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Loose Women star Coleen Nolan, who attended her sister’s funeral over the weekend, revealed her fear of returning to work after a difficult time

Coleen Nolan returned to social media to share a personal update on her life and career following the death of her beloved sister, Linda Nolan.

The Loose Women presenter and singer joined her family members as Linda was laid to rest on Saturday in a moving send-off that was also attended by many of Linda’s celebrity friends. Linda, who was a columnist for The Mirror, passed away on January 15 following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Massive crowds gathered for the funeral as Linda’s pink, sparkly coffin was carried into church by Coleen’s son’s Shane and Jake. Coleen and her sisters – who formed The Nolans pop group in the 70s – all wore pink breast cancer broaches and earrings for the moving service.

Ahead of her return to work, Coleen took to social media to share a clip of herself thanking fans for their support. The clip started with a chair placed in an empty room. Coleen soon entered the frame to sit on the chair. She said: “Ready? We on? Hi there everyone. I just want to say, as many of you already know, it has been a really hard weekend saying goodbye to my sister Linda as you all know. But I’m back here now in London, going to be on Loose Women tomorrow.”

Coleen said she was ‘nervous’ about returning to work ( 
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Instagram)

Linda died in January after a long battle with cancer ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hea)

Coleen added: “But before I do that I wanted to give a massive shoutout to every single one of you who sent messages, not only to me but my whole family. I cannot tell you how much it meant to us to feel the love from you all. People we’ve never met, strangers to us, who sent out heartfelt messages and cards, flowers…

“Just a little big virtual hug to each and everyone of you and to say thank you. I’m quite nervous about doing Loose because I’m really scared I won’t be able to hold it together but I hope you forgive me if I can’t but I need to get back out there and Linda would be the first to say ‘get back out there’ because you have to.

She ended the honest post: “Thank you for all your support throughout all the years but especially at this very very sad time for me and my family.” Friends and fans rushed to the comment section to share their words of support, with Myleene Klass writing: “love you Col,” with a few heart emojis and Judi Love posted: “We love you @coleen_nolan.”

“The Loose Women will pull you through.. Linda would be so proud of you getting on with life . Big hugs Coleen ..One day at a time,” one proud fan said to the star.

The recent accident comes after Ruth’s mother, Joan, also suffered a fall, fracturing her pelvis in December

Ruth Langsford has spoken out about the health of her dog, Maggie, following a recent accident. The Loose Women star, 64, said it all started when her pooch jumped off the sofa while visiting family, injuring the back of her leg.

Despite the small drop, Maggie was so hurt that she ‘couldn’t walk at all’, with Ruth having the carry her straight to St George’s, her local vet in Weybridge, Surrey. Thankfully, nothing was broken, but the Collie-cross was kept on ‘bed rest’ and pain killers throughout last week with no walks allowed.Although Maggie’s ‘still limping’ even now, Ruth assured that she’s making progress everyday, and took to Instagram to share the news. “So, last Monday Maggie jumped off the sofa when we were visiting my Mum and hurt her back leg … she couldn’t walk at all.” Ruth penned.

“I took her (carried her!) straight to our amazing vet @stgeorgesveterinarycentre who checked her over and reassured me nothing was broken thank goodness. Maggie’s been on pain relief and ‘bed rest’ all week but today I could see she wanted to venture out….so this is her first little walk outside the garden!”

Ruth posted a quick video of Maggie hobbling through the grass and sniffing the ground outside. She added: “She’s still limping a little bit but getting better every day. More sniffing than walking but she’s getting there! Love my old girl so much.”

Unsurprisingly, Ruth’s update was soon flooded with countless comments from users keen to express their well-wishes. Among them was Strictly Come Dancing pro Karen Hauer who wrote: “Bless her, my Betty did the same a couple of months ago and she bounced back quite quickly with lots of rest and cuddles.”

Meanwhile, another user added: “Aww Maggie feel better soon,” as someone else wrote: “Aww bless her. Speedy recovery Maggie. Sad when they get old. My Milo is 13 this year. They still spoilt rotten though.”

Ruth posted a quick video of Maggie hobbling through the grass and sniffing the ground outside ( 
Image:
Phil Lewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Maggie’s health ordeal comes less than two months after Ruth’s mother, Joan, also suffered a fall, fracturing her pelvis. While the family were grateful that Joan required no surgery, she was encouraged to take some time to heal in hospital.

