ROYAL NEWS RECAP: Princess Lilibet turns 5, Princess Anne's special outing and more royal updates

Good morning! We are now midway through the week, and we've got plenty to keep us going, including Prince Harry going barefoot at the polo to cheer on Artemio Figueras, the son of his close friend, Nacho Figueras.

Harry's father, King Charles also has a busy day as he is hosting a 'youth opportunity summit' at Buckingham Palace, while Queen Camilla will be hosting a tea party for seriously ill children.

They aren't the only royals carrying out engagements today, as the Princess Royal is due out at a Household Cavalry Council at Hyde Park Barracks. And keeping busy, she will also attend a Trinitytide Anniversary Annual Court Meeting and Luncheon at Trinity House.

Meanwhile abroad, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are continuing their trip in Portugal, while Crown Prince Haakon is in Japan. And rounding everything off, King Frederik and Queen Mary are enjoying their annual summer cruise!

The Princess of Wales was among the royals who attended a special reception for Cancer Research. The royal, who was impacted with an undisclosed form of the disease previously, was seen speaking to numerous guests during the outing.

While the royal wasn't joined by her husband, Prince William, as ever, her hubby was on her mind. During a chat with pop star Ronan Keating and his wife, Storm, she could be heard referencing him, and making her guests giggle.

She also shared an intimate moment with Sebastian Bowe, the widow of the late Dame Deborah James. During their conversation, they spoke about how the Prince of Wales helped to support the family after Deborah passed away from bowel cancer in 2022.

Click here to find out what the royal said that got her guests smiling...

The late Princess of Wales was never shy about letting the world know how much she loved her sons. The mum of Prince William and Prince was always seen being a hands-on mum with her two boys, and a new unearthed letter has revealed that she had a very key wish for the duo.

The handwritten letter will be auctioned off to a lucky royal fan on 9 June, and it was written just days after she sat down for her infamous BBC Panorama interview with the disgraced journalist Martin Bashir.

The letter had been held by Michael Barratt for three decades after he wrote to the late royal after watching her interview. In his letter to Diana, he spoke of how difficult it can be to move on, but that life would improve.

See what Diana wrote in response and her wish for her sons here...

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Prince William undertook an outing on Wednesday when the Prince of Wales visited organisations tackling food poverty. The heir to the throne was seen heading to Peckham, where he visited PECAN, a longstanding community charity dedicated to addressing poverty and supporting vulnerable residents.

He toured the charity's main building and met staff, volunteers and individuals supported by the group, hearing first-hand about the impact of its work. His Royal Highness also visited the nearby warehouse which supplies the food bank.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Camilla has regularly spoken about his mother's prowess in the kitchen. One recipe that gets special attention is Camilla's roast chicken, with Tom previously joking in a cookery book: "My wife swore that if she heard me mention this dish one more time, she’d shove it where the sun don’t beam. Well, words to that effect.

"Because this was such a staple of my youth, I roll it out any time anyone asks if my mother is a good cook – which is pretty much all of the time."

On Wednesday, Tom appeared on Virgin Radio UK, where he revealed that Camilla has slightly updated her own recipe. Speaking to Chris Evans, Tom jested: "You get the best chicken you can afford. Shove a… place, please, place a lemon. Place a lemon actually down its neck cavity.

"She used to say 'where the sun don't shine', but it's not actually where the sun don't shine it’s the neck."

© Getty Images

I'm Laura, HELLO!'s Fashion and Beauty News Editor, and I'll be with you this afternoon bringing you the royal news as it happens.

We have an action-packed afternoon for you - all the details from Prince William's appearance at the Peckham Pub, for his community-focused tour of the south London neighbourhood.

Queen Camilla is hosting a tea party and treasure hunt at Clarence House for children supported by Dreams and Wishes, a charity dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families build precious memories.

On Wednesday afternoon, King Charles told a woman he was "really proud" of her for overcoming struggles to find a job during a meeting with young professionals at Buckingham Palace.

The monarch was joined by former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate as they met with young people supported into work by The King's Trust on Wednesday.

© Getty Images

Among those he spoke with was 28-year-old Trishna Lamichhane, who remarked that she was "really grateful" to Charles after she received work experience through his charity's retail programme.

Speaking at the Youth Opportunity Summit about moving to Belfast from Nepal, she said: "I had my experience; however, I was finding it really difficult to get interviewed, which is why I started losing my confidence.

"I had moved from a different country, and I was finding it very difficult to navigate the workplace culture here. The King's Trust helped me, and I am now in a position where I'm proud of myself because I'm actually doing something I really love."

Ms Lamichhane said Charles was "really happy to hear" she is now helping other young people step into careers in her HR role at Marks & Spencer, and said he is "really proud" of her.

The Prince of Wales made a declaration about his love of pubs as he pulled a pint at the aptly named Prince of Peckham on Wednesday afternoon.

William pulled a pint of the Jamaican lager Red Stripe under the watchful eye of Clement Ogbonnaya, who established the pub in 2017 as an inclusive "public house for all".

