Royal news live: Kate Middleton pays touching tribute to terminally ill teen photographer who died aged 17
Liz Hatton died on Wednesday
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Your support makes all the difference.The Princess of Wales has paid heartfelt tribute to the aspiring photographer with a rare form of cancer she hugged earlier this year, following news of the 17-year-old’s death.
Liz Hatton made headlines after she was pictured with Kate at Windsor Castle in October after being invited to take pictures of William at an investiture.
The teenager died on Wednesday, after having been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer at the start of the year.
After the news of her death, William and Kate, who herself was treated for cancer this year, said in a personal message shared on social media: “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”.
Liz’s mother Vicky Robayna praised her “incredible daughter”, saying “she flew high until the end” as she announced her death on X.
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King Charles makes significant diet change in wake of cancer diagnosis
Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has revealed that King Charles has made a significant change to his diet in the wake of his cancer diagnosis.
The food critic told Saga magazine that he has reduced his intake of red meat, with the Queen also cutting back on lamb, beef and pork.
He noted that King Charles was “looking again at what, and when, he eats” following “what he’s been through recently”.
He added: “I’m no nutritionist, but I know that food is part of a body’s “medicine”. It knows when it’s having the right stuff.”
On their website, Cancer Research UK states: “Red meat is classed as a probable cause of cancer. This means there is lots of good evidence of a link between eating red meat and some types of cancer, but we need a few more of the best quality studies to be certain.”
Princess Beatrice’s royal plans after stepping in for Charles
With both King Charles and the Princess of Wales stepping back from royal duties this year due to their cancer diagnoses, one supportive family member has become a regular feature in royal news.
Despite not being a working member of the monarchy, Princess Beatrice’s public profile has risen in recent months as she helps support Charles by carrying out royal duties.
In November, she took up an invitation from the King’s Foundation to visit the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea to visit the Future Textiles exhibition, where she tried her hand at embroidery and spoke about the importance of preserving traditional skills.
She also remains one of the four Counsellors of State, meaning she can deputise for the monarch should he be absent. While her popularity ratings have been boosted, palace insiders have insisted she is not due to become a working member of the royal family.
Princess Beatrice is currently expecting her second child with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
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.”
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Meghan Markle says ‘every year it gets better’ as she shares holiday plans with kids
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Inside the next phase Buckingham Palace’s £369m refurbishment
Buckingham Palace will be undergoing huge upheavals in the coming months as the £369m refurbishment closes some of its grandest rooms.
The palace’s grandest rooms will undergo “phased closures” for renovation, beginning with the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room and the State Dining Room.
This will be followed by the Ballroom, where state banquets are held, and state rooms including the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room.
Work will be paused during the summer months as the state rooms open to the public as usual.
Town council in Canada at standstill over refusal to pledge oath to King
A town council in Canada is said to be at a standstill because of newly elected members refusing to pledge an oath of allegiance to the King.
Stephen Johnson, the mayor-elect of Dawson City, in the territory of Yukon, said he and others refused to take the oath because of the Crown’s history with indigenous populations, the Canadian Press news agency reported.
He told the news outlet that the council has not been able to govern and is waiting for the territory’s Department of Community Services to respond to its request to take an alternative oath.
The Canadian Press said the oath of allegiance requires newly elected councillors to swear or affirm they “will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III” and his “heirs and successors according to law”.
Mr Johnson said they are currently unable to do anything legally required of them under the Municipal Act.
“It’s a bit of a sticky situation,” he told the Canadian Press.
The territory is reviewing the council’s request to swear a different oath, a Community Services spokesperson said in an email to the Canadian Press.
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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.
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.
It forms part of her gradual return to public duties after finishing chemotherapy treatment in the summer.
The Palace said Kate wanted the theme of this year’s carol service to celebrate those supporting others in need, with a focus on the importance of love and empathy.
Members of the royal family will gather with the princess as around 1,600 people fill the abbey in London for musical performances by stars including Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter.
Last state visit at Buckingham Palace for 3 years
Next month’s visit by the Emir of Qatar will be the last state visit to take place at Buckingham Palace for three years, as work continues on its historic renovations.
The palace’s grandest rooms will undergo “phased closures” for refurbishment, beginning with the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room and the State Dining Room.
The King and Queen will instead host royal receptions at St James’s Palace or Windsor Castle until the palace re-opens fully in 2027.
Anne Boleyn musical coming to former Queen’s childhood home
One of the most dramatic tales in English history is set to come to come to stage as a musical next year.
As one of the most diviside 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.
Olympic champion Chris Boardman warns of ‘inactivity crisis’ in the UK as he is honoured at palace
An Olympic champion warned the UK has an “inactivity crisis” as he picked up an honour from Buckingham Palace for his work promoting cycling and walking across the country.
Former professional cyclist Chris Boardman spoke after he was made a CBE during an investiture ceremony on Thursday morning.
Mr Boardman, who won gold for Great Britain in the men’s individual pursuit cycling at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, now works as the commissioner for the Government’s executive agency Active Travel, which seeks to promote cycling and walking.
He told the PA news agency: “It’s important that we recognise that it’s the foundation of a sustainable transport system.”
It comes after new data from Transport for London (TfL) showed that the number of daily cycle journeys in the capital in 2024 had increased to an estimated 1.33 million journeys per day — up by 26% since 2019.
Commenting on this recent figure, the 56-year-old said: “It’s been going up and up since 2010 because it’s just an easy way for people to get around. We can do that for the whole nation, where we have an inactivity crisis.
“That would really make a difference – and it doesn’t harm decarbonisation as well.”
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