Queen Elizabeth news – Fresh heartache for Her Majesty as 'most loyal' pal dies age 101 after 69 year friendship
THE Queen has suffered another loss after one of closest friends passed away on Friday.
Ann Fortune FitzRoy, the Duchess of Grafton, passed away aged 101, leaving more heartache for the Queen.
It comes less than a year since Her Majesty’s husband Prince Philip, who she called her “strength and guide” died aged 99 in April and her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left for the US.
Fortune – who was appointed the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1980 – served the Royal Household for the monarch’s entire 69-year reign and made her Majesty the godmother to her second daughter, Lady Virginia FitzRoy, in 1954.
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- Joseph Gamp
Sunday Times claims ‘tried to create falsified link’ between Harry & CBE scandal – spokesperson
A spokesperson for Harry said: “It is disappointing that the Sunday Times, knowing all the facts, has chosen to encourage speculation by being deliberately vague to try to create a falsified link between the Duke of Sussex and the CBE scandal, of which he had no knowledge or involvement.
“The duke and his advisers, as well as his non-profit Sentebale, severed ties with Mr Mahfouz and his associates in 2015, no longer accepting further donations to Sentebale and discontinuing any plans for a fundraising event amid growing concerns over the motives for his support.
“The duke had one planned meeting with this donor nearly eight years ago, did not introduce him to any members of the royal family, and expressed his concerns about the donor.”
- Joseph Gamp
Newspaper alleges Harry met Dr Mahfouz in 2013 and then expressed concerns
The Sunday Times reported that Harry agreed to see Dr Bin Mahfouz in 2013 after he gave £50,000 to his charity and hinted he would give millions more.
The newspaper claimed the pair met at a pub in Chelsea, west London, where they discussed the duke's charity Sentebale, before seeing him again at Clarence House.
It reported that this opened the door for access to Charles, a claim which Harry has since denied.
A spokesperson for Harry said: "It is disappointing that the Sunday Times, knowing all the facts, has chosen to encourage speculation by being deliberately vague to try to create a falsified link between the Duke of Sussex and the CBE scandal, of which he had no knowledge or involvement.
"The duke and his advisers, as well as his non-profit Sentebale, severed ties with Mr Mahfouz and his associates in 2015, no longer accepting further donations to Sentebale and discontinuing any plans for a fundraising event amid growing concerns over the motives for his support.
"The duke had one planned meeting with this donor nearly eight years ago, did not introduce him to any members of the royal family, and expressed his concerns about the donor."
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry 'expressed concerns' over Saudi donor in cash for honours claims
The Duke of Sussex has denied involvement in cash for honours claims and said he "severed ties" with a Saudi billionaire donor to the Prince of Wales' charity six years ago.
In 2015, Harry "expressed his concerns" about Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who it is claimed was promised a knighthood and residency in the UK while donating to the Prince Foundation, a spokesperson has said.
Michael Fawcett, who resigned as the foundation's chief executive after a string of allegations, co-ordinated with "fixers" over honours nominations for Dr Bin Mahfouz, a probe found.
He was also involved in directing money from the donor's foundation to another charity, of which Charles was previously patron.
The Sunday Times reported that Harry agreed to see Dr Bin Mahfouz in 2013 after he gave £50,000 to his charity and hinted he would give millions more.
The newspaper claimed the pair met at a pub in Chelsea, west London, where they discussed the duke's charity Sentebale, before seeing him again at Clarence House.
It reported that this opened the door for access to Charles, a claim which Harry has since denied.
- Joseph Gamp
Harry never liked Fawcett, expert claims
Angela Levin, Prince Harry’s biographer, said: “He doesn’t mention Charles by name in his statement but it’s a clear case of one-upmanship.
“Harry looks for any occasion to whack his father and criticise him. It’s sad.”
Others have suggested Harry’s statement is instead aimed at Charles’s ex-aide.Ingrid Seward, editor-in- chief of Majesty magazine, said: “He might personally be feeling that his father is an idiot — but he would never say it. If anyone, he would lay the blame on Michael Fawcett.
“Harry never liked Fawcett. The way he fawned over their father, he found it distasteful.”
