Category Archives: Monarchy

Caribbean: William suggests monarchy will respect any decision to become republic

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Leaders of Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize present as duke says ‘we respect your decisions about your future’

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s controversial tour of the Caribbean draws to a close, William has signalled that the UK would support with “pride and respect” any decision by Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas to break away from the British monarchy.

It comes after the couple visited the three countries during a week-long tour to mark the Queen’s platinum jubileeand were met with criticism and protests amid calls for slavery reparations and fury over the Windrush scandal.

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‘Perfect storm’: William and Kate’s awkward Caribbean tour

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Calls for slavery reparations and Jamaica’s PM insisting country was ‘moving on’ signal sea change in relations with royals

It was supposed to be a visit to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee – a chance to present the modern face of the British monarchy to a region where republican sentiment is on the rise.

But it really didn’t turn out that way.

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Jamaica’s PM tells Kate and William his country is ‘moving on’

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Royal couple’s visit met with growing republican sentiment and pressure for reparations over slavery

Jamaica’s prime minister has told the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that his country is “moving on” and intends to become a republic.

The royals’ arrival in Jamaica on Tuesday coincided with a much-publicised demonstration urging the monarchy to pay reparations for slavery, and calls from politicians for the country to become a republic.

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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge accused of benefiting from slavery

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William and Kate arrive in Jamaica to be met by protests calling for reparations from British monarchy

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been accused of benefiting from the “blood, tears and sweat” of slaves as they arrived in Jamaica to be met by a protest calling for reparations from the British monarchy.

William and Kate will celebrate the culture and history of the island, where there have been calls from politicians in recent years to drop the Queen as head of state and become a republic, and for a formal acknowledgment of slavery.

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Jamaican campaigners call for colonialism apology from royal family

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Politicians and business leaders sign open letter as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Caribbean

Jamaican campaigners have accused the Queen of perpetuating slavery in a letter urging the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to atone for colonialism during their Caribbean tour.

As the country celebrates 60 years of independence, a coalition of Jamaican politicians, business leaders, doctors and musicians have called in the open letter for the British monarchy to apologise for colonialism and pay slavery reparations.

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William and Kate cancel Belize village trip due to protests

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Chairman of Indian Creek village tells media residents don’t want Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to land helicopter there

Protests by local residents have forced the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to cancel a trip to a Belize village that was scheduled to kick off their Caribbean toursidents.

Opposition to the royal excursion had arisen from a dispute between residents of Toledo district and Flora and Fauna International, a conservation charity Prince William is a patron of.

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Growing calls in Caribbean to cut ties to monarchy as royals fly out

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William and Kate’s visit seen as attempt to persuade countries not to follow Barbados in ditching monarchy

The UK should be helping Caribbean nations sever ties with the monarchy rather than sending the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a charm offensive, Caribbean experts and Windrush campaigners say, predicting that Barbados’s decision to remove the Queen as head of state may have a domino effect across the region.

The royals will embark on a tour of Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas on Saturday that is widely viewed as an attempt to persuade other Caribbean nations not to follow Barbados’s example, after the Queen was said to have been dismayed by the island’s move.

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Queen not attending Commonwealth Day service, says palace

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Monarch, who recently recovered from Covid, ‘will continue with other planned engagements’

The Queen will not attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The 95-year-old monarch, who is the head of the Commonwealth, had hoped to join the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the event, after recently recovering from Covid-19.

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Royal observers wonder if the Queen will ever return to full duties

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‘To be running around like a 65-year-old when you’re 95 catches up with you,’ says author Penny Junor

When the Queen tested positive for Covid at the age of 95, it made headlines around the world.

Buckingham Palace initially said she would carry on working but was soon forced to concede she needed rest and cancelled a series of virtual engagements.

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Prince Harry not given enough information when police protection pulled, court told

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Legal hearing challenges Home Office decision to prevent prince from paying for police protection when visiting

The Duke of Sussex received “insufficient information” about a decision to change his taxpayer-funded police protection when he is in the UK, the high court has heard.

