King Charles, 76, demonstrated his resilience during a busy day of engagements at Lancaster Castle on June 9, participating in the historic Ceremony of the Keys while continuing his cancer treatment.

The monarch was welcomed by enthusiastic crowds, including schoolchildren and a military band, as he arrived for his official duties in northwest England. According to People, the ceremony, which dates back to 1851 under Queen Victoria’s reign, follows a similar presentation made to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, at the same location in 2015.

Despite his ongoing cancer treatment, King Charles maintains an active schedule, and shows no sign of slowing down. A palace aide recently noted, “Medical science has made incredible advances, and I genuinely see no difference in him.” The aide added that as long as one follows doctors’ orders, it’s possible to maintain normal activities, which is exactly what the King is doing.

King prepares for Trooping the Colour while managing regular duties

The Lancaster Castle visit precedes the Trooping the Colour parade on June 14, where Charles will lead the royal family. Buckingham Palace confirmed he will ride in a carriage instead of on horseback for the second consecutive year.

The King’s commitment to his duties remains evident, having recently completed a two-day visit to Canada with Queen Camilla in late May, where he opened the Canadian parliament. His medical team has structured his treatment to allow him to continue with his royal responsibilities. His wife, Queen Camilla, has also faced health challenges but resumed public duties recently. 

During his visit to Lancaster Castle, Charles engaged with local businesses showcasing regional specialties, including farmhouse cheese producers, wool yarn manufacturers ing the British wool industry, and handcrafted furniture makers. The castle serves as the historic heart of the Duchy of Lancaster, a private estate spanning over 41,000 acres across multiple counties that has been held by the reigning monarch since 1399.

The monarch also attended a reception where he met with various community representatives, including volunteers from Escape 2 Make, an organization providing creative workshops for young people, of St John’s Hospice, the Lancaster Literature Festival, and a local World War II veteran. This engagement demonstrates the King’s ongoing dedication to connecting with local communities despite his health challenges. 

Looks like King Charles isn’t going to have a very merry Christmas. So, what could be eating at him? Worried that he won’t get any presents? Sad that his estranged son and grandchildren won’t be visiting? Nervous about his health after his ongoing cancer treatments?

Nope, Charles is apparently furious that it looks like this Christmas will without him getting to blast animals with a shotgun. As per a story in The Sun, Charles is “livid over a series of blunders” which means there simply aren’t enough living pheasants on the grounds at the royal residence of Sandringham.

Their source says, “No birds, no bang, just red faces. The King wasn’t having it”. The King has now fired the long-standing gamekeeper responsible for making sure his grounds are teeming with pheasants destined to end their lives in a shower of bloody feathers and gore. The said gamekeeper is apparently “well and truly plucked off”. And who can blame him, as it’s arguably Charles’ fault his garden is no longer a target rich environment.

Hello! says King Charles is “devastated” that a key royal tradition might end. What heroic act? Not charity or hard work—just shooting pheasants on Sandringham.

Truly heartbreaking that the king’s favourite pastime could be disrupted. Priorities, right? pic.twitter.com/KdlEbExYsD

— Protect the Wild (@ProtectTheWild_) June 4, 2025

That’s because, in line with his long-standing crusade for the environment, he’s been adamant that Sandringham remain a “wild shoot”, i.e. that the birds live naturally in the location they’re shot in rather than being released shortly before the shoot and being bred in captivity. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to keep their population high when you’re shooting the animals you’re trying to cultivate.

What’s a Christmas without killing?

All of which means this Christmas will likely see King Charles miserable and brooding, likely sat cradling his loaded shotgun facing an open fire wistfully imagining the carnage he could be inflicting right now. Here’s hoping he doesn’t have a few too many glasses of port and decide that, darn it, it’s Christmas and he’s going to murder something – anything – before the day is out!

In the meantime, animal rights activists are rolling their eyes at this “problem”, pointing out that the vast majority of people manage to enjoy Christmas without blasting an animal with a shotgun. If he absolutely has to have some family-bonding time, why not just shoot at some clay pigeons or, I dunno, break out Monopoly or Scrabble?

Others point out that Charles is the Royal Patron of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), making it extremely hypocritical that he thinks Christmas is ruined without the opportunity to be cruel to animals.

During his recent visit to Canada, King Charles didn’t call out Trump directly—he didn’t have to. Instead, he let his actions and words speak for themselves.

King Charles’ 24-hour visit to Canada might have been brief, but it was anything but inconsequential. This was his first trip to the country as monarch, a significant milestone for a king whose reign is still in its early days. The visit was carefully choreographed to highlight Canada’s place in the Commonwealth, with Charles delivering a historic address to the Canadian Parliament from the Senate throne.

In his speech, Charles described Canada as “strong and free,” a deliberate nod to the country’s national anthem and a subtle affirmation of its sovereignty. At a time when geopolitical tensions are high, and with Trump’s comments casting an unexpected shadow over the visit, the King’s words carried extra weight. He called this a “critical moment” in Canada’s history, pointing to the challenges the nation faces while offering reassurance that the monarchy remains a steadfast partner.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Donald Trump was busy doing what he does best: stirring the pot. In yet another round of inflammatory social media posts, the president doubled down on his suggestion that Canada should the United States as its 51st state. Trump framed the idea as a financial proposition, claiming Canada would save billions by becoming part of the U.S. and gaining free access to his proposed “Golden Dome missile program.”

At a time when Canada’s place in the world is being questioned—not by its own people, but by external forces—it was crucial for the monarchy to reaffirm its . Charles did just that, not by addressing Trump’s remarks directly, but by making it clear that Canada’s sovereignty is not up for debate.

By all s, King Charles’ visit was a success. The reception he and Queen Camilla received in Canada was warm and enthusiastic, with Canadians from all walks of life turning out to greet the royal couple. Buckingham Palace has already hinted at plans for a longer royal tour in the future, a sign of the monarchy’s commitment to strengthening its ties with Canada. For Charles, the visit marked another milestone in a reign that has already seen its share of challenges. Despite his ongoing battle with cancer—a fact that the palace has addressed with refreshing transparency—Charles has shown no signs of slowing down.

Donald Trump is hungrily eyeing Canada and desperately trying to figure out a way to make it America’s 51st state. But, at least in the war for Canadian public opinion, he’s falling flat on his face. Canadians are infuriated at his open threats to invade, his slapping the country with aggressive tariffs, ICE’s imprisoning innocent Canadians on flimsy pretences, the frequent insults to its leaders, and the newly implemented aggressive border searches.

The cherry on top was the recent Canadian elections, in which the broadly Trump-sympathetic conservatives saw their lead evaporate in a matter of weeks, resulting in a crushing loss to Mark Carney’s liberals. Even so, Trump is still beating the 51st state drum, teasing that surrendering to him could earn Canada a spot under the “golden dome”.

King Charles, Canada’s head of state, is having none of it. Clearly sensing a real threat to one of his 14 realms, he’s drawn a line in the sand against Trump. Speaking at a “historic address for the opening of parliament at the Senate in the capital Ottawa,” he made a tradition-breaking intervention in politics by referencing Canadians increasingly “feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them”.

Charles concluded his message by underlining a phrase from the Canadian national anthem, emphasizing that “the true north is indeed strong and free”:

“As the anthem reminds us, the true north is indeed strong and free.”

From: King Charles

To: Donald Trump

U pic.twitter.com/Xy9JJA1Ovr

— CoffeyTimeNews (@CoffeyTimeNews) May 27, 2025

Charles also underlined that a rapidly more unstable United States could have benefits for Canada, saying:

“A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.”

No seriously, could it happen?

The chances of Trump actually invading Canada remain slim. But “slim” isn’t “nothing”, and we already know the U.S. military has previously had contingency plans drawn up for just such an invasion. The huge military disparity between Canada and the United States means that, at least on paper, Trump could simply seize Canada through sheer might alone if he chose to.

Fortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that. American soldiers would feel deeply conflicted about military action against such a close ally, there would inevitably be partisan rebellion from furious Canadians, enormous pressure in America to cease hostilities, and the absolute disgust from former allies and the continued isolation of America on the international stage.

Basically, if Trump actually tried it, it’d be the North American equivalent of Putin’s attempted invasion of Ukraine. Even so, crazier things have happened, and nobody is holding Trump back anymore, so expect US-Canada tension to continue to ramp up.

By now, it’s crystal clear that no matter how loudly Prince Harry shouts into the void, the Palace always seems ready with a royal counterstrike. Just days after the Duke of Sussex officially confirmed that his father was actively ignoring him and spilled the deets of his estranged relationship with King Charles, Buckingham Palace swooped in to snag the spotlight.

