Author: Mr Bang

Prince William looked smart in a morning suit as he arrived at Chester Cathedral to be an usher at the society wedding of the year, which will see his close pal the Duke of Westminster marry Olivia Henson

Prince William has arrived at Chester Cathedral for the society wedding of the year of his close pal the Duke of Westminster.

The Prince of Wales, who just yesterday was at D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in France, was seen arriving quietly at the Cathedral in a morning suit to be an usher at the ceremony between the Duke, whose real name is Hugh Grosvenor, and his wife-to-be Olivia Henson. William arrived alone for the service, with wife Kate expected to stay at home as she continues her recovery following her cancer diagnosis. He is believed to be one of 10 ushers at the ceremony today, and they all turned up together in a blacked-out van just after 10.30am and entered through a side entrance

The Duke of Westminster arrives for his wedding at Chester Cathedral ( 
Image:
Samir HusseinWireImage)

William entered the cathedral via a side entrance ( 
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Getty Images)
It came as crowds began to gather to catch a glimpse of the wedding party and others on the glittering guestlist, with William’s cousin Princess Eugenie also turning up for the nuptials alongside former Vogue editor Violet Henderson-Vestey. The groom arrived at the Cathedral alongside his three best men in a green Land Rover Defender to loud cheers and waved at the huge crowds.

The mother of the groom, Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, arrived wearing a pink dress and pink fascinator. She walked into the cathedral with the groom’s three sisters, Lady Tamara Grosvenor, Lady Viola Grosvenor and Lady Edwina Grosvenor, to cheers from the crowds outside.

Olivia Henson arrives for her wedding ( 
Image:
Samir HusseinWireImage)

Shortly after the bride arrived and stunned in a gown by London-based designer Emma Victoria Payne and she completed her bridal look with the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara, one that Grosvenor brides wear on their wedding day.

King Charles, the groom’s godfather, and Queen Camilla are not due to be at the ceremony, having been at D-Day commemorations in France on Thursday. The Duke of Westminster is godfather to William’s son, Prince George, and also, reportedly, to Harry’s son Prince Archie. Ten-year-old George is not expected to attend the wedding as it falls on a school day.

Also not expected to be there, despite being a close pal of the groom is Prince Harry, who seemingly was invited to the nuptials, but diplomatically decided to stay away. William and Harry are embroiled in a bitter feud and it appears that one party had to concede they would not attend and not overshadow the day.

Princess Eugenie arrives for the wedding at Chester Cathedral ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
A source previously told the Sunday Times: “Hugh is one of the very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any awkwardness.”

After Hugh and Harry came to the “civilised understanding” it seemingly paved the way for William’s attendance – and for him to take up his role as an usher at the ceremony.

The Duke of Westminster boasts a fortune of £10.1billion and topped The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List earlier this year. He became an instant billionaire when he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate aged 25, following the death of his father from a heart attack in 2016.

His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool’s One shopping centre.

The Duke waves to the crowds ( 
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PA)
His bride, who grew up in London and Oxfordshire, has worked in the sustainable food and drinks industry, most recently at London-based artisanal food company Belazu. The couple are said to have chosen the wedding venue for its beauty and because of the personal connection to the duke, whose family home Eaton Hall is nearby.

Ms Henson will travel to the cathedral with her father in a vintage Bentley, originally made for the car manufacturer’s founder in 1930. The wedding will be officiated by the Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford. The service will be sung by the Chester Cathedral Choir, accompanied by a group of musicians from North West England. The Bishop of Chester, the Right Revd Mark Tanner, will preach and prayers will be led by the Revd Canon Rosie Woodall.

As part of the celebrations for their wedding, The Duke and Olivia are supporting three local businesses, subsidising free ice cream, gelato and sorbet for visitors to the city. The Duke has also paid for more than 100,000 flowers to be planted in displays around the city as part of the Summer Flowers project.

Following the service, there will be a private reception at Eaton Hall. A spokesperson for the duke and Ms Henson said: “This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Miss Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.

The Duke of Westminster’s mum and three sisters arrive for the wedding ( 
Image:
PA)

“It means a lot to them to marry in Chester Cathedral, especially given the Grosvenor family’s long and close personal connection to both the Cathedral and the city of Chester. The couple have also been moved by the messages of support they have received from around the region and are hugely grateful that people want to share in their happiness.”

The spokesperson added: “The Duke and Miss Henson have taken a great deal of care in planning the wedding, putting their own personal stamp on all the arrangements and have made a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in several aspects of the day.”

Seasonal flowers for the ceremony were sourced from local growers and will be made into bouquets after the wedding, to be delivered to local charities, churches and organisations. The couple announced their engagement in April last year after being together for two years.

