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.”
Duke of Kent celebrates 89th birthday
The Duke of Kent is today celebrating his 89th birthday today (9 October).
He is the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and has held his title for over a record-breaking 82 years.
Wishing The Duke of Kent a very Happy 89th Birthday today! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/FsIQnRpimV
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 9, 2024
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh commemorate war dead in Malta
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have paid tribute to those who gave their lives during the Second World War while on their ongoing visit to Malta.
Alongside a post showing the couple placing tributes into Valletta harbour, the royal family acknowledged the awarding of the George Cross to the Maltese population in 1942.
“In 1942, at the height of the attacks, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the Maltese population in recognition of their resistance, endurance and loyalty,” it was said in a statement.
Their Royal Highnesses commemorated the bravery of the people of Malta during the Second World War, casting a wreath into Valletta harbour which suffered relentless aerial attacks by the Luftwaffe and Italian Air Force.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 8, 2024
In 1942, at the height of the attacks, King George VI… pic.twitter.com/zZC4ZUbcm0
Duchess of Edinburgh to read special CBeebies bedtime story tomorrow
The Duchess of Edinburgh’s special reading of a bedtime story to mark World Sight Day will air on CBeebies tomorrow.
She said in a trailer for the programme: “Millions of us need glasses to see the world clearly.
“World Sight Day is a reminder to all of us to take care of our eyes, whether we need glasses or not.
“Our eyes are precious, and our sight is something to cherish and look after. So, let’s remember to take care of our eyes this World Sight Day.”
The duchess is set to read Specs for Rex, written by Yasmeen Ismail – a story about a young lion who is reluctant to wear glasses to school.
📚 The Duchess of Edinburgh reads a @CBeebiesHQ Bedtime Story to mark World Sight Day!
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) October 4, 2024
The Duchess reads Specs for Rex by Yasmeen Ismail
Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/eeoFfhY6lD pic.twitter.com/PPXpKwAO6Y
Melania sheds new light on the Trumps relationship with the royal family
Melania Trump has shed light on the royal family’s relationship with the former president and first lady ahead of next month’s presidential election.
This could see Donald Trump enter the White House for a second term after he lost to Democratic candidate Joe Biden in November 2022.
Writing in her new memoir, she revealed that she shares an “ongoing correspondence” with King Charles and explained that she and her husband “truly connected” with the late Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit in 2019, during Mr Trump’s first presidential term.
She proceeded to praise the royals for their hospitality during the visit, revealing that the late queen even gifted her a specially commissioned silver box engraved with the ceiling motifs from the Buckingham Palace music room.
King Charles ‘reluctantly’ agrees to eat lunch
King Charles is said to have finally broken his decades-long aversion to eating lunch on the advice of doctors and Queen Camilla.
The monarch, 75, is now reported to be eating half an avocado for the sake of his health as he continues to undergo treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
A source told the Daily Mail: “With some reluctance, he now has something to eat at lunchtime – a snack, really.
“He now eats half an avocado to sustain him through the day.
“It’s important, particularly if you have got an illness.”
Duke of Edinburgh meets young people taking part in International Award
Prince Edward yesterday met with young people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
The meeting came as part of a four-day tour of Malta that will see the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh undertake a packed schedule of engagements as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence.
The royal family said on their official Twitter/X account: “The Duke of Edinburgh was also able to tour the new Maltese HQ of @intaward where he met young people taking part in activities as they work towards their bronze, silver and gold awards.”
The Duke of Edinburgh was also able to tour the new Maltese HQ of @intaward where he met young people taking part in activities as they work towards their bronze, silver and gold awards. pic.twitter.com/4VzY2mrXoI
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 8, 2024
Prince Harry shares sweet detail about Princess Lilibet’s hair
Prince Harry shared a sweet detail about Princess Lilibet’s hair at the WellChild Awards last week.
Giving a rare insight into the young princess’s life, he said that Lilibet, three, had inherited her mother Meghan Markle’s thick hair.
Hello! magazine’s CEO, Sophie Vokes-Dudgeon, who was in attendance, revealed: “He marvelled that it won’t be long until Lili can sit on hers.”
Harry, 40, flew to the UK especially for the event, which celebrates the achievements of seriously ill young people and their carers.
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s Malta tour continues
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will continue their brief tour of Malta to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence today.
Their Wednesday schedule will see them visit the home shared by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in the early days of their marriage between 1949 and 1951, Villa Guardamangia.
The couple lived there while Philip was stationed in the country as a serving Royal Navy officer.
King Charles to miss key event over health concerns
King Charles will not attend the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan next month after the government exercised “an abundance of caution” regarding his health, it has been reported.
This comes after it was claimed that the monarch will temporarily “pause” his cancer treatment during his nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa this month after getting the go-ahead from doctors.
The decision was also made in the interests of his schedule, The Mirror reports, with the event taking place from 11 to 22 November – two weeks after the king returns from his overseas tour this month.
A source said: “The king will not be going to COP. He has not been asked by the government to attend the event and he is also mindful of his own commitments following the upcoming autumn tour.”
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
The monarch, who turns 76 next month, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year following a routine procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
Royal family gives rare insight into Buckingham Palace restoration
The royal family have given a rare insight into the ongoing restoration work being carried out at Buckingham Palace.
Sharing a video to Twitter/X, the official royal family account explained: “The Reservicing Programme has been continuing work in the Basement of Buckingham Palace, replacing old electrical cabling under the floors and throughout the historic building.”
In response to the footage, one watcher praised the work being done to modernise the iconic building.
They wrote: “Preserving Buckingham Palace’s history while modernizing its infrastructure is essential. It’s great to see such important work being done to maintain this iconic landmark!”
The Reservicing Programme has been continuing work in the Basement of Buckingham Palace, replacing old electrical cabling under the floors and throughout the historic building.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 8, 2024
Watch more! 👇 pic.twitter.com/Z1jCM3WaBt
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