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| Noor Nanji | Culture reporter |
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| Welcome to your latest edition of Royal Watch. This week, Prince George took centre stage as a new photograph of him, taken by his mother, the Princess of Wales, was released to mark his 11th birthday. Meanwhile, the royal finances came under the spotlight as palace officials released their annual accounts. Prince Harry’s Invictus Games are coming to Birmingham, UK in 2027. And, as things start to quieten down for the summer, we look at where the royals go on holiday. P.S. Speaking of holidays - Sean Coughlan is currently on his, so I’ll be your royal guide for the week. | |
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The birthday boy | Royal fans and newspaper front pages were treated to a birthday photograph of a smiling Prince George this week. The future king turned 11 on Monday, and looks very grown up in the photo shared by Kensington Palace to mark the occasion. He’s dressed formally in a suit, a contrast to the more casual image released on his 10th birthday where he was seen sitting on steps, sleeves rolled back. |
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 | "Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today," the Palace's social media account posted alongside the image. Credit: Kensington Palace | Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed he was wearing a friendship bracelet, similar to the one worn by his sister, Princess Charlotte, during the Wimbledon men’s final earlier this month. It’s been a difficult year for George and his siblings, with their mother and grandfather both diagnosed with cancer. But they have been out and about a fair bit recently. George was last seen in public accompanying his father, the Prince of Wales, in Berlin for the men's Euro 2024 football final between England and Spain. |
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|  | The pair have been spotted together at several football events. Credit: PA | A few weeks earlier, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended a Taylor Swift concert. The pop star’s fans are also known for exchanging friendship bracelets – leading to speculation that the young royals are massive Swifties. |
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A boost in royal finances | On Wednesday, we learned that the monarchy is to get an extra £45m due to soaring profits from the Crown Estate, thanks to its six new offshore wind farms.
Profits from the Crown Estate have increased to £1.1bn, which in turn will boost the Sovereign Grant, which pays for the Royal Family's running costs.
The grant will rise from £86.3m in 2024-25 to £132m in 2025-26. Officials say this will help pay for the last stages of renovating Buckingham Palace. |
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 | The 10-year £369m refurbishment of Buckingham Palace is ongoing and taxpayer-funded. Credit: Getty/Samir Hussein | Speaking of the Crown Estate, it is set to partner with new publicly owned energy investment firm Great British Energy, to push forward offshore windfarm projects.
And the green theme continued in other ways this week.
The annual accounts revealed the King’s two state Bentleys will be converted to run on biofuel within the next year, with a view to eventually switching to a fleet of electric cars. And Windsor Castle is being fitted with solar panels for the first time. |
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 | In response to the accounts’ publication, anti-monarchy group Republic said: "We do not owe the royals a living”. Credit: Getty/Max Mumby/Indigo | Charles is of course a longtime campaigner on climate issues. In fact, he has previously said that people thought he was "completely dotty" when he started talking about environmental issues in the 1970s. |
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Harry congratulates Birmingham | Birmingham, UK has won the bid to host the 2027 Invictus Games, beating off competition from Washington DC.
The Duke of Sussex - who founded the tournament for injured military personnel and veterans - congratulated the city, saying its strong ties to the armed forces made it “a formidable contender” from the start.
It means the event will come to the UK for the first time since the inaugural games in London in 2014. |
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 | The Invictus Games are held every two years. Credit: PA | It also means a UK visit for Harry (and possibly Meghan) may be on the cards.
In other Harry news, he said his decision to fight against intrusion from the tabloid press was a "central piece" behind the breakdown of his relationship with the rest of the Royal Family.
His full comments will be aired as part of an ITV documentary tonight. |
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Royal escapes | July and August are quiet months for the working royals, so that’s usually when they head on their summer holidays to Balmoral Castle.
The castle, in the heart of Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, has been a holiday home for the Royal Family for decades and was much loved by the late Queen Elizabeth II. |
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|  | Members of the public can pay £100 to visit the castle. Credit: PA | This year, Balmoral has opened to the public for the first time, with guided tours taking place from 1 July. But it will be closed to visitors when the royals come for their break.
Of course, the weather in Scotland can be hit and miss – and members of the Royal Family have been known to venture further afield in search of summer sun. William and Catherine spent their honeymoon in the Seychelles, for example. Mustique is also a favourite for the couple, as it was for Princess Margaret. |
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Your Royal Watch | Last week, we asked you whether MPs should have to swear allegiance to the King and his heirs to take their seat in Parliament, even if they are opposed to the monarchy.
You sent many interesting responses.
Mariangela in Italy is a republican, although she admired the late Queen. She thinks our politicians should swear allegiance to the British nations, even if they don’t support the monarchy. This shouldn’t be a problem in a “full and strong democracy” like the UK, she adds.
Chris, from Hove in England, points out that pledging allegiance to all heirs and successors could be a problem. Some MPs might feel uncomfortable that Prince Andrew is still in the line of succession, for example. He writes: “It is shocking that MPs are subjected to this behaviour in a modern democracy.”
Richard in Canada believes that monarchies are the most stable form of government, and should be respected. He says: “While they last, lawmakers should swear allegiance to our monarch.”
Ken in the US agrees, and says: “If it isn’t broken, don't replace it.”
Kimberley from England has an even stronger view. She writes that MPs who don’t want to pledge allegiance to the monarch should consider a different career path.
She says: “You should stand down rather than ‘do it under protest’.”
This week, we want to know whether you think taxpayers should pay for repairs to Buckingham Palace. We love hearing from you. Send your responses to royalwatch@bbc.co.uk. Please remember to include your name and which country you’re writing from. | |
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A piece of royal history | Following Prince George’s 11th birthday, we thought it fitting to share this remarkable photograph of his great-grandmother at the same age.
At 11, Queen Elizabeth II witnessed the coronation of her father King George VI, on 12 May 1937. |
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 | It has long been a tradition for royal children to join the rest of the family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Credit: Getty/Central Press/Stringer | The abdication of King Edward VIII sent shockwaves through the British monarchy, leading to the unexpected ascension of George VI.
This sudden change thrust the young Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret into a new reality of heightened public visibility and responsibility.
The coronation held at Westminster Abbey was a pivotal moment not just for the monarchy, but also for the future queen. |
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