Author: bang2

GUARDS are determined to make Princess Kate’s Colonel’s Review “the best yet” despite her absence due to cancer treatment.

Kensington Palace today confirmed the Princess of Wales, 42, will miss the military salute with the Irish Guards next Saturday.

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Princess Kate will miss the military salute with the Irish Guards next SaturdayCredit: Getty

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The ceremony is seen as a rehearsal for the King’s Trooping the Colour parade, held on June 15Credit: Jordan Pettitt / PA Wire

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Lt Col James Shaw, overseeing both ceremonies, said that the military’s best wishes were with the Princess of WalesCredit: Simon Jones – Commissioned by The Sun
As Colonel in Chief she was due to inspect the troops at Horse Guards Parade in central London.

The ceremony is seen as a rehearsal for the King’s Trooping the Colour birthday parade on June 15.

Instead her role will be taken by Lt Gen Sir James Bucknall, former Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Force.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace said the King will inspect Trooping the Colour soldiers from a carriage rather than on horseback. Kate is unlikely to attend that event.

Lt Col James Shaw, overseeing both ceremonies, said: “We totally understand and our thoughts and best wishes are with Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.

“We are even more determined to make the Colonel’s Review the best yet for her. We are so proud to have The Princess of Wales as the Colonel of the Irish Guards.”

Sources close to Kate admit she was never expected to attend the Colonel’s Review after she began chemo in February.

And royal author Ingrid Seward said: “People will be disappointed but also extremely understanding.

“We simply want Kate to get better, whatever it takes, and however long that may be.”

In January, Kensington Palace said Kate was stepping back from duties until April after she had abdominal surgery at The London Clinic.

In late March, the mum-of-three revealed in a video statement how tests after the operation had found cancer and she had started chemo.

Kensington Palace say she will return only when her medical team give the green light.

Three weeks ago Prince William, 41, told wellwishers in the Isles of Scilly his wife is “doing very well”.

The Army came under fire in March for publicising that the Princess of Wales would take the salute at the Colonel’s Review.

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Kate was due to inspect the troops at Horse Guards Parade in central LondonCredit: Karwai Tang

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William and Kate with their children George, Charlotte and Louis at Trooping the Colour last yearCredit: Getty
Tickets were sold online for £15. But hours later the MoD vowed to remove any mention of Kate from its website after Kensington Palace said the Army had “jumped the gun”.

Buckingham Palace announced in December 2022 she was to become Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by her husband.

She attended her first St Patrick’s Day parade with the Irish Guards in Aldershot, Hants, last year but missed this March’s event.

The King, 75, will be at Trooping the Colour on June 15.

There were fears the annual bash would be cancelled as the Royal Family postpones engagements which may “divert attention” away from the July 4 General Election.

But the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the ceremony and King’s birthday parade will go ahead.

We totally understand and our thoughts and best wishes are with Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales

Lt Col James Shaw

Charles, who recently returned to public duties while being treated for his cancer, wanted to attend on horseback.

He will now wave to crowds from an open-top Ascot Landau carriage as it is driven from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.

William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne are expected to be on horseback.

Lt Col Shaw, who will lead the royal procession down The Mall on the day, said confirmation of King’s presence was wonderful but “means the Army have to step up our game even more”.

Field Officer in Brigade Waiting, Lt Col James Coleby, added: “For us, it adds to the splendour of the day.

“Of course, it’s His Majesty’s birthday and we all wanted him to be there and are very pleased he is too.

“We wish him all the very best. I’m sure there’s more to come in his recovery.”

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The King is set to be at Trooping the Colour, an event that marks the sovereign’s official birthdayCredit: Max Mumby

WHEN it was announced that Prince William was going to next week’s D-Day commemorations without Catherine, it made me wonder if she would be fit enough for rehearals of Trooping the Colour.

Even when fully fit, the Colonel’s Review is quite a difficult day of getting in and out of carriages and later appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with her family. If you’re not well it can be gruelling.

