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.

Prince Harry is celebrating his 42nd birthday on September 15, but when it comes to a family party, don’t expect Prince William to be there. The brothers remain estranged, and as multiple experts recently told People magazine, that is unlikely to change anytime in the near future.

“It is keep calm and carry on,” royal author Simon Vigar shared when discussing William and Kate’s view on the Sussexes. “They see it as a sideshow and ancient history.”

Although the Duke of Sussex has publicly stated that he’d love to reconcile with his family, a palace source told the magazine that the Prince and Princess of Wales aren’t budging right now. “It was very hard on them, and I wouldn’t blame William for being cautious,” the insider said of their estrangement.

But Russell Myers, royal editor of the Daily Mirror and author of William and Catherine, drew a firmer line. “William’s view is clear—any relationship his father has with Harry or the Sussexes as a family is entirely up to him,” he shared. “But looking toward the future, he will have no relationship with them, in a working or private capacity whatsoever.”

However, he noted that as the future King, the Prince of Wales will have an expectation to interact with his brother in some capacity, especially now that they’re living in England again.

“William and Catherine can maintain that their focus has to be about them and their family, but there will be pressure on them about how they interact with Harry and Meghan and their family in the future,” Myers added.

Family events like Christmas at Sandringham could prove to be a sticky situation if King Charles invites the Sussex family to attend, making it difficult for William to fully avoid his brother. As royal historian Amanda Foreman noted, “At the moment, it has gone from being a hot war to a very, very cold war. But in a cold war situation, you still have to turn up to the Olympics.”

Queen Elizabeth’s love of horses was legendary. Whether it was going out for a ride, breeding horses or watching the races, there was nothing that she enjoyed more—and her passion for equestrian pursuits led her to one unlikely friendship.

As a California cowboy, horse trainer Monty Roberts never expected to become friends with the late Queen, but as his daughter Debbie Loucks tells Marie Claire, the two had much more in common than anyone expected.

Roberts died on July 31 after a career that transformed the equestrian industry, and his non-violent horse training methods attracted the interest of Queen Elizabeth, who invited him to Windsor Castle in 1989. Traditionally, horses were broken in and saddled by using force, but Roberts relied on body language and communication instead.

Loucks recalls her father admitting that the “only time” he felt extremely nervous was when he did his first demonstration for Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. Roberts successfully saddled the horse, and Loucks shares how the Queen Mother had “tears forming in her eyes” when she greeted him.

“The [late] Queen came down right after the Queen Mum and said, ‘You know, that was incredible. Do another, do more,’” Loucks shares. And more is what Roberts did, staying on for a week to train even the largest ceremonial horses without using any force.

The two struck up a friendship that lasted three decades, and Loucks shares that her father was impressed by the depth of Queen Elizabeth’s knowledge of the equestrian world. “I think he was amazed by her horsemanship, amazed at how good she was at several things,” Loucks says. “She could really eyeball a horse, you know, she could really read a horse and she had an eye for confirmation. She had an eye for talent.”

The late Queen would often speak to Roberts on the phone, and he was one of the few people she’d take a call from no matter where she was—even if it was in a government meeting.

It was the late Queen who encouraged Roberts to write his first book, The Man Who Listens to Horses, and she was instrumental in getting his documentary, Shy Boy: The Horse That Came in from the Wild, produced.

“She was like, ‘Videos go away. Books are forever. You have to do a book,’” Loucks recalls. “She walked him into the publishers, said there must be a book. She went to the BBC, said there must be a documentary and that's how Shy Boy came about. You know, she was orchestrating this forward. She believed it.”

Roberts went on to write a number of other books on horsemanship, and his friendship with Queen Elizabeth was chronicled in the documentary The Cowboy and The Queen. In 2011, the late Queen honored Roberts as an honorary Member of the Royal Victorian Order.

Loucks recalls how Queen Elizabeth had a knack for naming not only horses, but all kinds of animals. “He always told little stories about how she named different animals and how they fulfilled that,” Loucks tells Marie Claire. Roberts had many deer living on his property, and he “used to tell deer stories all the time” to Queen Elizabeth, who loved exchanging her own tales with Monty.

After bottle-feeding a baby deer back to health, Roberts asked the late Queen for her advice on a name. “Dad finally went to her and said, ‘I've got to name the little baby deer and it's just so sweet, and here's some photos and you know, what do you think?” Loucks shares. “And she said, ‘Benediction. I’d name him Benediction.’”

When Roberts told Queen Elizabeth it was “a big name for a little deer,” Queen Elizabeth replied, "Well, you know, you Americans, you turn things into gangster names. You can call him Benny if you want to,” Loucks says with a laugh. “But that’s the other thing he loved about her, her sense of humor."

Today, Loucks is carrying on her father's legacy at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center, located at the California Horse Center in the Santa Ynez Valley. As well as offering online and in-person courses, the center "is a grand example of the most progressive thoughts in keeping horses healthy," Loucks says. "I'll use Dad's voice as a megaphone for that," she adds, noting that her late father's non-violent methods will be "the future for horses."

"Dad believes that as strongly as I do," Loucks shares.

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Duchess Sophie is visiting Zambia for a five-day tour, meeting with organizations to celebrate the relationship between the African country and the U.K., and she went for a bold color combination on day one of the trip.

Unexpected color pairings have been popping up everywhere lately, with stars leaning into Princess Diana-approved red and purple or other surprising duos like cobalt and butter yellow. But the Duchess of Edinburgh proved she was well ahead of the trend by choosing a lime green midi dress which she debuted in 2019.

Sophie has styled her ARossGirl x Soler dress in multiple ways over the years, but for her trip to Zambia, she wore it with a royal purple sash for a vivid pop of color. Although the duchess has been choosing the swishy short-sleeved dress for royal visits time and time again, it's also right on trend for 2026 with its chartreuse shade.

Sophie also pulled off some diplomatic dressing, as the bright green shade of her dress reflected one of the colors of the Zambian flag. She teamed the midi with one of her go-to pairs of espadrille wedges from Penelope Chilvers and some meaningful accessories.

The duchess purchased several pieces of jewelry from a local business during her trip to Kenya earlier this year, and she wore a pair of green beaded earrings by Nairobi-based Kazuri Beads on Monday. Sophie added a wide gold "Africa" ring by Giulia Barela Jewelry along with a floral-themed necklace and ring by the designer and her ever-present Asprey oak leaf bracelet.

Preventable blindness is one of the major causes the Duchess of Edinburgh supports, and she wore her green and purple look to the the Orbis Eye Health reception in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, before changing into a second colorful dress for her events on Tuesday.

Sophie wore a white Soler London maxi dress with a rainbow pattern of stripes, flowers and abstract shapes for a busy day of events on September 15. The duchess paired her dress with the same Penelope Chilvers shoes as she spoke with female business leaders in Zambia, visited a jewelry workshop and met with survivors of gender-based violence.

The duchess is passionate about supporting women who have been impacted by sexual violence in conflict, as well as domestic abuse, and she visited Imvelo Studios, where survivors use creative expression as a means of empowerment, healing and advocacy.

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Prince Harry is celebrating his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, September 15, and wife Meghan Markle posted a special Instagram Reel to pay tribute to her husband. Along with celebrating the Duke of Sussex’s big day, the video revealed some new glimpses at the family’s life in England after they moved back to the U.K. in August—and Princess Lilibet managed to steal the show with her sweet style.

“He’s simply the best. Happy birthday, my love ❤️,” she captioned the video, which was set to a cover of Tina Turner's “Simply the Best.” In the Reel, Lilibet, 5, and big brother Prince Archie, 7, join dad Harry for some outdoor fun, but most of the photos feature the princess, including a snapshot of her wearing a headband that pays homage to one of mom Meghan’s favorite activities.

In one photo, Meghan and Lilibet ride in a golf cart as Harry leans in and gives his daughter—who is wearing a bedazzled headband—a kiss. Lili’s knotted white headband features gemstones and Mahjong tiles, and it seems she shares Meghan’s love of the classic Chinese game.

Mahjong dates back to the 1800s and has experienced a rise in popularity in the United States in recent years, with the Duchess of Sussex having regularly gathered with friends to play in California. According to Hello! magazine, Meghan is now teaching Lilibet how to play the complex tile game.

Prince Harry’s birthday video also featured glimpses at some of the family’s other hobbies, including a photo of the duke skiing with Princess Lilibet and a snap of him driving an ATV with Archie, Lilibet, and a Union-Jack themed Marks and Spencer bag in tow as their dog, Pula, runs behind.

The video comes a day after Hello! revealed that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have left their new school in England after just two days.

A spokesperson for the family shared that traffic and logistical concerns with the school made it difficult for their security team to get the kids there safely, with a representative stating, “The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements."

The children are now settling into a different school that better suits their needs, with the outlet reporting that "Prince Harry was spotted settling Lili into reception and the couple have been added to the parents' whatsapp groups."

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Grace Kelly died 44 years ago, succumbing to injuries from a car crash on September 14, 1982. Although her life was cut short at just 52, Princess Grace of Monaco’s legacy lives on, both in terms of her classic Hollywood movies and her fashion. Kelly’s jewels might not have always been the flashiest, but she focused on “thoughtful, versatile” pieces, as Justin Daughters, managing director at vintage and antique jewelry retailer Berganza, tells Marie Claire.

“It says a great deal about a person's style that, 44 years after her death, we're still discussing Grace Kelly's jewelry in the present tense,” Daughters says. Whether it was her original engagement ring or a simple strand of pearls, the princess didn’t rely on “the biggest or the most fashionable option available,” he notes.

“In many ways, Grace Kelly understood quiet luxury long before we had a name for it,” the jewelry pro says, adding that she leaned toward "restraint, quality and pieces chosen with a genuinely considered eye.”

When Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to the Hollywood star in 1956, he gave her a relatively restrained eternity band featuring rubies and diamonds to represent Monaco’s flag. It was quickly upgraded to her famous 10.48-carat ring, the style she famously wore in her last movie, High Society.

“Emerald cuts are especially appealing because their appeal comes from the proportions of the cut and high-quality stones themselves, not the amount of sparkle they have,” Daughters says of the ring. “This is exactly the type of design that ages well because it does not depend on trends that are going to fade away soon.”

But even though her second engagement ring was enormous to say the least, Daughters says the Cartier design still managed to feel effortless.

“Grace had an understanding that good jewelry should enhance the wearer and not dominate,” he shares. “She could wear a significant piece without allowing it to become the entire focus of an outfit, which is a difficult balance to achieve and one that still feels incredibly sophisticated today.”

Princess Grace didn’t wear a tiara for her wedding day, instead opting to wear an intricate lace Juliet cap with her veil. But she did wear several tiaras over the years, including one that she received as a wedding gift: the Bains de Mer Tiara.

"The Cartier piece was designed with diamonds and ruby cabochon floral motifs, with elements that could be detached and worn afterwards as individual brooches,” Daughters says of the design, which, like her first engagement ring, represented Monaco’s national colors.

“That kind of thoughtful, versatile design is exactly what antique jewelry specialists and collectors continue to value,” Daughters says. “It demonstrates that even an important ceremonial piece can be designed with longevity and wearability in mind.”

Because of the timeless aspect of most of her pieces, Princess Grace’s jewelry has continued to stand the test of time. “What connects Grace Kelly’s jewelry and, I believe, makes her jewelry collection resonate so much with people even today, is that everything she wears seems to be carefully selected rather than simply accumulated,” Daughters says.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have pulled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet out of their new school in England after just two days, according to a new report from Hello! magazine. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the choice to switch schools due to “heavy traffic” and security concerns getting there, per a representative for the Sussexes and a friend of the couple.

The Sussex family moved from Montecito, California to an undisclosed home in England on August 26, and plan to stay in the U.K. for an extended period of time as their children attend a local school. While the family didn't announce where Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, would be educated, the children have already moved to a new school.

“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents,” a friend of Prince Harry and Meghan's told the media outlet, describing the educational facility as “perfect for them in every way.”

“They really wanted to make it work, but they had to make a difficult decision based on the fact that the team couldn’t make the school run operationally secure," the source added.

Royal editor Emily Nash of Hello! wrote that the long distance between the Sussex family's home and the school, along with "heavy traffic," contributed to their "small, private security team" being challenged on the school run. "One incident made it difficult for their vehicles to stay in convoy, which raised further concerns," she added.

A representative for the duke and duchess noted that the unnamed school isn't to blame, adding that Archie and Lilibet received "exceptional care" during their short time there.

“The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements," the rep noted.

According to Hello!, Archie and Lilibet attended a "taster session" at a new school on Monday, September 14. "Prince Harry was spotted settling Lili into reception and the couple have been added to the parents' whatsapp groups," Nash reported.

Meanwhile, Meghan shared a glimpse at their new life in England on Sunday, posting an Instagram Reel featuring scenes of them fishing, riding bikes and taking walks in the woods as the duchess splashed in muddy puddles.

No one pulls off British countryside fashion like Princess Anne, and the Princess Royal showed off '70s-style trousers and a gorgeous paisley scarf as she enjoyed an adorable day out in the Cotswolds over the weekend.

Anne, who has served as patron of the International Sheep Dog Society since 2007, leaned into crisp, classic pieces as she attended the organization's annual competition, held at Daylesford Organic Farm from September 11 to 13. The Princess Royal paired a navy blazer and white button-up with a pair of tan windowpane-check trousers, adding a blue scarf with a paisley pattern to her autumnal outfit.

Paisley has been everywhere in 2026, whether it was summer's boho trend or the bandana-style scarves that went viral this spring. But Anne's take is a more traditional, pashmina-like style (raise your hand if you ever bought one on a NYC street corner in the early 2000s). The chance of the Princess Royal having snagged hers from Canal Street is essentially zero, but those of us who have some paisley pashminas tucked in the back of their closet can rejoice in knowing they're cool enough for royalty.

Queen Elizabeth's only daughter finished off her outfit with her signature sporty sunglasses, wearing an amber-tinted Adidas pair she's owned for years.

It's unclear if Anne's trousers were an actual vintage piece, but she's been known to dig deep into the archives for her no-nonsense working wardrobe. Whether it's a dress from the '70s or one of Queen Elizabeth's coats, Anne goes for quality pieces that will last forever—much like her father, Prince Philip, who was still wearing his 1947 wedding shoes in 2011.

Last week, Princess Anne stayed true to her fashion philosophy while attending King Harald of Norway's funeral with Prince William, wearing a 57-year-old gold ribbon brooch she's owned since she was a teenager.

As for her day out in the Cotswolds, the Royal Family shared a series of photos from the event, captioning the post, "A round of a-paws for this year’s winners of the International Sheep Dog Trials! 🐾"

"As Patron, The Princess Royal attended the event hosted by the International Sheep Dog Society, which works to support the training and welfare of sheep dogs," the post continued. "Her Royal Highness met team members from across the United Kingdom, watched qualifying runs and presented awards for the contribution to sheepdog trialling."

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved back to Britain at the end of August, but the Duchess of Sussex has remained quiet about their major news until now. On Sunday, September 13, the Duchess of Sussex shared an Instagram Reel showing off some highlights from their new life in the English countryside, and she looked the part in two pairs of designer rain boots.

Meghan wore a quilted brown Cuyana coat and chocolate Le Chameau Jameson wellies as she held hands with Prince Harry in the video, which showed various glimpses of the Sussexes and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

The duchess, who often goes barefoot in her Instagram posts, traded her sunny California lifestyle for some rainy English weather, sharing a clip of herself splashing in a puddle wearing a pair of jeans tucked into olive Le Chameau Vierzon boots in the Reel.

The brand's "Iconic Green" boots are also favored by Princess Kate, who has worn a slightly different Vierzonord style over the years.

The rest of Meghan's Reel shows Lilibet and Archie enjoying the British outdoors, with the duo fishing in a rowboat with dad Prince Harry and riding bikes as a herd of deer runs past.

While the Duke of Sussex has announced some upcoming charity events in the U.K., Meghan appears to be hanging close to home at the moment.

“There is a lot to do," a source recently told People. "They have just moved halfway across the world, and it’s been really busy getting the kids settled. Their focus has been on that, and will remain on that, for the time being. They are happy to be back.”

