Kensington Palace has made a big announcement after King Charles issued emotional statement as the monarch and Queen Camilla bid farewell to Samoa at Siumu village on the southern coast.
King Charles, who is granted a new chief title in Samoa, says: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you.”
The royal family also shared King Charles and Queen Camilla’s photos and videos as they departed Samoa Saturday, wrapping up a marathon 11-day tour that included their Australian realm.
The palace tweeted, “No dampening of spirits despite the rain on this parade!
“It was a bittersweet goodbye as local people at Siumu Village popped out to wish Their Majesties well, before their departure.”
Following King Charles emotional statement, Kensington Palace made a big announcement regarding the presenters and performers as Prince William’s Earthshot Prize ceremony is set to take place in Cape Town next month.
Kensington Palace, the office of Prince William and Kate Middleton, retweeted the post on their Twitter timeline.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are once again swirling in the vortex of tabloid rumors, with headlines screaming of a potential divorce and a hefty payout for Prince Harry.
While these claims are certainly captivating, a closer look reveals a tangled web of speculation and unsubstantiated reports.
The latest buzz surrounds a supposed $80 million divorce filing by Meghan Markle.
This allegation lacks any credible source and carries echoes of previous unfounded rumors about the couple’s relationship. Fortunately, reputable publications like Newsweek have debunked this claim as unreliable.
Adding fuel to the fire are whispers of Harry and Meghan living separately and Markle ditching her wedding ring.
However, these observations are inconclusive. The couple has attended some events solo, which doesn’t necessarily signify a marital breakdown. Additionally, changing jewelry styles isn’t a definitive sign of trouble.
In contrast, reports of a planned joint public appearance suggest a united front. While details remain under wraps to avoid paparazzi attention, the potential public outing contradicts the dire narrative of an imminent divorce.
It’s crucial to recall that similar rumors surfaced in June 2022, only to be dispelled by subsequent public appearances.
Let’s step back and acknowledge the financial aspect. Prince Harry’s inheritance upon his 40th birthday is a factual occurrence.
The details surrounding the exact amount and his potential advantage over Prince William are based on unnamed sources and should be treated with caution.
While Harry and Meghan have achieved financial independence, their decision to leave royal duties in 2020 was driven by a desire for a different life, not just monetary gain.
In conclusion, the current state of the Sussexes’ relationship remains unclear. The constant stream of unverified rumors only muddies the waters. Until a credible source provides concrete information, it’s best to approach sensationalized claims with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Perhaps, with time, the truth will emerge. However, for now, it’s a waiting game for fans and royal watchers alike.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, and her husband, Prince Harry, 40, have been living in America for four years. However, they are facing problems with their brand image.
Meghan Markle believed her and Harry could be Hollywood stars. (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle reportedly “persuaded” her husband, Prince Harry, that she could make the couple “Hollywood stars” due to her former life as an actress, a royal expert has claimed.
When the couple quit life as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020, they quickly relocated overseas to America, where they bought a large nine-bedroom mansion in Montecito.
Although Harry had only ever known life as a royal or serving in the military, an expert believes he followed Meghan to the States like a “child,” believing that she could help them become financially independent.
Tina Brown, who was friends with Princess Diana and wrote her biography in 2007, opined on GB News: “She persuaded him that she was the savvy Hollywood wheeler-dealer who could come in and make them stars and all the rest of it. He just sort of blindly followed her like a child, really.”
This comes after Tina, the former editor of Vanity Fair previously slammed the 43-year-old duchess on The Ankler podcast.
Prince Harry has recently carried out solo engagements. (Image: Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale)
The duke then made matters worse in 2023 by publishing his memoir Spare, which reportedly left him and his brother William on non-talking terms and the prince increasingly unpopular in the UK.
Since then, and in more recent months, Harry has been seen taking a professional split from his wife by going on a solo tour, with successful engagements in New York, the UK and Africa.
He spent weeks away from his wife, who stayed at home in the couple’s Montecito mansion caring for their two children and attending events alone, such as the red carpet for a children’s hospital gala. The move is believed to be a way of rebuilding the couple’s brand image as separate entities.
PR expert Ed Coram James told The Mirror: “Since their marriage, Harry and Meghan have had a distinct brand. That brand is based on a duo. Call it ‘Harry and Meghan’, call it ‘the Sussexes’, call it whatever you like. The fact is that for years they have become synonymous with one another.
