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Tag: Royal Family

  • Philippe Junot, First Husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, Dies at 85

    Philippe Junot, the first husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, has died in Madrid, where he lived, at the age of 85. His eldest daughter, Victoria, shared the news of his passing on Thursday, January 8, via social media.

    “It is with immense sadness that I announce the death of my father,” she wrote in a caption with a carousel of photos of Junot. “He departed this side of the world peacefully surrounded by family in Jan 8, 2026 in Madrid after a long beautiful adventurous life. A grandfather of 3 almost 4. To my legendary Papa, oh how we love you ❤️ we will miss you, no adequate words…”

    She went on to thank her deceased father for “all the laughs and the adventures, showing us *your* world & the inspiration to reach greater heights,” as well as for “your love which will never leave us.”

    Philippe Junot was the son of Congressman Michel Junot, and was descended from a family associated with the French nobility. An entrepreneur and a man of unquestionable charm, he was often in the spotlight even before becoming part of the royal family of Monaco. Junot had four children: Victoria, Isabelle, and Alexis, born of his 1987 marriage to Danish model and socialite Nina Wendelboe-Larsen (they divorced in 1997), as well as Chloé, 20, whom he shares with his current partner, Swedish model Helén Wendel.

    The most famous chapter in Junot’s life, however, remains his brief marriage to Princess Caroline. In 1978, Caroline was 21 years old and already drawing plenty of international attention. She announced that she would marry Philippe Junot despite the doubts of her parents, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, who considered him common, as well as skepticism from the press. Junot, 17 years her senior, was perceived as a Don Juan, entangled in shady affairs, but for the young princess love evidently overcame all misgivings.

    The two were married in a civil ceremony on the Rocher de Monaco on June 28, 1978, followed by the religious ceremony the next day, all just a few months after the couple met at a nightclub. They honeymooned in Tahiti, their every move chronicled by the press.

    Despite the harmony of the early days of their marriage, Junot soon returned to his playboy ways, and photos of Junot and another woman in America reached Caroline. The marriage lasted just two years: Caroline filed for divorce in October 1980. In 1992, Pope John Paul II annulled the marriage within the Catholic church, which does not allow divorce, citing “insufficient consent” and making the marriage as if it had never happened, in the Church’s view. Caroline first petitioned for the annulment in 1982. In 1983, she married Stefano Casiraghi in a civil ceremony, while the Church was still considering her case. Caroline and Casiraghi had three children, Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre, before he died in a speedboat crash in 1990.

    Originally published in Vanity Fair Italia.

    Monica Coviello

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  • Kate Middleton Celebrates Her Birthday With Emotional Video About Healing: “Deeply Grateful”

    To celebrate her 44th birthday, Kate Middleton has chosen to honor Mother Nature. This Friday, January 9, the Princess of Wales shared a personal video, in which she celebrated the healing power of nature.

    The video is the fourth and final installment of her Mother Nature series. Each season, she has made a habit of sharing her feelings and thoughts, encouraging those who follow her on her social networks to cherish their connection with the natural world. In this highly symbolic new episode, she appears on screen several times. We see her walking alone in frosty, wooded landscapes, enjoying the view, a ray of sunshine, and running her hand through the water of a river, looking tranquil. In the shots, she’s dressed in a long olive green coat, and accessorizes with a newsboy cap.

    “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience, and quiet consideration,” she says in a voice-over. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection. To discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing. I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease. Fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Come to peace with our tears, and discover what it means to be alive. To be at one with nature. A quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory, helping us to heal.”

    This poetic message echoes the princess’s own healing journey. In 2024, Kate Middleton was diagnosed with cancer following abdominal surgery. She was admitted to the Oak Cancer Centre at the Royal Marsden Hospital for preventive chemotherapy. She announced the end of her chemotherapy in September 2024 and her remission early last year. In another symbolic gesture, she chose to dedicate her first official outing of 2026 to the carers and patients of Charing Cross Hospital on January 8, the eve of her birthday.

    The future queen’s message is accompanied by a caption in her Instagram post: “The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing. There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C.”

    According to an aide to the princess quoted in the Daily Mail, the video posted today marks “the culmination of a deeply personal creative project for The Princess, spotlighting humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, as well as nature’s capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.” The newspaper reported that the clip was directed and produced by Will Warr, and was filmed in Berkshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, London, East Sussex, and the Cotswolds.

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Valentine Ulgu-Servant

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  • Here are the key differences between an MBE, OBE, CBE and a knighthood

    HONOURS including the OBE, MBE, CBE and knighthood are given to recognise the amazing achievements and service of individuals in the UK.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the honours and how to distinguish between them.

    What’s the difference between GBE, DBE, KBE, CBE, OBE and MBE?

    The honours system rewards people with Honours, Decorations and Medals as a public recognition of their merit, service or bravery.

    Throughout history, monarchs have rewarded those who have shown significant service, loyalty or gallantry with titles or gifts.

    The best-known awards represent different ranks in the Order of the British Empire.

    Today, this Order rewards people from all walks of life with well-known honours, but it was started in 1917 by King George V, to reward outstanding contributions to the war effort.

    They include (in order of precedence):

    Dame or Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE, DBE, KBE)

    This honour is awarded to those who have made major contributions to any activity, in the  Arts, Sciences, Charitable work or Public Service, usually at a national level.

