Royal family RECAP: Queen Maxima receives beret amid military training, Japan hosts state dinner, and more

The sun is shining and I'm here to bring you all the royal news this morning as it happens. Today, the Duchess of Edinburgh will be attending Open Farm Sunday's Preparation Day and it also marks the start of a local inquiry into a public footpath alongside Pippa Middleton's family estate. Read the latest on the neighbourhood dispute here.

One from the royal fashion archives for you this morning... Princess Diana had a lady in red moment on this day in 1986, sporting a stunning puff sleeve peplum jacket, layered with a polka dot blouse underneath. So chic!

© Getty Images

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, equerry to King Charles, has welcomed his first child with his wife Olivia (Née Lewis). It was announced in The Times births section that they have a daughter. Discover her adorable name here.

Norway's Queen Sonja, 88, is in hospital with heart problems, after cancelling a string of events. Read all the details

© Getty Images

King Charles has unveiled a brand-new garden in the grounds of Windsor Castle, inspired by the planet Venus. The special project has taken an army of gardeners and 18 months to complete. 

© supplied by Royal Collection

The meticulously designed space not only looks amazing but has also been curated for maximum eco-credentials, being a hub for biodiversity. 

Watch an incredible timelapse of the transformation.

Congratulations are in order for Princess Elisabeth of Belgium who has just graduated from Harvard University! She was accompanied by her proud parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde for the occasion. 

Prince Hisahito of Japan has just appeared at his first imperial banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This comes four years after his sister, Mako Komuro, relinquished her royal role and titles to marry a "commoner". 

The Duchess of Edinburgh has stepped out at the Waitrose Farm on the Leckford Estate in Hampshire ahead of Open Farm Sunday this weekend. The royal went smart/casual for the appearance with khaki trousers, a floral top and a beige blazer. 

© PA Images via Getty Images

© PA Images via Getty Images

© PA Images via Getty Images

King Harald of Norway has given an update on Queen Sonja's health, explaining that she's now on her way home from hospital. He told press, "her form is much better" after she was hospitalised with heart issues. 

In the same speech, he also addressed Crown Princess Mette-Marit's breathing condition. "She is seriously ill," he told journalists. 

He also sought to defend her presence in the Epstein files. She had a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but when she discovered his criminal wrongdoings, she cut ties. He said: "We must remember that the Crown Princess has not done anything illegal.

"And she broke this connection – unlike some others in Norway, she broke the connection very early. So I think we should give her credit for that."

Sporty Princess Kate isn't one to shy away from a spot of healthy competition, and that extends to drinking games too, Mike Tindall has confessed. Discover the royal's favourite drinking game to play.

© Getty

It's been a busy royal morning and now it is time to hand over to the lovely Isabelle Casey for this afternoon's royal news. 

Just days after his surprise wedding, Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, has hosted another shindig - but this time at home on his 13,000-acre Northamptonshire estate, Althorp House.

The young brother of Princess Diana, 62, shared photos featuring his new bride, Dr Cat Jarman, 43, as well as their welcomed guests, enjoying the grounds of Charles and Diana's sprawling childhood home.

 Accompanying the image were the words: "Last night @CatJarman & I welcomed @NorthantsCCC & their wives & girlfriends to @AlthorpHouse for a barbecue. Felt quite short next to 6 foot 7 inch Australian bowler Harry Conway. Great to see fellow Aussie internationals Nathan McSweeney & Chris Lynn relaxing in the Library."

Newlywed Cat was simply glowing for the occasion, wearing a beautiful blue patterned halterneck top, which she paired with summery light blue wide-leg jeans. Completing her look, Cat wore a killer pair of cork wedges.

The Princess of Wales’s brother-in-law told a planning inquiry there is a need for a higher level of security at his property due to his family’s high public profile, in a row over part of their drive being designated a public footpath.

Kate’s sister Pippa married James Matthews, a hedge fund boss, in May 2017, and the family moved to Barton Court in West Berkshire in autumn 2022.

Mr Matthews installed an electric security gate on the drive in September 2022, which prompted walking group West Berkshire Ramblers to apply for a “definitive map modification order” in January 2023 to recognise a public footpath on the land.

West Berkshire District Council investigated and decided that the order route was “reasonably alleged to exist as a public right of way based on evidence, legislation and case law”, inquiry documents said.

Mr Matthews objected and told the inquiry the route is rarely used and the gate raised no objections from the local parish council or neighbours.

Speaking at the inquiry on Thursday, Mr Matthews added there was nothing in the conveyancing process which alerted him to any public use of the drive when he purchased the property in August 2022.

Wedding season certainly looks good on Lady Amelia Windsor, who was a vision in pink in a series of gorgeous photos from her friend's wedding in Ireland.

