A new Channel 4 documentary is set to brand Queen Camilla as the ‘wicked stepmother’ of Prince Harry and is expected to be ‘hugely controversial’

Prince Harry said his first meeting with Queen Camilla was like getting an injection (Image: Getty)

A contentious new documentary set to air on Channel 4 is expected to depict Queen Camilla as Prince Harry’s “wicked stepmother”, according to reports.

The airing of the documentary was reportedly postponed following the cancer diagnosis of King Charles, as producers feared a public backlash. The programme is said to portray Camilla as having meticulously managed her media image over three decades, and Channel 4 is allegedly bracing for it to be “hugely controversial”.

The documentary is rumoured to suggest that the late Queen Elizabeth did not want Camilla to ascend to the throne, and will strongly favour Prince Harry.

An insider told The Sun: “This is very much a pro-Harry, anti-Camilla documentary. It presents him and Meghan as victims of the family’s unkindness. It’s going to cause serious waves – and Channel 4 know it. They know this is hugely controversial. A lot of people aren’t going to like it, especially at Buckingham Palace.”

Harry previously wrote about his fears (Image: Getty Images)

The show, believed to be titled Camilla: Harry’s ‘Wicked’ Stepmother?, is scheduled to air in the coming weeks.

Reports suggest that the producers reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in California, asking them to participate in the documentary, but it is claimed that no response was received from the Duke and Duchess’s representatives.

According to Harry and Meghan’s Archewell foundation spokesperson, “Neither Duke or Duchess, nor their team, participated in the making of this documentary. We would safely like to assume it will state as such in the show.”

A representative for Channel 4 said: “It will be looking at Camilla’s biography and background. It is yet to be scheduled.”

The royals in 2014 (Image: Getty Images)

Harry reportedly reveals in a leaked excerpt from his memoir ‘Spare’ that he implored King Charles not to marry Camilla, accusing her of story leaks.

In his explosive book, Harry recounts how he and Prince William pleaded with their father to reconsider marrying Camilla, yet they were willing to accept her despite reservations following their mother Princess Diana’s death.

The book notes that while both Harry and William consented to having Camilla as their stepmother, they hesitated at the thought of their father remarrying.

Additionally, Harry claims that Camilla once leaked details of her encounter with William to the media and provides an insight into their initial meeting, drawing parallels to bracing for an injection, noting her disinterest as they discussed horses and musing over the idea of Camilla as a “wicked stepmother”.

The Princess Royal has been in the business long enough to know who can hack the pressures of royal life.

The Princess Royal had some words of advice for the royal (Image: Getty)

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave up their royal duties in 2020, most of the world was shocked. However, one royal may have already predicted this.

Princess Anne is said to have known that the Duchess of Sussex wasn’t going to last very long as a member of the Royal Family and predicted she would have a “short shelf life”.

One royal expert told of how the Princess Royal, who typically undertakes more public engagements than any other royal, boasting more than 200 in the past year, treats her royalty like a job.

Royal commentator Neil Sean suggests that Princess Anne foresaw Meghan’s struggle to adapt to royal life when she advised her to treat her role as a “job” rather than a celebrity status.

But despite the advice, Meghan is said to have taken it the wrong way and didn’t warm to the princess who later made the prediction about the Duchess’s longevity as a royal.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Neil revealed: “This senior royal takes no nonsense, much like her father the late Duke of Edinburgh. Apparently, when Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family, she sought out Princess Anne. According to a very good source, Princess Anne gave very sage advice to the new royal.

“Princess Anne reiterated this mantra, she pointed out that it wasn’t a working monarchy, it was a job, you turn up on time, you do your research, and do the duty. It’s all about the project at hand.

“She also pointed out that whatever charities you are involved in, you needed to get involved and get immersed.”

Princess Anne is one of the most hardworking royals (Image: Getty)

Neil suspects Meghan didn’t quite embrace this ethos, noting that during her time as patron of the National Theatre, she “did not get too involved”. In stark contrast, the Princess Royal has been unwaveringly dedicated to her royal duties and has often been front and centre at key events.

When the nation gathered for the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023, Princess Anne was honoured with the role of “official bodyguard” in appreciation of her many years of dedicated service.

During the momentous occasion, she was prominent in the ceremonial procession, bearing the title of “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, historically assigned to a trusted protector of the monarch.

Prince Harry has made a significant change to his official paperwork, which could suggest he has accepted his new life in the US and has no plans to return to the UK

It appears Prince Harry, feeling the deep wounds of his familial disillusionment, has firmly accepted his newly carved role across the pond in an emotional official change on record that suggests he’s not anticipating a cheery British reunion any day soon.

