Author: bang1

Kate, Princess of Wales, has taken a leaf out of her late mother-in-law’s rule book when it comes to raising her three children without all the trappings of royalty

The Princess of Wales is following in the footsteps of her predecessor Princess Diana when it comes to family life.

Despite her status, Diana wanted her children to experience as normal a life as possible. As such, she would endeavour to do typical family things instead of enlisting the help of nannies.

It’s a trend that Princess Kate has been keen to follow. She mainly resides with her young family at Adelaide Cottage, which is located on the Royal Estate of Windsor Great Park, close to where Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis go to school.

The house itself is surprisingly humble with its four bedrooms and, as previously reported in MailOnline, William and Kate decided not to bring their nanny with them when they relocated to the cottage in 2022.

Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo has been part of the Wales’ family since Prince George was just six months old. But rather than live with William, Kate and their children as she did previously, she now lives in a separate property close by.

The reason for the change was said to be because William and Kate are also choosing to raise their children in as ordinary an environment as possible. George, Charlotte, and Louis reportedly help out with a number of household chores, including cooking, laying the table and clearing up around the home.

While Diana was surrounded by servants and palace aides while she raised Prince William and Prince Harry, she certainly shared similar values to her future daughter-in-law Kate.

And according to a former royal chef, Diana would clash with staff over her parenting approach. She often preferred to take a more informal approach to William and Harry’s mealtimes, letting them eat meals on trays in front of the TV, and once cancelling their planned dinner to take them out to McDonalds because they wanted the Happy Meal toys.

In an interview with HELLO, Darren McGrady said of the late Princess: “She wasn’t strict at all. She let them be boys, young boys! There was always a battle between her and Nanny. Nanny would say, ‘No, they’re eating their dinner, they’re having cabbage.’

“And the Princess would say, ‘No, if they’re with me and they want loaded potato skins and fried chicken then they can have that. And if they don’t eat it and they still want pudding, they can have that too!’ She was much more relaxed than Nanny.”

Darren, who worked at Buckingham Palace from 1982 to 1993, and at Kensington Palace from 1993 until Princess Diana’s death in 1997, continued: “They liked comfort food dishes. They loved banana flan, anything with banana really, banana ice cream. They loved things like mixed grills, burgers, pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken and cream chicken sauce… They were royal children but they still had children’s palates.”

Prince William was in Liverpool today for several engagements and stunned train passengers as he travelled to the city on an Avanti West Coast train, delighting them and railway staff by happily chatting away during the journey

Prince William left passengers shocked when he hopped on a train today – and delighted them by chatting to them during the journey.

The Prince of Wales headed to Toxteth in Liverpool for two engagements to shine a light on vital community groups there who are working to support young people in the local community.

Wills, 42, travelled north from London to Liverpool on an Avanti West Coast service and when other passengers and staff boarded the train, they were stunned to see the future King sitting in a first-class carriage. The prince was said to be seen smiling as he happily chatted away to other passengers in the carriage and railway staff and when he got off the train at Liverpool Lime Street Station, he cheerily said hello to those also disembarking.

William walks with other passengers through the station ( 
Image:
Mirror Exclusive)

William walks with other passengers through the station ( 
Image:
Mirror Exclusive)
William, dressed casually in a dark green jacket and dark trainers, left the station beaming with other passengers clutching a folder containing his notes.

It seems the prince is a regular on the railways after catching a train back from a conference from Birmingham last week – but not before stopping off at Wetherspoons in the city’s New Street Station where he enjoyed a pint with fellow Aston Villa fans. Meanwhile, last year in a snap shared on social media, William was pictured on a Great Western Railway service from London to Cardiff with his notes out in front of him to head to an engagement in Wales.

William during a visit to Cycle of Life in Toxteth, Liverpool today ( 
Image:
PA)And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes it’s all part of William’s plan for a more down-to-earth royal approach. She told the Mirror : “For a while now, William has been putting into action the way that he intends to do the job,” Jennie told The Mirror. “And that, as he now made clear, is royal with a small r. You could say that the small ‘r’ also stands for relatable, because that is what he is showing himself to be.

“I think he gets quite a kick out of surprising people – by taking calls in a restaurant, serving people from burger stalls or dropping into a pub to buy a round of drinks. I think William finds it refreshing to be able to interact without all the fuss that generally goes with a royal visit. And I’m sure he also realises that in PR terms, it is extremely effective. It’s important for the Royal Family to be in touch as much as possible with the way ordinary people feel.”

