Latest news with #KensingtonPalace
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
William pays tribute to rangers protecting snow leopards in wildlife series
William's comments are made in an on-screen introduction for the latest episode of his new wildlife documentary series, Guardians, highlighting the work of rangers across the globe. The future king says: 'Snow leopards are such beautiful creatures, known as the Ghosts of the Himalayas, and just having sight of one is so rare that it feels incredibly special. Snow leopards like these animals, pictured in a UK zoo, are coming into conflict with humans in the xxxxxx. Chris Ison/PA 'These elusive, big cats may be rarely seen, but they share a deep connection with local people, and as the snow leopards' natural food sources have become scarce, they have ventured closer to human settlements in search of prey, killing livestock and leading to conflicts with local communities. 'In this episode, we meet Kalzang — a ranger bridging the space between tradition and progress. 'His work protects these animals, powers scientific discovery, and helps turn fear into understanding – while guiding a new generation towards sustainable coexistence.' Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough is William's 'inspiration' for the six-part series he hopes will help nature's wardens be 'valued, respected, seen' and promote the 'wonderful' regions they protect. William has cited Sir David Attenborough as the inspiration for his series about wildlife rangers (Kensington Palace/The Earthshot Prize) Ranger Kalzang Gurmet and his team working in the Indian Himalayas are featured in the episode called the Guardians of the Spiti Valley and seen trekking in the mountains. Mr Gurmet, field manager for Nature Conservation Foundation, said: 'In the context of conserving wild animals, it's said in our stories that wild animals are the jewel of the forest. 'So, for this reason, conservationists are essential. Ultimately, it will benefit us and our region.'
Western Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
William pays tribute to rangers protecting snow leopards in wildlife series
William's comments are made in an on-screen introduction for the latest episode of his new wildlife documentary series, Guardians, highlighting the work of rangers across the globe. The future king says: 'Snow leopards are such beautiful creatures, known as the Ghosts of the Himalayas, and just having sight of one is so rare that it feels incredibly special. Snow leopards like these animals, pictured in a UK zoo, are coming into conflict with humans in the xxxxxx. Chris Ison/PA 'These elusive, big cats may be rarely seen, but they share a deep connection with local people, and as the snow leopards' natural food sources have become scarce, they have ventured closer to human settlements in search of prey, killing livestock and leading to conflicts with local communities. 'In this episode, we meet Kalzang — a ranger bridging the space between tradition and progress. 'His work protects these animals, powers scientific discovery, and helps turn fear into understanding – while guiding a new generation towards sustainable coexistence.' Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough is William's 'inspiration' for the six-part series he hopes will help nature's wardens be 'valued, respected, seen' and promote the 'wonderful' regions they protect. William has cited Sir David Attenborough as the inspiration for his series about wildlife rangers (Kensington Palace/The Earthshot Prize) Ranger Kalzang Gurmet and his team working in the Indian Himalayas are featured in the episode called the Guardians of the Spiti Valley and seen trekking in the mountains. Mr Gurmet, field manager for Nature Conservation Foundation, said: 'In the context of conserving wild animals, it's said in our stories that wild animals are the jewel of the forest. 'So, for this reason, conservationists are essential. Ultimately, it will benefit us and our region.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The deeper reason why Queen Mary is embracing a very specific rule from Kate Middleton's style playbook
Princess Kate and Queen Mary of Denmark are considered among the most stylish modern royals. For years, their respective sartorial looks and styling choices have been deemed flawless by style watchers. Indeed, a new piece worn by either the British Princess or the Danish Queen had the ability to spark a frenzy among shoppers – particularly when it was an affordable high street buy. But pundits have recently noticed a significant shift in both royal women's style choices of late. Namely, both Queen Mary, 53, and Princess Kate, 43, are re-wearing and recycling beloved pieces from their closet more than ever. In a bygone era, a royal wearing the same outfit repeatedly was a fashion faux pas. But in today's environmentally-conscious world, circular fashion has become accepted and even excepted. Outfit repeating is certainly not new to either of the respective wives of Prince William