34 Of Prince Harry’s Bombshells From His ‘Spare’ Interviews

Prince Harry has given the world access to his own life like no royal ever has before – and not just through his new memoir Spare.

The Duke of Sussex has gone on a bombshell-filled media tour to promote his autobiography, from intense 90 minutes with ITV to a tequila-fuelled more light-hearted appearance on late night US TV.

Here’s a round-up of some of the most insightful things the royal said.

Released: January 8

 Prince Harry, left, speaking during an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby for the programme Harry: The Interview.

via Associated Press

Prince Harry, left, speaking during an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby for the programme Harry: The Interview.

1. Harry accused some royals of ‘getting into bed with the devil’

“After many, many years of lies being told about me and my family, there comes a point where again, going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get into bed with the devil,” the Duke claimed.

“If you need to do that, or you want to do that, you choose to do that – well, that is a choice. That’s up to you.

“But the moment that rehabilitation comes at the detriment of others – me, other members of my family – then that’s where I draw the line.”

2. Harry denies that he ever suggested the Royal Family was racist

Harry denied that he and Meghan had ever meant to imply the royals were racist for supposedly enquiring about the skin colour of their firstborn, a revelation they made in 2021 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

When Bradby noted that the Duke of Sussex had “accused members of your family of racism” in the Winfrey interview, Harry pushed back.

“No, I didn’t. The British press said that,” Harry said. “Did Meghan ever mention that they’re racist?”

Bradby mentioned Meghan’s revelation that “there were troubling comments about Archie’s skin colour”.

“There was concern about his skin colour,” Harry replied.

“Right. Wouldn’t you describe that as essentially racist?” Bradby followed up.

“I wouldn’t,” Harry said. “Not having lived within that family.”

“The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different,” he continued. “But once it’s been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Otherwise, unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism.”

3. Harry wants Charles and William ‘back’

Harry says he wants “a family, not an institution”, and says “they’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”.

He also talks about King Charles and Prince William. “I would like to get my father back,” he says. “I would like to have my brother back.”

But, Harry added, “At the moment, I don’t recognise them,” he said of his father and brother, noting: “As much as they probably don’t recognise me.”

4. William ordered Harry to shave his beard off for his wedding

The Duke revealed that his older sibling had ordered him to go clean shaven for his 2018 wedding.

He explained: “I think there’s a level of competition there. I remembered that William had a beard himself and that Granny, and other people, the ones to tell him – told him that he had to shave it off.”

He said the difference was that the beard was “a shield to my anxiety” – but that he thought William still “found it hard that other people told him to shave it off”.

5. Harry and Meghan ‘love’ Lady Susan Hussey

Hussey, a former royal aide, was criticised last year for making racist comments towards charity boss Ngozi Fulani at the Palace, and subsequently stepped down.

Harry touched on the incident in his interview and said he was “very happy” that the Palace had organised a reconciliatory meeting between the two parties, as he and Meghan “love Susan Hussey”.

He added: “And I also know that what she meant – she never meant any hard at all. But the response from the British press, and from people online because of the stories that they wrote was horrendous.”

He said he and Meghan had only ever wanted the same kind of “accountability” from the royals – but pointed out the Palace had not even introduced the diversity tsar they had promised to back in 2021.

“I’ve always been open to wanting to help them understand their part in it, and especially when you are the monarchy – you have a responsibility, and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others.”

6. Harry’s fury over Jeremy Clarkson’s column – and the Palace’s inaction

Clarkson faced a widespread backlash in December when he wrote in an opinion column for The Sun that he “hates” the Duchess of Sussex on a “cellular level”.

Speaking to ITV, the Duke of Sussex brought up the piece of his own accord while discussing “accountability”.

Harry said: “Not only was what he said horrific, and is hurtful and cruel towards my wife, but it also encourages other people around the UK, and around the world – men particularly – to think that it’s acceptable to treat women that way.

“To use my stepmother’s words recently as well, there is a global pandemic of violence against women.”

He also said he was frustrated by the royals’ silence, while his wife continues to receive criticism from the press. He said: “The world is asking for some form of comment from the monarchy but the silence is deafening. To put it mildly.

“Everything to do with my wife, after six years, they haven’t said a single thing.”

7. Harry defends writing about his family

On why now felt like the right time to write his memoir, Harry told Bradby: “38 years of having my story told by so many different people with intentional spin and distortion felt like a good time to own my story and be able to tell it for myself.

“You know, I don’t, I don’t think that if I was still part of the institution that I would have been given this chance to.

“So, I’m actually really grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to tell my story because it’s my story to tell.”

Asked what his brother would have to say after reading Spare, Harry continued: “He’d probably say all sorts of different things.

“But you know, for the last however many years, let’s just focus on the last six years, the level of planting and leaking from other members of the family means that in my mind they have written countless books – certainly millions of words have been dedicated to trying to trash my wife and myself to the point of where I had to leave my country.”

