Tag: Royal News

International

Princess Leonor Poised to Make History as Spain’s First Queen in 150 Years

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Spain is poised to witness a historic transition as Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, prepares to become the country’s first Queen Regnant in 150 years. Her ascension will mark a significant milestone for the Spanish monarchy, with the last reigning queen being Isabella II, whose rule ended in 1868.

The Spanish crown has been held by the Bourbon dynasty since the early 18th century, following their victory in the War of the Spanish Succession. After decades under General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a central role in Spain’s transition to democracy. He abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, King Felipe VI, placing Princess Leonor next in line to the throne.

King Felipe married Queen Letizia, a former journalist, in 2004. She became queen at the age of 42 when Felipe ascended the throne. The royal couple has two daughters — Princess Leonor, born in 2005 and heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia, born in 2007.

As part of her preparation for future leadership, Spanish law requires the heir to the throne to undergo comprehensive military training across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Princess Leonor completed her International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales before beginning her military journey in August 2023 with Army training in Zaragoza, joining a cohort of over 500 cadets.

In 2024, she transitioned to naval training in Galicia and embarked on a 140-day, 17,000-mile voyage aboard the historic training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. Serving as part of the crew, she sailed across the Atlantic, around South America and onward to New York, later spending time aboard the warship Blas de Lezo before returning to Cadiz in July.

Her training continued with the Air Force, where in December 2025 she completed her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, becoming the first female member of the Spanish royal family to achieve this milestone. During her time at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia, she received a warm reception and is now set to be honoured with the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia, the region’s highest civilian award.

Fluent in several languages, including Spanish, Catalan, English, French, Arabic and Mandarin, Princess Leonor represents a modern, globally aware monarchy. Her journey reflects a careful balance between tradition and transformation, positioning her as a symbol of continuity and change as Spain prepares to welcome its first reigning queen in over a century and a half.

International

Kate Middleton Marks 44th Birthday with Emotional ‘Mother Nature’ Finale, Reflects on Healing and Gratitude

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral International Desk

Princess of Wales Kate Middleton marked her 44th birthday with the release of an emotional and deeply personal short film titled Winter, the fourth and final installment of her Mother Nature series. Released on Friday, January 9, the film reflects on healing, gratitude, and the profound connection between nature and wellbeing.

The visually poetic film captures Princess Kate on an early morning walk through frost-covered landscapes, strolling across bridges, dipping her hand into a flowing stream, and standing reflectively in open fields. Through a calm and introspective voiceover, she speaks about stillness, patience, and self-discovery during life’s colder and darker seasons.

“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration,” Kate reflects in the film, drawing parallels between the natural world and inner healing. She speaks of gratitude, emotional release, and the peace found in surrendering to nature’s rhythms, describing it as both a quiet teacher and a guide toward healing.

In the caption accompanying the film, the Princess of Wales described the Mother Nature series as “a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal,” while also highlighting its broader message of collective healing through creativity and environmental connection. Signing off simply with “C,” Kate emphasised the importance of learning from nature to build a healthier and happier world.

Filmed across locations including Berkshire — where Kate lives with Prince William and their three children — as well as London and the Cotswolds, the film was captured by filmmaker Will Warr. The series began in May 2025 to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, followed by Summer in August and Autumn in November.

The release of Winter comes a year after Kate publicly announced that she was in remission from cancer in January 2025. She had earlier shared her diagnosis in March 2024 and underwent treatment, including chemotherapy. Throughout that journey, Kate frequently spoke about the comfort and strength she drew from spending time outdoors.

A long-time advocate of connecting with nature, including the practice of forest bathing, Kate’s bond with the natural world took on deeper meaning during her recovery. Her earlier health updates, often shared through outdoor imagery, symbolised hope, resilience, and renewal.

With Winter, the Princess of Wales brings her Mother Nature series to a close — leaving behind a powerful message about healing, patience, and the enduring wisdom of the natural world, offered with grace, vulnerability, and quiet strength.

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Thailand Mourns as Beloved Queen Mother Sirikit Passes Away at 93

Tanisha Cardozo

Thailand is in mourning following the royal palace’s announcement that Queen Mother Sirikit, the beloved mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has passed away at the age of 93.

