Royal Family RECAP: Crisis expert hired as Prince William wrestles Andrew scandal

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Andrew Mounbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have been hit by a new bombshell as they have appeared in emails that Jeffrey Epstein once had printed out on his desk. Christopher Anderson, a renowned photographer who was once asked to take photographs of Jeffrey Epstein in his home, has shared some of his unseen images from the day on social media.

In these photographs, taken in 2015, printed out emails can be seen on Epstein’s desk. The main email is dated February 2011, and is believed to have been sent from John O'Sullivan – a former personal assistant to Sarah Ferguson - to Amanda Thirsk, Andrew's previous private secretary.

Meghan Markle was given a stern warning regarding her brand’s success this year, as rumours swirl about her next business move. The Duchess of Sussex kept herself busy last year with the launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, the release of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan and the launch of her new podcast series, Confessions of a Female Founder.

Reports claimed that Meghan is planning on focusing on her lifestyle brand this year and that she has allegedly been working on a cookbook, which is tipped to be released this spring. But a PR expert has issued a 12-word warning to the Duchess, saying that she needs to focus on one key thing to establish herself within the business.

Prince Harry once made a comment about Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis that would not have pleased Prince William, according to an expert. In his 2023 memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex addressed how he felt as a child knowing his brother William was destined to be King, while he wasn’t.

The Prince, 41, said that this had a negative impact on him, and even revealed in an interview that he fears the same could happen to William’s two youngest children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are, in Harry’s eyes, “spares” to their elder brother Prince George.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s home in Windsor, Royal Lodge, was reportedly never inspected by Crown Estate officials in the 22 years he has lived there rent-free, it has been claimed. The former Duke of York will soon be vacating the Windsor property after he was stripped of his titles and banished from royal life due to his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has been living in the 19th-century Grade-II listed building since 2004, a year after he was granted a 75-year lease agreement by the Crown Estate, which owns it. The lease agreement highlighted that he is required to "repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and, where necessary, rebuild" the 30-bedroom mansion.

Prince Harry’s latest move towards King Charles has been dubbed “very embarrassing” by a TV presenter. The Duke of Sussex, 41, is apparently inviting his father King Charles to open the 2027 Invictus Games with him in Birmingham.

If the King, 77, accepts, then he will join his youngest son on the stage at the opening ceremony of the competition. It is not yet known whether Harry has sent the invite to his father. There is also nothing to suggest what Charles's response to the invite will be. It hasn't taken long, however, for one TV presenter to label Harry's proposal as “embarrassing”.

The Princess of Wales’s alleged “initial reluctance” to meet the Duchess of Sussex came “from a good place,” a source has claimed. Princess Catherine and Meghan Markle may have a frosty relationship now but that wasn’t always the case.

The two women appeared to share a closer bond when the Duchess first married into the Royal Family, attending various events together for causes close to their hearts. However, despite the Sussexes having already discussed their first meeting with the Waleses, a royal book alleged that the future Queen was seemingly wary of meeting the former Suits actress when the time came.

Meghan Markle could return to the UK this year for the first time since 2022. It has been reported that The Duchess of Sussex, 44, could join Prince Harry at an Invictus Games event in Birmingham in July.

The event will be to mark the one-year countdown party for the Invictus Games 2027, which will be held in Birmingham. Although details of the event are yet to be confirmed, it is believed Prince Harry will definitely be set to attend.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly “persuaded” his daughters to spend Christmas Day with the Royal Family, an expert has claimed. The former prince, who was banished from the festive royal celebrations as a result of recent scandals he has faced, was believed to have encouraged Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to still spend December 25 at Sandringham.

It is believed he wanted his daughters to do this rather than spend the day with him at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Although unconfirmed, one royal expert said the former duke’s intention was so his daughters could see “what people are saying about him” behind closed doors.

