A state visit to Washington is impending, Princess Catherine visits Notting Hill, Queen Camilla’s moving Holocaust speech. Plus, David Beckham’s loyalty to the royals is steadfast.
Or good evening, Welcome to the Royal Report. I'm Caroline de Russo coming up on the show tonight, and Meghan Markle is taking stock after Vanity fairscathing review has reportedly left the Duchess of Sussex in a bad place. Plus calls mount for Donald Trump to release Prince Harry's immigration file after admissions of illicit drug use, and why David Beckham will always say yes to Princess Catherine. Russell Myers joins us from London to discuss this and more. But first, it hasn't quite been a week since Trump's inauguration, but it feels like a year. And by that I mean it feels like a year worth of stuff has happened in a week. Optimism is high and everyone is wondering what is next for relations with the US Now. If We've spoken plenty of times on this show about Trump's affection for the Royal family, he had great respect for the late Queen and it's impossible to forget the footage of the state visit during his first presidency, you'll recall he also recently met with Prince William in Paris. Good Man, Hello, It all augurs well and despite the Prime Minister for the UK ki Istama. Not being invited to the inauguration, Trump has continued to signal his pro British position on his inauguration. He returned the bronze bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office that had been removed by Joe Biden during his presidency, and King Charles didn't waste his time sending his congratulations on Trump's return to the White House. More on that with our panel shortly so. I can't help but wonder what a state visit during Trump's second presidency with a new British monarch would look like, and with so much going on in the world at the moment, it would be the perfect occasion for the soft diplomacy that the monarchy is so renowned for. Joining me now is the Daily Express role reporter Pandora, Foresight News dot com dot a U entertainment reporter Bronte Coy Bronte the Trump administration. They do appear to be pro British. Despite Kirs Stahman not being invited to the inauguration, we understand the King offered his congratulations to Trump. What did he have to say?
Yes, we do know.
The King wrote to mister Trump to honor his inauguration as his late mother did in the Trump's first presidency term. We don't know the contents of the letter, specifically that has been kept private between the two men for now at Leaf, but we do know that it offered congratulations and also it's understood that it reflected on the enduring and special relationship between the UK and US, and you touched on it right there at the top, Carrow that Trump has a great relationship with the Royal family. He has a great affection for them. He really admired the late Queen and King Charles has actually written to him before last year when Trump survived that assassination attempt.
So the pair have a very good relationship.
And this is a great example of the way that the Royal family does wield that selt power, because it's no secret that the current British Parmeniter Kirs Starma and Trump have very very different personalities but also political views, and this is an opportunity for the Royal family to be deployed as a really good resource for the UK, for the UK government, I should say, and strengthened those tires between the UK and the US.
I couldn't agree more. Pandora, please tell me estate visits on the cards.
Yeah, unfortunately, no plans as of yet, but I'm sure if Trump had his way, and he would definitely be making sure that this is on the cards. Look, he's spoken about the King, he said he's a really wonderful guy. I'm definitely not going to do that accent again, but listen, we know that he has a brilliant admiration for the royal family, as Bronte said, and yourself, Caro, And ultimately it is a very special relationship, but also it's soft power at play, and as the state of the UK politics right now, this is really important, this special relationship, even more so in this monarchy because we know that Trump is very vocal and he's not afraid to say what he thinks, and that could potentially be quite serious for the UK. So we need to ensure that that relationship is maintained. And I suppose, as Milania said in her book and her memoir, she has been penhals with the royal family. So we hope that this relationship is ongoing and it continues to be solid and good. I think the only thing which we potentially could get in the way of that relationship would be of course, the King's son, Harry.
But we'll discuss that, I'm sure in a bit.
We'll discuss that right now, actually, Pandora. And with the administration taking the reins, you know that questions around Harry's visa application the bubble to the service again, Pandora, is this going to be an ongoing issue? Is it going to is it going to get in the way of that special relationship.
Yeah, Look, I mean Trump has said on the past, if it was down to him, he Harry would be on his own. That was a few years ago now, And actually, if you were to deport Harry, you wouldn't.
Be able to deport Megan.
