It’s not every day that the King and Queen come to visit.

However, that was the exact scenario that Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney faced when the royal couple stopped by Wrexham AFC’s historic The Racecourse Ground.

In season 2 of their docu-series Welcome To Wrexham, the release date for which has arrived on Disney Plus, the actors – and co-owners of the football club – went so far as to take etiquette lessons to make sure that the meeting would go as smoothly as possible.

Ahead of the documentary’s return, Metro.co.uk spoke to the duo’s right-hand man Humphrey Ker about how the royal visit went down – and he revealed that King Charles managed to sneak in a wry It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia joke.

The executive director of Wrexham football club recalled how ‘keyed up’ Ryan and Rob were about the King and Queen’s visit, as they were ‘very excited and took it very seriously, and so they did their training’.

‘I think they prepared well for everything and it all passed off without a hitch,’ he added, before sharing some behind-the-scenes insight into the monarch’s perfectly-placed joke.

When those watching the second season of Welcome To Wrexham witness the moment King Charles shakes hands with Rob, they’ll hear the actor explain that while he’s from Philadelphia, he now lives in Los Angeles.

‘I hear it’s always sunny there,’ the King responds, in what some might assume is a coincidence, considering Rob stars in and co-created the widely popular sitcom It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

However, Humphrey confirmed that the reference to the show was completely deliberate on the royal’s part.

‘He knew full well. He was very pleased with his joke and he said that he’s got people to tell him, keep him abreast of what’s going on and set him up for these sorts of things. They had a great time,’ he shared.

The day that the King and Queen Camilla came to visit Wrexham was not only a huge moment for Ryan and Rob, but – of course – massive for the wider members of the staff who have worked extremely hard at the club for years.

‘What was nice was for our staff, it’s exciting for them – it’s a chance for a bit of recognition for what they’ve done and a sense of putting the football club on the map,’ Humphrey said.

‘I think sometimes in the past maybe when the Queen came to Wrexham, the football club wouldn’t necessarily be a stop on that. There’s lots of other things to do and see in north Wales.

‘So we’re really pleased that we were somewhere that they wanted to come and recognise.’

After meeting King Charles at Wrexham in December 2022, Ryan shared a picture of an interaction he shared with the monarch on Instagram, with the caption: ‘Welcome to Wrexham Season 2: Charles in Charge.’

The official account for the royal family responded in a comment that read: ‘Thank you for welcoming us to @wrexham_afc!’

Meanwhile Rob – who admits in the docu-series that he struggles with the idea of bowing to another person – made a quip about a certain Netflix drama in his own Instagram post, writing: ‘Season 6 of The Crown is gonna be 🔥.’

Welcome to Wrexham season 2 launches on Wednesday September 13 on Disney Plus.

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The Princess of Wales had an encounter with a drug detection labrador called Penny while visiting a Surrey prison to learn about the work of an addiction charity.

Kate is a patron of The Forward Trust, which supports inmates at HMP High Down near Banstead, and was highlighting their work ahead of Addiction Awareness Week next month.

She met bosses, inmates and ex-offenders at the site with a bandage around her fingers, explaining she’d injured them while using a trampoline.

But before she entered the prison, she was given a quick demonstration of Penny’s nose skills – and shown what happens when she finds something.

‘Amazing. It’s incredible, it’s very calm and controlled. It’s not intimidating,’ Kate said.

Once inside, the princess had a chat with inmates being trained in hospitality at the prison’s award-winning restaurant, The Clink, and complimented them on the ‘delicious’ looking food.

Among those who met her was Richard Stephenson, also known as Steff, who was a client of The Forward Trust more than 20 years ago and recovered from his own addiction.

The NHS service manager said: ‘It’s really important people from different genres take interest and ask questions.

‘It’s about believing people can change… I’m a professional now. It’s really important to come from that and meet someone who may be a future queen.’

Kate has been a patron for the cause since 2021, when it merged with Action on Addiction.

Previous to the merge, she had been a patron for the other charity since 2012, making it one of the first roles she took on after her marriage to William.

Mark Ash, an ex-inmate of HMP High Down who now works with The Forward Trust to support others, said her work drawing attention to addiction would help others like him.

He said: ‘When someone like Kate puts herself on that platform people are going to listen because she’s the Princess of Wales.

‘It’s honourable of her to want to step in.’

High Down is one of 25 prisons supported by The Forward Trust across the UK.

Its governor Emily Martin said of the princess: ‘She’s very natural and clearly genuinely interested which I think it’s really important.’

She added that Kate was ‘genuinely curious and wants to help’.

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The Princess of Wales has visited HMP High Down in Surrey to learn about how the Forward Trust charity is supporting those in the criminal justice system with managing and recovering from addiction.

Kate Middleton, who’s a patron of The Forward Trust, wore a navy blue Alexander McQueen suit for the occasion with a simple white t-shirt and matching navy heels.

The look was completed with a £1,300 Daniella Draper necklace, £2,300 Lauren Pave Diamond Leaf Drop Earrings, and her signature blowout hairdo.

Kate previously wore this navy number when she landed at Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts last December, and to meet some of the Royal Navy Ship’s Company of HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle in September 2022.

The Princess has an established fondness for the fashion house, having worn the same Alexander McQueen number in white for an outing at the Rugby World Cup just two days ago.

On top of that, she’s got the same suit in pink, and she wore a red Alexander McQueen suit with an asymmetrical blazer for the star-studded Coronation concert back in May.

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An assortment of gowns worn by Princess Diana have collectively sold for over £1,000,000 at an auction in the US.

A red Bruce Oldfield silk gown worn by Diana to a movie premiere in November 1991, sold for 571,500 US dollars (£458,484) at an event from Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), in Beverly Hills, California.

The silk dress had been expected to sell for between 200,000 dollars (£160,000) and 400,000 dollars (£320,000).

The Legends: Hollywood And Royalty auction, featuring more than 1,400 items, celebrated 100 years of Warner Bros, and ended on Friday evening.

A black and jade gown by Catherine Walker – Diana’s personal designer for more than 16 years – which was worn by the late royal to a gala event in Toronto, Canada, in October 1991 was another top seller, also going for 571,500 US dollars (£458,484).

A custom-made black velvet and ivory gown, also designed by Walker, worn by Diana to a private function sold for 508,000 US dollars (£407,541), on an original estimate of 60,000 dollars (£48,000) to 80,000 dollars (£64,000).

The three designer dresses had not been seen in public for more than 30 years according to the auction house.

Martin Nolan, executive director and founder of Julien’s Auctions, said: ‘Buoyed by the tremendous success of this three-day sale – which brought in a record number of registrants and bidders from across the globe – we are already busy at work in the launch of our next Hollywood auction that will be a year-end spectacular as we celebrate Julien’s 20th anniversary.’

Other high-ticket items include a Givenchy couture pink evening dress, worn by Audrey Hepburn when she played Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, which sold for double its original estimate at 444,500 US dollars (£356,598).

Collectibles from classic Hollywood actors Humphrey Bogart and his wife Lauren Bacall were also offered for the first time at auction.

The couple’s matching 14 karat gold wedding rings, exchanged by Bogart and Bacall during their wedding on May 21 1945, sold for 190,500 US dollars (£152,828) and a heart-shaped locket inscribed, ‘Baby, here’s my heart, Bogie’ went for 57,150 US dollars (£45,848).

The Hollywood couple’s son Stephen Bogart said: ‘My sister Leslie and I would like to thank Julien’s Auctions, Turner Classic Movies and Brooks Branch for their tremendous job bringing these important and dear artefacts to auction.

‘Everyone was so lovely to work with and TCM helped to put a wonderful spotlight on my parents’ legacy. Kudos to all.’

Science fiction film items such as Carrie Fisher’s production-made slave costume as Princess Leia from Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi was won by Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher for 38,100 US dollars (£30,566).

The item had been estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars (£15,534 to £23,300).

‘We are very happy to add this piece to the estates’ collection of Debbie (Reynolds) and Carrie artefacts,’ said businessman Fisher.

‘We have been working with Darren Julien of Julien’s Auctions for many decades. He has helped us acquire some very important pieces, including my mother’s (Debbie) birthday cake outfit from Singin’ In The Rain.’

Fisher died at the age of 60 in December 2016 and appeared in 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi posthumously, and through previously unreleased footage for 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker.

American actress Reynolds, who was married to singer Eddie Fisher, appeared in classic Hollywood films such as What’s The Matter With Helen?, Charlotte’s Web and Halloweentown, before her death aged 84 in December 2016, just days after her daughter died.

The lightsabre used by Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith also sold for 91,000 US dollars (£73,004).

Star Trek items such as a maroon Starfleet officer’s jacket worn by William Shatner as James T Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan went for 127,000 dollars (£101,760).

All sale prices included the buyer’s premium.

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Today, September 8, marks the one year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing – a historic moment which is etched into the hearts and minds of people around the world.

Many can remember the exact moment that they heard of the Queen’s passing, with announcements being made on UK-bound flights as they came in to land.

The late Queen had reached the age of 96, and was on the throne for 70 years, having acceded in 1952.

Although she had seemed frail in her last few years, her late Majesty was still working.

The first indication that the Queen’s health had rapidly deteriorated came the night before her death, when she did not attend a virtual Privy Council meeting, a day after appointing Liz Truss as PM. 

So what happened on the day the Queen died? Let’s take a look back at the day’s events.

What happened on the day Queen Elizabeth II died?

On September 8, 2022, just two days after Queen Elizabeth met with Boris Johnson and Liz Truss at Balmoral, officially inviting the latter to form a government, doctors issued a worrying statement on the Monarch’s health.

At 7am on September 8, 2022, the queen’s had helicopter left Windsor Castle and collected Prince Charles from Ayrshire. Charles had arrived at Balmoral at 10.30am.

Two hours later, at 12.32pm, a Palace statement was released, which said: ‘Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

‘The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.’

At 12.50pm, Clarence House and Kensington Palace announced that the future king, plus his brother Edward and son William, had cleared their diaries to dash to the Queen’s Scottish Highlands home. Edward’s wife Sophie joined them.

William, Edward and Sophie left RAF Northolt at 2.40pm and landed in Aberdeen at 3.50pm. They arrived at Balmoral shortly after 5pm.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, stayed in Windsor with their children, who were due to start school.

