June 25, 2026

Heatwave Halts Changing of the Guard, Harry and Meghan to stay at Diana's home?

Show Notes
Transcript

Britain’s scorching heatwave has forced the cancellation of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, bringing one of the monarchy’s most iconic traditions to a standstill. Meanwhile, King Charles meets members of the Afghan Refugee Women’s Cricket Team and hears dramatic firsthand accounts of their escape from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Plus, speculation grows that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could stay at Princess Diana’s childhood home, Althorp House, during their expected UK visit, and a commentator claims Harry’s planned appearance at Aston Villa’s Villa Park amounts to an “act of war” against Prince William.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:10.519
Ah Calorougus Shark Media, dall and welcome to Pallace inturg

2
00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.679
Game your host Mark Francis. One of Britain's most recognizable

3
00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:18.239
royal traditions has become a casualty of the country's extraordinary

4
00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:21.120
heat wave. The Army announced that the Changing of the

5
00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:25.239
Guards ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle was canceled

6
00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:28.559
for several days this week as temperatures across southern England

7
00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:32.880
climbed toward record levels. For many visitors, the ceremony is

8
00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:35.640
one of the defining images of Royal Britain, soldiers in

9
00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:39.439
scarlet tunics and bearskin hats marching through central London to

10
00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.119
the sound of military bands while crowds land the streets

11
00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:45.280
to watch. This week, however, the heat has become too

12
00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:48.479
much for even one of the monarchy's oldest traditions. In

13
00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:51.439
a statement, the Army in London said, the wellbeing of

14
00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.159
our soldiers, military working horses and the public who gather

15
00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:57.200
in large numbers to watch these events is always our priority.

16
00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:01.359
While tourists often focus on the spectacle, the reality behind

17
00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:05.120
the ceremony is demanding. Even in normal weather. The soldiers

18
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:08.719
wear heavy ceremonial uniforms, including the famous bare skin hats

19
00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:12.519
that have become synonymous with royal pageantry. Horses are also

20
00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:16.200
involved in several of the ceremonial duties carried out around

21
00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:21.200
the royal residences. Wednesdays, King's Lifeguards ceremony at horse Guard's

22
00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.879
parades still took place, but in a reduced form designed

23
00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.799
to protect both soldiers and horses. The guard changed without

24
00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:32.359
the usual ceremonial elements and much earlier in the morning

25
00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:36.640
before temperatures reached their peak. The Army said soldiers standing

26
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:39.840
guard were moved into shaded positions where possible, and are

27
00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:44.120
being rotated more frequently throughout the day despite the heat.

28
00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:46.719
The King saught of his duty, enjoying a day centered

29
00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.400
on sport, but the most moving moments came not from

30
00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.400
the cricket bat or the jiu jitsu mat, but from

31
00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:54.920
the remarkable stories of resilience he heard from a group

32
00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.480
of young women forced to flee their homeland. The King

33
00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:01.359
began Wednesday at Clarence House, where he welcomed members of

34
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.359
the Afghan refugee women's cricket team. The players, many of

35
00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:09.599
whom escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in

36
00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:13.520
twenty one, spoke candidly about the terrifying journey that brought

37
00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:17.319
them to safety. Meeting the team, Charles asked about their

38
00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:20.719
escaped from Afghanistan and the challenges they faced leaving the country.

39
00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.759
Twenty one year old Ferusa Amir told the King, it

40
00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:27.360
has been a very difficult and terrifying journey for all

41
00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.840
of us. There were a lot of Taliban checkpoints. We

42
00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:31.879
thought it's going to be the last one, we won't

43
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:35.479
survive anymore, but we made it. The team was originally

44
00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.599
established during the Afghan Republic, but lost official recognition after

45
00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:43.120
the Taliban's returned to power. Women's sport has now effectively

46
00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.560
banned in Afghanistan, and many of the players were forced

47
00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:50.680
into hiding before eventually fleeing the country. Former Australian cricketer

