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Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Princess Diana and King Charles' Former Palace Aide, Who Served Less Than a Year, Dies at 91
Sir Christopher Airy, a decorated veteran of the British Army and former royal aide, died on April 7 Airy was appointed private secretary to King Charles and his then-wife Princess Diana in 1990 However, he found. himself unsuited for the role and left just a year later Major General Sir Christopher Airy, a former private secretary to King Charles and Princess Diana, died on April 7, 2025. He was 91. A decorated veteran of the British Army, Airy joined the military in 1954, rising through the ranks until he became Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District in 1986. Upon his retirement from the military in 1989, Airy was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, having previously received the Order of the British Empire. He also received a new assignment in 1990, becoming the private secretary to King Charles — then, the Prince of Wales — and his then-wife, Princess Diana. According to his obituary in The Times, Airy was recommended for the job by British comedian Jimmy Savile, whom Charles allowed to "say things to his face that other courtiers could not." The buttoned-up major general held the role for just under a year and reportedly found himself ill-suited for the role, and not just because marital tensions between the prince and princess were building towards their eventual breaking point. In his 2022 book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, royal expert Valentine Low cited a contemporary of Airy as saying he was a "very bad fit" for the role, and operated "completely on a different planet." "He was not attuned to Charles' growing charitable interests and struggle to understand the differences between the prince's various organisations," the insider added. "He must have been miserable. We would all talk acronyms, all this charitable, voluntary sector, government stuff, and Christopher was completely lost." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Airy's role with the royal family lasted only a year. He left the position in May 1991, and retired with his wife, Judith, to a farmhouse in Somerset. The couple were married for 65 years before Lady Airy died in January 2025. They are survived by their three children, a son and two daughters. Read the original article on People
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Former royal aide to King Charles and Princess Diana who enjoyed flourishing military career dies aged 91
A FORMER aide to King Charles and Princess Diana has passed away aged 91. Major General Sir Christopher Airy only managed a year in the role as the royal couple' s marriage collapsed. 4 4 The former Grenadier Guards officer had previously commanded the Army's Household Division. He had even lined the route at the late Queen's coronation in 1953. Sir Christopher retired from the Army in 1989, and he was hired as a private secretary to Charles and Diana in 1990. He succeeded Sir John Riddell, who filled the role for just under four years. However the former aide was driven up the wall by the tension in the royal household caused by Charles and Diana's marriage problems. He reportedly got into hot water with the future King after telling him it was his "duty" to attend state occasions. The then-prince is said to have "stiffened" and "there was a perceptible intake of breath around the table" before he replied "oh is it?" sarcastically. Charles and Diana announced their separation in 1992 and divorced in 1996. A year later, the beloved Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris - sending shockwaves throughout the nation. How Charles and Diana's marriage unravelled from first day of their honeymoon – thanks to a pair of cufflinks By Oliver Harvey WHEN a 16-year- old Diana met bachelor Prince Charles at a shooting weekend at her family's Althorp estate, she was hardly bowled over. 'What a sad man,' was her initial reaction, recounted in her later taped reminiscences. Charles, then 29, was dating Diana's sister Sarah as he desperately sought a bride and heir to the throne. Lady Sarah Spencer seemed no more impressed, telling reporters at the time she would not marry Charles, 'If he were the dustman or the King of England '. Charles was furious when he saw the resulting articles and told Sarah: 'You have just done something incredibly stupid.' Unsurprisingly, the relationship fizzled out soon afterwards. Yet, something about Diana — a pretty but in her own estimation 'podgy' teen — clearly intrigued Charles. Telling author Andrew Morton the story of that first meeting, Diana said: 'My sister Sarah was all over him like a bad rash, and I thought, 'God, he must really hate that'. 'I kept out of the way. I remember being a fat, podgy, no make-up, unsmart lady but I made a lot of noise, and he liked that.' Sir Christopher had left his role in May 1991, and moved to a farmhouse in Somerset with his wife. It was there he spent the rest of his life. He died on April 8 but his passing was only recently announced. He was born in Woolwich in 1934 and was the second son of Colonel Eustace Airy. Sir Christopher attended Marlborough College, Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne, then Sandhurst. In his later years he spent his time on charity work, especially The Not Forgotten, which supports veterans and serving personnel living with injury, illness or isolation. His wife Judith died in January of this year. The couple left behind a son and two daughters. 4
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Kate recycles polka dot dress for VE Day service with nod to Princess Diana
A huge turnout of royals, including the King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales, are at Westminster Abbey for a national service of thanksgiving marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day A huge turnout of royals have attended a special service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey today. The King and Queen were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, veterans and others at Westminster Abbey to recognise the milestone. First to arrive were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh who were followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Also present were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. William and Kate then arrived with the princess wearing a white polkadot dress by Alessandra Rich and hat by Juliette Botterill, and earrings which belonged to William's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The prince was dressed in a lounge suit with Household Division tie and his Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order. The King and Queen then arrived at the abbey to the sound of a trumpeters' royal fanfare. Charles was wearing a lounge suit with medals and neck order. Camilla was dressed in a white crepe silk dress and white coat with black stitching by Anna Valentine, with a black and white hat by Philip Treacy. The service today comes 80 years to the day that the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds famously gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI. After almost six years of fighting against Hitler's Nazi regime peace was declared, with only the conflict against Japan to be concluded. At today's service, 10-year-old Alexander Churchill, the great-great-grandson of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, will light a candle of peace as young members of the congregation hand out white roses to Second World War veterans. After a national two-minute silence was observed, Charles and William lay wreaths of seasonal flowers, which would have been in bloom in May 