Prince Harry reportedly agreed to skip the wedding of the Duke of Westminster to avoid an awkward run-in with estranged brother Prince William – and according to a royal expert, Meghan Markle wouldn’t have been keen on attending anyway

Meghan Markle was ‘unwilling’ to attend the society wedding over one major fear, according to an expert.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan missed out on the nuptials of Harry’s close friend the billionaire Duke of Westminster, who tied the knot with fiancee Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral today. The Duke, whose real name is Hugh Grosvenor, has a tight bond with both Harry and his estranged older brother Prince William.

With William being given an usher role before the ceremony, Harry came to a “civilised understanding” with Hugh for him and Meghan to skip the wedding, seemingly paving the way for William’s attendance.

The newlyweds share a kiss ( 
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Getty Images)
But according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, it’s likely Meghan wouldn’t have been keen on attending in the first place. She told the Mirror: “The Dukes of Westminster have always been close to the royal family. William and Harry’s mum Princess Diana was close friends with Hugh Grosvenor’s mum, Natalia. Tally as she is known, is Prince William’s godmother and in turn, Diana was godmother to her daughter, Edwina.

“In yet another family tie, Hugh is one of King Charles’ many godsons and will certainly receive a wedding gift from his godfather even though he will not be attending the nuptials.

“Young Hugh who is also a godfather to Prince George. There was never any question as to which of the brothers would take centre stage at the wedding. It had to be William. Harry made it clear he wouldn’t be attending having had a chat with Hugh about the awkward situation and agreeing he should be the one to step down.

William beams as he leaves the wedding ( 
Image:
Samir HusseinWireImage)

The future King attended the wedding without Kate ( 
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Justin Goff/GoffPhotos.com)
“There was also the question of Meghan being unwilling to attend such a high-profile society wedding knowing that most of that very society disliked her. Why would she want to come to a country where she could be pilloried, snubbed and embarrassed?

“Hers and Harry’s presence would certainly have distracted from the bride and groom and even Meghan would know that would be the height of bad manners. Harry issued an unofficial memo saying, ‘The Duke of Sussex sends his love and support and admiration for the couple for their wedding day.’”

Meanwhile, Ingrid added that the fact that both brothers couldn’t be there on their friends’ big day speaks volumes about the state of their relationship

She added: “It is a sad reflection on William and Harry’s troubled relationship that the brothers cannot even be in the same place at the same time. As an usher William would have had to guide Harry as a member of the Royal Family to a designated seat in the church. In the old days that would have provided the brothers with a lot of teasing and laughter with each other.

“Today it would make headlines of the wrong sort. It is a great sadness it has come to this. They will certainly not be reunited in the immediate future.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lived in Frogmore Cottage, which was gifted by the Queen after they wed in 2018 but the couple later left when they moved to Canada and later Montecito, California

Prince Harry revealed his sadness at having to leave Frogmore Cottage, his former royal residence at Windsor Castle.

The cottage was the first place that Harry and wife Meghan Markle lived whilst part of the royal family. The couple were gifted Frogmore Cottage in 2019 by Queen Elizabeth II, and paid for an extensive renovation independently after initially using taxpayers’ money and then repaying it.

However, their time in the five-bedroom house was short-lived as by the end of 2019 they had announced their decision to leave the royal family and vacated in 2020. The cottage was where Harry lived during the early days of his relationship with Meghan, with videos of the couple’s time there shared in their Netflix docu-series.

Prince Harry wrote in his 2023 memoir that he was left saddened after realising Frogmore Cottage wouldn’t be his ‘forever home’
Writing in his memoir ‘Spare’, Harry reflected upon a meeting with Charles and William that he’d asked for after his grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral. Whilst waiting for the others to arrive at Frogmore Cottage, Harry was left saddened as he realised the cottage that was going to be his ‘forever home’ wasn’t. He wrote: “Once upon a time, this was going to be my forever home. Instead it had proved to be just another brief stop.”

In Harry’s book, he later claimed that he and Meghan were ‘evicted’ from the cottage after their decision to leave the royal family. Back in March 2023, it was revealed King Charles had asked Meghan and Harry to vacate Frogmore Cottage. A source told The Standard at the time: “The Sussex’s are no longer leasing Frogmore Cottage. That privilege has been removed. It’s over for them in the UK. If they want a residence in the UK they will have to buy one privately.”

Frogmore Cottage was gifted in 2019 by Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ( 
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
However it wasn’t until June 2023 that Meghan and Harry finally handed back the keys to Frogmore Cottage. The couple’s remaining possessions were shipped to California with courtier Sir Michael Stevens saying at the time: ” We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vacated Frogmore Cottage.” This is also the date that Prince Harry lists as officially starting his US residency.

When the King issued Harry and Meghan with an eviction notice, it was reported he was drawing up a “range of options” of accommodation for his brother Prince Andrew to move to. Prince Andrew was asked to leave his Royal Lodge mansion following his friendship with disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

A source said Charles told Harry and Meghan he wanted them out to “allow someone else to move in”, with speculation stating that it was thought Andrew would take it over. Frogmore Cottage was initially taken over by Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank in November 2020. However they later moved to another royal residence, leaving the property vacant.

The Princess of Wales sent a personally signed letter to the Irish Guards to send her best wishes to the regiment after missing out on them taking part in a dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales has spoken of how sorry she is to be missing a major rehearsal for Trooping the Colour today.

As Colonel of the Irish Guards, the regiment trooping their colour this year, she traditionally would have taken the salute at the Colonel’s Review, the traditional rehearsal, which is taking place today ahead of the main Trooping the Colour event next week. However, as Kate continues her recovery following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, it was revealed last week that she would not be at the event today to take the salute and will instead be replaced by Lieutenant General James Bucknall.

Kate with Prince William and their children at Trooping the Colour last year
But keen to express how sorry she was to be missing the event, the princess has written a letter to the Irish Guards to pass on her best wishes ahead of their rehearsal and express her pride in the regiment.

The letter on Kensington Palace headed paper and shared on the Irish Guards account on X, said: “I wanted to write to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour. I appreciate everyone Trooping this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensure their uniforms and drill are immaculate.

“Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I am unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope I can represent you all again soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”

The Irish Guards shared the lette they received from Kate ( 
Image:
@irish_guards/Twitter)
Kate finishes the letter by handwriting the Irish Guards’ motto Quis Separabit, which means ‘Who shall separate us?’ and signs it ‘Colonel Catherine’.

The regiment also posted a video of the letter being read out to troops. Her words received a round of applause from the Guards at the conclusion of the letter. The letter comes after the Mirror revealed that Kate has not been ruled out of making an appearance at the King’s official birthday celebrations next weekend.

She is understood to be considering making an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour ceremony if she is feeling well enough. Palace sources have insisted that the Princess is not expected to return to official duties until given the all-clear by doctors and any appearances at royal events would be sporadic at best.

The King, who has also been having his own treatment for cancer, has however will attend his birthday celebrations in London next Saturday. But as part of the adaptations made to his routine, instead of riding on horseback to inspect the troops,the monarch will travel in an Ascot Landaucarriage withQueen Camilla. Palace sources said the alteration to normal proceedings is in keeping with guidance by the palace that the King’s working comeback would be “carefully reviewed” for each engagement.

Trooping the Colour is held every year as an official birthday event for the monarch, even though Charles’ actual birthday is November 14. Royal sources said other members of the Royal Family were expected to attend in line with last year, where only working members of the family were present.

The Duke of Westminster is now a married man after tying the knot with his bride Olivia Henson in a ceremony at Chester Cathedral in front of guests including Prince William – and here we take a look inside the grand nuptials

The Duke of Westminster has finally married his bride Olivia Henson in a lavish ceremony where Prince William was an usher.

Thousands lined the streets of Chester to see the billionaire duke on his wedding day and gleefully cheered as the newlyweds shared a sweet kiss outside the city’s beautiful cathedral.

Sharing pictures from the big day, the couple issued a statement. Thanking those who made their wedding day “so memorable”, the couple said they were “incredibly touched by everyone’s amazing support and warm wishes”. They said: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us yesterday and want to extend a special thank you to those in Chester who helped make our day so memorable. We have been incredibly touched by everyone’s amazing support and warm wishes.”

The nuptials have been dubbed the wedding of the year and attracted a 400-strong congregation, which also included Princess Eugenie. Here we take a look at the dazzling ceremony and round up the details you may have missed…

Dream venue

The duke, Hugh Grosvenor, married Olivia at Chester Cathedral, which is close to his family’s ancestral seat of Eaton Hall in Cheshire. Both the bride and groom entered the grand church through the front doors, which had been adorned with a spectacular arch of flowers and foliage.

The Duke and new Duchess of Westminster ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The venue was certainly big enough to hold all 400 guests and thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the hotly talked about couple and their guests. According to a spokesman for the couple, the cathedral holds a special place in their hearts and was perfect for their nuptials.

He explained before the service: “It means a lot to them to marry in Chester Cathedral, especially given the Grosvenor family’s long and close personal connection to both the cathedral and the city of Chester. The couple have also been moved by the messages of support they have received from around the region and are hugely grateful that people want to share in their happiness.”

