Latest news with #MyMotherandI
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Making Unprecedented Second UK State Visit: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's second state visit to Britain has been set for September, marking a historic moment for the president. Charles will host Trump at Windsor Castle, just like he did Emmanuel Macron of France last week. "The President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump, accompanied by the First Lady Mrs. Melania Trump, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from 17 September to 19 September 2025," Buckingham Palace's announcement read. "His Majesty The King will host The President and Mrs. Trump at Windsor Castle." Trump will become the first president to make two official state visits to the U.K. King Charles III and President Donald Trump pose for a photo during their state visit, in London, on June 4, 2019. King Charles III and President Donald Trump pose for a photo during their state visit, in London, on June 4, 2019. Chris Jackson -Donald Trump's Arrival The details are still being finalized but one option would be to mirror the choreography from Macron's visit, which saw the French president arrive at R.A.F. Northolt, in West London. Macron was greeted there by Prince William and Princess Kate before traveling some 14 miles to Windsor Castle for the official welcoming ceremony. Trump touched down at Stansted during two visits in his first term but those were London-based and the commercial airport is further from Windsor than R.A.F. Northolt. Official Welcome One decision, though, will be whether to offer Trump a carriage procession through Windsor as part of the official ceremonial, as was done for Macron. Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, told Newsweek: "R.A.F. Northolt will be repeated because that is standard for a state visit to Windsor but what won't be repeated is the carriage drive around the town. "I just cannot see the Secret Service allowing it to happen when you could have someone in an upstairs window taking a potshot at the President. "There's no way that the carriage ride is going to happen which is a shame. It was so intimate for Charles and Macron because it was Windsor and you're quite close up to what was happening, but its definitely not going to happen." What there will likely be is a Guard of Honor at the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle, which Trump and Charles will likely inspect together. Another precedent is Joe Biden's visit to the U.K. in June 2021 which ran along those lines. Biden had been at the G7 summit in Cornwall and helicoptered into Windsor where there was a guard of honor formed of The Queen's Company, First Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Queen Elizabeth II then met Biden privately in Windsor Castle but there were posed photos in The Grand Corridor, George IV's largest addition and where he hung his most impressive artwork, according to the Royal Collection Trust. Protests The Stop Trump Coalition is planning a protest for September 17 at 2 p.m. in London, according to its website. A further protest will be organized at Windsor, The Independent reported. Trump's past visits have attracted major demonstrations, hence the absence of a carriage procession in his first term, due to security fears. Royal carriages are, of course, not quite as impenetrable as the presidential state car, nicknamed The Beast. In 2018, there were reportedly 250,000 protesters in London, according to The Independent. The president is no more popular in Britain now, with polling by YouGov showing 57 percent of Brits think he has been a "terrible president," 13 percent a "poor president," 9 percent a "good president" and 4 percent a "great president," as of June 23. The location in Windsor, however, may dissuade the less dedicated demonstrators, with only the more motivated willing to make the train journey west from London. Donald Trump's U.K. Itinerary Major renovations at Buckingham Palace mean the three-day visit will be hosted at Windsor Castle, but the President is also expected to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which could happen either in Windsor or in London. Unlike Macron, though, there are no plans for Trump to address Parliament, in part because Britain's legislature will be in recess. They could hypothetically recall Parliament but that would be a gift to any politicians who might want to rock Starmer's diplomatic apple cart and there are plenty of those within his own party. Starmer and Trump will have much to talk about with the war between Russia and Ukraine high up the agenda, perhaps alongside trade, and the entire purpose of the visit is part of the U.K. Government's charm offensive to