November 25, 2025 • 11 mins
The BBC apologizes after 728 complaints about calling her “Kate Middleton,” so today we lean all the way in. The Princess of Wales offers a sunny explanation for her lighter hair, quietly invites Beatrice and Eugenie to her carol service, unveils a new Conjugal Coat of Arms with William, and releases a video that insiders insist contains subtle-but-pointed commentary about “toxic-free futures” — widely read as a gentle boundary message aimed at Andrew. We also revisit her surprisingly sweet friendship with Roman Kemp and why the Wales household now runs on homemade apple juice. It’s an all Princess of Wales episode… and she is, as always, wonderful
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Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 is fully available now for everyone. Season 2 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 2 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now.
👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram or click the links to start your royal journey!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calarogu Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis. The BBC has disclosed the
number of complaints it received about its references to Kate
Middleton rather than her formal title. That number are whopping
(00:23):
seven hundred and twenty eight, which is right around how
many we get every week for the same reason. In
a statement, the broadcaster said, during our coverage of memorials
to commemorate Armistice Day, we mistakenly referred to Catherine, Princess
of Wales's Kate Middleton. These were eras during hours of
live broadcasting, for which we apologize. Throughout our Armistice Day coverage,
(00:44):
more broadly, we referred to Katherine by her correct title.
We remind listers that casually referring to the Duchess of
Sussex's simply Megan Markle seems to offend fewer people. Our
policy at Palace Intrigue remains to refer to Royal's the
way are American audience does, except for the rest of
this episode, where we'll be illustrating just how clunky the
(01:06):
Princess of Wales can be in copywriting. The Princess of
Wales has offered a simple explanation for her noticeably lighter
hair sunshine. Speaking backstage of the Royal Variety performance, the
Princess of Wales remarks that her familiar brunette shade has
been brightened by time spent outdoors. As reported by The
Daily Mail, she told actress Sue Pollard, it used to
(01:29):
be brown, but it's gone light in the sunshine. Apparently,
the Princess of Wales had never been outside before prior
to this summer. The Princess of Wales is said to
be extending quiet invitations to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
for her annual Christmas Carol service, a gesture that Royal
observers suggest reflects her determination to keep the wider family
(01:52):
connected during what has been an exceptionally turbulent year. The
claim comes from Royal commentator Neil Shawn, who told Fox
News Digital that the invitations were deliberately personal. Princess Beatrice
and Princess Eugenie received personal invitations for this year's together
at Christmas from Princess Catherine's office, he said, adding that
(02:12):
the Princess has been keen to project unity at a
time when the monarchy continues to contend with the fallout
surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Sewan compared the Princess's hands on
approach to her husband's leadership of his environmental initiative. This
is Catherine's project and she has the final say, very
(02:33):
similar to the way Prince William operates Earthshot, he said.
Above all, yes, the royal family wants to be seen
as united amid what has been a very difficult year.
He noted that the gestures places the two sisters in
an awkward position. This puts the sisters in a very
difficult dilemma. They don't tend. It looks like this snubbing
of prestigious invite. If they do attend, they know they
(02:54):
could be a media circus with them at the center
of attention. Seawan said, the Prince of Wales maintains a
firm view of damage caused by Andrew's scandals. Prince William
is certainly in no mood to forgive and forget the
scandal that Andrew and Sarah have brought forward. However, Catherine
believes in not assigning blame. The idea is that the
(03:14):
sisters will make a low key entrance and show support.
A new symbol of the and Princess of Wales has
quietly emerged, offering the public a fresh look at the
couple's updated heraldry. More than three years after they assumed
their current titles. The revised, not sounding Conjugal Coat of
Arms for Prince William and Princess Catherine appeared in the
(03:35):
program for this year's Royal Variety performance. It is the
first time the updated design, which represents the pair jointly
in Heroldic form, has been seen so prominently. William and
Catherine first received the conjugal coat of arms in twenty thirteen,
two years after their marriage. The version included in the
program reflects their positions as Prince and Princess of Wales.
