Marchetti, who was born in Ravenna, Italy, details his unlikely career in his memoir, The Geek of Chic, which released on September 9. Speaking to Marie Claire, the businessman shares that despite not having a background in fashion, he was able to build Yoox from the ground up—and later combine forces with Net-a-Porter to become chairman and CEO of the Yoox Net-a-Porter Group. Like The King, Marchetti has always had an interest in sustainability, and he says when it comes to fashion, "I think there will be a kind of a survival of the greenest in a way."

This philosophy led King Charles—then the Prince of Wales—to invite Marchetti to lead his Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Fashion Task Force in 2021, going on to appoint him as a trustee of The King's Foundation the same year. Since then, the monarch has come to rely on Marchetti as his "secret weapon" in sustainability, a claim to fame the tech entrepreneur doesn't take lightly.

Marchetti tells Marie Claire that he exchanges "a lot of" letters with The King, adding, "he loves the fact that I bring action to the table. He calls me, with everybody—and also in these letters—his Italian secret weapon." The monarch is also a great lover of Italian culture and food, and Marchetti shares one such visit the King made to Italy.

"When I went to Rome, in this reception, in this beautiful Quirinale dinner, The King wanted to introduce me to the Italian president as his Italian secret weapon," Marchetti continues with a laugh. "It was funny, the King of England introducing me to the Italian president. It was really a funny moment."

Marchetti earned his "secret weapon" reputation through his innovative projects with both The King's Foundation and the Sustainable Markets Initiative. Through his foundation, the monarch has focused on teaching traditional skills to young people, including farming, horticulture, millinery and fashion design. When he approached Marchetti to "come up with a project" for The King's Foundation, it was something the entrepreneur considered "a big demand."

"Compared to him, I'm a beginner," Marchetti says, referring to The King's long history in sustainable projects. However, he shares it was "pretty easy to connect the dots" to combine another of their shared passions: education. Discussing how craftsmanship is a lost art and not seen as "cool" with younger people, Marchetti shares that he came up with the idea of a program called The Modern Artisan.

Combining artisanal skills with modern data, the initiative gave young designers the opportunity to create a sustainable luxury collection using five years of "big data" from Yoox Net-a-Porter to tap into customer demand. Marchetti says the students "came up with a collection that in two weeks, we sold 50 percent...We sold it better than Gucci or Prada, which is funny."

For King Charles, he certainly practices what he preaches. "He's still wearing the same coat, the camel coat, he's still wearing the same shoes, he's still wearing things that are very old because they are made out of good quality, good craft," Marchetti says of The King. Although he's worked in fashion for decades, Marchetti follows the same philosophy, preferring to wear the same pieces because "they are still beautiful" and "still amazing."

Speaking of The King's dedication to his work, Marchetti calls the monarch "an authentic man" who "really cares about the planet." The Geek of Chic author adds, "He's such a hard worker, really, on sustainability. I've never seen anybody so committed like him." Marchetti also appreciates The King's "good British humor", admitting that they have "a great relationship" but they're also "an odd couple."

"I admit it now because a tech entrepreneur with the King of England, it's weird. But it's working. It's working very well," he tells Marie Claire.

One of the biggest projects Marchetti is working on through The King's Sustainable Markets Initiative is a "digital product passport" that gives consumers information about exactly where a garment is sourced. Working with Armani on regenerative cotton T-shirts, Marchetti says that customers will be able to see the journey of the product down to photos of the exact fields where the cotton was grown. The project has quickly drawn interest from other designers, with Marchetti saying inquiries have come in from "basically most of the luxury brands, Italian and French."

Marchetti was a longtime friend of Giorgio Armani, who died following our interview. In a statement, he calls the legendary designer "a giant" in the fashion world, adding, "For more than thirty years, I was fortunate to share unforgettable moments with Mr. Armani on projects both professional and personal."

"Our common passions and interests more recently led us to work together on a regenerative organic cotton project in Puglia, under the aegis of King Charles III’s sustainable fashion task force," Marchetti continues. "I have also had the privilege of serving with him on the board of his company for many years, where I’ve seen firsthand his unique ability to marry timeless creativity with sharp business sense."

Now that he's stepped down from his role at Yoox Net-a-Porter, Marchetti says he's found great purpose in his work with The King. "I'm living a very happy life because I'm doing beautiful things for the planet, which is even more important than making a profit," he tells Marie Claire. "I think to help the next generation is much more fulfilling than just making money."

"I’ve noticed that people who will make fun of lovers are people who don’t have the ability to love at the full capacity, and they’re jealous of that," Taylor tells Marie Claire editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike for our Changemakers issue cover story (which also happens to be a "Nice Talk" podcast recording).

"You know the quote 'Good girls finish last?' No, good girls finish on their own divine time. Like, I’m going to take my time. And I’m gonna properly love and I’m gonna be a lover girl and I’m gonna be a simp, whatever comes with that. I love to love."

For the singer, dancer and actress, the capacity to love is the ultimate show of strength. "People that don’t have emotional intelligence make fun of lovers," she observes. "I am a soldier of love. I am a love warrior. I am a lover girl and I love everything about it and I’m okay with that. One thing nobody could ever take away from me is the love that I give. Never ever be ashamed of being a lover girl. I think lovers are the most emotionally intelligent."

Taylor's new album has love at its core. "That’s why I’m excited about Escape Room—because I feel like even though there are the ones who make fun of it, everybody is low-key lovers," she says. "It’s just not the cool thing to do because we’re in a prideful and very egocentric time of music right now. But what I want is to create a safe space for women to be able to love again and to create that safe space for men to be gentle and to be lovers because they want to feel protected too. This album opens up that dialogue."

The artist couldn't be prouder of this album. In a recent interview with InStyle, she gushed, "Oh my God, the album is so good." It's her offering to the world, she says. It "takes you through every single stage of vulnerability, from heartbreak to repair, from heartbreak to healing… I think it's so universal that you can literally customize it to fit you."

Speaking to editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike for the cover of Marie Claire's Changemakers issue—an interview also recorded for Ogunnaike's podcast "Nice Talk"—Taylor opens up about working on the look with the legendary Carter.

"Honestly, I am very humble and I’m very modest when it comes to speaking about myself," she says.

"But like, when you get to work with the Ruth E. Carter, if you thought for one second, I thought that outfit was going to be anything less than amazing. Like, baby, if I wasn’t invited to the Met, I was sneaking on that carpet and I was getting Best Dressed." (Of course the multi-hyphenate star made it onto Marie Claire's Best Dressed list.)

"When you’re working with the Ruth E. Carter, to understand the amount of love and detail that went into that, you already should have known that Ruth was going to come through," Taylor says. "Every bit of praise that we’ve received is exactly how it was supposed to be. And now I say that with all cockiness."

The singer, dancer, actress, and self-described "lover girl" is absolutely not done dipping her toe in the world of fashion, with many red-carpet moments lined up for the fall.

"My God, my fall is amazing," she tells us. "I’m working with some designers, but also I’m working on original pieces that I’m going to design. Let’s just see where that takes me, because maybe that can be the start of my own actual line."

As she tells Marie Claire on the Nice Talk podcast with Nikki Ogunnaike—an interview also featured on the cover of Marie Claire's Changemakers issue—these two principles memorably met in the form of life advice from Beyoncé.

Beyoncé is "the one who would help me understand, you’re going to have to invest in yourself to get what you want," Taylor tells Ogunnaike. "I remember just being in a space where I was trying to figure it out, and she was just encouraging me to keep going."

The multi-hyphenate continues, "Never be afraid to invest in yourself. You’re never going to fully get what you want unless you go and do it yourself. That always stuck with me."

Beyoncé has been there for Taylor in a big way throughout her career: she trusted the then-up-and-comer to choreograph on "Ring the Alarm" when Taylor was just 15 years old, as reported by People. (She's now 34.)

"No matter where I’ve ever been, whatever challenges I was going through, wherever I’ve been in my career, feeling stagnant or feeling unseen or unheard, to just hear Beyoncé tell me how proud of me she is, no matter where I am in my life and my career, really inspires me to keep going and just keep following my heart and following my gut," Taylor says.

"See, it may be a little bit different now, because the young'uns coming up are stuck in their own ways," she observes. "Our generation was really willing to be students. I looked at the Beyoncés, the Kanyes, the Pharrells, and I just wanted to soak up knowledge. I was always ready to learn. Even to this day, I’m always willing to be a student, no matter how much I pour into others. I may be a teacher to others, but I’m always still a student. No one is ever above learning."

In the new book, The Royal Insider: My Life with The Queen, The King, and Princess Diana—which is being serialized by the Daily Mail—former royal butler Paul Burrell explained, "[Diana] disliked country pursuits: horses, shooting, mud, and particularly hunting, which she thought was barbaric. But she tried so hard to please her husband."

Elaborating on Diana's dislike of hunting, Burrell wrote, "I remember her returning from her first stalking party at Balmoral. She hated every moment of it: watching the deer's belly being slit with the entrails coming out and the ritual blood smeared on her face."

However, the reason Princess Diana allegedly agreed to take part in the horrifying act was simple, according to Burrell: "She did it for Charles."

