https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-15249081/ROBERT-JOBSON-Queen-fury-Harry-Meghan.html?

ROBERT JOBSON: Revealed: What Harry and Meghan did that made the late Queen so furious she hurled her newspaper to the floor

    Furious Elizabeth hurled newspaper to floor after reading Lilibet was given her childhood pet name
    She was livid with Harry after he tried to interrupt her cherished afternoon tea to beg for 'more money'
    Described the Prince's behaviour during tense Palace negotiations over Megxit as 'quite mad'
    ...and told Meghan that wearing a Christian Dior gown worth £60,000 was an ill-judged choice

By ROBERT JOBSON

Published: 01:34, 2 November 2025 | Updated: 15:23, 2 November 2025

For the late Queen's generation, teatime was sacrosanct: a pause in the day to reflect and refresh. For the monarch herself, it was also a cherished private time in a life devoted to public service.  During Covid lockdowns, Elizabeth II particularly enjoyed her afternoon ritual. Prince Philip had left his retreat in Norfolk to base himself at Windsor Castle, where much to her delight he joined her most days for tea.  If there was one time any member of the Royal Family could almost be guaranteed to know what the Queen was doing, it was 5pm. So eyebrows were raised when Prince Harry rang her one day while she was having her cup of tea.  The Queen was not amused. Indeed, she was clearly irritated and her grandson was not put through.  She may have suspected what he wanted to discuss. Before Harry had left Britain in 2020, the Queen and Prince Charles had arranged to cover security costs for him and his son Archie for a whole year.  In addition, Harry's father had offered to assist with household bills and living expenses while the Sussexes settled into their new lives first in Canada and then in California.  But was that enough?

Harry seemed to be finding the shift from being a working royal rather harder than he'd expected.  Sure enough, he called his grandmother back the following day though this time not during the sacred hour. And this time she took his call.  After hanging up, she sighed and said in front of her staff: 'More money.'

Even the Queen, it seemed, was growing weary of Harry's demands.  Charles then Prince of Wales had initially thought Meghan Markle was good for Harry and looked forward to her joining the Royal Family. She pressed all the right buttons, said the right things. He liked her, as did Camilla.  But by the time the couple announced their engagement, his enthusiasm appeared to have waned. When staff offered their congratulations, his response was notably restrained.  And the Queen?

To a large degree, she kept her own counsel when it came to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, intervening only when she felt it necessary.  One matter that did anger her, though, was Meghan's taste for expensive designer clothes.  She'd looked stunning when, nine months after the royal wedding, she appeared in a custom-made Christian Dior gown during a reception in February 2019 at the British ambassador's residence in Rabat, Morocco. However, the cost of her wardrobe for the Sussexes' official tour of Morocco was causing comment back home.  Certainly, the estimated £60,000 price tag for the Dior dress drew the Queen's ire when she read about it in the press. She later let Meghan know that such an expensive outfit was an ill-judged choice.  When Harry returned, he told his father that he and his wife wanted a new, semi-detached setup: half-in, half-out of the Royal Family. They wanted to be able to make their own money, too, effectively cashing in on their royal status.  Presumptuously, they assumed that given their apparent popularity, the Queen would back them. She did not. In fact, when the couple issued a statement about their plans without first seeking her approval she was furious. The Sandringham summit in January 2020 marked a turning point for the British monarchy.  In the Long Library, under tight security the Queen joined Harry, Charles, William, and their private secretaries, to confront the fallout of the Sussexes' decision to live in North America yet also be part-time working royals.  Prince Philip, once a mentor to Harry, was so angered by what he saw as a threat to the family's cohesion that he stayed away. The Queen held firm. As far as she was concerned, Harry's idea of splitting time between North America and his royal obligations clashed with the monarchy's need for unity and dignity. They were either in or out, she ruled.  Discussions were emotional. Harry was forced to concede far more ground than he anticipated, including the loss of his patronages and military titles, in exchange for 'freedom'.  Privately, Queen Elizabeth described Harry's behaviour as 'quite mad'. She made it clear to those close to her that she felt let down by the Sussexes' departure, which she saw as short-sighted and a missed opportunity.  The Queen had warmly welcomed Meghan, viewing her dual heritage, beauty and communication skills as assets to the family. When everything fell apart, she publicly wished the couple well.  As time went on, however, she tired of all their dramatics, and ordered that Harry's phone calls be redirected to his father.  Unfortunately for Harry, Prince Charles had also grown tired of his errant son's rants. After Harry swore at him over the phone one day and demanded funds, he stopped taking his calls. 'I'm not a bank,' Charles told his inner circle.