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Ogbonnaya, who was made an MBE in the New Year Honours said later about William's attempt: "The pressure was on, I'm not going to lie. He can't beat me, he can't pour a better pint than me, but it wasn't too far off."

The father-of-three called for pubs to be protected, stating: "I could stay here forever," as he met with regulars and newcomers at the popular bar in south London.

Chatting to residents, he told one group: "I love pubs. I want to do as much as I can to support them because I love the community. We need to protect our pubs," he stated.

After the royal finished pouring, he commented, "Not bad" as he reflected on his efforts.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Princess of Wales sent a heartfelt message following the tragic loss of three service personnel in the Royal Navy. 

The Royal Navy helicopter crashed into a field just before 4 am in Devon, a spokesman said, later revealing that three members of the Navy had tragically died. 

© Getty

The 44-year-old took to Kensington Palace's social media platforms to say she was "saddened" after hearing the news, adding that she and her husband, Prince William, are holding "their families and friends in our hearts". 

The royal is Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and is understood to be contacting the families of those who have lost their lives in the coming days.

In a personal message signed with her initial, she wrote: "I was so saddened to hear of the tragic loss of three service personnel from the Fleet Air Arm following a helicopter training exercise last night. "William and I hold their families and friends in our hearts at this very difficult time. C."

For more on this story, read Online Royal Correspondent Eleanor Dye's article here.

His Majesty King Charles is aware of the tragic Royal Navy Helicopter Crash and the death of three service personnel, and will write privately to the families.

Read more here.

The Prince of Wales has been praised for helping to break the stigma around periods after a discussion about menstrual health with young recipients of The Diana Legacy Award in East London.

Period equity and gender equality activist Vivi Lin had asked Prince William whether he had discussed the topic with his children, including 11-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte, to which William replied: "I know I will have to one day," before acknowledging that he "might need my wife to help me with that."

© Getty Images

Read more of the story here.

Queer Eye star and fashion designer Tan France, who appeared in an episode of Meghan Markle's Netflix series With Love, has suggested that the criticism for the show came from Brits who are "too cynical" and "don't care about the whimsy".

© JAKE ROSENBERG/NETFLIX

The lifestyle show was described at one point as "an utterly deranged bizarro world voyage into the centre of nothing," but Tan, a Brit who now lives in the US, has defended the concept.

Addressing this, Tan said: "Being from the UK, but living in the US, I think I understand both equally well. It was never going to be for the Brits. The Brits are too cynical, they don't care about the whimsy, they're too busy getting on with real life."

See his full remarks here.

Peter Phillips' royal wedding to Harriet Sperling is expected to be attended by multiple members of the extended royal family, but there's one relative who likely won't be in attendance; the groom's half-sibling, Felicity Tonkin.

© Getty

Felicity is the little-known daughter of Captain Mark Phillips, 77, and the half-sister of Peter and Zara Tindall. The Princess Royal's marriage to Captain Mark ended in divorce after reported affairs on both sides, with the pair having separated in 1989. 

It was confirmed in 1991 that Captain Phillips had fathered Felicity, born in August 1985. in New Zealand to art teacher Heather Tonkin, while he was still married to Anne.

Find out more about her relationship to Peter and Zara Tindall here.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh rounded off their three-day visit to Portugal by “baptising” a cask of port, aka splashing wine over a cask.

© Alamy Stock Photo

During a ceremony at Graham’s Port Lodge in Porto, Sophie was the first to splash a glass of port onto the wooden barrel, closely followed by her husband, and the couple are the latest in a line of royal visitors to take part in the time-honoured tradition.

It was a fitting end to a tour which had taken the couple from the capital Lisbon to the historic city of Porto in celebration of a centuries-old alliance between Portugal and the UK.

Good morning, royal fans!

Today is a big one for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who are celebrating their daughter, Princess Lilibet's birthday. The young royal is turning five today!

Meanwhile, Princess Anne will be visiting Portsmouth for a special solo outing where she will attend the ceremonial divisions of HMS Sultan, and open the renovated boathouse and the Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. 

Stayed tuned for all the latest royal news. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have wished her daughter Princess Lilibet a happy 5th birthday with two heartwarming photos.

The Duchess of Sussex celebrated the special occasion on social media with a rare family picture of her and Harry, who held their daughter in his arms. Lilibet was seen with her bright red hair out as Harry and Meghan beamed down at her. 

The Duchess shared another adorable photo of Lilibet in a sweet sundress in the garden while celebrating at their home in Montecito, California. 

"Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili," Meghan captioned the post. 

Queen Rania of Jordan had the most stylish designer look for a night out in London on 3 June. 

The royal delivered a speech during a discussion on day three of SXSW London, and she looked effortlessly chic in head-to-toe Dior. Rania wore the designer's 'Short Sleeve Belted Jacket' and 'Regular Fit Trousers' in black, as identified by Royal Fashion Police on Instagram. 