William’s trip to Liverpool today saw him visit two organisations – one called Cycle of Life, which is supported by BBC Children in Need and works to help young people from diverse backgrounds improve their physical and mental health and boost their employment opportunities through cycling.

Wills shares a joke as he watches a group of youngsters fix a bike ( 
Image:
Getty Images)It was initially set up in 2020 to deliver riding sessions and bicycle maintenance classes as a way to provide equal access to the hobby but has since expanded as a means to improve young people’s confidence, build relationships, and improve their access to the city as a whole.

Afterwards, the prince visited the Tiber Centre to learn about a group of youngsters came together to create a lively hub for the community. There he was mobbed by crowds waiting for selfies owhere he joined a football game in front of sport legend Sir Kenny Dalglish. Locals braved the cold in Toxteth to see William, take photos and shake his hand after he visited two community groups that support young people.

Over 200 young people have been part of the project since it was created in 2005, which puts young people at the heart of the decision-making process, thereby allowing them to influence the look and feel of the development.

 

A new report has claimed that Prince Harry’s ongoing legal battle with the Home Office to have his police security reinstated when he is in the UK has left King Charles feeling ’embarrassed’

Prince Harry has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Home Office for some time now, as he tries to get police security for himself and his family reinstated when they visit the UK. Harry’s official taxpayer-funded security was removed in 2020 when he and Meghan stepped back as working royals.

At the time borders were closing across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meghan and Harry were in Canada when they got the news that the government had decided to remove their police security, and with their location publicised in the press they were concerned about their safety.

Currently, Harry receives a “bespoke” security arrangement, which means the government decides on a case-by-case basis whether or not they will provide him with security – whereas before when he was a working royal, it used to be automatic.

Harry has lost the initial rounds of the legal battle, which found that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) – who decide who gets police protection – had been lawful in removing his automatic security. However, he has won the right to appeal, which will take place in April – and this reportedly remains a sticking point in his relationship with his father, King Charles.

A new report by royal expert Richard Palmer for the i newspaper claims that Charles finds his youngest son’s decision to sue the government “embarrassing” and that Charles has no “sway” over the decision that RAVEC came to, despite members of the royal household sitting on the committee.

“The King is said to find it embarrassing that his son is taking legal action against His Majesty’s Government. He is also said to find it infuriating that Harry claims his father is in a position to overturn the decision to refuse him guaranteed police protection. ‘He’s the King, he could sort that out any time he wants,” one source in Harry’s camp claimed.

“But although several senior courtiers sit on the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), they do not hold sway on the committee, which falls under the remit of the Home Office.”

This echoes claims made by another royal expert, Kate Mansey, for The Times, who reported that the case against the Home Office had become a “sticking point” between father and son, “It places the King in a tricky position because Harry has been granted leave to appeal. Until the case is concluded, there is little Charles feels he can say to his son.”

Harry’s legal team has argued that the Duke of Sussex “does not feel safe” bringing his wife, Meghan, and two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three to the UK without police security.

In a statement heard by the court, Harry said, “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US.

That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.” Whilst Harry does pay for private security for his family, he and his legal team have previously argued that they do not have the proper jurisdiction or adequate access to intelligence to keep the Sussex family safe in the UK.

Harry – the sixth in line to the throne – also previously offered to pay for the police protection himself when he visits the UK, however, the Home Office’s legal team argued it was inappropriate for wealthy people to “buy” police protection.

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Prince William made an appearance earlier today at a non-profit cycling organisation, looking suave and laid-back in a £130 Reiss shacket that’s flying off the shelves

The Duke of Cornwall made a public appearance today at Cycle of Life. While attending this non-profit cycling organisation, the Prince participated in various activities, from football to helping assemble bicycles. Looking suave and smart as ever, William donned an on-trend dark green ‘shacket’ that’s more affordable than you’d expect from a royal wardrobe.

But if you want to copy William’s cool attire, you’ll need to act fast; his £130 overshirt from Reiss is nearly sold out in all sizes, and only a handful of outlets still have stock. Here’s where to shop the Prince’s ensemble.

If your sizes have already flown from the virtual shelves, don’t fret; we’ve found some more budget-friendly options that are still available in a wide range of sizes.

Prince William’s exact shirt is this Reiss Liam patch-pocket brushed wool-blend overshirt ( 
Image:
Reiss)
Up for grabs for £118 from Selfridges, where you can find this shacket in XS only, the Liam patch-pocket brushed wool-blend overshirt is perfect for winter layering, as the Prince of Wales opted for in his late-January outing.