Seasonal flowers for the ceremony were sourced from local growers, sourced from local growers through the ‘Flowers from the Farm’ network, which champions artisan growers. They will be made into bouquets to be delivered to local charities, churches and organisations.

William ‘priority’

Of all the guests in attendance at the wedding, the most high-profile was Prince William, who was one of 10 ushers. However, despite the wealthy groom being close to Prince Harry too, he did not attend and instead stayed thousands of miles away in California. Hugh and Harry came to the “civilised understanding” for him to skip the wedding amid his deep rift with his brother, seemingly paving the way for William’s attendance – and for him to take up his role as an usher at the ceremony.

Prince William at the wedding of Hugh and Olivia ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, it was always going to be Harry who would have to concede his invitation. She told the Mirror: “There was never any question as to which of the brothers would take centre stage at the wedding. It had to be William. Harry made it clear he wouldn’t be attending having had a chat with Hugh about the awkward situation and agreeing he should be the one to step down.”

Meghan ‘swerve’

Meanwhile, Ingrid added Meghan Markle might also have been a factor in her and Harry’s non-attendance. She added: “There was also the question of Meghan being unwilling to attend such a high-profile society wedding knowing that most of that very society disliked her. Why would she want to come to a country where she could be pilloried, snubbed and embarrassed?

“Hers and Harry’s presence would certainly have distracted from the bride and groom and even Meghan would know that would be the height of bad manners. Harry issued an unofficial memo saying, ‘The Duke of Sussex sends his love and support and admiration for the couple for their wedding day.’”

Special cars

When it came to the actual nuptials, Hugh made a grand arrival at the event alongside his three best men. He proudly turned up in a green Land Rover Defender, a vehicle often favoured by farmers and estate owners.

The Duke arrived for the wedding in a Land Rover Defender ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
It comes as the Duke looks set to settle down to the ‘farming life of a country gentleman’ following his wedding with Olivia. Friends told the Telegraph that the 33-year-old, who studied countryside management at university, has “a genuine love of the land” – entirely fitting given his position as one of the UK’s largest landowners.

Notably, Hugh is also the president of the Country Trust charity, which encourages children from disadvantaged backgrounds to connect with “the land that sustains us all” through visits to farms across the country, including his own Grosvenor Farms on the Eaton Estate. The bride also had a very special form of transport to the wedding. She arrived with her father in a Bentley, originally made for the car manufacturer’s founder in 1930 – and the newlyweds left together after the ceremony in the car.

Incredible veil detail

Of course, when Olivia arrived, all eyes were on her stunning wedding dress and veil, which was created by London-based designer Emma Victoria Payne.

The bride’s veil had intricate detailing ( 
Image:
Getty Images)DON’T MISS
And it featured an incredible embroidery design, which incorporated floral motifs and edgings from her great-great-grandmother’s veil from around 1880. As she entered the cathedral, the veil blew in the wind, prompting gasps from the crowd as it fluttered dramatically. Her bouquet was made of flowers picked from the gardens of the duke’s family home, Eaton Hall.

Tiara heirloom

To complete the bridal look, Olivia opted to wear the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day, which has been in the family since 1906. According to royal jewellery expert, the Court Jeweller, the tiara is designed to look as if it is a wreath of leaves of laurel or myrtle, which is a traditional wedding flower. The same tiara was worn by the Duke of Westminster’s sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor when she married her husband Edward van Cutsem at the same venue in 2004.

Something blue

And even though the bride’s dress, veil and tiara were all within wedding tradition, she appeared to go against the norm with her shoes.

The bride’s unusual shoes ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)
She wore a pair of blue Silvia Lago shoes adorned with bows under her gown. The shoes are the Valentina 100 Riviera style and came with a chunky block heel.

Private reception

After the cathedral ceremony, the wedding party boarded coaches to be taken back to the groom’s home of Eaton Hall, where there were to celebrations – an afternoon reception with a lemon wedding cake and an evening party. And it seems the couple were keen to keep their celebration under wraps with one guest telling the Daily Mail: “We have also been asked not to do any social media posting when we get there.”

The Duke of Sussex has been estranged from the royal family, including his father King Charles and brother Prince William, since stepping back from the royal family in 2020

King Charles has asked Prince Harry to stop giving away any more details about the royal family behind closed doors, an expert claims.

Harry, alongside wife Meghan Markle, stepped down from the royal family in 2020 and the couple have spoken out about their experience in The Firm. They made controversial comments in their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple’s 2022 Netflix docu-series and Harry’s 2023 autobiography, with them seemingly deepening the ongoing royal rift. However now it seems that Charles has had enough and asked his youngest son to ‘stop publicly complaining’ about the royal family, according to a royal expert..

