Royal Family LIVE: Kate sends ‘powerful and crafty message’ as Meghan enjoys ‘luxe’ life

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank announced their engagement on this date four years ago in 2018. Express.co.uk looks back at the couple’s whirlwind year, including their engagement announcement and their beautiful Windsor wedding.

Andrew Marr has accused some members of the Royal Family of “behaving like free riders” as he let rip after leaving the BBC.

The journalist, who has quit the BBC after 21 years, did not hold back as he took aim at the Royal Family.

Mr Marr warned the monarchy faces a crisis when Prince Charles takes to the throne.

The broadcaster claimed some royals have not behaved well as they “assume the monarchy can never be questioned”.

Princess Charlene of Monaco was “under tremendous pressure” at the beginning of her marriage with Prince Albert, a royal author has claimed.

Princess Charlene joined the House of Grimaldi in 2011, following her wedding with Prince Albert II .

In the wake of their nuptials, the former Olympic swimmer started being closely followed by the public eager to see her produce an heir for the principality, according to royal commentator Coryne Hall.

Ms Hall, author of ‘Queen Victoria and The Romanovs: Sixty Years of Mutual Distrust’, told Express.co.uk: “She was under tremendous pressure to produce an heir.”

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Queen Elizabeth II made a joke about her own death in a hilarious moment with David Attenborough.

David Attenborough’s ‘The Green Planet' returns tonight on BBC One as the nature expert explores the hidden world full of plants.

Tonight’s episode features a look at familiar plants like dandelions, daisies and nettles.

Viewers will also be taken to Australia to take a look at the hammer orchid, which imitates a female wasp and drives the males crazy.

Mr Attenborough is held in high regard for his stunning documentaries on the animal kingdom and the natural world.

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Prince Harry and Prince William were “so close” before their rift, a royal artist has claimed.

Artist Nicky Philipps looked back to the time, in 2008, when she painted the first double portrait of the royal brothers in an upcoming episode of Keeping Up with the Aristocrats, seen by MailOnline.

The double portrait was unveiled in 2010.

A decade later, Prince Harry announced he was "stepping back" as a senior member of the Royal Family, along with his wife Meghan Markle.

Since this time, Harry and William's relationship has – by almost all accounts – been strained.

But it appeared to have been different in 2008.

Ms Philipps had fond memories of the time she painted the brothers, who, back then, were "so close".

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Good evening from London. I’m Jack Walters and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the Royal Family. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @JTWalters99

The Grenadier Guards have noted their support for the Duchess of Cambridge to replace the Duke of York as their colonel.

Now, Kate has received further backing, this time from royal expert Marlene Koenig.

Ms Koenig, of Royal Musings, noted in a post on Twitter that the Duchess of Cambridge would be "a good choice".

As popularity of Camilla is said to be at a high, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has hailed the Duchess of Cornwall of handling her role "impeccably".

In a post on Twitter, Mr Fitzwilliams wrote: "The Duchess of Cornwall has handled her role impeccably.

"Her charitable activities have been very impressive and people are responding."

He added: "It is good to see her popularity increasing on this pivotal issue in the polls."

Here's another photo of artist Nicky Philipps with her double portrait of Prince Harry and Prince William, back when they were "so close".

The double portrait was revealed in 2010.

Read more here .

Nicky Philipps with her double portrait of Prince Harry and Prince William. (Image: Getty)

Artist Nicky Philipps has looked back on the time she painted a double portrait other brothers Harry and William – back when they were "so close".

Reflecting on their positive relationship, Ms Phillips joked: "Those were the days."

Read more by myself here .

Nicky Philipps with her double portrait of Prince Harry and Prince William. (Image: Getty)

Prince Andrew should be subject to a bullying prove over 12 complaints made by Buckingham Palace staff relating to his behaviour, a former royal protection officer said.

Paul Page told the Sunday Mirror he is aware of "at least a dozen" reports made by former colleagues about the Duke of York.

He personally made three separate complaints between years 1998-2004, when he worked in the Royal Protection Command.

Mr Page said: "The Palace have a problem because there are instances and evidence of Prince Andrew being overbearing and verbally abusive."

Portraitist Nicky Phillips has reflected on the days when Prince Harry and Prince William were "so close", noting: "Those were the days."

Ms Phillips, quoted in MailOnline, looked back to her first double portrait of the brothers in 2010 in an upcoming episode of Keeping Up with the Aristocrats.

She said: "I painted them for the National Portrait Gallery. They were so sweet.

"They were so close, those were the days."

Prince William faces a "tricky visit" to the US this year as the Queen hands more responsibility to the Duke of Cambridge, a royal biographer has claimed.

Angela Levin suggested it would be Prince William's job to attend to get Americans on the royal family's "side".

She said: "He will be going to America this year for the Earthshot Prize, but that is a tricky one because they need to get the Americans on their side.

“Harry and Meghan have done well to make the Americans believe that what they say about the rotten Royal Family is true. So William has some heavy duties coming his way.”

Read more by Oli Smith here .

Here is a photo of the Queen with her "strength and stay", Prince Philip, at Sandringham in 2003.

The Queen arrived in Norfolk today and will stay in her husband's "cottage sanctuary" for the first time without him.

Read more here .

The Queen with Prince Philip at Sandringham in 2003. (Image: PA)

The Queen, who arrived in Norfolk today, will stay in Prince Philip's "cottage sanctuary" for the first time without him.

She arrived at Sandringham ahead of the 70th anniversary of her father's death.

She will stay in Wood Farm cottage, a modest property on the estate.

This was a known favourite of Prince Philip's.

Read more by Pip Murrison here .

Prince Andrew’s options are getting “fewer and fewer” as the civil case against him looms larger, according to a royal commentator.