And there has been court cases and legalities surrounding all of this about whether they could actually get the documents become public. But Harry definitely did one on that side of things. So I think Trump has got bigger, big issues to deal with right now. But we do know that if Trump does get annoyed with people or individuals, then he's not afraid to shout out about it. But I think, of course, we also do know that he respects Harry's father a lot, and the monarchy and this would be a massive issue for the King if this ever was to happen. But to be frank with you, if I was Harry and Meghan, I would be a little bit worried. But also on the same note, Look, they've got their children there. It would be it would be a lot to get them deported. And I quite frankly think that Trump just does not have the time to get him so involved in this. But you know, it's not really gone in Harry and Meghan's favor in terms of their views for Tump. So I think they do have to be quite careful about what they say about politics in general, as we all well know, because they still carry those titles and they are very precious to them.
Yeah. Absolutely, I think that's a very fair observation. But I do take your point Trump has got far bigger things to worry about. The the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Bronte speaking about the Duke of Sussex and Harry's trial against the newsgroup Newspapers was meant to Well, that matter was meant to go to trial last week, but it settled out of court. What can you tell us?
Yes, so Harry has several court cases running, but this was one of the longest running that he had. It was filed in late twenty nineteen, and he filed against ng and alleging that information that had been included about him in articles dating between nineteen ninety six and twenty eleven included information that had been obtained unlawfully. That was his allegation. But on Wednesday it was announced it after an eleventh hour deal between the two parties right as the trial was supposed to get underway. Finally, it was meant to run for around ten weeks, and Harry himself would have taken the stand that a deal had been struck. So Harry has been offered as what we know is a substantial sum for the settlement and also an apology for the quote serious intrusion into his life and also for the impact that these quote serious prosion into the life of his late mother Diana had by him. So yes, this brings to an end of years years long court at saga and this one at least is over for now.
Yeah, absolutely now, Pandora. We spoke last week on the show about the Vanity Fair article. Some of it was pretty brutal. The Sussex is understandably haven't taken it. Well, what do they do now?
Yeah, listen. In Meghan's own words, she said, it's just noise. It's just media noise, and she doesn't listen to any of it. But I suppose there's only so much media noise you can deal with until you actually do start to listen. And actually I think that's been one of Harry and Meghan's issues surrounding their whole brand has been perhaps they haven't this and enough to people and their constructive criticism. As you said, it was pretty brutal, this one and various comments within it.
Perhaps you know they would look at and they think that was fair.
But of course, you know, they have a right to comment on public figures and they can do. But I think more than anything, perhaps it will be a bit of an ego bruise. I mean, there were certain things within the article talking about Beyonce declined to be on her podcast. I think it's more of an ego thing probably, But of course for them, they need to think about their brand and it's more important than ever to get their branding right and to get their message across to the public.
They don't need.
This type of negative commentary surrounding them, especially when it sort of blew up on the scale that it did. And that's why now perhaps they need to listen to what's been going around about them, and not necessarily every single word, but think, okay, right, how are we going to ensure that this doesn't happen again instead of just sort of putting the wall over their eyes and just hoping that it's all going to be okay in the end. I think ultimately now is the time is five years on they need to really get their branding right and get their messaging across in the correct way.
And startup project and finish it I think would also be very very helpful. Now, Bronchie back over to the UK and Princess Catherine has been spotted shopping in Nodding Hill. The media don't miss anything, do they.
Oh when it comes to Princess Catherine, absolutely not. And it is such a nice thing to see her out and about again. It's that return to some semblance of normalcy after a year where we were all on edge waiting to hear what was going to be happening with her with her health. So this came just a couple of weeks after she revealed the very good news that she's now in remission from cancer, and she's spotted out doing some shopping for some eyewear.
Now as a fellow, as.
A glasses wearer myself, I would like to know what she bought, because we've never actually seen her in glasses.
I don't know if she wears them privately. Perhaps it was a gift for.
Someone else, perhaps it was sunglasses.
I want to know what was in the bag.
Personally, I'd love to see Kate step out in a pair of glasses. But it is it's so nice to see her actually smiling with the people in the shop, and she was all rugged up, looking typically cheek against the cold, and again it's just a very welcome signing of Kate after what has been a very tough year of news for her.
Yeah, it really has been a tough year in Pandora. On the media. Look, we saw a couple of stumbles from the wawsers early on last year, but they really refine their social media game over the course of the last twelve months, haven't they.
Oh?