or King Frederik X. Over the years, both stylish royal mothers have been known to on occasion re-wear beloved items like jackets, shoes and dresses. However, in 2025 there appears to be a distinct increase in the number of occasions that both royals have opted to dive into their own wardrobe. Now, style watchers speculate that it may be a result of a watershed move made about Princess Kate earlier this year – and it could have impacted on Queen Mary too. Back in February, a statement was released by a Kensington Palace spokesperson declaring that they would no longer be regularly issuing details about Kate's outfits, which is something they'd routinely done in the past. A palace source told The Times: 'There is an absolute feeling that it [the public-facing work] is not about what the princess is wearing.' 'She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. 'There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it's about the substance.' By contrast, when Queen Camilla wears an outfit, Buckingham Palace continues to offer details about her attire. The announcement came after Princess Kate endured a particularly difficult previous year, having been diagnosed with cancer and undergone chemotherapy treatment in 2024. As the Princess of Wales made her return to royal engagements and being in the public eye, the statement about her new fashion ethos was interpreted as the ushering in of a new era. The Princess then appeared to back up this fashion information blackout by opting to more frequently re-wear previously worn outfits. Within the past year, 12 out of 18 of Kate's public appearances have seen her re-work old favourites from her wardrobe. The decision to recycle a previously seen outfit has the effect of lessening media attention on what Kate is wearing. As a result, any coverage of the Princess becomes focused on the reason for her along with the particular causes of significance to her. Further to all of this, there's also the added aspect of Kate's husband Prince William's carving out his legacy initiative in the environmentally focused Earthshot Prize. Kate's decision to embrace circular fashion is therefore also on brand for both the Prince and Princess of Wales. All of which brings us back to the impact this decision could potentially have had on Queen Mary of Denmark. In recent years, both women have taken on increasingly prominent positions within their respective royal families. This has come with increased royal engagements, responsibilities and a dedication to pursuing causes that are meaningful to them. Both women therefore seem to be letting go of the idea that fashionable new outfits are required for every outing and are instead letting their work do the talking. And the simplest way to do this is by making their fashion looks a repetitive non-event. Just as Kate has stepped up her reliance on old faithfuls from her closet, so too has Mary increasingly become a fan of outfit repeats – all while still being extremely stylish. Some of the Australian-born Queen's most recent outings have involved her wearing clothes we've seen before. For instance, when Mary and Frederik hosted a UN Chief Executives dinner, the Queen revived a beloved Erdem Narella print pleated chiffon dress that she'd previously worn on numerous occasions, including during a 2023 state visit from Norwegian royals, King Harald and Queen Sonja. Even recent important birthday occasions have seen Mary trundle out previously seen frocks. At Prince Frederik's 57th birthday balcony appearance, Mary wheeled out one of her many Soeren Le Schmidt dresses. Then, at her daughter Princess Isabella's 18th birthday gala in April, she reached for her By Malene Birger off-the shoulder top and long sequin silver skirt - a combo she first debuted 17 years earlier. The Aussie-born royal's comfortability with recycling her outfits was even more apparent during some of the biggest events on the royal Danish calendar. The New Year's reception at Christiansborg Palace is a royal tradition – and significantly, this year's was Mary and Frederik's first as Queen and King. Surely an event of this magnitude and formality cries out for a new extravagant ball gown. And yet, Mary surprised fashion pundits by instead re-wearing a signature favourite in her blue Julie Fagerholt gown. As the New Year celebrations continued, Mary continued to stun style watchers by re-wearing another formal favourite in her Teri Jon by Rickie Freeman gold and white gown. Environmental conscious behaviour is a cornerstone of Frederik and Mary's reign - just as it will one day be for future reigning British couple, Wills and Kate. So on that level alone, it makes sense that Queen Mary continues to – as she's always done – make sustainable choices when it comes to her outfits. Mary reiterated this message last year's Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, telling the crowd: 'Our planet is beautiful and fragile and we have a responsibility to protect and preserve it for our children and coming generations.' But beyond it being a sensible sustainability choice, there is potential that Mary may also be following Kate's fashion lead and starting to advantageously use outfit repetition as a means to ensure that the focus remains on the issues of importance to her and her royal legacy. Watch this (closet) space.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
