Dec. 19, 2025

Kate Middleton Backs William’s Royal Reset, Christmas Message Signals Calm, and Andrew’s Quiet Retreat

Show Notes
Transcript

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is said to have pledged unwavering support to Prince William as he prepares for what insiders describe as a major overhaul of the monarchy, potentially beginning as early as 2026. Sources say the past year of illness, pressure and family strain has strengthened their bond as they focus on stability, impact and a quieter Christmas.

We also look at the Wales family’s new Christmas photograph and message, and reports that Kate has stepped back from efforts to reconcile William and Harry.

After the break, fresh claims from Andrew Lownie’s book detail allegations about Sarah Ferguson’s spending habits during her time as a working royal.

We close with an update on Prince Andrew’s impending move from Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, the personal cost to King Charles, and what royal watchers say about Andrew’s increasingly isolated life.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

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Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Pallas Intrigue. I

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am your host, Mark Francis. Catherine, the Princess of Wales,

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has privately pledged her full support to Prince William as

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he prepares for what allies describe as a far reaching

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overhaul of the British monarchy. Following a year marked by

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serious illness, family estrangement, and mounting pressure on the institution,

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the Prince and Princess of Wales are approaching Christmas after

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what sources describe as one of the most testing periods

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of their marriage and public lives. Earlier this year, Catherine

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announced she was in remission from cancer, while King Charles

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continues treatment after revealing his own diagnosis in February. Against

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that backdrop Pallace, sources say Catherine has made it clear

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she intends to stand firmly beside her husband as he

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prepares for the throne and what is being described as

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a potentially transformative period for the monarchy, which could begin

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as early as twenty twenty six, depending on the King's health.

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One source close so the couple said the past year

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has strengthened their bond in a way few expected. Kate

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fully understands the pressure William is under, particularly with major

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changes on the horizon. The source added that her message

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to William was unequivocal. I'm standing beside you through every choice,

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every shift, and every test that comes with it. According

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to insiders, Kate has also committed to providing stability for

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their children and helping to shape whatever future monarchy William

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ultimately creates. They're hoping for a Christmas that feels simple

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and grounded, the source said, adding that after months of

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public tension, the priority is peace and time together as

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a family. Behind the scenes, planning is already underway for

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what insiders are calling a new Royal era. One source

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said William and Kate Cy twenty twenty six is a

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turning point that could reshape the monarchy more than any

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period in recent memory. Another added their aims to be

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down to earth, approachable and rooted in family, with that

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guiding every decision they make. Engagements are expected to become

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fewer but more focused, with an emphasis on impact rather

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than visibility. At the same time, Pallace figures are bracing

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for further friction with the Sussexes. Clear lines will be

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drawn when it comes to Harry and Meghan. One source

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said next year is likely to be fraught, with the

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Sussexes expected to strongly push back against any move to

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remove their titles. Another senior Palace figure summed it up

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by saying they've accepted that the traditional advisors can no

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longer show them the way, so William and Kate are

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building their own inner circle in preparation for when he

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takes the throne. William Kate have released their Christmas message

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alongside a new family photograph featuring their three children. The

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message was shared on social media and read wishing everyone

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a very happy Christmas. The accompanying photograph shows the families

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sitting outdoors in a field of wild flowers. The children

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are pictured with their parents in relaxed casual clothing, including

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genes worn by the Prince of Wales and his two sons.

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Kensington Palace confirmed the image was taken in April by

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photographer Josh Shiner. Kate has reportedly stepped back from efforts

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to reconcile William and Harry Amid claims that the long

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running rift between the brothers shows no sign of easing.

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A royal insider told Radar Online Keith is naturally a

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peacemaker and has been working behind the scenes to try

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and get the brothers in the same room again, but

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William just is not up for it, and she has

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now told him she will stop pressing him and follow

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his lead. More Palace in just a Moment. Allegations about

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Sarah Ferguson's spending habits aren't detailed in a new book

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by royal author Andrew Lowney titled entitled The Rise and

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Fall of the House of York. In an excerpt from

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the book, Lowney recounts claims made by Sarah Ferguson's former

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partner John Bryan, who shared details of their relationship with

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the News of the World. For convenience, we've converted the

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reported amounts into US dollars here at your exchange rates

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may vary. According to Lowney, Brian alleged that the former

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Duchess of York had annual spending of a about one million,

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one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars. That total reportedly included

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about three hundred and ninety thousand dollars on staff, approximately

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one hundred and ninety five thousand on gifts, sixty five

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thousand dollars on flowers, another sixty five thousand dollars on

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parties and roughly one hundred ninety five thousand dollars on travel.

