HeirHeads

When Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi announced their engagement, they wrote that they “can’t wait to actually be married” — looks like they might have to wait a little longer… From their long friendship to early romance to a sunset proposal, we chart the relationship and break down the various obstacles in the royal wedding plans: Prince Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview, an alleged feud with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and now the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, we’re dreaming up bridal dresses for royal risk-taker Beatrice on Pinterest, let us know what you’d love to see her in on the big day!

Keep calm and carry on? Not so fast — the Queen is leaving London for Windsor amid coronavirus fears, while Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles head into self-isolation in Gloucestershire. Which makes Prince William the de-facto face of the crisis for the royal family, a role he embraces with an energetic handwashing demonstration and an earnest Instagram video. The Cambridges play catch up with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s social media response, and we get a glimpse into the Sussexes’ Canadian home. Plus, Kate Middleton wears a pink suit and Prince George reveals his artistic abilities on Mother’s Day.

And that’s a wrap — as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle complete their final engagements as working royals, we analyse the big family reunion at the Commonwealth Day service. Prince Charles ditches the handshakes for a namaste, but the Queen is determined to keep calm and carry on, a risky approach in a pandemic. A prank call puts a dampener on the Sussex swansong, and we get our first glimpse of their “revised media policy” at Meghan’s last solo appearance in the palace. Elsewhere, Prince Andrew starts to creep back into royal life, arming himself with a big-time lawyer and reputation manager ahead of Princess Beatrice’s wedding.
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Holidays, be damned — Kate Middleton is playing camogie! The Cambridges make their first ever visit to Ireland, hitting the tourist hotspots with pints of Guinness and heading off the beaten path on a trip to Londis. Kate goes for a tricolour tourdrobe, while William proves himself a clown prince with impressive juggling skills and an ill-timed coronavirus joke. Across the pond, the Sussexes are back — with a bang. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle deliver major star power and an instantly iconic moment in the rain, yet a solo engagement for Meghan prompts Camilla, Warrior Princess (Consort), to declare war. And why is Kate getting papped buying military-themed books for kids?

He’s baaaack… Prince Harry returns to the UK as a one-name diva for his farewell tour, while Meghan Markle’s arrival is heralded by some sensational headlines, forecasting her appearance in everything from Met Galas to Marvel movies. Kate Middleton takes a swing during a sporty day out, and Plasterwatch continues as she sports yet another mysterious bandaid. Prince William, meanwhile, is said to be worried about being overshadowed by his brother’s visit, and we’re obsessed with Caity Weaver’s fascinating New York Times investigation into the follower numbers of the @SussexRoyal and @KensingtonRoyal Instagram accounts.

The wheels on the bus go round and round… thanks to lawyer Gloria Allred’s god-tier stunt marking Prince Andrew’s 60th this week. His big boy birthday party proved an unpopular invite, while the papers raised new questions about his Pizza Express alibi and Princess Beatrice’s upcoming wedding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set the record straight with new “transition details”, announcing they’ll stop using “Sussex Royal” and showing their frustration at the way the decision was reached. Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton take Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis lambing for mid-term break, and we learn of Louis’s love of tractors.

After a couple of false starts, the palace finally casts its new Fab Four: Prince Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles, Prince William and Kate Middleton step out for their first joint engagement in nine years, and make headlines with a carefully crafted display of affection. Kate hits the airwaves to promote her Five Big Questions survey, appearing on a parenting podcast to talk pregnancy, “mum guilt” and her post-birth Lindo Wing photocall. Meghan Markle releases a behind-the-scenes video to celebrate the success of her British Vogue issue, while Prince Harry continues to schmooze with bankers. The Sussexes drop in to Stanford University for meetings about their new foundation, but they reportedly won’t be dropping in to Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday party. Not to worry, mummy has a special mission just for him...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle resurface — in Miami, at a private JP Morgan event. As their first appearance since leaving the royal family draws controversy, we discuss whether it could tarnish Brand Sussex. Back in the UK, Prince William’s Baftas speech doesn’t send the “shockwaves” he was expecting, while the presenters’ jokes about the royal family reportedly don’t go over very well. Prince Charles misses the diversity memo, appointing Katy Perry as ambassador to the British Asian Trust, while the far too honourable Prince Andrew turns down a military promotion to “protect” the Queen. And although his big boy birthday celebrations may not be going to plan, Princess Beatrice finally confirms her wedding date.

Prince Andrew is back on the front pages this week, after US prosecutors claimed he had provided “zero cooperation” to the FBI’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The Queen is feeling “embarrassed”, Princess Beatrice’s wedding plans are thrown into disarray, and Princess Eugenie is minding her own business… It’s up to Kate Middleton to deflect attention from the mess, by plugging her Five Big Questions survey, taking on a new photography project and serving children’s breakfasts. But why did she do it in Dolce & Gabbana? Plus, we discuss the surprise announcement that The Crown will end a season early.

It’s business as usual for the royals this week, or so they’d like us to believe… We’re discussing the launch of Kate Middleton’s first solo project in the Early Years initiative, and we’ve got some questions about her Five Big Questions. We’re also covering the reported end of Princes William and Harry’s feud, Camilla Parker Bowles’s terse response to being asked about the Sussexes, and Prince Charles’s appearance at Davos with Greta Thunberg. Elsewhere, Meghan Markle gets papped in Vancouver and Sophie Wessex is singled out for a bigger role in the Sussexes’ absence. Plus, how will Prince Harry’s decision affect the Cambridge kids in years to come?