<p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started to pay back the money that was spent in refurbishing their royal home of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.<br />
<br />
The couple had earlier agreed to return roughly $3 million that they had received towards the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, which is located on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle. Earlier in April, Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles with their son Archie, after stepping down from their official roles as senior members of the royal family.<br />
<br />
According to media reports, the money for the renovation had come from the British taxpayers by way of the Sovereign Grant. Earlier this year in January, Harry and Meghan had expressed their wish to repay the funs of the Grant that was used for renovation following a discussion with the Queen and other senior members of the royal family amid their exit from royal life.</p>

<h4><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/watch-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-release-special-video-on-archies-first-birthday-297028">Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release special video on Archie's first birthday</a></h4>

<p>The couple and the Queen have drawn upon an arrangement, where the couple is allowed to pay back the amount installments. Reports state that the rate fixed is low and it will take more than a decade for Harry and Meghan to repay the entire amount.<br />
<br />
The couple is reportedly also paying rent on the cottage, which will continue to be theirs to use when they are in the UK.&nbsp; They have decided to split their time between America and UK post their exit from the royal family.<br />
<br />
Harry and Meghan started living in Frogmore Cottage in April 2019. Before that, the couple was sharing space with Prince William and his family. The couple's son Archie was also born while the two were living in Frogmore.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started to pay back the money that was spent in refurbishing their royal home of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. The couple had earlier agreed to return roughly $3 million that they had received towards the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, which is located on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started to pay back the money that was spent in refurbishing their royal home of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. The couple had earlier agreed to return roughly $3 million that they had received towards the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, which is located on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle. Earlier in April, Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles with their son Archie, after stepping down from their official roles as senior members of the royal family. According to media reports, the money for the renovation had come from the British taxpayers by way of the Sovereign Grant. Earlier this year in January, Harry and Meghan had expressed their wish to repay the funs of the Grant that was used for renovation following a discussion with the Queen and other senior members of the royal family amid their exit from royal life. Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release special video on Archie's first birthday The couple and the Queen have drawn upon an arrangement, where the couple is allowed to pay back the amount installments. Reports state that the rate fixed is low and it will take more than a decade for Harry and Meghan to repay the entire amount. The couple is reportedly also paying rent on the cottage, which will continue to be theirs to use when they are in the UK. They have decided to split their time between America and UK post their exit from the royal family. Harry and Meghan started living in Frogmore Cottage in April 2019. Before that, the couple was sharing space with Prince William and his family. The couple's son Archie was also born while the two were living in Frogmore.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to pay back the money that was used to renovate Frogmore Cottage

<p>The Brits are deploying drones to send medical supplies to remote areas. A&nbsp;fixed wing twin engined UAV&nbsp;which can carry a payload of 100 kilos, will be used to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in the Isle of Wight.</p>

<p>The hospital lies 8 kilometres off the south coast of England.</p>

<p>A mother who successfully fought the novel coronavirus was reunited with her newborn baby for the first&nbsp;time.</p>

<p>Isabel Gonzalez was admitted to the Massachusetts general hospital 2 weeks ago. She delivered the baby on the March 30.</p>

<p>Over&nbsp;a hundred shoppers lined up at a Chanel store in Seoul after rumours of price hike spread across city.</p>

<p>Some shoppers lined up as early as 5 am&nbsp;even though the store had issued tickets online to keep order.</p>

<p>UK royals, including the queen,&nbsp;paid a tribute to nurses around the world on International Nurses day.</p>

<p>They interacted with healthcare workers from Australia, India, Africa and the Caribbean.</p>

<p>Parisians flocked to cosmetics stores and beauty parlours a day after exiting an 8-week lockdown.</p>

<p>Non-essential shops including factories and&nbsp;non-essential businesses reopened for the first time in eight weeks.</p>

<p>275 health and&nbsp;social care professionals have died in the UK&nbsp;due to the Wuhan virus.</p>

<p>The list includes 144 national health service and&nbsp;131 social care workers. British PM&nbsp;Boris Johnson called the toll stark and&nbsp;deeply horrifying.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia will enforce a countrywide 24-hour curfew during the five-day eid holiday.</p>

<p>The curfew will apply from May 23 to May 27 following the end of the fasting month of ramadan. Commercial and business enterprises will remain open till then.</p>

<p>US lead virus expert Anthony faFuci said&nbsp;the actual death toll in the US&nbsp;could be higher then the official figure as&nbsp;those who could not get access to the health care system may not have been included in the official toll.</p>

<p>Fauci also warned against relaxing lockdowns too soon, saying the consequences could be serious.</p>

<p>Germany, France, Austria and&nbsp;Switzerland will relax border restrictions from this weekend. Currently only selected border crossings are open.</p>

<p>London mayor Sadiq Khan has opposed the restart of premier league football next month as&nbsp;the situation isn't conducive for resumption of sports.</p>

<p>Pakistan’s military has sought an additional outlay of Rs 63.69 billion to cover a 20 per cent&nbsp;increase in the salaries of the personnel of the army, navy and air force amid cost-cutting and austerity measures by the civilian government.</p>

<p>A memorandum submitted to the finance division by the defence ministry on May 8 stated the increase in salaries during fiscal 2020-21 is needed because of various factors that have ''affected the fiscal space and livelihood of armed forces personnel.''</p>

<p>Japan's country&nbsp;office has announced plans for a future society called ''society 5.0'', under which&nbsp;people will be given access to avatars or remote-controlled robots with the aim&nbsp;to build a society without physical constraints.</p>

<p>Big chunks of Chinese rockets weighing 17.8 tonnes&nbsp;fell from the sky. It was the biggest chunk of space debris to make its way back since 1991.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The CZ-5B-Y1 core stage is in a 155 x 366 km orbit, and is expected to reenter around May 11. At 17.8 tonnes, it is the most massive object to make an uncontrolled reentry since the 39-tonne Salyut-7 in 1991, unless you count OV-102 Columbia in 2003.</p>
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) <a href="https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1258459016990253056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ashraf al-Helw, is a third generation lion tamer,&nbsp;has converted his living room into a circus so&nbsp;he can&nbsp;entertain people by live streaming performances.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Brits are deploying drones to send medical supplies to remote areas. A fixed wing twin engined UAV which can carry a payload of 100 kilos, will be used to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in the Isle of Wight.

The Brits are deploying drones to send medical supplies to remote areas. A fixed wing twin engined UAV which can carry a payload of 100 kilos, will be used to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in the Isle of Wight. The hospital lies 8 kilometres off the south coast of England. A mother who successfully fought the novel coronavirus was reunited with her newborn baby for the first time. Isabel Gonzalez was admitted to the Massachusetts general hospital 2 weeks ago. She delivered the baby on the March 30. Over a hundred shoppers lined up at a Chanel store in Seoul after rumours of price hike spread across city. Some shoppers lined up as early as 5 am even though the store had issued tickets online to keep order. UK royals, including the queen, paid a tribute to nurses around the world on International Nurses day. They interacted with healthcare workers from Australia, India, Africa and the Caribbean. Parisians flocked to cosmetics stores and beauty parlours a day after exiting an 8-week lockdown. Non-essential shops including factories and non-essential businesses reopened for the first time in eight weeks. 275 health and social care professionals have died in the UK due to the Wuhan virus. The list includes 144 national health service and 131 social care workers. British PM Boris Johnson called the toll stark and deeply horrifying. Saudi Arabia will enforce a countrywide 24-hour curfew during the five-day eid holiday. The curfew will apply from May 23 to May 27 following the end of the fasting month of ramadan. Commercial and business enterprises will remain open till then. US lead virus expert Anthony faFuci said the actual death toll in the US could be higher then the official figure as those who could not get access to the health care system may not have been included in the official toll. Fauci also warned against relaxing lockdowns too soon, saying the consequences could be serious. Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland will relax border restrictions from this weekend. Currently only selected border crossings are open. London mayor Sadiq Khan has opposed the restart of premier league football next month as the situation isn't conducive for resumption of sports. Pakistan’s military has sought an additional outlay of Rs 63.69 billion to cover a 20 per cent increase in the salaries of the personnel of the army, navy and air force amid cost-cutting and austerity measures by the civilian government. A memorandum submitted to the finance division by the defence ministry on May 8 stated the increase in salaries during fiscal 2020-21 is needed because of various factors that have ''affected the fiscal space and livelihood of armed forces personnel.'' Japan's country office has announced plans for a future society called ''society 5.0'', under which people will be given access to avatars or remote-controlled robots with the aim to build a society without physical constraints. Big chunks of Chinese rockets weighing 17.8 tonnes fell from the sky. It was the biggest chunk of space debris to make its way back since 1991. The CZ-5B-Y1 core stage is in a 155 x 366 km orbit, and is expected to reenter around May 11. At 17.8 tonnes, it is the most massive object to make an uncontrolled reentry since the 39-tonne Salyut-7 in 1991, unless you count OV-102 Columbia in 2003. — Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) May 7, 2020 × Ashraf al-Helw, is a third generation lion tamer, has converted his living room into a circus so he can entertain people by live streaming performances.

Coronavirus tracker: Chinese rockets fall from sky, curfew in Saudi Arabia and more

<p>Legal proceedings have been launched in Switzerland against Britain's&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Andrew&nbsp;and his ex-wife Sarah, a newspaper reported Thursday, over money they were said to still owe on a luxury chalet.</p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth II's second son and Sarah, who remain close despite their 1996 divorce, bought the plush holiday home in the Verbier ski resort in southwest Switzerland in 2014 for 22 million Swiss francs.</p>

<p>The wooden chalet has seven bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna, Le Temps newspaper reported.</p>

<p>However, the Duke and Duchess of York did not meet a December 31, 2019 deadline for paying off a chunk of that sum, Le Temps said.</p>

<p>In the deeds of sale, seen by the French-language daily, six million francs were due to be paid at the end of last year -- now eight million francs with interest.</p>

<p>Le Temps quoted a spokeswoman for the Yorks as saying: "There is a dispute between the two parties in this matter," adding that the contractual details were "subject to a confidentiality agreement".</p>

<p>A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told AFP: "This isn’t something we would comment on."</p>

<p>The legal proceedings add to 60-year-old&nbsp;Andrew's woes.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;prince, who is eighth in line to the British throne, stepped back from all royal duties in November following a public outcry over his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.</p>

<p>Four months on, the law firm Etude du Ritz has been instructed by the vendor to launch legal proceedings at the local prosecution office, Le Temps reported.</p>


Legal proceedings have been launched in Switzerland against Britain's Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, a newspaper reported Thursday, over money they were said to still owe on a luxury chalet.

Legal proceedings have been launched in Switzerland against Britain's Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, a newspaper reported Thursday, over money they were said to still owe on a luxury chalet. Queen Elizabeth II's second son and Sarah, who remain close despite their 1996 divorce, bought the plush holiday home in the Verbier ski resort in southwest Switzerland in 2014 for 22 million Swiss francs. The wooden chalet has seven bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna, Le Temps newspaper reported. However, the Duke and Duchess of York did not meet a December 31, 2019 deadline for paying off a chunk of that sum, Le Temps said. In the deeds of sale, seen by the French-language daily, six million francs were due to be paid at the end of last year -- now eight million francs with interest. Le Temps quoted a spokeswoman for the Yorks as saying: "There is a dispute between the two parties in this matter," adding that the contractual details were "subject to a confidentiality agreement". A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told AFP: "This isn’t something we would comment on." The legal proceedings add to 60-year-old Andrew's woes. The prince, who is eighth in line to the British throne, stepped back from all royal duties in November following a public outcry over his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Four months on, the law firm Etude du Ritz has been instructed by the vendor to launch legal proceedings at the local prosecution office, Le Temps reported.

