The Empire State Building is arguably the Crown Jewel in New York's iconic skyline, so when HELLO!'s hosts of A Right Royal Podcast hopped across the pond to record their first live episode in front of an audience, it was only natural to make a pit stop first at the famed city attraction.
And it's one destination that several royals have flocked to. Most recently, Princess Beatrice visited in 2024 to support The Big Rappel, whereby 20 participants rappelled nearly 900 feet from the building's spire down to the 30th floor, all for charity. Beatrice was on hand to cheer on the participants and also flipped the switched to officially light the building.
Like Beatrice, our podcast hosts were given special treatment and shown to the VIP room before they ascended to the top. Prince William also went to the very top in 2014 during his and Kate's visit to New York City.
And the Empire State Building has changed colour to celebrate various royal occasions in the past, including the birth of baby Prince George in 2013, and more recently the King and Queen's historic state visit to the US in April.
Watch the video below to learn more fun royal facts from our podcast hosts.
A Right Royal Podcast takes New York
Our hosts of A Right Royal Podcast recorded a very special episode during their time in New York City. Speaking in front of a live audience at the Moxy NYC Chelsea hotel, our hosts Emily Nash, Andrea Caamano, and Emmy Griffiths explored the royal family's love affair with New York City.
© Mike McGregorThey were also joined by JFK Jr.'s former chief of staff, RoseMarie Terenzio, author of Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love and Loss and JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography. RoseMarie revealed details about JFK Jr.'s top secret meeting with Diana, Princess of Wales at The Carlyle hotel.
RoseMarie remembered John describing Diana as "shy" and having "great legs." The meeting is said to have been "warm," with the Princess having a "sort of motherly tendency toward" John, who by that point had lost both of his parents. "She felt for him and she felt empathy for his life," RoseMarie said. "And I think she also had a lot of respect for the way he carried himself and the way he lived his life."
To watch the full episode, and to hear more untold royal anecdotes, sign up to HELLO! VIP. Here's a teaser of what to expect:
