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Fox News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
King Charles 'livid' as royal family's cherished Christmas tradition faces cancellation: expert
King Charles is said to be "livid" that he won't exactly get Christmas cheer this year. The Sun recently reported there is a potential shortage of pheasants at the monarch's Sandringham Estate, which could affect the chances of a full shooting calendar this winter. It is known as one of the monarch's favorite pastimes during the holiday season. "King Charles III is livid, frustrated and disappointed, reflecting both his deep personal attachment to the cherished family tradition and his broader commitment to his royal heritage," British royal expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. "He's also annoyed that the mishap reflects rather poorly on the management of Sandringham, which he inherited from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II," she explained. "The shoot gathers his extended royal family and guests, reinforcing bonds while upholding a long-standing aristocratic tradition. The root of the problem is that Charles has always opposed importing birds from elsewhere, preferring to maintain the estate's game population. The eco-friendly approach has failed." According to the outlet, the number of birds currently available has dropped. This may force the 76-year-old, who is battling an undisclosed form of cancer, to cancel the traditional Boxing Day shoot, which is described as a central part of the royal family's holiday plans. Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. "Allegedly, King Charles is disappointed that one of his favorite Christmas family traditions may not take place this year," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "The Sandringham shoot is questionable due to a lack of Sandringham pheasants on the estate. It seems the family will have to bond, enjoy and celebrate over another hobby, or possibly clay pigeon shoots are the way forward." "King Charles may have felt a fleeting healthy upset, but in light of recent times, with the slimmed-down monarchy, cancer battles and more... the monarchy has found their typical ways changing as they are forced to be flexible," she shared. The Sun reported that a long-serving gamekeeper, who is responsible for managing the bird population on the estate, is said to have been let go in a recent staff shake-up, resulting in the shortage. "It was a total cock-up," a source claimed to the outlet. "No birds, no bang, just red faces. The king wasn't having it." According to Chard, while the king may be let down, he isn't opposed to change. The monarch is said to be adjusting to a new routine as he continues his weekly cancer treatments and remains devoted to full-time royal duties. "He pushes for change on occasion," said Chard. "He broke royal tradition with his last Christmas speech, recorded at the Fitzrovia Chapel, rather than a royal residence. It was there that he chose to reflect on the deeper things that connect us all — community, health, inclusivity and love." Chard also pointed out that the shortage may prompt the king to review the shooting tradition, which has come under fire from animal rights groups. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner is hopeful the change of plans will allow the king to prioritize one thing — making amends with his younger son, Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace. They reside in California. Since the couple's royal exit, they have aired their grievances in interviews and podcasts, as well as Harry's explosive 2023 memoir, "Spare." Sources close to the prince, 40, previously claimed to People magazine that the king won't respond to his phone calls and letters. "Perhaps he could bring the royal clan together, lock the door, knock all their heads together and unite the entire family, including Harry and Meghan," Turner told Fox News Digital. "This may be feathers flying in a different way than a grouse shoot, but if they really believe in the Christian principles, they would try, in my view. It is what Britain expects." People magazine reported that Charles supports traditional practices and opposes importing birds from elsewhere for the customary rural pastime. However, the outlet reported that maintaining game birds in the area has been "challenging." People also reported that the king's grandson, Prince George, was taken on his first grouse-hunting expedition at Balmoral, the royal family's Scottish estate. Royal author Tom Quinn claimed in his new book, "Yes Ma'am — The Secret Life of Royal Servants," that Kate Middleton isn't allowing her three young children, including George, 11, to participate in "blooding." This longtime ritual calls for members of the royal family to smear blood on their faces from their first kill during fox or stag hunting. Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. In his 2023 book "Gilded Youth," Quinn claimed that William also wanted his family to get with the times. "'William is struggling with the traditional pastimes of the royal family as they become ever more unpopular with the public," he wrote. "William loves shooting — a love he shares with his father — but he is also conscious that the tide is now moving against what many people now refer to as blood sports (the royals prefer to refer to them as field sports). But are they suitable for George, Charlotte and Louis?" Quinn also wrote that while William, 42, was "keen" to get the children into shooting, he also noted that "few" expected Kate to "allow" her children to take part in the blooding tradition. Harry previously detailed his experience with the tradition in his memoir, "Spare." The 40-year-old recalled how his hunting guide, Sandy, pressed his face into the belly wound of a stag he shot during a blooding ritual on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. "He placed a hand gently behind my neck and… pushed my head inside the carcass," the Duke of Sussex wrote, as quoted by the New York Post. WATCH: PRINCE HARRY LOOKING TO RECONCILE WITH KING CHARLES, ROYAL FAMILY "I tried to pull away, but Sandy pushed me deeper," the prince wrote. "I was shocked by his insane strength. And by the infernal smell. My breakfast jumped up from my stomach. After a minute, I couldn't smell anything, because I couldn't breathe. My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth." Harry wrote that he "felt swelling pride" that he had "been good to that stag" by killing it with a single shot so it wouldn't feel pain. He said it was a "show of respect for the slain" and "an act of communion by the slayer." The outlet noted that the book's revelations prompted animal rights organization PETA to condemn the father of two for his graphic descriptions. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, previously reported that Princess Diana wasn't a fan of game shooting, which has been one of the royal family's favorite activities for centuries. Seward claimed that the late Princess of Wales didn't even like her sons being photographed holding guns. Seward claimed Diana reportedly told William and Harry, "Remember, there's always someone in a high-rise flat who doesn't want to see you shoot a Bambi," as quoted by the U.K.'s Express. Still, the boys loved hunting, and Diana used to jokingly call them her "Killer Wales." Ken Wharfe, Diana's former royal protection officer, also claimed that Diana was disgusted by hunting. "The royal shooting obsession was something Princess Diana found repugnant," Wharfe said, as quoted by the outlet. "Requiring little or no skill, royal pheasant shoots are a pre-planned carnage of wildlife, bred specifically for slaughter."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry's betrayal driving Prince William to protect kids from heir-and-spare nightmare: expert
After Prince Harry's latest explosive interview, Prince William is committed more than ever to protecting his children from an heir-and-spare nightmare. The claim was made by British royals expert Hilary Fordwich, who believes that Harry's struggles with being a royal "spare" have not only been a "nightmare" for the senior royals today but serve as a cautionary tale for the future of the monarchy. "Prince William is particularly determined to do all he can to avoid the 'heir and spare,' which has caused so many royal nightmares [over] the generations," Fordwich explained. Prince William And Kate Middleton Battle Prince Harry's 'Spare' Curse With Bold Parenting Changes: Experts "He and Princess Catherine are focused on the importance of 'normal' simple childhood moments, such as family chores together, cooking, family holidays, sports and time in nature. They are keen on country walks and bonfires, very British traditions." The rift between the Duke of Sussex and his family burst into the open again last week when the prince gave a raw interview to the BBC after losing a court case over his security. In a long and at times emotional conversation, the 40-year-old said he wants reconciliation, while re-airing grievances against the royal family, the U.K. government and the media. Read On The Fox News App Harry said his father, who is battling cancer, won't speak to him because of "this security stuff," a legal wrangle about protection for the prince when he's in his home country. "This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute," he said. Harry has been estranged from his family since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, alleging hostility and racist attitudes by the press and royal establishment. Harry's tell-all 2023 memoir "Spare," filled with private details about embarrassing revelations, made things worse. Harry's latest interview took place on May 2nd, the same day when William's middle child, Princess Charlotte, turned 10 years old. His eldest son, Prince George, 11, is second in line to the British throne. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "Princess Catherine [like William] is determined to raise Princess Charlotte with a combination of adherence to traditional royal values of duty and public service, as well as a close-knit, loving, nurturing approach in the hopes of avoiding [another] royal 'spare,' such as her wayward uncle," said Fordwich. Fordwich's sentiments came shortly after People magazine published a cover story to commemorate Charlotte's birthday. In the issue, royal experts pointed out how Charlotte being the spare to her brother is in "a vulnerable place" and filled with potential pitfalls that Harry experienced on the world stage. "The late Queen [Elizabeth] was always very conscious of the extraordinary and challenging role of the No. 2," royal biographer Robert Hardman, author of "The Making of a King," told the outlet. "That's why she had a particular soft spot for [her sister, Princess] Margaret, for [her son, Prince] Andrew, and [her grandson,] Harry," he shared. "She understood that being second place in a strictly hierarchical family and institution has its challenges. Everyone is conscious of that." In "Spare," Harry detailed his sibling rivalry with William, 42, and how he struggled to find his way behind palace doors. "I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B," he wrote, as quoted by the outlet. "I was brought in the world in case something happened to Willy." Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Harry also described that being the spare led to tensions with his brother. "My family had declared me a nullity. The spare," he wrote. "I didn't complain about it, but I didn't need to dwell on it either. Far better, in my mind, not to think about certain facts... But no one gave a damn whom I traveled with; the spare could always be spared." As William prepares to be king one day, Hardman said he wants to "make the whole royal existence approachable and not scary for all his children." "Prince William and Princess Catherine know only too well the perils of the heir-and-spare relationship dynamic," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "We know of numerous heir-and-spare cycles, the spare going slightly off the rails, usually due to feeling undervalued," she shared. Chard pointed out prime examples of "royal rebels" who sparked furious backlash due to their actions included Margaret, Andrew and, more recently, Harry. It's noted that in "Spare," Harry also wrote about moments where he felt dismissed or devalued, People magazine reported. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News "The Prince and Princess of Wales are taking every step, a conscious decision to prevent the heir-and-spare cycle with their children," Chard explained. "They are well aware of the pitfalls Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis could face growing up with Prince George." "The Prince and Princess of Wales know their minds and are carving out their royal path," Chard continued. "They are not afraid to tweak and change the traditional royal ways and rules. They prioritize their family. Their children come first. The children are given the love, support and guidance needed for a balanced, successful, healthy future. They are aware their parenting decisions are critical to the success of the crown." People magazine reported that looking ahead, Charlotte could be bestowed the title of Princess Royal, a title that her great-aunt, Princess Anne, 74, possesses. The outlet noted the title is ultimately the monarch's to give, and Charlotte could still choose to decline it. "The Princess Royal has taken Princess Charlotte under her wing," Chard claimed. "They have a close bond. Princess Anne is a fabulous role model for Charlotte. She is aware of the trials and tribulations of being the right-hand woman to her brother, King Charles. She steers Charlotte in the happy direction of being the great support, right-hand woman to her brother, future heir Prince George." "I feel Princess Charlotte in the future could fulfill the role currently held by Princess Anne, becoming the backbone of royal appearances and duties," royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. "Princess Anne is seen as the hardest-working royal, and Charlotte right now seems to have the same steely resolve to do things correctly." Charlotte, third in line to the throne, is the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales. A source told People magazine that Charlotte, along with her siblings, is being raised by the couple to "strike a balance between private life and duty." Harry currently resides in the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito with his wife and two children. He told the BBC that he "can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K." The prince said he loves Britain and "it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland." Harry claimed that he and his family are endangered when visiting Britain because of hostility aimed at him and Meghan on social media and through relentless hounding by news media. PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON 'DEDICATED TO DUTY' AS MONARCHY'S FUTURE: A REAL PARTNERSHIP According to several royal experts and multiple reports, Harry and William are not on speaking terms. Sources close to Harry previously told Fox News Digital that Harry's calls and letters to his father go unanswered. Fordwich said William has been prioritizing family and duty. She believes his children are on the right path to success, regardless of where they are in the line of succession. "Those close to the family agree that Princess Charlotte, [in particular], is extremely levelheaded and mature beyond her years, often keeping her brothers, George and Louis, in check during public engagements," said Chard. "The hope is that when Prince George ascends to the throne, she will be by his side for support, just as Princess Anne has been such a stalwart support for King Charles III." In his interview, Harry said he could forgive his family. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," Harry article source: Prince Harry's betrayal driving Prince William to protect kids from heir-and-spare nightmare: expert
