Charlotte revealed as Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ after ‘five second’ act

Charlotte's impressive composure and grace during the Coronation will be key for the Royal Family going forward, a commentator has claimed.

By Charles Harrison, News Reporter, Jon King, News Reporter

Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte is the Royal Family's secret weapon, said Ms Mollard (Image: Getty)

Princess Charlotte has been described as the Royal Family's "secret weapon" after William and Kate's second child approached the Coronation with "maturity" while being "neither over-confident nor intimidated." The eight-year-old princess was "overlooked" in the ceremony, wrote columnist Angela Mollard for 7news, but was "poised yet enthusiastic, watchful but involved" throughout.

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Ms Mollard said that Charlotte was likely to become "to her brother George what the Princess Royal is to King Charles III."

She added: "She somehow embodies the composure of the Queen and the playfulness of Princess Diana, most notably in the casual manner she applied the five-second rule after dropping her marshmallow S’more on the ground.

"As Louis angled for more marshmallows, Charlotte simply picked up her dropped biscuit off the grass and popped it in her mouth."

However, she highlighted that for now, Charlotte is enjoying as much of a "normal" childhood as the Prince and Princess of Wales can provide.

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King Charles has a 'problem' which includes George, Charlotte and Louis

King Charles has a "problem" which includes George, Charlotte and Louis, that he needs to "deal with," according to a royal commentator.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that the official portraits of the Royal Family released after the Coronation show the ageing nature of the Firm.

He told GB News: "I think one of the problems - and this is something that King Charles is going to have to deal with - as we saw in the first set of photographs released after the highly successful coronation weekend, there were 12 working members of the royal family, of which only four were below the age of 70.

"So this does raise the point."

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Royal

Louis, George and Charlotte at the Coronation (Image: Getty)

Princess Kate followed in Diana's footsteps with touching Eurovision cameo

Speaking to Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello on Sunday's GB News, Michael Cole said Princess Kate was following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law by performing at the Eurovision Song Contest.

He said: "Diana did something a little bit like this.

"Back in 1988, that's 35 years ago, she was visiting a music conservatoire in Melbourne, Australia, and she was more or less ambushed and asked to play the piano and she did.

"She played eight or nine bars of Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto, which is not for mugs, and she did it very well."

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Diana

Princess Diana at a state reception in Melbourne in October 1988 (Image: Getty)

The secret strategy behind Kate and William's super slick Coronation video

An expert has told Express.co.uk the video is part of a cunning new strategy from the heir to the throne.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams shared his view on the clip, noting that the Royal Family is falling out of favour with younger Britons.

He said: "We know many young people currently feel disconnected from the monarchy.

"The series of videos William and Catherine are putting out is clearly an attempt to connect with them as they rely on social media a good deal."

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Royal

Watched by Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, tries her hand at archery (Image: Getty)

Late Queen's tea with Paddington Bear wins Bafta TV award

The memorable moment TV Bafta award has been given to Paddington Bear having tea with the late Queen during the Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace celebrations on the BBC.

Actor Simon Farnaby, who played a footman in the video and went on stage to accept the gong, called the segment a "lovingly handcrafted moment" that also served as "a farewell" to the longest serving British monarch.

Farnaby added: "She had a very joyful Jubilee tea that day... The person who most deserve this award is no longer with us, we can only accept it on her behalf and say 'Thank you, ma'am, for everything."

Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw who also appeared on stage at the Bafta, was seen in the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch.

The cartoon bear visited Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea and the Queen produced a marmalade sandwich from her handbag.

After the Queen's death in September, mourners left teddy bears and marmalade sandwiches among the floral tributes which amassed outside royal residences.

Queen

The crowd watch a film of Queen Elizabeth II having tea with Paddington Bear on a big screen (Image: PA)

Lady Louise Windsor's emotional weekend with hidden tribute to late Queen and Duke

Lady Louise has spent an emotional weekend following in the footsteps of her late grandfather Prince Philip as she drove a carriage at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Her grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was also a regular at the show which features international competitions in show-jumping, driving, dressage and endurance.

It is possible the absence of Elizabeth II will have weighed heavily on Lady Louise.

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Lady Louise

Lady Louise driving a carriage at the Royal Windsor Horse Show (Image: PA)

Lady Louise

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's daughter took up the pastime in 2021 (Image: PA)

Late Queen's Party at the Palace show wins best live TV award

The BBC's Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace programme has won the Bafta TV live award.

The celebrations saw the 70 years of the late Queen's reign celebrated with a series of performances in front of Buckingham Palace.

Presenter Kirsty Young said the award was unexpected.

Party

Revellers attend the Party at the Palace in The Mall (Image: Getty)

Charles's The Repair Shop show scoops Bafta TV award

The daytime Bafta TV award has been given to The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit which saw the King, who was the then Prince of Wales, take part.