8. Harry rejects claims he has burnt his bridges

Bradby put to Harry that he’d not so much “burned bridges” with his family as “taken a flamethrower to them”, although that’s now how the Duke saw it.

“Silence only allows the abuser to abuse. I’m not sure how honesty is burning bridges,” he replied.

9. Harry is still hopeful of a family reconciliation

“I genuinely believe, and I hope, that reconciliation between my family and us will have a ripple effect across the entire world,” he said. “Maybe that’s lofty, maybe that’s naïve, whatever. But I genuinely feel that.

“And knowing the monarchy as I know it from something that I was brought up in, for me it’s always been about uniting people.”

However, he added: “They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point.”

10. Harry said the royals ‘stereotyped’ Meghan

Harry said William and Kate never got on with Meghan “from the get-go”, and that there was “a lot” of stereotyping her as a “divorced biracial American actress”.

Anderson Cooper: 60 Minutes, CBS

Released: January 8

Harry sat down with Anderson Cooper for the show, 60 Minutes

CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

Harry sat down with Anderson Cooper for the show, 60 Minutes

11. Harry says he was ‘probably bigoted’ before meeting Meghan

The Duke was touching on the struggles many newcomers to the royal family face when he said: “What Meghan had to go through, in some part, was similar to what Kate and Camilla went through.”

However, he added that the women faced “very different circumstances”.

“But then you add in the race element, which was what the press – the British press – jumped on straightaway. I went into this incredibly naive.

“I had no idea the British press were so bigoted. How I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan.”

“You think you were bigoted before the relationship with Meghan?” Cooper pressed.

“I don’t know,” Harry answered. “Put it this way – I didn’t see what I now see.”

12. Harry didn’t believe Diana was actually dead ‘for a long time’

He said for “many many years” he did not believe she had actually died, adding: “I refused to accept she was gone.”

13. Harry claimed again that Palace leak royal stories

Harry spoke about leaks to the press and the royal family’s motto of “never complain, never explain”, while claiming that some royal correspondents are “spoon-fed information” to write stories.

“At the bottom of it, they will say that they’ve reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting,” he told Cooper. “So when we’re being told for the last six years, ‘We can’t put a statement out to protect you’ – but you do it for other members of the family. There becomes a point when silence is betrayal.”

14. He has no plans to return as a full-time member of the royal family

The Duke of Sussex also gave a firm “no” when Cooper asked in a separate clip if he would ever return as a full-time member of the royal family.

15. Harry admits he has not spoken to Camilla, Charles or William recently

Harry said that he and Camilla “haven’t spoken for a long time”.

Asked if he was texting William, Harry replied: “Currently, no. But I look forward to – I look forward to us being able to find peace.”

“How long has it been since you spoke?” Cooper said.

“A while,” the Duke of Sussex answered.

He gave a similar answer when asked about communication with his father. “We aren’t – we haven’t spoken for quite a while. Um, no, not recently.”

16. He gave a confusing depiction of his relationship with Camilla

Talking about her supposed closeness with the media, he said: “She was the villain. She was the third person in their marriage. She needed to rehabilitate her image.

“That made her dangerous because of the connections she was forging within the British press. And there was open willingness on both sides to trade information.”

However, he also said: “I love every member of my family, despite the differences. So, when I see her, we’re perfectly pleasant with each other,” he said with a smile. “She’s my stepmother. I don’t look at her as an evil stepmother.”

“I see someone who has married into this institution and done everything that she can to improve her reputation and her own image, for her own sake,” he continued.

17. Harry says he and Meghan will apologise for any wrongdoing

When Cooper asked if the “rupture” between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family could be healed, the Duke answered “absolutely”.

“The ball is very much in their court,” he explained. “Meghan and I have continued to say that we will openly apologise for anything that we did wrong, but every time we ask that question, no one’s telling us the specifics or anything. There needs to be a constructive conversation, one that can happen in private that doesn’t get leaked.”

18. The Duke dismissed the idea of giving up royal titles

“Why not renounce your titles as Duke and Duchess?” Cooper also asked Harry directly.

“And what difference would that make?” Harry retorted.

19. Harry was not invited to share the plane which took royals to see Queen before her death

Harry arrived several hours after his relatives in Scotland, where the Queen died, despite also being in the south of England when his family left to see the dying matriarch.

He claimed: “I asked my brother – I said, ‘What are your plans? How are you and Kate getting up there?’ And then, a couple of hours later, you know, all of the family members that live within the Windsor and Ascot area were jumping on a plane together, a plane with 12, 14, maybe 16 seats.

“I was not invited.”

Prince Harry: In His Own Words with Michael Strahan, ABC

Released: January 9

Prince Harry during an interview with "Good Morning America" co-host Michael Strahan in Los Angeles.

via Associated Press

Prince Harry during an interview with “Good Morning America” co-host Michael Strahan in Los Angeles.

