Queen Elizabeth news latest – Covid-hit Her Majesty forced to postpone yet ANOTHER event over Ukraine-Russia crisis
A KEY diplomatic reception due to be hosted by the Queen on Wednesday has been postponed.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen had accepted the Foreign Secretary's advice to delay the event, which had been due to take place at Windsor Castle.
It is understood the postponement is because of the conflict in Ukraine.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen has accepted the Foreign Secretary's advice that the diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 should be postponed."
Meanwhile according to a pal of Prince Andrew, the Duke is reportedly "broken" after being ordered to fork over a multi-million pound settlement to Virginia Giuffre.
The source – who served with Prince Andrew during the Falklands War -told the Mirror: “He is down, he is broken. If he wants to dress up once in a while in a naval uniform, then let him.”
"His reputation is in tatters, his public life is over. He is a walking embarrassment."
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest updates…
- Louis Allwood
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry say they stand with Ukrainians
Meghan and Prince Harry showed their support for Ukraine while accepting an award on Saturday.
The couple was on stage at the NAACP Image Awards when Harry called attention to the suffering of Ukrainians at the hands of Russia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received the President's Award for special achievement and distinguished public service.
It recognized their work through the Archewell Foundation, including their support in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and attention brought to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Harry thanked the communities the foundation serves for a warm welcome before taking a moment to address Russia's attacks on Ukraine.
"Before I begin, we would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community," he said.
- Louis Allwood
Andrew’s payoff to sex accuser CANNOT be probed by MPs
MPS have been barred from probing whether public money helped Prince Andrew pay off his sex accuser.
Barmy ancient rules mean they are restricted from discussing royalty in the Commons.
But one MP is now demanding a minister comes to the House to confirm none of the Sovereign Grant — paid to the royals by the public — was used to compensate Virginia Giuffre, 38.
The Duke of York, 61, denied raping her when she was 17.
He settled out of court for a sum said to be up to £12million, with the Queen helping out.
Labour MP Andy McDonald has written to minister Steve Barclay in a bid to confirm no taxpayer cash was used.
He said: “Raising an issue relating to the Royal Family in the House is fraught with difficulties.”
But he asked him to establish “no public funds have been or will be used in part or whole in satisfaction of the settlement”.
- Milica Cosic
Meghan’s ‘extraordinary’ meeting with Queen before royal exit
A royal commentator has claimed in a documentary that Meghan Markle had a “extraordinary” meeting with the Queen before her and Prince Harry’s bombshell exit from the Royal Family.
The fallout and subsequent events are charted and examined in tonight’s Channel 5 documentary, ‘Harry & Meghan vs the Monarchy’, in which royal experts like Ashely Pearson discusses Megxit.
In the programme, Ms Pearson describes first meeting Meghan had with Harry’s grandmother, the Queen.
She said: “The meeting went extremely well.
“It actually ran over, which is an extraordinary thing for the way the Queen keeps her schedule.
“Meghan was warmly welcomed. Here she is – articulate, bright, intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful, elegant — what is not to like?”
- Milica Cosic
Queen could have 'bleak shadow' cast over Jubilee
A Labour MP has warned that The Queen could see a "bleak shadow" cast over her Platinum Jubilee if questions around whether taxpayer money was used to help Prince Andrew pay his settlement to Virginia Giuffre are left unanswered.
Labour MP Andy McDonald warned last week he will be seeking reassurances that taxpayers' money isn't used to fund the Duke's settlement.
Mr McDonald told Sky News he would use "whatever opportunity" to "seek that assurance from the Government benches that there will be no call upon the public purse to pay up for this settlement.
McDonald also said: "If he [Prince Andrew] wants to go to his mother for a bailout, then the taxpayer has got to be assured it's not going to be coming out of their coffers. Simple as that."
- Milica Cosic
'Cheeky' Prince George sends fans wild
Prince George has sent royal fans into meltdown following the cheeky picture of him poking his tongue out during England's Six Nations match against Wales.
Leading royal commentator Robert Jobson tweeted: "Cheeky Prince George, eight, pokes his tongue out as he joins rugby patrons Prince William and Kate Middleton at England v Wales Six Nations match."
Another Twitter user said: "Our little Prince isn’t so little anymore."
A third commented: "He's such a sweetheart! He definitely looks like his mum, dad & Diana all rolled into one!"
While a fourth Twitter user said: "He’s very adorable and serious looking…"
- Milica Cosic
Prince Prince George pictured on day out with Wills & Kate
CHEEKY Prince George stuck his tongue out as he enjoyed a day out with his parents William and Kate to watch the rugby.
Prince George, eight, watched England play Wales with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Twickenham Stadium.
It was the first match Kate has attended since becoming patron of the Rugby Football Union.
And it meant she was in direct competition with William, who has been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016.
