Queen Elizabeth had a number historic properties she could live at and she’s known to have had a particular soft spot for Windsor Castle, Sandringham House and Balmoral. However there’s a humbler home that was also very "special" to her and Prince Philip, according to royal expert and woman&home correspondent Emily Andrews.

Whilst it is a royal residence, it’s "secluded" and this allowed the couple to enjoy living in a down-to-earth way. On a recent episode of her and Reverend Richard Coles’ Catching Up With The Royals podcast, Emily answered a question about Wood Farm, which was where Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh lived after he retired in 2017.

"He wanted nothing more to do, really, with royal life after that. He went to live and retire at Wood Farm and he actually didn’t see the Queen very much," she claimed. "[It] was where he painted, it was his home. And it always has held a special place for him and the Queen."

Although she lived apart from her husband a lot whilst she carried out her duties, Queen Elizabeth reportedly enjoyed spending time with him at Wood Farm when she could. Sandringham House and Gardens are open to the public from March/April until October and if this coincided with her visiting Norfolk, she went to the farm instead.

"Often he and the Queen when Sandringham was open to the general public or whatever, he and the Queen would live at Wood Farm, doing their own washing up, maybe even stacking the dishwasher," Emily declared.

The royal expert confirmed to co-host Richard that the home was "not very grand" even though it’s "quite a big place". It’s still hard to imagine the Queen and Philip doing the dishes, yet the monarch’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter previously referenced her willingness to wash up at Balmoral in a piece for woman&home.

"No sooner had I started than I heard footsteps and, thinking it was the Lady-in-Waiting coming to give me a hand, I casually said over my shoulder, ‘Okay, I’ll wash you dry,’ but it was not the Lady-in-Waiting. The Queen washed up and I dried, and no, she did not wear rubber gloves to protect her hands," he wrote.

Perhaps it made a refreshing change for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to do these kinds of household chores themselves and to spend time together in such a private place. Emily Andrews described Wood Farm as "secluded" and expressed her belief that this is why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor moved there first whilst Marsh Farm is being renovated.

Wood Farm has rarely been photographed and a courtier previously suggested to the Daily Mail that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh had other reasons for loving the residence which tied into their interests.

"They adored the simplicity of what Wood Farm represented," they alleged. "For the Duke, it was the light which he thought was perfect to paint by, and the proximity to the sea only a couple of miles away. The Queen likes the unfussiness - the sense of getting away from it all and being able to slip out for a walk with the dogs whenever she likes."

As a monarch who reigned for 70 years it’s no surprise that Queen Elizabeth faced plenty of difficult times, though she could never have imagined saying goodbye to the love of her life in the way she did in April 2021. Prince Philip had been her "strength and stay" throughout everything and passed away just a few months before his 100th birthday, during the pandemic.

Government guidelines in place at the time stipulated that funerals should have no more than 30 mourners attending. They also had to be spaced out from anyone not in their household, meaning Queen Elizabeth sat alone in her pew at St George’s Chapel.

Her grandson Peter Phillips explained in the new BBC documentary, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century, that "all you wanted to do was go and give her a hug, and you couldn’t do it".

Peter, the son of Princess Anne, was one of the 30 people at Prince Philip’s funeral and seemed to be speaking for himself and likely the rest of her loved ones too. He’d walked in the procession between Princes William and Harry and it must’ve been incredibly tough seeing his grandmother grieving and knowing he couldn’t get close to her.

The photographs of Queen Elizabeth wearing her face mask, sitting apart from everyone else was described by broadcaster Kirsty Young in the documentary as "one of the most moving and iconic images of her entire reign". Prince Philip’s death was a national moment but it was also a family one and Peter’s comment reminds us of this.

When we stop and think about it, the idea of anyone hugging the Queen seems hard to picture and we’ve never really seen her grandchildren doing this.

They’ve been photographed greeting her with a kiss on the cheek but this is the closest they’ve come to it in public. So even though Peter couldn’t give her a hug at the funeral, it’s a lovely insight into their bond.

He is the eldest of the late Queen’s grandchildren and over the years he’s been widely reported to be her "favourite grandson". Ahead of celebrations for her 90th birthday in 2016, Peter shared that he’d always been "very close" with Queen Elizabeth and they spoke often, calling her an "inspirational person throughout [his life]".

In 2024 he told Sky News Australia how "lucky" he was to be in Scotland before she passed away in 2022 and described how the royals said their goodbyes privately.

"I was lucky to be in Scotland before she passed and actually having those few days with her, just in Scotland, just as a family, before she left Balmoral - that was really nice," he said. "Looking back on it, it's still quite emotional, that part was a proper family moment."

Peter Phillips added, "In many ways we'd had our quiet moment with her, we'd said our goodbyes, so whilst it still wasn't particularly easy, it was easier to be able to share the public's grief for her."

At her funeral Peter once again walked in the procession. As all restrictions had been lifted the year before, this time the Royal Family could come together in public and private as they mourned Queen Elizabeth in a way they hadn’t been able to for Prince Philip.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for almost 74 years when he passed away in April 2021 and spent so much time together throughout that last year as they isolated at Windsor Castle during the pandemic. Despite living in the same residence, though, royal historian Hugo Vickers has suggested that the Queen "was not there" when her beloved husband died.

In an extract of his upcoming book, Queen Elizabeth II, published in the Mail on Sunday, Vickers alleges, "There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told 'His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago'."

"She took the line, I was told, that she was ‘absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye’," he adds, claiming that Philip "quietly slipped away".

This is a heart-breaking remark and it’s completely understandable that Queen Elizabeth would have wanted to be there to say a final farewell to her "strength and stay". Vickers believes that if she’d "retreated into Queen Victoria-style mourning, it might have been hard for her, at nearly 95, to pick up the reins again".

Instead, she "pressed on" and she led by example at her husband’s funeral by ensuring there were only 30 attendees in accordance with government guidelines. One of the most iconic and deeply poignant photos ever taken of the Queen depicted her alone and masked in a pew of St George’s Chapel during the service, with her closest family members spaced out around her.

The wreath laid on his coffin had a hand-written note from her nestled within it. It might not have been delivered in person before he died, but this could be seen as Queen Elizabeth’s goodbye to Philip and her exact words aren’t known, though it’s widely reported she signed it with her family nickname, Lilibet.

Another deeply personal detail about their relationship that is still private is what Prince Philip had inscribed on the inside of his wife’s wedding band. Only three people knew the secret message according to royal expert Ingrid Seward.

In Prince Philip: Revealed, she writes, "[Queen Elizabeth] never takes it off and inside the ring is an inscription. No one knows what it says, other than the engraver, the Queen and her husband."

When Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 she was laid to rest beside Prince Philip, her sister Princess Margaret and her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Windsor. She once famously said that grief is the price we pay for love, and she and Philip were devoted to each other throughout the ups and downs of royal life.

The Queen supposedly "taking the line" that she was "furious", might have been her way of coping with the sadness of not being able to say goodbye and could also be seen as a sweet nod to his nature and habit of leaving home unannounced.

On her 95th birthday two weeks after his death, her message was primarily focused on her husband and how "touched" she was by people’s well-wishes.

"My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life," she said.

Prince Philip’s guidance in matters of the heart was apparently taken seriously by the Royal Family - and this includes his grandson Prince William. The Prince and Princess of Wales were dating for seven years before he popped the question and it’s been suggested that Philip fully "backed" William taking some time over it.

Writing in William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, royal expert and editor Russell Myers claims that Prince Philip cautioned his grandson after seeing how King Charles and Princess Anne’s first marriages and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s marriage had ended unhappily.

"Philip had warned his grandson against succumbing to the same curse that saw the marriages of his own children, Charles, Anne and Andrew ending in separation and divorce, which had marked both their lives and those of his grandchildren," Myers suggested.

According to the author, the late Duke of Edinburgh "had been a huge supporter" of Prince William’s decision to "delay taking on full-time royal duties". He had also reportedly "backed him in taking his time while he considered whether he had absolute confidence in his relationship with Catherine before making the biggest decision of his life."

In 2010 William and Kate announced their engagement and in April they’ll celebrate their 15th anniversary, showing that this was not only the biggest decision but the best too. Myers remarks upon how Philip and Catherine "enjoyed a close relationship" and wrote letters to each other, and stated that the Duke’s acceptance or rejection of royal spouses was seen as a "moral compass".

He clearly very much approved of and admired the Princess of Wales and his warning to William makes complete sense given how much of a pressure cooker environment royal life can be.

In the couple’s engagement interview the Prince of Wales, who is first in the line of succession, even candidly revealed he’d wanted to give Kate time to "back out" if she’d wanted to.

"Her and her family, I really want to make sure that they have the best, sort of, guidance and chance to see what life has been like - or what life is like - in the family," Prince William said. "That’s kind of almost why I’ve been waiting this long is that I wanted to give her a chance to see and to back out if she needed to before it all got too much."

Turning to look at his now-wife, the Prince added, "I just wanted to give her the best chance to settle in and see what happens the other side."

Kate explained that she was "so glad" to have had the time to grow and understand herself more too and together they’ve laid the foundations for an aspirational royal marriage with echoes of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. The late Duke and monarch were married for over 73 years and it wasn’t only Philip handing out relationship advice…

Elsewhere in William & Catherine, Myers suggests that Queen Elizabeth gave Kate "guidance" about husbands in their first ever solo meeting. A former courtier is quoted as revealing Her Majesty "offered words of encouragement to Catherine regarding her future role as a senior member of the family, as well as guidance in how to deal with ‘headstrong’ husbands".

For many families, sitting down together after their turkey roast and watching the King's speech is a traditional part of Christmas Day. It's hard to imagine the festive season without it, but the idea of a televised Christmas message took a bit of persuasion to catch on behind palace doors.

Queen Elizabeth's first festive TV broadcast took place at Sandringham House in 1957 after Prince Philip "urged" her to embrace the medium over radio. Since 1959 the monarchs have pre-recorded the speech but the Queen's Christmas TV debut was live.

She was understandably very nervous and Prince Philip stepped in with an extraordinary way of distracting her. Who'd have thought that just before addressing the nation, her husband had been running up and down "brandishing a pair of false teeth".

According to Robert Jobson, writing in The Windsor Legacy, "Philip play-acted to ease the Queen's understandable nerves before making her TV debut". Courtiers are said to have recounted how the "hallways echoed with her laughter as he ran up and down, brandishing a pair of false teeth to keep and their children entertained".

The late Prince's top-tier distraction tactics didn't stop there, either. He apparently also sent a "playful message" to the broadcast's director: "Tell her to remember the wailing and gnashing of teeth". To be honest, I'd have thought she'd be unlikely to forget!

Prince Philip was supposedly also in the room whilst Queen Elizabeth was giving her Christmas speech and he made sure to keep up his good work. Jobson's book includes a recollection from Christina Aldridge, daughter of Peter Dimmock who produced the BBC broadcast.

"The Queen was rather nervous, and Prince Philip, aware of this, stood behind the camera making encouraging, even ridiculous faces, helping her to relax and smile," she claimed.

Despite her anxiety, the Queen's Christmas Day speech was a resounding success. It helped to connect the public more with their monarch, as, for the first time, they could see a member of the Royal Family from the comfort of their homes and it just felt more personal than radio.

It became a new Christmas Day tradition, although a few years later, Queen Elizabeth started to record her messages ahead of time instead of speaking live. This might well have helped with her nerves, but who knows if she still thought of Prince Philip running with the false teeth to keep her calm and relaxed throughout.

Entertaining his family - particularly the children - was something the Prince loved to do and often did so in very un-royal ways like this. Speaking in the BBC's 2021 documentary, Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, Prince William shared a story about the messy prank his grandfather used to play with mustard at the table that got him into "trouble" with the Queen.

"He used to take the lid off [the tube] and put it in your hands... and then he'd squish your hands together to fire the mustard onto the ceiling," he said, adding, "He used to get in a lot of trouble from my grandmother".

"He enjoyed those jokes, he enjoyed messing around with the children and being a grandfather," William declared.

Prince Philip famously never minced his words and it’s been revealed that months before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding he made a rather blunt remark about his grandson’s choice of fiancée. Harry and Meghan tied the knot at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and announced their engagement the previous November, after just over a year of dating.

Their news was met with excitement from fans across the world as they looked forward to another royal wedding. Behind closed doors, Prince Philip’s response to Harry was allegedly the warning, "One steps out with actresses, one doesn’t marry them".

Royal author Andrew Lownie made this claim in his tell-all book, Entitled, and it’s also been suggested over the years that Philip nicknamed Meghan "DOW" after American divorcée Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.

It was for love of Wallis that King Edward VI abdicated, leading to Queen Elizabeth’s father ascending the throne. She was not looked upon kindly in royal circles and it’s been widely reported that Philip felt the Duchess of Sussex reminded him of Wallis.

Whilst his supposed comment upon hearing of the Sussexes’ engagement might be considered harsh, he wasn’t alone in expressing reservations. Prince William was anxious about the speed at which the romance was moving and the Duke of Sussex remarked upon this in Spare.

The King’s youngest son recalled his brother telling him it was "too fast" and "too soon". Meanwhile, in The Windsor Legacy by Robert Jobson, it’s also stated that William was "uneasy" about his brother’s choice to pop the question to Meghan when he did.

"He thought Harry was moving too fast and didn’t know her well enough," Jobson writes. "Harry took this as an insult, and tensions flared. While William did not explicitly warn him against marrying her, Harry interpreted his comments as scepticism about his new girlfriend Meghan’s fitness for royal life."

Regardless of this alleged warning from his grandfather and his brother’s worries, Harry married Meghan in a ceremony watched by millions of people. Just under two years later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed they were stepping back as working royals.

It’s believed a summit was held at Sandringham House in January 2020 to discuss the Sussexes’s future and whether they could forge a path as half-in and half-out of The Firm. It was attended by Queen Elizabeth, Harry, William and the now-King Charles, but not Philip.

Jobson declares, "The answer from the top was clear: no halfway role was possible. They were either in or out. Her Majesty’s ruling deepened the existing tensions in the family, particularly between Harry and William. Prince Philip, once a mentor to Harry, was so angered by what he saw as a threat to the family’s cohesion that he stayed away."

The Duke of Sussex was close to his grandfather and had succeeded him as Captain-General of the Royal Marines in 2017. At the time, Philip quipped, "Don’t f*** it up", and Harry is said to have been devastated when he was stripped of this title in 2021 after stepping back.

In August this year the Duke of Sussex asked for a wreath and letter to be laid on his behalf to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, and it paid tribute to the Prince.

"My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Pacific campaign," the Duke declared. "He spoke with quiet humility about those years, but I know how deeply he respected all who stood beside him in that theatre of war. Today, as I think of him, I think also of each of you, of the shared hardships, the bonds forged, and the legacy you leave."

The likes of Prince William and Princess Anne were born into one of the most famous dynasties around the world and were famous from the day they were born. Other royals, like the Princess of Wales marry into the Royal Family later on - and quite a change it must be for them too!

The public scrutiny, intense fame, and important responsibilities might seem overwhelming - and this is something the late Prince Philip would reportedly try to help them with. According to Gyles Brandreth, writing in his 2021 book, Philip: The Final Portrait, the Prince would reportedly help mentor new family members, including Kate and Duchess Sophie.

One of his top tips for handling newfound royal fame is something the Princess of Wales seemingly continues to follow to this day and it's very simple: never look at the cameras when you're out and about.

As per the royal expert’s book, Prince Philip would share this nugget of wisdom and made the comparison to how his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, handled every aspect of her life being so public throughout her historic reign.

He would reportedly point out that Her Majesty would always give her attention to whoever she was talking to, and not looking for the cameras or seemingly being aware of them.

Philip is said to have thought, "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all."

Speaking of his own first-hand experience with the Princess of Wales, Gyles added that Kate apparently still follows Prince Philip's advice. He writes in the book, "She does not look at the camera. Whenever she is interviewed, Catherine talks about the matter in hand, never about herself."