20. Queen was not angry about him leaving royal life

The Queen never told Harry she was angry about him changing role, according to the royal.

He said he thought she was “sad” about it, but “it was never a surprise to anybody, least of all to her”.

“She knew what was going on. She knew how hard it was. She never said to me that she was angry. I think she was sad that it got to that point.”

21. Diana would be ‘heartbroken’ if she knew about the brothers’ rift

“I think she would be heartbroken about the fact that William, his office were part of these [negative] stories,” he said. “I think she’d be looking at it long-term to know that there are certain things that we need to go through to be able to heal the relationship.”

22. Harry admitted partial responsibility to relationship breakdown with William

Strahan asked if Harry had any responsibility for the breakdown of the relationship with his brother. The Duke of Sussex replied: “Without question, I’m sure.”

“But what people don’t know is the efforts I’ve gone to to resolve this privately,” he continued. “Both with my brother and with my father.”

23. Harry refutes the idea that the book would make rift worse

“I thought about it long and hard, and as far as I see it the divide couldn’t be greater before this book.”

23. Harry’s not ‘angry any more’

The royal said: “I am exactly where I am supposed to be.” But he admitted that not reconciling with his family would be “very sad”.

If that were the case, Harry said, he would focus on his life and family in California.

24. Sussexes would support the Commonwealth

Harry ruled out the possibility of returning to the UK as a working royal, explaining: “Even if there was an agreement or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that that isn’t possible.”

That was presumably an allusion to the UK press.

He added: “If there was something in the future where we can continue to support the Commonwealth, then that’s of course on the table.”

He also revealed that he made a “hybrid” proposal for Sussexes to split time between Canada and UK but there was no compromise. He said this was “really sad because I still to this day believe that this was entirely possible”.

25. Harry said he was speaking out to help protect other royal children

He said his role in the line of succession was “used against me for a long part of my life”, and that he worries about other “young kids” still in the institution.

“There are some people, especially in the UK, who have been led to believe that because you are a member of the royal family, somehow everyone owns you or has a stake in you,” he said.

“And that’s a message that has been purely pushed out by the British tabloids, and it creates real problems within that family and that relationship.”

Harry added: “Of course, there has to be some sort of relationship, but where it’s got too now is incredibly unhealthy.”

He said he hoped he could help future generations. “I also worry about other young kids within that family if this continues,” he said.

26. Harry refuted claims he sees Camilla as ‘evil stepmother’

He said: “I love every member of my family… so when I see her we’re perfectly pleasant with each other.

“She’s my stepmother. I don’t see her as an evil stepmother, I think she’s someone who married into this institution and done everything she can to improve her own reputation, her own image, for her own sake.”

27. Harry rejected hypocrisy claims

Strahan pointed out: “There are going to be people who say ‘Why don’t they either be in or get out, because if you get out there’s no hypocrisy’.”

Harry said: “I can’t ever get out and I’m incredibly aware of my position.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the life that I’ve had and continue to live.

“But there’s no version of me being ever able to get out of this. I was stunned that my family would allow security to be taken away, especially at the most vulnerable point for us.”

He added that writing the book was his only way to protect his family by correcting mistruths: “I fully accept that writing a book is feeding the beast anyway.”

28. Harry ‘genuinely’ believes in the monarchy still

But, he called for it to be reformed and modernised, saying: “I think the same process that I went through regarding my own unconscious bias would be hugely beneficial to them.

“It’s not racism, but unconscious bias if not confronted, if not acknowledged, if not learned and grown from, that can then move into racism.”

People magazine cover

Released: January 10

29. Diana is his ‘guardian angel’

“I struggled for years to accept or even speak about my mother’s death. I was unable to process that she was gone. I’m not sure anyone can ever truly have closure when they lose a parent, or anyone for that matter, especially when that grief may be the only thing left of them,” he told People.

“The healing process has allowed me to get to a place where I now feel the presence of my mum more than ever before. She’s with me all the time – my guardian angel.”

30. He wants his kids to have a relationship with the royals

“I’ve said before that I’ve wanted a family, not an institution – so of course, I would love nothing more than for our children to have relationships with members of my family, and they do with some, which brings me great joy,” he said.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS

Released: January 10

Harry with host Stephen Colbert during a taping of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert".

via Associated Press

Harry with host Stephen Colbert during a taping of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”.

31. Prince Harry blasts ‘dangerous lie’ he ‘boasted’ about Taliban killings

Harry slammed reports that he “somehow boasted about the number of people that I killed in Afghanistan” and called it “the most dangerous lie”.

“If I heard anyone boasting about that kind of thing, I would be angry. But it’s a lie. And hopefully now that the book is out, people will be able to see the context. It’s really troubling and very disturbing that they can get away with it. They had the context. It wasn’t like, ‘Here’s just one line.’”

