Royal news – live: Kate ‘out and about’ again as palace insider says ‘wounded’ William fears second Harry book Royal author suggests ‘part two’ of Harry memoir on its way
The Princess of Wales has reportedly been ‘out and about’ more with her family in recent weeks as concern mounts about another memoir from Prince Harry.
Kate, 42, has kept a low profile since she received her cancer diagnosis in January and has not carried out any official royal duties this year.
The Mail Online has reported that while she has been venturing out once more, the palace has stressed that she still needs time and space to recover.
The latest update comes as royal insiders have suggested a “wounded” Prince William could have to face a second book from his brother.
Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, revealed poignant moments within the royal family when it was released last year.
Royal author Robert Hardman said there is still a “trust issue” between Harry and the rest of his family as he “gave away so many secrets” in the book.
He added that because the book covers his wedding in only five pages he believes “part two might be on its way”.
Meghan Markle’s ‘nakedness’ critiqued by First Lady of Nigeria
The First Lady of Nigeria has seemingly taken aim at Meghan Markle’s choice of clothing on her recent trip to the country.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu made the comments during a speech to mark President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office where she discussed the “nakedness” of “film stars from America”.
She said Nigerian women “do not want to mimic and try to emulate film stars from America” with their “nakedness”.
“The message here is we have to salvage our children. We see the way they dress,” she said.
“They keep forgetting that Nigeria, we are beautiful. You can see what they showcase on the stage, I said, ‘We are fashionable, we see what is going on.’
“We are not having the Met Gala. And everyone, the nakedness, is just everywhere and the men are well-clothed.
“So we have to do something. Tell them we don’t accept nakedness in our culture. That is not beautiful. It’s not beautiful at all.”
Major balcony change could take place at this year’s Trooping the Colour
A major change to the lineup on the Buckingham Palace balcony could happen at this year’s Trooping the Colour.
Traditionally, only working members of the royal family have been allowed on the balcony but less senior royals have recently supported the King and Prince William amid the family’s ongoing health troubles.
At William’s Buckingham Palace garden party, for example, he was supported by his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie as well as Zara and Mike Tindall.
The Telegraph’s royal editor Hannah Furness speculated: “The Prince of Wales would be keen to extend similar invitations again, in the spirit of including the wider family, as his grandmother once did.
“The King, too, has seemed visibly buoyed by the company of his nieces and nephews, rarely looking happier than he did clasping Zara Tindall in a hug at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this month on his way back from cancer treatment.
“He must now decide what to do for this year’s Trooping the Colour, in which the state of the Royal family will be captured in that all-important ‘balcony moment’ displaying who is in and who is out.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be in ‘financial trouble’ next year
A royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could find themselves in “financial trouble” if their Netflix contract is not renewed next year.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes that the conclusion of the hit series The Crown could lead to less interest in the couple on the streaming platform.
“[Their contract] runs out next year and Netflix are no longer producing the series of The Crown, as they previously were. They might therefore have less interest in the Sussexes,” he told The Mirror.
“If they lost this contract, with Archewell, their business and charitable foundation, having so few donors, they might well be in financial trouble.”
The couple signed a five-year deal worth a reported $100 million with Netflix back in 2020.
Biden administration requests for Harry’s visa application to remain private
The Department of Homeland Security has requested for Prince Harry’s US visa application to remain private.
This comes after the application recently came under scrutiny following revelations about the Duke of Sussex’s prior drug use in his 2023 memoir Spare.
Lawyers for the Biden administration have said that there would be a “stigma attached” if the information entered the public domain.
The think tank group The Heritage Foundation requested that the documents be made public under a freedom of information application.
King ‘encouraged’ by lasting privacy of meeting with Harry
The King has reportedly been “encouraged” by his February meeting with Prince Harry remaining private as the familial rift remains.
The duke cleared his schedule in February to fly across the Atlantic to see his father following his shock cancer diagnosis.
While the meeting lasted less than an hour, royal insider Robert Hardman believes it could have benefited their somewhat tumultuous relationship.
“But I think there can be a kind of normalising, and I thought it was telling that when the cancer diagnosis came through back in February, Prince Harry came straight over,” the author said.
“People said why didn’t he stay longer, why didn’t he talk to his father, I mean there is so much to be worked through, but this was absolutely not the moment to have some sort of summit with Harry about all of Harry’s grievances.
“But I think the fact he came was important, the fact he was received was important, I think what encouraged people at the palace and encouraged the king was the fact that afterwards, we didn’t then read about it or hear about it. It remained private.”
King ‘unhappy’ with distance from Harry
King Charles is “unhappy” with the situation between himself and his son Prince Harry, an expert has said.
Royal author Robert Hardman said that the monarch finds the distance between the pair “unsettling” and would like to live in co-existence.
“Like any parent, yes, he definitely finds [the situation] unsettling, it makes him unhappy,” he said.
“There he is, he’s got two sons, one he hardly sees, and two grandchildren he’s barely ever seen and yes, I think he would like some sort of modus vivendi. Clearly they can’t come back to royal life. I don’t think they want to. After all that’s happened it wouldn’t work.”
Royal children ‘would not be exempt from National Service’
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis “would not be exempt from National Service”, it has been revealed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his radical plans to bring back National Service for 18-year-olds as part of the general election campaign and it has very limited exceptions.
The party confirmed to The Telegraph that the royal children will be expected to participate.
Sunak said: “National Service schemes in countries around the world show just how fulfilling it is for young people.
“We want to make sure Britain’s future generations can get the most out of National Service, that’s why we’re looking into ways it can open doors they wouldn’t otherwise get in work or education.
“Only the Conservatives will take the bold action required to deliver a secure future for the next generation.”
Prince Harry could release second book, insider says
Royal author Robert Hardman has said that Prince Harry may release a second book, further wounding his brother Prince William.
“The problem that exists is at the moment, there is still a trust issue. People are still very wounded, particularly Prince William, that these intimate private childhood family moments all spilled out in Harry’s book,” he said.
“They’re not particularly negative, I think Charles comes out of the book pretty well, William comes out of it very well, even Queen Camilla comes out of it OK. It’s not what Harry said, it’s the fact that he said it, and he gave away so many secrets. And he was effectively at the time of the Queen’s death, you know, he was taking notes.
“And if you do read that book, and as I said it’s amazing, but if you get to the bit about his wedding to Meghan, it boils down really to about 4 or 5 pages. Now as an author that says to me one thing and one thing only: part two might be on its way.”
King Charles supports firefighters with new patronage
King Charles has become the new patron of The Fire Fighters Charity following a review of patronages by the Royal Household.
The role was previously held by Queen Elizabeth from 1953 until her death in 2022.
Sherine Wheeler, chief executive of The Fire Fighters Charity, said: “The patronage of the late Queen, over almost seven decades, reflected the high regard in which our fire and rescue services – and those who work for them – are held by the Royal Household.
“So, I am delighted that we can continue to honour this legacy under the patronage of His Majesty The King.
“We extend our deep gratitude to him for his continued support and dedication to our work to ensure all those in the fire and rescue services community live healthy and happy lives.”
The charity provides support to those in the UK fire services community.
Princess inundated with well-wishing letters
The Princess of Wales has been inundated with ‘tens of thousands’ of get-well-soon cards after her cancer diagnosis was revealed, palace officials say.
The palace’s correspondence team is now said to have been ‘so touched’ by the outpouring of love for Kate that was shown after she told the world about her health concerns in March.
The Mail Online said the Court Post Office – which deals with letters to the royal family – has experienced a much higher level of letters sent to her since March.