Author: Mr Bang

Today’s display of warmth will be seen as an olive branch from the King after the feud sparked by his Harry’s 2021 interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, experts say

After two years of birthday snubs, the Royal Family’s ­message to Prince Harry on his 40th suggest a thaw in their relationship.

Today’s display of warmth will be seen as an olive branch from the King over their feud sparked by his son’s 2021 interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey.

He is keen to have a better relationship with Harry. Prince William, who barely speaks to his brother, and Kate also sent him a birthday message.

The Royal Family shared a snap of ­Harry smiling along with an emoji of a cake and said: “Wishing the Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday.” It is the first time they have shared a public message for Harry since his 2021 birthday.

Kate and William haven’t shared a public message for Harry since his 2021 birthday

The Prince and Princess of Wales posted: “Wishing a Happy 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex.”

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said: ­“Hopefully, a feeling of goodwill will be engendered by these ­unexpected public good wishes and will be taken forward.”

A royal insider added: “Much has been said over the fractured nature of the Duke’s relationship with his family and much of his own doing. He is open to reconciliation as is the King. The King’s health, his upcoming autumn tour to Australia and the next chapter of his reign are his main focus, but there is always room to improve ­relations with his son.

The Prince and Princess of Wales posted: “Wishing a Happy 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex”
“Whether other family members follow suit is another matter.” But sources warned it could be a long road before ­relationships between Harry and Meghan and the royals are properly mended. Reports said Charles would call Harry to mark his 40th, but William was “unlikely” to, so that birthday message came as a surprise.

The brothers last saw each other at a memorial service for their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes a couple of weeks ago. But they never spoke.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex ( 
Image:
WireImage)

King Charles III and Queen Camilla ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Harry decided to have a quiet 40th with Meghan and children Archie and Lilibet at their California home.

He is then going camping with pals, including explorer Inge Solheim, 51, in the ­Colorado mountains. Speaking about his birthday, Harry said last week about his upcoming birthday: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Becoming a father has given me a fresh perspective on life.”

Vanity Fair yesterday claimed Harry may hire an image consultant to boost his reputation in Britain.

The King is looking for a shepherd to look after his 2,000 sheep on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, but they must have their own dog.

The Duke of Sussex entitled his memoir Spare as he is second to William in line to the throne and now a royal expert has told how Princess Diana was worried about his sense of “inadequacy” as a child

Prince Harry had a “feeling of inadequacy” compared to William even as a young child that concerned Diana, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke of Sussex has had a frictious relationship with the Royal Family since leaving for the United States where he has been critical of his previous way of life in interviews with American media.

And in his memoir titled Spare he discussed his upbringing where he was given the nickname that was the title of the book by his father Charles. Harry claimed Charles said to Princess Diana: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare – my work is done.”

In the book he expresses his resentment to the nickname and the way he would always be playing second fiddle to William as he writes about his childhood and royal role.

And royal biographer Ingrid Seward has said that as a young child, Diana was worried that Harry felt inadequate compared to William. She told of a time when William was mentioned to Harry when he was at school and he reacted angrily.

Harry and Diana in the garden of Highgrove House in 1986 ( 
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Getty Images)
“[Diana] was very concerned about [Harry’s] feeling of inadequacy with William. Even when they were very little, when Harry went to Miss Minors, which was the baby school, after William had been there, the teacher there said to him ‘here Harry, play with this clay, William used to be really good at making model figures’,” Ms Seward told The Sun.

“Harry threw it down and said ‘no!’, so from a very young age, Harry felt inadequate. It was nothing to do with Diana, nothing to do with Charles, but it was just there.” The Duke of Sussex used the tell-all tome to also make various claims about his family including that William called his wife Meghan Markle ‘difficult’, ‘rude’ and ‘abrasive’ and pushed him into a dog bowl. Among other allegations he also said that Charles refused to allow Meghan to join him in Scotland as the late Queen was dying.

Harry and William have had a difficult relationship in recent years ( 
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Getty Images)
Next month a paperback version of Spare is due to be released. Usually, when a paperback version of a non-fiction book is released, additional chapters or updated information is included in the new format. However, the paperback version of Spare will not contain any new information. It will have the same cover image in a newly designed package and the “contents of the book are unchanged”.

Since the release of Spare, things seem to have gone from bad to worse for relations between Harry and his father and older brother. When it comes to Harry and William, their feud, brewing before the book was released, has become even more frosty. According to The Sunday Times, it is understood the brothers last spoke at their grandmother the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022 – and even then, according to Harry’s memoir, they “barely exchanged a word”.

