Royal news live: Prince William and Kate suffer security scare as masked men raid Windsor estate at night
The thieves smashed through a security gate and stole farming equipment while the Wales family slept nearby, reports say
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two masked thieves smashed into the Windsor Castle estate and stole farm vehicles while the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children slept in their home nearby.
The raiders scaled a 6ft fence at night and used a stolen truck to break through a gate on the royal grounds before stealing a pick-up truck and quad bike, the police said.
William and Kate are understood to have been sleeping at Adelaide Cottage with their children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, at the time of the incident last month.
The wrecked gate is minutes away from the cottage and the family are regularly seen using it as it is the nearest exit to their home.
King Charles was in Scotland during the raid and it is believed that the Queen was at a spa in India before the couple’s tour of Australia and Samoa.
Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday October 13, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
Pictured: Gun salute to mark King’s birthday
Prince of Wales visits homelessness project during Northern Ireland trip
The Prince of Wales has arrived in Northern Ireland for a visit that will involve engagements focusing on homelessness and the region’s creative industries.
The trip was due to take place in May this year but was postponed because of the calling of the UK general election.
William’s first visit was to a project in Belfast aimed at helping to prevent homelessness for young people leaving care.
He was welcomed to The Foyer, a temporary accommodation and support service for young people experiencing homelessness operated by the Simon Community.
On arrival William was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for Belfast Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle.
South Belfast and Mid Down MP and SDLP leader Claire Hanna also welcomed the prince with Jim Dennison, the chief executive of the Simon Community, and Neil McKittrick, the Northern Ireland lead for William’s Homewards initiative.
The Simon Community is a member of the Northern Ireland element of the prince’s initiative to tackle homelessness.
New Balmoral tartan created at request of King
A tartan designed at the King’s request, which will be used at Balmoral, has been lodged with the Scottish Register of Tartans.
The Balmoral Glen Gelder tartan, designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority, uses the specific colours and shades of the King Charles III tartan which the authority presented to the monarch last year.
That pattern was created to mark the coronation and in recognition of the King’s strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of Highland dress and Scottish tartans.
The new tartan, announced as the King celebrates his 76th birthday, will be used for furnishings and staff uniforms at Balmoral and on a limited range of products that will be available to the public at Balmoral Castle next year.
Pictured: King meets members of the Felix Project as he departs after a visit to first Coronation Food Hub
Watch live: 41 gun salute to mark King Charles’ 76th birthday in London’s Green Park
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
King’s anti-food waste project saves equivalent of more than two million meals
The King’s Coronation Food Project has saved 940 tonnes of surplus food – the equivalent of more than two million meals, according to an impact report marking the first anniversary of the initiative.
Charles launched the drive a year ago and since then more than £15 million has been raised to design, build and run a future network of up to 10 Coronation Food Hubs across the UK.
Three more hubs are due open in the year ahead, the report revealed.
The project aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across the UK, by saving more surplus food, supercharging food distribution networks and delivering a flexible funding programme to support the wider sector.
The initiative, which partners with The Felix Project and FareShare, has made “significant and tangible progress towards achieving” its goals, the report said.
As well as saving 940 tonnes of surplus food in its first year – equivalent to 2.24 million meal portions, a further 1,900 tonnes – or 4.5 million meals – have also been donated by partners of the project.
King arrives at Coronation Food Hub in south-east London
The King has opened a Coronation Food Hub in south-east London to celebrate his 76th birthday.
Charles was greeted by Sir Kenneth Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, and taken to the entrance of the Deptford hub where the King was greeted by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The opening of two centres on Thursday will mark the first anniversary of the Coronation Food Project.
Project chairwoman Dame Martina Milburn, Baroness Louise Casey and other representatives of the charities involved also met Charles.
Volunteers from the Felix Project, who will run the Deptford hub, waved flags and cheers as the King arrived.
Birthday wishes for the King from the royal family
The royal family has wished the King a happy 76th birthday, with the Prince and Princess of Wales sharing a photo of the relaxed-looking monarch wearing sunglasses and a garland during a recent royal tour.
The monarchy’s official social media accounts posted a congratulatory message with a more formal portrait of the King standing in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
William and Kate’s account shared an image of Charles in the sunshine during his recent long-haul overseas trip to Samoa as he was opening The King’s Garden at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia.
The message read: “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!”
Pictured: King Charles dons black tie on red carpet for world premiere of Gladiator II
King holds audience with possible contender to be next archbishop of Canterbury
The King has held an audience with one of the possible contenders to become the next archbishop of Canterbury.
Charles welcomed the Right Reverend Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to appoint him as Lord High Almoner and formally present him with his Badge of Office.
The role of Lord High Almoner dates back to the 12th century and involves attending upon, or representing, the sovereign at the Royal Maundy Service.
Mr Usher is an ecologist, a keen beekeeper and the Church’s lead bishop on the environment, while the King is known for his campaigning on green issues.
The bishop is one of those thought to be in the running to become the 106th archbishop of Canterbury, following the resignation of Justin Welby.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments