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Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The dry comment the late Queen made at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding
There were plenty of nerves in St George's Chapel on Prince Harry and Meghan 's wedding day. The ceremony was watched by almost two billion viewers worldwide and hordes of well-wishers lined the streets of Windsor to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds. But the Queen, known by those closest to her for her sharp wit, used humour as an attempt to defuse some of the nerves of the day. The Sussexes enlisted photographer Alexi Lubomirski to return for the wedding day after taking their engagement photos. To mark the couple's seven-year wedding anniversary, he shared a video revealing behind-the-scenes details of the day on his TikTok page. He admitted being anxious to impress the family and asked Harry for tips. The prince reportedly told him: 'My grandparents have taken so many pictures in their lives, it's not their fun part. If you don't get it quickly, they're just going to move out.' And Harry wasn't wrong. Lubomirski prepared to have everything ready for them to arrive but, he explained, the late Queen and Philip arrived before the scene was set. He recalled saying: 'I'm terribly sorry your Majesty, we're going to be about five minutes.' Her dry response was: 'It's not me you need to worry about.' She was, of course, referring to Philip. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward once said the Queen was 'a master of the understatement delivered in her best deadpan voice'. Prince Philip has a long history of losing his temper while waiting for photographers, once even swearing on camera. During the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2015 Philip let slip a swear word during a photocall. Sitting in the front row with other Second World War veterans, the then 94-year-old lost his patience as a photographer dithered. Philip stares at the photographer before losing his temper and shouting: 'Just take the f****** picture!' William, standing in the row behind with the Earl and Countess of Wessex, smiled in response. Last year, royal photographer Arthur Edwards told The Sun that working with Philip came with its challenges. Arthur, who photographed the royals for nearly five decades, said: 'Photographing the Queen for many years was an absolute joy. 'Photographing Prince Philip for many years was not so good. 'I mean, he had not a lot of time for the media, and he sort of treated us a bit like telegraph poles, you know, just walk around us.' Samir Hussein, who photographed the duke for 15 years, said that Philip's sense of humour was one of the main reasons why he enjoyed working with him. The photographer described the royal as 'a very witty man' with a 'sense of mischief.' But the late Queen could also be impatient. According to American photographer Annie Leibovitz, the monarch was not always a happy subject - which was documented in the BBC documentary 'A Year with the Queen'. In March 2007, Leibovitz had hoped to shoot the Queen at Windsor Castle astride one of her many horses. Instead, she was offered 25 minutes at Buckingham Palace. The Queen reportedly arrived late and was described as being 'perturbed', saying: 'I don't have much time.' And it seems a lack of patience with photographers could run in the family. In 2005, while on a skiing holiday in Switzerland with his sons William and Harry, Charles commented on the photographer without realising his microphone was live. He was heard muttering 'Bloody people,' 'I hate doing this,'and commenting specifically on a BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, saying: 'I can't bear that man. He's so awful, he really is.' These comments became public and caused some consternation, with his press secretary later saying he regretted his remarks. The photographer wasn't the only person who was nervous on the Sussexes' wedding day. As soon as Harry entered St George's Chapel on May 19, 2018, body language expert Judi James could tell he was riddled with nerves. Harry 'was so patently nervous' that Ms James counted as he performed 12 self-touching body checks including wringing his hands, fiddling with his gloves and tugging at his blue doeskin frockcoat - all of which suggest extreme anxiety. 'His lip-licking would normally suggest a dry mouth caused by the same,' Ms James told Harper's Bazaar. Expert lip reader Terry Ruane also noticed Harry's nerves ahead of the fairytale ceremony, when he was seen asking his brother and best man Prince William: 'Is Meghan here?' When Meghan thought the crowds were behind her and no one could see them anymore, she turned to Harry and seemingly said, 'Oh f***!' as she put her hand over her chest The anxious groom later quipped: 'My hair is going to go grey.' But the nerves may have caught up to Meghan as soon as the couple's horse-drawn carriage finished its climb up the Long Walk. When she thought the crowds were behind her, Meghan turned to Harry and seemingly said, 'Oh f***!' as she put her hand over her chest. But the moment was captured on camera for the public to see. Even Prince Harry seemed overwhelmed with one lip reading expert suggesting he said, 'I'm ready for a drink now' as the carriage trundled to the lavish reception. For a royal wedding of this scale, it is no wonder there were so many nerves on the big day. But the late Queen, who was often seen as stoic and serious, proved that even royals can joke around and make light of a situation. Who is photographer Alexi Lubomirski? New York based fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski is famed for his portraits of the Hollywood elite, and was chosen to shoot Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement photos and the official family portraits on their wedding day. The father-of-two, who was born in the UK, was a protégé of Mario Testino who was beloved by Harry's mother Princess Diana and photographed William and Kate when they got engaged in 2010. The star photographer is also a prince of the Polish House of Lubomirski, whose royal lineage stretches back 500 years on his father's side and gives him the title: 'His Serene Highness'. Alexi is a firm favorite with celebrities, and has shot cover stars such as Julianne Moore, Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Beyoncé, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez, Selma Hayek, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston, Emilia Clarke, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson. The photographer was born in England to a Peruvian/English mother and a Polish/French father and at the age of eight, he moved to Botswana with his mother and English stepfather. He was introduced to star photographer Mario Testino and joined him in Paris as his assistant for four years and has worked regularly for Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. He has also published books including 'Princely advice for a happy life' - a tribute to his two sons - and 'diverse beauty' about models not usually used in fashion magazines and campaigns. All proceeds from his books are donated to the charity Concern Worldwide - which fights world poverty - of which Alexi is an ambassador. The photographer had never done an engagement shoot before taking on the prestigious commission from Harry and Meghan. 'It was one of the easiest, most joyful jobs because they were so deliciously in love,' he told E! News. He added that there was no effort needed to capture the couple in a variety of romantic poses, after telling them to just be themselves while he took their pictures. 'It was nutty. It was a very surreal end to the year because it came out of nowhere,' he recalled. 'I think one of Meghan's friends saw me on Instagram that I was in England during the announcement of the engagement. 'I was told later that this person said to her, "You should meet Alexi. He's great. You'd love him", and that was it.' In a statement released after the engagement shoot, Alexi said: 'It was an incredible honour to be asked to document this wonderful event, but also a great privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple's love for one another. 'I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took of them, such was their happiness together'.
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
King Charles ‘livid' as Sandringham is running out of pheasants to shoot and faces calling off annual Boxing Day shoot
THE King has come out all guns blazing — because his royal estate is running out of pheasants to shoot. Charles, 76, was said to be livid over a series of blunders that left the game bird numbers dwindling at Sandringham. 5 He even faces calling off his annual Boxing Day shoot — and a long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been given the boot. A source said: 'It was a total cock-up. No birds, no bang, just red faces. "The King wasn't having it.' Sandringham is one of the few remaining wild shoots in the country, meaning the game is reared where it is shot. The King, who backs traditional countryside practices, has been reluctant to release birds from breeders to get numbers up. But maintaining a more eco-friendly wild shoot has proved challenging, leaving pheasant numbers in decline. There are now fears royals will be left twiddling their trigger fingers on Boxing Day as the annual shoot — a firm family favourite — is in doubt. The occasion is seen as a rare chance for family bonding, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who particularly dislike children taking part. The ousted keeper, who ran the estate's game for years, has been shown the door. Our source said: 'Let's just say he's well and truly plucked off.' King Charles lands in Canada for landmark state visit Buckingham Palace declined to comment. 5 5 5
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gifts fit for a King! The astonishing presents given to the Royal Family are revealed – from a £340,000 Rolls-Royce for Charles and platinum and diamond brooches for Elizabeth II – but they're not all glamorous
What do you give the family who has everything? Well, in the case of the late Queen Elizabeth, at least two platinum and diamond brooches to celebrate her landmark 2022 jubilee. And for her new heir, King Charles? How about a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, which starts at a mere £340,000? Those are some of the more eye-popping items included in the royal 'gift lists' released by Buckingham Palace yesterday, albeit amid hundreds of far more mundane items like baseball caps, socks, books and a model of a slurry tanker. Royal aides have been obliged to keep a log of every item given to senior royals in the course of their duties since the 1990s, following a string of scandals over the disposal- and even selling-on for profit - of often expensive offerings. Details of the gift lists are normally given out annually but have been delayed in recent years by the pandemic, followed by a series of 