Royal news live: Prince Harry issues internet warning to parents as Kate Middleton ramps up return to duties
‘The smartphone is stealing young people’s childhoods,’ Prince Harry said
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The Duke of Sussex has spoken out about the dangers of the internet in a conversation with author Jonathan Haidt.
Harry, 42, a passionate advocate of mental health awareness, told Fortune: “The smartphone is stealing young people’s childhoods.”
“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said, discussing the potential safety benefits of mobile phones.
“[Parents] want them to have their phone at school in case of emergency, but once, like any kid, you have your phone, even if you’re told you’re not allowed to download that app, kids have a way of working around it.”
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales has ramped up her return to duty by making a surprise joint appearance with Prince William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport attacks.
Marking their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment, the couple privately met the families in Merseyside yesterday.
The Princess, 42, is said to have attended because she wanted to show her “support, empathy and compassion to the local community”.
“Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy,” the couple later said in a joint statement.
As well as meeting with the victim’s families, Kate spoke to first responders and the dance teacher who was present at the July attack.
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s Malta tour continues
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will continue their brief tour of Malta to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence today.
Their Wednesday schedule will see them visit the home shared by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in the early days of their marriage between 1949 and 1951, Villa Guardamangia.
The couple lived there while Philip was stationed in the country as a serving Royal Navy officer.
King Charles to miss key event over health concerns
King Charles will not attend the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan next month after the government exercised “an abundance of caution” regarding his health, it has been reported.
This comes after it was claimed that the monarch will temporarily “pause” his cancer treatment during his nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa this month after getting the go-ahead from doctors.
The decision was also made in the interests of his schedule, The Mirror reports, with the event taking place from 11 to 22 November – two weeks after the king returns from his overseas tour this month.
A source said: “The king will not be going to COP. He has not been asked by the government to attend the event and he is also mindful of his own commitments following the upcoming autumn tour.”
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
The monarch, who turns 76 next month, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year following a routine procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
Royal family gives rare insight into Buckingham Palace restoration
The royal family have given a rare insight into the ongoing restoration work being carried out at Buckingham Palace.
Sharing a video to Twitter/X, the official royal family account explained: “The Reservicing Programme has been continuing work in the Basement of Buckingham Palace, replacing old electrical cabling under the floors and throughout the historic building.”
In response to the footage, one watcher praised the work being done to modernise the iconic building.
They wrote: “Preserving Buckingham Palace’s history while modernizing its infrastructure is essential. It’s great to see such important work being done to maintain this iconic landmark!”
The Reservicing Programme has been continuing work in the Basement of Buckingham Palace, replacing old electrical cabling under the floors and throughout the historic building.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 8, 2024
Watch more! 👇 pic.twitter.com/Z1jCM3WaBt
Duchy of Cornwall town subject to serious complaints – ‘There are rats everywhere’
A town built to King Charles’s specifications of an idealised community is suffering from a serious waste collection problem.
Residents of Poundbury, Dorset, which is built on Duchy of Cornwall land, have now spoken out in a bid to solve the problem, appealing to the king directly.
One local told The Telegraph: “There are rats everywhere and the smell is awful. No one seems to be bothered.”
A second said that the king “would be horrified” and compared the development, which is due to be completed in 2026, to a “third-world country.”
Explaining the root of the problem, a third added: “The number of bins is not sufficient, there needs to be a second refuse and recycling point. It’s carnage around Christmas with rubbish everywhere.”
Watch: Inside Buckingham Palace’s refurbishment
The palace has revealed the latest work that has been done in Buckingham Palace’s extensive reservicing programme.
The refurbishment is expected to cost £369m and began five years ago.
In a clip shared to social media, the palace offered a glimpse into the replacement of 3.5km of electric cabling, which had previously not been updated since the 1950s.
It wrote on X: “The Reservicing Programme has been continuing work in the Basement of Buckingham Palace, replacing old electrical cabling under the floors and throughout the historic building.”
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