Latest news with #BritishMonarchy
Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
The World of King James VI & I review — a fresh look at an underrated ruler
James and Charles and Charles and James — most of us can all remember the neat order of the Stuart kings, but what do the English really know about James I? Overshadowed by his successors, the man who was already James VI of Scotland when he sat on the throne recently vacated by Elizabeth I has been brutally reduced in English imagination to two fuzzy notions: big tongue ('too large for his mouth' according to one report) and probably gay. That the latter may be nudging the truth (though he did his matrimonial duty, siring five children with Queen Anne of Denmark) is glancingly acknowledged in this fascinating exhibition at Edinburgh's Portrait Gallery, which uses paintings, books, jewellery and other objects to create a picture of a complex, intelligent, devoutly religious man. The king we meet here was scarred by childhood trauma but given to arrogance. He was a dog-lover and patron of the arts — including fashion; there are some fabulous hunting gloves, part of a wardrobe that James liked to co-ordinate with the colours of the seasons — and published on subjects such as monarchy, literary theory, the scourge of tobacco, and contemporary witchcraft. • Read more art reviews, guides and interviews His was a time of upheaval. Made King of Scotland in 1567 at just 13 months, he spent his young life at constant risk of kidnap — and this after his father Lord Darnley's murder and the forced abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. The poise and confidence in a portrait of King James aged eight by an unknown artist can't hide that he is, strikingly, still a little boy. But what an operator — he maintained a cordial relationship with his cousin Elizabeth, even after she had his mother executed. Like Elizabeth, he understood the value of grandeur, commissioning spectacular jewels and clothing, then posing in them for glorious portraits. And it's hard to overstate the achievement of holding the mutually suspicious kingdoms of England and Scotland together; if not, as he wished, to unify them politically (that didn't happen until 1707), then at least with some stability, and without major bloodshed, to which he was broadly allergic. This aversion to warmongering led some to brand him as weak, but his main weakness appears to have been favouritism — the rash elevation of beautiful young men, inspiring jealousy in his fractious courts. Rubens's c 1625 portrait here of the most famous, George Villiers, depicts a ravishingly handsome man who would, you suspect, seduce you and play you a love song on his lute before promptly ghosting you. But there are also tantalising glimpses of other intriguing characters — 'calligraphist' Esther Inglis, who made manuscript books for royal patrons, and the Queen's much-loved jester Tom Derry, thought to have had a learning disability (not then uncommon in that trade). I'd like to see this show tour to England — it might be something of a revelation.★★★★☆National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, Edinburgh, to Sep 14; Follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brand experts reveal Meghan Markle's last chance to stay relevant as her Netflix deal falls apart - but she'll absolutely HATE it
Let me take you back in time, to 2020. Megxit had left the Brits reeling, but Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were hot property in their new home of the United States.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Buckingham Palace will display outfits for Queen Elizabeth anniversary
King Charles III's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was Britain's longest-reigning 21 2026 will mark 100 years since her birth, and the Royal Collection Trust has announced that Buckingham Palace will celebrate her life with a special Royal Collection Trust says they will be displaying 200 items - half of which will be displayed for the first time - charting the Queen's history through her clothes and exhibition will be called Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style and will be held at The King's Gallery until autumn will be featured from all stages of her out a small selection of the gowns which will be featured in the exhibition below. The Royal Collection Trust says that alongside the clothing and accessories, there will be "never-before-seen design sketches and fabric samples".They say there will also be letters which give an insight into how the Queen's outfits were decided and how the Queen was dressed. "In the year that she would have turned 100 years old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth's uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy," said exhibition curator Caroline De Guitaut. Queen Elizabeth regularly worked with designer Norman was the designer behind many of the outfits featured in the exhibition, including her wedding dress and her Coronation dress.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
King Charles Is Frustrated With Staff ‘Unable to Fulfill' Demands Amid Reports He's ‘Reevaluating' His ‘Mortality'
King Charles' has been at the center of a lot of conflicting reports for what feels like over a year. The British monarch, who took over the throne of England from his mother, Queen Elizabeth, has had to contend with cancer and reports of a feud with his youngest son, Harry. And people are interested in both those things, as well as how the British monarchy will continue after King Charles. But there are also the daily things, and one that is getting attention is the King's Highgrove Gardens. Or, at least, the staff that takes care of it. An investigation by the Sunday Times claims that the gardening staff at King Charles' Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House, has seen quite a bit of turnout and face a very toxic workplace. More from StyleCaster King Charles Is Reportedly Still 'Wary' of Harry As William Thinks His Brother's Reconciliation Efforts Are a 'Big Mistake' Inside Harry's 'Desperate' Attempts to Reconcile With the Royal Family Amid Reports He's Worried William Will 'Literally Banish' Him Once He's King Related: Here's what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth The outlet claims that of the 12 full-time gardening staff who were employed there in 2022, 11 have since resigned and been replaced. The gardens have been widely celebrated for their 'wild' aesthetic and are considered proof of King Charles' passion for the environment. They are visited by over 40,000 people each year. And the problem seems to be King Charles himself. According to the outlet, former staff describe him as 'intensely demanding,' remarking on how he often involves himself in minute horticultural details and sends critical notes written in thick red ink. Of one gardener who made a mistake, the King reportedly said, 'Do not put that man in front of me again.' But that's not all, staffers claim to be 'overwhelmed and underpaid,' which leave them 'unable to fulfill' the King's often unreasonable demands. A former employee even submitted a formal complaint that stated: 'There is little management of His Majesty the King's expectations, and I know I would not be allowed to say we are understaffed.' These claims come after British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital about the King's everyday life with his disease. 