Royal family news for 16 June: Princess Anne pushes boundaries, Garter Day recap, and more

As we were all peacefully sleeping last night - well, at least I was - a new video from Montecito quietly dropped on Instagram: a gorgeous Father's Day tribute from Meghan Markle to Prince Harry. The video captures the Duke of Sussex in full dad mode - reading to the kids, teaching Archie how to ride a bike, and running along the beach. 

There’s even a glimpse of how they celebrated the day at home. See the video here.

Garter Day is finally here, and we’re buzzing with excitement! The King, Queen Camilla, and other royal family members will walk in procession to St George's Chapel for the annual Order of the Garter service, then head back to the Castle by carriage. 

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If you're wondering what it’s all about, the Order was founded nearly 700 years ago by Edward III and is Britain's oldest and most prestigious chivalric order. Last year, in 2024, The Duchess of Gloucester, Lord Peach, Lord Kakkar, and Lord Lloyd-Webber were honoured as new members.

As we shared on Instagram this past Saturday, the magazine stayed open an extra day this week to bring you the very best coverage of Trooping the Colour. 

And now, we’re excited to reveal the cover of our brand new issue - out now! Don’t miss out - grab your copy today and dive into all the royal pageantry and celebrations.

It'’s shaping up to be a spectacular week in the royal calendar! With the glamour of Royal Ascot and the tradition of Garter Day, there's no shortage of pomp, ceremony, and of course - fashion.

Trooping the Colour may have marked the King’s official birthday, but the excitement is far from over: Garter Day at Windsor Castle promises its usual display of medieval pageantry — though as you rightly noted, those velvet robes and plumed hats could be quite the challenge in the heat. Expect to see senior royals, including the King, Queen, and most likely the Prince and Princess of Wales participating in the procession and service at St George’s Chapel.

Then, of course, Royal Ascot gallops in with five days of thrilling racing and high fashion, starting from Tuesday 17 June. The dress code may be strict, but the creativity within those guidelines - especially among the ladies - never disappoints. All eyes will be on the Royal Enclosure to see which royals attend and what designers they choose.

Let's kick the blog off and see what it brings!

In case you missed it, the Danish royal palace shared behind-the-scenes snaps of King Frederik and Queen Mary onboard the Royal Ship Dannebrog - which they sailed on for their three-day visit to the Faroe Islands last week.

The vessel was commissioned between 1931 and 1932 as a replacement for an 1879 paddle steamer also known as Dannebrog.

The ship includes bedrooms, a dining room, a lounge and offices for the King and Queen, as well as crew quarters. It also features furniture and fittings from the previous 1879 vessel.

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Princess Eugenie doesn't often give us a peek inside the family home she shares with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their two boys, August and Ernest.

But this past Sunday was an exception! Eugenie shared a glimpse of her home office while on a video call to mark Scoliosis Awareness Month 2025.

Things we loved seeing on her shelves:

• Sweet family photos of her, Jack and the boys
• Towering stacks of art books, a nod to her degree in English Literature and History of Art at Newcastle University, and career as director of swanky Hauser & Wirth art gallery in London
• A candle - she's just like us! 

© PA Images via Getty Images

Did you notice the way Prince Louis broke with tradition at Trooping the Colour on Saturday? The young royal wore trousers at the event for the very first time.

You might remember he's always been in shorts and knee-high socks before, as royal tradition dictates that boys must wear shorts until they hit eight years old.

Why the sudden change for seven-year-old Louis? Our Royal Correspondent, Danielle Stacey, is here to tell us all about it.

We're still reflecting on the incredible moments from Trooping the Colour, and we've spotted a particularly sweet interaction between the Princess of Wales and the Duke of Kent, who turns 90 later this year. Click here to see the photo!

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This week is a favourite for the Tindalls — Ascot week! We all know how much Zara loves the event, and how her husband Mike has truly embraced it since they tied the knot. (Remember when he made the late Queen laugh with his infamous tiny hat?)

But the Tindalls have another special reason to celebrate this week — and it’s away from the racecourse. Their daughter Lena turns seven on Wednesday!

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In a touching new Father's Day montage shared by Meghan, Prince Harry is seen embracing one of parenthood’s most memorable milestones — teaching Prince Archie to ride a bike.

© Instagram / @meghan

Filmed at the family’s home in Montecito, the clip shows Harry running alongside a determined Archie, one hand gently steadying his little boy as he pedals down a leafy path. With a mix of care and encouragement, the Duke lets go — and Archie confidently cycles off on his own.

It's a sweet moment — and a must-watch. See the video here.

It’s a big week for two royal couples who are celebrating wedding anniversaries!

On Thursday, Prince Edward and Sophie will mark their 26th wedding anniversary, while over in Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel will be celebrating 15 years of marriage.

Two milestones, one royal-filled week of love!

© Torsten Laursen

It’s set to be quite the week for the Waleses! Fresh from taking part in the Trooping the Colour parade and publicly marking Father’s Day with the sweetest family photos, the couple are expected to attend Garter Day at Windsor Castle.

But it doesn’t stop there! With a possible appearance at Royal Ascot, their schedule is already packed — and the weekend brings even more.

There will be double festivities at the Middleton household as Saturday marks not only the first day of summer, but also Prince William's 43rd birthday and Carole and Michael Middleton’s wedding anniversary!

With London's current heatwave expected to continue into the weekend, could a celebratory BBQ be on the cards?

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Will she? Won’t she? We’ll find out tomorrow!

Emma Grede — co-founder of Good American with Khloé Kardashian and host of a popular podcast — has been teasing a very special guest for weeks.

Now, fans are convinced it’s Meghan Markle, and that she might be spilling the tea in a brand-new episode dropping this week.

What do you think? Watch the teaser video and judge for yourself...

On Sunday, Prince Harry marked Germany's first-ever Veterans Day by releasing a video message filmed at his Montecito home.

Opening with a warm “Guten Tag, Deutschland!”, Harry shared a heartfelt tribute to veterans, reflecting on his last visit to Düsseldorf for the Invictus Games, which he described as unforgettable.

In the powerful speech, he honoured the Bundeswehr for their service, spoke of the global bond between veterans, and called them leaders, not just warriors — praising their resilience, courage, and dedication to peace over conflict.

He also highlighted Germany's role in promoting unity, accountability, and peace in Europe, ending with a call to renew the collective commitment to freedom and democracy.

Watch the full video here.

Garter Day is here, and our Royal Editor Emily Nash is at Windsor, watching it all unfold! Here’s what she’s told us:

“The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh have just been dropped off at the Galilee Porch to watch the procession — there was a ripple of applause from the crowd.

We’re now listening to the military band playing as we wait for the Knights and Ladies of the Garter to walk down Castle Hill in procession to St George’s Chapel, dressed in their velvet robes and feathered caps.

It’s 25 degrees — and feels even hotter!”

The procession is fully underway, and the first photos are starting to drop — we do love a bit of pomp and pageantry!

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Dressed to impress in a stunning Self Portrait dress and a chic Sean Barrett hat, the Princess of Wales arrived alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh to a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

Sophie graciously waved to the crowd, soaking in the applause. It’s a special day for Kate, marking her first Garter Day since 2023.

© Max Mumby

Royal watchers may recognise the Princess of Wales' outfit - she wore it during last month's VE Day celebrations.

She looks just as stunning this time around, proving great style never goes out of fashion!

© Alamy Stock Photo

Emily is still on the ground at Windsor and has just sent us the latest:

“The procession has just gone inside — big smiles from Queen Camilla, and Prince William and Prince Edward seemed to share a joke as they walked past.

After a fanfare, the National Anthem was sung, and the Companions of the Order are now taking their places inside St George’s Chapel.”

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Stay tuned - more from Garter Day coming soon!

The first photo of King Charles and Queen Camilla has just landed -  and they're braving the soaring temperatures in full Garter robes!

Talk about dedication to tradition in this summer heat!

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Appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter by King Charles on St George's Day in 2024, the legendary composer is back at Windsor Castle today, taking part in Garter Day 2025 in full regalia.

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Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair also made an appearance at Garter Day 2025. He was appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in June 2022. Dressed in the traditional blue velvet mantle and plumed hat, Sir Tony joined fellow knights in the solemn procession at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

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We've talked a lot about it, now it's your turn to watch it!

We love Kate's long hair. Whether she styles it up, down, half-up or half-down, or in a chignon, it's always perfect – she always gets it just right! 

© UK Press via Getty Images

The King was accompanied by two young pages of honour, William Sackville and Alfred Wellesley. The schoolboys are both sons of his friends.

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The 89-year-old Duke of Kent attended Garter Day, arriving by car and accompanied by an equerry. 

The Duke of York has not taken part in the public procession since 2019, following his fall from grace.

However, he is believed to have joined the King and the rest of his family for the earlier investiture in the castle’s Garter Throne Room and the traditional lunch that takes place afterwards in the Waterloo Chamber, both behind closed doors. 

© Max Mumby

We just have to give a shout out to the Duchess of Edinburgh's style, too. Just like Princess Kate, Sophie opted to rewear one of her go-to summer outfits - and we think she looked fabulous!

Her pastel pink Suzannah dress is one of her favourites to wear on a hot sunny day, nd she styled it to perfection with a wide-brimmed hat.

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King Harald of Norway has finally spoken out about his granddaughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra's, decision to move overseas this summer!

The 21-year-old princess, who is second-in-line to the Norwegian throne, is set to begin a three-year degree in social sciences at the University of Sydney in August. 

King Harald and Queen Sonja shared their thoughts on her big move during their recent tour of Troms and Svalbard. What do you think about Princess Ingrid Alexandra's choice to study abroad?

It's been a busy few days for the royals following Trooping the Colour on Saturday, but they didn't take Monday off to rest, instead decamping to Windsor for the Order of the Garter.

For the event, the King's sister walked alongside her nephew, Prince William, dressed in full military regalia, including a bright and fluffy white feather which bloomed from her hat. See her look here.