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By Tamara Prenn For Mailonline

Published: 09:38 EDT, 21 September 2023 | Updated: 09:38 EDT, 21 September 2023

Prince William met with Prince Albert of Monaco and former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in New York today as the pair joined forces at the Earthshot Summit.

The Prince of Wales, 41, opted for a classic suit and skinny tie as he met with his fellow royal to learn how various world leaders are tackling environmental issues.

He then headed on stage to announce the Earthshot winners and  revealed he started his day by going for a run in Central Park, while also that the pandemic and the Queen’s death delayed him heading to the Big Apples sooner.

‘I decided to join the hordes of New Yorkers doing their morning routine in Central Park,’ he said.

‘It was wonderful waking up in Central Park on a Sunday morning, rather than the rain we had yesterday,’ he went on.

‘It was beautiful getting some fresh air, and it’s been wonderful getting back.

‘I think 2014 was the last time I was here in New York, I’ve been trying to come back but with Covid and my grandmother passing away last year has meant I’ve not been able to come.’ 

 After annoucning the winners of the Earthshot prize, he to a fire station to meet with first responders.

William was without his wife, Princess Kate – who today visited a youth centre in east London – while Albert’s wife, Princess Charlene, also stayed home.

The future king is visit New York to attend meetings and events linked to the Earthshot Prize and learn how New York is tackling environmental issues, visit first responders and meet with leaders at the United Nations.   

Albert also has his own charity to tackle climate change. 

The Prince of Wales began his two-day US visit in dramatic style, crossing the Hudson River with the Manhattan skyline in the background. 

William arrived from the UK on a commercial flight and travelled straight to Governors Island to meet students, volunteers and restaurateurs involved in the Billion Oyster Project, a unique initiative to restore oyster beds in New York harbour.

He stood in the bow of the boat with Pete Malinowski, co-founder and executive director of the Billion Oyster Project, as it travelled to the outcrop at the centre of the operation.

Manhattan’s skyline was clearly visible despite the persistent rain which had ended a mini September heatwave in the Big Apple, with the top floors of the highest skyscrapers shrouded in mist.

During his visit William will promote his Earthshot Prize which aims to celebrate and scale up solutions to ‘repair’ the planet, and announce the 2023 finalists.

Later he will sit down for talks with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres as the 78th session of the UN General Assembly begins.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘The prince is very much looking forward to seeing the secretary general and they are expected to speak about climate change and the environment as well as the innovative solutions that the Earthshot Prize is cultivating around the world.’

The first stop for William will be the hatchery centre for the fledgling oysters, and he will tour a group of tanks where the next generation is being nurtured.

He will also meet a group of high school students who are volunteering and learning about the project to restock the oyster population, with larvae relocated to a nursery made from discarded and cleaned oyster shells from 75 New York seafood restaurants.

The shells are housed in metal cages in the East River and it is hoped the molluscs, which cannot be eaten because of water pollution, will form oyster reefs providing three important benefits – filtration, new habitat and protection against storms.

Earlier today, William praised Ecuador for the ‘crucial’ work the nation is doing in the battle against climate change as he met President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza ahead of unveiling this year’s Earthshot Prize finalists on his solo trip to New York.

The Prince of Wales confidently strode into the bilateral meeting, beaming as he walked past an Andy Warhol print of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The heir to the throne was pictured shaking hands with President Lasso before they sat down together at the the British Consul General’s official residence at 50 UN Plaza overlooking the UN building and with panoramic views of the Hudson River.

His engagements in the US coincide with Climate Week in New York and the 78th UN General Assembly where nearly 200 countries are meeting. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is among those in attendance.

Although Prince William will not address the assembly, he met UN chief Antonio Guterres in New York on Monday and discussed ‘efforts required to accelerate the fight against climate change and protect the environment’.

Today, he will also host business leaders, climate activists and policymakers, with those present including UN Special Climate Envoy Michael Bloomberg, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. 

President Lasso told William the environment had always been important to his country. 

Ecuadorians voted in a recent referendum to ban oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, located within the Amazon rainforest, and one of the most biodiverse places in the world.

The country is also pursuing other measures to promote sustainability from protecting its waters to mobilising green finance.

William, speaking in the shadow of the print of his late grandmother, said: ‘It’s amazing. This is really important it is historic what you are doing.’

The prince also remarked on yesterday’s weather saying it was ‘pouring down’ when he arrived on Monday. With blue cloudless skies above Manhattan, William said: ‘We could have done with this weather.’

He went on to praise Ecuador for the ‘fantastic work’ it has done for environment. Although he admitted it takes a ‘business brain’ to understand the finances.

William, who flew commercial and was travelling without the Princess of Wales, went straight from the airport to Governor’s island, which sits in New York Harbour, yesterday. 

With William away on business, Princess Kate continued with her own engagements as she was this morning pictured visiting a charity back home in east London.

The Prince of Wales is in New York to announce the 15 finalists of this year’s Earthshot Prize, which awards companies and projects focusing on climate solutions.

He helped found the awards in 2020 and each year five winners get £1million towards their project. 

Upon arrival to the US, William said: ‘It’s so good to be back in United States. No one does optimism and ingenuity like the American people, so it’s only right we unveil this year’s Earthshot finalists in New York City.

‘Eighty years ago, the world came together in this great city to find a new way, through the UN, to solve our shared challenges.

‘I know our generation can take the bold action we need to make changes towards a healthy and sustainable world. The challenge may feel huge, but as John F Kennedy taught us, we rise to the challenge not because it is easy, but because it is hard. And vital’.

Before the main event, William yesterday met with UN chief Antonio Guterres. The Prince of Wales and the UN Secretary-General appeared in high spirits as they toured the 93-member world body where world leaders have gathered for their annual summit.

On Governor’s Island, William met schoolchildren who are studying marine biology and spoke with employees of the Billion Oyster Project.

He was due to see the giant pile of oyster shells that are donated by 75 restaurants in New York rather than being sent to landfill sites.

And afterwards – despite the grey skies and rain – he got waist deep in the East River from a small beach and put some oysters into the water.

He then changed into a suit for a trip to the UN ahead of a ‘no nonsense’ climate summit being hosted by Guterres on Wednesday.

After their meeting, a UN spokesperson said the pair also ‘discussed efforts to enhance implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as financing for development’. 

Leaders are also meeting at the United Nations on Monday and Tuesday on the Sustainable Development Goals, a 2015 ‘to-do’ list that includes wiping out hunger and extreme poverty, battling climate change and achieving gender equality.

Guterres warned that the goals ‘need a global rescue plan.’

Despite being in America, there appears to be no plans for William to see his estranged brother – just days after Prince Harry‘s Invictus Games came to a close in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Prince left the Princess of Wales at home with the children as he travelled to the US – with Kate also not expected to join him for the Earthshot Awards ceremony in Singapore in November. 