In what may be described as a well-timed distraction from Harry’s latest PR blitz, the Palace announced that King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a high-profile two-day royal visit to Canada from May 26 to 27. During the visit, they will attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa.

The trip marks Charles’s 20th visit to Canada, but significantly, it will be his first as the reigning monarch. Queen Camilla, on the other hand, is making her fifth Canadian visit. The couple’s last trip was in 2022, where they touched down in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Capital Region, and the Northwest Territories, according to Town & Country Magazine.

It’s no secret that the King holds a deep affection for Canada, as proven by his heartfelt message following the April 26 mass tragedy in Vancouver, where 11 lives were lost during a street celebration of the Filipino Canadian community. The Canada trip is still three weeks away, but the Palace chose to announce it around the same time Harry tried to smear the Royal Family’s image.

For what it’s worth, the timing of press releases by the Palace is always strategic. Portraying Charles as a cancer-stricken monarch bravely fulfilling his royal duties while Harry confesses about how he is being neglected by his own flesh and blood is no coincidence. Mind you, Charles recently addressed his health condition and opened up about its “frightening” aspects, but he did not make it about him. Instead, he voiced a meaningful message for the entire cancer community.

Prince Harry cries foul over security ruling

Moments before the Palace’s announcement, Harry made some noise with the press by discussing his failed legal battle over his U.K. security arrangements. Since stepping back from his royal duties with his wife, Meghan Markle, and relocating to California, Harry’s lost his security-funded police protection in his home country.

Harry tried to fight for his security protection in the U.K., but the court ruled that the decision by Ravec, the body responsible for his royal security, was justified even if it didn’t follow standard policy. The Duke of Sussex’s claim that he was being treated more harshly than other high-profile individuals failed to hold legal weight. Worse still for Harry, the ruling means he now owes over £1.5 million (approximately $1.9 million) in legal fees.

In response, Harry vented his frustration to the BBC in an interview, “I can’t see a world in which I’d be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.” His disappointment also boiled over as he revealed how bad the situation had gotten between him and his father, all because of his legal dispute. “I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”

Considering how the Palace addressed Harry’s loss and appeal for his father’s attention, it’s almost impossible to see a reconciliation between the father and son anytime soon. Harry seems not to have learned his lesson; thus, the King would rather maintain a full calendar of royal engagements while battling cancer than cave into his son’s efforts to reach out.

Things have not been the same at Buckingham Palace ever since King Charles and Kate Middleton were diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, as though a cloud is hanging over the kingdom. And while the Princess of Wales has since announced her remission, the reigning monarch continues to battle the worst of his condition. 

Based on previous updates from the palace, Charles made progress with the help of weekly treatments. However, in his most recent and candid ission yet, the King laid bare the terrifying reality of his cancer battle. In a penned message, Charles said being diagnosed with cancer is a “daunting and at times frightening experience.” After becoming one of the 1,000 individuals diagnosed with the condition daily in the U.K., his eyes opened to the harsh reality cancer patients face, and he has since developed profound empathy for other people walking the same harrowing path as he is. 

King Charles discovered his condition following an enlarged prostate procedure. However, the type of cancer he was diagnosed with was not disclosed to the public. A palace insider revealed in December 2024 that the reason for keeping it a secret was for the King’s health battle to connect with everyone and open the doors for more conversations about cancer in general and spread awareness about its growing number of cases. 

However, in the midst of Charles’ altruistic gesture lies his silent cries out of fear for the worst. During the holiday season, the cancer-stricken royal made headlines for his desire to see his estranged grandkids with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He did not spend a lot of time with Archie when the couple was still working as senior royals, and he only met Lilibet once at the Platinum Jubilee of the late queen in 2022. 

The fact that he wanted to reconnect with his grandchildren over the holidays speaks volumes about how Charles could be anticipating the negative outcome of his health battle. A palace insider seemingly confirmed this by saying that the King had been planning to step down to make it easy for Prince William to ascend. “Charles waited so long to become king, but at this point, no one could blame him for giving up the throne so he could live the last months of his life in peace,” the insider added. 

Focusing on the positives

Interestingly, King Charles did not show any hint of weakness or defeat in his published message. Instead, he highlighted the positive aspect of his diagnosis, saying, “As one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.” In his case, he’s focused his attention on his role as King, while at the same time exerting more effort in spreading the word about cancer. 

“It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organizations and individuals [to spread cancer awareness],” he said before noting that based on his observation, “the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest comion.”