Yeah, absolutely, They've invested in getting their team really quite media savvy. They've got videography, they know exactly what trends to jump on, and of course this is absolutely imperative to the Royal family moving forward because ultimately that's how a lot of the younger generations are going to consume their news and hear about the Royal family. You know, as journalists all standing here. Unfortunately, people don't go out to go and buy the paper to read the news as much as they used to, so ultimately this is the way that they're going to get their messaging across and it's brilliant to see actually that they are open to that. We're seeing a lot more casual shots on there. They're giving us a bit more glimpses into their lives. Of course we saw that wonderfully a motive video at the end of last year, and ultimately they need this moving forward for again their brand and for getting their message out there.
And not only are we.
Seeing little bits of inklings of their personal life, which is a very difficult balance, but they're also allowing sort of messages, private tweets, whether that be from Catherine or William as well, put out there instead of a traditional press release. I think that's very much reflective of the media industry in general. Everyone's having to turn around how their messaging is put across, and of course social media allows us to do this. I think they're a social media team. Deserve a pay rise, I think because they've done so well.
But I'm not a job.
And lastly, Bronte, I've only got about thirty seconds for you, but a spectacular front page of Tatler with the Spencer sisters. We don't see them very often, but boy, they are incredibly glamorous. What's their story?
Well, when it talks about glamor in British society, it's these three. So they are Diana's three nieces, they are the daughters of her.
Brother, Charles, the Earl Spencer. They're involved with charity.
Work, but they're all also very unsurprisingly modeled, and so when it comes to making a splash on the red carpet over here, they always deliver. We see them at all the high society events and Royal Ascott, Wimbledon fundraisers, balls, the likes, and honestly it's always a welcome site because they always are so impeccably dressed and they're so glum. And this was their first joint cover and it was really interesting to read their thoughts as well, because we don't hear from them a lot.
No, we don't hear from them very often, but they looked absolutely stunning. Thank you so much and Pandora Foresight. Now coming up, I'll catch up with Royal editor for The Daily Mirror, Russell Myers on how Royal celebrated Birds Night. Welcome back to the show, and tomorrow mark's the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. For anyone who's been there, there is something so eerily quiet nowadays, for a place which was ground zero for the murder of Jews and other minorities by the Nazis during the Second World War. And as we noted on the show last week, the King is leading a delegation to Auschwitz for the commemoration and Prince William is leading the official Holocaust Memorial service in the UK. Now Queen Camilla, while she's also doing her bit to mark the occasion, and as the patron of the Anne Frank Trust, she had this to say during her speech on Thursday.
The price was so at first in small acts of the execution of aggression and of discrimination towards sus who previously in their bost and friends over.
A tery pub short period of time.
There's seeds to correct route through the complacency of which we.
Can all be guilty.
I've turned away from justice. I've ignoring of that which is then to be wrong. I thinking that someone else will do what Speed did and remain silent.
It's commendable to see this occasion taken so seriously by the Royal family. Everyone is taking their part to remind us all of a place we never want to go back to. Now joining me now is Royal editor for the Dai Mirror, Russell Myers. Russell Camilla is just such an excellent support act for Charles and Williams, and she hasn't disappointed here. I thought a very thoughtful and timely speech.
Yeah very much, Sokara, great to see you again and certainly huge hue poignant moment in the Royal calendar. And as you said, rightly said, it's something that the Roles have taken very very seriously over the years. I'm going to be in Poland with the King for his very very first visit to al Fwitz. Queen Camiller was there at the seventy fifth anniversary of the Liberation of Alschwitz five years ago and Prince William will be leading a delegation in London and I think when the world is coming together, it's very very interesting to see that the roles are coming together as well. And the King said to some survivors at Bucking Palace and at a reception just last week that he felt it was absolutely imperative and important for him to be there. And I think when you look at what's happened with him over the last year, very very stop start period within his legacy, he's very very keen to make sure that these important moments are cemented in his diary and a very very poignant moment.
It will be on Monday.
Yeah, very fair observation and speaking of great support acts, David Beckham had this to say this week.
Over the years, I've done a lot with the Prince of Wales and I've always been there whenever he's asked me to get involved with things. You know, whether it be veterans, whether it be the London Air Ambulance Service which we raised funds to get to new helicopters for London. You know, these are the things that when I was a kid, I used to see the helicopters going over and you knew exactly what they were going to do. They were on the way to an emergency. So to be involved in that has always been a yes for me. You know, whenever the Prince of wels sends me a message and says I need you to do this or be there, it's always a yes.