Posting to Instagram in December, Ruth explained: “No dancing in my kitchen peeling the veg for my darling Mum this Christmas ….she’s had a fall and fractured her pelvis! She’s ok…ish, no surgery required thank goodness but she needs rest and time to heal now.

“She’s in hospital at the moment but I’m hoping to get her home soon. This time last year she fell and broke her hip but recovered well.” It was after Christmas on January 4 that Joan finally came home, with Maggie especially pleased to see her again.

In a separate update, Ruth wrote: “Mum is finally out of hospital! Thank you to all the nursing staff at St. Peter’s Hospital and Woking Community Hospital for taking such good care of her.”

Coleen Nolan broke down in tears during Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women as she opened up about the loss of her sister Linda just days after her funeral took place

Coleen Nolan broke down in tears when discussing her sister Linda’s funeral, as she made her return to the Loose Women panel.

When asked by Christine Lampard how the family were doing after Linda’s funeral, which took place on Saturday, Coleen said they were “doing great.” Although, she said they have absolute meltdown moments, “which come out the blue.”

Thanking the public for their support, and messages Coleen held back the tears as she spoke on how hard the loss of her sister was. She then opened up about the difficult decision to go back to work.

“It’s just hard,” she said, holding back the tears. “Is it too soon? But you just have to, life goes on. Linda’s had this for 20 years,” Coleen explained. “The one thing she would want to say is, that she wouldn’t want anybody that’s still going through this horrendous disease to give up.”

Coleen broke down in tears as she spoke about her late sister ( 
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ITV)

Speaking on Linda’s impact in the family, she continued: “She was just such a massive force in our family, and it feels like such a hole.”

Despite the difficult decision to go back to the Loose panel, Coleen said she was “glad to be back”.

Linda’s funeral service was held at St Paul’s Church on Saturday February 1 It was a place that held a special place in Linda’s heart as it was the same place where she exchanged vows with her “soulmate” husband, the late Brian Hudson. The pair tied the knot in the summer of 1981.

The funeral was a celeb-filled service, with the likes of Shane Ritchie, Paul Chuckle and Jodie Prenger in attendance at the service.

Charlotte Dawson spoke to PA ahead of the funeral service to pay tribute to Linda. She said: “She touched so many hearts and she’s just fabulous. ‘I’m in full glam for you Linda’, because she’d love me in full glam. The sun is shining for her and she’s just such an amazing person. She just lit up every room she walked into.”

The pregnant reality star went on: “We just used to have so many different memories, travelling all around the country, having a laugh and just getting up to mischief. That was our favourite thing to do.”

Throughout the emotional ceremony, a number of Linda’s favourite songs as well as her own tunes were played.

Linda, who had planned her funeral years before her death, proved that her wicked sense of humour lives on through her final song at her committal. She chose Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone by Frank Sinatra – who The Nolans once supported on tour.

The decision left mourners in fits of giggles as they heard the lyrics: “Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone. Oh, honey though our friendship ceases, from now on. And, listen, if you can’t say anything real nice, it’s better not to talk at all, is my advice.”

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King Charles and Queen Camilla’s special day falls on April 9 – however, it’s now a date that is tinged with sadness for the Royal Family since Prince Philip’s death on the same day in 2021

The King and Queen will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on a royal tour in Italy, it can be revealed.

The couple’s first major foreign trip of the year will include an audience with the Pope and a visit to the wondrous Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Although taking place on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to strengthen relations between the two countries post-Brexit, the four day tour will have an added significance for the royal couple given their “China” anniversary.

Their special day on April 9 is, however, a bittersweet moment for the King. After tying the knot with Camilla in 2005, his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, died on the same day in 2021. Charles and Camilla wed in a civil service before having a church blessing at Windsor Castle.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will be on Royal duties in Italy at the time of their anniversary ( 
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Andrew Milligan/Getty Images)

The late Queen Elizabeth II and Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, did not attend the ceremony but were a blessing and the following reception.

The Mirror understands the King and Queen both found the timing of the tour “a welcome addition” and although they will spend the day working during the visit, they will have a private celebration in Italy.

The trip for the couple also marks a major sign of intent for the King as he commits this year to a full work schedule, while still undergoing weekly treatment for cancer.

Italy is also celebrating a Jubilee year, with the Pope labelling the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. It began on Christmas Eve and will run until January 6 next year, with millions of pilgrims visiting Rome and Vatican City to seek spiritual renewal over the period.

A royal source said: “The King and Queen are absolutely delighted to be heading to Italy, to celebrate the ties between our two countries, especially in such an important period for their hosts. The fact their milestone anniversary will fall during the visit is a welcome addition.

