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Prince Harry has sensationally accused the Monarchy of trying to 'undermine' his explosive memoir Spare because its controversial contents have 'perhaps made them feel uncomfortable and scared' as he launched another furious attack on the royal family in the latest in a line of TV interviews to promote his book. The 38-year-old held nothing back as he took aim at his family during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, when he wavered between hurling barbs at his family and making light-hearted jokes about his 'frost-nipped' genitals and his love of tequila. One of the more serious moments during the lengthy sit-down saw Harry rounding on his relatives over the backlash to his memoir, with Colbert questioning whether he believes the royals have an 'active campaign to undermine this book'. 'Of course,' the Duke responded - adding that 'the British press' has also been complicit in this so-called 'campaign', with Colbert chiming in: 'But aided and abetted by the palace.' 'Again of course,' Harry confirmed. 'But this is the other side of the story, right? After 38 years, they have told their side of the story. This is the other side of the story.' The father-of-two then suggested that what he perceives as the royals' 'campaign' against his memoir has come as a result of its being 'uncomfortable and scared' over its contents. 'There is a lot in there that, perhaps makes people feel uncomfortable and scared,' he continued. Prince Harry has sensationally accused the Monarchy of trying to 'undermine' his explosive memoir Spare because its controversial contents have 'perhaps made them feel uncomfortable and scared' Prince Harry mocks the monarchy: Duke ridicules royal tradition (with the help of Hollywood star Tom Hanks) as he kicks off The Late Show with skit featuring trumpet fanfare and heralds in uniforms Prince Harry kicked off the latest in a long line of TV interviews by ridiculing royal tradition and mocking the Monarchy - with the help of Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks.The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex poked fun at his family's long-standing and much-admired tradition of pomp and circumstance during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert to promote his bombshell memoir Spare this evening, for which he pre-filmed a skit that showed him being greeted at the CBS studios by two trumpet heralds wearing regal uniforms. In the video, Harry is seen rounding a corner and walking along a red carpet while the trumpeters begin their fanfare, with the Duke telling Colbert in a show of mock humility: 'Woah, woah, woah, stop, stop. Stephen, not needed, but thank you, I appreciate it.''What are you talking about? This isn't for you!' Colbert, 58, responds, before urging Harry: 'Get out of the way, he's coming!' At that point, Hanks, 66, who was a guest on the late-night show on Monday - when the Duke filmed his own interview - comes around the corner, jokingly exclaiming: 'I'm back! Where's my fanfare?' while Harry throws rose petals at him. Prince Harry has kicked off the latest in a long line of TV interviews by ridiculing royal tradition and mocking the Monarchy - with the help of Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex poked fun at his family's long-standing and much-admired tradition of pomp and circumstance during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert this evening Tonight's episode of The Late Show kicked off with a skit featuring Harry and Hanks, 66, being greeted by royal fanfare as they entered the CBS studios The trumpeters featured on The Late Show were sporting uniforms that appeared to be replicas of the official garb worn by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry - who perform the fanfare at official state events, like Harry's own wedding and Prince Philip's funeral - however in place of the royal standard, they had the letters 'L' and 'S' embroidered on their jackets. Harry's pre-taped interview with Colbert has already resulted in several explosive moments which were brought to light courtesy of teaser clips shared on the CBS show's official Twitter account. In those trailers, the Duke furiously denied that he 'boasted' about killing 25 Taliban fighters, while taking aim at his critics for 'spinning' his words and putting his 'family in danger'. He also confirmed to the TV host that he watches controversial Netflix series The Crown, admitting that he has even seen 'more recent' episodes, which portray dramatized versions of his late mother Diana's battle with bulimia - and his parents' bitter divorce. Meanwhile a trailer for the episode saw Colbert ridiculing the royal family, comparing the Duke to Harry Potter and joking that his explosive new book is available as a commemorative plate. After playing a clip where Harry describes his pain at William trying to avoid him at Eton, the Late Show presenter said to roars of laughter: 'That's heartbreaking. To be rejected by his older brother at school even though that magic hat sorted them into the same house. What do you think? Hufflepuff? Gryffindor?' After Colbert tells Harry that the trumpeters were not in fact for him, but rather for Hanks, the Duke begins throwing rose petals at the laughing actor After a series of serious TV interviews the Prince has now chosen to do The Late Show, in what appears to be an attempt to tout his memoir in a more light-hearted mannerThe trumpeters featured in the show were wearing replica uniforms of the official garb sported by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry who perform the fanfare at official state events, including Harry's own wedding and Prince Philip's funeralIn another teaser Colbert said Spare is available in hardback, audiobook and 'commemorative plate' - a joke at the expense of Harry and other royals whose weddings and anniversaries are marked with limited edition tableware and crockery. And then in a further joke at Harry's expense - and the expense of the Royal Family including the Queen - Colbert says: 'Stock up on corgis and steal a priceless cultural treasure from one of your colonies because The Late Show is going imperial'.Harry's book also contains anecdotes that also appear to poke fun at his own family including hanging a trinket likeness of the Queen on a Christmas tree.Spare reveals that Meghan gave Harry an ornament of the Queen that she had bought from a local store in California.Harry writes in his book that it was ‘Granny’s face to a T’ and hung it straight on the large Christmas tree in their California home.Toddler Archie was running around and knocked the tree’s stand, which caused the ornament to fall off and smash into pieces. After a series of serious TV interviews - which some critics claim failed to properly question contradictions in his book - the Prince has now chosen to do The Late Show, in what appears to be an attempt to tout his memoir in a more light-hearted manner. When the interview began Harry furiously slammed down accusations that he 'boasted' about killing 25 Taliban fighters Duke denies he 'boasted' about killing 25 Taliban fighters in explosive memoir Spare - and blames critics for 'spinning' his words and putting his 'family in danger'Prince Harry furiously slammed down accusations that he 'boasted' about killing 25 Taliban fighters in his explosive memoir Spare - while accusing his critics of 'spinning' his words and spouting 'lies' about the revelation, which he says have put his family 'in danger'. The 38-year-old vehemently defended his decision to share the information, hitting back at accusations that he 'undermined his own security' by writing about his Taliban kills, while blaming his critics for spreading 'dangerous lies' and 'spinning his words'. 'I think one of... the most dangerous lies that they have told is that I somehow boasted about the number of people I have killed in Afghanistan,' he told Colbert. 'I would say that if I heard anybody else, anyone, boasting about that kind of thing, I would be angry. But it's a lie.He added: 'My words are not dangerous, but the spin of my words are very dangerous to my family.'Harry insisted to Colbert that it was not his words that were in any way dangerous - but rather the 'spin' that his critics have put on them, with the Duke saying it is 'a choice they have made', which has put his family in danger. He went on to insist that that the 'reason' he chose to write about his kill count was to 'reduce the number of suicides' among military veterans. 'I made a choice to share it because, having spent nearly two decades working with veterans all around the world, I think the most important thing is to be honest and to give space to others to share their experiences without any shame,' he said - while receiving applause from the audience, which included several veterans. 'And my whole goal, my attempt with sharing that detail is to reduce the number of suicides.' The Duke also confirmed that he watches The Crown, revealing that he has seen the 'older and more recent stuff' The 38-year-old's admission that he has watched more recent episodes suggests he has seen the show's highly-dramatized portrayal of his parents' bitter divorce Prince Harry laughs as he CONFIRMS he watches The Crown - hinting he's even seen 'more recent' episodes that dramatize Diana's bulimia battle and bitter divorce from CharlesPrince Harry confirmed that he watches Netflix's controversial series The Crown - laughing as he revealed in a new bombshell TV interview that he has watched the 'more recent' episodes that portray 'sensationalized' accounts of his late mother Diana's bulimia battle and her bitter divorce from Charles. The Duke laughed uproariously while joking to the TV host that he 'fact checks' the highly-criticized show.'Yes I have actually watched The Crown,' Harry - who has a production deal with Netflix that is reported to be worth $100 million - told Colbert after the late night host asked if he had seen the series.'The older stuff and the more recent stuff.'Harry then burst into fits of laughter and mimed taking notes as Colbert questioned whether he 'fact checks' the show - before admitting: 'Yes, I do actually.'He then suggested that The Crown does not offer an entirely factual version of events - before pointing at his bombshell memoir Spare as an apparent example of accuracy, saying: 'Which is why it's so important that history has it right.'Despite his jovial response to the question, the Duke's admission that he's watched multiple episodes of the show will likely prompt furious criticism and questions about why he and wife Meghan Markle have continued to work with streaming giant Netflix, despite its brutal portrayal of the royal family - and Harry's parents in particular.Season five of the series - which is the most recent - drew bitter backlash over its 'malicious' storylines, which included agonizing portrayals of the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage, as well as a fictional scene in which the future King is seen plotting to overthrow the Queen.The latest storylines have been widely bashed for their 'malicious' and 'lurid' content with critics branding Harry a 'hypocrite' for refusing to pull the plug on his Netflix deal in response to the streaming giant's portrayal of his family.To add insult to grievous injury, season five of the show was released just a matter of weeks after the Queen passed away at the age of 96. | Royal Families |
People will have a chance to "find a piece of history" in their change from today.
Almost five million 50p coins marking the coronation of King Charles III will start appearing in circulation.
Featuring a design by Royal Mint coin designer Natasha Jenkins, the coins are the second 50ps to enter circulation bearing the monarch's official coin portrait.
The design for the tails face of the coins features Westminster Abbey and the King's official cypher, representing him being crowned as King.
The heads side will feature His Majesty's official portrait which was unveiled in September. It's designed by sculptor Martin Jennings and is personally approved by the King.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, said: "This is a special moment for the nation, as members of the public will have the opportunity to find a piece of history in their change.
"We anticipate the coronation 50p coins will be highly sought after among coin collectors and members of the public keen to own a piece of British history."
The coins will be available via the Post Office and UK bank branches.
The first memorial 50 pence entered circulation in December, marking the transition from the late Queen to the King.
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Earlier this year, the Royal Mint unveiled a commemorative coin range marking the coronation. Collectors from 89 countries purchased the coins directly from the Royal Mint.
UK coins bearing the effigy of the late Queen will remain legal tender and in active circulation.
Historically it has been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate. The Mint said this ensures a smooth transition, with minimal environmental impact and cost. | Royal Families |
4m ago Queen's coffin processed being taken out of abbey for procession to Hyde Park The pall bearers raised Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from the catafalque in the center of Westminster Abbey and began processing with it through the center aisle of the great nave, to bring it outside and place it back on the State Gun Carriage. Members of the Royal family follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey during her State Funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Frank Augstein/AP The coffin will be followed in procession on the carriage by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, along with other members of the family. The entire procession was to take about 45 minutes to reach Wellington Arch, at Hyde Park Corner.From there, the queen's coffin was to be placed in a hearse for the drive west from central London to Windsor, where the queen will be laid to rest in her family chapel next to her late husband Prince Philip. 25m ago A commendation, a blessing, trumpets and a silence for the queen. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave the commendation over the queen's coffin as the funeral service neared its end on Monday. The commendation, essentially a prayer for the late queen to be welcomed into heaven, included the traditional line: "Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world," which is often included in funeral services.The commendation was followed by a new song composed specifically for the service, the words for which were taken from Romans 8 in the Bible, which includes the line, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is placed in Westminster Abbey in central London, for the funeral service, September 19, 2022. Ben Stansall/AP The dean of the abbey then delivered a blessing, and asked those in the ancient church to remain standing for the "Last Post," a trumpet peel by the royal Household Cavalry.Finally, all fell silent. A two-minute national silence was held at 11:55 a.m. local time, or 6:55 a.m. Eastern, to honor the queen. 41m ago Unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II released on the eve of her funeral A never-before-seen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was released by the royal family on the eve of the late monarch's state funeral, for which thousands flocked to the British capital, London, on Monday.The photo was taken to mark the queen's Platinum Jubilee, the celebration of her 70 years on the throne, the royal family said. Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to ever reach that milestone, which she celebrated three months before her death. Ahead of Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral, a new photograph has been released.The photo was taken to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee - the first British Monarch to reach this milestone.Tomorrow, millions will come together to commemorate her remarkable life. pic.twitter.com/UyVfjVvJgw— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 18, 2022 The photo was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the commemoration photo for her Platinum Jubilee. 60m ago British Commonwealth official gives first reading as funeral begins As the queen's coffin entered the abbey, the Choir of Westminster Abbey sang The Sentences, a song which has been used since the mid-1500s, according to Buckingham Palace, including at every state funeral since the early 18th century.The "First Lesson" was then read by Baroness Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, in tribute to the late monarch's life "of dedication and service to the family of nations," the palace said. The queen's death and passage of the throne to her son King Charles III comes at a time when several members of that "family of nations" are fiercely debating their future within it, with referendums planned in a couple Caribbean countries in particular on becoming fully independent republics. Queen Elizabeth II's death revives criticism of the monarchy's colonial past and role in the slave trade 05:10 6:08 AM Prince George and Princess Charlotte processing behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II The queen's great grandchildren, nine-year-old Prince Goerge and seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, will participate in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, according to the order of service provided by Buckingham Palace. The children of William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, joined the funeral procession along with other members of the royal family as their grandmother's coffin entered Westminster Abbey. Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Kate, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in London, September 19, 2022. Phil Noble/Pool/AP Their younger brother, four-year-old Prince Louis, did not join in the procession, nor did the children of William's brother Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 5:47 AM Royal family members processing with queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey Members of Britain's royal family, led by King Charles III, have begun the solemn procession with the late Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from Westminster Hall, where she lied in state for four days, to Westminster Abbey, where her funeral will take place. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is seen atop the State Gun Carriage outside Westminster Hall, flanked by members of the U.K. Royal Navy, with senior members of the royal family behind the coffin, ahead of the late monarch's state funeral on September 19, 2022, in London, England. CBS News The king and his sons, William the Prince of Wales, and Harry the Duke of Sussex, and other family members followed the queen's coffin out of Westminster Hall and watched as it was placed on the ceremonial State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. The same carriage was used for the funerals of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, and Winston Churchill. Prince William and Prince Harry follow a gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London, September 19, 2022. Emilio Morenatti/AP The short route between the hall and the abbey was lined by members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.The queen's coffin was to be taken off the gun carriage and carried into the abbey for the funeral service just before 11 a.m. local time, or 6 a.m. eastern. 5:43 AM U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived at London's Westminster Hall on Monday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Biden is one of a number of heads of state who is attending the funeral, along with members of other royal families and dignitaries from around the world. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among dozens of other world leaders attending the funeral. U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrive at Westminster Abbey before the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried inside for her funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Bernat Armangue/AP 5:26 AM U.K. Air Force member was last member of public to file past queen's coffin A British Royal Air Force service member was the last member of the public to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at the U.K. Parliament's Westminster Hall on Monday. Chrissy Heerey was at the very end of the behemoth, five-mile-long line that quickly became known simply as "The Queue."She got the last spot after joining the line for a second time early Monday, having already filed past the queen's sealed coffin on Sunday evening.The public viewing period ended just before 6:30 a.m. in London, or about 1:30 a.m. Eastern on Monday. Heerey was the last of the hundreds of thousands of people who waited for hours, sometimes a full day or and night, to pay their respects. Christina (Chrissy) Heerey, the last member of the public to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, walks through Westminster Hall in London, England on September 19, 2022. Lorena Sopena/Anadolu Agency/Getty "I was the last person to pay my respects to the queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that," Heerey told Britain's PA news agency. "I'd already been round once, I went in at 1:15 this morning… It's one of the highlights of my life, and I feel very privileged to be here.""The Queue" officially opened at 5 p.m. (noon Eastern) on Wednesday. The well-planned and orchestrated process was expected to allow some 750,000 people snake their way along the Thames River for four days, around the clock, to file past the queen's coffin. 1:59 AM Queen's lying-in-state ends ahead of her funeral A day packed with funeral events in London and Windsor began early on Monday when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin since Sept 14. Many had spent cold nights on line outdoors to pay their respects at the foot of the flag-draped coffin in a moving outpouring of national grief. The closing of the hall marked the end of four full days of the coffin lying in state. Monday has been declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth. Her funeral will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country. Police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London's history. Updated 9:30 AM / September 18, 2022 The extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was not originally destined to be queen. But that changed in 1936, when she was 10 years old, because her uncle Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, and Elizabeth's father, George VI, took his place.Princess Elizabeth rapidly became a public favorite. During World War II, she not only worked to raise the country's morale, appealing to her fellow Britons on public radio to "make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place," she also served as a volunteer in the war effort, training as a mechanic in the women's auxiliary service. Queen Elizabeth II through the years 76 photos Her marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947 give a war-weary country something to celebrate. Their children — Charles, then Anne, Andrew and Edward — re-established the royal line. Her marriage to Philip lasted 73 years, until his death on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.Elizabeth was just 25 years old when she inherited the throne in February 1952, following the death of her father, George VI. Her coronation in June of the following year was the first ever to be televised. Duty was the royal family's ethos under Elizabeth's reign."I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service," she once told the nation. It was a promise she kept longer than any other British monarch in history, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — just months before her passing. Queen Elizabeth honored with grand procession through London 03:58 Her reign, however, was not without controversy. Some protesters question the value of monarchical traditions in modern times and the concentration of inherited wealth in the family's hands. In lands once ruled by the British Empire, a painful history of subjugation and the brutality of the slave trade still resonate in current events. Queen Elizabeth II's unlikely path to the throne and the legacy she leaves behind 05:35 Updated 9:20 AM / September 18, 2022 Royal family's new roles A series of changes rippled through Britain's royal family following the death of its longtime matriarch. Elizabeth's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, was immediately elevated to sovereign and became King Charles III. His wife, Camilla, took on the title queen consort.Among Charles' first official acts was to announce that his older son, Prince William, who is now next in line to the throne, has been granted the title Prince of Wales, the role Charles himself held for over 50 years. William's wife Catherine is now Princess of Wales — a title last held by William and Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex — who gave up working as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California — did not receive new titles. But their children, 3-year-old Archie and 1-year-old Lilibet, gained the right to be known as prince and princess, as grandchildren of the monarch. Britain's royal line of succession 32 photos Updated 9:15 AM / September 18, 2022 Significance of Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, where the funeral is being held, has a long and storied history. In addition to being the site of Britain's monarchical coronations since 1066, the abbey was also a special place to the late queen herself during her 96-plus years. In 1947, at the age of 21, then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey's altar. Five years later, her coronation was held here. The flag flies at half mast at Westminster Abbey in London on September 12, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Family joy would follow with the marriage of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton here in 2011. Family sorrow would come, too, with the funeral of the queen's mother in 2002, and then the funeral of her husband in 2021.The last time a monarch's funeral was held in Westminster Abbey itself was 262 years ago, for King George II."This is Westminster Abbey. This is her majesty the queen. I think you can assume that you're going to see tradition in action — great, living tradition in action," said the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, who was appointed by the queen as the 39th Dean of Westminster Abbey, and who is tasked with leading the service. "I think the job of the abbey and the job of people like me, to some extent, is to keep stitching the story together — to say it's possible in pretty divided and volatile times to say, all this can be gathered in, reconciled, redeemed, celebrated. So, her majesty's reign, which started in the abbey, comes to an end in the abbey. It's a bit more of stitching the story together."Read more here. | Royal Families |
Prince William and the Princess of Wales are among the royals who will meet volunteers today as the Big Help Out event wraps up the coronation weekend.
An estimated 6.5 million people have said they plan to take part, either organising their own community activities or working with groups such as the Scouts, National Trust and RNLI.
Fresh from their appearance at the coronation concert, the Prince of Princess of Wales will be at a Scout hut in Berkshire, while Princess Anne is at an event in Gloucestershire.
Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh will help train puppies at a guide dog centre, while the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will meet volunteers at a London street party.
Politicians from the main parties are also getting involved.
The prime minister and his wife are helping at a lunch club, Labour leader Keir Starmer is answering calls for the NHS volunteer responders programme, and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf is at a community larder.
However, after a busy few days in the spotlight, Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen will not be taking part but are "wholly supportive" of the volunteering event.
More than 52,000 registered events, organised by more than 33,000 organisations, are said to be taking place across the UK.
Matt Hyde, CEO of the Scouts - who came up with the idea with Catherine Johnstone of the Royal Voluntary Service, said there was still time for people to get involved.
"All you have to do is log on to the website or download the app and find something that's right for you," he said.
"If you don't find the thing you want there's still time to do your own thing; a litter pick with friends, do something nice for a neighbour or sign up to a longer term volunteering role."
The Big Help Out takes place on the last day of the three-day coronation weekend and follows Sunday night's concert in the King's 'back garden' at Windsor Castle.
Katy Perry, Take That and Lionel Richie were among the stars who wowed the 20,000-strong crowd - with the King and Queen waving the Union flag and dancing.
Prince William, who was there with the Princess of Wales and his two eldest children, paid an emotional tribute to his father as he gave a speech on stage.
"Pa, we are all so proud of you", he told him, as he reference the King's 50 years of service.
The prince added: "As my grandmother said when she was crowned, coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future.
"And I know she's up there, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother."
The prince's moment in the spotlight came after he and the Princess of Wales earlier delighted crowds on Windsor's Long Walk with a surprise walkabout.
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The concert followed thousands of street parties and picnics across the country as people came together for the coronation Big Lunch event.
Downing Street was among those to take part, with Rishi Sunak laying on a tasty spread for volunteers, Ukrainian refugees and youth group members.
The event was also attended by First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter, who represented the US at Saturday's coronation in Westminster Abbey. | Royal Families |
Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England.Wpa Pool | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesHundreds of global dignitaries are gathered in London on Monday to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, marking a level of ceremony unseen in the U.K. for decades.A congregation of around 500 kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents arrived in London over the weekend to pay their respects to the late queen.On Sunday, many of them visited Westminster Abbey, where she has been lying in state, before going on to a reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the king and queen consort.Britain's longest-serving monarch is being laid to rest Monday, 11 days after she died at Balmoral Castle aged 96.In all, the funeral is expected to be attended by around 2,000 guests. The guest list has not been confirmed, but here's what we know about who is — and isn't — expected to attend, according to BBC reports.The royal familyKing Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be front and center of the ceremony, walking behind the queen's coffin. They will be followed by the rest of the royal family, including the queen's other three children — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — and their spouses.Britain's King Charles III waves as he's driven down the Mall in London on September 19, 2022, ahead of the State Funeral Service of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. - Leaders from around the world will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The country's longest-serving monarch, who died aged 96 after 70 years on the throne, will be honoured with a state funeral on Monday morning at Westminster Abbey. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)Sebastien Bozon | Afp | Getty ImagesThe Prince of Wales, William, and his brother Prince Harry will be in attendance with their wives, Kate, the Princess of Wales, and Meghan. They will be joined by the queen's other grandchildren — Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn — and their partners.It is unclear how many of the queen's 12 great-grandchildren will be there. However, it has been confirmed that Prince George and Princess Charlotte — now second and third in line to the throne, respectively — will attend.Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are among others expected to be there.World leadersAlongside British prime ministers past and present, leaders from the Commonwealth — of which the queen served as head for all of her reign — will be present.They include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.President of United States Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England.Wpa Pool | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesIndian President Droupadi Murmu, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are also expected to be there, alongside South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Rwanda's president, Paul Kagame, the current chair of the Commonwealth.U.S. President Joe Biden will also be in attendance alongside first lady Jill Biden. They will be joined by Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and President Michael Higgins, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.Other royaltyRoyal families from across Europe, many of whom share blood relations with the queen, are also expected to attend.They include Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain will also be there, alongside the royal families of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Monaco.Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako arrive at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022, for the State Funeral Service for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.Marco Bertorello | Afp | Getty ImagesEmperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are also expected to attend, as is the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.Other expected guests include royal leaders from Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Tonga.Not attendingChinese President Xi Jinping reportedly received an invitation though he will not be present. China will instead by represented by a small delegation including Vice President Wang Qishan.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman smiles as he arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 28, 2022 for a meeting with the French President.Bertrand Guay | Afp | Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto leader, Mohammed Bin Salman, was also invited but will not be in attendance, Reuters reported. The ruler has been accused by Western intelligence agencies of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, accusations he has denied.Representatives from Russia were not been invited following the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. No representatives from Belarus or Myanmar were invited either.Representatives from Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan have also not been invited, according to the BBC. That is because the U.K. does not have full diplomatic relations with those countries. | Royal Families |
A special 50 pence coin marking the Coronation of King Charles is going into circulation this week.
The Royal Mint is issuing five million of the coins, with a design based on Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation was held in May.
It will allow the public to "find a piece of history in their change", said the Royal Mint's Rebecca Morgan.
But the new King's coins will be outnumbered by 27 billion from the late Queen's reign, still in circulation.
So far the 50 pence piece has been the most visible sign of change in the coinage. This new Coronation coin follows an earlier 50 pence, released in December, which was the first mass-circulation coin to show the King's head.
There has been no timetable announced yet for other new coins to be issued, although the first King Charles banknotes are expected to appear next year.
The intention with coins, banknotes and stamps has been to use up existing stocks from Queen Elizabeth II's era, with new items from the King's reign gradually being introduced.
The Royal Mint expects the Coronation coin - with the portrait and insignia of King Charles - to be popular among "members of the public keen to own a piece of British history".
The profile of King Charles follows the tradition of looking in the opposite direction to the coins of his predecessor.
With a strong trend towards cashless payments, it might be a while before some people notice the new coins.
According to the banking industry body UK Finance, between 2011 and 2021 the use of cash fell from 55% of payments to 15%, with a further fall to 6% forecast for 2031.
But the banking body says there are still more than a million consumers who use cash as their main means of payment. | Royal Families |
Most families have topics they'd prefer not to discuss at Christmas - from drunken antics and truths best left unsaid to last year's falling out.And Europe's royal households are no different - with multiple scandals rocking the institutions across the continent throughout the recent decades that they most likely won't want discussed around the dinner table.These include the former Spanish King Juan Carlos I's alleged affairs, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden's 'wild sex parties with strippers and lengthy affair with a singer' and Britain's Prince Andrew's multi-million pound out-of-court settlement with sexual abuse accuser Virginia Roberts.Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the controversies that royal families will no doubt want to avoid mentioning this festive season... KING CARL XVI GUSTAF OF SWEDEN In 2010 the Swedish monarchy was rocked by the release of a new biography about the Swedish King (pictured in the '90s with his wife) which claimed to shine a light on his 'wild sex parties with strippers and lengthy affair with a singer' No fewer than 14 pages detailed an alleged lengthy affair he had with Camilla Henemark (pictured), the Swedish singer and modelHe was seen as the perfect 21st-century monarch, insisting Swedish law be changed to allow his eldest daughter to succeed him rather than his only son.For years, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden's only acknowledgement of a racier world was the stable of fast cars he enjoyed driving - while his 45-year marriage to Queen Silvia was credited as a wonderful example of partnership.Yet in 2010 the Swedish monarchy was rocked by the release of a new biography about the King which claimed to shine a light on his 'wild sex parties with strippers and lengthy affair with a singer'.Titled The Reluctant Monarch, it accused King Carl - who is a third cousin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II - of attending underground strip clubs with his friends and having an extramarital affair. Titled The Reluctant Monarch (pictured), it accused King Carl - who is a third cousin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth - of attending underground strip clubs with his friends and having an extramarital affairFollowing the biography's release, King Carl offered a 'vague' statement, saying he and his family had chosen to 'turn the page... and move forward because, as I understand, these are things that happened a long time ago.' The controversial book revealed that the King and his friends had enjoyed the company of 'coffee girls' - women who would 'entertain' the group, consisting of members of the remains of Swedish aristocracy.It also alleged that the King visited underground strip clubs. In the biography, the three investigative authors claimed the King had 'wild sex parties involving strippers', sometimes hosted by an infamous Mafia boss in a Stockholm club.It was also alleged that, over many years, he had been protected by the Swedish secret service, Sapo, covering up embarrassing material in his wake and pressuring women to hand over compromising pictures.According to the late Mafia-linked club owner Mille Markovic, who was quoted in the book, he liked having the King as a customer because it minimised the possibility of police raids. Following the publication of the book, Markovic claimed that he had compromising photographs of the King with naked women, taken at one of his sex clubs in the 1980s.In 2021, the author of the controversial biography, Thomas Sjöberg, appeared on a new podcast, Motive, to explore with the documentary series creator, Nils Bergman, the 'royal scandal'. In the descriptions of the six-part podcast, available via the Acast+ subscription service, it is said that the King and his friends, the so-called ‘royal gang’, for a few years in the early ‘90s had a standing reservation on Mondays at the underground club owned by Markovic. In 2010, The Reluctant Monarch also accused King Carl (pictured with his wife in 2020) of having an extramarital affair with a famous Swedish singer in the 90s‘Young women and strippers have in an almost systematic way been called into these party nights to please this elite group of powerful men,’ read the synopsis of episode two, when translated from Swedish to English.‘The men have promised the world, modelling jobs and careers in the entertainment industry, in exchange for providing what they want.’Several women interviewed for the book claimed they had sex with the King. After one big dinner celebrating a successful elk hunt, he is said to have enjoyed sex with two women at the same time.At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where the King of Sweden was inevitably a VIP guest, he is said to have spent $10,000 (£7,000) in the Gold Club nightclub, including two hours in a room alone with one of the strippers.In some instances, Sapo agents have allegedly been used to search the homes of women in order to confiscate pictures taken at the King’s private parties.‘If the rolls of film and pictures aren’t turned over, some unpleasant things will happen,’ the book startlingly claimed.In 2010, The Reluctant Monarch also accused King Carl of having an extramarital affair with a famous Swedish singer in the 90s.No fewer than 14 pages detailed an alleged lengthy affair he had with Camilla Henemark, the Swedish singer and model.Her response to the revelations following the book launch was not to deny them but merely to say her lawyer had advised her ‘not to give any comments’.The book claimed that Queen Silvia was aware of this affair but was helpless as the King ‘had fallen in love like a teenager and, on one occasion, the King and Henemark were talking about leaving for a distant island, like Marlon Brando in Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, where they planned to live on coconuts’.‘It’s terrible that this has all come out,’ said a courtier at the time. ‘But the Queen is a trooper. She will show nothing.'BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW Prince Andrew is pictured in 2001 with Epstein sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, then 17, who has accused him of sexual abuse. Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied the claims Andrew (pictured in September) denied these allegations publicly, including taking part in a now-infamous interview with Emily Maitlis during which he claimed to have been at a Pizza Express in Woking on the night in questionPrince Andrew, 62, paid Virginia Giuffre, 39, a reported £12million to settle a civil case in which she accused him of sexual abuse. He has consistently and vehemently denied the claims. Ms Giuffre alleged that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17 - while she was being trafficked by his friend Jeffrey Epstein.But earlier this year the Duke of York agreed a £12million out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, before the case went to a US civil trial. This settlement was not an admission of liability,Andrew denied these allegations publicly, including taking part in a now-infamous interview with Emily Maitlis during which he claimed to have been at a Pizza Express in Woking on the night in question. The Prince has since been stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military titles.In October 2022, insiders revealed the shamed Duke of York binge-watches TV box sets, barely leaves home and has been left wondering how his reputation has been left in tatters by his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.Friends said Andrew has finally resigned himself to playing a 'back seat' role and is committed to acting 'absolutely in the background' as a 'supportive figure' for 'The Firm'.Now living with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York at Royal Lodge, their 30-room home in Windsor Great Park, the duke is a 'virtual recluse' who only ventures out to go horse-riding on the estate twice a week, for the occasional swim, or to walk the royal corgis Muick and Sandy and his and Fergie's five Norfolk terriers, insiders revealed. A friend told the Telegraph: 'He has a much better understanding of the challenges he faces than at any other point in his life. 'He has a better sense of perspective - partly because he's had these three years to reflect – to do the work, and to focus on his immediate family. The Duke of York of today is much more thoughtful and more mindful than he has ever been.'They added: 'He acknowledges privately that Newsnight was by no means his finest hour. The feeling that he has been treated abysmally is held by his nearest and dearest, but the duke's attitude is more along the lines of: It is what it is.'Representatives for the duke declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.JUAN CARLOS I OF SPAIN Juan Carlos and Danish-German philanthropist Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2006 He was the King of Spain from 1975 until his controversial abdication in 2014 - and during that time, Juan Carlos I (pictured with his wife Queen Sofia in 2009) is rumoured to have had relationships with over 5,000 womenHe was the King of Spain from 1975 until his controversial abdication in 2014 - and during that time, Juan Carlos I is rumoured to have had relationships with over 5,000 women.In October, an ex-police chief sensationally claimed in a parliamentary hearing that the exiled former Spanish king Juan Carlos was 'injected with female hormones to control his rampant sex drive'.Jose Manuel Villarejo also said the disgraced former monarch, now living at a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi, was given testosterone blockers by the Spanish secret service after his libido was categorised as a 'state problem.'Villarejo, a former Spanish Police commissioner was on trial at the time in a blackmail case, said, according to The Times: '[The National Intelligence Centre (CNI)] injected female hormones and testosterone blockers to control his libido because it was considered a problem of state that he was so horny.'Danish-German philanthropist Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, Spanish singer Sara Montiel, Belgian governess Liliane Sartiau and Italian princess Maria Gabriela de Saboya are just some of the women he is rumoured to have bedded besides his wife, Queen Sofia.News of the disgraced former king's legendary libido are not new, however. It comes after a Spanish author and military historian Amadeo Martinez Ingles wrote a book entitled 'Juan Carlos: The King Of 5,000 Lovers', piecing together evidence of his sexual history and painting the king as a rampant sex addict.Villarejo, who has been accused of spying on and working to discredit some of Spain's most high-profile politicians as a key figure in the nation's 'sewer politics', also insisted he was asked to get rid of medical documents which would have proved the medication went on.He denied having any involvement in the effort to bring Juan Carlos' notorious sex drive under control and said he found out about it from Corinna Larsen, a former lover of the ex-monarch now living in London.Larsen, also known as Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 58, had an affair with the 84-year-old monarch - who is married to Queen Sofia, 84 - between 2004 and 2009.In his explosive book published in 2016 called 'Juan Carlos: The King of 5,000 lovers', author Martinez Ingles dubbed the ex-king a sex addict and said he had hundreds of relationships even after marriage to his wife Queen Sofia in 1962.The book claimed he had had 62 lovers in one six-month period alone, and during his 'passionate period' between 1976 and 1994, the king had slept with a staggering 2,154 women.One of Juan Carlos’ early sexual encounters is said to be with Maria Gabriela de Saboya, daughter of the last king of Italy.Later, Juan Carlos, who was crowned king in 1975, allegedly became estranged from his wife after the queen found him in a compromising position with Spanish actress and singer, Sara Montiel.It is rumoured that Queen Sofia caught him in the act with Montiel just weeks after their coronation, but she denied any affair.In January 2017 it was claimed spymasters paid a former Miss World contestant millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to stop her spilling the beans on her supposed affair with Juan Carlos when he was still King of Spain.Former beauty queen-turned-actress Barbara Rey reportedly had the cash paid into an offshore account to make sure she kept quiet about her long-standing romance with the ex-monarch.PRINCE LAURENT OF BELGIUM Prince Laurent of Belgium (pictured with Princess Claire of Belgium), 59, who is the younger brother of King Philippe, has been labelled The Cursed Prince (Le Prince Maudit) due to his various gaffes and scandalsPrince Laurent of Belgium, 59, who is the younger brother of King Philippe, has been labelled The Cursed Prince (Le Prince Maudit) due to his various gaffes and scandals.In March 2018 the former military helicopter pilot had his monthly allowance cut by 15 per cent for a year, after he attended a Chinese embassy reception without government permission. The royal was caught out when he tweeted an image of himself at the Chinese embassy party in full naval uniform.He also visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony, in 2011 without permission, and met with Colonel Gaddafi in Libya, who he said he promised him £42 million for a forestry scheme. The black sheep of the family, the Prince has also accused his own family of 'sabotaging' his life and monitoring him 'like the Stasi'. In 2014, he was forced to pay back £14,500 after invoicing the state for supermarket bills, skiing holidays and his children's school fees.In 2016, it was decided that Prince Laurent's children were not allowed to carry the name 'of Belgium'.Prince Laurent's involvement in animal welfare and environmental issues, as well as him ignoring protocol, have earned Laurent the nickname of 'ecolo-gaffeur' ('the eco-blunderer').The prince was also named in a corruption scandal and is known for his love of speed, having racked up several speeding tickets.Prince Laurent is married to British-born Princess Claire, who was born in Bath as Claire Coombs and who worked as a land surveyor.KATE'S UNCLE GARY GOLDSMITH Known as the 'black sheep' of the Middleton family, Gary Goldsmith (pictured) has created a reputation for fun, despite a series of publicly embarrassing and scandalous incidentsKnown as the 'black sheep' of the Middleton family, Gary Goldsmith has created a reputation for fun, despite a series of publicly embarrassing and scandalous incidents.In 2009, Mr Goldsmith was exposed by a tabloid newspaper, cutting lines of cocaine with a razor blade while on holiday in his villa on the Spanish party island of Ibiza, which is named the Maison de Bang Bang. He later expressed remorse over the matter.The Maison de Bang Bang has become known for its gaudiness, with gold bathroom taps and the letters GG emblazoned on the wall. There is also a mural that reads: 'It's Gary's world, you just live in it.'In one, particularly embarrassing, outburst Mr Goldsmith was alleged to have boasted of his connections to the royal family and joked 'I've got my own rooms, the Goldsmith Wing', a reference to having access to Buckingham Palace after his niece Kate Middleton was married to Prince William.'I'm going to be Duke of Slough,' he is said to have added.He was brought up on a council estate in Hounslow, West London, and started work as an IT operator before making millions with a recruitment company he floated on the stock exchange.Mr Goldsmith - previously estimated to be worth £30million - arrived for the royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, in 2011, in a blue Rolls-Royce along with his ex-wife Luan and daughter Tallulah.His references to the guest list also caused consternation as he bragged that Tara Palmer-Tomkinson was sat in front of him, while Rowan Atkinson was next to him 'and the Beckhams at 11 o'clock'.According to Mr Goldsmith, when he met Prince William in 2006, when the prince and then Miss Middleton stayed at his villa, his first words were 'Oi you f***er'.In November 2017, Mr Goldsmith was described by Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot Goldsmith as engaging in drunken and 'loutish behaviour' when he knocked his wife Julie-Ann to the ground outside their home as they returned home from a charity auction. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and rehabilitation sessions.The couple began arguing in a taxi on their way home from a charity auction at Home House, a private members' club in central London, on October 13 after Julie Ann accused her husband of taking drugs. He responded by calling her a 'w****' and a 'nothing'.After getting out of the cab Mrs Goldsmith slapped her husband on the face and he responded by punching her with a 'left hook', taxi driver Daniel Shepherd told police.The multi-millionaire was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and £85 towards prosecution costs. The CPS dropped the application for a restraining order on Goldsmith.Taxi driver Mr Shepherd said Mrs Goldsmith was left 'unconscious and not moving' on the ground following the punch. She remained with her eyes closed for about 15 seconds before waking up and staggering to her feet, the court heard.Mr Shepherd said he confronted Goldsmith and said: 'Mate, you cannot do that.'When Goldsmith turned towards him in an aggressive manner, the taxi driver added: 'What are you going to do, start on me now?'Goldsmith initially told the police he had pushed his wife hard with his left hand, but denied using a hook. He issued a heartfelt apology to the court and said he was 'deeply ashamed' for punching his wife.PRINCE ERNST OF HANOVER Married in Monaco: Prince Ernst of Hanover married Princess Caroline, sister of Prince Albert II of Monaco and daughter of Prince Rainier III, in 1999. Pictured, the couple at an event in 2000Prince Ernst of Hanover, the estranged husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, was handed a 10-month suspended jail sentence in Austria in 2021 for drunkenly injuring a police officer and threatening another with a baseball bat. He was also required by the court to find another home in Austria and attend psychotherapy.His lawyers explained during the trial that he had undertaken treatment since the incidents, which they said occurred while he had been 'isolated for years and betrayed by his own son'.Hola! reports the instructions have since been lifted. Ancient royal lineage: Who are the Hanoverians? The Hanoverians trace their lineage to the Welfs, also known as the Guelphs, who were once one of the foremost medieval dynasties in Europe.The ruled over large swathes of what became southern Germany and northern Italy, including Tuscany, Bavaria and Saxony.Later, they were the electors and kings of Hanover and ruled Britain and Ireland from when George I ascended to the throne in 1714 to the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837, at which point the personal union with the United Kingdom ended.In 1866 they lost their last German royal title, but held on to a large portfolio of properties, with the 135-room Marienburg castle near Hanover, built in 1867, being the best-known property under their stewardship.The castle was built between 1858 and 1867 as a birthday present by King George V of Hanover (reigned 1851–1866) to his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg.It has been likened to the famous Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria, which was built two years later in 1869, which famously served as the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Meanwhile, in December 2021, it emerged Ernst, the great-grandson of Emperor William II, had found love with a woman 20 years his junior.Ernst, 67, a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was spotted out and about in Madrid with Spanish-born artist Claudia Stilianopoulos, 48, whose parents were friends with Princess Margaret.The couple reportedly met in Ibiza in July 2021 and had become close, with some European news websites at the time even hinting marriage could have been on the cards. Ernst married Princess Caroline, sister of Prince Albert II and daughter of Prince Rainier III, in 1999 and shares daughter Princess Alexandra, 22. They split in 2009 but have never divorced. The royal, who is caught up in a legal battle with his son, Ernst Jr, has dated a number of women in the years since, including glamorous Portuguese socialite Countess Maria Madalena Bensaude. However 'none have promised as much' as his flourishing relationship with Claudia, according to Hola!, the Spanish version of glossy magazine Hello! reported at the time.Mother-of-two Claudia is an artist known for her architectural sculptures. Her parents were José Manuel Stilianopoulos y Estela, known as Mike Stilianopoulos, a Philippine Ambassador to Britain in the late 1970s, and Spanish socialite Esperanza Ridruejo, known as Pitita. The couple befriended Princess Margaret and offered her use of their villa in Marbella, Spain, for a stay with then boyfriend Roddy Llewellyn in 1979, shortly after her divorce from Anthony Armstrong-Jones. Mike and Pitita, as they were known, settled in Madrid and became fixtures of the Spanish social scene. Mike died in 2016, his wife in 2019.Ernst, the head of a German dynasty of one of Europe's biggest aristocratic families, has for years been in conflict with his 'ungrateful' son, whom he suspects of seeking to squander family properties in Germany, especially land and forests in Lower Saxony.At the end of last year he filed a lawsuit in a court in Hanover in northern Germany in order to recover the Marienburg castle, which has become a tourist attraction.Prince Ernst accused his son of 'going behind his back' in court papers filed in 2021.He had transferred Marienburg castle and the neighbouring Calenburg estate to his son - also called Ernst August - in the mid-2000s.The Duke of Braunschweig and Lüneberg then flogged the land and in 2018 announced that Marienburg would be sold to the government for a nominal fee.This may have been more economic than benevolent: the castle required renovations estimated at more than £23 million and had been costing a fortune to keep open to 200,000 visitors each year.The younger Ernst said it marked an 'historic turning point' for the family and would help preserve the Gothic palace for the public.The Bundestag - Germany's federal parliament - has already voted in favour of contributing £12 million towards the renovations, while around 100 paintings and other artefacts from the castle have been handed to Hanover's state museum.These were worth a total of £2 million, while a further £5 million worth of treasures have been given to an art foundation.Read more: Spain's former King Juan Carlos I DID have immunity from mistress's harassment claims while he was monarch, London judges rule as he fights UK-based ex's damages claim Prince Andrew's armed protection police are being replaced by private security officers allowed to only use Tasers - amid claims King Charles may personally pay £3M bodyguard bill Camilla takes disgraced Prince Andrew's titles: Queen consort becomes Colonel of the Grenadier Guards as the King shakes up royals and gives the Princess of Wales first Army role | Royal Families |
This week, King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a surprise trip to Northern Ireland to continue their coronation celebrations, and their visit included the opportunity to sit on a throne very unlike the Westminster Abbey relics they were crowned on earlier this month. On Wednesday, the king and queen sat on a purple coronation bench designed by local elementary school children when they visited Hillsborough Castle in County Down.
“Shall we give it a go?” Charles said before he sat down alongside his wife. He added with a laugh, “Will it suddenly collapse?”
After sitting on the bench, Camilla spoke to students about the bench and its inspiration. The students at Blythefield Primary School were the winners of Historic Royal Palaces’ competition to create benches inspired by hopes for the king’s reign. According to the organization, which maintains six palaces and historic sites across the UK, the Blythewood students’ vibrant design featured flowers that reflect the ethnic diversity of the school, “the costus spectabili for Nigeria; the hibiscus for Malaysia and the waterlily for Bangladesh,” along with a stag motif to symbolize the environment.
According to BBC, the couple was joined at Hillsborough by John Caldwell, a police detective who was shot in February by two gunmen potentially connected to a dissident republican group, and also had a private meeting with him.
Earlier in the day, the couple began their visit to the region with a trip to a new Coronation Garden at Hazelbank Park in County Antrim, where they met with the garden’s designer, Diarmuid Gavin, who explained his inspiration behind the “whimsical” garden. “They were wonderful,” Gavin later told Belfast Live. “I got to spend a little bit of time with them, we went into the quiet garden with the water dancing and they were asking me where the plants came from, the idea behind the design, and they couldn't have been nicer.” Later, the couple were serenaded by another group of school children and laughed as they cut into a cake shaped like the St. Edward’s Crown.
On Thursday, the king and queen began their day with a trip to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, where they were introduced to two eight-year-olds standing outside. Camilla laughed when the children, Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray, told her their names. “We’ve got a couple,” she said. “Goodness me, isn’t that funny,” She noticed that the children were wearing crowns made out of construction paper with plastic jewels. “You’ve got very smart crowns on. They’re a little bit lighter than the one I had on. They look pretty cool with all the jewels.” | Royal Families |
King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Kenya – where the late queen acceded the throne in 1952 – next month, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The trip is highly significant because it is the King’s first visit to the country where Elizabeth II’s reign began as monarch. It will be King Charles and Queen Camilla’s third state visit this year and comes at the invitation of the country’s President William Ruto.
At a press conference Wednesday, aides for the King and Queen said Their Majesties are “very excited” about the busy, varied and energetic four-day itinerary that begins on October 31st in Nairobi and ends November 3rd in Mombasa.
It will be Charles’ fourth trip to the African country and follows two highly successful state visits to Germany and France. The state visit coincides with Kenya’s 60 years of independence following British colonial rule. Her late Majesty the Queen was Queen of Kenya from 1963 to 1964 when the country was an independent sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy.
While Charles and Camilla will not visit Treetops, the famous safari lodge where Princess Elizabeth was told she was Queen following the death of her father, the late monarch will be remembered in “touching tributes” during the trip, aides said. It is understood that a visit to Treetops would be a challenge because of time and logistics as it is far away from Nairobi and Mombasa where the royal itinerary is focused.
The palace said that the King and Queen are looking forward to meeting many Kenyans and the program will be heavily focused on young people. The King will host a reception focused on Kenya’s future leaders across development, trade, media, the creative arts and conservation.
The average age for Kenyans is 19 and with the Prince’s Trust actively involved in a number of initiatives in the country, promoting youth features prominently in the itinerary along with sustainability and climate change. There will also be a focus on conservation and Charles and Camilla will go on a safari in the Nairobi National Park to witness the work of the Kenya Wildlife Service and to learn more about the country’s anti-poaching efforts and visit an elephant orphanage. The Queen will also meet with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, learning how they are supported and sharing her own insights from working in this area.
During the visit the royals will meet with the country’s President and First Lady Rachel Ruto and attend a state dinner. They will also meet UN staff, CEOs, faith leaders and future leaders as well as Kenyan Marines training with the UK royal marines.