Long-serving staff, who knew Harry well, were left in the awkward position of having to make polite excuses when his father wouldn't come to the phone. The Sussexes' tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in March 2021, and was replete with accusations of racism, family rifts and mental health struggles that painted a bleak picture of royal life. The timing was excruciating, as Prince Philip, then aged 99, was in hospital for a heart procedure.  Harry also claimed: 'I was trapped, but I didn't know I was trapped. My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don't get to leave.'

William felt totally betrayed. He insisted to friends there was no way he felt trapped, and licensed them to talk to the media. He also famously declared: 'We are very much not a racist family.'

The two brothers spoke on the phone and days later, CBS TV host Gayle King revealed that their conversation was 'not productive'. The leak felt like yet another betrayal.  For the Queen, in the twilight of her reign, the Oprah interview was a bitter pill to swallow. She authorised the release of a statement about the racism claims, famously saying: 'Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.'

Just over a week after the Oprah interview, Prince Philip was released from hospital. He was lethargic, sluggish and didn't want to leave his room, which worried the Queen. She sent for his close companion Penny, the Countess Mountbatten, hoping her presence would help him regain his zest for life and he briefly rallied.  In his final conversation with Philip on April 8, 2021, just hours before his death, Charles tried to discuss arrangements for his father's upcoming 100th birthday. Raising his voice as Philip was now nearly deaf he said: 'We're talking about your birthday, and whether there's going to be a reception.'

Philip shot back: 'Well, I've got to be alive for it, haven't I?'

Charles laughed, 'I knew you'd say that!'

Prince Philip who abhorred fuss died the following day in a single bed that had been placed in his large bathroom. The Queen was by his side.  During discussions about his funeral, his heartbroken widow made it clear that Covid restrictions or not, she wanted Countess Mountbatten to be one of the few mourners inside St George's Chapel. It was a quiet nod to Philip and Penny's years of friendship, trust and loyalty. Her presence said more than words.  Harry was there, too, and walked alongside William and Catherine as he left the service. His grandfather would have approved. Moments later, however, at a fraught meeting, tension between the brothers led Charles to plead: 'Please, boys, do not make my final years a misery.'

For the Queen, Philip's death was more than a personal loss it left her without her most trusted ally in managing staff, courtiers and the family. Once, when she was keen to fly to Balmoral to feed her corgis, who'd already been sent ahead, she was told she had to stick to a fixed airtime slot. At that point, she snapped: 'Tell them I want a different time slot. I am the Queen, after all.'

It was an uncharacteristic rejoinder, but by then she may well have felt there was plenty to feel snappish about. (And, of course, she got her way: the dogs were fed and had their walk with her at Balmoral at the correct time.)  Barely two months after Philip's death, Meghan gave birth to a daughter whom the couple named Lilibet, honouring the Queen's childhood nickname.  Some saw this as a peace offering, but controversy erupted when the BBC reported the Queen hadn't been consulted.  Harry insisted he had her blessing, but Buckingham Palace remained silent.  The Sussexes' lawyers called the BBC report 'false and defamatory' and threatened legal action yet no lawsuit followed.  A Palace source has a different version of events, which is that the Queen first learned of Lilibet's name from the morning press, and was so incensed at the affront that she threw the paper to the floor, startling her staff. Later, during one of the Sussexes' final UK visits before her death, they skipped a planned tea that daily ritual so precious to the Queen. What's more, they skipped it without giving her notice.  She had requested a special cake. By 5.15 p.m., with no word, she told staff to clear everything away.  After the loss of her husband, the Queen spent nearly all her time at Windsor Castle, where she had few visitors. Her days were quiet, her health was rapidly declining and she was often lonely.  Among the few who saw her regularly were Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah and their daughters.  Charles would stay overnight when hosting investitures, and occasionally dined with his mother. And Prince William?

He offered her some company.  As he was living nearby at Adelaide Cottage, the Queen also often spotted him and his family in the park below her castle window.  Although she loved William and saw much to admire, she told insiders that she feared he might become a 'celebrity monarch' rather than a dedicated one.  His rigidity, according to a royal source, occasionally frustrated her. A case in point was when the Queen asked him to stand in for her at the official opening of Thames Hospice's new 29-bed facility by Bray Lake, Berkshire, near Windsor.  She had a particular connection with it through a retiring staff member who had looked after the budgerigars at the Royal Aviary, and she didn't want to let anyone down. But on the day of the ceremony, July 15, 2022, she was feeling particularly frail.  William's schedule might well have accommodated this last-minute duty, but he cried off, citing fatherly duties. This left his grandmother not only disappointed but irritated. She is said to have scoffed: 'Isn't that what nannies and policemen are for?'