How Queen Victoria and Queen Mary both endured tragedy - and the other fascinating similarities between the two royals born nearly 48 years apart
Despite being born 48 years apart, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary of Teck have far more in common than first meets the eye - apart from both being the matriarchs of the Royal Family. Queen Victoria was born 206 years ago tomorrow in the same room of Kensington Palace as the then-Princess Mary of Teck almost exactly 48 years later on May 26 1967. Mary was the great-granddaughter of King George III, making her Victoria's first cousin once removed. The Queen came to visit the newborn Mary and described her as 'a very fine one, with pretty little features and a quantity of hair'. Through her marriage to Prince George in 1893 - whose father Edward was the heir to the throne - Mary would one day become Queen too. In many more ways Queen Victoria's and Queen Mary's lives were remarkably similar. Both were impacted by personal tragedy and massive societal changes taking place in Britain. At birth, both women's lives could have been very different due to their parents being quite low-ranking royals in the family. Victoria was the only child of Prince Edward, the fourth son of King George III. This meant at birth she was only fifth in line to the throne - a distance that is often enough to make the likelihood of becoming queen a slim one. However, a number of deaths in the family - which included the King and Victoria's own father who passed away when she was less than a year old - saw Victoria rise to third in line. Then the death of King George IV in 1830 saw William IV crowned and Victoria became heir presumptive at just 10 years old. Victoria's whirlwind journey to the throne culminated with her being crowned Queen in 1837 when she was 18. Similarly, Mary's parents were minor royals. Her father was Prince Francis the Duke of Teck - a member of the German House of Wurttemberg dynasty which ruled over what is modern-day Stuttgart in Germany. Her mother was Princess Mary, a fellow German from the Kingdom of Hanover. The family were not as wealthy as you might have expected and her father had no inheritance or wealth. In order to live a more frugal existence they relocated to Florence in the 1880s. Victoria's whirlwind journey to the throne culminated with her being crowned Queen in 1837 when she was just 18 years old By the end of the decade the family had returned to London and she became engaged to Prince Albert, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. But tragedy struck when he died from pneumonia just six weeks later. With the help of Queen Victoria, Mary then became engaged to Albert's younger brother George who was now second in line to the throne. They married on July 6 1893. Just 17 years later Mary became Queen consort in 1910 when her husband succeeded his father as King. Following their marriages, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary had plenty of children - giving birth to nine and six respectively - but both were known to be somewhat distant towards their offspring. Victoria wrote that she found pregnancy difficult and was uncomfortable in the presence of children but, like many women at the time, a large family was her ambition. Their first child, Victoria, was born in 1840. The Princess Royal was followed by Albert Edward (1841), Alice (1843), Alfred (1844), Helena (1846), Louise (1848), Arthur (1850), Leopold (1853) and Beatrice (1857). The day-to-day care of her children was delegated to governesses including Baroness Louise Lehzen - who had been a major supporter of Victoria while she grew up under the draconian Kensington System administered by her controlling mother. Similarly, Mary was a hands-off mother to her six children. Edward was born in 1894. He was followed by Albert, later King George VI (1895), Mary (1897), Henry (1900), George (1902) and John (1905). Both Mary and Prince George failed to notice the abuse of Edward and Albert at the hands of their nanny who would often pinch the two boys. King Edward VIII, when he heard of his mother's death in 1953, wrote: 'Mother could have been so hard and cruel towards her eldest son for so many years and yet so demanding at the end without relenting a scrap. 