Welcome back. It’s been a few weeks since we last caught up on what the world’s most scrutinised family has been up to, and while the official royal diary has been light, the gossip has most definitely not been.
Before we get into tiaras, dogs, documentaries and strategic brooch choices, I want to address the very large, very loud elephant currently camped out in the royal news cycle.
I’m not going to wade into the Epstein files or the then Prince Andrew and Sarah’s involvement. This space is about lighthearted royal gossip and escapism, not the heavy and deeply disturbing material currently dominating the news cycle.
As salacious and headline grabbing as the latest developments may be, every news site, newspaper, podcast, blogger and internet sleuth in the world is already elbow deep in the detail surrounding Andrew and Sarah Ferguson and their long running association with Jeffrey Epstein. Quite frankly, I don’t think there is much more I can add that meaningfully contributes to the discourse.
If something emerges that directly involves another current working royal beyond the York family, then yes, we will absolutely cover it here. Until then, wading through thousands of pages of documents should be left to investigators and journalists who are equipped to do so properly. As always, my thoughts remain with the victims, and I hope accountability and justice prevail.
Right. Tea poured. Let’s get into it.
King Charles Reflects and Feels Vindicated
This month has quietly belonged to King Charles III, thanks to the release of his new documentary Finding Harmony A King’s Vision.
The film shows Charles reflecting on decades of environmental advocacy, much of it delivered long before sustainability became fashionable. At one point, he laughs about being dismissed as completely bonkers for talking to plants, a moment that now feels less eccentric and more prophetic.
“It all boils down to the fact that we are actually nature ourselves, we are part of it, not apart from it,” Charles says, summing up a philosophy he has been promoting for more than 40 years.
There is something unexpectedly moving about his candour. “Maybe, by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil, there might be a little more awareness,” he reflects, sounding less like a monarch and more like a tired but hopeful activist.
The documentary includes scenes of Charles collecting eggs from a hen coop labelled Cluckingham Palace and features contributions from Kate Winslet, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh and Al Gore.
It is earnest, quietly hopeful and refreshingly unpolished. The documentary arrives at a moment when climate scepticism is once again politically loud, yet Charles never names names. When he sighs that progress is “going backwards”, you can hear decades of frustration behind the words.
The documentary will be available globally on Amazon Prime Video from February 6 and whether you agree with him or not, it is a fascinating reminder that this King has always been playing the long game.
William and Kate Keep Busy and Stir Up the Dog Walkers
While other parts of the royal family have been navigating documentaries and damage control, Prince William and Catherine have been getting on with the business of being visible, reliable and increasingly relatable.
The start of the year has seen the Prince and Princess of Wales step out together for joint engagements, including visits with NHS staff and community groups, as well as solo outings that reinforce their individual causes. Kate has focused on early childhood development and wellbeing, blending her long standing advocacy with a noticeably softer return to public life. William has leaned into his role as future King, fronting engagements with a steady confidence that suggests he is very comfortable in the space he now occupies.
Away from official duties, the couple have also been settling further into family life in Windsor, and this is where things have taken a slightly more controversial turn. The Wales family recently welcomed a new dog into the household, a development that delighted royal watchers but has not gone down quite as smoothly with everyone else.
Changes to dog walking access around parts of Windsor Great Park due to the Wales’s move to their new house have sparked frustration among local residents, with some unhappy about restricted paths and altered routines. For a nation that treats dog walking routes as sacred ground, it was perhaps inevitable that eyebrows would be raised.
It is a classic royal paradox. The public loves seeing William and Kate embrace normal family life, complete with muddy boots and new puppies, right up until that normality starts affecting their own daily walks. Suddenly, it is less charming and more very British outrage.
Kate, meanwhile, has been spotted on school sidelines and at children’s sporting events, cheering on Prince Louis and sharing playful moments with Prince George. These small appearances may seem low key, but they are doing a lot of work in reinforcing an image of hands on parenting and family first priorities.
The family is focusing on stability, consistency and domestic calm, even if it occasionally comes at the cost of a grumble from local dog owners.