If you’re prepared to act fast, there’s still one place with more size options available: shop the exact Reiss overshirt William styled from Brown Thomas for the slightly higher price of £132.84. It’s still shoppable in sizes XS, M, L, and XL. But they’re running low in stock, so you must hurry if you want to copy the Prince’s look.

The forest-green shirt boasts a regular fit for a flattering but not constrictive look. Made from wool-blend melton, this shacket features a spread collar, practical and stylish twin patch pockets, and button fastenings – which William wore half-undone to reveal his knitwear beneath.

Ideal for fending off chilly temperatures, this shacket offers long sleeves with barrel cuffs for a smart design with a casual finish. Its styling versatility promises to be versatile when it comes to dressing the royal-approved item up or down, depending on the occasion.

If you weren’t fast enough to catch your size in William’s opted-for shacket, fancy something a tad different, or don’t want to blow the bank, we’ve found several alternatives offering the same chilled yet regal style as William’s Reiss piece.

For those who don’t mind splashing some cash, Ralph Lauren has this Birdseye Jacquard Wool Workshirt Jumper in various sizes, but in a differing navy shade if blue is more your colour. This gem can be snatched up for £655.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have access to a royal budget quite the big, don’t worry. Marks and Spencer have their own, more affordable alternative: this Autograph Cotton Rich Jersey Overshirt in William’s preferred green colourway, priced at £49.

Meanwhile, House of Frasers has a similar grey style for £55, and Next joins the running with this Threadbare Neutral Brushed Button Up Shacket that’s up for grabs for £50 and comes in a range of shades.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to be ‘upset and bruised’ while ‘things are not good for them right now’ after a humiliating Vanity Fair article and the postponement of Meghan’s new Netflix show, it has been claimed

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be “upset and bruised” following a scathing Vanity Fair article published last week, with claims that “things aren’t good for them right now.”

The feature, titled ‘Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Big Business Ambitions, 5 Years After Their Royal Exit’, scrutinised the Sussexes’ post-royal endeavours. It included allegations such as someone from Meghan’s circle exploring a potential post-divorce book deal, and assertions that Beyoncé declined an invitation to appear on Meghan’s former podcast Archetypes.

The article even speculated about Harry being comfortable with Meghan being the primary breadwinner. This has left the Royal couple feeling “upset and bruised,” according to Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, who spoke to Sky News Australia.

Schofield revealed that the couple were particularly disturbed by the piece, stating: “It is my understanding that they are upset over it [and] I’m being told that things aren’t good for them right now, between Meghan’s show being postponed, which I’ve heard was Netflix’s idea, and just the idea that she has worked so hard to rebrand herself and here comes a very respected publication reiterating some of the nastiest claims about her.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have suffered another swipe ( 
Image:
Anadolu via Getty Images)

She added, “So I think they are bruised and they’re sitting back trying to figure out how to process going forward.”

Recently, at an event evaluating the couple’s reaction to the LA wildfires, Ms Schofield hinted that their actions may have had an unintended consequence, failing to win over the public’s sympathy as they might have intended, according to the Mirror US. Meghan’s forthcoming series, With Love, Meghan, has been rescheduled to premiere on March 4, after initially being set to air last week, reports the Express.

Before the original launch date, Meghan released a statement explaining the delay of the eight-part series, saying: “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.”

Meghan on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2017 ( 
Image:
Vanity Fair)

Beyoncé turned Meghan down, it is claimed ( 
Image:
Beyoncé/Instagram)
Netflix has already unveiled some of the show’s guests, including Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, and Alice Waters, with the streaming service teasing “additional acclaimed chefs and special friends.”

As the show’s producer, Meghan aims to blend “practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old,” according to Netflix. The streaming service added: “Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection, and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.”

Since Meghan, Duchess of Sussex quit life as a working royal, allegations and rumours that she isn’t the easiest person to work with have continued to abound – but Prince Harry has a totally different take

Rumours that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex can be a difficult boss have plagued her since she was a working royal.

And in a scathing new report by Vanity Fair, staff members who worked with her at Spotify have added their voices, claiming they found their time with the Duchess to be challenging. Meghan has strongly denied claims that she “bullied” her staff members, pushing back on what her spokesperson previously called a ‘calculated smear campaign’.

Equally, there have been many other former staff members who have come forward to publicly disagree with these assessments, insisting they found her to be a great boss.

