Once her divorce was finalized, Princess Diana became one of the most eligible people in the world. According to the princess's former royal butler, the royal was romantically pursued by an award-winning Hollywood actor, who lost some confidence after being turned down by Diana.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled, "One Oscar-winning Hollywood actor's confident image suddenly disappeared when it proved he was too shy to ring the palace himself and ask the princess for a date: he got a friend to write a letter on his behalf."

Unfortunately for the unnamed actor, Princess Diana wasn't interested in dating him.

"When the princess wrote back, politely refusing, he returned with another request a month later," Burrell shared. "She had a drink with him and chose never to meet him again."

Of course, this particular actor wasn't alone in propositioning Princess Diana following her divorce, according to the former butler. "He wasn't the only one with honorable intentions," Burrell said.

Burrell recounted just some of the other men who attempted to date Diana after her split from King Charles.

"There was a sporting legend, who made a living out of racing in a field of competitors; a leading musician; a novelist; a lawyer; an entrepreneur; a billionaire who ran his own empire, and one extremely famous politician," the former butler noted.

He continued, "The unfortunate thing was that while they might have provided the princess with enthralling company, her heart lay elsewhere."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly turned down the majority of men who tried to date her, but that didn't stop the invitations from arriving.

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Princess Diana's marriage to King Charles has been well-documented, as has the monarch's relationship with Queen Camilla. Early in Diana and Charles's romance, the princess was photographed spending time with Camilla, leading many to wonder why the pair had been communicating with one another. According to one royal biographer, the reason might be more straightforward than many initially believed.

In the new book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, author Catherine Mayer explores Diana and Camilla's unexpected meetings.

"Diana interpreted her rival's overtures of friendship towards her during this period as intelligence gathering," Mayer writes. However, the royal biographer is sure that there is much more to the story.

"Camilla seems unlikely to have taken on such a mission unilaterally," Mayer explains. "A more plausible theory, suggested by sources with some knowledge of these events, is that Charles saw Camilla as the person best placed to induct his fiancée into his life."

Considering the illicit nature of Charles and Camilla's relationship during certain periods of time, the suggestion that The King might have orchestrated the meetings might sound a little scandalous. However, there might have been some common sense behind the alleged idea.

As Mayer notes, "After all, [Camilla] knew [Charles] and his ways intimately. If accurate, this is the detail among all others that comes closest to crossing the line from the disordered impulses common to such situations to something colder."

Per the author, "Even if Charles, at this stage, lacked the emotional intelligence to grasp how misguided the idea was, you might have expected Camilla to demur."

Of course, it remains unclear whether Charles did, in fact, ask Camilla to befriend Diana and teach her how to navigate royal life. Either way, it seems that Camilla remained an integral part of Charles's life from the moment they met.

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Princess Kate and Prince William's royal romance has gripped fans around the world since their relationship was first made public. Having tied the knot on April 29, 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have since welcomed three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and built a life together. And according to one expert, Kate and William are now entering the next "chapter of their marriage."

Speaking the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James said that Kate and William's recent appearances have shown "the honest intensity of their feelings for each other."

James continued, "Their rituals suggest there's been no real change in the intensity of their love for one another; what's happened is they have finally felt safe enough to trust enough (not each other but the public and the press) to show it."

James also referenced the moment Prince William hugged Princess Kate after she completed the Three Peaks Challenge for charity.

"It's a hug that suggests all inhibitions are being jettisoned as the desire to greet and cherish takes over," the expert noted.

The body language expert also dubbed the change "the latest chapter of their marriage," in which the couple will "feel free to show their levels of mutual love and adoration by more tactile behaviors in public."

According to James, William and Kate's newfound PDA is "still very much a part of their personal and generational royal brand now."

Royal fans will, of course, be happy to witness the next phase of Kate and William's royal romance.

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Queen Camilla and King Charles's romance has spanned decades, with the pair finally tying the knot on April 9, 2005. But according to a new royal biography, Queen Camilla wasn't entirely joyous on her wedding day for an understandable reason.

In her new book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, royal author Catherine Mayer discusses Camilla's royal wedding to Charles.

"When dawn finally broke on her happiest day, Camilla reportedly felt a little broken too, reluctant to emerge from under her duvet," Mayer explains. "When she did, it was to a service that joined her and Charles in the prayer of preparation, an admission of 'manifold sins and wickedness' written by Thomas Cranmer for Henry VIII."

The seeming insistence on pointing out the couple's former indiscretions on their wedding day can't have been easy. In spite of any difficulties Camilla faced on the day itself, she reportedly moved forward.

"Still, this daughter and ex-wife of military men has never allowed adversity to rain on her parade," Mayer says.

Mayer continues, "Photographers captured the couple laughing as they posed on the steps of the chapel after the blessing, while the wind tried to whip away the feathered confection Camilla had chosen in place of a more traditional tiara. It was a glimpse of a key dynamic between them."

Noting King Charles's alleged "discomfort" when pictured with Princess Diana, Mayer reflects on the marked change he seems to exhibit with Queen Camilla.

"He and Camilla, by contrast, tend to mirror each other, engaging with a sustaining intimacy that is instantly recognizable and impossible to counterfeit," Mayer writes.

Even if Camilla did feel "a little broken" on her wedding day to Charles, hopefully the ceremony itself—and their enduring marriage—more than made up for it.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially married, after the pair tied the knot during a wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3. And according to one attendee, Swift and Kelce's wedding vows were incredibly personal and romantic.

Seemingly ignoring NDAs regarding the wedding, Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos told ABC News, "The ceremony was very great, moving. Adam Sandler, funny and touching. Vows: everything you would hope for—real, vulnerable, serious and silly, deeply loving."

Stephanopoulos also said that the star-studded event was "as intimate as it could possibly be, given it was Madison Square Garden." He also noted, "It was just so beautiful, and it's hard to imagine that a place that big and a wedding with such stars could feel so personal and intimate.”

Fellow host Michael Strahan weighed in on the nuptials, saying, "It was their dream wedding, and it really was amazing...Congratulations to both of them."

Although no photos have been released as yet, Swift wore a dress created by Jonathan Anderson at Christian Dior Haute Couture, paired with custom Christian Louboutins and Cartier jewelry, a statement confirmed.

Judging by the comments made by wedding guests, Swift and Kelce's wedding day was incredibly romantic and intimate, despite taking place in such a huge venue.

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Only a handful of details regarding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's July 3 wedding have been released so far. Despite reportedly signing NDAs in order to attend the star-studded event, a few guests have begun providing insider info about Swift's nuptials.

Maren Morris shared several Instagram photos following Swift and Kelce's wedding. As well as posing next to Kelsea Ballerini, Morris posted a photo of a cloth handkerchief wedding favor from the nuptials, which paid tribute to the couple in the sweetest way.

The handkerchief included the couple's wedding date, along with a symbol entwining the letter T twice with two hearts. Underneath, a quote from "Blank Space"—Kelce's favorite Swift song—read, "So it's gonna be forever..."

The adorable souvenir shows just how personal Swift and Kelce's wedding really was.

Another person who appears to have ignored any NDA is the CEO of AMC Theatres, Adam Aron, who shared a long social media post containing details about the wedding. In a since-deleted X post, Aron said (via Entertainment Weekly), "It did not look like Madison Square Garden."

He continued, "Immediately upon entry, everything...floors, walls, ceilings...was draped in peach and white. Large blown up pictures of Taylor and Travis at each age, year by year from one year-old to late teenager-hood, were on display."

Describing the immense transformation that had taken place at the venue, Aron said, "Somehow magically, someone created an outdoor garden at a lush countryside retreat. Everything draped off this time in green and white. Real flowers and I think artificial trees welcomed 15 rows of maybe 75 or so chairs...surprisingly, it all felt intimate and small. Everything was close."

While Swifties await additional details about the romantic event, it's clear that the singer wanted to make the wedding extra special for her new husband, Kelce, by referencing his favorite song.

July 3 was a huge day for Swifties as Taylor Swift tied the knot with NFL player Travis Kelce in an opulent wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Although details regarding the nuptials remain scarce, reports suggest that Girls icon Lena Dunham—one of Swift's longtime friends—delivered a raucous speech, which reportedly made guests elicit "gasps."

According to the Daily Mail, Dunham said in her wedding speech, "American football is just straight guys reenacting gay porn," which caused the audience to react with "gasps and laughs." Approximately 1000 people reportedly attended the huge event, including an array of NFL players and sporting stars, which is likely why Dunham's joke allegedly got such a mixed reaction.

However, Swift was apparently on board with the unexpected quip, and called Dunham a "genius," per the outlet.

The guest list for Swift and Kelce's wedding was extensive, and included Dakota Johnson, Zoë Kravitz, Tate McRae, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, Selena Gomez, Jack Antonoff, and Emma Stone.

