With a smaller group of working royals around him, Prince William will need to rely on his family’s support more than ever when he becomes King. Unlike Queen Elizabeth or King Charles, the Prince of Wales, 43, doesn’t have a balcony full of siblings or even cousins with full-time royal roles. But two people he can always count on are his uncle, Prince Edward, and aunt, Duchess Sophie—and they’ve been taking on an increasingly visible role in the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been traveling to Portugal on behalf of King Charles this week, and the monarch’s brother and sister-in-law have taken on more responsibilities in the nearly four years since Queen Elizabeth’s death.

Speaking to Betfair Casino, body language expert Darren Stanton says Sophie, in particular, appears to have “grown into the role” and is “entirely at ease” with her increased royal duties.

“She carries herself exceptionally well,” Stanton says of Duchess Sophie. Whether it’s speaking on behalf of the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda or attending an agricultural fair with Prince William, the duchess is “comfortable being the center of attention,” the body language expert shares.

“Sophie and Edward seem to be growing steadily into a more prominent position within the Royal Family,” he continues. Although Prince Edward is the naturally more introverted of the pair, together, they “work as a team,” Stanton adds.

When Prince William takes the throne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will likely be among the only working royals left, other than Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are all in their seventies and eighties.

‘‘As William and Kate move closer to becoming King and Queen, Sophie and Edward will inevitably become more visible and more important within the monarchy,” Stanton says. “In many ways, they're already being prepared for that shift.”

As the duke and duchess continue to support The King in their daily work, Stanton notes that the public has shown an extremely positive reaction to the couple. “People appear at ease around them, which is often a good reflection of the energy being projected,” he notes.

Since Queen Elizabeth's death, there’s been a subtle but noticeable shift in royal fashion. While women in the Royal Family still err on the conservative side, we’ve certainly seen some changes from the days of constant coat dresses and pantyhose. Duchess Sophie, for one, wore an outfit that she likely wouldn’t have chosen when her late mother-in-law was still alive as she attended a June 1 garden party in Portugal with husband Prince Edward.

Duchess Sophie chose a patterned red maxi dress by Spanish brand Matelier for the sunny event, held at the residence of the UK Ambassador in Lisbon. The long-sleeved Strawberry Date dress mixes shades of bright red and burgundy, and from the front, it looks simple enough. But in a video shared on X by the Daily Express’s deputy royal editor, Rebecca Russell, the plunging back of Sophie’s dress is revealed.

The nearly backless design features a cowl-style drape with a thin strap of fabric across the shoulders, and the video clip reveals Sophie’s back as she chats to women at the event.

The Duchess of Edinburgh paired her daring red dress with a pair of burgundy velvet platform sandals by her favorite shoe brand, Penelope Chilvers, and she added bold gold earrings and a ring by Italian designer Giulia Barela, per Instagrammer Royal Fashion Police.

Like Princess Kate, Sophie is a huge fan of Halcyon Days bracelets, and she wore two of the gold bangles from her collection along with a new gold T-bar necklace by Tilly Sveaas.

At the garden party, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh met with members of the British community and Portuguese partners who are driving positive social change through charities, social enterprises and other community-focused initiatives.

On Tuesday, June 2, the couple continued their visit to Portugal as Duchess Sophie made a powerful speech related to her role in the UN's Women, Peace and Security agenda. For the event, she kept it business casual in a white Altuzarra blazer and a green-and-white Max Mara shirt dress, adding a pair of white espadrille wedges by Penelope Chilvers that she's worn more than 40 times since 2019.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently staying at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate as his new home, Marsh Farm, undergoes renovations. According to two new reports, the former Prince Andrew has received his first Royal Family guest since moving out of Royal Lodge in Windsor. He's also faced a "major security breach" from alleged protestors.

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Prince Edward has become the first royal to visit Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor since he began his exile in Norfolk." The outlet also alleged that Edward visited his brother to deliver a "quiet word."

Per the publication, Prince Edward is allegedly "worried that Andrew is dragging his heels at his temporary accommodation before his permanent move to Marsh Farm, which is next door on the estate."

As Prince Edward often stays at Wood Farm with his family, he's apparently concerned about his sibling's "reluctance" when it comes to moving out of the vacation property and into his new home.

Meanwhile, a source told the Sun, "Edward has already publicly made his feelings clear when he expressed concern for the [Epstein] victims."

The source further alleged, "Edward was meant to be staying at Wood Farm as he regularly books it for Easter, but his brother was there." The publication also suggested that the Duke of Edinburgh "was the first family member to see Andrew in two months."

Andrew's life in Sandringham has been far from smooth sailing so far. According to GB News, "Protesters have targeted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's fence at his new home in a major security breach."

Per the outlet, a group of people allegedly "climbed the...newly constructed security fence and allegedly shouted abuse at the former prince, who appeared to be visiting Marsh Farm."

The publication noted that Andrew's "security appeared to defuse the situation," leading to the alleged protestors fleeing the area. Still, it sounds as though Marsh Farm isn't exactly a tranquil environment right now.

Prince Edward is marking his 62nd birthday on March 10, and he combined royal duties with celebrations while attending the Paralympic Games in Cortina, Italy with Duchess Sophie. After once being called “Prince Brat,” the Duke of Edinburgh has become an increasingly important member of the Royal Family in recent years, especially after he took over his father, Prince Philip’s, duke title. Reflecting on Edward’s growing role, one royal expert has noted that Prince William can count on his uncle as a “steady” influence when he eventually takes the throne.

Royal journalist and author Robert Jobson told the Daily Express that with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “permanently out of the public eye,” King Charles is lucky to have another brother he can count on.

“In Edward, The King has found a trusted, steady hand—dependable and discreet—supported by his equally grounded wife, Sophie,” Jobson said. “Together, they present a wholesome, scandal-free image that has quietly bolstered the monarchy’s relatability in modern times.”

Jobson noted that with fewer working royals to go around, King Charles “has increasingly turned to Prince Edward to shoulder the duties once shared among the younger generation of their era.”

And when Prince William becomes King, he'll need to rely on his uncle even more as the pool of full-time senior royals shrinks even more.

Edward, who shares daughter Lady Louise and son James, Earl of Wessex with the Duchess of Edinburgh, quietly carries out engagements on behalf of the Crown, such as his work with the British Paralympic Association.

“He has stepped up at a time when Charles and William need loyal, experienced support—and Edward delivers it without fuss,” Jobson said. “His decades of quiet service and his unblemished record have also positioned him as a valuable bridge between generations.”

Commonwealth Day is one of the highlights of the royal calendar each year, with King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate and other senior royals coming together to celebrate the diverse countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations. Held on the second Monday of March, the event is marked with a service at Westminster Abbey each year, and on Tuesday, March 3, Buckingham Palace announced the royal lineup would be missing two key figures.

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are typically regular attendees at the Commonwealth Day festivities, but last year, Sophie missed the event to travel to New York and support women's and girls' rights with Plan International UK. Edward, whose birthday was the same day as the event, also missed the service.

This year, neither the duke or duchess will be present at Commonwealth Day again because of some exciting royal duties abroad. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will be flying to Cortina, Italy to take part in the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Prince Edward, who serves as patron of the British Paralympic Association, just returned from the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina last month after supporting British athletes in the games.

Although Edward and Sophie won't be at the Commonwealth Day event, royal fans can look forward to seeing King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on Monday, March 9.

The royals, along with 1,800 guests, will take part in readings and performances that reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth. This year's theme is focused on highlighting "collaboration as the defining strength of the modern Commonwealth" and the service will include several royal firsts.

Per Buckingham Palace, the service at Westminster Abbey will feature the world premiere performance of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments Ltd. that unites classical ballet and Bollywood moves.

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's daughter Lady Louise Windsor has inherited the carriage driving bug from her late grandfather, Prince Philip, and her University of St Andrews boyfriend can often be found cheering from the sidelines at competitions. Louise met fellow student Felix da Silva-Clamp at the Scottish university famously attended by Prince William and Princess Kate, and according to one equestrian insider, Louise and Felix are a very "normal" couple.

Carriage driving trainer Sara Howe often encounters the duo at competitions, and she told Hello! that Felix has "always been very supportive, but also leaves her alone to get on with the job."

Louise's boyfriend is a regular on the carriage driving circuit and was spotted with Louise, Duchess Sophie and Prince Philip's close friend, Penny Knatchbull, at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials last summer along with other competitions.

"They join in and they help and they talk. They're just lovely," Howe told Hello! She added that the couple "certainly aren't put out on a pedestal and that nobody can go anywhere near them. They're totally the opposite from that."

Along with Felix, Duchess Sophie is a regular supporter at Louise's carriage-driving competitions—and she takes the part in the sport herself.

"Her mother is very supportive, and her brother turns up as well sometimes," Howe added. "Mum, nine times out of ten, she turns up because, again, she's another carriage driver. She's heavily involved."

Duchess Sophie takes part in "Concours d'Elegance," a different side to carriage driving that focuses on showmanship and "looking beautiful in lovely carriages," as Howe noted. She praised the royals participating in the niche sport, adding, "It's a very family thing that they're doing."

King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family have not yet spoken out after emails and photos involving Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were released as part of the Epstein files this weekend. But while attending the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3, Prince Edward was questioned by a CNN journalist about how he was "coping" during the "difficult" and "close to home" situation.

The Duke of Edinburgh kept his response vague and did not mention his brother, replying, "Well, with the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is the least bit interested in that," per CNN.

He added, "They all came here to listen to education, solving the future, but no, I think it’s all really important, always, to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this."

Prince Edward is in the United Arab Emirates to support the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation. The duke serves as chairman of the organization's board of trustees and will be championing "the importance of education, particularly non-formal education and experiential learning, to develop skills and opportunities for young people worldwide," per Buckingham Palace.

Over the weekend, photos of the former Duke of York kneeling over a woman on the ground were released as well as numerous emails involving both Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

In one message, Ferguson allegedly wrote to Epstein: "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me." Other emails mentioned introducing Andrew to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and the ex-duke reportedly wrote to Epstein: "Wish I was still a pet in your family."

In October 2025, King Charles made the unprecedented decision to strip his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his honors and titles, making him no longer a prince. Since then, it's been reported that various members of the Royal Family, including Prince William, have expressed concern for Andrew's mental health. But a source now tells the Daily Mail that Princess Anne, in particular, has spoken out about her younger brother's welfare.

"Anne has been vocal with both The King and William about Andrew's treatment, with Edward backing her to some extent," the source said. "There are several arguments going on between Andrew and The King and between The King and the wider family—some of whom are convinced The King has treated his brother too harshly."

For his part, King Charles is said to feel a degree of regret for removing his brother's prince title, the insider claimed. "The King remains of the view that Andrew is innocent until proven guilty and has yet to see evidence that he is [guilty]," the source continued.

