As I mentioned in the story about the Princess of Wales’s new “honor,” I’m flabbergasted that the Duchess of Gloucester is now the first married-in royal wife to be given the Order of the Garter. That’s a huge deal and the Order of the Garter is a very elite club, one of the most elite of all the royal honors. As I said, I’m sure it’s about seniority more than anything else, but you know Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is probably beyond pissed that she wasn’t given the Order the Garter. Sophie and Edward were totally missing from King Charles’s list of honors and appointments. But no worries – Sophie and Edward have been asked to step in for King Charles for Anzac Day, which is tomorrow.
King Charles lll has turned yet again to his new “chosen couple,” brother Prince Edward and his wife, Duchess Sophie, in his time of need.
As the royal family faces its most significant challenges in decades, with the absence of Charles and Princess Kate Middleton who are battling through their cancer diagnoses, Us Weekly has reported that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been the pair honored with representing them on the public stage. With support from Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward has appeared unfazed and up to the task, which has seen him rewarded and appreciated more than ever by the king.
Thursday, April 25, Prince Edward will step into his biggest role ever — leading the Royal Family in celebrating Anzac Day, which marks the anniversary of the start of the First World War Gallipoli landings.
It has been a major role enacted traditionally by the King or Queen of England, so this is Edward’s most significant duty to date. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance for Australia and New Zealand. It is a day to mark the service of members of the armed forces who have served, fought and died for their country.
The news comes as the pair, who Us sources previously said are being seen as the “chosen couple” were overlooked yesterday, April 23, for official new royal appointments. Charles, 75, appointed his daughter-in-law Princess Kate, 42, as the Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour. She is the first Royal Companion named to this order.
Anzac Day is a very big deal in the UK, and usually the heir or someone major is assigned to attend the early-morning service. Last year, Prince William attended the morning service solo. It feels like it’s one more thing which William has refused to do and Buckingham Palace is left floundering and trying to get people to fill in, not only for the king but his heir as well. Maybe they should give all of the D-Day 80th anniversary events to Sophie and Edward too?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
-
- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 11: Sophie, Countess of Wessex attends The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2023 in London, England.,Image: 821399183, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon
-
- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 12, 2023 in London, England. Every year, members of the British Royal family join politicians, veterans and members of the public to remember those who have died in combat.,Image: 821534893, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: PA OUT, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon
-
- Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at the Remembrance Sunday Service at The Cenotaph in London.,Image: 821566571, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Licenced to i-Images Picture Agency. All Rights Reserved. UK copyright law applies to all print & online publications. i-Images space rates apply to all images. Magazines contact agency for fees before use. Images Single use only then repro fees apply. Info@i-images.co Tel: 07860204379, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / Avalon
-
- Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attend the Easter Mattins Service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, UK – 31 Mar 2024,Image: 861384199, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: James Shaw/Shutterstock / Avalon
-
- The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.Earl and Countess of Forfar ) attend engagments in Kincardineshire visiting Bogenraith Equestrian Centre. Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh Where: Kincardineshire, United Kingdom When: 22 Mar 2024 Credit: Cover Images
-
- The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.Earl and Countess of Forfar ) attend engagments in Kincardineshire visiting Bogenraith Equestrian Centre. Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh Where: Kincardineshire, United Kingdom When: 22 Mar 2024 Credit: Cover Images
-
- Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. Featuring: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Earl of Wessex Where: Windsor, United Kingdom When: 31 Mar 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
- The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, on behalf of King Charles III, watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London, with France’s Gendarmerie’s Garde Republicaine taking part to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale – the historic diplomatic agreement between Britain and France which laid the groundwork for their collaboration in both world wars. France is the first non-Commonwealth country to take part in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Apr 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
- The Duchess of Edinburgh, on behalf of King Charles III, at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London, with France’s Gendarmerie’s Garde Republicaine taking part to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale – the historic diplomatic agreement between Britain and France which laid the groundwork for their collaboration in both world wars. France is the first non-Commonwealth country to take part in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Ednburgh Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Apr 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
We’re about to get hit by a new wave of articles claiming that “Sophie is the only person holding the monarchy together”.
Yep. Sophiesta is the monarchy’s newest “secret weapon”.
It’s really what Phillip and QEII would have wanted.
Anzac Day is the most important holiday in Australia, the most solemn occasion, no expense is spared commemorating it. We lost 8,000 at Gallipoli at the hands of the Turks.
I doubt the late Queen would want William to be a no-show. I should add that we were fighting for the allies and our mother country, England, at the time.
So is william getting away with laziness. Will the media complain. William found time to go to a sports event
I think this is all bigger than mere laziness. Despite Peg’s propensity for temper tantrums, at the end of the day BP and KC still have “hand”. I don’t believe they couldn’t force his participation … if they wanted to. Punishing him? Hiding him? Curious minds…
Charles has never forced him to do anything -that’s a huge part of the reason he’s so difficult now.
I have the same feeling that something is wrong. I don’t have a theory, but media is so suspiciously ignoring it. Something is up and everyone’s covering for him/them for now.
