Meetings between Warner Brothers and JK Rowling can be filled with shouting and tears, it is claimed, as bosses at the entertainment giant brand the author their biggest asset.

The British writer, who wrote all seven volumes of the famous wizard series that sold millions and inspired eight blockbuster films, wields an immense amount of control over the series’ future. She sold the rights to Warner Bros. early in her career – but with clauses that give her considerable clout over how Harry Potter is portrayed on-screen.

What Rowling calls ‘Ministry of Magic’ meetings with execs can became deeply emotional, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some of the twice-yearly conferences have reportedly resulted in tears and a ‘screaming match’, according to the paper. 

The Journal did not say who allegedly got upset, or why. Rowling is said to show exceptional concentration and focus during such meetings and does not look near her phone at all during them.

She also focuses on the smallest details of her empire, once allegedly asking why chocolate sold at the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando was not fair trade. She is said to have taken a dim view of Harry Potter mobile phone games, fearing youngsters would feel pressured into buying add-ons for them. 

Rowling is also said to have threatened to boycott Warner Bros. during tenser encounters with executives, who are currently planning to create a lavish TV series based on the Harry Potter novels. 

Nonetheless – the continued popularity of all things Harry Potter mean she’s considered the jewel in Warner’s entertainment crown and is reportedly referred to as an A+ asset.

The only other two stars in the same firmament are said to be Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg. But Rowling, 58, is seen as Warner Bros. key hope for future success, due to 93 year-old Eastwood’s age and Spielberg’s recent work with other studios.

Rowling is also said to have considered her legacy with her Warner Bros. contract, with a representative appointed on behalf of her estate likely to exert similar control over the Harry Potter universe when its author dies. 

Entertainment analysts credit her continued heavy involvement with the Harry Potter series as the reason for its continued prestige and popularity. 

They point to a glut of poorly-received Star Wars spin-offs made after George Lucas sold the series as evidence of what can happen when a creator sells-out and a once beloved franchise is spread too thinly. 

The self-made author – who Nasdaq reports is worth $1 billion – began writing the Harry Potter series during the early 1990s while she was a single mother living on welfare.

She has been credited with turning a generation of children onto reading, paying the top rate of tax in her native UK and for being exceptionally generous with charitable donations.

But in recent years Rowling has become a controversial figure over her views on transgender rights. She has said she believes that trans women should not have access to some female-only spaces or be able to compete against biological women in sports.

Rowling has also spoken out in support of others who’ve been canceled for sharing such views and spoken of her own sexual assault as evidence of why female-only spaces are so important. 

The controversy saw the stars of her movie franchise – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint – all distance themselves from her.

Rowling was notably absent from a 2022 Warner Bros. special commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film’s release.

That sparked speculation of a rupture with Warner Bros. top brass, but insiders insist nothing could be further from the truth.  

CEO David Zaslav flew to Edinburgh in Scotland to meet with Rowling on being appointed to the top job in April 2022.

He and his team hope to turn the Harry Potter books into a lavish TV series that could be the most expensive ever produced and create a whole new generation of viewers for the fantasy series.  

Zaslav attempted to bond with Rowling – few in the WB universe had her ear prior to his takeover – by discussing their childhoods and families in London as he attempts to ‘breathe new life’ into her beloved book series, according to WSJ. 

On an earnings call held Friday, the executive said Max is aiming to debut the new show in the first quarter of 2026, Variety reported.  It is rumored to have a budget of $250 million, making it the most expensive TV program ever made. 

The CEO confirmed on that call that he and a delegation of Warner execs had met with Rowling just weeks earlier. 

Rowling is known to be deeply protective of the franchise, notoriously holding biannual ‘Ministry of Magic’ meetings where she talks to executives – who spend weeks preparing ideas – about what the universe can and can’t do for the future. 

She was also granted veto over any ‘non-author written sequels’ to the series in film and TV that has likely slowed the upcoming series by several years. 

In interviews during the film series’ early days, she’d even publicly told CBS her disdain for action figures, eventually a huge part of the studio’s sales strategy. 

At the beginning of the films, Rowling had signed a deal that had give WB much more control but by the 2010s, she’d negotiated a larger cut from merchandise sales to an ‘understanding’ that she and her associates get a say on who manages the franchise for the studio. 

In recent years, she had become much more distant from the studio. The few who are close to her show-off by calling her Jo (Rowling’s first name is Joanne).