Royal fans were quick to vent their disappointment that no new picture of the Princess of Wales was released to mark her birthday on Friday. Instead they got a fresh glimpses of Catherine as she strolled through Berkshire in the final instalment of her Mother Nature series.

The future Queen, who celebrated her 44th birthday, privately marked the occasion at home with her nearest and dearest. Last year a black and white portrait of Catherine was released to mark her 43rd birthday, raising hopes that the usual protocol of only sharing images to mark ‘big birthdays’ (ones ending with an 0) had been abandoned.

However, a source close to the Prince and Princess explained that this spontaneous release was not a change in strategy but simply a loving gesture by William after a difficult year for his wife. Catherine’s birthday last year came after an extremely difficult year of being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing gruelling chemotherapy for months on end.

Meghan Markle could be making a dramatic return to the UK for the first time in four years, with plans to appear alongside Prince Harry at a major Invictus Games event in Birmingham this summer. The visit, however, depends entirely on whether the couple are granted enhanced security.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, is hoping to attend a one-year countdown celebration for the 2027 Invictus Games on July 10. If approved, the trip would mark her first appearance in Britain since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.

Prince Harry is using his “trump card” of the Invictus Games to try and reconcile with the King publicly, an expert has said. It has been reported today that The Duke of Sussex will invite his father King Charles to stand alongside him to open The Invictus Games ceremony in Birmingham in 2027.

According to reports, this is something Harry, 41, desperately wants to happen. While it may seem like a nice olive branch gesture, one expert said that Harry has used the Invictus Games as a “trump card” with his father.

OPINION BY JASMINE CAREY

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has lost almost everything over the last few months as a result of scandals surrounding his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. From his royal titles, to his Royal Lodge home (eviction pending), and everything in between, the former prince seems to have little left to lose.

However, if he doesn’t play his cards right, his relationship with his daughters could be next on the to-lose list. While not suggested by Princess Beatrice or Princess Eugenie themselves, it is believed - and claimed by some royal experts - that Andrew has been looking at his daughters as his last link to his royal life.

Just this week, one royal expert claimed that he had persuaded Beatrice and Eugenie to spend Christmas at Sandringham just so the princesses could keep tabs on what was going on and report back to him.

Meghan Markle has been urged to stop being “reactive” and instead focus quietly on how she wants to promote her global brand to succeed. The Duchess of Sussex launched herself as an entrepreneur last year with a new lifestyle brand, a new podcast series, and a new cooking show on Netflix.

She also launched a new Instagram page while accompanying her husband, Prince Harry, on various engagements related to their charity, Archewell, has faced criticism for promoting too many things at once. Now, as rumours of a future cookbook are in full swing, a PR expert has cautioned the Duchess and said that she needs to make her overall brand not feel “so reactive” in order for it to grow deep roots within her existing fanbase.

Zara Tindall’s approach to fashion has always been refreshingly real, and her children’s outfits at Cheltenham last week on New Year’s Day stole the spotlight. Instead of debuting new looks, she leaned into repeats and hand-me-downs, offering a masterclass in down-to-earth royal dressing - something she has clearly learned from the Princess Royal.

It was a reminder that style doesn’t need constant reinvention to make an impact - consistency and quality speak for themselves. That mindset feels deeply rooted in the influence of Princess Anne, whose own wardrobe has long prioritised practicality, longevity and purpose over fleeting trends.

Prince Harry is set to ask his father to step out with him at a big event next year, which could finally mark a full reconciliation between father and son. The Duke of Sussex, 41, will reportedly ask King Charles to open the 2027 Invictus Games competition with him in Birmingham.

While Harry and the King, 77, saw each other just months ago, it is believed a full reconciliation has not yet happened. It is believed that Harry feels like if his father accepts his request, this could mark a major positive move in their relationship.

Good morning. Royal reporter Jasmine Carey here and I will be bringing you live updates on the Royal Family today.

You can contact me at jasmine.carey@reachplc.com.