"Prince Philip had a lot of experience being in the public eye and having a senior royal role," remarks woman&home's Royal Editor, Emma Shacklock. "It would make sense for him to impart some wisdom about it. Like Queen Elizabeth, for Philip it was all about the work he was doing, not him personally. This approach keeps you focused on your job which is likely very grounding amid all the scrutiny."

Prince Philip’s mistrust for the press and the "fame" aspect being a royal was apparently something he dealt with for most of his life.

Speaking to The Times in 2021, Gyles shared more insight into the late Duke of Edinburgh’s alleged private thoughts, saying, "He always hated the paparazzi. It started in 1949, the Queen and Prince Philip were taken to a restaurant to eat together and he noticed underneath the tablecloth a lens poking out on the other side of the room - it’s never stopped for 70 years."

Gyles Brandreth’s revelations come after the author and personality shared a decades long cordial relationship with the Royal Family.

In the same interview with The Times, he said of his closeness with Prince Philip, "The Duke showed me great friendliness over 40 years, but royalty offer you friendliness, not friendship, and you have to remember the difference."

Gyles has since continued to appear at events like 2022's Big Jubilee Lunch with King Charles and at Queen Camilla's Reading Room Festival.

As the longest-serving royal consort in history, Prince Philip was undoubtedly an integral part of the British monarchy, and his legacy lives on to this day.

From supporting his wife during her Coronation in 1953 to being an ambassador for countless charities including setting up The Duke of Edinburgh Award and becoming the International President of the World Wildlife Fund, Prince Philip always showed a strong sense of commitment when it came to being a royal.

He was also known throughout his life for having an extremely strong, and sometimes controversial, sense of humour, though. Below, we have rounded up just some of the many funny moments Prince Philip gave us over his life.

32 candid photos of Prince Philip that showcase his light-hearted side

A day out at the zoo

On a trip to Whipsnade Zoo in 2017, Prince Philip and the late Queen Elizabeth were photographed feeding an elephant while chatting to employees about conservation and the importance of wildlife. We included this picture because it just shows our two late monarchs looking extremely enthralled and interested in feeding what seems to be one very hungry elephant.

Gardening meets royalty

An interesting fact about King Charles: the monarch has long been known as an avid gardener. Here, however, his father, the Late Duke of Edinburgh, is seen getting green-fingered as he enthusiastically chats to British gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh while judging the obstacles event during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2009. The event has been held annually in the private grounds at Windsor Castle since 1943. We love his hilarious expression here - we bet he was mid-quip!

When Philip met the Fab Four

Prince Philip met many famous faces over the years, from world leaders to Hollywood actors and global music superstars. Here he is pictured having a good time with The Beatles, at the 1964 Carl-Alan Awards Ceremony in London. The young Duke of Edinburgh was attending the ceremony to present the world-famous band with an award - and, judging by this picture, it was a very jovial affair!

Deep concentration for a carriage driving competition

Here the Late Duke of Edinburgh appears to be lost in concentration (and pulling an extremely unfortunate silly face) as he competes in the Cross Country Section Of The International Carriage Driving Grand Prix Championships at Windsor. The Duke was an extremely active royal and was pictured showing his sporting prowess many times over the years engaging in a range of physical activities.

Sharing a joke with his wife

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for nearly 74 years and were often snapped sharing a joke or having a laugh together. Here is no different, as they look very jolly while bidding farewell to Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina at the end of their official visit to Windsor Castle in 2014. The late Queen and the president had reportedly shared a joke - and Prince Philip looked like he was in on the laugh too!

Fun on the Buckingham Palace balcony

Photographed on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour in 2012, Prince Philip shares a warm smile and a laugh with the Late Queen, the Princess of Wales and Lady Louise Windsor. They all look relaxed and appear ot be sharing a joke - as they so often did!

Trooping the Colour is an annual event of a huge scale, involving more than 600 guardsmen and cavalry riding and marching through central London to celebrate the Sovereign's official birthday. 

Having fun and dining with Hollywood stars

In this amazing photograph, Prince Philip is having a dinner surrounded by Hollywood royalty and seems to be fitting right in! As we know, in his younger years, the Prince often rubbed shoulders with international stars. Here he is sharing a joke with American opera singer Dorothy Kristen while sitting at the same table as music legend Frank Sinatra and acting starlet Ava Gardner. A brilliant, relaxed photo of the late Prince looking relaxed and enjoying a laugh.

Relaxing and watching the sports with other royals

The royal family have long been attendees of the Braemar Highland Games, the most famous Highland games in the world that were first attended by Queen Victoria in 1848. Here, the late Prince Philip and Queen and the now King Charles are enjoying the festivities whilst sporting traditional kilts. Prince Philip has clearly said something hilarious as the late Queen Elizabeth is throwing her hands in the air with laughter!

Looking very shocked during the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Engrossed in the drama of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Prince Philip looks completely shocked in this candid snap. While we wonder what on earth was going on to create such a reaction, the royals are known for pulling funny faces at sports events as they often break their famous stiff upper lip when it comes to supporting their favourite teams. And while this might not quite top Kate Middleton's uninhabited reactions at some sports events, it's pretty close!

Sharing a laugh at Prince Harry's Christening

As we all know, there have been many times over the years that young royals stole the show growing up. This famous funny and just plain adorable moment was captured during Prince Harry’s Christening in 1984. As a young Harry garners attention during a photo shoot, the rest of the family, including Philip, look on in amusement and adoration. 

While the late Prince isn't centre stage in this photo, we had to include it because it's such a warm family photo that shows he was often at his happiest when surrounded by loved ones.

Having a conversation with comedy royalty

In this charming black and white photo taken after the Royal Variety Show in London, Prince Philip might not be pulling a joke, but he's surrounded by some of the best in the business when it comes to cracking a joke (or ten).  Here, he's surrounded by
comedian Bob Hope, Frankie Laine and British comedy royalty Norman Wisdom, but he also looks as if he is giving his peers some very important information. We wonder what he said!

Celebrating a win at the Polo

Prince Philip often showed us his jolly, light-hearted side during many a public event and royal celebrations. Here in this photograph, he shows the general public those very qualities as he enthusiastically hands over a very large trophy and speaks to those attending the Royal Salute Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club. 

Getting a fit of the giggles

The royals have given us so many instances over the years of their playful and goofy side and are often stifling a cheeky laugh at official events. In this photo taken at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston in Windsor, the late Duke is caught in a fit of giggles and unable to hide his amusement. He retained his cheeky sense of humour and appreciation of a chuckle until his old age - he was the grand old age of 98 in this snap! 

This sweet picture of the young monarchs

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were lovingly married for over 70 years and have given us many endearing and romantic moments together. Photographed here as a young couple watching the Royal Horse Show at Windsor in 1949, this sweet picture shows a fresh-faced Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth joking whilst watching the event. This image was taken just a year after the birth of their first child, the now King Charles III.

Window shopping at Windsor

The royal family are the epitome of elegance and formality. However, there have been unexpected instances over the years of members of the royals being snapped in very normal, candid moments, just like the rest of us. Case in point: doing a spot of shopping at an event stall - hardly the place we'd imagine seeing Prince Philip. Here he is browsing and trying on a hat whilst looking at a fetching pair of sheepskin gloves during the second day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2006. 

Using binoculars to get a closer look at the action

Looking totally engrossed (and partially covered by his choice of eyewear), Prince Philip is captured here looking as candid and funny as ever as he excitedly uses binoculars to get a better look at the action unfolding during the Highland Games. Sitting next to his wife the Late Queen and their son, King Charles, they eagerly cheer on the participants taking part in the sporting event that takes place in the beautiful Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Scotland.

The need for speed

Proving once again that the royals know how to have fun, here we see Prince Philip showing that he has a need...a need for speed. Captured riding around without a care in the world during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Prince Philip channels his inner daredevil by riding around on a mini 'Easy-Rider' motorbike.

Wisecracking at The BBC

On a visit to the iconic BBC Television Centre in London, both Prince Philip and the late Queen are pictured here joking with much-loved Welsh actor and comedian Harry Secombe. Here, the Queen looks amazing in a tastefully embellished evening gown with matching drop earrings and her signature curled coiffure hairdo, while the Prince himself looks extremely dapper in a classic black and white tuxedo and slicked-back hair.

Looking startled by adoring fans

This amusing picture of Prince Philip was always going to be included in our list of candid and funny Prince Philip moments. This picture shows him looking a tad startled by the many adoring children waving flags during a visit to Kettering in Northamptonshire. The facial expression Philip has in this picture looks not too dissimilar from his son, the now King, who has shown us plenty of times where he has shown us his playful sense of humour. 

Making the Princess of Wales giggle

Attending the final night of The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebrations which were held at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, here is a heart-warming picture taken of Kate Middleton and the late Prince Philip deep in conversation. The Princess has a wonderfully broad smile on her face, and Prince Philip has clearly just said something very funny to her (though the other men in the shot look less amused). We just want to know what was being said to make her laugh that much!

Joking at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Pictured here avoiding the wet weather by hiding in his Land Rover to watch the Dressage phase of the Carriage Driving competition on day 2 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Prince Philip shows his fun side that even members of the public get to engage with as he seems to be involved in a funny conversation with an attendant of the event. The event is held annually in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is often attended by the reigning sovereign.

Supporting Team Balmoral

Here, Prince Philip is seen having a royally good time along with the now King and Queen Charles and Camilla and the late Queen Elizabeth whilst watching what seems to be an enthralling game of tug of war during the Braemar Games Highland gathering in 2006. All royals in this picture have each given us a memorable funny face, with the Late Queen extending her hands in excitement, King Charles belly laughing and Queen Camilla with a rather wide grin on her face! Even Princess Anne broke character; the Princess Royal rarely shows her emotions to such an extent!

A joke between grandfather and grandson

Pictured here at the Spirit of Chartwell celebration on the Royal Barge during the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, this lovely moment captured Prince Philip and Prince Harry sharing a quiet joke while on duty. This was only the second time in history the UK has been able to celebrate 60 years of a monarch on the throne, with the only other monarch reaching that milestone being Queen Victoria.

Out and about in New Delhi

Even when on international duty, Prince Philip and his wife, the late Queen Elizabeth, always found a way to share a laugh or two. Here he is pictured having a good time and sharing a joke in the sun with her and Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru in 1961. The late Queen looks marvellous here and she shades herself from the sun with a chic parasol, modest hat and sunglasses and comfortable-looking kitten heels. As ever, Prince Philip appears to have said something hilarious as she can't contain her laughter.

Bonding with Prince William

Prince William and the late Duke of Edinburgh always shared a loving and strong relationship. Here they are sharing a joke whilst attending the East Anglian Air Ambulance Base at Cambridge Airport Base in 2016. William's slight eyebrow raise suggests his grandfather might have said something mildly controversial or embarrassing - as he was sometimes prone to do! A great snap.

Carriage driving enthusiasm

A lifelong fan of carriage driving, Prince Philip never missed the opportunity to do a spot of driving during his rare downtime. Here he is getting rather wet and competitive while holding a horse whip during a competition at Windsor Castle as he is watched by many adoring onlookers. All we want to know is... what position did he come in?

Offering a helping hand

The royals have given us so many moments that show their kindness, such as Princess Catherine's many sweet moments with young fans. This picture is not so much funny as totally heart-warming, as here Prince Philip offering help to a young girl so she can get over a barrier to give the Queen flowers as they visit Windsor on her 80th birthday. How sweet! 

Looking seriously impressed (and a little bit scared) at the Olympic Torch Relay

The 2012 London Olympics was an event watched by millions across the globe and saw the United Kingdom put its best foot forward in all areas of sports and culture. One of the most memorable moments of the preparations for the Olympics was the Torch Relay that happened across the country. Here, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are pictured looking impressed by the big torch being passed onto its next bearer while it was on its 8,000 mile journey. We must admit, he also looks a tiny bit terrified - though we'd be the same if we were standing behind a lit torch!

Channelling his inner Bond

If they are not the picture of elegance, the royals have often been caught showing the public a glimpse of their more relaxed side when out and about. Looking as relaxed and cool as ever, he's pictured here sipping on a drink and clearly enjoying the fun and more laid-back side of being a royal. This picture was taken during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1982 and was one we had to include in our list because he looks so at ease.

Enjoying a visit to South Africa

Enjoying a display of traditional dance by Young Zulus while on a visit to Durban, South Africa, here is a lovely funny moment shared between Prince Philip and The Queen while on international duty. The two are pictured smiling and watching in excitement as the event unfolds before them. While this list is about Prince Philip's funny moments, it may be the Queen's reaction that wins here, as she appears to be so engrossed she leans forward with her mouth open in awe!

Presenting a prize

Prince Philip looks very impressed here as he is seen giving a prize during day 2 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the only show in the UK to host international dressage competitions, show jumping, carriage driving and endurance riding. The two competitors receiving the prize look just as excited to be talking to royalty as the Prince is to be giving the award.

Photobombed by a corgi

All the royals have had their silly, candid moments - from the Princess of Wales to King Charles showing his playful sense of humour. This picture is no different, although it's a funny moment from a rather furry friend. It may look like a normal picture of the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen at home at Windsor Castle, however, look a little closer and you will see a very subtle, but very funny photobomb by one of the Queen’s most beloved Corgis… 

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s reported sleep divorce might sound radical but it’s right on trend as a topic of discussion today.

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for 73 years and for many people theirs was the epitome of a perfect relationship. Their grandson Prince Harry once described them as the most “adorable couple” who were “very much in love”. So it might come as a surprise to some that the devoted couple are said to have slept in separate bedrooms rather than together every night. 

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s sleep divorce is reportedly the norm for those of their class but whilst it might sound radical, it’s a much-talked about topic right now.

Sleep divorce just means that a couple chooses to sleep separately and according to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s relative Lady Pamela Hicks, this is something they used to do. In Sally Bedell Smith’s 2012 biography, Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, Lady Pamela, who was also the late monarch’s Lady-in-Waiting, explained that the “upper classes” were accustomed to this sleeping arrangement. 

“In England the upper class always have had separate bedrooms,” she claimed. “You don’t want to be bothered with snoring, or someone flinging a leg around. Then when you are feeling cosy you share your room sometimes, It is lovely to be able to choose.”

Reflecting upon Lady Pamela’s remarks to Vanity Fair in an adaption from her book, Sally alleged that when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip moved into Clarence House in 1949 they had adjacent but connecting bedrooms. This was just two years after the couple married and so if the suggestions are correct then Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s sleep divorce is something they seem to have started early on in their relationship.

Although it’s been claimed that the couple followed tradition with their supposed sleep divorce, this approach to sleeping is something that is being much-talked about at the moment. Especially if couples are able to get a better quality night’s sleep by sleeping separately, sleep divorce could be an option to consider.

Opening up to Becky Smith for womanandhome, Dr Guy Meadows, co-founder and clinical lead of Sleep School declared that "good quality sleep helps to emotionally reset us, enabling us to wake up happier and have a more positive outlook on the world and those around us, something that can only be good for our relationships."

He also revealed that if there are “differing sleep habits” within a couple then “timings, comfort needs, and work schedules all have the potential to disturb sleep quality” too. 

Meanwhile, actor Cameron Diaz has recently spoken out about the subject of sleep divorce, stating her belief that “we should normalise having separate bedrooms” more generally, even though she and her husband Benji Madden don’t sleep separately themselves. 

Whilst it’s not known if there were any reasons for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s sleep divorce other than simply following tradition, it seems the royal couple had reportedly long been on board with this much-discussed concept. 

Following Prince Philip’s retirement from public duties in 2017 it’s understood that the couple also lived apart at times too, with the Queen largely based at Buckingham Palace and him spending a lot of time at Sandringham. Regardless of this, they remained each other’s confidantes and their marriage is one of the most iconic and successful royal relationships in British history. 

Prince Philip’s royal tradition is something Princess Anne chose to uphold with her children when none of her brothers did.

