King Charles has spent the week at Sandringham (Image: Getty)
As much of the country was focused on Rachel Reeves’s manifesto-breaking budget last week, the royals had a rare quiet week. The King and Queen spent much of the week at Sandringham, enjoying some downtime after a hectic few weeks, with a busy work schedule and family issues to deal with.
Charles kept on top of his constitutional duties from there, and on Thursday, Camilla, Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, attended the Biennial RIFLES awards dinner at the Guildhall on Thursday evening. The brief restbite in public engagements will have allowed the 77-year-old monarch, who continues to undergo regular cancer treatment, to catch his breath ahead of his third incoming state visit of the year.
Typically, only two are hosted this year, but the workaholic King has packed a lot into his schedule since the summer, including an important trip to the Vatican and hosting US President Donald Trump.
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On Wednesday, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be welcomed to Windsor Castle by the King and Queen, where the royal red carpet will be rolled out.
It will include all of the usual set pieces, including a carriage procession through the Berkshire town, a Guard of Honour in the quadrangle and a glittering state banquet inside St George’s Hall.
I’m looking forward to seeing the magnificent hall’s festive makeover after the household staff finished decorating the impressive 20-foot-high Nordmann fir tree last week. The tree features over 3,000 twinkling lights and shimmering green and gold ornaments, while the balconies above are adorned with dramatic garlands.
While the King will provide the pomp and pageantry, the visit will be used to reinforce relations and shore up cultural ties between the two countries.
It will also mark the first incoming state visit by a German president in 27 years and comes two years after the King and Queen travelled to Germany for the first state visit since his accession.
Prince Edward cutting a cake in Ghana (Image: PA)
Prince Edward’s cake moment
It’s not unusual for the youngest of Queen Elizabeth’s children to take a unique approach to cake cutting, but last week the Duke of Edinburgh took it to the next level.
During his royal visit to Ghana, Edward enthusiastically cut a massive cake in a celebration prepared by the British High Commission.
Taking to the stage as the host of the event could be heard counting down from six over a microphone, the prince appeared on great form as he waved the knife high in the air and then throwing his hand down to slice it as soon as zero was announced.
He quickly cut through the cake and immediately waved the knife in the air as the crowd cheered.
Smiling as everyone around him cheered, Edward couldn’t resist tasting a bit of the frosting.
Photos of the cake-cutting ceremony, which caught the prince grimacing as he wielded the knife, received a warm reaction online with fans branding him “the fun prince”.
Caring Catherine
Caring Catherine was in her element on Thursday as she visited children’s mental health charity, Anna Freud in a trip focusing on the “vital role of relationships and connection in shaping babies, children and young people’s future life outcomes”’.
The mum-of-three cooed over toddlers during the visit, with eight-month-old Judah sucking on her finger before clinging onto it as she chatted to his father, Andrew.
Her solo visit saw her speak of the need for fathers’ voiced to be heard “from the get-go” as she acknowledged that issues concerning children is predominately a female space.
Early childhood has been a “huge priority” for the Princess, who intends to make raising awareness of the critical importance of the first five years of a child’s life her “life’s work”.
Dumfries House
I spent two days at Dumfries House, the headquarters of the King’s Foundation last week. The stunning 18th-century house is set in 2,000 acres of Ayrshire countryside – and entry into the estate is free, meaning you can enjoy gorgeous views and gardens for nothing.
I hadn’t realised just how much of an impact the historic home has on the local community, as it provides education and training programmes for all ages to help people secure jobs, boost confidence and gain life skills.
And the facilities offered are state-of-the-art, from farming to hospitality and horticulture to the arts – Dumfries House is home to many of the King’s Foundation’s flagship education programmes.
I left not only feeling festive after enjoying a candlelit tour of the beautifully decorated house but enthused and hugely impressed by learning about just how much of a difference places like this have for people of all ages.
