"Project Thaw and Tiara Wars: Kate vs Camilla While Meghan Deletes Dad" - The week in Royal news with Mark Francis - Palace Intrigue : Kate Middleton - Meghan & Harry - Prince Andrew - Royal Family gossip

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
A calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Pallace Weekly.
I am your host, Mark Francis. The Daily Mail's Richard
Eden is reporting on something called Project Thor, an alleged
plot to warm the frosty relationship between the Sussexes and

(00:23):
the rest of the Royals. According to Eden, the reevaluation
of Harry's security as part of a plan to allow
Harry to educate his children in the UK. Eden told
Palace Confidential he loves life in California in many ways,
but he's got old attachments here. He's involved with charity patronages,
and he's really keen for his kids to grow up here.

(00:44):
Our royal inside a deep Crown, commented in his free
sub stack. Let us be clear eyed about what such
an arrangement would actually require. We're not discussing a brief
summer holiday or a term abroad program. We're contemplating the
placement of two young children in British schools while their
mother remains some five thousand miles distant in Montecito, separated

(01:04):
by the eight time zones and width of an entire continent.
But the logistics tiresome as they are pale beside the
emotional reality. This is Harry. We're discussing a man who
has constructed his entire post royal identity around a single,
immovable principle. He will not repeat his mother's experience. He
will not separate his family. Does anyone seriously believe he

(01:25):
would place an ocean between his children and their mother?
Fresh claims of tension behind palace walls suggest relations between
the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla have become strained
over the question of Prince Harry. According to reports, the
Queen is said to be astounded that Catherine would entertain
the idea of any reconciliation with the Duke of Sussex,

(01:48):
and insider told the Globe Camilla wants nothing to do
with Harry. She is revolted by the soft stance Charles's
taking at the moment and fully supports William's zero tolerance,
no forgiveness policy that Kate continues to stick up for him,
but Kate couldn't care less what Camilla thinks. The Inside
acclaimed Camilla believes Harry is dangerous to the institution, fearing

(02:09):
that any renewed contact could provide material for another horrific
tell all. The source added, Camilla and Kate had a
poisonous showdown at the palace. Camilla told Kate flat out
that she's being naive and reckless not to mention disloyal
toward her husband by refusing to respect his wishes. It
got nasty. Kate's been very patient and biting her tongue

(02:29):
for much of this year over Camilla's band attitude toward her,
but this Harry situation is making things one hundred times
more tense. Meanwhile, Kate is said to have grown close
to Sarah Ferguson in recent years, bonded in part by
their shared experiences with cancer. According to Rada Online, that
closeness involved Kate confiding personal details about her life, something

(02:51):
that is now causing unease amid concerns Sarah could speak
publicly about their relationship, and Insider told the outlet Kate
has become friends Sarah over the years, but one thing
she will not abide is her going on TV or
writing a tell all for money. Now she and Andrew
have been ousted from their lodgings and stripped of their
royal titles over the Epstein scandal. She cares deeply for Sarah,

(03:13):
yet she cannot allow herself to become entangled in another controversy.
Her focus has to remain on her children, her well
being and safeguarding the future of the monarchy. Another royal
family has been dragged into the Epstein mess. The Swedish
Royal Court confirmed that Princess Sophia was introduced to Jeffrey
Epstein following the publication of emails that appeared to link

(03:34):
the two. The confirmation came after a Swedish newspaper revealed
email exchanges between Epstein and financier barbo Enbaum, described as
a mentor to Sofia. In one email dated December two
thousand and five, Enbomb wrote, alongside a photograph, this is Sofia,
an aspiring actress who just arrived in New York. She's

(03:55):
the goal I told you about before I left, who
I thought you might like to meet. Maybe we can
it before you go on holiday. Epstein responded, I'm in
the Caribbean. Does she want to come for a couple
of days. I'll send a ticket. The Swedish Royal Court
said Princess Sophia had been introduced to the person in
question on a few occasions around two thousand and five,
stressing this was before Epstein's two thousand and eight conviction.