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It's hard to believe that Princess Diana died almost 30 years ago, on August 31, 1997, following a devastating car crash in Paris. Following her divorce from King Charles, Diana's relationship with the Royal Family reportedly wasn't always straightforward. And according to one royal expert, Queen Elizabeth became "furious" with the former Princess of Wales after one particular conversation.

According to respected royal author and editor Ingrid Seward, the allegedly tense conversation between Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, and Princess Diana took place on February 28, 1996, before the divorce was finalized.

"The discussions were supposed to be private, but immediately afterwards Diana issued a statement saying she had agreed to the divorce, that she would continue to be involved in all decisions pertaining to William and Harry—and that under pressure she would be giving up her HRH [title]," Seward shared in the Daily Mail.

According to Seward, "The Queen was furious at Diana leaking details of their private conversation." As a result, the monarch decided to share her own version of events with the public.

"She immediately countered with a statement of her own," Seward noted. "Her press secretary, Charles Anson, announced: 'The decision to drop the title is the princess's and the princess's alone. It is wrong that [Queen Elizabeth] or [King Charles] asked her. I can state categorically it is not true."

The statement continued, "The palace does not say something specific on a point like this unless we are absolutely sure of the facts."

In spite of Queen Elizabeth's statement, Princess Diana "continued to insist she had been pressured into relinquishing her title," Seward wrote.

Unfortunately, this appears to have been one instance in which Diana and Elizabeth couldn't agree.

Following Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, King Charles became the new monarch of the United Kingdom. His coronation took place on May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London—a fact that royal fans are all too aware of. So when an "embarrassing" mistake transpired online regarding The King's status, fans of the Royal Family stepped in to help make the necessary changes.

The problem occurred when The Royal Collection Trust posted a portrait of King Charles on Instagram, along with the caption, "On this day in 2023, King Charles III acceded the throne."

The caption continued, "Painted to mark the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, this portrait continues a long tradition of coronation state portraits that spans centuries. It was commissioned by The King and painted by Peter Kuhfeld over the course of a year."

"The portrait now hangs in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace," the caption explained. "The palace is open for self-guided tours until September 27, 2026."

Of course, eagle-eyed royal fans were quick to spot the mistake in The Royal Collection Trust's Instagram caption. While Charles's coronation did take place in 2023, he officially acceded the throne in September 2022 upon his mother's death.

As the portrait was posted on September 8, 2026, one can only assume that the organization meant to reference King Charles's actual ascendance to the throne, rather than his coronation date.

After one poster pointed out that Charles acceded the throne in 2022—not in 2023—another person responded, "You'd think they'd know!"

Once the caption was updated, another commenter shared, "[T]hey wrote: on this day in 2023 but they fixed." Along with a laughing emoji, one royal fan replied, "I saw that they edited but was wondering from what. Dear me. How embarrassing."

Another fan said, "Surely they were thinking of the coronation…"

Luckily, royal fans were on hand to make sure facts about King Charles's monarch status weren't incorrectly shared.

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.

Now that Prince George has started his first year at Eton College, life for Prince William and Princess Kate looks a bit different. George, 13, is boarding full-time at Eton, leaving an empty seat at the table in his Forest Lodge home. While Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are still attending nearby Lambrook School in Berkshire, George now has a taste of independence, just like his father had at Eton—and the future King just might take part in one tradition Prince William had with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

The late Queen would often invite William to Windsor Castle when he was a student at Eton College, since the boarding school is located just a stone’s throw away from Windsor. The Prince of Wales has shared fond memories of those times with his grandmother, and King Charles’s former butler, Grant Harrold, says that Prince George could now step into the same routine.

Speaking to Select Car Leasing, Harrold says that The King is a “caring” grandfather and will want to give George the best possible preparation for when he steps into his royal future.

“I imagine the King will possibly try to recreate the afternoon tea routine that his mother and son shared with his grandson,” Harrold shares. “Whenever he is in Windsor, I imagine he will make an effort to see George. He will want to know how he’s getting on at school, and also to start preparing him for the future.”

Harrold adds that The King, who was sent off to boarding school in Scotland as a child, is in a unique position to give advice to Prince George.

“He understands better than anyone the challenges George will face as the future King going through the difficult teenage years,” Harrold says. “He’s a very caring man and he loves his family dearly, so he will want to help his grandson in any way he can—even if that’s just being an understanding ear.”

Another benefit of going to Eton is the close proximity to the Wales family's home, Forest Lodge, which is just about 15 minutes away from the historic boarding school.

“William and Kate are very family-orientated and they would want their children to be close to them,” Harrold notes. “I don’t think they would have wanted George to go to a boarding school at the other end of the country, which is of course what Prince Philip did with King Charles.”

Alongside their roles as Royal Family members, Prince William and Princess Kate have been attempting to give their children a relatively normal life. And in Europe, multiple royals are seemingly determined to experience life outside of the constraints of their official titles.

One such royal is Princess Leonor of Spain, who just so happens to be the heir to the Spanish throne.

Per the Daily Mail, "Despite her key position in the Spanish Royal Family, the daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia is set to be deliberately 'treated like a normal' student during her university tenure."

The university's rector told the outlet, "The royal household has made it very easy for us. Nothing changes."

Notably, according to the newspaper, "Despite their key roles in the Spanish monarchy, both Leonor and [her sister] Sofia have been deliberately kept out of the limelight—with a particular emphasis placed on their education by their parents."

Princess Leonor's style is also a hot topic, with the future monarch wearing on-trend sneakers and jeans for her first day at Carlos III University in Madrid, Spain on September 7.

Notably, Princess Leonor's Mexico 66 Sneakers in Birch/Peacoat hail from Onitsuka Tiger—a brand beloved by celebrities including Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner.

Even though she will one day be the queen of Spain, Princess Leonor appears to be enjoying her time as a college student. And who can blame her?

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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were both known for their wit, so it's completely unsurprising that the pair used to play practical jokes on one another. And according to two separate royal biographers, one such prank involved the late Queen wearing a fake beard.

In her book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, royal author Catherine Mayer revealed a hilarious moment in which Queen Elizabeth shocked Prince Philip.

"When the couple reunited ahead of a joint state visit to Portugal, [Philip] found [Elizabeth] and her entourage wearing false beards, mimicking the real one he had grown," Mayer shared. "Nothing says a relationship is on track like the ability to make each other laugh."

Broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth shared his own account of the incident involving the late Queen's fake beard in the book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.

"They were reunited at Lisbon's military airport," the author wrote. "The scene was a memorable one."

Brandreth continued, "During part of the tour, Philip had grown a full set of naval whiskers. Photographs of the bearded Adonis had found their way back to London."

Not missing a trick, Queen Elizabeth hatched quite the plan to surprise her husband.

Per Brandreth, "When Philip, now clean-shaven in anticipation of the state visit to Portugal, bounded up the steps of The Queen's plane in Lisbon, he was greeted by an extraordinary sight: his wife and her entire entourage, sitting in their seats, all sporting false ginger beards!"

The author shared that the Royal Family "is a family that is fond of practical jokes," and it seems Queen Elizabeth was often the ringleader.

Per Brandreth, "Minutes later, when the royal couple emerged from the plane, both were beaming, and an eagle-eyed reporter, with a sentimental streak, was sure he spotted a tell-tale smudge of lipstick on the duke's cheek."

Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, has continually kept his late sister's memory alive following her untimely death in August 1997. Now, Earl Spencer has written a new book, which he believes Diana would have liked.

In an Instagram post shared on September 11, Spencer revealed the cover of his new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.

"Always an amazing, and exhilarating, moment for an author to hold the first physical copy of a new book—and even more so for me with 'Swan Song,' the most personal of the ten books I've written over the past three decades," Spencer wrote in the caption.

He continued, "At heart, this is a brother's simple tribute to an extraordinary sister."

Earl Spencer also revealed that he narrates the audiobook version of the forthcoming book.

"A month ago I read 'Swan Song' out, over three days, for a recording so that it could be available on audiobook," he wrote. "When I finished the recording, I thought: 'That is exactly what I wanted and needed to say—and she would, I reckon, have approved of every word."

Swan Song's synopsis reads, "Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles."

The synopsis continues, "In childhood, Charles and Diana, the youngest Spencers, were inseparable—secretly calling one another Duch and Carlos. As each other's closest confidantes, they roamed the family estate, endured extremely challenging boarding schools, survived terrifying nannies, and helped each other through the agony of their parents' divorce."

