The Royals with Roya and Kate - Bonus: Kate at the King’s Birthday Parade

Episode Date: June 18, 2024

The King and Queen are at Ascot, and so are Roya and Kate for this bonus edition of 'The Royals' where they talk through the warmth of the reaction to Kate's appearance at last weekend's Trooping the Colour - and just how did Roya know she might be there? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Roya. Hello Kate. Well. Well. Here we are at Ascot. Royal Ascot. And we are the Royals with Roya and Kate. At Ascot. The Royals at Ascot with Roya and Kate and the King. Yes the King here shortly just yards from us in the parade ring. It doesn't get more royal than this Kate. Kings, carriages, horses, the atmosphere is so exciting I could put a saddle on it and i could ride off down the gallops in that hat royer i think not in three days the world has changed has it caged yes royer the last time we recorded our podcast you said you thought that the princess of w would make an appearance at Trooping the Colour. And you thought not, if I remember rightly.

Unlikely, I think I said. And she was there, looking fantastic, and a right royal family affair it became. That's right, Roya. More later, I'm sure. But, Roya, how did you know? Really, Kate? You really want me to tell you here at Ascot with all our podcasteries listening? Yes, Roya. Really? Reveal my sources? Well, okay. Come nearer, nearer. And so... And so, Kate, that's how I knew enough to put two and two together, and the rest is history. Well, amazing, Roya.

So, just a lucky guess, then. Don't be jealous, Kate. We just plugged another podcast called The Rest Is History. Unknowingly, I think we have. Cut! So, on Saturday, the Princess of Wales set the public, the press and the palace alight with a warm, fuzzy glow of delight. Despite the rain.

She was there from the palace along the Mall, watching Trooping the Colour with the children and then in the coach to the palace and finally on the balcony, side by side with the King. Let's talk this through because it was her first public appearance this year. We haven't seen her out at an official engagement and there she was at the heart of the royal family sandwiched in amongst senior royals with Prince William the king. What did you make of that as a kind of an iconic image? How did you think she looked i i thought she looked fantastic i thought as i wrote on at the weekend it was one for the history books it just felt like there had been so much anticipation would she be there wouldn't she be there to see her and the king

both going through cancer both you know in their carriages at horse cars and on the balcony and the surge of the crowd, so excited to see them. I think it was right up there with significant moments for the last few years. Yeah, it was a real sight, wasn't it? With her, with the children as well. And every time they come out, they never disappoint. They're very well behaved. I'm always amazed how well behaved those children are.

And she looked well, actually. We're always delighted that Prince Louis just plays up just enough for our photographers. Heaving the window open, pulling the faces, I mean, dancing away to one of the jaunty tunes. You know, Prince Louis never disappoints, does he? He's great value, isn't he? God bless him. But for me, that iconic image, which was actually on the front of the Sunday Times, was Charlotte, Princess Charlotte Charlotte with Kate behind her. And she she looked so relaxed.

The princess who's been away, you know, obviously ongoing chemotherapy treatment, because on the Friday night we'd had that briefing from Kensington Palace to say Kate is going to be there. There was a very, very personal message in which she said she has good days and bad days and it did seem very very personal it did seem that she was kind of opening her heart about what she'd been going through as well and there was that wonderful picture of her standing in front of the weeping willow tree in the Windsor estate looking up kind of looking hopeful I felt there was something missing from her statement though that we had seen in that previous video message in March when she said look I'm going to be okay I felt there was something missing from her statement, though, that we had seen in that previous video message in March when she said, look, I'm going to be OK. I thought there was a really kind of cautious note. I'm not out of the woods yet, she said.

Yeah, that's right. Which is actually what I wrote when the King released his I'm coming back to work message. I said that he wasn't out of the woods and she actually put it in her own words then. Do you think she's been reading your pieces, King? I think, yeah, definitely, for sure. I think she's using your pieces to write her messages. I've already started suing her for copyright on that one. But no, I think it's important that she, there was that kind of cautious tone, wasn't there,

that these things are going to take, she said that the chemotherapy will be carrying on, or she said her treatment will be carrying on for a few months. Managing, I think, managing everyone else's expectations. That's right. So the public, very excited to see her back, but the public don't think this is it. That's expectations. That's right. So the public, very excited to see her back, but the public don't think this is it, that's it, she's back. And that's been the very strong messaging, hasn't it,

been from Kensington Palace, that Trooping the Colour is not her full return to public life and we've all got to be patient. Yes. And she's just got to take it in her stride. But it was, I mean, that message from her on Friday, ahead of Trooping, it was language that you don't really normally hear

from members of the royal family it was very emotional very personal it talked about you know on the good days how she feels and how she feels on the bad days yeah and you know you know I just think there's something happening with the kind of messaging and language that both the king and the princess of Wales are using around their illness I think because Charles's messages have been quite emotional and personal too. So yeah, I mean, it was a great moment. Wonderful for us. I think the public was super pleased to see her.

