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KATE Middleton, Prince William and their three kids were spotted at a huge Nerf battle last weekend.

It seems that the Royal family had a bit of a rumble as the Prince and Princess of Wales faced off against Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis, in a Nerf war.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William were spotted a huge Nerf battle at a festival in Norfolk last weekendCredit: Matt Porteous

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Onlookers noticed that Kate joined in and played stuck in the mud with her kids, whilst Louis left people in hysterics with a hilarious outburstCredit: AFP

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The family, who were not photographed at the event, had wanted to enjoy a ‘wholesome family day like any other normal family’Credit: Reuters

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Norfolk Nerf Parties boss Georgina Barron claimed that hosting the royal family was the ‘biggest honour’Credit: AFP
The young royals joined in the festivities at the Gone Wild Festival at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, for a high-intensity showdown with toy guns and smoke bombs.

And as he normally does, ‘adorable’ Louis amused onlookers with a hilarious outburst.

The excitable and ‘unforgettable’ six-year-old ran around yelling ‘Nerf or nothing, let’s do this!’, according to Norfolk Nerf Parties boss Georgina Barron.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, who has been battling cancer, even ‘grabbed a Nerf gun, ran around, and played stuck in the mud with her kids’, Georgina added.

Georgina noted that hosting the family was ‘unforgettable’ and the ‘biggest honour’.

She claimed that the royals, who were not photographed at the event, had wanted to enjoy a ‘wholesome family day like any other normal family’.

The Gone Wild Festival caters to 640 children each day, but last weekend had a ‘very special VIP family’ join in the fun, as Georgina said: “I was called to the production team’s office and told that a very special VIP family had requested to play Nerf wars.”

She continued: “The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, arrived with friends and family.

“They asked if we could provide a high-intensity, non-stop game of Nerf fun, and of course, Norfolk Nerf did what we do best.”

Georgina recognised that the Waleses, who spend a ‘normal’ summer holidays at Balmoral, were running around the premises with Nerf guns and smoke bombs, alongside her own family and members of the public.
Key sign Princess Kate ‘could return to public life next MONTH’ proves she’s ‘clearly a lot better’, Royal expert says
She added: “My sons Euan Barron, Jenson Barron, and Junior Barron had the ultimate honour of playing Nerf Wars with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and the adorable Prince Louis.”

The Princess of Wales grabbed a Nerf gun, ran around, and played stuck in the mud with her children

Georgina Barron

And not only were the three young royals involved, but Kate, who was recently seen alongside William for a Team GB message, was too.

Timeline of Kate’s health battle & recovery

JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery

JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery

JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside

JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week

JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital

FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health

MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate

Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo

Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William

Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor

Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport

Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior

Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis

April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos

June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel’s Review but letter she penned to Irish Guards reveals she said: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon”

June 14: Kate attended Trooping the Colour alongside her family

July 14: Kate attended the Wimbledon Men’s Final with Princess Charlotte

Georgina continued: “The Princess of Wales grabbed a Nerf gun, ran around, and played stuck in the mud with her children.

“Prince Louis was shouting with glee, ‘Come on, Nerf or nothing. Let’s do this!’

Kate Middleton’s ‘golden rule’ with George, Charlotte and Louis

KATE’S key rule for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis is about kindness.

According to HELLO! Online’s Royal Correspondent: “Based on observations of photographs of Princess Diana at the time, and the current Princess of Wales, they are both very affectionate with their children.

“Kate is often seen holding her children’s hands or picking them up for cuddles when they were smaller.

“There are often lots of comforting gestures, such as a pat on the back or stroking their hair. When interacting with other children on her public engagements, Kate often crouches down to their level to engage with them – something that Diana would often do.”

When she’s at the family’s home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, despite her royal status, insiders say Kate is just like any other “normal mum”.

A friend explained that behind closed doors, the 42-year-old is “very chilled at home” but definitely not a pushover and will tell the kids off when needed.

They told PEOPLE: “It’s a normal, busy family home with kids running around and knocking things over. There’s no airs and graces.

“She is doing that to help her children be more grounded and keep their reality in check. That’s what really matters to her.”

“I’m still in awe of what a memorable experience we had.”

Georgina added that the Nerf warriors had ‘requested no protocol’, and had ‘face paint on’.

She claimed that they all ‘charged around together’ and enjoyed the popular children’s game stuck in the mud.

The small business owner said it was a day ‘my boys will never forget’ and offered her ‘coolest, kindest regards’ to the royals.

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Georgina recognised that Prince Louis was shouting, ‘Come on, Nerf or nothing. Let’s do this!’Credit: Getty

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Georgina added that the Nerf warriors had ‘requested no protocol’, and had ‘face paint on’

PRINCE Harry would put an end to the royal war with King Charles if his full security is restored, pals have claimed.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, lost the right to close protection after stepping back as a working royal.

