Prince Harry is set to return to the U.K. this week, one year ahead of the launch of the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027. During the trip, he will allegedly meet with members of the Royal Family, and it was previously thought that Meghan Markle and their children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—would be joining him. Apparently, that's no longer the case.

According to a new report in Hello! magazine, "The Duke of Sussex will make his highly-anticipated return to the U.K. next week, but his wife and children will not join him in London." While Prince Harry will visit London from July 7 until July 11, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet allegedly won't be present.

However, Harry's decision to travel to London solo doesn't necessarily preclude Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet from joining him in the U.K. outside of the city. Hello! reported that "no decision has been made as to the rest of the week yet and whether Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet will join Harry for other parts of the trip."

Still, royal fans will likely be disappointed that Archie and Lilibet won't be attending any public engagements alongside their dad.

Prince Harry underwent a long legal battle regarding the removal of his state-funded police protection.

Just days ago, the British government refused to provide police protection for Harry and his family in the U.K., unless they're inside one of the Royal Family's properties. As a source told the Guardian, "[Harry's] looking at every option to try and get the family here safely and keep them safe when they're on the ground. If he can find a way to do that he will."

The source continued, "The hope is they can meet their grandfather, but there is no way that can happen if they are chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane. He won't put his children through that."

Following the announcement that Prince George will attend Eton College, just like his father Prince William did, a royal source is opening up. Notably, the next step in Prince George's move towards kingship is apparently already in motion.

On Saturday, July 4, Prince George will reportedly leave Lambrook School for good, marking the end of a very important era for the future King. According to People, George is set to embark on "a long summer break," which will also signal a huge change for the young royal. Notably, he'll no longer be attending the same school as his siblings, 11-year-old Princess Charlotte and 8-year-old Prince Louis.

Royal sources and experts spoke to the outlet about Prince George's next steps towards his future role.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet, "Eton was a much-needed haven for William." She continued, "It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role."

A royal source with inside knowledge of the family told People, "George has always wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps." Basically, it seems that Prince William is laying the groundwork for Prince George's future success.

Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth's private secretary, also weighed in on the news, telling the publication, "Both William and Catherine carried out a lot of research to make the right decision."

Melanie Sanderson, who runs The Good Schools Guide, told People, "As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that [George] will be very well prepared."

Essentially, with a role model like Prince William, Prince George really has nothing to worry about.

It was recently confirmed by the Royal Family that Prince George will be attending Eton College later this year. And according to one expert, Princess Kate and Prince William likely have some very normal concerns regarding their eldest son's education and his future.

Speaking to People, Melanie Sanderson, the managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, explained, "Eton has its own language—they call year groups different things."

She continued, "It's from a bygone era, but of course, when your dad has been through that system, it's probably been part of his vernacular for most of his life. As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that he will be very well prepared."

Sanderson also addressed Prince George's move from Lambrook School, where Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are also students.

"Lambrook is really used to sending boys off to Eton," Sanderson told the outlet. "It's a regular feeder for Eton College and lots of boys would have trodden that path before, so it's nothing new. It's a prep school, so its absolute purpose is to prepare its boys and girls for their next school."

Noting that George's parents might have some worries about their son's move to Eton, Sanderson shared, "I'm sure like any parents Catherine and William will be concerned that he's going to find his place, find the right kind of friends and thrive."

However, Sanderson also emphasized the fact that the culture has changed at Eton since Prince William attended, which is likely to benefit Prince George.

The expert explained to People, "30 years ago, boys were not encouraged to talk about their feelings and boarding schools were much harder places to be...Now there is such an emphasis on pastoral care and mental health."

Ultimately, it seems that Prince George has much to look forward to when he moves to Eton College.

Prince George is currently preparing to attend Eton College, his dad Prince William's alma mater. Ahead of his transfer to the elite school, the 12-year-old prince is taking on additional responsibilities within the Royal Family, which includes replacing his father at royal events.

On Saturday, June 27, the Prince and Princess of Wales's official Instagram account shared footage of Prince George accompanying his mom, Princess Kate, on a royal excursion. Per the caption, George and Kate were "honoring service and sacrifice" during the engagement, which took place at the Royal Air Force's Coningsby station.

"Marking Armed Forces Day by reflecting on time spent with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby," the caption explained. "Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive. A powerful reminder of the courage, skill, and dedication of those who serve, past and present. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve."

Prince George's special visit alongside his mother follows news of his acceptance at Eton College.

Earlier this week, Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, told People, "Both William and Catherine carried out a lot of research to make the right decision."

Anderson continued, "[Prince] William loved his time at Eton, but he would have thought about what school would be the best for George's strengths, qualities, and personality."

Discussing the advantages of attending such a prestigious school, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet, "George will benefit from a group of friends who will remain close and loyal." Basically, Eton will likely prepare the young royal for his huge destiny.

And by accompanying Princess Kate on a surprise excursion, Prince George's future role as King comes into even sharper focus.

Now that King Charles is on the throne, Prince William is the heir apparent and he has started taking on more responsibilities. However, one royal expert claims that the Prince of Wales doesn't necessarily agree to every request his father makes.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal author Norman Baker claimed, "If you are looking for a royal to cut a ribbon, you are unlikely to secure the attendance of Prince William." Baker also alleged that Prince William regularly carries out far less official royal engagements than his father, King Charles, or aunt, Princess Anne.

"We might have expected William to represent the royals at events like the funeral for U.S. president Jimmy Carter, given his father's health ruled out transatlantic travel," Baker told the outlet.

The royal author continued, "It is rumored that Charles ordered him to go, but he refused as it was [Princess] Kate's 43rd birthday [on January 9, 2025]...Prince Edward, 14th in line to the throne, was dispatched instead."

As excuses go, not wanting to miss your wife's birthday while she's recovering from cancer is pretty hard to argue with. Plus, Kate and William have both been firm about setting boundaries for their family—an admirable feat while raising three children in the public eye.

Baker also claimed to the outlet, "William has stated firmly that his family must come first, and while that is laudable in some ways, is it really possible for the heir to the throne to absent himself from royal duties?"

Ultimately, by putting his wife and children ahead of the monarchy, Prince William is embodying a more modern approach to royal life. The fact that the Prince of Wales appears to be so dedicated to his family will also surely be seen as an asset when he does eventually take the throne.

The Royal Family has found themselves incredibly busy recently, with high-profile events such as Trooping the Colour, Garter Day, and Royal Ascot taking place within days of each other. But on Sunday, June 21, Princess Kate and her children—Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis—took some time out from their hectic schedules to pay tribute to the future King himself, Prince William.

The Prince and Princess of Wales's official Instagram account shared the special message honoring William on June 21, which marks both Father's Day and his 44th birthday. For the occasion, the royals shared a previously unseen photo of William posing with daughter Princess Charlotte, which was taken on the same day as Trooping the Colour by royal photographer Matt Porteous.

"Happy birthday and Father's Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much," the caption said. It was signed off simply with the initials of Princess Kate and their three children: "C, G, C & L."

As well as attending all of the aforementioned royal events this week, Prince William also paid a visit to carbon-negative farm the Apricot Centre in Totnes, Devon, to learn about their farming practices.

During the visit, he spoke to managing director Rachel Phillips about his three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis. "[William] was quite impressed with our strawberries and was telling me in Norfolk his children grow strawberries, raspberries, and lettuce and have a small kitchen garden," she explained, via Hello! magazine.

Phillips continued, "He was asking me how we grew them, and we talked about how we stop our children eating them all."

While Prince William jokes about his children's cheeky habits, it's clear that George, Charlotte, and Louis are very grateful for their father, who just so happens to be the heir apparent.

Prince William and Princess Kate seemingly have their work cut out for them raising three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Prince and Princess of Wales recently moved into their "forever home," Forest Lodge, and they also have a country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. During a recent royal engagement, Prince William opened up about one particular thing he has to stop his children from doing at home.

On Thursday, June 18, Prince William made a solo visit to carbon-negative farm the Apricot Centre in Totnes, Devon, where he met with managing director Rachel Phillips.

Phillips said following the visit, "[William] was quite impressed with our strawberries and was telling me in Norfolk his children grow strawberries, raspberries, and lettuce and have a small kitchen garden," as reported by Hello! magazine.

Phillips continued, "He was asking me how we grew them, and we talked about how we stop our children eating them all."

Clearly, Prince William can't seem to stop George, Charlotte, and Louis from eating all of the fruit before it even makes it indoors.

According to its website, "The Apricot Centre grows biodynamic food which nurtures local people and communities. We offer regenerative farming support, consultancy for land-based businesses, and nature-based wellbeing therapies."

The Apricot Centre also hosts regular events and courses, and offers a range of fresh produce in its farm store.

As for whether or not Prince William will ever be successful in stopping George, Charlotte, and Louis from eating all of the fruit from the garden remains unclear. Still, at least the royal kids seem to have an appetite for healthy and fresh food.

Congratulations are in order as Anne Hathaway has just announced her third pregnancy. The Oscar-winning actress shared her exciting news in an Instagram video, and she selected the ideal summer outfit for the occasion.

Along with the simple caption, "x Baby, I'm yours x," Hathaway posed in front of a mirror while revealing her baby bump. The star of The Devil Wears Prada wore the perfect two-piece ensemble for her pregnancy announcement, consisting of a long flowing white maxi skirt, with a matching long-sleeve cropped shirt, featuring a criss-cross tie in the front and billowing sleeves.

