Advertisement

Royal news – latest: William and Kate share Mother’s Day photos as Sarah Ferguson praises Eugenie and Beatrice

The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared unseen family photographs for Mother’s Day.

Kensington Palace shared the images over the weekend, including one that showed Kate Middleton with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis sitting in a tree together.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, also shared a Mother’s Day post as she praised her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.

It recently emerged that Prince Harry was asked by the Home Office to give 28 days’ notice before making any trips to the UK.

Meanwhile, speculation is still rife as to whether Harry and Meghan will attend Charles and Camilla’s coronation in May.

Fans of The Crown are also reacting to the latest photos from the set of season six, with many shocked at the actor playing Prince William’s “uncanny” resemblance to the Prince of Wales.

Key Points

  • Kate and William share Mother’s Day photos showing more relaxed image

  • King Charles III coronation: Everything we know about 2023 ceremony

  • Queen remembered by royal family on first Mother’s Day since her death

  • Prince Harry asked to give a month’s notice before making trip to the UK, reports claim

  • Prince Harry’s children have not yet been invited to Coronation, report says

Princess of Wales shares Mother’s Day message and unseen family photograph

06:50 , Peony Hirwani

The Princess of Wales has shared a heartfelt message on Mother’s Day, accompanied by an unseen photograph of herself with her three children.

The photograph shows Kate with Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven and Prince Louis, four, sitting in a tree smiling at the camera.

The caption reads: “Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours,” with a red heart emoji.

Sir David Attenborough plants oak tree in honour of late Queen Elizabeth II

16:30 , Kate Ng

Sir David Attenborough has planted an oak tree in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II to officially open a new Platinum Jubilee woodland in Richmond Park.

Queen Elizabeth II presents the Chatham House Prize 2019 to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal institute of International Affairs, Chatham House on November 20, 2019 (Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II presents the Chatham House Prize 2019 to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal institute of International Affairs, Chatham House on November 20, 2019 (Getty Images)

The famed naturalist and TV presenter, 96, described the late monarch as a “great lover of trees” and “very fond” of the Royal Parks, and said the new wood was a fitting tribute to her memory.

He shared a strong rapport with the late monarch and selected the English oak as his chosen tree himself.

It is one of the final few to be planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative.

The nationwide Plant a Tree for the Jubilee project, which concludes on March 31, has seen more than a million new trees planted in the Queen’s name to celebrate her reign and create a lasting environmental legacy.

Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London (PA)
Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London (PA)

It was extended beyond the end of the jubilee year on the wishes of the King to give people the chance to plant trees in memoriam of his mother, who died in September.

Broadcaster Sir David settled the young oak into place in the new four-acre Platinum Jubilee Woodland - which is larger than the size of two football pitches - in the west of Richmond Park, one of London’s eight Royal Parks.

He said he was “thrilled” to be opening it to celebrate the Queen’s life of service.

“The late Queen was very fond of the Royal Parks and was a great lover of trees, so this is a fitting tribute to her memory,” Sir David said.

“Its creation also marks the continuing conservation of this protected landscape, and the wonderful wildlife within, so that it can be enjoyed by many generations to come.

“The Queen’s Green Canopy has created an invaluable national legacy for our children, future generations and the planet itself.”

The oak is one of 70 new young broadleaved trees - one for each year of the Queen’s reign - in the new woodland, joining Dutch elm disease-resistant elms, small-leaved limes, and sweet chestnuts.

They have been planted around a focal point which will later incorporate a seating area for rest and reflection, with the larger canopy trees complemented by smaller native trees and hedging such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, elder and dogwood.

PA

Britons encouraged to take up volunteering roles as part of King Charles’s coronation celebrations

15:30 , Kate Ng

Britons are being encouraged to take up hundreds of thousands of volunteering roles highlighted as part of coronation celebrations.

The initiative, announced on Monday (20 March), was created with the aim to reflect the central role of the nation’s volunteering sector.

Love Island star Faye Winter and Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden are among the celebrities promoting the campaign, called The Big Help Out, with more than 1,500 charities involved.

Find out more below:

Britons urged to volunteer as part of King Charles’s coronation celebrations

WATCH: Backup plan reportedly in place for King Charles’s coronation if Sussex’s don’t come

14:30 , Kate Ng

King Charles orders soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet as morning patrols too ‘loud’

14:00 , Kate Ng

King Charles has reportedly asked the soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet, after his morning phone calls were disrupted by raised voices and loud commands used during morning drills.

Royal sources have said that the King’s complaint was relayed “gently and politely”.

