D-day for the Danish royals: Crisis awaits Mary and Frederik as his exiled brother Joachim plots his homecoming - and there's one outcome insiders fear the most: SHARON HUNT
This façade has undoubtedly been easier to maintain with more than 6,500km separating them from the warring faction of their royal family.
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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The late Queen's stinging first impression of the Duchess of Edinburgh which was actually a compliment, royal author reveals
Today, Sophie is one of the most trusted and resourceful members of the Royal Family and she has taken on evermore important duties since King Charles III's ascension to the throne. Just this month, the Duchess of Edinburgh represented the Crown on an official visit to Bosnia to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Daily Record
Queen Camilla holidays on Tory donor's luxury £30million superyacht
Queen Camilla was spotted on Wafic Said's boat Zenobia while travelling to some of the Mediterranean country's most select tourist hotspots. Queen Camilla has been enjoying a lavish Greek getaway aboard a £30million superyacht belonging to a billionaire Tory donor. The monarch's consort was photographed aboard Syrian-Saudi businessman Wafic Said's vessel Zenobia whilst island-hopping around the Mediterranean nation's most exclusive destinations. Given the Royal Family 's obligation to remain politically neutral, Camilla's appearance on a Tory mega-donor's luxury craft is likely to raise eyebrows amongst critics. Whilst there's no indication the King 's 78-year-old spouse has acted improperly, accepting such generous hospitality from a politically influential figure presents an unfortunate image. The timing proves particularly awkward as countless British families grapple with soaring living costs – especially after King Charles pledged to reduce royal spending excesses, reports the Mirror. The Queen Consort was photographed this week on Syrian-Saudi magnate Wafic Said's £30million yacht Zenobia, anchored in a secluded Greek bay in photos reported by the publication. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker, who penned the recent publication Royal Mint, National Debt, commented: "Members of the Royal Family really ought to consider the public perception of such episodes, whether they are on holiday or official business. "They are representing the country at all times and, let's be honest, it's not as if they are short of cash. This is not a good look for Camilla, especially when the relationships between the royals and their associates are rightly called into question." Queen Camilla reportedly enjoyed her time aboard the yacht Zenobia without the company of Charles, who was attending the Mey-Highland Games last Saturday. Mr Said, known for orchestrating the colossal Al Yamamah arms deal between Saudi Arabia and the UK in the 1980s, was not present on the vessel. The deal itself was scrutinised by the Serious Fraud Office until the investigation was halted in 2006. The octogenarian, ranked at number 85 on The Sunday Times Rich List with a wealth of £1.9 billion, previously contributed significantly to the Conservative Party before the year 2000 when donation rules were tightened. His longstanding friendship with ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is well-documented. His wife Rosemary, after 56 years of marriage, continues to support the Tories financially. Specialists emphasise the importance of the Royal Family's non-partisan stance. This impartiality ensures that the monarchy can facilitate seamless transitions of political power and curb potential misconduct. While Charles engages in regular discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he does not possess the right to vote. Other members of the royal household theoretically have the option to vote but traditionally abstain to maintain their apolitical image. According to the official Royal Family website, "while The King is the Head of State, he remains politically -impartial". It further clarifies: "The Monarch remains politically neutral on all matters, but he is able to 'advise and warn' his ministers, including his Prime Minister, when necessary. These audiences are private." Rosemary, a British national, has contributed over £2m to the Conservative Party since 2015. The most recent donation on record, an amount of £8,000, was made in March 2024. This followed a contribution of £66,800 in April 2022 and another substantial sum of £250,000 in December 2021. Mrs Said, whose father also financially supported the Conservatives, was among more than 40 donors who shelled out £9,854 each for a virtual table at a Tory Summer Party with Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak via Zoom in 2020. In 2005, their daughter Rasha, then aged 19, was documented as donating £47,000 to the Conservatives. She later confessed that she did not personally possess sufficient funds to make such a large contribution, leading to allegations that she had unlawfully acted as a proxy for her father. The Tories subsequently maintained that the money had originated from Rosemary, and an Electoral Commission investigation concluded there had been no misconduct. The Zenobia, believed to be named after a third-century Syrian Queen, can accommodate up to 12 guests across six cabins, with additional space for 13 crew members. The 57-metre long vessel boasts interiors reminiscent of a luxury hotel, complete with lavish fixtures and fittings, exquisite wood panelling, and contemporary art adorning the walls. It also features an outdoor dining area and is said to house its own library, which doubles as a cinema room. Mr Said boasts a portfolio of properties in England, including the stately Tusmore Park in Oxfordshire and a residence in London's prestigious Eaton Square. However, it is believed that for many years he has predominantly resided in Monaco, a Mediterranean enclave known for its favourable tax regime, where his company Zenobia is also registered. He is a notable supporter of the Conservative Middle East Council, a parliamentary group dedicated to organising exploratory visits to the region. It is reported