Ever the stalwart, the ailing Queen asked Princess Anne to accompany her and went anyway. The 45-minute engagement during which she spent some time with a woman expected to die within 48 hours was the last she ever carried out in England.  Later that month, Queen Elizabeth headed to her beloved Scotland, knowing full well that this would be her last visit. To begin with, she found refuge in Craigowan Lodge, where she satisfied her longing for stillness and peace and made sure she said a few final goodbyes.  One morning, she seemed uncharacteristically vexed. Time was running out, it seemed, for everything she wished to accomplish before it was too late. That morning, what she urgently wanted was for staff to summon grocer George Strachan, whose family had faithfully served the Royal Family at Balmoral for generations.  Breaking her strict rule of no breakfast guests outside family, she made herself available. She simply wanted to say goodbye: a quiet gesture of loyalty and grace.  On August 9, the Queen left Craigowan Lodge and formally arrived at Balmoral Castle for her final summer stay. On September 6 she met Boris Johnson and Liz Truss there, but her health declined sharply two days later and she died at 3.10pm on September 8.  Exactly three months later, while the Royal Family were still very much in mourning, the couple's Netflix series, titled Harry & Meghan, premiered across the world.  The documentary shared private moments, including Harry receiving a text from William after the Oprah interview. Harry also accused his brother's office of briefing against him and Meghan.  Meghan's exaggerated re-enactment of her curtsy for the Queen, which she compared to a scene from Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament an American dinner theatre was widely criticised as mocking and disrespectful.  In January 2023, Harry's memoir Spare an instant bestseller that netted him a fortune provided raw insights into his strained relationship with his brother and father, and targeted his father's beloved wife Camilla, suggesting she'd leaked stories to the media. Inevitably, the book deepened the family rift, consolidating the family's mistrust.  Harry's relentless attacks on his family seemed unstoppable, until a sudden Palace announcement stopped him in his tracks: his father was suffering from cancer. This was soon followed by the news that Catherine, too, was ill with the disease.  Harry and Meghan sent their 'well wishes'. Neither King Charles nor Catherine responded.  A palace aide scoffed at the Sussexes's statement, calling it 'cynical'. After all, just weeks before, the couple had been slinging mud at the Royal Family and portraying themselves as victims.  The King, who'd broken the news of his cancer to Harry in a phone call, had started treatment straight away. He was undergoing chemotherapy and felt a strong need for peace and quiet.  The last thing he needed was any drama yet, without an invitation, Harry took it upon himself to fly over to see his father. The King had planned to spend the weekend at Sandringham in Norfolk, so he was irritated at being forced to wait in London until his son arrived. Their meeting was brief, around 30 minutes. Wary of letting Harry prolong it, Charles had pre-arranged for the meeting to be interrupted with a warning that it was time for a medical procedure. His son left soon afterwards.  In fact, there was no procedure scheduled, and never had been. Instead, the King flew straight to Sandringham on a helicopter that had been standing by for his delayed journey.  As for William, he stayed away. He had zero interest in spending time with his brother.  Now royal in name only, the Sussexes continue to make headlines, usually for the wrong reasons.  In March this year, Meghan's With Love, Meghan series was slammed as a vanity project and a shameless grab for cash under the Sussex banner.  In May, a British judge rejected Harry's demand for automatic, taxpayer-funded police protection for him and his family whenever they visit the UK. The ruling was blunt: he quit the job, so he doesn't get the benefits.  From Montecito, California, Harry raged. 'I've had it described to me this is an old-fashioned, good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up. And that's what it feels like,' he told the BBC, adding that he blamed the Royal Household, and was 'devastated'.

He also spoke of forgiveness 'I have forgiven my family for everything that's happened' but made clear his own family would not return to the UK.

The real stinger came when he added: 'I don't know how much longer my father has.'

This bombshell interview came on the eve of the VE Day 80th Anniversary commemorations, overshadowing a moment meant to honour veterans and unite the nation. Harry's timing felt off.  It's a mark of the King's enduring love for his troubled son that he recently agreed to see him again for the first time in more than a year. Their meeting lasted 55 minutes. In a continuation of the late Queen's tradition, they talked over relaxing cups of tea.  The chances are the King was very careful about what he said.
 
A wee dram at bedtime?

