Catching up with the royals (June 2, 2025 edition)
The Harry Spencer idea, a royal health update and the puzzle that is As Ever
AFTERGLOW
The King and Queen return to public facing duties this week but the reviews of their quick trip to Canada are glowing. Royal biographer Christopher Wilson called the visit "his finest hour" after the coronation, adding, "His grace, charm, informality and apparent knowledge of almost everyone in the Canadian Parliament is a triumph of diplomacy."
Look at the coverage around the world and there's no doubt that Canada's message about defending its sovereignty landed. The Michael de Adder editorial cartoon for The Hill Times seems particularly apt.
What's also interesting is how many people said that it was the first time they'd actually watched the Opening of Parliament, even though the speech itself got dull by the time it hit the GST segment.
The royal visit in Ottawa sets up the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta in two weeks. Will our allies defend Canada’s self-determination as strongly as the King and Queen did in Ottawa?
For more on the trip, read my last newsletter.
A GOOD VIEW
I realized that I didn’t share this video from fellow journalist Joy SpearChief-Morris of the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the airport in Ottawa. We were side by side in the open media position, and both intently watching the plane for the appearance of the couple, yet her video was sooooo much better than mine that she graciously gave me permission to load it onto this newsletter.
THE KING’S HEALTH
Last week, a senior royal aide gave an update on the King's health:
"As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible. That’s exactly what he is doing"
"The thing you learn about this illness is that you just manage it, and that’s what he does."
“Medical science has made incredible advances, and I genuinely see no difference in him."
Bottom line: Like many, King Charles will be living with cancer for the foreseeable future. He’s 76 and in very good health, aside from cancer.
A LOW PROFILE
You’ll notice that most of the working royals kept a pretty low profile during the Canadian visit. That’s a deliberate strategy so as to not take the media’s focus away from the visit.
"I want to bring about real change," said Prince William, in an interesting behind-the-scenes article by royal editor Hannah Furness of the Telegraph. She followed him around his duties as leader of the Duchy of Cornwall, the hereditary estate of the heir to the throne. Charles did a huge amount of modernizing the Duchy during his decades as heir, and William is now putting his own plans in motion.
TRADING MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR FOR SPENCER?
How badly do you have to hate your family that you’d consider ditching their name?
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