Harry told Colbert that “the reason why I decided to share this in my book” was to “reduce the number of suicides” in the soldier and veteran communities.

Harry claimed this was a dangerous lie because it makes you “an increased target”, alleging this was a “choice” the media made.

32. Harry ‘fact-checks’ The Crown

The royal confirmed that he watched both “the older stuff and the more recent stuff” aired on the dramatised Netflix series.

Asked if he did any fact-checking, he said: “Yes, I do, actually. Which, by the way, is another reason why it’s so important that history has it right.”

33. Harry believes royals are trying to ‘undermine’ his book

Colbert asked Harry if he believed there was an “active campaign by the rest of your family, by the royal house…to undermine this book”.

The royal replied: “Of course, mainly by the British press.”

Colbert pushed the question again, this time adding if the UK media was “aided and abetted by the Palace”.

He said: “Yes, again, of course. This is the other side of the story, right?

“After 38 years, they have told their side of the story. This is the other side of the story, and there’s a lot in there that, perhaps, makes people feel uncomfortable and scared.”

34. If Diana were still alive, he and William would be in a different place

Harry claimed that if his mother were still alive, his relationship with his brother would be different.

He said: “It’s impossible to say where we would be now, where those relationships would be now, but there is no way that the distance between my brother and I would be the same.”

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Kate Middleton Dazzles In Sparkling Tiara For Charles’ First State Banquet As King

Kate Middleton donned a dazzling tiara at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for a very special occasion: King Charles’ first state banquet as monarch.

The banquet was held on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa’s state visit, which also marks the first state visit for Charles as sovereign. The trip was originally scheduled prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at age 96.

The Princess of Wales wore the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara with earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, as identified by Lauren Kiehna, the writer and editor behind The Court Jeweller.

Kiehna also identified that Kate paired the tiara with an equally stunning dress ― with bejeweled shoulders, no less ― from one of her favourite go-to designers, Jenny Packham.

Prince William dressed in white tie for the glamorous occasion.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace for the president of South Africa on Nov. 22 in London, England.

Chris Jackson via Getty Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace for the president of South Africa on Nov. 22 in London, England.
A closer look at Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Chris Jackson via Getty Images

A closer look at Catherine, Princess of Wales.
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort during the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Chris Jackson via Getty Images

President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort during the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted Ramaphosa at the Corinthia Hotel to kick off his two-day visit.

From there, the group traveled to Horse Guards Parade for a welcome ceremony, where they met Charles and Camilla before undertaking more engagements.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Ceremonial Welcome at Horse Guards Parade on Nov. 22 in London.

Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Ceremonial Welcome at Horse Guards Parade on Nov. 22 in London.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will soon undertake a visit of their own, as the two are making a trip across the pond next week to Boston, Massachusetts, for William’s second annual Earthshot Prize award ceremony.

“In 2022, we’re back and bringing Earthshot to the USA, where we’ll award the next five winners of the prize,” the duke said in a video back in July announcing the visit. “And we will be doing it right here in Boston.”

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, previously spoke with HuffPost in September about the significance of holding the award show in Boston.

“It’s the 60th anniversary, as you know, of the ‘Moonshot,’” Jones told HuffPost at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York City. “And that was really a great source of inspiration to Prince William when he founded the Earthshot Prize, which was to try to inspire what President Kennedy inspired in the American people.”

Jones said that she hopes that this year’s award show “gives everybody inspiration and it rekindles that American mindset of turning the seemingly impossible possible.”

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William And Harry Reunite Again As They Watch Over Queen’s Coffin

Princes William and Harry mounted a vigil for their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on Saturday evening, reuniting in public for a third time since the monarch’s passing last week.

They were joined by the Queen’s other grandchildren, notably including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall.

They are now among the first women ever to join a royal vigil, along with Princess Anne, the Princess Royal who participated in the vigil of the princes on Friday evening.

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, appeared in military uniform for the first time in nearly three years after Buckingham Palace granted him a special exception to don a uniform for the occasion. The prince lost his military titles in 2020 when him and his wife, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, stopped being senior working royals and moved to California.

Buckingham Palace reportedly granted the exception to Harry after substantial public backlash, with critics pointing out the same exception had been given to Prince Andrew. He was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages following his catastrophic interview with BBC Newsnight about his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein back in 2019.

On Friday evening, Andrew appeared in military uniform to participate in the vigil of the princes lead by King Charles III.

Both Harry and Andrew were conspicuously dressed in dark morning suits earlier in the week as they – along with their siblings in military uniform – marched behind the Queen’s coffin as it was taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

For many, watching Princes William and Harry march behind a coffin brought back heartbreaking memories of 1997, when the two young princes were pictured walking behind the coffin of their mother, Princess Diana. Prince William himself later admitted that it brought back memories of Diana’s funeral.

