Queen Elizabeth news: Public outrage as Prince Andrew WILL attend Prince Phillip service after sex assault case
PRINCE Andrew will attend Prince Phillip's memorial service next week in his first public appearance since settling the sex abuse allegations against him, his spokesman has revealed.
The thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey will celebrate the life of his father, Prince Philip, who died last year.
It will mark The Duke of York's first public appearance since he paying an alleged £7 million settlement to Virginia Giuffre to get her to drop the civil sex assault case brought against him in the US.
Prince Harry has already said he will not be attending but The Queen is expected to attend the service next Tuesday.
Prince Andrew rejected any claims of wrongdoing after agreeing to make payments to Ms Giuffre and her victims’ rights charity in a settlement which ended the prospect of a trial in New York.
But there have been questions about the prince’s reputational damage and his future role in royal events.
Royal fans took to Twitter to express their outrage.
One said: "No no no! We don’t want to see him in public ever! If he must attend then the service shouldn’t be aired!"
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest updates...
Princess Eugenie sets us shady podcast about sex trafficking
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew is set to launch a podcast talking about modern day slavery…including sex trafficking.
Eugenie is known to be very close with her cousin Harry who, despite not having done anything comparable to what Prince Andrew has been accused of, has been subject to societal judgement in the last few years.
The princess, however supportive of her older cousin, appears to be keeping her distance from her father.
It’s said she did not see her father for a full month after he settled the Virginia Giuffre case.
The distance seems to have grown further as she sets about launching a podcast to discuss modern day slavery, including sex trafficking – something that Prince Andrew has denied having anything to do with.
Meghan loses official patronage to stepmother-in-law
Both Meghan and Harry were stripped of royal patronages last year when they stepped down as senior royals in 2019.
The first of one of Meghan’s former patronages has been given to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
The reigning monarch’s daughter-in-law replaced Meghan with Camilla as patron to the National Theatre.
This comes after the queen publicly endorsed her as future Queen Consort to the King in the event that Prince Charles takes the throne.
What to expect during this year’s Jubilee celebrations
As this year marks 70 years of heading up the British Monarchy, more plans are being announced for the Summer and year ahead.
will be on show marking the three key moments in the Queen’s reign – her ascension, her coronation and her jubilees.
There will be events held at the monarch’s private estates, Balmoral and Sandringham. Locals residents and visitors will be able to attend.
Free events for members of the public will also take place over the Bank Holiday weekend. This will include ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’ on the big screen in the Royal Parkland at Sandringham.
Why have Kate and William gone to the Caribbean?
This week, Kate and William have set off for the Caribbean to represent the Queen as she celebrates her platinum jubilee year.
Many former British colonies have been left scratching their heads wondering why Kate and William have ventured to countries representing a monarch who no longer reigns there.
As members of the commonwealth, countries such as Jamaica might argue that the wealth was less than common.
In an open letter to William and Kate from Jamaica, it is stated: “We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne.
“Her ascension to the throne, in February 1952, took place 14 years after the 1938 labour uprisings against inhumane working/living conditions and treatment of workers; painful legacies of plantation slavery, which persist today.
“You, who may one day lead the British Monarchy, are direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated by the Royal family over centuries, including that stemming from the trafficking and enslavement of Africans.”
Open letter to Kate and William from Jamaica refusing to celebrate the Queen’s 70 year reign as monarch
William is addressed as heir to the throne, and therefore in a unique position to make changes.
Jamaica gained independence from British colonial rule 60 years ago. And last year saw Barbados remove the Queen as their ceremonial head of state after 55 years of independence.
As more countries make plans and discuss the removal of the Queen as their head of state and gain full independence, many wonder why Kate and William are doing a tour of the Caribbean.
Addressing William directly the letter states, “You, who may one day lead the British Monarchy, are direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated from the traffic and enslavement of Africans.
“You have the unique opportunity to redefine the relationship between the British Monarchy and the people of Jamaica
“We urge you to start with an apology.”
As the country prepares to celebrate the Queen, talk turns to her health
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Queen tested positive for Coronavirus after contracting it from her eldest son, Prince Charles.