Royal author and expert Tom Quinn exclusively told the Mirror: “Harry has been asked directly by his father not to write or say publicly anything further about the family or his brother that might cause trouble. And everyone knows that when a king asks you to do something there are going to be consequences if you do not obey.”

King Charles is said to have asked Prince Harry to ‘stop publicly complaining’

Prince Harry is said to be waiting for an apology from his father and his brother Prince William
He continued: “Over the years that Harry has complained about his treatment by his family he has had just one aim – to get an apology and to see his father and brother make amends. Harry just can’t see that complaining in private might work; complaining publicly just makes things worse and in Harry’s case that means more and more ties to his past being severed.”

Harry’s relationship with his father and brother has appeared strained in recent years, appearing to start from 2020 when Harry and Meghan stepped back from the royal family and moved to the US. His previous comments have included allegations of racism in the royal family to revealing a physical fight between himself and William, with all comments thought to have angered the royal family and soured the tense relationship further.

The relationship between Prince Harry and King Charles has been estranged in recent years, ever since Harry’s exit to the US in 2020DON’T MISS 

This isn’t the first time the impact of Harry’s outspoken comments has been pointed out, as earlier this month royal commentator Jennie Bond highlighted the impact the family feud could be having on Harry’s children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Speaking to OK! magazine she said: “Children grow up and are innately curious about their heritage and background… and when your heritage is one of the most famous families in the world, it will undoubtedly seem rather odd and perhaps sad that you hardly know or remember them.”

She added: “Imagine Archie, aged 15, telling his friends, ‘My grandpa is/was King! And my Uncle is/will be King too.’ But he hardly knew or met them. How sad… and Meghan would have to bear the brunt of the responsibility for that.”

The Mirror has reached out to Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes for comment on this story.

The Princess of Wales apologised to the Irish Guards for missing missing a final rehearsal ahead of Saturday’s Trooping the Colour parade in London

The Princess of Wales has revealed in an optimistic message that she hopes to return to her public duties very soon.

The future queen, 42, who is having treatment for cancer, wrote to the Irish Guards apologising for missing today’s final rehearsal for next week’s Trooping the Colour. Kate, who is Colonel of the regiment, said: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved. “I’m very sorry that I’m unable to make this year’s Colonel’s Review.”

And Queen Camilla revealed today at a literary event that the King is “doing fine” but that he “won’t do what he’s told”. The future queen, 42, appealed for time, space and privacy for her family in March when she announced on TV she was having cancer treatment. Last month Prince William told a well-wisher: “She’s doing well.”

Princess Kate seen back in 2020 ( 
Image:
Getty)

Princess Kate pictured back in 2018 ( 
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Getty Images)
Today, Kate revealed her hopes for a public return “very soon”. And in a second boost Queen Camilla, 76, said King Charles, 75, who is being treated for cancer, is “doing fine except he won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told”. Kate wrote a touching message to the Irish Guards Regiment apologising for missing a final rehearsal ahead of Saturday’s Trooping the Colour parade.

The Princess, who is the Guards’ Lieutenant Colonel, wrote: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.” The note, read to troops in a video posted by the regiment on social media, said: “I wanted to write to you to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour.

Princess Kate shared an emotional video in March in which she said she’d be withdrawing from public duties to focus on her recovery
“I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate. I’m very sorry that I’m unable to make the salute at this year’s colonel review.” Her message was signed off with the phrase quis separabit – a Latin motto derived from the bible and associated with the British Army in Ireland meaning Who will separate us?.

The Regiment responded: “The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning. We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send Her our very best wishes. Quis Separabit” It is unclear if Kate will attend Trooping the Colour, held every year to mark the monarch’s birthday.

The King’s birthday parade will take place on June 15 ( 
Image:
PA)
Charles is expected to travel by carriage with the Queen during the traditional birthday procession to and from London’s Horse Guards Parade on Saturday. He will likely watch the ceremony seated instead of on horseback. Today. Camilla told author Lee Child, at the annual Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival at London’s Hampton Court Palace, that Charles was doing fine but was not doing as he was told. Child said: “Sounds to me like a typical husband”.

The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive the letter

Kate started her treatment in January ( 
Image:
Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
Kate was admitted to hospital on January 16 for major abdominal surgery. Post-operative tests confirmed the presence of cancer and she started chemotherapy in February. In March, the mum-of-three made an emotional televised statement confirming her diagnosis, saying it had been “an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family”. And to those also facing their own battle, she said: “Please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

Kate praised her husband Prince William, 41, for his love and support. And she said they had both told their children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six, of her illness and she had assured them: “I am going to be OK.”