Prince Harry was sent surprise birthday wishes from both King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales as he turned 40 yesterday – and some believed that the posts took a swipe at Meghan Markle

Prince Harry’s 40th birthday sparked shock public messages from his estranged royal relatives.

Both the social media accounts of King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales marked the Duke of Sussexes’ milestone birthday with a message on both X and Instagram. The official royal account went first and posted a striking image of a beaming Harry with the message: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”

Minutes later the same post was shared on William and Kate’s account with the message: “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!” The snap used in both posts shows Harry smiling during an engagement when he was a working royal on a trip he and wife Meghan Markle made to Ireland in 2018.

It was taken at the Dogpatch Labs start-up in Dublin in July of that year and online sleuths claimed the birthday posts made a dig at Meghan by cropping her out of the post. That’s because there is a wider shot of the image, which shows Harry sitting at a table with his wife along with other guests.

However, it seems that there are in fact two versions of the picture available – the wider shot and one that has already been pre-cropped by the photographer, which just features Harry and is available for use through picture agencies, such as Getty Images.

A wider shot of the image used to wish Harry happy birthday on the Royal Family accounts ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Getty Images confirmed to the Mirror that the photo is a pool image collected from a non-Getty Images photographer – but added that it is “standard practice to crop images to get singles, as has been done here”. Therefore it is likely the Royal Family official accounts did not crop Meghan out of the image themselves – and rather they chose the available single pre-cropped image of Harry to use in the post, given he was the one celebrating his 40th birthday.

It comes as Harry, who lives in California after stepping down from the working monarchy, is believed to have spent his birthday on Sunday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He is then said to have headed away for a gathering with close friends.

A cropped version of the picture is also available via several international photo agencies

Harry enters his fifth decade in what has been a rollercoaster year for the royal family, with both the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer. When the King’s shock health news was announced in February, Harry made a transatlantic dash to see him but his meeting with his father was kept to just 45 minutes.

In comments released to the BBC, the duke said “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40”, and described how fatherhood had given him a renewed sense of purpose to make “this world a better place”.

Harry’s year has seen him try his hand at the skeleton bobsled when he joined Invictus Games competitors training in Canada, and undertake quasi-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria. The duke has an upcoming trip to New York later this month, where he will carry out visits for his Archewell Foundation, and engagements with African Parks, The Halo Trust, The Diana Award, and Travalyst.

Prince Harry was sent birthday greetings as he turns 40 today from across the Atlantic by Prince William and Kate despite his bitter royal rift with King Charles and his brother

Prince Harry has received a surprise public birthday message from his estranged royal relatives on his 40th birthday.

The Kensington Palace official social media account posted a message to the Duke of Sussex, across the Atlantic in California, as he celebrates the landmark birthday today – despite him being embroiled in a bitter feud with his father King Charles and brother Prince William.

It read: “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”

Only working royals usually get birthday wishes on the official Royal Family social media accounts. The last time Harry got birthday wishes on the Royal Family account was three years ago in 2021 when the late Queen was still alive. The Prince and Princess of Wales ‘ account last publicly sent him birthday wishes in the same year.

Harry has been embroiled in a feud with his father and brother since he and wife Meghan Markle dramatically quit as working royals in 2020. The feud was fuelled by Harry railing against his family in his 2022 bombshell Netflix series and controversial memoir, Spare, released last year.

He remains estranged from his brother William, which was highlighted by the siblings reportedly not talking when they attended a family funeral last month. Previous reports suggested they had not talked in over two years since the late Queen died.

Meanwhile, other reports have claimed Harry and his dad are no longer speaking with one long-running issue seeing their estrangement deepen. Sources close to the Sussexes claimed that Harry’s calls to his dad are going unanswered as Harry tries to discuss his security arrangements with his father. The Duke has been embroiled in a long-running battle over his security when he comes to the UK after he automatically lost the right to his police protection when he stepped down as a working royal.

He has lost his subsequent court battles to have it reinstated for him, wife Meghan and their two children and is planning an appeal. According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry believes his dad could help to have this reinstated, although this has been dismissed as “wholly inaccurate” by a palace source.