“When combined, the Sussexes brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand, with completely different labels.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly changing tactics regarding their professional life as their brand image as a couple has dwindled, one PR expert believes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been leading increasingly separate professional lives lately, with the married couple seen at plenty of events without each other since the duke’s 40th birthday last month.
While the prince went off on a solo tour in New York, the UK and Africa, Meghan stayed home with the couple’s children in their large Montecito mansion, and even spent one night out on a red carpet without her husband by her side.
Although rumours of a personal divide between the pair were squashed, the decision to separate work could have been for commercial reasons.
PR expert Ed Coram James told The Mirror: “Since their marriage, Harry and Meghan have had a distinct brand. That brand is based on a duo. Call it ‘Harry and Meghan’, call it ‘the Sussexes’, call it whatever you like. The fact is that for years they have become synonymous with one another.
“And, since the famous Oprah interview, in which they took a simmering disagreement between themselves and the rest of the Royal Family and essentially declared all-out-war, that brand has been steadily becoming more toxic and thus commercially untenable to the point where not that many major brands are going to be rushing to write them a large cheque based on their brand value.
“When combined, the Sussexes brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand, with completely different labels.”
Charles found the visit to Australia and Samoa “the perfect tonic” (Image: Getty)
King Charles and Queen Camilla will resume a full schedule of royal tours next year as Charles found the visits to Australia and Samoa “the perfect tonic” to his ongoing cancer treatment.
A Senior Palace official said the King has “genuinely loved” the nine-day tour and “thrived” on the busy programme of engagements.
They added that it has lifted “his spirits, his mood and his recovery. In that sense, the tour – despite its demands – has been the perfect tonic.”
Charles paused his cancer treatment for his first long-haul trip since his diagnosis in February, and will resume his course upon his return to the UK early next week.
The location of the Spring and Autumn schedules has not been confirmed, as that decision will be made by the Foreign Office. The tour will need to be approved by the Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister – and the King’s doctors – but this the plan is in motion is a reassuring step in Charles’ cancer recovery.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will resume a normal schedule of royal tours next year (Image: Getty)
The Senior Palace official said: “We’re now working on a pretty normal looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms – subject to sign off by doctors.
“It is hard to overstate the joy that he takes from duty and service and being in public and seeing those crowds engaging with communities across the spectrum. That really does lift the spirits. You can see that.”
It comes as the King and Queen waved goodbye to Samoa on Saturday morning by attending a farewell ceremony at a village twinned with the UK for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by the Pacific island.
Villages around the Samoan capital Apia are twinned with each of the 56 member states of the Commonwealth, flying the flags of the countries they have adopted, with street furniture painted in the national colours.
In his impromptu speech Charles said: “We’ve been so impressed by the beautiful way in which all the villages have decorated the roadsides, it is something very special about Samoa.”
He thanked residents for their “wonderful generosity” bringing gifts of food and “other wonderful things”, and said the royal couple would take away “special memories of our time here”.
King Charles and Queen Camilla left Samoa on Saturday morning (Image: Getty)
The King concluded: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back and see you.
Their Majesties arrived at the village in the middle of a downpour, which drenched villagers and elders gathered for the ceremony.
The King was honoured with the chiefly title of To’aiga-O-Tumua by the village’s high chief, as he and Camilla were presented with sacred kava in coconut shells with straws.
“May God bless this kava,” Charles said as he lifted the cup and drank.
The chief told His Majesty: “Your papa, Prince Philip, was here, so thank you for making the time. Your royal visit has lifted our house.”
The wet weather continued as they made their way to the airport and sheltered under umbrellas as they boarded their plane home – ending their tour in the same weather conditions as their arrival at a rain-drenched Sydney.
Camilla went ahead of her husband, who chatted to dignitaries for a few minutes before joining his wife at the top of the steps and they both waved goodbye to the Pacific nation.
A new official portrait of Their Majesties was released on the Royal Family social channels on Saturday night to mark their state visit to Samoa, taken by Getty royal photographer Chris Jackson on a beach on Friday morning.
Accompanying the new pictures, the King and Queen said: “As our visits to Australia and Samoa come to a close, my wife and I would like to thank both nations for the warmest of welcomes and for the countless fond memories we will carry in our hearts for many years to come.