Yes, I do too, it’s very annoying, because Inquiring Minds Want to Know! Something is way off, and we might not be able to connect the dots for months if not years.
Punishing and hiding William. He only appears when Charles allows. (My personal conspiracy theory.)
Interesting, Art Fossil. My conspiracy theory is that Willnot is so unreliable that nobody know whether or not he is drunk and/or hung over most of the time and/or don’t even know how to contact him. There is no way that this “family man” is doing the school run everyday or even seeing his kids except for maybe through face time.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. They’ve resorted to bring out the old “secret weapon”. Softiesta must be giddy.
She’s probably too bereft over being snubbed for a made-up honor to be giddy. I mean, how much striving does she have to do to get a fancy new sash or robe?
To be fair ( and I am not a fan) she has worked harder this year than Kate has ever done. I think Kate is being bribed with a fancy outfit to come back to work., which was the reason she got the royal photo to pin on her dresses after Rose-gate.
William only works one day a week now. Apparently that day is Thursday. But he’s doing something else that day and not Anzac Day. And didn’t William just get a new chocolate award too?
Peg works from home and this event needs real people so Sophie and Edward will have to do it.
ANZAC Day is a bigger deal in Australia and New Zealand, considering it was our men that the Brits fed to the machine guns at Gallipoli.
I resent having the Also Ran Royals being the ones we are being subjected to. Edward couldn’t even finish his marine training. The colony’s obviously no longer important.
Aussie, here, well said: see my post below. We lost 8,000 fighting for the Empire and allies. It’s insulting to send the low tier royals.
The old queen was quite sensitive to these things. This new bunch are only sensitive to their own needs and wants.
Thank you; had she been alive, William wouldn’t dare to not attend. He’s our next King, FFS.
You mean the same William who skipped the Commonwealth service to go dad dancing in Switzerland? I’m sure the queen was pleased.
@Moondust
I think the problem is that the late Queen and Charles were/are adverse to any confrontation and never figured out the concept of withholding money, power, property, helicopters from the lazy heir in order to get him to do his job (such as it is). And now, with their popularity taking a nosedive, it’s all coming back the bite the RF.
Something that’s often struck me, as a New Zealander, is that there’s no bad feeling against the Turks, who were the actual enemy, they were just forced into it by the elites like we were, but the UK hasn’t been forgiven for throwing the NZ and Aus troops into the Gallipoli meat grinder.
It’s like the Commonwealth Day service. It’s only a UK thing, the actual commonwealth countries don’t celebrate it. UK might want to have a little think about why that is.
Yep. Another Aussie here. I find it offensive and I am wondering whether the media will report it that way.
Aussies need to know how little f**ks these people give about us so that we can become a republic and be rid of them finally.
I think you know the answer to that. Sadly the RF have no respect for anyone and I don’t think any senior royals have visited Australia, NZ or Canada for years. As a Brit I encourage you to go your own way and hopefully get a much better more committed Head of State – you deserve it.
If this were a real world job, and William refused to work, he would have been canned long ago. But since it’s monarchy which is all about birthright, William keeps his no-work job. Sycophants like Sophie and Edward are always happy to step in, thinking that the king might throw them some crumbs. Unlikely. Charles just laughs at the suckers.
At some point, maybe if he doesn’t show up for the DDay Commemorations , is The Times going to ask why FK has YET to be asked or volunteer(whatever) to do ANY event as deputy for the King in his role as heir? Prat about doing let’s pretend skits and slugging back alcohol is within his reach but nothing substantial like Anzac Day for instance? Just lazy or busy washing either his hair or his heir?? Or can’t they risk him on an international commemorative event where he might keel over?
I think they are afraid that he’ll insult someone there, causing an international incident. William is the least self-aware and the least diplomatic of any of them, and they all know it. But they don’t know what to do about this loser heir!
Who remembers William turning up at the ANZAC day church service the day after Louis was born because Harry and Meghan were chosen to represent the Queen at the service? It wouldn’t surprise me if William turns up on the day.
Future head of the armed forces refuses to show up for ANZAC memorial service. I guess he well and truly DGAF anymore. He’s set to abolish the monarchy from within.
Has Charles ever attended the Anzac day service?
It wasn’t necessary whilst the late Queen was alive, especially when Prince Philip was active too. Now that Charles has cancer and William is the next King, it is essential that he be seen at solemn events, not just good times.
My theory is that he is so thoroughly bored by the brutal sameness of the royal calendar, even at his young age, that he cannot get himself to attend–now that Kate has provided a way out and Charles has proved to be spineless.
If I were Sophie I would rather that KC share some of the dough than get one of the made-up honors that are basically worthless.
This is lazy and disrespectful of FK just after dad got him another unmerited award. The vast gulf between doing your absolute best ,despite personal problems like many people do here and this man child’s self centred privilege, is breathtaking. I am a parent and have raised my sons to make an effort because it is okay to try and not succeed as long as you have done your best. We learn by doing and repetition and simply showing up is the minimum? It is so wrong to “reward” without effort or recognisable achievement. No wonder Will just isn’t turning up for anything he doesn’t fancy if he can’t be sacked and instead gets rewarded endlessly.
