The Queen was followed over the course of a year for a documentary looking at her work raising awareness of domestic violence.

ITV announced it has commissioned Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, which will air later in 2024.

Film crews were given exclusive access to Camilla, who has worked for many years to highlight the problem of domestic abuse, and she will be shown in never-before-seen private meetings with survivors.

Laura Elston reports:

The Queen has deepened her association with her father’s beloved regiment by becoming the first patron of the Rifleman’s Association this week.

Camilla is Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles and is now the figurehead of its association, which enables serving soldiers, veterans and their families to remain part of the regimental family, offering friendship, support and help.

Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, Colonel Commandant The Rifles, said: “This is a huge privilege for the regiment and highlights Her Majesty’s care, commitment and understanding for the wellbeing of our soldiers and their families.

“We are honoured that she has chosen to offer her patronage to all our Riflemen and their families.” The Queen has personal links to The Rifles through her late father Major Bruce Shand.

Two Battalions of The Rifles form part of the celebrated 7th Infantry Brigade, otherwise known as the Desert Rats, with whom Major Shand served.

Major Shand was awarded the Military Cross in 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his efforts in North Africa and was later wounded and taken prisoner while fighting in North Africa.

He died in June 2006 aged 89.

New Zealand‘s Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died on Friday morning surrounded by his wife and three children. He was 69.

The monarch was admitted to a hospital, where he underwent heart surgery just days after the 18th anniversary of his coronation.

“The death of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maoridom and the entire nation,” spokesperson Rahui Papa said in a statement.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

One of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists who have set up a camp in Windsor has said she thought the King would “probably be here” and “up for doing some camping” if he was not the head of state.

Tents, stages and speakers were set up in Windsor Home Park on Friday morning ahead of an “action-packed” weekend of activities.

Activist Marijn van de Geer, 41, said of Charles: “I reckon if he wasn’t the King he’d probably be here. I think he’d probably be quite good at giving some talks and trainings. He’s quite an outdoorsy person, he’d probably be up for doing some camping, it’s a shame he’s the King because he obviously can’t be here.

“As an individual he has spoken out a lot about the environment. He was well ahead of his days at the time when he was talking about it and everyone was laughing at him.

“This is 100 per cent not an attack at the King. Extinction Rebellion UK does not have any plans to storm Windsor Castle, any hotels, nor cause public disruption.”

Prince Harry has sought advice from his former British aides about plotting a return from the US that could involve a partial reinstatement to the royal fold, sources have revealed.

In what has been described as the initial stage in a strategy to “rehabilitate” him, The Mail on Sunday reported the Duke of Sussex has been asking advisers he had when he was a working royal for help amid increasing alleged issues with American-based PR firms.

The claimed move would be made with a view to Harry repairing his relationship with his father – although the sources stressed he and his wife Meghan Markle are not looking to make a permanent return to the UK.

The King arrived to the sound of the pipes at a flower show in Aberdeen yesterday.

Charles wore a kilt on his visit to the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen Flower Show in the city’s Duthie Park.

He became patron of the society earlier this year and it is marking its 200th anniversary, with the late Queen and King George previous patrons.

On arrival, he was received by Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen David Cameron.

A schoolboy donned his prize-winning cardboard crown in front of the King as the monarch visited a flower show.

The King laughed as Oliver Keith tried on the homemade creation of silver cardboard, purple tissue paper and golden tinsel at the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen’s 200th anniversary show in the city’s Duthie Park.

He questioned the eight-year-old on the fit and how long it took him to make the third-prize winning entry before asking him if he would like to try it on.

Laura Paterson reports:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in no rush to tell their children about their royal heritage, a family friend has claimed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly wish for Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, to be loved for who they are rather than for their relation to the British monarchy.

The source told US Weekly: “They’ll have those conversations in due time.”

In an update on the two young royals, they added: “They’re so well-mannered.

“Archie is sweet and curious and playful, and Lili is vibrant and happy.”

The King is hosting Sir Keir Starmer at Balmoral for his first official weekend at the royal retreat as Prime Minister.

Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer are following convention and spending a few days at the Scottish home of Charles and Camilla.

Last summer, former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife spent the weekend at the monarch’s Aberdeenshire home and went to church with the royal couple.

Prime ministers are traditionally invited to stay with the head of state at Balmoral during the summer, and in the past decades Harold Wilson, who is said to have “got on like a house on fire” with Queen Elizabeth II, would join members of the royal family for riverside picnics on the Balmoral estate.

But things were very different with Margaret Thatcher, who reportedly found the traditional September weekend at Balmoral painful.

One observer wrote: “A weekend in the country with aristocrats who enjoy riding, shooting, sports and games is Thatcher’s idea of torture.”

Mrs Thatcher could not abide the charades that she was expected to play after dinner at Balmoral.

During a gathering of six of her premiers, the late Queen once joked about “the party games which some of you have so nobly endured at Balmoral”.

When Parliament is sitting, the King and Prime Minister meet for a weekly audience and the two men sat down for a meeting at Balmoral.

The discussions are likely to have taken place in the castle’s library, which was once Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s breakfast and lunch room and today is used by the King as his working study where he welcomes dignitaries.

The Princess of Wales does not want any drama within the royal family following her cancer treatment, a royal author has claimed.

Robert Jobson - author of the new biography Catherine, the Princess of Wales - explained how the princess is keen to leave any drama in the past.

“She is someone who solves problems and rises above the drama,” Jobson said in an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday (31 July).

Jobson explained how Kate had sorted previous “moments of friction” between King Charles and Prince William.

The royal author added: “After going through treatment like this you don’t want to do drama anymore and I think that is something she has experienced.”