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry accused of making father look foolish
PRINCE Harry was last night accused of making his father look foolish as he tried to distance himself from a cash for honours scandal.
The Duke of Sussex released a statement yesterday insisting he cut ties with a controversial Saudi billionaire at the centre of Prince Charles’ honours probe because of “concerns over his motives”.
Harry, 37, reportedly took a £50,000 charity donation in 2013 from Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz — who hinted that he would give millions more.
The relationship cleared the way for Mahfouz to meet his father, 73.
The billionaire went on to donate more than £1.5million to Charles’ charities before controversially being made a CBE in 2016.
The awarding of the honour is now the focus of a police investigation, which sparked the resignation of Charles’ top aide, Michael Fawcett.
- Joseph Gamp
Who is the Duchess of Grafton?
Few people have had such long-standing and close relations with the Queen.
She was one of only two Mistress of the Robes during the Queen’s reign – formerly a role wielding responsibility for the monarch’s clothes and jewellery.
Now mostly a honorary title, the Mistress of the Robes also has a more invisible role of being a source of friendship and advice for the Queen.
The Duchess was known for executing her duties faultlessly and never spoke about her responsibilities with the Royal Family in depth.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen as her close friend and confidante the Duchess of Grafton dies
THE Queen is in mourning after one of her closest confidantes and friends died on Friday – mere months following Prince Philip's death.
Ann Fortune FitzRoy, the Duchess of Grafton, passed away aged 101.
Her death is another blow for the Queen and comes less than a year since Her Majesty's husband Prince Philip, who she called her "strength and guide" died aged 99 in April and her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left for the US.
Fortune served the Royal Household for the monarch’s entire 69-year reign and made her Majesty the godmother to her second daughter, Lady Virginia FitzRoy, in 1954.
The Duchess was appointed the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1980 – an award made personally by the Queen for services to the sovereign.
- John Hall
Dad's heart attack 'sympathy'
In the "heartfelt" letter to Thomas Markle, Meghan made reference to his ill-health.
Her pals said that following her wedding to Harry in 2018, the Duchess made a series of “worried” phone calls to her father over his health.
And in the week before the nuptials Meghan released her first solo statement from the Palace, saying: “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding."
The text messages show the reference to Mr Markle's health was actually suggested to Meghan by Jason Knauf.
He tells the royal he thinks it is "essential" to address his "heart attack" as it is his "best opening for criticism and sympathy".
Meghan replies saying it is a "very valid point" and says she will attempt to squeeze it into the five page, 1,250-word letter.
She writes: "Will redraft one page and try to fit it in".
- John Hall
Prince William & Kate Middleton’s new neighbour
Prince William and Kate Middleton could welcome Princess Eugenie or Princess Beatrice as their neighbour in Kensington Palace, a royal historian has said.
Marlene Koenig, a royal historian and expert, has suggested that either Princess Beatrice or Eugenie could be lined up as Apartment 1’s newest tenants.
She told Express.co.uk last month: “Princess Anne’s home is her own and it will go to her kids, it’s not a royal home.
“There’s an area next to it that Mark Phillips helped buy before the divorce, and that’s where Zara and Peter live and have their homes — it’s all going to be theirs at some point.
“But other homes and royal residences, right now, it’s more about maintaining what they have.
- John Hall
Why does Prince George always wear shorts?
William Hanson claims that shorts on young boys are a silent British class marker and trousers are deemed “suburban” – something no self-respecting royal would want to be considered.
He told The Sun Online: “Not only does The Duchess of Cambridge have to worry about dressing herself but she has to dress her own children appropriately.
“She has to find a balance between royal tradition, heritage and more proletariat customs, such as the ‘suburban’ habit of making young boys wear trousers.”
William said the dress code harks back to historic traditions that state “shorts are for little boys, trousers are for men” and he probably won’t wear trousers until he’s around seven or eight years old.
Although he did break with tradition at his uncle’s wedding by wearing trousers.
- John Hall
Queen rarely seen without gloves
The Queen is rarely seen without her gloves, which are often Michael Jackson-esque white or a dark-toned leather to match her handbag.