Would he be embarrassed into showing up more if he got scolded by the BM or would he sulk even more in his bunker? How is he going to cope when he becomes King if he is not even limbering up now? Both he and dad should be working in partnership from now on. Putting things off endlessly won’t work!
I’m a proud Australian, it’s Anzac Day for us, a holiday, hence why I’m up late. It’s a very solemn day for us in AU, the most important holiday, and for the Turks in Gallipoli. We have the dawn services in both countries, many making the pilgrimage.
With respect, it’s the biggest day for Australians and NZ, our most bloody battle in WWI, fighting for the mother country, for the allies, true, but otherwise, nothing to do with GB. It was the day our Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) proudly went into taking Gallipoli. We have Anzac Biscuits to celebrate.
We lost over 8,000 soldiers at the Gallipoli peninsula.
Will has no time to attend official events but can find time to hang with Tom Cruise.
The British media is a joke. Why are they not holding this clown to account for his suspicious absences?
That’s a great question and the only answer is sycophancy. The British media and royal reporters are not to be considered journalists with any proper credentials because most of them report as PR arms of the royals. That is not journalism.
The bar is so low, that’s why Kate gets praised for baking her kid a packet birthday cake (whilst the hired help clean up).
Mere laziness doesn’t really cut it as an explanation, for me. Something is deeply weird about all this, but in particular: Wllm only showing up on thursdays, like its work release day or something.
Last year in The Times they had a throw back anecdote to Diana asking William to accompany her on a private hospital visit to a teenage girl. She was visiting regularly and she asked her if she could bring her something next time, to which girl requested to meet William. She relayed the request to her son who refused and it didn’t change his mind when she pointed out that there be plenty of OFFICIAL hospital visiting in his future. She discussed her disappointment with the girl’s consultant afterwards and he excused it as William just being a boy.
Could it just be revealing that William doesn’t put himself out for anyone , won’t willingly do anything he’s not required to do just to please a loved one or just an immature teenage?
Someone here posted months ago that William has an Opposition Disorder. He refuses to do as he is expected or requested.
@Libra that particular disorder is going to be disastrous for his current very public high profile role and even more so for that of monarch which is about order, tradition, endless ceremonies and preplanned events 6- 12 months. It requires someone steady, reliable with stamina and a sense of duty. Recent events do not augur well for King Billy. I genuinely do wonder how people cope with all the anxiety BTS at the respective Palaces. Is he okay? Is he going to show up? Once he’s King it really is primetime and I am not sure how many threadbare excuses you can trot out if he continues not to show up for substantial events like Anzac Day?
I don’t know if it’s ODD and/or something else but I believe that they’ve known he was poorly suited for the job. They abused Harry into being the punching bag for years. Panic has now really set in as Harry’s moved on and KC has declining health. I think William will just do as he pleases as king just like he has always done. Who’s gonna make him?
Or maybe he’s just a dick.
Sophie finally got her much coveted Duchess’ coronet, that will have to satisfy her for a while.
To give some further perspective on the respect and solemnity of this occasion, every major free-to-air channel broadcasts the dawn service, either live or later. Our national broadcaster, the ABC (equivalent to the BBC) broadcasts ALL day.
I’m waiting for the dawn service to commence just after 4:00 am.
Aussie here too and yes Anzac Day is sacred here .
People pay their respects to those who lost their lives and descendants of those who died ,keep the tradition alive .
Young children wear their loved ones medals .Each year the event is more special.
I had the good fortune to visit the Anzac Memorial in Sydney a few years ago. Quite moving.
I’ve been appalled they way the UK has ignored their service members (active and inactive) for the IG, but if this is Billy Idle’s way of saying he doesn’t care about service members entirely then I am not just flabbergasted but horrified. This is the Country that decided to hold a ten year anniversary of IG? Really? They don’t deserve to hold the IG in 2027–the UK service members deserve so much more.
I believe Harry represented the Queen during Anzac day after Philip retired. Meghan attended with Harry when they were engaged- William showed up “unexpectedly” to the Church service after the birth of Louis and could barely keep his eyes open probably to claim his place in the photo-op. It seems Harry was Phillip’s designated heir for quite a number of his patronages and duties, relating to the military.
Thanks for reminding me. William makes me sick. I’m watching the dawn service now and it is so emotional for us.
The Governor of NSW, the King’s representative in our state is now present.
The dawn services around the country are beginning. Sydney first. Australia and NZ host the dawn service at the Gallipoli Peninsula, too, with cooperation from their Turkish hosts.
For those who are interested: https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NS1413V001S00
esquire, thank you for the link. I’m watching now.
WTAF does wank do all day every day? Millions of tax payers pounds every year and he literally does f all . Are we to accept that as long as buttons has cancer supposedly, that no work will ever come from either of them ? How is the king who does have cancer able to work and William who doesn’t Can’t and won’t ? Make that make sense