(04:16):
The Palace added that Sophia did not accept the invitation
to travel to the Caribbean, and stated the princess has
not had any contact with the person in question for
twenty years. Megan Michael has reportedly deleted her father, Thomas
Mirkle's phone number and has made no plans to visit him,
despite his ongoing recovery in a hospital in the Philippines

(04:36):
following a leg amputation. The latest development comes after reports
that Meghan sent a letter to be hand delivered to
Thomas Michael at the hospital. The letter is understood to
have outlined her feelings about his decision to give several
media interviews discussing their estranged relationship. According to The Sunday Times,
Meghan chose not to contact her father directly by telephone
because of concerns that a call could be overheard in

(04:59):
the hospital at the time of recording. It is understood
that she has not received a reply to the letter
and has had no further contact with her father since
it was delivered. Page six claimed. Sources close to Meghan
confirmed she has no plans to visit him. Others familiar
with the situation questioned why she had not traveled to
see him, noting the fifteen hour journey from la to
the Philippines and pointing out her history of private travel.

(05:22):
One source said, if she knows where he is, why
wouldn't she go see him. Another added, Meghan had her
father's number and room and hospital name on very early on.
She won't even call him. Megan Michael has once again
been the target of satire un spitting image, this time
with the focus firmly on her lifestyle brand as ever,
and in particular, it's marmalade. In the latest sketch from

(05:43):
the satirical puppet show, Meghan's marmalade as mocked as being woke.
The scene features a character named pads a cleonod to
Paddington Bare, alongside a puppet version of Prince Harry. In
the sketch, Prince Harry receives a copy of his memoir Spare,
while pads unraps at jarev Meghan's marmalade. The bear puppet
responds a jar of Meghan's woke marmalade, that checker is

(06:05):
on my turf. Now she needs to watch her back
more balance In just a moment. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has
been stripped of his final remaining military rank, marking another
significant setback for the disgraced former Duke of York. Following
a meeting of the Defense Council, it has been confirmed
that Andrew has been formerly demoted from Vice Admiral to commander,

(06:28):
the rank he held at the time of his retirement
from the Royal Navy. Royal expert Ingrid Sewer described the
decision as deeply damaging. Speaking to the Sun, she said,
it is a huge blow because he thinks of himself
as an armed forces man. He served very bravely in
the Falklands. I think the service being in the Navy
has been the most stable thing in his life. He'll
be very hurt by that. He might feel that enough

(06:48):
is enough and they're really digging at him now. This
might hurt quite a lot more than some of the
other things he's lost, because he will feel he has
earned the right to the ranking. He may well be
better who was expected to move into a temporary property
on the Sandringham estate when he vacates Royal Lodge in
the new year. The former Duke of York is said
to exchange his thirty room Windsor mansion for what has

(07:10):
been described as a shoebox sized holding property on a
remote part of the King's private Norfolk state. According to sources,
Marsh Farm has emerged as the likely destination. Reports describe
it as having two reception rooms, a kitchen and several outbuildings.
While it has previously been labeled a shoe box, other
accounts suggest it is more substantial than that, though still

(07:32):
a far cry from Andrew's previous accommodation. One source said
a lorry has been and gone under the cover of darkness.
Andrew is going to a shoebox sire's house compared to
Royal Lodge, so a lot of things that were taken
are going into a storage unit. The clutter at Royal
Lodge is turning what would be a straightforward move into
a month long room by room excavation. It's all going

(07:53):
to be painfully slow, especially with refurbishment work to complete.
At the other end, Speculation is growing about a possible
rift between the Princess of Wales and her sister Pipper Middleton,
following a series of high profile absences. When Catherine married
Prince William in twenty eleven, she entered a royal life
with the full support of the Middleton family behind her. However,

(08:13):
since the start of this year, rumors of tension between
the sisters have been circulating. Attention intensified after Pepper did
not attend Kate's annual together at Christmas Carol Service, an
event she has not previously missed. Reports suggest Pipper was
in the Middle East at the time, having made what
some described as an awkward appearance on Sky Sports while
attending a Formula one event. Commentary online has been blunt.

