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  • What we know about OBEs and what the honour stands for

    What we know about OBEs and what the honour stands for

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    MANY well-known faces have been awarded an OBE over the years, with David Beckham, JK Rowling and Idris Elba all being given the title.

    The prestigious honours are usually given out at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse, by a Member of the Royal Family.

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    The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established in 1917 by King George FifthCredit: Alamy

    What is an OBE?

    An OBE is a British honour awarded by the King.

    The honour recognises extraordinary contributions to the country and the impact of the individual being awarded’s work, either locally or nationally.

    An OBE is the second-highest ranking in the Order of the British Empire honours.

    It ranks just after the CBE (Commander) and sits above the MBE (Member). 

    READ MORE ON KING CHARLES

    The Orders of the British Empire were created by King George V during World War One in 1917 to honour the efforts of civilians and servicemen in non-combat roles.

    They are now awarded to civilians twice a year – at New Year and on the King’s official birthday.

    King Charlesfirst Honours List was published by the Cabinet Office in New Year 2023.

    The honours were previously awarded by Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September 2022.

    What does OBE stand for?

    OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

    The OBE is generally given to people who have made a major contribution to their line of work, or whose work has gained national prominence.

    Celebrities who have been awarded the honour over the years include actors Eddie Redmyane and Liam Neeson, television presenter Lorraine Kelly and fashion designer Victoria Beckham.

    What does an OBE entitle you to?

    The OBE does not bestow any special legal entitlement or power.

    Recipients are, however, entitled to put the letters OBE after their name and enjoy the prestige and possible raised profile this brings.

    Those awarded the honour are also entitled to attend an investiture ceremony within six months of receiving the honour.

    Here they will formally receive their insignia from the King or another senior royal, such as Princess Anne or Prince William.

    How do you address an OBE?

    The OBE is known as a “post nominal” award.

    This means it does not carry a title like Sir or Dame which should be used in front of the name.

    This is reserved for those who are appointed Knights or Dames.  

    Those with an OBE should be addressed like any other person.

    Can you nominate someone for an OBE?

    Anyone can nominate anyone for an OBE by visiting the Cabinet Office website and filling in an application form.

    Every nomination is different, but it’s important that you tell the story of what your candidate has done that is extraordinary should you wish them to be considered.

    In your nomination, you must describe your candidate’s achievements, show what impact they had, demonstrate how they made a difference, describe what obstacles they have overcome and demonstrate how they have gone the extra mile.

    People cannot nominates themselves and those filling out an application for nomination cannot choose what type of award a person is nominated for.

    This will be determined during the selection process after the application is submitted to the Honours and Appointments Secretariat.

    A special committee then decides who gets the honours and what type they will receive.

    These decisions then go to the Prime Minister before the King has the final say.

    Can non-British citizens get an OBE?

    To receive an OBE, you must be a British national or a citizen of the Commonwealth countries.

    There are 15 Commonwealth realms as of 2023.

    These are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom

    The King may, however, grant an honorary award such as the OBE to foreign nationals.

    These are nominated by the Foreign Office, which has responsibility for the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List.

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    Sun Reporter

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  • Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco Welcome Children to Palace Christmas Party

    Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco Welcome Children to Palace Christmas Party

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    Elves and acrobats and Santa Claus, oh my! Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco hosted their annual children’s Christmas party at the Prince’s Palace Tuesday, continuing a tradition started by Princess Grace in the early 1960s.

    Palace volunteers dressed as elves greeted the invited children, who were treated to the palace’s special blend of hot chocolate and a personal gift delivered directly from Santa Claus and members of the royal family as part of the festivities.

    Albert’s parents, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, began hosting the event so children could meet the princess and have cherished memories of one-on-one time with their royal family. In the years since, the event has expanded, this year including 680 children.

    Two children, however, were notably missing from the festivities: Albert and Charlene’s 9-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, who were reportedly ill.

    Gift requests are collected from each invited child ahead of time so that the palace can hand deliver an item from their wish list, straight from Saint Nick himself, on the festive day. This year, People reported, Playmobil Novelmore and Spiderman racing sets were in high demand from the gathered kids.

    The palace’s hot chocolate, too, is as legendary and over-the-top as the rest of the celebration. The milk for the concoction comes from the palace’s personal herd of dairy cows, and the 70% dark chocolate blend from the Dominican Republic completes the extra-thick recipe.

    Rumors surrounding Albert and Charlene’s relationship have plagued the royal couple in recent years, prompting Albert in September to ask for an end to the “lies.”

    “She supports me in leading the Principality, but we’re not attached to each other 24 hours a day,” he said of his wife. “We’re a working couple and sometimes that only allows us to see each other at the end of a long day full of appointments.”


    Listen to Vanity Fair’s DYNASTY podcast now.

