Fourteen Weddings and a Divorce | British Royal Family Documentary | Timeline

Chronicling the romantic life of Britain's royal family in the 20th century, this documentary explores the history of royal marriages and asks what's next for a royal family increasingly battered by media pressures and whose business is shared with the whole world.

The Madness of Prince Charles – British Royal Family Documentary | Timeline

British Royals Rebrand with Royal Wedding, but Critics Say White, Neoliberal Monarchy Needs to Go

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married Saturday at Windsor Castle in a ceremony that many heralded for celebrating black culture and history. Markle is biracial, divorced and a self-proclaimed feminist. The wedding featured a sermon about slavery, poverty and the enduring power of love by Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to preside over the Episcopal Church. The British royal family is a “celebration of wealth, of elitism, of privilege in the hands of the few, of all the resources concentrated in the hands of a very small percentage of the country. In that sense it very much represents the current economic order in which we all live,” says Priya Gopal, a university lecturer in the faculty of English at the University of Cambridge.

Snowdon & Margaret: Inside a Royal Marriage

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon »

Lord Snowdon obituary »

Why Does the British Royal Family Visit Saudi Arabia But Not Israel?

The Prince of Wales shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu at the CO21 conference

THE TELEGRAPH: Members of the Royal family regularly visit authoritarian Arab states, but they have never made an official trip to Israel

When Prince Charles threaded through the hallways of last week’s climate change conference in Paris, he swapped ideas with world leaders on how to confront the dangers of a warming planet.

But Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, had something else on his mind. During a brief meeting, he invited the Prince of Wales to pay an official visit to Israel.

Mr Netanyahu’s offer - like dozens of others extended by Israeli leaders to the Royal family - is unlikely to be taken up.

In the 67 years since Israel was founded in territory once controlled by Britain, no member of the Royal family has ever visited in an official capacity. While Prince Charles and others have occasionally set foot in Israel, Buckingham Palace and the British Government have been at pains to stress they were personal visits and not official ones.

The rejected invitations are a source of deep frustration for Israel, especially as the Royal family has made high-profile visits to authoritarian regional neighbours like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as Charles did in February.

“We’re the only democracy in the Middle East and so you ask why do the Royals go to the Arab dictatorships around us but they don’t come here?” said one Israeli official. » | Raf Sanchez, Jerusalem, and Gordon Rayner | Saturday, December 5, 2015

Richard III DNA Shows British Royal Family May Not Have Royal Bloodline

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The University of Leicester has studied the DNA of Richard III and found that there could be a break in the royal bloodline


When the body of Richard III was discovered in a car park in Leicester in 2012 archaeologists knew it was a momentous find.

But little did they realise that it might expose the skeletons in the cupboard of the British aristocracy, and even call into question the bloodline of the Royal family. » | Sarah Knapton, Science Editor | Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Vladimir Putin Hits Back at Prince Charles

Vladimir Putin, right, accused the Prince of Wales of 'unroyal behaviour'
for comparing him to Adolf Hitler

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The Russian president accuses the Prince of Wales of 'unacceptable' and 'unroyal behaviour'

Vladimir Putin has launched a withering attack on the Prince of Wales, accusing the heir to the throne of “unacceptable” and “unroyal behaviour” for comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

In an escalation of hostilities between the Kremlin and Clarence House, the Russian president made his first personal intervention in the row five days after the Prince was said to have likened him to the German Nazi leader.

Mr Putin accused the Prince of being “wrong” over the comments, which he was said to have made on Monday on a Royal tour of Canada. He also said that the Prince was speaking out of turn and his behaviour was not befitting of “what monarchs do”.

The Prince was alleged to have compared Mr Putin to Hitler over his annexation of the Crimea in an aside made to a 78-year-old Jewish woman who had fled to Canada to escape the Nazis. He told Marienne Ferguson words to the effect of: “And now Mr Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler.” The remarks have increased diplomatic tensions between the UK and Russia, already heightened over the seizure of the Crimea from Ukraine and manoeuvres to destabilise the east of the country.

Yesterday, Mr Putin told press agencies gathered at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St Petersburg: “Give my words to Prince Charles. He has been to our country more than once, if he made such a comparison, it is unacceptable and I am sure he understands that as a man of manners.

“I think he [Prince Charles] himself understands that. He is an educated man. He is a well-brought-up person.