Adding that Queen Elizabeth "went to her grave believing in Andrew's innocence in the Epstein scandal," the source told the Daily Mail, "It doesn't fit well with The King to have to treat Andrew as harshly as he has to in the circumstances."

Andrew is currently packing up his longtime Windsor home, Royal Lodge, to move to Marsh Farm, a small property on The King's private Sandringham estate.

"It is easy to forget that Andrew has not been found guilty of anything and he denies all allegations," the insider added. However, that doesn't mean that everyone in the Royal Family agrees on how Andrew should be treated.

"William and Camilla take a harder line, which has caused a lot of family angst," the source claimed.

The comments contradict a recent report in the Times ahead of Princess Kate's 44th birthday in which journalist Kate Mansey wrote, "This image of ruthless William was, I'm told, wide of the mark."

Mansey continued that despite being supportive of The King's decision, the Prince of Wales "was deeply concerned for his uncle's mental health and how Andrew would cope after everything was taken away."

Duchess Sophie has been hitting the ground running in the New Year, penning a powerful essay about the war in Sudan and visiting a number of her patronages since her first royal engagement of 2026 on January 9. On Thursday, January 15, the duchess joined husband Prince Edward for a special day out in Rotherham, England, debuting a new burgundy outfit a day after visiting the heroes of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Skills Street, a space that allows young people to discover careers through interactive play, learning about the facility and taking part in a hands-on flight simulator. For their visit, Sophie chose a new burgundy dress by Reiss, wearing the brand's cozy Belted Knit Pleated Midi Dress—which happens to be more than 50 percent off at the moment.

She covered up with a long maroon wool coat, keeping the burgundy theme going with pointy wine-colored boots and a new crossbody bag by one of her favorite brands, Sophie Habsburg.

Princess Kate is also a huge fan of burgundy. She's worn the color to a number of recent events, but Kate opted for a brighter red hue on Thursday when she wore a bold Alexander McQueen suit for a reception at Windsor Castle.

On Wednesday, Duchess Sophie turned to business-like brown separates, wearing a blazer and herringbone-patterned Victoria Beckham trousers to visit the Thames Valley Air Ambulance headquarters.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who received emergency surgery in 2001 after being airlifted for an ectopic pregnancy, has credited the ambulance's crew for their role in saving her life. On Thursday, she visited its headquarters, meeting with employees and even trying out CPR on a dummy. The visit was called a "morale boost" for the organization, which helped a record-breaking number of patients in 2025.

"As a former patient and our Royal Patron, The Duchess has always been passionate about our mission and the work our charity does every day," the Thames Valley Air Ambulance wrote on Instagram. "We are truly honoured to have been able to welcome her and share how her continued support keeps us at the frontline of saving lives."

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This January marks 27 years since Prince Edward announced his engagement to Sophie Rhys-Jones—now Duchess Sophie—in 1999. The PR professional showed off a sparkling three-stone ring during their engagement photo call, and former royal butler Grant Harrold is now revealing the symbolic meaning behind the diamond style.

Speaking on behalf of Slots Temple, Harrold explains how the trilogy ring design represents the couple. "I think Prince Edward’s choice of engagement ring is really meaningful and very romantic," the former butler to King Charles said. "He gave Sophie a stunning oval diamond with a heart-shaped diamond on either side, estimated to have been worth about £105,000 at the time."

The diamond ring, which features a two-carat center stone, was created by royal-favorite jeweler Asprey & Garrard, known as Garrard today.

"I think this trilogy style ring is very special as the three stones represent the past, the present and the future," Harrold continued, calling it "a lovely idea for an engagement ring."

Three-stone engagement rings are a popular design for many brides, including Meghan Markle, who wears a similar design. Harrold added, "The Royal Family are really into the meaning behind big gestures and I think this style of ring is the perfect example of that."

Edward and Sophie were married on June 19, 1999 at St George's Chapel in Windsor, with the now-Duchess of Edinburgh wearing a romantic, medieval-inspired gown by Samantha Shaw and a tiara that was created especially for her using heirloom royal pieces.

"I met them just before they got married," Harrold shared. "They’re a really lovely couple and so loved by the rest of the Royal Family."

It was 27 years ago when Prince Edward announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones, a moment that the British press had been waiting on since they started dating in 1993. Duchess Sophie herself admitted to being "stunned" by the proposal—despite their five-year relationship—but Edward recognized that the timing had to be absolutely perfect, as he told the world on January 6, 1999.

"It’s impossible to understand why it has taken me this long, but I don’t think it would have been right before, and I don’t think she would have said yes," Edward told media during his engagement photocall.

To understand his hesitation, one only needs to look at the dramatic royal landscape of the '90s. Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, and the "War of the Waleses" was the talk of the tabloids. Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson and Andrew-Mountbatten Windsor also divorced the same year, and in 1997, Princess Diana died in a tragic car accident.

If Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, was reluctant to bring Sophie into such a complicated dynamic, it's no wonder why. But in December 1998, he took his girlfriend on a romantic trip to the Bahamas and popped the question during a "candle-lit dinner," as author Sean Smith detailed in Sophie: Saving the Royal Family.

During their engagement interview, Sophie said that she felt prepared to become a member of the Royal Family—after all, "she was 15 years older than Diana had been," as Smith noted.

"It is slightly nerve-racking in many ways but I am ready for it now," she said. "I'm fully aware of the responsibilities and commitments and I think now I am ready."

For his part, Edward reflected on his siblings' failed relationships and how he hoped his would differ, telling reporters, "I think if anyone is going to get married I hope they think they will get it right. We are the best of friends and we happen to love each other very much, and long may that continue."

Duchess Sophie has become one of the most beloved members of the Royal Family since marrying Prince Edward in 1999. Today, she's working on behalf of the monarchy to champion causes close to her heart, including preventable blindness and preventing sexual violence in conflict zones. But back in 1993, she was a public relations exec on her first date with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's youngest son—and one suggestion she made during that date seems to have touched his heart.

In Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, author Sean Smith recounts how a young Sophie Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward for the first time during a charity tennis challenge that her PR agency was working on at the time. Thanks to former pro tennis player Sue Barker backing out of a photocall for the event, Sophie ended up filling in for the day.

"Nobody at the photocall noticed any electricity between them and there was no question of the prince phoning up to suggest a trip to the movies," Smith wrote. Sophie gave the prince her phone number "in case there were any problems with the challenge," and one day a few months later, Prince Edward rang "out of the blue." He reportedly asked her "to join him for a game of real tennis and perhaps a bite of supper afterwards at the palace."

According to Smith, Sophie "did not really know much about real tennis," but Prince Edward "was happy to knock a few balls about" while explaining the game. Sophie and Edward "were able to relax immediately in each other's company," with Smith noting that Sophie "always had the precious gift of making men feel totally at ease."

During their tennis outing, the future duchess also came up with a winning idea. Smith wrote that Sophie "played a trump card at this very early stage of their relationship by suggesting she should take some proper lessons so that she could give the prince a 'real' game."

The proposal worked, with the author claiming that "Edward beamed—his natural shyness melting in Sophie's smile." As their relationship progressed, the prince would go on to give her a special present: "her own real tennis racket."

Duchess Sophie is one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family today, representing her brother-in-law, King Charles, and championing causes such as fighting sexual violence in conflict and preventable blindness. But in the early 1990s, she was Sophie Rhys-Jones, a young woman in her twenties working in public relations. She started dating Prince Edward in 1993, and her resemblance to Princess Diana caused an onslaught of media interest in the newest royal girlfriend. In the biography Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, author Sean Smith delves into the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's relationship—and reveals one hilarious misstep Edward made when they were dating.

Sophie's every move was followed by paparazzi in the early '90s, with Smith revealing that when she got a parking ticket, photographers even "moved the ticket so when that she got in, she couldn't see out of the windscreen." The trick ensured Sophie had to step out and remove the piece of paper so paparazzi could take better pictures.

When it came time for Sophie's 29th birthday in January 1994, Prince Edward—once called "Prince Brat" by the media—wasn't yet ready to propose. But as Smith wrote, "He could have slipped into Garrard's, the Royal jewellers, to select a discreet diamond" to acknowledge "how deftly" his girlfriend "was handling the public interest in their romance." Unfortunately, Edward didn't quite get the hint.

"Instead, he chose a suitcase," Smith wrote. "Admittedly, it was a very smart suitcase, with her initials engraved on the top, but hardly designed to sweep a girl off her feet." Embarrassingly, Sophie then had "to answer the inevitable questions from friends, 'What did Edward give you?' with the far from impressive words, 'A jolly nice suitcase.'"

The biographer pointed out that anything flashy would have made "the gift very public" and attract media attention, a problem that Prince Edward would have been careful to avoid. However, all was not lost when it came to his girlfriend's 29th birthday.

Per the book, Prince Edward originally "planned a quiet supper at his place," but then called Sophie and said he "would be late" due to a meeting. After arriving at the palace, the future duchess spotted "a forlorn-looking bunch of balloons was tied half-heartedly to a chair" but there was no dinner in sight. "Suddenly, the door was flung open and a bunch of her best friends rushed in followed by an exuberant Edward: 'Surprise!' they shouted in unison," Smith wrote.

Despite his rather practical present, Prince Edward "had turned up trumps with the most wonderful treat—a birthday party at Buckingham Palace," Smith wrote. And it turns out Edward is a romantic at heart after all, as he "sheepishly produced a second present—an antique silver frame containing a photograph of him from his days as a Marine."

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are two of the busiest members of the Royal Family, carrying out engagements around the world on behalf of Edward's brother, King Charles. While the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are full-time working royals, there is much speculation about whether their children, Lady Louise and James, the Earl of Wessex, will take on formal roles one day. At the moment, neither Louise, 21, or James, 17, carry out official royal engagements, and royal biographer Sean Smith recently told GB News that is unlikely to change.

Smith, author of Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, said, "I think Sophie—and Edward—have been careful to prepare their children for a life outside the working Royal Family." Lady Louise is currently entering her final year at the University of St Andrews, where she studies English, while the Earl of Wessex attends all-boys boarding school Radley College in Oxfordshire.

As for King Charles or the future King William asking Lady Louise and her brother to jump in and help with royal duties, Smith said Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie would not expect their children to follow in their footsteps. "I am confident that there will not be any pressure on Louise and James," he told the media outlet.

While the Earl of Wessex joined his family to walk to church on Christmas Day last year and attended King Charles and Queen Camilla's 2023 coronation, he's rarely seen at public events. Meanwhile, Louise is also busy with her studies, but makes slightly more appearances, having joined her parents on the balcony for Trooping the Colour in 2024.