For their big day, Swift and Kelce both wore custom Christian Dior Haute Couture by Jonathan Anderson. Swift's publicist, Tree Paine, shared a statement, which confirmed, "This is the designer's first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity."

Paine also shared that the "Wood" singer wore custom Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewelry with her Dior wedding gown.

Somewhat surprisingly, comedian Adam Sandler served as the officiant in Swift and Kelce's nuptials. As Kelce had a small role in Sandler's Happy Gilmore 2, he's presumably remained in close contact with the actor since.

Fans, of course, will eagerly be awaiting more news about Swift and Kelce's wedding day, which will possibly be released at a later date.

Princess Diana experienced both negative and positive press throughout her life, and endured a number of personal challenges in the public eye. Namely, the former Princess of Wales split from King Charles, an event which was voraciously reported on by the tabloids. According to her former butler, there was one particular thing that Princess Diana really wanted "people to understand" about her life.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed, "All she had ever wanted was for the British people to understand what she had gone through, how difficult it had been. And while she felt that [King] Charles had truly made her suffer, she had learned from her suffering."

According to Burrell, the princess's divorce knocked her confidence in a major way, after a lifetime of self-doubt.

"She felt her low self-esteem had taken root in childhood when she had acquired many of her ideas about herself," the former butler wrote. "She had taken that poor self-image into the marriage with [King] Charles."

Burrell continued, "In [Charles], she focused solely on deriving a boost to her ego, through his recognition of her achievements. When it was not forthcoming, she said she felt rejected."

According to the former Royal Family butler, Diana also had to learn to come to terms with the emotions she was experiencing.

"The princess also needed to realize, and I think many people told her this, that anger was a natural emotion, but she felt many women found anger distressing," he wrote.

Burrell further explained, "She even hired a boxer to come to [Kensington Palace] with his punchbag so that she could rid herself of her anger. Diana, Princess of Wales, could certainly pack a mean punch."

Ultimately, Princess Diana had to go through some incredibly difficult moments in her life, while navigating her role as a famous person, which can't have been easy.

Following her divorce from King Charles, Princess Diana's life was irreparably changed. While the former Princess of Wales remained beloved by people all over the world, she was no longer allowed to use her official Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles. According to a former Royal Family staff member, an unexpected royal reached out to Diana after hearing the news.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell revealed that Princess Diana was devastated to learn that, once her divorce was finalized, she'd no longer be allowed to use her HRH title.

"It was, she felt, part of her royal identity and she had worked tirelessly as a royal highness for many years," Burrell wrote. "When the final decision was taken behind the scenes, the princess was devastated."

According to Burrell, Diana "found support from an unlikely corner of the Royal Family" after news broke regarding the loss of her title.

"Princess Michael of Kent wrote a sincere letter," Burrell explained.

Per the royal butler, Princess Michael's letter allegedly said, "I was horrified to learn in the press that after your title was removed, you would be expected to curtsy in public when meeting me." The royal reportedly continued, "I insist that this would cause me the greatest embarrassment, so please do not even consider it."

The princess's letter also complimented Diana's "courage and strength," according to Burrell. "You will always have my support," Princess Michael of Kent reportedly shared.

Meanwhile, Burrell told the former Princess of Wales, "You don't need a title. Wherever you go in the world, you are known as Lady Di—and no one can take that away from you."

According to the former butler, having the support of Princess Michael of Kent gave Diana a boost at a time she needed it the most.

Princess Diana lived her life in an international spotlight after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unfortunately, the couple endured a somewhat tumultuous marriage, which led to divorce. And according to one of Diana's former royal butlers, the princess wasn't entirely happy with the way her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, handled the divorce.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled Diana receiving a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II regarding the princess's separation from King Charles.

"It began, as always, 'Dearest Diana' and ended, 'With love from Mama,'" Burrell explained. "This letter, though, was different from any other I had read and, as The Queen's former footman, I felt uncomfortable as I read it."

Burrell continued, "I was talking to the back of the princess's head as she remained on the [couch] but I needed to express my discomfort. 'I'm not sure I should be reading this, it says 'in the strictest of confidence.'"

In spite of his reservations, Burrell reportedly read the letter aloud to Princess Diana, who "jumped up, agitated, and began pacing."

According to the former butler, Diana exclaimed, "The Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury! My divorce has been discussed with John Major and George Carey before it has been discussed with me."

Burrell continued, "The princess was infuriated that The Queen had consulted the government and the church first...'This is my marriage and it is no one else's business!' she yelled."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly "felt that her divorce, just like her marriage, was being handled as if it were a business matter," per Burrell.

Despite describing Queen Elizabeth's letter as "sympathetic, delicate, and devoid of anger," Burrell also suggested that the monarch was "a mother-in-law frustrated with the behavior of both parties, emphasizing that a divorce could not inflict further damage on the two sons who had suffered enough over the previous years."

Divorce is complicated, regardless of who you're married to, but it's clear that being a member of the Royal Family makes the entire process even more challenging for everyone involved.

Dua Lipa's second wedding celebration—which took place in the Sicilian capital of Palermo—was an undeniably glamorous affair. To wed actor Callum Turner, Lipa wore a custom Chanel wedding gown created specifically for the bride by the fashion house's creative director, Matthieu Blazy.

The "Levitating" singer was an early proponent of Blazy's Chanel designs, and her couture wedding gown marks the creative director's first major wedding dress creation. Notably, the halter wedding gown was adorned with 480,000 beads and jewels, which took Lesage 1,155 hours to embroider, via @stylenotcom. Additionally, Lemarié provided an incredible 25,000 feathers to embellish the gown.

Lipa's wedding gown—which included a long two-meter train—was handcrafted at Chanel's flagship headquarters at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris. The singer's delicately embroidered wedding veil measured in at six meters, and was prominently featured in her Instagram post regarding her nuptials.

Finally, the singer's white satin wedding pumps were custom-made by bespoke shoemaker Massaro Paris for Chanel. Lipa is styled by Lorenzo Posocco.

Prior to heading to Italy, Lipa and Turner tied the knot in a private civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London on Sunday, May 31, 2026. For her low-key nuptials, the pop star donned a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit, designed by Daniel Roseberry, which included a blush bustier.

Prior to wearing Chanel for her wedding, Lipa has worn creative director Blazy designs on a multitude of occasions. Not only is she the face of the Chanel 25 bag, which she's regularly seen carrying, Lipa was front and center at Blazy's Haute Couture Week debut in January 2026.

At the 2023 Met Gala, Lipa wore an archive Chanel wedding gown, taken from the fashion house's Fall/Winter 1992 collection—subtly foreshadowing her future bridal outfit.

Unsurprisingly, both of Lipa's wedding looks were completely enviable.

When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.

Maybe there’s something in the air, or we’re deep in a Couples Therapy rewatch, but it seems like ethical non-monogamy is everywhere in pop culture. From Olivia Wilde’s new comedy The Invite and book-to-screen adaptations like Netflix’s Vladimir to plenty of polyamory podcasts, the topic of inviting a person(s) into a coupleship is proudly out in the open.

And why shouldn’t it? Folks have been widening their romantic circle for decades (hello, key parties). Perhaps a holdover from that horny, halcyon post-COVID era, people are increasingly interested in experimenting to find what works for them. According to a 2023 YouGov survey, a third of U.S. adults consider an ideal relationship to be non-monogamous in some fashion.

Authors are also flocking to the topic. Recent hit novels have delved into the minds of romantic partners, and memoirs and non-fiction books are providing blueprints for entering such arrangements—or for whether they can actually work. Whether you’re a fiction or nonfiction fan, and no matter where you stand on ENM, there’s a book about polyamore for you. Below, check out the best books about entering, maintaining, and in some cases, leaving an open relationship.

Princess Kate captured everyone's attention when she arrived for the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle on June 15, 2026. As well as embracing Summer 2026's butter yellow trend in a custom Patrick McDowell brocade coat dress, the Princess of Wales subtly referenced her royal wedding.

For Garter Day—a Royal Family tradition which recognizes the achievements of British people and inducts them into a special Order—Princess Kate rewore her wedding day earrings.

Per The Court Jeweler, Princess Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, commissioned British jeweler Robinson Pelham to create the diamond earrings as a wedding gift.

At the time of her nuptials, it was reported that the earrings consisted of "diamond-set stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the center," via Forbes. According to the outlet, the jewels were inspired by the Middleton clan's coat of arms.

Princess Kate's decision to rewear the nostalgic earrings on Garter Day suggests she's subtly paying tribute to her husband, William, and their enduring love story.