Tradition has always ranked highly at the royal residences, and change has seldom been at the top of the agenda.  Even so, Prince Philip was shocked after the late Queen's accession to discover the reason why staff continued to place a bottle of whisky at her bedside.  Amazingly, it was Queen Victoria who'd insisted on having whisky available, as she believed a late-night tipple was a good remedy for a cold. And after her death, it hadn't occurred to anyone to rescind the order.
 
Queen's gems nabbed on M40

It wasn't quite the heist of the century but close. Incredibly, no one has breathed a word, until now, about how a daring thief managed to snaffle a bag of Queen Camilla's jewellery.  The incident took place on the day Charles and Camilla had set off to catch a plane to Canada for their 2022 tour of Canada. En route, they stopped off at Beaconsfield Services located off Junction 2 of the M40 motorway in Buckinghamshire.  And while they were inside, a thief stole Camilla's jewels which aides had left unattended in an unlocked car. One of them had stepped away for a cigarette, the other two were inside getting coffees.  The thief had simply walked up to the car and taken a bag labelled 'HRH The Duchess of Cornwall'.  MI5 were immediately scrambled, and managed to track the culprit via CCTV. The jewellery was recovered within hours.  No charges were filed, no police report was ever made and the incident was buried to avoid embarrassment.
 
Cocaine, bar brawls and a top aide caught shoplifting at Fortnum's

Some close to the Crown feel the King has been ill-served by senior aides letting standards slip. Since the death of his parents, sources say, the Royal Household has weathered a string of scandals involving staff misconduct.  Behind closed doors, serious questions are now being asked about privilege, responsibility and who is truly keeping the palace in order.  Less than a year ago, one maid had to resign amid allegations of cocaine use and other substance abuse. But she may have been one of many who abused their position.  And this, of course, raises questions about the internal culture of the Household and who is responsible for its oversight.  Last year, too, there was a fight at an All Bar One following a Christmas party for Buckingham Palace staff. Trouble had apparently flared when up to 50 servants, who'd already had a few drinks, arrived for a pre-arranged party.  Police officers were called after reports of glasses being hurled about and punches being thrown. One housemaid was arrested after aiming a punch at the manager and smashing glasses. She ended up being fined and spending a night in custody. 

But it's a shoplifting incident that has left a particularly sour taste.  In November 2023, one of the royal aides was stopped for alleged shoplifting at the upmarket Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly, London, as this paper first revealed. Despite a valuable diamond bracelet being found in her bag, she somehow escaped punishment.  Yet it had seemed an open-and-shut case. She'd not only been filmed in the act of stealing it, but security staff had actually observed her removing a security tag from the bracelet before trying to leave via a side exit. What's more, store detectives had allegedly watched her taking make-up samples on a previous visit.  In other words, she was caught red-handed.  Yet after making it clear she'd henceforth be banned from the store, Fortnum & Mason simply allowed her to leave. The aide later claimed the 'theft' had been a misunderstanding. No charges were filed, reportedly due to concerns that prosecuting a royal aide could jeopardise the store's Royal Warrants, first granted in 1910.  Fortnum & Mason, founded in 1707 when it started selling recycled candles from the Royal Household, has long been known as the late Queen's favourite store.  It has also had a longstanding relationship with other members of the Royal Family. Despite the gravity of the shoplifting incident, no disciplinary action was taken against the aide, who was described by colleagues as 'utterly faithful' to the Royal Family. The King and Queen were informed, but she kept her position.  Why had she swiped the bracelet?

Palace sources claimed there was a mental health consideration.  So a good ending for her. Not so good, perhaps, for public confidence at a time when high street retailers were grappling with a surge in crime, with about 670 shoplifting cases going unsolved in the UK daily.  Then, in December last year, the King had a clearout of Royal Warrants. Among the several companies who lost them was the renowned British confectionery brand Cadbury, a warrant holder since 1854.  It is owned by American snack giant Mondelez, formerly known as Kraft Foods.  No official reasons are given for firms being stripped of the warrants but dietary and ethical considerations are important and business links to Russia are a key factor.  As for Fortnum & Mason, it was honoured with two new Royal Warrants that year; one from King Charles III and another from Queen Camilla. This marked the first time in 28 years that the store had received new warrants.  Just before Christmas last year, Camilla was spotted shopping there, where she picked up a £13.95 tin of cinnamon and orange tea and paid for it.
 