The Duchess of Cornwall was driven from nearby Birkhall to join Charles, while Princess Anne, who was in Scotland on engagements, was already there.

Despite family tensions, Prince Harry also headed to Balmoral. The Sussexes’ original announcement said he would be joined by Meghan, but after news that Kate was staying behind, this plan was dropped.

Meghan remained in London, where the couple had been due to attend a charity event, and Harry took a private jet from Luton at 5pm. No official reason was given as to why he didn’t join the rest of the family on the earlier flight.

What time did Queen Elizabeth die?

An official announcement was made at 6.30pm, but Queen Elizabeth actually died at 3.10pm.

This means that Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Sophie and Prince Harry all arrived after Her Majesty had passed.

By the time Harry arrived, Charles, William and Camilla – the new Queen – had already left for Birkhall.

Before the official public announcement, Palace staff were busy notifying key teams including: 10 Downing St, Lambeth Palace, the chief of the defence staff, plus prime ministers and high commissioners of the 14 other countries of which the Queen was head of state.

Crowds began to gather at Buckingham Palace and many people laid floral tributes.

Shortly after 7pm, the new King Charles gave his first public address as Monarch, describing his mother’s death as ‘a moment of the greatest sadness.

‘We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.

‘I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.’

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History was made a year ago today when, on September 8, 2022, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died.

The late Queen had ruled for 70 years, since February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, who was crowned King after his brother Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.

Despite Her Majesty’s advanced years, news of the Queen’s death came as a shock to many – just two days earlier, she had received both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss at Balmoral, officially appointing the latter as Prime Minister.

But on the morning of September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that doctors were concerned for the Queen’s health, and that she remained ‘comfortable’ at Balmoral.

At 6.30pm, the death of Queen Elizabeth II was officially announced.

So why did the Queen appear to die so suddenly, and what was the cause of her death?

What was the cause of Queen Elizabeth II’s death?

According to her death certificate, Queen Elizabeth II died of ‘old age’.

However, following her death, author Gyles Brandreth – and a friend of Her Majesty’s late husband, Prince Philip – claimed the queen had been suffering from cancer.

In his book ‘Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait’, he stated that the late queen had ‘myeloma’,  a type of bone marrow cancer which does not have a cure, but there are treatments which can help extend life for many years.’

He wrote: ‘I had heard that the Queen had a form of myeloma — bone marrow cancer — which would explain her tiredness and weight loss and those “mobility issues” we were often told about during the last year or so of her life.’

Royal biographer Lady Colin Campbell, also claimed Her Majesty had bone cancer.

Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Mr Brandreth said: ‘It’s not unusual for a doctor to write “old age” on a death certificate when a person over 80 dies, as happened with the Queen.

‘The Queen’s doctor in Scotland, who had been her physician for 30 years, said they had known about her condition for some time and the end was not unexpected.

‘I really didn’t want to upset anyone, yet if it’s going to be confirmed – and one day it will – at least I, as a reporter, am saying what was out there.’

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Kate Middleton has paid subtle tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II on the first anniversary of her death.

Today is likely to be an emotional one for the Royal Family, as today marks one year since The Queen died.

For the anniversary, The Prince and Princess of Wales are visiting St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty.

And Kate gave a sentimental nod to the late Queen with her jewellery as she stepped out in Wales, opting for special pearl drop earrings – previously owned by the previous monarch.

The Princess of Wales first borrowed the jewels from The Queen when she went to the Netherlands for her first solo abroad trip in October 2016, and wore them late last year when greeting Commonwealth troops ahead of the state funeral.

Kate wore an all-burgundy ensemble with a coat dress from Eponine London, a hat by Sahar Millinery, a Mulberry Bayswater Wallet clutch and matching shoes – despite the UK being in the midst of a heatwave.

Pearls are typically worn by royals during times of mourning, so the jewellery choice seems fitting for the sentimental event.

Kate also wore the very same earrings multiple times during the mourning period last year, most notably as the royals received The Queen’s coffin at Buckingham Palace and while greeting well-wishers at Sandringham.

Their Royal Highnesses are visiting west Wales today, where they will meet local communities in and around St Davids.

St Davids is the only UK cathedral where, since the Reformation, the Sovereign has had a special stall in the Quire among the members of the Chapter, and Her Late Majesty sat there on four occasions during her visits to St Davids over the years.

The royal outing comes after a long summer break for Prince William and Princess Kate, whose most recent holiday was a gathering at Balmoral Castle with their children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

A guide to some of the Queen's most iconic brooches and their meanings

Queen Elizabeth II had a collection of more than 100 brooches, but there were some that held extra special meaning.

Here's your cheat sheet.

The sapphire chrysanthemum brooch

The Sapphire chrysanthemum brooch is a simple but statement design, with multiple platinum-set sapphires surrounded by diamond petals.

It was given to the then Princess Elizabeth for launch the British Princess oil tanker in 1946, and she went on to wear it for many key moments, including her honeymoon, Princess Anne's Christening, and her and Prince Philip's diamond wedding anniversary.

The Dorset bow brooch

A family heirloom, the Dorset bow brooch was Queen Mary's wedding gift from the county of Dorset. It was then given to Elizabeth for her wedding, and she went on to wear it frequently, including for the Christening of Prince Charles.

It was often used to symbolise remembrance - the Queen wore it for many Remembrance Day events, as well as for the funeral of the Duke of Windsor.

The Queen Mother’s art deco leaf brooch

Crafted by Cartier in 1928, this brooch was passed along quite a bit, given by King George VI to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, then to Queen Elizabeth II (Princess Elizabeth at the time) as a birthday present.

She wore it many times in the 1950s, including in the moment above, when she touched down in London after a trip to Italy.

The aquamarine clip brooches

These twin brooches were Queen Elizabeth II's 18th birthday gift from her parents, so it's no surprise that the monarch absolutely adored them.

She wore the set many, many times during her reign, especially on anniversaries connected to her father's memory, such as on the date of her Jubilee.

You'll spot the striking blue duo in photos from the Queen's message for her diamond Jubilee in 2012, for lunch with the Obamas in 2016, and for the opening of Parliament in 2021.

The diamond clematis brooch

Queen Elizabeth wore this gloriously sparkly diamond brooch for her official engagement photos, and went on to bring it out multiple times over the next decades.

The City of London lily brooch

Elizabeth was given this hefty diamond-encrusted lily design when she received the Freedom of the City of London. She went on to wear it a bunch, most notably for the Queen Mother's 101st birthday and the private service for Princess Margaret.

The flower basket brooch

This colourful style was another gift from the Queen's parents, this time to mark the birth of Charles. Years on, she wore it for Prince George's Christening, too.

Queen Adelaide's brooch

You might recognise this diamond brooch from the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

It was created for King William IV's consort, Queen Adelaide, reusing other jewels to form what was intended as a clasp for a pearl necklace. It has a large centre diamond, six around it, and smaller stones to complete the design.

The Kent amethyst brooch

The Kent amethyst brooch is actually multiple brooches.

The main part is the one you'll see most often, the top hexagonal amethyst surrounded by diamond sun rays. This has some small loops at the bottom, allowing for three smaller amethysts to be attached. It's thought that there may be some additional brooch parts, but that these were rarely worn or were attached to the matching necklace instead.

The set was owned by Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, who left it to her daughter, who then passed it down again. Queen Elizabeth II was given the sparkling jewels after her accession, and wore the different parts many times over the years.

Prince Albert's sapphire and diamond brooch (also known as Queen Victoria's wedding brooch)

Prince Albert gave this brooch - a massive sapphire set in gold and surrounded by 12 diamonds - to Queen Victoria the day before their wedding, and she went on to wear it over and over again until Albert passed away. It was passed down to the Crown and once in Queen Elizabeth II's posession, became one of her favourites.

She wore this brilliant blue piece for Prince William's Christening as well as for her Christmas message in 2019.

Queen Victoria's diamond bow brooches

Yep, plural - but Queen Elizabeth II only really wore one at a time.

This was a set of three bow-shaped diamond brooches, commissioned by Queen Victoria from Garrard and passed down to Alexandra, then to Mary, then to Elizabeth I, then finally to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen wore pieces of this set for many Remembrance events as well as Margaret Thatcher's funeral.

Queen Victoria's ears of wheat

Another set that's larger than you might realise. There are in fact six of these large diamond ears of wheat, but the Queen typically wore two at a time.

They were made for Queen Adelaide at the request of her husband by Rundell, Bridge & Co, then redone by Garrard in 1858.

Queen Elizabeth II wore the wheat ears not only as brooches but as hair ornaments, too, and lent them to Princess Eugenie for her wedding reception.

The Cambridge emerald cluster brooch

A round emerald surrounded by diamonds, with the option to dangle another Cambridge emerald pendant.

Cambridge pearl pendant brooch

This pretty pearl brooch belonged to the Duchess of Cambridge - no, not Kate, but Queen Mary's grandmother, Princess Augusta. In 1953, Queen Mary then passed it down to Elizabeth II.

The late monarch wore the piece for her 50th birthday portrait, for her 2014 Christmas message, and in a Zoom call in 2021.

The Queen Mother's palm leaf brooch (also known as the paisley brooch)

One of the Queen's most frequently worn brooches, this is a simpler diamond design in the shape of a leaf.

The Queen Mother loved this particular piece of jewellery, wearing it repeatedly throughout her life - including while mourning King George VI.

Queen Alexandra's wedding gift brooch

This brooch forms part of a grand Garrard set made for Princess Alexandra of Denmark for her wedding, comprised of a large diamond tiara, a diamond and pearl necklace, a set of earrings, and a brooch.

The Queen often wore the brooch, particularly for Remembrance events, and the earrings, while Kate Middleton and the Queen Mother have been spotted wearing the necklace.

The modern diamond and ruby spray brooch

The Queen often wore this with red outfits, for obvious reason: the rubies made the brooch a natural accessory.

She wore it for multiple state dinners and her diamond Jubilee walk.

Queen Mary's Richmond brooch

A super ornate pearl and diamond design that the Queen wore for the wedding of Harry and Meghan.

Queen Mary's pink sapphire and diamond brooch

A sweet pink sapphire, surrounded by large round diamonds and smaller diamonds between the stones, the Queen wore this one frequently through the years, including for a portrait (by Mary McCartney, daughter of Paul) to commemorate her becoming the longest-reigning British monarch.