The Duke of Sussex, who traded the drizzly UK for sunny California four years ago alongside wife Meghan Markle and their young children, Archie and Lilibet, had to give up their Royal digs, Frogmore Cottage, at his brother King Charles’ behest – leaving him without a regal roost back home.

Hinting at permanent stateside plans, Harry switched his formal residential status from the UK to the US in paperwork filed in Britain. The paperwork pertains to Travalyst, his sustainable travel initiative. Originally, Companies House listed Harry as a resident of Blighty upon the inception of Travalyst. However, a recent document submitted just 48 hours previously shows “new country/state usually resident” now reads ‘United States’, effective retroactively to 29 June 2023 – a date marking the bitter end of their access to Frogmore Cottage before relinquishing the keys.

The Sussexes were requested to leave their home at Frogmore Cottage ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Last March, it emerged that King Charles had asked the Sussexes to leave their home at Frogmore Cottage, a property bestowed upon them as a wedding gift by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018. Confirming the news, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stated, “We can confirm the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage.”

Royal commentator Phil Dampier shared his insights with the US Sun, suggesting that Prince Harry’s departure from Frogmore Cottage might indicate a severing of UK ties. Dampier remarked, “As always with Harry a lot can be read into his actions. Being ousted from Frogmore Cottage wounded him deeply,” and he also noted, “Charles and William knew it had to be done to emphasise Harry and Meghan were outside The Firm but he probably still thought he could keep a base here. Now he’s shown he accepts his life is in the US.”

Despite moving away, Harry has occasionally returned to the UK and plans to attend a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral next month to mark ten years of the Invictus Games. However, his recent legal challenge hit a roadblock when his appeal was rejected after losing a High Court case over a Home Office decision to change his security arrangements while in the UK.

The Duke of Sussex has launched a legal battle against the Home Office after Ravec, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, decided in February 2020 that he would no longer receive the same level of taxpayer-funded security due to his altered “status” following his step back from active Royal duties, as detailed in court.

Prince Harry was left out of a major announcement with Travalyst ( 
Image:
AP)
In January 2022, Harry’s legal representatives argued: “The U.K. will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in. With the lack of police protection, comes too great a personal risk. Prince Harry hopes that his petition-after close to two years of pleas for security in the U.K.-will resolve this situation.”

Prince Harry has openly shared his feelings of being at home in the US, telling NBC: “Home for me, now, for the time being, is in the States. And it really feels that way, as well. We’ve been welcomed with open arms and have got such a great community up in Santa Barbara.”

Despite these sentiments, he suffered a blow on Monday when a judicial spokesperson revealed that Harry’s initial attempt to appeal a decision was unsuccessful. However, he still has the option to take his case directly to the Court of Appeal.

Prince Harry’s change was related to his travel initiative ( 
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Getty Images)

In a surprise move, Prince Harry popped up at the annual general meeting of Travalyst, the sustainable travel initiative he founded. Addressing the travel industry via video link from Montecito, he urged them to better support local communities, saying: “Travel and tourism rely on destinations, held together by communities, without which we have nowhere to travel to. Communities are the beating heart of travel, and we must do better by the people who are the custodians of the places we visit.”

Despite some controversy, Prince Harry’s involvement with the eco-conscious travel project Travalyst remains steadfast. Launched in 2019, the London-based non-profit aims to transform the travel industry by collaborating with giants such as TripAdvisor and Skyscanner to promote sustainability.

However, there was a noticeable omission of Prince Harry’s name during a significant update last year when Travalyst moved out of its “pilot phase” and introduced a new board featuring five individuals with exceptional expertise. Furthermore, press releases have relegated his mention to the “about us” section, a downgrade from previous years where his role was highlighted at the forefront.

Despite his absence from the updated board announcement, Prince Harry’s dedication to the project remains unchanged. Travalyst CEO Sally Davey confirmed this in a statement, saying: ” Prince Harry is the founder of Travalyst and remains an invaluable part of this organisation. His role has not changed in any way, and he is regularly involved in strategic discussions and decisions alongside our partners and board.”

Prince Harry has spent the last four years forging a new life for himself in the US, but has been on a high-profile solo trip to New York without his wife, Meghan Markle

Prince Harry’s life has been a whirlwind of change over the past four years. The Duke of Sussex, 40, made the monumental decision to step down as a senior royal, leaving behind his upbringing, status and most heartbreakingly, his family. However, despite the emotional rollercoaster, it seems Harry may have turned a corner last week, reports OK!

He embarked on a high-profile solo trip to New York, without his wife Meghan Markle, focusing on his key interests: conservation, environmental issues and honouring his late mother’s legacy. This visit has demonstrated that Harry is successfully navigating the transition between his former and current lives a feat for which he deserves recognition, according to a top Royal expert.

