Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte share a love for the arts, and the future Queen frequently brings her kids to experience the London cultural scene. From musicals to ballets and concerts, George, Charlotte and Louis have been treated to some world-class performances, and one West End actress revealed what happened when she met two of the Wales children in 2022.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Zizi Strallen, who is currently starring as Glinda in the London production of Wicked, shared that the Princess of Wales made a sweet request on behalf of Charlotte when Strallen was starring as Mary Poppins on the West End.

"Kate brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see Mary Poppins,” the actress said. “They came backstage and she said to me: 'Would it be okay for Charlotte to have a cuddle with Mary Poppins?' I was like: 'Yes!' She wanted to hug me, which was really cute.”

Strallen added that she had another royal-adjacent visit the same day when Sir David Beckham turned up to a performance with his family. "It was a surreal day, because they came in the afternoon, and then David Beckham and Victoria came in the evening with [their children] Harper, Romeo and Cruz," she shared.

Her encounter with Princess George and Princess Charlotte wasn't the first time Strallen met royalty. In 2019, the actress had the chance to speak with Princess Kate for the first time during the Royal Variety Performance, but Strallen said her three sisters—who are all West End stars themselves—make fun of her for her reaction.

"My sisters take the mickey out of me for this, because there’s a video of me meeting Kate at the Royal Variety Performance in 2019; I'm dressed as Mary Poppins, and as she walks away, I do the most awkward little-girl wave," Strallen admitted. "I was bowled over by how tall, statuesque and stunning she was, and she and William were so normal."

Perhaps Charlotte can get another hug if she sees Wicked this holiday season.

Now that Prince George has officially started attending Eton College, royal fans are wondering where his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will go to school. And according to one royal expert, Princess Kate and Prince William have used a fairly foolproof method to decide where each of their kids will be educated.

During an appearance on Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," the publication's royal editor, Emily Nash, weighed in on the Prince and Princess of Wales's schooling decisions.

"I think what William and Catherine have done is they've chosen the school that is right for [Prince George], and they'll choose the school that's right for each individual child," Nash shared. "This is not like a one size fits all, is it?"

Nash continued, "They know better than anyone else what [Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis's] personalities are like, what their interests are like, which sports are best provided for at which school. And we know they've done so much research."

As for Kate and William's decision to send Prince George to Eton College—his father's alma mater—Nash explained, "It really does show that George is a smart kid because I don't think you get into Eton anymore just off the back of who your parents are."

The royal expert said, "I genuinely don't think that in this day and age, they could put someone into Eton and get them through in the way that may have happened in previous generations."

Prince George's mom, Princess Kate, has always prioritized education in her work and charitable endeavors, so she was especially well-placed to weigh in on the royal children's futures.

"Catherine is on it in terms of [George's] education," Nash noted. "I don't think they would put him in a place where he would feel he wasn't able to keep up."

Currently, where Louis and Charlotte will attend high school remains unclear.

Princess Kate spent a moving day at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Friday, September 11, visiting with staff and patients at the same facility where she was treated for cancer in 2024. For an event that was focused on spotlighting holistic cancer care, the future queen avoided a new outfit, instead relying on familiar pieces that sent a message about one of the hospital's new initiatives.

This season, it's all about moss green, with the muted shade showing up everywhere for fall 2026. But Kate skipped the trend and pulled an old favorite Suzannah dress out of her closet in a bright emerald green shade, wearing the British designer's Flippy Wiggle midi.

Kate also owns the vintage-inspired dress in a bright white version, and she debuted the green iteration in 2023 for a visit to the Anna Freud Centre during Mental Health Awareness Week.

At first, you might not connect the two events, but green is the official color for mental health awareness—a topic that the Princess of Wales explored during her day at Royal Marsden on Friday.

Kate recently raised money for the hospital's new Center for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery by completing the National Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales. During her visit Friday, the royal stressed the importance of how mental health support, being in nature and other holistic therapies helped her through her cancer treatments.

“It makes a big difference, the impact of nature, the impact of good nutrition, good ongoing support around you when it’s really difficult to manage the trials and tribulations of medical treatments… it makes a big difference,” she shared.

In addition to her meaningful green dress, Kate chose a necklace and earring set she's been wearing for more than a decade. The Princess of Wales first wore Mappin & Webb's Empress necklace in 2014, and she debuted the matching earrings at Princess Charlotte's 2015 christening. Since then she's worn the diamond designs to everything from a 2018 mental health summit to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Princess of Wales finished off her outfit with black Camilla Elphick slingback heels and bouncy waves in her hair for her emotional return to the Royal Marsden.

Princess Kate stressed the importance of “being able to give back” to the hospital where she was treated for cancer, making a surprise visit to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital on Friday, September 11. While meeting with patients and hospital staff, the princess also shared how, aside from chemotherapy, some unexpected therapies helped her recover.

The Princess of Wales, who announced she was in remission from an undisclosed form of cancer in January 2025, recently raised funds for the Royal Marsden by completing the National Three Peaks Challenge. After climbing the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales, the princess donated the money she raised to help support holistic cancer care to patients like herself.

“This is my small way of being able to give back and say thank you to you,” Kate said on Friday, according to the Times. “I had incredible care here and support from a huge team and I’m really really grateful on a personal level.”

The Princess of Wales, who announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, added that “the holistic care, the treatments and therapeutic support on the outside is so important.”

Princess Kate has often reflected on how being in nature has helped her mental health, and during her visit to the Royal Marsden, she noted that there are many pieces to the puzzle during cancer care.

“It makes a big difference, the impact of nature, the impact of good nutrition, good ongoing support around you when it’s really difficult to manage the trials and tribulations of medical treatments… it makes a big difference,” she shared.

“It made a big difference to me and it made a huge difference to lots of patients who I’ve spoken to. Thank you and well done,” the Princess of Wales added.

Although the amount of Kate's donation has not been announced, the funds are being used to help build a new Center for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery at the hospital—and the royal noted how the center will be “transformative not only for patients but for families too."

September 8 marked Prince George's first day at Eton College, but it was also a major milestone for Prince William and Princess Kate, who are sending their first child off to boarding school. What do you wear to mark such a historic day for your eldest son (and future King)? For the Princess of Wales, it's a tried-and-true dress and suede pumps with chunky gold jewelry—a choice that Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, says falls in line with Princess Diana's "bolder" jewelry style.

Princess Kate re-wore a long-sleeved green dress by Emilia Wickstead for Prince George's first day at Eton, accenting her outfit with brown Gianvito Rossi heels and dark pantyhose. When it comes to jewelry, the Princess of Wales reached for some familiar favorites.

She paired her often-worn white, yellow and rose gold Cartier Trinity earrings with a more affordable option in the form of Laura Lombardi's $192 gold-plated Portrait necklace.

The Princess of Wales first wore the necklace with a Chanel blazer at a Boston Celtics game in 2022, and later paired it with trouser suits for a 2023 visit to a textile mill and a 2025 museum trip. "What's interesting is that it's a proper gold chain link, not a fine delicate piece," the jewelry pro says of Kate's Laura Lombardi piece.

"Catherine tends to be associated with quite refined, understated jewelry, so a chunkier gold chain like this stands out a little against that," he says. "It's a bolder shape than we usually see her reach for in her jewelry sometimes."

Princess Diana went sans necklace when she accompanied Prince William to his first day at Eton College, but did wear a thick pair of gold knot earrings. Rakholia notes that Kate's choices are in a "similar spirit" to that of her late mother-in-law's.

"Diana was known for exactly this kind of jewelry," he says. "Bold gold chains, statement link necklaces, pieces with real presence rather than anything too dainty."

The late royal wore a bright blue blazer over a black shift dress for William's first day at Eton, and although Princess Kate went in a different direction for her outfit, Rakholia says that Kate's jewelry felt "fitting for the day."

