Royal news live: Kate Middleton set for biggest engagements since cancer battle as Camilla returns to duties
Kate implored people not to ‘judge or criticise’ those suffering from addiction
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Your support makes all the difference.The Princess of Wales is due to face her biggest engagements since stepping away from public duties to receive cancer treatment, as her carol concert at Westminster Abbey is due to go ahead.
Kate, is expected to be joined by her family, husband William and three children for the annual event, which is filmed as part of a special programme on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve
The Queen is set to return to her official duties, after having stepped away for several weeks due to a chest infection.
Camilla will attend the Entente Littéraire Prize Ceremony with Madame Macron next week to celebrate Franco-British literary talent and the special connections between the two countries.
The scheduled appearance comes after she was forced to cancel a number of engagements, including the Rememberance Sunday service at the Cenotaph and the Royal Variety Performance.
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales has channeled Princess Diana as she delivered a powerful message urging the public to not “judge or criticise” those suffering from addiction.
As the Princess of Wales, Diana was renowned for her work to tackle stigmas among the most vulnerable in society, a sentiment echoed by Kate ahead of Addiction Awareness Week.
Kate Middleton channels Princess Diana with powerful message
The Princess of Wales has channeled Princess Diana as she delivers a powerful message urging the public to not “judge or criticise” those suffering from addiction.
As the Princess of Wales, Diana was renowned for her work to tackle stigmas among the most vulnerable in society and became prominent philanthropic force in her lifetime, using her stature to raise awareness for countless humanitarian issues, from the AIDS crisis to landmines.
In 1987, she famously shook hands with a patient who had AIDS at London Middlesex Hospital, challenging the false belief that the illness could be transmitted by touch.
Much like her late mother-in-law, Kate has strived to tackle stigma as she spoke out ahead of Addiction Awareness Week.
In a written message, the princess highlighted how every addict is a “human being, with a story of their own”.
In a bid to tackle the stigma associated with the issue, she called on everyone to support charities helping addicts and their families by changing the “way we think about and consider the many people coping with addiction”.
Meghan Markle says ‘every year it gets better’ as she shares holiday plans with Archie and Lilibet
Meghan Markle is embracing the magic of the holidays, thanks to her children with Prince Harry.
In an interview with Marie Claire, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex reflected on how her children — son Archie, five, and daughter Lilibet, three — are reaching the age when the festive season feels even more special.
“I love the holidays,” Meghan shared enthusiastically. “Archie and Lilibet are now three and five, so every year it gets better.”
Read the full story:
Meghan Markle says ‘every year it gets better’ as she shares holiday plans with kids
Duchess of Sussex gushes over the holiday season, despite keeping this year’s festivities ‘pretty low-key’
Queen to return to duties after chest infection
The Queen is set to return to her official duties, after having stepped away for several weeks due to a chest infection.
Camilla will attend the Entente Littéraire Prize Ceremony with Madame Macron next week to celebrate Franco-British literary talent and the special connections between the two countries.
The scheduled appearance comes after she was forced to cancel a number of engagements, including the Rememberance Sunday service at the Cenotaph and the Royal Variety Performance.
Meghan Markle requests extension for lifestyle brand trademark application
It looks as though Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand may be still be months away from launching, as lawyers for the duchess request an extension for her trademark application.
Meghan originally soft-launched her brand American Riviera Orchard back in March with prospective customers told to join a waiting list to keep them updated on products, thought to include jams and other lifestyle goods.
However, the brand, has suffered a series of setbacks in the months since, meaning they are yet to begin trading.
Her inititial trademark application was refused by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in September, noting that American Riviera was a “common nickname” for Santa Barbara.
She was given three-months to address the issue, with lawyers now filing a request for another three month extension.
Anne Boleyn musical coming to former Queen’s childhood home
One of the most dramatic tales in royal history is set to come to come to stage as a musical next year.
As one of the most divisive and well known historical figures, Anne Boleyn’s marriage to Henry VIII changed the course of history as we know it.
Now, her legacy will be played out on stage as a musical next year at none other than her own childhood home, Hever Castle.
Steeped in history, Hever Castle was originally built in 1383 as a medieval defensive castle with a gatehouse and walled bailey, it was transformed in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Boleyn family, who added a Tudor residence within its walls.
Anne Boleyn the Musical will play in a specially constructed 1,800 seat outdoor auditorium in the grounds of the castle from 2 – 30 August 2025, and will tell the captivating story of Anne Boleyn at the very place where her journey began.
Harry and Meghan’s polo docuseries to highlight ‘grit behind the glamour’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will bring a new series to Netflix in December, revealing the “grit behind the glamour” in the high-stakes world of polo.
The five-part series will debut globally on December 10, following elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.
A trailer for the series titled Polo, executive produced by Harry and Meghan, was released on Thursday, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the “fast-paced and glamorous world of polo”.
In a statement, Harry said: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour.
“We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport — and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.”
It has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, having previously released three documentaries with Netflix as part of a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming giant.
Kate’s touching tribute to teen photographer with rare cancer who died aged 17 - ICYMI
The Prince and Princess of Wales have expressed their sadness at the death of teenage photographer Liz Hatton, saying it was “an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman”.
The 17-year-old, who died on Wednesday, pursued a photography bucket list after being diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of cancer at the start of the year.
Liz, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, hit the headlines when she was pictured being hugged by Kate at Windsor Castle in October after being invited to take pictures of William at an investiture.
William and Kate, who herself was treated for cancer this year, said in a personal message shared on their Kensington Palace social media accounts: “We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away.
“It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time.”
The message was signed “W & C”.
Multi-million pound cost of King Charles’ coronation revealed
The cost of King Charles’ coronation has been revealed, with government accounts showing that £72 million in taxpayer money was spent on the event.
An annual report from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) shows that it spent £50.3 million on the coronation. This was alongside the £21.7 million in policing costs for the royal event.
The coronation took place on 6 May 2023, marking the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Around 18 million viewers tuned in to watch the ceremony on the BBC – fewer than the 28 million that watched Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Read the full article here:
Multi-million pound cost of King Charles’ coronation revealed
Anti-monarchy groups say the true figure may be even higher
Kate invites child survivors of Southport attack to her carol concert
The Princess of Wales has invited child survivors of the Southport stabbing to her annual Christmas carol concert.
Kate, who is recovering from cancer, has invited child survivors of the attack to her festive event at Westminster Abbey on December 6, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
It comes after the princess made a surprise visit with her husband William to meet the bereaved families of the victims in Southport last month.
The royal couple met privately with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 in Southport, as well as the children’s dance teacher.
At the Southport Community Centre they met emergency responders involved in the attack and heard about their experiences.
The princess has set her sights on being able to stage the Together At Christmas service in 2024 despite the health challenges she has faced in what the Prince of Wales described as a “brutal” year.
Prince Harry’s latest High Court claim could go to trial, judge says
Prince Harry’s latest legal claim against the publishers of the Daily Mail could go to trial, a High Court judge has said.
The Duke of Sussex has accused the publisher of allegedly commissioning unlawful activities, including hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, recording private phone conversations “blagging” private records, and even burglaries to order.
At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday High Court judge Mr Justice Nicklin said that it was important to progress the case to an eventual trial.
Read the full article here:
Prince Harry’s latest High Court claim could go to trial, judge says
Duke accuses Daily Mail publisher of recording private phone calls and placing listening devices in cars
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