Royal Family RECAP: William's 'wall of silence' with Harry dubbed 'strategy not mystery'

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Prince William and Princess Kate face a "crying shame" when they succeed King Charles. The royal family has faced criticism in recent years after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s relations with peadophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince denies any wrongdoing but the royal family’s reputation has suffered due to the scandal.

There is a thinning “front line” of working royals, according to royal expert, Robert Hardman, meaning by the time Prince William becomes monarch, the couple might not have many working members of he royal family to work with.

He told The Telegraph: “I think it’s a crying shame that when William takes the throne, he and Catherine are effectively looking at quite a significant spell on their own, carrying the whole show."

A purported quote from the late Queen Elizabeth II has revealed the true colours of disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in a biography of her life. The book, by Robert Hardman, offers insightful access to the Royal Family and uncovers the nature of the former Duke of York's alleged churlish behaviour.

Elizabeth II: In Private explores a number of controversial incidents that Andrew is said to have been involved in during his mother's reign as monarch.

As reported by The Telegraph, the biography details an occasion where Andrew apparently punched Vice-Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, who was the Master of the Household, over the availability of a reception room. However, the Queen was reportedly left unsurprised by his involvement.

The book states that when she was told about what happened, the monarch replied: "Oh, I’m sure he did it." She added a seven-word remark: "That’s the sort of thing he does."

Princess Kate and Prince William had their fairytale wedding in 2011 but there’s one sweet meaningful gesture the princess made on the day that went under the radar.

According to reports, Princess Kate’s flower bouquet contained a lot of seasonable flowers, which many saw as a promotion of reusability and eco-friendliness.

The floral arrangements on the day were a way to make the wedding more personal while the world watched.

Kate’s bouquet included Lily of the Valley, myrtle, ivy, hyacinths, and lilacs. But hidden in the bouquet was also a special flower.

Woman and Home says: “The real delight she snuck in was a little message to her husband, with the flower Sweet William included.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have been shunned by members of his family, but there are two royals who have reportedly maintained contact with him. Princess Anne has purportedly still been talking with her brother and has been concerned for his welfare, according to The Mail.

Anne, 75, is said to have some sympathy for Andrew, whose ties to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein led King Charles to strip him of his "prince" status and evict his brother from his Royal Lodge home.

Another source said both Anne and fellow sibling Prince Edward were worried about Andrew, 66, and didn't want him to be completely cut off from the family.

Andrew was stripped of his titles by King Charles, 77, because of "serious lapses of judgment" over his friendship with the late financier.

Some reports suggest that while the King has distanced himself from Andrew, both Anne and Edward have reportedly kept in touch.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

King Charles could be ready to forgive his youngest son, Prince Harry, it has been claimed. Since the Duke of Sussex quit royal life in 2020, relationships between the prince and some of his royal relatives have been strained.

This includes the relationship with his father, King Charles. Last year, Harry even suggested that he had not been on speaking terms with his father at times, especially when Harry was trying to appeal the reduction of his security in the UK.

While their relationship has therefore faced some difficulties, it is now believed the father and son are back on track, having last seen each other in September at Clarence House.

Queen Elizabeth II continues to be the most popular member of the Royal Family four years after her death, new YouGov polling has found. The research, conducted ahead of what would have been the late monarch's 100th birthday, found that an overwhelming 81% of Britons still have a positive view of the country's longest-reigning monarch.

Princess Diana clinches the second spot, on 77%, with relatively little difference in opinion between generations. Prince William comes in third with 76%, making him the most popular living member of the Royal Family. His wife, Princess Catherine, follows closely behind on 75%.

As they embark on their tour of Australia, Harry and Meghan remain unpopular, with only 30% and 20%, respectively, having positive views. But it's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who earns the bottom spot, with just 3% holding a positive view of him, his joint-lowest figure to date.

A property expert has shared his views on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's recent home relocation and what might lie ahead for the former Prince.

The 66-year-old moved into his new residence, Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham Estate last week after multiple weeks of refurbishment work.

Refurbishment work at the former prince's new residence is understood to have encompassed the fitting of a new security fence, CCTV cameras, carpets, blinds, and Sky TV.

According to Elliot Castle, CEO of We Buy Any Home, the expense of modernising the property could have reached a six-figure sum. "From a property perspective, this looks far more like a managed family arrangement than a typical move," he told us.

"Marsh Farm appears to have been prepared specifically for Andrew, with privacy and security front of mind, so it's unlikely to be a short-term stop."

Prince Harry has revealed the heartbreaking impact that his late mother's death had on his feelings towards his role as a member of the Royal Family.

