Royal family RECAP: Harry, Meghan & kids hosted by King & Queen, Albanian royals welcome son, and more

What a day we had yesterday, with the result of Prince Harry's court case against Associated Newspapers finally coming in. Our royal editor, Emily Nash, was on the scene and witnessed his reaction firsthand. 

He's back today, however, for private engagements linked to the Invictus Games after last night issuing a scathing statement about the result. 

We're also going to see King Charles for the first time since Harry's visit began. He will be joined by Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester at a reception for recipients of the King's Award for Enterprise at St James's Palace. 

Otherwise, Princess Anne will attend the 50th anniversary awards dinner for the Royal Academy of Engineering at Raffles London. She will visit the Royal Motor Yacht Club and Citizens Advice Hart. Anne will open a new housing development in Stockbridge.

© Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis

Prince Harry is currently in the UK, but, following much back-and-forth earlier this week, he won't be staying at Buckingham Palace. 

So, where will the Duke of Sussex be staying while he's in town? Our homes editor, Rachel Avery, has taken a look at the options. 

It is likely that a discrete top-secret hotel will be arranged for Prince Harry for the duration of his time in London. 

However, he could also be staying outside of the city, Rachel explains. 

Harry and Meghan even resided in Oxfordshire for a little while, so maybe he wants a return to the peace and quiet of being outside of the capital. 

Whatever he decides on will need to remain highly confidential throughout his stay. Harry has repeatedly spoken of the security threats against him and has battled to reinstate his taxpayer-funded protection in court. 

© supplied by Royal Collection,Enterprioses Ltd

There's big changes at Buckingham Palace this week. 

The Palace's gallery has undergone a makeover ahead of its summer opening this week and the Royal Collection has doubled the number of pieces on display. 

The royal residence was due to host Prince Harry this week amid confusion over his UK visit, but it is now expected to remain empty after he failed to meet the deadline to secure the accommodation.

However, members of the public will be given the chance to visit the palace themselves between 9 July and 27 September.

The new presentation, which has been described as a "once-in-a-generation re-display", took a whopping 875 hours to hang, with the collection receiving an additional 63 artworks, nearly double the previous total.

The state room’s once-pink velvet wall coverings, dating back to 1976, have been replaced with a striking emerald-green silk damask.

Visitors will have the chance to enjoy paintings by Rubens, Caravaggio and Zoffany, among many more.

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Infanta Sofia of Spain has visited the Monastery of Cogullada in Zaragoza. 

Wearing a white top with a broderie design, the royal, 19, stepped out ahead of her third official solo engagement. 

Crown Princess Leonor, 20, made an unexpected appearance in Zaragoza to support her younger sister, Infanta Sofía, ahead of a major milestone, her first-ever public speech, which she is due to deliver later today. 

The sisters joined educators during the Ibercaja Foundation's "Docentes Referentes" workshops before Sofía presents awards to the programme's winning teachers.

This afternoon, she will be presiding over the awarding of grants from the Ibercaja Foundation's Leading Teachers program. 

This event is particularly significant given that she has been Honorary President of the Foundation since last February.

King Felipe VI's youngest daughter had the opportunity to speak with the award-winning teachers from Zaragoza, Granada, Valencia, and Valladolid, who represent five innovative projects that stand out for their contribution to improving education in Spain. 

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The Princess of Wales has featured in a royal special edition of Overheard at Wimbledon! 

Kate, 44, was seen chatting with former British tennis player Tim Henman and All England Lawn and Tennis Club Chair Debbie Jevans. 

The trio discussed the tennis, as well as the Princess's recent Three Peaks Challenge, in support of the Royal Marsden, where she received her cancer treatment in 2024. 

The Princess said: "The court is so pristine" and asked Debbie if she "chooses the voice for the calls now", to which she joked: "It's way above my pay grade!"

The conversation zoomed in on them as they watched Brit star Arthur Fery play Otto Virtanen on Court 18 last Thursday. 

"Overheard at Wimbledon" is a series shared by the tennis tournament featuring comments made by spectators on The Hill, in the grounds, as well as Centre Court and the 18 other Championship grass courts.

You can read the full conversation and watch the video in the article linked above. 

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The Queen has made a surprise visit to Wimbledon on day 10 of the Championships.

Camilla arrived at the All England Club on Wednesday morning with her sister Annabel Elliott.

Wearing a turquoise chiffon dress, she smiled as she entered the players’ area, which is located next to centre court.

It's her first visit to Wimbledon for 2026 and comes after her trip to Ashdown Forest to celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh on Tuesday. 

On her first visit as patron of the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), she played Pooh sticks with children’s authors, competition winners and local children, and unveiled an all-weather walking trail named Queen’s Walk.

She told attendees that she spent "a lot of time as a child" playing Pooh sticks.