And now a friend of Harry’s told the magazine: “He gets ‘unavailable right now’. His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”

The birthday wishes come as Harry said: “Bring on the next decade”, as he turns his back on a turbulent period that rocked the Royal Family. Harry said he was ‘excited’ about celebrating his 40th birthday ahead of the big day, and in comments released to the BBC he said fatherhood had given him a renewed sense of purpose to make “this world a better place”.

The past 10 years have been a period of upheaval for Harry and his wife Meghan who, after struggling behind the scenes with royal life, stepped down as working royals and moved to America for financial and personal freedom.

The couple appear content with their lives in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California where they have established a new life for themselves and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

Harry told the BBC: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place. Bring on the next decade.”

Harry is expected to celebrate his 40th birthday with family and friends before spending some time away with a group of close pals, according to reports.

Prince Harry is set to mark his 40th birthday with a quiet party at his California home, after it was claimed he has been relegated to being Meghan Markle’s “plus one” at events

Prince Harry has been relegated to Meghan Markle’s “plus-one” as the royal turns 40, a royal insider claimed.

The prince spoke out about his excitement at turning 40 as he issued an 84-word statement this week where he praised his two children and explained how he is “committed to making this world a better place”.

He added how he was “anxious” when he turned 30 but is now “excited” to turn 40. He said: “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”

He carried on to describe how being a dad to his two children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, was one of “life’s greatest joys”. But despite the continued positivity throughout the statement, he failed to mention Meghan.

The Duke of Sussex and his wife will be celebrating his 40th birthday on Sunday ( 
Image:
Anadolu via Getty Images)

The statement was issued after friends claimed he had now been reduced to being Meghan’s “plus-one” at events, it was claimed. It has already been revealed how the loving couple will be celebrating Harry’s landmark birthday at their home in Montecito, California.

In a quiet party, they will most likely have Meghan’s showbiz friends in attendance, with insiders insisting Harry’s friendship group across the pond is smaller than expected. Harry has become increasingly isolated, with his security guard, David ‘Langers’ Langdown, as one of his close pals, it was claimed.

One source told The Sun : “The guard is an English guy who moved to ­Montecito with his family. He and Harry are very close, very tight. As thick as thieves.”

It was reported this week that Prince Harry has no intention of returning to royal duties ( 
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Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)
This week saw Harry arrive at the opening of Meghan’s pals’ bookshop. “The event summed up Harry’s life in a nutshell. He was there more of a plus one than an equal — someone ­useful for a social media picture,” the source continued.

Despite the lack of big plans in the diary for his birthday, Harry is expected to head out on his own weekend getaway in the mountains with some of his friends from England.

Earlier this week, America’s People magazine – the chosen publication of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – reported that despite recent speculation Harry has no plans to return to royal duties. They described him as being “happy with his life in Montecito, California” and concentrating on his charitable endeavours.

Following his birthday celebrations, the Duke will visit New York City later this month to promote several projects close to his heart, including the organization behind Princess Diana’s Legacy Award.

An explosive book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has made some shocking claims – including how Charles, Earl Spencer was reportedly asked to speak to his nephew

As he celebrates his 40th birthday on Sunday, Prince Harry will be surrounded by the family he has created with wife Meghan.

The couple and their two young children are believed to be spending the landmark day in California, their chosen home following their rejection of Royal life. But things could have turned out very differently, had Harry listened to advisors including his uncle, Earl Spencer, the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ brother. In his book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors, Tom Bower claims Earl Spencer was asked to speak to Harry about his relationship with Meghan. According to Tom, Earl Spencer and Diana’s sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Baroness Jane Fellowes, thought Meghan would struggle to fit in with the Royal Family.

Prince Harry has remained close with his uncle, Charles, Earl Spencer ( 
Image:
PA

The book explains how by the autumn of 2017 Harry had introduced Meghan to Diana’s two sisters, Jane and Sarah, and her best friend Julia Samuel. Tom wrote: “Harry assumed that Diana’s family and friends would see a similarity between Diana and his fiancee. Both, he said, shared the same problems. He was disappointed. No one agreed that his vulnerable mother had anything in common with his girlfriend. More discomforting for him, they thought Meghan would not fit in with the Royal Family.”

The author continued: “Their unease was voiced by Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother. At William’s request, Spencer weighed in. Three times married, Spencer cautioned his nephew to reconsider his haste towards marriage. His advice provoked a bitter reaction. ‘This was going to be really hard,’ Harry would later reflect on establishing Meghan’s place in the family.”

