Defiant King Charles' 'power move' on balcony 'sends message to Prince Harry'
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King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family's appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to witness the Red Arrows' aerial display was a strong show of unity that highlighted The Firm's enduring resilience, according to an expert.
Body language guru Judi James commented on the monarch's assurance as he joined other high-ranking royals in greeting the multitude from the palace's vantage point during yesterday's festivities. The spectacular Red Arrows performance was part of the ongoing tributes honouring the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day during the Second World War.
This Royal gesture unfolded mere hours after Prince Harry had delivered fresh criticism directed at King Charles in yet another explosive televised discourse, ensuing speculation around his intent at family peace overtures, which some commentators labelled of "poor taste".
Nonetheless, King Charles appeared undeterred by the latest familial tension, with Ms James observing his poise during the flypast, highlighting: "Royal balcony moments always show the Firm at their highest status best, standing in a position of ultimate power as a strong family unit while looking down on the massed crowds of their subjects, all cheering wildly to show their support."
Furthermore, Ms James noted: "So, the symbolism of this appearance could hardly have been more timely given the latest verbal pelting to have come from Montecito. This confident, stoic appearance suggested high levels of the kind of resilience that the Royal Family are always known for," reports the Mirror.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in a united family appearance. Buckingham Palace is keenly anticipating a celebration without any distractions, honouring "nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries," as per sources.
Commentator Ms James highlighted the Royal Family's display of togetherness, remarking on the interactions observed during the event: "During one moment on the balcony Princess Anne, who had been chatting to her brother in a strong display of unity during the fly-past, seemed to notice that Charles was waving to go indoors before the anthem had been played."
She added, watching their closeness: "Placing a hand out to pat him affectionately on the back, she seemed to warn him so he could turn and get into position. It was a gesture that suggested Anne is quietly keeping an eye on her brother."
Surprising observers, another instance saw young Prince Louis attentively minding his elder sibling at the opposite end of the balcony: "Another sibling who was surprisingly keep an eye on their brother at the other end of the balcony was, surprisingly, Louis. When the anthem was played, he stood to attention like his sister, but he suddenly turned to check out his older brother George behind him. "George was caught with his hands still clasped in front of his body and, in a complete turn-around, it was the normally playful Louis who seemed to quickly correct him before turning back."
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Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
What most people get wrong about Germany (and the Germans)
'Don't mention the war!' It's 80 years since the end of the Second World War, and the number of brave veterans keeps on shrinking – but for a great many Britons (including me), our idea of Germany remains rooted in the event. For anyone who grew up in post-war Britain, that's hardly surprising. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the war dominated every aspect of our culture – from TV to cinema, from comic books to playground games. Naturally, I was always eager to join in these wargames, and always on the British side. I never told a soul that my father had been born in Germany during the war and had come to Britain as a boy, with a new surname. As a journalist since the early Nineties, I've reported from all over Germany, and I've discovered a very different country from the British image I grew up with. I've also seen how that image has begun to change. How did the cultural backdrop of my youth shape British attitudes towards Germany? I reckon it cut both ways. On the one hand, a generation of Britons grew up intrigued (even morbidly obsessed) with Germany – albeit principally the Germany of 1933 to 1945. On the other hand, it fostered lots of myths and preconceptions about the Germans – some of them merely simplistic, others downright crude. That was perfectly understandable. A lot of my classmates had lost relatives during the war. Under-reported in the Fifties and Sixties, in the Seventies of my youth, the horror of the Holocaust was breaking news. If, like me, you were raised on comics like Warlord and films like Where Eagles Dare, you were bound to be intrigued by Germany – but you were highly unlikely to regard it as a conventional holiday destination. My parents never took me there. It was the last thing they felt like doing. But since I've had children of my own, that's all changed. Eager to show them the places I've reported from, I've taken them on countless holidays to Germany, and we've had some great times there. Yet we always knew it was an eccentric choice, and when friends asked us where we were going on our holidays we were often greeted with an awkward silence. Times are changing, however. Last year, Germany received over 85 million overnight stays from foreign visitors, over 10 per cent more than 2023. Britain was the 4th biggest market, accounting for over 5 million. The biggest change has been generational. Time is a great healer, and for my children, now in their twenties, Germany is no longer primarily associated with the war. They're not encumbered by the crude generalisations I grew up with. I understand why some Britons are reluctant to go on holiday to Germany. But to set the record straight, here are some of the most familiar stereotypes about Germany – and some surprising facts. 'Germany is expensive' Before the Germans ditched their beloved Deutschmark, Germany used to be a costly place for British travellers, but since they adopted the Euro prices have levelled out. If you're used to holidaying in Britain you'll be pleasantly surprised. Even with our awful exchange rate, accommodation, eating out and public transport are all noticeably cheaper than they are in the UK. Train tickets and supermarket goods are especially good value. Rooms and meals are even cheaper in rural areas, especially in the east. Even in the cheapest places you can be sure of decent standards, which means you can travel on a tight budget and still have a nice time. Cash is still widely used for all but the biggest transactions, which helps keep prices down. 'German food is terrible' German food has always had a bad reputation in Britain, and even as an ardent Teutonophile (a person fond of German culture) I have to admit that reputation isn't entirely undeserved. It's true that in German bierkellers, the food is generally fairly heavy. However it's untrue to assume that in Germany that's the only grub there is. Germany has more than 300 Michelin-starred restaurants, and even in the everyday places standards are uniformly high. In a rural gasthaus your meal may be hearty but it's bound to be good quality – freshly cooked, locally sourced and served in convivial surroundings. In the big cities there's a growing emphasis on healthy eating, with lots of young international chefs bringing a lighter twist to traditional German recipes. 'German weather is awful' 'When it rains in London, Hamburgers put up their umbrellas.' So say the Hamburgers, with a nod to the many things London and Hamburg have in common – not least the same wet and windy weather. However, most of Germany enjoys a considerably better climate than Hamburg (or London, for that matter). Even along the Baltic coast summers are warm and sunny. Further south it can get very hot. Berlin and Munich both enjoy midsummer temperatures of over 30C. Freiburg, in the Black Forest, is the sunniest place in Germany, with the Rhineland and Bavaria not far behind. Winters can be fierce, especially in the south and east, but with a good deal of snowfall guaranteed winter days are often crisp and clear. 'East German cities are lifeless' When the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in 1989, a forgotten hinterland opened up to British travellers. Touring East Germany in those first few years after reunification was fascinating, but it was sad to see how 40 years of communism had reduced a hard-working, law-abiding populace to a state of abject poverty. The older buildings were derelict and the newer ones were cheap and nasty. The big cities were ugly and filthy; the small towns were rundown and deserted. How times have changed! Thirty years since the wall came down East Berlin is booming, and this remarkable renaissance has spread far beyond the reinstated capital. Weimar is a cultural hub again, Dresden's baroque Altstadt has been restored, and Leipzig has been transformed into one of the most dynamic cities in Germany. The Hanseatic Ports along the Baltic coast attract cultural tourists from all over Europe. After half a century behind the Iron Curtain, Eastern Germany is open for business again. 'West German cities are dull' While the antique landmarks of East Germany were inadvertently preserved by poverty, West Germany enjoyed an economic boom. For West Germans this was a godsend, but for tourists it was a mixed blessing, as its bombed-out cities were rapidly rebuilt in a bland, modernist, functional style. Yet since reunification these cities have been reinvigorated by some spectacular modern architecture, and some inspired renovation schemes. Big cities like Munich and Frankfurt combine the best of old and new; smaller cities like Freiburg have retained their medieval charm; Regensburg and Heidelberg are almost ridiculously picturesque. For art, music and fashion, Hamburg and Düsseldorf are among the leading cities in Europe, and even rust-belt cities like Essen have found a new lease of life, as its redundant mills, mines and factories have been converted into galleries, theatres and concert halls. 