Latest news with #King Charles III
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sandringham Flower Show returns before break
A local flower show held for the past 142 years on the King's Norfolk estate is getting under way before it takes a two-year annual Sandringham Flower Show, organised by 15 to 20 local volunteers, attracts about 20,000 people each year and is taking place on Wednesday, to be attended by King Charles III and Queen the event will pause to make way for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) touring flower show in 2026 and 2029.A spokeswoman for the locally organised show said it was "fully supportive" of the new RHS event. "We're doing what we can to help them and they're doing what they can to help us," she year was the first time in 30 years no member of the Royal Family had attended the Sandringham Flower Show was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who attended each year after World War Two. The show traditionally sees local colleges, agricultural businesses and experts taking part, while in the amateurs' marquee, local gardening and horticultural clubs enter a judged display competition.A month before the show, Royal estate employees, pensioners and tenants have the opportunity to enter their gardens in two judged Flower Show's profits are donated annually to local charities, and it said it had given more than £825,000 since 1977. A year ago, Graham Brown, chair of the show, said: "The future of the show is going to carry on."I will see the show through the RHS and we will work with them to make sure our show is incorporated with their show."Sandringham is changing and we all have to move with that." The King became patron of the RHS in 2024 and its 2026 event will be a six-day its website, RHS director general Clare Matterson said the decision to run the new touring events was to ensure it reached more people "in new locations".RHS director of shows, commercial and innovation, Helena Pettit, said the changes were the biggest it had made in a generation."We want to inspire current and new audiences with world class horticulture and provide access to the UK's best plants people to help even more people garden and grow," she said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
King opens Oxford Islamic studies wing named in his honour
The King has said the commitment of a major centre for Islamic study to "international co-operation" is more "imperative than ever in today's world".His Majesty officially opened the King Charles III Wing at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, of which he is a patron, during a ceremony at the institution on centre's current home was first opened by the then Prince of Wales in the early 1990s, and was granted a Royal Charter by the late Queen Elizabeth II in a short speech, the King said he had seen the centre "grow from a modest hut" into an "internationally renowned institution". He said the centre, which was founded in 1985 and is celebrating its 40th year, had become a "beacon of Islamic scholarship"."The centre's ongoing commitment to objective scholarship and international cooperation, underpinned by principles of dialogue, deep understanding and mutual respect, is more imperative than ever in today's world.""I need hardly say I am extremely heartened that the centre continues to play such a significant role in that globally critical endeavour," he said. The King also praised the institution's "unfailing work to broaden our understanding of the Islamic world in the United Kingdom".Dr Farhan Nizami, the centre's director, said it provided the "ability to bring scholars from around the world in a safe space where they can exchange ideas", whilst also encouraging students to study in the city. "I think the very presence of the centre is a statement of inter-faith," he added. The centre is affiliated with, and has a deep-rooted connection, to the University of from the university, including its current chancellor - and former Conservative Party leader - Lord Hague, joined the King during his well as opening the new wing, the King also launched a new education programme at the centre - which has also been named in his honour. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry and King Charles' secret 'peace summit' is a 'good first step' and sign of 'optimism', insider claims
The meeting between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's communications chief and King Charles III's aide is a 'good first step' amid 'optimism that it can be taken forward', an insider has revealed. The Sussexes have denied leaking details of the meeting between Meredith Maines and the King's communications secretary Tobyn Andreae near Clarence House. Liam Maguire, who runs Harry and Meghan's UK public relations team, was also at the meeting last Wednesday at the Royal Over-Seas League club in London. Now, a source has told People magazine - which is friendly with the Sussexes - that the talks could be the start of an improved relationship between father and son. The unnamed insider said: 'It was a good first step. It is always better to be talking. It's a positive step. There's optimism that it can be taken forward.' It is not known whether it was Charles or Harry who arranged the 'peace talks' but pictures of the two sides enjoying drinks have raised hopes of a reconciliation. There has still been no official comment on the meeting from press representatives for Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes or the Prince and Princess of Wales. Both Harry, 40, and his 76-year-old father are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year. Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the meeting were published The King and Harry at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022 However, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the extraordinary meeting were published in The Mail on Sunday. Sources close to Harry have insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper. They acknowledged that having the details splashed across newspaper front pages was not an ideal start to what they had hoped would be a new period of peace, according to The Telegraph. Pictures of the meeting show Ms Maines, carrying a black Louis Vuitton bag, arrive by taxi with Mr Maguire at 3.50pm on Wednesday. Mr Andreae turned up minutes later carrying a gift from Berry Bros & Rudd, the official wine supplier to the Royal Family. The trio were later seen chatting over drinks in the 26C (78F) sunshine on a first-floor garden terrace overlooking Green Park. After ten minutes they resumed their discussions inside. A source said the summit was only the 'first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction'. Liam Maguire and Meredith Maines from the Sussexes' PR team are pictured outside the club Tobyn Andreae arrives for the secret meeting last week with a gift from Berry Bros & Rudd The source told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. 'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' Royal experts suggested the meeting was 'more of a courtesy call' than peace talks. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward said she believed it was simply a chance for Ms Maines, who was appointed earlier this year, to meet her British counterpart, respected royal aide Mr Andreae. The Palace refused to comment on whether Prince William was aware of the meeting but royal experts said it was unlikely to have gone ahead without his approval. The 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham is one opportunity for a public reconciliation reportedly being discussed by both sides. Another royal insider told MailOnline: 'Prince Harry made it clear in May that he was fed up with the fighting and wanted to reconcile with his family, not least because his father hasn't shared his cancer prognosis with him and he just hasn't got a clear picture about His Majesty's health. 'A first step is getting their offices talking to one another again. Tobyn Andreae is director of communications for the whole royal household so in that sense could be seen to be representing the Prince and Princess of Wales but, in reality, they run their own operation. King Charles and Prince Harry at a meeting at Clarence House in London in December 2018 'Many things have been said that probably everyone regrets but if there is reconciliation, it's likely that William and Kate are going to be a tougher nut to crack than the King. 'I'd be surprised if William wasn't aware that it was going ahead. His office and Team Sussex have coordinated in the past, even when the two brothers weren't speaking, over events for the Diana Award or the unveiling of the Diana statue. 'But relations have been increasingly strained even at that level between the Sussexes and both the King's and William's offices'. The source added: 'The first step has to be building trust so I think there's frustration that this meeting was leaked'. A source close to the Sussexes told MailOnline that all parties involved were 'frustrated' that the meeting was made public. But another royal expert claimed that the King and his heir will be peeved that it was made public - and could even suspect Harry, Meghan and their team. Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'Both The King and Prince William always fear that they can't trust Harry and Meghan not to put any talks they have into the public arena and this will confirm their worst fears. 'To me it looks as though Harry wants to portray himself as the one who is trying to patch things up. If talks fail he can say he tried. 'But I don't think these tactics will work and the fact this summit was leaked will put any reconciliation process back by months'. California-based Harry is set to next visit the UK in September for the annual WellChild Awards.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
The world's ‘most remote island' is 336 miles away from neighbours, has 2 languages, a volcano & home to Brits
THE world's 'most remote island' is home to just 35 people, and is 336 miles away from the nearest inhabited location. There is no airport on the island, which can only be reached by a two day boat trip. 6 6 Pitcairn, is the only inhabited part of the Pitcairn islands, which also consists of islands named Henderson, Ducie and Oeno. The island was formed from a volcano, with the island's main settlement, Adamstown, lying within the volcanic basin. Population descended from British mutineers Those who live on the island are descended from nine British HMS Bounty Mutineers and 12 Tahitian women. The island is a British Overseas Territory, meaning that King Charles III is the monarch, despite the UK being 8,942 miles away. Neither the King or his mother, the late Queen, have ever visited the island; however, Prince Philip stopped at the tiny settlement in 1971 whilst voyaging on the royal yacht Britannia. Members of the community rely on making money from honey, tourism and agriculture, with the New Zealand dollar used as the main currency. Four times a year, supply ships arrive from New Zealand, which 3,106 miles away from New Zealand from the islands. World heritage site In 1988, the island was, which is home to a wide variety of birds nad marine life, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Polynesians were the first to settle on the islands, but they had abandoned them by the time Europeans arrived in the 1600s. Portuguese sailor Pedro Fernandes de Queirós was the first European to discover the island in 1606. Remote paradise island where you could move for free but Brit colony comes with dark past and is almost impossible to find It was then discovered again by a 15-year-old crew member of the British warship HMS Swallow in 1767, Robert Pitcairn, whom the islands are named after. In 1790, nine mutineers from HMS Bounty and 17 native Tahitians set fire to the boat and settled on the islands. The boat can still be seen underwater in Bounty Bay, and these are the settlers that today's residents are all descended from. They lived in isolation on the island for 20 years, until Pitcairn was discovered by American whalers in 1808. 6 Smallest territory in the world Soon after this, other ships arrived on the island, and brought the settlers supplies from Britain. During this period, the population began to grow, with ships travelling between the US and Australia using the island as a port call. Pitcairn saw a peak population of 233, but this has declined over time, with many choosing to migrate to New Zealand. As of 2023, there were just 35 residents on the island, making it the the smallest territory in the world in terms of permanent resident population. There are two official languages spoken in Pitcairn, English and Piktern, which is a mix of English and Tahitian. Despite its tiny population, the island still has a church, a tennis court and a museum, which displays artefacts from the HMS Bounty. Cruise ships often visit the island, which today is governed by Ioan Thomas, Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand. Life on Pitcairn may sound peaceful, but the island's immigration website reveals: "Life on Pitcairn will not be for everyone. "The island's isolation and small size at times make life on Pitcairn physically demanding and challenging. "Residents need to be able to turn their hand to a wide range of tasks, and handle difficulties with pragmatism and creativity." 6 6
