Niall Paterson and Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills chart a remarkable year for the Royal Family – a year Prince William has described as being the “hardest” of his life.
Our second episode looks at heir to the throne Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Niall and Rhiannon discuss the frenzy leading up to Kate’s cancer diagnosis, and the family’s reaction to it.
Plus, how is William redefining how he wants to do royalty, and how does that shape up for his future as King?
Prince William has provided a little seasonal cheer to London’s homeless by helping serve Christmas lunch at a shelter run by a charity he got to know through his late mother.
Dressed in one of the charity’s aprons, the Prince of Wales served what appeared to be carrots and parsnips to a line of clients at the shelter, run by The Passage, which he first visited with Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1993.
Video posted to the Wales X account on Sunday showed him hugging head chef Claudette Hawkins and saying “come on birthday girl, happy birthday. I won’t ask you what birthday it is”.
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Image: Prince William and Princess Diana at The Passage in London in 1993. Pic: Rex Features
The prince, 42, laughed with Ms Hawkins, who explained the royal was “helping serve lunch for the clients today, their Christmas lunch”.
A man wearing a Boston Celtics basketball team Christmas jumper asked the prince if he had heard he was getting married, to which William replied: “I know, I did hear about that, and congratulations.”
William also chatted with people at the dinner tables during Thursday’s visit, asking one man “is this place helping enough?”, and nodding as he responded.
The visit 31 years ago was one of a number of such engagements he made with his mother when he was a boy that he has said left a deep and lasting impression on him and inspired his campaign to end homelessness in the UK.
In an ITV1 and ITVX documentary released in October this year, he recalled playing chess and chatting with people during his first visit to The Passage when he was 11 years old.
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness covered the first year of his Homewards initiative, which hopes to pave the way for ending homelessness in all its forms.
During the past year, the Homewards teams in six UK locations – Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch – have been building collaborations between the public, private, and third sectors.
Read more: King and Queen’s Christmas card revealed William’s ‘fantastic’ job – Trump Kate attends Christmas carol service
In a statement posted alongside the video, Kensington Palace said: “A sincere thank you to all the @passagecharity volunteers working tirelessly to support those experiencing homelessness, especially during the festive season.
“Acts of kindness, like serving Christmas lunches, brings hope and fosters a sense of community for those who need it most.”
Prince William will meet Donald Trump in Paris ahead of the ceremony marking the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The Prince of Wales is expected to discuss the importance of the US-UK’s “special relationship” with the president-elect.
He will also be meeting with outgoing first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden’s wife.
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Masked burglars have allegedly stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun reported.
The pair then reportedly fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement to the newspaper, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
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On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
Prince William has given his clearest indication to date of how he thinks the monarchy should work – by doing his duties with “a smaller R in the royal”.
The Prince of Wales spoke about how he is “trying to do it differently” as he prepared to leave Cape Town after his week-long South Africa tour, adding he thought there should be “more empathetic leadership around the world”.
Asked about whether he is consciously doing tours and royal engagements in a different way, William said: “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.
“And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”
Elaborating on what that meant to him, the 42-year-old said: “So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.
“And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.”
Speaking about his specific environmental and homelessness projects, as well as possibly his future role ahead, the first-in-line to the throne said: “So that’s what I’m trying to bring, that’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.
“And I sit here right now doing Earthshot and doing all the projects I’m doing, like Homewards as well. And who knows what’s going to come next, but it all centres around those values of trying to help deliver change and make those lives better.”
Image: The Prince of Wales attends the Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
A ‘brutal’ year
In the same interview, Prince William had spoken about how “brutal” the past year had been, with his wife and father diagnosed with cancer.
Asked if Kate may potentially be joining him for more engagements and visits, he hinted at more overseas travel.
Read more: William: Past year ‘hardest in my life’ William shares health update on Kate
“I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so, we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up”.
But when asked about the children joining them for more duties, he added: “Family-wise, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer because obviously they’re at school and I think that takes priority (over) everything else.”
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Prince William spoke at the end of his tour in South Africa to celebrate the fourth year of his annual Earthshot Prize.
On Saturday night, he was joined by the Princess of Wales as they arrived at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Prince of Wales will attend next year’s COP climate conference in Brazil, it has been confirmed, as he pushes to “use his platform to spread urgent optimism” around the environmental debate.
It follows Prince William’s week-long trip to South Africa where he celebrated the fourth year of his annual Earthshot prize.
He launched the environmental awards in 2021 to try and counter the pessimism around climate crisis discussions.
Now he wants to take that message to the high-level UN climate conference – due to take place in Belem next November.
A royal source said: “Throughout his trip (to South Africa) the prince spoke about the importance of not losing sight of what needs to be done between now and 2030 – the Earthshot decade.
“His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism.
“Next year, the climate COP will take place in Brazil, and it’s set to be hugely consequential. The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.”
Photos taken behind the scenes at Earthshot week show a more statesmanlike side of the prince.
In some, he’s seen wearing bio-degradable trainers and vintage jackets bought from markets, signs of his intention to do diplomacy his way, with an emphasis on reaching out to future young leaders.