Hathaway accessorized her beautiful pregnancy outfit with a pair of Cult Gaia's Stella Heels, which retail for $628 and feature a gold-toned embellished upper strap.

Hathaway shares two children—10-year-old Jonathan and 6-year-old Jack—with her husband, Adam Shulman, whom she married in 2012. The actress recently completed a wide-ranging press tour for The Devil Wears Prada 2, alongside co-stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, and she also supported the release of Mother Mary, a film in which she portrays an internationally famous pop star.

Following an extremely busy promotional schedule for multiple movies, Hathaway is debuting her summery pregnancy style, and it's sure to influence just about everyone.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Anne Hathaway

Following the confirmation that Prince George is set to attend Eton College later this year, it's being reported that the young royal will need to follow numerous rules at the institution. As Eton is his dad Prince William's alma mater, George has likely had a head start regarding some of the most surprising rules and traditions. However, it's clear that the future King will also have a lot of learning to do in September.

As reported by Hello! magazine, Eton College is stepped in history, meaning it "has as much in common with Hogwarts as the real world." The outlet continued, "Eton has accrued so many traditions since it was founded in 1440 that it has its own lexicon of rewards and punishments that give the impression of an impenetrable club."

Calling some of the school's rules "arcane," the publication discussed the "colors test," which Prince George would need to complete upon arrival. The test will require the future monarch to "memorize the location of school buildings and the official colors of each of its 25 boarding houses," Hello! shared.

As for the rules Prince George will need to abide by, there will be a plethora to remember. For instance, if George is late to class, he will be forced to write his name in something called the "Tardy Book," presumably to highlight his lack of appropriate timekeeping.

Per Hello!, "Other Eton punishments include Lines (copying out 100 hexameters of Latin poetry), a Georgic (copying 500 hexameters), and Chores, a form of unpaid labor such as weeding a housemaster's garden."

Basically, it seems as though Prince George will have his work cut out for him at Eton College, despite his status as the heir apparent.

Every year, members of the Royal Family gather at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the monarch's unofficial birthday. This year, Princess Kate and Prince William were in attendance, along with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. As usual, the royal children did not disappoint.

For 2026, Princess Kate made sure that her kids wore the perfect outfits, which included creating an adorable twinning moment. Upon their arrival at the event, Prince George and Prince Louis were seen wearing a baby blue tie, which coordinated with their mom's coat dress, creating the ideal matching opportunity.

Notably, Princess Kate's coat dress, which features white accents, is from one of her favorite designers—Catherine Walker. Kate's late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, often wore Catherine Walker designs. Kate's Trooping the Colour 2026 outfit appears to reference one of Diana's Catherine Walker coat dresses, worn in 1987, making the choice extremely intentional.

In 2025, Prince George and Prince Louis rode together in a carriage at the start of Trooping the Colour, and they certainly seemed to be having a ball. Kate and William's two sons were spotted laughing, chatting, and generally enjoying the regal celebration.

Of course, Prince Louis has become known for making cheeky facial expressions during important Royal Family events.

Rather than making their kids behave in an overtly serious way, Kate and William are often seen laughing along with their kids—especially Prince Louis—when one of them inevitably creates a new meme on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco are raising 11-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. In honor of Monaco's Mother's Day on May 31, 2026, the Monégasque royal family shared a new photo of Charlene with the two children, along with a lovely message.

The palace captioned the sweet Instagram photo, "Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!"

In the picture, Charlene coordinated with the twins, with all three wearing white for the occasion. Princess Charlene wore an off-white cream cable knit sweater for the photo, as did Jacques, who was dressed in a Brunello Cucinelli Kids Crew-Neck Ribbed Sweater. Gabriella wore a sparkly white dress.

Pictures from the same photo shoot were originally released on December 10, 2025, in honor of Gabriella and Jacques's 11th birthdays.

Both Charlene and Albert have opened up about their children in interviews throughout the years.

In 2021, Prince Albert told People, "In very broad terms, Jacques is a little more shy and a little quieter, but he can also come up with some very funny things." Albert continued, "He's a great observer and loves to size up the situation. Then he'll go for it."

The prince described his daughter Gabriella as "a little more outgoing, and she definitely has the gift of gab." He continued, "She's just a character who loves to dance and to sing...She has no qualms about being in front of people."

Meanwhile, Princess Charlene told Gala magazine in 2024, "Gabriella is very curious." The Olympian continued, "She is very intrigued by the world and life in general. She asks lots of questions and demands a lot of attention."

As always, the royals have proven that cute coordinating outfits never go out of style.

Where Prince George will attend high school has been the topic of much discussion in recent months. While many royal experts believed Princess Kate and Prince William's eldest son would attend Eton College—just like his father did—visits to alternate boarding schools have only increased speculation. Now, one royal expert is suggesting that Kate and William will be hoping to "avoid awkward opportunities" with Prince George's school choice.

During an episode of the Daily Mail's "Palace Confidential," royal biographer Andrew Morton said, "George is looking every inch a very handsome young man, and the big debate is now: where are they going to send him to school?"

Princess Diana's biographer continued, "My guess is Oundle. They have already been there to have a look round. Maybe that's going to be the school for [Princess] Charlotte too. They could decide to send all three of them to the same school, and a mixed private school would fit the bill."

However, attending a boys only school like Eton College could eliminate some potential problems, says royal expert Richard Kay.

"An all boys school avoids those awkward opportunities for someone to get a photograph of him perhaps having his first snog with a girl and the explosion of interest that would create," Kay explained during "Palace Confidential."

Kay continued, "The other thing to remember is that the Waleses live literally on top of Eton College. It was also where William went to school. He had very happy school days there."

For now, it remains unclear where Kate and William are planning to send Prince George to school. However, any eventual choice is sure to create a lot of speculation.

Princess Kate and Prince William have seemingly built a close-knit family unit with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, according to the Prince of Wales, there might be some tensions developing at home regarding one particular loyalty.

Prince William has made his devotion to Aston Villa soccer club clear, with the royal even declining a phone call while attending a recent match. But when it comes to his kids, Prince William doesn't necessarily have the full support of George, Charlotte, and Louis.

As reported by GB News, during his visit to Nansledan near Newquay, England on May 21, Prince William reportedly discussed Aston Villa's victory over Sport-Club Freiburg in Turkey the previous day.

While relaying his excitement over Aston Villa's win, the royal allegedly revealed that daughter Princess Charlotte has chosen not to support his favorite team. Instead, the young royal reportedly supports Chelsea Football Club, taking after mom Princess Kate.

Royal fans were quick to weigh in about the news on social media. "As a Chelsea fan, I am delighted by the news that Princess Charlotte is a Chelsea fan," one person wrote.

Someone else commented, "It's likely the Chelsea women's team she's a fan of." Another commenter noted, "He said he lets his children choose who they support and she supports Chelsea."

Despite being committed to Aston Villa, Prince William previously suggested he was happy for his three kids to support any team.

"I'm kind of hoping they'll all find their own teams in time," he told the Sun in March 2025. "They don't all have to be Villa fans."

The Prince of Wales continued, "I'm trying not to be biased but obviously they see how passionate I am about it and they watch the matches with me. I'm trying to spread the love a little bit."

Queen Elizabeth remains loved by people around the globe. When she died on September 8, 2022, tributes poured in from royal fans worldwide. Even though the late monarch is remembered positively for a smorgasbord of reasons, she wasn't without her flaws, per one royal expert.

Writing for the Express, deputy royal editor Rebecca Russell referenced a memo from 2000 released earlier this week, which revealed that Queen Elizabeth lobbied for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's role as trade envoy. The former Duke of York would go on to become the U.K.'s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

"[E]very legendary leader has to have a tragic flaw," Russell wrote for the Express. "Achilles had his heel. Othello was plagued by jealousy. Caesar had Brutus. And Queen Elizabeth II? She had Andrew."

Importantly, Russell celebrated the late monarch's many successes and the fact she "weathered countless storms," "economic crises," and multiple Royal Family dramas.

"She truly was impeccable; there will never be another like her, and she'd be a daunting act to follow for anyone," the royal expert noted. "But in the same breath, it's not treacherous to admit that she had a blind spot."

Of course, no-one is perfect. But Queen Elizabeth's so-called "flaw" allegedly allowed her disgraced son to benefit from his royal status.

As Russell explained, "It's just unfortunate that her [flaw] came in the shape of a second son with an insufferable sense of self-entitlement and a stalwart refusal to show even the faintest whiff of sympathy for the suffering of others, namely [Jeffrey] Epstein's victims, despite being given every opportunity to do so."

Russell called the release of additional details about Queen Elizabeth's undying support for Andrew as "the ghost of that unconditional love." When it came to the former duke, Queen Elizabeth was reportedly committed to providing him with many opportunities, along with her unending assistance, to her own detriment.

Prince William made a plethora of interesting revelations during his interview on U.K. radio show "Heart Breakfast" on May 22. For instance, the Prince of Wales discussed Princess Charlotte's obsession with Taylor Swift, and revealed that Prince George has already started boarding at his current school. William also gave some insight into Prince Louis's personality and his apparent love of very messy snacks.

When one of the hosts asked Prince William whether the school run was "chaotic," the royal shared, "It can be. Depends," (via People).