The synopsis further notes, "In Swan Song, Charles Spencer provides the most intimate, loving, and honest portrait yet of his sister."

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When Princess Diana died in a 1997 car crash, she was with her then-boyfriend Dodi Fayed, who was also killed in the tragic accident. But less than two months before her death, Diana was dating another man, heart surgeon Hasnat Khan. Their under-the-radar relationship provided a dose of normalcy for the princess, and during an inquest into her death, Khan shared some rare insights into their time together.

In Edward White’s book Dianaworld: An Obsession, the author notes that Diana’s involvement with Khan “was more mundane, uneventful, and enriching than any that she ever had.” The couple met when she was visiting a friend’s husband in a London hospital, and for nearly two years, they carried on with their “discreet” relationship. But “Khan had no taste for the glare of global publicity in which Diana lived,” as White wrote.

According to the surgeon, the late princess broke up with him just over a month before her August 1997 death, as he wrote in a statement shared during the official death inquest. Diana had recently returned from a vacation with Dodi and his father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, and although Khan wasn’t aware of her connection to Dodi, he worried about her association with Al-Fayed's family.

"I remember saying to her at the time, 'You are dead,' meaning her reputation was dead,” Khan stated. “I said this because I was sure that it was someone from Mohamed Al Fayed's group and that was how I felt about anyone involved with him."

Even then, the Harrods owner—who was posthumously accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of women after a 2024 documentary aired—had a questionable reputation. However, Khan said that because of Dodi’s family wealth and connections, he felt that Princess Diana “finally realized that Al Fayed could give her all the things I could not.”

"He had money and could provide the necessary security,” Khan added in his statement. “You never see Al Fayed without six or seven bodyguards."

Sadly, the security she had the night of her death failed her, as Princess Diana’s former bodyguard recently told Marie Claire.

Ken Wharfe, who resigned from his role protecting the princess in 1993, said he feels her lack of proper police security "ultimately led to the appalling accident in Paris in 1997."

“She was then relying on security which, in my view, was unprofessional and lacked the level of planning, coordination and communication that would have provided the best possible protection," he said. "Sadly, it simply wasn't there.”

September 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks that shook the United States and the world, with 2,977 people killed in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. In Britain, the Royal Family showed their solidarity with the American people in several meaningful ways, with Queen Elizabeth breaking protocol to show her solidarity with the United States at the time.

The most obvious sign of support she gave was requesting the Coldstream Guards to play The Star-Spangled Banner during the Changing of the Guard two days after the attacks. In footage from ABC News’s September 13, 2001 broadcast, thousands of people are seen gathered outside Buckingham palace waving American flags, singing, and crying during the performance.

But Queen Elizabeth also made a much more personal change to her routine in the days following September 11.

On September 14, the late Queen attended a special memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral to honor those who died, and when The Star-Spangled Banner played, she sang along. The gesture might not seem significant, but it was an unprecedented move for Queen Elizabeth.

At the time, Daily Mail journalist Richard Kay wrote (via the Independent) that the late Queen did “not 'sing' national anthems” of other countries, or even her own. “Her mouth never opens when they are played,” he added, noting that her act “was the ultimate sign of unity, friendship, and support for America."

In a letter read during a memorial service in New York, Queen Elizabeth issued one of her most famous quotes while reflecting on the "dark and harrowing times" many were experiencing.

"My thoughts and my prayers are with you all now and in the difficult days ahead," she wrote. "But nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love."

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."

Royal families from around the world gathered in Oslo, Norway on Wednesday, September 9 for King Harald V’s funeral, and just two days later, his 94-year-old sister, Princess Astrid—who attended the moving services for her younger brother—has died.

"His Majesty the King has received with great sadness the news that Princess Astrid has passed away," a statement from the royal court read, with the new King Haakon calling her death a "great loss" for his family.

The princess, who was in a wheelchair at the funeral Wednesday, left a touching note for King Harald on a wreath laid in Oslo Cathedral. It read: "Thank you for everything we've had together. Your Astrid."

She featured in one of the most moving photos the palace released after the king's death, with the image showing Princess Astrid looking out a palace window as a sea of mourners gathered outside to leave tributes to her 89-year-old brother.

“At the age of 22, she had to step into the role of first lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away,” King Haakon said, per NRK.

“In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society,” he shared, noting that his aunt “was very loyal and always performed her tasks with commitment, presence and an infectious spirit.”

"We learned a lot from her, and she was not afraid to speak up," King Haakon added.

Princess Astrid was married to Olympic sailor Johan Martin Ferner, who died in 2015, and they shared five children together. The palace has not released funeral details for the late royal at this time.

Prince William and Princess Kate are just trying to live a nice, quiet life in the countryside. Splitting their time between Forest Lodge in Windsor and Anmer Hall in Norfolk, their days are spent balancing school runs and sports with royal duties. They like to avoid drama and headlines, focusing on their work and their family life. In the midst of their peaceful existence, the news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the United Kingdom surely shook things up.

“It was a shock to William and Kate,” a source close to the couple revealed to Us. “They’re still processing it, but their initial surprise has evolved.” While many are hoping that their new close proximity might spark some healing conversations between the two royal brothers, the source cautions that nothing is likely to change right away. “They’re taking a wait-and-see approach.”

“No one’s booking a table for two for William and Harry,” the source joked. Plenty would be happy to see Prince William and Prince Harry reunited, bonding again as brothers, but the rift between them is bigger than ever. “Everyone wants a reunion story, but it’s not something that’s in the cards,” the source said. “If fences do get mended, it will be a slow and private process, and on William’s terms.”

King Charles is reportedly “pleased” that his younger grandchildren now live nearby and “hopes for closer ties to his son.” The source stresses that the King “remains cautious about managing expectations” as everyone gets used to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big change. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are likely more focused on such a big move, settling their children into their new life in the United Kingdom. Several sources suggest the Sussex family have settled in the idyllic Cotswolds, with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet starting at a nearby private school.

Prince William and Princess Kate have been together for over 21 years, with the first hints of their blossoming romance reaching newspapers in 2005. While students at the University of St Andrews, Prince William and then-Kate Middleton enjoyed the privacy and relative anonymity of student life while they established their relationship. Still, once their relationship became public knowledge, the journalists and photographers descended.

Writing for Woman & Home, royal editor Duncan Larcombe recalls those early years of Prince William and Princess Kate’s relationship. Even in those early days, long before she would marry into the Royal Family, the palace was guiding her and her public image. “I first met Kate in 2005, when little—if anything—was known about the beautiful St Andrews undergraduate who had caught the eye of our future king,” Larcombe wrote. “At the time, she had been told that if journalists or photographers approached her, she needed to simply smile and act as though she was pleased to see them.”

Looking back, it seems every photo of Kate Middleton features a polite, shy smile. There isn’t a single photograph where she looks anything less than pleasant and, save for a few hard-to-find videos, she always appears civil towards the paparazzi and press that plagued her during those early years of her relationship with Prince William.

Prince William and the palace team were committed to protecting her private life for as long as possible, especially while she was still a private citizen and not the future Queen of England. “My conversation with Kate during a ski trip in Switzerland that year was brief, and instead I ended up speaking to Prince William as she quietly slipped away,” Larcombe said. “But in our encounter I was struck by how sincere she seemed to be, and someone who had her head well and truly on her shoulders.”

Even in those early days, the future Princess of Wales had a special ability to keep calm and carry on as she and Prince William established their relationship. “For some, a royal encounter is too much to contemplate, but Kate has always taken it in her stride,” wrote Larcombe. These down-to-earth moments, stemming from her solid, normal upbringing, has turned her into the most favored member of the Royal Fmaily. “She might have married into the Royal Family, with all the trappings that come with that, but her relatability is just what's needed in this turbulent time for the Firm.”

There are a few fashion icons synonymous with Princess Diana: her sapphire engagement ring, her red sheep-print sweater, and the Revenge Dress. Princess Diana’s famous little black dress became an instant legend when she stepped out at the Serpentine Gallery in Christina Stambolian’s silk dress in June 1994. Famously auctioned off by Princess Diana herself in 1997—with proceeds going towards cancer and AIDS charities—the dress is going under the hammer again this December.