Prince Harry, Meghan’s husband, also opened up about his view on the way Meghan dealt with her staff in his memoir Spare, and while he has not spoken publicly about the new allegations that have surfaced, it’s clear that he has a different take on why emotions often ran high in the royal offices.

 

This Morning: Cat Deeley announces breaking Prince Harry news

The first allegations that Meghan had “bullied” two royal aides emerged in 2021 – around the time of the couple’s bombshell sit-down with Oprah Winfrey where they explained the reasons behind their shock exit from the UK. The incidents are reported to have occurred as early as 2018, with two PAs leaving their roles in the royal household quickly after the couple’s fairytale royal wedding in Windsor.

Harry and Meghan got married in 2018 in Windsor ( 
Image:
PA)

Two PAs left their jobs shortly after the couple’s wedding ( 
Image:
PA)
The Times reported in 2021 that Jason Knauff, former communication secretary for the couple, made a complaint about what he perceived to be “bullying” behaviour from Meghan towards royal staff, writing to Prince William’s private secretary about his worries on the matter: “I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights”.

The newspaper also quoted multiple sources that used the term “bullies” to describe Meghan and Harry, with one claiming that another member of the team was left “completely destroyed”, and another alleging they were “humiliated” by the Duchess while others were apparently left in tears. In her defence, Meghan is said to have stated that it was not her “job to coddle people”.

Jason Knauff left his position shortly after making the complaint, but by Harry’s own admission, there were tears and incredibly high tensions amongst the staff that year. However, he made it clear in Spare that in his view, none of the blame for that lay at Meghan’s door.

Jason Knauf was the couple’s comms secretary, and complained about Meghan’s behaviour towards staff in 2018 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Instead, Harry wrote that it was the growing tension between himself, Meghan, his elder brother Prince William, and sister-in-law Kate – alongside the huge demands the press team was facing without enough staff to meet them – that was to blame for the “poisoned atmosphere” in the office.

“There was frequent bickering around the office,” Harry wrote, “Sides were taken. Team Cambridge versus Team Sussex. Rivalry, jealousy, competing agendas, it all poisoned the atmosphere.

“It didn’t help that everyone was working around the clock. There were so many demands from the press, such a constant stream of errors that needed clearing up, and we didn’t have nearly enough people or resources. At best we were able to address 10 percent of what was out there.”

Harry blamed his feud with William for the mounting tensions ( 
ImageThe atmosphere, from Harry’s description, got pretty toxic, and meant that what he perceived as “constructive criticism” towards staff ended up leaving them upset or offended instead, he claimed. “Nerves were shattering, people were sniping. In such a climate there was no such thing as constructive criticism. All feedback was seen as an affront, an insult. More than once a staff member slumped behind their desk and wept.”

He added that William laid the blame solely at Meghan’s door and made this clear repeatedly, leaving the Duke of Sussex furious. In contradiction, Harry painted a picture of his wife as an ideal boss, who went above and beyond for her staff members – and that he never witnessed her speaking rudely to anyone who worked for them. Instead, she “spread kindness. She sent out handwritten thank you notes, checked on staff who were ill, sent baskets of food and flowers or goodies to anyone struggling, depressed or off sick.”

Not only that, Harry claimed, but she also personally funded amenities for the office like electric heaters, and threw socials for her staff.

There have been two major reports over the last few months negatively depicting Meghan’s style as an employer – one in the Hollywood Reporter that describe Meghan as a ‘dictator’ and claimed she had “reduced grown men to tears”. And another in Vanity Fair, alleging that one member of staff who worked with Meghan at Spotify needed “long term therapy” after their experience with the Duchess, while others took “extended breaks” from their jobs.

However, some employees speaking to Vanity Fair had nothing but glowing praise for the Duchess, and several members of staff – both current and former – went on the record with Us Weekly recently describing their incredibly positive experiences of working with Meghan, and reiterating the claim that she goes above and beyond, regularly handing out freebies and gifts to her staff.

Former England captain David Beckham has opened up about his royal connections with both King Charles and Prince William after making several high-profile appearances with them both at recent events

An emotional David Beckham has opened up about his royal connections and how he responded to a request from Prince William.

The former England captain has made a string of high-profile appearances with both the Prince of Wales and King Charles in recent months. The 49-year-old was recently appointed an ambassador for the King’s Foundation and also joined a royal engagement with William to unveil the London Air Ambulance’s new helicopters.