Charles wrapped up his message by thanking all healthcare professionals, researchers, and volunteers in the cancer community for their unwavering determination to offer the best therapies and holistic care they can extend to patients. “While every patient’s journey may be different, together you are ensuring that a cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and ,” he said. 

According to The Mirror, Charles’ penned message was released as part of the program for the Buckingham Palace event on Wednesday, April 30, which gathered several cancer charities and personalities living with cancer, including actor Richard E. Grant, radio DJ Adele Roberts, and television star Ashley Cain. The parents of the late journalist and cancer charity campaigner Dame Deborah James were also in attendance. 

King Charles refused to let his cancer diagnosis in early 2024 slow him down. Over the past year, he’s kept up royal appearances with a dizzying array of state events, a high-profile trip to the South Pacific, and all the other smaller but critical royal duties.

In fact, he’s been so busy and so visible many assumed he was on the mend, though the reality of his situation has just been thrown into stark relief with a hospitalization after he experienced “temporary side effects” as a consequence of his treatment.

As per palace statements, the 76-year-old King received a “scheduled” treatment, during which he suffered “temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.” His diary was cleared for the next few days, and, after the period of observation ended, he was permitted to return home. The statement added, “His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

Why was he hospitalized?

Perhaps understandably, Buckingham Palace is playing its cards very close to its chest on this issue. We don’t know what kind of cancer Charles is suffering from (except that it’s not prostate cancer), we don’t know what treatment he’s receiving, and we don’t know his current condition.

However, it’s possible to make some educated guesses. As Charles’ cancer was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate, we can assume it’s in the pelvic region, so possibly bladder cancer, rectal cancer, bone cancer, chondrosarcoma (cancer of the cartilage), or penile/testicula cancer.

An expert has also given his opinions on what treatments he’s undergoing and what the side effects could be. The Daily Express quotes Cancer Research patient projects director David James as saying Charles is probably either undergoing chemotherapy, which “comes in cycles, and there are short-term side effects, usually lasting a couple of days before people start to feel better. These side effects include tiredness, nausea, heart palpitations, blood clots, and constipation or diarrhoea.

James continued: “There are also other short-term treatments, such as radiotherapy, which can have side effects, but again, they can present very differently depending on the individual.” Common radiotherapy side effects include sore skin, tiredness, hair loss, a sore mouth, and diarrhoea.

He also warned that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions: “It’s really, as I said, difficult to say what type of treatment he might be receiving, especially since they haven’t confirmed what type of cancer he has other than saying he has cancer.”

I’m no fan of King Charles, but here’s hoping he recovers soon. Cancer is a brutal, painful, and terrifying ordeal, so here’s hoping whatever side effects he’s suffering from soon and he can get back to full royal duties.

It’s not always easy being the king of 15 different countries. Although it’s usually a pretty sweet deal for King Charles, being the official, constitutional, head of state of 15 different countries with different diplomatic relationships, goals, and realities can sometimes prove to be a real headache.

Ordinarily, his various kingdoms are all more or less in agreement about the big issues — the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are all close allies and participate in various different agreements which bring the realms closer together diplomatically than they might otherwise be, for example. Donald Trump and his reckless foreign policy approach has blown all that out of the water, as King Charles is now forced to be and say one thing for Canada while singing from a different hymn sheet when it comes to the U.K. and other countries.

Phil Goff, New Zealand’s high commissoner to the U.K., was fired for asking whether or not Donald Trump “really understands history,” suggesting that the president is stumbling around without any real idea of what he’s doing. This is an assessment many can agree with, including the king and probably New Zealand’s Prime Minister too, but it is also one that made Goff’s tenure “untenable” due to New Zealand’s attempts to pursue close and positive relations with the U.S., and so he was fired. Charles, of course, said nothing: His is not a political role, despite being the head of state.

For Charles, this is probably the most difficult diplomatic position he’s ever faced or will ever face in his tenure as king. Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric regarding Canada is terrifying not just to Canadians but to people all over the world, and as the head of state of Canada, Charles is said to be “worried about Canada” and wants to call for unity.

While the other realms have mostly managed to stay out of the fray, Charles is also the head of state of the U.K., which is seeking to maintain good relations with the U.S. despite Trump’s increasingly erratic and hostile foreign policy. As one source close to Charles shared with The Times, the situation “does require delicate diplomacy, given that not everyone’s interests are aligned.” This is a massive understatement, of course, given that Trump’s threats against Canada present a literally existential problem for the country, but the issue for Charles is that he’s constrained by his multiple roles.