Trusted dresser was ushered out of court

In the hours after the Queen's death, her trusted personal assistant was permitted to pay her final respects.  Angela Kelly, who'd also been her dresser, was so overcome by grief, however, that she had to be helped out of the chamber by two footmen. Wisely, they didn't feel Princess Anne would welcome her prolonged presence in the room where her mother had taken her last breath.  Without fanfare, Ms Kelly was then flown south and bluntly told to hand over the late Queen's belongings and jewellery to a senior figure in King Charles's circle. Her time at court was over.  Within months, she was asked to vacate her grace-and-favour Windsor home. King Charles honoured his mother's wishes by securing her a new house in the Peak District, near her family, but also ensured that Ms Kelly signed a non-disclosure agreement.  This effectively put paid to any plans she might have to write a personal memoir of her employer though she'd already published two with the Queen's permission. The King later asked his mother's footman, Paul Whybrew who famously appeared with the Queen in the James Bond skit for the 2012 Olympics to review all her correspondence, including letters from the Hollywood star Douglas Fairbanks Jr.  Mr Whybrew was ordered to send on anything potentially embarrassing to Charles for vetting. The footman was subsequently given a generous retirement settlement and, unlike Angela Kelly, allowed to live in retirement on the Windsor estate.

Adapted from The Windsor Legacy, by Robert Jobson (John Blake, £22), to be published November 6. © Robert Jobson 2025. To order a copy for £18.70 (offer valid to November 15; UK p&p free for orders over £25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.

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https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/08/22/in-case-of-emergency?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_qiKF5PK8OstuviwB9Mg2CVSippBcaBbrikrFAToPDsXCoHYnbY6kX6ofkFDIoaWYDDQKuoM4UM-U5jhImFHhxsFxy-g&_hsmi=318330112&utm_content=318330112&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

In Case of Emergency
August 22, 2024
by Tracie Braylock

“The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].” Psalm 37:23 (AMP)

Hospitals have emergency codes every employee must be aware of. As a nurse, I’m familiar with how these codes are announced, either within one department or to the entire hospital, depending on the situation. For example, “Code Red” indicates smoke or fire while “Code Blue” indicates a medical emergency like cardiac or respiratory arrest.

When the code is announced, a series of steps are followed so hospital personnel can keep patients, visitors, employees and the general public from undue harm or panic.  In a Code Red, for instance, staff are to complete the R.A.C.E. procedure:

R: Rescue those in immediate danger.
A: Activate the nearest fire alarm.
C: Close all doors and windows within reach, and turn off fans and air conditioners.
E: Extinguish small fires with a fire extinguisher.

As a believer in Jesus, did you know you also have emergency codes you can use in dangerous, dire or discouraging situations?

They’re found within the Scriptures!  God has given us the counsel of the whole Bible to guide, bless and teach us but it is also helpful to know some key verses for encouragement and prayer in hard moments. Here are some examples:

    When you feel alone, you can pray Deuteronomy 31:6.
    When you feel fearful, you can pray Isaiah 41:10.
    When you are in danger, you can pray Psalm 91.
    When you have sinned, you can pray Psalm 51.
    When you need courage, you can pray Joshua 1:9.
    When you are seeking peace, you can pray Isaiah 26:3.
    When you are heartbroken, you can pray Psalm 34:17-19.

God offers the safety and support you need to navigate whatever situation you’re facing.  Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].”

Not only do we have steps we can follow, but God redirects our attention away from the pain of our problems and toward Him as our Protector and Provider. God orders and establishes our steps and guards us as we go.  My friend, isn’t it wonderful to know that in times of stress, struggle or stumbling, the Lord still holds and sustains you?

God is right there with you every step of the way as your ever-present Guide, helping you navigate both everyday and emergency situations.  Call out His Word, follow the path He’s established for you, and trust Him with each new step. Your safety and deliverance are found in Him.

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/05/15/rescue-is-coming-dont-give-up-yet?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_WtQMGv-nzQHdy2r_r6PD02Kj0-oudL-qo66xgNokSNBFdPKpOhNEmIUyyot4BSVvxLEzsjc8bhm9O3Ak8036c-sl29w&_hsmi=304536958&utm_content=304536958&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