True lover's knot brooch

Another one of the Queen's diamond bows, this appears to be the largest of the bunch.

It was made by Garrard for Queen Mary and inherited by Elizabeth II in 1953.

She often wore it to hold her poppy on Remembrance Day, and donned it for Will and Kate's wedding in 2018.

The New Zealand silver fern brooch

As the name suggests, the Queen wore this brooch for events related to New Zealand, after being given it by the wife of the Mayor of Auckland for Christmas in 1953.

Elizabeth II even lent it to Kate, now the Princess of Wales, for her tour of New Zealand in 2014.

The pearl triangle brooch

One of the more delicate, smaller pearl brooches owned by the Queen, comprised of two pearls and a yellow diamond set in a diamond frame.

Elizabeth wore this for her walkabout outside St James Palace on the day before Princess Diana's funeral, as well as for a wedding anniversary portrait in 1979.

The golden dahlia brooch (also known as the golden sunflower brooch)

Another work by Garrard, the Queen clearly loved this accessory, wearing it for public appearances at least 40 times.

It has a diamond flower (dahlia or sunflower? That's up to you...) surrounded by 18 carat gold petals.

The grima ruby brooch (also known as the scarab brooch)

The Queen received this brooch - made up of repurposed rubies, gold, and diamonds and created by jeweller Andrew Grima - from the Duke of Edinburgh, and went on to wear it in tribute to the Duke after his passing.

Elizabeth also opted for this brooch for her 70th wedding anniversary portrait.

The Jardine star brooch

This one feels quite Christmassy, no?

The Jardine star was left to the Queen by Lady Jardine, and has eight twinkling diamond rays that surround a central cluster of eight diamonds.

The diamond and pearl leaf brooch

Kate, Princess of Wales, wore this brooch to the procession of the Queen's coffin.

This isn’t one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most well-known brooches – in fact, it’s rarely been seen.

The Queen was spotted wearing it on a yellow dress back in 1999, in Seoul, but we knew it had been passed along to Kate more recently, as the Princess of Wales donned it for a visit to Belgium.

Queen Victoria's 11 pearl and diamond brooch

Another pearl brooch that belonged to Queen Victoria, this one has 11 large pearls; eight in a diamond shape and three hanging down as pendants.

It was handed to the Crown and worn frequently by the Queen Mother until 2002, when it was passed on to Queen Elizabeth II, who has worn it multiple times to the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

The Courtauld Thomson scallop shell brooch (also known as the Queen Mother's shell brooch)

A rather grand design in the shape of a shell, this has solid rows of diamonds with a pearl at the base.

It was designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson for the Queen Mother, who went on to wear it frequently - including for her 100th birthday celebrations.

After the Queen Mother died, Elizabeth II took the shell brooch into her collection and wore it on multiple occasions, including Royal Ascot, a funeral, Remembrance Sunday, an Easter service, and her 2020 Christmas broadcast

The Braemar feather brooch

The Braemar Royal Highland Society gave this eagle's feather brooch - made with 24 carat yellow gold, white gold, silver, and platinum - to the Queen to mark her golden Jubilee.

After that, the Queen wore this every year, for the annual Braemar Gathering.

The Queen Mother's Cartier lily brooch

This weighty design is sometimes called a footlong, but in fact measures in at just under 7 inches long... which is still giant for a brooch. Picture a 6inch Subway sandwich on your lapel - it'd make quite the statement.

The brooch, of course, is not made of bread and your choice of fillings, but instead more than 200 diamonds from the Queen Mother's collection, then an extra 50 added by Cartier for good measure.

The dramatic piece was commissioned in 1939 for the Queen Mother, and has a long stem with a lily flower design at the top.

Because of its size, Queen Elizabeth II didn't wear it often, but when she did, you couldn't help but marvel at it.

The Queen Mother's aquamarine art deco brooch

You will have spotted this pinned to many of Queen Elizabeth II's blue outfits, for obvious reasons.

It's not known who made this particular piece, but many believe it's another Cartier classic.

After the Queen Mother's death, Elizabeth II inherited the brooch and went on to wear it for one of her Christmas messages.

The centenary rose brooch

Elizabeth II commissioned this pretty piece from Collins and Sons for the Queen Mother's 100th birthday. It has a hand-painted Grandiflora Rose - a flower grown by the Queen Mother - surrounded by 100 diamonds.

The Queen went on to wear it after her mother's death, including for the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the 2004 Christmas service.

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MORE : Prince Harry pays his respects to the late Queen in surprise visit to Windsor chapel

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Prince Harry made a visit to the Windsor Church on the first anniversary of his grandmother’s death whilst Prince William commemorated the day 230 miles away.

The Duke of Sussex was spotted leaving St George’s chapel where the late Queen was laid to rest.

Meanwhile Prince William and Kate were seen arriving at St Davids in Wales – 230 miles away from Windsor.

The estranged brothers have not carried out any official engagements together since Harry’s tell-all memoir was published in January.

King Charles attended a memorial service at Balmoral’s parish church in Scotland.

Harry is not expected to meet either his brother of father, the King, during his short trip to the UK.

The duke has revealed the reason his wife Meghan Markle has not visited the UK with him, after he was noticeably alone when he attended the WellChild Awards in London.

He spoke about the reason with the family of Ruky Anighoro, 14, who were told Meghan was ‘very upset that she couldn’t be here’ and mentioned the couple had a ‘busy week’ ahead of them. 

Harry also mentioned the death of his grandma on the eve of the first anniversary of the Queen’s death.

He said: ‘As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.

‘As you also know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her.

‘And that’s why I know that exactly one year on she’s looking down on us on all of us tonight, happy we’re together and continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.’

He missed the awards last year as he raced to Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire to join his family at the Queen’s bedside.

Charles is not expected to have time in his diary to see Harry.

While Harry’s father stays in Balmoral and his brother undertakes duties, there were two family members he narrowly missed bumping into.

Princes Edward and Andrew also attended a service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor to commemorate the one year anniversary of their brother’s accession.

MORE : What happened on the day the Queen died? Her late Majesty’s final hours as Charles rushed to her bedside

MORE : Kate Middleton’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it style nod to the late Queen Elizabeth

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Big Brother star Narinder Kaur has been hit with backlash over her tweet on the anniversary of the Queen’s death.

The broadcaster – who got into a row on Good Morning Britain earlier this year as she criticised the royal family’s colonial past – marked one year since the late monarch’s death on Friday with a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) and she called out the ‘lasting damage’ the caused by ‘British Rule’.

She wrote: ‘The death of the Queen of Crime, Elizabeth II, at the age of 96, after almost seven decades of rule, has sparked reactions at various levels. However, the most significant response should be considered the eruption of anger and resentment caused by the lasting damage of British Rule.

‘The people from former and current British colonial countries regard Elizabeth II as the embodiment of colonialism and the harm inflicted by England upon their nations.

‘They have not hesitated to express this sentiment following the news of her death.

‘Although Elizabeth II reigned during the post-colonial era of England, she still maintained a connection with the colonial past rooted in racism and violence against Asian and African colonies.

‘In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for the monarchy to confront.’

She also responded to a clip from Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 show as presenter Cristo Foufas described her as ‘a really really tough act to follow’.

She replied: ‘Tough act to follow !? A 7yo could have done better than the Queen. She never apologised for the Jalliwala bagh massacre. She never apologised for her county looting other countries .

‘What good did she do for the poor of this country?! She’s remembered for Paddington bear..’

She has been met with backlash over her comments, with people hitting out at both her remarks and the timing of them.

One person wrote: ‘I agree more needed to be said by the monarchy, but, as I always say to people, a funeral or death-day service/remeberance is not the moment. The moment is the large window away from this. If we believe in civil attitudes, we must exemplify them. Just my feelings.’

‘What an utterly distasteful comment to make today of all days,’ a second person replied, while another said: ‘Talking of 7 year olds u been counting down the days haven’t u, ready to pounce.’

Although a few people backed her comments with one person saying she was ‘quite right’, others took issue and someone else wrote: ‘Petty and vile comments. It’s a new low for you.’

Got a story?

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MORE : The Queen’s death one year on: How the historic day unfolded

MORE : Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace on first anniversary of Queen’s death

Prince Harry has revealed the reason his wife Meghan Markle could not attend an awards ceremony with him.

Harry was noticeably alone when he attended the WellChild Awards last night in London – a charity awards show for seriously ill children.

He spoke about the reason with the family of Ruky Anighoro, 14, who were told Meghan was ‘very upset that she couldn’t be here’ and mentioned the couple had a ‘busy week’ ahead of them. 

Ruky, from Thamesmead, in Kent, has brittle bone disease and won the Special Recognition award for his hard work in school.

He talked to Harry about his love for Chelsea FC and rapped his song Watch Me Now, a song he wrote with his sister Faith and released on his 14th birthday.

Harry talked about his own family at the awards show and joked: ‘As a father of two, and three dogs so basically five souls, I’m acutely aware of the many joys and challenges that come with parenting. And that’s with kids who aren’t facing health challenges.

‘So to the parents and carers in this room, you have my sincerest admiration and respect.

‘The level of support and responsibility you share daily is unrivalled and without fail.

‘You deserve all the assistance you need, whether it’s training, enough skilled carers to help shoulder the increasing demand of 24/7 care routines, or simply providing time and space for you to take a break once in a while.

‘You are proof that not all super heroes wear capes.’

Harry also mentioned the death of his grandma on the eve of the first anniversary of the Queen’s death.

He said: ‘As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.

‘As you also know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her.

‘And that’s why I know that exactly one year on she’s looking down on us on all of us tonight, happy we’re together and continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.’

The other reason for Harry’s trip back to the UK is to attend the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany next week where Meghan will join him.

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The death of the late Queen plunged a shocked nation into mourning for its longest-reigning monarch.

Here Metro.co.uk takes a minute-by-minute look at how the historic day unfolded:

– Thursday September 8, 2022: Rumours begin to swirl in newsrooms early on that the Queen has taken ill at Balmoral Castle, and possibly had a fall.

Two days before, the Queen was happily hosting guests on the Aberdeenshire estate, and carrying out official duties by bidding farewell to Boris Johnson and appointing Liz Truss as the new prime minister.

