How YOU Could Earn £30k A Year To Work Alongside The Queen

BBC pays ‘substantial damages’ to Princess Diana’s private secretary

The BBC has paid Diana, Princess of Wales’s private secretary, Patrick Jephson, a “substantial sum” in damages and apologised unreservedly for the “harm caused to him” over Martin Bashir’s Panorama interview.

Lord Dyson, a former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was appointed to look into the circumstances surrounding the explosive 1995 interview, which famously featured Diana saying: “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

The investigation was launched after Earl Spencer alleged that Bashir showed him fake financial documents relating to his sister’s former private secretary and another former royal household member, and told outlandish and untrue stories about the royal family to gain access to the princess.

The documents falsely suggested the individuals were being paid for keeping the princess under surveillance

Plans to protect Royal Family during nuclear missile attack REVEALED

A secret plan to get the Cabinet and Royal Family to safety if a nuclear missile hits the UK has been revealed.

In the event of a nuclear attack on the UK there are detailed plans to move the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, The Monarch and others out of the capital and into secret bunkers around the country.

A previous Cold War-era strategy was to relocate these heads of powers would be at an underground shelter underneath Corsham in the Chiltern Hills.

It apparently had enough room for hundreds of people, supplies and communications equipment, but this plan no longer applies as its location has been known for decades.

Now, new contingency plans are in place, but remain much of a secret – for obvious reasons.

Top-level royal evacuation would involve protecting the direct line of succession – The Monarch, Prince Charles, Prince William and his family are given priority in different remote locations.

The details of locations and strategy are drawn up by a working group from the Cabinet Office, Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Ministry of Defence and diplomatic protection.

Kate & Will ‘cannot’ stay with Sussexes in US over security fears

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to travel to the United States, but will not stay with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their trip.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend their second annual Earthshot Prize Ceremony later this year in North America.

Many royal experts and sources close to both couples have seen this as the perfect chance for the pairs to reconcile after a rocky few years.

One source told Heatworld: “They want to build bridges with William and Kate, introduce the kids to their cousins, and show them in person what their life is like in America.”

But royal expert Neil Sean said to Woman and Home: “They could not, of course, stay there.”

Mr Sean said that “security” is the biggest issue, as the future King and Queen are used to staying at Kensington Palace with 24/7 policing, spiked railings, and high-tech CCTV.

Prince George tipped to attend upcoming engagement

A royal blogger has claimed that Prince George may attend the upcoming service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip.

Most members of the Royal Family have yet to formally confirm their attendance at this month’s memorial service for Prince Philip.

However, Royal watcher Gertrude Daly, who leads the blog Gert’s Royals, believes the adult royals may even be joined by some of the great-grandchildren of the sovereign.

Looking back to previous services of thanksgiving, Daly said that the youngest member of the Royal Family to attend a memorial service was eight at the time, leading her to suppose that Prince George will join his mother and father.

She wrote on Twitter: “With the Service of Thanksgiving for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and 90th Birthday in 2019 the youngest extended family were about 8 yrs old.

“So I would expect the Phillips girls, maybe Prince George and Mia Tindall. But not the younger ones.”

However, she also said that: “But it just depends on whether the parents think their child is up for it.

“Unlike the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 90th birthday, this is a sadder occasion.”

Queen ‘still hopes’ to attend Prince Philip’s memorial

THE QUEEN has “ruled out using a wheelchair” & “still hopes” to attend Prince Philip’s memorial – but aides are keeping her diary under review.

It comes after Buckingham Palace announced she was not fit enough to attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

Palace staff feared how “comfortable” she would be travelling to London from Windsor then spending up to an hour at the event.

Sources stress that the 95-year-old monarch is not ill and is “as committed to her duties of state as ever”.

But senior royal aides are believed to have accepted how old age has caught up with Her Majesty.

According to the Daily Mail, a source said: “The Queen is still as alert, able and interested as ever but, physically, she isn’t as strong as she once was, which is entirely understandable for a woman of her age.”