Charles, Earl Spencer reportedly spoke to his nephew ( 
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Dave Benett/Getty Images for Charles Sabine)

Tom suggests that Earl Spencer wasn’t the only one who openly expressed doubts about Harry and Meghan’s rapidly developing romance.

He wrote that Meghan’s former talent agent, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, told the actress that she “wouldn’t be able to make any more movies” with her priority set to become Royal life instead.

But Meghan wasn’t impressed, claims Tom, describing her as having a “hard fury” about the idea.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has said he is “excited” about turning 40, admitting he’s looking forward to the new decade far more than when he entered his 30s in 2014, the year he returned from his second tour of Afghanistan shortly after splitting from then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas. He told the BBC in a statement: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world”.

Charles, Earl Spencer was Diana’s younger brother ( 
Image:
PA)

And the Invictus Games founder admitted his two children have given him a new outlook on life. He added in his statement: “Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”

Harry recently described his son and daughter as the “best gift” he has ever received. He told People magazine: “The best gift I’ve ever been given is, without a doubt, my kids. I enjoy watching them grow every single day, and I love being their dad.”

Harry is set to inherit £8 million from the late Queen Mother – who died in 2002 at the age of 101 – upon his birthday. When he was 10, Harry’s great-grandmother, who was then 94, put aside a tax-free £19 million to leave to her great-grandchildren, according to The Times. It is thought that the inheritances were divided into two installments, one for when they turned 21 and another when they hit 40. A former palace aide told The Times: “There was a trust fund set up at the time. It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older and a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way. It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them.”

Prince Harry turns 40 tomorrow and he is expected to mark the milestone occasion privately with Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet

Prince Harry’s royal relatives may find it hard to trust him again after he revealed family secrets, an expert has claimed.

As the Duke of Sussex celebrates his 40th birthday tomorrow (Sunday, September 15), far from his loved ones, ITV’s Royal correspondent Chris Ship describes his relationship with his family as ‘more fractured than ever’.

The royal expert suggests that Harry’s candid revelations in his explosive memoir Spare and during his interview with Oprah Winfrey could deter other royals from speaking openly with him in the future.

Speaking on the Talking Royals podcast, he asked: “How can members of the Royal Family trust Harry if they have private conversations about him? There’s not another book planned I don’t think but would they think ‘if I say this to you, are you going to write about this in a book or are you going to tell Netflix about this one or two years down the line?’

“The Royal Family won’t respond to what they say. Never complain, never explain.”

Relations in the family are still ‘fractured’ ( 
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PA)
Among the claims made in Spare include Harry’s allegations of physical assault by his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton making Meghan Markle cry.

In their landmark interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple also alleged that members of the Royal Family had discussions about how dark their son Archie’s skin might be. Harry has since refuted accusations of labelling the Royal Family as racist.

Buckingham Palace then issued a statement saying: “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

The couple quit as working royals to move to the USA ( 
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Getty Images)
The Talking Royals podcast recently discussed the dramatic changes in Prince Harry’s life over the past decade since he turned 30. Presenter Lucrezia Millarini summarised the exiled royal’s significant life transformation in two words: “Stark contrast.”

She reflected on how different his life was when he celebrated his 30th birthday.

The presenter noted: “When you look back at the stark contrast to how he was at 30. At 30 he was single, he was a senior working member of the Royal Family, he was fourth in line to the throne, he was due to leave the army.

“Where we are now is so far from where we were then. He’s married to Meghan, has two children, he’s stepped back from Royal duties, handed back all his official military connections. A lot has been said in that time.”

Royal insiders have suggested that King Charles III is keen to reach out to his son Prince Harry as he turns 40 this weekend, with the two possibly having a face-to-face chat on the big day

Prince Harry will receive a massive gesture from his father on his upcoming birthday, as King Charles III is reportedly set to extend an olive branch his way.

The Duke of Sussex turns 40 on September 15, a landmark birthday he will reportedly spend with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie, five, and two-year-old Lilibet. He will follow up the big day with a lads’ getaway trip with some of his closest friends while the Duchess of Sussex stays at home.

While he enjoys two days of celebration with his stateside friends and family, his UK-bound royal relatives also reportedly plan to wish him well. His father is reportedly planning to have a face-to-face with the Duke of Sussex as “a lot of love” remains between the two despite their several thousand miles of separation.

There is “a lot of love” between Harry and his father ( 
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Getty Images)
Speaking to the Daily Express, the “well-placed” source said that the monarch plans to catch his son as soon as he wakes up in California with a call on Skype organised by staff. The source added that, while the two aren’t as close as they once were, they still like to see one another.

