Royal news live: Kate Middleton meets families of Southport victims with William in surprise joint appearance
The Prince and Princess of Wales had undertaken their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment
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The Princess of Wales has made a surprise joint appearance with Prince William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport attacks today.
Marking their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment, the couple privately met the bereaved families in Merseyside.
The Princess is said to have attended because she wanted to show her “support, empathy and compassion to the local community”.
As well as meeting with the victim’s families, Kate spoke to first responders and the dance teacher who was present at the July attack.
Meanwhile, King Charles has issued a statement expressing his “greatest sadness” after the death of inspirational Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert.
Ms Ebert won global praise for speaking out about her experience of Auschwitz, where she lost her mother, younger sister, and brother to the gas chambers.
She passed away peacefully at the age of 100 yesterday (10 October), having previously met the King in 2022 after he commissioned a portrait of her.
The monarch said: “It was with the greatest sadness that I heard this morning the news of Lily Ebert’s death.
“As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed.
“Her extraordinary resilience and courage [are] an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”
Meghan Markle’s best friend makes rare comments about ‘close’ friendship
The Duchess of Sussex’s best friend has paid tribute to her character following a surprise appearance at a hospital charity gala at the weekend.
Kelly Zajfen, who was also in attendance at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles event, paid tribute to the staff at the hospital and then the duchess.
“I was also beyond grateful to share in this beautiful evening with one of my closest friends. Meg, your commitment to supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and community is truly inspiring. I’m so grateful to have you by my side,” Ms Zajfen wrote.
Watch back our event: 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 premium 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.
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Queen Elizabeth II was not ‘a regular sailor’s wife’ in Malta
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh today made a poignant visit to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s former home in Malta.
Living there during the early days of their marriage, the couple were brought to the country by Prince Philip’s job in the Royal Navy.
However, today it was stressed that the queen was not “a regular sailor’s wife”.
Giancarlo Azzopardi, assistant curator at Heritage Malta, said this is a common “misconception”, explaining: “The princess was living here at a time when there was a question about whether or not independence was going to happen and the princess was at work putting on a public image for Britain, for post-war Britain.
“Despite the idea, the misconception, that she was here as a regular sailor’s wife, she was quite busy. Every single day she was at an event.”
King Charles honours ‘extraordinary’ Auschwitz survivor
King Charles has paid tribute to “extraordinary” Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert who passed away peacefully today at the age of 100.
Ms Ebert lost her mother, younger sister, and brother to the gas chambers and went on to tell her story in a bestselling memoir, Lily’s Promise: How I Survived Auschwitz and Found the Strength to Live.
The monarch met Ms Ebert in 2022 when a portrait of her was unveiled.
Charles, 75, said in a statement: “It was with the greatest sadness that I heard this morning the news of Lily Ebert’s death.
“As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed, as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, for future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.
“Alongside other Holocaust survivors, she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”
Duchess of York hoping for Coronation Street Cameo
The Duchess of York has said that she would like to make a cameo appearance onCoronation Street after a visit to the set today.
She made an appearance at the Rovers Return alongside Corrie star Sally Dynevor after they toured the nearby Prevent Breast Cancer charity headquarters in Manchester.
The duchess said: “Coming on the cobbles is quite a huge moment.”
While there, she met the executive producer of continuing drama Iain MacLeod, the soap’s assistant producer Verity MacLeod, and Matt Cleary, director of production.
She joked: “I’ve got to bamboozle you three to allow me to do a cameo.”
Duke of Kent is treated to birthday bagpipe perfomance
The Duke of Kent was treated to a special birthday bagpipe performance at Kensington Palace today in honour of him turning 89.
A statement posted to the official royal family Twitter/X account read: “In celebration of The Duke of Kent’s Birthday today, three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, of which His Royal Highness is Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, performed for The Duke at Kensington Palace.”
The duke is the oldest working member of the royal family.
In celebration of The Duke of Kent’s Birthday today, three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, of which His Royal Highness is Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, performed for The Duke at Kensington Palace. 🎈 pic.twitter.com/44FC8XSTH6
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 9, 2024
Duchess of York opens up about cancer experiences
The Duchess of York has opened up about her recent cancer battle while on a visit to a cancer charity centre with Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor.
Sarah, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer, like Ms Dynevor, after a routine mammogram last year before being diagnosed with malignant melanoma skin cancer just months later.
During the visit, Sarah, who is now in remission, spoke to staff and patients and stressed the importance of speaking openly about the illness.
She said: “I think a lot of people are frightened to talk. They’re frightened that they don’t know where to go or what to do.”
The duchess added: “What I noticed today was I had a few private conversations with patients and they couldn’t get over that I was here having had a mastectomy, and that I said, ‘I’ve had a mastectomy. Here I am’.
“One of them in particular said, ‘Oh, so it wasn’t as frightening as you being led to believe?’.
“And I said, ‘No, it’s OK, just get good lymph drainage in after the operation’.
“I think that’s crucial because it is nothing worse than that fear.
“I had that fear as soon as I was diagnosed, I had that fear of death. You think it’s a death sentence. It’s not.”
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh recreate Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s photographs
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have today not only followed in the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s footsteps but recreated some of their photographs.
The couple are currently on a four-day visit to Malta, marking the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence.
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visit Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's former home
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have paid a poignant visit to the former home of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Malta.
Villa Guardamangia was home to the royals during the early part of their marriage between 1949 and 1951 while Philip was stationed as a Royal Navy officer in the country.
“Visiting Malta is always very special for me. I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married,” the late queen said.
Prince William wants to ‘challenge’ the narrative around homelessness
Prince William has said that he wants to “challenge” the existing narrative around homelessness in a trailer for an upcoming documentary about the subject.
He is currently tackling the issue through his Homewards project.
The heir to the throne, 42, said: “I think it’s really important that we can try and change, and tackle, the narrative around homelessness.
“People live with it, we see it every day in our lives, that’s something I want to challenge.”
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 5, 2024
🎬 Coming soon to @ITV and @ITVX pic.twitter.com/Lvj6M3hi1J
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