Per Page Six, during an interview, the Prince of Wales revealed that he once presented the Princess of Wales with a pair of binoculars, a gift that has since become a running joke between the couple.

“I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once. She’s never let me forget that,” Prince William said, as per Page Six.

“That was early on in the courtship — I think that sealed the deal.” He went on to explain that the gift didn’t go over well, adding, “It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time,” as per Page Six.

The humorous confession comes from the early days of their relationship, which began when both William and Kate were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

The couple met in 2001 and, after years of dating, married in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

While the binoculars might not have been the perfect gift at the time, they have since become a fond memory for Kate, who William joked “has never let me forget” it.

In fact, the royal family has a tradition of exchanging gag gifts during the holidays, as per Page Six.

Prince Harry, for example, revealed in his 2023 memoir, Spare, that he once received a fish-shaped ballpoint pen from Princess Margaret, while it’s also been reported that Harry gifted Queen Elizabeth II a cheeky shower cap with the words “Ain’t life a b–h” on it, as per Page Six.

Meanwhile, Kate herself once reportedly gave Harry a playful “grow-your-own-girlfriend” kit.

This year, Prince William, Kate, and their three children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 spent the festive season at the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, following the longstanding royal tradition of gathering there for Christmas.

Ahead of the holiday, Prince William shared that he would be hosting 45 guests at Sandringham and anticipated a “noisy” celebration.

However, one notable absence this year was Prince Harry and his family.

Reports from Page Six suggest that Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, did not receive an invitation to the holiday festivities.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Prince William has shared the details of a gift he once gave Princess Kate early in their relationship – one that has since become a source of playful teasing.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 42, met in 2001 at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

“I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once. She’s never let me forget that,” the Prince of Wales revealed during an appearance on BBC Radio Five Live.

“That was early on in the courtship – I think that sealed the deal. It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time,” he added.

While the binoculars didn’t quite hit the mark as a romantic gift, they have since become a humorous memory for the royal couple. It seems that light-hearted gifts have become a tradition within the royal family, particularly during Christmas.

William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, in his 2023 memoir Spare, had also shared that Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, once gave him a quirky fish-shaped ballpoint pen.

The royals are known for exchanging amusing presents, with Prince Harry having previously gifted Queen Elizabeth II a cheeky shower cap emblazoned with the words, “Ain’t life a b-h.” Meanwhile, Kate is said to have once given Harry a “grow-your-own-girlfriend” kit.

This year, the royal family continued its festive traditions at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where they celebrated Christmas. Prince William, in preparation for the event, disclosed he was expecting to welcome 45 guests to the estate, expecting a lively gathering. Among those joining King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the holiday celebrations were William and Kate’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

This holiday season is expected to be particularly meaningful for the family as they reunite after a challenging year. King Charles III continues his cancer treatment, while Princess Kate shared in September that she had completed her preventive chemotherapy.

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – were reportedly not invited to join the royal festivities at Sandringham.

Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, on Saturday unveiled plans to work with a local charity to deliver a new mental health programme to support those on the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

The couple’s Kensington Palace office said the collaboration with Norfolk and Waveney Mind will boost mental health support for the rural and farming communities of Northwest Norfolk.

Prince William and Kate, both 42, are co-funding the new pilot scheme as additional mental health support to combat rural isolation and poor mental health.

“We are all too aware of the specific mental health challenges faced by people in rural settings, particularly those in the farming community,” said Sonja Chilvers, Interim CEO of Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

“We’re delighted to be working with The Prince and Princess of Wales, who know our Northwest Norfolk communities well, and we are keen to see the difference that this pilot will make to local people’s mental health,” she said.

“Our innovative new partnership will drive proactive outreach and preventative measures to the whole community and form a vital step in better protecting the wellbeing of local people. If successful, it could be used as an example and replicated in other rural estates and communities across the UK,” she said.

The partnership comes as the charity launches its Talking Therapies service of free counselling for people experiencing anxiety and depression. The new pilot will have the potential to reach across the 1,500 strong community in Northwest Norfolk, nearly half of whom live on the royal Sandringham Estate. It will officially launch in 2025 and run for two years to provide two part-time roles, including one Rural Mental Health Coordinator and one Counsellor.