Since the Queen’s death over a week ago, the royal brothers, rarely seen in public since 2020, have appeared together a few times as they reunite for their grandmother’s funeral ceremonies.

Last weekend, William and Harry – along with their wives Kate, Princess of Wales and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex – made a surprise visit to Windsor to view tributes to the Queen and interact with the mourners gathered there.

The royal brothers are expected to be seen together again for the Queen’s funeral next week.

The Queen will be lying-in-state at Westminster Hall until her funeral on September 19th, which has been declared a bank holiday. Mourners from around the country have been queueing to visit the Queen’s coffin since Wednesday. The queue itself has spawned rolling coverage and memes, becoming an historic event in its own right.

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King Charles And Prince William Surprise Mourners Queueing To See The Queen’s Coffin

King Charles III and William, Prince of Wales made a surprise visit to greet mourners who are queueing to see Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

Prince William shook hands and greeted people who have been queuing overnight to pay their respects to his grandmother. He told mourners, “Thank you it means an awful lot.”

King Charles III also shook hands with people, thanking them for waiting upwards of 20-hours to view his mother lying-in-state. In one video, his personal guard can be heard telling people to put their phones away and “enjoy the moment.”

The queue to see Queen Elizabeth’s coffin has become an event unto itself at it stretches for miles across central London, with people travelling into the city to see the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

Britain's William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth following her death, in London, Britain, September 17, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Britain’s William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth following her death, in London, Britain, September 17, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Phil Noble via Reuters

On Friday, the queue had to close to new entrants for a while as it crossed 5-miles and waiting hours between 22-24 hours. But not before David Beckham also surprised mourners and queued with them for hours for a chance to pay his respects to the Queen.

The Queen’s coffin will remain at Westminster Hall for people to visit until Monday morning, September 19th, when it will be carried in a process to Westminster Abbey for a state funeral.

This evening, Princes William and Harry will mount a vigil around their grandmother’s coffin along with her other grandchildren. The King and his siblings did so yesterday evening, in a ceremony called the vigil of the princes, although it notably included Princess Anne.

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William and Kate Surprise Crowds at Windsor with Meghan and Harry Reunion

Prince William and Prince Harry gathered outside Windsor Castle with their partners in an unexpected show of unity following the death of their grandmother, the Queen.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, greeted mourners and well-wishers together late Saturday afternoon, as they looked at the many floral tributes left by the public.

All four royals were dressed in black as they walked along the gates of Windsor Castle.

It is the first time the two royal couples have appeared in public together since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in April 2021.

After arriving at the same time, the couples walked along separately, with William and Kate speaking to people on one side of the crowd and Harry and Meghan speaking to people on the other side.

William and Harry, who are thought to have experienced a rift in recent years, also joined forces in July 2021 to unveil a statue marking what would have been the 60th birthday of their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

On the walkabout in the Windsor grounds on Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands as they looked at the tributes, with Harry at one point affectionately putting his hand on his wife’s back.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales were given bunches of flowers by members of the crowd as one visitor waved a Welsh flag.

William was also seen lightly touching Kate’s back at one moment as she crouched down to speak to a child at the front of the gates.

At one moment, he was also given a small Paddington Bear.

The royal couples look at the piles of floral tributes lining the road in Windsor.
The royal couples look at the piles of floral tributes lining the road in Windsor.

Kirsty O’Connor via PA Wire/PA Images

It was the Cambridges’ first public appearance together since they were announced as Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III on Friday, and the first time both women have appeared in public since the Queen’s death.

Princes William and Harry both travelled to Balmoral on Thursday to be at their grandmother’s bedside, but neither of their wives joined them in Scotland.

On Saturday morning, Prince William, alongside Camilla, Queen Consort, was a witness to the formal proclamation of his father’s accession to the throne.

Earlier on Saturday, the first heir to the throne also issued a deeply personal statement speaking of the loss of the Queen – his “Grannie” – and what she meant to him and his family.

“So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign. I, however, have lost a grandmother,” he said.

“She was by my side at my happiest moment. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.”

Wellwishers and the media were surprised to see the royal couples together.

But according to the PA news agency, a royal source said the new Prince of Wales asked his brother and his wife to join them in viewing the tributes.

The source said: “The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess to join him and the Princess of Wales earlier.”

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‘I Have Lost A Grandmother’: Prince William Pays Personal Tribute To Queen

Prince William has issued a deeply personal statement about the late Queen Elizabeth II, saying just how much she meant to him and his family.

The new Prince of Wales, now first heir to the throne, said: “On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute.

“So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign. I, however, have lost a grandmother.”

On Friday, King Charles III confirmed that his first son would inherit his title of Prince of Wales, while his wife Catherine would now be Princess of Wales, a title not held since Princess Diana died in 1997.

“I have had the benefit of the Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade,” William said of his grandmother in his statement on Saturday.

“My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.”