Rowling’s point person and one of her few remaining connections to Warners was Neil Blair, her primary business partner. He had helped write her first contract with the studio as one of WB’s lawyers.

Rowling gave the planned series nod of approval when the show was announced in April, saying: ‘Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me.’ 

It’s part of a continuing world of projects involving her wizards, which include theme parks across the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities and video games, with one based on the fictional game of Quidditch in development. 

Blair said in a statement that they ‘pride ourselves on delivering best-in-class work for fans of the Harry Potter franchise globally.’ 

‘We hope under the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery that this will continue together, with the same care and excellence which the franchise has been synonymous with for over twenty-five years.’

Zaslav said of the meetings: ‘We spent some real time with J.K. and her team.’ 

He predicted a world where people continued to enjoy the wizarding world of Harry Potter for generations. 

‘Both sides are just thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead. We can’t wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world on Max.’

– Reporting by Andrew Marchand, Nicole Auerbach, Stewart Mandel and Chris Vannini

The future of college football could get some much-needed clarity this week. At least that's the hope of many involved in planning the sport's long-awaited expanded postseason.

ESPN has reached an agreement with College Football Playoff representatives on a six-year, $7.8 billion extension to televise the event through 2031-2032. But the commissioners and presidents leading the CFP have not yet agreed on aspects of the format other than the 12-team model for the next two seasons, which will make for a crucial few days of meetings.

The agreement on terms negotiated by ESPN and the firm CAA Evolution, which represents the CFP, has been in place for months, but CFP leaders must still vote on the deal before it takes effect. The inability of these leaders to reach consensus on issues they hoped to settle before signing has been described as a “mess” by some executives involved.

Commissioners have said they view the Playoff for the 2026-2027 season as a clean slate, with no particular allegiance to the formats or decisions made over the past decade. But that approach means a lot needs to be sorted out, from automatic berths to revenue distribution, and outside observers are keen to see progress.

Meanwhile, ESPN executives are growing impatient and, as Puck business writer John Ourand first said, will consider withdrawing the offer if the CFP fails to take swift action.

The Board of Governors, the university presidents and chancellors who form the organization's highest governing body, will meet virtually on Tuesday. The commissioners (and Notre Dame leadership) who make up the CFP Management Committee will meet in person in Dallas on Wednesday. Can they reach a consensus on the details for 2026 and beyond that have held back progress so far? And if not, what happens?

“What is the alternative? No play-off?” said a source involved in the discussions. “That is not feasible. That would be a disaster.”

A possible alternative is what many student athletes feared when the SEC and Big Ten announced their new joint advisory group: an eventual breakaway from the richest and most powerful leagues in college athletics. Even if it serves only as an implied threat, it could give the two conferences significant leverage in negotiations that will determine the future of college athletics.

Those attending the two rallies this week are preparing for a battle that could be cutthroat and controversial.

“The corporate world does not have the same expectations of collegiality from colleagues as higher education does,” one person said.

And when it comes to the CFP negotiations, they clash.

---

It's been almost three years since a four-person subcommittee first proposed a 12-team model. It has been more than seventeen months since the CFP Board of Managers forced the commissioners back to the table and officially approved it. Yet few of the most consequential problems have been resolved, despite dozens of commissioners' meetings, mostly at hotels at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Those on the inside know how bad it looks to those on the outside.

“It's shameful,” said one commissioner. “It was embarrassing (how long it took) to get to 12.”

Major college athletics has undergone dramatic changes over the past three years, with Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, USC and UCLA moving to the Big Ten and the subsequent implosion of the Pac-12. There has also been significant turnover among the commissioners of the power conferences; only the SEC's Greg Sankey has been at the helm for more than three years. The Big Ten and Big 12 hired leaders with professional sports backgrounds.

Some commissioners in the room acknowledge that the mighty Big Ten and SEC have the power to chart a course forward, but they haven't mapped it out yet. Those commissioners also say they don't know exactly what the Big Ten and SEC are want to from the remaining debates. The hope is more clarity during the meetings Tuesday and Wednesday.

The implosion of the Pac-12 has accelerated the push to change the 12-team model to five conference champions and seven at-large berths for the next two seasons, from the original structure that included six of each. The board is expected to vote on the 5+7 plan during Tuesday's virtual meeting, according to three sources briefed on the process.

Washington State President Kirk Schulz, the Pac-12 representative and sole supporter at the board's most recent meeting, is expected to propose that WSU and Oregon State receive similar revenue and voting rights in 2026 and beyond are with those of Power 4 schools. It is unclear whether there is much support for this, especially since future revenue and governance plans have not been set for anyone.

