New Grand Master of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

On the 23rd April 2024 His Majesty the King appointed Her Majesty The Queen to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The post had been vacant since passing of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 2021.

King appoints the Duke of Edinburgh to the Order of the Thistle

On the 10th of March 2024, His Majesty the King appointed His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG, GCVO to be an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

Prince Edward made Duke of Edinburgh on his Birthday

On the 10th March 2023, His Majesty The King granted the title, style and dignity of Duke of Edinburgh to His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Forfar KG GCVO to be held for life only. The 10th March 2023 also marked His Royal Highness's 59th birthday.

His Royal Highness's new title will not pass to his son James. Who will now be styled Earl of Wessex and use it as a courtesy title. James will inherit the Duke's other titles of Earl of Wessex, Earl of Forfar and Viscount Severn after the Duke passes away. The Duke's daughter Lady Louise's style will not change, she is also not in line to the Duke's other title's because only legitimate male-line descendants can inherit them. The Duke's wife will now be styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO GCStJ.

Service of Thanksgiving for His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)

Today, the 29th of March 2022, a service of thanksgiving was held at Westminster Abbey for the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster. Miss Doyin Sonibare a Gold Award holder of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gave a tribute.

Readings were conducted by The Right Hon. The Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC and The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Lord Bishop of London. The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, The Dean of Windsor gave the Address and The Most Reverend and the Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury gave the Blessing.

The congregation consisted of the Royal Family, Prince Philip's wider family and friends, and members of overseas Royal Families. As well as representatives from the British and Devolved Governments. The High Commissioners from the Commonwealth realms, Representatives of British Overseas Territories, The Armed Forces, Staff members of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household and The Duke of Edinburgh’s patronages.

The Service was attended by the following members of the British royal family who were seated in the south transept: 

First row left side:

HM The Queen
HRH The Prince of Wales
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
HRH The Princess Royal
Sir Timothy Laurence

First row right side:

Prince Andrew, Duke of York
HRH Prince Edward Earl of Wessex and Forfar
HRH The Countess of Wessex and Forfar
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
James, Viscount Severn

Second row left side:

HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
HRH Prince George of Cambridge
HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

Second row right side:

Mr Peter Phillips
Miss Isla Phillips
Miss Savannah Phillips
Miss Mia Tindall
Mrs Zara Tindall
Mr Mike Tindall

Third row left side:

HRH Princess Beatrice
Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
HRH Princess Eugenie
Mr Jack Brooksbank
The Right Honourable The Earl of Snowdon
Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones

Third row right side:

Charles, Viscount Linley
Lady Sarah Chatto
Mr Daniel Chatto
Mr Samuel Chatto
Mr Arthur Chatto

Fourth row left side:

HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
Alexander, Earl of Ulster
Lady Rose Gilman
Mr George Gilman
HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Fourth row right side:

George, Earl of St Andrews
Edward, Lord Downpatrick
The Countess of St Andrews
Lady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor
Mr Cassius Taylor

Fifth row left side:

Prince Michael of Kent
Princess Michael of Kent
Lord Frederick Windsor
Lady Frederick Windsor
Lady Gabriella Kingston
Mr Thomas Kingston

Fifth row right side:

Lord Nicholas Windsor
Mr James Ogilvy
Mrs Julia Ogilvy
Mrs Flora Vesterberg
Mr Timothy Vesterberg
Miss Zenouska Mowatt

The Service was also attended by the following overseas reigning and non-reigning royals:

The King and Queen of the Belgians
The Queen of Denmark
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
The Prince of Monaco
The King and Queen of the Netherlands
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
The King and Queen of Spain
The King and Queen of Sweden
Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan
Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
Prince Philippos and Princess Nina of Greece
Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown and Prince Radu of Romania
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
Prince Kyril of Preslav
Princess Christina of Sweden
The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden
Prince Leopold of Baden
Prince Michael and Princess Michael (Christina) of Baden
Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse

HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)

Friday 9th April 2021

Today Her Majesty announced the passing of her beloved husband His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who passed away peacefully in the morning at Windsor Castle, aged ninety nine.

The Government has announced that all official flags, including the Union Flag, are to be flown half-masted on all UK government buildings until 8am on the day following His Royal Highness’s funeral.

In light of the ongoing situation with Covid-19, the Royal Household has asked that people not gather at Royal Residences and lay floral tributes.

An online book of condolence has been opened on the royal family website because it was thought inappropriate to have physical books of condolence because of Covid-19. Link here:https://www.royal.uk/condolence 

Tomorrow Saturday, 10th April at midday, a Gun Salute will be fired at locations across the United Kingdom and Gibraltar and onboard Her Majesty’s Ships (HMS). The Gun Salutes will be broadcast online and on television, members of the public are encouraged to watch from home because of Covid-19.