Taking to her Instagram account, King Charles' cousin, 30, slipped into a beautiful pink strapless dress adorned with large brown polka dots. She accessorised her look with a pair of quirky tortoise-shell sunglasses.

"Love in Limerick," the royal captioned the post. "Pretty in pink," one follower replied. A second added: "Love this dress." Meanwhile, a third replied: "Gorgeous."

On her feet, Lady Amelia rocked a pair of velvet Flablelus pumps, a brand for which she is an ambassador. As for accessories, the dazzling wedding guest chose a tiny cream shoulder bag. 

That's it from me folks, I'm passing over blogging duties to Rebecca in the US!

Hello HELLO! readers. Welcome to the final hours of today's blog.

While King Charles is well known for his love of horses and dogs, you may be surprised to learn that His Majesty also has a rather bizarre fondness for... red squirrels.

© Getty Images

I love this feature by Phoebe deep diving into the King's recent visit to the Animal and Plant Health Agency's Biotech Campus in York, where he was reportedly "very interested" in the concept of using hazelnut paste infused with contraceptives to curb the number of grey squirrels, which pose a threat to Britain's endangered native red squirrel. 

Prince William's radio interview last week "generated well beyond 30 million views and is continuing to grow," according to Global, the radio network behind the piece.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

The Prince of Wales joined Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart FM from the Isles of Scilly for a special live broadcast.

In the  wide-ranging interview, the prince joked about doing the school run, his love of dance music and how he still follows his late grandmother, the Queen’s, rule for making scones – cream first then jam. 

William also made rare comments about his wife, Kate's, return to duties after her cancer diagnosis, saying he was "so proud",  and adding: "She's an amazing mum, an amazing wife and literally our family couldn't cope without her, so she's been brilliant."

Prince William, as well as being a huge football fan, is also a fan of the arrows!

Luke Littler, the 2026 World Darts Champion,  has revealed that when he received his MBE from the Prince, the pair discussed Luke's journey, with William sharing that he thought a night of darts was "a good night out".

"He said he's been following the journey. How big it's got, how big it's getting as each day goes by," Luke told Talksport. "And he said it's a good night out. So, the offer's there for Ally Pally."

Ally Pally is the nickname for Alexandra Palace, the iconic London music and sports venue, where William has actually played darts before! In 2024, he joined Hannah Waddingham for a documentary on the Earthshot Prize and the pair teamed up for game of darts and a round of beers.

© Kensington Palace

Former First Lady Jill Biden's new book, View From the East Wing (out June 2), will reflect on her life in the White House between 2009 and 2017, and 2021 and 2025, but a new excerpt also reveals private moments she experienced with the British royal family, and the advice she gave to Princess Kate.

"I found her instantly likable, very unassuming. She made me feel at ease. She seemed so grounded,' wrote Dr Biden. "I encouraged her to keep a journal about her experiences. She said she liked to draw and paint, but I said you can never have too many ways to privately express your feelings."

© Getty Images

Jill also reveals that during a 2021 visit, she and her husband, then President Joe Biden, met with Queen Elizabeth, whose husband Prince Philip  had died several months prior.

"I studiously did not ask the queen about her husband or anything related to the royal family. As soon as we began speaking, though, she filled us in on her 11 great-grandchildren and the new one on the way," writes Dr Biden; the "new one" was Princess Beatrice's daughter Sienna, who was born three months later.

© Getty

"I was amazed that she poured the tea herself and wanted to talk about foreign policy. She had two new Corgi puppies to help her through the hard times. One came in, and she gave him half a smoked salmon tea sandwich."

Norway's royal family hit the headlines in May 2026 due to ongoing speculation around the health of several key members. Queen Sonja has been admitted to hospital due to heart issues, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit is "seriously ill" with complications caused by pulmonary fibrosis.

© Photonews via Getty Images

Royal households across Europe are often confusing - as Matthew Moore writes, the monarchy of Norway dates back to 872 and is currently helmed by the House of Glücksburg... which also fronts the Danish royal family - but the Norwegian household in particular has seen dramatic changes in recent decades, with the system of agnatic primogeniture disbanded.0

So I love this breakdown of the royal family tree, easily explaining who is who, and what the recernt news may mean for everyone.

Happy Friday! Stay with us as we bring you the biggest royal news from around the world. Today, you can expect to hear more about Pippa Middleton's footpath feud with neighbours, as the enquiry continues, and the Duke of Gloucester will be visiting Winchester.

Meanwhile, this weekend is set to be extra special for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who will be celebrating their son Ernest's third birthday - his last before becoming a big brother.

Former First Lady of the United States Jill Biden has opened up about her friendship with the Princess of Wales, whom she first met in 2021. 

In an excerpt from her new memoir, View from the East Wing, shared with People, Joe Biden's wife described the royal as "unassuming" while recalling their joint appearances.

