Royal news – live: Prince Harry in southern Africa for another trip without wife Meghan after flying UK visit

Prince William appears to be looking forward to the annual Earthshot Prize in Cape Town.

Established by the Prince of Wales in 2020, the Earthshot Prize recognises and supports those who are making an impact to protect the environment.

The official Kensington Palace Twitter/X account said that there are “just five weeks to go” this morning as Prince Harry arrived in South Africa last night to support his charity Sentebale.

Prince Harry was all smiles as he reunited with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in Southern Africa yesterday.

The pair were attending a charity event to raise awareness of the charity Sentebale, which supports young people affected by HIV.

This is the first time that Harry has visited South Africa since 2019 when he was still a working member of the British royal family.

The Duke of Sussex has continued his charity work without Meghan Markle by raising awareness of Sentebale in South Africa last night.

After a flying visit to the UK for the WellChild Awards, Harry met with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho at a bonfire to reflect on the charity’s progress and the work that still needs to be done.

Established by Harry, 40, in 2006, Sentebale affects young people affected by HIV.

Harry said: “We’re hitting the targets, not just Sentebale but all of the departments are, and it’s making a massive difference, and it is this surge of energy and optimism and the voice of young people ranging from six to 25 – and the biggest difference of which really needs more work, is when people from the top start listening.”

The Duke of Sussex has claimed that his ongoing rift with the royal family was worsened by the tabloid press.

Harry, 40, made the revelation earlier this year in the ITV documentary Tabloids on Trial.

This comes as he once again appears to have seen none of his immediate family while visiting the UK this week for the WellChild Awards.

“The mission continues,” he said of his fight against press intrusion, “but it has, yes, it’s caused, as you say, part of a rift.”

Tom Parker Bowles has shed light on Queen Camilla’s “reputation” for heavy drinking and smoking in a new book.

Mr Parker Bowles, 49, wrote in Cooking and the Crown that the rumours around his mother’s love of certain vices are simply “inaccurate”.

He explained: “If anyone ever meets my mother, they always… I mean, a son would say this, but she’s someone I love going to have dinner with.

“And I go for a walk with her in Scotland. You’re always going to have your rows, differences of opinion.

“It would be very odd if we agreed [on] everything. Creepy. I certainly would annoy her sometimes.

“Oh, you know she has that reputation of drinking gin and smoking? Never drunk a glass of gin in her life. Doesn’t smoke.”

He went on to explain that he has never even seen his mother “so much as tipsy”.

Prince Harry shared a sweet insight into his young daughter Princess Lilibet’s life at the WellChild Awards in London.

The prince opened up when Noah Nicholson, six, threw one of his cuddly toys at him – a giraffe named Raffy.

He said: “Is this the same one? No way! Every parent has a spare. I’ve got at least six spares.

“My daughter Lili has these Lovies.”

The Duke of Sussex received a supportive message from an audience member at the WellChild Awards.

Harry, 40, was attending in his capacity as patron for the charity which supports seriously ill young people and their carers.

While delivering a speech, he said: “So, keep being you. You’ve got this and we’ve got you.”

An audience member proceeded to shout: “We’ve got you too!”

Prince William has celebrated the success of his Homewards initiative’s art exhibition.

In a post shared by the official Kensington Palace Twitter/X account, the charity wrote: “Thank you to everyone who visited & supported Homelessness: Reframed at @Saatchi_gallery.

“Over 47,000 visitors came to see the exhibition that aimed to improve understanding & inspire optimism that homelessness can be ended, this is just the start of our work.”

Homewards was set up with the aim of eradicating homelessness in the UK.

Boris Johnson has claimed in his upcoming memoir that the late Queen Elizabeth II was secretly battling cancer in the leadup to her death.

“Her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline,” Johnson wrote in Unleashed.

“She seemed pale and more stooped, and she had dark bruising on her hands and wrists, probably from drips or injections.”

The former prime minister added: “As Edward Young explained to me later, she had known all summer that she was going, but was determined to hang on and do her last duty: to oversee the peaceful and orderly transition from one government to the next.”

The Independent has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Beatrice is pregnant with her second child.

The daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, 36, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will be welcoming their new arrival next spring.

They already share a daughter, Sienna, three, and Mr Mapelli Mozzi has a son from a previous relationship, Wolfie, eight.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three.

“His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.”

The child will be 11th in line to the throne.