King Charles and Queen Camilla lead first day of Royal Ascot as Prince George's school future is confirmed

Good morning! Welcome to another busy week of royal news. I'll be keeping you up to speed on all the latest updates from royal households across the globe. 

So, what's on today's agenda?  

The King, Queen and members of the royal family will attend a service at Windsor Castle in celebration of Garter Day. Meanwhile, Princess Anne, as President of The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences, will hold a 70th Anniversary Dinner at St. James's Palace.

Elsewhere, Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been found guilty of rape. 

Marius Borg Høiby has been found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison.

The 29-year-old son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who joined the court session via video link, was cleared of two other counts of rape, but found guilty of many of the other offences he had been accused of.

Marius had pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations.

Prosecutors had called for Marius to be given seven years and seven months in prison. His defence lawyers had called for a shorter term of 18 months and can appeal against the verdict.

The seven-week trial comes during a turbulent time for the Norwegian royals. Marius' mother, Mette-Marit, was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis that causes breathing difficulties. She was placed on a lung transplant list earlier this month. 

The Court of Appeal recently turned down a bid for Marius to be allowed out to see his mother, Mette-Marit, amid her declining health. 

Earlier this month, Marius told Oslo district court: "Being locked up when I know mom is so ill is unbearable," according to broadcaster NRK.

© Alamy

The King and Queen will lead the Garter Day celebrations today. But what exactly is it? 

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago.

It is celebrated annually with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle, and is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Royal calendar. 

The Order includes The King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, The Queen, several Members of the Royal Family, and up to 24 Companions.

Companions of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.

What the happens on Garter Day?

Garter Day is celebrated every June at Windsor Castle with a grand procession of the knights, accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all in grand ceremonial dress.

The day begins with the monarch formally investing any new Companions with the Order's insignia in the Throne Room of the Castle. This is followed by a lunch, hosted by the Sovereign, and then a service in St. George's Chapel, where any new Companions are installed. 

The monarch and other members of the Order are then taken via carriages and cars to the Upper Ward of the castle.

© Getty

Happy Birthday, Prince Nicolas of Sweden! The second child and only son of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill, turned 11 today. 

Princess Madeleine, who is the youngest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, marked the occasion with a sweet message on Instagram. 

"Happiest 11th Birthday Nicolas! We all love you so very much!" she wrote. 

Princess Madeleine also shares daughters Leonore and Adrienne with her husband, Christopher O'Neill.

During an interview at Stockholm's Hotel Diplomat with POINT DE VUE earlier this year, Madeleine shared how she balances being a princess, a businesswoman and a philanthropist, as well as being a mother of three. 

"As women, we all wear many hats: mothers, active women, sisters, and friends. Of course, my role as a mother will always be my priority," said the royal, who married British-American financier Christopher O-Neill in 2013. 

The family moved back to Sweden in 2024, after spending several years living abroad in Florida and New York. 

"It was time to come home. I missed my family and close friends," explained Madeleine. "I also felt like my children were growing up as little Americans. 

"It was important for me to bring them here and pass on their Swedish heritage. Living abroad has been a wonderful experience."  

Congratulations are in order for Lukas von Lattorf and Countess Marie Wilczek, who tied the knot on 6 June in the parish church of Stockerau (Lower Austria).

While Lukas is the eldest of the seven children of Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein and German nobleman, Philipp von Lattorff, Countess Marie is the youngest child of Count Hans-Christian von Wilczek and Katharina von Hartig.

The wedding mass was celebrated by Father Martin Rauch, before a wedding reception attended by close family and friends. 

© Rumpler/Jeuter

Celebrations for King Charles' official birthday were held on Saturday as the monarch, along with his wife Queen Camilla and a host of royal faces attended Trooping the Colour in London. 

Prince William, Princess Kate and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were among the royals watching the flypast over Buckingham Palace. 

At one point, Kate and her three children faced boos from anti-monarchy protestors while travelling in the Ascot Landau carriage during the royal procession. During their journey from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back, the Wales family faced chants from anti-monarchy protests, staged by the group Republic, who held banners reading "Stop the Reign" and chanted "not my King" and "not my Queen". 

Despite the distraction, the Princess remained perfectly composed and directed a cool glance in their direction. 

Elsewhere, Princess Kate and Prince William put on a united display during the Red Arrows flypast. 

While the family have faced a difficult few years, with Princess Kate's cancer treatment, the royal couple put on a united display - and looked more in love than ever. 