Discussing how the day usually looks for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, William explained, "If there's a guitar lesson, we go in the morning. A music lesson, you've got to get the guitar on the car."

Recalling some of the conversations he has with his children, Prince William said, "'No, we're not taking the guitar, we're sitting back for school.' 'Are we boarding and we're not? Seeing friends? No, we're not.' So there's all that going on in the morning."

One of the hosts subsequently asked William about what snack foods his kids gravitate towards.

"There's a lot of jam sandwiches taken in the car, usually," William shared. He continued, "[Prince Louis will] leave jam fingerprints throughout the car, which is really helpful."

Queen Elizabeth famously loved "jam pennies," which consists of bread, jam, and butter and is cut into a circular shape, meaning Prince Louis is following in his great-grandmother's footsteps.

Royal fans are unlikely to be surprised by Prince William's latest revelation about Prince Louis, who is known for his fun-loving personality. And just like Queen Elizabeth, Louis can't get enough of bread and jam.

Much has been written about King Charles's relationship with his father, Prince Philip. According to one royal biographer, there was a specific reason why Charles and Philip didn't always agree with one another.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed Charles and Philip's rather differing outlooks on life.

"Charles and his father were so totally opposite that they never completely trusted one another," Seward wrote. "Prince Philip was brought up in a world run almost entirely by men and Charles was brought up in a world run almost entirely by women." As a result, the father and son apparently ended up at odds and with different expectations.

Per Seward, "Charles was forever trying to please his father, but had a perverse knack of doing exactly the opposite."

The royal biographer continued, "On the polo field, Philip would be particularly brutal to Charles when they played together, and polo player Johnny Kidd...remembers Philip screaming abuse at his son when he made some minor mistake or missed a shot."

While Philip was known to lose his temper with just about "everyone," Seward revealed "it was particularly embarrassing for the other players to hear him rant and rave at his son."

Sadly, Charles and Philip's relationship was never totally repaired and the pair allegedly found it difficult to talk openly to one another.

"Unfortunately, Prince Philip was never able to communicate with Charles in the way he was able to with God," Seward wrote.

The royal author continued, "The lines of communication between them were far too tenuous and they were not used to speaking about their feelings until it was too late. Charles loved his father, but I am not sure he ever liked him."

Whenever Prince William gets the chance to praise his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and their many talents, he generally seems to take it. Case in point: while carrying out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, during which he handed out a plethora of awards, Prince William was also happy to talk about his daughter's sporting prowess.

During the event, Prince William bestowed former England women's soccer player Kerry Davis with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). Afterwards, Davis spoke to reporters and revealed some of the topics she spoke to the Prince of Wales about.

"I asked him about his daughter because she plays," Davis explained (via the Independent), referencing Princess Charlotte's soccer skills. "It's important to keep progressing with the women's game, don't rest on our laurels, basically," Davis shared.

Prince William and Princess Kate have both shared details about their daughter's interest in sporting activities, which reportedly includes gymnastics, competitive running, tennis, and soccer.

While visiting Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club earlier this year, the Princess of Wales explained (per Hello!), "[Charlotte] does loads of sport but not rugby." However, Kate did previously share that Charlotte plays rugby at home with her brothers, George and Louis, but not at school.

In March, professional soccer player Lucy Bronze told Hello! magazine, "Prince William's a huge fan of ours, and I'm sure his kids are as well, so it's really nice to get that support."

Bronze continued, "He's such an important person to the country and has such a huge influence on so many people...It would be amazing if his daughter played for England one day."

As always, Prince William has made his fatherly support extremely clear, meaning Princess Charlotte can pursue all of her many talents.

Not all relationships between parents and their children are easy. For King Charles, growing up in the Royal Family meant spending most of his time apart from his mom, Queen Elizabeth II, and dad, Prince Philip. But according to one royal expert, when Charles did interact with his father, it often resulted in tears.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed Charles's challenging childhood, including his sometimes tricky relationship with Prince Philip.

"The Queen, being averse to confrontation of any kind, would go along with whatever Philip decided, and Charles, unlike his feisty sister Anne, did not have the personality to stand up to his father," the royal expert and biographer shared.

Seward continued, "As a child, the sensitive and shy Prince Charles was reduced to tears when upbraided by his father for some aspect of his behavior. And it was not only when correcting Charles that Philip brought tears to his son's eyes—he would often belittle him in front of guests."

As noted by Seward, some people were critical of the "rough and bullying way in which the father addressed his son in public, which had the effect of driving Charles more and more back into his shell."

The biographer also referenced a telling interview King Charles gave to the BBC in 1969, in which he was asked whether Prince Philip was "a tough disciplinarian." The King responded, "The whole time, yes! I think he had quite a strong influence on me, particularly in my younger days."

With age, Philip and Charles's relationship appeared to improve, but it's hard to ignore the difficulties The King must have faced as a young child.

Throughout Queen Elizabeth's life, rumors suggested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was her favorite child. In spite of the allegations against him, the late Queen reportedly attempted to protect Andrew. And according to one royal biographer, the ex-Duke of York was criticized for allegedly "hiding behind" his mother.

In his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author and expert Ian Lloyd shared, "In August 2021, when [Epstein and Andrew accuser, Virginia] Giuffre's lawyers tried to serve legal documents to [ex-Prince Andrew], he made it virtually impossible by staying with The Queen on the secluded Balmoral estate, giving rise to criticism that he was hiding behind his mother's skirt, so to speak."

Lloyd also alleged that, concurrently, the Royal Family's lawyers were on high alert regarding any news stories involving Andrew. "Meanwhile, [The Queen] instructed her solicitors to warn British media outlets not to take or publish paparazzi photos of the royals or their guests on the estate, though photos of an irate-looking Andrew did appear," Lloyd wrote.

Despite the serious accusations being made about Andrew, The Queen allegedly decided to help her so-called favorite son.

"The Queen's unconditional affection for her second son and her solidarity for him is understandable," Lloyd wrote in his book. "While it must have been a relief to her when, in February 2022, the prince made an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the fact that he knowingly associated himself with a convicted pedophile [Jeffrey Epstein] has caused irreparable damage to his reputation and that of the monarchy."

"That would undoubtedly have broken The Queen's heart and cast a blight on the final phase of her long reign," Lloyd shared.

While Andrew allegedly hid behind his mother during her life, his association with Epstein reportedly caused major damage to his familial relationships.

Prince William and Princess Kate recently started a new chapter when they moved their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—out of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor and into their "forever home," Forest Lodge. Amid news Princess Charlotte toured a boarding school in Northampton, Princess Kate has revealed why all three of her children "make so much noise" at home.

While attending a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, Princess Kate made a sweet revelation about parenting. As reported by GB News, the Princess of Wales reportedly explained that George, Charlotte, and Louis are all permitted to watch soccer matches with their dad, Prince William, even if it means staying up past their respective bedtimes.

"They all make so much noise, even Louis," Princess Kate explained. "They wanted to go to the match but we let them stay up and watch it." Meanwhile, Prince William—a known Aston Villa supporter—claimed to have "bags under the eyes" from watching his team's latest soccer match.

While attending the garden party, Princess Kate also opened up about her love of a fast-growing sport, which she enjoys playing with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. Per the outlet, Princess Kate shared, "Have you adopted padel? I love padel, it's such a good game, such a great leveler for those who don't play tennis."

For the chic event, Princess Kate wore a vintage-inspired Self-Portrait cream dress consisting of a wool jacket and a pleated chiffon skirt featuring a polka-dot design.

While Princess Kate always looks regal at official royal events, it's nice to learn that she's just a normal mom when she's at home with three boisterous kids.

SHOP OUTFITS INSPIRED BY PRINCESS KATE

Queen Elizabeth II's impressive, 70-year career saw her achieve a smorgasbord of achievements as Britain's monarch. But according to one royal biographer, the late Queen struggled in one particular area for an understandable reason.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed Queen Elizabeth's approach to "emotional confrontation," revealing why the monarch found it difficult to deal with.

Referencing Princess Diana's alleged penchant for crying nonstop in Queen Elizabeth's presence, Seward wrote, "She would wait in the page's vestibule next to The Queen's sitting room and as soon as any visitor had departed, she would push her way in and throw herself on The Queen's mercy, frequently sobbing and telling her mother-in-law how much Charles hated her."

Seward continued, "Not surprisingly, The Queen had no idea what to do. Emotional confrontation of this sort was totally alien to someone whose upbringing insisted that manners were more important than feelings. As a result, she did nothing."

Queen Elizabeth's alleged inability to handle the troubling relationship between King Charles and Princess Diana reportedly caused additional issues within the Royal Family.

"It was a low point in her relationship with her son and, as the marriage spiraled out of control, Charles was reduced to shouting down the telephone at his mother to try to make her understand," Seward shared.

In the same book, Seward shared a revelation from former politician Douglas Hurd, who said of the late monarch, "The Queen trained feelings out of herself in order to avoid any confrontation."

Meanwhile, the late monarch's former press secretary, Martin Charteris, told the author, "The Queen is not good at showing affection. She'd always be doing her duty."

It seems that, just like anyone, even Queen Elizabeth II had her flaws.

Queen Elizabeth II had an incredible career, spending seven decades on the British throne. But according to one royal biographer, there were certain things even the late Queen wasn't very good at, including showing emotion.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed Queen Elizabeth's alleged inability to show her emotions in certain situations.

