Royal Family RECAP: Princess Kate makes surprise return to Royal Marsden Hospital for touching visit

© Getty Images

Standing outside Eton College in full uniform for the first time on Tuesday, Prince George was the double of his father, Prince William, three decades prior.

Dressed in the school's signature uniform, the 13-year-old looked remarkably like William did on his own first day back in 1995.

Earlier that morning, when William and Kate dropped him off, the pair even arrived in matching navy suits and suede shoes, right down to the similar cuts of their ties.

It's certainly not the first time royal watchers have spotted the pair dressing alike. For years, the "Prince George effect" has seen almost everything the young royal wears sell out in minutes—including a few vintage hand-me-downs from William's own childhood wardrobe.

Here are some of the best moments father and son have dressed alike over the years.

September 11 exposed the depths of human cruelty, but it also revealed extraordinary kindness and empathy. 

In the wake of the tragedy, strangers stepped up to help one another, first responders risked everything to save lives, and nations around the world stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States, led in a historic show of support by Queen Elizabeth II.

Expressing her "growing disbelief and total shock", the late monarch made an unprecedented gesture just two days after the attacks. Breaking centuries-old royal tradition, she ordered the Coldstream Guards to play The Star-Spangled Banner during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. 

A crowd of over 3,000 people - including hundreds of grief-stricken Americans - gathered outside the gates, singing along and embracing as the American national anthem echoed through central London.

The following day, September 14, 2001, Queen Elizabeth attended a memorial service for the victims at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she offered a rare, deeply personal tribute. 

Observers noted that the Queen joined the congregation in singing the US national anthem,  a departure from protocol, as the monarch traditionally remains silent during national anthems. 

Royal columnist Richard Kay wrote at the time: "The Queen does not 'sing' national anthems. Her mouth never opens when they are played. It was the ultimate sign of unity, friendship, and support for America."

Find out more about the late Queen's response on the day that changed the world.

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Zara Tindall was pictured on Friday afternoon in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, at the Cornbury Park Horse Trials. The equestrian-loving royal looked elegant yet modern in her timeless autumnal attire.

Looking resplendent, the mother of three donned a pair of dark denim barrel jeans, brown boots, a denim shirt, and a fabulous barn jacket by Fairfax & Favor.

The outing was extra special since Zara was joined by her royal relative, Duchess Sophie. The pair share a love of animals and the great outdoors, so while it is a rare pairing, it wasn't unsurprising to see them together.

© Instagram / @charles.earl.spencer

Charles Spencer has paid tribute to his "extraordinary" sister, Princess Diana, as he prepares to release his most personal book to date.

The 62-year-old Earl, who resides at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, described holding the first physical copy of Swan Song: Diana My Sister as an "amazing" moment ahead of its scheduled release on September 22.

Publisher Penguin Random House has billed the memoir as "the most intimate, loving and honest portrait yet of his sister," promising "many revelations that will draw considerable attention." 

The book reportedly details Princess Diana's 15-year marriage to King Charles, their high-profile divorce, and the events preceding her tragic death in Paris in 1997.

Sharing his reaction on social media, Charles wrote: "Always an amazing, and exhilarating, moment for an author to hold the first physical copy of a new book – and even more so for me with ‘Swan Song’, the most personal of the ten books I’ve written over the past three decades. At heart, this is a brother’s simple tribute to an extraordinary sister."

King Charles and Queen Camilla have shared a personal message on the official Royal Family Instagram account, paying tribute to those who have lost their lives. 

Remembering all those affected by the tragic events of 9/11, 25 years ago today.

A commemorative Guard Change took place on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace this morning, during which The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester took the Royal Salute on behalf of The King.

The ceremony included performances of both US and UK National Anthems, Hymn to the Fallen and Amazing Grace.

Earlier this year, Their Majesties paid their respects at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, as part of the State Visit to the United States.

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Marius Borg Høiby has been granted a full retrial by the Court of Appeal.

The 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit — and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon — was sentenced to four years in prison in June by the Oslo District Court following convictions for two counts of rape, domestic abuse, and violence.