'Germany has no seaside' The German coastline is one of Deutschland's undiscovered glories, virtually unknown to British travellers. In fact it consists of two separate coastlines, each distinct in mood and character. The North Sea coast is wilder and more windswept, similar to the East Anglian shoreline. Its highlights are the chic beach resort of Sylt and the atmospheric island of Norderney, which inspired Erskine Childers' pioneering spy story, The Riddle of The Sands. The Baltic Coast is calmer and more intriguing. It boasts a string of historic ports, shut off behind the Iron Curtain until reunification and only now emerging from hibernation. 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Yet however hard they try, Germans can't quite rid themselves of their endemic weirdness – a deep romanticism that's reflected in their almost paganistic love of nature. Here, a walk in the woods isn't just a Spaziergang (stroll) – it's a Wanderung (wandering). Germany is famous for its philosophers and composers, not its businessmen. The forest, not the office, is where Germans feel most at home. 'Germans have no sense of humour' This one is harder to refute since humour, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. If you think Germans are humourless, who am I to say you're wrong? However I should mention that I only began to understand German wit when I began to speak the language. If you've only ever heard Germans speaking English, it's hard to work out how humorous they really are. After all, how witty do you tend to be when you're communicating in a foreign tongue? In fact, German humour is very dry, often so dry it can escape your notice. When you finally tune in, however, it can be very funny indeed. 'Germans are efficient' German society has never really run like clockwork. Its big cities are chaotic, its villages are quaint and sleepy, and life in the countryside moves at a slow and steady pace. Before the 20th century, Germany was widely regarded as a land of dreamers and eccentrics – and, beneath its modern veneer, not a lot has changed. As British football fans discovered, to their cost, when Germany hosted last year's Euros, the idea that German trains always run on time is maybe the most enduring (and inaccurate) falsehood. Six of the best surprises in Germany Fine wine German wine used to have a bad reputation in Britain, but only because the Germans used to dump their cheap plonk on the British market and keep the best stuff for themselves. Nowadays you can find good German rieslings in British supermarkets, but if you go to Germany you can sample a far wider range of German wines at significantly lower prices. Franconia, Pfalz and Baden all produce decent vintages, but for the biggest – and finest – selection, head for Rheinhessen and the Rheingau, on the banks of the Rhine. A beautiful lake Forty miles long and eight miles wide, the Bodensee (aka Lake Constance) is one of Europe's biggest – and most beautiful – lakes, but most Britons have never heard of it. It's popular with the Germans, but it's never overwhelmed with visitors. The best way to travel is on the ferries that criss-cross the lake, which forms a border with Austria and Switzerland. Bregenz (in Austria) and Rorschach (in Switzerland) are well worth seeing, but the prettiest ports are on the German shore, particularly medieval Lindau and Meersburg. Fine porcelain Meticulously restored since its destruction at the end of the Second World War, Dresden is back on the tourist trail. However visitors often forget to visit its smaller sister, Meissen – just 20 miles upstream, along the River Elbe. This quaint medieval citadel is where they make the eponymous porcelain. You can tour the famous factory and buy some to take home. Even better, check out the antique shops scattered around the ornate Altstadt (Old Town). Here you can buy seconds (with tiny blemishes) for a fraction of the price. Modern architecture Badly bombed during the Second World War and crudely rebuilt by the Communists, rundown Dessau is hardly the most obvious tourist destination. However, from 1925 to 1932, this was the headquarters of the Bauhaus, that modernist movement which transformed every conceivable aspect of design. The futuristic buildings that Walter Gropius built to house his revolutionary design school are still all here. 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The only way to reach it is on foot, from Partenkirchen, about 1000m below, so you need to be pretty fit to make the hike, but I can promise you won't regret it. Wild swimming The German capital a must-see for British visitors, but sightseers rarely venture beyond the built-up city centre. They don't know what they're missing. Despite its grungy reputation, Berlin is a surprisingly green city, ringed by woods and water. Pick of the bunch is Wannsee, a leafy lake with a handsome, historic Lido and a splendid sandy beach.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
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EXCLUSIVE As long as it twerks in America! Why Meghan Markle doesn't care if British 'haters' winced at video of her twerking in the delivery room before daughter Lilibet's birth
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Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tour de force! British soldiers don their finest uniforms for the Colonel's Review - the final dress rehearsal before Trooping the Colour next week