“Although it will be a working day, they are sure to find some time to have a small, private celebration.”

It is expected the occasion will also be marked on social media ( 
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Getty Images)
Buckingham Palace is also likely to mark the occasion on social media.

In Rome, the King and Queen will meet Pope Francis for an historic audience with the head of the Catholic church. The couple will also visit the spectacular Sistine Chapel on their visit.

The resplendent church is famous for its frescoes, particularly those painted by Michelangelo, and for being the site where the next pope is chosen. The royal couple will be shown the famous ceiling of the chapel, covered in nine panels that depict stories from the Old Testament.

Charles’ first meeting with a Pope since his divorce from the late Princess Diana in 1996 came in 2009, when he, along with Camilla, met Pope Benedict at the Vatican.

In a bizarre twist, their wedding in 2005 was postponed by a day so the prince and some of the other guests could go to the funeral of John Paul II.

At the time, Rome remarked how it demonstrated the closeness of the papacy and British royal family.

It will be the first time in more than a decade since a British monarch, as head of the Church of England has met with the head of the Catholic Church.

Often heralded for his unique ability to unite peoples of different faiths, Charles is understood to be keen to meet Francis, who at 88 has been in ill health and suffering from mobility problems in recent years.

In 2014 the late Queen Elizabeth II had a personal audience with Pope Francis in a trip to the Italian capital.

Pope Francis, who has experienced mobility problems in recent years, did not attend the Queen’s funeral in 2022, choosing instead to send a Liverpool-born priest to represent him.

Senior Vatican official Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organisations, travelled from Rome for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The late Queen met five popes during her 70 year reign – John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI – greeting the latter two on their visits to the UK. As a princess she also met Pope Pius XII.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be gearing up for joint appearances together at the upcoming Invictus Games – but in recent months their public appearances have been increasingly solo, and an expert believes this is down to a strategic reason

Their joint appearances over the past few months have been few and far between.

But one event that has seen Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand shoulder to shoulder time and time again starts this week – The Invictus Games. Ever since the couple started their romance, Meghan has attended every Games for wounded and injured former service personnel, set up by her husband.

And with the 2025 Games in Vancouver and Whistler starting on Saturday, fans are expecting Meghan will be there to support Harry. If she is, it will be somewhat of a marked difference from the last few months, where the couple has raised eyebrows for making increasingly separate public apperances – despite Meghan once gushing the pair always “moved together”.

Prince Harry during a recent solo appearance in New York ( 
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Getty Images)
Sources say that the change boils down to Meghan wanting to pursue business ideas, such as her American Riviera Orchard brand and her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan – while Harry focuses on charitable work.

And for royal expert Jennie Bond, this approach may be down to one clear thing – Harry’s lack of experience in the commercial world. The former BBC royal correspondent explained to the Mirror: “I think Harry is happy to continue his family life in California but, hopefully, spend more of his time on his charity work into which I think he can pour his heart and soul.

“The commercial world is simply something he’s not used to and, let’s face it, his wife is probably better at it than he. No shame in that: he is a very wealthy man already and, in my opinion, can indeed carry out the kind of ‘universal service’ that he pointedly alluded to as he exited the official working Royal Family.

Meghan alone at a red carpet event in honour of her friend Tyler Perry ( 
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FilmMagic)
“I think it is an entirely legitimate way ahead for Meghan to concentrate on commercial activities and celebrity appearances, which she seems to very much enjoy, while Harry pursues the charitable work he is known for and where he can make such a difference. This is a modern world, after all, and it really doesn’t matter who is the chief breadwinner, as long as the family is happy and secure.”

The Games in Canada also comes at a worrying time for the Sussexes, with new US president now firmly in the White House. Two weeks into his second spell as US leader, Trump has been quickly setting the agenda for his presidency as the world watches on, with two people who may be more keen than most to see what his next move could being Harry and Meghan.

Previously, Trump made a series of damning statements about the Sussexes on the election campaign trail – even suggesting Harry could be deported from the United States. It comes as Harry has found himself in the centre of a row over his visa, which allows him to live in California.

After admitting to using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his controversial memoir Spare, a lawsuit from the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation argued that the US Government should release records about the Duke’s visa US application to show whether his drug use was disclosed.

And even though Trump has so far been busy dealing with other issues, royal expert Jennie Bond believes it could be a worrying time for Harry and Meghan. She added: “It must be rather awkward having a President of the United States whom Meghan has openly criticised and who has the power to throw Harry out of the country if his visa application was proved to be fraudulent.