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Prince Harry would put an end to the royal war with King Charles if his full security is restoredCredit: The Mega Agency

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He blames Charles’s staff in charge of allocating police protection resourcesCredit: Getty

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit Britain in 2020Credit: Reuters
He has since been stuck in a long-running legal battle over changing his government-funded UK security.

The monarch is said to find the long dispute between the US-based prince and the Home Office “very tricky”.

Harry blames Charles’s staff in charge of allocating police protection resources.

He lost a High Court challenge against a ruling it was legal but is set to appeal.

But friends of Harry told The Sunday Times it would be “swords down” if his security were restored.

They also claimed Meghan “wishes he could let go of these lawsuits, be happy and live in the moment”.

The sources added: “She wants him to be free of all this.”

Meanwhile an insider close to the King said Harry’s belief he controlled security matters was “mistaken”.

Others said it would be “wholly inappropriate” for the King to wade into the legal battle which has cost the taxpayer at least £500,000.

It comes after Harry’s oldest pal has claimed they only get “the odd WhatsApp from him” and he’s an “angry boy”.
Meghan & Harry have NO idea what they’re doing or what they stand for – they’ve lost all power
The friend also said Harry would rather be in the UK with “everyone loving him” as Prince William and Princess Kate are.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced on January 8, 2020, they would be stepping down as “senior” members of the Royal Family.

Since then, the close friend alleged they barely hear from the wayward Duke.

Prince William also reportedly said he does not want Harry to come to his coronation.

Harry and Meghan have NO idea what they’re doing now they’ve lost their power

By Matt Wilkinson and Summer Raemason

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle “haven’t got a clue what they’re doing now they’ve lost all their power”, slammed a royal expert.

Victoria Murphy alleged the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who jetted to Colombia yesterday, have no clear purpose to be on the controversial trip.

The royal expert spoke to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson on the Royal Exclusive show.

It comes as Harry and Meghan put on a loved-up display on the first day of their tour as they were welcomed in the capital Bogota by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.

The couple beamed as they watched a performance at the Delia Zapata National Centre for the Arts in Bogotá.

Mrs Murphy told The Sun: “We don’t know who they’re going to meet.

“When Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh met Francia Márquez, she was there representing Britain so it was very clear what Sophie represented, and it was not the interest of the Colombian government.

“That’s what the working royals have, their message, their purpose, their representation is very clear when they go to other countries.

“With Harry and Meghan it’s not clear what Archewell’s stance is on a lot of things, in the same way.

“There’s no doubt it will draw attention, but what is the purpose of that attention and how well thought through is it being channelled?”

The Sussexes spent around half-an-hour at the Vice President’s residence, where they exchanged welcome gifts and were offered tea, coffee and traditional pandebono – Colombian cheese bread.

Ms Márquez said she was inspired to ask Harry and Meghan to visit the country after being moved by their Netflix documentary.

The vice-president described their trip as a “very special visit” aimed at building bridges and joining forces against cyber-bullying, as well as promoting women’s leadership in Colombia.

Mr Wilkinson highlighted Harry and Meghan’s new project The Parents Network and the couple’s CBS sit down interview last week.

“This cause is absolutely brilliant. I think it’s a really important cause for them to be championing but will it get the attention it deserves?,” said Ms Murphy.

She continued: “I wonder whether they could have made more impact with it talking as working royals.

“I feel sometimes it’s hard to see how everything fits together.

“With Harry and Meghan I feel they would benefit from being more focused on certain things and hammering home to the public ‘this is what we represent’.”

During Harry and Meg’s chat with Ms Marquez, the Colombian leader said she shared the same ideals amid their campaign to make the digital world safer for children.

The Sussexes also visited a local school, the Colegio Cultura Popular, yesterday and joined a summit, in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation, about forging a healthier online space.

They spoke to children in a session where the class talked about their favourite and least favourite parts of social media and technology.

Meghan said the group should aim to be “self-reliant and not tech-reliant” while Harry questioned them on the conversations they have with their families about managing their social media platforms.

The brothers are understood not to have spoken since the Queen’s funeral two years ago when they “barely exchanged a word”, Harry wrote in Spare.

They were last seen together at King Charles’ Coronation last May but they were sat separately and the Duke made a quick escape.

Harry visited the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games in May this year – but declined to meet up with either King Charles or his older brother.

Growing up Wills and Harry shared many of the same friends who were part of their close, tight-knit circle.

But their relationship took a sour turn after Harry lobbed vile allegations against the Prince of Wales in his memoir Spare.

