The Royals

Prince George started at Eton College this week, following in his father's footsteps at Britain's most prestigious school. But what will his new life as a 13-year-old boarding pupil be like? Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Melanie Sanderson, managing editor at The Good Schools Guide, to understand what the future king can expect - from the Eton terms he’ll have to learn, the mobile phone ban currently in place, and the people he will meet from different walks of life. They discuss how royal educations have evolved over the generations - from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s home schooling, to King Charles’s tough experience at Gordonstoun School - as well as how likely we are to see a future king or queen attend a state school. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Natalie Ktena Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Dan Box Watch us on YouTube. Read more: Prince George arrives for first day at Eton College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry and Meghan have returned to Britain with Archie and Lilibet, but their new life remains remarkably undefined. How long will they stay, what will they do here — and can two of the world’s most recognisable royals truly live as private citizens? Back together after the summer break, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey discuss Meghan’s possible acting comeback, the narrative changing on Harry’s security, and palace fears of a rival royal court. They also look at the public response, the appetite for reconciliation with Prince William and what success might look like for the Sussexes in Britain. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. Harry and Meghan are back in Britain. What do you want to know? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch us on YouTube. Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan's return could be short-lived Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diana, Camilla, Catherine and Meghan each made the life-changing choice to marry into the House of Windsor. On the surface, it looks like a fairy tale. But what is the true cost of becoming a royal wife? And why have some adapted to life behind palace walls more easily than others? Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are joined by Simon Vigar, royal correspondent for 5 News and author of the new book, The Four Wives of Windsor , to examine the sacrifices, scrutiny and rivalries that come with marrying a prince. Why did Diana’s star power become a threat? How did Camilla transform her public image? And why did Meghan’s time in the institution unravel so quickly? They also discuss the importance of love, laughter, and why playing the long game in the royal family matters most. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. What do you think: which royal wife adapted best to life inside the House of Windsor? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Simon’s book, The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence and the True Power Behind the Crown , is available now. You can buy a copy from The Times Bookshop , with a special discount for Times+ members. Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace, Shabnam Grewal Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: How Queen Camilla became the boldest royal of the bunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry and Meghan are reportedly moving back to Britain with Archie and Lilibet, more than six years after leaving royal life for California. But why now — and how will their return work in practice? Roya Nikkhah is joined by Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent of The Sunday Times , to discuss the Sussexes’ shock decision, the King’s reaction and what it could mean for Prince William. They also examine Harry’s security concerns, the couple’s life in America and whether their return risks creating an alternative royal court — blurring the “half-in, half-out” boundaries established at Sandringham six years ago . If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. What do you want to know about Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch us on YouTube. Read more: How Prince Harry's return complicates the royal balance of power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry is expected to return to Britain in September, amid signs of a thaw in his relationship with King Charles. But where does that leave Prince William? And can the King rebuild ties with his younger son while keeping his heir on side? Roya Nikkhah is joined by journalist Catherine Mayer, author of Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles , and The Times columnist Hilary Rose to ask whether the Highgrove reunion marked a genuine turning point. Why does William remain unable to forgive Harry? Has his silence protected his dignity, or allowed his brother’s account to dominate? And could Harry’s growing presence in Britain force the royal family to confront their estrangement? They also discuss the role of Camilla and Catherine in managing the family conflict, the significance of Harry potentially staying at Buckingham Palace, and why next year’s Invictus Games could present Charles and William with a difficult choice. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. What do you think: can Charles rebuild his relationship with Harry while keeping William on side? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Catherine’s book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles is available now. You can buy a copy from The Times Bookshop , with a special discount for Times+ members. Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch us on YouTube. Read more: Harry and Meghan’s photos show a perfect summer. Why aren’t they happy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s most senior aide, is preparing to step down after 20 years at Charles and Camilla’s side. But who will replace him as King Charles’s new right-hand man? Kate Mansey is joined by Queen Elizabeth II’s former communications secretary Simon Lewis and royal biographer Robert Hardman to enter the hidden world of royal courtiers. What do the palace’s so-called “men in grey suits” actually do? How much influence do they wield over the royal family? And what happens when their advice is ignored? Simon reveals what life was really like inside Buckingham Palace, from driving the Queen at Balmoral to advising the sovereign behind closed doors. They also discuss Prince Harry’s clashes with Sir Clive, how Andrew circumvented palace officials, and the qualities the King will need in his next principal private secretary. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch us on YouTube. Read more: Wanted: skilled diplomat who knows how to make the King laugh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry and six other high-profile claimants lost every claim in their privacy case against Associated Newspapers. Now the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday is seeking almost £10 million upfront towards a £34.5 million legal bill. Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are joined by The Times legal editor Jonathan Ames to examine who could ultimately pay — and whether Harry’s description of the judgment as a “complete and obvious whitewash” could make matters worse. They also discuss the palace’s alarm over his attack on the courts, outgoing courtier Sir Clive Alderton’s role in Harry’s battles with the press, and whether this defeat will finally bring his long-running campaign against the British press to an end. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch on YouTube. Read more: Plot to destroy the press: the real story of Harry's hacking trial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Andy Burnham becomes Britain’s new prime minister, King Charles invites his fourth leader in four years to form a government, raising fresh questions about the true extent of royal influence behind closed doors. Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Valentine Low, former royal correspondent of The Times and author of Power and the Palace , to explore how the power of the Crown really works. What does King Charles and Andy Burnham's surprising history tell us about the future of their relationship? And what happens when royal interests collide with government priorities? Valentine book's, Power and the Palace : How the Royals Exercise Political Influence is available now. You can buy a copy from The Times Bookshop , with a special discount for Times+ members. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch on YouTube. Read more: Palace refused to have post-Brexit deal signed at Windsor Castle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry and Meghan returned to Britain with Archie and Lilibet for a strictly private reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove. There were no photographs, few official details and — unusually — no briefing war afterwards. Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah reveal what they know about the meeting, why Camilla’s presence was so significant, and how Harry felt afterwards. They also ask whether the reunion can lead to a lasting reconciliation while Prince William remains outside the thaw. But Harry’s reunion came amid the fallout from his High Court defeat against Associated Newspapers. His description of the judgment as a “whitewash” reportedly left palace aides with their “jaws on the floor”. So can Harry rebuild trust with his father while continuing his public battles with the press and the British establishment — and can he finally become a peacetime prince? Next week, incoming prime minister Andy Burnham meets the King — what would you like to know about that relationship? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Watch on YouTube. Read more: Palace 'jaws were on the floor' after Prince Harry's judiciary attack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry is back in Britain for events linked to the Invictus Games — but what should have been a visit focused on his charity work has become a full blown Sussex-Palace psychodrama. Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey unpack a bruising week for the Duke of Sussex: a humiliating High Court defeat against the publishers of the Daily Mail, a row over Buckingham Palace accommodation, unresolved security concerns, and uncertainty over whether Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will come to the UK. Was this ever an opening for reconciliation with the royal family — or does every return to Britain now risk becoming another palace crisis? Has Harry overplayed his hand - or has the palace acted coldly? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: Harry, the Duke of Hazard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton is a former SAS soldier who became one of the royal family’s most trusted insiders – serving the Queen Mother, guiding Princes William and Harry through their early public lives, playing a key role in Prince William and Kate’s 2011 royal wedding, and later becoming godfather to Prince George. This week on The Royals , Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah speak to Jamie about what it takes to prepare young royals for public duty, and what he learnt about William’s future as king, Harry’s bond with the military and Kate's quiet confidence. And as the royal family becomes increasingly slimmed-down, what can his experience tell us about the challenges facing the next generation? Jamie's novel, Beyond the Edge of Light, is available from 9th July. You can buy a copy from The Times Bookshop , with a special discount for Times+ members. Got a question? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace, Shabnam Grewal, Harry Bligh Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: Kate, Wills and Harry's confidant: the man who kept their secrets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King Charles and Prince William have revealed their personal tax bills for the first time, in a historic moment for royal financial transparency. But the disclosures come as the Sovereign Grant rises to £132.1 million, with core royal household funding set to double in the next three years. This week on The Royals , Kate Mansey is joined by Katie Tarrant, Whitehall correspondent for The Sunday Times , to unpack the Sovereign Grant report. They discuss why the King and Queen will not move back into Buckingham Palace after its £369 million reservicing programme, how William is responding to scrutiny over Dartmoor Prison rental income, and what the accounts reveal about Duchy wealth, public funding and value for money. Is the Palace’s new transparency push enough to answer critics – or does it simply open the door to more questions about royal money? Is this a new era of royal transparency? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: King Charles and Prince William pay more than £50m in tax Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Trooping the Colour to Garter Day and Royal Ascot, this was the week the royal family put on their grandest annual display of glamour and spectacle. This week on The Royals , Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by the historian and author A.N. Wilson to ask whether these massive public events still have a place in modern Britain. They look beyond the carriages, uniforms and hats to discuss what these public ceremonies are designed to achieve for the monarchy and the country. At a time of protests, scandal, a smaller working royal family and growing scrutiny over royal wealth, is pageantry still the monarchy’s best way of proving its value, or does the institution now have to work harder to justify the show? Do the royals justify the pageantry? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Roya won! But you can still donate to Roya’s racing challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support through JustGiving. Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace, Shabnam Grewal Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: To shake off Andrew, royals must pay their way Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From palace homes for non-working royals to "peppercorn" rents and subletting arrangements, the fallout from a major royal property investigation continues. This week on The Royals , Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are joined by The Times investigations reporter George Greenwood to examine why the National Audit Office report has struck such a chord. They discuss reports that the King is reviewing Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s rent arrangements, and Prince William’s hints at reform when he becomes king. So, what could this mean ahead of the renewal of the Sovereign Grant and a parliamentary inquiry into royal finances? And how much of this stems from the public outcry over Andrew’s Royal Lodge lease? Have a question about royal finances? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk . You can donate to Roya’s racing challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support through JustGiving . Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: Cosy property deals hurt the monarchy - here's how to fix them Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As police widen their inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a major National Audit Office report has disclosed new details about his dealings on Royal Lodge, including that he sublet three cottages on the estate for 20 years. On The Royals this week, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey analyse what the report reveals about royal property arrangements – from grace-and-favour homes to rents paid by members of the Royal Family. They are joined by The Times chief reporter Fiona Hamilton to look at the latest developments around Andrew, including reports that Buckingham Palace was handed an archive of emails in 2020 relating to Andrew’s time as trade envoy. Andrew denies wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence. Will this trigger a turning point for royal transparency? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: I fear the royal family will never let Andrew end up in court Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two significant developments surround the story of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. First, detectives investigating Andrew could examine allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption as part of their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office. Andrew has not been charged and denies all wrongdoing. Secondly, newly released government files show that it was the late Queen’s wish for Andrew to take on the prominent trade envoy role now under scrutiny. Roya Nikkhah is joined by The Sunday Times’s Whitehall correspondent Katie Tarrant to discuss the latest police developments and unpack the government files. We also hear from Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter for The Times, on the Thames Valley Police briefing. Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: The Andrew files - read the documents in full Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As scrutiny grows over royal wealth, property and privilege, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey ask whether Prince William is becoming more transparent about royal finances – or being pushed into openness. They examine new details about the Prince and Princess of Wales’s annual rent at Forest Lodge, The Sunday Times’s reporting on William’s tax bill, and the ripple effect of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s peppercorn rent deal at Royal Lodge. Will Humphries, southwest and countryside correspondent for The Times , joins to explain his investigation into changes at the Duchy of Cornwall, from tenant farmers in Devon to William’s plans to sell off part of the estate and invest in housing, renewable energy and communities. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: Inside the £1bn property empires of King Charles and William Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the King’s diplomatic success during his state visit to the US, the Princess of Wales stepped back onto the international stage with a visit to the Italian city of Reggio Emilia. Four years on from her last official overseas visit, aides say the Princess is “taking it up a gear” as she resumes foreign travel following her cancer treatment. Kate Mansey and Roya Nikkhah are in Italy with the latest from the Princess’ milestone trip. What does her star power abroad reveal about the royal family’s enduring international appeal? And what more can we expect from the Princess on the world stage in the year ahead? They also speak to Trudi Seneviratne, a consultant psychiatrist who has worked alongside the Princess on her Early Years initiative since 2017 to find out the inspiration behind Catherine’s passion for the project and what the Princess is really like to work with behind the scenes. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Natalie Ktena Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a week since King Charles’ high-stakes state visit to the US ended in diplomatic triumph. After months of difficult headlines for the royals and the US-UK relationship, many applauded the King for steadying the ship. But what does this moment tell us about the current state of the special relationship? And how does it compare to historical ups and downs? In a final dispatch from Washington, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today and author of the new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History . Queen Elizabeth II met with thirteen sitting US presidents, more than any other head of state in history. Page talks us through the highs and lows of the special relationship during her reign, and discusses the role a monarch can play to keep important relationships on side. Susan Page's book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History. Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace, Natalie Ktena Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: King Charles flattered and chided Trump. The president loved it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a White House welcome to the Congress speech and the state dinner, this was supposed to be the day King Charles showed royal symbolism can still carry real diplomatic weight in America. But it didn't quite turn out that way. After a big day of pageantry in Washington, the visit took an extraordinary turn at the banquet, when President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that the King backed him on Iran — a remark that's triggered headlines around the world. In response to Trump's comments, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King is "naturally mindful of his government's long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation". In the immediate aftermath, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by The Times ’s assistant US editor David Charter for post-match analysis on the spectacle, the tensions and the question now hanging over the visit: did royal diplomacy win the day, or has Trump seized the final word? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk Image: Getty Producer: Robert Wallace Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Read more: King Charles’ speech to Congress: praise, warnings and 12 standing ovations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.