Royal news live: Wimbledon officials ‘hopeful’ Kate Middleton may still present trophies at competition
The princess said she hoped to attend ‘a few engagements over the summer’
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Wimbledon officials said they are “hopeful” the Princess of Wales could appear to present trophies at next month’s event.
Kate, 42, made a welcome return to public life earlier this month at Trooping the Colour as she continues to battle cancer.
The princess is the patron of the All England Club and their chair Debbie Jevans said they would be more than happy to give “as much flexibility as possible” when it comes to the event, where the princess typically gives out the trophies.
Jevans said: “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.”
This comes as it was speculated that Princess Anne’s injuries could be “worse than [a] concussion” after she is thought to have spent a sixth night in hospital.
The Princess Royal, 73, was hospitalised with a concussion and minor injuries on Sunday night after being kicked by a horse.
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William wears recycled plastic tie
The Prince of Wales wore his eco-credentials around his neck in the form of a recycled plastic tie, as he championed “innovators, entrepreneurs and optimists” saving the planet.
William praised the “incredible minds” working on “climate solutions” when he joined Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at a London eco-summit hosted by the tech entrepreneur’s Breakthrough Energy organisation.
The prince looked dapper in a dark suit as he toured the stands of start-ups showcasing innovative solutions to help tackle climate change, and he told one firm working to limit textile waste from the fashion industry about his tie.
He was sporting a £39 royal green tie, handmade by a company called Wilmok in Italy from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, known as rPET, from plastics found in food and drink packaging.
William spent the day highlighting his Earthshot Prize, an environmental award showcasing and scaling-up ideas to “repair” the planet, to mark Climate Change Week London.
When he met fashion designer Stella McCartney, a supporter of his prize, at an earlier event celebrating the awards’ finalists, it appears the prince told her about his tie as she laughed and told him it was “fantastic”.
Kate Middleton could attend major London event
A royal expert has claimed that the Princess of Wales could make her second public appearance of the year at a major London event.
This comes after Kate, 42, stepped out for the first time this year at the King’s official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.
Royal expert Emily Andrews said Kate may “consider attending Wimbledon next month.”
She told Grazia: “Her treatment is ongoing, and will be for the next few months, but I understand she would like to visit the Wimbledon tennis tournament - she is a patron - if she feels up to it.”
King Charles ‘may appoint new Prime Minister in Scotland’
Ahead of next week’s General Election, it has been said that King Charles “may appoint” the new Prime Minister in Scotland.
The Monarch, who is suffering from cancer, is set to travel to Scotland for the Holyrood Week celebrations.
As doctors are keeping a close eye on his health, it has now been suggested he may “not be well enough” to appoint the new leader in London and could instead do the honour at Holyrood House.
Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker told GB News: “Of course, the King is still having cancer treatment, so it’s all about keeping an eye on his medical situation as well, whether he’s well enough to travel back down and travel back up again.
“The line is I think he will be, but of course, you can appoint a Prime Minister anywhere, as we saw with the late Queen and Liz Truss at Balmoral.”
Prince Harry ordered by court to explain deleted messages
Prince Harry has been ordered to explain why messages between him and his Spare ghostwriter were deleted as part of his case against the publisher of The Sun.
Mr Justice Fancourt told the High Court today that the messages, sent on the social media app Signal, “were destroyed sometime between 2021 and 2023, well after this claim [against News Group Newspapers] was underway”.
“The position is not transparently clear about what exactly happened and needs to be made so by a witness statement from the claimant himself explaining what happened,” he said.
‘Heartbroken’ Prince Harry not receiving updates on Charles and Kate’s cancer treatment
The Duke of Sussex has allegedly been left in the dark when it comes to the progress of King Charles’s and Kate Middleton’s cancer treatment.
A royal expert has speculated that this is because the family fears that Prince Harry, 39, could put this information into the public domain.
Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “There’s no way that The King or Prince William would share details of the cancer treatment with Harry.