"William walking his own son into Eton, more than thirty years after Diana walked him through the same gates. A chunkier gold piece with a bit of Diana's boldness in it feels like a nice, understated way to mark that," he shares.

Rakholia adds, "I wouldn't say it's a deliberate reference, but the overlap is there."

Prince George started his first day at boarding school on Tuesday, September 8, with parents Prince William and Princess Kate joining him for his big day at Eton College. Despite the pouring rain, all three royals wore brown suede shoes (perhaps with a bit of weatherproofing magic), but it wasn't their footwear that turned out to be a struggle in the weather.

Prince William was photographed fighting with his umbrella in the downpour, with his black brolly blowing inside out as the Wales family walked through one of Eton's stone archways. Prince George, 13, couldn't help but laugh as he watched his dad attempt to fix the umbrella before eventually closing it and giving up.

The Prince of Wales opted to get wet rather than battle with his brolly, but luckily, Princess Kate's umbrella stayed intact as the family greeted Eton College's headmaster and provost.

New Etonian Prince George seemed unbothered by the pouring rain, walking in between his parents sans umbrella and grinning widely during the photo call.

George changed out of his navy suit and suede shoes and into the iconic Eton College uniform, posing for three new portraits with one of his family's trusted photographers, Matt Porteous.

Although he ducked into an archway for the historic pictures, the future King didn't quite escape the rain—a splash of water can be seen on the sleeve of his traditional jacket in the snaps.

It was a milestone day for Prince George as he arrived at Eton College for his first day of secondary school on September 8, and the Wales family showed a united front with one fashion detail.

Prince William and Princess Kate have had a penchant for coordinating with their kids over the years, and the future King's first day at the historic boarding school was no different.

George and his father matched in navy suits and slightly different blue ties, while Princess Kate went with a deep green Emilia Wickstead dress she's worn previously. But despite the heavy rain on Tuesday, Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince George all chose a surprising footwear option: brown suede shoes.

The Princess of Wales has been a longtime fan of Gianvito Rossi's towering pumps, owning them in a rainbow of colors, and she went for a chocolate suede pair for George's big day at Eton.

Meanwhile, George chose a pair of brown suede loafers, while the Prince of Wales wore classic lace-up oxfords in the same hue.

Princess Kate finished off her first day outfit with an old favorite chunky gold necklace by Laura Lombardi and her Cartier Trinity earrings.

After meeting with the college's headmaster, Simon Henderson, and provost Nicholas Coleridge, Prince George made a quick change as he stepped into his future as an official Etonian.

Kensington Palace released three portraits of the teenager in his new school uniform, with George swapping his suede shoes for shiny black oxfords as he posed outside the 586-year-old boarding school.

As for the Wales family's rainy day moment, it seems they took advantage of one of my favorite shoe tricks: a handy waterproofing spray.

For the most part, Princess Kate and Prince William have stayed out of the spotlight throughout the summer months. During their annual trip to Balmoral with the Royal Family in August, Kate and William were spotted attending church with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Now, a royal author has weighed in on the Prince and Princess of Wales's absence from public life over the summer.

In an interview with Hello! magazine, royal expert and biographer Robert Jobson said, "A lot of people might think that it's lazy or whatever [taking the school vacation off from royal duties], but I don't think it is."

Jobson continued, "They've got a long time in the top job, and after this it becomes even more relentless so I think they’re trying to manage their time as best they can whilst they've got an element of freedom."

Jobson further shared, "They've got their image right, they've got their engagement at the level they want, they're spending enough time with their kids. I think they've managed it quite well."

He also noted, "I think they're certainly stronger as a couple, but also as a family unit and everything. You only have to look at them in public, and they are very much a together couple, and they're very much doing their job. They really haven't really put a foot wrong."

Basically, although some onlookers might criticize the Royal Family's decision to retreat from the spotlight in the summer months, everyone deserves quality time away from work now and again.

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Pippa Middleton is celebrating her 43rd birthday on Sunday, September 6, and while the famously close-knit Middleton family is likely celebrating quietly at home, Princess Kate's younger sister could accept a more front-and-center role in the Royal Family when Prince William becomes King.

King Charles's former butler at Highgrove House, Grant Harrold, says that he respects how the Middleton family "manage to stay out of the limelight," but points out that like, Queen Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot, Pippa might choose to support her sister when she's Queen.

Unlike Queen Elizabeth, who had ladies-in-waiting, Queen Camilla chose a group of close friends, as well as her sister, to serve as a more modern version of the role, calling them companions. "In the future, I wouldn’t rule out Pippa becoming one of Kate’s companions," Harrold shares, speaking to Smooth Spins Casino. "Like what Queen Camilla is doing right now with her sister.”

If Princess Kate also chooses to give official companion roles when she's Queen, Pippa would certainly make an ideal choice.

"Pippa does her own thing," Harrold shares. "She keeps herself very low key, and I think she does a really good job of it." The former butler adds that the Middleton family as a whole provides "strong support from the background, but they respect the family and traditions enough to be strictly private."

Since the Princess of Wales grew up outside of the Royal Family, the Middletons also give Prince William the chance to relax and be himself. “Pippa and the wider Middleton family are really good for William, as they’ve offered this whole other side of family life," Harrold says. "We know he is the future monarch, but he gets a wonderful normal lifestyle when he’s with Kate’s family."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved back to Britain for the time being, but their relationship with Prince William and Princess Kate isn't showing any signs of improvement. The brothers have not spoken in several years, and a source recently told People magazine that the Waleses are avoiding a "knee-jerk reaction" to the move. While other royal insiders have suggested that it's on Prince William to reach out and fix their relationship, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden shared what a friend of William and Kate's said—and why he disagrees that a reconciliation should be forced.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex touched down in Birmingham, England last week with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, and the family is reportedly looking to settle down in the Cotswolds. Although they spent time with King Charles and Queen Camilla in July, Harry and Meghan have not interacted with the Prince and Princess of Wales since Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022.

At the moment, the Sussexes have no plans to become full-time working royals again, and it's not expected that they'll be making public appearances with the family in the near future. But Richard Kay of the Daily Mail noted, "At some stage they are going to have to engage, because they can't not engage forever."

However, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex have done just that in recent years. They didn't interact at King Charles's May 2023 coronation, and the brothers avoided each other at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes's funeral in 2024. Prince Harry has also visited the U.K. several times for charity events and court appearances in recent years, but hasn't seen his brother.

"William knows that, above all, his responsibility to the monarchy, to the institution, has to take first place, so he'll have to put whatever personal differences he has to one side," Kay said. Continuing that Harry and William should "hammer out some kind of official line, even if it's sort of grip and grin in public," Kay added that "some kind of public-spirited sense of reunion between the two" would go a long way.

Kay's colleague, Richard Eden, wrote that he disagrees with his friend, noting that he thinks "the pressure being put on William and Catherine is unfair and wrong." Eden said he felt Harry and Meghan "betrayed and insulted the couple not only in their Oprah Winfrey interview but in their Netflix series, Harry's memoir Spare and in a seemingly endless stream of interviews that Harry gave."

After speaking to a friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the columnist said that the couple's plan is to "go on ignoring the Sussexes."

"It makes no difference if Harry and Meghan are in Oxfordshire, California or Timbuktu," the insider said. "William and Catherine will continue their lives of public service. They intend to lead by example."

As the future Queen, Princess Kate holds a very important place within the British Royal Family. And according to royal experts, another Royal Family member has grown "very close" to the Princess of Wales in recent months.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal author Andrew Lownie noted that Queen Camilla "is very close to Kate." The newspaper further explained, "Camilla has not just grown closer with Kate in recent years, but also appears to share a warm relationship with the princess's family—including her mother Carole Middleton."

Meanwhile, body language expert Judi James reflected on Princess Kate and Queen Camilla's interaction at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in November 2025.