The 41-year-old made an appearance at the InterEdge Summit on Thursday, the third day of his Australian tour with Meghan Markle.

Sarah Ferguson has been pictured for the first time in seven months after she went into 'hiding' amid mounting pressure over he relationship to Jeffrey Epstein.

The 66-year-old, who has not been pictured publicly since last year, has been seen at a luxury Alpine ski resort in Austria.

Sarah Ferguson has reportedly been offered the opportunity to take part in tell-all interviews, but has turned them down. One is believed to have been a chance to interview with BBC's Newsnight, the same show that broadcasted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's infamous interview in 2019.

It was widely considered a public relations disaster. Andrew sat down for the explosive chat with Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis. It has since been described as one of the worst PR attempts in history, after he sought to salvage public opinion over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Both Fergie and Andrew deny any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

In the one on one, the former prince remained unapologetic, describing Epstein's behaviour as “unbecoming”.

Princess Kate requested one feature for her wedding dress to tick all the boxes of an old tradition which many brides still follow.

Brides often aim to have “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" on their big day.

Princess Kate requested that a blue ribbon be discreetly sewn into the interior of her garment.

Blue is believed to symbolise love, purity, and fidelity - it is also thought to ward off bad luck within a marriage.

King Charles has drawn criticism due to a "chic" item on sale in the Highgrove shop for an eye-watering price. Located near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, Highgrove House is the King and Queen Camilla's 18th-century family home and is known for its impressive "interlinked" gardens.

The estate hosts tours and events throughout the year for members of the public, who can dine at its Orchard Room Restaurant, described as an "elegant, table-serviced dining room" with views over the Orchard Terrace. It also has a shop, where customers can treat themselves to a range of products across a number of categories, including food and drink, home and garden, bath and body, clothing and accessories, and even jewellery.

One item, however, has been questioned by former Vogue journalist Plum Sykes, who The Mail's Harriet Kean quotes as saying it's "very chic" as "it's the King".

Meghan Markle reportedly tried to appear “relatable” during her introduction as a guest judge on Masterchef Australia, but according to a body language expert she didn’t quite master it. Earlier this week during Meghan and Prince Harry’s tour in Australia, Masterchef announced that Meghan was to feature on the new series as a guest judge.

On social media, a video was uploaded by Masterchef Australia in which Meghan is introduced onto the show and walks into the room to join the judges. While it is clear to see just how delighted Meghan is, body language expert Inbaal Honigman said that the duchess was trying to restrain her excitement.

Honigman also said that The Duchess of Sussex appeared to be trying to appear “relatable”, which didn’t quite work.

Princess Catherine has reportedly been a calming presence for her husband Prince William over the last few months, it has been revealed. The Royal Family have had a turbulent start to 2026 as a result of scandals surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the Epstein files.

While Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing and accusations against him, his emails to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in the Epstein files have seen his reputation plummet. This resulted in King Charles stripping him of his royal titles and Royal Lodge home last year.

Andrew has also caused more headaches for the Royal Family this year when he was arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Princess Catherine’s brother is set to step out at a big event within weeks, leaving royal fans excited. James Middleton, who celebrated his 39th birthday just days ago, will be attending Goodwoof dog event this year with his brand James & Ella, where he is expected to launch a new dog-related product.

James is well-known for being a massive dog lover and frequently attends events such as Goodwoof. His dog food brand was inspired by his own dogs, especially Ella, who sadly passed away a few years ago.

Ahead of Goodwoof, which begins on May 16, photographs of James’ previous visits to the event have been shared on social media.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received criticism for using their Australia tour to make money this week. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have completed their trip to Australia, are reportedly pleased with how their engagements went.

However, this has not meant the tour went without criticism, especially for Meghan who is reportedly earning money from an online shopping platform built around the outfits she wore on charitable engagements in Australia. This is something that has not pleased royal fans.

In a new poll, results have shown that a four-to-one majority of Britons are opposed to Harry and Meghan, who quit royal life in 2020, using their titles for commercial gain.

Lawyers for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor refused an FBI interview over his links to Jeffrey Epstein after being told the former prince was a suspect of the investigation, not just a witness. Andrew, 66, was stripped of his titles by the King last year and has been forced to relocate to a farmhouse in Norfolk because of the fallout from his past relationship with billionaire paedophile Epstein

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has an ongoing inquiry into Epstein who trafficked and abused scores of young and underage women for sex, aided by his madame-like former lover Ghislaine Maxwell. Both Maxwell and Epstein were known to the former Duke of York but he has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The DoJ's release of the so-called Epstein files led to a spectacular fall from grace for Andrew but emails buried deep inside the document pile reveal his lawyers offered his assistance with the investigation as a witness. However, one explosive excerpt shows Andrew's legal team discovered Andrew was being viewed as a potential "subject" by the American investigation.

An email from September 2020 seen by Express.co.uk from Andrew's solicitor Gary Bloxhome shows the legal team's reaction to the revelation.

Princess Catherine had a surprising response to the Royal Family drama surrounding Prince Harry, it has been claimed. A royal author has said that when Harry criticised the Royal Family publicly, including the release of his memoir Spare, this left his now estranged brother Prince William furious.

However, while William may have been very angry at Harry for what he had done, it is believed that the first in line to the throne was kept calm by his wife, Princess Catherine. In Russell Myers’ book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, the author claimed: "He (Prince William) felt betrayed by Harry to the extent that he vowed never to speak to him again.

"Such was his anger that he told one of his most trusted aides that he had ‘absolutely no time to entertain either of them [Harry and Meghan]’.”

Sarah Ferguson was photographed this week for the first time in seven months, exposing the place she has been hiding. The former duchess was spotted just days ago exiting a car outside a £2,000-a-night chalet near the Mayrlife Medical Health Resort in Altaussee, Austria.

It is believed Sarah has been at the chalet for some time in a bid to keep a low profile following the Epstein files, which showed how she had kept in touch with late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein even after he was first sentenced for child sex offences. While appearing in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing, the emails sent from Sarah to Epstein, including one in which she called him a “legend”, has seen her reputation plummet.

With her hiding spot in Austria now exposed, many believe her next move will be to find somewhere else to keep a low profile.

Prince William reportedly requested that Meghan Markle not wear any of Princess Diana's jewellery on her wedding day, a royal author has claimed. A royal book reports how the groom's older brother, Prince William, had concerns about Prince Harry's relationship with the former Suits actress.

Royal author, Robert Jobson wrote in his 2024 biography Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen: "I have been told that, still concerned about the [romantic] match, he'd sought assurances from the Queen that Harry's bride would not be wearing any of Princess Diana's jewellery even though his own wife was allowed to wear it."

Meghan Markle did, however, wear Diana's iconic aquamarine ring to the reception at Frogmore House.

Meghan Markle has been accused of “seeking” sympathy while talking about being trolled online. During her visit to Australia with Prince Harry this week, Meghan told a classroom of young people that she was “bullied and attacked” every day for 10 years on social media and was “the most trolled person in the entire world”.

She said: “For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world.”

While Meghan appeared emotional when talking about this, one body language expert believed that there were some “inconsistencies in her body language” that could be seen as insincere.

King Charles will find a way of making his feelings known to Donald Trump during an upcoming State Visit to the United States, a leading royal commentator has said. The BBC's former royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, suggested Buckingham Palace will be running through "a few possible awkward scenarios" ahead of the monarch's trip, which Mr Trump said would take place over four days from April 27 to 30.

The King and Queen Camilla are to make the visit despite spuclation as to whether it could be called off due to Mr Trump’s repeated criticism of Sir Keir Starmer for failing to support his war in Iran. Buckingham Palace announced earlier this month that the King and Queen would travel to the US to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Ms Bond said she imagined Charles and Camilla will have had a few chats in private about how the visit might pan out and she felt sure the King and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would have talked things through too.

British historian Dr Anna Keay has been given the Herculean task of writing the official authorised biography of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Announced just two days before the Royal Family will come together to remember the beloved former monarch on the centenary of her birth on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace has announced that Dr Keay has secured the highly coveted job of trawling through the late Queen’s diaries, personal and official documents.

Her Late Majesty famously kept a daily diary throughout her life as monarch, spending around 15 minutes at the end of each day writing in it. She even continued entries until just two days before she died in September 2022.

The award-winning historian, biographer and creator will also have the green light to interview people who knew the Queen well throughout her life and service, including members of the Royal Family.

Meghan Markle’s upcoming TV appearance could pave the way towards a new career, a PR expert has said. While undertaking her trip to Australia this week with husband Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was revealed as a guest judge set to appear on the next series of MasterChef Australia.

This was met with mixed reactions: many were excited to see the duchess on TV screens, while others vowed not to watch. The upcoming new series is set to launch very soon.

While Meghan’s appearance as a guest judge could be a one-off return to TV, one PR expert believes it is actually a case of Meghan “testing the waters” to prepare for a potential “full-scale comeback” to the TV and celebrity world.

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

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