Senior royals speak out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Prince Charles is greeted with Ukrainian flags during a rescheduled visit to Winchester this week.
A
version of this story appeared in the March 4 edition of CNN's Royal
News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain's royal
family. Sign up here.
London (CNN)A war in Europe was unimaginable two weeks ago. There's been widespread shock around the world over Russian President Vladimir Putin's merciless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, and among many in his own homeland.
It
is at times like these that we look to our own leaders to express how
we feel and to respond accordingly. Britain's Prime Minister, Boris
Johnson, has risen to the occasion enough for many to forget -- for now
at least -- about lockdown parties that led to calls for his
resignation.
The
Queen has been lying low at Windsor Castle as she continues to recover
from Covid. She has been well enough to do paperwork and host virtual
audiences but little else (more on that later). We learned on Thursday,
though, that she was so moved by events in Ukraine she had privately
made a "generous" donation
to the humanitarian appeal from the Disasters Emergency Committee -- a
group of 15 leading UK aid charities. Buckingham Palace confirmed the
Queen's donation but would not comment further, telling us it was a
"private matter."
Other members of her family have stepped up in her absence, as is the form these days.
The
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said in a tweet over the weekend that
they "stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they
bravely fight for that future."
Ukraine's
President, Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted back, saying he and wife Olena
were grateful to the couple that "at this crucial time, when Ukraine is
courageously opposing Russia's invasion, they stand by our country and
support our brave citizens."
From
California, on the day Russia launched its invasion, Prince Harry and
Meghan expressed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine "against
this breach of international and humanitarian law" and urged "the global
community and its leaders to do the same."
On
Tuesday, Prince Charles went further, speaking of "democracy" and "an
open society" coming under attack in Ukraine "in the most unconscionable
way." He went on: "We are in solidarity with all those who are
resisting brutal aggression."
If
the UK were ever to try to rebuild bridges with Putin, these comments
will hang over Charles. That's why, as a rule, royals don't cast
judgment on foreign heads of state. They're in it for life, unlike
transient politicians. Putin, however, has crossed the line on this one
for Charles, as he has for most of the Western world.
But
it was perhaps his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, who best expressed
the nation's shock without words, during the couple's visit to a
Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London on Wednesday.
Charles and Camilla wanted to show their support for the Ukrainian community here in London.
The
pair went to the Cathedral of the Holy Family -- which has become a
rallying point for the British Ukrainian community -- where they met the
Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, and his wife, Inna
Prystaiko, as well as Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski.
On
arrival, the royals met children from an associated Ukrainian school
and received a traditional offering of bread and salt. The couple also
lit a candle and laid sunflowers, Ukraine's national flower, at the
altar.
Addressing
members of the Ukrainian community working to support relief efforts,
Charles praised the group for their courage in the face of wanton
aggression. He said: "My wife and I have been deeply moved by everything
we've heard today during our visit and, above all, by the extraordinary
bravery, generosity and fortitude of the Ukrainian community in the
face of such truly terrible aggression. So, if I may say so, our
thoughts and prayers, however inadequate they may be, are with all of
you at this most critical time."
During
the visit, a camera picked up tears in Camilla's eyes and a journalist
from the Royal Rota covering the event reported the duchess "wept
frequently during the engagement and comforted the ambassador's wife,
who was also crying."
NEWS OF THE WEEK
The
Queen appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle, during a
virtual audience to receive the High Commissioner of Malawi, Dr. Thomas
Bisika (not pictured), at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday.
The
Queen seems to be on the mend after contracting coronavirus nearly two
weeks ago, undertaking a number of video calls this week.
On
Thursday, she held two virtual audiences from Windsor with the new
ambassadors for Trinidad and Tobago and Malawi. Earlier this week, she
also welcomed incoming envoys to the UK from Andorra and Chad in video
meetings.
The
palace has been reluctant to give a daily health update but clearly the
monarch is feeling well enough to return to virtual engagements. It is
understood she will continue with other duties and has some private
engagements in her diary.
One
event that was taken off the books was a diplomatic reception that was
due to take place at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Buckingham Palace said
over the weekend the Queen had "accepted the Foreign Secretary's
advice" to postpone the event. Rather than being related to her health,
it's likely UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss made the suggestion in the
light of the ongoing crisis facing Ukraine.
The
next major events the Queen is hoping to attend are the annual
Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14 and a service of
thanksgiving for her late husband, Prince Philip, at the same venue on
March 29.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
Charles celebrates success of Black Britons.
