Royal family 29-30 June: Queen Camilla 'nudges' King Charles on personal hobby ahead of garden party at Holyroodhouse, more

Good morning! It's another busy week for royals across the globe, and we'll be keeping you up to speed on all the latest updates. 

So, what's on today's agenda? 

The King and Queen are preparing for a series of engagements in Scotland as Royal Week begins.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh, as Master of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, will visit Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, 21 Thistle Street. He'll also attend a Royal Lyceum Theatre Dinner and Performance.

The King and Queen will attend a series of engagements in Scotland this week as Royal Week begins.

Charles' first engagement takes place in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where he'll receive a Royal Salute and inspect a guard of honour provided by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.

He will then be formally welcomed to the Scottish capital with the Ceremony of the Keys, in which Lord Provost Robert Aldridge will present the keys to the City of Edinburgh to the monarch, who will return them for safe keeping.

On Tuesday, Charles will preside over an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, before he and Camilla host guests at a garden party at the palace, alongside the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.

On Wednesday, Charles will visit Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, where he will watch a procession taking place as part of the town's Jethart Callant festival. He will also be invited to start the annual game of hand ba’, a street sport that has been played in the town every year since 1704.

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Royal Week, which is also known as 'Holyrood Week', takes place from the end of June to the beginning of July every year. The monarch traditionally spends a week visiting various places in Scotland while based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These visits celebrate Scottish culture, achievement and community. 

Royal Week always commences at Holyrood Palace with the Ceremony of the Keys, where the King is welcomed into the city of Edinburgh by the Lord Provost, who offers him the keys of the city.

There is an Investiture during the week, which recognises Scottish residents who have made a significant contribution to society.

The monarch also holds a Garden Party, welcoming around 8,000 people for an afternoon in the grounds of the Palace. The Party is usually accompanied by music from regimental bands and The Royal Scottish Pipers Society. 

Royal Week may also sometimes include the Thistle Service at St Giles' Cathedral.

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The Princess of Wales took on the Three Peaks Challenge this weekend, raising awareness of life beyond a cancer diagnosis, plus funds for The Royal Marsden, the hospital where she received her treatment.

The 44-year-old was cheered on by her family as she climbed the UK's three highest mountains – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales – over 24 hours.

While she undertook the challenge alone, with support along the way from Mountain Rescue, she was greeted by Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her brother James, at the bottom of Yr Wyddfa.

The Princess walked 23 miles, climbed 3,064 and travelled 462 miles as part of the challenge. In a photo shared on social media, Kate is pictured beaming in a raincoat and baseball cap at the summit of Ben Nevis on the evening of June 27.

In a statement, Kate wrote: "Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone. 

"I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back. The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people."

Read the full story here. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK next month, marking the Duchess of Sussex's first visit in six years. 

But what will the pair get up to whilst they are in the UK?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to travel to the UK for Invictus Game commitments.

For her first UK engagement in over half a decade, Meghan will join Harry as they attend meetings related to Invictus at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners and their distinctive red uniform.

Prince Harry will also visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its "WellChild Nurse", a role created to support children with complex medical conditions and their families.

While it was initially believed that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would accompany their parents for their UK trip, it appears that their attendance will be determined by security. No satisfactory security has yet been set out to assure the Prince that it is safe to bring his children across the pond.

The Telegraph reported that while Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet might not join Harry for the whole trip, they could be flown in and out of the United Kingdom in a single day.

Read more here. 

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde hosted Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at an official Belgian state banquet last week. The event took place at the Royal Castle of Laeken, the residence of the Belgian royal family in Brussels.

In an official photo, the Emperor and Empress of Japan posed alongside the Belgian royals, including the King and Queen's children, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eléonore, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel. It marks the first time all four of the couple's children have been in attendance at a state banquet. 

The couple's youngest child, 18-year-old Princess Eleonore, even made her debut in a tiara, wearing a previously unseen item from the royal collection. The piece, made by Brussels jeweler Coosemans, was sold at auction in 2019 and was gifted to the princess for her 18th birthday in April from her parents, the King and Queen, according to royal reporter Rick Evers.

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In case you missed it, Princess Anne once again proved that she's the queen of recycling as she wore a 42-year-old dress to an event in London.

The 75-year-old was the image of elegance as she arrived at the Centenary Banquet of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners at Guildhall alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. 

The Princess donned a sheer yellow gown with short sleeves, a pink rose print and a cape detail - the very same dress she wore during a 1984 trip to Gambia for her role as patron with Save the Children UK.