Over the years much has been made of Princess Anne’s bond with her father, with some suggesting that she inherited Prince Philip’s “attitude” and no-nonsense approach. They were understood to have been close and she was the only one of the late Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth’s children to have upheld Prince Philip’s tradition with her kids, after not being able to do it for herself. In 1963 the Princess Royal became the first British royal woman to attend school when she started at Benenden. 

At the time she couldn't follow in her father’s footsteps and go to Gordonstoun school in Scotland as it wasn’t co-educational. But this later changed and both of Princess Anne's children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, were educated there.

This could be seen as continuing Prince Philip’s tradition as the Scottish boarding school was his alma mater and he’s reported to have thoroughly enjoyed his years there. All three of his sons went on to attend Gordonstoun too, perhaps indicating exactly how much of a valuable experience the Duke of Edinburgh found it to want his sons to have it too.

However, none of the rest of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s grandchildren went there, so if it weren’t for Peter and Zara, this royal educational tradition would have completely faded away in this generation. It’s not known why King Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward’s children didn’t attend Gordonstoun, though His Majesty in particular is often reported to have had a difficult time at the school.

Although he later declared in a speech in 1975 that he was “lucky” to have gone there as it “taught [him] a great deal about [himself]” and how to “accept challenges and take the initiative”.

Despite this more positive remark, though, Prince William and Prince Harry were both educated at Eton College after Ludgrove School. Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie went to St George’s Ascot and Marlborough respectively and Lady Louise Windsor was educated at St George’s School Windsor Castle and her brother James has apparently gone to school in Berkshire too.

This makes Princess Anne’s decision to uphold Prince Philip’s royal tradition unique and it’s perhaps one that Zara and Peter had a say in too. Either way, they certainly seemed to appreciate their time at Gordonstoun as Zara shared back in 2018 that she “loved school” and that whilst she did get “homesick”, Peter looked out for her.

“I loved school, I loved sport and being with my mates all the time,” she said, as per Express.co.uk, before adding, “You do get homesick, but I had so much fun, and Pete was very protective. All his friends were too. They kept me out of trouble.”

So it seems that she and Peter had fun upholding Prince Philip’s royal tradition by attending Gordonstoun. Following his death, the school posted a touching tribute to their "oldest alumnus" who joined the year the school was founded.

“More than anything, he understood and was hugely supportive of Gordonstoun’s educational ethos, of not only fulfilling academic potential but also of developing life skills through experiences outside the classroom, including sailing and community service," the declared. "We are immensely grateful for his support over the years and his presence and support in the school’s life will be sorely missed.”

It could be up to Princes George, Louis and Princess Charlotte and their cousins to carry on a funny, silly tradition which goes back to their great grandfather, Prince Philip, this summer. The late Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed being playful with his grandchildren, teaching them a messy prank which reportedly infuriated the late Queen.

• One royal expert thinks the young royals – including Prince George and his cousins, the Tindall children – will carry on a silly tradition started by Prince Philip this summer
• Prince William once explained the bizarre mustard prank his grandfather taught them as kids, and now it’s the younger generation’s turn to carry the torch
• In other royal news, the new names Prince George could take on when he becomes King
  

It’s easy to imagine the royal family being so committed to their well-known rules and customs that time spent together could be rather stuffy.

But that wasn’t the case when Prince Philip was around – and one royal expert believes the younger generation of royal kids will carry on a silly tradition he taught his own grandchildren.

This summer, as the family plan to join Charles and Camilla at Balmoral for the traditional holiday together, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has given an insight into what the royal children like Prince George and his cousins, including Zara and Mike Tindall’s children, might expect at Balmoral.

She has suggested the Balmoral summer holiday might be more relaxed this year, saying, “They will enjoy the usual Scotland activities with lots of fresh air, riding, walking, picnicking, fishing and plenty of family games… especially when their young cousins, like the Tindall's, arrive.”

“It will probably be a bit more relaxed under King Charles, although obviously there will be a lot of sadness and nostalgia because of the anniversary of the late Queen’s death.”

And one thing that she added the kids might get up to involves mustard. Yes. Mustard.

Much to the late Queen’s annoyance, Philip enjoyed a messy game with his grandchildren, as told by Prince William during a special documentary shown shortly after his grandfather’s death in 2021.

Recalling the mustard game, Prince William said, “He used to take the lid off and put it in your hands… and then he’d squish your hands together to fire the mustard onto the ceiling.”

“He used to get in a lot of trouble from my grandmother for covering most of the places we had lunch and things with mustard on the ceiling.”

Zara Tindall also affectionately remembered the mustard antics, saying, “I can’t remember exactly what he says but he ends up slamming your hands together…. It goes all over the ceiling.”

Her brother Peter Phillips added, “I actually think the marks are still there.”

A more relaxed approach seems to be a recurrent theme now that Charles is King.

Previously, another royal expert explained how an Easter tradition would be more relaxed under the King.

“The Queen always said until they could hold a knife and fork properly they could not eat at the table, but Charles might have relaxed that rule a bit,” Ingrid declared.

The Queen was much-loved for her humour and wit, something that a former royal aide claims was made clear when he 'overheard' her and Prince Philip bickering. 

• The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip shared a strong marriage that spanned over the course of more than seven decades - but they weren't immune to quarrels. 
• The monarch is said to have had a stern response to a comment reportedly made by her husband during one particular bicker. 
• This royal news comes as Prince George is said to be "surprisingly comfortable" with his royal position as he realised he’s "got to step up". 

The Queen was married to Prince Philip for 73 years, until his death in 2021, and their love story is one that captured the nation's hearts.

What made them even more lovable was how relatable they were as a married couple, reportedly often making fun of each other and having little quarrels.

One incident, which took place during the height of the pandemic when the couple were shielding together at Windsor Castle, was allegedly overheard by a palace aide.

According to the royal insider, Philip is said to have called Her Majesty a "silly woman" during one bicker. 

According to the Daily Mail, the long-reigning monarch is then said to have replied, "I am not a silly woman, I am the Queen."

Speaking to the publication, the royal aide reportedly revealed, "I couldn't believe my ears but I was told this was how they always were with one another. They bickered with one another. It was sweet but so unexpected."

The Queen and her husband built an unbreakable bond over the course of their 74-year marriage, with the pair having both their shared passions as well as their differences. Although they both shared a love for the outdoors and horses, Prince Philip had a more daring personality, whereas the Queen was thought to be more reserved.

And while Prince Philip was known for making controversial quips on occasion, the Queen reportedly never held back from putting him in his place. 

The Queen and Prince Philip married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Together with her father, George VI, the-then Princess Elizabeth arrived in the Irish State Coach.

The ceremony started at 10:30am and her wedding meant that the Queen became the tenth member of the Royal Family to get married at the iconic abbey. The gorgeous gown was designed by the Sir Norman Hartnell and was inspired by Botticelli's iconic painting Primavera, which symbolises the coming of spring.

In a poignant full circle moment, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral would include a service at Westminster Abbey earlier this year.

It's been predicted that Prince George could follow in his grandfather's footsteps to bestow a special honor on his little brother, Prince Louis, when he becomes King.

• With Prince George set to become King some day, it's thought that he may offer his little brother, Prince Louis, a special title in the same way King Charles has. 
• King Charles recently gave his youngest brother, Prince Edward, their father's former Duke of Edinburgh title, with Sophie Wessex becoming the Duchess of Edinburgh. 
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton’s selfless sacrifice for Prince George and Princess Charlotte that defied years of tradition has been revealed. 

Following the death of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April 2021, his iconic Duke of Edinburgh title was left untaken. 

However, after taking the throne from the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, King Charles bestowed the special royal privilege on his brother, Prince Edward, ahead of the monarch's long-awaited coronation in May of this year, which is set to be watched around the world by millions. 

To mark Prince Edward's 59th birthday on March 10th, King Charles announced that he had granted his brother the Duke of Edinburgh title, with his wife Sophie becoming the Duchess of Edinburgh and their son James taking Edward's old title to become the Earl of Wessex. 

Meanwhile, Edward and Sophie's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was the only one in the family-of-four to be denied a title change, as the only remaining descendant of Queen Elizabeth II to keep the Mountbatten-Windsor name.

"Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today! The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday," a statement confirmed as Charles shared a birthday wish to his brother on social media. 

Now, it has been predicted that Prince Louis is set to take on the Duke of Edinburgh title next, as Prince George could replicate Charles's decision to give the honor to his younger brother, when the nine-year-old eventually takes the throne. 

This is because the Duke of Edinburgh title isn't hereditary, so Prince Edward won't be allowed to pass the honor down to his son James when he passes away and the title will be returned to the Crown.

Meanwhile, although it was claimed that King Charles was considering giving Princess Charlotte the Duchess of Edinburgh title, it's likely that she will take on the title of Princess Royal eventually, so probably won't be given the Edinburgh name when it is available once again. 

The Princess Royal title is traditionally given to the eldest daughter of the monarch, so Princess Charlotte is expected to some day take the special title when her father, Prince William, becomes the King. 

All of this means that Prince Louis is likely at the top of the list to become the Duke of Edinburgh when his older brother takes the throne, with George set to repeat history and copy his grandfather's act of bestowing the name on his little brother. 

Meanwhile, a royal expert has predicted that Prince William and Princess Catherine are taking extra care to ensure that Prince Louis doesn't feel left out as the youngest of the three royal Wales children. 

With Prince George second in line to the throne, with seven-year-old Charlotte and four-year-old Louis in third and fourth place, royal author Tom Quinn claims that there is a risk of Louis feeling like a "double spare". 

"I think because the royal family now is so aware of the mistakes that they've made in the past, especially with bringing up children," he told the Express.

"I think they will make enormous efforts to make sure that Louis doesn't feel like a lost soul."

Princess Eugenie has shared a rare photo of her two-year-old son August, and there's a strong family resemblance between the toddler and Eugenie's cousin, Prince Harry.

• Fans were quick to comment on the photo, noting how little August looks not only like Harry but also his two children, Archie and Lilibet.
• The photo showed pregnant Princess Eugenie holding hands with her small son in a frosty field.
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton and Prince William are 'worried' about Prince George's role in King Charles's Coronation 'based on past decisions.'

Sharing the sweet photo on Instagram on Mothers Day, Princess Eugenie, who is pregnant with her second child, captioned the shot, "I love being your Mumma! Happy Mothers Day! Xx"

But the first thing fans noticed on the rare picture of little August was his likeness to Prince Harry and his children, three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, one.

"August reminds me of Harry when he was little," one fan commented, while another wrote, "August looks like Archie. Family blood is strong." A third fan added, "Just like Lili," while another branded August "Archie's twin."

Princess Eugenie last shared a picture of August when she announced that she and husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their second child.

Sharing a sweet snap of August hugging her and proudly kissing her belly, she wrote, "We’re so excited to share that there will be a new addition to our family this summer."

Their second child is due to be born just months after the highly-anticipated coronation of Princess Eugenie’s uncle, King Charles. And though the parents are likely overjoyed at the news, there will also perhaps be a slight sadness as their second baby will be only one of the late Queen’s great-grandchildren she never got to meet in person. 

However, her memory and extraordinary legacy will no doubt be kept alive by Princess Eugenie and Jack. And given that August’s middle name ‘Philip’ was thought to be a touching tribute to the late Prince Philip, it’s possible that if their little one is a girl she could be named in honor of Queen Elizabeth. 

This isn't the first time Eugenie has been compared to her cousin Harry, as her wedding was compared to Prince Harry's in a cheeky comment made by a fellow royal.

And earlier this year, it was reported that Eugenie and Jack are considering moving to the US, like Harry and his wife Meghan did back in 2020.

The Daily Mail reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had even sent their royal relatives some listings for homes, saying, "Friends told MoS (Mail on Sunday's) Emily Prescott the Sussexes sent home listings to Eugenie."

The reporter's sources claimed that the Princess wants to move her family to California but are thinking of a slightly different location to the Sussexes. "I'm told the couple are instead looking at homes in the West Hollywood area of Los Angeles, and they plan to rent first before taking the plunge and snapping up a property," wrote the reporter.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are thought to have 'hoped' that the Royal Family would have announced their children's Prince and Princess titles before they did.

• Harry and Meghan announced Archie and Lilibet's new titles after the christening of one-year-old Lilibet.
• But a royal expert has now claimed the Sussexes were hoping that Buckingham Palace would have 'jumped the gun' and announced the news first.
• In other royal news, this is why King Charles won't face the Royal Family during his Coronation service.

When the Queen passed away in September 2022 and Charles became King, Harry and Meghan's children, Archie and Lilibet, automatically became entitled to use "Prince" and "Princess" titles due to being grandchildren of the monarch.

It was unsure whether Harry and Meghan chose to uphold these titles, but it has since been confirmed following Lilibet's christening that they will be using their royal titles.

Following a statement that called their daughter "Princess Lilibet Diana," Harry and Meghan later said, "The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace."

Shortly after this statement, the Palace changed the children's titles to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the royal line of succession.

But now, reports are suggesting that King Charles felt "blindsided" by the Sussexes' decision to suddenly use the Prince and Princess titles.

A royal expert, Ingrid Seward, told The Mirror that the announcement didn't go how Harry and Meghan had hoped. She says the couple hoped the Palace would announce Archie and Lilibet's titles first. But instead, the Palace issued a statement to announce that Prince Edward had become the Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Ingrid said, "The contrast between the way in which Harry and Meghan released the news of their children's royal titles and the way King Charles announced his brother's ennoblement was stark.

"King Charles issued a formal statement from Buckingham Palace to say he was ‘pleased’ to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar."

The royal commentator added, "It was such a grand announcement it felt as if it were in a gilded frame pinned to the Buckingham Palace railings."

"Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, asked their spokesperson to announce when their 21-month-old daughter Lilibet was christened in Los Angeles last week she would be baptized using the royal style princess. Archie in turn would use the style, Prince."

"How interesting they waited six months to do this. They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck."

She concluded that Buckingham Palace had "left their website intact" and "allowed the Sussexes to make the move themselves" so they "couldn’t complain."

This comes after it was revealed that Archie and Lilibet 'have not been invited' to the King's Coronation Ceremony in May.

It turns out Prince Philip was “often unrecognized” thanks to using an under-the-radar method of getting to royal engagements.  

• The Duke of Edinburgh used to travel to engagements in London in a taxi and apparently went unnoticed as the Queen’s husband as a result.
• This low-key method of transport is in line with Prince Philip’s focus on hard work and dedication rather than having any kind of celebrity status.
• This royal news comes as we revealed the Royal Family princess heading to military training after she leaves school nicknamed “Hogwarts for hippies”. 

Given how many engagements and tours they’ve undertaken over the years it’s hard to imagine the likes of King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla or the Prince and Princess of Wales going incognito. However, if there’s one prominent royal who knew how to go under the radar on several occasions it was the late Duke of Edinburgh - who apparently took it well. 

Prince Philip’s hilarious response to a “rude” outburst from a youth who failed to recognize him was previously shared by Prince William. Whilst it was also previously revealed that Prince Philip was “often unrecognized” when he was traveling to London engagements. 

The Duke of Edinburgh - whose title was recently bestowed upon Prince Edward - worked tirelessly for 65 years. He retired from royal duties and spent much of his time at Sandringham from 2017 but back in 2002 when he was still working the Royal Family website posted an extraordinary fact. 

Posting facts about the Queen’s husband they shared the astonishing revelation that Prince Philip used to travel to engagements in London by taxi. Not only that, but it was an “LPG-powered taxi cab” - one that runs on liquified petroleum gas. 

This is a type of fuel which according to the RAC is “recognized as a versatile low-carbon” variety that apparently has reduced CO2 emissions. 

Known for his passion for conservation and environmental protection throughout his life, this surprising mode of transport certainly seems to be in line with the Duke of Edinburgh’s ethos. It also helped him fly completely under the radar. 

Despite being married to the Queen and a prominent senior royal, the post stated that Prince Philip was “often unrecognized” traveling by taxi. This is perhaps unsurprising given that most people wouldn’t have expected him to do so.

Typically the royals are seen being driven in secure cars or else traveling by private plane such as when several flew up to Aberdeenshire the day the Queen passed away at Balmoral. Occasionally they take the Queen’s beloved royal train to other parts of the country.

As per The Telegraph, Queen herself once said of Prince Philip that he didn’t “take easily to compliments” and last year Queen Camilla praised her father-in-law's “philosophy” during a birthday lunch held for her by The Oldie magazine.

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s philosophy was clear: ‘Look up and look out, say less, do more – and get on with the job’  - and that is just what I intend to do,” she declared.

Even so, it’s intriguing to think that Prince Philip was “often unrecognized” as he traveled by taxi to undertake his important engagements.

There’s a huge coronation moment Queen Elizabeth experienced thanks to Prince Philip but their son King Charles won't get to enjoy at his ceremony in May.

• The late Queen Elizabeth got to enjoy the excitement of a major first during her coronation day after encouragement from Prince Philip. 
• His Majesty won’t get the same kind of experience at his coronation as this moment has now become something fans are accustomed to. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed King Charles is set to receive a new wedding ring in a matter of months thanks to long-standing tradition. 

Plenty of King Charles’ coronation details will honor centuries-old royal traditions, from the use of St Edward’s Crown to crown His Majesty to the planned procession to Buckingham Palace for an iconic balcony appearance. However, not every aspect will be mirroring those of the late Queen Elizabeth’s big day or the coronations of previous monarchs. There’s actually a major coronation moment Queen Elizabeth experienced thanks a lot to Prince Philip’s encouragement. And it’s one that King Charles won’t get to enjoy in the same way on May 8 for a very simple reason. 

Known for being a history-maker as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953 was a breakthrough moment as it was the first to be televised. According to the Royal Family website, “27 million people in the UK (out of the 36 million population watched the ceremony” on TV. A further 11 million reportedly listened on the radio as Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II.

The excitement surrounding it was immense and given that this was a royal first, this unprecedented moment could never be captured again by King Charles, whose coronation will now be the second ever televized. In the seven decades that have passed since the Queen’s big day, broadcasting royal events has become much more commonplace and to be expected.

From Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding to the Queen’s funeral and a Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip, people across the world are now accustomed to tuning into the Royal Family’s most joyful and most poignant occasions alike. This means that although King Charles’ coronation will be televised in May, the anticipation surrounding the broadcast will never be quite the same as the huge coronation moment Queen Elizabeth experienced. 

The live broadcast of the Queen’s coronation is understood to have been something that Prince Philip took a big part in convincing her to approve. He was Chair of the Coronation Commission in charge of the arrangements for the day. As revealed by the Royal Collection Trust Prince Philip “particularly encouraged the live television broadcast of parts of the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey”.

Meanwhile, The Guardian has previously claimed that following the broadcast of the Queen’s coronation was a “royal ratings hit” and allegedly led to an increase in the number of TV sets in the UK. For those wondering how to watch King Charles’ coronation it’s believed that there will be multiple platforms and channels in the UK and US with commentary from experts and hosts.

Although King Charles won’t get to experience the magnificence of a coronation being aired live for the first time in history, his ceremony will likely be the first British coronation many people have ever seen.

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex stepped out at Monday's Commonwealth Day Service as the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, but did you notice this awkward slip up with their new titles? 

• The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were amongst the senior royals in attendance at Monday's Commonwealth Day Service, but their new titles were missing from the day's Order of Service.
• Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex were referred to as the Earl & Countess of Wessex despite their title change being announced three days prior to the event.
• In other royal news, Princess Anne’s structured mint green fedora and teal asymmetric coat make serious statement at Commonwealth Day Service.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex joined other senior members of the Royal Family for Monday's annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. The royal couple marked King Charles' first service as Monarch, stepping out with new titles of their own, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

The King announced on Friday that Edward, his younger brother, was now to be known as the Duke of Edinburgh, gifting him the prestigious Dukedom previously held by their father, Prince Philip.

During an interview with the BBC to mark what would have been Prince Philip's 100th birthday, Edward admitted that taking on his title of the Duke of Edinburgh, should he be awarded it, would be "quite a challenge."

Despite their new titles, Prince Edward and Sophie retained the titles of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, which were given to them by the late Queen on their wedding day in 1999.

However, when The Order of Service for the Commonwealth Day event was published by Westminster Abbey, some eagle eyed readers noticed a slip up. The document listing the order of arrival for the event's attendees referred to Prince Edward and Sophie as "the Earl & Countess of Wessex," not as the more coveted Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

There is a surprisingly mundane reason for this and it likely has to do with admin. The day's programs are printed ahead of time, meaning the couple's titles had already been inked by the time of their title change just three days prior.

In a thoughtful touch, the news of Prince Edward's new title was shared on his 59th birthday, Friday 10 March. The Dukedom makes Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and their 15-year-old son James, who has previously been known as Viscount Severn, the new Earl of Wessex.

Edward and Sophie also have a daughter, Lady Louise, but her parents' and brother's new titles have not affected her and she will continue to be known as Lady Louise.

It had long been both the late Queen and Prince Philip’s wish for their youngest son Edward to inherit his father’s title. In 1999, when Buckingham Palace announced Edward and Sophie's titles of the Earl & Countess of Wessex, the intention for them to later be granted the dukedom of Edinburgh was first shared. 

In the statement, The Palace announced, “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”

The dukedom is not an inherited title, meaning that, when Edward dies, his son, James, will not become the Duke of Edinburgh. Instead, the title will likely be awarded to one of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children once it has reverted back to the crown. 

The most likely candidate for the title is the couple's youngest son, Prince Louis, as their eldest, Prince George, will be known as the heir apparent, and also likely the Prince of Wales, when William becomes king.

There’s a sweet detail in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth outfit you probably missed - but Prince Edward won’t have! 

• The Duchess of Edinburgh re-wore her beautiful pearl wedding earrings for the Commonwealth Day Service 2023. 
• These were reportedly designed by Prince Edward and her decision to wear them again comes just days after they took on their special new titles. 
• This royal news comes as Kate Middleton stepped out of her comfort zone in an uber-stylish peplum suit but it's the diamond feather brooch that really caught our eye. 

Stepping out just days after Sophie was granted a major title that Queen Consort Camilla once had but never used, the new Duchess of Edinburgh wowed in winter whites as she attended the Commonwealth Day Service 2023. This year’s service saw King Charles deliver his first Commonwealth Day address as monarch and he was joined by only a few senior royals as he marked this important occasion. 

For the big day Sophie oozed retro elegance with a white pillar box hat that featured a black bow detail at the back which she paired with a tailored coat with statement black buttons. But there was another sweet detail in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Day outfit you might not have noticed - though Prince Edward will have!

The Duchess of Edinburgh opted to bring out one of her most special jewelry pieces on Commonwealth Day as she paid tribute to the love of her life. Prince Edward and Sophie’s was the royal wedding watched more at the time than Prince Harry and Meghan’s and also took place at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. 

As we would expect from the wedding of one of the Queen’s children the bride’s jewelry was magnificent and included some iconic pearl earrings. Featuring a single white pearl set above a black pearl in a sophisticated drop design, Sophie’s wedding earrings coordinated perfectly with the black and white pearl cross necklace she wore to tie the knot with Prince Edward.

The unique earrings were reportedly designed by Prince Edward himself, adding even more sweet significance to these special pieces. The way they were part of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Day outfit could be seen as equally meaningful. Not only did it pay tribute to her beloved husband, her choice of earrings could be seen to celebrate one of the biggest moments of her entire life.

Whilst the timing of Sophie re-wearing the pearl earrings might potentially add another layer of importance to the choice. When she and Prince Edward married it was announced, as per Edinburgh Live, that the couple would one day become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown,” Buckingham Palace declared. 

Now this has finally come to pass and although the Commonwealth Day service wasn’t the Edinburghs’ first engagement since taking on their new titles, it was their first surrounded by other members of the Royal Family. Sophie’s decision to re-wear these special earrings comes as she and Prince Edward are set to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary in June. 

King Charles has been gifted his first horse from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who gifted the late Queen Elizabeth eight horses during her reign.

• King Charles was gifted a seven-year-old black mare named Noble, who had previously taken part in the Mounties Musical Ride last year. 
• His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, was well-known for her love of horses.
• In other royal news, reports suggest that the King and his wife, Queen Camilla, have changed their mind about a big move.

His Majesty was said to be "pleased" as he was gifted Noble, who was part of 90 public performances. The King may even be seen riding her during public appearances, such as Trooping the Colour.

Noble arrived at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace earlier in the week, and the Palace said that the new arrival was "settling in well."

The horse is the first gifted to King Charles by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who gifted Queen Elizabeth with eight horses during her reign. Her Majesty's first horse, Burmese, was gifted to her back in 1969 and she rode the horse at Trooping the Colour for an impressive 18 years.

Other horses gifted to the late monarch included Centenial, James, George, Elizabeth, Sir John, Kluane and Darby. All the horses were gifted on significant anniversaries for either the force or the Queen.

The relationship between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the monarchy dates back to 1904, when King Edward VII bestowed the title of Royal on the North-West Mounted Police, making it the Royal North-West Mounted Police.

Four members of the force rode horses gifted to the late Queen last year at her funeral procession. And the Queen's pony, Emma, played played a poignant part in the late monarch's funeral proceedings, wearing one of Her Majesty's headscarves draped across her back in a moving tribute. 

King Charles also dished out a gift of his own last week in the form of new royal titles, when he made his younger brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday. This means that Sophie Wessex is now the Duchess of Edinburgh.

After months of speculation about whether they’d receive these prestigious titles, it was confirmed on March 10 in a special Royal Family Twitter post. "Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today! The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday,” the caption declared alongside a sweet snap of the King’s youngest brother beaming. 

King Charles has also granted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children, Archie and Lilibet, the use of Prince and Princess titles. As the grandchildren of the monarch, they have been entitled to these titles since September 2022, though it’s only just been updated in the royal line of succession. 

It’s been claimed that King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla may move from Clarence House and into Buckingham Palace permanently after its refurbishment is completed. This major move for the monarch would suggest a change in attitude, as both Charles and Camilla were reported to have been against living in what the King calls “the big house” in the past.

• Sources suggest King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will move permanently into Buckingham Palace
• The move to make the Palace their main residence won’t be until at least 2027, after a costly renovation plan
• In other royal news, Lady Louise Windsor denied title change as she remains only Queen’s descendent to hold important name

While Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Great Britain’s monarch, it’s understood that they can choose to make somewhere else their actual home.

The late Queen Elizabeth decided to settle in Windsor Castle permanently during the last months of her life, as an example.

For King Charles and Camilla, Clarence House has always been where they feel home when in London – with Highgrove another favorite residence of theirs.

However, new reports suggest that the King and Queen Consort might make a move into Buckingham Palace after a huge renovation is finished.

Buckingham Palace – which has a staggering 775 rooms, including 19 staterooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms – will undergo renovations for the next four years.

The cost of these improvements are estimated to total over $444 million.

The news that they could move to the Palace might be surprising to some royal dans, who have long understood that it’s not a favorite of either the King or Queen Consort.

A source, as per the Daily Express, has previously said that Charles is "no fan" of Buckingham Palace - which he describes as "the big house.”

An insider has also previously told The Sunday Times: "He doesn’t see it as a viable future home or a house that’s fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels that its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable."

Another source also said that Queen Consort Camilla "doesn’t want to live at Buckingham Palace" either.

But the move could be Charles’ way of solidifying his reign after his coronation this summer. Tourists used to flock to Buckingham Palace understanding it to be the Queen’s home, after all.  

The news of this future move comes as more changes are introduced to the family.

Prince Edward and Sophie received new titles this week, becoming the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said, "His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.”

"The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential."

It also meant a change for their son, James, formerly Viscount Severn.

He becomes the new Earl of Wessex - the title that his father was granted on his wedding day - however, there is no change Lady Louise Windsor, Edward and Sophie's daughter, whose title will remain the same.

Sophie Wessex's new title has just been announced as her husband, Prince Edward, receives a new honor from his brother, King Charles III.

• Sophie has been known as the Countess of Wessex since 1999 when she married the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward.
• The royal couple has been known primarily as the Earl and Countess of Wessex, until today, March 10.
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton steps out in her favorite sturdy walking boots but the best news is that they're on sale with 30% off!

It was announced on March 10, that Prince Edward would be receiving a new title that once belonged to his father, Prince Philip. The Royal Family announced in a press release, "His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday."

"The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential," continued the announcement.

It was revealed that this title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime. Similarly, as the wife of Prince Edward, Sophie will hold the Duchess of Edinburgh title for the rest of her days.

While people are familiar with the Duke of Edinburgh title, the Duchess of Edinburgh hasn't been used for some time. However, the last person to hold this title was the Queen consort, Camilla, and she held the unused title very recently.

When Prince Philip died in April 2021, his Duke of Edinburgh title passed to his son, who was then known as Prince Charles. As Charles was already known as the Prince of Wales, a higher-ranking title, he did not use the Duke of Edinburgh title. Therefore it would not have made sense for his wife to use the matching Duchess of Edinburgh title, as he didn't actively use it.

Similarly, although Camilla was entitled to use the Princess of Wales title, she continued to use the name, The Duchess of Cornwall, as her husband was also known as the Duke of Cornwall. It is thought that this was because of the late Princess Diana being so closely associated with the Princess of Wales title.

This means that Camilla was holding onto two high-ranking titles but instead opted to continue using the Duchess of Cornwall title, which she had held since her marriage in 2005. This was her main title until September 2022, at which time she became the Queen consort.

Before Camilla, the Duchess of Edinburgh title was held by the late Queen Elizabeth II during her lifetime. Of course, the Duchess of Edinburgh is a lesser title than 'Her Majesty the Queen' so although she did hold this title since she was 21 years old, she did not use it and was known primarily as the Queen.

However, when she married Prince Philip at the age of 21, there were four years when she held the Duchess of Edinburgh title as her main title. Of course, people still primarily knew her as Princess Elizabeth, and she only used the title for four years until her father's death, but she was the last member of the Royal Family to actively use this title.

As Prince Edward and Sophie had a close relationship with the late Queen and Prince Philip, this draws a sweet parallel between the two royal couples as they continue the work of Prince Edward's father.

Lady Louise Windsor has been denied title change as she remains the only one of the Queen’s grandchildren or great-grandchildren to officially have an important name. 

• Lady Louise Windsor has become the only one of her immediate family not to have a title change as her parents become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and her brother James is now known as Earl of Wessex. 
• She now remains the only one of the Queen’s great-grandchildren and grandchildren to have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. 
• This royal news comes as the Queen's royal blunder was revealed as she once forgot Prince Edward's birthday but was saved by royal aides. 

The build up to King Charles’ coronation has seen a number of major title changes take place, starting with the confirmation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children are now as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Just a day later King Charles has bestowed significant titles upon Prince Edward and Sophie who are now Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Their son James is now to be known as Earl of Wessex. However, there’s one member of the Edinburgh family who’s title remains as it was as Lady Louise Windsor has been denied a title change. 

The Duke and Duchess’ daughter remains listed on the royal line of succession section of the Royal Family website as The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. This was the full name given to her at birth, though she’s typically referred to simply as Lady Louise Windsor.  

However, she now remains the only one of the late Queen’s descendants who has Mountbatten-Windsor officially listed as part of their name.  

Until the confirmation regarding Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s new titles, they had the surname Mountbatten-Windsor too. The name Mountbatten comes from Prince Philip’s family and Windsor from the Queen’s. Previously it had reportedly been suggested that only the Queen’s family name of Windsor would be used if a surname was required.

Now referred to as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, their former surname will likely no longer be needed. Whilst all other of the Queen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren either have different surnames or Prince or Princess titles meaning one isn’t required.  

Even Lady Louise’s brother James might not need to use Mountbatten-Windsor as a surname any longer. He’s now using the Earl of Wessex title which is understood to be a courtesy title that he’ll apparently one day inherit alongside the Earldom of Forfar when the Duke of Edinburgh title reverts back to the crown, as per Sky News. Lady Louise Windsor will seemingly remain styled as the daughter of an Earl which was a choice announced when Prince Edward and Sophie married. 

When Queen Elizabeth reigned, as the granddaughter of the monarch, Lady Louise Windsor was technically a Princess but didn’t use the title.  

As she is the King’s niece, it’s not known whether at some point he could decide to bestow a new title upon her. However, her official name of Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is also hugely significant. 

According to the BBC, when it was initially decided for their descendants to be known only by the Windsor surname Prince Philip allegedly declared, “I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children!"

So it seems Mountbatten-Windsor was incredibly important to him and given how close he and Lady Louise were understood to be, it’s perhaps especially meaningful that she officially still has this surname. 

Fans' wishes have been granted as King Charles has bestowed significant titles on fellow royals following the recent Archie and Lilibet announcement. 

• King Charles has announced that Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex are now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 
• This comes a day after Archie and Lilibet were confirmed as Prince and Princess and follows fans expressing their desire to see the Wessexes become the Edinburghs.
• This royal news comes as Meghan Markle's thoughts on a style trademark loved by the Queen revealed in an unearthed interview. 

Following reports of Lilibet Diana’s christening in the US it has now been confirmed that she and her brother Archie are now Princess and Prince. This came after months of speculation about whether or not King Charles would grant Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children the use of a Prince and Princess title. As the grandchildren of the monarch they have been entitled to these titles since September 2022, though it’s only just been updated in the royal line of succession. 

The decision sparked quite the reaction, with many people expressing their desire to see other prominent royals granted new titles too. Now fans' wishes have been granted as King Charles has bestowed significant titles on Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex on his brother’s 59th birthday.

After months of speculation about whether they’d receive these prestigious titles, it was confirmed on March 10 in a special Royal Family Twitter post that he’s become Duke of Edinburgh, making Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh. 

“Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today! The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday,” the caption declared alongside a sweet snap of the King’s youngest brother beaming. 

The title will be held by Prince Edward for his lifetime and he is only the fifth royal to ever hold it. Sharing more detail on the Royal Family website, it was revealed that the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are “proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential”. 

This major announcement comes not only a day after Prince Harry and Meghan’s children were confirmed as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but after fans flooded the Royal Family’s social media with requests for this very thing. Taking to the comments section on March 9, plenty of fans expressed their desire to see the Wessexes become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

“What happened to Edward, Duke of Edinburgh? And Duchess Sophie!!” one person commented amid a flurry of other responses to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s title change. 

Whilst another replied, “All we want about the title changes is Earl and Countess of Wessex title change to become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.”

“Prince Edward has to become the Duke of Edinburgh,” someone else wrote resolutely.

Although some reports had previously claimed that the title could be bestowed upon Princess Charlotte in her own right, as per Edinburgh Live, Buckingham Palace confirmed when Prince Edward and Sophie married that they would be Duke and Duchess one day.

“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown,” the palace reportedly stated. 

Now this has finally come to pass and it’s many fans will no doubt be delighted to hear of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s new titles.

Find out how to watch King Charles's coronation from the US or the UK, so you don't miss this historic moment which is set to take place tomorrow.

• King Charles's coronation will take place tomorrow on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
• Here's how you can make sure that you don't miss a second of this historic event.
• In other royal news, King Charles' impressive talent he inherited from Prince Philip to be showcases at Sandringham exhibition.

The coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023. It will then be followed by a number of other scheduled celebrations across London and the UK that celebrate the monarch on Sunday, May 7, and the bank holiday Monday on May 8.

It has been announced that the King and Queen's coronation will begin at 11 am at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. However, there will be coverage of the coronation for the entire day, beginning with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Following the coronation there will be another procession as their Majesties will return to Buckingham Palace as part of a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’.

The King and Queen will then arrive at Buckingham Palace in the afternoon where they will appear on the balcony and receive a salute from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces in the Buckingham Palace Gardens. There are strict timings in place and the King Charles's Coronation schedule is expected to begin early in the morning and finish mid-afternoon.

But how can you watch this historic event? Here is how to watch King Charles's coronation from anywhere in the world... 

How to watch King Charles's coronation in the UK

The BBC is offering a one-off dispensation for venues and community settings that do not usually require a TV Licence to broadcast the weekend’s ceremonies. The BBC offered similar dispensations for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in May 2018 and Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021.

According to the BBC, this means, "those celebrating with events arranged in community settings and streets across Britain, where TV is not usually watched, to screen the live programmes throughout the weekend without needing to purchase a licence. This includes, for example, community venues such as churches, town halls, community centres, libraries and streets across Britain as well as commercial premises acting as community venues such as concert halls, performing arts venues, cinemas and shops. It also applies to any outdoor venues which have the facilities to screen."

BBC One, BBC Two and Player will broadcast live footage and provide commentary all day from presenters and experts such as Kirsty Young who is hosting live from a studio at Buckingham Palace and Huw Edwards providing commentary as the doors of Westminster Abbey open. BBC Two will also have accessibility for deaf viewers with fully signed coverage.

Sky News and ITV will also be covering live footage of the events of the day with their own journalists and commentators narrating the coronation.

How to watch King Charles's coronation in the US

Like the Queen's funeral back in September 2022, there will be a number of ways that people in the US will be able to watch the King's coronation live.

Sky News provided a live YouTube stream for those in North America who wanted to watch the events of the day as they happened. The actual coronation service will begin around 11 am, meaning those in the US will need to have an early start!

To catch the beginning of the ceremony which may take place at 11.00 BST (British Summer Time) those on the East Coast will need to watch the stream at 05.00 (ET). Those using Pacific Time will need to start watching at 02:00 am (PT).

If you have cable, there will be other streaming platforms that will provide this service. For Her Majesty's funeral, the service was shown on NBC News Now, CNN, ABC, Fox News, and other outlets. These key broadcasters are expected to once provide live footage of the King's coronation in May. Another sure way to enjoy the coronation on TV is to sign up for BritBox so you can access UK broadcasters such as BBC.

How to watch King Charles's coronation from anywhere in the world

If you want to access BBC coverage or you live in an area where the coronation isn't going to be broadcast live, there is a way you can still watch the celebrations. VPNs (virtual private networks) are a popular way to access TV shows only available in other countries.

If you're already confused, don't panic - we've got you covered. Our sister site, TechRadar, has put every major VPN service to the test to save you the hassle of sifting through the web yourself. They've rated ExpressVPN as the best - and here's why.

In their words, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.”

King Charles' impressive talent that he inherited from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, is set to be exhibited in a new and exciting royal show.

• Sandringham House has announced an exciting new exhibition.
• It has been revealed that King Charles' impressive talent will take the centre stage at this new showcase.
• In other royal news, The huge moment Prince William will never experience as heir to the throne - and King Charles did.

A post from Sandringham House's social media has revealed that watercolor paintings made by King Charles are set to go on display at the Norfolk royal residence. "This year a collection of watercolors painted by His Majesty The King will go on display from April - October inside Sandringham House in the Ballroom," read the caption.

It is thought that there will be more than 40 watercolor paintings by the King, many of which depict stunning landscapes across Britain, and depictions of royal residences. The image to highlight the new exhibition was a watercolor landscape of
Sandringham House, which was painted by The King ( who was the Prince of Wales at the time) in 1991. 

This is a talent that the Prince actually inherited from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh. In his lifetime, Prince Philip was known to be an avid painter who also enjoyed painting with watercolors like his son.

According to the Royal Collection Trust, which has some of Prince Philip's paintings in its collection, "Prince Philip [was] interested in art and design, both as a patron and collector, and as an artist himself. He painted mostly landscapes in oils."

The late Prince's art has also been displayed in a royal household before. The exhibition; Prince Philip: Celebrating Ninety Years, ran from 2011 to 2012, and among other things, the exhibition featured some of the Duke's paintings and sketches. 

This upcoming exhibition showcasing King Charles' art will highlight the skills he inherited from his father and will allow royal fans to get a closer look at the King's impressive hobby that he nurtured throughout his life.

This isn't the first time that the King's paintings have been available to the public either. In 1977, Charles' paintings were first exhibited in Windsor Castle alongside his father's artwork and paintings created by Queen Victoria, a distant relative who was also an avid painter and used the medium of watercolors.

The Guardian has previously reported that the Prince refers to himself as an 'enthusiastic amateur,' but they also reported that, 'A report in 2016 showed he had sold copies of his watercolor paintings worth £2 million since 1997' - which isn't very amateurish!

His Majesty The King previously wrote in 1991 for the book, HRH The Prince of Wales Watercolours, “I took up painting entirely because I found photography less than satisfying. Quite simply, I experienced an overwhelming urge to express what I saw through the medium of watercolour and to convey that almost ‘inner’ sense of texture which is impossible to achieve via photography…"

The exhibition showcasing the King's watercolors will be on display in the Ballroom at Sandringham House from 1 April – 12 October. The exhibition is included with a House & Gardens ticket.

Prince William and Prince Harry's children do not share the same surname due to a surprising old royal rule.

• Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have different surnames to their cousins Archie and Lilibet. 
• This is due to a surprising royal rule made by The Queen and Prince Phillip back in 1960. 
• The royal news comes after Sarah Ferguson revealed the best piece of advice the Queen ever gave her.

There is royal rule that means Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis don’t have the same surname as their cousins. 

Followers of the family will know that Prince William and Kate Middletons's children all have the last name 'Wales', taking after their dad's new title, the Prince of Wales. 

This means that at their school, Lambrook, the young royals are known by their full names George Wales, Charlotte Wales and Louis Wales. 

However, the reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children - Archie and Lillibet - don’t share the same name dates all the way back to 1960.

The rule was originally decided by the late Queen and Prince Philip, who wanted their own direct descendants to be different from the rest of the Royal Family.

So the Privy Council went on to declare that the Queen’s descendants would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.

However, the exception to this rule is that anyone with a title of Prince or Princess wouldn’t get that name, but would be named after their titles instead.

This is why the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children aren't called Mountbatten-Windsor, and Prince Harry's kids are.

When Archie was born in May 2019, Buckingham Palace revealed that his full name was Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, while his younger sister Lilibet Diana also uses the same surname.

When the brothers were children themselves, they went by the surname 'Wales' at school and their time in the army due to their dad King Charles’ title at the time.

After William and Harry got married, they were given new titles by the Queen, and used the names Cambridge and Sussex respectively.

Elsewhere in the royal family, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice also use the surname 'York' after their father, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

There’s a prestigious title that Queen Consort Camilla could take on as the monarch's spouse but Prince Philip never did. 

• Queen Consort Camilla might one day simply be known as Queen Camilla, as she’s already often referred to informally. 
• However, the late Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip was never either a King or King Consort for a simple reason. 
• This royal news comes as Courteney Cox finally had her say on Prince Harry's wild magic mushroom party claims in Spare.  

King Charles’ coronation is drawing nearer and the Queen Consort will also crowned and anointed on this special day watched by people across the world. In recent weeks there's also been a subtle sign that there's a prestigious title Queen Consort Camilla could take on one day. It's one that Prince Philip never received the male equivalent of during the late Queen Elizabeth's reign, although he was also the spouse of a British monarch. 

Since His Majesty ascended the throne Camilla has been referred to officially as Queen Consort, though this might not always be the case. She could possibly one day just be Queen Camilla - as she’s already often called by fans and reports. Especially now the distinction between a Queen Regnant (reigning Queen) and Queen Consort (wife of a reigning King) is more well-known.

In a potentially significant move, Her Majesty recently changed the name of her online book club from the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room to the Queen’s Reading Room - but interestingly, not the Queen Consort’s Reading Room. And if Camilla does one day drop the ‘Consort’ part she wouldn’t be the only King’s wife to be referred to just as Queen. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s late mom was a Queen Consort but was known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and even her profile on the Royal Family website referred to her simply as Queen or Queen Elizabeth. The Queen’s grandmother Queen Mary - whose crown will soon take center stage as Queen Camilla’s coronation crown - is also generally known and referred to as Queen.

Given the UK had a Queen Regnant for so long it perhaps makes sense that Queen Camilla is officially being referred to as The Queen Consort. Especially since she hadn’t previously been expected to take on this title before Queen Elizabeth declared last year it her “sincere wish”.

However, her late father-in-law Prince Philip was never known as King despite being married to a monarch like Camilla is. As a husband of a Queen, Prince Philip didn’t gain the male equivalent of his wife’s titles. In contrast, royal women are understood to be entitled to the female equivalent of their husband’s titles which is why there’s a little-known title Sophie Wessex has.

The Duke of Edinburgh became a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957 and as per the Royal Family website, the husband of a Queen isn’t crowned, unlike Queen Consorts like Camilla. Despite not being a King Consort, Prince Philip was a devoted partner to Queen Elizabeth throughout their 73 year marriage. 

"He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” she declared in 1997.

The late Queen and Prince Philip's love language is one that Meghan Markle shares but Prince Harry doesn't seem to. 

• The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh both spoke very good French throughout their lives and it’s possible they spoke it together.
• Meghan Markle recently revealed she’s got back into learning French, though Prince Harry has “forgotten” most of it. 
• This royal news comes as Queen Camilla's $39K crown brooch sparkled at a poignant event as she shared a romantic glance with King Charles. 

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s love story was one of the most iconic in recent British history and the devoted couple were married for 73 years before the Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April 2021. They spent the pandemic together at Windsor Castle and even when they were apart, the Queen and Prince Philip’s heart-warming daily habit of phoning each other ensured they still kept connected and supported each other. 

The Queen and Prince Philip’s love language could also have been a special way they communicated as both spoke brilliant French. Prince Philip spent seven years of his childhood living in France after his family went into exile and as revealed by the Royal Family website back in 2002, his flair for French never left him. 

At the time they stated that the Duke of Edinburgh “still [spoke] the language well” and this is one of the many things he and his beloved wife had in common. 

The late Queen was known to be fluent in French and once even delivered a speech entirely in the language during a visit to Quebec, Canada in 1964. Often known in popular culture as the ‘language of love’ French is also literally one of the romance languages - languages that evolved from Latin. The French capital, Paris, is also widely considered to be the ‘City of Love’. 

Given that they both spoke French so confidently, it’s possible that this could have been the Queen and Prince Philip’s love language spoken sometimes together. Either way, it’s lovely to think that their passion for the French language and keeping it up throughout their lives is something they both  appear to have shared.  

It’s a passion Meghan Markle has also been vocal about in recent years. The Duchess of Sussex candidly revealed to Variety in 2022 that she tries to do “10 minutes of Duolingo” as part of her evening routine once Archie and Lilibet are tucked up in bed in their Santa Barbara mansion. 

“I really wanted to re-learn French,” she exclaimed. “I’d studied it for the four years in high school and then it just went away.” 

This isn’t the first time that Meghan’s passion for learning and speaking French has come to light as back in 2019 she was videoed asking questions in French during her and Prince Harry’s royal visit to Morocco. 

Whilst in 2018 the Daily Mail claimed that the Duchess of Sussex shared that she had been “trying to get better at [her] French over the last year” as she left an engagement at Hubb Community Kitchen in London.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry isn’t nearly as confident in French as his wife. As per The Times, he confessed during a trip to New Zealand in 2015 that he’d “learned French at school” but that he’d “forgotten almost all of it”. It’s possible he’s been tempted to get back into learning it with Meghan but if not it seems that the Queen and Prince Philip’s love language isn’t one he shares.

King Charles will honor Prince Philip’s selfless act and ensure his late father won’t be forgotten at his coronation with a very special detail. 

• His Majesty has personally selected the music for his coronation on May 6 and there’s a special inclusion set to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh. 
• Prince Philip’s heritage will be celebrated with Greek Orthodox music after he gave up his princely title and religion when he married Queen Elizabeth. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed the travel essential King Charles will never need again for overseas engagements.   

With King Charles’ coronation day drawing nearer the plans for many important aspects, from Queen Camilla’s coronation crown to the specific details of the procession back to Buckingham Palace have now been confirmed. Of course, fans still have to wait to learn which members of the immediate and extended Royal Family could be at the ceremony amid speculation over whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in particular could attend. 

However, for those who are there at Westminster Abbey it’s set to be an emotional occasion in more ways than one. His Majesty has personally selected the coronation music and King Charles will honor Prince Philip’s selfless act with it. 

Alongside 12 newly commissioned pieces of music which includes a Coronation Anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Greek Orthodox music will be part of the ceremony. Although it’s not specified which pieces of Greek Orthodox music could be played, a statement from the Palace confirmed that this choice was specifically made as a tribute to Prince Philip. 

Just weeks before King Charles’ coronation will be the two-year anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing. Better known by his British titles later in life, he was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1921 on the island of Corfu.

As per The Independent, he was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church but the family went into exile when Prince Philip was just 18 months old. Prior to his marriage to the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, Prince Philip had adopted the Mountbatten name from his mother’s family and renounced his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark in favor of becoming a British citizen.

He also gave up the Greek Orthodox faith he was baptized into to be officially received into the Church of England a month before he and the Queen tied the knot.

This selfless act of devotion to Her Majesty and the UK and the Commonwealth she served as Sovereign was huge. He only became a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957 after the Queen issued letters patent and he went on to become the longest-serving British consort. 

King Charles’ decision to honor Prince Philip with music that celebrates his father’s heritage especially given that the Duke of Edinburgh renounced his title and changed his religion as he dedicated himself to the Queen and UK is very significant.  

According to the Greek City Times, King Charles spoke of his links to Greece in 2018 during a visit to the country and referenced Prince Philip’s own father Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.

“For my part, my own connections to Greece have particular meaning – after all, it is the land of my grandfather,” he declared. “In Britain, as across the Western World, the profound influence of Greece has, since ancient times, shaped the way we think, the way we build, the way we learn and the way we govern.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took Queen and Prince Philip’s pioneering move to the next level and helped spark a major royal change. 

• Though royal walkabouts are now something to be expected, the Queen and Prince Philip first did one during an overseas tour in 1970.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle started regularly being more casual at walkabouts, including hugging members of the crowd which is now less rare to see.
• This royal news comes as the reason for Kate Middleton's affordable jewelry choices amid 'inappropriate' concerns was revealed. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex might have fully embraced life at their Santa Barbara mansion since they “stepped back” as senior royals but their approach to engagements has certainly made its mark. So much so that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be seen to have taken the late Queen and Prince Philip’s pioneering move to the next level. 

Whilst it might be expected now to see the likes of the King and Queen Consort and Prince and Princess of Wales undertaking royal walkabouts during visits at home and abroad, this apparently wasn’t always the case. Instead, as per the Royal Family website, this was something that first happened in 1970. 

It revealed that the "first royal walkabout” took place during Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to New Zealand and Australia in 1970. This practice was apparently brought in to “allow them to meet as many people as possible” rather than just “officials and dignitaries”. 

However, it could be said that whilst this concept was the Queen and Prince Philip’s pioneering move, it was taken to a whole other level by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Sussexes have never shied away from giving their walkabouts an even more personal touch and throwback snaps show them hugging members of the public and even appearing to pose for selfies.

This includes Meghan hugging a member of the crowd during a visit to Sussex in October 2018 and Prince Harry hugging a UK competitor at a reception hosted by the Prime Minister of Australia later that month.

Whilst Kate Middleton had also been photographed hugging people at engagements prior to this, she tended to hug children and it was rarer to see her and Prince William taking this more casual approach. Since then, the Queen and Prince Philip’s pioneering move has evolved. 

Last year following the Queen’s passing, the Princess of Wales was pictured hugging a mourner in the crowd during a walkabout at Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, Prince William’s hug with an elderly man in Scotland in 2022 left fans seriously emotional.

It seems they have followed in Prince Harry and Meghan’s footsteps and former royal butler, Grant Harrold, expressed his belief to OK! last year that stoicism is something Prince William knows he “can’t get away” with. 

“I think William and the other younger royals have realized that they can’t get away with being aloof,” he explained, as well as predicting, “I imagine a lot of the ceremonial matters will stay [in the future], but things like how we approach conversations with royals could all change. We might see more hugs, fist bumps and casual conversations.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales have certainly been observed being less formal at engagements in recent years. This can perhaps all be traced back to the Queen and Prince Philip's pioneering move to introduce royal walkabouts as well as Prince Harry and Meghan - and who knows how future royals might develop the practice of walkabouts even further.

There’s a life-changing privilege that Queen Camilla will get in a matter of months that Prince Philip was denied during the late Queen Elizabeth’s reign. 

• Queen Camilla will get to experience a special moment at King Charles’ coronation that her father-in-law Prince Philip didn’t at Queen Elizabeth’s.  
• Unlike Queen Consorts, the husbands of Queen Regnants don’t get crowned or anointed. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed the special coronation honor Prince George, Charlotte and Louis could be given by King Charles. 

Last year Queen Camilla revealed her intention to follow the Duke of Edinburgh’s “philosophy” ahead of becoming Queen Consort as she praised his focus on getting “on with the job” and always “do[ing] more”. With King Charles’ coronation drawing nearer, Queen Camilla has been undertaking a packed schedule of engagements in recent months, emulating the late Prince Philip’s example. 

However, despite the similarities between the two there’s a life-changing privilege that Queen Camilla will get at King Charles’ coronation that Prince Philip didn't receive at Queen Elizabeth’s. 

As per the Royal Family website, the husband of a reigning Queen isn’t crowned or anointed during the coronation of his wife as Sovereign. The opposite is true of a Queen Consort and we already know that May 6th’s ceremony will see not only King Charles crowned, but Queen Camilla officially crowned as Queen Consort too. 

The Duke of Edinburgh didn’t get this life-changing privilege that Queen Camilla will get and instead he was the first peer to “do homage” to Queen Elizabeth after the Archbishops and Bishops. Pictures from the day show the Duke of Edinburgh respectfully kissing the Queen on the cheek as he paid his respects to his royal wife.

For those wondering why Prince Philip wasn’t King Consort to Queen Elizabeth, the answer lies in him being male. As the husband of a reigning Queen he didn’t automatically gain the male equivalent of her titles when they married.

Although born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, he renounced his titles to marry the Queen and became a British citizen. He only became Duke of Edinburgh thanks to Her Majesty, who bestowed this British title upon her husband-to-be in 1947. He later became a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957 - four years after her coronation - when the Queen issued new letters patent. 

He was never King Consort and traditionally the husband of a Queen Regnant has been known as a Prince Consort - as with Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. So at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation Prince Philip wore his Duke’s robes and coronet and didn’t get the ceremonial moments that Queen Camilla will. Queen Camilla’s coronation crown has already been confirmed and she is set to be crowned in a simpler ceremony on the same day as His Majesty.

Prior to 2022 it was thought that she would be known as Princess Consort when King Charles became monarch. However, the Queen shared in her Accession Day message last year that it was her “sincere wish” that her daughter-in-law would be Queen Consort when the time came. 

She went on to reference Prince Philip, who might not have been crowned, but was Britain’s longest-serving consort and was her beloved “strength and stay” throughout 73 years of marriage.

“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it,” the Queen declared. 

There’s a special coronation honor Prince George, Charlotte and Louis could be given by King Charles. 

• King Charles could give out a special coronation honor to his Wales grandchildren if he wants to recreate a moment he experienced.
• For the late Queen Elizabeth’s coronation her eldest child received a hand-painted invitation. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed the surprising way Princess Charlotte and Lady Louise Windsor’s futures in the Royal Family could turn out very similar. 

Although it’s not been confirmed which royals will be attending King Charles’ coronation in May it’s expected that much of the immediate and extended Royal Family will be there to witness this historic moment. Amongst them could be some of the late Queen’s great-grandchildren who’ve been glimpsed at family occasions in recent years, ranging from the Jubilee celebrations to a Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip. Perhaps those likeliest to make an appearance could be the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children, who are high up in the royal line of succession. 

If they do get to go there’s a special coronation honor Prince George, Charlotte and Louis could be given by King Charles for the big day. And it’s one His Majesty once received himself for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation…

Despite being just four years old at the time, King Charles attended the Queen’s coronation in June 1953. As per the Royal Family website, ahead of this life-changing moment, he was given a hand-painted children’s invitation just for him. Although it's not stated, it's perhaps likely that it was the Queen who organized for her son to receive this special gesture.

Having received one himself 70 years ago, it’s possible that King Charles could want to recreate this magical moment for Prince George, Charlotte and Louis. It would certainly be a heartfelt gesture to his beloved Wales grandchildren who have a sweet nickname for the King. 

If they do get invited and attend his coronation they could also end up being the only ones of his five grandchildren there if Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor don’t return to the UK for the ceremony.

Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are also set to play a big part of the future of the Royal Family and were the only royal great-grandchildren who appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Jubilee weekend. Royal author and expert Katie Nicholl previously expressed her belief in her book, The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, that these “starring roles” are the start of their journey to specific royal “roles”. 

“George, Charlotte, and Louis, who had starring roles at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, are being raised by their parents with an awareness of their positions and the roles they will one day carry out in support of the monarchy,” she explained.

Katie continued, “George knows that like his papa, he will one day be king, while Charlotte will likely juggle the role of being the spare with a career. Louis could well be a private citizen undertaking occasional royal duties, like William and Harry’s cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, as well as princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.”

Given their prominence within the Royal Family and close bond with His Majesty, plenty of fans might be hoping Prince George, Charlotte and Louis do receive invitations of some kind of the coronation. If they do attend, they could even make another iconic balcony appearance alongside their grandfather as he did at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. 

The Queen would prepare for Prince William's weekend trips to Windsor in a particular way as he would await her grandson and heir's arrival.

• Prince William went to Eton College school with Prince Harry as a young boy.
• The Princes would regularly visit their grandmother on the weekends and travel to Windsor Castle nearby. 
• In other royal news, Queen Elizabeth’s bespoke change in coronation tradition that King Charles might recreate

The Queen spent much of her time at Windsor Castle during her lifetime and even spent most of the lockdown at this property as opposed to her other palaces such as Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, or Sandringham House.

This castle was also perfectly positioned so that the Queen could be a doting grandmother who was able to spend time with her grandchildren who attended school in the local area. 

Prince Harry and Prince William went to Eton School, a boarding school in Windsor, Berkshire, that has educated many aristocrats, politicians, and members of the Royal Family. While attending this boarding school as young boys, Harry and William were able to make brief trips to the Queen's home on the weekend and would share afternoon tea with her on a Sunday.

The Express reported, that Paul Burrell, a former Butler in the royal household, sais that the Queen would prepare for Prince William's arrival and ensure that he would be welcomed with a warm cup of tea when he got to the castle.

Speaking on behalf of Slingo, Mr. Paul Burrell said, "Every Sunday granny [Queen Elizabeth II] would say to me, ‘William’s coming round for tea with his policeman so put an extra cup and saucer on the table’."

This sweet gesture was then followed up by a one-on-one chat with the young Prince reveals Paul. "She [Queen Elizabeth II] would teach him things in the Oak Room at Windsor which now he stands in as Prince of Wales," he said. "One day he will stand in that place as king and remember that little tea table with two places in front of the open fire where he would sit with his granny as she taught him about affairs of state which is quite incredible. So I’ve seen that development grow."

This time between the Prince likely helped him have a strong bond with the Queen. Paul also added that because William had to go to Eton, so did Harry. Which also meant that Prince Harry was later included in these visits to Her Majesty's home.

"Even going to school, Harry followed William’s trail. Diana was acutely aware of that because when William was destined to go to Eton, there was no choice for Harry but Eton," said Paul.

Not all of the Queen's grandchildren went to school in the home counties near their parents and some (such as Zara and Peter, Princess Anne's children) were educated in Gordonstoun in Scotland. This was the very school that Prince Philip attended as a child, as did Prince Charles. But reports suggest Prince Charles loathed this school, which is why his sons attended Eton instead.

King Charles' coronation emblem has a subtle tribute to his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. 

• The new Coronation emblem for King Charles III was unveiled just a few days ago.
• The new design pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in such an adorable way.
• In other royal news, Princess Margaret's affair with a gardener 17 years younger who was 'just following his heart'.

King Charles' coronation emblem has been revealed, and fans are loving the clever arrangement of flowers that create the shape of St Edward’s Crown, the crown which His Majesty will be crowned in May this year.

It has been revealed by the designers that the four flowers featured on the emblem have a special meaning for the UK and Royal Family. "The design features the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland, paying tribute to The King’s love of the natural world," read a post.

However, as well as paying tribute to each country making up the UK, these flowers also have a subtle tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

During her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth had a particular penchant for some of the flowers included in the emblem. This included daffodils, which are the national flower and symbol for Wales, but also have a clear link to the late Queen who even had a breed of daffodil flower named Narcissus Diamond Jubilee that was created especially for her during her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Similarly, it was reported that the Queen adores roses and had over 3.5k rose bushes planted in Windsor Castle. Similarly, there were a number of rose beds at Buckingham Palace that the Queen enjoyed in her lifetime, the majority of which were pink or red. 

In a sadder tribute, the wreath of flowers on Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at the State Funeral featured pink roses that were cut from royal residences, as requested by King Charles.

Similarly, the Scottish thistle on the emblem could have been a subtle tribute to Prince Philip. During his lifetime the Prince was styled as the Duke of Edinburgh and had a strong and longstanding connection with Scotland and its people. 

Roses were also placed on Prince Philip's funeral when he died. However, his arrangement was styled by Queen Elizabeth who selected flowers of the purest white to rest on her husband's coffin - which included delicate bright white roses.

According to the Royal Family this emblem which honors the late monarch and her husband, will feature prominently on the coronation day in May. "The emblem will feature throughout the historic events in May, including street parties, community gatherings and on official merchandise," said a post from the Royal Family.

The post also revealed the creator of the emblem, British designer Sir Jony Ive said of the emblem that it, "speaks to the happy optimism of spring and celebrates the beginning of this new Carolean era for the United Kingdom".

Princess Margaret's burial broke a tradition that has been held for centuries, and the reason behind this is as sad as it is sweet.

• Princess Margaret was Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister who died in 2002.
• The Princess died 20 years before her younger sister, but the pair are now buried together in the Royal Vault.
• In other royal news, Why Lady Louise Windsor and her brother could mirror Prince William and Prince Harry.

Following the Queen's funeral in 2022, the Queen was buried next to her husband, Prince Philip in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen was also placed with her father, George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and her sister Princess Margaret.

However, in order for Margaret to stay with her parents, the former King and Queen, and her sister, the Queen, she had to make a decision about her final resting place.

While it is tradition for the members of the Royal Family to be buried, Princess Margaret made the decision to be cremated. Princess Margaret was the first royal to be cremated in decades and it is thought that the last member of the Royal Family to be cremated was Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, who was the daughter of Queen Victoria, and died in 1939.

This decision was made so she could share her final burial place with her parents and sister, which would have been impossible if she had been buried in a coffin.

Lady Glenconner, a former lady-in-waiting to the Princess, told The Scotsman, "I think she’d like to be with the late King, which she will now be. There’s room I think for her to be with him now. She just said she was going to be cremated." 

Following her death at the age of 71 in 2002, the Princess' ashes were placed in the Royal Vault next to former monarchs, including her parents and her sister. As of 2022, the family of four has been reunited in their burial place, along with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Princess was cremated in Slough crematorium for a standard fee, plus a surcharge because she was not a local resident. Her former lady-in-waiting added that cremation and being laid to rest with her family was a better option than the alternative in Margaret's eyes."She told me that she found Frogmore very gloomy," said Lady Glenconner. 

The Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore is a larger burial place for members of the Royal Family and the final resting place of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. 

The Mausoleum is located near Frogmore House and Frogmore Cottage which is the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and is just half a mile from the Queen's former home, Windsor Castle.

King Charles won't sit on the Queen's throne at his coronation later in the year, and the reason behind this is because of a centuries old tradition.

• King Charles and Queen consort Camilla are set to celebrate their coronation in May 2023.
• The royal couple will reportedly have thrones made especially for the day as they become monarchs.
• In other royal news, Prince Edward's 'informal' gesture at wedding to Sophie Wessex reveals royal's 'cheeky' personality. 

It has been widely reported that King Charles will not be using the Queen's throne for his coronation, and while this is partly true, the traditions around this ancient ceremony are a little more complicated. 

There will be two thrones used in the ceremony. The crowning and anointing will take place on the traditional Coronation Chair. This chair is also known as the St Edward’s Chair or King Edward's Chair which was carved from oak in a gothic style and made between the summer of 1297 and March 1300.

The chair originally contained the coronation stone of Scotland (also known at the Stone of Destiny or the Stone of Scone), but this was returned to Scotland in 1996 to be kept in Edinburgh Castle with the other Scottish Crown Jewels. It is thought that the stone will be returned to the chair briefly for the ceremony, but will then be given back to the Scottish people until the next monarch (Prince William according to the line of succession) is crowned.

This will be the exact chair that was used for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 and so the King will once again take the throne that his mother sat on. 

However, another throne will also be used, and this one will be made especially for Charles for the ceremony...

Every monarch in British history has sat on their own throne chair. This chair is unique to each monarch and is emblazoned with their own royal cypher. King Charles' royal cypher was revealed recently and is very different from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II's, which was in use for more than 70 years. 

The throne chair is used for the enthronement part of the ritual and takes place on the raised platform (dais) in Westminster Abbey.

Images of Queen Elizabeth's coronation from back in 1953 show the Queen using both thrones, and how each played a significant part in the ceremony. One represents a continued line of royalty and tradition that dates back for centuries, and another represents the individual leader and the beginning of their reign into the future.

A royal source told the Daily Mail, "There is always a new throne for a new monarch and this will be no exception," confirming that this two-throne tradition will continue to be upheld.

There’s a special privilege Princess Anne shares with Prince Edward and Prince Harry that many fans might not have known about. 

• The Princess Royal, Earl of Wessex and Duke of Sussex have each visited all of the world’s seven continents. 
• As senior royals they’ve traveled the globe and followed in the late Prince Philip’s footsteps, even visiting Antarctica.  
• This royal news comes as Sophie Wessex's on-trend Barbour jacket and Burford wellies prove casual never has to be boring as she feeds calves on latest outing.  

One of King Charles’ first major moves as monarch was to ensure that Princess Anne’s prestigious role was returned to her, meaning she re-joined the small group of Counselors of State to the monarch. However, there’s one surprising privilege that she shares with even fewer Royal Family members than that. Princess Anne has visited every single continent, as has the youngest of the late Queen’s children, Prince Edward, and their nephew Prince Harry. 

Born and brought up in Europe, they’ve each visited North America, South America, Oceania, Asia, Africa and Antarctica throughout their lives - as did the late Prince Philip before them. 

Prince Edward, who is 13th in the royal line of succession, was the first member of the Royal Family to visit McMurdo, Scott Base and Pole in Antarctica, and his sister has been there several times. The Princess Royal is the Patron of the UK Antarctic Trust and returned to the continent in 2007. 

All three senior royals have been to Africa, Oceania and South America in their capacities as working royals and Africa in particular continues to hold a special place in the Duke of Sussex’s heart. Last year Prince Harry revealed the romantic spot he found “soulmate” in Meghan Markle during a trip there with her. 

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “stepped back” as working royals they’ve settled in their Santa Barbara mansion in North America. His aunt and uncle have both visited this continent, with Princess Anne heading to New York last year. 

The Duke of Sussex also served in Afghanistan in Asia during his time in the British Army and Prince Edward and Princess Anne have both been to the continent to attend sporting events. Given their work commitments it’s perhaps no surprise that all three royals have traveled widely, but the special privilege Princess Anne shares with Prince Edward and Prince Harry of visiting all seven continents is very unique. 

Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, has recently shared the royal’s rather bizarre account of his preparation before visiting Antarctica.  As per the Daily Mail, the King’s son recounted how he felt uncomfortable at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011 due to frostbite on a sensitive area. 

He claimed a friend commissioned a bespoke cushion for the area to help him avoid this on his South Pole trek, writing, “Square, supportive, it was sewn from pieces of the softest fleece and... Enough said."

The Prince took part in the Walking With The Wounded expedition to Antarctica in 2013, with three teams consisting of wounded servicemen and women forming Team Commonwealth, Team US and Team UK, with Exhibition Patron Prince Harry. They each represented and raised money for military charities from their nations. 

Though he continues to travel the world now in a private capacity, Princess Anne and Prince Edward have journeyed overseas frequently throughout the past year, including the Princess Royal’s trip to Cyprus in Europe just a few weeks ago.

Sophie Wessex almost received the title that eventually went to Kate Middleton when she got married to Prince Edward. 

• Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex were set to become the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they tied the knot - but Edward wasn't keen. 
• The Queen eventually gave the titles to Prince William and Kate Middleton when they married in 2011. 
• In other royal news, Meghan Markle's broken promise to the Queen after 'letting her down' has been revealed. 

While Sophie Wessex is, of course, the Countess of Wessex, with Prince Edward holding the title of the Earl of Wessex, the pair very nearly became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 

When the happy couple, who share daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 19, and James Viscount Severn, 15, married at St George's Chapel in Windsor in June 1999, the Queen had hoped to give her youngest son the Dukedom. 

However, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, who reside at Bagshot Park, were given a different honor after a special request was made. 

Prince Edward was keen to secure the Earl of Wessex title after watching the movie adaptation of a Shakespeare classic. 

In 2010, a royal courtier told the Telegraph, "Prince Edward was going to be the Duke of Cambridge, but he watched the film Shakespeare in Love, which had a character called the Earl of Wessex.

"He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead."

The rest is history and it was Kate Middleton, who is now the Princess of Wales, who became the Duchess of Cambridge when she and Prince William became husband and wife in April 2011. 

Following the deaths of Prince Philip in April 2021 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex are thought to be preparing to take on special new titles.

 While it was rumored that King Charles III had planned to give his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, Prince Philip's former Duke of Edinburgh honor to make her the Duchess of Edinburgh, it's now thought he will grant his brother the iconic title. 

It's been claimed that King Charles has had a "change of heart" over the Edinburgh title decision, altering his plans over who will inherit it from his late father, amid reports that Edward saw his brother's plans to give Charlotte the title as a "slap in the face". 

"Because the Queen had promised him the title before she died and it was always believed by Edward and Sophie that, in time, the title would then be passed down to their son, Viscount Severn," a royal source close to Edward is said to have told the Daily Mail. 

"Now it does look like the tide is turning. Clearly the King has had time to reflect on the late Queen's wishes."

Queen Camilla recreated an iconic photo of Prince Philip as she undertook a royal first on January 31 a month after receiving an important new role.  

• The Queen Consort visited Lille Barracks on January 31 for the first time since becoming Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. 
• This role was once held by Prince Philip and the Queen recreated a special photo taken of him with the Battalion in 2017.
• This royal news comes as we revealed Carole Middleton’s selfless sacrifice now her daughter Kate is Princess of Wales.   

The start of 2023 might not have gone quite as King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla might’ve hoped amid intense scrutiny following the allegations made in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, but they’ve remained steadfastly devoted to their royal duties. After recent engagements together in Scotland and Greater Manchester, Queen Camilla stepped out solo in Aldershot, Surrey on January 31. She did so not only as Queen, but also as the Colonel of the Grenadier Guards - a role that she was granted on December 21, 2022 by His Majesty. 

The role had previously been held by Prince Andrew since 2017, but before him the late Duke of Edinburgh had held it for 42 years. So it was perhaps only fitting that Queen Camilla recreated an iconic photo of Prince Philip during her inaugural visit to Lille Barracks as Colonel. 

For this important engagement Queen Camilla wore a ravishing red dress and beamed as she met not only members of the Battalion but their families too. Some members of the Battalion even returned to provide the Bearer Party for the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral service last year and Queen Camilla presented medals to the 1st Battalion during her visit. 

She also gathered alongside the Battalion for a very special photo with her seated formally at the front. It was during this part of the day that the Queen Consort is said to have initially been a little puzzled when two of the officers proceeded to sit on the floor at either end of the picture. 

As per Hello!, Second Lieutenant Archie Denison-Smith claimed to PA, “She was just asking if I was okay and then she asked why the two junior officers were on the floor. It was a nod to recreating that picture. We explained why it was."

The picture in question was a photo taken at the very same barracks in 2017 featuring Prince Philip seated at the front during his time as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. This touching tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh is especially significant given it was Queen Camilla’s first time visiting the barracks since taking on her late father-in-law’s former role.

There is another royal role Queen Camilla took on from Prince Philip as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles. She is also now Patron of Book Aid International which is a significant position the Duke of Edinburgh also previously held. 

Discussing the legacy left by her father-in-law last year, Queen Camilla highlighted their bond as she delivered a speech at a birthday lunch held for her by The Oldie.

“The Duke of Edinburgh’s philosophy was clear: ‘Look up and look out, say less, do more – and get on with the job’  - and that is just what I intend to do,” she declared. "Both he and Her Majesty have always been the very touchstone of what it truly means to “get on with the job”, and an inspiration to each one of us here to do the same, whatever our age." 

There’s a surprising royal wedding that was watched more at the time than the Sussexes’ big day - and it’s not Prince William and Kate Middleton’s. 

• Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex’s wedding in 1999 was reportedly watched by an average of 14.8 million in the UK compared to the Sussexes’ 11.5 million. 
• Although Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding has since surpassed this it might surprise some that the Wessexes’ wedding was bigger viewing-wise at the time.
• This royal news comes as Prince William and Kate Middleton made a major social media change after a significant announcement. 

There’s nothing quite like a royal wedding and although it’s been a while since the last one broadcast to fans at home, many of us can’t help looking back at the ones that have gone before. From Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding at Westminster Abbey to the late Queen Elizabeth marrying Prince Philip there've been some magical moments. Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day was another iconic occasion in recent years, it seems that there was another royal wedding that was watched more at the time.

The youngest of the Queen’s children, Prince Edward, married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle just like the Sussexes did 19 years later. According to Hello!, when Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, an estimated combined audience of 14.8 million allegedly watched.

However, The Telegraph reported in 2018 that the average viewership for Prince Harry and Meghan’s big day across the BBC and ITV was 11 million with a further 500,000 apparently tuning in via Sky News, BBC News and Sky One. This suggests that approximately 11.5 million people in the UK watched overall. 

Of course, with US viewers estimated at 29 million according to Nielsen, the overall viewing figures globally would be far higher. Meanwhile, streaming-wise Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding has now reached 38 million views on the Royal Family’s official YouTube channel since then. 

Despite this, it might still come as a fairly huge surprise to fans that Prince Edward and Sophie’s wedding was supposedly watched by millions more in the UK.

Both were significant occasions as the grooms were the Queen’s son and grandson respectively, however Meghan is a famous figure in her own right internationally. There was also a huge level of media scrutiny leading up to the Sussexes’ big day, not to mention a lot of US celebrities were invited. 

Many people were likely also intrigued to compare their nuptials with the Wales’ wedding (apparently watched by 17 million at the time). Even so, it seems that Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex’s wedding attracted more public attention in the UK. 

The couple walked down the aisle in 1999 after six years together and it was announced that they would be known as the Earl and Countess of Wessex. 

A statement released ahead of their wedding also suggested that the couple could possibly receive another title one day too. 

“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown,” it reportedly declared.

All these years later the Earl and Countess of Wessex are set to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary in June 2023 and remain prominent working royals, supporting King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

Kate Middleton has once again been compared to the late Queen Elizabeth, as it's been revealed she sticks to a key rule made by the late monarch and her husband, Prince Philip.

• When it comes to royal engagements, the Princess of Wales still sticks to advice she was given when she first joined the Royal Family back in 2011, when she married Prince William.
• A royal biographer has drawn the comparison between Kate and Queen Elizabeth, who died in September.
• In other royal news, Princess Anne and Prince Edward are tipped to be 'prominent' in King Charles' coronation ceremony.

Giles Gyles Brandreth, author of Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, has pointed out a key way that Kate is following in the footsteps of Her Majesty.

In his book, Mr Brandreth recalled a conversation he had with Prince Philip when Kate first stepped onto the royal scene. He wrote, “When Catherine Middleton came along as a potential bride for his grandson, Prince William, the Duke of Edinburgh was, he told me, ‘relieved to find her such a level-headed girl.'"

Gyles added how the Duke warned Kate, "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you’re going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you’re supporting. It isn’t for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. 

"You are representing the Royal Family. That’s all. Don’t look at the camera. The Queen never looks at the camera. Never. Look at who you’re talking to. Look at what you’ve come to see."

Gyles himself continued, “I have been on walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. She does not look at the camera. Whenever she is interviewed, Catherine talks about the matter in hand, never about herself.”

And this isn't the first time the Prince of Wales has been compared to Queen Elizabeth. The Channel 5 royal documentary, Kate: Our Queen in Waiting, also draws on the similarities between the two royals, particularly when it comes to public engagements.

Narrator David Riley said of the Princess, “Kate’s stoical attitude towards the press mirrors that of the Queen herself. It’s felt by many to be the appropriate royal response." 

Historian Dr Chandrika Kaul added: “Kate epitomises the adage ‘never complain, never explain’ much like the Queen has in her successful and long reign.”

Kate's most recent royal engagement was to a food bank in Windsor on Thursday with Prince William, nearby to their Adelaide Cottage home.

The Princess of Wales wore a gorgeous red coat for the occasion, where the royal couple met with volunteers, learnt about how the cost of living crisis is meaning the need for the service is on the rise and lent a hand packing up food parcels to be given to those in need. 

Following their food bank visit, Kate and William took to social media to share a carousel of photographs from their day at Foodshare. 

Alongside snaps of the pair lending a hand, a caption reads, "Wonderful to spend some time with volunteers at Windsor Foodshare this morning. The donations and food packages make such a difference to those in the local area who need them. Hope we were more of a help than a hindrance when it came to the packing!"

Princess Charlotte was given a huge advantage at the age of two, making royal history.

• The Prince and Princess of Wales' daughter made history after the birth of her younger brother, Prince Louis, in April 2018.
• Princess Charlotte is the only female royal to have benefited from the advantage so far.
• In other royal news, Lady Louise Windsor was also granted a historic honour.

After the birth of Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte - who was two at the time - became the first female royal to benefit from The Succession to the Crown Act (2013), which states that girls will not be overtaken by younger brothers.

The Act only applies to those born after 28 October 2011, meaning that other key female members of the Royal Family have missed out.

Princess Charlotte is third-in-line to the throne, after her older brother Prince George, putting her ahead of younger brother Prince Louis. However, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's only daughter Princess Anne is much further down the line of succession than her younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The Princess Royal, who celebrated her 72nd birthday in August, is currently in 16th place behind her niece, Lady Louise Windsor.

If the rules had been changed at the time of Anne's birth in 1950, her children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall would be much closer to the throne than their cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are currently tenth and 11th.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex's daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 19, was also overtaken by her younger brother James, Viscount Severn in the royal line of succession after his birth in 2007. James is currently 14th in line, while Lady Louise is 15th.

We recently revealed how Lady Louise Windsor was granted historic honor after her birth, that her brother James never had.

Lady Louise Windsor was baptized at the private chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2004 wearing a stunning Victorian christening gown. This family heirloom is also known as the Honiton christening gown and was commissioned by Queen Victoria for her first-born, Princess Victoria’s baptism. 

The gown was reportedly inspired by Queen Victoria's Wedding dress, as per Town & Country, and is understood to have been worn by 62 royal babies. Queen Elizabeth, King Charles and Prince William were all christened in it, though Lady Louise was the last to wear it. 

After her christening it was officially retired and a beautiful replica was made, designed to be as close to the real thing as possible. Viscount Severn was the first royal baby to wear the new christening gown and it’s been used plenty of times since, including at the baptisms of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. 