She cancelled scheduled audiences and concern grew over her health.
Since then however, the 95-year-old has been seen enjoying time with her family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
There’s much speculation around the Queen’s ability to walk at the moment.
It’s said that the reason for so many cancelled engagements is because she now needs to use a wheelchair but doesn’t want to be seen struggling.
This comes as talk grows around the memorial service for Prince Phillip a year on from his death.
Camilla struggles with ‘long Covid’ ahead of Prince Phillip memorial service
Camilla joked about the loss of her voice during her audience at Clarence House, but it’s really no joke.
During her audience held at Clarence House for International Women’s Day, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, joked about losing her voice.
She suggested that Emerald Fennell, the multi-award winning TV and film star who portrays Camilla in The Crown, could stand in for her if necessary.
Since then speculation has mounted over the Royal’s health as she was forced to cancel a visit to the Cheltenham Festival last week.
Dismay as Prince Andrew is seen laughing and smiling around Windsor
The Queen’s son, Prince Andrew, has been embroiled in scandal for years over sexual assault claims.
The Prince who still holds the title, ‘Duke of York’ despite calls from residents in the region for it to be removed as they would rather not be associated with him, was allegedly close friends with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre alleged the prince sexually assaulted her.
Though he claims he never met her, cannot sweat and was in Pizza Express in Woking on one of the dates mentioned, he settled out of court.
Though he is yet to be seen at any official engagements since then, it’s said that he will attend the memorial service for his father to mark a year since his passing.
Despite growing calls for Queen to be removed as head of state from Caribbean countries, William quotes in Belize
Throughout the Caribbean, more countries are considering and making plans to remove the Queen as head of state.
Despite this, William and Kate are on a tour around the islands in a bid to promote the Queen’s platinum jubilee this year.
As the monarch celebrates 70 years as British head of state which for many around the world is a .
Last night, the second in line to the throne spoke at a dinner in Belize saying: “democracy is safe-guarded by teamwork – the individual wills of all citizens, each pulling together towards the same objective.”
He referred to the country as “a tranquil haven of democracy.”
Jamaican uproar in response to William and Kate’s Caribbean tour
This year, Jamaica celebrates 60 years of Independence from British colonisers.
It’s said that a protest will be staged in Jamaica today by a group named the Advocates Network, as the Duke and Duchess land in the country.
A local human rights activist who is said to be joining the protest today, Kay Osborne, said “We do not welcome Kate and William. We do not want them here.
“We reject the photo ops that will be staged here for the UK’s consumption.”
Prince Charles and Camilla touch down in Northern Ireland
As part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Prince Charles and Camilla landed in Northern Ireland this afternoon.
The first royals to visit Cookstown, the prince and duchess were greeted by 300 school children before heading to Superstar’s Café, a charity supporting young people with disabilities.
The pair will also visit local shops before heading to the Republic of Ireland later this week where they last visited in 2019.
The Queen was due to visit Ireland but cancelled on medical grounds.
Duke of Edinburgh shows off survival skills in Belize
The Duke of Cambridge declared "Ray Mears eat your heart out" as he brushed up on his jungle survival skills in Belize and drank rainwater from a vine.
William was just 18 when he was taught the essential techniques by the British Army Training Support Unit (BATSUB) in Belize at the start of his gap year in 2000.
He was reunited with his former Sandhurst sergeant major who now runs the jungle unit, and the officer described the future king - who turns 40 this year - as having "aged gracefully".
The duke and duchess spent more than 90 minutes on a crash-course version of the survival techniques taught to British soldiers who spend six to eight weeks in that Belize jungle.
Arriving at the BATSUB HQ, dubbed "The Schoolhouse", the couple were briefed on the five main pillars of survival in the environment - cooking, animal traps, shelters, water capture and fire.
William and Kate were shown how to boil water using a plastic bottle dangling over a fire, fashion bamboo to use as a pressure cooker and make a bamboo spear to trap and kill monkeys and birds to eat.
