Kate Middleton’s decision to cancel an appearance in the Royal Ascot carriage procession, citing “slightly vague” reasons of “balance,” has highlighted simmering tensions with King Charles over their differing priorities, The Daily Beast can reveal.
One friend of Prince William and Kate insisted the couple were right to prioritize Kate’s health, and said that if she was feeling unwell it was absurd to expect her to be paraded in front of the public on a boiling hot summer day, with little shade or air conditioning. They added: “Catherine and her children all enthusiastically attended Trooping the Colour on Saturday, and Catherine was also on duty in Windsor on Monday for the Order of the Garter ceremony.”
However, another source said that the late queen, who adored horse racing and considered attending the Ascot races one of the few truly fun public engagements she was obliged to carry out, would have been affronted that someone who had accepted the “great honor of a coveted place in the carriage procession” could fail to show up at the last minute.
Another source pointed out that Kate and William are simply not very interested in horse racing, and there is a suspicion in some quarters that had Wednesday’s event been something she really loved, such as Wimbledon, she might have turned up.
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Her office has not given a specific reason for her decision not to go to Ascot. It has not, for example, fallen back on the trusty excuse of a severe cold, instead briefing media that Kate was “disappointed” not to go but wanted to find the right “balance” in her return to full-time royal duties.
Asked how Charles would have seen Kate’s last-minute cancellation, a friend of the king said: “Charles is a very thoughtful and considerate man. He is going through cancer himself so he will be entirely understanding. He knows all about good days and bad days, physically and mentally.”
Asked whether the incident highlighted a difference between how William and Kate and Charles and Camilla approach their jobs, the source said, “Charles has been very insistent that the show must go on, come hell or high water. Kate and William tackle their public duties differently, which is their privilege, for now. Charles has been very clear that he supports their decisions.”
However, another source, a former royal staffer, was more skeptical about the circumstances of Kate’s no-show Wednesday, telling the Daily Beast: “There is a perception in some quarters that Kate just doesn’t like racing and so didn’t make the effort. That is probably not fair, but you have to wonder if she would have missed Wimbledon, which she adores.
“I am sure she was genuinely unable to come, yet the last-minute nature of the way it was announced makes the king look disrespected. Would she have dared miss Ascot at a moment’s notice when the queen was alive? Her late Majesty would have been not best pleased to have the great honor of a coveted place in the carriage procession rejected an hour before kickoff on slightly vague grounds.
“Clearly, Kate wasn’t feeling up to it, but there is no denying that the whole affair was badly handled. You can’t blame their office as they are the last to know, William and Kate make their own decisions on their own time, which is another source of frustration to everyone else trying to steer the tanker. They pulled the plug at the last minute.
“It’s interesting that briefing is now coming out of the palace saying that the racecourse made a bureaucratic error by publishing the carriage list with her in it, but that doesn’t change the fact that her team didn’t announce she wasn’t coming until late in the day.”
Kate’s no-show clearly caught everyone by surprise, including close friends who had been invited to join them in the royal box, including Thomas van Straubenzee, a godfather to their daughter, Princess Charlotte, Eton friend James Meade, and amateur jockey and businessman Sam Waley-Cohen.
William looked markedly somber on arrival but cheered up later in the day when he was photographed having a drink with his pals.
Kensington Palace did not respond to a request for comment.
King Charles’ Cancer Is Incurable, Bombshell Report Suggests
King Charles’ will die “with” but not “of” cancer, a bombshell report claimed Saturday.
The report essentially confirms long-standing rumors that the king’s cancer is considered manageable but ultimately incurable, which is the case for many older individuals afflicted by the disease.
Charles is 76.
The report will be unwelcome in the palace, as it will reignite speculation that the king’s health is in a delicate state, rumors that were rekindled when Prince Harry said in a recent BBC interview that he didn’t know how long his father had left to live.
Charles’ aides have consistently briefed reporters that he is, broadly speaking, winning his battle against cancer, and the king himself recently said he was on “the other side” of the health crisis.
The king is back to essentially running a full diary after being diagnosed with cancer last year, albeit with some modifications.
The report, by the respected royal writer and associate editor of the U.K. Daily Telegraph, Camilla Tominey, also claimed that Charles will never move into Buckingham Palace due to his health struggles.
“The talk now is that he may die ‘with’ cancer, but not ‘of’ cancer following a rigorous treatment program,” she wrote.
A spokesperson for the king declined to comment.
Tominey, who was the first to break the news about Prince Harry and Meghan dating and also about the latter’s row with Kate Middleton, added that planning for Charles’ 80th birthday in 2028, while “very tentative,” is going ahead.
Tominey also claimed that Charles and Harry could be publicly reunited at the Invictus Games, in Birmingham in 2027, with palace aides quietly investigating whether the event could provide a suitable backdrop for a long-awaited reconciliation.
