The winning Windsor women take the lead
Catherine, Camilla and co get straight back to business this week
It’s safe to say the men of the Royal Family haven’t had the best start to the new year, as Prince Harry airs his grievances in a series of interviews for his autobiography Spare. Neither the King or Prince William have fared well in his revelations.
And while Harry didn’t paint a flattering picture of any of the women – slinging arrows the way of Catherine, Princess of Wales (too formal, too dressed-up, too uptight, he says), Camilla, Queen Consort (leaks stories, he says) and even Princess Anne (criticising her and others for “obsessively” trying to top the hardest-working royal list), it’s the women who have been out in force, getting back to business.
The Princess of Wales was busy meeting England Rugby League’s wheelchair players at Hampton Court on Thursday. Catherine, sporting a £1,200 burgundy Roland Mouret trouser suit, braved the chill of the weather and her brother-in-law’s opinions.
On Wednesday, she visited Foxcubs Nursery in Luton. The princess wore a Massimo Dutti camel coat and orange Gabriela Hearst sweater and skirt (£351 and £708 at My Theresa) on the visit to highlight early years education. “The Princess of Wales has long been an advocate for the importance of early childhood to lifelong outcomes and founded The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, which works to raise awareness of and promote collaborative action on early childhood to transform society for generations to come,” the Palace said.
“Outstanding early years settings like this play a huge role in positively shaping a child’s development. The collaboration between staff and parents is just one of the ways children here are supported in their first five years,” she said.
Camilla goes to uni
The Queen Consort was equally cheerful on Wednesday, as she visited the University of Aberdeen’s new science teaching hub. Camilla did not attend university herself, instead going to a Swiss finishing school.
“Coming to this university, and to this city, has always felt a bit like coming home. Firstly, because my father’s family came from this part of Scotland; secondly, because my husband and I are lucky enough to spend precious time each year in Aberdeenshire; and finally, because ten years ago, I received the great honour of being installed as Chancellor of this very special University,” she said.
Wearing the same smart green and tartan coat she wore to the Braemar Highland Gathering last year, Camilla looked to be thoroughly enjoying herself.
Anne powers on
Prince Harry may not be impressed but the following fact will come as no surprise to royal watchers, the Princess Royal topped the 2022 hardest-working member of the Royal Family charts (yet again), notching up 214 engagements last year. And Anne was back to her duties this week, after attending the former Greek King Constantine II’s funeral in Athens on Monday, with husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
On Wednesday, Anne hosted the first Investiture Ceremonies of 2023 at Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse. Among the recipients, the 72-year-old presented MBEs to the gold-medal winning curling team at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which included Hailey Duff, Vicky Wright, Mili Smith and Jen Dodds alongside coach, Dave Murdoch. Now, who reckons Anne deserves her own gold medal!
Sophie celebrates birthday
Another hard-working royal, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, made it a double celebration on Thursday with a visit to a school in Bagshot, Surrey, just a short drive from her Bagshot Park home.
While helping Connaught Junior School celebrate their 60th anniversary by opening a new lab, the pupils returned the favour and surprised Sophie with a cake, flowers and a card to mark her 58th birthday, which was the following day on Friday 20 January. And it really was back to school for Sophie as she joined in with lessons, before planting a tree to mark The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. The Countess even met Toffee, the cute school dog who has her own Twitter account.
Earlier in the day, Sophie visited Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot and, after opening a new medical centre, was given a card and a bouquet. What a blooming lovely start to her birthday.
Remembering Queen Victoria at Osborne
It was on this day we lost another mighty queen: Queen Victoria passed away on January 22, 1901, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
Victoria, who up until Queen Elizabeth II had been the longest-reigning monarch, was on the throne for 63 years until she died aged 81 in her beloved retreat.
Like Balmoral was to the Queen, Osborne was a favourite home of Victoria’s. “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot,” she said. After her death, the grand Italianate home she and Prince Albert built in 1851 was given to English Heritage.
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