Two sources involved in the approval process said they expect 5+7 to be the starting point of the format debate for 2026 and beyond, but acknowledged it may not be the final solution. Sankey has on numerous occasions imagined a world without automatic berths. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has proposed reconsidering bracket sizes that had previously been ignored, such as a 16-team field, people familiar with that discussion have told The Athletics.

As for revenue distribution, it's safe to assume that leagues will be rewarded both for the number of teams that make the field and the rate at which those teams advance, much like the payout model for the men's NCAA Tournament, a source reports on the distribution of income. discussions said. How much participation and wins are worth remains unresolved, as does the starting amount allocated to each competition. Currently, the Power 5 leagues split about 80 percent of CFP revenues, with each conference receiving about the same share regardless of postseason appearance or performance.

One source involved in the discussions said they expect the Big Ten and SEC will push for revenue shares larger than those of the Big 12 and ACC, creating further separation between the two groups. The differentiation could come in the form of a larger percentage of revenue for the Big Ten and SEC, per league or per school, the source said.

Then there's the matter of governance: Should the Big Ten and the SEC, which recently formed a joint advisory group to “take a leadership role in developing solutions for a sustainable future of college sports,” push for more autonomy and/or more control over the company? Decisions for 2026 and beyond will not require a unanimous vote as is the case now, because the current contract will not continue. And those two leagues could withhold support for the media deal until these issues are resolved to their liking.

---

ESPN has not yet set a deadline for the CFP to ratify its deal, but a source with knowledge of ESPN's thinking said: “It won't wait forever.”

The current contract between the CFP and ESPN averages $609 million per year but is escalating over time. That's why ESPN views the new terms as a 28 percent increase, according to executives briefed on their discussions. The network is currently on the hook to pay approximately $800 million for each of the final two seasons of the original contract, and is valuing the four new first-round matchups at a total of $100 million, bringing the spend to approximately $900 million amounts for each of the seasons. next two years. If the new terms are ratified, the average payout over the life of the six-year contract will be $1.3 billion per season through 2031-2032, with annual payment numbers increasing over the life of the contract.

ESPN also has the option to sublicense five CFP games per season, according to officials briefed on the terms of the agreement. At its sole discretion, ESPN may look at the market and decide whether to allow other networks to enter for a fee at any time through 2032.

Although ESPN has finalized an agreement on terms, in the wake of multiple reports of the deal last week, some rival networks were told by factions within the CFP leadership that they could submit new bids, according to officials with knowledge of the discussions. But companies like Fox, NBC and CBS have not made any known offers. ESPN is still considered the clear frontrunner.

Fox and NBC, the two most likely networks to emerge as alternate destinations, have so far found that the price of the potential CFP will not overshoot, especially given the uncertainties surrounding the format. In the wake of ESPN, Fox Sports and Warner Brothers Discovery's “Skinny Bundle” partnership — in which the brands will offer their services directly to consumers for an estimated $40-$50 per month — NBC could potentially reassess an offer, but it would be quite a gamble for CFP to wait and see if NBC suddenly becomes interested, especially when the network would likely only compete for half a package at best.

The CFP is part of ESPN's five-year plan that includes an upcoming new bid for NBA rights, hopes to continue its relationship with UFC and an interest in solving the regional sports network crisis affecting Major League Baseball, the NBA and meets the NHL. The $1.3 billion per year expenditure ahead of the CFP is not the amount Disney CEO Bob Iger and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro can find between the seat cushions of a Space Mountain ride.

ESPN has already secured CFP rights and is eager to retain its full panoply of college football events as it launches its new venture with Fox Sports and WBD Sports this fall and ahead of its own standalone direct-to-consumer launch in 2025. The network recently relaunched became home to the Division I women's basketball tournament and most other NCAA championships for $920 million over eight years, giving it potential control of the postseason for all college sports except the Division I men's basketball tournament. , owned by CBS and WBD Sports. If ESPN were to relinquish the CFP, ESPN would still retain its foothold on long-term SEC and ACC exclusivity, Big 12 rights and, for the next two seasons, at least a majority of the CFP.

It is against this media backdrop that CFP leaders will meet this week, tasked with cleaning up the “mess” and finding a path to alignment to raise the billions Iger and Pitaro have on the table.