Former politician Douglas Hurd told Seward, "The Queen trained feelings out of herself in order to avoid any confrontation."

According to Seward, "The Queen's former press secretary, the late, enigmatic Martin Charteris, who started working for her when she was Princess Elizabeth, agreed" with Hurd's summation.

Charteris told the royal expert, "The Queen is not good at showing affection. She'd always be doing her duty."

Charteris spent more than two decades working with the Royal Family, and told Seward that "The Queen really had very little to do with [her first child, King] Charles." As the former press secretary explained, "He'd have an hour after tea with Mummy when she was in the country, but somehow even those contacts were lacking in warmth."

According to Charteris, it wasn't just Queen Elizabeth who had a subdued approach to expressing emotions. "[Prince Philip] would be rather grumpy, about almost anything," the former royal employee told Seward. "And neither of them was there very much."

As a result, King Charles reportedly spent much of his childhood alone or, at the very least, apart from his parents.

Describing Charles's childhood, Seward noted, "It was a terribly old-fashioned, upper-class upbringing." The royal expert continued, "The Royal Family never spoke about their difficulties, and if any of them had a problem they never talked it over. They only spoke about the most trivial of things and, as a result, awkward issues were left in abeyance until it was too late."

Basically, Queen Elizabeth seemingly put duty ahead of anything else, which led to her feeling the need to suppress her own emotions.

Despite being the literal Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly lived a "frugal" life in some respects. According to one royal author, the late monarch expressed concern regarding the so-called "pampered lifestyle" of one of her children, which she didn't completely understand.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward revealed, "The Queen never understood Charles's pampered lifestyle and found it rather mystifying, as by nature Charles is not a selfish man, but a life of being deferred to often stopped him considering others."

Seward continued, "He has no sympathy for trivial ailments and combats his own sinus problems by sleeping in an oxygen tent. Tiredness or oversleeping are not acceptable excuses for missing even an hour's work, and he will never have a lie-in on a Sunday morning, even if he is feeling unwell."

Having grown up surrounded by such privilege, King Charles can reportedly find himself disconnected from reality.

As Seward noted, "He is insistent on things being done correctly, and when his childhood teddy bear—who, according to Prince Harry, goes everywhere with his 'pa'—needs repairing and patching, he sends the teddy to his wife's couturier to be mended, with instructions to do it quickly so he can have him back."

However, according to Seward, Queen Elizabeth also had a unique understanding of her eldest son.

"The Queen was far wiser about her son than he ever gave her credit for, and she was acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses," the royal expert wrote. "She privately acknowledged long before anyone else that his marriage to Camilla was inevitable and they would have to stop playing what she called 'this cat-and-mouse game' and get on with it."

Even if she sometimes disapproved of his lifestyle, it seems that the late Queen actually knew King Charles extremely well.

The bag—basket shaped, with a ruffled trim along the top and snap-removable straps—can be seen wherever there are well-dressed moms pushing strollers. They're perched outside daycares and music classes; they're joining on daily errands and meet-ups with fellow moms at the park. At a new Upper East Side outpost of the coffee chain Fellini on a recent Thursday morning, there are two sets of chatting parents at the walk-up window, two gingham stroller basket bags perched beneath the fresh iced lattes in their cup holders.

Any tote or backpack can serve as a stroller bag, with ample storage space and a wipe-down interior. But for a growing network of moms from New York to Paris, it's this bag, MiniCoton's Basket Bag, that's the only option they want dangling from the handlebars of their Bugaboos and Nunas.

In a sea of plain neoprene totes and function-first diaper backpacks, the ruffled trims and playful patterns on a MiniCoton bag tend to stand out. They come in multicolor ginghams and bold cabana stripes; a sold-out collaboration with the brand Call It By Your Name mixed various bandana prints onto the same exterior. Once you see one swinging from another parent's stroller, you can't unsee it. Oregon-based content creator Jimena Gonzalez was so smitten when one crossed her feed, she acted fast ahead of her second pregnancy: "The second I found out I was expecting, it went straight onto my registry," she says.

But Instagram-friendly design only partially explains their ascent. A waterproof interior to combat leaky bottles helps; so do the easy-access, snap-on straps and the under-$150 price tag. In some ways, it's the next coming of the Internet-famous Amazon Coat: an item that's not over-designed while fulfilling the needs of an exacting customer (a busy, yet style-forward parent).

The basket bag's ascent has been years in the making. Natalia Martinez, MiniCoton's founder, says it launched at the end of 2023. Setting a global mom-bag trend wasn't a goal for the Barcelona-based label, which produces several varieties of tote bags and cotton stroller accessories locally in Spain. In fact, Martinez tells Marie Claire via email, she was more concerned with helping moms find more parenting essentials that felt designed for them—not just their children. "We wanted to place the focus on the mother rather than the baby. Alongside its practicality, the goal was to achieve an aesthetic and on-trend design."

According to moms who first encountered them in the wild, like SoulCycle instructor Victoria Brown, the brand succeeded. "I think I saw another mom at the playground with one, and I had never seen one prior to that, so I asked her where she found it." As a bandana-print obsessive, she landed on one of the Call Me collaboration versions. "It was me in a bag, and I had to have it!"

"It’s definitely one of those pieces that other moms notice right away," agrees Katy Schuele, a Brooklyn-based mom and fitness instructer. She says the bag has become a "cool-mom staple" in the borough best known for, well, "cool-mom" style.

Now that a striped version hangs from her stroller, she reports friends ask about it "all the time. "It’s one of those rare things that feels both super functional and like a style piece, so it naturally becomes something people talk about," she says.

MiniCoton's bags aren't a U.S.-only phenomenon. The brand is frequently tagged in posts from moms in Paris, Milan, and Madrid. Henrietta Rix, founder of womenswear brand Rixo, has noticed them popping up all over London. "Lots of my friends have their pieces, and I've heard nothing but rave reviews," she says. "As a busy, working mum, but still wanting to have stylish and aesthetic yet practical baby accessories, I think MiniCoton has to be top of the list."

When IRL fans snap a photo of their strollers, MiniCoton sees the most growth. Instagram is, so far, its primary business driver. (While the brand declined to share exact sales figures, Martinez referred to MiniCoton's customer base as landing in the "thousands.") "From there, word of mouth has grown very naturally, as people share their experience with friends and other moms. That combination of personal recommendation and authentic content has been the strongest driver for the brand's growth around the world," Martinez says. And while bandanas and stripes get noticed, "easy-to-wear neutrals" are some of the most popular styles overall. Several moms end up customizing theirs further with bag charms, custom embroidery, and iron-on patches.

Versatile as the bag may be, some moms can't resist buying more than one. Madison Rae, another New York City-based influencer, currently owns two MiniCoton stroller bags: one striped (her "main city stroller bag), one in mixed bandana print (for travel). "Whenever I post my stroller, I get so many messages asking about the bag," she says. "I’ve started noticing them everywhere in my neighborhood too."

There's enough variety in MiniCoton's current store—over 100 different combinations, between the bags and extra straps—that the moms who already have one don't plan on gatekeeping. "I love them so much," Rae says, "they’ve become my go-to gift for new moms."

Growing up as a member of the Royal Family must be an unusual experience. While much royal drama plays out in the public eye, royal experts often take fans behind-the-scenes of life in the palace. And according to one royal biographer, two royal siblings were known to argue often when they were younger.

In the book, My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed King Charles and Princess Anne's unexpected experience growing up as siblings in Buckingham Palace.

"Princess Anne was technically a spare until the birth of [ex-]Prince Andrew, in February 1960, but while she was second in line for almost nine and a half years, she made sure she was first in everything else," Seward explained.

Unsurprisingly, Anne became "hugely competitive with Charles when they were young." According to Seward, The King "never stood a chance against his willful sister, even though she was two years younger."

Unfortunately for Charles, Princess Anne was quite the competitor.

"Everything he had, she wanted, and according to Anne they fought 'like cats and dogs,'" Seward shared.

The royal biographer continued, "When she was really worked up, she would throw things at Charles and lie on the floor kicking with sheer temper until she got what her heart desired."

Despite the competition between them, "Charles was surprisingly gentle with his boisterous sister, and for all their squabbles they got along reasonably well," Seward explained.

The royal biographer continued, "But if Anne was more than her brother's equal in the battlefield of the nursery, it was Charles who commanded the greatest attention. He was born to be King and that fact was subtly drummed into him and his sister from earliest memory."

Luckily, Charles and Anne appear to have left their competitive nature in the past since then.

Having reigned for seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II's tenure as monarch was incomparable. But during her time as Queen, she endured a number of challenges and tragedies, some of which "would have broken" her heart, per one royal biography.

According to royal author Ian Lloyd, in his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, "The [ex-Prince] Andrew case was no doubt awkward for The Queen." When Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor found himself embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and was subsequently sued by sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre, the monarch reportedly found herself in an impossible situation.

Lloyd elaborated, "Once again, as the head of the Firm, her overriding concern was to preserve as much dignity and relevance for the monarchy, going into the next reign, as was possible. On the other hand, as a mother, it must have concerned her that her second son was in such a no-win situation."

The former Prince Andrew was widely believed to have been Queen Elizabeth's favorite child. "The Queen had always been close to her second son," per Lloyd. As such, it seems as though the late monarch allegedly protected the ex-Duke of York during numerous difficulties.