According to the palace statement, Her Majesty’s health had worsened in recent days, and she passed away at 9:21 p.m. on Friday at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok. She had been under medical care for a blood infection since October 17. Despite the efforts of her medical team, her condition did not improve.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cancelled his planned trip to Malaysia following the news and convened a cabinet meeting to discuss funeral arrangements. Government officials observed the announcement dressed in black, reflecting the sombre national mood. The King has declared a one-year official mourning period for the royal family and royal staff.

Queen Mother Sirikit was a deeply respected and cherished figure in Thailand. Married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950, she stood beside him throughout his seven-decade reign—the longest in Thai history—helping promote national unity, cultural preservation, and social welfare. Her August 12 birthday is celebrated nationally as Mother’s Day, reflecting her enduring influence and affection among the Thai people.

Born in 1932 into an aristocratic family in Bangkok, Sirikit met Bhumibol in Paris in 1948 while her father served as Thailand’s ambassador to France. Their marriage one week before his coronation began a lifetime partnership that shaped modern Thai history. The couple had four children: King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn.

Throughout her life, Queen Sirikit championed development programs that supported rural communities, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. Her elegance and compassion made her a respected figure both at home and abroad. Though she withdrew from public life after suffering a stroke in 2012, her legacy as a symbol of grace, service, and devotion to the Thai people endured.

Her Majesty’s remains will be enshrined in Bangkok’s Grand Palace, where citizens are expected to pay their respects in the coming days. Across Thailand, black ribbons and portraits are appearing in remembrance of a queen whose life embodied duty, dignity, and love for her country.

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The Duchess of Kent Dies Aged 92: A Quiet Force of Compassion and Grace

Tanisha Cardozo

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away peacefully at the age of 92, was a woman who redefined royal duty with humility, passion, and quiet dignity. Her life was not one of grand gestures or global headlines, but one marked by deep compassion and an unwavering belief in the power of music, education, and emotional connection.

Born Katharine Worsley into an aristocratic Yorkshire family in 1933, she entered royal life upon marrying Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. Over the decades, she became a quiet but steadfast presence within the Royal Family—never seeking the spotlight, but always offering support.

She was best known to the public for her long-standing presence at Wimbledon, where she was a comforting and empathetic figure to both victors and those defeated. One of the most iconic moments of her life came in 1993, when she consoled a tearful Jana Novotna after her loss—showing the world a royal heart full of warmth and understanding.

But behind palace walls, she lived a life of unique choices. In 1994, the Duchess converted to Catholicism, the first senior royal to do so in over 300 years—an intensely personal decision that spoke to her deep convictions. Her commitment to education was just as heartfelt. She worked as a music teacher in a Hull primary school for 13 years, known simply as “Mrs Kent.” Few knew of her royal status. What mattered more to her was offering children, many of them disadvantaged, the opportunity to believe in themselves through music.

She spoke passionately of children living behind “Berlin Walls” of deprivation and went on to establish a charity focused on providing music education to those who needed it most. Her love for music—ranging from Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus to her surprisingly open admiration for gangsta rap—revealed a complex, deeply feeling individual who never ceased to evolve.

The Duchess faced personal loss too. The stillbirth of her fourth child in 1977 left her deeply affected, leading to a period of “nervous exhaustion” and hospitalization—a rare and honest admission for a royal during an era when mental health was not publicly discussed. She later shared her experience with “acute depression,” becoming a quiet advocate for those suffering in silence.

Tributes from across the UK and beyond have poured in. The Prince and Princess of Wales praised her tireless work and enduring empathy. King Charles and Queen Camilla are observing a period of mourning alongside the rest of the Royal Family. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer remembered her “compassion, dignity, and human touch.” Martina Navratilova recalled the Duchess’s profound impact at Wimbledon, saying she had “affected millions of people around the globe in a positive way.”

She is survived by her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their three children (one of whom was stillborn), and grandchildren. Her funeral will be a Catholic service, a nod to the faith that gave her strength in her later years.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, lived a life of service shaped not by ceremony, but by kindness. She embodied the belief that power lies not in titles but in empathy, not in grand palaces but in humble classrooms and concert halls. Her legacy will live on in every child who finds their voice through music and every life touched by her quiet strength.