Charles Spencer stated he did not intend to portray King Charles negatively in his book 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister', clarifying that controversial passages were included for context rather than attack. He emphasized his right as Diana’s brother to honor her memory and explained that references to Charles’s alleged reaction served to counter claims that he wanted her forgotten quickly, while noting he chose not to reveal more damaging information.
French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend any masses during Pope Leo XIV's visit to France, which begins on Friday, September 25. The Élysée Palace announced this decision after the Vatican scaled back plans for an elaborate reception earlier in the week, indicating underlying tensions between the French government and the Holy See regarding the protocol and nature of the papal visit.
Belgian King Philip visited Savonneries Bruxelloises, a Brussels soap factory established in 1926, on Wednesday to observe its production methods. Director Maxime de Villenfagne reported that the King showed great interest by asking numerous questions about the traditional and modern techniques used since the company became a court supplier in 2016.
The Norwegian court has officially designated 89-year-old Queen Sonja as queen mother in a press release, marking the first time the palace used this title following the death of her husband, King Harald. This change coincides with the accession of his son Haakon and makes Sonja the oldest member of the royal family after the passing of Princess Astrid. While the term is common in other countries, such as the UK, Norwegian media have requested more information but received no further response.
Remco Nehmelman, who transformed the First Chamber into an 'earthquake-proof' organization, is leaving his post to join the Cabinet of the King. There, he will support King Willem-Alexander with talks, appointments, and receptions.
On November 16, King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Rob Jetten, and State Secretary Eric van der Burg will visit Sint Eustatius to commemorate the 250th anniversary of The First Salute. This event marks the first recognition of the United States by a foreign power in 1776. A celebration will be held at Fort Oranje on the evening of November 15 prior to the main commemoration.
King Haakon carried the coffin of his aunt, Princess Astrid, out of Ris Kirke in Oslo following her funeral ceremony on Wednesday. Princess Astrid died on September 11 at the age of 94. She was accompanied by her five children during the procession, which included speeches from Minister Jens Stoltenberg and musical tributes by singer Sissel Kyrkjebø. Grandchildren laid flowers on the coffin after the service concluded.
Norwegian Finance Minister and former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg praised Princess Astrid during her memorial service on September 11, noting she died at age 94 two weeks after King Harald. Stoltenberg highlighted Astrid's role in caring for her younger brother throughout their lives, recalling conversations about international politics and her 1950 graduation. He shared stories of her escape from Norway in 1940 via Sweden, Finland, and the US to the United States. His remarks visibly moved King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit, honoring Astrid’s strong personality, humor, and warmth.
The Norwegian royal family, including King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit, attended the public funeral of Princess Astrid at Ris Kirke in Oslo. The service was attended by various international royals, while Crown Prince Marius Borg Høiby and Prince Sverre Magnus were absent due to legal proceedings and studies abroad. Following speeches by Minister Jens Stoltenberg and religious leaders, singer Sissel Kyrkjebø performed an tribute before King Haakon carried the coffin out.
Pope Leo XIV is visiting France, where he is expected to draw large crowds over four days, comparable to the attendance for Céline Dion's sixteen concerts in Paris. Visitors include not only believers but also those who view the Pope as a symbol of hope worldwide.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Belgian Queen Mathilde sat side by side at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. During the event, Máxima, the UN Special Advocate for Financial Health since 2024, met with representatives from various member states to discuss the establishment of a new Group of Friends for Financial Health. The initiative, organized by Singapore, is chaired by the Philippines, Peru, and Kenya.
Earl Charles Spencer’s book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, has sparked controversy in the UK with claims that King Charles expressed contempt for Princess Diana before her funeral. Experts and sources dispute these allegations, describing Charles as shocked and grieving rather than vindictive. Critics, including royalty expert Jenni Russell and journalist Charles Moore, question the credibility of Spencer’s account, noting the lack of evidence such as recordings or witnesses. Spencer defends his statements as truthful, but the revelations have shifted public perception from admiration for his 1997 eulogy to suspicion regarding his motives and accuracy in portraying the royal family's actions during Diana’s death.
Belgian Princess Delphine de Saxe-Cobourg expressed anger after Aldi advertised reproductions of her mural for the Warme William campaign as artworks. Although she supports selling the posters to fund youth mental health awareness, she insists they are unsigned, unnumbered reproductions rather than art. Patrick Declerck of WM Gallery confirmed that her contract with Aldi explicitly prohibited the term 'artwork,' but Aldi stated it aims to spread the message affordably without committing to change its wording.
British Prince William volunteered behind the bar at a community theater in Acton, London, assisting staff with popcorn and ticket sales. He joked about his lack of experience with the specific cash register system before letting professionals handle transactions to avoid delaying the film. During his hour-long visit, the Prince of Wales also spoke with young filmmakers and representatives from The Film and TV Charity, discussing the impacts of the coronavirus crisis, artificial intelligence, and streaming services on the industry.
King Willem-Alexander participated in an exercise with the Brigade Special Security Tasks (BSB) of the Royal Marechaussee on Tuesday at The Holland Gate in Soesterberg. During the visit, he viewed footage of the Kabul evacuation and received briefings on the unit's work while wearing a military uniform.
Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Queen Mette-Marit, was not present at the funeral of Norwegian Princess Astrid on Wednesday. According to the newspaper Nettavisen, he did not request permission to attend the event while currently held in pre-trial detention under electronic monitoring. This contrasts with his attendance at King Harald’s funeral earlier in the month, for which he had received special approval. The royal family, including King Haakon and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, gathered to pay their final respects.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Queen Mathilde of Belgium sat next to each other during the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Tuesday. Both queens are present for their respective UN roles, with Máxima advocating for financial health and Mathilde focusing on sustainable development goals.
British media report that Prince Harry is planning a documentary about his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash in Paris. The Duke of Sussex aims to honor her on the thirtieth anniversary of her death in August 2027 by approaching potential collaborators for the project. While no final decisions have been made, this follows his previous collaboration with Prince William on a 2017 film marking the twentieth anniversary of Diana's passing.
Queen Máxima’s scheduled visit to the 013 music venue in Tilburg on October 7 has been cancelled due to a combination of circumstances, according to the Cultural Fund. The event was intended to highlight talent development in pop music, but no rescheduled date is currently planned.
