In a year marked by scandal and uncertainty, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has emerged as a figure of quiet resolve and renewed influence within the Royal Family. Roya and Kate unpack the year - from remission to the royal spotlight - and what it all reveals about the Queen she will become. Plus, Prince Harry’s UK security faces fresh review, and Meghan reconnects with her estranged father in a week of highly personal Sussex headlines.

Presenters: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, royal editor of The Times

Producer: Robert Wallace

Editor: Stephen Titherington

Image: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, King Charles hosts German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a diplomatically significant state visit at Windsor Castle, reaffirming ties between the UK and Europe. But as the pageantry unfolded, Parliament announced a formal inquiry into the Crown Estate. Following revelations over Andrew’s lease deal at Royal Lodge, other royal properties are now under a new level of scrutiny. Kate and Roya are joined by Times reporter Tom Witherow and German royal expert Annelie Malun to unpack a week of ceremony, soft power and hard questions.

Presenters: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, royal editor of The Times

Contributors: Tom Witherow, senior news reporter at The Times, and Annelie Malun, royal expert for ARD

Producer: Robert Wallace

Editor: Stephen Titherington

Image: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, three royal stories converge in America. Andrew’s ties to Epstein reach Congress, King Charles is reportedly planning a high-profile state visit, and Prince Harry is already there - recasting his role from Montecito. President Trump has signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but has the monarchy’s handling of Andrew emboldened American lawmakers? And is the British royal family still America’s favourite foreign soap opera? Roya Nikkhah is joined by Mark Landler of The New York Times, and Chiara Brown of The Times.

Presenter: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for the Sunday Times

Contributors: Mark Landler, London bureau chief of The New York Times; Chiara Brown, commissioning editor at The Times Luxx.

Producer: Robert Wallace

Editor: Stephen Titherington

Photo: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After one of the most turbulent months for the monarchy in generations, Roya and Kate step back from the noise to ask a bigger question; what is the Royal family for? As headlines rage, the Windsors keep going: Catherine returned to public life; William promoted his climate agenda in Brazil; and Princess Anne powered through a demanding schedule in Australia and Singapore. And the Court Circular never missed a beat. They are joined by Michael Binyon, former foreign correspondent for The Times and longtime Leader writer, to explore how the monarchy weathers crises, how it projects British influence abroad and what lies behind the real purpose of the Crown?

Presenters: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, royal editor of The Times

Contributor: Michael Binyon, Leader writer for The Times

Producer: Robert Wallace

Editor: Stephen Titherington

Photo: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is thirty years since Diana, Princess of Wales' interview with Panorama, and its legacy continues even now as the BBC faces questions over its editorial standards on covering President Trump. Journalist, Andy Webb, is the author of a new book, Dianarama, which explores in detail how that interview happened and the consequences for all involved. Twenty five years later the BBC was forced to commission what they describe as a 'robust independent inquiry' from Lord Dyson. His report said the reporter Martin Bashir was 'deceitful' and that the BBC had covered up what they knew. Kate and Roya are joined by Andy to discuss the legacy of Diana's interview for the royal family and the BBC. 

Presenters: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, royal editor of The Times.

Guest: Andy Webb, author of Dianarama, published by Penguin Random House UK / Michael Joseph

Image: Getty

Clips: Sky News / Film Image Partner (via Getty)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the fallout from the ‘Andrew problem’ rolls on, William is in Brazil to present the Earthshot Prize and represent the King and government at the environment summit, COP30, as he attempts to steer the agenda towards green innovation. But can William also shift the royal narrative? And will the Andrew story require a bigger break from the past for the royals?

Presenters: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, and Kate Mansey, royal editor of The Times.

Producer: Robert Wallace

Photo: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The man formerly known as Prince Andrew is being stripped of his titles and removed from his mansion, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate. Last month The Times obtained a copy of the leasehold agreement for Royal Lodge which showed that while the prince paid £1 million for the lease plus at least £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, he has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent per year, since 2003. Andrew's links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein brought increasing public and political demands for action. It is a seismic moment in royal history – but is it enough? Roya is joined on the podcast by Aubrey Allegretti, the paper's chief political correspondent and George Greenwood, investigations reporter for The Times.

Presenter: Roya Nikkhah

Contributors: Aubrey Allegretti, Times chief political correspondent and George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter for The Times

Producers: Sophie McNulty, Priyanka Deladia, Robert Wallace, Stephen Titherington

Photo: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, after Prince Andrew was forced to give up his Duke of York title, full details of the life of Prince Andrew’s accuser were revealed. Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir ‘Nobody’s Girl’ is a harrowing read. Its publication came in the same week the King made an historic State Visit to the Vatican, with the King and the Pope praying together for the first time in five centuries. As history was made in Rome, there were more revelations about Andrew and the "peppercorn" rent he pays for Royal Lodge, his Windsor home. Calls by politicians and the public for more action to be taken have grown louder and led to debate about the British constitution and the monarchy.

Guests: 

•Kaya Burgess, Religious Affairs Correspondent, The Times.

•George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. 

Host: Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.

Producer: Robert Wallace

Editor, Times Podcasts: Stephen Titherington

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Virginia Giuffre's memoir - 'Nobody's Girl' - claims Prince Andrew felt ‘sex with me was his birthright’. He has denied all allegations that he had sex with the then 17 year old, but do the Epstein links again threaten the wider reputation of the monarchy? Andrew has already been stripped of any meaningful official role. He no longer receives public funds, and holds no royal patronages. He has had to relinquish his honorary military titles. But what do the British public think about this ongoing and ever more upsetting saga?

Recorded live in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on 16th October 2025.

Image: Getty Images

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday Times chief foreign correspondent Christina Lamb joins The Royals to discuss the Duchess of Edinburgh’s high risk visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or a girl. The conversation explores how members of the royal family are using their positions to engage with some of the most challenging issues of our time from conflict and human rights to the environment and Britain’s place in the world and asks what meaningful impact they can have when they step onto the global stage.

This episode contains discussions of war crimes and sexual violence in conflict zones.

Image: AARON CHOWN/PA

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.