(08:35):
One user wrote, just as a reminder for all, Pipper
was diving off a yacht when Kate was having surgery
for her pre cancerous cells, and also did not accompany
Kate to a single Wimbledon game this year. It's very
clear something is up with those sisters, and I'm not surprised.
While the Princess of Wales has never been known for flamboyance,
her choice of jewelry at the state banquet drew particular attention.

(08:58):
Kate wore the oriental circle that Tiara commissioned by Prince
Albert for Queen Victoria in eighteen fifty three and set
with more than two thousand, six hundred diamonds and rubies.
It was her largest tiara to date, and to some observers,
overshadowed Queen Camilla's more understated selection. Sources suggest the choice
was deliberate. Once said it was no accident that Kate

(09:19):
wore that enormous tiara. It was highly symbolic, effectively telling
the world that it won't be long before she's queen.
She's so adored within the family and by the British public,
it makes sense she would start taking a bigger hand
in shaping what the monarchy looks like while moving forward.
A source told Closer on Line that the Queen believes
the princess's behavior is unacceptable. The source said, by all accounts,

(09:40):
she was hopping mad that she wore the giant tiara
at the banquet last week. She said it was another
blatant attempt by Kate to hog the limelight. The fact
Kate and William are throwing their weight around and essentially
swaggering around like their own Buckingham Palace is totally unacceptable
and she's not willing to let it go. Royal inside
a deep crown tells palace intrigue. If William is indeed

(10:01):
operating as de facto king in twenty twenty six, and
the evidence increasingly suggests he will be. Then Catherine's positioning
becomes perfectly logical. She isn't preparing to be queen, She's
already performing the role, and that Tiara was simply making
the subtext text. As for Camilla, one must have some
sympathy for her predicament. She spent decades in the wilderness,

(10:21):
endured public opprobrium, and finally achieved acceptance as Queen consort.
Now she faces the rather uncomfortable reality that if Charles
recedes from public life, her own relevance recedes with him.
The jealousy isn't new, it's resurfacing. Catherine represents everything Camilla
never quite managed, youth, public adoration and an unassailable position.

(10:42):
Small wonder the reported friction feels less like a policy
disagreement and more like existential panic. Catherine, the Princess of Wales,
has privately pledged her full support to Prince William as
he prepares for what allies describe as a far reaching
overhaul of the British monarchy. One source close to the
couple said the past year has strengthened their bond in
a way few expected. Kate fully understands the pressure William

(11:05):
is under, particularly with major changes on the horizon. The
source added that her message to William was unequivocal. I'm
standing beside you through every choice, every shift, and every
test that comes with it. Behind the scenes, planning is
already underway for what insiders are calling a new royal error.
One source said, William and Kate c. Twenty twenty six
is a turning point that could reshape the monarchy more

(11:27):
than any period in recent memory. Their aim is to
be down to earth, approachable and rooted in family, with
that guiding every decision they make. Another senior palace figure
summed it up by saying they've accepted that the traditional
advisors can no longer show them the way, so William
and Kate are building their own in a circle in
preparation for when he takes the throne. Kate has reportedly

(11:48):
stepped back from efforts to reconcile William and Harry Amid
claims that the long running rift between the brothers shows
no sign of easing. A royal inside had told Radar
Online Kate is naturally a peacemaker and has been working
the scenes to try and get the brothers in the
same room again, but William just is not up for it,
and she has now told him she will stop pressing
him and follow his lead. Allegations about Sarah Ferguson's spending

(12:11):
habits are detailed in a new book by royal author
Andrew Lowney titled entitled The Rise and Fall of the
House of York. According to Lowney, Sarah Ferguson's former partner
John Bryan, alleged that the former Duchess of York had
annual spending of about one million, one hundred eighteen thousand
dollars it's US dollars. That total reportedly included around three
hundred and ninety thousand dollars on staff, approximately one hundred

