Author: bang2

Queen Camilla has pledged not to buy any more fur products in the latest move by Buckingham Palace to not use animal products. 

The Palace sent a letter with ‘the Queen’s warmest wishes’ to the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) which vowed Camilla ‘will not procure any new fur garments’.

The animal-rights group toasted the news with a glass of the finest claret and its managing director Ingrid Newkirk said: ‘It’s right and proper for the British monarchy to reflect British values by recognising that fur has no place in our society.’

The letter did not state whether she would no longer wear any existing real-fur outfits, the BBC reported.

She has followed in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II who made headlines in 2019 when Her Late Majesty’s senior dresser Angela Kelly revealed she was no longer using real fur in her outfits.

Camilla secretly switched to fake fur hats back in 2017 after receiving a barrage of criticism for wearing a Russian-style real fur hat to the Royal Family’s Sandringham Christmas Day church seven years earlier.

The latest row back by the royals continues the Palace’s move towards becoming environmentally friendly with King Charles long championing green causes.

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Queen Camilla has pledged not to buy any more fur products in the latest move by Buckingham Palace to not use animal products

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The latest row back by the royals continues the Palace’s move towards becoming environmentally friendly. The Coronation Roll (pictured) – the official recording of the proceedings – was for the first time in history made from paper

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His Majesty broke Coronation Day tradition, dating back to at least as far back as Charles I, when he changed the recipe of the sacred oil (pictured) – which he was anointed with by the Archbishop of Canterbury – so it was ‘cruelty free’

The 75-year-old monarch has made a raft of eco-friendly changes since he ascended to the throne in September 2022.

His Majesty broke Coronation Day tradition, dating back to at least as far back as Charles I, when he changed the recipe of the sacred oil – which he was anointed with by the Archbishop of Canterbury – so it was ‘cruelty free’.

It was not the traditional mix of unguents, spices and pungent animal parts, as was the case up to and including the last Coronation.

This time, it was blended from olives which have been freshly picked alongside the grave of Prince Philip’s mother in Jerusalem. It is there that she is buried on the Mount of Olives. Essential herbs and flowers, including jasmine and orange blossom, were also added.

The Palace called the new oil ‘chrism’, though the world know it better as one of the gifts of the Three Wise Men – myyrh. Its origins as an anointing oil go back to the Book of Exodus in the Bible.

By doing so, The King swerved a confrontation with animal rights groups. The anointing oil used at previous coronations contained the glands of a civet cat, ambergris (the stomach lining of a sperm whale) and the secretions of a musk deer, in addition to more palatable ingredients such as rose, cinnamon and sesame. The new oil included nothing from another living creature.

Meanwhile, the Coronation Roll  – the official recording of the proceedings – was for the first time in history made from paper due to Charles’s interest in animal welfare.

It had previously been written on parchment – which is made from calf, goat or sheepskin.

The King was central to a ban on foie gras at royal palaces in 2008 when he held the title of Prince of Wales.

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Camilla secretly switched to fake fur hats back in 2017 after receiving a barrage of criticism for wearing a Russian-style real fur hat (pictured) to the Royal Family’s Sandringham Christmas Day church seven years earlier

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She has followed in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II who made headlines in 2019 when Her Late Majesty’s senior dresser Angela Kelly revealed she was no longer using real fur in her outfits

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The King was central to a ban on foie gras at royal palaces in 2008 when he held the title of Prince of Wales

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Charles has made a raft of eco-friendly changes since he ascended to the throne in September 2022 with him long championing green causes

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Illuminated: The first page of the Coronation roll presented to King Charles and Queen Camilla

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Clerk of the Crown in Chancery Antonia Romeo’s signature on the Coronation Roll

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The Coronation Rolls of previous monarchs on display at Buckingham Palace that were written on parchment – which is made from calf, goat or sheepskin

He instructed chefs at all of his royal residences to stop serving the dish – which is described by opponents as ‘torture in a tin’ because it is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese until their livers are swollen.