George sat in between his mother and father at the game.
Kate, 40, was seen leaning down to talk to him, while both parents were seen to point things out to him.
- Milica Cosic
Royal news you may have missed from the week
- Queen postpones event at Windsor Castle on Foreign Secretary’s advice amid war in Ukraine and recovery from Covid
- Disgraced Prince Andrew is ‘broken’ after ‘£12million settlement’ with Virginia Giuffre over rape claims, pal says
- Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Tour: Kate Middleton & Prince William head to Jamaica for monarch’s 70 years on the throne
- Arms dealers, £18k diamonds, glam models & Gaddafi dinners – Prince Andrew’s bizarre links to Libya’s tyrannical regime
Prince Harry DOES want ‘to come back to see family’ despite royal rifts
PRINCE Harry DOES want to "come back to see his family" despite the royal rifts, a lawyer has said in the royal protection row.
The Duke of Sussex is suing the Home Office because it refused to spend taxpayers' money on bodyguards.
Harry, 37, who quit royal duty and privileges that come with the job to live in California with Meghan Markle two years ago, says he feels "unsafe" in the UK.
He wants to fund his own Met Police armed bodyguards but the Home Office refused and insiders are saying police are not "guns for hire".
At the first part of the hearing held last week, the court heard that the duke considers that the UK "is and always will be, his home".
Shaheed Fatima QC told the court: "It goes without saying that he does want to come back to see family and friends and to continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart."
US co-hosts blasted for 'tone-deaf' remarks on the Queen
Hosts of the US talk show The View have been blasted for making "ridiculous and tone-deaf" remarks on the Queen's COVID-19 diagnosis.
Hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar both criticised Boris Johnson for "jumping the gun" by rolling back Covid restrictions just days after news came that the Queen was diagnosed with Covid.
Dr Janette Nesheiwat told Fox News that the remarks were "tone-deaf".
She said: "It’s ridiculous. Really. You know you have to take into consideration the words that could potentially be causing and instilling fear in others.
"Look I think what Boris Johnson has done is perfectly correct. That’s what the US should be doing. The Queen likely picked up Omicron from her son because it’s extremely contagious.
"She did what she had to do, she’s triple vaccinated, and her symptoms are mild. You see that the level of positive cases in the community is extremely low and almost gone.
"We have to scale back our mitigation efforts. We can’t live with masks and mandates forever."
- Milica Cosic
Harry & Meghan told to fight over Eugenie pics
Prince Harry and Meghan have been told to sue after pictures emerged of the couple having dinner with Princess Eugenie while she was in the States.
Mark Stephens, a media law specialist at Howard Kennedy, said: “They can sue. There was a case where Paul Weller sued. He was sitting outside a restaurant in Santa Monica with his children and he sued for privacy in the UK.”
Mr Stephens, speaking to Newsweek, added: “They’ll sue whoever published them in the UK, that’s for sure.
“I don’t know whether they can get TMZ here, but it will be worth a go.”
- Milica Cosic
Princess Eugenie's 'non-regal' body language
Princess Eugenie has shared a photo promoting her new podcast series for her charity, the Anti-Slavery Collective.
Body language expert Judi James spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk, and analysed the Princess’ body language in the photograph.
Judi said: “There seems to be an emphasis on a non-regal presence here and a more even-handed status approach between the three women who sit with headphones on recording.
“Eugenie looks serious and rather down-to-earth here which is a look that must suit the campaign she is discussing."
- Milica Cosic
Prince Edward takes on new prestigious role
Prince Edward is taking over a key role held for several years by his late father Prince Philip.
The Early of Wessex has been appointed as the Royal Windsor Horse Show’s next president.
Speaking about taking over from his father, the Earl said: “My father was instrumental in helping to develop Royal Windsor into one of the most prestigious horse shows in the world.
“I am honoured to have been invited to become only the fourth President in the Show’s history and will do all I can to maintain the Show’s reputation throughout the equestrian community and beyond; something my father was passionate about.”
- Milica Cosic
'It’s the royal women keeping show on road'
This is a comment piece by Petronella Wyatt
The semi-detached Prince Harry continues his myopic moanathon from Montecito, yet remains a Counsellor of State. Likewise the disgraced Duke of York, who still holds sway over our Queen.
Even Prince Charles’s usually crystalline reputation has been sewered by allegations of cash for honours, which, in fairness, he denies all knowledge of.
Not for the first time in British history, it has been left to the female side, and in particular the Wives of Windsor, to pick up the slack for Queen and country.
The admirable Princess Anne, bonny Kate, the softly shining Camilla, whom I suspect, once fully burnished, will be a flawless ruby in the crown.
And the ever stalwart Sophie Wessex, who quietly goes about her charitable work as Grand President of St John Ambulance, and gave up her birthday to volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre.
