Majesty magazine

22/08/2025

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL VISIT PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS TO MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

14th to 17th September 2025

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, representing His Majesty The King, will visit Papua New Guinea from Sunday 14th September to Wednesday 17th September to attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence from Australia.

The Duke of Edinburgh will attend a dawn flag-raising ceremony and a state dinner to mark the occasion. During the visit, on behalf of the King, His Royal Highness will present new Regimental Colours to the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and confer 50th Independence Anniversary King’s
Medals, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to Papua New Guinea.

The Duke will also visit the new National Court Complex and meet communities in Port Moresby.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH WILL VISIT JAPAN

18th to 22nd September 2025

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Japan from Thursday 18th September to Monday 22nd September 2025, celebrating the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Japan.

In Osaka and Tokyo, the Duke and Duchess will undertake engagements on themes which resonate in both countries, including youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, educating the next generation, and women in leadership.

During the visit, the Duke and Duchess will visit the UK and Japanese Pavilions at EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai. As Japan’s largest international event this decade, the aim is to bring together people and innovations from around the world to address global issues.

Background
The most recent royal visit to Papua New Guinea was in April 2022, when the Princess Royal visited as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.

This will be the Duke of Edinburgh’s first visit to Papua New Guinea. His Royal Highness previously visited Japan in 2004, 1998 and 1996. The Duchess of Edinburgh has not previously visited Japan on an official trip.

The King most recently visited Japan in 2019 as Prince of Wales.

21/08/2025

York Racecourse had a special royal visitor when Queen Camilla made an appearance on the second day of the annual Ebor Festival.

Read more: https://bbc.in/3JuJXJT

📸 Ian Forsyth/PA.

21/08/2025

These days royal visitors come and go at the Vatican, and Pope Francis’s funeral in April was attended by royals from across Europe. A state visit to Italy also often involves a visit to the Pope. But in earlier times, a royal visit to Rome involved navigating a minefield between the courts of the Pope and the King of Italy, who were not on speaking terms. A misstep could lead to eternal banishment, as ex-Empress Eugénie of the French came to experience. In the September issue of Majesty, which goes on sale in Britain today, I relate the troubled story of two courts in one capital.

21/08/2025

When Alexandra was anointed Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1902, four duchesses held a golden canopy over her. These duchesses were a rather interesting lot. There were Consuelo, the Duchess of Marlborough, an American «dollar princess», and Millicent, the Duchess of Sutherland, a renowned society beauty, both of whom became social reformers and advocates of women’s right to vote. Then there was Winifred, the Duchess of Portland, best known as an animal welfare activist. And then there was Violet, the Duchess of Montrose, a fierce opponent of female suffrage. In the September issue of Majesty, which is out today, I tell the story of Queen Alexandra’s four graces, who were immortalised by Laurits Tuxen in a painting now on show at the King’s Gallery in London.

20/08/2025

More than 23 million coins are being released, alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III coins.

19/08/2025

19/08/2025

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is 52 today, 19 August 2025.

Gratulerer med dagen til Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit som fyller år i dag! ☺️✨

Foto: Carina Johansen, NTB

19/08/2025

The September 2025 issue of Majesty magazine is now available to purchase and download: https://pocketmags.com/quickbuy/majesty-magazine/september-2025

18/08/2025

The case against Marius Borg Høiby became even more serious today when the public prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø indicted him on 32 charges, compared to the 23 recommended after the investigation was completed in June.

The most serious indictments are four counts of r**e and one case of domestic violence against his former partner Nora Haukland. They also include, among other things, violent assault, sexually offensive behaviour, failure to comply with restraining orders, a death threat, insulting a policeman and several cases of traffic violations.

The trial is likely to begin in January and last for six weeks. If found guilty on all counts, Høiby, who denies most of the charges, faces a maximum of ten years in prison.

16/08/2025

Last night the Tower of London was illuminated to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day. Victory over Japan Day marks the day Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 which ended the Second World War.

15/08/2025

THE QUEEN, PATRON OF YORK RACECOURSE, WILL CELEBRATE THE COURSE WINNING ‘WORLD’S BEST RACE’

Thursday 21st August 2025

Engagement:
Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of York Racecourse, will attend the second day of the Ebor Festival and unveil a plaque in recognition of the ‘Juddmonte International’ race which took place at York Racecourse last year being named by the Longines World Racing Awards as the ‘World’s Best Race’ of 2024.

Her Majesty will meet representatives from local charities supported by the track, members of the Yorkshire racing community and members of the York Racecourse team.

The Queen will also present the trophy to the winning owner of the ‘Yorkshire Oaks’ - the feature race of the Ladies Day programme.