New York’s iconic Sotheby’s will auction the dress on behalf of the original auction winners, with part of the proceeds going towards NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Experts predict the dress will sell for somewhere between $150,000 and $300,000—a massive jump from the 1997 winning auction price, which was just over $50,000

"My late husband and I knew that this dress was something special," the consignor, who bought the dress during its original 1997 sale, said. "Princess Diana was walking into the worst night of her life and you would never know it to look at her. It went from a cocktail dress to a statement in the time it took to photograph her."

Princess Diana’s infamous fashion statement demonstrated a deep knowledge on her global impact. “Fashion can be a language when words fail or are simply not enough. Princess Diana understood that instinctively,” Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, said, according to Town and Country. “What makes this dress extraordinary is not merely that it was worn by the princess, nor that its appearance at the Serpentine event made headlines around the world. It is what it communicated.”

“On her own terms, Princess Diana turned the dress into one of the most powerful messages she ever made, during one of the most scrutinised and emotionally charged episodes of her life,” Halimi said. “What became a global viral moment—long before social media made the term mundane–also gave license to anyone, but especially women, to use fashion beyond adornment and much more intentionally and meaningfully.”

The consignors expertly surmised the impact of Princess Diana’s revenge dress, saying: "Thirty years on, you can say the words anywhere in the world and everyone knows exactly which dress you mean."

After a few days of Mom Duties as Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis settled in to the school year, Princess Kate made a surprise appearance with Prince William to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. At a soccer stadium in Liverpool, the Prince and Princess of Wales teamed up to promote Prince William’s newly-launched toolkit, On Your Side. Developed by The Royal Foundation in partnership with the British Standards Institution and Chasing the Stigma, the toolkit provides a how-to guide to warning signs and supportive conversations to support those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The event struck a delicate balance between hopeful optimism and poignant remembrance for World Suicide Prevention Day. Princess Kate’s carefully-chosen outfit featured a “significant” pair of earrings with a special meaning. The Issy Star earrings are “a tribute to [the designer’s] beautiful cousin Issy Phipps who took her own life on the 29th of April 2023,” and have become a go-to earring choice for the Princess of Wales when marking suicide prevention and mental health causes. Since Princess Kate first wore the charity earrings in 2023, Issy Star has raised over $40,000 for mental health and suicide prevention charities.

In an exclusive interview with Hello, Issy Star founder Sophie McGown said that Princess Kate’s support “touched and resonated with so many people.” McGowan said, “I think what Kate did by wearing our earrings meant so much to us because it opened up a talking point about mental health and suicide.” The Princess of Wales’s earrings are more than just fashion fodder—they become a public message and a talking point. “The amount of people that contact us that are buying the earrings for people who are struggling or gifting them to someone who has just lost someone is numerous.”

Princess Kate knows the impact of her platform, and has used it wisely. “I think Kate talking about all of the things she's been through and making space for these people who go through hell on a daily basis is phenomenal,” McGowan said. Whether she’s choosing charity earrings or leading by example by speaking of her own experiences, the princess can change a conversation and bring important causes into the spotlight.

Royal women from around the world wore traditional pearl jewelry to honor King Harald of Norway at his funeral on Wednesday, September 9, including Princess Anne, who joined Prince William for the services at Oslo Cathedral.

While the Prince of Wales attended as an official representative of his father, King Charles, the funeral had a more personal significance for the Princess Royal, who has served as a godmother to the new Norwegian monarch, King Haakon, since his 1973 christening. For the funeral, Princess Anne wore a classic pair of pearl drop earrings, a choice that Eddie Le Vian, CEO of Le Vian jewelers, told Marie Claire dates back to Anne’s great-great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

“Pearls have spoken the language of royal mourning for generations,” Le Vian says. “Since Queen Victoria mourned Prince Albert, pearls have come to evoke tears, remembrance and dignity. Unlike other royal guests, Anne appeared to skip a pearl necklace in favor of a silk scarf, and instead wore a diamond-studded gold brooch with decades of significance.

Jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia, Founder of Abelini, tells Marie Claire that the Princess Royal’s gold ribbon brooch was “a very deliberate” decision for the occasion. “The princess has dozens of options in her collection, so reaching for a brooch she has worn consistently for over fifty years tells you this wasn't a casual choice,” Rakholia says.

The brooch itself dates back to the mid-20th century and takes the form of a loosely knotted bow, set with around a dozen diamonds. An 18-year-old Princess Anne first wore the piece in 1969 at a Buckingham Palace meeting with Apollo 8 commander Colonel Frank Borman—and the pin has been in regular rotation for close to 60 years.

“To still be reaching for the same piece nearly six decades later says an enormous amount about what it means to her personally, far more than any high-value piece could,” Rakholia says. The Princess Royal has worn the brooch for events such as her 70th birthday portrait and at Ascot, but also for numerous solemn engagements, like Anzac Day services honoring fallen soldiers and an event marking the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete.

"That's the pattern that stands out to me,” Rakholia shares. “This isn't a brooch she reaches for on lighter occasions. Time and again, it appears at moments of remembrance and loss specifically, whether that's a wreath-laying for fallen soldiers in the spring or, now, the funeral of a head of state she has a personal connection to.”

Nilesh notes that the brooch's diamond setting adds sparkle without being inappropriate at solemn occasions. "Diamonds against a dark coat, which is what she's worn it with here, create a soft contrast rather than anything flashy. It's the kind of piece that reads as respectful rather than decorative, which matters enormously at a funeral."

Royal families from around the globe gathered to remember King Harald V of Norway at his funeral on Wednesday, September 9, and members of his family paid tribute to the 89-year-old with jewelry steeped in royal tradition.

The women of the Norwegian royal family—as well as many of the guests—wore classic pearl jewelry to King Harald’s funeral at Oslo Cathedral. It’s a choice that dates back to Queen Victoria’s day, as Eddie Le Vian, CEO of Le Vian jewelers, tells Marie Claire.

“Pearls have spoken the language of royal mourning for generations,” Le Vian says. “Since Queen Victoria mourned Prince Albert, pearls have come to evoke tears, remembrance and dignity. To me, their symbolism is profound: a pearl is formed layer by layer, just as grief is carried layer by layer. The tears may eventually dry, but the love—and the pearl—remain.”

King Harald’s widow, Queen Sonja, led the Norwegian royal family in mourning the late monarch, who died on August 28. The strand of pearls wrapped around her neck multiple times was the most striking of the royal women, and Le Vian notes that her ensemble “feels intensely personal.”

“The close rows of pearls encircle her like an embrace, while the long strand descends almost like a river of tears,” the jewelry expert shares. Queen Sonja paired the dramatic necklace with a black mourning veil, a pearl bracelet and large pearl earrings, adding King Harald’s royal family order to her black dress.

Like her mother-in-law, King Haakon's wife, Queen Mette-Marit, also wore a pearl necklace, but went for a simpler three-stand design with a diamond clasp and diamond-accented pearl studs.

Le Vian says that Mette-Marit’s “layered pearls carry a different but equally moving meaning.”

“Standing beside Queen Sonja as Norway’s new queen, she is at the threshold between two reigns,” he shares. “Her pearls become a bridge—between mother and daughter-in-law, private grief and public duty, King Harald’s legacy and King Haakon’s future.”

The new queen's daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, also chose pearls for her grandfather's funeral. In addition to a classic pair of pearl studs, the future queen wore a special gift from her grandmother. Queen Sonja gave Ingrid Alexandra the pearl necklace she wore on Wednesday as a christening present, and it features a diamond heart pendant with a ruby center hanging from a tiny string of pearls.

Ingrid Alexandra swapped out her earrings for a pair of dangling pearls during a balcony appearance after the funeral, removing her veiled headpiece to wear a simple black headband.

King Harald and Queen Sonja's only daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, went for a bolder pearl look, layering a five-strand choker with a diamond and pearl clasp with a more classic single strand of pearls. She added oversized pearl button earrings and a similar veiled headband as her niece, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

“Diamonds announce light. Pearls hold it," Le Vian says. "That is why pearls feel so profoundly right in mourning: they resemble tears, yet they endure long after the tears have fallen.”