We should all go down on our knees and thank Heaven for such a golden harvest of royal women.
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
William & Charles' 'days are numbered'
The CEO of an anti-monarchy group claims people see “the Queen as the monarchy and the monarchy as the Queen”.
Graham Smith claims people see the royal family as “a sense of tradition and history in connection with the war and the pre-war period, when the monarchy felt like it was the genuine article”.
Prince Charles and his son Prince William, meanwhile, do not come across the same way, Graham Smith told Express.co.uk.
He said: “I think that the monarchy’s days are numbered.
“It's just a matter of when rather than if because it has survived this long because of the Queen.”
- Milica Cosic
William gets political with huge Ukraine
Prince William has been having meetings with the UK's Defence Secretary about his concerns over the growing crisis in Ukraine, a royal expert has claimed.
Daily Mail Diary Editor Rickard Eden said: "I hear he held talks at Kensington Palace on Thursday with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
"They’re certain to have discussed Russia’s invasion."
Meanwhile, he pointed out, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are "grandstanding about Ukraine online".
In a statement posted to their Archewell website on Thursday, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex urged world leaders to support Ukraine.
- Milica Cosic
Prince George could face major move
Educational options are being considered by Kate and William, and could see George find a new school.
Unlike his father, a move to Eton could now be off the table as the royal couple consider moving the their son to a prep school in Berkshire.
According to royal reporter Rebecca English, the Lambrook School is widely considered a front-runner for the Prince.
For George’s siblings, however, they will remain at Thomas’s Battersea for now.
Writing in the Daily Mail, English claimed that reports suggest Princess Charlotte is “super happy and settled” at the school, and is likely to be joined by her younger brother Prince Louis.
- Milica Cosic
Inside Kate & William’s Platinum Jubilee overseas tour
KATE Middleton and Prince William will head to Jamaica as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to travel to Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas on March 19 for an eight-day tour.
Kensington Palace said William and Kate will visit historic Mayan sites and celebrate the rich culture of the Garifuna community in Belize, as well as exploring the country’s biodiversity.
In Jamaica, they will engage with the Jamaican Defence Force and celebrate the legacy of Bob Marley and other ground-breaking Jamaican musicians alongside potential stars of the future.
In the Bahamas, the Cambridges will visit a number of islands and experience a world-famous junkanoo parade.
The pair has asked to meet as many local people as possible, the palace said.
They will also address the regions’ responses to Covid-19 and the impact of the pandemic on the areas.
Kate and William will also touch on themes “close to their hearts” – including their work with The Earthshot Prize, mental health and the importance of early childhood to lifelong outcomes, a statement added.
A Kensington Palace spokeswoman added: “Their Royal Highnesses are very much looking forward to the visit, which will be their first joint official overseas tour since the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.”
- Milica Cosic
Queen postpones event at Windsor Castle
THE Queen has postponed an event next week following the advice of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
The Diplomatic Reception at Windsor Castle was expected to take place on Wednesday however will not be going ahead as planned.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen has accepted the Foreign Secretary's advice that the Diplomatic Reception at Windsor on Wednesday 2 March should be postponed."
The Queen was due to host the event which would have seen more than 500 members of the Diplomatic Corps attend.
Held annually, the event normally sees 1,000 guests however was stripped back to be a smaller lounge event.
Neither the Queen’s office nor the foreign ministry has so far given a reason for the postponement, although the monarch was forced to cancel virtual events in recent days due to coronavirus symptoms.
- Milica Cosic
Disgraced Prince Andrew is ‘broken’
DISGRACED Prince Andrew is reportedly "broken" after being ordered to fork over a multi-million pound settlement to Virginia Giuffre.
A source says the duke, 61, has been struggling amid the public humiliation of his legal settlement – speculated to be worth up to £12million.
The source – who served with Prince Andrew during the Falklands War – says the move to let him hang on to his rank as Vice Admiral is an attempt to cheer him up.
They told the Mirror: “He is down, he is broken. If he wants to dress up once in a while in a naval uniform, then let him.”
"His reputation is in tatters, his public life is over. He is a walking embarrassment."
- Milica Cosic
Harry’s Super Bowl appearance labelled not as ‘important’
The Duke of Sussex was joined by his cousin Princess Eugenie in California earlier this month as they Super Bowl together at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
Harry has been described as not as “important or relevant” in the US compared to the UK after photos were shared of him at the event.
Body language expert Dr Lillian Glass, said the two looked “confused” as they watched the game, and highlighted Harry’s “irrelevancy” in America.
She told Express.co.uk: “In the US Harry isn’t considered as important or relevant as he seems to be in the UK and bringing Eugenie as opposed to Meghan [to the Super Bowl] reflects that irrelevancy.”
