“IS THIS THE ONE ROYAL DEVELOPMENT WILLIAM NEVER WANTED TO FACE?” Fresh reports surrounding Meghan Markle’s possible return to the UK are fueling intense speculation about how senior royals may respond behind closed doors. While supporters see it as a potential step toward healing old divisions, others believe the move could reopen unresolved tensions and place Prince William in an especially difficult position—turning what should be a routine visit into the latest source of debate within royal circles.

Prince Harry is employing “emotional blackmail” in a bid to bring his children back to Britain, a royal author has suggested. The Duke of Sussex will travel to the UK next month to promote the 2027 Invictus Games, but concerns over security could mean he makes the journey without his wife, Meghan Markle or his children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.

Harry has repeatedly challenged decisions relating to his protection in the UK and argued that the current arrangements – an assessment of security provisions on a case-by-case basis – leaves his family vulnerable. While the matter is currently under a Home Office review, the prince could be hoping to get King Charles on side by “emotionally blackmailing” him over seeing his grandchildren, royal commentator Tom Bower said.

He told the Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered podcast: “I don’t think the King is that desperate to meet Archie and Lili – that’s what Harry would like to believe, but the King’s got other concerns. As much as it’s wonderful to be a grandfather, I can also tell you that if your son is causing you problems, you’re not going to import even more problems. [And] Harry’s presence in Britain is always a problem.”

Zara Tindall may be devoted to all things horses, but one decision during her appearances at Royal Ascot this week has caught attention online. The Princess Royal’s daughter has joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family for every day of the annual event in Berkshire so far this week.

Like every other guest, Zara wears a name badge pinned to her dress, with hers allowing her access to the Royal Box. While her new sister-in-law, Harriet Phillips, is referred to as Mrs Peter Phillips on her badge, Zara’s reads Ms Zara Tindall.

While that has been Zara’s married name since her wedding to Mike Tindall in 2011, it appears that it is against tradition.

The Prince of Wales will be the guest editor for a November edition of Country Life magazine. Prince William is not the first member of the Royal Family to be given editorial control of the weekly magazine. His stepmother, Queen Camilla, produced a guest-edited edition in 2022 to mark her 75th birthday, which went on to become the magazine’s biggest-selling issue of all time.

The King, who was then the Prince of Wales, has also twice guest-edited Country Life. The first time was for his 65th birthday in November 2013 and then again for his 70th in 2018. In 2020, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, also guest-edited an edition for her 70th birthday.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been left “humiliated” after King Charles banned him from this year’s Garter Day festivities. The King, Queen and Royal Family attended Windsor Castle for the traditional procession on June 15, but the ex-prince was forced to watch from home.

Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast with host JJ Anisiobi, Express associate editor James Walker announced Mr Mountbatten Windsor had been “humiliated again”. James said: “This time it’s probably the worst yet for him. He’s been banned from Royal Garter Day and worst of all, Charles told him to hand back his Garter robes.”

King Charles wants to reconcile with Prince Harry, but there is one Royal Family member who has been tipped to avoid him when he returns to the UK. Biographer Phil Dampier said the monarch would like to see his youngest son, the Duke of Sussex, along with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, when Harry visits Britain for an Invictus Games event in July.

The author suggested the King “wants a reconciliation,” but this would likely be in private to avoid a meeting turning “into a circus”. While Mr Dampier speculated that Charles and Harry could meet, he doubted whether Queen Camilla would want to reacquaint herself with her stepson.

Prince Harry’s eye-watering £ 1.1million donation to Children in Need has come under scrutiny, as it has been claimed the money was drawn from charitable funds originally left by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The news of the donation came after Prince Harry’s last visit to the UK in September and was described as his own money rather than funds drawn from his Archewell Foundation.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Diary Editor Richard Eden claims the money was gifted by the Glen Beg Foundation, rather than by Harry himself. The foundation was established in 1999, two years after Diana’s death and was set up using funds from the Princess of Wales Charities Trust.