Queen Mette Marit's controversial eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, might not be a member of the Norwegian royal family, but he was granted permission to attend the funeral of his step-grandfather King Harald V on September 9. Høiby, 29, was convicted of 34 charges—ranging from two counts of rape to drug crimes and restraining order violations—in June and is awaiting an appeal trial, but was allowed to leave house arrest for Wednesday's services at Oslo Cathedral.

Høiby was born to Queen Mette-Marit and her former partner before she met King Haakon and does not hold a royal title or any official role in the monarchy. While he didn't walk in the funeral procession, he arrived with his step-cousins Maud Angelica Behn and Leah Isadora Behn, the daughters of Princess Märtha Louise.

Queen Mette-Marit's son has been serving his house arrest at the Norwegian king and queen's official residence, Skaugum, and Høiby's detention has been extended from September 7 to October 7 as he awaits his appeal.

Høiby was just four years old when his mother married the future King Haakon in 2001, and grew up as another grandchild of King Harald and Queen Sonja. His stepsister, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will become the future queen of Norway one day, and Marius also has a stepbrother, Prince Sverre Magnus.

The queen's son also left house arrest to visit King Harald in the hospital a day before he died and served as a pallbearer when the king's coffin was carried through the Royal Palace in Oslo on August 31.

Along with Marius's legal troubles, Queen Mette-Marit has also been suffering from complications due to her recent lung transplant. She was forced to miss King Haakon's swearing-in ceremony in front of Norway's parliament on September 1 and was briefly hospitalized later that evening for observation. T

he new Norwegian queen, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, received a lung transplant in June and was discharged from the hospital in July. Although it was unclear if she'd be well enough to attend Wednesday's funeral, she traveled with mother-in-law Queen Sonja by car rather than walk in the procession.

It's been a week of milestones for Prince William, who dropped Prince George off at Eton College for his first day of boarding school on September 8 before stepping into a more somber role. The Prince of Wales represented his father at another royal's funeral for the first time on September 9, flying to Norway to attend the services for King Harald V.

Fresh off saying goodbye to his eldest child at Eton, William stepped in for The King—who traditionally does not attend funerals of other royals or world leaders—alongside numerous royal families from around the world. He was joined by Princess Anne, who attended in a personal capacity as godmother of Norway's new monarch, King Haakon.

In 2025, the Prince of Wales attended Pope Francis's funeral on behalf of King Charles, and although he filled in for Queen Elizabeth by flying to the United Arab Emirates in 2022 to pay his respects after the death of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this is the first time Prince William has attended a royal funeral as a representative of The King.

King Harald died at the age of 89 on August 28, leaving his son Haakon to take the throne alongside his ailing wife, Queen Mette-Marit.

The Norwegian queen, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and recently went through a lung transplant, recently missed her husband's swearing-in ceremony before parliament, but was able to attend Wednesday's funeral.

Along with Prince William and Princess Anne, other royal representatives at the funeral included everyone from Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and King Frederik of Denmark took a prominent role in the ceremony, saluting King Harald's coffin from behind King Haakon during the funeral.

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."

Although Prince William and Prince Harry's estrangement doesn't show any signs of improving at the moment, the brothers do have one last organization that they represent together, The Diana Award. The only charity to be set up in Princess Diana's memory has been close to the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales over the years, with both serving as patrons. But as the Daily Mail's "Palace Confidential" podcast revealed, a major fundraising event for The Diana Award has now been canceled.

The organization empowers young people who are making a difference in their communities, and as the Mail on Sunday's editor-at-large, Charlotte Griffiths, said on the podcast, "They take it in turns, the two brothers, to host events."

Prince William took part in a panel with The Diana Award in June, and Prince Harry was expected to attend a "high-profile dinner" on September 18 for the charity, per Griffiths. But with just over two weeks to go until the black-tie event, it was inexplicably canceled.

Griffiths shared that the charity tries to "walk a very fine line between Harry and William as you can imagine" while "not wanting to upset William," and said from her point of view, there appeared to be some "wrangling behind the scenes."

"Harry, naturally, I gather wanted his wife there," she said. Both William and Harry have attended Diana Award-related events solo over the years, and regarding the Duchess of Sussex attending, Griffiths said, "This was always not really going to happen."

William and Harry last publicly interacted during Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022, and the brothers are understood to not have spoken in several years. As Griffiths pointed out, "Maybe The Diana Award is kind of one of their last forms of communication," since participation and schedules need to be ironed out between their two teams.

"So maybe this is the last vehicle they have," she added. "Is it okay if Harry brings his wife? Possibly not if you're Prince William." However, the reason behind the event's cancelation has yet to be revealed.

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.

Prince William and Princess Kate joined Prince George for his first day at Eton College on Tuesday, September 8, and the 13-year-old future King looked all grown up in three new portraits featuring the same school uniform worn by his dad and uncle Prince Harry. But his first day at Eton was different than Prince William’s in one key way.

The Prince and Princess of Wales braved the pouring rain (in suede shoes, nonetheless) as they escorted George to his first day of boarding school, with the trio meeting Eton College’s headmaster and provost outside the historic school. Princess Kate is 5’9, and George was almost the same height as his mother, who wore heels for the milestone event.

Although he dressed in a suit and tie just like dad Prince William did on September 6, 1995, George’s first day at Eton had one missing element.

When Prince William started the historic boarding school, he was joined by King Charles (then the Prince of Wales) and Princess Diana, who were separated at the time, and his younger brother, Prince Harry. George’s siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis don’t start their new term at Lambrook School until Wednesday, but they stayed home for their brother’s big day.

After George met the school's administration, Kensington Palace then released three photos of the future King in his new Eton uniform, with the teenager wearing the same pinstriped trousers, vest, long jacket and starched white shirt that students have worn for decades.

Unlike at Lambrook School, where Prince George was a day student, the young royal will live at Eton College. But with the school located a stone's throw from Windsor Castle, he'll never be far from family, just like Prince William, who often visited Queen Elizabeth for tea when he was a student there.

Queen Elizabeth II's professionalism continues to be talked about, particularly as the former monarch set the stage for the modern Royal Family. Despite appearing to be practically perfect in every way, the late Queen occasionally made mistakes. Case in point: one royal fan's gift caused her to make an extremely rare faux pas, and the moment was captured on camera.

On May 27, 2010, Queen Elizabeth visited Eton College to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Eton Combined Cadet Force. The Queen met with royal fans who'd gathered to greet her, including one young girl who handed the monarch a bunch of flowers.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth wasn't able to grip the bouquet, and the flowers appeared to slip through her fingers. A royal aide quickly rushed to assist the monarch by picking up the gift, but not before photographers captured the moment.

Obviously, Queen Elizabeth rarely made mistakes in public. As a result, dropping the royal fan's bouquet during a 2010 visit to Eton College was quite exceptional. As always, however, the late monarch handled the moment with grace, and if anything, seeing her make even a tiny faux pas only served to confirm her humanity.

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King Charles has shared a statement regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's move to the U.K., which reveals whether the pair will return to official royal duties.

The Daily Mail's royal editor, Rebecca English, shared the news, writing, "In a letter of guidance to 'senior stakeholders' in the government, military, and those who represent the Royal Family around the country, Charles said Harry and Meghan's titles are in abeyance and they should not be treated as anything other than private individuals."

The King also referenced Prince Harry's ongoing call for adequate protection, writing, "security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities."

English shared the full letter in her article, which explained: "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the U.K., we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared."

The letter continued, "It is well known that in January 2020 the duke and duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family."

Furthermore, the letter noted, "This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected."

Per the statement, "The charitable work of the duke and duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."

The letter also noted that Meghan and Harry will continue to use their royal titles as previously designated, which includes no longer styling themselves as His or Her Royal Highness.

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King Harald V of Norway died on August 28 at the age of 89. His state funeral is set to be attended by a plethora of world leaders and royals from across Europe, including Prince William and Princess Anne. However, there's one royal who sadly won't be in attendance at the somber event due to a recurring health issue.

Unfortunately, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II—who formally abdicated in 2024—has been admitted to Copenhagen University Hospital for treatment following the discovery of a blood clot.

The Danish royal household released a statement saying (via Hello! magazine), "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe was admitted to Rigshospitalet on Sunday after feeling unwell."

Per the statement, "A new blood clot was detected in her hip area, as well as mild dehydration."

