The Royal Dads’ Big Week
From the King’s first Trooping the Colour, to William’s birthday business, it’s all go for the Windsor men
Happy Father’s Day! Everyone likes to think their dad is a king, but what about when he really is? It’s been a packed-out week for the Windsor patriarchs, as the King took part in his first Trooping the Colour yesterday and everyone else had an equally busy schedule. Here’s what the Royal dads are up to:
The King: Now he’s the monarch, Charles gets two birthdays and yesterday, he took part in his first Trooping the Colour to mark his official one. Read more about this historic event, below. He also made time to take a trip on a historic train, catching the Flying Scotsman, to mark its 100th anniversary. Read more, below.
Prince William: While his father has an official birthday, William has a real one this week – he turns 41 on Wednesday and it’s expected he will make an announcement about his work with the homeless, to mark it. On Wednesday he attended a screening of Rhino Man with the Duchess of Edinburgh, following the fight against wildlife crime, with charity United for Wildlife. And on Tuesday he opened Reuben House, a new development by homeless charity Centrepoint and said the development was a “really good best practice model” he hoped would be replicated.
Prince Harry: Putting aside the fact that he and Meghan are parting ways with Spotify, Harry was back to his passion projects this week, as he attended a match at the Warrior Games in San Diego, California on Monday. He watched the veterans compete in a volleyball game and took time to meet and chat with competitors. Harry got the idea for his Invictus Games from the US version and his next Games take place in Dusseldorf in September. Meanwhile, he waits on the verdict of his UK court case against the Mirror Group and an investigation into his US visa.
Prince Edward: The Duke of Edinburgh was on horseback at yesterday’s Trooping the Colour as a personal first, alongside Princess Anne and Prince William. He and Sophie have been visibly more central at royal occasions – such as the Duchess accompanying William to the Rhino Man screening. This week also saw Edward visiting Ukranian soldiers training in the UK during Operation Interflex.
Prince Andrew: Prince Andrew is still in Royal Lodge, Windsor and enjoying being a grandfather again to newest York baby Ernest. He is reportedly sitting tight whilst builders do renovation work to his home, refusing to vacate the property and causing The Times to dub him, “King Joffrey.” Ouch. Meanwhile, he was spotted riding with Edward in Windsor on Monday.
Prince Louis salutes Trooping the Colour
After last year’s show-stealing performance at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour, our favourite feisty five year old brought his best moves to his grandad’s first official King’s Birthday Parade. Finishing the day, with a sweet salute on the Palace balcony.
Wearing red shorts and matching his big bro with his mini-me blazer and red tie, Louis sat wedged between Prince George and Princess Charlotte in a carriage shared with his mum and Queen Camilla. As they travelled down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Louis was once again on irreverent good form sticking out his tongue, grimacing and holding his nose (at the smell of horse poop) and making his trademark funny faces.
Catherine and Camilla looked resplendent in what the Telegraph tagged colonel couture. As Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Princess wore a crystal-embellished emerald green dress by Andrew Gn and a Philip Treacy hat. Camilla won our fashion parade, with her red silk Fiona Clare dress a genius tribute to her position as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Her Philip Treacy hat was inspired by the bearskins worn by the regiment. Like we said - genius. Princess Charlotte wore a sailor dress, also perfect for a military parade, with the red bow and belt matching her brothers’ ties.
With the Welsh Guards trooping their colour this year, the spectacle saw more than 1,400 troops, 200 horses and 400 musicians taking part in the event. The annual extravaganza of pomp and pageantry has marked the official birthday of the sovereign for the last 260 years. The King honoured the occasion by taking to horseback (and handled his ‘spicy’ steed, Noble, with expert aplomb). It’s the first time a monarch has done so since 1986, when Queen Elizabeth rode out for the final time on her beloved mare, Burmese. Charles was joined by Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (riding at Trooping the Colour for the first time), the Princess Royal and Prince William.
Later, on Buckingham Palace’s balcony, Louis covered his ears while some of 70 aircraft roared over, finally executing the curtailed Coronation flypast. We loved the moment when Louis puffed out his cheeks, scrunched up his face and with raised arms and clenched fists, looked like he was pretending to be a pilot. Last month, he confessed he wanted to be fighter pilot. One day Louis, you can get the best training from your paternal (and maternal) wingmen. We’ll all salute that.
Kate’s seal of burping approval
It was also a big week for the Princess of Wales. announcing her first NHS scientific study regarding the emotional development of babies, and meeting health visitors, mums and babies taking part in the trial.
Inspired by her official visit to Denmark earlier this year, the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood is funding the £50,000 study, evaluating a system used widely in that country called the Alarm Distress Baby Scale. This is used by health visitors at the six-eight-week check-up, measuring social behaviour such as eye contact, expressions, vocalisation and activity levels to help understand how they are expressing their feelings. The tool also supports parents and carers with bonding and attachment.
On Thursday, Catherine visited a Nuneaton children’s centre. Posting on social media, she said how lovely it was to chat with health visitors and mums, also commenting: “It was also great to hear how @earlychildhood trials of the Alarm Distress Baby Scale are going, reminding us how important innovation is in #ShapingUs.”
Our favourite moment was ten-week-old burping baby, Raphael Pickering, who received Catherine’s “Well done you!” royal seal of approval for letting it all out (click video above). Now, read on for another Pickering that gave us much joy this week…
Here comes the Flying King
All aboard! Our favourite story of the week was the sight of the King arriving in Pickering on board the Royal Train, pulled by the Flying Scotsman.
The famous locomotive is celebrating its 100th anniversary and the King visited Pickering Station, part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, to meet those who work on the railway and with the engine. He also took a walkabout through the town.
Meanwhile, sweet drawings of his mother and father, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, made by a young Prince Charles, went to auction on Friday as part of a large collection of royal memorabilia, from journalist Henry Ramsay Maule. The sketches, titled Mummy and Papa, were drawn by a young Charles around 1953-55 and went under the hammer at Hanson Auctioneers for £46,000. Yes, that’s £46,000! The Royal List was outbid about £45,550 earlier…
Hats off to Zara
Royal Ascot starts this Tuesday, and could this understated number be one of Zara’s fancy fascinators over the four days of races? Luxury agency Nicky Malone PR posted this pic of our royal equestrian last week, saying: “With a week to go before the start of Royal Ascot 2023 here’s Zara Tindall looking stunning modelling a beautiful headpiece by @rachelhenrymillinery from the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective 2023 in association with Fenwick.” Check out more of Fenwick’s crowning glories here.