At the time, Andrew Farquharson, deputy master of the household at Clarence House, revealed that his chefs had been ordered not to buy or serve the food.

He said: ‘The Prince of Wales has a policy that his chefs should not buy foie gras.

‘His Royal Highness was not aware that the House of Cheese sells foie gras and this will be addressed when their warrant is reviewed.’

Charles last year banned three of the finest foie gras chefs in France from using the fattened duck delicacy when they cooked for him and Queen Camilla at a lavish banquet.

He was said to have provided a strict list of culinary demands for the meal at the Palace of Versailles.

A source said: ‘The King has banned foie gras from his residences in Britain, so there was no possibility of him eating it in France.

‘He doesn’t want asparagus that is out of season either, because shipping it in is environmentally damaging, but there will be a mushroom gratin, which was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth.

‘We understand that Charles was out foraging for mushrooms just before his mother’s death in Scotland’.

Traditionally, the Royal Family have adhered to a strict rule of not displaying emotion in public.

Queen Mary insisted that her granddaughter maintain a serious demeanor, as she believed it was inappropriate for monarchs to smile before their subjects.

Once in power, however, Queen Elizabeth challenged this custom and frequently displayed her sense of humour throughout her 70-year reign.

And the rest of her family have followed suit, as these pictures show.  

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip enjoy a chuckle at Windsor Castle in 2003 as she walks past him while he is dressed in traditional uniform. A swarm of bees had caused concern prior to the Queen’s Company Review

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At Trooping the Colour 2022, young Prince Louis was overwhelmed by the roaring flypast, covering his ears and screaming in response. And in the background, the Queen couldn’t help but smile

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Queen Elizabeth II caused a sensation worldwide by appearing alongside James Bond (portrayed by Daniel Craig) during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

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A grinning Camilla startles Charles by holding a sizeable knife in the air during a visit to a winery in Australia

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Prince William demonstrated his considerate side as he fanned his wife during the sweltering conditions as the 2014 Commonwealth Games

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A 10-year-old  schoolboy couldn’t contain his excitement when he met Queen Camilla earlier this month

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Charles and Camilla crack up as they watch a performance of traditional Inuit throat singing in Canada in 2017

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Prince Harry shares popcorn with a child while attending the sitting volleyball competition at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto

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Prince Philip proves that he can still make the ladies leap by slinking up behind ITN royal correspondent Romilly Weeks as she delivers a live report to camera in Malta in 2007

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Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Charles, crack up while watching the children’s sack race at the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering

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An awkward encounter: Football manager Sam Allardyce stands in front of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Cheltenham Festival, March 2024

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Prince Harry seems to be full of enthusiasm during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he gestures a thumbs-up to the camera

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Prince George is caught gossiping with his cousin Savannah Phillips (left) at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018

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Prince Harry emulates Usain Bolt’s signature gesture following a 100-metre race against the world record holder in Jamaica in 2012

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Prince William attempts to take a booking at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham, much to Catherine’s amusement, 2023

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Diana, Princess of Wales, enjoys a joyful moment with Prince Harry on the Depth Charge ride at Thorpe Park in 1992

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Prince Harry fails to keep a straight face as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, reviews him and his fellow officers during The Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst

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The Queen smiles warmly at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts student Julie Thompson (right) following her performance at Buckingham Palace, 1998

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Charles hilariously reacts after a large lizard landed on his trousers during a visit to the Orokonui Eco sanctuary with Camilla in New Zealand, 2015

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Queen Elizabeth photobombs a selfie taken by two players from the Australian women’s hockey team on the first day of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, 2014

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23-month-old Fitzwilliam Corrie-Salmon steals the limelight from Queen Camilla during a visit to a bakery in Northern Ireland in March this year

Princess Anne has demonstrated her importance to a monarchy hit by illness by undertaking a third of all royal engagements in the first four months of this year.