The former royal butler alleged that Diana made many personal revelations to him during his tenure. According to Burrell, Diana told him, "[Charles] never wanted a lover. He wanted a mother." Despite any misgivings the princess might have had about her husband, "she always loved Charles," Burrell claimed.

According to Burrell, "Diana once told me that Charles had told her in the middle of one of their epic arguments: 'I never loved you. I only married you to have children.'" Sadly, the issues inherent in Diana and Charles's marriage escalated further, and the pair announced their separation in 1992. They would finalize their divorce in 1996, one year before Diana's death.

In his new book, The Royal Insider: My Life with The Queen, The King, and Princess Diana, former royal butler Paul Burrell shared many revelations about the couple. In an excerpt serialized by the Daily Mail, Burrell explained, "It wasn't until Harry was born on September 15, 1984...that her fate was confirmed."

According to Burrell, King Charles remarked on Prince Harry's red hair—a trait inherited from the Spencer family. However, Burrell alleged that, according to Diana, that was the moment her relationship with Charles came to an end.

"Then came the damning blow," Burrell wrote. "He said: 'Well at least I've got my heir and spare now and I can return to Camilla.'"

Burrell continued, "She told me: 'I cried myself to sleep that night knowing that my marriage was over. I gave him four good years and he was gone. And for the rest of the time I had to pretend and put on a facade for the world.'"

Tragically, Princess Diana was reportedly committed to her marriage, and didn't want the relationship to end. Burrell explained, "Diana never wanted a divorce. Despite everything that happened, I have no doubt that Diana fell in love with Prince Charles. Unfortunately for Diana, the feeling was not mutual."

Recounting a terrible exchange between the pair, Burrell wrote, "Diana once told me that Charles had told her in the middle of one of their epic arguments: 'I never loved you. I only married you to have children.'"

Diana and Charles would announce their separation in 1992, before finalizing their divorce in 1996.

In a video shared by nightclub owner Mini Han, DJ Peggy Gou teaches Princess Eugenie some dance steps. Per Hello!, the duo did a routine to (It Goes Like) Nanana, with the royal dressed in the same Rixo midi—sans garden party hat—as she waved her arms in the air to the beat.

Eugenie wore her hair pulled back in the red-hued club, wearing a pair of dangling earrings and a long pendant necklace with the dotted dress. Gou also got in on the polka dot trend, wearing a plunging halter-neck design with tiny white spots.

Her $540 Rixo dress is also available in a red polka dot style as well as an animal print and floral print designs. The London-based label is also a favorite of Princess Kate, who has worn several pieces by Rixo including a brown polka dot dress while taking her kids to their first day at Lambrook School in 2022.

Along with her garden party outing, Princess Eugenie made appearances at Royal Ascot and a Tate Modern gala this summer before enjoying the end of the season with her kids. The princess, who is mom to 2-year-old son Ernest and 4-year-old son August, also welcomed some famous friends to her second home in Portugal, as seen in photos shared by Robbie Williams's wife, Ayda Field Williams, in early August.

Eugenie wore a smocked green Michael Kors maxi dress in one snapshot with her friend Ayda, going casual in a striped button up shirt and baseball cap in another pic. The princess also paid tribute to big sis Princess Beatrice in August, writing, "Happy happy birthday to my dearest Beabea.. my big sissy, the best in the entire world."

Diana and Charles announced their separation in 1992, and finalized their divorce on August 28, 1996. In his new book, The Royal Insider: My Life with The Queen, The King, and Princess Diana, former royal butler Paul Burrell shares many revelations about the couple.

Burrell wrote in the book, which is being serialized by the Daily Mail, "Diana once told me that Charles had told her in the middle of one of their epic arguments: 'I never loved you. I only married you to have children.'"

Recalling his experiences working for King Charles and Princess Diana, Burrell explained, "I didn't realize that I had entered a war zone when I left The Queen's service in 1987 to work for Charles and Diana."

According to the former butler, Diana told him, "He never wanted a lover. He wanted a mother." He continued, "She always loved Charles, but she despised Camilla Parker Bowles, the 'other woman.'"

Burrell also reflected on the demise of Charles and Diana's marriage, claiming that the princess shared many private insights about the downfall with him.

"It wasn't until Harry was born on September 15, 1984, just over two years later, that her fate was confirmed," the former butler explained, "Charles came into the hospital room, looked in the cot and said: 'Oh, red hair.'"

Diana reportedly responded that red hair runs in the Spencer family, but this allegedly didn't placate Charles. "He said: 'Well at least I've got my heir and spare now and I can return to Camilla,'" the former butler alleged.

The then-Princess of Wales reportedly told Burrell, "I cried myself to sleep that night knowing that my marriage was over."

Speaking to The Sunday Times, one of Prince Harry's close friends explained, "He's not given up hope on bringing his family back to the [United Kingdom]. He wants to be able to show his children where he grew up. He wants them to know their family here." The source continued, "He really would like to come back to the U.K. much more."

The friend also told the newspaper that Prince Harry hopes to "to have some fun" during his current visit.

Prince Harry lost his court battle regarding the removal of his private security earlier this year. Since then, the Duke of Sussex has expressed the very credible fear he has about traveling to the U.K. with his wife and young children.

In May 2025, he told the BBC, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious." He continued, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point."

As for whether or not Prince Harry will reunite with his dad, King Charles, during his current trip, one of the duke's friends told The Sunday Times, "He's made it absolutely clear he wants a reconciliation with his family. It's on them now."

"This Monday morning, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella returned to school. 🎒," the palace's Instagram post read. "A new academic year full of discoveries, friendships, and adventures awaits them. The Princely Family wishes all students in the Principality a wonderful start to the school year!"

In the photos, Jacques and Gabriella—who attend private Catholic school François d'Assise-Nicolas Barré—hold hands as they wear matching red uniform polo shirts. Princess Gabriella pairs her polo with a navy skirt and matching hair bow in the snapshots, while Jacques wears a pair of dark jeans. In one adorable image, the twins reveal the designs on their backpacks, holding hands once again as they turn away from the camera.

Although Prince Jacques might be the heir to Monaco's throne, he appears to be a fan of playing Roblox, just like many kids his age. His under $20 tile-patterned blue backpack features a character from the popular online game on the back along with the Roblox logo. Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella seems to be into Kawaii and is carrying a baby blue backpack with the Sanrio character Cinnamoroll to school this year.

The twins finished up their summer break with a royal engagement on September 6, joining their parents at U Cavagnëtu, a traditional Monagasque picnic. During the event, Prince Jacques looked like a mini me of his father, wearing a navy blazer and white shirt similar to Prince Albert's with a pair of khaki pants. Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella channeled her designer-loving mom in an adorable green floral dress by Dior Kids.

Unlike Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who largely stay out of the spotlight, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella frequently make official appearances with their parents. Last year, the twins stole fans' hearts when they dressed up for National Day in November, with Jacques wearing a tiny version of his father's military uniform and Gabriella matching with her mom in a lavender coat dress.

People reported that, as confirmed by Harry's spokesperson, the prince "visited the burial place of the late Queen at St. George's Chapel in Windsor to pay his respects privately and lay a wreath of flowers, three years after the history-making monarch died."

Meanwhile, a royal source told the outlet that Prince Harry is "positive" amid his return to the U.K. from California, where he lives with Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

"He's in a really good headspace and looking forward to seeing everyone from his charities and the causes he cares about," the source told the publication.

A source previously told Hello! magazine of Harry's international trip, "He's so excited to come back to the [United Kingdom]...He's really positive about coming back to do all the stuff that he loves doing."

Prior to his arrival in the U.K., People revealed that Harry had added a "surprise stop" to his travel itinerary, involving a trip to Nottingham to "announce a major donation to Children in Need and highlight local youth programs."

Alongside attending the WellChild Awards in London, it's thought that Harry will meet with a number of organizations he supports, including Scotty's Little Soldiers, The Invictus Games Foundation, The Diana Award, Epic Partners, and Coach Core. Paying tribute to the late Queen was, quite rightly, first on Harry's agenda upon his arrival.

In a video shared by Hello! magazine on Instagram, William and Kate are sitting at a table enjoying some sweet treats with WI members as the Prince of Wales reveals that he’s not a fan of one ingredient in his brownies. "The brownies are..." William said, giving an "okay" gesture with his fingers. "I know my brownies," he added.

"William is very fussy about brownies," the Princess of Wales chimed in, with William confirming, "very fussy about brownies." He then asked, "Do you put nuts in them?" to one WI member, who said she didn’t.

“Never put nuts in a brownie!” William added as Kate burst into laughter. “I had to learn the hard way!” she exclaimed.

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the WI group in honor of Queen Elizabeth, who was a member of the organization for 80 years and served as its president for 19 years. The WI was founded in 1915 and welcomes women across the U.K. to take part in community building and volunteering activities along with learning skills such as baking, gardening and crafting.

Princess Kate embraced the approaching autumn with her outfit at the engagement, wearing a gray plaid Alessandra Rich dress with an oversized collar. Along with her on-trend fall tartan, she showed off a darker hair color, swapping her headline-making blonde hair for a light brown hue.

Although the Waleses are not scheduled to meet with Prince Harry, he marked Queen Elizabeth's death in his own way on Monday. According to People, the Duke of Sussex made a private visit to his grandmother's grave at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle before his scheduled appearance at the WellChild Awards.