Palace aides said that the visit will acknowledge Kenya’s past and the “painful aspects” of the two countries’ shared history including the Mau Mau rebellions against British colonial rule in the 1950s during which thousands of Kenyans were killed.
The King and Queen will tour a new museum dedicated to Kenya’s history where they will learn more about the Kenyan Emergency from 1952-60. The King will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The visit to Kenya, at the request of the country’s president and the British Foreign Office will be a chance to bolster relations between the two countries. President Ruto attended King Charles’ coronation in May and palace aides describe the relationship as “warm, strong and dynamic.”
According to the King’s deputy private secretary Chris Fitzgerald, “Their Majesties’ program will reflect the ways in which Kenya and the United Kingdom are working together, notably to boost mutual prosperity, tackle climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development and create a more stable and secure region.”
Aides are keen that the trip will foster secure and meaningful bilateral relations between Kenya and the UK with a spokesman for the Foreign Office describing state visits as “vital” for promoting the UK to the rest of the world and creating lasting legacies. Meanwhile, future visits to other commonwealth nations and realms are already being discussed, Vanity Fair has learned. | Royal Families |
Over the last year, Prince William and Princess Kate have become more comfortable bringing their three young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis along to public events. They’ve been introducing them to their royal roles slowly, but starting at last year’s Platinum Jubilee honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, the youngest Windsors became a source of great media moments. It was especially clear during the coronation of King Charles III in May, when George had a major role as a page boy alongside a few friends and relatives.
According to family friends who spoke to People, Kate and William knew that George, who turns 10 on July 22, was under pressure during the ceremony, but they thought he was ready. One close source said it was a reflection of the fact that Kate and William “consciously set out to achieve a sense of normality,” and had the permission of King Charles and the late queen to put their family above royal duties.
It might come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Kate’s work on early childhood education, where she emphasizes the importance of safety and stability during the first five years of a child’s life. A friend told the magazine that Kate and William wanted to make sure their children were on a good footing in their early years. “Royal families over the generations haven't had the chance to get those foundations right, but they have,” says a friend.
A source in the royal household told People that Kate’s own upbringing outside of the aristocratic fold, where boarding schools and nannies are much more common, helped shape her approach as well. “Coming from a different background, she appreciates the importance of having family time,” the source said. “She wasn’t brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day.”
When George was born in July 2013, William and Kate spent his first few weeks living with Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton at their home outside of the royal fold. Eventually they moved to Anmer Hall, a country house on the Sandringham Estate gifted to them by the late queen, where they were able to live in relative seclusion while still keeping their apartment in Kensington Palace.
But in recent years, the couple has begun to put more emphasis on royal duties and engagements. Last fall, all three children began attending school at Lambrook, a private school in Berkshire, and the family moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, close to the castle where they frequently host events and hold meetings. | Royal Families |
Observers around the world watched Queen Elizabeth’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, as mourners paid their final respects to the late monarch.The queen died on Sept. 8 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. She was 96.The funeral, which was attended by over 2,000 people, included an international audience of royal families and heads of state.The funeral followed four days of the queen’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall, where people waited in a mileslong line for hours to file past.On Friday night, the queen’s four children ― King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward ― all took part in a vigil for their mother. The following night, the queen’s eight grandchildren, including Princes William and Harry, also participated in a vigil.The queen’s coffin was moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on Monday, followed by a procession that included members of the royal family and the king’s household.On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released an order of service for the funeral, confirming that Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7, would be participating in the processional. Following the funeral, the “Last Post” musical call will play, followed by two minutes of silence, which will be observed across the United Kingdom. The funeral will officially come to a close as people sing the national anthem, “God Save the King.”The queen’s coffin will then make one last journey to Windsor Castle, where members of the royal family and past and present members of the royal households will gather for a private committal service at St. George’s Chapel, where the queen will be buried within the Royal Vault. Prince Philip’s coffin will be moved to be buried beside the queen at the chapel. Following the service, another private burial will occur that evening at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Take a look at more images from the funeral service below:Christopher Furlong via Getty ImagesYeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. WPA Pool via Getty ImagesGuests arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster AbbeyGEOFF PUGH via Getty ImagesCarole Middleton and Michael Middleton, parents of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, arrive at Westminster Abbey. Peter Byrne - PA Images via Getty ImagesInvited guests arriving at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. | Royal Families |
The coronation of His Majesty King Charles III is here and we’ve all been invited (sort of). In June 1953, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation made history as the first-ever televised coronation of a monarch. Over 20 million Brits tuned in to the black-and-white broadcast back then, which was later shown worldwide. Seventy years later, Queen Elizabeth’s son is set to be officially crowned the King of England in a ceremony that's being viewed live by many millions across the globe. Looking to join in on the royal family’s festivities from across the pond? Even if you’re in the US, there’s no shortage of ways to watch or stream the coronation of King Charles today. For one, you can watch it here on Yahoo.
How to watch the Coronation of King Charles III:
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Start time: 6 a.m. ET
Location: Westminster Abbey, London, UK
UK TV: BBC, ITV, Sky News
US TV: ABC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, FOX News, NBC
Online: Yahoo
How to watch King Charles III’s coronation without cable
Don't have easy access to ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News or NBC? Don't worry. Here's how you can watch the coronation through a VPN, streaming platform or live TV package.
How to watch the King Charles III coronation for free
Many media outlets (including this one) will be livestreaming coronation coverage — including Yahoo.
Have more questions on the Coronation of King Charles III? Follow along with our live updates
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King Charles begins his procession
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort travelling in the Diamond Jubilee Coach, built in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, ahead of the coronation. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The king's procession to Westminster Abbey has started, with crowds cheering as Charles and Camilla's carriage passes.
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Prince Andrew booed by crowd
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was booed by some members of the crowd as he arrived for the coronation. (Getty Images)
Prince Andrew was booed by parts of the crowd as he was driven down The Mall in a state car. The Duke of York will not play an official role in the ceremony after stepping back from his role as a working royal.
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Q: Do they have to practice the coronation? (Aoife, 11, Cirencester)
A. There are lots of moving parts in a big ceremony like this, so the royals and the military taking part have had to practice a lot before the day itself.Midnight rehearsals have taken place throughout the last week for the regiments of the armed forces taking part in the processions and the Royal Family have been at the Abbey practicing the service itself.
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Guests wait at Westminster Abbey
An inside view of Westminster Abbey as guests wait for King Charles. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Q. What's the procession route?
A. The first procession of the day is called the King’s procession, and Charles and Camilla will travel in the Diamond Jubilee state coach – accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry – down The Mall, through the Admiralty Arch and south of King Charles I Island, along Whitehall and Parliament Street, before travelling round the east and southern sides of Parliament Square. They’ll arrive at the Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey just before 11am, and will enter through the Great West Door. On the way back to the palace, they will take the same route in reverse, in the Gold State Coach, accompanied by more members of the armed forces and Royal Family. This is called the Coronation Procession.
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Q. Rachelle on Facebook: When is he retiring?
A. It's unlikely that Charles will retire, although this was a question that was often posed about the late Queen Elizabeth in the last couple of decades of her life.
Monarchs from other countries have previously abdicated because of old age, like King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 2014. However, all recent British monarchs have stayed in their role until their death – with the exception of Edward VIII in 1936, who abdicated so he could marry a divorced woman.
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Question from the crowd: How many horses are there at the coronation? (Isobel, 9, Cirencester)
A: While the exact number of horses involved in the coronation today is unknown, there are a huge amount taking part in both the King’s and the Coronation processions, each who will be ridden by mounted military regiments. Horses will also be drawing the carriages that will transport the King and Queen.On the way to the Abbey, Charles and Camilla will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach which will be drawn by six Windsor Grey horses called Icon, Shadow, Milford Haven, Echo, Knightsbridge and Tyrone.On the way back to the palace after they’ve been crowned, Charles and Camilla will travel in the Gold State Coach which will be drawn by those six horses, plus two more call Meg and Newark because the carriage is so heavy.
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Q: Princess Anne is my favourite royal, what will her role be today? (Jill, 28, Northern Ireland)
A. Princess Anne has the role of Gold Stick – which is traditionally the bodyguard of the monarch – and Colonel of the Blues and Royals at today’s coronation. This means she will lead the Coronation Procession on horseback behind the King and Queen, followed by the rest of the Royal Family and personnel from the armed forces.In a recent interview she noted that “it solves [her] dress problem” for the celebratory occasion.
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Royal fans and protesters clash
Anti-royal protestors hold up placards saying 'Not My King' as they demonstrate behind well-wishers in Trafalgar Square. (Reuters)
Royalists clashed with Just Stop Oil protesters as the demonstrators chanted about climate change while the crowd sang the national anthem. Protesters were heckled and told to "shut up" as they shouted about the right to protest. The arguments came after the leaders of anti-monarchist group were arrested on The Strand while collecting placards, and as police warned of swift action for those suspected of breaking the law.
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Suella Braverman and other guests arrive at Westminster Abbey
Home secretary Suella Braverman, defence secretary Ben Wallace and chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt arrive at Westminster Abbey, London, ahead of the coronation . (PA Images via Getty Images)
Katy Perry and Vogue editor Edward Enninful arrive at Westminster Abbey. (Getty Images)
TV presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly at Westminster Abbey. (AFP via Getty Images)
How to watch the King Charles Coronation Concert
On Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. ET, a special coronation concert is set to take place at Windsor Castle.
Hosted by Hugh Bonneville and featuring performances by Katy Perry, British pop group Take That, international superstar Lionel Richie and opera singer Andrea Bocelli, the coronation concert may be the most exciting part of the whole royal weekend for some.
The coronation concert will air on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. For those in the US, it is currently unclear if the coronation concert will air on any major broadcast networks or streaming platforms, but you can easily tune into the UK's free coverage with the use of a VPN.
- Stream the Coronation Concert with ExpressVPN
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If you've never used a VPN before and want to learn more, check out this guide to the best VPNs of 2023.
When is King Charles’ Coronation?
The coronation of King Charles III begins with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey at 5:20 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 6 2023. The ceremony is officially set to start at 6 a.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. Following the end of the ceremony, the newly crowned King Charles and his Queen Consort, Camilla, will depart in the Gold State Coach, returning to the palace.Back at Buckingham Palace, the royal family make another appearance at 9:15 a.m. to watch a military flypast from the palace balcony.
When is King Charles’ Coronation?
The coronation of King Charles III begins with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey at 5:20 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 6 2023. The ceremony is officially set to start at 6 a.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. Following the end of the ceremony, the newly crowned King Charles and his Queen Consort, Camilla, will depart in the Gold State Coach, returning to the palace.Back at Buckingham Palace, the royal family make another appearance at 9:15 a.m. to watch a military flypast from the palace balcony.
What time will the Coronation be broadcast?
The coronation ceremony officially begins at 11 a.m. in the UK and 6 a.m. ET in the US. However, many US broadcasts will air coronation coverage as early as 5 a.m. ET, and the BBC will begin coverage at 2:30 a.m. ET.
Will the King Charles coronation be televised?
King Charles III’s coronation marks the second time a member of the British royal family’s coronation will be broadcast on TV. In the US, coverage of the coronation will air on many major broadcast and cable networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC. In the UK, the BBC has coverage covered.
Will Prince William and Kate Middleton be at King Charles’ coronation?
Prince Williams’ role in the coronation, according to a copy of the Liturgy of the Coronation Service obtained by Entertainment Tonight, will be to pledge his loyalty and allegiance to King Charles III during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cambridge has made headlines for her potential fashion choices come coronation day, with the Sunday Times reporting that she is opting for a “bold and innovative gesture” by wearing “a floral headpiece” as opposed to a tiara for the ceremony.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be at the coronation?
His wife, Meghan Markle Duchess of Sussex, will remain at home with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Meghan’s missing out on the party in part to throw one of her own for her son’s birthday, which falls on May 6, coronation day.
It’s been reported that the former Suits star is planning a “low-key” gathering to celebrate Archie’s 4th birthday. | Royal Families |
On Saturday, Prince William and Princess Kate celebrated the birthday of their oldest son, Prince George, with a “special and not showy” party in Windsor, but for the public, they continued the tradition of releasing a birthday photograph of their oldest son. On Saturday, their Instagram account shared a picture of George posing in a blue and white oxford shirt on a set of steps in Windsor.
William and Kate have been releasing annual photos of their children George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, for most of their lives, and the annual tradition has allowed the family to balance a sense of normalcy and privacy for their kids with the public’s desire to see the next generation of Windsors.
In some years, avid photographer Kate took the photos of her young children, but this year all three images were taken by Millie Pilkington, a Dorset-based portrait photographer. She also took a family photo that the couple released on Father’s Day. “A heartfelt thank you to @princeandprincessofwales for entrusting me to take his portrait,” Pilkington said on her Instagram account. “As always, feeling deeply honored and very lucky. And wishing Prince George the very happiest of birthdays."
Pilkington has a long history with the royal family. In April 2011, she served as the private photographer for William and Kate’s wedding reception. Afterward, she told The Observer that the atmosphere was “absolutely extraordinary” and added that the newlyweds were “buzzing with happiness.” In 2014, she took a family portrait of Prince Edward, his wife Sophie, and their two children, Louise and James, to celebrate the prince’s 50th birthday.
Over the last year, George and his siblings have been attending more public events and stepping into their royal roles. In May, he made history as the first likely future king to serve in a coronation ceremony when he was a pageboy for his grandfather, King Charles III. So far this summer, he joined his family on the balcony for the king’s first Trooping the Colour parade, attended a cricket game and a match at Wimbledon, and visited an air show.
Earlier this month, a palace insider told People that William and Kate’s kids have been raised in a stable environment. “Those children look pretty happy with life,” the insider said. “A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings—and that’s how she grew up. William absolutely loves it. Long may it continue. They are the future of the monarchy.” | Royal Families |
The royal families of Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar own more than £1bn of UK property via offshore jurisdictions, such as Jersey and the British Virgin Islands, the Guardian can reveal.Nearly 200 properties, including hotels, London mansions and country estates, belong to a few small but super-rich dynasties, according to analysis of a new government register that reveals who is behind offshore companies that own UK property.Gulf royals who hold assets through offshore entities include Sheikh Mansour, the owner of Manchester City football club, members of the Al Saud ruling family of Saudi Arabia, and the al-Thani clan that controls Qatar.The most expensive is a £150m Surrey estate which, according to Land Registry documents, is owned by Sheikh Mansour’s wife, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed al-Maktoum.Sheikh Mansour, who is the deputy prime minister of the UAE, owns 17 other land titles via Jersey, including a London apartment and land connected to urban developments in Manchester.The Holme in Regent’s Park, London. Photograph: Andy Hall/The GuardianThe Saudi royal family also holds a vast array of property via offshore entities, including the Holme, a lakeside manor in the middle of London’s Regent’s Park, built in 1818.The property is owned by a Guernsey-based entity, whose beneficial owners include Abdullah bin Khalid Al Saud, the kingdom’s representative at the United Nations. It was reportedly for sale for £185m in 2020.Pinto Tower, Nine Elms, London. Photograph: Andy Hall/The GuardianAnother royal, Turki bin Salman Al Saud, is the ninth son of the king and brother to the country’s de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. Turki Al Saud owns a BVI-based company called Moncrieff Holdings, which owns 18 properties in London, including flats in the Pinto Tower in Nine Elms.Qatari royals have also used offshore jurisdictions to spend vast sums on UK property. Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani, a member of the dynasty that has ruled over Qatar since the 19th century, owns 12 companies on the register of overseas entities, all of them based in the British Virgin Islands.Those companies own 16 properties, including 160 Great Portland Street in London, a seven-floor office block purchased for £127m in 2018, according to Land Registry records.The sheikh’s property empire also includes a £48m office building on London’s Southwark Street, three addresses worth a combined £31m in Soho and the headquarters of the technology company Sony on Great Marlborough Street.160 Great Portland Street, London. Photograph: Graham Turner/The GuardianAnother member of the clan, Mohamed Khalifa al-Thani, bought 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, a 27-apartment block on the edge of St James’s Park near Buckingham Palace, for £139m in 2019. The development was designed by David Linley, the son of the late Princess Margaret.Previous Guardian analysis has shown that the Qataris own approximately £10bn of UK property, including prestige assets such as the Shard and Harrods. But the register of overseas entities reveals for the first time how the al-Thanis and other Gulf royals have used offshore jurisdictions to expand their UK property holdings.1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London. Photograph: Andy Hall/The GuardianIn total, members of the ruling families of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain own nearly 200 properties worth at least £1bn via offshore companies in the BVIs, Jersey, Guernsey and Panama.Quick GuideUK for sale: reporting on the register of overseas entitiesShowThe UK government’s new register of overseas entities was created to improve transparency around British property ownership and help the authorities ensure the right amount of tax is paid. Holding property through offshore companies is legal. Owners of property through offshore companies may do so for many reasons, from tax benefits to privacy or liking the stability or simplicity of a certain offshore tax regime. In the words of the government, offshore taxation is “complex”.But ministers have concluded transparency around foreign ownership of UK property is an important step in improving the operation of the tax system. “Whilst the vast majority of people and businesses pay the right amount of tax, mistakes are made,” the government said in its explanation of why the register was being introduced. The register of overseas entities appears to be a big step forward in transparency, with thousands of owners, including the ones reported on by the Guardian, coming forward to declare their properties. All those named as beneficial owners on the register have complied with their legal obligations to declare their holdings. About a quarter of the companies making declarations so far still do not reveal their ownership publicly, because trusts are only required to give information on their beneficiaries to the tax authorities.The Guardian has previously reported on offshore ownership of companies via leaks such as the Paradise papers and the Pandora papers, leading to governments including the UK government applying greater scrutiny to international tax affairs and offshore secrecy. The Guardian believes shining a light on the property in the UK held through foreign and offshore firms by rich, politically connected and influential people enhances that process of transparency and allows readers to better understand the power structures that affect their daily lives.The Guardian is shining a light on owners named on the register in view of the public interest in improving transparency around the ownership of British property. Holding properties through offshore companies is legal and some individuals may have genuine and legitimate privacy or security concerns or business reasons for using them.The register of overseas entities opened last year and individuals have until 31 January to declare they are the beneficial owners of offshore companies that own UK property. | Royal Families |
Prince Joachim admitted he struggled to find his place in Denmark's royal family, a resurfaced interview has revealed - while his wife Princess Marie said she had 'no choice' but to leave Copenhagen for Paris amid an 'internal power struggle', according to royal commentators.A bitter royal row within the household has unfolded in recent days after Queen Margrethe II, 82, announced she would be removing princely titles from four of her eight grandchildren, saying it is 'for their own good'.The official reason was to allow the four children of her younger son, Prince Joachim: Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live more normal lives, and follows similar moves by other royal families in Europe to slim down their monarchies, the Danish palace said. However, her decision has 'upset' her son and his four children, with Joachim insisting his mother only gave him five days' notice - despite the Royal Household claiming the decision 'has been a long time coming'.But this seemingly isn't the first time Joachim and his second wife Marie have felt alienated from the family; in 2021, the Prince told French magazine Point de Vue that, like his late father, Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, he hadn't manage to get his 'place in the royal family pinned down.'He said, via Royal Central: 'The Crown Prince simply has to follow the course of events. However, nothing is defined for the second born son and the person’s wife, neither in writing nor in speech. 'My father became acquainted with the same dissatisfaction and never managed to get his place in the royal family pinned down. But it is not always easy. I experience the same dissatisfaction as my father. We have to find out for ourselves, while staying within the role of number two in the row.'This sense of isolation was echoed in earlier statements made by his wife Marie, when she candidly discussed the family's move from Denmark to Paris - revealing 'it is not always us who decide'. Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary, Princess Marie and Prince Joachim of Denmark pose together at the Paris town hall on October 8, 2019 A bitter royal row within the household has unfolded in recent days after Queen Margrethe II (pictured with her sons in 2015), 82, announced she would be removing princely titles from four of her eight grandchildren, saying it is 'for their own good' As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, it was announced on Wednesday. Pictured, the children with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie on September 11, 2022The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023The French princess told Danish magazine See and Hear: 'No. It is not always us who decide. I think that's important to know. I loved living in Denmark. Denmark is just such a wonderful country to be in. Everything works well and there are not many problems.'Following the interview, Danish celebrity gossip columnist Jacob Heinel told The Daily Beast that some royal commentators in Denmark believe Joachim and Marie were 'effectively exiled after losing an internal power struggle in the royal household' against Frederik and Mary.'There was never anything in the calendar for them,' Heinel said, before recalling the moment Marie candidly admitted of her family's move to France: 'I’m not going to elaborate but it wasn’t our choice. I want people to know that it wasn’t our choice.'Prince Joachim's family temporarily moved to Paris at the start of 2019 as the royal took part in a highly intensive six-day-a-week military training program.He was due to return to Denmark by the end of 2020 but after suffering a stroke in the summer of that year, he decided to stay on and took up the role of defence attache at the Danish embassy in Paris.The resurfaced interviews come as Joachim once again hit out at his mother Queen Margrethe II's decision to strip his four children of their royal titles.As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik, and Princess Athena will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, rather than His or Her Royal Highness, it was announced on Wednesday.Commenting on their reaction to the move to B.T., Joachim said his children 'don't know which leg to stand on as their identity is removed' - and questioned 'why must they be punished in that way?'.The prince said: 'I can say that my children are sad. My kids don't know which leg to stand on. What they should believe. Why should their identity be removed? Why must they be punished in that way?'He also doubled down on his claim that he had only been told the news five days before it was made public - despite the Royal Household insisting the decision 'has been a long time coming'.'I don't want to engage in speculation and mudslinging,' said Joachim. 'I am telling the truth... I was given five days notice... I was given five days' notice of this. To tell my children that on New Year's their identity will be taken from them.'He added that in May, he was presented with a plan that his 'children's identity should be taken from them when each of them turned 25', to which he asked 'to be allowed to come back with my proposal'.But he said he was given just five days notice that the decision was to be accelerated, adding: 'I am so sorry for my children. I just demand the truth.' Prince Joachim of Denmark (pictured) has once again hit out at his mother Queen Margrethe II's decision to strip his four children of their royal titles Front: Queen Margrethe, Middle Row (left to right): Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik. Back row (left to right): Princess Benedikte, Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai in a portrait celebrating Queen Margrethe's Golden JubileeMeanwhile, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark defended her mother-in-law Margrethe's decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, and suggested her own children's positions might not be secure. Australian-born Princess Mary, 50, is the wife of Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, who is Queen Margrethe II's eldest son and heir. Their eldest son, Prince Christian, 16, is second-in-line to the throne behind his father Frederick. Frederick and Mary's four children - Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 11 - remain unaffected by the monarch's decision as they are direct descendants of the future King. However speaking in Copenhagen today, Princess Mary suggested that might not always be the case. 'We will also look at our children's titles when the time comes,' she said in an interview with Ekstra Bladet in Copenhagen today. 'Today we cannot see what the royal house will look like when it is Christian's time, or when Christian's time begins to approach.' Speaking in Copenhagen today (pictured) Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has defended her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe's decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, and suggested her own children's positions might not be secure Australian-born Princess Mary, 50, is the wife of Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, who is Queen Margrethe II's eldest son and heir. Their eldest son, Prince Christian, 16, is second-in-line to the throne behind his father Frederick. Pictured, Mary and Frederick with their children (from left) Isabella, Josephine, Christian and Vincent earlier this month Prince Joachim (right back), 53, the youngest of Margrethe's two sons, said he was only given five days' notice that Nikolai (left), 23, Felix (second from left), 20, Henrik (far right), 13, and Athena (second from right), 10, will have prince or princess removed from their titles, and will no longer be able to use His or Her Royal Highness. Pictured with their grandmother Queen Margrethe (centre) and Princess Isabella (behind Princess Athena)She also defended her mother-in-law's decision, saying: 'Change can be extremely difficult and can really hurt. I think most people have tried it. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one.'She added: 'Change really hurts, but as I said, it does not mean that the decision is not the right one. And I can understand that it is a very difficult decision to have to make, and also a very difficult decision to receive.'It has been a whirlwind 48 hours for the Danish Royal Family, following the announcement on Wednesday that Joachim's children would be stripped of their titles. Queen Margrethe, 82, who attended the Queen's funeral with Crown Prince Frederick, said she hoped the move would allow her grandchildren to 'shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties' that come with a formal affiliation with the Danish Royal Family.The move has created an 'icy' atmosphere within the Royal Family, according to one local media report, and has driven a wedge between a seemingly united family. 'There has never been a public conflict between the Queen and Prince Joachim,' Danish royal reporter Kenth Madsen told FEMAIL. Indeed, they put on a united front just weeks ago when they celebrated Queen Margrethe's Golden Jubilee. Speaking at a function at the National Museum in Copenhagen on Wednesday night, pictured, Margrethe said: 'It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason' Prince Nikolai said that he is sad, shocked and confused after his royal title was stripped 'quickly'. Pictured modelling during the Dior Pre-Fall 2019 Men's Collection show on November 30, 2018 in TokyoMargrethe defended her decision in an interview that night, saying: 'It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason.'However Joachim broke his silence on Thursday morning and claimed he had only been told the news five days before it was made public. Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix's mother says she's 'in shock' by move to strip them of their royal titles Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg - Prince Joachim's ex-wife and mother to Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix - said she is 'in shock' over Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's decision to strip her sons of their royal titles.Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 20, along with their younger siblings Prince Henri, 13, and Princess Athen, 10, from their father's second marriage, will all have their titles of prince and princess removed from January 1 2023, the palace announced yesterday.'We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock,' Alexandra said in a statement from her press advisor Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen, reported Danish magazine Se og Hør. Earlier this month, Alexandra attended Queen Margrethe's Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Danish Royal Theatre in Copenhagen (pictured)The statement continued: 'This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracised. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.'Earlier this month, Alexandra attended Queen Margrethe's Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Danish Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.Prince Joachim married his second wife Princess Marie in 2008, and they later welcomed Prince Henrik and Princess Athena 'We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being harmed. They are been put in a situation they do not understand,' he said in an interview with Danish news outlet Ekstra Bladet. 'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. 'Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarified. Prince Joachim, who is sixth-in-line to the throne behind his brother and his children, was speaking outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lives with his second wife Marie and their children Henrik and Athena. Nikolai and Felix, who are both models, live in Copenhagen. His ex-wife, Countess Alexandra, the mother of his two eldest children, added in a statement to Danish magazine Se og Hør: 'This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracized. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.'Her spokesperson Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen told another news organisation that Joachim learned of his children's fate via an aide. Queen Margrethe spoke neither to her sons nor her grandchildren, it is claimed. 'The children have received the message that they are losing their titles, delivered by their father, just as Countess Alexandra was told by Prince Joachim,' the spokesperson added. In response, the Royal Household released another statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' Prince Nikolai, a model, also spoke out yesterday, telling Ekstra Bladet: 'My whole family and I are of course very sad. We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone.'I am very confused as to why it has to happen like this,' he told reporters from outside the Copenhagen apartment where he lives with his girlfriend.Countess Alexandra, Prince Joachim's ex-wife and mother to Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, is also 'very sad' and 'shocked' about the decision.'She can't believe why and why now, because there's no good reason,' Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen, press secretary to Countess Alexandra told CNN.'They would lose their titles anyway when they get married one day. Her sons are young men so maybe they might get married in the near future so why shouldn't it wait until that day so that the titles would disappear on a happy day?'Under the agreement, Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena will be known as either His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat from January 1, 2023. However they will maintain their positions in the order of succession. They are currently seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth, but would move down if any of Crown Prince Frederick's children were to have children. The bombshell announcement was made in a statement released yesterday by the Danish Royal Household. Countess Alexandra's press secretary questioned why the change could not have waited until their wedding day, when her sons would 'lose their titles anyway'. Pictured, Alexandra Countess Of Frederiksborg Nikolai modelling a short and gloves and a leather bumbag for Dior during Paris fashion week in 2020 The move is said to have driven a wedge between Margrethe and her four grandchildren. Pictured, the Queen (centre) with sons Joachim (left) and Crown Prince Frederick (right). Also pictured: Crown Prince Frederick's wife, Crown Princess Mary (right) and son Prince Christian (in his lap) and Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix (left) who will be affected by the changeIt read: 'In April 2008, Her Majesty the Queen conferred the titles of Count, Countess and Comtesse of Monpezat on her sons, their spouses and their descendants. 'In May 2016, it was also announced that His Royal Highness Prince Christian, as the only one of the Queen's grandchildren, is expected to receive an annuity from the state as an adult.'As a natural extension of this, Her Majesty has decided that with effect from 1 January 2023, the descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim can only use their titles as Count and Countess of Monpezat, as their previous titles as Prince and Princess of Denmark will lapse. 'Prince Joachim's descendants will henceforth have to be addressed as Excellencies. 'The Queen's decision is in line with similar adaptations that other royal houses have implemented in different ways in recent years. 'With her decision, Her Majesty the Queen wants to create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves. Prince Nikolai, from left, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim and Prince Felix arrive for the command performance at the Danish Royal Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of Danish Queen Margrethe II's accession to the throne in Copenhagen, Saturday, September 10, 2022 Prince Nikolai of Denmark celebrated his 23rd birthday in August at home with his parents and siblings in Copenhagen. Pictured left with Prince Felxi, 20, Prince Henrick, 13 and Princess Athena, ten Nikolai with his stepmother Princess Marie, siblings, and father Prince Joachim, on the balcony of Amalienborg palace during the Danish Queen's 78th Birthday in April 2018 Out of a title: The four grandchildren who will no longer be TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. 'All four grandchildren maintain their places in the order of succession,' concluded the statement.Margrethe, who is the world's longest serving queen and celebrates her Golden Jubilee this year, is affectionately known as 'aunt Daisy' by European royals due to her close personal ties with many reigning monarchs.She is a first cousin of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and a second cousin of Norway's King Harald V. She enjoyed a close relationship with the Queen, a distant cousin, and the Duke of Edinburgh, and shared deeply personal tributes following their deaths. She was joined by her son Crown Prince Frederick at the Queen's funeral earlier this month. The Queen seemingly enjoys a close relationship with both sons and all eight of her grandchildren, and makes regular appearances with both families.However there is now said to be an 'ice-cold air' between the Queen and her grandchildren. 'There is ice-cold air between Queen Margrethe and her grandchildren after she decided that they will lose their titles as prince and princess from the New Year,' leading Danish publication Ekstra Bladet reported. 'The news, which has crushed both the four children and their parents, was not delivered by the queen herself.'They have not been called to Amalienborg for a cold coke and an explanation as to why they must henceforth be addressed as counts and countesses. Not even that far.' Both of Margrethe's grandsons turned to modelling in their late teens. Pictured with their grandmother in May 2021Felix made his modelling debut in February by posing in a series of moody snaps for jeweller Georg Jensen's new Reflect collectionLeft Nikolai wearing a pastel suit for Dior in 2018 at Paris Fashion Week. Right: The royal strutting his stuff on the runway in January 2020 Nikolai in a loose, tailored suit on the runway during the Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 in Paris in 2018Queen Margrethe has a well-cushioned allowance, with the Danish Civil List granting her £800,813 a month, or £9.6 million for the year to run the royal household - including staff, properties and administration, according to Business Insider. Meanwhile, Celebrity Net Worth lists her net worth at around £37million.Around £183,750 per month is reportedly given to the Queen's children. Crown Prince Frederik receives the largest amount of this money, of which 10 per cent is given to his wife, Princess Mary.Many of the Danish Royal Family's properties are owned by the state, and run by the Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties.This includes the main residence of Amalienborg, their spring home of Fredensborg palace, their summer house of Gråsten Palace and the hunting lodge Eremitageslottet .The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, Château de Caix in France, and the royal hunting lodge in Jutland at Trend. Princess Marie with Prince Joachim, Prince Felix, Prince Nikolai, Princess Athena and Prince Henrick with Joachim's first wife's Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg in 2020 Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Margrethe tested positive for Covid-19 only 24 hours after Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday September 19 Queen Margrethe was pictured out and about for the first time on Monday after testing positive for Covid-19 last week. She attended a gala dinner at the Grand Hotel in Oslo after receiving the Nordic Association's Language Award Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, attended the 'reception of the century' at Buckingham Palace, which was hosted by King Charles and Camilla before Queen Elizabeth II's funeralPrince Joachim lives with his second wife Princess Marie in Paris, where he has been working as a Defense Attaché at the Danish Embassy since September 2020 - but when he returns home to Denmark it is sometimes to the Schackenborg Castle in southern Jutland.The estate was the prince's private residence from 1993 to 2014, before he sold the property. But since Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are on the board of the Schackenborg Castle Foundation, they occasionally return to live there for short periods of time. In the summer of 2020, Prince Joachim suffered a stroke while holidaying in France with his family and had to be rushed into hospital for emergency brain surgery.Prince Joachim's eldest sons, Felix and Nikolai, are Margrethe's eldest grandsons and have embraced a life in the public eye. The 20-somethings, who both live in Denmark, both enrolled in the National Military Academy but dropped out before completing their studies. They have enjoyed flourishing careers as models, posing for several advert campaigns and on the cover of magazines. Nikolai caught international attention in 2018 when he walked in the Burberry show at London Fashion week, before a front row that included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Michelle Dockery, Naomi Watts, Zendaya, and Idris Elba.He is signed to Scoop Models agency in Denmark and has been multiplying his modelling gigs. He sent royal fans into a frenzy in February when he graced the cover of Vogue Scandinavia.The 22-year-old oozed sophistication when appearing in the magazine and looked effortlessly stylish in a matching pink Dior jacket and trousers as he posed in front of a number of colourful flowers.When he is not modelling, Nikolai is studying Business Administration and Service Management at the In 2019, Prince Nikolai began his B education at Copenhagen Business School.Last year he was living in Paris as part of a school exchange, and could see his younger siblings and his dad more easily. At the end of last year, he started training at the Royal Danish Military Academy to become an Army Lieutenant, but in October it was announced that he'd quit after just two months because it 'wasn't for him'.Prince Felix chose to make his modelling debut for jeweller Georg Jensen, appearing in pictures and an advert promoting the new Reflect collection of necklaces, earrings and rings. The royal is further down the line of succession, pursuing his own career path rather than being a 'working royal' was expected choice for Felix even before his grandmother's announcement, and modelling is certainly a popular choice for minor royals across the globe. While they are growing to be their own person, Felix and Nikolai do attend royal events on occasion. They both looked very dapper as they attended the celebrations for their grandmother's golden jubilee with their parents in early September.Margrethe tested positive for Covid-19 last Tuesday, just 24 hours after attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and mourning events in London. She was in attendance at Westminster Abbey along with her son Crown Prince Frederik, and the two went on to the Queen's Committal Service in Windsor afterward.The royal also paid her respects to the Queen by visiting her coffin in Westminster Hall the night before the Queen's funeral, and attended the Buckingham Palace 'reception of the century' where she was pictured chatting closely with King Charles.On Monday, the monarch made her first appearance since she tested positive for Covid, joining Queen Sonja of Norway at a literary event in Oslo.Queen Sonja of Norway presented the Nordic Association's annual language award to Queen Margrethe of Denmark at Nordens Hus before they attended a gala at the Grand Hotel. Margrethe wore a vibrant long pink skirt for the gala dinner, which she paired with a navy blue lace top. She pinned her hair tightly back and was pictured with a navy shawl over her shoulders as she arrived at the Grand Hotel. Revealed: The Danish Royal Family's VERY glamorous palaces It's perhaps no surprise that a European Royal Family enjoys several castles and palaces - however for the Danish household, many of the properties are owned by the state, and run by the Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties.This includes the main residence of Amalienborg, the family's spring home of Fredensborg Palace, their summer house of Gråsten Palace and the hunting lodge Eremitageslottet .The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, Château de Caix in France, and the royal hunting lodge in Jutland at Trend.Prince Joachim lives with his second wife in Paris - but when he returns home to Denmark it is sometimes to the Schackenborg Castle in southern Jutland.The estate was the prince's private residence from 1993 to 2014, before he sold the property. But since Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are on the board of the Schackenborg Castle Foundation, they occasionally return to live there for short periods of time. Amalienborg, the Danish household's main residence, pictured The family's spring home of Fredensborg Palace, pictured The Danish Queen's personal properties include Marselisborg Castle, pictured The Royal Danish family's summer residence of Grasten Slot, pictured | Royal Families |
Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England.Wpa Pool | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesHundreds of global dignitaries are gathered in London Monday to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, marking a level of ceremony unseen in the U.K. for decades.A congregation of around 500 kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents arrived in London over the weekend to pay their respects to the late queen.On Sunday, many of them visited Westminster Abbey, where she has been lying in state, before going on to a reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the King and Queen Consort.Britain's longest-serving monarch is being laid to rest Monday, 11 days after she died at Balmoral Castle aged 96.In all, the funeral is expected to be attended by around 2000 guests. The guest list has not been confirmed, but here's what we know about who is — and isn't — expected to attend, according to BBC reports.The Royal FamilyKing Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be front and center of the ceremony, walking behind the queen's coffin. They will be followed by the rest of the Royal Family, including the queen's other three children — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — and their spouses.Britain's King Charles III waves as he's driven down the Mall in London on September 19, 2022, ahead of the State Funeral Service of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. - Leaders from around the world will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The country's longest-serving monarch, who died aged 96 after 70 years on the throne, will be honoured with a state funeral on Monday morning at Westminster Abbey. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)Sebastien Bozon | Afp | Getty ImagesThe Prince of Wales, William, and his brother Prince Harry will be in attendance with their wives, Kate, the Princess of Wales, and Meghan. They will be joined by the queen's other grandchildren — Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn — and their partners.It is unclear how many of the queen's 12 great-grandchildren will be there. However, it has been confirmed that Prince George and Princess Charlotte — now second and third in line to the thrown, respectively — will attend.Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, and Prince and Princess Michal of Kent are among others expected to be there.World leadersLeaders from the Commonwealth, of which the queen served as head for all of her reign, will be present.They include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.President of United States Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England.Wpa Pool | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesIndian President Droupadi Murmu, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are also expected to be there, alongside South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, the current chair of the Commonwealth.U.S. President Joe Biden will also be in attendance alongside First Lady Jill Biden. They will be joined by Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael Higgins, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.Other royaltyRoyal families from across Europe, many of whom share blood relations with the queen, are also expected to attend.They include Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain will also be there, alongside the royal families of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Monaco.Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are also expected to attend, as is the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.Other expected guests include royal leaders from Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Tonga.Not attendingChinese President Xi Jinping reportedly received an invitation though he will not be present. China will instead by represented by a small delegation including Vice President Wang Qishan.Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto leader Mohammed Bin Salman was also invited but will not be in attendance, Reuters reported. The ruler has been accused by Western intelligence agencies of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, accusations he has denied.Representatives from Russia have not been invited following the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. No representatives from Belarus or Myanmar have been invited either.Representatives from Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan have also not been invited, according to the BBC. That is because the U.K. does not have full diplomatic relations with those countries. | Royal Families |
On Monday morning, King Charles III joined in a parade that signaled the start of his summer vacation at Balmoral Castle, a tradition long enjoyed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Nearly a year after her death at the Scottish estate last September, the king is changing things in one major way: to inspect the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, he donned a kilt. Also continuing in his mother’s tradition, he met the company’s famously naughty mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV. He petted the pony, who was on his best behavior, and exchanged a few words with his handler.
There are various residences on the 50,000 acre Aberdeenshire estate, which was first purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852, but during her annual stay, the late queen would take up residence in the main castle. For the last two decades, the king and Queen Camilla made Birkhall, a smaller house near their main home on the estate, even spending much of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns in residence. But in July, sources told Vanity Fair that Charles and Camilla planned to take up residence in Balmoral Castle during their stay, when they would also host other members of the family. Last Thursday, the castle was closed to the visiting public after a summer season where guests could tour the interiors, traverse the gardens and grounds, and attend film screenings and theater produtions.
During her stays at Balmoral, the queen usually had few official duties besides her daily delivery of government papers and was fond of hosting members of the extended royal clan for family gatherings on the estate. According to the Mirror, Charles is planning to inject a bit of business into the vacation this year, and has invited Prince William and Princess Kate to discuss their future roles, global travel, and the preservation of the Commonwealth, the voluntary organization of 55 nations of which Charles is head.
“His Majesty is very clear,” a source close to the king told the tabloid. “The Commonwealth must be at the very heart of his reign. He sees it as his utmost duty to fulfill the sincere wish of his late mother, that one of his central roles must be to ensure not only the survival but the robustness [of the organization].”
Though the king is thinking of the future, there are a few time-honored traditions that he will be hewing to this summer. Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Charles and Camilla are looking forward to attending the Ghillies Ball, an annual event where the royals and their staff dress in tartan and celebrate together. | Royal Families |
There is "no drama" over whether the public swear allegiance to the King during his Coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
Guests watching the service will be invited to join "a chorus of millions" to swear allegiance in the service led by Justin Welby.
The "homage of the people", revealed on Saturday by Lambeth Palace, is a new addition to the ancient ceremony.
But campaign group Republic called it "nonsense" and "offensive".
Speaking to the BBC News, the archbishop reiterated the oath was "an invitation, it's not a command".
"In every Anglican service, every Christian service, it is normal for congregations to participate," he said.
"It's an invitation - so if you want to join in at this point, by all means do so.
"If you don't want to, that's fine. There's no drama to it."
Asked about reports suggesting he had gone "rogue", the archbishop insisted the service had been a "huge, collaborative [with Buckingham Palace] and very lovely process".
The full details of the Westminster Abbey service were published by Lambeth Palace over the weekend, including that the theme of the service will be "called to serve".The public will be given an active role in the ceremony for the first time as they are asked to cry out and swear allegiance to the King.
This "homage of the people" will replace the traditional "homage of peers" - where hereditary peers swear allegiance to the new monarch.Â
While reading out the oath, the archbishop will call upon "all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other realms and the territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all".
The order of service will read: "All who so desire, in the abbey, and elsewhere, say together:
"I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."
The oath will be followed by the sound of a fanfare.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will then proclaim: "God Save The King", and those willing will be asked to respond: "God Save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever." | Royal Families |
The coronation of King Charles III is less than three weeks away, and the formal invitations are still reaching the 2,000 guests who will be joining the royals at Westminster Abbey. Earlier this month, the palace shared the printed invitations and explained their symbolism, but on Tuesday, they posted images showing the painstaking calligraphy involved in finishing the invitation with the name of its recipient.
“The 2,000 invited guests to the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey will each receive a personalized invitation that has been beautifully hand-finished by a small team of calligraphers,” the caption on the images read. “Among the guests at the Coronation will be over 450 British Empire Medal recipients, who have been invited in recognition of the contributions made by remarkable volunteers, charity representatives and community champions.”
The images from the palace featured finished invitations from two of the medal recipients who will join at the coronation. One was 13-year-old Max Woolsey, who became known as “the boy in the tent” after he began raising money for North Devon Hospice by sleeping outside in his yard in early 2020. His last night in the tent was earlier this month, and ultimately he raised £750,000 for the hospice. On Monday, he told BFBS Radio that he planned to take his father, who recently concluded his service in the Royal Marines, as his plus one.
An announcement from the palace said that many invitees were chosen for being “instrumental in providing services and support to their local communities during the COVID-19 lockdowns.” On Tuesday, the palace also featured the invitation that went to Hareen De Silva, a doctor who was awarded the medal for services to general practice during the pandemic for his work with the Test and Trace Service and NHS Nightingale.
“I am looking forward to being present in a historic event for this country,” De Silva said in a statement. “I am feeling privileged to be a part of this momentous occasion, especially being a Sri Lankan immigrant, being raised in one of the poorest areas of London and then receiving a British Empire Medal from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
The guest list includes honorees and dignitaries from around the world, but a few members of the extended royal family have been left off the list. On an April 5 episode of the show Loose Women, Sarah Ferguson said she was not invited to the coronation, but People reports that she did receive an invitation to the palace concert where Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will be performing. Charles’s relative Lady Pamela Hicks, the daughter of Louis Mounbatten, is also not among the 2,000 guests who will be present on May 6, according to the Daily Mail, who say she received a call from Buckingham Palace informing her that she would not be included.
“My mother was not offended at all,” said her daughter, India Hicks. “‘'How very, very sensible,’ she said. "Invitations based on meritocracy not aristocracy. ‘I am going to follow with great interest the events of this new reign.’” | Royal Families |
A member of the British royal family starts a new production company. There are big Hollywood meetings, major expectations, and a good deal of skepticism. The company’s output pits brother against brother and leads to family strife.
Sound familiar? While most might think of Archewell Productions, the company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in 2020, the renegade royals were not the first to set their sights on entertainment industry glory. Thirty years ago, Harry’s uncle Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, opened Ardent Productions, determined to make a name for himself. But Edward’s run as a producer would be controversial and may have factored into Queen Elizabeth II’s hesitancy at letting the Sussexes pursue commercial opportunities while serving as working royals.
From an early age, Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, was enamored with the entertainment industry. “I love the razzmatazz of show business,” he once said. “It’s a wonderful world of fantasy and make-believe.”
Edward hammed it up for the notorious 1969 television special Royal Family, which premiered when he was five. He performed in school plays at Cambridge and dipped his toe into producing with the much mocked 1987 televised charity tournament, The Grand Knockout Tournament (nicknamed It’s a Royal Knock-Out), which one critic called the “single most damaging attack upon the royal family since Cromwell.” Undeterred, Edward went on to work for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group. In 1990, he helped found the Theatre Division, a theatrical production company. A year later it failed, racking up a debt of 600,000 pounds.
But Prince Edward was admirably determined to be more than a royal son and become a media mogul. In November 1993, he and his partners launched Ardent Productions, whose name he claimed signified “ambition, motivation, and strength.” His goals were lofty: Ardent would produce “serious arts, drama, and documentary programs for British television.” The prince’s business cards read simply “Edward Windsor, Joint Managing Director.” Desperate to be taken seriously, he insisted Ardent would not produce a rush of royal shows. “Making a royal programme would give the wrong impression,” Edward once said. “I don’t want to trade on that association any more than I intend trading on my title.”
The then 29-year-old Edward had an uphill battle. “Edward was getting into business where people were jealous of him, everyone wanted him to fail,” producer Christine Carter said in Edward Windsor: Royal Enigma. “To the industry he was a prince and not a producer.” This outlook was not helped by the fact that Prince Edward was still a working royal, receiving 96,000 pounds a year from the queen.
The royal family was also skeptical. “Why doesn’t Edward let the TV people get on with it and just turn up to accept the cheques?” Prince Philip allegedly quipped. “He’s making us look foolish.”
For a time, it seemed Prince Philip’s assessment was correct. Ardent’s first credited production was 1995’s Real Tennis, a TV documentary focusing on an obscure aristocratic racquet game, which garnered 8,000 British viewers. Next was Annie’s Bar, a 1996 satire about backbenchers in the House of Commons. Canceled after one season, it was savaged by British critics as “fifth rate.”
Having lost money every year, Ardent Productions quickly changed their tune. “I never said we wouldn’t make programmes about the royal family,” Edward claimed in 1996. That year he would be the host of Edward on Edward, a documentary about his infamous great uncle Edward, the Duke of Windsor. This backflip was immediately seized on by the British media.
“He is neither a historian nor a journalist; as far as one can tell, his only qualification for the job is that he happens to have the same Christian name as his subject,” Francis Wheen wrote in The Guardian. “It is most generous of ITV to offer work to members of the royal family…Perhaps the whole gruesome clan should form a production company—the Really Useless Group—and start preparing a few sequels: Andrew on Andrew, in which the Duke of York chooses his favourite melodies from the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber…and Queen on Queen, a personal tribute by the monarch to the late Freddie Mercury.”
Although The Guardian claimed Edward on Edward suffered from a “dearth of revelations and a leaden, cliched script,” it was surprisingly successful. When asked if his family had seen it, Edward said yes, but “I’m not going to tell you what they thought.”