In the book he claimed William had physically attacked him and knocked him to the floor in 2019 and made insulting comments about Meghan.

The Sussexes had also targeted Princess Kate when Meghan claimed the royal made her cry.

And it seems that the Prince of Wales has no intention of making amends with Harry.

The bitter feud was ignited with full force when the Sussexes told Oprah, in their 2021 sit down interview, that certain members of the Royal Family had speculated about Prince Archie’s skin colour.

It was later claimed the royals were Princess Kate and King Charles after Harry and Meghan’s former pal Omid Scobie published his hatchet-job book Endgame.

During the infamous Oprah interview the Duchess also made stinging comments about the Firm and how they handled her mental health struggles.

A timeline of Prince Harry and William’s ‘feud’: Brothers ‘at war’

In 2018, the Sun told how “simmering tension” began when William questioned the speed of Harry and Meghan’s engagement.

The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace.

Once she’d returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat.

He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly.

The younger prince reportedly didn’t take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he “went mental”.

Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate.

The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours.

Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced.

The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign.

The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure – but added both couples will continue to work together in the future.

Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born.

The move further increased rumours of a fallout.

Harry, 39, also hinted in his ITV documentary “Harry and Meghan, An African Journey” that he and his brother had grown apart.

It came after Prince Philip called Meghan the “D.O.W” after the Duchess of Windsor — the American divorcee who led Edward VIII to abdicate.

And he warned the late Queen to be “cautious” of Harry’s then bride-to-be, a royal author claims.

Ingrid Seward revealed in new book My Mother And I that Prince Philip felt it was “uncanny…how much Meghan reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor”.

In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.

Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

But sources claimed William didn’t want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift.

In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a “peacemaker” between the brothers.

Last year Harry claimed his brother “knocked him to the floor” during an argument about Meghan.

In his book Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan “rude” and “difficult” during a row.

Harry alleged William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”.

He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time.

In January this year, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch’s shock cancer diagnosis.

Harry flew back to the US the following day – without seeing Wills.

Prince William and Harry’s bond then worsened after the Sussexes made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their 2022 Netflix docuseries.

The duke has given subsequent interviews that only propelled bad blood.

He told ITV broadcaster Tom Bradby, while promoting Spare: “I would like to get my father back, I would like to have my brother back,” but “they’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”.

Meanwhile in a sit down CBS chat the Duke said he saw Queen Camilla as a “villain” who “left bodies in the street” in a bid to better her own reputation.

These harsh comments reportedly “crossed a red line” with King Charles.

Another ITV interview last month also saw Harry attack his family once again after he claimed their lack of support amid his UK security battle is a “central” part of their feud.

Shock waves that rippled across the globe after Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.

It came just two years after the celebration of their wedding at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018.

The couple said they would be “financially independent” as they “carve out a progressive new role” but would still support the Queen.

At the time reports claimed the late Queen Elizabeth II was “deeply upset” while King Charles and Prince William were “incandescent with rage”.

It is understood they wanted to act as “semi-working” royals but this did not turn out as planned.

The couple finished their “faux-royal” tour in Colombia yesterday.

Harry and Meghan raised eyebrows when they announced the trip following the success of their Nigeria engagements after the duke’s UK security fears.

The Sun contacted a representative of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.

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The Duke of Sussex wants to be loved as Prince William and Princess Kate areCredit: Splash

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The brothers used to share a close bond but have reportedly not spoken to each other in two yearsCredit: getty

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The Duke made serious allegations against Prince William in his 2023 memoir SpareCredit: The Mega Agency

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It has been reported Wills has no plans to reconcile with his brotherCredit: AFP

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William has reportedly said he doesn’t want Harry at his coronation

PRINCE Harry “threw a lot of javelins at his family” with his bombshell Spare memoir and his relationship is “incredibly strained”, claimed royal experts.

Writer and broadcaster Hugo Vickers claimed that it is “highly commendable” that King Charles has never publicly responded to the biography, which made a number of digs at the royal family.

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Prince Harry threw ‘javelins’ at his family with his bombshell Spare memoir, claims an expertCredit: Getty

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Prince Harry’s biography made a number of damning claims about the royal familyCredit: Getty
Hugo appeared on The Times royal podcast – The Royals – with Roya and Kate – to speak about the Duke of Sussex’s relationship with his family, ahead of his 40th birthday in September.

Host Roya Nikkhah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, said: “The permafrost seems pretty frozen, certainly between the brothers [Prince Harry and Prince William], and I think that relationship with his father is incredibly strained.”

Hugo agreed, saying: “However, he threw a lot of javelins at his family in that book [Spare], and I think it’s highly commendable that the King has never responded publicly to any of these things.