Of course, this isn't the first time that the Princess of Wales has reworn her wedding day jewelry. On Easter Sunday in 2019, Kate paired the Robinson Pelham diamond earrings with a blue Alexander McQueen coat dress.

For Garter Day 2026, Princess Kate's earrings perfectly complemented her custom-made butter yellow coat dress from Patrick McDowell.

Notably, the striking dress was constructed from "fabric woven specifically for the princess, who is known for her support of British textiles industries, by Stephen Walters & Sons in Suffolk," Tatler shared.

With Kate's endorsement, it's pretty clear that the celeb-beloved butter yellow trend is about to be everywhere.

Princess Diana quickly became a beloved member of the Royal Family after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unsurprisingly, the former Princess of Wales was inundated with gifts every year on her birthday—including from one unexpected royal.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell reflected on Princess Diana's birthday celebrations throughout the years.

"If the princess dreaded July 1, so did her butler," Burrell joked. "I would be running up and down those stairs for hours on end. A delivery from Selfridges, from Harrods, from the royal grocers Fortnum & Mason, from Harvey Nichols."

Despite announcing her separation from King Charles in December 1992, one member of the Royal Family always celebrated Princess Diana's birthday, according to Burrell.

"And then, without fail, a bunch of flowers from Prince Charles who addressed every letter and card he sent, every year until her death, 'Dearest Diana,'" the royal butler revealed.

Of course, King Charles wasn't the only person to send Princess Diana gifts every year on her birthday.

"24 long-stemmed yellow roses, boxed from Edward Goodyear, the florist in Mayfair, from a secret admirer the world never got to know about," Burrell revealed. "Red roses arrived from friends. Then white flowers—tulips from Elton John and more roses from Gianni Versace."

The former butler continued, "All her female friends sent flowers or presents. At the police box, well-wishers left cards, presents, and flowers. By the end of the day, [her apartment] resembled a florist's shop and every conceivable flat surface was covered with cards."

Basically, it sounds as though Princess Diana was shown a lot of love on her birthday from everyone around her.

Dua Lipa is now officially married after the superstar tied the knot with actor Callum Turner in a civil ceremony in London. Rumors suggest a lavish Italian wedding will follow, but the "Houdini" singer's first wedding outfit did not disappoint.

Lipa was photographed leaving the ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London on Sunday, May 31, wearing a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit, designed by Daniel Roseberry.

Per a press release, the outfit consists of "a sharply tailored ivory blazer in cady adorned with personalized gold bijoux buttons, and a matching asymmetric skirt with a sculpted blush bustier trimmed in white lace."

The Barbie star accessorized her wedding look with a pair of white gloves and Christian Louboutin Miss Z Pumps in Bianco. Lipa's hat, which includes a gold leaf lining, was created by Stephen Jones. For jewelry, she opted for a Bvlgari Serpenti High Jewelry Necklace and Bvlgari Stud Earrings.

Meanwhile, the groom wore Ferragamo.

The superstar has regularly worn Schiaparelli designs, including donning a stunning bridal white plumed gown at the fashion house's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2025/2026 show in July 2025.

Lipa confirmed her engagement to Turner in an interview with British Vogue in June 2025.

"Yeah, we're engaged," she told the outlet. "It's very exciting. This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don't know, be best friends forever—it's a really special feeling."

During the interview, Lipa also revealed that Turner asked her friends and her sister to advise him on her custom-made engagement ring.

"It's so me," she said of her diamond ring. "It's nice to know the person that you're going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well."

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

After marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981, Princess Diana became a member of the British Royal Family. As a result, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip became her in-laws. After Charles and Diana separated, Elizabeth and Philip reportedly weighed in on the couple's issues, and some of their comments allegedly made the former Princess of Wales's "blood boil."

In the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled Princess Diana's reaction to some of Prince Philip's accusations about her marriage.

"But what stunned the princess was when Prince Philip raised the thorny issue of her husband’s mistress," Burrell shared in his book. "He wrote that she should have been grateful that her husband had, initially, cut himself off from Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Charles felt he had made 'a considerable sacrifice' in cutting ties with her and that the princess had 'not appreciated what he had done.'"

According to Burrell, Prince Philip seemingly delivered a "knock-out blow that had left the princess sobbing."

In a letter to Princess Diana, the former Duke of Edinburgh reportedly wrote, "Can you honestly look into your heart and say that Charles's relationship with Camilla had nothing to do with your behavior towards him in your marriage?"

As noted by the former royal butler, "The princess was being accused of driving Prince Charles into the arms of the one woman she had tried to keep him away from. Even a year on, the idea made her blood boil."

Per Burrell, the accusation caused Princess Diana to rant, "They are all the bloody same—looking after one another!"

Royal bride-to-be Harriet Sperling is set to marry Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, on June 6, 2026. According to a new report, Sperling and Phillips have enlisted the help of a wedding planner with an unexpected royal connection. It's also being alleged that one of the couple's exes has been invited to the royal nuptials.

Sperling and Phillips will tie the knot at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, followed by a reception at Princess Anne's home, Gatcombe Park.

According to the Daily Mail, Phillips has hired Bentley's Entertainments, a luxury event planning company who worked on David and Victoria Beckham's wedding and Princess Eugenie's royal nuptials in 2018. The company also planned Phillips's royal wedding to ex-wife Autumn Kelly in 2008.

While it might seem slightly strange that Phillips is using the very same wedding planner for his second wedding, the company actually has a Royal Family connection. Per the Daily Mail, the business was founded by Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, who just so happens to be the half-brother of Princess Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones.

Phillips famously sold his wedding photos to Hello! magazine in 2008, but that apparently won't be happening this time. "A magazine deal is out of the question as the issue is now very sensitive," a source told the outlet.

Notably, Phillips's ex-wife, Autumn Kelly, is allegedly set to attend the wedding, per GB News. Phillips and Kelly continue co-parent their two daughters, Savannah and Isla, and it seems as though they have maintained a civil relationship post-divorce.

King Charles and Princess Diana had somewhat of a tumultuous marriage. Having tied the knot on July 29, 1981, the couple went on to welcome two children together—Prince William and Prince Harry—before announcing their separation on December 9, 1992. The couple's divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996, and according to one former royal butler, Charles and Diana attempted to be civil during that time.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled a surprise visit Princess Diana received from The King following their split.

"The last person I expected was the heir to the throne," Burrell shared. "Charles had popped in, unannounced. 'Hello, Paul, may I come in?' he said. He had been due to catch a helicopter...but was early, so he had decided to visit his estranged wife."

Noting his own shock at Charles's arrival, the former butler wrote, "If I was surprised, I couldn't wait to see the reaction of the boss [Princess Diana]."

After climbing the stairs inside Diana's residence, Charles called out to his ex, and "was met by the rather stunned princess on the first-floor landing and they greeted each other with a kiss on both cheeks."

According to Burrell, Diana was every bit as surprised as he was.

"She looked over his shoulder at me and her eyes widened with mock horror," the former royal employee explained. "Then she couldn't resist breaking the ice with her usual humor."

Per the ex-butler, Diana reportedly remarked, "I suppose you've come to take the furniture away, then, Charles!"

Remembering the strange moment, Burrell wrote, "Husband and wife, in the throes of a rather awkward divorce, laughed together for the first time in an age. If only they could have done that more in public, I thought."

Surprisingly, even during their difficult split, there were occasional moments of levity between Charles and Diana, according to a former staff member.

Much has been written about the allegedly tumultuous nature of King Charles's marriage to Princess Diana. And according to a former palace employee, insults between the pair led to a depletion of confidence as the years went on.

Writing in the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell shared, "I saw the confidence-crushing effect [King] Charles had on her in Japan when she tried to win his approval."

Referencing Diana and Charles's royal tour of Japan, which took place in November 1990, Burrell recalled a particularly upsetting moment for the princess.

"Charles and his staff were checking their watches as they milled in the grand hallway ahead of an official function when the princess, looking radiant, came downstairs wearing a Catherine Walker red tartan coat dress with red velvet collar and cuffs," the former butler explained.

Discussing the striking outfit, Burrell wrote, "It was loud but elegant and she was smiling. I was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when she walked to the prince's side and said, 'So, do you like my outfit, Charles?'"

Unfortunately, King Charles allegedly made a joke about his wife's outfit, which completely changed her mood, according to Burrell.

"His reply was soft and devoid of bitterness, but its effect was brutal," the ex-royal butler said. "'Yes. You look like a British Caledonian air stewardess.'"

Per Burrell, after Charles delivered his quip about Diana's outfit, "he turned and walked out of the front door to an awaiting car."

The former royal employee's account continued: "The smile vanished from the princess's face and she looked down. Then she did what she became expert at: she mustered confidence from somewhere and followed him out of the door."

Burrell further alleged, "It was not the only time he crushed her confidence, intentionally or otherwise."