“The pilot programme will also involve the roll out of mental health training to local employers so that members of the community can be better supported at looking after their mental health before they hit crisis point. It is also hoped the project can become a blueprint for sustainable rural mental health funding, which if successful could be rolled out to other rural estates across the UK,” Kensington Palace said.

As well as boosting local provision of direct, face-to-face counselling and drop-in sessions, the scheme will run targeted sessions for different members of the community, including parent and toddler groups, menopause and men’s groups. The aim will be to provide support in a “safe, non-judgemental environment, and build supportive relationships between attendees”.

It is hoped that the pilot can be a blueprint for sustainable rural mental health funding which could then be rolled out across other estates across the country.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

London:

Prince William has described the past year in which his wife Catherine and his father, Britain’s head of state King Charles III, each battled cancer as “brutal” and probably the “hardest” of his life.

The heir to the British throne was speaking to reporters on Thursday at the end of a four-day visit to South Africa for his Earthshot prize initiative.

Buckingham Palace in February announced that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer and would withdraw from public life to undergo treatment.

The following month his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, revealed that she too had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

“Honestly, it’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” William said.

“So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”

Both Charles and Catherine have since made limited returns to public duties, although Charles is still undergoing treatment.

Catherine said in September that she had completed her chemotherapy and was looking forward to undertaking more engagements “when I can”.

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” William added.

“But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal,” he said.

This year’s awards ceremony for William’s Earthshot prize was held in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The initiative honours projects seeking novel solutions to the challenges facing the world’s nature and climate.

William is also committed to a five-year programme, Homewards, launched by his philanthropic foundation to tackle homelessness in the UK.

When told he appeared relaxed, William said he “couldn’t be less relaxed this year”.

“It’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going,” he said.

“I enjoy my work and I enjoy pacing myself, and keeping sure that I have got time for my family too,” he added.

In addition to health problems, the royal family has this year faced continuing tensions surrounding William’s estranged brother Harry.

Harry’s ties with his family have been increasingly fraught since he and wife Meghan quit royal life and moved to California in 2020.

William and Harry used to be close — a bond that was forged with the death of their mother Princess Diana in 1997. But according to British media reports, they have not spoken to each other in two years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prince William has opened up about how a childhood experience with his late mother, Princess Diana, influenced him to help the homeless. In his upcoming documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, the 42-year-old recalls his first visit to ‘The Passage’, a London charity dedicated to helping homeless people. Accompanied by his brother, Prince Harry, and Diana, William first visited the organisation when he was 11.

“My mother took me to The Passage; she took Harry and I both there,” the Prince of Wales recalled in a newly released clip from the two-part series, as per CNN. “I’d never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect.” His mother lightened the mood, “having a laugh and joking with everyone,” putting him at ease, the Royal added.

The visit had a profound impact on Prince William. “I remember thinking, ‘Well, if everyone’s not got a home, they’re all going to be really sad.’ But it was incredible how happy an environment it was… That’s when it dawned on me that there are other people out there who don’t have the same life as you do.”

The documentary, directed by BAFTA winner Leo Burley, chronicles the Prince’s Homewards initiative — a five-year project launched in June 2023 aimed at ending homelessness in six flagship locations across the UK. It also highlights the stories of individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with it.

Homelessness is “a complex societal issue”, he stressed, but added it can be eradicated. “Achieving this will require a movement that creates systemic change. A change that focuses on prevention rather than management. And one that ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently.”

The documentary also addresses criticisms over the Prince’s privileged background and whether he is suited to tackle such issues. In another clip, he responded that he had “no other agenda than desperately trying to help people” who are in need. “I see that as part of my role.”

The documentary will premiere on ITV at 2:30 am IST on Thursday, October 31. The second episode will air at the same time the following day.

Prince Harry is set to receive a huge payout on his 40th birthday later this year, according to a report. The Duke of Sussex will turn 40 on September 15. In striking contrast to his elder brother Prince William, who received a ceremonial bell concert at Westminster Abbey on his 40th birthday, Prince Harry will inherit millions on his milestone birthday, thanks to arrangements made by his late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. 

According to the Times, the late Queen Mother established a $90 million trust fund for her family, which listed that the Duke of Sussex would receive his share when he turned 40. Prince Harry will reportedly rake in around $8.5 million from his share, which is more than Prince William is slated to get.

However, Prince Harry would still have to pay taxes on his inheritance, while his elder brother would benefit from the tax-exempt Duchy of Cornwall – a private estate that funds his public, charitable and private activities. 

