Latest news with #PrinceCharles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How the Queen and Prince Philip tried desperately to change the fate of Charles and Diana's 'sorry story': 'Close friend' to the Royals shares what it was like behind palace doors, and the 'dismayed' reaction to the doomed marriage
Today marks 44 years since Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied the knot at St Paul's Cathedral in what was billed as the 'wedding of the century'. Their union marked a highpoint in the popularity of the Royal Family and was watched by a global audience of 750million across 74 countries A public holiday was declared and 28.4million Brits watched the wedding on TV with a further 600,000 lining the streets of London. But all was not well behind palace doors as whispers of adultery began to surface. Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth, a 'close friend' of Prince Philip – though he later confessed that 'royalty offer you friendliness, not friendship'. This 'friendship' – or 'friendliness' – offered the broadcaster a unique insight into the workings of the royal household. He wrote in his 2021 book, Philip The Final Portrait, that he has heard both sides of the divorce story, having friends who were also good friends with both Diana and Charles. The former Tory MP met Prince Philip through his work with the Playing Field Association, and was often given privileged access to the Queen, to walk and talk with her as she went about her official duties. And when it came to the Queen and her husband's views on their son's relationship, Brandreth wrote: 'Unlike almost everybody else involved in the drama, Philip and Elizabeth could see both sides of the story, and had some sympathy with both sides too. 'They kept their own counsel. They looked on, silent and dismayed. 'They cared about Charles and they cared about Diana. The cared about their grandchildren, especially. And they cared about the Crown and the country, also.' But by the summer of 1992, the Queen agreed that 'something must be done' about their failing relationship, just as the Sunday Times had began to serialise Andrew Morton's book, Diana: Her True Story. Brandreth wrote: 'There are certainly two sides to the sorry story of the marriage of Charles and Diana. 'Charles, according to Diana's camp, was selfish, self-indulgent, thoughtless, unsympathetic, uncaring and cruel. 'He was weak yet wilful, pathetic yet petulant. He behaved like a spoilt child. 'Above all, he was jealous of his wife's popularity with the public. Gyles Brandreth wrote in his 2021 book, Philip The Final Portrait, that he has heard both sides of the divorce story, having friends who were also good friends with both Diana and Charles 'Diana, according to Charles' friends, was a sad case, almost from the start. She was in love with the position, but not the prince. 'She was never close to understanding her man – or trying to. She was self-regarding, self-absorbed, self-obsessed.' The sources for Diana's authorised biography, written by journalist Andrew Morton, were acknowledged to be Diana's friend. But at Buckingham Palace, they suspected that Diana was the source – and they were right. While Diana didn't meet Morton directly, she recorded tapes answering his questions which became the basis of his book. But even when Prince Philip challenged her directly on her input to the book, saying many feared she'd cooperated in some way, she told him that she hadn't. That June, the Queen and Prince Philip sat down with Charles and Diana at Windsor Castle. It was reported that Charles said little, but Diana insisted that the time had come for a trial separation. 'The Queen and Prince Philip were totally as one,' wrote Brandreth. 'They counselled the unhappy couple to search for a compromise, to think less of themselves and more of others, to try to work together to revive their marriage for their own sakes, for the sake of their boys, for the sake of Crown and country.' The Queen proposed a second meeting the following day but Diana failed to turn up, prompting Prince Philip to react. Brandreth noted that 'I try to keep out of these things as much as possible' was the prince's line – unless he thought he had something useful to contribute. He started writing the first in a series of letters to Diana. Brandreth wrote: 'He certainly didn't condone his son's on-going relationship with Camilla – not for a moment – but he did want Diana at least to try to see the situation from Charles's point of view.' Diana was upset by the letters and shared them with her closest girlfriends, Rosa Monckton, then managing director of Tiffany's in London (Diana was godmother to her daughter, Domenica), and Lucia Flecha de Lima, the wife of the Brazilian ambassador. Brandreth had lunch with the women in the aftermath, who noted that they helped craft replies to Prince Philip's letters. The correspondence between Philip and his daughter-in-law continued for more than a year. 'They were good letters,' said Lucia, emphatically, 'He's a good man.' Rosa Monckton agreed. 'Actually, he was pretty wonderful,' she said. 'All he was trying to do was help. And Diana knew that.' But according to the Princess's former butler, Paul Burrell, Diana found many of Philip's letters 'brutal,' and that he'd plainly never understood her. 'To be fair,' acknowledges Burrell, 'Prince Philip did more to save the marriage than Prince Charles.' Diana and Charles separated in 1992, although they continued to carry out their royal duties. Biographer Andrew Morton wrote in his 2011 book, William And Catherine, that shortly before the formal separation announcement, Diana drove to Ludgrove, the prep school in Berkshire where William and Harry were boarders, to break the news to them first. 