Royal news live: Prince Harry award backlash continues as Charles and Camilla’s Scotland trip cut short
Harry has been defended for his ‘incredible’ work with the Invictus Games
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Prince Harry has been defended after a petition calling for a “rethink” on the decision to give him an award for veterans reached 50,000 signatures.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award for his work with the Invictus Games, which celebrates the sporting achievements of wounded, sick and injured service people.
But many, including the late Tillman’s mother, Mary, have argued there are more deserving recipients.
Now the sporting network behind the award, ESPN, has defended its decision, hailing the “incredible” work of the games, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
“While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating,” a spokesperson told Sky News.
The row comes amid the revelation that King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip to Scotland will be cut short due to the General Election.
They have postponed all events “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign”.
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King Charles jokes about school’s poor cricket performance
King Charles did not hold back when it came to his honesty about his former Scottish school’s cricket performance.
While speaking to guests at a garden party in Edinburgh, the Monarch admitted that while he had the highest score on his team, “it was not very much.”
Trevor Hills from Nairn revealed: “Charles said when he was at Gordonstoun he played cricket against a team from Nairn.
“I was debating whether to ask the score when he said his school lost.
“But he did have the highest score – although he said it wasn’t very much.”
Wimbledon officials remain hopeful of Kate Middleton appearance
As this year’s Wimbledon tournament enters its third day, Kensington Palace has yet to confirm whether or not the Princess of Wales will appear.
Officials, however, remain hopeful that she could attend to present the trophies after she expressed a desire to attend a handful of engagements this summer.
Kate, 42, remains off of official duty after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
“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,” Debbie Jevans, the chair of the All England Club, told The Telegraph.
“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.”
Princess Anne remains off duty
Princess Anne remains off duty after spending the majority of last week in hospital after being kicked by a horse.
Widely reported to be the hardest-working royal, she sustained a concussion and minor injuries as a result of the incident on her Gloucestershire estate last Sunday.
Her engagements have been postponed for the foreseeable future, with brain and cognition expert Natalie Mackenzie telling The Independent that concussions can take up to two weeks to recover from.
David Beckham all smiles in Royal Box amid feud with Harry and Meghan
David Beckham appeared in the Royal Box at Wimbledon amid increased reports about his apparent feud with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
David and his wife Victoria were once on friendly terms with the Sussexes, but that changed when the couple allegedly accused the Beckhams of leaking information about them to the press.
Lizzie Cundy, a former friend of Meghan, said the pair were not the only former friends to distance themselves from the couple.
“I think Victoria and David have slowly tiptoed away like the other friends,” she told the Mirror.
“Many friends who went to the wedding have tiptoed away from Meghan.”
Despite what its name suggests, the Royal Box at the tournament is not only for royalty, but friends and guests of the tournament, with Sir David Attenborough also making an appearance at this year’s event.
Thomas Markle says he’s ‘in the same boat’ as King Charles
Meghan Markle’s estranged father has said that he is in the same boat as King Charles when it comes to their shared grandchildren.
Thomas Markle recently spoke about his desire to finally meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ahead of his 80th birthday this month.
He also sympathised with reports that King Charles, who has only met Lilibet once, also wants to forge a proper relationship with his grandchildren.
He told the Daily Mail: “They have two grandpas who want to see them, one of whom is the King of England.
“I never in my 80 years thought I’d be in the same boat as the King.”
Meghan Markle ‘would love’ King Charles to promote lifestyle brand
Meghan Markle has set her sights on the royal family as she continues to promote her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, ahead of its launch, an insider has claimed.
So far, celebrity friends of the former actress have soft-launched some of its products including jams and dog biscuits.
But now an insider has claimed that Princess Eugenie and Beatrice are next to receive a freebie as they are the royals allegedly closest to the Sussexes.
“Meghan is looking for support wherever she can get it,” the source said, according to the Express.
“Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are at the top of her list, but she is shooting even higher and would love to get King Charles to give his stamp of approval.”
Harry and Meghan ‘may never reconcile’ with Kate and William
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “may never reconcile” with Kate and William, King Charles’s former butler has claimed.
Grand Harrold said that the only way to any kind of reconciliation would be a public apology from Harry for the content of Spare.
He told the New York Post: “The only way I see this happening is a public statement from Harry, where you come out and say that you were in a bad space and that [Spare] was a mistake. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Some bad things were said, and some families never patch things up, and that’s how it is forevermore.”
The former royal butler added: “Harry caused damage and broke down trust. It’s difficult when you’re a future monarch. I doubt they’ll ever get back the relationship they had originally. That was a very different relationship built on trust.
“It’s going to take time. William is a tough character. He’s a good guy.”
Queen Camilla and Duke of Edinburgh join Order of the Thistle
Queen Camilla and the Duke of Edinburgh have formally joined Scotland’s highest order of chivalry, the Order of the Thistle.
The formal installation took place at a ceremony at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh today.
King Charles began the ceremony by saying: “It is our pleasure Her Majesty the Queen be installed a Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.”
King Charles ‘looks very well'
King Charles’s sprightly appearance did not go unnoticed as he met with locals during Holyrood Week in Scotland.
The Monarch, 75, was forced to take a temporary step back from his duties earlier this year after being diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer.
He discussed playing cricket at his former Scottish school Gordonstoun with Jacqueline and Trevor Hills from Nairn.
Mr Hills said: “Charles said when he was at Gordonstoun he played cricket against a team from Nairn.
“I was debating whether to ask the score when he said his school lost.
“But he did have the highest score – although he said it wasn’t very much.
“Charles looks very well considering what he’s been through and it was lovely meeting him.”
While the King appears to be very busy, according to reports, he is undertaking a reduced summer schedule as he continues his cancer treatment.
Queen Camilla to join the Order of the Thistle
Queen Camilla is set to be honoured with membership to the Order of the Thistle on her current trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week.
It is one of the country’s oldest orders of chivalry and she will be honoured alongside the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward.
The pair were appointed by King Charles in a private ceremony but are set to be formally installed in the roles during a service at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral.
This was notably the location of the late Queen’s Scottish lying in state after she passed away in Balmoral in September 2022.
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