The Duke of Sussex made no secret of how much he enjoyed his recent UK return.

The Duke of Sussex made not secret of how much he enjoyed his return to the UK (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry is happy in California, sources insist, but that won’t stop him from making frequent trips back home to the UK. He loved every minute of being back supporting the charities and patronages he spent years building a rapport with when he was a senior working earlier this month.

As well as carrying out engagements in support of the causes he cares deeply about, his return trips will also be about spending time with the King. Sources say he is considering bringing his two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, with him next year as he knows his father is keen to spend time with his two youngest grandchildren.

Whether Harry’s wife, Meghan, would join them is another matter entirely. But for now, these small steps are an encouraging sign father and son might be able to move on.

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Can Fergie survive?

Sarah, Duchess of York has been embroiled in another scandal (Image: Getty)

Can Fergie survive? No, not me, I’m talking about Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. Charities have quite rightly axed Prince Andrew’s ex-wife in their droves since it was revealed last weekend that she sent a grovelling apology to Jeffrey Epstein and hailed him a “supreme friend” after his release from jail for child sex offences.

The Duchess emailed the millionaire paedophile just weeks after pledging in an interview never to contact him again. The toxic email, where she says Epstein had “always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family”, shows her willingness to put a friendship above her charitable work and moral duty to stand by his victims.

For years she has aligned herself with key charities and portrayed herself as empathetic and compassionate – but how can that public persona reconcile with her extraordinary association with Epstein? Fergie’s efforts to rehabilitate her image after her numerous earlier scandals have now been torpedoed by an email her spokesperson claims was sent because he had threatened to sue her for defamation. “Like many people, she was taken in by his lies,” they insisted.

So will we see the Duchess walk beside her ex-husband, who stepped down from official royal duties in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, at private royal events in the future?

Earlier this month they joined senior working members of the Royal Family for the Catholic funeral of the Duchess of Kent, and before that they were all smiles at the Easter Mattins service in Windsor. But sources tell me this latest revelation is one scandal too many, and there’s pressure for the King to distance himself from the Yorks once and for all.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will remain in the fold, but Andrew and Fergie are very unlikely to be allowed to be photographed with the family again.

The Prince of Wales is resolute in his view, which he has held since his uncle gave the disastrous Newsnight interview, that there is no place for Andrew or Fergie anymore.

Princess Anne’s school throwback

Princess Anne was a student at Beneden College (Image: Getty)

Last week, the Princess Royal hailed the benefits of a boarding school education as she sought to reassure naval families who often enrol their children into them.

The King’s sister, 75, said the experience brings “stability” and makes children’s lives easier. Anne and her siblings all went to boarding school as children.

Charles, Andrew and Edward all boarded at Gordonstoun School (which at the time was boys-only), on the north coast of Scotland. For her part, the Princess spent five years at Benenden School in Kent. It’s an exceptional school, (hardly surprising with fees of more than £16,000 a term) that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting over the years.

While I attended a Kent grammar school, every summer I would head to Benenden for the Kent Music Summer School. My cello and I enjoyed the spectacular grounds and facilities for week-long music courses. A school like that is nothing to be sniffed at.

Next state visit revealed

There will be another state visit in December (Image: Getty)

It may have only been a week since Windsor Castle said goodbye to its guests, Mr and Mrs Trump, but preparations are already underway for the next state visit.

At the start of December, the King and Queen will host another inbound state visit at the Berkshire residence. It’s all top secret right now and my lips are sealed but it won’t be quite as grand as the last one, where Britain provided all the pomp and ceremony it could muster to woo the US President.

However, it will include all the usual elements royal fans are accustomed to with a carriage procession, ceremonial welcome and the glittering state banquet. I’m looking forward to it already!

Kate and Will’s Southport tribute

The couple travelled to Southport (Image: Getty)

The Prince and Princess of Wales may have come under criticism for approaching royal duties differently, but their trip to Southport last week proved how much of a difference it can make. They have carved out a role which involves focusing on a smaller number of projects so they make a greater impact.

Homelessness, the environment, mental health and early childhood are a few of the key areas the couple spend their time working on. They both put their heart and soul into their passion projects and areas in which they want to make a difference.

Nowhere was this felt more keenly than on their second visit to the Southport communities, where they were keen to show their support and provide a listening ear.

After the unimaginable happened during a Taylor Swift dance class, people have come together to support the grieving families. As parents to similar-aged children, and a daughter who loves to dance, Kate and William have been so deeply moved by the horrific attacks.

They showed genuine empathy and concern during their visit on Tuesday, and in doing so embodied how love really does triumph over tragedy.