William was in Boston last year to announce the winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize.

The Prince of founded the awards three years ago, saying he wanted to turn ‘current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by celebrating the people and places driving change’. 

Every year between 2021 and 2030, an awards ceremony will honour winners in the prize’s five categories who are creating innovations which tackle environmental issues. Each winner is given £1million to support and scale their work. 

But this is William’s first visit to New York since 2014 and was postponed from last year due to the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Ahead of William’s arrival, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘The prince was incredibly appreciative for the love and support shown by the American people during that time.

‘He is very much looking forward to being back in New York this week and hopefully meeting as many New Yorkers as possible’

On the trip William is scheduled to visit a fire station in Manhattan and meet with first responders and talk about mental health – his trip is just a week after the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

A meeting with US President Joe Biden, who is attending, is ‘unlikely’, the Kensington Palace spokesman said – the two men met last year in Boston.

It comes just days after his brother, Prince Harry, told veterans they ‘should not feel lost without a uniform’ during an emotional closing speech at the Invictus Games – three years after he was stripped of his military titles in the wake of Megxit. 

The Duke of Sussex was visibly emotional in a heartfelt speech last at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games.

The 39-year-old said during his five-minute closing speech that they ‘don’t need to rely on a uniform’ nor should they ‘feel lost without one’. 

Prince Harry himself has not worn a uniform since he and Meghan moved away from the UK in 2020 and he was stripped off his military titles. 

At the Queen’s funeral last year, Harry was pictured wearing a suit while his father King Charles and his older brother Prince William were wearing their uniforms.

At the Invictus Games, Harry added in his speech on why veterans don’t need rely on their uniforms: ‘Why? Because everything you need is already within you. Tomorrow you will each walk away with memories that are different and unique to you.

‘But my hope is that every memory made, brings a smile to your face through a sense of belonging and an opportunity for you and your family to look forward with price and purpose. ‘

Harry also said to the competitors how their ‘vulnerability’ had ‘opened the hearts’ of millions of people all over the world.

Meghan Markle stood alongside her husband in the crowd in a glowing green dress. During the ceremony she couldn’t hide her pride as she beamed at Team USA when they took their place for the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games. 

Prince Albert of Monaco enlisted his eight-year-old twins to help clean up the streets of the city this weekend, while their mother Princess Charlene enjoys time with family in her native South Africa.

The Prince, 65, stepped out with Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, for a World Cleanup Day litter picking event which had been organised by the principality.

In photos posted on the Monaco Palace’s official Instagram account, the family get stuck into the task at hand, with Prince Albert appearing in a red polo neck shirt emblazoned with the Monegasque flag.

Meanwhile the twins, who recently started a new school year, looked adorable in matching blue outfits – with Gabriella sporting a denim jumpsuit while her brother was dressed in a blue polo shirt and shorts. The trio each donned a cool white baseball cap.

The family outing comes as Princess Charlene, 45, enjoys some time with her relatives in her native South Africa after putting to bed rumours that her marriage to Prince Albert was on the rocks.

The mother-of-two flew to Cape Town last week, in her first visit to her home nation since her bout of ill-health two years ago. 

Yesterday, the Palace shared snaps of Charlene carrying out solo engagements in South Africa, where she officially opened a Waterbike Challenge race that was being held in Sun City.

In the series of photos, the mother-of-two, dressed in a loose-fitted black shirt and white trousers as she presented the winning team, the ‘Bumble Bees’, with their first place trophy.

Glowing in the sunshine, the Princess beamed as she handed out the accolade. 

In 2021, the Princess last went back to South Africa to visit family but did not return to Monaco for 10 months. According to the palace, a sinus infection prevented her from being able to fly.

By March 2022, the Palace announced she had returned home to Monaco and was reunited with her family, but she was still in need of medical attention before she would make a full recovery. She then went to a clinic in Switzerland for further treatment.

After receiving treatment and returning to royal life, Charlene’s relationship with her husband of 12 years was put under intense scrutiny as rumours of a rift between the royal couple began to circulate.

Earlier this year, French publication ROYAUTÉ reported the couple were on the brink of divorce – rumours the Palace was forced to deny.

The rumour mill went into overdrive that same month when the mother-of-two was spotted out and about in Milan on a solo visit, without her wedding or engagement ring. 

A spokesman for the royal couple issued a statement asking people to dismiss the reports, saying: ‘I would like to formally deny the malicious rumours peddled by the French magazine Royauté. Please disregard this article which is totally unfounded.’

In the months that followed, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene put on a united front and appeared together at several public outings, both with and without their children.

However, just last month, reports emerged in German and French media that Princess Charlene was actually ‘living in Switzerland’, only saw her husband ‘via appointment’ and that their marriage was ‘ceremonial’.

A source close to the couple told French newspaper Voici that the former Olympic swimmer and son of Grace Kelly are just a ‘ceremonial couple’. 

It added that Charlene has promised to return to Monaco on official occasions and is now allowed to see her children more often.

‘Albert and Charlène are now good partners, take turns taking care of the children,’ a source added to Bild German newspaper.

With rumours swirling once again, the couple put on a united front and appeared at almost a dozen engagements in as many days last week – with each of the pair raking part in interviews to deny the rumours.

In her first interview for several months in the Monegasque media, the former Olympic swimmer, 45, hit back at the rumours of tension between the royal couple and insisted she is ‘serene and happy’.

She told Monaco Matin she is in ‘great shape’ and hopes to continue sport soon after regaining ‘more energy and feeling stronger’.

After a three-week family holiday to Corsica to ‘unwind’ before the start of school term, Charlene said she feels ‘serene and happy’.

The royal no longer wants to address the unfavourable rumours in the hope that they will eventually disappear.

Instead, she spoke to the publication in light of her eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, returning to school.

She suggested a united front and shared parenting goals with Albert when it comes to taking care of their children, revealing: ‘The first thing that seemed essential to me and my husband was to teach them to swim.’

Meanwhile Prince Albert told an Italian publication: ‘Charlène is always by my side. I don’t understand all these rumours which hurt me, about the fact that she lives elsewhere, in Switzerland, meetings by appointment to see us. These are lies.’ 

The schism between Prince Harry and the rest of the Royal Family was laid bare today after the Palace appeared to snub the Duke of Sussex’s birthday celebrations by failing to publicly acknowledge his 39th. 

As athletes at the Invictus Games in Germany serenaded the prince with renditions of ‘Happy Birthday’ and inundated him with gifts – good wishes were notably absent from the monarchy’s official social media accounts. 

The palace’s official social media accounts instead spent all day posting about King Charles, Prince William, Princess Kate, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh – without mentioning Prince Harry once. 

