The comeback King
Charles goes from crisis to crown, one year on from the coronation
What a year. May 6 marks 12 months from King Charles’ coronation and it’s fair to say he wouldn’t have been expecting all the crises which unfolded.
However, the good news is, the King is back, making his first public appearance at University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre, on Tuesday. Meeting fellow cancer patients, he was asked repeatedly how he was feeling, to which he replied, “I’m alright thank you very much, not too bad.” He was also named a patron of Cancer Research UK.
Camilla confided to guests at a Buckingham Palace reception that Charles is overjoyed to be back. “I think he was really thrilled to be out. I’ve been trying to hold him back,” she said.
It’s the first of many engagements – the King and Queen were also presented with a “vegan roll” of the coronation. No, not a Greggs one, but an official account of the proceedings, printed on vegan paper for the first time. On Friday, Charles was seen enjoying the Royal Windsor Horse Show and this week, Buckingham Palace garden parties kick off, too. In June, the King and Queen will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan on a State Visit and it’s reported Charles is determined to ride his favourite horse, Noble, at Trooping the Colour, next month.
To celebrate the King’s first year from the coronation, here’s a recap of some of the key events of the past 12 months:
May 2023: Coronation
On May 6 last year, Charles was crowned King, in a slimmed-down, but glittering ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
June: First Trooping the Colour
The King’s first Trooping the Colour saw him ride his horse, Noble.
September: State Visit to France
In September, came the delayed State Visit to France. The pair were a triumph, with the King delivering a speech in French and Camilla in her beautiful Dior gown.
November: Race row and big birthday
The King and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were named as allegedly the “royal racists” in Omid Scobie’s book Endgame, overshadowing the King’s 75th birthday.
January 2024: Health battles begin
On January 17, it was announced the King was having a prostate procedure, in a double blow with the Princess of Wales’ abdominal surgery.
February: Cancer diagnosis
There was further bad news on February 5, when Buckingham Palace confirmed the King was now receiving treatment for cancer.
March: Camilla steps in and Catherine speaks out
Camilla stood in for the King at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey and Royal Maundy Service at Worcester Cathedral. Catherine posted a video explaining she had cancer and on March 22, Buckingham Palace said the King was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”
Harry’s back (briefly) too
Not only has the King returned, but so has his errant younger son – briefly, at least. Prince Harry will travel to Britain for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Reports suggest he will see his father on Wednesday night, but no other members of his family are expected to meet him.
Afterwards, the Nigerian government announced that Harry and Meghan will travel to Nigeria, meeting Service members. It’s also Archie’s fifth birthday on Monday, May 6, so Harry and Meghan will be sure to arrange their schedules to include a party for Archie’s milestone, in Montecito.
Sophie’s history-making trip to Ukraine
The Duchess of Edinburgh became the first member of the Royal Family to visit the country since Russia’s invasion two years ago, marking the latest show of royal solidarity for Ukraine.
On Monday, Sophie met President Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, where she delivered a message on behalf of the King. In Kyiv, the Duchess also spent time with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, volunteers and displaced women. Later, in Bucha, Sophie paid her respects to those who have lost their lives.
The one-day visit formed part of her work as a champion of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda.
“We must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict,” said the Duchess via video last month, at Ukraine’s Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference. “Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.”
All aboard Anne’s new train
At London’s Paddington Station, Anne unveiled a Great Western Railway train named after her on Friday. A GWR spokesperson said: “We are honoured to name a train HRH The Princess Royal in recognition of her support for more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments in the UK and overseas.”
Speaking moments before revealing her namesake, Anne said: “Thank you very much indeed for this honour, it’s much appreciated.” Also making her smile, an illustration of herself competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics above her title on the train.
The hard-working royal swapped trains for planes the following day, jetting off on a three-day visit to Canada. Anne will be inspecting… ships, in her role as Commodore-in-Chief for the Canadian Fleet Pacific.
Remember when… Diana dazzled at the Met Gala
With fashion’s biggest night fast approaching this Monday, we’re looking back at Diana’s one and only Met Gala appearance in 1996.
The recently divorced Princess of Wales looked ‘elegant, but revealing’ in a midnight-blue John Galliano for Dior satin slip dress with lace negligée trim and matching dressing-gown style robe. Dangling from her wrist was a Lady Dior bag - originally called the Chouchou - and renamed in her honour. The gala in New York’s Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art was honouring the late Christian Dior, a favourite of the royals since the late 1940s.
You can see Diana’s dress and bag on display at Le Galerie Dior, Paris. Maria and Kerry have been recently and the stunning exhibition is breathtakingly beautiful. Buy tickets here.