But she looked frail in photographs and postponed a Privy Council meeting on the Wednesday after being ordered by doctors to rest.

What happened the day the Queen died and Charles became King

10.30am:

Behind the scenes, the then-Prince of Wales makes a 120-mile dash by helicopter from Dumfries House to Balmoral after being alerted to the Queen’s worsening condition.

The Duchess of Cornwall cancels a not-yet publicly announced official visit to a cancer centre in Lanarkshire and travels by road from Birkhall.

The Princess Royal, who is staying in Scotland, is already at the Queen’s bedside.

Charles visits his mother and later goes foraging for mushrooms on the estate as he contemplates his accession and imminent duty as king, before he returns to the Queen’s side.

12.12pm:

Initial indications that something is afoot are seen in the House of Commons.

Then then-chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, sits down next to PM Liz Truss and begins whispering to her while she listens to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s response to her energy statement.

Labour MP Chris Bryant tweets: ‘Something odd is going on in the Commons. Zahawi briefing pm urgently.’

Sir Keir, too, is passed a note by his deputy Angela Rayner, with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also being handed a piece of paper updating him about the developing situation.

Ms Rayner later reveals the note read: ‘The Queen is unwell and Keir needs to leave the Chamber as soon as possible to be briefed.’

Ms Truss and Sir Keir depart.

12.32pm:

Buckingham Palace then issues a concerning statement, confirming the Queen is under medical supervision.

It reads: ‘Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.’

Close family have been informed, the Palace says.

BBC One interrupts Bargain Hunt at 12.39pm to deliver the statement and suspends its regular programming.

12.46pm:

Clarence House confirms Charles and Camilla have travelled to Balmoral, and a minute later Kensington Palace say William, then-the Duke of Cambridge, is to head north.

The Duchess of Cambridge remains in Windsor where her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are starting at a new school.

1.38pm:

Palace sources say the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex are also on their way to the Queen’s Scottish home.

1.54pm:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are going to Balmoral. Charles has phoned Harry earlier to tell him of the Queen’s worsening health.

Harry texts William to ask whether he and Kate are flying up, but receives no reply.

Behind the scenes, Charles calls Harry again to ask him not to bring Meghan.

The duke says in his memoir that he tells his father: ‘Don’t ever speak about my wife that way.’

Charles says only immediate family will be there, and not Kate.

2.39pm:

A Royal Air Force flight takes off from RAF Northolt in South Ruislip, west London, carrying William, Andrew, Edward and Sophie.

3.10pm:

Elizabeth II – the nation’s longest reigning monarch – dies at the age of 96 in her bedroom in the castle, surrounded by Charles, who immediately accedes to the throne as the new King, Camilla and Anne. Also there is the Queen’s doctor, GP Douglas Glass.

Her death – the cause of which is listed on her death certificate as old age – brings an end to the Second Elizabethan age which has spanned 70 years.

3.50pm:

The royals on the RAF plane, a Dassault Falcon, land at Aberdeen airport, too late to say their final farewells.

4.30pm:

Prime Minister Liz Truss is informed of the Queen’s death by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

4.38pm:

Sources close to Harry and Meghan say Harry is now travelling alone. He charters a private flight from Luton.

Just after 5pm:

A fleet of cars, including a Range Rover driven by William, arrives at Balmoral.

Andrew is in the passenger seat and Edward and Sophie are in the back.

5.50pm:

A double rainbow appears over Buckingham Palace after a heavy downpour as members of the public gather outside.

6.30pm:

News of the Queen’s death is announced to the world.

A Buckingham Palace statement reads: ‘The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

‘The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’

The union flag at Buckingham Palace is lowered to half-mast.

Newsreader Huw Edwards reads out the news on the BBC. Tributes flood in from around the globe.

7.04pm:

Charles issues his first statement as King, and describes his mother’s death as ‘a moment of the greatest sadness’.

‘We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother,’ the new sovereign says.

‘I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.’

7.07pm:

Prime Minister Liz Truss, dressed in black, addresses the nation outside No 10.

‘Today the crown passes, as it has done for more than 1,000 years, to our new monarch, to our new head of state, His Majesty King Charles III,’ she says announcing the monarch’s choice of regnal title for the first time.

Around 8pm:

Harry arrives at Balmoral. He is in the air when the announcement of the Queen’s death is made.

When he lands at Aberdeen airport, he receives a text from Meghan telling him to call, but learns the news after checking the BBC’s website on his phone.

The duke is greeted at the castle by Anne. Charles, William and Camilla – the new Queen – have already left for Birkhall.

Harry visits the late Queen’s body to pay his respects, whispering that he hopes she is happy and ‘with Grandpa’.

Behind the scenes, the long-held London Bridge plans for the Queen’s death are rapidly put into action, setting out the next 11 days according to a strict timetable which feature a lying in state and then the solemnity and grandeur of a state funeral.

A grieving Charles and Camilla dine with William at Birkhall, and prepare to return to London the next day, Friday, with the King due to address the nation on television.

The King’s historic Accession Council is set for Saturday September 10.

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Crowds have already gathered outside of Buckingham Palace for the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Gifts and flowers can be seen laid at the front gates of the palace, including some framed photographs of the late monarch.

Royal fans have also written messages of condolences outside Balmoral Castle where King Charles is currently staying.

He will attend a church service held at Crathie Kirk to commemorate the life and service of Queen Elizabeth.

Along with his wife, Charles said he will mark her life with private prayers and a moment of reflection.

The King has thanked the nation for their ‘support’, and released a favourite photograph of his mother.

Charles, in words written and audio spoken at Balmoral Castle, said he recalled with ‘great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us’.

He said: ‘I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.’

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One year ago today, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died – the world was in mourning.

Six days later, a cultural phenomenon began that has become a significant part of history and led to an unexpected dispute.

United in grief for Britain’s longest-serving monarch, mourners joined a very long queue to see the Queen lying-in-state. It meandered all around the centre of the UK capital, with a predicted quarter of a million people waiting in line over the course of less than a week.

Queuers waited as long as 30 hours to get the opportunity to walk past her coffin located at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. While they spent countless minutes shuffling through the day and night, once inside the whole experience lasted just seconds.

Even people who didn’t step foot anywhere near the queue were involved. Many of my friends were giving me updates, that they’d sourced by downloading a tracking app which monitored the length of the mammoth queue.

The queue proved two things – people loved the Queen, and queues are part of the British DNA. While anybody has the ability to queue, it is not in their personal brand like us Brits.

We learn to walk, talk and then queue. Whether we’re queuing up for a refund at Zara, waiting to board a plane, or even just joining a neat line of people who are waiting patiently outside the new foodie hotspot, we do it correctly.

We stand calmly, we make polite chit-chat with people directly in front and behind (we rarely raise our voice above library level), we keep the line straight if the environment allows, and we never, ever, skip past anyone. That is just more un-British than disliking tea.

It’s therefore unsurprising that a major storm happened when Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were pictured seemingly skipping the queue.

On September 14, 2022, the This Morning hosts (at the time) were given priority access to the venue.

In the days that followed, I saw the photo of a sombre Holly, 42, and a slightly guilty-looking Phil, 61, walking past the Queen lying-in-state, more than my own family.

Things went slightly bonkers with their choice to walk on through dominating headlines, and group chats. Soon, a petition was launched calling for them to be removed from television altogether with thousands signing it.

It became unignorable and This Morning bosses issued a statement to insist Holly and Phil didn’t skip ahead and were there to report on the event as media.

Even celebrities critiqued the pair.

‘There have been quite a few familiar faces in the queue for that lying in state at Westminster Hall,’ Huw Edwards said during a news broadcast.

‘We did of course see a certain David Beckham there on Friday. He was widely praised for queueing for hours and hours, not jumping the queue because he’s a superstar VIP.’

Eamonn Holmes later accused them of lying about their reasoning for being there.

Speaking on GB News, he said: ‘Let’s get on to the Queen’s funeral – they were there to make a film on the Queen’s funeral.’

He continued: ‘Unless there’s any documentary evidence of this, I would put it to you, that is another lie!’

Exactly one week later, the pair were forced to address the backlash on This Morning with Holly saying: ‘The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying their respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.

‘None of the journalists and broadcasters there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.’

She continued: ‘We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction.’

The statement concluded with possibly the most British statement ever: ‘Please know that we would never jump a queue’.

A year on from the chaotic series of events, etiquette coach and former royal butler Grant Harrold, explained to Metro.co.uk why the incident caused such outrage.

‘One thing that is typically British is that we know how to queue. It means you need to form a nice orderly line and wait for your turn,’ said Grant who spoke to us on behalf of Spin Genie.

‘It is old-fashioned etiquette that people abide by it to this day. It’s as important as it’s ever been, and we judge people’s character based on their ability to be polite. Queueing is part of manners.

‘We take it seriously. I would go as far to say, we can’t stand queue jumpers in this country. We find it rude and disrespectful.

‘Nobody wants to be that person who pushes in. If you do break that etiquette, it’s likely that you will be judged harshly, which is what happened.

‘Holly and Phillip were not related to the Royal family or closely linked to them, and it was therefore not acceptable in a lot of people’s eyes to be queue-jumping in such a major event,’ he concluded.

From a PR perspective, it wasn’t a good look – you don’t mess with Brits and their queues as we’ve clarified.

‘The public felt that Holly and Phil showed a lack of respect by jumping the queue and using their VIP status. It made them look out of touch with people,’ said Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR.

‘What made it worse for the pair was that they didn’t say sorry. There was an explanation but no formal apology or signs of remorse, so instead of making the situation better, it riled people up more. Sorry really did seem to be the hardest word for them.

‘Admitting their mistake would have gone a long way in helping them appease the public.’

While Holly and Phil seemingly made an error in judgement, other celebrities were able to get in public favour with their queue behaviour.

David, Susanna Reid, and Graham Norton all patiently waited and were widely praised for their decision to not gain any special privileges.

‘These celebrities showed how in touch they were with the mourning British public and how personally saddened they were by the Queen’s death,’ Lynn explained.

‘In contrast to Holly and Phil, David patiently waited for 12 hours despite being invited by an MP to have special access.

‘He joined in with the queue camaraderie and posed for selfies with fans. He said he had to queue as that was what his late Grandad would have expected. People respected him for it.’

