'We're not racist', says Prince William after Meghan and Harry interview

LONDON - Prince William said on Thursday that Britain's royals were not racist after Meghan, wife of his younger brother Harry, said one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be.

The revelation emerged during an explosive tell-all interview Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, gave to Oprah Winfrey which was aired on Sunday, plunging the British monarchy into its biggest crisis since the 1997 death of Princess Diana, William and Harry's mother.

On a visit to a school in east London, William said he had not talked to Harry since the interview was broadcast just over three days ago.

"I haven't spoken to him yet but I will do," William, 38, said.

Asked by a reporter if the royal family was racist, William said: "We're very much not a racist family."

In the two-hour show, Meghan also said the royals had ignored her pleas for help while she felt suicidal, while Harry said his father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped.

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, the princes' grandmother, in which she said the family were saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.

The statement added the issues of race were concerning and would be treated very seriously, but pointedly stated "some recollections may vary".

The Palace have said that it was a family matter that should be dealt with privately.

During the interview, Harry laid bare how distant he had come from the other members of his family, saying his father had stopped taking his calls at one point, and saying there was "space" in his relationship with William.

"Much will continue to be said about that ... as I said before, you know, I love William to bits, he's my brother, we've been through hell together and we have a shared experience," he said. "But we're on different paths."

The interview was watched by 12.4 million viewers in Britain and 17.1 million in the United States.

It has proved divisive among the British public: some believe it showed how outdated and intolerant the institution was, while others decried it as a self-serving assault that neither Elizabeth nor her family deserved.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

-reuters-

Queen Elizabeth back in the saddle as British lockdown eases

LONDON -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth was photographed riding a 14-year-old Fell pony in Windsor Home Park on Sunday as the country eases stringent measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Queen has been living at Windsor Castle, west of London, during the lockdown with her 98-year-old husband Prince Philip.

From there, she has issued a number of rallying messages to the nation, including televised addresses that have been a rarity during her 68-year reign.

-reuters-

Queen Elizabeth II's nephew in latest royal marriage split

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II's nephew David Armstrong-Jones is set to divorce, a spokesman said Monday -- the second marriage split in the British royal family announced within a week.

Armstrong-Jones, 58, the son of Queen Elizabeth's late sister princess Margaret, and his 49-year-old wife Serena have been married since 1993.

"The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced," a spokesman for the couple said.

"They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family."

The earl is the first person in the line of succession to the throne who is not a direct descendant of Queen Elizabeth.

He was born fifth in line but is now 21st in the order of succession.

Known professionally as David Linley, the Earl of Snowdon is a furniture maker and was the chairman of Christie's auction house.

The couple have two children: Charles, 20, and 17-year-old Margarita.

The news comes after Queen Elizabeth's oldest grandchild Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn announced last Tuesday that they have separated and will divorce.

Phillips, 42, and his Canadian wife Autumn will share custody of their two daughters and both remain in Gloucestershire, southwest England.

Phillips is the son of the monarch's daughter Princess Anne and her first husband Mark Phillips. He is the eldest of her eight grandchildren.

He has no royal title and has never carried out duties on behalf of the royal family and so does not receive a public income.

He was born fifth in line to the throne but is now 15th.

The marriage breakdowns have piled more misery on the royal family.

They come after Queen Elizabeth's grandson Prince Harry and his US wife Meghan quit their royal roles last month in search of financial independence, and moved to Canada.

Meanwhile the monarch's second son Prince Andrew stepped back from all royal duties in November following a public outcry over his friendship with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

rjm/ach 

Agence France-Presse

Backlash over Tim Hortons offer to Harry, Meghan

MONTREAL — A Canadian coffee chain that offered disenchanted British royals Prince Harry and his wife Meghan free coffee for life if they move to Canada has faced an online backlash.

The response came after Tim Hortons -- synonymous with coffee in Canada -- posted a tongue-in-cheek tweet on Wednesday saying: "No pressure, Meghan and Harry, but if you do choose to move to Canada, free coffee for life. Think about it."

The offer proved hard to swallow for Canadians upset by the chain's labor relations practices. Canadian media reported that a branch of Tim Hortons in Winnipeg locked out unionized workers who were asking for a pay rise.

In a shock announcement on Wednesday Harry and Meghan said they will step back as senior members of the royal family and spend more time in North America, where Meghan lived for several years while filming the television series "Suits."