Meghan and Harry have an equal partnership, according to Jennie ( 
Image:
WireImage)

“We have seen the old Harry again during recent events he’s attended in the UK and now in New York,” ex-BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK! “He is brilliant with the people he meets, especially the children, and I think it shows the family back home that he is still determined to continue his kind of service without all the royal trappings. If he wants to use his platform to do good, then we should applaud him for it.”

Despite having the option to simply relish his role as a doting husband to Meghan, 43, and a proud father to five year old Prince Archie and three year old Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry remains committed to utilising his public standing for the greater good. “There’s nothing to stop Harry having a pretty low-profile life now he is, after all, a multi-millionaire and I’m sure he could just live a life of idle pleasure in the Californian sunshine,” notes Jennie.

“However, he has chosen to use his platform to promote causes he cares about… to ‘serve’ even though he is not a working royal. I don’t think he’s trying to put noses out of joint, I think he’s just following his instincts, as well as his mother’s example. It’s no coincidence that he has taken up several of the causes she espoused. I think he feels a real vocation to carry on her work.”

The legacy of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was a significant motivator during Harry’s recent visit to New York. He concentrated on the efforts of the HALO Trust the charity that facilitated Diana’s iconic 1997 walk across an Angolan minefield and also marked the 25th anniversary of The Diana Award.

The last four years have seen Prince Harrys life turned upside down ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
During his appearance at the 14th Concordia Annual Summit, Prince Harry took a moment to commend two of this year’s award recipients, Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica. He expressed his admiration by saying, “I applaud you for having the confidence to be on this stage,” and shared a touching sentiment about his late mother: “I know my mother would be incredibly proud of you guys. Your activism is true to how my mother lived her life.”

Jennie, reflecting on Diana’s legacy, warmly noted, “Diana would, I’m sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made. I think she would have been proud of him for having the courage to leave a life in which he was so unhappy. She probably would have giggled with delight at some of the barbs he had fired at Palace courtiers the ‘grey men’ who she felt made her life such a misery.”

She continued, “But, saying that, she would have been distraught by the deep rift between Harry and his brother. She always made them promise they would be best friends for life. That, sadly, has proved impossible, but Harry is continuing to prove his loyalty to the causes and charities that mean so much to him. That is something that Diana would have admired and been proud of.”

Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, shared a panel with Prince Harry at the summit to discuss the global mental health crisis. Tessy praised the Duke as “a passionate advocate for mental health”. She added, “He actually said to me, as we came in, that actually, we should no longer talk about mental health, we should talk about mental fitness. His dedication to this cause strengthens our mission.”

During the significant UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week, Prince Harry was in New York City to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives,” according to his spokesperson.

Meghan has her own interests and pursuits ( 
Image:
SIPA USA/PA Images)

Jennie explains that this work is central to Harry’s future aspirations. “I don’t think he has some grand plan to rebuild his image, I think he just wants a more balanced life where he can come back to his home country, carry out engagements and, hopefully, spend a bit of time with his father, before returning to his home and family in California. “Friends of his say he is kind, funny and pretty damn normal… and that he cares passionately about injured veterans, mental health, internet dangers and the other campaigns he is involved with.”

Harry is set to make a heartwarming return from the US to attend the prestigious WellChild Awards in London on 30 September, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to charitable work. The Duke has lauded the charity, as patron for over a decade, stating: “I am once again honoured to attend this year’s awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs. These incredible young people, along with the dedicated caregivers, nurses and professionals who tirelessly support them, inspire us all. It is a true privilege to recognise such extraordinary individuals. ”

Prince Harry’s decision to journey alone to the UK, amidst speculation of a desire to spend more time on home soil compared to Meghan, reflects a certain urgency to carve out a meaningful independent path, according to Royal commentator Phil Dampier. Phil noted: “He’s turned 40 and must be asking himself what the future holds. I think he’s desperate to find some new meaning to his life and that seems to involve branching out on his own more. He clearly wants to find some causes he can get involved in and give his life some purpose. Meghan doesn’t want to come back to this country, so he will have to fly solo. ”

Echoing Phil’s sentiments, Jennie chimes in: “As Meghan has her own business interests and causes, it seems perfectly normal to me that they would sometimes carry out solo engagements, leaving one parent at home to look after the children. It strikes me that they have a very equal partnership which allows them both to stand out. And the truth is, Harry still shines brilliantly on his own.”

LIKE most children across the county, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis headed back to school this week.

The trio all attend Lambrook School, but if you were looking forward to seeing some sweet back-to-school snaps of the young royals you might be let down.