Whatever the royals really thought about Edward’s career, their tacit support sparked resentment in the British entertainment industry. In 1997, Ardent released Windsor Restored, a documentary which chronicled the rebuilding of Windsor Castle after it was devastated by fire in 1992. Not only did Prince Philip, the then Prince Charles, and Prince Andrew sit for interviews, the Royal Collection also gave Ardent license to years of footage of the restoration project free of charge. “Dealing with the Palace is not just frustrating, it’s not like dealing with anyone else: They speak a different language,” a contemporary producer told The Independent. “Ardent, at least, has an interpreter on the team.”
But if the British were unimpressed by Ardent’s “'cheesy and pompous” documentaries, Hollywood was dazzled. Capitalizing on America’s intrigue with royalty, Prince Edward signed with the William Morris Agency. Ardent also inked a deal with CBS to make documentaries. “I would mention him in the same breath as Walter Cronkite and Winston Churchill,” agent Ben Silverman said. “He has great depth of knowledge and his presence on screen inspires confidence.”
Edward appeared gratified by the reception, though naive about what Ardent’s success across the pond was really about. “In our country, we just have hang-ups about titles,” he said on a trip to America, according to The Record. “I don’t think you have so much in this country. So, if I come to this country and talk to people about producing programs, people will just accept that that’s what I’m there to talk about. But in Britain, if you’ve got a title, then you obviously don’t have any brains, so there’s no point in talking about anything else.”
But far from the serious dramas and daring comedies Ardent kept pitching, American networks were mainly interested in royal content and a royal host. “Being thrust in front of the camera was certainly not on my agenda initially,” he told a Los Angeles Times reporter with a wry smile. “But I keep getting my arm twisted to do it.”
And so Ardent cranked out documentary series on royal subjects including Tales of the Tower, Crown and Country, and Castle Ghosts of England, which helped earn him the cruel nickname “Edward the Unwatchable.”
“To watch Ardent’s few dozen hours of broadcast output is to enter a strange kingdom where every man in Britain still wears a tie, where pieces to camera are done in cricket jumpers, where people clasp their hands behind their backs like guardsmen,” Andy Beckett wrote in The Guardian. “A soft, flattering light falls on palaces and rose gardens, on a miraculously picturesque river Thames. Strings and brass rise, as if for a corporate video or an airline advertisement.”
But Edward defended Ardent’s royal output. “By no means am I only interested in the monarchy," he said, per USA Today. “But sometimes it’s difficult to convince broadcasters. It’s one of the frustrations of the business.”
In 1998, Ardent moved offices from London to the stables at Bagshot Park, Edward’s country home, which reportedly paid him 50,000 pounds in rent some years. That year, Ardent scored a surprise success with The Cater Street Hangman, a Victorian murder mystery adapted from an Anne Perry novel. Another unexpected success was Forbidden Pleasure, a gritty documentary about sex in the differently abled community.
Despite these bright spots, by 2000, Ardent had incurred approximately 2 million pounds in losses. According to reports, a “mystery” investor had put 350,000 pounds into the international sales arm of Ardent. Edward was also accused of being a “rent-a-royal,” trading on his status as a working royal to make money on a paid speaking tour in the US. Ardent came under further fire from the media after advertising a UK trip which would feature “A castle. A show. A 4-star hotel and Edward Wessex,” leading the company to issue an apology.
There was also trouble at Ardent itself. “He was just playing at being a TV producer,” one former Ardent employee remembered, per the Mail on Sunday. “At first you hang on his every word, then you realise he doesn’t talk much sense. He hasn’t a clue…He used to walk down to the office every day at the same time. But the big question was: What did he do all day?”
Edward’s wife, Sophie, was also under fire for her business dealings. In April 2001, she was duped by a man pretending to be a sheik who claimed to be interested in hiring her PR firm. Due to Edward and Sophie’s mounting controversies, an investigation was conducted by Richard Luce, Baron Luce, the former Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. That July, new guidelines were issued to ensure that working royal family members were more careful in their business dealings.
But it was a family uproar which would truly lead to Ardent’s undoing. In 2000, Ardent was commissioned by E! to make Royalty A-Z, a multi-episode series which would focus on the Windsor family up to the present day. Astonished that Edward would air out recent, painful history, Prince Charles was reported to have “absolutely flipped.”
Prince Charles’s ire was soon to increase exponentially. In September 2001, 19-year-old Prince William arrived at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The palace had worked out a deal with the press, allowing them to photograph him during his first days at school if they then agreed to leave him alone afterwards so he could be a normal student.
While most of the media complied, one crew did not. When school officials caught the film crew still on campus, they asked them to leave. But the next day, Prince William spotted the crew as he got out of class and immediately called his father. When approached, the crew did not initially admit they were working for Ardent Productions on Royalty A-Z.
The backlash was immediate. Although Edward claimed he had no idea the Ardent crew had continued to film, Prince Charles was reportedly “incandescent” and yelled at his brother, calling him a “f-ing idiot.” A spokesman for Prince Charles made the unusual move of saying he was “very disappointed.”
“It beggars belief when I think of the efforts we have gone to to square the press…to allow William a normal undergraduate life,” Andrew Neil, the then rector of St. Andrews said. “We knew, when we were doing that, that somebody would break it at some stage. But for it to be broken by a company owned by his own uncle—well, you just couldn’t make it up.”
Ardent issued an apology but claimed that they had not been filming Prince William specifically. The gloves, if they had ever been on, were off as far as the British media were concerned. “They’re a sad joke in the industry, really,” one producer said of Ardent. “As time has gone on, their incompetence has become more and more obvious. There have been very small examples of vanity TV companies before, but not on this scale. Any company, in any industry, that had burned through that much share capital without making a profit would've been closed down by its investors years ago.”
Edward and Sophie now had to make a choice—and they chose life in the royal fold. In 2002, Edward stepped down as joint managing director and production director of Ardent, using the excuse that they were needed for more royal duties since it was the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. “The opportunity to set up and run my own company has been the biggest challenge I have faced and yet has turned out to be enormous fun, immensely rewarding and full of surprises,” he said. “Yet I always knew in the back of my mind that one day things would have to change. Well, that day has come, not just for me, but also for my wife.”
Once Edward left Ardent (though he was still a nonexecutive director), the company would produce very little new content. But the controversies were not over. Ardent was liquidated in 2009 and officially dissolved in 2011 with only 40.27 pounds to its name.
And so, Prince Edward’s dream of media moguldom had ended. He and Sophie are now some of the most respected, important and hardest working full-time royals, having taken up the slack after the death of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the disgrace of Prince Andrew, and the defection of Meghan and Harry.
Perhaps the Sussexes can learn something from Prince Edward’s experiences. Of course, there are numerous differences: The Sussexes are no longer working royals, are allegedly estranged from much of the royal family, and now live in California. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was raised in Hollywood, with a father in the business and her own successful acting career. But the Sussexes still have a tightrope to walk and must fight the royal stigma to produce the content that matters to them. There are numerous minefields: Novelty in Hollywood quickly fades, and there are always critics ready to accuse Archewell of trading solely on their royal relationships, or producing “unseemly” content, or monetizing the charitable work they hold dear.
“One is caught in a horrendous Catch-22 situation,” Prince Edward once said. “If we devote all our time to public duties, we are criticized for being spongers. If we go off and do our own thing, they say we wouldn’t be doing any business at all if we weren’t who we were. It’s a no-win situation, so it doesn’t matter which side of the fence you jump off.” | Royal Families |
Trudeau announces Canadian delegation for King Charles's coronation
Trudeau, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will be on hand in London for Charles's investiture
CBC 's coverage of the coronation of King Charles will be available across all platforms on May 6 starting at 4 a.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Radio and streaming on CBC Gem, CBC News Explore, and CBC Listen.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday the names that will make up the Canadian contingent travelling with him and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to King Charles's coronation on Saturday.
Trudeau also announced in a press release that the government will establish a coronation medals program to honour 30,000 Canadians who have made "significant contributions to the country, a province, territory, region or community" or have achieved something abroad that "brings credit to Canada."
The medal program comes after the Liberal government came in for criticism from some monarchists after it decided to forgo a Platinum Jubilee medal last year to mark the Queen's 70th year on the throne. It was the first such time a jubilee medal had not been awarded in Canada.
The hand-picked Canadian contingent for the coronation reflects the King's interests — there's a focus on people with ties to science, youth issues, Indigenous affairs, the military and the fight against climate change.
The Canadian guest list includes astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will also serve as the country's flag bearer for the event. Hansen will travel to the moon next year as part of the Artemis II mission. He'll be joined in the delegation by another Canadian astronaut, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons.
Indigenous leaders will also be on hand for the King's big day — including Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Cassidy Caron, the president of the Métis National Council.
Canada's delegation will include several young leaders: Sarah Mazhero of the Prime Minister's Youth Council; Christina Caouette, the CEO of the Young Diplomats of Canada; Rebeccah Raphael, founder of Halifax Helpers; French-Canadian Youth Federation president Marguerite Tölgyesi; and Maryam Tsegaye, winner of the global science competition Breakthrough Junior Challenge.
Also attending will be celebrated Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan, an Order of Merit recipient and a Companion of the Order of Canada, and Leslie Arthur Palmer, a Cross of Valour recipient and a Canadian coast guard member who famously rescued fishermen stranded by a winter storm.
A contingent of 45 Canadian Armed Forces members will take part in a military parade, which will be held in London following the King's coronation service at Westminster Abbey.
That contingent will include 16 members of the Canadian Army, 11 members of the Royal Canadian Navy, 11 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, six members of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command and one officer cadet from the Royal Military College of Canada.
The Prime Minister's Office said the military personnel chosen for the event have been "selected on the basis of personal merit and represent the best of those who serve in uniform today."
They will march with members of the military from other Commonwealth countries.
Last week, the King attended a ceremony with the Mounties at Windsor Castle, where he accepted the honorary position of RCMP commissioner-in-chief and was presented with a ceremonial RCMP sword.
The Mounties, dressed in red serge, will be riding horses the RCMP gave to the late Queen Elizabeth as well as Noble, a stunning black mare who was formally given to the King at last week's event.
Charles is expected to ride Noble during the Trooping of the Colour, continuing the tradition of the sovereign riding RCMP horses to inspect the troops on the sovereign's birthday.
Charles currently rides the RCMP horse George, who is headed for retirement.
To acknowledge the monarch's unique relationship with the national police force, five RCMP Musical Ride members will participate in the coronation procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace ahead of the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort. | Royal Families |
The ceremonial splendour of a state visit was deployed to welcome the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife at Horse Guards Parade in London.
The royal couple and their guests had a carriage procession along the Mall, lined with South Korean flags, before going inside Buckingham Palace.
Also meeting the South Korean leaders were PM Rishi Sunak and Lord Cameron, now returned as foreign secretary.
More than 1,000 soldiers were on parade, with gun salutes in the autumn leaves in Green Park, as the South Korean president was given a ceremonial welcome, with Prince William and Catherine part of the procession.
State visits are a "soft power" mix of pageantry and practical politics - and this was a sign of respect to an increasingly important ally and trade partner, in a region with growing tensions with China.
The jingle of the cavalry harnesses on the Mall is linked to the jingle of cash tills, with trade deals to be negotiated.
Mr Yoon will have a state banquet this evening in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, along with 170 guests, who will hear speeches from the King and the president.
These are opulent occasions, with diplomacy fuelled by fine dining, using a 19th Century dinner service with more than 4,000 pieces.
The table settings are as precise and symmetrical as the military parade - each guest getting a place setting of 46cms.
Although there might not be a repeat of Mr Yoon's karaoke-style performance when he visited US President Joe Biden in April, and sang American Pie.
Last week, the King had a taste of Korean culture and K-pop, when he visited New Malden, in south-west London, which is known as "Korea Town", for having the biggest concentration of South Koreans in Europe.
While in London, the president is launching plans for a new trade deal, including technology and green energy, and closer military ties.
A "Downing Street Accord" is being signed at a meeting between the president and Rishi Sunak, which is intended to boost trade and support "global stability".
There are plans for a stronger approach to enforcing sanctions against North Korea, and preventing its "illegal weapons programme", with joint sea patrols between the South Korean navy and the Royal Navy.
"Long term, global partnerships are vital to our prosperity and security," said Mr Sunak, who added that "close ties have already propelled £21bn of investment between our countries". | Royal Families |
Queen Elizabeth II faced a potential assassination threat during a 1983 visit to the United States, newly released FBI documents show.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released a cache of files relating to the late Queen's travels to the US, following her death last year.
They show how the FBI, which helped secure the monarch during her visits, worried about IRA threats.
The assassination threat was made to a police officer in San Francisco.
According to the file, an officer who frequented an Irish pub in San Francisco warned federal agents about a call from a man he had met at the venue.
The officer said the man told him he was seeking revenge for his daughter who "had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet".
The threat came on 4 February 1983 - about a month ahead of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip's visit to California.
"He was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the Royal Yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park," the document says.
In response to the threat, the Secret Service had planned to "close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge as the yacht nears". It is unclear what measures were taken at Yosemite, but the visit went ahead. No details of arrests were published by the FBI.
The 102-page cache was uploaded to the Vault, the FBI's information website, on Monday, following a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by US media outlets.
Many of the late Queen's state visits to the US, including the 1983 visit to the West Coast, came during heightened tensions amid the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
In 1976, the late Queen was in New York City for America's Bicentennial celebrations.
The documents reveal how a summons was issued to a pilot for flying a small plane over Battery Park with a sign that read "England, Get out of Ireland."
The files show how the FBI remained vigilant to what it considered to be the real potential of threats to the late Queen.
Her second cousin Lord Mountbatten was killed in an IRA bombing off the coast of County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, in 1979.
Ahead of a personal visit by the late Queen to Kentucky in 1989, an internal FBI memo read "the possibility of threats against the British Monarchy is ever-present from the Irish Republican Army (IRA)".
It continued that "Boston and New York are requested to remain alert for any threats against Queen Elizabeth II on the part of IRA members and immediately furnish same to Louisville," in Kentucky.
The late Queen, who owned racehorses, is known to have visited Kentucky several times during her life to enjoy the state's equestrian highlights, including the Kentucky Derby.
On a state visit in 1991, the late Queen was scheduled to see a Baltimore Orioles baseball game with President George H Bush.
The FBI warned the Secret Service that "Irish groups" were planning protests at the stadium and "an Irish group had reserved a large block of grandstand tickets" to the game.
The bureau told NBC News there might be "additional records" that exist besides the ones released this week, but it did not set out a timetable for their publication. | Royal Families |
get the free app Updated on: September 19, 2022 / 6:08 AM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live The official mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K.'s longest-reigning monarch, culminates Monday morning with her state funeral in London's ancient Westminster Abbey. The guest list for the service includes around 500 foreign dignitaries, including President Biden and about 100 other heads of state. The huge influx of VIPs was putting an unprecedented security operation, which was decades in the planning, to the test.Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle, her beloved country estate in Scotland. Her eldest son, now King Charles III, has led the royal family, the nation and the world in honoring her legacy and ushering in a new era that is likely to present growing challenges for both the kingdom and its Commonwealth. Monday's full service will be broadcast live, with CBS News coverage from 5:30 a.m. ET, anchored by Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King. The Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, 39th Dean of Westminster Abbey, who will officiate the funeral, told CBS News, "you can be absolutely certain that some of the things the queen had hoped we would say will be part of the service."The funeral was preceded by days of carefully choreographed public events, including a majestic procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday. Countless admirers lined up for miles, waiting all day and night for a chance to file past the queen's coffin during her four days of lying in state.Following Monday's service, the queen's coffin will be taken in a walking procession to Hyde Park, and then by hearse to St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, where her late husband, Prince Philip, and her sister, Princess Margaret, are also interred.Follow updates below as events unfold. 5m ago Prince George and Princess Charlotte processing behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II The queen's great grandchildren, nine-year-old Prince Goerge and seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, will participate in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, according to the order of service provided by Buckingham Palace. The children of William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, joined the funeral procession along with other members of the royal family as their grandmother's coffin entered Westminster Abbey.Their younger brother, four-year-old Prince Louis, did not join in the procession, nor did the children of William's brother Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 26m ago Royal family members processing with queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey Members of Britain's royal family, led by King Charles III, have begun the solemn procession with the late Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from Westminster Hall, where she lied in state for four days, to Westminster Abbey, where her funeral will take place.The king and his sons, William the Prince of Wales, and Harry the Duke of Sussex, and other family members followed the queen's coffin out of Westminster Hall and watched as it was placed on the ceremonial State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. The same carriage was used for the funerals of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, and Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is seen atop the State Gun Carriage outside Westminster Hall, flanked by members of the U.K. Royal Navy, with senior members of the royal family behind the coffin, ahead of the late monarch's state funeral on September 19, 2022, in London, England. CBS News The short route between the hall and the abbey was lined by members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.The queen's coffin was to be taken off the gun carriage and carried into the abbey for the funeral service just before 11 a.m. local time, or 6 a.m. eastern. 30m ago U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived at London's Westminster Hall on Monday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Biden is one of a number of heads of state who is attending the funeral, along with members of other royal families and dignitaries from around the world. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among dozens of other world leaders attending the funeral. U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrive at Westminster Abbey before the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried inside for her funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Bernat Armangue/AP 47m ago U.K. Air Force member was last member of public to file past queen's coffin A British Royal Air Force service member was the last member of the public to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at the U.K. Parliament's Westminster Hall on Monday. Chrissy Heerey was at the very end of the behemoth, five-mile-long line that quickly became known simply as "The Queue."She got the last spot after joining the line for a second time early Monday, having already filed past the queen's sealed coffin on Sunday evening.The public viewing period ended just before 6:30 a.m. in London, or about 1:30 a.m. Eastern on Monday. Heerey was the last of the hundreds of thousands of people who waited for hours, sometimes a full day or and night, to pay their respects. Christina (Chrissy) Heerey, the last member of the public to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, walks through Westminster Hall in London, England on September 19, 2022. Lorena Sopena/Anadolu Agency/Getty "I was the last person to pay my respects to the queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that," Heerey told Britain's PA news agency. "I'd already been round once, I went in at 1:15 this morning… It's one of the highlights of my life, and I feel very privileged to be here.""The Queue" officially opened at 5 p.m. (noon Eastern) on Wednesday. The well-planned and orchestrated process was expected to allow some 750,000 people snake their way along the Thames River for four days, around the clock, to file past the queen's coffin. 1:59 AM Queen's lying-in-state ends ahead of her funeral A day packed with funeral events in London and Windsor began early on Monday when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin since Sept 14. Many had spent cold nights on line outdoors to pay their respects at the foot of the flag-draped coffin in a moving outpouring of national grief. The closing of the hall marked the end of four full days of the coffin lying in state. Monday has been declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth. Her funeral will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country. Police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London's history. Updated 9:30 AM / September 18, 2022 The extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was not originally destined to be queen. But that changed in 1936, when she was 10 years old, because her uncle Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, and Elizabeth's father, George VI, took his place.Princess Elizabeth rapidly became a public favorite. During World War II, she not only worked to raise the country's morale, appealing to her fellow Britons on public radio to "make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place," she also served as a volunteer in the war effort, training as a mechanic in the women's auxiliary service. Queen Elizabeth II through the years 76 photos Her marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947 give a war-weary country something to celebrate. Their children — Charles, then Anne, Andrew and Edward — re-established the royal line. Her marriage to Philip lasted 73 years, until his death on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.Elizabeth was just 25 years old when she inherited the throne in February 1952, following the death of her father, George VI. Her coronation in June of the following year was the first ever to be televised. Duty was the royal family's ethos under Elizabeth's reign."I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service," she once told the nation. It was a promise she kept longer than any other British monarch in history, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — just months before her passing. Queen Elizabeth honored with grand procession through London 03:58 Her reign, however, was not without controversy. Some protesters question the value of monarchical traditions in modern times and the concentration of inherited wealth in the family's hands. In lands once ruled by the British Empire, a painful history of subjugation and the brutality of the slave trade still resonate in current events. Queen Elizabeth II's unlikely path to the throne and the legacy she leaves behind 05:35 Updated 9:20 AM / September 18, 2022 Royal family's new roles A series of changes rippled through Britain's royal family following the death of its longtime matriarch. Elizabeth's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, was immediately elevated to sovereign and became King Charles III. His wife, Camilla, took on the title queen consort.Among Charles' first official acts was to announce that his older son, Prince William, who is now next in line to the throne, has been granted the title Prince of Wales, the role Charles himself held for over 50 years. William's wife Catherine is now Princess of Wales — a title last held by William and Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex — who gave up working as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California — did not receive new titles. But their children, 3-year-old Archie and 1-year-old Lilibet, gained the right to be known as prince and princess, as grandchildren of the monarch. Britain's royal line of succession 32 photos Updated 9:15 AM / September 18, 2022 Significance of Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, where the funeral is being held, has a long and storied history. In addition to being the site of Britain's monarchical coronations since 1066, the abbey was also a special place to the late queen herself during her 96-plus years. In 1947, at the age of 21, then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey's altar. Five years later, her coronation was held here. The flag flies at half mast at Westminster Abbey in London on September 12, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Family joy would follow with the marriage of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton here in 2011. Family sorrow would come, too, with the funeral of the queen's mother in 2002, and then the funeral of her husband in 2021.The last time a monarch's funeral was held in Westminster Abbey itself was 262 years ago, for King George II."This is Westminster Abbey. This is her majesty the queen. I think you can assume that you're going to see tradition in action — great, living tradition in action," said the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, who was appointed by the queen as the 39th Dean of Westminster Abbey, and who is tasked with leading the service. "I think the job of the abbey and the job of people like me, to some extent, is to keep stitching the story together — to say it's possible in pretty divided and volatile times to say, all this can be gathered in, reconciled, redeemed, celebrated. So, her majesty's reign, which started in the abbey, comes to an end in the abbey. It's a bit more of stitching the story together."Read more here. In: King Charles III British Royal Family Queen Elizabeth II Funeral london | Royal Families |
Buildings, parks, pubs or businesses cannot be renamed after the late Queen Elizabeth without specific permission, the Cabinet Office has warned.
The name of the late Queen is going to be "closely protected" in terms of how it can be used, says new guidance.
The Cabinet Office says permission for using the late Queen's name will only be "sparingly granted".
An "official national memorial" to the late Queen is expected "in due course", says the Cabinet Office.
There are many places and businesses named after historic royal names - including the Queen Vic pub in BBC TV's EastEnders soap opera.
But official guidance has recently been issued by the Cabinet Office warning about the limits on using modern royal names and titles.
In particular there are concerns about ensuring the late Queen's name is only used in "dignified and appropriate" ways.
"The full title of Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be closely protected to preserve the rarity of the honour," says a government spokeswoman.
The guidance points to the future "commissioning of an official national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II".
But the Cabinet Office says that many local organisations or community groups might want their own memorial to the late Queen, such as naming a park, or local amenity, or business or street after her.
But there's a warning that "strict standards are applied", with inquiries in England and Northern Ireland managed by the Cabinet Office, and by the governments in Scotland and Wales.
The use of "Queen Elizabeth II" will "only be granted for applications with strong royal connections," says the government guidance.
"Requests that incorporate 'memorial' or 'remembrance' in a proposed name are likely to be looked upon favourably, where possible," says the advice for applications to use the name.
There are already some projects named after the late Queen, including the Elizabeth Line on the London underground.
This was one of the last public projects opened by Queen Elizabeth. There had been doubts about her attendance, but she surprised people by carrying out the official opening, at Paddington Station last May.
Read the latest royal news in a free weekly newsletter - sign up here. | Royal Families |
More than 100 years ago, the Flying Scotsman was introduced as the first steam locomotive on the fledgeling London & North Eastern Railway, and eventually became an icon in British culture after it became the first UK locomotive to reach 100 mph in 1934. To celebrate its centenary, King Charles III visited Pickering Heritage Railway Station Monday, where posed for photos on the locomotive’s footplate. During his visit, he spoke to volunteers who run the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a heritage rail line that has ferried tourists around the region for the last 50 years.
While aboard the Flying Scotsman, the king spoke to Chris Cubitt, the train’s driver, but wasn’t able to stick around for tea. “He’s a regular because he has been here before when he opened the station in 2000,” Cubitt later told a reporter. “He’s on his way to Scarborough now through my village. I invited him in for tea, but he said he couldn't come.”
The king arrived in Pickering on the royal train, which was pulled by the Flying Scotsman into the heritage railway station. In 2013, he told an onlooker that he has loved trains since he was a child, and he is said to ride in the cab along with the conductor when he can. He has also made multiple visits to the National Railway Museum in York, where he has celebrated milestone anniversaries for other famous trains and railways.
During the event, the king spoke with Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, the custodian of the Flying Scotsman, and Judith McNicol, the director of the National Rail Museum. The Flying Scotsman went into regular service in February 1923, and it got its name because it did a daily mail route between London and Edinburgh before it was sold in 1963. When British Rail ended its steam locomotive lines in 1968, the Flying Scotsman was the last one to run, and its final journey was documented in a BBC program. In 2004, the railway museum did a fundraising drive to save and restore the Flying Scotsman, and it became a working museum exhibit in 2016.
Later on Monday, the king was greeted by schoolchildren as he visited shops in the Pickering town square, including a chocolatier and a butcher shop that sells produce from the Duchy of Lancaster, the estate that belongs to the British monarch. Before ending his visit, he stopped by St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, where he looked at their collection of medieval wall paintings, accompanied by Reverend Gareth Atha and Kate Giles, a professor at the University of York. | Royal Families |
King Charles III marked his brother Prince Edward's birthday by giving him a new title. Already the Earl of Wessex and Forfar, Edward was given the title of Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.
Prince Edward, who turned 59 on Friday, is the youngest of the late Queen Elizabeth II's children. The Dukedom of Edinburgh was last held by his father, Prince Philip, who was given the title when he married then-Princess Elizabeth, who was then the Duchess of Edinburgh. She then became the queen in 1952.
When Elizabeth died in September 2022, her eldest son Charles immediately became the king. Edward will hold the Duke of Edinburgh title for the rest of his life, the statement from the royal family said.
Prince Edward was first given the Earl of Wessex title when he married his wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones, in 1999, and the Earl of Forfar title in 2019 when he turned 55.
Only four other members of the royal family have had the Dukedom of Edinburgh bestowed upon them: Prince Frederick, King George II's son, who was the first to hold the title (1726), Prince William, King George III's brother (1764), Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria's son (1866), and Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband (1947).
Although Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, moved to the U.S. and stepped down as "working" members of the family, they have kept their titles, as has King Charles' other brother Prince Andrew, despite having many of his formal honors and patronages removed by the family in the wake of his.
Prince Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne after his brother, Prince William and William's children. Harry and Meghan's children follow him in the line of succession. Harry's young children, which they have been entitled to since their grandfather ascended the throne late last year.
Eighth in line after the Sussex children is Prince Andrew. Prince Edward, the newly named Duke of Edinburgh, is 13th in line.
Last year, King Charles III made a move to allow his youngest siblings — Prince Edward and Princess Anne —
Traditionally the four most senior royals and the sovereign's spouse can fill in for the monarch. When Charles became king, that list included his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort; his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry; his brother, Prince Andrew; and his niece, Princess Beatrice. Charles included his younger sister and brother because both Harry and Andrew have left their roles as senior working royals.
for more features. | Royal Families |
For the first Easter Sunday since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III and Queen Camilla led a large contingent of the royal family for traditional services at St. George Chapel in Windsor. the day marked the first time Prince Louis, who will turn 5 on April 23, attended the service alongside his parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, and his siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Best known for his scene-stealing facial expressions at last year’s Platinum Jubilee, Louis was more subdued this time around, but he did wear one accessory that gave a little insight into his personality: a navy tie embroidered with small bicycles.
Easter 2023 took place exactly two years after the funeral of Prince Philip was held in the same church, and James, the 15-year-old son of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, wore a green tie emblazoned with Land Rovers, a favorite car of the late prince. Philip owned an array of Land Rovers throughout his life and he spent nearly two decades designing the green Land Rover hearse that carried him through Windsor Home Park during his funeral. In March, Edward and Sophie became the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the title that Philip held after his marriage to the late queen, and James is now the Earl of Wessex, the title Edward was given when he married Sophie in 1999.
Both Kate and Camilla wore bright royal blue tones, matching with Charles in a more subdued royal blue suit. Kate first wore her Catherine Walker & Co coat dress to the 2022 Commonwealth day service. Unusually, she also wore bright red nail polish. The royal procession into the service also included Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Princess Anne. | Royal Families |
In his highly anticipated autobiography, Spare, Prince Harry recounts what he says was a physical attack by his brother, William, now Prince of Wales, as their relationship fell apart over the younger prince’s marriage to the actor Meghan Markle.Describing a confrontation at his London home in 2019, Harry says William called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”, which Harry calls a “parrot[ing of] the press narrative” about his American wife.The confrontation escalated, Harry writes, until William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”.The extraordinary scene, which Harry says resulted in visible injury to his back, is one of many in Spare, which will be published worldwide next week and is likely to spark a serious furore for the British royal family.Amid stringent pre-launch security around the book, the Guardian obtained a copy.The book’s title comes from an old saying in royal and aristocratic circles: that a first son is an heir to titles, power and fortune, and a second is therefore a spare, should anything happen to the first-born.Spare is a remarkable volume, in which the altercation between the two princes forms a startling passage.Harry writes that William wanted to talk about “the whole rolling catastrophe” of their relationship and struggles with the press. But when William arrived at Nottingham Cottage – where Harry was then living, in the grounds of Kensington Palace and known as “Nott Cott” – he was, Harry says, already “piping hot”.After William complained about Meghan, Harry writes, Harry told him he was repeating the press narrative and that he expected better. But William, Harry says, was not being rational, leading to the two men shouting over each other.Harry then accused his brother of acting like an heir, unable to understand why his younger brother was not content to be a spare.Kate, William, Harry and Meghan at Windsor Castle in September following the death of the Queen. Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/AFP/Getty ImagesInsults were exchanged, before William claimed he was trying to help.Harry said: “Are you serious? Help me? Sorry – is that what you call this? Helping me?”That comment, Harry says, angered his brother, who swore while stepping towards him. Now scared, Harry writes, he went to the kitchen, his furious brother following.Harry writes that he gave his brother a glass of water and said: “Willy, I can’t speak to you when you’re like this.”He writes: “He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”Harry writes that William urged him to hit back, citing fights they had as children. Harry says he refused to do so. William left, Harry says, then returned “looking regretful, and apologised”.When William left again, his brother writes, he “turned and called back: ‘You don’t need to tell Meg about this.’“‘You mean that you attacked me?’“‘I didn’t attack you, Harold.’”Harry says he didn’t immediately tell his wife – but did call his therapist.When Meghan later noticed “scrapes and bruises” on his back, and he therefore told her of the attack, Harry says she “wasn’t that surprised, and wasn’t all that angry.“She was terribly sad.”Harry’s resentment of being the “spare” is the unifying theme of his book, through chapters on his childhood, his schooling, his career as a royal and in the British army, his relationship with his parents and brother and his life with Meghan through courtship, wedding and marriage to their own experience of parenthood.Early on, Harry recounts the story of how his father, now King Charles, supposedly said to his wife, Princess Diana, on the day of Harry’s birth: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare – my work is done.”Prince Harry talks about calling brother William 'arch-nemesis' in memoir – videoWhether describing his memories and love for Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, or his similar love for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died last year, Harry is unsparing in his recounting of intensely private scenes and conversations.Harry met Meghan in 2016. They married at Windsor Castle in 2018. As Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they began life as working royals but quickly drifted apart from the family and eventually embarked on a largely separate existence, moving to Canada and then California.Their acrimonious split from the royal family has been the subject of endless press coverage, some of it steered themselves, including via a famous interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that caused huge controversy on both sides of the Atlantic and around the world.Subjects from that interview and a recently released Netflix documentary, including a miscarriage suffered by Meghan and her thoughts of suicide, and suggestions of racism within royal circles, are covered extensively in Harry’s book.The book has been trailed and two interviews with Harry are due to be broadcast in the UK and US this weekend, with ITV News at Ten and CBS 60 Minutes. Both interviews are eagerly awaited, trailers and teasers reported on as news as speculation about what Harry has chosen to say in his book continues.In a clip from the ITV interview, Harry said: “I would like to get my father back, I would like to have my brother back.”'I want my father and brother back': ITV releases trailer for interview with Prince Harry – videoGiven the details recounted in his book, that might not seem immediately likely. Indeed one of Harry’s most pertinent revelations of private conversations between the senior royals comes from the very front of his book.Harry recounts an anguished meeting with Charles and William after the Windsor Castle funeral of Prince Phillip, the queen’s husband, in April 2021.Charles, he says, stood between his warring sons, “looking up at our flushed faces”.“Please, boys,” Harry quotes his father as saying. “Don’t make my final years a misery.” Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex (Transworld, £28). To support The Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. | Royal Families |
The title of Queen Camilla has been used for the first time by Buckingham Palace on invitations for the King's coronation.
More details of the 6 May event were also revealed along with the formal invitations on Tuesday night.
Camilla has been referred to as Queen Consort since the death of Queen Elizabeth II but is named Queen Camilla on the invites, which will soon be sent to more than 2,000 guests.
The Pages of Honour who will "attend their majesties during the coronation service" have also been named, with future king Prince George among them.
The eight boys who make up the pages are aged between nine and 13 and are either family friends or close relatives of the King and Queen. The group includes three of Camilla's grandchildren.
The coronation invitations will be printed on recycled card and decorated with colourful wildlife and flowers in a design by artist Andrew Jamieson, a Brother of the Art Workers' Guild, of which the King is an honorary member.
It was inspired by the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore symbolic of spring and rebirth.
The figure appears at the bottom of the invitation crowned in natural foliage and formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn and the UK's emblematic flowers.
The invitations say: "The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla - By Command of the King the Earl Marshall is directed to invite... to be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on the 6th day of May 2023."
Read more:
First portrait of King Charles III released
Quest to find volunteer bell-ringers for coronation
Duke and Duchess of Sussex hint at invite
A royal source said: "It made sense to refer to Her Majesty as the Queen Consort in the early months of His Majesty's reign, to distinguish from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
"'Queen Camilla' is the appropriate title to set against 'King Charles' on the invitation. The coronation is an appropriate time to start using 'Queen Camilla' in an official capacity. All former Queen Consorts have been known as 'Queen' plus their first name."
A portrait of the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace's blue drawing room was also released on Tuesday. | Royal Families |
The image of King Charles III that will be used on first and second class stamps has been revealed, with Royal Mail expected to make them available for the public to buy from 4 April.
The image depicts the king in profile facing to the left, known as a definitive stamp, using an adaptation of the portrait to be used on new UK coins in a tradition dating back to the creation of the Penny Black stamp for Queen Victoria in 1840.
The continuity also includes retaining the background colours of the stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II: plum purple for first class, holly green for second class, marine turquoise for large first class and dark pine green for large second class.
“The guidance we got from His Majesty was more about continuity and not doing anything too different to what had gone before,” said Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, David Gold.
“There is no embellishment at all, no crown, just simply the face of the human being, on the plain background, almost saying: ‘This is me and I’m at your service,’ which I think in this modern age is actually rather humbling.”
Royal Mail said that in an effort to “minimise the environmental and financial impact” of the change in monarch – around 8bn letters are delivered in the UK each year – retailers will exhaust their stocks of stamps featuring the late queen before selling the new ones.
“The King gave very clear directions – he didn’t want anything to be pulped, he didn’t want things being shredded, he didn’t want stock being thrown away,” said Gold.
Fans of the monarchy and philatelists can register their interest from Wednesday, but the new stamps will not go on sale to the general public until 4 April.
Charles is the seventh monarch to appear on a definitive stamp, sometimes referred to as an “everyday” stamp, which only feature the monarch’s head and value of the stamp on a plain-coloured background.
“Ever since the Penny Black was issued in the reign of Queen Victoria, British stamps have carried the image of the reigning monarch,” Royal Mail’s chief executive, Simon Thompson, said.
“Uniquely, British stamps do not have the country of origin printed on them as the image of the monarch is sufficient. The definitive stamp has become a recognisable symbol of each reign.”
The image on the stamp is a “digitally re-lit” version of the portrait created by the British artist Martin Jennings for the Royal Mint to use on the back of a new range of UK coins.
The Bank of England revealed designs for banknotes featuring the king in December which are planned to enter general circulation by mid-2024. The king’s portrait will appear on existing designs of all four of its polymer bank notes in circulation – £5, £10, £20 and £50 – while notes featuring the late queen will continue to be legal tender. | Royal Families |
Buckingham Palace has remained silent tonight following an onslaught of explosive extracts from Prince Harry's autobiography Spare, which appear to have cast a negative light on almost every member of the Royal Family.The tell-all memoir of the Duke of Sussex was supposed to be released next week, but it was accidentally made available in Spain on Wednesday in an apparent PR disaster for publishers Penguin Random House. It led to the reporting of extraordinary passages which have laid bare the inner tensions that continue to plague the Royal Household. According to the Daily Mail, Palace aides are frantically digesting the contents of the 570-plus page diatribe.Perhaps the most damaging account is that of an alleged physical altercation between William and Harry, when they began arguing abut the latter's wife Meghan Markle on the eve of Megxit in 2019. Perhaps the most damaging account is that of an alleged physical altercation between William and Harry, (pictured together) when they began arguing abut the latter's wife Meghan Markle on the eve of Megxit in 2019 Harry has detailed shock revelations in his tell-all memoir Spare, that has been leaked days before it was due to be published (Pictured: A woman in Spain holds a copy of the book after it was accidentally released early in the country) William is said to have branded Meghan 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive' and insisted he was trying to help his younger brother during a meeting about 'the whole rolling catastrophe' of their failing relationship and Harry's rows with the Press.Harry accused his brother of 'parroting the Press narrative' about his American wife before a screaming match ensued, ending in a physical altercation, the book claims. He says he gave the heir to the throne a glass of water and said: 'Willy, I can't speak to you when you're like this'.Describing what he claims happened next, and insisting he was scared, the former soldier said: 'He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. 'He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog's bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out'.Elsewhere, he appears to place part of the blame for his Nazi costume fiasco in 2005 on his brother and his now wife Kate, the Princess of Wales. The Duke of Sussex says in his new memoir that they both thought it was funny.Harry claims he was considering either the Nazi uniform or a pilot's outfit to a 'Native and Colonial' themed event and called his brother and sister-in-law for their opinion. Prince Harry also sensationally accuses Camilla of plotting to marry Charles to take the Crown and of leaking stories to the press. King Charles seen leaving Sandringham for the first time since excerpts from 'Spare' were leakedHarry pictured yesterday with his dog Pula hours before revelations from his book were leaked 'I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said,' Harry wrote, according to Page Six.It appears no member of the Firm has been left unscathed by the book, however the Palace is deciding, so far, to ignore its claims. Despite repeated requests for comment, it has refused to provide one. It follows a similar decision in response to Harry and Meghan's incendiary Netflix documentary last month. The Sussexes used their show to wound Prince William and King Charles and claimed that dark forces blocked the Queen from seeing them before Megxit. Harry also said his family were upset and jealous of Meghan's popularity so pursued a vendetta against her because she was 'doing the job better' and 'stealing the limelight' from 'those born to do it'.But despite the slew of claims in six hours of interviews and footage, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace declined to comment on anything in the series.It comes as the King was pictured leaving Sandringham House in Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, where he has been staying for the festive period. His appearance came hours after revelations in Harry's book were reported - including claims he and William begged their father not to marry Camilla after Diana's death. Prince Harry also sensationally accuses Camilla of plotting to marry Charles to take the Crown and of leaking stories to the press.In an extraordinary passage the Duke of Sussex writes: 'Shortly after our private meetings with her, she began to develop her long-term strategy, a campaign directed at marriage and with time, the Crown (with the blessing of our father, we supposed). King Charles pleaded with his warring sons William and Harry not to make his 'final years a misery', the Duke of Sussex 's bombshell book has revealed'News stories started appearing in all the newspapers about her conversations with Willy, stories which recounted lots of small details, none of which came from my brother, of course.'The Duke also claims that he and his brother William 'begged' the then-Prince of Wales not to remarry after Princess Diana's death, fearing that she would be their 'wicked stepmother'.Charles had tried to win over his sons before asking the public to accept Camilla, the book claims. Harry then astonishingly says that meeting the future Queen Consort for the first time was like an 'injection'.A copy of Spare - due to be published on January 10 - was obtained by the Guardian, before copies accidentally went on sale in Spain. The Duke of Sussex alleges in the autobiography that he and his brother would not stand in the way of the then-Prince of Wales's relationship but had asked him not to walk down the aisle for the second time, calling Camilla the 'Other Woman'.In another passage from Harry's highly anticipated autobiography, the duke recounts a meeting with his father and brother after Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021.In the tell-all memoir, he recalls Charles standing between himself and the heir 'looking up at our flushed faces'. Harry then quotes his father as saying: 'Please boys, don't make my final years a misery.' | Royal Families |
Prince Harry has begun to unleash another salvo of attacks on the Royal Family as he sits down with his friend Tom Bradby for his first primetime interview to promote his explosive memoir. The 90-minute broadcast focuses on Harry's tumultuous relationship with his family who - in Bradby's words - the prince took 'a flame thrower to' in the writing of his memoirs. Clips previously released by ITV of Harry: The Interview, show him describing feelings of guilt and revealing he had cried only once after the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. In another clip, he says he wants to reconcile with his family - but that it cannot happen without 'some accountability'. Prince Harry sat down tonight for her first primetime interview to promote his memoir, Spare Harry was not paid for tonight's interview, which saw him alternate between answering questions from Bradby and reading sections from his memoir. As he once again twisted the knife on his closest family members, the Duke - Says he's 'written emails and letters' to his family about his concerns but was told 'you are imagining it'; The interview is the first of four broadcast appearances over the coming days, with the duke also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night, Michael Strahan of Good Morning America tomorrow and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time.In the interview with Bradby, which began to air at 9pm, Harry speaks about being unable to show any emotion when meeting mourners following the death of his mother in 1997.He also admits to feeling 'some guilt' when walking among the crowds gathered outside Kensington Palace, saying the only time he cried was at his mother's burial.Harry also reveals how his father sat him down on a bed before breaking the news.He says Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997.The prince paints the picture of an emotionally distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. In a passage read out on ITV, Harry says: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.'In the book, the Duke recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital.However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning.He recalled that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash.In the memoir he said for a time he believed Diana had faked her own death and she was 'running away' to escape her 'miserable' life.The Duke said his 13-year-old self had wondered if it was a 'trick', writing in the book: 'Her life's been miserable, she's been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she's staged an accident as a diversion and run away.'He later admitted this was not the case, but said he returned to the theory as a source of comfort.In the memoir, which was ghostwritten by Pulitzer-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry admitted to trying to get closure by returning to the scene of his mother's death. Prince Harry pictured with his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana Harry, pictured here with his mother in Spain in 1987, told ITV's Tom Bradby he had cried only once over Diana's deathThe Princess of Wales had been killed along with her partner Dodi Fayed when their driver Henri Paul crashed their car in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris.An inquest would later return a verdict of unlawful killing, blaming Paul, who was drunk at the time and also died in the crash, as well as the paparazzi following the vehicle. The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 Harry says he got his chauffeur to drive him at 65mph - the speed at which the crash happened - through the tunnel repeatedly to experience how her final journey would have felt.Harry recounted the driver was shocked when he asked him if he knew the tunnel were his mother had died, and asked him to drive him through it.The royal revealed he barely felt anything when he entered the tunnel, writing it was: 'The bump that supposedly sent Mummy's Mercedes veering off course.'He recounted how he counted the lights and the pillar inside the tunnel as his car whizzed through, but was shocked at how short the tunnel actually was when he emerged.Harry recalled imagining the tunnel was a dangerous route, but was surprised to learn it was a 'no-frills tunnel'.He recounted speaking to William about the tunnel where their mother had died after he had made the journey through it himself.The pair then agreed to travel through it once more, together, after which Harry says they talked about their mother's accident for the first time.Following an investigation into Diana's death, Harry described the final report as 'an insult' and 'a shambles' which he believed was inaccurate. Harry claimed his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah (pictured) Prince Harry (centre) stands between his brother and father as the hearse carrying his mother's coffin prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral serviceIn the memoir Harry claims his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah.The Duke wrote that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021.Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.'The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away.'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. 'Listen to me, Harold,'' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun.'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. 'Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy.''Harry claims he replied: 'I love you too…but your stubbornness is extraordinary!'The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact.William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned.He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.'Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there.'He'd used the secret code, the universal password. Ever since we were boys those three words were to be used only in times of extreme crisis.'The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair.William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'.Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.'The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you' Who is Tom Brady? Friend of Harry's who's relationship with William has soured amid fallout from Megxit BACKGROUND & EDUCATION Bradby was born in Malta where his father served in the Royal Navy.After a short time on the island his family moved back to Britain, and he was privately educated at £20,000-a-year Westbourne House School near Chichester before attending Sherborne School in Dorset. The famous public school charges £42,000 a year for boarders. It was founded in 1550 but traces its history back more than 1,300 years, with alumni including actor Hugh Bonneville and WWII codebreaker Alan Turing. Bradby boasts some impressive family connections, with his great-grandmother winning an Olympic gold for tennis in 1908, while his godfather, Matt Bradby, won two caps with the England rugby team in the early 1920s. Tom Bradby with his wife Claudia at Meghan and Harry's wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018 In a 2017 interview with the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine, Bradby paid tribute to his family including his mother, Sally, who was a tennis coach. 'My father Dan was in the Navy and was an honourable man who strove to do the right thing,' he said. 'My mum, Sally, was a selfless force of nature. She died of cancer in 2012 aged 72 and my father was 83 when he died from a heart attack last year.' CAREER As host of ITV's News at 10, Bradby is one of the UK's most recognisable journalists. He joined ITN as an editorial trainee in 1980 and has served in a series of roles, including Ireland correspondent and Asia correspondent. As royal correspondent, he presented coverage of the Golden Jubilee and the funerals of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother. He has hosted the News at 10 since 2015 and anchored major events including the Brexit referendum in 2016, the US election in 2020 and Queen Elizabeth's funeral earlier this year. Bradby also has a career as a fiction writer - publishing nine thrillers including Shadow Dancer, which in 2012 was made into a film starring Andrea Riseborough and Clive Owen. Despite his high profile in the UK, Bradby is less well known in America, and has joked about being mistaken on Twitter for the American football legend Tom Brady. Bradby speaking with Prince Harry in a trailer of a longer interview that will air later this week PERSONAL LIFE The journalist has been married to his jewellery designer wife Claudia since 1994 and they have three children, Jack, Louisa and Sam. In a newspaper profile, he said his favourite drink is a Talisker whisky with ice, and he would choose Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country as the hymns to be played at his funeral. The journalist was signed off work for three months in 2018 after developing insomnia and what he describes as an addiction to the sleeping pill zopiclone.Bradby, who has worked for ITV News producer ITN for 30 years, told how Claudia had warned him he was close to a 'very dangerous cliff-edge' and urged him to see a psychiatrist. At his lowest he believed he would lose his family and job.Speaking to former Downing Street director of communications Craig Oliver, for his podcast Desperately Seeking Wisdom, Bradby said: 'One of the really nice things about [being open] is people feel able to come and talk to me about when they're not feeling well.'And it just makes you realise, God, how many people out there are suffering and need help?'ROYAL LINKSBradby is a friend of the Sussexes and previously interviewed them for a documentary about their 2019 Africa tour.He famously asked Meghan about her mental health, with the duchess thanking him and saying 'not many people have asked if I'm ok'. The Duke of Cambridge was once so close with Tom Bradby that he was chosen to conduct the November 2010 engagement exclusive interview with him and Kate MiddletonIn their recent Netflix series, Meghan said the interview marked a turning point. She said: 'There is only so much you can take on your own, so you end up saying, ''Something has to change''. It was a huge turning point.'It was when we started having harder conversations about what needs to happen for us to be able to continue to make this work.'Bradby first got to know Harry when he worked with him on a documentary about Lesotho when the prince was on his gap year after leaving Eton.The journalist went on to attend his 2018 wedding to Meghan. He also went to William and Kate's wedding, but has since admitted his relationship with the Prince of Wales has suffered amid the fallout from Megxit. Bradby has said mental breakdown made him treat Meghan and Harry more sympathetically Bradby's ITV documentary in South Africa in 2019 also saw Meghan Markle tell him: 'Not many people have asked if I'm okay' | Royal Families |
King Charles III has taken part in a centuries-old Easter tradition for the first time since becoming monarch.