“We are 10 months away from the start of the expanded Playoff,” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said The Athletics. “There's a lot to do. You don't flip a switch. The clock is ticking.”

(Top photo: Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The widow of dead Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny met EU chiefs in Brussels today hours after releasing a video in which she blamed Vladimir Putin for her husband’s death in prison and accused the Kremlin of hiding his body.

Yulia Navalnaya addressed foreign ministers from the EU’s 27 nations in Brussels after vowing to carry on her husband’s fight against the Russian president’s vicelike grip on Russia.

European diplomats said that she reiterated her determination to keep up the struggle and called on the bloc to do more to target Putin’s circle – drawing a standing ovation from the room.

She also warned against striking any deals with the Russian leader or hoping that he would change, they said.

Hours earlier, Navalnaya had posted a striking video message on X in which she called on her husband’s supporters to keep fighting against the Kremlin’s oppression to construct a ‘peaceful, happy, beautiful Russia that Alexei envisioned’.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X: ‘We expressed the EU’s deepest condolences to Yulia Navalnaya. Vladimir Putin and his regime will be held accountable for the death of Alexei Navalny.

‘As Yulia said, Putin is not Russia. Russia is not Putin. We will continue our support to Russia’s civil society and independent media.’

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Putin, who was seen smirking as he held a meeting at the Kremlin with Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea. 

Earlier today in a heartfelt video message Navalnya, 47, said: ‘Vladimir Putin killed my husband.’

Holding back tears, she pledged to carry on her husband’s work and fight for a free Russia with the help of its citizens.

‘I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia,’ she said the video message entitled ‘I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny’.

Navalnaya accused the Russian authorities of hiding Navalny’s body and of waiting for traces of the Novichok nerve agent to disappear from his body.

‘Three days ago, Vladimir Putin killed my husband Alexei Navalny. Putin killed the father of my children.

‘Putin took away the most precious I had in my life – my most dear and the most loved man.

‘But Putin also took Navalny away from you, somewhere in a [penal] colony in the Far North, beyond the Arctic Circle, in eternal winter.

‘Putin didn’t just kill a man called Alexei Navalny. Together with him, Putin wanted to kill our hopes, our freedom, our future. To destroy and nullify it.

‘The best evidence that Russia can be different, that we are strong, brave, that we believe and desperately fight and want to live differently.’

‘By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me – half of my heart and half of my soul,’ Navalnaya said.

‘But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up. I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny, continue to fight for our country.’

‘I urge you to stand next to me,’ she said. ‘I ask you to share the rage with me. Rage, anger, hatred towards those who dared to kill our future.’

‘I address you with the words of Alexei, which I strongly believe: ‘There’s no shame in doing a little. There is shame in doing nothing. There is shame in allowing yourself to be intimidated.’

‘Russia – the free, peaceful, happy, beautiful Russia of the future about which my husband dreamed… I want to live in that Russia. I want mine and Alexei’s children to live in that Russia.

‘I want to build that with you, that which Alexei Navalny set forth. It is only this way – and there is no other way – that the senseless death he suffered will not be in vain.

‘Fight, and don’t give up. I am not afraid – and you will not fear anything.’

Navalny’s allies say they know why her husband was killed and would soon reveal the details, including the names of the people involved in his murder. The Kremlin has denied involvement in his death. 

Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, has been unable to recover his body since his death on Friday. 

A close legal aide to the dissident, Kira Yarmysh, said Lyudmila, who was today seen at a regional office of Russia’s Investigative Committee, was told by authorities that his body would only be handed over following a full post-mortem examination. 

The prison service has been accused of delaying the return of his body.  

She was reportedly told that an initial post-mortem was inconclusive, and that a second one needed to be undertaken.

And today, Russian investigators told his family they will not hand over Navalny’s body to his relatives for 14 days ‘until a chemical examination is completed,’ said Ivan Zhdanov, head of the dead politician’s anti-corruption campaign. 

Lyudmila was initially told that his body had been taken to the town of Salekhard, near the penal colony he was being held in, but when she arrived the morgue was closed. 

Last night, CCTV footage that is believed to have shown a midnight motorcade made up of prison vehicles and two highway patrol cars that took Navalny’s corpse from the Polar Wolf prison was leaked. 

In the security footage of the midnight motorcade, the Soviet-designed Federal Penitentiary Service van believed to be carrying Navalny is clearly seen flanked by an unmarked car and several police vehicles.