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The family shared snaps of George, Charlotte and Louis on their first day at the new school in 2022Credit: AFP

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Royal fans are unlikely to see new pictures from their first day this yearCredit: AP:Associated Press
Although in previous years Prince William and Princess Kate have shared pictures of their kids at this time of year, there’s something slightly different about this school year – meaning no pictures.

This is reportedly due to the fact the couple only share pictures of the children in their uniforms to mark milestone moments, such as Louis’ first day of school back in 2022.

As well as being the start of Louis’ schooling life, it was also George and Charlotte’s first day at the new school, which they began attending after the family moved into Adelaide Cottage in Windsor from Kensington Palace.

Since this year the children all remain in the same school, it’s unlikely royal fans will get to see them with Kate and Will at the school gate.

Before making the move to the Berkshire-based prep school George, 11, and Charlotte, nine, were pupils at Thomas’s School in Battersea, while Louis, now six, attended Wilcocks Nursery School in South Kensington.

Unlike many of his peers, Prince George won’t be starting secondary school just yet, since his current school educates children up to the age of 13 (Year 8), meaning George will have two years before he moves on to his next school.

While the palace hasn’t confirmed his next place of education, Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward claims there is a “very likely” next school for Prince George.

Speaking to Fabulous, she claimed: “They [William and Kate] will have their choice of schools, and they can look at as many as they like, and they don’t actually have to make a choice nearly as early as anyone else would. So they have that advantage.

“They’ve looked at Eton.

How Kate & William are preparing George to be King
“She [Kate] probably doesn’t want him to go to boarding school at all, and it’s possible that he won’t.

“But I mean, that’s what makes Eton look very likely, because it is so near to where they’re living.”

Inside Lambrook School and how much it costs

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George, Charlotte and Louis all attend the schoolCredit: Doug Seeburg
Set inside 52 acres of sprawling countryside, Lambrook School was founded in 1860 by Robert Burnside.

It’s a co-educational independent day and boarding school for three to 13-year-olds.

It is described as a “preparatory” school which is a term used for private schools in the UK that are the equivalent to state education’s primary and middle schools.

The school was run as a “traditional” boys’ boarding school, and didn’t accept girls until 1993.

Notable alumni include the actor and model Alex Pettyfer, Lord Alfred Douglas, author, poet and lover of Oscar Wilde and Giles Clarke the founder of Majestic Wine.

Fees for the school vary depending on the age and type of education parents want.

From Reception to Year 2, it costs £4,389 a term, Years 3-4 is £6,448 and for older pupils in Year 5-8 it costs £6,999.

 

That means William and Kate could be spending at least an eye-watering £50,000 a year on private education.

This doesn’t include additional fees for school trips, sports and uniform.

Charles, 75, will on Sunday reach the second anniversary of his accession to the throne, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour on June 15Credit: Getty

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King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, sits alongside Queen Camilla during the State Opening of ParliamentCredit: Getty – Pool
He became head of state immediately upon the death of his mother, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8 2022 at the age of 96.

The King, who is still considered a “newbie monarch” in comparison with his mother’s record-breaking tenure, endured a bombshell second year as sovereign.

He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the condition.

But a source said brave Charles had coped with the past year with a “determination to be as public as he was able” to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.

He has also been buoyed by Queen Camilla’s support.

A source said: “Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I’m sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have.

“Of course it’s been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency, only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.”

Charles is expected to attend church, spending time in private prayers and reflection, on the anniversary, which falls during his summer break on his Aberdeenshire estate in the Scottish Highlands.

The source added: “There will be personal thoughts, prayers and reflections.

“I’m sure it will be a very poignant day for all. How could it not be, not least given the year of challenge that the whole family has had?”

Prince Harry’s Meghan Markle dilemma is ‘lasting legacy of Queen’s determination to protect her family,’ expert says
The King and Queen are gearing up for an important tour to Australia and Samoa in the autumn – their first major overseas trip since news of Charles’s cancer was announced.

“Health has to remain the number one priority, albeit heading in a very positive trajectory,” the source said.

Camilla gave an insight into the King’s treatment this week when she opened a new cancer centre in Bath, revealing he was “doing very well”.

Down-time will be incorporated in Australia and Samoa, with not too many back to back meetings, consideration given to the time difference, and a hoped-for trip to New Zealand removed to reduce the travel demands, but Charles’s programme is still expected to be “pretty full on”.

The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties and returned in April with a visit to a cancer centre in London.

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King Charles III and the Prince of Wales during a visit to the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, May 13, 2024Credit: Ben Birchall

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King Charles and Queen Camilla visiting a cancer treatment centre at University College Hospital in AprilCredit: Alamy Live News
He had a high profile run of engagements through the next few months including D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Portsmouth and Normandy.