“William will benefit from the vast wealth of the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate that funds the public, charitable, and private activities of the king’s heir,” a source said, per New York Post. “As a result, Harry is likely to receive slightly more than half of the 14 million pounds allocated for the brothers,” they added. 

Also Read | World’s Most Powerful Passports 2024 List Released: Indian Passport Ranks At…

With an estimated current net worth of about $60 million, Prince Harry’s upcoming inheritance would be a welcome addition, the outlet noted. 

Following their exit as senior working royals, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle settled in Montecito, California. Their net worth was largely boosted because of the several high-profile projects they’ve taken on since quitting royal life in 2020. These projects include a Netflix original, Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare, and Meghan Markle’s 12-episode podcast, Archetypes. 

According to the Post, Prince Harry is even considering publishing a follow-up book. The duo are also in for a big payday with the forthcoming launch of Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. 

The Euro 2024 finals will be held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Spain and England will meet in the European Championship final on July 14, with much of the focus on a teenage wonderkid and whether one of the world’s most underachieving teams can end its decades-long wait for a title.

The match is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) in Berlin and is expected to be attended by Prince William, Spain’s King Felipe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Keir Starmer, Britain’s new prime minister.

Also read: French referee François Letexier picked to handle Spain-England final of Euro 2024

Spain is bidding to win the Euros for a record fourth time, breaking a tie with Germany/West Germany, and for the first time since 2012. The team’s new superstar is winger Lamine Yamal, a prodigy who turned 17 on July 13.

England, who lays claim to be the birthplace of football, hasn’t won a major title since the 1966 World Cup and is looking to win the tournament this time. This is the team’s second straight European Championship final, having lost in a penalty shootout in the final to Italy three years ago.

The teams have taken different paths to the final, which will take place at Berlin’s Olympiastadion — the 71,000-seat venue built for the 1936 Olympic Games and which hosted the 2006 World Cup final that featured Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt.

Spain has won all six of its matches and is widely regarded as the best team at Euro 2024, having seen off Germany and France in the knockout stage. England was unimpressive in the group stage and has shown resilience in coming from behind in all three of its knockout-stage games.

Marking a milestone on their family’s social media channels, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis penned a heartfelt message for their father, Prince William, on Father’s Day. This sweet tribute, signed “G, C, & L,”  marked the first time the young royals had directly contributed to their parents’ official social media presence. The post was accompanied by a heartwarming photograph, likely taken by their mother, the Princess of Wales, showcasing the close bond between Prince William and his children.

The post on X reads, “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day”, followed by two red hearts.

The heartwarming photo, captured by Kate Middleton, shows a relaxed Prince William with his arms around his children, gazing out at the Norfolk coastline. The picture was reportedly taken during a family trip last month.

We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day G, C & L

The Princess of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/kI9AFV2XmT

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

Earlier on Sunday, William shared his own Father’s Day tribute to his father, King Charles III. The prince posted a photograph from his childhood, showing him playing football with the King in the gardens of Kensington Palace. The picture, taken on 12 June 1984, captures the nearly two-year-old prince smiling as he kicks a brightly coloured football. Just a few months after this photo was taken, William’s younger brother, the Duke of Sussex, was born.

The post is personally signed off by the prince, with the caption: “Happy Father’s Day, Pa.”

Happy Father’s Day, Pa. W pic.twitter.com/pjGuB2iLQ1

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 16, 2024

The Father’s Day post, featuring a football theme, could be a way to show support for the England team playing in Euro 2024 this evening.

Elgin, UK:

Facilities at Gordonstoun School in northeast Scotland include a climbing wall, rifle range and a five-hole golf course, while pupils can even avail themselves of bagpipe lessons.

But there is another reason why the institution in the far north of Scotland is well-known: one of its former pupils happens to be King Charles III.

It is hard to get more isolated than Gordonstoun, which lies near the city of Elgin, on the North Sea coast some 66 miles (106 kilometres) northwest of Aberdeen.

Getting there involves driving along narrow country roads.

Behind its gates are peaceful grounds stretching over 220 acres (90 hectares), with majestic trees and lush grass well watered by the Scottish rain.

Some 500 children and teenagers from about 40 countries attend the school, including Amelia Lee, 17, from Hong Kong, who has Charles’s old rooms.