    Knighthoods and damehoods are traditionally presented with a touch of a sword by the King.

    The highest rank of the Order of the British Empire is Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE).

    The second highest grade is Knight Commander or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE).

    Both of these ranks entitle their members to use the title of Sir for men and Dame for women before their forename.

    Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

    A CBE is awarded for those with a prominent but lesser role at a national level, or a leading role at a regional level.

    You can also be awarded one for a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area.

    Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

    An OBE is awarded for having a distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field through achievement or service to the community.

    This includes people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area.

    Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

    An MBE is given to people for an outstanding achievement or service to the community.

    This should have a long-term, significant impact and stand out as an example to others.

    When are British honour announced?

    Those receiving the accolades are announced just before the New Year and around the King’s state birthday.

    In June 2023, King Charles’ first birthday honours were revealed.

    British honour recipients are officially announced in the royal newspaper The Gazette.

    Honours are largely awarded following the advice of the Cabinet Office, and anybody may make a recommendation if they know someone they believe to be worthy, but the individual must be actively involved in what they are being nominated for.

    Can women be knighted?

    Women are awarded a Damehood, rather than a knighthood.

    A Knighthood or a Damehood is one of the highest honours a person in the UK can be awarded.

    The title Dame, as an equivalent to Knight, was introduced in 1917.

    Women who are appointed to the Most Noble Order of the Garter or the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle are given the title of Lady rather than Dame.

    What is the Order of the British Empire?

    The British honours system has several orders, mostly relating to the monarchy, military and colonial officials.

    But King George V wanted to fill the gap by creating an order which would honour the thousands of people who had served in non-combat roles during the First World War.

    However, the order has come under criticism for to its connection to the now-extinct British Empire.

    The Government has considered changing the name to the Order of British Excellence, but in 2020 said that “empire” would not be replaced.

    What does the Order of the British Empire entitle you to?

    Being awarded a Royal Honour brings many benefits.

    Anyone selected for an honour will be invited to attend an investiture ceremony at a royal residence where the King, or stand-ins Prince William, Princess Anne or Prince Edward, will give you the medal.

    This ceremony typically takes place a few months after the birthday or New Year honours list is announced, but award recipients can start using their new title or letters after their name as soon as the awards are announced.

    Has anyone ever refused an honour?

    On a few occasions, recipients have rejected the honours for political or personal reasons.

    Among this number is David Bowie, who turned down a CBE that was awarded to him in Queen Elizabeth‘s birthday honours list in 2000.

    Other stars who have declined OBEs include television cook and writer Nigella Lawson, comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and Fawlty Towers star John Cleese.

    John Lennon is one of the few recipients to return his honour after having accepted it initially, sending back his MBE in 1969 in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigerian civil war.

    Stephen Hawking also turned down his honour in the 1990s in protest of the Government’s cuts to science funding.

    WHAT CAN PEOPLE GET HONOURS FOR?

    • Making a difference to their community or field of work
    • Enhancing Britain’s reputation
    • Long-term voluntary service
    • Innovation and entrepreneurship
    • Changing things, with an emphasis on achievement
    • Improving life for people less able to help themselves
    • Displaying moral courage

    Daniel Tison, James Orr

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  • Prince William brings his son to the same homeless shelter he first visited with Princess Diana

    Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, put on aprons to help make Christmas lunch at a homeless shelter, a charity that the Prince of Wales first visited as a child with his mother, the late Princess Diana.The royal father and son were seen decorating a Christmas tree and helping with meal preparations in the kitchen at The Passage in central London, in a video posted to William’s YouTube account on Saturday.“Proud to join volunteers and staff at The Passage in preparing Christmas lunch – this year with another pair of helping hands,” read a post on the social media account of William and his wife, Princess Catherine.William is the royal patron of The Passage, which he first visited when he was 11 with his mother, Diana. The heir to the throne has visited the charity in recent years, but this was the first time George, 12, joined him.The young royal signed his name in a book on the same page that Diana and William had written their names 32 years ago, in December 1993.William was shown pouring Brussels sprouts onto an oven tray, while George helped set out Yorkshire puddings and set a long table for dozens of attendees.William launched his Homewards project in 2023 to tackle homelessness.

    LONDON —

    Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, put on aprons to help make Christmas lunch at a homeless shelter, a charity that the Prince of Wales first visited as a child with his mother, the late Princess Diana.

    The royal father and son were seen decorating a Christmas tree and helping with meal preparations in the kitchen at The Passage in central London, in a video posted to William’s YouTube account on Saturday.

    “Proud to join volunteers and staff at The Passage in preparing Christmas lunch – this year with another pair of helping hands,” read a post on the social media account of William and his wife, Princess Catherine.

    William is the royal patron of The Passage, which he first visited when he was 11 with his mother, Diana. The heir to the throne has visited the charity in recent years, but this was the first time George, 12, joined him.

    The young royal signed his name in a book on the same page that Diana and William had written their names 32 years ago, in December 1993.

    William was shown pouring Brussels sprouts onto an oven tray, while George helped set out Yorkshire puddings and set a long table for dozens of attendees.

    William launched his Homewards project in 2023 to tackle homelessness.