The Danish royals also shared, "Queen Margrethe is in good spirits and is progressing well under the circumstances. The royal house will provide further information as soon as there are any updates."

The Danish royal household also confirmed that, "regrettably," Queen Margrethe won't be able to attend King Harald's state funeral.

According to the Daily Mail, Margrethe "underwent an angioplasty, a medical procedure that opens up closed or narrowed blood vessels, after suffering chest pains," earlier this year.

Just weeks after the operation, the queen was readmitted to hospital after it was discovered that she had a "significant accumulation of blood in the hip area following a fall."

Although King Charles and Queen Camilla won't be in attendance at King Harald's funeral, Prince William and Princess Anne will pay tribute to the Norwegian royal at the event in Oslo on September 9.

When Queen Elizabeth turned 90 in 2016, she sat down with King Charles (then the Prince of Wales) to watch some vintage family movies in the documentary Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute. The King's former senior gardener, Jack Stooks, has been sharing clips of the late Queen leading up to the September 8 anniversary of her death, and he posted one "cherished" moment from her childhood on Instagram.

In the scene from Elizabeth at 90, the late Queen and King Charles sit down to watch a home movie featuring Princess Margaret forgetting her manners. "A glimpse into a cherished family memory," Stooks captioned the video. "Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles watching an old film of the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, enjoying a carefree picnic in the garden with their father, King George VI, and their beloved nanny."

In the clip, Elizabeth and Margaret wear matching short-sleeved sweaters as they enjoy a sunny outdoor meal. Queen Elizabeth, who was known as Princess Elizabeth at the time, daintily wiped her mouth with a lace-trimmed napkin after sipping her tea, but young Princess Margaret had other ideas.

Margaret downs her tea in a big gulp, tipping her head all the way back to get every last drop as King Charles laughs loudly in the background. The princess then gave the camera a cheeky smile before wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Typical!" Queen Elizabeth exclaimed. "It's absolutely typical."

The sisters were joined by their father, King George VI, who Queen Elizabeth noted was "reading the newspaper for some mysterious reason," and their nanny, Marion Crawford. It's an interesting appearance from the former royal nanny, who was shunned by the Queen Mother after she published a memoir about her time working for the family.

When King Charles pointed out, "That's Miss Crawford," Queen Elizabeth replied with a simple, "Yeah."

"There is something so touching about watching them look back at these moments from childhood, a reminder that long before duty, titles and history, there was simply family, laughter and time spent outdoors," Stooks captioned the video.

As Britain's monarch, King Charles has a plethora of responsibilities. And as father to two sons, The King needs to manage a multitude of different relationships within the family. According to a body language expert, Charles seemingly displays a "unique form of watchful attention" when it comes to one Royal Family member.

Body language expert Judi James analyzed archive footage of King Charles at a polo match with Prince Harry and Prince William, which took place in Anglesey, Wales, in June 2003.

"Charles's physical awkwardness might be legendary but in clips like this one he appears to be giving Harry a unique form of watchful attention that is littered with subtle but powerful displays of fondness," James told the Daily Mail.

The expert continued, "We have Charles creating a preferential form of proximity with his youngest son, both when he sits with one boy on either side and then very emphatically when another player joins them and Charles sits next to Harry, mirroring him and chatting quietly."

According to James, "It is clearly Harry who gets Charles's prime and then exclusive attention in this video while William appears to have to work to dominate the spotlight or break into and take over the conversation."

The body language expert also suggested that Charles could be seen engaging very differently with his two sons.

"Charles gives two different types of attention to his sons here: with Harry he appears gentle, caring, and watchful but William is treated more like a fellow adult and equal," James noted.

Of course, many parents interact with their individual children in different ways, making King Charles's behavior seem perfectly normal.

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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On Friday, August 28, the Norwegian royal court announced the death of King Harald V of Norway at the age of 89. Having been on the throne since 1991, the Norwegian king had become known as the oldest living European monarch following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022. Harald's son, Crown Prince Haakon, will take over and be known as King Haakon.

Harald's state funeral will take place on Wednesday, September 9, with important Royal Family members and dignitaries from across Europe expected to pay tribute at the event. It has now been confirmed that King Charles won't be in attendance at King Harald's funeral. Instead, two royal relatives will take his place and travel to Norway to pay their respects.

Prince William will represent his father at Harald's funeral, Hello! magazine has confirmed. The Prince of Wales will attend the event alongside his aunt, Princess Anne, who "is due to appear in a personal capacity as the godmother of King Haakon," the outlet reported.

The King's decision not to attend King Harald's funeral isn't unusual. For instance, his mother, Queen Elizabeth, regularly sent family members in her place to attend the funerals of world leaders, foreign royals, popes, and politicians.

King Charles counted King Harald as a second cousin once removed—Harald was Queen Elizabeth II's second cousin.

Paying tribute following Harald's death, The King wrote in an Instagram post, "It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway."

He continued, "For 35 years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility."

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 recently moved back to the U.K. from California with his wife Meghan Markle, and their two children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Discussing the Duke of Sussex's decision to relocate, a former royal butler has shared details about the prince's past.

During an appearance on "The Royals Uncensored" show (via the Express), Grant Harrold—who previously worked for the Royal Family as a butler—said of Harry, "Of course it was a long time ago I was there, but I always remember the whole security thing."

Harrold continued, "He had a close protection officer, there were a couple of back-ups that would follow them around, but I remember he used to try and avoid them."

According to the former butler, "He used to try and escape them. He didn't want them around."

As for how Prince Harry managed to evade his security officers when he was younger, Harrold shared, "He used to disappear round the back of the house and you'd have a police protection officer say 'Where has he gone?'"

Basically, it appears as though Prince Harry had quite the talent for escaping from authority figures when he needed to.

In many ways, it's understandable that a young Prince Harry might have tried to escape from his protection officers from time to time. Still, it's amusing to imagine the Duke of Sussex managing to successfully hide from royal employees who were searching for him.

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Prince Harry recently shocked royal fans by announcing his decision to move back to the U.K. with wife Meghan Markle and their children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Now, a new poll has revealed that royal fans are secretly hoping that the Duke of Sussex reunites with one royal relative in particular.

Earlier this week, the Express "asked royal readers which royal they most wanted to see Harry reunite with." According to the outlet, royal fans selected a rather unusual Royal Family member.

Per the publication, "Out of over 1,000 votes, 256 were in favour of Harry reuniting with Peter [Phillips, Princess Anne's son who recently married Harriet Sperling]." Surprisingly, Phillips reportedly "had the most votes" out of any royal relative in this poll.

In second place was Prince Harry's father, King Charles, which makes a lot of sense. Royal fans have generally been quite excited to follow the recent meetings between Harry and Charles.

The Express also noted that Prince Harry didn't attend his cousin Phillips's wedding to NHS nurse Harriet Sperling. In fact, it's even thought that Harry didn't receive an invite to the royal wedding, which took place in June 2026. In spite of this, it appears as though there's plenty of public support for a potential reunion between Harry and Phillips.

It's likely that some royal onlookers have been hoping for a reunion between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William, or the Prince of Wales's wife Princess Kate. But according to the Express's poll, Phillips is currently the frontrunner.

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The Royal Family vacations annually at their Balmoral estate in Scotland, which was one of the late Queen's favorite residences. Earlier this week, Queen Camilla returned to work, and on Wednesday, September 2, she made a solo visit to the Royal Academy of Dance global headquarters in London.

As the royal patron of the Royal Academy of Dance, Queen Camilla is a key supporter of the organization. During the visit, Sarah Platt, a dance teacher who has taught The Queen, asked about Camilla's wellbeing following her summer vacation.

Queen Camilla responded (via Hello! magazine), "I'm still standing! Just!" The Queen also added, "But I'm a little creaky," which is more than a little relatable.

Per Hello!, Queen Camilla met Platt in 2017 during an official visit to learn about the organization's Silver Swan's program, which encourages people over 55 years old to take part in dance.

Recounting their meeting, Platt explained, "She said, 'I wouldn't mind becoming a silver swan,' and said her office would be in touch. I never thought they would be, but they did, and we started only a few months later.'"

Platt continued (via Hello! magazine), "We've been doing the classes ever since. I go to Clarence House. There's normally around four of them, Her Majesty and a few friends or staff."