(03:56):
William's shield appears on the left, the Princess of Wales
and the right, and each is supported by the royal
lion and unicorn. New elements include symbols directly tied to
William's role, the Prince of Wales's feathers, the coronet of
a prince and peer, and the traditional motto ichdayne German
for I serve. The design is topped with a coroneted
(04:18):
lion surrounded by additional feathers. The title of the Prince
of Wales is traditionally granted to air apparent, a convention
dating back to around thirteen oh one. King Charles named
William as Prince of Wales in his first address as
a sovereign following the death of Queen Elizabeth. In the
same moment, Catherine became Princess of Wales, the title famously
(04:38):
associated with Diana during her marriage to the then Prince
of Wales. The early version of their conjugal coat of Arms,
unveiled in twenty thirteen, united their individuals shields for the
first time. William's shield, granted when he turned eighteen, displays
the traditional royal emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland. Surrounding
(05:00):
it is the blue Garter bearing the Order of the
Garter and motto shame to those who think evil of it.
The Royal Lion and the Unicorn supporting the shield, each
weary three pointed collar with a red scallop shell, a
nod to the Spencer family's long standing heroldic symbol. Catherine's
shield was created in twenty eleven from the Middleton family arms,
(05:21):
granted shortly before her wedding. It shows three acorns representing
the three Middleton children, Catherine, Pipper and James, and the
oak woodland of their Berkshire upbringing. A gold chevron reflects
Carol Middleton's maiden name, Goldsmith, while the white chevrons reference
the mountains of the Lake District, an area of personal
(05:42):
significance to the family At the time of the original unveiling,
the College of Arms noted that the combined emblem would
evolve as the couple's roles changed. The conjugal arms will
be theirs forever, Stephens said. However, as their circumstances and
rolls alter, elements of the accouterments around these shields may change.
The Princess of Wales's recent Instagram message about change and love,
(06:06):
filmed at her new residence in Windsor Gread Park, has
prompted fresh discussion inside royal circles. While the short video
was presented as a gentle reflection on growth and transition,
some insiders believe the wording carried a more pointed subtext
aimed at Prince Andrew. According to reporting from Rada Online,
the timing of the message has raised eyebrows those close
(06:26):
to the palace suggests the Princess's focus on renewal chimed
neatly with the efforts to move the institution beyond Andrew's controversies.
One senior source claimed the Princess knew exactly what she
was doing when she chose her phrasing. A palace aid
noted that the princess's emphasis on stability, connection and compassion
(06:46):
reflects the values she has long championed through her public work,
and contrasted this with the issues associated with Andrew's past.
According to another source, the remarks were intended not only
to speak of love, but also to signal the the
importance of setting boundaries as a family continues to redefine
the future. As one insider put it, Kate's commitment to
(07:07):
a toxic free future for the monarchy is absolute more
palace in just a moment. The Princess of Wales has
issued a deeply personal appeal to mark the start of
Addiction Awareness WEAK, urging the public to reconsider long held
assumptions about dependency and the people living with it. The
(07:28):
Princess of Wales called on communities across the country too,
as she put it, reframe this issue with kindness and understanding.
A royal patron of the Forward Trust, the Princess of Wales,
used her platform to highlight new findings on the scale
of addiction in the United Kingdom, saying the problem is
far more widespread than many. Realizing that stigma remains a
major barrier to recovery, The Princess of Wales said addiction
(07:53):
is not a choice or a personal failing, but a
complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy
and support. The stigma surrounding those who face addiction allowed
to thrive behind closed doors, impacting families and communities and
ultimately ruining lives. Many of us will know someone who
is struggling with an addiction, but still, even now in
twenty twenty five, people's experience of addiction is shaped by fear, shame,
(08:17):
and judgment. That needs to change. Now is the moment
to show our compassion and love to help them or
their friends and family to reach out to organizations like
the Forward Trust for support. Recovery is hard, but with
the right treatment, it is possible, and this begins with
a conversation, a listening ear and showing we care. By
talking about it in the open. Together, we can bring
(08:39):
addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows
and help individuals and families coping with addiction know they
are not alone. The idea of the Prince and Princess
of Wales unwinding in front of a I may celebrity,
get me out of here has long delighted Royal Watches,
and it may not be as far fetched as it sounds.