Arriving on stage, Jay Blades said: "Wow, just give me two seconds, I have to take a picture. It's quite special.

"We started as a daytime show on BBC Two, I'm so glad we've got an (award)."

Blades added it was the "first time" that a "six-foot black guy, from Hackney, (with a) gold tooth, (from a) single parent" was presented with an award for daytime TV.

Charles appeared on the show as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations last year.

During the episode, Charles saw a bracket clock and a piece made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware fixed and also joked and laughed with Blades.

It also featured Blades touching Charles's arm and him returning the gesture by placing a hand on his back.

King

Charles, then the Prince of Wales, with Jay Blades on The Repair Shop (Image: PA/Ian West)

William and Kate release image of princess filming Eurovision surprise

Kensington Palace has released a photograph of the Princess of Wales at the filming of the royal's Eurovision surprise appearance.

The Waleses caption the image: "A little sneak peek behind the scenes at the filming for last night’s @Eurovision surprise".

Family 'praying for miracle' after Duchess Sophie's motorcade leaves grandma 'critical'

The family of a woman who was hit by a police motorbike which was part of the Duchess of Edinburgh's motorcade has said they are "praying for a miracle".

Helen Holland, 81, is fighting for her life after the crash in west London on Wednesday.

The family said in a statement: "This has been a huge shock for many."

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Sophie

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, at the Royal Windsor Horse Show (Image: Getty)

What Charles and Camilla's child would look like as app shows image

King Charles and Queen Camilla do not have children between them, but computer generated images reveal how the couple's children might have looked.

Express.co.uk used the app BabyGenerator to create a set of head shots of the son and daughter the couple might have had.

See the results

King Charles

King Charles and Queen Camilla after the coronation (Image: Getty)

William and Kate release video of their Coronation experience

The five-minute film, produced by filmmaker Will Warr, opens with the couple on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, before showing them on a surprise walkabout in Windsor on Sunday and at a public engagement.

The behind-the-scenes video also shows Kate at home with her children Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte before leaving for the coronation ceremony, as well as shots of the family taking part in the Big Help Out with a scout group.

Louis, five, who is known for his usually animated behaviour, is shown in the film looking quite serious, while his eight-year-old sister Charlotte is beaming and playful.

Behind-the-scenes look at William and Kate's Coronation weekend

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis share 'beautiful' moment in unseen Coronation video

Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte have stunned Royal Family fans after sharing a "beautiful" moment in a never-before-seen video behind the scenes of King Charles III's Coronation.

The royal siblings are both seen beaming moments before entering the carriage that whisked them away to Westminster Abbey in the new footage released by Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales.

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Royal

Louis and Charlotte before setting off for the Coronation (Image: The Prince and Princess of Wales)

Prince William ‘unable to walk’ for seven days due to pre-Coronation activity

Prince William has revealed he was left "unable to walk for a week" due to a pre-Coronation activity.

The heir to the throne opened up about his struggle during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where he was on hand to award an OBE to former England striker Luther Blissett for his services to football and charity work.

After the presentation Blissett discussed what he had chatted about to the 40-year-old Royal, adding that he invited him to join his ex-teammates at their next get-together.

He explained: "We had just a couple of little words. I did ask him if he would love to come and join us on the (former Watford) players club and he said yes, he would love to.

"He said he was playing (football) last week and he said he couldn’t walk for a week afterwards. He says he still plays 11-a-side."

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Charles to visit country of special importance to Queen as King focuses on Commonwealth

King Charles is reportedly set to take an emotional pilgrimage to Kenya later this year - the same place where his mother the Queen was when she first ascended to the throne. The trip is seen as part of an effort by the King to place the Commonwealth at the heart of his reign right from the start.

He is also set to rearrange his trip to France that had been cancelled over security fears given rampant protests over Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension age increase.

The King's visit to Kenya shortly after taking the throne will likely be poignant for the 74-year-old, given its significance to the Queen.

At the age of just 25, Elizabeth II was on a trip to the African country when her father, George VI, died back in the UK - making her the new monarch in February 1952.

An insider told the Daily Mail of the King's impending trip: "It will be a poignant moment. Inevitably it will be a reminder of his young mother at the start of her reign. Now, he is at the start of his, but he has the advantage of experience, too."

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Then-Prince Charles on safari in the Masai Game Reserve on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi

Then-Prince Charles on safari in the Masai Game Reserve on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi (Image: Getty)

Rose Hanbury channelled Kate in £773.84 dress at Coronation that was 'very rare'

Rose Hanbury, 39, stepped out at wearing a beautiful black and cream dress designed by Ozzie Clark for Quorum, which dates back to 1970. The black and white dress looked remarkably similar to the black and white Jenny Packham gown worn the day before by

Rose had clearly purchased the dress from the website 1st Dibs which sells vintage designer clothing.