Høiby, who has consistently denied all wrongdoing, appealed the most serious charges against him. The Court of Appeal has now accepted his appeal in its entirety, ordering a complete review and retrial of both rape charges and the domestic violence count.

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, his defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, said:

"As expected, the appeal has been accepted in full. There is nothing about this case that is gratifying. But still, he is at least satisfied that the Court of Appeal has heard him here, and that they are allowing the case to be retried, as he has wished."

Love is in the air for the Monégasque princely family! Princess Alexandra of Hanover, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, has announced her engagement to her long-term partner, Ben-Sylvester Strautmann, following a decade together.

The 27-year-old writer shared the milestone on social media alongside photos featuring a showstopping yellow diamond engagement ring. Captioning the post "The marriage plot," Alexandra accessorized the announcement with a row of matching yellow heart emojis to honor the unique jewel.
The couple's romance first made headlines in late 2016 before they officially went public in 2017.

Beyond their royal and social ties, the pair share a deep connection through athletics. Princess Alexandra is a former competitive figure skater who previously represented Monaco on the international stage. Ben-Sylvester, meanwhile, is a former competitive basketball player in Monaco.

Over the years, the high-profile couple has been a fixture at world-class sporting events, routinely spotted in the stands at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Paris Olympics, and elite tennis tournaments across Europe.

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The Norwegian royal family is facing further tragedy following the death of Princess Astrid at the age of 94 - just two days after the funeral of her younger brother, King Harald.

A statement released by the Palace confirmed the news: "His Majesty The King has received with great sadness the news of the passing of Princess Astrid. The Princess fell asleep today, Friday 11 September, at the age of 94."

Paying tribute to his late aunt, King Haakon honored her decades of service and dedication to the monarchy:

"Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House with warmth and dedication. At the age of 22, she had to assume the role of First Lady following the passing of my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha.

"In her work, Princess Astrid always demonstrated a special interest in the care and inclusion of the most vulnerable members of society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence, and an infectious spirit. Aunt Astrid was a great support to King Harald and the rest of the family."

Princess Astrid's final public appearance was at Oslo Cathedral to pay her respects at the state funeral of King Harald. While she did not walk in the formal funeral procession, she traveled directly to the cathedral to join her family in honoring her brother.

Find out everything you need to know about her recent health battles - and the recent update about a period of "rest and convalescence". 

It's been wonderful following all the royal news as it happens this morning! I now pass the baton over to the lovely Kate Thomas, HELLO!'s Website Editor, who will be with you this afternoon.

Laura

The Princess of Wales looked wonderful at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Friday morning.

The mother of three returned to the place where she received treatment and learned first-hand how funds raised through her National Three Peaks Challenge and ongoing support will transform holistic care for cancer patients across the UK.

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We loved her choice of attire - an apple-green A-line dress by one of her favourite brands, Suzannah London. The beautiful design featured short sleeves, a subtle portrait neckline, button-down detailing, and an elegant front split. She paired the style, which is named the 'Flippy Wiggle', with a pair of black slingback heels and wore her famous mane loose, flowing with undone curls.

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

For more details on Kate's dress and where she last wore it, read my article here.

On Friday, Buckingham Palace paid tribute to those who lost their lives during 9/11 with a commemorative Changing of the Guard on Friday.

In a special service on the Palace's red gravel forecourt, the Band of the Coldstream Guards performed the two national anthems in a moving show of solidarity between the US and Britain.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester represented the King at the ceremony and took the Royal Salute in front of the Palace's centre arch.

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

They were accompanied by US Ambassador Warren Stephens and his wife, Harriet, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Security Minister Dan Jarvis and some 40 guests comprising British and American nationals.

Wearing their iconic scarlet tunics and towering black bearskin hats, the Guards marched from St James's Palace and down The Mall to the Palace, performing The Thunderer and The Stars and Stripes Forever, two famous US military marches.

During the Princess of Wales' visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital on Friday morning, the mother of three opened up about her own personal journey.