Britain's Prince Andrew facing lawsuit over Swiss chalet

<p>The first court hearing in a privacy case brought by Meghan, Britain`s Duchess of Sussex, against a tabloid newspaper for printing part of one of her letters takes place at London`s High Court on Friday.<br />
<br />
Meghan, the wife of Queen Elizabeth`s grandson Prince Harry, is suing publisher Associated Newspapers over articles its Mail on Sunday newspaper printed in February last year which were based on a letter she had sent to her father, Thomas Markle.<br />
<br />
Lawyers for the duchess say its publication was a misuse of private information and breached her copyright. They are seeking aggravated damages from the paper.<br />
<br />
Meghan and her father fell out on the eve of her glitzy, pomp-laden wedding to Harry in May 2018.<br />
<br />
Markle pulled out days beforehand after undergoing heart surgery and following news he had staged photos with a paparazzi photographer, and speculation about his attendance dominated the build-up to the ceremony.<br />
<br />
Documents from her lawyers this week accused the Mail and other tabloids of harassing, humiliating and manipulating Markle, and contributing towards the fallout between father and daughter.<br />
<br />
They argue the Mail had also misquoted from the letter, which was never intended to be made public, to paint the royals in a poor light.<br />
<br />
The Mail says unnamed friends of Meghan had put her version of events in interviews with the U.S. magazine People and that Markle had the right to put his side.<br />
<br />
The paper`s lawyers also argue that given Meghan`s royal status, there was a legitimate public interest in her personal and family relationships.<br />
<br />
Friday`s hearing, which will be held remotely because of Britain`s coronavirus lockdown, is the start of the court action and no witnesses will take part. No date has been set yet for the full trial.<br />
<br />
In the papers submitted by Meghan`s lawyers this week were details of text messages sent by Harry to his future father-in-law, pleading with him not to talk to the press and to call him and his daughter.<br />
<br />
The duchess missed a call from Markle at 4.57 a.m. on the morning of the wedding and she has not received any calls or messages from him since then, the court papers added.<br />
<br />
The legal action is the latest step in growing hostility between the media and the couple, who are now living in the Los Angeles area having stepped down from their royal roles at the end of last month.<br />
<br />
This week the royals announced they would have "zero engagement" with four of Britain`s top tabloids, accusing them of false and invasive coverage.<br />
<br />
That statement brought anger and derision from many newspapers which accused them of egotism and questionable timing by making the announcement during the COVID-19 crisis.</p>


The first court hearing in a privacy case brought by Meghan, Britain`s Duchess of Sussex, against a tabloid newspaper for printing part of one of her letters takes place at London`s High Court on Friday.

The first court hearing in a privacy case brought by Meghan, Britain`s Duchess of Sussex, against a tabloid newspaper for printing part of one of her letters takes place at London`s High Court on Friday. Meghan, the wife of Queen Elizabeth`s grandson Prince Harry, is suing publisher Associated Newspapers over articles its Mail on Sunday newspaper printed in February last year which were based on a letter she had sent to her father, Thomas Markle. Lawyers for the duchess say its publication was a misuse of private information and breached her copyright. They are seeking aggravated damages from the paper. Meghan and her father fell out on the eve of her glitzy, pomp-laden wedding to Harry in May 2018. Markle pulled out days beforehand after undergoing heart surgery and following news he had staged photos with a paparazzi photographer, and speculation about his attendance dominated the build-up to the ceremony. Documents from her lawyers this week accused the Mail and other tabloids of harassing, humiliating and manipulating Markle, and contributing towards the fallout between father and daughter. They argue the Mail had also misquoted from the letter, which was never intended to be made public, to paint the royals in a poor light. The Mail says unnamed friends of Meghan had put her version of events in interviews with the U.S. magazine People and that Markle had the right to put his side. The paper`s lawyers also argue that given Meghan`s royal status, there was a legitimate public interest in her personal and family relationships. Friday`s hearing, which will be held remotely because of Britain`s coronavirus lockdown, is the start of the court action and no witnesses will take part. No date has been set yet for the full trial. In the papers submitted by Meghan`s lawyers this week were details of text messages sent by Harry to his future father-in-law, pleading with him not to talk to the press and to call him and his daughter. The duchess missed a call from Markle at 4.57 a.m. on the morning of the wedding and she has not received any calls or messages from him since then, the court papers added. The legal action is the latest step in growing hostility between the media and the couple, who are now living in the Los Angeles area having stepped down from their royal roles at the end of last month. This week the royals announced they would have "zero engagement" with four of Britain`s top tabloids, accusing them of false and invasive coverage. That statement brought anger and derision from many newspapers which accused them of egotism and questionable timing by making the announcement during the COVID-19 crisis.

Meghan Markle's privacy action against tabloid goes to London High Court

<p>Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised schoolkids during a virtual visit today amid cheers. It was more like a show-and-tell session by youngsters whose parents were busy on the frontline of the UK's coronavirus battle. As both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dropped in to motivate the schoolkids of Casterton Primary Academy in Lancashire, it became a video worth watching.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Calling it the “good northern volunteering spirit” of staff as they talked to teachers at the school, Kate and Prince William chatted for a bit with kids as they showed pictures of their parents who are risking their lives in times of crisis. One kid showed them a picture and said, “This is a picture of my mum and she works for the NHS as an admin for the health visitors and I’m really proud of her.” The Duke said: “Well done you! Look at that, that’s a great picture.”</p>

<p>Kate added, “You should be very proud of her, they’re doing an amazing job, all the NHS workers, so well done.”</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/uks-covid-19-film-and-tv-emergency-relief-fund-launched-with-3-million-291365" hreflang="en">UK’s COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund launched with $3 million</a></p>

<p>Talking about their virtual visit, the chief executive of trust that runs the school, Anita Ghidotti, said, “It was just absolutely fantastic. I can’t believe they chose us, out of everyone in the country. Everyone feels very special. It has been a real boost.”</p>

<p>In the video as kids had homemade bunny ears on them, William said, “I like your bunny ears, they look like the real deal – that’s a strong look!”</p>

<p>Watch the video here:</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-u9NW2l1OH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Teachers across the UK are dedicating their time to keeping schools open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called teachers and school staff at Casterton Primary Academy to thank them for their hard work and dedication - and to wish the children a very Happy Easter 🐣</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on <time datetime="2020-04-08T21:00:10+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 8, 2020 at 2:00pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>One child told him they had finished a history project, adding: “The first William was William the Conqueror. What do you want to be called?” WIlliam responded with, “I don’t think I can answer that.”</p>

<p>In the video, Kate praised the school authorities and all those who manage to keep the school open when some kids don’t have parents around as they are first responders. She said, “To you and everyone who is in during this time, it must be such a relief for all the parents who are key workers to know their children have the normality and structure, and they’ve got a safe place. So really, really well done and for all of you. I know it’s not easy circumstances but it’s fantastic.”</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/phoebe-waller-bridges-fleabag-play-to-stream-on-amazon-proceeds-to-go-to-covid-19-charities-291307" hreflang="en">Phoebe Waller Bridge's 'Fleabag' play to stream on Amazon, proceeds to go to COVID-19 charities</a></h2>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-tributes-pour-in-for-legendary-singer-songwriter-john-prine-who-died-of-covid-19-291269" hreflang="en">Tributes pour in for legendary singer-songwriter John Prine who died of COVID-19</a></h2>


Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised schoolkids during a virtual visit today amid cheers. It was more like a show-and-tell session by youngsters whose parents were busy on the frontline of the UK's coronavirus battle.

Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised schoolkids during a virtual visit today amid cheers. It was more like a show-and-tell session by youngsters whose parents were busy on the frontline of the UK's coronavirus battle. As both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dropped in to motivate the schoolkids of Casterton Primary Academy in Lancashire, it became a video worth watching. Calling it the “good northern volunteering spirit” of staff as they talked to teachers at the school, Kate and Prince William chatted for a bit with kids as they showed pictures of their parents who are risking their lives in times of crisis. One kid showed them a picture and said, “This is a picture of my mum and she works for the NHS as an admin for the health visitors and I’m really proud of her.” The Duke said: “Well done you! Look at that, that’s a great picture.” Kate added, “You should be very proud of her, they’re doing an amazing job, all the NHS workers, so well done.” Also read: UK’s COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund launched with $3 million Talking about their virtual visit, the chief executive of trust that runs the school, Anita Ghidotti, said, “It was just absolutely fantastic. I can’t believe they chose us, out of everyone in the country. Everyone feels very special. It has been a real boost.” In the video as kids had homemade bunny ears on them, William said, “I like your bunny ears, they look like the real deal – that’s a strong look!” Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram Teachers across the UK are dedicating their time to keeping schools open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called teachers and school staff at Casterton Primary Academy to thank them for their hard work and dedication - and to wish the children a very Happy Easter 🐣 A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Apr 8, 2020 at 2:00pm PDT × One child told him they had finished a history project, adding: “The first William was William the Conqueror. What do you want to be called?” WIlliam responded with, “I don’t think I can answer that.” In the video, Kate praised the school authorities and all those who manage to keep the school open when some kids don’t have parents around as they are first responders. She said, “To you and everyone who is in during this time, it must be such a relief for all the parents who are key workers to know their children have the normality and structure, and they’ve got a safe place. So really, really well done and for all of you. I know it’s not easy circumstances but it’s fantastic.” Phoebe Waller Bridge's 'Fleabag' play to stream on Amazon, proceeds to go to COVID-19 charities Tributes pour in for legendary singer-songwriter John Prine who died of COVID-19

Watch: Prince William, Kate surprise schoolkids with virtual visit amid COVID-19 outbreak

What is the actual cost of sustaining Europe's royal families?

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<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/celebrity-news-queen-elizabeths-eldest-grandson-headed-for-divorce-from-canadian-wife-could-megxit-have-influenced-the-couple-280053">British monarchy</a> was left ashen-faced on Monday after it emerged that clicking on a link on the Royal Family's website led to a site featuring inappropriate content.</p>

<p>The website was supposed to link out to Welsh charity Dolen Cymru, of which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle-meghan-markle-prince-harry-fire-all-their-staff-in-uk-280692" target="_blank">Prince Harry</a>&nbsp;is patron, but instead included a link to a Chinese adult website.</p>

<p>After meeting members during his gap year placement in Lesotho in 2004 Prince Harry was named royal patron of the organisation in 2007 which introduces professionals from schools and hospitals to each other.</p>

<p><strong>See:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/british-royals-being-victim-of-media-invasion-275866" target="_blank">5 times members of the British royal family got into legal feuds with media</a></p>

<p>The unfortunate horror has not been addressed by the Palace, though the link has since been corrected to www.waleslesotholink.org. This is not the first time an error on such a scale has been made by palace officials when it comes to an online forum.</p>

<p>The birth of the Royal Prince Archie in May 2019 was marked by statements from a royal commentator who suggested that palace aides may have been caught off guard by the arrival of the son of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/megxit-prince-harry-meghan-markle-to-no-longer-bear-royal-highness-title-275149" target="_blank">Duke and Duchess of Sussex</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-royal-family-website-blunder-redirected-to-a-porn-site-281310" target="_blank">UK Royal family website blunder: Redirected to a porn site</a></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-royal-family-website-blunder-redirected-to-a-porn-site-281310/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The announcement that the 37-year-old Duchess had gone into labour was followed by another one less than an hour later, revealing that she had safely delivered a son. Meanwhile, it took a while for the Buckingham Palace to issue a statement on the joyous occasion as they were seemingly unaware of the birth of another Royal.</p>

<p>The official announcement on the website also carried with a humiliating error, when it congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for welcoming a baby boy, when in fact it was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.</p>

<p>In a hurry to share photos across all official channels of the newest member of the royal family, social media team of the Palace made a mistake and got Diana's sisters mixed up.</p>


The British monarchy was left ashen-faced on Monday after it emerged that clicking on a link on the Royal Family's website led to a site featuring inappropriate content.