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MORE : Holly Willoughby takes swipe at Phillip Schofield during NTAs

MORE : Phillip Schofield axed from another project following ITV exit and affair scandal

MORE : How the Queen’s death was covered on front pages around the world

As the nation marks one year since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, you may be looking for a way to pay homage to the much-loved monarch.

And what better way to toast her Majesty than sipping on her favourite cocktail?

The Dubonnet was widely reported as her drink of choice, with the late Queen said to enjoy the signature cocktail before lunch.

It was previously a favourite of the Queen Mother, who once remarked ahead of an outing: ‘I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed.’

The French aperitif is a blend of fortified wine, herbs, and spices, made by Pernod Ricard with an alcohol content of 14.8%.

Elizabeth II was known to prefer a cocktail of two parts Dubonnet to one part gin, garnished with a wedge of lemon and two ice cubes (or one large ice cube).

Its construction is deceptively simple, as the aromatised spirit has complex notes of grapes, blackcurrant, and tannins from cinchona bark, nicely offset by the tartness of the gin.

In 2009, at an event at Lords Cricket ground, the monarch was dismayed to find the drinks cabinet bare of her favourite beverage, sending her butler out to fetch more so she could enjoy a sip throughout the day.

In fact, the Queen loved it so much that she gave Dubonnet a Royal Warrant in November 2021 – an official seal of approval if ever there was one.

If you want to recreate the iconic cocktail, here’s how to make it at home.

Ingredients

• 60ml Dubonnet
• 30ml gin
• Ice cubes
• Lemon for garnish

Method

1. Put a cocktail shaker in the freezer for around an hour to chill.
2. Pour your Dubonnet and gin into the shaker, stirring with a bar spoon until the mixture is also fully chilled.
3. Add two ice cubes and a lemon wedge to a rocks glass, before straining the contents of the shaker over the top.
4. Serve and enjoy.

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MORE : Losing the matriarch of your family will always be hard – I still mourn mine 30 years on

MORE : Queen watched 15 different prime ministers govern Britain ending with Liz Truss

On the first anniversary of her passing, the Queen’s sparkling and sometimes mischievous sense of humour still shines through.

Her Majesty, who died a year ago today, knew how to lighten the mood and win people over with her quick-witted nature.

Her unprecedented 70-year reign left highlights from official functions and TV appearances watched by millions of people around the world.

One standout from the monarch’s showreel is when some distinctly 21st Century trickery showed her taking tea with a messy Paddington Bear for a video sketch during the Platinum Jubilee.

Joining the national celebrations, the Queen was shown with her disarming smile as the CGI bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, showed a distinct lack of table manners at Buckingham Palace.

At the end of the clip, entitled ‘Ma’amalade Sandwich’, she declines her guest’s offer of the treat, instead fishing her own out of her handbag.

The monarch also proved a good sport during the 2012 London Olympics, when she appeared with Daniel Craig for an opening ceremony sketch which showed her stunt double parachuting into the stadium.

A billion people watched worldwide as she met 007 at Buckingham Palace and joined him in boarding a helicopter, with the clip then switching to their impersonators dropping into the curtain-raiser.

The real Queen Elizabeth II then took her place in the stadium after the segment, which had been shrouded in secrecy so not to spoil the surprise.

She did not even tell her own family about the film, seeing it as continuing a tradition of surprises and practical jokes among the Windsors.

The roll call of media appearances also included some trans-Atlantic brinkmanship with the Obamas about Prince Harry’s 2016 Invictus Games.

Ahead of the event in Florida, the then US president and first lady had teased Prince Harry about the games, with Mr Obama saying ‘careful what you wish for’ and a serviceman behind him exclaiming ‘boom’ with an outstretched hand.

The young royal responded with a video where he showed his grandmother a leaflet about the previous year’s event, with Her Majesty watching the video challenge before saying ‘oh really please’.

Harry then returned the ‘boom’ exclamation and slamdunk gesture.

On more weighty occasions, the head of state was never overawed or afraid of veering away from stuffy small talk.

Aged 90, she was asked by Northern Ireland’s then Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness if she was well, to which she replied: ‘well I’m still alive.’

Speaking during a tour of the country a week after the Brexit vote, she added: ‘I’ve been quite busy, there’s quite a lot going on.’

Quick-witted and at ease in conversation, the Queen provided many memorable moments for those who came within her radius.

In 2018, a helicopter whirred above as she was filmed chatting to Sir David Attenborough in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

Looking slightly disconcerted, she quipped: ‘Sounds like President Trump.’

The environmentalist and broadcaster has since remembered his friend as ‘an expert at getting people to relax’.

The Queen also had a mischievous side which came to the fore on official visits and meetings with members of the public.

Former protection officer Richard Griffiths previously told Sky News how she once stopped to take a picture of a pair of American tourists who didn’t recognise her at a picnic spot near Balmoral.

The man asked the monarch where she lived, to which she replied: ‘Well, I live in London, but I’ve got a holiday home just the other side of the hills.’

When the tourist then asked the Queen how long she had been visiting the area, she replied: ‘For over 80 years, since I was a little girl.’

In a reign that began when black-and-white photography was still prevalent, she didn’t miss a trick in the age of Instagram.

In 2014, the sovereign photobombed a selfie when she smiled for the camera behind two hockey players at the Commonwealth Games.

She was in Glasgow as the Games got underway and had been watching as Australia beat Malaysia 4-0.

As defender Jayde Taylor took the celebratory picture with a team-mate, the head of the Commonwealth was spotted grinning away in the background.

High-level functions, such as a state dinner with Ronald Reagan in 1983, were also fertile ground for the Queen’s ability to lighten the mood. At the function in San Francisco, she said she knew that the Puritans had brought a lot of customs from her country to the New World with them.

But after encountering lots of rain during her time in California, she said she had no idea why they’d also brought over the rotten weather.

In private, the Queen’s jovial nature was said to be even more pronounced.

In 2012, the then archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said: ‘I found, in the Queen, someone who can be friendly, who can be informal, who can be extremely funny in private. Not everybody appreciates just how funny she can be. Who is quite prepared to tease and to be teased.’

The Queen’s array of charms allowed her to switch between solemn announcements and moments of unguarded humour.

As flags fly on government buildings to mark the anniversary of her death at Balmoral, aged 96, she is being fondly remembered as someone who could light up a room as well as speak to the world.

MORE : How the Queen’s death was covered on front pages around the world

MORE : The Queen’s death sparked one of the most British arguments ever thanks to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield

MORE : Prince Louis’ poignant response when he was told about the Queen’s death

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The late Queen Elizabeth II’s death was a day millions of people across the world will not forget in a hurry.

Her record breaking 70-year stint on the throne from 1952 until 2022 meant her death on September 8, 2022 was widely reported as breaking news across the world.

Millions tuned in to broadcast news outlets when it was announced her health had deteriorated in the morning.

Then at 6.30pm that day her death was announced across the globe and the country entered a period of mourning.

But how did different newspapers across the world report the late Queen’s death the following morning?

Below we take a look at the historic front pages that made the headlines of the morning of September 9, 2022 on some newspaper front pages.

UK

Metro

Our very own Metro used a picture of Elizabeth II from her younger years when she reigned.

She can be seen gazing ahead with a slight smile on her face, an expression the Queen became well known for in her later years.

The years she was alive were written under her name as a tribute to a life well served to the nation.

The Sun

The Sun’s headline on its front page was ‘We love you ma’am’.

The red top tabloid also chose to include a fitting tribute from King Charles III on the back of the paper.

Daily Mail

‘Our hearts are broken’ was the simple message used by the Daily Mail that encapsulated the feelings felt by many across the nation.

Sarah Vine wrote she struggled to find the words to put it into perspective and mentioned how a rainbow mysteriously appeared just as the Queen died.

The Times

The Queen’s life of service was paid tribute to by The Times.

It quoted her 1957 Christmas broadcast which said: ‘I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands, and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.’

The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph used the Queen’s phrase during a message to New York in the wake of the September 11 attacks: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’

i

i’s special edition front page included a photo of the Queen taken from her coronation.

It mentions the historic moment the UK got a new prime minister and monarch in the space of 48 hours.

Financial Times

The Financial Times called the Queen’s death a ‘watershed moment in the life of the nation’.

The front page featured the Queen attending the state opening of parliament in 1971.

The Guardian

Several newspapers led with a full page image of the Queen, with The Guardian captioning a photograph of the coronation with the text ‘Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022’.

BBC

Huw Edwards made the announcement that the Queen had died at 6.30pm on BBC News.

The presenter remains suspended by the BBC after it was claimed he paid a young person for explicit images.

United States

New York Times

The US’s leading newspapers — The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and the Los Angeles Times — all cleared their front pages to cover the Queen’s death.

Writing in The New York Times, the columnist Serge Schmemann said: ‘Perhaps beyond all such questions of popularity, usefulness and propriety is the question of whether anyone else can ever again share Queen Elizabeth’s innate appreciation of the mystique of the monarch, her natural royal dignity. It is hard to name any reigning royal in the world who still personifies that power, and none who do it as graciously and convincingly as Queen Elizabeth did.’

Australia

Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney Morning Herald included a gracious photo of the late Queen from a side angle.

Australia has close ties to the UK as a member of the commonwealth, with many royals visiting the country over the years.

France

Libération

The leftwing and anti-monarchist Libération newspaper said the Queen’s death had ‘sent a shockwave round the world’.

It said: ‘Can she really depart so suddenly, an island of stability in a world in which everything seems to be changing too quickly?’

Germany

Deutschlandfunk, the German equivalent of BBC Radio 4, lead its half-hourly news bulletins with the global reactions to the Queen’s death, while even many local papers ran op-eds paying tribute to her and solemnly noting the difficulties facing her successor.

Bild

German newspaper Bild honoured the Queen and reflected the feelings of a country still interested in the British monarchy, despite severing ties with their own royal family more than a century ago.

Italy

In Italy, the country’s leading newspaper, Corriere della Sera, posted the banner headline ‘Forever Queen’ across its website, adding live video of mourning crowds outside Buckingham Palace, while the left-leaning daily La Repubblica opted for ‘The last Queen’ as its online headline, with a link to live BBC coverage.

Spain

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To Britain, the death of Queen Elizabeth II exactly one year ago at her Scottish estate of Balmoral represented the loss of a sovereign and a head of state for seven decades.

