Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” for her son Mountbatten-Windsor to become a trade envoy in 2000, according to newly released files. The files relating to the former prince’s trade envoy role were released by the UK government in response to a request by Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats.

There are changes ahead for the Duchy of Cornwall, the sprawling, 128,000-acre property empire that gives the Prince of Wales an income of more than £20m each year.

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A fifth of the duchy’s property is going to be sold off over the next 10 years. There’s also going to be a shift in emphasis on the duchy making a positive social impact, with £500m to be invested in affordable housing, creating rural jobs and developing renewable energy. 

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As part of this, the prince is visiting the duchy on Thursday to support his Homewards charity in its work tackling homelessness.

Selling off land is not just a shift in strategy; it’s a change of image, with a strong sense of wanting the duchy to be seen as acting in the public good, rather than simply generating private cash. It shows an awareness of the public’s expectation that the royals will be accountable for their spending.

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There have been calls for more transparency in royal finances and demands for greater clarity about how money is being used.

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However, critics will still say that the duchy’s lands should be recognised as a public asset, rather than delivering private funds.

Public funding for the royals is made through the Sovereign Grant - and it’s currently under review. The annual amount is expected to decrease following negotiations between the Treasury, Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street.

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Currently, the grant sits at a record high of almost £138m, although this figure includes a temporary increase to cover the final stages of renovations at Buckingham Palace.

A controversial element of the funding is the so-called “golden ratchet”. This mechanism ensures that the grant can increase but never decrease. Despite speculation that it might be scrapped, the Treasury has indicated that it will be back in place after a one-off reduction in the grant next year.

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It will depend on the approval of MPs when they debate it in Parliament. And it will be interesting to see if there are any challenges on this.

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After the King’s barnstorming performance in the United States, his stock will be high with the government. But there’s also a public expectation of accountability over public funding, particularly when the cost of living is still biting so many people.

Gardening enthusiasts descended on the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) annual Chelsea Flower Show this week.

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It’s been a spectacular flower-fest, and King Charles and Queen Camilla were among the early visitors. The King even had his own display in the form of the King’s Foundation Curious Garden. 

It was a soothing mix of wildflowers and examples of rural crafts, with an oak-framed cottage in the middle. Inside, waiting for the King were some of the royal regulars - Sir David Beckham, Alan Titchmarsh - and the garden’s designer, Frances Tophill.

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While it was an event full of celebrities, beautiful displays and talented gardeners, stealing the headlines was this year’s decision to lift the ban on gnomes. And waiting for the King was a line-up of the garden ornaments, including one of himself, with a crown, blue hat and bushy beard. 

The King is believed to have his own garden gnome in his Gloucestershire estate of Highgrove.

Queen Elizabeth II rarely missed the Chelsea Flower Show during her 70-year reign, visiting more than 50 times. This photograph shows her in 1952, the year she acceded to the throne and became patron of the RHS - a role she held for the rest of her life. 

In 2024, King Charles was announced as the new RHS patron, continuing the Royal Family’s long‑standing association. Last year, the King’s Rose was unveiled in his honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, featuring pink and white striped petals.