The Princess Royal has been the lynchpin holding it all together while the King and the Princess of Wales have been undergoing cancer treatment, analysis of official engagements listed in the Court Circular suggests as the monarch marks the first anniversary of his Coronation.

Anne, 73, who is currently on a tour of Canada with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, has increased her already busy workload by two per cent compared to the same period last year.

She undertook 172 engagements up to the end of April, an increase of four on the first four months of 2023.

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Princess Anne has demonstrated her importance to a monarchy hit by illness by undertaking a third of all royal engagements in the first four months of this year. Above: The Princess Royal attending the Battle of the Atlantic service in Victoria, Canada, on Sunday

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The Princess Royal has been the lynchpin holding it all together while the King and the Princess of Wales have been undergoing cancer treatment. Above: Anne with her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence in Victoria, British Columbia, yesterday

Anne has been out on duty on almost as twice as many days as any other member of the ‘slimmed down’ family and is one of only three of the 11 working royals to have upped their engagement tally compared to the first four months of 2023.

Two of the late Queen’s cousins, the Duke of Kent, 88, and the Duke of Gloucester, 79, have also increased their number of duties from low totals last year. But the rest are doing less.

In addition to Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, while out less than last year, have been key to keeping the royal show on the road.

Prince William, 41, has been working reduced hours to concentrate on looking after Kate and their children, first while she recovered from major abdominal surgery and then while she has been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Her health problems have meant Kate, 42, has been unable to undertake any official duties so far this year.

William has carried out 28 engagements so far in 2024, down from 50 in the same period last year.

Patricia Treble, a Canadian journalist who has been keeping detailed records of the Court Circular since 2017, said: ‘Anne alone has done 31.4 per cent of all engagements by working royals in the first third of 2024.

‘Edward has done 15.3 per cent, Sophie has done 11.31 per cent. As the top three in 2024, Anne, Edward and Sophie have done 58 per cent of all engagements.’

The total number of official royal engagements has fallen by 25.6 per cent in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period last year and is down 32 per cent on 2019, the last pre-Covid year.

At 548 official duties so far, the royals are currently on track for around 1,827 engagements this year.

‘That would put them back to pandemic levels, specifically the year 2021 when they did 1,883 official engagements,’ Ms Treble said.

However, Buckingham Palace has said the King, who has been on light duties for much of the year, hopes to step up his public-facing duties in May and June.

So that may increase the totals significantly.

If his health remains stable, he hopes to be able to attend the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy next month and other key dates in the royal calendar, including Trooping the Colour – his official birthday parade – and Royal Ascot in June.

The busiest royal by number of days worked in 2024 (January to April) 

Royal
Number of days

Anne
68

Edward
38

Duke of Gloucester
33

Sophie
32

Camilla
29

Duke of Kent
28

Charles
21

Duchess of Gloucester
19

William
17

Alexandra
1

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King Charles and the Duchess of Edinburgh enjoy themselves at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday

In October he hopes to travel to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and tour Australia.

Ms Treble, author of the Write Royalty newsletter on Substack and a regular contributor to television coverage of the royals in Canada, added: ‘Charles and Anne have historically done many more engagements than the other working royals.

‘(Charles has been no. 1 in three of the past four years, according to my statistics). Last year, they did an additional 150+ engagements than third place Edward.

‘So Charles’s reduced schedule is what is driving a big chunk of the lower work statistics, in general.

‘No surprise there, at all to anyone who looks at the data. Looking at post-pandemic data, he did 137 engagements in each of 2022 and 2023. This year, he did 49. So that’s a decrease of 88 engagements.’

Anne, who is returning from Canada this week, has her next engagement in London.

On Wednesday she will launch the Randeree End of Life Care Programme at Leighton House in Kensington, West London.

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William has carried out 28 engagements so far in 2024, down from 50 in the same period last year. Above: William attending Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League semi-final at Villa Park on May 2

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In addition to Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , while out less than last year, have been key to keeping the royal show on the road. Above: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at the weekend

The following day, the princess will head to Portsmouth Naval Base for a series of engagements.