But to some of the youngest members of the Royal Family, the late monarch was just their loving ‘Granny’ or ‘Gan Gan’ who comforted them in times of need.

In total, she was a great-grandmother of 13, with the youngest being the second child of Princess Eugenie, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank.

Born on May 30, 2023, he is the newest royal baby – and the first to be born after her death.

Others, like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second child Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, and Lucas Tindall, the third child of Zara and Mike Tindall, are too young to remember ever meeting her

The eldest is 11-year-old Savannah Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and now ex-wife Autumn Kelly.

Altogether nine are believed to not have attended her funeral, and did not get to say goodbye to their great-grandmother.

Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven, were spotted at the service at Westminster Abbey, while their brother four-year-old Prince Louis was not there.

Mia Tindall, eight, and Lena Tindall, four – the grandchildren of Princess Anne – were pictured at a vigil for Her Majesty.

Her great-grandchildren’s attendance at such solemn events and at such a young age suggests the deep relationship they had with her.

Away from her duties, the Queen had her hands full with the latest generation of royals.

In honour of what would have been her 97th birthday, the Royal Family released a never-before-seen photograph of her with some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It was taken at Balmoral in the summer of last year, a few weeks before her death.

Taken by Kate Middleton, it shows her surrounded by the children, who all look to be beaming with excitement to spend time with her.

The eight great-grandchildren in the shot included George, Charlotte and Louiswho had last been photographed in public making grimaces next to the Queen at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Another remarkable picture of Her Majesty showed her standing over Harry and Meghan’s son Archie soon after his birth.

The Queen looks absolutely besotted with her great-grandchild, not able to hide her joy.

Though she remained stoic by nature during her reign, she always looked like a doting ‘Granny’, even with future king Prince George.

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Almost exactly one year ago on September 15, my alarm went off at 4am and I wondered what on Earth I was doing.

I was exhausted after working days and nights on the coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on September 8, 2022.

But I’d decided it was the time to embrace what is still possibly one of the most quintessentially British phenomenons of all time – The Queue.

In case you were living under a rock at that time, The Queue was a gargantuan line of mourners waiting to file past the late monarch who was lying in state for four-and-a-half days.

It snaked a length of 10 miles (16km), and people waited up to 24 hours to get inside Westminster Hall for a momentary glimpse of the royal coffin.

Around a quarter of a million people are estimated to have paid their respects, and the fervour surrounding the ritual reinforced a globally held stereotype: that Brits love queueing.

The Queue was not without controversy – with This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and the now-disgraced Phillip Schofield being accused of ‘queue-jumping’ by using media passes to get into Westminster Hall.

But of course, because I’m British, a great queuer, wanted to be part of a piece of history and well – for journalism, I gave it a go too.

What I didn’t expect from The Queue was to make lasting connections and have strangely fond memories of the entire experience.

I joined the back of the line at around 6am and was queuing for around four-and-a-half hours before reaching the front, which appeared to be pretty good going compared to some.

There was not a not a lot to do during those hours of waiting, so naturally – after we all woke up a bit – those of us in The Queue together started to chat, and eventually swapped contact details to stay in touch (sadly, I didn’t manage to catch David Beckham).

So one year on and with a new monarch, I decided to see how the people I queued with are now, and what their memories are of that historic time.

Author Andrew Halas, 71, found the time to talk to me fresh from writing his second children’s book, after having recently published the first when we met in the line.

Reflecting on September 15, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘I remember not sleeping very well that night because I had to catch the earliest train possible to get to London – as the stories of the long queues were now everywhere.

‘When I got to the end of The Queue down at Westminster Bridge, a steward said you’ll still have another four hours of queuing left.

‘Could that be possibly true? As it turned out we queued for around six hours in total. Had I come the following day that time could have tripled or even quadrupled!’

He said everyone was ‘surprisingly friendly’ with ‘no moaning or groaning’ about the length of time it was taking.

‘It was all very well mannered, respectful of the occasion,’ Andrew added.

‘There was a bond of camaraderie descending upon us and that feeling of a shared experience for one and all.

‘Everyone appeared to be aware of the historic nature of the day and was looking forward to it. It was a magical day despite its deep reverential significance over the loss of our Queen.’

Sarah McKeon, 31, spoke to me having just returned from a holiday in France.

‘I have some really fond memories of being in The Queue for the lying in state,’ the charity worker told Metro.co.uk. ‘In particular getting to know the people we queued with, and how people from all over the world came to pay their respects.

‘It was really special and I’m glad that I got to experience it. I still have the wristband from the day.’

Walking through the door and into Westminster Hall was a moment I will never forget. From the hushed silence to the glittering crown jewels on top of the coffin, every part seemed momentous.

Andrew, who I was stood with as we viewed the coffin, added: ‘I experienced the changing of the guard in the Great Hall with all the formality of the military process.

‘I was standing directly in front of the Queen’s coffin mounted on its raised platform at that moment, and it was a mesmerising spectacle.’

The Queen’s funeral, just a few days later on September 19, also had a ‘lasting impact’ on him.

‘I watched it with utter fascination in the knowledge that I was watching something so historic,’ he said.

In the last year, Andrew said he has missed the Queen’s ‘integrity’.

He explained: ‘Since I lived my entire life with one solitary monarch I always had that feeling of constancy about British life. The Queen was there and somehow it always felt very reassuring.

‘No person in my lifetime who presided in public office has done more to promote Britain and its core values than the Queen.’

In the past year we’ve also seen the coronation of King Charles III – a once-in-a-lifetime event for many. Andrew would have been very young when the Queen was crowned, and wouldn’t remember it.

‘I very much doubt that I will ever see another somehow,’ he said. ‘A very historic moment – all that pageantry and history rolled into one spectacular event.

‘Even the military parades are done with such panache that they don’t look overtly militaristic. I don’t know of any country in the world which could lay on a performance like that.’

Sarah added: ‘I thought the coronation was also really interesting to watch especially as some of the rituals have been going for a thousand years.

‘I think Charles did a great job in it and in his reign so far – he definitely learned from the best.’

Andrew said he doesn’t ‘envy him as at his age to take on the office of state’, but thinks he ‘will take his duties seriously’ throughout his reign.

‘Charles is slightly older than I am, so I have seen his grow and mature,’ he explained. ‘He’s made mistakes and perhaps isn’t a perfect role model.

‘The Queen was young when she started her reign and could learn and adapt. Its not that easy when you are in your senior years. I wish him well.’

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It’s easy to look back on the death of the Queen a year ago today and think of it solely as a moment in history, when the country mourned a figurehead.

But it was also a deeply sad time on a personal level for the Royal Family, who lost their matriarch: a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Amid all the many public tributes to a remarkable woman, it was a private remark by one of the family’s youngest members which summed up the feelings behind closed doors.

The Princess of Wales told the story to members of the public as she met them gathered outside Windsor Castle last year, in the days following the Queen’s death.

She said her youngest son, Prince Louis, had reacted to the news by saying: ‘At least granny is with great grandpa now.’

Well-wishers who overheard the story said Kate was quite emotional, and welled up as she recounted the conversation.

Although he was only four years old when she died, the Queen shared several memorable moments with her sixth great-grandchild.

Aged 92, she flew in a helicopter between Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace to meet Louis for the first time eight days after he was born.

William, then the Duke of Cambridge, reportedly made sure she was one of the first people to know his third child had been delivered safely on St George’s Day 2018.

And it was at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year that the young prince first made a big impression with the public, as he pulled faces and covered his ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Prince Louis did not attend the monarch’s state funeral last September, likely because he was still too young to sit through such a long and solemn event.

But David Hurley, Australia’s Governor-General, revealed the loss was still playing on the Louis’ mind a week or so after it happened as he recalled a conversation with Kate the weekend before the funeral.

He said: ‘The younger one is now asking questions like, “do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral” and things like that, because she’s not going to be there?’

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‘Never complain, never explain’ was the Queen’s famous motto.

The late monarch rarely talked about her feelings on public – and private – matters, but some believe she used her clothes and accessories to send subtle hints instead.

From sentimental brooches to poignant colour palettes, it seems the Queen made her thoughts known, without ever saying a thing.

So what secret messages did the Queen send over her 70-year-long reign? We take a look back as the nation marks a year since her passing.

Supporting the EU with a hat

In 2017, the Queen attended the State Opening of Parliament – just a year after the public voted to leave the EU.

In her speech – which was written by the government – the Queen explained how the country was preparing to get Brexit done, but her choice of outfit left many wondering whether she was a secret remainer.

The Queen opted for a blue outfit and a striking hat which appeared to resemble the EU flag.

And then, she seemed to double down on her European support during her Christmas Day address in December 2019, when she wore a round brooch, set with 12 diamonds, that looked like the EU flag’s circle of stars.

Trolling Trump?

President Donald Trump and wife Melania spent three days in the UK in June 2019, during which they attended a state banquet with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

For the occasion, the Queen donned her Burmese ruby tiara – and Twitter was convinced she was throwing shade at the divisive President, who had been openly criticising Meghan Markle, the Queen’s granddaughter-in-law.

The rubies were gifted to Her Majesty by the Burmese people and are said to protect the wearer from evil…

A butterfly for Philip

A bout of illness meant the Queen was unable to attend Cop26, the climate change summit in Glasgow in October 2021, so she recorded an address instead.

For her message she opted for green dress – the colour of nature – and a diamond and ruby butterfly brooch, which was an engagement gift.

Not only was the animal brooch also fitting for a speech about the environment, but many have wondered whether it was a subtle message to Prince Philip, who had died just six months earlier.

The Queen sat in front of an image of her husband surrounded by the creatures, and many associate the appearance of butterflies as a symbol of life after death.

Flying the flag for Ukraine

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Queen met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle, who had come to the UK to discuss the conflict with Boris Johnson.

Photographs of Her Majesty with the Prime Minister show the pair greeting each other in front of a large bouquet of yellow and blue flowers – the colours of the Ukrainian flag. 

The Queen also wore a blue dress with yellow accents, suggesting she was showing her support for the invaded nation.

Uniting against Covid-19

In April 2020 the nation was coming to terms with being plunged into a lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Queen recorded a message for her public, during which she promised ‘we will meet again’.

