We also look at claims that both Harry and Meghan are increasingly troubled by their children’s lack of relationships with their grandfathers, alongside renewed confusion after Harry was introduced as “Harry Wales” at a polo event — an error his team insists was not requested.
There are also reports that Prince William wants Harry cut out of future inheritances in order to protect the institution, while Andrew is said to have accepted a tightly controlled financial arrangement with the Palace that limits how he appears in public. Further claims suggest King Charles may still have one final leverage point to force Andrew out of Royal Lodge.
We round out the episode with new figures showing King Charles has overtaken Princess Anne as the most active royal by engagement count in 2025, and a lighter note as Zara and Mike Tindall prepare for another high-profile Australian trip tied to the Magic Millions festival.
Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
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Episode Transcript
Calorogus Shark Media. Hi and welcome to Pallas Intrigue. I
am your host, Mine Francis. It has been suggested that
Prince Harry and Meghan could release a documentary focused on
Princess Diana in twenty twenty seven, marking the thirtieth anniversary
of her death in the Paris car crash. The rumors
(00:24):
center on the Sussexes ongoing relationship with Netflix following what
some commentators have described as a mixed performance from their
recent projects. Writing in The Royalist, Tom Sykes said the
idea had been raised to him by sources close to
the entertainment industry. One Hollywood source told him it's hard
to see at this point how and why the relationship
in enjewors unless there is something juicy and possibly Diana
(00:46):
shaped being dangled. Another source added, it's certainly not been
a hugely productive deal thus far. Meghan's TV show hasn't
done anything on the Netflix charts. But if there's something
Diana related indeed coming, you could see that as something
Netflix would certainly maintain the relationship for at a price.
Royal inside a Deep Crown adds if this room approves accurate,
(01:08):
it would represent a new low in what has already
been a rather undignified commercial arrangement. The notion that the
thirtieth anniversary of Princess Diana's death might be leveraged its
content to salvage a faltering Netflix deal is precisely the
sort of thing that makes one understand why relations between
Montecito and the rest of the family have deteriorated so completely.
(01:28):
One can only imagine the King's reaction to learning his
former wife's death is being considered as programming content. Charles
has spent decades trying to move beyond that chapter of
his life with as much dignity and circumstances allowed, and
while he has shown remarkable patience with his younger son's
various commercial ventures, using Diana's death as Netflix fodder would
test even his considerable forbearance. But it's William's response that
(01:52):
genuinely concerns those of us who care about family reconciliation.
The Prince of Wales has maintained a studied silence on
his mother's passing in recent years, and there's a reason
for that. It's called dignity, it's called respect, it's called
understanding that some things are not content, no matter how
desperately one needs to justify a nine figure contract. If
Harry proceeds with this, he won't simply be burning bridges
(02:14):
with his brother. He'll be salting the earth. Closer quotes
a source close to the Sussexes as saying, Meghan and
Harry are both estranged from their fathers in completely different ways,
but the end result is the same. Their children don't
know their grandfathers, and that's weighing on both of them
more than ever. For Harry, the ache is simple. He
wants his children to know their grandfather, the King. For Megan,
(02:37):
the longing is more complicated, but very present. Both Harry
and Meghan grew up with complicated paternal relationships, but they
don't want to pass that pain onto their children. In
The Express, Chris Riches writes, if Prince Harry has to
sing Sinatra's My Way on karaoke, he would probably croon regrets.
I have had a few, but then again, I'll never
(02:57):
admit them. Since megs it, Harry and Meghan have been
toned deaf to their own failings. Why admit to blunders
when you can blame the media, politicians, and Harry's autobiography.
Spare your own brother. So it's interesting that last week
at the Saint Regis World snow Polo Championship in Aspen,
Harry was introduced as Harry Wales. Whether he asked for
such an introduction, who knows. Harry's use of the name
(03:20):
during his youth makes the Aspen announcement a curious throwback,
though whether this was a deliberate choice or a simple
oversight by organizers has not been clarified. A spokesperson told
The Express Harry has not asked anyone to introduce him
as Harry Wales and that it was all a mistake.
A report in Closer suggests William wants Harry cut out
(03:40):
of the inheritance. A source says William is convinced the
only consequence Harry will ever really feel is financial, and
he's doing his best to set that in motion. It's
not likely William will have much luck stopping any inheritance
from Diana's side of the family, but he's convinced he
has a chance of getting through to Charles and other
family members. William saysts this isn't about holding grudges or
(04:02):
punishing Harry for old wounds. He says it's basic common
sense and protecting the institution. From his point of view,
Harry didn't just step away quietly. He turned his back
on royal life in a very public, hostile way, and
he cannot reconcile that with the idea of Harry continuing
to get financial rewards more palace in just a moment.