The Princess of Wales was first spotted with blonde hair while riding to church on the Balmoral estate last month, and she made waves with her new look at the Natural History Museum on September 4. Some fans argued that her hair only looked different because it was pulled half back during a rugby match on Saturday, September 6—but the princess had indeed colored her hair into a darker light brown shade for her WI visit Monday.

Along with her autumnal hair color, Kate debuted a new dress for the event, wearing a gray plaid Alessandra Rich midi in a tartan pattern that's one of fall's biggest trends. The past-season style featured an oversized pilgrim collar, puffed sleeves and pearl buttons, and she paired it with gray pumps and an old favorite pair of Kiki McDonough white topaz and diamond stud earrings.

The WI is an organization that was close to Queen Elizabeth's heart and brings women together to make friends, learn new skills and form community. The late Queen was a WI member for an incredible 80 years and also served as president of the organization from 2003 until her death. During their visit, the Prince and Princess of Wales met members and enjoyed some baked goods, along with hearing stories about the late Queen and her impact on the WI.

Fittingly, the Sunningdale group is right in the heart of the community where the Wales family is moving later this year. William, Kate and their three children will be relocating to Forest Lodge in the heart of Windsor Great Park, just about 10 minutes away from the WI's meeting place.

Prince Harry also marked Queen Elizabeth's death anniversary on Monday, making a private visit to her grave at Windsor Castle, as a spokesperson confirmed to People. The Duke of Sussex will later attend the WellChild Awards on Monday night to honor the achievements of seriously ill children and their families.

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In his new book, The Royal Insider: My Life with The Queen, The King, and Princess Diana, former butler Paul Burrell recalled working with Queen Elizabeth, which included caring for the corgis. "While I always felt like I was living the dream being one of The Queen's footmen, it was not an easy job by any means," Burrell wrote in the book, which is being serialized by the Daily Mail.

Reflecting on his role, Burrell explained, "My first duty of the day was to walk the corgis." He continued, "I always felt guilty for not picking up the 'corgi mess'—I didn't have time. The gardeners must have cursed me as I left their immaculate lawn littered with dog poo."

Remembering one particular interaction between Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, Burrell wrote, "Like many animal lovers, The Queen liked having her dogs in the bedroom—even in bed with her. Prince Philip, who did share a bed with his wife, was not so keen and would mumble about 'those bloody dogs.'"

According to Burrell, Philip once told Elizabeth, "I don't know why you have to have so many." Known for her acerbic wit, The Queen reportedly responded, "But darling, they are so collectable."

It seems extremely likely that Prince Philip knew just how attached Queen Elizabeth was to her corgis. But according to Burrell, Philip was simply not a fan of sharing a bed with the sweet pups.

The former Olympian's husband, Prince Albert, and their 10-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, were also in attendance, and looked exceedingly smart. For the occasion, Princess Charlene opted for a white Oscar de la Renta Guipure Lace Midi Dress, featuring a high neckline and an asymmetrical hem.

Similar in style to her pink Cherry Guipure dress from the designer, the lace of the princess's white dress gave a subtly sheer appearance. Charlene accessorized the outfit with a pair of Gianvito Rossi Ascent 85 Beige Leather Slingback Pumps—a label beloved by royals around the world, including Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton.

Charlene's daughter, Gabriella, wore a green floral dress by Dior Kids, and a pair of open-toe sandals by the designer. Prince Jacques drew style inspiration from his father by wearing a tailored navy blazer and tan pants.

In a 2010 interview with Tatler, Charlene opened up about her romance with Monaco's Prince Albert. "The prince is the most charming, generous person I've ever met," she told the outlet. "His patience knows no bounds and he is exceptionally caring. He has a unique ability to make everyone he comes into contact with feel special. He's the man I've dreamed of. He's perfect for me in every way. I respect him and understand him."

Judging by the couple's latest appearance, they're still very much in love.

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Speaking to Hello! magazine, a royal source explained, "He's so excited to come back to the [United Kingdom]...He's in a really good headspace." The source continued, "He's really looking forward to seeing everyone from his patronages face to face and focusing on the causes."

Confirming the Duke of Sussex's bright outlook, the source explained, "He's really positive about coming back to do all the stuff that he loves doing."

As reported by People, Harry has added a "surprise stop" to his travel itinerary, which will involve traveling to Nottingham to "announce a major donation to Children in Need and highlight local youth programs."

Hello! also noted that Harry's trip includes a plethora of important engagements. For instance, the prince is set to meet with winners and their families at the WellChild Awards, before visiting Nottingham, where he will stop by the Community Recording Studio.

The Duke of Sussex also plans to "announce a 'substantial' donation to Children in Need to help support their work tackling violence affecting young people," Hello! magazine reported.

It's also believed Harry will meet with organizations such as Scotty's Little Soldiers, The Invictus Games Foundation, The Diana Award, Epic Partners, and Coach Core. Basically, it's set to be a very busy visit, whether or not the international trip includes a Royal Family reunion or not.

In an extract from Burrell's forthcoming book, which is being serialized by the Daily Mail, the former butler explained, "[O]n 16 August 2001, I had been charged with stealing 315 items from the estate of my late employer Diana, Princess of Wales, six items from Prince Charles, and 21 items from Prince William." As a result, Burrell was facing a five-year prison sentence, if he was found guilty of taking the items illegally.

"The police had torn my home apart, like a burglary in reverse," Burrell wrote. "Items that Princess Diana and Prince Charles had given me and my family over the years were all taken away, including clothes, shoes, and handbags that Diana had gifted to my wife Maria and a writing bureau she had given one of my sons."

According to Burrell, he was tasked with "cataloging and packing away" Diana's possessions, but he was left feeling "concerned that not enough was being done to protect Diana's legacy." The weight of his former employer's legacy quickly combined with his own personal issues, which included becoming "homeless and unemployed, after years of living and working at Kensington Palace."

The former butler decided to arrange a private meeting with Elizabeth, whom he had previously served. According to Burrell, he met the late monarch one evening in December 1997 at Buckingham Palace, and he addressed the "grave concerns" he had regarding Diana's property.

"[T]he family have been through all the princess's personal belongings and have taken away a great deal of her property, much of which I believe William and Harry should have," Burrell wrote, recalling his conversation with Queen Elizabeth.

Burrell continued, "I was asked to bring down her monogrammed luggage which was filled with her clothes, and Mrs. Shand Kydd [Frances, Diana's mother] sits on the princess's [couch] sorting through papers and shredding personal correspondence, including letters from you. That shredding machine is smoking, Your Majesty!"

Sharing his concern regarding the destruction of Diana's property, Burrell allegedly told The Queen, "So I have taken it upon myself to rescue documents which I think are important. I could not stand by and watch history be erased or the princess's world changed. She had fought so hard for the little privacy that she had and I have kept safe the personal items which she entrusted to me and were locked in my filing cabinet in my pantry."

According to Burrell, "The Queen raised her eyebrows but said nothing" at his revelation about Diana's property.

The pair subsequently discussed numerous topics, the former royal butler explained, including Diana's continued fondness for her ex-husband Charles and her ability to connect with people from all over the world. However, it was Burrell's revelation regarding Diana's personal possessions that "changed the course of my life," he wrote.

During his trial, the Royal Family was able to share "new evidence," after Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and King Charles discussed the topic while traveling to an event together. The Queen's recollection of her conversation with Burrell changed everything for the former butler, who was allowed to walk free. "The Queen had saved me," he wrote.

The Royal Family shared a press release announcing details regarding the Duchess of Kent's funeral, which will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16. As Katharine was a Catholic, her funeral will include a Requiem Mass, making it "the first royal Catholic funeral in the U.K. in modern history," the BBC reported.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to attend the funeral, along with other members of the Royal Family, including Katharine's husband, the Duke of Kent. "Afterwards, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor," the Royal Family's press release explained.

Incidentally, the Duchess of Kent's funeral will take place during Donald Trump's state visit to the U.K. later this month.

The official press release further noted, "Flags will be half-masted at all official royal residences flying the Union Flag on the day of the Funeral.

Sharing news of the duchess's death, an official statement previously explained, "It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent." The statement continued, "Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night [on Sept. 4] at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family."

The statement further elaborated, "The King and Queen and all members of The Royal Family join the Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess's life-long devotion to all the organizations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people."

Kate Middleton is the royal patron of the Rugby Football Union, which is why she showed her support at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Group Stage match between England and Australia. Princess Kate arrived at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium wearing Knatchbull's Cascade Ruffle Blouse, and an Alexander McQueen Leaf Crepe Wool Jacket in Black, via @katemiddletonstyled.

The Princess of Wales accessorized her outfit with a $5,400 Chanel Mini Classic Handbag and a $3,350 pair of Cartier 18K Pink Yellow White Gold Small Trinity Earrings.

The Princess of Wales's blonde highlights were visible, although worn partially tied back. She looked delighted to be attending the women's sporting event, and appeared to have left her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—at home.

Meanwhile, Kate's husband, Prince William, stepped out to support Wales's women's rugby team as they played against Fiji at the Sandy Park Stadium in Exeter.