Other such events included Trooping the Colour, the incoming Japanese state visit, a short trip to Jersey and Guernsey, and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

“The best way of seeing how the King has coped is through his actions and words – everything that you’ve seen, everything that he’s said, and everything that he’s done,” the source said.

“From the earliest outset of the health challenge, it was the King’s determination to be as public as he was able, so that people could be reassured by just how much he was still able to do in the circumstances, under his doctors’ advice.

“That has obviously slowly dialed up as the program of treatment and recovery continued, with the result that the King is off on a 12,000 mile trip to Australia and Samoa in a few weeks’ time.”

PIERS MORGAN: It’s clear King Charles’ cancer has changed him

By Piers Morgan, Columnist for The Sun

‘Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees,’ said Hollywood star Michael Douglas after he survived oral cancer a few years ago, ‘it brought me
to my feet.’

I thought of that inspiring quote when I saw King Charles making his
comeback public engagement on Tuesday.

He almost danced out of his state Bentley, beaming happily, and
sporting his favourite Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur pattern tie.

I suspect the tie wasn’t an accidental fashion statement: the T-Rex was known as the king of the dinosaurs, and one of the toughest, most durable creatures in history, only rendered extinct by a massive asteroid hitting Planet Earth.

Charles was clearly absolutely delighted to be back out and about
again, with his beloved loyal wife Queen Camilla at his side, doing
the job he loves.

And it was perfectly fitting that he chose London’s world-famous
Macmillan Cancer Centre to reappear on the public stage, given that
he himself has spent the past few months being treated for cancer.

The first part of the visit was very much royal business as usual, as he posed for photographers, waved at waiting crowds, and went inside to greet cheering staff.

But it was when he met fellow cancer sufferers upstairs as they sat
in armchairs for their chemotherapy treatment that I realised
something profound had changed in our new Monarch.

I’ve been at numerous events with Charles over the years and his
interactions with the public have always been reasonably perfunctory.

He’ll exchange a quick word, or joke, maybe shake a hand or pose for
a photo, then swiftly move on.

He rarely stays with one person for more than 30 seconds or so.

But this looked and felt very different.

He spent significantly longer periods of time talking to the patients,
and with a far greater intensity and focus on what they said to him.

It wasn’t difficult to work out why: he’s in the same health boat
they’re all in, stuck in the same choppy and dangerous cancer ocean,
paddling for his life.

Cancer is the greatest of levellers; it doesn’t care how rich,
famous, old, or privileged you are, it can strike anyone at any time.

And that has given the King and his people shared a raw and visceral
experience that he’s never had before now.

He sat with 63-year-old Lesley Woodbridge, in for her second round of chemo, and they had a lengthy conversation.

“How are YOU?” she asked, after he’d asked her about her own condition.

“Not too bad,” he replied. “It’s always a bit of a shock isn’t it,
when they tell you?”

She nodded knowingly.

Then, as Charles got up to move on a few minutes later, he suddenly
took her hand in his and held it for several long seconds.

It wasn’t his normal handshake, with his right hand.

He used his left hand, which seemed way more personal and intimate.

I’VE NEVER SEEN HIM SO AT EASE

And it was a profoundly moving moment between two people who’d never met before, and will almost certainly never meet again, but who felt instantly bonded because they’re both enduring a very tough physical, emotional and frightening time.

I can’t remember ever seeing Charles be so touchy-feely with the
public, but then he’s probably never felt so at one with regular
Britons.

There was even time for laughter, as he exchanged wry chuckles with a man who’d lost his hair from the chemo.

That man got the special left hand shake too.

As did many others.

And all the patients he met understood the significance of this
markedly more tactile approach.

“Charles held my hands for quite a while, and patted me on the
shoulder,” said one lady afterwards, “and I found myself also patting
him, and asking him how he was, and he said he’s getting there.

“So, there was a connection because he knew what it feels like to be a
patient and I know that he’s going through something.”

One of my best mates is very sadly suffering from brain cancer and
gets very irritated by well-intentioned people telling him to ‘keep
battling’ or asking him about his ‘journey’, or horror of horrors,
pondering about the ‘learnings’ he’s gained from his ordeal.

As he explained to me, he doesn’t have any choice about whether to
‘battle’ cancer, he’s on an endlessly grim ‘journey’, and the only
meaningful ‘learning’ he’s gleaned is that red wine tastes awful on
chemo.

CHARLES WAS ONE OF THEM

But what he has found incredibly helpful is speaking to others in his
situation, because only they can really know what he’s going through,
and how he’s feeling.

Looking at Charles during his hospital visit, I’m sure it’s been
exactly the same experience for him.

