Royals news you need to know for July 2020

Get caught up on all the royals news you might have missed in July 2020 — from royal weddings and notable birthdays and anniversaries to "The Crown" casting news, a royal COVID-19 diagnosis, an escalating scandal, the arrival of royal twins and and much more… But let's start with these book reveals… During the weekend of July 25, Britain's The Times and The Sunday Times serialized portions of the hotly anticipated book "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family" by royals reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, which will be released on Aug. 11. The authors spoke to more than 100 sources including some of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's friends and aides for the book, though not the couple themselves, and the excerpts didn't disappoint — in fact, the information and tidbits they revealed made headlines for days. Town & Country recapped previously unknown details about Harry and Meghan's first dates and first trip to Africa. According to a friend of the couple, "almost immediately they were almost obsessed with each other." Keep reading for more on what's in "Finding Freedom"…

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More revelations about the Sussexes, the Cambridges and more from "Finding Freedom"

Britain's The Times and The Sunday Times serialized portions of the hotly anticipated book "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family" in late July. What else emerged? There are many details on Duchess Meghan and Duchess Kate's relationship, ELLE reported, including that "the duchesses were not the best of friends" and that Kate felt they didn't have much in common "other than the fact that they lived at Kensington Palace," according to the book. However, despite reports to the contrary, the sisters-in-law were not feuding, and the book reportedly claims the real issues were between Harry and brother Prince William, who, the book alleges, deeply upset Harry when he allegedly warned him not to move too fast with Meghan and to "take as much time as you need to get to know this girl," which felt condescending. Us Weekly summed up more of the best tidbits from the excerpts in The Times. The book comes out on Aug. 11.

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Princess Anne baffled over actress's hairstyle struggle

Last year, "The Crown" star Erin Doherty, who plays a young Princess Anne in season 3 and 4, told Town & Country magazine that it sometimes took two hours to perfect her character's hairstyle. "It's its own beast. Literally, I would sit in the chair, people would come in and go and come in and go, and I sat still in the same place. But it was so necessary for her character because it felt like her hair and her fashion were the way that she was able to express herself in the confined, controlled environment that she grew up in," she said. After hearing this, the real Princess Royal had a laugh. "Actually I read an article the other day about the — I don't watch Netflix and 'The Crown,' but the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did," Anne says in the new documentary "Princess Royal: Anne at 70," as reported by People magazine on July 27. "And I'm thinking, 'How could you possibly take that long?' I mean, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes."

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One of Prince Harry's most famous exes marries another Harry

Prince Harry's actress-dancer ex Cressida Bonas (right) married estate agent Harry Wentworth-Stanley (left) — whose mother is the Marchioness of Milford Haven — in a private ceremony at Cowdray Park in Midhurst, West Sussex, England over the weekend of July 25, MailOnline reported. Cressida and the Duke of Sussex dated from 2012 to 2014. She and Wentworth-Stanley got engaged in August 2019 and announced the news with a selfie on Instagram.

Prince George turns 7

Happy birthday, Prince George! Britain's future king — the eldest son of Prince William and Duchess Kate — turned 7 on July 22. To mark the occasion, Kensington Palace released two new photos of George taken by the Duchess of Cambridge. Keep reading to see another one…

Prince George's birthday portraits

"Sharing a 📸 taken by The Duchess ahead of Prince George's seventh birthday tomorrow! 🎈," Prince William and Duchess Kate captioned this photo of eldest son Prince George, which they shared on their @KensingtonRoyal Instagram account one day earlier.

Britain's Prince Philip makes rare official public appearance

Britain's Prince Philip retired from royal duties in 2017, but on July 22, the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh made a rare public appearance for a very special event: a ceremony to mark the transfer of one of his military titles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles — a position he's held since 1953 — to daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The ceremony was unique as it took place in two locations, beginning at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England (where Philip has been quarantining with Queen Elizabeth II) — buglers from the Band and Bugles of the Rifles signaled his arrival — and moments later ended at Highgrove House in Doughton, England, where buglers also played for Camilla. Keep reading to see her side of the very socially distanced ceremony…

Duchess Camilla and Prince Philip practice extreme social distancing for title transfer ceremony

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is seen standing alongside Colonel Commandant General Sir Patrick Sanders as they posed for a photo at Highgrove House — which is about an hour and a half away from Prince Philip's position at Windsor Castle — during a ceremony for the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles to the duchess by the Duke of Edinburgh on July 22, 2020.