Rescue Is Coming Don't Give Up Yet
May 15, 2024
by Meredith Brock

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

I had never told anyone my full story. No one had ever asked about the events of my life or seemed to care about the heartbreak I carried inside.  Seventeen years old and stumbling into adulthood with no parental support, I was painfully alone, carrying 17 years of horrors until she came into my life.  Tracy was a youth leader at a summer camp. She was gentle, unassuming and patient with my slow, awkward answers to questions I had never been asked. She listened, absorbed my hurt, and always pointed me back to the Truth found in the Scriptures she loved.  I ended up living in and out of Tracy’s home for six years before I felt brave enough and healed enough to launch into adulthood on my own.  Through those years, I opened up about the fractured parts of my story, sharing my pain in hopes that there was more than hurt to be had in the world. I breathed in the grace and mercy God had been waiting to lavish upon me. There were tears and laughter, “whys” and “how comes.”  Through a woman who started as a stranger and is now one of my dearest friends, God met me in my darkness with His Word. God used Tracy to start a new thing in me.  Now, over 20 years later, God has positioned me as the CEO of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I wish I could take 17-year-old Meredith’s face in my hands and say, “God will send rescue. But it’s not who you’re expecting. It won't be a mom, a dad, a college degree or a man that will rescue you. It will be a woman who loves Jesus and His Word and will share it with you. Just be patient. He is doing a new thing.”

Friend, if you’ve found yourself in a season of darkness wishing someone would take your face in their hands and remind you that rescue is coming let me be that person for you today.  Take a deep breath, and hear these words: I promise you, based on the words of Scripture, that you are not alone. Whatever you are facing, hold on; don’t give up. Even if you can’t see it, God is starting a new thing in your life. It may not be what you’re expecting or when you’re expecting it, but it is coming. Hold on to the hope in Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

No matter what season you’re in, take some time to trace the faithful hand of God in your life so far. Cry tears of gratitude for His rescue. And then, when your heart starts to lighten, rejoice in God’s faithfulness.  I’m rejoicing with you! Our God is so good and so generous. I want to challenge us both, like Tracy did for me, to cling to the comfort God has provided in our troubles so we can also comfort others in their brokenness (2 Corinthians 1:4). God is inviting us to be carriers of His grace, His Word and His love.  Here at Proverbs 31 Ministries, this is our heartbeat. We long for women around the globe to know the Truth and live the Truth because it changes everything. We have seen this for ourselves, and we want to keep creating opportunities for others to experience Jesus.  Just like Tracy, you can be an unexpected rescue for a woman in need, a woman like 17-year-old Meredith. Maybe the first step God is calling you to take today is to partner with us through prayer or financial support. With your help, we can continue to provide biblical resources for the woman who is desperate for hope in the middle of the darkness she’s facing. Pray with me, and find out more, below.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-14731777/assassin-Queen-Victoria-avoid-death-penalty-Australian-journalist-New-Mail-podcast.html

How did a would-be assassin of Queen Victoria avoid the death penalty and become an Australian journalist? New Mail podcast follows the long history of deadly plots against Britain's most famous monarch

    PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things - Why did Prince Andrew drive into his own house?

By JOSEPH PALMER

Published: 05:00, 22 May 2025 | Updated: 11:08, 22 May 2025

On the latest episode of the Mail's 'Queens, Kings & Dastardly Things' podcast, Royal biographer Robert Hardman and historian Kate Williams look back at the 7 assassination attempts survived by Queen Victoria, the most of any monarch in history.  Prince Albert, Victoria's husband, once asked of his often-targeted wife: 'What's all this mania with Queen shooting?'

Across her 63-year reign, Queen Victoria had a record 7 brushes with death, the first when she was just 21 years old and the last as a 64-year-old Empress of a globe-spanning state.  Her first would-be assassin, Edward Oxford, was a teenager when he attempted to murder the Queen. On the podcast, Hardman and Williams tell the bizarre story of his life and the lives of the many men who botched the killing of Britain's most famous monarch.

Edward Oxford and The First Assassination Attempt Against Queen Victoria

The year was 1840 and Queen Victoria, pregnant with her first child Vicky, took a relaxed carriage ride through Hyde Park.  A waiter, Edward Oxford, just 18 years old, emerged from the crowds of people who came to the park to witness their new Queen, brandishing two pistols.  His first shot missed, but as historian Williams explained, this is all part of his plan to alter the course of British history.  'Oxford's plan was for the carriage to stop and for those onboard to investigate the noise from the first shot. That would present a moment for him to fire at the Queen directly', Williams said.  'The carriage stopped, and Oxford takes the other gun out but he's not the best shot in history. We see a lot of these early Victorian shooters can't really use a gun.  He's only a few feet away but somehow, Victoria is unhurt. The crowd then grabs Oxford, and he's arrested.'