"The Queen's unconditional affection for her second son and her solidarity for him is understandable," Lloyd shared. "While it must have been a relief to her when, in February 2022, the prince made an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the fact that he knowingly associated himself with a convicted pedophile has caused irreparable damage to his reputation and that of the monarchy."

According to the royal author, Andrew's perceived denigration of the British monarchy likely had a hugely negative impact on Queen Elizabeth.

"That would undoubtedly have broken The Queen's heart and cast a blight on the final phase of her long reign," Lloyd wrote.

Princess Kate is the mother of a future King of England—but she wasn't born into the Royal Family. Instead, the Princess of Wales had a relatively normal childhood being raised by dad Michael Middleton and mom Carole Middleton.

In a new royal biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers explored Princess Kate's upbringing, which included a stint living abroad.

Per Myers, "[I]n May 1984 Michael was suddenly offered a posting to Amman, the capital of Jordan, as an aero manager for an international air station. There was a lucrative package, and the possibility of a unique cultural experience for their young family."

As a result, Michael reportedly signed a two-year contract to live in the city, which was described as "an attractive place to explore both economically and culturally."

According to the royal author, "Carole relished the challenge" of living in another country, where she reportedly formed "a tight-knit circle with other expatriate families." Per Myers, "Michael worked long hours during the week, but reserved weekends for family adventures...[H]e, Carole, Catherine, and Pippa were always together."

The experience of living in Jordan proved to be a positive one for the Middleton family. Per Myers, Princess Kate's parents were able to "provide a safe environment for the children to grow up in and explore a different culture, something that Michael and Carole believed would be invaluable for Catherine and Pippa's personal development."

According to the royal author, activities included "trips to ancient ruins and picnics in the desert under skies so wide they seemed to swallow the horizon."

Attending nursery in Jordan "would offer young Catherine the opportunity to mix with children from a variety of backgrounds and cultures," Myers shared. He continued, "Nursery teachers said both Catherine—known as Kate at the time—and Pippa, who enrolled 18 months later, thrived in their environment."

Ultimately, the Middleton family's move to Jordan was only temporary.

"Carole yearned to return to England," Myers shared. "So, in September 1986, just over two years after the start of the Jordanian adventure, the family decided to move back to the [United Kingdom]. Days before the family packed up their belongings and flew home, Carole discovered she was pregnant [with son James Middleton]."

It's likely that Princess Kate's experience of living in another country as a young child helped form the person she is today.

When Princess Kate married Prince William on April 29, 2011, the Middleton family acquired an eternal tie to the British Royal Family. Having lived a relatively normal life prior to her romance with a prince, Princess Kate quickly learned what it means to be royal. According to a new book, Princess Kate's parents had very different upbringings from one another and their experiences provided their daughter with a unique insight.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers shared details regarding Michael and Carole Middleton's childhoods. Notably, while Princess Kate's dad was born into a "wealthy family," her mom had "working-class" roots.

"Carole Goldsmith was born on January 31, 1955 into a distinctly working-class family, with roots connecting them to generations of steely coal miners from County Durham [in the north of England]," Myers shared. "Her father, Ronald, was a hard-working and mild-mannered decorator, while her mother, Dorothy...worked as a part-time sales assistant in a jewelry shop."

According to Myers, Carole's parents were "self-employed" and did "the best they could in often difficult circumstances." Per the royal author, "There were various bouts of financial hardship."

As a result, Carole reportedly drew inspiration from "her parents's work ethic," which had been "instilled in her from a young age." As Myers noted, "She had grown up watching both her parents work hard to make ends meet and ensure that, even though money was not abundant, the children grew up in a safe and loving home."

"With money scarce at home, Carole decided to leave school at the age of 16, after landing a job as a secretary at the financial services company Prudential, in Holborn, central London," Myers explained.

He continued, "Having seen her parents deal with the ups and downs of both being self-employed, she was determined to rise up the ranks of a big corporation, believing she could expand on the entrepreneurial spirit her parents had attempted to foster at home."

Conversely, Princess Kate's dad Michael had a very different upbringing. Per Myers, Michael was "born in Leeds, Yorkshire, on June 23, 1949," and "came from a wealthy family with ties to the British aristocracy."

Describing Michael's parents, Myers shared that "his father, Peter, served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and later worked as a commercial pilot." Michael's mom, Valerie, "served as a voluntary aid detachment nurse with the British Red Cross during the Second World War" and "famously worked at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park."

Importantly, Michael's relatives had dalliances with the Royal Family and hosted a number of royals during the Victorian era. "Such were their connections to the British aristocracy, they would on several occasions host Princess Mary, The Queen's aunt, while another relative before the First World War was a friend of Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur and also of the future George V," Myers shared.

Even though Princess Kate didn't grow up as a member of the aristocracy, it's interesting to learn that her father's family had its own connections to the Royal Family.

Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, is set to marry his fiancée Harriet Sperling on June 6. As their royal wedding date fast approaches, the loved-up couple attended the Royal Family's annual Easter Matins church service at St. George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle. And for the first time ever, Sperling's daughter, 15-year-old Georgina, attended a royal engagement alongside her mom.

For the occasion, Sperling followed in Princess Kate's footsteps by wearing a coordinated blouse and skirt set from royally-approved brand Beulah London. The polka-dot outfit was a striking shade of cornflower blue, and the NHS nurse accessorized the look with a matching hat—the Chelsea Beret in Blue by Jane Taylor. Taylor, of course, is a designer who has worked with the Princess of Wales on multiple occasions.

For jewelry, Sperling opted for a pair of pearl and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough—another brand beloved by Princess Kate. Phillips's fiancée also tapped a matching clutch and pumps from Kate-approved label Emmy London, both in the perfect shade of powder blue.

Outside the service, Phillips and Sperling gazed at each other in the most adorable way. Clearly, this royal couple is more than ready to tie the knot in two months.

Phillips was also joined by his two daughters, 15-year-old Savannah and 14-year-old Isla, whom he shares with ex-wife Autumn Kelly. Sperling's daughter, Georgina, was pictured walking alongside Savannah and Isla, as well as Princess Anne and the Princess Royal's husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

For Easter Sunday, Georgina wore a short-sleeve navy blazer with a long brown skirt.

Following a successful Easter Matins service, Sperling and daughter Georgina appear to be ready for their official introduction into Royal Family life.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Harriet Sperling

In recent years, Princess Kate and Prince William have taken on a bigger role within the Royal Family. As the Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and future King, the couple has a huge destiny ahead of them. However, according to a new book, some people might have "fundamentally understood" William and Kate when it comes to one key Royal Family priority.

In the new biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers spoke to Simon Case, Prince William's private secretary between 2018 and 2020.

Per Case, "If you look at the foundations of their work, most notably environmental protection, mental health, focus on the early years, addictions, homelessness, these are all issues that are entirely focused on the basic needs of society in order to flourish."

The former private secretary continued, "Coupled with their attention to their own family, and how that will in turn affect the wider institution, these are the fundamental principles of who they are as people."

Case also expressed concern regarding the way in which William and Kate were viewed by the general public. As he told Myers, "You have fundamentally misunderstood them as people if you don't acknowledge that while family may be important to them, it's not something you can take for granted, close family is something you actually have to work at. That same level of dedication is evident in their work."

The former private secretary continued, "The times have changed, the reach of the Royal Family and [their] individual profiles is absolutely extraordinary in the digital age. But by centering on specific issues, you know they mean business, that if they are going to take on an issue it's because they care and they want to make a difference."

Case also suggested that "William and Catherine are best prepared to respond to what the people ask of them in any given situation."

While putting their family first, Kate and William are reportedly ushering in a new age for the monarchy.

As the heir apparent, Prince William truly is following in his father's footsteps. While King Charles remains in charge of the Royal Family, Prince William appears to have taken on a greater level of responsibility in recent years. And according to one royal expert, William and Charles's relationship has continued to improve following several "external battles."

In the new biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the ways in which William and Charles's relationship has evolved.

"Charles and William had been united throughout the Sussexes's departure and the scandal involving Prince Andrew and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which has brought them ever closer together in recent years," Myers wrote in the new book.

Meanwhile, a source told the author, "While [The King] loves both his sons equally, his relationship with the Prince of Wales is something that has strengthened over the period of difficulty experienced by the family as external battles have occurred."

Additional sources also confirmed that King Charles wants to ensure his eldest son is ready to take the throne in the near future.

Per Myers, "[O]ne of his main objectives since ascending the throne at the age of 73 has been to prepare William for his time as monarch as best he can—recognizing that it's perhaps the most important thing for him to do considering the age at which he took the Crown."

Basically, despite facing several sagas in recent years, King Charles and Prince William appear to be working together to ensure the future of the British Royal Family.

As the future King of England, Prince William has likely been preparing for the role for most of his life. According to a new royal biography, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother both wanted to ensure the Prince of Wales had the "education" necessary to prepare him to be monarch.

In new biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers revealed that the late Queen started asserting some influence over William while he was a child.

"As a result of Diana's growing influence over her children and, at the time, Charles's lack of it, The Queen set about subtly constructing her own authority over the future King," Myers wrote. "Together with Charles, she delicately introduced William to the concept of his destiny, while also making clear that the family was supposed to be dedicated to its people and not to serving one's own purposes."