And honestly, if the biggest controversy surrounding the future King and Queen involves a puppy and a footpath, the Palace will likely take that as a win.
Harry and Meghan Get Busy
While the Wales household leans into domestic calm, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a far more active start to the year.
Harry has been back in the United Kingdom dealing with the courts rather than the Palace. He recently secured a legal win in his long running case against sections of the British press, reinforcing his argument that unlawful information gathering was used to fuel tabloid coverage. It is another chapter in his very personal campaign against the media, one he believes played a central role in his mother’s death and his own family’s distress.
Adding fuel to the royal rumour mill, reports suggest Harry is preparing to release another book. Details are scarce, but the suggestion alone has been enough to trigger widespread speculation about whether this will be a continuation of his memoir style storytelling or a pivot to something more reflective. Word on the street is it will feature more of his time in Botswana rather than his time in a palace.
Meghan, meanwhile, has leaned fully into lifestyle branding. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, she launched a limited-edition chocolate range through her As Ever brand in collaboration with luxury chocolatier Compartés. The collection includes playful flavours and packaging and has been marketed as a celebration of self love as much as romance.
It is a sharp reminder that while Harry battles institutions, Meghan is building a business. Different lanes, same brand strategy.
What is notable is how unreactive the Sussexes have been to the broader royal chaos. A few years ago, this level of background noise might have prompted a response or reframing. This time, they have stayed quiet, focused and visibly busy.
Brooches With a Message
Brooches With Intent
If you ever thought royal brooches were just decorative, recent appearances by Queen Camilla and Sophie suggest otherwise.
At the Windsor Castle screening of Finding Harmony A King’s Vision, both women wore brooches created by graduates of the King’s Foundation embroidery fellowship. The pieces were handcrafted using traditional techniques and inspired by nature, sustainability and heritage skills, all themes that sit at the heart of King Charles’ long running work and the documentary itself.
Camilla chose a delicately embroidered brooch designed by one of the programme’s graduates, wearing it prominently throughout the evening. Sophie also selected a bespoke embroidered piece, carefully styled to complement her outfit rather than overpower it. This was not a coincidence. The decision to showcase these designs placed the spotlight firmly on craftsmanship and mentoring rather than royal sparkle.
Camilla has also continued to lean into historic pieces from the royal collection during more solemn moments. Earlier this month she wore Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee brooch for Holocaust Memorial Day, a choice rooted firmly in remembrance and continuity. She was later seen wearing a Coronation era brooch at a winter church service near Sandringham, quietly reinforcing tradition during a period of heightened scrutiny.
Sophie’s jewellery choices have followed a similar pattern. Practical, elegant and purposeful, they mirror her increasingly visible role as one of the monarchy’s most reliable senior figures.
This was not jewellery worn for fashion headlines. It was about supporting the King’s vision, honouring history and letting craftsmanship speak at a time when words were being used very carefully.
Sometimes a brooch says everything that does not need to be said.
Prince Edward Breaks Royal Silence With a Serious Statement
And finally, a nod to Prince Edward, who this week stepped into the spotlight in a way we haven’t quite seen before.
Rather than stick to the usual royal talking points, Edward took questions at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, one of his growing number of international engagements promoting youth development and global partnerships. It was here, when reporters pressed him about the ongoing fallout from the newly released Epstein documents, that he delivered a statement that was both measured and unexpectedly direct.
“I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this,” Edward said, intentionally shifting the focus from institution to humanity.
It was the first time a senior working royal publicly addressed the scandal in this context, and his choice of words was telling. He didn’t defend his family or comment on specific allegations. Instead, he gently but firmly reframed the conversation around those most affected by the broader controversy.
In a week where many royals are dodging even soft questions about the scandal, Edward’s approach was refreshingly straightforward.
In royal terms, that is not dull. It is strategic.
Until next time, keep the kettle on, the headlines at arm’s length and remember that in this family, it is often what is not said that speaks the loudest.
More tea soon.