Despite growing up as a member of the nobility, Princess Diana wasn't totally prepared for life within the Royal Family. In fact, mere months before her royal wedding to King Charles, Diana reportedly got cold feet while attending Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.

Elton John famously performed at the glitzy event on February 19, 1981, and later recalled his memories of the evening. But according to one royal author, Princess Diana didn't have an entirely positive experience at the party.

"Charles was behaving as if he was on duty and insisted, to the despair of his fiancée, on working the room and making sure he spoke with as many people as possible," royal expert Ingrid Seward shared in her book, My Mother and I.

Seward continued, "The younger crowd congregated in the disco, where the music was louder. Diana, nervous, upset and emotionally drained, danced frantically with first one man, then another, and eventually by herself."

Unfortunately, the experience allegedly had a fairly negative impact on the 19-year-old royal bride-to-be.

One member of staff, Mark Simpson, reportedly grew concerned about the princess's well-being at sunrise "when he glanced out of the window and saw Diana in the quadrangle, cutting a gaunt figure in the half-light, looking exhausted, lost in her thoughts, but still moving in a slow, rhythmic time to the music that was now playing in her head."

In the early hours of the morning, Diana reportedly drove to her family's home in Northamptonshire, Althorp. "At that moment, she was distraught, flustered, and had no intention of ever going back," Seward explained. And according to the royal expert, Diana came close to calling off her nuptials altogether.

"Her wedding to Charles was mere weeks away," the royal expert wrote. "As far as Diana was concerned that morning, it was canceled. In her anger and despair, she had decided she was not going through with it."

Diana's father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, "calmed her down and pointed out it would have been an act of gross discourtesy to break off the engagement to the future King so close to the wedding," Seward shared.

Had Diana's dad not convinced her to remain engaged to Charles, life would've turned out very differently for the young princess.

Princess Diana married King Charles on July 29, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Almost three decades earlier—on April 19, 1956—Grace Kelly had wed Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, meaning she was perfectly placed to advise Charles's bride.

Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, opened up about Princess Grace's alleged interaction with Diana on the eve of her wedding to Charles in the book A Royal Duty.

"I have never seen such a beauty as Princess Grace," Burrell wrote. "That evening she even outshone the bride-to-be, and her tiara was every bit as magnificent as The Queen's. Lady Diana was captivated."

According to Burrell, Diana and Grace "struck up an immediate rapport," which led to them becoming "locked in conversation." Essentially, the former actress quickly became a "role model and inspirational figure" to the young Diana, the ex-butler shared. The fact that Grace had been "an outsider...who had married into royalty" only endeared her further to Diana.

Per Burrell, Princess Diana allegedly viewed Princess Grace as "a film star used to the media glare; a woman in a royal marriage where love was infected by duty."

In his book, the former royal employee revealed, "[Diana] asked Princess Grace for any tips or advice. 'You will be just fine,' said the former actress. 'It gets worse, but you learn to cope.'"

It's undeniable that Princess Diana and Princess Grace both had totally unique experiences when marrying into royalty. As a result, it makes sense that Princess Grace might have been able to offer some important words of advice to a young Princess Diana prior to her marriage to King Charles.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's marriage was a cornerstone of the monarch's 70-year reign. After tying the knot in November 1947, Elizabeth and Philip remained together until the prince's death in April 2021. And according to one royal biographer, Queen Elizabeth believed she owed a huge "debt" to her husband.

In his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, author Ian Lloyd shared, "Neither of them was ever comfortable wearing their hearts on their sleeves but on the day they celebrated their Golden Wedding in November 1997, The Queen paid a rare public tribute to her husband."

Per Lloyd, Elizabeth said of her husband, "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

Lloyd also noted that, when Prince Philip turned 90, Queen Elizabeth honored her husband in a more concrete way—by giving him "the title of Lord High Admiral, a position only ever held by the sovereign."

As the royal biographer explained, "For the man who had given up his own promising career to help support her for the rest of his life, it was a touching gesture and one that apparently moved him close to tears."

It's safe to say that Queen Elizabeth most definitely appreciated Prince Philip's support, particularly as he was by her side throughout her impressive reign.

Queen Elizabeth's love story with Prince Philip is one for the ages. The pair tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and remained married until Prince Philip's death on April 9, 2021. And according to those who knew the couple, there was heat between them throughout their long marriage.

According to royal author Ian Lloyd, in his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, "The Queen lit up when [Prince Philip] was around, when he walked into a room or when he paid her a compliment." Basically, the couple stayed very much in love through the decades.

Per Lloyd, "Once, her dress designer, the late Ian Thomas, was making some adjustments to the hemline of her dress when Philip happened to walk past the open door and he said, 'Hmm, nice dress.'"

The royal author continued, "Thomas said The Queen 'flushed scarlet’ at the compliment. They never completely softened with old age."

Lloyd also shared that Queen Elizabeth looked to her husband for advice throughout her life.

"Elizabeth was to rely on [Philip] even more as the touchstone for the values she grew up with: duty, self-sacrifice, service to Queen and country," the biographer explained. "They spoke every day on the telephone from wherever they happened to be."

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were thrown together for an extended period of time during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

"Philip left Wood Farm and joined The Queen at Windsor and over the summer at Balmoral," Lloyd noted. "It was the longest the two had been together, apart from their early tours and their time in Malta as a young naval couple, and was no doubt a consolation to her following his death just 12 months later."

Although Elizabeth and Philip weren't big on PDA, they seemingly had a very flirty relationship in private, which is endearing.

King Charles is happily married to wife Queen Camilla, but according to one of the monarch's former classmates, life could have been very different for the royal. In fact, when King Charles was attending school, his underwear was reportedly known to get "lost" from time to time.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward discussed King Charles's seemingly shy approach to romance when he attended Gordonstoun Boarding School in Scotland. In spite of his reticence when it came to dating, King Charles allegedly had no shortage of romantic prospects at the time.

"One thing Charles was suspicious of was social functions," Seward shared. "When a party of 25 girls were invited to a dance at Gordonstoun, Charles went off to spend the weekend with his grandmother [the Queen Mother] at Birkhall, her house on the Balmoral estate."

According to the royal expert, King Charles refused to return the next day, even though the girls were engaging in a game of tennis—a sport he was very passionate about. Per Seward, "[H]e didn't reappear until well after the girls had departed."

The King's former classmate, Ross Benson, told Seward, "Charles could have had as many girlfriends as he wanted, and even the school maids would stare and giggle amongst themselves if they saw him. They also had a penchant for purloining his underwear, and after the disappearance of some of his clothes sent for washing, there were special precautions taken to ensure that nothing marked with his name would ever get 'lost' again."

Basically, at one point in time, King Charles's underwear was hot property. And if he hadn't built a life with Queen Camilla, he'd reportedly have many romantic suitors.

King Charles and Queen Camilla appear to have an extremely happy marriage, but the road to everlasting love was far from smooth. In fact, according to one royal expert, Camilla was initially "frightened" by the idea of becoming King Charles's wife.

In her book, My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward shared, "The full implication of what it would mean to be Prince Charles's wife frightened Camilla, and she was strident in her refusal to be sucked into the vortex of royal life."

Seward continued, "She persuaded Charles it would not be a good idea to consider marriage, telling friends the prospect was 'farcical' and that it would never happen as he would always put his duty first."

However, King Charles was reportedly keen to marry Camilla and wanted her to find her place within the Royal Family.

"Charles desperately wanted Camilla accepted by his family, especially The Queen, and refused to contemplate her hiding away," the royal author shared.

Prior to Princess Diana's unexpected and tragic death in August 1997, Camilla and Charles had been gradually making their romance public. However, the devastating news of Diana's death shifted the focus and caused Camilla to retreat from publicly embracing her relationship with Charles.

"She realized she was a long way from being accepted as [King Charles's] consort, but she had to make the effort for his sake," Seward explained.

The royal author continued, "If it hadn't been for the fickleness of public opinion and the restraining hand of his advisors, Charles would have gone public with Camilla a good deal earlier."

As for why The King was so steadfast in his belief he should be able to have a public relationship with Camilla, Seward shared, "He was used to getting his own way and it was Camilla who persuaded him that she was quite happy with how things were."

According to the royal biographer, Camilla's caution won, with Queen Elizabeth agreeing that the pair needed to take any sort of public romance slowly.

Eventually, Camilla and Charles would tie the knot—on April 9, 2005. But it appears as though Camilla wasn't in a rush to get married again.

Just like other married couples, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were known to argue. In fact, the former Duke of Edinburgh once threatened to leave his wife "stranded on the motorway." However, Elizabeth and Philip were also known to share a sense of humor, with one royal aide witnessing a particularly funny moment between the pair.