During an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Becks was asked about his royal pals and recent work with the monarchy. And he became emotional and admitted he always gets “emotional talking about anything that I do with our Royal Family”.

David Beckham at the World Economic Forum in Davos ( 
Image:
AP)
When it came to William, Becks said that he’s joined forces with the Prince “whenever he’s asked me to get involved”. He explained: To be involved in that has always been a ‘yes’ for me. Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says ‘I need you to do this’ or ‘be there’, it’s always a ‘yes’.”

When it came to his role with Charles’ King’s Foundation, he praised the monarch as an incredible man and revealed his mum Sandra burst into tears when he told her he’d been asked to be an ambassador for the charity.

He added: ” She knows my grandparents would have been proud that I have played such an important role in the Royal Family and the charities that they have.”

Beckham with Prince William at an engagement for the London Air Ambulance ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Becks’ comments come just weeks after speculation began mounting that he could be knighted after growing particularly close to the King. It came after David and his fashion designer wife Victoria were surprise guests at a glittering state banquet in honour of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher in December.

The former Man United star was described in royal circles as “the perfect guest” for the state occasion, owing to his ambassador role for the 2022 Qatar World Cup when the competition broke ground by being held in the Middle East for the first time.

The ex-player, who was capped 115 times for England as well as captaining the team for six years, has in the past been widely tipped to have a promotion from his current OBE, after being named in the late Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to football in June 2003. But after hanging up his boots playing for some of the world’s most illustrious clubs including AC Milan and Real Madrid.

The King shares a joke with the former England captain ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)In June, the King turned to brand Beckham to help him rebuild the reputation of his main charitable foundation after a cash-for-honours scandal. Becks was announced in the new role after the two met for tea at the monarch’s Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.

A photo of Charles giving Beckham a personal tour of the grounds sits prominently on the superstar’s website under the philantropy section. Beckham said he was looking forward to exploring a newly discovered shared interest with the monarch in rural skills, nature and the British countryside as well as swapping beekeeping tips.

After one particularly major life event, royal insiders have revealed that King Charles ‘lightened up’ significantly – and seems far less ‘stressed’ compared to those around him

King Charles has undoubtedly faced an incredibly challenging 12 months, undergoing cancer treatment at the same time as settling into his role as monarch.

As the person to hold the title Prince of Wales for the longest time in British history, Charles had a lot of time to prepare for what he wanted his reign to look like – but he still had a big pair of shoes to fill.

The late Queen Elizabeth maintained sky-high approval ratings throughout the majority of her long reign, and Charles had only been on the throne just over a year when he was diagnosed with cancer.

The monarch was then forced to step back from public duties for a time as he focussed on his treatments, but after being given the all-clear to get back to engagements by his doctors, Charles has been hard at work.

While the King’s cancer treatment is said to be continuing this year, those around him are impressed with the light-heartedness and positivity he has shown despite these personal challenges.

Insiders speaking to ABC News Australia explained that this positive outlook is something that they have come to expect from Charles, after watching him work for many years.

One insider, royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who has captured photographs of the royals at major, and minor, events over decades revealed that in his opinion, there was one major life event that took place nearly 20 years ago that saw the now-King “lighten up” for good, and seem far less stressed out generally – his marriage to Queen Camilla.

While Charles and Camilla had been romantically involved long before they made things official and tied the knot in 2005, it was their wedding that saw this shift in Charles’s approach, the royal expert claimed.

“When Charles married Camilla, from that day on he lightened up, no longer stressed about things,” Edwards said, but he wasn’t the only person from Charles’s inner circle who spoke about the hugely positive effect the Queen has had on her husband.

Julian Payne, who formerly worked as Charles and Camilla’s communications secretary, said: “I think she’s given him the assurance that it’s okay to allow a degree of informality into the edges of what you do. You can have a joke. You can dance with me at an Elvis tea dance. It won’t make a mockery of the royal institution.”

Payne added that whilst Charles has some great advisors around him, Camilla is up there as one of his best, “The Queen is the greatest consigliere that the King has” the insider explained.

Prince William and Princess Kate famously met and fell in love during their time at St Andrews University. And on the day of their joint graduation, the Vice Chancellor made a prophetic comment

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their proud families were in attendance for the couple’s joint graduation ceremony at St Andrews University in 2005.

And during the proceedings, they listened to a speech from the Vice Chancellor which proved particularly prophetic for the Royal Family. William and Kate famously first met at the university as students and graduated on the same day in June, with the late Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, among the audience. Both achieved an upper second class degree, William in Geography and Kate in Art History.

