King Charles led the nation in VE Day celebrations this week (Image: Getty)
Actions spoke louder than words last week. While the King – who is powerless to respond to his son’s public outbursts – released no official response to Prince Harry, he didn’t need to. He simply got on with the job his youngest son claims he and William are “trapped in”.
The 76-year-old monarch spent the week leading the country as it marked 80 years since VE day, hosting a tea
party at the Palace, attending a service at Westminster Abbey and standing to salute the hundreds of members of the Armed Forces on parade through central London. The King made sure the focus was firmly on the surviving veterans rather than any family drama. Elsewhere this week, Charles unveiled new official portraits, attended the premiere of Sir David Attenborough’s new film and hosted the first garden party of the season.
All in all, just under a dozen official engagements, not including his official audiences and stately duties behind the scenes. The Royal Family rallied behind the King, putting on a united front to mark a moment of national jubilation.
Read more: King Charles leaves fans in tears at emotional moment before VE Day speech
The Royal Family led the nation in remembering the wartime generation (Image: Getty Images)
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Images of the family as one couldn’t have come at a better time, just days after Harry hurled fresh attacks at the Firm while insisting that all he wants is “reconciliation”.
The Duke has forgiven them, he says, but while he continues to open old wounds, few behind Palace walls are
willing to forgive. Harry continues to do the one thing that the royals won’t stand for – and that is public commentary on family matters.
His rather callous throw-away comment about the King’s health – “I don’t know how long he has left” – is the one that horrified the family the most.
How dare he drop that into an already inflammatory interview? If Harry really is intent on making amends with his ill father and the wider family, he needs to prove he can be trusted.
No more interviews, no more leaked comments to favoured publications and no more nonsense. Keeping a low profile and an apology might be a good place to start, rather than sitting down and pouring your heart out on national television.
Prince George attended a tea party for veterans (Image: Getty Images)
Prince George steps up
One of the most important roles of the Royal Family is to provide a sense of stability and continuity for the country. While politicians may come and go, the sovereign remains constant for the duration of their lives.
That’s why it was so important to see Prince George joining his parents when they met war veterans at a tea party to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The special moment, when the 11-year-old spoke to some of the last surviving veterans, marked a new phase in his royal future.
He no longer looked like a child, but a king in waiting, as he attended the official engagement alongside his grandfather, the King, and his father, the heir.
As third in line to the throne, George’s future is all but certain. And his decision to go to the tea party shows he is aware of his fate.
David Attenborough and King Charles III attend the “Ocean With David Attenborough’ (Image: Getty Images for National Geogra)
Two stars together
I’ll admit I don’t always get excited when my rota place falls during an evening engagement, which means my working day extends way past my usual 9pm bedtime.
But when the premiere of Sir David Attenborough’s new film fell to me I was more than happy to cancel my evening plans.
No one quite says national treasure like the nature man himself. His passion and drive to protect the planet is just as strong aged 99 as it was when he was an enthusiastic young broadcaster starting to travel the world.
And watching him interact with the King was a special moment. Two important people in their own right, coming together for a cause they both feel passionately about.
Queen Elizabeth should be remembered with a statue (Image: PA)
Queen Elizabeth remembered
Surely there’s only one way to mark the indomitable spirit of our longest-serving and globally respected monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – and that’s not by a bridge.
This week the five shortlisted designs to create a memorial in St James’s
Park to celebrate the late monarch’s extraordinary life of service were released. Several of the designs’ focal points are bridges, while one is an impressive lily pad design – the others look distinctly underwhelming.
For me, the only way to celebrate the late Queen is to have a statue that people can visit, admire and reflect upon. And I’m not sure a wooden structure or walkway quite fits the bill.
I brought my mum to the VE Day Concert (Image: Express)
Party hard
After my brother got invited to No.10 to meet Rishi Sunak last year, my mum hasn’t stopped reminding me that she felt ‘snubbed’ that she didn’t get to go. (But as Rob pointed out, he was the first to respond to the message in the family WhatsApp – so you snooze you lose, right?).
So when I was offered a “plus-one” to Thursday night’s VE Day 80 concert at Horse Guards Parade, my mum was the first person on the list.
And we had a great time! Wearing red, white and blue, we danced and sang along as the stars took to the stage. It was an unforgettable evening and moments like that remind me how grateful I am to be in this job.