"There was an exchange of what looked like warm chat between the present and future queens here, with Camilla's rather playful smile and side-eye appearing to make Kate beam back down at her," James told the outlet.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to move back to the U.K. from California is sure to impact both Princess Kate and Queen Camilla.

According to Lownie, "The King and the Prince of Wales have long been aware of the Sussexes's plan to return to Britain, but it has suited their purposes to distance themselves whilst public opinion is tested."

The royal author continued, "The Queen, who is very close to Kate, has been stiffening the resolve of The King to establish clear boundaries for [Harry and Meghan]."

Hopefully Harry and Meghan will be able to reintegrate into the Royal Family following their unexpected move. Having left Montecito in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, it seems as though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are serious about building a new life in England.

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There’s no better person to celebrate International Dog Day than James Middleton, and Princess Kate's brother shared a sweet tribute to his oldest cocker spaniel, Zulu, on Wednesday, August 26. Middleton breeds dogs and gifted the Wales family with both their late dog, Lupo, and their current cocker spaniel, Orla, and a throwback photo of Lupo made the cut in James’s celebratory Instagram post.

Wearing a casual denim shirt, James smiles at the camera as he holds Zulu in a photo, writing, “This is Zulu’s 15th International Dog Day and may well be his last….so today we are celebrating him 🐾❤️.”

The second photo in Middleton’s post shows James’s first dog, Ella—who inspired his bestselling memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life—sitting next to her sons Zulu and Lupo. “These photos were taken 15 years apart 📸,” Middleton wrote. “Zulu with his mother Ella, and brother Lupo 🖤.”

Middleton credits Ella with stopping him from a 2017 suicide attempt, and the cocker spaniel was instrumental in helping him through his mental health struggles over the years. In January 2023, Ella died after a short illness, with James sharing an Instagram post that said, in part, “For 15 years Ella has been at my side, from my darkest days to my happiest. I'm going to miss her terribly.”

Prince William and Princess Kate announced that Lupo had died in November 2020, writing on social media, “Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much. - W & C.”

James gave another dog, Orla, to the Waleses the same year, and she later gave birth to puppies that played a starring role in Prince William’s 2025 birthday photo. William and Kate kept one of the puppies, a brown cocker spaniel named Otto, and he turned one in May 2026. However, the family kept their new dog a secret until his first birthday, writing on Instagram, "Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today 🥳 🎂."

Although Dolly Parton met Queen Elizabeth in 1977, she never got the chance to spend time with Queen Camilla or Princess Kate. In 2023, the country star—who died at the age of 80 on August 25—turned down an invitation to have tea with the Princess of Wales because of her busy schedule, but she later expressed her wish for the Wales family to visit her in Tennessee.

“I felt so bad, I couldn't even go because they had all this stuff set up," the "I Will Always Love You" singer told the BBC (via Newsweek) of her packed U.K. promotional tour. She explained Kate “wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no.”

Parton, who died after a brief battle with cancer, vowed “one of these days” she was going to take the Princess of Wales up on her offer, adding, “that would be great.” Sadly, their meeting never happened, but the star also shared that she’d love for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to experience her Dollywood theme park.

“Oh, I would absolutely love for them to come to Dollywood, that would be fantastic!” she told Closer (via GB News). “The kids could go on all the rides and we would treat them like royalty.”

The “Jolene” singer continued that she’d show the Wales family some southern hospitality. “I’d give Kate my mashed potatoes—I wouldn’t put on any airs for them,” she said. “I would just let them enjoy what we enjoy, and I’m sure that’s the way they would want it.”

“I would love to have those kids at Dollywood,” Parton added.

Floral tributes to the late singer were left outside the theme park's sign after her death, and the Dollywood website stated, “In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday, August 26 as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle -- “the show must go on.””

It was exactly one year ago when Princess Kate shocked royal fans with her drastically lighter hair, and it seems blonde highlights have become part of her Balmoral vacation routine. Last summer, the Princess of Wales was spotted driving to church with a bright bronde hair color, and on Sunday, August 23, she repeated the tradition.

Princess Kate headed to the Sunday morning service in Crathie Kirk wearing a Princess Diana-esque piecrust collar blouse by Holland Cooper, topping off her blonde highlights with a chocolate brown Lock & Co pillbox hat.

The royal's new hair color appears lighter than the slightly sun-kissed brown shade the princess showed off during her last public appearance on August 1, but not as drastic as the blonde transformation Kate made last summer.

The Princess of Wales caused a social media frenzy when she made her first public appearance of fall 2025 with shockingly light, extra-long blonde hair. But four days later, Kate was back to brunette while attending an event to mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.

This summer, Princess Kate went for a more subtle bronde shade—a look that hair color specialist Leslie Shores recently told Marie Claire is one of autumn’s hottest trends. “It adds exotic warmth, depth, and dimension to the hair that feels like a golden hour,” Shores says.

Whether the Princess of Wales returns to her deeper brunette tone once the temperatures drop remains to be seen, but until then, there's still plenty of summer days left to soak up before royal duties await.

Princess Kate is currently staying in Balmoral with husband Prince William and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Royal Family spends time on the Balmoral estate every summer, with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and a plethora of relatives currently vacationing in Scotland.

On August 23, Princess Kate was photographed arriving at Crathie Kirk Church in Aberdeenshire with her family. For the church visit, the Princess of Wales opted for a vintage-inspired outfit, which included a classic pillbox hat with an accent bow on the front, and a white, high-neck, pie-crust collar blouse by Holland Cooper featuring subtle ruffles.

She completed her throwback look with a brown tweed blazer and a pair of past-season Ralph Lauren chandelier earrings. Notably, her hair was worn with very subtle waves and striking blonde highlights.

Prince George and Prince Louis were photographed arriving at Crathie Kirk Church alongside their parents. Although pictures of Princess Charlotte weren't available, she was reportedly also in attendance. Princess Anne, her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, and Lady Louise were also seen traveling to the service.

The Royal Family's church visit follows news that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to move back to the U.K. imminently.

As Princess Kate is on vacation in Scotland, she is skipping a birthday party thrown by sister Pippa Middleton this weekend. According to Hello! magazine, Pippa is reportedly hosting a birthday celebration for her husband, James Matthews, at their home, Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire. It seems that, as the Princess of Wales is currently staying at the Balmoral estate, she'll be unable to attend her sister's event.

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The Middletons are, by all accounts, an incredibly close family. However, Princess Kate is reportedly skipping a party being hosted by her sister, Pippa Middleton, this weekend.

According to Hello! magazine, Pippa is currently "preparing for an intimate birthday celebration for her husband," James Matthews, who turned 51 on August 21. Pippa and James live at Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire with their three young children—Arthur, Grace, and Rose. The property is located near to the home of Kate and Pippa's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Unfortunately, as Princess Kate is currently at the Royal Family's Balmoral residence in Scotland, she won't be in attendance at the birthday celebration, per Hello! magazine.

The outlet previously confirmed that Princess Kate and Prince William had arrived at Balmoral with their three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. As a result, their trip to Scotland clashes with Pippa's husband's birthday party.

In 2021, Prince William shared just how much trips to Balmoral mean to his children. "George, Charlotte, and Louis are already aware of how dear Scotland is to both of us, and they're beginning to create their own cherished memories there, too," he said in a speech.

Kate, William, and their children join King Charles, Queen Camilla, Zara Tindall and her family, Peter Phillips, and new royal bride Harriet Sperling in Balmoral for the Royal Family's annual summer vacation.

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Earlier this week, it was revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to move back to the U.K. with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Numerous reports have since discussed the logistics of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's transatlantic move, amidst the news that Meghan might return to acting. But according to one royal expert, some members of the Royal Family might be planning to "avoid" Meghan and Harry for the foreseeable future.

During an appearance on Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," the publication's royal editor, Emily Nash, discussed how the Royal Family might be feeling about Meghan and Harry's news.

