Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'SOCIAL DIVORCE' from Hollywood! | Palace Confidential

What were the king and queen banging in Belfast?Should we try that again?What were the king and queen banging in Belfast?What was the god almighty stroke Prince Harry threw in the run up to his wedding?Why are people talking about Harry and Meghan's social divorce?And what has Richard Eden repulsed?

And breaking news on Andrew's appointment as trade envoy.Plus, come and see us live in London.Hello and welcome to Palace Confidential.My name's Luke Blackwell and today I'm joined by Rebecca English, the Daily Mail's Royal Editor, Richard Eden, the newspaper's Diary Editor, and a very special guest, Alison Boshoff, the paper's Editor -at -Large.Welcome to all three of you.Before we get into it, I mentioned last week that we have a live event coming up.

It's pretty exciting stuff.We will be hosting Palace Confidential Live in London on the 9th of June, 2026.It will be an intimate event and so tickets are limited.If you want to be there, and you're a subscriber to Daily Mail Plus you can scan the QR code on screen now to buy tickets.We're expecting Richard and Rebecca plus Richard Kaye and Robert Harbour on the bill.There'll be an exciting English tea party atmosphere with a glass of fizz too.

It all sounds like a pretty good afternoon to me.A reminder to find out more and to buy tickets you can turn on your phone's camera, hover it over the QR code that's on screen and you click the link that pops up.If you're watching on your phone of course we'll put a link in the description below and we'll try and pin one in the comments too.We'd love to see you there, we'd love to meet you.Right, we're going to start though with some breaking news that happened as we were actually, we already started filming when we heard the breaking news, that the British government, the Department for Business and Trade, have released a series of documents relating to the appointments of the then Prince Andrew, the now Andrew Mountbatten -Windsor, as Special RepresentativeTrade and Investment in 2001.

Rebecca, we've been waiting for this for quite some time, haven't we?

We have, and while I don't think there are any major surprises, I think it will confirm what a lot of people expected about Andrew's appointment, that it was effectively a job for the boy.The Queen was very, very keen for him to get this job as a UK trade ambassador.Very little was done, if anything, in the way of proper vetting procedures.And there's also some, I think, unintentionally amusing things in there, talking about how they don't want Andrew to be sent to anywhere that he could be tempted to play a round of golf.that he wanted to go to more sophisticated countries, which is definitely not in the British government's idea of how to conduct trade, because they've been pushing trade actually with a huge variety of developing economies around the world.So it's fascinating reading.

And it's also not what we expect from the royal family, you know, plenty of visits to countries that don't have the same technology as perhaps you'd like.It's not something where Sophie goes regularly, for example.

They make a point of saying, you know, he only wants to go places where he can really talk about sophisticated technology.

I have to say from what I've seen so far, what shocks me is just how much has been redacted.That's a good point, isn't it?

It's been redacted to within an inch of its life in places.I mean, I don't know what we can possibly get from that.

There was one page, I think almost the whole page is redacted, isn't it?

Let me try and find that one.That's a particular...Yes, here we go.I mean, you sort of think, what's the point?I mean, we're not going to get much there.Richard, let's look at...

Some of these I mean there's one a thing which now has a slightly leaves a slightly bad taste in the mouth.It says that Andrew has a preference for ballet rather than singingAt the time, that may have seemed innocent enough.What we now know, it seems a little less pleasant, doesn't it?

I mean, he was patron of the Royal Ballet, but stepped down when he was forced to step down from that and all his other patronages.And then there were suggestions after that he'd been a terrible patron, that the only thing that seemed to interest him was meeting the young female ballerinas.and he'd sort of taken friends along to the ballet and behaved inappropriately.There was all sorts of claims made afterwards.I think some of them were in Andrew Lowney's book that was serialised in the Daily Mail.

Alison, as well, there was something which certainly raised eyebrows and we understand, you know, it's said here in a message to the Foreign Secretary at the time, that yes, the Queen was keen that the Duke of York should take a prominent role in the promotion of national interest.Then it goes on to say that no other member of the royal family would be available to succeed the Duke of Kent.That does seem to stretch credulity, doesn't it?

That's extraordinary, isn't it?I mean, that clearly has to be an untruth.But what's being said clearly to Robin Cook is, the Queen wants Prince Andrew to have this job.give it to him.That's it.It's kind of a strong arming.

It's actually quite unpleasant strong arming of the government by the palace.I mean, this is not a great look.

And it's worth putting in context.This is a time where he was retiring from the military and they were basically looking for a role to him to have.So this, the Duke of Kent, he was doing, you know, a very good, I mean, not seismic as in terms of, you know, massively above the radar, but doing a very solid job in promoting UK trade and industry, it was effectively kind of that long crook was there and he was kind of dragged off stage and Andrew was shoved in instead.

A lot of people lament his departure from that role and I think many people think that the Duke of York should have stayed.retired from the Navy or certainly not as early as he did.We go further down this letter, there's also the suggestion, Alison, that really they also say he's not perhaps particularly suited this job.I did not envisage that the Duke of York would want to be burdened with the regularity of meetings of the Board of British Trade International or the burden of paper which goes along with the board membership.No one there thinking, is this person right to be a business ambassador?

So not only is he unqualified, but just because the Queen wants him, but also he's too thick to read the paperwork, or too lazy, which in either case would be bad, wouldn't it?

It really would be.

And it's a real contrast to someone like King Charles, who had a very long apprenticeship as Prince of Wales, but decided to really utilise his time in a very worthwhile way, setting up charities.And when I've accompanied him on visits and engagements over the years, you know, every job he's doing, even when he's at that job, he's saying, to his age, can you do, can you do this?Can you have a look at this?We can probably help this person.I was with him yesterday at a food bank when he grabbed one of his private secretary and said, right, we can set these people up with our Directing Kind charity.You know, he was constantly thinking of ways to help people.

He's the polar opposite of his brother, who we are being told mustn't be burdened with meetings, paperwork or anything, you know, remotely burdensome.He just wants to go off to sophisticated countries where there's a lot of technology.

And the late Queen, am I right in thinking was looking at her going through red boxes on her deathbed basically right until the end she was going through an awful lot of paperwork.

She worked right up until the day before her death and I think it's yeah it's it's it's a very marked contrast isn't it to what we actually see in the royal family now.

And the other things Richard, look I'm going through these these documents as we get themso forgive us viewers for reading directly from them, but the committee endorsed visits by the Duke of York to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, reads one of these confidential documents.The committee also supported visits to the United States and Germany on behalf of British Trade International.That now of course has a rather more sinister connection doesn't it?