He and the Queen Consort handed out specially minted coins at York Minster during a day of visits in the region.
The pouches contained a coin celebrating the King's upcoming 75th birthday, and one marking the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation.
The tradition of Kings and Queens distributing gifts on Maundy Thursday dates back to AD600.
The King waved to crowds as he arrived at the medieval cathedral, while a smaller group of protesters holding up placards reading 'Not my King' jeered as the royal car passed.
The monarch and the Queen Consort were handed a traditional small bouquet of flowers as they entered the cathedral for a service marking the important Holy Week date, which commemorates Jesus washing his disciples' feet and the Last Supper.
The royal couple were also expected to formally open the Minster's new Refectory Restaurant as part of their visit, which is on the site of a former school that was forced to close in 2020 due to financial difficulties.
The Maundy Money ceremony takes place each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, with special coins given to one man and one woman chosen for each year the monarch has lived - 148 in this instance.
A white purse contained silver Maundy coins equivalent in value to the age of the King.
A red purse contained two commemorative coins, which symbolise the sovereign's historic gift of food and clothing.
The first recorded distribution of Maundy money took place at Knaresborough in North Yorkshire by King John in 1210.
Queen Elizabeth II decided the traditional ceremony should take place in a different Anglican cathedral each year, to ensure it was not always held in London.
The coin-giving ceremony has been held at York Minster on two previous occasions by the late Queen, on 5 April 2012 and 30 March 1972.
The Archbishop said the monarch's visit was a "joy," especially given that the final choice of location for the Maundy service rests with the King.
"We weren't really expecting this, we were delighted because it's his choice where he comes," he said. | Royal Families |
By The Visual Journalism Team BBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesAfter days of lying-in-state, the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II is making its final journey as part of a grand state funeral. It travelled first to Westminster Abbey, for a religious service in front of a congregation of thousands, and then to Windsor Castle for a more intimate committal service and, finally, a private burial.It is a day of emotion, pomp and ceremony the like of which has not been seen since the last state funeral, of Winston Churchill, almost 60 years ago. The Queen made personal additions to the plans, Buckingham Palace has said.Here is a breakdown of the day's events. The Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall in the heart of London, where people queued for hours to view her coffin, came to an end in the early morning. A short distance away, at Westminster Abbey, the doors then opened for guests to start arriving ahead of the funeral service at 11:00. Heads of state from across the world flew in to join members of the Royal Family to remember the Queen's life and service. Senior UK politicians and former prime ministers were also there.Members of royal families from across Europe, many of whom were blood relatives of the Queen, were also in attendance.The Queen's coffin was lifted from the catafalque at Westminster Hall, where it has been resting since Wednesday afternoon, and was taken to Westminster Abbey, for her funeral service.She was carried to the abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, drawn by 142 sailors. The carriage was last seen in 1979 for the funeral of Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten and was used for the Queen's father, George VI, in 1952.The Queen's coffin is topped with the Royal Standard, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's orb and sceptre and a wreath made up of flowers and foliage chosen by the King, picked from Buckingham Palace and the King's homes of Clarence House and Highgrove. Senior members of the Royal Family, including the new king and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, followed the gun carriage in procession.The Pipes and Drums of the Scottish and Irish regiments lead the ceremony, along with members of the Royal Air Force and the Gurkhas.The route was lined by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and a guard of honour stood in Parliament Square made up of all three military services, accompanied by a Royal Marines band.The Queen's life-long sense of duty was remembered at her state funeral service, attended by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey.A state funeral, typically reserved for kings or queens, follows strict rules of protocol, such as a military procession.The abbey, hosting the funeral service, is the historic church where Britain's kings and queens are crowned, including the Queen's own coronation in 1953. It was also where the then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947.There hasn't been a monarch's funeral service in the abbey since the 18th Century, although the funeral of the Queen Mother was held there in 2002.The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving the sermon. Prime Minister Liz Truss read a lesson.The Dean began the service by speaking of the Queen's "unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth".Among the hymns was "The Lord's my shepherd" sung to the Crimond tune, which hails back to a parish in Aberdeenshire not far from the Queen's Balmoral estate, the location of her death. The hymn was also sung at the Queen's wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh.Towards the end of the funeral service the Last Post - a short bugle call - was played followed by a two-minute national silence. The national anthem and a lament played by the Queen's piper brought the service to an end just after midday.The Queen's coffin was then drawn in a walking procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, at London's Hyde Park Corner.With the route lined with military personnel and police, Big Ben tolled at one-minute intervals as the procession moved slowly through the streets of the capital. Gun salutes were fired every minute from Hyde Park.Crowds of mourners lined the route to catch a glimpse of the coffin and military parade, which stretched for more than a mile and involved hundreds of members of the armed forces.The procession was led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was made up of seven groups, each with its own band. Members of the armed services from the UK and the Commonwealth, the police and the NHS were involved.Once again, the King and members of the Royal Family walked behind the gun carriage bearing the Queen's coffin.Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex joined the procession in cars.Once at Wellington Arch, the coffin was then transferred to the new State Hearse for its final journey to Windsor Castle. Crowds threw flowers towards the vehicle as it passed by.Windsor Castle, continuously inhabited by 40 monarchs across almost 1,000 years, had special significance to the Queen throughout her life. As a teenager she was sent to the castle during the war years as London faced the threat of bombing, and more recently she made it her permanent home during the coronavirus pandemic.The hearse arrived in Windsor just after 15:00 and continued in walking procession up Windsor Castle's Long Walk. Crowds of people and members of the armed forces lined the three-mile (5km) avenue.The King and senior members of the Royal Family are expected to join the cortege in the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle at 15:40.The castle's Sebastopol and Curfew Tower bells will be tolled every minute and gun salutes will be fired from the castle's grounds.Then the coffin will enter St George's Chapel for a committal service. St George's Chapel is the church regularly chosen by the Royal Family for weddings, christenings and funerals. It is where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, were married in 2018 and where the Queen's late husband Prince Philip's funeral was held.Attended by a smaller, more personal congregation of about 800 guests, the committal service will be conducted by Dean of Windsor David Conner, with a blessing from Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The service, whose congregation will be largely made up of current and former staff from the Queen's household and private estates, will include traditions symbolising the end of her reign.The Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre will be removed from the top of the coffin by the Crown Jeweller, separating the Queen from her crown for the final time.At the end of the last hymn, the King will then place the Queen's company camp colour, or flag, of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin. The Grenadier Guards are the most senior of the Foot Guards carrying out ceremonial duties for the monarch.At the same time, the Lord Chamberlain, former MI5 chief Baron Parker, will "break" his wand of office and place it on the coffin. The snapping of the white staff will signal the end of his service to the sovereign as her most senior official in the Royal Household.The Queen will then be lowered into the royal vault and the Sovereign's piper will play before a blessing and the singing of God Save the King. The performance by the piper at Windsor was something the Queen had personally requested, Buckingham Palace said.The committal service will come to an end and the King and members of the Royal Family will leave the chapel.That evening, at a private family service, the Queen will be buried together with her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the King George VI memorial chapel, located inside St George's Chapel.Her marble slab will be engraved ELIZABETH II 1926-2022.UK Royal FamilyKing Charles IIIQueen Elizabeth II | Royal Families |
Good morning. There will be very little normal politics this week. Britain is focused on the events taking place to mourn and commemorate Queen Elizabeth, and prepare for her funeral next week, and to mark the accession of King Charles III to the throne, and the main coverage of all this is on a seperate live blog. It’s here.But parliament, and Westminster, have a huge role to play, and in the politics blog I will be focusing in particular on those aspects of the ceremonial events. I will also be covering any non-royal politics news that may be around. There won’t be much, but we are getting a Downing Street lobby briefing this morning.At Westminster the main focus will be on Charles’s first visit to the Houses of Parliament as King. He will be in Westminster Hall (the oldest surviving part of the palace) to received addresses of condolence from the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, on behalf of the Commons, and the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall, on behalf of the Lords. After that the King will reply. As I came into the office a few minutes ago MPs and peers were queuing up to get into Westminster Hall for the event, which is due to start after 10am. My colleague Jessica Elgot has a preview here.It all sounds quite formal and routine. But it all underlines quite how firmly embedded the monarchy is into the political life of the nation. Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and one where the King is more visible and influential than other democracies with royal families. “If Liz Truss had been a Swedish political leader, she would have travelled to see the speaker of the Riksdag this week to be appointed as prime minister, not the monarch,” my colleague Martin Kettle pointed out, in a very good column on this last week. In the past it was common to hear people say that, after the Queen died, there would be a public debate about whether the reach of the royal family should be scaled back. But since Thursday there has been no evidence to suggest that will happen at all, and events like this morning’s suggest this is a moment for continuity, not change.The King will then travel to Scotland, where early this evening he will received a similar motion of condolence from MSPs in the Scottish parliament.Here are tweets from some parliamentarians at Westminster waiting to hear from the new King.From the Conservative MP Greg HandsFrom Labour’s Darren JonesFrom the Conservative MP Robert HalfonFrom the Labour MP Christian WakefordI try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected] | Royal Families |
The first stamps featuring King Charles III were unveiled on Wednesday by the Royal Mail, the British postal service.
The King is captured in profile, his head bare, looking to the left. The standard first-class stamp will feature the portrait on a plain purple background.
“Delighted that the Royal Mail will be using my effigy of King Charles for their definitive stamps,” designer Martin Jennings tweeted, adding that the portrait was first created for the new coins featuring the monarch.
The stamps will go on general sale from April 4.
“The guidance we were given was not to try to be too clever or to veer off into some different direction but very much to keep that traditional image that we’re all very much used to,” David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail, said, according to Reuters.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to appear on a postage stamp, appearing on the world’s first ever stamp, known as the Penny Black, in 1840.
Five other British monarchs have featured on stamps since then, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait became an iconic image, reproduced by artists such as Andy Warhol.
Coins featuring King Charles III entered circulation in December, while new banknotes are expected to be in use by mid-2024 as the UK begins introducing the new King’s image following his mother’s death in September.
Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls. | Royal Families |
After a carriage procession appearance on Wednesday, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, returned to Royal Ascot for another day of horse-racing on Thursday. This time she skipped the procession, but she did bring along a special guest, her 92-year-old father, Christopher Rhys-Jones. Rhys-Jones, a retired auto executive, donned a gray top hat and joined his daughter in the royal enclosure where they stood arm-in-arm and posed for photographers.
Along with Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward, they were present as King Charles III won his first race of the week. The king entered the horse Desert Hero, ridden by jockey Tom Marquand, in the George V Handicap, where he came in first, and was awarded a trophy by his cousin, the Duke of Kent.
After the race, his niece Zara Tindall spoke with reporters about the symbolism. “It’s bittersweet, isn’t it?” she said. “To think how proud and excited our grandmother would have been, the queen would have been. But to have a winner for Charles and Camilla, to keep that dream alive, was incredible. And what a race, aside [from] all of that.”
As on Tuesday and Wednesday, the king and Queen Camilla led the carriage procession, where they were joined by horse trainer Mark Prescott and the Earl of Snowdon, the son of Princess Margaret. Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence rode in the second carriage along with Qatari royal Sheikh Hamid bin Abdullah Al Thani and the king’s former equerry, Lord Soames of Fletching. Princess Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel Chatto rode in the third carriage along with Camilla’s companion Baroness Carlyn Chisholm of Owlpen and her husband, Colin Chisholm.
Sophie doesn’t often appear with her father at royal events, but in 2021, she spoke about her excitement when she was able to receive a coronavirus vaccine. During an event later that year, Sophie talked about grieving her mother, Mary, who died in 2005. “To this day, I miss her very much,” she said. “There are moments where I hear some music she loved or I do something I know she’d have wanted to hear about, which makes her early departure very hard.” | Royal Families |
The King will become the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback this morning.
Charles will take the royal salute as Colonel in Chief of the Household Division's seven regiments during the ceremony, staged on Horse Guards Parade, as members of the Royal Family and 8,000 spectators look on.
The colour, or regimental flag, that will be trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers will be the King's Colour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
At least three troops faint in military parade inspected by Prince William as temperatures soar
He will be the first monarch to ride during the official birthday celebration since his mother, Queen Elizabeth, rode her horse named Burmese during the ceremony in 1986.
Burmese, a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was the Queen's favourite mount for ceremonial occasions and she rode her for 18 years until the mare's retirement in 1986.
From that point on, Her Majesty opted to use a carriage for Trooping the Colour rather than train another charger.
When the King rides from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards, he will be joined on horseback by the royal Colonels - Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards and the Princess Royal, Gold Stick in Waiting and Colonel, The Blues and Royals.
The Duke of Edinburgh will also be riding during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards, formed last year.
The senior royals on horseback will be joined by a carriage expected to be carrying the Queen and the Princess of Wales and her children.
The royal party will travel in the middle of a Sovereign's Mounted Escort formed by troops from the Household Cavalry's Life Guards and Blues and Royals, with two divisions riding in front and two behind.
Read more:
King's first Birthday Honours list revealed
Scotland to mark coronation of King and Queen
Charles pictured with Prince William and Prince George in new portrait
During the Trooping ceremony, the King will inspect the Guardsmen, in their scarlet tunics and bearskins, standing in two rows on Horse Guards before the colour is trooped.
The massed bands of the Household Division will provide musical backing during the day and also taking part is the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery who, following the parade, will fire a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the King's official birthday - while from the Tower of London the Honourable Artillery Company will fire 62 volleys.
Following the ceremony, the Royal Family will head back to Buckingham Palace and gather on the balcony to watch an extended military flypast after the display on coronation day had to be scaled down due to bad weather.
Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will take part - including aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight, modern Typhoon fighter jets with a red, white and blue finale from the Red Arrows. | Royal Families |
The Prince and Princess of Wales are honoring Queen Elizabeth II in a special way.
On what would've been the late monarch's 97th birthday, Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a never-before-seen family portrait of Her Majesty sitting beside some of her youngest grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Alongside the photo shared to their official Instagram April 21—snapped by Kate herself—they noted, "This photograph - showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren - was taken at Balmoral last summer."
As for the royal breakdown of who exactly was in attendance? Though Queen Elizabeth had eight grandchildren, it was her youngest two—whose parents are Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh—that are seen standing in the back row: Lady Louise Windsor, 19, and James, Earl of Wessex, 15.
Meanwhile, out of the Queen's 12 great-grandkids, William and Kate's three children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, alongside their cousins, Isla Phillips, 11, (whose dad is Peter Phillips) and Lena Tindall, 4 (whose mom is Zara Tindall) stood right in the middle.
The royally touching photo comes seven months after Buckingham Palace announced Queen Elizabeth's passing. In a heartbreaking statement shared after her death, Prince William honored his beloved "Grannie."
"I have lost a grandmother," his Sept. 10 statement read in part. "And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade."
He added, "I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all. My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love."
The 40-year-old also took note of his father, King Charles III, whose coronation will take place in early May, sharing that he'll honor his grandmother's memory "by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can." | Royal Families |
King Charles III is crowned in Westminster Abbey, amid pomp and pageantry
Service a shorter, less formal affair than the 3-hour coronation for his mother
King Charles III, a man who waited almost 74 years to become King, was crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey with all the pomp and pageantry Britain could muster.
Shouts of "God save the King" rang out and trumpet blasts echoed in the abbey after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St. Edward's Crown on the monarch's head.
Charles had taken an oath to govern the people of the United Kingdom with "justice and mercy" and to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs can live freely. The oath was the second of five elements of the historic coronation rite that is rooted in more than 1,000 years of tradition.
The King said he was willing to take the oath, and after placing his hand on the Bible, he solemnly promised to do so. He later kissed the holy book.
Camilla, the Queen Consort, was then anointed and crowned with Queen Mary's Crown. Clergy handed her the Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross, and the Queen Consort's Rod with Dove.
After the service, Charles switched to the lighter Imperial State Crown. The King and Queen rode in the Gold State Coach on their way back to Buckingham Palace — where they appeared with other members of the Royal Family on the balcony to wave at the crowd below and watch a flypast of military aircraft.
About 4,000 troops marched to the palace in the post-ceremony procession, making it Britain's biggest military parade in 70 years.
High-profile guests
Westminster Abbey buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrant flowers and colourful hats as guests arrived two hours before the ceremony began.
Streaming into the abbey were celebrities such as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Lionel Richie, alongside politicians, judges in wigs, soldiers with gleaming medals attached to red tunics and members of the House of Lords in their red robes.
Dignitaries and world leaders in attendance included U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and eight current and former British prime ministers.
Tens of thousands of people amassed in central London in the rain, and loud cheers erupted among wellwishers lining The Mall, the grand avenue leading to the palace, as Charles and Camilla were seen waving from within their Bentley as their motorcade arrived at Buckingham Palace.
The couple then left the palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, and after a two-kilometre journey, arrived at Westminster Abbey, where they were crowned.
Heir to the throne Prince William, his wife, Kate, and their three children were all in attendance. William's younger brother Prince Harry, who has publicly sparred with the family, arrived alone. His wife Meghan and their children remained at home in California.
William's eldest son, Prince George, was one of four honour pages carrying the train of his grandfather's robe.
During the service in the abbey, William knelt before his father to pledge his loyalty to the monarch.
"I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God," William said.
Earlier, the anti-monarchy group Republic said six of its members, including chief executive Graham Smith, were arrested near Trafalgar Square in central London as they prepared to protest the coronation.
On the south side of the square, thousands swelled behind the metal fencing along the procession route. In the middle of the crowd, dozens of anti-monarchy protesters, who held tall yellow banners that read "not my king" which they frequently chanted.
Some of those in the crowd shouted back, "Yes, he is," or "My king, and I am proud of him."
Thousands decked out in their finest Union Jack attire, along with rain coats and ponchos easily drowned out the noise from the protest, but were irritated that the demonstrators were taking up prime space and blocking whatever view their was with their flags.
"They can protest, but they can't hold their flag," shouted Karen from Devon, southwest England.
'People will stop and stare'
"Even in a world where people are sated with on-demand entertainment, people will stop and stare," said Michael Cole, a former BBC royal correspondent, "because it will be a spectacular procession and a ritual, a ceremony, unlike anything that occurs anywhere in the world."
But like the best dramas, it was a show with a message.
For 1,000 years and more, British monarchs have been crowned in grandiose ceremonies that confirm their right to rule. Although the King no longer has executive or political power, he remains the U.K.'s head of state and a symbol of national identity.
At a time when double-digit inflation is making everyone in the U.K. poorer, Charles was keen to show that he can still be a unifying force in a multicultural nation that is very different from the one that greeted his mother.
So this was a shorter, less formal affair than the three-hour coronation for Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1953, Westminster Abbey was fitted with temporary stands to boost the seating capacity to more than 8,000, aristocrats wore crimson robes and coronets, and the coronation procession meandered eight kilometres through central London so an estimated three million people could cheer for the glamorous 25-year-old Queen.
Pared-down ceremony
Organizers cut Charles's service to less than two hours and sent out 2,300 invitations. Aristocrats were told to avoid ceremonial dress and the procession travelled a shorter, direct route back to Buckingham Palace from the abbey. This followed Charles's instructions for a pared-down ceremony as he has been seeking to create a smaller, less expensive royal machine for the 21st century.
Charles scrapped the traditional moment at the end of the service when nobles were asked to kneel and pledge their loyalty to the king. Instead, the Archbishop of Canterbury invited everyone in the abbey and people watching on television to swear "true allegiance" to the monarch.
The pledge has sparked debate in Britain, with some observers suggesting it was a tone-deaf effort to demand public support for Charles. Welby responded by saying it wasn't a command and people can decide for themselves whether to take part.
Almost 20 per cent of the population in the U.K. now come from ethnic minority groups, compared with less than one per cent in the 1950s. More than 300 languages are spoken in British schools, and less than half of the population describe themselves as Christian.
Although organizers say the coronation remains a "sacred Anglican service," the ceremony will for the first time include the active participation of other faiths, including representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions.
- Royal FascinatorKing Charles will vow 'to serve' in coronation service that remains rooted in deep tradition
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered a reading from the New Testament of the Bible.
Officials have said that although Sunak is a Hindu, he is reading as prime minister so there is no issue over his personal faith during the Anglican service.
With files from CBC's Briar Stewart | Royal Families |
The death of the Queen - the world's longest-reigning monarch - has not only rocked the nation, but the world. Her state funeral will be one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century.Buckingham Palace has confirmed her funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19 September.Poignantly, it is the same venue the Queen married Prince Philip in 75 years ago, and just one year ago the Queen sat alone in the pews for his funeral.Queen's coffin to lie at rest in Edinburgh - latest updatesOn the day, the large venue - which can hold up to 2,000 people - will be full of family members, world leaders, politicians, monarchs from other countries, public figures and those who worked with the Queen, all paying their last respects.So, who can we expect to see at the Queen's funeral, and who won't be there? Image: The Queen's grandsons - William and Harry - and their wives Kate and Meghan will be there FamilyThe Queen's family will of course be there to mourn their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.Her four children - King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, and Prince Edward - will be present, as will Camilla, the Queen Consort, and the Countess of Wessex, and the monarch's grandchildren - princes William and Harry, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, princesses Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, will also be present at the ceremony.Read more:'Thank you for your infectious smile': Prince Harry's tribute to 'granny'Official guidance issued for Queen's lying in stateThe Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester - who are the Queen's cousins - are also likely to be there.Spouses of all close family would be expected to be present too, including Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Sussex.Members of Europe's royal families, from countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Monaco, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Greece, are also likely to fly to London for the funeral. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Queen on the world stage World leadersMany of the world leaders the Queen met during her long reign will also be in attendance.US President Joe Biden has confirmed he will attend, as will his wife, First Lady Jill Biden.Westminster Abbey will be so full for the event it will only be possible for a single, senior representative from each country and their partner to attend, according to Foreign Office documents obtained by Politico - which Sky News understand to be correct.It is therefore unclear whether former US presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and their respective wives Michelle and Melania, all of whom met the Queen, will be in attendance.Read more:World leaders 'to be bussed' to historic Westminster Abbey service and asked to take commercial flights to UKQueen's final journey: The people from all walks of life who waited side-by-side for history to unfold before themLiz Truss, who will be the last UK prime minister to have been officially asked to form a government by the Queen, is expected to attend, as well as Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer.Irish premier Micheal Martin has confirmed he will be travelling to London for the event, and the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, is also expected to be there. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sturgeon on Scotland's farewell European leaders to confirm their attendance include German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she will be attending.Other world leaders who say they will be there include New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australia's Governor-General David Hurley, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Spreaker Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this. Open Privacy Options Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcastsJapan's Emperor Naruhito says he plans to attend, while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may also attend, according to Japanese media.And away from high profile figures, some of the Queen's closest staff, including her ladies-in-waiting and footmen, will want to be there to say a final goodbye.And who might not be thereOne high-profile world leader not expected to be there is Russian President Vladimir Putin.Although he expressed his condolences to the King on the news of the Queen's death, the Kremlin's ongoing attacks on Ukraine make his attendance in London highly unlikely.Many have also wondered whether any of the Queen's corgis will be at the funeral.While the formal nature of the event make that highly unlikely, sadly the 'no dog' rule at Westminster Abbey rules it out completely, with dogs not even permitted to walk on the grounds. | Royal Families |
Buckingham Palace has lifted the lid on the details of King Charles III’s upcoming coronation.With less than 100 days to go until the big day, the Royal Family finally released information about the event through their social media channels and website on Thursday.The three-day spectacle will be a milestone event for British calendars and will be the first Coronation of a British monarch in 70 years.News has never been more important. Stream more than 20 global & local news sources with Flash. New to Flash? Try 1 month freeWhile King Charles became the monarch at the moment of Queen Elizabeth II’s death at age 96 on September 8 of last year, a Coronation is held some months after in a show of tradition and ceremony.King Charles will be the oldest monarch ever to be crowned at the ripe age of 73, after a 70-year stint as the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.SATURDAY MAY 6The multi-day event will kick off with the Coronation itself on May 6.Taking place at Westminster Abbey – the site of all British Coronations since 1066 – the King and Queen Consort will be crowned side by side in a religious ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.The King’s Coronation will take a leaf out of his mother’s book and wear St Edward’s Crown, the same used in Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 ceremony. However, the King is set to break away from tradition in a nod to the more modern world he occupies, with his coronation expected to only take about one hour with a slimmed down guest list.In comparison, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation commanded a lengthy three hours and had roughly 8,000 guests.King Charles is only expected to invite around 3000 people to his ceremony.Buckingham Palace said in a statement that “the Service will reflect the Monarch’s role today and look toward the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.”Following the Coronation, the Royal Family will take part in a procession to Buckingham Palace and finish with an appearance on the residence’s famed balcony.It is not yet confirmed who will take part in the balcony appearance.It also remains unknown whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be invited to or attend the Coronation, with Prince Harry keeping mum on the matter when grilled in a recent TV interview.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also yet to confirm whether he will be one of the 3000 dignitaries in attendance.In an interview with ABC News Breakfast, the PM said the decision about the Coronation hadn’t “been determined”.SUNDAY MAY 7 The day after the coronation looks to be a fun filled day for those wanting to celebrate the new monarch, with street parties and a concert planned.A special Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7.The line-up is yet to be announced but “world-famous entertainers” have been promised to grace the stage at the Castle’s East Lawn.The late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee featured performers including Diana Ross and Sir Rod Stewart, in an indication of the big-name talent that could appear at the Coronation concert.Rumours are already flying that British music icons Ed Sheeran and Elton John are in talks for the gig, and names including Dua Lipa and Harry Styles have also been floated.A concert choir will also perform, featuring singers from amateur choirs – the NHS, refugees, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf-signing choirs among those expected to be included.The event will be broadcast by the BBC and BBC Studios and tickets will be made available via public ballot.Applications for the ballot are yet to open and Buckingham Palace has said further detail on the mechanism will be revealed in “due course”.A light show will also be on the bill for the night, with lasers illumination famous sites across the UK.Volunteers from some of Charles and Camilla’s charities will also be in attendance at the Concert.Sunday will also see the Coronation Big Lunch, which will be held in the spirit of the street parties held for the Queen’s Jubilee last June which saw people take to the streets for parties with their neighbours and community.Those wishing to celebrate are encouraged to plan outdoor get-togethers on their streets or in their local community to honour the new monarch. The Coronation Big Lunch’s website said the events will aim to “bring neighbours and communities together to share friendship, food and fun”.MONDAY MAY 8For those nursing a nasty hangover after the jubilant celebrations of the day before, Monday will provide a day of respite with a bank holiday planned for the UK. It won’t be all rest and relaxation however, with volunteering the theme for the bank holiday.People are encouraged to get involved with the “Big Help Out” and lend a hand to local volunteering projects. | Royal Families |
Harry, but not Meghan, to attend Charles’s coronation
Prince Harry, is poised to be there for King Charles III’s coronation in London next month, while his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will miss the ceremony.
The king’s 38-year-old son will attend the May 6 coronation, Buckingham Palace announced Wednesday. Meghan will “remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet,” the palace said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan didn’t immediately return ITK’s request for comment.
There was some question whether Harry would make the trip to England for his father’s coronation amid seemingly strained relations between him and other members of the British royal family.
Earlier this year, Harry made headlines with the release of his memoir “Spare.” In the book, he recounted tension with his brother, Prince William, and his struggles with grief following the 1997 death of their mother, Princess Diana.
In 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping down as full-time working members of the royal family and moved to California. In a bombshell interview the next year with Oprah Winfrey, the couple, who wed in 2018, said that racism played a role in their decision to step back from their senior positions.
In March, representatives for Harry and Meghan said that “an immediate decision on whether the Duke and Duchess will attend [the coronation] will not be disclosed by us at this time.”
But in the Wednesday statement, Buckingham Palace said it was “pleased to confirm” Harry’s attendance at the Westminster Abbey event.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Royal Families |
Prince Harry says the Royal Family needs racial awareness training if it is to survive as an institution.In the latest bombshell interview to promote his memoir - out tomorrow - the Duke of Sussex said his relatives needed to educate themselves on ‘unconscious bias’ - as he has.Harry said he wanted the royals to survive but that understanding race better would be ‘hugely beneficial’ for them.Speaking to US TV network ABC, Harry was asked: 'Do you think in the 21st century there's a place for the British monarchy?’ Prince Harry says the Royal Family needs racial awareness training if it is to survive as an institution.Harry answered: ‘I genuinely believe there is, not the way it is now.'Former American football player turned TV anchor Michael Strahan then asked how the royals needed to ‘modernise’.Harry said: ‘I think the same process that I went through regarding my own unconscious bias would be hugely beneficial to them.‘It's not racism, but unconscious bias if not confronted, if not acknowledged, if not learned and grown from, that can then move into racism. And the way that I understand it is that we all want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.' The Duke of Sussex claims in his new book that he was 'knocked to the floor' by William during a row over his wife, Meghan Markle. Pictured: The brothers at the funeral procession of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II last yearHarry took aim once again at Camilla, Queen Consort, and claimed she did ‘everything she could to improve her own reputation’.But despite eviscerating his family, Harry claimed he was ‘not angry anymore’.He also grandly claimed that if he could reconcile with his family it would have a ‘ripple effect across the world’.During the interview on Good Morning America, the prince repeatedly claimed he wanted to resolve his differences with his family - so long as they admitted they were wrong.He said: ‘I don't think we can ever have peace with my family unless the truth is out there. A lot that I can forgive, but there needs to be conversations in order for reconciliation and part of that has to be accountability. The Duke of Sussex closes his eyes during a therapy session shown in an Apple TV documentary series‘I genuinely believe that, and that's kind of what is pushing me. And if that doesn't happen, then that's very sad.'Turning to Camilla, who he called ‘dangerous’ in the memoir for leaking private conversations to the Press, Harry claimed he had a ‘huge amount of compassion for her’ but admitted they ‘haven’t spoken in a long time.He said: ‘You know I love every member of my family despite the differences, so when I see her we're perfectly pleasant with each other. She's my stepmother, I don't look at her as an evil stepmother.'I see someone who married into this institution and has done everything that she can to, you know, improve her own reputation and her own image. For her own sake.'He added: ‘There are things that will still anger me but I’m not angry anymore because I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.'Mr Strahan asked Harry: ‘How would your mum feel about your relationship with your brother now?’Harry said: ‘I think she'd be sad and looking at it long term to know that there were certain things we need to go through in order to heal the relationship, I think she would be heartbroken that it's ended up where it ended up.'Heartbroken about the fact that William, his office were part of these stories and William and I made a deal, no matter what, we would never let our offices fight against each other.' The allegations are expected to dismay the Prince of Wales, who has publicly supported mental health causes on several occasions Those close to the palace are aghast at Harry's continued assault on his family despite his repeated claims that he wants to be reconciled with themMr Strahan asked: ‘You think he broke that pact?’Harry replied: ‘Yes, the people he employed broke that pact.'Asked if he had ‘any responsibility in the breakdown’, Harry admitted: ‘Without question, sure.’But he claimed he tried to heal things behind the scenes with his father and brother.In a poignant part of the interview Harry revealed what he said to his brother when they visited their mother’s grave in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of her death.Harry said: ‘I talk (in the book how) at her grave, William and I (were) having that conversation, he felt as though she was very much in his life and helped set him up and he felt as though she’d now moved over and helped me set my life up. Prince William is said to be 'seething' about the private medical information shared by his brother in the tell-all memoir‘I think my mother would realize the missed opportunity with Meghan, being part of the monarchy.'Harry also denied there was a rift between him and the late Queen Elizabeth, saying she always ‘knew what was going on’.The claims come hot on the heels of another interview with CBS show 60 Minutes yesterday, in which Harry claimed that Camilla was ‘dangerous’ and ‘left bodies in the street’ because she leaked private conversations to the Press.In his memoir, Harry wrote that Camilla 'sacrificed me on her personal PR altar' and that he begged his father not to marry her. Harry paints a picture of his older brother as a manipulative influence who tried to control almost every aspect of his wedding to MeghanHarry told CBS interviewer Anderson Cooper: 'She was the villain, she was a third person in the marriage, she needed to rehabilitate her image.'And speaking to Tom Bradby on ITV for a 90-minute special called Harry: The Interview, a visibly emotional Harry claimed the day the Queen died he experienced a ‘really horrible reaction’ from his family because they were briefing against him.According to him, the fact that Meghan was an ‘American actress, divorced, bi-racial’ meant that his brother and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, didn’t like her from the start.When Mr Bradby asked Harry if he agreed that the memoir was ‘scathing’ he physically recoiled. We can also reveal that military veterans have called mental health services after being 'triggered' by Harry's admission that he killed 25 Taliban fightersHarry said: ‘Scathing? There’s no part of any of the things that I’ve said are scathing toward any member of my family, especially not my stepmother. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful.'According to Harry, speaking out was the right thing because ‘silence only allows the abuser to abuse’.The news come as Prince Harry says he called his therapist after being physically attacked by his brother William following a heated argument, according to an extraordinary excerpt from his new book.The Duke of Sussex is set to claim in his memoir, Spare, that his older sibling left him with visible injuries after a furious row over his wife Meghan Markle, in which Harry accused him of 'parroting the press narrative' about her.The explosive incident, during which William reportedly called the Duchess 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive' is alleged to have taken place at Harry's London home in 2019.In one section of the book, which doesn't come out until next week, Harry claims immediately following the argument he called his therapist instead of his wife.According to the Guardian, which claims to have obtained a copy, Meghan later noticed the 'scrapes and bruises', leading to him coming clean about the bust-up with his brother.It is not known how the outlet got a copy of the book, given the stringent security measures put in place by its publisher to prevent leaks.In the extract Harry claims William 'grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace and... knocked me to the floor' during an extraordinary row at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace.He said the argument came about when William wanted to talk about 'the whole rolling catastrophe' of their relationship, arriving at the cottage 'piping hot'. In the dramatic passage, the Duke says his brother was not acting rationally, with both men shouting over each other and exchanging insults as the argument escalated.He said his brother ended up knocking him to the ground, leaving him with a visible injury after he landed on 'the dog's bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me'.Harry added that his brother urged him to fight back, but left when he refused to do so, before later coming back to apologise.The passage claims that when William left again he urged Harry not to 'tell Meg about this' and saying 'I didn't attack you, Harold'. Harry claims he first rang his therapist, before later telling his wife who 'wasn't that surprised, and wasn't all that angry'. | Royal Families |
King Charles will be presented with a new sword named after the late Queen when he receives Scotland's crown jewels at a special ceremony next week.
The Elizabeth Sword will officially be given to the King along with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
The new blade will be used on ceremonial occasions and will replace the Sword of State, gifted to James IV by Pope Julius in 1507, due to its fragile condition.
The Elizabeth Sword, designed by former Ormond Pursuivant of Arms Mark Dennis, takes inspiration from both thistles and the Scottish landscape.
It features a pommel of Lewisian gneiss, and a scabbard wrought from Perthshire oak.
Mr Dennis said: "I am humbled to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented Scots craftspeople to create this tribute to our late Queen - a new sword for Scotland and the new King, to last for the next 500 years."
The Honours of Scotland are the oldest crown jewels in Britain and are normally kept on display at Edinburgh Castle.
During the service, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE will bear the Elizabeth Sword, with the sceptre carried by Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk, and the Crown of Scotland carried by the Duke of Hamilton.
Dame Katherine said: "It will be an incredible honour to carry the Elizabeth Sword on such a historic day for Scotland. I hope I can do the sword, and the occasion, justice."
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Following the ceremony, the sword, crown and sceptre will be returned into the care of Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
HES said it hopes to put the Elizabeth Sword on display shortly after the event.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "The Honours of Scotland have immense historical significance, having been present at many major ceremonial events over the past 500 years.
"Designed and crafted with care by some of Scotland's finest artisans, the Elizabeth Sword is a fitting tribute to the late queen as Scotland prepares to welcome the new King and Queen next week." | Royal Families |
The Stone of Destiny has arrived in London for the King's coronation next Saturday.
Also known as the Stone of Scone, it has been transported south from its usual home at Edinburgh Castle.
Weighing 125kg, it will be placed in the Coronation Chair for the enthronement, before being returned to Scotland.
It has been used in ceremonies to inaugurate new monarchs for almost a thousand years.
At a service to mark its arrival at Westminster Abbey, the Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, urged people to "pray for their majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, for the Royal Family, and for God's blessing on all those who now work so hard on the preparations for the coronation".
Joseph Morrow, the Lord Lyon of Scotland, said the stone was an "ancient symbol of sovereignty".
He added that it had been used to "sanctify the inauguration of monarchs from time immemorial and in our recorded history from as early as the accession of Malcolm III of Scotland in 1058".
He continued: "The stone was taken from its place in the Abbey of Scone to this abbey church in 1296 by command of King Edward I in an act of enmity.
"It was returned to Scotland in 1996 by command of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in an act of amity.
"Now comes again to this place by command of King Charles III as an act of unity and a symbol of friendship.
"It is committed to your care and safekeeping until its return to Scotland after His Majesty's coronation."
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Professor David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland, said the stone had changed from being a "spoil of war" to a "symbol of unity".
"A lump of sandstone that has been bashed about a bit is hardly an object of aesthetic beauty," he said.
"Yet its history ensures a kind of veneration and even calls for our celebration today.
"Once a spoil of war, the Stone of Destiny has become a focus of unity. A source of division, it returns today in an act of friendship.
"Soon to be displayed in Perth near its place of origin, it features again at the centre of our nation's history.
"Though ancient quarrels can be recalled, we do so as we celebrate what we hold together in trust and in concord." | Royal Families |
The Prince and Princess of Wales have delighted fans, taking a stroll along the Long Walk at Windsor Castle, ahead of tonight's Coronation Concert.
The royals chatted and shook hands with the public on the tree-lined avenue, which was created during the reign of Charles II.
The couple were dressed casually, with Prince William wearing an open necked light blue shirt and dark suit, and Kate opting for a pale blue blazer, white T-shirt, black trousers and white trainers.
At one point, Kate stooped to pick up a fan's dropped flag, and Prince William was handed a drink in a paper cup decorated in the colours of the Union Flag, gamely taking a sniff followed by a sip.
The prince was later handed further beverages, including a bottle of gin and a can of beer.
Their walkabout followed a Big Lunch on the Long Walk, with picnickers bringing tables, chairs, and blankets to enjoy an al fresco snack and drink.
Following Saturday's historic coronation, celebrations have continued into Sunday, with Big Lunches attended by royals around the UK and thousands of street parties.
On Sunday evening, the King's Coronation Concert will take place on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle - the first time a concert has been held in the grounds.
The show will feature performances by artists including Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, and will be attended by around 20,000 members of the public.
Hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville, it will also feature video messages from stars including Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins, Bear Grylls and Sir Tom Jones.
Honey-loving teddy bear Winnie The Pooh will also have a starring role.
Monday will round off the coronation weekend, with the Big Help Out, encouraging people to help out in their local communities.
King Charles III became heir apparent at the age of three, holding that title for 70 years - longer than anyone else - before fulfilling his destiny following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September last year.
This weekend he was crowned King, alongside Camilla who was crowned Queen, at Westminster Abbey in front of around 2,300 guests including world leaders, celebrities, UK politicians, foreign royalty, everyday heroes and the royal family. | Royal Families |
Princess Mary marks her 51st birthday with stunning new portraits alongside estranged sister-in-law
Princess Mary of Denmark and her sister-in-law Princess Marie marked their birthdays with the release of new portraits on Instagram amid a family feud that’s rocked the Danish Royal Family.
Denmark's royal family has celebrated the birthdays of Princess Mary and her sister-in-law Princess Marie with the release of new portraits of the royal wives.
The Aussie-born Princess turned 51 on Sunday and Princess Marie turned 47 on Monday.
Mary donned a black and white polka dot dress by American designer Carolina Herrera for her portrait, while French-born Marie chose a conservative white blazer.
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The Tasmanian-born royal first met Prince Frederik of Denmark in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Mary moved to the small Nordic country and mastered the Danish language ahead of their 2004 nuptials.
As the eldest son of Queen Margrethe, Frederik will one day ascend the throne as king of Denmark.
The couple share children Prince Christian, 17, Princess Isabella, 15, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 11.
The portraits follow rumoured tensions among the royal clan after Queen Margrethe opted to slim down the monarchy and strip Princess Marie’s children of their royal titles.
Her husband Prince Joachim spoke publicly about his frustration, telling Danish newspapers that his children had been “punished” and criticising his mother for making the decision on short notice.
It was a rare public scandal for the usually sedate Danish royal family.
As future Queen consort of Denmark, Mary’s children were not impacted by the constitutional change.
Mary, Frederik and their children continue to live at Amalienborg Palace in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Marie and Joachim live abroad in France and are rumoured to be considering a move to the United States. | Royal Families |
Biden congratulates King Charles, Queen Camilla on their coronation
President Biden on Saturday congratulated King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation, saying he is pleased that first lady Jill Biden could be present in the United Kingdom to join them for the ceremony.
“Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples. I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion,” Biden tweeted.
The president did not attend the event as U.S. presidents have traditionally not attended the coronations of British monarchs, but the first lady led the U.S. delegation.
“It’s an honor to represent the United States for this historic moment and celebrate the special relationship between our countries,” she said in an Instagram post on Thursday upon arriving in the country.
Buckingham Palace had said international representatives from 203 countries, including about 100 heads of state, were expected to attend.
The president spoke with Charles last month to congratulate him on the upcoming coronation and emphasize the relationship between the United States and United Kingdom. He also told the king that he wants to meet in person at a future date.
Jill Biden met and took a picture with Kate, Princess of Wales, and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska after she arrived.
President Dwight Eisenhower did not attend the coronation of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953 but also sent a delegation to represent the U.S. Elizabeth died after a 70-year rule in September, ending the longest reign in British history.
The president and first lady attended her funeral.
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Prince Harry and Meghan receive invitation to coronation of King Charles III via 'email correspondence', says royal spokesperson
A royal spokesperson has revealed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been invited to the coronation of King Charles III, but whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend is yet to be disclosed.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles III.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the news over the weekend.
"I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty's office regarding the coronation," a spokesperson for the couple told the Times.
"An immediate decision on whether the Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.”
The royal coronation will be held at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.
However, recent reports have suggested there had been a delay in sending out the invitations for the ceremony due to a power struggle between government bodies.
A source told the Telegraph that key decisions about the coronation had been delayed as the Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport "wrestle" over control, as reported by The Sun.
Former ITV royal correspondent and author Nicholas Owen weighed in on the coronation news on The Royal Report on Sunday.
Mr Owen told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo that he believed, if there was a power struggle, it was a matter "mostly of numbers".
"At the coronation of Her Majesty the Queen back in 1953, there was a vast number of people (who) got into Westminster Abbey," Mr Owen said.
"When you look at the old grainy, black and white pictures they were packed in absolutely."
About 8,000 guests attended the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth III in 1953, which was held a year after the death of her father King George VI.
"Well, now the numbers are going to be reduced back to about 2,000 so obviously there's going to be enormous struggles on who gets in," Owen said.
"But behind that, there's also the question of who is actually organising this thing because it's supposed to be the job of somebody called the Earl Marshal.
"But it doesn't look as though he's having much to do with it really.
"It's really being handed on to sort of a lot of other people, civil servants and government officials and things, so there's a lot of toing and froing, it will be fascinating to see how this turns out, who will actually get to see it."
The coronation news follows a paid online livestream interview between Prince Harry and a trauma expert where he opened up further about his personal life. | Royal Families |
ATHENS, Greece -- Greek media said Saturday that 1,000 police will be deployed for the funeral service and burial of former King Constantine.Police wouldn't confirm the reports, but announced that a figure was finalized at a meeting of top security officials on Saturday.Police said they “will have a presence at vital points (around) the metropolitan cathedral and (the royals’ former summer residence of) Tatoi, as well as the funeral procession’s route and the locations where invited officials stay.”Constantine, the former and last king of Greece, will be buried as a private citizen on Monday in Tatoi, about 29 kilometers (18 miles) north of Athens, next to his parents and where his ancestors are buried, the government announced Wednesday.Constantine died in a hospital late Tuesday at the age of 82. Greece’s monarchy was definitively abolished in a referendum in December 1974 and Constantine spent decades in exile before settling in his home country once more in his waning years.His body will lie in state Monday morning, from 6 am.-10 a.m., at a chapel next to the metropolitan cathedral. The funeral service will take place at noon.About 200 people were invited to the funeral service, and about 60 will attend the burial in Tatoi. All will attend a memorial dinner at a central Athens hotel later Monday.Work crews have been busy clearing the burial site of debris and paving the road to the graves with gravel. | Royal Families |
The royal couple joined the royal family for a church outing at their wedding venue as they prepare for the coronation — which is less than a month away
Continuing the royal family's holiday tradition, the King and Queen Consort stepped out on Sunday for an Easter church service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, were joined by Prince William and Kate Middleton with three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (making his Easter debut!) — Prince Edward and Sophie (the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh), Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Zara and Mike Tindall, Peter Phillips and more.
The couple coordinated in blue outfits, the same choice of hue for Prince William and Princess Kate's family as well as Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Pink was another popular color pick for the Easter outing, worn by Sophie, Princess Beatrice and Zara.
This year, the holiday fell on a special day for King Charles and Queen Camilla: their wedding anniversary! On April 9, 2005, the couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, which was followed by a Church of England service of prayer and dedication at St. George's Chapel.
St. George's Chapel has hosted many other royal weddings — including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's May 2018 nuptials as well as Princess Eugenie and Jack's big day in Oct. 2018 — but the site also holds bittersweet memories. The last time the royals gathered there was for Queen Elizabeth's committal service following her state funeral on Sept. 19, 2022, and the late monarch is buried nearby in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
Easter also fell on the second anniversary of Prince Philip's death. The husband of Queen Elizabeth and father of King Charles died in 2021 at age 99. His funeral was held at St. George's Chapel with limited attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Queen Elizabeth will surely be on the family's minds as they mark the religious holiday celebrating Jesus' resurrection for the first time since her death, especially because of the Queen's lifelong faith. She faithfully served as the ceremonial head of the Church of England since her accession to the throne in 1952 and regularly attended church services, turning to online worship in her later years when she couldn't go in person.
Queen Elizabeth missed last year's Easter outing amid her increasing mobility and health issues. However, she likely welcomed family members during the day as she spent the holiday at her apartments in Windsor Castle.
Charles and Camilla also stood in for Queen Elizabeth at the 2022 Royal Maundy Service, a pre-Easter tradition where a member of the royal family distributes specially-minted coins known as "Maundy money" to recognize people for their service to their communities.
On Thursday, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster. In a nod to his age, the King presented 74 men and 74 women with Maundy money to thank them for their community contributions. Following tradition, beneficiaries received two purses. The white purse is filled with specially minted coins equivalent to King Charles' age of 74, while the red contains two commemorative coins, a tribute to the monarch's traditional gift of food and clothing. This year's commemorative coins mark King Charles' 75th birthday in November and the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation.
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Preparations are in full swing for King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation on May 6. In addition to Buckingham Palace releasing the coronation invitation earlier this week, decorations are going up around London — including graphics of King Charles wearing a crown.