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  • UK leader suggests former Prince Andrew should testify in US investigation into Jeffrey Epstein

    Britain’s Prince Andrew, *** prince no more, his brother King Charles officially starting the process of stripping Andrew of his remaining royal titles and evicting him from the royal estate in Windsor. It’s the royal family’s strongest response yet to the disgraced Prince’s links to. Late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s *** moment about justice, right? Epstein’s survivor Danielle Binsky responding to the news Thursday. I think it was incredibly hopeful for survivors, and it’s *** glimmer of hope that we haven’t seen, um, in *** really long time, if ever. The years-long controversy over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein intensified after the release of *** posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged Andrew sexually assaulted her when she was *** teenager. Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations against him. He claimed he never met Giuffre, who died by suicide in April at the age of 41. On Thursday, her family released *** statement reading in part, quote, Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down *** British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage. Giuffre’s brother also spoke out on Thursday. I think this is *** big sense of vindication for her from. Not just the general public, but from the king himself to say I stand by survivors. Buckingham Palace also released *** statement reading in part, quote, Their Majesties’ wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been and will remain with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse. I’m Reid Benyon reporting.

    UK leader suggests former Prince Andrew should testify in US investigation into Jeffrey Epstein

    Updated: 12:02 PM EST Nov 23, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Pressure is increasing for the former Prince Andrew to give evidence to a U.S. congressional committee investigating the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after Britain’s prime minister suggested he should testify.Keir Starmer declined to comment directly about King Charles III’s disgraced younger brother, but told reporters traveling with him for the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg that as a “general principle” people should provide evidence to investigators.”I don’t comment on his particular case,” Starmer said. “But as a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it.”The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has so far ignored a request from members of the House Oversight Committee for a “transcribed interview” about his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein. Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and honors last month as the royal family tried to insulate itself from criticism about his relationship with Epstein.Starmer’s comments came after Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee’s ranking Democrat, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia, said Andrew “continues to hide” from serious questions.”Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status or political party,” they said in a statement released on Friday. “We will get justice for the survivors.”

    Pressure is increasing for the former Prince Andrew to give evidence to a U.S. congressional committee investigating the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after Britain’s prime minister suggested he should testify.

    Keir Starmer declined to comment directly about King Charles III’s disgraced younger brother, but told reporters traveling with him for the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg that as a “general principle” people should provide evidence to investigators.

    “I don’t comment on his particular case,” Starmer said. “But as a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it.”

    The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has so far ignored a request from members of the House Oversight Committee for a “transcribed interview” about his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein. Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and honors last month as the royal family tried to insulate itself from criticism about his relationship with Epstein.

    Starmer’s comments came after Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee’s ranking Democrat, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia, said Andrew “continues to hide” from serious questions.

    “Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status or political party,” they said in a statement released on Friday. “We will get justice for the survivors.”

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  • Kate Middleton’s 2025 Christmas Carol Concert Will Celebrate Love, With Help From Kate Winslet

    “The ceremony will also highlight the stories of some of the assembly’s exceptional guests, who are leading by example and helping to create a more caring society,” the release continued. “This year, the evening will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms, whether it’s love within families, through friendships, between communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers. In a world that can often seem fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all, across generations, communities, cultures, and beliefs. As we approach the Christmas season, we summon the power of solidarity [and that of] compassion, kindness, and joy.”

    Since its launch in 2021 to pay tribute to all those who mobilized to help during the Covid-19 crisis, the “Together at Christmas” concert has honored special guests who have given back to their communities. Last year, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all attended the event with Princess Kate and their father, Prince William.

    For the latest edition of the carol concert, the details extend beyond the ancient interior of the Abbey: a decorative creation will be installed in front of the building by botanist and horticulturist Jamie Butterworth. Inside, wreaths designed by the Royal Horticultural Society in partnership with British ambassadors and schoolchildren will be on display—a nice nod to the important place nature occupies in the princess’s life. Indeed, Kate has often spoken of how walks in the open air, in contact with flora and fauna, helped her during her treatment for and recovery from cancer.

    Kate is also keen to pay tribute to the Duchess of Kent, who died in September at the age of 92. The memory of this important member of the royal family will be celebrated in music by the young members of the Future Talent association, which she co-founded to awaken and encourage the artistic talents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Katharine Worsley was herself a music teacher.

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Valentine Ulgu-Servant

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  • Prince Harry Apologizes to Canada For World Series “Hatgate”: “I Was Under Duress”

    Prince Harry, accompanied by Meghan Markle, came for a baseball game and left with a new controversy. On October 28, the Sussexes attended the fourth game of the World Series, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. The couple sat in the front row behind the dugout, all smiles, with Los Angeles team caps on their heads, cheering for their adopted hometown team.

    But Prince Harry made the mistake of wearing a Dodgers cap. As soon as he was spotted wearing the bright blue accessory, some Canadians accused him of betraying his heritage: Canada is a Commonwealth country whose head of state is King Charles III. Arriving in Canada on Wednesday for a two-day visit to commemorate Remembrance Day, celebrated on November 11, Prince Harry was naturally asked about what has jokingly been deemed “hatgate.”

    “Is there anything you’d like to say about wearing that Los Angeles Dodgers cap last week and getting in hot water?” he was asked by CTV News on Thursday.

    “Oh, the Los Angeles Dodgers cap. Well, firstly, I’d like to apologize to Canada for wearing it,” he explained. “Secondly, I was under duress, there wasn’t much choice,” he added with a smile. Invited to the game by the Dodgers’ owner, he thought it was “polite” to do so. Prince Harry confided that there was an additional reason for his choice of headgear. “When you’re missing a lot of hair on top and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available,” he joked.

