Dec. 6, 2025

Top 25 Royal Stories of 2025 Part Two: Wales Family Snubs Buckingham and Sussex–Kardashian Meltdown Explodes

Top 25 Royal Stories of 2025 Part Two: Wales Family Snubs Buckingham and Sussex–Kardashian Meltdown Explodes

In #10 through #6, William and Kate quietly ditch Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes spark Hollywood chaos at Kris Jenner’s birthday party, Meghan ignites a title-protocol firestorm, Kate’s hair transformation becomes a national talking point, and the biggest question of the year looms: will William strip the Sussex titles?

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Caloroga Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I

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am your host, Mark Francis, and welcome to part two

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of our look back at the top twenty five stories

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of twenty twenty five. In part two our year end

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look at the top twenty five stories, we move into

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the top ten the stories that carried national attention, sparked

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global debate, and revealed deeper divisions within the royal family,

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from constitutional questions to personal challenges. This has been a

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defining year for the Royal family, and here are the

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top royal stories of the year. At number ten, William

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and Kate reject Buckingham Palace and High Grove. While not

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as salacious as some of our earliest stories, one of

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the most revealing decisions of twenty twenty five came from

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the Prince and Princess of Wales, who quietly signaled that

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neither Buckingham Palace nor Highgrove would serve as the foundation

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of their family's future life. While presented without fanfare, the

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choice became a defining moment in understanding how William and

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Catherine see their roles within a modern monarchy, one that

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values stability and a sense of grounded domesticity over the

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symbolism of historic royal estates. The decision represented more than

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a preference for one home over another. Buckingham Palace has

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long stood as the ceremonial heart of the monarchy, and

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High Grove, closely associated with King Charles, has been viewed

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as an estate destined to pass from one generation to

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the next. By stepping back from both, the Waleses made

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clear that they are chanting their own path, centered on

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a quieter, more contemporary model of family life. Their choice

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of residents reflected a desire to provide their children with

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continuity rather than spectacle, and to preserve their sense of

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privacy during a period of significant public attention. Observers also

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noted the strategic implication as Prince of Wales's William is

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preparing for a future role that will demand men's visibility,

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yet he appears committed to separating the ceremonial demands of

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the monarchy from the daily rhythms of his family. This

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approach stands in contrast to earlier generations, who often lived

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inside the institutions they represented. Instead, William and Catherine appeared

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determined to balance tradition with more grounded expectations of the

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twenty first century, in a year marked by transition, uncertainty,

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and shifting public expectations. Their decision not only offered a

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glimpse into the personal priorities of the Whales family, but

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also hinted at the shape of the monarchy to come.

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It suggested a future in which royal life is defined

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less by palatial surroundings and more by a measured, deliberate

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approach to duty, one in which the family's private center

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of gravity sits apart from the ceremonial spaces that define

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the crown. Coming in at number nine the US, the

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Sussex Kardashian fallout at Chris Jenna's seventieth birthday. What began

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is a glamorous night out at one of the year's

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most high profile Hollywood events quickly became one of the

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most talked about royal adjacent stories of twenty twenty five

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when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Chris Jenner's

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seventieth birthday celebration, a gathering as some of the most

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influential figures in entertainment. Their presence alone was notable, but

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it was the aftermath that drew global attention. Reports soon

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emerged that Harry and Meghan's representatives had asked event staff

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to ensure that photographs of the couple taken at the

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party were removed from Instagram. Given the significance of the

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occasion and the high level of media interests surrounding it,

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the request struck many inside Hollywood as unusual. While the

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Sussex's team insisted the matter related to privacy, sources close

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to the Kardashian family dismissed the explanation, and multiple outlets

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reported conflicting accounts of what had been agreed. The situation

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quickly escalated into a wider conversation about the couple's positioning

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within the entertainment world. Their appearance at such a high

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level event suggested a renewed effort to strengthen their Hollywood

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presence following the end of earlier media deals. Yet the

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fallout from the photograph incident was interpreted by some as

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a misstep, raising questions about whether their expectations of privacy

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were compatible with the realities of celebrity culture. The episode

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became a symbol of a broader pattern the Sussexes navigating

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the complicated space between royal identity and the Hollywood visibility

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in Britain. Critics pointed to the request as another example

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of the couple invoking elements of royal protocol in settings

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that operated under entirely different norms. In the United States,

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entertainment insiders quietly questioned whether the Sussex's approach would help

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or hinder their efforts to build influence within an industry

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that thrives on openness and shared moments. By the end

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of the year, the Christiana incident stood as one of

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the most memorable illustrations of how delicate the Sussex's position

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has become. It was a snapshot of two worlds colliding

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and of the challenges that come with trying to occupy both,

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coming in at number eight. Meghan's title protocol mini scandal,

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a brief interaction at a private New York townhouse, became

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one of the most debated royal stories of the year

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when it emerged that a staffer formerly announced Meghan Markle

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as Megan, Duchess of Sussex before she entered a room

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for an interview, despite the only person inside being the journalist.