Nash shared, "I think this is going to be very much one step at a time, and from people I've been speaking to who know [Meghan and Harry], I think they're very much working on the basis of let's get the children settled, let's get started on what we want to do, and then the rest is something to consider down the line."

The royal expert continued, "But crucial to them is the relationship with The King. You can't go any higher than him. And if you have him on side and you are spending time with him, then that does half of the work for you."

However, according to Nash, it's possible that some Royal Family members won't want to spend time with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their return.

"There is a risk, I think, that other members of the family continue to avoid them, it might make them look petty or unforgiving," Nash shared. "Now, there's a lot that would need to be forgiven. Let's be honest about this. And you can absolutely understand why William and Kate might never want to go there."

Nash continued, "You know, their decision to leave affected that whole generation of the Royal Family."

Hopefully Meghan and Harry's move to the U.K. will go as smoothly as possible, in spite of any possible family disagreements.

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As Prince William and Princess Kate enjoy their summer break on the Balmoral estate with King Charles and other members of the Royal Family, no doubt the biggest conversation around the dinner table is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming move. The couple, who have lived in Montecito, California for the past six years, are making a surprise relocation to Britain this month—and for William especially, it creates a sticky situation.

The Princes of Wales has not been on speaking terms with his brother in years, and the two avoided each other at their uncle Lord Fellowes’s 2024 funeral, the last time they were seen in public together. William also did not head to Highgrove House this July when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla for the first time in four years.

But now that Harry and Meghan will be living nearby, it opens the door for them to attend Royal Family events like vacations at Balmoral and Christmas at Sandringham once again. It’s a situation that royal author and journalist Robert Jobson says must “be difficult” for the Prince of Wales.

“Are they really going to have William and Harry sitting round a table with all that’s gone on?” Jobson told Hello! magazine, adding, “I feel that William must be slightly aghast by the whole thing.”

The royal biographer pointed out that King Charles might be “hoping that it will be a chance for reconciliation,” but noted the move will likely prove to “be very difficult for The King.”

“On one level he will reconnect. On another level it will make things complicated for him,” Jobson continued. “It will muddy the waters.”

An ocean has separated the brothers for the past six years, but with the Sussexes set to establish a non-royal residence in the U.K. this month, former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt pointed out that Harry’s “presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation.”

“The surprise return of Harry and Meghan is likely to have left William apoplectic,” Hunt added, per the Daily Mail.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have enrolled their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, at a British school, but any details about where they'll be living are being kept tightly under wraps—at least for now.

King Charles arrived for his annual stay at Balmoral on Tuesday, August 18, just a day before the news broke that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be moving back to Britain. As royal circles processed the surprise relocation, Prince William and Princess Kate quietly joined the Royal Family in Scotland on Thursday—and according to one editor, the Waleses are likely “not delighted.”

Princess Anne’s children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips are already at the castle with their families—including new royal wife Harriet Sperling—and Hello! magazine confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the Balmoral estate on August 20.

Speaking on Hello!’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” the magazine’s royal editor, Emily Nash, noted there’s been “complete radio silence” coming from William and Kate’s side. “I imagine they're not delighted about this,” she added.

The Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales remain estranged, and with the couples not on speaking terms, the Sussex family's move to Britain will open a can of worms for both.

“It's going to be a very, very difficult hill to climb, having them suddenly back in the U.K., popping up, doing things publicly, if that's where they go with this,” Nash says of Harry and Meghan. “So much has been said and done that has damaged that relationship, almost beyond repair.”

A reconciliation seems unlikely to happen anytime soon, and Nash noted that when it comes to William and Kate, “I can't see a world in which they would be welcoming them back with open arms.”

King Charles was reportedly told about Harry and Meghan’s plans on Sunday, August 16, and Nash shared that the family has “had time to process this” ahead of their Balmoral break.

“We believe the Waleses were made aware beforehand,” she said. “They didn't find out at the same time as the rest of the world.”

Summer weather might not be going anywhere in New York City, but Queen Camilla dressed for some fall-like temps in York, England, on August 19. The Queen braved the rain on the first day of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse on Wednesday, turning to one of Princess Kate’s favorite accessories for her equestrian day out.

Queen Camilla, who serves as patron of York Racecourse, stayed dry in a classic tan trench coat over her collared blue dress, carrying one of Queen Elizabeth’s beloved clear birdcage umbrellas by Fulton.

The Queen once again chose her sparkling diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch— a piece that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth—but it was Camilla's hat that stole the show during the racing festival. Her feather-trimmed, cornflower blue style was a custom creation by milliner Philip Treacy, and it brings to mind several of the hats the Princess of Wales has worn in recent years.

No one loves a good feather-trimmed hat like Princess Kate, and she's experimented with both wide-brimmed styles and smaller, more classic fedoras by brands like Philip Treacy and Hicks & Brown.

Queen Camilla's hat featured an intricate fabric band with lace detail and a dramatic plume similar to the green Philip Treacy design the Princess of Wales wore for a Christmas morning service in 2022. Although The Queen's band wasn't created from feathers like the brown Philip Treacy design Kate wore for Christmas 2021, it gives off a similar style.

Camilla finished off her outfit with her ever-present blue agate Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra bracelet, pearl drop earrings, nude heels and her go-to Lady Dior bag.

Although it might not be time to break out the "Balmoral Look" just yet, it's never too early to get some autumn hat inspiration with these picks below.

Duchess Sophie is one of the hardest working members of the Royal Family, and she’s now taken on a patronage with a very personal meaning. On August 17, Buckingham Palace announced that the Duchess of Edinburgh has been named the new patron of Visualise Scotland, a charity that helps adults living with visual impairment and other disabilities in the Edinburgh region.

To mark the occasion, Sophie posed for a new portrait snapped by Millie Pilkington, a photographer that often takes pictures for Prince William, Princess Kate and their children. In another tie to the Princess of Wales, Duchess Sophie wore an elegant ivory dress by Beulah London, one of their shared favorite brands.

The duchess chose a trumpet-sleeved ivory design she’s worn previously, with the dress featuring long, flared sleeves and button detail marching down the skirt. Princess Kate has worn a similar green version of the dress, but hers included slimmer long sleeves.

Sophie accessorized the dress with her Chopard diamond circle pendant and a pair of gold hoops, but it was her nail polish that stood out in the photo.

Members of the Royal Family often go without polish or choose barely-there colors, but the Duchess of Edinburgh wore a dark, plummy brown shade in her portrait that's perfect for fall.

Visualise Scotland's mission is deeply personal to the duchess. When Sophie's eldest child, Lady Louise, was born, she was diagnosed with an eye condition called esotropia, which was corrected with surgery when she was a child. The Duchess of Edinburgh has made preventable blindness one of the causes she's championed over the years, and she holds a role as global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

As for her new manicure, fingers crossed for more bold shades from Sophie this fall.

Princess Kate has seemingly never encountered a sporty activity she’s can't do—and it seems her only daughter is taking after her athletic mom. Although Princess Charlotte loves to dance, just like her late grandmother Princess Diana, it’s now been revealed that she plays netball on a national level.

According to the Daily Mail, 11-year-old Charlotte has joined a netball team outside of Lambrook School and “competes at a high level all over the country.”

“All of the parents of the girls on the opposing teams are wondering whether or not they're going to run into William and Kate,” a source told the publication. “It's all very hands on and it would be funny to see them in such a down-to-earth environment, doing the early starts and long drives that everyone else has to do.”

Princess Charlotte also plays netball for Lambrook, as revealed by a rival prep school on Instagram earlier this year. In April, Notting Hill & Ealing High’s junior netball team shared that they experienced “a memorable quarter-final win (10–5) against Lambrook, where the girls enjoyed playing against Princess Charlotte!”

Princess Kate played netball herself in school, and the royal revealed that Charlotte was interested in the sport three years ago when she met England netball player Ama Agbez at a SportsAid event.