The Mail also understands that Harry, accompanied by his wife, Meghan, will fly back to the US this weekend without seeing his estranged family.

King Charles will be in Scotland and there are no plans for the couple to join him. Prince William hasn’t spoken to his estranged brother for many months.

The Duke of Sussex also failed to visit his family during his stop-over in the UK en route to the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, when he stayed overnight in Britain to attend a charity event.

The following morning Prince harry visited Queen Elizabeth’s grave at Windsor alone on the first anniversary of his grandmother’s death.

Buckingham Palace has indicated that the Royal Family now only sends public birthday wishes to those who are senior working members. 

The Duke of Sussex‘s birthday celebration came as he attended the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, where he watched a sitting volleyball match after a night of revelry drinking German beers and eating traditional food such as sausages, schnitzel and pork knuckle. 

Despite the late night out, the birthday boy looked fresh-faced as he arrived at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.

After Harry and Meghan took their seats in the stands, the stadium announcer asked the crowd: ‘Is there anybody here celebrating their own special occasion today? Anyone’s birthday? Oh I think it is someone’s birthday. A certain Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, 39 today. Happy birthday! Let’s sing along.’ 

The crowd then joined in as Harry clapped along and smiled next to the duchess – before he mouthed ‘thank you’ to the spectators.

Harry was later presented with a birthday cake by the Mayor of Dusseldorf, Dr Stephen Keller. The cake was in the colours of the Invictus Games with the words: ‘Happy Birthday Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.’

Prince Harry washed down bratwurst sausages and wiener schnitzel with six beers but his wife stuck to one small lager at restaurant Im Goldenen Kessel last night. 

Harry famously went teetotal and abandoned caffeine when Meghan was pregnant with Archie, dumping beer, tea and coffee for green juices. In 2018 he raised a glass of water while everyone else was drinking champagne in solidarity with his wife. He also quit smoking. But based on last night he is firmly back on the booze. 

Meghan was on the march today as she took part in a medal ceremony.

She was perfectly in step with a military officer as she walked to the presentation ceremony in front of a cheering crowd.

A large crowd cheered as she took each step perfectly in time and level with the officer.

Prince Harry also took part in a ceremony and showed he had not forgotten how to march in step.

As he came to a halt, he did a smart parade ground turn and stamped his feet – showing he had not forgotten his training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

In blazing sunshine Meghan walked perfectly in step with a Naval officer holding the three medals to be presented for cycling event.

She gave a broad smile as she walked slowly making sure to stay in step with the practised military officer.

Harry followed minutes later and looked comfortable marching along and was full of smiles.

He presented the gold medal for a time trial event to Dave Jarvis from Team UK. He was draped in a Scottish flag partly covering his kilt.

Harry noticed Jarvis’s wife Stephanie weeping with emotion at the side of track with her daughter Sophia.

He attempted to pull the metal safety barrier aside and when that did not work leant over and lifted the four-year-old over and handed her to her father.

As the family hugged, Harry picked up the blue and white Saltire and draped it round the family.

Stephanie revealed she shared the same birthday with Prince Harry and was presented with a necklace by her husband.

Stephanie, from the North East of Scotland, said:’ This is very emotional for us.’

Meghan presented the gold medal to James Rogers, the captain of Team UK.

He was wildly cheered by the large British contingent in the crowd who shouted out: ‘Well done, skipper.’

Meghan and Harry continued to be treated as rock stars as they went on a brief walkabout.

One man called Harry over to have his photo taken, but then shouted out for Meghan.

She obliged and Harry even took off his sunglasses as the pair continued their charm offensive.

Harry, accompanied by Meghan and a dozen of his support team, last night made a secret visit to a popular restaurant in the old town of Dusseldorf.

The Duke, who is 39 today, sank six glasses of the Alt Schumacher beer as he celebrated not only his birthday but the success so far of the Invictus Games. 

His party dined on local delicacies such as Wiener Schnitzel, sausage and pork knuckle.

Harry was also presented with white chocolate which he took back to his hotel and shared with his team. Meghan had only sipped a single beer during the evening.

For her latest appearance today, Meghan wore a Zara jumpsuit Celine Blazer and Saint Laurent Sandals and had a purse from the Cesta range made in Rwanda .

The couple watched a sitting volleyball match between hosts Germany and Poland.

The Polish team mobbed Harry after the game and sang happy birthday again.

With Meghan he posed for numerous selfies before leaving where they were greeted with screams of ‘We love you, Meghan’ from a group of excited teenagers.

The group had rushed down from the stands to try to get close to the Duchess as she left.

Lina Dettling, 15, said: ‘We love Meghan. She is so pretty and we just wanted to see her.’

Kerlos Yosif, 15, added: ‘We are excited to see Harry and Meghan. To us they are like popstars . They do so much good.’

The teenagers were among hundreds of students given the day off from school to attend the games.

Later, Harry and Meghan hitched a ride on a golf buggy to take them to the road cycling event.

Last night, Harry partied with Meghan in a traditional German bar in Dusseldorf with friends where he washed down bratwurst sausage and wiener schnitzel with six beers.

Bar staff said the royals were ‘lovely’ and left a ‘big tip’ as they enjoyed plates piled high with red cabbage and mashed potato. While Harry celebrated with six half-pints, his wife stuck to just one small drink.

Diners at the Im Goldenen Kessel restaurant and bar were asked not to take pictures but said they saw the prince laughing and joking as the food arrived at his table. He also looked thrilled when a birthday cake arrived at the end of the meal.

He and Meghan posed for photographs with the owner of the restaurant Thea Ungermann and head waiter Frank Wackers who has worked at the restaurant for 38 years.

Ms Ungermann told MailOnline: ‘Harry was a lovely man and was having a very jolly time. Meghan was lovely.’

Meghan stuck with the white skinny jeans she wore to watch the volleyball match yesterday. She paired it with a red and white pinstriped shirt and nude ballet pumps. Meanwhile Harry wore dark jeans and a grey top.

During his meal, Harry was presented with a birthday cake by staff at the restaurant, based in Dusseldorf’s old town.

He and his party took up two tables at the restaurant, which is part of the Schumacher brewery, and were served their food and beer by Mr Wackers.

Mr Wackers told MailOnline that Harry had six small beers – about half a pint rather than the litre-sized beers most German breweries serve.

He said the group were served Wiener Schnitzel, pork knuckle, sausage and plates of roast and mashed potato.

Mr Wackers said: ‘They were very happy. He is a lovely man, and they were so nice.’

He also joked that Harry’s bodyguard asked what was the beer like. ‘He said that he would kill me if the beer was bad, but I know he was joking.’

Aides and staff sang Happy Birthday as the restaurant presented Harry with a white chocolate cake.

After tucking in, the party then walked back to their waiting cars in the cobbled Altstadt area of the city.

