Finally, the world can stop speculating and coming up with countless fantastic conspiracy theories or tasteless ‘jokes’ about what happened to Kate Middleton.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who were embarrassed when the news broke of her cancer diagnosis on Friday. But the one person I think of in all of this, the one person my heart goes out to in every way, is Prince William.

This poor man.

From his parents’ divorce when he was just ten years old, to their subsequent divorce, quickly followed by the untimely death of his adoring, adored mother, we have witnessed time and time again how life threw hardships at him.

In recent years he has dealt with increasing disagreements with his only sibling Harry and sister-in-law Meghan, his father’s cancer, and now this – an unexpected and tragic burden on top of everything else.

The distance from Harry is undoubtedly felt particularly keenly.

After all, he’s the only person who fully understands what this is like. The only person to have endured both divorce and the death of a parent, in such a devastating public setting, is irreconcilably estranged.

There were certainly too many stones thrown, too much pain and too many injuries for Harry to provide any comfort or strength to William.

William who now carries the weight of the crown as his 75-year-old father undergoes his own treatment for cancer; William must support his young family like never before.

As someone who has danced with cancer myself, I know how overwhelming it is for your partner. My husband was terrified when I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2014, much more terrified, he later told me, than I seemed.

Our children were 14, 13 and the twins were 11. While everyone gathered around me, few thought to contact my husband.

He stepped in to care for the children, driving them back and forth, making sure their lives continued to progress normally, all the while worrying about what might happen to me.

When friends called him, they asked about me, and like William, he bore much of the burden alone, putting on a brave face, knowing he had to be strong for all of us.

We now know that the prince pulled out of his godfather King Constantine’s memorial service at 11am last month because he had just heard of Kate’s cancer. Two days later he was back at work and showed tremendous courage and devotion to duty.

We will hear endless speculation about Kate in the coming days, but few think about the partners and everything they have to go through when their loved one is struck by a serious illness.

William’s pain is even deeper right now considering his three young children: George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, just 5.

They are not much younger than William was when his mother died, and that trauma and grief, the specific fear of losing a mother, is undoubtedly something he will bend heaven and earth to protect them.

We don’t have a prognosis for Kate. She says that she is receiving preventive chemotherapy, that she feels ‘good’ and is ‘getting stronger every day’. We are all thinking of her and praying.

But illness is a great equalizer.

No matter how much help the Waleses have, how many nannies or nurses there are, William must now be a steadfast force for his children and wife.

And while Kate may need space to break down, to lie awake at night with fear dancing around her head, William will feel like he needs to be a rock, as all partners must do when their loved ones are so seriously affected are.

This is as much William’s struggle as it is Kate’s, but he, as stoic and kind in public as his mother always was, will now be under pressure to keep that mask on at home too.

No matter how scared he is, he can’t show it.

He has to keep smiling for the children and reassure them that mommy will be fine.

Children are remarkably observant: if he lets his fears surface, they will notice them, so he must keep it all deeply hidden while surrounding them with the safety, security, and love they need right now.

He is not only a husband, a father and a prince; his main role at this time is caregiver.

Whatever your life revolved around – family, work, charities, royal garden parties – everything stops when hospitals and doctors take over your daily life.

Considering everything William has been through in his life, we can only hope that he has trusted friends and loved ones to care for him as well.

They need to let him know that no matter how stoic he has to be for Kate and their children, he needs to know that he can crack, to let out that scared fifteen-year-old boy who just lost his mother.

A MAKEUP lover shared a dupe that put her off expensive luxury foundation for life.

Once she discovered the money-saving alternative to the drugstore, she could never afford $70 again.

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Laurens (@lolo.lehnen) revealed the beauty dupe in a TikTok video.

She explained to viewers that her favorite drugstore products were not only affordable at under $20, but were also a “need.”

During a trip to the drugstore, she bought the $16 Covergirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfection Essence foundation.

“I will never spend my money on Chanel again. Since I started this foundation, I can’t stop using it,” she admitted.

She found the Covergirl base worked well as an alternative to Chanel’s $70 Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint.

The hybrid skincare and makeup formula has an essence that promises improved skin tone and fewer dark spots.

Those looking for a foundation with intense coverage may want to pass up, as the Covergirl promises a radiant “bare-skin” filter effect.

In addition to the light coverage, Covergirl says the serum foundation hydrates the skin for up to 24 hours.

