True Royalty Podcast

What really happens inside the Palace when the Royal Family faces a crisis?

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by journalist and broadcaster Sarah Hewson and former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter to discuss how the monarchy handles damaging headlines, public scrutiny and media pressure.

They examine the allegations made about King Charles by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, and Buckingham Palace’s unusually swift response, before looking back at Queen Elizabeth II’s “annus horribilis”, the Windsor Castle fire and the extraordinary aftermath of Diana’s death.

Dickie also shares first-hand stories from his years inside the Royal Household and asks whether “never complain, never explain” still works today.

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How much of Catherine’s role as Princess of Wales has been shaped by Diana?

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers and royal biographer Ingrid Seward to explore the very different paths Diana and Catherine took into royal life, how Diana helped redefine the modern monarchy, and whether her approach created a blueprint for William and Catherine today.

They also discuss the Middleton family, Catherine’s public image, her relationship with the wider Royal Family and the kind of Queen she may one day become.

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Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shock return to the UK, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Royal Editor of The Sun Matt Wilkinson and journalist and royal commentator Afua Hagan to ask what brought the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back to Britain after six years in California.

After stepping back from royal duties and building a new life in America, Harry and Meghan’s return marks a dramatic change of direction. The panel discusses Harry’s ongoing battle over UK security, his hopes for his children to experience British life and education, Meghan’s relationship with Britain and whether their return could become more permanent.

They also look back at the Sussexes’ years in California and ask whether their American dream lived up to expectations, before exploring signs of reconciliation with King Charles and Queen Camilla and what this new chapter could mean for Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the wider Royal Family.

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Four years after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Royal Biographer and Photographer Ian Lloyd and former Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Ailsa Anderson, to reflect on her extraordinary life, reign and enduring legacy.

From her final days at Balmoral and the carefully planned events following her death to the sense of duty that defined her 70-year reign, they explore how Elizabeth II remained a constant through decades of enormous change.

They look back at her leadership during Covid, her lifelong devotion to the Commonwealth and the more personal side of the woman behind the Crown — including stories from Balmoral, her relationship with Princess Anne and the moments when her famous sense of humour came to the fore.

Four years on, they also ask how Queen Elizabeth II’s influence continues to shape King Charles, Prince William and the future of the monarchy.

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Windsor Castle has stood at the heart of the British monarchy for nearly 1,000 years. But what is it about this extraordinary royal residence that has kept generations of kings and queens coming back?

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by historians Dr Estelle Paranque and June Woolerton to explore the secrets, scandals and remarkable stories that have shaped the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

From William the Conqueror and the origins of Windsor to Edward III's transformation of the castle, Henry VIII's magnificent tomb that was never built and Elizabeth I's secret passages, they uncover how successive monarchs have left their mark on Windsor.

They also explore the poignant final days of Charles I, Windsor's evolution into a royal family home, its role during the Second World War and the deep connection Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip shared with the castle.

And with William and Catherine now establishing their family life in Windsor, what role could this historic royal stronghold play in the future of the monarchy?

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Watch new episodes of True Royalty Originals TWO WEEKS EARLY at True Royalty TV.

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West End star Ruthie Henshall joins Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and royal biographer Ingrid Seward to look back on her remarkable relationship with Prince Edward.

Ruthie shares how they first met while working in the theatre, what Edward was really like away from royal life, and her memories of his romantic side - from cooking for her and leaving notes to the loving letters she rediscovered decades later.

She also recalls meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time, spending time with the Royal Family at Balmoral, meeting Diana, Princess of Wales and being taken under Sarah Ferguson’s wing.

Plus, Ruthie reflects on the difficult choice between the West End career she loved and a possible future in the Royal Family, why their relationship ultimately came to an end, and the affection and mutual respect that remains between them today.

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Following the shock news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the UK in September, this True Royalty Original - recorded before the announcement - takes on a whole new significance.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor at The Sun, and Brontë Coy, Senior Royal Reporter at news.com.au, to ask whether the Sussexes could ever reverse Megxit and what a return to Britain might look like.

From Harry and Meghan’s private meeting with King Charles and the ongoing battle over security, to Harry’s desire to spend more time in the UK and the possibility of a new “hybrid” role, the panel examines the very questions now at the centre of their move home.

With Harry and Meghan now heading back to Britain, could their return mark the beginning of a new chapter with the Royal Family?

Watch new episodes of True Royalty Originals TWO WEEKS EARLY at True Royalty TV.

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Balmoral has been the Royal Family’s private Scottish escape for generations - but behind its secluded walls lie stories of romance, scandal and tragedy.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by historians Professor Kate Williams and Gareth Russell to uncover Balmoral’s extraordinary royal history, from Queen Victoria’s intense relationship with John Brown to Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong love for the estate.

They reveal what really happened during the infamous “Balmoral test”, why Princess Diana struggled with royal life there, and the scandal that left Sarah Ferguson facing the family over breakfast.

Plus, why did Balmoral mean so much to Queen Elizabeth II - and what does the future hold for the Royal Family’s most personal retreat?

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Following her graduation from the University of St Andrews, Lady Louise Windsor is entering a new chapter. But could the late Queen and Prince Philip’s granddaughter eventually take on a bigger role within the Royal Family?

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by historian June Woolerton and royal commentator Victoria Howard to discuss Louise’s famously down-to-earth approach to royal life, why she chooses not to use her Princess title, and the influence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on her life.

They also explore her relationship with Felix, reports of a possible gap year, her links to the military and whether a shrinking number of working royals could eventually see Louise called upon to help Prince William and Catherine shape the future of the monarchy.

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After Prince Harry's chaotic return to the UK, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Russell Myers, Royal Editor of the Daily Mirror, and Chris Ship, Royal Editor of ITV News, to unpack one of the most turbulent periods of Harry's royal life.

The panel explores why Harry was denied the level of security he wanted during his visit, the controversy surrounding Buckingham Palace accommodation, his latest court defeat against Associated Newspapers, and whether years of conflict with the Royal Family could finally be coming to an end.

Is this the end of the fight for Prince Harry, or is another chapter still to come?

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