“You could say that it’s squeaky bum time for the Sussexes, but the fact is that the most powerful man in the free world probably has more to think about than the residency rights of an estranged Prince of the United Kingdom.”

The Princess of Wales is gradually returning to work focussing on the causes that are close to her heart, but it’s been reported that one detail from her outings will no longer be forthcoming from Kensington Palace

The Princess of Wales was left so frustrated by one aspect of royal life that she requested a major change at Kensington Palace, it has been claimed.

The palace will reportedly no longer routinely release details of the outfits and accessories that Kate is wearing on official duties amid her concern about a perceived focus on her style rather than the substance of her work.

Since becoming royal on marrying Prince William almost 14 years ago, many royal watchers pour over her fashion choices with brands almost immediately seeing an huge uptick in sales if she ever wears one of their pieces.

Kate during a visit to South Wales last week ( 
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John Myers)
The palace has in the past frequently issued information to the media on the clothes and jewellery worn by Kate. And it is believed they may still issue these details about garments worn to important state and family events, but the princess wants to shift focus.

A Kensington Palace source told the Sunday Times: “There is an absolute feeling that it is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.”

Kensington Palace did not issue details of Kate’s outfit to the media during two recent engagements in South Wales. Kate made a solo visit on Thursday, meeting youngsters at the Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice. The princess, who confirmed last month she is in remission from cancer, has become patron of the hospice as she continues her gradual return to public duties.

Kate during a visit to Wimbledon ( 
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PA)
However, within minutes of her arriving for the engagements near Cardiff, fashion sleuths were able to work out that the dress Kate wore was a recycled Zara piece that had previously been on sale for just £16.

Meanwhile, Kate has said we must recognise the need to “reset, restore and rebalance” our lives as part of her crusade to help the early years development of children. The future queen, who is continuing her recovery from cancer, told how the state of modern life was leaving many feeling “isolated and vulnerable” during troubled periods. In the foreword to a new handbook for parents and educators, Kate said those stresses can often result in “poor mental health, addiction and abuse” that was “devastating” for those affected and society.

As part of the launch for the new initiative aimed at developing the nation’s “social and emotional skills”, Kate will this week launch the project with a personal engagement. The princess’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has published the Shaping Us Framework aimed at increasing awareness of these soft or life skills to inspire action across society.

In her personal statement, Kate told how the research into changing the lives of millions of children is aimed at alleviating the human cost from a world sometimes filled with “mistrust and misunderstanding”.

Ahead of World Cancer Day tomorrow, the Princess of Wales, who is in remission from cancer, has shared an unseen picture taken by Prince Louis with a moving message

The Princess of Wales has marked World Cancer Day by sharing two new personal images and a defiant message.

Kate, who is in remission from cancer, posted two pictures on social media, including one taken by six-year-old Prince Louis showing her standing proud in the middle of frost-covered woodland. Another, taken by Kate herself in Windsor of a frosty leaf came with the message: “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease. C. #WorldCancerDay”.

The photos come ahead of World Cancer Day tomorrow with spending time in nature being extremely important to the princess over the past year, since receiving her cancer diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy, which is reflected in both images.

Another photo taken at Windsor by Kate with her moving words
Kate has previously opened up about the about the “power of nature” when it comes to supporting people and keeping them “physically, mentally and spiritually healthy”. In a message last July when she was still having chemotherapy treatment, she talked about its impact while expressing her support for the opening of the Natural History Museum’s new gardens.

She said: “I know the power of nature to support our development and wellbeing, both by bringing us joy and helping to keep us physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.”

Kate’s message and pictures come just weeks after she revealed she was in remission from cancer after paying an emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she received treatment. For the first time, she described herself as being in remission following her diagnosis last February and subsequent treatment and also revealed how she is adjusting to a “new normal” but looking forward to a “fulfilling year ahead.”

The snap of Kate was taken by her youngest son Prince Louis, aged six ( 
Image:
PA)

Kate has revealed she is in remission from cancer ( 
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Getty Images)
In a heartfelt message on X, she said: “I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year. My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.

“In my new role as Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden, my hope is, that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.” The message was signed off with a C denoting it was a personal message from the princess.

Since then, the princess has gradually been returning to royal duties attending an event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in London last week and then visiting South Wales, where she became patron of a children’s hospice near Cardiff. Her building up of outings will continue this week with with a personal engagement to launch a new project.