“This is unroyal behaviour. This is not what monarchs do. But over the past few years we have seen so much, nothing surprises me any longer.” Mr Putin quoted a Russian proverb, suggesting that the Prince’s anger was a demonstration that he had actually made a false comparison. Mr Putin said: “It reminds me of a good proverb: 'You are angry. That means you are wrong’.” » | Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter | Sunday, May 24, 2014

Prince Charles Attacked by Russian-funded TV Channel over Putin Remarks

Prince Charles has been criticised by Russian-backed TV station
for comparing Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler

THE GUARDIAN: 'If anyone knows real Nazis, it's the British royal family,' says Russia Today, before introducing explanatory video

A Kremlin-funded news channel has hit back at Prince Charles likening Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler by highlighting the royal family's historical links to the Nazis.

The unashamedly pro-Russian broadcaster Russia Today said Charles should look to his own family history before criticising Putin over Russia's actions in Ukraine.

"If anyone knows real Nazis it's the royal family," said RT senior political correspondent Anissa Naouai on its In the Now programme. She then introduced a slick video graphic of a mocked-up photo album providing a pictorial guide to the House of Windsor's Nazi links. Read on and comment » | Matthew Weaver | Friday, May 23, 2014

Princess Royal and Countess of Wessex Not Invited to Christening of Prince George

Countess of Wessex and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex have been left off the guest list for the christening of Prince George this month after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they wanted an "intimate" ceremony.

The third in line to the throne will be baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury on October 23, but it now seems that only a handful of the couple's closest family and friends will witness the occasion at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace.

The Duke and Duchess have already shown a determination to set their own rules, rather than being bound by royal tradition, such as their choice of the Chapel Royal instead of Buckingham Palace, where the Duke and his father were christened.

But the omission of some of the most senior members of the Royal family from the guest list is likely to have come as a surprise to those who will not be there. » | Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter | Thursday, October 10, 2013

Buckingham Palace Lists Catholics in Line of Succession

DAILY EXPRESS: BUCKINGHAM Palace has listed two Roman Catholics in the line of succession in apparent contravention of the law.

Lord Nicholas Windsor, the youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and a great grandson of George V, converted to Catholicism in 2001, his Croatian wife Paola is a Catholic, and their two sons Albert and Leopold were baptised as Catholics.

Under the terms of the 1701 Act of Settlement Catholics are banned from succession to the throne.

Yet Albert, 5, and Leopold, 3, are listed as 39th and 40th in line to the throne on the Royal Family’s official website. in the new line of succession following the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son, Prince George.

Buckingham Palace, which spent two years insisting that the Duchess of Cambridge was not a princess before admitting that she was, has not commented on the decision to include the two young Catholics. » | Richard Palmer | Monday, August 12, 2013

Royal Baby: Messages of Congratulations Flood In after Birth

BBC: Congratulatory messages are flooding in from around the world to mark the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son, the third in line to the throne.

Prince William said the couple "could not be happier" following the birth of the boy, who weighed 8lb 6oz and is yet to be named, at 16:24 BST on Monday.

Thousands of well-wishers descended on Buckingham Palace after the news broke.

The royal birth will be marked later with gun salutes and the ringing of Westminster Abbey's bells.

The duke was at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, west London, for the birth - and stayed with Catherine and the baby overnight.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said it was "too early" to say whether they would leave hospital on Tuesday. The couple are expected to talk to their medical team before a decision is made.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said it was unlikely the Queen would visit her great-grandchild in hospital, adding - "she can of course see him privately once he leaves". (+ video) » | Tuesday, July 23, 2013


SPIEGEL ONLINE: Royaler Nachwuchs: Baby Cambridge, neuer Werbeträger der Monarchie – Erst die Hochzeit, nun das Baby: Prinz William und Kate sind die Hoffnungsträger der angestaubten britischen Monarchie. Die jungen Vorzeigeeltern machen die Firma Windsor wieder zukunftsfähig. » | Von Carsten Volkery | Montag, 22. Juli 2013

LE POINT: GRANDE-BRETAGNE - Le "royal baby" sera 3e dans l'ordre de succession au trône : Kate, duchesse de Cambridge et épouse du prince William, a accouché lundi d'un garçon. Les messages de félicitation affluent du monde entier. » | Le Point.fr | mardi 23 juillet 2013

Queen's Speech: Monarch to Get Huge Pay Rise as Brits Tighten Belts
The UK is staying committed to measures that reduce the country's deficit - the British Queen has laid out her government's agenda for the next year. In her speech she said it will work to promote a fairer society to reward those who work hard. However what may sound a little unfair for austerity-hit Britain, is the news that the royal family's set to get a 5-million-pound pay rise.