Reflecting on what Lady Louise's future career might be, Smith said, "Louise is the only young woman of her age in the Royal Family, and I am sure she will be a great success at whatever she decides to do. It’s too soon to speculate, but that won’t stop us all doing so."

One thing we do know about the 21-year-old is that she's a talented carriage driver, a passion she inherited from her late grandfather, Prince Philip. Lady Louise was seen with her rumored university boyfriend, Felix da Silva-Clamp, at the National Carriage Driving Championships in Essex, England, on August 30.

According to Hello!, a source said that the St Andrews student was "cheering and clapping from the sidelines" for Louise and he "did a fist pump as she went through the water." The outlet added that the "protective" friend also joined Lady Louise for a "nice lunch" ahead of her competition.

Princess Kate is set to move to Forest Lodge in Windsor with Prince William and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. As well as giving the family more space, the move will apparently bring Kate Middleton closer to a royal relative with whom she's exceptionally close.

Royal biographer Sean Smith spoke to GB News about the Princess of Wales's new home, and what it meant for her friendship with her "royal sister," Duchess Sophie. "They remain the best of friends," Smith explained. "They have always been two middle-class girls from the country battling their way through the etiquette and traditions of the Royal Family."

Smith continued, "They do not live in each other's pockets. Kate has three young children to occupy her attention, but [their] new home, Forest Lodge, is little more than a 10-minute drive from Bagshot Park, so Sophie is near to help and support when she can."

Elaborating on why Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie are so close, Smith told the outlet, "We first became properly aware of their friendship when they traveled together down the course at Royal Ascot in June 2017 in an open-topped carriage." He continued, "Sophie was attempting to change places when she fell on top of Kate, reducing both women to a shriek of giggles—it was a truly happy moment."

Smith continued, "She was there to support Kate on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall in November 2024, a couple of months after the princess announced she had finished chemotherapy treatment." According to Smith, "Sophie placed a comforting hand on [Kate's] back—it was a truly memorable moment."

Once Princess Kate has moved to Forest Lodge, her proximity to Duchess Sophie will likely be incredibly positive.

King Charles is preparing to host Donald and Melania Trump when they embark on a state visit to the U.K. in September 2025. It's already been suggested that Princess Kate will be the "icing on the cake" of Donald's trip, but it's now been confirmed that two significant senior members of the Royal Family won't be available to host the American president.

Two Buckingham Palace press releases have revealed that Prince Edward and his wife, Duchess Sophie, will be out of the country when the Trumps arrive. Between September 14 and 17, the Duke of Edinburgh will travel to Papua New Guinea, where he will help to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Australia. Prince Edward's excursion will include "a dawn flag-raising ceremony and a state dinner, to mark the occasion."

Between September 18 and 22, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie will visit Japan, per a press release. "In Osaka and Tokyo, the duke and duchess will undertake engagements on themes which resonate in both countries, including youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, educating the next generation, and women in leadership," Buckingham Palace explained.

During the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's trip, they will also attend "Japan's largest international event," which is "the U.K. and Japanese Pavilions at EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai." According to GB News, Edward and Sophie's absence during the state visit could be viewed as a "setback."

Donald and Melania Trump will visit the U.K. between September 17 and 19. "Catherine will be the icing on the cake for a man as vain as Donald Trump," former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond previously told the Mirror. "To be seen with her will be gold dust in his eyes."

It's no secret that Queen Elizabeth II reportedly considered her daughter-in-law, Duchess Sophie, to be her "true favorite." But according to one royal biographer, the late Queen's "first impression" of Prince Edward's wife, then-Sophie Rhys-Jones, was less complimentary. However, the former monarch's seemingly negative review of Duchess Sophie actually turned out to be a positive in the long run.

Celebrity biographer Sean Smith has written a new book all about the Duchess of Edinburgh, simply titled Sophie. In the forthcoming volume, Smith explored Sophie's very first visit to Windsor Castle, early on in her relationship with Prince Edward. According to Smith, via the Daily Mail, Elizabeth reportedly said of her son's future wife, "You wouldn't notice her in the crowd."

Smith also shared that Duchess Sophie prepared to meet her boyfriend's mother by receiving advice from Prince Edward's valet, Brian. According to the outlet, Brian wanted to help an "anxious" Sophie "avoid any of the common faux pas visitors encounter when meeting the royals for the first time."

Reflecting on the meeting, Smith wrote, "The big moment arrived. Edward introduced Sophie to The Queen and the brief handshake and curtsy were over in the blink of an eye: all that practicing at home had been worth it."

Although Queen Elizabeth reportedly suggested Sophie was someone "you wouldn't notice," this was apparently somewhat of a compliment. In particular, The Queen was allegedly on edge as multiple family members had turned out to be "tabloid gifts that kept on giving," Smith wrote. "It was greatly to Sophie's advantage to maintain a low profile."

Duchess Sophie has since taken on more responsibility within the Royal Family, and has become a real fan favorite. But the Duchess of Edinburgh's subtle start only aided her relationship with the royals, and Queen Elizabeth, as time went on. "She would have to face intense media scrutiny in the future, but for the moment she could quietly establish herself as a dependable presence," Smith explained in the excerpt.

Members of the Royal Family have been given some unexpected and hilarious nicknames throughout the years. However, one royal in particular allegedly gained the moniker "boisterous bruiser" due to his raucous behavior, which stood in stark contrast to the way King Charles acted. According to one royal expert, this Royal Family member wasn't remotely "shy," either.

In his book War of the Windsors: The Inside Story of Charles, Andrew, and the Rivalry That Has Defined the Royal Family, expert Nigel Cawthorne shared, "Andrew isn't a bit shy" (via the Daily Mail).

Cawthorne explained, "Indeed, he was often pushy, demanding and domineering." A Royal Family friend told the royal biographer, "He's his father [Prince Philip] all over again." As a result, Philip was allegedly proud of Andrew's behavior, as "at least one of his sons was a chip off the old block." However, the late Queen's husband "was also conscious of the dangers."

According to Cawthorne, it was when Prince Andrew attended Heatherdown Prepatory School in Ascot that he became known for his allegedly bad behavior. "As he was not heir to the throne, Andrew got an easier time [at school] and took to it like a duck to water," the royal author explained. "An extrovert, competitive and sometimes aggressive, Andrew did not submit to bullying."

The royal biographer shared, "At Heatherdown he developed into a boisterous bruiser. Sharing a dormitory with 6 others, he complained the TV watching was restricted."

In the book Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, royal author Tom Quinn seemingly confirmed Cawthorne's account. "A bit like his aunt Margaret, Andrew always behaved as if he was frustrated about not being the first-born and therefore destined to become king" (via the Daily Mail).

Quinn continued, "This frustration made him a bit of a bully in private, I think...[H]e couldn't resist being imperious and bossy and bad-tempered if anything went wrong or wasn't done exactly to his liking."

Long before Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, those titles were nearly bestowed on another royal couple. Back in 1999, when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's youngest son, Prince Edward, married PR executive Sophie Rhys-Jones, there was every expectation that the newlyweds would be granted a dukedom—a tradition for royal sons on their wedding day. But in a surprising twist of fate, one Hollywood movie changed all of that—and paved the path for Prince William to be given the title 12 years later.

According to reports from the time, the late Queen had intended to grant Edward and Sophie the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But instead, Queen Elizabeth's youngest son made a request that changed royal history.

Ahead of Prince William's 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton, a royal source told the Telegraph, "Prince Edward was going to be the Duke of Cambridge, but he watched the film Shakespeare in Love, which had a character called the Earl of Wessex. He liked the sound of it and asked The Queen if he could have that instead."

It was an unusual request, not just because of the movie, but because an earl is a significantly lower-ranked title, falling under both a duke and a marquess. As the highest title available to nobility outside of a prince or king, royal sons such as Prince Andrew, Prince William and Prince Harry all received dukedoms as wedding gifts.

Some royal watchers raised eyebrows at the departure from tradition, but given Prince Edward's love of theatre and acting, choosing a title with ties to a popular movie suited his approach to royal life.

Despite initially missing out on a dukedom, the royal formerly known as "Prince Brat" was recognized for his loyalty and dedication to the Crown in a touching gesture by King Charles. On his 59th birthday, Prince Edward was finally given his dukedom, becoming the Duke of Edinburgh—the title once held by his late father, Prince Philip. All's well that ends well, indeed.

Following reports that Prince William has "big plans" for two young royals, the Prince of Wales has found himself at the center of a "new royal power duo." However, some are calling William's "rare joint engagement" somewhat surprising, especially as it involves an unexpected royal relative.

On June 6, Prince William attended the Royal Cornwall Show with his aunt, Duchess Sophie, who is married to Prince Edward. Hello! magazine suggested there was a "growing royal bond on display during the rare team-up." The outlet also noted, "It marked a rare moment of public collaboration between the two working royals."

While visiting the event, William and Sophie sampled some local alcohol, with varying results. "We've come from the chutneys straight into booze," William joked, via Hello! magazine. "I can see what today's going to be like."

The Prince of Wales also remarked, via the BBC, "I've been caught out with whiskey a few times—I think I can do it, then it catches you out."

Duchess Sophie is the royal patron of the Association of Agricultural Show Organizations and vice president of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, meaning her appearance at the event alongside William made a lot of sense.

Discussing the duo's "rare joint engagement," the Express wrote, "William and Sophie were treated to an air display by parachutists and welcomed by hundreds of cheering well-wishers as they attended the annual event to celebrate the very best of Cornish heritage and tradition through agriculture, food, and drink."

Royal fans seemed to be delighted that Sophie had joined William for the important event. "The Duchess is an absolute asset to the Royal Family—so graceful and elegant," one commenter wrote on social media, via GB News. According to the outlet, another fan shared the sentiment, writing, "Great to see the Prince of Wales with his aunt. I think that they have so much fun together."

An unexpected member of the Royal Family is set to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV later this month. The first American pontiff, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost who was born in Chicago, will be inaugurated in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square on May 18.

Pope Leo was selected following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at age 88. It's now been revealed that neither Prince William nor King Charles will be in attendance at the historical ceremony. Instead, another member of the Royal Family will represent the U.K. at the prestigious mass.

Prince William attended Pope Francis's funeral on April 26, "stepping in" for his father, King Charles, in Vatican City, where he showed himself to be the "ideal" future monarch, per royal experts. King Charles met with Pope Francis weeks prior to the pontiff's death, during a royal tour of Italy with Queen Camilla.

In a statement to Hello! magazine, Buckingham Palace revealed, "The Duke of Edinburgh will represent His Majesty at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV." The outlet further reported, "The Palace has not given a reason as to why The King nor Prince William will miss the occasion."

As both King Charles and Prince William have recently traveled to the Vatican, it makes sense that Prince Edward will handle the important responsibility of being present for Pope Leo XIV's inauguration.