It is understood officials hope any reconciliation would include Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The king last saw the children in 2022. Harry has said he can’t bring his family safely to the U.K. and hinted some powerful palace figures want him dead.
Intriguingly, Tominey suggests that a reconciliation might be considered because of the negative impact the narrative of estrangement is having on the king’s reputation.
She writes: “There is an awareness that the impasse cannot continue forever, not least if it starts to reflect badly on the king.”
Prince Harry said, in a bitter interview with the BBC following a comprehensive legal defeat on his security arrangements, that he does not know how long his cancer-hit father has left to live because the king won’t speak to him.
Harry also said he won’t bring his family to the U.K., blamed his father for his security being reduced after leaving the royal family, and said he had “forgiven” those family members who had hurt him.
He added, “Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book but I would love reconciliation with my family.”
The prince continued, “There is a lot of control and ability in my father’s hands. Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him.”
Appearing emotional, Harry said, “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. As I said, life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”
King Charles Humiliates Trump During Speech Defending Canada
The monarch used the rare speaking opportunity to declare the nation “strong and free” despite America’s encroachment.
King Charles III threw shade at President Donald Trump during a historic Tuesday speech in Ottawa, vowing that Canada would remain “strong and free.”
The king, who was there to welcome a new parliament, took advantage of the rare opportunity—only the third time a monarch has delivered the speech—to reinforce Canada’s sovereignty.
“Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear and ones which the government is determined to protect,” he said in the speech written by the Canadian government.
Charles, 76, said that his country “faces another critical moment” in its long history in defending democracy and remaining a force of peace in the world.
Even amid Trump’s trade war against Canada and his wish for the country to become America’s 51st state, Charles said there was no reason for alarm.
“We will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive the ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever,” he said.
Charles recognized that many Canadians feel anxious and uneasy in today’s “fast-evolving world,” but he promised that “Canada is ready to lead.”
“A confident Canada,” Charles said, “can recognize that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.”
The king pushed for Canada to connect with countries that “believe in international co-operation” and the “free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas.”
Charles’ reminder comes as Trump grapples for a throne of his own. In February, he posted an AI-generated illustration of himself in a crown with the caption: “LONG LIVE THE KING!”
Trump has talked about stripping Canada of its independence since taking office in January. He’s also placed tariffs on Canadian products that have rocked the country’s economy and exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis.
Charles’ visit to Ottawa marked a monarch’s first throne speech to Canada’s Parliament since 1977, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II did the same to mark the 25th anniversary of her reign. The king dedicated part of his speech to outline the priorities of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government.
Carney has suggested that the relationship between the U.S. and Canada is of paramount importance.
“The prime minister and the president of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S., rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations,” Charles said.
Charles is the head of the Commonwealth, which is a group of 56 independent countries (and 2.5 billion people). He is the head of state for 15 of these “Commonwealth realms,” which include the United Kingdom. The others are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
Charles’ main powers as head of state are to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers, give royal approval to laws passed by parliament, and open new sessions of parliament, which he did in Canada Tuesday.
He arrived to the Senate in a horse-drawn carriage, escorted by 28 riders from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Upon arriving, he inspected an honor guard, all donning red uniforms.
The king wore the Order of Canada around his neck—a six-pointed star-shaped award with a red maple leaf at the center—as he expressed gratitude for “the country that Canadians and I love so much.”
“Every time I come to Canada… a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream–and from there, straight to my heart,” he added as his wife Queen Camilla sat loyally by his side.
Trump has said he will use “economic force” to merge the U.S. with Canada, igniting a wave of Canadian nationalism across the country. His assaults are the biggest threat to Canadian sovereignty since 1812, when the U.S. launched ten land incursions into Canada before both countries signed a peace treaty in 1815.
In the early 19th-century war, American armies repeatedly invaded Canada but ultimately failed miserably. Despite ambitious plans for U.S. expansion, their attempts to conquer Canada were quickly squashed by the British Army and Navy.
Charles ended his speech by referring to the Canadian national anthem, as the Senate erupted in applause.
“The True North is indeed strong and free,” he said.
King Charles Hits Back at Harry by Cozying Up to David Beckham
The importance of another endorsement for the Beckhams from the Windsors won’t be lost on Harry and Meghan.
The royal family knows that a well-crafted picture speaks volumes.
King Charles’ invitation for David Beckham to appear alongside him at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday is a very clear rebuff to his son, coming just days after reports that Meghan and Harry had sought to build ties with Beckham’s son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, the daughter of billionaire MAGA investor Nelson Peltz.
Brooklyn Beckham, like Harry, has fallen out with his birth family (English-born soccer player David and his wife Victoria, the designer formerly known as Posh Spice) in a highly publicized feud.
Sources have said that Brooklyn believes he is suffering from “generational trauma” in language that will be familiar to those who have followed Harry and Meghan’s very public argument with the Windsors.
The parallels between the Beckham and Sussex family feud don’t stop there: Meghan and Nicola have been blamed in some quarters for having turned once-favored sons against their families.