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The moment lasted only seconds, yet its implications reverberated far

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beyond the walls of the residence. The story drew immediate

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attention because it touched the core of a long running

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debate how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex navigate their

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use of royal titles while pursuing independent careers outside the institution.

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Suporters argued that the introduction was simply a matter of courtesy,

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reflecting Megan's legal title. Critics countered that it represented an

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unnecessary invocation of royal stature in a setting that did

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not require it, particularly given the couple's desire to establish

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their own brand and identity in the United States. The

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incident arrived at a time when questions about titles were

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already central to the public conversation. Discussions about whether the

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Prince of Wales might one day reconsider the Sussex titles

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added further weight to the moment, as did the Duchess's

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renewed visibility through her commercial projects. Every detail, from the

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setting of the interview to the choreography of the introduction

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became fuel for debate over what it means to step

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back from royal life while continuing to hold royal style

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in an environment where small gestures can carry a significant

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symbolic meaning the title protocol incident became a flashpoint. It

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highlighted the fine line the Sussex's walk each time they

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appear in public, and how closely the world continues to

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scrutinize the choices they make. More of the top twenty

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five stories in just a Moment, coming in at number

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seven on the top twenty five royal stories of twenty

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twenty five, It's Kate's hair Transformation. Princess Catherine's change in

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hairstyle and color became one of the most widely discussed

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lighter stories of twenty twenty five, taking on unexpected resonance

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as the princess re emerged following a period of health

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related absence. Though subtle in isolation, the shift carried emotional

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significance for a public eager to read signs of stability

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and recovery in the princess's appearance. The new look, characterized

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by warmer tone and the softer, more relaxed style, was

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unveiled during a series of early engagements that marked Catherine's

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gradual returned to public life. The timing added to the interest.

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Observers interpreted the transformation as a deliberate rest, a quiet

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signal of renewed confidence after a challenging chapter. The simultaneous

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departure of the princess's longtime stylist only deep into speculation,

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prompting discussions about whether the change reflected personal preference, a

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refreshed professional approach, or the natural evolution that follows any

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major milestone. Coverage extended far beyond fashion commentary. Social media

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platforms buzzed with analysis, comparisons to earlier styles, and reflections

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on how Catherine's appearance has shifted over the years. For many,

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the story became symbolic. It was not merely a new color,

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but a marker of transition, resilience, and the princess's steady

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return to her central role within the royal family. In

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a year dominated by serious developments within the monarchy, Catherine's

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hair transformation offered a rare moment of brightness, a reminder

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of how invested the public remains in her journey and

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how even the smallest details can become touch points in

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a larger national narrative. And coming in at number six,

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will William strip the Sussex titles. Few questions in twenty

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twenty five generated more sustained discussion than whether the Prince

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of Wales might one day seek to remove the titles

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held by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Although no

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such action was taken, the possibility remained a constant theme

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throughout the year, driven by shifting family dynamics, public sentiment,

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and the evolving role the Sussexes play both inside and

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outside the United Kingdom. The debate gained renewed momentum as

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the couple pursued a series of high profile commercial projects

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while continuing to use their royal styles. Supporters argue that

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the titles reflected their heritage and legal status. Critics question

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whether the titles were being leveraged too heavily in settings

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far removed from the duties traditionally associated with the monarchy.

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Each new appearance, interview, or promotional effort reignited the discussion,

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underscoring how closely the matter is tied to broader questions

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about the future of the institution. For William, the issue

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is both constitutional and personal. Any move to adjust or

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remove titles would require careful consideration not only of precedent,

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but of the long term impact on the crown. At

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the same time, the Prince must balance the expectations of

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a public increasingly interested in accountability with the realities of

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family navigating complex internal relationships. By year's end, the titles

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remained unchanged, yet the conversation surrounding them proved to be

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one of the most enduring themes of twenty twenty five,

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a reflection of the unique space the Sussexes occupy and

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of the decisions that await the next generation of royal leadership.

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And that brings us to the end of part two

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of our year end countdown. We've now reached the threshold

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of the biggest royal stories of twenty twenty five. The

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moments that dominated headlines, shifted public perception and shape the

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future of the monarchy. Tomorrow we enter the top five stories,

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where the stakes rise, the drama intensifies, and the year's

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most defining events finally take center stage. And there you

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have it. I would like to email us our addresses

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The Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com. Please follow us

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and leave us a nice review. If you're enjoying the

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show and Mark Francis been thanks to John McDermott, This

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is Palace Intriguing. Good Times