King Charles reportedly used to read Prince Andrew bedtime stories as a child

KING Charles and Prince Andrew were never close and are very different people – with no end in sight to their feud, a royal expert claims.

The monarch, 75, is allegedly threatening to severe ties with his younger brother the Duke of York, 64, over his failure to vacate Royal Lodge.

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Prince Andrew and King Charles have never been very close, an expert claimsCredit: Getty

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Prince Andrew was forced to step back from royal dutiesCredit: Getty

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The Duke of York refuses to leave Royal LodgeCredit: Doug Seeburg

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King Charles is keen to cut costs and slim down the Firm
Andrew – often dubbed Elizabeth II’s favourite child – shares the home, on the grounds of Windsor Castle, with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and is reported to be refusing to budge.

The shamed duke will never return to public duty after paying millions to settle an abuse case with a Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking victim, and Charles has been trying to evict him from the 30-room property for 18 months.

Since taking the throne, the King has been looking to cut costs, including slimming down the core of the Firm itself.

Charles and Andrew’s feud appears to mirror that of the King’s own sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “The King has undoubtedly got a problem, and the Royal Family very, very clearly have extremely serious and embarrassing perpetual problem with Prince Andrew.”

He said the differences between the two brothers, however, have been striking their whole lives.

“They seem to have gone on as complete opposites, really, in so many ways,” he explained.

“Of course, there’s a 12-year age gap between King Charles and Prince Andrew,” he continued, adding they “hadn’t got that much in common”.

“Charles is rather sort of intellectual, serious, sensitive. Andrew rather bumptious, outgoing.”

He did point out the siblings shared the feat of being “considered amongst the most desirable males on the planet” in their youths.
Usher Prince William leads glam arrivals at wedding of Prince George & Archie’s godfather Duke of Westminster
And aside from their differing personalities, Mr Fitzwilliams said: “I think they got on reasonably well in the early years.”

In fact, there was a “long period” when they “conducted engagements together, and so forth”, he added.

“Apparently Charles used to like to read to Andrew when he was very young.”

Andrew was even one of the best men at the then-Prince of Wales‘ wedding to Princess Diana in 1981.

Mr Fitzwilliams said: “It seems that at their distance they got on pretty well over quite a long period of time.”

He pinpointed the period when Andrew’s marriage to the Duchess of York “started to disintegrate, and Sarah Ferguson was involved in a variety of controversial activities” that bad blood came to the surface.

“I mean, I think, very clearly Charles had doubts,” he continued, adding there were issues with “the way Andrew handled his post” as a “special representative for British trade”.

“Things culminating, obviously, with the disastrous interview on Newsnight, but I mean Andrew’s friendship with the deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was the reason that he lost his job, and Charles must have been very concerned about the some of the company that his brother was keeping.”

King Charles and Prince Andrew’s relationship

King Charles and Prince Andrew are reported to have been closer as children, despite their 12-year age gap.

There are claims the now-monarch used to read bedtime stories to the young Duke of York, and they did attend royal duties together.

In 1981, Andrew was one of multiple best men at Charles’ wedding to Princess Diana.

Some royal experts suggest their relationship began to waiver after the Duke began dating Sarah Ferguson in 1985, who he then married the following year.

Richard Fitzwilliams pinpointed the period when Andrew’s marriage “started to disintegrate, and Sarah Ferguson was involved in a variety of controversial activities” that bad blood came to the surface.

“I mean, I think, very clearly Charles had doubts,” he continued, adding there were also issues with “the way Andrew handled his post” as a “special representative for British trade”.

In November 2019, things really came to a head when Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview was aired, in which he failed to say he regretted his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The pair appear to have first met in the early 1990s.

Mr Fitzwilliams added: “Charles must have been very concerned about the some of the company that his brother was keeping.”

Andrew was forced back from royal duties after the BBC broadcast and was later stripped of various titles and patronages amid his legal dispute with Virginia Giuffre.

Any hope that the attitude towards Andrew would soften now that Charles is King doesn’t appear realistic.

Andrew was forced by the late Queen to take a step back from active duties after the car crash interview in November 2019 – dramatised this year in Netflix show Scoop.

And he was eventually stripped of his titles and patronages amid his court ordeal with trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.

Referring to the Royal Lodge dispute, Mr Fitzwilliams said: “You could argue what’s the point of him now?

“He has no royal role, he never will have. So what happens, and then he should get any money.

“Well, this is up to the King, obviously. It’s an embarrassing situation.

“The facts are, however, he still remains a terrible and dreadful embarrassment to the Royal Family, but that is a different matter.”

He described Andrew living at Royal Lodge “at a peppercorn rent”, adding he “certainly” does not think Charles “wants some form of public showdown”.