The important event will attract world leaders and religious figures, as well as members of the general public. According to Reuters, as many as 200,000 people attended Pope Francis's inauguration in 2013.

Pope Leo's brother, John Prevost, told The New York Times, "The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis's footsteps...They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was pope, before my brother even was bishop." Prevost also shared his belief that Pope Leo "has great, great desire to help the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, the people who are ignored."

The Royal Family gathered to celebrate Easter at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on Sunday, April 20, and along with the usual suspects like The King, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne, fans were treated to a rare appearance from another royal. Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are parents to two children, 21-year-old Lady Louise and 17-year-old James, the Earl of Wessex—and one word kept coming up when it came to the teenage earl.

James—who inherited his father's title, the Earl of Wessex, after Edward was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh—looked even taller than he did during his last royal appearance on Christmas Day. The 17-year-old towered over his roughly six-foot-tall father in photos and videos from Easter, and appears to follow in the footsteps of his cousins Prince Harry and Prince William when it comes to height.

Dressed in a navy suit and red Vineyard Vines tie featuring a tennis racket design, James joined dad Prince Edward and mom Sophie, who wore a full-skirted plum coat over a white dress. Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank rounded out their group as they walked into church.

One attendee at the Easter Sunday service tells Marie Claire that the Earl of Wessex's "confidence seems to have grown almost as much as he has physically."

"He was totally at ease talking alone to the Dean of Windsor for quite a while after his parents had set off back to the castle," royal fan Lauren Parkinson continues. "In fact, they had to stop half way and wait for him to catch up!" She adds that his confident behavior in Windsor was "such a contrast from the shy boy we've seen in years gone by."

Plenty of fans chimed in about James's grown-up appearance on X, like one who wrote, "He was not this tall last time I saw him 😳," and another who added, "Whoa, is James really that tall?! Holy moly. Great looking kid."

"What are they feeding that young man? He seems to have shot up and is so very tall," a third commenter wrote on X.

Big sister Lady Louise didn't attend the Easter service this year, but one family member who made an unexpected appearance on Sunday was Prince Andrew. The Duke of York arrived with Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence, as well as Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, amid Prince William and Princess Kate's absence from the event.

Members of the Royal Family have long been patrons of the performing arts, with everyone from Princess Margaret to Prince Harry taking in ballets, plays, operas and musicals. But it turns out Queen Elizabeth was once given an extraordinary gift—her very own Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical starring one of her children.

Sir Tim Rice recently revealed the story of the late Queen's private performance, sharing (via the Mirror), that in 1986, Prince Edward—who was an employee of Lloyd Webber's production company at the time—asked his boss "to pen a mini-musical for his mum" for her 60th birthday. The resulting production was "a 30-minute comedy piece called Cricket," the outlet reported, and the lyrics were created by Rice.

"lt was a private performance in a drawing room at Windsor Castle," he shared, adding that his royal guests seemed to have appreciated the show. "We enjoyed it and I think to be fair they did find it quite amusing. They were very polite and applauded and laughed in the right places."

One of the stars of the show included Prince Edward himself. "He did sing in it," Rice said. "He played a cricketer who had actually apparently died when he got hit by a cricket ball and in fact at the end of the show he got up at the end saying, 'I'm feeling better.'"

Along with cricket, Rice—who has written lyrics for everything from Jesus Christ Superstar to The Lion King—shared that the musical included one of Queen Elizabeth's biggest passions, horses. “It featured horse racing as well as cricket so there was a definite feeling The Queen knew we were sending up the racing world as much as the cricket world so I think she enjoyed that," he said.

As for Edward's performance, the lyricist said, "He was good enough, I think, but he probably thought, 'Well it's an advantage and a disadvantage to be royal.'" Although Edward—who was granted his late father's title, the Duke of Edinburgh, by King Charles in 2023—might have hit a roadblock with his disastrous TV career and never enjoyed a West End role, he's gone on to become one of the hardest working members of the Royal Family.

"I think he's a lovely bloke and he and his wife Sophie have done a lot of great work over the years," Rice added. "He's done a good job.”

As Prince William prepares for his upcoming visit to Estonia on March 20, a little-known royal story has reemerged about another member of his family and an unexpected royal proposition.

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, Estonia sought to establish its new identity. While most newly liberated Eastern European nations embraced democracy, Estonia's Independent Royalist Party had different aspirations. After securing eight parliamentary seats in the country's first elections in 1994, the party embarked on an extraordinary mission—to transform Estonia into a constitutional monarchy.

Their royal candidate? Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son. Although he seems like an unusual choice, Edward was far enough down the line of British succession to make him pretty much off the table as its future King. He also wasn't married, although the prince was dating his now-wife, Sophie, at the time.

The Estonian group was so serious about Prince Edward that they actually contacted Buckingham Palace about the matter. The Sunday Telegraph reported in 1994 that party leadership made a formal approach to the palace, describing Edward as the "perfect" candidate for their vacant throne. The admiration was apparently "enormous," with the party indicating Estonia would be "honored" by his acceptance.

"Your background as an actor and television producer would be ideal to create the majesty a new king would require to combine ancient culture with modern political reality," the letter read, in part (via People).

Buckingham Palace acknowledged the suggestion as "a charming idea but a rather unlikely one," ending any possibility of King Edward of Estonia.

Instead, Estonia established itself as a parliamentary republic and eventually joined both NATO and the European Union. And rather than becoming a European king, Prince Edward went on to earn his late father Prince Philip's title, becoming the Duke of Edinburgh when King Charles granted his brother the honor on his 59th birthday.

And even though he's not a monarch, Prince Edward is now one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family, even if he was once dubbed "Prince Brat" after a disastrous 1987 press conference for the show It's a Royal Knockout.

Prince William's upcoming two-day visit to Estonia marks his first official time visiting the nation—a country that, in a parallel universe, might have welcomed him as the nephew of their monarch rather than as a representative of the British crown.

Royal reputations can certainly change over the years, whether it's due to scandal, media narratives or personal choices (take Prince Andrew). Many members of the Royal Family have undergone dramatic shifts in how they're perceived by the public, with Prince Edward—who is celebrating his 61st birthday on Monday, March 10—standing as a prime example. In the late '80s his popularity could hardly have been worse, thanks to the disastrous TV show It's a Royal Knockout. But after a royal reinvention (and some help from his wife, Sophie), the Duke of Edinburgh is one of the most popular members of the family today.

Although he once struggled to find his place, Prince Edward is now recognized as one of the monarchy's most dependable and hard-working figures, having quietly taken on an increasing presence as he supports his brother, King Charles. In fact, it's almost hard to believe that the same Edward who cuts cakes with dorky dad flair and supports a range of charities was called "Prince Brat" by Daily Mail columnist Lynda Lee-Potter 38 years ago.

But in 1987, theater-loving Edward decided to pull together a game show called It's a Royal Knockout that entailed himself, Princess Anne, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew dressing up in costume as celebrities participated in medieval-style tournaments. The show, to put it mildly, was not a success, leaving the Queen Mother "incensed," per the Daily Mail. The outlet claimed that she told "her grandchildren she'd spent years building the reputation of the monarchy with The King, only to have them try to destroy it in one evening."

The resulting press conference Edward held only made the situation worse. The prince stormed out after reporters didn't give an enthusiastic response to the show, with Lee-Potter calling the then-23-year-old prince "pompous" and a "spiteful, angry child" in her story titled "It's Time Prince Brat Learned Real Manners."

But the damaging mistakes didn't end there, with a cameraman from Prince Edward's TV production company, Ardent Productions, breaking a media privacy agreement and filming Prince William while he was attending the University of St. Andrews. Edward claimed this was done without his consent, but the resulting headlines made for another PR disaster.

However, after giving up commercial pursuits to become a full-time working royal, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's youngest child has gone from strength to strength. His marriage to Duchess Sophie is often praised as one of the strongest partnerships in the Royal Family, and King Charles honored Edward with their father's title, the Duke of Edinburgh, on the occasion of the prince's 59th birthday. Prince Edward is also a proud dad, sharing children Lady Louise, 21, and James, 17, with Duchess Sophie.

Royal historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop pointed out in a recent Channel 5 documentary (via the Daily Mail) that decades after his Royal Knockout disaster, hard-working Prince Edward is "almost on track to becoming something of a national treasure." His popularity has gone up so exponentially that Edward is now ranked as the sixth most popular member of the family, with his public approval rating rising from 35 percent in 2019 to 53 percent in a February 2025 YouGov poll.

In recent months, much has been written about Prince William's future.

Some reports have suggested that King Charles is envious of his son's future role as monarch, while others have claimed that Prince William and Princess Kate are experiencing the "calm before the storm." Following the suggestion that William might call on Zara and Mike Tindall to support him when he's on the throne, a source alleged that the Prince of Wales has two young royals in mind for important roles.

According to the New York Post, Prince William is already "seizing more power" from King Charles. As well as allegedly "putting his foot down on several key decisions," William is reportedly hoping to give "some lesser-known royals more of a spotlight." Specifically, the Prince of Wales is apparently hoping to enlist the help of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.

Both Lady Louise and the Earl of Wessex have lived fairly anonymous lives. While Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's children were eligible to use the HRH title from birth, their parents turned down the honor. Instead, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh decided to allow their children the choice of whether or not they wanted to be referred to by the formal title when they turned 18, per Tatler.

If Prince William does call on Louise and James to serve as working royals, they will have a big decision to make. "Should they accept the role, the duo will begin receiving public funding, which in turn would mean they will have to start undertaking public-facing engagements and events to represent the Crown," New York Post wrote.

Duchess Sophie elaborated on the decision to not give James and Louise the HRH title at birth in an interview in 2020. "We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living," she told the Sunday Times Magazine. "Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it's highly unlikely."

Much like Princess Kate, Duchess Sophie was a normal citizen prior to marrying into the Royal Family. In fact, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, had a successful career before she married Prince Edward. As a result, Sophie had to "reduce her expectations" in many respects after marriage.

Prior to her 1999 wedding to Prince Edward, Sophie Rhys-Jones was a PR professional. Initially, Sophie had reportedly hoped to continue with her career, while managing her responsibilities as a royal. Unfortunately, an embarrassing faux pas with a client led to Sophie giving up her job for good, via Tatler.

"Certainly it took me a while to find my feet," Duchess Sophie told The Sunday Times in 2020. "The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life."

Instead, the Duchess of Edinburgh had to change the way she behaved, approaching events with the mindset of a Royal Family member. "I had to take a really big step back and go, okay, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan," she told the outlet.

Since finding her way as a royal, Duchess Sophie seems to have made a positive impact on the family. In recent years, the Duchess of Edinburgh has even been referred to as the Royal Family's "secret weapon."

