Carlos III and Camila spark controversy with their support for Ramadan
King Charles III of England and Queen Camilla have sparked a new controversy after publicly showing their support for the Muslim community on the occasion of the start of Ramadan. Throughout the week, the British Royal House has shared several posts on social media in which the monarchs appear participating in symbolic acts of this religious festival. However, this gesture has provoked a wave of criticism from more conservative sectors in the United Kingdom.
A Gesture That Divides Opinions
The first act that sparked reactions was a video in which Charles III and Camilla appear packing dates, a key food in breaking the Muslim fast at sunset. “Traditionally, they are eaten as the first food to break the fast at sunset,” said the message joining the post on X (formerly Twitter). Additionally, the Royal House explained that the dates prepared by the monarchs would be sent to local hospitals for Iftar, the dinner with which Muslims end their daily fast.
That same day, the royals participated in a talk with Muslim women, including rugby player Zainab Alema and writer Hajera Memon. They also had a conversation with Syrian chef Alarnab at his restaurant Imad’s Syrian Kitchen. Later, they posted a message on social media expressing their best wishes to those celebrating Ramadan in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.
Criticism for the Loss of Identity
Although these gestures aimed to show support and unity, the reaction from some sectors was one of total rejection. Users on social media expressed their disagreement with the monarch: “For me, it all ended when the Queen died, she was a true force for the good of our nation.” Other comments pointed out that “the only religion that should be celebrated and wished well for any culture is the Christian faith.”
Some voices even took their criticism further, suggesting that the United Kingdom might be straying from its traditions. “Soon, he will be the caliph of the caliphate of the United Kingdom, with Westminster Abbey turned into a mosque,” commented a user. This type of message reflects the sensitivity of the religious issue in a country where the Anglican Church has historically been an essential pillar.
A Reign Marked by Controversy
Charles III and Camilla are no strangers to controversy. Since their ascent to the throne, they have made decisions that have caused division among the British, from their stance on environmental issues to their relationship with the Royal Family. Now, with this gesture toward the Muslim community, they are once again in the spotlight.
While some applaud their attempt to promote inclusion and tolerance, others believe they are leaving behind British traditions. This type of action demonstrates that any movement in the religious sphere remains a highly delicate issue capable of generating intense debates within the United Kingdom.
Prince William’s Welsh speech criticised by professor
A Cardiff University language professor says he expected Prince William to do more than “read for a few seconds from an autocue” during his St David’s Day Speech.
Dr Dylan Foster Evans, head of the School of Welsh, described Prince William’s Welsh as “halting”, meaning slow and hesitant, during an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
He had pre-recorded a social media video to mark the day Wales’s patron saint is honoured and to “celebrate Wales – its history, culture and incredible people”.
It is understood the prince has been using the language-learning app Duolingo to learn the language, but is not currently having formal lessons.
Prince William’s speech followed a trip to Wales with his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
The pair baked Welsh cakes and spoke to people in Pontypridd about how they were coping following the recent flooding.
In his message, translated to English, he said: “Hello. Today, on St David’s Day, we come together to celebrate Wales – its history, its culture, and its incredible people.
“From its breath-taking landscapes to its language, Wales continues to inspire.
“Today, we will celebrate everything that is magical about Wales.
“To the people of Wales and everybody around the world, Happy St David’s Day.”
Dr Evans said many people would have been “pleased and impressed” to hear William speaking Welsh, but added that the prince has had enough time to prepare for the role.
“It’s been known [for a long time] that he will be the Prince of Wales. Welsh does have an official status in Wales since 2011 so maybe we should expect a bit more,” he said.
The prince has previously revealed that he was using the Duolingo app to lean some conversational Welsh.
This is in contrast to his father, King Charles, who had formal lessons in the Welsh language whilst studying at Aberystwyth University.
The lessons took place ahead of his investiture as the Prince of Wales in July that year at Caernarfon Castle.
William has not had an investiture since his father announced he had created his eldest son and heir as Prince of Wales during his first televised address as monarch, the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Prince William shares delightful news after Meghan’s nod to royal title
The Prince of Wales issues major update after Meghan Markle’s Netflix show release
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Prince William made an important announcement after Meghan Markle shared her real feelings regarding the ‘Sussex’ title.
The Prince of Wales shared delightful news about his next big royal engagement which is close to his beloved wife Princess Catherine’s heart.
According to Hello! magazine, the future King will visit Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on Wednesday.
For the unversed, William and Kate, are patrons of NHS Charities Together. During his heartfelt visit, King Charles’ eldest son will examine the progress made in the hospital by the charity since the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago.
The report shared that the Prince will visit the hospital’s Health and Wellbeing Centre and Garden, a place made for the well-being of the staff.
The special area includes different types of activities including a “free gym, wellbeing classes, and a green space for relaxation.”
The father of three will also engage in a brief conversation with the staff who are using these facilities and who worked wholeheartedly during the pandemic.
Notably, William’s wife Kate Middleton was also born in the same hospital alongside her siblings Pippa and James. The place holds a special place in Catherine’s heart.
It is also important to note that the future King shared the delightful news about his visit after the Duchess of Sussex honoured her and Prince Harry’s royal title despite a years-long feud.
Prince William’s feud with Prince Harry would have Princess Diana ‘worried and concerned,’ her ex-lover claims
“Any mother would be grief-stricken over the separation we’ve seen between Harry and Wills,” said host Richard Madeley in a clip shared by UK’s Express. “Do you think she would have been able to make a rapprochement possible?”