    Séraphine Roger

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  • Prince William and Kate Middleton Officially Have a New Address

    Prince William and Kate Middleton have moved into what they hope will be their “home for life.” The couple and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have bid farewell to Adelaide Cottage, where they had been living since late summer 2022, to take up discreet residence at Forest Lodge, a magnificent 19th-century manor house, also located on Windsor’s Great Park. The move took place during the All Saints’ vacation, which ended on Sunday, November 2, according to the Telegraph.

    The couple’s move was confirmed by Kensington Palace last August. It was scheduled to take place “before Christmas,” but some renovation and modernization work, both inside and out, was reportedly completed ahead of schedule, allowing the timeline to shift. The necessary renovations, as well as the installation of privacy measures, are said to have been financed by the future king, William, himself. The family’s belongings were gradually moved from one house to another so that the move could be completed before the end of the school holidays, the Telegraph reported.

    The red-brick mansion offers more space than the Prince and Princess of Wales’s previous home. Adelaide Cottage has four bedrooms, while Forest Lodge has twice as many. There’s also plenty of green space, including a pond and tennis court. By moving into Forest Lodge, the Waleses are staying in Windsor’s Great Park, where they love the peace and tranquillity of the green expanses, while remaining close to Windsor Castle and London—a good hour’s drive away—where they regularly travel on official business. As the old and new houses are only a 10 minute drive apart, the family will be able to maintain their usual routines. The children will continue to attend Lambrook School.

    Séraphine Roger

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  • How a Necklace May Rewrite the Love Story of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

    In 2019, Birmingham cafe owner Charlie Clarke was walking through a field in Warwickshire with a metal detector he’d purchased some six months earlier. His hobby walk resulted in the discovery of a heart-shaped pendant now called the Tudor Heart. A beep alerted Clarke to the presence of something near a drained pond, so he decided to start digging. He thought it would be the usual coins; instead he unearthed a chain and an ornate pendant, all made of solid gold. It’s a find that Nicholas Cullinan, the director of the British Museum where the heirloom is currently on display, called the piece “perhaps one of the most incredible pieces of English history to have ever been unearthed.”

    There are many mysteries surrounding the Tudor Heart, including how that pendant got to that field, a question that may never be answered. After being painstakingly analyzed in every detail from a scientific as well as historical point of view, the relic has been confirmed as a genuine one of the era. It may have been created for the couple’s daughter, Princess Mary, with markings representing both her parents and their love for one another.

    The heart-shaped locket pendant is attached to a 75-ring chain through a fist-shaped clasp. Everything was made with pure gold. On the front is an enameled decoration depicting a pomegranate bush, the emblem of Catherine’s family and a symbol of fertility, on which a red and white Tudor rose, Henry’s symbol, stands out while behind are the initials of the two, “H” and “K” (Katherine, Catherine in English).

    Portrait of Catherine of Aragon by an anonymous person. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

    Portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger. Source Wikimedia Commons.

    Portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

    It reads “tousjors” on the ribbon engraved on both sides. That means “always” in Old French, but Rachel King, the scholar who curates the European Renaissance section at the British Museum, suggested that it may also be meant as a pun between “tovs” and “iors,” which would be to say “all yours” in Old Franglais, a language melding French and Old English.

    Many hypotheses have been made to contextualize the jewel, and not all of them are so romantic. The British Museum theorized that the heart-shaped pendant could have been created at a tournament held in 1518 to celebrate the betrothal between Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, who was just two years old, and the Dauphin of France Francis of Valois, only eight months old. The match would make Mary the first reigning queen, ruling England in her own right.

    Giorgia Olivieri

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  • Is the Duke of York Title Cursed?

    The first Duke of York was Edmund of Langley, who was elevated to the role in 1385. The fourth son of King Edward III, Edmund was one of the most trusted advisors to his nephew, King Richard II, often acting as custodian of the realm during Richard’s war campaigns. He would soon commit one of England’s greatest acts of betrayal, however, when he switched allegiances and supported a pretender, Henry Bolingbroke, when he invaded in 1399. The decision was immortalized to the stage by Shakespeare in Richard II, with the Duke of York named as one of the major players in crowning the new Lancastrian regime.

    The second Duke of York, Edmund’s son Edward, was also a major political power player. He was a key figure during the reigns of Kings Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V. He met a grisly end, however, at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, when he saved the life of Henry V. Whether or not Edward died from a head wound or from being “smoldered to death” among “much heat and pressing” is up for historical debate, though it’s safe to say the Duke died an uncomfortable, if noble, death.

    The third Duke of York was decapitated in battle, with his head impaled on a spike, mocked with a paper crown.

    Universal History Archive/Getty Images

    Things were equally as unpleasant for the third Duke of York, Edward’s nephew, Richard. Richard was four years old when he took the title, and later would go on to attempt to usurp the throne from the Lancastrians, without success. During the reign of Henry VI, Richard was among the most powerful men in the country, and claimed to be the rightful holder of the crown due to his family lineage. When he made this case to the Lords, however, he was met with what must have been a very awkward silence. Despite this lack of enthusiasm, it was decreed that the Duke of York could inherit the throne upon Henry’s death. In a cruel twist of fate, Richard was killed just weeks after he was promised kingship, dying in 1460 at the Battle of Wakefield. According to some reports, his enemies mockingly crowned him with bulrushes before beheading him and displaying his severed head on a pike with a paper crown outside Micklegate Bar in York.