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Read the original article on People. | Royal Families |
Matt Dunham/AP
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022.
Matt Dunham/AP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022.
Matt Dunham/AP
LONDON — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.
Princess Lilibet Diana, who turns two in June, was baptized on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor, Harry and Meghan said in a statement. Lilibet's title and that of her brother, Archie, who will be four in May, will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website later.
The announcement marked the first time that the children's titles had been used in public.
The question of the children's titles took center stage two years ago during Harry and Meghan's television interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said that when she was pregnant with Archie "they" — presumably the palace — "were saying they didn't want him to be a prince ... which would be different from protocol."
Meghan suggested that this was because Archie was the royal family's "first member of color" and would have marked the first time a royal grandchild wasn't given the same title as the other grandchildren.
At the time, royal experts said Meghan's comments appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the way royal titles are conferred.
Titles are conferred in line with a decree issued by King George V in 1917 that limits the titles of prince and princess to the male-line grandchildren of the sovereign.
As long as the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were the sovereign's grandchildren. Harry and William's children, as great grandchildren, didn't receive the titles automatically.
But Elizabeth had the power to amend the rules, and in 2012 she decreed that the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, would be princes and princesses. This decree didn't apply to Harry and Meghan.
However, the situation changed when King Charles III ascended the throne on the death of his mother last September. William and Harry are the king's sons, meaning their offspring are now royal grandchildren and so entitled to be known as prince and princess.
Nonetheless, they have remained a plain "master" and "miss" on the Buckingham Palace website for the past six months. | Royal Families |
Seven months after her death, Queen Elizabeth's final royal initiative has come to a close with a meaningful moment shared between King Charles and his son Prince William.
On Sunday, the two royals met in Sandringham, one of the queen's favorite places, to plant an Acer tree in the home's gardens to commemorate the end of this two-year-long project that meant so much to the late monarch. Queen Elizabeth launched her Green Canopy initiative in October 2021 as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, announcing her plan to plant millions of saplings across the U.K. Following her death last September, the initiative was extended as a memorial project to celebrate her legacy. According to the organization, since its launch in fall 2021, hundreds of members of the public, youth organizations, local authorities, and celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, and Sir David Attenborough all planted trees as a show of their support. In total, more than three million trees have been planted since the project began. King Charles and Queen Elizabeth also helped kick off the program by planting a copper beech tree at Balmoral, their Scottish home, together.
Upon planting the final sapling of the initiative, Charles released a statement about starting this project with his mother two years ago and celebrating the important contributions of everyone who participated in Green Canopy. “It is hard to believe that two years have passed since my mother and I planted a tree in Windsor Great Park to mark the commencement of The Queen's Green Canopy,” he wrote. “As the second planting season draws to a close, and with it, this vitally important initiative, particularly wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone from across the United Kingdom who has helped to plant over three million trees to create an enduring legacy in Queen Elizabeth's name.” The royal concluded, “This project has shown how simple, practical and positive gestures can make a big difference, and I can think of no more fitting tribute to Her late Majesty's seventy-year reign,” signing the message, “Charles R.”
In conjunction with the final planting, a new film narrated by Dench that tells the story of how Green Canopy began and the enormous impact it's had since its launch has been released. A mosaic artwork was also unveiled as part of the closing celebrations, made using thousands of photos of U.K. citizens posing with the Platinum Jubilee and memorial trees they've planted. The mosaic depicts a green canopy spelling out the queen's "EIIR" royal cipher. | Royal Families |
LONDON -- The amount of public funding for King Charles III and the royal family's official duties has been recalculated for next year because of an unexpected profit boost from offshore wind farms on the monarch's Crown Estate, the U.K. Treasury said Thursday.
Treasury officials say they will halve the proportion of the crown estate’s profits paid to the royals from 25% in recent years to 12% next year.
Charles and the royal family receive an annual Sovereign Grant from the Treasury that is based on a proportion of profits from the crown estate, a vast collection of land and property across the U.K. The crown estate is run independently and has assets worth around 16 billion pounds (nearly $18 billion), including some of London’s most expensive properties.
The crown estate also manages coastlines and the seabed around the country, and six new offshore windfarm lease deals secured earlier this year have generated a windfall estimated to be worth 1 billion pounds ($1.1 billion) a year.
Charles has asked for the wind farm deal profits to be used for the “wider public good” instead of going to fund his official duties.
The reduction in proportion of profits to be handed to the monarchy came after a review by the Royal Trustees — including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Treasury chief and an official known as the Keeper of the Privy Purse.
The amount of the sovereign grant for this year is 86.3 million pounds ($109 million), unchanged from the year before. The Treasury said that cutting the rate to 12% means that the monarchy's budget next year will remain the same because it won't receive an extra 24 million pounds ($27 million) it would have were the rate to stay at 25%.
After that, the royal household's budget will be 130 million pounds ($145 million) lower in both 2025 and 2026 than if the rate had stayed unchanged.
“This money will instead be used to fund vital public services, for the benefit of the nation," the Treasury said in a statement.
Charles is known for championing green energy, but he has also spoken about the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the pressures faced by millions of his subjects. The move to reduce his share of the windfarm deal profits would help swerve criticism that the royals are out of touch with wider British society.
Under the U.K. constitutional monarchy system, kings and queens surrender profits from the crown estate — which are not the private property of the monarch, but are hereditary assets belonging to the sovereign only for the duration of their reign — to the government. The Treasury provides a fraction of these profits in the form of the sovereign grant to support royal duties.
Charles and his son Prince William also receive private incomes from royal estates known as the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall. | Royal Families |
By The Visual Journalism Team BBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesAfter days of lying-in-state, the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II is making its final journey as part of a grand state funeral. It travelled first to Westminster Abbey, for a religious service in front of a congregation of thousands, and is making its way to Windsor Castle for a more intimate committal service and, finally, a private burial.It is a day of emotion, pomp and ceremony the like of which has not been seen since the last state funeral, of Winston Churchill, almost 60 years ago. The Queen made personal additions to the plans, Buckingham Palace has said.Here is a breakdown of the day's events. The Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall in the heart of London, where people queued for hours to view her coffin, came to an end in the early morning. A short distance away, at Westminster Abbey, the doors then opened for guests to start arriving ahead of the funeral service at 11:00. Heads of state from across the world flew in to join members of the Royal Family to remember the Queen's life and service. Senior UK politicians and former prime ministers were also there.Members of royal families from across Europe, many of whom were blood relatives of the Queen, were also in attendance.The Queen's coffin was lifted from the catafalque at Westminster Hall, where it has been resting since Wednesday afternoon, and was taken to Westminster Abbey, for her funeral service.She was carried to the abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, drawn by 142 sailors. The carriage was last seen in 1979 for the funeral of Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten and was used for the Queen's father, George VI, in 1952.The Queen's coffin is topped with the Royal Standard, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's orb and sceptre and a wreath made up of flowers and foliage chosen by the King, picked from Buckingham Palace and the King's homes of Clarence House and Highgrove. Senior members of the Royal Family, including the new king and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, followed the gun carriage in procession.The Pipes and Drums of the Scottish and Irish regiments lead the ceremony, along with members of the Royal Air Force and the Gurkhas.The route was lined by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and a guard of honour stood in Parliament Square made up of all three military services, accompanied by a Royal Marines band.The Queen's life-long sense of duty was remembered at her state funeral service, attended by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey.A state funeral, typically reserved for kings or queens, follows strict rules of protocol, such as a military procession.The abbey, hosting the funeral service, is the historic church where Britain's kings and queens are crowned, including the Queen's own coronation in 1953. It was also where the then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947.There hasn't been a monarch's funeral service in the abbey since the 18th Century, although the funeral of the Queen Mother was held there in 2002.The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby giving the sermon. Prime Minister Liz Truss read a lesson.The Dean began the service by speaking of the Queen's "unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth".Among the hymns was "The Lord's my shepherd" sung to the Crimond tune, which hails back to a parish in Aberdeenshire not far from the Queen's Balmoral estate, the location of her death. The hymn was also sung at the Queen's wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh.Towards the end of the funeral service the Last Post - a short bugle call - was played followed by a two-minute national silence. The national anthem and a lament played by the Queen's piper brought the service to an end just after midday.The Queen's coffin was then drawn in a walking procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, at London's Hyde Park Corner.With the route lined with military personnel and police, Big Ben tolled at one-minute intervals as the procession moved slowly through the streets of the capital. Gun salutes were fired every minute from Hyde Park.Crowds of mourners packed the streets of central London to catch a glimpse of the coffin and military parade, which stretched for more than a mile and involved hundreds of members of the armed forces.The procession was led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was made up of seven groups, each with its own band. Members of the armed services from the UK and the Commonwealth, the police and the NHS were involved.Once again, the King and members of the Royal Family walked behind the gun carriage bearing the Queen's coffin.Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex joined the procession in cars.Once at Wellington Arch, the coffin was then transferred to the new State Hearse for its final journey to Windsor Castle.The castle, continuously inhabited by 40 monarchs across almost 1,000 years, had special significance to the Queen throughout her life. As a teenager she was sent to the castle during the war years as London faced the threat of bombing, and more recently she made it her permanent home during the coronavirus pandemic.The hearse is expected to arrive for a walking procession up Windsor Castle's Long Walk just after 15:00. The three-mile (5km) avenue will be lined with members of the armed forces.Members of the public will be allowed access to the Long Walk to watch the procession pass.The King and senior members of the Royal Family are expected to join the cortege in the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle at 15:40.The castle's Sebastopol and Curfew Tower bells will be tolled every minute and gun salutes will be fired from the castle's grounds.Then the coffin will enter St George's Chapel for a committal service. St George's Chapel is the church regularly chosen by the Royal Family for weddings, christenings and funerals. It is where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, were married in 2018 and where the Queen's late husband Prince Philip's funeral was held.Attended by a smaller, more personal congregation of about 800 guests, the committal service will be conducted by Dean of Windsor David Conner, with a blessing from Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The service, whose congregation will be largely made up of current and former staff from the Queen's household and private estates, will include traditions symbolising the end of her reign.The Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre will be removed from the top of the coffin by the Crown Jeweller, separating the Queen from her crown for the final time.At the end of the last hymn, the King will then place the Queen's company camp colour, or flag, of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin. The Grenadier Guards are the most senior of the Foot Guards carrying out ceremonial duties for the monarch.At the same time, the Lord Chamberlain, former MI5 chief Baron Parker, will "break" his wand of office and place it on the coffin. The snapping of the white staff will signal the end of his service to the sovereign as her most senior official in the Royal Household.The Queen will then be lowered into the royal vault and the Sovereign's piper will play before a blessing and the singing of God Save the King. The performance by the piper at Windsor was something the Queen had personally requested, Buckingham Palace said.The committal service will come to an end and the King and members of the Royal Family will leave the chapel.That evening, at a private family service, the Queen will be buried together with her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the King George VI memorial chapel, located inside St George's Chapel.Her marble slab will be engraved ELIZABETH II 1926-2022.UK Royal FamilyKing Charles IIIQueen Elizabeth II | Royal Families |
The titles were announced by King Charles III, one day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September, but they had not been made official until now.
The announcement in The Gazette, the country’s official public record, said, "In accordance with the direction of HIS MAJESTY THE KING Letters Patent have passed the Great Seal of the Realm, dated the 13th February 2023 for creating His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cornwall Rothesay and Cambridge, Earl of Carrick and Strathearn, Baron of Renfrew, Baron Carrickfergus, K.G., K.T., Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, PRINCE OF WALES and EARL OF CHESTER."
The Letters of Patent are, according to the Royal Collection Trust, "an open document from the Sovereign, which can be used to express the Sovereign’s will, for example to confer an office or create a new peerage."
Prince William and Kate’s social media accounts were updated following the death of Queen Elizabeth II to reflect the official change.
Their original Instagram page, @dukeandduchessofcambridge is now private and directs users to their new page, @princessandprincessofwales. The couple’s Twitter page still bears the @kensingtonroyal username, but their names have been changed to The Prince and Princess of Wales.
The title Prince of Wales is not automatic and must be bestowed by the monarch. King Charles wasn’t formally declared Prince of Wales until he was 9, six years after Queen Elizabeth II took the throne.
Though the title was not official, they've been referred to as The Prince and Princess of Wales since Queen Elizabeth's death.
They recently made their return to the BAFTA red carpet after missing the last two years. Fans even got a quick glimpse of PDA from the couple, as Kate gave Prince William a "love tap" on his backside.
Vogue shared the cute behind-the-scenes moment on its Instagram.
Prince William and Kate also received some additional titles.
Since William is the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, William and Kate are now the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, a title previously held by Charles and Camilla. They also became the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, titles to be used when they are in Scotland, and the Earl and Countess of Chester.
Prince William, 40, and Kate, 41, will retain their titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Earl and Countess of Strathearn and Baron and Baroness of Carrickfergus. The latter two titles are used less frequently.
The couple received the Cambridge, Strathearn and Carrikfergus titles on their wedding day in 2011 from Queen Elizabeth II.
Their children — George, Charlotte and Louis — also received an update to their titles. They are now Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales. | Royal Families |
While often affectionate about his family, particularly his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, Harry describes the breakdown in the relationship with his older brother, Prince William, and how his father, now King Charles III, appeared concerned at being overshadowed by his sons and their wives. Something Harry says he noticed after announcing his engagement to Meghan.Harry, 38, said his father couldn’t stand “someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him.” Harry contends that by planting negative stories in tabloid media, the royal family shared culpability in Harry and Meghan feeling the need to leave the country for their own safety. A throughline throughout the book is his deep and constant fury at the media, which he says he believes helped kill his mother, Princess Diana; “persecuted” the royals; and “waged a ruthless campaign” against Meghan. “There was a new low every few minutes,” Harry wrote of the time after their relationship went public in November 2016. “I’d been braced for the usual madness, the standards of libels, but I hadn’t anticipated this level of unrestrained lying.”“Above all, I hadn’t been ready for the racism. Both the dog-whistle racism, and the glaring, vulgar, in-your-face racism,” Harry wrote.Some of the book’s most eye-catching passages include allegations that Harry’s brother and heir to the throne, Prince William, physically attacked him during a dispute; that his stepmother, Camilla, the queen consort, leaked private conversations to bolster her reputation; and that his father, King Charles III, had pleaded with his sons not make his final years “a misery” with their arguing.Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at Kensington Palace in London on July 1, 2021. Dominic Lipinski / AFP - Getty Images fileThe publication of such a frank and revealing account is a near-unprecedented event in the centuries-old history of Britain’s royals, who as Harry has pointed out double as both a family and national institution. The book has led to questions over whether it could deal lasting damage to the monarchy, even asking whether its future existence is now less certain.The monarchy’s overall popularity rating has halved from plus 44 to plus 18 since September 2022, according to new figures from the British polling company YouGov released Tuesday.“There may be some lasting damage to the reputation of the royal family — but not to the extent of undermining consent for a monarchy,” Suzannah Lipscomb, a Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton and a royal historian, told NBC News. “In terms of public opinion, I suspect it is Harry’s popularity itself that will be most greatly diminished.”Almost two-thirds of the British public now hold a negative view of Harry, with just a quarter expressing a positive view, according to the YouGov poll. This means that Harry’s net favorability rating is minus 38, the lowest it’s ever been and a far cry from 2011, when he had a score of plus 65.Meghan’s popularity has fallen to minus 42, YouGov said. Although she remains slightly popular with 18- to 24-year-olds, her support even among this group has fallen sharply.Harry’s confessions and accusations may have hurt his reputation in Britain — just as his mother, Princess Diana, was criticized for sharing details of her divorce from Charles in a famous BBC interview in 1995.But that criticism might not be the case in his adopted homeland, Lipscomb said.“Harry comes across as deeply troubled and aggrieved, and there is a sense that he has stepped over a line: Discretion is still valued on this side of the pond, and these revelations have nearly exhausted public sympathy. My sense is that U.K. public opinion is that Harry has gone too far,” Lipscomb said.In writing such a searing account of his life, and granting a flurry of interviews during which he openly discusses the deep rift with his father and brother, Harry could be mirroring the stereotype of the emotionally open and uncomplicated American — an image that clearly appealed to him even before he met Meghan. Harry describes how he had been warned from childhood that Americans were “Too loud, too rich, too happy. Too confident, too direct, too honest,” but that he felt differently. “‘Nah,’ I always thought. ‘Yanks didn’t beat about the bush, didn’t fill the air with polite snorts and throat clearings before coming to the point. Whatever was on their mind, they’d spit it out, like a sneeze, and while that could be problematic at times, I usually found it preferable to the alternative.’”He also describes how he fell quickly in love with Meghan Markle after seeing her picture on a friend’s Instagram. “This woman stopped the conveyor-belt. This woman smashed the conveyor-belt to bits. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful,” Harry wrote. “There was an energy about her, a wild joy and playfulness,” he added. “I’d never had a firm opinion on that burning question: Is there just one person on this earth for each of us? But in that moment I felt there might be only one face for me.”The book follows the couple’s Netflix series, which aired many of their grievances over the course of six hours. Harry has also sat down for high-profile TV interviews to promote the ghostwritten memoir. The royal palaces have declined to comment on the memoir and interviews. The Sussexes, through Archwell, have declined to comment on the record.Tourists walk around Buckingham Palace in London on Jan. 6, 2023. Kirsty Wigglesworth / APHarry has said that he still wants a reconciliation with his family and believes one is possible, but asked whether he had burned his bridges with his father and brother, Harry told ITV in an interview conducted in December that aired on Sunday: “I’m not sure how honesty is burning bridges. You know, silence only allows the abuser to abuse, right? So I don’t know how staying silent is ever going to make things better.”He has also spoken to CBS’ “60 Minutes” and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and he will appear on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”His family had gotten “into bed with the devil” to gain favorable tabloid coverage, he has said. While Harry has waged war against the British media and its intrusion and negative headlines, the saga has been a huge boost for the British papers — which have enthusiastically covered every twist and turn, including the publication of his much-anticipated book. “The only winners here are the press who are feasting over the corpse of a once-loving fraternal relationship,” said experienced royal commentator and former British newspaper journalist Emily Andrews. “I don’t think Harry and Megan’s public image is repairable in the U.K.; I think it’s gone beyond that,” she added.The end of the book details the days leading up to the public and surprising break with the royal family, as Meghan and Harry took their small family first to Canada and then the U.S. He says that the queen, under pressure from her household, rescinded an invitation to meet and, he hoped, discuss the ongoing familial tensions. Regardless of the danger he felt his family was in, and the disappointment with his family, Harry said he would “forever support my queen, my Commander in Chief, my Granny. Even after she’s gone.”“My problem has never been with the monarchy, or the concept of monarchy. It’s been with the press and the sick relationship that’s evolved between it and the palace. I love my mother country, and I love my family, and I always will.” In going to war with the media and turning his version of events into prime-time viewing, and certain bestsellers, Harry has also squabbled publicly with his family. Only time will tell whether this rift is irreparable. | Royal Families |
Not long before she died, Princess Diana sat William and Harry down together on the striped sofa in her drawing room at Kensington Palace. The brothers had been bickering, as they often did, and Diana decided to dispense some maternal advice.‘Listen,’ she began, ‘you have to look after each other.’She reminded them that because of their unique position as royal princes, and objects of curiosity and envy to the world, each was the one person the other should always — her emphasis — be able to rely on.‘Papa,’ she said of her ex-husband Charles, ‘has his life and I have mine, so it’s important that you two have each other, be there for each other.’ Not long before she died, Princess Diana sat William and Harry down together on the striped sofa in her drawing room at Kensington Palace She reminded them that because of their unique position as royal princes, and objects of curiosity and envy to the world, each was the one person the other should always — her emphasis — be able to rely onAs brothers, she said, they must know they could always depend on each other. She ended by saying: ‘I want you to promise that you will be each other’s best friend. Will you promise me that? Will you swear it?’Both boys, then aged 14 and 12, crossed themselves and swore that they would.I was reminded of that story, which Diana once related to me, as I searched in vain for Harry’s account of it in the Spanish version of his explosive and one-sided memoir, Spare. Perhaps I missed it amid the rage and resentment that threads through the 416 pages. Perhaps it was lost in translation. Or perhaps it simply wasn’t there.It is tempting to wonder how the princess would have viewed Harry’s book. Anger, certainly, at the airing of so many intimate family secrets. Many of her close friends agree she would have been horrified at the world reading of the strife between her beloved boys. But her overwhelming sentiment, they say, would have been sadness that it had ever come to this.While she was alive, the princes were as close as could be, their shared experience providing a reassuring protective screen. One figure, who often had the princess and her sons to stay, recalls: ‘When they were together they were cheerful, jolly, happy boys. A bit cheeky sometimes and, of course, they fought non-stop like most close siblings do, but it was no matter for concern.’When they were at Ludgrove, the Berkshire prep school where they were boarders, William was always the considerate elder brother. Diana was proud that he would step in if Harry complained about being bullied or teased.‘Hardly a week went by when William wasn’t rescuing Harry from some scrape or another,’ one of Diana’s friends says. ‘She was always pleased that Wombat, as she called her elder son, was looking out for his brother. She was so proud of how protective he was of Harry.’ It is tempting to wonder how the princess would have viewed Harry’s book. Anger, certainly, at the airing of so many intimate family secrets As brothers, she said, they must know they could always depend on each otherEyes glowing, Diana once described William as ‘the protective male in our little unit’. The unit was the three of them — and, of them all, William was ‘the shrewd one’.It was why, despite her reservations that Harry might find Eton College academically challenging, she was determined that this precious fraternal bond would ensure he didn’t just survive there but also thrive.How heartbreaking she would have found Harry’s bizarre account that once he arrived at the school — a year after his mother’s death — the prince claimed he was ignored by his brother and left to cope alone. The question is, would she have believed it?There was always something needier about Harry as a child and Diana knew it. More vulnerable and less confident than his older brother, he was never happier than sitting sucking his thumb, curled up on his mother’s lap.What he especially loved was having his mother to himself. A dental appointment or a visit to the doctor was an opportunity to ensure he had her undivided attention; no pesky big brother to share her with. While she was alive, the princes were as close as could be, their shared experience providing a reassuring protective screenWhere could this lethal jealousy that Harry now seems to have been harbouring have sprung from?Diana went to enormous lengths to raise both her sons together, trying to ensure that, whenever possible, the spotlight shone on both equally. (Diana knew that being born the ‘spare’ was not necessarily an easy role. She herself complained that, as the youngest of three girls, she was a disappointment to her parents, who longed for a son to continue the Spencer family line — a claim that her mother Frances, incidentally, told me was untrue.)In the Royal Family, where the first-born was always treated differently, this was both a brave and a pioneering approach. Charles, whose own memory of childhood was of a sometimes remote existence from his parents, happily agreed with the strategy.So when, in 1995, William started at Eton and she knew photographers would be there to record his first day, she insisted that Harry came, too.During her last summer and in the middle of her romance with Dodi Fayed, she took close interest in the plans by the then Prince of Wales to invite the cameras to Balmoral, where he was on holiday with William and Harry. Eyes glowing, Diana once described William as ‘the protective male in our little unit’. The unit was the three of them — and, of them all, William was ‘the shrewd one’I remember her telephoning me that August day in 1997, as I watched from the bank of the River Dee the princes skim stones and play with family dogs, while they reluctantly posed for photographs. It was their first official photocall since that one at Eton and Diana was anxious to know from me their reaction and their mood. When she subsequently learned that the Palace was planning a further opportunity for pictures, but this time with William alone when he returned to begin his third year at Eton, she angrily put her foot down.‘This is one thing that Charles and I have always agreed on,’ she told me. She called her office, instructing them to tell the Prince of Wales’s staff that Harry had to be included.It was ‘vitally important’, she said, that they eliminated any point of difference between the brothers. ‘Soon enough they will have to travel separate paths, but I am determined that this should be delayed as long as possible and that the boys are treated in exactly the same way,’ she said.She meant it, too. On another occasion she told me how, once, she had gently asked the Queen Mother to stop showing special favour to William, because Harry had started to notice and mentioned it to her.‘Whenever they went to see her she always made a point of putting William next to her. I asked her not to and told her that Charles and I were united on this.’Every surface at Kensington Palace was filled with framed photographs of William and Harry — just as they were at Highgrove, Charles’s home.The princess would often pull out the large, leather-bound photo albums to leaf through the many pictures she had of her two boys. They weren’t separated into ‘heir and spare’, but lovingly side by side. At times, the scrupulous impartiality bordered on comedy. During that last summer, Diana heard Charles had suggested that one of his alternative medicine gurus — a figure the princess did not trust — should examine the boys when the therapist next paid a visit to him. Diana was appalled at the proposal and said the boys were too young.All the same, she believed this fairness would be to the long-term benefit of the monarchy. It was ‘vitally important’, Diana said, that they eliminated any point of difference between the brotherOne way or another, she was bringing up her sons in a way strikingly different from how their father had been raised — less formally and with more affection.Which is why I am convinced that Diana would have been devastated by the tragedy of the brothers’ shattered relationship, which looks broken beyond repair.At the same time, I am certain that she would have been appalled by the petty vindictiveness of Harry’s grievances.For all the bitterness of her protracted and very public marriage breakdown, Diana did not indulge in personal mudslinging at Prince Charles to anything like the same degree.In her Panorama interview she was critical of Charles’s ability to be king, questioning whether he was cut out for the task. But nowhere in the interview, or in her collaboration with the author Andrew Morton for his book Diana: Her True Story, did she set about her husband’s reputation with the kind of deeply personal attack that Harry has made on his brother.‘The fact is, Diana never uttered an unkind word about their father to either William or Harry when goodness knows there had been every provocation for her to do so,’ says one of the princess’s girlfriends. ‘She was a monarchist and she knew she had a precious role as the mother of the future king. Why would she do anything to undermine her children’s future?’ I am convinced that Diana would have been devastated by the tragedy of the brothers’ shattered relationship, which looks broken beyond repairHarry, by contrast, has, either deliberately or foolishly, not only savaged his brother’s image — a brother he now describes as his ‘arch-nemesis’ — but inflicted great damage on the monarchy.Isolated within the family after her divorce, Diana knew implicitly that each of her sons needed the support of the other; William as a future monarch and Harry with all the privileges of royalty but none of the responsibilities.She knew that, while one would quite possibly be bowed down by the pressures, the other would face all manner of temptations.‘They have to be a team,’ she used to say.She liked to say that the country was ‘lucky’ to have William. But she had the same view of Harry, too. Indeed, as they grew up, she sometimes speculated that maybe the brothers would be happier if their roles were reversed. On such occasions she mischievously took to describing Harry as ‘GKH’. It stood for Good King Harry.How very far away such a notion seems today. Harry’s book is not just a betrayal of his brother, father and the monarchy. It has also undermined the very principles by which the mother he worshipped — and to whom, along with Meghan, the book is dedicated — wished him to lead his life. | Royal Families |
LONDON -- Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.
Princess Lilibet Diana, who turns two in June, was baptized on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor, Harry and Meghan said in a statement. Lilibet's title and that of her brother, Archie, who will be four in May, will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website later.
The announcement marked the first time that the children's titles had been used in public.
The question of the children's titles took center stage two years ago during Harry and Meghan's television interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said that when she was pregnant with Archie "they" - presumably the palace - "were saying they didn't want him to be a prince ... which would be different from protocol."
Meghan suggested that this was because Archie was the royal family's "first member of color" and would have marked the first time a royal grandchild wasn't given the same title as the other grandchildren.
At the time, royal experts said Meghan's comments appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the way royal titles are conferred.
Titles are conferred in line with a decree issued by King George V in 1917 that limits the titles of prince and princess to the male-line grandchildren of the sovereign.
As long as the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were the sovereign's grandchildren. Harry and William's children, as great grandchildren, didn't receive the titles automatically.
But Elizabeth had the power to amend the rules, and in 2012 she decreed that the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, would be princes and princesses. This decree didn't apply to Harry and Meghan.
However, the situation changed when King Charles III ascended the throne on the death of his mother last September. William and Harry are the king's sons, meaning their offspring are now royal grandchildren and so entitled to be known as prince and princess.
Nonetheless, they have remained a plain "master" and "miss" on the Buckingham Palace website for the past six months. | Royal Families |
The coronation of His Majesty King Charles III is here and we’ve all been invited (sort of). In June 1953, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation made history as the first-ever televised coronation of a monarch. Over 20 million Brits tuned in to the black-and-white broadcast back then, which was later shown worldwide. Seventy years later, Queen Elizabeth’s son is set to be officially crowned the King of England in a ceremony that's being viewed live by many millions across the globe. Looking to join in on the royal family’s festivities from across the pond? Even if you’re in the US, there’s no shortage of ways to watch or stream the coronation of King Charles today. For one, you can watch Yahoo's stream. above.
How to watch the Coronation of King Charles III:
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Start time: 6 a.m. ET
Location: Westminster Abbey, London, UK
UK TV: BBC, ITV, Sky News
US TV: ABC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, FOX News, NBC
Online: Yahoo
How to watch King Charles III’s coronation without cable
Don't have easy access to ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News or NBC? Don't worry. Here's how you can watch the coronation through a VPN, streaming platform or live TV package.
How to watch the King Charles III coronation for free
Many media outlets (including this one) will be livestreaming coronation coverage — including Yahoo.
Have more questions on the Coronation of King Charles III? Follow along with our live updates
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King Charles faces off against his pen
King Charles is known to carry his own pen to sign documents and appeared not to be a fan of the pen he used to sign the Oath - grimacing when he screwed the lid back on.
(Reuters)
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Rishi Sunak's reading
Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy, arrive for the Coronation of King Charles. (AP)
Prime minister Rishi Sunak read Colossians 1: 9-17, a Biblical passage that urges patience and strength. The reading selection was made by the Archbishop Of Canterbury.
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Q. Should Charles be condoning the use of ivory, if he has made other changes to the style of the Coronation to update it? (Eilidh, via email)
A. The rod with dove, which will be presented to the Queen Consort during her coronation includes ivory, has been controversial because the ivory trade is unethical and has been banned.
Prince William has been a vocal campaigner against the ivory trade, so initially it was in doubt whether the ivory sceptre would be used, because it was also reported William once said to Jane Goodall he would “like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed”.
If one day there is public appetite for William to have a coronation, it seems likely then that he will try to divest the service of ivory.
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King makes vow to God
The prayer offered by King Charles was composed solely for him, and marks his vow to God.
It states: "God of compassion and mercy, whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.
"Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Getty images
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The presentation of the Bible
King Charles has been presented with the Bible, in what marks the church's first gift to the king.
“To keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God, as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.”
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Charles takes oath
As he took the Oath, the King said: “I, Charles, do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”
The King then signed copies of the Oaths, presented by the Lord Chamberlain, while the choir sang.
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William and Kate pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey
The mother-daughter duo chose the king's coronation to debut twinning looks.
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Q. Why are we crowning a person who cannot be the head of the Church of England as he is divorced? (Brian, via email)
A. Henry VIII, the monarch who created the Church of England in order to break away from the authority of Rome, was twice divorced, so there is historical precedent for a King remarrying and still being head of the Church.
However, it is true that Christian teaching doesn’t allow people who are divorced to remarry while their former spouse is alive. This is the case for Camilla, not but Charles, as his ex-wife Diana died in 1997.
For a long time it was unclear whether Charles and Camilla would ever marry because of the controversy around this point – when they eventually did, the Queen didn’t attend the ceremony itself, but did go to the blessing and give a touching speech at the reception.
How to watch the King Charles Coronation Concert
On Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. ET, a special coronation concert is set to take place at Windsor Castle.
Hosted by Hugh Bonneville and featuring performances by Katy Perry, British pop group Take That, international superstar Lionel Richie and opera singer Andrea Bocelli, the coronation concert may be the most exciting part of the whole royal weekend for some.
The coronation concert will air on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. For those in the US, it is currently unclear if the coronation concert will air on any major broadcast networks or streaming platforms, but you can easily tune into the UK's free coverage with the use of a VPN.
- Stream the Coronation Concert with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
If you've never used a VPN before and want to learn more, check out this guide to the best VPNs of 2023.
When is King Charles’ Coronation?
The coronation of King Charles III begins with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey at 5:20 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 6 2023. The ceremony is officially set to start at 6 a.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. Following the end of the ceremony, the newly crowned King Charles and his Queen Consort, Camilla, will depart in the Gold State Coach, returning to the palace.Back at Buckingham Palace, the royal family make another appearance at 9:15 a.m. to watch a military flypast from the palace balcony.
When is King Charles’ Coronation?
The coronation of King Charles III begins with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey at 5:20 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 6 2023. The ceremony is officially set to start at 6 a.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. Following the end of the ceremony, the newly crowned King Charles and his Queen Consort, Camilla, will depart in the Gold State Coach, returning to the palace.Back at Buckingham Palace, the royal family make another appearance at 9:15 a.m. to watch a military flypast from the palace balcony.
What time will the Coronation be broadcast?
The coronation ceremony officially begins at 11 a.m. in the UK and 6 a.m. ET in the US. However, many US broadcasts will air coronation coverage as early as 5 a.m. ET, and the BBC will begin coverage at 2:30 a.m. ET.
Will the King Charles coronation be televised?
King Charles III’s coronation marks the second time a member of the British royal family’s coronation will be broadcast on TV. In the US, coverage of the coronation will air on many major broadcast and cable networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC. In the UK, the BBC has coverage covered.
Will Prince William and Kate Middleton be at King Charles’ coronation?
Prince Williams’ role in the coronation, according to a copy of the Liturgy of the Coronation Service obtained by Entertainment Tonight, will be to pledge his loyalty and allegiance to King Charles III during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cambridge has made headlines for her potential fashion choices come coronation day, with the Sunday Times reporting that she is opting for a “bold and innovative gesture” by wearing “a floral headpiece” as opposed to a tiara for the ceremony.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be at the coronation?
His wife, Meghan Markle Duchess of Sussex, will remain at home with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Meghan’s missing out on the party in part to throw one of her own for her son’s birthday, which falls on May 6, coronation day.
It’s been reported that the former Suits star is planning a “low-key” gathering to celebrate Archie’s 4th birthday. | Royal Families |
King Charles III's Coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey in London.
On the day of the ceremony, the King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort and a host of other events have been planned. An extra bank holiday has been confirmed on Monday, 8 May to mark the occasion.
It will be a weekend of splendour and traditions dating back 1,000 years. Here is your guide to what will happen, day by day.
London and Windsor will be preparing for parades, crowds and street parties to mark the first coronation in 70 years. Large crowds of royal fans are expected to flock to central London for the occasion.
You can follow the preparations in London and Windsor on BBC News and bbc.co.uk/news. The coverage will reflect a range of attitudes on the monarchy and the new King and Queen Consort. At 20:00 BST, Sing For The King: The Search for the Coronation Choir will be broadcast on BBC One and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
Westminster Abbey will host the first coronation service in 70 years. Crowds are expected along the Mall, Whitehall and Parliament Square. The viewing areas will be open from 06:00 on Saturday.
The King's Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey will take place before the Coronation Service, which starts at 11:00. The service will be followed by The Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. Later in the afternoon, the King and Queen will greet crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony for the flypast.
How to watch: In London, members of the public can watch the events on big screens in St. James's Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. Further big screens will also be set up across the country, including Birmingham Centenary Square, Belfast City Hall and Cardiff Castle.
A special BBC broadcast will cover all the ceremonial events as they unfold throughout the day on BBC One and BBC News with a signed version on BBC Two. Live streams will also be available on BBC iPlayer, bbc.co.uk/news.
On iPlayer, viewers will be able to watch with subtitles, sign language, and an alternative commentary version for people with sight loss.
Read the latest from our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan - sign up here.
Neighbours and communities across the UK are being invited to share food and fun together as part of the Coronation Big Lunch.
From 20:00, The Coronation Concert will showcase the country's diverse cultural heritage in music, theatre and dance. As part of the show, ten locations around the UK including Blackpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Gateshead, Cornwall and Belfast will be lit up in a live sequence as part of Lighting Up The Nation.
How to watch: The Coronation Concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. In London it will be shown on the big screen in St. James's Park.
On Bank Holiday Monday, members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, aiming to raise awareness of volunteering.
Thousands of organisations across the country are encouraging the public to make a difference in their local communities, with plenty of opportunities to get involved.
For those staying at home, specially-commissioned programming will be available on iPlayer, including Charles R: The Making of a Monarch, Songs of Praise: A Coronation Celebration and Stitching for Britain.
