Jan. 6, 2026
Kate’s Done Looking Back as Harry and Andrew Become Yesterday’s Problems
A new profile suggests the Princess of Wales has emerged from cancer treatment with a renewed focus on family life and no appetite for revisiting tensions with the Sussexes. Sources say she and Prince William are concentrating on raising their children, with no contact at all between their household and Harry and Meghan.
We also examine reporting that challenges the portrayal of William as the driving force behind Prince Andrew’s removal from royal duties, suggesting instead a more conflicted position shaped by concern for his uncle’s wellbeing alongside institutional responsibility.
The episode looks at the contrasting roles of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, whose limited public presence mirrors the model once sought by Harry and Meghan, and considers whether that distinction continues to fuel resentment.
We also cover plans for a possible Scottish bank holiday to mark Scotland’s return to the men’s World Cup, royal congratulations following darts champion Luke Littler’s latest title, and developments in Norway, where increased reporting of abuse has followed renewed attention on the upcoming trial of Marius Borg Høiby.
Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.
Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
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Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigu. I
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am your host, Mark Francis. The Princess of Wales is
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said to be in good health at the start of
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twenty twenty six and firmly focused on family life. We
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have no contact at all between her household and the
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Duke and Duchess of Sussex. According to a new profile,
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the experience of cancer and chemotherapy has reshaped Kate's priorities,
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leaving her with little interest in Prince Harry's public criticisms
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or calls for reconciliation. Sources say she and Prince William
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would rather concentrate on raising their three children than revisit
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past tensions, adding that life now feels far too short
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to dwell on old grievances. There are said to have
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been a sense of weary inevitability within the Palace when
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Harry announced a visit to Canada last year, just as
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William began an official trip to Brazil. Despite claims from
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Harry's camp that the Palace had been informed in advance,
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multiple sources say Royal aides were caught off guard. Friends
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and insiders described Kate as warm, humorous and self deprecating
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in private, often joking about her children being ferial, and
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admitting she frequently misplaces her phone. Those who know her
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reject the idea that she is aloof or distant. Broadcaster
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and author Giovanna Fletcher, who interviewed the princess in twenty
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twenty on her Happy Mom, Happy Baby podcast, believes she
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will bring a different tone to the monarchy as queen.
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She's full of heart. I think she'll be a queen
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who really listens, who leans in, who's very aware of
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what's going on. I don't feel like it's a US
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versus them. I think the Prince and Princess of Wales
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are going into it with their eyes completely open. We
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have to work together as a society to make that
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change happen. Fletcher also recalled how nervous the Princess was
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before the interview and how Prince Williams stepped into reassure her,
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encouraging her to relax and speak freely. The conversation ultimately
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lasted twice as long as planned. A new profile challenges
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the long standing portrayal of Prince william is the hardline
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enforcer behind Prince Andrew's fall from grace suggesting instead a
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far more conflicted and compassionate role. Writing in Marie Claire
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Amy mackwood and draws on reporting from The Times which
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says the image of William as the ruthless figure pushing
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his father to act against Andrew was a wired of
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the mark. According to the paper, William was deeply worried
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about his uncle's mental health and how he would cope
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once his titles, patronages and public role were removed. The
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reporting makes clear that concern did not translate into opposition.
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William ultimately supported his father's decision to strip Andrew of
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his royal status, excepting that the move was necessary for
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the institution, even while privately worrying about the personal consequences
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for his uncle. The article noted that Kate stood firmly
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behind her husband throughout. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie continue to
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occupy a role within the royal family that sharply contrasts
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with the experience of Prince Harry. The York sisters have
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been permitted to maintain a limited public presence while pursuing
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private careers. This arrangement closely resembles the half in, half
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out model proposed by Harry and Megan Mickael in twenty twenty,
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a request that was ultimately rejected by Queen Elizabeth. Royal
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commentator Simon Vigger addressed the issue on The Son's Royal
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Exclusive podcast, describing the sister's position within the institution. They're
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in an interesting position because they do public engagements, but
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they also have their private work and their private lives.
