Royal news – live: Harry and Meghan issue defiant statement as King Charles unveils official portrait
Duke of Sussex missed his father during his brief visit to London
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have praised their “unforgettable” tour of Nigeria amid a furore surrounding their charity’s paperwork.
The couple visited the country for three days to mark the 10th anniversary of the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games.
Taking to their website, the couple described the unofficial visit as “unforgettable” and said it will be the “first of many memorable trips”.
The statement came after news of the state of California declaring the couple’s charity “delinquent”.
The Archewell Foundation was given the status after “failing to submit [the] required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”.
However, on Tuesday evening it emerged that the fees and paperwork had been submitted properly – last year – and so the charity is no longer listed as delinquent.
A spokesperson for the Archewell Foundation said: “We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that the Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing.”
The news comes after a striking new portrait of King Charles was unveiled, the first commissioned since the coronation.
Duke of Kent pays tribute to crew members who died in 1970 lifeboat disaster
The Duke of Kent joined the last surviving widow of a lifeboat disaster to lay a wreath in remembrance of the five men who died.
Edward, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and president of the RNLI, laid the tribute at the lifeboat station in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, with Pat Owen, whose husband James Buchan died in the Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster more than half a century ago.
The Fraserburgh lifeboat, the Duchess of Kent, capsized in gale-force winds on January 21 1970 while escorting another vessel to safety.
In a ceremony at the lifeboat station on Tuesday, the duke spoke to Mrs Owen and the families of other crew members who died: John Stephen, James RS Buchan and William Hadden; as well as relatives of the sole survivor of the tragedy, John Jackson Buchan.
The fifth victim of the disaster was Fred Kirkness, whose body has never been found.
Speaking to Mrs Owen, the duke recalled their first meeting at the funeral more than 54 years ago.
He led the procession of an estimated 10,000 mourners, met families of those who died and attended the funeral to pay his own respects.
First official portrait of King Charles since Coronation unveiled
The first official portrait of King Charles since his Coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace.
Painted by Jonathan Yeo, the King, 75, can be seen in the abstract work wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards against a red backdrop.
The new painting, which was unveiled at Buckingham Palace today (14 May), measures 8ft 15in by 6ft 15in and features a butterfly landing on the Monarch’s shoulder.
It went down a storm with Queen Camilla, who is reported to have looked at the portrait and said: “Yes, you’ve got him.”
Dame Jilly Cooper wishes King Charles well amid cancer battle
Dame Jilly Cooper has shared her good wishes for King Charles amid his ongoing cancer battle.
The novelist, 87, was made a dame today (14 May) at the King’s first investiture at Windsor Castle since his cancer diagnosis – describing the experience “orgasmic”.
She said she told the King he “looked great, looking really well and how the country wanted him to stay well”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity suspended over failure to pay $200 registration fee
A source has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity was declared “delinquent” over failure to pay a $200 (£160) renewal fee.
The registration fee is determined based on revenue, with previous filings putting the Archewell Foundation’s revenue at $2 and $13 million respectively, the MailOnline reports.
Following news of the charity’s status, a representative has claimed a cheque was sent but not received, and the foundation is currently in the process of rectifying this error.
This means that the foundation cannot be “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds”, despite Harry and Meghan’s recent visit to Nigeria which saw them visit a school directly supported by the charity.
Harry and Meghan’s charity saw an $11 million drop in donations
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity saw an $11 million drop in donations between its first and second years in operation.
The Archewell Foundation, which was established in 2020, recieved donations of $13m (£10.3m), according to its 2021 filing, but just $2 million in 2022.
The foundation has hit the headlines after it was declared “delinquent” by the state of California for failing to complete its necessary paperwork in time.
However, the charity has since claimed that the right paperwork was sent and simply got lost in the mail – an issue which they are currentlly working to rectify.
Joyful King Charles undertakes first investiture at Windsor Castle since returning to work
King Charles looked a picture of happiness as he carried out his first investiture at Windsor Castle since his cancer diagnosis.
The Monarch, 75, could be seen grinning as he made the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order at Windsor Castle, among other honours given out at the royal residence this morning.
This latest milestone marks a jubilant return to work for the King, who has already visited a cancer treatment centre, hosted a garden party and made Prince William the colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps since returning to work on April 29.
Roman Kemp opens up about ‘weird’ encounter with Prince Harry
Roman Kemp has spoken of a “weird” encounter he once had with Prince Harry when the pair DJ’d together at a party.
The radio host, 31, said he ended up playing music with the fifth in line to the throne, 39, after Kate Middleton invited him to “some after-party to a garden party”.
He was extended the invite after the Princess of Wales, 41, saw him raising awareness of mental health on television.
“It was very weird,” Kemp told The Times. “Prince Harry was on the decks with me at one point which was very strange. He was fine.
“The only thing he said was, ‘Make sure you’ve not got the swearing edits of the rap songs’ and I was like yeah, don’t worry, you’re good.”
The Archewell Foundation’s mission
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity is in hot water after failing to submit its annual report and renewal fees on time.
The Archewell Foundation was classed as “delinquent” by the state of California after failing to submit its paperwork on time. It has since claimed that this information was sent but lost in the post.
Harry and Meghan founded the Archewell Foundation when they stepped down as senior royals in 2020 to “meet the moment by showing up, taking action and using our unparalleled spotlight to uplift and unite communities”.
Named after their son Archie, now five, the couple said the charity has a simple mission – “to do good”.
While the required information has now allegedly been sent to the relevant authorities, until the issue is resolved, the charity – which at one point was worth $13 million – can no longer solicit or spend funds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s defiant statement after Nigeria tour
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a defiant statement after their brief Nigerian tour.
The couple left the country on Sunday (12 May) after spending three days there celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The brief visit marked their first overseas trip since stepping down as working royals in 2020 and it was undertaken in their capacity as private citizens.
However, it had many hallmarks of a royal tour and the couple subsequently issued a statement to say it would be the “first of many memorable trips”.
“The Duke and Duchess would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all the event organizers, military officials and the whole Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality and the first of many memorable trips,” they wrote.
The couple, who lost their HRH titles when they stepped down as working royals, remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan Markle’s top aide gets defensive on Nigerian tour
Meghan Markle’s PR had her guard up during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour of Nigeria.
Miranda Barbot, the Sussex’s Vice President of Programs and Media Operations, had an interesting response when a journalist wished the couple good luck on Saturday (11 May).
“Hope everything goes well today,” the journalist said.
“What do you mean?” she questioned. “What could go wrong?”
Barbot quickly realised that Saturday’s comment was about the grey skies and not the tour: “Ah yes, rain,” she added.
The remark was made ahead of a volleyball match at an outdoor sporting arena, where the couple were marking the 10th anniversary of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.
The continuation of the celebrations comes after the Prince suffered two apparent snubs while marking the anniversary in the UK last week - the first was his father’s decision not to meet him on his brief trip and the second was the news that Prince William was about to become the colonel-in-chief of Harry’s old military regiment.
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