King Charles given rare Sydney honour as Kate issues powerful tribute: Royal news – live
King Charles is set to be given a rare honour at Sydney Harbour following an apparent snub from Australian officials ahead of his arrival on Friday.
The white sails of the Sydney Opera House will be lit up for four minutes with images from previous royal visits to mark the arrival of the monarch and Queen Camilla.
This rare honour was given the go-ahead by the New South Wales government at an estimated cost of around £50,000.
As the couple prepares to kick off their nine-day visit Down Under on Friday, every single state premier has turned down invitations to attend their royal reception in Canberra on October 21, reports suggest.
The Princess of Wales, meanwhile, has shared a touching message to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week on social media.
Taking to the official Kensington Palace channels, she shared a picture of a candle and a heartfelt message offering her “love, strength and hope” to those affected by baby loss.
“Baby Loss Awareness Week is such an important moment to support those who have experienced the devastation of baby loss,” she wrote.
“Sending love, strength and hope to anyone affected. #WaveofLight C”
Key Points
Prince William says he needs support to tackle homelessness
Admitting that he likes a “challenge”, he has admitted that this is one area where change cannot be made without people coming together on a large scale.
The revelation was shared in a new clip ahead of the release of the royal’s new ITV documentary about the subject, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness.
“I like a big challenge, I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own,” he said.
The programme follows the prince during the first year of his anti-homelessness initiative, Homewards.
Watch back our event: What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like?
Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler.
What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like? These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family. Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
Expert reveals touching possibility for Kate’s Christmas card
Biographer Ingrid Seward said that the card will almost certainly feature Kate, 42, with her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, six.
She told the Mirror: “[It will] definitely be with family as right across the board that is what has been traditionally sent.
“I imagine that it will be cuddly picture of her with her arms around her children.”
King Charles celebrates cultural relations between the UK and Italy
The monarch, who is patron of the London Symphony Orchestra, took in the hour-long performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ overture, Paganini’s First movement from Violin Concerto No 1, and Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ for String Orchestra.
The engagement comes just days before the monarch is due to travel overseas for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa.
Last night, His Majesty attended a @Londonsymphony concert to celebrate cultural relations between the cities of London and Genoa.
Click below to find out more.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 16, 2024
Prince of Wales calls for ‘systemic change’ to end homelessness
The Prince of Wales has called for a movement that creates “systemic change” to end homelessness in the UK.
William made the comments on Wednesday evening as Centrepoint, the homeless charity he supports as a patron.
Speaking at the Kensington Palace event, which was hosted by broadcaster Claudia Winkleman, William said: “I am inspired by the ambition and commitment of all the award winners and nominees this evening. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.
“What inspires me the most about the young people here this evening, is that they have not only overcome homelessness to achieve their personal ambitions, but they are also all contributing to the communities in which they live… be that through teaching, fundraising or volunteering.
“While homelessness is of course a complex societal issue, I passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended.”
William said he believed this required “a movement that creates systemic change” which “focuses on prevent rather than management” and “ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently”.
Prince William arrives at British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards
William has arrived at the British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards.
The Prince of Wales met with the young finalists and was laughing and joking with them as he made his way around the groups.
An orchestra played Adele’s Skyfall in the background.
The heir to the throne, 42, made the revelation in his upcoming ITV documentary, which follows the first year of his anti-homelessness project, Homewards.
The interviewer asked: “There will be some people who might question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?”
William replied: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all.
“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.
“And I see that as part of my role, is that, why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?”
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness will air on 30 October at 9 pm ITV and ITVX and STV and STV Player.
Duchess of York celebrates ‘recovery and growth’
Sarah, who joined the royal family upon her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday wishes!
“I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be here every day, to smell the flowers, to read and write, and to be able to see my daughters and my grandchildren.
“It has been an extraordinary, full year – a year of recovery and of growth – and I just feel so lucky.
“Thank you again to all of you who made it so and who took the time to send me birthday wishes.”
King Charles’s Australia visit to be met with UK anti-monarchy protests
King Charles is set to be met with anti-monarchy protests when he arrives in Australia with Queen Camilla on Friday.
Alongside protests from people within Australia, Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, said he was travelling down under “to challenge the royal PR machine”.
Mr Smith said: “I’m in Australia to talk about why the UK should ditch the monarchy and to challenge the royal PR machine.
“I’m not here to tell Australia to become a republic, but to talk to Australians and the British press about the growing republican movement in the UK and the huge failings of the British monarchy.
“The message is simple: Charles does not speak for us, he does not represent us, he should go home.”