On the website, it shows that the dress was sold at an asking price of £773.84.

The dress is described as a "very rare 1970 Ossie Clark for Quorum moss crepe wrap dress".

The dress's definition says: "Very rare cream and black moss crepe dress designed by Ossie Clark for Quorum dating to 1970."

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Rose looked absolutely beautiful at Coronation

Rose looked absolutely beautiful at Coronation (Image: Getty)

King Charles spotted heading out for a drive to church

King Charles has been snapped as he took the wheel on a drive to the Sunday morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham this morning.

The newly crowned King waved merrily at the cameras as he headed out for his Sunday tradition following his successful Coronation service last week.

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King Charles driving

The King drove himself to church this morning (Image: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

He was heading to a service in St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

He was heading to a service in St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

Moment 'stressed and glum' King Charles lit up when he saw 'adored' Prince Louis

From bishops to the King, day after day of rehearsals were taking their toll – until royal rascal stepped in to lift the mood. A well-placed source said that after hours spent sitting on hard pews, bishops fluffed their lines and text from ’s coronation in 1953 was used instead of an updated version.

Even the normally jovial was looking worn down and glum, sitting on his throne in Westminster Abbey. But then he spotted his grandson Prince Louis standing beside him, which lifted everyone’s spirits in the same way as the five-year-old brought joy to millions of TV viewers on the day of the Coronation.

The source said that during two full rehearsals on the same day, it took Charles spotting Louis to bring some levity to a tense practice session.

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Prince Louis

Prince Louis 'lifted King's spirits' during 'stressing' Coronation rehearsals (Image: Getty)

Kate will take her own lead as she stands at forefront of King Charles's new monarchy

EXCLUSIVE: has "grown into her role as a confident woman" and now "understands what her position is" at the forefront of King Charles's monarchy, according to a royal commentator. Thanks to her traits as a calming and supportive figure Kate is now best placed to stand by and help prepare their children for a more public role in life.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was often required to play the part of diplomat in her family due to her position as sovereign, however for the Princess of Wales any royal peacemaking is simply "Catherine being Catherine", says Marlene Koenig.

She told Express.co.uk: "Catherine is her own woman. She has grown into her role as a confident woman, who understands what her position is - and how she can be supportive to her husband and father-in-law.

"We have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. but her "calming presence" has more to do with who Catherine is, rather than any drama.

"She is now the Princess of Wales with new duties, more duties - as well as continuing to be a hands-on mum as she and William prepare their children for a more public role."

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Prince Andrew ‘refuses to budge’ from Royal Lodge after being served eviction notice

Prince Andrew is refusing to leave his enormous mansion on the Windsor estate despite the wishes of the King, it has been reported. The disgraced Duke of York has lived in Royal Lodge with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for over 20 years - but Charles is understood to be keen for him to leave.

The King is reportedly keen for Andrew to move to Frogmore Cottage, the smaller former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Royal Lodge, meanwhile, is understood to be earmarked for Prince William and Kate.

After the King cut Andrew's £250,000 annual subsidy, given him by the late Queen, the Duke is no longer able to afford the upkeep of the property.

A friend of Andrew's told the Daily Mail that he was "refusing to budge" from the building, adding: "He is so fragile. He’s refusing to see anybody."

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Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew (Image: Getty)

Princess Kate once wore the wrong dress on a royal tour - and has not worn the gown since

, 41, has been on many memorable royal tours, but one of her most memorable was in 2012 to the Solomon Islands. During an important dinner, the Princess of Wales unintentionally donned the incorrect attire. Since then, Kate has never been seen wearing this gown again.

On September 16, 2012, both Kate and William accidentally wore outfits that originated from the Cook Islands, which are 3,200 miles away from the Soloman Islands.

William and Kate were expected to attend the occasion in Honiara dressed in a handmade shirt and traditional clothing.

But Kethie Sunder, a member of the host's welcoming committee, accidentally laid out the incorrect attire in the royal suite.

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Princess Kate once wore the wrong dress on a royal tour

Princess Kate once wore the wrong dress on a royal tour (Image: Getty)

George, Charlotte and Louis face daunting task as 'Firm's future lies in their hands'

EXCLUSIVE: The "future" of the monarchy lies in the hands of the youngest royals Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as the Firm faces future "challenges", a commentator has said. The three Wales' children are currently second, third and fourth in line to the throne behind their father Prince William who will accede King Charles. In recent years the young royals have played a key role in the Royal Family, regularly being seen with their parents on official engagements and social media as they show a more modern approach to the monarchy.

Kate, William, Charlotte and Louis

Kate, William, Charlotte and Louis (Image: Getty)

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