Royal news - live: Princess of Wales joins King at major Remembrance event
It comes as Prince William candidly described the past year as “brutal” and the “hardest” of his life
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Your support makes all the difference.The Princess of Wales has taken a significant step in her gradual return to public royal duties by attending the Festival of Remembrance.
Joined by the Prince of Wales, her presence at the event comes after Prince William spoke candidly spoke of how 2024 has been “brutal” and “probably been the hardest year in my life”.
The pair, both wearing poppies, were seen in conversation after taking their seats next to each other at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening.
Asked by reporters how his year has been, he replied: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”
William added: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace confirmed Camilla will not attend the event, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday, after falling ill with a chest infection.
It is understood there is no downturn in her condition, but the Queen is said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.
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Charles could turn Royal Lodge into ‘Museum of King Charles III’
The Duke of York’s Royal Lodge may have an unexpected future, a royal author has revealed.
The 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park has been at the centre of a rift between Prince Andrew and Charles after the King scrapped his brother’s £1 million-per-year allowance.
With neither William nor Harry “showing great interest” in the property, a royal source has suggested it could one day be transformed into a “Museum of King Charles III.”
Writing in his biography book ‘New King, New Court, Charles III the inside story’ royal author Robert Hardman has shed light on the potential future of the monarch’s favourite retreat.
He said: “Neither of his sons has shown a great interest in taking on their childhood home. As a Duchy of Cornwall property (on a long lease to the King), Highgrove’s future will need to be decided by the current or future Duke of Cornwall. One close ally of the King has made an interesting suggestion.
“Given the King’s personal devotion to the place, and the way in which it encapsulates so much about the man, would it not make an ideal ‘Museum of King Charles III’ in years to come?”
Family Feud reveals the most common fact Americans know about Prince Harry – and it’s not flattering
The hit game show Family Feud has revealed what Americans really know about Prince Harry.
During a recent episode of the show, the Hernandez family competed against the Colley family, and they shared a few facts about Harry. In Family Feud, which has been running since 1976, two families guess the most popular answers to survey questions to win cash prizes.
At the start of the recent episode, host Steve Harry asked contestants to say “something that people know about Prince Harry,” with the six correct answers hidden on the board. In response, Fabian Hernandez answered: “He’s married to Meghan Markle.”
Read the full story below:
Family Feud reveals the unflattering facts most Americans know about Prince Harry
The top answer for things ‘people know about Prince Harry’ was his marriage to Meghan Markle
Duchess Sophie’s praised for ‘funny’ reaction after being hit with golf ball
The Duchess of Edinburgh has been praised for her “funny” reaction after being hit on the head by a golf ball.
The incident last Tuesday happened when Sophie was playing mini golf as part of a visit to Legoland as patron of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
Photographer Tim Rooke, who captured the moment, said the Duchess “laughed” and “found it funny.”
He told Hello: “The Duchess was playing adventure golf, going around with the kids. She hit the ball, and it bounced straight up in the air. You could see her watching it, and it just sort of whacked her.
“She laughed; she found it funny – she’s a good sport. You can see the guy behind her in the picture was in hysterics.
“She doesn’t mind a photo like this going around – what she cares about is raising awareness of the charity. She is really good at these events; she always makes everyone feel quite special.”
Latest royal pictures
The King acknowledges his ‘advancing years’ ahead of 76th birthday
The King has acknowledged his “advancing years” as he revealed his approach to birthday celebrations ahead of turning 76.
Charles wrote personally to thank the Military Wives Choirs, who produced a record as a birthday gift in his honour, saying he was “deeply touched by your wonderfully thoughtful tribute”.
The monarch added “while those of us of a certain age may feel the need for any such birthday celebrations is in inverse proportion to our advancing years, I am none the less deeply touched by your wonderfully thoughtful tribute.”
Charles reaches his 76th birthday on November 14 after a personally difficult year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.
Read the full story:
The King acknowledges his ‘advancing years’ ahead of 76th birthday
Charles wrote personally to thank the Military Wives Choirs, who produced a song as a birthday gift in his honour
ICYMI: King faces calls to abolish estates which ‘earn millions from NHS’
King Charles is facing calls to dissolve his lucrative private estates and refund the cash-strapped NHS after it emerged he is making millions from renting out ambulance parking spaces and sub-standard properties.
The monarch and Prince William have sparked uproar after it was revealed they are benefiting from rental deals with public services – including the armed forces and state schools – on their private estates, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.
Read the full story below:
Charles and William face calls to dissolve estates which ‘earn millions from NHS’
‘Abolish the Duchies’, campaigners say
Health crises and conspiracy theories: How 2024 became Prince William’s ‘annus horribilis’
During what was perhaps the lowest point in her reign, the late Queen delivered a sobering speech famously labelling 1992 her “annus horribilis”.
Public opinion had turned sharply on the royals that year with the then Prince and Princess of Wales at war, the Duke and Duchess of York separated and Princess Anne divorced.
To make matters worse, the Queen’s home, Windsor Castle, had gone up in flames.
Elizabeth did not refer directly to her family’s problems as she made the stark evaluation, but the meaning was clear - it had been a terrible year and everyone could see it.
Now - over 30 years later - her grandson has had what he believes to be his own ‘annus horribilis’.
Read the full story here:
Health crises and conspiracy theories: How 2024 became William’s ‘annus horribilis’
1992 marked a challenging year for the royal family
Watch: Prince William breaks silence on 'brutal' year
Who is Lady Louise?
The royal family has wished a happy 21st birthday to Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Lady Louise – the youngest niece of the King and granddaughter to the late Queen – is studying English Literature at St Andrews University. She is following in the footsteps of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who met at the university in Fife, Scotland in 2001.
She is 16th in line for the throne and she and her younger brother James, the Earl of Wessex, will be expected to work for a living and are unlikely to use HRH styles as adults.
Louise was born prematurely in November 2003, weighing just 4lb 9oz. Her mother, Sophie, was rushed to hospital at eight months pregnant, with severe internal pains and doctors found she was dangerously ill from blood loss and performed an emergency Caesarean.
Newborn Louise was transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, for specialist care, while the duchess remained at Frimley Park Hospital near their Bagshot Park home. They were separated for six days.
The late Prince Philip taught Louise how to drive a carriage and she is often seen at the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show. She occasionally accompanies her parents at events and attends royal celebrations such as Trooping the Colour.
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