This fall, Princess Kate, Prince William, and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—will move out of Adelaide Cottage and into Forest Lodge. According to royal biographer Sean Smith, the Princess of Wales's new home will bring her even closer to her so-called "royal sister," Duchess Sophie. "They remain the best of friends," Smith told GB News. "They have always been two middle-class girls from the country battling their way through the etiquette and traditions of the Royal Family."

Smith continued, "They do not live in each other's pockets. Kate has three young children to occupy her attention, but [their] new home, Forest Lodge, is little more than a 10-minute drive from Bagshot Park, so Sophie is near to help and support when she can."

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Prince George turned 12 in July, while Princess Charlotte marked her 10th birthday in May and Prince Louis celebrated his 7th birthday in April. Speaking about her kids to one woman outside the museum, Kate said, "I know, they're getting big now," smiling and holding her hand up to indicate height. "George is already in my shoes!" she added.

In 2023, Hello! reported that Princess Kate buys her shoes in both a size 38.5 and a 39, which makes her between a U.S. size 8 and 9, depending on the brand and sizing.

Even though George can borrow his mom's sneakers these days, fans reflected on how it seemed like it wasn't long ago when they waited outside St Mary's Hospital to catch a glimpse of him after his 2013 birth.

"We were camped outside the hospital when all three of your children were born," one woman told the princess, who exclaimed, "Really? Oh my goodness, it only feels like yesterday."

Another fan added, "And you sent us breakfast as well," to which Kate replied, "Good, you got it. It's the least I could do," before she was directed to head inside the museum.

William and Kate's visit was their first public engagement in seven weeks, marking their return to duties after the summer break. The event centered around the Natural History Museum's newly revamped gardens, and the royal couple took part in activities with school children to promote engaging with nature in urban environments.

Sophie's every move was followed by paparazzi in the early '90s, with Smith revealing that when she got a parking ticket, photographers even "moved the ticket so when that she got in, she couldn't see out of the windscreen." The trick ensured Sophie had to step out and remove the piece of paper so paparazzi could take better pictures.

When it came time for Sophie's 29th birthday in January 1994, Prince Edward—once called "Prince Brat" by the media—wasn't yet ready to propose. But as Smith wrote, "He could have slipped into Garrard's, the Royal jewellers, to select a discreet diamond" to acknowledge "how deftly" his girlfriend "was handling the public interest in their romance." Unfortunately, Edward didn't quite get the hint.

"Instead, he chose a suitcase," Smith wrote. "Admittedly, it was a very smart suitcase, with her initials engraved on the top, but hardly designed to sweep a girl off her feet." Embarrassingly, Sophie then had "to answer the inevitable questions from friends, 'What did Edward give you?' with the far from impressive words, 'A jolly nice suitcase.'"

The biographer pointed out that anything flashy would have made "the gift very public" and attract media attention, a problem that Prince Edward would have been careful to avoid. However, all was not lost when it came to his girlfriend's 29th birthday.

Per the book, Prince Edward originally "planned a quiet supper at his place," but then called Sophie and said he "would be late" due to a meeting. After arriving at the palace, the future duchess spotted "a forlorn-looking bunch of balloons was tied half-heartedly to a chair" but there was no dinner in sight. "Suddenly, the door was flung open and a bunch of her best friends rushed in followed by an exuberant Edward: 'Surprise!' they shouted in unison," Smith wrote.

Despite his rather practical present, Prince Edward "had turned up trumps with the most wonderful treat—a birthday party at Buckingham Palace," Smith wrote. And it turns out Edward is a romantic at heart after all, as he "sheepishly produced a second present—an antique silver frame containing a photograph of him from his days as a Marine."

Like butter yellow, Princess Diana was often seen in purple throughout her royal career and even before, as seen in the famous 1980 photos of Lady Di posing with her kindergarten students. Wearing a purple sweater vest, lavender shirt and pastel skirt that turned out to be surprisingly sheer in the light, the soon-to-be fiancée of Prince Charles captured the public imagination.

She'd go on to wear a number of punchy purple looks in the '80s and '90s, including regal crushed velvet gowns, smart lavender power suits and everything in between.

Purple, of course, has long had an association with royalty. While us mere mortals can wear purple with wild abandon today, it was once a color that was reserved for the most elite members of society. Queen Elizabeth I even banned commoners from wearing the color, which was extraordinary expensive to produce at the time due to how the dye was produced.

Princess Diana, for one, knew exactly how to slip the shade into her ever-evolving work wardrobe, embracing puffy, romantic lilac gowns in the earlier years of her marriage and shifting to modern pieces like the sleek purple Versace dress she wore for a trip to Chicago after her divorce from Prince Charles.

Take a look back at some of Diana's most memorable purple looks, ahead.

April 1983

Like her famous wedding gown, the pastel purple creation Diana wore during her tour of Australia and New Zealand leaned into the bows and poofy silhouettes of the early '80s. The princess wore this off-the-shoulder Donald Campbell style to a gala ballet performance in Auckland, New Zealand, and while it wouldn't have looked out of place as a bridesmaid's gown at the time, Diana made the dress look utterly glam.

October 1987

Princess Diana attended a glittering banquet on behalf of one of her patronages, Birthright, in 1987, wearing a Catherine Walker evening gown that paid tribute to Elizabethan style. The long-sleeved dress featured a velvet bodice and purple ruff collar, finishing off with a bright purple skirt. But the star of the show was the enormous amethyst and diamond cross necklace she wore with the gown—a piece that Kim Kardashian would go on to acquire at auction in 2023.

November 1988

The royal once again showed her love for velvet during a 1988 gala to support children's charity Barnardo's, wearing a deep purple off-the-shoulder gown by Bruce Oldfield. She carried the purple theme down to her jewels, wearing an amethyst choker necklace and matching amethyst and diamond drop earrings.

October 1990

The late princess wore this Catherine Walker suit on numerous occasions in the '90s, including a church service for fire brigade veterans in the fall of 1990. The pale pink blazer and matching skirt was trimmed with bright violet lapels, cuffs and buttons, and she wore the outfit with coordinating purple pumps. While Diana owned a matching hat—as seen in the photos of her with Prince William and Prince Harry at St Paul's Cathedral—she often wore the suit without its purple-trimmed topper for a more businesslike look.

June 1996

Diana headed to Chicago in the summer of 1996, attending a gala at the city's Field Museum in a bright violet Versace dress. The clean lines and sleeker silhouette of the dress fit in with her fresher post-divorce style, and she paired the gown with a dazzling choker, her amethyst and diamond drop earrings and purple Jimmy Choo heels.

June 1997

Diana often embraced a power suit, and she wore this lavender Versace skirt set just two months before her tragic 1997 death. She sported the belted blazer and pencil skirt to give an anti-landmines campaign speech in Washington, D.C., pairing the look with chunky pearl jewelry.

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In the book, the Duke of Sussex wrote of the period leading up to his mother's 1997 funeral, recalling, "There was some discussion about the next day’s funeral. Per the latest plan, the coffin would be pulled through the streets on a horse-drawn carriage by the King’s Troop while Willy and I followed on foot." Harry continued, "It seemed a lot to ask of two young boys," noting that "several adults were aghast" and "Mummy’s brother, Uncle Charles, raised hell."

As the younger brother of Diana and head of the Spencer family, Charles, Earl Spencer, was the one who ultimately made the decision for Diana to have a royal funeral, as revealed in former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter's memoir, On Duty With The Queen.

Per the duke, Earl Spencer said, "You can’t make these boys walk behind their mother’s coffin!" calling the idea "barbaric." Aides then came up with "an alternative plan" that proposed Prince William "would walk alone," Harry wrote. "He was fifteen, after all. Leave the younger one out of it. Spare the Spare."

That plan was scrapped, with the Duke of Sussex writing, "Back came the answer. It must be both princes. To garner sympathy, presumably." Although his "Uncle Charles was furious," Harry said he wasn't. "I didn't want Willy to undergo an ordeal like that without me. Had the roles been reversed, he'd never have wanted me—indeed, allowed me—to go it alone."

In the end, The King (then Prince Charles), Earl Spencer and Prince Philip joined the young princes to walk behind Diana's coffin en route to Westminster Abbey. After Prince Philip's 2021 death, former government relations director Anji Hunter told the Standard about his involvement in the days leading up to the funeral.

"We were all talking about how William and Harry should be involved and suddenly came Prince Philip’s voice," she told the media outlet. "We hadn’t heard from him before, but he was really anguished. 'It’s about the boys,' he cried, 'They’ve lost their mother.'" According to the media outlet, Philip told his grandsons the night before the funeral, "I’ll walk if you walk."

"It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent," a palace statement read. "Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family."

"The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s life-long devotion to all the organizations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people," the statement continued.

The Duchess of Kent was considered one of the most glamorous members of the Royal Family in the 1960s, and like royal cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie or Zara Tindall today, the public was fascinated with Katharine and her fashion. Although Katharine rarely made public appearances in her later years, she made style headlines once again by wearing a purple floral Erdem dress with sneakers to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2018 wedding.

She had a strong passion for charity work, and founded the organization Future Talent to give underpriviliged children the opportunity to pursue music. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the Duchess of a Kent and her work in a statement, praising how she brought "compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did".

The duchess shared three children with the Duke of Kent: George, Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor and Lord Nicholas Windsor. Among her grandchildren include Lady Amelia Windsor, who was once called the most beautiful member of the Royal Family.