"At every event we'd been at together, Kate and William were friendly," she recalled. "When Princess Kate and I cooed over rabbits at a primary school in West Cornwall, I found her instantly likable, very unassuming. She made me feel at ease. She seemed so grounded."

© Getty Images

Prince Harry is facing calls to step down from the board of African Parks amid claims of "rape and torture" against rangers.

The charity, which manages national parks across the continent, was previously accused of human rights abuses by eco-guards against the Baka community in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, leading to an independent investigation by law firm Omnia Strategy.

In a May 2025 statement, African Parks acknowledged that "in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred", adding that they "deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims". 

Despite stating they were "implementing recommendations" as a result of the process, Survival International claimed on Wednesday that "the problems on the ground have not been solved", according to The Times. 

Prince Harry, who has been working with African Parks since 2016, was criticised for attending a fundraising event in Arizona this week with the aim of raising $1 billion. 

© Getty Images

A stiff upper lip has long been associated with the British royal family, but King Charles III has never been one to hide his emotions - especially the happy ones! 

His Majesty is often seen breaking into a smile during royal engagements, earning the title of one of the happiest monarchs around. 

Starting with his coronation in 2022, we've looked back at some of the most cheerful photos of the King, from getting the giggles at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering in 2025 to being overcome with emotion as he returned to public duties for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was revealed in 2024. 

Which photo of King Charles' infectious smile is your favourite?

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

Princess Eugenie has reportedly left her "influential" role as a mentor to the "35 under 35" initiative at King Charles's foundation after less than a year.

The initiative supports young leaders across the fashion, architecture, and environmental activism industries. Since becoming a mentor in May 2025, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's daughter supposedly only made one outing at a mentoring session in London last November. 

According to the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle, she has "quietly been dropped" amid the "disgrace" surrounding her father, Andrew, who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February.

Princess Eugenie also stepped down from Anti-Slavery International in March.

© AFP via Getty Images, CHRIS JACKSON/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has announced he will shorten his upcoming trip to Japan by one day. He had planned to spend 1 to 4 June visiting Tokyo and Hachinohe, but the latter on 4 June has been cancelled due to his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit's health.

This comes after he told the press at the Abel Prize award earlier this week that the future Queen of Norway is "seriously ill" and "getting worse".

He said: "The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health. She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit.

"And these six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can."

The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and she is currently on the waiting list for a lung transplant, but the date has not yet been set.

© Getty Images

Queen Margrethe of Denmark is on her way home to Fredensborg Palace after being discharged from Rigshospitalet. She had been hospitalised for the second time this month following the discovery of a large blood clot in her hip, the result of a fall she suffered in September 2024.

This came after she had a six-day hospital stay for angina, during which she underwent an angioplasty in a coronary artery.

A statement from the palace read: "Her Majesty is doing well, but, as with her discharge from the hospital on May 19, must continue to take it easy.

"Queen Margrethe's participation in planned appearances will be assessed on an ongoing basis. At present, there are no changes to already announced official appearances."

© WireImage

Prince Albert of Monaco's son Alexandre Grimaldi, whom he welcomed with flight attendant Nicole Coste before meeting Princess Charlene, has big plans for Monaco.

After completing a business management degree in London, the 22-year-old is planning to "modernise" the sovereign city-state.

In an interview with the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, Alexandre said: "I have set up my own company and the role of the company is to modernise Monaco into a position as a leading cultural hub and to keep Monaco culturally relevant."

Clarifying that he has Albert's blessing, he added: "My father is very much on board and across what I'm doing."

© Getty Images

Want even more royal insight? HELLO! VIP members enjoy full digital access to every issue of HELLO!, including exclusive royal features, special editions and our complete magazine archive.

Join for only £4.25 / $6.00 per month and unlock all member benefits.

© Getty Images

Queen Letizia of Spain celebrated her passion for reading at the 85th Madrid Book Fair in El Retiro Park, stepping out in a seriously statement outfit.

Her blue midi dress featured an unusual chalk-on-blackboard print and a waist-cinching ribbon, but it was the halter neckline that stole the show by highlighting the 53-year-old royal's incredibly toned arms. 

Like other fitness-focused royal women, Letizia relies on consistent strength training and weightlifting to stay healthy and energised for her packed schedule. 

Fitness experts have previously revealed the secrets behind the Queen's sculpted upper body to HELLO! - and they are very achievable.

The Madrid Book Fair, held at the beautiful Retiro Park every year, has become a regular backdrop for Queen Letizia's changing style.

Surrounded by books she loves, the Spanish monarch has embraced a much more casual vibe here in recent years, for example, surprising onlookers in 2023 with an appearance in a striped top, and swapping her usual heels for trainers in 2024.