Prince Albert II of Monaco's adult daughter reveals coronavirus diagnosis

On July 21, Jazmin Grimaldi — the daughter of Prince Albert II of Monaco and American ex Tamara Jean Rotolo — took to Instagram to confirm that she was recovering from COVID-19. Her father in March confirmed he too had the coronavirus. "I am so thankful that I am starting to finally feel like myself today after almost three weeks since I first felt Covid symptoms. I am grateful to be alive and healthy at this present moment," Jazmin wrote in part. "I do in fact have Covid symptoms that continue to linger and pop up on and off again. … I want to be a reminder to each of you that this virus can affect you, a family member or someone you love. Please don't be careless even if you personally seem to not have symptoms or think you have immunity."

The Belgian royal family celebrates National Day in Brussels

Belgium's royal family — Crown Princess Elisabeth, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Eleonore and Prince Gabriel — marked Te Deum, National Day, at the Cathedrale de Saints-Michel-et-Gudule in Brussels on July 21.

The Archduchess of Austria and Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia marries in Monaco

Eleonore Von Habsburg — the Archduchess of Austria and Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia — married Belgian race car driver Jerome d'Ambrosio in a civil ceremony at a registry office in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on July 20. The couple's plans for a larger church wedding were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic so they opted for a small legal ceremony instead where, People magazine reported, their parents and sisters served as their witnesses. The bride, who's a jewelry designer, wore a playful Carolina Herrera dress. Her father, People explains, is Archduke Karl von Habsburg — the current head of the Austrian Imperial family House of Habsburg-Lorraine — and her mother is Baroness Francesca von Thyssen-Bornemisza. Her paternal great-grandparents, Charles I of Austria and Zita of Bourbon-Parma, were the last emperor and empress of Austria.

Norway's future king turns 47, celebrates during summer vacation with his family

Two weeks after his mother, Queen Sonja of Norway, turned 83, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway celebrated his 47th birthday on July 20 with his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, and their dogs, Milly Kakao and Muffins Krakebolle, during the family's summer vacation on the island of Dvergsoya, Kristiansand, southern Norway. The royal family released this photo and others a day earlier on July 19. Keep reading to see a new birthday portrait of the future king…

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon poses for new birthday portrait

"Congratulations on the day, Crown Prince Haakon!" the Norwegian royal family's official Instagram account captioned this new portrait of the country's future king, which was released in a slideshow of photos on Instagram marking his 47th birthday on July 20.

Britain's Princess Beatrice marries in a scaled-down wedding

Surprise! On July 17, Buckingham Palace announced that Princess Beatrice of York and property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her love of nearly two years, had married in a small, private and socially distanced ceremony in Windsor, England, after canceling their original wedding plans (they'd hoped to have a much bigger ceremony and reception in London in May) due to the coronavirus pandemic. The palace released four photos from Bea's big day. Keep reading to see them all and learn more details about the nuptials, her dress, tiara and more…

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip strike a socially distanced pose with Princess Beatrice and her groom

After the coronavirus pandemic forced them to change then ultimately cancel their big royal wedding — which was set to take place on May 29 at The Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London — Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi privately married on July 17 at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, which is the residence of her father, Prince Andrew, and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. The bride's paternal grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, were among the guests — there were fewer than 20 in attendance, reports confirmed — as were the bride and groom's immediate families including Edo's son from a previous relationship with architect Dara Huang, Christopher Woolf. People magazine reported that the 5-year-old served as both a pageboy and best man. Keep reading for a closer look at Bea's dress and tiara…

Princess Beatrice's wedding gown belonged to the queen

For her July 17 wedding to British-Italian real estate developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice of York chose a vintage gown with sentimental value instead of a new, bespoke designer dress. Her ivory Peau De Soie taffeta gown by designer Norman Hartnell belonged to her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II — the monarch memorably wore the dress to the 1962 London premiere of "Lawrence of Arabia." The dress was altered and updated — Beatrice added sheer organza puff sleeves with diamante details and a new hemline — by the queen's personal designer and wardrobe maven, Angela Kelly, and British bridal designer Stewart Parvin. 