For the occasion, she wore a turquoise and diamond brooch that belonged to her grandmother, Queen Mary. The stone is said to be one that promotes healing and love.

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King Charles III has paid tribute to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II on the first anniversary of her death, by releasing his favourite photograph of her.

In remembrance of the late monarch, The King said he recalled with ‘great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us’.

It has been a year since the nation’s longest-reigning monarch – who served as Queen for 70 years – died aged 96, just months after her Platinum Jubilee.

The formal colour photograph chosen by Charles was taken by Cecil Beaton and shows a young Queen, then 42, at an official portrait sitting in 1968.

She is standing sideways and smiling as she is photographed in her Garter robes and wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara, made of 15 interlaced diamond circles.

The King, in his recorded tribute at Balmoral Castle, thanked the nation for the love and support shown to him and Queen Camilla during his first year as monarch.

‘In marking the first anniversary of Her Late Majesty’s death and my accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,’ the King said.

‘I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to attend a special service in St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, west Wales, according to reports, in memory of the Queen on an emotional day for the royal family.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to the late Queen, reflecting on her legacy.

‘With the perspective of a year, the scale of Her Late Majesty’s service only seems greater,’ he said.

‘Her devotion to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth only seems deeper. And our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and dedication only continues to grow.’

Mr Sunak said he treasured his memories of meeting the Queen and was struck by her ‘wisdom, by her incredible warmth and grace’, but also her ‘sharp wit’.

‘People across the UK – whether they had the good fortune to meet Her Late Majesty or not – will be reflecting today on what she meant to them and the example she set for us all,’ he added.

Former prime minister Liz Truss has opened up about her final encounter with the late Queen, describing how the ‘upbeat’ and frail but ‘mentally alert’ monarch told her they would be ‘meeting again soon’.

The Queen had welcomed Ms Truss to her home in Aberdeenshire on September 6 2022 to appoint her as prime minister.

‘She was very, very keen to reassure me that we’d be meeting again soon. It was very important to her,’ Ms Truss told GB News.

She added: ‘She was very determined to do her duty, right to the end.’

The Queen died two days later, with Ms Truss describing the scene as she waited in Downing Street when the confirmation came at around 4.30pm.

‘We were in the Downing Street flat with, officials, other people. So when the news came through, it was sort of confirming all the worst fears that we’d had.’

Ms Truss said she felt very sad, but her mind also turned to the practicalities of the days to come.

‘You know, part of your brain is thinking, “my goodness me, this is a momentous occasion. This is our Queen who’s been on the throne for 70 years, the absolute backdrop to our lives is now gone”,’ she said.

‘But, also, I tend to focus on the practical in those types of moments and just thinking “right, I need to make sure my speech is ready. I need to make sure the right people are informed”.’

She recalled the King was ‘very, very resolute’ when she spoke to him to express her condolences on the phone the day his mother died and his reign began.

Charles has been staying at his Birkhall residence and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire over the summer.

He is not expected to have time in his diary to see his son the Duke of Sussex, who flew to London for a WellChild award ceremony on Thursday evening ahead of the start of the Invictus Games in Germany.

Soldiers and horses who took part in the state funeral procession and proclamation salutes signifying the new reign are to return to perform Accession Day gun anniversary salutes in the King’s honour on Friday.

Captain Amy Cooper – who was the lead rider in the procession which carried the Queen’s coffin to lie in state in Westminster Hall – will give the order to fire a 41-gun salute at midday in London’s Hyde Park.

Almost all of the King’s Troop riding out – in their distinctive dress uniform of gold braided jackets and busby hats accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards – played a role in the final farewell to the Queen a year ago.

A 62-gun salute will also be fired at the Tower of London by The Honourable Artillery Company – with the regiment and the King’s Troop both responsible for gun salutes following the death of the late monarch.

Bells will be rung at Westminster Abbey at 1pm in commemoration of the King’s accession.

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Prince Harry has said his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II is ‘looking down on all of us’ on the eve of the first anniversary of her death.

The Duke of Sussex, who is visiting London to attend Thursday night’s WellChild Awards ceremony, reflected on the last 12 months without the late monarch in a speech.

He missed the awards last year as he raced to Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire to join his family at the Queen’s bedside.

In his speech, he said: ‘As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.

‘As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that’s precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together, continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.’

On his first visit to the UK since giving evidence at a London court in June, the duke sat down with seriously ill children and their families at The Hurlingham Club in the south-west of the city.

Seven-year-old Poppy Higham from Runcorn, who won an award at the ceremony, danced to a song by Ed Sheeran in front of Harry – prompting warm applause from him.

Poppy, who cares for her 17-year-old sister Paige, later said she had talked to the duke about ‘my dancing, Disney and the awards’.

He father Daniel said: ‘We’re so proud of it (the award) – it’s amazing.

‘She just makes our life a lot easier sometimes when it’s not going right, she just gets on with it.’

Harry, who has been a WellChild patron for 15 years, gave fist bumps to two of the boys receiving Inspirational Young Person awards – George Hall, 11, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Blake McCaughey, 15, from Tandragee, Co Armagh.

Blake and his family gifted Harry a green Belfast Giants ice hockey shirt, personalised with the duke’s name on the back.

It is unclear if the duke, who visited London without his wife Meghan, will attend any formal memorial events to mark a year since the Queen’s death tomorrow.

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Football legend Paul Gascoigne showed his love to the Prince of Wales by giving him a kiss on the cheek in Pret.

Gascoigne, better known as Gazza, spoke to William who was at the branch in Bournemouth to discuss the chain’s plans to employ 500 homeless people.

After joking around with the heir to the throne in front of a crowd, the former England International chose to seal their new-found friendship with a kiss.

William later described his morning as ‘interesting’.

‘We even bumped into Gazza, he popped into [Pret],’ he said.

‘It’s been a very interesting morning.’

The prince’s visit to the south coast follows the launch of his anti-homelessness programme in June, this time shining a light on the role the business sector can play in tackling rough sleeping

During his whistle-stop day tour of Bournemouth, William was joined by Diary of a CEO host and Dragon’s Den’s Steven Bartlett, as he met local and national businesses to hear about their pledges.

Mr Bartlett, who is an advocate for the Homewards programme, said it was “100% possible” to tackle homelessness in five years and said William was “deeply passionate” about the cause.

The prince later visited AFC Bournemouth which is joining the programme by expanding its community outreach programme Bounce Back.

William spoke to players Lloyd Kelly and Katie Scadding at Vitality Stadium, Steve Cuss, the club’s communities sports trust chief and chief executive Neill Blake to hear about their piloted scheme which supports disadvantaged adults gain independent living.

AFC Bournemouth and the Pret Foundation were among national and local businesses that joined William for a roundtable meeting about how businesses can help tackle homelessness.

The Pret Foundation’s global head Nina Allard said Pret’s pledge is “real commitment” to continue its work as the charity has already recruited 750 people through its Rising Stars programme since 2008.

Business bosses from Lush, Sunseekers, Dorset Chamber of Commerce, The Pret Foundation, AFC Bournemouth and Bournemouth and Poole College pledged to expand a variety of initiatives including community outreach, education and employment opportunities.

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Former President Donald Trump skipped the first 2024 Republican debate – but he would ‘love’ to face off with Meghan Markle.

‘I’d love to debate her,’ Trump said of the Duchess of Sussex. ‘I would love it.’

Talk of such an unusual contest emerged as Trump spoke to conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday.

Hewitt brought up the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, which stands as the most-watched contest in the sport in TV history with about 90million views.

The only thing that might draw an audience anywhere close to that would be Trump debating Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, who do not like him, Hewitt said.

‘Well I don’t know that they don’t like me, I said that I don’t think they’re very appropriate, what they’re saying, what they’re doing,’ said Trump.

The ex-president said he ‘didn’t like the way’ that Meghan dealt with the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.

‘I became very friendly with the queen. She was an incredible woman. At 95, she was so sharp. She was 100%,’ Trump said.

Trump then went on a small tangent comparing the Queen to President Joe Biden, 80, whose ‘body is shot, and his mind is worse’.

‘When you watch Biden, you say this is a different planet. But they treated her with great disrespect and I didn’t like the idea that they were getting US security when they came over here,’ said Trump, referring back to the duke and duchess.

He added that ‘I think it’s not a good situation what’s going on with the two of them’.

Hewitt then asked Trump if a debate with them would get the ratings.

‘Oh, if you want to set it up, let’s set it up,’ Trump concluded. ‘Let’s go do something.’

Trump finished that train of thought with: ‘I disagree so much with what they’re doing.’

Last month, Trump opted not to participate in the first GOP debate in Milwaukee citing his huge lead in the polls. Instead, Trump had a one-on-one interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which the ex-president claimed was more widely watched than the debate.

Trump called Meghan ‘disrespectful’ to the royal family in December 2021.

On Piers Morgan Uncensored, Trump opined that Meghan could leave Harry ‘when she decides that she likes some other guy better’.

‘I’m not a fan of Meghan, and I wasn’t from the beginning,’ Trump said at the time. ‘Poor Harry is being led around by his nose. And I think he’s an embarrassment,” he was quoted as saying.’

The duke and duchess stepped down from their royal working duties in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California. Meghan and Harry had a multi-million-dollar podcast deal, but Spotify ended it in June.

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King Charles has worked for more days in his first year as monarch than his mother did following her accession, new analysis shows.

The King has undertaken engagements on 161 days since he took the throne on September 8, 2022 – including travelling to all four nations of the UK and attending dozens of functions.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, almost matches him, with 157 days of engagements in her first 12 months after becoming Queen in February 1952 – though with a lighter workload and fewer visits.

But analysis from issues of the Court Circular, the official record of the Royal Family’s daily activities, show Charles has not quite equalled the pace set by his grandfather.

Charles’ grandfather King George VI managed 183 days of engagements in his first year on the throne.

The data shows that while some types of engagement are common to all three monarchs – a trip to Ascot races, garden parties – there are striking differences, reflecting changing times and attitudes.

Charles is recorded as having 26 official audiences with the UK Prime Minister since becoming King: five with Liz Truss – who resigned 48 days into his reign – and the remaining 21 with Rishi Sunak.

His mother clocked up almost the same number in her first 12 months as monarch, with 27 audiences, all of them with Winston Churchill – the first of 15 prime ministers during her reign.

