THE Queen and Royal Family are "privately" mourning the first anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's death.
Philip, famously described by the Queen as her "constant strength and guide", died peacefully in his sleep on April 9, 2021 at his Windsor Castle home, just a few months short of his 100th birthday.
Her Majesty and the rest of the Royal Family have paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Prince Philip.
The official Instagram account for the Royal Family shared a poem by poet laureate Simon Armitage, entitled ‘The Patriarchs – An Elegy’.
Buckingham Palace announced his death just after noon that day, issuing a statement that spoke about the royal family joining with people across the globe to grieve.
At the recent service of thanksgiving for Philip's life, Dean of Windsor the Right Rev David Conner paid tribute to his abilities and also highlighted his shortcomings – just as the duke would have wanted.
He described Philip as a man of "passionate commitment" who devoted his "intellectual and physical energy" to a "host of down-to-earth enterprises", but he could also be "abrupt" in a "robust conversation, forgetting just how intimidating he could be".
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest updates…
- Louis Allwood
Princess Anne kicks off Australian tour
Princess Anne has kicked off her three-day visit of Australia by opening the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Princess Anne first opened the Easter-themed event back in 1970.
The Royal Family member was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony for the event as it celebrated its 200th anniversary on Saturday.
The Princess Royal viewed stands and displays ahead of a planned dinner at Sydney Olympic Park.
- Louis Allwood
Queen pays emotional tribute to 'legacy' of Philip
The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family have paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Prince Philip.
Today marked the anniversary of his death.
The official Instagram account for the Royal Family shared a poem by poet laureate Simon Armitage, entitled ‘The Patriarchs – An Elegy’.
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A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)
- Louis Allwood
McIlroy advised Harry over “cultural differences” after marrying Meghan in 2018 interview
Golfing star Rory McIlroy advised Prince Harry that there would be “cultural differences” between him and Meghan Markle after he was requested to provide the royal with advice during a 2018 interview.
McIlroy is currently participating in the Masters where he hopes to take home the famous Green Jacket.
According to the Daily Express, he was asked in 2018 if he had any advice for Prince Harry, as he worked alongside Meghan Markle once.
Just days after the royal wedding, he stated at the BMW PGA Championship that: “I obviously know Meghan a little bit but then how do you answer a question like that because there are clearly cultural differences as there is between Erica and myself.
“There would be cultural differences for Prince Harry even if he married someone from Britain and as was the case with his brother, Prince William, just because of how he grew-up.”
- Louis Allwood
Could Meghan ever return to the UK?
It has been claimed by a royal correspondent that people in royal circles are unsure whether Meghan Markle will ever return to the UK.
Speaking to Royal Roundup’s host Pandora Forsyth, Richard Palmer said: “She’s cutting ties with British charities, there’s only one left now, Smart Works.
“Perhaps that patronage continues, I don’t know.
“The hardened fact is in all of this is she and Harry are based in the States.”
He continued to say: “Formally, they remain residents in the UK but people inside the royal circles are really not sure whether we’ll ever see Meghan ever again in the UK. “
- Louis Allwood
Full throttle for jubilee plans
The Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee this year – meaning she has reigned for an astonishing 70 years.
Public celebrations will take place throughout the year, with a long four day weekend in summer.
The Platinum Jubilee Celebration will take place between May 12 and 15 at Windsor Castle.
The three-day spectacular will feature 1,000 performers and 500 horses take a "gallop" through history.
The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday June 2, where a big celebratory parade will take place to honour the Queen's birthday.
Members of the Royal Family will join 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, parading down The Mall on horseback, while the Queen watches from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
And the weekend will be extended with an extra day off on Friday, June 3.
Buckingham Palace said the extra long weekend will provide "an opportunity for communities throughout the United Kingdom to come together and celebrate the historic milestone".
- Louis Allwood
Prince William's future plans
Prince William is understood to be looking ahead following the Caribbean tour.
Sources claim the royal has laid out a "blueprint" for his future as the king – and believes the royals must be "agile" to survive.
He called a crisis meeting with top aides following criticism of the tour, which left the couple "bruised".