Image: Prince William during the Earthshot awards.
Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
Image: Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
Image: Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
The week reinforced how seriously William now takes his role in terms of his significant convening power.
His decision to attend COP can potentially be seen as a sign of his desire to take on an even greater diplomatic role in the environmental sphere.
So far his Earthshot Prize has been held in the UK, the USA, Singapore and Cape Town.
The location for next year’s awards hasn’t been revealed yet, but the prince has spoken previously about wanting to take them to every corner of the planet and mentioned China, India and South America.
It’s understood that Prince William’s decision to fly to Brazil won’t necessarily be in place of the King, who has delivered keynote speeches at a number of COP conferences, and is viewed as a global leader in environmental matters.
But the King’s attendance would be at the foreign office’s request, and under the advice of doctors following his cancer treatment.
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Both Prince William and Prince Charles attended COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.
The urgent need to protect the environment is a topic on which father and son are very much aligned.
This weekend they will be seen alongside each other and other family members, including the Princess of Wales, for Remembrance Events.
On Thursday, William described how proud he was of his wife and father after what has been a “brutal” year.
Prince William has revealed he skipped the Olympic Games this year because he did not want to give his wife COVID while she was undergoing chemotherapy.
The royal said he decided not to join other dignitaries, such as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at the spectacle in Paris in July, due to fears he may catch the virus and pass it on.
The Princess of Wales announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy – which can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections such as COVID.
The royal said last month she had completed her treatment.
Prince William made the comments as he met Team GB Olympic swimmers Adam Peaty and Tom Dean, as well as Paralympians Maisie Summers-Newton and Louise Fiddes, at Birtley Community Pool in Gateshead on Thursday.
Peaty narrowly missed out on a gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke in Paris and had to settle for a silver – before announcing the next day that he had been diagnosed with COVID.
Image: Prince William. Pic: PA
Image: Thousands line the banks of the River Seine for the Olympics opening ceremony in July. Pic: AP
Possibly referring to Peaty’s experiences, The royal said: “I was so keen to come but, I have to say, after reading someone’s interview about COVID I decided, because my wife was obviously having chemo, that I didn’t want to risk bringing COVID home.
“So Adam very kindly reminded me that was still a thing. But we watched the whole thing. We were glued to it every day.”
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Prince William visited the centre to promote swimming. The venue reopened in September following a community crowdfunding campaign against its closure due to cuts last year.
He told the four athletes he and the Princess of Wales “adored” swimming and his son George had taken up scuba diving.
Image: Adam Peaty (left) chats with the Prince of Wales. Pic: PA
The royal said: “He’s 10 years old. We took him under thinking he would freak out. He absolutely loves it.
“It’s just introducing him to the world of water.”
Image: The Prince of Wales speaks with schoolchildren at Birtley Community Pool. Pic: PA
Referring to the pool, he added: “We want to replicate this across the country because swimming is such an important part of life.
“We’re an island nation, we should all have access to learn how to swim.”
It came as the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales announced a new partnership with Birtley Community Pool to provide swimming lessons and lifeguard training.
A letter from Princess Diana – set to be sold at auction later this year – has shown how close Prince Harry and Prince William were as children.
In one correspondence addressed to Violet “Collie” Collison – who was Diana’s parents’ head housekeeper at Park House on the Sandringham Estate – the Princess gushes about her two children.
In the letter, written from Kensington Palace on 25 September 1984, Diana thanks “Collie” for a gift to Harry.
“William adores his little brother and spends the entire time pouring an endless supply of hugs and kisses over Harry,” she wrote.
Image: The letters from Princess Diana are expected to fetch thousands at auction. Pic: PA
Image: Pics: PA
Ms Collison followed Diana’s mother to London in 1967 after the princess’s parents divorced, and worked for her and her new husband until she retired in 1973.
She died at the age of 89 in 2013.
Ms Collison’s stash of handwritten letters and cards from the Princess of Wales are to be sold at auction by Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, later this year.
Another letter in Ms Collison’s collection is dated 8 July 1981 – three weeks before Diana married the then-Prince Charles.
In it, she wrote that “everyone frantically busy here doing last minute decorations,” while “the bride-to-be has remained quite calm”.
It comes as the Duke of Sussex discussed how his legal battles with the tabloid press have been a “central piece” in his rift from the Royal Family.
Speaking to ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial about what he thinks of the decision by his family not to take on the press in the way he has, Harry said: “I think everything that’s played out has shown people what the truth of the matter is.
“For me, the mission continues, but it has, it has, yes. It’s caused, yeah, as you say, part of a rift.”
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According to Sworders’ website, 23 letters and cards from Diana are to be sold as part of the Out of the Ordinary Sale on 30 July.
Sold individually, the letters are estimated to fetch between £200 and £1,200.
The Prince of Wales will travel to Berlin on Sunday to watch England take on Spain at the Euro 2024 final, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
Prince William, who is president of the FA, also attended the team’s quarter-final victory over Switzerland on Saturday and the group stage game against Denmark.
