The King had a splendid time in The Bahamas. Pics: Royal Family
We’re all cheered when we see the King in good spirits, but we don’t think anyone was expecting him to be quite so up for a boogie – even the Palace – in The Bahamas. Charles has been visiting The Bahamas and Guyana this week, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda today, when Queen Camilla joins him.
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Despite gloomy forecasts of the reception he would receive, in actuality, the King got a rapturous greeting in Nassau on Tuesday, where he said, “I reach, Amen!” meaning, “I’ve arrived,” in dialect, to a huge cheer.
Before his visit, the expectation was Charles would face heated discussions of slavery, reparation and even independence, so we can safely assume it wasn’t on any Palace officials’ bingo cards that the monarch would get down and groove along the street in a Junkanoo parade. But that’s what Charles, who turns 78 on November 14, did on the spur of the moment, surprising everyone – his aides included – by shaking handbells and getting into the spirit in Nassau on the second day of his trip.
He did address the issue of slavery and reparations, saying: “It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering of the past, in these islands and beyond, even as we rejoice in the successes of the present and build new opportunities for the future.” As he departed on Thursday to fly to Guyana, Palace officials posted on Instagram, “Thanks to all those who welcomed The King so warmly during his visit to The Bahamas” and confirmed the King was “deeply grateful” for the wonderful reception he experienced.
He had an equally happy visit to Guyana – including a State Reception where he knocked back a shot of Guyanese rum and listened to a performance by seven Scottish bagpipers flown to the South American nation by the president, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who had previously heard them play at Dumfries House.
Camilla is joining the King for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which starts today, in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda and we’re sure while she’ll be pleased he’s had a good time, she’ll also suggest he gets an early night. The King has shown remarkable resilience for travelling and commitment to the Commonwealth, as his mother did. The late Queen’s last overseas visit was to Malta in 2015, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, when she was 89.
Meghan on MasterChef Austraila. Pic: MasterChef
It’s been another horrendous week for Meghan thanks to her father making more headlines across the globe. The latest development, an exclusive by The Mail, claims a Mexican storage unit owned by Thomas Markle harboured inappropriate pics of Markle with young-looking Asian females. Markle has currently been reported to the FBI and is being investigated by police in the Philippines on suspicion of possessing child abuse images.
There was a glimmer of good news, Meghan has landed a job. Albeit from far ways; She will present the next season of Junior MasterChef, the Australian version, which mean she’ll spend weeks filming the series in Melbourne next year. Meghan appeared as a guest on MasterChef back in April. Whether Harry and the children will join her – who recently started school in the UK- has yet to be announced.
Another Daily Mail splash again this time in Friday’s paper, in which Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, was spotted back in London, the first time since last December when she attended her granddaughter’s, Athena’s christening.
This time she was in Knightsbridge at a memorial service for her former boyfriend, Paddy McNally, a motor-racing tycoon. She was joined by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, their husbands and Peter Phillips. Could it be that she really has returned home after spending months abroad, when her titles were removed last October – since she escaped relentless scrutiny over her friendship with convictes sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Her last public appearance was at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral in September 2025. That October, she moved out of Royal Lodge in Windsor, where she lived for decades with ex-husband, Andrew.
The Wales’ during the Three Peaks Challenge. Pic: Prince and Princess of Wales
We really loved this photo posted by the Princess of Wales last weekend, to mark Mountain Rescue Awareness Day. It was taken when she did the Three Peaks Challenge in the summer and she wrote, “We send our heartfelt thanks to all those who volunteer their time and expertise to keep people safe in some of our most beautiful but challenging landscapes. Through our connection with this remarkable organisation, we have seen first-hand the dedication, professionalism and compassion that define their work.” But what stands out to us, is how grown up – and happy – Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, look. The reason the family has been quiet this week is because it’s half-term for their children – the first for George since he’s been at Eton – so they are enjoying their time together again. Their schools are not set to return until November 9 (state schools are earlier).
Meanwhile, we truly appreciate the adorable ‘Happy Halloween’ photo of a one-year-old Louis picking up a pumpkin, taken by Kate and posted yesterday.
“At a time when Britain was recovering from war and her empire was in decline, a young woman took the throne as a matter of duty not desire. Prepare for a world full of intrigue and revelations in The Crown. Now Streaming on Netflix.” So read the promotional literature for the most expensive TV series Netflix had made at the time – and ten years ago this November 4 the truly remarkable series landed on the box. Personally, says Maria, she reckons the first series is exceptional and her favourite Queen (Claire Foy) and Philip (Matt Smith), and who will ever forget Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret (no man we know, that’s for sure). Look out for Kerry’s special newsletter celebrating The Crown this week.
The Royal List, by two trusted journalists, goes behind the headlines each week. For deep-dive, exclusive content, consider upgrading to paid.