“It’s just kind of surreal,” she told AFP, pointing out the desk where the future king would have worked and a chest of drawers from the time.

“To be honest, I don’t really use this,” she added. “I do store my snacks there.”

Lee was allocated the room after being elected class captain, just as Charles had been in his schooldays after initially sleeping in a dormitory.

Charles, then known as the Prince of Wales, spent his teenage years from 13 to 18 at Gordonstoun between 1962 and 1967.

His school attendance was a first at the time for a future British monarch, who until that point had been educated by a tutor.

“He was treated just as any other student,” said Gordonstoun principal Lisa Kerr.

Lara Croft

At the end of May, the king, now 75, agreed to become an honorary patron of the Gordonstoun Association of former pupils.

It was the latest public relations coup for the school, which has been working hard to dispel the idea that the monarch hated his time there.

Charles has often been quoted as describing his time at the school as like “Colditz in kilts”, likening it to the World War II prisoner of war camp.

The hit TV series based on the British royal family, “The Crown”, gave the reported comments wider currency.

But Kerr said: “We spent many, many months trying to find the origin of (“Colditz in Kilts”). We were not able to find it, so we have to accept it is a myth.”

Kerr accepted that his days would have begun with a morning jog to get the circulation moving, then a hot shower followed by a cold one.

Gordonstoun still provides a “challenging and broad” education, guided by the motto “plus est en vous” — “there is more in you” — to encourage effort.

On one wall pupils are told: “We don’t grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges.”

The school was founded in 1934 by a German-Jewish educator, Kurt Hahn, who fled the Nazis.

Among its first pupils was Charles’s father Prince Philip, who was married to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles’s younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, also attended it.

Other royal families also send their children to the school while Sean Connery’s son Jason and David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones both attended it.

The creators of “Tomb Raider” Lara Croft also imagined the adventurer as a former pupil after it opened its doors to girls in 1972.

Charles sent his two sons William and Harry to another elite school, Eton, near Windsor Castle, west of London.

Coastguard

Between classes, pupils wander around the Gordonstoun grounds in small groups in their sky blue and grey uniforms.

A third of the pupils are from Scotland, another third are other British with the remainder from overseas. Fees reach some £50,000 ($64,000) a year. Some pupils are on scholarships.

“It’s not just about passing exams and getting good grades,” said Kerr. “It’s about becoming a better person.”

Fees go towards a range of activities, from cricket and swimming, to tennis, hockey and sailing, while those more interested in music can have private lessons, including on the bagpipes.

One teenager sings in front of her classmates on the same stage where Charles once played Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s Scottish play, watched by his mother in the audience.

All senior pupils must join one of the school’s nine community and rescue services. Amelia Lee is part of the Coastguard Rescue Team.

The pupils train with local coastguards on the cliffs above the sea.

“When it’s pouring down with rain… when it’s really cold, it teaches you about resilience,” Lee said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prince William recently talked about missing his wife, Kate Middleton, during a royal even in Sheffield, England, on Tuesday. During his speech, Prince William’s focus turned to the well-being of young children, making a light-hearted comment about his wife’s work on early childhood projects. “Venturing into my wife’s territory here. She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he said and smiled. 

 

During another interaction at the event, well-wisher Peter Brownley, 61, mentioned sending the Princess of Wales a ‘get well soon’ card. To this, Prince William replied, “You really are very kind,” according to Daily Mail.

Prince William had also mentioned his wife at a youth centre on March 14 after someone praised his cookies decorating skills. The Prince had modestly replied, “It’s really not impressive work. My wife is the arty one. My children are artier than I am.”

Kate Middleton has not been officially seen in public since Kensington Palace announced her planned abdominal surgery in January. The Prince’s visit came shortly after a video went viral allegedly showing the royal couple walking near their home at Windsor Farm Shop. 

Earlier, Kate posted a photo with her three children for Mother’s Day, but it was soon taken down by news agencies like AP, AFP, and Reuters which suspected that it was doctored. This sparked more speculation about her absence and led to conspiracy theories on the Internet. 

To clear up confusion, the Princess of Wales seemingly signed a statement shared on the official X account of the Prince and Princess of Wales, addressing concerns about the picture being photoshopped. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occassional experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day,” the statement read, signed “C.” 

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 11, 2024

Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that the Princess is set to make an official public appearance during Easter.