Later in the week she travels to Manchester to visit the victims’ service at Greater Manchester Police’s headquarters.

The Duke of Edinburgh has two events in London lined up this week, including a dinner in his role as Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation on Wednesday.

On the same day, the Duchess of Edinburgh – who is joining her husband at the dinner – is attending a reception at The Beaumont Hotel in West London.

On Thursday, the pair are attending separate events in London, before Edward hands out gold awards for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at Buckingham Palace the following day.

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The Duke of Gloucester and guest attend ‘Palace Of Palms: A Night Celebrating Heritage At Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’ on May 02, 2024

It comes after a new poll named the Princess of Wales as the UK’s favourite royal, whilst Prince William’s popularity marginally dropped.

The survey found 63 per cent of Brits consider Kate, 42, ‘favourable’ – a slight increase from the Prince of Wales’ score of 62 per cent.

However, Harry and Meghan scored considerably lower in comparison.

Only 29 per cent of participants deemed Prince Harry ‘favourable’, while Meghan’s score sat one per cent lower at 28 per cent.

While William managed to impress 33 per cent of participants as ‘strongly favourable’, Harry appealed to only nine per cent in the same category – the same score achieved by Meghan.

The Duke of York came in as the UK’s least favourite royal, with just 14 per cent of participants regarding him as ‘favourable’.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly concerned about an upcoming German documentary and the secrets it could reveal.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “desperate” attempt to leave the past behind them could be threatened by a new German documentary by experienced royal reporter Ulrike Grunewald.

The journalist and her team have even travelled to Montecito in California, where the Sussexes live, to speak to their neighbours and get an inside glimpse into their personal lives.

The couple are said to fear what the “explosive” documentary could uncover, especially about Meghan’s life before the Royal Family, according to a source.

An insider told OK! magazine: “There are many things that both of them, especially Meghan, don’t necessarily want in the public domain.

“It’s no secret that they both led colourful lives before they met each other, and while Harry has spoken about a lot of mistakes in his book, there are still things about Meghan we don’t know.

“It could also delve deeper into her fall-out with Kate and challenge the Sussex camp narrative that it was all Kate’s fault.

“But Harry and Meghan are now desperate to leave everything in the past as they want to start afresh, and I think Harry will fear that their new happiness could be ruined if Meghan’s past is investigated.”

THIS IS A LIVE BLOG. SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fear the investigation into their pasts (Image: Getty)
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6 hours ago10:25 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

The one thing missing from Buckingham Palace garden party despite star-studded guest list

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

The occasion was far less formal and traditional than most normal Palace garden parties.

Amongst the celebrity guests were Maya Jama, Kate Moss, Bradley Walsh, Tess Daly and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

King Charles hosted another garden party (Image: Getty)

7 hours ago09:57 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

‘Should be a Senator’: Meghan Markle tipped for Congress after ‘presidential’ Nigeria tour

Meghan Markle’s recent appearance in Nigeria has led to people suggesting she could run for office.

Her former Suits co-star Erika Alexander believes that Meghan could run for Senator in the US.

She told The Sun: “She was doing great work as an activist, and I think she’d be a great Senator.

“She’d certainly be a great Congress person, and I think it’s a great way to represent not only America and the world, when I say her person, but also Britain.

“Run run, I’ll come and run that campaign and we’ll get this done. You hear me? We’re going to have a great time and we’ll wear a nice little tiara the whole time.”

Meghan has the support of her former co-star (Image: Getty)

7 hours ago09:27 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Princess Kate’s brother James Middleton releases major update on bombshell memoir

James Middleton is set to release his memoir later this year, which has been inspired by his late cocker spaniel Ella, and he has now released the cover.

He adopted her when he was just 20 and they were inseparable for 15 years before her death last year.