The drive from the Polar Wolf jail in Kharp went first to Labytnangi, and then crossed the frozen Ob, the world’s seventh longest river, to Salekhard, according to independent news outlet Mediazona which obtained the footage of the macabre journey.

The journey across the thick ice may have ended at a hospital morgue, where paramedics revealed Navalny’s body was covered in bruises, according to another news outlet, Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Russia’s prison service announced Navalny’s death on Friday.

It was most recently reported that Navalny died of ‘sudden death syndrome’, but no details were given to back this claim up.

Just two minutes after the time Navalny was reported to have died – 2.17pm – Russia’s prison service put out a statement revealing his passing.

Four minutes after this, a Telegram channel controlled by the Kremlin claimed he had died of a blood clot, and just seven minutes later Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, was talking to the media about it.

Since reports of his death were published, his family and allies have accused the Kremlin of deliberately hiding his body. 

Independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe yesterday reported that Navalny’s body shows signs of bruising that were caused by being held down while he suffered a seizure. 

The news outlet spoke to a paramedic in the Salekhard ambulance service, close to the IK-3 penal colony, also known as ‘Polar Wolf’, in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, where Navalny was being held.

Paramedics found bruises on Navalny’s body, which is now under police guard in a morgue at Salekhard district clinical hospital, according to the independent news outlet.

‘Usually the bodies of people who die in prison are taken straight to the Bureau of Forensic Medicine on Glazkova Street, but in this case it was taken to the clinical hospital for some reason,’ the anonymous paramedic told the outlet.

‘As an experienced paramedic, I can say that the injuries described by those who saw them appeared to be from convulsions.

‘If a person is convulsing and others try to hold him down but the convulsions are very strong, then bruising appears. They also said he had a bruise on his chest — the kind that comes from indirect cardiac massage. 

‘So they did try to resuscitate him, and he probably died of cardiac arrest,’ the paramedic said, adding: ‘But nobody is saying anything about why he had a cardiac arrest.’ 

Yesterday, the British and American ambassadors to Russia laid flowers at a memorial to Navalny set up in Moscow, as hundreds of Russian citizens have been arrested for paying tribute to the dead dissident. 

US ambassador Lynne Tracy and Britain’s Nigel Casey both paid their respects to Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone monument in Moscow, which was created to pay tribute to the victims of political repression. 

The stone is made with a large boulder from the Solovetsky islands, where the first camp of the Gulag political prison system was established, and can be found near the historical the Federal Security Service building in Moscow. 

Hopes for a reconciliation between Prince Harry and the royal family are growing as experts warn him to stay in Britain and keep his meetings with the king private.

Harry flew 5,000 miles from California yesterday to see his father 45 minutes after the King's shock diagnosis.

But while Harry's transatlantic jaunt raised hopes that he would continue to heal wounds with his family, there has been no “any sign” of a reunion between the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William.

Royal expert Phil Dampier gave MailOnline his opinion on the prospect of Harry and Charles meeting again.

He said: 'I don't think anyone knows at the moment, not even themselves. It's a first step – it's a kind of ice-breaker meeting – Harry would like to know how the king is doing – and go from there.

“I think the most important thing is that when he returns to California, none of this conversation with the King becomes public.

'The trust will be gone if he starts leaking things. If nothing has leaked after a few weeks, confidence returns.

“I would say the jury is out. This is his last chance to regain some confidence.'

He added: “If anything leaks out we will be back to square one and that will destroy any chances of a reconciliation with William.

“I don't think he wants to forgive him right now.”

Meanwhile, BBC Royal correspondent Daniela Relph said the chances of a reconciliation between William and Harry remain unlikely given their ongoing feud.

“It's a brother-sister relationship that still looks incredibly fractured. We do not know if either side contacted in any way, if any attempts were made to reach a truce. As things stand now, there seems to be nothing to indicate that,” she told Radio 4.

'You have to read that as a sign of the state of their relationship, there is nothing in the diary that they have to meet while Harry is in Britain.

“It also means that Harry will not visit his sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, who has been ill, someone he was once close to.”

Harry is unlikely to visit his brother's wife Kate as she recovers at home with her husband and three children – George, Charlotte and Louis – who recently underwent abdominal surgery.

Speaking about Harry's meeting with Charles, Mrs Relph said: 'This is a father and son who have seen very little of each other over the last four years.

'The relationship has been incredibly tense and complicated.

'It mattered that Harry was here, it mattered that the King wanted to see him.

'Very different when it comes to his brother the Prince of Wales, Harry and William will not see each other.'