Jonathan Sacerdoti claims the Queen's second son is facing the prospect of her stripping him of his Duke of York title.

Mr Sacerdoti also suggested that while Andrew would likely attend events to make the Queen's Platinum Jubilee later this year, he would be kept very much in the background.

Read more here

The Queen has retreated to her late husband’s cottage sanctuary at Sandringham for a poignant and heartbreaking reason.

In a touching tribute to Prince Philip and her father George VI, the Queen has chosen to travel from Windsor to Sandringham to mark her Accession Day on February 6.

Click here to read why the Queen has chosen Sandringham to celebrate her 70 years of service.

Queen Elizabeth II (Image: Getty)

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge could replace Prince Andrew within an honorary role for the Firm after he was stripped of his military and charitable affiliations, according to reports.

Last week, the Duke of York gave up his military titles and patronages, and a statement released by Buckingham Palace noted that Andrew will also no longer use his HRH title in any official capacity as he defends his ongoing civil case as a "private citizen".

Prince Andrew, 61, held 12 military affiliations, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which have now been returned to Her Majesty, after a judge ruled that his ongoing civil sex assault case would not be dismissed.

Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations against him.

Now, senior officials are reportedly wanting the Duchess of Cambridge to take on the position within the Grenadier Guards, and if she were to take on the role, Kate, 40, would be the first appointed female colonel in the regiment’s 366-year history.

A senior source in the Grenadier Guards told The Times: "From straw polling through the ranks, they would all love it to be Kate.

"We all admire the way she has fitted in and behaved, she never seems to put a foot wrong."

The Queen arrived at Sandringham on Sunday after cancelling her Christmas plans due to Covid.

The monarch, 95, made the journey to Norfolk via helicopter from Windsor Castle.

She is expected to stay at Wood Farm, where her beloved husband Prince Philip spent much of his retirement.

Read more here

The Home Office will not back down in the legal battle with Prince Harry over police protection, it has been claimed.

The Duke of Sussex has said he is unable to bring Meghan Markle, Archie and Lilibet back to the UK because it is too dangerous without police protection.

Harry has filed a claim for a judicial review against the Home Office decision not to allow him to personally pay for the security for his family while in Britain.

But the Mail on Sunday reports that the Home Office is refusing to back down in the legal battle with the Duke, who is living in California after quitting royal duties.

A security source told the newspaper: “When Harry left The Firm the terms of his divorce were clear.

“Like other members of the public, he and his wife are not able to hire armed cops at will – no matter how much they offer to pay.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s criticisms of the Royal Family could further divisions, royal expert Rebecca English warned.

Meghan and Harry’s tension with the Royal Family appears to be unresolved as a royal expert claims this week that the Firm will be “relieved” if the Sussexes don’t attend Prince Philip’s memorial.

Ingrid Seward said: “I think if they choose not to come then everyone will breathe a sigh of relief.

“It is thanks-giving for Prince Philip and we don’t want it turning into the Harry and Meghan show.”

Read more here

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly powered forward with new ventures specifically for the entertainment business after their complex business structures were revealed last week.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had set up nearly a dozen companies in Delaware, a US state that does not impose business transaction taxes nor high personal taxes.

State filings showed that the couple registered 11 companies from April 2020 in the state, some of which were created to hold the Archewell charity trademark and its affiliated companies.

Read more here

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (Image: Getty)

Kate and Prince William will not be able to “salvage” the monarchy’s demise after the Queen’s reign, it is claimed.

Graham Smith, who heads up the campaign group Republic, is calling for the abolition of the monarchy as the head of the British state.

He believes that, once the Queen dies, even the popularity of the heir apparent and the future Queen consort will not be able to sustain the monarchy.

Describing his predictions for King Charles's reign, he told Express.co.uk: "I don't buy the idea that William and Kate are going to somehow salvage the situation."

He added: "It will be King Charles on the throne – he'll see himself as the most important person in terms of the institution.

"He'll want to be very much at the forefront, and won’t want to be overshadowed by anybody else."

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge (Image: Getty)

Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has stuck firmly by his side as his looming court battle with accuser Virginia Giuffre draws ever closer.

The Duchess of York was spotted alongside the father of her two children as he left the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

Andrew and Fergie – who still live together and are very close – had their dog in the back, according to witnesses.

Read more here

The Duchess of Cambridge has delighted royal fans with a rare insight into the Cambridge family’s home life.

On a visit to Clitheroe Community Hospital, the Duchess of Cambridge thanked staff for their work throughout the pandemic. But during the trip, Kate, who was joined by Prince William, met ten-week-old cockapoo Alfie.

During the meeting with her new canine friend, the Duchess of Cambridge revealed the sex of her own family dog.

The Cambridge’s dog was given to the family by Kate’s brother, James Middleton, in 2020.

The spaniel, who was eight months old when it first joined the Cambridge household, was revealed by the Duchess of Cambridge to be a girl.

Kate with Alfie the cockapoo (Image: Getty)

Prince Charles looks set to implement some key changes to the Royal Family when he steps up as head of state, according to the CEO of anti-monarchist group Republic.

Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, told Express.co.uk that the Prince of Wales will look to cultivate a new image of the monarchy, updating its appearance for the public as it adjusts to the Queen's absence.

He added: "There'll be certain efforts in terms of PR.

"I think there'll be be two things it will do – one of which will be fairly popular.

"[Charles] said that he wants to open up the palaces, and maybe not live in Buckingham Palace – to let that be open all year round.

"They should have done that years ago, and it shouldn't be his decision to make, but if he does that, then, great."

Prince Charles and the Queen (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle “just doesn’t want to visit the UK”, a royal expert has suggested, amid delays to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to Britain.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (Image: Getty)