'extraordinary' events including the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee and death in 2022, followed by the King's accession, coronation and cancer diagnosis. However they have now been issued for the years 2020-2023 and make for fascinating reading. Many of the hundreds of entries are from well-wishers and members of the public offering inexpensive but heartfelt gifts on public walkabouts or official visits - ranging from bottles of whisky and gin, to jars of honey and wooly hats. Poignantly, they even go back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth who would have no doubt been delighted to receive six dog jackets of varying sizes from the Australia Royal Air Force to mark its centenary in 2021. More unusually that year she also received a NASA face mask - although it may still have been useful towards the latter stages of the pandemic - and gifts of a Tiffany sterling silver box and a floral brooch from President Biden over tea at Windsor Castle. The following year - 2022 - was her historic Platinum Jubilee when, understandably, well-wishers great and small were keen to pass on their regards for the 70 years in the throne. There were personalised pony blankets from the President of Switzerland, as well as diamond and platinum brooches from the Goldsmiths' Company and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Even President Xi Jinping of China felt sufficiently moved to send her an array of gifts including a wine vessel enshrined with Chinese motifs representing royalty and good fortune. One also has to wonder whether Her Late Majesty ever got round to drinking her 'Coronation Street gin', handed to her during a tour of the famous TV street. It should be noted that very few of these items would be considered her personal property. Instead they go into the Royal Collection, the unparalleled collection of historic and often priceless arts, antiques and artefacts held in trust by the sovereign on behalf of the nation. They cannot be sold, profited from or disposed of. One of the most eye-catching entries included in the list is the Rolls Royce Cullinan II car given to him by his good friend and fellow ruler, the King of Bahrain (the two pictured together November 11, 2024) The following year marked King Charles' coronation and again the gifts flooded in - there are more than 260 entries for that year alone. The most eye-catching undoubtedly is the Rolls Royce Cullinan II car given to him by his good friend and fellow ruler, the King of Bahrain. It is important, again, to note that this is not considered the King's personal property and, palace aides confirm, has gone into the 'Royal Fleet', housed at the Royal Mews in London. It will be used on official occasions. Appropriately given the King's love of horticulture and farming there were several dozen trees, plants and bushes from various well-wishers, which would have been planted on the royal estates. Indeed, the King and Queen belatedly planted one, a tree from the King of Sweden, in the grounds at Windsor just last month. He and the Queen also received 'his and her fragrances' from J Floris Ltd, plus matching walking boots personalised with their respective royal cyphers from the President of Hungry - an absolutely genius gift, it has to be said. Buckingham Palace would never be so crass to calculate the value of any particular item and some are classed rather coyly to minimise speculation such as the 'gentleman's wristwatch' received from the President of the Republic of Korea. It's fair to say it is unlikely to be Ratner's. Princess Anne received some corkers including a model of a 'slurry tanker' and five mouth-guards, along with lots of rugby balls, tartan, edible goods - and 51 acorns. The then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - William and Catherine - received a snorkel set, wetsuit, pair of diving fins and a swimming cap on their official tour of the Caribbean in 2022, along with a model boat which they proudly posed aside in the Bahamas. They have also received, over the last few years, hundreds of gifts for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, including cuddly toys, t-shirts, rugby shirts and books. According to internal guidelines, members of the Royal Family are permitted to accept any gifts they are given in the course of royal duties. Indeed when it comes to fellow heads of state or official ambassadors, the giving and receiving of gifts is an important part of official protocol. They are not considered the personal property of the member of the Royal Family who receives them but may be held by the sovereign in right of the crown or designated in due course as part of the Royal Collection, the rules state. It is understood that there are huge stores of these treasures at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle According to internal guidelines, members of the Royal Family are permitted to accept any gifts they are given in the course of royal duties but items like flowers are often donated to local hospitals, hospices and care homes. Royals can eat any food given, while perishable gifts with a value of less than £150 can be given to charity or staff. Some items such flowers are regularly donated to local hospitals, hospices and care homes. Sources told the Mail on Thursday that the existing 2003 guidelines are likely to be updated in the near future in a bid to encourage sustainability. This may include allowing smaller, inexpensive unofficial gifts to be donated to worthy causes, where appropriate.