Read our report below:

King Charles orders soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet in morning patrols

Sussexes ‘struck deal’ with Buckingham palace to pay ‘no further rent’ on Frogmore Cottage, report claims

13:30 , Kate Ng

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly struck a deal with Buckingham Palace to pay no further rent on Frogmore Cottage after refunding the £2.4 million of taxpayers’ money used for its refurbishment.

The royal home became the centre of a new row at the beginning of March, after it was reported that King Charles III had “evicted” Harry and Meghan from the residence and offered the keys to the Duke of York instead.

Get the full story below:

Sussexes ‘struck deal’ to pay ‘no further rent’ on Frogmore Cottage, report claims

The Crown fans stunned by actor’s ‘uncanny’ resemblance to Prince William

13:13 , Roisin O'Connor

Fans of The Crown have been blown away by the resemblance between a young Prince William and the actor set to play him next.

In the forthcoming sixth season of Netflix’s hit royal drama, William will be played by Ed McVey.

McVey, 21, takes the reins from Senan West, who portrayed the royal as a teenager in the previous season.

The Crown fans freak out ‘uncanny’ Prince William lookalike

St Patrick’s Day: What did the shamrock on Prince William’s hat mean?

13:00 , Kate Ng

The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on Friday (17 March) with a Parade at Mons army Barracks in Aldershot, England.

As photographs of William and Kate surfaced on the internet on Friday, some social media users have been left confused by the arrangement attached to William’s hat.

My colleague Ellie Muir explains:

What does the shamrock on Prince William’s hat mean?

Sarah Ferguson gushes about daughters Beatrice and Eugenie in Mother’s Day post

12:30 , Kate Ng

The Duchess of York has marked Mother’s Day by posting a gushing tribute to her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Sarah Ferguson took to Instagram on Sunday (19 March) to celebrate the day and posted a throwback photograph of Beatrice and Eugenie when they were younger.

Read her full post below:

Sarah Ferguson gushes about daughters Beatrice and Eugenie in Mother’s Day post

William says Princess Diana would be ‘disappointed’ at level of homelessness in UK

12:00 , Ellie Muir

Prince William has said that his mother, Princess Diana, would have been disappointed at the lack of progress in preventing homelessness.

Appearing in a video for this year’s Red Nose Day charity appeal, William visited people supported by the homelessness charity Groundswell, which is funded by Comic Relief.

In the video, which will be shown on BBC One on Friday (17 March) for the annual telethon, the Prince of Wales met people who had been helped by the charity.

“My mother introduced me to the cause of homelessness from quite a young age, and I’m really glad she did,” William said in the video, opening up about the influence of his mother’s philanthropic work on his own outlook.

“I think she would be disappointed that we are still no further on, in terms of tackling homelessness and preventing it, than when she was interested and involved in it.”

Read the full report here:

William says Princess Diana would be disappointed by homelessness in UK

Brian Cox says Meghan Markle ‘knew what she was getting into’ when she married Harry

11:00 , Ellie Muir

Brian Cox has claimed that Meghan Markle “knew what she was getting into” when she married into the royal family, and reiterated his call for the monarchy to be abolished.

The actor, 76, who stars as media mogul Logan Roy in HBO’s hit drama Succession, apparently criticised the Duchess of Sussex for entering the family with the assumption that she and Harry could “cut themselves off” from the Firm.

“You can’t go into a system where somebody’s already been trained to behave in a certain kind of way and then just expect them to cut themselves off,” he reportedly told Haute Living New York.

Read the full report here:

Brian Cox says Meghan Markle ‘knew what she was getting into’ when she married Harry

Sarah Ferguson praises Eugenie and Beatrice in Mother’s Day post

10:25 , Roisin O'Connor

The Duchess of York has marked Mother’s Day by posting a gushing tribute to her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Sarah Ferguson took to Instagram on Sunday (19 March) to celebrate the day and posted a throwback photograph of Beatrice and Eugenie when they were younger.

Sarah Ferguson gushes about daughters Beatrice and Eugenie in Mother’s Day post

Camilla could be crowned Queen Camilla at coronation, not Queen Consort

10:07 , Ellie Muir

Camilla will be known as Queen, rather than Queen Consort, after her and King Charles III’s coronation, it has been reported.

The royal’s future title appears to have been confirmed in the coronation edition of the Bible that is set to be released ahead of the ceremony in May. In it, it apparently refers to the coronation of “their majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla”.

The name Queen Consort is given to the spouse of a king rather than the Queen Regnant who is the female monarch.

According to The Mirror, the coronation edition of the Bible reads: “To commemorate the Coronation of their majesties King Charles lll and Queen Camilla. In the Abbey Church of St Peter. Westminster. The sixth day of May 2023.”

