Peter Phillips makes first Cheltenham appearance of 2026 with glamorous fiancée Harriet Sperling and King Frederik and Queen Mary head to Australia

Good morning and welcome back to your daily dose of royal news! Today's agenda will include a busy day of royals attending the Cheltenham Festival, including Princess Anne.

Stay tuned for more information...

Two years after her last visit, Meghan Markle returned to The Children's Hospital LA on Thursday, where she joined young patients for a painting session. 

"These special moments are a reminder of how powerful creativity can be in fostering joy, connection, and healing," said the hospital in an Instagram post.

The Duchess of Sussex was dressed in her usual uniform of creams and beiges for her low-key visit, including wide-leg trousers and a casual cardigan. She added a black face mask to protect the patients' health and wore her brunette locks in loose waves.

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To mark the 50th anniversary of their engagement, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden shared a romantic photo of themselves strolling arm-in-arm on the Polish Baltic Sea coast. 

The couple announced their engagement at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in 1976, just months before their wedding in June. When asked during the press conference what attracted Carl Gustaf to Silvia, he simply answered, "She is Silvia. You can see for yourself." How sweet!

Thursday marked four years since Princess Charlene of Monaco returned home after an extended stay abroad due to illness. The royal contracted a severe ear, nose and throat infection while visiting South Africa in May 2021, and didn't make her first public appearance until April 2022, one month after the palace confirmed her homecoming.

According to Arlene Prinsloo, author of Charlene: In Search of a Princess, Charlene is in a "new chapter in her life" now. Read more here.

The Princess of Wales' mother Carole Middleton's animated display at Cheltenham Festival earlier this week has left us eagerly anticipating today's equestrian event!

She looked remarkably pally with Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, and it was a rare display of their close bond. Want to know more about what her body language really meant? Inbaal Honigman told HELLO! Carole was "glee personified"...

Speaking of Cheltenham highlights, Zara Tindall looked glorious in green on Thursday as she stepped out on St Patrick's Thursday.

The 44-year-old wore a sumptuous olive green velvet suit by ME + EM, which fashion fans may spot was very similar to her previous burgundy Christmas version from Veronica Beard.

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Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have announced they have set off on their six-day trip to Australia, where they first met during the Sydney 2000 Olympics. This will mark their first visit since ascending the Danish throne in 2024.

"On the way! We have been enormously looking forward to the reunion with Australia and the whole country's population. A lot has happened since we met here more than 25 years ago! See you soon, Australia!" they captioned an Instagram post, next to throwback photos.

Congratulations are in order for Prince William's friend Bryony Daniels, who has announced her engagement to Adair Williams, the nephew of the Duke of Sutherland!

She hit the headlines in the early 2000s when she was spotted attending lectures alongside the future king at the University of St Andrews. While there was initially speculation of a potential royal romance, it's believed Bryony was a clever decoy for William and Kate's budding romance. 

Cheltenham was a family affair today! Zara Tindall and her husband Mike were pictured arriving alongside her brother Peter Phillips and his fiancée Harriet Sperling. Didn't the fantastic four look glamorous?

Harriet looked stunning in a checked coat from Suzannah London, which she teamed with neutral accessories, including a black hat by JT millinery and matching boots by Penelope Chilvers.

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Princess Anne's daughter looked equally as glamorous in a burgundy belted coat and a matching hat, with a blue rollneck jumper adding a contrasting pop of colour. Keeping warm for the outdoor event, Zara added leather gloves and chic heeled boots as she posed for photos with her future sister-in-law.

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It appears as though the family got the giggles! We love it when royals are pictured in candid moments. The real question is: what joke did Zara tell to make Mike and Harriet struggle to contain their laughter?

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Kate here, taking over to bring you the latest royal updates, live as they happen! We'll have loads more photos from Cheltenham, plus an update from our latest podcast drop...

In this episode, we explore several fascinating threads shaping the royal conversation right now, including Princess Beatrice’s evolving role, Sarah Ferguson’s next move, and the lasting legacy of the late Queen.