One Twitter user observed that the royals "can afford to buy the company. Your employees can't afford the rent."

An observer in Quebec commented: "Y'know, the company that cuts break times for employees on minimum wages... and offers free coffee for members of the royal family."

"No pressure, Tim Hortons, but you'll stop losing customers if you use that money for free lifetime coffee for Meghan and Harry to stop nickel and diming your employees into a strike over 10 cents an hour," said a Twitter user with the handle "Oooh, Canada!"

Agence France-Presse

British royal family hurt and disappointed by Harry and Meghan announcement

LONDON -- Britain's royal family was hurt and disappointed by the shock announcement by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that they will step back from their senior roles and spend more time in North America, a royal source said.

Harry and Meghan's announcement, made on social media on Wednesday evening, took Queen Elizabeth, Harry's grandmother, and Prince Charles, Harry's father, by surprise and they were not consulted on the statement.

Harry said that after months of reflection and discussion, the couple planned to carve out a "progressive new role" by stepping back and splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America to allow them their family the space it needed.

They hope to become financially independent and set up a new charity, while continuing some royal duties.

Cast by the couple as an exciting next step, it was not immediately clear how the couple will become what royal biographers said was akin to being a "half royal" -- and who will pay for their transatlantic lifestyles.

Royal commentators drew parallels with the abdication crisis of Edward VIII who gave up the throne in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson and lived out his life in France.

Buckingham Palace said discussions with Harry and Meghan were at an early stage.

"We understand their desire to take a different approach but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through," it said.

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, married in May 2018 in a lavish ceremony in Windsor Castle, and at the time it was heralded as a sign of a more modern monarchy.

Last year, Meghan gave birth to their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

But their relationship with the media turned sour as they struggled to deal with the intense scrutiny it brought.

There have been negative stories criticizing their use of private jets while promoting environmental causes and the 2.4 million pound ($3.08 million) taxpayer-funded renovation of their new home.

The couple, whose titles are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, began legal action against some tabloid newspapers in October over historic phone-hacking and invasion of privacy.

Harry described the treatment of his wife as "bullying," and likened it to that of his mother, Princess Diana, before her death in a Paris car accident in 1997, when her limousine crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi.

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Queen admits 'bumpy' year in Christmas message

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II will describe 2019 as "quite bumpy" in her traditional Christmas Day message, after a year of crises which saw Britain divided over its impending exit from the European Union and her son Prince Andrew forced to withdraw from public life.

The 93-year-old monarch, whose husband Philip is receiving treatment in hospital, will use her televised address on Wednesday to reflect on the need for reconciliation.


The royal family was swept up in scandals that included a calamitous BBC interview with the queen's second son who tried to distance himself from American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The interview in which Andrew denied having sex with one of Epstein's alleged victims was widely ridiculed and reportedly criticized within Buckingham Palace, forcing him to "step back from public duties".

In a portion of her Christmas speech released in advance, the queen says the life of Jesus shows the importance of reconciliation.

It teaches "how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding," she says.

"The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference."

'HE'S ALRIGHT'

Britain endured a year of political drama linked to its delayed withdrawal from the European Union.

The queen was dragged into the saga when she approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament in August -- with opponents accusing him of trying to close down debate on Brexit.

The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that Johnson's request had been unlawful. 

The monarch has only symbolic power -- by convention, she always follows the advice of her ministers and Johnson was widely criticized for having put her in an impossible position.

The queen's grandson Prince Harry and his American former actress wife Meghan Markle were also in the news, speaking about their struggles living in the public eye.

Prince Harry took legal action against two tabloids in October accusing them of intercepting voicemail messages.

Meghan filed a separate case against a newspaper that published excerpts of a letter her estranged father wrote to her.

Prince Philip's difficult year began with a car accident in which two women were injured. The police found the 98-year-old responsible but brought no charges.

Buckingham Palace has released little information about Philip's condition since his hospitalization on Friday for "treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition".

"He's alright," Philip's son Charles told a reporter during a visit in northern England on Monday.

"Once you get to that age things don't work as well."

'SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION'

The queen has remained one of Britain's most popular figures despite the royal family's travails.

A poll by YouGov in November showed 72 percent of respondents had a positive opinion of the monarch.

Prince Charles's approval was just 46 percent.

The queen's Christmas Day message reflects on the heroism of British forces during the D-Day landings in Normandy that turned the course of World War II in 1944.

In June she made an increasingly rare trip to abroad to attend the 75th anniversary commemorations in France.

"For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them," the queen says in her message.

"By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honor the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost."

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Queen Elizabeth extols goodwill and respect in Christmas message

LONDON -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth will say in her Christmas message that the festival's message of peace and goodwill needs to be heeded as much as ever, and people should respect each other even when they harbor the most deeply held differences.

According to excerpts released by Buckingham Palace on Monday, the 92-year-old monarch will also speak of family and friendship following a year in which her grandson Prince Harry married US-born actress Meghan Markle.

Throughout her record 66 years on the throne, the queen has avoided commenting in public on contentious international affairs or party political issues, and the excerpts make no mention of the visit in July by US President Donald Trump or the turmoil over Britain's departure from the European Union.

But speaking about the birth of Jesus, she will say: "I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be heeded by everyone; it's needed as much as ever."

"Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good step towards greater understanding."

Before leaving Britain for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump breached British royal protocol by publicly disclosing the details of a conversation he had with the queen about the complexities of Brexit, an issue that has divided the nation.

Trump's trip to Britain was marked by public protests and downgraded from a full state visit that Prime Minister Theresa May had originally proposed.

However, he took tea with the queen at Windsor Castle. Trump later described the monarch, who has met 12 US presidents, as an "incredible woman" who was both "sharp" and "beautiful."

She has shown little sign of slowing down in the last year, during which Harry and Meghan's wedding marked another royal step towards modernity, with a ceremony that blended ancient English ritual with African American culture.

"Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance," she will say.

Another grandchild, Princess Eugenie, also married this year and the queen's sixth and seventh great grandchildren were born, while she made her debut appearance on the front row of a fashion show.

She also led British and Commonwealth tributes to the soldiers of World War 1 on the centenary of the signing of the Armistice that ended it in 1918.

The queen wore a cocktail dress in ivory silk with pastel blue, white and gold lame overlay designed by Angela Kelly for the broadcast, which was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

She is spending Christmas as usual at her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where she will be joined by other members of the Royal family.

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How will life change for Meghan Markle?

LONDON - When US actress Meghan Markle marries Britain's Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle next Saturday, her career and right to privacy will be just two of the things she will have to give up.

The daughter of a yoga teacher and an award-winning Hollywood lighting director, Californian Markle is about to plunge headfirst into the world of rules and constraints of Britain's royal family.

NO 'PRINCESS MEGHAN'

Markle will give up her acting career in order to live out her fairy tale.

However, she will not become "Princess Meghan" because only women born into the royal family can carry the title followed by their name.

Her official title will instead likely be "Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales." But if Queen Elizabeth II offers Harry a duchy on his wedding day, Meghan will become a duchess. 

Among the titles available, the Duke of Sussex or the Duke of Clarence are the favorites. 

Markle has also had to dilute her US identity by taking on British citizenship and has been baptized into the Church of England out of respect for Queen Elizabeth II's role as head of the denomination.

STIFF UPPER LIP

As unelected representatives of the state, members of the royal family are heavily discouraged from expressing political opinions in public. 

This will require Markle to curb her vocal advocacy and disengage from social media. 

The self-proclaimed feminist had already begun to lay low before the engagement was announced, closing her blog "The Tig" and the Instagram account on which she posted photos of herself.

"She's allowed herself to be completely co-opted by the royal machinery," said republican campaigner Graham Smith. 

She will now have to concentrate on the more mundane charitable activities of the royal family, and will become a patron of the Royal Foundation, alongside her husband, Prince William and his wife Kate. 

The foundation is focused mainly on veterans, young people, the environment and mental health. 

Despite these constraints, her biographer Andrew Morton believes that Meghan and Harry "are going to be a power couple".

"You're going to see them as far more activist than perhaps previous royal couples," he said.

ROYAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES

Markle's relaxed Californian existence will be replaced by one of protocol and unwritten rules, such as not removing one's coat in public.

She will also swap her "relatively quiet life" for one of paparazzi intrusion.

"Even though I've been on my show for... six years and working before that, I've never been part of tabloid culture," she said in a television interview aired in November.

All her movements will now have to be approved and she will live under the constant gaze of police protection. 

The Queen recently appointed Harry as a youth ambassador for the Commonwealth, meaning Markle will travel widely as she also learns more about her adopted homeland. 