In 2005, the Duchess of Kent opened up to BBC Radio 3 about her life as a secret teacher. "Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed. There was no publicity about it at all—it just seemed to work,” she said, via The Times.

"We would send new dishes up to the late Queen for her approval, and she would either accept or reject them," he said. "We also shared recipes with William and Harry’s nannies. Everyone was eager to broaden their palates and try different foods, but The Queen tended to prefer sticking with familiar favorites."

McGrady admitted that getting Queen Elizabeth to try something new "was always a challenge," adding, "If I had suggested something like kangaroo, I’m pretty sure she would have thrown the menu book at me!"

McGrady, who now lives in Texas and runs his own catering company, Eating Royally, shared some of the other items that were off-limits."When I worked for the family, garlic and strong onions were a big no-no," he said. "The late Queen came from the Victorian era, when garlic was anti-social because of the strong smell. Prince Philip, however, would have lots of garlic on his food. He didn’t care!"

The former royal chef also addressed the longstanding rumor that Queen Elizabeth avoided seafood because of the risk of food poisoning. "The idea that The Queen didn’t eat seafood while traveling isn’t true. We regularly cooked scallops and shrimp for her," he revealed.

When it came to Prince William and Prince Harry, McGrady said that their nannies typically selected meals for the princes. "It was amusing when they insisted the boys wanted fillet steak for dinner, even though the kitchen staff suspected it was really the nanny’s preference more than theirs," he said. As for what they really wanted to eat, McGrady said William and Harry enjoyed "American classics" like "burgers, fries, sticky ribs and barbecue."

The Royal Foundation's 2024 annual report, released in August, recapped the charitable efforts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, including programs like Prince William's Homewards homelessness initiative and Princess Kate's Centre for Early Childhood. The report also gave a look at what the foundation has on tap for 2025, including the first confirmation that the Princess of Wales will hold one of her most-anticipated annual events.

"Finally, to close 2025, the 'Together at Christmas' [concert] will once again aim to bring together communities across the UK to celebrate people who have gone out of their way to help others with even more impactful local services," the annual report reads. The Princess of Wales has been hosting the festive carol concert since 2021, and each year, the event highlights the work of inspirational people and organizations across Britain.

In 2024, the princess wore a Christmassy red Alexander McQueen coat with a black bow, joining Prince William, all three of her kids and numerous other members of the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey. Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, brother James Middleton and sister Pippa Middleton—along with their respective spouses—are also regular attendees at the event.

Per the Royal Foundation's annual report, the 2024 concert—which was televised on Christmas Eve and repeated on Christmas morning—reached an audience of 3.3 million on Britain's ITV. "The service created a moment to reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other," the Royal Foundation notes.

No date has been set for the service just yet, but in 2024, the princess held a planning meeting for the event on September 24 and announced the official date in early November.

Princess Diana was notably wearing an Armani jacket on the day she died in 1997 and often turned to the fashion house for tailored suits and off-duty looks in the '90s. Speaking to WWD after the princess's death, Armani said he'd been approached by Diana to create a dress for an event she'd planned to attend the autumn after she died.

Reflecting on her post-divorce life and fresher approach to fashion, the late designer said, "She seemed to have found that style of her own, strictly controlling any temptation to overdo things, and favoring clean, modern lines that set off her great face and figure in a very up-to-date way."

"That’s what I was trying to emphasize with the dress I just did for her," he added. "It’s worth noting that she chose the design herself, the simplest one in the group of sketches I sent her."

What happened to the dress in question is unclear, but WWD reported that Valentino had also designed an outfit for an upcoming event Diana was due to attend in September 1997.

"She was more aware of herself as a woman—and she was a beautiful woman with a beautiful body," Valentino told the media outlet. "She had escaped the rules of the princess and the clothes a princess was supposed to wear and wanted clothes that were right for the new woman she had become."

While Armani has long been a favorite of A-listers like Demi Moore, Anne Hathaway and Julia Roberts, members of the Royal Family have also embraced his impeccably tailored styles over the years. Princess Kate, for example, wore a red Armani Collezioni skirt suit for a 2017 engagement with Prince William and Prince Harry, while Meghan Markle turned to a black dress by the designer for her 2021 Oprah interview.

Mr. Armani was scheduled to celebrate his company's 50th anniversary this month, and in a statement, the Armani Group wrote, "Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects."

Princess Märtha Louise is the eldest child of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and in 2022, relinquished her official duties to the crown "to create a clearer dividing line between her business activities and her role as a member of the royal family." She confirmed her relationship with Verrett in 2019, and per Netflix, the new documentary "follows the couple as they prepare for their wedding, seek spiritual guidance, and navigate a media storm."

"Marrying into the royal family, it's just very, very surreal," Verrett says in the trailer, sharing that his then-girlfriend "didn't give me any clues on anything" before meeting her parents. "When I met the queen and king, they were just staring at me," he says, explaining that Märtha Louise told him, "just be yourself."

"Because he's a shaman, they say that he's dangerous for the royal family and that I'm brainwashed," Märtha Louise—a self-proclaimed clairvoyant herself—says in the trailer. "A lot of people expected me to be a certain way and live up to what I'm supposed to be, and I don't," she adds.

The documentary will show how the couple navigated their high-profile relationship ahead of their wedding, and in one clip, Shaman Durek discusses the media firestorm surrounding the pair. "The press doesn't like me," he admits. "It's not easy being the first black man marrying into the European royal family and I'm the first."

As for their nuptials, which were attended by members of the Norwegian royal family, Verrett gets straight to the point. "I would like a royal wedding, because I'm going to be a royal," he says in the trailer. His spiritual side certainly played out in the preparations, and at one point Verrett asks "what about the astrologer?" when discussing wedding timings with a team.

In one scene, Verrett confesses that he didn't expect to marry a woman. "She fell in love with me first," he shares. "I was a little apprehensive because I thought maybe I'm going to end up with a man. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if it's a male or a female or it could be another being from another planet."

Tiger King director Rebecca Chaiklin is responsible for the project, and in a statement, she wrote, “When I saw the Vanity Fair article about a princess and a shaman falling in love, it instantly caught my eye. Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek were two completely unexpected, wild, and charismatic characters from totally different worlds, navigating a swirl of controversy and fighting for love. It was a great fish-out-of-water story—and they were so funny. So I just had to convince them (and the spirits) that I was 'lit' enough to be the one to tell their story."

Royal Rebels will premiere on Netflix September 16.

Fans first got a peek at Princess Kate's extra-long blonde hair in photos snapped as the Wales family drove to church at Balmoral last month, and Thursday's event was the first time the royal has been seen in public with her new style. Although her hair screamed summer, Kate leaned into the approaching autumn with her outfit—and her easy fall workwear uniform is one we can all copy.

Per Instagram account Royal British Fashion, the princess wore a past-season green tweed blazer by Ralph Lauren for the engagement. She added a pair of pleated-front trousers and a classic white button-up shirt, finishing off the look with a pair of tan suede loafers by Pretty Ballerinas.

Kate accessorized with Kiki McDonough blue topaz drop earrings and kept her kids close to heart with another accessory, wearing her gold Daniella Draper necklace featuring the initials G, C and L.

Suede shoes might not have been the most ideal of choices for the Princess of Wales, who is patron of the Natural History Museum. At one point, she and Prince William got caught in a heavy rainstorm, grabbing umbrellas as they interacted with kids taking part in the museum's programs to connect with nature.

Thursday marked the first public engagement in some time for the princess, who was last seen at the Wimbledon men's final on July 18. Following the tennis championships, the Wales family enjoyed the summer break with their children, heading on a reported yacht vacation in Greece before spending time with King Charles and Queen Camilla on the Balmoral estate in Scotland.

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"She's a nice girl, she is also a bit of a joker as well, she's got a sense of humor," Harrold told the outlet. "She's pretty easy going, she's just got a little bit about her." Despite Kate's relationship with Prince William, Harrold said that she "never saw herself better than anyone else."

While Harrold was working at The King's country home, Highgrove House, Kate would often come to visit. "When she used to arrive, she'd come in the kitchen and have a catch up with us," Harrold said, referring to the household staff. "She would go into the house, but she'd come in and see us first and then go into the house, which I thought was quite nice," he added. "She's very down to earth, is what I'm trying to say, and that's what I liked about her."

Harrold even served a special Valentine's Day dinner to William and Kate after their 2007 breakup. "Even though it was a romantic dinner for them, they very much interacted with me throughout," he recalled. "Before, they weren’t [really] holding hands—it was very much William’s friend. After that, when they got back together, it absolutely changed, and it was very much them as a couple."

"It's just so weird to see them getting old, I remember when they were these late teenagers, early twenties, now they're like me in their forties," Harrold admitted, adding, "So, it's so weird to see so many changes, it's amazing."

As for the future Queen, he said Princess Kate is exactly like one would expect. "She's very sweet, she's very easy going. What you see is what you get with her, she has a lovely way about her."

The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life in Royal Service is available for pre-order in the United States and will be released on September 23; the title is currently available for purchase in the U.K.

