New Idea Royals 2310

What do you miss most about Queen Elizabeth II? That glorious smile, her bright clothes, the dry wit, or her in-the-moment wisdom? Perhaps it’s just her ever-reliable presence as the backdrop to all our lives? It’s hard to believe a year has passed since the world-changing moment we learnt of the Queen’s death. Since then (thanks, mainly, to Prince Harry and his over-sharing Spare) we’ve heard many more details about the dramas of her final days. As well as the pomp of Operation London Bridge, we now know there were stressful family phone calls, lonely walks in the woods, and just-too-late dashes to be with her for a last goodbye. We’re reminded again that, despite the trappings of royalty, the Windsors are a family like many others, who’ve lost a…

LADY LOUISE: A DRIVING FORCE While Lady Louise, the 19-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, is yet to work out her future role within the royal family, she has already devoted herself to one passion that’s been passed down through the generations. Louise has proven herself skilful at carriage driving, a sport beloved by her late grandfather, Prince Philip. She has competed in several events, and was recently seen taking part in the marathon section of the carriage driving trials at Windsor. Philip discovered this sport after he gave up playing polo later in life and was thrilled when Louise took it up. It’s said that he bequeathed two of his cherished ponies and his personal dark green riding carriage to Louise when he died. St Andrew’s…

QUEEN ELIZABETH II Never forgotten It is hard to believe that a year has passed since that world-changing day. A full year since we heard the news that HRH Queen Elizabeth II had died. Millions of us are only now realising just what we’ve lost. On 8 September 2022 the monarchy changed forever. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are now heading a new-look royal family. Kate and William, the newly minted Prince and Princess of Wales, with their wonderful children, are the future… But no one will ever forget the past and the happy, glorious and stable reign of Elizabeth II. Her loss creates a gap we are reminded of at every new royal occasion. Elizabeth II was the epitome of regal dignity, who in public life…

QUEEN ELIZABETH II Never forgotten After 70 years with one monarch, that September day was the first time most of us witnessed a changing of the royal guard. Despite the fact she was 96 years old and appearing physically frail, the death of the Queen who’d ruled over us for 70 years still came as a huge and devastating shock to many. It was truly the news event that stopped the world. And, in the past year, we’ve learnt far more about what was really happening behind the scenes during those final days – the tensions, the sadness, the family dramas and the dash to get there in time to say goodbye. A WALK IN THE WOODS On the morning of September 8th only a handful of people…

For Queen Elizabeth II Buckingham Palace was never really home. Windsor was her close-to-London favourite, while Christmases were spent at Sandringham. But Balmoral Castle was the late Queen’s happy place. It was where family memories were made and, so fittingly, it’s the place where she spent the last days of her life. A private residence set in fairytale scenic Aberdeenshire countryside in Scotland, Balmoral was the spot for her cherished two-month-long summer retreats. These were sacrosanct holidays, spent with family – fishing, barbecuing and playing games. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh once spoke of the Queen’s love for Balmoral: ‘It is a magical place. It’s a sense of freedom for her. It’s the one place she can relax and settle in and just be herself and take the dogs for a…

QUEEN ELIZABETH II Never forgotten During her extraordinary 70-year reign the late Queen Elizabeth II came to learn that there would always be challenging times. Few will forget her speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, when she declared the year an ‘annus horribilis’. It was 1992 and three of her four children had separated from their spouses, the family was plagued by scandal and her beloved Windsor Castle had been enveloped by fire. So how might she have assessed the year that has unfolded since her death? And how would she rank the performances of her children and grandchildren in their new roles? If the late Queen quietly feared her family lacked the gravitas and mightiness that were the hallmarks of her reign, a year…