Large numbers of shoppers agreed with Lauren’s assessment and gave the product glowing five-star reviews.

“I bought this to fit my 43 year old skin. It feels great and hydrating, and gives a pop of color and blur,” wrote one reviewer.

“I’ve been really struggling to figure out what kind of makeup works on my aging skin and this finally stopped me feeling hopeless!”

Others were impressed with the foundation’s formulation and shade range.

“Perfect color match and it fit really great,” wrote another satisfied customer.

“Apply 9 hours after the first application and my complexion still looks hydrated and smooth. I love this stuff!”

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The King is determined to attend this year’s Trooping the Colour, his official birthday celebrations, if his health allows it.

Aides are already exploring ways that Charles might be able to take part within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment.

This could include watching the military spectacular from a podium instead of on horseback as usual, having been driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage as his late mother used to.

No firm decision will be taken until nearer the time, given the nature of His Majesty’s condition, and it will be dependant on medical advice.

The event is due to be held in London on Saturday, June 15. But the Mail understands that planning for the occasion is moving ahead as scheduled, giving cause for optimism.

‘There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this is at the top of the list,’ a source said.

Dating from the 17th century, Trooping the Colour is one the biggest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians plus more than 200 horses.

Usually the monarch rides down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via The Mall to inspect the troops.

The sovereign then rides back to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider Royal Family and flypast by the RAF.

As it stands, His Majesty has been advised by doctors not to attend events with large public gatherings after being diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in January.

He is currently undergoing outpatient treatment in London although he is continuing to work hard behind the scenes on state matters and makes a point of being seen in public or on camera whenever possible.

Two weeks ago there was widespread confusion after tickets for Trooping the Colour were put on sale by the Ministry of Defence advertising the presence of the King.

Buckingham Palace said planning was under way but nothing could be confirmed. 

However the Mail understands that things have moved on somewhat and staff are now exploring various options to ensure that Charles can attend as long as he ‘gets the nod’ from his team.

He would be keen to ride his horse, a black mare called Noble which was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

But the King could watch the event from a static position, which would be considered good news by well-wishers. His mother the late Queen attended the event in a carriage after 1987.

There has been no official confirmation of whether or not the Princess of Wales will be well enough to attend.

She had been due not only to attend the ceremony but also to conduct her own review of troops on June 8 in her role as Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards whose ‘colour’ – or regimental flag – is being presented to the King. 

However the Ministry of Defence was forced to take down a web page advertising her presence after Kensington Palace insisted that it was premature.

A spokesman said only that they would announce when Kate would return to work following her lengthy recuperation from abdominal surgery in January.

At the moment the princess is still expected to return to public duties after the Easter holidays, mostly likely following her children’s return to school in mid-April, dependent on medical advice at the time.

Royal aides have always said that it will be up to the princess if she wishes to make public more details about her health, which she may do in the context of a public engagement.

Sources say that there is no pressure or hurry on her to do so and her focus remains on ‘what is important’ – her recovery and her three children.

King Harald V of Norway will receive a permanent pacemaker implant this morning, the palace has revealed.

The 87-year-old is being treated at Rikshospitalet hospital and is expected to stay there for “a few days.”

The implant will ensure that Harald’s heart beats regularly and will replace the temporary pacemaker he received last weekend.

Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch, was hospitalized due to an infection during a private trip to the holiday island of Langkawi in Malaysia.

After medical treatment in Langkawi, Harald returned to Oslo last week to be fitted with the permanent medical device.

In a brief statement, the palace said: “His Majesty the King will have a permanent pacemaker implanted this morning.

‘The procedure will take place at Rikshospitalet hospital. After this, His Majesty will remain in hospital for a few more days.”

Despite Harald’s health problems, the royal family has maintained an active approach with public involvement, and yesterday Queen Sonja and Princess Ingrid-Alexander attended a cross-country skiing event in Holmenkollen.

It comes after King Harald of Norway thanked well-wishers for support as he revealed he is undergoing ‘expert’ treatment for his ‘challenging’ health condition.

The 87-year-old, along with his wife, Queen Sonja, 86, issued a joint statement via Instagram last week when he received medical care in Oslo.

The monarch has received support from close family, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 50, and her daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, who visited the monarch at the Rikshospital.

“We feel a great need to thank you for all the care, help and support during the King’s illness during our holiday in Malaysia,” the couple said in their statement.