The teacher further said of The Queen, "She loves ballet, and she really gives it her all."

Queen Camilla might be feeling "a little creaky" after her summer break, but that didn't stop her from attending a multitude of official engagements this week.

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Queen Elizabeth always felt most at home when she was around her dogs and horses, and former royal gardener Jack Stooks just shared a behind-the-scenes video of the late monarch in her element. Stooks, who served as a senior gardener to King Charles for two decades, posted a charming clip of Queen Elizabeth on Instagram, and Her Majesty’s corgis managed to steal the show.

“From the Palace riding school to the rose gardens of Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty could often be seen riding side saddle, a tradition she embraced with remarkable grace and confidence,” he captioned the video. In the clip, Queen Elizabeth is seen riding with her legs draped over the side of her horse, Burmese, as a narrator explains that the monarch would practice with the horse ahead of Trooping the Colour each year.

The late Queen wears one of her signature silk head scarves in lieu of a helmet in the video, adding a tweed blazer, breeches and riding boots to her equestrian outfit. After leaving the palace’s indoor ring, Queen Elizabeth heads to the Buckingham Palace gardens where a footman can be seen with a group of corgis.

One especially spirited dog runs toward the late Queen, barking at the horse as she laughs and keeps Burmese’s composure. “The degree of concentration for both horse and rider is intense,” the narrator shares.

Queen Elizabeth continued to ride side saddle in Trooping the Colour each year until 1986, when Burmese retired. She opted not to train another horse for the parade, switching to riding in a carriage from 1987 forward. The late Queen's last Trooping the Colour took place during her 2022 Platinum Jubilee, and it was the only time she didn't take place in the procession, choosing to wave from the palace balcony as her health was failing.

“For the Queen, horses were never simply a royal pastime,” Stooks added. “They were a lifelong passion, a source of joy, and a connection to a world she had loved since childhood.”

The future is female when it comes to the monarchies of Norway, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, with all four countries set to welcome reigning queens one day.

Unlike generations before them, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Princess Leonor, Princess Elisabeth and Princess Catharina-Amalia are steering clear of the heavy makeup and highly-polished curls of the past—and Los Angeles hair stylist Danielle Louise of Fresha says Gen Z is going with a softer beauty identity.

“What’s interesting about this new generation of royals is that their beauty doesn’t feel particularly ‘royal’ in the traditional sense," Louise says. "The younger generation still looks polished, but it doesn’t necessarily look overly styled."

Louise adds that instead of caking on foundation or heavy eyeliner, the future queens' "makeup tends to enhance their features rather than dominate them."

"Ingrid Alexandra, Leonor, Elisabeth and Catharina-Amalia each have their own style, but collectively there’s already a softer, younger approach emerging," the beauty pro continues, pointing to a more "relatable" era of royal beauty coming.

"The ‘future queen effect’ may ultimately be less about everyone copying one haircut or lipstick and more about making polished beauty feel achievable again," she notes.

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is the newest Gen Z princess to become first in line to the throne after her grandfather, King Harald V, died on August 28, making her father the new King Haakon.

Louise says that Ingrid Alexandra's Scandi style "is a really good example of beauty that looks considered without looking overworked." The crown princess favors light makeup and soft, bouncy waves, and the stylist notes that "healthy hair is doing much of the heavy lifting," for the princess.

"When hair has shine, movement and well-maintained ends, you don’t necessarily need complicated styling for it to look expensive," she adds.

Princess Leonor of Spain

Princess Leonor, 20, is the eldest daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain and will become queen after father's reign. She switches up her hairstyle more often, whether it's a tight ponytail, soft curls or beachy waves like she wore this summer.

“Leonor manages to look incredibly polished without the beauty becoming the main event,” Louise says.

"Her softer waves are especially interesting because they’re much less rigid than the traditional royal blow-dry. There’s movement and texture rather than every section of hair being perfectly positioned," the hair expert continues, adding, "It’s the type of hairstyle people can actually take to their hairdresser as inspiration.”

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium

Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, 24, is the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and is taking a gap year after recently graduating from Harvard University.

Louise notes that Elisabeth's glossy hair and polished makeup is closer to traditional royal beauty, but in a slightly more understated way. “Not every Gen Z beauty trend has to be experimental," the beauty expert says. "There’s also been a renewed appreciation for beautifully maintained, classic hair."

She adds, "Elisabeth is probably the best example of how the traditional royal aesthetic is being updated rather than completely abandoned. A really good blow-dry, healthy shine and a simple shape can look incredibly modern when the finish isn’t too stiff."

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands

Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22—who more often goes by Amalia—is titled the Princess of Orange as the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

Louise notes that while the Dutch princess often goes for minimal makeup and casual styles, she leans into high glamour at formal events.

“The interesting thing about this generation is that they don’t have to maintain one beauty identity all the time," she says. "Beauty now is much less about having one signature look and more about knowing when to dial things up or down.”

Like big sister Pippa Middleton, James Middleton and his wife Alizée Thevenet live a fairly low-key life in the English countryside, but Alizée showed off her early fall style during a rare red carpet appearance in Paris.

Thevenet has been a longtime fan of Longchamp, and she was on hand for the opening of the brand’s art festival, held in the heart of the Marais on September 3. Alizée is known for her funky, vintage-inspired style, often wearing bold prints or quirky trouser suits, and she went with a '70s-esque outfit for the celebration of visual and performing arts.

Princess Kate’s sister-in-law dressed in head-to-toe Longchamp, choosing a mocha croc-print mini skirt with matching knee-high boots and a white bell-sleeved blouse, but it was her bag that stole the show.

Alizée gave her neutral outfit a bright pop of color with Longchamp's Le Pliage Xtra Glossy M Shoulder Bag in a vivid green “Matcha” shade.

While this shade of green might not be the most obvious choice to pair with a deep brown and white look, it was the perfect way to integrate one of summer’s saturated color trends with the more autumnal croc textures of her outfit (not to mention, the glossy bag perfectly matched the event’s step-and-repeat).

The Middleton family has a long history with Longchamp. Princess Kate was pictured carrying the French brand’s Le Pliage bags back in her University of St Andrews days and continues to carry the versatile totes while traveling.

Meanwhile, Alizée and mother-in-law Carole Middleton both leaned into Longchamp at Wimbledon this summer, with Carole carrying two different bags from the French fashion house to this year’s championships.

As for Alizée, she swapped her bold green Le Pliage for a more neutral purse at Wimbledon 2026, carrying a brown Longchamp Épure XS Camera Bag with her ivory Sézane dress for a double dose of French girl fashion.

There are several members of the Royal Family who have inherited Queen Elizabeth's looks, including Princess Charlotte, but royal journalist and author Robert Jobson pointed out that one young royal is following in the late Queen's footsteps in other ways.

"Some say it is her grandmother all over again," Jobson told the Daily Mail of Lady Louise, the 22-year-old daughter of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie. Louise graduated from the University of St Andrews this summer and has been praised for her low-key, humble manner, even working at a local garden center as a summer job.

While she certainly bears a resemblance to the late Queen, Jobson says that Lady Louise's relationship with fellow St Andrews student Felix da Silva-Clamp is also similar to her grandmother's approach to life with Prince Philip.

"Like Lady Louise, Princess Elizabeth was a quiet girl who knew exactly what she wanted when it came to love," Jobson said, adding that "Constancy and steadfastness was at the heart of her character, in marriage as in everything else, and it was perhaps underestimated."

"'People say Lady Louise looks like her grandmother," he continued. "There is a resemblance. But the likeness that matters more is not in the face."

Unlike some of her older cousins, Louise isn't into partying, and is more likely found taking part in traditional Scottish dancing with Felix or enjoying the theater scene.

Similar to Queen Elizabeth, who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II, Lady Louise is also interested in the military and took part in the St Andrews' University Officers' Training Corp. And when it comes to her love of horses, she followed in both Queen Elizabeth's footsteps and her late grandfather's.

Like Prince Philip, Lady Louise is an accomplished carriage driver on the competitive circuit, with boyfriend Felix often cheering her on from the sidelines.

"She has her grandmother’s temperament and her grandfather’s hobby," Jobson added of Louise. "Level-headed, thoughtful and kind. Those who knew the late Queen at that age would recognize a good deal of her in this young woman."

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."