And there was just a feeling, wasn't there? You could almost feel on the balcony how pleased the King and William were to have her back there. And I was very struck by the positioning of the princess on the balcony. Last year, if you look at the pictures, the King was next to William. This year, he made that kate was next to him shoulder to shoulder and i thought towards the end staying with them on the balcony in that sort of shot towards the end i thought

the king actually did look like he was struggling slightly he did look like it had been a long day for him actually and i did wonder whether perhaps he might have a look at his summer schedule which we were told wouldn't be a full summer schedule and certainly appears to be very much a full-on summer schedule we're going to see him here at Ascot later today and most of this week. Good luck to the Queen and the royal household and the palace trying to reign that in because as we've talked about he seems to be raring to go and not really slowing down. Exactly. And I think with the princess,

they've said sort of the opposite, haven't they? That they said, look, if she appears at things, and she will appear at some events over the summer, don't take it that this is her back. You know, just be grateful if you see her and if you don't, don't read into it if you do see her. And if you don't, you know, that she's just recovering and taking part in those normal things which she said in her message bring her joy which I thought was

interesting you talking about that message about how it's not something we normally hear from the royal family but that's always been the messaging from William and Kate hasn't it about their kind of love of the mundane um and the fact that she referenced the school run you know I mean most most mums that pull their hair out of the school run, but it just shows you how poorly you've been, if that's something you look forward to, I suppose. But going about your normal everyday business and the joy of that and sort of seeing it afresh, having been through such an ordeal

with your health, to then just take joy in just those regular, being able to get up and feel well enough to do those regular things. I think it spoke volumes, didn't it, that statement? And I think one of the, the other line that sort of struck out for me was she wanted to be there to support her family because of course one of the lovely moments that we've loved seeing for the last few years at trooping has been prince george princess charlotte prince louis in the carriage up to horse guards and back on the balcony and it sort of made you wonder if she hadn't have been there you know the children

would have been who would have looked after them would you put who would you put in the carriage with them but there was something very lovely about that moment during the parade where kate was watching it from the balcony with the three of them a little family unit just sort of back together and you could almost sort of see how pleased they were to be there with her um let's talk about the children. I mean, well, every time I see them, I think, you know, I feel like it's aunties. You know, when you see a niece or nephew you haven't seen for a while, and you think, my goodness, haven't they grown?

But they are the kind of the marker of passage of time, aren't they? Because everybody else sort of stays the same. Yes. But they have shot up, and that's the future, isn't it? And the social media message on Father's Day, of course. That was their first kind of social media message. They signed it off to William. Happy Father's Day to Papa, yes.

Charlotte, Charlotte a contender for the new lady boss of the Queen. Camilla is known as the lady boss in Inner Circles. That's what she's known as. But just seeing Charlotte slightly bossing Prince Louis about, telling him to put his hands down when the national anthem happened, telling him to stop dancing, I think... She's got it. She's coming for Camilla's lady boss crown.

She's the boss lady. So look at the Princess Anne sort of second child, eldest daughter as well about her, I think. Princess Anne. Let's talk about Naughty Noble. Oh, yes. Because we predicted Naughty Noble might be a bit naughty. So of course last year the king was riding on the parade and he rode

Noble. This horse had been gifted to the king by the Mounties, the Canadians, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. And Noble was a little bit of a handful for the king last year. He managed a little bit of a handful. She's quite a fe feisty mare she actually escaped from the stables twice last year before trooping this year thanks for that canadian mounties adaptation of the program the king who's been through surgery this he's had a treatment he's going through cancer treatment adaptation he didn't ride on the parade so he was in a carriage so taking one for the team princess anne was riding naughty noble and on her naughty noble definitely wants to live up to her name because they came out the palace princess anne riding noble and let me tell you that horse was on fire that horse was spooking

all over the place i don't know how it would dare to misbehave with princess anne just one glance and she sort of she you know you know, she showed her former Olympic equestrian skills setting that horse. Well done, Anne. Because, of course, she was in Montreal, wasn't she? She sure was. In the 70s, in the Olympics. I think the king would have been very pleased.