“I think any mother would be worried and concerned about such a rift, as you put it,” said Hewitt. “And she’d do her best to try and get them together.”
Hewitt met Diana at a party in 1986 and offered to give her horseback riding lessons. They went on to have an affair that, according to reports, lasted for several years.
Princess Diana met James Hewitt in 1986, two years after Prince Harry was born. (Shutterstock)
Hewitt’s comments came shortly after former palace aide Jason Knauf spoke to “60 Minutes Australia.” Knauf made rare comments about the brothers and how their relationship broke down in recent years.
“It’s very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but [William’s] chosen to keep his thoughts on it private, and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that we should do the same,” said Knauf.
“But I will say, of course, it’s been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them.”
According to reports, Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship began to show cracks in 2016. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
It’s been widely reported that the relationship between Harry and William began to disintegrate in 2016. At the time, William reportedly expressed concerns about how fast Harry’s relationship with then-girlfriend Meghan Markle was going. Those comments reportedly didn’t sit well with Harry.
Harry married the “Suits” alum in 2018.
When asked if Harry’s role within the royal family could change when William accedes to the throne, Knauf responded, “I can’t speculate about the future. They achieved a lot together, and none of that can ever be taken away.”
Former palace aide Jason Knauf recently spoke about the “sad” rift on “60 Minutes Australia.” (Alberto Pezzali – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. They cited what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reside in California with their two young children. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Since Harry and Meghan’s royal exit, the brothers have reunited only a handful of times, People magazine reported. According to the outlet, they were last together at a memorial service for their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August but reportedly avoided each other.
Sources previously told the outlet that Harry’s calls and letters to his father, King Charles III, go unanswered. His attempts to connect with William are also ignored. Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment at the time.
Sources close to Prince Harry claimed to People magazine that the Duke of Sussex has attempted to reach out to his brother Prince William and his father King Charles III. His calls and letters reportedly go unanswered. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
In his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” Harry alleged that during an argument in 2019, William called Meghan “difficult” and “rude” and then grabbed him by the collar and knocked him down. Harry suffered cuts and bruises from landing on a dog bowl. Harry claimed Charles implored the brothers to make up.
Following the funeral of Charles’ father, Prince Philip, in 2021, the king pleaded, “Please, boys, don’t make my final years a misery.”
While promoting “Spare,” Harry admitted that his mother would be “sad” about the tension with his brother.
“I think any mother would be worried and concerned about such a rift, as you put it. And she’d do her best to try and get them together.”
Prince Harry admitted that his mother Princess Diana would be “sad” about the tension with his brother Prince William. (Mathieu Polak/Sygma/Getty Images)
“I think she would be looking at it long term to know that there are certain things we need to go through to be able to heal the relationship,” the Duke of Sussex said at the time.
For years, some have speculated that Hewitt was Harry’s biological father, not Charles. Both Harry and Hewitt share ginger hair and freckles.
But Richard Dalton, Diana’s hairdresser, told Fox News Digital in 2024 that “it’s not possible.” At the time, Dalton was promoting his memoir, “It’s All About the Hair,” which details his friendship with the princess.
“It was tough,” Dalton admitted. “Harry was already born a while before her relationship with Hewitt. And I don’t think it’s possible.”
“But no,” he stressed. “Harry and the Spencer family have red hair. Charles, Diana’s brother, had bright red hair when he was [in] college. And I used to cut his hair then. [Diana’s sister] Sarah, has bright red hair. [Diana’s other sister] Jane was more or less the same coloring as Diana.”
Several of Prince Harry’s relatives from the Spencer side have red hair, including his aunt Lady Sarah McCorquodale. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
He also shared in his book that Diana “used to get very upset” with the tabloids insisting that Hewitt was Harry’s father.
James Hewitt presents his book “Love and War” during an interview with Daphne Barak on Oct. 25, 1999, in New York City. Hewitt wrote about his time with Diana. (Evan Agostini/Liaison/Getty Images)
“The red hair was a trait from the Spencer family,” he wrote.
It’s also noted that Harry was born in 1984, two years before Diana met Hewitt.
When Diana started taking riding lessons from Hewitt, it confused Dalton, who thought to himself, “Diana didn’t like riding horses.” However, he understood that Diana was a young woman “longing to be truly loved.”
Princess Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles was plagued with problems. Their divorce was finalized in 1996. (Reuters)
“I knew nothing about their affair and was not involved with any of the rendezvous, other than maybe unwittingly doing Diana’s hair each day,” Dalton wrote. “She was certainly giddy at times when she talked about him because it was all new to her; however, we need to remember the context in which this all took place.”
“Diana was starved of affection and intimacy from her husband, the man she loved,” he wrote. “She was also an heir-making machine for Charles and was coming to terms with the betrayal within her marriage.”
“It saddened me to see James Hewitt, by virtue of his tell-all book, clearly signal that this relationship was a conquest and not a matter of love at all. He got her at her most vulnerable and, for her, he was just the first man who rolled along – a twist of fate, time and place. If it had not been him, it would have been someone else.”
Princess Diana, seen here with a young Prince Harry in 1994, passed away in 1997. She was 36. (Coventry Telegraph Archive/Getty Images)
“He was certainly not the love of her life at the time, Charles was – there is no question in this matter at all,” Dalton added.
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