A week before Trooping the Colour, excitement is mounting among royal fans. The occasion transforms the Mall as crowds line up the streets waving flags as 1400 soldiers parade alongside 200 horses and 400 musicians from Horse Guard's Parade to Buckingham Palace. Many fans treat today as a stirring preview of the majesty to come. The Colonel's Review, a dazzling full-dress rehearsal steeped in pageantry, unfolds in central London, offering a taste of the splendour that will accompany His Majesty the King's official Birthday Parade next week. In their ceremonial uniforms, the British Army's finest soldiers march with precision and pride as they rehearse for one of the most iconic events in the royal calendar. Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old tradition that marks the Sovereign's official birthday. It dates back to the 17th century and is rooted in battlefield custom, when regimental flags, or 'colours,' were trooped in front of soldiers to ensure they could be recognised amid the smoke of combat. A soldier stands with two children dressed in uniform ahead of The Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade The Colonel's Review Today, it has evolved into a grand ceremonial event featuring over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, showcasing the discipline, heritage, and pageantry of the British Armed Forces. This full-dress rehearsal, rich with pomp and ceremony, serves as the final run-through before the King's official celebration, though this year, it comes with an unexpected twist. This year, the honour of trooping the Colour falls to the Coldstream Guards, who will officially present their regimental flag, known as the Colour, to King Charles III at Horse Guards Parade on June 14. The Coldstream Guards are part of the esteemed Household Division, which includes the two regiments of the Household Cavalry (the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals) and the five regiments of Foot Guards (the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards). Yet, today's Colonel's Review near Buckingham Palace holds a notable distinction. Unlike their fellow regiments, the Coldstream Guards currently do not have a Royal Colonel, making them the only Foot Guards regiment without a royal figurehead. As a result, this final rehearsal will unfold without the presence of a member of the Royal Family, marking a subtle but poignant departure from tradition. The Colonel's Review comes before the King's official birthday celebrations on Saturday, June 14, including their traditional Buckingham Palace balcony appearance. It is identical to The King's Birthday Parade, with the exception that some additional mounted officers ride on the latter. But while today's Colonel's Review follows the familiar rhythms of tradition, it comes with one quiet but significant change. The Massed Bands during The Colonel's Review ahead of the King's Birthday Parade Members of the King's Troops, the Royal Horse Artillery rehearse for Trooping the Colour Members of the Household Division on horseback during The Colonel's Review leaving Buckingham Palace More members of the division leaving through Buckingham Palace's gate today A member of the Household Division on horseback during The Colonel's Review Many royal fans took the afternoon to watch the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade 1400 soldiers of the Household Division and The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands take part in The Colonel's Review A royal carriage is drawn as regiments of the British Army's Household Division The Coldstream Guards, unlike their fellow Foot Guards, currently have no Royal Colonel. As such, today's rehearsal will proceed without a member of the Royal Family in attendance, a rare and poignant detail in an otherwise meticulously orchestrated affair. Still, the spirit of ceremony remains undiminished, as plumed helmets, gleaming medals, and the stirring sound of military bands bring timeless grandeur to the heart of London. Last year, following the announcement that Princess Kate was being treated for cancer, the Princess of Wales apologised for missing out on the key rehearsal. The Princess of Wales wrote a letter to the Irish Guards, who were presenting their colours to the King, saying: 'I hope I am able to represent you all very soon'. Insidersemphasised that every cancer 'journey' is individual and sought to dampen speculation over whether Kate would attend key events in order to stop unnecessary pressure. It meant the Princess missed what would have been her first Colonel's Review. The event is a dress rehearsal for Trooping The Colour and would have seen her take the salute as the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards. The letter said: 'I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel's Review and Trooping the Colour. 'I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practising for months and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate. 'Being your Colonel remains a great honour and I am very sorry that I'm unable to take the salute at this year's Colonel's Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole regiment, however, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. 'Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.' The Irish Guards later responded to the Princess's letter on Twitter, writing: 'The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning.