James told Tatler: “Writing this book has helped [me deal with the grief I have after Ella’s passing] by enabling me to process the journey that Ella and I went on.

“Ella was there at so many of the important moments of my life, including when I met Alizee. Our son was born after Ella passed away so Inigo never got to meet her, but it’s important to me that he knows all about her.

“Another of the reasons that I wanted to write this book was so that I could tell Inigo the story of how I met his mother.”

 

James Middleton has written a new book (Image: Getty)

8 hours ago08:50 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Meghan Markle’s Suits co-star claims she’s ‘heading to White House’ as she extends offer

Meghan Markle has long been rumoured to have political ambitions due to her philanthropy and activism.

Her former Suits co-star Erika Alexander certainly believes in her.

When asked about whether Meghan could become a political leader she said: “I think so.

“I think she was doing that before she got engaged.

“She was doing great work as an activist, and I think she’d be a great senator.”

 

Meghan Markle could run for Senator (Image: Getty)

8 hours ago08:20 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Emotional Meghan Markle reveals Princess Lilibet spoke six-word phrase that blew her away

Meghan Markle opened about her children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a rare admission while in Nigeria.

 

In a touching six-word phrase, Lilibet said to Meghan: “Mama, I see me in you.”

Meghan said Lilibet was speaking “really literally,” but the Duchess “hung onto those words in a very different way.”

She added: “I thought, yes, I do see me in you, and you see me in you. As I look around this room, I see myself in all of you as well.”

 

Meghan spoke sweetly about her children (Image: Getty)

9 hours ago07:45 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’embarrassed of UK’ after refusing to sing national anthem

A former royal butler has spoken out about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refusing to sing the English national anthem while in Nigeria.

Paul Burrell told GB News: “They are no longer working royals. They do not represent the King or our country and they’re undermining the good work, which our royals do in Commonwealth countries.

“At royal visits, they play the national anthem. Why was the national anthem being played at their visit?

“It wasn’t a royal visit. They didin’t sing the words to it. I’m not sure whether Meghan knows all the national anthem [but] I’m sure Harry does.”

 

The Sussexes did not sing the national anthem (Image: Getty)

9 hours ago07:15 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘gone rogue’ with ‘unofficial royal tour’, says expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of “going rogue” with their trip to Nigeria.

King Charles and Prince William are said to be “absolutely furious” about the couple going on an “unofficial royal tour”, despite stepping down as working royals in 2020.

Royal author Tom Quinn said: “William is absolutely furious and determined to find a way to stop this happening in future. Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him.

“What’s really upset the applecart is the fact that that the Nigerians treated Meghan and Harry as if they too thought this was an official tour.

“All the signs were there as the couple were greeted with dances, receptions, visits to schools and charities.”

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip was similar to a royal tour (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle has long been touted as a potential US politician, and now a friend of the Duchess of Sussex is urging her to run for office.

Meghan’s tour of Nigeria has been praised by many (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle should consider a career in politics because she is a “diplomat” and an “ambassador”, a former co-star on hit US legal drama Suits has claimed.

Erika Alexander, 54, believes Meghan has shown great courage with the way she has spoken about the Royal Family in recent years.

Alexander tipped Meghan to become a Senator – despite the fact that her focus is currently on a new Netflix series and her lifestyle business American Riviera Orchard.

She told The Sun: “She was doing great work as an activist, and I think she’d be a great Senator.

“She’d certainly be a great Congress person, and I think it’s a great way to represent not only America and the world, when I say her person, but also Britain.

“Run run, I’ll come and run that campaign and we’ll get this done. You hear me? We’re going to have a great time and we’ll wear a nice little tiara the whole time.”

 

Meghan and Harry toured Nigeria last week (Image: Getty)

Meghan and Prince Harry showed off their capabilities when it comes to public engagements during their recent trips to Nigeria.

The couple visited a school, discussed mental health, and even went to a warzone.

During the trip, Meghan also revealed she had taken an ancestry test and discovered she was “43 percent Nigerian.”