Well yes it was in connection with his his work in America that he first got in touch with Jeffrey Epstein and remember that Andrew's explanation of why he wanted that friendship with Epstein was he thought that he could help him with this job and he could give him useful experience and knowledge and pass that on and then he would stay with Epstein when he was visiting the US at his townhouse in New York, which Richard Kaye and I visited on our recent trip there.

Yeah, definitely an episode of Royal Walks to watch there.If we go back, it's an interesting thing, there's a brief for the Duke of York ahead of his interview with the Times, which I think fast journalists are always interested to see, what are they being told?But one of the questions he's been prepared for is, why do you think people outside Britain will listen to you, particularly when you have no background in international trade?Surely not simply because of your royal status.Again, a bit on the nose.And then there's this suggestion they've given him talking points here about how he should say he had no hesitation taking up the role, but given his lack of direct business experience, he was keen to ensure a full period of induction and that has been a steep learning curve.

for him?What do you think, what do you make of his learning curve over that particular job?

And I think there's some jobs you can, there's some kind of employments you can learn on the job, but when you're going out representing Britain PLC, and that's why we've seen every member of the royal family, have a quiet period of induction that they've, say somelike Queen Camilla for example, when she joined the royal family she had no history of going out representing charities.She's now an outspoken advocate on domestic violence but she just quietly visited these charities, learned about what they needed, how she could best support them before she really puts herself out there as an advocate.It sounds like Andrew's just been thrown there and said go out and represent us without any experience whatsoever.

nor indeed set amount of time I'll devote to this role.So again, we've got someone who doesn't want to do meetings, doesn't want to do paper or indeed commit.to a set time.

But that was his only job.He doesn't seem very interested in it does he?Yes.I mean that's the golf reference isn't it?It's clear that actually this person is being appointed into the role with no vetting, he has no talent for it, he has no background in it and also he really has precious little interests in it.You know they say don't let him go, don't let him bring his golf clubs with him essentially don't they at one point.

Yes they do and because if he does he won't be doing anything in a public role.Well I don't know about, well you've seen what a Royal Tour's like now Richard.Exactly.pace and hard work and the idea of taking golf clubs, a tennis racket or anything else like that, just don't come into it.That's what our trips are like.It certainly doesn't sound like what Andrew's trips were like.

There's a suggestion, Rebecca, about a reputed £100 ,000 demand for office expenses and he's told to say There's never been a demand for any payment for office expenses.It was made clear from the start that only expenses incurred on BTI business, British trade business, will be covered in His Royal Highness' role.This is by mutual agreement with Buckingham Palace.Who pays for what has often been a thing with Andrew, hasn't it?

Yes, and obviously when we look at Royal Finances.In fact, the next big Royal Finance Review is coming up next month at the end of June.So, I'll be busy doing that.But we do get details, a lot of details.about what money is spent on and where.But with Andrew, the frustration was, because he had this UK TI job, We weren't allowed to ask questions about it because he's a member of the royal family, you can't put in freedom of information requests about what he's doing.

So he was effectively given carte blanche to do what he wants and spend what he wanted without any public or media scrutiny of it.So that was always a sort of immense frustration to us.

And I mean, we can say, of course, there is, he has been arrested, there's still an investigation going on, but this only relates to the appointment not him actually doing the job.So there'll be people wondering why there isn't more here.It's perhaps to do with that.

And hopefully more will come out in the fullness of time because of course we have, as I think Richard and I have discussed on the programme before many times, we've seen little kind of leaks over the years from various ambassadors and officials who've made clear their contempt for him and actually said he is doing us more harm than good in this role.

Richard, the Minister for Trade, who is the Minister for Trade now, not when Andrew was appointed, Chris Bryant, said as these documents were handed out, I'm just reading this message, he says, we found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken.There is also no evidence that this was considered.And he goes on to say this is because a new appointment was a continuation of the Royal Family's involvement in trade and industry over the future years, the previous years.You can't imagine any similar appointment would be made now in the future without a lot more vetting?

No, certainly not.I mean, Chris Bryant has been scathing about Andrew Mountbatten -Windsor in the House of Commons.He's not an admirer and has talked about his sense of entitlement and so forth before.But yes, I mean, he has ruined this role, hasn't he?The idea of a member of the royal family doing a job that the Duke of Kent did brilliantly and, in theory, should be very helpful.He should be an ambassador for Britain, helping selling us a brilliant

and he's completely ruined that.

Could say ruined the title of Duke of York for some time to come as well.Yeah, it's been some really interesting breaking news there for you.Bring it to you as we get any more.Keep an eye on this channel.We'll update you as it comes.There is, however, a lot more other royal news to discuss this week and we'll start with the King and Queen's three -day trip to Belfast in Northern Ireland.

What viewers may not know is this trip was top secret.However, as always, our Rebecca was not only in the know, she was also on the trip.Look, here she is as the King chats to representatives from Mourne Mountain Rescue hanging in the background there.Rebecca, tell us about this day, this three -day trip, and why it was so secret.

Well, can I just say, I've been with the King and Queen a lot recently, and they are putting in a shift at the moment.I mean, and for every engagement like this you see, there's three or four engagements that are behind the scenes that nobody knows, the meetings, the audiences.And I did notice the King was a little bit croaky yesterday.You can see that, you know, Some days it takes his toll, but he's in such good spirits.I think he's still on a high after America and really wants to plough on.

And on that, I should say, we have Robert Harbman talking about how the King's doing, what he's been up to a little bit later on in the programme.

So do stick around for that.

But tell us, Rebecca, more about the day.

So this is a bit of a legacy of the Troubles, where obviously the royal family were a huge terror target.and so the legacy of that is that these trips are conducted under huge secrecy.We're only told fairly last minute and we are obviously sworn to secrecy, not just about the trip itself, we can't even say they're there until they arrive.But there was a really great welcome nonetheless and they've got the flyer coming to Belfast, hopefully I've pronounced that right for our Irish viewers, which is a massive celebrationof Irish culture music and dance so they put on a huge welcome for the King and Queen and they were banging the drums really getting stuck into that and there was one part that really made me giggle because there was also a kind of display of Belfast diversity and so they had a multicultural dance group and the King just clearly quite liked this music and he was like giving it all out.He does like a dance the King doesn't he?

He does like a dance and I could see Queen Camilla look over his shoulder at me and just go oh god here we go what are you going to do now?But he was really getting stuck into it so it was a really a really brilliant welcome they're out there for three days.

His appearance didn't stop one naughty bird from doing something unspeakable.Tell us about this.

Actually, he wasn't the only person that got covered.One of the journalists did, and one of the photographers was really dumped upon.I'm trying to think how I put this politely.But we were in a beautiful place called Newcastle in County Down on the coast.He'd come out of a food... bank project and I saw one of the aides come up to him and offer him his coat and I thought that's very solicitous because it was a lovely sunny day but there was a bit of a wind and I wasn't wearing a coat and I was freezing and I saw the king and no no it's fine it's fine because he really wanted to meet the crowds that you know despite it not being publicised in advance word had got round huge crowd and as he turned round I could There's only one way of putting it, a lot of seagull poop down the back of his jacket.Well it's good luck, isn't it?

It's meant to be good luck.And actually one of the crowd said a bit politely, Your Majesty, did you know you've got bird poo on your back?And he went, oh it's fine, it could have landed on my head.I think because he handled it and took it in a very light tone.you know, it passed off, the incident passed off.

It's organic isn't it?

Exactly, I mean you know he's a man that must approve of things like that and it's not the first time it's happened but it doesn't happen very often so.

The busy, rural dry cleaners are a bit busy.

Well he then appeared at the garden party later in the day and the first thing I looked for was to see if he changed his jacket and of course he had.

It's meant to be good luck.Yeah it is meant to be good luck.

And it was a good trip you know so fingers crossed it did provide that luck they needed.

You also met a couple of Palace Confidential fans when you were out there didn't you?

Oh yes, Helen and Sharon.I'm still not used to people saying hello sometimes and I could see these two lovely ladies waving at me and I was looking behind me going oh sorry do you want me to get someone for you and they were like no no you come over come over and they just want to say how much they love the programme and then I look back at my videos and I've realised I've got a video of Sharon meeting the Queen in that so hopefully you know if she gets in touch with us I can maybe pass it on.

Well let's hope they get tickets for our live event.

It's a beautiful part of the world they live out there, Newcastle, it's surrounded by mountains, it's stunning, so maybe they might not want to leave that beautiful little part of the world for a while, who knows.

We've not done a call out for any viewers or anywhere on the island of Ireland, so do let us know in the comments below if you're watching, if you've seen the King over there and if indeed you're looking forward to the potential state visit to Ireland from the King because there was an invitation wasn't there Richard?

Yes this is the Irish say there will be a formal invitation for a state visit to Ireland by the King and Queen.It's not clear the arrangements whether that's formally been issued or whether it will be accepted because of course the King and Queen have to do what the government asks them to do.But if they do it would be very exciting.We've only had one before since Irish independence which was Queen Elizabeth in 2011, I think, and it was a huge event, great success, so I'm sure the King Queen would love to go on that if it happens.

Yeah, I was at that and the crowds were phenomenal because I think there was a real feeling ofso many years of political and social issues between us that it was a real feeling of coming together.It was a really good feeling of optimism I thought.

Well I hope it does go ahead and the government act on it quickly.Alison this is your classic Royal event wasn't it?Engagement, we had whisky tastings, visits to primary school.They're sort of playing to their strengths, the king and queen here.

I guess so, but I'm a showbiz anarchist, so I would like it if there was a bit more chaos.You see, what makes my day is things like the bird poo incident.So I kind of...My vision for how the royals should, you know, conduct themselves is, you know, forget all this dignified pouring a pint and, you know, now you're going to meet some Irish dancing people.I think it should be more like the generation game and you should get them to, like, throw a pot or something.You know, I'm just all for really shaking it up.

That would be my showbiz recommendation.

I would like to see the King trying his hand at Irish dancing, actually.

Yeah, exactly, 100%.

Let's get into it.

And also, we have said in this programme before, they actually do quite enjoy things being shaken up.

They love it when things go wrong.

So I think they are perhaps guided because people think this is what they should be doing, shaking hands and cutting ribbons, but they're up for it if the King wants to start dancing.He wants to start dancing, so maybe more opportunities for dancing.

And that definitely wasn't in the programme because I heard them talking about it before and someone said, are they planning to do something?And I saw the age almost go white at the thought of them trying Irish dancing.He said, no, no, it's banging your drum.And I went, OK, well, fine.So when the King started doing all that, they were a bit like, oh, this wasn't in the script.

And you sense from the media as well, Richard, like there is sometimes a feeling we've seen this before.It's hard to get this paper in and, you know, get this, you know, get coverage for this.But actually, when the bird You know, Rebecca's video, That Bird Poo, has gone everywhere today.It's on front cover of papers that wouldn't have covered this story normally.

Exactly.I've had requests from, you know, television companies, you know, across Europe and around the world.saying, well, can we use your video?With the credit to the paper, we really love it.And of course, on the back of that, they've mentioned he was there visiting a food bank project.He was there at a community cinema highlighting what he wants to highlight.

So it's one of those no news is bad news scenarios, I think.

Yes, because that's the case, because there is very important stuff.The difficulty of news is the worthy stuff doesn't make right.

No, but I think what we've seen over the years is the King and Queen, they've always been happy to wear a silly hat or do something which will make a fun picture for the papers.So that's all part and parcel of it.So Alison, you might be on to something.

Maybe a job at the press office.More chaos, less Holwyl stuff.a job at the Palace Press Office awaits for Alison.Now, the King and Queen have also been very busy this week as they attended the preview of the Chelsea Flower Show, a huge event in the calendar here in the UK.Rebecca, unsurprising, you were there also.What did they make of it this year?

Well, they're really keen gardeners, so they're quite geeky.I mean, they're there, obviously, representing the Royal Horticultural Society who run the Chelsea Flower Show.But you can see they're really in their element.And obviously, the king made a beeline for his king's foundation.Curious Garden, which we're exhibiting at Chelsea, it's one of the show gardens, which he designed in conjunction with Francis Topp, who was the designer, but also Sir David Beckham and Alan Titchmoth, who's the Housewives' favourite in the UK.And you could see he was just so excited at the vision because he wants to encourage people of all ages shapes and sizes even those who don't have gardens to become interested in nature and the outdoors and so they had lots of fun quirky things and it was kind of almost like a window into the to the king's mind I thought.

Rebecca sorry Richard I was going to say there's a rather peculiar rule that was lifted for only the second time in Chelsea Flower Show's 130year history and the King took advantage of it.What am I talking about here?

This is garden gnomes.Now, I don't know if people have these in countries overseas, but there's a bit of a tradition of garden gnomes in Britain.And obviously they're frowned upon by serious gardeners.You know, they don't want these fripperies in their spectacular gardens.But the rules have been lifted, so they did have them.And so as part of the King's Foundation garden, there were some garden gnomes that had been decorated by members of the King's Foundation.

students working at the charity and then David Beckham who also helped design the garden brought his own ones which he insisted that I think he and Victoria when she wasn't you know creating clothes were decorating their own garden gnomes and it's all part of basically trying to make gardening fun and trying to appeal to people who might otherwise see gardening as something for the old fogies or a bit boring so it's all part of that and hopefully it's certainly got lots of attention.

And I noticed actually the King's name had a little crown on it, they'd painted a little crown onto his little pointy hat, so that was quite cute.

Very appropriate.Alison, we mentioned David Beckham there, he's a keen gardener.What have you made of the King's friendship?with the now Sir David.

Sir David.Yes, Sir David has been sucking up to the royal family for decades.Sort of starting in the outer reaches and let's remember daughter Harper's sixth birthday when there was that picture of her in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace.That was a favour from Fergie who was friends with Posh.The favour was executed by the former Duke of York.

Victoria was known as posh in those days.

Prince William and Prince Harry, David became friends with over various Olympic bids.so on.And he's kind of been working his way up the food chain, not putting a foot wrong, keeps on saying, we've always loved the food, you know, and all of this.And eventually he's got there, he's got his knighthood, he's got his K. As to how genuine of a friendship this is, is this a friendship like you have friends?No.But is it a friendly relationship?

Yes.And is it a benefit to both men?Yes.So fine.I think on that basis you can take it, but I wouldn't confuse it with what you and I would call a friendship.

Yes, he's not going to have him around for, you know, a beer in the garden and watching the footy together.

I don't know.They both like making honey.You know, they've got gardening.They've got a lot to talk about.Maybe it could be something blossoming.

The one thing I would say, I think a lot of people's opinion changed on David Beckham when they saw him in the queue to see the Queen's coffin to pay his respects.And he could have found a way, given who he was, to circumvent that.And he spent, what, seven, eight hours queuing?I think it was 17, actually.I know it was a long time.

And he had this tub of Pringles in his flat cap.

Bless him.

I mean, he did him masses of good.And he played it brilliantly because he didn't overstate it.

Yeah.And I remember him coming to one of the early functions in James's palace and I was chatting to him beforehand and he was like I'm actually really nervous like what do you say to the king and I said I'll just follow his lead and he'll put out his hand but you could see he was really genuinely quite nervous I think the admiration is there but yes it obviously helps with the public image as well.

Apparently I've heard that he's immaculate good manners he went to an event recently which was one of the King's events and he noticed a woman there didn't have a seat, didn't have a chair and he actually gave up his seat for someone in the audience, which was noted by one of the King's aides.So, I mean, everyone is a fan of David Beckham.

That's how a knight should behave, Alison.Chivalrous.

Chivalrous.I've only had more of them in my life.The first job I ever covered, because it was a bit of, you know,we see royalty day in and day out, so when there's someone new in showbiz we get quite buzzy because there's something new for us.And so I covered one of the first, I think the first job that he did, it just happened to be my turn to do it.And I actually put on the Royal Reporters, you know, we have a little kind of WhatsApp group, so right, this is what's happened, so we can inform our papers.

And I went, wonderful manners.So yes, that was my first reaction as well.

There you go, you've heard it here, and they're both doing lots of good stuff for horticulture and other charities too.It's the Prince and Princess of Wales and this week official documents revealed how much the rent the couple pay for their forever home, so -called Forest Lodge.Rebecca, after the so -called scandal of peppercorn rents, it seems they're paying quite a bit more for their place.

They are.So this is coming out through land registry documents and it's emerged that Prince and Princess of Wales are paying £300 ,000 a year rent for Forest Lodge.I mean, the Crown Estate always try to stress that every property is rented out on the equivalent of market value.rates, but there's been a lot of scepticism over that, and of course what we've seen in people like Andrew Mountbatten -Windsor, and also more recently with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh has emerged, they've kind of almost paid their rent up front, because they've paid for a lot of work to be done on the house that the Crown Estate would have otherwise paid for.But I think that has added to the sense of, you know, it's mates rates.and people have felt quite uncomfortable about it and questions have been asked in Parliament and rightly so and we are going to hear more about that in the coming months.

So I think it's a very definite move by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Kensington Palace to go on the front foot over this issue.

And there has also been suggestion in the past that although we say they get market rent, marketrates I should say, a lot of these properties are only really rentable to members of the Royal Family given their position and the security arrangements and everything going on around it.

Exactly, yeah and again they always make a point of saying that you know we do it on what market rates are but of course we couldn't actually put this out on the open market and that I do understand especially if it's within a security cordon but I think that puts the onus on them to be even more above board about what they're paying and how much it is and how they're paying it.

Richard, do you think there was a bit of response, do you think because there was so much stuff about what we heard about what Andrew, how little Andrew is paying, there's been questions over what Prince Edward's paid, do you think this is sort of in a way William getting ahead of it and getting, putting on the front foot as it were?

Yes, but I sort of never saw it as much of a scandal at all.I mean, we talk about, you know, oh, they should be paying more and, you know, all these questions being asked.But I didn't really have any truck with that, because if these members of the royal family are working royals and they're carrying out duties, I don't see a problem with them, you know, getting favourable rates for properties that otherwise probably wouldn't be rented out anyway.I mean, people are saying, you know, Edward and Sophie are not paying enough.They shouldn't be in this sort of stately home or whatever.But really, I mean, if they're, you know, carrying out a useful role, then that's the way it goes.

And not earning money elsewhere.

Yeah, that's one of the perks I guess of that role.I find it hard to become worked up about it.

Do you think this sort of disclosure, Alison, is a step in the right direction, a bit more transparency?

I do.I think that, and I take Richard's point, but I think there's a murky line between perk and a backhander and how it actually appears.And the best way to defuse criticism is actually to, you know, throw open the shutters and come out.I mean, this is not come out through actual openness, but through land registry.But, you know, but just to say we aren't doing anything on our own.and to actually explain the thinking behind it and if they decide to say listen we're going to let Edward and Sophie off and not have to pay very much well then just explain why.

They should just meet it.The problem is, so Prince William and Catherine can afford this vast amount, £300 ,000, because he receives a huge income from the Duchy of Cornwall.But then Edward and Sophie don't have that sort of income.And then it looks like, well, why are they living in a big property?So it makes it awkward for other members of the family, I would say.

Tricky one, we'll cover that of course as that develops as always.We mentioned, Richard just mentioned the Dutch EU of Cornwall there, Rebecca, quite big news out of that this week.Explain that to viewers.

I think this is fascinating.I don't think it's any coincidence that Prince William is in Cornwall this week and lo and behold the BBC have a very good story revealing that he is planning to sell off 20 % of Duchy assets over the next few years to raise 500 million pounds which he plans to invest back into affordable housing for people who are experiencing homelessness and other community projects.Now the reason why I think this is fascinating because this is one of the sticks that's always been used to beat members of the royal family over the years is how much money they get from estates like the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster and we've heard a lot from William over the years and from his staff saying He intends to do things differently.He wants to be royal with a small R. He's got a lot of changes up his sleeve.But every time we've pushed them, they've said, oh, it'll all come out in due course.We're not going to discuss it now.

And I think this is one of the first examples that we've seen.And this is William saying, look, I know I'm in a privileged position.I have this duchy that provides me with my personal income and my public income as Prince of Wales.But I don't believe, actually, someone should be able to own that.much and that I want to invest it back into things that I'm very passionate about.So I think that is really fascinating.

You could say that was a PR win Richard, not a big win.for the Prince this week happened in the football.Tell us about that.

Yeah, I've written about this in my Royal Column this week.Viewers can see the article on Mail Plus, which is about a surprising view of Prince William.Lots of people have said, oh, he's work shy, he doesn't put in the engagements that older members of the firm have.But here we have him, as soon as he can, taking radical action at the Duchy of Cornwall.And then you see his passion at the football.So he was at the Europa League final, cheering on Aston Villa, which is his team.

And they roared to a 3 -0 victory last night, so perhaps his support helped.He was doing a lot of roaring as well, judging by the photos.

He was, yeah.

And what was interesting was he'd invited a group of his old mates.They were there together.And one of them I barely recognised, because like all of us they're getting on a bit, and one of them was with his, it was Ed Van Cutsem actually, was with his 16 year old son.

So tell us about who, which of his friends were there?

Well there were quite a few, and Rebecca's helped with an article today where they've broken down who they all are, which is worth our viewers having a look at, because there's several of his old friends.And what it shows is that you know, he's still close to these old mates.And these were also very close to Prince Harry too.And Harry has lost these friends.I mean, in the case of the Van Cutsoms, he wrote in his memoirs about how Ed Van Cutsom's mother had rung him up to have a go at him after the Oprah Winfrey interview.You know, so these friends have stuck with William, but it's very sad that Harry has lost touch with them.

Well, that leads me nicely on to the next question I was going to ask, because a number of those people have of course been at his wedding, Prince Harry's wedding, to Meghan Markle eight years ago.They marked the occasion with the release of a new set of pictures.Rebecca, you were at St George's Chapel that day reporting on it.Do they bring back any memories?

None whatsoever.Because actually I wasn't at St George's Chapel on that day because, I don't know if I've ever told you this before, I carried through a God almighty strop.

Oh, he writes about it in his book.He made sure you were outside.

Yeah, absolute strop and said I'm not having any British media there at all.Look, it's his wedding, it's his choice, it's not what they tend to do normally, but you roll with the punches, but obviously Buckingham Palace were pulling their hair out over this because it's a big event, there's a lot of public money being paid for it and we're one of the ways of getting that information out there.So he eventually agreed to have one reporter from Press Association, which is a national organisation, but Buckingham Palace were like, we're getting you in by hook or by crook.So they got us all into Windsor Castle on the day, but we ended up in the living room of basically somebody who lives in the castle.this person literally scurrying around their cupboards in the kitchen looking for some like pork scratchings and some crisps to put out for us all to eat.So we were watching it on the TV, I mean literally within touching distance of what was happening in the chapel.

It was just utterly bizarre but then we did go out on the road that leads up from St George's Chapel to Windsor Castle.So we saw Harry and Meghan go past in the carriage and they were waving to us, clearly not realising who we were.But we saw all the celebs, the Cloonies and all the kind of the suits actors walking up.So we did get to see quite a lot.So it was funny when you say all their memories.Yeah, yeah.

Do you know what's so extraordinary about this and you say they released pictures, Megan released pictures clearly and you do wonder how much of a say Harry had in that.But it was their eighth wedding anniversary and I can understand maybe someone, not something I would do personally, but putting out a nice picture of them and going, oh yeah, the best decision I made in my life.Happy anniversary, love you forever.But it just went on and on and on.Yeah, she put out 24 pictures.Pictures, Instagram stories.

It made me think, if they're doing this for their eighth anniversary, what on earth are they going to do for a landmark?like the 10th.There were a few suggestions I heard being made and I hope none of those happened.It was so OTT and as a journalist my instinct is if someone's making such a big fuss about something like that, which is I don't mean to be you know, dismissive but was relatively insignificant.As a journalist your hackles go up and it tends to think there's actually another story to be written.I just don't know what their story is at the moment.

But do you remember what they did for their seventh wedding anniversary?

I forget.

It's hard to keep up.Megan posted one picture of a cork board, which was a kind of mood board of how in love they are, including baby scans and whatever.And everyone went, oh, past the sick bag.But this year, it's so different.I wonder why.Can I direct your attention to a very nice candle?

called 519 which is the Americans as you know reverse the date and that's their wedding date and it's though they've released an anniversary candle and I can't help now.You're such a cynic Alison.I'm a horrible horrible person.Call me a horrible person but I fear that this huge candid photo dump was intended to funnel people because this year they really have to make some money.This is the year when her brand has to really work, otherwise all wheels come off.And I think that is the difference between the seventh anniversary and the eighth, both equally kind of insignificant.

But this one, We're funnelling.So let's be clear, this wedding was such a private, intimate event that they couldn't allow the reporters from British newspapers into the chapel.Were people not also told to hand their phones over?

Am I right in remembering that?

Certainly for the reception.

Yes.

But then it's an event to put out 24 pictures on the 8th anniversary.

But then she's always argued it's my decision to do that.It shouldn't be your decision.And I always remember infamously from the interview that she gave, she said, it's like having a co -worker saying to you, you've got one picture on your table of your children.That gives me the right to ask for every picture of your children.But of course, no one's asking them forever.every picture.

But the British taxpayers didn't have a choice about paying literally millions to fund all the security and the policing for the public event of their wedding.

Absolutely, yeah, I would agree.

Am I not right in thinking that Meghan has expressed subsequently that she didn't really enjoy the wedding day?

Which wedding are we talking about?Because obviously the wedding that was significant for her was the backyard wedding.With the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Wedding in inverted commas.

Candle's not called 17 -5.Just saying.

She said there was so much hoopla around the wedding and they felt it was being taken away from them.that's why they got married in their backyard just by the Archbishop of Canterbury.I can tell you now there was absolute panic in the Archbishop's press office because that was illegal.

I suspect what we can look forward to at some point is a renewal of the vows ceremony.As you often getwith celebrities seeking a bit more publicity.

Maybe that's what they'll be doing for the 10th?10th maybe, yeah.

Well that's something to think about.Now those of you who read the Daily Mail will know that Alison has some extraordinary insight into Sussex's new life in America, the many A -list celebrities who attended their wedding in 2018 that they now seem to have no longer see so often.More on that one after the comments.Do stick around for that.Should be a very interesting chat.First up, though, we have a very topical question from Rita, who asked, Do you think Harry and Meghan watch your palace confidential show?

Rebecca, what do you think?

I have no idea, but suspect they would prefer to stick needles in their eyeballs.

Well, you say that, but we know for a fact that Prince Harry took such an interest in articles about himself, he'd sit there Googling himself.

That is true.

And he would even read the comments by readers beneath the articles.

He told me that himself, yeah.

As we speak now, he will be watching in a few hours' time in California.

And you know...

He might send you some socks, Richard.

Well, we're going to get on to those in just a minute, because they are a very handsome pair today.We have of course heard reports of senior members of the Royal Family watching this programme and we do know that there are staff in the Palace, hello to all them, who watch us every week, so who knows, watch this space, maybe we'll hear from him that he has enjoyed an episode.

Well they're welcome to attend our live event.As long as they pay for their tickets.Welcome to come for a chat.

Any time they like.A door's always open.Any member of the Royal Family who wants to come on and tell us about what they're up to, we're always welcome to talk to.They're always welcome to come and ask us.We're going to move on now to...Oh, Palace Fashion.

That went out this week.That was a lovely episode.That is a Harry Free episode, we should say.Penelope Kenyon watched it and she commented, such a wonderful show.Sophie has really rocked it with her beautiful outfit.Can't wait for the next episode.

Yes, that was florals and spring dressing.It was really, really nice watch.Daryl Clifford also tuned in and said, how about a show focusing on the royal ladies and their wild, wonderful, outrageous, fantastic, over the top and spectacular hats?That, Daryl, is a great idea and one we may have already discussed.All I can say is stay tuned for the next batch of Palace Fashion episodes that we're hoping to put out over the summer.And we can't say too much, but we did go and film something recently with some rather extravagant hats, didn't we?

We did, yeah.

So watch the channel over the next few days because there's an exciting video to come.Speaking you mentioned the Palace Live event just a reminder 9th of June this year 2026 details below in the description below if you want to come the summer is looking very exciting.Now for the results of this week's poll after Princess Catherine's very successful trip to Reggio Emilia we asked should the Princess of Wales undertake more overseas visits and you most certainly replied in your thousands 35 percent of you said yes While just 7 % of you voted no.But the majority, 58%, said yes with the stipulation that she should undertake overseas visits only if she feels well enough.What a reasonable bunch you all are.If you want to take part in next week's poll, sign up for the Palace Confidential newsletter by scanning the QR code on screen now.

All you have to do is open the camera app, as I said earlier, point it at that QR code and a link should appear.click that link and you'll be asked to enter your email.It's free and comes out once a week and it's always a very good read featuring some of our best royal writers.If of course you're watching on your phone, click the link in the description below.It really is that easy.

Luke, I would add actually, as a little tidbit for our viewers,who did take part in the poll I spoke to someone on the basis of it this week who's very close to them and said are there any trips coming up?that she might attend and they said I think it's more likely now that she will join William in India in November.So I will be hugely looking forward to that if that happens.

We all will be.You heard it here first.Any viewers in India, of course, let us know your thoughts on that.We'd love to hear what you have to say about that.

Palace Confidential in India?

Bit harder.Good fun though, wouldn't it?

Oh, it would be good fun.I'll definitely be there, so you're welcome to join me.Well, there we go.

One more comment before we get back to the Sussexes and what people are calling a social divorce.Don't Start Nothing Won't Be Nothing writes, yep, that's the name they're using on YouTube, thank you for another marvellous episode, with the Swedish flag there.I love that Richard Eden was gifted socks by the lovely lady in Vancouver.We just can't get enough of anything Richard Eden.

Try working with him!

I should say now that recently Richard Eden has looked a little happier each time the morning mail arrives here in Kensington.That's because a few of you kind viewers have been sending him socks.Let's get into this week's Sock Watch.Richard, what are you wearing and who sent them?

Yes, these were a gift sent to me by Peggy Sue Rockall from West Virginia.So I'm very grateful.They're very exciting socks, as you'll see, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.The semi -quincentennial, I think they were calling it.Something we shouldn't...

Well done, I couldn't remember that, Luke.Every time I went to say it, I forgot that word.

We shouldn't really be celebrating on Palace Confidential, the Royalist programme, but we do.So, yeah, thank you very much for these exciting socks.

They are.They're very handsome.I mean, I know people always comment on all of our socks, and you may notice today, Rebecca's and my outfits match.also Richard's tie as well, we've got a little theme going on here, unplanned entirely.Thank you though, again, to Peggy Searockle of West Virginia.Can't wait to see what pops up in the post soon.

I have a bit of advanced knowledge that there are more socks incoming.He does love getting them.We've had a couple from America now.Any more from the realms, we'd love to see.See what else he can sport here on this show.

You can tick off every Commonwealth country, can't you?

Yeah, that would be good, wouldn't it?You're very receptive to socks, aren't you?Very much so.

Poor Richard, it'll be knitted hats or something next.

I'm sure you could wear the hat in the studio, but out and reporting.Or a tie, maybe.A knitted tie?It's alright, I'm not a charity case.I can buy my own clothes.You're our viewers' plaything.

We love it.Don't let anything he says stop you.Now earlier we just discussed the PR drive from the Sussexes to mark their 8th wedding anniversary.Alison, we also saw claims this week that a certain family photo means a Meghan fashion line.is imminent.What do you read into that?

Yes, this was the picture of Meghan on the eve of her visit to Geneva, in her, what the Americans called closet, big walk -in wardrobe, all very sort of slightly dated pine, with a huge rack of designer clothes behind her.Very prominently displayed in the front was the Giorgio Armani, very nice black suit with gold buttons, which she wore in Geneva the next day.And the daughter, Lilibet, was sitting at her feet, but with her face turned away.And people said, oh, this is a sign that Meghan wants to launch a fashion brand.I have to say, I think that's incredibly unlikely because the money it takes to launch a fashion brand is huge.She is moving into the fashion space with this collaboration with One Off.

which basically lots of influencers and stylists and people do where you put your outfit up on a website and when you can click through as a punter to buy it and then a percentage of that sale goes back to the website and a percentage of the website's funds get funneled back to the influencer.So this is Megan the influencer again, I don't think this is Megan the fashion designer.

And it's not for this this fashion thing which is now pretty standard practice in the industry if you're an influencer online.it was something else she was accused of hypocrisy wasn't it Richard?

Well that's because she's featuring her daughter Lilibet as we know named after the pet name for Queen Elizabeth that family name and she features more and more in these Instagram posts by Megan often when there is something to promote it is a commercial account it was launched to promote Megan's brand we don't see Lily's face, but we see different angles.You can see she's growing up.You see her red hair and this type of thing.And she featured in this post.But what was particularly relevant about this one was that Meghan was going to Geneva for an event to publicise harms caused to children by online and by online companies and the neglect that they've allegedly shown.I mean, personally, I find something slightly repulsive about the way that they're using their children for commercial gain, which, to me, they are.

I mean, this insistence on using the prince and princess titles when they're in America, the great egalitarian country, seems ridiculous.We've had Megan talking about how, in the future, she could launch a business with her daughter.And to me, it just seems the real commercialization of their children.And like I say, I find it slightly disturbing.

Because Rebecca, an obvious answer is just don't post them in the pictures.Is that being too simplistic there?

No, no, exactly.I think, you know, we discussed this on the programme the other week.Parents make a choice about how they present their children on social media.I choose as a parent not to do it at all, not even in a private capacity.That's my choice.But I think if you are going to do it, then you say, look, this is my child.

I'm showing you the world.And they're happy to.And it's this whole kind of slightly coy nature of just the back of the head or the side of the head, which we've seen, of course, We've seen that boundary pushed, haven't we, quite a lot over the years.You know, it was only a foot at first or a hand.Now we're seeing them, we hear their voices quite a lot.We see the sides of their faces.

And I'm with Richard on this.I can't help but think this is quite naked commercialism because those children have been given prince and princess titles when they didn't.The parents could have chosen not to have them and to say, look, you know, we have respect for their They're history, but we want our children to have a very different life to the one that Harry had when he was growing up.But no, they've not chosen that.They've chosen to take those titles.And I think it's this whole part of this unique selling point for them as a family.

And I think a lot of people will feel uncomfortable with that.

And I should say, each time we discuss this, people say, yes, but what about William and Catherine's children?We see regular photos of them when it's their birthdays or so forth.But that is different because they are, you know, being born into the royal family and that's part of it.It's not for commercial purposes, which is what's happening with Archie and with Lily.

And it's more infrequent, isn't it?Sorry.No, I was going to say, you're absolutely right.

It's less frequent and it's more, it feels quite controlled as well, doesn't it?

Well, we're certainly seeing it regularly, whereas with William and Catherine's children, it might be each year on their birthday or you'll see them at a major royal event.Yes, at a major royal event.With Harry and Meghan's children, they're featuring incrediblyregularly, aren't they?

Seems to, actually, every week.Yeah, it does.

Yeah, it's a lot.And it often coincides with the new product.

And I just wonder, I can see this fits for Meghan.She was an influencer, let's remember, before she even met Harry.She was making her way as an influencer.This is the influencer way.I can see this is part of her culture.But for someone like Harry, who's spoken, sincerely and movingly about feeling exploited by his family as a child, I just don't understand where that sits with him and how they have squared that circle as a couple.

You know, if they're in agreement about it or not.

I suspect that's why we don't see their faces.because they probably have these discussions.Maybe that's the compromise they've made.Who knows?

Perhaps, but it's very threadbare, isn't it?I was saying to you earlier, it's a bit like grandmother's footsteps where you feel that Harry's turning round to the wall and when his back's turned, Meghan advances three steps and then she goes, no, that's far enough.

I'm sorry, this might be controversial, but I would argue that it's actually worse in some ways than if they did show their faces.Because what you're seeing is it creates that interest, doesn't it?

It's a tease.

It's a tease, you know.see her hair, you can see her back, and so it makes more, when they are finally revealed, their faces, they'll be massive as a story because you're creating that interest.

It's quite unsettling to think about really.Alison, I wanted to come back to you in the fascinating piece that I mentioned a little earlier, how you wrote that the Sussexes in the Daily Mail, you wrote the Sussexes have become divorced, socially divorced, from the A -listers who were at that wedding we were talking about a little earlier on.You quote a source who says, no one wants to hang out with Megan.Strong words.

Yeah, well, yes.Yeah.So I mean, it's interesting, isn't it?I think we actually that article was last Saturday.I think actually from the photo dump of the wedding I think just sort of wrapped it all up with a bow rather because the only famous person from the wedding who was posted in a picture was Elton John who is I think the only person who I said in that article has an existing relationship with them, only famous person from that wedding who has a relationship with them still and in fact that is as described to me by a good source that's a Harry relationship.Okay, so that's Elton's bond with Harry.

But the rest of them, your Oprahs and your Cloonies, your Idris Elba, they are all Team King.And they have all been out at, well, not Oprah, but at King's Trust events and so on.Oprah, that was always just, she didn't know them before the wedding.She always was hanging in there because she wanted to get the interview.She got the interview.you haven't seen her with them since.

You also, you mentioned that piece, the three D's that Oprah could be hanging out for, you know, hanging on for, I should say.Tell us about that.

Well, she's no fool, right?So, you know, if there is a, you know, a divorce or a drama or a death, suddenly the currency of a sit down chat with Harry and Meghan, you know, you think, oh, good heavens, they've done it.You know, they've done that.book, they've done their Oprah chat, they've done Harry and Meghan, but actually if there is one of the three D's, they are suddenly hot currency again.So of course Oprah would want to get an interview again.

I'll never forget seeing Oprah, you know, in St George's Chapel.You remember that she was seated in the choir at St George's Chapel, literally opposite the royal family.Amazing, you know, pews she'd been given there.

They didn't have any family of their own to put in.

No, I suppose.And I think she had never met.Harry, had she, before that day?

No, no.I don't think she met Megan.Her mother...Megan's mother, Doria, had been round for kumquats and yoga on Oprah's lawn, Oprah later explained.in the run up to the wedding.But I think they had spoken, but they hadn't met.

Wow.Kumquats and yoga?That's an image, isn't it?

I have to say, as soon as I see Alison's name on one of these stories, I always pick up and read it, because no one is better plumbed in.

Sorry, I'm revealing my ignorance here.What is a kumquat?It's a type of fruit.

It's a fruit that grows in California.Richard and I go to Montecito and I'm gonna teach Richard what a kumquat is, and I'm going to get him clued into Hollywood society.

We could have him eating terrible things again, like I'm a celebrity.And the title will be, Alison and Richard Kumquat May.You sold me.

That's so awfully brilliant.

I did want to ask you, Rebecca.It's an interesting thing about the celebrity friendships.We talked a bit earlier, Richard, about the friendship.People who were friends with Harry at the football, they're not there.This is a pattern we've seen before.They shed people rather than pull them together.

Is that a fair thing to say or am I being harsh?

No, I think it's fair and that applies to the people who worked for him, the people who supported them.as well as people who were considered friends.You know, they're like a candle kind of guttering the wind and suddenly they're on to the next thing.And this is something that Megan has been accused of throughout her life, is shedding friends once they've served their purpose.Less so with Harry, but the trouble is the way he has behaved in recent years has caused a lot of people, and I won't mention them by name, but one very close friend, who served in the military and he was very, very angry about what Harry did because they said, you know, in the military, I was willing to lay down my life for Queen and country.for his grandmother.

And yet everything he's done has, since leaving the royal family, has been to undermine that, regardless of what he said about her.So I know there's some people who feel incredibly let down by her, but also by him.

Well, look, one we could talk about more and more, but we have to move on to Robert Hardman now, because despite all the noise from Montecito recently, the King, as we said earlier, continues to dominate the headlines, not just for bird poo on his jacket, for all the other things he and the Queen are doing.Here is the male's Robert Hardman to explain why he thinks we should take a moment to recognise the fact that King Charles has a deserved spring in his step.

The King is on a roll.Charles III is really at the height of his powers at the moment.We've had an extraordinary run of events, notably, of course, the great state visit to Washington, which totally reset the dial on the transatlantic relationship.As well as that, the king's been marking the 50th anniversary of the king's coronation.Trust, of course, better known as the Prince's Trust, when you think about it, he started it with the contents of his pension when he left the Royal Navy in 1976.It's now the biggest charity for young people in the UK, and it goes from strength to strength.

I was with him just the other day when he went up to North London to visit the Jewish community in Golders Green, a very beleaguered, part of London where people really do feel very vulnerable at the moment.His visit completely transformed the mood.The streets were rammed with very little notice.Everyone just descended to see him.He's in Northern Ireland as we speak.Once again, huge crowds coming out.

I think what we found is that, I mean, it doesn't come as a surprise to those of us who've been following him for years, but I think a lot of the wider public now realise that he's not just, if you like, Apprentice King, a new head of state.This is someone who is really one of the mostaccomplished figures on the world stage.He did, of course, start touring the world as a public figure over 50 years ago.His first visit to the White House, actually, was in 1970.So he does know what he's doing.

But I think as we enter this rather fractured summer, the nation in political chaos, turmoil around the world, I think people find there is something very reassuring, rather steadying about having at the helm, someone who gets on with it, cheerful, waves, right turn of phrase, completely unflappable.And that's why we all say, God save the King.

Robert Hardman there.A reminder that he'll be one of those joining us for the Palace Confidential live event that I mentioned earlier in the show.Tickets for that in the description below.We're going to turn now to another royal trying to make an honest buck, albeit in a much more down -to -earth job.Rebecca, who am I talking about?

Lady Louise Mountbatten -Windsor and good on her she suddenly turned up much to everyone's surprise at the Royal Windsor Horse Show working I suppose as a kind of guest liaison officer, and we scored pictures of her showing people around, including her own mother and father, showing them where to sit and where to go, and the organiser said, yep, it's a paid job.And I think, you know, she's obviously just finishing university, she's got a bit of time on her hands, as term's ended, so why not go out and earn some money?I think good on her.

Absolutely.Richard, this isn't her first ordinary job, is it?No, it's interesting.She's previously worked at a garden centre.And this is someone who, by the way, since she turned 18, could style herself Princess Louise.She's got the legal right to do so, but hasn't done, you know, unlike some children who'd be given those titles across the water.

But no, Louise is clearly very down to earth.I've loved seeing the pictures of her doing her carriage driving, which she, you know, was inspired by.by Prince Philip to do.So I look forward to learning more about what she does next with her life.

It's a very simple decision on her parents behalf that they wanted their children to find their own path in life and that maybe there will come a time, and they've spoken about this openly, particularly Sophie, maybe there's a time she would like to embrace that more, but she wants her children to have a kind of unfettered childhood and to make these decisions for themselves and I think what we're seeing from them is actually that's probably been the right decision in their case, because we're seeing two lovely, unaffected and trouble -free young children, Louise and her brother James, growing up there.So I think, you know, their parenting style is to be applauded on this.

I know we've been asked, Pete, we've been asked that in the comments before, so glad we could ask that.I could ask Rebecca that.Right.Regular viewers will know that sound as the fanfare to herald an unsung hero in or around the Royals.Rebecca, an extremely poignant nomination this week, isn't it?

Incredibly sad.Keira Sullivan, who is a member of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who was performing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in one of the displays they do in the evening.Very tragically, she fell off her horse as she left the arena.and died as a result of her injuries.The King was actually there on the night but obviously didn't see it, was unaware, but Buckingham Palace put out a statement expressing their huge sympathies in connection with the incident.I think everyone's thoughts go out, she was a young woman, to her and to her surviving family.

It is really desperately sad news and we send our best wishes to the family and friends of Keira Sullivan.This news may just reflect a bit on the role that the military play in royal ceremonies here in the UK because frankly they would be nothing without the skills, sounds and styles of the men and women in uniform.So here are some photographs of them in one of our montages which highlight the role that they play.True unsung royal heroes there.That's all from us.A huge thank you to Rebecca, Richard and Alison for joining me in the studio today and for you at home for watching.

We'll see you next time.Goodbye.