He congratulated England after their semi-final victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday through Ollie Watkins’ late goal.
Image: The Prince of Wales celebrates England winning the penalty shootout in the quarter-final. Pic: PA
In a message on social media, William wrote: “What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists. W.”
The prince, a supporter of Watkins’ club side Aston Villa, was seen cheering on England throughout the game in the stands at the Dusseldorf Arena during the match against Switzerland.
After the game, he called the match “nail biting to the very end” in a post on social media.
The King also congratulated the England men’s football team on reaching the final – but urged them to avoid more last-minute drama.
Image: William during the quarter-final. Pic: PA
In a message after the 2-1 win against the Netherlands, Charles sent Gareth Southgate’s team the royal family’s “very best wishes” and “warmest congratulations”.
But the King joked about the recent drama England fans had to endure, including a last-gasp equaliser against Slovakia and a penalty triumph against Switzerland, asking them to watch out for the “nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure”.
Charles said: “My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the UEFA European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
“If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last-minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!
“Good luck, England.”
Read more: Southgate says final result will not dictate his future as England boss Why Ollie Watkins was destined for greatness How stars celebrated England’s dramatic win
Image: Ollie Watkins. Pic: PA
‘I’ve got that fire in my belly’
It comes as semi-final hero Watkins said he had the fire in his belly to be England’s game changer once again on Sunday.
“It’s been an unbelievable feeling, to be honest,” the 28-year-old said. “I was taken back by the goal but also I wasn’t shocked that I did that, really, because I have full belief in myself.
“I knew when I was going onto the pitch I was going to score. I manifested it, I had worked very hard to get to that point, so it’s been an amazing feeling but I’m not shocked.”
Asked if it gives him more belief he can have a similar impact in the final, Watkins said: “Yeah, definitely. I’ve got that fire in my belly, I’m ready whenever called upon.
“Hopefully I get the call to come onto the pitch again and then hopefully I can produce.”
This is England’s Euros lifeline – a quarter-final clash that looked so unlikely deep into injury time last weekend.
Fresh from the great escape against Slovakia, Gareth Southgate heads into his 100th match in charge of England playing down the milestone publicly while focused on trying to get past Switzerland tonight.
But captain Harry Kane is full of praise for the manager who has enabled him to reach the last eight at four consecutive tournaments.
“It just shows his standards and the consistency that he’s shown along with the coaching staff as well,” said Kane, who scored the extra-time winner against Slovakia in the last 16.
“He’s changed a lot in terms of our national team in his tenure since he’s been here.
“Not just on the pitch and off the pitch as well, and the connections we’ve had with the fans and the media, and he’s allowed people to open up and be themselves.
“That’s been a big turning point in our careers as England players. So, I’m really happy for him and he should be extremely proud, but all he’s worrying about is making sure we win.”
Image: Kane said Southgate has changed a lot. Pic: Reuters
The Prince of Wales has been confirmed as one of those who will attend the game, hopeful to see the team bag a place in the semi-finals.
The royal’s continued support for the team comes after he travelled to Frankfurt for England’s second game of the tournament, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
‘I’m expecting us to play well’
Lose and Southgate’s eight-year tenure is set to end, having been unable to end the Three Lions’ 58-year wait for another trophy.
But win in Dusseldorf and it would be a third semi-final in his reign.
Available for selection is Jude Bellingham, the hero of the 95th-minute comeback against Slovakia after avoiding a UEFA ban for his crude celebration.
Image: Kane and Bellingham celebrate a goal against Slovakia. Pic: Reuters
And now fit to play is left-back Luke Shaw, who came to Germany despite being out injured since February.
But Southgate is being tipped to deploy Bukayo Saka, rather than Shaw and Kieran Trippier as wing backs.
That is part of a tactical change reported as Southgate looks to shake-up the side after underwhelming performances in the four matches so far in Germany – while remaining unbeaten.
“There’s been a lot of expectation on the team in the early part of the tournament especially,” Southgate said.
“So I feel that the team, even in training, now look in a different place mentally. They look more fluid and I’m expecting us to play well.”
Image: Bellingham’s 95th-minute overhead kick averted a humiliating exit from the tournament. Pic PA
One change is required with centre back Marc Guehi suspended for picking up two bookings.
It has been suggested that for the first time since the Euros final defeat to Italy in 2021, a back three could be used with John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ezri Konsa floated as the trio.
Southgate bristles at suggestions England have ended up on the kinder side of the draw with this clash against Switzerland.
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The winner faces the Netherlands or Turkey in the semifinals while Spain will take on France in the other last-four meeting.
“I would say that’s a classic example of the sort of entitlement we have as a nation that creates drama and annoys our opponents,” said Southgate, who played 57 times for England.
The Swiss were held 1-1 by Scotland in the group stage but knocked out holders Italy last weekend.
“We’re playing a really strong football nation who have played exceptionally well, well prepared, have enormous pride,” Southgate said.
“Our focus is on how do we win this game and how do we play to the best of our ability?”