In the foreword for a new book, Kate said we must recognise the need to “reset, restore and rebalance” our lives as part of her crusade to help the early years development of children. The future queen told how the state of modern life was leaving many feeling “isolated and vulnerable” during troubled periods.

Prince Harry’s Invictus Games kicks off in just a few days’ time in Canada – and it seems the Duchess of Sussex won’t be the only member of royalty paying a visit to the tournament

Prince Harry’s Invictus Games is just days away – and it seems he is in line for a royal reunion.

The 2025 sporting tournament for sick and injured serving and former military personnel is taking place in both Vancouver and Whistler in Canada – and the opening ceremony on Saturday is set to be a star-studded event with the likes of Coldplay and Katy Perry performing.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to be joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, but his frosty relationship with his royal relatives, especially his father, King Charles, and brother,Prince William, means they will not be on hand to support him.

Harry with Prince Joachim of Denmark in 2017 ( 
Image:
WireImage)
He is, however, set to get some royal support – that’s because it has been confirmed that Prince Joachim of Denmark and his wife, Princess Marie, are set to be at the Games. Joachim is the younger brother of King Frederik of Denmark, with the Danish Royal House confirming his and Marie’s attendance at the Games.

Harry last crossed paths with Joachim in 2017, when the pair both visited a military training centre together in the Danish capital Copenhagen. At it seems that Joachim has also had family drama with his own royal relatives – similar to Harry.

In 2022, his mother the former Queen Margrethe decided that Joachim’s children woul be stripped of their prince and princess titles. This means his children Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena are now count or countesses and no longer styled His/Her Royal Highness. Meanwhile, Joachim and Marie no longer live in Denmark and have relocated to Washington DC in the United States.

Harry and Meghan at the last Invictus Games in Dusseldorf ( 
Image:
PA)
But despite no British royals looking set to be at the event in Canada, it could be a different story for the 2027 Games. Last year, it was revealed that Birmingham had won the bid to host the sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans in 2027.

It will be the second time that the Games will be held in the UK after the inaugural event took place in London in 2014. As founder of the Games, it is more than likely that Harry will travel to the UK for the event in 2027. And since he started dating Meghan in 2017 she too has joined him at every event, with their Invictus Games appearances some of their most high-profile as a couple.

However, as the Games will be in the UK in three years time, it raises the question if Meghan will attend. That’s because earlier this year, Harry lost a High Court battle over the loss of his UK police protection when he is in the country after quitting Britain for the United States.

During the legal hearing, Harry said in a statement he believes his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet cannot “feel at home” in the UK if it is “not possible to keep them safe” there. He also added: “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 United States.

“That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.” Harry has been allowed to appeal against the decision, but if it does not go in his favour before the Games in 2027, both he and Meghan may have to make a big decision on whether she should attend.

Prince Edward and wife Sophie, who celebrated her landmark 60th birthday last month, will begin a six-day visit to Nepal to celebrate the country’s close ties with the UK

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will head off on an official royal tour this week to a far-flung destiantion.

Edward and Sophie, often dubbed the royals’ ‘secret weapon,’ are set to arrive in Nepal for a six-day stay to celebrate its close ties with the UK. The couple will take in the beauty of the Himalayan nation when they travel to the village of Ghandruk, perched in the foothills with views of the Annapurna range, during their first ever trip to the country in Southern Asia.

Sophie, who celebrated her milestone 60th birthday a fortnight ago, and her husband, the King’s youngest brother, will also attend the Attestation Parade for new Gurkha recruits at the British Gurkha Camp in the lakeside city of Pokhara. It marks young Nepali service personnel formally joining the British Army, and celebrates the long tradition of collaboration between the two nations.

The couple in Malta last year ( 
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PA)
During their stay, the Edinburghs will also meet organisations providing healthcare services and support to survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence. Sophie is a champion of the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and in October, during a trip to Malta, took part in a discussion with members of Malta’s police force and human rights directorate about supporting victims of human trafficking.

The couple will meet young people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, and women’s rights activists and those campaigning for a more equal and inclusive society. Buckingham Palace said: “The visit will celebrate the close ties between the UK and Nepal, and reinforce shared interests including youth opportunity, healthcare, equality for women and girls, and conservation and biodiversity.”

Over the past year, the duke and duchess have cemented their roles as dependable figures in the slimmed-down working monarchy when The Firm was left further stretched due to the King and the Princess of Wales’s major health troubles. The King visited Nepal in 1998, as Prince of Wales, and his and Edward’s parents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, travelled there in 1986.