“Kate has played netball before, she knows the sport,” Agbez told People at the time. “She said she had been teaching her daughter how to shoot in netball, but younger people have the net lower, so it's actually very different—she's still got it.”

More recently, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte watched the sport at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, joining Prince William, Prince George and Prince Louis in Glasgow, Scotland on August 1.

Both Princess Kate and Meghan Markle have faced unduly negative press as members of the British Royal Family. In fact, racist tabloid coverage is one of the reasons the Duchess of Sussex left the U.K. and moved back to the U.S. with husband Prince Harry. And according to one royal author, all women lose when royal women are unfairly vilified by the media.

In an exclusive interview with Marie Claire, royal author Catherine Mayer—who recently released her book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles—discussed the persecution Duchess Meghan dealt with as a senior royal.

"My fear is that the world has learned very little indeed from Meghan's experience and that's another reason I wrote the book," Mayer shares. "As I say in it, you don't have to like her or watch her shows, but what on earth has she done to earn the hatred meted out to her?"

Elaborating on why it's important to discuss this difficult topic, Mayer says, "Telling these negative stories about royal women, whipping up hostility towards them, has a long pedigree as my book shows, and it always goes badly not only for the women in question but for all women."

The author continues, "It's a way of promoting reductive views of women as scheming seductresses or witches. In that respect, some stories about Meghan resemble those circulated about Anne Boleyn."

Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles by Catherine Mayer is available now.

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Prince William often worried Queen Elizabeth when he flew his family in helicopters, ignoring an old royal travel rule of not flying with his heir, Prince George. Although the idea of not having two heirs on the same flight has been done away with, there’s another, lesser-known travel regulation that the Royal Family reportedly follows on commercial airlines—and it’s been revealed by a surprising source.

Former Love Island star Helena Ford, who appeared on season 12 of the U.K. reality show as well as Love Island: All Stars 2026, worked as a British Airways flight attendant before heading into the villa. She recently told the “Private Parts” podcast that Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids flew on BA during her time in the skies, and they were actually not permitted to sit in the best section of the plane.

“I think there is a thing in place where they can't fly in the highest cabin, so if there's a first class, they have to sit in business, and if there isn't a first class, they have to sit in Traveller Plus,” Ford said, adding that the Prince and Princess of Wales flew in business class since their plane also had a pricier first-class option.

Members of the Royal Family frequently travel on official government aircraft, but Prince William and Princess Kate have chosen commercial flights for several trips, like their 2016 India tour and their Earthshot Prize visit to Boston. The Princess of Wales even flew in economy with her three children when heading on a short flight to Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

Ford says the Waleses were “coming back from St. Lucia” at the time she served them, likely during one of their trips to Mustique, as commercial flights land there before boarding a private flight to the island.

The ex-Love Islander continued that although the Prince and Princess of Wales flew commercial when she was working, they weren’t seated with average travelers.

The reality star explained that “the whole of business was security, but they were dressed as normal people so you wouldn't know.” Ford also said she wasn’t sure why William and Kate couldn’t fly in the highest class, but revealed “you couldn't call them their own name, they had like, fake names and stuff.”

Prince William and Princess Kate celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in April, and although they’ve weathered many storms together, one royal expert says there’s a key reason to why their marriage has stayed strong.

“The secret to the Prince and Princess of Wales’s marriage is support for one another throughout their roles as working royals and as parents to their three young children,” said the Daily Mirror’s royal editor, Russell Myers.

The couple has long prided themselves on putting family above everything else, and Princess Kate is a strong source of support for the future King. “Everything they do is in tandem and this includes Catherine being the catalyst for William launching the Earthshot Prize, when he doubted it could become the global success it has,” Myers, who authored recent bestseller William and Catherine, added.

Speaking of the Earthshot Prize, Myers says that the Princess of Wales intends to travel to India with Prince William for this November's ceremony, set to take place in Mumbai.

Princess Kate hadn’t taken on any international tours since her 2024 cancer diagnosis until this May, when she visited Reggio Emilia, Italy to do research for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Myers says that now that she’s fully back to work, “Catherine is very much looking forward to attending the Earthshot Awards in India alongside her husband.”

For William and Kate, the trip marks “a huge milestone,” the royal editor said. “It will be almost four years since they traveled to Boston together to attend the Earthshot Awards, and even longer since they took on their major royal tour of the Caribbean, which was fraught with controversy,” he added. “This is a chance of renewal for both of them and when they are together on the international stage, there is no doubt they have a far bigger impact.”

It might be pushing 90 degrees right now, but my mind is firmly on fall fashion, and for the royals, they’ve already started digging into their autumn wardrobes at Balmoral. The weather in Scotland is notoriously rainy and chilly, even in August, and it wouldn’t be unusual for temperatures to be in the fifties. But even if it's still steamy here on the East Coast, it’s never too early to start dreaming about cozy sweaters, riding boots and tweed blazers.

The royals have been escaping to the Scottish highlands for some R&R ever since Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria in 1852, and there’s something about Scotland that makes you want to fill your entire closet with tartan (or is that just me?). But achieving the perfect Balmoral outfit doesn't just mean covering yourself in plaid, according to Tom Birbeck, director at Scottish heritage brand House of Bruar.

“Mastering the Balmoral look is all about combining classic country elegance with subtle hints of Scottish heritage,” Birbeck tells Marie Claire.

Birbeck continues that Balmoral style “relies heavily on traditional fabrics like tweed and tartan, durable outdoor layers, and a rustic aesthetic made famous by the British Royal Family's Highland retreats."

For the royals, that means not just leaning into countryside style, but thinking carefully about functionality. “The quintessential Balmoral outfit includes a reliable waxed or quilted jacket, which is vital for the unpredictable weather,” Birbeck advises, adding that “cable-knit or cashmere sweaters in neutral tones” are ideal for layering underneath.

“You can also incorporate high-quality tweed jackets or capes, and try adding subtle touches of tartan through scarves or skirts,” he shares.

While our glimpses of Princess Kate at Balmoral have been limited to photos of her driving to church, Queen Elizabeth’s Scottish style has been highly documented over the years. Think quilted jackets, her famous silk headscarves, tweed skirts and plenty of tartan.

While Princess Kate, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne have already packed up their jackets and boots for Balmoral, we (unfortunately) still have plenty of time here on the East Coast to get our autumn pieces ready.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t dream up your own Balmoral-inspired outfits with some my favorite pieces below, including Kate's exact Seeland jacket, Le Chameau wellies and With Underneath cardigan.

Get the Balmoral Look

Boden has been one of my personal favorite British brands for more than a decade, and Princess Kate would certainly co-sign that statement. She’s worn Boden’s sweaters, dresses, loafers and more for everything from Zoom meetings to her official Christmas card photos, and she’s also dressed her three kids in Boden pieces.

Princess Charlotte, in particular, has worn the brand for some big moments, like the blue and white zigzag sweater she showed off in her 8th birthday portrait. She also chose Boden while playing the piano with mom Kate at the 2025 Together at Christmas Concert, wearing one the British staple's tartan mini skirts.

Prince George and Prince Louis have also got in on the Boden action lately, with George wearing the high street retailer's red half-zip sweater for a visit to homelessness charity The Passage and Louis representing Boden in his 8th birthday photo.

The brand's trademark prints are colorful and slightly quirky, but for me, Boden is one of the places I look first for quality basics like long-sleeved Breton stripe tees, classic trousers and comfy jersey dresses.

Now that August is in full swing, many of Boden's spring and summer styles are marked up to 60 percent off, making its summer sale the ideal way to stock up on those transitional pieces for fall like linen blazers, dresses to layer under sweaters and Kate-approved loafers.

As wife to the future King, Princess Kate is carving out an important career within the Royal Family. However, being a royal woman is no easy task, with press scrutiny and public opinion weighing heavily on the princess.