The royal couple thanked not only the Norwegian public for their ‘support’, but also the Malaysian authorities and staff who assisted them during their stay.

The statement read: ‘We feel a great need to thank you for all the care, help and support during the King’s illness during our holiday in Malaysia.

“We have felt the heat from the Norwegian people at this moment. The great effort has moved and strengthened us. We thank everyone for the concern you have shown us within the family.

‘Back home in Norway, we would also like to thank the Malaysian authorities and the staff at Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi.

‘Together with the Norwegian health staff, they have done everything they can to ensure that the king recovers well from his illness and is ready for his return home.

“We are very grateful to the Norwegian government, the armed forces and others who helped make our journey home so safe and smooth. Kongen is now being treated expertly at the Rikshospitalet.’

They concluded: ‘We thank everyone who provided us with care, practical assistance and medical assistance in a challenging situation.’

King Harald, Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991, is Europe’s oldest living monarch. He has been hospitalized several times in recent years with infections and has undergone heart surgery.

He suffered a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he could step down, following the lead of Denmark’s distant cousin Queen Margrethe II.

Two days before Harald’s 87th birthday last week, the palace announced that the king would take a private trip abroad, without specifying the destination or dates, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he was “sad” when he heard of the king’s hospitalization and wished him a “speedy recovery,” according to NTB.

Despite Harald’s precarious physical condition, the royal family is confident he wants to continue ruling as Norway’s reigning monarch.

Last month, the royal family confirmed he has no plans to step down following speculation he could follow in the footsteps of his former Danish counterpart, Queen Margrethe.

The monarch, the great-nephew of King Charles III, emphasized that the promise he made to the Norwegian parliament when he came to the throne in 1991 is “valid for life.”

King Harald told Faktisk.no: “I stand by what I have said all along. I made an oath to the Storting, and it is valid for life.’

It comes after Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 83, abdicated after 52 years on the throne, making way for her son Frederik to take over on January 14.

Afterwards, a royal expert had suggested that the Danish monarch had broken an “invisible pact” between heads of state in the Scandinavian countries that no one would step down from the throne.

Roger Lundberg told STV that after Denmark’s transition, there is a chance that King Harald of Norway and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, will follow suit and step down to let their eldest children take over the throne.

However, this was firmly rejected by King Harald.

The Norwegian king was 53 when he came to the throne in 1991, after the death of his father, King Olav. Previously, he served as Crown Prince Regent due to his father’s illness, which escalated in the spring of 1990.

King Harald has faced some health issues himself in recent years and spent time in hospital last May treating an infection, but he clearly has no intention of abdicating.

His Scandinavian neighbor, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, made the shocking announcement during her New Year’s Eve speech that she would give up the throne.

The Danish royal family has suffered several scandals in the past two years, including the queen’s surprise decision to strip her grandchildren of their princely titles.

There were also rumors of an ‘affair’ after the then Crown Prince Frederik was spotted in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.

But Denmark isn’t the only monarchy in the Nordic countries to have had a bumpy few years, with the Norwegian royal family experiencing its own ‘Megxit’.

King Harald and Queen Sonja’s only daughter, Princess Martha Louise, who was fourth in line to the throne, stepped down as working royals in 2019.

In 2022, it was announced that the mother of three would no longer represent the royal household in any form following her engagement to an American shamanic healer who had been criticized for his controversial views.

King Harald said Martha would not be allowed to use her royal title in future commercial partnerships with her partner Durek Verrett, 47.

Shortly after the mother of three announced her engagement to Verrett, a Norwegian publisher dropped his book “Spirit Hacking” due to pseudoscientific claims, including “children can get cancer if they are unhappy.”

Among his other claims, Verrett says he once rose from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by “burning” his soul, and has also spoken about needing a kidney transplant from his sister as a child undergo.

After Martha Louise’s decision to abdicate, King Harald emphasized that his daughter remained a princess at his request. He said, ‘She is our daughter, and she will remain so. So she is Princess Märtha Louise.’

The princess was previously married to Ari Behn, whom she married in 2002 and had three children together: Maud Angelica, 19, Leah Isadora, 17, and Emma Tallulah, 14. They split in 2016 and Ari made a date on Christmas Day end his life. 2019.

Crown Prince Haakon, Martha-Louise’s older brother, is Norway’s heir apparent – and the future king has already gotten a taste of what it will be like to ascend the throne after taking his father’s place several times in recent years .