During her interview with The Sunday Times, Sophie discussed her workload as a Royal Family member. "We've all got our own little portfolios," she told the outlet. "I don't see anything changing, but if we're asked to do more...I don't know because it hasn't really happened."

As she noted in the 2020 interview, "I am pretty busy already, so I'm not sure how much more I can do. There are only so many hours in the day. People may pay more attention to what I am doing, but I remain as busy as I have ever been."

Of course, following King Charles's cancer diagnosis, Duchess Sophie and her husband stepped up to help at more official events.

Thursday, Jan. 9 will mark a national day of mourning for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter—who died in December—and a member of the Royal Family will join former presidents and other leaders honoring Carter at his funeral. While King Charles or Prince William typically handle these high-profile international appearances, the palace is sending a more unexpected royal to the service at Washington National Cathedral.

Queen Elizabeth' and Prince Philip's youngest son, Prince Edward, who usually flies under the radar compared to his more spotlighted relatives, will be making the solo journey to Washington, D.C. this week. The 60-year-old Duke of Edinburgh will attend the funeral on behalf of his brother The King, joining roughly 3,000 mourners expected to pay tribute to Carter.

While royal watchers might be surprised to hear the duke is heading to the United States rather than his nephew, William, there's likely a good reason for that as Princess Kate's birthday is Jan. 9, the same day as the funeral. The Princess of Wales is said to be getting ready to enjoy a quiet birthday as she continues to recover from her battle with cancer.

President Carter died at the age of 100 on Dec. 29 and will be laid to rest in Georgia next to his wife, Rosalynn Carter, on the grounds of their home following the service in D.C.

The King paid tribute to Carter in a statement last month, writing, “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of President Carter. He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977."

"My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time,” the statement concluded.

After President Carter died, stories resurfaced about the 1977 visit to Buckingham Palace that The King referenced—including whether or not he kissed the Queen Mother on the lips.

Prince Edward—who is married to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh—spent the holiday break with the rest of the Royal Family on the Sandringham estate, joining them for the annual walk to church on Christmas Day. The Edinburghs are parents to a 21-year-old daughter, Lady Louise (who attends the University of St. Andrews, like her cousin Prince William) and a 17-year-old son, James, the Earl of Wessex.

Along with the Duke of Edinburgh, president-elect Donald Trump—who recently met with Edward's nephew, Prince William, in Paris—is expected to attend Carter's funeral, while President Biden will be delivering a eulogy.

As the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Prince Edward likely felt the weight of expectation upon him while growing up. In fact, the late Queen reportedly disapproved of one of Edward's life choices pretty severely, which can't have been easy to deal with.

In January 1987, Prince Edward decided to quit the Royal Marines, having enlisted just four months prior. At the time, emphasis was placed on the fact that Edward's "qualms were not physical" when it came to a career in the Marines, per The Guardian. A statement from Buckingham Palace revealed that, following "much consideration," Prince Edward "concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career." The Guardian also reported that Edward would possibly pursue "a back-room career in the performing arts, perhaps in television or in the theater."

According to royal expert Tina Brown's book, The Palace Papers, Queen Elizabeth was "icily displeased" with her youngest son's decision, considering it to be a "dereliction of duty."

Prince Philip, meanwhile, was apparently much more supportive of Edward's decision to quit the Royal Marines. "He never thought Edward should have joined the Royal Marines in the first place," Brown wrote. Instead, Philip "wanted him to do something perhaps even worse, as far as arts-loving Edward was concerned: become an accountant."

Prince Edward's commandant in the Marines, Colonel Ian Moore, told The Guardian, "Let me make it quite clear that he was doing well in his training. He was respected by his instructors, who all had a lot of time for him. He had all the physical ability to complete his training satisfactorily—indeed well." Moore continued, "There is disappointment here, but we do understand and all members of the corps feel the same way. He left with very warm regards for us and us for him."

Despite forgoing a profession in the Royal Marines, Prince Edward has had a dextrous career, and has been a lifelong supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which provides opportunities for young people. In March 2023, he inherited the Duke of Edinburgh title, which was long held by his late father.

Prince Andrew backed out of Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family this year amid his recent "Chinese spy" scandal (reportedly after a fair amount of convincing from ex-wife Sarah Ferguson). But before he made the decision to stay home at Royal Lodge, it seems the Duke of York was set to share living quarters with his brother and sister-in-law—and no one was thrilled about the situation.

According to the Sun, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie (a.k.a. the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh) were  “less than pleased” when they found out they'd be staying under the same roof as Prince Andrew and Fergie.

A royal insider told the outlet that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh weren't thrilled about staying “cheek by jowl with the Yorks” at Wood Farm, the Sandringham cottage where Prince Philip lived during his retirement. The source continued that the Edinburghs were reportedly "relieved" when the Duchess of York "encouraged and cajoled" Prince Andrew to pull out of the festivities.

According to multiple outlets, Fergie was instrumental in getting her ex-husband to see why it wouldn't be appropriate to join the Royal Family for the holidays after his ties to suspected Chinese spy Yang Tengbo were discovered this month.

King Charles and Queen Camilla, with whom Ferguson is close, are said to have counted on the Duchess of York to "literally save Christmas," as Rebecca English said on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential program.

The royal editor continued that the royals "very much appreciate and are grateful for [Ferguson] saying to Andrew, 'Look why don't we just take a step back this year and see where the future lies.'"

As for the rest of the celebrations, it's going to be a packed house at Sandringham, with more than 45 members of the family gathering to enjoy the royals' rather unique Christmas traditions. And while Prince Andrew and Ferguson won't be in attendance, their eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, is a last-minute addition to the guest list after her pregnancy forced her to cancel plans to visit her in-laws in Italy.

Lady Louise Windsor, the eldest child of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, has reportedly chosen the career she wishes to pursue.

Currently a student, Louise is a member of St Andrews' University Officers' Training Corps, The Sun reported. Now, Louise is apparently committed to serving in the military. If she joins the army or another organization after graduation, Louise will be the first woman in the Royal Family to serve in the military since Queen Elizabeth II.

"She talks about being very keen on a career in the military, serving the King and country," a source told The Sun. "She is all about the Army Cadets and has fallen in love with it."

In 1945, when Queen Elizabeth II was 18, and still just a Princess, she decided to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the Royal Collection Trust reported. After starting out as a Subaltern, she climbed the ranks to become a Junior Commander, leaving as a fully qualified driver.

Louise's father, Prince Edward, joined the Marines after graduation. However, he quit during commando training, after just a few months, Brittanica reported. Instead, he pursued a career in theatre and television, before turning his attention to official royal duties.

Lady Louise has long been hailed as the young royal to watch. Just last year, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond celebrated Louise as she turned 20. "What’s not to like about Lady Louise?" she told OK!. "She has overcome an eye problem with great dignity and now is blossoming into a beautiful 20-year-old, enjoying life at St Andrews like any other undergraduate."

Meanwhile, another source suggested that Louise tries to avoid the fame associated with being a member of the royal family. "Lady Louise likely knows she would be mercilessly analyzed under the world’s biggest microscope—her looks and relationships," PR expert Alison Lancaster told GB News. "Every candid moment is a potential PR bonfire to contain."

The royal family has issued a new official portrait in honor of Scotland's Royal Week.

On Wednesday, July 3, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Prince Edward posed for a new royal photograph after taking part in the Order of the Thistle Service at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The service was part of the 2024 Royal Week in Scotland—a particularly special occasion this year since both Queen Camilla and Prince Edward were officially welcomed into the Order of the Thistle during the proceedings, People reported at the time.

King Charles has been part of the "greatest order of chivalry in Scotland" since 1977, while his son, Prince William, became an official member back in 2012.

The royal foursome posed alongside one another, all matching as they wore the traditional green velvet robe featuring the appropriate insignia and white-plumed hats.

The royal family shared the official portrait via Instagram, writing in the caption: "The King and Queen with The Prince of Wales (known as The Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland) and The Duke of Edinburgh following the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh today."

King Charles and Queen Camilla also shared behind-the-scenes footage of the day's events on their official Instagram account, which showed all four members of the royal family participating in the day's festivities.

"Celebrating men and women who have contributed so much to life in Scotland at this special ceremony in Edinburgh today," the royals captioned the post. "Congratulations to the newest Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle."

Prince William and Princess Kate's official Kensington Palace Instagram account also shared the same behind-the-scenes video, complete with the same caption.

The royal family has been somewhat absent from the public eye as the U.K. is in the middle of contentious election.

On July 4, as the United States celebrates its independence from the British monarchy, citizens of the United Kingdom will be choosing all 650 members of the House of Commons and electing a majority party to lead the government.

The royal family does not vote in elections and for generations has abstained from publicly expressing their personal or collective political views. While it's technically not illegal for a member of the monarchy to cast a ballot, the royal family will not be visiting the polls.

Lady Louise Windsor—the eldest child and only daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh—has heretofore largely remained out of the public eye, by her own choice. 

And can you blame her? After watching her cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, and their respective spouses endure life in the spotlight, one can see why the prospect of remaining private is attractive—though Louise does step out to royal events on occasion, like at last month’s Trooping the Colour, when she joined her parents for her uncle King Charles’ birthday parade. (She even wore the same Suzannah London dress she wore to his Coronation last year, tying it all up with a bow.)

Louise retained her royal title of princess and a “Her Royal Highness” designation, to be used at her discretion when she turned 18, which she did in 2021. Heretofore, anyway, she has eschewed its use, likely because of the publicity that would come along with it. The Daily Express reports that Louise “strives to avoid the royal limelight” and seeks to avoid the “world’s biggest microscope” as she continues her college years; she is a student at the University of St. Andrews—yes, where William met Kate Middleton in 2001—and is studying English literature. 

“Lady Louise likely knows she would be mercilessly analyzed under the world’s biggest microscope—her looks and relationships,” public relations expert Alison Lancaster told GB News as to why Louise will likely never become a working royal. “Every candid moment is a potential PR bonfire to contain.” 

Just last weekend, Louise—who is sixteenth in line to the throne—was photographed with a rumored boyfriend, Felix da Silva-Clamp, as she took part in the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. da Silva-Camp is a classmate of Louise’s at St. Andrews, and was seen hopping aboard Louise’s carriage, smiling broadly, Hello reports. He even spent time with Sophie, Louise’s mother, and “Felix and the Duchess looked very at ease with each other,” an onlooker told the outlet. “They turned up in the car just 10 minutes before Louise’s first event and watched her eagerly.”

In an example of probably exactly why Louise has avoided the spotlight heretofore, her interactions with da Silva-Camp were analyzed by the outlet, which reported that the two “seemed very comfortable together,” the onlooker added. “They were chatting and looking at each other all the way around. They went for a couple of walks together in between her two events as well. They are clearly very close.”