The monarch wears these for practical reasons during the daytime as she is frequently required to shake hands with hundreds of people.
This fashion item helps stop germs being spread from person to person.
Long opera gloves are worn for formal evening events such as state banquets.
- John Hall
What has Piers Morgan said about Megxit?
Piers tweeted Harry and Meghan “bullied” the Queen into allowing them to leave the Royal Family.
He wrote on social media: “BREAKING: Harry/Meghan have successfully bullied the Queen into letting them have their cake & eat it.”
Before the talks he branded Prince Harry a “whiny, entitled parody of himself… bullying Queen into a woke monarchy.”
He went on to call the couple “two spoiled brats” whose behaviour towards the Queen is “utterly outrageous”, again attacking the 10-year veteran army captain Harry, calling him “weak, whiny and miserable”.
When the pair announced their interview with Oprah, Piers’ outrage only increased.
- John Hall
- TODAY, 09:00Was it the Queen who tipped Harry and Meghan over the edge?In Brothers And Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William Kate, Harry and Meghan, a new book about the Royals, the author, Christopher Andersen, claims that it was in fact the Queen’s actions that tipped them over the edge and finalised their decision to move to California.Apparently in 2019, prior to recording her annual festive broadcast, which airs every year on Christmas day, she instructed an assistant to move a photo of Harry and Meghan out of shot.Which exact photo it was is unknown, but it is claimed that only Meghan and Harry were in the image.It is believed the photo was on a desk alongside other framed photos of Royals including William and Kate, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Queen’s father George VI, and the Duke of Edinburgh, too.
Prince Charles’ favourite performer loses battle with cancer
Prince Charles’ favourite actor Antony Sher has died at the age of 72.
The legendary stage actor, best known for his work performing Shakespeare, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in September.
The Royal Shakespeare Company announced the double Olivier Award-winning actor’s death in a statement on Friday.
Charles: Sir Antony Sher was ‘a giant of the stage at the height of his genius’
The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to Sir Antony Sher as “a giant of the stage at the height of his genius” following the actor’s death at the age of 72.
The Olivier Award-winning actor and director was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year, and his death was announced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) on Friday.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Charles said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Sir Antony’s passing.
“As the President of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), I had the great joy and privilege of knowing him for many years, and admired him enormously for the consummate skill and passion he brought to every role,” the prince said.
“My most treasured memory of him was as Falstaff in a brilliant production of Greg Doran’s. I feel particularly blessed to have known him, but we have all lost a giant of the stage at the height of his genius.”
- John Hall
Queen rarely seen without gloves
The Queen is rarely seen without her gloves, which are often Michael Jackson-esque white or a dark-toned leather to match her handbag.
The monarch wears these for practical reasons during the daytime as she is frequently required to shake hands with hundreds of people.
This fashion item helps stop germs being spread from person to person.
Long opera gloves are worn for formal evening events such as state banquets.
- John Hall
Was it the Queen who tipped Harry and Meghan over the edge?
In Brothers And Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William Kate, Harry and Meghan, a new book about the Royals, the author, Christopher Andersen, claims that it was in fact the Queen’s actions that tipped them over the edge and finalised their decision to move to California.
Apparently in 2019, prior to recording her annual festive broadcast, which airs every year on Christmas day, she instructed an assistant to move a photo of Harry and Meghan out of shot.
Which exact photo it was is unknown, but it is claimed that only Meghan and Harry were in the image.
It is believed the photo was on a desk alongside other framed photos of Royals including William and Kate, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Queen’s father George VI, and the Duke of Edinburgh, too.
- John Hall
Prince William records audio walking tour for Apple
The Duke of Cambridge has followed in the footsteps of Dolly Parton and Naomi Campbell and recorded an audio walking tour to encourage the public to get active for their mental health.
William strolled around the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, sharing personal stories and music as part of the Time To Walk series featured on the Apple watch, for the technology company’s Fitness+ subscribers.
Listeners are able to immerse themselves in walks featured in the series, hearing the footsteps of the narrator and the sounds around them as they take the audience on a journey through locations important to them.
During the recording, made in the spring, the duke talks about the importance of keeping mentally fit, reflects on a light-hearted moment when he was drawn out of his comfort zone, the value of listening as a way to empower others, and an experience that led him to prioritise mental health.