King Harald of Norway has thanked everyone for their support as he revealed he is undergoing ‘expert’ treatment for his ‘challenging’ health condition.

The 87-year-old, along with his wife, Queen Sonja, 86, issued a joint statement via Instagram yesterday as he continues to receive medical care in Oslo.

Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch, was hospitalized due to an infection during a private trip to the holiday island of Langkawi in Malaysia.

On Saturday he received a temporary pacemaker.

He has since returned to Oslo and received support from close family, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 50, and her daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, who visited the monarch at the Rikshospital.

“We feel a great need to thank you for all the care, help and support during the King’s illness during our holiday in Malaysia,” the couple said in their statement.

The royal couple thanked not only the Norwegian public for their ‘support’, but also the Malaysian authorities and staff who assisted them during their stay.

The statement read: ‘We feel a great need to thank you for all the care, help and support during the King’s illness during our holiday in Malaysia.

“We have felt the heat from the Norwegian people at this moment. The great effort has moved and strengthened us. We thank everyone for the concern you have shown us within the family.

‘Back home in Norway, we would also like to thank the Malaysian authorities and the staff at Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi.

‘Together with the Norwegian health staff, they have done everything they can to ensure that the king recovers well from his illness and is ready for his return home.

“We are very grateful to the Norwegian government, the armed forces and others who helped make our journey home so safe and smooth. Kongen is now being treated expertly at the Rikshospitalet.’

They concluded: ‘We thank everyone who provided us with care, practical assistance and medical assistance in a challenging situation.’

King Harald, Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991, is Europe’s oldest living monarch. He has been hospitalized several times in recent years with infections and has undergone heart surgery.

He suffered a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he could step down, following the lead of Denmark’s distant cousin Queen Margrethe II.

Two days before Harald’s 87th birthday last week, the palace announced that the king would take a private trip abroad, without specifying the destination or dates, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he was “sad” when he heard of the king’s hospitalization and wished him a “speedy recovery,” according to NTB.

Despite Harald’s precarious physical condition, the royal family is confident he wants to continue ruling as Norway’s reigning monarch.

Last month, the royal family confirmed he has no plans to step down following speculation he could follow in the footsteps of his former Danish counterpart, Queen Margrethe.

The monarch, the great-nephew of King Charles III, emphasized that the promise he made to the Norwegian parliament when he came to the throne in 1991 is “valid for life.”

King Harald told Faktisk.no: “I stand by what I have said all along. I made an oath to the Storting, and it is valid for life.’

It comes after Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 83, abdicated after 52 years on the throne, making way for her son Frederik to take over on January 14.

Afterwards, a royal expert had suggested that the Danish monarch had broken an “invisible pact” between heads of state in the Scandinavian countries that no one would step down from the throne.

Roger Lundberg told STV that after Denmark’s transition, there is a chance that King Harald of Norway and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, will follow suit and step down to let their eldest children take over the throne.

However, this was firmly rejected by King Harald.

The Norwegian king was 53 when he came to the throne in 1991, after the death of his father, King Olav. Previously, he served as Crown Prince Regent due to his father’s illness, which escalated in the spring of 1990.

King Harald has faced some health issues himself in recent years and spent time in hospital last May treating an infection, but he clearly has no intention of abdicating.

His Scandinavian neighbor, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, made the shocking announcement during her New Year’s Eve speech that she would give up the throne.

The Danish royal family has suffered several scandals in the past two years, including the queen’s surprise decision to strip her grandchildren of their princely titles.

There were also rumors of an ‘affair’ after the then Crown Prince Frederik was spotted in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.

But Denmark isn’t the only monarchy in the Nordic countries to have had a bumpy few years, with the Norwegian royal family experiencing its own ‘Megxit’.

King Harald and Queen Sonja’s only daughter, Princess Martha Louise, who was fourth in line to the throne, stepped down as working royals in 2019.

In 2022, it was announced that the mother of three would no longer represent the royal household in any form following her engagement to an American shamanic healer who had been criticized for his controversial views.

King Harald said Martha would not be allowed to use her royal title in future commercial partnerships with her partner Durek Verrett, 47.

Shortly after the mother of three announced her engagement to Verrett, a Norwegian publisher dropped his book “Spirit Hacking” due to pseudoscientific claims, including “children can get cancer if they are unhappy.”

Among his other claims, Verrett says he once rose from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by “burning” his soul, and has also spoken about needing a kidney transplant from his sister as a child undergo.

