Royal family news: Harry ‘asks ex-aides about returning from US’ as King to host first Starmer Balmoral visit
Strategy to ‘rehabilitate’ Duke of Sussex could involve partial reinstatement to royal fold, sources reveal
Prince Harry has sought advice from his former British aides about plotting a return from the US that could involve a partial reinstatement to the royal fold, sources have revealed.
In what has been described as the initial stage in a strategy to “rehabilitate” him, The Mail on Sunday reported the Duke of Sussex has been seeking help from advisers he had when he was a working royal amid increasing alleged issues with American-based PR firms.
A key aim of the claimed move would be for Harry to repair his relationship with his father – although the sources stressed he and his wife Meghan Markle are not looking to make a permanent return to the UK.
Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer are following convention and spending a few days at the Scottish home of Charles and Camilla.
However, a local resident told the newspaper the brothers sat apart at the back of the church and did not speak to each other.
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Watch: Climate protesters wearing Charles and Camilla masks join demonstration in Windsor
Climate protesters wearing Charles and Camilla masks join demonstration in Windsor
Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters donned King Charles and Queen Camilla masks to take part in a climate demonstration in Windsor. Tents, stages and speakers were set up in Windsor Home Park on Friday (30 August) ahead of an “action-packed” weekend of activities. One protester said she thought the King would “probably be here” and “up for doing some camping” if he was not the head of state. The group was closely watched by police officers from Thames Valley Police as the force warned it would “not tolerate criminal behaviour”. XR is planning peaceful action over the next three days to propose “democratic renewal” as the answer to issues caused by climate change.
Tara Cobham31 August 2024 07:42
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Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Victoria to visit Balmoral
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria will visit the royal family in Balmoral.
“The prime minister and his wife received their invitation earlier this month and they accepted,” a source told the Sunday Express.
“The prime minister’s team will update on his diary in the usual way at lobby.”
Serving prime ministers are traditionally invited to join the royal family at Balmoral.
Serving prime ministers are traditionally invited to join the royal family at Balmoral. (pa)
Emma Guinness31 August 2024 06:00
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King Charles and Queen Camilla have Balmoral picnic with grandchildren
King Charles and Queen Camilla have reportedly organised a picnic with their grandchildren as the royal family enjoys their summer break at Balmoral.
An insider told The Express that the activity will take place by a river on the sprawling Aberdeenshire estate in Scotland.
The Wales children will also be joined by Queen Camilla’s five grandchildren from her previous marriage, who are staying at the estate with her son Tom Parker Bowles and her daughter Laura Hopes.
Visitors have been able to see parts of Balmoral Castle used by the royal family for the first time this summer (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Visitors have been able to see parts of Balmoral Castle used by the royal family for the first time this summer (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)
Emma Guinness31 August 2024 03:00
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King Charles ‘open to truce’ with Prince Harry
King Charles is “open to a truce” with his youngest son Prince Harry after seeking spiritual advice.
The pair have not seen each other since February, when the monarch’s cancer diagnosis was announced.
During the Duke of Sussex’s most recent visit to the UK, his father declined to see him, citing his busy schedule.
An insider told the MailOnline: “Faith has always been a part of Charles’s life and something he’s explored, but since becoming King it is playing a more central role.”
They added: “That reliance on faith and quiet contemplation has become a comfort and asset to him and helps him cope with the role as he adapts to being King.”
When Prince Harry visited the UK in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invitcus Games, he saw none of his immediate family.
When Prince Harry visited the UK in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invitcus Games, he saw none of his immediate family. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Emma Guinness31 August 2024 00:00
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Duchess of Sussex lives ‘isolated’ life in California
Meghan Markle lives a relatively “isolated” life in California and keeps her friendship circle small, it has been claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex moved to the state with Prince Harry after stepping down as a working royal in 2020.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digitial: “I would describe Meghan’s personal life in California as isolated but structured.