Looking at a guillotine styled trap, suspended five metres in the air from a tree, William turned to the press gathered to the side of the contraption and joked: "Ah, it could trap the media," as Kate burst into laughter.
William & Kate clim Mayan ruins of Caracol
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in matching green, kicked off the third day of their Caribbean tour climbing the Mayan ruins of Caracol.
Kate, 40, led the way up the steep steps flanking the spectacular 43-metre structure, dubbed the Sky Palace, in the heart of the Belizian jungle.
Taking in the breathtaking views, Kate mouthed "wow" as she and William, 39, stood on the archaeological site, which their tour guide compared to Buckingham Palace.
The couple posed half way up on a plateau, reminding onlookers of their 2012 wedding, when they kissed on the Palace balcony.
Archaeologist Allan Moore told them: "What you are seeing is the Buckingham Palace of its day. Three thousand years ago this would have seemed very modern."
The stunning relic is still the tallest man-made structure in Belize and was where the ancient Mayans placed their rulers at the top of their known world.
Annie Lennox elected to join Edinburgh Royal Society
Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox is one of 80 new fellows to have been elected to join Scotland's national academy of science and letters.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) awards a fellowship to people from the arts, business, public service, civil society and academia whom the organisation's judges deem to have made outstanding achievements for social progress and development.
This year's group will be joining the RSE's current fellowship of about 1,700 high-flyers who are recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland today.
In addition to toping the charts with the Eurythmics, Lennox also had a distinguished, award-winning, solo career.
She is also chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, the founder of The Circle: a non-profit organisation of women working together to achieve equality for women and girls, and was formerly special envoy for the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking about being nominated as a fellow of RSE, Lennox said she is "truly humbled and honoured".
"Apart from a lifetime of music-making, my ardent passion lies with the most crucial issues facing all of humanity at this precarious point in time, namely the sustainability of our precious planet and the actual implementation of human rights and justice, most especially regarding the lives of women and girls in all four corners of the globe," she said.
Queen hopes to attend Philip's memorial in one week's time
In just a week's time, the Queen is hoping to attend the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen and Philip's second son the Duke of York is planning to be present, despite Andrew paying millions earlier this month to settle in a civil sexual assault case out of court.
Large numbers of the royal family are set to gather next Tuesday, alongside Philip's friends, colleagues, representatives of organisations he supported and foreign royals to pay tribute to the 99-year-old duke who died in April last year.
Last week, the head of state missed the Commonwealth Day service at the abbey, a decision understood to be related to her comfort rather than a specific illness.
But she has continued with light duties including some face-to-face audiences.
Queen stuns in regal purple during two virtual audiences
The Queen has carried out two virtual audiences from Windsor Castle.
The 95-year-old monarch welcomed the Ambassador of Qatar and the Ambassador of Poland via video link.
The diplomats, who were at Buckingham Palace, presented the letters of recall of their predecessors and their own credentials at the audiences on Tuesday.
On screen, the Queen was seen smiling and wearing a regal purple day dress.
She welcomed the Ambassador of Qatar Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, who was joined by Sheikha Raya Khalifa Abdulla Khalifa Al Khalifa.
The monarch also received Polish diplomat Professor Piotr Wilczek.
Dismay as Prince Andrew is seen laughing and smiling around Windsor
The Queen’s son, Prince Andrew, has been embroiled in scandal for years over sexual assault claims.
The Prince who still holds the title, ‘Duke of York’ despite calls from residents in the region for it to be removed as they would rather not be associated with him, was allegedly close friends with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre alleged the prince sexually assaulted her.
Though he claims he never met her, cannot sweat and was in Pizza Express in Woking on one of the dates mentioned, he settled out of court.
Though he is yet to be seen at any official engagements since then, it’s said that he will attend the memorial service for his father to mark a year since his passing.
Camilla struggles with ‘long Covid’ ahead of Prince Phillip memorial service
Camilla joked about the loss of her voice during her audience at Clarence House, but it’s really no joke.
During her audience held at Clarence House for International Women’s Day, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, joked about losing her voice.
She suggested that Emerald Fennell, the multi-award winning TV and film star who portrays Camilla in The Crown, could stand in for her if necessary.