'I'm afraid the fluids in her veins have always been as icy cold as they are now in death.' Nevertheless, it still remains clear that both Queens loved and cherished their children dearly. Victoria had marble sculptures made of each of her nine children - produced from casts taken of them while they were asleep. And Edward wrote fondly about Mary in his memoirs: 'Her soft voice, her cultivated mind, the cosy room overflowing with personal treasures were all inseparable ingredients of the happiness associated with this last hour of a child's day. A future King George V and Princess Mary in 1893. Both Mary and Prince George failed to notice the abuse of Edward and Albert at the hands of their nanny who would often pinch the two boys 'Such was my mother's pride in her children that everything that happened to each one was of the utmost importance to her. With the birth of each new child, Mama started an album in which she painstakingly recorded each progressive stage of our childhood.' Tragically, the two women also suffered their fair share of grief during their long reigns. Victoria's husband of 21 years, Prince Albert, died in 1861, aged only 42. The Queen was devastated. At a Privy Council meeting three weeks after his death she could not utter a word. She wrote to her uncle Leopold: 'The poor fatherless baby of eight months is now the utterly broken-hearted and crushed widow of forty-two! My life as a happy one is ended! The world is gone for me!' Victoria wore black for the rest of her life and her sharp withdrawal from public life lasted ten years. The monarch almost obsessively tried to keep the presence of Albert in the lives of her nine children. At one of her son's weddings, she insisted the siblings pose around a bust of Albert. Prince Leopold (pictured) who died from a cerebral hemorrhage aged 30. Writing about his death in her journal, Victoria said: 'Another awful blow has fallen upon me and all of us today' Meanwhile, the death of King George V in 1936 brought an end to his and Mary's 43 years of marriage - meaning they were married for longer than Albert was alive. Mary issued a message of gratitude to the nation for their condolences after the King's death, expressing her appreciation for their support. Her life differs from that of her cousin's at this point as with the death of Prince Albert Victoria was still sovereign while Mary ceased being Queen Consort and instead became the Queen Mother. In her new role she lived through a tumultuous period of the 1930s when her son, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Although she was supportive of her son, Mary could never understand why he would neglect his royal duties. When the timid Prince Albert became George VI she saw it as her duty to provide moral support to the new King alongside his wife Elizabeth. Yet another devastating similarity which permeates their lives is the death of their children. Three of Victoria's nine children died before her. Her second eldest daughter, Princess Alice died, when she was 35 from diphtheria on December 14 1878 - on the 17th anniversary of Prince Albert's death. Victoria described the coincidence of the date as 'incredible' and 'mysterious'. In a letter to her eldest daughter, Victoria, the queen wrote: 'My precious child, who stood by me and upheld me seventeen years ago on the same day taken, and by such an awful and fearful disease. 'She had darling Papa's nature, and much of his self-sacrificing character and fearless and entire devotion to duty!' Tragedy struck the Royal Family again in 1884 when Victoria's youngest son Leopold died aged 30. Leopold had hemophilia and was holidaying in Cannes, the south of France, when he slipped and fell, causing him to suffer a cerebral hemorrhage. Writing about his death in her journal, his mother said: 'Another awful blow has fallen upon me and all of us today. 'My beloved Leopold, that bright, clever son, who had so many times recovered from such fearful illness, and from various small accidents, has been taken from us! 'To lose another dear child, far from me, and one who was so gifted, and such a help to me, is too dreadful!' Queen Victoria. Following her husband's death she wore black for the rest of her life Victoria's son Alfred died from throat cancer in July 1900 just months before Victoria died in January 1901. Of Mary's six children, three died before her. In 1919 Mary's youngest child, Prince John, died aged 13. The Prince had severe epilepsy and what is now speculated to have been autistic. He was known as the 'Lost Prince' because he was kept away from the public eye. He was sent to live in a house on the Sandringham estate as his condition deteriorated, and he died in 1919 at the age of 13 after suffering a severe seizure. Upon his death, Mary described his death as a 'great relief' to a close friend. 'For [John] it is a great relief, as his malady was becoming worse as he grew older, and he has thus been spared much suffering. 