We speak about the Beckhams off and on this show, and David obviously is an unabashed Royalist. Should we expect to see more of the Wowsers and the Beckhams's working together in the future.
Well, it's a good double as I've certainly seen up close and personal when I've been on engagements with Beckham and Prince William. And you know, some of the unfair commentary I think over the week saying that he's just hankering for this knighthood, that he's been sort of left hanging over the last few years because he made some months savory comments about the Honors Committee a few years ago. But one thing is for certain about David Beckham, and he said to himself he gets very emotional when talking about the royal family and he's his family history. He said his mother and his grandparents would have been very, very very proud of him as well. One of the first things he did when he was made an ambassador of the King's Foundation was to ring his mother and he said she was in tears. And I think for Beckham certainly, I mean he's had all the plaudits in his sporting life, he's been a superstar in his business ventures, but he's got a huge affection and affiliation with the Royal family and I think when they've come together they used the sort of star quality of them both. And that moment that he was talking about raising money for the London area, it's a hugely important charity, not only just in the UK but across the country. He's got together with Prince William and if they've come calling, he will be there and that's great to know.
Very genuine friendship, it seems. Now. Burns Night was celebrated in the UK this week and it included the release of a new portrait of the King Russell. For our Australian viewers, can you tell us what Burns Night is all about and why is it celebrated so broadly, including brother or family.
Well, it's a great excuse for a get together and a party, you know, and it happens every year January twenty fifth, the Scots gets together to commemorate this all of life and legacy of their own bars. Robert Burns and the King and Prince and Princess of Wales were celebrating over the weekend as well. The King released a new photograph taken by Millie Pilkington, who your viewers will know because she's had such a great working relationship with the Princess of Wales over the last couple of years. And this is an opportunity for the royal family, as we saw in a video that a Prince and Princess of Wales put out to celebrate Scottish culture and it's something very important for the royal family. Of course we saw that really played out when the late Queen passed away in Scotland. The commemorations in scottlis the Royal family held in high esteem in certain quarters in the country and I think the respect is certainly mirrored by the Royal family as well.
And Russell the Palace recently announced Princess Catherine is in remission. We all heard that news a couple of weeks ago. She went to visit the Royal Madden Royal Madden Hospital to thank them for taking care of her. But she also noted this week that she's delighted that the NHS Initiative for Babies will be extended.
Now.
Early childhood has always been an area of focus for Princess Catherine. But what can we look forward to in twenty twenty five from Princess Catherine in health advocacy.
Well, great news first and foremost that she's in mission and seeing her back out on jobs over the last couple of weeks is a great step in the right direction. And I certainly think we will see more of the Princess of Wales in this arena because if y very important to her. You know, we've got her early year's work which is embedded in the future generations of our children. But also this affiliation she now has with cancer patients and the raw Marsden Hospital in West London is a world leading cancer hospital and that's why she went there to thank the doctors and nurses who had treated her, to speak to patients who are undergoing their treatment at the moment. And this new trial in the National Health Survey is going to be helping thousands and thousands of babies in their families and it's something that you know, she can lend her support to. It's something that despite when she was going through her cancer treatment, she was being kept updated about the early years work and the sort of the future projects that she can.
Get involved in.
And whilst it might still be baby steps for her to be getting back to work, I do think that she will be maybe choosing the pillars of her work more carefully. So maybe less is more, but when you look to the future over the course of the year, I definitely think we'll be seeing her operating in this arena a lot more.
And just one last thing before we go. We've got about a minute left. Today's Australia Day and we understand there's a bit of a rumor that Zara and Mike Tindall maybe considering a move to oz. Is there anything in this Russell Well, you.
Know, there just might be, because you know it's only won't be under the cloud that Harry and Meghan left the Royal family and ended up in the Canada and then the States. But Zara and Mike have a huge, huge affection for Australia.
Why wouldn't they.
I mean you just have to turn on the television and see the weather and all the people out on the beaches. But they're huge, huge ambassadors for the Royal family abroad and the Australians have taken them into their hearts.
You know, they're visiting the horse.
Racing, they've got business interests in Australia. They've spoken with great effects for the country. So watch this space. You know you could be getting Zara and Mike and you never know, I might get a trip out to cover their engagements as well. Karen, I'll come and see you.
Well.
You would all be very welcome here, I can assure you. Russell Mais. Thank you so much and that's the show for tonight. Thank you for joining us. Up next is Newsnight.