Royal Recap (November 19, 2024)
Your weekly roundup of royal headlines and all the stories you missed
An excess of royal news stories have captured my attention in the last few days, so I’ve decided to wrangle them all into one newsletter.
Prince Harry’s Vancouver Trip
Just 80 days to go until Prince Harry’s Invictus Games take their first-ever winter games to Vancouver and Whistler! And the man himself has been hitting the streets to drum up excitement and anticipation in the lead-up to the main event.
On Sunday, November 17th, Harry made a surprise appearance at Vancouver’s Grey Cup. Then, on Monday, November 18th, the Duke of Sussex also appeared at the Seaforth Armoury to launch Invictus’s 2025 School Program—an online module that will introduce the Invictus Games to schools worldwide. He chatted and interacted with elementary students during the visit, and joined in a game of sitting volleyball. He also led the students in an activity: studying the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley (after which the games are named) and drawing.
It’s been so heartening to see how Invictus keeps on expanding—with the Games now comprising 23 official member nations. Are any of the Fascinator Community planning to attend the 2025 games in Vancouver and Whistler? Let us know!
Norway’s Crown Prince Couple Feels the Strain
The Norwegian royal family has been facing significant challenges this year as a result of the Crown Princess’ son Marius Borg Høiby—and his increasingly troubled behavior. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has taken medical leave on several occasions this year, citing her ongoing struggle with pulmonary fibrosis—undoubtedly exacerbated by the stress of recent events.
Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, has cast a long shadow on the royal family with his exploits. Just Monday evening, he was arrested on suspicion of rape. (Older police reports reveal allegations of domestic violence, threats, and substance abuse).
Høiby has been arrested multiple times in recent months, including for violating a restraining order and facing charges of assault and property damage. Police have also flagged possible connections with criminal organizations, raising concerns about security for the royal family—especially as he resides near Crown Prince Haakon and the royal heirs.
Høiby, as Mette-Marit’s child from a previous relationship, is not in Norway’s line of succession and has no public role. In 2017, it was announced that he would lead a largely private life. But he has been spotted at key family events, such as his half-sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th birthday gala in 2021.
In 2017, Mette-Marit said of her son: “Marius has always had a role that has been difficult to define in the public sphere. He is and will be an exceptionally important part of our family.”
Despite the growing public scrutiny, there have been no indications that the royal family plans to publicly address the legal troubles of Marius or the broader family drama. This stance seems to align with the royal family's usual approach: maintaining privacy and focusing on their public duties. The incidents, however, have raised questions about how much longer the family can keep personal issues from affecting their public image, especially as Marius continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco's National Day Celebrations
Monaco celebrates its National Day today, November 19th, with traditional events that showcase the Princely Family’s connection to their people and heritage.
The day starts with a Te Deum Mass, followed by a military parade, and, in the evening, a gala performance by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, and their children were present at the Te Deum this morning—and I think it’s safe to say that twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques captivated the public attention during the festivities.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for the gala fashion this evening, so if you haven't already followed @matta_of_fact on Instagram, now is a great time to head over there! My stories are typically the first place that I’ll post juicy royal news, fashion moments, and (like any self-respecting millennial woman) well-lit selfies.
Princess Rajwa of Jordan’s Growing Public Role
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa’s schedule of public engagements is picking up following the birth of their daughter, Princess Iman, in August.
Both were present at the Opening of Parliament, alongside a very glam Queen Rania and King Abdullah II, on Monday. I’m hopeful that upcoming public events in Jordan will continue to highlight Rajwa’s role as a future queen—Rania taking her daughter-in-law under her wing has been so gratifying to see! I’m also looking forward to more events showcasing the Crown Prince couple’s evolving roles within the Hashemite monarchy.
Queen Camilla Says Goodbye to a Loyal Friend
Buckingham Palace announced that one of Queen Camilla's beloved rescue dogs, Beth, died over the weekend. (Further briefing to the media indicates that Beth had an inoperable tumor and had to be put down.)
The palace shared the news on social media on Monday, featuring a tender tribute and carousel of candid photos, accompanied by the caption: “A sad farewell to Beth, The Queen’s much-loved companion from @Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire.”
Beth was a Jack Russell Terrier adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in South London in 2011. She leavs behind a sister, Bluebell, Queen Camilla's second rescue Jack Russell Terrier who was also adopted from Battersea in 2012. Both dogs were immortalized in gold thread embroidery on Camilla’s coronation gown—a fitting tribute to two very good girls.
That’s it for me today! Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see this roundup-style newsletter become a routine offering. I might even throw in some personal life tidbits if it becomes part of our regular programming.
I loved this format! So many fun stories.
I don’t want to discourage your essay style writing because I absolutely love the academic yet thoughtful and fun articles. However, I really like this roundup. It was informative, no fuss, but still all “matta_of_fact” hehe. This was refreshing. I look forward to both styles of posts.