The trip — the first of the Platinum Jubilee — was organised between Kensington Palace and the governments of Belize, Jamaica and Bahamas.
But it was mired in anti-royal protests and social media scorn.
It's understood that even before the visit, Wills was planning a royal revolution that will see him tearing up the rulebook and running affairs "the Cambridge way".
He will ditch the long-held policy of "never complain, never explain" and wield the hatchet as he cuts down the number of aides he works with.
The Cambridges will also employ a small staff working on “comfortable and credible” good causes — five or six in total.
There will also be shorter solo trips such as Kate’s well-received recent visit to Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Louis Allwood
Evening
Louis Allwood here, logging in to our live Royal Family blog.
I’ll be bringing you real-time news updates throughout the day until 10pm.
- Joseph Gamp
Photographer ordered not to take photos of the Queen at memorial service
A photographer has said he was told not to take photos of the monarch until she was seated.
Speaking to The Times, the only official photographer at the service spoke of how he was told he couldn’t take a photo
Richard Pohle spoke of how he informed Palace officials that he would “absolutely need to photograph” as this was “now the major news event”.of the queen until she was seated.
It seems he was fine with this but stated that “everything changed” when he realised Prince Andrew would be the one to accompany the 95-year-old.
This was the first time Prince Andrew had been seen in public since he stepped back from public duties after settling a sexual abuse case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre.
- Joseph Gamp
Royal family latest
- An inquiry has begun after official documents about what will happen when the Queen dies were leaked by the Welsh government.
- The fifth season of the crown is set to return to our screens in November this year and producers are on the hunt for someone to play Kate Middleton .
- To mark the Queen’s Platinum jubilee, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead plan to light up Windsor and Eton Bridge.
- Joseph Gamp
Here’s what the Queen’s corgis eat
WE all know that the Queen has loved corgis since she was a child.
Her beloved dogs have played a huge part in her life and as you can probably expect, they live a pampered befitting of a royal pet.
Darren McGrady, who worked for the royals for 15 years and cooked at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral, has revealed the royal dog diet is very well thought out.
Darren shared that while Her Majesty eats whatever she desires, her corgis have their food menu composed by canine experts a month in advance.
Darren told GB News, “The Queen didn’t have any advisers at all. I think the only real advisers were actually on the corgi menu.
“She would actually have people advising on what they’re having, whether that was lamb, chicken, liver or beef.”
Previously, Darren revealed on YouTube: “I didn’t expect to be cooking for the Queen’s dogs, when I started working at Buckingham Palace.
“The corgis had their own menu. I thought I was going to be cooking for kings, queens and presidents.
“I did eventually, but one of the first jobs I had was cooking for the corgis.
“Making fresh food everyday, their own menu.”
- Joseph Gamp
The Queen is still frail but going strong
95-years-old is more than many of us could imagine for ourselves, but the Queen appears to be doing well.
Having beaten COVID earlier this year after apparently catching it from her eldest son, the monarch went on to pay tribute at her late husband’s memorial service last week.
The number of in-person audiences held by HRH have reduced significantly and more of her royal duties have been shared amongst those closest to her.
With that said, it looks likely the longest reigning English monarch is set to see her Platinum Jubilee year through to the end.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen to remember 'beloved' husband Philip in private today
The Queen and royal family are expected to privately mark the first anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's death.
Philip, famously described by the Queen as her "constant strength and guide", died peacefully in his sleep on April 9, 2021 at his Windsor Castle home, just a few months short of his 100th birthday.
Buckingham Palace announced his death just after noon that day, issuing a statement that spoke about the royal family joining with people across the globe to grieve.
A man known as much for his keen interest in engineering and science as his outspoken comments and gaffes, the duke was central to the monarch's life.
Philip became an international figure when he married the Queen more than 70 years ago, and his death was marked with tributes from world leaders, foreign royal families and charities he supported.
At the recent service of thanksgiving for Philip's life, Dean of Windsor the Right Rev David Conner paid tribute to his abilities and also highlighted his shortcomings – just as the duke would have wanted.