You can have all the family and friends in the world get cancer and
feel great sympathy for them, but only those who’ve had it themselves can properly understand the importance of empathy based on shared experience.

Suddenly, King Charles didn’t see the people he met as his subjects,
or mere commoners whose lives are hugely vastly detached from his
rarefied, palatial royal world.

He just saw them as fellow patients and cancer sufferers, people all
going through the same thing as him, with the same fears and worries, all having to face up to their mortality in the same way he’s now had to.

And that gave them a real, tangible, searingly honest emotional
connection which I’ve honestly never seen before between Charles and the public.

ECHOES OF DIANA

Ironically, it reminded me so much of his late ex-wife Princess Diana
who had such a natural, easy warmth with people.

There was also a higher purpose to Charles’s visit, and his accompanying announcement that he is to become Patron of Cancer
Research UK, a patronage previously held by his late great mother
Queen Elizabeth II.

He wants to use his own health crisis to make a real difference.

Several times, quite deliberately knowing the cameras were on him, he made a point of saying it’s so important that people get seen and
treated early enough to survive cancer.

This, the Palace has briefed to the media, is one of the main reasons he went public with his diagnosis – to raise awareness and make people see a doctor and get tested if they have any symptoms.

A DEEP BOND

“I appreciate what you’re doing,” said one male patient, “thank you
so much. We’ve all got to stick together!”

“Yes!” exclaimed Charles (who revealed to another patient that he was
going for more of his treatment later the same day.)

And he meant it.

I doubt the King has ever felt a deeper or more relatable bond with his people.

As he left, he met and exchanged gifts with two young children being treated for cancer at the hospital – Ellis, 11, and Della, 6 who has a brain tumour.

He put his hand comfortingly on Della’s shoulder and didn’t need to
say anything.

They’re in this together.

The third year of his reign will see a continuation of his so-called “4Cs” – his guiding principles of “culture, Commonwealth, community and climate” – with an additional sideline theme of “cancer”.

The King is said to have been greatly encouraged by the way his personal health has been able to broaden discussion and engagement around the issues of all forms of cancer.

This includes the rise in prostate screening after he had surgery at the start of the year.

He hopes to be able to show how people diagnosed with cancer can, if it is right for them, carry on with as much of their normal lives as possible.

Saturday sees the staging of the annual Braemar Gathering when the royals usually take front row seats to watch the traditional highland games, a short drive from Balmoral.

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The King, who is still considered a “newbie monarch” in comparison with his mother’s record-breaking tenure, endured a bombshell second year as sovereignCredit: Getty

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He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the conditionCredit: PA
The King has been enjoying his summer break, and looked happy and relaxed when he attended the Aberdeen flower show last Saturday.

Gun salutes are usually fired on Accession Day, but this year the anniversary falls on a Sunday, when salutes traditionally do not take place.

As such, the military tribute by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Hyde Park and The Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London has been moved to Monday.

Both regiments taking part were responsible for firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II two years ago.

Almost all of the soldiers and horses taking part played a part in the Queen’s state funeral and the proclamation of the King.

PRINCE Harry is set to inherit an £8million gift on his 40th birthday from the Queen Mother.

The late Queen Elizabeth began collecting a sizable trust fund for the Duke of Sussex, who will celebrate his special milestone on September 15, when he was just 10-years-old.

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Prince Harry is set to inherit an £8million gift on his 40th birthday from the Queen MotherCredit: Getty

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The Queen Mother started the trust fund in 1994Credit: Getty
As reported by The Times, the Queen Mother, 94 at the time, put aside a generous tax-free £19million in 1994 to leave to her great-grandchildren.

The inheritances were divided into two installments, one payment when the royals turned 21, and another on their 40th.

A former Palace aide told The Times: “There was a trust fund set up at the time.

“It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older and a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way.

“It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them.”

However, Palace insiders believe Harry could have been left more money than his estranged brother William.

Sources suggested the differing sums may have been based on the Queen Mother’s assumption Wills would be entitled to a larger fortune from the Duchy of Cornwall as future heir.

William became Duke of Cornwall when he was anointed Prince of Wales after King Charles ascended the throne.

He is thought to have gained £23.6million through inheriting the estate.

Meanwhile, other royals thought to be part of the Queen Mother’s trust fund include Princess Anne’s children Zara and Peter Phillips, as well as Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.

Prince Harry proves his ‘petulance’ by only appearing at Diana event AFTER William has gone home – there’s no coming back, royal expert says
Princess Margaret’s children, Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto are also believed to be beneficiaries.

The Queen Mother passed away in 2002 and the details of her will were shrouded in secrecy.