This will be a second wedding for both Sperling, who shares a daughter with her ex-husband, and Phillips, who co-parents daughters Savannah, 15, and Isla, 13, with ex-wife Autumn Kelly. The celebrations will likely be a small affair—unlike the royal wedding Phillips and Kelly had at St George's Chapel in 2008—but it's still possible that the future Mrs. Phillips will wear a tiara, as historian Jessica Storoschuk tells Marie Claire.

"Although it is a second marriage for both Peter and Harriet, Princess Anne will likely offer a tiara for Harriet to wear," the An Historian Around Town blogger says. As for a potential design, Storoschuk points out that the Princess Royal has several options to lend out, but one tiara is a definite pass.

"She loaned Autumn the Diamond Festoon Tiara for the couple's 2008 wedding, so it is unlikely that she would offer the same again," the royal historian shares. "As her Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara is currently on display at the V&A in the Cartier exhibition, she very well may offer Princess Andrew's Meander Tiara, a versatile diamond piece."

The Meander Tiara originally belonged to Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who was married to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. It's a favorite style of Princess Anne's, and notably she leant it to her only daughter, Zara Phillips, when she married Mike Tindall in 2011.

However, Sperling might choice to go without a diamond headpiece and instead wear an elegant hat like Queen Camilla did for her 2005 wedding to King Charles—an occasion that was a second marriage for both parties. Princess Anne also chose not to wear a tiara for her second wedding in 1992, so it's a distinct possibility Harriet could follow in her future mother-in-law's footsteps—although Storoschuk notes that the Princess Royal would likely give Sperling the option either way.

Harrold—whose memoir, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life in Royal Service, launched in the U.K. last week—opened up to GB News at his recent book release party in London. "It’s good that they’ve been so open about it," the former butler said of The King's cancer battle. "That’s really unusual."

"William is stepping up, and Kate and Camilla are stepping up, which is good," he added. "William stepping up is important because one day that will be his role." Harrold compared the situation to Queen Elizabeth and her father, King George VI, who died of cancer in 1952.

The late Queen "had the opportunity to stand in for him on many occasions and develop the role, so she knew what was expected," Harrold said, pointing out that it was integral to the monarchy that William had the same type of learning opportunities with his father.

"It’s important that William does the same because what you don’t want, God forbid, is that something happens to the King, and William’s going, 'What do I do?' So it is good that he’s getting the experience," Harrold continued.

The Prince of Wales has stepped in for The King a number of times in the past year, taking on a more statesman-like role as he represented the Royal Family alongside world leaders during the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and during the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican. And in June, Prince William delivered an impassioned speech about protecting oceans during the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco—a message his environmentally conscious father surely approved.

Prince George, 12, is starting his final year at Lambrook School before heading off to secondary school next September. Lambrook is located 15 minutes away from the family's Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage, and educates children from preschool age up through year eight, which George started on Wednesday. In 2026, the future King will make his way to a new school—and exactly where that will be has been a highly debated topic in the past year.

Sending George, Charlotte and Louis to a co-educational school is an unusual move for the Royal Family, as author Sally Bedell Smith recently told People. "That chimes with William wanting to do things in a more modern way, putting all three children in the same school," she said. "It’s a new direction—groundbreaking for the royal family."

It's been suggested that the Prince and Princess of Wales would like to keep their children together for secondary school, too. The Wales family is said to have visited Kate's alma mater, Marlborough College, and in January, the Mail on Sunday reported that all three kids were set to attend the co-ed school in Wiltshire, England.

"Parents have been talking about nothing else and discussions have really ramped up in recent weeks but security is obviously a massive consideration," an insider told the publication. If he does attend Marlborough, Prince George will become the first future monarch to attend a co-educational secondary school. However, per multiple royal sources, it's more likely Prince George will end up splitting from his siblings and heading to all-boys prep school Eton College in the future.

In June, the Mail on Sunday changed gears, reporting that Eton—where Prince William and Prince Harry were educated—is now the reported choice for Prince George. A source told the outlet, "all roads lead to Eton," adding that after the Waleses visited the school, the air around Eton "was like, 'I know something and the people at Eton know something, but I'm not going to tell you.'"

"I had had a chance to get to know her, and in doing so began to understand the kind of person she was," Arbiter wrote, adding, "In a word, she was complicated." He went on to explain that "she was fine" when life operated as normally and "things were going her way."

However, Arbiter continued that she would give people the silent treatment if something happened that she didn't like. "If anything out of the ordinary occurred—anything that conflicted with what she wanted to do, and in her way—then you were frozen out and left to stew until she decided to invite you back into the fold," he wrote.

As for these "freezes," the former palace press secretary said they "could last days or even weeks, and no-one was immune." Arbiter told a story of one such incident when he suggested that holding a reception for the England football team wasn't a good idea since they had "lost their recent game." Diana was keen to hold the event, and after breaking the news to the princess that it "won't work," he "didn't hear from Diana again for the next two weeks."

Arbiter wrote that he "eventually" realized "not to take the freezes personally," but admitted it was more difficult when he was just getting started in his role. However, the royal expert noted that despite her sometimes frosty behavior, Princess Diana was "engaging" and "fun to be with." He recalls watching Diana on her solo visit to NYC in 1989, writing how the princess "was a true professional—warm, approachable and incredibly charismatic."

"It was as if she'd been doing it all her life," he wrote of her ability to charm the public.

The Kansas City Chiefs player is the eighth cousin 11 times removed of Britain's King George I, while Swift is the eighth cousin 11 times removed of King Louis XIV of France. Royal expert and researcher Naama Lanski of MyHeritage.com tells Marie Claire that the discovery "means that both share common ancestors with those monarchs many generations back."

She explains, "The '11 times removed' indicates that Swift and Kelce are several generations further down the family tree than the kings, but importantly, both monarchs lived in the same generation, just as Swift and Kelce do today." Even though it seems like a "distant" connection, Lanski adds, "these are direct bloodlines."

The parallels between the historic royals and two of today's biggest stars are striking. Lanski notes, "Louis XIV, the 'Sun King,' shaped European culture as much as politics. He built the magnificent Palace of Versailles, famous for its dazzling celebrations, and he was passionate about music, even playing the guitar. George I, by contrast, ushered in the era of constitutional monarchy in Britain, changing the balance of power and leaving a different legacy."

She adds that "in a similar way, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's impact goes far beyond music and sport," noting how, like Louis XIV, the "Shake It Off" singer "has reshaped global pop culture through her music and storytelling." Lanski continues that Swift and Kelce "carry immense cultural weight—so much so that fans call them the 'U.S. royal couple.'"

Swift and Kelce announced their engagement on August 26 in a joint Instagram post, writing, "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨." The photos instantly racked up millions of likes—35 million at last count—and countless congratulatory messages, including everyone from the Disney Store to Princess Kate and Meghan Markle (who both liked the post).

Reflecting on why fans are so interested in Travis and Taylor's love story, Lanski says, "On the public level, celebrities like Swift and Kelce are adored almost like monarchs themselves—modern cultural royalty whose every move captivates millions. On the personal level, people everywhere long to feel part of something bigger than themselves: a grand story, a puzzle made up of countless pieces, a heritage that gives them a place in the big picture of human history."

Smith, author of Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, said, "I think Sophie—and Edward—have been careful to prepare their children for a life outside the working Royal Family." Lady Louise is currently entering her final year at the University of St Andrews, where she studies English, while the Earl of Wessex attends all-boys boarding school Radley College in Oxfordshire.

As for King Charles or the future King William asking Lady Louise and her brother to jump in and help with royal duties, Smith said Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie would not expect their children to follow in their footsteps. "I am confident that there will not be any pressure on Louise and James," he told the media outlet.

While the Earl of Wessex joined his family to walk to church on Christmas Day last year and attended King Charles and Queen Camilla's 2023 coronation, he's rarely seen at public events. Meanwhile, Louise is also busy with her studies, but makes slightly more appearances, having joined her parents on the balcony for Trooping the Colour in 2024.

Reflecting on what Lady Louise's future career might be, Smith said, "Louise is the only young woman of her age in the Royal Family, and I am sure she will be a great success at whatever she decides to do. It’s too soon to speculate, but that won’t stop us all doing so."

One thing we do know about the 21-year-old is that she's a talented carriage driver, a passion she inherited from her late grandfather, Prince Philip. Lady Louise was seen with her rumored university boyfriend, Felix da Silva-Clamp, at the National Carriage Driving Championships in Essex, England, on August 30.

According to Hello!, a source said that the St Andrews student was "cheering and clapping from the sidelines" for Louise and he "did a fist pump as she went through the water." The outlet added that the "protective" friend also joined Lady Louise for a "nice lunch" ahead of her competition.

The Duchess of Sussex—who shares kids Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, with Prince Harry—gives viewers a look at some of her kid-friendly cooking and crafting projects on season two. But now that vacations have come to an end, she's turning her creative cooking to school days and how to extend that summer magic into September.

Below, check out the Duchess of Sussex's favorite back-to-school tips, as shared with Marie Claire.

Never Underestimate the Value of a Handwritten Note

"Scribble something for your little one and tuck it in their lunchbox—a joke, a little poem, your own version of Mad Libs, or just a sentence telling your child what your favorite thing about them is or how much you love them," the duchess shares.