    Ben Jureidini

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  • Even If Meghan Markle Is Reinventing Herself, Her Style Remains Familiar As Ever

    With the exception of a striped Ralph Lauren shirt, the capsule wardrobe features light colors, shades of brown, and black or dark blue garments—mostly solid colors rather than any patterns or patterns that could convey chaos rather than a feeling of harmony. “Quiet” is the adjective associated with this style, though the items’ hefty price tags are anything but.

    It remains to be seen whether Meghan is, in fact, planning a personal rebrand and comeback, and what role fashion might play in that. Could a collaboration with a fashion house be in sight, or are clothes simply a canvas on which Meghan writes her values or, more simply, her personal tastes?

    Meghan reportedly gave Balenciaga creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli a call and got invited to the Paris show, a move the creative director said was done without “any strategy or grand orchestration.” Curiosity about a fashion move from Meghan was further fueled by a meeting in New York.

    Meghan was spotted conversing amiably with Chloe Malle, the new head of editorial content at Vogue. Is something brewing, or did the two just see each other for a chat since they were in the same city? There are no definite answers but Malle is in a position to put an offer of some kind on the table, whether a collaboration, a cover, or, who knows, maybe a column.

    Let us now look in detail at the outfits Meghan has recently sported in New York and Washington. Among the speculation about her future, we finally have one certainty: Meghan’s outfits will not be for sale on ShopMy, the platform on which her selection of garments could be purchased. That initiative, which launched so much discussion last spring, seems to have waned. The duchess has closed up shop—pardon me—boutique.

    The Giorgio Armani suit

    To accept the “Humanitarians of the Year” award at the gala held in New York for the Project Healthy Minds festival, Meghan chose a suit, as if to nod to the series that made her famous and was set in the Big Apple. The suit in question, consisting of a fitted jacket and a pair of soft pants, was already in the duchess’s wardrobe. It’s designed by Giorgio Armani, one of Meghan’s go-tos.

    To make the outfit suitable for an evening event, Meghan chose to wear the jacket with nothing underneath, making her chain necklace by Anine Bing stand out. It’s a bold styling choice that casts her in the world of celebrities rather than the somewhat more collared world of Buckingham Palace. Her earrings are by Guzema, a Ukrainian brand that may have come to her through her husband Prince Harry, who recently visited Kyiv. It could be a way to emphasize the support the couple wants to show the warring country.

    Giorgia Olivieri

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  • Prince Louis Was Offered an Opportunity to Turn His Nutty Hobby Into an Official Role

    A few weeks ago, after learning how much Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, likes to collect horse chestnut seeds in the woods surrounding his family home in Windsor, the World Conker Championship was intrigued. The competition—for gathering conkers, another name for the seeds—is one of the most traditional tournaments in the UK. Organizers wrote to Kensington Palace to offer him what would have been his first official role as a member of the royal family: To become the honorary president of the organization.

    The offer reached the office of the Prince and Princess of Wales, but ultimately Kate and William decided to decline the honor on behalf of the 7-year-old royal. “We really appreciate the invitation, but currently Prince Louis is ‘conker-trating’ on his studies,” the Prince and Princess of Wales replied through a spokesman, according to The Telegraph.

    The offer followed statements made by Kate Middleton during a meeting with a group of scouts during President Donald Trump‘s visit in September, accompanied by Melania Trump. The Princess of Wales is a nature enthusiast and royal patron of the Scouts. She shared how Louis collects the nuts and plays with them, hiding them or loading toy trucks with them. “We find finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed—conkers everywhere,” Kate explained to a scoutmaster.

    The World Conker Championships organization then thought that Prince Louis might like to be its honorary president and thus help maintain the tradition of presenting its tournament, consisting of matches between two players, each with a conker tied to a rope, who try to hit the other’s until it breaks. After all, King Charles III recently showed his interest in this tradition by sending hundreds of conkers from Windsor Castle so that the competition could be held, after a shortage that had threatened this year’s edition (it takes place on the second Sunday of October). Princess Kate herself has also spoken on many occasions about how important she considers this type of nature-based game for the education of her children.

    “Like many other organizations for which members of the royal family are patrons, we have charitable aims and have raised nearly £450,000 to help people living with sight loss,” a spokesperson for the championship explained a few days ago, after expressing how much they wanted Kensington Palace to accept their invitation.

    Vanity Fair

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  • A Tiara Belonging to Queen Elizabeth’s Lady-In-Waiting Is Going To Auction

    It’s not often that a true aristocratic heirloom is made available to the public, but this month, a diamond and pearl tiara, which has been in the Ogilvy family for generations, will go up for sale at auction. The piece, made by Garrard at the end of the nineteenth century, balances diamond daisy, clover, and ivy leaf designs with large pearls, two of which are natural saltwater.

    Auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull will offer the tiara as part of a collection of lots from the estate of Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, who died last year. This particular piece is expected to sell for between $66.6K and $93.2K, as it boasts not just an incredible design, but a fascinating history that links back to the British royal family.

    The tiara’s first recorded wearer was Lady Mabell Gore, who became the Countess of Airlie in 1886 when she married David Ogilvy, the 11th Earl. Lyon & Turnbull have speculated that the piece may have been a wedding present, given that daisies represent innocence and purity, while ivy has long been associated with love. Sadly, the Countess was widowed when her husband died in the Second Boer War in 1900, but one year later she was appointed as one of the Ladies of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales—later Queen Mary—and continued to serve in the role until the Queen’s death in 1953.