To help her navigate life in what the royals privately refer to as "The Firm," however, the 36-year-old will have an army of staff to help her, including a hairdresser, a dresser and a driver.

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Red-dragon flags greet Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in Wales

CARDIFF - Britain’s Prince Harry and his American fiancée Meghan Markle visited Wales on Thursday on their third official joint appearance since announcing their engagement last November.

The couple have attracted huge attention since announcing they were getting married, and as with their previous appearances, hundreds of people greeted them in Cardiff, waving Welsh flags emblazoned with red dragons.

“Amazing, it was a dream of mine come true,” said Carol Powell, 39.

Harry, 33, and Markle 36 heard performances from musicians and poets at Cardiff Castle before making their way to a community center to see how sport is helping engage disadvantaged young people and promote their social development.

Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, and actress Markle, best known for the TV legal drama “Suits”, are due to marry in May at Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle home to the west of London.

“They were lovely and they were shaking hands with everyone and Harry was just having a chat with everyone so it was really nice,” Angharad Akideinde, 18, told Reuters.

“Because they are the younger generation they are more modern. It’s like the way they communicate with us as well. It is different to how the older ones would because they are more traditional I guess.”

Markle, who intends to become a British citizen, said after their engagement was announced that she was looking forward to getting to know her future homeland.

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Meghan Markle joins Royal family for Christmas church service

The Royal family arrived on Monday (December 25) at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandrigham to attend the traditional Christmas Day church service.

Prince Harry's fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, joined Queen Elizabeth and other senior Windsors for their family Christmas celebrations, in what commentators said was a break with royal protocol that royal partners must wait until they are married before being invited.

The queen and her close family usually spend the festive season at her Sandringham estate in eastern England and Buckingham Palace said she and the other senior royals would attend the service at the local church on Christmas Day as they have done for many years.

Last month, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, the fifth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, who stars in the U.S. TV legal drama "Suits", announced their engagement with the marriage to take place at Windsor Castle in May next year.


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Official photo released to mark 70th wedding anniversary of Britain's queen

LONDON - Buckingham Palace issued a new photographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip on Saturday to mark their upcoming 70th wedding anniversary.

The couple married at London's Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947, just two years after the end of World War Two, in a lavish ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world.

The portrait, taken earlier this month, showed the queen wearing the same dress which she chose for a service of thanksgiving to mark their diamond wedding anniversary held at the Abbey where they were married.

She is also wearing a "Scarab" brooch in yellow gold, carved ruby and diamond which Philip gave her in 1966.

Elizabeth has been married for far longer than any other royal, and the newly-released picture showed the couple framed by Thomas Gainsborough's 1781 portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte, who were married for 57 years - the second longest royal marriage.

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Britain's Prince Harry makes first public appearance with girlfriend

TORONTO - Britain's Prince Harry and American girlfriend Meghan Markle made their first formal public appearance together on Monday, with the couple holding hands and watching a wheelchair tennis match at the Invictus Games in Toronto.

Markle, an actress who stars in the TV legal drama "Suits," has been dating Harry for more than a year. They both appeared at the Invictus Games opening ceremony on the weekend, but sat apart and were not photographed together.

On Monday, they both wore jeans and sunglasses, but did not escape the notice of the crowd, which cheered their arrival. The pair appeared relaxed and were seen leaning in to share whispered comments during the match, and also turned around and chatted with spectators in the row behind them.

There were about 200 to 300 spectators at the match, which was free to attend.

The Invictus Games are an international sports competition for wounded and sick military personnel founded in 2014 by Harry, younger brother of William, the second in line to the British throne.

The couple's step into the public eye together will likely fuel speculation that marriage is on the horizon and only add to media interest in Markle.

Harry, William and William's wife Kate are a staple of the front pages of British newspapers and gossip magazines, which pore over every aspect of their lives.

Harry last November criticized the press for subjecting Markle to "a wave of abuse and harassment" after the news of their relationship sparked a stream of stories about the 36-year-old actress in British newspapers, including comment pieces he complained had a racial undertone.

Markle, a divorcee, is a native of Los Angeles whose father is white and mother African-American.

Markle told Vanity Fair magazine earlier this month that she and Harry were in love, in her first direct comments about the relationship.

