Harry and Meghan issue defiant statement as King Charles unveils official portrait

The team qualified for the very first time yesterday (14 May) after their rivals Tottenham Hotspur lost to Manchester City.

Taking to Twitter (X) to mark the achievement, the heir to the throne, 41, wrote: “We are Champions League!

“A historic season and an amazing achievement. Thanks to Unai, the whole squad and everyone at @AVFCOfficial. Can’t wait for next season. #UTV! W”

The Prince of Wales has made no secret of his love of the team and has frequently been pictured at Aston Villa games, sometimes accompanied by Prince George.

The DJ, 31, said the pair got to know each other through their work promoting mental health awareness and this led to the Princess of Wales visiting his parents’ house as they collaborated on a short film.

“One of the most surreal days of my life. Me, my mum, dad, sister and the princess just chatting ‘round the kitchen table,” he told The Times.

“The weirdest thing is, she took her shoes off at the door. You never really see a princess in her socks.”

Kemp said in the interview that he will discuss almost anything relating to mental health struggles if it means helping other people after tragically losing his best friend to suicide in 2020.

Reflecting on Kate’s current health battle, Kemp empathised: “It broke our hearts when we saw her do the video [announcing her cancer diagnosis].

“I don’t think anyone should be under that level of scrutiny where they have to do that.”

St Paul’s Cathedral was packed today with almost 2,000 people for a celebratory Order of the British Empire service.

The guests included King Charles and Queen Camilla, who wore red robes to celebrate the likes of CBEs, OBEs, MBEs and recipients of British Empire Medals.

The service is taking place a week after Prince Harry’s Invictus Games thanksgiving ceremony, where the Duke of Sussex was notably supported by members of the Spencer family and not the Windsors.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pictured standing for a performance of ‘God Save the King’ in Nigeria despite his apparent ongoing family feud.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, was subject to intense scrutiny when he arrived back in the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games last week.

Despite having not seen his father, King Charles, since learning of his cancer diagnosis in February, the pair did not meet on the trip.

A representative for Harry put this down to the King’s “busy schedule”.

While this might have been a case of unfortunate timing, some royal commentators interpreted the King’s actions as a deliberate snub.

This also appeared to be the case when it was announced that Prince William was being made the colonel-in-chief of Harry’s old military regiment while the Duke was in the UK.

Queen Camilla has pledged to stop buying fur in the Monarchy’s latest move towards a more cruelty-free existence.

The news was welcomed by the organisation’s managing director Ingrid Newkirk, who said: “It’s right and proper for the British monarchy to reflect British values by recognising that fur has no place in our society.”

Camilla’s decision to stop buying fur comes after the palace banned foie gras and anointed the King with “cruelty-free oil”.

Their arrival at the historic building comes a week after it hosted a thanksgiving service for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which was attended by none of his immediate family.

The couple will now attend a service with almost 2,000 people who hold Orders, including CBEs, OBEs, MBEs and British Empire Medals.

The news comes after a tumultuous visit for the pair after the King appeared to snub his youngest son twice as he visited his home country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The first alleged snub came when it was reported that the King was too busy to meet on the visit, and the second came when it was announced that Prince William was about to become the colonel-in-chief of Harry’s old military regiment, the Army Air Corps.

The King’s friends, however, have contested what happened, The Telegraph reports.

One said: “While he was hardly going to roll out the red carpet the moment this Invictus trip was announced, with doctors advising him to focus on his treatment and recovery, the idea that he refused to find space in his diary … well, let’s say recollections may vary once again.”

Prince Harry is reported to have stayed in a London hotel on last week’s trip after giving up his UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, at his father’s request.

Meghan Markle, 42, said a DNA test revealed she was 43 percent Nigerian and discussed her heritage on a recent trip to the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

“It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage,” she said at a woman in leadership event.

“Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, ‘Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian’.

“It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful.”

The governor of California has defended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their charity was declared “delinquent” by the state.

A spokesperson for the Archewell Foundation confirmed that this was the result of a renewal fee cheque that went missing in the post, adding that it has now been resent.

“It was a technical paperwork issue that was wildly over-hyped,” declared California Governor Gavin Newsom.

However, until the issue is resolved, the charity can no longer distribute or solicit funds.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent three days in the country celebrating the 10th anniversary of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.

While there, Meghan described Nigeria as “her country” after a DNA test said she was 43 percent Nigerian.

The tour, which was undertaken in their capacity as private citizens, was described as “fantastic” by the couple who said it will be the “first of many memorable trips”.

They now have to face up to the trouble their charity, the Archewell Foundation, faces in America after it was declared “delinquent” by the state of California while they were overseas.

This was reportedly because of a $200 cheque that was lost in the post, which a representative has confirmed has now been reissued.

But until the issue is resolved, the Archewell Foundation cannot distribute or raise funds.