“So I take the view that the door is indeed left open.

“Now, it’s not very easy for Prince Harry to come through the door because, first of all, he says he can’t bring his wife to England.

“He can take her to Colombia, apparently, which is much more dangerous than England, but he can’t bring her here because he doesn’t have security.

“Well, he probably would have a certain amount, anyway.

“For various reasons, he doesn’t, so he pops over from time to time, and there are these brief meetings.

“But I commend the King hugely for his restraint because to have had all those things said about you and about your second wife is pretty unattractive.”

King Charles announced earlier this year that he was undergoing cancer treatment and would be stepping back from public-facing duty just 16 months into his reign.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle have tea & cake with Colombia’s scandal-hit VP as ‘faux royal tour’ kicks off
However, it has since been announced he is now well enough to visit Australia and Samoa in October on a royal tour.

Bombshell Spare claims

The prince’s book came hot off the heels of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries and explosive chat with Oprah Winfrey where they made a series of damning revelations, including how two royals allegedly questioned the colour of Prince Archie’s skin tone.

But there was more to come in Harry’s book, as he recalled an alleged altercation with his brother William which ended with him falling into a dog bowl.

Harry’s father King Charles was also in the firing line for criticism.

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Roya Nikkhah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, claimed Harry’s relationship with his father is ‘strained’Credit: The Times

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Royal writer Hugo Vickers said it is ‘highly commendable that the King has never responded publicly’ to Harry’s claims in SpareCredit: The Times

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Hugo claimed the ‘door is indeed left open’ for a reconciliation between Charles and HarryCredit: Getty
Harry laid into his father for not hugging him after the death of his mother, Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

He also revealed how William disapproved of Harry’s marriage to Meghan and once called her “difficult,” “rude” and “abrasive.”

Meanwhile, Harry branded Camilla the “villain” and a “wicked stepmother” and accused her of leaking stories to the media about Prince William.

Family bond restored?

Despite any family tension, Prince Harry would put an end to the royal war with King Charles if his full security is restored, pals have claimed.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, lost the right to close protection after stepping back as a working royal.

He has since been stuck in a long-running legal battle over changing his government-funded UK security.

But friends of Harry told The Sunday Times it would be “swords down” if his security were restored.

Meanwhile an insider close to the King said Harry’s belief he controlled security matters was “mistaken”.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced on January 8, 2020, they would be stepping down as “senior” members of the Royal Family.

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Despite any family tension, Prince Harry would put an end to the royal war with King Charles if his full security is restored, pals have claimed

PRINCESS Diana used Harry and William as a PR tool to hurt the then-Prince Charles, claims a royal photographer.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Jim Bennett, who has spent years snapping the Firm, told how he saw Diana first-hand “using her sons” during the breakdown of her marriage.

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Princess Diana on the log flume at Thorpe Park with Harry and William in 1993Credit: Getty – Contributor

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Charles, pictured here in 1994, only ‘ever used the boys once’ for publicity pics saying royal photgrapherCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
He said: “My personal opinion is that she used the children, the two boys, a hell of a lot during that time.

“I know [the then-]Prince Charles only ever used the boys once to have publicity pictures, and that was at Balmoral.

“Diana had been using the boys a little bit as a tool, I shouldn’t really say that but that’s what it appeared to me.

“Maybe Charlie was doing the same, I really don’t know.”

Jim captured the world-famous snap of Di at Thorpe Park with Wills and Harry on the log flume in 1993.

He said back then, before the downfall of the royal marriage in 1996, the family were happy with photographers shooting genuine moments.

But shortly after, Diana would try “to get as much publicity against Charlie as she could”.

He added: “[Things were] never [over the top] in the early days but when things started going wrong with Charles, and she started going to the Chelsea Harbour Club when they first split up, it seemed to me that she was trying to get as much publicity against Charlie as she could.

“When we went to Chelsea Harbour Club she would always park the car at one end and walk all the way down the car park so she could be photographed.”

Recalling the moment he snapped the family at Thorpe Park, Jim told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson how it unfolded.
What Princess Diana was really thinking on her wedding day to Prince Charles, revealed by a body language expert Judi James
Jim said: “I was driving to Windsor over Easter weekend just to do the usual stuff and as I was driving, I was running a bit late, I saw Diana’s car come past me with backup people.

“I phoned immediately my mate and said ‘Look I’ve just seen the car, they’re not going to be at Windsor, they’re coming away from Windsor’.

“So we turned the cars around and followed as best we could but we lost them.

“We pulled up on the side of the road and between the two of us, made a decision.

“We said ‘Let’s go to Thorpe Park, it’s a long shot I wouldn’t think for one minute she’d be taking the kids to Thorpe Park’.