Since then speculation has mounted over the Royal’s health as she was forced to cancel a visit to the Cheltenham Festival last week.
Princess Eugenie to launch podcast
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew is set to launch a podcast talking about modern-day slavery…including sex trafficking.
Eugenie is known to be very close with her cousin Harry who, despite not having done anything comparable to what Prince Andrew has been accused of, has been subject to societal judgement in the last few years.
The princess, however supportive of her older cousin, appears to be keeping her distance from her father.
It’s said she did not see her father for a full month after he settled the Virginia Giuffre case.
The distance seems to have grown further as she sets about launching a podcast to discuss modern day slavery, including sex trafficking – something that Prince Andrew has denied having anything to do with.
Talk turns to the Queen's health
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Queen tested positive for Coronavirus after contracting it from her eldest son, Prince Charles.
She cancelled scheduled audiences and concern grew over her health.
Since then however, the 95-year-old has been seen enjoying time with her family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
There’s much speculation around the Queen’s ability to walk at the moment.
It’s said that the reason for so many cancelled engagements is because she now needs to use a wheelchair but doesn’t want to be seen struggling.
This comes as talk grows around the memorial service for Prince Phillip a year on from his death.
Prince Charles to take in Ukrainian refugees at Dumfries House
Prince Charles is making plans to house Ukrainian refugees created in the Russian war against Ukraine.
It's said the Queen also intends to help by offering jobs at Balmoral to Ukrainians looking for a new safer life away from Putin.
Some question why now as Britain has had many refugees in the past but this assistance from Royals hasn't been offered before.
More than three million people are said to have fled Ukraine since the war began.
Princess Eugenie sets us shady podcast about sex trafficking
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew is set to launch a podcast talking about modern day slavery...including sex trafficking.
Eugenie is known to be very close with her cousin Harry who, despite not having done anything comparable to what Prince Andrew has been accused of, has been subject to societal judgement in the last few years.
The princess, however supportive of her older cousin, appears to be keeping her distance from her father.
It's said she did not see her father for a full month after he settled the Virginia Giuffre case.
The distance seems to have grown further as she sets about launching a podcast to discuss modern day slavery, including sex trafficking - something that Prince Andrew has denied having anything to do with.
Prince Charles and Camilla touch down in Northern Ireland
As part of the celebrations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince Charles and Camilla landed in Northern Ireland this afternoon.
The first royals to visit Cookstown, the prince and duchess were greeted by 300 school children before heading to Superstar's Café, a charity supporting young people with disabilities.
The pair will also visit local shops before heading to the Republic of Ireland later this week where they last visited in 2019.
The Queen was due to visit Ireland but cancelled on medical grounds.
Why have Kate and William gone to the Caribbean?
This week, Kate and William have set off for the Caribbean to represent the Queen as she celebrates her platinum jubilee year.
Many former British colonies have been left scratching their heads wondering why Kate and William have ventured to countries representing a monarch who no longer reigns there.
As members of the commonwealth, countries such as Jamaica might argue that the wealth was less than common.
In an open letter to William and Kate from Jamaica, it is stated: "We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne.
"Her ascension to the throne, in February 1952, took place 14 years after the 1938 labour uprisings against inhumane working/living conditions and treatment of workers; painful legacies of plantation slavery, which persist today.
"You, who may one day lead the British Monarchy, are direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated by the Royal family over centuries, including that stemming from the trafficking and enslavement of Africans."
Dismay as Prince Andrew is seen laughing and smiling around Windsor
The Queen's son, Prince Andrew, has been embroiled in scandal for years over sexual assault claims.
The Prince who still holds the title, 'Duke of York' despite calls from residents in the region for it to be removed as they would rather not be associated with him, was allegedly close friends with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre alleged the prince sexually assaulted her.
Though he claims he never met her, cannot sweat and was in Pizza Express in Woking on one of the dates mentioned, he settled out of court.
Though he is yet to be seen at any official engagements since then, it's said that he will attend the memorial service for his father to mark a year since his passing.