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

The Danish Royal House has announced changes in titles for the children of Queen Margarethe II’s youngest son Prince Joachim. The monarch’s grandchildren Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and ten-year-old Princess Athena’s titles of Prince and Princess will be “discontinued” starting next year. “In April 2008, Her Majesty The Queen bestowed upon her sons, their spouses and their descendants the titles of count and countess of Monpezat. In May 2016, it was also announced that His Royal Highness Prince Christian, as the only one of The Queen’s grandchildren, is expected to receive an annuity from the state as an adult,” the Royal House … Continue reading Monarch removes Prince and Princess titles from 4 grandchildren

The cypher of King Charles III has been revealed, showing an image to be used by government departments and on state documents and post boxes. It was personally chosen by the King, from a range of designs produced by the College of Arms. The monogram combines his initial “C” and “R” for Rex, the Latin for king, plus III for the third King Charles. The cypher, a visual identity for the new reign, replaces the E II R of Queen Elizabeth II. There will be other changes ahead to mark the new reign of King Charles: But a set of … Continue reading New royal cypher for King Charles revealed

Gibraltar can officially call itself a city, 180 years after it was first granted the status by Queen Victoria. The British overseas territory had bid to become a city earlier this year as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. But when researchers looked through the National Archives, they found it had already been recognised as one in 1842. The Rock has now had its status reaffirmed – Boris Johnson described it as a “huge accolade” celebrating its “rich history and dynamism”. Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713, when it was ceded to Britain under a peace treaty … Continue reading Gibraltar officially becomes a city after 180 years

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France has angered rights groups, as he seeks to further rehabilitate himself following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. His working dinner with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday came amid spiralling energy prices and fears over Iran’s nuclear programme. The prince denies approving the killing at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Khashoggi’s fiancée said she was outraged by his visit. Hatice Cengiz accused President Macron of receiving her late partner’s “executioner with all the honours”. Mohammed bin Salman flew into Orly airport, south of Paris, the night before the talks and stayed … Continue reading Saudi Crown prince’s lavish Macron visit prompts outcry

The findings of an investigation into the handling of allegations of bullying made against the Duchess of Sussex will remain private, says a senior Buckingham Palace source. The review, launched in March 2021, examined the response to claims about bullying of staff – but any changes to policy will not be made public. The palace source said those taking part needed to have “confidentiality”. The duchess had strongly denied the allegations. Buckingham Palace’s inquiry has resulted in changes to “policies and procedures” which would be known to “all members of staff, all members of the Royal Family”, said the royal … Continue reading Palace review of how Meghan bullying claims were handled stays private

The Prince of Wales accepted a suitcase containing a million euros in cash from a former Qatari prime minister, the Sunday Times has reported. The paper says this was one of three cash donations from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim totalling three million euros. Clarence House said donations from the sheikh were passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities and all the correct processes were followed. There is no suggestion the payments were illegal. According to the Sunday Times, Prince Charles received the three cash donations in person from the former prime minister between 2011 and 2015. It is claimed … Continue reading Prince Charles accepted a suitcase with 1m euros, report claims