1945, at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The King did so on behalf of the nation and the Commonwealth, and William for the veterans and the wartime generation, with 99-year-old Ken Hay, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment, at their side. At the end of the service, the tune of We'll Meet Again made famous by forces' sweetheart, the late Dame Vera Lynn, will be heard. Outside the abbey, Kate will join Camilla and other royals in laying flowers at the Innocent Victims' Memorial in tribute to all victims of war and oppression as the proceedings draw to a close. Four days of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day will culminate on Thursday evening with a concert in London's Horse Guards Parade attended by the King and Queen, with performances by The Darkness, Toploader, and classical singer Sir Willard White. The royals were also at the heart of VE Day commemorations earlier in the week. On Monday royals, including the Waleses and their children, sat with veterans as the current crop of servicemen and women, including Nato allies, marched past in recognition of those who served to defeat Hitler's Nazi regime and bring peace to Europe. Afterwards, they all appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the incredible RAF flypast. Prince Louis, who in past public appearances has stolen the show, did not disappoint royal fans, pulling faces as jets thundered overhead, and during the parade stuck out his tongue and playfully tried to get his father's attention. Later that day, Prince George carried out his biggest royal duty to date when he joined his parents and the King and Queen at a tea party for veterans inside the palace. During the tea reception, William told 101-year-old Alfred Littlefield his son George was 'interested' in learning about veterans. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Camilla visited the Tower of London, where she described a special poppy display as 'beautiful'. Camilla visited the historic fortress on Tuesday to launch The Tower Remembers, marking VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The new installation features 30,000 ceramic poppies from the 2014 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red artwork, now redesigned to flow from the White Tower. Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Veterans, royals, Red Arrows and a packed Mall: VE Day at 80 in pictures
Four days of events to commemorate 80 years since Victory in Europe Day began with a military procession through London in front of huge crowds, followed by a dramatic RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace. Proud veterans joined politicians and three generations of royals for the day's poignant and celebratory events. The Red Arrows jetted through the London sky as part of the aerial tribute organised by the Ministry of Defence. The flypast also included military aircraft from RAF bases all around the UK, delighting spectators and gripped young royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Earlier, a military procession including regiments of the Household Division and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery paraded down the Mall from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace. King Charles saluted as the procession arrived at the Palace having made its way up the Union Jack-lined Mall. He was joined by other royals as well as veterans, politicians and members of the public, who welcomed the military groups as they drew nearer the Palace. Three generations of royals were on show, including the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family. Political figures in attendance included London's Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Starmer. The procession began its journey outside Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as the clock tower's famous bells rang out. Meanwhile, actor Timothy Spall stood in front of Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square to recite part of the former wartime prime minister's original VE Day broadcast. As he did so, the procession made its way around the corner and up the Mall. Outside of the high profile benches in front of Buckingham Palace, members of the public lined the Mall to watch the procession and take in the atmosphere. A group of Ukrainian soldiers joined the march, solemnly parading a Ukrainian flag and wearing military uniform. While over at the Tower of London, a display of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies made up the exhibition called The Tower Remembers, created by designer Tom Piper. They were originally displayed as part of artist Paul Cummins's Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower in 2014.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Armed forces parade overnight through London in VE Day dress rehearsal
The rehearsal saw bands, soldiers and mounted units gather from about 2.30am on Saturday to retrace the route they will take. Sounds of bagpipes, marching soldiers and trotting horses echoed through the streets as they progressed from Parliament Square to Whitehall, then to Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, and finally to Buckingham Palace. Members of the armed forces during a procession rehearsal in central London (Lucy North/PA) Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, 47, the Brigade Major of the Household Division, who is in charge of the ceremony, said he 'wonders what people coming out of nightclubs must think when they fall onto a military parade'. He said: 'Once you have got over the shock of trying to climb a horse in the morning, there is something quite extraordinary about parading through London in the middle of the night.' Discussing what will be going through his mind during the real thing on Thursday, Lt Col Foinette said: 'My grandfather served in the RAF bomber command and became a prisoner of war in Germany after being shot down. He was a prisoner for three years. 'He lived until he was very nearly 100 and he shared his experiences with me, particularly towards the end of his life. Flags of the Commonwealth are carried during the rehearsal (Lucy North/PA) 'It is extremely important that we do not rest on our laurels. A lot of hard work has to go into this. 'But probably most importantly, I am going to be trying to stay on my horse.' A flypast by the Red Arrows and aircraft used to support Ukraine will be part of the ceremony on Thursday. The show will include planes involved in tensions with Russia, such as P8 Poseidons, which conduct reconnaissance missions surveying Russian vessels near UK waters, and Voyager aircraft, which fly Ukrainian recruits to the UK for training and deliver equipment to Ukrainian forces. Units from the armed forces of Ukraine were also involved in the late-night rehearsal parade. The rehearsal saw bands, soldiers and mounted units gather from about 2.30am on Saturday (Lucy North/PA) Musician Joe Elliott, 21, part of the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army which trains Ukrainian recruits as part of Operation Interflex, said: 'To lead them on parade is a very special moment for us. I think it shows a strong connection across Europe.' Lance corporal Bailey Robbins, 21, who will be part of the marching contingent, has been involved in helping provide Ukrainian troops with uniforms and equipment such as body armour since the Russian invasion. LCpl Robbins said he has got 'quite close' to some of the Ukrainian troops and said he would feel satisfied with the parade 'if I feel I've made an impact in some way – getting to supply to them, getting to give them what they needed'. Discussing the Ukrainian presence, he added: 'Considering what is going on at the moment in their country, to be a part of this parade is really great to see.'