The insider said: “The King will reach out to Harry on his birthday. Although the family are not as close as they once were, there is still a lot of love there. They tend to use Skype when they communicate because they can see each other and it’s all set up by staff so it runs smoothly.”

While Prince Harry will reportedly speak with his father on Sunday, his statement addressing his upcoming birthday made no mention of his royal family members. The Duke said he is “excited” to turn 40 this weekend in a statement released via a spokesperson mentioning his own children and his desire to “do good in the world”.

He said: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world”. He added: “Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work,” the prince said in a statement released by his spokesperson. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s neighbours in Montecito, California, are reportedly ‘fed up’ with the couple and are ‘waiting for them to go’ after they moved to the area in 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s neighbours are reportedly “fed up” with the high-profile pair and are eager for them to move on.

The Duke of Sussex, who is set to celebrate his 40th birthday tomorrow (Sunday, September 15), made headlines when he and his wife decided to step back from royal duties in January 2020. The couple then relocated to California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

After snapping up their lavish £12 million pad in 2020, local residents have begun voicing their opinions about having one of the globe’s most talked-about couples in their midst, the Express reports.

‘Can’t wait for them to go’

An unnamed neighbour didn’t mince words when speaking to The News, expressing a strong desire for Meghan Markle to leave: “cannot wait for her to go”.

The couple moved to California with their family in 2020 ( 
Image:
PA)

Meanwhile, navy veteran Frank McGinity, who resides next door, shared a less harsh view but claimed he was rebuffed at their gates.

Reports suggest that Frank, aged 88, was turned away after he tried to present the Sussexes with some local history films to help them settle into their new community.

He lamented that “they’re not interested”. Frank, who had prepared the films on a CD, recounted how he was dismissed by the couple’s security team in his memoir, ‘Get Off Your Street’.

Frank also expressed his astonishment at the couple choosing to live in the Riven Rock Estate, noting it’s an area where residents are “typically” older. He mentioned to the Montecito Journal: “We don’t see them very much around here.”

One unnamed neighbour said they ‘can’t wait for Meghan to go’ ( 
Image:
PA)

‘We want to see them’

Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan’s neighbour, Richard Mineards, revealed to The Telegraph that some locals are disappointed they don’t see the Sussexes more often. He claimed that Harry is always accompanied by his security when he is spotted locally, whether he’s cycling, strolling on the beach or popping out for food.

Meghan, on the other hand, is reportedly elusive but is occasionally seen having lunch with friends or shopping at a market.

Richard expressed that the local community is “waiting for them” and “gnashing at the bit”.

Harry is set to spend his birthday in California ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

‘Travelling soap opera’

In January, another local resident, Barry Maher, told the Mirror that people were growing frustrated with the couple’s “travelling soap opera”.

He pointed out that they live in a “considerably pricier spot” than others and yet they’re hardly ever seen.

Barry, who works as a PR and communication expert, noted that while no one in the area is “exactly living in cardboard boxes”, local tolerance “seems to mirror USA tolerance”. He further added that those who do like them seem to have an “unlimited tolerance”, while everyone else is either “unimpressed by the travelling soap opera” or “just sick of hearing about them”.

The Prince of Wales made an unannounced visit to an Airbus helicopter base in Oxfordshire acting in a purely private capacity and as a result of his work with the London Air Ambulance

The Prince of Wales surprised helicopter staff on Friday after making an unannounced visit to a base in Oxfordshire.

Prince William, 42, turned up at the official opening of the new Airbus Helicopters headquarters at Oxford Airport, it is understood.

His appearance was not announced in advance and it is understood he was there in a private capacity.

According to The Telegraph newspaper, he was invited by Airbus because of his connection with London Air Ambulance, of which he is a patron.

He reportedly attended wearing a blue jumper and spoke informally with staff. He was also shown around the newly delivered Airbus H135, bound for London Air Ambulance, which was on display in the hanger.

The helicopter is an updated version of the aircraft the Prince flew during his two years as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance between March 2015 and July 2017.

William also served as a RAF search and rescue pilot.

His eldest son, Prince George, is said to have been fascinated with aircraft since he was a toddler.

Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK, Lenny Brown, said: “We very much appreciate His Royal Highness’s attendance at the opening of our new HQ.”

“The prince is an important figure in the British helicopter community and it was a great pleasure to show him our new state-of-the-art production facilities.”