The Duke of Sussex was one of the first family members to visit Charles after his shock diagnosis was made public.

According to The Telegraph, a new visit from Harry to his father has not been ruled out, but it is clear that the duke will not visit his older brother during his stay in London.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman told Radio 4 it was common for feuding families to 'come together' in difficult times.

Mr Hardman said: 'In times of crisis, families do come together and I think everyone will be happy to see that.

'I think there is a bit of a business as usual feeling and that is very much a message that the palace is trying to get across, but if we see a number of bridges being built along the way then that must be a good sign.' thing.'

Did Charles delay his flight back to Sandringham from Buckingham Palace yesterday so he could spend a few precious minutes with his youngest son?

The royal helicopter that picked up the king and queen circled Surrey for almost 13 minutes before arriving at Buckingham Palace.

Flight Tracker data shows that the mauve-coloured Sikorsky S-76C of The King's Helicopter Flight flew two laps around Surrey before entering central London.

Harry was seen leaving Clarence House at 3.31pm after spending just over 45 minutes with his father following the revelation on Monday that the King was battling cancer.

Charles, who had been in London for treatment, left Clarence House just seven minutes later with Camilla at 3.38pm to board the helicopter in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, suggesting their bags were already packed.

Royal historian Kelly Swaby told Radio 4 that a health crisis like Charles's is “always an opportunity for a truce” after a family dispute.

“The reaction that the Royal Family is showing at this moment, I think, would be the same in every family across the country. A health scare – major health news is always an opportunity for a truce or a reappraisal of a situation in one's personal life, so I think we should take Prince Harry's return to Britain as a sign that there may be a temporary truce' , she said.

“A son returns to visit his father, who has just received terrible news.”

However, biographer Ingrid Seward told GB News that Harry's return to London is 'not helpful' and will cause 'problems'.

'My first reaction is: how useless is that? That's not very nice of me. I just thought you really don't need someone getting into this mix at this somewhat tense moment, which is going to cause more problems than they can solve,” she said.

'Of course Harry wants to see his father and he has had no arguments with his father, despite what he has said about the Queen. Charles has remained very calm about it.

'But the royal family don't like to be confronted with these emotional problems and I think Harry will come here, he will be very nice to everyone, everyone will be very nice to him, and then they will just hope that he comes back nice again. soon.'

King Charles will carry on with his Royal duties while being treated for cancer by reviewing paperwork, signing documents and holding private meetings – but some may take place via Zoom calls. 

Charles, 75, received a shock cancer diagnosis just 17 months into his reign as King while undergoing his recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement. 

The monarch apologised for the decision to postpone his forthcoming public duties but will continue with his constitutional roles in private. 

Royal biographer Robert Hardman told Radio 4 the King’s roles will reflect those of the royal family during Covid, which saw more meetings take place via FaceTime and Zoom calls. 

He said: ‘Of course we can’t see the King out and about. I think his doctors, his family don’t want him going into rooms full of hundreds of people [with] germs that may or may not be there. 

‘They’ll want to keep things very much hermetically sealed in a sense but that doesn’t stop you doing things.’ 

Mr Hardman said meetings will be increasingly ‘Zoomed’ in order for the King to continue with ‘business as usual’ from the comfort of his private spaces. 

‘At the moment we’re seeing a fairly upbeat approach I think, it’s a case of business as usual as much as it can be business as usual,’ he said. 

Mr Hardman explained there will be moments when King Charles’ absence will be noted – possibly on Commonwealth Day in March – but the ‘day to day running of monarchy will not really change’. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was ‘shocked and sad’ by the King’s cancer diagnosis but will maintain ‘regular contact’ with Charles. 

‘Thankfully this has been caught early and now we’re wishing that he […] gets the treatment that he needs and makes a fully recovery and that’s what we’re all hoping and praying for,’ the Prime Minister said. 

‘I’m of course in regular contact with him and we’ll continue to communicate with him as normal.’

Charles’ ‘behind the scenes’ work is set to continue, meaning he will keep up with paperwork, signing documents and private meetings with Mr Sunak. 

If unable to complete his constitutional roles a mechanism will come into play, meaning other senior members of the royal family will act on the King’s behalf. These people include Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne – excluding Prince Harry and Prince Andrew who are not working members of the royal family. 

However, some have hoped the King’s diagnosis will ignite a reconciliation between Charles and his youngest son Prince Harry, who flew to London to visit his father from his California home. 