Before her death, the late Queen Elizabeth II expressed her “sincere wish” that “when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service”.

Read the full report here:

Camilla could be crowned Queen Camilla at coronation, not Queen Consort

Sussexes ‘struck deal’ with Buckingham palace to pay ‘no further rent’ on Frogmore Cottage, report claims

09:01 , Ellie Muir

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly struck a deal with Buckingham Palace to pay no further rent on Frogmore Cottage after refunding the £2.4 million of taxpayers’ money used for its refurbishment.

The royal home became the centre of a new row at the beginning of March, after it was reported that King Charles III had “evicted” Harry and Meghan from the residence and offered the keys to the Duke of York instead.

It was previously reported that the Sussexes would pay a “commercial rate” for the Grade II-listed 10-bedroom mansion on the Windsor estate.

Read the full report here:

Sussexes ‘struck deal’ to pay ‘no further rent’ on Frogmore Cottage, report claims

King Charles orders soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet as morning patrols too ‘loud’

08:21 , Ellie Muir

King Charles has reportedly asked the soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet, after his morning phone calls were disrupted by raised voices and loud commands used during morning drills.

According toThe Daily Mail, royal sources have said that the King’s complaint was relayed “gently and politely”.

The publication reports that an email was sent within the Army’s Household Division telling them that the King had remarked on how loud the sentries were at St James’ Palace in the mornings.

Troops were asked to carry out their duties at a “slightly lower volume,” according to the report.

Ellie Muir reports:

King Charles orders soldiers at Clarence House to be quiet in morning patrols

The Crown stars playing young Prince William and Kate Middleton spotted filming together

08:01 , Peony Hirwani

The actors who play the Prince and Princess of Wales as university students in The Crown have been spotted filming together in St Andrews.

Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy were being filmed as William and Kate in the Fife seaside town last week.

Bellamy was dressed in clothes that would not have been out of place in the early 2000s – when the couple attended the university - including bootcut jeans with a pleated leather belt, and high-heeled suede boots.

She was carrying a book entitled First Steps In Academic Writing.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Oprah Winfrey says Harry and Meghan ‘should do what they feel is best’ over King Charles’ coronation

07:41 , Peony Hirwani

Oprah Winfrey has shared her thoughts about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and whether they should attend King Charles III’s coronation in May.

The talk show host, who has been close friends with the royal couple, briefly discussed the coronation during an interview on Tuesday with friend Gayle King on CBS Mornings, to promote her 100th selection for her book club, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.

During the conversation, King addressed recent reports about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex being invited to the event, before asking Winfrey for her opinion on it. “Do you think they should go? Do you think they should not go? Is it something you’d like to comment on?”

“I think they should do what they feel is best for them and their family,” Winfrey replied. “That’s what I think. That’s what the bottom line comes down to. What do you feel like is the right thing for you?”

She acknowledged she hasn’t specifically spoken to the couple about the coronation, as they haven’t “asked” her for her “opinion” on if they should attend it or not.

Amber Raiken has the full story here:

Oprah Winfrey shares advice for Harry and Meghan ahead of coronation

Queen remembered by royal family on first Mother’s Day since her death

07:21 , Peony Hirwani

The late Queen has been remembered by the King on the first Mother’s Day since her death.

A poignant message celebrating all mothers was posted online alongside treasured images which showed King Charles as a beaming baby standing on the Queen’s lap, while an adult Camilla is seen smiling as she stands behind her elderly mother.

The Twitter post is accompanied by the message: “To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special #MothersDay.”

The Queen died in September aged 96.

Prince Harry asked to give month’s notice before making trip to UK

06:40 , Peony Hirwani

Prince Harry was asked by the Home Office to give a 28 days notice before making a trip to the UK, reports suggest.

The Duke of Sussex was informed that it would then be a matter for the Home Office to consider whether the requested security arrangements were necessary, following his decision to step back from royal duties.

Ellie Muir reports:

Prince Harry asked to give a month’s notice before UK trips

Prince Harry’s children have not yet been invited to Coronation, report says

06:24 , Peony Hirwani

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children have not yet been invited to King Charles III’s coronation,

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three children are all expected to be given key roles at the coronation of King Charles and Camilla Queen Consort on 6 May, while the Sussex’s children, Archie and Lilbet, are reportedly “not yet” invited to the event.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are expected to join their parents in a carriage behind Charles and Camilla who will travel in the Golden State Coach as they return to the palace. The Times reports that an invite has not yet been extended to Harry and Meghan’s children.