The Queen: Last News

Throughout her life, The Queen relied on a small, but loyal circle of staff, some of whom had been at her side for more than 60 years - but what has become of those faithful aides? OK! takes a look...The doctor As head of the medical household between 2014 and 2022, Professor Sir Huw Thomas was in charge of the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s well-being for almost a decade. As a sign of the respect in which he was held, he was awarded a knighthood in 2021, and said at the time, “It’s been a busy couple of years in this role, so I feel very grateful to have been recognised for my service to date.” However, as with many staff who were specifically occupied with serving Queen Elizabeth, it is unlikely that his services will be needed by King Charles, who is thought to have his own trusted medical team.

The image of the late Queen’s fell pony, Emma, and her two Pembroke Welsh corgis, Muick and Sandy, waiting for her funeral cortege to pass by at Windsor Castle provided one of the most tear-jerking moments of her funeral.The late Queen was known for her love of animals, and to see her four-legged friends standing so respectfully on the day of her funeral was incredibly poignant. “It was wonderful to see the corgis – these legendary little creatures – there because they were so synonymous with the Queen,” says royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “She was identified with dogs and had she not been Queen, she’d have loved to be a lady living in the country surrounded by dogs and horses.” But what has become of Queen Elizabeth’s pets and her other animals? After the death of her former mother-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, adopted Sandy and Muick (pronounced Mick).The duchess clearly takes her responsibilities very seriously, having revealed that she consulted a “dog whisperer” to learn how to best care for the grieving corgis.

Whenever a loved one passes away, "firsts" – such as birthdays, Christmas and other significant anniversaries – take on an acute resonance, triggering a multitude of emotions as thoughts turn to that friend or family member who’s no longer there. In the initial 12 months following Queen Elizabeth’s death, it’s certain her family will have found many of those occasions hard to navigate.

As the anniversary of her death approaches, royal expert Hugo Vickers says the late Queen Elizabeth II wanted to prepare a young Prince William for his role as future King and, over time, formed a close relationship with her grandson. "I think the Queen prepared him a lot," he exclusively told OK! .

For the late Queen, one of the greatest pleasures in life was spending quality time with her extended family. From carefree summers at Balmoral to festive get-togethers at Sandringham, she was never happier than when surrounded by her adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

When his grandmother died last September, Prince Harry’s relationship with the rest of the royal family could be described as fractious at best.That explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021, plus fears surrounding what other bombs might be detonated in his and his wife’s Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, had shaken the Firm’s foundations.Then, less than a month before the Queen’s death, came Meghan’s Spotify podcast, Archetypes, in which she detailed the toll being a working royal took on her mental health.The Sussexes’ very public attacks on the royal family came at a challenging time for the Queen, whose health had noticeably deteriorated since the loss of her husband, Prince Philip, the previous April. “So much happened while she was still alive and it must have made her last year more difficult,” says royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

Lady Anne Glenconner – a close childhood friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Princess Margaret – has opened up on King Charles' childhood, revealing he was often kept away from his monarch mother as a youngster due to his poor health. Lady Anne maintains a solid connection with the King and still sees him regularly – a friendship which has lasted decades as Charles would often stay at Holkham Hall as a boy with the Earl and Countess of Leicester.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II last year sent shockwaves across the globe. Now, as the country prepares to mark the monumental anniversary, that grief is still relatively raw.

For almost a century, Balmoral Castle held a special place in the heart of Queen Elizabeth ll. From childhood, she would spend several weeks at the grand turreted property in Royal Deeside, surrounded by close family.The Scottish Highland estate was the place where the late monarch felt happiest and most at peace and many observers felt it fitting that she died there, peacefully, last September. But for King Charles, Queen Camilla and the rest of Elizabeth ll’s family, returning to Aberdeenshire this summer is likely to have been tinged with sadness.

Almost a year has passed since the sad loss of our beloved late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. But the memories of her dedication to duty, her unflappable nature and her wicked sense of humour live on. She had many incredible achievements to her name: she was the longest-serving monarch in British history – her reign was the third longest in world history – and the first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

Meghan Markle “surprised” the Queen with a very brief response, after the late monarch offered the former actress some advice. According to royal expert Robert Jobson, who wrote the book Our King, the pair sat down for a chat, where Meghan was told that Queen Elizabeth was “so pleased Harry had at last found love” and welcomed her “warmly” to the family.The Queen suggested that the 42 year old go to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh for advice, but was reportedly stunned when Meghan told her: “I’ve got Harry.” Friend of the Royals and author, Gyles Brandreth, explained in his book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait: "The Queen (who, of course, had seen it all before) understood that Harry's girl might find adjusting to Royal life 'challenging to begin with' (as she put it).

Prince Harry told how the Queen gave him a ‘cryptic’ nine-word response when he asked her if he could marry Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex, 38, described how he was left confused by the late monarch’s reply when he sought her approval before popping the question to his now-wife, 42.

When naming a new royal baby, there are certain traditions that the Royal Family like to stick to. More recently babies born into the family have been given far less formal names, however, they are still in keeping with royal heritage. Nine of the late Queen's descendants are named in her honour, even if they don't share her first name.

As students around the country anxiously open their A-level results today, it may serve as some comfort to know that just like them, even members of the royal family have suffered with the same nail biting nerves before opening the all important envelope. From King Charles to Kate Middleton and even the most recent royal to sit her exams last year, Lady Louise Windsor, there has been no shortage of variety in grades either, with some of the senior royals performing better than others.

Kate Middleton reportedly faced a ‘cutting comment’ from her grandmother-in-law, the late Queen, over her choice of renovation. The Prince and Princess of Wales were gifted the luxury Anmer Hall country retreat on the Sandringham estate as a wedding present from Her Majesty.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag England players will face Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff tonight before head coach Steve Borthwick selects his 33-man squad for the tournament. One player in particular, 36 year old Danny Care, is expected to be one of three scrum-halves picked by the England coach.

Meghan Markle ’s name was altered on her son Archie’s birth certificate, in an unusual move reportedly "dictated by the Palace". The raven-haired beauty and one time actress, 41, gave birth to her first child, Archie, with Prince Harry on 6 May, 2019.

Since first stepping into the public eye as the bright eyed girlfriend of Prince William back in 2001, Kate Middleton has continually delighted fans with her impeccable dress sense and timeless style. From polished hemlines to demure shoes, stunning gowns to tailored suits, Kate has continually set a high bar in the fashion world.

This year's Trooping the Colour is one for the history books, with King Charles III celebrating his first official birthday as the monarch. While the King will celebrate his 75th birthday on November 14, the monarch's official birthday is a centuries-old tradition to celebrate with the public in the summer during the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

When Sandro Farmhouse first barrelled onto our screens last year on the Great British Bake Off, he swiftly captured the hearts of the nation with his cheeky charm and masterful bakes. From show-stopping cakes to mouth watering biscuits, Sandro amazed the judges and viewers week after week with his intricate culinary masterpieces.

Kate Middleton once again showcased her timeless sense of style as she dazzled guests while attending a royal wedding reception in Amman, Jordan. The Princess of Wales, accompanied by her husband Prince William, attended a lavish reception on Thursday following the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein and Saudi Arabian architect Rajwa Al Saif.To mark the special occasion, Kate sported a stunning but modest floor length gown complete with long sleeves and covered in row upon row of bronze sequins.The gown was designed by Jenny Packham, and is the “Georgia” model that Kate has previously sported in the past in another colour way - emerald green while attending the Royal Variety Awards in London.