It later transpired that Oxford was a part of a 'secret society', as Williams calls it, known as Young England.  It is assumed he was seeking notoriety within the group by murdering the young Queen. Young England espoused an extreme form of Conservatism, desiring a stronger monarch with greater influence over politics.  Oxford was then tried for treason, with the penalty for the crime in the 19th century being execution by hanging.  He managed to escape his fate however, as Williams said: 'During the trial, when they looked at the scene of the crime, they can't find any bullets.  So, the court thinks he just shot gunpowder at the Queen and it finds him not guilty on grounds of insanity.  Victoria doesn't like this: she describes it in her journal as very stupid and doesn't believe Oxford was mad.'

After three years in Broadmoor Hospital, Oxford is released and sent to Australia, where he manages to rebuild his life.  'Oxford flourished in later life', Williams told the podcast.

'He married a widow with two children. He becomes a church warden, and he gets a job as a journalist.'

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The Queen never bowed to anyone during her 70-year reign, except once.  Decades ago at a special state funeral, the monarch broke the ultimate royal tradition and bowed her head to the coffin as it went past but it was for a very important reason...

By CAMERON ROY

Published: 09:58, 23 February 2025 | Updated: 09:58, 23 February 2025

The Royal Family is so steeped in tradition and protocol that its members were taught royal etiquette by household staff from a young age.  But amongst the plethora of long-established rules that need to be followed, the most important one has always been to bow (or curtsey) to the monarch.  The monarch, on the other hand, bows to no one.   And the late Queen Elizabeth II kept this tradition for her entire record breaking 70-year-long reign with only one exception.  On the day of Princess Diana's funeral on September 6, 1997, while standing with her family, she broke the cardinal royal rule and bowed her head as the cortege passed.  The one woman who was accustomed to being bowed at by the world had suddenly and unexpectedly lowered her head and humbly honoured the princess.  It was not a quick one, nor was it shallow, but one done to recognise the wishes of her heartbroken subjects.  As although the Queen had rarely put a foot wrong during her 70-year reign, her response to Diana's death the week before was one of the few episodes most experts now regard as a mistake.  And the late Queen Elizabeth II kept this tradition for her entire record breaking 70-year-long reign with only one exception.  On the day of Princess Diana's funeral on September 6, 1997, while standing with her family, she broke the cardinal royal rule and bowed her head as the cortege passed.  The one woman who was accustomed to being bowed at by the world had suddenly and unexpectedly lowered her head and humbly honoured the princess.  It was not a quick one, nor was it shallow, but one done to recognise the wishes of her heartbroken subjects.  As although the Queen had rarely put a foot wrong during her 70-year reign, her response to Diana's death the week before was one of the few episodes most experts now regard as a mistake.  She failed to understand that in those febrile days between Diana's death and her funeral, caring and being seen to care were the only currency which mattered to the crowds.  It was, appropriately, the flagpole on top of Buckingham Palace which became the lightning conductor for popular fury.  Bare of the Royal Standard because the Queen was not in residence, it stood in contrast to pretty much every other flagpole in the country from which a flag fluttered respectfully at half mast.  'Where is our Queen?' yelled the headlines.

'Let the flag fly at half mast,' demanded others.

It was thought it was time for precedent and protocol to give way to emotion just as it always had for the tactile, expressive Diana.  The only flag traditionally flown above Buckingham Palace is the royal standard, not the Union Flag.  And the flag was only used to signify when the monarch is in residence, flying when she is there and lowered when away.  Throughout history, the flag had never before been flown at half mast, even for the death of the queen's beloved father and predecessor, King George VI.  But just like her decision to bow, the Queen once again ordered another unprecedented break in tradition by making sure the flag was flown at half mast above Buckingham Palace on the day of Diana's funeral.  Tony Blair later claimed credit for persuading the Queen to return to London and pay a public tribute to the princess to satisfy the public demand.  The events were depicted in the 2006 film The Queen, written by Peter Morgan who went on to create the phenomenally successful The Crown about the whole history of the royals since the Queen came to power.  Historian Dominic Sandbrook said of Blair's intervention: 'He understood this, the new sentimentalism that this wasn't a sort of stiff-upper-lip 1950's country anymore.  'That the sort of ritual display of empathy, which he was very good at, and the Queen wasn't very good at, that was an important part of our political culture that's becoming.  Nobody likes to be in somebody else's debt. And I think the Queen probably did feel simultaneously he had saved her. But at the same time, she didn't like the fact that he'd done it or like him for it.'