The royal also donned a pair of white gloves and a pair of matching heels.

This isn't the first time Anne has recycled her clothes. At her son Peter Phillips' wedding to Harriet Sperling earlier this month, Anne sported the same butter yellow hat she wore to her daughter Zara Tindall's christening in 1981.

When asked why she chooses to recycle outfits, the Princess told Vanity Fair in 2020: "Because I'm quite mean. I still try and buy materials and have them made up because I just think that's more fun. It also helps to support those who still manufacture in this country. We mustn't forget we've got those skills, and there are still places that do a fantastic job."

Read more here.

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We suspect that King Charles and Queen Camilla might be feeling a little blue, as their friend Dame Penelope Keith has passed away.

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The actress spoke at Queen Camilla's 75th birthday and has been seen joking with the royals on many occasions. We're sending our condolences to all who knew Penelope. 

Wimbledon kicked off today, and who was there in the crowds? None other than the Duke of Kent, who is rarely seen at the tennis tournament - we hope he had a great time at the match!

The Prince of Wales invited us into his personal memories of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, sharing when she was most herself and  "completely at ease" - find out when that was here and prepare to feel emotional at his sweet recollections!

Prince Harry is due to set foot on UK shores once more this month, bringing Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie with him - but security is reportedly still an issue, with the safety of his family his utmost priority.

A spokesperson for the Duke has issued a statement that the protective father will "explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely."

The statement read: "Prince Harry’s programme in the United Kingdom includes both public and private engagements across the country. Safe accommodation is only one element of an effective protective security plan because risk follows the person, not the place.

"The issue has never been accommodation. The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit. The independent Risk Management Board that RAVEC itself decided was necessary last November has still not taken place. 

"It is therefore difficult to understand how the proportionality of the current arrangements can credibly be maintained without that independent assessment."

Here's hoping the whole family can make the trip feeling secure and safe. 

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Good morning and welcome back to HELLO!'s royal blog. The heatwave may have well and truly vanished, but the royals are still just as busy.

Royal Week continues to take place, with senior royals, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Prince Edward all carrying out engagements north of the border. The main highlight today will be the hosting of a garden party at Holyroodhouse. We hope the weather holds out for the royals!

Elsewhere today, Anne will be opening the National Office of Victim Support Scotland in Edinburgh, while in his capacity as Duke of Edinburgh, Edward will be visiting Fisherrow Community Centre.

On top of all of that, Wimbledon will be continuing, so keep an eye out, as there may be royals there again!

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Prince Albert has issued a strong statement following a parcel bomb that seemingly targeted Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. A couple and a teenager nearby were also injured in the blast.

Following the bombing, Albert said: "The criminal explosion that occurred this evening in Monaco is a shock for the entire Monegasque community. My thoughts go first to the victims, to their loved ones and to the residents directly affected by this brutal act.

"Princess Charlene, my family and I wish to express to them our compassion and our unwavering support. We also wish to commend the remarkable work of the Public Security forces, who are managing the situation with rigour and composure, and who have ensured that the victims were swiftly cared for and the area secured.

Under the authority of the Government, all the relevant State services are currently mobilised, in close cooperation with the French authorities. We trust them to establish the circumstances of this tragedy as swiftly as possible, to identify those responsible and to provide every necessary response, at every level."

He concluded by saying: "More than ever, the Principality of Monaco will remain united and resolute in the face of violence and crime. The safety of our community has always been a priority; it will remain so more than ever, whatever the threats."

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One of Prince William's largest interests since becoming Prince of Wales is tackling homelessness, an issue which was also important for his late mother, Princess Diana.

On Tuesday, William marked the third anniversary of Homewards, and in a speech, he is expected to call for further action. "Homelessness is not an individual failure; it is a systemic failure," he will say. "And, if systems help create the problem, then systems can help prevent it."

William launched his ambitious five-year Homewards initiative in June 2023 to create a blueprint to end homelessness in all its forms and has taken stock of the progress so far.

During the past three years, Homewards has invested £1.9 million across the six locations through the Homewards Fund, with another £3.5 million leveraged through grants and private philanthropy, organisers have said.

A further £2.3 million worth of surplus goods has been used to furnish Homewards homes, and 250 people have been supported into stable employment. In Aberdeen alone, 31 people are now living in homes created through the programme.

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen joining the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the first time he has publicly been seen with a member of his family since his exile. The trio were at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials, which was founded by Prince Philip in 1982.