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    Kase Wickman

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  • Prince William’s Embarrassing Nickname Revealed by Mike Tindall

    Prince William’s Embarrassing Nickname Revealed by Mike Tindall

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    Prince William goes by many names. Prince of Wales? That’s him. Duke of Cornwall? Also him. He also answers to Duke of Cornwall, Lord of the Isles, and Baron Carrickfergus, among many titles. But to Mike Tindall, the former professional rugby player who’s married to William’s cousin Zara Tindall, he’s “One Pint Willy.” 

    The Tindalls appeared on the Seven: Rob Burns podcast in an episode published Wednesday, and got to talking about nicknames for each other and for members of the royal family.

    “We basically call each other ‘munchkins’ a lot, don’t we? Or ‘my love,’ ” Mike said of the couple’s pet names for one another. 

    William, however, has been knighted by Mike with a decidedly less cutesy moniker.

    “The Prince of Wales is known to me as ‘One Pint Willy’ because he’s not the best of drinkers,” Mike said. “Coming from a sport where it is built on the social aspect and a couple of beers being sunk quite often, that is one I will definitely give away for the Prince of Wales. One Pint Willy. It’s out there now, sorry sir.”

    “You’re in so much trouble,” Zara playfully told her husband. 

    The Tindalls appear to be close with William, Kate Middleton, and the Wales children, and enjoy a friendly relationship. When the Waleses appeared on the podcast that Mike co-hosts, they joked about Middleton and William’s competitive nature. 

    “I’m not going to say you’re uber competitive, but …” Tindall teased Middleton. “I’ve seen her play beer pong!”

    It seems safe to say that William, despite his many other offices and titles, won’t be adding Duke of Double-Fisting to his list anytime soon. 


    Listen to Vanity Fair’s DYNASTY podcast now.

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    Kase Wickman

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  • Kate Middleton Released Her Baby Photo, And People Think She Looks Exactly Like 1 Other Royal

    Kate Middleton Released Her Baby Photo, And People Think She Looks Exactly Like 1 Other Royal

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  • All about Prince William’s education – school and university studies

    All about Prince William’s education – school and university studies

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    PRINCE William is known to have had a good education and to have met his wife Kate Middleton along the way.

    They’re both bright sparks, but where did the future King go to university?

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    Kate and William met at universityCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

    Where did Prince William go to school?

    Prince William‘s education began in London when he went to Jane Mynors’ nursery school and then moved on to pre-preparatory Wetherby School.

    He then went to Ludgrove School in Wokingham, Berkshire and had Rory Stewart privately tutor him.

    Away from the academic side, he also participated in several sports such as football, swimming, basketball, cross-country running and clay pigeon shooting.

    He went on to take an entrance exam to attend Eton College, which is a school famously known among the Royal family.

    READ MORE ON PRINCE WILLIAM

    When he went to Eton, he obtained his A-levels in geography, A, biology, C, and history of art, B.

    His love of sports continued specifically in water polo and he was also captain of the swimming team and the football team.

    He then took a gap year to take part in British Army exercises before he returned to the UK from Belize.

    Upon his return, he attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

    What did Prince William study at university?

    At St Andrew’s university, Prince William studied a degree course in Art History.

    He later changed his subject to Geography and wrote his dissertation on the coral reefs of Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean.

    In 2005, he graduated with upper second class honours in an undergraduate degree in the Master of Arts.

    His sporting hobbies did not stop at university, and there he also made part of the water polo team.

    The future King represented the Scottish national universities‘ water polo team at the Celtic Nations Tournament in 2004.

    During his time at St Andrews, the media respected the Prince’s privacy and let him enjoy his university years with fellow students.

    Students were told not to leak any stories into the press about him and he adapted the alternative name of “Steve” to avoid journalists overhearing anything about him and finding out about his identity.

    Did Prince William meet Kate Middleton at University?

    The short answer is, yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton met at university.

    They were both students at St Andrews when they first crossed paths in 2001.

    The pair soon became friends before moving in with each other, but it took a few years before romance sparked.

    It’s been said in the past that it took Kate’s iconic sheer dress fashion show moment in 2002 for the couple to realise they were more than just friends.

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    Catherine Micallef

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  • How party-mad Margaret smoked 60 cigs a day before horror health scares

    How party-mad Margaret smoked 60 cigs a day before horror health scares

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    SHE was the Queen’s party-loving younger sister, known for smoking 60 cigarettes a day, high-profile romances and iconic style.

    But in later life, Princess Margaret was plagued by health issues which saw her glamorous lifestyle replaced by hospital stays and agonising pain.

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    Princess Margaret, pictured in 1965, was the Queen’s party-loving little sisterCredit: Rex Features
    The princess, seen in 2000, was plagued by agonising health issues in later life

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    The princess, seen in 2000, was plagued by agonising health issues in later lifeCredit: PA:Press Association

    Margaret’s declining health is seen the new series of The Crown, which shows her clutching an oxygen mask to her face after undergoing lung surgery.

