Harry ‘asks ex-aides about a return’ as King hosts Starmer at Balmoral – latest news

The now heir to the throne, 42, met his future wife while studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and the pair started out as friends.

My colleague Emma Guinness reports:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly “keen” to do more unofficial tours after successfully visiting Nigeria and Colombia this year.

Though carried out in their capacity as private citizens, the visits have many of the hallmarks of official royal tours and have been used to promote several charitable causes.

A source told OK! magazine: “Both Meghan and Harry are keen to do more of these tours as that’s what they love doing and what they enjoyed most about royal life.”

A royal expert has speculated that Prince Harry’s decision not to add any new material to Spare is not “an olive branch”.

The book is being released in paperback for the first time on 22 October.

Royal historian Tessa Dunlop told the Mirror: “Those who suggest that this paperback release, with no additional material, is an olive branch, are sadly mistaken.

“New material can be conciliatory; Harry might have taken the lead and opened with a different prologue, fore-fronting his regret about how things turned out, and reiterating his good wishes for Kate and the King.”

The memoir was first released in January 2023, notably before King Charles’s coronation and the royal family’s recent health troubles.

The future direction of the monarchy is on a knife-edge, amid the passing of the late Queen, tense relationships, and a shrinking inner circle bolstered by an unprecedented health crisis.

The number of working royals has been steadily shrinking since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back in 2020, and Prince Andrew was stripped of his titles and patronages due to US civil action over sexual assault allegations.

In this exclusive event for The Independent, Assistant Editor Vicki Harper and a panel of royal experts will analyse the current state of the shrinking Royal Family, look back at how we got here, and explore the potential next moves for “the firm” to stay relevant.

The Queen was followed over the course of a year for a documentary looking at her work raising awareness of domestic violence.

ITV announced it has commissioned Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, which will air later in 2024.

Film crews were given exclusive access to Camilla, who has worked for many years to highlight the problem of domestic abuse, and she will be shown in never-before-seen private meetings with survivors.

The Queen has deepened her association with her father’s beloved regiment by becoming the first patron of the Rifleman’s Association this week.

Camilla is Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles and is now the figurehead of its association, which enables serving soldiers, veterans and their families to remain part of the regimental family, offering friendship, support and help.

Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, Colonel Commandant The Rifles, said: “This is a huge privilege for the regiment and highlights Her Majesty’s care, commitment and understanding for the wellbeing of our soldiers and their families.

“We are honoured that she has chosen to offer her patronage to all our Riflemen and their families.” The Queen has personal links to The Rifles through her late father Major Bruce Shand.

Two Battalions of The Rifles form part of the celebrated 7th Infantry Brigade, otherwise known as the Desert Rats, with whom Major Shand served.

Major Shand was awarded the Military Cross in 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his efforts in North Africa and was later wounded and taken prisoner while fighting in North Africa.

He died in June 2006 aged 89.

New Zealand‘s Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died on Friday morning surrounded by his wife and three children. He was 69.

The monarch was admitted to a hospital, where he underwent heart surgery just days after the 18th anniversary of his coronation.

“The death of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maoridom and the entire nation,” spokesperson Rahui Papa said in a statement.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Prince Harry has sought advice from his former British aides about plotting a return from the US that could involve a partial reinstatement to the royal fold, sources have revealed.

In what has been described as the initial stage in a strategy to “rehabilitate” him, The Mail on Sunday reported the Duke of Sussex has been asking advisers he had when he was a working royal for help amid increasing alleged issues with American-based PR firms.

The claimed move would be made with a view to Harry repairing his relationship with his father – although the sources stressed he and his wife Meghan Markle are not looking to make a permanent return to the UK.