Speaking about her experience as a patient and her fundraising National Three Peaks Challenge, the royal remarked: "This was my small way of being able to give back and say 'thank you' to you."

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

She added: "I had incredible care here and support from a huge team, and I'm really, really grateful on a personal level. But also the holistic care, the treatments, and therapeutic support on the outside are so important. It makes a big difference."

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

The royal further mused: "The impact of nature, the impact of good nutrition, good ongoing support around you when it's really difficult to manage the trials and tribulations of medical treatments.

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

"It makes a big difference. It made a big difference to me, and it made a huge difference for lots of patients whom I've spoken to. Thank you, and well done. I think it will be transformative not only for patients but for families too," she said.

Fresh from her outing on Thursday, the Princess of Wales visited The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust on Friday morning to hear first-hand how funds raised through her National Three Peaks Challenge and ongoing support will transform holistic care for cancer patients across the UK.

Looking as stylish as always in her apple-green dress by Susannah London, the royal reflected on her health journey with staff.

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

In June, the mother of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis famously took part in the National Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours, to highlight the importance of holistic care and support that The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity gives to help people to heal, recover and live beyond a diagnosis.

The Royal Marsden is a specialist cancer centre, and champions whole-person cancer treatment and care across the UK and beyond. Funds raised through Kate's challenge will help enable the development of a new specialist Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery. The funding will also support research into how these complementary approaches, alongside clinical care, can make a difference to every person with cancer across the UK.

© David Cliff / Kensington Palace

During the visit, the princess heard about progress for the Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery and saw the site where it will be built. The royal also met patients currently undergoing treatment, and heard how holistic care, integrating physical, emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing, can enhance recovery and healing.

Kate became Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside Prince William, in 2025 following her own personal cancer journey, during which she received treatment at the establishment.

There's a new book about the Princess of Wales that will hit bookshelves at the end of September, but HELLO! readers will have the chance to see it in person first at an exclusive event we are hosting on Wednesday 23 September in central London. 

Author Ingrid Seward's new book, Catherine & Diana, explores the two most famous Princesses of Wales – the current holder of the title, Catherine, and the late mother-in-law she never met, Princess Diana. 

Both royal women and their relationship to the Crown is the primary subject of Ingrid's book.

To celebrate these two iconic Princesses of Wales, HELLO! is hosting an intimate event – a live recording of A Right Royal Podcast – on Wednesday 23 September at Quaglino's, and we'd love you to join us.

Not only will you have early access to Ingrid's book and be the first to hear an extract from it, but you'll also have the chance to buy a signed copy before it officially hits shelves.

What are you waiting for? Get your tickets here.

Tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz will return to the UK for the Laver Cup, where Team Europe will take on Team World in London this month.

Princess Charlotte is a huge fan of the tennis champion and first encountered the then 21-year-old backstage at Wimbledon in 2023. 

She then met him again a year later at SW19, proudly shaking his hand in a moment that went viral.

 Speaking exclusively to HELLO! ahead of Laver Cup 2026, Carlos said: "Well, I didn't expect that, to be honest! I mean, I'm just really, really happy that the time I was playing at Wimbledon, I saw them supporting and coming to one of my matches - it means a lot to me. 

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"The years that I won Wimbledon, after the trophy ceremony, I had the chance to talk with the family a little bit. It was a really great moment for me." 

On his hopes of reuniting with his young royal fan in London, Carlos added: "I couldn't play at Wimbledon this year, so hopefully I'm going to see them supporting us at Laver Cup. It's great to know the family are supporting me along the way!" 

Check out the article by HELLO! Online's deputy editor, Sharnaz Shahid, here.

Happy Friday, royal fans! It's been a busy week for the royal family, with King Harold's funeral and Prince George starting school. There's lots going on today, too. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will be attending a special changing of the guard ceremony to mark 9/11 at Buckingham Palace.

Princess Anne, who is Patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, will attend the International Sheep Dog Trials at Daylesford, and the Princess of Wales' brother, James Middleton, and sister-in-law, Alizée, will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. 

I will be with you all morning!

Laura