CORGIS, CLONES & CHAOS: THE ROYALS' WORST WEEK YET - The Week In UK Royal News with Mark Francis

Newly disclosed Facebook messages in Prince Harry’s privacy case appear to show a much warmer relationship with a Mail on Sunday journalist than he previously described in court, raising awkward new questions about the image he has presented in his long-running battle with the press.We break down the “Mr Mischief” messages, what they could mean for Harry’s credibility, and why Deep Crown says the issue is not whether Harry was harmed — but whether the story he tells about himself still fully holds together.Plus: Harry speaks in Washington about privacy and surveillance, a new royal book claims Queen Elizabeth would not take his calls without someone else present, and Meghan shares fresh lifestyle advice involving flower arranging, a $255 tea bloom box, and what will almost certainly become social media material by the end of the day.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

A new report claims Princess Catherine is receiving a disturbing stream of obsessive and explicit correspondence, prompting renewed attention on the darker side of royal fame and the security risks that come with it. We also look at a rare rough patch in Kate coverage, with two recent fashion choices drawing unusually mixed reactions online, plus why William and Catherine are expected to pull back during the Easter school break.And: new reporting suggests William is determined not to let Charlotte and Louis grow up feeling like “spares,” while Tom Bower’s latest book raises fresh questions about whether Harry has any place at all in William’s future monarchy. Plus: the BBC prepares a major Queen Elizabeth centenary documentary, Charles has a plaque-unveiling mishap in Oxford, and the royals’ annual clock-changing operation sounds like a full-time historical crisis.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly considering a dramatic image overhaul as she looks for a new public identity, with claims she’s exploring a more influencer-style reinvention in hopes of rebuilding relevance, visibility and financial footing.We also cover the latest denials around Sarah’s living arrangements, her anger over the bizarre corgi-cloning reality show rumors, and the decision to strip her of the Freedom of the City of York.Plus: Princess Beatrice is said to be feeling the strain of the ongoing Andrew fallout, SNL U.K. opens with a savage Prince Andrew sketch, and reports suggest Andrew has now been told to leave “no trace” behind as he exits Royal Lodge — before apparently settling into life with a secondhand static caravan.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Buckingham Palace has now confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to the United States in late April for a major state visit — one that is already shaping up to be far more complicated than a standard royal tour.The trip will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, but it lands amid rising tensions with Donald Trump, renewed questions about whether Charles will see Harry, Archie and Lilibet, and fresh calls for the King to confront the Jeffrey Epstein shadow hanging over the monarchy.We also hear from Deep Crown on why the real palace professionals will be trying to keep every other royal out of the frame — and why the Sussexes have a habit of doing the exact opposite.Plus: Charles gets a very on-brand new flower show at Sandringham, Carey Mulligan is honored at Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace is reportedly worried that BBC cuts could weaken coverage of major royal moments when they matter mostGet episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Journalist Marina Hyde delivers a brutal assessment of Harry and Meghan on The Rest Is Entertainment, arguing the couple are now “just rich people” with little left to offer beyond their royal backstory.We also look at Tina Brown’s warning that the Sussexes could be heading toward increasingly desperate commercial territory, fresh questions around Meghan’s Australian retreat, new mockery for As Ever, Harry and Meghan’s response to the Australian taxpayer petition, and why critics increasingly see the couple as stuck between celebrity branding and royal irrelevance.Plus: Harry and Meghan welcome a major U.S. social media court verdict, Liz Truss says California is welcome to keep them, and another columnist argues the deeper problem may be that both Harry and Meghan are now facing full-blown identity crises.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Speculation is building around King Charles’s U.S. visit, with fresh chatter suggesting some would love to turn the occasion into a made-for-television royal reunion featuring Harry and Meghan. Deep Crown is not buying it — but he does have thoughts on how quickly both Charles and William would shut that idea down.Plus: reports of fresh tension between William and Camilla over how hard the King should be working during treatment, Charles prepares to deliver the King’s Speech on May 13, Camilla has a very familiar married moment in Cornwall, and William faces criticism over Duchy farm sales even as he visits troops in Wiltshire.