    Yet the scenes, starring actress Helena Bonham Carter as Margaret, are only a glimpse into the chain-smoking princess’ lengthy battle with ill health – from strokes and a nervous breakdown to a horrific bath accident.

    From ‘party princess’ to health woes

    In her heyday, Margaret was a vivacious ‘party princess’ – dancing until dawn and finding any excuse to hang out with actors and rock stars.

    A blue-eyed beauty with a tiny waist, she had a string of celebrity lovers, reportedly including actors Peter Sellers, David Niven and Peter O’Toole.

    But she wasn’t lucky in love.

    Margaret, portrayed by actress Helena Bonham Carter, clutches an oxygen mask in The Crown's fourth season

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    Margaret, portrayed by actress Helena Bonham Carter, clutches an oxygen mask in The Crown’s fourth seasonCredit: Netflix
    Bonham Carter plays Margaret in seasons three and four of the Netflix hit

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    Bonham Carter plays Margaret in seasons three and four of the Netflix hitCredit: Netflix 2020, Inc
    Margaret, pictured dancing with her husband Lord Antony Snowdon at a ball at the Tower of London, was a vivacious 'party princess'

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    Margaret, pictured dancing with her husband Lord Antony Snowdon at a ball at the Tower of London, was a vivacious ‘party princess’Credit: Corbis – Getty
    She is pictured leaving London's King Edward VII Hospital on November 1, 2001, three months before her death aged 71

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    She is pictured leaving London’s King Edward VII Hospital on November 1, 2001, three months before her death aged 71Credit: PA:Press Association

    Ill-fated romances

    During her early twenties, Margaret – known for her love of vodka, Scotch whisky and cigarettes – had a doomed fling with RAF pilot Peter Townsend.

    She later married motorbike-riding philanderer Lord Antony Snowdon, – with their union coming as a bombshell to the Royal Family.

    Despite having two children together, the pair’s marriage was marred by affairs and “gunfire”-style rows, and they eventually divorced in 1978.

    But while Margaret seemed prone to ill-fated romances, she also suffered misfortune when it came to her health – starting from her mid-teens.

    Margaret, pictured in 1970, had a penchant for alcohol and cigarettes

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    Margaret, pictured in 1970, had a penchant for alcohol and cigarettesCredit: Rex Features
    She smiles beside Lord Snowdon during an official royal engagement

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    She smiles beside Lord Snowdon during an official royal engagementCredit: Popperfoto – Getty
    The couple wave from the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia during their Caribbean honeymoon cruise in the West Indies in 1960

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    The couple wave from the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia during their Caribbean honeymoon cruise in the West Indies in 1960Credit: Getty – Contributor

    Operations from aged 15

    Aged 15, she underwent surgery for appendicitis at Buckingham Palace. A news bulletin in November 1945 declared the operation a “success”.

    Then, in May 1948, the young princess contracted measles – though palace officials were quick to stress that she hadn’t infected sister Elizabeth.

    Over the next couple of decades, while her big sister got to grips with being Queen, Margaret battled through migraines, laryngitis and the flu.

    In 1964, four years into her marriage with Lord Snowdon, she was left bedbound with catarrhal infection (inflammation of mucous membranes).

    Then in 1968, she had to have her tonsils removed.

    Margaret, pictured with big sister Elizabeth in a 1940 portrait, was just 15 when she underwent surgery for appendicitis at Buckingham Palace

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    Margaret, pictured with big sister Elizabeth in a 1940 portrait, was just 15 when she underwent surgery for appendicitis at Buckingham PalaceCredit: Bettmann
    The princess, seen waving to crowds in Jamaica in 1962, suffered from migraines, laryngitis, bronchitis and gastric flu during her life

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    The princess, seen waving to crowds in Jamaica in 1962, suffered from migraines, laryngitis, bronchitis and gastric flu during her lifeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Margaret dances with ballet star Rudolf Nureyev at a party in June 1977

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    Margaret dances with ballet star Rudolf Nureyev at a party in June 1977Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty

    Despite her pain, the princess, who had suffered from acute tonsillitis, was later pictured smiling as she left London’s King Edward VII Hospital.

    She was accompanied by then-husband Antony, in a show of support.

    A nervous breakdown

    Yet in the 1970s, Margaret’s marriage to Lord Snowdon collapsed – and she suffered a nervous breakdown as her mental health deteriorated.

    Despite the pair’s then-scandalous divorce, they remained friends.

    But in October 1978, Margaret’s health took a pounding again as she was diagnosed with pneumonia in Tuvalu, in the South Pacific.

    Fortunately, she pulled through after being flown to an Australian hospital.