He can’t do or say anything that he hasn’t been directed to do or say by the duly elected governments of his various countries. When he acts as the King of Canada, he acts on the Canadian government’s say so; the same is true when he acts as the King of the United Kingdom or Australia or anywhere else. This presents a very unique conundrum, as Trump has been invited to visit the king in an official state capacity in the U.K. by its government at some unspecified point. If, when hosted at the palace in the U.K., Trump wants to talk about Canada, what can or will the king say?

At this point, Charles seems to be pulled in two directions. His meetings and behaviour with Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlight his silent but obvious refusal to how Trump has treated the two. But whether it is seeing Goff’s firing or the inability to take a solid stand, the king remains suspended in a precarious state where what he thinks, what is right, and whether his actions may or may not harm the U.K. remain in a constant tussle.

The king will have to walk a very fine line when it comes to his multiple roles. He’s used to making shows of without coming right out to say it, but this situation is something entirely different. He must be firm regarding Canada’s sovereignty and independence while also trying to further the U.K.’s attempt at “balance” regarding Trump and the U.S. Is that even possible, especially when the U.K. is being cagey about its own for Canada in the face of Trumpian aggression? Only time will tell.

Prince Harry and Prince William’s sibling rivalry is legendary, but they actually aren’t the only children in their family. People often forget that they have a step-brother and step-sister through their father’s marriage to Queen Camilla — Tom Parker-Bowles and Laura Loomer. Then, of course, there’s King Charles’ second love child.

Yes, you read that right. For decades, Australian resident Simon Dorante-Day has maintained that he is the bastard spawn of the current king and queen, allegedly the result of a naughty trip the future married couple took down under in 1965. As per Dorante-Day’s story, his adoptive grandmother used to work for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — his alleged biological grandparents — and she told him the “truth” of his noble ancestry when he was a boy. “I was very close to my grandmother and she told me many times that I was Camilla and Charles’ child,” Dorante-Day alleged. “She didn’t just hint at it, she told me outright.”

As Dorante-Day puts it then, presumably the late monarchs had their old employee raise him in order to hide his existence from the world, thereby stopping the scandal of their eldest son and heir having a child out of wedlock from getting out and staining the family. Unfortunately, as much as royal gossip mongers may wish for this juicy story to be true, it’s a matter of fact that Charles and Camilla didn’t meet until the early 1970s and Dorante-Day was born in 1966, when Charles would’ve been just 18. Nevertheless, (Prince) Simon has never renounced his claims to being the rightful heir to the British throne.

In medieval times, someone pronouncing themselves the next true king would’ve resulted in an epic and bloody battle. In our modern world, however, Dorante-Day’s tall tales have made him an occasional daytime TV and podcast guest and Royal Family pundit. In his latest comments about his potential relatives, Simon has stood up in defense of his self-proclaimed sibling, Prince Harry.

“Lost Prince” Simon stands up for pseudo-sibling Prince Harry

While speaking with Australia’s Channel Seven recently, Dorante-Day — or maybe His Royal Highness — revealed that he feels a strong “bond” with potential sibling Harry as he feels they are both the “black sheep of the Royal Family.” Simon said, “I believe Harry would be receptive to my plight. He got f***** over by his dad, he has a bone to pick with Charles. Just like I do.”

Moreover, Dorante-Day went on to note how he relates to Harry’s fears for his and Meghan Markle’s safety, due to suspected attacks and threats on their lives, stressing that his wife worries much the same way about him.

“When people say he looks very nervous and jumpy, I understand where Harry is coming from with that. I can tell that he’s worried about someone attacking Meghan and saying something that will force her to react. My wife is the same, so I can relate,” Simon continued. “My advice for Harry is to let her go, to let Meghan say what she wants to say. People have been racist and insensitive to Meghan, she should give it back to critics without people looking down on her … People are so ignorant.”

While the Royals do have a history of hiding away unwanted children, the odds are Simon is not the king and queen’s secret love child. Yet here he is, doing what Prince William has never done, and valiantly attempted to deflect criticism from his “little brother” — and, honestly, doesn’t that sound like something a real sibling would do?

There’s a lot about King Charles‘ life that isn’t exactly relatable since, you know, he’s royalty and all. But he often talks about charming parts of his life, from the odd sandwich he eats regularly, to his favorite music.

