other than Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan, 43, was speaking about the “safety” she felt in bookstores when the star, 70, arrived late and began looking for her seat in the front row.
Footage of the awkward moment was later shared to Instagram by journalist Elizabeth Holmes.
Ms Holmes said: “She came in so quietly that I didn’t even realise, I am sat there studiously filming and then all of a sudden it’s like Oprah right there, and she is like ‘sorry’ and I am like no you never need to say sorry. Anyway, surreal.”
Prince Harry’s visa ruling kept private
The ruling on whether the Duke of Sussex lied on his US visa application has been kept private.
An investigation was launched following revelations about the subject in Harry’s bombshell 2023 memoir Spare.
Newsweek reports the case was closed on Monday (9 September). It is not known at this time if the outcome will be made public.
New video of Princess of Wales ‘humanized’ royal family
A new video of the Princess of Wales and her family announcing that she is now cancer free has been praised for “humanizing” the royal family.
Sky News’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said: “The Princess of Wales has obviously decided that in the next part of her cancer journey, she wants to be as open as possible.”
Ms Mills added: “What she very clearly wants us to understand that the last nine months have reset how she feels about life, her family and her duties.”
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attend garden party in Northern Ireland
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have recognised those making a positive impact in their local community at a garden party in Northern Ireland.
A picture of the couple was shared on the official royal family Twitter/X account with the caption: “The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh had a wonderful afternoon yesterday, meeting guests at a Garden Party, which took place at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
“Guests were invited in recognition of their work to make a positive impact in the local community.”
🫖The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh had a wonderful afternoon yesterday, meeting guests at a Garden Party, which took place at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 11, 2024
Guests were invited in recognition of their work to make a positive impact in the local community.
Princess of Wales has a ‘long way to go’ in cancer journey
Prince William has said that the Princess of Wales still has a “long way to go” in her cancer journey, despite having completed chemotherapy.
While greeting royal well-wishers in Wales yesterday, the heir to the throne said that while it is “good news” that she is now cancer free, she still has a “long way to go”.
Statue of Queen Elizabeth II slammed for resemblance to late monarch
A statue of the Queen Elizabeth II has been slammed by visitors for failing to resemble the late monarch.
She was depicted alongside her late husband Prince Philip and beloved corgis.
Unveiled in Northern Ireland’s Antrim Castle Gardens on Saturday (7 September), one local visitor said: “Whoever signed that off needs their eyes tested. It’s not good.
“I would take it away,” they added, the BBC reports. “It doesn’t do anything in memory for Her Majesty, so definitely I would remove it.”
Prince William wants marriage to Kate to ‘last forever'
A British photographer has claimed that Prince William once told him that he took his time proposing to the Princess of Wales as he wanted the union to “last forever”.
Arthur Edwards told The Sun: “Once William told me the reason he and Kate took their time getting engaged was because he wanted to make sure his marriage would last forever.”
The future king and queen famously split for a few months in 2007 when William felt unable to propose because of his age before quicky reconciling.
Kate Middleton swaps Princess Diana ring for eternity ring in cancer free announcement
The Princess of Wales appears to have poignantly chosen to wear an eternity ring in the video announcing she is cancer free.
Kate, 42, wore the silver band instead of her sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana in the joyful video with her family.
Royal fans have now suggested that this was a deliberate choice to reflect a “fresh start” for the princess now that her chemotherapy has come to an end.
It was also suggested that the ring was changed due to chemotherapy-related weight changes the princess may have experienced.
For those wondering about the Princess of Wales’s ring, what I think it is, is a temporary replacement for her larger sapphire ring. With chemo, people’s weight tend to fluctuate therefore ring sizes change, I imagine she doesn’t what to get the OG ring resized (as it’s priceless pic.twitter.com/Mpn5NcwgMD
— Simon (@simon_RFB) September 10, 2024
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