"Winnie-the-Pooh is a universal hero, people love him and his friends all over the world," she said.

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See it, say it, sorted! 

King Charles is on the case as he opened British Transport Police's newest headquarters in London today. 

The monarch, 77, met members of the police and first responders who attended the scene after the Bedford Train Crash on June 19. 

It's the King's first public engagement since his son Prince Harry began his return to the UK on Tuesday with an Invictus event at Chatham House in London. 

The Duke received news that he'd lost his High Court privacy case against the Daily Mail during the engagement, appearing visibly shaken as he gave a speech. 

Later on Wednesday, Charles is set to lead the royal family, including Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, at a reception at St James's Palace

Thank you all for joining me this morning. 

I'm now handing over to the brilliant Isabelle Casey, who will be keeping you up to date this afternoon. 

There's a lot happening so don't go anywhere!

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon will attend the match between Norway and England this Saturday evening at Miami Stadium, it has been announced. 

This won't be the first time the Norwegian royal will be showing support for his home team at this year's FIFA World Cup. 

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On Sunday, Prince Haakon joined a sea of thousands of fans seated on the ground for the football team’s trademark row ahead of the match between Norway and Brazil.

The royal's love of football is something he has passed down to his children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus couuldn't help but share their pride for the sport following Norway's triumph.

Princess Anne's daughter Zara Tindall was all laughs with former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell-Horner, on the tenth day of the Wimbledon Championships.

The duo sat alongside their respective husbands, Christian Horner and Mike Tindall and couldn't stop giggling while in prime position in centre court. 

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Geri looked beautiful wearing a white-collared ensemble, complete with a pearl necklace and oversized sunglasses. Meanwhile, Zara looked effortlessly stylish, wearing a blue and white pinstripe look. 

Princess Beatrice may not have graced the royal box yet at this year's Wimbledon Championships, but that hasn't stopped us reminiscing about her spectacular 'strawberries and cream' inspired look.

Cast your minds back to 2022, the royal, 37, attended the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in a minidress of dreams by royally-loved brand, Vampire's Wife. 

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The gown in question was the 'mini gloria' dress, which featured a ruffled hem and puffed sleeves, a winning combination to show off the royal's flawlessly tanned legs.

The design was an elegant floral pattern, the base of the dress off-white and the floral fleurie design in a warm hue of pink, the colour combination reminiscent of the famous strawberries and cream served at the championships every year.

Harriet Sperling was a heatwave vision on Wednesday when she attended the Wimbledon Championships with her new husband, Peter Phillips.

Known as the 'Juul' dress, the shirt-inspired ensemble was crafted in a striking lime green and pink colour palette and was designed by Harriet's wedding dress designer, Emilia Wickstead.  

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The website says of the ensemble: "The Juul' dress is printed with a vivid windowpane check in peach and blue hues on a bright lime ground, cut from a silk twill that lends the fabric a subtle lustre. Designed with a pointed collar, long sleeves, and a buttoned placket, the bodice is neatly tailored before giving way to a sweeping pleated skirt. A slim self-covered belt defines the waist, creating an elegant contrast between structure and movement."

The number was originally priced at £2,660 but has been marked down in the brand's summer sale.

The Princess of Wales is known for her immaculate style and for being one of the most beautiful women in the world. 

But it appears Kate, 44, is still very humble when it comes to receiving a compliment – as was shown during her visit to the Evelina London Children's Hospital on Monday. 

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The royal mother-of-three met 14-year-old Hope Turnbull, who was with her mother Connie, and had suffered a relapse of heart problems she's had since birth, but was hoping to go home soon. 

Kate asked her: "Do your friends know what you have gone through? And what you have gone through physically as well as emotionally?" Her mother said proudly: "She's a strong girl. The strongest girl I know."

As the Princess stood up after their conversation, Connie couldn't resist saying: "You are beautiful!" 

At this, the Princess smiled bashfully and quickly returned the compliment, telling her: "So are you!"

That's it from me, I am passing the blog over to Beatriz in the US! 

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Prince Harry avoided the media on Wednesday as he carried out an engagement he was supposed to tackle with his wife, Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex headed to the Royal Hospital Chelsea without the media present. The decision to exclude the press was down to the ongoing heatwave in the United Kingdom, with soaring temperatures predicted at the historic venue.

While there, Harry was met by Invictus Games Federation Trustee David Richmond, who is also the CEO of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He was also greeted by the former Invictus competitor Josh Boggi, and Deputy CEO Richard Smith.

Harry then attended a meeting with international Team Managers in planning ahead of the upcoming Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in 2027. He also joined a strategy session with former Invictus Games hosts and partners for the future of the Invictus Movement.

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The Princess of Wales is known to be a major tennis fan, and on Wednesday she released a personal message to mark the achievements of Wimbledon's breakout star, Arthur Fery.