    Margaret is seen at the Badminton Horse Trials in the 1970s - the decade her marriage collapsed and she suffered a nervous breakdown

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    Margaret is seen at the Badminton Horse Trials in the 1970s – the decade her marriage collapsed and she suffered a nervous breakdownCredit: Rex Features
    She chats with Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger in a restaurant in 1976

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    She chats with Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger in a restaurant in 1976Credit: AFP – Getty
    The Queen and Margaret are seen attending the Epsom Derby in Surrey in 1979, a year after Margaret was diagnosed with pneumonia overseas

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    The Queen and Margaret are seen attending the Epsom Derby in Surrey in 1979, a year after Margaret was diagnosed with pneumonia overseasCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    However, in the ’80s, the princess’s health issues escalated – with Margaret suffering from a seemingly endless string of illnesses over two decades.

    In 1980 – the year she turned 50 – she was admitted to a London hospital for surgery to remove a benign skin lesion, according to the BBC.

    Cancer scare

    Then in January 1985, the ’60 cigarettes a day’ princess had part of her lung cut out in a cancer scare (though, luckily, the tissue was non-malignant).

    At the time, Margaret’s office said doctors had removed a small area of her left lung, after she was admitted to a private suite at Brompton Hospital.

    The princess’s children Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, then aged 23 and 20, were on holiday in Venice when the scare occurred.

    And Margaret’s ex Lord Snowdon told reporters: ″I am very relieved that everything went all right and that it was not something serious.″

    Margaret is pictured with Princess Diana and the Queen Mother in 1981. A year earlier, she had undergone surgery to remove a benign skin lesion

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    Margaret is pictured with Princess Diana and the Queen Mother in 1981. A year earlier, she had undergone surgery to remove a benign skin lesionCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Prince Edward, the Queen, Princess Diana, the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret are pictured outside Clarence House in 1990

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    Prince Edward, the Queen, Princess Diana, the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret are pictured outside Clarence House in 1990Credit: Getty – Contributor

    60 cigarettes a day to 30

    After the op, Margaret continued smoking – despite four monarchs having died from smoking-related illnesses, including her own dad, King George VI.

    Never afraid of speaking her mind, she refused to bow down to pressure from both doctors and members of her family to ditch the cigarettes.

    However, it is reported she cut down to 30 a day, rather than 60.

    Determined Margaret also continued with royal engagements – but in 1992, she was forced to cancel some after developing a “feverish cold”.

    Glamorous Margaret, pictured in 1991, reportedly cut down from 60 cigarettes a day to 30 after having surgery to remove part of her lung

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    Glamorous Margaret, pictured in 1991, reportedly cut down from 60 cigarettes a day to 30 after having surgery to remove part of her lungCredit: Rex Features
    The princess, pictured in 1956 during her 26th birthday, had started smoking at a young age

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    The princess, pictured in 1956 during her 26th birthday, had started smoking at a young ageCredit: EPA

    And months later, still only in her early 60s, the princess was hospitalised with another bout of pneumonia after complaining of “feeling unwell”.

    Again, she fought through.

    Holiday horror

    But in 1998, Margaret suffered her first mild stroke on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique, where she had her own holiday hideaway.

    The princess – who had been gifted a plot of land on the island as a wedding present, and loved partying there – fell ill while dining with friends.

    She was flown by air ambulance to Barbados, though witnesses said she was able to walk across the Tarmac to the plane and didn’t need a stretcher.

    Margaret was spotted holidaying in Mustique with gangster John Bindon, pictured wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Enjoy Cocaine'

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    Margaret was spotted holidaying in Mustique with gangster John Bindon, pictured wearing a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Enjoy Cocaine’Credit: Alamy
    The princess, pictured centre, and her friends Lord Colin Tennant and Lady Anne Tennant are seen waiting on the jetty at Mustique to greet the Queen during her Silver Jubilee tour of the West Indies

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    The princess, pictured centre, and her friends Lord Colin Tennant and Lady Anne Tennant are seen waiting on the jetty at Mustique to greet the Queen during her Silver Jubilee tour of the West IndiesCredit: PA:Press Association

    Despite her love for Mustique, Margaret’s health would take another blow on the island: a year later, she badly scalded her feet in a boiling hot bath.

    She sustained horrendous burns in the accident, which left her reliant on support to walk (and on some occasions, she required a wheelchair).

    Following her return to England, Margaret continued to support the work of the dozens of charities and organisations she was involved with.

    But over Christmas 2000, the hard-working royal found herself bedbound at Sandringham following what was suspected to be a second stroke.

    Margaret is pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during celebrations for the Queen Mother's 100th birthday in August 2000

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    Margaret is pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during celebrations for the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday in August 2000Credit: EPA
    The Sun's Gardening Editor Peter Seabrook greets Margaret at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2000

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    The Sun’s Gardening Editor Peter Seabrook greets Margaret at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2000Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The princess walks with a stick amid her health struggles

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    The princess walks with a stick amid her health strugglesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

    Then, in January 2001, she was hospitalised with a “severe loss” of appetite – leaving loved ones, including the Queen, concerned about her “frail” state.

    Margaret’s cousin, the now-late Hon Margaret Rhodes, told the BBC: “All her life she has been the sparkling one, the centre of attention, but since her stroke three years ago, she has lost that particular facility to sparkle.”

    At that point, Margaret hadn’t been seen in public since October 2000. Once the life and soul of every party, she was said to be depressed by her illness.

    All her life she has been the sparkling one, the centre of attention, but since her stroke three years ago, she has lost that particular facility to sparkle

    Margaret’s cousin in 2001

    And the “stoic” princess’s condition only worsened that March when she had another stroke, which impaired her vision, according to the Guardian.

    In her younger years, Margaret had loathed the idea of living a quiet life. Now, confused and withdrawn, it was reported she had lost the will to live.

    Margaret is helped down a flight of steps by a nurse as she leaves King Edward VII Hospital in London in January 2001

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    Margaret is helped down a flight of steps by a nurse as she leaves King Edward VII Hospital in London in January 2001Credit: PA:Press Association
    Margaret's daughter Lady Sarah Chatto and son Viscount Linley leave the hospital after visiting their mum

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    Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Chatto and son Viscount Linley leave the hospital after visiting their mumCredit: PA:Press Association
    The Queen Mother waves to supporters as Margaret looks on in a wheelchair in August 2001, after suffering a stroke which impaired her vision

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    The Queen Mother waves to supporters as Margaret looks on in a wheelchair in August 2001, after suffering a stroke which impaired her visionCredit: Reuters

    But once more, she seemed to bounce back, even dining out in Mayfair.

    In October 2001, the princess – who also fought off bronchitis, gastric flu and mild hepatitis during her life – was admitted to hospital for tests.

    A couple of months later, she managed to attend the 100th birthday celebrations of her aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.

    But tragically, it would be her last public appearance.

    A peaceful death

    On February 9, 2002, Margaret died peacefully aged 71 at King Edward VII’s Hospital, having suffered cardiac problems following yet another stroke.

    The princess passed away with her children by her side.

    In her last years, she had battled through more health problems than most 100-year-olds. But she’d also lived life to the full, when she could.

    Margaret, once the life and soul of every party, was said to be confused and withdrawn after her numerous strokes

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    Margaret, once the life and soul of every party, was said to be confused and withdrawn after her numerous strokesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    She attends the 100th birthday celebrations of her aunt Princess Alice, pictured centre, along with the Queen in December 2001

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    She attends the 100th birthday celebrations of her aunt Princess Alice, pictured centre, along with the Queen in December 2001Credit: PA:Press Association
    Her coffin is carried out of hospital following her death in February 2002

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    Her coffin is carried out of hospital following her death in February 2002Credit: AP:Associated Press

    Aside from her passion for partying and socialising, Margaret was a talented piano player who could pick up and play by ear almost any tune.

    As grieving nephew Prince Charles said after her death: “My darling aunt had such dreadful times in the past few years with her awful illness and it was hard for let alone her to bear it, but for all of us as well – particularly as she had such a wonderfully free spirit.

    “She lived life and lived it to the full and from that point of view it was even harder for everybody to witness this.”

    The Crown Season 4 – Official trailer for the Netflix drama starring Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson

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  • Kate Middleton and Her Kids Spend Evening Volunteering to Help Other Children

    Kate Middleton and Her Kids Spend Evening Volunteering to Help Other Children

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    Time and time again, Kate Middleton and Prince William have stressed how important it is to them to give their kids as normal a childhood as possible, despite their unique stations in life as the second, third, and fourth in line for the throne. The Princess of Wales took her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis along with her in November to spend an evening volunteering at a baby bank in Maidenhead, Berkshire, not far from the family’s residence in Windsor.

    The group engaged in the time-honored tradition of giving back to the community during the holiday season, packing pajamas for children whose lives have been impacted by poverty, as well as assembling holiday gift bags for the families helped by the baby bank.

    In a video released by Kensington Palace, Kate, George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5, unload boxes of clothing from their car and bring them into the group’s building during the under the radar visit.

    “Here there’s lots of people who give up their time and there’s lots of volunteers who help out, and so you’re the volunteers for this evening,” Kate tells her children. The Wales children also got to choose toys to pack into gift bags for kids their age, with Louis delighting in a large King Kong action figure and exclaiming, “This is a big guy!”

    Charlotte, too, looked excited as she held up a onesie decorated with the Welsh flag and declared, “this is Welsh.”

    Kate’s signature social issue as a royal has been the importance of early childhood. Many of her public engagements revolve around her Shaping Us initiative, and last week, during the taping of her annual carol concert, Together at Christmas, she invited home health workers and preschool teachers, among other early childhood professionals, to be in the audience as a thank you for their work.


    Listen to Vanity Fair’s DYNASTY podcast now.

