Royal news - live: Kate Middleton to make poignant return to duty as Prince William opens up on ‘brutal’ 2024

The Prince of Wales has told supermodel Heidi Klum he woke feeling “emotional” and “excited” after his Earthshot Prize awards.

William sat by the waterside in Kalk Bay Harbour in Cape Town with the celebrity and fellow model Winnie Harlow and reflected on his “green Oscars” as they enjoyed a braai or barbecue.

They were joined by celebrities Billy Porter and Tobe Nwigwe, who had also taken part in Wednesday’s ceremony which saw five environmental winners awarded £1 million to develop their ideas to “repair” the planet.

William told the famous Earthshot advocates: “I really appreciate all your support,” and Harlow replied: “It was an honour.”

He added: “I woke up this morning feeling quite emotional and excited.”

Klum, who announced the Fix our Climate category winner, won by an organisation that converts waste heat into energy, said: “I was emotional on the stage.”

The Prince of Wales has admitted he misses his former “life” working in search and rescue as he took to the seas with a lifeboat crew in Cape Town.

William kicked off his final day in South Africa with a visit to Simon’s Town Harbour, home to the country’s largest naval base.

He met volunteers working for the National Seas Rescue Institute (NSRI) to hear about their lifesaving work and asked what inspired them to get involved.

Before donning a life jacket and heading out with the crew, he asked how choppy the water was and joked that he should possibly be wearing more kit so he did not get wet.

William also revealed that he was trying to teach his three children about rip tides and admitted he wished his family had been with him for the four-day trip.

He was asked by a member of the crew if he had ever done search and rescue work, he replied: “I miss this life. Any chance to get back, I’ll take.”

The future king was a search and rescue helicopter pilot based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales before working as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The Duke of Sussex has told bereaved military children he “understands, perhaps more than most” the weight of losing a parent at a young age.

In a letter to young people supported by the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, Harry said it can be “overwhelming and isolating” and acknowledged that remembrance is “not only time to honour the extraordinary sacrifices made by our service members but also to recognise the impact these sacrifices have on families”.

Harry lost his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash in 1997 – when he was just 12 years old.

The duke added in his letter: “We find strength in the love and memories left behind, and I have seen how communities like yours can offer deep comfort and healing.

“Scotty’s Little Soldiers embodies this spirit of community. In coming together to support one another, you not only honour the memories of your loved ones but also forge bonds that can and will carry you through the toughest times.

“The tears and laughter, the shared experiences, and the moments of joy you create together are powerful reminders that love endures.”

The King shared details of his exercise regime with Team GB athletes as he congratulated this year’s Olympic and Paralympic squads at Buckingham Palace.

Charles told the women’s athletics squad that he works out twice a day as he and the Princess Royal honoured them at an informal reception on Thursday.

The King also revealed he looked forward to watching Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, compete on Dancing On Ice next year.

Sprinter Desiree Henry, who was part of the silver medal-winning women’s Olympic 4x100m relay team, told the PA news agency: “He said he squats and does the pull-up bars.”

Charles has followed the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 5BX (Five Basic Exercises) regime for years.

Eleven minutes long and equipment-free, the routine of simple exercises was designed in the 1950s to keep Canadian pilots fit at home and abroad.

The King gave King Abdullah II of Jordan a special gift as he welcomed him to Windsor Castle to celebrate his silver jubilee.

The Jordanian monarch, who met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday, joined the King for tea at the castle on Thursday, where Charles presented him with a silver beaker. The gift, engraved with the ciphers of the King and Queen, marks 25 years since Abdullah became King of Jordan.

As the King of Jordan arrived in a grey Range Rover, the guard of honour gave a royal salute and the band played the Jordanian national anthem.

The two kings shook hands and Major Edward Emlyn-Williams, the Captain of the Guard, in Arabic invited Abdullah II to inspect the guard.

Afterwards the kings watched a military march-past before they laughed as they spoke to a guard before going into the castle for tea.

The Prince of Wales has revealed his daughter was not a fan of his beard when he first grew it - and had to shave it off after it left her “in floods of tears”.

Prince William revealed Princess Charlotte hated his newly grown facial hair at first, but has since come round to the idea of seeing her father with a beard.

The heir to the throne debuted his new look in an online video with his wife, Kate, in August, when they praised the achievements of the nation’s athletes after the Paris Olympics.

Speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town, he said: “Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off.

“And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”

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Prince William made a joke about his beard as he greeted well-wishers during his visit to Cape Town.

The Prince of Wales arrived at Simon’s Town Harbour on Thursday (8 November), where crowds waited to eagerly meet him.

Several people commented on William’s newly grown beard.

Smiling, the prince thanked them, before joking about shaving it off.

The prince earlier revealed he had to shave the beard after he first grew it because it left his daughter Princess Charlotte in floods of tears

The King has acknowledged his “advancing years” as he revealed his approach to birthday celebrations ahead of turning 76.

Charles wrote personally to thank the Military Wives Choirs for their gift of a new single in his honour, saying he was “deeply touched by your wonderfully thoughtful tribute”.

The monarch added, in a nod to reaching a “certain age”: “While those of us of a certain age may feel the need for any such birthday celebrations is in inverse proportion to our advancing years, I am none the less deeply touched by your wonderfully thoughtful tribute.”

Charles reaches his 76th birthday on November 14 after a personally difficult year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.

The late Queen Elizabeth wrote about swearing in new ministers in her final diary entry, it has been revealed.

Elizabeth died on Sept 8 2022 at the age of 96, two days after meeting and appointing Liz Truss as the new prime minister.

Royal author Robert Hardman has now discovered the Queen kept a private diary up to two days before her death and said in his new book.”

He added: Her last entry was as factual and practical as ever. It could have been describing another normal working day starting in the usual way – ‘Edward came to see me’ – as she noted the arrangements which her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, had made for the swearing-in of the new ministers of the Truss administration.”

Buckingham Palace confirmed the Princess of Wales will join the the King, the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family at the national commemoration on Sunday, and also attend the annual festival on Saturday evening.

But the Queen’s attendance at Remembrance events will be subject to medical advice nearer the time, the Palace said.

Camilla, 77, is unwell with a chest infection and was forced to pull out of engagements earlier this week.

The announcement marks the next significant step in Kate’s gradual return to public royal duties as she prepares to join the King and the Prince of Wales to honour the nation’s war dead on November 10.

It comes after William revealed how 2024 has been “brutal” and the “probably been the hardest year in my life” with both Kate and the King were diagnosed with cancer.