He described Philip as a man of "passionate commitment" who devoted his "intellectual and physical energy" to a "host of down-to-earth enterprises", but he could also be "abrupt" in a "robust conversation, forgetting just how intimidating he could be".
The Queen is believed to be at Windsor Castle and it is understood she will mark the first anniversary of the death of her husband privately.
- Joseph Gamp
Princess Royal marks start of Australian tour at Sydney Royal Easter Show
The Princess Royal has commenced her three-day visit of Australia by returning to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which she first opened with her mother, brother and father in 1970.
Anne was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony for the event as it celebrated its 200th anniversary on Saturday.
In the same 150-year-old horse-drawn carriage which carried herself, the Queen, the late Duke of Edinburgh and Charles into the show 52 years ago, the princess again made her way into the main arena to officially open the event on Saturday afternoon.
Accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the royal is visiting the Commonwealth nation on behalf of the Queen in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.
She previously opened the show in 1988.
Anne, who is the patron of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, viewed stands and displays ahead of a planned dinner at Sydney Olympic Park.
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan could make political career a reality
Meghan has long had her eyes set on a political career after quitting acting and the Royal Family, it has been claimed.
And a flat close to the action could make her dream a reality.
US politicians first seriously floated the idea in 2020 when Meghan described the battle between Donald Trump and Joe Biden as “the most important election of our lifetime” – before she became the first member of the Royal Family to vote in a major election.
Mike Trujillo, a prominent Democratic strategist, then said in February 2021 that she was more than putting her toe in the water.
He told The Times: “Once your toe is in the water your whole foot is in and next thing you know you are knee-deep and then you are fully in.”
The duchess slowly started building links to members of the Democratic Party in the months that followed to “accelerate” her position.
At the very top of her list of contacts was Michelle Obama, who was First Lady to President Barack Obama, from 2008 to 2016.
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan ‘a figure of fun’ by hometown novelist
MEGHAN Markle has been branded a “figure of fun” in her hometown a novelist – who, despite this, says Hollywood has turned its back on the royal couple.
Novelist Celia Walden spoke to GB News’ Dan Wootton and said: “I thought maybe people would be protective of her out here, but not at all.
“She’s just a figure of fun and the crucial misstep she made is forgetting that the whole of the US love the Queen. So, anyone who is deemed to have affronted the Queen, or behaved badly in that regard, is just not going to go down well.”
- Joseph Gamp
Will and Harry are still tight, but Harry’s cutting it close
Charles and Will were reportedly angry with Harry for ‘putting words in their mouths’.
Harry and Meghan were famously interviewed by Oprah last year during which Harry spoke of feeling trapped.
Referring to his father and brother and their line to the throne he said: “My father and my brother are trapped. They don’t get to leave, and I have huge compassion for that.”
However, royal expert and biographer, Robert Jobson disagrees.
Speaking on podcast, Royally US, Jobson said: “I think Harry was putting words into his father and his brother’s mouths, and maybe making an assessment based upon his feelings.
“They were both very angry about that, both Charles and William. I don’t think it’s true, I don’t think he felt trapped in any way.”
- Joseph Gamp
Former Met Police security detail says Harry faces greater risk in Holland than London
Former Met Inspector Ken Wharfe said the potential risks of Harry’s appearance at the games is a far bigger risk than if he’d attended his grandfather’s funeral.
Mr Wharfe told MailOnline: “I’m baffled about why Harry thinks he would be safer in the Netherlands than in the UK.
“He would have travelled to his grandfather’s memorial service with his brother or father and received protection from the Met.
“It’s not like he would have been turning up at Westminster Abbey on a bike.”
Credit: Reuters - Joseph Gamp
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘planning surprise house move’ to ‘support duchess’ UN ambitions’
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are allegedly planning a surprise move to New York.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be considering an almost 3,000-mile relocation to support the duchess’ United Nations ambitions.
The couple have been settled in their £11.million mansion in Santa Barbara, on the central California coast, since June 2020.
But as part of Meghan’s plans to conquer the political world, they could soon have a place to call home in the Big Apple.