The royals also showed they cared when, in the lead up to the funeral, Charles took Harry by the hand and they appeared with William at the gates of Balmoral to see the flowers which had been left there.  The royals also appeared outside the gates of Kensington Palace to thank the thousands of royals fans there for the sea of flowers provided.  And when the day of the funeral came, Princess Diana was laid to rest before the eyes of her family, friends and the world in one of the most-viewed television spectacles of all time.  Like her life, Diana's funeral had no shortage of controversy, from her brother's eulogy spliced with thinly veiled attacks at the Royal Family and media, to behind-the-scenes conversations that decided how William and Harry were expected to act in the face of the remarkable tragedy.   Overall, the day was marked by the unspeakable sadness surrounding the princess's death.  Itremains the most-watched live event in the UK, with 31 million viewers, compared to her wedding, which was viewed by 22 million people in the UK, and 750 million globally.   It had a series of iconic moments, from Elton John singing a rewritten version of Candle in the Wind, to Tony Blair reading a Bible verse.  But looking back on the sad day, perhaps the most significant was Elizabeth's unprecedented decision to bow.  After all, she and her daughter-in-law's relationship had become strained due to Prince Charles and Diana's well-publicised relationship breakdown dubbed 'The War of the Waleses'.  It fell to the Queen to finally personally intervene and order the quarrelling couple to divorce after years of tit-for-tat blows in the press and on television.  But because of the public's affection towards Diana, the Queen realised she had to pay her respects properly to win back the support of the people.   Although she bowed every year to the unknown soldier on Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph, her bow to Diana is understood to be the first time she had bowed to an individual during her time on the throne.  Despite being almost 30 years old, clips of the moment have been viewed hundred of thousands of times on YouTube, with commenters expressing their appreciation of the Queen's decision.  One posted: 'I feel like this was a gesture also for her grandsons. It is lovely that they have the knowledge that the Queen, their grandmother, honored their mother in this final moment.'

Another said they 'couldn't believe it when the Queen did this', adding 'this was huge at the time which showed how important Diana was. The Queen bows to no one and to see this brought tears to my eyes'.

A third chimed in: 'The Queen knew she had to do something grand. The people wanted Queen Elizabeth to acknowledge Princess Diana's tragic death. I'm sure the Queen cared in her own way.'

While a fourth commented: 'She bowed. It proves life does not go by the rule book even for Queen Elizabeth. Traditions can be improvised always. Everything in this world may change according to situation & circumstances.'

But it is not just in Britain that Queen Elizabeth II's extraordinary bow is remembered, as commentators around the world took note of the act of respect.  Italian writer Alberto Angela said the simple gesture marked one of the most powerful moves in the Queen's reign at a time when the Royal Family faced significant pressure.  He said: 'That bow is perhaps one of the strongest images in her entire reign.  Even in the darkest hour, Elizabeth put her mission first and demonstrated that she can find inspiration even from the most painful confrontation, the one with the woman who had won the hearts of her subjects.'

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The Joy Challenge
June 17, 2024
by Randy Fraze

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight ...” Philippians 1:9 (NIV)

When our four children were young, they bought me Father’s Day presents. I’d get the standard tie or even the dreaded “soap on a rope.” To add insult to injury, they used my money to purchase the gifts.  One year, I said to them, “What I really, really would like more than anything is a handwritten note from you on how you are doing and how you feel about our relationship.”

This year, my oldest child turns 40, and I still receive notes from all my children and grandchildren too.  Today, I don’t have any of the ties they gave me, and I never used the soap on a rope (I think I regifted them). But I have every single letter they’ve given me, and they bring me pure joy. My children helped me know what mattered most to them individually and how to show each of them love in unique ways.  I didn’t and don’t always get it right, but the Apostle Paul’s prayer to the Philippians inspires me to keep finding ways to show love to my family. Paul wrote, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” (Philippians 1:9).

The singular focus of Paul’s prayer was that the people of Philippi would learn how to love. When we learn to love people better, not only does their joy increase, but so does ours. The word “abound” means “more than enough.” Paul wanted the Philippians to have so much love inside them that they would have no place to store it and no choice but to let it spill out to others.  If the Apostle Paul got it right, my children’s letters also bring them joy. To know that they’re in a unique position of intimacy with me and that, through their depth of insight about me, they can craft a few words that elevate my joy meter well, that is a source of joy for them, for sure.  Here is your Joy Challenge today, friend: Write a letter to a family member or close friend who could use encouragement. Speak joy into their life by writing down things you’ve seen in them that make them special. Call out a specific way they’ve made a difference in your life or the lives of others. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. You can text, email or snail mail it to them, or put it somewhere they’ll find it. Maybe even sit down with them to read the letter out loud. Then ask two questions: Did it bring them joy? Did it bring you joy?

May we be known for our deep, sincere, heartfelt love for others, and may our joy increase because of it.