Louise—who inherited her love of carriage driving from her late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose title Louise’s father now holds—competed for the first time at the Sandringham trials, which were started by Philip “so he could bring one of his favorite sports to one of his favorite places,” Hello writes. 

As the world speculates as to Louise’s is-he-or-isn’t-he relationship, Louise’s mother, Sophie, once told The Times about both Louise and her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex (who is 16) “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living,” Sophie said of her children being employed outside of the Firm. “Hence, we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”

A body language expert is giving some insight into how Duchess Sophie makes her husband a more confident royal.

On Wednesday, June 19, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh released a new portrait in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, People reports. The photograph, captured by photographer Chris Jelf, showed the royal couple holding hands and smiling as they sat together outside surrounded by flowers.

"We are so grateful for the many kind and lovely messages we have received on our Silver Wedding Anniversary. Wishing everyone who is celebrating their own anniversaries a special day too," the pair captioned the post, which was signed "Edward and Sophie."

According to body language expert Darren Stanton, "Edward used to come across as shy and uncomfortable when out and about in the public eye, which was very similar to his brother King Charles."

"He would also actively distance himself from public attention when he could," Stanton said, in a press release shared in anticipation of the Duke and Duchess' 25th anniversary. "However, in more recent years, we’ve seen much more of Edward and Sophie. Now, Edward portrays himself in a much more authoritative manner and takes control of situations. This is shown through him placing his arms behind his back and standing tall while walking with a stride in his step. It shows he’s comfortable holding his head high and taking the lead.”

Stanton credits Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, for the change in the Duke's overall public demeanor and more confident stature, claiming that “Sophie certainly brings out a more extroverted side of Edward."

"We see Edward feeling more confident and strong when Sophie is by his side," he explained. "The fact he has gone from being the most introverted to finding his inner strength and confidence shows how perfectly suited they are as a couple. It proves they know each other inside out and feel at ease in every situation. When we look at the Royal family now, some of the most confident gestures are portrayed by Kate, Camilla, Meghan and even the late Queen Elizabeth—and Sophie follows these traits.”

According to the same press release, Stanton is a former police officer with Derbyshire police with a degree in psychology, who used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects before moving to media and television as a consultant.

Prince Edward and Sophie has resumed more a public-facing role within the royal family following both King Charles and Princess Kate's cancer diagnoses.

In April, the monarch tasked the pair with taking part in the 120th anniversary of the key diplomatic agreement between the U.K. and France, known as the "Entente Cordiale." The historic Buckingham Palace ceremony included the traditional Changing of the Guard, featuring the French troops for the very first time.

According to Afua Hagan, who previously spoke to Us Weekly, Duchess Sophie has also become the "royal family's secret weapon" as they continue to navigate dual health issues.

“She really gets on with the job, she connects very well with people on these engagements that she does, and she does a lot of them behind the scenes,” the royal commentator told the publication. “Now, we’re seeing Prince Edward stepping out in his own way as well.”

In addition to the Duchess of Edinburgh, Hagan says her husband, Prince Edward, could be viewed as the monarchy's "other secret weapon in the royal family."

"I do believe Edward relies on Sophie quite a lot to feel his most confident self in social settings," Stanton said. "He may not be the most confident out of the Royals, but he certainly has shown an increased ability of stepping up to the plate—and that will be due to Sophie’s constant support and encouragement.” 

As King Charles continues his treatment for cancer, he can thankfully call upon other royal family members to fill in for him. This time, it was Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's turn to step up. The pair took part in a historic Buckingham Palace ceremony on Monday, which saw the traditional Changing of the Guard include French troops for the first time.

This is the 120th anniversary of a key diplomatic agreement between the U.K. and France known as the "Entente Cordiale." It involved 32 members of the Gendarmerie’s Garde Républicaine, joining 40 Guardsmen from the Scots Guards. This was the first time that soldiers from a non-Commonwealth country had joined the ceremony.

In a parallel gesture, 16 soldiers from Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, accompanied by two military musicians, joined troops from 1st Régiment de la Garde Républicaine in Paris, to provide the Presidential Guard outside the Elysée Palace. This was the first time a foreign state had helped to guard the French Presidential Residence.

French President Emmanuel Macron inspected the troops there, with the expectation that King Charles would observe the ones in London. Unfortunately, this was not possible for Charles, so he sent two of the most stable and hardworking members of the royal family in his place. Edward and Sophie have been the quiet backbone of the royal family for years, and will celebrate 25 years of marriage this June.

Since the announcement of the King's cancer diagnosis on February 5, his attendance at public appearances has been dramatically scaled back. Usually his wife, Queen Camilla, or son, Prince William, have handled royal appearances in his absence, but William remains on Easter break with his wife, Princess Kate, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

As such, Charles asked his youngest sibling Edward and Sophie, who carry the titles the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, to handle this special ceremony. The French ambassador to the U.K., Her Excellency Hélène Duchêne, accompanied them.

According to reports from the palace, Charles is staying positive during his treatment and that, depending on his doctors' recommendations, he may be able to carry out more public events in the coming weeks and months.

Princess Kate and Prince William are in a unique position, being so high up in the Royal Family.

While in a parallel universe, they would have been able to rely on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for support and advice, they have been sadly estranged since the Sussexes' departure from royal life.

As such, they've had to find new sources of comfort within the family, and for royal expert Jennie Bond, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie were the obvious candidates.

"Sometimes it seems strange to realize that these are two different generations of royals as they seem much closer," Bond told OK!.

Indeed, while Edward is William's uncle, he is only 18 years older than him, while his age gap with King Charles is a fairly similar 15 years.

"But, especially after all that has happened—not only with the Queen’s death but with Harry and Meghan leaving and Andrew getting 'sacked'—the two couples have formed a tight bond," the expert continued.

"I think William and Catherine feel they can confide in Edward and Sophie and there are so few people a royal can entrust with their thoughts and feelings."

But it's not just Sophie's position in the Royal Family which attracts William and Kate to her: According to Bond, she also has many qualities to recommend her.

"She is so easy to be with, as William obviously appreciates, which is why he invited her to Battersea Power Station with him. And Sophie and Catherine have developed a friendship with I think both value highly," the expert said.

"Both she and Catherine have a common touch… perhaps because they lived 'normal' lives before marrying. They connect with the people they meet and look as if they really want to chat. They are the new female stars of the show—elegant, engaging and empathetic."

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales' relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is on a steady decline.

"Some of what Harry and Meghan have said, particularly about Kate, was so personal, and it's going to take years to heal the hurt because of the damage that's been done," royal expert Duncan Larcombe previously said, while fellow commentator Richard Fitzwilliams added, "The rift is as deep as ever and the brothers' relationship is absolutely terrible." Oof.

When the Queen sadly passed away in September and Charles became King, Archie and Lilibet automatically became entitled to use "Prince" and "Princess" titles if their parents chose.

Until just recently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn't show any sign of announcing whether or not their children would be using their royal titles. While the King could have barred them from using them if he chose, he didn't do that either.

Then, the Sussexes announced that their daughter had been christened in Los Angeles, with a statement that called her "Princess Lilibet Diana." Hours later, the royal couple stated, "The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace."

Soon after that, the Palace changed the children's titles to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the line of succession.

However, reports are circulating that the King felt "blindsided" by the Sussexes' decision to use the titles all of a sudden, though it's hard to know what really went down.

For one royal expert, this whole situation didn't go the way the Sussexes hoped it might. Speaking to the Mirror, Ingrid Seward contrasted their announcement for Lili with the way the King so officially announced he was making Prince Edward Duke of Edinburgh.

"Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, asked their spokesperson to announce when their 21-month-old daughter Lilibet was christened in Los Angeles last week she would be baptized using the royal style Princess. Archie in turn would use the style, Prince," Seward said.

"How interesting they waited six months to do this. They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck."

Prince Edward has received a pretty unique birthday gift as he turns 59 on March 10: His older brother the King has made him the new Duke of Edinburgh, according to their late parents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wishes.

The official account for the Royal Family tweeted, "Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today!

"The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday."

Prince Philip was Duke of Edinburgh from his marriage in 1947 until his passing in 2021.

Since his wedding in 1999, Prince Edward was known as the Earl of Wessex, which is hilarious because he chose this title for the randomest reason: He just really loved Colin Firth's character in Shakespeare in Love.

While there were rumors that Princess Charlotte might be the one to inherit the Dukedom of Edinburgh instead, Prince Edward had long been expected to receive the title.

Meanwhile, Edward's wife Sophie (formerly the Countess of Wessex) is the new Duchess of Edinburgh, per Express. The last woman to hold this title was Princess Elizabeth, before she acceded to the throne in 1952.

Edward and Sophie's 15-year-old son James, formerly Viscount Severn, is the new Earl of Wessex, inheriting the title from his father.

His older sister Louise, 19, will remain known as Lady Louise Windsor.

Commenting on Prince Edward's new title on Twitter, royal reporter Rebecca English explained, "Unusually the hereditary title, previously held by Prince Philip, will only remain with him for his lifetime and on his death revert to the Crown."

That means that James won't become the new Duke of Edinburgh, unless he's created as such in the future.

A new royal baby is on the way! Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank announced on January 24 that they are expecting. This will be the royal couple's second child, following son August Philip Hawke, who was born in 2021.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the happy news in a statement. "Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank are pleased to announce they are expecting their second child this summer," the palace said in the announcement. "The family are delighted and August is very much looking forward to being a big brother."

Princess Eugenie also took to her Instagram to share the news in a super sweet way. She shared a photo taken by Jack of herself and August, with the toddler's face buried in his mother's stomach. 

"We’re so excited to share that there will be a new addition to our family this summer," Eugenie wrote alongside the photo. 

Eugenie and Jack's second child will be 13th in line for the throne, following behind Prince Edward and his children, and Princess Anne and her children and grandchildren. Their new child will also be Queen Elizabeth's thirteenth great-grandchild, and the first born after her death. 

Eugenie, whose parents are Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and Jack tied the knot on October 12, 2018, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Then in February 2021, the couple announced the arrival of their first child, August, also with a sweet photo on Instagram. Since last year, the family splits their time between Portugal and the U.K. due to Jack's job with American entrepreneur Mike Meldman. 

The title of the Duke (or Duchess, for that matter) of Edinburgh is one of the most senior titles in the royal family.

It was carried by Prince Philip—Queen Elizabeth’s husband of over 73 years—throughout the entirety of their long marriage and, since his death in April 2021, has reverted back to the Crown, currently unused by any member of the royal family.