48
00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:54.000
Mel Jones helped coordinate a rescue effort that ultimately brought

49
00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:57.560
more than one hundred people to safety. Jones explained, there

50
00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.800
were about one hundred and thirty four people we got out,

51
00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:02.479
had a backpack each with their entire lives and had

52
00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.439
to burn anything that said they played cricket, all their

53
00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:08.840
cricket equipment. Today, most of the players live in Australia

54
00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:11.080
but are currently in Breton for a series of matches,

55
00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.560
although they remain unable to compete as an officially recognized

56
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.560
Afghan national side. Speaking with the players, Charles said, I

57
00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:20.719
am so glad you can pursue what you really want

58
00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:22.919
to do. There was also a lighter moment during the

59
00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:26.240
visit when player Ikille Latifi asked the King for a

60
00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:30.080
particularly posh English word, Your Majesty, would you give be

61
00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:33.080
a posh word like lavatory? Do you have one for me?

62
00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.919
She asked. Charles laughed and replied, I think I would

63
00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.080
need advance warning for that. The King was presented with

64
00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:42.759
a hand decorated cricket bat and assigned team shirt before

65
00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.319
posing for photographs with the players. From cricket, Charles moved

66
00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:49.120
on to a very different sporting environment, visiting the Roger

67
00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:52.560
Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in London to learn more

68
00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:56.120
about the work of Riorg, a charity that supports serving

69
00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:01.759
military personnel, veterans and emergency service work through martial arts training.

70
00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.319
Because the students trained barefoot on the mats, the King

71
00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:08.360
two of the academy wearing blue disposable shoe covers while

72
00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:13.439
meeting participants in observing demonstrations. Then came an unexpected gift

73
00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:16.040
for the monarch himself. The King was presented with his

74
00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:19.639
own white belt, the beginner rank in Brazilian jiu jitsu.

75
00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.000
Charles appeared delighted by the gesture and smiled broadly as

76
00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:26.639
he posed for photographs with members of the academy. More

77
00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:34.000
palacing just a moment. There is speculation Harry and Meghan

78
00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:38.639
might stay at Allthorpe House, the Spencer family estate in Northampton,

79
00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:41.639
shere and the childhood home of Harry's late mother Diana,

80
00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.480
when they visit the UK. Speculation intensified after the estate

81
00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:47.639
announced it would be closed to the public on July

82
00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:51.040
tenth and eleventh, dates that coincide with Harry's expected time

83
00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.439
in Britain. While no connection has been confirmed, royal watchers

84
00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.160
have noted that Allthorpe would offer both privacy and deep

85
00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.360
personal significance for the Duke. Diana is buried on an

86
00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:02.120
island in the middle of a lake on the estate,

87
00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.319
a secluded location that has become one of the most

88
00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.720
meaningful places in Harry's life. The timing may be especially

89
00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.639
poignant The family's visit is expected just days after what

90
00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:15.000
would have been Diana's birthday on July first. Harry estated

91
00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:18.040
all thought before. In August twenty four, he reportedly used

92
00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:20.639
the estate as a base while attending the funeral of

93
00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:24.839
Lord Robert Fellows. The property belongs to his uncle, Charles Spencer,

94
00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:27.319
who has maintained a close connection with his nephew over

95
00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:30.800
the years. At the same time, reports suggests King Charles

96
00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:33.959
has again offered accommodation on a royal estate should Harry, Meghan,

97
00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.920
Artu and Lund wish to accept it. The Times reported

98
00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:39.279
Harry and Meghan have yet to respond to the King's offer.

99
00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:42.800
In an opinion piece for The Express, Chris Richards writes,

100
00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:45.759
the absence of a response is not them pondering the offer.