Author Catherine Mayer recently released her latest book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, which explores the ways in which Princess Kate, Meghan Markle, Queen Camilla, Princess Diana, and Queen Elizabeth have been treated by the general public and the press.

Discussing how the Princess of Wales navigates her prominent royal role, Mayer exclusively tells Marie Claire in a new interview, "She is human and the projection on to her of perfection adds to the burdens she already carries as one of the most famous women in the world."

Mayer continues, "And that scrutiny is worse for royal women because it is their job to be seen."

By necessity, for the British Royal Family to survive, new people need to join it, despite the obvious downsides to taking on such a role.

As Mayer tells Marie Claire, "Not only that, but the only way the monarchy continues to exist or recruits new members is through marriage and reproduction. That appears to legitimize a closer interest in their love lives and bodies than other famous women endure. And such scrutiny is always worse for famous women than famous men."

In spite of the obvious difficulties associated with being a female member of the Royal Family, Princess Kate appears to be embracing the role, while firmly focusing on the future.

Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles by Catherine Mayer is available now.

Since marrying Prince William in 2011, Princess Kate has become one of the most popular members of the British Royal Family. And according to one royal author, the Princess of Wales is seemingly following in the footsteps of an iconic royal relative.

Royal biographer Catherine Mayer has just released her latest book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles. Speaking exclusively to Marie Claire, Mayer opens up about Princess Kate's growing role within the Royal Family.

"There is some truth to the idea that Kate follows a model quite close to [Queen] Elizabeth's in terms of letting images do the talking rather than expressing herself more verbally and freely," Mayer says.

The author continues, "That melds more easily with an institution that is meant to stay out of party politics and unite the populations it represents—across 15 Realms—rather than being divisive. But it doesn't mean that other models are automatically wrong."

Mayer also notes that Queen Elizabeth's reputation, having reigned for seven decades, is a "a tough act to follow."

"With Elizabeth Windsor, it is even more tempting to believe that we know her," the royal author tells Marie Claire. "Most of us grew up with her as a familiar, if distant, figure, and there are any number of films and TV series that appear to bring her to life."

Mayer continues, "By the end of her reign, she was hailed as the perfect monarch and...a tough act to follow. That is to forget the long periods when she was criticized for missteps or mocked for being a little too safe, a little dowdy."

However, there is one topic that might negatively impact Elizabeth's legacy. "[I]t is quite possible that her decision to protect her second son, Andrew [Mountbatten-Windsor], will also dent her reputation in the short to medium term," Mayer shares.

Mayer further shares, "A future society might admire [Queen Elizabeth] for reasons we can't yet imagine or repurpose her story to serve their own narratives."

And when it comes to Princess Kate, it seems as though she's already building a solid legacy with firm foundations.

Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles by Catherine Mayer is available now.

As modern royal parents, Prince William and Princess Kate frequently talk about the active role they play in their kids’ lives, preferring to schedule royal events around school schedules and bringing their kids on trips abroad whenever possible. Although they have a longtime nanny, the Prince and Princess of Wales are much more involved in Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’s day-to-day lives than royals of the past—but there are two surprising members of William's family who shared a similar philosophy to his.

Although Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were loving parents, they put duty first and were frequently absent from their children’s lives while traveling on royal tours around the world. It seems the Queen Mother and King George VI took a different approach with Elizabeth and Margaret when they were young—and it’s one that is surprisingly similar to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In Gyles Brandreth’s book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, the author and friend of the Royal Family spoke with people who knew the late Queen the best. Sonia Berry, who was friends with the late Queen from the age of five, told Brandreth that she used to play together with her London neighbor Princess Elizabeth back when the Queen Mother and King George VI were known as the Duke and Duchess of York. She described the Yorks as “noticeably hands-on” given “the standards of their time and class,” per Brandreth.

“The Duchess, having had a very happy childhood herself, was all the more determined that, because the children were royal, they should have an ordinary childhood,” Berry told the author.

She described the future King George VI, who suffered from a severe stutter, as a fun, active father who wasn’t afraid to run around with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. “The Duke never seemed shy, he didn’t stutter and he played games, like Sardines,” Berry said.

It might be difficult to picture the late King playing garden games, and Berry said that her “starchy nanny” didn’t find his behavior appropriate at the time, adding, “she found it very undignified having to hide in a bush with him.”

Flashing forward to today, Prince William and Princess Kate also put an emphasis on family fun. The Princess of Wales recently shared that she loves playing rugby at home with her kids, and although life looks a lot different than it did for the Queen Mother, both William and Kate are intentional about giving their children everyday experiences at their Windsor home, just like his great-grandmother did.

Whether it’s sharing some video game time with Prince George, playing tennis with Princess Charlotte or watching soccer with Prince Louis, William and Kate have been vocal that their first priority is their children.

Princess Kate always manages to look effortless, whether it’s wearing a tailored Alexander McQueen coat dress or jeans and a Breton striped top. It might seem like the outfits members of the Royal Family wear are out of reach for the average person, but you don’t need high-end designer brands to achieve the same look if you follow some of the same styling hacks.

Fashion expert Monica Marriott-Mills recently shared some of the Royal Family’s biggest styling secrets on Instagram, and she says that one “lazy girl styling hack” is especially easy for everyday women to pull off.

“If you can color match your bag to your shoes, and wear no more than three colors in total, your outfit will just work,” she says in a Reel explaining how to achieve the look—and it’s a trick that the Princess of Wales uses all the time.

If you’re a regular follower of Kate’s style, you already know that she loves to coordinate her heels to her handbag. “This style of dressing is really impactful and it’s also something that we as fashion lovers and onlookers of the royals can also add into our own everyday style,” Marriott-Mills tells Marie Claire.

Take the 2026 Wimbledon finals, when the Princess of Wales demonstrated the tactic by wearing solid color dresses with tan handbags and heels, creating a classic, streamlined outfit that Marriott-Mills says anyone can copy with their own pieces.

“What’s great about the princess is that she often wears her bags and shoes time and time again,” the fashion content creator says.

Marriott-Mills, who specializes in luxury, royal and slow fashion, adds that when Kate “matches her bags to her shoes,” she can then wear that same combination with a different color palette. “It enables her to reuse them and style them up for lots of different occasions and in diverse ways,” Marriott-Mills says.

Similarly to matching their shoes to their handbags, Marriott-Mills says royal women also adopt the sandwich method—for example, matching their shoes and their top and using a different color for their skirt or trousers. “The top and bottom are like pieces of bread, they always need to match,” she explains.

Another one of the Royal Family's favorite fashion tactics is to go full monochromatic, like the Princess of Wales did for Commonwealth Day 2026, taking the coordinating shoe and bag further by creating a totally streamlined color story from head to toe.

Marriott-Mills adds that a trick Princess Kate uses to elevate her more affordable outfits is to add luxury accessories to her high street clothing. Pointing to the red tweed blazer she wore for a 2022 trip to Copenhagen with a black Aspinal of London Midi Mayfair bag, the fashion expert says the royal's “whole outfit feels really elevated—you would never know her blazer was under 70 pounds from Zara.”

And on top of it, the princess matched her bag to her black pumps, combining two styling hacks in one.

If you've ever visited Scotland in the middle of summer, you know that layering is key. Even in August, a sweater or jacket is a must, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot teased Princess Charlotte for leaving her outerwear at home.

The 11-year-old princess attended the sporting event in Glasgow with Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince George and Prince Louis on Saturday, August 1, wearing an adorable white polka-dot dress. The short-sleeved, ruffled style by Guess featured navy spots and matching navy trim along the waist, sleeves and skirt, and Charlotte appeared visibly cold in videos shared from the games.

With a high of 61 degrees on Saturday and some gusts of wind, it's no wonder Princess Charlotte was chilly, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot, Finnie the Unicorn, couldn't help but point out her shivers.