He was in the carriage, on a seat, not on Noble. Naughty Noble. Watch this space. Will Naughty Noble be back for a third trooping next year? I hope so. I feel like winning T-shirts printed. Bring back Naughty Noble. Watch this space. Will Naughty Noble be back for a third trooping next year? I hope so. I feel like winning t-shirts printed. Bring back Naughty Noble. And to close this segment, Kensington Palace has stressed that the appearance of the Princess of Wales was by no means a full return to public life. And she won't be here at Royal Ascot this week. But if she feels well enough, we might just see her again during the Japanese state

visit this month, or even at Wimbledon in July. And of course, the Princess of Wales said in her message, I am learning to be patient, especially with uncertainty. And I suppose we have to learn to be patient too, and continue to give her the much needed time to heal that she herself has asked for. herself has asked for. So many congratulations to the really known as... So, Roya, after Saturday

came Sunday and Monday and a new royal engagement. It did, Kate. And with it on y soit qui mal y pense. Hmm, remind me, Kate. Shame on him who thinks of evil. Are we talking the motto of the Order of the Garter? We are, and we have also had Garter Day,

the ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor, where the King and Queen honour their new members of the Order of the Garter. Since 1348, nearly 700 years, take that, America, the Sovereign has personally honoured those who've held public office or who've contributed in a particular way to national life or who've served the Sovereign in some way. The Order currently includes the King, who is the Sovereign of the Garter, several senior members of the Royal Family

and 24 knights chosen in recognition of their work. And who this year? I shall read. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to appoint four new companions to the Order of the Garter. The companions are... Fanfare. Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Gloucester. G.C.V.O.

D.S.T.J. C.D. to be a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Air Chief Marshal, the Lord Peach. GBE, KCB, DL, to be a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter. The Right Honourable, the Lord Kakar. KBE, to be a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter. And the Lord Lloyd Webber, to be a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter and the Lord Lloyd Webber

to be a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter. It's a mouthful, Kate, isn't it? It sure is. Lots of acronyms there. And separately, His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to appoint Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales to be royal companion of the order

of the Companions of Honour, which took place earlier this year, didn't it? And after the ceremonies on garter day the king and the knights processed from St George's Chapel through Windsor Castle dressed in well how do you describe them grand velvet robes glistening insignia and plumed hats it's one of the most traditional ceremonies in the royal calendar. It's the most senior order of chivalry that we know. And as we heard when we talked to Hugo Vickers about Garter Day,

he said hilariously that it was the day that they traditionally go to church to pray for a winner at Ascot. So Garter Day is significant because it's the one kind of honour that the king gets to choose, personally select, who gets to be in his club in the order of the garter and Andrew remains a knight of the garter but he's not allowed in the procession anymore for reputational management reasons. In the court circular he was at the private lunch before. He's allowed to go to the private stuff he's just not allowed to go out in public showing off. Interesting isn't it because we were discussing the other day about the feuding brothers and charles and andrew at loggerheads over royal lodge he's obviously still being included in all the sort of quite tight-knit important family things yeah he's allowed to do the family things it's just when

it comes to the public perception of him i think that's where you know when he's walking leading the family down at the King Constantine II Memorial and he was sort of puffing out his chest, that did not go down well. I think that was suboptimal, wasn't it? Very much. So, do you reckon you're going to get your order soon, Kate? As it's all for chivalry. Well, quite.

And it's the highest order. What odds that you might get one? Services to royal podcasting. I think so. It's interesting the difference between God and Dame. We should both have Damehoods for that. Well, frankly, yeah. Well, talking of Damehoods, the King's birthday honours list was revealed.

We're not going to go through the 1,077 names right now, but that's interesting in a different way because of the kind of vagaries of the British honours system is such that normal people can nominate people who've done well, who've done something great for their communities or something pioneering in the realms of science or art or whatever it may be. And then the king just sort of ratifies it and signs it off. But it was interesting this year to see Dame Tracey Emin, the artist, getting a damehood,

which I thought was interesting because she met the king recently at a garden party and they've both come through cancer together and they've both shared that kind of health story when they had a chat at Buckingham Palace in May. I really liked listening to her talking about it because actually for years you know she started out in the YBA the Young British Artist Movement she was seen as so anti-establishment and actually listening to her last week talking about how honoured she was to receive her Damehood she talked about the fact that she was enjoying the fact that it meant she was finally accepted and acknowledged by the establishment for all her work and for all her extraordinary art so yeah and someone else who fought the establishment in a way of course sir alan bates as he becomes now