A statement released by Buckingham Palace read: “Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has bequeathed her entire estate (which mainly comprises the contents of her houses) to The Queen.

“In her will, she asked The Queen to make certain bequests to members of her staff, and these bequests will be subject to inheritance tax in the normal way.

“The Queen has decided that the most important of Queen Elizabeth’s pictures and works of art should be transferred to the Royal Collection.”

It comes after reports suggested Prince Harry was “angry” and longing to return home to lap up the admiration Prince William and Princess Kate receive.

But, pals of the 39-year-old have been at pains to point out that there is no “blueprint” for plans to return home.

The prince quit Britain in 2020 and jetted to California with wife Meg where they now live with their two children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

The couple have recently launched their new project The Parents Network to help support families who have lost their children to online harm and abuse.

Meghan is still continuing with the roll out of her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard – although she has faced a major blow to operations.

Future King William reached out to his grandmother for ‘assurances’ ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018 – and he made a very telling request

Prince William ‘sought assurances’ from the Queen ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, according to a royal author.

Harry and Meghan tied the knot in May 2018 – less than two years after they first met. It was widely reported at the time that members of Harry’s family had concerns about how fast their relationship had developed. And it even prompted William to reach out to his grandmother for a special – and significant – guarantee.

In his own contentious memoir, Spare, Harry recalled significant tension with his brother during the planning of his wedding. And in Catherine, The Princess Of Wales: The Biography, author Robert Jobson alleges that the relationship between the two brothers deteriorated further before the 2018 wedding.

He wrote: “By the time William was confirmed as best man, the relationship had worsened. I have been told that still concerned about the match, he’d sought assurances from the Queen that Harry’s bride would not be wearing any of Princess Diana’s jewellery, even though his own wife was allowed to wear it. Despite sharp digs and thin skins on both sides, the wedding at Windsor in May 2018 was a spectacular success. In public, the Royal Family were all smiles, though privately they were at daggers drawn.”

Although Meghan did not wear any of Diana’s jewellery during the wedding ceremony, she famously wore her aquamarine cocktail ring to her evening reception along with her Stella McCartney halterneck dress. Meghan has also worn several of Diana’s pieces including a Cartier bracelet and butterfly earrings over the years.

Less than two years after their wedding, Harry and Meghan sensationally quit their royal roles and the UK for a new life in America – and their relationship with William and Kate now appears to be at rock bottom.

Harry and wife Meghan have been critical of the monarchy; in their infamous Oprah interview , their Netflix show, interviews, and in his memoir Spare. In the Netflix docuseries, Harry claimed his brother left him “terrified” when he began “screaming and shouting” at him during the infamous Sandringham Summit. And in Spare, Harry claimed that a physical confrontation took place between him and William at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace in 2019.

And according to one royal expert, future king William has decided to completely ‘cut ties’. On recent trips back to the UK, Harry has not met with his brother and they did not sit together at King Charles’s Coronation. According to Jobson’s book, as far as William is concerned “there is no way back” when it comes to Harry.

In his 60 Minutes interview in January 2023, Harry was asked if he “Speaks to William now? Do you text?” He replied: “Currently, no. But I look forward to… I look forward to us being able to find peace.” The interviewer pressed on how much time it had been, to which Harry added that it had been “a while.”

PRINCESS Diana’s dance teacher has recalled the heartbreaking moment the late royal broke down in tears during their lesson as she battled to save her marriage.

Anne Allan, then a dancer with the London City Ballet, was hired in 1981 to teach the Princess of Wales how to dance.

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Princess Diana opened up to teacher Anne Allan during dance classes, she has claimedCredit: Alamy

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According to Anne, Diana spoke about everything from the state of her marriage to how she felt when she confronted CamillaCredit: Getty

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There were more than a few tearful occasions Anne said of Diana, seen here dancing with John Travolta in 1985Credit: AP:Associated Press
She spent the next nine years helping Diana on the dancefloor, building a close bond with the royal during that time.

And as well as using her lessons to pick up the skill of dancing, Diana also confided in Anne about difficulties in her personal life – including her struggle to save her marriage to Prince Charles, as he was then.

Anne has opened up about some of the most heartbreaking moments in a new memoir titled Dancing With Diana, as she recalled the time Diana told her she was desperate to make Charles happy.

“I do love him so and want to make him happy and to be proud of me as his wife,” Anne said Diana told her.

Within minutes, Diana was overcome with emotion and sobbing, Anne said, as she told her teacher: “You must think me awful”.

Things went from bad to worse for Diana, Anne said, as she opened up about Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles – now Queen Camilla.

“I know he is seeing Camilla again,” Anne said Diana told her.

“Am I expected to accept that, like the other Princesses of Wales before, one just turns a blind eye to husbands having a mistress! Why does he not love me?

