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Prince Harry has sought advice from his former British aides about plotting a return from the US that could involve a partial reinstatement to the royal fold, sources have revealed.
In what has been described as the initial stage in a strategy to “rehabilitate” him, The Mail on Sunday reported the Duke of Sussex has been seeking help from advisers he had when he was a working royal amid increasing alleged issues with American-based PR firms.
A key aim of the claimed move would be for Harry to repair his relationship with his father – although the sources stressed he and his wife Meghan Markle are not looking to make a permanent return to the UK.
It comes as the Prince and Princess of Wales prepare their children to return to school after enjoying their summer break at Balmoral.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are all pupils at Lambrook School in Bracknell and will return for the Michaelmas term on Wednesday (4 September).
As George, 11, approaches the end of his time at prep school, it is understood that he may follow in his father’s footsteps and attend Eton College when he turns 13, as opposed to his mother’s preferred choice of Marlborough College, an insider claimed to the MailOnline.
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Six in ten Britons have positive view of the King, but William and Kate remain Britain’s favourite royals
The royal family can take some comfort in the knowledge that their popularity with the British public remains solid, with King Charles still popular two years after acceding to the throne.
According to a YouGov poll six in ten Britons (63%) have a favourable opinion of Charles III, against only three in ten (29%) who hold a negative view of the reigning monarch. This gives the King an overall net favourability rating of +34, something many politicians would be deeply envious of.
More popular are heir apparent Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales. They are Britain’s favourite royals, with three-quarters of Britons (74-75%) having a favourable view of the couple, and disliking the two a minority view (13-16%).
Barney Davis2 September 2024 06:30
Sir Keir’s weekend with King Charles
Sir Keir Starmer has been staying with King Charles at Balmoral this weekend, enjoying his first official stay at the royal residence as prime minister.
King Charles III is hosting Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer, in line with a long-held tradition that UK prime ministers visit the monarch at the Scottish castle for a few days towards the end of summer.
Little detail about Sir Keir’s visit to Balmoral has been shared by either No 10 or the Royal Family.
The trips tend to take place shortly before MPs return from their summer recess - with this year’s recess due to end on Monday.
Barney Davis2 September 2024 05:30
King Charles pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia
King Charles has released a statement offering his condolences to the people of Aotearoa after the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia.
Buckingham Palace released the following statement: ”My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the death of Kiingi Tuheitia.
“I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.
“I remember with immense fondness meeting Kiingi Tuheitia many times, including when Her Majesty and I were hosted so warmly and graciously at the Tuurangawaewae Marae in 2015, and then again during our meeting at Buckingham Palace last year. His death is a particular shock in view of the fact that I had only very recently spoken to Kiingi on the telephone at the beginning of August.
“Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne. (A mighty Totora tree has fallen.)
“My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to Kiingi Tuheitia’s whaanau and friends and all those who will mourn his loss. Our special thoughts and prayers will be with you at this most difficult and heartbreaking of times.”
It was signed ‘Charles R’.
Kiingi Tuheitia was elected to the Māori throne on 21 August 2006 and held several important roles, including patron of Te Matatini, the largest Māori cultural festival. He also represented the Māori people at King Charles III’s May 2023 coronation.
Following tradition, the next Māori monarch will be chosen with an election.
Barney Davis2 September 2024 03:30
XR activist suggests King would be at Windsor camp if he wasn’t monarch
One of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists who have set up a camp in Windsor has said she thought the King would “probably be here” and “up for doing some camping” if he was not the head of state.
Tents, stages and speakers were set up in Windsor Home Park on Friday morning ahead of an “action-packed” weekend of activities.
Activist Marijn van de Geer, 41, said of Charles: “I reckon if he wasn’t the King he’d probably be here. I think he’d probably be quite good at giving some talks and trainings. He’s quite an outdoorsy person, he’d probably be up for doing some camping, it’s a shame he’s the King because he obviously can’t be here.
“As an individual he has spoken out a lot about the environment. He was well ahead of his days at the time when he was talking about it and everyone was laughing at him.
“This is 100 per cent not an attack at the King. Extinction Rebellion UK does not have any plans to storm Windsor Castle, any hotels, nor cause public disruption.”
Barney Davis2 September 2024 01:30
Schoolboy tries on prize-winning cardboard crown in front of the King
A schoolboy donned his prize-winning cardboard crown in front of the King as the monarch visited a flower show.
The King laughed as Oliver Keith tried on the homemade creation of silver cardboard, purple tissue paper and golden tinsel at the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen’s 200th anniversary show in the city’s Duthie Park.
He questioned the eight-year-old on the fit and how long it took him to make the third-prize winning entry before asking him if he would like to try it on.
Laura Paterson reports:
Schoolboy tries on prize-winning cardboard crown in front of the King
Oliver Keith, 8, made the crown for a competition at a flower show in Aberdeen.
Barney Davis2 September 2024 00:30
Recap: William revealed Kate romance during classic British drinking game
Prince William’s ex-girlfriend “unwittingly” revealed his relationship with Kate Middleton during a fateful game of Never Have I Ever with friends, a new biography has revealed.
The now heir to the throne, 42, met his future wife while studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and the pair started out as friends.
However, over time, romance blossomed and it was initially “shrouded in secrecy” because of William’s position within the royal family.
My colleague Emma Guinness reports:
Prince William revealed Kate romance during classic British drinking game
Prince William’s relationship with Kate Middleton was initially ‘shouded in secrecy’
Barney Davis1 September 2024 23:30
Harry and Meghan ‘keen’ to do more faux-royal tours
The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex are reportedly “keen” to do more unofficial tours after successfully visiting Nigeria and Colombia this year.
Though carried out in their capacity as private citizens, the visits have many of the hallmarks of official royal tours and have been used to promote several charitable causes.
A source told OK! magazine: “Both Meghan and Harry are keen to do more of these tours as that’s what they love doing and what they enjoyed most about royal life.”
Barney Davis1 September 2024 22:30
Prince Harry’s ‘telling’ decision to not alter Spare
A royal expert has speculated that Prince Harry’s decision not to add any new material to Spare is not “an olive branch”.
The book is being released in paperback for the first time on 22 October.
Royal historian Tessa Dunlop told the Mirror: “Those who suggest that this paperback release, with no additional material, is an olive branch, are sadly mistaken.
“New material can be conciliatory; Harry might have taken the lead and opened with a different prologue, fore-fronting his regret about how things turned out, and reiterating his good wishes for Kate and the King.”
The memoir was first released in January 2023, notably before King Charles’s coronation and the royal family’s recent health troubles.
Barney Davis1 September 2024 21:30
Recap: Meghan ‘would never want someone else to not be believed’
Tara Cobham1 September 2024 20:00
Recap: Watch as King Charles meets first responders of Southport knife attack
Tara Cobham1 September 2024 18:00
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