In what could be seen as a references to his wedding to Kate and, possibly, to his mother’s death, he added: “She was by my side at my happiest moment. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.”

On Saturday morning, the Prince of Wales, together with Camilla, Queen Consort, was witness to the formal proclamation of his father as King Charles III.

The Prince said that while he grieves the Queen’s loss, he also feels “incredibly grateful”.

“I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me,” he said. “And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all.”

Echoing the words of his father, he said: “I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”

And as King Charles III did in his first televised statement to the nation on Friday, the Prince also spoke of love.

“My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love,” he said.

“All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen. I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can.”

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Empowered, Indifferent, Old: This Is How Men Feel About Turning 40

“Am I where I expected to be at 40?”

This is probably not a question Prince William is asking himself as enters his fifth decade. But the Duke of Cambridge’s birthday has got us thinking about milestone ages, and why some of us place so much significance on certain numbers.

For women, approaching ‘The Big Four O’ often means discussions of fertility and the biological clock intensify (whether or not you want children and even though a woman doesn’t suddenly wake up on her birthday unable to conceive).

But what’s at the forefront of men’s minds as they approach this age? We asked a bunch of guys aged 39 and over to find out.

‘I get a lot of stick for being single still’

“I’m almost 40, single, with no permanent long-term job. I still love travelling and exploring and totally lack any sort of plan. But I’m kind of okay with that.

“At 40, you’re expected to have job security, a demonstration of some sort of career progression, where you’ve ended up with a bigger salary, a nicer suit and a nicer house.

“I get a lot of stick for being single still. All my friends are in marriages or second marriages in some cases, people say: ‘you’re not going to get sorted are you?’ Every now and then, you do question your life choices. There are always going to be periods in a 12 month calendar where you’re going to have a couple of phases of self-doubt, where you might question the way you’ve done things. You might feel a bit sorry for yourself and have a bit of a pity party. But on the whole I’m quite content with where things are – I’ve seen a lot of the world, I’ve met a lot of great people. I’ve been very, very fortunate in that sense.” – Stephen Boyd, 39, Lincolnshire

‘I was fine with turning 40, but turning 41 hit me hard’

Peter McKerry

“Turning 40 didn’t phase me, but when I turned 41 I began to obsess over the fact that my life was in a type of descent towards the inevitable end, and that my best experiences were behind me. I was also worried that if I had a child I’d have a limited amount of time to be in their life. My dad was 53 when I was born and I was teased about it at school, so I didn’t want to be an ‘old dad’.

“As it turned out I was 43 when my daughter was born so I beat him by 10 years! Now my life is all about watching her grow and develop (she’ll be three in August) and it has given me joy but also anxiety. I’m trying to live in the moment now because I don’t want to have more regrets than I already do, and I want my daughter to have the happiest and most secure childhood I can give her. So now I don’t obsess as much over my age or my past as I have a real focus on ensuring Flora is happy and loved.” – Peter McKerry, 45, Westcliff-on-Sea

‘Men get more of a free pass’

Andy Dewar

“I turn 44 this week and love it. I think 30 was more of hurdle for me psychologically, as it was the age where I felt you needed to knuckle down to some responsibilities and achievements personally and professionally, as well as resenting the fact I was no longer young and carefree. So by your 40s, you can enjoy all the new challenges and opportunities that come your way.

“There’s far more pressure on women at all ages but particularly 40s to have a great career and be a mum, I think. As far as media and peer pressure goes, men get more of a free pass. I’m lucky in the sense family and friends have never had any great competition between us to do well, some days are a grind, some days are easy. If you set yourself targets you lose sight of what’s important, which in my case is just trying to enjoy whatever it is I’m doing.” –Andy Dewar, 44, Hamilton, Scotland

‘I haven’t altered anything’

Michael Charles Grant

“I felt perfectly fine [approaching 40], with no pre-conceived thoughts of 40 being an issue and prohibiting me from what I can do physically and mentally. I look younger than my age so perhaps that played a fact in my mindset.

Has anything about being 40 surprised me? No not at all, why should it? I haven’t altered anything about my lifestyle to encompass my age or felt as if I had needed to.” – Michael Charles Grant, 40, Hertfordshire

‘Turning 40 made me re-evaluate my health and fitness’

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″40… oh, that sounds old. Well, that was the thinking I had when I was in my mid 30s and heading towards 40. Society slots you into a category when your age starts with a four. I had just had my twin boys Alex and Lewis a few months before and dealing with them was really taxing on the mind and body. It was then also that I decided that ‘Dad Bod’ wasn’t something I liked and that I needed to do something about it. General fitness levels were poor and I found myself struggling with day to day tasks in dealing with two newborns. So I said to myself ‘Paul, you’re now 40, you’ve got the twins to think about, you don’t want two young boisterous boys growing up with a dad that can’t keep up… time to get into shape.’ It was a ‘If I don’t do this now, I never will’, moment.