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Lowney also writes that Ferguson allegedly spend around one hundred

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and thirty thousand on clothes, including a single shopping trip

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at Bloomingdale's where she is said to have spent approximately

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thirty two thousand, five hundred dollars in just one hour.

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The book claims her lifestyle as a member of the

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royal family was marked by ambition and financial recklessness, and

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paints a picture of what Lowney describes as a hedonistic life,

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controversial friendships, and secretive money making endeavors. Elsewhere, Lowney alleges

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that Ferguson became known from running up large credit accounts

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at luxury stores. He writes that she found ways and

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means of getting around her financial restrictions, claiming that Mohammad

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al Fayed, the former owner of Harod's, he never pressed

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her to settle her account, a practice he says she exploited. Elsewhere,

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a former employee is quoted as saying, these accounts just

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never get paid. Somehow, the shops don't complain because who

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she is or they never used to. Further allegations include

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spending roughly eighteen thousand dollars in a single month with

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a London wine merchant, as well as luxury holidays to

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destinations such as Puerto Rico, Butudas, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Poland,

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along with four trips to the United States. On those visits,

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she is said to have stayed at the Carlisle in

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New York, where the cheapest suite at the time cost

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about four hundred and thirty dollars a night. Lowney also

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described trips to New York, where Ferguson allegedly traveled with

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ten suitcases, taking one car to the airport and another

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solely for her luggage. Meanwhile, Andrew was preparing to leave

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Royal Lodge in Windsor and is expected to relocate to

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a property on the Sandringham estate owned by his older brother,

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King Charles. According to reports, Marsh Farm has emerged as

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the likely destination. While it sits on the wider Sandringham

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at state, the house itself is located around two miles

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from the main residence, near the village of Wolferton. The

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move represents a significant reduction in scale for Andrew, who

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has been living at Royal Lodge, a property with around

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thirty rooms and extensive grounds. Marsh Farm, by contrast, is

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a former working farm with a modest brick built main house.

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Reports describe it as having two reception rooms, a kitchen

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and several outbuildings. While it has previously been labeled as

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shoe box, other accounts suggest it is more substantial than that,

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though still a far cry from Andrew's previous accommodation. The

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property is currently undergoing renovations and it is not yet

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known when those works will be completed or when Andrew

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will be able to move in. Security arrangements around the

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proposed new home have also been tightened. A new no

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fly zone has been introduced over Marsh Farm, extending two

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miles west of the main house. While much of the

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Sandringham at state was already protected by year round drone restrictions,

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the expanded zone came into force in late September, reflecting

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concerns about privacy and surveillance. It has also emerged that

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the move could cost King Charles personally. As the Sandringham

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estate is privately owned, the monarch is not required to

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charge rent, and it is believed Andrew will live there

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as a private citizen. Reports further suggest that the cost

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of the renovations at Marsh Farm will be met by

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the King, although the scale of those works has not

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yet been disclosed. According to the Telegraph, Andrew now lives

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a markedly quiet and inward looking life. His days are

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said to be spent riding, shooting, playing golf or watching television.

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He does not drink or smoke, is rarely seen out

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to dinner, and his former habit of frequenting London clubs

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is firmly in the past. Once source notes without hostility,

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he does watch a lot of TV. He's always done that.

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He's been a bit of a couch potato. While he

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has still said to host shoots at Sandringham, reports suggest

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that few people visit him. His biographer describes him as

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feeling abandoned and embittered, arguing that he is now confronting

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the loss of everything that mattered to him, his status,

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his position in the royal family and military, and to

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a lesser extent, of fractured family. Much of the past

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year has been reportedly consumed by meetings with lawyers, courtiers,

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and shrinking circle of advisers. As the fallout from his

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association with Jeffrey Epstein continues to unfold. As immediate crises

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have eased, the attention has shifted to logistics. Those who

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encounter him describe mixed moods. Some say he remains bullish

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or even chiapper, while other's caution there is now a

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duty of care toward a man under sustained pressure. One

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source says he has been very, very flat as reality

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has set in, though overall he is said to live

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his emotional life on an even keel. One remaining role

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is that of grandfather to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's

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young children. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, once said it

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was a joy to see him really shine as a grandfather,

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though she herself has largely retreated from public view. As

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one long term royal observer puts it, what's he going

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to do with the rest of his life? It's very

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interesting question, and I don't think anyone has the answers yet.

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And there you have it. If you'd like to email

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us our addresses The Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com.

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Please follow it on Spotify, Apple, on the app you choice,

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and that leaves the most reviews from joining the show.

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I Mark Francis My thanks to John McDermot. This is

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palace intrigue and good terms

Kate Middleton Backs William’s Royal Reset, Christmas Message Signals Calm, and Andrew’s Quiet Retreat

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