It emerged last week that Brooklyn and Nicola had dinner with Harry and Meghan recently, and are said to be offering their support to the couple.
Well, it now appears David has some support of his own: the king and queen.
Beckham was warmly greeted by Charles and Camilla on the opening day of the high-profile Chelsea Flower Show in London, and the king asked if Beckham had received a 50th birthday gift of a rose bush that he and his wife sent him.
“You got it, didn’t you?” Charles asked, according to the Daily Mail.
Beckham replied: “It was incredible! Thank you, it was very kind.”
Last week, as the rumors gathered pace about a Brooklyn/Harry team up, Kate Middleton stepped out in a chic Victoria Beckham dress, clearly showing which side she is on.
Beckham and Harry once shared a strong friendship; Beckham was seen as a good influence on Harry in his wilder days and they had several nights out, with William, in happier days. However, their relationship reportedly soured when Harry and Meghan accused David and Victoria Beckham of leaking stories about them to the media. The Beckhams strongly denied these accusations.
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King Charles net worth: How does the royal family earn its money?
(NewsNation) — The royal family is one of the wealthiest in the world, with many fascinated by their net worth and where their wealth comes from.
Here’s how much money the royal family has (and how they make it):
Yearly salary of the royal family
The royal family’s salary increased in 2025 with money from the U.K. Treasury, which was taxpayer-funded. In April, the Sovereign Grant fund was reportedly increased by over $58 million, which brought the family’s income to nearly $172 million.
The Sovereign Grant is mainly used for the required day-to-day expenses of the royal family, like staff salaries, maintaining their properties and travel expenses. The palace claims that much of the money from the fund will be put towards Buckingham Palace renovations, which should be completed in 2027.
How does King Charles, the rest of the royal family make money?
Most of the money the royal family has comes from inheritance, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall. A “duchy” is a country, domain, estate or territory that is ruled by a duke or a duchess. In the case of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall, much of their contents are estates of land, or fiefs.
The Duchy of Lancaster is solely for King Charles and is made up of over 45,000 acres of land and commercial real estate. It is valued at around $840 million.
The Duchy of Cornwall is managed by the heir, Prince William. The fund (worth about $1.3 billion) is reinvested into surrounding communities.
Before stepping back as working royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had reportedly received 95% of their income from the Duchy of Cornwall, with the other 5% coming from the Sovereign Grant. Both the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall are exempt from paying capital gains tax.
King Charles’ net worth
As reported by The Sunday Times, King Charles’ net worth is expected to be a little over $860 million. This is almost double that of Queen Elizabeth, who had a net worth of around $442 million.
A lot of his worth comes from the 53 years he spent as the manager of the Duchy of Cornwall. According to The Guardian, its income totaled nearly $790 million from 1952 to 2022. Before King Charles became the monarch, he reportedly received a salary of $16.5 million during the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year.
Now, most of his money comes from the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1996, he reportedly had to give a huge chunk of money ($22.5 million to be exact) to Princess Diana following their divorce.
Prince William’s salary
The 2024 Integrated Annual Report for the Duchy of Cornwall showed that William’s private income was around $30 million. After Queen Elizabeth died, the Prince of Wales became the manager of the Duchy of Cornwall since he is now heir to the throne.
The duchy has over 128,000 acres of land across the southern part of England, including protected woodland, coastlines and commercial property assets and farms. The Duchy of Cornwall gives William access to its revenue, which is used to fund charitable, public and private events for him and his immediate family.
How much is the royal family worth?
Forbes reported in 2021 that the overall net worth of the family is over $28 billion. A lot of this wealth is in the family’s properties, with $20 billion being managed by the Crown Estate, which is the statutory corporation for the family.
According to the Crown Estate’s website, it generated over $1.4 billion for “public finances” in 2024. Dan Labbad, CEO, said that same year, “Today’s record results are the product of years of commitment and investment into helping create the U.K.’s world-leading offshore wind sector, as well as the active management of our diverse and resilient portfolio.”
“Our track record and remit are also enabling us to invest and lay the foundations for future value creation that will benefit the country and its finances,” he finished.
The Crown Jewels
The royal family also has many heirlooms, which are known as the Crown Jewels. The collection dates back to the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. It includes:
- Imperial State Crown (worn by Queen Elizabeth during her 1953 Coronation)
- Cartier Halo tiara (worn by Kate Middleton on her wedding)
- Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring
The Crown Jewels also include the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was received in 1849 by the East India Trading Company. It has long been a debate on whether it was given to or stolen for Queen Victoria. It weighs 105.6 carats.
Most of Prince Harry and William’s net worth comes from the nearly $10 million lump sum payments they each received after their mother, Princess Diana, died. Forbes claimed that they both started receiving annual dividends of around $470,000 once they turned 25 years old.
Queen Camilla has a net worth of $4.6 million, according to Express.
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