keep the President on the same page as Britain diplomatically. There will be a State Banquet and the royals will be out in force, with tiaras likely for the grand occasion. Princess Kate made it to Macron's visit and wore the Lover's Knot Tiara, which she paired with a Givenchy gown by Sarah Burton, her wedding dress designer. One other possibility is Trump may, like Macron, privately visit St George's Chapel, in Windsor, to lay flowers on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II. Trump did not attend her funeral or her lying-in-state at Westminster Hall as Joe Biden was president at the time, so it would be an opportunity to pay his respects to a woman he has said he had huge respect for. The View at the Palace A palace aide told Newsweek earlier this year how Trump's team were easy to work with during his first term, in no small part because the president loves the Monarchy. "Everyone who was around at the time when the President visited recalls it with genuine warmth," they said, "and actually both the team and the principals were incredibly courteous, polite, engaged and engaging. "So it's one of those visits that's remembered with great affection and positivity here." King Charles' Invitation to Trump In February 2025, during Starmer's official visit to Washington, he hand-delivered Trump a letter from King Charles, inviting him for a second state visit. The Oval Office moment was carefully orchestrated: Starmer presented the letter publicly in front of the cameras. Trump, visibly intrigued, remarked, "Am I supposed to read it right now?" as he examined the private, signed letter before the gathered media. "This is really special. This has never happened before. Unprecedented," Starmer said. "I think that just symbolizes the strength of the relationship between us." "I think the last state visit was a tremendous success," he continued. "His Majesty the King wants to make this even better than that. So, this is truly historic." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Meghan Markle ‘engineered' her love story with Prince Harry? Queen Elizabeth had doubts, insiders say
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot seven years ago at Windsor Castle, but Queen Elizabeth II always doubted the Sussexes' relationship from the very beginning. Insiders reveal that Queen Elizabeth had reservations about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship before their 2018 wedding, fearing Meghan's intentions.(AP) Royal insider Sally Bedell Smith claimed the late monarch reportedly feared that Meghan's intentions weren't entirely just love. In her Royal Extra Substack, Bedell Smith shared insights from a conversation with Lady Elizabeth Anson, Queen Elizabeth's first cousin and longtime confidante, per the Daily Beast. ALSO READ| Meghan Markle could face Diana-like end, Royal insider's grim warning here Queen Elizabeth's secret fear over Meghan Markle surfaces years later Born at Windsor Castle and having been accustomed to the Queen all her life, Anson told Bedell Smith that two weeks before Harry and Meghan were married in 2018, the Queen had some doubts. She did not specify who this monarch is, but made it clear who she was alluding to. 'When we spoke two weeks before the May 19 wedding, Liza had just heard from the Queen. 'The Number One Lady—I call her Jemima—says the jury is out on whether she likes Meghan,'' Anson reportedly said. 'My Jemima is very worried. Harry is besotted and weak about women. We hope, but don't quite think she is in love. We think she [Meghan] engineered it all.' It gives one a vivid picture that the Queen was also feeling uneasy behind palace doors, considering that Harry was telling reporters, 'I am close to my grandmother, and she is content with this.' Bedell Smith noted, 'When I spoke with the Queen, she said she is not at all content.' Anson passed away later in 2020. Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022. Queen Elizabeth allegedly questioned Meghan's bridal look Another royal biographer, Ingrid Seward, in her book My Mother and I, wrote, 'The queen never voiced her true opinions except to her close confidants, such as Lady Elizabeth Anson, or Liza as she was known to her friends.' . 'She told me that the Queen had made only one remark about Meghan and Harry's wedding and that was that Meghan's Givenchy wedding gown was 'too white,'' Seward wrote in an excerpt published by The Daily Mail. ALSO READ| Kate Middleton shares that life wasn't the same for her after cancer fight: 'The phase afterwards is really difficult' He added that, in the Queen's view, the choice of gown 'was not appropriate for a divorcée remarrying in church,' and that she was reportedly unsettled by 'the Disneyesque spectacle of the day itself.'