The 23-year-old is currently the last British male player in the tournament and is a wildcard for the tournament, only having a world ranking of 114 beforehand. Following a tense match against Italy's Flavio Cobolli, the star managed to secure his place in the semi-finals of the tournament.

After the match, Kate took to her social media pages to write: "A memorable day at @wimbledon.

"Congratulations to Arthur Fery on becoming the first British wildcard to reach the Gentleman's Singles semi-finals in the Open Era, a fantastic achievement that has inspired so many."

Arthur is next due to play on Friday, where the British wildcard will be taking on Germany's Alexander Zverev.

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Good morning, and welcome to our royal coverage of the day on Thursday. While Prince Harry has been carrying out engagements in London during his visit to the UK, today he is due to travel up to Birmingham, which will be hosting the Duke of Sussex's Invictus Games next year. While there, he will be visiting a children's hospital in his capacity as a patron of WellChild.

Harry's brother, Prince William, also has plenty of work to carry out, as the Prince of Wales will be visiting Hastings to highlight the town’s fishing community and the vital work of local youth-led and community-driven organisations.

And on top of all of that, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be spending the day at London Zoo to mark the 200th anniversary of the Zoological Society of London. While there, they will visit several animal enclosures, including at Penguin Beach.

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Congratulations are in order for the Jordanian royal family as Princess Iman confirmed that she was pregnant with her second child.

The joyous family news was announced by the grandmother-to-be, Queen Rania, who already dotes on her existing grandchildren.  "A new joy on the way... Congratulations to Iman, Jameel and my beloved Amina who is going to be a big sister," she wrote on social media.

"May Allah keep you safe and sound, Lord. The grandchildren club is growing, and we couldn't be happier for Iman, Jameel, and soon-to-be big sister Amina!"

The couple looked over the moon in the picture alongside the post. Iman was pictured wearing a long dress, her husband and daughter, who appeared to be reaching down to touch her mother's bump.  

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It's no secret that members of the royal family are rich, but have you ever wondered just how exactly they're able to make their millions?

Although "royal finances can sometimes appear complex," James Chalmers, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who is responsible for the management of the monarch's financial affairs, has noted that "the underlying system is clear in principle, structured in law and refined over time to ensure the Monarch can serve with independence, accountability and in the long-term interests of the nation." 

For the King, there are three main sources of funding, one of them being the Sovereign Grant. This public money from His Majesty's Treasury is provided by the government to the royal household to cover the monarch's official expenditures. In return, the sovereign surrenders the Crown Estate's revenue account profit to the government.

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While the Duke of Sussex was busy in Birmingham, back in London, his close friend, JJ Chalmers, was unveiling the 'Spirit of Invictus' train to mark the one-year countdown to the next Invictus Games.

In a speech, the former soldier said: "None of this matters if nobody sees it. Yes, it will change the lives of those who compete but actually we would want for those people to be empowered to change the lives of those who watch it.

"So we want people to come all across the world, certainly throughout this country, to come to the games in one year’s time and we would love them to be travelling on this."

The train is due to run across the London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway networks, on routes that may take visitors to the games.

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Ormeley Lodge is now on the market for £25 million, following the death of its previous owner, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, in October 2025.

While Diana never lived at Ormeley Lodge, it played a central role in her life, reportedly being the venue where she confronted Queen Camilla over her affair with Diana's husband, the then Prince Charles.

The confrontation came at a 40th birthday party that Lady Annabel had organised for Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot.

During their confrontation, Diana reportedly told Camilla: "I would just like you to know that I know exactly what is going on. I'm sorry I'm in the way. It must be hell for both of you… don't treat me like an idiot."

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While Prince Harry is out in Birningham, the Prince of Wales was instead down in Hastings, where he was braving the heatwave.

As he arrived in the seaside town, William was seen riding East Hill funicular railway, the steepest in the UK.

The royal started his day off by meeting local fishermen, and hearing about their experiences and the challenges that the industry is facing. He also toured several of the town's most historic buildings, the wooden net shops that are painted black.

Despite the ongoing heatwave, William was dressed in his usual smart attire, wearing a light grey suit jacket and dark chinos. One woman who met the royal wisely brought a parasol to keep the heat away, something that William was quick to point out.

I''m Rachel and I'll be bringing you all the royal news this afternoon. I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine! Prince William certainly is as he's beachside today, meeting fishermen and school children in Hastings. Our Royal Editor, Emily Nash is on the ground and her update is incoming. Stay tuned!

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The Prince of Wales said he was "confident" about England's chances against Norway this weekend when asked about the football on a day trip to Hastings.

The heir-to-the-throne shared his mood when he surprised a class of four and five year olds eating their packed lunches on the beach.

Parent volunteer Ben Tivey, 40, who was accompanying daughter Tilly, five, and other members of Diamond Class at Cranbrook Church of England Primary School, raised the subject of the World Cup, telling William: “Come on England!"