'The boys' responses are instructive – Harry seemed bewildered and almost indifferent, while his older brother burst into tears.' After 15 years of marriage, Charles and Diana divorced on August 28, 1996. On April 9, 2005, Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles married in a civil ceremony in Windsor, followed by a Church of England Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George's Chapel. The wedding, which was 35 years in the making, was described by the media as a 'fairytale for grown-ups'. This year they, celebrated 20 years of marriage and in recent years, they have navigated the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the King's ill-health. Royal correspondent Michael Cole once described Charles and Camilla as 'bookends' to one another as they 'hold each other up' and are 'very devoted to one another'. It seems that after all, King Charles did get his 'happily ever after'.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- Science
- First Post
History Today: The day Nasa was born
Nasa was founded on July 29, 1958, following US President Dwight D Eisenhower signing the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law. This led to the development of the biggest space agency. On this day in 1981, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer as 750 million people watched worldwide read more Workers repaint the Nasa logo near the top of Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. File image/AP The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) is behind some of the biggest and most groundbreaking space research done over the years. It was officially established on July 29, 1958, when US President Dwight D Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1921, Adolf Hitler formally became the leader of the Nazi Party, which ultimately plunged the world into one of the most destructive periods of war. In 1981, then Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Here is all that happened on this day. Nasa was founded The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) was officially established when US President Dwight D Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law on July 29, 1958. Nasa was founded in response to the growing competition with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The launch of Sputnik 1 by the USSR in October 1957 had shocked the United States and sparked fears of falling behind in space and missile technology. The US needed a coordinated national effort to compete, and Nasa became that answer. President Dwight Eisenhower and Dr T Keith Glennan, the first head of NASA, discuss photos received from the satellite Tires I in Washington. File image/AP Nasa effectively absorbed the existing National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (Naca), which had been established in 1915 to conduct aeronautical research. Naca's expertise, personnel, and facilities formed the core of the new space agency. Elements from other military programs, such as the Army Ballistic Missile Agency's rocket development under Wernher von Braun, were also transferred to Nasa. In its early years, Nasa focused on human spaceflight, leading to the famed Mercury and Gemini missions. These paved the way for the Apollo program, which culminated in the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, when Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. While the Act was signed on July 29, 1958, Nasa officially opened for business on October 1, 1958. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hitler became the head of the Nazi party In one of the most defining moments in history, Adolf Hitler officially became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). His rise to power within the party would set in motion a chain of events that ultimately led to World War II and the Holocaust. Hitler had joined the German Workers' Party in 1919, shortly after Germany's defeat in World War I. His oratory skills, propaganda instincts, and fiery nationalism quickly made him a standout figure. The party changed its name in 1920 to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), and Hitler began shaping its message around extreme nationalism, anti-Semitism, and anti-communism. By mid-1921, internal disagreements threatened the party's cohesion. Hitler, already popular with the party's rank and file, delivered an ultimatum: he would only stay if he was granted full control as chairman. The party leadership relented, and on July 29, 1921, he was officially appointed Fuhrer (leader) of the Nazi Party. This ascension allowed Hitler to centralise power, eliminate internal dissent, and transform the party from a small, local group into a highly organised and disciplined political force. It paved the way for the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, his subsequent imprisonment where he wrote Mein Kampf, and ultimately, his appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933, leading to the establishment of the Third Reich. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prince Charles married Lady Diana It was on July 29, 1981, that nearly 750 million television viewers worldwide witnessed the 'wedding of the century' - the marriage of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. The wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in London, a venue chosen for its capacity and grandeur. Diana, just 20 years old, arrived in a horse-drawn carriage wearing an elaborate ivory silk taffeta gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The dress, with its 25-foot train, became instantly iconic and set bridal fashion trends for years. Britain's Prince Charles speaks with his bride Princess Diana during their wedding ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral, London. File image/AP Attended by 3,500 guests, Britain declared it a national holiday. The event was broadcast in over 70 countries, symbolising not just a union of two individuals, but a spectacle of tradition, glamour, and royal continuity. At the time, the public viewed their marriage as a fairy tale with an aristocratic young woman marrying a future king. However, beneath the surface, cracks were already forming. This Day, That Year On this day in 2005, scientists formally announced the discovery of what was believed to be the 10th planet, later named Eris. The International Atomic Energy Agency was created in 1957. Albania was formally recognised by the major European powers as an independent principality in 1905.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From Diana's 'rock' to Royal outcast: Inside Paul Burrell's betrayal of the Firm - as royal butler's upcoming tell-all book promises new bombshells
He's known to many for his high-profile trial where he was cleared after being accused of stealing and selling items belonging to Princess Diana 's estate - as well as for appearing as a contestant on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Paul Burrell joined the household of Prince Charles and Diana at Highgrove House in 1987 after working as the Queen's footman, later becoming the Princess' butler and remaining in this role until her death. Burrell became a close confidante of the Princess - but the family's perception of him soured shortly after Diana's passing in 1997. William and Harry accused Burrell of a 'cold and overt betrayal' after he published his memoir A Royal Duty - which contained a raft of private revelations. According to Harry's witness statement in his High Court battle with Mirror Group Newspapers, the Prince took the view that his mother's former butler was an attention-seeking, self-interested 'two-faced sh**'. And now the man Diana once called her 'rock' is set to release a third 'intimate' memoir, promising to reveal stories he felt he couldn't share while the late Queen was still alive. His book The Royal Insider – with a picture of himself and Diana on the cover – is due out in September. The Princes are now bracing themselves for what he might reveal as he vows to 'speak candidly about the tensions that simmered' during his time at the Palace – 'including the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage and his own complex relationship with Princes William and Harry'. The publishers, Sphere, said: 'It is only in the wake of the Queen's passing Burrell feels he can finally tell his story in full.' Burrell's was woken in January 2001 by police officers who asked if he had any items from Kensington Palace in his home. He was arrested and his home was raided, revealing rooms filled with paintings, drawings, china and photographs that clearly belonged to Diana. Other items included signed photographs of the Princess, her daily personal notes to William at school and clothes belonging to her - including a blue-ribboned hat she'd worn during her visit with Prince Charles to South Korea in 1992. That year, Burrell was charged with theft of a total of 310 items, reportedly worth £5million, which were said to have been stolen from Kensington Palace, the Princess' former London home. He denied any impropriety and maintained the items were given to him by Diana. The case against him had proceeded on the basis that he had not told anyone that he had kept items belonging to the Princess. But the prosecution barrister said that it had emerged that Burrell had met with the Queen privately in December 1997 where he mentioned that he had taken some of the Princess's papers for safekeeping. In April of that year, the police outlined the possible charges and said that they were investigating whether Burrell had been selling some of the items. Later in September, a letter from Burrell's solicitor requested a meeting to discuss Burrell's life and service with the Royal Family, but this was declined as The Queen was not actively involved with the case. In the autumn of 2001, The Queen's private secretary was told informally that the police had told Charles that they had evidence that Burrell had been selling items from the Princess's estate. However, in the following year this was made clear during the trial that, contrary to their earlier advice, the police had no evidence that Burrell had been selling the items in question. On October 25, 2002, the Queen, Charles and Prince Philip had driven together to St Paul's for a memorial service for the victims of the Bali bombing. Driving past the Old Bailey, she asked why a crowd was standing outside. Charles answered that Burrell was on trial. The Queen was apparently unaware that he was being prosecuted. Then she mentioned that, some years before, Burrell had sought an audience with her to explain that he was caring for some of Diana's papers, and she had agreed that he should do so. Given the importance to the prosecution case of the question of whether or not Burrell had told anyone that he had taken items from Kensington Palace, the relevance of this information was realised and quickly drawn to the attention of the police. The front page of Daily Mail is pictured from September 11, 2006, featuring Rebecca English's report that Paul Burrell was accused of 'stooping to an unprecedented low' by claiming Princess Diana's sons had failed to defend her memory The prosecution barrister, William Boyce QC later told the Old Bailey: 'In all the circumstances, the prosecution has concluded that the current trial is no longer viable because it has proceeded on a false premise that Mr Burrell had never told anyone that he was holding anything for safekeeping. 