Known for their subtle displays of affection as opposed to grand PDAs, the pair were spotted sharing a brief look of love, flashing smiles at one another as they enjoyed the display. 

Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians take part in the display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare. The parade travels from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and closes with the Royal Air Force fly-past. 

© Getty Images

Prince Harry stepped out in Texas over the weekend, volunteering to barbecue food prepared by United Airlines for competitors, families, and staff at the Warrior Games in San Antonio.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, was seen flipping burgers in videos on social media shared by the Fisher House Foundation, which provides for veterans. 

Harry also posed for selfies and "photobombed" other people's snaps by jumping into the frame.

The Fisher House Foundation wrote: "A special lunch came with a special surprise today. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, joined the Warrior Games Family Program serving up bbq cooked up by the @united airlines bbq team to families competitors and staff.

"More than a decade after attending his first @dowwarriorgames, Prince Harry continues to return to the event that helped inspire the creation of the @weareinvictusgames, a meaningful reminder of the lasting impact of adaptive sports and the resilience, determination, and camaraderie on display throughout the week."

While Harry was away in Texas, his wife Meghan appeared to host a girls' game night at theirMontecito home.

Kelly McKee Zajfen, one of Meghan's closest friends, shared on Instagram: "Ugh oh. Another one has been taken by the Maj bug, that being me. A perfect day spent with my ladies and having some much-needed mama time. Thanks M & T." 

© Instagram / @fisherhousefdtn

Did you know that Queen Camilla is a huge fan of The Archers? 

The 78-year-old describes herself as an "Archers addict" and played herself in a 2011 episodes of the long-running BBC Radio 4 show, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with a live tour.

Tim Bentinck, 73, who has played the patriarch David Archer since 1982 and in real life is the 12th Earl of Portland, told HELLO! that during his investiture for his MBE in 2018, the King leaned over and told him: "My wife would be so jealous. She's such a fan."

Camilla has met the cast on various occasions and visited the home of the programme  in Birminham in 2011.

Sunny Ormonde, 78, who plays property developer Lilian Bellamy, reflected on the royal's visit. "She came into the show and was absolutely delightful," she told HELLO!. "She asked me where my [distinctive] laugh came from. I said to her: 'From the bottom of a gin bottle, ma'am.'

"I don't know if she winked at me. I was a bit flustered. The Archers has been a source of comfort to her. She said that in times of stress, she knows she can come back home, throw off her shoes and listen to The Archers."

Queen Camilla isn't the show's only royal fan. The late Princess Margaret was such a devotee that she appeared as herself in a guest appearance in 1984 and would "shush" Queen Elizabeth II if her sister tried to talk to her during an episode.

Read the full story here. 

© Getty Images

Royal fans will get the chance to hear untold stories about Diana, Princess of Wales at our live podcast recording, held to celebrate the late Princess' life and legacy.

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

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

The event 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.

Our royal experts and hosts of A Right Royal Podcast, Emily Nash and Andrea Caamano, will uncover the real Diana as they quiz our guest speakers, authors Ingrid Seward and Andy Webb and designer Jacques Azagury. Audience members will also get the chance to ask their own questions in a Q&A.

Buy a ticket here. 

Or, if you want to get your hands on a very heavily discounted ticket, sign up to become a HELLO! VIP member. Scroll down for more details below!

© UK Press via Getty Images

© Getty

Good afternoon, everyone!

I'm taking over from Nicky now - we've got a very exciting afternoon lined up. 

The King, Queen, and other members of the royal family are set to attend the Garter Day celebrations with a service at Windsor Castle - we'll be bringing you the latest when we get it.

Meanwhile, Princess Anne will be hosting a dinner at St James's Palace. 

Garter Day is celebrated annually with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle, and is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Royal calendar. 

We can't wait to see the pictures - they're always fantastic! 

© Getty Images

We've got our first arrivals at the Garter Day service in Windsor!

So far, we've seen the Princess of Wales, wearing butter yellow, and Duchess Sophie in florals. 

The Order of the Garter, Britain's oldest chivalric order established by Edward III, includes the King, Queen, Royal Family members, and up to 24 companions honoured for their public service. 

Companions of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.

© Getty Images

We love seeing the Princess of Wales and Duchess Sophie together - they always look like they're having such a good time!

Both royals look effortlessly stylish today, and we've now got details of what they're wearing. 

Kate wore a pale yellow coat dress by Patrick McDowell, who she presented with the Queen Elizabeth II prize for design last year. 