“I really don’t understand. I have tried everything, I tried to conform to his wishes even though I don’t always agree.

“There is no affection between us, and I am always on my own. I just want to be loved.

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“I can’t keep going on like this. They are really expecting me to just say nothing and keep going? How do I do that?!”

While Diana tried to concentrate on her dancing during her time with Anne, she struggled to contain herself as she opened up to the teacher about her “unbearable situation”.

“I haven’t seen Charles for weeks and he doesn’t want to talk to me,” Diana said, according to Anne.

“I thought he would come back to me, and we could work things out. How do I go on when I’m not wanted?”

Diana is also said to have told Anne that her biggest priority was “keeping her family together”, for the sake of sons William and Harry.

She apparently told Anne about her various attempts to rekindle things with Charles, including when she had set up a picnic in his favourite garden.

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However, when Charles saw the table set up, he demanded a butler take everything in because he “doesn’t eat outside”, Anne said Diana had cried.

Elsewhere in the memoir, Anne claimed that Diana also spoke to her about the time she confronted Camilla about her relationship with Charles at a party in the 1980s.

“Camilla, I’d just like you to know that I know exactly what’s going on,” Diana is said to have told Camilla after finding her and Charles in a room with a group of other men.

“I know what’s going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that.”

Camilla apparently replied that Diana had “all the men in the world” falling in love with her, as well as “two beautiful children”, adding: “What more could you want?”

“I want my husband,” Diana replied, simply, Anne remembered.

After the exchange with Camilla, Diana told Anne about the confrontation, and added: “I feel a tremendous shift, Anne, in myself”.

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Anne said that Diana told her the most important thing was keeping her family together as rumours surged about the nature of Charles and Camilla’s relationshipCredit: Getty

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King Charles and Queen Camilla seen here in Scotland earlier this monthCredit: Getty

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Anne opens up about her time with the late royal in her memoir Dancing With Diana

Meghan’s former workers have given some insight into what it’s really like to work for her after both positive and negative stories recently came out about her treatment of staff

Several of Meghan Markle’s staffers have quit her employment recently (
Image: Getty Images)

A slew of Meghan Markle’s staffers have left her employment in the last few years, with some labeling “demon” who has had her fair share of “psycho moments” as a boss.

In recent weeks, both positive and negative stories about the Duchess of Sussex’s work ethic have come to light.

The Hollywood Reporter reported on September 12 that Meghan was a “dictator in high heels” and how “everyone’s terrified” of her, earning the brand “Duchess Difficult.” However, on Tuesday, Us Weekly published a piece where several of her ex-employees sang her praises.

Prince Harry’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who exited the Sussexes’ service in August, told Us Weekly that he was “warmly welcomed” by both of them and labeled them as “dedicated and hardworking” people.

 

Their former global press secretary, Ashley Hansen, claimed that Harry and Meghan were “concerned” and supportive when she had to take a period of time off due to an operation. She revealed to Us that Harry and Meghan sent flowers and care packages to her, “but most profoundly to me, Meghan would personally reach out to my husband daily to make sure that we both were OK and had support.”

Sources have now reached out to the Daily Beast to spill the royal tea on how Meghan really is as an employer.

“There have been plenty of difficult royals over the years, and I do think that after the ill-feeling of Megxit [when Harry and Meghan left the royal family in 2020], Meghan’s bad moments were amplified and distorted and blown out of proportion,” one insider dished. “Princess Margaret regularly got people to hold out their hands to use as ashtrays, for example, and that’s just laughed off as hilarious eccentricity. Look at Prince Andrew, he was unbelievable to the staff.”

“That said, there definitely were bad, very bad, even psycho moments. I witnessed people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like s–t,” they added.

Some people have labeled Meghan as “Duchess Difficult” ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“But it was an incredibly fraught time and I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. She has said herself she was suicidal at times,” they said. The Suits actress previously told Oprah Winfrey that she had experienced suicidal thoughts while being a senior member of the royal family.

Another person alleged the Daily Beast: “I always thought she was a classic narcissist and getting her staff to tell a magazine how amazing she is only confirms that in my mind.”

However, the insider said Meghan “is lovely when it is all going her way but a demon when the worm turns.”

“That said, there definitely were bad, very bad, even psycho moments,” an insider alleged about Meghan ( 
Image:
Getty)
A separate source recounted a tale to the publication about a florist who was “screamed at down the phone” about something for a bouquet they were arranging for Meghan. But they didn’t name Meghan as the client.

They claimed: “They vowed never to work with her again, despite the prestige of having her as a client. If you were working for her, you were often treated like a tradesman who could be treated like s–t.”