“So we drove to Thorpe Park, it was only about another three of four miles away, and as we pulled up into the car park, we saw all the royal cars parked at the entrance.

“So we bought tickets, went in and did pictures. These were the pictures of them on smaller rides, like the teacups.

“Because of the publicity Thorpe Park got from the pictures, they were absolutely sold out that weekend.”

Jim said the Managing Director of Thorpe Park at the time, had then personally invited them back the following year when he knew Diana, William and Harry would be there.

Racing to the theme park once again, Jim was in the right place at the right time and able to snap the trio of the water ride.

PRINCESS Diana would still be alive today if she still had proper security, her bodyguard of six years insists.

Ken Wharfe told The Sun how three mistakes led to the beloved royal, 36, being killed in a horror car crash in Paris 27 years ago today.

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Princess Diana with her bodyguard Ken Wharfe in August 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Diana arriving at the Headway charity launch at the Hilton Hotel in December 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Diana and Wharfe chat during a visit to Oxford in November 1990Credit: Tim Graham – Getty

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The wreckage of Diana’s car after the fatal crash on August 31, 1997Credit: AFP

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Diana and Dodi Fayed (both partially visible in back seat), bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones (front, left) and driver Henri Paul in the Mercedes shortly before the crashCredit: Getty – Contributor
And he revealed how he had urged Diana to keep her ring of steel Scotland Yard security team before her tragic death.

Diana, Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, 42, and Ritz security chief Henri Paul, who was driving, were killed in the 1997 crash.

The sole survivor of the crash was Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones.

Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at a high speed when the car smashed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l’Alma underpass.

Wharfe – who was Diana’s personal protection officer from 1997 until 1993 – insisted his former boss would still be alive if Rees-Jones had driven instead of intoxicated Paul.

He said Dodi was a “difficult person” and the decision over who drove would have been out of the security team’s hands.

Wharfe added: “Rees-Jones was plateaued out at the bottom of the pyramid, it was very difficult for him to say to others what you should do and what you shouldn’t do.

“The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven.

“He couldn’t do that, because he couldn’t speak to Dodi Fayed – he told him what to do.

“And that’s a shame, because had Rees-Jones taken that command, had he taken that decision to boot out Henri Paul, you and I would not having this discussion.”
I was gobsmacked as Diana told me EVERYTHING about Charles’ affair, I kept her secrets for years
Diana’s death sparked an outpouring of public grief from millions around the world who saw her as the People’s Princess.

And images of the smashed-up car sparked shockwaves globally.

Diana and Dodi intended to head a short distance to an apartment he owned off the Champs-Elysees from the Ritz hotel in the French capital.

But in a desperate bid to fool press outside, they decided to use two decoy cars to cover their tracks.

A Range Rover was posted outside the Ritz’s main entrance, with Dodi’s usual driver at the wheel.

Meanwhile, Dodi and Diana climbed into a hired jet-black armoured Mercedes at the back entrance.

Paul, who was four times the legal drinking limit in France, was drafted in from home to drive the couple – and is said to have earlier goaded media outside the hotel waiting to spot them.

A probe after the crash concluded he lost control of the car while driving at high speed, under the influence of both alcohol and prescription drugs.

But Wharfe argues the whole incident could have been avoided if Dodi and Diana’s security hadn’t excluded local police and treated the media as “the enemy”.

He said: “The security also failed because of their inexperience to involve the local police, to have a relationship with the assembled paparazzi.

“You cannot treat the paparazzi or the media as an enemy – that doesn’t work.

“Yes, they can be annoying – but actually not one of them was out to kill Diana, they were there to photograph her.

“So you needed a dialogue, you needed a relationship.

“My relationship working with the media was at times difficult, but most of the time enjoyable.

“I often referred to the media as my Dad’s Army, because they would always keep the princess alive, which they did.

“And so that was the failure of the Fayed security. And that’s a tragedy.”

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Diana clutches flowers as Wharfe looks on in September 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Charles and Diana pose with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry at Highgrove on July 14, 1986Credit: Getty – Contributor

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The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a welcome ceremony in Toronto at the beginning of their Canadian tour in October 1991Credit: Getty – Contributor
Wharfe also believes that Diana could have been saved from such an early death if the late Queen had retained her Scotland Yard security.

Diana and Charles announced their separation in 1992, and the following year Wharfe decided to step down as her bodyguard.

Just weeks later, Diana decided to axe her entire team – but was not urged to maintain her protection.

Wharfe said: “Yes, Diana had run ins with the Queen occasionally, and other senior members of the royal family.

“But had the Queen insisted that Diana retain her Scotland Yard security, Diana would have accepted it.