The British monarchy was left ashen-faced on Monday after it emerged that clicking on a link on the Royal Family's website led to a site featuring inappropriate content. The website was supposed to link out to Welsh charity Dolen Cymru, of which Prince Harry is patron, but instead included a link to a Chinese adult website. After meeting members during his gap year placement in Lesotho in 2004 Prince Harry was named royal patron of the organisation in 2007 which introduces professionals from schools and hospitals to each other. See: 5 times members of the British royal family got into legal feuds with media The unfortunate horror has not been addressed by the Palace, though the link has since been corrected to www.waleslesotholink.org. This is not the first time an error on such a scale has been made by palace officials when it comes to an online forum. The birth of the Royal Prince Archie in May 2019 was marked by statements from a royal commentator who suggested that palace aides may have been caught off guard by the arrival of the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Watch: UK Royal family website blunder: Redirected to a porn site The announcement that the 37-year-old Duchess had gone into labour was followed by another one less than an hour later, revealing that she had safely delivered a son. Meanwhile, it took a while for the Buckingham Palace to issue a statement on the joyous occasion as they were seemingly unaware of the birth of another Royal. The official announcement on the website also carried with a humiliating error, when it congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for welcoming a baby boy, when in fact it was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In a hurry to share photos across all official channels of the newest member of the royal family, social media team of the Palace made a mistake and got Diana's sisters mixed up.

British Royals left ashen-faced after X-rated error on royal website

<p>Remember in December 2017 when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement? The images of Harry in a blue trouser suit and Meghan in white coat flashed across TV screens and newspapers all over the world. Meghan was wearing the coat created by a Canadian brand Line - The Label, sold out within minutes. So much so that the brand’s website crashed. The interest in the royal couple has been unprecedented. When they got married in May 2018, two billion viewers glued to their TV screens to watch the ‘fairy-tale’ wedding worldwide.</p>

<p>So, it wasn’t a surprise when @SussexRoyal broke Instagram records for the fastest one million followers (in less than six hours) in April last year. From their son Archie’s arrival to the bombshell decision to step back from royal duties – all announcements were made through this social handle. But what next?</p>

<p>The big question after Megxit is that with literally no cash flow from the royal chambers, how would the royal couple or should we say the celebrity couple will eke a living?</p>

<p>Brand partnerships, sponsorship deals, and social media appear to be the most lucrative and quick source of income for the couple. Global brands are ready to queue outside their Vancouver pad to get them on board. No doubt they can give any global celebrity a run for their money. Not to forget, before stepping into the royal shoes Meghan was also running her fashion and lifestyle blog - The Tig. The blog was discontinued and Meghan bid adieu to her fans with a sweet thank you letter. So, the social media influencer role is open for both. From AIDS to mental health to fashion and sport their ideas will sell like hot cake. And, the new parents also have all the rights and some experience to talk about parenting and bringing up a global citizen.</p>

<p>But what remains to be seen is for how long this love and affection for them would stay now that the royal titles have left their sides. The royal couple can also tread the road Obamas have opted for. Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle launched their production company Higher Ground in May 2018 and signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix. Their first production American Factory has even got an Oscar nod. When Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandon was asked if he would be interested in signing a deal with Harry and Meghan he quickly jumped on to so ‘who wouldn’t be’. Meghan sent ripples across showbiz when she signed a voice-over deal with Disney hinting at her comeback.</p>

<p>Imagine what if Meghan plans to write a book like the Obamas. Obama's memoir is expected to release this year before the 2020 Presidential elections. Michelle’s autobiography Becoming took the world by storm. The book sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. It became the best-selling book in the US for the year 2018.</p>

<p>Who wouldn’t want to get a sneak peek into how a biracial American divorcee managed to strut through the alleys of Buckingham Palace and got a nod from the Queen to marry her grandson. Or, how it feels to be a spare’s spouse and not an heir’s. Or, how rooted racism is into Britain’s psyche?</p>

<p>Obama made his first speech three-months after the end of his second term. He reportedly made $400,000 from that one speech. Harry, are you listening? So the possibilities for both of them are endless to cash in their celebrity status. So, the possibilities for both of them are endless to cash in their celebrity status.</p>

<p>The bold step taken by the couple has indeed shaken the monarchy and has exposed its weaknesses to the world yet again. Stepping down from the roles of senior royals seems a good idea and Harry is anyways sixth in the line of the throne but the decision to relocate to Canada only hints that the couple wants more liberty in executing their plans as a brand.<br />
<br />
<em>&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Remember in December 2017 when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement? The images of Harry in a blue trouser suit and Meghan in white coat flashed across TV screens and newspapers all over the world.

Remember in December 2017 when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement? The images of Harry in a blue trouser suit and Meghan in white coat flashed across TV screens and newspapers all over the world. Meghan was wearing the coat created by a Canadian brand Line - The Label, sold out within minutes. So much so that the brand’s website crashed. The interest in the royal couple has been unprecedented. When they got married in May 2018, two billion viewers glued to their TV screens to watch the ‘fairy-tale’ wedding worldwide. So, it wasn’t a surprise when @SussexRoyal broke Instagram records for the fastest one million followers (in less than six hours) in April last year. From their son Archie’s arrival to the bombshell decision to step back from royal duties – all announcements were made through this social handle. But what next? The big question after Megxit is that with literally no cash flow from the royal chambers, how would the royal couple or should we say the celebrity couple will eke a living? Brand partnerships, sponsorship deals, and social media appear to be the most lucrative and quick source of income for the couple. Global brands are ready to queue outside their Vancouver pad to get them on board. No doubt they can give any global celebrity a run for their money. Not to forget, before stepping into the royal shoes Meghan was also running her fashion and lifestyle blog - The Tig. The blog was discontinued and Meghan bid adieu to her fans with a sweet thank you letter. So, the social media influencer role is open for both. From AIDS to mental health to fashion and sport their ideas will sell like hot cake. And, the new parents also have all the rights and some experience to talk about parenting and bringing up a global citizen. But what remains to be seen is for how long this love and affection for them would stay now that the royal titles have left their sides. The royal couple can also tread the road Obamas have opted for. Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle launched their production company Higher Ground in May 2018 and signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix. Their first production American Factory has even got an Oscar nod. When Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandon was asked if he would be interested in signing a deal with Harry and Meghan he quickly jumped on to so ‘who wouldn’t be’. Meghan sent ripples across showbiz when she signed a voice-over deal with Disney hinting at her comeback. Imagine what if Meghan plans to write a book like the Obamas. Obama's memoir is expected to release this year before the 2020 Presidential elections. Michelle’s autobiography Becoming took the world by storm. The book sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. It became the best-selling book in the US for the year 2018. Who wouldn’t want to get a sneak peek into how a biracial American divorcee managed to strut through the alleys of Buckingham Palace and got a nod from the Queen to marry her grandson. Or, how it feels to be a spare’s spouse and not an heir’s. Or, how rooted racism is into Britain’s psyche? Obama made his first speech three-months after the end of his second term. He reportedly made $400,000 from that one speech. Harry, are you listening? So the possibilities for both of them are endless to cash in their celebrity status. So, the possibilities for both of them are endless to cash in their celebrity status. The bold step taken by the couple has indeed shaken the monarchy and has exposed its weaknesses to the world yet again. Stepping down from the roles of senior royals seems a good idea and Harry is anyways sixth in the line of the throne but the decision to relocate to Canada only hints that the couple wants more liberty in executing their plans as a brand. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What next for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

<p>Geoffrey Berman, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-top-court-sides-with-trump-on-immigrant-welfare-benefits-276959">US</a> prosecutor in charge of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/royal-mess-all-the-controversies-that-british-monarchy-has-faced-till-date-274729">Jeffrey Epstein </a>sex trafficking case has accused <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-may-loose-armed-protection-in-major-downgrade-of-security-274825">Prince Andrew</a> of providing ''zero cooperation'' in the probe on Monday.</p>

<p>He said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/british-royals-being-victim-of-media-invasion-275866">British royal </a>is yet to respond to the requests of the investigators and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-fbi-investigates-briton-others-for-epstein-links-sources-270610">FBI</a> for an interview.</p>

<p>''Till date, he has provided zero co-operation,'' said&nbsp;the investigator.</p>

<p>The prince had said that if required, he was ''willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies with their investigation''.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-may-loose-armed-protection-in-major-downgrade-of-security-274825">Prince Andrew may lose armed protection in major 'security downgrade'</a></strong></p>

<p>Andrew, 59, had met <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-fbi-investigates-briton-others-for-epstein-links-sources-270610">Epstein</a> in 1999 and said that he did not regret his friendship with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/morning-news-brief-106-dead-in-china-us-court-supports-trumps-immigration-rule-and-more-276960">US </a>financier who was arrested in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution.</p>

<p>The Duke of York&nbsp;had to step down from his royal duties after being heavily criticized for his friendship with Epstein.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeffrey-epsteins-first-apparent-suicide-video-deleted-273351">Jeffrey Epstein's first apparent suicide video deleted</a></strong></p>

<p>He had claimed that he did not witness anything suspicious when he visited his home in 2010 after his conviction.</p>

<p>A 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein had said that she was forced to be intimate with Prince Andrew.</p>

<p>However, he had denied accusations and called them ''a false attempt to malign his reputation''.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/what-next-for-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-276880">Buckingham Palace </a>said that, ''the issue is being dealt by the prince's legal team''.</p>

<p>It refused to respond any further.</p>

<p>Andrew Epstein,66, was a convicted sex offender who killed himself in a jail cell in August during the trail in &nbsp;which sex traffickking and conspiracy charges were being investigated against him.</p>


Geoffrey Berman, the US prosecutor in charge of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case has accused Prince Andrew of providing ''zero cooperation'' in the probe on Monday.

Geoffrey Berman, the US prosecutor in charge of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case has accused Prince Andrew of providing ''zero cooperation'' in the probe on Monday. He said that the British royal is yet to respond to the requests of the investigators and FBI for an interview. ''Till date, he has provided zero co-operation,'' said the investigator. The prince had said that if required, he was ''willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies with their investigation''. Also read: Prince Andrew may lose armed protection in major 'security downgrade' Andrew, 59, had met Epstein in 1999 and said that he did not regret his friendship with the US financier who was arrested in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. The Duke of York had to step down from his royal duties after being heavily criticized for his friendship with Epstein. Also read: Jeffrey Epstein's first apparent suicide video deleted He had claimed that he did not witness anything suspicious when he visited his home in 2010 after his conviction. A 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein had said that she was forced to be intimate with Prince Andrew. However, he had denied accusations and called them ''a false attempt to malign his reputation''. The Buckingham Palace said that, ''the issue is being dealt by the prince's legal team''. It refused to respond any further. Andrew Epstein,66, was a convicted sex offender who killed himself in a jail cell in August during the trail in which sex traffickking and conspiracy charges were being investigated against him.

Prince Andrew provided 'zero cooperation' in Epstein probe: US prosecutor

During an interview released a day after Buckingham Palace, Megan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, accused his daughter of "cheapening" the British royal family, saying that Prince Harry and his wife would no longer be members of the monarchy.

