Ramblings of a 70-year old: royal family

Showing posts with label royal family. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might not attend this year’s Christmas celebrations in Sandringham

The Christmas celebrations in Sandringham this year will be the first celebration in absence of Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were last seen together in public in the UK in September. That was when they attended charity programs prior to attending The Queen's funeral. It seems the couple may not be there for Christmas. Since 1988, it has been the tradition for the Royal Family to celebrate Christmas and the New Year at Sandringham. Those present will include Prince William and Kate Middleton, along their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Prince and Princess of Wales will be residing at the Queen's gift to them, Amber Hall, in Norfolk. Over the past couple of years, COVID-19 had forced a change in the celebrations. However, this year the Royal Family would assemble at the Norfolk estate as they do every year. A number of other Royal Family members would accompany King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, as they walk to church on Christmas morning. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, despite being invited, may skip Christmas celebrations with Roya Family: Report

There are rumors that King Charles III has invited Harry and Meghan to spend Christmas at Sandringham. However, indications are there that the couple might not fly across the Atlantic. It will be the first time King Charles III will host both the Christmas break and the annual Royal Family get-together at the Norfolk country house. Incidentally, he is not eagerly anticipating the release of Prince Harry's new book, Spare. A Royal biographer Christopher Andersen says - The King views his son's narrative as a "betrayal".

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games and the Invictus Games Foundation in 2014

Idea of the Invictus Games came to Prince Harry after he witnessed the Warrior Games in 2013. That was during one of his visits to the U.S. and it acted as his inspiration to start the veterans' sports project. Subsequently, he arranged to hold the first edition of the Invictus Games in London the following year. That was 2014. The aim of the games is to make available a platform for disabled war veterans to compete in team and individual sports events. The games continue for several days and the participants get a chance to demonstrate their mental and physical fitness. They are the wounded, sick or injured armed forces servicemen and women. Harry maintained his working relationship with Invictus when he stepped down from his official role within the royal family. He had his wife Meghan Markle alongside him. In 2020, they relocated to the U.S. and his role as founder and patron remains unchanged. As the founder and patron, he extends support to the Invictus Games event and Invictus Games Foundation in several ways. These include promoting them on the world stage to fundraising and shaping their direction. Is Prince Harry Still Head of Invictus Games? . The official foundation website states that the prince - "Sees the Games as an important part of a broader legacy of support, through a combination of ongoing care, training and employment opportunities, to the well-being of those men and women who have served their country."

In 2021, its CEO Dominic Reid said that the royal's links with Invictus hadn't changed following the Sussexes decision to step away from their roles within the monarchy in Britain. His words at the time were - "We are proud to have The Duke of Sussex as our Patron. The Invictus Games was founded by him, it has been built on his ideas and he remains fully committed to both the Games and to the Invictus Games Foundation.” The official website of the foundation states that the prince: "Sees the Games as an important part of a broader legacy of support, through a combination of ongoing care, training and employment opportunities, to the well-being of those men and women who have served their country." Incidentally, the Invictus Games Foundation is the organization that oversees the Invictus Games brand. It also selects the host city each year, develops and maintains the lasting legacy of the games, including looking out for the wellbeing of past and present participants. The Netherlands would host the Invictus Games in 2022. The foundation announced that it would collaborate with BetterUp for these games. BetterUp is the digital mental health coaching business that appointed Harry as chief impact officer in 2021. It announced that the partnership would "support service members from around the world and empower them as they transition from military to civilian life." Benefits of the partnership would accrue to all participants in the Invictus Games because they would get tools for personal development.

Friday, October 28, 2022

Spare is the title of Prince Harry’s 416-page memoir, publishers Penguin Random House

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare is due for release on January 10. Royal insiders have labeled the choice of the title of the memoir as "confrontational" and "yet another attack on the royal family." The name Spare is believed to be a nod to the phrase 'The Heir and Spare.' This was used to describe Harry and his older brother Prince William based on their positions within the line of succession. A description of the book claims it will take "readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century.” It was of two young boys walking behind the coffin of their mother while the world watched in sorrow and horror. The cost of the book in hardback form will be £28 while the cost of the audio version, voiced by Harry himself, will be £20. The publishers re Penguin Random House and they revealed the language for the memoir will English in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada. Moreover, it will also be in 15 additional languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese. Prince Harry reveals first details of memoir including bitter title and striking cover photo. Palace lawyers will be on standby in the New Year to see the contents of the memoir. The contents will no doubt be explosive and observers feel there will be remote chance of this book acting as a vehicle for reconciliation for the royal couple of Prince Harry and Meghan Mrkle.

In the description under the heading "about the author" it mentions about Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs. It also mentions that Harry is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist. The money raised from the sale proceeds will go to charities. He has already donated $1,500,000 to Sentebale and £300,000 to WellChild. He was their patron during his time as a working royal. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the book. It seems King Charles and William are -"increasingly uneasy" about its contents. They fear it could affect their family relations. News about Harry’s tell-all book came last year. At the time, Harry said - "I'm writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man, I have become.”