'I cannot say how grateful we feel to God for having taken him in such a peaceful way, he just slept quietly into his heavenly home, no pain no struggle, just peace for the poor little troubled spirit,' Mary said. Queen Mary with Queen Elizabeth II (left) and the Queen Mother (right) at the funeral of King George VI. The loss of a third child had a profound impact on Queen Mary During World War Two, the Royal Family, like thousands across the UK, suffered the loss of family members. This included the death of Mary's son Prince George. He was one of 15 passengers killed in the Dunbeath air crash in August 1942. The plane crashed into the Scottish Highlands while on a routine flight from RAF Invergordon to RAF Reykjavik. Mary also outlived her son King George VI, who died in February 1952 from cancer - just over a year before Mary passed away in March 1953. The loss of a third child had a profound impact on Queen Mary. She reportedly told Princess Marie Louise, grandaughter of Queen Victoria: 'I have lost three sons through death, but I have never been privileged to be there to say a last farewell to them.' Finally, during their long lives both Queen Victoria and Queen Mary lived to see massive societal changes in the United Kingdom. When Victoria was born in 1819 the light bulb had not been invented and the horse-drawn carriage was the main mode of transportation. By the end of her reign the white heat of the industrial revolution had brought marvelous inventions to Britain, including steam trains that journey times from days to mere hours. On top of this Victoria had overseen the sun rise on the British Empire, which became the world's most powerful superpower of the 1800s. She also ushered in the era of constitutional monarchy, which saw the Queen swap hard power for influence over British politics. It remains the system of government in Britain to this day. Queen Victoria's funeral in 1901. Queen Victoria is now one of the most famous monarchs to have ever ruled - second only to Queen Elizabeth II - with her cultural impact continuing to this day Meanwhile, Queen Mary's life was permeated by periods of deadly wars, which led to the rapid development of new forms of warfare. She was Queen Consort during World War One and the Queen mother during World War Two. In the latter she reportedly would visit troops and directed the gatherings of scrap materials. Mary was born at a time when cavalry charges were still common in war and lived to see the invention of the hydrogen bomb - the most devastating weapon mankind has ever created. She was also Queen when the Empire reached its peak in 1920, covering approximately one quarter of the world, and by the time of her death decolonisation had begun. In death, both women have left a lasting legacy in Britain. Queen Victoria is now one of the most famous monarchs to have ever ruled - second only to Queen Elizabeth II - with her cultural impact continuing to this day. Queen Mary is remembered as a 'grand Queen' who was 'above politics' as well as an avid collector of antiques. Many of her most treasured items - including her Dolls House - are on display in Windsor Castle.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle's 3-word verdict on meeting sister-in-law Kate
Although reports over the years might suggest a somewhat strained relationship between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex, a resurfaced clip from Meghan's engagement interview shows a sweet glimpse into their initial interactions. During their 2017 interview with the BBC's Mishal Husain, Prince Harry fondly recalled the anticipation surrounding Meghan's introduction to his family. He shared that his elder brother, Prince William, and Kate were "longing to meet" Meghan, and that the first meeting went "swimmingly". Living in close proximity within the Kensington Palace estate at the time allowed for several early get-togethers. It was at this point in the conversation that Meghan offered her own perspective on meeting her future sister-in-law. Meghan described Kate with a simple yet heartfelt three-word verdict: "She's been wonderful." Harry agreed, adding: "Amazing, as has William as well, you know, fantastic support." However, a few years later, the narrative surrounding their first encounter appeared to shift. When the couple released their explosive Netflix documentary called Harry & Meghan in 2022, Meghan described the initial meeting with a somewhat different tone. During the series, Meghan expressed her surprise at how formal the royal family were behind closed doors. In the second episode, the former actress explained: "I met her [Kate] for the first time, I think we went for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and barefoot. I was a hugger, I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that was jarring for a lot of Brits." As footage of William and Kate aired, she added: "I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being, and then you close the door, [sighs], I can relax now. But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me." During the docuseries, Meghan spoke about her dislike of the engagement interview, calling it an "orchestrated reality show". In the historic interview, the couple appeared happy and relaxed as they spoke about how the "stars were aligned" when they met and how Harry proposed during a cosy night as he cooked a roast chicken dinner. Speaking about the interview, Meghan said: "We went right inside. Took the coat off. Sat down and did the interview. It was all in that same moment."