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Royal biographer Tom Bower says Prince Harry could, in theory, find a way back into the royal fold — but only if he came back without Meghan Markle. Speaking on The Royalist Podcast, Bower argued that any serious reconciliation remains impossible as long as the couple stay together, and claimed the monarchy still has no clear way to “neutralize the danger” posed by the Sussexes.We also look at new reporting about an alleged tense moment between Harry and Meghan during their Jordan trip, continued criticism of their Netflix polo drama, and the growing sense that the couple still cannot escape the royal identity they were meant to leave behind.Plus: Buckingham Palace announces this summer’s garden parties, reports swirl over whether Beatrice and Eugenie will be kept away from Ascot, and a string of revoked honors prompts fresh questions about whether the system still means what it used to.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare has been named Britain’s most popular bathroom read, topping a new survey that highlights its easy, conversational style.Meanwhile, Meghan Markle is facing renewed online criticism after sharing a video of daughter Princess Lilibet with the family’s chickens, with some questioning the authenticity of the carefully curated glimpse into their California life.We break down the latest wave of scrutiny, including claims about their standing in Montecito, ongoing questions about their brand, and whether their public image continues to work in their favor.Plus: commentary from across the media landscape on why the Sussexes may be better suited to life in California than the United Kingdom, and new reports suggesting Prince Harry’s relationship with King Charles remains strained.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Sunday prison visit: Haakon, Mette-Marit, and Sverre Magnus photographed arriving at Oslo Prison to see Marius. Appeals court rules Marius remains in detention until June verdict, rejects release request. Court cites "strong probability" of reoffending, points to Valentine's Day restraining order breach while in custody (flowers and letter to Frogner woman through third party). Defense argued media attention reduced risk, court rejected: coverage "has not prevented accused from being suspected of new criminal acts." Mette-Marit surprise return to public duties Tuesday welcoming Belgian royals, first engagement in two months despite health deterioration. NRK "Debatten" reveals Palace received interview questions week in advance.Media critic Anki Gerhardsen: "managed communications exercise" not journalistic scrutiny. Attorney Gunhild Vehusheia (Aftenposten): interview placed too much focus on Mette-Marit's regret, too little on Epstein's victims. Repeated phrases "I didn't know," "I don't remember" are "exactly the kinds of explanations from people on edges of abuse scandals who chose not to look too closely." Commentator Carl-Erik Grimstad: Mette-Marit in "pitch-black tunnel," Palace chose "over-managed communications strategy" when honesty needed.Palace clarifies email account no longer exists (leaked 2012). Friday Supreme Court ruling lowers "sleep rape" sentencing benchmark. Defense: "clearly" affects case, seeks further reductions. Prosecution: already accounted for in seven-year-seven-month recommendation. Sentencing debate: "quantity discount on very serious crimes like rape." Media backlash: Defense attorney Andenæs calls coverage "heartbreakingly awful," "crushing."Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

King Charles walks a coastal path, cracks jokes about e-bikes, and may or may not be well enough to visit Trump in April. William rides a tandem bicycle with a Radio One presenter and raises over a million pounds for Comic Relief. Kate wears the Diana tiara and quietly gives up drinking. Dame Sarah Mullally becomes the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in 1,400 years, and William shows up to make clear he's paying attention. Andrew's police investigation widens. His daughters' marriages are reportedly under strain. Sarah Ferguson denies planning a corgi cloning reality show, which means someone had to ask her about it. The City of York prepares to strip her of an honour. Prince Anne is heckled at Oxford and walks straight past. Tom Bower's new book lands like a grenade, with claims about collapsed brand audits, a Sentebale confrontation, and a $250,000 Balenciaga arrangement masterminded by Meghan herself. Netflix says everything is fine. Multiple sources say it is not. Meghan launches a $255 box containing flowers, honey, and a baguette that the internet could not leave alone. And Harry and Meghan are developing another polo drama. The first one didn't work. Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana