New Idea Royals 2502

Unlike in Denmark, where former Queen Margrethe made the shock decision to slim down her monarchy, for King Charles the loss of working royals has been out of his hands. Prince Harry chose to leave the country (it’s been five years since Megxit, see page 30) and Prince Andrew’s various scandals have forced the Crown to cut him off. The King has a strong right-hand man and heir in Prince William, but he can’t support his father alone. That’s why we’ve seen Edward and Sophie, and Beatrice and Eugenie at more public events. And, while Princess Anne refused to make her daughter a princess, Zara and hubby Mike – who are in Australia this month – are exactly the modern, relatable royals the King needs on his team. Also in…

IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE ME? Prince William went into full ‘dad mode’ when he was presented with a drawing of himself, sketched on a post-it note by 10-year-old Karson Heighway and focusing on his beard and hairline. He asked: ‘Is that me? Looks like I have five nostrils!.’ But William was seemingly so tickled by the artwork that he popped it in his top pocket while stifling laughter. The prince was joining military families for Christmas lunch at the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, in his role as colonel-in-chief. He made his way around the tables, speaking to soldiers and their families before handing out presents to children around a tree. On arrival at the barracks, William had been greeted by regiment members – and a handsome 18-month-old Derby, the…

If there was a competition for ‘Royals we’d most like to hang out with’, it looks pretty likely Zara and Mike Tindall would romp home as winners. As royal commentator Jennie Bond says: ‘They’re an incredibly likeable couple – a more human face of royalty.’ And, it seems, the King also wants to harness that Tindall star power. With rumours swirling that Charles will soon announce his niece, 43, and her rugby-player husband, 46, are to step up as fully working royals, we are hopefully going to see a lot more of this fun-loving couple. With no royal titles (Zara was the first granddaughter of a monarch not to be styled ‘Princess’) and self-funding careers, Zara and Mike are seen by many commentators as a great example of how a…

Dressed in her signature Christmasred coat, Catherine was supported by her closest loved ones as she attended her ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service at Westminster Abbey. The Waleses have been unusually candid about how Kate’s cancer diagnosis has affected their young family and, while it’s been incredibly tough, the princess has been overwhelmed by the support. So, it was only fitting that the theme for this year’s service was love and empathy. In her personal invitation, Kate wrote: ‘Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times. We all have something we can offer one another. Gentle words or a receptive ear, an arm around an exhausted shoulder, or silently being by someone’s side.’ The service highlighted extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated love, kindness and empathy…

Podcasts have exploded in popularity in recent years – and the royals want in on the action! In the final weeks of 2024, Queen Mary became the latest royal to reveal that she’s about to launch her own podcast series. Let’s take a closer look at which other royals have settled in behind the mic... QUEEN MARY The Danish Queen revealed on the royal family’s Instagram page that she’s a prolific podcast listener, and this has inspired her to make own audio series. ‘That is why I am also proud that we have now thrown ourselves into making a podcast in the Mary Foundation,’ the 52-year-old announced. The Foundation’s first podcast, entitled ‘Lonely Youth’ is a three-part series that aims to tackle adolescent loneliness by raising awareness through personal stories…

Camilla’s health scare Buckingham Palace confirmed that the chest infection Queen Camilla had been battling for the previous month was, in fact, a form of pneumonia. It meant the Queen was forced to miss out on the outdoor events but was able to join King Charles and their guests for lunch at the palace. Camilla told the guests at lunch that she contracted the illness, previously described as a chest infection, after her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa, but thankfully avoided the need to be hospitalised. Beckham’s bid to be knighted Former England and Manchester United football star David Beckham and his fashion-designer wife, Victoria, made a surprise appearance at the King’s state banquet for Qatari Sheikh Tanim bin Hamad Al-Thani. They were invited as guests because of Beckham’s…