Mr Hardman said: ‘In times of crises families do come together, and I think everyone will be happy to see that. 

‘I think there is a sort of sense of business as usual going on and that’s very much a message that the palace is trying to put out, but if along the way we can see some bridges being built, then that’s got to be a good thing.’

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Hardman noted the differences between the King and the late Queen Elizabeth, saying: ‘I think it was always going to be his approach to the job. If you think back to 1952 we didn’t hear the Queen say anything for 10 and a half months.

‘With Charles, he had gone running around the country talking to people. He is comfortable with a greater degree of transparency.

‘He ploughs into crowds – he is of his generation. He is more comfortable with talking about this than the generations before him.’ 

Former Royal’s Communications Secretary Julian Payne said the King will likely be ‘deeply frustrated’ by the limitations forced upon him by his diagnosis. 

‘I think from a personal perspective, he will be deeply frustrated. His work schedule is punishing and he really enjoys being out and meeting people and having the chance to speak up on causes that he cares about on representing the nation,’ he said. 

‘He will find that difficult. The reality of course is the machinery of state continues, the red boxes will come, the meetings with the PM will happen and the Privy Counsellors.

‘That side of things will continue but he will be itching to get back to things as quickly as he can.’ 

He added: ‘He’ll be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back out as quickly as he can.’ 

The monarch apologised after the decision was taken to postpone his forthcoming public duties after his cancer diagnosis.

It means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family.

The annual Maundy Thursday Service and Easter engagements, including the Sunday service with other royal relatives, could also be out of the question for the monarch.

The King and Queen were expected to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October.

Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the King’s return to full public duties.

His cancer diagnosis raises the prospect of the high-profile overseas visits – his first to the countries as King – being postponed.

No forthcoming state visits have officially been confirmed by the Palace.

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

The palace said the Queen will continue with a full programme of public duties.

Other working members of the royal family could undertake additional duties on behalf of the King but it is understood planning for future state visits will continue where possible.

The Prince of Wales could take on some of the King’s work as he is expected to return to public duties on Wednesday after the Princess of Wales’ major abdominal surgery last month.

It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through.

It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with the Prime Minister should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact.

The King has already started a schedule of regular treatments and is said to be receiving expert medical care from a specialist team, but has been advised to postpone his public-facing duties. The Palace declined to confirm the type of cancer.

Charles will carry on working behind the scenes on his red boxes – his state business and official papers, and returned from Sandringham to London on Monday to commence treatment as an out-patient.

He remains at home, most likely in Clarence House, his favoured residence in the capital.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

‘His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

‘Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

‘The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.

‘He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

‘His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.’

It is understood there are no current plans to appoint Counsellors of State – members of the royal family who step in when a monarch cannot fulfil their duties.

The King has rearranged or postponed any forthcoming public engagements, but it is understood to be too early to say when Charles will return to full public duties, although he is said to be looking forward to doing so as soon as possible.

A Palace spokesman added: ‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

The Palace has called for the King’s privacy to be respected, especially during his treatment, but said the monarch wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities.

The spokesman said: ‘No further details are being shared at this stage, except to confirm that His Majesty does not have prostate cancer.’

He added: ‘The King has elected to make his diagnosis public once the schedule of treatment had begun, noting that as Prince of Wales he was patron of a number of cancer-related charities.

‘In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them.’

Charles, 75, was discharged from the London Clinic a week ago after undergoing treatment on an enlarged prostate.

The shock news is the latest health scare to hit the royal family at the start of 2024, coming after the King’s hospital stay, Kate’s major abdominal surgery and Sarah, Duchess of York’s diagnosis of skin cancer.

Buckingham Palace announced on January 16 that the King was to have treatment for an enlarged prostate, but that the condition was benign.

The Palace announced the King’s cancer diagnosis at 6pm on Monday.

Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was last seen on Sunday when he attended church in Sandringham, but looked cheery as he walked along and waved at well-wishers.

Chirag Paswan, who met Amit Shah and Nadda at the latter's official residence in the national capital on Saturday, said the “situation is very positive with regard to the alliance.”

Political unrest in Bihar: The BJP, RJD and the JD(U) held separate meetings while Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi amid the ongoing political crisis in Bihar continues to unfold with CM. Nitish Kumar is keeping both allies and opponents guessing about his next move.

Paswan, who met Amit Shah and Nadda at the latter's official residence in the national capital on Saturday, said the “situation is very positive with regard to the alliance.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Paswan said more clarity would emerge on the prevailing political crisis in Bihar in the coming days.