Journalist Ian Gallagher wrote a column for the Daily Mail branding Meghan’s performance “presidential.”

He said: “Whatever the true complexion of this fascinating tour – private, non-royal, quasi-royal, presidential – one thing was certain.

“It was controlled skilfully and with an iron hand.”

Erika Alexander tipped Meghan to run for office (Image: Getty)

Gallagher added that Meghan appeared as a “sure-footed global stateswoman in her own right”, adding that it was suggested by one insider two years ago that “it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Meghan went into politics.”

Suits star Alexander said Meghan already faces the scrutiny of a high-level politician.

She said: “She’s also a diplomat and an ambassador, and so I think she should think of herself that way. I did a lot of activism in my life and that’s why I said sometimes things you would do for yourself, you wouldn’t do on the other side of that.

“So I think she’s handling herself very well, and I think it’s also important that she remain herself and really start to continue to stand for herself as an individual so she doesn’t get overwhelmed because that’s heavy.

EXCLUSIVE: Neighbors tell Daily Express US that the royals are rarely spotted in their idyllic coastal town despite their massive international profile.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are virtual ghosts in their hometown as they seek to build their brand down in Hollywood.

“Day to day people don’t see them,” says Sophia, who works at a women’s boutique in Montecito’s popular Coast Village Road.

“I don’t think it’s too much of an impact here.”

Residents of the idyllic coastal town – located just outside of Santa Barbara – tell Daily Express US that the royals lead relatively reclusive lives and are seen less often than other notable residents like Oprah Winfrey.

“It’s kind of the way Montecito is anyway, everyone just does their own thing,” says the co-owner of Tresor Montecito.

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had “no impact at all” on their California town (Image: GETTY)

The couple live in a palatial nine-bedroom mansion, so it’s no surprise they’re rarely spotted (Image: SANATABARBARASLUXURYHOMES.COM)

The couple live in a plush nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion valued at around $14.7 million.

Such swanky digs may explain why they’re rarely spotted out and about.

“It’s pretty big news when they are seen or do come out. Generally speaking, they’re fairly private individuals,” explains Zach Rosen, managing editor of the local Montecito Journal newspaper.

Even if they did, Rosen says the paper is reluctant to run anything about the couple that hasn’t been extensively reported elsewhere.

“We’re usually taking the stance that these are our community members and we do want to respect their privacy,” he says.

 

Neighbors say “everyone just does their own thing” in Montecito (Image: GETTY)

 

He adds: “We probably feel the media presence more than their presence.”

Mary Sheldon, who owns the Tecolote book shop in the town’s Upper Village, lives less than a mile up the hill from the world famous duo.

“I have seen black SUVs on my road. Other than that, it has no impact at all,” she said, noting that Winfrey has come into her store but the Sussexes have not.

The day Harry’s memoir Spare came out, Sheldon went into work to sell it even though the area was under a mandatory evacuation order due to a rainstorm.

“I sold a few copies that day, and so far, maybe 20 copies,” she told.

Charles III’s snub of the Duke of Sussex’s visit to London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games will be welcomed by many royal fans, says commentator Michael Cole.

King Charles did not meet Prince Harry during the Duke of Sussex’s visit to the UK (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster/PA)

 

King Charles gave Prince Harry a “right royal flea in the ear” by snubbing his son’s UK visit, an expert has said. The Duke of Sussex was expected to meet his father during a trip to Britain to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, given father and son were only a few miles apart.

But Harry revealed on Wednesday that he would not meet the monarch while in the country because of the 75-year-old’s busy schedule of engagements elsewhere in the capital.

Speaking on GB News, former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole said: “The fact the King has not found time during the three days that his younger son has been in London to see him is a definite right royal flea in the ear for Prince Harry – and a lot of people around the country and around the world will be saying ‘and about time too’.”

He went on to say that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have made some “very, very bitter, very hard, very cruel allegations against not just the King and Queen Camilla, but Prince William and his wife”.