Partying across the UK
Pubs, clubs and bars across England and Wales will stay open for an extra two hours on Friday and Saturday. This map allows you to search for events in your area. Here are just a few examples of other events that will be happening around the UK:
- Coronation Ceilidh in Culrain: A ceilidh band and piper will be playing at Culrain & District Community Hall on Saturday
- "Blitz Party" in Hereford: "The Shack Revolution" wedding venue will be turned into a World War Two bomb shelter, with live swing music, burlesque cabaret and vintage DJs
- Brass Band Concert in Norwich: The Foden's Band will perform in St Andrews & Blackfriars Hall on Sunday for the royal occasion
- Community Paddle in Enniskillen: Hundreds of paddlers will loop around the historic island town of Enniskillen on Monday
- Coronation Ball in York: A black tie dance to a 20-piece band will be held at the Grand Assembly Rooms on Sunday
- Foodies Festival in Cardiff: The touring celebrity food and music festival will take place at Bute Park across the weekend
What are your plans for the Coronation? Email [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Royal Families |
Prince Harry launched a broadside at the king, the queen consort, his brother and other royals in a furious ITV interview in which he defended his revelatory memoir, claiming that remaining silent “only allows the abuser to abuse”.In excerpts from his book, Spare, read aloud during an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby on Sunday night, Harry wrote that his interests had been “sacrificed” to Camilla’s “PR altar”. Asked if he was “pretty consistently scathing” about his stepmother and the press, Harry replied: “Scathing? There’s no part of any of the things that I’ve said are scathing towards any member of my family, especially not my stepmother. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful, some in the past, some current.”He accused the royal family of “a really horrible reaction” on the day of the Queen’s death, saying the family was on the “back foot” and he had witnessed “leaking and planting”. His words came after it was reported he claimed in his memoir that Meghan was “not welcome” at Balmoral.In the first of several interviews to be broadcast before the book’s publication day, Harry was asked if his interests had been sacrificed for those of his father, when it came to the press.Explaining the royals’ relationship with the press, Harry said: “I love my father, I love my brother, I love my family.” He had no intention of hurting or harming them, he said. But regarding the tabloid press, he said “certain members have decided to get in bed with the devil” to rehabilitate their own images.That was their choice, he said, adding: “But the moment that rehabilitation comes at the detriment to others, me, other members of my family, that’s where I draw the line.”He spoke of royals competing for the limelight. William and Kate, he said, had suffered from this “from my father and stepmother, or their office”. He thought, as the “spare” to the heir, everything would be fine with him and Meghan.“How wrong I was. The very thing that William and Kate had experienced from Pa and Camilla happened to us, and happened from William and Kate’s office as well,” he said.An excerpt from his audiobook was played in which Harry said he and William told Charles: “We endorse Camilla. Just please don’t marry her, just be together, Pa.”Harry continues: “He didn’t answer. But she answered. Straight away. Shortly after our private summits with her, she began to play the long game. A campaign aimed at marriage, and eventually the crown, with Pa’s blessing we presumed.“Stories began to appear everywhere in all the papers about her private conversations with Willy. Stories that contained pin-point accurate details, none of which had come from Willy, of course. They could only have been leaked by the one other person present.”Excerpts also revealed that, as the relationship between Harry and William deteriorated, they met Charles to discuss the situation after the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. During their exchange, William swore “on Mummy’s life” that he just wanted Harry to be happy.“For nearly 25 years we’d reserved that soul-crushing vow for times when one of us needed to be heard to be believed quickly,” Harry wrote. But, he told Bradby: “It stopped me cold, as it was meant to. Not because he’d used it. But because it didn’t work. I simply didn’t believe him.”Harry said he wanted reconciliation, but with “accountability”. Asked to justify writing the book, and disclosing private conversations with his family, Harry said: “The level of planting and leakings from other members of the family means that, in my mind, they have written countless books, certainly millions of words have been dedicated to trying to trash my wife and myself to the point where I had to leave my country.”Harry denied he and Meghan had accused members of the royal family of racism in their Oprah Winfrey interview, saying: “The British press said that.” Referring to the well-reported remarks over the colour of their son Archie’s skin, he described it as unconscious bias, not racism. He also said the incident involving charity founder Ngozi Fulani and Lady Susan Hussey was “a very good example of the environment within the institution”. Asked if William and Kate had not got on with Meghan “almost from the get-go”, Harry replied: “Yeah, fair.” Stereotyping had caused a “bit of a barrier”, he said, adding: “American actress, divorced, biracial.”Harry also spoke about “beardgate”: a bizarre week-long row in which Harry revealed he had to ask the Queen if he could keep his beard for his wedding – a no-no according to military rules, apparently. The Queen agreed, after Harry explained his beard was “a shield to my anxiety”.But he claimed William later tried to order him to shave it off. It was an “heir/spare thing”, Harry said and also, he thought, because William had himself been asked to shave off a beard while in uniform.Harry admitted to feeling “some guilt” when walking among the crowds outside Kensington Palace after his mother’s death, and feeling the mourners’ tears on his hands when he shook them, saying the only time he cried was at her burial.Harry also revealed how his father blamed himself for his son’s struggles. Narrating an extract from the book, he read: “Over dinner one night at Highgrove, Pa and I spoke at some length about what I’d been suffering.“I gave him the particulars, told him story after story. Towards the end of the meal he looked down at his plate and said softly: ‘I suppose it’s my fault. I should have got you the help you needed years ago.’“I assured him that it wasn’t his fault, but I appreciated the apology.”Harry is also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night; Michael Strahan of Good Morning America on Monday; and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time. | Royal Families |
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch whose rule spanned seven decades, is taking place in London on Monday. Read the Order of Service. The Queen died on September 8 at the age of 96, prompting an outpouring of grief across the UK and around the world. King Charles III, the late monarch’s son and heir, will be joined by the rest of the royal family and leaders from across the world for the service. The funeral service begins at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET), and the Queen will be buried later in Windsor. See the funeral route here. (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images) Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have now taken their place inside Westminster Abbey. (Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters) US President Joe Biden has stepped out of his car and entered Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral. He walked into the church hand-in-hand with first lady Jill Biden. Troops march through London before the beginning of the funeral. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images A procession of members of Britain’s armed forces is underway in London, as the start of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral nears. The Royal Navy, Air Force and the Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey are among those represented. Elizabeth II’s coffin will soon be removed from Westminster Hall and be carried towards the Abbey for the funeral service. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said Queen Elizabeth II was “symbolically queen of the world,” as royals from across the globe descend on London for her funeral. Speaking outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday, Rania told CNN’s Becky Anderson that Queen Elizabeth was “public service personified.” “She is a woman who pledged her life to the service of her people, and for 70 years never once fell short of that promise,” she continued. “(She) was the queen of England, but she’s also symbolically queen of the world. She means something to all of us.” Queen Rania is in London along with her husband, King Abdullah II, to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and meet with King Charles III. She told CNN that Elizabeth II’s advice to her when she was beginning her reign was to “always be there” and have ”a sense of duty and discipline.” Referencing the queues and the atmosphere around the UK, the Jordanian Queen remarked on how the British people have responded to her passing. “It’s been a rough couple of years for the UK … trying to negotiate a deal with Europe post Brexit, a pandemic, the cost of living, inflation, it has been tough. But I’ve never sensed the sense of togetherness that I feel today in the UK. She was a unifying force during her lifetime, but she is also unifying in her passing.” She said King Charles III has a “deep respect for what is tradition and custom … but he’s also embracing of the future and of change and of everything new. Her Majesty was like that as well. She was always a reminder of where you came from, but also where you’re going.” On Charles III’s relationship with the Middle East, Queen Rania told CNN he has “a deep understanding of our region, a deep respect. “He’s a very wise man. I have no doubt in my mind how much he will enhance relations not just with our world, but every part of the world.” Watch the interview here: CNN Kieran Feetham and his family arrived at the Mall, near Buckingham Palace, at around 6 a.m. local time on Monday morning so that they could “be a part of history.” After the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, a procession will set off for London’s Wellington Arch and will pass through the Mall, which links Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square. “The Queen has been a constant for us, she is the Queen … everyone around the world knows who that is when you mention her,” Feetham’s wife, Sarah, 38, told CNN. Their 8-year-old son, Leo, said he would much “rather be here than at school.” Everyone in their group shared anecdotes about why the Queen was important to them. Linda Coombe, 68, remembered “seeing the Queen in a car when I was a little girl when she visited Cornwall.” People queue to pay their respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth in London on September 18. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) Perhaps the most enduring image of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing was “The Queue” – a miles-long line of mourners who waited to see the late monarch’s coffin and captured the imagination of the nation in the process. At times, the queue stretched for more than four miles through London and the waiting time was frequently well over 12 hours. The Queen’s lying-in-state ended earlier on Monday morning, and the final person admitted to Westminster Hall told PA Media news agency: “I was the last person to pay my respects to the Queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that. “I’d already been round once, I went in at 1.15 this morning,” Chrissy Heerey said. “It’s one of the highlights of my life and I feel very privileged to be here,” she added. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II photographed at Windsor Castle in Windsor in May. (Ranald Mackechnie/Buckingham Palace/Associated Press) Beaming at the camera, a joyous Queen Elizabeth II smiles in a new photograph released by Buckingham Palace on the eve of her state funeral. The photograph was taken back in May ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle. Ahead of the service, King Charles III thanked the public for their support and messages of condolence since the death of his mother. The new monarch said he and wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort had been “moved beyond measure” by the public outpouring of love and affection seen during the couple’s tour of the nations that make up the United Kingdom over the last week. Meanwhile, the Queen Consort paid tribute to the late monarch in a televised message on Sunday, saying she will always remember the Queen’s “unforgettable” smile. In a 3-minute video, interlaced with archive footage of the Elizabeth II, Camilla praised the Queen for “carving her own role” as a “solitary woman” in a male-dominated world of international politics. “She’s been part of our lives forever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there,” the Queen Consort said. US President Joe Biden, watched by first lady Jill Biden, signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London on September 18. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) As Britain mourns, America’s “special relationship” with its one-time colonial master completes another cycle of its enduring life. US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived in Britain Saturday, visiting Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as she lay in state in the ancient Westminster Hall the following day. They later attended a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III and the Queen Consort. Paying tribute to the Queen earlier last week, Biden told King Charles III his mother helped strengthen their nation’s bonds, her “dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.” It is perhaps no surprise she did; her reign was born in the prime of that “special relationship.” It was the UK’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s insistent trans-Atlantic diplomacy that helped win American support for Britain in World War II. In his famous “special relationship” speech in Missouri on March 5, 1946, six years before Princess Elizabeth would become Queen, Churchill suggested a creed for the nations: “Here is the message of the British and American people to mankind. Let us preach what we practice – let us practice what we preach.” The Queen would live Churchill’s words to the letter, and significantly he would be her first and formative prime minister. She would later see in another 14, although none with a reputation quite as fearsome as his. In 1946 Churchill arguably laid the groundwork for decades of close cooperation, from trying Nazi war criminals, to global peacekeeping duties, to standing alongside America after al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks. The relationship worked both ways; President Bill Clinton helped the Queen’s government establish peace in Northern Ireland in 1998, a peace that Queen Elizabeth worked tirelessly to strengthen. During his phone call last week President Biden “conveyed his wish to continue a close relationship with the King.” People assemble on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace ahead of the Queen's funeral. After the service, the sovereign's flag-draped coffin will travel by hearse down the Mall to her final resting place in St. George's Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle. (Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) For the last four days, thousands in London have lined up to say goodbye to the Queen as she lay in state, some waiting up to 20 hours to file past her coffin. The queue continued overnight, with photos emerging of crowds on the street in the early hours of Monday morning, hours before the Queen’s lying in state is due to end. A queue of people waiting to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, moves along the South Bank in London on Sunday. (Alex McBride/Getty Images) Others camped out with sleeping bags, scarves, hats and other supplies as they waited for the Queen’s funeral to begin later Monday. Thousands are expected to flock to the 25-mile (40-kilometer) procession route from central London to Windsor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sovereign’s flag-draped coffin as it travels by hearse to her final resting place in St. George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle. Early crowds gather in anticipation of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in Whitehall, London on Monday morning. (Alex McBride/Getty Images) Members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace of Westminster in London on Monday. (Yui Mok/Reuters) On Monday, the Queen’s coffin will travel in procession to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, after which it will be taken to Wellington Arch. From there, it will travel to Windsor, then to the Queen’s final resting place in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Here’s how to watch the state funeral: CNN platforms: Tune in to CNN or CNN International to watch live coverage of the Queen’s state funeral from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. CNN’s special coverage will also stream live on CNN.com’s homepages and across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android. In the US, other networks, including NBC News Now, ABC and Fox News, will also air coverage of the funeral. In the UK, the event will be broadcast on BBC television and available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with updates across BBC Radio and on the website. ITV confirmed the event will be shown live and uninterrupted on ITV’s main channel and all of its digital channels. Sky News will also provide live coverage throughout the day, available free of charge on Sky News, the Sky News App, YouTube and Freeview. In Canada, CBC News will offer live coverage on CBC TV, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, CBCNews.ca and the CBC News and Listen apps. In Australia, the public broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corp. is scheduled to broadcast the funeral live from 8 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (6 a.m. ET). CNN affiliate Channel 9 will also have live coverage. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George and Princess Charlotte stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London on June 05. (Jonathan Buckmaster/WPA/Getty Images) Over the last few days, there’s been much speculation here in the UK over whether we might see some of the younger royals at the Queen’s state funeral today. We now know that two of the Queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will attend the historic event. It wasn’t “announced” by Buckingham Palace, as it were. However, when the order of service for the 11 a.m. state funeral was released last night, the two Cambridge children were listed as part of the royal procession, and thus confirmed their attendance. It will be a poignant moment to see the two young royals walk with the rest of their family, and particularly George, who is now second in line to the throne, and his presence in the line up telegraphs the future of the monarchy. The pair will walk behind the Queen’s coffin as it is brought into the church with other members of the royal family. The children, aged nine and seven, will walk behind their parents and ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Much of Britain will come to a standstill on Monday, which the government declared a public holiday, for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. That means all banks, the London Stock Exchange, public offices and most businesses will shut. What’s still open: Cinema chain Vue will keep some venues open for live screenings of the funeral. Viewers won’t have to pay for tickets, and they’ll be given a free bottle of water. Greene King, a chain with more than 2,700 pubs across England, Wales and Scotland, will keep its venues open on Monday “for communities to gather to mourn and reflect together on the life of the Queen,” a spokesperson said. JD Wetherspoon, a chain of about 840 pubs, said most of its venues would be closed during the funeral service but would open from around 1 p.m., while those in central London and at rail stations and airports would remain open. London hotels are already doing big business as people from around the country and overseas flock to the capital. Many are now fully booked, while room rates have tripled in some cases. UK road and rail networks are expected to be busy. But there could be some disruption; London’s Heathrow airport is altering 15% of its flight schedule to reduce noise over central London while the funeral is taking place, meaning there will be cancellations. What is closed: All the McDonald’s locations across the UK until 5 p.m. Monday, and most of Pizza Hut’s locations until 2 p.m. Most cinemas, including those operated by Cineworld and Odeon. Many of London’s West End theaters have canceled shows, including Hamilton, Mary Poppins and The Phantom of the Opera. Most major supermarkets will close, including Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Morrisons and Tesco’s larger stores. Retailers including Harrods, Ikea, H&M, John Lewis, Argos and Primark will close. See the full list here. King Charles III has expressed his gratitude for the messages of condolence sent since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8. The new monarch said he and wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort had been “moved beyond measure” by the public outpouring of love and affection seen during the couple’s tour of the nations that make up the United Kingdom over the last week. Read the King’s full message released by Buckingham Palace: “Over the last ten days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, The late Queen.“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my Family and myself in this time of grief.” The monarch’s message was released the evening before the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, where the King will lead members of the royal family behind the matriarch’s coffin. Monday’s funeral is one of the largest diplomatic occasions this century. World leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world, have descended on London to pay their last respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. No official guest list was released, but many leaders have confirmed their attendance. The doors to Westminster Abbey open at 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET), when it will start to become clear who is and isn’t present. US President Joe Biden was among the first to confirm he will be at the event, which will be attended by up to 2,000 people. Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol are among the presidents attending. French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed on his Twitter account that he will attend the funeral. In addition, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be present. China’s Vice President Wang Qishan will also attend, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed — despite British lawmakers sanctioned by China having criticized the decision to extend an invitation to Beijing. Leaders of most Commonwealth countries are expected to attend, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making the nearly 24-hour journey. Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel to London for the funeral, an unusual move that demonstrates the close relationship between the Japanese and British royal families. Members of several European royal families will also be seated in the pews on Monday. Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan are three of the countries that haven’t been asked to send a representative, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. Representatives from North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited “only at ambassadorial level,” PA added. Leaders and officials from Russia, Belarus and Myanmar will also be absent. Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have all but collapsed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Read more about the guest list here. Britons waited for hours to see the Queen's coffin. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state has come to an end, after a four-and-a-half-day period that saw huge crowds queue through London for several hours to see the monarch’s coffin. The doors to Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s coffin was displayed to the public, shut at 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) ahead of her funeral. Thousands of people waited patiently to see her in recent days. “The Queue,” which stretched for miles along the River Thames towards east London, became a national phenomenon and one of the enduring images of Elizabeth’s passing. Waiting times of more than 12 hours were recorded on several occasions and the entrance to the queue was briefly paused when it reached capacity. Queuers opposite the Houses of Parliament on Sunday morning. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images Cecilia Tyrrell, a 26-year-old artist, came prepared for the long wait. “I got lots of food and I was going to bring an umbrella, but I’ve forgotten … I was preparing for 12 hours, that’s what they were saying on the news,” she told CNN earlier in the week. “I am not particularly monarchist or royalist, but I wanted to join for the historical aspect, just to see what it’s all about, see everyone coming together,” added Alice Hickson, a student, while standing near the end of The Queue near Tower Bridge. On Saturday, King Charles III and Prince William visited queuers to thank them for their efforts. Hear more from people who made the journey to say goodbye to the Queen. Police officers patrol on their horses as members of the public gather outside of Buckingham Palace on Sunday. ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images London police chiefs and medics are bracing themselves for a security nightmare at the Queen’s funeral on Monday as they balance the need to protect the world’s top leaders and dignitaries with the desire among many to mourn their much-loved monarch. Some have compared the event in scale to the London Olympics, but in truth the state funeral — the first in Britain since Winston Churchill died in 1965 — is likely to dwarf the 2012 sporting extravaganza. Codenamed “Operation London Bridge,” arrangements for Britain’s longest-serving monarch have been carefully pored over for years by the many agencies involved, with the Queen herself signing off on every detail before her death. In an interview with Sky News earlier this week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said of the scale: “If you think about the London marathon, the carnival, previous royal weddings, the Olympics – it’s all that in one.” The three police forces which operate in the British capital — the Metropolitan Police, the City of London Police and British Transport Police — initiated their well-rehearsed plans across London as soon as the death of Elizabeth II was announced on September 8. The funeral will be the “largest single policing event” that London’s Metropolitan Police force has undertaken, its Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy told reporters Friday. Read more about the plans here. A tribute on the large screen for the late Queen Elizabeth II at Piccadilly Circus on September 9, 2022 in London. Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Monday is a Bank Holiday across the UK, with millions of people being given the chance to watch the Queen’s funeral. It marks the culmination of a mourning period that has seen Britain gradually grind towards a standstill. Sporting fixtures and cultural events have been almost entirely suspended on Monday, while museums, banks, businesses, shops and schools are shut. But while those closures were mostly anticipated following the demise of a monarch whose reign lasted seven decades, others have caused more serious consequences — leaving some Brits mystified and angry. Non-urgent hospital appointments across the country have been pushed back due to staffing shortfalls, adding to an already unprecedented waiting list for health care in Britain. Holidaymakers have seen their accommodation plans torn up, travelers are warned that flights will be disrupted to avoid noise over London, and funerals and food banks are braced for disturbances. “It’s sad the Queen’s gone, but potentially leaving someone to get worse is not helpful,” said photographer Dan Lewsey, who told CNN his mother’s check-up after a cancer diagnosis was postponed by a hospital in Shropshire, western England. “Normal life should be able to carry on to an extent.” The confusion reflects a country that has wrestled with how best to honor the Queen. Despite decades of planning for Elizabeth II’s passing, the government has declined to issue firm guidance on what should and should not go ahead during the period of national mourning, leaving many decisions up to providers. Read our full story here. The meticulously planned arrangements for the Queen’s funeral are set to be a fitting farewell to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Speaking on behalf of the many agencies and departments involved in the funeral, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, said orchestrating the event was “both humbling and daunting.” He added that it aimed to “unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths, whilst fulfilling Her Majesty and her family’s wishes to pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign.” Here’s a rundown of what we’re expecting: At around 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET), the coffin will be lifted from the catafalque where it has been resting by a bearer party founded by the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, and carried in procession from Westminster Hall to the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, a senior palace official said. In keeping with tradition, the gun carriage will set off at 10:44 a.m. and begin the short journey from New Palace Yard to Westminster Abbey. The King, royal family members, and members of both households of the monarch and Prince of Wales will follow directly behind the coffin. The service will be conducted by the Rev. David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster, at Westminster Abbey, starting at 11 a.m. UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary General, will read lessons. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will deliver a sermon. Towards the end of the service, at around 11:55 a.m., the Last Post will sound before a two-minute silence is observed. The state funeral will be brought to a conclusion by the Queen’s Piper, who at noon will play a Reveille, the National Anthem and a Lament. Following the state funeral, the coffin will be conveyed from the hall to Wellington Arch — again with King Charles III leading some members of the royal family behind on foot, while Camilla, the Queen Consort and others follow by car — before making its final journey out of London to Windsor. Its destination: St. George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle, where a committal service will take place at about 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET), conducted by the Dean of Windsor. A private burial service will be held for the family later, and the Queen will be laid to rest with her late husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Follow the Queen’s final journey with CNN’s interactive procession map here. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on September 8. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Few people alive remember a time before Queen Elizabeth II. Her seven-decade reign began in the aftermath of World War II; it persevered through the last throes of Britain’s empire, the insecurity of the Cold War and the dawn of a new millennium, providing a counterweight to the relentless pace of change. For each of those 70 years, the Queen remained the central fixture in Britain’s collective psyche. Her death, at the age of 96, plunged the country into mourning and an unfamiliar new age. But on Monday, the nation will say its final goodbye. Britain has ground to a halt for Elizabeth II’s state funeral, expected to be one of the most-viewed events in recent history. Crowds will line the streets of London to glimpse the procession, and leaders from countries in every part of the world have descended on the British capital. The first state funeral in Britain since Winston Churchill’s death in 1965, Monday marks the climax of a lengthy mourning period that has seen Britons turn out in droves to join commemorations for Elizabeth. Thousands queued for several hours to see her lying-in-state, and memorial events were held in towns, cities and villages across the country. King Charles III, Elizabeth’s son and heir who assumed the throne amid a wave of national mourning, will be joined by the rest of the royal family at Westminster Abbey as he pays respects to his mother later. After the service, the Queen will undertake her final journey as her coffin is driven to Windsor and the late monarch is privately buried — the end of a somber period of transition, and the last act of Britain’s long and momentous second Elizabethan age. The state funeral begins at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET). Stay with us as we take you through this historic moment for the British royal family and the nation. | Royal Families |
A key milestone of King Charles's reign has come as Royal Mail unveiled stamps bearing his profile.
The image of the King featured on first and second class stamps has been revealed as a simple profile image, showing his head and neck in the style of the late Queen, and all British monarchs since Queen Victoria.
In keeping with stamp tradition, the King faces to the left - but unlike the Queen's stamp, he is not wearing a crown.
The same image, of a profile sculpture made by artist Martin Jennings, has been used by the Royal Mint to make coins. An image of the sculpture was adjusted and relit for use on the new stamps.
It's the first time his likeness is being featured on stamps since the death of his mother in September.
The world's first stamp - known as the penny black - was issued in 1840 and bore Queen Victoria's image.
The King guided Royal Mail to keep the style consistent and to use up existing Queen stamps rather than pulping them.
"The guidance we got from His Majesty was more about continuity and not doing anything too different to what had gone before," Royal Mail's director of external affairs and policy said.
"I think perhaps there's an acknowledgement that, for 70 years people have been so used to seeing the image of Her Majesty, even though actually the current image only started in 1967, they didn't want to do anything too different to what had gone before," David Gold said.
Retailers will not start selling the new stamps until stocks featuring the late Queen are sold.
However, people can register interest in the new stamps now on the Royal Mail's website.
"The King gave very clear directions he didn't want anything to be pulped, he didn't want things being shredded, he didn't want stock being thrown away," Mr Gold said.
"He was very clear, however long it takes you to clear the stock, there's no rush." | Royal Families |
Prince Harry may have exited his role as a working royal in January 2020, when he and wife Meghan Markle dropped their bombshell news and moved abroad, but the royal family was still, undeniably, his family.
The second-born son of King Charles III reportedly commemorated the one-year anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, with a private visit to her burial site on Friday.
While in the U.K. for a Thursday evening engagement at the WellChild Awards in London, Harry took Friday to visit King George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, where his grandmother is interred alongside her husband Prince Philip, sister Princess Margaret, and parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
The late queen died September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Charles, who became king when she died, broke with tradition and released a statement on Friday mourning the loss of his mother.
“In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,” read the statement in full. “I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”
Charles and Queen Camilla attended a service Friday morning at the same church the Queen visited regularly while in Balmoral, with plans to follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps and spend Ascension Day at Sandringham, as she did every year. Her father, King George VI, died at that royal residence. Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral.
At Thursday’s WellChild Awards, Harry spoke about his grandmother on stage. He had been set to present at the 2022 event as well, but had to cancel after receiving reports of the Queen’s ill health.
"As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away," he said onstage. "As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her. And that's precisely why I know, exactly one year on, she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we're together continuing to spotlight such an incredible community." | Royal Families |
King Charles III’s wife was officially called Queen Camilla for the first time on invitations from Buckingham Palace for the monarch’s coronation next month.
Before the invitations were unveiled Tuesday, Camilla had been titled queen consort.
The invite to the king’s coronation on May 6 is expected to be delivered to more than 2,000 guests.
Other details released by the palace confirmed there will be eight young pages of honor — four each for Charles and Camilla — that are family friends or close relatives, including 9-year-old Prince George, who is second in line to the throne and will be a page for his grandfather.
Three of the queen’s grandchildren, whose parents are children from her first marriage, will also be pages.
The eight youngsters will accompany the majesties at the grand ceremony and join the procession through the nave of London’s Westminster Abbey.
Charles and Camilla met well before he married Princess Diana in 1981 and remained close during the acrimonious marriage that officially ended in divorce in 1996.
Charles and Camilla married in a civil ceremony in 2005.
Camilla faced harsh criticism for her role in Charles and the late Diana’s failed marriage, but has since won over much of the British public with her warmth and down-to-earth humor.
Before Queen Elizabeth II died last year, she issued a statement in early 2022 saying she hoped Camilla would be known as “queen consort” when Charles was crowned king.
Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey during the service that is expected to be attended by many heads of states, though President Joe Biden is not attending.
Instead, First Lady Jill Biden will travel for the coronation, the 46th president told King Charles in a Tuesday phone call.
A photo of the coronation invitation shows that it features the ancient motif of the Green Man as an ode to the monarch’s record of supporting conservation and environmental protection.
The Green Man is “an ancient figure from British folklore symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign,” the palace said.
The artwork was designed by heraldic artist Andrew Jamieson and also has flowers that will appear in groupings of three, which is a nod to the king being the third monarch to be called Charles.
The invite, which will be printed on a recycled card, will also feature a lion, a unicorn and a boar, taken from the royal couple’s coats of arms.
With Post wires | Royal Families |
Prince Harry has demanded the Royal Family apologise to Meghan Markle after he made a series of explosive claims in his new book, claiming his family were treating him as if he were 'delusional and paranoid'. The prince said: 'You know what you did, and I now know why you did it. And you've been caught out, so just come clean.' It is not clear what Harry wants his family to apologise to his wife for but he claimed he was fighting the 'good fight' by siding with Meghan.He claimed that 'if people had listened' to his concerns earlier, the gulf between he and Meghan and the rest of the royals would not have grown so wide. Prince Harry has demanded an apology from the Royal Family to his wife Meghan for unspecified reasons The prince accused the royals of being a 'bubble within a bubble', saying that he could not 'get through' to themIn an interview with The Telegraph before the official launch of his book earlier this week, Harry appeared to blame his family for the feud.He said: 'It was all so avoidable. But they just couldn't help themselves.'The Duke of Sussex added that he could not understand why it seemed 'shocking and outrageous' for him to tell what he said was the 'truthful' side of the story.Harry also claimed he felt a 'responsibility' to reform the monarchy in the interests of his two young children.He also described how therapy had helped him, but said he was unable to 'get through' to his family to agree with him.He said: 'That’s when I started trying to explain to them how some of their decisions and some of the things they were doing - or not doing - was going to reflect on them. Badly. 'Especially across the global stage, especially across the Commonwealth, with relation to my now wife. And I couldn’t get through to them. And it wasn’t one or two people that I was trying to get through to. 'It was a mindset. It was a culture, within a bubble within a bubble, that while I was there was unbreakable.'After a falling out with the the rest of the family which saw them step back from royal duties, Harry and Meghan moved to Canada in 2020. Prince Harry voiced concerns about the future of the other 'spares' in the royal family to his brother - who 'made it very clear that the children are not his responsibility' The Duke of Sussex claimed his family were acting as if he were 'delusional and paranoid'Harry has now claimed the royals 'scuppered the whole plan... through their need to financially control us, the jealousy, and this unfortunate situation whereby us just existing outside of their control is somehow problematic for them.'In his new book, Harry claims members of the royal household regularly briefed to the press, including for negative articles about Meghan.He said in the new interview that 'the very people who were supposed to protect us were complicit in all of the stories that were literally destroying my wife in front of my very eyes, to the point that I was coming back from London to Frogmore after Archie was born, and I would walk into the nursery and there she was in floods of tears, tears dripping on Archie while she was breastfeeding him.' Harry has been criticised for sharing private conversations with and intimate details about his family members.However, the prince claimed there are many other details he has chosen not to share because 'I just don't want the world to know', adding his family might not 'ever forgive him if he did so.Harry also challenged his family members to speak with him and apologise to Meghan, though it is not clear what for.Talking about his family, he said: 'I wish you’d actually sit down with me, properly, and instead of saying I’m delusional and paranoid, actually sit down and have a proper conversation about this, because what I’d really like is some accountability. And an apology to my wife. Prince William was the first to introduce Harry to therapy, before becoming concerned his brother was becoming 'brainwashed' by his sessions Harry (pictured at the procession of the Queen's coffin) said he wanted to sit down and talk with his family 'Because you know what you did, and I now know why you did it. And you’ve been caught out, so just come clean, and then we could all move on.'In his memoir Spare and several interviews to promote it, Harry has levelled wide ranging and damaging accusations against his closest relatives.It is a week since Harry’s ghostwritten biography made world headlines, and this was the sixth interview he has granted to push sales of the book, which publisher Penguin Random House says is already a record breaker. Harry has spoken openly that he used ayahuasca, a psychedelic, with a professional while seeking therapy for his mental health issues.While William was the first person to encourage Harry to try therapy, he says after he sought out the alternative treatment he realised there was only a greater divide with his brother on the other side of it.He hopes one day the heir will also embrace therapy after the traumatic experiences they shared in childhood. In Spare, Harry revealed William believes all his therapy has made him delusional and questioned whether he was being 'brainwashed' by the therapist he was seeing.Elsewhere in his interview with The Telegraph, Harry expanded on his motive for speaking out. He said: 'This is not about trying to collapse the monarchy, this is about trying to save them from themselves. And I know that I will get crucified by numerous people for saying that.' Harry also suggested that reform was needed in the Royal family.'If only 10 per cent of the scrutiny that was put on me and M was put on this institution, we wouldn't be in this mess right now,' he said in a condemning remark. 'It's so dirty. It's so dark. And it will continue and it will carry on and I look forward to the day when we are no longer part of it, but I worry about who's next,' he added. | Royal Families |
Buckingham Palace on Saturday released new details about King Charles III’s weekend-long coronation celebration this May, which will include a star-studded televised concert at Windsor Palace.The festivities will start with Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's coronations at Westminster Abbey on the morning of May 6 (where Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held), which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The palace called it a "solemn religious service, as well as an occasion for celebration and pageantry.""As previously announced, the Service will reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry," the palace said in a release. It is expected to be a more slimmed-down event compared to the late queen's 1953 coronation. The king and queen consort will arrive from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the "King’s Procession" and will proceed back to the palace afterward in the larger "Coronation Procession" that will include members of the royal family. KING CHARLES CORONATION AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2023 King Charles III's coronation will include the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, a concert at Windsor and community activities. (Twitter: Royal Family)The royal family then will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to conclude the day’s events. The palace gave no information on whether Prince Harry, who is promoting his book "Spare," which is highly critical of the royal family, or Meghan Markle will attend the coronation or any of its surrounding events. Harry declined to say if he would accept an invitation to the coronation in a recent interview, saying, "There's a lot that can happen between now and then. But the door is always open. The ball is in their court." The palace has not said which royal family members will be in attendance. Prince Harry declined in a recent interview to say if he would attend his faher's coronation. (Mike Coppola/Ian Vogler)On Saturday, May 7, "global music icons and contemporary stars" will headline a BBC-produced Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. The palace didn’t specify who would be performing at the show.PRINCE HARRY SAYS 400 PAGES CUT FROM BOOK ‘SPARE’ BECAUSE WILLIAM, CHARLES WOULD NEVER FORGIVE HIM The concert is open to the public and will include volunteers from the king and queen consort’s charities. Through a national ballot several thousand Britons will receive free tickets to the show.The concert will also have an orchestra, dancers, a Coronation Choir made up of community choirs from across the country and "spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen." The coronation for King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort will be held on May 6. (Samir Hussein)During the show, iconic landmarks across the U.K. will be lit for "Lighting up the Nation." On Sunday, people across the country are invited to have a meal together for the Coronation Big Lunches, a nationwide act of celebration and friendship. "From a cup of tea with a neighbour to a street party, a Coronation Big Lunch brings the celebrations to your neighbourhood and is a great way to get to know your community a little better," the palace said. The Big Help Out, a volunteering initiative, will be held on Monday, May 8, and "will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCharles and Camilla "hope the Coronation Weekend will provide an opportunity to spend time and celebrate with friends, families and communities across the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth," the release said. "Their Majesties are looking forward to marking the occasion with the public throughout 2023." | Royal Families |
Image source, ReutersThe Queen's funeral on Monday is set to be of the biggest gatherings of royalty and politicians hosted in the UK for decades.Invitations went out over the weekend, with some 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries expected to attend.The majority of leaders have been asked to arrive on commercial flights and told they will be bussed en masse from a site in west London. The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey, which has the capacity for around 2,200 people. Here's what we known so far about who will and won't be in attendance. European Royal familiesImage source, ReutersImage caption, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will be among the European royals at the funeralMembers of royal families from across Europe, many of whom were blood relatives of the Queen, are expected.Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have confirmed they will be there, as have King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, along with his mother, former Dutch queen Princess Beatrix.King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have also accepted an invitation, as have the royal families of Norway, Sweden, and Demark. US presidentsImage source, EPAImage caption, President Joe Biden, seen signing a book of condolences to the Queen, will attend along with First Lady Jill BidenThe White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden will attend along with First Lady Jill Biden, although they are understood not to be travelling by bus. Much discussion had focused on whether President Biden would invite his predecessor, Donald Trump, to form part of the US delegation, but the limits to the delegation sizes mean former presidents will not necessarily be able to attend. There has been speculation that some former president and first ladies - particularly the Obamas - might receive private invites. Jimmy Carter, who served as president from 1977 to 1981, has not received an invitation, his office told Politico. Commonwealth leadersImage source, ReutersImage caption, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not confirmed whether he will attendLeaders from across the Commonwealth, of which the Queen served as head for the entirety of her reign, are expected to attend. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accepted an invitation, as have New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.A number of governor-generals who serve as the representative of the monarch in a Commonwealth realm are expected to attend with their countries' leaders. Long-serving Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe have also reportedly accepted invitations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to confirm whether he will be there.Other world leadersImage source, CHRISTOF STACHEImage caption, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian President Sergio Mattarell will both attend the funeralOther world leaders said to have accepted invitations include Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella as well European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have also confirmed their attendance. Also expected to make the trip are Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and French President Emmanuel Macron.It is not known whether Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this week will mark the first time he has left China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, will receive an invite or would accept it. The Islamic Republic of Iran, long the subject of international sanctions over its nuclear programme, will be represented only at ambassadorial level, Whitehall sources said. Not invitedImage source, ReutersImage caption, Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the world leaders not to have been invitedNo representative from Russia, Belarus, or Myanmar have been invited, says the BBC's James Landale.Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have all but collapsed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week he was "not considering" attending the funeral. The invasion was launched partially from the territory of Belarus, whose president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, is a close ally of President Putin's. The UK has also significantly scaled back its diplomatic presence in Myanmar since a military coup in the country in February 2021. | Royal Families |
The coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6 May with a bank holiday on Monday 8 May.Like his mother, the King will be crowned at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of faith leaders, peers, MPs, and foreign heads of state.
Here Sky News looks at what we can expect from the service on Saturday 6 May that will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the events taking place in the following days. Image: The gold state coach was used for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation What will happen on the day?The Queen's coronation took place at 11.15am on 2 June 1953.
Although specific timings have not yet been released, on the day, King Charles will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey with his Queen Consort, Camilla, in what is known as "the King's procession".Like his mother and father, they are likely to be taken in the gold state coach, which is reserved for coronations and jubilees.Up to a million people travelled to London to watch the coach along the Mall in 1953. Image: Crowds in Trafalgar Square on the day of the Queen's coronation Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player King coronation details announced The ceremony will be broadcast live on television, but the number of guests who attend in person is expected to be cut from 8,000 to 2,000. It is thought it will be shorter than the previous one - lasting just over an hour instead of three.Peers will wear suits and formal dresses as opposed to ceremonial robes and many of the traditional rituals, including the presentation of gold ingots, will not feature this time.In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The coronation will reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry."Despite speculation that the current cost of living crisis and the King's desire for a slimmed down monarchy will mean a more muted ceremony, royal sources are adamant that feedback indicated people want to see the best of Britain today, and celebrate the United Kingdom's rich and unique history. Image: The Queen and Prince Philip ride in the gold state coach to Westminster Abbey There will also be similarities with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last year.Queen Elizabeth's son and heir wanted to follow a similar ethos of recognising community heroes and bringing people together, by encouraging street parties on Sunday 7 May and a day of volunteering events on Monday 8 May.After the ceremony, the King and Queen Consort will be joined by other family members on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to conclude the day's ceremonial events.It is still unknown whether Prince Harry and wife Meghan will be among those attending. Image: Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family watching the Platinum Jubilee RAF flypast Six-part ceremonyThere are six parts to the coronation - the recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, enthronement and homage.The recognition sees the monarch stand in the theatre - the central part of the Abbey - and turn to the north, south, east and west to "show himself unto the people".Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will then declare him the "undoubted King".This ritual dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Image: The Queen's funeral was held at Westminster Abbey Second is the coronation oath, which will see the King promise to reign according to law, exercise justice with mercy and maintain the Church of England.He will then be presented with the Sword of State and declare at the altar: "The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God", before kissing the Bible and signing the oath.The third part - the anointing - follows, which is the process of blessing and consecrating the new monarch with holy oil - the central act of the religious ceremony. The King will remove his crimson robe and sit in King Edward's Chair.Fourthly, the investiture is the official crowning.It will see the King dressed in special robes and presented with the orb, coronation ring, sceptre and rod.Sitting in King Edward's Chair, he will be crowned with St Edward's Crown before the congregation shouts out "God Save the King". Image: The Queen carries the orb and sceptre during her coronation ceremony in 1953 This is followed by the enthroning, which will see the monarch lifted onto a different throne by archbishops, bishops and "other peers of the kingdom".The final stage of the King's coronation is known as homage.It sees the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Prince of Wales and other royal blood princes paying tribute to the King by placing their hands between his and kissing his right hand. Image: Queen Elizabeth II wears St Edward's Crown Camilla to be crownedThe Queen Consort will then also be crowned.Unlike the wives of Kings, the husbands of Queens do not become King Consorts and are therefore not crowned.But ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen announced Camilla would be known as Queen Consort on King Charles's accession. Instead the Duke of Edinburgh "paid homage" to Queen Elizabeth II immediately after the formal coronation - as Prince William and other princes are likely to do this time.The Queen Mother was anointed and crowned during her husband's coronation in 1937.According to the Royal Family's website: "A Queen consort is crowned with the King, in a similar but simpler ceremony."The coronation concertOn Sunday, the day after the coronation, "global music icons and contemporary stars" descend on Windsor Castle for the coronation concert.Thousands of members of the public will be selected to receive a pair of free tickets, which are up for grabs through a national ballot held by the BBC, which will also broadcast the event live. Image: Queen guitarist Brian May performs during the Platinum Jubilee concert. Pic: AP The "world's biggest entertainers" and world-class orchestras will be supported by a selection of dancers and spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen.The Coronation Choir will also perform, created from members of the nation's community choirs and amateur singers such as refugee choirs, NHS choirs and LGBTQ+ singing groups, in part to make the weekend feel as inclusive and diverse as possible.The centrepiece of the coronation concert, dubbed by the palace as "lighting up the nation", will see landmarks across the UK lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations. Image: The Platinum Jubilee concert, June 2022. Pic: AP Others will be invited to gather at the Eden Project in Cornwall, for a "coronation big lunch", overseen by The Big Lunch, an incentive which the Queen Consort has been patron of for 10 years.Bank holiday Monday dubbed 'the big help out'Coronations have traditionally fallen on weekdays, which have been declared bank holidays to allow the public to get involved by either watching on TV or crowding the streets in London.As King Charles's coronation will fall on a Saturday, Monday 8 May has been set as a bank holiday in all four nations of the UK.The day is being billed as "the big help out" and has been set aside for volunteering to help highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities. Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcastsOrganised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the UK, the palace said it will be in tribute to the King's public service and will help "encourage people to try volunteering for themselves".The government has already launched a consultation on extending pub opening hours throughout the coronation weekend, meaning pubs in England and Wales could be allowed to stay open until 1am from Friday to Sunday. | Royal Families |
King Charles has commissioned 12 new pieces of music for his coronation - including an anthem by award-winning composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The monarch has personally selected the musical programme for the ceremony, which will take place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
The programme has been designed to showcase a range of musical talent and styles from the UK and the Commonwealth.
Greek Orthodox music will also be played as a tribute to his late father, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, who was born in Greece, into the Greek and Danish royal families.
It will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.
One of the pieces of music has been composed by Lord Lloyd Webber, best known for hit musicals including The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.
The 74-year-old said he was "incredibly honoured" to have been asked to compose a new piece, adding: "I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion".
He said the anthem includes words slightly adapted from Psalm 98 and has been scored for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra.
In total, six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been created by British composers.
A Coronation March has been created by Patrick Doyle, while a piece by Iain Farrington for the solo organ takes in musical themes from countries across the Commonwealth.
Read more:
What will happen at the coronation?
King Charles's coronation emblem revealed
There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams, and Debbie Wiseman.
A hand-picked gospel choir - The Ascension Choir - will also perform as part of the service.
Andrew Nethsingha, organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, who is taking charge of the musical arrangements and directing the music during the service described it as a "privilege" to collaborate with the King.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Sir Antonio Pappano, music director for the Royal Opera House, who will be conducting the Coronation Orchestra, added: "His Majesty has chosen a most beautiful and varied programme that I believe will enhance the splendour of this very special celebration."
Around 2,000 guests are expected to attend the King's coronation, which will be broadcast live on television.
It is thought Charles's coronation will be shorter than his mother's - lasting just over an hour instead of three.
But it will still consist of the traditional six parts to the coronation - the recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, enthronement and homage.
Queen Consort Camilla will also be crowned.
However, her crown will not contain the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond over concerns it would serve as an unwelcome reminder of the British Empire. | Royal Families |
A religious sacrament wasn’t enough to bring the royal family to the US.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their daughter, Princess Lilibet, christened last Friday and extended invitations to the royal family — but the family failed to attend, according to People.
An insider told the publication that there were between 20 and 30 guests at the intimate gathering, including Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, Lilibet’s godfather, Tyler Perry, and an unnamed godmother.
However, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camila were not among the group at the 21-month-old’s reception.
“I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles the Rev John Taylor,” a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tells Page Six in a statement.
Perry, 53, who allowed Harry and Meghan to stay at his house when they first arrived to California, was seen arriving in Montecito, Calif., last week ahead of the event.
He flew in from Atlanta with a 10-person gospel choir that sang “Oh Happy Day” and “This Little Light of Mine” — a song that was played at Meghan and Harry’s wedding, the magazine reported.
More must-see royals coverage:
- How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met
- Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship timeline
- Royal family tree and line of succession
It appears invitations are being sent across the pond in both directions, as Harry and Meghan recently received “correspondence” regarding King Charles III’s coronation in May.
“I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty’s office regarding the coronation,” a spokesperson for the pair told The Sunday Times.
“An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.” | Royal Families |
LONDON -- The Latest on the coronation of King Charles III:
LONDON — King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, have arrived in a motorcade at Buckingham Palace ahead of their coronation.
Loud cheers erupted among the crowds of wellwishers lining the Mall, the grand avenue leading to the palace, as the line of cars drove by. Charles and Camilla were seen waving at the crowds from within their Bentley.
The couple are expected to depart from the palace in the Diamond Jubilee state coach later this morning to Westminster Abbey, where they will be crowned.
Meanwhile at the abbey, many politicians and celebrities have arrived and taken their seats. Musicians have started warming up ahead of the ceremony, which is due to begin at 11 a.m. local time (1000 GMT).
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More on the coronation of King Charles III:
— Crowns and coaches ready for the king's coronation
— 5 things to look for during the coronation
— Royal drama: King's fractious family on stage
— Prince William pours a pint, meets public before coronation
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LONDON — The anti-monarchy group Republic says several of its members have been arrested as they prepared to protest the coronation of King Charles III.
The group plans to hold placards and chant “Not my king” during the monarch’s procession to Westminster Abbey. It says police were informed in advance of its plans.
But on Saturday morning several of the group’s members were stopped near Trafalgar Square and led to police vans.
Others managed to protest along the route, dressed in yellow and waving placards with slogans including “king parasite” and “abolish the monarchy.”
Police have said they will have have a “low tolerance” for people seeking to disrupt the day, sparking criticism that they are clamping down on free speech.
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LONDON — Crowds are growing outside Buckingham Palace and guests are arriving at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III.
People who camped overnight overnight for a view of the royals awoke to cloudy skies that gave way to sun and some light rain.
Fans carrying flags and clad in the colors of the Union Jack were arriving by train in London hours before the ceremony that begins when Charles and Camilla, queen consort, depart from the palace in a gilded horse-drawn carriage.
The royal couple will be chauffeured on the 1.3-mile (2-kilometer) route through central London to Westminster Abbey for the two-hour ceremony.
The church buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrant flowers and colorful hats. Invited guests streaming into the abbey including recognizable celebrities such as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Lionel Richie and Nick Cave, and others including judges in wigs, soldiers with gleaming medals attached to red tunics and members of the House of Lords in their red robes. | Royal Families |
Queen Consort Camilla found a way to honor both the history of the British monarchy and her German hosts with her choice in royal jewels.
Camilla and her husband King Charles arrived at Hamburg's Dammtor station on Friday morning after making the almost two-hour trip from Berlin to kick off day three of the first overseas trip of their new reign. For the occasion, the queen consort wore a matching deep navy Anna Valentine coast and dress which she accessorized with a large sapphire and diamond brooch. The jewelry holds special meaning for the trip as the piece was a gift from the German-born Prince Albert to his bride-to-be Queen Victoria on their wedding day.
This choice in jewel also comes shortly after Queen Consort Camilla brought two other special pieces out of the royal vaults for the state banquet in Germany on Wednesday night. For the dinner, she chose to wear the Greville Tiara and a diamond fringe necklace that formerly belonged to Queen Elizabeth. She paired the diamonds with a long sleeve black gown featuring silver floral embroidery by Bruce Oldfield. The Greville Tiara is clearly a favorite of Camilla's as she's worn it at least eight times since marrying King Charles. The piece is known for its distinctive honeycomb design.
Charles and Camilla began their trip to Germany on Wednesday morning with a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-past upon their arrival in Berlin. They were then taken to the Brandenburg Gate where they received a ceremonial welcome from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Frau Elke Büdenbender, the first time a foreign head of state has been formally welcomed at the venue. This is the pair's first trip to the capital city since 2020, and the king's 29th official visit to the country. According to the palace, this trip is meant to celebrate Britain and Germany's “shared histories, culture and values,” as well as, “provide an opportunity to look forwards and demonstrate the many ways the United Kingdom is working in partnership with Germany, whether that be to tackle climate change; respond to the conflict in Ukraine; seize trade and investment opportunities or share the best of our arts and culture.” The press release went on to note that throughout the visit the royal couple will be focused on “highlighting the importance of sustainability and community—key themes which have been embraced by citizens of both our countries. There will also be opportunities to reflect on the sacrifices and challenges of our shared past, out of which has come an enduring legacy of cooperation and reconciliation.” | Royal Families |
The nation's support was "the greatest possible coronation gift," the King has said.
As the weekend of festivities came to an end, the King issued a written message saying: "We thank you, each and every one."
In the message, the King and Queen pledged to re-dedicate their lives to service.
The King, signing his message Charles R, said he and Camilla give "our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion".
He added: "To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible coronation gift, as we now re-dedicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the realms and commonwealth."
Official portraits of the King and Queen were released to round off the occasion.
The King was shown in his full regalia, wearing the imperial state crown, holding the orb and sceptre with cross, and dressed in his regal purple tunic and robe of estate, seated on a throne chair in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen was pictured alongside the King, but also in a solo portrait.
She wore Queen Mary's crown, with the train of her lengthy embroidered robe of estate spread in front of her.
The working Royal Family - the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Edinburghs, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Kent, the Gloucesters and Princess Alexandra - were also featured in a photograph while stood with the King and Queen.
The images were captured by Hugo Burnand.
Read more:
The best of Windsor's coronation concert
'This is boring': King caught on camera before coronation
Tom Cruise delivers special mid-air message to King
The King also paid tribute to the "countless people who have given their time and dedication to ensuring that the celebrations in London, Windsor and further afield were as happy, safe and enjoyable as possible". | Royal Families |
Prince Harry took aim at his older brother, sister-in-law and stepmother in his first promo interviews for his upcoming memoir, Spare, making another raft of allegations about his life in the royal family. In the UK, the King's youngest son sat down with ITV's Tom Bradby, whom he has known for many years, to discuss some of the main lines from the book - details of which have been leaked after the book accidentally went on sale early last week. Meanwhile in the US, the Duke spoke to Anderson Cooper for CBS's flagship 60 Minutes programme, in an interview aired mere hours after ITV's. Adding context to some of his claims, Harry admits Prince William and Princess Kate never got on with Meghan Markle, accusing them of 'stereotyping' her. He also denies accusing the royals of racism during his interview with Oprah Winfrey and said he faced a "horrible reaction" from his family when the Queen died. The 90-minute ITV interview and the 60 minutes (minus adverts) US chat were the first of four Harry had recorded ahead of the book launch. These are the top points from Harry's interviews with Bradby and Cooper. Prince Harry gave a 90-minute interview to ITV (
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ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Harry denies labelling royals racist in Oprah interview One of the most sensational claims in the interview by Harry was when he denied labelling the royal family racist after previously telling the world a senior royal questioned the colour of his unborn son’s skin. Harry and wife Meghan sent shockwaves through the British monarchy when they spoke of their disgust at “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born”. The royals were left to defend serious allegations of racism after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tell-all interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Harry was asked about some of the shocking claims made in his Oprah Winfrey interview (
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Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese) Addressing the storm for the first time, Harry said the royal family were not guilty of racism but of "unconscious bias". During the interview Bradby said to Harry: "In the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism". Duke snapped back: saying "no I didn't", adding "the British press said that". In a further snipe at his family, Harry denied he'd "describe that as essentially racist", retorting: "I wouldn’t, not having lived within that family." Harry defends royal aide who quit over race row In another moment from the chat, Harry backed a loyal aide of the late Queen, who became embroiled in a race row, as "great". Lady Susan Hussey , 83, resigned as an honorary member of the royal household and apologised after charity boss Ngozi Fulani said she was repeatedly asked where she "really came from" at a Buckingham Palace reception. Lady Susan Hussey meeting Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space (
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PA) Harry threw his support behind her and said: "I'm very happy for Ngozi Fulani to be invited into the palace to sit down with Lady Susan Hussey um, and to reconcile, because Meghan and I love Susan Hussey. “She thinks she's great. And I also know that what she meant – she never meant any harm at all. But the response from the British press, and from people online because of the stories they wrote was horrendous. Was absolutely horrendous, the response.” Harry accuses Kate and William of 'stereotyping' Meghan Harry admits Kate and William didn't get on with Meghan "from the get-go", while also making the surprising admission that they couple were huge Suits fans. Asked why the relationship got off on a bad note, Harry says there were "lots of different reasons". He goes on: "I don’t think they were ever expecting me to get into a relationship with someone like Meghan, who had, you know, a very successful career. "There was a lot of stereotyping that was happening, that I was guilty of as well, at the beginning." Harry recalls the couples' early meetings (
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Getty Images) Pushed on what he meant by that, Harry continues: "American actress, and that was playing out in the British press in the media at the time as well. "I had that in the back of my mind, and some of the things that my brother and sister-in-law – some of the way that they were acting or behaving definitely felt to me as though unfortunately that stereotyping was causing a bit of a barrier to them really sort of, you know, introducing or welcoming her in." Asked specifically what he means. Harry adds: "Well, American actress, divorced, biracial - there's all different parts to that and what that can mean but if you are, like a lot of my family do, if you are reading the press, the British tabloids, [yeah] at the same time as living the life, then there is a tendency where you could actually end up living in the tabloid bubble rather than the actual reality." William used 'secret code' at Prince Philip's funeral In a particularly moving part of the interview, Harry recalls arguing with his brother at their grandfather's funeral. Harry recall how William forced him to look into his eyes so he could tell him that he loved him and wanted him to be happy. Harry then says he told his brother that he loved him too but that his "stubbornness is extraordinary" and pulled away. He goes on to claim that William pulled him back and said: "Harold you must listen to me, I just want you to be happy, Harold, I swear, I swear on mummy’s life." Harry said this stopped them both as William had "used the secret code, the universal password, ever since we were boys those three words were to be used only in times of extreme crisis, ‘on mummy’s life’. Harry and William walked behind their grandfather's coffin at his funeral in 2021 (
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WPA Pool/Getty Images) He goes on to detail how they had reserved that vow for times when they believed one of them needed to be heard. And Harry adds: "It stopped me cold, as it was meant to. Not because he'd used it, but because it didn’t work. I simply didn’t believe him." Harry received 'horrible reaction' from royals when Queen died Recalling the last time he was with his family at the Queen's funeral, he tells Bradby: "The last moment that we were together was during, you know, our – or the Queen’s funeral. "And that, in my mind – and I think globally people felt the same, was a really good opportunity to bring the family together. "Um, but the day that she died was – was – was just a really, really horrible reaction from my family members and then by all accounts, well certainly from what I saw and what other people probably experienced was they were on the back foot and then the briefings and the leaking and the planting, I was like ‘We're here to celebrate the life of granny and to mourn her loss, can we come together as a family?’ but I don’t know – I don’t know how we collectively – how we change that." Harry hits back at Jeremy Clarkson's 'horrific and cruel' comments Former Top Gear presenter sparked outcry in December when he wrote that he "dreams of the day when [Meghan] is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her." He also brazenly added that "everyone my age agrees" with his thoughts on the Duchess. Following the huge backlash to his column in the Sun, Jeremy said he was making a "clumsy reference" to a scene from Game Of Thrones. Clarkson's comments caused outrage (
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Getty Images) During his ITV interview, Harry spoke of how he wants to hold the UK press to account, which led him on to the infamous column, and it's impact. He said: "Just recently, which I know you know about, the Jeremy Clarkson article, so not only did, what he said was horrific and is hurtful and cruel towards my wife, but it also encourages other people around the UK and around the world, men particularly, to go and think that it's acceptable to treat women that way." He added, quoting Queen Consort Camilla: "To use my stepmother’s words recently as well, there is a global pandemic of violent – violence against women." Harry has 'no intention' of hurting royals with book Harry also insisted he never meant to ‘harm or hurt’ his family with his bombshell tell-all memoir Spare, but wanted to share his own version of his life story. He said: “Nothing of what I’ve done in this book or otherwise has ever been to any intention to harm them or hurt them. “The truth is something that I need to rely on and after many, many years of lies being told about me and my family, there comes a point where – again, going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get in the bed with the devil, right?” Harry recalls seeing Princess Diana in dreams Harry spoke honestly about how he dealt with the death of his mother when he was just 12, saying he sees the late Princess in his dreams. Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. Heartbreakingly, he reveals he "lost a lot of memories" of his late mother - something he thinks was a "defence mechanism" and a way to deal with his loss. Tom then says to Harry: "But just on that, one of the things that really surprised me in the book is the way you talk about genuinely appearing to have half-convinced yourself that your mother was in fact still alive and in hiding. Harry with his beloved mum, Princess Diana (
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Getty Images) He was just a boy when she passed away He adds: "I mean, like, you talk about seeing her in your dreams and saying, “Mummy, Mummy, is that you?" "Mm-hmm" Harry replies, as Tom continues to discuss the topic with him. "I mean, it, it, it's a haunting description of really, post-traumatic stress disorder really, isn't it?" Tom asks Harry, "I mean, that's what, that's what the whole early part of this book is." Harry argues how he prefers to refer to the condition as "post-traumatic stress injury" due to the fact he does not see himself as a person with a disorder. Tom proceeds to ask Harry about how he "bottled it up for years" and how the Duke of Sussex felt he couldn't even discuss his mother's death with his brother, Prince William. Harry admits he cried one at Diana's burial - something he goes into detail about in his memoir - but recalls it feeling strange at the time. Harry says William 'found it hard' he had a beard At one point of the chat, Tom said it was puzzling when he read in Spare that Harry and William had an argument over beards - and whether Harry should be clean-shaven on his wedding day. Harry claimed: "I remembered that William had a beard himself and that granny and other people, the ones to tell – told him that he had to shave it off. Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is the most anticipated book of the year - full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief. As we eagerly await the book's release on Tuesday, January 10th 2023, here's where you can pre-order your copy of Spare. Amazon Waterstones W H Smith "Um, the difference for me, if there was a difference, but the difference for me was, as I explained to my grandmother, that this beard I'm still – that I'm still wearing, felt to me at the time like the new Harry. Right? As almost like a shield to my anxiety. "That was – that was the time of my life when – when I – you know, when I – when I grew my beard. "Um, and I think William found it hard that other people told him to shave it off, and yet here I was on my wedding day wearing military uniform, no longer in the military, um, but thinking as though I – believing as though I should shave it off before my wedding day. "And I said ‘Well I don’t believe that Meghan’s gonna recognise me if she comes up the aisle and sees me beardless’." Harry saw pictures of Diana slumped on the back seat Prince Harry revealed during Anderson Cooper's 60 Minutes interview he saw gruesome photographs of his mum. He said: "All I saw was the back of my mum's head-- slumped on the back seat. There were other more gruesome photographs. "But I will be eternally grateful to him for denying me the ability to inflict pain on myself by seeing that. Because that's the kinda stuff that sticks in your mind forever." Harry revealed he saw pictures of Diana slumped on the back seat (
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CBS NEWS) Harry watched videos of Diana to teach himself how to cry Prince Harry would sit down on his sofa and watch videos of Diana in a bid to cry - but he was left unable to. He told Anderson Cooper: "There was this weight on my chest that I felt for so many years that I was never able to cry. "So I was constantly trying to find a way to cry, but-- in even sitting on my sofa and going over as many memories as I could muster up about my mum. Harry would try and find ways to cry after the death of Princess Diana (
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CBS NEWS) "And sometimes I watched videos online." Anderson Cooper asked: "Of your mom?" Prince Harry: "Of my mum." Cooper: "Hoping to cry?" Prince Harry: "Yup. Anderson Cooper: And you couldn't. Prince Harry: I couldn't. " Harry on the moment he saw the Queen after she died Prince Harry spoke of the moment he saw the Queen after she died and revealed how he was happy she "finished life and Phillip was waiting for her." He said: "I walked into the hall, and my aunt was there to greet me. And she asked me if I wanted to see her. I thought about it for about five seconds, thinking, "Is this a good idea?" And I was, like, "You know what? Harry said he was happy the Queen "finished life and Phillip was waiting for her" (
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AFP via Getty Images) "You can-- you can do this. You-- you need to say goodbye." So I went upstairs, took my jacket off and walked in and just spent some time with her alone. "She was in her bedroom. I was actually-- I was really happy for her. Because she'd finished life. "She'd completed life, and her husband was-- was waiting for her. And the two of them are buried together." Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More | Royal Families |
The Queen's coffin has arrived at Windsor Castle where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, as the nation bids farewell to Britain's longest reigning monarch.Thousands of people lined the Long Walk and broke out in applause as the coffin was carried in a procession to the landmark.A committal ceremony is taking place at St George's Chapel in the grounds of the castle followed by a private burial service attended by senior royals.Follow live updates from Queen Elizabeth II's funeral The Queen's final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.The coffin of the Queen's beloved husband, Prince Philip, will move from the royal vault to the memorial chapel to join her.In a touching gesture, the late monarch's two faithful friends, her corgis Muick and Sandy, were part of the day and made an appearance outside St George's Chapel.Around 800 people, including members of the Queen's Household and Windsor estate staff, attend the committal service. Image: The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried into St George's Chapel Prior to the final hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre were removed from the Queen's coffin, and placed on the altar.Earlier, the King led members of the Royal Family in a procession to Westminster Abbey for the Queen's state funeral, where world leaders were among the congregation at the hour-long service.In a personal touch, the wreath adorning the Queen's coffin had a handwritten note written by the King, which read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Senior royals follow Queen's coffin Following the funeral, the coffin was carried in a grand procession through London, passing Buckingham Palace, before it was driven to Windsor.Hundreds of thousands of people have travelled to London and Windsor for the funeral and burial service, which are being watched on television by millions around the world.Some 2,000 mourners - including heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, and members of European royal families - gathered for the funeral at the abbey, where the first guests took their seats hours before the service started. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Emotional King at his mother's funeral Delivering the sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury told mourners the "grief" felt around the world over the Queen's death "arises from her abundant life and loving service"."She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives," the Most Rev Justin Welby said."People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer."Her late Majesty's broadcast during the COVID lockdown ended with 'We will meet again', words of hope from a song of Vera Lynn." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Queen's coffin enters Westminster Abbey He added: "All who follow the Queen's example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: 'We will meet again'."Shortly after 10.35am, the coffin left Westminster Hall where the final members of the public queued overnight to see the Queen lying in state.The Queen's children walked behind the coffin, which was carried on a gun carriage in a military procession.Inside Westminster Abbey, the King and the Queen Consort walked immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Prince George and Princess Charlotte accompanied their parents, followed by their uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the Royal Family.Before the service, the Princess of Wales could be seen holding Charlotte's hand, and giving her a reassuring touch on the shoulder.As the youngsters walked behind their great grandmother's coffin, Charlotte held her hands clasped in front of her and George had his arms by his side. The Dean of Windsor told the congregation: "Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer."The King was close to tears during the funeral, while the Countess of Wessex was seen dabbing her eyes. The wreath on top of the coffin included flowers requested by King Charles and cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.State trumpeters from the Household Cavalry sounded the Last Post followed by a two-minute silence across the country, with the national anthem then sung by the congregation.Read more:Order of service for Queen's state funeralKing's goodbye message and Andrew's tears - key moments Image: The coffin is pulled along The Mall Crowds lining The Mall in London broke into spontaneous applause after the national anthem was played.Tens of thousands of mourners lined the ceremonial procession route from the Abbey to Wellington Arch, where the Queen's coffin left for Windsor Castle. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Queen's final London procession In a moving gesture, staff from Buckingham Palace stood outside the gates of the royal residence and watched as the late monarch was taken past.Behind her coffin were the King and his siblings - the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex - who were followed by the monarch's three grandsons, Peter Phillips, Duke of Sussex and Prince of Wales.Travelling behind in state limousines were the Princess of Wales and her children George and Charlotte, the Queen Consort, the Duchess of Sussex and the Countess of Wessex.Read more:In pictures: the Queen's state funeralThe history and significance of Queen's final resting placeAfter the Queen's coffin was transferred to the state hearse at Wellington Arch, flowers were thrown into the road by members of the public watching from behind a fence.All public viewing areas for the funeral procession were full nearly two hours before the start of the service, London's City Hall said.The Queen died on Thursday 8 September at the age of 96, bringing an end to her 70-year reign and triggering a period of national mourning. | Royal Families |
By Doug FaulknerBBC NewsImage source, ReutersThe doors of Westminster Abbey have opened ahead of the state funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.King Charles III will lead a sombre procession behind his mother's coffin on the short journey from Westminster Hall to the Abbey later.The first state funeral to be held since Sir Winston Churchill's in 1965 will begin at 11:00 BST.It marks the end of 10 days of events across the UK since the Queen's death.As London city prepares for as many as one million visitors for the historic occasion, roads and bridges are closed to traffic and an unprecedented security operation is under way.Before the service begins, the Queen's coffin will be conveyed in procession through Parliament Square, a distance of about 820ft (250m).The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex will once more walk side-by-side behind their father, the King, who will walk alongside his siblings, the Queen's four children.The State Gun Carriage will carry the coffin, drawn by 142 sailors. A guard of honour will stand in the Square made up of all three military services, accompanied by a Royal Marines band.The final people to attend the Queen's lying-in-state paid their respects at Westminster Hall just after 06:30 - after four-and-a-half days and a queue which stretched as far as Southwark Park in south-east London.Some 2,000 mourners will bid farewell to the Queen at the state funeral, including 500 dignitaries - with presidents, prime ministers and foreign royalty among the guests.US President Joe Biden, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska will be at the Abbey.There will also be members of many European royal families, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark, as well as the Emperor and Empress of Japan.But it will not only be royals and politicians in attendance. About 200 people who were recognised in the Queen's birthday honours also received invitations.Knife crime campaigner Natalie Queiroz told BBC Breakfast she was "totally speechless" when she was asked to attend."I think it reflects Her Majesty because she wanted to constantly be in touch with her people and even on her final moments she's made sure that her people are here represented. "It's not just heads of state, not just royalty, and I think that represents our Queen - who will be really, really massively missed," she said.Barbara Crellin, a volunteer emergency responder, said she "just cried and cried" when she was invited and described herself as "so humbled and privileged to be here".Millions of people will be watching the funeral across the country and most workplaces are closed for a bank holiday.For those not invited big screens have been put up in cities in all four nation's of the UK, while some cinemas, pubs and other venues are also showing the once-in-a-generation event.Since taking the throne, the King has visited the four nations of the UK, where he has received condolences and met with politicians and the public at the start of his reign. | Royal Families |
Prince William and Kate Middleton are back at the BAFTAs.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made their long-awaited return to the awards show’s red carpet for the first time since 2020 on Sunday.