Catherine may well have thought she could not cope with it at this stage of her recovery.

She’s a wonderful ambassador for our country and it’s only right that she gets properly better and does not rush back.

It would be lovely if we did see her at Royal Ascot or in the VIP box at Wimbledon this summer.

But if we don’t see her in public until the autumn, I for one, am happy to wait however long it takes.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry undertook this month a whirlwind tour to Nigeria, during which they visited charities and promoted their non-profit work.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited Nigeria. (Image: GETTY)

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s high-profile visit to Nigeria has been described as a “have your cake and eat it” situation by a royal commentator.

The 72-hour, whirlwind trip to West Africa undertaken this month by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was hailed by some commentators as a success for the California-based couple.

The trip was said to be deeply personal for both Meghan and Harry. During their meetings, they were able to continue their work around the Invictus Games, the Duke’s paralympic-style event for ill and wounded veterans and military personnel, and women empowerment.

Moreover, Meghan was able to explore her heritage, two years after she revealed during her podcast series Archetypes to have discovered through genealogy tests to be 43 percent Nigerian.

Speaking at an event on women in leadership, the Duchess said: “Every single moment that I hear anyone talk about what it means to be a Nigerian woman, it is the most flattering thing to be in that company.”

 

Meghan Markle was able to explore her heritage during the trip. (Image: GETTY)

Nevertheless, the trip also included aspects – such as a formal welcome and official dinner – clearly reminiscent of a royal tour and also had “all the marks of a presidential visit”, according to royal commentator Emily Andrews.

And, as the pair are neither US politicians nor working members of the Royal Family, the trip showed how Meghan and Prince Harry are trying to get the best of both the royal world they left behind and their current private entrepreneurial lives, Ms Andrews suggested.

She wrote in Woman magazine: “As with everything Sussex-related, it was a ‘have your cake and eat it’ situation.

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in early 2020. (Image: GETTY)

“Back in 2020, they made it extremely clear to the late Queen, Charles and William that they did not want to be working royals and would earn their own money instead.

“Yet this tour followed the tried-and-tested royal playbook that was previously so heartily rejected by the Sussexes. But this time, it was on their own terms.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in early 2020.

 

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games (Image: GETTY)

A royal photographer claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were keen not to share details of Prince Archie’s birth straight away.

Queen Camilla first saw Archie on a photographer’s phone. (Image: GETTY)

Queen Camilla first saw Prince Archie via “a royal photographer’s phone” after his birth in May 2019, it has been revealed.

Royal photographer Arthur Edwards claims that he was the first person to show Queen Camilla a picture of her step-grandson in 2019.

Having taken pictures of the Royal Family since the 1970s, Mr Edwards spoke of Meghan and Harry’s approach to introducing their then-newborn son to the world.

At the time of the birth, Mr Edwards said that he was on a royal tour in Germany with some of Harry’s relatives, including the Queen.

Speaking to the Sun, he said: “I remember showing Camilla in, I think, Munich the first pictures of Archie that were taken by the press.

Queen Camilla was in Germany at the time of Archie’s birth in 2019. (Image: GETTY)

“I showed her on my phone, and that was the first time she saw him. It was difficult times.”

Speaking of Archie’s birth, Mr Edwards added: “We were led to believe that she had gone into labour at two o’clock when the baby had been born many hours earlier. We were led to believe it was going to be a home birth and it was in a hospital. The whole thing was just stage-managed to suit them.”

Unlike fellow royals, Meghan and Harry chose to not pose for photographs outside of the hospital following the birth of their son – with the now-mother-of-two previously revealing the reason behind their decision.

Speaking on the Sussexes’ Netflix docuseries in 2022, Meghan said: “…I had been really worried going into that labour because I am older and I didn’t know if I would have to have a C-section. I had a very long-standing relationship with my doctor and that is who I trusted with my pregnancy. And they said, ‘Right, but she is at Portland Hospital and the steps are at this hospital (the Lindo Wing)’. And I said, ‘OK, we could do a photo call in front of Portland Hospital’.”