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    Kase Wickman

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  • Here’s What It’s Like to Take the Royal Family’s Christmas Photos

    Here’s What It’s Like to Take the Royal Family’s Christmas Photos

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    You can’t swing a sprig of mistletoe this time of year without hitting a greeting card offering best wishes for the holiday season and a charming photo of the family bearing those wishes. The world caught their first glimpse of this year’s iteration of the Wales family’s holiday correspondence over the weekend, featuring a smiling Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis in black and white on a blank background.

    The image, a departure from the typical candid color shots the family has used in their holiday greetings in the past, was shot by photographer Josh Shinner, a new collaborator for the family.

    The pressure is on when trying to get the perfect shot of a family, let alone when that family has three young children who are also very famous and should all be smiling at the same time—and that pressure can only increase when the subjects of your portrait include the first through fourth entries in the line of succession to the throne.

    In an Instagram caption, Shinner opened up about what it was like to photograph the royal family.

    “It was such a pleasure to photograph The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family for the Christmas portrait this year,” he wrote alongside the winning shot. “Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I’ve ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…”

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    Shinner is keeping tight-lipped, however, about what those jokes were. You can’t just give away a punchline and ruin the element of surprise, you know?

    “Keeping those to myself I’m afraid! ;)” he wrote in response to an inquiring commenter.

    The photographer also shared a rough sketch he’d made of the family of five while toying with how he’d pose them.

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    Kase Wickman

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  • Why Meghan Markle isn’t wearing her engagement ring

    Why Meghan Markle isn’t wearing her engagement ring

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    PRINCE Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017 with a custom three-stone ring.

    However, eagle-eyed royal fans have noticed that the Duchess of Sussex hasn’t worn her diamond sparkler much this year. Here is everything you need to know.

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    The ring was redesigned back in 2019 to feature even more diamondsCredit: Getty

    What engagement ring does Meghan Markle have and how much does it cost?

    Prince Harry designed the bespoke three-stone piece with the help of Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth’s regular jeweller.

    The engagement ring worn by Meghan, features three stones, a design referred to as a trilogy ring.

    The centre diamond, which is cushion cut, is estimated to be three carats and was sourced from Botswana – where the pair had their second date.

    The smaller diamonds on the side came from Princess Diana‘s personal collection.

    READ MORE ON MEGHAN MARKLE

    The value of Meghan’s engagement ring is estimated to be upwards of £120,000.

    At the time of their engagement, Prince Harry said: “The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s [Meghan’s] favourite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together.”

    Meghan added: “‘Everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness and the inclusion of [Princess Diana’s stones] and obviously not being able to meet his mom, it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us.”

    Why does Meghan Markle not always wear her engagement ring?

    It is not known why Meghan does not always wear her engagement ring.

    However, relationship expert and co-founder of So Syncd, Louella Alderson, believes it could be due to her charity work.

    She told the Mirror: “Meghan’s commitment to charity and her personal style suggests that she might not be keen on wearing something so flashy all the time.

    “She could be trying to go for a more relatable look which could be why she’s opted for two subtle rings.

    “It could also be a practical measure—wearing an expensive ring comes with responsibility.”

    Why has Meghan Markle’s engagement ring changed?

    When she appeared at Trooping the Colour in 2019, it emerged the Duchess had altered the custom-made engagement ring.

    The band was changed to a micro pavè band with smaller diamonds going around the band to emphasise the three original diamonds.

    The decision was reportedly one made not by Meghan herself, but by her husband.

    Prince Harry reportedly chose to upgrade the band at the same time that he ordered the ring as a gift for their first wedding anniversary.

    In the royal biography, Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand explain: “On May 19, 2019, Harry also surprised his wife of one year with the gift of a ring that he had created with jeweller-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz, a favourite of Meghan’s.

    “The conflict-free diamond eternity band paid homage to the family of three with Meghan’s, Archie’s and Harry’s birthstones (peridot, emerald, and sapphire, respectively) on the underside of the ring.”

    What types of engagement rings do other royals have?

    Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen Elizabeth II‘s engagement ring was a platinum ring set with 11 diamonds.

    It had a 3-carat round solitaire and 5 smaller stones set on each shoulder.

    The stones were taken from a tiara owned by Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg.

    Princess Diana

    King Charles presented Diana with a selection of rings from Garrard and asked her to choose her favourite.

    Diana opted for a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire stone surrounded by diamonds and set in white gold.

    The princess loved the ring so much that she wore it after their divorce.

    Queen Camilla Parker-Bowles

    King Charles chose a ring from the Royal Collection that had belonged to his grandmother, the Queen Mother for Queen Camilla.

    The Art Deco ring features a five-carat emerald cut diamond at its centre with diamond baguettes on the sides.

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  • Kate Middleton’s Outfit Channels a White Christmas In New Carol Concert Photo

    Kate Middleton’s Outfit Channels a White Christmas In New Carol Concert Photo

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    Kate Middleton is manifesting a white Christmas, if her outfit choice for her annual Christmas carol concert is anything to go off of.