The late Queen and Philip also visited Nepal in 1961, when they both rode on elephants to watch a tiger shoot arranged for them by King Mahendra of Nepal in a jungle near Kathmandu. Philip was unable to join in with the shoot because of an infected finger. King George V was pictured tiger shooting in Nepal in 1912. But the last major royal visit to the now-republic was by the Duke of Sussex.

Prince Harry made an official trip to Nepal in 2016 to mark the bicentenary of the Nepal-UK relationship – four years before he stepped down as a senior working royal. Harry travelled to regions affected by the devastating 2015 earthquake, and extended his five-day trip to help a disaster response charity rebuild an earthquake-destroyed school. Edward and Sophie’s overseas tour takes place from February 4 to February 9.

Harry and Meghan’s relationship has come under much scrutiny since their ‘professional split’ – but they will stay together for one key reason, according to Paul Burrell

In recent months there has been much speculation over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage, much to the amusment of the Duke himself.

The once-inseparable couple embarked on a so-called ‘professional split’ at the end of 2024, and have endured a difficult start to the new year following the publication of a scathing article in Vanity Fair. Now a royal insider has shared their thoughts on the Sussexes’ relationship – and revealed why they think Harry and Meghan will ultimately remain together.

Paul Burrell worked as Princess Diana’s butler from 1987 until her death in 1997. Speaking on behalf of Prime Casino, he reflected on the couple’s situation. “I personally think there are no signs of divorce because Harry would lose too much,” Paul said. “I think Meghan and Harry have a common goal to make themselves as rich as possible in as short a time as possible. I think that balance works together for the sake of their brand, their marriage. It is all the same thing. I think Meghan actually retains a fascination for lots of people.”

The former royal staffer went on to say that he believes Harry has forgotten one important rule taught to him by his late mother. “Harry and Meghan have a very privileged lifestyle. Harry has always had that and Meghan has long aspired for it. But now they share that lifestyle. I always circle back to the fact that Harry’s mother taught him long ago that the price for a privileged lifestyle is public service. Harry seems to have forgotten this lesson now he lives a celebrity Hollywood lifestyle that’s totally different from his royal one.”

Harry himself previously spoke out about the divorce rumours during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit. “Apparently, we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?” he jibed.

Admitting that “it’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it”, Harry went on to joke that he feels sorry for the trolls commenting on the state of his marriage, as their “hopes are just built and built, and it doesn’t happen”.

It comes as the couple prepare to make a public appearance together at the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada this week. Harry and Meghan’s joint outings have been few and far between in recent months; sources say this comes down to the fact Meghan wants to pursue business ideas, such as her American Riviera Orchard brand and her Netflix series, while Harry focuses on charitable work.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror: “I think Harry is happy to continue his family life in California but, hopefully, spend more of his time on his charity work into which I think he can pour his heart and soul. The commercial world is simply something he’s not used to and, let’s face it, his wife is probably better at it than he. No shame in that: he is a very wealthy man already and, in my opinion, can indeed carry out the kind of ‘universal service’ that he pointedly alluded to as he exited the official working Royal Family.

“I think it is an entirely legitimate way ahead for Meghan to concentrate on commercial activities and celebrity appearances, which she seems to very much enjoy, while Harry pursues the charitable work he is known for and where he can make such a difference. This is a modern world, after all, and it really doesn’t matter who is the chief breadwinner, as long as the family is happy and secure.”

Nevertheless, the Games in Canada come at a worrying time for the Sussexes. Two weeks into his second spell as US President, Donald Trump has been quickly setting the agenda for his presidency – and two people likely watching with concern are Harry and Meghan. Previously, Trump made a series of damning statements about the couple on the election campaign trail – even suggesting Harry could be deported from the United States.

Harry found himself in the centre of a row over his visa, which allows him to live in California. After admitting to using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his controversial memoir Spare, a lawsuit from the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation argued that the US Government should release records about the Duke’s visa US application to show whether his drug use was disclosed.

And even though Trump has so far been busy dealing with other issues, royal expert Jennie believes it could be a worrying time for Harry and Meghan. She added: “It must be rather awkward having a President of the United States whom Meghan has openly criticised and who has the power to throw Harry out of the country if his visa application was proved to be fraudulent.

“You could say that it’s squeaky bum time for the Sussexes, but the fact is that the most powerful man in the free world probably has more to think about than the residency rights of an estranged Prince of the United Kingdom.”