Marie Claire reported this month that the prestigious title—which has long been promised to Prince Edward, the youngest child of the Queen and Philip—might not go to Edward after all, marking a huge shakeup in the royal family. We weren’t sure at the time of that reporting where exactly the title might go, but King Charles’ vision for it is becoming clearer…

And it’s Princess Charlotte he reportedly has in mind, eventually allowing her to be the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Just as Philip was Duke of Edinburgh, in addition to being, well, the Queen, Her late Majesty also technically by marriage was the Duchess of Edinburgh. The Sun reports that Charlotte is in line to be named the Duchess of Edinburgh “in honor of the Queen,” with the new King wanting his granddaughter to take it as a “fitting way to remember the Queen,” her beloved great-grandmother who passed away in September.

“Discussions are underway, but the favored outcome for the King is that this title ought to go to Princess Charlotte,” a source tells The Mail on Sunday. “It would be a fitting way to remember the Queen—who, of course, had the title Duchess of Edinburgh—and a way for His Majesty to honor the line of succession.”

Charlotte, even before she was born, was a history maker: she’s the first female member of the royal family whose place in the line of succession was not altered by the birth of her younger brother, Prince Louis. Before 2013, royal rules previously stated that girls were to be leapfrogged by their younger brothers in the line of succession. (Take, for example, Princess Anne, the Queen and Philip’s only daughter: upon her birth in 1950, she was third in line to the throne, behind her mother and older brother Charles. When her mother became Queen in 1952, Anne became second in line to the throne. But, after two more sons were born to the Queen in 1960 and 1964, Anne dropped down to fourth in line, simply because she was female.) Charlotte, born in 2015, was born fourth in line to the throne. When her own younger brother, Louis, was born in 2018, her position did not change. She is now third in line to the throne after the death of Her late Majesty.

Whew. Make sense?

“Charlotte’s position is historically significant because she is the first female member of the royal family whose place in the line of succession will not be surpassed by her younger brother,” a source says. “So it is constitutionally significant that Charlotte should be given such a corresponding title, because it is not beyond the realms of possibility that she will accede the throne if, for example, Prince George [her older brother and heir to the throne] does not have children.”

This is all great and good, but it does come with a bit of a tinge for Edward, who was promised the title as far back as 1999. On their wedding days, royal family members typically inherit not just a new spouse, but a new title, as well—think Prince William becoming Duke of Cambridge upon his marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011, or Prince Harry becoming Duke of Sussex when he married Meghan Markle in 2018. When Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, he was named Earl of Wessex and not a duke because Edward was expected, per Philip’s wishes, to take his father’s title, but, of course, only after Philip passed away. (A statement from Buckingham Palace 23 years ago reads “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”)

So, in this decision, Charles is simultaneously honoring Charlotte’s powerful role in history (love it) while also going against his parents’ wishes (a little stickier).

But Edward is certainly not being shut out entirely—Charles is working to have Edward, along with Anne, named as Counsellors of State, which means that either could stand in for him when he is overseas or unwell.

It has long been expected that Prince Edward—the fourth and youngest of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s children—would one day inherit his father’s Duke of Edinburgh title when Philip ultimately passed away. Philip died in April 2021, and the title reverted back to the Crown, with the expectation still that Edward would one day inherit it. According to multiple outlets, King Charles’ plans for a slimmed down monarchy may discard his parents’ pledge to give Edward the title entirely, a huge shakeup in the royal family.

Edward is styled as the Earl of Wessex, the only of the Queen’s sons to not be a duke. (Charles, while commonly known as the Prince of Wales, was also the Duke of Cornwall; Prince Andrew was given the title Duke of York.) When Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones—now Sophie, Countess of Wessex—in 1999, the Queen and Philip said that Edward would inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title “in due course,” but it seems Charles might not follow through with that plan after all. (The statement from Buckingham Palace 23 years ago reads “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”)

“The King wants to slim down the monarchy, as is well known,” a Palace source tells The Daily Mail, per The Mirror. “That means it wouldn’t make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh. It’s a hereditary title which would then be passed on to the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s son, James, Viscount Severn. Essentially, this was accepted by the Earl when he agreed that his children would not be a prince or princess.” (Indeed, Edward and Sophie’s daughter Louise goes by Lady Louise, and James is Viscount Severn.)

“It was fine in theory, ages ago when it was sort of a pipe dream of my father’s,” Edward previously told the BBC. “Of course, it will depend on whether or not the Prince of Wales, when he becomes king, whether he’ll do that, so we’ll wait and see. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on.”

The Sun reports that Charles intends to keep the Duke of Edinburgh title to himself—now the Crown—but will not use it.

And, while this could be perceived as a snub to his youngest brother, Charles isn’t edging Edward out entirely. He is currently seeking to add both Edward and his sister Princess Anne to his roster of Counsellors of State, which allows them to stand in for the king when he is either overseas or unwell.

When Prince Harry woke up on the morning of Thursday, September 8, he likely thought the day would be a good one—the culmination of he and wife Meghan Markle’s European mini-tour, which saw them in Manchester, England, Dusseldorf, Germany, and, that night, London, taking part in charity engagements. That evening, Harry and Meghan had plans to attend the WellChild Awards in London, the last planned event before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were due to return home to California and their two children, Archie and Lili.

Then the call came from his father, Prince Charles, that morning: the Queen was not well, and he needed to get to Scotland, where she had taken a turn at Balmoral Castle, her summer retreat there.

What happened next remains murky, but Harry was not on the flight with older brother Prince William, uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, and aunt Sophie, Countess of Wessex that took them to Scotland to rush to be by the Queen’s side before the end. (They ultimately didn’t make it in time, and Harry’s father King Charles III and aunt Princess Anne were the only family members present at her passing.) Harry was on a separate flight to Scotland, and, according to a source speaking to Page Six, “no one from the royal family, or any courtiers, actually called Harry to tell him of the monarch’s death—leaving him to find out from news reports when he landed late in the afternoon.”

The death of the Queen was announced at 6:30 p.m. local time, just moments before Harry landed at Aberdeen airport from London, having taken a private plane alone after not boarding the flight with his family. Photos of Harry taken as he was driven to Balmoral show “the strain and agony” on Harry’s face, Page Six reports; he arrived at Balmoral just before 8 p.m., the first time he had been in a room with the full family since his and Meghan’s departure from being working members of the royal family in 2020. (Meghan stayed behind in Windsor, as did William’s wife Kate Middleton, who was overseeing her three children’s first day of school that Thursday.)

But “after much criticism—on news sites as well as populist social media—about Harry being excluded from the family’s flights to and from Balmoral, it seemed they were making an effort to include him,” the outlet reports. The day after the Queen’s death, in his first speech as the new monarch, King Charles III seemingly offered an olive branch to his son and daughter-in-law, saying “I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.” The next day, Saturday—in an unprecedented show of unity—William texted Harry last minute and invited him and Meghan to join him and Kate on a walkabout outside of Windsor Castle. “Insiders understood that this was William’s bid at rapprochement,” Page Six writes.

Hope was high, but then dashed with drama—“protocol got in the way,” the outlet reports, specifically surrounding the uniform debacle (despite serving 10 years in the military, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan, Harry was not allowed to wear his military uniform as the Queen’s coffin processed from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday, September 14; he was ultimately allowed to wear it to a vigil on Saturday, September 17, but, again, not to the Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19). Though Harry was allowed to wear his uniform Saturday, he was not allowed to wear the ER (for Elizabeth Regina, Regina being Latin for queen) insignia on his shoulder, though Andrew (also no longer a working royal) was allowed to wear his, despite allegations of sexual assault. Even Piers Morgan—no fan of Harry and Meghan’s—said “I thought that was churlish. If you’re going to let Prince Andrew have ER on his shoulder, then why wouldn’t you let Harry have it on his? I’ve got no truck for Harry’s behavior in recent years, but this was his grandmother [and] he did serve his country with great valor.”

Adding to the tension, awkwardly, Harry and Meghan’s invitation to a state reception with global leaders and royals around the world on Sunday, September 18 was rescinded, citing the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were no longer working royals.

Harry and Meghan reportedly flew home to California on Wednesday, September 21, two days after the funeral. They had flown to the U.K. the weekend of September 3 only expecting to be away for a week, and ultimately stayed for 18 days. Despite ongoing tension, an insider told Page Six “I think that how Harry and Meghan showed up in the past few days shows they were only hoping to do the right thing and right by everyone.” The outlet cites Palace sources as confirming that William and Harry did talk at family dinners and gatherings, but that Harry’s forthcoming memoir—and its unknown contents—is “hanging over the royal family.”

Gayle King, a friend of the Sussexes who was in London covering the funeral, told CBS Mornings “there have been efforts on both sides…to sort of make this right.” She added “big families always go through drama, always go through turmoil. It remains to be seen—are they going to be drawn closer together or are they going to be drawn apart?...I have no inside information on that, but I will tell you this: it was good to see Harry standing with his family.” 

Queen Elizabeth has officially left Balmoral Castle for the last time. Yesterday, the queen's coffin arrived in London and, on September 14, was carried via carriage in a silent procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster. The silent procession marks one event of the queen's funeral services, which take place on September 19. 

Several members of the royal family walked behind the coffin during the procession for the queen. The queen's four children—King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward—all walked immediately behind the queen's coffin along the route. 

Following the king and his siblings in the procession were some of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren: Prince William, the second in line to the throne, with Prince Harry and cousin Peter Philips walking at his side. 

Only male royal family members were in the procession with the exception of the queen's daughter, Princess Anne. 

It's also interesting to note that, while all members of the royal family who hold military rank wore military garb during the procession, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew wore suits, as they are no longer senior working royals. However, Prince Andrew will be allowed to wear military uniform to the queen's final vigil, while Prince Harry will not, a decision that has proven quite controversial.

A short church service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury followed the procession. Members of the public are able to pay their respects to the queen at Westminster Hall from September 15 until September 18. 

The Queen's final journey will soon be coming to a close.

After she passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was transported south to Edinburgh, where it was brought to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (her residence in the Scottish capital), followed by St. Giles' Cathedral.

From there, the coffin transporting Her Majesty was flown to London, where it was brought to her longtime home at Buckingham Palace, which the late monarch visits for the last time.

At Buckingham, after driving past crowds of well wishers, the Queen was received by her closest family members on Tuesday evening, which included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

"As Her Majesty The Queen’s coffin lands at Northolt it can be revealed that it will be received at Buckingham Palace by The King, The Queen Consort, her children and grandchildren - as well as their spouses - in addition to her niece and nephew, Lady Sarah Chatto and Earl Snowdon," royal reporter Rebecca English wrote on Twitter. Lady Sarah and David, Earl Snowdon, are the children of the late Princess Margaret.

"This deeply personal moment, the first time some of her family will have seen her coffin in person, will be private with no images released," English continued.

