How far does royal transparency still need to go?
As the King and his family show more emotional openness, is it time they share more about their finances?
Hi everyone, it’s Emily here with my weekly newsletter. As I sit writing this on a gloomy November afternoon, I have to admit my FOMO (fear of missing out) has been intense this week.
I wasn’t able to travel to Cape Town for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Ceremony this year, though speaking to my colleague Danielle, whose video diaries you have been receiving, and poring over all the images as we put the finishing touches to the magazine this week, it looks like it has been bigger and better than ever before.
But what grabbed the headlines, alongside the inspiring stories of this year’s winners, was the future King’s extraordinarily candid interview with the travelling media in which he opened up about this having probably been “the hardest year” of his life.
He also shared his pride in both his wife and father at the way they have handled their cancer diagnoses, as well as some fun insights into Princess Charlotte’s dislike of his beard and the “Swiftie” bracelet she’d made for him.
It was the latest example of a much more open and emotional approach from the royal family, which I feel they are really leaning into this year.
But it comes days after questions were asked about the ongoing secrecy around the institution’s finances – and begs another question I will pose later in this newsletter…