Royal news – live: Kate Middleton and Charles are in ‘a very different position’ as Fergie goes on Cannes rant
King and Queen send ‘sincere apologies’ to those affected
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The Princess of Wales is in a “very different” position to King Charles following her cancer diagnosis.
Kate, 42, revealed that she had the illness in a poignant video in March shortly after the Monarch, 75, announced that he had been diagnosed with the disease in February.
While he has since returned to work, the Princess has not undertaken any public-facing duties since 2023, and this is reportedly because of her position as the “future of the Monarchy”.
A palace insider told the Daily Mail: “It’s a reflection of Her Royal Highness’s importance to the future of the Monarchy that she has been given as much time as she needs.”
“As Sovereign, His Majesty is in a very different position from the Princess of Wales.”
The revelation comes as Sarah Ferguson was caught on camera at the Cannes Film Festival asking a rowdy audience to be quiet as she auctioned off an artwork of the late Queen Elizabeth.
“Quiet! Because the incredible person Simon de Pury has done an amazing job tonight, this is exceptional, and all I want to say to everyone in this room is stop, stop, stop,” she said.
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Queen Camilla refuses to ‘interfere’ with one of King Charles’s hobbies
Queen Camilla has revealed that King Charles has one hobby she refuses to interfere with.
The admission was made by royal biographer Angela Levin and relates to the King’s lifelong passion for the environment, which has extended to a love of gardening.
“They love going to garden centres and they do it a lot during the year,” she told GB News. “Camilla doesn’t interfere with [Charles’s] garden at Highgrove.”
This comes after the couple recently visited the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday ahead of its official opening yesterday.
Prince William highlights homelessness problem at Garden Party
Prince William has highlighted the ongoing homelessness problem in the UK by inviting members from his homelessness project to the latest Buckingham Palace garden party.
Rowan Aderyn, a member of the Homewards team, took the opportunity yesterday (21 May) to gift the Prince of Wales a self-penned children’s book about a boy called Jack who finds himself experiencing homelessness.
William said: “This is great, so inspirational. I’ll read this to Louis tonight at bedtime.”
The book was one of only 10 copies ever printed.
Prince William hints at Prince George’s career aspirations
Prince William has hinted at Prince George’s career aspirations at a rainy Buckingham Palace garden party.
The Prince of Wales, 41, joked that it was “good weather for swimming” as he met his guests from the military, his patronages, and the homelessness charity Homeward.
While chatting with Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, a padre serving at RAF Coningsby, William revealed that his eldest son and third in line to the throne has expressed an interest in the military.
He said that George,10, would love to visit the base in Lincoln as he is a “potential pilot in the making”.
Should George become a pilot, he would be following in the footsteps of not only his father but his grandfather King Charles and uncle, Prince Harry.
Prince Harry ‘turned down’ reunion with King Charles
Prince Harry reportedly was the one who “turned down” a meeting with King Charles on his recent trip to the UK.
Despite reports that the pair, who have not seen each other since February, did not meet because of the King’s busy schedule, it’s now been claimed that it was a result of Harry’s ongoing personal security concerns.
As reported by The Telegraph, the Prince was offered the chance to stay at a royal residence on his brief visit but turned it down because it had no security provision.
He therefore opted to stay in a hotel where he “could come and go unseen” instead of staying at a “visible location with public entrance and exit points and no police protection”.
However, this “visible location” would have likely given the Duke of Sussex a chance to meet with his cancer-stricken father, who he last saw when he learned of his illness.
Prince William attends rainy garden party at Buckingham Palace
Prince William attended the latest summer garden party at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
The Prince of Wales, however, was comparatively unlucky when it came to the weather and was photographed talking to guests huddled beneath a sea of umbrellas.
This was a far cry from the glorious sunshine enjoyed by King Charles and Queen Camilla at the previous two events.
William joked that it was “good weather for swimming” as he met the quests from the military, his patronages, and the homeless project he launched in 2023, Homewards.
King Charles jokes about being locked in a ‘cage’ amid cancer battle
King Charles joked about finally being “allowed out of my cage” after returning to public duty.
The Monarch, 75, took an extended break from public-facing duties after being diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer earlier this year.
He made the lighthearted comment at a surprise army barracks appearance earlier this month.
The King told Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grant: “When this opportunity appeared and I had been allowed out of my cage, I wanted to come to have a look.”
The Monarch has been determined to attend as many engagements as possible since returning to work last month.
He attended five engagements in 48 hours last week, culminating in an appearance at the Royal Opera House, which was also a surprise.
Prince Edward says Queen’s death was ‘far more emotional’ after the loss of Prince Philip
Prince Edward has given a rare insight into the loss of his mother Queen Elizabeth.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 60, said the experience was made “far more emotional” than it may have otherwise been because she passed away just 17 months after Prince Philip.
Edward made the comments on Saturday (18 May) while standing in for King Charles as Lord High Commissioner at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
“There have been moments recently where I have been lucky to have sensed God’s care and love,” he said.
“And who could forget the scenes that followed the passing of my mother?
“The outpouring of emotions, the demonstration of respect, love and grief was overwhelming and a privilege to experience and behold.
“I think I can speak for my whole family when I say we will remain forever grateful for that support.”
Anne Robinson opens up about relationship with Queen Camilla’s ex
Anne Robinson has opened up about her decision to date Queen Camilla’s ex-husband.
The Weakest Link presenter, 79, confirmed that she is in a relationship with Andrew Parker Bowles, 84, who was previously married to the Queen for 22 years.
Addressing the rumours of a romance between the pair, Robinson said “yes” and then opened up about how her lifestyle choices have impacted her love life.
“If you don’t drink, you’re not as reckless, are you?” she told Saga Magazine.
“I’m a great believer in surprising yourself by taking risks.
“Personally and professionally. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“If the worst that can happen is you get some egg on your face, that’s not terrible is it?”
Unseen pictures of royal family on display for the first time
Previously unseen portraits of the Royal family have gone on display for the first time.
The images were opened to the public on Friday (17 May) at the new Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography exhibition in The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
“For centuries, portraiture has played a vital role in shaping the public’s perception of the Royal Family,” the exhibition explains.
“This exhibition charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, bringing together more than 150 photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives.”
Current royal portrait photographer Hugo Burnand exclusively told The Independent that it is of special significance for him as it features “the first photographs that were taken of the members of the royal family in the Victorian era”.
Kate Middleton the ‘driving force’ behind first royal project since cancer diagnosis
The Princess of Wales has been described as the “driving force” behind a new project released today.
The early years report, which was reviewed by Kate at home, examines how the economy could be boosted by businesses adopting more family-friendly policies.
A senior royal aide said: “The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business task force. She has been kept up to date since the inception of the task force and she has read the report and been briefed on it.
“This is a clear commitment she has made that, throughout her life of public service, this will be [the] focus.”
The aide stressed that Kate will not return to public-facing duties until she has had “the green light” from her doctors.
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