As the Smoke Clears after Saudi Arabia's Latest Mass Execution by Firing Squad... Charles and Camilla Fly In
THE INDEPENDENT: The Prince isn't expected to raise the issue of human rights with his hosts. Perhaps he should, wonders Jerome Taylor

They were led out at dawn today, one by one, to the public killing grounds. The Seven Saudi Arabian men had been sentenced to death following what human rights groups and the UN said were deeply flawed trials conducted under Sharia law. Some of them were juveniles when they were charged with being part of a gang of thieves in the Saudi town of Abha. But that didn’t save them from the firing squad.

A few hours later, just over 1,000 miles to the north, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were visiting the victims of another brutal Middle Eastern dictatorship. At a refugee camp in northern Jordan they met some of the one million people who have had to flee the death and destruction now enveloping Bashar al-Assad’s Syria. Charles described the scene he saw as an “unbelievable and heartbreaking situation” while Camilla hailed the “strength of spirit” shown by the women she encountered.

But anyone expecting the Royal couple to show equivalent sympathy for the victims of Saudi Arabia’s authoritarianism when they visit the Kingdom on Friday as part of their Middle Eastern tour will be disappointed. Human rights are off the agenda. Instead, according to the press release put out by Clarence House, the themes of the visit are “military collaboration, opportunities for women in society, inter-faith dialogue, education and environmental sustainability”.

For the struggling human rights activists and reformists in the Kingdom, visits from the US and Britain are a consistent source of disappointment. While London and Washington berate Moscow for its ongoing support of the Assad regime, they rarely if ever go public with criticisms of the Al Sauds – their closest ally in the Gulf. Last week, both the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Attorney General, Eric Holder, returned from separate trips to the Kingdom. Between their visits, the Saudi regime was emboldened enough to press ahead with the jailing of Mohammed Fahd al-Qahtani and Abdullah al-Hamed – two of the country’s most prominent non-violent reform advocates. In the few days between the US delegations and Prince Charles’ arrival, the King also found time to reject clemency for the Abha Seven, despite documented evidence that confessions were extracted under torture, that the men were not appointed adequate legal representation and that most of them were juveniles when they committed their alleged crimes.

Although the Prince is officially apolitical, human rights advocates have expressed dismay that while he is happy to talk about Britain’s military and commercial links to Saudi Arabia, he avoids topics such as the highest execution rates per capita in the world or something as fundamental as a woman’s right to drive. » | Jerome Taylor | Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Britain’s Real Monarch
The rightful heir to the throne of England

Princess Margaret Radio Interview

Secret Lives: Princess Margaret (RIP)

Attorney General Vetoes Prince Charles[’] Letters Publication

BBC: Attorney General Dominic Grieve has blocked the release of private letters the Prince of Wales sent to seven government departments.

A court ruled last month that the correspondence should be published.

But Mr Grieve said it was an exceptional case where the letters formed part of the prince's "preparations for kingship".

The Guardian said it would seek to take the government to the high court to challenge the veto .

The Republic group called the ruling an "affront to democracy" which was "all about protecting Charles and the royal family from scrutiny". » | Tuesday, October 16, 2012

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: Prince Charles's letters: a right royal cover-up: The prospect of a systemic and fundamental abuse of the essentially passive role of the crown in our constitutional monarchical system seems too dangerous to contemplate » | Editorial | Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Prince Charles Earns £1m From Those Who Die Without Wills

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prince Charles has earned more than £1 million from people dying without a will since 2006 under arrangements dating back to the medieval period, new figures show.

Financial accounts published by the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate which funds the public, charitable and private activities of Prince Charles and his family reveal he earned £552,000 from the power this year alone.

Under constitutional law dating back to medieval times, the Prince of Wales is entitled to the estates of people who die without a will in Cornwall.

In most of Britain, dying without a will, known as 'dying intestate', means money left by the deceased goes to the government.

But in Cornwall, property passes to Prince Charles. Accounts published on the Duchy's website disclose total earnings of £1.019 million. » | Telegraph reporters | Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Queen Elizabeth Welcomes Royals for Luncheon
May 18 - Royals arrive at Windsor castle for lunch with Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).


Related »

Protest at Buckingham Palace During Bahraini King's Visit
BBC: A protest has been held outside Buckingham Palace against the visit of the Bahraini King and a number of other foreign royals, who have lunched at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The visit of King Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain has been criticised by human rights campaigners.

Peter Tatchell, one of around 40 protesters, told the BBC that it is "very wrong that the Queen has invited seven royal dictators to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee".

Buckingham Palace has said that the Foreign Office approved the invitation of King Hamad. (+ BBC video) » | Friday, May 18, 2012

Related »

BBC: In pictures: Monarchs at Windsor for Diamond Jubilee » | Friday, May 18, 2012