The
Prince of Wales brought together some of the most influential Black
Britons when he hosted a reception for supporters of the Powerlist at
Clarence House on Tuesday. The Powerlist is an annual celebration of 100
of the most influential people of African, African-Caribbean and
African-American heritage. "These communities have made and continue to
make an incredibly positive difference to society as a whole and, in
doing so, have built a real community spirit and cohesion," Charles
said. The heir to the throne added it was "particularly pleasing to see
the diversity of talent" recognized by the initiative, from the arts to
business, the environment and technology, among other sectors. Charles
said the Powerlist -- now in its 16th year -- has helped identify
"expertise and leadership" that will aid the UK in meeting the
challenges it continues to face across society.
The Prince of Wales speaks to Baroness Valerie Amos during the Powerlist reception.
William and Kate mark St. David's Day in Wales.
The
Cambridges took a trip to Wales to celebrate St. David's Day, where
they were greeted by throngs of well-wishers. The trip was focused on
the importance of the agricultural industry, with their engagements
centered around how community groups are supporting young people, while
also celebrating the region's history. In Abergavenny, they stopped at a
goat farm that has supplied milk to local cheesemakers for almost two
decades. Meanwhile, in Blaenavon, the pair rolled up their sleeves in
the kitchen of a local youth center, where they baked Welsh cakes before
playing a game of pool.
William and Kate chat with royal supporters at Abergavenny Market.
DID YOU KNOW?
Meghan praises historic Supreme Court nomination.
The Duchess of Sussex weighed in on Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic Supreme Court nomination
to become the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the
United States. Meghan spoke to Anita Hill, an American lawyer who became
a household name in 1991 when she testified about sexual harassment she
allegedly endured from then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, for
URL Media. Reflecting on Jackson's nomination, Hill wrote in an op-ed
that she wanted to seek the thoughts of others who had "entered arenas
once thought to be inaccessible," so she reached out to Meghan. The
duchess praised President Joe Biden's pick, telling her "the civil
rights history of tomorrow is being written today." Meghan added that
Jackson's nomination "opened new ground for women's representation at
the highest level of a judicial system that for too long has tilted
against the very community she hails from." Read Hill's op-ed here.
DON'T MISS
Conservators handle David Bailey's portrait of Diana.
New Diana portrait goes on display.
An
exhibition opening Friday at London's Kensington Palace will debut a
portrait of Princess Diana that's never been seen by the public. Taken
by fashion photographer David Bailey in 1988, the image was originally
commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery but has remained in
Bailey's archive until now. The black-and-white image shows an elegant
27-year-old Diana gazing into the distance, wearing a satin
off-the-shoulder gown and a pair of teardrop earrings.
Bailey,
who has photographed multiple cultural legends, including Andy Warhol,
Twiggy and the Beatles, was selected by Diana for his high-contrast
lighting and minimalist style. Her choice "reflected her desire to
establish a new photographic identity for herself," distinct from the
more established forms of royal portraiture, according to a news release
from Historic Royal Palaces, the British charity tasked with running
six of the UK's palaces. Revealed now after 34 years, the image further
solidifies her public reputation as one of the most fashion-forward
members of the British royal family. Read more on CNN Style.
FEATURED PHOTOS
In
addition to the Diana portrait, the exhibition, titled "A Life Through A
Royal Lens," will showcase a range of works exploring the relationship
between photography and the monarchy.
It
includes photos snapped on royal tours and portraits of heads of state,
as well as off-duty moments away from the public eye. Also on show for
the first time is a selection of images taken by members of the royal
family themselves.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Stourbridge, April 1957
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at the Sandringham Flower Show in July 2019
Nearly
1,000 images were submitted from people around the world who were keen
to share their encounters with royals, with photographs ranging from
royal walkabouts in the 1950s to the traditional Christmas Day service
at Sandringham, the Queen's private residence in Norfolk.
IN THE ROYAL DIARY
The Duchess of Cornwall has a busy week ahead, with two major engagements on her calendar.
Tuesday, March 8: In
her role as president of WOW - Women of the World Festival, Camilla
will host a reception to mark International Women's Day at Clarence
House in London.
Thursday, March 10: She'll
open the new Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) headquarters in Battersea,
south London. The duchess has been vice-patron of the RAD since 2020.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Prince
Charles and Camilla unveiled an eco-friendly pier train named in honor
of murdered British politician David Amess, during a visit to Southend,
east of London on March 1. Amess, a veteran Conservative lawmaker, was
stabbed to death in his constituency in October.
"What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself. We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine, in the most unconscionable way. In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal oppression."
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