Middleton, 41, wowed in a white dress at London’s Royal Festival Hall as she adorably gave her husband, 40, “a love tap,” as seen in a video shared via Vogue’s Instagram account.
Wearing an Alexander McQueen one-shouldered gown, the royal looked glam for her date night with her husband, 40, who serves as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Middleton’s dress, which she has worn previously, featured cinching at the waist and one-shouldered cape detailing. She paired the look with $27 Zara earrings and black opera gloves.
She added a small black clutch and gold pumps, while allowing her sleek brunette tresses to cascade down her back.
The couple skipped last year’s annual TV and film awards due to scheduling conflicts. One year prior, Prince William – who was supposed to present a speech at the virtual event – backed out due to Prince Philip’s death.
Middleton’s last BAFTA outfit in 2020 was a white-and-gold Alexander McQueen gown she’d previously worn on a visit to Malaysia in 2012.
McQueen has been a steady presence for the princess on the show’s red carpet, with the mom of three wearing her wedding dress designer for four out of her five BAFTA appearances since 2017.
Along with the special royal guests, Sunday’s show — attended by stars like Austin Butler, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis — will also honor Queen Elizabeth II in a tribute led by Helen Mirren.
The actress won both a BAFTA and an Oscar for her portrayal of the late monarch in 2006’s “The Queen.” | Royal Families |
Man admits trying to harm Queen after being caught in grounds of Windsor Castle with a crossbow
The 21-year-old former supermarket explained in a video on TikTok he was trying to take revenge for a historic massacre - which took place before the monarch was born. He was stopped wearing a mask and wielding a crossbow - looking like "something out of a vigilante movie."
Friday 3 February 2023 11:58, UK
A man has admitted a charge under the Treason Act of trying to harm the Queen after being caught in the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow.
Jaswant Singh Chail told police he was "here to kill the Queen" after breaking into the grounds on Christmas Day 2021.
The 21-year-old, from Southampton, was wearing a mask at the time and the Queen was in residence.
He came within sight of the late monarch's private apartments when he was stopped by a police officer.
The officer said he looked like "something out of a vigilante movie".
Chail, a former supermarket worker, had uploaded a video to TikTok half an hour before his stunt, saying he was taking revenge for the Amritsar massacre of 1919 in India.
A previous hearing was told that shortly after 8.10am on Christmas Day, an officer was on duty at the gate which serves as the main vehicle and foot access into the private part of the castle.
The Queen was in her private apartments at the time and the gate "allowed immediate access to the apartments. It is never open to the public," Kathryn Selby, prosecuting, said.
'Morning, can I help mate?'
The officer saw Chail walking slowly through the private grounds towards him and began to approach him.
As he did so, the officer realised that Chail had his hood over his head and was wearing a mask which the officer described as "like something out of a vigilante movie or dressed for Halloween."
The officer unclipped his Taser before saying, "Morning, can I help mate?"
Chail told him: "I am here to kill the Queen."
Realising that the man was holding a crossbow, the officer drew his Taser and shouted for him to drop the weapon and get to his knees.
Chail immediately complied, placing his hands on the top of his head when told to do so, before repeating "I am here to kill the Queen." | Royal Families |
King Charles III will be presented with Scotland's crown jewels in Edinburgh later in a ceremony to mark his Coronation.
He will receive the crown and sceptre which form part of the Honours of Scotland.
The national thanksgiving service at St Giles' Cathedral will also feature a new sword named after the late Queen Elizabeth.
It echoes an event held in 1953 to celebrate her accession to the throne.
Before the service the crown jewels will be brought from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles' in a procession down the Royal Mile involving about 100 people from various aspects of Scottish life.
They will be followed by more than 700 members of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.
The King and Queen Camilla will leave the Palace of Holyroodhouse - their official Scottish residence - by car at 14:05 for a separate procession up the Royal Mile to the Kirk.
They are expected to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.
Three pipers from King Charles' former school, Gordonstoun, will play during the final stage of the procession.
The Stone of Destiny - which was taken to London for the King's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in May - has been returned to Edinburgh and will also play a part in the service.
The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton will preach the sermon.
The crown jewels will be presented to the King by the Very Reverend Prof David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.
A 21-gun salute will be fired from Edinburgh Castle at about 15:20 before the royal procession travels back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Crowds, which are expected to gather on the streets of the Scottish capital, will then see a fly-past by the Red Arrows.
What are the Honours of Scotland?
Made of gold, silver and precious gems, they are the oldest crown jewels in Britain and comprise the priceless crown, sceptre and sword of state.
They are items of immense significance and many will remember the Crown of Scotland sitting atop the Queen's coffin when she lay at rest at St Giles' Cathedral.
The crown was made for James V, who first wore it at the Coronation of Queen Mary of Guise in 1540.
Mary Queen of Scots was the first to be crowned using the new crown and sceptre together, in 1543. The origins of the sceptre are less certain - it may have been a papal gift to James IV.
However, the sword King Charles will be presented with is brand new, and commissioned because the existing 16th Century sword is too fragile to handle.
Named after his late mother, it is called the Elizabeth sword.
Turbulent past
The Honours have had a turbulent past. They were removed from the castle and hidden in 1651-60 to keep them from Oliver Cromwell's army.
In 1707, following the Act of Union between England and Scotland, they were locked in a chest and sealed away.
In 1818, Sir Walter Scott, the famous novelist, rediscovered the Honours - along with a mysterious silver wand.
The Honours of Scotland and their accompanying exhibition are located on the first floor of the Royal Palace on the east side of Crown Square at Edinburgh Castle. | Royal Families |
Prince Harry recalls moment King Charles told him Princess Diana had died and claims his father didn't hug him because he's 'not good at expressing his emotions'Harry's explosive memoir Spare relives the moment he found out about DianaHe recalls being sat down on the bed and told about the car crash in ParisHarry says he and William thought Dodi Fayed was 'a pretty nice guy' Read more: Prince Harry killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan Published: 11:45 EST, 5 January 2023 | Updated: 11:55 EST, 5 January 2023 King Charles didn't hug 12-year-old Prince Harry when he broke the news to his youngest son that his mother Princess Diana had been in a car accident, the Duke of Sussex's memoir claims.Prince Harry, 38, revealed the moment he found out about the car crash in Paris in August 1997 for the first time in his long-anticipated memoir Spare. He also revealed how he and William each have a lock of their mother's hair, which was cut from her head by her sister Sarah shortly after she died, and recalls being introduced to Dodi Fayed, who was his mother's 'friend', and whom he and William thought was a 'pretty nice guy'.The Duke writes about how the King sat him down on the bed to break the news of the car accident, calling him 'my dear son' as he told how Diana had sustained head injuries that didn't look likely to improve. He writes: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' Prince Harry (pictured with William and King Charles at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997) has recalled the moment he was told about his mother's death by his father, whom he claims did not hug him while breaking the news. The revelation comes from his explosive new memoir 'Spare' which has been released in Spain todayHarry recalls how the King 'examined the folds of the old quilts, blankets, and sheets' on the bed while breaking the terrible news - as Harry struggled to understand how bad the crash had beenAs it dawned on Harry how grave his mother's condition was, he recalls 'silently begging my father, or God, or both' that it wasn't true.He recalls the King telling him that there had been 'complications' with Diana's condition after she had been 'seriously wounded' in the crash. Harry (pictured with Princess Diana and Prince William in 1995) revealed how he met Diana's 'friend' Dodi Fayed and thought he was a 'pretty nice guy'However at first, Harry recalls his 12-year-old self asking to go and visit his mother in the hospital, before the King explained her condition 'hasn't recovered anymore' Although Harry says some aspects of his memory may not be entirely accurate, there are things he remembers 'clear as day' all these years on. The heartbreaking recollection of finding out his mother had died is in Spare, Harry's explosive memoir which is set for release in the UK on MondayWhile he claims his father did not cry while breaking the news, he said the king put his hand on Harry's knee and claimed everything would be ok. After his father left, he recalls sitting by himself while his brother William, whom he affectionately calls 'Willy', sat in a separate room. Harry claims his memory has undergone 'decades of effort to reconstruct that morning', but after all this time he has come to an 'inescapable conclusion' - that he stayed alone in the room until 9am the following morning when the piper began to play outside. Harry's heartbreaking recollection of his mother's death comes as one of many explosive claims from Spare, his long-anticipated memoir which is set for release in the UK on Monday 10 January.The emotive passage comes after Harry speaks about Diana's relationship with Dodi Fayed after he and William had met him while on holiday with Diana in St Tropez.He recalled the three of them laughing a lot as they holidayed together before being introduced to Dodi.Harry recalls seeing his mother light up in Dodi's presence as he described the filmmaker as 'cheeky' - nonetheless, he seemed 'nice'.He reflects on a conversation he had with William about their mother's new partner - and how they both agreed that, as long as she was happy, then they were happy for her. Elsewhere in the book, Harry relives his memory of the days following his mother's death and how he battled with himself to accept the truth of the situation. Despite being told what had happened, he recalled telling himself his mother was just 'hiding' and not really dead - a theory he revealed later in the book that he often returned to for comfort.He recalled how he and William were forbidden from watching the TV so they could be shielded from news reports about Diana's death.After the King and Diana's sisters had gone to France to identify Diana's body, Harry recalls being reunited with his father and aunties in London.When they arrived and met with their Aunt Sarah (Lady Sarah McCorquodale), Harry recalled her handing each brother a little blue box which contained a lock of Diana's blonde hair.Even so, Harry recalled not believing the hair belonged to his mother, and convincing himself it was someone else's so he did not have to come to terms with the reality of her death. Read more: Prince Harry 'begged Prince Charles not to marry Camilla' and feared she would one day be his 'wicked stepmother', his new book claims EXCLUSIVE: Meghan was 'offended' when she was 'reprimanded' for telling Kate that she 'must have baby brain because of her hormones' which sparked a huge row, Harry reveals in his memoir Prince Harry brands Prince William his 'ARCH-NEMESIS' in explosive memoir, as he admits he has 'always been in competition' with his 'beloved brother' because of his role as the 'spare' Advertisement | Royal Families |
Prince Harry has refused to comment on whether he will attend King Charles III’s coronation in May — but is it too late for father and son to make amends?In an upcoming interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, the Duke of Sussex said that "there’s a lot to be discussed" before deciding whether he will attend the historical event in the U.K., his home country."I really hope that they’re willing to sit down and talk about it," said the British royal. Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, has made several shocking allegations in his memoir, "Spare," according to reports. (Penguin/VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)The 38-year-old’s highly anticipated memoir, "Spare," is set to be published Tuesday. But several royal experts believe that the damage has already been done by the Sussexes, who have publicly spoken out about their struggles navigating royal life.PRINCE HARRY CLAIMS IN MEMOIR WILLIAM ONCE PHYSICALLY ATTACKED HIM DURING ARGUMENT OVER MEGHAN MARKLE: REPORTRoyal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that invitations for the coronation haven’t been sent out yet. However, he doubts that a reconciliation would occur "in the foreseeable future.""The royal family cannot answer their complaints point by point," Fitzwilliams explained. "However, with last month’s trailer, a six-hour Netflix docuseries and now this, it is becoming a destructive media circus. It is particularly ironic for a couple who so publicly desires privacy and whose income depends on being members of the royal family. It is nothing short of a betrayal." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan" premiered in December. (Netflix)According to several reports, Harry’s latest tell-all has several shocking allegations that could rock the monarchy.The Guardian, which claimed to have obtained an advance copy, reported that Harry alleges that his brother Prince William once lashed out and physically attacked him during a furious argument. Separately, Page Six reported that the book alleges that William and his now-wife, Kate Middleton, encouraged Harry to wear a Nazi uniform to a costume party in 2005. Harry has since apologized and called the decision one of the biggest mistakes of his life.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERBuckingham Palace officials have declined to comment on any of the allegations. A spokesperson for King Charles, 74, didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace, which represents William and Kate, told Fox News Digital they don’t have a comment. Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" is already available for half-price at a bookstore in the U.K. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)The book is the latest in a string of public revelations and accusations made by the Sussexes.Meghan Markle, an American actress who starred on "Suits," became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince in 2018. Less than two years later, the couple quit royal duties and moved to California, citing what they saw as the media’s racist treatment of the duchess, who is biracial, and a lack of support from the palace.Since then, they have presented their side of the story in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and a six-part Netflix documentary released last month. The couple repeatedly recounted their bruising relationship with the British media and estrangement from the royal family. In the series, Harry, 38, claimed that William, 40, had screamed at him during a family meeting and accused palace officials of lying to protect his elder brother, who is now heir to the throne. Markle, 41, talked about wanting to end her life as she struggled to cope with toxic press coverage.PRINCE HARRY'S BOOK 'MIGHT BE THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN' AS THE PALACE BRACES ITSELF FOR IMPACT: EXPERTS Copies of the Evening Standard newspaper, leading with stories about Prince Harry's strained relationship with Prince William, are placed out for distribution in London on Thursday, ahead of the publication of "Spare." (Getty Images)Now, Harry has recorded interviews with ITV and CBS to promote the book. Both are due to be broadcast Sunday. In snippets released in advance, Harry told ITV that the royal household had cast him and Markle as "villains" and "shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile." He also told CBS that the palace’s refusal to defend him and his wife from attacks was a "betrayal."Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that even if the Sussexes were to receive an invitation to the coronation, the couple’s appearance could cause more harm than good for the royal family. According to Fordwich, over half of the British public want the Sussexes to lose their royal titles."King Charles as a father is more likely to eventually 'forgive and forget,' but it’s becoming less and less likely that Prince William will be as magnanimous," she said. "Additionally, the palace is known for taking stock of public sentiment both in the U.K. and also worldwide. Reconciliation might not be good for the monarchy in general, now that international sentiment is also turning against them." King Charles III, the eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will be crowned in May of this year. (Chris Jackson)Royal expert Shannon Felton Spence also told Fox News Digital that it’s unlikely Charles wouldn’t want his children and grandchildren to be present at the most important event of his life. However, a reconciliation between Harry and William may be too far gone after these latest truth bombs.PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE'S REP DENIES COUPLE ASKED FOR 'PRIVACY': 'DISTORTED NARRATIVE'"So far, what we know is Harry and William are at war," she said. "What is happening between the brothers certainly impacts their father, but ‘the boys’ have come together for significant family events in the recent past, including Prince Philip and the queen’s funeral, as well as the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue at Kensington Palace.""[In this case], both William and Harry have dug their heels in," Felton Spence continued. "We’re not going to see that change any time soon. So far, King Charles’ depiction in Harry’s story has been that of a loving father who wants his boys to be happy and wants his family to be together. ... What’s really sad is that this has been such a significant time for the Windsors with the death of both the patriarch and matriarch and now the ascension of a new monarch." Prince Harry, left, and Prince William attend a vigil for Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died Sept. 8, 2022, at age 96. (AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)"It is massively significant for the U.K. as well," she added. "The pageantry provided by the monarchy is one of the very best tools Britain has diplomatically. It puts them on the world stage. ... This is a time when the U.K. needs all the good press it can get, and yet the storyline of Harry and Meghan and the Prince and Princess of Wales has underlined the past three years."While William was destined from birth to be king, Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne behind his brother and William’s three children, has often appeared to struggle with the more ambiguous role of "spare." He spent a decade in the British Army — years he has described as his happiest — before taking up full-time royal duties in 2015.NELSON MANDELA'S GRANDDAUGHTER DEFENDS PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE'S USE OF LEGEND'S QUOTES IN NEW DOCUSERIESSince his split from the royal family, he has launched a new career with his wife as a U.S.-based charity campaigner and media personality. Prince Harry's memoir has been spotted in Spain despite the publication date set for Jan. 10 with stringent measures in place. (OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)When asked by ITV’s Bradby whether he will play a part in the British monarchy’s future, Harry said, "I don’t know."Time will tell whether Harry chooses to attend his father’s coronation or not. But Fordwich suspected that Charles would want peace within his household after losing his parents.PRINCE HARRY STATES HE WANTS HIS FATHER AND BROTHER 'BACK,' ALLEGES PLANTING OF STORIES IN UPCOMING INTERVIEWS"Olive branches have been offered to [the Sussexes] for the world to witness," she said. "First, right after the passing of the queen, Charles, in his first speech as monarch, made a warm overture to Harry and his wife, referencing them as ‘much-loved members of the family.’ Secondly, during the national days of mourning, they were invited by Prince William to join him and the Princess of Wales in viewing flowers. Thirdly, they were invited to Sandringham for Christmas. Last, but not least, this fourth overture of peace [which is expected] for the coronation. ... The ball is most certainly in Harry’s court." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. | Royal Families |
LONDON -- Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced Wednesday that their daughter had been christened in a private ceremony in California, publicly calling her a princess and revealing for the first time that they will use royal titles for their children.
Princess Lilibet Diana, who turns two in June, was baptized on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor, Harry and Meghan said in a statement. Lilibet’s title and that of her brother, Archie, who will be four in May, will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website later.
The announcement marked the first time that the children’s titles had been used in public.
The question of the children’s titles took center stage two years ago during Harry and Meghan’s television interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said that when she was pregnant with Archie “they” — presumably the palace — “were saying they didn’t want him to be a prince … which would be different from protocol.”
Meghan suggested that this was because Archie was the royal family’s “first member of color” and would have marked the first time a royal grandchild wasn’t given the same title as the other grandchildren.
At the time, royal experts said Meghan’s comments appeared to be based on a misunderstanding of the way royal titles are conferred.
Titles are conferred in line with a decree issued by King George V in 1917 that limits the titles of prince and princess to the male-line grandchildren of the sovereign.
As long as the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were the sovereign’s grandchildren. Harry and William’s children, as great grandchildren, didn’t receive the titles automatically.
But Elizabeth had the power to amend the rules, and in 2012 she decreed that the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, would be princes and princesses. This decree didn’t apply to Harry and Meghan.
However, the situation changed when King Charles III ascended the throne on the death of his mother last September. William and Harry are the king’s sons, meaning their offspring are now royal grandchildren and so entitled to be known as prince and princess.
Nonetheless, they have remained a plain “master” and “miss” on the Buckingham Palace website for the past six months. | Royal Families |
Princes William and Harry will take part in a special vigil in honour of the Queen on Saturday, it has tonight been reported.The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex are set to join the Queen's six other grandchildren in a special 15 minute vigil at Westminster Hall.The eight grandchildren will reportedly stand in silence beside Her Majesty's coffin, in a scene which will mirror the Vigil of the Princes.The special vigil saw King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, stand guard at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier this week.Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward will repeat the vigil at Westminster Hall on Friday night. It will now be followed by a separate event by the grandchildren on Saturday.And in a further twist, the Duke of Sussex will be allowed to wear military uniform at the event, according to The Mirror, having up until now been prevented from donning military colours.The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex (pictured on Wednesday during the procession of the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster) will reportedly join the Queen's six other grandchildren tomorrow in a special 15 minute vigil at Westminster Hall The eight grandchildren will reportedly stand in silence beside Her Majesty's coffin, in a scene which will mirror the Vigil of the Princes (pictured). The special vigil saw King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, stand guard at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier this weekPrince Harry, who served in the British army for a decade including two tours of Afghanistan, has so far worn a mourning suit with military medals to public events. However Prince Andrew, who also stepped back frontline royal duties in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal, is set to be given special dispensation to wear his colours on Friday night The Queen's other grandchildren including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Peter Philips and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn (pictured) are also understood to form part of the guard of honour on Saturday evening Zara Tindal (pictured here leaving Westminster Hall on Wednesday following the procession from Buckingham Palace), will also reportedly take part in the special vigilThe Queen's other grandchildren including Princesses Beatrice (pictured left) and Eugenie (pictured right), Zara and Peter Philips and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn are also understood to form part of the guard of honour on Saturday evening Why have Prince Andrew and Prince Harry been prevented from wearing military uniforms up until now? Prince Andrew was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, in January this year amid his defence of sexual assault allegations made against him by Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Roberts.Earlier this year, Prince Andrew agreed a £12million deal to settle the US lawsuit, ending the possibility of a civil trial. Prince Andrew denied the allegations against him.But as he is not a front line working royal, he is not allowed to wear military uniform. Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and instructor and as the captain of a warship. He saw active duty during the Falklands War.He did not wear a military uniform during the previous Vigil of the Princes at St Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh this week, but he has been given special dispensation to wear a uniform for the event at Westminster Hall on Friday as a 'special mark of respect' for the Queen.Prince Harry was stripped of his military titles in February as part of his agreement to step back from frontline royal duties and move to the US with wife Meghan Markle.Buckingham Palace said that as the couple would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family, it was 'not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.' Prince Harry served in the British army for a decade, including two tours of Afghanistan.Prince Harry has reportedly been given special dispensation to don military colours at the vigil. However it is not clear what uniform he will wear, given that he no longer holds a position in the military.The Duke of Sussex has so far be unable to wear military uniform during any of his public appearances following the Queen's death.That is because, when he stepped back as a front line royal in the wake of Megxit, he was stripped of his military patrognages.Prince Harry, who served in the British army for a decade including two tours of Afghanistan, has so far worn a mourning suit with military medals to public events.However Prince Andrew, who also stepped back frontline royal duties in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal, is set to be given special dispensation to wear his colours on Friday night.The exception was made for the Duke of York to wear uniform for the vigil at Westminster Hall as a 'final mark of respect' for his mother.He is expected to wear the full military dress uniform of a Vice Admiral of the Navy - the only military rank that he still holds.The decision to allow Prince Andrew to wear a military uniform, while maintain the Duke of Sussex's ban, had led to criticism from some quarters, while the Duke of Sussex himself released a pointed statement addressing the issue, saying his decade of service was 'not determined by the uniform he wears'.A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said: 'His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the.'Today, a royal source told the Mirror: 'Common sense has prevailed.''It was a ludicrous situation given the Duke of Sussex has served his country and is a highly respected member of the armed forces with everything he has done for veterans,' the source added.'It is important that the Queen's grandchildren are all made to feel welcome and comfortable as they grieve their beloved grandmother together.'The Queen's other grandchildren including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Peter Philips and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn are also understood to form part of the guard of honour on Saturday evening. King Charles looks tearful as he marches with Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Anne, Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence yesterday. The family will march behind the coffin again after the state funeral on Monday The Scots Guards march in the moonlight past Westminster Abbey, where the funeral will be heldIt comes as today full details of the Queen's state funeral were announced. The funeral will end with a two-minute national silence in a 'fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign' before she is laid to rest beside her late husband.Charles III and the Royal Family have said they 'wish to send their sincere gratitude for the messages of condolence received from around the world', adding they have been 'deeply moved by the global response and affection shown for the Queen as people join them in mourning the loss of Her Majesty'. The procession route for the Queen's final journey on Monday - Westminster Hall to Westminster AbbeyThe Queen's Coffin will be carried from Westminster Hall shortly after 10.35am to the State Gun Carriage, which will be positioned outside the building's North Door.The procession will go from New Palace Yard through Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary before arriving at Westminster Abbey just before 11am.- Westminster Abbey to Wellington ArchAfter the State Funeral Service finishes at around midday, the coffin will be placed on the State Gun Carriage outside the Abbey.At 12.15pm, the procession will set off for Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.The route will go from the Abbey via Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square (south and east sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen's Gardens (south and west sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way.- Wellington Arch to WindsorAt Wellington Arch, the Queen's coffin will be transferred from the State Gun Carriage to the State Hearse just after 1pm, ahead of the journey to Windsor.It then will travel from central London to Windsor, on a route that has not been disclosed by the Palace. When the hearse arrives in Windsor, the procession will begin just after 3pm at Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road.- Shaw Farm Gate to St George's Chapel, Windsor CastleThe state hearse will join the procession, which will have been formed up and in position, at Shaw Farm Gate before travelling to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.The procession will follow the route of Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (south and west sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.Just before 4pm, the procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George's Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister. Here, the bearer party will carry the coffin in procession up the steps into the chapel.The Queen will be interred during a private burial at King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle at 7.30pm. 200 everyday heroes - including NHS staff who excelled during the pandemic and volunteers recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June - will be part of a 2,000-strong congregation gathered at Westminster Abbey for the final farewell to the long-reigning monarch on Monday.Britain's bravest military heroes awarded the Victoria Cross - the highest and most prestigious award of Britain's honours system introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria during the Crimean War - or the George Cross, have also been asked to attend. They will join royals, politicians and world leaders in the historic church at 11am. All guests must arrive from 8am and moving elements of the funeral will include the sounding of the Last Post at 11.55am followed by a two-minute silence in the Abbey and throughout the UK as the service nears its end at midday.The Queen's state funeral will 'unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths', according to The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, the man in charge of the historic day that will see Her Majesty buried with Prince Philip and her parents at Windsor on Monday evening.The Duke of Norfolk said today that it was 'both humbling and daunting' to have the 'honour and great responsibility' to run an event that will be watched by billions of people around the globe. He said: 'The events of recent days are a reminder of the strength of our Constitution, a system of government, which in so many ways is the envy of the world'.The Duke has laid out his plans and revealed that the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex will mount a 15-minute vigil around the Queen's coffin as it lies in state in the ancient Westminster Hall at 7.30pm on Friday. The siblings did the same thing in Edinburgh earlier this week in a ceremony known as the Vigil of the Princes.Buckingham Palace also revealed a minute-by-minute breakdown of the state funeral - the first that Britain has hosted since Winston Churchill died in 1965. On the morning of the State Funeral, the Lying-in-State will end at 6.30am as the final members of the public are admitted. The doors of Westminster Abbey will open at 8am as the congregation of 2,000 VIPs begin to take their seats, three hours before the service begins at 11am. At 10.35am, Her Majesty will be carried on the the gun carriage that conveyed her mother and father to their funerals from Westminster Hall, arriving at 10.52am. Her son, the new King, will lead the procession behind.Moving elements of the funeral will include the sounding of the Last Post at 11.55am as the service nears its end, followed by a two-minute national silence which will be observed by the abbey congregation and by millions across the UK. 4billion people globally are expected to tune with the BBC and ITV broadcasting all day in the UK.The Reveille - the traditional bugle call that awakens soldiers at dawn - and then the National Anthem will take place, and finally a Lament played by the Queen's Piper which will bring the service to a close at noon, when the coffin will be carried from the Abbey. At 12.15pm the Queen's children and members of the Royal Family will walk behind her coffin to Wellington Arch when it leaves Westminster Abbey and Her Majesty begins her journey to Windsor to be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Prince Philip. An early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London Construction workers prepare the platforms in Windsor Castle for the funeral on MondayThe Queen's coffin will be returned to the gun carriage by the bearer party and a procession, including Prince William and Prince Harry side-by-side again, will travel to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park. The King will once again lead his family in marching behind the Queen's coffin when it is moved. He will walk with Anne, Andrew and Edward, and behind the quartet will be the Queen's grandsons Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales. Just like yesterday, they will be followed by the late monarch's son-in-law Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Queen's cousin the Duke of Gloucester, and her nephew the Earl of Snowdon. Minute-by-minute guide to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, September 19 6.30am - Doors will close to the public for the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall.8am - The doors of Westminster Abbey will open to the congregation to take their seats for the state funeral service.Heads of state and overseas government representatives, including foreign royal families, governors-general and realm prime ministers will gather initially at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and travel under collective arrangements to Westminster Abbey.10.35am - Just after 10.35am, a bearer party, found by The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, will lift the coffin from the catafalque.It will then carry it in procession from Westminster Hall to the Royal Navy's state gun carriage, which will be positioned outside the building's North Door.10.44am - The gun carriage, drawn by 142 Royal Navy service personnel, will set off at 10.44am.The King, members of the royal family, members of the King's Household and Household of the Prince of Wales will follow the coffin.10.52am - The procession arrives at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey where the bearer party will lift the coffin from the state gun carriage and carry it inside for the state funeral service.11am - The state funeral service begins.11.55am - The Last Post will sound followed by a national two-minute silence.12pm - Reveille, the national anthem and a lament, played by the Queen's Piper, will bring the state funeral service to an end at approximately noon.The coffin will be carried to the state gun carriage.12.15pm - The procession will set off for Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, following the route of Broad Sanctuary Parliament Square (south and east sides), Parliament Street, Whitehall, Horse Guards including Horse Guards Arch, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, Queen's Gardens (south and west sides), Constitution Hill and Apsley Way.1pm - The procession will arrive at Wellington Arch.The bearer party will lift the coffin from the state gun carriage and place it in the state hearse.The state hearse will then depart on its journey to Windsor as the parade gives a royal salute and the national anthem is played.The King and the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales and members of the royal family will depart for Windsor by car.3.06pm - The state hearse will approach Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road, Windsor, and join the procession, which will have been formed up and in position.3.10pm - The procession will step off. The route will be: Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (south and west sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.3.20pm - The door of St George's Chapel will open for the congregation for the committal service.3.25pm - Members of the royal family who will not join the procession will arrive at St George's Chapel for the service.3.40pm - The King and other royal family members who are walking in the procession will join it at the quadrangle on the north side as it passes into Engine Court.3.53pm - The procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St George's Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister.The bearer party will lift the coffin from the state hearse, from where it will be carried in procession up the West Steps.4pm - The committal service will begin.The length of the service is not yet known but when it ends, the King and members of the royal family will depart from the Galilee Porch for Windsor Castle.It marks the end of public ceremonial arrangements.7.30pm - A private burial service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, attended by the King and members of the royal family.The Queen is to be buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. The Queen's coffin will be carried during the procession on a 123-year-old gun carriage, pulled by 98 Royal Navy sailors using ropes in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.She will be accompanied on her final journey by a massed Pipes & Drums of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, and the Royal Air Force - numbering 200 musicians.The Procession is formed of seven groups, each supported by a service band. Mounties from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will lead, immediately followed by representatives of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, NHS, along with detachments from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. Her Majesty's hearse will arrive at the Long Walk at 3.15pm, where the public will be able to give their final respects. The procession of senior royals, which will have been formed up and in position after being driven to Windsor, will again walk behind the hearse into the grounds of the castle.There will be a televised ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor at 4pm on Monday. Some 800 people, including members of the Queen's Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service. As the coffin is lowered into the royal vault the Sovereign's Piper will play a lament and walk slowly away so the music fades.The Queen is to be buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh at the King George VI Memorial Chapel. The King will scatter earth on his mother's coffin at 7.30pm at a private family service. Her Majesty will be buried next to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, her father King George VI and mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, for eternity.Huw Edwards, Kirsty Young and David Dimbleby are among the broadcasters leading BBC coverage of the Queen's funeral, the corporation has announced.The special programming will air from 8am until 5pm on Monday September 19 on BBC One and iPlayer, with BSL signed coverage on BBC Two. Edwards and Fergal Keane will be covering events from London and Young and Dimbleby from Windsor, with other reporters stationed at other key areas throughout the day.ITV will also be broadcasting through the day, with the coverage led by journalist Tom Bradby, a friend of Prince Harry. After the state funeral, attended by some 2,000 guests, including visiting heads of state and other dignitaries, the late queen's coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage before being driven by the state hearse to Windsor. Other representatives of the Realms and the Commonwealth, the Orders of Chivalry including recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, Government, Parliament, devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, the Church, and Her Majesty's Patronages will form the congregation, along with other public representatives.And almost 200 people who were recognised in The Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year will also join the congregation, including those who made extraordinary contributions to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities.The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, said: 'The Queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives. This has been felt more keenly over the past few days as the world comes to terms with her demise.'Her Majesty's passing has left many people across many continents with a profound sense of loss.'The respect, admiration and affection in which the Queen was held, make our task both humbling and daunting. An honour and a great responsibility.'It is our aim and belief that the state funeral and events of the next few days will unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths, whilst fulfilling Her Majesty and her family's wishes to pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign.'The procession will arrive at the west gate of Westminster Abbey at 10.52am when the bearer party will lift the coffin from the gun carriage and carry it into the Abbey for the state funeral service, the Earl Marshal said.The service will begin at 11am and will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster.The Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth will read Lessons, while the Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator will say prayers.The sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury who will also give the commendation, while the Dean will pronounce the blessing.At around 11.55am the Last Post will sound, followed by two minutes of silence to be observed in the Abbey and throughout the UK.Reveille, the national anthem and a lament played by the Queen's piper will bring the state funeral service to an end at around 12 noon.The bearer party will then lift the coffin from the catafalque and will move in procession through the Great West Door returning to the State Gun Carriage positioned outside the West Gate.After the service the Queen's coffin will be returned to the gun carriage by the bearer party and a procession will travel to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park.The King and the royal party will take up their same places behind the coffin as when they escorted it to the Abbey, while the Queen Consort and Princess of Wales will travel to the site by car as will the Duchess of Sussex and Countess of Wessex. The Queen's coffin will be lowered into the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel in Windsor (pictured), where she will be buried alongside her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, her beloved parents, and her sister Princess Margaret A member of the Coldstream Guards stands guard at Windsor Castle, the Queen's home until she diedThe route will be lined by the Armed Forces from Westminster Abbey to the top of Constitution Hill at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates.The Procession is formed of seven groups, each supported by a service band. Mounties from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will lead, immediately followed by representatives of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, NHS, along with detachments from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth.At Wellington Arch the royal family will watch as the Queen's coffin is transferred to the new state hearse, whose details the Queen approved, before it begins its journey to Windsor Castle.The Earl Marshal said that at 3.06pm, the state hearse will approach Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road, Windsor, and join the procession which will be in position.At 3.10pm the procession will step off via Albert Road, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (South and West sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.At approximately 3.40 pm the King and other members of the royal family who are walking in the procession join it at the Quadrangle on the North side as it passes into Engine Court.Members of the Queen's, the King's and the Prince of Wales's households will be positioned at the rear of the coffin.The Queen Consort with the Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Sussex with the Countess of Wessex will again follow by car. | Royal Families |
On Tuesday, Spain’s future queen Princess Leonor celebrated her 18th birthday—and sealed her claim to the throne—with a swearing-in ceremony at the nation’s parliament building, Palacio de las Cortes. In a white pantsuit á la Kate Middleton, she solemnly swore allegiance to the country’s constitution, which has been in effect since Spain transitioned to democracy in the 1970s.
In a speech, she discussed the importance of the constitution and mentioned that she has sworn allegiance to her father, King Félipe VI. “I have also taken an oath of fidelity to the King,” she said. “Not only to his person, but also to what the Crown symbolizes and represents: the unity and permanence of Spain.”
The princess, who is also known as the Princess of the Asturias, shared a piece of advice he gave her when she became a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 2018. “I remember very well what my father, the King, told me when he awarded me the Golden Fleece: ‘Let the constitution guide you continually. Fulfilling it and observing it, you will serve Spain with the humility and awareness of your institutional position.”’ she said. “They are words that I will keep in mind at all times.”
Outside of the parliament, enthusiasm for the princess was more energetic, and the streets surrounding the Palacio de las Cortes were filled with well-wishers waving the nation’s red and yellow flag. For years, the princess kept a low public profile, but the first rumblings of what the Spanish media has called “Leonormania” started in 2019, when she made her first formal speech at the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts ceremony. Over the summer, she returned from two years at United World College of the Atlantic and began three years of military training, where her classmates simply call her Cadet Borbón Ortiz.
On October 12, she made another high-profile appearance at Spain’s national day celebrations in uniform and participated in a “jura de bandera” ceremony alongside her fellow cadets. She made headlines later that day, when two of her military classmates approached to shake her hand during a formal event. According to EuroNews, one cadet said, “How beautiful you look, Borbón” to the princess, causing her to smile shyly and her father and mother, Queen Letizia, to both laugh.
Now the mania has only intensified, and on Monday, the outlet called her the most charismatic royal. In a poll commissioned by the center-right newspaper El Mundo , 63% of the population said they believe that Leonor will make a good head of state when she ascends the throne.
At the end of her Tuesday speech, she took a cue from the late Queen Elizabeth and promised to live her life in service to the country. “From today I owe myself to all Spanish people, whom I will serve at all times with respect and loyalty. There is no greater pride,” she said. “On this important day—which I will always remember with emotion—I ask you to trust me, as I have placed all my trust in our future, in the future of Spain.” | Royal Families |
King Charles III has taken part in his first Trooping the Colour since becoming monarch.
Princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte joined other royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast in honour of their grandfather's official birthday.
In a surprise tribute, airplanes were used to spell out the King's initials, CR.
Thousands watched the event at Horse Guard's Parade and the Mall in London.
The royals watched an extended military flypast after the display on coronation day had to be scaled down due to bad weather.
Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took part - including aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight, modern Typhoon fighter jets with a red, white and blue finale from the Red Arrows.
A sea of mobile phones were spotted among the crowds, with many holding them up in the air to capture the moment.
The Trooping the Colour is part of the annual calendar of big royal events and for the first time, it was with King Charles in the leading role.
There may have been a moment of poignancy for the King too. Just a year ago, at the Platinum Jubilee, it had been his mother on the same balcony, appearing before the crowds.
The King took has part in his first Trooping the Colour as monarch on horseback.
The King's horse appeared to be a little skittish at the start, but calmed down as the event went on.
It is the first time a monarch has ridden on horseback at the event in 30 years, when the late Queen rode her horse, Burmese, in 1986.
He was joined by the other royal Colonels on horseback - the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal.
The Duke of Edinburgh also rode during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards.
The ceremony started at Buckingham Palace, with the King and senior royals travelling down The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade.
The colour - or regimental flag - was then trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
There was music and marching while the King carried out an inspection of the soldiers - moving slowly along the line as they stand in formation.
After he coursed through the Mall, the King received the royal salute as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Division's regiments.
The senior royals on horseback were joined by the Queen, the Princess of Wales and her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who travelled in a carriage to support their grandfather.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was spotted in the crowd, as well as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, along with prime ministers of Commonwealth states and realms.
One royal fan said they were "so happy" to be at Trooping the Colour after missing out on the King's Coronation.
They said: "We're so happy about coming today. We've been bringing our kids to see all of the pomp and ceremony for years.
"We've been exchanging photos, and we've got plans for birthday cocktails later."
Before the ceremony began, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to those took part in last week's rehearsal in soaring temperatures, which reached 30°C (86F) in London.
The last time a monarch was on horseback was when chart toppers included Wham! and Doctor and the Medics.
Following the parade, troops fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the King's official birthday - while from the Tower of London the Honourable Artillery Company fired 62 volleys. | Royal Families |
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After ascending the throne last year, King Charles III will now be crowned as Great Britain’s new monarch.
The coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6 and will be the 40th such event in Westminster Abbey, which has been the setting for the ceremony since 1066. Charles was four years old when his mother Queen Elizabeth II was crowned seven decades ago, a history-making moment that was broadcast in black-and-white, drawing millions of viewers.
Watch King Charles III’s coronation in the player above.
Now 74, Charles will have the solid gold St. Edwards Crown placed on his head for the first time. The PBS NewsHour will livestream the event, but pro tip: Make sure to set your clocks.
King Charles III’ coronation will take place at 11 a.m. U.K. local time. You can watch the coronation in the player above.
Tune into PBS’ coverage of the service, beginning at 2 a.m. EDT.
If you want to watch the ceremony live in the U.S., set an alarm! Stateside, the event will start in the early morning hours at 3 a.m. PDT and 6 a.m. EDT.
You can also follow our post-coronation coverage on Twitter and Facebook, and see our past royals coverage on YouTube.
What to expect
Charles has ruled since his mother Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died in September.