“Even when we are far apart in distance, the many close connections that unite us across the globe and through our Commonwealth family have been renewed, and will remain as profound as they are enduring. Charles R. and Camilla R.”
The Queen is understood to have been an unwavering support to her husband throughout the exhausting tour.
“The King gets great strength from the Queen being there, not least because when she keeps it real,” a senior Palace official said.
Charles and Camilla spent three nights in Samoa where Charles officially opened his first CHOGM since becoming Head of the so-called family of nations.
He packed in a busy schedule of up to 10 engagements in a day, as he was determined to go ahead with the trip despite his diagnosis.
A Senior Palace aide said: “I think it is a great testament to the King’s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.”
The King and Queen’s final morning was met with heavy downpours (Image: Getty)
The King also continued to receive important documents in the famous red boxes which had been flown in for him to sort through with his Private Secretary.
But the couple also enjoyed some time for rest and relaxation in the beautiful locations they stayed in, going for short walks and reading. Though one source joked: “The King considers reading his briefs as downtime.”
It is understood that the workaholic King resisted attempts by aides to lighten the schedule, as he believes looking after his “mind, body and soul” is important to his overall recovery.
The senior aide added: “It is also a great measure of the way that the King is dealing with the diagnosis, and he’s a great believer in mind, body and soul.
“This combination works very well on a visit like this, because he feels that sense of duty so strongly that to keep his mind and his soul engaged, and then the doctor is here to make sure that his body is properly looked after.
“You’ve got what makes for a very successful visit in these circumstances.”
King Charles gave an impromptu speech on his final day in Samoa (Image: Getty)
The King and Queen are understood to have greatly enjoyed their six days in Australia and four days in Samoa and are keen to travel more of the world next year.
In his speech at a dinner on the last night of his stay, Charles spoke of his lifelong aspiration to visit every country in the Commonwealth.
“It remains a lifelong aspiration to have visited all the countries of the Commonwealth,” he told guests at an official dinner for the Commonwealth Heads of Government.
“Although nowadays it seems to be a race against our rapidly increasing numbers – as well as doctors orders.”
His first viist to Australia since his accession has also been widely hailed as a success, with local press celebrating the visit and Palace aides congratluating a job well done.
Charles made sure he was addressing potential issues and topics head on, with the senior palace aide adding: “It’s very easy to run away from some of these issues. But the King isn’t one for doing that.
“He is always someone who wants to understand before he says anything. He’s a listener more than he’s a talker.”
Queen Camilla burst into a fit of giggles as the torrential rain came down (Image: Getty)
The King is keen to leave a legacy from each of his tours, which is why he launched the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme in Samoa on Thursday.
It will offer fellowships to mid-career professionals, undergraduate scholarships, and PhDs, to candidates based in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
It has been inspired by His Majesty’s life’s work to create opportunity and to tackle contemporary challenges including climate change and inequality.
“The idea of these tours always is to leave a trace behind,” a senior palace officials said.
“And that was why the king was very keen that those legacy projects should be launched while we were here.”
As the Palace gears up for Spring and Autumn tours next year we can expect more legacy projects to be announced as the King aims to build on his four C’s: climate, community, culture and Commonwealth.
EXCLUSIVE: A royal expert was critical of Prince Harry’s latest move which coincided with King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour.
Prince Harry has been accused by a royal expert of “seizing the limelight” from the Royal Family with his latest move.
The Duke of Sussex’s memoir, Spare, was released in paperback in the UK on Thursday, more than a year and a half after its original release in January 2023.
While the paperback edition contains no new material, its release has coincided with King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour in Australia and Samoa.
Now a royal expert said that Spare’s paperback release will be seen by some as another “example” of the Sussex couple “seizing the limelight”.
Harry and Meghan have been previously been criticised for making announcements or appearances that clash with the royal schedule.
Prince Harry was criticised by a royal expert over the paperback release of Spare (Image: Getty)
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “It is open to question whether Harry chose the date of the release of his memoir, Spare, or whether its publishers Random House, decided on it.
“However, it is inconvenient, to put it mildly, that it is in the middle of a highly significant royal tour for King Charles.
“Some will see this as an example of the Sussexes, once again, seizing the limelight.”