In the book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "Chief Petty Officer William Evans recalled The Queen, then in her mid-thirties, screaming with laughter and shouting, 'Stop it! Philip, stop it, stop it, stop it!' as Philip ran after her, pinching her bottom repeatedly and growling, 'Get up there, girl, get up there!'"

As well as having a rather cheeky streak, Prince Philip seemingly wanted royal fans to know that he did, in fact, share a bed with his wife.

"Philip himself inadvertently gave a clue to their intimacy when he fact-checked a manuscript by biographer Tim Heald," Lloyd explained. "The author wrote, 'It was generally known that at the palace the royal couple had separate bedrooms.' In the margin the prince scrawled, 'wrongly.'"

Lloyd also reflected on Queen Elizabeth's growing confidence and why she seemed to appreciate Philip's candor.

"[T]he Queen was beginning to answer her husband back more," Lloyd shared.

The royal biographer continued, "Former private secretary Martin Charteris later commented, 'Prince Philip is the only man in the world who treats The Queen simply as another human being.'"

As Charteris noted, "And, of course, it's not unknown for The Queen to tell Prince Philip to shut up. Because she's The Queen, that's not something she can easily say to anybody else."

The normalcy with which Philip spoke to Queen Elizabeth apparently went both ways, and seems to have been what helped make their marriage so successful.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had one of the most stable marriages in royal history. After tying the knot on November 20, 1947, Elizabeth and Philip were married until his death on April 9, 2021. But according to one Royal Family friend, the pair occasionally had blazing arguments.

During an appearance on Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," broadcaster and Royal Family friend Gyles Brandreth said of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, "She wore the crown and he wore the trousers."

Noting that Prince Philip "was in charge" of certain decisions, such as where the couple's children went to school, Brandreth also reflected on the late royal's temper.

"You wouldn't want to argue with him," Brandreth said of Philip. "To be honest, you really, really wouldn't. But she did." And according to the broadcaster, there were several instances during which friends witnessed Elizabeth and Philip fighting.

Per Brandreth, "[Countess Mountbatten] and The Queen were sitting in the back of a car, and they were driven by Prince Philip at such incredible speed. It was terrifying."

According to the Royal Family friend, "The Queen was yelping" in reaction to her husband's driving. "Shut up, woman, or I'll turn you out," Philip allegedly told his wife. "Shut up! I'll turn you out on the motorway."

Recalling the story, Brandreth explained, "When they got out of the car, Countess Mountbatten said to The Queen, 'You really shouldn't let him speak to you like that. You know, you're The Queen. He shouldn't really be speaking to you like that.'"

Per the broadcaster, Queen Elizabeth replied, "But he meant it. And I really didn't want to be caught or stranded on the motorway."

It seems as though there was only one person who was allowed to shout at Queen Elizabeth, and it was her husband.

Prince William and Princess Kate appear to have a solid marriage, which has helped make them particularly popular amongst royal fans. But according to one report, Princess Kate was forced to respond after one royal fan "propositioned" Prince William in a slightly inappropriate way.

In 2021, Prince William visited Queen's Bay Lodge Care Home in Edinburgh, Scotland, "where he enjoyed an amusing exchange with 96-year-old Betty Magee," the Liverpool Echo reported.

According to the outlet, the Prince of Wales relayed the story to actresses Emma Thompson and Emma Stone during a video call, telling them, "I got propositioned by a 96-year-old lady called Betty who wanted to kiss me."

At the time, a number of rules were in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince William further explained, "She's in a care home with her daughter and I said, 'Betty, if I do that I'm going to get slapped on the back of the head for inappropriate social distancing.'"

According to William, the royal fan didn't seem to listen to his warnings, as he told Stone and Thompson, "She said, 'I'll have you afterwards then!'...She was a right character!"

Princess Kate was then quick to quip, "This is what happens when I'm not around!"

American-born Countess of Sandwich, Julie Montagu, recently opened up about what Princess Kate is really like, sharing in a social media post, "Contrary to expectations, meeting the Princess of Wales is often described as surprisingly relaxed and approachable." The countess continued, "Many find her calm, present, and genuinely engaging, dispelling the idea of an intimidating royal encounter."

As well as reportedly being extremely calm and welcoming, it's clear that Princess Kate has a great sense of humor, too.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married for 73 years, making their marriage incredibly successful. While The Queen reportedly had to deal with Prince Philip's "awkward habit," she allegedly had a special way to annoy her husband when he "was in a mood."

In the royal biography, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "As with many couples, they agreed on the big things but squabbled on the minor ones. One former courtier told biographer Graham Turner, 'He and The Queen have phenomenal rows' but they soon blow over, 'There's a terrific mutual tongue-lashing and then they end up the best of friends.'"

Over the course of their long marriage, Queen Elizabeth reportedly developed a special skill for dealing with her husband's alleged outbursts.

Per Lloyd, "[H]er technique was to throw up a smokescreen when he was in a mood. By changing the subject or talking in riddles, she confused him and threw him off guard, as he preferred straightforward arguing to such a cryptic approach."

The royal author continued, "Among those they trust, The Queen was often able to poke fun at her husband, whether he was there or not."

Another royal source suggested that The Queen would become exceedingly stubborn on occasion, too.

According to Lloyd, one source remembered a trip on the Royal Yacht Britannia, during which "The Queen declared, 'I'm not going to come out of my cabin until he's in a better temper. I'm going to sit here on my bed until he's better.'"

Judging by Lloyd's biography, Queen Elizabeth could hold her own with Prince Philip, regardless of whatever mood he was in.

Recent royal biographies have revealed funny stories about Prince Philip, including the night he ditched his nurses to steal a beer, much to his wife's chagrin. According to one royal author, the former Duke of Edinburgh was known for many things, including one particularly "awkward habit."

In the book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "Philip's frustration with his subordinate role and his annoyance that, in the early days of her reign, his dutiful wife slavishly followed the wishes of the palace old guard and Winston Churchill, led him to occasional bursts of temper."

Royal sources shared their experiences of Prince Philip's outbursts. Per Lloyd, "These were witnessed by courtiers, friends, and relations. 'He could be brutal,' recalled a former member of staff who heard him berate The Queen with 'Don't talk such rubbish!' or 'You're completely wrong!'"

"[Queen Elizabeth II's cousin] Margaret Rhodes recalled Philip's awkward habit of jumping down people's throats," according to Lloyd.

Per the author, Rhodes shared, "He was like that with The Queen. He'd say, 'why the bloody hell?' 'what the bloody hell?' I think she did find it disconcerting."

"Deep down, the prince was aware he could occasionally make hurtful comments," Lloyd explained. "To a family friend, he once made the revealing comment, 'I don't seem able to say nice things to people, though I'd like to. Why is that?'"

The author continued, "In the early days, The Queen, aware of the huge sacrifice Philip had made, tolerated his outbursts."

Although onlookers were reportedly shocked by Prince Philip's alleged behavior, Queen Elizabeth apparently cut her husband some slack. After all, no-one's perfect.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were married for an incredible 73 years. Despite their enduring relationship, the late Queen and her husband rarely engaged in PDA. According to one royal biographer, there's a tragic reason why Elizabeth and Philip weren't overly affectionate with one another.

Writing in his book, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd shared, "When their relationship finally blossomed during the summer of 1946, the couple gave few clues away, even to those close to them."

Lloyd continued, "Peter Ashmore, [Elizabeth's father] The King's equerry, recalled Philip's three-week stay at Balmoral, when the couple came to what Philip called 'an understanding.'"

Per the royal author, Ashmore further revealed, "They certainly did not drool over each other...They scarcely held hands."

As for why Elizabeth and Philip's relationship lacked PDA, Lloyd shared, "It was hardly a surprise, since Philip had never been shown much affection from his parents."

The royal author explained, "[Royal courtier] Mike Parker recalled trying to encourage Philip to show some kind of public affection to his wife. 'He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve,' Parker commented in a 1992 interview."

Per Lloyd's book, Parker shared, "I always wanted to see him put his arms around The Queen and show her how much he adored her. What you'd do for any wife. But he always sort of stood to attention. I mentioned it to him a couple of times. But he just gave me a hell of a look."

Luckily, the late Queen reportedly appreciated her husband's stoicism.

"Elizabeth was emotionally controlled and the fact he wasn't all over her was something she quite liked," Lloyd explained.

Basically, it sounds as though Elizabeth and Philip were a match made in heaven.

Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011, in a fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. The unforgettable event was watched by royal fans worldwide, with onlookers delighted to celebrate the happy couple. But according to a new royal biography, Princess Kate caused "panic at the palace" with one particular decision during wedding planning.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the huge undertaking palace staff faced in planning Kate and William's wedding.