“I’m in better shape now that I was in my 20s and 30s. Confident in how I look, with loads of energy for playing with the twins. My change in physique also motivated my wife to get back to the gym too, plus it has brought us closer with shared interest in fitness and just being better for our sons. Also, more body confident = more intimacy too.” – Paul McCaw, 46, Belfast Northern Ireland

‘Every decade has got better for me.’

Stu McKinlay

“Every decade has got better for me so – despite the birthday itself not feeling like a big deal – I was really excited that my 40s would continue that trend.

“My 30s were where I started to put into action the stuff that I had discovered in my 20s. I left my really great job in the public service (which I totally loved) to start my own business in brewing. My wife and I started the business, had three kids, and then moved our business and family from New Zealand to UK. It was busy beyond belief, but we were both doing things we loved. Coming up for seven years into my 40s and despite the clusterfucks of Brexit and Covid, I’m having the time of my life!

“While there’s immense privilege in being a man – and that’s something far too few men understand – I think there’s a lot of pressure on men to achieve certain things by certain ages. I’m constantly aware of how, at certain stage in my life, I feel like I’ve still not grown up. And I wonder if my parents felt the same. I do remember my dad telling me that he didn’t actually feel safe and comfortable in his life until he was in his 50s. I totally get that. I guess a part of it is kids growing up and releasing that weight of expectation around looking after them.” – Stu McKinlay, 46, London

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William And Kate ‘Benefitting From Blood, Tears And Sweat Of Slaves’

<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="Prince William and his wife Catherine step off the plane upon arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston as they visit Jamaica.” width=”720″ height=”538″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/william-and-kate-benefitting-from-blood-tears-and-sweat-of-slaves-2.jpg”>
Prince William and his wife Catherine step off the plane upon arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston as they visit Jamaica.

RICARDO MAKYN via Getty Images

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have been accused of benefitting from the “blood, tears and sweat” of slaves as they arrived in Jamaica to be met by a protest calling for reparations from the British monarchy.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will celebrate the culture and history of the island where there have been calls from politicians in recent years for Jamaica to drop the Queen as head of state and become a republic, and for a formal acknowledgement of slavery.

Anti-colonial sentiment has been growing across the Caribbean against the background of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has inspired many around the globe to campaign for equality.

Protesters gathered outside the British High Commission in Jamaican capital Kingston, with one placard held by a little girl reading: “Kings, Queens and Princesses and Princes belong in fairytales not in Jamaica!”

A royal source said the duke was aware of the protests and was expected to acknowledge the issue of slavery in a speech on Wednesday night during a dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica.

Protesters gather in Kingston
Protesters gather in Kingston

Advocates Network/PA

Opal Adisa, a Jamaican human rights advocate who helped organise the demonstration, also called for an apology, saying: “Kate and William are beneficiaries, so they are, in fact, complicit because they are positioned to benefit specifically from our ancestors, and we’re not benefitting from our ancestors.

“The luxury and the lifestyle that they have had and that they continue to have, traipsing all over the world for free with no expense, that is a result of my great, great grandmother and grandfather, their blood and tears and sweat.”

The Advocates Network coalition of Jamaican politicians, business leaders, doctors and musicians wrote an open letter detailing 60 reasons why the monarchy should compensate Jamaica, to mark the country’s 60th anniversary of independence.

Adisa said an apology would be the “first step towards healing and reconciliation”.

She added: “You know, we don’t have anything personally against Kate and Prince William, and even the Queen, for that matter, but we’re simply saying you’ve done wrong, and it is way past time that you admit that you’ve done wrong and when you do, redressing it.”

In contrast to the angry scenes, the couple posted videos on social media of them diving in the waters off Belize among sharks following a private invitation by the country’s government to see conservation work to preserve the world’s second-largest barrier reef.

The footage was released a few hours before the couple arrived in Jamaica, where Mark Golding, the opposition leader, reportedly intends to tell the royals many Jamaicans want an apology from the monarchy for its role in transporting humans from Africa to the Caribbean.

As they stepped from the Voyager ministerial jet the couple received an official but warm welcome to Jamaica, but it was the blustery conditions that had the duchess clutching onto her flowing dress in case it was whipped up by gust.

While the duke took the salute from a guard of honour formed by Jamaica Defence Force troops, the duchess stood nearby under a marquee that shook in the wind as she held onto the hem of her yellow maxi-gown by Roxsana.

She laughed with a dignitary standing next to her as she battled the conditions ahead of their trip to Trench Town, the Kingston neighbourhood where reggae great Bob Marley grew up.

The royal couple were the subject of protests in Belize. the first stop of their Caribbean tour, with opposition to a royal tour of a chocolate farm forcing the event to be cancelled and hastily arranged at another site.

Golding has been invited to a royal event in his St Andrew South constituency and the Governor Generals’ dinner where William will give his speech.