© Getty Images for SXSW London

The structured waistcoat, which she wore over a white shirt, gave a defined look with a belt at the waist. The royal paired her ensemble with a bracelet from Dior, white pointed-toe Christian Louboutin heels and the blue 'Spy’ Small Leather Bag' from Fendi. She wore her brunette tresses down for the special London outing. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tend to keep their two children, Princess Lilibet, five, and Prince Archie, seven, out of the spotlight. But over the years, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared the occasional rare glimpse into their family life in California. 

Meghan has shared rare photos of her little girl Lilibet to mark milestones such as International Women's Day and her birthdays – including her fifth birthday today! 

© Instagram

Last month, Meghan posted several wholesome pictures from a family day out at Disneyland, including one snap of Lilibet sharing a hug with another well-known princess: Cinderella. 

As the young royal turns five, take a look at her most adorable pictures from the private family album here. 

Queen Camilla has stepped out in London for a special solo appearance. The royal was present for the 2026 Chelsea Pensioners Founder's Day at Royal Hospital Chelsea on 4 June. 

The Founder's Day, also known as Oak Apple Day, is held in honour of King Charles II, who founded the hospital, which opened in 1692. 

© Getty Images

Camilla looked lovely in a long-sleeved pink midi dress, matching hat and a pair of small heels for the occasion. The royal met with guests and delivered a speech during her outing at the annual ceremonial event. 

That's all from me!

Handing over to the brilliant Isabelle Casey for an afternoon of royal news. 

The Princess of Wales undertook an emotional engagement on Thursday when she headed to Manchester to visit The Christie, a specialist cancer centre.

For her outing, the royal wore a blue dress, and she was seen waving at staff and patients as she arrived at the cancer centre.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

During her visit, Kate met patients being treated for cancer at the Oak Road Treatment Centre. The royal also heard about how they engaged with complementary therapies and how it helped them with their own cancer journey.

She also visited an art therapy room at the centre during a session, which was attended by those going through their treatment and those in recovery. Kate then headed to the hospital's wellbeing garden, meeting with the resident gardener, Phil Walker.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Her visit concluded with the royal heading to the Teenage and Young Adult Ward, meeting teenage patients who were in the unit, which contains amenities like a music studio, gym and social hub.

Always thoughtful about her fashion choices, Kate honoured her Manchester outing by sporting a pair of bee earrings. 

© Getty Images

The bee is the official emblem of the city, representing its industrial past and the famous work ethic of its people, and Kate couldn't help but honour this through her choice of jewellery. 

Shortly after her visit, the future Queen reflected on her visit which is one close to her heart, following her own cancer journey. 

Taking to her official social media channels, Kate wrote: "Thank you to everyone at The Christie for such a moving visit today.Meeting patients, families and staff was a powerful reminder that healing is about so much more than treatment alone. A cancer diagnosis affects every part of life, in mind, body and the deeper part of ourselves.

© Getty Images

 

"The way we process fear, uncertainty and change is deeply personal.The Christie’s commitment to holistic care, from art therapy and wellbeing spaces to emotional and spiritual support, helps people navigate not only illness, but the profound impact it can have on quality of life.

The Princess concluded: "These services empower patients to play an active role in their recovery and wellbeing, reminding us that care should always be centred on the whole person.Thank you for sharing your stories with me, and for the compassion, creativity and dedication shown every day across the hospital. C."

This summer Diana, Princess of Wales would have turned 65. The late mother of Princes William and Harry is still remembered, loved, and talked about today, whether it's through her own sons, or charities and patronages associated with her.

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

To celebrate the legacy of the People's Princess, HELLO! is hosting an intimate live podcast event on Wednesday 24 June, and the final tickets are now on sale!

The event – which will be held at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London, a five-star hotel that was visited by Diana herself as well as the then-Prince Charles, and the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip – will uncover the real Diana.

Buy tickets here!

Handing over to Becky in the US this evening!

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured driving his Land Rover near Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate with what appeared to be a mysterious bruise on his face.

The former Prince, 66, joined in the car by another man and a dog. Andrew, who was wearing a pink shirt and blue jacket,  has withdrawn from public life after being stripped of his remaining titles last October by his brother, King Charles. In January, he left Royal Lodge in Windsor and moved to Sandringham, and has hardly been seen in public since a security scare while he was dog walking on the estate last month.

Read the full report here.

There are only two days to go until Prince William and Harry's cousin Peter Phillips marries his fiancée Harriet Sperling, but our royal team has been looking back Peter's first wedding to Autumn Phillips.

© Getty Images

Three hundred guests - including the late Queen and Prince Philip - attended the 2008 ceremony, with around 70 members of Autumn's family jetting in from her home country of Canada.

But there was one surprising exception. Read the full feature here.here

Preparations for the royal wedding of the year have officially begun, and Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling haven't wasted any time in getting their stunning wedding venue – All Saints' Church in Gloucestershire – ready for their big day. 

The quaint church where their official ceremony will take place, has been closed to the public, with a sign attached to the gate with white ribbon that read: "The church will be closed to the public for a private event for a a private event from Thursday, 4th June until late afternoon of Saturday, 6th June."

The laminated sheet was headed with the Thameshead Benefice logo, which runs nine churches in the Cotswolds.