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Prince William Future-Reign Talk 'Insensitive'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. King Charles III "may be just a little bit hurt" by briefings to a major U.K. newspaper that Prince William wants to transform the monarchy, a royal author has told Newsweek. The Sunday Times reported that, according to sources close to William, he wants "an evolution not a revolution" when his time on the throne arrives and wants to make sure the Monarchy has "even more impact." Ingrid Seward, author of Charles book My Mother and I, told Newsweek: "His father may be just a little bit hurt by some of these remarks. Understanding but yes, William is right that in order to survive the monarchy has to adapt, as Prince Philip said. "This is exactly what William is going to do, he's going to adapt and I think he's right to do this. His father hates change, everyone tells me Charles hates change so I don't think he'll be 100 percent happy about what William is saying but I think he'd understand. King Charles III and Prince William attend a Service for The Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey, London, on May 16, 2025. King Charles III and Prince William attend a Service for The Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey, London, on May 16, 2025. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images "It probably would have been best unsaid. Maybe these views are a little bit insensitive but its understandable that he should wish to express them." Prince William on a visit to South Africa with royal environmental award Earthshot Prize in November said: "I'm trying to do it differently and I'm trying to do it for my generation. "And to give you more of an understanding around it, I'm doing it with maybe a smaller 'r' in the royal, if you like." Robert Jobson, author of Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, told Newsweek: "It's nothing really new. A bit odd his people keep talking about his reign. Normally not the thing to do." "All monarchs can, and generally do, do things their own way within the constitutional perimeters," he added. King Charles certainly had his own desire to shape the monarchy while he was Prince of Wales, and there was fierce debate after he said in 1994 he wanted to be viewed as "defender of faiths" rather than "defender of the faith," meaning Christianity. Journalist Jonathan Dimbleby wrote Charles' authorized biography that year and included a passage attributed in the references to a "conversation with C." "His pursuit of self-discovery through the alternative dogmas of other religions put his own commitment to the Church of England severely to the test," The Prince of Wales: A Biography read. "Though he would never sever the bonds, he stretched them to the limit, concluding only latterly that 'one should not move too far from one's culture.' "This venture was a stepping stone along a route which led him eventually to declare in public, and with full knowledge of the implications, that, as sovereign, he would hope to be 'Defender of Faiths' rather than 'Defender of the Faith.'" Charles' perspective differed sharply from Queen Elizabeth II's who never displayed any complicated feelings about her faith in Christianity. Needless to say, Charles was next-in-line to the throne for 70 years, yet has only been king for three and in that time receivied treatment for cancer, so has had little time to make his own changes. Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harry Changing His Last Name Would've Been a ‘Slap in the Face' to Prince Philip—It's a ‘Public Rejection' of Charles' Family
Prince Harry changing his last name from 'Mountbatten-Windsor' to 'Spencer' would've offended more than King Charles. It would've hurt the entire side of his father's family as well. Robert Jobson, a royal expert and the author of Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, told Newsweek in June 2025 that news of Harry almost changing his last name from his father's to his mother Princess Diana's would've been a 'slap in the face' to his grandfather, Prince Philip, where the Mountbatten name came from. (The Windsor part of Harry's surname came from his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.) More from StyleCaster 'Sick' King Charles Faces Devastating News Amid Reports He 'Refused' Chemotherapy Prince Harry Almost Severed Ties With 'Sick' King Charles For Good-But Princess Diana's Relative Stopped Him 'Let's be clear: changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer would've been no small thing. It would've been a public rejection of his father's family, a slap in the face to the late Prince Philip, who fought tooth and nail to get that name recognized in the first place. For Harry to ditch it now? That would sting,' Jobson said. Jobson explained that, while Harry changing his name to his mother's may seem like a tribute to the late Princess of Wales, who died in 1997 when Harry was 12 years old, it also would've been a jab at Harry's father, King Charles, whom he's been in a feud with ever since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, left the British royal family and moved to America in 2020. 'The idea of Harry becoming 'Harry Spencer' may appeal to some,' Jobson said. 'Those who see him as his mother's son, always fighting against the establishment. But let's not pretend this would've been a noble gesture. He continued, 'It would've looked petty, performative, and, frankly, unnecessary. Another line drawn in a family feud already far too public.' News that Harry almost changed his last name from his father's to his mother's came after The Daily Mail reported in June 2025 that Harry consulted Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, about making the move but was advised against it. 'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' a friend of Harry's told the Daily Mail, explaining that Harry decided against changing his name due to the legal challenges of such a decision. Jobson speculated to Newsweek that Harry may have also decided against the decision to not completely sever ties with Charles and his family. 'It hasn't happened. Perhaps Harry realized it wouldn't bring him closer to Diana—it would just push him further from the family he still claims to want to reconcile with,' he said. He continued, 'At some point, the performance has to stop. A name change wouldn't heal wounds; it would just deepen them. For once, walking away from drama may have been the wisest move he's made.' Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, also questioned Harry's decision to change his last name. 'I can't see that Harry would have anything to gain but there is nothing to stop him becoming Harry Spencer. I think the king would just find it extremely hurtful,' she said. News that Harry considered changing his name came ater Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling in an episode of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, after Kaling referred to her as 'Meghan Markle.' 'It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now,' Meghan told Kaling. The name change report also comes after Harry told the BBC that he wanted to reconcile with his family, but his father was preventing those efforts. 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point,' he said. 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family. Harry went on to add that he's 'forgiven' his family now that a lot of time has passed. 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,' he said. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Prince Harry Name Change Would Hit King 'In the Gut'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Prince Harry changing his surname to match Princess Diana's family name would be "a public rejection of his father's family," a royal author told Newsweek. The Duke of Sussex reportedly asked Diana's brother about the possibility of him becoming "Harry Spencer," according to The Mail on Sunday. The newspaper reported that Harry approached his uncle Charles Spencer for advice on whether he should change his name, and was told it would be logistically difficult. According to the Mail, Harry therefore dropped the proposal. The U.K. tabloid is among Harry and Meghan Markle's most hated and has been sued by the couple four times. Newsweek approached a representative of the Sussexes for comment. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, after a hearing in the lawsuit he brought against the British government over his police protection, on April 9, 2025. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, after a hearing in the lawsuit he brought against the British government over his police protection, on April 9, Jobson, author of Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, told Newsweek: "So now Prince Harry wanted to be a Spencer. That's the latest twist in the ongoing royal soap opera—and if true, it's a move that would've hit King Charles right in the gut. "Let's be clear: changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer would've been no small thing. It would've been a public rejection of his father's family, a slap in the face to the late Prince Philip, who fought tooth and nail to get that name recognized in the first place. For Harry to ditch it now? That would sting." The name Mountbatten came from Prince Philip's side of the family while Windsor came from Elizabeth's. "The idea of Harry becoming 'Harry Spencer' may appeal to some," Jobson continued. "Those who see him as his mother's son, always fighting against the establishment. But let's not pretend this would've been a noble gesture. "It would've looked petty, performative, and, frankly, unnecessary. Another line drawn in a family feud already far too public. "It hasn't happened. Perhaps Harry realized it wouldn't bring him closer to Diana—it would just push him further from the family he still claims to want to reconcile with. "At some point, the performance has to stop. A name change wouldn't heal wounds; it would just deepen them. For once, walking away from drama may have been the wisest move he's made." Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, expressed a degree of skepticism and told Newsweek: "I can't see that Harry would have anything to gain but there is nothing to stop him becoming Harry Spencer. I think the king would just find it extremely hurtful." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Names and Titles It is not completely clear what would have motivated Harry to pursue the idea of becoming a Spencer but the Sussexes' names and titles have long been a matter of debate. On the one hand, fans of Meghan have bemoaned the fact that outlets including Newsweek continue to refer to her as "Markle" despite her losing her surname when she married Harry in 2018. And Meghan herself corrected Mindy Kaling during her 2025 Netflix cooking show With Love, Meghan, saying: "It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now." That led to fans and Drew Barrymore calling her "Meghan Sussex," though the royal still refers to herself, including on her website, as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. On the other hand, critics of the couple have repeatedly called for them to be stripped of their titles, which usually refers to their duke and duchess titles rather than Harry's "prince" title. Needless to say, Harry has also talked about becoming a U.S. citizen, a process that conventional wisdom suggests would require him to drop his royal titles and give up allegiance to "any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty" as required by the Oath of Allegiance. If the Mail's story is true, one possible explanation could be that Harry was exploring what he would do in the event that he became an American citizen, losing his duke and prince titles and therefore needing a surname. Alphonse Provinziano, of U.S. law firm Provinziano & Associates, told Newsweek in 2024 that Harry might be able to challenge the rule at the Supreme Court: "If you're becoming a U.S. citizen, you have to renounce your titles so it treats similarly situated people differently," Provinziano said. "That law, that was created by Congress, actually creates an unequal system. "There is no Supreme Court case that interprets that code section merely because there's only been about a dozen American citizens who have had a prince or princess title. "It's something that theoretically could go all the way to the Supreme Court because the court would have to review the law to make sure it's constitutional. "The U.S. Supreme Court then, if it says Harry could keep his title or not keep his title, could have an effect on the line of succession of the British Monarchy, which is something that I don't think anyone ever contemplated. So it's fascinating." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
