New Idea Royals 2410

Poring over all the pictures of Harry, it’s hard not to get a little emotional: the sweet, happy red-haired boy was so close to his family, it’s hard to believe how isolated the prince has become. Big birthdays always make us look inwards – and while they’re often a time to celebrate all the great things in our lives, they can also shine a harsh light on the aspects of our lives that we wish were different. With two beautiful children and a supportive wife, Harry has a lot to be grateful for as he turns 40 – but as he blows out the candles on his birthday cake, there will be some very significant people missing... his dad, big brother, niece and nephews. Will this lonely birthday encourage Harry…

‘A WONDERFUL DAY AT THE MEY GAMES’ King Charles braved the wet Scottish weather to attend the Mey Highland Games, held in the village of John O’Groats in the far north of Scotland. Dressed in a kilt paired with a cream vest and blazer, the King awarded the tug of war trophy to the winning team, and looked especially delighted by a group of tartan-skirted young dancers. The annual event, which celebrates the culture and talent of the North Highlands, was first held for the Queen Mother’s 70th birthday in 1970 – and King Charles’ grandmother enjoyed it so much she requested that it become an annual gathering. The King, who is chieftain of the games, also watched traditional Highland sports including the hammer throw, sheaf toss and stone put.…

Milestone birthdays are always cause for reflection – and for Prince Harry, his 40th birthday is more momentous than most, coming as it does with a huge family inheritance windfall. But having turned his back on royal duties at a time when other members of his family have shouldered added burdens, his family – and in particular, his estranged brother Prince William – must be furious about Harry cashing in on his royal inheritance while shirking his royal responsibilities. For Harry, reflection and introspection were a necessary part of therapy as he tried to make sense of his mother’s death as a young boy. But then introspection – and and all the anger it prompted – became a habit. The interview with Oprah, the Netflix series, and his memoir Spare…

‘I’ve got a hell of a lot of my mum in me.’ CHILDHOOD 1 Harry was born on 15 September 1984, to Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was given the full name Henry Charles Albert David, and at birth was third in line to the throne. 2 He was christened three months later at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where he would later be married. One notable absence was Princess Anne and then-husband Captain Mark Phillips, who did not attend Harry’s christening because they had organised a hunting party at their Gloucestershire estate. 3 One of his godparents is artist Bryan Organ, who painted one of the few official portraits ever of Diana. 4 His first overseas tour was with his parents to Italy in 1985 at…

Out and about…

WHAT ARE YOU LIKE FIRST THING? When I wake up [at Royal Lodge, Windsor] I go into my bathroom, lock the door and sit quietly on the floor for about 40 minutes. Just me, completely silent. It’s a meditation moment. Then I have a bath. I have many different oils because after so many operations following my skin and breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, my skin is very thin and I need to use lots of moisturiser. GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF CANCER, HAVE YOU SUPPORTED KING CHARLES OR CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES? The key is not to be in anyone’s face. Be there for them with notes of support – I’ve been very supportive, in the way they are to me. WHAT ARE THE BEST & WORST THINGS ABOUT GETTING…