"Courtiers were also surprised when Catherine announced her wish not to travel in the traditional horse-drawn Glass Coach, as used by Diana, Princess of Wales as well as Queen Elizabeth," Myers shared. "As much as tradition was at the forefront of her mind, Catherine wanted a modern slant on the proceedings and was of the view that she was not yet a 'princess' who would use such a mode of transport."

Princess Kate's choice to arrive at her wedding "in a 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI that had been gifted by the manufacturer to The Queen on her Silver Jubilee" was apparently pretty unusual.

As palace courtiers hadn't anticipated Princess Kate's unexpected choice of transport, they were allegedly thrown into disarray.

"This prompted panic at the palace, who feared that an alternative vehicle might be necessary: in December 2010 vandals had splattered the car with white paint and smashed a rear window as [King] Charles and [Queen] Camilla were heading to the Royal Variety Performance," Myers shared.

According to the royal author, "An immediate review was undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, with extra briefings to all officers to remain vigilant for similar protests."

Looking back on Princess Kate's special day, it's clear she made the right choice by arriving at Westminster Abbey in a classic Rolls Royce. The photographs of Kate and her dad, Michael Middleton, traveling in the car remain iconic.

Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married since April 29, 2011, but the couple encountered some issues early in their relationship. While William was initially "concerned" Kate would be "overawed" by his royal lifestyle, the Princess of Wales allegedly got "spooked" by one element of the romance.

In the new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers shared, "Having grown up under the media glare his entire life, William was clearly aware of what lay on the horizon. For Catherine, however, it was entirely new territory."

Myers continued, "William had done his best to inform her about how the media operated, but now she was the subject of their pursuit things felt incredibly different."

Describing the Princess of Wales's reaction, a former royal courtier told Myers, "She was spooked by the attention." They continued, "No matter how much you're told about what can happen, you literally can't have any idea about it until you're on the other side, and now she was very much on the other side."

Unsurprisingly, interest in the couple's relationship continued to grow, which must have felt quite overwhelming at times. "William and Catherine found themselves at the centre of a media storm," Myers explained.

Defending the media's interest in William's romance, a former editor told Myers, "The world had been waiting for the news that William had a proper love interest and once it was all but confirmed by him or the palace, it marked a turning point for sure."

They continued, "The public were desperate to know if the future King had found his Queen and what that would mean for the future of the monarchy in an ever-changing world."

In 2026, Kate and William appear united in their confidence as a unit, and the world is seemingly ready for their future tenure on the throne. Still, dealing with such a huge amount of pressure early in their relationship can't have been easy.

Princess Kate and Prince William's royal wedding, which took place at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011, was watched by millions of viewers around the globe. But according to a royal expert, the Prince of Wales decided to ban one particular Royal Family member from his nuptials.

Royal expert Russell Myers's new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, detailed Prince William's decision to not invite one of his aunts to his wedding.

"As with every wedding, there were controversies over the guest list," Myers explained. "In a sign of his growing stature, and with an eye on his future position within the family, William decided his aunt Sarah Ferguson would not be welcome at the wedding."

Elaborating on William's unexpected choice, Myers shared, "Sources claim that his decision was based on an anxiety that the [former] Duchess of York, who had been embroiled in numerous misdemeanors following her exit from the royal fold, would be an embarrassment."

In 2025, Ferguson's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was revealed when emails between the pair were released. As a result, Prince William's decision not to invite the former duchess to his wedding in 2011 seems somewhat prescient.

Per Myers, "Fergie, as she had come to be known in the press, had been excommunicated from the family following her 1996 divorce [from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor] and subsequent attraction to scandal."

In hindsight, Prince William's decision to exclude Ferguson from his wedding to Princess Kate might have been the correct call, after all.

Having met while studying at The University of St Andrews in Scotland, Princess Kate and Prince William began a relationship. After several years, the couple tied the knot in a fairytale royal wedding on April 29, 2011. But according to a former royal courtier, Prince William was initially "concerned" that Princess Kate wouldn't be able to adjust to his royal lifestyle.

Royal expert Russell Myers's new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, detailed some of the difficulties the Prince and Princess of Wales faced early in their relationship. At the beginning, William reportedly attempted to shield Kate from some elements of royal life.

Per the royal author, "The prince had invited his girlfriend to stay at Highgrove on several occasions, and they had also enjoyed a weekend together at The Queen's Sandringham estate."

Myers continued, "The stays were organized by William for when his father and grandmother were not in residence, allowing the couple the freedom to enjoy themselves without Catherine worrying about meeting his family."

A former royal courtier spoke to the author, saying, "He was very concerned she would be completely overawed by the whole thing." The courtier continued, "Kate had wealthy friends who had nice piles in the country, but it's a different story when you're dating a prince whose granny is The Queen."

Although William was allegedly worried about whether or not Princess Kate would fit into his world, he at least wanted to try.

"He was still very much in the mode of 'Let's take it slow and see what happens,' while being pretty nervous that the press was going to find out what was going on and ruin it for them," the former courtier told Myers.

Luckily, Princess Kate ended up being a perfect fit for Prince William's royal lifestyle and it's strange to think that wasn't always the case.

Having tied the knot on November 20, 1947, Queen Elizabeth II was married to Prince Philip for 73 years—until his death on April 9, 2021. Now, one royal expert has shared details regarding Prince Philip's "final night," and why Elizabeth was left "absolutely furious" at her husband.

In an extract from his new book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, published by the Mail on Sunday, royal expert Hugo Vickers shared, "He went back to Windsor Castle on March 16 [after leaving hospital], his return considerably delayed by the need to find nurses 100 percent free of possible COVID-19 infection. He never emerged from the castle again."

Vickers continued, "However, during those last 24 days at Windsor, he was up and about. One lady-in-waiting, ringing in, was surprised to get him on the telephone." The expert also noted that Prince Philip likely enjoyed "elements of tranquillity in those final days in the castle where his mother had been born." And according to one account, he managed to have some fun, too.

Detailing Prince Philip's final wild adventure, Vickers shared, "On the last night of his life, he gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his [walking] frame, helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room."

After managing to ditch his nurses in order to consume alcohol, Philip reportedly returned to bed. "The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away," Vickers explained. Basically, it sounds as though the prince just wanted one last drink before he died.

"By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years—far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis," the royal expert noted.

As was previously reported, Queen Elizabeth II wasn't at her husband's bedside at the time of his death.

"The Queen was not there when he died," Vickers wrote. "There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told, 'His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago.'"

As a result, The Queen was allegedly not best pleased that her husband checked out without speaking to her first. "She took the line, I was told, that she was 'absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye,'" per Vickers.

Following 73 years of marriage, Elizabeth was likely left with an insurmountable loss following the death of her husband—as well as an alleged annoyance that he left without bidding her farewell.

Prince William and Princess Kate have been together for more than two decades and married since 2011. In a new royal biography, one author explains how Prince William's team at the palace managed to "protect" the Princess of Wales from the very beginning.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers shared, "A group of just four royal aides was sworn to secrecy and quietly began to prepare for the moment when they would need to announce to the world that Prince William, the second in line to the throne, was to be married."

Myers quoted one former senior courtier, who shared, "It was quite an exciting time considering there was a tiny group who knew it was coming. It was our duty to make sure nothing leaked, mainly to protect Kate, but also because it would have made our jobs a lot more complicated."

As royal fans already know, Prince William decided to propose to Kate during "a romantic getaway to Kenya, returning to the 55,000-acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy the couple had visited in 2005 after graduating," Myers noted.

Explaining just what a crucial point it was in William's life, Myers wrote, "Anyone who has prepared to ask a loved one to marry them will know the intense nervousness that comes with arranging the perfect moment to propose, but also the incredible responsibility of carrying the ring around with you until you finally find that moment. William was no different."

Luckily, Princess Kate said "yes," and the pair married on April 29, 2011. But it's clear that palace courtiers had their work cut out for them when it came to keeping Princess Kate safe amidst the royal marriage furore.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have likely had a challenging few months due to their parents's involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were forced to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and stop using their royal titles due to their association with the convicted sex offender. While the Royal Family seemingly embraced Beatrice and Eugenie throughout the saga, sources have detailed their "fears" regarding the royal sisters.

According to the Mail on Sunday, concerns have been raised about Princess Beatrice's marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. "Edo jetted 4,500 miles to the glorious elegance of Palm Beach," the outlet noted. "Yes, he was there to promote his design business, Banda, and speak at a conference, but the optics of not being there for his wife of nearly six years are not good." The publication further suggested, "Friends fear Princess Beatrice's marriage to Edo 'is in trouble.'"

The outlet continued, "While he supped wine in some of Palm Beach's most luxurious locations, Beatrice was coming to terms with the fact her name appeared hundreds of times in the Epstein files."