101
00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:47.959
I mean, either way you reply, he was to say,

102
00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.160
that's so generous. Can we think about it? It can

103
00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.720
only be the Sussexes once again exposing their personalities, Achilles Hill,

104
00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:57.639
their galactic sized ego. Look at their obsession with security

105
00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:59.879
when in the UK, this idea that they are simply

106
00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.639
not safe and must have armed police protection officers. I'm

107
00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:06.439
sure that sadly, in the modern world, even the least

108
00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:09.800
controversial Hollywood actor or global pop star has bombarded with

109
00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:13.399
online abuse and threats. It's despicable that they will be

110
00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:16.439
no stranger to it. Yet I can't recall the last

111
00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:18.600
time I heard a Hollywood film, style or music icon

112
00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.959
saying I simply cannot come to the UK without my

113
00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:25.360
armed bodyguards because Britain isn't safe of the visit. Royal

114
00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:28.120
expert Tom Bauer told The Royalist podcast, I think you

115
00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:31.959
can summarize it in two words, desperation and failure. They've

116
00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.759
run out of ideas and the finances are basically in jeopardy.

117
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:37.600
And Megan is someone who is desperate for fame. She's

118
00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:41.639
desperate for recognition, she's desperate for money and of course status,

119
00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.319
and it just seems to her that a visit to

120
00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.839
the royal family in Britain would restore to her the

121
00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.600
credibility she once had. I think for Harriet's worse because

122
00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:53.560
Harry is isolated in California, he misses his roots, he

123
00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.639
misses England, and somehow it wants to worm his way

124
00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:58.199
back into the affections not only of his own family,

125
00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:00.920
but of the British people. He said, we're seeing them

126
00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:03.759
effectively crawl on bended knees back to Britain, and they

127
00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:08.000
are to be pathetically grateful if the King agrees. A

128
00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:10.600
new report is claiming that the visit could include what

129
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.399
one commentator dramatically described as an act of war aimed

130
00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.319
at Prince William. The claim centers on reports that Harry

131
00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:19.639
will take part in a one year to Go event

132
00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:21.759
for the twenty twenty seven in Victor's Games at Villa

133
00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:25.519
Park in Birmingham next month. Under normal circumstances, the choice

134
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:28.759
of venue would seem entirely logical. Birmingham is hosting the

135
00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.120
next Invictor's Games and Villa Park is one of the

136
00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:34.399
city's best known sporting venues. But because Villa Park is

137
00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:37.600
also home to Aston Villa Football Club, a team Prince

138
00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:41.160
William has supported passionately for decades, some commentators have suggested

139
00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:46.240
the venue carries additional symbolism. Speaking on a podcast, commentator

140
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.519
jj An Coobi claimed, I have been told and I

141
00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.759
feel this is a dig at William. Harry is going

142
00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.800
to make his announcements at Birmingham at Villa Park. Talk

143
00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.759
TV presenter Mark Donaland appeared equally intrigued by the theory.

144
00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:01.480
William's great loves are the UK, his family, particularly his

145
00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.519
wife and children, and the Aston Villa football club he

146
00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:08.079
lives and breathes. He's so passionate. I think there's a

147
00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.199
sense of his second family about that club. If he

148
00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.519
goes to Villa Park, that's an act of war because

149
00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.639
Villa belongs to William. It's his property, it's his emotions,

150
00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.399
it's his backstory, it's his narrative. In many ways, it's

151
00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:23.519
one of the few human things that we know about William.

152
00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:26.639
They have it hey. All this month, we're encouraging listeners

153
00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.839
of Palace Intrigue to help spread the word. If you're

154
00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.639
enjoying this show, tell a friend about us, and, better yet,

155
00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.720
just share a show with someone who loves the royal family.

156
00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.799
You know who they are, and be sure to follow

157
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:40.399
Palace Intrigue on Spotify as well as Apple, and you

158
00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:44.159
can leave comments on Spotify. I mind Francis many thanks

159
00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.240
to John McDermot. This says Palace Intrigue and good dinners.

Heatwave Halts Changing of the Guard, Harry and Meghan to stay at Diana's home?

Listen On

Recent Episodes