He told The Gleaner, a national Jamaican newspaper: “I would hope that I get the opportunity during the events that I will be attending to have that dialogue with them and to bring it to their attention in a courteous and respectful way that this is the view held by many Jamaicans.”

The leader of the People’s National Party added: “And that I think it would be helpful both to the Royal family and Jamaica for them to consider this as a means of starting to move forward to a new future.”

The Prince of Wales addressed the “appalling atrocity of slavery”, describing it as something “which forever stains our history” last November when he attended the ceremony marking Barbados’ historic transition to a republic.

The British royal family were involved in the transportation and selling of people for profit for centuries with Elizabeth I becoming involved in the lucrative dealings of John Hawkins, one of Britain’s first slave traders in the 16th century.

When his first adventure proved successful and his ships returned laden with goods she supported his future expeditions by providing vessels to carry the human cargo.

The connections between the royal family and slavery continued with Charles II who encouraged the expansion of the slave trade.

He granted a charter to a group of men, the Royal Adventurers, who later became the Royal African Company and the monarch and the Duke of York invested their private funds in the venture.

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Earthshot: Who Are The Winners And How Do They Plan To Save The Planet?

Saving the planet from the harsh effects of climate change is everyone’s job. And now, the Earthshot prize is here to reward those creating the most innovative solutions.

Created by the Duke of Cambridge, the awards present a £1 million prize to five projects working to combat the climate crisis.

The inaugural event took place on Sunday, attended by celebrities who did not fly to the event in London, and who were asked to consider the environment when choosing an outfit.

In a pre-recorded video for the ceremony, Prince William said: “We are alive in the most consequential time in human history. The actions we choose or choose not to take in the next 10 years will determine the fate of the planet for the next thousand.

“A decade doesn’t seem long, but humankind has an outstanding record of being able to solve the unsolvable. The future is ours to determine. And if we set our minds to it, nothing is impossible.”

The winners – decided by judges David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett and singer Shakira – were chosen from five different categories, from a shortlist of 15 entrees.

The Earthshot prize was started by the Duke of Cambridge.

Samir Hussein via Getty Images

The Earthshot prize was started by the Duke of Cambridge.

The 2021 EarthShot winners

Protect and Restore Nature:

  • The Republic of Costa Rica: Costa Rica is working on a scheme to pay local citizens to restore natural ecosystems which has led to reviving their rainforest.

Clean our Air:

  • Takachar, India: Farmers who burn agricultural waste can cause huge air pollution, so a portable machine has been created to turn the waste into fertiliser.

Revive our Oceans:

  • Coral Vita, Bahamas: Coral reefs are beautiful to look at but they are dying out. So two best friends from the Bahamas developed special tanks which restore the world’s diminishing reefs, growing coral up to 50 times faster than they would grow naturally.

Build a Waste-Free World:

  • The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs, Italy: Food poverty is real around the world, while waste is a huge problem. The city of Milan has found a way around it, collecting unused food and giving it to the poor. This scheme has dramatically cut waste while also tackling hunger.

Fix our Climate:

  • AEM Electrolyser, Thailand/Germany/Italy: Hydrogen is usually produced by burning fossil fuels. But a new design in Thailand is using renewable energy to make hydrogen by splitting wanter into hydrogen and oxygen.

The Duchess of Cambridge recycled an old outfit for the awards, while humanitarian and actress Emma Watson sported a dress made out of 10 different outfits from Oxfam.

The stage was also erected without using any plastic while the music was powered by 60 cyclists pedalling on bikes.

The award got its name after being inspired by former US president JFK’s project ‘Moonshot’ to get a man on the moon within the decade.

Emma Watson wore a dress made out of ten Oxfam outfits.

Neil Mockford via Getty Images

Emma Watson wore a dress made out of ten Oxfam outfits.

Prince William hopes that with the launch of the prize, more young people will be interested in getting involved in climate action.

He tweeted: “I want to say something to all the young people watching tonight: For too long, we haven’t done enough to protect the planet for your future. But Earthshot is for you. In the next 10 years we are going to act. We are going to find the solutions to repair our planet.”

The ceremony took place just two weeks before the COP26 UN Climate Change summit happening in Glasgow with world leaders.

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Twitter Is Obsessed With Prince William’s Vaccination Gun Show

It looks like Prince William’s Covid-19 vaccine came with some mighty big guns.

The Duke of Cambridge got his shot from NHS staff at the Science Museum in London on Tuesday, and he and wife Kate Middleton have since posted a photo of the vaccination on their various social media accounts.

But while the photo was meant to promote the value of getting the Covid-19 shot, many people were focused on “guns” – specifically the one located where the duke’s right arm is supposed to be.

The pic got people pumped (in a manner of speaking).

One woman was so impressed by William’s muscles that she made a humble request to his father, Prince Charles: “He needs another jab in the other arm.”

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