'King Charles is living with cancer, which makes his family situation very sad,' Chard said about his feud with his son, Harry. 'I'm sure he is thinking about his mortality and reevaluating his life. He would not want a family feud tarnishing his positive contributions and memory. I'm sure he will also want to clear up unresolved issues or surprises that could lead to further resentment and conflict between his two sons.' Such reports are directly related to the fact that there was a recent meeting between King Charles' aides and Prince Harry's, which hints at a possible attempt at reconciliation. There was also a recent report from The Telegraph that indicates that the King has factored not only Prince Harry but Meghan Markle but also their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, into the heart of his funeral plans. This despite the fact that the King and Prince Harry are said to not be on speaking terms right now. After the latest reports about Highgrove Gardens, it's obvious the staff there would appreciate it if the King could also reevaluate the demands he makes of them. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla's amusing reaction to her former status as the 'black sheep' of the family revealed on PALACE CONFIDENTIAL
If there's one member of the Royal Family who knows how it feels to be disliked by the general public it is Queen Camilla. Indeed, for much of her time as a member of the family Camilla faced hostility from Brits due to the notorious role she played in the breakdown of King Charles ' marriage to Diana. Now though the Queen Consort is a hard-working and much-loved member of the Firm. Speaking about Camilla, in the latest episode of Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail's Royal Editor Rebecca English revealed that the Queen can now look back at that period of her life with some amusement. During this week's installment, the Mail's royal experts answered viewers most pressing questions about the Royal Family in a special Q&A episode. One viewer asked the panel about how shielded the royals are from gossip and stories featured in the press. In response to the question, Rebecca spoke about how different members of the Firm tackle the media. Speaking about Camilla, Rebecca spoke about an 'interesting anecdote' the Queen Consort said that has also been used by Gary Goldsmith - the Princess of Wales' uncle. 'It was very illuminating. He [Gary] was talking about being at a palace function, I think probably in the run-up to the wedding and feeling slightly like a fish out of water,' Rebecca said. 'Camilla, the then Duchess of Cornwall, came up to talk to him. And he kind of said words to the effect of "Well, I'm not sure you want to be seen talking to me because I'm the black sheep of the family". 'She kind of smiled and laughed and went: "Oh don't worry, so have I been over the years, you know, you just roll with, it's fine. '"We'll be kind of two black sheep together!".' Rebecca added: 'I thought that showed her quite amusing reaction to someone who has definitely been on the receiving end of her fair share of brickbats over the years.' Gary found himself at the centre of a press frenzy in July 2009 when The News Of The World printed a shocking photo of Kate's uncle - Gary Goldsmith - seemingly preparing to snort cocaine on their front page. Gary had unwittingly invited two journalists from the paper into his £5million villa in Ibiza where he also shared stories about Kate and Wills time at his home - dubiously named La Maison de Bang Bang - including a tale of how William broke his ornamental pyramids. Meanwhile, Camilla's status as the so-called black sheep of the family came about in the 1990s when she first became a household name. At the time she was seen as the usurper of the much-beloved Princess Diana which led the public to dislike her so much. Journalist Tina Brown wrote: 'And the press went after her with such viciousness. I mean, the really appalling sexist comments about Camilla - I mean, they used to call her, you know, old bag, old trout.' She added that Camilla would sign her letters to Charles 'your devoted old bag', as she been been labelled as such so often. Charles then launched a large-scale PR campaign with Mark Bolland at the helm. During the spin doctor's reign in the late 1990s and early 2000s he performed something of a miracle, taking Charles's own popularity rating from 20 per cent after Diana's death to 75 per cent. Bolland also orchestrated the media coverage of the prince's first photographed public appearance with Camilla at the Ritz Hotel in January 1999 - dubbed 'Operation Ritz'. Charles also faced the task of gathering support for Camilla from his family. Queen Elizabeth II was one such hurdle. She reportedly described Camilla as 'that wicked woman' on one occasion. Her support for their marriage was crucial so that Charles was not removed from the line of succession. By 2000, the Queen indicated her tacit approval of their relationship when she attended a lunch with the pair. With the late Queen's approval they married in 2005. One issue that lingered over Camilla's head was what would be her title upon Charles' ascension to the throne. Palace guidance said she would only ever be known as 'Princess Consort' - until Queen Elizabeth II ended years of uncertainty over the issue by assuring Camilla's future status in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement. In her surprise announcement in February 2022, Her late Majesty declared it was her 'sincere wish' for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged upon Charles becoming King. Since Charles became King, following the death of his mother in September 8 2022, the now Queen Camilla is one of the most prominent members of the Royal Family. And since she became Queen her popularity with the public has soared to a high of 55 per cent in September 2022. In the wake of Charles's cancer diagnosis in February 2024, Camilla took on more engagements and has only seen her support grow. And Queen Camilla is now an integral and accepted part of the Royal Family. Rebecca and the Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden also shared how other members of the Royal Family cope with gossip. According to Rebecca, the late Queen would read the newspapers 'by choice most days' but when it came to gossip within the household she was 'very attuned' with her 'ear to the ground on that'. Meanwhile, Camilla's husband King Charles III before he ascended to the throne would only read cuttings 'carefully curated' for him. Harry on the other hand, would 'read everything' according to Rebecca. 'Prince Harry did say to me once that he would read everything that was written about himself even the supermarket magazines and the comments under the stories online. 'He actually joked that I've got a notebook and I will make a note of whose written what story and I will take it up with them!'