Two years after Archie’s birth, Meghan gave birth to Princess Lilibet – who will celebrate her third birthday next week – in June 2021.

Camila is an avid reader, and we have a feeling, that when she picks a book for her book club, readers may pick it up to read, just like Oprah’s book club from back in the day.

Oprah Winfrey launched her book club twenty years ago, and it’s still running, but now she has some fresh competition with Queen Camilla and her newly launched The Queen’s Reading Room podcast.

The Queen’s Reading Room just announced its latest pick, the 2017 novel Pachinko by Min Jin Lee with Camilla describing the story as a “really powerful presentation of women’s resilience and grit in the face of adversity.”

Camilla is an avid reader, which is apparent in her review of the book: ”Pachinko is an expansive, multigenerational epic which offers a fascinating insight into life for Koreans in Japan in the 20th century. A moving and memorable read.”

In addition to enjoying reading, Camilla encourages the importance of reading as Patron to the National Literacy Trust, Book Trust, First Story, the Wicked Young Writer Awards and Beanstalk.

When Oprah’s book club first kicked off, and she would announce a new book, it was almost promised to become a New York Times Bestseller, so, needless to say, authors were very keen to make the list.

Camilla has been a lifelong reader and knows her stuff, and we have a feeling her opinion will mean a lot to readers, which could easily translate into sales.

Camilla took the stage at an event in East Sussex, celebrating literature (Image: Getty)

Camilla’s review is already having an impact on the author, with Ms Lee turning to X and sharing her excitement, writing:

“Her Majesty recommends. She read my second novel. Am honoured. In London right now researching and interviewing for the revision of my third novel, and Her Majesty’s generous remarks feel like a miracle. Grateful.”

Set in early 1900s Korea, the story follows a teenage girl, who meets a wealthy stranger, and soon learns she’s pregnant. When it turns out her new lover is married, she turns her attention to a minister, who is making his way to Japan. Her decision to leave her home and reject her son’s powerful father triggers a chain of events that carry on for generations.

One royal expert believes that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be invited to spend time at Balmoral this summer but claimed that Queen Camilla disapproves of the situation.

King Charles could invite Prince Harry to Balmoral this summer. (Image: GETTY)

King Charles could be set to extend a major olive branch to Prince Harry by inviting him to spend time at Balmoral this summer, a royal has claimed.

Harry may travel to the UK with Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 2.

Although he believes King Charles may extend an invite to his youngest son, royal expert Tom Quinn said that he is certain Harry will decline the invite.

Unlike her husband, Mr Quinn claimed that Queen Camilla is “dreading” the thought of Harry and Meghan being at Balmoral with the family.

Speaking to the Mirror, the expert said: “King Charles will issue the traditional invitation to Harry and Meghan to spend part of the summer at Balmoral, but safe in the knowledge that Harry and Meghan will make their excuses and decline.”

 

Harry and Meghan could travel to Balmoral with their children this summer. (Image: GETTY)

He added: “Relaxing at the 50,000-acre private estate might be just the place to let bygones be bygones, but Camilla will be dreading anything that threatens the calm her husband needs to continue his recovery from cancer.”

Speaking of Harry’s ongoing feud with Prince William, Mr Quinn suggested that this could prevent Harry from accepting the offer – although the Duke would “love to see” his sister-in-law. He explained: “Harry would love to see Kate and his expressions of concern for her are deeply felt but he knows that he can’t see Kate without seeing his brother so it’s not going to happen.”

Discussing the potential that the couple will turn down the invite, he added: “Meghan and Harry feel that turning up at Balmoral will put them on the back foot as it’s very much Royal Home turf.

“And Meghan won’t want to go back on her public insistence that she will never return to the UK – she’ll only do it if she gets the apology she has always demanded unless something really dreadful happens.”