Instagram account @history_royals shared photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine, and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan arriving at the Palace in separate cars and all dressed in mourning.

On Twitter, English added, "Princess Anne, of course, has accompanied her mother’s coffin from Balmoral to Edinburgh, and down to London. In a deeply moving statement released by Buckingham Palace tonight she speaks of how she was 'fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life.'"

English mirrored the feelings of many royal supporters when she concluded, "It feel [sic] so real now as Her Majesty The Queen returns for the final time to her official London residence, Buckingham Palace."

From Buckingham Palace, the Queen's coffin will be transported today, Sept. 14, to Westminster Hall in London, with Princes William and Harry walking together behind it, as reported by the BBC.

Royal author Omid Scobie tweeted "Details on Wednesday’s procession to Westminster Hall, which will see King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Harry join on foot. Camilla, Queen Consort, Countess Sophie, Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan travel by car."

He shared a timetable of the procession, short service, and the Queen's "lying in state."

Lying in state means that the Queen's coffin will remain at Westminster Hall from 5 p.m. U.K. time on Sept. 14th until 6:30 a.m. on the day of her funeral, Monday, Sept. 19. There, members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the late monarch 24 hours a day, the BBC reports.

The Royal Family caused controversy when they decided that the disgraced Prince Andrew would be allowed to wear military uniform at the final vigil in Westminster Hall, while Prince Harry would not be.

The Duke of Sussex, however, wished to shut down the noise around this. A spokesperson for him said, "[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

According to Hello, it has long been tradition for members of the British royal family to pass away at home, surrounded by loved ones. The Queen died today at Balmoral, one of her favorite places—she once called her summer retreat in Scotland “my dear paradise in the highlands.”

Her two eldest children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were already in Scotland today when the Queen’s health worsened. According to the outlet, “after the monarch was placed under medical supervision on Thursday morning, her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne rushed to her bedside.”

Her two younger children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, arrived shortly afterwards with grandson Prince William. Prince Harry is said to have arrived separately to Balmoral—though now a resident of the U.S., both Harry and wife Meghan Markle were already in the U.K. for previously planned charitable engagements. Meghan stayed behind in Windsor and cancelled her previously planned engagement at the WellChild Awards in London tonight. William’s wife Kate Middleton also stayed behind in Windsor, as she spent today overseeing her three children’s first day of school at Lambrook.

Her Majesty spent every August to October at her Aberdeenshire home, “frequently inviting members of her family to join her,” Hello! reports. Balmoral has been in the British royal family since 1852 and is set in the Scottish countryside.

We last saw photos of the Queen earlier this week as she appointed new Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral—a first. Thursday afternoon, Buckingham Palace released a statement that read “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Preparations are now in place for Her Majesty’s funeral, which will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, likely sometime within the next 10 days.

Eventually, Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to be given the Prince and Princess of Wales titles by King Charles III. But already—just hours after Queen Elizabeth II’s death at 96 on Thursday—William and Kate’s social media accounts have been updated to reflect their newest title: the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge (previously just the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).

The king and the queen consort previously held the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall titles prior to the king’s ascension to the throne today. Charles rarely went by his Cornwall title, most often going by Prince of Wales; Camilla nearly always went by hers, as the late Princess Diana was so widely known as the Princess of Wales during her lifetime.

According to The Mirror, “King Charles is also expected to make his oldest son William the Prince of Wales, the title traditionally handed to the heir to the throne.”

The king and the queen consort were already in Scotland when the Queen’s need for medical attention was announced earlier today. William traveled to Balmoral alongside Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, while Kate stayed in Windsor to pick children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis up from school at Lambrook—their first day was today.

It was confirmed by Charles’ office at Clarence House that he will reign as King Charles III. In a statement released today, the king said, “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”

The king and queen consort will return to London tomorrow from Balmoral.

We learned this week that the Queen’s granddaughter Lady Louise (daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex) is headed off to college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland—the same place, as any royal follower can tell you, where Prince William and the then Kate Middleton met, became friends, then became roommates, and eventually fell in love.

We’ve all heard the anecdote of that fashion show in 2002, where Kate—by this time William’s friend—wore a see-through slip dress at a charity fashion show and caught her future husband’s attention. But, The Mirror reports, a nickname given to Kate by fellow coeds also piqued William’s interest, the outlet reports.

“It seems she may have caught the eye of the future king thanks to a cheeky nickname given to her by her fellow students,” The Mirror writes. “That’s because, when she joined the university, she took part in Freshers’ Week—a tradition of welcoming new students with a week of nights out and partying.”

This was chronicled in Katie Nicholl’s book Kate: The Future Queen, where Nicholl writes that Kate had a “hectic week of partying, meeting her ‘university parents’—older pupils who were in charge of looking after freshers—finding her way around town and settling into her residence hall.”

Freshers is a slang term for freshmen, or first year students at the university.

“Kate soon found her way around and was often seen relaxing in the common room, curled up in an armchair, a cup of tea in hand, either reading newspaper articles her father rather touchingly mailed to her or getting to know her fellow hall mates,” Nicholl writes.

By the end of Freshers’ Week, Kate had apparently made such an impression on her fellow classmates that she’d been dubbed “Beautiful Kate.”

“She was initially more reserved than many of the other young women, but her natural beauty was apparent,” Nicholl writes. “Tanned from a recent holiday in Barbados with her parents, fit from regularly early morning run or swim, and dressed in her comfortable Hennes jeans, fitted sweater, and signature cowboy boots, she radiated an outer freshness and an inner confidence.”

William, for probably obvious reasons, skipped Freshers’ Week, arriving the next week. “It didn’t take him long to notice his future wife, probably because of the nickname she was given by her peers,” The Mirror writes.

When asked about the moment they met for their engagement interview in 2010, William said he couldn’t remember exactly and that he’d have to “wrack his brains.” But Kate remembered everything—including that she, in her own opinion, did not play it cool.

“I actually went bright red when I met you and scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you,” she said. “William wasn’t there for quite a bit of the time initially. He wasn’t there from Freshers’ Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other. But we did become very close friends from quite early on.”

After initially meeting in 2001, “Beautiful Kate” finally married her prince 10 years later on April 29, 2011.

Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall… All of these royal women cause searches for the clothing they’re seen wearing in public to soar.

But there’s a younger Royal Family member who has been serving up some seriously enviable style in recent weeks—and no, it’s not Princess Charlotte (quite yet).

At 18, Lady Louise Windsor, eldest daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, is showing great promise for becoming the latest royal fashion influencer.

She was recently spotted in a car with her dad on her way to Crathie Kirk Church near Balmoral Castle, where many royals are spending the summer. On that occasion, she rewore a navy floral dress by Hobbs with long sleeves, a cinched waist and a flared skirt, which she first wore at Christmas 2017, according to royal fashion blog UFO No More.

Although that exact model is of course long sold out, I found some similar designs from the label that you can shop below.

Then, there are the two looks Lady Louise rocked at the recent Commonwealth Games. On one day, she paired a short-sleeved white button-down shirt with a floral midi skirt, simple white sneakers and a fringed brown suede purse.

On another day, she wore a blue, pink and purple floral midi dress by Peter Pilotto, which the Daily Mail reports she pinched from her mom’s wardrobe. Again, she paired it with some trusty white sneakers.

Now, onto Lady Louise’s Jubilee fashion choices. For Trooping the Colour, she went for the classic “formal royal event” look in an imposing embellished asymmetric hat, a bright pink floral dress by Reiss, and a pale pink dressy jacket.

And, believe it or not, the young royal’s dress from that particular event is actually in stock (but going fast).

You thought I was done?? Nope, Lady Louise has been giving us even more fashion than that lately. She wore an animal print Zara dress at the Platinum Party at the Palace during the Jubilee weekend, which is—you guessed it—sold out, paired with a cozy gray coat.

You can shop similar, though a whole lot less understated, dresses below.

And finally, my favorite look of them all: the young royal’s outfit from the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service. She wore a gigantic sequined headband from Jane Taylor London and, without glasses and with her hair out of her face, we need to talk about how similar to her grandmother the Queen she looks. I mean!

Anywhooo, she wore a beautiful silky midi dress by Ghost, which you can also shop below.

TL;DR: Lady Louise Windsor is an up-and-coming royal fashion force to watch.

We've seen a lot more of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex at official royal engagements in recent weeks, but these public roles of theirs may be short-lived, according to one royal expert.

While we don't know exactly what Prince Charles' plans are when he accedes the throne, we do know that he wants to usher in a "slimmed-down monarchy" with fewer senior working royals and less money spent overall.

And for royal expert Richard Palmer, it's very possible that Prince Edward and his wife Sophie may not make the cut.

"The other big question mark is over Edward and Sophie, because many people had assumed that they would have a role," Palmer told the Daily Express' Royal Round-Up.

"Years ago, I was told by a senior royal source that the assumption would always be ... that there would be no role for any of [them], including Anne, in a slimmed-down monarchy under King Charles. But it would depend on timing."

Princess Anne also attends many royal engagements, including a very successful joint visit with Kate Middleton in recent months.

Additionally, Palmer commented on the titles Edward and Sophie could take on when Charles eventually becomes king.

"Edward and Sophie, well, when they got married, it was made clear that the Queen's intention was for Edward to inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh, after his father's death, but that title has gone back to the Crown, I think, now, and it's by no means certain what's gonna happen," Palmer explained.

By the way, you may remember the slightly hilarious factoid that Edward became the Earl of Wessex because he loved Colin Firth's character in Shakespeare in Love so much. It's my favorite fun fact ever.

Most brides on their wedding day have a close friend make sure that everything is in place, wardrobe-wise.

As for Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece? She had—wait for it—the real-life Queen of England subbing in on maid of honor duties (to be clear, Queen Elizabeth II wasn't Marie-Chantal's actual maid of honor, she just acted like one for a quick sec).

In resurfaced footage from Marie-Chantal's 1995 wedding to Prince Pavlos of Greece, which took place in the bride's hometown of London, we see a number of people including Prince Charles and the Queen being ushered into place to pose for a group portrait.

The Queen is sat directly to the standing bride's left, and can clearly be seen hard at work adjusting Marie-Chantal's train to make sure it looked lovely for the picture. And we're not talking a quick flick here, either; the monarch was fully leaning over for, like, 10 seconds and unfolding bits of fabric from under one another.

This little moment is literally the cutest thing ever, as pointed out by royal fans who watched the footage on Twitter. "How sweet is HMTQ adjusting Marie Chantal train," asked one person. "What a gracious gesture," said someone else. Honestly, women helping women! We love to see it.

In more recent Queen news, the monarch made a visit to Scotland, her first official in-person appearance since she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in early June. She attended the Ceremony Of The Keys at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh alongside her son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex. She's thriving, in other words.