(09:00):
Of Wales is understood to have struck up an easy
friendship with one of this year's contestants, Roman Camp. Roman,
who has been vocal in recent years about mental health,
previously revealed that his campaign work eventually led to direct
contact with the Princess of Wales. After an initial virtual meeting,
the Princess of Wales suggested that they take things a
step further and record something jointly, rather than hosting her himself.
(09:24):
Roman proposed they meet at his parents' home, and what
followed was an unexpectedly homely afternoon. So my mom raced
out and got a load of nice things, and suddenly
the future Queen is having tea and biscuits with her
and my dad. Roman told the son he recalled that
the Princess immediately noticed the relaxed atmosphere in the house.
I remember when she arrived, she could see everyone else
(09:44):
had taken their shoes off, so she offered to take
hers off. It was surreal somehow, you never expect to
see a member of the royal family in their socks.
The visit ended with a small gift from Camps, a
bottle of apple juice pressing their own garden. Roman said later,
my parents gave her some of the apple juice which
they press in their garden, to take home as a
little gift. A short while later, a note arrived from
(10:07):
the Princess, thanking the family and adding that the juice
had been an unexpected hit in the Wales household. She
wrote that Prince George loved the juice and is there
any chance more. When the Princess of Wales shared news
of her cancer diagnosis last year, Martin Kemp hosted a
photograph of the family with her, adding sending so much
(10:27):
Kemp love to the Princess of Wales and all her family.
With that history, it would be hardly surprising if the
Princess of Wales has a quiet favorite in this year's competition.
Will remind the Princess of Wales that using a formal
title is just a little stodgy and a casual cape
goes a long way in the press. Just readly the
(10:47):
press coverage of the Duchess of Sussex and the Abbot.
If you'd like to email us our addresses The palacinentricat
gmail dot com. Please follow us on Spotify Apple with
the Apple your choice that lives. A nice review from
Enjoying the Show by My Francis My thanks to John mctermott.
The spell is intrigue in good times. H
Calarogu Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis. The BBC has disclosed the
number of complaints it received about its references to Kate
Middleton rather than her formal title. That number are whopping
(00:23):
seven hundred and twenty eight, which is right around how
many we get every week for the same reason. In
a statement, the broadcaster said, during our coverage of memorials
to commemorate Armistice Day, we mistakenly referred to Catherine, Princess
of Wales's Kate Middleton. These were eras during hours of
live broadcasting, for which we apologize. Throughout our Armistice Day coverage,
(00:44):
more broadly, we referred to Katherine by her correct title.
We remind listers that casually referring to the Duchess of
Sussex's simply Megan Markle seems to offend fewer people. Our
policy at Palace Intrigue remains to refer to Royal's the
way are American audience does, except for the rest of
this episode, where we'll be illustrating just how clunky the
(01:06):
Princess of Wales can be in copywriting. The Princess of
Wales has offered a simple explanation for her noticeably lighter
hair sunshine. Speaking backstage of the Royal Variety performance, the
Princess of Wales remarks that her familiar brunette shade has
been brightened by time spent outdoors. As reported by The
Daily Mail, she told actress Sue Pollard, it used to
(01:29):
be brown, but it's gone light in the sunshine. Apparently,
the Princess of Wales had never been outside before prior
to this summer. The Princess of Wales is said to
be extending quiet invitations to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
for her annual Christmas Carol service, a gesture that Royal
observers suggest reflects her determination to keep the wider family
(01:52):
connected during what has been an exceptionally turbulent year. The
claim comes from Royal commentator Neil Shawn, who told Fox
News Digital that the invitations were deliberately personal. Princess Beatrice
and Princess Eugenie received personal invitations for this year's together
at Christmas from Princess Catherine's office, he said, adding that
(02:12):
the Princess has been keen to project unity at a
time when the monarchy continues to contend with the fallout
surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Sewan compared the Princess's hands on
approach to her husband's leadership of his environmental initiative. This
is Catherine's project and she has the final say, very
(02:33):
similar to the way Prince William operates Earthshot, he said.