He added: “That has gone home very firmly. Nothing could actually be worse in a family to have this division and bitterness and unkindness.”

Mr Cole starkly warned the Duke: “Actions have consequences.”

And while there has been much talk recently of a potential royal reconciliation with the Sussexes, Mr Cole said: “The division between the California couple in their hilltop camelot and the British Royal Family getting on with the job is now very, very deep and the divisions are stark.”

Prince Harry has attended several events while in London to mark the anniversary of the Invictus Games, an annual competition he set up for injured servicemen and veterans.

He was given a loud cheer as he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral for a thanksgiving service, where he gave a speech and a reading.

Despite the brutal snub by the King, Harry was all smiles as he waved to crowds.

 

Meghan Markle has been spotted in Abuja on the first day of her visit to Nigeria with Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle’s outfit raised some eyebrows (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are clearly enjoying their time in Nigeria, as they were snapped smiling and dancing at the Wuse Lightway Academy in the capital Abuja.

The couple are currently on a three-day visit to the West African country, having been invited by the Chief of Defence staff at last year’s Invictus Games in Germany.

They looked delighted as they were entertained by local children on their first engagement of the day, however Meghan’s long peach-coloured dress was less pleasing for royal fans online.

The Duchess of Sussex wore the floor-length sleeveless ‘Windsor’ dress by Heidi Merrick in Blush, accessorised with gold bangles and earrings but the hem of the garment was seen dragging on the ground.

One person commented on X: “How difficult is it to get things hemmed? I must be a genius as I have about the same height as Meghan and just a fraction of her budget or influence, yet manage to get things routinely tailored to fit.”

Meghan’s peach dress drew criticism for its length (Image: Getty)

Another said: “That outfit is a disgrace, what is wrong with her”, while a third pointed out: “I agree, the dress is appalling. It doesn’t fit it hasn’t been fitted and it is inappropriate for the occasion.”

One X user added that in Nigeria it is currently 33C and 54 percent humidity, suggesting that the Sussexes have opted for comfort first and foremost.

Others suggested it was inappropriate for her to wear a dress that is semi-backless.

The couple landed in Abuja at 5am this morning and had a few hours rest at their hotel before arriving at their first activity at the Academy, with a packed schedule ahead of them.

 

The weather in Nigeria is hot and humid, meaning Harry and Meghan had to dress for the occasion (Image: Getty)

Beautiful European city collapsing in on itself as sinkholes keep opening up

During their time in Nigeria Harry and Meghan will also travel to Kaduna and Lagos before they head back to California on Monday.

Sport is one of the key themes of the trip as Harry’s own volleyball team will be playing a novelty match against the Chief of Defence’s team, and they will also watch a Giants of Africa basketball game.

The Duke and Duchess will spend time meeting with injured military veterans and the family members and loved ones of those killed in action, a cause Harry has shown his passion for with the Invictus Games.

In 2023 Nigeria competed in the Invictus Games for the first time, a particularly poignant moment for Meghan who is 43 percent Nigerian.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle boarded a flight from Heathrow in London as they prepared for their three-day visit of Nigeria.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left waiting at Heathrow after a delay to their flight (Image: GETTY)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have left the UK for their three-day visit to Nigeria – but not before they were left waiting at Heathrow Airport after an issue with their British Airways pilot.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in the West African country for their whistlestop tour after Harry visited London this week.

In a surprise move, Meghan landed at Heathrow after flying solo from the family home in Los Angeles before reuniting with her husband at the airport’s VIP Windsor Suite.

They boarded an overnight flight to the Nigerian capital of Abuja – but not before they experienced an unexpected issue.

The 11-hour flight was slightly delayed after the scheduled pilot went sick and a replacement for the journey had to be scrambled, according to MailOnline.

Prince Harry met the public after leaving the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service (Image: GETTY)

Harry and Meghan, who are visiting Nigeria for the first time together, were seated in the First Class section of the Boeing 777 and were separated from other passengers by a curtain.