Sources alleged to the outlet that there had been "distance" between Beatrice and her husband, who is allegedly "keen to avoid his business being tainted by the scandal enveloping the House of York."

One source told the publication, "Things haven't been great for a while between them, but Beatrice has been determined to soldier on and forge a path through."

The source continued, "She wants to stay together, but he seems more and more distracted by work and travel. Just when she needs him most, he's been pulling away."

Meanwhile, an additional source claimed to the outlet, "He's really worried his in-laws will affect his business...He's all about himself at the moment. You have to feel for Beatrice."

Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, is reportedly taking a different approach to the situation. "Eugenie's husband is said to be standing by his wife amid the ensuing Epstein scandal—but refuses to allow disgraced Sarah Ferguson to move into the family home," the Daily Mail shared.

A source also claimed, "His first loyalty has to be to his wife and their two young children. The whole sordid affair has already brought them a great deal of unwarranted attention and he won't do anything to increase that."

According to the publication, Eugenie and Brooksbank are allegedly aligned when it comes to her mom. "Sarah is difficult to live with and they don't want the responsibility of looking after her at the moment," a source alleged. "That's not to say they are not concerned about her welfare—they just don't actually want her to be living with them, even temporarily."

For now, at least, Beatrice and Eugenie are likely hoping that there won't be any new revelations regarding their mom and dad's friendship with Epstein so their lives can return to some semblance of normalcy.

Much has been written about King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship, which has spanned decades and survived their respective marriages to other people. Now, a royal expert has suggested that Charles's "decision not to marry" Camilla during their initial romance had an inordinate affect on his son Prince William's relationship with Princess Kate.

Charles and Camilla first met in the early '70s and reportedly had a romantic relationship before going their separate ways. According to royal expert Russell Myers's new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, King Charles's long-term affair with Camilla would ultimately impact Prince William's own approach to commitment.

"Within weeks of his split from Catherine [in 2007], he was having second thoughts, mindful perhaps of his father's decision in his twenties not to marry Camilla Shand, the love of his life," Myers wrote. "William did not want to make a similar mistake and yet he was still wracked with doubt."

As well as not wanting to make the same mistakes his father had, Prince William was reportedly given some important advice from Queen Elizabeth II. "His grandmother's advice was also ringing in his ears," Myers explained. "Did he have faith that Catherine was 'the one'? Could he see a future with her?"

After realizing he wasn't ready to let go of his relationship with Princess Kate, Prince William reportedly took swift action.

"At first, he texted and asked to speak, wondering if Catherine would even reply," Myers shared, explaining that Kate was on vacation with her family at the time. "With Catherine unsure of William's motives and unwilling to let her guard down just yet, the initial exchanges were tentative, if a little frosty."

Princess Kate seemingly felt the same way as Prince William, and she eventually "agreed to a call," the royal expert revealed. "William explained that he was missing her and floated the idea of them still attending a party that had been in their diary for months."

Luckily, the Princess of Wales decided to give William another chance, and the pair have been together ever since. But King Charles's decision to marry Princess Diana instead of Queen Camilla appears to have caused Prince William to exercise caution in his own romantic relationships.

Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011 in a fairytale royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. Having met while attending the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Kate and William dated for several years, and even endured some brief splits from one another. According to a new book, one particular breakup impacted the Princess of Wales greatly.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales's temporary breakup in 2007.

"Catherine had presented William with a simple choice: if he couldn't commit, their relationship would have to come to an end," Myers shared. "To her, the response that followed from Clarence House had been definitive. Catherine told friends that, although she was not ready to move on, she would not wait around for William."

At the time, William and Kate were in their mid-twenties, a crucial time in both of their lives. "If he wasn't ready, she couldn't put her existence on hold," Myers noted. "She needed to get on with her life, and if that was to be without William, she was fully prepared to move in a new direction."

Despite being the instigator of their separation, 24-year-old Prince William "was struggling to process the breakup, as well as the concept of his own identity as a soldier and the expectations of him as a future monarch," according to the royal expert. With such a huge destiny ahead of him, it's understandable that the Prince of Wales might have had doubts about several aspects of his life.

While Princess Kate was reportedly against the split, she allegedly threw herself into a busy social life, attempting to find her own interests without the prince. "Although equally heartbroken, Catherine had decided to stick to her guns," Myers shared. "Throughout the most testing times of her relationship, Catherine had leaned on a group of close school friends, and now she did so again."

Even though Kate seemingly knew she needed to forge ahead, that didn't mean she found the change easy. "She told [her friends] of her lack of direction and how she felt she had been cheated by putting her life on hold for William," Myers explained. "If William wasn't ready to commit, then she was ready to explore her options as a beautiful, young single woman, who by now was known throughout the world."

Their decision to spend some time apart before they made the ultimate commitment seems very sensible, particularly as William would one day become King.

"The breakdown was not caused by infidelity, confrontation, or embitterment, but rather was the result of two young people navigating their first serious relationship at the same time as being thrust into a spotlight whose power had been magnified beyond comprehension," Myers shared.

After reportedly finding their split to be akin to "torture," Kate and William eventually reunited, and the rest is very much royal history.

Prince William and Princess Kate made a joint appearance on March 12, when the pair stepped out for a number of meetings in London. While visiting businesses along the River Thames, the Prince and Princess of Wales became temporary baristas and discussed their drinking habits. And in one particularly pertinent moment, Prince William issued a warning to royal fans about his wife.

In a video shared on X by a fan, Princess Kate was shown discussing honey and explaining that it "tastes very different" during its initial stages. Prince William quickly responded by saying, "Catherine's got her own bees, she knows a lot about bees." He continued, "Be careful what you say, you might be corrected!"

One commenter noted on the post, "He is so funny when he laughs at his own jokes...he gets so proud of himself." While William's warning wasn't exactly serious, it's clear that he's a fierce protector of his wife's hobbies.

Princess Kate previously shared her love of beekeeping in a social media post in May 2023. The Prince and Princess of Wales's official X account shared a photo of Kate partaking in her hobby, with the caption, "We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay." The caption continued, "Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy."

It seems that Princess Kate has thrown herself into beekeeping, and Prince William understands just how important the hobby is to his wife. Clearly, in any discussion on the topic, the Princess of Wales appears to be able to hold her own.

As fans await news of Taylor Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce, the NFL star has hinted that a potentially huge and life-changing decision could be in the works.

Amid rumors that Swift and Kelce have already set their wedding date, Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes seemingly shared some major news on Instagram. Mahomes posted two photos taken with Kelce on the field, and the post was quickly flooded with eye-opening comments.

The Instagram account for Kelce's podcast, "New Heights"—which he hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce—was one of the first to react to Mahomes's post. A simple GIF of Travis nodding his head while saying, "Let's go," appeared to suggest the NFL player was far from done with football, just yet.

The NFL's official site appeared to confirm Kelce's decision to keep playing. "The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is expected to return to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th NFL season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported," the outlet shared. "Kelce will turn down more money from other teams in free agency to stay with the Chiefs."

The publication also revealed, "Kelce's decision not to retire is a product of weeks of discussion," and suggested that the potential announcement was "a surprising turn of events."

Per the NFL, Chiefs coach Andy Reid previously alluded to Kelce's future with the team, telling reporters on February 20, "As long as there's communication, I'm good. That means people want to move forward." He continued, "I think that's where Trav is. I'm not trying to put words in his mouth at all and I try to give him some space here."

For now, at least, fans of the couple will be awaiting confirmation regarding Kelce's future in the NFL. Regardless of what Kelce decides, Swift will presumably be there to support him.

Princess Kate and Prince William's fairytale romance started when they both attended the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After marrying on April 29, 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have expanded their family to welcome three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But according to one royal biographer, Kate and William's relationship was almost thwarted before it had the chance to begin.

In his new book William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers shared (via Hello! magazine), "At first, [Kate's parents] Carole and Michael [Middleton] were dead set against the idea [of Kate attending St Andrews], with Carole in particular worried about her daughter losing academic momentum, but after listening to Catherine explain that she believed she would be suited to the quieter surroundings of St Andrews rather than the city life that Edinburgh would provide, they agreed to her decision."

Myers further explained, "The timing of Catherine's announcement to her parents would, years later, result in accusations that she changed her mind about Edinburgh because she wanted to follow the dashing young Prince William to St Andrews, where in August 2000 he had announced he would be studying."

However, the reason Princess Kate changed her mind was apparently unrelated to the eligible royal. "But the truth is...she had met a fellow student, an 18-year-old girl from Somerset who was set to go to the University of St Andrews," Myers shared. "The two hit it off so well that Catherine decided to explore the option of changing her course while she was still away [during her gap year]."

It's strange to think that, had Princess Kate attended college in Edinburgh, she might never have met Prince William.

Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married since April 29, 2011. Due to the public nature of their relationship, royal fans have followed the couple's romance since the very beginning. As a result, even their brief breakups and separations have become public knowledge. Now, a new book is exposing even more details about some of the Prince and Princess of Wales's most tense moments.

In forthcoming book William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal editor and expert Russell Myers described a brief breakup the couple went through in 2004—two years into their college romance.

During a summer break from The University of St Andrews, Prince William reportedly had a "sudden change in attitude" towards his relationship with Kate. "He was thinking about going to Sandhurst, joining the army, maybe some traveling and what that would lead to," Myers explained, in an excerpt published by Hello! magazine. "It certainly gave his head a wobble, wondering how much time he would have to dedicate to that and what that would mean for other things in his life, such as a serious relationship."

According to Myers, "[I]t wasn't clear that Catherine would remain a priority for William after university. He was still just 22, and friends suggested he was afraid both of losing his independence so young, and of the mounting media speculation about a possible engagement."

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Princess Kate was reportedly "left in shock at his sudden change of direction." But she also "did not doubt the burden of responsibility" the Prince of Wales was facing as the future King, Myers explained.

The pair allegedly had little contact during the summer of 2004, and rumors started swirling about new romantic prospects for Prince William. According to Myers, "[H]e was torn about whether he wanted to continue his relationship with Catherine. On the one hand he missed her, and on the other the attention from the media had left him so incensed." Having a so-called "normal relationship" allegedly seemed all but impossible to the prince.

When Kate and William returned to The University of St Andrews in the fall of 2004, the prince allegedly "broke down and apologized," per Myers. According to the royal author, William's dad, King Charles, influenced the prince's decision to reconcile with Kate.

"William told Catherine he wanted to make a serious go of the relationship and in a peacemaking gesture he invited her to his father's 56th birthday celebrations at Highgrove," Myers wrote, via Hello! magazine. "[U]nbeknown to Catherine, it was Charles who had insisted on William having an honest conversation with her."

Luckily, it sounds as though King Charles worked his magic and ensured Kate and William were able to reunite, in spite of any stresses they were both experiencing.

In recent months, the relationship between Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, appears to have taken a nosedive. Once self-described as "the happiest divorced couple," the former Duke and Duchess of York seem to have gone their separate ways following their eviction from Royal Lodge.

Both Sarah and Andrew found themselves implicated further in emails contained within the Jeffrey Epstein files, which even led to the former prince being arrested. Now, royal expert Ingrid Seward has suggested that Sarah would've gotten far more support from Andrew than she has offered him, if the roles were reversed.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Seward said, "I would love to see her rush to his side. God knows he would have rushed to hers, were this the other way around. But she is busy looking after number one. I doubt we'll see her for a while."

As for how Sarah and Andrew's daughters—Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie—are dealing with the Epstein files fallout, Seward shared, "I'm sure they weren't expecting it." She continued, "It's really embarrassing and distressing for them both." The expert also suggested that the sisters were "extremely upset" about recent events involving their parents.

Following additional revelations regarding Andrew and Sarah's friendships with Epstein, Beatrice and Eugenie will likely be reevaluating their lives, Seward claimed.

"All the doubts will have come crashing in—those holidays they had as children, the funds their father put in their bank account, all the lovely things they enjoyed," the royal expert shared. "Somewhere in their minds, they'll be wondering where that money really came from."

Seward continued, "Sadly, they're going to start doubting everything their father ever told them."

Basically, Eugenie and Beatrice allegedly have a lot of information to process, which is likely to alter their family dynamic in some way.

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to reflect on important relationships and romances. For instance, according to one royal expert, Princess Kate and Prince William's "partnership and love story" is integral to the future of the British monarchy. And judging by the couple's Valentine's Day post in 2026, their relationship is stronger than ever.

Writing for Hello! magazine, royal expert Emily Nash reflected on Kate and William's decision to share a previously unseen photo for Valentine's Day. "The image, which was shared alongside a Happy Valentine's Day message, shows that, unlike generations before them, they are leading the charge in demonstrating their love following a difficult year for the future Queen."

The photograph of Kate and William was taken by Josh Shinner, and shows the couple posing outdoors in the countryside in Norfolk, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales own a home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, close to the Sandringham estate.

As noted by Nash, Kate and William's decision to be more public with their affection for one another is a huge shift from the Royal Family's previous policy. "William and Kate's partnership and love story are central to the future of the monarchy, and they are not afraid to show their affection for one another," the expert wrote in Hello! magazine.

"Traditionally, the royals have tended to avoid public displays of affection," Nash explained. "...But William and Kate clearly mean the world to one another, so they are happy to celebrate their love story with the world."

With their romantic 2026 Valentine's Day social media post, Kate and William are further confirming just how solid their relationship really is. As the future King and Queen, it appears as though Kate and William are prepared for whatever life throws at them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The latest batch of Epstein files has seemingly implicated Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor even further in Jeffrey Epstein's affairs. While the former Prince Andrew can be seen crouching on all fours in eyebrow-raising photographs, Ferguson seemingly sent some fairly inappropriate emails to the convicted sex offender.

In an email sent by Ferguson in January 2010, the former Duchess of York allegedly told Epstein (via the Daily Mail), "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."

As noted by the publication, "Epstein had been released from Palm Beach County Jail in July 2009, having served 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14." Hence, Ferguson's email seems to have been sent following Epstein's initial conviction and prison sentence.

Per the Daily Mail, Ferguson allegedly sent an email to Epstein in September 2009, telling him to marry a woman with a "great body," before reportedly writing, "Ok well marry me and then we will employ her."

Along with her ex-husband Andrew, Ferguson was demoted by King Charles in 2025. As well as no longer being allowed to use any official royal titles, the former duchess has been forced to vacate her home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie—who recently released Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York—suggested that the royals should've acted much quicker when it came to Andrew and Ferguson. Lownie told the Daily Mail, "[The Royal Family] had plenty of opportunities to discipline Andrew, to remove him from his posts in the past to deal with him, but they've only done so because of public pressure and media pressure."

The release of another batch of Epstein files has seemingly implicated a plethora of high-profile and famous people all over the world. For instance, Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are both facing further allegations regarding their connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has apologized for her own association with the disgraced financier.

In a statement to Norwegian broadcaster NRK (via Hello! magazine), Mette-Marit explained, "Jeffrey Epstein is responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background better and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was." She continued, "I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take. I showed poor judgment and regret ever having any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing."

Emails between Epstein and Mette-Marit were included in the Department of Justice's latest release of files. In an email dated October 21, 2012, the Norwegian princess referred to a recent royal wedding, allegedly telling Epstein (via Hello! magazine), "Boring wedding. Was like some kind of old movie. Where you know the characters are not hanging around for much long[er]."

The suggestion that Mette-Marit didn't have any knowledge of Epstein's criminal background was also brought into question by the content of some of her alleged emails. For instance, in October 2011, Mette-Marit seemingly emailed Epstein saying, "Googled u after last email. Agree didn't look too good."

A year later, Epstein told the princess that he was embarking on a "wife-hunting" expedition to France, while reportedly joking that he preferred "Scandinavians," via the Times. Mette-Marit apparently responded by saying, "Paris good for adultery. Scandis better wife material."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is experiencing some major changes in 2026. Following renewed interest in his association with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the former Duke of York gave up all of his royal titles. He is also set to leave his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, for a more discreet property in Sandringham. And according to some sources, the ex-prince might be ready to start dating again.

Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also be leaving Royal Lodge, having previously maintained a close relationship with her former spouse. As reported by Closer, "Having previously called Andrew...her 'soulmate' despite their divorce...the intentions of her...ex-husband have prompted Sarah to finally cut ties."

"It's like having the golden handcuffs taken off, or at least that's how she’s trying to spin it," a source told the outlet. "Now that she's no longer hitching her wagon to Andrew it's opened up a lot of choices to her, or at least she's convinced it has."

According to the publication, Sarah's alleged decision to look for romance has given Andrew the "green light" to pursue dating, too.

One source claimed, "He's even talking about how he wants to get back to dating." However, the outlet noted that the prospect of Andrew dating has the Royal Family "bracing themselves for yet more humiliation in the months ahead."

Speaking to Closer, one source explained, "The royals will be relieved to see him go, but they'll also be worrying about what he might get up to once he's off and operating completely on his own terms." The source continued, "Instead of lying low and accepting some consequences like they'd hoped, he's doubling down on the same arrogance that landed him here in the first place."

As for Sarah's alleged romance journey, one source told Closer, "She says there's no reason she can't throw herself back into the dating game and land a rich man to make the rest of her days a whole lot easier." They continued, "She's always had a certain charm that attracts powerful and wealthy men and in her view she's not lost that."