King Charles given rare honour as Kate issues powerful tribute – Royal family live

Biographer Ingrid Seward said that the card will almost certainly feature Kate, 42, with her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, six.

She told the Mirror: “[It will] definitely be with family as right across the board that is what has been traditionally sent.

“I imagine that it will be cuddly picture of her with her arms around her children.”

The monarch, who is patron of the London Symphony Orchestra, took in the hour-long performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ overture, Paganini’s First movement from Violin Concerto No 1, and Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ for String Orchestra.

The engagement comes just days before the monarch is due to travel overseas for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa.

The Prince of Wales has called for a movement that creates “systemic change” to end homelessness in the UK.

William made the comments on Wednesday evening as Centrepoint, the homeless charity he supports as a patron.

Speaking at the Kensington Palace event, which was hosted by broadcaster Claudia Winkleman, William said: “I am inspired by the ambition and commitment of all the award winners and nominees this evening. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.

“What inspires me the most about the young people here this evening, is that they have not only overcome homelessness to achieve their personal ambitions, but they are also all contributing to the communities in which they live… be that through teaching, fundraising or volunteering.

“While homelessness is of course a complex societal issue, I passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended.”

William said he believed this required “a movement that creates systemic change” which “focuses on prevent rather than management” and “ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently”.

William has arrived at the British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards.

The Prince of Wales met with the young finalists and was laughing and joking with them as he made his way around the groups.

An orchestra played Adele’s Skyfall in the background.

Sarah, who joined the royal family upon her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday wishes!

“I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be here every day, to smell the flowers, to read and write, and to be able to see my daughters and my grandchildren.

“It has been an extraordinary, full year – a year of recovery and of growth – and I just feel so lucky.

“Thank you again to all of you who made it so and who took the time to send me birthday wishes.”

King Charles is set to be met with anti-monarchy protests when he arrives in Australia with Queen Camilla on Friday.

Alongside protests from people within Australia, Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, said he was travelling down under “to challenge the royal PR machine”.

Mr Smith said: “I’m in Australia to talk about why the UK should ditch the monarchy and to challenge the royal PR machine.

“I’m not here to tell Australia to become a republic, but to talk to Australians and the British press about the growing republican movement in the UK and the huge failings of the British monarchy.

“The message is simple: Charles does not speak for us, he does not represent us, he should go home.”

Visitors to Dumfries House in Scotland can now dine in the very same spot as King Charles, where they will be able to experience an 18th-century feast in his favourite room.

Charles takes most of his evening meals in the Pink Dining Room while staying at the Scottish stately home in Ayrshire.

Now his charity, The King’s Foundation, is offering a new private dining experience, allowing members of the public the opportunity to enjoy a three-course meal, authentic to the 1700s and served by a traditional butler, in the royal chamber.

Guests will eat at the King’s table – but not in the presence of the monarch – beneath the 35kg Murano glass floral chandelier, which was painstakingly reassembled after being found in the basement in more than 100 pieces nearly 20 years ago.

King Charles was visibly delighted when he was gifted a knitted cake stand to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his charity’s textiles programme.

Charles, 75, accepted the gift in Ayrshire, Scotland where the King’s Foundation set up Future Textiles in 2014.

The programme, which exists in several forms, has now expanded across the UK and was established to address the skills gap in the UK’s textile industry.

Jacqueline Farrell, education director at The King’s Foundation, said: “Initially, Future Textiles benefitted secondary school-age pupils by introducing them to the beauty of making and ensuring they understood the technical sewing and craft processes that are so vital to responsible fashion design and manufacturing.

“Due to the incredible support of the industry and our partners, the programme grew rapidly and now offers a huge range of courses ranging from day workshops and weekly community groups, to full-time courses which provide students with the skills needed to start their own businesses and gain employment in the industry.”