“The qualifications to be her friend are no secret… She typically gravitates towards people that can offer her something, contribute to her personal goals. She also requires trust and privacy.
“Her friend group is small. She is friendly with Montecito locals as you never know someone’s connection or status. Everyone in Montecito has accomplished something significant to be in a position to call it home.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen to give their children as private an upbringing as possible.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen to give their children as private an upbringing as possible. (AP)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 21:00
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Harry and Meghan ‘keen’ to do more faux-royal tours
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly “keen” to do more unofficial tours after successfully visiting Nigeria and Colombia this year.
Though carried out in their capacity as private citizens, the visits have many of the hallmarks of official royal tours and have been used to promote several charitable causes.
A source told OK! magazine: “Both Meghan and Harry are keen to do more of these tours as that’s what they love doing and what they enjoyed most about royal life.”
The couple’s recent visit to Colombia was to ‘illuminate’ the country’s role as a ‘beacon of culture and innovation’.
The couple’s recent visit to Colombia was to ‘illuminate’ the country’s role as a ‘beacon of culture and innovation’. (Archewell Foundation via Getty I)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 18:00
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Meghan Markle has ‘regrets’ about statements since leaving royal life
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly has “regrets” about some of the things she has said since stepping down as a working royal in 2020.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield claims that she particularly regrets accusing unidentified members of the royal family of racism for allegedly speculating about the colour of Prince Archie’s skin ahead of his birth.
“Meghan does regret certain statements that she made,” Schofield told Fox News Digital. “They weren’t received in the way that she had expected and several of her comments have backfired.
“She and Prince Harry deeply regret the royal racist controversy,” Schofield added. “Meghan wanted the takeaway from their Oprah interview [in 2021] to be about her mental health. And I think Meghan regretted sitting down with The Cut [in 2022] because she provided endless commentary for her critics.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/PA)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/PA) (PA Media)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 17:00
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Harry and William’s reunion ‘not the occasion’ to sort feud
It has been said that Prince Harry and Prince William’s recent reunion at their uncle’s funeral was “not the occasion” for them to sort out their differences.
The brothers reportedly sat at a distance in the Norfolk church as they paid their respect to Lord Robert Fellowes, who died last month at the age of 82.
Royal commentator Claire Pearsall told GB News: “Like most families, you’re always going to have the people you don’t wish to speak with.
“It’s also not the occasion for those two to have some kind of either confrontation argument or great big making up, because you take away from the fact that they were there to celebrate the life of a family member. It wasn’t about them, it was about somebody else.”
Harry and William have not been photographed together since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
Harry and William have not been photographed together since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022. (Getty Images)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 15:00
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King Charles ‘profoundly’ saddened’ by death of Maori King Tuheitia
King Charles has said he is “profoundly saddened” following the “shock” death of his decades-long friend Maori King Tuheitia.
A representative for the Maori king Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII confirmed that he passed away at the age of 69 in New Zealand on Friday.
King Charles said in a statement: “I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades.
“He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Maori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.
“His death is a particular shock in view of the fact that I had only very recently spoken to Kiingi on the telephone at the beginning of August.”
File: King Charles, right, with the Maori King Kiingi Tuheitia
File: King Charles, right, with the Maori King Kiingi Tuheitia (EPA)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 13:40
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Estranged Harry and William ‘arrived discreetly’ to uncle’s funeral
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex are reported to have “arrived discreetly” at their uncle’s funeral in Norfolk.
Lord Robert Fellowes’s funeral is the first time that Harry and William have seen each other since King Charles’s coronation last year.
They are said to have “kept their distance” and “sat apart at the back of St Mary’s Church after arriving very discreetly.”
The pair’s relationship has deteriorated since Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020 and made a series of damning revelations about his family to the press.
In his 2023 memoir Spare, he claimed that his older brother physically attacked him when they got into an argument about Meghan Markle.
Harry and William were last publicly photographed together at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
Harry and William were last publicly photographed together at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022. (AP)
Emma Guinness30 August 2024 09:35
