Royal news live: Kate Middleton channels Princess Diana with powerful message ahead of Addiction Awareness Week
Kate implored people not to ‘judge or criticise’ those suffering from addiction
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Your support makes all the difference.The Princess of Wales has channeled Princess Diana as she delivers a powerful message urging the public to not “judge or criticise” those suffering from addiction.
As the Princess of Wales, Diana was renowned for her work to tackle stigmas among the most vulnerable in society, a sentiment echoed by Kate ahead of Addiction Awareness Week.
In a written message, the princess highlighted how every addict is a “human being, with a story of their own”.
In a bid to tackle the stigma associated with the issue, she called on everyone to support charities helping addicts and their families by changing the “way we think about and consider the many people coping with addiction”.
“Addiction is not a choice. It is a serious mental health condition that could affect any one of us. By acting with humility and compassion we can all make a difference and support those who are suffering,” she said.
Kate is patron of the Forward Trust, an addiction charity, and her involvement in the awareness week comes a few months after the princess announced she was returning to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy treatment.
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Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has revealed that King Charles has made a significant change to his diet in the wake of his cancer diagnosis.
The food critic told Saga magazine that he has reduced his intake of red meat, with the Queen also cutting back on lamb, beef and pork.
He noted that King Charles was “looking again at what, and when, he eats” following “what he’s been through recently”.
He added: “I’m no nutritionist, but I know that food is part of a body’s “medicine”. It knows when it’s having the right stuff.”
On their website, Cancer Research UK states: “Red meat is classed as a probable cause of cancer. This means there is lots of good evidence of a link between eating red meat and some types of cancer, but we need a few more of the best quality studies to be certain.”
Duchess of Edinburgh named as patron for women’s equality charity
The Duchess of Edinburgh has been named as the new patron for Plan International, a non-government organisation that promotes equality for women and girls across the globe.
In a statement on X, they said: “We’re delighted to announce our new Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh ( @RoyalFamily ). As a champion of women’s rights, The Duchess has witnessed first hand the impact conflict and crisis can have on young women and girls. We look forward to working with The Duchess to raise awareness of the barriers facing girls around the world.”
Prince Edward’s wife Sophie is patron to a number of other charities that promote the end of violence towards women, and has travelled to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to promote this work.
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Ahead of the release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, the former Suits star is busy shape-shifting into the perfect American wife, with her new jam products and ‘polo-mom’ glossiness. It’s a master plan that could make them millions, says Anna Tyzak
Inside the next phase Buckingham Palace’s £369m refurbishment
Buckingham Palace will be undergoing huge upheavals in the coming months as the £369m refurbishment closes some of its grandest rooms.
The palace’s grandest rooms will undergo “phased closures” for renovation, beginning with the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room and the State Dining Room.
This will be followed by the Ballroom, where state banquets are held, and state rooms including the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room.
Work will be paused during the summer months as the state rooms open to the public as usual.
King’s coronation cost £72 million, government accounts show
The King’s coronation cost taxpayers £72 million, official accounts have revealed.
The figures included £50.3 million of Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) costs and £21.7 million for the Home Office for policing the “once-in-a-generation” event in May 2023.
Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.
A star-studded concert at Windsor Castle took place the following night.
The DCMS annual report and accounts said the department “successfully delivered on the central weekend of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation, enjoyed by many millions both in the UK and across the globe”.
DCMS was the lead government department working with the royal household on the coronation, which it described as a “once-in-a-generation moment which provided an occasion for the entire country to come together in celebration, and offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world”.
William speaks of passion for Oman as he launches expedition
The Prince of Wales has spoken of his desire to return to the Middle East as he launched an expedition inspired by a famous British explorer.
William visited Oman in 2019 and on Monday gave his support to six explorers who have been inspired by Bertram Thomas, who took a 42-day trip along the south-east coast of the country in 1928 discovering new specimens.
Speaking on Monday to a group of education and youth outreach staff at the Royal Geographical Society, William expressed his desire to return to Oman, saying: “We’ll make something happen, time flies.”
The prince’s 2019 trip was without the Princess of Wales, but he has sounded optimistic about possible joint overseas engagements with his wife after her cancer battle.
“I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up,” he said earlier this month.
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