Royal Family Recap: King Charles' cheeky quip and Prince William's heartfelt charity visit

When it comes to Christmas, we all have our unique family traditions - and the royal family are no different!

According to the Daily Mail, it's been a long-standing tradition for generations of the royal family to hand out "joke" £5 presents in strict order of royal seniority.

However, it's understood that Prince William wants to scrap the outdated game, which involved cheap gifts being distributed by King Charles from a trestle-table. 

According to the report, the understated nature of the gifts will likely remain, while any hierarchical traditions are expected to go. 

Good morning and welcome to a brand new week of royal news. Over the next few hours, I'll be keeping you across all the latest updates from royals across the world - so stay tuned!

Prince George is set to follow in his father's footsteps, as the Prince of Wales' is reportedly planning to take his eldest son, 12, to help the homeless at Centrepoint, the London charity he has supported as a patron for two decades. 

William himself first visited the charity when he was 11 years old, when his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him to the same shelter. Since then, the future monarch has been passionate about tackling homelessness.

Read the full story here. 

The Duke of Sussex's security arrangements while in the UK are being reviewed, according to reports. It comes after Prince Harry, who now resides in California with his wife Meghan and their children, lost an appeal to reinstate his police protection in May. The Home Office has now ordered a threat assessment for the first time since 2020, according to The Sun. 

Harry wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood following her appointment and submitted a formal request for a risk assessment to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which is overseen by the Home Office, a source close to the Duke said in October.

Ravec has now instructed its Risk Management Board to reassess his threat level, the Sun reported.

Read the full story here. 

The Duchess of Sussex attempted to reach out to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after his leg was reportedly amputated below the knee to remove a blood clot.

On 5 December, Meghan's spokesperson publicly confirmed that she had attempted to make contact with Thomas. A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex said: "I can confirm she has reached out to her father." 

Click here for our explainer on Meghan's relationship with her father and the latest developments. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester's eldest daughter made a rare public appearance on Friday as she attended the Princess of Wales's Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.

Lady Davina Windsor, 48, who does not carry out royal duties, was joined by her daughter, Senna Kowhai, 15, and her son, Tāne Mahuta, 13, for the festive occasion. 

While Lady Davina looked super chic in a teal wrap jacket and a navy pleated ensemble, Senna matched her mother in a blue spotty satin dress and a navy velvet blazer.

Read the full story here. 

Queen Camilla is visiting the set of the Disney+ TV drama Rivals for a behind-the-scenes tour today. The royal will meet members of the cast and crew as they film the second season of the hit show, which is based on the book written by Dame Jilly Cooper and stars David Tennant as TV mogul Lord Tony Baddingham and Alex Hassell as lothario Rupert Campbell-Black.

Filming is currently taking place in Bristol, where the Queen will learn how the production has boosted creative industries in the South West of England and has provided training and opportunities for young people in the TV and film industry. 

Princess Charlene oozed glamour in the official Christmas card photo for the Monagasque royal family, which was released on Sunday 7 December. 

The princess posed alongside her husband Prince Albert, and their children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella for the photo, which was shared on the Prince's Palace official Instagram account. 

The family of four posed in front of the palace's Christmas tree, with Charlene, 47, donning a stunning taupe fine knit rollneck and matching pleated skirt. 

Get more details. 

It's been confirmed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's first public appearance since the loss of their titles in October will be at the christening of their granddaughter on 12 December.

According to The Mail on Sunday, the former couple will attend the baptism of Athena, the daughter of Princess Beatrice and her property developer husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, whom they welcomed on 22 January this year.

Find out more.

That's all from me, but I've leaving you in the capable hands of Lifestyle Writer Katie Daly, who will be taking you through the rest of the day's news. 

Bye for now!

Good afternoon, royal fans!

I'm ready to take you through an afternoon of royal news.

Stay tuned...

We're bringing you the photos straight from Queen Camilla's outing to the set of Rivals today and she started by meeting one of the show's most iconic stars.

The royal was seen shaking hands with David Tennant on the set which is based in Bristol. 

David plays the egocentric Lord Tony Baddingham, controller of regional TV network Corinium, in the show.

The Queen visited the set of the popular television show to celebrate British television production and the legacy of Dame Jilly Cooper.

Queen Camilla received a tour of the costume department on the set of Rivals.

The show is known for its outlandish 80s fashion with looks featuring bright colours, bold prints, and dramatic tailoring.

Ray Holman is the show's costume designer and has previously worked on Dr Who and Fleabag.

Queen Camilla was seen holding a clapper board during a visit to the film set today. 

Rivals is the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel by the same name, which is about a TV company called Corinium Television, led by executive Tony Baddingham and centres around his rivalry with nobleman and MP Rupert Campbell-Black.

Camilla was seen on the set with Felicity Blunt, a literary agent at Curtis Brown, who represented Jilly Cooper for the last 10 years of her life. 

Queen Camilla was seen holding a tote bag with the name of Jilly Cooper on it as a tribute to the late author of Rivals, the book which inspired the Disney+ show by the same name.

Dame Jilly wrote 18 novels and works of short fiction, as well as over 20 non-fiction books during her lifetime. She passed away on 5 October 2025 after an accidental fall down stairs at her home in Gloucestershire.

The Queen and the late writer had been good friends for years after moving in the same Cotswolds circles. Camilla's ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, was even said to be the inspiration for Rivals' lothario, Rupert Campbell-Black.

Queen Camilla met the cast of Rivals earlier today and they looked fabulous in their costumes.

She met Nafessa Williams (Cameron Cook), Victoria Smurfit (Maude O'Hara), Alex Hassell (Rupert Campbell-Black), and Bella Maclean (Agatha O'Hara) who all looked pleased to meet the royal, posing for a photo in the O'Hara family's kitchen.

Having greeted the cast and posed for a photo, Queen Camilla sat down for a slice of cake and a cup of tea in the set that acts as the O'Hara family kitchen. 

Victoria Smurfit and the Queen lamented Dame Jilly's death. "She was supposed to be here today," Victoria told the royal. "But we feel like she is here every day because we are saying her words, living in the Cooper-verse. So now instead of only seeing us when she was here, she can watch us every day." 

Queen Camilla looked right at home as she posed on the set of Corinium TV.

She posed for a photo with Oliver Chris, who plays TV host James Vereker in Rivals.

Queen Camilla enjoyed an afternoon with the Rivals cast, including Victoria Smurfit. "Shall I be mother?" asked Alex Hassell, as he poured the Queen a cup of tea and as Victoria cut slices of fruit and Guinness cake.

"This is the O'Hara kitchen," she explained. "Which is a nice proper kitchen," Camilla concurred. Victoria also spoke about how Rivals is a hit with the younger generation.

"They love it. My 20-year-old daughter says her generation are obsessed and they desperately wish they were born in the 80s so they could get up to all the outrageous things in the Cooper-verse," she told Camilla. "It's a little bit depressing being in a period drama when you remember the period!"

The Queen responded: "It is very funny, I remember it all."

Speaking exclusively to HELLO! at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball last night, the 37-year-old rapper Tinie Tempah recalled meeting Peaky Blinders actor Tom Hardy during a Prince's Trust roundtable event hosted by King Charles in December 2018 at Clarence House.

Reminiscing on the event at Clarence House, Tinie told HELLO!: "That was when Tom Hardy introduced me to the world of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. It was random, we were waiting to meet the King, [Tom] told me about Ju-Jitsu, he invited me over to his gym to train. Now I've been doing it for six or seven years, and it was definitely something that impacted my life."  

Princess Ingrid Alexandra has returned to her native Norway from her studies at the University of Sydney in Australia for an engagement with her father.

Prince Haakon and Princess Ingrid Alexandra joined the Institute of Marine Research on a voyage in the Oslo fjord, aboard the research ship Princess Ingrid Alexandria. 

The trip will give researchers a better overview of how the fish move. This knowledge is important to take care of life in the Oslo fjord and ensure a sustainable management of the fish stocks.

Prince Louis  is growing up to be the spitting image of his mum - just look at this photo from the Princess of Wales' 'Together at Christmas' carol concert last Friday.

The young royal looked just like his mother as he grinned while at the service held at Westminster Abbey.

That's all from me in the UK!

I am handing you over to Beatriz Colon in New York for an evening of royal news.

Enjoy!

Good morning!

We have another day packed full of royal engagements from Queen Camilla and Princess Anne, as well as an OBE for The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman. 

Stay tuned for all the latest right here…

It was a wonderful night for everyone who attended the 'Together at Christmas' carol service on 5 December, which is annually hosted by the Princess of Wales. 

As well as donning an ankle-grazing festive green coat, Kate also wore a tartan skirt by high-fashion designer brand Miu Miu. The skirt has crystals dotted throughout, as well as black button fastenings and classic tartan pleats – and retails for £1,690.

The skirt has sparked debate with some royal fans, with some saying: "Woah, how much for the skirt?! Should be diamonds at that price." However, others – including our Lifestyle team – are obsessed. 

Click here to find out what else royal fans are saying. 

Queen Camillahad a very busy day on the set of Disney's Rivals yesterday. To mark her special time on set, the official royal family Instagram posted a highlight reel of all the best bits, including the Queen snapping that iconic clapperboard and meeting various costume and set departments. 

The caption read: "A sneak peek of Rivals! The Queen has visited the set of the @DisneyPlusUK TV drama, Rivals, which is currently filming its second series on location in Bristol.

"In celebration of British television production, youth opportunity in the creative industries, and the legacy of author Dame Jilly Cooper, Her Majesty met cast and crew on set and had a sneak preview of the upcoming series.

"First published in 1988, Rivals is based on the best-selling novel by acclaimed author Dame Jilly, who sadly passed away in October."

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence's Christmas card has been revealed. 

The Governor of Queensland, Jeannette Young, released a picture of the card from the royal couple on Instagram, which shows Anne and Timothy in Sark, an island off the English Channel, earlier this year. 

The caption read: "The arrival of a special Christmas card from The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence has set a festive tone at Government House.

"The Government House Christmas Lights, an annual family favourite in the heart of Brisbane, are open to the public from this Saturday until next Thursday, 6:45pm to 8:15pm nightly.

"For more information about the spectacular lights display at Government House, visit our website.

"Government House was honoured to recently host Her Royal Highness during her official visit for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals Centenary celebrations, when she also presided over a special Investiture Ceremony to present the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) to Senior Patrol Officer Stephen Canning RVM."

Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden, took to the glorious winter skies this week on board the JAS 39 Gripen, a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft used by the Swedish Air Force.

The princess captured a quiet moment in the sky with a selfie, and later shared an Instagram Reel of her flight, where she was filmed giving the thumbs up before taking off on the snowy runway. 

The selfie was captioned: "After her officer training, the Crown Princess has [immersed] herself in the practical and strategic work of the Air Force in the autumn."

The Prince of Wales visited homelessness charity Centrepoint on Tuesday to mark a special 20th anniversary of his patronage. 

Centrepoint is one of William's longest Patronages, having taken over from his mother, the late Princess Diana, who became Patron in 1992. 

During his visit, The Prince joined staff and young people who have been supported by the charity to celebrate 20 years of his commitment to them. He also joined them in creating the charity's new 'Wall of Hope' mural, which was co-designed by a group of young people and artist Lanré Olagoke MBE.

Prince William has spent years tirelessly working to raise awareness of homelessness through his work with Centrepoint, so it was great to see him mark his 20 years of hard work at the charity on Tuesday – especially with a very special cake! The sugary masterpiece was made by Juliet Sear – best known for the Bruce Bogtrotter cake in Netflix's Matilda the Musical. 

In case you missed it, click here to see all the best pictures.