They continued: “The Royal Family understands the important role investitures play in recognising service and celebrating people’s contribution to society and there has been a real drive to catch up on the backlog created by Covid restrictions.

“The Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and Duke of Cambridge have been leading the charge. It’s easy to envisage that they will continue in that vein but I wouldn’t rule out Her Majesty doing smaller or one-off investitures.”

The Queen has also not been able to walk her beloved corgis due to her frailty. She has been unable to take them out at Windsor Castle for six months and it is feared she may never again.

Prince Philip’s memorial service will take place at Westminster Abbey on March 29.

Calls for Prince William to use his influence with P&O owners

The Duke of Cambridge has been urged to intervene with P&O owner DP World, a backer of his global environmental prize, and help the 800 sacked ferry workers get reinstated.

William met Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive of DP World, during a visit to Dubai last month and the company has donated £1 million to his Earthshot Prize.

Politicians of all parties and trade unions have condemned the decision by P&O Ferries to sack the workers with immediate effect on Thursday with no notice, so they can be replaced by cheaper labour.

Liberal Democrat former minister Norman Baker said: “Prince William did not create this situation but it’s an embarrassment to him and he can’t simply ignore it.

“In my view he needs to use his personal connections with his friend, the chief executive, to get P&O to change policy on this and to reverse what they’ve done.

“If he can’t do that then he should consider cutting all links with DP World. It’s not a great look for Prince William to be associated with such a company.

“If he can’t get P&O to change policy then the £1 million should be allocated on a pro rata basis – £1,250 – to all the people who have been sacked.”

Dame Joanna Lumley speaks of her pride at honours

The Absolutely Fabulous actress was awarded an OBE in 1995 and recently received a DBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to drama, entertainment and charitable causes.

Speaking about her damehood, she said: “Honestly, I’m so excited, I can’t tell you. It was the most unexpected thing in the world.

“I was the proud owner of an OBE, which we call an Obi-Wan Kenobi, but I had an OBE and I thought ‘this is just magic, nothing can be finer than this’ and OBE doesn’t usually lead, a CBE, which is a step up from that, usually leads to being a dame.”

She added: “So when this letter arrived on December 4, so it was quite late, my husband wasn’t there because he was in Birmingham and I opened this letter which looked a little bit formal and I thought ‘oh God, this will be something else I’ve left out, another ticket or something’ and anyway, it said your name has been put forward for a DBE and I burst into tears. Jessie, I burst into tears because it was such a shock.

“You get a letter from the honours committee… they said it was for drama, entertainment and charity, so that was the kindest little trio. I never would have accepted it for charity because I think if you do good things, it’s up to you whether you want to honour it, do you know what I mean? And my OBE was given to me to services to drama or entertainment or whatever it was.”

Thank you for reading this morning’s coverage. Milica Cosic now logging off, and I shall be passing the blog to my colleague Joe Gamp.

He’ll be bringing you the latest news and updates until 10pm tonight.

Queen’s private struggles

According to a royal expert, The Queen suffered privately with the divorces of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne.

In the upcoming biography, Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II, author Robert Hardman writes: “Outwardly stoical, as ever, the Queen was finding the divorce talks deeply upsetting.

“Another former member of the Household recalls that, every now and then, there would be a glimpse of her despair.”

“It distressed her much more than she let on,” a former staffer tells Hardman, recalling his attempt to put the broken royal marriages into some sort of perspective.

“I said, ‘Ma’am, it seems to be happening everywhere. This is almost common practice.’ But she just said, ‘Three out of four!’ in sheer sadness and exasperation. One shouldn’t underestimate the pain she’s been through.”

Prince William pays sweet tribute to brother Prince Harry

Prince William paid a sweet tribute to his brother Prince Harry when stepping out to celebrate St Patrick’s Day yesterday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a St Patrick’s Day parade in Aldershot, 40 miles southwest of London.