During the service, presided by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Charles will be anointed with oil, and bestowed with some of Britain’s greatest treasures — the crown jewels, an orb and two scepters — that are also associated with a deep-seated history of colonialism.
Charles’ wife, Camilla, will also be crowned Saturday and will become “Queen Camilla,” as the invitations to the event signaled. Charles will have a solid gold-framed crown — adorned with colorful gemstones and a velvet cap — placed on his head. The St. Edwards Crown, which weighs 4.9 pounds, is used only during the service, and was also the inspiration for the #coronation emoji.
The event is expected to last around two hours, which is shorter than Elizabeth’s three-hour coronation in 1953. The coronation, while still expected to be full of pomp and pageantry, will have a smaller audience than his mother’s 1953 coronation.
Watch the BBC’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation in the player above.
Most of the British royal family is expected to attend, including Prince Harry, although Meghan and their two children will not. Heads of state will also attend, although no U.S. president has ever attended a British coronation. However, first lady Jill Biden will attend.
Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religious leaders will also be involved in the coronation, in an effort to acknowledge the many faiths in Great Britain.
What you won’t see in the live stream: The many who will ignore — or protest — the festivities. The U.K. is the only European country to hold a coronation ceremony for its monarchy. And some protesters plan on chanting “Not my king” as the royal procession follows its route, underscoring how opposition or indifference toward the monarchy has grown.
Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He also the senior editor and manager of newsletters.
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Sep 09 | Royal Families |
The Danish Royal Family have celebrated Countess Athena's 11th birthday by sharing a portrait of the youngster to Instagram - after stripping her of her royal title.However, many royal fans rushed to the comment section of the post to insist she is still a princess in their eyes.Shared to the Royal Household's Instagram account on January 24, the image of Athena was captioned: 'Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 11 today,' when translated from Danish to English.But commentators were left unimpressed by the use of Athena's new status, which came in to place on January 1 after her grandmother, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, decided to remove the prince and princess titles from four of her grandchildren. The Danish Royal Family have celebrated Countess Athena's 11th birthday by sharing a portrait of the youngster to Instagram (pictured above) - after stripping her of her royal titleOne royal fan said: 'Congratulations to Princess Athena, the people's Princess,' while a second added: 'As a "grandmother" and as a monarch, the queen underestimated the sovereignty of the people. Happy birthday, PRINCESS ATHENA.'Another wrote: 'Congratulations, beautiful Princess Athena. You are Denmark's most beautiful Princess. For me, you are and will always be a Princess and never a Countess.'A third added: 'Congratulations, congratulations PRINCESS Athena - once a princess, ALWAYS a princess.'Earlier this month, the Danish Royal Family's website was update to show the new status belonging to Queen Margrethe's son Joachim's children after they were stripped of their HRH titles. Shared to the Royal Household's Instagram account on January 24, the image of Athena was captioned: 'Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 11 today,' when translated from Danish to English. Pictured, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Count Nikolai, Count Felix, Count Henrik and Countess Athena in April 2022 Reaction: However, many royal fans rushed to the comment section of the post to insist she is still a princess in their eyesThe 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her younger son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1.She has said the decision was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligations.Instead of being Princes and Princesses, they are Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies - a change which is now reflected on the household's website.Under the Royal Family and Succession To The Throne pages of the website, the four young royals - who have maintained their positions in the line of succession - are mentioned with their new titles. Denmark's Royal Family updated their website to show the new status belonging to four of Queen Margrethe's grandchildren after they were stripped of their HRH titles. Pictured, Count Nikolai, left, and right, Count Felix The 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her youngest son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. Pictured, Countess Athena, left, and right, Count Henrik It was a tumultuous autumn for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch stripped Joachim's four children of their prince and princess titles - a move which he publicly spoke out against.But speaking in a televised New Year's address, Margrethe admitted: 'That the relationship with Prince Joachim and (his wife) Princess Marie has run into difficulties hurts me.'Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including mine. The whole country has witnessed this.'She added that she was 'sure that the family can enter the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courage'. The Danish Queen (pictured with her sons and their wives) has said the decision to was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligationsBut earlier this month, the Royal Family appeared to put the drama far behind them as they arrived for their glamorous New Year's dinner at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Out of a title: The four grandchildren who are no longer TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 11, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Despite the fallout, Prince Joachim was seen stepping out at the lavish event, as were his brother Crown Prince Frederik and wife Crown Princess Mary, as well as the Queen's sister Princess Benedikte. Prince Joachim's wife, Princess Marie, stayed in Paris with their son, who was ill.Last year, Prince Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother's decision in the days that followed - claiming that his children had been 'harmed' in the process.Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement.Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.'Shortly after his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public.Following the Queen's announcement, Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lives with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision.'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarifiedMeanwhile, his ex-wife Alexandra, 58, who was married to Joachim for 10 years until 2005, said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming.'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.'Last year, it was said that Joachim and his family are relocating to the US after he landed a new job in the defence industry in Washington, according to local media reports.The Danish royal, 53, has decided to move to Washington DC with his wife and their two young children, Henrik and Athena, Danish newspaper BT reported.The royal couple are currently based in Paris, where the prince has worked as defence attaché since 2020. However that job is expected to come to an end in June, meaning they are likely to up sticks in the second half of the year.The Danish Royal Court's communications department did not confirm Joachim's reported upcoming move. | Royal Families |
A new sword will be presented to King Charles when he receives Scotland's crown jewels at a ceremony in Edinburgh.
Th King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a service in St Giles' Cathedral on 5 July.
An existing 16th Century sword which is part of the Honours collection is now too fragile so a new Elizabeth Sword was commissioned for the occasion.
The Honours of Scotland are the oldest crown jewels in the UK.
They consist of the crown, sceptre and sword of state.
Traditionally, new British monarchs are presented with them after their coronation and this will take place at the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication to be held at St Giles next week.
The Stone of Destiny will also be in St Giles' Cathedral for the service after playing a significant part in the Coronation at Westminster Abbey.
A people's procession of about 100 community groups will collect The Honours from Edinburgh Castle and take them to the nearby cathedral.
Then during the service, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE will bear the Elizabeth Sword, with the sceptre carried by Lady Dorrian, The Lord Justice Clerk, and the crown will be carried by The Duke of Hamilton.
Dame Katherine said: "It will be an incredible honour to carry the Elizabeth Sword on such a historic day for Scotland.
"I hope I can do the sword, and the occasion, justice. It promises to be a day of enormous celebration for the King and for the country and I feel immensely lucky to be able to play a part."
Kathy Richmond, head of collections, at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which runs Edinburgh Castle where The Honours are kept, said: "Our team of specialists will support the Elizabeth Sword's ceremonial use and will be aiming to make it available for display shortly after the event.
"The Honours of Scotland are cared for by HES who are undertaking a project to conserve them over the next few months.
"We hope to use this opportunity to offer a period of display for the Elizabeth Sword so it can be seen together with the historic regalia of the crown and sceptre."
The Elizabeth Sword cost £22,000 to make and was designed by Mark Dennis and worked on by a number of expert Scottish craftspeople.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "The Honours of Scotland have immense historical significance, having been present at many major ceremonial events over the past 500 years.
"Designed and crafted with care by some of Scotland's finest artisans, the Elizabeth Sword is a fitting tribute to the late Queen as Scotland prepares to welcome the new King and Queen next week." | Royal Families |
All eyes were on Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at King Charles III's coronation service on Saturday, with all three children carrying out their first official state occasion.
Prince Louis arrived at Westminster Abbey with his parents Prince William and Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte while Prince George arrived at the abbey with his fellow pages of honor.
At the request of the king, William and Kate both wore formal robes and mantels, though the princess is not wearing a tiara. Under the robe, Kate wore an Alexander McQueen ivory silk crepe dress, with an embroidered shamrock, rose, thistle, and daffodil motif along with a Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece. She also wore the George VI Festoon Necklace, designed for the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1950, along with pearl and diamond earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana. Charlotte wore an ivory silk crepe dress with a coordinating headpiece to her mother.
William wore the ceremonial dress of the Welsh Guards, along with a leek pin, and Louis wore a blue doeskin tunic designed by Dege and Skinner and a leg garment with Garter Blue stripe.
In addition to Prince George’s starring role, the Prince of Wales also played a central role in the ceremony presenting the Stole Royal to His Majesty. Once the King was vested in the Robe Royal which was specially made for the coronation, William fixed the clasp. | Royal Families |
The Duke of Sussex was photographed leaving Windsor Castle, where his grandmother is buried, on the first anniversary of her passing Sept. 8.
The sighting comes one day after Harry—who lives in California with wife Meghan Markle and their kids Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2 (named after Queen Elizabeth II)—attended the WellChild Awards in London. During the event, which is put on by the nonprofit that helps children battling serious illnesses receive the care they need at home versus in hospital when possible, the duke reflected on Queen Elizabeth II's commitment to service.
"As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away" he said, as seen in a video shared by Hello!. "As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that's precisely why I know, exactly one year on, she is looking down on all of us tonight—happy we are together—continuing to spotlight such an incredible community."
Harry isn't the only member of the royal family to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her passing. Prince William and Kate Middleton attended a service at St. Davids Cathedral in Wales, and King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla went to a service in the Scottish village of Crathie. Many royals also paid tribute on social media.
"Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth," William and Kate wrote on Instagram alongside a series of old photos, including pictures of the monarch with some of her great-grandchildren—including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—and her corgis. "We all miss you. W & C."
Added Princess Eugenie in a message to her grandmother, "Thinking of you today. Missing you so much but remembering what a life of service, love and dedication to everyone and to your family, who loved you so very much. Forever grateful to you. And always in my heart."
Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2022. She was 96 years old. Following a state funeral at Westminster Abbey later that month, she was buried at The King George VI Memorial Chapel within Windsor Castle's St. George's Chapel alongside her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at age 99.
In a tribute, King Charles—who acceded to the throne immediately after his mother's passing—expressed his gratitude to his and Queen Camilla's supporters amid this new chapter of the monarchy.
"In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty's death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us," he stated in both a post shared to the royal family's Instagram account as well as in an audio recording. "I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all."
And the royal family noted it appreciates everyone who continues to keep Queen Elizabeth II—the longest-reigning British monarch—in their hearts, writing in an Instagram post, "Thank you for all your kind words of condolence as we remember Queen Elizabeth II together." | Royal Families |
London CNN — When Queen Elizabeth II receives a state funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey on Monday, it will be one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century. World leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world, will descend on London to pay their last respects to Britain’s longest reigning monarch, who died Thursday at the age of 96. While no official guest list has yet been published, invitations have been sent. US President Joe Biden was among the first to confirm he will be at the event, which will be attended by up to 2,000 people. “I don’t know what the details are yet but I will be going,” Biden told reporters on Friday. Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol are among the presidents attending the Queen’s final send-off following a series of ceremonial events. The UK’s newly elected Prime Minister, Liz Truss, will also mourn the monarch next week. Leaders of most Commonwealth countries are expected to attend, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making the nearly 24-hour journey. “I would prioritize of course, alongside the Governor-General, doing our duty in representing New Zealand and to pass on the condolences of our whole nation,” Ardern told TVNZ Friday. “I do expect there will be a number of leaders looking to pay respects and tribute to the Queen,” she added. Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel to London for the Queen’s funeral, an unusual move that demonstrates the close relationship between the Japanese and British royal families. Japanese news outlet Asahi Shimbun reported, citing Imperial Household Agency officials, that a Japanese emperor has only attended the funeral of a foreign head of state or royal family member on one previous occasion, when then-Emperor Akihito attended the funeral of Belgian King Baudouin in 1993. Members of foreign royal families will also be seated in the pews on Monday. Spain’s King Felipe VI and his wife Queen Letizia are among the European royals who will attend. The King and Queen of the Netherlands, together with the country’s former Queen, Beatrix, who abdicated in 2013, will also be in the congregation, the Dutch royal house announced. Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who remembered the Queen as an “iconic leader” and “beacon of wisdom and principled leadership,” will also be attending her funeral. Not all world leaders have been invited, however. Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan are three of the countries that haven’t been asked to send a representative, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. Representatives from North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited “only at ambassadorial level,” PA added. The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar will also be absent. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin did tweet his congratulations on King Charles III’s ascension to the throne, diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have all but collapsed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a senior UK government source told CNN on Tuesday. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of President Putin. Myanmar will not be invited, following a coup in the country last year. After the funeral, Queen Elizabeth II will be buried at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, where her parents, her sister, Princess Margaret, and her husband, Prince Philip, are also buried. To get updates on the British Royal Family sent to your inbox, sign up for CNN’s Royal News newsletter. CNN’s Alex Hardie contributed to this report. | Royal Families |
Prince Harry is sharing new details about his fractured relationships with his father King Charles III and brother Prince William, and how his hope for a "reconciliation" has led him to speak out."If we can get to the point of reconciliation, that will have a ripple effect across the world," Harry told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan in a new interview about his memoir "Spare." "I genuinely believe that, and that's kind of what is pushing me. And if that doesn't happen, then that's very sad.""Spare" -- a nod to Harry's birth order as the younger brother of William, heir to the throne -- will be released on Jan. 10, nearly three years to the day that Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, shocked the world announcing their plans to "step back" as senior members of Britain's royal family.Since then, the couple has moved to California, where they now live with their two children, and separated themselves almost completely from royal life, becoming financially independent and pursuing their own careers.In the wake of their departure, Harry told Strahan he does not believe the details he shares in "Spare" can make things any worse with his family.Michael Strahan interviews Prince Harry in Los Angeles Jan. 3, 2023.Richard Harbaugh/ABC"I have thought about it long and hard," Harry said. "And as far as I see it, the divide couldn't be greater before this book."William, 'beloved brother and arch nemesis'To the outside world Harry, 38, and William, 40, always appeared close, seemingly bonded by the death of their mother Princess Diana when Harry was just 12 and William was 15.Harry told Strahan that privately, there was more to the brothers' story. In his memoir, Harry refers to William as his "beloved brother and arch nemesis" and recalls verbal and even physical disputes between them."There has always been this competition between us weirdly," Harry said. "Again, I think it really plays into, or is played, by the heir/spare."Prince William and brother Prince Harry attend the Beaufort Polo Club, June 22, 2002, in Tetbury, England.Tim Graham/Getty ImagesWhen asked whether he thought William was jealous of his position as the spare, Harry said yes."But I have more freedom than he does, right?" Harry said. "So his life is planned out for him. I have more flexibility to be able to choose the life that I wanted."Harry said that while the typical path for the spare is to sit "in the monarch's shadow," he wanted to carve a different path.As Harry moved further down that path and eventually married Meghan, he claims William broke a longstanding "pact" between the brothers to not let their offices fight or brief the press against each other.In "Spare," Harry claims members of the royal institution fed stories to the press and refused to set the record straight on false reports, especially about Meghan, thereby shifting the negative spotlight on her in order to protect other royals.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry leave after attending the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service at St Paul's Cathedral on Dec. 14, 2017 in London.Pool/Getty Images, FILE"The people that he employed broke that," Harry said of his self-described pact with William. "But again, within the family, it's hard because you are led to believe that if you don't play the game, that you will be destroyed. And again, I'm the one who's proving that that is true, right? Chose not to play the game, but they're trying to destroy me."Watch Michael Strahan's interview with Prince Harry on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7 a.m. EST on "Good Morning America" and the special, "Prince Harry: In His Own Words | Michael Strahan Reporting" at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC News Live.In one example, Harry claims palace officials failed to correct tabloid stories alleging Meghan made William's wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, cry in the run-up to the Sussexes' 2018 wedding. Harry writes in "Spare," and Meghan has said in a previous interview, that it was Kate who upset Meghan and later apologized."[The press] pitched the Waleses, which Kate and William are now, against the Sussexes, me and my wife. They always pitched us against each other," Harry said. "They pitched Kate and Meghan against each other."PHOTO: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, July 10, 2018 in London.Anwar Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images, FILEWhen asked whether press reports of Kate and Meghan fighting disrupted the women's relationship, Harry replied, "Without question.""If you read [the press coverage], it very much feeds into how you function, operate, and behave. Without question," Harry said. "But the moment you don't read it, you can live a truly authentic life."Harry said he believes the British press continues to try to "drive a wedge" between him and William, but hopes that he can reconcile with his brother."I hope that we will be joined at the hip again," he said. "Because, you know, if there's something that will terrify the British press more than anything, it's William and I being aligned."Harry said he “without question” shoulders some of the responsibility for the breakdown of his relationship with William. But he added, "What people don't know is the efforts that I've gone to [in order] to resolve this privately, both with my brother and with my father."Prince William and Prince Harry look at a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, on what would have been her 60th birthday, July 1, 2021, in London.WPA Pool/Getty ImagesNeither Kensington Palace -- William and Kate's office -- nor Buckingham Palace, the office of Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have commented on the claims Harry makes in "Spare."ABC News reached out to Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace for response to Harry’s remarks in our interview. Kensington Palace declined to comment and Buckingham Palace has yet to respond.Harry describes how his and Meghan's hope for a different royal life collapsedAccording to Harry, intense press coverage and security concerns played a large part in his and Meghan's quest to carve out different royal roles for themselves that would allow them to split their time between Canada and the U.K. while still serving the monarchy.When the proposal was brought to the royal family, Harry said there was "zero compromise." He added that an agreed-upon 12-month transition period completely fell apart when his own family's security was pulled."I was stunned that my family would allow security to be taken away, especially at the most vulnerable point for us," said Harry, who was living with Meghan and their son Archie in Vancouver Island, Canada, at the time. "And maybe they didn't understand the concerns that I had. I mean, I listed them. I laid them out."When asked whether he thought his family didn't understand his security concerns, or didn't care, Harry replied, "I think probably a little bit of both."Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF, July 10, 2018 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty Images, FILEHarry expressed that neither he nor Meghan wanted to leave their senior royal roles, saying, "We were based in Windsor. That was where we genuinely thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives."Describing his and Meghan's ideal life, he said they wanted to continue to represent the monarchy but to do so mainly outside of the U.K. so that their work wouldn't go through what he called "the filter of the tabloids.""We were trying to find a different way to work, but for one reason or another, despite the fact that it already exists within the family, we weren't allowed to do things slightly differently," Harry said. "To still perform and work and support and represent the monarchy, but to be financially independent, to remove the supposed public interest, which the tabloids had used repeatedly to invade every single element of our life."A return to the U.K. and a working royal role?Though Harry's memoir "Spare," rips open his view of the royal institution and his family, he said he thinks telling his story what is needed to make peace."I don't think that we can ever have peace with my family unless the truth is out there," he told Strahan. "There's a lot that I can forgive, but there needs to be conversations in order for reconciliation, and part of that has to be accountability."Michael Strahan interviews Prince Harry in Los Angeles Jan. 3, 2023ABC NewsHarry said he also hopes to have a candid, private conversation with family members."I just hope that there's a way that we can have a conversation that is trusted within that conversation that isn't then spilled to the British press," he said. "That's where I am."When describing how he chose the personal, behind-the-scenes details he shares in "Spare," Harry said he thought more about the family he has created with Meghan."As [with] everybody who has a large family, a family that you've been born into, there becomes a point when the family that you've created ... becomes the priority over the family that you were born into," said Harry, who wed Meghan in 2018. "So, not to say it wasn't hard. It was very hard. But that was my thinking and the process in which I went through."Harry has only returned to the U.K. a handful of times since his exit in 2020, including for the funerals of his grandfather Prince Philip and, more recently, his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 10, 2022 in Windsor, England.Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesAccording to Harry, the queen never told him she was angry with him for wanting to change his royal role, but he believes she was "sad" his situation had reached that point."I had many, many conversations with her both in the U.K. over the years and in the run-up to the point of this change, so it was never a surprise to anybody, least of all her," Harry said. "She knew what was going on. She knew how hard it was. I don't know whether she was in a position to be able to change it."When asked whether he saw himself, Meghan and their children ever returning to the U.K. and becoming working royals again, Harry said he doesn't think so.Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at New York Hilton on Dec. 6, 2022, in New York.Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala"Even if there was an agreement or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that that isn't possible," Harry said, referring to the British press. "Not stopping us from necessarily going back, but making it unsurvivable, and that's really sad because that is essentially breaking the relationship between us."He added, "If there was something in the future where we can continue to support the Commonwealth, then that's of course on the table, but there's so much that needs to happen between now and then, and so much that can happen."Harry says he's speaking out to help protect other generations of royalsThe Duke of Sussex said he "genuinely" believes the British monarchy should continue, and that there is a place for it in the 21st century as long as it modernizes."I think the same process that I went through regarding my own unconscious bias would be hugely beneficial to them," he said. "It's not racism, but unconscious bias if not confronted, if not acknowledged, if not learned and grown from, that can then move into racism. And the way that I understand it is that we all want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."Harry said the royals missed a "huge missed opportunity" in modernizing the monarchy through what Meghan represented as a biracial woman."It's what she said to me from right from the beginning, representation," Harry said of his wife. "And I, as a privileged white man, didn't really understand what she was talking about."With his memoir, Harry said a large part of his drive to speak out stems from a hope to "change the media landscape" in the U.K., giving less status to tabloid newspapers."In this instance, the most popular, most read and therefore most influential newspapers in our country are tabloids," he said. "That affects the country. That affects the construct of the country."Cover of the book 'Spare' by Prince Harry.Random HouseHarry described also wanting to more specifically change what he described as a "codependency" between U.K. tabloids and the royal family."There are some people, especially in the U.K., who have been led to believe that because you are a member of the royal family, somehow everyone owns you or has a stake in you," he said. "And that's a message that has been purely pushed out by the British tabloids, and it creates real problems within that family and that relationship."Harry added, "Of course, there has to be some sort of relationship, but where it's got to now is incredibly unhealthy."Believing that the monarchy should continue, Harry said he hopes his efforts can help his own two children as well as current and future generations of royals."I also worry about other young kids within that family if this continues," he said, referring to the royal family. "Because who's to say that someone else doesn't fill my shoes and that their partner, whether it's a husband or a wife or boyfriend or a girlfriend, doesn't get treated exactly the same as Meghan did?"Watch Michael Strahan's interview with Prince Harry on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7 a.m. EST on "Good Morning America" and the special, "Prince Harry: In His Own Words | Michael Strahan Reporting" at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC News Live. | Royal Families |
As Queen Elizabeth II left her beloved Balmoral for a final time, the King was at Buckingham Palace receiving the Commonwealth secretary general and the high commissioners of the realms of which he is now head of state.He will continue to carry out all his “necessary state duties”, but over the coming days, his “main focus” will be on leading the royal family, the nation, the realms and the Commonwealth in mourning the Queen, his spokesperson said.The Queen’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19 September a day the King has declared will be a bank holiday.Here is what to expect over the coming days:D+3 (Monday 12 September)The King and Queen Consort will appear at Westminster Hall where members of the Commons and Lords will meet to express their condolences.The royal couple will then fly to Edinburgh, where they will visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the King will inspect the guard of honour. A Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the palace will follow.The Queen’s coffin will be taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 2.35pm in procession to St Giles’ Cathedral, where it will be carried inside at 2.55pm.The King and Queen Consort, with members of the royal family, will follow the procession on foot before attending a service of reflection for the life of the Queen in the cathedral at 3pm. The prime minister will also attend the service.Afterwards the King will return to Holyrood to hold an audience with the first minister of Scotland, followed by an audience with the presiding officer of the Scottish parliament.At 5.40pm the King and Queen Consort will attend the Scottish parliament to receive a motion of condolence.Joined by other members of the royal family, they will mount a vigil at 7.20pm at St Giles’ Cathedral and stay in Edinburgh overnight.The Queen’s coffin will lie at rest in the cathedral, guarded by vigil from the Royal Company of Arches, to allow people to pay their respects.D+4 (Tuesday 13 September)The King and Queen Consort will fly to Belfast and travel to Hillsborough Castle to view an exhibition on the late Queen’s association with Northern Ireland.The King will meet with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and party leaders. At 1.20pm, he will receive a message of condolence led by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly.After a short reception at Hillsborough, the royal couple will travel to St Anne’s Cathedral for a service of reflection, where they will be joined by the prime minister.Before the service, the King will meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland.The King and Queen Consort will then leave Belfast for London.At 5pm, the Queen’s coffin will travel by road from St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland to Edinburgh Airport, where it will be flown to London, departing at 6pm. The Princess Royal will accompany the coffin. After arriving at RAF Northolt at 6.55pm, the coffin will be driven to Buckingham Palace. Its arrival at 8pm will be witnessed by the King and Queen Consort, with other members of the royal family.D+5 (Wednesday 14 September)Wednesday will see the first big ceremonial in London as the Queen’s coffin is borne on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for her lying in state.The King will lead a procession behind the late Queen’s coffin. The coffin will leave Buckingham Palace at 2.22pm and arrive at Westminster Hall at 3pm. The procession will travel via Queen’s Gardens, the Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.After a short service the Queen’s lying in state will begin, lasting for four days and ending on the morning of the state funeral. The King and Queen Consort will return to Buckingham Palace.The lying in state begins, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to file past the coffin to pay their respects over the next four days. At some stage, senior members of the royal family are expected to stand guard around the coffin, the tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.D+6 (Thursday 15 September)The Queen’s lying in state continues.D+7 and D+8 (Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September)On Friday 16 September the King and the Queen Consort will visit Wales. The Queen’s lying in state continues, and is expected to end on the morning of her funeral.D+9 (Sunday 18 September)Heads of state and members of foreign royal families are expected to start arriving in London for the state funeral.D+10 (Monday 19 September)The Queen’s state funeral will take place at 11am at Westminster Abbey. Lying in state ends at 6.30am.At 10.44am the Queen’s coffin will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey in central London. Members of her family will process on foot behind. The service will be televised, and a national two minutes silence held.After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From there, it will travel to Windsor Castle. Once there, the state hearse will travel in procession to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk. A Committal Service will then take place in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. | Royal Families |
The first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s in 1965 will take place on bank holiday Monday for the late Queen Elizabeth II. Below is a guide of what will happen at key moments throughout the day.6.30am (all times BST) – The Queen’s lying in state will endThe Queen’s lying in state, in which her closed coffin has been placed on view to the public at Westminster Hall since Wednesday, will come to an end in the early hours of Monday morning. An estimated 300,000 people have queued to pay their respects, with the wait time reaching an estimated 17 hours.8am – Westminster Abbey will open for the congregationThe Abbey will open to the congregation attending the Queen’s funeral. The funeral, which will be one of the largest gatherings of heads of states and royalty the UK has hosted in decades, will include European royal families and world leaders.10.30am – The Queen’s coffin will be carried by gun carriage to the AbbeyThe coffin will be carried on the state funeral gun carriage from Westminster Hall to the Abbey, towed by 142 sailors from the Royal Navy. The tradition dates back to the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.10.44am – The royal family will follow the coffin into the AbbeyKing Charles III, joined by royal family members as well as members of the royal household, will follow the coffin as it makes its journey from Westminster Hall to the Abbey.The funeral: how the day will unfold10.52am – The procession will arrive at Westminster AbbeyThe procession will arrive at the west gate of the Abbey, and the bearer party – made up by members of the Queen’s guard – will carry the coffin from the gun carriage and into the funeral service.11am – The service will beginThe service, which will be led by the dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, will commence. The sermon will be delivered by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.11.55am – The Last Post will soundThe Last Post will be played, and will be followed by a two-minute silence.Noon – The state funeral service comes to an endThe national anthem will be played, bringing the state funeral service to a close. The coffin will then be brought to the state gun carriage.12.15pm – The coffin will be part of a procession to Wellington ArchThe procession, led by the King, will be made up of several groups, with each accompanied by a service band. These groups include representatives from the NHS and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as detachments from the armed forces of the Commonwealth.Guns will be fired in Hyde Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery every minute during the procession, while Big Ben will toll every minute.1pm – The coffin will be placed in the state hearse at Wellington ArchThe procession will arrive at Wellington Arch, and the bearer party will transfer the coffin to the hearse before the car leaves for Windsor. There will also be a royal salute and the national anthem will be played.3pmThe hearse will reach Shaw Farm Gate in Albert Road, Windsor, shortly after 3pm and will join a funeral procession already formed and ready to head up Long Walk to Windsor Castle.3.40pmThe King, accompanied by other members of the royal family, will join the procession at the Quadrangle in the castle grounds, with members of the royal household being positioned at the rear of the coffin.3.53pmThe procession will reach the west steps of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The bearer party will lift the coffin from the hearse and it will be carried in procession into the chapel before the committal service.4pmThe televised committal service will begin attended by about 800 guests. It will be conducted by the dean of Windsor, David Conner, with a blessing from the archbishop of Canterbury. The Queen’s coffin will then be lowered into the royal vault.7.30pmA private burial service conducted by the dean of Windsor, attended just by the King and the royal family. The Queen’s coffin will be laid to rest in George VI memorial chapel in St George’s Chapel, alongside Prince Philip and her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother. | Royal Families |
11:58 AM Coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lowered into royal vault at St. George's chapel Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was lowered into the royal crypt at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Monday.King Charles III laid the Queen's Company Camp Color, a small flag, on the late monarch's coffin, and the Lord Chamberlain, Baron Parker, broke his wand of office, also laying it on the coffin. King Charles III places the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II, held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, September 19, 2022. Jonathan Brady/AP The queen's piper played a lament on a bagpipe, which was followed by a blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the singing of the national anthem."Go forth into the world in peace; Be of good courage, hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honor all people, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen," Justin Welby said.After the queen's coffin was lowered into the vault, the king and other royal family members left the chapel and the public events for the day were concluded. 11:27 AM Committal service for Queen Elizabeth II begins at St. George's chapel Britain's King Charles III and Prince William arrive for Queen Elizabeth II Committal Service at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, September 19, 2022. Gregorio Borgia/AP The committal service for Queen Elizabeth II got underway Monday afternoon at St. George's Chapel on the royal family's Windsor estate.The service will include singing by the choir of St. George's Chapel, including Psalm 121 with music composed by Sir Henry Walford Davies.The service will be led by the Dean of Windsor, David Connor. Pallbearers carry the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in to St George's Chapel for a committal service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, September 19, 2022. Joe Giddens/AP The choir will also sing the Russian Contakion of the Departed, which was sung at the funeral of the queen's late husband, Prince Philip.The committal service will be the last part of Monday's historic events viewed by the public. Later Monday evening, a private service for royal family members only was to be held at St. George's Chapel. 11:14 AM Senior royals rejoin funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor King Charles III and other members of the royal family rejoined the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth II, after it made its way from London to Windsor Castle on Monday afternoon.The king, his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, as well as the king's sons Princes William and Harry, walked with the queen's coffin for the distance between Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel, where the queen was to be laid to rest in the family crypt.The senior royals followed the queen's coffin, carried by soldiers, up the steps into St. George's Chapel. Pall bearers carry Queen Elizabeth II's coffin into St. George's Chapel on the grounds of the royal Windsor Castle estate in England, September 19, 2022. CBS News 10:54 AM Queen's funeral procession enters Windsor Castle grounds Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor, England, September 19, 2022. Aaron Chown/AP The procession of the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin entered the grounds of her home, Windsor Castle, on Monday afternoon. 10:14 AM Queen's coffin arrives in Windsor ahead of Committal Service The hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin stopped briefly as it arrived in the town of Windsor, west of London, on Monday afternoon, so troops from the British Army's Grenadier Guards could take their places flanking the vehicle for it's slow, final push to Windsor Castle. The state hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives in the town of Windsor, England, September 19, 2022, ahead of her committal service at Windsor Castle. CBS News Once the procession reaches the grounds of Windsor Castle, it will be joined by King Charles III and the other senior members of the royal family. 10:05 AM Royal Standard raised over Windsor Castle as king arrives for his mother's committal service The Royal Standard, a flag representing the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, was raised over Windsor Castle on Monday as the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin made its way through west London toward Windsor. The standard always flies above any royal castle or palace when the sovereign is there, so it being raised on Monday was a sign that the late queen's son, King Charles III, had arrived at the royal residence ahead of the committal service for his mother.Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest at the family's cemetery at St. George's Chapel, on the Windsor Castle grounds. 11:19 AM What the regalia on the queen's coffin represents Queen Elizabeth II made her final procession through London on Monday after the state funeral service was held for her at Westminster Abbey. Throughout the process, her coffin was heavily decorated in regalia, all representing various aspects of the queen's life and legacy. Royal contributor Tina Brown told CBS News that the items that draped and sat on top of the queen's coffin added historic symbolism to this "moving moment." "It's really the last time we get to wrap Elizabeth in the splendor of the nation's pageantry," she said. "You know, this is the last time. It's a thousand years of British history — its whole weight — on the move." Tina Brown on the historic significance of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral 05:42 Click here to learn more about the items that decorated the queen's coffin, and what their significance to the throne is. 8:02 AM Queen's funeral service ends - What happens next? After the conclusion of the official state funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is being processed through central London to Wellington Arch. Big Ben is tolling every minute during the procession, and guns are being fired in Hyde Park.At 1 p.m. (8 a.m. Eastern): The queen's coffin will be transferred to the state hearse from the gun carriage on which it is being processed through London to the state hearse. There will then be a royal salute, and the national anthem will be played. The queen's coffin will then be driven from London to Windsor.At approximately 3 p.m. (10 a.m. Eastern): The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is expected to reach Shaw Farm Gate in Windsor. There, it will join a funeral procession that will go to Windsor Castle.At 3:40 p.m. (10:40 a.m. Eastern): In the castle grounds, King Charles III and other members of the royal family will join the funeral procession. Members of the royal household will be positioned behind the coffin.At 3:53 p.m. (10:53 a.m. Eastern): The procession is expected to reach the steps of St. George's chapel at Windsor Castle. The queen's coffin will be taken from the state hearse and carried in procession into the chapel for the committal service.At 4:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. Eastern): A committal service will take place, with about 800 people attending. Guests will include members of the queen's household. The choir of St. George's chapel will sing before the queen's coffin is lowered into the royal vault.7:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. Eastern): A private ceremony for the queen's family will take place in the King George VI memorial chapel. She will be laid to rest alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Britain lays Queen Elizabeth II to rest 63 photos 9:33 AM Ukraine's first lady attends queen's funeral as war rages in her country The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday to pay her respects to the late monarch, "on behalf of all Ukrainians.""It is very important for us to know that such a world leader of an epoch, a leader with an impeccable reputation and morals, was with us," Zelenska told CBS News partner network BBC News on Sunday. A great honor for me to be present at the farewell to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of all Ukrainians. Her attention to 🇺🇦 was an important signal of support. She wished us better times and shared our desire for freedom. We will always remember it with deep gratitude. pic.twitter.com/4DJqhLbIUn— Олена Зеленська (@ZelenskaUA) September 19, 2022 Ukrainians "know that the Queen shared the values that Ukraine stands for today: freedom, the right to one's own home, language, culture and country," she said. "We have repeatedly heard words of support from her."Zelenska was in London without her husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who remained in at home to continue leading his country's fight against Russia's invasion. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also attended the funeral, Reuters reported. The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, views the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, London, September 18, 2022. Jacob King/AP 10:45 AM Why was the actress Sandra Oh part of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral? Among the heads of state and members of royal families to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday was Canadian actress Sandra Oh.Known for her roles in the shows Killing Eve and Grey's Anatomy, Oh was able to attend the funeral because she had been appointed to the Order of Canada earlier this summer.The Order of Canada is the second highest civilian honor in Canada, and Oh was honored for her "artistic career filled with memorable stage, television and film roles in Canada and abroad."Oh was part of the Canadian delegation at the queen's funeral, which was led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and she processed with of the holders of The Victoria Cross, The George Cross and the Orders of Chivalry. 8:38 AM Queen's coffin transferred to hearse for her final trip to Windsor The queen's coffin is being transferred to the state hearse from the gun carriage on which it was processed through central London. As the late monarch begins her final journey from the British capital to her home in Windsor, about an hour west of London by car, there was to be a royal salute by a military brass band, followed by another playing of the national anthem. The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is transferred into a state hearse for the trip from central London to Windsor, following her state funeral on September 19, 2022. CBS News 8:25 AM King Charles III leaves handwritten note on the queen's coffin A handwritten note from King Charles III was placed on top of the coffin carrying his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for her state funeral on Monday.Nestled in a wreath of flowers which included a sprig from Queen Elizabeth's wedding to her husband, Prince Phillip, Charles' note said, "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."The R is short for the word "Rex," which is Latin for king. Britain's King Charles III, left, and Camilla, the Queen Consort follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey during her funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. A note placed in flowers on top of the coffin from Charles reads, "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R". AP Photo/Frank Augstein/Pool 7:44 AM New Zealand leader shares the "best" advice she got from the queen New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the late Queen Elizabeth II gave her some of the best advice on leading a country while being a new mother. Ardern, who had a baby while in office, met the queen in 2018, while she was pregnant."One of the things on my mind, alongside being a new prime minister, was being a prime minister and a mom, and when you think about leaders who have been in that position, there was Benazir Bhutto. There was myself. Before that, there was the queen. There were so few to look to," Ardern told CBS News partner network BBC News on Sunday."So I said to [Queen Elizabeth II], 'How did you manage?' And I remember she just said, 'Well, you just get on with it.' And that was actually probably the best and most factual advice I could have," Ardern said. Queen Elizabeth II greets Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand at The Queen's Dinner during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018. WPA Pool/Getty 7:20 AM Queen's coffin taken out of abbey for procession to Hyde Park The pallbearers raised Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from the catafalque in the center of Westminster Abbey and began processing with it through the center aisle of the great nave, to bring it outside and place it back on the State Gun Carriage. Members of the Royal family follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey during her State Funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Frank Augstein/AP The coffin will be followed in procession on the carriage by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, along with other members of the family. The entire procession was to take about 45 minutes to reach Wellington Arch, at Hyde Park Corner.From there, the queen's coffin was to be placed in a hearse for the drive west from central London to Windsor, where the queen will be laid to rest in her family chapel next to her late husband Prince Philip. Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Anne, and her husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, and Kate, Princess of Wales with their children Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey during her funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Frank Augstein/AP 6:59 AM A commendation, a blessing, trumpets and a silence for the queen. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave the commendation over the queen's coffin as the funeral service neared its end on Monday. The commendation, essentially a prayer for the late queen to be welcomed into heaven, included the traditional line: "Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world," which is often included in funeral services.The commendation was followed by a new song composed specifically for the service, the words for which were taken from Romans 8 in the Bible, which includes the line, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is placed in Westminster Abbey in central London, for the funeral service, September 19, 2022. Ben Stansall/AP The dean of the abbey then delivered a blessing, and asked those in the ancient church to remain standing for the "Last Post," a trumpet peel by the royal Household Cavalry.Finally, all fell silent. A two-minute national silence was held at 11:55 a.m. local time, or 6:55 a.m. Eastern, to honor the queen. Watch: "God Save the King" is sung at the end of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral 02:20 6:43 AM Unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II released on the eve of her funeral A never-before-seen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was released by the royal family on the eve of the late monarch's state funeral, for which thousands flocked to the British capital, London, on Monday.The photo was taken to mark the queen's Platinum Jubilee, the celebration of her 70 years on the throne, the royal family said. Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to ever reach that milestone, which she celebrated three months before her death. Ahead of Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral, a new photograph has been released.The photo was taken to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee - the first British Monarch to reach this milestone.Tomorrow, millions will come together to commemorate her remarkable life. pic.twitter.com/UyVfjVvJgw— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 18, 2022 The photo was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the commemoration photo for her Platinum Jubilee. 6:25 AM British Commonwealth official gives first reading as funeral begins As the queen's coffin entered the abbey, the Choir of Westminster Abbey sang The Sentences, a song which has been used since the mid-1500s, according to Buckingham Palace, including at every state funeral since the early 18th century.The "First Lesson" was then read by Baroness Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, in tribute to the late monarch's life "of dedication and service to the family of nations," the palace said. The queen's death and passage of the throne to her son King Charles III comes at a time when several members of that "family of nations" are fiercely debating their future within it, with referendums planned in a couple Caribbean countries in particular on becoming fully independent republics. Queen Elizabeth II's death revives criticism of the monarchy's colonial past and role in the slave trade 05:10 6:08 AM Prince George and Princess Charlotte processing behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II The queen's great grandchildren, nine-year-old Prince Goerge and seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, will participate in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, according to the order of service provided by Buckingham Palace. The children of William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, joined the funeral procession along with other members of the royal family as their grandmother's coffin entered Westminster Abbey. Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Kate, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in London, September 19, 2022. Phil Noble/Pool/AP Their younger brother, four-year-old Prince Louis, did not join in the procession, nor did the children of William's brother Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 5:47 AM Royal family members processing with queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey Members of Britain's royal family, led by King Charles III, have begun the solemn procession with the late Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from Westminster Hall, where she lied in state for four days, to Westminster Abbey, where her funeral will take place. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is seen atop the State Gun Carriage outside Westminster Hall, flanked by members of the U.K. Royal Navy, with senior members of the royal family behind the coffin, ahead of the late monarch's state funeral on September 19, 2022, in London, England. CBS News The king and his sons, William the Prince of Wales, and Harry the Duke of Sussex, and other family members followed the queen's coffin out of Westminster Hall and watched as it was placed on the ceremonial State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy. The same carriage was used for the funerals of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, and Winston Churchill. Prince William and Prince Harry follow a gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London, September 19, 2022. Emilio Morenatti/AP The short route between the hall and the abbey was lined by members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.The queen's coffin was to be taken off the gun carriage and carried into the abbey for the funeral service just before 11 a.m. local time, or 6 a.m. Eastern. 5:43 AM U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived at London's Westminster Hall on Monday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Biden is one of a number of heads of state who is attending the funeral, along with members of other royal families and dignitaries from around the world. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among dozens of other world leaders attending the funeral. U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrive at Westminster Abbey before the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried inside for her funeral in central London, September 19, 2022. Bernat Armangue/AP 5:26 AM U.K. Air Force member was last member of public to file past queen's coffin A British Royal Air Force service member was the last member of the public to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at the U.K. Parliament's Westminster Hall on Monday. Chrissy Heerey was at the very end of the behemoth, five-mile-long line that quickly became known simply as "The Queue."She got the last spot after joining the line for a second time early Monday, having already filed past the queen's sealed coffin on Sunday evening.The public viewing period ended just before 6:30 a.m. in London, or about 1:30 a.m. Eastern on Monday. Heerey was the last of the hundreds of thousands of people who waited for hours, sometimes a full day or and night, to pay their respects. Christina (Chrissy) Heerey, the last member of the public to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, walks through Westminster Hall in London, England on September 19, 2022. Lorena Sopena/Anadolu Agency/Getty "I was the last person to pay my respects to the queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that," Heerey told Britain's PA news agency. "I'd already been round once, I went in at 1:15 this morning… It's one of the highlights of my life, and I feel very privileged to be here.""The Queue" officially opened at 5 p.m. (noon Eastern) on Wednesday. The well-planned and orchestrated process was expected to allow some 750,000 people snake their way along the Thames River for four days, around the clock, to file past the queen's coffin. 1:59 AM Queen's lying-in-state ends ahead of her funeral A day packed with funeral events in London and Windsor began early on Monday when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin since Sept. 14. Many had spent cold nights on line outdoors to pay their respects at the foot of the flag-draped coffin in a moving outpouring of national grief. The closing of the hall marked the end of four full days of the coffin lying in state. Monday has been declared a public holiday in honor of Elizabeth. Her funeral will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country. Police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London's history. Updated 9:30 AM / September 18, 2022 The extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was not originally destined to be queen. But that changed in 1936, when she was 10 years old, because her uncle Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, and Elizabeth's father, George VI, took his place.Princess Elizabeth rapidly became a public favorite. During World War II, she not only worked to raise the country's morale, appealing to her fellow Britons on public radio to "make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place," she also served as a volunteer in the war effort, training as a mechanic in the women's auxiliary service. Queen Elizabeth II through the years 76 photos Her marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947 gave a war-weary country something to celebrate. Their children — Charles, then Anne, Andrew and Edward — re-established the royal line. Her marriage to Philip lasted 73 years, until his death on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.Elizabeth was just 25 years old when she inherited the throne in February 1952, following the death of her father, George VI. Her coronation in June of the following year was the first ever to be televised. Duty was the royal family's ethos under Elizabeth's reign."I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service," she once told the nation. It was a promise she kept longer than any other British monarch in history, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — just months before her passing. Queen Elizabeth honored with grand procession through London 03:58 Her reign, however, was not without controversy. Some protesters question the value of monarchical traditions in modern times and the concentration of inherited wealth in the family's hands. In lands once ruled by the British Empire, a painful history of subjugation and the brutality of the slave trade still resonate in current events. Queen Elizabeth II's unlikely path to the throne and the legacy she leaves behind 05:35 Updated 9:20 AM / September 18, 2022 Royal family's new roles A series of changes rippled through Britain's royal family following the death of its longtime matriarch. Elizabeth's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, was immediately elevated to sovereign and became King Charles III. His wife, Camilla, took on the title queen consort.Among Charles' first official acts was to announce that his older son, Prince William, who is now next in line to the throne, has been granted the title Prince of Wales, the role Charles himself held for over 50 years. William's wife Catherine is now Princess of Wales — a title last held by William and Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex — who gave up working as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California — did not receive new titles. But their children, 3-year-old Archie and 1-year-old Lilibet, gained the right to be known as prince and princess, as grandchildren of the monarch. Britain's royal line of succession 32 photos Updated 9:15 AM / September 18, 2022 Significance of Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, where the funeral is being held, has a long and storied history. In addition to being the site of Britain's monarchical coronations since 1066, the abbey was also a special place to the late queen herself during her 96-plus years. In 1947, at the age of 21, then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey's altar. Five years later, her coronation was held here. The flag flies at half mast at Westminster Abbey in London on September 12, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Family joy would follow with the marriage of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton here in 2011. Family sorrow would come, too, with the funeral of the queen's mother in 2002, and then the funeral of her husband in 2021.The last time a monarch's funeral was held in Westminster Abbey itself was 262 years ago, for King George II."This is Westminster Abbey. This is her majesty the queen. I think you can assume that you're going to see tradition in action — great, living tradition in action," said the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, who was appointed by the queen as the 39th Dean of Westminster Abbey, and who is tasked with leading the service. "I think the job of the abbey and the job of people like me, to some extent, is to keep stitching the story together — to say it's possible in pretty divided and volatile times to say, all this can be gathered in, reconciled, redeemed, celebrated. So, her majesty's reign, which started in the abbey, comes to an end in the abbey. It's a bit more of stitching the story together."Read more here. | Royal Families |
Prince William’s children are expected to take part in the King’s coronation, according to a report.
Leaked plans show that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will have formal roles in the procession at Westminster Abbey on May 6, The Times reports.
The children will join King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at the end of the ceremony, however, Kensington Palace has yet to confirm the report.
Plans seen by the outlet show that George, 9, Charlotte, 7, and Louis, 5, are set to join their parents Prince William and Kate Middleton in a carriage behind a Gold State Coach transporting the King and Queen.
It’s believed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have not been invited to attend the event.
According to leaked plans, neither the Duke and Duchess of Sussex nor Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, will take part in the procession.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will also be sitting out the procession, plans reveal.
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
While Buckingham Palace has remained tight-lipped about the upcoming extravaganza, it did tease that the crowning will be a scaled-back affair.
“The King asked for it to be more modest,” Royal author Hugo Vickers told the outlet. “This is a greatly pared-down procession.”
The procession is set to be a third of the size Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation was.
King Charles, who was just four when his late mother was crowned aged 25, attended just parts of the three-hour-long service and did not have a formal role on the big day.
If they do go, the exiled royals will be met with a “cold shoulder” from senior members of the royal family, according to a report.
In January, Harry sensationally refused to commit to attending the event, saying “there’s a lot to be discussed” before he can make that decision.
“There’s a lot that can happen between now and then,” he said in an interview. “But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court.” | Royal Families |
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