Her former husband, Trevor Engelson, is reportedly working on a television comedy about divorce and about sharing custody of children after the former wife marries into the British royal family. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp and Mark Blinch; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan Oatis)

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Royals William and Kate release new photos of baby Charlotte

Kensington Palace has just released new photos of Princess Charlotte, the daughter of Britian's Prince William and his wife Kate.

Here's a new photo of 6-month-old Princess Charlotte, taken by her mother, The Duchess of Cambridge, in early Nov. pic.twitter.com/sgfYOj6fAQ

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 29, 2015

This photo of Princess Charlotte was also taken by The Duchess of Cambridge at home in Norfolk earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/YHeJ5ItPmi

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 29, 2015

The two pictures were taken earlier in November by mom -- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge -- and they come six months after the princess' much-anticipated birth in May.

Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne but for fans of the British Royals, the little princess is Number 1.

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How cute! British Royal Family celebrates Princess Charlotte's christening

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are no longer the biggest newsmakers from the Royal Family. Here comes adorable Prince George and cutie pie Princess Charlotte! See the adorable babies who will someday lead the United Kingdom.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

Britain's Prince William and his Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, bend down to their son Prince George as they leave after the christening of their daughter Princess Charlotte, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate in King's Lynn July 5, 2015.

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Queen Elizabeth celebrates official birthday

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her official birthday by attending the annual Trooping the Colour Parade.

The Queen's actual birthday is on April 21 but her official birthday is on a Saturday in June and the date changes every year.

On Saturday was the 63rd time that Queen Elizabeth has attended a birthday parade, a record unmatched by any monarch.

Joining her were other members of the royal family including Prince George, son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince George, who is third in line to the throne, stole the show as he smiled and waved to the crowd during his first ever appearance at the Buckingham Palace balcony.

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Name of new British princess is...

LONDON - Britain's new princess has been named as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace said on its Twitter account on Monday.

The daughter of Prince William and his wife Kate will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, the palace said.

(Writing by Robin Pomeroy)

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Toddler Prince George prepares to share the spotlight

LONDON, United Kingdom - After 21 blissful months of one-on-one care, world media attention and carefree splashing in the Buckingham Palace pool, Prince George is facing a spot of upheaval in his gilded life -- a sibling.

Later this month, the royal toddler's mother Kate is expected to give birth to a little brother or sister who will be fourth in line to the throne.

In his latest official photos, the son of Prince William and his wife Kate appears confident and curious -- a blond tot with an impish smile.

Shielded from the cameras, the prince's rare public appearances are exhaustively reported in British media and "Gorgeous George" is a social media star.

The little boy who has helped sustain the image of a British royal family once battered by scandal has been seen at public events just three times.

The first was in July 23, 2013 when he was shown to the world wrapped in a white blanket in the arms of his radiant parents -- aged just 27 hours.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him," the young father told a crowd of some 200 journalists outside the same private maternity ward in London where Kate plans to give birth later this month.

George's second public engagement came three months later at his Christening, followed by a family tour of Australia and New Zealand in April 2014 where the chubby-cheeked royal stole the show.

In New Zealand, he was seen playing with other babies in the residence of his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's governor-general.

On a visit to a Sydney zoo, he showed particular interest in a bilby -- an endangered animal.

Presents for George

Besides these appearances, the royals have occasionally released official photographs of the baby prince born third in line to the throne.

George has been seen in the garden at Kate's parents' home after the birth; sat with the family in a Kensington Palace window ahead of his first overseas tour; playing with butterflies at the Natural History Museum to mark his first birthday; and sitting on the Kensington Palace steps for Christmas 2014.

Conscious of the role that he will have to play one day, William and Kate have said they want the prince to have as normal a childhood as possible.

George's first birthday was celebrated far from the cameras with a cake baked by his mother.

The family have a Spanish nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, and a dog, Lupo, a black cocker spaniel.

But any similarities with other children end there.

The family divide their time between a lavishly refurbished apartment in London's Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall, a 10-bedroom country home on the queen's Sandringham estate in eastern England.

They holiday on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

On his first birthday, George received 700 gifts from around the world including 219 games and toys.

The royal couple are keen to avoid any sibling rivalry once George has to share the spotlight.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl wrote in the magazine Vanity Fair that Kate was "making the most of her final weeks with George as an only child".

"Apparently William and Kate have been stocking up on presents for Prince George to make sure he doesn't feel left out when his little brother or sister makes his or her grand entrance," she said.