"Who doesn’t appreciate being thought of? And that validation from a parent when they’re going back into school may be just the boost your child needs, whether in pre-K or as a teen," she adds. The Duchess of Sussex, who often shows off her signature calligraphy in With Love, Meghan, continues, "If it’s in your handwriting, even better. Just take one minute to do it; it can go such a long way!"

Backpack Surprise

"Nestle a sweet something (not suggesting candy) into their backpack on the first Friday back to school," the Duchess of Sussex says. "The first week can have a lot of big feelings, and a little nod to let them know you see them is so special." She suggests slipping in "a tiny pack of stickers, a funny photo of your family, or an unexpected surprise like something you used to find in a Cracker Jack box."

"It doesn’t have to cost much at all, just a little trinket to celebrate the first week, tucked in as a surprise," she adds. "Love is in the details."

Lunchboxes

Meghan shares that Archie and Lili enjoy switching up their lunches for breakfast treats from time to time. "If your kids are like mine, they love 'breakfast for dinner,' just as I did when I was young," she says. "Swap out a sandwich for waffles or pancakes (you can use the frozen ones), a mini packet or scoop of jam, some bacon, and hard-boiled eggs with salt."

The duchess, who uses her As ever flower sprinkles liberally throughout her Netflix show, continues, "You can have fun with this and decorate the lunchboxes in unique ways every day, but if there’s no time, just the novelty of breakfast for lunch can sometimes be a welcome win! And when in doubt, a few flower sprinkles are fun too!"

Rose and Thorn

Wrapping up her tips, Meghan suggests sharing both the highs and lows of the school day. "It’s a classic, but sometimes we forget about this easy prompt," she says. "Taking the time at the end of the day to connect as a family and talk about your ‘rose’ and ‘thorn’ at dinner can be a wonderful way to bring everyone closer. You can even do this on the car ride home after the school day is over."

"Your rose is a highlight of your day, and your thorn is something that maybe didn’t feel so good or that hurt a little bit," the duchess continues. "Sharing both is a great opportunity to talk about your days together. It’s also better than the one-word answer you can get if you just ask, '"How was your day?'"

However, she shares that Archie and Lilibet have a new go-to phrase to describe their days, adding, "Truth be told, our children have now started saying, 'My day was just a blast!' and that makes us smile to no end!"

Crown Princess Victoria—who is next in line to the Swedish throne—and husband Prince Daniel welcomed a Cavapoo named Rio into their family in 2020. The curly pup is seen in a number of snapshots in their summer video, with Princess Estelle looking all grown up as she cradles Rio in two beautiful new portraits. The teenage princess wears an ivory sweater in one picture as she holds her dog, and in another close-up shot, she's dressed in a tan hoodie while Rio looks right into the camera.

The photogenic dog, who made his Instagram debut in May 2020, also poses with Prince Oscar in another image from the family's summer holiday. The Reel also features plenty of peeks at the idyllic Swedish countryside, including a photo of Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar posing by a lake and a sweet sunset selfie of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.

The crown princess and her family typically spend their summer break at Solliden Palace, a retreat located on the island of Öland, and their Reel showed the family enjoying plenty of quality time outdoors.

On that note, Crown Princess Victoria has announced her plan to visit every national park in Sweden in a recent Instagram post. On August 26, the palace shared a photo of the future queen walking in a forest, writing, "Yesterday, the Crown Princess walked in the Bearland National Park, which is located in the Åsele patchland. There are 31 national parks in Sweden and the Crown Princess plans to visit them all."

As for Princess Estelle, she was last seen publicly on July 14 when she joined her family to celebrate mom Crown Princess Victoria's 48th birthday at Solliden Palace. The 13-year-old future queen is a student at Campus Manilla on Royal Djurgården in Stockholm, and like Britain's Prince George, she doesn't carry out official royal duties just yet, with her parents allowing Estelle to live as normal of a childhood as possible.

According to Valentine Low's upcoming title, Power and the Palace: The Inside Story of the Monarchy and 10 Downing Street, then-prime minister David Cameron set out to change the law when Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011 and discussed the matter with Australia's prime minister at the time. "According to a government source, he said to Gillard: 'William and Kate are getting married, there’s going to be kids, shall we sort this out?'" the book claims (via the Telegraph).

Low wrote, "Crucially, the palace was not against it. But they said that the government had to ensure the backing of the other 15 realms," meaning the 15 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations. A source told the journalist, "I always thought that the signals from Buckingham Palace were that if it was the wish of the duly elected prime minister of the day, and the realms can be sorted out, we will not stand in its way."

However, the insider added that while Queen Elizabeth accepted the reform, she didn't particularly push for it, either. "I didn’t get the sense there was any great enthusiasm from the palace and The Queen herself," the source told Low.

Neither King Charles (who was Prince of Wales at the time) nor Prince William were consulted on the matter, per the book, although The King is said to have supported the law change "in principle." Reportedly, Buckingham Palace instructed the government that there was "absolutely no need" to involve Charles or William in the matter, and King Charles then "ambushed" the Cabinet Office with "serious concerns" about the act.

Of course, 12-year-old Prince George is the first-born child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, but if Princess Charlotte had been born in 2013 and George was born later, he would not have taken her place in the line of succession, thanks to the law change. While the Succession to the Crown Act didn't apply in the case of Prince George, the new rule will ensure that if he has a first-born daughter, she'll become Queen one day—even if she has a younger brother.

While promoting his new biography Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, author Sean Smith discussed the moment that changed everything between Duchess Sophie and Princess Diana. "One mistake Sophie did make was having the same Diana-style blonde bob, which didn't suit her as well as it did the princess," Smith told GB News. "Inevitably, it would lead to superficial comparisons."

Smith continued, "When she saw Sophie approaching at some function, Diana would be heard to mutter, 'Oh look, here comes my double.'"

The difficult familial relationship between Sophie and Diana never changed, and there was "no love lost," according to Smith. "Sophie did not attend Diana's funeral in September 1997, reportedly deciding that she looked too like the princess from a distance and that would be upsetting to the vast crowd," Smith told GB News.

Back in July, Smith discussed the topic during an appearance on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat—Book Club. "I mean, it didn't help that the vogue, fashionable hairstyle of the time was identical," Smith said during his appearance. "They both had it. And the bob or whatever it was called in those days."

The two women were also from very different backgrounds. "Diana grew up within the ranks of the Royal Family, she was so young, whereas Sophie had, to a certain extent, had a life before she walked down the aisle at St George's [Chapel]," Smith explained.

According to the Daily Mail, Queen Camilla's attendance at the Queen Mother's funeral on April 9, 2002, was described as a "watershed moment" by editor Richard Kay. Per the outlet, Camilla had "beforehand...watched the royals only from the sidelines." As a result, her attendance at such an important royal event spoke volumes about her growing acceptance within the family.

In the new biography Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, author Sean Smith also noted, "The presence of Camilla Parker Bowles was of wider interest at the time."

Smith elaborated, "[Camilla] had spent half an hour with The Queen and Charles at the palace at which it was decided this was the right time for her to be absorbed into things."

The royal biographer continued, "The private conversation was only the second meeting between the two women—The Queen had been reluctant to acknowledge Camilla officially but had agreed to be seated at the same table for the dinner at Highgrove that celebrated the 60th birthday of the exiled King Constantine I of Greece. That had been a huge step forward and this was another."

Since then, Queen Camilla has taken on a leading role within the Royal Family, and she regularly supports her husband in his role as king, making her invaluable.

As reported by GB News, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond discussed the importance of Kate and William's move to Forest Lodge. "William is focused on creating a stable and private family life: the kind he never had when he was growing up," Bond explained. "And so he wants to keep his family firmly rooted."

Noting that William's latest move is in keeping with his approach to royal life, Bond told the outlet, "He's already defined the way he wants to do things: he calls it royalty with a small 'r.'" The royal expert continued, "I think a 'forever' home at Forest Lodge is in keeping with that philosophy."

Addressing rumors that Prince William doesn't want to live at Buckingham Palace, even when he's king, Bond told the publication, "I don't think William is going to bat an eyelid about breaking certain royal traditions." The royal expert continued, "He doesn't want to live in a palace or a castle and he has made up his mind to do things differently."

As for why William's decision to avoid Buckingham Palace is so significant, Bond explained, "Living in a house—albeit a pretty big house as Forest Lodge is—will give his family a much more normal life, and that, I'm sure, is going to stand them in good stead."

It appears as though the Prince of Wales will always endeavor to put his family first, even when he's on the throne.

In the new book Power and the Palace: The Inside Story of the Monarchy and 10 Downing Street, royal expert Valentine Low recounted the terrifying ordeal experienced by Camilla when she was younger. Former prime minister Boris Johnson's communications director, Guto Harri, shared the revelation with Low, after Queen Camilla discussed the subject during a meeting at Clarence House.

"[The] serious conversation they had was about her being the victim of an attempted sexual assault when she was a schoolgirl," Low wrote, via The Sunday Times. "She was on a train going to Paddington—she was about 16, 17—and some guy was moving his hand further and further."

Low continued, "At that point Johnson had asked what happened next. She replied: 'I did what my mother taught me to. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel.'"

Johnson's communications director told the royal biographer, "She was self-possessed enough when they arrived at Paddington to jump off the train, find a guy in uniform and say, 'That man just attacked me', and he was arrested.'"

