Palace Confidential: The Best Bits

2022 was a historic year for the British Royal Family – one that was filled with highs and lows.

In June, the nation was united in joy and excitement for Queen Elizabeth II’s unprecedented Platinum Jubilee, before being brought back together in more sombre circumstances in September after Her Majesty died at the age of 96.

As several members of the family took on new roles, old grievances and problems reared their heads. 

Covering all this has been our weekly royal talk show Palace Confidential. Here, we delve into some of the best bits of our coverage, from the success stories to the royal scandals.

We also share some of our favourite photos of the Royals from 2022 – including the Princess of Wales cuddling a dog and Kate and Prince William attending the annual Easter Sunday service with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Elsewhere, the seating plan at a key Platinum Jubilee event may have been set up to stop Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appearing in photographs with other senior members of the Royal Family, according to the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden.

Speaking on the royal talk show in June, Eden speculated that other royals such as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie may have been told to stay in their seats to avoid any unfortunate photographs appearing in the media afterwards.

‘There was a procession to leave the cathedral and it meant that Harry and Meghan were far behind,’ he says.

In June, the nation was united in joy and excitement for Queen Elizabeth II’s unprecedented Platinum Jubilee, before being brought back together in more sombre circumstances in September after Her Majesty died at the age of 96. Pictured, Charles, Camilla and Kate in February

Princess Charlotte shares a laugh with Prince George when at Cardiff Castle in June

‘They had to wait for everyone else in their row to leave first so they couldn’t be photographed, they weren’t in the same shots as Prince Charles or the Cambridges.’ 

Royal correspondent and author Victoria Murphy tells the programme that she’s ‘sure’ that the seating plan would have been ‘decided in advance’.

‘It’s hard not to look at it as a sign, if not the distance between the brothers – that physical distance between them in that seating plan,’ she says.

‘The whole weekend we haven’t had a picture of William and Harry in the same picture, apart from the wide shots in the cathedral.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales take their three children to their new school in September

‘I think given that you had this weekend as an opportunity for the family to show unity and for everyone to show togetherness.

‘I think it is quite telling that clearly William and Harry did not consciously at any point make an effort to be seen side by side in the same frame’.

Meanwhile, the royal talk show also previously discussed the late Queen’s announcement that she wanted Camilla to be known as Queen Consort when Charles is King.

Dr Tessa Dunlop said: ‘It’s something that I think behind the scenes, Charles has longed for, really from the get-go. And it’s sort of victory by stealth, effectively.

‘In many respects, I feel for them, I feel like this is probably the right move, the fair move to make,’ the historian and author added.

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