he was the the postmaster who fought for victory against the kind of horizon post office scandal where hundreds of sub postmasters were accused of you know financial mismanagement but actually it was just a software problem with this horizon software and he led the course through the high courts to get victory for 555 postmasters um so having previously rejected an obe because these are political as well because they approach people so do you will you accept one of these honors and previously he turned down an OBE and said no because the chief executive Paula Venner's at the time still had her honour her CBE and it was only when she gave it back that he they came to him for the higher award of the knighthood and he said yes

so that's a happy ending. I think it'll be a very powerful moment and powerful images when he goes to Windsor Castle or the palace to collect his knighthood, to be invested. Yeah, and I think the whole nation will be behind him. So now we're going to talk about Royal Ascot. Its importance, its history, and we expect the king and queen to be here. In fact, we know the king and queen are going to be here. Before we do, it's an extraordinary turnaround. It's history and we expect the King and Queen to be here. In fact, we know the King and Queen are going to be here. Before we do, it's an extraordinary turnaround.

A month or so ago, Charles the King and Catherine, Princess of Wales, both in hospital, being treated for cancer. Engagements cut short, limited public appearances. The Prince of Wales taking on few more duties. Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Gloucesters doing much more. And now the King is here. And we have pictures of Kate at the King's birthday parade. A momentous occasion and historic, as you called it, occasion.

I think it was historic. And I feel like seeing the King with Kate at Trooping, it feels like the mood music around the royal family has slightly changed. It feels like cautious optimism that the nation can get behind, particularly as we know, you know, we saw the king and queen again at Garter. We're going to see them again this week. Almost every, you know, the king's going to be here almost every day, except for Wednesday.

The queen's going to be here every single day. It just feels like the movement is towards, you know, their back. A little bit more sort of full capacity than a few months ago when everything seemed quite uncertain. And I think, you know, I can say this, sitting literally on the parade ring in glorious sunshine, waiting for the King and Queen and the royal family to arrive. What are we most excited about Royal Ascot? It feels like a big moment, doesn't it?

It does. And we're going to see them almost every day this week. I think it's the expressions on their faces. I love it when the royals mask drops, when that kind of, they forget where they are. We saw it recently with the Queen, she was watching a horse racing and she was biting her nails. I love those pictures that we get from these events. And the kind of of joy as you wrote at the weekend of of the king and queen really getting behind um a tradition that we know the late queen used to love and we used to love seeing the late queen here but they've really embraced it um and i think it's just those expressions the fun you know princess anne obviously she loves horses and seeing her here

is always great um but just the atmosphere i mean mean, you've got, I'm just looking around now, just dozens of really extraordinary hats and everybody having a good time. Like you say, that trooping on Saturday started in the drizzle. By the time the fly pass came over at one o'clock over the top of Buckingham Palace, the sun had come out and it felt symbolic. It felt like this was a turning point.

It's been a really tough year for the Royal Family. It's been a cloudy like this was a turning point it's been a really tough year for the royal family it's been a cloudy year hasn't it it's been a cloudy year it hasn't been straightforward it's been there's been lots of health difficulties and various other difficulties and so early in the rain I think that's you know it can be potentially quite damaging to a new rain but I think they're coming through it these sorts of events I think showed them at their best I mean I can't think of any other event that is so quintessentially British has this royal patronage has the glamour the glitz and I think it's that kind of uplifting sort of event that you know the royal family can really embrace there's excellent people watching

here but I have to say fro frocks, hats, crowns aside, I get very excited about seeing the magnificent beasts. I get very excited about seeing the horses. I love a thoroughbred. Right. So I'm excited to, when it kicks off here, come down to the parade ring, see what looks in form.

Look out for what's going to be racing past the post. And I don't know, it's very exciting when you see that flash of the silks going past the finishing post. It's just a unique feeling. Royal Ascot is unique. There is no other race meet, I think, in the world that carries the prestige that Royal Ascot does.

So it's very exciting. Work shouldn't be this fun, should it, Kate? It shouldn't really, should it? And I think the King and Queen share your enthusiasm because they're talking here in the little booklet about the delight of having a winner at Ascot because, of course, they did have a winner last year. I don't think they're expecting to have one this year,

from what I understand. But you're the horse whisperer, right? Well, I did speak to their racing advisor, John Warren, at the weekend. Who's going to be in the carriage today, the Royal Procession. Yes, who said they've got some runners potentially Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Don't bet the house on those though.

I'd say they're each way bets, Kate. I'd say they're each way bets. That's very diplomatic. Yes. Kate, so lovely to be here with you. Thank you for that natter. We scrub up okay, don't we? We do scrub up all right.

See you at the final furlong. Can we talk about Royal Sports Racing later?