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Japan's palace confirms former princess Mako has first baby
Japan's Princess Mako and her fiance Kei Komuro look at each other during a press conference at Akasaka East Residence in Tokyo, on Sept. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, Pool, File) TOKYO — Former Japanese princess Mako Komuro has given birth to her first child, palace officials confirmed Friday, though they gave no details, saying she is no longer a royal member. The Imperial Household Agency said both the mother and child are in good health, but did not disclose the baby's date of birth or gender. The former princess, 33, is a niece of Emperor Naruhito. She married a former college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, and renounced her royal status in 2021 as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. Days after their marriage, the couple moved to New York where her husband works as a lawyer. Officials said that while the birth involved a former royal, the palace decided to publicly confirm the news after media reports earlier this month on the baby's arrival. They added that they hoped Mako would live in a quiet environment. Mako's parents, Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko, and younger siblings — Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito — are delighted and wished Mako's family happiness, officials said. Japanese tabloid magazine Josei Seven recently published images of Mako and Kei Komuro seen walking with a baby stroller in a neighborhood of New York. Mako and her husband met at Tokyo's International Christian University. They announced in September 2017 their intention to marry the following year, but the wedding was suspended for four years due to a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro's mother. Due to the controversy, Mako also declined a dowry to which she was entitled for leaving the imperial family. Mako's loss of royal status comes from the Imperial House Law, which allows only male succession. The rule leaves only Akishino and his son Hisahito in line to succeed Naruhito. A government panel is discussing a more stable succession system, but conservatives reject female succession and only plan to allow female royals to help perform public duties after marriage. Written by Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Japan's palace confirms former princess Mako has first baby
Former Japanese princess Mako Komuro has given birth to her first child, palace officials confirmed Friday, though they gave no details, saying she is no longer a royal member. The Imperial Household Agency said both the mother and child are in good health, but did not disclose the baby's date of birth or gender. The former princess, 33, is a niece of Emperor Naruhito. She married a former college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, and renounced her royal status in 2021 as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. Days after their marriage, the couple moved to New York where her husband works as a lawyer. Officials said that while the birth involved a former royal, the palace decided to publicly confirm the news after media reports earlier this month on the baby's arrival. They added that they hoped Mako would live in a quiet environment. Mako's parents, Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko, and younger siblings — Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito — are delighted and wished Mako's family happiness, officials said. Japanese tabloid magazine Josei Seven recently published images of Mako and Kei Komuro seen walking with a baby stroller in a neighborhood of New York. Mako and her husband met at Tokyo's International Christian University. They announced in September 2017 their intention to marry the following year, but the wedding was suspended for four years due to a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro's mother. Due to the controversy, Mako also declined a dowry to which she was entitled for leaving the imperial family. Mako's loss of royal status comes from the Imperial House Law, which allows only male succession. The rule leaves only Akishino and his son Hisahito in line to succeed Naruhito. A government panel is discussing a more stable succession system, but conservatives reject female succession and only plan to allow female royals to help perform public duties after marriage.
