Royal family June 2 recap: King Charles' brand new car, Prince William returns to royal duties, and more

Welcome back for another week of royal watching. 

The Prince of Wales is set to return to his royal duties after enjoying the May half-term break with Princess Kate and their three children. William will visit the Army Air Corps in Suffolk on Wednesday for the first time in his capacity as the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief. 

The King officially handed over the role to his son and heir at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop in May 2024. The Prince of Wales will also travel to Monaco on Sunday to join Prince Albert of Monaco at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF).

On today's agenda, the Duchess of Edinburgh will attend an afternoon tea honouring Women of Distinction in the UK at the Castle Hotel in Windsor.

Not much happened over the weekend with the royal family - but we did see King Charles making his way to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham for a service. The monarch was not accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, who usually likes to spend time at her Ray Mill House in Wiltshire.

See the photos of Charles here and happy Monday!

It's Monday which means a new issue of HELLO! magazine is out on newsstands. This week we have a great report concerning the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson's daughter's Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Beatrice and Eugenie have always shared a close bond, supporting each other and, more recently, the wider royal family, including their uncle the King. Although they aren’t currently working royals, a royal expert suggests that could change when Prince William becomes King. 

Read all about it in our exclusive report, and don’t forget to pick up this week’s issue for the full story and more exclusives.

In case you missed it last Friday, I wanted to reshare the news that - for the first time in years - the royal family has released their official gift list. King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and others have received some incredible gifts from royals, dignitaries and people around the word.

The newly published records cover gifts received between 2020 and 2023. They include everything from toiletries and bottles of alcohol to pairs of cufflinks - but what really caught our eye was the £355,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II King of Bahrain.

Read all about it here.

Sir Christopher Airy, former aide to King Charles and Princess Diana, has died at 91. A decorated soldier, he briefly served the royals but stepped down within a year. So, what happened? Click here to find out.

© Jenny Goodall/ANL/Shutterstock

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, King Charles' equerry, reportedly married PR executive Olivia Lewis last Saturday. The wedding was said to have taken place at St Mary's Church in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire. 

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The ceremony was followed by a lunch and reception at the bride's parents' home.  Johnny and Olivia's engagement was announced in The Times in October 2024 with an announcement that read: "The engagement is announced between Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, son of Mr and Mrs Alan Thompson of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Olivia Rose, daughter of Mr and Mrs Simon Lewis OBE of Primrose Hill, London." 

Lieutenant Thompson has been widely known as the "hot equerry" since gaining public attention in 2018 while assisting the late Queen.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium showcased her elegant style at the Queen Elizabeth Piano Competition, donning a stunning gold sequin Natan dress with coordinating accessories. She was accompanied by her daughter, Princess Eleanore, who also impressed in a blue Grecian-inspired gown.  Every year, Queen Mathilde attends numerous events for the international competition, which is aimed at musicians, classical violinists, pianists, singers, and cellists early in their careers. 

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Earlier in the competition, Princess Elisabeth joined her mother, opting for a chic black Rebecca Vallance dress. The Australian label is a favourite among royal ladies, including Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice.

In case you missed it, Crown Prince Hussein and Crown Princess Rajwa celebrated a special milestone this weekend as they marked their second wedding anniversary. 

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The Jordanian royal couple got married on 1 June 2023 at Zahran Palace in Amman. The princess, now 31, wore two beautiful designer gowns - the first by Elie Saab with a high neckline and long sleeves, and the second by Dolce & Gabbana with a full skirt and floral detailing. Rajwa also wore an ornate tiara. Since tying the knot, they have welcomed their first child, a daughter named Princess Iman, in February.

Sarah, the Duchess of York has shared a new video from her time in Peru. The mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, 65, has been working with Misión Huascarán and she spoke about their work in creating a library. "I think all children should be given the right to an education," Sarah said.

It was so wonderful to see @misionhuascaranperu at work in Áncash," she said on social media afterward. "This remarkable initiative supports rural communities through education, health, and nutrition - and the new community library stands as a shining example of its impact. It isn’t simply a building; it’s a safe, inspiring space where children can dream, learn, and shape their futures."

Prince Harry asked his late mother Princess Diana’s brother about changing his family name to Spencer, according to new reports.  Prince Harry is said to have sought advice from his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer,  about whether to assume his mother’s surname following his stepping down from senior royal duties during a recent visit to the UK.

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The name change would have meant dropping his current family name, Mountbatten-Windsor, which was given to the children he shares with his wife, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three. 

Harry, 40, was reportedly advised against the move by the Earl, 61, because of the legal hurdles.

For serious style inspo, take Lady Amelia Spencer's look she shared on social media this weekend. 

Prince William's cousin was a vision in a striking scarlet outfit that everyone missed from her recent trip to Cannes for the iconic film fest. Her Guilia Gurman ensemble featured a corset top and full skirt and was teamed with a statement necklace. "Red suits you so so well," one follower wrote, while another penned: "Like a fairytale!". It followed Amelia's appearance on the red carpet for La Venue de l'Avenir alongside her twin sister, Lady Eliza.

The Princess of Wales has an incredible shoe collection, but it is her party heels that keep her fashion fans on their toes. 

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

We have compiled the photos showcasing her best looks featuring killer heels, from her teal suede Emmy London pumps from when she went to an event to present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in 2022 to the ultra-sparkly silver and blue pair of Jimmy Choo heels that quite literally twinkled as she walked into a gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week at Phillips Gallery in 2019.

In a moment we all forgot from Prince Harry's 2023 memoir Spare, even his closest confidantes, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were caught off guard by the news he was dating his now wife, Meghan Markle. 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

According to Harry, William and Kate had already sensed that "something was going on" when he joined them for dinner one evening. When Harry revealed that it was actress Meghan he was dating, he revealed that William, who he says was a Suits fan, had a colourful reaction. "Their mouths fell open," Harry said before Prince William turned to his younger brother and exclaimed: "'[Explicit] off?'"

"All this time I'd thought Willy and Kate might not welcome Meg into the family, but now I had to worry about them hounding her for an autograph," he added. 

King Felipe of Spain has presided over the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Elcano Institute of International and Strategic Studies at the Royal Palace of El Pardo.

The Elcano Royal Institute of International and Strategic Studies, established in 2001, under the Honorary Presidency of His Majesty the King was created to serve as a forum for analysis and discussion of current international affairs, and particularly of Spain's international relations.  The Board of Trustees meets twice a year and exercises the broadest powers of representation, governance, and administration of the Elcano Royal Institute.

One of our favourite facts about eco-warrior King Charles is that his beloved Aston Martin runs on wine and cheese. However, it seems the royal has ditched his 55-year-old vehicle in favour of a brand new electric car. 

On Sunday, Charles was spotted using his new electric BMW as he travelled to church on his Sandringham estate. The state-of-the-art vehicle retails for a whopping £170,000 and is thought to boast a 341-mile range on a single battery.

Did you know that the monarch was an early lover of e-vehicles? The royals first embraced all-electric cars back in 2018 when Charles purchased an EV400 HSE Jaguar I-Pace.  

It comes as no surprise since the late Queen Elizabeth II's son has dedicated his life to campaigning for the environment. Find out all about his amazing eco credentials in our in-depth feature.

It has been quite the year for King Charles, who continues to be treated for cancer while maintaining a workload that would be enough to test a young person in peak health, last week’s whirlwind trip to Canada a case in point. The feeling that King Charles may need to take things slowly is one shared both by The HELLO! Royal Club’s Millie Jackson and 61 per cent of club members – but what’s the view of the medical profession?

Millie spoke to Ade Williams MBE, pharmacist and ambassador for Pancreatic Cancer Action, who revealed:The oft-overlooked but vital part of cancer recoveryThe approach the King’s counsel of medical advisers are takingThe importance of the King’s openness about his diagnosis.

Read the full article over on The HELLO! Royal Club

King Charles is set to carry out an engagement in Wiltshire on Friday. In his role as Captain General, the monarch will make his first visit to the Royal Regiment of Artillery, meeting some of the personnel from the 21 regiments that form up the Royal Regiment. 

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During his visit, Charles will meet the Senior Leadership Team to learn about the soldiers, their training and their work. He will also hear about the heritage of the Royal Regiment, before touring a series of equipment stands that showcase the breadth of the 'Find and Strike' capabilities with which the Royal Regiment is equipped.

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We were checking out the fashion archives and noticed this fabulous maternity look the Duchess of Edinburgh wore to Ascot in 2007.

Her choice of a Louis Vuitton handbag, emblazoned with the label's renowned monogram, stood out due to the unofficial royal guidance favoring subtlety in branding.

Sophie's decision to carry this recognisable piece will go down in fashion history, paving the way for style trailblazers to come! 

Butter yellow is having its moment in the spotlight... The creamy hue has fast become the go-to colour of the season, and to be honest, we're not mad! 

If you're hankering after some style inspo, Princess Kate's sister Pippa Middleton served up a slice of sartorial perfection back in 2019 as she attended Wimbledon. Embracing the sunshine, Pippa slipped into a seriously chic lemon-hued dress by Ganni, complete with timeless polka dots (another key trend for the summer months...). Swoon! 

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That's all the royal content we have for you for Monday, June 2. Check back in tomorrow for Tuesday, June 3rd's live blog for more of our daily royal coverage!