    Another new bride had recently joined the Ogilvy family at that time, and would also go on to need a tiara: Virginia Fortune Ryan, the daughter of a wealthy American banking family, who was connected to the British upper classes by her father, a close friend of both Sir Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon. Her connections enabled her to marry Mabell’s grandson, Lord David Ogilvy, the heir to the earldom, in 1952—and their wedding was quite the society affair. Guests included Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The groom’s best man, meanwhile, was his younger brother, The Hon. Angus Ogilvy, who would go on to marry Princess Alexandra of Kent.

    Clara Strunck

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  • Queen Camilla Mourns “Wonderfully Witty and Compassionate Friend” Dame Jilly Cooper

    “I have lost a friend, an ally, a confidante and a mentor,” she concluded. “But I know she will live forever in the words she put on the page and on the screen.”

    The then Duchess of Cornwall with Jilly Cooper and Prue Leith as they attend a reception to mark The National Literacy Trust’s 25th anniversary in 2018

    Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

    Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who revealed in 2023 that he was a great fan of Cooper’s books, took to social media with his own statement, writing: “Sad to hear of the passing of Dame Jilly Cooper, a storyteller whose wit and love or character brought joy to millions. My thoughts are with her family and fellow readers.”

    The stars of Rivals, on which Cooper worked as an executive producer, have also offered their condolences to the author’s family, with Emily Atack, who will reprise her role as Sarah Stratton in the upcoming second season, writing a particularly heartfelt message on Instagram.

    “Oh Jilly, I can’t believe I’m writing this. Almost 3 years ago you gave me Sarah Stratton, and my life changed forever. I’ll never forget the first time we met. Your warmth and kindness soared through me with that first hug, and then every hug since,” read the moving statement.

    “To be taken into your world was the hugest honour and a once in a life time privilege. I cannot begin to explain how much we will miss you. Thank you for letting us into Jilly World, there really is no place like it. Sending all my love to Jilly’s wonderful family. Praying that you all feel somewhat comforted by knowing and seeing just how adored she was. What a woman, what a legacy. We love you Dame Jilly.”

    Originally published in Tatler.

    Ben Jureidini

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  • Kate Middleton Sweetly Apologizes to Young Admirers for Not Wearing a Gown to RAF Base

    The suit jacket and pants that won the princess over were designed by Bella Freud, who also hosts the popular fashion podcast Fashion Neurosis. Indeed, the look has several elements that are hallmarks of the royal’s signature style: A British brand, impeccable tailoring, and a meaningful pattern, the Prince of Wales check, also known as Glen Plaid.

    Among the reasons that might have led Kate to reintroduce the outfit so soon, other than to give it another spin before sending it to the cleaners as ordinary women would, might be the effort to shift public focus from the clothes she wears to the work she does. Without a new look to analyze, the RAF pilots she visited and the aircrafts she toured could take the spotlight.

    Kate Middleton boards the Typhoon at the RAF base.

    WPA Pool/Getty Images

    But the royal had not counted on meeting the local princesses, young children whose families live on and around the base. The crowd of tots had donned their best dresses to meet the princess. “Where is my dress? If I had known…” she exclaimed, as she stopped to chat with a particularly elegant little group, according to reports in the British press.

    “I’m sorry I didn’t wear my dress today. Thank you for coming to see me,” she told one of her little admirers.

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Giorgia Olivieri

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  • Meghan Markle and Drew Barrymore mocked on TikTok

    Meghan Markle’s past interview on The Drew Barrymore Show has been repeatedly spoofed by a TikTok influencer who has gained millions of views across multiple posts.

    Michael Pavano has made a series of light-hearted videos sending up an interview Barrymore did with Meghan back in March. Six months on, he is still going viral with new takes on the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance on the popular chat show.

    Why It Matters

    Meghan is no stranger to social media criticism nine years after a Kensington Palace spokesman called out online trolls just days after her relationship with Prince Harry first became public knowledge in 2016.

    Much of that hostile content has involved gossip, conspiracy theories or simply negative opinions about the duchess.

    However, in 2025 she has attracted a new type of online mockery by TikTokers who impersonate celebrities on video.

    What To Know

    One of Pavano’s TikTok posts was liked more than 66,000 times and viewed 1.1 million times after sending up the effort Meghan goes to when hosting guests in her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.

    In the clip, Pavano impersonated Meghan presenting Barrymore with a jar of Montecito rainwater only to later show Meghan pouring it from a tap.

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    Another video was liked roughly 41,000 times and viewed over 740,000 times and showed Pavano impersonating Barrymore giving Meghan a gift of some flowers, before he enacted Meghan trying to eat them. This appears to be a riff on Meghan’s love of edible flower sprinkles, which she sells on her lifestyle website As Ever.

    And it is not only Meghan’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. An older post from September 15 has over 134,000 likes and was viewed 2.4 million times. It showed her struggling to open a sea urchin before taking some shop bought sushi and labelling it as “Hand Rolled Garden Sushi.”

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    In the past, Meghan and her supporters have called out dedicated hate accounts that posted almost exclusively about her and often with quite extreme takes, such as that she had faked her pregnancy.

    If light hearted parodies like Pavano’s become a regular feature for the duchess they may prove harder for her to deal with, however, as they do not rest on facts that are true or false, but rather riff on perceptions of inauthenticity. He also sends up a whole range of celebrities, not just Meghan.

    It is not all bad news for the duchess though as she does have a recent endorsement from Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos.

    He told the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast this month: “One thing we learned early with Meghan, she has remarkable influence—remarkable.

    “So when we did the [2022] documentary on her and Harry, the trailer, when we ran the trailer announcing it, people, hundreds of people, broke down every frame of the trailer.”

    “The $20 shoes that she got from a village that was making these shoes sold out all over the world,” he continued. “And the $1,500 blanket that was on the chair sold out all over the world. She has incredible power and influence. So that for me, it’s like, okay, well how can we enable this to be a more holistic thing. So that’s what that relationship is about.”

    What People Are Saying

    One reply to one of Pavano’s videos read “literally thought i was watching The Drew Barrymore Show 😂😂” while another read: “You are a better drew and Meghan than they are.”

    What Happens Next

    With Love, Meghan will return for a holiday special in December and in the meantime fans can find the duchess’ produce on her lifestyle website, As Ever.

    Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.

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  • Kevin Costner Wanted to Make Princess Diana a Movie Star

    After her 1996 divorce from King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales), Princess Diana dreamed of a new beginning. Diana famously felt out of place in the Windsor household, and upon her exit, yearned for big changes. According to a newly released book by one of Diana’s former butlers, that desire for change reached all the way to the United States, where she considered the possibility of starring in a Hollywood film alongside none other than Kevin Costner.

    Back in 1992, The Bodyguard, co-starring Costner and Whitney Houston, took over cinemas and seduced millions of romantics. The drama followed the tumultuous love affair between bodyguard Frank Farmer (Costner) and his protectee, Rachel Marron (Houston), an up-and-coming R&B singer. The film proved to be a huge success, grossing over $411 million at the box office worldwide. The film’s soundtrack, featuring international hits such as Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing,” was also an instant and sweeping success. Costner, both a star and producer of the film, dreamed of a second home run. In a proposed Bodyguard II, his bodyguard character would be assigned to protect a princess harassed by paparazzi, ideally played by Diana. Costner approached Sarah Ferguson, the aristocrat’s former sister-in-law and friend, about the project, and Fergie then connected him to Diana. Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, recalled this anecdote in his book, The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana, excerpted by the Daily Mail.

    “She was approached to appear in The Bodyguard II alongside Kevin Costner,” the former butler wrote. “I put the call from Mr. Costner through to her in the sitting room and heard fits of giggles with her saying, ‘But I can’t sing! What would I be expected to do? I’m not sure but yes, OK, send it and I promise I will have a look.’” According to Burrell, Diana was flattered by the filmmaker’s interest in her, although she remained perplexed: “He can’t be serious,” she reportedly told him. But the script for Bodyguard II did reach her home, though Burrell had no idea whether she read it. Nevertheless, confirmed that the princess turned down the offer, thinking that this highly challenging project was “entirely impossible.”

    Costner has also spoken about the project in several interviews, including one on The Howard Stern Show in 2024, where his recollections diverged from Burrell’s. In fact, according to Costner, Lady Diana was more than up for the challenge, including an onscreen entanglement with him.

    “She goes, ‘My life’s about to change,’” Costner said. “She said, ‘Is there going to be a kissing scene?’ And I said, ‘Do you want there to be one?’ And she said, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘Then we’ll do that.’”

    The romantic scene never came to fruition, as Princess Diana died car accident under the Pont de l’Alma in Paris on August 31, 1997. Nevertheless, years later, Costner had the opportunity to chat with Diana’s eldest son, Prince William. “He looked at me and said: ‘My mom kind of fancied you,’” the actor recalled last year. Costner called the admission “the sweetest, kindest thing ever.”

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Olivia Batoul

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  • Are King Charles and Prince Harry Working Toward a Joint Public Appearance?

    Prince Harry was in London a few weeks ago to attend the 20th WellChild Awards, a ceremony he never misses and an organization of which he has been patron for 17 years. It was a rare opportunity to return to Harry’s native land, and, even more notably, a long-awaited reunion with his father, King Charles III, whom he had not seen for 19 months. The meeting, held at Clarence House, lasted just 50 minutes: a “private tea” between father and son, the first step to mending the relationship between the monarch and his second-born son, which has been beyond tense since Harry’s dramatic 2020 departure from the U.K. and his position as a senior working royal.

    But the fact that this meeting took place does not change the Firm’s official position: “Any suggestion that the prince might return in a more formal capacity has been rejected,” The Independent reported. There is no question of a half-hearted return to the family, or an “à la carte” role. A royal source quoted by the paper confirmed that King Charles is toeing the line set by his mother, Elizabeth II: “The King has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mother’s decision that there can be no ‘half-in, half-out’ public role for members of the family.”

    A decision that seems to suit the 41-year-old prince perfectly. Now settled in California with wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, Harry is cultivating a life away from the palace, a life he says is fulfilling.

    This does not mean, however, that family tensions have been laid to rest. In an interview with the BBC last May, Harry expressed a desire for appeasement: “I don’t know how much time my father has left. He doesn’t want to talk to me anymore because of these security issues, but it would be nice if we could get together.”