And, Prince William was seen donning his Irish Guards Colonel uniform, which has a sweet history behind it.

The St Patrick’s Day uniform the Duke sported has a resemblance to the uniform he wore in happier times with Prince Harry, experts have noted.

When Kate and William tied the knot in 2011, the Duke was seen wearing the striking red uniform of an Irish Guards officer, in a stark contrast to the black Royals and Blues uniforms seen in Harry’s wedding years later.

The similarity between Harry’s wedding uniform and William’s Irish Guards uniform is noticeable.

Prince George tipped to attend upcoming engagement

A royal blogger has claimed that Prince George may attend the upcoming service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip.

Most members of the Royal Family have yet to formally confirm their attendance at this month’s memorial service for Prince Philip.

However, Royal watcher Gertrude Daly, who leads the blog Gert’s Royals, believes the adult royals may even be joined by some of the great-grandchildren of the sovereign.

Looking back to previous services of thanksgiving, Daly said that the youngest member of the Royal Family to attend a memorial service was eight at the time, leading her to suppose that Prince George will join his mother and father.

She wrote on Twitter: “With the Service of Thanksgiving for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and 90th Birthday in 2019 the youngest extended family were about 8 yrs old.

“So I would expect the Phillips girls, maybe Prince George and Mia Tindall. But not the younger ones.”

However, she also said that: “But it just depends on whether the parents think their child is up for it.

“Unlike the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 90th birthday, this is a sadder occasion.”

Prince Harry not returning to UK ‘a slap in the face’

PRINCE Harry’s decision not attend Duke of Edinburgh’s service of thanksgiving is ‘a slap in the face to the Queen’, claims a royal expert.

The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, Rebecca English, has asked why The Duke of Sussex is travelling to Europe to attend the Invictus Games, but cannot return back home to be by The Queen’s side.

English told Palace Confidential: “Within a couple of minutes of announcing that he would not be attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s service of thanksgiving, Harry’s team also announced that he would be attending the Invictus Games in the Hague in April, just a few weeks later.”

“This has obviously surprised a lot of people… to travel to Europe to go to that, but not to his grandfather’s memorial service has, to use a well-worn phrase, got people’s goat. 

“They feel it is a slap in the face to the Queen and, again, another PR disaster as far as many people in the UK are concerned.”

Meghan Markle once pulled ‘to the side’ by the Queen

MEGHAN Markle was once pulled to the side by The Queen and scolded not to speak “like that” after an incident over dish sampling for her wedding reception, according to an expert.

The Duchess of Sussex allegedly got “upset” because she could taste egg in the meal she was served which was meant to be egg-free.

The alleged incident, was revealed by author Katie Nicholl, and apparently occurred when Meghan was sampling food to be served at her wedding reception back in 2018.

Speaking to Yahoo’s Royal Box, Ms Nicholl said: “Meghan got very upset when she felt that she could taste egg in a dish when she was told there was no egg in there, and she said, ‘No, I can taste it, I can taste there’s egg in this dish.’”

Ms Nicholl went on to reveal that the Queen walked in on the incident and “quietly took Meghan to the side”.

Her Majesty supposedly told Meghan that the Royal Family does not speak to people “like that”.

Camilla takes Meghan’s National Theatre patron role

THE Queen has given the Duchess of Cornwall another top role. Camilla has been made royal patron of the National Theatre.

It’s the first of the Duchess of Sussex’s former patronages to be handed over.

Former actress Meghan was stripped of the role after she and Harry gave up royal duties in 2020.

It’s another sign of the Queen’s faith in her daughter-in-law. Last month she endorsed Camilla as future Queen Consort.

Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre, said: “The Duchess has shown great support to our industry.”

“The duchess shares our belief that theatre enriches our lives in so many ways and that everyone should have access to the arts and creativity no matter where they are in the world.”