Harri shared that Queen Camilla had been meeting with Johnson to discuss the opening of three new rape crisis centers in London. "I think she formally opened two out of three of them," Harri told the royal author. "Nobody asked why the interest, why the commitment. But that's what it went back to."

It would appear as though Queen Camilla's own devastating experience as a teenager might have influenced her dedication to support women's rights throughout her royal career.

Royal biographer Sean Smith, author of Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, discussed the one person who helps to bring Princess Kate and Queen Camilla together. "The question of age is [Duchess] Sophie's biggest asset for the Royal Family moving forward," Smith told GB News. "At 60, she is placed almost exactly in the middle of Kate and both Anne and Camilla—she bridges the gap between the generations."

Elaborating on why the Duchess of Edinburgh is the perfect person to unite different generations within the Royal Family, Smith told the outlet, "I love this quote from her: 'We are fabulous in our forties, and we are even more fabulous in our fifties, sixties, and seventies, and we need to celebrate that and keep opportunities going for women.'"

Per GB News, "Smith described how Sophie's maturity and experience allow her to play a unique role at the center of the family, acting as a confidante for Kate while also standing shoulder to shoulder with The Queen and Princess Royal."

Smith also commented on the news regarding Princess Kate's move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge in Windsor. Noting that Kate will live even closer to her "royal sister" Duchess Sophie in the new home, Smith told GB News, "They remain the best of friends."

The biographer continued, "They have always been two middle-class girls from the country battling their way through the etiquette and traditions of the Royal Family."

As for what might change when Princess Kate moves, Smith told the outlet, "They do not live in each other's pockets. Kate has three young children to occupy her attention, but [their] new home, Forest Lodge, is little more than a 10-minute drive from Bagshot Park, so Sophie is near to help and support when she can."

"Flowers we cut this morning from Althorp's gardens for the Island," Charles captioned a photo featuring a bunch of pink and white flowers. "Always an impossible day." A second photo in the carousel showed the island on which Diana is buried; the late royal's grave is only accessible to close family members via rowboat.

Charles has spoken openly about the lasting impact his sister had on people all over the world. "Even when I was in makeup just now, somebody came up almost crying saying how much she meant to them," he told Good Morning Britain in October 2024. "Every day people tell me what an inspiration she was, how much they miss her, what they did the day she died. It's extraordinary."

Earl Spencer continued, "I'm sure pretty much everyone watching this program has had trauma in their family at some point...like everyone else, you sort of get used to it without it ever going away."

Princess Diana's brother previously revealed why her family decided to bury her in the remote location at Althorp. "There was such a whipped-up feeling of emotion everywhere that I was very worried about where we could safely bury her," he explained to the BBC.

Elaborating on the decision to make a small island his sister's final resting place, Charles wrote in his book, Althorp: The Story of an English House (via Tatler), "Its remoteness is entirely intentional...[The lake is] a buffer against the interventions of the insane and ghoulish, the thick mud presenting a further line of defense."

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond spoke to the Mirror about Prince Harry's planned meetings with several members of the Royal Family. "Harry may well see some of his cousins—such as Eugenie or Beatrice—but I don't think there's any likelihood of a meeting with William or Catherine," Bond claimed. "The rift between the brothers remains too deep and William has far too much going on in his life."

Discussing the future, Bond told the outlet, "I would never say never in a family dispute. As the years roll by, it may be that William will find a way to reconcile with Harry. But that day—if it ever comes, and it may not—is not any time soon."

As for Harry's rumored reunion with his dad, King Charles, Bond told the outlet, "I will say that a meeting between Harry and his father is long overdue. I have always thought that it is the parent's role to be the bigger person in any family row: you just have to open your arms and say to your child—albeit a grown-up child—'Come here you silly so-and-so, and give me a hug.'"

Now that the Duke of Sussex is planning to return to the U.K. for the WellChild Awards on September 8, it seems like the perfect time to visit royal relatives. "Given that we know that the communications teams from each side have met fairly recently and that therefore an avenue of communication is open, a meeting when Harry is here for the WellChild Awards could hopefully happen," Bond explained.

Royal biographer Sean Smith spoke to GB News about the Princess of Wales's new home, and what it meant for her friendship with her "royal sister," Duchess Sophie. "They remain the best of friends," Smith explained. "They have always been two middle-class girls from the country battling their way through the etiquette and traditions of the Royal Family."

Smith continued, "They do not live in each other's pockets. Kate has three young children to occupy her attention, but [their] new home, Forest Lodge, is little more than a 10-minute drive from Bagshot Park, so Sophie is near to help and support when she can."

Elaborating on why Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie are so close, Smith told the outlet, "We first became properly aware of their friendship when they traveled together down the course at Royal Ascot in June 2017 in an open-topped carriage." He continued, "Sophie was attempting to change places when she fell on top of Kate, reducing both women to a shriek of giggles—it was a truly happy moment."

Smith continued, "She was there to support Kate on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall in November 2024, a couple of months after the princess announced she had finished chemotherapy treatment." According to Smith, "Sophie placed a comforting hand on [Kate's] back—it was a truly memorable moment."

Once Princess Kate has moved to Forest Lodge, her proximity to Duchess Sophie will likely be incredibly positive.

Darren McGrady previously worked as a royal chef for the Royal Family, and he became well-versed in the late Queen's likes and dislikes. Speaking to Sydney's KIIS 106.5FM, via the Daily Mail, McGrady claimed that the former monarch was very "disciplined" when it came to food. However, she reportedly adored eating croque monsieurs, which McGrady called a "fancy version" of a toasted cheese sandwich. As noted by Hello! magazine, a croque monsieur is usually made with "melted Gruyère, ham, and often with béchamel sauce."

Furthermore, Elizabeth reportedly loved "fish and chips coated with panko breadcrumbs instead of traditional batter," but hated "strong flavors like garlic and onion," according to McGrady (via the Daily Mail). The publication also noted, "If The Queen dislikes a dish, she leaves a message in her diary to ensure it is never served again."

As for why the former monarch's beloved sandwich has remained so popular, nutritionist Charlotte Faure Green told Hello! magazine, "A croque monsieur takes a simple ham and cheese toastie and puts it into a fur coat. You get crisp bread, savory ham, and melty cheese in every nibble, plus béchamel and extra melted cheese on top. There's a reason it has stood the test of time as a Parisian bistro favourite."

While Queen Elizabeth was able to order any food she wished, it seems that she had a select number of favorite items she ate again and again.

Speaking to GB News on behalf of Heart Bingo, former royal butler Grant Harrold explained, "The Royal Family are moving the 'hub' of monarchy to Windsor. That's my gut feeling." Harrold continued, "The King hasn't moved into Buckingham Palace, despite a lot of the work being completed."

Elaborating on Charles's decision to avoid Buckingham Palace, Harrold told the outlet, "He still lives at Clarence House and spends a lot of time at Highgrove and Windsor." He continued, "Windsor has become the essence of the monarchy, and it is the spiritual home. It's steeped in history for the Royal Family, so it does make sense to make it the base."

However, royal commentator Hugo Vickers seemingly disagrees with Grant Harrold's suggestion, telling Page Six, "[Kate and William] will have to have a London base." Vickers continued, "The King has to be somewhere convenient to the center of government. They can't expect ministers to come to Windsor. I am sure William and Catherine will have to use Buckingham Palace as their London base and also for ceremonial duties."

Royal biographer and expert Robert Lacey previously told The Telegraph of Buckingham Palace. "I don't think it was ever loved." He continued, "If you read what kings have said in their diaries, it was always seen as an office. I think, actually, as an office it has been very successful. As a ceremonial figurehead for the Royal Family, as the place that visitors identify with, it's been a great success."

Describing being woken up to a call that Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed had been involved in a fatal car crash in Paris, Arbiter said that despite his responsibilities, he "could hardly bear to watch" the news coverage. "I was horrified, and gripped by an overwhelming sense of loss," he wrote.

Arbiter described the early hours of the morning when palace officials realized there were no funeral plans in place for the princess, with Arbiter writing, "she was still so young that perhaps it didn't seem like a priority." However, another problem quickly presented itself. Because she was divorced from the future King Charles, Diana "was, in theory, no longer considered a member of the Royal Family," Arbiter added.

With confusion abounding, he explained that "the number one priority was deciding exactly what type of funeral Diana should have." It turns out this decision was not down to Queen Elizabeth, but to Diana's brother, Charles, Earl Spencer. Writing that because Diana was "a private citizen," Arbiter explained that she was "entitled to" a funeral "without any input from the Royal Household."

"By 10 a.m. we had a verdict from the Earl," he wrote. "Though technically not a royal matter, he had decided that as the mother of a future king, and a globally popular public figure, his sister should have a royal funeral."

Arbiter also shared his candid thoughts on Earl Spencer's "impassioned speech" at the funeral, during which Spencer condemned the press for "hunting" his sister. "She needed no royal title to generate her brand of magic," Spencer also said during the eulogy, referring to how her "HRH" title was taken away when she divorced Prince Charles in 1996.

The former palace press secretary called the "outrageous" speech a "verbal attack on both the media, and very pointedly, the Royal Family," writing that he thought the move "felt unforgivable on many fronts." Arbiter added, "It was neither the time nor the place for such action, especially given that Diana's children were present."