When they touched down in Nigeria at 5am, fellow passengers were reportedly held back so the couple could be escorted off the aircraft. Harry and Meghan also exchanged smiles with cabin crew as they disembarked.

They were met at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International by Nigerian officials. They were taken out of a side door onto the jetty and into a waiting blacked-out minibus.

The couple were accompanied by the same security team that had accompanied Harry throughout his stay in London this week.

The Duke of Sussex returned to the UK this week to attend a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

But it was a solo trip for the prince, with Meghan choosing to remain in California with their children. Royal Family members snubbed the event on Wednesday – despite reportedly being invited by Harry.

Harry and King Charles didn’t meet in the UK this week – despite being a few miles away from each other as the Monarch hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed father and son wouldn’t be meeting, citing the King’s “full programme”.

As well as King Charles’s five grandchildren, Queen Camilla has five of her own.

Queen Camilla and the King pictured with Eliza in 2011 (Image: GETTY)

Queen Camilla may be step-grandmother to both Prince William and Prince Harry’s children, the 76-year-old also has five rarely-seen grandchildren of her own.

Through her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla has two children – son Tom Parker Bowles, 49, and daughter Laura Lopes, 46.

Tom married Sara Buys in 2005 – and went on to welcome two children together, daughter Lola in 2007 and son Freddy in 2010. The pair have since separated. Tom began dating Alice Procope in 2019, who sadly died after a battle with cancer in 2021.

Laura married Harry Lopes in 2006 and the pair now share three children, daughter Eliza and twin sons, Gus and Louis.

Here Express.co.uk looks into who Camilla’s five grandchildren are, all of whom royal fans know very little about.

Lola and Freddy Parker Bowles

Lola, who was born in 2007, is the eldest of Camilla’s grandchildren, with her brother Freddy being the youngest of the five.

The 16-year-old, the daughter of Tom and his ex-wife Sara, is likely the grandchild that Camilla referred to in her 2022 interview with British Vogue.

Speaking of her granddaughter, Camilla said: “I do wordle every day with my granddaughter. She’ll text me to say, ‘I’ve done it in three’, and I say, ‘Sorry, I’ve done it in two today.’ It’s very satisfactory when it tells you how brilliant you are.”

Just two months younger than his twin cousins, Freddy is now 14 – and the youngest child of Tom and Sara. Freddy joined his cousins, Gus and Louis at their grandmother’s Coronation ceremony in May 2023.

It was previously revealed that Freddy and Lola referred to Camilla as ‘Gaga’.

Freddy Parker Bowles and Gus Lopes at the King’s Coronation last year (Image: GETTY)

Eliza Lopes

Born just a few months after Lola, Eliza is Camilla’s youngest granddaughter – and only daughter of Laura and Harry.

Now aged 16, Eliza is likely the most-known of the Queen’s grandchildren as she appeared as a bridesmaid at the Prince and Princess of Wales’s wedding in 2011.

Speaking of her two beloved granddaughters, Camilla revealed in 2022 that both of them “are beginning to get into clothes and make-up”.

She added: “…it’s rather frightening when you see them, coming out with pierced ears and a lot of new make-up and funny-coloured hair and stuff.”

Tom and Laura attended the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022 (Image: PA)

Gus and Louis Lopes

Gus and Louis were born in 2009 – just one year after their elder sister, Eliza.

Unlike Eliza, the twins are yet to make an appearance at a royal wedding but Queen Camilla previously opened up that she loves to keep in contact with her grandchildren via text messages.

Speaking in 2022, Camilla said: “It’s very nice getting a text. We learn from very young people and they learn from us, too. That’s the way it’s always been.”

Gus and Louis both appeared as their grandmother’s pages of honour at the royal coronation last year, alongside Freddy.

Although they made an appearance, fans couldn’t help but notice Gus’s broken arm.