The Trust was set up by Diana in 1981, the same year that she married then-Prince Charles. It was financed by generous donations from companies and organisations that she visited or represented. When she died, the trust was split equally between Harry and Prince William.

Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are planning to travel to the UK next month alongside Prince Harry.

This will be the first time the entire family of four has travelled from the States together since 2022, when they attended Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Meghan subsequently joined Harry to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September, while Archie and Lilibet remained in the US.

Channel 5 presenter Jeremy Vine was joined on Wednesday’s edition of his self-titled show by Reform UK’s Ann Widdecombe and presenter Richard Bacon. While discussing the papers, they addressed “royal grand appearance as Royal Ascot begins.”

The Princess of Wales made her first Royal Ascot appearance since her cancer diagnosis this week at the meeting. She and Prince William were among the royals turning out for the second day of the famous horse racing festival. King Charles and Queen Camilla also attended the sporting event.

Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, are said to have been informed that they will not take their seats in the Royal Box at the prestigious June racing fixture, nor participate in the traditional Royal Procession alongside senior members of the monarchy, according to reports.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are plotting to humiliate Prince William with an “act of war” on their return to the United Kingdom, it is claimed.

On the latest episode of The Daily Expresso podcast, host JJ Anisiobi disclosed a shocking revelation with TalkTV presenter Mark Dolan – that the Duke of Sussex will make an important announcement about his Invictus Games at a site dear to William’s heart, the home of Aston Villa Football Club. JJ said: “I have been told, and I feel this is a dig at William, Harry’s going to make his announcements in Birmingham at Villa Park.”

The huge royal scoop stunned the TalkTV host, who responded: “As we know, William is a huge Aston Villa fan. He travels around the world watching them. He’s a massive supporter. It’s going to be a huge dig at William: ‘Here I am in your football club announcing my Invictus Games.’

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly set to give their property in Portugal an expensive revamp. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex allegedly purchased the Portugal pad in 2023 for around £ 3.6million.

Now, the couple has reportedly instructed Soho House to redesign the inside of the Portugal pad, as reported by The Daily Mail. The home is said to be in the same Portuguese resort where the Duke’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, resides during the summer months. The royal properties are close to Comporta and Melides, which are no more than an hour’s drive from Lisbon.

Prince George will be enrolled at Eton College in September, Kensington Palace has announced. The royals recently confirmed the news in a statement issued on June 16, after the Prince and Princess of Wales had been discussing where to send their eldest son to school as he’s due to start year 7 in September.

While the Prince and Princess of Wales had considered several schools for their oldest son, including Marlborough College, the Wiltshire co-educational boarding school, which Princess Kate attended, they soon decided that the young prince would follow in his father’s footsteps and join Eton College.

But while most people will have heard of the school, which has been the alma mater of several royals, politicians, and actors, many might not realise the lengthy process of gaining admission to the school.

Prince William has made a private £1,000 donation to a campaign group who want to save their local pub. The Prince of Wales has given money to the Semington Community Benefit Society, which is fighting to save the Somerset Arms near Melksham in Wiltshire. It has been closed since 2023 and is currently on the market for £395,000.

The move came after the Prince visited the Prince of Peckham pub in south London and was overheard telling punters: “I want to do as much as I can to support them because I love the community. We need to protect our pubs.”

The under-the-radar donation was made under the normal name Prince William used during his schooldays, William Wales, which reflected his father’s former position as the Prince of Wales.

This week, the Prince and Princess of Wales made the bombshell announcement that their eldest child, Prince George, is set to attend Eton College this September. While the news was certainly not unexpected, given that Prince William himself studied there between 1995 and 2000, it was an exciting confirmation for the young royal’s future.

Prince William and Catherine’s spokesman said in a statement: “Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September.” Prince William is said to be “thrilled” that George will attend his alma mater in the autumn, after enjoying five years there himself from 1995.

With the news delighting royal fans online, the Daily Express launched a poll asking readers whether the couple are right to send their son to the elite private school.

Following the news that Prince George will be heading to the prestigious Eton College in September, questions have turned to where his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, could continue her studies when her time at Lambrook School ends in two years’ time.

It has long been the Prince and Princess of Wales’ goal to keep their three children together at co-educational schools, much like how Catherine spent her school years with her sister, Pippa, and brother, James, nearby. So far, both George and Charlotte were educated at Thomas’ School in Battersea, South-west London, before the family relocated to Windsor and were joined by younger brother Louis at Lambrook School.

With the news that this rule will soon be broken, what are Princess Charlotte’s options if William and Catherine’s goal is to keep their three children near their home in Windsor?

The Prince of Wales will be the guest editor for a November edition of Country Life magazine.

Prince William is not the first member of the Royal Family to be given editorial control of the weekly magazine.

His stepmother, Queen Camilla, produced a guest-edited edition in 2022 to mark her 75th birthday, which went on to become the magazine’s biggest-selling issue of all time.

Kensington Palace shared a perfectly posed photo of the Prince and Princess of Wales just moments before they departed for Royal Ascot yesterday evening.

The snap, which showed the royal couple in their Ascot attire, was accompanied by the message: “A wonderful day at Royal Ascot. W & C.”

“It has seeped into every fibre of the event; from the morning dress worn by men in the most exclusive enclosures to the audible tuts of former private schoolboys enduring a couple of minutes of queuing.

“Arriving at the event, one of the signature occasions in the aristocratic social calendar, for the first time left me with a lot to take in.”

The Princess of Wales just debunked one of Meghan Markle’s claims with a smart move during Royal Ascot this week.

Aside from her royal relatives, Catherine was joined by her own family, as her mother, Carole Middleton and sister-in-law, Alizee Thevenet, were also there. Alizee is married to the princess’s younger brother, James Middleton.

The future Queen was seen chatting, kissing and hugging her sister-in-law, in what can be seen as a major contrast to the Duchess of Sussex’s claims about affection within the Royal Family.

The Duchess of Edinburgh made a new appearance at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, but royal fans were not impressed.

Duchess Sophie joined her husband, Prince Edward, on Day Two of the prestigious racing event.

The Edinburghs were joined by other members of the Royal Family, including the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Meghan Markle is “taking a huge risk” following her reported decision to come back to the UK after four years, as the British public will likely not forgive her for one thing, according to a royal expert.

The Duchess of Sussex is expected to join her husband next month for the One Year To Go event for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will reportedly be with them.

It is not yet known whether the King will meet his youngest grandchildren during their stay.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are tipped to face “serious trouble” as their “perfect facade” has begun to crumble, a royal commentator has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have recently promoted their individual endeavours and passions, with Harry focusing on his charity work and Meghan on her business ventures.

But a royal expert claimed that the couple’s different approaches to publicity highlight the “chasm” between Harry’s “commitment to duty” and Meghan’s “obsession with building an influencer brand”.

Harriet Phillips made her first royal appearance as a newlywed on Tuesday.

The wife of Peter Phillips attended the opening day of Royal Ascot alongside other members of the Royal Family.

Tuesday also marked the first time Harriet was called by her new married title.

Lena Elizabeth Tindall is celebrating her seventh birthday today.

Despite being only eight years old, Zara and Mike Tindall’s youngest daughter is a member of one of the world’s most famous families, although she has been shielded from the spotlight for most of her life.

Here, the Daily Express looks at 11 adorable pictures of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s great-granddaughter to mark her birthday today.

COMMENT: “When King Charles met Grimsby Town FC worker Francine Orr last week, and she accidentally called him ‘darling’ instead of ‘Your Majesty,’ he grinned and quipped: ‘I like being called darling.”

“King Charles, 77, has developed an ease in public few could have expected after his somewhat stiff upper lip demeanour when younger and married to Princess Diana and in his mother, the late Queen’s, shadow.”