Princess Beatrice wears the queen's wedding tiara for her own nuptials

For the ultimate sentimental touch, Princess Beatrice accessorized her vintage Norman Hartnell wedding dress, which belonged to grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, with a classic veil topped with the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara — the same tiara that the monarch wore on her own wedding day in 1947. Beatrice's aunt, Princess Anne, also wore the tiara at her 1973 wedding.

Dutch royals share annual family summer portrait

The Dutch royal family — Queen Maxima, Princess Alexia, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Amalia and Princess Ariane — posed for their annual summer portraits in the garden of their new home, Palace Huis Ten Bosch, in The Hague, The Netherlands, on July 17.

Queen Elizabeth II knights 100-year-old fundraising WWII vet Captain Tom Moore

On July 17, Britain's Queen Elizabeth left granddaughter Princess Beatrice's wedding early to hold a very special socially distanced investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle — the first of its kind for the monarch, who's put all other investitures on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic — to bestow a knighthood on 100-year-old  World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore, who famously raised more than $40 million for National Health Service charities in the early days of Britain's COVID-19 lockdown. Sir Tom inspired millions when he started raising money by walking more than 100 82-foot laps in the garden of his home in Bedfordshire, England. "This is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well — what more can anyone wish for? This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me," he told U.K. media, per the BBC. The queen used a sword that belonged to her father, King George VI, to bestow the insignia of Knight Bachelor upon the war vet. According to a tweet from ITV royal editor Chris Ship, "The Queen had offered to host tea for Captain Tom Moore after his knighthood today – but he already had other plans with his family. So [he] politely declined!!" It later emerged that the newly christened Sir Tom instead celebrated his investiture by having tea and cakes with his family at the nearby Castle Hotel Windsor. 

Duchess Camilla turns 73

Clarence House released this new photo of Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, which was taken by photographer Chris Jackson to mark her 73rd birthday on July 17. It was snapped earlier in the week in the garden at the home she shares with the Prince of Wales, Clarence House, and shows the duchess wearing a blue silk linen dress by Anna Valentine.

Spain's royal family pays tribute to coronavirus victims and frontline workers

The Spanish royal family — Princess Leonor of Asturias, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia — masked up for an official state tribute to COVID-19 victims and those working on the front lines to fight the coronavirus pandemic at Palacio Real in Madrid, Spain, on July 16.

Sweden's crown princess celebrates her 43rd birthday with a concert

Sweden's future queen, Crown Princess Victoria, turned 43 on July 14. The country celebrated with a televised concert, where attendees practiced social distancing, filmed at the ruins of Borgholm Castle in Oland, Sweden. Keep reading to see Victoria and her family in the audience…

Sweden's future queen hands out an award on her birthday

Crown Princess Victoria, daughter Princess Estelle and husband Prince Daniel watched the Victoria concert during the future queen of Sweden's 43rd birthday celebrations at Borgholm Castle in Oland, Sweden, on July 14, 2020. The royal mother of two presented this year's Victoria Prize to pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who's seated to her right (that's his sister Johanna behind her).

"The Crown" creator changes his mind, announces there will be a season 6 after all

On July 9 — more than five months after announcing that "The Crown" would end after season 5 and forego a sixth season as originally planned – the historical drama series' creator, writer and executive producer, Peter Morgan, reversed his decision. There now will be a season 6 of the award-winning Netflix show, and it will be the series' last. The move will only take the show into the early 2000s. Writer-creator Morgan explained in a statement, "As we started to discuss the storylines for series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons. To be clear, series 6 will not bring us any closer to present-day — it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail." It's already been announced that Imelda Staunton will take over as Queen Elizabeth II from Olivia Colman, who took over from Claire Foy. Keep reading for more "The Crown" casting news…

A Jordanian princess weds a literary icon's grandson

Princess Raiyah of Jordan — the youngest daughter of Jordan's Queen Noor and the late King Hussein — married British journalist Ned Donovan, who is the grandson of famed author Roald Dahl, in a very small, socially distanced ceremony in Britain on July 7⁠. The bride announced their happy news on Twitter and shared a few photos of them in their wedding finery. "Thank you all for your kind messages on our wedding! While it was originally planned for April in Jordan, the [coronavirus] pandemic derailed those plans and it was safer for my husband's family to hold it in the UK," she wrote. "God willing we look forward to celebrating in Jordan once the situation allows."