He added: “I would also like to express my thanks to the Queen for Her Majesty’s long and unwavering support and service to the National Theatre.”

Queen absolutely ‘thrilled’ after she was treated to special LA visit

Queen Elizabeth was “absolutely ‘thrilled” with a special trip to Hollywood during a visit to the United States in 1983, according to a royal expert.

A royal author, Robert Hardman, revealed that Queen Elizabeth II was “thrilled” when Ronald Reagan invited her to visit Hollywood in 1983.

Mr Hardman told BBC Breakfast: “[The Queen] got on very well with Reagan and he had that wonderful visit to Windsor in 1982 when they went riding together in the park.

“He absolutely loved that and said you must come and see Hollywood and she loves Hollywood.

“She had always wanted to go and if you’re a monarch you always had to go to Washington if you’re the head of state because that’s where it happened.

“Reagan said, look, forget all that comes to Hollywood, and the Queen was actually thrilled to go to Hollywood and Reagan being an ex-actor laid on this fabulous lunch but couldn’t work out of all these A-listers.

“I mean, imagine the sort of jostling for position in Hollywood.”

He added: “So he took a rather weird decision, which was I’ll put all the British actors on the same table as the Queen and of course, that really annoyed all the American actors.

“So Julie Andrews was with the Queen.

“Julie Andrews husband was so annoyed he walked out because he wasn’t with the Queen, so you can’t always get it right.”

Kate & Will’s parenting techniques for ‘future King’ George

The Cambridge’s children have a very different childhood from other royal heirs, and that’s down to the parenting style Kate Middleton and Prince William have adopted.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have three children together; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Tiffany Norris, founder of the UK’s first Mummy Concierge spoke to Express.co.uk about the royal’s interaction with their children.

Tiffany, who has previously worked for the Royal Family. She said there is a chat sofa in the Cambridge household as opposed to a naughty step

Tiffany said: “A naughty step can be seen as a punishment whereas a ‘chat sofa’ gives a child the chance to explain why they did what they did and to talk it through. 

“Young children, in particular, are still learning about emotions and how to deal with them, so chatting to them about how they felt and why they felt like this (and what the consequences are can absolutely help a child understand why their behaviour might have been wrong.”

Dame Joanna Lumley has spoken of her admiration for the Queen saying “she’s never called for days off” and “never complained” during her 70-year reign.

Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Dame Joanna, 75, described the Queen as an “extraordinary woman”, and said Britain should continue to make the monarchy work until the nation becomes a republic.

She said: “I love the Queen. I think this country is a monarchy and until it isn’t, it is, if you know what I mean.

“So what we’ve got to do is to make it work and if it doesn’t work then we become a republic, but we’re not at the republic yet, so it’s no use just whining and carping, and in the middle of it is this extraordinary woman who knew she was going to be Queen when she was 10 and that hung over her and it is still her duty and her faith and what she believes in, and now she’s 95 doing the boxes everyday. It’s extraordinary.”

Prince Harry will ‘avoid criticising Queen in memoir’

Prince Harry will avoid criticising the Queen in his forthcoming memoir, claims a royal expert.

Biographer, close friend of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and co-author of Harry’s unofficial biography Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie told the Royal Obsessed podcast that Harry’s book will not be critical of the Queen, but would rather celebrate her life.

He said: “Harry really is going out of his way to make sure that there isn’t material in there [the book] that can be seen as negative towards the Queen or her reign in any way whatsoever, and he really wants to celebrate her life and his relationship with her in that book.

“I think as much as the press want this to be a burn book and an attack on the institution, this is more just about his story, and of course, his story is so much more than just the few years of his life as the Duke of Sussex.

“I think for people expecting that warts and all moment, it’s not going to happen. That said, it’s still going to be fascinating.”

William’s public gesture shows ‘one eye is always on Kate’

According to a royal expert, Prince William’s public gesture shows he always has one eye on his wife, Kate Middleton.