“Since Andrew’s got to live somewhere, since he’s actually got a lease, it’s very difficult to so to speak, evict,” Mr Fitzwilliams continued.

“I don’t see this dying down at all but I don’t see it resolving itself.

“You look over a long period of time span, and you see what the King sees, and that is that Andrew… has no obvious future.”

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Prince Andrew in his youth with a rose between his teeth in front of the late QueenCredit: Getty

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Royal Lodge sits within the Windsor estateCredit: Rex

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Andrew riding a horse on the Windsor groundsCredit: Doug Seeburg

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Andrew with his ex wife Sarah Ferguson and daughters Princess Eugenie, and Princess BeatriceCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source

Katie Nicholls also discusses why it would’ve been a ‘hard’ and ‘pretty stomach-clenching moment’ for Prince Harry

Prince Harry is to blame for missing commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day because he’s the one who burnt bridges with his family, a royal expert claims.

King Charles, Prince William and Queen Camilla all joined crowds to mark the day the world remembers fallen heroes and veterans of World War II on Thursday, but there was one person noticeably missing – Prince Harry.

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Prince Harry is the only member of Royal Family to have fought on the front line twiceCredit: AFP

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Prince William attended the official international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-DayCredit: Getty
Katie Nicholl told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show how it would’ve been a “hard” and “pretty stomach-clenching moment” for him to watch the two days of commemorations and know he wasn’t a part of it.

Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the royal commentator explains that Harry’s fought in Afghanistan and is the only member of Royal Family to have fought on the front line twice, so on another parallel universe, he would’ve been there.

“Every time we cover the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, if there’s anyone that’s earned the right to be there and to lay a wreath, it’s Prince Harry because he fought for his Queen and his country in Afghanistan twice,” she says.

“And I can only imagine, and we was talking about how happy is out in Montecito and I believe he is, he’ll be watching those D-Day commemorations.

“He was a soldier for a big part of his life as we know through the Invictus community and I think it’s a pretty stomach-clenching moment for him where it’s that realisation that despite what he did, he wasn’t a part of this because he’s not a part of the working class Royal Family.”

It’s a pretty stomach-clenching moment for him where it’s that realisation that despite what he did, he wasn’t a part of this because he’s not a part of the working class Royal Family

Matt goes on to note how the reality of Prince Harry being absent for the D-Day commemorations is simply the repercussions of him burning bridges with the royal family, to which Nicholls agrees.

“They are, they are,” she says.

“Currently, we don’t know whether he did anything in Montecito, but if he did, he didn’t do anything publicly.

“And you’ll remember that one Remembrance Sunday when him and Meghan were photographed laying a wreath and that backfired on them so badly.

“So I think they’ve learned from things like that so it must’ve been a hard moment for him to watch these two days of commemorations in Normandy and in Britain and know that just like being a solider, he wasn’t a part of it.”
Prince William meets Zelensky as he stands in for King on world stage to pay tribute to D-Day heroes
Matt goes on to point out how Prince William made a surprise stop in Arromanches to meet veterans on the D-Day 80th anniversary.

The royal was visiting the D-Day museum, which wasn’t meant to be an event for the press of public, when several veterans of the Gloucestershire Regiment in the Army saw him go in and were keen to meet him, to which he happily obliged.

Wills tells heroes Kate ‘would love to be here’

By Matt Wilkinson & Jane Matthews

PRINCE William offered an update on Princess Kate’s health as he chatted warmly to veterans after today’s D-Day commemorations.

The Heir joined his father, Queen Camilla and other leaders alongside war heroes in a moving anniversary event in Portsmouth.

King Charles and William both took to the stage to pay tribute to the veterans and their families.

Afterwards, William revealed Kate was feeling “better”, adding: “She would’ve loved to be here today.”

In a sweet clip that showed Prince William bending down to chat with a 95-year-old veteran he was asked: “I was going to ask you is your wife getting any better?”

William revealed she was well, before adding: “I was reminding everyone her grandmother used to work at Bletchley Park.

“She had a lot in common with some of the ladies here who never spoke about anything until the very end.”

William spoke to a Bletchley Park codebreaker about Princess Kate’s grandma Valerie, who also helped to break the Enigma code.

He said: “My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you. Catherine only found out at the end of her life.”

The Prince spoke to other veterans, too – thanking them for their service and telling them how special it had been.

He said: “I found it very moving, all the stories and letters, even now 80 years later.”

When one hero said “thank you”, the Prince of Wales replied: “No, we are here to thank you.”

William said: “We are here to say a big thank you and to all your colleagues and friends who didn’t make it back.”