(12:34):
ninety five thousand on gifts, about sixty five thousand dollars
on flowers and another sixty five thousand on parties, and
roughly one hundred and ninety five thousand dollars on travel.
Lowney also writes that Ferguson allegedly spent around one hundred
and thirty thousand dollars on clothes, including a single shopping
trip at Bloomingdale' where she is said to have spent
approximately thirty two thousand, five hundred dollars in just one

(12:57):
hour more palas in just a moment. Man. All these
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(13:18):
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really really appreciate your support. Prince Harry is as you'd

(13:42):
affirmed denial after journalist Tina Brown claimed he once introduced
his son Prince Archie as my little African child to
conservationist Jane Goodall. In a statement to People, a spokesperson
for the Duke of Sussex said the Juke of Sussex
has never said anything remotely resembling what is being claimed.
A spokesperson added the Tina Brown knows exactly what she's
doing by inventing these words and attributing them to a

(14:04):
highly respected woman who is deceased and unable to correct
the record. Brown later issued a clarification saying she had
misspoken during the interview. She said she remembered affectionately Harry
saying when Archie was born, I want you to come
and meet my African child. She actually said Africa child,
but I was speaking too quickly. The Duke and Duchess

(14:25):
of Sussex have announced a new chapter for their charitable work,
confirming that the Archwell Foundation will now be known as
Archwell Philanthropies, five years after its launch. A spokeswoman said
this next chapter allows Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and
Duchess of Sussex, to broaden their global philanthropic efforts as
a family with meaningful breach and maximum impact. Virginia Jeffrey's

(14:49):
allegations involving Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew mount Batten Windsor have
resurfaced following the release of new material by Democrats on
the US House Oversight Committee, including WhatsApp messages discussing the
price and traveled details of young women allegedly sourced for Epstein.
The newly released screenshots include references to an eighteen year
old from Russia, a request for one thousand dollars per girl,

(15:09):
and a message asking maybe someone will be good for Jay,
which is understood to refer to Epstein. Congressman Robert Carcia said,
as we approach the deadline for the Epstein Files Transparency Act,
these new images raise more questions about what exactly the
Department of Justice has in its possession. We must end
this White House cover up and the DOJ must release

(15:30):
the Epstein files now. This is the week the Palace
factions crystallized, Kate pledging support to William for a twenty
twenty six overhaul, while Camilla fumes about being overshadowed, Megan
deleting her father's number, while Paddington Bear mocks her marmalade
Andrew losing his final military rank and moving to what's

(15:50):
been called a shoe box, while new Epstein materials emerge,
Harry denying he called Archie his African child while rebranding
his foundation. Sarah Fergus since alleged million dollar plus annual
spending detailed in a new book Project Thor sounds ambitious, but,
as Deep Crown notes, does anyone seriously believe Harry would
place an ocean between his children and their mother? The

(16:12):
working Royals prepare for twenty twenty six, the grifters rebrand
foundations and delete phone numbers, and somewhere in a Swedish palace,
someone is explaining that meeting Epstein twenty years ago doesn't
count if you didn't take the Caribbean trip. Tiarawars are real,
but when you're already performing as queen while your husband
operates as de facto king, perhaps the largest tiara in

(16:33):
the collection isn't just a fashion choice. It's a statement
of intent. And there you haven't. If you'd like to
email us of addresses the Palace intrig at email dot
com and please followus on Spotify, Apple, hit us up
on Facebook, Instagram, all the social media sites. I'm Mark
Francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Weekly.
Good terms,

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"Project Thaw and Tiara Wars: Kate vs Camilla While Meghan Deletes Dad" - The week in Royal news with Mark Francis

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}"Project Thaw and Tiara Wars: Kate vs Camilla While Meghan Deletes Dad" - The week in Royal news with Mark Francis