The former Queen's focus on Prince William might have been misconstrued by some as picking "favorites." But as Myers explained, "[W]hile this rather unique education could perhaps be classed as favoritism, and none of the other grandchildren received this attention, both The Queen and the Queen Mother were intent on instilling in William the tools that would be essential for his future as a monarch."

The royal expert also suggested that the Queen Mother's focus on Prince William might have created a slight divide between the royal and his brother, Prince Harry.

"The Queen Mother, in particular, doted on William, sending him small gifts and letters of encouragement throughout the years, and early on became the biggest enforcer of William's concept of his destiny," per Myers.

Myers continued, "During family occasions, the Queen Mother would insist William be seated beside her, further reinforcing his position as heir and sowing the seeds of the unspoken difference between him and Harry."

Whether or not Prince William was actually The Queen's "favorite" grandchild remains unknown. Of course, it's entirely possible that the late monarch simply wanted to ensure the Crown was in good hands after her death.

Princess Diana's dedication to her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, is well-documented. For instance, a new royal biography revealed that the former Princess of Wales declared herself to be "a mother first and show pony second." Diana also once shared her belief that Prince William was "capable" and "wise beyond his years." And according to a former royal aide, Princess Diana's parenting choices sometimes drew ire from her husband, King Charles.

In the new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers revealed, "Diana was adamant in her desire to give her boys a more 'normal' upbringing. She took both boys on trips to theme parks, the cinema, and even the fast food restaurant chain McDonald's."

However, King Charles allegedly wasn't best pleased with all of Diana's parenting decisions. "While the British press lapped it up, Charles was horrified," Myers wrote. "He questioned her motives to a former aide, asking, 'Does she do it just to spite me?'"

Per the royal author, "He also believed Diana's displays of normality served to drive a wedge between him and the general public."

Unfortunately, Charles and Diana's differing opinions on parenting allegedly added to their already difficult marriage.

"[Diana's] natural unwillingness to bend to conformity meant she wanted to give her children real life experiences that they might not have received if they'd stayed bound by royal protocol," the royal expert explained. "Visits to hospitals and homeless shelters followed."

According to Myers, "Diana's actions only caused more difficulty in her relationship with Charles, who responded by refusing to involve himself in his children's education, and making references to his wife's 'hysterical' nature."

The challenges within the marriage caused Charles to withdraw even further, according to Myers. "He was at a point where he didn't see the relationship progressing or even surviving," a former royal aide told the author. "So he threw in the towel and allowed Diana to go about her business. If it was going to be a battle of popularity with the public he was astute enough to know he wasn't going to win by taking the boys to fast food restaurants, so he maintained his relationship with them in private."

Still, it's undeniable that Princess Diana's assertion that her children should have as "normal" an upbringing as possible appears to have served both William and Harry well.

Princess Diana believed in her sons—Prince William and Prince Harry—and much has been written about the late royal's support of her children. Now, a new royal biography has revealed some of Diana's private thoughts about Prince William's abilities as a future leader.

In the new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers explained, "Diana had always believed that William was a deep thinker, capable of assessing situations in ways that were wise beyond his years."

Myers also discussed Princess Diana's approach to motherhood, recalling the former Prince and Princess of Wales's 1983 royal tour of Australia. "Charles had been angered by Diana's refusal to toe the party line and leave William behind, just as he had been left behind when his own mother went on royal tours," the royal expert shared.

Myers continued, "In Diana's eyes, this wasn't consistent with [Charles's] description of his unhappy childhood, and was at odds with his ambition to create a different future for his children. Diana, for one, was not prepared to put the 'rules' of the Crown ahead of her own family's happiness."

Although Diana died in August 1997—following a car accident in Paris—her influence on William and Harry appears to have been enduring.

"Diana smothered the boys with affection, equipping them with her sense of humor, her appetite for fun, and her appreciation for the privilege she enjoyed—the qualities that she became renowned for throughout the world," Myers shared. "Diana believed this sense of normalness, no matter how small the gestures, would equip these boys for what lay ahead when they became central figures within the institution."

As Prince William prepares to become King, it seems as though his late mother's beliefs have come to fruition.

Carole Middleton has always been very involved in the lives of her three children—Princess Kate, Pippa Middleton, and James Middleton. Now, a new report suggests that, despite closing down her business Party Pieces, Carole has apparently found herself another task to occupy her time.

According to the Daily Mail, Carole can regularly be found "mucking in at Bucklebury Farm, the ­petting zoo owned by her younger daughter [Pippa], where she serves teas in the cafe and lends a hand in the gift shop." Basically, Princess Kate's mom's schedule remains incredibly busy.

The 72-acre property includes everything from glamping pods to yoga classes and a children's play area. As Bucklebury Farm is located nearby to Carole and Michael Middleton's home, Bucklebury Manor, it makes sense that Pippa's mom would be heavily involved in the venture.

The Daily Mail also reported that Carole is "a hands-on, down-to-earth grandmother," whose "days are spent whipping up cottage pies and fragrant curries to fill the freezer, for when her seven grandchildren come to visit."

The outlet noted that Princess Kate's mom enjoys "going on dog walks in the Berkshire countryside and playing a weekly game of tennis with her girlfriends." She also finds time to take two of Pippa's children, Arthur and Grace, to school.

Meanwhile, a source sang Carole's praises, telling the publication, "Despite the fact that her daughter is a future Queen of England, she remains exactly the same with her friends."

The source continued, "There are no airs and graces. Given all the scandals that hit the Royal Family, we should be grateful to have a strong yet down-to-earth woman like her in the background."

Whether it's taking care of her grandchildren or helping out at Pippa's farm park, Carole appears to be happy to get involved.

There's little more heartbreaking than experiencing Mother's Day following the death of your mom—believe me, I know. On March 15, Prince William commemorated Mother's Day in the U.K. by sharing a previously unseen photo of his late mother, Princess Diana, along with a sweet personal message.

In his emotional Instagram post, the Prince of Wales shared, "Remembering my mother, today and every day. Thinking of all those who are remembering someone they love today. Happy Mother's Day. W."

William posted a photo of himself as a toddler, which was taken with Princess Diana in a field of poppies and daisies at Highgrove House. The former Princess of Wales is wearing a bright pink sweater with a white shirt in the photo, and she's positively glowing as she poses with her young son.

Throughout her life, Princess Diana was a strong supporter of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, Princess Diana even made an astute "prediction" about William's future. As Bond told the Mirror (via Hello! magazine), Diana once shared, "William's alright. The country is very lucky to have William." Reflecting on Princess Diana's words about William, Bond agreed, "I think she was bang on."

Bond also suggested that William had inherited his mother's magic touch with the general public. "Even the way he talks is different to previous generations," Bond told the outlet. "He's well spoken, of course, but not overly posh. He dresses well, of course, but is quite often wearing jeans and trainers." She continued, "He'll pose for selfies with the crowds, he'll even work the camera for them if they get flustered!"

Prince William is likely missing his mom immensely on Mother's Day in the U.K., but it's clear that Diana's influence lives on through him.

Princess Diana was dedicated to her two sons, Prince Harry and Prince William, throughout her life—and that included deciding which royal nannies were allowed to take care of them. According to one royal expert, Princess Diana "feared" King Charles's former nanny for a very particular reason.

Writing for the Daily Mail, royal expert and correspondent Richard Kay explained, "[O]utside his own family Mabel Anderson is the only woman who has loved King Charles all his life." He continued, "While his mother was preoccupied with affairs of state at home and abroad, it was nanny Mabel who was his first playmate, witnessed his first steps, and helped put his first thoughts into words."

As a result, Charles developed an important "bond" with his nanny, so much so that "he came to regard the young woman, who was almost the same age as The Queen, as a surrogate mother long after he had outgrown the Buckingham Palace nursery," per Kay.

The bond between Charles and his nanny reportedly continued throughout his childhood, and beyond. "She was the one he would miss when he was homesick and lonely at Gordonstoun [boarding school] and in whom he would confide about the bullying he suffered there," the royal expert shared.

According to Kay, "As an adult, [Charles] would fondly kiss Mabel goodnight whenever he was in residence and take breakfast with her in her quarters." And when Anderson retired, King Charles made sure she was taken care of by selecting an apartment on the Royal Family's Windsor estate for her, and paying to have it decorated, the publication explained.

Charles's devotion for Anderson was reportedly so deep that "he once bitterly told Diana that the nanny was the only woman who really understood him," Kay reported.

When Charles married Diana on July 29, 1981, Anderson attended, "although the prince's new wife flatly refused his demand to bring [his nanny] back to look after baby William," the royal expert shared.

As for why the former Princess of Wales was so against employing Anderson to help with William and Harry, Kay explained, "Acutely aware of the influence Mabel had over her husband, Diana feared any influence of her own over the young princes's upbringing would be eroded by employing her."

But when Diana and Charles separated, "Mabel quietly emerged to help with William and Harry, and was taken on by Andrew and Fergie following the birth of Princess Beatrice," the expert noted. Basically, The King finally got his way, but only following his separation from Diana.

In June 2025, sources claimed that Prince George would be following in his father Prince William's footsteps by attending Eton College. However, an official announcement regarding the decision wasn't forthcoming, and by January 2026, rumors alleged that George might not attend his dad's alma mater, after all. A recent sighting at Marlborough College—where Princess Kate attended school—suggests that no firm decision has been made, as yet.