#WATCH | Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda at the Union Home Minister's residence in Delhi#BiharPolitics pic.twitter.com/KoHlDupd12

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

“It was important to know what is currently happening in Bihar. I met Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji today over the issue and expressed my concerns. They have given guarantees and the situation is very positive regarding the alliance. In the coming days, the situation will become clearer, and then our party will take a stand. We are part of the NDA today,” the LJP chief said.

BJP, RJD and JD(U) are holding separate meetings

Meanwhile, all three parties, the BJP, RJD and the JD(U), which are stakeholders in the current political scenario in the state, held separate meetings on Saturday, presumably to discuss their options.

A core committee meeting of the BJP is underway in Patna, which is being attended by Bihar Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, BJP MP and former deputy Bihar CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Union Minister Nityanand Rai, BJP Bihar President Samrat Chaudhary,

Mahagathbandhan allies Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Janata Dal (United) also held separate rallies.

Earlier today, former JD(U) chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh arrived at party supremo and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's house in Patna, while RJD leaders also held a meeting at Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav's residence.

According to reports, RJD leaders Vijay Kumar Mandal, Lalit Kumar Yadav, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Bihar Law Minister Shamim Ahmad and Binod Jaiswal visited Tejashwi's official residence in Patna.

'INDIA is on the verge of breaking'

Commenting on the current scenario, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi blamed the Congress's “stubborn attitude” for the situation and stated that the INDIA bloc is on the verge of disintegration due to its “irresponsible behaviour”. of the old party.

Political crisis in Bihar

Speculations are rife in Bihar's political circles about Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal (United) returning to the BJP-led NDA as the Bihar CM's ties with the INDIA block partners deteriorate.

Sources in both the BJP and the JD(U) suggested such a possibility, but it remained unclear whether Kumar, the undisputed leader of his party, has struck a deal with the top brass of the BJP, news agency PTI reported.

Nitish Kumar broke ties with the BJP in 2022 and the saffron party has since maintained that its doors were permanently closed to Bihar's longest-serving chief minister. Of late, however, BJP leaders have shown a more conciliatory attitude towards Kumar even as internal conflicts in the INDIA bloc continue to rise as the general elections draw closer.

(With input from agencies)

A sprawling rural Scottish farmhouse on the estate where D-Day was planned has been put up for sale for bids in excess of £330,000.

Dankeith Farmhouse, in Symington, Kilmarnock, South Ayrshire, has been owned by the same family for 54 years and is now on the market.

The 19th century C-listed building was originally two cottages and, along with Dankeith House, formed part of the Dankeith Estate.

RAF covert operations were planned at Dankeith House, including D-Day.

After the war it was sold to the Catholic Church and priests played badminton on the farm.

It has four bedrooms and a paddock for horses, as well as a kitchen garden and flower beds, as well as almost 5.5 hectares of land.

Only the kitchen is double glazed and the house is sold with all curtains and shutters.

The traditional courtyard houses a former dairy farm, stables, a workshop and a ‘party barn’.

It is heated with open fires and oil central heating, and only the kitchen is double glazed.

It is being sold by Galbraith for bids in excess of £330,000.

A spokesperson for Galbraith said: ‘Dankeith Farmhouse is an impressive early 19th century C-listed property with a pasture and approximately 5.34 acres of land.

‘This classical courtyard has a farmhouse on the north side with a distinctive tall, gabled bell tower.

‘The traditional courtyard also houses the former dairy farm, stables, workshop, ‘party barn’ and numerous separate storage areas.

‘During WWII, Dankeith House, adjacent to Dankeith Farmhouse, was used by the RAF and held secret planning meetings for D-Day and other Allied operations.

In 1948, Dankeith House was taken over by Roman Catholic priests and used as a retreat.

“Dankeith Farmhouse was originally two cottages and the priests used the washroom and played badminton in the badminton house on the site.”

A group of relatives of people killed on September 11 issued scathing criticism of the planned merger between the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf series and the PGA Tour.

Relatives of the victims of 9/11 have spoken out against the Saudi-backed LIV series almost from the start. Most of the hijackers of the planes used in the 2001 attacks were Saudis. The 9/11 families saved some of their harshest critiques for those who participated in LIV events and hosted the tournaments. The latter group includes former President Donald J. Trump and his family, who were urged last year to cancel an event at a Trump golf course in New Jersey.

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