Prince Philip’s titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich now pass to his eldest son HRH The Prince of Wales.

HRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh is survived by his wife, Her Majesty The Queen.

His four children: HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Princess Royal, HRH The Duke of York and HRH The Earl of Wessex and Forfar.

His eight grandchildren: Mr Peter Phillips, Mrs Zara Tindall, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, HRH The Duke of Sussex, HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank, Lady Louise Windsor and James,Viscount Severn.

Finally his ten great-grandchildren: Miss Savannah Phillips, Miss Isla Phillips, HRH Prince George of Cambridge, Miss Mia Tindall, HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, HRH Prince Louis of Cambridge, Miss Lena Tindall, Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, Master August Brooksbank, Master Lucas Tindall.

HRH Princess Beatrice of York Marries in Secret

Today the 17th July 2020 Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York married Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park. Their wedding had been due to take place in May, but was postponed due to COVID-19. Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attended the ceremony.

LVO for Former Chief Clerk and Accountant to the Household of The Duke of Edinburgh

Her Majesty The Queen has appointed Mr Paul Hughes MVO, Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Chief Clerk and Accountant to the Household of The Duke of Edinburgh.

RVM for Valet to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

In the New Year’s Honours list for 2019, Mr Andrew John Wightman has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) for his service as Valet to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Caspian Donald Hicks (born.January 21st 2018) son of Mr Ashley Hicks and Mrs Katalina Hicks

Caspian Donald Hicks was born today, the son of Mr Ashley Hicks and Mrs Katalina Hicks, Mr Ashley Hicks is the only son of Lady Pamela Hicks née Mountbatten the younger daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma and her husband Mr David Nightingale Hicks, Caspian is Lady Pamela Hicks’s tenth grandchild.

Mr Ashley Hicks is the godson of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, he is also a cousin of the Duke via his grandfather the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma who was the Duke’s maternal uncle.

Mr Ashley Hicks already has two children by his first wife but Caspian is his first son and first child by his second wife. Caspian like is father is distantly in the line of succession to the British throne. The announcement was made on their Instagram pages. @ashleyhicks1970 @katahicks

Zara Tindall is expecting her second child

The Queen’s granddaughter Mrs Zara Tindall MBE and her husband Mr Mike Tindall MBE have announced expecting their second child in the summer of 2018.

Buckingham Palace has said Her Majesty and the rest of the royal family are very pleased with the news. 

The baby will be Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal’s fourth grandchild and Her Majesty the Queen’s and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh’s seventh great-grandchild.

New Captain General of the Royal Marines

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales KCVO has been appointed by Her Majesty The Queen to succeed His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GCVO GBE as Captain General of the Royal Marines - a post which HRH the Duke of Edinburgh had held since 1953. Prince Harry’s appointment comes following the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public life in the autumn of this year.

New Colonel of the Grenadier Guards

His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG GCVO ADC has been appointed by Her Majesty The Queen to succeed His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GCVO GBE as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards - a post which HRH the Duke of Edinburgh had held since 1975. The Duke of York’s appointment comes following the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public life in the autumn of this year.

GCVO for His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has been appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for his service to Her Majesty The Queen.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announce third Pregnancy

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that they are expecting a baby. As with the Duchess’s previous pregnancies, the Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum - a severe form of morning sickness and has cancelled today’s engagement to the Hornsey Road Children's Centre.

Her Majesty the Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Harry of Wales are all delighted with the news.

RVM (Gold) for Valet to the Duke of Edinburgh

Mr David Berwick RVM has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Gold (RVM) for his service as Valet to the Duke of Edinburgh.

Knighthood for the Duke of Edinburgh

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has been appointed Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) for his service to the people of Australia.

MVO for Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh

Mrs Suzy Juliet Lethbridge has been appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for her service as Correspondence Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household.

MVO for Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh

Miss Mary Victoria Inglefield has been appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for her service as Senior Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household.

Royal Visit to France 2014

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh have been invited by President Hollande of France to visit France from the 5th of June to the 7th of June 2014.

Tour Itinerary

On 6th June The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend events in Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

From the 6th and 7th June Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will attend events in Paris and will stay at the Elysee Palace.

Royal Visit to Italy and the Vatican City

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh have been invited by President Napolitano of Italy to visit Rome on the 3rd April 2014.

Tour Itinerary

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit the Presidential Palace where they will attend a private lunch hosted by President Napolitano.

The Royal couple will also have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.