After Martha Louise’s decision to abdicate, King Harald emphasized that his daughter remained a princess at his request. He said, ‘She is our daughter, and she will remain so. So she is Princess Märtha Louise.’

The princess was previously married to Ari Behn, whom she married in 2002 and had three children together: Maud Angelica, 19, Leah Isadora, 17, and Emma Tallulah, 14. They split in 2016 and Ari made a date on Christmas Day end his life. 2019.

Crown Prince Haakon, Martha-Louise’s older brother, is Norway’s heir apparent – and the future king has already gotten a taste of what it will be like to take the throne after taking his father’s place several times in recent years .

By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 5:26 PM EST, March 5, 2024 | Updated: 5:40 PM EST, March 5, 2024

A MAN with a need for speed wanted to do something special for the love of his life and no, it wasn’t a person.

People said he would regret his tattoo in the long run, but he wanted to let the world know how much he appreciated his true love, his prized BMW.

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Cameron Schichtel (@crimson_coupe) cares most about one thing in his life and that is his car.

He revealed in a TikTok video the lengths he would go to to show off the object of his affection.

He first showed the infamous BMW with a heartfelt subtitle over it.

‘This car means so much to me. “I wanted to do something special for it,” it said.

He wrote in the video’s caption that he “loves this car more than anything” in his life.

He said it’s always there when he needs or wants it.

‘This is my way of paying her back. The LOML,” he added.

Halfway through the video he showed off his tattoo of the BMW logo with the chassis number underneath.

He will never forget his first car, which he bought at the age of 17.

His entire TikTok account is dedicated to his “crimson coupe.”

Some viewers thought it was a bit intense and a bad tattoo.

“Think before you get tattoos,” one viewer wrote.

“Bro you should get the BMW logo redone,” another added.

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“That’s some dedication bro,” another commented.

“People always told me to sell the car, but I never wanted to. Now I have a real reason to keep the car forever,” Cameron replied.

“LOL for all you s**t talkers at the end of the day, I’m the one with the clean e92. I’m the one with the most creative ideas. Walking Ls. Bunch of bozos,” he said in a comment.

Many were also on his side and thought it was a good idea.

“I actually really like this idea. It’s cute,” one woman wrote.

“Ignore the haters bro. If you like the tattoo then that’s all that matters. It’s for you anyway,” a supportive TikTok user added.

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By Connie Rusk for Mailonline

Published: 09:26 EST, February 29, 2024 | Updated: 09:45 EST, February 29, 2024

ALAN SHEARER immediately shook his head after being quizzed live about his criticism of Manchester United.

The pundit appeared on screens for the FA Cup match between his former clubs Blackburn and Newcastle on Tuesday.

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Shearer famously won the Premier League title while at Rovers.

And he became Toon’s all-time top scorer.

But the former England star twice turned down a move to Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s first try came when Shearer was at Southampton.

Rovers signed United in 1992, with title wins following three years later.

The Red Devils then made another attempt for Shearer in 1996.

That time he opted to join Newcastle and remained at St James’ Park for the rest of his career until 2006.

Shearer did not win a single trophy during his time in the North East.

HOW TO GET FREE BETTS ON FOOTBALL

However, he insists he would make the same decisions again and has no regrets about turning down Fergie’s United.

BBC presenter Gary Lineker first said: ‘People often say: ‘Why didn’t you go to Manchester United, you would have won a lot of things there’.

“You’ve often told us you wouldn’t trade it.”

Shearer shook his head and replied, “I don’t really care whether people believe it or not.

“I’ll tell you how it is: if I had to make the same decision again, I would do exactly the same thing again.

“I had ten incredible years there, it’s my club, my hero was Kevin Keegan, I always went to watch him.

“So to go and score goals at St James’ Park was my dream, so to have the record there and the statue and to have everything I have at Newcastle, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The king was sick – very sick. Doctors worried about his future while keeping the severity of his condition a secret from the public.

His immediate family closed ranks to guard his privacy, but in the wider royal circle they were already planning. A plan to abandon the age-old succession order and put a usurper on the throne.

The king in question was not Charles, but his grandfather, King George VI.

In the few weeks that the king disappeared from public view in the spring of 1949, the course of history could well have changed – and not for the better.

The plot began when the king, known as Bertie, was admitted to hospital for an operation to sever a nerve at the base of his spine.

The risky procedure was intended to counteract the artereosclerosis he suffered from too much stress and too many cigarettes.

