Royal news live: Kate Middleton hoped to appear at Wimbledon as Harry called ‘divisive’ by war hero’s family

Kate said she hopes to attend a few events this summer

Princess Anne recalls the moment she survived a kidnapping attempt

Wimbledon officials are hoping the Princess of Wales could appear as the tournament begins today.

While the Princess is not on the list for the Royal Box for the first day, Kate said she hopes to attend a few events over the summer as she continues her cancer treatment.

“We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,” an official told Telegraph Sport.

Several famous faces are on the Royal Box list for day one, including David Beckham.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry was criticised by the mother of a war veteran after it was announced he would receive an award created in her son’s honour.

Pat Tillman lost his life in Afghanistan, and his mother, Mary, has criticised the decision to award the Duke of Sussex the Pat Tillman Award for his work with the Invictus Games.

She told the Mail on Sunday: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual.”

Key Points

• Prince Harry slammed by mother of war veteran
• Wimbledon officials hope for Kate Middleton appearance
• Royal box appearances on day one of Wimbledon
• New King Charles portrait released on Armed Forces Day
• Princess Anne discharged from hospital

[1 July 2024 12:33 · Emma Guinness]

Royal box appearances on day one of Wimbledon

Several famous faces are set to appear in the Royal Box at this year’s Wimbledon tournament, with a star-studded first day.

Notable names on the list of attendees include David Beckham and his mother Sandra, as well as Sir David Attenborough and his daughter Susan.

While there are no members of the royal family on the list today, it is hoped that the Princess of Wales will make an appearance at the tournament.

Officials are hoping that Kate Middleton will attend the tournament. (AP)

[1 July 2024 12:00 · Emma Guinness]

Wimbledon officials hope for Kate Middleton appearance

This year’s Wimbledon tournament has officially kicked off and officials are hopeful of an appearance from Kate Middleton.

The Princess of Wales expressed a desire to attend a few engagements over the summer after making her first public appearance of the year at Trooping the Colour.

While tennis officials have said they are hopeful that she could appear to present the trophies, they have acknowledged that the mother-of-three’s priority should be her health.

“We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,” the England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club chair Debbie Jevans told Telegraph Sport.

“We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.”

There is hope that Kate Middleton could make an appearance at Wimbledon. (AFP via Getty Images)

[1 July 2024 11:00 · Emma Guinness]

Queen Camilla hosts children who missed Buckingham Palace garden party

Queen Camilla has hosted two children who sadly missed the Buckingham Palace garden party they were due to attend earlier this year.

Expressing her frustration at being forced to miss the event, the mother of double amputee Tony Hudgell, Paula, nine wrote on Twitter (X): “Stuck on M20 for last 2 hours.

“Won’t be making the King’s Garden Party.”

This prompted the Palace to reply: “Sorry to hear this, Tony! We were looking forward to seeing you too. Fancy trying again another day? Leave it with us...”

The Palace was as good as its word, and the Queen Consort proceeded to host Tony and his family last week, and 12-year-old Lyla O’Donovan and her family.

The inspirational youngsters were honoured at the party for their respective fundraising work.

They had the chance to watch the Changing of the Guard before visiting the Palace’s summer house and enjoying a private tour.

Tony missed a Buckingham Palace garden party earlier this year after getting stuck in traffic. (via REUTERS)

The youngsters watched the Changing of the Guard and enjoyed a private tour. (via REUTERS)

[1 July 2024 10:00 · Emma Guinness]

Japanese empress given honourary Oxford degree

The Japanese empress was given an honourary degree from Oxford University as part of last week’s state visit.

Empress Masako and Emperor Naruhito visited the college, which they are both former students of, and received an official tour, much to the delight of spectators.

Spectator Rie Fletcher said: “It’s a rare occasion [to see the emperor]. It’s the first time they’ve come here together. You don’t have much of a chance to see the emperor even when you’re in Japan.”