He also noted that the new book features no new material against the royals and that the Duke of Sussex will not be giving any interviews to promote it.
Spare was released in paperback this week (Image: Getty)
Mr Fitzwilliams added: “If he had, the optics, given that the memoir paints the Royal Family in a highly pejorative light, would have been terrible as the King and the Princess of Wales are both battling cancer.”
There is no proof to suggest the release of Spare’s paperback edition was planned around the royal tour or that the duke had any say in it.
The royal commentator continued: “The hardback was a global best-seller, with more than six million copies sold and it was a global number one. The paperback will make it more easily accessible. This is a book which should never have been written.”
King Charles, currently on a tour of the South Pacific including Australia and Samoa, is planning two major overseas tours next year despite his ongoing cancer fight
Royal doctors have green-lit the King’s return to a full programme of events next year, including two major overseas tours.
Charles, despite his ongoing cancer fight, is fully behind plans for high profile tours in the spring and autumn, with Canada one possible destination.
At times, the King, 75, has looked weary during his nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa with the Queen. It came to a close yesterday with a traditional Ava ceremony. The heavens opened in the Samoan village of Siumu as Charles and Camilla were given pink garland necklaces and seated on beige leather thrones.
Charles was honoured with the chiefly title of To’aiga-O-Tumua, as he and Camilla were presented with sacred Ava in coconut shells with straws. “May God bless this Ava,” said Charles as he lifted the cup and drank.
He also delivered a pointed reference to his illness, saying: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope I survive long enough to come back again and see you.”
The King has been having weekly cancer treatment since his diagnosis in February. He reduced his usual duties over the summer to rest ahead of his trip Down Under. A Palace official said: “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking, full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms.”
The royals at the farewell ceremony in Samoa(
Image: Getty Images)
Before the tour, the Mirror revealed the King was following a strict new health regime, including “immersing himself in nature” and spending time with loved ones.
Alongside the Queen doing up to 10 engagements a day, the palace source said: “It is also a great measure of the way that the King is dealing with the diagnosis, and he’s a great believer in mind, body and soul. This combination works very well on a visit like this, because he feels that sense of duty so strongly that to keep his mind and his soul engaged.”
During the tour, onlookers remarked how “exhausted” the King looked, as he no doubt battled jet lag and the humid weather in both Australia and Samoa. His condition did appear to improve as he seemed to cope with the time difference and get some down time by reading a “good book” and even swimming with the Queen in Samoa.
Ahead of the tour, the King’s senior aides reached out to representatives of the Australian Republican Movement to assure campaigners that Charles would not stand in the way of nations who, in the future, may choose to cut ties with the monarchy.
Charles undertook engagements with a number of Aboriginal elders and spoke of his respect for their culture throughout the generations.
The palace official said: “It is hard to overstate the joy that the King takes from duty and service, being in public and seeing those crowds. The idea of these tours always is to leave a trace behind, and that was why the King was very keen that those legacy projects should be launched while we were here.
“He has genuinely loved this tour. It has lifted his spirits, his mood and his recovery. In that sense, the tour –despite its demands – has been the perfect tonic.” As they left Samoa, Charles and Camilla posted on social media: “My wife and I would like to thank both nations for the warmest of welcomes and for the countless fond memories we will carry in our hearts for many years to come.
“The many close connections that unite us… through our Commonwealth family have been renewed, and will remain as profound as they are enduring.”
The royal tour of Australia and Samoa was beset by grim weather(
Image: Getty Images)
But in the Australian capital Canberra the King and Queen faced a barrage of insults from Australian Aboriginal senator, Lidia Thorpe. She accused the royals of “genocide” while shouting in a packed Parliament House: “You are not my King”. Palace sources said the monarch had been “completely unruffled” by the incident, which may have been key in the King’s mission to win hearts and minds.
One palace official said Charles had “not ducked” the issues, adding “it is very easy to run away from some of these issues. But the King isn’t one for doing that.” The official said: “He’s been around a long time. As always, kept calm, carried on. He believes free speech is the cornerstone of democracy and so everyone is entitled to their views.”
The reaction won over Australians, who came out in their hundreds to greet the royals throughout the tour, culminating in a crowd of 10,000 outside the Sydney Opera House on their last day in the country.