“They simply don’t trust him and would fear that anything they told him about Charles or Catherine would end up in the public domain, either in the press or on a podcast or social media.
“We all know how bad relations have got in the last couple of years and I’m afraid it’s going to take a very long time before there’s any chance of a reconciliation.”
He added: “If Harry feels left out and sidelined I’m afraid that’s his own fault.
“Harry might be heartbroken not to hear from his family but he only has himself to blame.”
Princess Anne’s injury ‘may be worse than concussion’, expert fears
Following the news that the Princess Royal has spent a fifth night in hospital, a royal expert has speculated that she is suffering from something “worse than concussion.”
Princess Anne, 73, was hospitalised on Sunday night after being kicked by a horse at her Gloucestershire estate.
Buckingham Palace then confirmed that she had sustained a concussion and minor injuries.
Former Royal Editor Duncan Larcombe told GB News of the princess’s extended hospital stay: “It certainly suggests that perhaps whatever had happened to her, it’s worse than concussion, because I don’t think you’d be kept that long in hospital for a simple concussion.
“It’s more bad health news for a family that, as we know this year, has had a bit of a horrific start.”
Prince Harry honoured in US for Invictus Games work
Prince Harry will be honoured in the US for his efforts to “change the world” through the Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, founded the games in 2014 to celebrate the sporting achievements of wounded, sick or injured service people.
He is now set to be presented with the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which is for individuals who are changing the world for the better through sport.
The award is sponsored by the sporting channel ESPN and the channel’s president said it was a “privilege” to be able to recognise the honourees.
ESPN vice-president of production Kate Jackson said: “It’s our privilege to recognise three incredible individuals – Steve Gleason, Dawn Staley and Prince Harry.
“These honourees have used their platforms to change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalised and suffering communities, demonstrating incredible resilience, positivity and perseverance, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them at the 2024 ESPYs.”
Prince Harry ‘dragged kicking and screaming’ to hand over personal emails
The Duke of Sussex was “dragged kicking and screaming” by the publisher of The Sun to hand over his personal messages, the High Court heard today.
Harry, 39, was accused by News Group Newspapers (NGN) of deleting messages between himself and the ghostwriter of his 2023 memoir Spare after starting legal proceedings against the publisher.
He was also accused of “creating an obstacle” course for NGN to access his existing messages.
Harry’s lawyers accused NGN of going on a “classic fishing expedition” and hypocrisy as they deleted “millions of emails” to hide “incriminating evidence”.
The publisher is accused of using illegal information-gathering methods including phone hacking.
NGN, who owned the now-defunct News of the World, denies all wrongdoing at The Sun.
A ruling is expected later this afternoon ahead of a full trial in January.
Prince Harry accused of destroying evidence in phone hacking case
Prince Harry has been accused of destroying evidence as his phone hacking court case against the publisher of The Sun continues today.
The Duke of Sussex was accused by Attorney Anthony Hudson at the High Court of the “shocking” and “extraordinary” act of deleting text messages with the ghostwriter of his 2023 memoir Spare.
Hudson said the documentation they were seeking from Harry’s time in the royal family and former staff was being kept deliberately behind an “obstacle course”.
But Harry’s defence has since called out the accusation and said that News Group Newspapers was participating in a “classic fishing expedition” to obtain information they should have already asked for.
“NGN’s tactical and sluggish approach to disclosure wholly undermines the deliberately sensational assertion that the claimant (Harry) has not properly carried out the disclosure exercise,” attorney David Sherborne said in court papers.
“This is untrue. In fact, the claimant has already made clear that he has conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations.”
Princess Diana letters could sell for £23,000
A collection of letters written by the late Princess Diana during her early marriage to the then Prince Charles could sell for up to £23,000 at auction today.
Reflecting on her honeymoon, she said the pair had a “glorious time” and described it as a “tremendous success.”
The letters will go under the hammer at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles with an estimated sale price of up to $28,000 (£23,000).
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