(04:25):
Andrew has reportedly agreed to tightly controlled arrangement with the
royal family that would see him continue to receive financial
support in exchange for strict compliance with Palace expectations, including
how he is seen in public. According to a report
citing palace insiders, the former Duke has allegedly accepted a
deal under which he appears in carefully staged photographs at
(04:47):
royal events designed to reinforce his isolation following his removal
from royal duties and titles. One source told Radar Online
Andrew has been snapped since his royal titles were stripped
on lonely horse riding trips as part of a secret
public strategy by the firm. Under the reported agreement, Andrew
is said to retain a comfortable lifestyle provided he follows
(05:07):
instructions from his brother, King Charles the Third. The inside
had said he will still quietly get security, a luxury
roof over his head and money as long as he
does what Charles says. It's all rather brutal, but then
life in the Royals is that way when it comes
to protecting the reputation of the institution. A new report
in The Express claims King Charles may just have one
(05:28):
remaining option to finally force his brother out of Royal Lodge.
According to the report, the pressure point is Andrew's well
documented obsession with Teddy Bears. The Express suggests the King
could authorize palace staff to pack up the former prince's
extensive collection, a move described as a potential threat that
could compel him to leave Royal Lodge by the start
of January twenty twenty six. Royal expert Robert Hardman previously
(05:50):
told The Daily Mail's Palace Confidential, the Royal Collection, which
owns quite a lot of the treasures inside there, may say, well,
we can't be confident that this place is safe anymore,
and they'll start taking the paintings in some of the
furniture away. Princess Anne is no longer the hardest working
royal of the year, having been overtaken by her brother,
King Charles the third. According to new research analyzing official
(06:12):
royal duties, the Princess Royal has been regarded as the
most industrious member of the royal family and did in
fact work more days this year. However, she ultimately carried
out fewer engagements than the King. The research shows King
Charles completed five hundred thirty two engagements twenty twenty five,
around fifty more than Princess Ann who undertok four hundred
and seventy eight. Analysis of the Court circular the Official
(06:35):
Record of Royal Engagements indicates the King accounted for twenty
two percent of all royal duties carried out during the year,
with a total of twenty four hundred and fifty eight
engagements logged across the family. Third place went to his
younger brother, Prince Edward, who carried out three hundred thirteen engagements.
His wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, followed in fourth place
(06:55):
with two hundred thirty five. Queen Camilla ranked fifth with
two hundred two twenty eight. Prince Richard, the Duke of
Gloucester came next with two hundred and twelve. The heir
to the throne, the very hard working Prince William carried
out two hundred two engagements, nearly as many as Prince Richard,
who just got mentioned for the first time all year
on this podcast. Further down the list, berrig At, the
(07:16):
Duchess of Gloucester, completed one hundred and thirteen, while the
Duke of Kent, now aged ninety, carried out seventy seven. Catherine,
the Princess of Wales, recorded sixty eight engagements. Zara Tyndall
is preparing to join her husband Mike on their annual
trip to Australia for the Magic Millions Equestrian and Auction
Festival on Queensland's Gold Coast, an event the couple of
(07:38):
made a fixture for their calendar for more than a decade.
As part of the program, Zara will compete in the
twenty twenty six Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo and show
Jumping Day, where she will go head to head with
Nacha Fageris, who is close friends with Prince Harry and
Megan Mirkle. Fageris and Harry were recently seen playing together
in Aspen at last week's charity polo match. Though the
(08:00):
Duke of Sussex is not expected to travel to Australia
for Magic Millions. Zara has been an ambassador for Magic
Millions since twenty twelve. Mike Tindall has made it clear
he will remain off horseback, joking that while a ride
down surface Paradise Beach looks easy and impressive with the
likes of Zara and Nacho, he has no plans to
(08:20):
get back in the saddle himself. Mike has embraced the
social side of the festival. Ahead of the inaugural Magic
Millions karaoke night, Zara warned that you won't be able
to get the mic off him. He later confirmed his
preferred songs included Boom, Shake the Room and Ice Ice Baby.
Looking further ahead, the couple have not ruled out spending
more time in Australia. Zara has spoken openly about the
(08:42):
possibility of returning to Olympic competition. Ahead of Brisbane twenty
thirty two, she said, I'd love to run another Olympics,
but I'm very lucky even if I don't. I got
to ride my home Olympics. Zara one team of venting
silver at London twenty twelve, receiving her medal from her mother,
Princess Anne, herself an Olympic competitor in nineteen seventeen six
(09:04):
and there I have it. If you'd like to email
us our addresses the palasintrig at gmail dot com. Please
followus on Spotify, Apple, You find us on Facebook, Instagram,
all the social media spots. Come by say hi, I'm
Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermot. This is Palace
Intrigue and good times
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