Prince Harry has brought a legal challenge against the Home Office after being told he would not be given the “same degree” of personal protective security when visiting the UK from the US – despite him offering to pay for it himself.

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Queen postpones two virtual audiences after Covid diagnosis

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Buckingham Palace says audiences will be rescheduled for later date and Queen to continue with light duties

The Queen has postponed two virtual audiences after her Covid diagnosis, Buckingham Palace has said.

Concerns for the nation’s longest reigning sovereign have been heightened given her age, frailer appearance of late and recent health scare.

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Prince Harry launches libel action against Mail on Sunday

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Claim against Associated Newspapers is reportedly related to article on prince’s security arrangements

Prince Harry has launched a libel action days after the Mail on Sunday published claims about problems with his security arrangements.

Court filings show Harry made a claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) on Wednesday afternoon. The claims are reportedly related to an article published by the Mail on Sunday under the headline “Revealed: How Harry tried to keep his legal fight over bodyguards secret”.

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George Ezra to play Queen’s platinum jubilee party

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Pop singer first act announced for Buckingham Palace bank holiday celebration with live audience of 10,000

The award-winning singer George Ezra has been confirmed as the first act for the Queen’s jubilee event the Platinum Party at the Palace, celebrating the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.

The 4 June concert will have an in-person audience of 10,000, half of which will be members of the public from a ticket ballot, the BBC reported, to be awarded in pairs.

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The Queen tests positive for Covid

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Monarch, 95, experiencing ‘mild cold-like symptoms’ but expects to continue carrying out light duties

The Queen has tested positive for Covid-19, ahead of the expected ending of all coronavirus restrictions in England in the coming days.

Buckingham Palace said the monarch, 95, was experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” but expected to continue carrying out light duties this week.

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Covid antivirals an option for the Queen under care of medical household

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Monarch said to have mild symptoms, but staff may look to drugs recently approved in UK

With the Queen approaching her 96th birthday in April, there was always going to be concern about her contracting Covid, but the monarch has tested positive against a radically different backdrop from when the virus arrived in the UK.

In addition to the protection afforded by her vaccinations – and she is understood to have had a booster – she could also be given antiviral drugs approved by UK authorities as recently as December.

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‘So many soundbites’: PR experts on Prince Andrew’s disastrous denials

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The duke’s legal battle was blighted by blunders, aggression and the lack of apology, which did not wash in the #MeToo era

The Duke of York’s legal battle with his accuser Virginia Giuffre, which he settled out of court this week, was characterised by a years-long series of damaging and unnecessary PR blunders, experts have said.

His disastrous Newsnight interview, his ducking and diving to frustrate the serving of legal papers, and claims from “friends” that the infamous photograph of him with his arm around Giuffre’s waist was faked, all served to inflict further public opprobrium on the Queen’s second son, it was claimed.

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‘De-royaled’ Prince Andrew unlikely to return to public life

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Analysis: Duke’s tarnished reputation after Virginia Giuffre settlement leaves him with few options, say experts

The price that Prince Andrew will pay for settling the Virginia Giuffre civil lawsuit will go far beyond the reported millions it has cost him financially.

As he celebrates his 62nd birthday on Saturday, the duke will undoubtedly contemplate what a future without the red carpet and royal trappings he has enjoyed since birth will actually look like.

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Prince Andrew facing fresh calls to be stripped of Duke of York title

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Labour MP Rachael Maskell calls for royal to lose title after settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault

Prince Andrew is facing months of pressure to relinquish his Duke of York title after an MP vowed to pursue “a number of paths” in parliament, including amending legislation, to strip the royal of his last major honorary position.

Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, said she had met Commons officials to explore ways of forcing Prince Andrew to give up his Duke of York title after his out-of-court settlement with a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

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Met investigating cash-for-honours claims linked to Prince’s Foundation

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Metropolitan police have launched investigation into allegations linked to Prince Charles charity

Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into cash-for-honours allegations linked to the Prince of Wales’s charity the Prince’s Foundation.

In a brief statement, the Metropolitan police said it had launched the investigation after media reports alleging offers of help were made to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national.

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