Bertie was a man struggling with ill health and although he would eventually recover and live on, this was a serious operation. He was in danger of losing his life.

What would happen if he suddenly left – or worse, stuck around?

At Buckingham Palace, the courtiers were in a downward spiral.

It’s hard to imagine now, but they were terrified of the influence Prince Philip had over Princess Elizabeth, his wife, over the past two years.

Not only did the palace’s old guard deeply dislike Philip, but their suspicion and distrust also extended to his uncle, Lord Mountbatten.

Mountbatten, a cunning old schemer, was loathed for planting his pushy nephew in the princess’s way – for none of the dour brigade could bring themselves to believe that she could actually have fallen in love with the handsome sailor.

They feared that Elizabeth would become Lord Mountbatten’s poodle.

At 23, she was far too young and impressionable to take up the challenge of head of state.

Mountbatten must be kept away from the instruments of power.

And so – quickly – talk grew of putting a regent on the throne if King George VI were to remain in office but were no longer able to fulfill his constitutional role.

Enter the Machiavellian figure of Kenneth de Courcy, a petty aristocrat with a penchant for intrigue, interference and deceit.

Born in Ireland, De Courcy had made his money by creating conspiracy theories and then selling them through a number of publications he owned.

He had become a close friend and advisor to a man who had many connections but was never known as a good judge of character: the Duke of Windsor.

What happened between the two over the next few weeks amounted to nothing less than betrayal.

Since the declaration of peace in 1945, De Courcy had whispered in the duke’s ear that – at home – the royal front line was weak.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, now based in France, relied on De Courcy and his high-level social contacts to gather all the palace gossip in London.

So they listened intently as the Irishman explained his plan.

If a regent was suddenly needed, he argued, who would they call? Old Queen Mary, widow of King George V and mother of the ailing king, was in her 80s. She looked like a remote and anachronistic figure.

There was the Duke of Gloucester, another brother of George VI and the Duke, but he was regarded as a joke by courtiers and politicians and by the royal family itself. (His name was Harry!).

There were no other close claimants to the throne.

All the Duke of Windsor had to do was play his cards right, De Courcy whispered, and the throne could be his – at least until young Elizabeth came of age.

“The King is seriously ill and out of circulation,” he wrote to the Windsors, “and will be out of circulation – facing the terrible tragedy of losing first one leg and then the other. He is suffering from a serious illness that is incurable and has spread throughout his body.’

These were lies, but they played a role in his story.

“I must tell you in confidence that there has been talk of a regency,” he continued, “and it seems likely that one will be appointed.”

So now he outlined to the Duke the details of his plot.

‘I should like to see you buy some farmland near London, and devote a large part of your time to experimental farming on the most advanced modern lines. This would be a great attraction for the country.’

Be there, standing in the wings, was his message. People are very suspicious of Mountbatten’s influence and remember your glory days as Prince of Wales. Elizabeth is too young – you have the track record.

He made no mention of the abdication.

Windsor took the bait. “We discussed that subject in Paris,” he replied to De Courcy.

‘It is certainly a matter of great delicacy, but at the same time an issue where it seems as if I have 50 percent of the negotiating power. I’d rather not say anything more about it in this letter, but I look forward to a future conversation with you.’

Wallis, his duchess, was involved in the plot.

“We’re always turning things around in our heads,” she wrote back.

‘There’s no doubt that something can be done – and perhaps a good thunderstorm would clear the sky. Anyway, I can’t sit around and watch the Duke get lost.’

Undoubtedly there existed in de Courcy’s mind a divide-and-conquer strategy worthy of the Tudor court.

If the duke were to succeed in gaining the regency, he would be in a position to expel the courtiers who disliked and distrusted him and appoint his own deputies.

Thus fortified, he could take on the politicians – and either win them over or deny them access to the palace, with all the privileges that traditionally come with close contact with the royal family. Politicians love those palace invitations!

It was treacherous to try to deny young Elizabeth her birthright, the throne. But with a fair wind it might be doable – if King George VI were to stick around for a while.

But it never happened.

Why not? Nobody really knows. Windsor certainly had the discussions, the thought of usurping his niece – even for a short period of time – was on his mind. We know this much from his secret correspondence.

Perhaps the man who thought he could make Wallis Simpson his queen and weather the abdication storm suddenly remembered that the British establishment can, if it wants to, fend off a king.

He didn’t have the courage for that fight.