Andrew was seen driving his Land Rover Defender away from the annual event, with Edward leaving shortly afterwards. He was pictured in a light blue shirt with a pair of sunglasses, accompanied by a man with a dog, likely his security.

The former Duke of York resides on the Sandringham Estate at the five-bedroom farmhouse, Marsh Farm, after he was exiled from Royal Lodge in Windsor in February over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Good afternoon! I'll be taking over from the lovely Matt on the blog this afternoon, keeping you up to date on all the biggest royal news.

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Queen Camilla proudly declared her first visit to the Royal Scottish Academy of Art during Royal Week as the "first of many." Joking about her own creative abilities compared to her husband King Charles and late father-in-law, Prince Philip, she admitted: "I do try to paint very badly, but sadly don’t have the time."

The main highlight of her remarks came when she proposed bringing some of King Charles' personal artwork to Edinburgh one day. When RSA President Gareth Fisher enthusiastically welcomed the prospect, Camilla smiled and promised she would mention the idea to the King. "I shall give him a nudge in the right direction," she replied.

The Queen also spent time admiring the current exhibition before cutting a beautiful commemorative cake.

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King Charles was treated to a vibrant official welcome complete with pipes, drums and bows and arrows as he kicked off his week in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The spectacular arrival was accompanied by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland playing lively renditions of 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)' and 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.'

As part of the historic tradition, the King participated in the Ceremony of the Keys. Edinburgh's Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, formally presented the keys to the capital, which Charles returned for "safe keeping" to the local councillors.

The King replied: "I return these keys, being perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh."

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Later in the day, the monarch greeted the newly appointed Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Kenneth Gibson, who was elected on 14 May 2026.

At the time, he said: "As Presiding Officer I will be bold, innovative and imaginative and will work in the interests of all Members.

"It’s clear that Parliament needs to reform and to renew its relationship with the people. Scotland needs a Parliament that is vibrant, relevant and trusted. I will play my part in delivering that."

On Monday, Charles was pictured warmly smiling and shaking hands with Kenneth inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which featured wood-panelled walls, a vintage red rug, a large marble fireplace and yellow curtains lining the windows.

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The Devil Wears Prada star Vanessa Williams has opened up about a "cheeky" encounter with King Charles during a past appearance at the Royal Variety Show. Speaking exclusively to HELLO! while attending the Emirates x HELLO! Suite on day two of Wimbledon, she revealed she had a mishap while participating in a magic trick alongside illusionists Penn and Teller.

The Ugly Betty actress had trouble opening a padlock, prompting a post-show quip from His Majesty. "When I did the Royal Variety Show, I did a quick magic trick with Penn and Teller, and I had to open up a padlock, and I had a little trouble getting it open, so he mentioned: 'You had a little trouble getting that lock open, ' but that was the only cheeky thing that was said." 

Vanessa also opened up about cementing her "honorary Brit" status permanently. With her current home up for sale, she revealed she is considering a move to London and scouting central neighbourhoods like Marylebone, Mayfair and Kensington.

Lady Marina Windsor and Nico Macauley’s breathtaking North Yorkshire wedding featured an "extra heavenly element" - several beloved family animals.

The Duke of Kent's golden labrador Bramble was among the canine wedding party who walked down the aisle, creating a "hilarious" trip to the altar. The groom, Nico, exclusively told HELLO!: "They were all going in the wrong places. Ronnie was sitting in the reverend’s seat at the start of the service. They were saying hello to everyone. And then Bramble got in the way of the choir and was trying to get up when they were singing."

The animal theme continued with a surprise flower-adorned confetti donkey from the groom's mother. Marina explained: "I wanted to have as many animals as possible, and we had sort of forgotten about that, so it made me so happy. It was the most wonderful, extra heavenly element." 

That's all from me! Stick around for more updates from the HELLO! team this evening...

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Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales and Prince William are not among the reported 1,000 guests joining Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at their nuptials, People reports, which are allegedly taking place Fourth of July weekend at Madison Square Garden. 

William had previously jokingly shared his hopes of getting an invite, during an appearance on Heart Breakfast in May, when co-host Amanda Holden asked whether he had received one. 

"No comment," he said with a smile, before adding: "I'm hoping, and I'm sure there might be an invitation around, but we'll see."

The Prince and the "Cruel Summer" singer have had plenty friendly interactions before, first in 2013 at the Centrepoint Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace when they sang "Livin' on a Prayer" together, and most recently when William celebrated his 42nd birthday by taking Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Taylor's Eras Tour stop at Wembley Stadium in June 2024.