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Speculation about which secondary school William and Kate's children will attend is reaching fever pitch after my spies spotted the royals looking around Marlborough College."

Per the outlet, "William, Kate, George, and Charlotte toured the £60,000 [approximately $80,000] a year school where Kate was a pupil." Meanwhile, a source claimed to the publication that students "were mysteriously ushered out of "court"—the co-educational Wiltshire school's main square—"by a highly stressed teacher who told them to go and sit in the library, or anywhere else, stressing they absolutely could not be outside."

Unfortunately, the teacher's stern instructions only served to "pique the teenagers's curiosity and they crept down one of the library's turrets to get a better look at what was going on below," the Daily Mail reported.

According to the outlet's source, some students caught a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, at the school.

"They were shocked to see Kate and William getting out of a very smart car and walking through court," the insider alleged. "Then it clicked why the school seemed to have put on so many very wholesome extracurricular activities that day, like choir practice and a random art show."

Where Prince George will attend high school remains unclear. Still, his recent visit to Marlborough College might signal that he's going to attend his mom's alma mater, rather than Eton College.

Following additional revelations regarding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor relinquished his royal titles. He was also forced to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor for a more secluded home on the Sandringham estate. Now, onlookers are wondering why Queen Elizabeth II protected Andrew throughout her life, despite the many allegations being made against him.

As reported by People, "Andrew was buffered by the system, his missteps managed quietly or overlooked entirely. Even after concerns began circulating about his association with Epstein, Queen Elizabeth continued to grant him honors and public visibility."

Catherine Mayer, the author of Divide and Rule, told the publication, "She saw no gap between the monarchy and shielding her son." Mayer continued, "One thing was her duty as monarch, and one was her duty as a mother—and she felt that those things were fully aligned."

Mayer isn't the first person to reference Elizabeth's seemingly unflinching protection of Andrew. Following the former duke's arrest, crisis expert David E. Johnson told Us Weekly, "A lot of people will be saying, 'Why didn't [Queen Elizabeth] do more?'" He continued, "This has been going on for a long time. She looked the other way."

However, royal historian David Cannadine suggested in his book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Concise Biography of an Exceptional Sovereign, that the monarch had little control over Andrew's behavior. "There was nothing The Queen could do…to persuade Prince Andrew to be more discreet," he wrote.

It seems as though Queen Elizabeth was committed to protecting her son, the former Prince Andrew, throughout his many alleged scandals, until her death in September 2022.

Despite joining the Royal Family, Princess Kate has remained close to her parents and siblings. Kate's mom and dad, Carole and Michael Middleton, are reportedly integral to the lives of their grandchildren—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Now, a new book is suggesting that Carole's "constant presence" is super important to Princess Kate and Prince William's young family.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, Russell Myers suggested that Carole and Michael's close proximity to their daughter's home has been crucial. In fact, the author suggested that Kate's parents would regularly leave their home—Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire—to spend weekends at Kate and William's home—Anmer Hall in Norfolk—instead.

Myers shared (via Hello! magazine), "The Middleton family, who had become a constant presence in their lives, were crucial to this. William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance. 'More room to breathe,' he once told an aide."

Myers continued, "Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family."

Obviously, becoming part of the Royal Family must have been a huge learning curve for the Middletons. As Myers explained, "Of course, William would have to explain why people bowed or curtsied to his grandmother, why on occasion they went to visit her in a castle, or who the men in the front of their cars and outside guarding their houses were, but the time to address George's future certainly wasn't now."

Clearly, Carole and Michael's involvement in the lives of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis offers the royal children a different, and essential, perspective.

Queen Elizabeth spent seven decades on the throne, and her husband, Prince Philip, was by her side throughout. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, Elizabeth and Philip traveled to Washington to support JFK's wife, Jackie Kennedy, and their children, Caroline and John.

"The weekend of the Kennedy assassination, [Prince Philip] flew to Washington for the funeral," historian and journalist Paul Brandus previously shared on X. "At the White House on Sunday, Nov. 24, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy was looking for John Jr. and opened the door to his playroom."

Brandus continued, "There she found the prince sprawled on the floor, playing and laughing with the murdered president's son. Days from his third birthday, John had said earlier that he 'didn't have anybody to play with' (also: 'Where's daddy?') and Her Majesty's husband decided that he would entertain the boy."

In 1965, Jackie and her children traveled to the U.K. for the opening of the JFK Memorial, in honor of her late husband. Photographs of their visit to Runnymede in England on May 14, 1965 show Prince Philip holding hands with John F. Kennedy Jr., revealing a sweet bond between the pair.

JFK Jr. was also photographed meeting Queen Elizabeth while matching with his sister Caroline and mom Jackie.

As a father of four, it seems as though Prince Philip understood JFK Jr.'s needs following the loss of John F. Kennedy.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has experienced a multitude of changes in recent months. After being demoted by his brother, King Charles, Andrew lost his right to use any official royal titles, and he also vacated his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. On his 66th birthday, the ex-Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office due to information contained in the Jeffrey Epstein files—he was released after questioning. Now, a former politician is weighing in on some of Andrew's misfortunes.

Writing for the Daily Mail, the U.K.'s former prime minister, Boris Johnson, explained, "[T]he last conversation I had with Andrew—took place when I was PM, and I was for some reason deputed to tell him that he could not attend some big public ­ceremony, for fear of embarrassing his mother [Queen Elizabeth II] and the whole institution of the monarchy."

Johnson continued, "This time I had to go to Windsor to break the bad news...He was not thrilled. I tried to cheer him up." The former prime minister offered the ex-prince some advice while he was there. "Look, I said, he needed to be a bit humble," Johnson noted. "He had to understand how people felt about things, ever since that disastrous interview on Newsnight. He needed to build back his reputation."

Despite the slew of allegations that Andrew has faced following the release of the Epstein files, Johnson claimed to have some sympathy for the ex-royal. "But in a way I felt a bit sorry for him," he wrote for the outlet. "He was the second son in a system that insisted on male ­primogeniture. The result was that he didn't have a role."

Johnson also suggested that Andrew's failures had positively impacted the Royal Family. "Did you see the relief, the exuberance, with which the crowds greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales this week?" he wrote. "Is it possible that Andrew's ghastly pratfalls have actually intensified their enthusiasm? Like taking off a pair of ill-fitting ski boots, or suddenly basking in the sunshine after a sodden and miserable British winter, the pleasure is all in the contrast."

Whether or not there's any truth to Johnson's opinion remains to be seen. For now, at least, the former Prince Andrew is likely waiting to find out whether he will face any further repercussions for his association with Epstein.

Princess Kate and Prince William made a joint visit to Wales on February 26, prior to the country's national holiday, St. David's Day, on March 1. During the trip, the Prince and Princess of Wales spent time doing crafts with a group of children, and royal fans have praised William's very "dad mode" reaction to meeting one seemingly apprehensive little girl.

In an Instagram post shared by Kate and William's official Instagram account, the pair can be seen meeting a group of children during their visit to Wales.

"Art bringing communities together," the caption explained. "At @orieldavies in Newtown to see how the Hand in Hand project is using art to support the wellbeing of children and their families." The caption continued, "An inspiring example of how communities in Powys are coming together to foster confidence and connection through creative workshops."

In one of the photos, Prince William is shown wearing a neon yellow paper daffodil on his lapel while speaking to two young children.

Describing a video clip of the sweet moment, Hello! magazine said, Prince William "was in full-on dad mode during his recent visit to Powys, Wales—and one interaction has melted fans's hearts," the publication explained.

As noted by the outlet, "Prince William was gifted a hand-drawn daffodil by a little girl," with "the youngster bashfully approaching the royal to present him with her picture ahead of St. David's Day, the annual celebration of Welsh culture."

One royal fan commented on the Instagram post, "You two are wonderful with kids! The Children's Prince and Princess." Another person wrote, "They have such magic with children. Clearly wonderful parents...The monarchy will be in good hands with King William and Queen Catherine." Someone else commented, "Simply cool, William!!!"

Per Hello! magazine, thanks to Prince William's quick thinking, he sprung into "dad mode" by "thanking her and sweetly displaying his 'gentle' parenting techniques to put her at ease."

As usual, the Prince of Wales has shown he's a total professional when it comes to meeting the general public. And as a to three children, he's well-versed in reassuring anxious young fans who might be meeting a member of the Royal Family for the very first time.

On February 19, 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office; later that day, he was released after questioning. Interest in Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein grew after emails between the pair were released, raising questions about the royal's alleged impropriety. Since then, speculation has grown regarding the Royal Family's knowledge of the former Prince Andrew's activities, and whether they previously "looked the other way."

Crisis expert and CEO of Strategic Vision PR, David E. Johnson, spoke to Us Weekly about the affect Andrew's arrest will have on Queen Elizabeth II's legacy. "A lot of people will be saying, 'Why didn't she do more?'" he noted. "This has been going on for a long time. She looked the other way."

Royal commentator Omid Scobie concurred, telling the outlet, "[T]here was a lot more going on than we thought." He continued, "The British public have a lot of questions, and at some point, some of those questions need to be answered."

Meanwhile, Christopher Andersen, a royal author and expert, told the outlet, "The monarchy depends on the trust, goodwill, and affection of the British people. The Epstein case, and in particular Andrew's involvement in it, has really stretched that bond to the breaking point."

As for how Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson are coping amid the developing scandal, sources told Us Weekly, "There's no real return to royal life...[They're] very much in survival mode."

Discussing what the Royal Family needs to do next, crisis expert Johnson explained, "I expect we'll see William and Kate really step up to the forefront and handle the crisis management."

Of course, how Andrew's involvement with Epstein will affect Queen Elizabeth's legacy remains to be seen.

Princess Charlene has spoken about her experience raising royal twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, with husband Prince Albert on multiple occasions. The family is currently attending the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in Italy, wrapping up warm for what looks like an icy excursion.

Sharing news of the visit on Instagram, the family explained in the caption, "This Saturday, February 14, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, accompanied by their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, were present in Cortina (Italy) as part of the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026."

The royals attended the Women's Curling Tournament at the Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio, watching multiple countries compete for the prize. "At the conclusion of the competitions...the Princely Family visited the rink-side facilities in the company of Mr. Beau Welling, President of World Curling," the caption explained.

For the outing, Charlene looked sleek in a white Moncler Archivio DNA Cape Jacket with padded sleeves. Sadly, the white version of Charlene's jacket is difficult to track down, but it remains available in navy blue for $1,795. Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella kept warm in the camel Yves Salomon Down Puffer Jacket with raglan sleeves and fluffy lambswool trim, which retails for $1,725.

A subsequent Instagram post revealed that Prince Albert "had the honor of presenting the medals" to recipients from the U.K. and Germany following the competition. "Earlier in the day, the Princely Family attended the women's giant slalom in alpine skiing on the famous Olimpia delle Tofane course," the caption continued. "The race was won by Federica Brignone, crowned Olympic champion on home snow."

Unsurprisingly, twins Jacques and Gabriella stole the show as usual, while Princess Charlene provided fans with plenty of winter coat inspiration.

Shop Winter Coats Inspired by the Royals

Prince William and Princess Kate appear to take great pride in parenting their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—on their own terms. And when it comes to making "dad jokes," the Prince of Wales is basically a professional.

Case in point: during a visit to the University of Bristol in January 2026, Prince William made a brilliant joke about helping son Prince George with his homework.

According to a press release, the prince "toured the Isambard-AI supercomputer and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), meeting researchers who are tackling some of society's biggest challenges—from modeling the impact of climate change to developing new drugs and supporting an aging population."

During his visit, Prince William was gifted "three small Lego figures of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel for his children," per Hello! magazine.

Discussing the prince's trip, the University of Bristol's vice-chancellor and president, Evelyn Welch, shared on Instagram, "We were really delighted to give Prince William three little Lego models of Isambard Kingdom Brunel to take back home to his children. And he left saying that he knew where to come when George needed help with his homework!"

As noted by an official press release, "Isambard-AI is located at NCC, a wholly owned but independently operated subsidiary of the University of Bristol. It's home to a vast array of trailblazing technologies and bridges the gap between academia and industry, helping companies large and small to capitalize on cutting-edge innovation."

"We were delighted to share with Prince William how this work is already making a real difference to people's lives, and how our teams are striving every day to create positive change for communities here in the U.K. and around the world," Welch explained.

As for the dad jokes, it seems as though Prince William is always ready with the perfect quip, wherever he happens to be.

Following the release of additional Jeffrey Epstein files, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have been forced to face the ways in which their parents were involved with the disgraced financier. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have already been evicted from Royal Lodge and relinquished their official royal titles. However, their daughters have reportedly been left feeling "overwhelmed" by the very public fallout.

As royal author Robert Jobson told Hello! magazine, "They must be overwhelmed and aghast by this." He continued, "What was [Sarah Ferguson] thinking? Taking her daughters—the late Queen's granddaughters—to meet this vile convicted criminal [Jeffrey Epstein]? It really beggars belief."

According to the outlet, sources close to the situation shared that "the crisis is taking its toll on the princesses, and on the family unit they once held so dear."

In spite of the very public "humiliation" Beatrice and Eugenie have experienced, they are apparently reluctant to cut off their parents altogether.

"The sisters are not abandoning their father," one source told Hello! magazine. "They aren't turning their backs on him. But everything is obviously very strained and hard."

As for Ferguson, royal expert Jobson claimed, "She is in a bad way and feeling very guilty." He continued, "The last time I was in touch with her, she was worried about her mental health and mulling over the 'what ifs.'"

As a source told the publication, "The girls have been very sympathetic to [Ferguson], but that might start to unravel. You have to wonder if they will ever be seen in public with her again."

For now, Beatrice and Eugenie are likely dealing with the latest batch of Epstein revelations involving their parents. As for what will happen to Andrew and Sarah in the future remains to be seen.

The general public loves to witness a royal wedding. However, romance isn't always smooth sailing, and the same can be said of many of the Royal Family's unions. In fact, one famous royal couple faced pushback from their parents regarding their intention to marry.

In the book Queen Elizabeth II: A Concise Biography of an Exceptional Sovereign, royal historian David Cannadine revealed that, according to a well-connected courtier, Queen Elizabeth II's parents weren't enamored with Prince Philip at first.

"On active wartime service in the Royal Navy, he was soon spending some of his shore leave at Windsor, staying in the castle over Christmas 1943," Cannadine wrote. "Not long after, according to one account, Philip told his cousin, King George of Greece, that he wished to marry Princess Elizabeth, and urged him to ask George VI, on his behalf, if he was an appropriate spouse for his daughter."

Unfortunately for Philip, Elizabeth's parents allegedly weren't excited about the idea of their daughter's prospective suitor. "But according to Tommy Lascelles [private secretary to King George VI and later Queen Elizabeth II], The King and Queen thought Prince Philip to be 'rough, ill-mannered, uneducated, and would probably not be faithful,' views that Lascelles undoubtedly shared," the royal historian wrote.

Per Cannadine, Elizabeth's father, King George VI, tried to put a stop to a romance between Philip and his daughter. In fact, he apparently warned Philip that he "had better not think any more" about getting married to Elizabeth.

In spite of the warnings, Philip and Elizabeth reportedly continued to write to one another, and "Elizabeth kept a photograph of a bearded Prince Philip on her desk in the suite of rooms she had recently been assigned in Buckingham Palace," per Cannadine.

In 1946, Elizabeth's parents "invited Philip to spend three weeks at Balmoral, and while staying there he proposed to Elizabeth, and she accepted," per the royal historian. However, Elizabeth's father "urged delay before any formal announcement was made, fearing his daughter was still too young, unworldly, and inexperienced to know her own mind or be clear about her feelings."

Luckily, Elizabeth's choice of spouse appears to have been the right one. Philip and Elizabeth tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and they remained together until the former Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, 2021.

A new batch of the Epstein files have been released, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson featuring prominently in the documents. Notably, Ferguson reportedly described Jeffrey Epstein—who was a registered sex offender at the time—as "the brother I have always wished for."

As reported by the Daily Mail, emails between Epstein and Ferguson reveal just how intimate their friendship was, even following the disgraced financier's conviction. On August 3, 2009, the former Duchess of York allegedly wrote to Epstein, "In just [a] week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted."

She reportedly continued, "I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness than your compliment to me in front of my girls [Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie]." Ferguson further wrote, "Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for."

According to the outlet, Ferguson told Epstein in another email, "I am so proud of you," and called him "a legend."

Per the Daily Mail, additional documents reveal that Ferguson sent Epstein an invitation to the former Prince Andrew's 50th birthday party. "Beatrice, Eugenie, and I would love to invite you to celebrate the 50 years of Papa/Andrew," the message explained. "It will be on February 26th 2010...at St. James's Palace, London...It will be suits and cocktail dresses, and you know me, mysterious mischief, so bring your presents, your presence, and your humor!"

Royal expert Ingrid Seward previously told the Sun, "I'm afraid every time Epstein's name is mentioned, Andrew is going to be mentioned alongside him, and that looks like a forever situation." Seward continued, "His association with Epstein has actually completely destroyed his life. And probably destroyed the life of his family."

As evidenced by the latest release from the Epstein files, the connections between Ferguson, her ex-husband, and the convicted sex offender will seemingly continue.

Princess Kate and Prince William experienced a massive change in 2025 when they moved their family out of Adelaide Cottage and into Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. The larger property has been described as the couple's "forever home," and offers plenty of space for their three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

When it comes to parenting, Kate and William are reportedly focused on being "mindful" and "modern." According to one expert, the couple's decision to limit their children's cell phone usage is particularly important.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, parenting and childcare expert Jo Frost said, "From a professional standpoint I strongly agree with the decision the Prince and Princess of Wales are making. Their approach to holding back on smartphones and limiting their children's screen exposure is not old-fashioned parenting—it is based on informed, intentional, and deeply connected, intuitive parenting."

Frost continued, "I see on social media this blanket tone as if old-fashioned often implies nostalgia, a longing for the past, or a resistance to progress. This is none of those things." Instead, the parenting expert believes that Kate and William's approach is actually crucial, especially when faced with modern technology.

"These parents are fully aware they are raising children in a digitally saturated world just like millions of other parents worldwide," Frost told the outlet. "They are not in denial of technology's place in society and they are simply choosing to lead rather than react and cave in."

Praising the Prince and Princess of Wales, Frost noted, "What we are seeing as the public is a modern, mindful parenting decision made based on what we now know about child development, emotional regulation, attention, sleep, and connection."