Kate Middleton’s portrait splits opinion as Harry and Meghan’s next tour revealed – latest on royals

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a General Election, the royal family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”

The upcoming election could see King Charles welcome the third prime minister of his reign.

Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne and one of the Queen’s oldest grandchildren, has revealed what her mother truly thought about her “unroyal” piercing.

“At least I didn’t have it coming out of my nose, or anything,” Zara said to Tatler Magazine years later in 2011, discussing her teenage style choice, and it has been reported that Princess Anne didn’t mind her daughter’s metallic accessory at all.

The Princess Royal, “unfazed by [Zara’s] shocking new look, simply [asked] if her daughter could speak properly with her piercing”.

This comes after she and every other member of Prince Harry’s immediate family failed to attend the thanksgiving service marking the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.

The Princess of York, 34, said: “Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family yesterday to meet some special individuals at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party who have gone above and beyond to support their local communities and the country.”

The Duke of Sussex opted to stay at a hotel in London during his last visit to the UK instead of staying at St James’ Palace.

Royal broadcaster Helena Chard said Harry’s choice seems to suggest there are “deeper-rooted problems” as she described the Duke’s behaviour as “beyond strange”.

Ms Chard told Fox News Digital: “He could have stayed at St James’ Palace, a stone’s throw away from Clarence House, where the King is usually based. Harry turned down staying in a palace, where he would have received armed security protection from the SO14 Royalty Protection Group. He chose to stay at a hotel in Mayfair without this protection.

“Not only would he have received armed security protection, there is a far higher chance that he would have seen his father. It worries me that Prince Harry has deeper-rooted problems, most likely related to his mother, as I feel his behaviour is beyond strange. I am, however, aware that his behavior keeps the victim narrative alive, a narrative which maybe he feels serves a purpose at this time.”

According to a report in The Telegraph, Harry rejected his father’s invitation due to security concerns.

The TV star, who is also 48, said he had not been asked yet, “everybody else has presumed, I won’t presume”, he said.

He then took the opportunity to explain why Ant was not present, joking to King Charles that “he was at home breastfeeding.”

“I don’t know whether I broke royal protocol by giving that information,” he laughed.

The joke went down a storm with the King, who burst out laughing.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been using their royal titles as they go globe-trotting.

But royal author and expert Tom Quinn has exclusively told The Mirror that King Charles and Prince William “have had lengthy discussions about stripping Meghan and Harry of their royal titles, but they are terrified this would backfire and make the situation worse”.

Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, with them moving to America mere months later.

The Sussexes proudly sat in chairs labelled ‘Duke’ and ‘Duchess’ during their recent tour of Nigeria.

The royal, 35, read children at West Thornton Primary School the picture book When Dinosaurs Walked The Earth, written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Zehra Hicks.

She then took the opportunity to praise the power of picture books to bring families together.

“I really appreciate what stories can do, that special quality time, that moment at the end of the day, but also how important it is for reading in general for young people to make sure that we can do everything we can to make sure that these books really get into the hands of those that need it most,” she said.

Beatrice, who is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, has a two-year-old daughter, Sienna.

Prince William spoke about his hopes for his son as he mingled with guests at the Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday.

According to OK! the Duke of Cambridge spoke with Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, a padre serving at RAF Coningsby near Lincoln.

The future king told the minister that ten-year-old George would love to visit the base as he is a “potential pilot in the making”.

George, who is second in line to the throne, has been fascinated with aircraft since he was a toddler, with mum Kate revealing back in 2016 that her then three-year-old son was “obsessed with planes and wants to become an air cadet”.

Several royal engagements are up in the air following yesterday’s general election announcement.

As is customary, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that any engagement which “may appear to divert attention from [the] election” will be postponed.

This saw King Charles cancel all of his public engagements for the rest of this week.

Notable events now up in the air include the Trooping of the Colour, which takes place on the King’s official birthday on 15 June, the Order of the Garter on 17 June, as well as a Japanese state visit in late June.

As the Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter are ceremonial events, it is believed that these will still go ahead but because of the potential political implications, the Japanese state visit could be cancelled.

While the King has cancelled his public-facing engagements this week, he is still working behind the scenes and met with the Privy Council this morning to officially approve the proroguing of parliament ahead of the election.

Reflecting on Kate’s continued absence from public life, a source told the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden: “King Charles very much wanted to be seen by the public while he was undergoing his own cancer treatment – but this has not been the case for his daughter-in-law, however disappointing that might be for her admirers.

“As Sovereign, His Majesty is in a very different position from the Princess of Wales. There is no need for her to be seen while she’s recovering.”