From Trooping the Colour to Garter Day and Royal Ascot, this was the week the royal family put on their grandest annual display of glamour and spectacle. This week on The Royals, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by the historian and author A.N. Wilson to ask whether these massive public events still have a place in modern Britain.

They look beyond the carriages, uniforms and hats to discuss what these public ceremonies are designed to achieve for the monarchy and the country. At a time of protests, scandal, a smaller working royal family and growing scrutiny over royal wealth, is pageantry still the monarchy’s best way of proving its value, or does the institution now have to work harder to justify the show?

Do the royals justify the pageantry? Get in touch: [email protected] 

Roya won! But you can still donate to Roya’s racing challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support through JustGiving.

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Producer: Robert Wallace, Shabnam Grewal

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: To shake off Andrew, royals must pay their way

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From palace homes for non-working royals to "peppercorn" rents and subletting arrangements, the fallout from a major royal property investigation continues. This week on The Royals, Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are joined by The Times investigations reporter George Greenwood to examine why the National Audit Office report has struck such a chord. They discuss reports that the King is reviewing Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s rent arrangements, and Prince William’s hints at reform when he becomes king. So, what could this mean ahead of the renewal of the Sovereign Grant and a parliamentary inquiry into royal finances? And how much of this stems from the public outcry over Andrew’s Royal Lodge lease?

Have a question about royal finances? Get in touch: [email protected].

You can donate to Roya’s racing challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support through JustGiving.

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: Cosy property deals hurt the monarchy - here's how to fix them

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As police widen their inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a major National Audit Office report has disclosed new details about his dealings on Royal Lodge, including that he sublet three cottages on the estate for 20 years. On The Royals this week, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey analyse what the report reveals about royal property arrangements – from grace-and-favour homes to rents paid by members of the Royal Family.

They are joined by The Times chief reporter Fiona Hamilton to look at the latest developments around Andrew, including reports that Buckingham Palace was handed an archive of emails in 2020 relating to Andrew’s time as trade envoy. Andrew denies wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence.

Will this trigger a turning point for royal transparency?

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: I fear the royal family will never let Andrew end up in court

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Two significant developments surround the story of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. First, detectives investigating Andrew could examine allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption as part of their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office. Andrew has not been charged and denies all wrongdoing. Secondly, newly released government files show that it was the late Queen’s wish for Andrew to take on the prominent trade envoy role now under scrutiny.

Roya Nikkhah is joined by The Sunday Times’s Whitehall correspondent Katie Tarrant to discuss the latest police developments and unpack the government files. We also hear from Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter for The Times, on the Thames Valley Police briefing. 

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: The Andrew files - read the documents in full

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As scrutiny grows over royal wealth, property and privilege, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey ask whether Prince William is becoming more transparent about royal finances – or being pushed into openness. They examine new details about the Prince and Princess of Wales’s annual rent at Forest Lodge, The Sunday Times’s reporting on William’s tax bill, and the ripple effect of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s peppercorn rent deal at Royal Lodge. Will Humphries, southwest and countryside correspondent forThe Times, joins to explain his investigation into changes at the Duchy of Cornwall, from tenant farmers in Devon to William’s plans to sell off part of the estate and invest in housing, renewable energy and communities.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: Inside the £1bn property empires of King Charles and William

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Following the King’s diplomatic success during his state visit to the US, the Princess of Wales stepped back onto the international stage with a visit to the Italian city of Reggio Emilia. Four years on from her last official overseas visit, aides say the Princess is “taking it up a gear” as she resumes foreign travel following her cancer treatment. Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are in Italy with the latest from the Princess’ milestone trip. What does her star power abroad reveal about the royal family’s enduring international appeal? And what more can we expect from the Princess on the world stage in the year ahead?

They also speak to Trudi Seneviratne, a consultant psychiatrist who has worked alongside the Princess on her Early Years initiative since 2017 to find out the inspiration behind Catherine’s passion for the project and what the Princess is really like to work with behind the scenes.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Producer: Natalie Ktena

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

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It’s been a week since King Charles’ high-stakes state visit to the US ended in diplomatic triumph. After months of difficult headlines for the royals and the US-UK relationship, many applauded the King for steadying the ship. But what does this moment tell us about the current state of the special relationship? And how does it compare to historical ups and downs? 

In a final dispatch from Washington, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today and author of the new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History. Queen Elizabeth II met with thirteen sitting US presidents, more than any other head of state in history. Page talks us through the highs and lows of the special relationship during her reign, and discusses the role a monarch can play to keep important relationships on side. 

Susan Page's book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Producer: Robert Wallace, Natalie Ktena

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: King Charles flattered and chided Trump. The president loved it.

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From a White House welcome to the Congress speech and the state dinner, this was supposed to be the day King Charles showed royal symbolism can still carry real diplomatic weight in America. But it didn't quite turn out that way.

After a big day of pageantry in Washington, the visit took an extraordinary turn at the banquet, when President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that the King backed him on Iran — a remark that's triggered headlines around the world. In response to Trump's comments, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King is "naturally mindful of his government's long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation".

In the immediate aftermath, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by The Times’s assistant US editor David Charter for post-match analysis on the spectacle, the tensions and the question now hanging over the visit: did royal diplomacy win the day, or has Trump seized the final word?

Get in touch: [email protected]

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: King Charles’ speech to Congress: praise, warnings and 12 standing ovations

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As the King lands in Washington for a high-stakes US state visit, former US National Security Adviser John Bolton joins Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey to examine the real state of the 'special relationship'. He reveals why Donald Trump is drawn to the royal family, describing his UK visits as some of the happiest moments of his presidency, and explains why that personal connection could matter more than traditional diplomacy. So, can the King can influence Trump? Or does the monarchy risk being pulled into political controversy at a particularly tense moment.

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Read more: King Charles is ready for Trump, but would Elizabeth have cancelled?

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Virginia Giuffre made headlines worldwide after speaking out about the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as well as his former friend, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

One year after her death, Virginia’s brother, Sky Roberts, and sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, join Roya Nikkhah to discuss her life and their loss. 

The anniversary comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the monarchy. In just a few days’ time, the King and Queen will travel to the United States for a state visit, with Virginia’s family now calling on the royal couple to meet with Epstein’s survivors.

Should the King and Queen meet Epstein survivors during their US visit? Get in touch: [email protected]

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Executive Producer: Dan Box

Read more: What really happened to Virginia Giuffre?

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