A source close to the prince said: ‘They drank local beer and ate family style dishes to experience a true German meal. Everyone was incredibly friendly, especially the waiters pictured in the photograph online.

‘They did not dine in a private space and were in joyful spirits, toasting and laughing with the team.

After dinner, the group headed back to the hotel to sing Happy Birthday and eat cake just shy of midnight.’

The owner of the restaurant said Harry picked up the bill and left a big tip for the staff.

The restaurant is attached to the Schumacher brewery, one of two popular venues in Dusseldorf.

Both Ms Ungermann and the head waiter speak fluent English so were able to take Harry and Meghan’s orders without needing to translate them into German.

Harry and his party had driven from their hotel in the Media Harbour of the city and were dropped off by a pedestrian area.

They walked the 50 yards to the restaurant past other bars before occupying two tables in a raised section of the restaurant which is next door to a McDonalds.

The party drank the locally brewed beer called Alt Schumacher which is also served at the Merkur Spiel-Arena where the Invictus Games are held.

Ms Ungermann said: ‘The couple were very relaxed, they drank our beer, Schumacher Alt – it’s the same beer they are serving at the Invictus Games.

‘Harry and Meghan sat next to each other during the meal. I had goosebumps when they walked into the restaurant, I had watched his speech on the stage at the Invictus Games and couldn’t believe he was in my restaurant. Prince Harry was so lovely and gave me a hug.’

The restaurant posted the group photo of Harry and Meghan with staff on their social media.

Harry is thought to have had an early 39th party because he will be busy with events at the games today.

The Prince and Princess of Wales today helped children prepare food around a campfire on a royal visit to a primary school.

William and Kate looked right at home as they threw themselves into action at a Forest School in Hereford, where pupils attend once a week to learn in a woodland environment.

Run by Madley Primary School, it also allows children to be taught about key issues like environmental awareness, conservation and woodland management.

The Waleses, who were gifted books for their children, George, Charlotte and Louis on arrival, took part in skimming bark off logs before crouching down and using a saw to help make a tree den.

But there were laughs when an enthusiastic William accidentally knocked a branch off the den while inspecting it, before hastily putting it back in its place.

Before leaving the site, they told staff and pupils: ‘More schools need the opportunity to do things like this.’

The Duchy of Cornwall and Madley Primary School have been partners of the Forest School initiative for the last 12 years as the Duchy supplied Madley Primary School with a woodland site at Brampton Hill Wood in order to enable the Forest School to take place in Hereford. 

Over the subsequent years, due the school’s expansion, the woodland area that the Duchy provides has increased, along with the facilities available.

After visiting the school, William and Kate headed to Kings Pitt Farm, to meet with Duchy of Cornwall farming tenants, Sam and Emily Stables. 

Following struggles with their own mental wellbeing and seeing the stigma around mental health in the farming industry, Sam and Emily founded We Are Farming Minds, a charity working to support the mental health of farmers in rural communities throughout the county. 

It offers Herefordshire farmers fully funded access to a range of services including counselling, a 24-hour phone and text support line, free mental health awareness workshops and social events throughout the year to break feelings of isolation. 

The Duchy of Cornwall is working closely with We are Farming Minds to enhance its new Mental Health Strategy which provides ongoing mental health support to all its tenants, with a specific focus on tenants in rural and more isolated communities. 

Their appearances today come amid claims that Prince Harry’s deep rift with his family is casting a shadow over the Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex‘s time with the Army in Afghanistan inspired him to launch the sporting event in 2014 but William and Kate were central to its initial success. 

The couple’s now-defunct foundation, which they formed with the duke, hoovered up sponsors and spent huge sums of cash to get Invictus up and running.

Nine years ago Harry, his father and brother stood united as they attended the opening ceremony and multiple events at the games in London – but the new King and his heir have had zero involvement since Harry met Meghan.

Despite Harry’s passion for Invictus, which is growing in size, officials say there have been plenty of spare seats at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Some believe the involvement of King Charles, William and Kate would change that.

The Waleses have both been at the Rugby World Cup in France in the past week while Charles and Queen Camilla and other senior royals have been at the Highland Games. 

One Team GB insider told The Daily Telegraph: ‘The athletes find it bizarre but don’t want to get caught up in the royal crossfire.’ 

This year’s games in Germany are the biggest ever, involving 22 nations and 500-plus athletes. Harry has been there from start to finish, joining the applause, dancing in the crowd and joking about going out on the beers at the end of the day.

He was in high spirits in the days before Meghan arrived, high-fiving children and singing Sweet Caroline. 

But there has been no word from his family in the UK. 

Palace sources reportedly say that Royal Family members never involve themselves in others’ professional endeavours, and they would not expect the duke to voice support for William’s Earthshot Prize, for example.

One critic of Harry said: ‘Harry has never supported any of [the] latest [of] William’s projects, not Earthshot when he is president of African Parks and an advocate for climate change… but they insist William must support Invictus. I’m so tired of this nonsense.’

Prince Harry smooched Team USA‘s Davey Martinez on the head tonight as he presented the team with their gold medals after they beat Team UK in the Invictus Games wheelchair rugby final.

Harry had a front row seat and showed his excitement as he clapped and cheered along with the noisy crowd.

The final took place in a raucous atmosphere at the Merkur-Spiel arena in Düsseldorf, Germany as both sets of fans cheered on the competitors.

A large number of UK supporters waved flags and attempted to shout down their rivals who waved the stars and stripes flag.

A wheelchair-bound USA supporter sitting in front of Harry became so enthusiastic she removed her prosthetic leg and waved it in the air.

Harry tapped his leg to the music each time a try was scored.

He joined in with the applause as Team USA won 21-13 to take home the gold medal.

A fan dressed in army green and wearing a plastic helmet stood in front of Harry and saluted him.

Harry has been a huge supporter of the UK team since arriving in Dusseldorf and has made time to talk with as many of the competitors as he could, often posing for selfies.

But he is also likely to have some loyalty to the US team as America is now his adopted country having lived in California since quitting royal life.

An aide to Harry said he had been cheering both sides in the final.

‘He is an equal opportunist,’ said the aide.

The final of the wheelchair rugby is one of Harry’s favourite sports at the Invictus Games – and also one of the few where competitors come into contact.

It is considered one of the toughest sports in the world.

Although physical body contact is not permitted, it is legal for the athletes to use their wheelchairs to block opponents with collisions often taking place.

Players compete in teams of four with the game using a special volleyball.

The aim is for players to carry the ball on their laps across the opposing team’s eight-metre goal line.

Harry is an avid rugby fan as while patron of the Rugby Football Union attended most of England’s home matches at Twickenham.

But he was stripped of the role which was given to his sister-in-law and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, when he lost all his honorary titles during Megxit.