“You cannot force security on somebody, they have to say ‘yes, I’ll take it’.

“But the fact that it wasn’t offered, this was her way of saying I want a new life.”

Dian’s decision to cut ties with her security team came just four weeks after Wharfe had implored her to keep them on.

Three weeks after he resigned, Diana asked him to visit her at Kensington Palace.

Wharfe added: “She said, ‘you’ve always been great with advice. If there’s one piece of advice you’d give me, what would it be?’

“I said look, I don’t know what you’re going to do, where you’re going to go.

“But you’re going to need us [Scotland Yard]. Even if you change your sex, you will always be Diana, Princess of Wales.

“So I said I urge you, I urge you, not to lose the Scotland Yard security because we have given you that freedom, we’ve broken rules to allow you to have the normality that you crave for, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue, even with me gone.

“Four weeks later, she abandoned the entire security.”

PRINCESS Diana would have eventually “accepted” Charles’ relationship with Camilla if she was still alive, her former bodyguard says.

Ken Wharfe has opened up about his working life with Diana 27 years after she died in Paris.

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Diana and Charles got married on July 29, 1981Credit: Getty – Contributor

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The then Prince and Princess of Wales in Korea, November 1992 – their last official trip togetherCredit: Tim Graham – Getty

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Ken Wharfe, pictured with Diana in 1988, was the royal’s bodyguard for six yearsCredit: Tim Graham – Getty

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Diana Spencer and Camilla Parker-Bowles at Ludlow Races where Prince Charles was competing in 1980Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty
The then-Prince and Princess of Wales split in 1992 and finalised their divorce in 1996.

Two years after Diana was killed in a horror car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, Camilla and Charles publicly revealed their relationship.

But Wharfe, who was Diana’s personal protection officer from 1987 to 1993, said Camilla was on the scene from day one.

Diana famously outed their affair to Martin Bashir in an interview that sent shockwaves across the world.

“There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” she said.

Wharfe told The Sun: “Part of Diana’s problem was that she naively believed that the relationship with Camilla would fade away.

“But let’s be honest, Camilla was there from day one.

“Camilla from my time, I went there in the mids 80s, was very much the discussion at the time.

“And Diana’s openness, she felt it necessary to give me the complete low down of the relationship.

“I questioned that at the time, but actually having listened to her, it made me understand Diana a lot better.

I was gobsmacked as Diana told me EVERYTHING about Charles’ affair, I kept her secrets for years
“And she naively believed that it would end.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Diana did love Charles. I mean she said that to me repeatedly.”

A year after divorcing Charles, Diana was tragically killed at the age of 36 in a shocking car crash in Paris.

Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, 42, and Ritz security chief Henri Paul, who was driving, were also killed in the 1997 crash.

The sole survivor of the crash was Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones.

Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at a high speed when the car smashed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l’Alma underpass.

Wharfe believes that had Diana not been killed, she and Charles wouldn’t have restarted their relationship at any point.

He says, however, that Diana would’ve eventually accepted Charles and Camilla being together.

He said: “From my own experience in life, you move on and you change, you mellow slightly, and you deal with situations in a much calmer way.

“And I’m sure Diana would have done that. She was very good at that.”

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The wreckage of the car Diana was travelling in before it crashed in 1997Credit: AFP

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Camilla and Charles were pictured as a couple at her sister’s party at the Ritz in 1999Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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The couple got engaged in 2005Credit: Reuters

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Charles and Camilla got married in 2005Credit: PA
He added: “Time, as everyone says, is a great healer.

“Diana was angry with the Prince of Wales, angry with her circumstances, angry with Camilla, angry with everybody.

“But you know you know, things heal. And as time progressed, she would have been in her 60s now, she would have accepted.”

Charles and Camilla’s relationship began back in 1971 when the pair were introduced by mutual friend Lucia Santa Cruz.

Aged 23 they quickly became close friends talking for hours on the phone and spending as much time together as possible.

But their relationship never progressed after Charles’ great-uncle Lord Mountbatten warned she was not sufficiently aristocratic.

The pair went their separate ways – and after Charles returned from serving in the Royal Navy, he discovered she was engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles.

Diana was angry with the Prince of Wales, angry with her circumstances, angry with Camilla, angry with everybody.

Ken Wharfe

Camilla and Andrew tied the knot in 1973, while Charles married Diana eight years later on July 29, 1981.

But Camilla and Charles kept up contact, and Diana recounted her “tricky” relationship to Andrew Morton for the 1992 biography Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words.

She claimed that before her wedding, she found out Charles had a bracelet made with the initials “G” and “F” for Gladys and Fred – pet names Camilla and Charles had for each other.