The Prince, smiling broadly, replied: "I'm feeling confident."

The group, who were taking part in their first-ever school trip, were amazed to see the future King stroll past on The Stade, the town’s shingle beach..

Moments earlier, William had been presented with a silver winkle as he became an honorary member of The Winkle Club, a charitable organisation founded by local fishermen in 1900 to support deprived families in the area, which now supports good causes and community groups across the town.

"That’s a stunning winkle," said the Prince as he admired the gift, adding with a grin," I will take good care of my winkle."

William laughed as he was told how members of the Club, known as "Winklers" carry a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to "Winkle Up". Failure to do so results in a fine, which is donated to local charities.

There is an exemption for anyone "in working gear", he was told.

"I might do it on the Trooping of the Colour," he joked.

Previous holders of the title bestowed by the charitable organisation include Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Kent, Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery.

The Prince had arrived for a day of engagements in Hastings in style, riding the UK’s steepest funicular railway.

Opened in 1902, the East Hill railway looks out onto Europe’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet on The Stade.

He was greeted by a crowd of wellwishers, including a school party from Germany, several dogs and 15-month-old Sebastian Bowley, who promptly burst into tears when William crouched down to say hello.

"I know how you feel," said the Prince. "It's hot down here! Are you having a dip?" he asked locals.

When the question was posed to him, he admitted: "It might be tricky, with everyone here!"

Four-year-old Arthur Turney, who was dressed as Spiderman, told the Prince he would go for a swim, "when I get older."

"Today is the chance to swim," William told him. "Go and make a big splash!"

See more of William's visit.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla attended ZSL London Zoo today and the royal couple got to give a penguin a health check, feed a giant tortoise a foliage-filled birthday cake and Charles even had the chance to paint a snail!

"I've done many things before," the King said, giggling and wielding a brush covered in regal purple paint. "But I don’t think I have ever done this!" Their Majesties were at the world-famous attraction to mark its bicentenary year and learn more about the Zoological Society London’s (ZSL) work in pioneering scientific research and global conservation and well as its work as a visitor attraction. 

The Queen wore an animal-inspired dress by Fiona Clare, and the pair kept cool in their own ways. King Charles popped on a trendy pair of sunglasses and Camilla erected a parasol as they admired the penguins up close. 

They both completed a health check on a well-behaved penguin, and zoo vet Stefan Saverimuttu was very impressed with their skills. 

"Both of them were really enthusiastic about the penguins," he said.

"Penguins have a bit of a beak on them so I think if you’ve never met one before, they might be a bit intimidating, but neither the King or the Queen was intimidated in the slightest and they went straight in and gave it a go and they did really well."

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This morning Prince Harry visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate 20 years of the charity WellChild’s specialist nursing programme. Nurses flocked around him for photos, while he was keen to tell them: "Thank you for everything you do."

During the visit, he met with 12-year-old Alec Hill, and in a chat with the child he spoke about his own son. 

"Do you know who’s obsessed with Lego? My son Archie – and he's a master builder," said Harry. 

The Duke of Sussex is WellChild's patron, and the royal told a room of the charity's executives, nurses and families: "I don’t know if you hear it enough, the difference that you make every single day is quite literally changing daily lives."

He added: "I understand, and we understand, that becomes harder every week with cuts and financial difficulties… just the insanity that seems to be circulating, not just in this country but in general.

"But hospitals like this don’t run without people like you, and families like this can’t be families that they want to be at home without the expertise and the skill set that you’re handing over to them, and WellChild is right at the centre of that."

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During Prince William's day out at the beach in Hastings, he put his putting skills to the test at the Hastings Adventure Miniature Golf, where the World Crazy Golf Championships 2026 took place last month.

PA Media reports that he played three holes against Murray Thompson, one of the top-ranked crazy-golfers in the UK, and met local players David and Marian Harley, who took up the game in their retirement.

Admiring the course next to the seafront, William told them: "If this is on your doorstep you've got to use it."

Watching Mr Thompson sink three consecutive hole-in-ones, the prince joked "you make it look so easy", as his opponent celebrated.

He then had a "whoops" moment where he missed the ball - watch below

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Speaking at an exclusive HELLO! live podcast event at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London last month, British designer Jacques Azagury shared a heartbreaking story about an unfinished dress that became an unexpected reminder of Princess Diana's final days. 

Before her tragic death in Paris, Diana had visited Jacques' studio for a dress fitting. The glamorous gown was intended for a major Disney fundraising premiere and with its very high slit and opulent train. Sadly, the royal never got to wear the gorgeous design.

Discover what the designer had to say about the iconic item and see the design in our full article. 

Handing over now to the lovely Rebecca Lewis to bring you the evening's royal news as it happens.