While there, they also took the opportunity to plant a cherry blossom tree at Merton, an important symbol of Japanese culture.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako leave the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Wire)

[1 July 2024 09:00 · Emma Guinness]

Prince Harry slammed by mother of war veteran

The decision to award the Duke of Sussex the Pat Tillman Award for his work with the Invictus Games has not gone down well with the mother of its namesake.

Pat Tillman lost his life in Afghanistan and his mother, Mary, said that she believes there are more deserving recipients than Prince Harry, who also served in Afghanistan.

She told the Mail on Sunday: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.

“There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.

“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.”

Pat was an American professional football player who gave up his career to serve in the wake of 9/11.

The Invictus Games celebrates the sporting achievements of wounded, sick and injured service people. It was founded by the Duke in 2014.

The Invictus Games celebrates the sporting achievements of wounded, sick and injured service people. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

[1 July 2024 08:43 · Emma Guinness]

Balmoral Castle opens to public for first time today

Balmoral Castle is opening its doors to the public for the first time in its extensive history, giving a never-before-seen insight into the royals’ Highland retreat.

The decision to offer tours of the parts of the castle used by the royals – including its grand entrance hall, red corridor, dining rooms and library – was made by King Charles earlier this year.

“The public who managed to get a ticket will come away [having seen] the Royal Family’s holiday home. That’s exactly what it is, it feels very homely,” James Hamilton Goddard, the visitor enterprise manager for the Balmoral Estate, said.

“It’s a magnificent place, I think the King wants people to see [it].”

The castle has been a staple of royal life since the 1850s.

Visitors will be able to see parts of Balmoral Castle used by the royal family for the first time this summer. (PA Wire)

The castle has been a retreat for the royal family since the 1850s. (PA Wire)

Balmoral’s library which Charles uses as his study. (Visitor Enterprise for Balmoral Castle/PA Wire)

[1 July 2024 07:00 · Holly Evans]

Royal family’s summer retreat of Balmoral opens to the public

The King’s interior design tastes will be on display when visitors are given an extensive tour of Balmoral for the first time in its history.

Charles has thrown open the doors of his Scottish retreat to the public, allowing them a glimpse of royal family life in the Highlands.

From Monday visitors can take a guided tour of a number of rooms in the Aberdeenshire castle, where successive monarchs since Queen Victoria have been able to relax and recharge amongst local Scots who have treated them as their own.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 05:00 · Holly Evans]

Lawyer for British tabloid accuses Prince Harry of destroying documents in phone hacking case

An attorney for the publisher of The Sun has accused Prince Harry of engaging in “shocking” and “extraordinary” obfuscation by destroying evidence it was seeking in his lawsuit claiming that the newspaper violated his privacy by unlawfully snooping on him.

Attorney Anthony Hudson said at the High Court that the Duke of Sussex had deliberately destroyed text messages with the ghostwriter who penned his bestselling memoir, Spare.

A lawyer for Harry said News Group Newspapers was engaging in a “classic fishing expedition” by seeking documents they should have sought much sooner for a trial scheduled in January.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 03:00 · Holly Evans]

Prince Harry says grief will ‘eat you up inside’ as he opens up on loss of mother Princess Diana

The Duke of Sussex has opened up about dealing with his mother’s death as he urged children not to “suppress” their emotions as he once did.

Prince Harry, 39, was just 12 when his mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris.

During the 20th anniversary year of the death of the Princess of Wales, Harry opened up in a newspaper interview, saying he spent nearly 20 years “not thinking” about his mother’s death and eventually got help after two years of “total chaos”.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 01:00 · Holly Evans]

Queen wears the King Charles III Family Order for first time at state banquet

The King’s new Family Order has been worn for the first time by the Queen at the Japanese state banquet.

Camilla stepped out wearing the diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband topped with a tiny gold and enamel Tudor crown and suspended on a pale blue silk bow on her left shoulder for the glittering event in the Buckingham Palace ballroom.

The unveiling of the new King Charles III’s Family Order comes nearly two years after Charles, the longest serving heir to the throne, acceded as monarch following the death of his mother.

Read the full article here: