Royal news LIVE: Princess Anne returns to work

 The Swedish royal palace has released stunning new portraits of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia ahead of a historic year for the couple.

© Elisabeth Toll/The Royal Court of Sweden

The images, taken by Elisabeth Toll at Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm, show the royals in white-tie attire as they pose against the baroque splendour of the royal residence. 

© Elisabeth Toll/The Royal Court of Sweden

It's a big year for the royal couple; the monarch will turn 80 on 30 April, with a thanksgiving service scheduled to take place on the day, as well as a gala dinner. 

© Elisabeth Toll/The Royal Court of Sweden

The couple will also mark their 50th wedding anniversary on 19 June. Celebrations for their Golden wedding anniversary will take place on 13 June, including a church service and a horse-drawn carriage procession through Stockholm.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, visited Wadi Rum on Wednesday, where they met with local tour operators and explored a range of experiences the site offers visitors from Jordan and around the world.

Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is a UNESCO Heritage Site and protected area located in southern Jordan. One of the world’s most striking desert environments, it is known for its vast sandstone landscapes, red-gold dunes, attractive hiking and rock-climbing routes, and authentic Bedouin cultural experiences.

Buckingham Palace has released a brand new photo of Her Majesty the Queen in honour of the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room book club.

Camilla said, in remarks released to the Press Association: "Five years ago, I founded a book club in lockdown, in the hope that others might derive as much enjoyment from good literature as I do.

© Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace

"Since those humble beginnings, that book club has grown into a global charity, supporting a community of book lovers, united by a shared belief in the power of reading.

"I am so proud of what my charity has achieved, reaching millions of people, staging remarkable events and partnering with incredible organisations to bring books to people who need them most.

"Its groundbreaking research has confirmed what many of us always felt: reading truly changes how we perceive, how we think and how we connect. At a time when global reading rates are at their very lowest, my charity's mission feels more urgent than ever. Books do make life better, and this is only the beginning."

Birthday wishes are in order for Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark, who have turned 15 today. 

In honour of their special milestone, the Danish royal family have released a series of beautiful new portraits for the royal twins - and they look wonderful!

Good morning, royal watchers!

On the agenda today, we have celebrations for the Danish royal family, who are celebrating the 15th birthday of their Royal Highnesses Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Here in the UK, Princess Anne is back to work and will be attending the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference. 

Stay tuned for updates!

Princess Anne has been dethroned as the hardest-working royal by her older brother King Charles! 

The late Queen Elizabeth's only daughter had held the unofficial title for many years, but in 2025, the Princess carried out 478 engagements, a little less than the 532 engagements logged by the monarch. The Duke of Edinburgh was third with 313, and his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh, carried out 235.

Will she regain the title in 2026?

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On January 6 Queen Mary of Denmark attended the New Year's parade and levee for officers of the armed forces and emergency services - and looked every bit the fairytale royal in a snow-inspired coat, and gorgeous metallic gown.

© Alamy Live News

Here at HELLO!, we love a pub - who doesn't? - and I love this feature on The Hart, a central London pub that is a favorite of the British royal family, especially Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The royal-visited spot, on the corner of Chiltern Street and Blandford Street, is named after the Hart family, who ran a pub on the same site back in the 1840s. Their "legacy of good food, great drinks and warm hospitality" inspired the creation of the current establishment.

The full feature can be read here.

Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo has been a dedicated member of the Wales family's staff since she joined in 2014 but did you know she held one special responsibility during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018?

Find out more here.

That's it from me! 

I'll now leave you in the hands of Rebecca Lewis, who will keep you updated with all the latest royal news this Wednesday evening… 

With temperatures plummeting, our fashion and beauty news editor Laura has turned to a fabulous fashion throwback from 2018, in which the Princess of Wales nailed the 'snow bunny' look that nods to the Mob Wife aesthetic.

Kate had taken a three-day tour of Sweden and Norway with her husband, Prince William, during which she donned a Catherine Walker cerulean blue, high-collared coat, with chocolate brown add-ons, including tall boots, gloves, a clutch and a furry hat.

Click here to read the full story. 

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On this day six years ago, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their final public appearance in Canada before announcing they were stepping back from royal duties. 

The couple had carried out a six-week break in Canada, before sharing the shock announcement on 8 January that they'd be standing down.

 "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," their statement read.

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."

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2026 marks a big year for the Swedish royals, who have announced that two royal celebrations will take place: the king's birthday on 30 April and the king and queen's golden wedding anniversary on 13 June. 

In an official post on their Instagram page, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia released an official portrait taken by photographer Elisabeth Toll at Drottningholm's Castle. Silvia wore a floor-length green gown with lace detailing, while Carl donned his military uniform with both wearing ceremonial sashes. 

The translated caption reads: "The King's 80th birthday is celebrated at the Valborg fair evening when the Defense Force provides, among other things, a greater military surveillance. The King is also attended with a traditional singer's tribute in front of the King. The Castle.

"On June 19, the Royal couple celebrates their 50-year wedding anniversary. When the day falls during midsummer, the golden wedding day is celebrated instead on Saturday, June 13."

"During the day, the Royal Couple rose over Stockholm's stream with the royal loop Vasaorden and ride a horse-riding motorcade through the town. Additional public activities are also planned to take place. These will be published later."

While the UK battles icy temperatures and snow, Zara Tindall has escaped the chilly British weather and touched down in Australia for the Magic Millions horse racing event.

See what Zara wore here and find out more about the trip. 

© David Hartley/Shutterstock

While the Prince and Princess of Wales may have moved into their new home, Forest Lodge, at the end of 2025, William has a new housing project on his mind – and the plans have just been approved.

In his role as Duke of Cornwall, William heads up the Duchy of Cornwall and in 2027, hopes to launch a new project to build 620 homes in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. The new estate will also include a primary school, a care home and commercial space.

Read the full story here. 

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Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the nanny to the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has worked on the royal family's staff for over a decade, but there's an under-the-radar job at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 that royal fans may not know about.

As well as caring for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Maria also had to look after one of the other bridesmaids: two-year-old Zalie Warren, Prince Harry's goddaughter. It was at the wedding that Maria was pictured comforting Zalie inside the entrance to the chapel. 

Get the details here. 

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It's not long now until Prince Harry will be back on UK soil in order to attend the High Court in London for his legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). 

However, despite his proximity to the palace, it's unlikely that Harry will meet up with his father, King Charles, during his trip. Sources have said that the king does not wish to be linked to any court proceedings, which is why no arrangements have been made for this specific instance. 

Read the full story here. 

© PA Images via Getty Images

The Hart in Marylebone, London may just look like another unassuming pub from the outside, but it's an incredibly cosy, special venue that's welcomed many members of the British royal family, including the likes of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Read the full exclusive, and learn all about the pub here.

Lady Louise Windsor has an unexpectedly close bond with one of her royal family members – and their identity will certainly surprise you. Find out more about their dynamic, and read the full exclusive, here.

Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reportedly had the chance to enjoy some quality time abroad with their daughters over Christmas. The family-of-five, according to HELLO!'s sister publication, HOLA!, flew to the Queen's home country of Argentina to spend time with their maternal family in Bariloche. Read all about their family holiday here.

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Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg have shared brand new photographs of their son, Balthazar, who celebrates his second birthday today.

The toddler looked so adorable in his tiny military jacket, holding a plate that looks like it once had a lot more cake on it than it does now! In the second picture, he was seen being held by his older siblings, Princess Amalia and Prince Liam.

Zara and Mike Tindall have arrived in Australia for the Magic Millions race in Queensland, in which she will be competing on Sunday, 11 January. 

The couple participated in a rare joint interview during TV coverage of the Ashes, where England's match against Australia continues until tomorrow.

Prince William's estate, the Duchy of Cornwall, along with C G Fry and Son Ltd, will build more than 600 new homes, a care home, a nursery and a primary school on the Mid Somerset Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

The applicants first bid to build the development in July 2018, and were given an outline planning permission last year. A separate application about the scale, layout, appearance and landscaping of the development is expected this year, with construction potentially starting as early as 2027.

In a quiet family outing, the Princess of Wales re-visited a local baby bank with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis that she first brought them to in 2023, when they were seen packing up donations for families in need. This time, they chose to support the charity again, and the Wales children even personally chose some essentials to donate. Read our full exclusive here.

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King Charles' charity, The King's Foundation, has unveiled their plans to make a high-end change to Dumfries House, its 300-year-old headquarters in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In an attempt to make it a new "go-to" venue for luxury weddings and private events, the charity is building a new hall on the site. Find out all about it here.

Happy Wednesday, royal fans! It's a relatively quiet day in the royal calendar, but there's been some exciting news and new information about the British royal family, and some wonderful royal style moments in the last day. Stay tuned to keep up with all the latest