Royal family 21 July: Prince Harry's 'heartbreak', Princess Anne in Wales and more

Good morning and welcome to HELLO!'s live royal blog! We're kicking off what promises to be another busy and exciting day in the world of royalty, bringing you all the latest updates as they happen. 

Today, all eyes will be on Belgium as the Belgian royal family celebrates their National Day. We'll be bringing you the most special moments from their celebrations, as King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their family step out for their national holiday. 

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Princess Anne has a packed day ahead! As the President of The Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, the Princess Royal will be attending the Annual General Meeting before making an appearance at the prestigious Royal Welsh Show at The Royal Welsh Showground. 

Stay tuned throughout the day for all the key updates, stunning photos, and the latest royal news from around the globe!

It's an exciting week for the Prince and Princess of Wales as their eldest son, Prince George, turns 12 on Tuesday.

Kate has previously spoken about the sweet tradition she has for her children's birthdays. 

Speaking to former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry, Kate said she personally bakes the birthday cakes for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis each year.

She told Mary: "I love making the cake."

"It’s become a bit of a tradition that I stay up ’til midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing and I make far too much. But I love it."

© Samir Hussein, Getty

Ahead of the Te Deum service to mark Belgium's National Day, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde attended a classical music concert with  Prince Lorenz and Princess Astrid on Sunday evening.

Mathilde looked elegant in a blush pink all-in-one ensemble for the occasion. 

© Belga/AFP via Getty Images

The Belgian royal family have arrived for the Te Deum mass, on the occasion of the Belgian National Day, at the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral in Brussels. 

© BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, dressed in a red lace frock, led their family into the service. 

Princesses Elisabeth and  Eléonore are matching in green ensembles, while Princes Gabriel and Emmanuel are wearing morning suits. 

King Frederik and Queen Mary appear to have returned from their private holiday abroad. 

According to the Danish royal family's calendar, Crown Prince Christian, 19, was acting as regent until Sunday 20 July.

It's not known where the Danish royals travelled to, but King Frederik and Queen Mary will relocate to their summer residence,  Gråsten Palace, later this month.

© Getty Images

Princess Elisabeth stepped out in a floaty dress by Belgian designer, Natan, for the National Day commemorations. 

It's rare that we see all of the Belgian royals pictured together these days as the children all have various educational commitments, with Elisabeth having just completed the first year of her two-year master's degree at Harvard university in the US. 

Take a look at some of the best photographs from the service.

© Shutterstock

Our Lifestyle Writer, Katie Daly, has taken a little trip down memory lane for a look back at one of Zara Tindall's best party looks. 

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Mike Tindall reshared the glitzy snap of his wife from a Magic Millions event Down Under in 2020. 

And I think you'll agree that a bejewelled LBD is a timeless addition to your wardrobe. 

Take a look here.

It's been over a year since the Princess Royal was involved in a serious horse-related accident, which forced out of royal duties for a period. 

While Princess Anne herself has said that she did not "remember a single thing" about the incident, according to The Times, a source who knows Anne well says: "Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on, and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again." 

Read the full story here.

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The HELLO! shopping team are taking their outfit inspiration from Princess Kate right now, who wore the perfect drizzly in July look back in 2022.

The Princess of Wales wore the sweetest gingham blouse and jeans while baking with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis, and our eagle eyes have found that pink collared top back in stock.

The seersucker Brora blouse, £129 / $235, sold out instantly after Kate wore the piece, but it's been reintroduced for 2025 and we're so thankful. 

From the sweet summery print to the flattering fit, it's a versatile and wearable shirt that clearly doesn't date.

Hello! Abby here, taking over the royal blog for the afternoon…

To mark what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday, The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace will open its doors to host Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style in 2026. 

© Royal Collection Trust

This extensive exhibition will feature around 200 show-stopping items, including clothing, jewelry and accessories worn throughout her life, from childhood to her reign as Queen.

It is also set to feature samples and letters that reveal the behind-the-scenes process of dressing the most famous woman in the world.

Read the full story here.

Prince Harry has issued a statement following his recent trip to Angola, where he visited a minefield.

© Ampe Pedro/The HALO Trust

His mother, Princess Diana, made a similar visit in 1997, just weeks before her death, when she famously walked through a minefield in Huambo – a moment that became iconic in her humanitarian legacy.

Speaking about his recent visit, Prince Harry said: "As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past."

Read the full story here. 

As birthday celebrations are about to commence for Prince George, who turns 12 on Tuesday 22 July, the young royal is set to experience a significant change in the coming year.

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As his current school, Lambrook Preparatory in Berkshire, only caters to pupils up to age 13, the Prince will transition to a new school after his 13th birthday in July 2026. 

Speculation suggests he may attend either Eton College, his father Prince William's old school, or Marlborough College, his mother Kate's alma mater in Windsor.

Find out more details on the major change here.

It's always a pleasure to see young royals Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis out and about when duty and time in their busy lives allow. 

One sweet moment that's resurfacing at the moment is Christmas time a few years ago, when Princess Charlotte was just four years old.

Greeting members of public in Sandringham, the princess was handed a bright pink flamingo inflatable toy – a gesture that caused her to break out into an immediate grin.

© WireImage

Click here for more details on the sweet moment.

While she's usually known for her timeless silhouettes, Princess Kate once stepped out in an unexpected look that had fashion fans talking – and it involved a seriously impressive pair of four-inch gladiator heels.

Back in 2017, during her tour of Germany, Kate showcased a pair of strappy Prada sandals that climbed up her ankles, paired with a breezy Markus Lupfer dress. 

Discussing the throwback pictures, Lifestyle Writer Katie Daly spoke to expert Angela Kyte about Kate's choice.

© Getty

Read the full story here.

That's all from me for today, but I'm handing over to the wonderful Beatriz Colon, who will be bringing you all the latest royal news…

Princess Anne's private birthday plans offer rare insight into marriage with Sir Timothy Laurence. 

She is set to turn 75 on 15 August — find out here how she's celebrating.

Amid a sea of A-list names in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, Britain's first family were the undisputed stars of the show.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte for the men's singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, with the family receiving a rapturous welcome as they appeared on Centre Court.

But it was the heartwarming interaction between Kate and Charlotte that captured the attention of observers on the day, giving an insight into their mother-daughter bond. Read here for what an onlooker told us about it.

Prince William and Prince Harry's cousin Rosie Roche has been found dead in her family home in a tragic loss for the royal family. The 20-year-old was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, making her a second cousin to the princess. 

Rosie was discovered by her mother, Phillipa, and her sister, Agatha, while packing for a trip away with friends. A firearm was found near her body. An inquest has been opened into her death, and swiftly adjourned until October 25, with the coroner Grant Davies sharing that the police "have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement". A spokesperson said that the university student "will be sorely missed".

That's all for now, folks. Tune back in tomorrow for more of our daily coverage on all things royals. 

Cheers!