In a video shared by Hello! magazine, the Wales family looked notably windswept as they met representatives from the Commonwealth Games, including Finnie, and the mascot mimicked Princess Charlotte by wrapping its arms around itself and pretended to shiver. The princess took the gentle teasing in stride, giving the unicorn a high-five as Finnie greeted the royals.

This is the second polka-dot dress by Guess that Princess Charlotte has worn, with the 11-year-old previously sporting a navy spotted design to Wimbledon 2024, the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Final and a church visit at Balmoral.

"So nice to see her out of baby dresses. She looks so pretty," one fan commented on Royal Fashion Police's post on Instagram. Another social media user praised the affordable and "age appropriate" look, writing, in part, "Beautiful Charlotte 😍. They can afford every luxurious brands, but their parents chose lessons over brands."

The rest of the Wales family opted for long sleeves at the Commonwealth Games, with Prince William and Princess Kate both wearing blazers while Prince George and Prince Louis wore button-up shirts with trousers.

The Princess of Wales added a pleated white maxi skirt and a nautical striped top to her green Ralph Lauren blazer, with her La Ligne sweater vest coordinating perfectly with Charlotte's dotted dress.

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Prince William and Princess Kate brought all three of their children to the Commonwealth Games for the first time on Saturday, August 1, and along with commenting on Prince Louis’s cute reactions, fans couldn’t help but notice that chatty Kate got left behind by her family at one point.

In a video shared by Hello! magazine, the Prince of Wales was pictured getting into a waiting car with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis after their day out in Glasgow, Scotland. But the Princess of Wales was nowhere to be found until the camera panned over to her talking away to Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy by the side of the road.

The Princess of Wales has admitted that she often gets caught up talking to people for too long during royal events, but this time, there was a very meaningful reason she was making her family wait. Hoy announced in 2024 that he was diagnosed with terminal stage four prostate cancer, and fans pointed out that the princess, who is now in remission from cancer herself, was likely talking about their shared struggles.

“Once you’ve been touched by cancer you will never rush a conversation with someone who is going through it,” one fan commented on the video, while another added, “That’s good as thats one thing he does not have is time and that’s why she understands.”

Princess Kate has talked about her love of a long conversation in the past, sharing in the 2016 documentary Our Queen at Ninety that members of the Royal Family poke fun at her for her chatty ways.

“There’s a real art to walkabouts, everybody teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting,” she said. “I still have to learn a little bit more, and to pick up a few more tips, I suppose.”

In this instance, however, it’s safe to say that the Prince of Wales completely understands.

Princess Kate and Prince William had an exceedingly eventful weekend as the pair attended the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. From springing into "dad mode" to executing damage control, Prince William appeared to be on high alert throughout the event. But according to royal fans, the Prince of Wales was never far away from his wife.

One X user highlighted Prince William's seeming adoration of Princess Kate by sharing two photos. In the first snap, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George sit between Kate and William. In the second, the children have moved, leaving Princess Kate and Prince William to sit next to one another. The royal fan captioned the post, "How it started v. how it ended...Oh William."

Another commenter suggested that William was a "smart man" for moving closer to his wife. Meanwhile, someone else shared, "They can't live without each other."

According to the Express, another royal fan expressed excitement regarding Kate and William's appearance at the Commonwealth Games, writing, "Prince William wanted to sit next to Princess Catherine!! So sweet. The bond they have with each other and their children is amazing! I love it!"

After navigating some complicated family dynamics, it appears as though Kate and William always come back to one another.

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Prince George accompanied his siblings, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, and their parents, Princess Kate and Prince William, to the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland this weekend. While Prince William snapped into "dad mode" to seemingly reassure Louis, another moment involved him revealing that they "embarrass [Prince George] enough."

During an interview with TV presenter Gethin Jones, Princess Kate revealed that an Olympic cyclist had "attempted to persuade" her and Prince William to take part in "track cycling," the Express reported. Princess Kate also shared that she responded by saying, "Be careful what you wish for, as they want to put us on a tandem bike in the velodrome."

Jones took the opportunity to ask George for his opinion, saying, "Would you like to see mom and dad on a tandem in the velodrome later?" Prince George reportedly provided a very clipped response by simply saying, "No."

Prince William appeared to leap into damage control to smooth over the potentially awkward moment by telling Prince George, "We embarrass you enough as it is."

Prince George recently turned 13, meaning that he's finally a teenager and set to attend boarding school at Eton College this fall.

Royal editor Emily Ferguson recently suggested in the Express, "The young prince will undoubtedly be asking the question all parents dread: can I have a phone?"

"So far, modern parents William and Catherine have stood firm and prohibited their children from having phones," the royal expert shared.

Ferguson continued, "But with George heading to a new school and spending time away from the family, his parents are expected to relent."

For now, at least, Prince William is making it clear that his son endures enough embarrassment without having to watch his parents riding a tandem bike.

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Princess Kate is an incredibly influential member of the Royal Family. While her fashion choices cause items of clothing to immediately sell out, her hair and beauty decisions also inspire a plethora of royal fans around the globe. However, in the latest poll regarding who the most popular member of the Royal Family is, Princess Kate was beaten by an unexpected person.

According to the latest YouGov poll, Prince William is currently the most popular member of the British Royal Family. 76 percent of those asked had a positive opinion of the Prince of Wales, compared to 74 percent for his wife Princess Kate.

Princess Anne came third place in the poll, with 70 percent of voters sharing a positive opinion about the Princess Royal. Unfortunately for King Charles, his popularity appears to have waned, with the monarch only receiving a score of 60 percent.

While Prince Edward drew a positive opinion of 53 percent, his wife, Duchess Sophie, received only 51 percent. Still, both scored considerably higher than Queen Camilla, who scored just 43 percent.

According to YouGov, Prince William and Princess Kate "continue to be the most positively viewed royals, with around three quarters of Britons seeing the Waleses in a favorable light, figures largely unchanged over the last few years."

When it comes to the Royal Family in general, a larger percentage of voters appear to view the institution in a more negative light.

"Attitudes towards the family and monarchy as a whole remain mostly positive, with around six in ten Britons seeing the Royal Family in general and the institution of the monarchy in favorable lights, though a persistent third see both negatively," YouGov reported.

For now, at least, Prince William is reportedly the most popular member of the Royal Family.

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Princess Kate and Prince William, along with their three children—Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis—are currently in Glasgow, Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. For the sporty outing, the Princess of Wales rewore a French girl classic top with a new blazer.

To watch a netball match with her kids, Princess Kate appeared to be wearing a Ralph Lauren Collection Camden Cashmere Jacket in Dark Racing Green, which retails for $3,790. Unfortunately, the blazer seems to have sold out in Princess Kate's striking shade, but remains available in Cream and Porcini.

The Princess of Wales has long been a fan of Breton stripes and she decided to invoke her favorite French girl trend for the Commonwealth Games. Kate has worn Breton striped tops on numerous occasions, meaning the style has become somewhat of a trademark for the royal.

She completed the outfit with a long pleated white midi skirt from Christopher Kane.

The Princess of Wales accessorized her Commonwealth Games outfit with her Anya Hindmarch Neeson Small Square Tote in Chalk, which is available in multiple colors and retails for $1,490, and a pair of Camilla Elphick Lucia Tan Slingback Pumps.

For jewelry, Kate chose her $2,025 Annoushka Favorites Pearl Earrings, which include freshwater pearls suspended from yellow gold hoops.

As always, the princess's outfit perfectly combined smart, classic pieces with everyday comfort.

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Members of the Royal Family live their lives in the spotlight, often becoming recognizable the world over. But according to one royal biographer, there was only one person who married into the Royal Family who had true "star power."

In an interview with People, royal expert and biographer Simon Vigar explained, "[Princess] Diana had a sense of destiny about her. The only aristocrat of the four women [Princess Diana, Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle], she knew a lot about it. She grew up [at Park House] on the Sandringham estate and knew the royals, and her big sister [dated] Charles."