The fabric was woven for her by Stephen Walters & Sons, in Suffolk and she finished her outside with a wide-brimmed hat by Jane Taylor, trimmed with the same fabric, and earrings by Robinson & Pelham.

She and Sophie, in a white dress with a pink and blue floral motif and matching pink and nude hat, waved to the crowd and chatted animatedly to one another as they waited. 

We'll have more details with you shortly!

© Getty Images

The King has led the royal family in the annual Garter Day procession at Windsor Castle, honouring the UK's oldest and most senior order of chivalry.

Charles was joined by Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at a lunch to mark the occasion before making their way to St George’s Chapel for the annual service.

They were watched from the Galilee Porch by the Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who all chatted with the clergy on arrival. 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Prince William is wearing the Garter Robes - a splendid velvet outfit for the special occasion. 

It features a blue velvet mantle (cape) with the red cross of St George encircled by the garter. 

The robes are worn annually at the Order of the Garter service, but can also be seen at major events, such as King Charles's coronation in 2023. 

Prince William became the 1,000th Knight of the Order on 16 June 2008 when he was invested in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle by The Queen. 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Princess of Wales is fresh from her Trooping the Colour appearance on Saturday - and she's already given us another fashionable display!

Kate, 44, delighted onlookers in her elegant outfit, which consisted of a glorious, midi-length butter-yellow coat dress. 

The stylish ensemble featured a button-down front, oversized statement pockets and subtle embossed detail, which was visible as the style caught the light.

The mother of three donned a resplendent boater hat and wore her hair in a lightly waved style, with subtle touches of makeup highlighting her beautiful features. 

She also wore her wedding earrings, which were designed by Robinson Pelham. 

The stunning drop styles were a gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, as our beauty writer, Laura Sutcliffe, explores. 

It appears to be rather windy in Windsor!

Both Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie are wearing wide-brimmed hats, and needed to hold onto them to stop them blowing away. 

Our royal editor, Emily Nash, is at the scene. You can watch her footage above!

© Getty Images

Princess Anne is also at the Garter Day service, wearing the official velvet robes. 

The Princess Royal, 75, who is often referred to as the "hardest-working" royal, was taking her job very seriously as she joined crowds at Windsor. 

Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence watched from the Galilee Porch alongside the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh, who all chatted with the clergy on arrival.

The King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, is joined by the Queen and other Royal Knights and Ladies of the order, as well as up to 24 companions, who are personally chosen by the King in recognition of their contribution to national life or for personal service to the Sovereign.

Notable figures taking part this years included former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, former Conservative Party chairman Lord Patten and former diplomat and Labour Peer Baroness Amos.

The service began with the installation of the new Garter knights and they took their places in their stalls, followed by the King, before the congregation joined in the Lord's Prayer. 

Following the service, Their Majesties and Members of the Royal Family will depart by carriages for their return journey to the Castle.

© Getty Images

Prince William was joined by his uncle, Prince Edward, in the Garter Day procession. 

They were watched by their wives, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh, who chatted with the clergy on arrival. 

Kate and Sophie, in a white dress with a pink and blue floral motif and matching pink and nude hat, waved to the crowd and chatted animatedly to one another.  

As the royal party walked past them, there were nods and smiles of recognition for some of the Garter companions, followed by a smile for Prince William from the Princess. The Duchess did likewise for Prince Edward. 

Both women then dropped into a curtsy as the King and Queen, both smiling broadly, came into view.   

© Andrew Parsons / Buckingham Palace

We love this portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla as they arrived at the Garter Day service today. 

The Queen is wearing a white chiffon evening dress by Fiona Clare.

Like the other members of the royal family, she is wearing a Garter robe and a Garter hat with a white feather. 

Charles is also in his Garter robes today. 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Duchess Sophie wore her hair in a pleated chignon for the Order of the Garter service - and it's seriously impressive! We're not quite sure how it's staying in place. 

Sophie, 61, looked as resplendent as ever in her formal attire, which consisted of a fabulous new dress by one of her favourite brands, Suzannah London. 

Known as the 'Gabriella', the design featured a striking floral print and was crafted in a beautiful printed Italian silk crepe.

© Getty Images

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

We love Kate's look of love for William!

The Princess of Wales gazed proudly at her husband as she watched him in the annual Garter Day procession. 

As William walked past with Prince Edward, she gave him a beaming smile. Duchess Sophie did likewise for her husband. 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

After a final blessing from the prelate, the Bishop of Winchester, the royal family emerged from the West Door of the Chapel and took their seats in carriages to return to the castle. 