His walk takes him from the Queen’s residence, Sandringham House, past St Mary Magdalene Church – where the royal family attend the Christmas Day service – and ends at his nearby home of Anmer Hall.
William has also picked three of his favourite songs and explains why they are important to him.
- John Hall
Charles acknowledged the ‘atrocity of slavery’
The Prince of Wales has acknowledged the “appalling atrocity of slavery”, describing it as something “which forever stains our history”, during the ceremony marking Barbados’ historic transition to a republic.
Charles summed up the period when the UK was one of the leading players in the transatlantic slave trade as the “darkest days of our past”, but looking to the future said the “creation of this republic offers a new beginning”.
The prince will be head of state of many nations in the Caribbean when he becomes king and his words will resonate across the region.
- John Hall
Met Police won't open investigation in to cash for honours claim
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said that officers will not open an investigation into the prince's former most trusted aide, Michael Fawcett, over cash for honours claims.
Dame Cressida Dick said the Met had made "initial inquiries" after receiving a letter from Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker asking the commissioner to launch a criminal probe into Mr Fawcett.
However, after reviewing the relevant legislation, the force had decided not to open an investigation.
Mr Fawcett resigned in November amid claims he promised to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz – a donor to the Prince's foundation.
- John Hall
Met Police won't open investigation in to cash for honours claim
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said that officers will not open an investigation into the prince's former most trusted aide, Michael Fawcett, over cash for honours claims.
Dame Cressida Dick said the Met had made "initial inquiries" after receiving a letter from Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker asking the commissioner to launch a criminal probe into Mr Fawcett.
However, after reviewing the relevant legislation, the force had decided not to open an investigation.
Mr Fawcett resigned in November amid claims he promised to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz – a donor to the Prince's foundation.
- John Hall
Charles hosts hedgelaying event at Highgrove estate
The Prince of Wales yesterday presented awards at the National Hedgelaying Society's Patron's Day event at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire.
Around 50 hedgelayers took part in the competition at the prince's private residence on Saturday.
Charles, who is the society's patron, hosted the hedgelayers at a reception before handing out the awards.
The Prince spoke of his teenage "horror" at watching miles of hedgerows being dug up "in the name of agricultural progress".
"I don't need to tell you of the destruction that has been wrought over our hedgerows over the last 60 years," he told the assembled hedgelayers.
"As a teenager I watched in horror as miles and miles of such a wonderful part of the British landscape was grubbed up in the name of agricultural progress.
"Hedges which had stood for hundreds of years – even thousands – disappeared in an instant and now our hedgerows are under a new threat of disease with ash dieback threatening to destroy the vast majority."
- John Hall
Balmoral's power is back on – but some buildings on the estate are cut off
Balmoral’s power is now back on but some remote hunting lodges and cottages on the 50,000-acre estate remain cut off.
One insider said: “The staff are a very hardened bunch as winters in the Highlands can be tough. But without heating it was freezing.
“Everyone rallied round. The castle had no special treatment.
“Everyone was saying it’s a good job the Queen stays at Windsor or Norfolk in December.”
- John Hall
Queen’s servants left freezing at Balmoral Castle after Storm Arwen
THE Queen’s servants were left freezing at Balmoral Castle after Storm Arwen cut off the power for five days.
The skeleton staff were battered by 90mph winds and blizzards at the Royal’s Highland estate.
But Balmoral sources said the castle workers kept warm by helping the locals.
They used wood-burners and camping stoves to deliver hot water to cut-off cottages and provide soup for pensioners.
It comes after I’m A Celebrity’s Gwrych Castle in North Wales was evacuated in the storm.
- John Hall
What happened on The Princes & The Press
BBC Two’s The Princes And The Press was criticised by the Royal Households in a statement for giving credibility to “overblown and unfounded claims”.
The row prompted the broadcast of a carol service, led by the Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey, to be moved from BBC to ITV.
The documentary had claimed negative stories about the Duchess of Sussex had been leaked by courtiers.
On Thursday, Rajan apologised on Twitter for any offence his 2012 article had caused.
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