Royal family scandal: Inside the highs and lows of 2023 royal life
For all of the lows, there were sufficient highs for the British Royal Family to celebrate in 2023. Here’s all of their biggest moments.
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There were famous friend fallouts, a well publicised car chase, claims of a World Cup snub, a glittering Coronation, and that book, which inadvertently outed the so-called “racist royals”. But in no way was 2023 an annus horribilis. For all of the lows, there were sufficient highs for the British Royal Family to celebrate.
ENDGAME
Author Omid Scobie followed up his 2023 bestseller Finding Freedom with another bombshell novel — Endgame — in December. The book exposed the real-life game of thrones playing out behind the scenes between King Charles III and Prince William.
But the bigger reveal came when a misprinting error, on the part of publishers editing the Dutch version, outed the so-called “racist royals” as the King and the Princess of Wales. Sources close to Meghan Markle insisted she did not leak Mr Scobie her notorious letter to King Charles in which she complained about two royals who had speculated about the skin colour of her and Prince Harry’s unborn child, Archie.
Scobie maintained he sent an early text of his book to the publisher on the understanding that the translation would be updated for a final version.
The book also portrays Kate Middleton as too scared to do anything but “grinning photo opportunities”.
NYC CAR CHASE
Prince Harry, Meghan and her mother Doria Ragland claimed in May to have been involved in a “near catastrophic” two-hour car chase by aggressive paparazzi in New York, after an awards ceremony.
Spokeswoman Ashley Hansen said the Sussexes were “incredibly scared”, narrowly avoiding
collisions with other drivers, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.
There were reports they were followed by 12 vehicles at speeds of up to 130km per hour at certain points.
But while the couple claimed the event evoked memories of the final, deadly, pursuit of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, in Paris, their taxi driver Sukhcharn Singh said, “I never felt like I was in danger.
“It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie. (Harry and Meghan) were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York – it’s safe.”
The New York Police Department (NYPD) said there were no arrests or injuries.
THE SUSSEXES’ SECURITY COURT CASE
Claims the Sussexes were “forced” to leave Britain after their security was downgraded as they bowed out as working Royals in 2020 were thrown in doubt in December.
Letters from the late Queen were presented to the High Court in London in Harry’s lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday, revealing she planned for the couple to have continued security from the British Home Office.
Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary Sir Edward Young told the Home Office committee in 2020 that keeping the Sussexes safe was “of paramount importance to Her Majesty and her family” as he argued a case for continuing security.
The Duke is suing Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, for libel over a 2022 article about his security arrangements claiming it was “an attack on his honesty and integrity”.
The letter contradicts a previous narrative that the Duke was cut off by the Royal Family after being “forced” to leave Britain and questions whether he made an offer to pay for his own security.
HARRY’S PHONE HACKING WIN
In a separate court matter, Prince Harry welcomed a UK civil ruling that he was a victim of phone hacking as “vindicating and affirming”.
A judge awarded him £140,600 ($A267,522) in damages for “hurt” and “distress” over 15 of 33 articles ruled to be the result of “extensive” phone hacking between 2003 and 2011 by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
WORLD CUP FINAL
The Prince of Wales’s decision not to attend the women’s World Cup final in Sydney drew fierce criticism from fans who slammed him as “not bothered” to show support for the Lionesses against Spain.
Not only was he president of the Football Association (FA), it was also argued a visit by Prince William would have bolstered support for the monarchy in Australia, following the death of the Queen.
William’s no show was considered such poor form he issued a grovelling apology in a video message alongside his daughter, saying, “Lionesses, I want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow. We’re sorry we can’t be there in person but we’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved, and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world.”
Fans were not impressed, insisting the heir’s attitude showed the monarchy’s “actual attitude” towards women in sport.
CORONATION
The coronation of King Charles was considered a roaring success with Britons, despite costing the public an eye-watering £100 million ($191 million).
May 6 wasn’t as cold as June 2, 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, but while equally grey, the coronation parade to and from Westminster Abbey passed like clockwork and gave cost of living weary Britons a welcome boost.
It also showcased the royal children in their delightful glory — specifically Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Prince Harry controversially jetted off immediately after the ceremony to LA for his son Archie’s fourth birthday.
The ensuing Coronation music concert was a hit.
British boy band Take That inspired the Prince and Princess of Wales and the King to show off their grooves in the royal box.
“Both King Charles and Prince William saw improvements in their public satisfaction ratings after the Coronation, to levels that most politicians would be only too delighted to receive,” head of political research at Ipsos UK, Gideon Skinner, said.
Nearly two thirds of adults in Britain are satisfied with the way the King is doing his job, up six points from April to 63 per cent. William is at 73 per cent.
INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
Since ascending the throne, King Charles and Camilla have embarked on the royal family’s biggest-ever series of international tours, taking in France, Germany, Kenya and later COP 23 in Dubai.
Charles’s first trip as monarch to France prompted cries on the streets of “Vive le Roi” to lengthy standing ovations in the senate.
In Germany, at the state banquet, at Schloss Bellevue — the official residence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier — the King said he was “utterly convinced” that the bond between the UK and Germany “will grow ever stronger” to rapturous applause.
His trip with Queen Camilla to Kenya was seen as changing Britain’s global brand from colonialism and violence and redefining the relationship between two independent states.
He will visit Australia in 2024.
ROYAL BABIES
Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their second child, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, in May.
The 13th in line to the throne, known as Master, is a brother to two-year-old August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.
FRIENDS
Katy Perry fans in Las Vegas did a double take when they spotted Prince Harry and Meghan in the audience of the US star’s final show of her Play concert in November.
The couple took in the performance from VIP seats with singer Celine Dion at the Resorts World Theatre, after arriving in a private jet with Cameron Diaz, her Good Charlotte musician husband Benji Madden, and actor Zoe Saldana.
In September, Meghan was spotted dancing at Beyonce’s Renaissance show in California, alongside Kerry Washington and singer Kelly Rowland.
But for all of their famous friends, the Sussexes have lost favour with the Beckhams, who are said to be “furious” after it was suggested they leaked stories to the press about them.
HARDEST WORKING ROYAL
Princess Anne was again named the hardest working royal, clocking up more than 450 engagements this year.
The late Queen’s only daughter, who has cultivated a reputation as industrious, provided solid and reliable support for her brother King Charles.
However, a workaholic himself, the King comes close to the princess royal in engagements. He racked up 425 events in his first full calendar year as sovereign.
Prince William and Princess Kate carried out 172 and 128 engagements respectively, as the majority of duties were taken up by senior royals approaching retirement.
Prince Edward came third, with 297, followed by Queen Camilla, on 233. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, came in fifth with 219.
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Originally published as Royal family scandal: Inside the highs and lows of 2023 royal life
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