    These security issues are at the heart of a dispute between Harry and the British Home Office. Since he renounced his status as an active member of the royal family, he is no longer entitled to police protection—a decision he is contesting. After two days of hearings and an appeal earlier this summer, the verdict remains unchanged: his request for a reassessment of the security arrangements has been rejected. “I don’t want history to repeat itself,” he insisted to the BBC, referring to the fatal accident involving his mother, the late Princess Diana. “I think there’s a lot of other people out there, the majority, that also don’t want history to repeat itself. But through the disclosure process, I’ve discovered that some people do want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.”

    Yet the door to appeasement doesn’t seem completely closed. According to the Mail on Sunday, “tentative” discussions are taking place between Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry’s staff, with a goal of a possible rapprochement. A joint public appearance could even be in the cards, according to the newspaper. Is the familial hatchet about to be buried?

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Blanche Marcel

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  • Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton Wear Meaningful Brooches to Greet Donald Trump

    The royal family has welcomed Donald Trump to Windsor Castle for his historic second state visit, with both the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and Queen Camilla opting Wednesday to wear highly poignant brooches for the occasion.

    Kate Middleton adorned her monochrome burgundy look with an heirloom brooch featuring Prince of Wales Feathers, in recognition of her title and position within the royal family. The brooch features a diamond-encrusted Prince of Wales Three Feathers emblem encircled with more diamonds, with emeralds and rubies dotted throughout, royal authority The Court Jeweller noted. The brooch has historically been worn by the woman married to the Prince of Wales. On this outing, the Princess chose not to wear the additional single emerald drop that can be added to the piece.

    The Princess of Wales adorned her monochrome burgundy look with an heirloom brooch featuring the Prince of Wales Feathers.

    WPA Pool/Getty Images

    The Prince of Wales Feathers brooch has been worn a number of times by Queen Camilla, including to Cheltenham Ladies’ Day in 2012, despite Camilla never using the title of Princess of Wales on a formal basis. It was also sported by the late Princess Diana, although she preferred to wear it as a pendant on a necklace. It brought sparkle to her ensemble for an outing to the Royal Festival Hall in 1996, and on an outing to the Royal Opera House in 1982 that was recreated in The Crown. The late princess also wore the necklace on a state visit to Austria in 1986.

    The brooch also has a fascinating royal history, notes The Royal Watcher. It was given to Queen Alexandra as a gift for her wedding to King Edward VII in March 1863.

    Princess Diana on a state visit to Austria in 1986.

    Princess Diana on a state visit to Austria in 1986.

    John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images

    Isaac Bickerstaff

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  • The Timeless Advice Queen Elizabeth II Shared With Jackie Kennedy

    It’s easy to imagine cutlery clinking, chandeliers sparkling and two icons staring at each other. On June 5, 1961, John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy dined with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. It wasn’t a state banquet, but instead a highly formal dinner in the midst of a European tour. All accounts agree on one thing: the evening was anything but carefree, with extraneous guests shunned and personal sensitivities ruffled. In his book Q: A Voyage Around the Queen, British journalist Craig Brown meticulously recounted the waltz of the evening that Camelot came to Buckingham.

    According to Brown, Jackie Kennedy had requested the presence of her sister, Lee Radziwill, and her brother-in-law, Polish Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill, at the dinner. Initially considered undesirable because the former had already been divorced once and the latter twice, Elizabeth II finally relented and extended the invitations after “much hesitation.” However, the sovereign’s strong position enabled her to exact revenge in her own way. According to writer Gore Vidal, a close friend of Jackie Kennedy, the monarch deliberately withheld invitations from Princess Margaret and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, whom the American first lady had expressly asked to meet. The result, Brown wrote, was an evening of “dreary platitude” that left the first lady unimpressed. “No Margaret, no Marina, no one but every Commonwealth agriculture minister they could find,” she was quoted as saying.

    Yet it was in the midst of this staid ceremony that a moment of connivance between the two women is said to have arisen. The Queen is said to have asked Jackie Kennedy about her recent tour of Canada, leading the first lady to confide how “exhausting” it was to perform for hours on end, and Elizabeth II, “looking conspiratorial,” according to Brown, replied: “With time, you become astute, you learn to take it easy.” The line alone sums up a royal philosophy of public survival: Allowing yourself a side exit, a detour, an airlock—in short, keeping your breath to last. According to Vidal, Jackie found the exchange with the sovereign “rather laborious.” When Vidal later reported the phrase to Princess Margaret, she reportedly retorted, with acid phlegm: “But that’s why she’s here.”

    Queen Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy on June 5, 1961 at Buckingham Palace

    Bettmann / GettyImages

    This little sound bite says a lot about the era and the contrast the two iconic women embodied. On the one hand, there was Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, who had then only recently moved into the White House and was astonishingly modern. On the other, a monarch in a woolen suit, crown on her head, who had reigned over traditions for the past decade. Should this be seen as a rivalry? Not necessarily, as their relationship continued without public drama. Jackie Kennedy returned to see the Queen in 1962, and after JFK’s assassination, Elizabeth II honored the late President’s memory in the presence of Jackie and the children. But Elizabeth’s simple advice has endured through the ages, applicable to many public figures, precisely because it sheds light on the intimate mechanics of charisma. Grace isn’t just magnetism, it’s also technique. And at Buckingham, as at the White House, it’s an essential survival skill.

    Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

    Eléa Guilleminault-Bauer

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