that Mr Said generously offered Mrs Thatcher the use of one of his homes during her twilight years and posthumously honoured her by naming a new extension at the Said Business School after her in 2013. His connections extend to royalty, having significant ties with King Charles. In December 2019, Clarence House hosted a dinner "given by the Prince of Wales in honour of Wafic Said and his charitable work, and to mark his 80th birthday". Last year, Mr Said was also a distinguished guest in the traditional carriage procession at Royal Ascot, led by Charles and Camilla, and was spotted sharing a laugh with the monarch in the Royal Box. The Said family were instrumental as founding patrons of the Prince of Wales Charity Foundation, now rebranded as the King Charles III Fund. Born in Damascus, Syria, in 1939, Mr Said spent his early life there before relocating to Switzerland in his twenties to embark on a career in banking. He subsequently established TAG Systems Constructions and is reported to have amassed much of his wealth through investments in major construction ventures in Saudi Arabia during the 1970s. Alongside the Said Business School, he also co-established the Said Foundation, a charitable organisation providing educational assistance to young people from nations including Syria. In 2016, Mr Said had his banking facilities withdrawn by Barclays, following allegations that executives harboured concerns about maintaining accounts connected to "high-risk countries". He subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the financial institution. Mr Said commented last night: "The Parker-Bowles family have been close friends of mine for over 40 years. Tom Parker-Bowles was at school with my son, and Tom and Laura are like -children to me. We have remained friendly with both Brigadier Parker-Bowles [Camilla's ex-husband Andrew] and the Queen ever since. "It is natural for me to offer my boat to close friends when I am not using it. I was therefore pleased to offer it to the family and glad to learn she is enjoying time with her children and grandchildren. "On my past work, particularly Al Yamamah: in 1983 the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, asked me to advise on negotiations with the Saudi government. I remain proud to have been part of what she called her team "batting for Britain" to secure this historic defence contract. "The deal, Britain's largest ever export agreement, generated around £43billion for UK companies and supported over 30,000 UK defence jobs. "To those who criticise my role... would they rather I had declined, and the contract gone elsewhere? I have never bought or sold so much as a penknife, and any claim otherwise would be false and damaging. "In 2016, Barclays wrongly closed my accounts, believing I was resident in Syria. After I sued the bank apologised publicly, confirmed no wrongdoing by me or my family, and contributed to my legal costs in defending my interests in this case. "I have made no donations to the Conservative Party since becoming non-resident in the UK. My wife, a lifelong Conservative voter, has done so, which is a matter of public record. I do not see how her political affiliations are relevant to our friendship with the Parker-Bowles family."
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Rees-Mogg clashes with Price Andrew biographer over ‘salacious gossip' behind new book
The author of a new biography about the Duke and Duchess of York has clashed with Jacob Rees-Mogg over the book, which the GB News host branded as 'salacious gossip'. The book, called Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, written by Andrew Lownie, has made claims about the disgraced duke's life. It includes accusations of affairs, fights with Prince Harry and of being ' unbelievably cruel ' to royal staff. But the author was confronted by Mr Rees-Mogg over the sources he used in the joint biography, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail. When asked at the beginning of the interview why he had written the book, Mr Lownie said: "There was a strong story there, especially with Andrew being in the news over [Jeffrey] Epstein — but what really interested me was how they leveraged their royal status for private gain, and the damage that did to the monarchy." But the author was then questioned on the reliability of his sources, with Mr Rees-Mogg accusing him of predominantly using newspaper reports. During the interview, Mr Rees-Mogg asked Mr Lownie about a claim made in his book regarding the duke allegedly hiring an escort. He asked the author if his source, quoted as 'the comedian Katy Brand has a story from a friend', was sound. "Sometimes, that is all we have," Lownie said, to which Mr Rees-Mogg replied: That's my point. You've got salacious gossip, starting with an unfounded allegation against Prince Philip. Would you have written it while he was alive and could have sued you for libel? You're making sleazy claims without solid evidence." The author defended his sources, highlighting that he had interviewed 300 people, including on-the-record diplomats, naval personnel, and special royal representatives. At the end of the heated exchange, Mr Rees-Mogg thanked the author for his 'hatchet job'. Extracts of the book have grabbed headlines in recent days, with a series of claims made about the duke and duchess and their relationships to the royal family. The book has claimed Prince Andrew called a staff member in the Royal Household a 'f***ing imbecile' for not referring to the Queen Mother by her full title in 2005. According to the book, Prince Andrew's catchphrase when dealing with royal staff was 'I want this done and I want this done now. Do it!' Mr Lownie also claims in his book that the relationship between the Duke of York and his younger nephews, William and Harry, was 'problematic'. The Duke of York is alleged to have accused Prince Harry of going 'bonkers' for marrying Megan Markle. However, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex told The Daily Telegraph that Prince Andrew did not 'ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry'. The spokesperson also denied the book's claim that the pair had ever gotten into a physical fight.