The royal family have wished the Princess of Wales a happy 42nd birthday, posting a new behind-the-scenes photo of Kate on the King’s coronation day.
Kate, wearing her deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in scarlet and silver bullion, and crystal and silver thread work leaf embroidery headpiece, is pictured smiling at her newly crowned father-in-law, Charles.
The scene, taken inside Buckingham Palace after the coronation, also features the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh laughing and celebrating with the King, who is wearing the Imperial State Crown, after the historic ceremony.
The image was taken by Chris Jackson of Getty Images, and follows the tradition of releasing new photographs to mark royal birthdays.
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to Carole and Michael Middleton on January 9, 1982, and grew up in Berkshire with siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton.
She met and began dating Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, at St Andrews University, and married him in Westminster Abbey in 2011, becoming the Duchess of Cambridge and also a future Queen.
Just over a year into her new role as the Princess of Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Kate has channelled her energy into her Shaping Us campaign, which aims to highlight and promote the significance of the formative years of a child’s life.
The British monarchy is navigating a period of significant change, particularly following Prince Harry’s relocation to sunny Montecito, California.
As Harry distances himself from royal duties, insiders suggest that he has lost an important role within his family, one that is now being filled by Mike Tindall, husband of Zara Tindall.
Mike Tindall, a former rugby star and 2003 World Cup winner, has reportedly stepped up to assume the mantle of the “fun uncle” for Prince William and Catherine’s children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
His military background and affable nature resonate with the values the monarchy seeks to promote, particularly as the royal family adapts to a changing landscape.
For years, Harry was known for his playful antics and close relationship with his niece and nephews. However, since his move to the U.S., a noticeable gap has emerged in the lives of the young royals, which Mike has more than filled. Sources close to the family indicate that Tindall’s relaxed demeanor allows him to connect with the children in a way that feels both familiar and enjoyable.
Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney are now arch rivals after their explosive Wagatha Christie court case – but Becky has a valid reason to want to watch her rival on ITV’s reality show
Rebekah Vardy might be the arch rival of Coleen Rooney but she has confessed she will tune in to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! to watch the fellow WAG follow in her footsteps.
The 42-year-old mum-of-five is married to footballer Jamie Vardy, 37, and sensationally fell out with 38-year-old Coleen – who is married to 39-year-old Wayne Rooney – in 2019 when she accused her of leaking stories about her to the press. The ladies engaged in a bitter court battle that saw their once close friendship become reduced to ash.
This year, it has been revealed that Coleen will participate in ITV’s long-running reality show, I’m A Celeb, seven years after Becky participated on the show. During her time in the jungle, Becky endured a range of revolting tasks and was the third star to get eliminated from the popularity contest – which was ultimately won by Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo.
With just weeks to go before the 2024 season of I’m A Celeb begins, Becky has reportedly planned to tune in to watch the series – as have her lawyers. A report has claimed she thinks Coleen is a hypocrite for signing up to the show – and could put herself at risk of legal ramifications if she speaks about their bitter trial or makes slanderous comments about Rebekah.
Rebekah Vardy has a valid reason not to miss a second of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year(
Image: GC Images)
Rebekah set pulses racing as a contestant on the show in 2017(
Image: REX/Shutterstock)
A source told The Sun: “Coleen was banging on during the trial, claiming she was such a private person, and now she’s going on one of the most watched shows on television. She’s just doing what Becky has already done.” The source then claims: “Becky hopes that she does talk about Wagatha Christie, because it will be a major payday for her.” The Mirror has contacted representatives of both Rebekah and Coleen for comment.
Reality show fans were stunned earlier this month when it was reported Coleen had signed up to be a contestant on the 2024 season of I’m A Celeb. While her salary was not revealed, reports claimed she would become the highest paid star to ever feature on the show – earning more than politician Nigel Farage who was paid a reported £1.5 million to appear on the show last year.
A source told The Sun on Sunday at the time: “I’m A Celeb bosses have pulled off a huge coup getting Coleen for the jungle this year and the team are thrilled to have her on board.
“Coleen has a huge fanbase and she won massive plaudits for her classy handling of the Wagatha Christie case. She’s excited to show fans a different side to her and prove she can survive without her creature comforts.” When Becky appeared on the show in 2017, she was reportedly paid £100,000 for her time in the jungle.