Lady Louise Windsor’ historic honor of getting to wear the christening gown for the last time is a very special privilege. She’s currently at the University of St Andrews studying English Literature and despite her lineage Lady Louise Windsor isn’t a Princess by title. 

Lady Louise Windsor’s historic honor was granted when she was a baby and it’s something that her brother James, Viscount Severn never had.  

• Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex’s only daughter had the privilege of being the last royal child to be christened wearing a precious family heirloom.  
• By the time her younger brother was born a replica of the original Victorian gown had been made and ever since this has been worn instead. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed Princess Anne’s rare royal privilege that Princess Eugenie and Beatrice never got to experience.  

Whilst she might not be one of the late Queen’s grandchildren that’s seen most often in public, Lady Louise Windsor has been stepping out more in recent years. Lady Louise has shown her prowess at carriage driving at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and joined her parents Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward at a Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip and at the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. She’s understood to have been incredibly close to both of her royal grandparents and Lady Louise Windsor’s birth marked a turning point for Prince Philip in particular.

But it was five months after she was born in November 2003 that Lady Louise Windsor’s historic honor was granted. And it’s one that no royal since  - not even her brother James, Viscount Severn - has ever had… 

Lady Louise Windsor was baptized at the private chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2004 wearing a stunning Victorian christening gown. This family heirloom is also known as the Honiton christening gown and was commissioned by Queen Victoria for her first-born, Princess Victoria’s baptism. 

The gown was reportedly inspired by Queen Victoria's Wedding dress, as per Town & Country, and is understood to have been worn by 62 royal babies. Queen Elizabeth, King Charles and Prince William were all christened in it, though Lady Louise was the last to wear it. 

After her christening it was officially retired and a beautiful replica was made, designed to be as close to the real thing as possible. 

Viscount Severn was the first royal baby to wear the new christening gown and it’s been used plenty of times since, including at the baptisms of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. 

Lady Louise Windsor’ historic honor of getting to wear the christening gown for the last time is a very special privilege. She’s currently at the University of St Andrews studying English Literature and despite her lineage Lady Louise Windsor isn’t a Princess by title. 

Her mother previously got candid about how she and her husband have raised Lady Louise and James to know they’ll probably have to work for a living. She also expressed to the BBC’s Naga Munchetty last year how Lady Louise prefers to remain “private”. 

“She doesn’t really get involved with social media very much at all and that is purely her choice. I wouldn’t deny her going onto it, but she’s not really that interested in it,” the Countess explained. “There’s a few platforms that she talks to her friends on but that’s basically it, she doesn’t put anything out about herself at all. She’s very private.”

It’s not yet known when Lady Louise Windsor might next be seen in public. Though as the daughter of two working royals and the King’s niece, it’s likely that will be in attendance at King Charles’ coronation in May.

Princess Anne’s history-making moment back might not be known to everyone but it likely made her late father Prince Philip very proud.  

• The Princess Royal signed the Westminster Abbey wedding register with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor when she married Captain Mark Phillips. 
• This marked the first time the name had appeared on an official document after a declaration that likely pleased Prince Philip in 1960.
• This royal news comes as we revealed the boozy royal dessert King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed last night.  

As one of the hardest-working royals the Princess Royal has continued to showcase her unwavering dedication since King Charles ascended the throne. From Princess Anne’s prestigious role restored to her to undertaking plenty of recent UK and overseas visits, her schedule and remit are as full as ever. Though it was during one of her off-duty moments that she once marked a historic milestone. Princess Anne’s history-making moment came in 1973 as she tied the knot with her first husband Captain Mark Phillips in a ceremony watched on TV by approximately 500 million.

Just like at her nephew Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding 38 years later, the Princess Royal got married at Westminster Abbey. And the surname she used when she signed the marriage register was incredibly significant- particularly for her father. 

According to the Royal Family website, she signed it with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Although this might not sound important, this marked the first time where this particular name appeared on an official document. The surname Mountbatten comes from the Battenberg family and was the surname of the late Prince Philip.

His marriage to Queen Elizabeth marked the union of the Mountbatten and Windsor families. However, when she became monarch in 1952, it was her name of Windsor that was confirmed as the Royal Family surname. 

As revealed by the BBC, Prince Philip was reportedly not particularly thrilled by this decision and allegedly declared, “I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children! I'm nothing but a bloody amoeba!"

A compromise was eventually reached in 1960 when it was determined in a declaration that the Queen’s descendants who didn’t hold the title of Prince or Princess or an HRH style could use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Given the Duke of Edinburgh’s supposed eagerness to pass his own surname on to his and the Queen’s children, Princess Anne’s history-making moment was perhaps very special to him. 

Not only did she use this surname Mountbatten-Windsor but she was also the one who set it down in print on an official document for the first time. Today the most famous members of the immediate and extended Royal Family to have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Archie and Lilibet.  

Lady Louise Windsor’s full name is technically Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor too. But whilst Princess Anne made history when she used the surname officially on her first wedding day as the Princess Royal and someone with an HRH title it’s not a name she uses regularly. She is understood to have had a close relationship with Prince Philip and in her statement following his death in 2021, she remarked upon his extraordinary "example".  

"My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate," she declared.

The late Queen Elizabeth II seemingly rebelled against a decision made by her grandparents when Princess Anne was born.

• When naming her first and only daughter, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II rebelled against a decision that her grandfather, King George V, had made decades before. 
• When Princess Margaret was born, King George is said to have vetoed the name 'Ann' for her. 
• In other royal news, Princess Margaret's hilariously ruthless response to being told her husband was divorcing her has been revealed. 

Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, however it seems that the late monarch rebelled a little when it came to choosing her name. 

On August 15th 1950, when her mother was still Princess Elizabeth, Anne was born at Clarence House in London, where her parents lived with one-year-old Prince Charles at the time. 

And when it came to naming her daughter, Queen Elizabeth chose a name that her father had rejected for Princess Margaret back in 1930.

When King George VI and the Queen Mother welcomed Princess Margaret, they were keen to name her Ann, but the name was rejected when King George V and Queen Mary were consulted. 

Margaret's parents, who were the Duke and Duchess of York at the time, asked for advice on their name choices, with her mother penning a letter to the King and Queen. 

William Shawcross, who wrote the The Official Biography Of The Queen Mother, says that the letter read, "I think Ann of York sounds so pretty and Elizabeth and Ann go so well together. I wonder what you think?"

However, the pair weren't keen on the name and persisted that the new royal baby should be named after Margaret of Scotland - and so she was christened Margaret Rose. 

However, it seems that Queen Elizabeth chose to honor her parents' hopes to have their chosen name in the family, naming her own daughter Anne. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip welcomed four children over the course of their 73-year marriage. 

After marrying in 1947, Elizabeth and Philip welcomed King Charles the following year with Princess Anne coming along shortly after. 

The couple added two more sons to their brood several years later, with Prince Andrew being born in 1960 and the youngest Windsor, Prince Edward, completing the family in 1964. 

There’s a little-known title Sophie Wessex has that she doesn’t use and it’s understood that the same thing is true of other prominent royals. 

• The Countess of Wessex is believed to have another title that she never uses and she isn’t the only one either.
• It’s thought that when she married Prince Edward she also technically became Princess Edward as she took on his titles.  
• This royal news comes as we revealed how Princess Eugenie’s second child will mean Princess Anne has to give up her new place in the Royal Family.  

Sophie might be best known as the Countess of Wessex since her 1999 marriage to the youngest of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s children, Prince Edward. The senior royal is also known as the Countess of Forfar in Scotland, but it seems like these might not be the only titles she gained upon her marriage. There’s a little-known title that Sophie Wessex has that might come as a surprise given that her daughter Lady Louise Windsor isn’t referred to as Princess and her son James, Viscount Severn isn’t called Prince. 

It’s understood that Sophie Wessex is also technically Princess - although not Princess Sophie. As the wife of the late Queen’s son Prince Edward and not a Princess by blood, she would be Princess Edward, although she’s never used this particular title. 

The same is thought to be true of Kate Middleton, with Town & Country previously reporting that Kate took on her husband Prince William’s title when they married in 2011. This apparently meant she effectively became Princess William as well as Duchess of Cambridge - and now Princess of Wales. 

This also follows the pattern seen amongst the extended Royal Family where Prince Michael of Kent’s wife Marie-Christine is known as Princess Michael of Kent, as she’s also the wife of a Prince. Following this pattern, it seems that Meghan Markle is also technically Princess Henry as the wife of Prince Harry (whose full given name is Henry).

The only Princesses who are known by their own name in the immediate Royal Family are Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Princess Charlotte because they were all born into the Royal Family. But whilst Sophie Wessex might technically be Princess Edward, she has never been formally known as this. 

It’s also been suggested that Sophie Wessex could get a new title previously held by the Queen and become Duchess of Edinburgh if Prince Edward receives the Duke of Edinburgh title.

The title passed to King Charles after Prince Philip’s death and is now merged with the crown and yet to be bestowed upon anyone else. Although recent reports have claimed the King might want to make Princess Charlotte the Duchess of Edinburgh in her own right, in the past it was thought that Prince Edward would receive it. 

When Prince Edward and Sophie got married Buckingham Palace released a statement, as per Edinburgh Live, which said as much at the time. 

“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown,” it declared. 

The final decision is King Charles’ to make though if he does make Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie becomes the Duchess, then this will join the little-known title Sophie Wessex has as Princess Edward and her two best known ones as Countess of Wessex and of Forfar. 

The birth of Princess Eugenie’s second child will mean Princess Anne has to give up a newly-acquired place in the Royal Family.  

• Princess Eugenie has announced that she’s expecting her second baby due this summer. 
• The arrival of the new royal baby will change things for their great-aunt Princess Anne as it means she’ll lose her new place in the line of succession.
• This royal news comes as Prince Harry’s “dangerous” flight claim in Spare was disputed and dubbed “dramatized” for effect.   

After what has been a challenging few weeks for the Royal Family following allegations made in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, wonderful news was announced on January 24 when it was confirmed that Princess Eugenie is pregnant with her second child. The King’s niece and her husband Jack Brooksbank are already proud parents to their son August who will turn two in February. The new royal baby will be the thirteenth of the late Queen’s great-grandchildren and is due in summer 2023. 

Though whilst the royals are likely already eager to welcome Princess Eugenie’s second child, their birth will also signal a huge change for their great-aunt Princess Anne. So much so that she’ll have to give up a new place she’s been occupying in the Royal Family.

The Princess Royal might be the second of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s children, but her younger brothers and all of their children and grandchildren are ahead of her in the royal line of succession. After being born 2nd in line, Princess Anne is now just 16th in line to the throne following the accession of King Charles.

Prior to him becoming monarch, she was 17th in line and this place will be resumed after Princess Eugenie’s second child is born. Princess Eugenie and her son August will keep their current positions as 11th and 12th in line, whilst the new baby will be 13th, just pushing every royal below August down one place.

This doesn’t only include Princess Anne and her children and grandchildren, but Prince Edward and his children too. Though both Princess Anne’s current and soon-to-be place in the line of succession might come as a surprise to many given that she’s been found to be the most hard working royal in recent years and takes such a prominent role in royal life.

And whilst the King’s sister will soon lose her place as 16th in line when Princess Eugenie’s second child arrives, she will retain an incredible honor requested for her by the monarch last year. Princess Anne’s prestigious role as Counselor of State was something she once held during Queen Elizabeth’s early reign and has been restored to her by King Charles.  

He requested and later gave his Royal Assent to a bill which made Princess Anne and Prince Edward Counselors of State who have the authority to carry out the majority of the Sovereign’s duties if they’re temporarily unable to, for example due to being abroad or illness. 

Typically it’s the monarch’s spouse and the four highest in the line of succession (as long as they’re over 21) who have this position. So the decision to give Princess Anne and Prince Edward this honor shows just how much respect and trust King Charles has in them.

A surprising royal has reportedly been brought back into the fold amid family tension in recent months.

• The Duchess of York received a very special invitation last year that could be seen as a radical move by His Majesty. 
• It’s been claimed that the Queen “likes” Sarah Ferguson and that this has inspired her being welcomed back into the royal fold amid a difficult time. 
• This royal news comes as we revealed though we'd never have imagined King Charles giving off James Bond vibes this shirtless beach shot proves otherwise. 

The revelation that Sarah Ferguson would join the Royal Family for Christmas in 2022 might well have come as a surprise to plenty of fans. During her marriage to Prince Andrew the Duchess of York regularly joined the immediate and extended Royal Family for major occasions. However, her last festive season at Sandringham with the royals was several decades ago. And it seems like this huge moment of change with the recent reported invitation could signal her being back in the royal fold as it’s claimed Sarah has an ally in the Queen Consort. 

According to the Mail on Sunday, the Duchess of York has got a “powerful advocate” in Queen Camilla who is reportedly keen for her to be welcomed back into the Royal Family’s inner circle.

A source reportedly claimed that this was partly inspired by some of the similarities between the two women, especially their love of horses. 

“Camilla likes Sarah. They're both gentry. They share a love of horses and Fergie will be smart enough to play the game with Camilla and realise she is the power behind the King. That she must be nice to them and support them,” the source alleged.

Sarah Ferguson is understood to have not only celebrated Christmas with the royals last year, but been invited to the traditional boxing day shoot too. And the source claimed that this is something the late Prince Philip would never have “allowed” to happen. 

“There was Fergie, in the thick of it, chatting away to the King and Queen Consort on the Boxing Day shoot," the source alleged. "Philip would never have allowed that. There's a feeling that, no matter what Sarah's personal faults – and she can be like Marmite in that respect – she has been a good mother to the girls and loyal to Andrew."

This time of change and Sarah being welcomed back into the fold comes amid a challenging time. When the Royal Family celebrated Christmas they knew they were just days away from the release of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. The release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix documentary had also made shockwaves a few weeks earlier. 

The Duke of Sussex hasn’t shied away from making shocking allegations, such as his claim Prince William “knocked him to the floor” during an argument.  

The Duchess of York has also spoken openly about life as a royal in recent years, though she has been generally positive, praising the late Queen in particular. Posting on Instagram after the Queen’s passing, Sarah reflected on how much she felt her “generosity” even after her divorce. 

“To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express,” she declared. 

Princess Charlotte will not be given a special title by King Charles III after the monarch's 'change of heart' over its inheritance, according to an inside source. 

• King Charles III has decided against giving Princess Charlotte a special title after having a 'change of heart' over the matter, according to an insider. 
• His Majesty will reportedly now grant the title to Prince Edward instead, in recognition of his younger brother's ongoing service to the Royal Family. 
• In other royal news, could Prince Andrew return to royal duties as new bombshell claims question the validity of claims against him?
  

Princess Charlotte may miss out on a special title following King Charles III's decision to grant it to another member of the Royal Family, according to an insider. 

It's understood that His Majesty had originally hoped to make the only daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton the 'Duke of Edinburgh' when she was old enough but has now had a 'change' of heart'. 

The 74-year-old will reportedly instead now give the substantive title to his youngest brother, Prince Edward, in recognition of the royal's ongoing service over the years. 

It's also been reported in the Mirror.co.uk that the Earl of Wessex was irritated that Charles was planning to make Princess Charlotte, 7, the 'Duchess of Edinburgh', viewing the decision to be a 'slap in the face' after all he'd done to support King Charles during Prince Andrew's sex abuse case. 

It's understood that Prince Edward, 58, had also been expecting to receive the title after being 'promised' its inheritance by the Queen before she died and had even intended for it to be "passed down to his son, Viscount Severn." If Princess Charlotte was to receive the title, she would have been the first-ever Duchess of Edinburgh. 

"Now it does look like the tide is turning," the source, who is reportedly close to Prince Edward, added. "Clearly the King has had time to reflect on the late Queen’s wishes." 

The title of the Duke of Edinburgh was last held by Prince Philip, the late Queen's husband. It was first created by King George VI in 1726 and has been recreated three times since.