On the day of their graduation, Vice Chancellor Brian Lang addressed the students and – as revealed in Katie Nicholl’s biography Kate: The Future Queen – made a telling remark.

Prince William pictured on his graduation day in June 2005 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
He said: “You will have made lifelong friends. You may have met your husband or wife. Our title as the top matchmaking university in Britain signifies so much that is good about St Andrews, so we rely on you to go forth and multiply.”

Little did he know how ‘prophetic’ those words would become years later, Ms Nicholl wrote, with William and Kate going on to tie the knot in 2011.

According to Katie Nicholl in her 2010 book William and Harry, William noticed Kate as soon as he arrived on campus. The boys in their dorm, St. Salvator’s (nicknamed Sally’s), had unofficially crowned Kate as the prettiest girl there.

And while routinely bumping into each other in class – both were studying art history at the time – and around Sally’s, Kate and William discovered they had things in common, including a love of swimming and skiing. Within weeks, Kate and William, alongside their new university friends, were having breakfast together.

The late Queen, Prince Philip, then-Prince Charles and Camilla were all in the audience for the ceremony ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

The couple later spoke about the start of their relationship when they sat down for their engagement interview in November 2010. Tom Brady asked the pair: “When did you first set eyes on each other and what did you think?” William replied: “It’s a long time ago now, Tom, I’m trying to wrack my brain. We obviously met at university – at St Andrews we were friends for over a year first and it just sort of blossomed from then on. We just spent more time with each other, had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realised we shared the same interests and had a really good time.

“She’s got a really naughty sense of humour, which kind of helps me because I’ve got a really dry sense of humour, so it was good fun, we had a really good laugh and things happened.” Tom then asked Kate, “What did you think of William? It’s clearly not quite the same as meeting your average university student, or maybe it was, what was your first impression?”

The future Princess confessed: “Well I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you. Actually William wasn’t there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn’t there for Freshers Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other but we did become very close friends from quite early.”

Sophie was visibly emotional as she spoke about her two children with Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn, after a poignant royal moment

The Duchess of Edinburgh was moved to tears this week as she made a rare comment about her two children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex.

Sophie and Edward chose not to give their daughter and son a royal title at birth and very rarely speak about their private family life. But the proud mum opened up about Louise, 21, and James, 17, during a visit to L’Arche – a south London community of “friends and equals” made up of people with learning disabilities and their supporters.

While there, Sophie was asked about the moment her two children stood vigil beside the coffin of their late grandmother, Elizabeth II following her death in September 2022. Louise and James both took their place in Westminster Hall alongside their older cousins, including Prince William, Prince Harry, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, in a poignant tribute.

Lady Louise and James joined their older cousins to hold vigil besides the Queen’s coffin ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The Telegraph was on hand to capture her moving response: “Unflappable, she thinks a moment before answering. It was, she says, ‘incredibly moving’, leaving her ‘just so proud of them’ – ‘all of the cousins’ – for the way they listened to instructions.”

Sophie continued: “I suppose there was a part of me initially that thought, ‘Would it be appropriate for James, perhaps, to do it?’ because he was younger than the others, but he was really keen to do it. And I think it was really important for him to do it, and obviously for Louise as well.

“But they did it so well, each and every one of them. I was slightly holding my breath, wanting them to feel that they’d done it well more than anything else. I wasn’t worried about anything happening; it was more that I wanted them to feel that they’d done their bit for their grandmother. It was incredibly moving, and lovely to see her surrounded by them.”

According to the publication, Sophie then paused, put her hands on her heart and seemed to “blink to stop tears falling”, before saying: “I don’t think I can talk about it any more.”

Sophie spoke of her pride for all the late Queen’s grandchildren ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Sophie has a very close relationship with the late Queen. The monarch is said to have ‘trusted’ and ‘relied’ on Sophie to a greater extent than many others in her inner circle, and reportedly saw her as ‘more like a daughter’ than a daughter-in-law.

Their special bond was said to be down to their similar interests, with the pair often spending Saturday or Sunday evenings together at Windsor, watching old war films and historical documentaries. Sophie was frequently given the honour of travelling with the Queen when she attended church services at either Sandringham or Balmoral, a sign of just how close they were.

The Duchess also famously once referred to the Queen by a deeply personal nickname in a speech – ‘mama’. And when she was asked once whether she genuinely shared the closest of bonds with the late Queen, as many reported, Sophie touchingly replied: “I think so. I hope so.”