Diana also found photos of Camilla in Charles’ diary on their honeymoon, as well as cufflinks with the initials “C” and “C” intertwined.

In 1994, Charles admitted to Jonathan Dimbleby in a TV documentary that while he had been faithful to Diana initially, he had only been so until his marriage had “irretrievably broken down”.

In 1989, Diana confronted Camilla about their affair at a party.

But it wasn’t until two years after Diana’s death that the couple stepped out publicly at a party for Camilla’s sister at The Ritz in London.

But following public outrage, the couple kept their romance on the lowdown with Camilla describing the backlash as “hell” and something she “wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.”

Camilla even waited until 2000 to meet the late Queen and she and Charles didn’t share their first kiss in public until 2001.

In 2003 the couple moved into their current home of Clarence House and two years later the couple announced their engagement.

The pair tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, on April 9, 2005.

THE King smiled seeing a boy’s paper crown at a flower show yesterday — as mourners paid tribute to Princess Diana on the 27th anniversary of her death.

Charles, 75, took note of eight-year-old Oliver Keith’s creation at the annual Summer Flower Show of the Royal Horticultural Society Aberdeen.

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King Charles smiles as he spots Oliver Keith’s paper crownCredit: PA

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The King sported a tartan kilt and sporran at the annual Summer Flower Show of the Royal Horticultural SocietyCredit: PA

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Mourners paid tribute to Princess Diana on the 27th anniversary of her deathCredit: Alamy
Sporting a tartan kilt and sporran, the monarch — who took over as RHSA patron after his mother’s death — admired the flowers and veg with Chairman Brian Grant.

Charles is currently taking his end-of-summer holiday at the ­Balmoral Castle estate in Aberdeenshire with Queen Camilla.

But he has broken tradition by choosing to stay at Birkhall, the more intimate 18th-century house on the grounds that he used while still heir to the throne.

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria are understood to be staying in the main castle at the King’s invitation before Parliament returns tomorrow.

Meanwhile, well-wishers gathered at Kensington Palace to pay their respects to the “people’s princess”, placing flowers, flags, and photographs outside the gates.

According to royal sources, every year since Diana’s passing, sons William and Harry have made a pilgrimage to her resting place at Althorp House in Northants.

It is understood they used to make the journey together, but have done so separately after the Duke of Sussex quit royal life.

It comes days after the feuding brothers refused to speak to one another at the memorial service of their uncle Baron Robert Fellowes.

It is understood their attendance was orchestrated by Diana’s sister Lady Jane, widow of Lord Fellowes, who has tirelessly pushed for Harry to reconcile with his royal relatives.

Timing of Harry’s solo trip to New York will trigger MORE stress for ‘hurt and offended’ William, warns expert

THE late Queen called a royal photographer a “horrible little man” after he took a snap of an “unstable” Princess Diana riding a horse, he has claimed.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Jim Bennett, who has spent years snapping the Firm, recalled being present when Diana was having a riding lesson.

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Royal photographer Jim Bennett claims the late Queen told him off after he snapped this photo of Princess Diana ridingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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The Queen took Diana for a horse ride on the main roads near Anmer Hall in NorfolkCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jim told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “Many years ago, back in the 80s, the Queen was trying to teach Diana how to ride along with some grooms.

“They were at Sandringham, and the Queen had taken her out, and for some unknown reason, she decided to take her on the main road across towards Anmer Hall, which is where William and Kate now live.

“But she was coming down that road, and they were riding along together.

“They saw us, and I expected them to sort of veer off, but obviously, Diana was very unstable on the horse.

“I mean, she was gripping like, ‘please, you know, let me get on with it. And let me get off.’”

Jim said as the Queen got close to him, he looked for somewhere to move back to, so he wouldn’t be in her way.

He added: “But they kept on coming, and we did the pictures.

“And literally, as they got level with us, she looked down at me, and she said, ‘You are one horrible little man.’”

Jim was taken off guard by her words, and added: “At that very moment, I felt, I wish there was a big hole I could disappear into, because just by her saying it and looking at you, she, just, there was something about her.
I was there when the Queen made her infamous ‘think carefully’ remark – she wanted the world to know
“She had an aura about her.”

Jim recalled how he next came face to face with the Queen again during one of the royal tours, and shared how he handled the moment.

He continued: “I forget where the tour was.

“Got a funny feeling it might have been in Jordan, and they used to travel on the royal yacht.

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The royal photographer claims the Queen called him a ‘horrible little man’Credit: Getty

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Jim claimed Diana was ‘very unstable on the horse’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Watch our video above to see royal photographer Jim Bennett on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive showCredit: THE SUN

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Jim Bennett has been snapping the royal family for decadesCredit: Supplied
At the beginning of the tour, they used to always invite the press to come and have a few bevvies with them on the royal yacht, in the ballroom.