The House of Hanover welcomes twins

Germany's royal family got a little bigger this summer. On July 7 — a little more than two years after their wedding in Lima, Peru — Prince Christian of Hanover and his wife, Peruvian attorney and fashion designer Alessandra de Osma, became parents. The couple welcomed twins — a boy and a girl — in Madrid. Their names? Nicolas and Sofia Hannover de Osma, Cosas reported.

Princess from French noble family dies following motorcycle crash

Princess Hermine de Clermont-Tonnerre, a French socialite, stylist, party planner, reality star and more whom Tatler dubbed "the rock 'n' roll royal," died on July 3 after spending a month in a coma following a serious motorcycle accident in France. The daughter of the late Charles Henri, 11th Duke and 9th Prince of Clermont-Tonnerre — who had a penchant for fast cars, parties and cigars — was 54.

"The Crown" casts its next Princess Margaret

On July 2, Netflix announced some casting news for its hit historical drama that chronicles the lives of Britain's royal family, "The Crown": Actress Lesley Manville will play Princess Margaret beginning on season 5. The five-time BAFTA Award nominee, who earned a best supporting actress Oscar nod for her performance in 2017's "The Phantom Thread," will take over the role of Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister from Helena Bonham Carter, who played the royal on season 3 and will reprise the role on season 4. Helena took over for Vanessa Kirby, who brought young Margaret to life on seasons 1 and 2. "I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don't want to let the side down," Lesley said in a quote posted to the award-winning Netflix series' Twitter account, adding, "Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy."

Prince Andrew faces renewed scrutiny following Ghislaine Maxwell arrest

Prince Andrew faced renewed scrutiny in early July when his old friend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured with him at Royal Ascot in 2000), was arrested by the FBI at a New Hampshire mansion on July 2 on multiple criminal charges related to trafficking and sexual abuse of young women and girls. Her alleged crimes took place when she was in a relationship with Andrew's old pal Jeffrey Epstein, the pedophile financier who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. U.S. federal prosecutors have for months been trying to secure witness testimony from the queen's second son, who's been accused of sleeping with one of Epstein's underage victims, which he's repeatedly denied. On July 16, one day before daughter Princess Beatrice quietly married, the Duke of York's official website was quietly deleted, the New York Post reported. The URL now redirects to a page on the royal family's official website that features Andrew's late-2019 statement about stepping back from his public roles and duties in the wake of a disastrous and tone deaf BBC interview about his ties to Epstein.

Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene celebrate ninth wedding anniversary

Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary early in July and shared two photos on their official Facebook account including one with their twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, of the family enjoying a sunset to mark the occasion. On July 1, 2011, Albert married the former Olympic swimmer in the throne room at the Prince's Palace of Monaco in a civil ceremony. Their religious ceremony took place at the palace one day later on July 2 (pictured).

Bombshell new claims about Britain's royal family emerge in Duchess Meghan privacy lawsuit

Court papers filed as part of Duchess Meghan's privacy breach lawsuit against The Mail on Sunday and its publisher, Associated Newspapers, over their decision to run certain portions of a personal and private letter Meghan sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., in 2018 made headlines when they were made public on July 1. According to the Duchess of Sussex's filing, as reported by NBC News, she felt "unprotected by the institution" of Britain's royal family while pregnant and being attacked, she claimed, by the British tabloid press. She further revealed she was "prohibited from defending herself" from media intrusion by the monarchy. In the same filing, Meghan also for the first time publicly denied knowing that five friends were anonymously speaking to People magazine for a 2019 cover story that defended the royal against global bullying, saying she was "not involved" in any way. However, according to the filing, "she was aware that her friends were deeply worried for her mental health as a result of her treatment by the U.K. tabloid media, particularly by the Defendant." Meghan also identified in private court documents the names of those five friends who spoke to People. On July 9, her legal team filed an application seeking to prevent The Mail on Sunday from publicly naming the friends, who are all young mothers. "These five women are not on trial, and nor am I. The publisher of the Mail on Sunday is the one on trial. It is this publisher that acted unlawfully and is attempting to evade accountability; to create a circus and distract from the point of this case — that the Mail on Sunday unlawfully published my private letter," Meghan said in a witness statement, as reported by E! News. The case continues.