During the couple’s Commonwealth Day appearance, it started to rain. William immediately went to an aide and grabbed an umbrella to shelter Kate.

Writing in the NZherald, royal expert Daniela Elser says: “This is all clearly touching proof that their union is still going gangbusters after more than a decade, three children, three house moves, two dogs and that time Kate flirted with a fringe.

“But what is far more fascinating is what this moment perfectly reveals in only three seconds: That William instinctively understands that Kate is the secret to his future regal success.”

Revealed: The contents of The Queen’s everyday handbag

A royal expert claims that the Queen’s handbag reportedly contains an extraordinary number of items she might use on royal outings.

Royal expert Phil Dampier has lifted the lid on the bag’s hidden contents, saying the bag contains family photos, crosswords from the papers, and a metal case given to her by Prince Philip which was a wedding gift. 

He said: “She carries it inside because it has things she needs like her reading glasses and fountain pen.

“There are long corridors in the palace so she likes to have it all there.”

House hunters with a chance to be The Queen’s neighbour

A £1.2million house on the royal Sandringham Estate has gone up for sale. The Grade II listed Station House is in the heart of the monarch’s 20,000-acre parklands.

It sits next to the now defunct Wolferton railway station — also known as the Royal Station as it was used by dignitaries visiting the estate.

The property was the station master’s home until the line closed in 1969 and has three double bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Estate agent Sowerbys says the Norfolk pad is a “magnificent example of a beautiful home capturing the nostalgia of a bygone era”.

Built in 1898, it has a huge lawned garden and terrace with views of the sweeping countryside.

The Queen’s Sandringham House is just two miles away.Edit

Prince Charles’ plans for Sophie Wessex & Princess Anne

A royal expert has discussed how Sophie and Anne will fit into Charles’ royal plans, telling Express.co.uk: “He will need them.”

Royal historian Marlene Koenig said Sophie will provide “the backbone” to Charles’ monarchy and will be a core member of “the older group”.

Koenig continued to say: “The same thing for Princess Anne — he’s not cutting them off!

“He is not going to say, ‘Ok, Anne you’re not doing it’.

“Anne would probably say, ‘Excuse me, buddy. I’m doing it’.

“He will need them, and they are the ones who will set the tone and be there.”

In pictures: Edward plants tree in Kenya for Queen’s Green Canopy

Edward’s newly planted tree in Kenya will form part of The Queen’s Green Canopy – a unique tree-planting initiative created to mark the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

The Queen’s Green Canopy said: “While we are a UK-based project, we are delighted to include a special Jubilee tree planted near Treetops.”

Edward – the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh’s youngest son – travelled to Kenya for his first overseas visit with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award since the start of the pandemic.

The tree planting came on Wednesday as the earl met young people taking part in their Gold Award expedition and heard about their efforts to support environmental conservation.

Edward, who was dressed in a short-sleeved khaki shirt and matching trousers and at times a hat in the Kenyan sunshine, remarked “Right, this is the important bit” as he watered the tree in its new home.

Award participants have planted more than 30,000 trees across Kenya in the past year as part of efforts to tackle climate change.

Kate & Will’s parenting techniques for ‘future King’ George

The Cambridge’s children have a very different childhood from other royal heirs, and that’s down to the parenting style Kate Middleton and Prince William have adopted.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have three children together; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Tiffany Norris, founder of the UK’s first Mummy Concierge spoke to Express.co.uk about the royal’s interaction with their children.

Tiffany, who has previously worked for the Royal Family. She said there is a chat sofa in the Cambridge household as opposed to a naughty step

Tiffany said: “A naughty step can be seen as a punishment whereas a ‘chat sofa’ gives a child the chance to explain why they did what they did and to talk it through. 

“Young children, in particular, are still learning about emotions and how to deal with them, so chatting to them about how they felt and why they felt like this (and what the consequences are can absolutely help a child understand why their behaviour might have been wrong.”