Above all, yes, the royal family wants to be seen
as united amid what has been a very difficult year.
He noted that the gestures places the two sisters in
an awkward position. This puts the sisters in a very
difficult dilemma. They don't tend. It looks like this snubbing
of prestigious invite. If they do attend, they know they
(02:54):
could be a media circus with them at the center
of attention. Seawan said, the Prince of Wales maintains a
firm view of damage caused by Andrew's scandals. Prince William
is certainly in no mood to forgive and forget the
scandal that Andrew and Sarah have brought forward. However, Catherine
believes in not assigning blame. The idea is that the
(03:14):
sisters will make a low key entrance and show support.
A new symbol of the and Princess of Wales has
quietly emerged, offering the public a fresh look at the
couple's updated heraldry. More than three years after they assumed
their current titles. The revised, not sounding Conjugal Coat of
Arms for Prince William and Princess Catherine appeared in the
(03:35):
program for this year's Royal Variety performance. It is the
first time the updated design, which represents the pair jointly
in Heroldic form, has been seen so prominently. William and
Catherine first received the conjugal coat of arms in twenty thirteen,
two years after their marriage. The version included in the
program reflects their positions as Prince and Princess of Wales.
(03:56):
William's shield appears on the left, the Princess of Wales
and the right, and each is supported by the royal
lion and unicorn. New elements include symbols directly tied to
William's role, the Prince of Wales's feathers, the coronet of
a prince and peer, and the traditional motto ichdayne German
for I serve. The design is topped with a coroneted
(04:18):
lion surrounded by additional feathers. The title of the Prince
of Wales is traditionally granted to air apparent, a convention
dating back to around thirteen oh one. King Charles named
William as Prince of Wales in his first address as
a sovereign following the death of Queen Elizabeth. In the
same moment, Catherine became Princess of Wales, the title famously
(04:38):
associated with Diana during her marriage to the then Prince
of Wales. The early version of their conjugal coat of Arms,
unveiled in twenty thirteen, united their individuals shields for the
first time. William's shield, granted when he turned eighteen, displays
the traditional royal emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland. Surrounding
(05:00):
it is the blue Garter bearing the Order of the
Garter and motto shame to those who think evil of it.
The Royal Lion and the Unicorn supporting the shield, each
weary three pointed collar with a red scallop shell, a
nod to the Spencer family's long standing heroldic symbol. Catherine's
shield was created in twenty eleven from the Middleton family arms,
(05:21):
granted shortly before her wedding. It shows three acorns representing
the three Middleton children, Catherine, Pipper and James, and the
oak woodland of their Berkshire upbringing. A gold chevron reflects
Carol Middleton's maiden name, Goldsmith, while the white chevrons reference
the mountains of the Lake District, an area of personal
(05:42):
significance to the family At the time of the original unveiling,
the College of Arms noted that the combined emblem would
evolve as the couple's roles changed. The conjugal arms will
be theirs forever, Stephens said. However, as their circumstances and
rolls alter, elements of the accouterments around these shields may change.
The Princess of Wales's recent Instagram message about change and love,
(06:06):
filmed at her new residence in Windsor Gread Park, has
prompted fresh discussion inside royal circles. While the short video
was presented as a gentle reflection on growth and transition,
some insiders believe the wording carried a more pointed subtext
aimed at Prince Andrew. According to reporting from Rada Online,
the timing of the message has raised eyebrows those close
(06:26):
to the palace suggests the Princess's focus on renewal chimed
neatly with the efforts to move the institution beyond Andrew's controversies.