Since stepping back as working royals in 2020, Meghan and Harry reside in California with Archie and Lilibet.

The £850 a night Airbnb where the Prince and Princess of Wales stayed during their trip to Wales last year has shared an unseen image of the royal couple.

Taking to Facebook, Duffryn Mawr Country House, marked the one year anniversary of their royal couple’s stay with a photograph of William, 41, and Kate, 42, smiling with staff.

The post praised Kate and William as ‘so kind and friendly’, adding that it was a ‘pleasure’ to have them stay for the night.

The staycation hotspot, which sleeps 16 people, doubles as a wedding venue and borders the Brecon Beacons National Park, where Kate and William travelled to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Central Beacons Mountain Rescue.

It is open to members of the public on Airbnb for £850 per night with a three night stay minimum and boasts panoramic mountain views.

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Staff at Duffryn Mawr Country House shared an unseen image of the Prince and Princess of Wales one year on from their stay

After their stay, Kate and William smiled with staff for a photograph and signed the guestbook.

The Facebook page read: ‘It’s been one year since we welcomed William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to Duffryn Mawr.

‘We were delighted to welcome William and Kate for a night here when they visited The Brecon Beacons. So kind and friendly, it was a pleasure to have them stay here.’

In addition to the seven bedrooms, the country home boasts 74 amenities, including a gym, a spa kitted out with a steam room and hot tub, and a children’s den.

Kate and William enjoyed one night at the luxury home, before cracking on with activities around south Wales, including meeting the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team as part of William’s role of patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

At the time of their stay Kimberley Fry, who owns Duffryn Mawr and the Bluebell, said: ‘They walked in just like locals.

‘They had a reservation and we kept it quiet, but the locals in the pub were very surprised to see them. We felt very privileged to have them here. We charged the going rate, as we do for everyone.’

It comes after Buckingham Palace revealed it has been inundated with ‘tens of thousands’ of get well soon cards and gifts for the Princess of Wales, following her brave admission that she is undergoing cancer treatment.

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After their stay at the country home, Kate and William signed the Duffryn Mawr Country House guestbook

Taking to Facebook, staff at the Wales home praised Kate and William for being ‘so kind’ and ‘friendly’

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Located on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park, the country home is priced at £850 per night on Airbnb

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Duffryn Mawr Country House can comfortably sleep 16 people and has panoramic views of the nearby mountains

It is understood that the correspondence team at the palace have been ‘so touched’ by the love and affection shown to Kate, 42, who recorded an emotional video message revealing she had embarked on a course of preventative chemotherapy.

The princess has withdrawn from public life to concentrate on her treatment and recovery, as well as protecting her young family.

But the outpouring of support for the princess continues- and palace staff have received thousands and thousands of cards, letters and gifts from members of the public offering their support and good-wishes.

The sheer volume of correspondence has at times been difficult for the team to cope with. But staff do aim to reply to all the writers, eventually.

Although the Prince and Princess of Wales have their own private office at Kensington Palace, all letters to members of the Royal Family are dealt with by the Court Post Office.

In a normal week the palace would expect to receive up to 1,000 letters each week from members of the public with various queries or messages of good wishes for individual royals.

But what they have experienced since the disclosure of the princess’s health issues has significantly superseded that.

Kate was unexpectedly taken into hospital at the start of the year for major abdominal surgery. She remained in The London Clinic for two weeks before going home to recuperate.

In March, following a period of intense global speculation about her health, the princess herself confirmed that while her condition had not been thought to be cancerous at the time, doctors had subsequently discovered evidence of the disease.

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In total, the luxury country home in south Wales boasts 72 amenities, including a pool table

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During their trip to Wales in April last year, Kate and William visited the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team

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Kate appeared in high spirits as she celebrated the 60th anniversary of Central Beacons Mountain Rescue

She made it clear that she needed to focus on both her recovery but also supporting her young children at a difficult time, asking for her family to be given time and space while she completed her treatment.

Although there has been no official update on her health since, The Mail understands that the princess has been seen out and about more with her family in recent weeks, which will be taken as a positive sign by many.

However earlier this week Kensington Palace stressed that she very much still needs time and space to recover.

Speaking at the launch of a landmark report by her early years ‘business taskforce’, a Kensington Palace spokesman stressed that the news should not be viewed as her returning to work.

A senior royal aide added: ‘The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business task force. She has been kept up to date since the inception of the task force and she has read the report and been briefed on it.

‘This is a clear commitment she has made that throughout her life of public service that this will be focus. That will continue when she returns to work.

‘But we have been really clear that she needs the space and the privacy to recover right now. She will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors.’

When Prince Louis was born in 2018 he was automatically bestowed with an HRH title, as his older siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte had been.

The youngster’s official full title is His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Wales, quite impressive given he has only just celebrated his sixth birthday.

However he only received his royal title thanks to his late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth implementing a change to one rule that had been in place since 1917.

Over one hundred years ago the then-monarch, King George V, set out guidance explaining which members of the Royal Family would qualify for a title and which would not.

He made the decision that all of the sovereign’s children would automatically be a Prince or Princess, as well as any grandchildren born through the male line.

Prince Louis nearly missed out on a royal title (Image: Getty)

But his rule did not apply to any of the monarch’s great-granchildren, which would have included George, Charlotte and Louis when they were born.

Ahead of George’s birth in July 2013 the late Queen decided to amend the rule so that the future King would be born with a royal title.

This change was then extended to Charlotte and Louis when they arrived in May 2015 and April 2018 respectively, and will likely apply to the future great-grandchildren of any monarch.

Queen Elizabeth made the change for her great-grandchildren (Image: Getty)

Even if the late Queen had not made the change, the Wales children would have inherited their titles once their grandfather Charles became King.

His Majesty and Queen Camilla will be appearing at Trooping the Colour on June 15, and while Prince William is likely to attend Princess Kate will remain away.

She has been absent from public life while she receives preventative chemotherapy, as she announced her cancer diagnosis via a touchingly personal video message in March.

The King and Queen will be at Trooping the Colour this year (Image: Getty)

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk the Prince of Wales is expected to be there due to his military role, but he may not bring the children with him.

Mr Fitzwilliams said: “I am sure that William will attend as Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Obviously, Catherine is unlikely to because of her health and it may well be that their children will miss this year’s Birthday Parade.”

Other non-working royals such as Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara and Mike Tindall may be invited onto the Buckingham Palace balcony instead to boost numbers.

Perez Hilton was being interviewed on Kinsey Schofield’s YouTube channel when she asked him what he thought of the Duchess of Sussex’s Archetypes podcast.

Perez Hilton described Meghan Markle’s podcast as ‘hilarious’ (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle’s podcast has been slammed as “hilarious” by one celebrity. Perez Hilton was being interviewed on Kinsey Schofield’s YouTube channel when she asked him what he thought of the Duchess of Sussex’s Archetypes podcast.

The American replied by saying that while the podcast was supposed to “champion women”, all of the guests were “rich and famous”.

He said: “I thought it was hilarious because she claims to be this champion of women and for the people, and yet every guest – if not then the overwhelming majority of guests – were celebrities.

“Why are you doing this thing about women, yet we’re only hearing the voices of the rich and famous?”

Perez Hilton took aim on Kinsey Schofield’s YouTube channel (Image: Getty)

Schofield replied by saying it was “a struggle” to listen to and went on to ask Hilton if he felt Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard would be a success.

He replied: “Yes, I think American Riviera Orchard will be very successful because while a lot of people don’t like Harry and Meghan, a lot of people do like them.

“They’re invested in the British Royal Family as a real-life soap opera.”