Harry arrived for the opening ceremony of his Invictus Games in Germany on Saturday where he received a mixed reaction. 

An excited crowd of royal fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Prince Harry at the ceremony being held in Dusseldorf Town Hall. He was joined by Stephen Keller, Mayor of Dusseldorf.

A small group of demonstrators shouted out anti-military slogans but as soon as Harry’s car pulled into the market square in front of the town hall they were drowned out by cheers from his fans. 

Over 500 people stood in the blazing sunshine as they stood behind barriers hoping the Prince would go on a walkabout and greet them. They shouted his name as he walked in a lightweight blue suit, white shirt and silver tie.

Earlier today the Duke of Sussex left two young boys delighted after giving them each a high-five while he was being escorted by bodyguards.

He was being walked alongside a grandstand by his security team including ex-US presidential bodyguard Chris Sanchez and ex-Metropolitan Police officer Dave Langdown when the two boys held out their hands for a high-five.

After Harry happily obliged, the children – one of whom was draped in a Union Jack – jumped up and down in excitement with one raising his fist in celebration.

The Duke has been given a hero’s welcome by those attending the latest iteration of the competition he founded for wounded and disabled military veterans.

Harry has said he plans to attend as many events as he can during the week-long competition. 

Meghan Markle is expected to meet some of the children attending the event when she arrives at the games later this week. 

The Duke founded the games in 2014 to aid the rehabilitation of military personnel by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics. 

This year’s competition will run until September 16.

A total of 550 sick, wounded and injured former and current military personnel from 21 countries are taking part in ten team and individual sports.

Prince Harry was all smiles as he arrived for the opening ceremony of his Invictus Games in Germany – and a mix of royal fans and protestors gathered.

An excited crowed of royal fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Prince Harry at the ceremony being held in Dusseldorf Town Hall. He was joined by Stephen Keller, Mayor of Dusseldorf.

Over 500 people stood in the blazing sunshine as they stood behind barriers hoping the Prince would go on a walkabout and greet them. They shouted his name as he walked in a lightweight blue suit, white shirt and silver tie.

Representatives from the 21 nations competing in the Invictus Games waited inside the town hall for his arrival.

A small group of demonstrators shouted out anti military slogans but as soon as Harry’s car pulled into the market square in front of the town hall they were drowned out by cheers from his fans.

Prince Harry’s bodyguard, ex Secret Service agent Chris Sanchez kept a close eye on Harry as he walked the short distance from his car to the town hall.

Among the crowd was 20-year-old superfan Madeleine Durant who had driven two hours from her home in Dortmund to see Harry.

She held up a yellow banner saying ‘Harry, I came all the way to take a photo with you’. She said: ‘I am a big fan of Harry and hope that he sees the banner and comes over. I really do like him as he speaks the truth.’

About six people demonstrating against the German military’s involved in the games for disabled and wounded military vets held a demonstration in a corner of the market square.

Police outnumbered the half dozen demonstrators who have claimed the Games will be used by the military to enlist new recruits.

One of the demonstrators held a banner with the words ‘Bomber Harry’ – a reference to his time in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter gunner.

The estranged royal, who founded the sporting event for wounded and injured servicemen, also posed for a picture with volunteers and competitors just a day after he attended a private memorial for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Wearing a black T-shirt and looking relaxed Harry stood the middle of the group. The visit to the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf was unannounced.

The Duke of Sussex, who went on the solo whirlwind trip to the UK without his wife and children, was spotted leaving St George’s Chapel in Windsor at lunchtime yesterday.

The fifth in the line to the throne was photographed paying respects to the Queen by a tourist in a shock secret visit to the church, where the late monarch was laid to rest. 

He then flew last night to Dusseldorf in Germany for the opening ceremony of his Invictus Games. 

The Duke is booked into a £2,000 night suite with stunning views across The Rhine and will be joined later in the luxurious residence next week by his wife Meghan.

The expansive suite on the 17th floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Dusseldorf will be their base for the next eight days.

The Invictus Foundation posted a photo of the team group shot on their Twitter account. The group Harry posed with carry out assessments of the athletes and their recovery.

With temperatures expected to be in the high 80s there has been concern among organisers for those taking part in outdoor events, such as the athletics and archery.

Many of the sports for disabled and wounded military veterans will take place inside the indoor arena.

Tonight he will launch the sports event for wounded and disabled military veterans and attend the week long event, dropping in to cheer of competitors in events such as archery, swimming and wheelchair rugby. 

Over 500 competitors from 21 countries are taking part in the games which are sponsored by the US based Boeing firm.

Organisers predict up to 100,000 people will attend the games which will close with a speech from Prince Harry and a set of six songs from singer Rita Ora.

Teams from around the globe have all arrived in Dusseldorf and were met at the airport by the mascot of the Games, a brown bear with the name Buddy.

The UK team and friends and family flew from Birmingham on a RAF transport jet. The 59 members of the include 15 who are still serving in the military while the others are retired from service.

The team UK Captain, Lt Commander James Rogers said: ‘ Whether a veteran or still serving, we are one team heading into the Games and I am immensely proud of how much everyone has achieved in this process. It has brought with it a sense of camaraderie and excitement, as well as noticeable physical and mental health benefits.’

Wearing a white shirt and smart trousers, Harry looked sombre yesterday as he left a side entrance of St George’s Chapel as family, Britain and the world again mourned the Queen’s passing. It is not known if he went to Her Majesty’s grave in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which sits within the walls of the church.

Harry was seen by the public leaving the church where his grandparents are both buried at around Midday. An executive Range Rover was waiting for him with his bodyguard waiting to open the door. 

A number of members of the Royal Family are understood to have visited the chapel yesterday. Harry remains close to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie but it is not yet known if they and others paid their respects together. MailOnline has asked Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex to comment. 

The warring brothers are spending the first anniversary of their grandmother’s death in the same country – but still couldn’t be farther apart and did not meet before Harry jetted off to Germany last night.

The Duke of Sussex was at his personable best in London on Thursday as he met winners of the WellChild Awards – a charity he has been patron of for 15 years and stayed with after his acrimonious departure from the Royal Family.

Harry flew in for the engagement from his home in California, making his first appearance in the UK since June.

But despite the long flight, the duke cut a relaxed figure as he sat with the youngsters and their families during a pre-ceremony reception at The Hurlingham Club in south-west London.

It was as Harry prepared for the awards this time last year that news began filtering through that his grandmother was seriously ill before passing away hours later. The duke took a flight to Scotland but landed too late to see the Queen before she passed away.

‘As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away,’ he told the audience.

‘As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her. And that’s precisely why I know, exactly one year on, she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.’

For the best part of the last four decades, he has been host, friend and – perhaps above all, given the uninhibited behaviour he’s witnessed in the small hours of the night – custodian of secrets.

Now, though, at the age of 78, the man who can truly be called ‘Mr Chelsea’, the urbane, effortlessly engaging Giorgio Burlo, founder of 151 – the basement nightclub in London’s King’s Road from which Prince Harry once beat a retreat via the fire escape – is calling it a day.

The club’s opening night, in 1985, was attended by the so-called ‘Seducer of the Valleys’, baronet Sir Dai Llewellyn, who became a fixture, as did Princess Diana’s one-time lover, James Hewitt. So, too, did doomed socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson – ‘she lived there,’ reflects Giorgio, explaining that Tara was, for a time, girlfriend of one of his sons, Simon – and Bob Geldof, who held ‘lots of parties’ in 151, ‘including his 50th’.

With so many rich memories, Giorgio is only embracing retirement with reluctance – and after a protracted tussle with Cadogan Estates.

Headed, until his death in June, by the uncompromising 8th Earl Cadogan – who memorably closed a restaurant on his 93 Chelsea acres because it failed to impress him – Cadogan Estates refused to renew 151’s lease after the end of lockdown. ‘I was paying rent, but they sent it back,’ Giorgio tells me. ‘I always did what they asked, but, for some reason, they wanted the club back.’

Its closure caused dismay among devotees, with one of them writing: ‘I feel like a piece of me is missing.’

With no sign of the impasse being resolved, Giorgio underwent what was meant to have been a routine thyroid operation, lasting half an hour. But a mistake – ‘the surgeon forgot to close my vein’ – nearly proved fatal. ‘I went into a coma,’ adds Giorgio, who remained unconscious for a week.

Subsequently, he accepted the inevitable, aware that, with a £5.6billion fortune, the Cadogan family could afford to sit tight, even if it meant the club lying empty.

‘They’ve bought the remaining 15 years of my lease,’ he tells me, adding that Cadogan has also handed over a very modest sum for the right to use the 151 name.

But he still has his memories – including those of the two Princes. ‘Harry came a few times,’ he recalls. ‘He walked around, talked to people. William was serious. He was sitting there, in a corner. He behaved like a prince, like someone who would one day be king.’

Another royal, not normally associated with night-time frolics, popped in. ‘Prince Edward came,’ recalls Giorgio, adding that Edward was accompanied by ‘an entourage’ of friends.

There were much older visitors too, including actor Leslie Phillips, forever known for his fruitily voiced ‘Ding Dong’ catchphrase, who cruised into 151 when in his fifties, and lawyer George Carman, who notoriously contrived to secure the acquittal of former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, when Thorpe was accused of conspiring to murder his former lover, Norman Scott. Carman, remembers Giorgio, ‘danced – and everything.’

Only those who failed to meet Giorgio’s standards of dress and decorum were turned away. George Michael was one of them. ‘He had an earring,’ recalls Giorgio, explaining that men with earrings or tattoos were barred.

More recently, the 151 had become a home from home for the stars of Made In Chelsea, like Binky Felstead. ‘I treat it a bit like a second home,’ Binky said. ‘If I’m not getting enough attention or I’ve had a lot to drink, I just kick off my heels and go to sleep.’

Other club owners might have reacted with fury. Not Giorgio. ‘I thank everyone who visited the club,’ he says.

Of Cadogan Estates, he reflects: ‘It is very well run – ruthlessly well run. Let’s hope that running 151 will get them to £6billion.’

Cadogan Estate confirms that it has purchased the lease for the club as ‘part of an agreement which was reached following the tenant’s desire to retire and close the business’.

A spokesman says: ‘Cadogan recognises the value that establishments such as The 151 Club bring to Chelsea and, for this reason, has taken the decision to retain the premises’ name and use, and will shortly be looking to lease it to a new occupier in keeping with the spirit of the original.’

As potty-mouthed media magnate Logan Roy in Succession, Brian Cox had trouble with his warring children. In real life, his four offspring can be almost as challenging. 

Speaking at a BFI event in London to celebrate his 50-year career, the Scotsman, 77, says: ‘I have grown-up children who I love, but they can be occasionally nasty. My daughter is wonderfully crazy, but the boys can be a little tough to handle.’ 

The smart set’s talking about… Flora’s brush with her Churchillian past

Flora Soames is too young to have met her great-grandfather Sir Winston Churchill, but she chose a venue close to his heart for her book launch.

The interior designer, 40, left, held the party at Lavery’s Studio in Kensington, West London, where Churchill was taught how to paint by artist Sir John Lavery.

Her book, The One Day Box, is a ‘memoir of the houses I’ve lived in and that I love’, she tells me. ‘The book is about my insanely out-of-control collecting habit. I have had a one day box for my entire life: a place where I store things that I could not bear to let go of, from fragments of letters, textiles, old paper and china.’

Her husband, the ceramic artist Alexander ‘Blondie’ Macdonald-Buchanan, was one of her inspirations: ‘He’s incredibly supportive. I feel like it’s very much our tale to tell.’

Jemma: I’m having too much fun to marry

The Duke of Wellington’s son and heir, Arthur Wellesley, is due to be married to Canadian Hayley Whitehead, but his former wife, Jemma Kidd, won’t be exchanging vows with her billionaire boyfriend, Arpad ‘Arki’ Busson, any time soon.

‘I’m not engaged,’ the model and make-up artist tells me at a party in West London. ‘I’ve only just got divorced and I’m enjoying life very much and liking where I am right now.’

She has been going out since 2021 with French businessman Arki, 60, pictured with Jemma. He has two sons with Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson and a daughter with Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman.

Jemma, 48, the sister of TV personality Jodie, has three children with Arthur. ‘I’m starting a new business, which is at an embryonic stage,’ she says. ‘I just have my head down because a new business is like having a newborn baby. It’s to do with wellness and everything I am passionate about.’

Pregnancy has given Pixie Lott a taste for meat. ‘I’ve been a pescatarian for a long time and now I eat chicken,’ the pop singer tells me. ‘I really enjoy it and I don’t know how this has happened.’ 

Lott, 32, who’s expecting her first child with her husband, the model Oliver Cheshire, adds: ‘I love eating Nando’s and there’s a takeaway near us called The Fat Chicken — that is the one.’ 

Bond girls blast 007 bosses for killing spy

Bond girls are still shaken and stirred from Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007, No Time To Die, when not only did he have a child but the spy was killed off, to boot.

‘The fact Bond died upset me,’ The Spy Who Loved Me star Caroline Munro tells me at the launch of Alistair Guy’s photography exhibition, Incidentals 2, at House of Swaine in Mayfair.

Martine Beswick, who appeared with Sean Connery in From Russia With Love and Thunderball, says of the latest film: ‘I did not like it.’ 

Referring to Lea Seydoux, the French actress who starred opposite Craig, Beswick says: ‘I didn’t like the main Bond girl. [And] I didn’t understand why they had to have a child — it did not work.’

Dust off your topper, Wills!

It could be rather deafening in Norfolk today, thanks to the ‘Turnip Toffs’, who’ll not only be shooting partridge but letting fly volleys of champagne corks — especially at the van Cutsems’ 4,400-acre Hilborough estate, home to the Prince of Wales’s great friend William van Cutsem and his wife, Rosie.

For Rosie’s younger sister, Lucia Ruck Keene, 37, has got engaged to Old Harrovian landowner Jack Wrigley, 32.

Lucia grew up in Oxfordshire, in the manor house once owned by Jerome K. Jerome, author of the Victorian classic Three Men In A Boat.

But during lockdown she took refuge at Hilborough, where her brother-in-law taught her to box.

‘Apparently, my left hook was like a wet lettuce when I first started,’ reflected Lucia.

Luckily, she was also allowed time to work on Troy London, the fashion label she and Rosie founded a decade ago and which counts the Princess of Wales among its ardent fans.

Antiques expert Bunny mourns hero husband

She once discovered what was then the world’s most expensive doll, which sold at auction for £188,000. But Antiques Roadshow favourite Bunny Campione has now lost something infinitely more precious — her husband, Major Iain Grahame, who has died aged 91.

During his time in the King’s African Rifles, Grahame had Idi Amin, later dictator of Uganda, under his command. He subsequently visited Uganda with his second wife, Didy, who, to the horror of those present, told Amin to remove the fake VC from his chest.

Amin complied — one of the reasons, perhaps, that Grahame was sent back to Uganda after Amin ordered the execution of Denis Hills, a British writer who’d described him as a ‘black Nero’ and a ‘village tyrant’. Again, Grahame — and Hills — survived.

His first meeting with Bunny was inauspicious: they drove into each other going round a corner on a country lane. But many years later they met again. Love blossomed and they married in 2002.

Heidi Klum’s girl catches up with distant dad 

German model Heidi Klum split up with Italian billionaire Flavio Briatore while she was pregnant with his child.

By the time she gave birth to her daughter, Leni, she was going out with pop star Seal, who later became Leni’s adoptive father.

When Briatore, now 73, was asked about his relationship with Leni seven years ago, he told an Italian newspaper: ‘It’s hard to miss a baby you never see.’

Now, however, he appears keen to make up for lost time. I can reveal that Leni, 19, who appeared in a lingerie advertising campaign with her mother, has been enjoying a holiday aboard a yacht in Monaco with Briatore, pictured.

(Very) modern manners

If you see a familiar-looking head hanging out of a window first thing in the morning, it could be Julia Bradbury’s.

The television presenter, 53, has a health routine that may surprise the neighbours.

‘One of my most important daily rituals involves sticking my head out of the bathroom window, rain or shine, as soon as I wake up,’ she says. ‘The morning light works directly on the human brain, setting the internal clocks that are critical to every cell in our body. It has been a life-changer.’

Prince Harry looked giddy with excitement as he watched soccer legend Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami against Los Angeles Football Club on Sunday night.

The 38-year-old chuckled and happily scrunched up an LAFC scarf as he cheered on his local team from the stands of the BMO Stadium in the south of the city.

His wife Meghan Markle was also due to appear at the stadium, but was not spotted with her husband.

A pre-match ‘notable attendees’ form released by LAFC showed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among those appearing at the match.

All those listed had their occupation next to their name, except the couple – who were simply referred to as ‘Prince Harry’ and ‘Meghan Markle’.

Harry join a throng of celebrities at the game, including LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell – who he was spotted laughing with – Leonardo DiCaprio, Owen Wilson, Selena Gomez and Jason Sudeikis.

David Beckham, who co-owns Inter Miami, was also seen watching on, as his side looked to continue their winning streak in the MLS since Messi joined.

Messi had another strong game, with two assists. 

Harry looked more excited to be at the soccer match than he did watching Beyonce with his wife and mother in law on Friday.

Harry played soccer at school at Eton, writing in his memoir that he loved all sports.

‘I played every dry sport, though rugby captured my heart,’ he wrote – with ‘dry sports’ at Eton meaning cricket, football, rugby, or polo.

Wet sports were rowing, sailing, or swimming. Harry said he found playing rugby therapeutic. ‘Beautiful game, plus a good excuse to run into stuff very hard,’ he wrote.

‘Rugby let me indulge my rage. I simply didn’t feel pain the way other boys did, which made me scary on a pitch.’ 

Sunday night’s game drew a huge crowd, eager to see Argentine superstar Messi play his first game in the city of angels.

Messi signed for the Miami side in July, and has helped the team rocket up the league table – to the delight of co-owner Beckham. 

Owen Wilson showed his allegiance to the home side with a LAFC shirt and baseball cap, as did Mario Lopez.

Jason Sudeikis, who plays soccer coach Ted Lasso in the smash hit Apple TV series, was in a bright orange hoodie.

An animated Selena Gomez was also in the stands, while DiCaprio tried to keep a low profile in a dark baseball cap and sunglasses for the evening event. Kick off was at 10pm local time. 

Victoria Beckham, who has frequently attended Inter Miami’s games and brought along celebrity friends such as Kim Kardashian, was not seen on Sunday night.

The Beckham family had assembled in England on Friday night to celebrate the birthday of their son Romeo, who turned 21 on September 1.

David and Victoria were joined by Victoria’s sister Louise; Victoria’s niece Libby Adams; David’s sister Joanna; and family friends including nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson. It was unclear where they celebrated.

The Beckhams’ oldest son, Brooklyn, was not in attendance at the party, nor was his wife Nicola Peltz.

David and Victoria’s U.S. base is a $24 million Miami penthouse in the One Thousand Museum building, which they bought in 2020. 

The former England captain moved to Los Angeles to play for LA Galaxy in 2007, and in 2014 announced he was launching his own team.

In September 2018 he revealed it would be called Inter Miami.

Inter Miami are unbeaten across all competitions since Messi’s arrival, winning seven matches in Leagues Cup play, with two of those on penalties, including the final on August 19 against Nashville SC.

The Herons have subsequently won a U.S. Open Cup match and have gone 1-0-1 in MLS regular-season play.

The run of 10 consecutive unbeaten matches is an Inter Miami record.

Messi has 11 goals and six assists in an Inter Miami uniform, but the team was held without a goal in a scoreless tie against Nashville SC on Wednesday.

Nashville’s defense clogged the penalty area to some surprise success.

‘In the first half, the ball was moving too slowly; in the second I think we did a little better, but it was hard for us,’ said Tata Martino, Inter Miami coach. 