The King and Queen went first, waving to the more than 4,400 ticket holders who were lining the route. 

There were cheers and applause as they swept past. William and Kate came next, the Princess holding onto her hat in the breeze, as both waved. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester followed, as did the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with Princess Anne and Sir Tim.

Thank you everyone for joining us at HELLO! for our Garter Day service coverage. 

We're still getting lots of wonderful pictures through, so stay tuned!

I'm now handing over to the lovely Beatriz, who will bring you the latest. 

© Getty Images

In a statement in support of Keir Starmer banning children under 16 from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared in a statement: "We welcome the UK Government's announcement of new measures to better protect children online. The stories shared through The Lost Screen Memorial remind us that behind every debate about technology and regulation are real families whose lives have been forever changed."

It continued: "While measures such as these may help reduce harm, they do not fix the problem at its source. Lasting change requires safer platforms by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to putting children’s wellbeing ahead of engagement and profit. The burden cannot rest solely on parents and children. It must also be borne by the companies. Until then, every day without meaningful change is another day that children remain exposed to preventable harm. Stronger protections are better than inaction, and today’s announcement is a welcome step forward."

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Princess of Wales has marked Children's Hospice Week by paying tribute to the "extraordinary places" that allow young children to "experience joy, belonging and the freedom to be who they are."

"Every childhood deserves to be rich in joy, love, and shared memories. As Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, I have been privileged to see first hand how children's hospices make this possible for babies, children and young people living with serious illness," the princess said.

"Children’s hospices are vibrant, joyful and nurturing environments where children can simply be children; to play, explore, express themselves and connect with others. For families, hospices offer a dependable, compassionate and restorative space to breathe, be together, and find strength in a community that understands their journey," she continued. "Children’s hospices are places that protect connection; between children and their families, between families and their communities, between hospice staff and the people they support,  and within each child’s own sense of self."

"When we shine a light on the remarkable, yet often unseen, work that children’s hospices do to help families live as fully as possible, we can break down one of the greatest barriers they face: the fear that reaching out means giving up hope, or that care only begins at the very end. Even in the most challenging circumstances, when children are surrounded by attuned care, opportunities for expression, and environments that nurture their whole selves, they can experience joy, belonging and the freedom to be who they are.These extraordinary places remind us that even in the face of serious illness, childhood remains a time of creativity, connection and possibility."

The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh executed the perfect double curtsy as they attended Garter Day at Windsor Castle on Monday.

Princess Kate and Sophie, who is married to Prince Edward, curtsied as King Charles and Queen Camilla walked by.

The Princess of Wales delighted onlookers in her elegant outfit, which consisted of a midi-length butter-yellow coat dress. 

That's all we have for you for now, but we will be right back here early tomorrow morning for all of Tuesday, June 16's royal news.

Cheers!

Hello, and welcome to another edition of our royal blog, which features all the royal news from across the globe that you need to know!

Today is a very exciting day, as Royal Ascot will be kicking off. We can expect plenty of royals to head to the races over the next few days, and HELLO! will also be covering all the glamorous guests who show up for this pinnacle of horse racing.

One royal that will miss out on the joy today is the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Edward will be starting his day at Production Park in Pontefract, Yorkshire, before travelling to Barnard Castle to meet participants taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, before heading to the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

Although when we think of the royals, our minds instantly go to the likes of Buckingham Palace, Balmoral or Sandringham, there is another royal home that is treasured among members of the royal family.

The late Queen was long known to dislike living in her London Palace, and she had lived in nearby Clarence House before becoming monarch. Her son, King Charles, has followed in her footsteps, living in the property since 2003, although he and Queen Camilla will be departing next year.

Another royal who loved the home was the late  Queen Mother, who moved in with her daughter Princess Margaret shortly before the Coronation. During her time there, a Georgian marble chimneypiece and a plaster ceiling with her own crown were installed in the Morning Room, while works of art by John Piper and Augustus John and pieces from Fabergé decorated the interiors.

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

Tuesday has turned into a big day for Prince George, as it was confirmed by Kensington Palace that the eldest child of the Wales family would be heading to Eton College in the new academic year. This means that he will be following in the footsteps of both his father, Prince William, and his uncle, Prince Harry, who both studied at there.

The young royal had several options, but the choice of Eton means that he will still remain close to his family, with the school being found in Windsor. Keep checking with HELLO! throughout the day as we will bring you all that you need to know about the future King's education over the next few years.