    In a new iTV clip promoting Middleton’s Together at Christmas concert, which tapes Friday at Westminster Abbey ahead of its Christmas Eve broadcast, the Princess of Wales wears a white bouclé blazer with a touch of shimmer woven throughout. The collared jacket, which has self-covered buttons of the same fabric, is designed by Self Portrait and features sequins and pearls as embellishments.

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    Middleton achieves maximum angelic tree-topper vibes by standing in front of a glowing Christmas tree draped with garlands and lights. Her earrings, a cluster of pearls and crystals from J.Crew, are a rewear from her attendance at last week’s Royal Variety performance.

    This is the princess’ third year hosting the caroling concert, which she founded in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, in addition to the usual high-profile celebrity guests expected in attendance, Middleton announced that she would also invite home health workers and midwives to the concert in honor of her Centre for Early Childhood campaign, Shaping Us. In the new promo clip, she says it’s a way of “saying a heartfelt thank you to those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years.”

    At the first Together at Christmas concert in 2021, Middleton stunned by giving her first public piano performance, accompanying singer Tom Walker as he gave an emotional performance of the song “For Those Who Can’t Be Here.” Middleton recently shared that her daughter, Princess Charlotte, has also taken up piano lessons. Perhaps someday we’ll be treated to a mother-daughter duet at a future iteration of the concert.


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  • All about Andrew Parker Bowles and who he is dating

    All about Andrew Parker Bowles and who he is dating

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    ANDREW PARKER BOWLES is perhaps best known for being the ex-husband of Queen Camilla but his royal connections go beyond just that.

    Since her and Andrew’s split Camilla has gone on to become a member of the Royal Family thanks to her marriage to King Charles and Andrew has also gone on to find love again.

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    Andrew Parker Bowles is the former husband of King Charles III’s wife Queen CamillaCredit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

    Who is Andrew Parker Bowles?

    Andrew Parker Bowles is a retired British Army officer.

    He was born on December 27, 1939, and is the eldest child of Derek Henry Parker Bowles and Ann Parker Bowles.

    Andrew’s father was the great-grandson of Thomas Parker, the sixth Earl of Macclesfield, and his mother was the daughter of racehorse owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford.

    Parker Bowles was a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth at the age of fourteen, a role he bagged thanks to the friendship of his parents and The Queen Mother.

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    He participated as an amateur jockey at the 1969 Grand National with his horse The Fossa, and finished in eleventh place.

    Andrew attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served for 34 years in the military.

    In 1960 he was commissioned into the Royal House Guards and from 1967 to 1969 he was the adjutant of the troop.

    In 1971 he was promoted to major and he then was the Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment from 1981 to 1983.

    Andrew was the commander in charge during the Regents Park Bombings, where men and horses were killed and injured by a terrorist bomb. 

    He was also awarded the Queen‘s Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe

    Parker Bowles retired from the army in December 1994, holding the title brigadier.

    Who was Andrew Parker Bowles’ wife?

    Andrew’s first wife was Camilla Parker Bowles, born Camilla Shand and now known as Queen Camilla and wife of King Charles III.

    The pair married on July 4, 1973, in a Catholic ceremony at the Guards Chapel in London.

    The Queen Mother, Princess Anne, and Princess Margaret attended the wedding, and the reception took place in St James’s Palace.

    Camilla gave birth to their son Tom Parker Bowles on December 18, 1974, a year after they married, and four years later the pair had their second child Laura Lopes.

    Andrew and Camilla divorced in 1995, after he had various affairs during the marriage.

    He then married Rosemary Alice Pitman, who was previously married to Lieutenant Colonel John Hugh Pitman, in 1996 but she sadly died in 2010 to cancer.

    In December 2023 The Sun reported that Andrew was dating former The Weakest Link host Anne Robinson.

    The couple reportedly got together in late 2022 after being set up by a mutual friend.

    A friend of the pair said: “They have judiciously avoided being photographed together as they both wanted to keep this quiet for as long as possible.

    “Annie proudly tells everyone she is the daughter of a market trader chicken-seller and is as far removed from a toff as could be — frankly it beats any storyline The Crown could possibly come up with.

    “Annie and Andrew get on splendidly — she makes him laugh, a lot, and he is one of the few people to get away with poking fun at her.”

    How old is Andrew Parker Bowles?

    As of December 2023, Andrew is 83 years old.

    He was born on December 27, 1939, in Surrey, England.

    What is the relationship between Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles?

    It has been rumoured that Princess Anne and Andrew were a couple for in the 1970s but split before his engagement to Camilla.

    Biographer Sally Bedell Smith told Elle.com that the relationship could not have been “very serious between Anne and Andrew because Andrew was Catholic”.

    Princess Anne and Andrew stayed friends after their rumoured romance and he was later named the godfather to Zara Tindall, Anne’s daughter.

    Are Andrew Parker Bowles and Camilla still friends?

    Andrew and Camilla have remained friends despite getting divorced in 1995.