She added: “It was confusing as well as suspicious that he took Eugenie to the Superbowl as opposed to Meghan.
“Harry could have taken both Meghan and Eugenie to the game, so it seemed rather odd that he would not bring Meghan".
- Milica Cosic
Other Royal trips planned this year
Kate and William’s overseas trip overlaps a visit to Ireland for Charles and Camilla.
The future King and Queen Consort are set to make a three-day visit on March 23.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines from 22 to April 28 2022.
And Princess Anne will visit Papua New Guinea from April 11 to 13.
- Milica Cosic
Camilla set for major ‘difficulty’ at Charles’ coronation
A constitutional expert has told the Express that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is set for a major “difficulty” at Prince Charles’ coronation.
Professor Vernon Bogdanor at King’s College London claimed to Express.co.uk that Camilla may face a difficulty at the coronation.
He said last year: “One difficulty I think is that, at the coronation, the wife of the King is crowned with the King. That is not statutory.
“There was a case when it wasn’t as long ago as 1821 when George IV, in order to separate from his wife, Queen Caroline, sort of locked the door of Westminster Abbey so she couldn’t get in.
“It is not required, but it has been the custom. If Camilla is not crowned Queen with the King, it may look to some as if she is not quite up to the first class.
“Therefore, I think this is a difficulty. I think the Church’s rules on divorce are much more liberal now and she would be crowned Queen [with Charles].
“My own personal view is she should be, but it depends on public opinion really.”
- Joseph Gamp
MPs blocked from probing if public money used in Andrew settlement
Exclusive by Jonathan Reilly
FURIOUS MPs have been BLOCKED from probing whether any public money was used by Prince Andrew to pay off his sex accuser.
Under barmy ancient rules MPs are restricted from discussing the Royals – but now one MP is demanding a minister comes to the Commons to confirm none of the Sovereign Grant – paid to the royals by the public – was used to compensate Virginia Giuffre.
The Duke of York, 61, settled claims he raped and abused Ms Giuffre, now 38 when she was 17 out of court for an undisclosed sum of money – which has been speculated to be up to £12million.
The 95-year-old monarch – who paid Andrew’s legal fees in the run up to yesterday’s agreement – will help fund the settlement.
Labour’s Andy McDonald has written to Cabinet minister Steve Barcley to confirm no taxpayer cash was used.
In the letter he said:“As you are aware, raising an issue relating to the royal family on the floor of the House is fraught with difficulties.” The MP has asked ministers to check all proper “enquiries have been made by the government” that meetings have taken place and that “no public funds have been or will be used in part or whole in satisfaction of the settlement.” He added: “I am making a perfectly proper and legitimate enquiry, which is capable of being fully and straightforwardly addressed and answered.” A Government Spokesperson: “The Sovereign Grant supports the Monarch and certain members of the Royal Family in carrying out their official duties.
Prince Andrew stopped receiving support through the Sovereign Grant in 2019 when he ceased carrying out official duties.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen could have ‘bleak shadow’ cast over Jubilee
A Labour MP has warned that The Queen could see a “bleak shadow” cast over her Platinum Jubilee if questions around whether taxpayer money was used to help Prince Andrew pay his settlement to Virginia Giuffre are left unanswered.
Labour MP Andy McDonald warned last week he will be seeking reassurances that taxpayers’ money isn’t used to fund the Duke’s settlement.
Mr McDonald told Sky News he would use “whatever opportunity” to “seek that assurance from the Government benches that there will be no call upon the public purse to pay up for this settlement.
McDonald also said: “If he [Prince Andrew] wants to go to his mother for a bailout, then the taxpayer has got to be assured it’s not going to be coming out of their coffers. Simple as that.”
- Joseph Gamp
£2 coin celebrating Dame Vera Lynn goes on sale
Forces’ sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn is being celebrated with the launch of £2 coins designed by the Royal Mint.
The singer and entertainer lifted people’s spirits during the Second World War with songs including We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs Of Dover.
The reverse design of the £2 coin design features a detailed portrait of Dame Vera, accompanied by her name and the dates denoting the years of her life. The coin also features an edge inscription that reads: “We’ll meet again”.
Dame Vera continued to perform and win new fans long after the Second World War. She died in June 2020, aged 103.
The coin, designed by the Royal Mint’s in-house designers, was originally unveiled as part of a five-coin collection.
Dame Vera’s daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones, said: “It’s fantastic to see my mother celebrated in this way and to ensure her legacy lives on.
“We’re just so excited and pleased – even more so knowing that Royal Mint coins require approval of Her Majesty the Queen. I’m especially pleased that this coin is available to international collectors. Over the years I’ve always been touched by the sacks of letters we receive from people all over the world who have been moved in some way by my mother’s music, charity work or morale-boosting performances during the war.”
Source: Read Full Article