Vigar also said of Diana, "But she is the biggest changemaker." Referencing particular moments in the princess's life that made a huge impact, the biographer said, "Even simply going to Tower Records on Kensington High Street was something you couldn't imagine the previous generation doing."

The author—who is set to release his new book, The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence, and the Real Power Behind the Crown, on July 30—also suggested that Diana "made the Royal Family more relatable and more touchy-feely."

Per Vigar, "Subjectively, [Diana] brought star power." Unfortunately, the Royal Family "didn't really know what they had," according to the author, but she "outshone them in the end."

Vigar also praised Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan, elaborating on the incredible attributes they brought to the family.

"[Meghan] was obviously a massive asset," the author said. "She was brilliant with the crowd, with the people. She would have been a major player in the Royal Family, and it is a crying shame that she's not."

Regarding Princess Kate, Vigar shared, "Catherine is no wallflower. She has her own ideas. Behind the scenes, she asks really good questions. The Royal Family doesn’t think of themselves as a brand, but they are, and a source told me she got that straight away."

But when it comes to the person with the strongest "star power," Vigar believes Princess Diana reigns supreme.

Princess Kate's influence over the fashion world has been well-documented, with items the royal has worn regularly selling out following her endorsement. Unsurprisingly, her hair and beauty choices have also added to the "Kate effect," causing royal fans worldwide to replicate the Princess of Wales's style. And according to one jewelry designer, Princess Kate's decision to wear the brand was transformative.

Maddy Sangster, who took over the jewelry label Heavenly London from her mom, revealed that one celebrity has made a bigger impact on the business than anyone else.

"The Princess of Wales, for sure," Sangster told the Daily Mail in a new interview. "Back then she was the original influencer. It was a butterfly effect. Overnight the business went from this teeny tiny company to booming."

While other celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Rachel Zegler have shown love for the brand, Princess Kate's endorsement has generated the biggest sales.

Sangster continued, "Suddenly, there will be this flurry of activity on the website, especially from America. You know exactly what's happened because her followers are so loyal."

The Princess of Wales has worn Heavenly London on several occasions. For instance, she wore a pair of pearl earrings from Heavenly London when she attended the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery in London in June 2023.

Discussing some of the ways she's been changing the brand since taking over, Sangster shared, "The business my mother built was incredible and had a devoted following...My job has been translating that devotion into a modern brand, and the growth has come from customers who found us online and stayed."

As for Princess Kate, it seems likely that the royal's choices will continue to influence fashion and jewelry sales for years to come.

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Prince George turned 13 on July 22, 2026, and is set to attend Eton College this fall. According to one royal expert, the young royal probably requested one particular gift from his parents upon becoming a teenager.

Writing in the Express, royal editor Emily Ferguson explained, "The young prince will undoubtedly be asking the question all parents dread: can I have a phone?"

As George will be attending boarding school, requesting a cell phone doesn't seem completely unexpected. However, according to Ferguson, William and Kate might not be ready to give their eldest son a cell phone.

"So far, modern parents William and Catherine have stood firm and prohibited their children from having phones," the royal expert shared. "But with George heading to a new school and spending time away from the family, his parents are expected to relent."

If William and Kate do agree to give George a cell phone, there will be some significant limitations, Ferguson explained.

"[T]his will likely be an old-school 'brick' with no access to social media, as his high public profile and propensity to become the subject of social media fodder, is something they want to protect him from," the expert shared. Basically, TikTok is probably out of the question.

It's also believed that the school will implement strict rules regarding Prince George's presence.

"[F]ellow students will be warned against taking photos or leaking information about their famous classmate, with William keeping a close eye as he expects his son to get the same treatment he and his brother [Prince Harry] received when they attended Eton," Ferguson wrote.

Not all royal experts agree that Prince George will receive a cell phone following his 13th birthday.

For instance, royal commentator Sarah Hewson recently told Vanity Fair, "One thing George won't be getting [for his 13th birthday] is an iPhone." Hewson continued, "His parents are very hot on phones, and they won't allow him on social media. They want to protect him from that for as long as they can."

Still, when Prince George begins studying at Eton College, life is sure to change in a major way for the young royal and his family.

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Princess Kate and Prince William announced their engagement on November 16, 2010, having gotten engaged during a trip to Kenya three weeks prior. But according to one royal biographer, King Charles was allegedly "a little irritated" when it came to Prince William's proposal.

In his book The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal, and Survival, royal biographer Robert Jobson explained, "The palace announced William and Catherine's wedding for April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, a joyful event that would at last overshadow the sorrow of Diana's funeral in 1997."

Jobson continued, "Privately, Charles was surprised, even 'a little irritated' that William had proposed to Catherine using the same 12-carat Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring from Garrard's 1981 catalog, that he had presented to Diana on their engagement."

According to Jobson, this insight regarding King Charles's reaction was provided to him by a former palace employee.

However, any irritation King Charles might have felt seemed to quickly evaporate.

According to Jobson, "Prince William had kept his big news secret, even from The Queen and his father, making private plans with Catherine for their future."

The royal biographer continued, "On November 16, 2010, he telephoned The Queen to announce that he and Catherine were now officially engaged. She was delighted. When asked by the press, Charles joked that the pair had been practicing long enough."

In spite of any alleged trepidation King Charles may have experienced, it seems likely that the monarch was ultimately pleased about William and Kate's decision to marry.

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In recent years, Prince William has taken on a more central role within the Royal Family. As the heir apparent, William knows he'll one day become King, following the death of his father. As the Prince of Wales prepares for the future, one royal expert believes William has already "dropped big hints" about what everyone can expect from him.

In an interview with GB News, royal correspondent and author Simon Vigar—who is set to release The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence, and the Real Power Behind the Crown later this month—discussed Prince William's alleged plans.

"William dropped those big hints in the Apple TV documentary [The Reluctant Traveler], talking actually about the changes that he wants to make," Vigar explained. In particular, Prince William addressed the "insatiable" press interest surrounding the Royal Family, which leads to a lack of privacy.

According to Vigar, Prince William is likely to prioritize making a change when it comes to how the media interacts with the Royal Family. "I put money on that being one of them," he told the outlet

Vigar also believes that Prince William will seek to protect his three children—Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte—as they embark upon their adult lives.

"The gentleman's agreement to leave William alone at university did hold, and of course, it was a camera crew from a TV company owned by his uncle [Prince] Edward—that was the only one that actually broke it," per Vigar.

The royal biographer continued, "In terms of when George, Charlotte, and Louis complete university, once they're in their twenties, I think it'll be a similar deal, and privacy law is changing all the time. There will be similar conversations."

Vigar also suggested that rules regarding "what can be printed about the people" that begin dating "the young royals" will also undergo change. "It'll definitely develop," Vigar explained.

As Prince William always makes his family a priority, it makes sense that he'd want to ensure their safety as much as possible once he's King.

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As the future queen of Belgium, Princess Elisabeth regularly attends high-profile events. On July 25, Elisabeth stepped out for the royal wedding of Isabel von Habsburg-Lothringen to Carlos de Palacio y Gaytán de Ayala, which took place at the Jesuit Church in Vienna, Austria.

For the regal occasion, Princess Elisabeth leaned into a Summer 2026 It-girl color trend by wearing a green dress—Maje's Riannette Ruffle-Trim Midi Dress.

She accessorized the dress with matching green accessories from Maison Fabienne Delvigne, including the label's Virginia Clutch and a coordinated fascinator.

Notably, Princess Elisabeth followed in Princess Kate's footsteps by wearing a pair of Gianvito Rossi's Gianvito 105 Suede Pumps in Praline.

While Princess Kate's beloved Gianvito Rossi pumps appear to be a royal favorite, Summer 2026's freaky green trend only seems to be growing in popularity.

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