“And this tour happened about three weeks after I took that picture, and I had to go on because you had no choice.

“And I got introduced to the Queen and the Duke, and the only thing I could do was look at my feet.

Inside the relationship of Princess Diana and the Queen

ANDREW Morton, author of 1992 biography, Diana: Her True Story: In Her Own Words, shed light on the bond between the two women.

He claimed the the relationship between Princess Diana and the late Queen was a polite but formal one, “governed by the fact that she was married to her older son and a future Monarch.”

He added: “In the early days, Diana was quite simply terrified of her mother-in-law.

“She kept the formal obsequies—dropping a deep curtsy each time they met—but otherwise kept her distance.”

However, Andrew wrote that Diana was supported by the monarch and suggested “perhaps a rather unlikely ally at the palace in the Queen whose understanding and helpful attitude did much to encourage Diana to soldier on.”

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward wrote in 2001 while the monarch “never directly addressed the question of his marriage, but by nod and nuance, she made it clear she ap­proved of Diana.”

“I couldn’t bring myself to look her in the eye, and nor did she.

“When that piece had been done, you all had to join a group, and she would come around and chat to the various groups of photographers.

“But I just made sure I moved from group to group, and never, ever got involved.

“I was that frightened.”

The royal photographer also claimed he was there when the Queen made her infamous “think carefully” comment ahead of the 2014 Scottish referendum.

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Jim was there when the Queen said she hoped people would ‘think very carefully’ ahead of the Scottish referendum in 2014

One of Meghan Markle’s senior employees hits out at the recent “Duchess Difficult” claims and speaks of a “profound injustice”.

Meghan Markle was praised for her ‘kindness’ by a former employee (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle has been highly praised by one of her former senior employees as the duchess is embroiled in the latest row of allegations against her regarding her attitude and behaviour towards staff first published by a US outlet.

The Hollywood Reporter, one of America’s prestigious entertainment news sources, recently published a scathing report labelling the Duchess of Sussex “Duchess Difficult” and claiming that her staff are allegedly “terrified” of her and her “belittling” behaviour towards them.

But now Mandana Dayani, former Archwell COO has spoken out about the “profound injustice” and described the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as “kind, decent, caring people”.

She told Us Weekly: “Part of the profound injustice of having to speak publicly on this in light of these endless and damaging narratives is that so much of the kindness, mentorship, and support that Prince Harry and Meghan share with others happens quietly behind closed doors.”

Ms Dayani added: “Throughout every global crisis, their first question was always: ‘How can we help?’ Whether they were veterans, women, refugees, animals in harm, they both showed up. Never asking for anything in return. […] Just last week, as Meghan and I were planning our next lunch, I told her how excited I was to pick her brain on my latest ventures. These are kind, decent, caring people who I am very proud to call my friends.”

INSIDERS have claimed there is no “blueprint” for Prince Harry’s UK return after he reportedly moaned about being overshadowed by Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, is toying with the idea of making a Royal Family comeback after losing his way in the States, it is said.

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Prince Harry has reportedly reached out to pals to complain about being overshadowed by Meghan
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.

But close pals recently claimed he’s reached out to complain about his new life and being overshadowed by Meghan in public.

Harry has also reportedly consulted his trusted former aides here after growing sick of the Hollywood reps he and wife Meghan employ.

A source close to them told The Sun: “Harry is feeling more and more isolated in California, which is why he has been reconnecting with old friends back home.

“The Colombia trip also really highlighted how Meghan is comfortable stepping into the spotlight, while Harry cuts a very sulky, unhappy figure in the background.

“He wants to carve out a way back into royal life back in the UK and is seeking counsel from old friends and associates.”

But insiders have since said there is no “blueprint” for his return as he continues to work on projects close to his heart in America, reports The Telegraph.

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 is struggling to appoint a CEO.

Those in Harry’s inner circle however, have noted that he seems to enjoy regular solo trips back to the UK, with Meghan refusing to set foot in the country.

It comes after Harry and Prince William both attended the funeral service for their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes on Wednesday last week.

The pair are understood to have maintained radio silence between each other for the best part of two years.

They were last in the same place together at King Charles’ coronation – where they sat separately and Harry made a quick exit.

Sources at the funeral also claimed the estrangers brothers “kept their distance” at the sombre occasion last week.

Their bitter rift has unfolded ever since Megxit in 2020, which was followed by an explosive Oprah interview in 2021, the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries in 2022, bombshell memoir Spare in 2023, and subsequent snubs.

Spare is now set to be re-released in paperback, potentially reaching a much wider audience, in October across the same days King Charles will attend a major royal event.