King Charles explains how much he enjoys Beyoncé’s music in his Apple Music 1 radio special, called The King’s Music Room, on Mar. 10, 2025, and he said, “I could not resist including her music.” Can anyone? Just try to hear a new Beyoncé song and not listen to it on repeat. Specifically, Charles is a big fan of Beyoncé’s hit single “Crazy In Love.” Charles also praises the singer for taking home a Grammy for Album of the Year for the first time and said she’s “incomparable.”

He speaks the truth. So, now it’s clear: everyone, even a member of the Royal Family, appreciates Queen Bey and the art she has put into the world. It’s also hard not to be jealous about another tidbit King Charles brings up during his Apple Music special: the singer sang “Crazy In Love” at his Trust Fashion Rocks event in 2003. Am I the only one who wishes I was invited?!

“Crazy In Love” was such a big hit, it’s truly no wonder that even King Charles can’t help but enjoy it. It was included on Beyonce’s 2023 album Dangerously in Love, which was the first time she recorded music on her own without Destiny’s Child. The song was number one on Billboard for two months and was just one song she recorded with Jay-Z, along with the popular “Drunk In Love.”

King Charles isn’t the only member of the monarchy who is a Beyoncé fan. In 2023, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a Renaissance World concert in Los Angeles. And several years earlier, in 2014, Beyoncé and Jay-Z attended a Nets vs. Cavaliers game that Kate Middleton and Prince William were also at. The couples met each other and there are some adorable photos of them smiling and enjoying the moment. And while the royals love Beyoncé, she’s a fan, too. According to PEOPLE, the singer wrote a post about Prince Harry and Markle’s 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview on her website and said, “Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you.” Imagine Beyoncé saying that about you. How would you ever emotionally recover?

Music has been a big part of King Charles’ life, and he’s definitely got a well-rounded musical education. He found some songs for Prince William and Middleton’s wedding and said “it’s rather fun having orchestras in for great occasions like that.” And, besides enjoying contemporary songs like “Crazy In Love,” he played the cello as a boarding school student, and shared happy memories of attending the ballet with his grandmother, The Queen Mother.

The rest of King Charles’ Apple Music playlist has some great tunes. Besides being a fan of Beyoncé (like the rest of us), Charles also enjoys pop tunes such as Kylie Minogue’s “The Loco-Motion.” I didn’t see that coming, but I love it. Maybe Charles’ tunes will become someone’s new favorite workout playlist to help them get motivated on those cold winter days that are hopefully turning into spring soon. Or maybe people will simply listen to these upbeat songs because in 2025, we all need some happy music to get through each day.

One would be naive to think Donald Trump’s actions and ideology will only affect America and leave the neighbouring countries unscathed from the whiplash of his decisions. Standing with him and against him both have dire consequences and while some world leaders have chosen to pick a side, King Charles III appears to have opted for a more subtle attempt at rebellion.

A step that might not sit well with Prince William given his immediate and long-term plans for the future. His future.

It is widely known – especially since Trump is doing everything in his power to flash it in neon – that the current president of the United States of America has been extending his greedy paws towards Canada and demanding it becomes the U.S.’ 51st state. Insulting and concerning.

Since Trump is due to visit the Buckingham Palace and King Charles for a second time, many are standing on their toes to see if the monarch will broach the topic of Canada or how disappointing and tactless the POTUS was in his meeting with the Ukrainian President (who FYI, has U.K.’s ). But maintaining the U.K.-U.S. ties is also important and a direct attack on Trump won’t really do any good, so the king presumably went for a subtle but “loud message” to his fellow leader.

Yesterday King Charles was inspecting a British ship.

And YET he did so dressed as King of Canada wearing Canadian military decorations and Canadian honours, inc Order of Canada and Canadian Order of Military Merit.

Charles is sending us and the world a message, a LOUD message. pic.twitter.com/Fgp4Qej6DE

— Mike Gerald Gibbs (He/Him) (@Mikeggibbs) March 5, 2025

So, the consensus is that the king – who is the head of state in Canada – visited the aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, in Canadian military uniform, decorations, and honours to show that he stands with Canada no matter what Trump says or does.