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Spain's Princess Cristina to face tax fraud trial

MADRID - Cristina de Borbon, sister of Spain's King Felipe VI, will stand trial on charges of tax fraud, the first Spanish royal to face prosecution in court.

Her father Juan Carlos abdicated in June after a series of scandals including an investigation into the affairs of Princess Cristina's husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin, who is accused of embezzling public funds.

Princess Cristina, 49, and Urdangarin are among 17 people ordered to stand trial in the case involving his Noos Foundation charity, the High Court of the Balearic Islands said on Monday.

Cristina and her husband have both denied any wrongdoing.

Urdangarin has been charged with breach of legal duty, embezzling public funds, fraud, influence-peddling and money-laundering. The princess is accused of two tax crimes.

The couple have been ordered to deposit funds with the court to cover possible liabilities - 2.6 million euros ($3.2 million) in the case of Cristina, and nearly 15 million for Urdanganrin.

They now have 20 days to deposit the money, according to a written court ruling, or face having assets seized.

King Felipe is riding high in opinion polls and has tried to modernize the monarchy, including taking rights and duties away from his two sisters, who are no longer formally part of the royal family.

Cristina remains sixth in line to the throne.

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LOOK: Britain's Prince George in new Christmas photos

LONDON, United Kingdom - Three Christmas photos of a rosy-cheeked Prince George were released by Britain's royal family Saturday, offering a festive glimpse of the future king.

The pictures show 17-month-old George in a courtyard at Kensington Palace, where his parents, Prince William and Kate, have a London apartment.

George is wearing a jumper depicting the soldiers who guard his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, complete with red tunics and bearskin hats.

The royal couple guard their child's privacy closely and have requested that the press let him grow up without intrusion.

While George is often photographed during official engagements, royal lawyers sent a legal warning in October to a photographer who was reportedly trying to take pictures of him with his nanny in a London park.

George is due to be joined by a brother or sister in 2015 as Kate is pregnant with the couple's second child and expected to give birth in April.

She has been suffering from the same acute morning sickness she had while pregnant with George.

However, she did accompany Prince William on a whirlwind trip to New York this week, where the couple visited the 9/11 memorial and met music stars Beyonce and Jay-Z.

 source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Wife of Thailand's Crown Prince 'relinquishes' royal status

BANGKOK, Thailand - The wife of Thailand's Crown Prince has relinquished her royal title, the kingdom's palace said Saturday, the first official confirmation of her fall from grace after a string of her relatives were arrested in a police corruption scandal.

"The king has granted permission to announce that Princess Srirasmi, the wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, has informed in a written document that she has resigned from her royal status," the palace said in a statement.

"Acknowledgement and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King," the statement added.

Princess Srirasmi married the Crown Prince in 2001. The couple has a son who is thought to be Vajiralongkorn's most likely heir.

Thailand has been awash with rumors of Srirasmi's fate for weeks after a slew of her relatives were caught up in a widening police corruption scandal that has sent shockwaves through country's elite.

Several high profile figures have been arrested including a host of senior policemen and military officers, while one of Thailand's richest men is on the run from police on charges relating to the probe.

But reportable facts on Srirasmi's status were scant.

The country's monarchy is protected by some of the world's strictest lese majeste laws. Both local and international media must heavily self-censor when covering the country's royal family.

The first indications that her royal status could be in doubt came earlier this month when the Crown Prince announced that members of her family had been forbidden from using the surname "Akkharapongpricha".

At least three relatives with that surname were arrested in the corruption scandal, and the name represents an honorific title given to some of Srirasmi's family following her marriage to the prince.

Many of the more than 20 detained have been charged for defaming the monarchy, with police saying they had made "false claims" about their relationship to a royal to justify committing crimes that allegedly ranged from running illegal casinos to oil smuggling, kidnapping and extortion.

In recent days there were increasing signals Srirasmi was no longer part of the royal family.

In an unusual break from tradition, there was no mention of her in the royal household news broadcasts on December 9, her birthday.

The next day she disappeared from the opening sequence of the nightly royal news broadcasts which features portraits of all the kingdom's senior royals.

The princess was last seen in public on December 6 when she presided over the 9th anniversary of her pet project, an organization called "The Family Bond Project".

The report on the Ministry of Education website says the project "aims to promote and strengthen love and learning between all family members".

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