KING AND PRINCE WILLIAM PUT ON UNITED FRONT DESPITE FEUD WITH PRINCE HARRY
On Friday, The King and The Prince of Wales put on a united front, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey.
The service dates back to the reign of King George I in 1725, inspired by a medieval tradition in which knights were bathed the night before the service as a form of spiritual cleansing.
Today, it remains a ceremony steeped in royal tradition — with the Sovereign and his heir processing into the Abbey in white and crimson robes, witnessed by the public.
This year’s event took on added significance, coming just two weeks after Prince Harry gave a BBC interview in which he aired grievances about his security arrangements.
During the interview, he acknowledged that his father "no longer" speaks to him, citing ongoing legal battles with the Home Office.
I understand that The Prince of Wales has other priorities and is not currently focused on reconciliation with his younger brother.
The image of The King and his heir participating together in a ceremonial engagement reflects their focus on public duty and royal tradition — not the royal soap opera playing out across the Atlantic.
On Friday, The King and The Prince of Wales put on a united front, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey.
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CATHERINE SUPPORTS VICTORIA BECKHAM WITH BOLD CHOICE
The Princess of Wales championed the best of British fashion this week as she presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in London.
This year’s winner was Liverpool-born Patrick McDowell, whose sustainable designs have attracted attention from Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
McDowell, who began his career using Burberry offcuts, now runs a luxury sustainable fashion brand favoured by A-list stars.
The British fashion industry is worth £21 billion, according to the British Fashion Council, and many of the guests at Tuesday's ceremony stressed the importance of royal support.
Laura Weir, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, told us: "The awards themselves show what an investment the Royal Family has in British creativity, and I think that is absolutely crucial to the lifeblood of this industry."
"Having Her Royal Highness come today and carry on that legacy is something that is very important to us, and something we’re very grateful for."
Kensington Palace did not confirm the Princess’s outfit for the event, but it has been widely reported that she wore a patch pocket jacket and ‘Alina’ trousers by British designer Victoria Beckham — thought to be worth over £1,000.
The Princess of Wales’s iconic style holds real power in the fashion industry; whatever she wears, sells.
Choosing a British designer could be a subtle signal that she intends to continue supporting the fashion sector, even if her office opts not to confirm outfit details — perhaps in an effort to keep the focus on her public work.
The Princess of Wales championed the best of British fashion this week as she presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in London.
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FAN REFUSED SELFIE WITH KING
On Thursday, I was with His Majesty The King, covering his engagements in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Alongside The Queen, Their Majesties were celebrating Bradford's status as the City of Culture for 2025, granted in recognition of its investment in the arts and multiculturalism.
A diverse crowd of hundreds enthusiastically greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla outside Bradford Live, a newly refurbished arts venue which has cost £50 million.
The King also visited Impact Hub Bradford, an organisation supporting local businesses and individuals to grow.
Now in its fifth year, the King appeared enthusiastic about the grassroots organisations he was learning about, and was particularly taken with a local tailor who employs young apprentices.
He was impressed by the “dying” skills they were learning and looked frustrated when owner Imran Khan told him that traditional tailoring techniques are at risk of being lost.
The pair had met previously, two years ago, and — to everyone’s surprise — Imran’s request for a hug was warmly granted by the 76-year-old monarch.
One man, however, was not so lucky.
The unnamed individual appeared overwhelmed with excitement at the royal visit and filmed much of the engagement on his phone.
Going against royal protocol, he boldly approached His Majesty. After exchanging a few friendly words and shaking hands, he made a daring move: asking the monarch for a selfie.
King Charles’ close protection officer quickly stepped in and firmly told the man: “No photos.”
“Bad luck,” said the King with a friendly smile.
On Wednesday, a new opinion poll revealed that the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity among the British public had fallen to an all-time low.
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WHY IS MEGHAN MARKLE'S POPULARITY AT AN ALL-TIME LOW?
On Wednesday, a new opinion poll revealed that the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity among the British public had fallen to an all-time low.
Her favourability rating dropped to just 20% in a YouGov survey of over 2,000 British adults. Prince Harry’s rating also hit its lowest level in two years.
Meanwhile, The Prince and Princess of Wales remain Britain’s most popular royals.
So why are Prince Harry and Meghan now among the least popular royals — second only to the disgraced Prince Andrew?
Prince Harry has previously suggested the British press has turned the public against him and his wife. But many critics point to the couple’s repeated public criticisms of the Royal Family.
During his recent BBC interview — aired just days before the YouGov poll — Harry remarked that he “didn’t know” how much longer his father had left. A royal source branded the comment “in poor taste”, and it appears the public agreed.
As for Meghan, she has recently relaunched her Instagram account, launched a lifestyle brand, and filmed two seasons of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.
Despite efforts to move beyond past grievances with the Royal Family, her attempted reinvention has faced public scepticism.
One of the most common criticisms is a perceived lack of authenticity — with many pointing out that her global platform emerged only after marrying a royal prince.
To be fair, the Duchess had made a name for herself as an actress in the American legal drama Suits before meeting Prince Harry, and her Netflix series has never claimed to be entirely autobiographical.
Now firmly settled in California and raising two young children, it’s unclear whether her declining popularity in the UK will concern her.
One thing is certain: she is unlikely to return to Britain anytime soon. Prince Harry has said he cannot ensure her safety unless full police protection is reinstated.
Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled that the Home Office committee was legally entitled to downgrade the Sussexes’ taxpayer-funded security after they stepped back as working royals.
