The first special stamps bearing the head of King Charles are being released by the Royal Mail, with his silhouette appearing on a set showing popular garden flowers. These are likely to be the first stamps showing the King’s profile that will be widely seen by the public. This replaces a design showing the Queen’s head used continuously on commemorative stamps since 1968. Last month saw the final issue of a new set of stamps with the Queen’s head. David Gold, of Royal Mail, said using pictures of flowers for this landmark set of stamps reflected the fact that the … Continue reading King Charles makes first appearance on special stamps

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be questioned as part of a US defamation case brought by Meghan’s half-sister. Samantha Markle is suing Meghan for “defamation and injurious falsehoods” following the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. She alleges she was defamed when Meghan “falsely and maliciously” said she was “an only child”. A motion brought by Meghan to stop depositions in the civil case from taking place was dismissed by a judge. A deposition is a formal statement of evidence in the US, required to be taken of a witness or party to litigation by a court. … Continue reading Harry and Meghan to be questioned in Samantha Markle defamation case

King Charles III will not feature on Australia’s new five dollar note, the country’s central bank has announced. The new design will pay tribute to “the culture and history of the First Australians”, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says. A portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II appears on the current design of five dollar note. The Queen’s death last year reignited debates about Australia’s future as a constitutional monarchy. “This decision by the Reserve Bank Board follows consultation with the Australian government, which supports this change,” the bank said in a statement. “The Bank will consult with First Australians … Continue reading King Charles will not appear on new Australia $5 note

A stream of sensational claims and accusations from Prince Harry’s autobiography, Spare, have been leaked. The book outlines grievances and bitterness in the Royal Family, such as a claim he and Prince William urged their father not to marry Camilla. But one of the most striking claims from Harry, first reported by the Guardian newspaper, was how he was physically attacked by his brother. The Guardian obtained a copy of the book and published an extract in the early hours of Thursday. Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace have both said they will not comment. The Sun newspaper and others also obtained a Spanish … Continue reading Revealing: Prince Harry makes series of sensational claims in new memoir

Millions of 50p coins bearing the image of King Charles III will enter circulation from Thursday via post offices across the country. They are the first mass-produced coins carrying the new King’s image, and will be given out in change to customers. An estimated 4.9 million of the new coins are being distributed to post offices – about half of the total number earmarked for circulation. Coins carrying the image of the late Queen will still be accepted in shops. “Today marks a new era for UK coinage, with the effigy of King Charles III appearing on 50ps in circulation,” … Continue reading First King Charles 50p coins enter circulation

King Charles has begun the process of increasing the number of royals who can stand in for the monarch for official duties – proposing Princess Anne and Prince Edward as additions. At present the “counsellors of state” are Camilla, the Queen Consort, plus four other senior royals. But two of these are Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, who are no longer available as “working royals”. The King’s requested change was read to the House of Lords on Monday. It’s expected that the Lords will reply on Tuesday – and the same day could see the government introducing legislation in the … Continue reading Princess Anne and Prince Edward to become stand-ins for King

Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise has relinquished her royal duties to focus on her alternative medicine business with her fiancé, a self-styled shaman. The Princess will keep her title, but is surrendering official duties to “create a clearer dividing line” between her private and royal role. Her fiancé, Durek Verrett, has promoted unfounded medical practices, including suggesting cancer is a choice. The American also claims to have influenced Gwyneth Paltrow. Princess Märtha Louise is “relinquishing her patronage role” as she and Mr Verrett seek to “distinguish more clearly between their activities and the Royal House of Norway”, the palace said in a statement. … Continue reading Norway princess quits royal duties for alternative medicine

The new cypher of Camilla, the Queen Consort, has been unveiled by Buckingham Palace. Designed by Prof Ewan Clayton, it combines Camilla’s initial “C” and “R” for Regina – the Latin word for queen. It will be used by Camilla on personal letterheads, cards and gifts. Buckingham Palace added that the new symbol will be used on the Queen Consort’s cross which she will lay at the Field of Remembrance on Thursday at Westminster Abbey. In September, the palace revealed the new cypher to be used by King Charles III which was personally chosen by him, from a range of designs … Continue reading New monogram for Queen Consort unveiled

King Charles III is selling off some of the racehorses he inherited from his mother the Queen. Her late Majesty was a keen breeder of racehorses as well as an avid racegoer and rider. Tattersalls auction house in Newmarket said it was selling 14 of Queen Elizabeth II’s “brood mares” on Monday. They include Just Fine, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who oversaw more than 100 royal winners, and Love Affairs. Tattersall’s spokesman Jimmy George said “It’s nothing out of the ordinary. Every year they would sell horses”. “The Queen had brood mares of her own, she would breed them … Continue reading King Charles to sell 14 of Queen Elizabeth’s horses

The King and Queen of the Netherlands have revealed their 18-year-old daughter can no longer move around freely outside due to the possibility of an attack or kidnapping. Princess Amalia has moved out of her student accommodation in Amsterdam and has returned home to The Hague. Her parents gave details in an unusually emotional encounter with the press, during a state visit to Sweden. Queen Maxima’s eyes glistened as she described the “difficult consequences”. “There is no student life for her like others have,” she added. Princess Amalia and the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, are understood to have appeared … Continue reading Dutch princess removed from student home over security threats

King Charles III’s coronation is to be held on Saturday 6 May, at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace has announced. vCamilla, the Queen Consort, will be alongside the King and will also be crowned in the historic ceremony. King Charles became monarch when his mother the late Queen died, but the coronation will mark a symbolic celebration of his new reign. With much pageantry and ritual, the King will be anointed as sovereign and a crown placed on his head. Next year’s coronation will be the first for almost 70 years – the last being for Elizabeth II in June 1953 … Continue reading King Charles to be crowned on May 6 2023 along with Camilla as Queen Consort

New coins featuring the portrait of King Charles have been revealed, with a 50p carrying his image entering general circulation within weeks. BBC News was given a first glimpse of the 50p and a commemorative £5 Crown which include an image of the King by British sculptor Martin Jennings. The coins follow centuries of tradition with the monarch now facing left – the opposite way to his predecessor. As with previous British kings, and unlike the Queen, he wears no crown. King Charles personally approved the effigy, and was understood to be pleased with the likeness. The coins will be … Continue reading New coins featuring King Charles portrait unveiled