By contrast, George VI had just 12 prime ministerial audiences in the year following his becoming King in December 1936, seven with Stanley Baldwin and five with Neville Chamberlain.

But the Court Circular reveals he also had many official one-to-one meetings with representatives of the government, from the most senior members of the cabinet to ministers overseeing the Post Office and coal mines.

This high level of involvement in the day-to-day politics of the country is not mirrored in the first year of his daughter’s reign, which saw just a handful of meetings with government ministers.

The same has been true of Charles’s first year, with only a small number of official audiences with politicians other than the Prime Minister, including three with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and one with the Foreign Secretary.

Another sharp contrast between George VI and his daughter and grandson is in the volume of engagements devoted to the then British empire, with George holding many audiences with dignitaries and diplomats from the UK’s colonies.

The number of British Overseas Territories had started to reduce by the time Elizabeth became Queen – such as India gaining independence in 1947 – so her first year saw far fewer colonial-related engagements.

Audiences with ambassadors from countries around the world are a common feature of the first 12 months of all three monarchs, however.

Meanwhile, Charles made trips to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales within eight days of becoming King and has peppered the first year of his reign with visits across the country, including York, Wrexham, Manchester, Armagh, Selkirk and St Ives.

By contrast, Elizabeth II did not make an official visit to Scotland until June 1952, four months after becoming Queen, though she travelled to the royal residence of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire in a private capacity that May.

She visited Wales in October to open the Claerwen dam in Powys, and also made trips to a few places including Dorchester and Hemel Hempstead, but had not visited Northern Ireland by the end of her first year.

George VI waited even longer to begin touring the country and did not make any major official trips until after his coronation in May 1937, five months into his reign, when he visited the naval fleet at Portsmouth.

Extended trips to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all took place in July, followed by a three-day tour of Yorkshire in October.

By counting each official visit to a separate location as one engagement, and applying the same rule to each official meeting or audience with another person or group of people, it is likely that Charles has carried out more than 550 engagements since becoming King – close to George VI’s total of at least 570, but well ahead of Elizabeth II, who carried out just over 400.

While George did not clock up as many public visits as Charles, he undertook far more meetings and audiences than both his daughter and grandson – a reflection again of his close interest in affairs of state and politics.

The Court Circular suggests George and Elizabeth both spent extended periods of their first year out of the public eye, either carrying out engagements behind closed doors or staying at royal residences – particularly Balmoral, where they were based for much of August and September.

The pattern of Charles’s first year has been different, with shorter spells at royal residences and more frequent public appearances.

In a further contrast, Charles has made two trips abroad since becoming King: a state visit to Germany in March 2023 and a private visit to Romania in June.

Both George VI and Elizabeth II spent their first year as monarchs in the UK, with no official foreign engagements – although Elizabeth, then still a princess, was in Kenya when she became Queen on February 6, 1952, rushing back home to arrive in London the following day.

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Prince Harry looked delighted to be watching football legend Lionel Messi play at a star-studded match in LA.

The Duke of Sussex was spotted laughing, smiling and pulling excited faces in the stands as Messi’s team, Inter Miami, played and ultimately beat home side LAFC 3-1 last night.

Other A-listers in the crowd included Leonardo DiCaprio, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Selena Gomez, LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell and Inter Miami’s co-owner David Beckham.

Meghan was on a ‘notable attendees’ list released by LAFC before the match, but was not seen during the game.

Harry was clutching an LAFC flag, but seemed to enjoy himself despite the team’s defeat.

He was later seen heading into a room to meet Messi.

The duke was last spotted publicly at a Beyoncé concert alongside his wife a few days ago.

Harry, who founded the Invictus Games for injured veterans, is a big fan of sports, and played football while a pupil at Eton.

In his memoir Spare, however, he admitted rugby was his favourite.

‘I played every dry sport, though rugby captured my heart,’ he wrote.

‘Beautiful game, plus a good excuse to run into stuff very hard.

‘Rugby let me indulge my rage. I simply didn’t feel pain the way other boys did, which made me scary on a pitch.’ 

Inter Miami have remained unbeaten in the US’s Major League Football (MLS) since Argentinian star Messi, who is paid $54 million a year, transferred from Paris Saint Germain in July.

During yesterday’s match Facundo Farias, Jordi Alba and Leonardo Campana scored, while Messi got two assists.

Actor Owen Wilson showed his allegiance to LAFC with a team shirt and baseball cap, while Jason Sudeikis, who plays football manager Ted Lasso in the hit Apple TV series, wore a bright orange hoodie.

Selena Gomez meanwhile looked animated as she cheered on the players, as Leonardo DiCaprio tried to keep a low profile in a dark baseball cap and sunglasses.

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Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured with a memorial and national legacy programme, new plans have revealed.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee will consider and recommend proposals for a ‘fitting tribute’ to the nation’s longest-reigning monarch following her death last September.

Plans will be revealed for 2026 – which would have been the Monarch’s 100th birthday.

It will be jointly supported by the UK Government and the Royal Household, with Lord Robin Janvrin, the late Queen’s former private secretary appointed as chairman, the Cabinet Office said on Sunday.

The independent body will consider Elizabeth II’s life of public service and the causes she supported, and will seek suggestions from the public.

The Government said it will support the proposals and consider funding options.

The plans will be unveiled to coincide with what would have been the Queen’s hundredth birthday in 2026.

Senior figures and experts are set to be appointed to the committee to develop ideas and bring their recommendations to the King and Prime Minister.

Lord Janvrin said: ‘It is an honour to be asked to chair the Queen Elizabeth memorial committee.

‘It will be a unique challenge to try to capture for future generations Her Late Majesty’s extraordinary contribution to our national life throughout her very long reign.’

Lord Janvrin is a trusted figure who worked at Buckingham Palace in different roles from 1987 to 2007. He was ennobled in 2007 and sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: ‘Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning monarch and greatest public servant.

‘Lord Janvrin will now begin the important work of designing a fitting tribute to her legacy of service to our nation and the Commonwealth.’

The late Queen unveiled a statue of her father George VI on The Mall in 1955, while a statue of The Queen Mother was erected nearby in 2009.

After the death of George VI in 1952, funding was raised for grants to community organisations working to improve the wellbeing of young and elderly people, including the creation of day centres and clubs.

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Meghan Markle will not return to Britain in the future to avoid ‘curtseying’ to Kate Middleton, a royal biographer suggested.

Andrew Morton, who worked with Princess Diana for his bombshell book, ‘Diana: Her True Story’, shared some insights on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, he ruled out a move back from California for the couple.

Mr Morton said: ‘What, and have Meghan Markle curtseying to Kate Middleton? I do not think so.

‘I do not see that as a runner. They have got their own lives in California.

‘They have got their own set, they have got their own influence, and they have got their own companies.’

But other sources say the two hope 2023 will be their ‘year of reconciliation’ with the Royal Family.

Mr Morton’s comments come just days before Prince Harry is expected to arrive in the country to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of the late Queen.

It is yet unclear if he will meet with his dad, King Charles, or his older brother and now heir to the throne, Prince William, to honour their grandmother and mother.

The royal will be in London to attend an event for WellChild, a charity for seriously ill children of which he is a patron, on September 7.

He is expected to then travel to Dusseldorf, Germany, for the start of his Invictus Games two days later.

But his wife is widely expected to fly straight from the US to Germany, and may not join Harry until at least September 10.

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The King wore a new tartan for his visit to the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, a short distance from his summer residence at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.

The King Charles III tartan, named after the monarch, is green, blue and red and was designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority earlier this year to mark the coronation.

His Majesty was accompanied by the Queen, wearing an outfit by Mr Roy, with his sister the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Charles was in good spirits throughout the event, regularly laughing and clapping while watching the games.

John McLeish, chair of the Scottish Tartans Authority, said: ‘Our iconic national cloth has a distinct style and evokes deep feelings of belonging, making it the best-known and best-loved fabric in the world.

‘The King is an ambassador for tartan, Highland Dress, and the traditions of the Highlands.

‘We are honoured that His Majesty has agreed that a new tartan should be created in his name.

‘The King Charles III tartan now takes its place in the history books. It was a great privilege to be at Braemar today to witness His Majesty wearing the tartan for the first time.’

Traditionally, the monarch becomes chief of the gathering, although Charles has not yet been announced as such.

It is the first time that the King has appeared as monarch at the games, however, he frequently attended while he was still the Prince of Wales.

The event is a favourite with the royals, and the family used a photograph taken at the games last year on one of their Christmas cards.

The King handed trophies to winning competitors, who took part in a number of sports, including the shot put and the tug-of-war.

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The late Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t just another queen – or any old monarch – she was, around the world, known as THE Queen.

An icon in territories across the globe, having reigned for a historic 70 years, meant that the late Queen was a constant uniting different generations.

This is perhaps why her death on September 8, 2022, sent shockwaves around the world – despite the fact a 96-year-old woman dying shouldn’t have felt entirely unexpected.

The late Queen’s state funeral was watched by millions and many will be thinking of her as we approach the first anniversary of her passing.

Being such a monumental figure, will the date of her passing become a bank holiday?

Will September 8 be a bank holiday this year?  

No, there are no plans to mark the date of The Queen’s death as a public holiday.

We did, however, get a bank holiday for her state funeral on September 19, 2022.

But it wont be an annual bank holiday, it was a one-off – similar to the extra bank holiday the nation enjoyed on Monday, May 8 this year for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Despite there being no plans to make a new bank holiday in honour of the late Queen, there is a petition arguing for that very thing.

The Change.org page reads: ‘Queen Elizabeth II is our longest reigning Monarch, and arguably the Nations, and the World’s most popular ever Monarch. 

‘In the words of President Macron, “to you, she was your Queen, to us, she was THE Queen…The most constant symbol of Great Britain.”’

It currently has over 159,000 signatures, but that doesn’t really mean a bank holiday will be approved any time soon.

So, if you’re feeling sad and want to remember the late monarch, you’ll have to remember her ‘privately and quietly’ – just like King Charles is expected to do.

MORE : King Charles worked more days in first year on throne than The Queen did

MORE : Will Prince Harry return to the UK on The Queen’s death anniversary?

MORE : Psychic who predicted Queen dying says ‘something awful’ will happen to Andrew

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