Just a few days after his audience with @CanadianPM Justin Trudeau, where they discussed Canada's sovereign & independent future, His Majesty King Charles III was seen sporting his Canadian military honours as he visited @HMSPWLS. We thank His Majesty for this meaningful gesture. https://t.co/Vg5ODcXZEx

— CanadianUK (@CanadianUK) March 7, 2025

Whether or not Charles intended for this to be a not-so-subtle dig at Trump, it will probably warm the hearts of Britons who did not really like the fact that their king invited a controversial figure, who throws childish tantrums on a whim, to the U.K. twice. One individual in London shared with Yahoo News that he doesn’t find the idea of Charles inviting Trump of all people to the palace for a second time even remotely appealing.

“There is absolutely no way Trump should come into this country for another state visit. It is terrifying that a man who behaves as he does and has his thoughts and principles should have so much power.”

While some understand why keeping things cordial between Britain and America is important, Trump’s “childishness,” his “awful” treatment of Zelenskyy, or the very fact he got elected to lead America in the first place still unnerves them.

“It saddens me that our country feels it’s important to pave the way for him to feel comfortable. He’s such an unpleasant man. I’m troubled by the way he represents a loss of moral com,” said Ian, 76, from Oxford.

But Charles’ boldness can upend Prince William’s calculative plans

First, it was Charles’ age, and now his cancer diagnosis has ed the high probability that William will be ascending the throne a lot sooner than expected. While the British officials are reportedly prepared for the possibility, William has long since begun his “preparation for kingship,” which includes, as per former British public affairs official Shannon Felton, maintaining a strong relationship with Trump, even at the cost of turning a blind eye to his worst decisions.

“It is a test of his ability to engage with world leaders he may not personally align with, to navigate egos and expectations, and to ensure that Britain remains at the center of global power dynamics. The queen did this for 70 years. Now, it’s his turn.”

Why this particular kinship that William seems to share with Trump? Well, according to British royal expert Hilary Fordwich Trump’s “family values align directly with Prince William’s.” And what are they? Their mutual dislike for Prince Harry. Combine that with William’s supposed desire to retain maximum power as king, and we have a future monarch who might not take well to the current crown-bearer of England mes his carefully set up bond with his strong ally.

King Charles is not letting his battle with cancer slow him down. The monarch is even turning up the volume on a brand-new career move, and it’s one that’s so unexpected given his age of 76. Apparently, the palace has announced his collaboration with Apple Music, which will see him stepping into the world of DJing.

According to an Apple press release, Prince William and Prince Harry‘s father is curating and hosting his own Apple Music show, aptly titled The King’s Music Room. It is debuting on March 10 in honor of Commonwealth Day. He reportedly recorded the program from his Buckingham Palace office, and it will showcase an eclectic mix of music from his playlist. Royal fans can expect to hear tracks from 1930s crooners to pop icon Kylie Minogue, reggae legend Bob Marley, and even Afrobeats singer-songwriter Davido.

The palace has released a teaser video showing His Majesty deep in thought behind his desk while meticulously curating his playlist for the show. “Bringing together much-loved artists from across the Commonwealth, The King has shared a selection of songs which have brought him joy in ‘The King’s Music Room’ to mark Commonwealth Day 2025,” read the caption of the video shared on the Royal Family’s Instagram .

The program will also feature King Charles introducing each track with personal anecdotes, detailing memories of the music he has listened to throughout his life. “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” King Charles says in the teaser. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits … In other words, it brings us joy.”

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The announcement has met overwhelming enthusiasm online. Royal fans flooded social media with praise, with one royal er gushing, “More reason to love King Charles!” Another applauded the monarch’s “deep sensitivity for music, arts, and nature,” while one fan dubbed him “the king who enchants people with music.”

Not only is King Charles stepping into the world of digital music curation, but he’s also making podcast history. According to the Daily Mail, he has now become the first British monarch to record his own podcast. It is worth noting that his daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, also tried her hand at podcasting with Archetypes, released in 2022. However, the show was canceled after just one season.

Reacting to the music service’s collaboration with the king, Apple Music’s global head of Content and Editorial, Rachel Newman, said they feel “honored” that King Charles chose to share his favorite songs through their service. Meanwhile, Errollyn Wallen, CBE, Master of The King’s Music, dubbed King Charles’ playlist “a fun and eclectic collection.”

For those who want to hear King Charles’ favorite songs and musings, The King’s Music Room premieres on Apple Music 1 on March 10, Monday, at 6 a.m. GMT. It will be available for free at launch and on-demand with an Apple Music subscription.