According to Mail+, the Sussexes are pondering renting an apartment in Manhattan.
The area is home to the UN’s headquarters, which Harry and Meg visited in a rare public appearance in September last year.
- Joseph Gamp
Good morning
Joe Gamp here, logging in to our live Royal Family blog.
I'll be bringing you real-time news updates throughout the day until 2pm.
- Milica Cosic
Kate & William to be 'sidelined'
According to a royal expert, Kate Middleton and Prince William may end up being sidelines in the public eye by their children.
Richard Palmer, the royal expert, told the Express's Royal Round-Up: 'It's a national soap opera the Royal Family and there always has to be a black sheep of the family.
"So people's popularity will go up and down.
"It may well be you get 15 years down the line, and William and Kate are the Prince and Princess of Wales, and people by that stage are sort of, younger people certainly, saying we are far more interested in Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis then we are with Prince William and by then Princess Kate."
- Milica Cosic
Queen pulls out of Easter event next week
THE Queen has pulled out of an Easter event next week.
Her Majesty, 95, had been due to attend a service at St George's Chapel in Windsor on April 14, but she will instead be represented by the Duchess of Cornwall.
Camilla will be joined by Prince Charles to meet the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO and the Lord High Almoner, the Right Reverend Dr. John Inge.
- Milica Cosic
The ULTIMATE Platinum Jubilee coin
You can get your hands on the ultimate Platinum Jubilee coin, which features a one-of-a-kind portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
To celebrate this astonishing achievement, The Ultimate Platinum Jubilee Coin has been issued and is available today for free, but you've just got to pay £2.50 postage.
Never before in British history has a monarch marked their Platinum Jubilee – so order this coin quickly as we're sure it's going to sell out quickly!
Get your hands on one here.
- Milica Cosic
Princess Beatrice may be a ‘anxiety-free new parent’
A body language expert has given the in’s on what parent Princess Beatrice might be, stating that she might act more like a ‘young girl herself rather than a wife and mother’.
Body language expert Judi James said: “Beatrice has several emotional advantages that should help her new role as a mother to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
“Her husband Edo was an experienced father already and although she is the older sister it has always been Eugenie who has looked the more mature and protective of her.
“Watching Beatrice’s most recent videos on social media we can see someone who looks and talks more like a young girl herself rather than a wife and mother.
“Her conversational skills with children seem based on her own high levels of empathy and love of acting like a big kid.”
- Milica Cosic
Documents about Queen's death accidentally leaked
Official emails about protocols for Queen's were death accidentally leaked.
An investigation has been launched after official emails about protocols used when the Queen dies were accidentally leaked by the Welsh government to people internally and a former employee.
The documents were marked as "official sensitive".
A spokesperson for the permanent secretary, Andrew Goodall, who is the head of the Welsh Government Civil Service, said: "It was marked 'official sensitive' and should not have been shared.
"We take the issue of information and data security very seriously and this is now being investigated as a potential security breach."
- Milica Cosic
Harry ‘safer coming to UK’ than to Invictus Games in Holland
PRINCE Harry would have been safer in the UK for Prince Philip’s memorial service than he will be in Holland for the Invictus Games, his former protection officer said today.
Former Met Inspector Ken Wharfe, who worked in private protection for Harry, William and Princess Diana, said the potential risks of the contest are far greater than those the duke would face in London.
Mr Wharfe, who wrote a controversial tell-all book on Princess Diana after her death, told Mail Online the very nature of the event makes it a common target for terrorists because of its military links.
Police and security services in the Netherlands have refused to say whether he will get royal protection, although it’s understood to be extremely likely.
Mr Wharfe said: “I’m baffled about why Harry thinks he would be safer in the Netherlands than in the UK.
“He would have travelled to his grandfather’s memorial service with his brother or father and received protection from the Met.
“It’s not like he would have been turning up at Westminster Abbey on a bike.”
He said that in his personal view, it’s “more of a risk to go to Holland to support a charity with a military link” than attend the memorial.
Harry is taking on the Government after he was told he’d no longer be given the “same degree” of personal protective security on visits from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself.
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