'The prosecution consider that if the defence were to apply for the jury to be discharged, although it would be a matter for My Lady, the prosecution could not oppose that application'. After hearing submissions from the prosecution and defence, the judge dismissed the jury and told Burrell he was free to go on November 1, 2002. If the trial had continued, the former butler would have been called to give evidence and may have faced questioning about his time in the Queen's employment as well as Princess Diana's. Outside the court, Mr Burrell said: 'The Queen has come through for me. I'm thrilled, I'm so thrilled.' In his tell-all memoir Spare, Harry described how he learned of Burrell's book about Diana when he was working as an unpaid farmhand in Australia aged 19 in 2003. He wrote that he received a package from Buckingham Palace, which was full of memos from the Palace communications team about 'a delicate matter'. 'Mummy's former butler had penned a tell-all which actually told nothing,' he said. 'It was merely one man's self-justifying, self-centring version of events. 'My mother once called this butler a dear friend, trusted him implicitly. We did too. Now this. 'He was milking her disappearance for money. It made my blood boil.' Harry wrote that he wanted to fly home to 'confront' Burrell but Charles and William talked him out of it, saying all they could do was 'issue a united condemnation'. Burrell hit back at criticism from Harry in Spare, saying he doesn't recognise 'the young man I see today'. Appearing on Australian breakfast show Sunrise, Burrell said: 'I first met him in his mummy's tummy. I don't recognise the young man I see today. That's not the boy I knew. 'What I see now is an angry, petulant, privileged prince who is constantly blaming other people and not taking accountability on his part.' Before A Royal Duty was published, Princes William and Harry issued a joint statement calling the book 'a cold and overt betrayal.' While Harry and William rarely see eye-to-eye these days and a joint statement is unlikely, the upcoming publication will likely bring back unhappy memories of the period surrounding their mother's death for the two men.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
As Prince George turns 12, why Kate and William have been urged to ensure safety of future King after Charles's concerns: RICHARD EDEN'S DIARY
As Prince George turns 12 today, his parents have been urged to take care to ensure the safety of the future king. A former pilot of the royal helicopters has confirmed that George's father, Prince William, stopped travelling with the then-Prince Charles when he was 12.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Princess Diana's 'Worst Time' With the Royals Is Shaping Prince William's Future Reign
It's no secret that Princess Diana's time at the palace was a rocky one, but her rough experience may be shaping how her eldest son, Prince William, reigns in the future. One of the most challenging places for the Princess of Wales to visit was always Balmoral Castle in Scotland. It was the then-Prince Charles' favorite place, but it was nothing more than a stuffy home to Diana, according to her former butler, Paul Burrell. More from SheKnows Prince Harry Finds an Unexpected Royal Ally Amid Family Rift - He's 'Suffered So Much' 'Diana tried to please Charles, so her times at Balmoral were to please him,' he told Marie Claire. 'She wanted to fit in, she wanted to be loved, she wanted to be accepted, and that was all part of that acceptance. ' Diana was a 'modern woman,' but the Balmoral summers were part of the royal's 'archaic world.' The family loved hunting, schedules that ran like clockwork, and formal dinners that were part of a 'suffocating' atmosphere for her. That's why Burrell believes William is a 'catalyst for change,' ushering in a new generation of royals. 'He's already planning it now,' Burrell claimed. 'When I see him on the TV, I see his mind working and thinking, 'Oh, when I'm king, this is not going to happen.'' Describing him as the 'people's [future] king,' the former palace staffer believes that the 'pomp and pageantry and excess will not happen' under his reign. In November 2024, William ruffled feathers with an interview with The Times. He mentioned that his time on the throne will be punctuated by putting 'a smaller r in the royal.' It had anti-monarchists complaining about William's work ethic, but the Prince of Wales was undeterred. Look no further than the royal blueprint he laid out in November 2023 when he told reporters during his Singapore tour that he will take on less patronages in the future. 'You have to remain focused, if you spread yourself too thin, you just can't manage it and you won't deliver the impact or the change that you really want to happen,' he told the print media, via Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor of The Sunday Times on X. With King Charles III's illness looming in the background, it's possible that William's reign will begin much sooner than initially planned. The modernized monarchy might be just around the corner with a touch of Princess Diana's legacy at of SheKnows 29 Times Gisele Bündchen's Red Carpet Fashion Proved She's the Ultimate Supermodel 68 Celebrities Who Share a Famous Ex 6 Sexy Celebrity-Owned Lingerie Lines, Made From Rihanna to Sofia Vergara Solve the daily Crossword