“I love that spontaneity about the Prince of Wales and I think we’ve both been on tours and visits when he’ll make a detour,” Nicholls explains.

“He’ll spot someone in the crowd or he’ll see a post and he’ll be drawn to it – and he’s not afraid to go off-piste when it comes to his schedule some times.”

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the courageous D-Day heroes who ran into the “fury of battle” on Normandy beaches.

He laid a wreath and honoured 14,000 Canadians who stormed Juno Beach 80 years ago today.

Meanwhile, King Charles also made a powerful and emotional D-Day speech as he praised D-Day veterans at the UK’s commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer, France, saying we “must stand together to oppose tyranny.

He added: “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.”

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King Charles III laying wreath during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative eventCredit: Getty

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King Charles also made a powerful and emotional D-Day speech to commemorate the 80th anniversaryCredit: Getty

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Prince Harry would’ve found it ‘hard’ to watch the two days of commemorations and not be a part of itCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Touching photos of the wedding show a beaming couple on the special day

THE Duke of Westminster and his new bride Olivia share a laugh together in newly released glamorous official photos from their wedding.

Hugh Grosvenor, 33, tied the knot with fiancee Olivia Henson, 31, in a lavish ceremony at Chester Cathedral on Friday.

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Olivia wowed in a custom-made lace-edged satin wedding dress as she gazed adoringly at her new husbandCredit: PA

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The Duke and Duchess of Westminster at their weddingCredit: PA

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The stunning bride emerges from the car to attend the ceremonyCredit: PA

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Beaming bride Olivia
The official photos of the wedding have now been released showing the beaming husband and wife during the ceremony.

The pictures include three black and white images and one in colour of just the new Duchess wearing the stunning dress.

The Duke and Duchess of Westminster have also thanked those who made their wedding day “so memorable” and said they were “incredibly touched by everyone’s amazing support and warm wishes”.

They said in a statement: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us yesterday and want to extend a special thank you to those in Chester who helped make our day so memorable.

“We have been incredibly touched by everyone’s amazing support and warm wishes.”

The nuptials were billed as the ‘society wedding of the year’ with the Duke worth a cool £10billion.

The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK’s richest bachelor, is King Charles’ godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.

Bride-to-be Olivia wowed crowds in a custom-made lace-edged satin wedding dress by designer Emma Victoria Payne.

A family statement revealed: “The bespoke embroidery design on the bridal gown and veil was hand drawn and re-imagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.”

Ahead of the star-studded ceremony Hugh beamed and waved at the masses when he arrived in a forest green Land Rover – similar to the late Prince Philip’s.
Just Stop Oil try to disrupt Duke of Westminster’s wedding by blasting orange fire extinguisher yards from William
He greeted the Dean of Chester, the Rev Dr Tim Stratford, at the entrance to the cathedral at 11.30am, around half-an-hour before the glamorous bride’s arrival.

Dozens of well-wishers cheered as Olivia’s dress and veil billowed in the wind when she made her way inside the church.

The dress featured floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandma’s veil, which was worn in around 1880.

Her Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara has been in the Grosvenor family since it was created in 1906.

Prince William, who was an usher for the wedding, watched on with a smile as the happy couple left the chapel.

The Prince of Wales led the guests into the ceremony and to their seats.

The Duke of Westminster topped The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List earlier this year boasting a fortune of £10.1 billion.

His bride, who grew up in London and Oxfordshire, has worked in the sustainable food and drinks industry, most recently at London-based artisanal food company Belazu.

The couple are said to have chosen the wedding venue for its beauty and because of the personal connection to the duke, whose family home Eaton Hall is nearby.

William and Harry were both ushers at the wedding of his sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor at the cathedral in 2004.

Who are the bride & groom?

Hugh Grosvenor was once dubbed “Britain’s most eligible bachelor” owing to his billions in the bank and royal connections. But he has been swept off his feet by the future duchess.

The 33-year-old is a British aristocrat and businessman.

He was born Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor on January 29, 1991, to Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia Phillips.

He is close friends with royals, including Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton.

He studied at Newcastle University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Countryside Management.

Olivia Henson was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31.

During her childhood, she attended Marlborough College, the same school as the Princess of Wales.

Their wedding was announced in April 2023 and she will become the new Duchess of Westminster.

The couple met in 2021 through friends and dated for two years.

The Duke proposed to her at Eaton Hall, his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.

Before he started dating Olivia, Hugh was in an on-off relationship with Harriet Tomlinson for several years.

The pair met at college and split up, only to get back together on numerous occasions.

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Photos taken on the day showed the newly married couple beaming as they left the chapelCredit: Zenpix

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Prince William was an usher at the weddingCredit: Goff