Schofield initially appeared shocked at Hilton’s response, but then said she understood his reasoning.

She said: “That’s true, and there’s a lot of sheep out there who want that hand cream.”

It comes just days after it was revealed that an A-list designer had refused to work with the Duchess.

British fashion designer Julien Macdonald expressed his unequivocal preference for the Princess of Wales over Meghan at the Fragrance Foundation Awards in London.

 

The Princess of Wales, who normally takes on the role of Inspecting Officer, won’t attend this year’s rehearsal, the Palace has confirmed.

Princess Kate will not attend Trooping the Colour rehearsal (Image: Getty)

It has been confirmed Princess Kate will not be attending the Trooping the Colour 2024 rehearsal on June 8 as she continues to recover from her cancer diagnosis, say Palace sources.

Instead, the role of Inspecting Officer normally carried out by the Princess of Wales, will be conducted by Lieutenant General James Bucknall K.C.B., C.B.E, as Kate continues her recovery.

It comes as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was earlier accused of sparking confusion after announcing confirmed attendance at the Trooping the Colour without consulting Kensington Palace.

Trooping the Colour is held every year as an official birthday event for the monarch, even though Charles’s actual birthday is on November 14. It dates back centuries and became an annual event from 1760.

King Charles’s official birthday parade will be held on June 15 and is one of the biggest military ceremonies of the year featuring around 1,600 parading soldiers, 400 musicians, 200 horses and is wrapped up with an RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace.

RAF Flypast over Buckingham Palace (Image: Getty)

It is still unclear whether the Princess of Wales, who is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis, will attend the official birthday celebrations on June 15.

Many were hoping that Princess Kate, who has been absent from royal duties since December as she currently undergoes treatment for a type of cancer, would make a royal return for this year’s birthday celebrations for King Charles, but after the latest update, such a prospect seems highly unlikely.

A spokesman said previously: “Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands.”

If Kate is set to attend, it will be one of her first engagements of the year after planned abdominal surgery back in January. Kate previously said that she had undergone abdominal surgery in January and that at the time she was told her condition was non-cancerous. But the future Queen, in a heart-wrenching statement revealed that later tests found cancer had been present.

King Charles on horseback at Trooping the Colour 2023 (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed the reigning monarch will take part in Trooping the Colour 2024 next month but will inspect the soldiers from a carriage instead of on horseback.

Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, is expected to conduct the review of troops from an Ascot landau carriage with Queen Camilla by his side.

Buckingham Palace has said that any future engagements involving the King “will be adapted where necessary” to accommodate his recovery.

Last year, Charles became the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback.

Should Prince Harry apologise to King Charles? Vote in our poll below.

Should Harry apologise to the King for his media stunts? (Image: GETTY)

Prince Harry has made various accusations and claims against the Royal Family since stepping down as a working member of the family in 2020.

Many royal experts have voiced their opinion on whether they believe Harry should offer the King an apology for his countless media stunts – especially amid previous reports that he wanted to return to the UK.

Speaking in an interview prior to the release of his memoir Spare last year, Harry said that he wanted his family – particularly his father and brother – to apologise to his wife, Meghan Markle.

With no apology in sight, the Duke of Sussex is also reportedly unwilling to apologise for his part in the ongoing feud – and the various attacks on members of his family.

Speaking of Harry, royal expert Angela Levin previously told Sky News Australia: “He’s got to apologise hugely, and he’s also got to compromise.”

 

Despite this, she added: “He won’t compromise – he keeps saying he wants the King and Prince William to apologise for things going right back to childhood when William got five sausages and he got four.

“It’s that sort of pettiness as well as him feeling very badly dealt with. If he wants to bring back a family argument, you have to spend time.

“You can’t rush here, spend half an hour, and then rush away, it takes weeks, months even…”

Prince Harry has resided in the US since 2020 – and has made various trips to the UK ever since.

The 39-year-old lives in a £12 million mansion in Montecito with Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 2.