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| Sean Coughlan | Royal Correspondent |
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| Welcome to Royal Watch. While the rest of us may stare into space sometimes, the Duchess of Edinburgh was actually talking into the cosmos this week, when she had a chat with an astronaut on board the International Space Station. It’s been a busy week for Sophie, covering events at home and abroad while the King gets ready for his big trip to Australia and Samoa. As well as managing his health, Charles is preparing for what could be a politically sensitive meeting with Commonwealth leaders, his first such summit since becoming King. But first, let’s bring you the latest on an important visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
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Big moment for Catherine’s return | The Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance today, carrying out her first official public engagement since her chemotherapy ended. She visited Southport with Prince William to show support for those caught up in the terrible knife attack in the Merseyside town in July, in which three children died. |
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| The visit by Prince William and Catherine was intended to show the community that it had "not been forgotten". Credit: PA | It was an unexpected return by Catherine, with this afternoon’s visit kept low-key and with no prior announcements to allow for a private meeting with some of the bereaved families. She has only made a few public appearances since her health problems were revealed at the beginning of the year – but here she was alongside Prince William, in what’s the biggest moment so far in her return. The prince and princess talked to some of the emergency responders who were at the scene. And they heard how the local community had been coming together after the attacks, which were followed by a wave of riots. |
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Sophie steps up | Is Sophie becoming the new Princess Anne? She covers a large number of engagements. She has a similar no-nonsense approach. And she’s also among the most popular royals. The Duchess of Edinburgh was in Malta this week with her husband Edward, on a visit marking the country’s 60th anniversary of independence – the first royal engagement there for nearly six years. |
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| | The duke and duchess threw wreaths into the sea at Valetta. Credit: PA | This week Sophie also took over as patron of Girlguiding, a role previously held by Queen Elizabeth II. Marking her involvement with the Guides, and to encourage girls to study science, Sophie spoke to astronaut Sunita Williams on the International Space Station. |
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| | Sophie read the book Specs for Rex by Yasmeen Ismail Credit: CBeebies/PA | Today she’s making an appearance on the BBC CBeebies channel for children, reading a bedtime story about a young lion who doesn’t want to wear glasses at school, in a project supporting World Sight Day. Speeches, space and specs all packed into a few days.
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How will Charles cope? | It’s not been officially confirmed by Buckingham Palace, but it seems that the King’s weekly cancer treatment will be paused during his forthcoming trip to Australia and Samoa. While the long journey sends a positive sign about his health, much attention will be paid to how the King copes with the demands of the visit. |
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Your Royal Watch | Last week we asked for your suggestions for celebrity royal collaborations, after Prince William worked with footballer David Beckham to raise money for the London Air Ambulance service. Dorian and Claudia in Romania suggested that after the King’s Samoan dancing efforts at a Commonwealth reception last month, he could “join forces with Dua Lipa” to raise money for young artists in need - one partnership the Royal Watch team had not envisioned. Meanwhile, Mary in Toronto, Canada, disapproves of the royals becoming part of a “Hollywood scene”. “Aren’t they celebrity enough?” she asks. For this week, do you think the King should make an apology over the UK’s historic links to slavery when he attends the Commonwealth summit? Please remember to include your name and what country you’re writing from. Send us your thoughts on royalwatch@bbc.co.uk. | |
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A piece of royal history | Anwar Hussein, a long-serving photographer of the Royal Family, has died at the age of 85. Photographing the family for more than 50 years, his work moved beyond formal portraits to reveal a more candid, personal side of the royals. He captured this shot of Princess Diana at the Anzac Day Commemorative Service, in New Zealand, in 1983. |
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Additional reporting by Kamilah McInnis |
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