Meghan Markle's father accuses daughter of 'cheapening' royal family

<p>On January 8, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/most-memorable-moments-of-prince-harry-and-meghan-274211">the Duke and Duchess of Sussex</a>, unveiled their controversial plan to walk away from royal roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen,'' they said in a joint statement.</p>

<p>"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the commonwealth and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity," the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apparently, the announcement on the Sussex Royal Instagram page blindsided the Queen and other family members who had no idea it was coming, it sent tabloids into overdrive. Meanwhile, the Queen summoned Senior Royals to an emergency summit to discuss the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Billed as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sandringham-summit-whos-who-at-the-royal-gathering-274052">the Sandringham summit</a>, the meeting took place at the Queen's estate in Norfolk and involved Queen Elizabeth II, Harry his father Prince Charles and his brother Prince William, with Meghan reportedly joining the discussions by phone from Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Soon after, the queen released a statement, that said, "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Monarchy in Crisis?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It looks like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have won the reluctant approval of the 93-year-old Queen. But what does their exit mean for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kate-middleton-and-prince-williams-first-2020-public-appearance-274618">British monarchy</a>? And what really went wrong? &nbsp;</p>

<p>Let’s look at this and the other scandals that have rocked the British royal family, the world's most famous monarchy, in the last few decades:<br />
<br />
<strong>The Sussexes 'step back'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Prince Harry was known as the 'rebel prince' much before he met Meghan on a blind date in mid-2016, set up by a mutual friend. The relationship moved quickly and the couple immediately became endless fodder for the tabloids. In November 2016, Harry’s communications secretary issued a statement condemning the British press’s torment of his girlfriend. This was the start of their troubled relationship with the tabloids. A year later, in November 2017, they got engaged. In an interview, Harry said he tried to warn his future wife 'as much as possible'&nbsp;about the inevitable media scrutiny, but the couple was still 'totally surprised'&nbsp;by it.</p>

<p>Despite these early setbacks, they got married at Windsor Castle in May 2017. American-born, biracial, divorced, former actress Meghan Markle, who also happened to be an independent and outspoken woman, became the Duchess of Sussex. A year later, she gave birth to Archie, the first baby of part African descent in the family. The couple’s relationship and the birth of their son were heralded by many as immensely symbolic moments of modern Britain. An example of the monarchy embracing modernity, but it was not to be.</p>

<p>Throughout it all, the British tabloids kept criticising the Sussex with most of the ire being directed at Meghan. A top-selling British tabloid dubbed their announcement as 'Megxit', putting the blame squarely on Meghan's shoulders. This isn't surprising since she has been at the receiving end for negative coverage by the British press. For issues ranging from her family background to cradling her baby bump, and even eating avocados. One British Radio host was even fired after posting a tweet where he compared their offspring to a baby chimpanzee. It's safe to assume that her race had something to do with her becoming the media's new punching bag.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For his part, Prince Harry has been vocal about what he sees as sexist and racist coverage, even making a statement comparing the treatment of his wife to that of his late mother Princess Diana, who tragically died in a crash as her driver sped away to escape the paparazzi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There was trouble on other fronts as well, rumours of a rift between Pince Harry and his older brother Prince William started emerging in March 2019. Around this time, Prince Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace. 2.4 million pounds of public money, which is about Rs 24 crores, was spent on upgrading their new official residence- Frogmore cottage. Soon after, the couple announced that they intend to split from their combined charity with the Cambridge and start their own charity, Sussex Royal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trouble was brewing in the Royal family and it started making headlines when they took part in an intimate documentary while on a tour to South Africa. They revealed the strain and pressure of living in the public eye. Meghan even said that her friends warned her not to marry Prince Harry because of the British tabloids and her husband declared that he would not be bullied into playing a game that killed his mother. In November, they announced that they will not be spending Christmas with other members of the Royal family. Opting for a six-week holiday in Canada instead where Meghan is currently residing. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly after their latest Instagram post, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gained 500,000 Instagram followers in just four days. They are now just 200,000 behind Prince William and Kate Middleton who have 10.8 million followers. In fact, when they joined Instagram last year on April 2, they made a Guinness World record for gaining 1 million fans within 6 hours<br />
&nbsp;<br />
So will Harry and Meghan keep their titles while stepping back from the royal life and moving overseas? Well, so far the Sussex has expressed no intentions of relinquishing their HRH (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness) titles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now expected to split their time between the UK and Canada, a country that lies within the commonwealth. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered his support, saying most Canadians would welcome the couple making their home there. However, he also added that further talks are needed over the costs of security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Which bring us to the question of money. Right now the two receive money from the sovereign grant, a fund set up by the UK government for the Royal family. Apart from this, between them, they are estimated to have a net worth of $30 million. An accumulation of Harry’s yearly allowance and inheritance from his mother Dian and Meghan’s TV earnings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As British royals, the couple is barred from earning their own cash, but this will change. So we may soon see them build celebrity empires like the Obamas or even the Kardashians. But by distancing themselves from the crown, one way or the other, they are certainly charting a new course.<br />
<br />
<strong>WATCH: Royal mess continues</strong><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p><br />
<strong>Prince Andrew's sex scandal&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The 'megxit bombshell' comes just months after the Duke of York, Prince Andrew was forced to step down from Royal duties, amid accusations of a sex scandal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prince Andrew, the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip announced his decision after consulting both his mother and his brother&nbsp;Prince Charles, amid growing criticism following a television interview he gave about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender- Jeffrey Epstein who committed suicide in August last year while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prince Andrew is accused of having sex with Epstein's alleged 'sex slave' Virginia Roberts when she was just 17. The Duke of York has denied these allegations. But the FBI is continuing to investigate the case to untangle his history with the shamed American financier and his human trafficking racket. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a disastrous interview, Prince Andrew, eighth-in-line to the throne, defended his friendship with Epstein, leaving viewers across the world aghast. The outcry finally forced Buckingham Palace to distance itself from the disgraced Duke - many royal experts surmise that he will not return to public duties until he is fully cleared of any wrongdoing.</p>

<p>Interestingly, his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as Fergie, with whom he continues to share a home, has stood behind him through this controversy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sarah Ferguson's scandalous photo&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The Duchess of York faced her own crisis in 1992 when she was frozen out of the Royal Family after compromising photographs emerged of her on holiday with John Bryan, her financial advisor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Duke and Duchess of York tied the knot in 1986 - but just six years later their marriage ended in a scandal - they announced their separation in March 1992, but were still married when these photographs were published. They would go on to divorce in 1996.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The royal family didn’t want anything to do with Ferguson after the incident, but she was recently accepted into the Royal fold again and even attended the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Princess Diana’s Untimely Death<br />
&nbsp;</strong><br />
Half-past midnight, a black Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar outside the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. And the world lost Princess Diana - the people's Princess.</p>

<p>Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul also died in the crash. Only one passenger survived - Trevor Rees-Jones - Fayed’s bodyguard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the wake of the crash, given Princess Diana's complicated relationship with Prince Charles and the Queen herself, all kinds of conspiracy theories began to emerge. But in the 2008 inquest of Diana's death, it was concluded that paul’s drunk driving and speeding were to blame for the accident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, many questions remain unanswered - why were they not wearing seatbelts? Why didn't Princess Diana have her own bodyguards? And could Diana have been saved?&nbsp;</p>

<p>At her funeral in September 1997, her brother Charles Spencer blamed the paparazzi, describing his sister as “The most hunted person of the modern age".</p>

<p>And hunted she was on the night of the fateful crash, the couple was trying to evade the press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Diana and Dodi Fayed died barely six weeks after beginning a romance - rumours of Diana's impending engagement and even a pregnancy meant that the couple was relentlessly pursued.</p>

<p>The Egyptian millionaire’s father, Mohamed al-Fayed, believed that Royal Family and British Secret Services were plotting against the marriage because they disapproved of the match.</p>

<p>Diana's activism and glamour made her an international icon, but the Princess of Wales faced difficulties within the royal family and in the public eye from the start.</p>

<p>Prince Charles married lady Diana spencer in 1981, and they welcomed Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984, but their relationship was visibly strained. They separated in 1992, before formally divorcing in 1996.</p>

<p>Flouting tradition, in 1995, she gave an explosive interview to journalist Martin Bashir where she revealed that “There were three people in this marriage”, alluding to her husband’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, adding it was “a bit crowded.” She also admitted to an adulterous affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A few weeks later, the Queen herself urged her son and daughter-in-law to divorce, and the following year, they made it official. Sadly, Princess Diana was killed just a year later. However, with these acts of defiance, she set a new precedent for the next generation of royals.</p>

<p><strong>Prince Charles and Camilla’s affair&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>On the other hand, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, went on to wed Camilla in 2005, 34 years after their first meeting, and the two are still together.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, a year before Diana's interview, he too publicly admitting to having an affair. His confession sent ripples through the Royal Family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time, the public largely blamed Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla for the breakdown of his marriage to Diana - it became the scandal of the decade.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Princess Margaret, the original rebel &nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth II has been the central figure of Britain's monarchy for more than six decades. Head of state of the United Kingdom and 15 commonwealth nations, she married Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. They have four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The queen only had one sibling – Princess Margaret, the late countess of Snowdon. The two sisters could not have been more different. While the British monarch is famously staid and consistent, her younger sister was known as a rebellious royal, ‘a&nbsp;wild child'.</p>

<p>She fell in love with group captain Peter Townsend, a royal air force officer and the equerry to her father King George.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from being a commoner, peter was also a divorcee, and divorcees weren't allowed to remarry in the church of England, which Princess Margaret's sister was the head of.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After facing much opposition, the Princess cut off all ties with Townsend and went on to marry photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 - the first royal marriage to be broadcast on television. &nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the Royal marriage soon started to crumble and after years of infidelity by both partners, the couple separated. It was the first royal divorce since King Henry VIII's in 1540. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>King Edward VIII Abdicates&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In December 1936, the Queen's uncle - King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry his lover Wallis Simpson - an American socialite who was divorced from her first husband and was pursuing the divorce of her second. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Being the British Monarch, King Edward VIII was also the head of the Church of England and was forbidden to marry a divorcee. and so he abdicated the throne after ruling for less than a year. Thereafter, he took the title Duke of Windsor and embarked on a life with his new wife in Paris.</p>

<p>And now, more than eight decades later, Prince Harry is set to follow on his footsteps. The circumstances surrounding Prince Harry and King Edward VIII’s royal status decisions are very different. Harry is not the king, but he is set to become a ‘part-time’ royal, having made a decision to quit or reject the royal life and defying the British monarchy.&nbsp;</p>


On January 8, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, unveiled their controversial plan to walk away from royal roles. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen,'' they said in a joint statement.

On January 8, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, unveiled their controversial plan to walk away from royal roles. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen,'' they said in a joint statement. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the commonwealth and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity," the statement added. Apparently, the announcement on the Sussex Royal Instagram page blindsided the Queen and other family members who had no idea it was coming, it sent tabloids into overdrive. Meanwhile, the Queen summoned Senior Royals to an emergency summit to discuss the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Billed as the Sandringham summit, the meeting took place at the Queen's estate in Norfolk and involved Queen Elizabeth II, Harry his father Prince Charles and his brother Prince William, with Meghan reportedly joining the discussions by phone from Canada. Soon after, the queen released a statement, that said, "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family. Monarchy in Crisis? It looks like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have won the reluctant approval of the 93-year-old Queen. But what does their exit mean for the British monarchy? And what really went wrong? Let’s look at this and the other scandals that have rocked the British royal family, the world's most famous monarchy, in the last few decades: The Sussexes 'step back' Prince Harry was known as the 'rebel prince' much before he met Meghan on a blind date in mid-2016, set up by a mutual friend. The relationship moved quickly and the couple immediately became endless fodder for the tabloids. In November 2016, Harry’s communications secretary issued a statement condemning the British press’s torment of his girlfriend. This was the start of their troubled relationship with the tabloids. A year later, in November 2017, they got engaged. In an interview, Harry said he tried to warn his future wife 'as much as possible' about the inevitable media scrutiny, but the couple was still 'totally surprised' by it. Despite these early setbacks, they got married at Windsor Castle in May 2017. American-born, biracial, divorced, former actress Meghan Markle, who also happened to be an independent and outspoken woman, became the Duchess of Sussex. A year later, she gave birth to Archie, the first baby of part African descent in the family. The couple’s relationship and the birth of their son were heralded by many as immensely symbolic moments of modern Britain. An example of the monarchy embracing modernity, but it was not to be. Throughout it all, the British tabloids kept criticising the Sussex with most of the ire being directed at Meghan. A top-selling British tabloid dubbed their announcement as 'Megxit', putting the blame squarely on Meghan's shoulders. This isn't surprising since she has been at the receiving end for negative coverage by the British press. For issues ranging from her family background to cradling her baby bump, and even eating avocados. One British Radio host was even fired after posting a tweet where he compared their offspring to a baby chimpanzee. It's safe to assume that her race had something to do with her becoming the media's new punching bag. For his part, Prince Harry has been vocal about what he sees as sexist and racist coverage, even making a statement comparing the treatment of his wife to that of his late mother Princess Diana, who tragically died in a crash as her driver sped away to escape the paparazzi. There was trouble on other fronts as well, rumours of a rift between Pince Harry and his older brother Prince William started emerging in March 2019. Around this time, Prince Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace. 2.4 million pounds of public money, which is about Rs 24 crores, was spent on upgrading their new official residence- Frogmore cottage. Soon after, the couple announced that they intend to split from their combined charity with the Cambridge and start their own charity, Sussex Royal. Trouble was brewing in the Royal family and it started making headlines when they took part in an intimate documentary while on a tour to South Africa. They revealed the strain and pressure of living in the public eye. Meghan even said that her friends warned her not to marry Prince Harry because of the British tabloids and her husband declared that he would not be bullied into playing a game that killed his mother. In November, they announced that they will not be spending Christmas with other members of the Royal family. Opting for a six-week holiday in Canada instead where Meghan is currently residing. Interestingly after their latest Instagram post, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gained 500,000 Instagram followers in just four days. They are now just 200,000 behind Prince William and Kate Middleton who have 10.8 million followers. In fact, when they joined Instagram last year on April 2, they made a Guinness World record for gaining 1 million fans within 6 hours So will Harry and Meghan keep their titles while stepping back from the royal life and moving overseas? Well, so far the Sussex has expressed no intentions of relinquishing their HRH (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness) titles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now expected to split their time between the UK and Canada, a country that lies within the commonwealth. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered his support, saying most Canadians would welcome the couple making their home there. However, he also added that further talks are needed over the costs of security. Which bring us to the question of money. Right now the two receive money from the sovereign grant, a fund set up by the UK government for the Royal family. Apart from this, between them, they are estimated to have a net worth of $30 million. An accumulation of Harry’s yearly allowance and inheritance from his mother Dian and Meghan’s TV earnings. As British royals, the couple is barred from earning their own cash, but this will change. So we may soon see them build celebrity empires like the Obamas or even the Kardashians. But by distancing themselves from the crown, one way or the other, they are certainly charting a new course. WATCH: Royal mess continues × Prince Andrew's sex scandal The 'megxit bombshell' comes just months after the Duke of York, Prince Andrew was forced to step down from Royal duties, amid accusations of a sex scandal. Prince Andrew, the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip announced his decision after consulting both his mother and his brother Prince Charles, amid growing criticism following a television interview he gave about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender- Jeffrey Epstein who committed suicide in August last year while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Prince Andrew is accused of having sex with Epstein's alleged 'sex slave' Virginia Roberts when she was just 17. The Duke of York has denied these allegations. But the FBI is continuing to investigate the case to untangle his history with the shamed American financier and his human trafficking racket. In a disastrous interview, Prince Andrew, eighth-in-line to the throne, defended his friendship with Epstein, leaving viewers across the world aghast. The outcry finally forced Buckingham Palace to distance itself from the disgraced Duke - many royal experts surmise that he will not return to public duties until he is fully cleared of any wrongdoing. Interestingly, his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as Fergie, with whom he continues to share a home, has stood behind him through this controversy. Sarah Ferguson's scandalous photo The Duchess of York faced her own crisis in 1992 when she was frozen out of the Royal Family after compromising photographs emerged of her on holiday with John Bryan, her financial advisor. The Duke and Duchess of York tied the knot in 1986 - but just six years later their marriage ended in a scandal - they announced their separation in March 1992, but were still married when these photographs were published. They would go on to divorce in 1996. The royal family didn’t want anything to do with Ferguson after the incident, but she was recently accepted into the Royal fold again and even attended the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Princess Diana’s Untimely Death Half-past midnight, a black Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar outside the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. And the world lost Princess Diana - the people's Princess. Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul also died in the crash. Only one passenger survived - Trevor Rees-Jones - Fayed’s bodyguard. In the wake of the crash, given Princess Diana's complicated relationship with Prince Charles and the Queen herself, all kinds of conspiracy theories began to emerge. But in the 2008 inquest of Diana's death, it was concluded that paul’s drunk driving and speeding were to blame for the accident. However, many questions remain unanswered - why were they not wearing seatbelts? Why didn't Princess Diana have her own bodyguards? And could Diana have been saved? At her funeral in September 1997, her brother Charles Spencer blamed the paparazzi, describing his sister as “The most hunted person of the modern age". And hunted she was on the night of the fateful crash, the couple was trying to evade the press. Diana and Dodi Fayed died barely six weeks after beginning a romance - rumours of Diana's impending engagement and even a pregnancy meant that the couple was relentlessly pursued. The Egyptian millionaire’s father, Mohamed al-Fayed, believed that Royal Family and British Secret Services were plotting against the marriage because they disapproved of the match. Diana's activism and glamour made her an international icon, but the Princess of Wales faced difficulties within the royal family and in the public eye from the start. Prince Charles married lady Diana spencer in 1981, and they welcomed Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984, but their relationship was visibly strained. They separated in 1992, before formally divorcing in 1996. Flouting tradition, in 1995, she gave an explosive interview to journalist Martin Bashir where she revealed that “There were three people in this marriage”, alluding to her husband’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, adding it was “a bit crowded.” She also admitted to an adulterous affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt. A few weeks later, the Queen herself urged her son and daughter-in-law to divorce, and the following year, they made it official. Sadly, Princess Diana was killed just a year later. However, with these acts of defiance, she set a new precedent for the next generation of royals. Prince Charles and Camilla’s affair On the other hand, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, went on to wed Camilla in 2005, 34 years after their first meeting, and the two are still together. Interestingly, a year before Diana's interview, he too publicly admitting to having an affair. His confession sent ripples through the Royal Family. At the time, the public largely blamed Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla for the breakdown of his marriage to Diana - it became the scandal of the decade. Princess Margaret, the original rebel Queen Elizabeth II has been the central figure of Britain's monarchy for more than six decades. Head of state of the United Kingdom and 15 commonwealth nations, she married Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. They have four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The queen only had one sibling – Princess Margaret, the late countess of Snowdon. The two sisters could not have been more different. While the British monarch is famously staid and consistent, her younger sister was known as a rebellious royal, ‘a wild child'. She fell in love with group captain Peter Townsend, a royal air force officer and the equerry to her father King George. Apart from being a commoner, peter was also a divorcee, and divorcees weren't allowed to remarry in the church of England, which Princess Margaret's sister was the head of. After facing much opposition, the Princess cut off all ties with Townsend and went on to marry photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 - the first royal marriage to be broadcast on television. However, the Royal marriage soon started to crumble and after years of infidelity by both partners, the couple separated. It was the first royal divorce since King Henry VIII's in 1540. King Edward VIII Abdicates In December 1936, the Queen's uncle - King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry his lover Wallis Simpson - an American socialite who was divorced from her first husband and was pursuing the divorce of her second. Being the British Monarch, King Edward VIII was also the head of the Church of England and was forbidden to marry a divorcee. and so he abdicated the throne after ruling for less than a year. Thereafter, he took the title Duke of Windsor and embarked on a life with his new wife in Paris. And now, more than eight decades later, Prince Harry is set to follow on his footsteps. The circumstances surrounding Prince Harry and King Edward VIII’s royal status decisions are very different. Harry is not the king, but he is set to become a ‘part-time’ royal, having made a decision to quit or reject the royal life and defying the British monarchy.

Explained: Royal mess - all the controversies that British Monarchy has faced till date

In a major setback for the British Royal family, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have decided to step back from Royal life. Their reasons? They want financial independence & escape the scrutiny from the press. This report brings the details. #Gravitas #PrinceHarry #Meghan #RoyalLife #Sussex

Gravitas: Prince Harry & wife Meghan to step back from royal life

Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be stepping back from senior roles in Britain's royal family. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan said that they hoped to become financially independent and set up a charity, while continuing with some royal duties. #WION #Prince Harry #MeghanMarkle

Sussexes to step back as senior royals

<p>While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/prince-williams-new-family-christmas-card-gives-stiff-competition-to-brother-harrys-see-photo-270118">the British royal family</a> celebrated Christmas day, two of the important members - Prince Andrew and Queen's husband Prince Philip - gave family's traditional mid-morning walk to church a miss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, Prince Andrew avoided the limelight and attended an earlier service with other relatives. Prince Philip stayed away as he was only discharged from hospital on Tuesday where he was being treated for what Buckingham Palace described as a pre-existing condition, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth's second son, Prince Andrew, has kept a low profile since he stepped down from royal duties last month in the wake of a scandal over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🎄 Happy Christmas!<br />
<br />
This morning The Prince of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined Her Majesty The Queen and Members of the <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalFamily</a> for the Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. <a href="https://t.co/cdhrh0OJub">pic.twitter.com/cdhrh0OJub</a></p>
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1209796471383572483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Although Andrew did not join other members of the family for the traditional morning walk to the 11 am service, he was seen walking along a path with his brother Prince Charles to St Mary Magdalene church near the Queen's estate in Sandringham, eastern England in time for a 9 am service.</p>

<p><img alt="Royal family" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6068b1d5-610f-45db-9b8f-4bd5ad555027" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/royal%20family%201.JPG" /></p>

<p>As per reports, the queen was there for both the services.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Queen attended the Christmas morning service today at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who came to say hello – and Merry Christmas! <a href="https://t.co/kjwyJtOvlU">pic.twitter.com/kjwyJtOvlU</a></p>
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1209838448850489346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The royal family's traditional mid-morning walk to church saw Prince&nbsp;Charles, his wife Camilla in attendance.</p>

<p>Other members of the royal family who were present included Prince William along with his wife Kate and their two children. Prince George and Princess Charlotte made their maiden Christmas gathering at St Mary Magdalene Church on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Prince Harry and his family - wife Meghan Markel and baby Archie - are away on a visit to Canada.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Reuters)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


While the British royal family celebrated Christmas day, two of the important members - Prince Andrew and Queen's husband Prince Philip - gave family's traditional mid-morning walk to church a miss.