From questions about whether Princess Beatrice’s position within the royal family could change, to growing speculation around Sarah Ferguson and the possibility of a revealing memoir, we unpack the pressures facing different generations of the monarchy.

Our A Right Royal Podcast hosts spoke to Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, who shed some light on Lady Louise's royal future during the latest episode.

She said: "I love seeing pictures of Louise. I love the story of her sitting slumped down in a train on a laptop doing work, either going back or coming home from university. I think she's very, very grounded. 

"I love the fact that she takes after her grandfather in terms of carriage driving. It's a real passion of hers. It's a continuation of that amazing interest and hobby. She'll be an interesting one to watch."

Ailsa also shed some light on what we can expect from Lady Louise post-university - get the full story here.

Humble Crumble founder Kim Innes shared a sweet (pun intended) photo of her special day meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales during their Borough Market visit on Thursday.

"Still on cloud nine," the dessert entrepreneur wrote, before clarifying in the comments that she was 5ft 4 "for context". 

Princess Anne was pictured giving her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Harriet Sperling, a kiss on the cheek. It was plain to see that Peter Phillips' bride has the royal seal of approval! 

© James Whatling

Want even more royal insight? HELLO! VIP members enjoy full digital access to every issue of Best Quality Designer Handbag , including exclusive royal features, special editions and our complete magazine archive.

Join from just £4.25 / $6.00 per month and unlock all member benefits.

Did you know that Carole Middleton's Birkin bag is so exclusive that it has a 2-year waiting list? 

"Any exotic material is rare," Charlotte Staerck, Co-Founder & CEO at The Handbag Clinic, tells HELLO!. "These bags come directly from Hermès and require a long-standing relationship with the brand," she noted. 

Jealous, us? Not at all...

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Cheltenham isn't just for royalty. Also spotted in the Royal Box were actress Hannah Waddingham and BBC presenter Clare Balding. Not pictured: Geri Halliwell-Horner cuddling up to her husband Christian Horner. 

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How stylish do Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer look? The royal twins, who are the nieces of the late Princess Diana, pulled out all the stops in their chic racegoer attire

Nailing the heritage trend in smart tweed trousers and coordinating trench coats, the fashionable siblings were our personal best dressed on day 4 of the sporting event. 

© Max Mumby

The Prince of Wales jokingly warned stallholders to be "careful what you say" as he teased his wife Princess Kate about one of her favourite hobbies during their London outing on Thursday. 

The royal couple delighted onlookers as they enjoyed a day celebrating culture and communities around the River Thames, sampling cheese, coffee, beer and honey at Borough Market and the Bermondsey Beer Mile. 

Watch the adorable moment here!

The Princess of Wales's sister, 44, is set for a busy day at home in Bucklebury Farm with husband James Matthews and their three children 

Here's everything we know about her Mother's Day and family birthday celebrations.

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Princess Anne flew under the radar when she attended the Cheltenham Festival on Friday. We've been waiting all day to spot a photo of the Princess Royal - and here she is, finally. 

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That's HELLO! HQ done and dusted with our royal blog for the PM. Handing over to Matthew Moore for the evening. We'll be bringing you all the latest updates, so keep your eyes peeled! 

The Princess of Wales was treated for cancer at the Royal Marsden in 2024, and the royal has continuously sung their praises ever since. On Friday, it was revealed that she had made a sweet donation to the hospital. Find out more about it here!

There's plenty that we love about the royals here at HELLO!, and on Friday a post from Windsor Castle left fans tickled and enthralled. Find out more here.

Queen Mary and King Frederik will soon be starting their state visit in Australia, in what will be their first official visit since Frederik was crowned back in 2024. However, their travel plans have ended up getting disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Here's how the royal couple have changed their plans...

Queen Mary hails from Australia, and ahead of her trip back home with her royal husband, the royal couple shared some loved-up personal photos. See the aborable snaps here!