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They're sort of half in, half out. Actually the thing
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that Harry wanted. Beatrice and Eugenie aren't full time working Royals,
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so they don't have quite the public exposure that the
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others do. Royal author Tina Brown told the BBC after
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all of the trashing of Harry this week, trying to
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blame him for the rift, when I saw him and
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Meghan in Nigeria, I had a nostalgia. I felt, this
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is what it could have been. These two who are
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enormously appealing to the publican who are very good at it,
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were out there in Nigeria sort of looking really attractive
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and being appealing people. Brown went on to argue that
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the couple's departure left a noticeable gap within the institution.
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What a pity it is that they've gone that there
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is that Harry shaped hole in the monarchy at this
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time when they are at such beleaguered circumstances. A royal
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proclamation from King Charles is expected to designate Monday, June
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fifteenth as a national Bank Holiday in Scotland, marking the
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country's first appearance at a Men's World Cup finals since
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nineteen ninety eight. The proposal is said to be advanced
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by Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney in his role as
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a member of the Privy Council, the formal body of
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senior figures that advises the monarch. Scotland secured qualification for
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the tournament with a dramatic four two victory over Denmark
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in Hampton Park in November, a result that sparked widespread
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celebrations across the country. The proposed Bank holiday would fall
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the day after Scotland's opening World Cup match against Haiti,
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which is due to be played in Boston, with a
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nine pm local kickoff for supporters watching from Scotland that
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translates into a two am start, meaning fans are expected
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to be awake well until the early hours of Sunday morning.
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The late timing has been cited as the key reason
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for the proposed Recovery Day, allowing the nation to mark
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the occasion collectively regardless of the result. Explaining the rationale
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for the proposed holiday, Swinging said he wanted to ensure
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that no matter the outcome of the match, we can
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all come together to share the occasion. The Royal Family
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has congratulated Luke Littler after the teenage sensation claimed his
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second consecutive PDC World Dance Championship with a commanding seven
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to one victory over Gianne van Veen at Alexandra Palace.
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A celebratory video was shared on the Royal Family's official channels,
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accompanied by the message congratulations to Luke Littler on his
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second World Championship title. The eighteen year old produced a
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dominant performance in the final, overwhelming his Dutch opponent and
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underlining his growing status as the leading force in professional darts. Remarkably,
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the victory came in just his third appearance at the tournament,
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yet he has already secured two welld championships. The one
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million pound prize camps an extraordinary rise for the young Englishman.
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By successfully defending his title, Littler becomes only the fourth
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player in history to retain the PDC World Crown, joining
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Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewison, Gary Anderson more Palace in just
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a moment. More women in Norway are coming forward to
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report domestic abuse and sexual assault ahead of the upcoming
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rape trial of Marius borg Hoibi, the son of Crown
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Princess Meta Marie. Norway's largest women's health organization, believes media
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attention surrounding the high profile case has lowered the threshold
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for victims to ask for support and helped challenge long
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standing tabooze. Hoiby, who is twenty eight, is due to
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stand trial in February on thirty two charges, including four
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counts of rape, domestic abuse against a former partner, and
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the illegal filming of women without their consent. His lawyer
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says he denied all sexual abuse charges and most of
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the violence allegations. If convicted on the most serious counts,
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Hoybey could face up to ten years in prison. The
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case is also a new debate about the role of
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the monarchy in Norway. Republicans say membership in the group,
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whose name translates to Norway as a Republic, as more
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than tripled in recent years, with critics arguing that the
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scandal has damaged the reputation of the younger royals, including
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Crown Prince Harken, the future King. Norway's current monarch, Hurrald
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the Fifth, has reigned since nineteen ninety one. While critics
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say the allegations have prompted more Norwegians to question the monarchy,
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others maintained that public support for the royal family remains
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strong despite the controversy. And there you have it. If
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you'd like to email us or addresses the Palace Intrigue
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at gmail dot com, please follows Spotify, Apple, the app
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of your chosen leaves a nice review. If you're enjoying
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the show, I'm Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermott.
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This is Ballance intrigue in good terms.
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