While the British royal family celebrated Christmas day, two of the important members - Prince Andrew and Queen's husband Prince Philip - gave family's traditional mid-morning walk to church a miss. According to reports, Prince Andrew avoided the limelight and attended an earlier service with other relatives. Prince Philip stayed away as he was only discharged from hospital on Tuesday where he was being treated for what Buckingham Palace described as a pre-existing condition, news agency Reuters reported. Queen Elizabeth's second son, Prince Andrew, has kept a low profile since he stepped down from royal duties last month in the wake of a scandal over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 🎄 Happy Christmas! This morning The Prince of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined Her Majesty The Queen and Members of the @RoyalFamily for the Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. pic.twitter.com/cdhrh0OJub — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 25, 2019 × Although Andrew did not join other members of the family for the traditional morning walk to the 11 am service, he was seen walking along a path with his brother Prince Charles to St Mary Magdalene church near the Queen's estate in Sandringham, eastern England in time for a 9 am service. As per reports, the queen was there for both the services. The Queen attended the Christmas morning service today at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Thank you to everyone who came to say hello – and Merry Christmas! pic.twitter.com/kjwyJtOvlU — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 25, 2019 × The royal family's traditional mid-morning walk to church saw Prince Charles, his wife Camilla in attendance. Other members of the royal family who were present included Prince William along with his wife Kate and their two children. Prince George and Princess Charlotte made their maiden Christmas gathering at St Mary Magdalene Church on Wednesday. Prince Harry and his family - wife Meghan Markel and baby Archie - are away on a visit to Canada. (With inputs from Reuters)

British Royal family celebrate Christmas in style, Prince Andrew and Prince Philip give it a miss; see pics

From UK royals to Thai kings and Russian Czars, True Royalty TV is like a Netflix for all things royal programming. It's a subscription video on demand service that launched last year.

True Royalty TV is like a Netflix for all things royal programming

<p>Britain`s Prince William is worried about his brother after Prince Harry and wife Meghan spoke out about their struggle to live under a global spotlight, the BBC reported.<br />
<br />
The Corporation quoted a palace source as saying there was a view that the couple were "in a fragile place". William was worried about his younger brother and hoping that they "are all right", the source said.</p>

<p>Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth`s grandson, has issued a number of emotional statements in recent months condemning the behaviour of the tabloid press and launching legal action in response to what he has called "bullying" by some sections of the media.<br />
<br />
On Sunday the ITV television channel broadcast a documentary that was filmed during the couple`s recent tour of Africa. In it Harry said he would not be bullied into "playing the game" with the media that he believes killed his mother Diana, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-admits-he-and-prince-william-are-on-different-paths-257204">revealed a rift had developed with William.</a><br />
<br />
Princess Diana became one of the most photographed women on the planet after she married heir to the throne Prince Charles. She died in a car crash in 1997 after being followed through the streets of Paris by photographers.<br />
<br />
In the same documentary Meghan Markle, a former American actress, said the last year had been hard and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-admits-being-warned-by-friends-against-marrying-prince-harry-257480"> friends had warned her </a>not to marry Harry because of the conduct of the British tabloid press.</p>

<p>"I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair, and that is the part that is really hard to reconcile," Markle said in the programme that aired on Sunday.<br />
<br />
"When people are saying things that are just untrue and they have been told they are untrue, but they are allowed to still say them, I don`t know anybody in the world that would feel like that is OK, and that is different from just scrutiny."<br />
<br />
Both Harry and Meghan have launched legal proceedings against Britain`s biggest tabloids. Harry has said he believes the treatment of Markle was reminiscent of the press` approach to his mother and said what happened to her remains incredibly raw.<br />
<br />
A spokeswoman for Prince William`s Kensington Palace office declined to comment.&nbsp;</p>


Britain`s Prince William is worried about his brother after Prince Harry and wife Meghan spoke out about their struggle to live under a global spotlight, the BBC reported.

Britain`s Prince William is worried about his brother after Prince Harry and wife Meghan spoke out about their struggle to live under a global spotlight, the BBC reported. The Corporation quoted a palace source as saying there was a view that the couple were "in a fragile place". William was worried about his younger brother and hoping that they "are all right", the source said. Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth`s grandson, has issued a number of emotional statements in recent months condemning the behaviour of the tabloid press and launching legal action in response to what he has called "bullying" by some sections of the media. On Sunday the ITV television channel broadcast a documentary that was filmed during the couple`s recent tour of Africa. In it Harry said he would not be bullied into "playing the game" with the media that he believes killed his mother Diana, and revealed a rift had developed with William. Princess Diana became one of the most photographed women on the planet after she married heir to the throne Prince Charles. She died in a car crash in 1997 after being followed through the streets of Paris by photographers. In the same documentary Meghan Markle, a former American actress, said the last year had been hard and friends had warned her not to marry Harry because of the conduct of the British tabloid press. "I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair, and that is the part that is really hard to reconcile," Markle said in the programme that aired on Sunday. "When people are saying things that are just untrue and they have been told they are untrue, but they are allowed to still say them, I don`t know anybody in the world that would feel like that is OK, and that is different from just scrutiny." Both Harry and Meghan have launched legal proceedings against Britain`s biggest tabloids. Harry has said he believes the treatment of Markle was reminiscent of the press` approach to his mother and said what happened to her remains incredibly raw. A spokeswoman for Prince William`s Kensington Palace office declined to comment.

Britain's Prince William worried about Harry after TV interview: Reports

<p>Top hats, plumes of feathers and flowers were the order of the day as the British Royalty enjoyed day one of the Royal Ascot races on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Joined by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, most of the royal family -- sans Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle -- made their way to the dearly loved races which are being held from June 18 to June 22, 2019.<br />
<br />
Along with Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen at the do. The Duke of York was also in attendance on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Queen Elizabeth II, who has attended every day of the gathering for the last 64 years, was seen wearing a cornflower blue coat and hat, as she sat in the leading horse-drawn carriage in the royal procession. Her arrival traditionally heralds the start of the races, as per CNN.<br />
<br />
Blue seemed to be the colour of choice for most of the women in the British royal family, right from the Queen to the Duchess of Cambridge, who could be seen wearing shades of the colour on the first day.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Duchess Kate of Cambridge wore a dusty blue-coloured, two-piece outfit by Elie Saab and a matching hat by Philip Treacy, which was adorned with flowers. Prince William, on the other hand, looked every bit British in a three-piece suit with a top hat and an umbrella as he accompanied Kate through the royal engagements.<br />
<br />
The Queens`s eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips Tindall was also seen at the races in a flower-patterned dress.<br />
<br />
Both men and women have to adhere to a strict code of dressing while attending the event, which has the royal seal of approval.<br />
<br />
"Royal Ascot is an annual event attended by The Queen, who has had an interest in horses since childhood, and Members of the Royal Family," Kensington Palace, the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted alongside a picture of Kate. "The week has become Britain`s most popular race meeting, welcoming around 300,000 visitors over five days," it added.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/By26I6BFUhO/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, attended Royal Ascot — today they were joined by The King and Queen of the Netherlands. Royal Ascot is an annual event attended by The Queen, who has had an interest in horses since childhood, and Members of the Royal Family. The week has become Britain's most popular race meeting, welcoming around 300,000 visitors over five days. Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, and has since received the patronage of a further eleven monarchs. The Ascot summer race meeting officially became a Royal week in 1911. The Queen is owner and breeder of many thoroughbred horses and shares her interest in horses with many members of her family — and The Queen's own horses have won races at Royal Ascot a number of times. 📷 PA @theroyalfamily @koninklijkhuis #RoyalAscot</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on <time datetime="2019-06-18T16:32:58+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jun 18, 2019 at 9:32am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The Ascot Racecourse has enjoyed royal patronage ever since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711. The summer race meeting officially became a Royal week in 1911.</p>


Top hats, plumes of feathers and flowers were the order of the day as the British Royalty enjoyed day one of the Royal Ascot races on Tuesday. Joined by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, most of the royal family -- sans Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle -- made their way to the dearly loved races which are being held from June 18 to June 22, 2019.

Top hats, plumes of feathers and flowers were the order of the day as the British Royalty enjoyed day one of the Royal Ascot races on Tuesday. Joined by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, most of the royal family -- sans Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle -- made their way to the dearly loved races which are being held from June 18 to June 22, 2019. Along with Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen at the do. The Duke of York was also in attendance on Tuesday. Queen Elizabeth II, who has attended every day of the gathering for the last 64 years, was seen wearing a cornflower blue coat and hat, as she sat in the leading horse-drawn carriage in the royal procession. Her arrival traditionally heralds the start of the races, as per CNN. Blue seemed to be the colour of choice for most of the women in the British royal family, right from the Queen to the Duchess of Cambridge, who could be seen wearing shades of the colour on the first day. Duchess Kate of Cambridge wore a dusty blue-coloured, two-piece outfit by Elie Saab and a matching hat by Philip Treacy, which was adorned with flowers. Prince William, on the other hand, looked every bit British in a three-piece suit with a top hat and an umbrella as he accompanied Kate through the royal engagements. The Queens`s eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips Tindall was also seen at the races in a flower-patterned dress. Both men and women have to adhere to a strict code of dressing while attending the event, which has the royal seal of approval. "Royal Ascot is an annual event attended by The Queen, who has had an interest in horses since childhood, and Members of the Royal Family," Kensington Palace, the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted alongside a picture of Kate. "The week has become Britain`s most popular race meeting, welcoming around 300,000 visitors over five days," it added. View this post on Instagram The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, attended Royal Ascot — today they were joined by The King and Queen of the Netherlands. Royal Ascot is an annual event attended by The Queen, who has had an interest in horses since childhood, and Members of the Royal Family. The week has become Britain's most popular race meeting, welcoming around 300,000 visitors over five days. Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, and has since received the patronage of a further eleven monarchs. The Ascot summer race meeting officially became a Royal week in 1911. The Queen is owner and breeder of many thoroughbred horses and shares her interest in horses with many members of her family — and The Queen's own horses have won races at Royal Ascot a number of times. 📷 PA @theroyalfamily @koninklijkhuis #RoyalAscot A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Jun 18, 2019 at 9:32am PDT × The Ascot Racecourse has enjoyed royal patronage ever since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711. The summer race meeting officially became a Royal week in 1911.

Royals usher in day 1 of the Ascot races in style

Babies born in a San Francisco hospital were given golden crowns on Monday because they share the same birthday as the newest member of the British royal family.

US hospital marks royal birth with golden crowns

Watch a complete guide to the British Royal Family...

Watch the British Royal Family tree

<p>Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch, one of the unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave around the royal family.</p>

<p>When American actress Meghan Markle walks down the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to marry the queen's grandson Prince Harry on May 19, she will have to have mastered those protocols.</p>

<p>Lucy Hume, the associate director at Debrett's, a professional coaching company founded in 1769 and an authority on modern British etiquette, explains how members of the public should act if they happen to meet a member of Britain's royal family.</p>

<p><strong>WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY?</strong></p>

<p>"One of the key things to bear in mind is how to greet a member of the royal family when you meet them for the first time, and it's customary in a formal situation for women to curtsy - a brief bob is sufficient - and for men to bow from the neck."</p>

<p><strong>WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A ROYAL AT A LESS FORMAL EVENT?</strong></p>

<p>"Sometimes you might encounter a member of the royal family at a reception or a less formal occasion, in which case it might be appropriate to shake their hand, but it's best to wait for them to offer their hand first before you reach out yours."</p>

<p><strong>WHAT DO I CALL THE ROYALS WHEN I MEET THEM?</strong></p>

<p>"If you are introduced to the queen, you address her as 'Your Majesty'. Any other members of the royal family are addressed as 'Your Royal Highness' and for women you thereafter would call them 'Ma'am' and, for men, you would call them 'Sir'."</p>

<p><strong>CAN I ASK A ROYAL FOR A SELFIE?</strong></p>

<p>"It's not usually appropriate to do so. So if you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take a photograph but it's important to respect that person's personal space."</p>

<p><strong>IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO PUT MY ARM AROUND A ROYAL?</strong></p>

<p>"Best not to initiate personal physical contact with a member of the royal family. Again, it may be that they offered to give you a hug or to put their arm around you, but usually wait and see what's expected or what's appropriate for the event."</p>

<p><strong>WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG?</strong></p>

<p>"You're not going to be in trouble. There are no official legal rules in place. Apologise if you feel you may have caused offence, but try not to panic, and stay calm."</p>

<p><strong>WILL THE ROYALS BE KIND TO ME IF I MESS UP?</strong></p>

<p>"It would seem from what we've seen of members of the royal family in public that they are very accustomed to a variety of different situations. They meet people from different backgrounds all the time and they're very accustomed to putting people at ease it's unlikely you would cause offence."</p>


Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch.

Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch, one of the unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave around the royal family. When American actress Meghan Markle walks down the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to marry the queen's grandson Prince Harry on May 19, she will have to have mastered those protocols. Lucy Hume, the associate director at Debrett's, a professional coaching company founded in 1769 and an authority on modern British etiquette, explains how members of the public should act if they happen to meet a member of Britain's royal family. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY? "One of the key things to bear in mind is how to greet a member of the royal family when you meet them for the first time, and it's customary in a formal situation for women to curtsy - a brief bob is sufficient - and for men to bow from the neck." WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A ROYAL AT A LESS FORMAL EVENT? "Sometimes you might encounter a member of the royal family at a reception or a less formal occasion, in which case it might be appropriate to shake their hand, but it's best to wait for them to offer their hand first before you reach out yours." WHAT DO I CALL THE ROYALS WHEN I MEET THEM? "If you are introduced to the queen, you address her as 'Your Majesty'. Any other members of the royal family are addressed as 'Your Royal Highness' and for women you thereafter would call them 'Ma'am' and, for men, you would call them 'Sir'." CAN I ASK A ROYAL FOR A SELFIE? "It's not usually appropriate to do so. So if you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take a photograph but it's important to respect that person's personal space." IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO PUT MY ARM AROUND A ROYAL? "Best not to initiate personal physical contact with a member of the royal family. Again, it may be that they offered to give you a hug or to put their arm around you, but usually wait and see what's expected or what's appropriate for the event." WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG? "You're not going to be in trouble. There are no official legal rules in place. Apologise if you feel you may have caused offence, but try not to panic, and stay calm." WILL THE ROYALS BE KIND TO ME IF I MESS UP? "It would seem from what we've seen of members of the royal family in public that they are very accustomed to a variety of different situations. They meet people from different backgrounds all the time and they're very accustomed to putting people at ease it's unlikely you would cause offence."

Meghan Markle's post-wedding challenge: Master British royal protocol

<p>Meghan Markle says acting will take a back seat when she marries Prince Harry, following the example of screen icon Grace Kelly who abandoned Hollywood to marry into royalty.</p>

<p>The 36-year-old has starred in legal drama <em>Suits</em>&nbsp;since 2011, but is likely to shed many outside interests as she joins the British royal family following the couple&#39;s engagement announcement, according to observers.</p>

<p>Markle confirmed in an interview with the BBC she would be giving up acting and would focus much of her attention on the causes that are important to her.</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t see it as giving anything up. I see it as a change. It&#39;s a new chapter,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Markle and Harry, 33, will wed in spring next year, 62 years after silver screen icon Kelly abandoned her glittering career to marry Monaco&#39;s Prince Rainier III.</p>

<p>Hollywood branding expert Jeetendr Sehdev pointed out however that Markle is not in the same league as the Oscar-winning star of 1950s Hitchcock thrillers <em>Dial M for Murder</em>, <em>Rear Window</em>&nbsp;and <em>To Catch a Thief</em>.</p>

<p>&quot;Americans who have heard of Meghan will remember her as a working TV actor rather than a celebrity or a Hollywood star,&quot; Sehdev, bestselling author of <em>The Kim Kardashian Principle,</em>&nbsp;told AFP.</p>

<p>He added that Britain&#39;s first mixed-race royal could nevertheless inspire the British TV industry to create more leading roles for actors of color.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Meghan Markle is the face of the modern princess and there&#39;s no reason why she shouldn&#39;t keep working in TV after her marriage. The palace will likely have a say in any of her future career choices and roles.&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The couple is expected to tie the knot in spring of 2018. (Source: YouTube) (Others)</p>
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<p><strong>Reform too far?</strong></p>

<p>But royal writer Catriona Harve-Jenner said in a commentary for British lifestyle magazine Cosmopolitan that Markle had made the right decision in shedding her acting ambitions.</p>

<p>&quot;Being a senior member of the royal family is a full-time job, and it requires those who do it to patron charities, represent the UK on an international scale and generally maintain the traditions of the royal family,&quot; said Harve-Jenner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;How would she balance all that with a full-time acting role in <em>Suits</em>?</p>

<p>Markle will be the first American welcomed into the royals since Wallis Simpson -- famously also a divorcee -- but will probably not, in fact, be a princess.</p>

<p>What is far more likely, say experts, is that the couple become a duke and duchess, like William and Kate.</p>

<p>As well as starring as paralegal Rachel Zane on <em>Suits</em>,&nbsp;Markle is an entrepreneur, activist, blogger and fashion designer and would probably be expected to drop many of those pursuits too, to focus on royal activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The actress appears to already be winding down her workload, having shut down her lifestyle website,<em> The Tig</em>,&nbsp;in recent months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sarika Bose, a lecturer in Victorian literature at the University of British Columbia and a royal expert, said times had changed since Kelly was forced to choose between career and family life.</p>

<p>But she added that having a working actress in the fold may yet be a modernizing reform too far for the British throne, which dates back to the merger of England and Scotland in the early 18th century.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&#39;Very charismatic&#39;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>&quot;Although British society and the monarchy have changed greatly over the last few decades, there are still possible assumptions people might impose on Ms Markle which are conflated with her acting roles, her life as a celebrity and her public role as a member of the royal family,&quot; she told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bose said she expected Markle to follow other members of the family in pursuing charitable activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Well before meeting Prince Harry, Markle already demonstrated a serious interest and commitment to social justice initiatives, as a World Vision Global Ambassador and an advocate for political participation and leadership for women through the United Nations,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>&quot;These activities provide her with both experience and credibility as a patron of causes when she becomes a member of the royal family.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The daughter of an African-American mother and white American father of Dutch and Irish descent, Markle&#39;s parents divorced when she was aged six.</p>

<p>She has half-siblings on her father&#39;s side, and grew up in Los Angeles, attending a girls&#39; Roman Catholic school there.</p>

<p>After graduating from Northwestern University&#39;s School of Communication in 2003, Markle appeared on more than a dozen TV shows including <em>CSI: NY,&nbsp;</em><em>Knight Rider</em>&nbsp;and<em> Fringe</em>.</p>

<p>She became more high-profile when she began appearing in <em>Suits</em>&nbsp;and secured a small role in the movie <em>Horrible Bosses</em>&nbsp;(2011).</p>

<p>Clarence Moye, TV editor at Awards Daily, described Markle as a &quot;very charismatic&quot; actress and said he was disappointed that she appeared to be set on conforming to tradition.</p>

<p>&quot;It would be interesting to see a modern woman continuing her career... but it&#39;s not where she seems to be headed,&quot; he said.</p>


Meghan Markle says acting will take a back seat when she marries Prince Harry

Meghan Markle says acting will take a back seat when she marries Prince Harry, following the example of screen icon Grace Kelly who abandoned Hollywood to marry into royalty. The 36-year-old has starred in legal drama Suits since 2011, but is likely to shed many outside interests as she joins the British royal family following the couple's engagement announcement, according to observers. Markle confirmed in an interview with the BBC she would be giving up acting and would focus much of her attention on the causes that are important to her. "I don't see it as giving anything up. I see it as a change. It's a new chapter," she said. Markle and Harry, 33, will wed in spring next year, 62 years after silver screen icon Kelly abandoned her glittering career to marry Monaco's Prince Rainier III. Hollywood branding expert Jeetendr Sehdev pointed out however that Markle is not in the same league as the Oscar-winning star of 1950s Hitchcock thrillers Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. "Americans who have heard of Meghan will remember her as a working TV actor rather than a celebrity or a Hollywood star," Sehdev, bestselling author of The Kim Kardashian Principle, told AFP. He added that Britain's first mixed-race royal could nevertheless inspire the British TV industry to create more leading roles for actors of color. "Meghan Markle is the face of the modern princess and there's no reason why she shouldn't keep working in TV after her marriage. The palace will likely have a say in any of her future career choices and roles." The couple is expected to tie the knot in spring of 2018. (Source: YouTube) (Others) × Reform too far? But royal writer Catriona Harve-Jenner said in a commentary for British lifestyle magazine Cosmopolitan that Markle had made the right decision in shedding her acting ambitions. "Being a senior member of the royal family is a full-time job, and it requires those who do it to patron charities, represent the UK on an international scale and generally maintain the traditions of the royal family," said Harve-Jenner. "How would she balance all that with a full-time acting role in Suits? Markle will be the first American welcomed into the royals since Wallis Simpson -- famously also a divorcee -- but will probably not, in fact, be a princess. What is far more likely, say experts, is that the couple become a duke and duchess, like William and Kate. As well as starring as paralegal Rachel Zane on Suits, Markle is an entrepreneur, activist, blogger and fashion designer and would probably be expected to drop many of those pursuits too, to focus on royal activities. The actress appears to already be winding down her workload, having shut down her lifestyle website, The Tig, in recent months. Sarika Bose, a lecturer in Victorian literature at the University of British Columbia and a royal expert, said times had changed since Kelly was forced to choose between career and family life. But she added that having a working actress in the fold may yet be a modernizing reform too far for the British throne, which dates back to the merger of England and Scotland in the early 18th century. 'Very charismatic' "Although British society and the monarchy have changed greatly over the last few decades, there are still possible assumptions people might impose on Ms Markle which are conflated with her acting roles, her life as a celebrity and her public role as a member of the royal family," she told AFP. Bose said she expected Markle to follow other members of the family in pursuing charitable activities. "Well before meeting Prince Harry, Markle already demonstrated a serious interest and commitment to social justice initiatives, as a World Vision Global Ambassador and an advocate for political participation and leadership for women through the United Nations," she said. "These activities provide her with both experience and credibility as a patron of causes when she becomes a member of the royal family." The daughter of an African-American mother and white American father of Dutch and Irish descent, Markle's parents divorced when she was aged six. She has half-siblings on her father's side, and grew up in Los Angeles, attending a girls' Roman Catholic school there. After graduating from Northwestern University's School of Communication in 2003, Markle appeared on more than a dozen TV shows including CSI: NY, Knight Rider and Fringe. She became more high-profile when she began appearing in Suits and secured a small role in the movie Horrible Bosses (2011). Clarence Moye, TV editor at Awards Daily, described Markle as a "very charismatic" actress and said he was disappointed that she appeared to be set on conforming to tradition. "It would be interesting to see a modern woman continuing her career... but it's not where she seems to be headed," he said.