    Parker Bowles attended the wedding of Camilla and King Charles in Windsor in 2005 and he was also present at the King’s Coronation in May 2023.

    When Andrew’s second wife Rosemary died, Camilla attended a memorial service for her.

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  • Princess Beatrice Brings Back Her Favorite Coat To Sing Carols In

    Princess Beatrice Brings Back Her Favorite Coat To Sing Carols In

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    Princess Beatrice may or may not be making a list, but her coat is worth checking twice. The royal sported a Temperley London coat with a large gray and white checkered pattern at a carol concert Tuesday, and avid royal watchers noticed that she’d worn the same coat to another caroling event last year.

    Beatrice had a date night with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Tuesday in London, attending the Fayre of St James’s Christmas Carol Concert at St James’s Church. The annual caroling concert is a charity event and silent auction benefitting the Quintessentially Foundation and the Firefly Network, which work to improve the lives of children in London who are impacted by poverty. Beatrice, 35, bundled up in the long, belted double-breasted coat, and paired it with black heeled boots and her hair pulled back in a low-key ponytail.

    The coat appears to put Beatrice in a festive mood, as she chose the same warm layer for last year’s royal Christmas caroling event, Kate Middleton’s Together at Christmas concert. At the 2022 concert, Beatrice wore her hair down in a glam cascade of curls, along with the same statement-making checkered coat.

    Princess Beatrice sits on the planning committee for the Fayre of St James’s event. Other notable names in attendance Tuesday night included Simon Pegg and Stephen Fry, among others.

    Over the weekend, the palace shared the news that Princess Kate would host her Together at Christmas concert for the third year in a row on December 8. According to a statement, the usual high-profile guests in the audience will this year be joined by British midwives, home health visitors, and preschool teachers, as part of Kate’s signature Shaping Us early childhood initiative.


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  • Prince Harry and Charles’ “awkward” conversation after book

    Prince Harry and Charles’ “awkward” conversation after book

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    Prince Harry made the “first steps” to reach out to King Charles III after the publication of his bombshell memoir but was met with a “cold” and “awkward” reception, according to a new book by the prince’s biographer, Omid Scobie.

    In his new book, Endgame, which charts the monarchy’s “fight for survival” in the 21st century, Scobie has written extensively about the issues faced and exposed by Harry and Meghan Markle in relation to other senior members of the royal family.

    Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s split from the monarchy in 2020, they have since spoken publicly about the motivation for doing so, citing issues including the hostile tabloid press, palace aides and royal family members.

    In January 2023, Harry published the most revealing account of behind palace walls life since his mother, Princess Diana, covertly cooperated on a 1992 biography exposing the breakdown of her marriage and infidelity of her husband, Charles.

    From left, Prince Harry in Windsor, September 10, 2022, and King Charles III in Scotland, July 3, 2023. According to a new book, Harry and Charles exchanged an “awkward” phone call after the publication of the princes’ bombshell memoir.
    Chris Jackson/Getty Images/ Andrew Milligan – WPA Pool/Getty Images

    Harry’s Spare memoir made a number of allegations and claims against senior royals, most explicitly his brother, Prince William, and stepmother, Queen Camilla.

    No members of the family addressed the book in public, in line with a blanket “no comment” position taken by Buckingham Palace. The book saw the popularity of the monarchy and its individual members drop, most significantly affecting Harry and Meghan themselves.

    In Endgame, Scobie writes that in the fallout of the book’s publication, it was Harry who made the first move to establish contact with his father.

    “Encouraged by a close friend, the Duke of Sussex reached out to Charles by phone to try to discuss some of the unresolved issues between them,” he said, before citing a “friend of the prince,” who told him: “It was an awkward conversation, but he knew if he didn’t make those first steps, there would never be any progress. There were no raised voices, no arguments…but the King was cold and brief rather than open to any proper dialogue.”

    Scobie told readers that with “no significant resolution or outcome” from the conversation between father and son, Charles had “once again wasted an opportunity to take the upper hand and let bygones be bygones for the sake of family harmony.”

    The continued strain in the relationships between Harry and royal family members was highlighted on the world stage in May 2023, when the prince traveled to London to attend his father’s coronation.

    No longer a working member of the family, Harry (who attended without Meghan) was seated not with his brother and sister-in-law, William and Kate, but two rows behind in Westminster Abbey, between an elderly royal relative and the husband of his cousin, Princess Eugenie.

    The continuation of the royal rift, has, Scobie suggests, been met with frustration by those in connection with the monarchy.

    “It’s complex, but there’s increasing frustration from some of the wider circle of family members that Charles won’t just fix things for the sake of everyone,” Scobie quoted a “royal source” as saying in his book, before telling readers: “The institution needs it. Just three months after the publication of Spare, the royal family’s approval rating fell to its-lowest level in years.”

    Endgame was published by Dey Street, an imprint of HarperCollins.

    James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

    Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and 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.