One senior source claimed the Princess knew exactly what she
was doing when she chose her phrasing. A palace aid
noted that the princess's emphasis on stability, connection and compassion
(06:46):
reflects the values she has long championed through her public work,
and contrasted this with the issues associated with Andrew's past.
According to another source, the remarks were intended not only
to speak of love, but also to signal the the
importance of setting boundaries as a family continues to redefine
the future. As one insider put it, Kate's commitment to
(07:07):
a toxic free future for the monarchy is absolute more
palace in just a moment. The Princess of Wales has
issued a deeply personal appeal to mark the start of
Addiction Awareness WEAK, urging the public to reconsider long held
assumptions about dependency and the people living with it. The
(07:28):
Princess of Wales called on communities across the country too,
as she put it, reframe this issue with kindness and understanding.
A royal patron of the Forward Trust, the Princess of Wales,
used her platform to highlight new findings on the scale
of addiction in the United Kingdom, saying the problem is
far more widespread than many. Realizing that stigma remains a
major barrier to recovery, The Princess of Wales said addiction
(07:53):
is not a choice or a personal failing, but a
complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy
and support. The stigma surrounding those who face addiction allowed
to thrive behind closed doors, impacting families and communities and
ultimately ruining lives. Many of us will know someone who
is struggling with an addiction, but still, even now in
twenty twenty five, people's experience of addiction is shaped by fear, shame,
(08:17):
and judgment. That needs to change. Now is the moment
to show our compassion and love to help them or
their friends and family to reach out to organizations like
the Forward Trust for support. Recovery is hard, but with
the right treatment, it is possible, and this begins with
a conversation, a listening ear and showing we care. By
talking about it in the open. Together, we can bring
(08:39):
addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows
and help individuals and families coping with addiction know they
are not alone. The idea of the Prince and Princess
of Wales unwinding in front of a I may celebrity,
get me out of here has long delighted Royal Watches,
and it may not be as far fetched as it sounds.
(09:00):
Of Wales is understood to have struck up an easy
friendship with one of this year's contestants, Roman Camp. Roman,
who has been vocal in recent years about mental health,
previously revealed that his campaign work eventually led to direct
contact with the Princess of Wales. After an initial virtual meeting,
the Princess of Wales suggested that they take things a
step further and record something jointly, rather than hosting her himself.
(09:24):
Roman proposed they meet at his parents' home, and what
followed was an unexpectedly homely afternoon. So my mom raced
out and got a load of nice things, and suddenly
the future Queen is having tea and biscuits with her
and my dad. Roman told the son he recalled that
the Princess immediately noticed the relaxed atmosphere in the house.
I remember when she arrived, she could see everyone else
(09:44):
had taken their shoes off, so she offered to take
hers off. It was surreal somehow, you never expect to
see a member of the royal family in their socks.
The visit ended with a small gift from Camps, a
bottle of apple juice pressing their own garden. Roman said later,
my parents gave her some of the apple juice which
they press in their garden, to take home as a
little gift. A short while later, a note arrived from
(10:07):
the Princess, thanking the family and adding that the juice
had been an unexpected hit in the Wales household. She
wrote that Prince George loved the juice and is there
any chance more. When the Princess of Wales shared news
of her cancer diagnosis last year, Martin Kemp hosted a
photograph of the family with her, adding sending so much
(10:27):
Kemp love to the Princess of Wales and all her family.
With that history, it would be hardly surprising if the
Princess of Wales has a quiet favorite in this year's competition.
Will remind the Princess of Wales that using a formal
title is just a little stodgy and a casual cape
goes a long way in the press. Just readly the
(10:47):
press coverage of the Duchess of Sussex and the Abbot.
If you'd like to email us our addresses The palacinentricat
gmail dot com. Please follow us on Spotify Apple with
the Apple your choice that lives. A nice review from
Enjoying the Show by My Francis My thanks to John mctermott.
The spell is intrigue in good times. H
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