Engaged to a prince, Meghan Markle follows Grace Kelly in abandoning acting

<p>King Edward VIII sacrificed his throne and Queen Elizabeth&#39;s sister Margaret gave up her one true love, but for Prince Harry marrying a divorcee is no longer a bar to being a royal or following his heart.<br />
<br />
On Monday, Harry, fifth-in-line to the British throne, announced he was to wed his girlfriend, divorced U.S. actress Meghan Markle, with the blessing of his grandmother, the queen.<br />
<br />
British social attitudes have been transformed in recent decades but the monarchy has been bound by a more traditional set of Christian values.</p>

<p>So the queen&#39;s approval is a stark demonstration of how much the monarchy has also changed and modernised in the last 80 years when the idea of a royal marrying someone who was divorced was inconceivable.<br />
&quot;It&#39;s extraordinary how far we&#39;ve come since the 1930s,&quot; said royal biographer Claudia Joseph. &quot;In less than a century, times have changed beyond all recognition.&quot;<br />
<br />
Famously, Harry&#39;s great-great-uncle Edward VIII set off a constitutional crisis in 1936 by insisting on marrying twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson to the horror of the British establishment, the government and the Church of England, which the monarch nominally heads.</p>

<p>It was dubbed &quot;the greatest love story of the 20th century&quot; and Edward abdicated after just 11 months on the throne and ended up living in France, meaning Elizabeth&#39;s father George VI unexpectedly became king.<br />
<br />
&quot;You must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love,&quot; Edward said in his abdication speech.</p>

<p>Such attitudes were still prevalent two decades later. In 1955, Elizabeth&#39;s younger glamorous sister Margaret was forced to call off her proposed marriage to a dashing air force officer, Group Captain Peter Townsend.</p>

<p>Although a royal equerry, Townsend was still deemed an unsuitable husband for the queen&#39;s sister because he was divorced and he was sent off to Brussels by Buckingham Palace.<br />
<br />
<strong>&quot;MARRIAGE IS INDISSOLUBLE&quot;</strong><br />
<br />
&quot;I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend,&quot; Margaret said in a sad announcement to the nation. &quot;Mindful that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others.&quot;<br />
<br />
While divorce was considered unfathomable in those days, it has since become a common feature for the Windsors. Of Elizabeth&#39;s four children, three of their marriages have ended in divorce, most spectacularly that of Harry&#39;s father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his first wife Princess Diana.<br />
<br />
They divorced in 1996, 15 years after their fairytale wedding and a year before she was killed in a car crash in Paris and Charles went on to wed another divorcee Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.<br />
<br />
Camilla was someone who he had first considered marrying in the early 1970s but who royal courtiers had considered unacceptable while she was not keen on taking on the role herself at the time.</p>

<p>However Charles and Camilla could not marry in church, and the queen, who holds strong religious beliefs and has taken her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England very seriously, declined to attend the civil ceremony.<br />
<br />
The Church of England had only ruled three years earlier that a divorced person could &quot;in exceptional circumstances&quot; marry again in church while their former spouse was still alive.<br />
<br />
Joseph said Charles&#39;s second marriage had paved the way for Harry.<br />
<br />
&quot;I think the dilemma came when Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall,&quot; she told Reuters. &quot;That was a hard thing for the queen to deal with. Somehow they had to marry without compromising her role as head of the church.&quot;<br />
<br />
Harry and Meghan&#39;s union, like all those of the first six royals in direct line of succession, must be approved by the queen under the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which replaced an even more prescriptive law dating back to the 18th century.<br />
<br />
&quot;The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness,&quot; Buckingham Palace said in a statement.</p>


The queen's approval is a stark demonstration of how much the monarchy has also changed and modernised in the last 80 years when the idea of a royal marrying someone who was divorced was inconceivable

King Edward VIII sacrificed his throne and Queen Elizabeth's sister Margaret gave up her one true love, but for Prince Harry marrying a divorcee is no longer a bar to being a royal or following his heart. On Monday, Harry, fifth-in-line to the British throne, announced he was to wed his girlfriend, divorced U.S. actress Meghan Markle, with the blessing of his grandmother, the queen. British social attitudes have been transformed in recent decades but the monarchy has been bound by a more traditional set of Christian values. So the queen's approval is a stark demonstration of how much the monarchy has also changed and modernised in the last 80 years when the idea of a royal marrying someone who was divorced was inconceivable. "It's extraordinary how far we've come since the 1930s," said royal biographer Claudia Joseph. "In less than a century, times have changed beyond all recognition." Famously, Harry's great-great-uncle Edward VIII set off a constitutional crisis in 1936 by insisting on marrying twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson to the horror of the British establishment, the government and the Church of England, which the monarch nominally heads. It was dubbed "the greatest love story of the 20th century" and Edward abdicated after just 11 months on the throne and ended up living in France, meaning Elizabeth's father George VI unexpectedly became king. "You must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love," Edward said in his abdication speech. Such attitudes were still prevalent two decades later. In 1955, Elizabeth's younger glamorous sister Margaret was forced to call off her proposed marriage to a dashing air force officer, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Although a royal equerry, Townsend was still deemed an unsuitable husband for the queen's sister because he was divorced and he was sent off to Brussels by Buckingham Palace. "MARRIAGE IS INDISSOLUBLE" "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend," Margaret said in a sad announcement to the nation. "Mindful that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others." While divorce was considered unfathomable in those days, it has since become a common feature for the Windsors. Of Elizabeth's four children, three of their marriages have ended in divorce, most spectacularly that of Harry's father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his first wife Princess Diana. They divorced in 1996, 15 years after their fairytale wedding and a year before she was killed in a car crash in Paris and Charles went on to wed another divorcee Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. Camilla was someone who he had first considered marrying in the early 1970s but who royal courtiers had considered unacceptable while she was not keen on taking on the role herself at the time. However Charles and Camilla could not marry in church, and the queen, who holds strong religious beliefs and has taken her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England very seriously, declined to attend the civil ceremony. The Church of England had only ruled three years earlier that a divorced person could "in exceptional circumstances" marry again in church while their former spouse was still alive. Joseph said Charles's second marriage had paved the way for Harry. "I think the dilemma came when Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall," she told Reuters. "That was a hard thing for the queen to deal with. Somehow they had to marry without compromising her role as head of the church." Harry and Meghan's union, like all those of the first six royals in direct line of succession, must be approved by the queen under the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which replaced an even more prescriptive law dating back to the 18th century. "The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Prince Harry's engagement shows British monarchy has moved on from scandals of past

From racing at Royal Ascot to high society weddings, summer is the busiest time of year for British hat maker Adrian Phillip Howard, who says he revels in the &quot;outrageous and outlandish&quot;.<br />
<br />
Howard is the in-house milliner at distinguished London department store Fortnum and Mason, where on the second floor only the hum of his sewing machine interrupts the atmosphere of genteel calm.<br />
<br />
Smartly dressed in a light suit and with hair swept to one side, the forty-something hat maker, who has previously worked with members of Britain&#39;s royal family, is full of passion for a job which started as a hobby.<br />
<br />
&quot;The summer is the busiest season -- the racing season, Ascot, the Derby, all those things,&quot; he tells AFP in an interview.<br />
<br />
&quot;Ascot&#39;s fun is my favourite time because the hats are a little bit more outrageous and outlandish.<br />
<br />
&quot;A lady may come in and she has a dress with perhaps six or seven colours and she would say: &#39;Can you incorporate more into the hat?&#39; and for me, that&#39;s like a dream.&quot;<br />
<br />
His clients&#39; husbands, however, are sometimes less keen.<br />
<br />
&quot;One gentleman came in to me that I hadn&#39;t met before and he said: &#39;All my golf clubs have had to be moved out of my room to accommodate your hats.&#39;<br />
<br />
&quot;He said &#39;you&#39;re not my favourite person&#39; because his wife had so many,&quot; Howard adds.<br />
<br />
One recent creation which the milliner shows off features a huge black tulle bow, which he hopes to sell before Ascot.<br />
<br />
One of the highlights of the horse racing calendar which is known for its flamboyant parade of hats, the five-day event west of London starts on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size:14px;">&#39;A hat for everybody&#39;</span></strong><br />
<br />
Howard spends most of his time at a workshop in his garden in East Sussex, in southern England.<br />
<br />
But he travels to the British capital twice a week to carry out fittings and meet clients at Fortnum and Mason, where he has worked since 2009.<br />
<br />
&quot;I&#39;m the first in-house milliner here since 1958 so it&#39;s a great honour. It&#39;s my favourite shop, too -- I&#39;m a lucky boy,&quot; he says.<br />
<br />
He says his clients come &quot;from all walks of life&quot;.<br />
<br />
&quot;It might be a wedding or something where hats are required, which is happening more and more in Britain, thankfully,&quot; he explains.<br />
<br />
&quot;Brides are now saying hats are compulsory, which is great for us milliners.&quot;<br />
<br />
Taking inspiration from the classic Hollywood glamour of stars like Audrey Hepburn, his hats take from one day to two weeks to create and do not come cheap.<br />
<br />
Prices start at $430 but can be significantly more expensive depending on what kind of extras the client wants.<br />
<br />
&quot;The sky&#39;s the limit, depending on what detail goes into them and what they&#39;re embellished with,&quot; Howard says.<br />
<br />
&quot;Some ladies might have fine jewels they want on their hats.&quot;<br />
<br />
Although some women insist that hats do not suit them, Howard believes this is not the case -- it is simply a question of finding the right style.<br />
<br />
&quot;I think there is a hat for everybody,&quot; he says.<br />
<br />
&quot;There are a few ground rules regarding ladies&#39; face shapes. For instance, if a lady has quite a long face, it&#39;s normally advisable for her not to wear a tall, thin hat because it just accentuates the fact.&quot;<br />
<br />
He adds: &quot;Short ladies generally steer clear of large, downturned brims because, as my millinery teacher used to say to me, it makes them look like mushrooms.&quot;

Adrian Howard has previously worked with Britain's royal family and is the in-house milliner at London department store Fortnum and Mason

From racing at Royal Ascot to high society weddings, summer is the busiest time of year for British hat maker Adrian Phillip Howard, who says he revels in the "outrageous and outlandish". Howard is the in-house milliner at distinguished London department store Fortnum and Mason, where on the second floor only the hum of his sewing machine interrupts the atmosphere of genteel calm. Smartly dressed in a light suit and with hair swept to one side, the forty-something hat maker, who has previously worked with members of Britain's royal family, is full of passion for a job which started as a hobby. "The summer is the busiest season -- the racing season, Ascot, the Derby, all those things," he tells AFP in an interview. "Ascot's fun is my favourite time because the hats are a little bit more outrageous and outlandish. "A lady may come in and she has a dress with perhaps six or seven colours and she would say: 'Can you incorporate more into the hat?' and for me, that's like a dream." His clients' husbands, however, are sometimes less keen. "One gentleman came in to me that I hadn't met before and he said: 'All my golf clubs have had to be moved out of my room to accommodate your hats.' "He said 'you're not my favourite person' because his wife had so many," Howard adds. One recent creation which the milliner shows off features a huge black tulle bow, which he hopes to sell before Ascot. One of the highlights of the horse racing calendar which is known for its flamboyant parade of hats, the five-day event west of London starts on Tuesday. 'A hat for everybody' Howard spends most of his time at a workshop in his garden in East Sussex, in southern England. But he travels to the British capital twice a week to carry out fittings and meet clients at Fortnum and Mason, where he has worked since 2009. "I'm the first in-house milliner here since 1958 so it's a great honour. It's my favourite shop, too -- I'm a lucky boy," he says. He says his clients come "from all walks of life". "It might be a wedding or something where hats are required, which is happening more and more in Britain, thankfully," he explains. "Brides are now saying hats are compulsory, which is great for us milliners." Taking inspiration from the classic Hollywood glamour of stars like Audrey Hepburn, his hats take from one day to two weeks to create and do not come cheap. Prices start at $430 but can be significantly more expensive depending on what kind of extras the client wants. "The sky's the limit, depending on what detail goes into them and what they're embellished with," Howard says. "Some ladies might have fine jewels they want on their hats." Although some women insist that hats do not suit them, Howard believes this is not the case -- it is simply a question of finding the right style. "I think there is a hat for everybody," he says. "There are a few ground rules regarding ladies' face shapes. For instance, if a lady has quite a long face, it's normally advisable for her not to wear a tall, thin hat because it just accentuates the fact." He adds: "Short ladies generally steer clear of large, downturned brims because, as my millinery teacher used to say to me, it makes them look like mushrooms."

British hat maker turns heads with 'outrageous' creations

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