‘These games usually happen, I understand everyone’s frustration. We too felt it was a good night to continue gaining ground.’

In two prior matches against LAFC, Inter Miami has not scored a goal. Miami played its first ever MLS match at LAFC in 2020 and lost 1-0.

Inter Miami absorbed a 2-0 home defeat to LAFC last season.

Harry’s visit to the stadium capped a busy weekend, beginning with Friday’s attendance at the Beyonce show.

He is soon due to fly to Dusseldorf in Germany, for this year’s edition of the Invictus Games.

The sporting competition for wounded veterans is being held in the German city from September 9 to 16, with the first day taking place a day after the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

Harry is expected to attend the entire games, while Meghan is set to arrive ‘later on’ and stay for the Closing Ceremony before returning to the US, according to close friend and confident of the Sussexes, Omid Scobie.

It was reported that the Duke of Sussex will be in Britain for the anniversary of Her Majesty’s death, but he is not expected to join the rest of his family – his father King Charles is set to mark the occasion at Balmoral Castle, where the Queen passed away.

Harry will celebrate the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families supported by the charity WellChild, at the event being staged in London on September 7, before heading out to Germany.

A spokesperson for the couple said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to attend the Invictus Games 2023 in Dusseldorf.

‘The Duke will be in attendance throughout the entirety of the games and will be joined by the Duchess shortly after the games begin.’

Prince Harry is expected to deliver a closing speech, while Meghan will take to the stage to host the ‘Lifestories Scene’ segment, taking a closer look at the stories of some of the athletes competing in the games.

The royal will apparently praise the competitors’ ‘unwavering spirit and impressive recovery journey’.

The Duke of Sussex has said this year’s games will be the ‘best ever’.

Other figures due to appear include Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president who hosted the King and Queen in March this year.

2021: HEALTH ISSUES, 10 MONTHS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ADMISSION TO A SWISS TREATMENT FACILITY 

January 27 – Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco.

March 18 – Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa

April 2 – Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter from an unknown locatoin. 

May 8 – Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene

May 18 – Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa

June 3 – New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip

June 5 – Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece’s fifth birthday with her brother’s family and Albert and the twins in South Africa

June 24 – Charlene’s foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection

July 2 – Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. ‘This year will be the first time that I’m not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,’ Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement.

August 13 – Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced

August 25 – Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa

September 1 – Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly ‘collapsing’

September 2 – Charlene is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: ‘Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying’

September 30 – Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole

October 3 – Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare

October 6 – Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is ‘ready to come home’

October 8 2021 – Princess undergoes more surgery in South Africa

November 8 – Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was ‘unwell’

November 13 2021  – Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene. Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene’s brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene ‘confirmed’ she would seek ‘real medically-framed treatment’ outside of Monaco

November 16 – Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19

November 17 – Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location

November 19 – Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility ‘elsewhere in Europe’ after a family intervention

November 25 – Sources tell Page Six Princess Charlene ‘almost died’ after sinus surgery and ‘lost nearly half her body weight’ due to being ‘unable to swallow’. They also said it was ‘unfair’ to portray her as struggling with mental health issues 

December 11 – Royal breaks her silence on Instagram to wish her twins Jacques and Gabriella a happy seventh birthday

December 24 – Princess Charlene of Monaco is still ‘months from recovery’ but will reunite with Prince Albert and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriela for Christmas at treatment centre

2022: ROAD TO RECOVERY

January 25 – Princess Charlene celebrates her 44th birthday alone: Royal shares slideshow of snaps from happier times featuring Prince Albert, their children and her swimming career as she continues to receive treatment outside of Monaco

March 14 – Palace announces that Charlene is back in Monaco but will take time to ‘further strengthen her health before gradually resuming her official duties’

April 17 – Charlene is pictured for the first time in a family portrait to celebrate Easter

April 30 – Charlene makes her first public appearance since leaving a treatment facility as she attends Monaco E-Prix with Prince Albert

May 7 – The royal makes her second public appearance at the Sainte Dévote Rugby Tournament 

May 10 – French media claims Prince Albert has agreed to pay his wife £10million a year to make sure she fulfils her consort role 

May 25 – Princess Charlene continues her return to public life at Monte Carlo Fashion Awards with daughter Princess Gabriella 

May 28 – Princess Charlene continues her return to public life as she joins Prince Albert at F1 in Monaco for the first time since 2019 

June 6 – Prince Albert says he was hurt by the ‘vicious’ rumours about his wife’s absence from Monaco and his family ‘missed the princess a lot’ 

June 16 – Princess Charlene appears sombre in all-black ensemble for Catholic festival 

June 18 – Princess Charlene of Monaco looks glamorous in all-green ensemble as she steps out with Prince Albert for the Monte Carlo TV Festival opening ceremony 

June 23 – Albert and Charlene attend a science exhibition opening with their children in Oslo – her first overseas visit since returning to public duties

July 4 – Albert and Charlene! Monaco royals hold hands in new portrait to mark 11 years of marriage

July 5 – Charlene visits the Princess Grace Hospital Centre in her first solo engagement since her return to Monaco 

July 9 – Albert attends Monaco’s Rose Ball without his wife, despite it being the highlight of the social calendar

July 18 – Royal joins Prince Albert at the 73rd Red Cross Gala in Monte Carlo 

July 20 – Couple visit The Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis 

September 4 – Charlene joins Prince Albert and their children Gabriella and Jacques for a rare family appearance at traditional picnic in Monaco 

September 6 – Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco take their twins Jacques and Gabriella, 7, to class for their first day back after the summer holiday

September 12 – Couple attend a memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II

September 19 – Princess Charlene attends the Queen’s funeral in London alongside her husband Prince Albert 

October 4-5 – Princess Charlene wows on a solo surprise visit to Paris Fashion Week

October 21 – Princess Charlene of Monaco makes emotional solo visit to an animal shelter as she sends ‘all her love’ to fans following her return to royal duties

November 8 – Royal couple attend the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York 

November 16 – Princess Charlene attends Monaco’s Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with Prince Albert 

November 19-20 – Princess Charlene attends Monaco National Day celebrations with Prince Albert and presents awards at 2022 World Rugby Awards ceremony

December 2 – Princess Charlene takes her seven-year-old twins to Monaco Christmas village along with her model niece Charlotte Casiraghi

December 13 – Attends Monaco’s Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with her husband Prince Albert 

December 14 – Family attend Christmas tree ceremony in Monaco 

December 15 – Princess Charlene of Monaco reveals she feels ‘much better’ and has ‘much more energy’ after lengthy health crisis in an interview with Monaco Matin – the first since returning to royal duties

December 21 – Royals release a stylish family Christmas card

December 23 – ‘Proud’ Prince Albert praises Princess Charlene for ‘turning it around in an incredible way’ after lengthy health crisis, saying she had a ‘very tough year’