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Royal news live: Camilla to return to duty after illness as Kate Middleton channels Diana with powerful message

Kate implored people not to ‘judge or criticise’ those suffering from addiction

Athena Stavrou
Friday 29 November 2024 15:31 GMT
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Princess of Wales shares behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christmas carol concert

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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.

In a written message, the princess highlighted how every addict is a “human being, with a story of their own”.

Kate is patron of the Forward Trust, an addiction charity, and her involvement in the awareness week comes a few months after the princess announced she was returning to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy treatment.

King Charles laughs at comedian’s impression of Donald Trump at Royal Variety Show

The King seemed amused as he watched a comedian’s impression of Donald Trump at the Royal Variety Performance on Friday.

Charles was seen laughing as British comedian Matt Forde poked fun at the US president-elect on stage at the Royal Albert Hall.

Forde referenced the unfounded claims Mr Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield.

Read the full article here:

King laughs at comedian’s impression of Donald Trump at Royal Variety Show

Camilla was absent as she is advised by doctors to rest due to lingering chest infection symptoms

Holly Evans27 November 2024 13:30

In pictures: Christmas comes to Highgrove

The decorations on the Highgrove estate (Ben Birchall/PA)
The decorations on the Highgrove estate (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA)
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
The estate is preparing to welcome the public for the festive season
The estate is preparing to welcome the public for the festive season (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
Holly Evans27 November 2024 12:35

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.

Princess Beatrice at the Future Textiles exhibition in Chelsea
Princess Beatrice at the Future Textiles exhibition in Chelsea (The King's Foundation/PA Wire)
Holly Evans27 November 2024 11:30

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.”

King Charles has reportedly cut down on his intake of red meat
King Charles has reportedly cut down on his intake of red meat (Toby Melville/PA Wire)
Holly Evans27 November 2024 10:41

Duchess of Edinburgh named as patron for women’s equality charity

The Duchess of Edinburgh has been named as the new patron for Plan International, a non-government organisation that promotes equality for women and girls across the globe.

In a statement on X, they said: “We’re delighted to announce our new Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh ( @RoyalFamily ). As a champion of women’s rights, The Duchess has witnessed first hand the impact conflict and crisis can have on young women and girls. We look forward to working with The Duchess to raise awareness of the barriers facing girls around the world.”

Prince Edward’s wife Sophie is patron to a number of other charities that promote the end of violence towards women, and has travelled to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to promote this work.

Holly Evans27 November 2024 10:16

Real Polo housewives of Orange County: Inside Meghan’s ‘domestic era’

Ahead of the release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, the former Suits star is busy shape-shifting into the perfect American wife, with her new jam products and ‘polo-mom’ glossiness. It’s a master plan that could make them millions, says Anna Tyzak:

Real Polo housewives of Orange County: Inside Meghan’s ‘domestic era’

Ahead of the release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, the former Suits star is busy shape-shifting into the perfect American wife, with her new jam products and ‘polo-mom’ glossiness. It’s a master plan that could make them millions, says Anna Tyzak

Athena Stavrou27 November 2024 08:06

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.

Athena Stavrou26 November 2024 16:38

King’s coronation cost £72 million, government accounts show

The King’s coronation cost taxpayers £72 million, official accounts have revealed.

The figures included £50.3 million of Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) costs and £21.7 million for the Home Office for policing the “once-in-a-generation” event in May 2023.

Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.

A star-studded concert at Windsor Castle took place the following night.

The King on his coronation day (Adrian Dennis/PA)
The King on his coronation day (Adrian Dennis/PA) (PA Archive)

The DCMS annual report and accounts said the department “successfully delivered on the central weekend of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation, enjoyed by many millions both in the UK and across the globe”.

DCMS was the lead government department working with the royal household on the coronation, which it described as a “once-in-a-generation moment which provided an occasion for the entire country to come together in celebration, and offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world”.

Athena Stavrou26 November 2024 12:34

William speaks of passion for Oman as he launches expedition

The Prince of Wales has spoken of his desire to return to the Middle East as he launched an expedition inspired by a famous British explorer.

William visited Oman in 2019 and on Monday gave his support to six explorers who have been inspired by Bertram Thomas, who took a 42-day trip along the south-east coast of the country in 1928 discovering new specimens.

Speaking on Monday to a group of education and youth outreach staff at the Royal Geographical Society, William expressed his desire to return to Oman, saying: “We’ll make something happen, time flies.”

The prince’s 2019 trip was without the Princess of Wales, but he has sounded optimistic about possible joint overseas engagements with his wife after her cancer battle.

“I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up,” he said earlier this month.

Athena Stavrou26 November 2024 12:06

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