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King Charles banknotes go for 11 times face value

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Banknotes with a face value of £78,430 have raised more than 11 times that amount for charity following a series of auctions.

New £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes featuring King Charles III entered circulation in June.

A full set of the first issues were presented to the monarch, but hundreds of other low serial numbered banknotes have gone under the hammer.

One single £10 note with the serial number HB01 000002 sold for £17,000 during bidding.

During another lot, a sheet of 40 connected £50 notes – with a face value of £2,000 – sold for £26,000. That was a record for any Bank of England auction.

The four sales run by auctioneers Spink in London raised £914,127 in total.

Collectors seek banknotes which come as close to the 00001 serial number as possible, hence the large amounts raised.

When the notes entered circulation in June, the Post Office reported collectors visiting branches which had stocks of the notes during the first day. There was also an early queue outside the Bank of England in London.

Sarah John, the Bank’s chief cashier – whose signature is on the notes – said she was “thrilled” that such such a “remarkable” amount was raised.

The proceeds will be shared equally between 10 charities chosen by the Bank:

  • Childhood Trust
  • The Trussell Trust
  • Shout
  • Carers UK
  • Demelza
  • WWF-UK
  • The Brain Tumour Charity
  • London’s Air Ambulance Charity
  • Child Bereavement UK
  • The Samaritans.

It is the first time the monarch has changed on Bank of England notes, because Queen Elizabeth II was the first to routinely appear on Bank of England banknotes from 1960. The monarch does not feature on banknotes in Scotland.

Although the use of notes and coins is declining, the number of people mainly using cash for day-to-day spending hit a four-year high during the cost of living crisis, according to banking trade body UK Finance.

Post offices also reported handling a record amount of cash in July, with transactions totalling £3.77bn.

And HSBC has promised it will not announce any new closures of its bank branches until at least 2026.

Royal Family

Prince Breaking News: Harry unhappy in his marriage? Duke of Sussex not even a ‘Spare’ to his wife Meghan

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Prince Harry is apparently not doing too well these days. According to the royal family biographer Angela Levin, the Duke of Sussex is miserable in his marriage to actress Meghan Markle.

The Duke, who authored his memoir Spare, reflecting on his life growing up in the shadow of his brother William, the heir to the throne, is reportedly growing more discontent with his life in California.

In an interview with The Sun, Levin said that the younger Prince is desperate to return to his motherland. “You could say Harry is not even the spare to his wife.

He’s almost nothing. She (Meghan) treats him horrendously. If you look at the filming of them in Colombia and Africa, he is not asked anything. He’s pushed out of the way,” The Sun quoted Levin as saying.

Some friends of the Prince told the publication that he feels helpless and feels overshadowed by Meghan in public. During their recent trips to Nigeria in May and Colombia last month, Meghan, 43, took the spotlight.

Members of Harry’s close circle have observed that he appears to appreciate his frequent solo trips to the UK, as Meghan remains adamant about not visiting the country.

His recent attendance at the memorial for his uncle, Lord Fellowes, was well-received by his friends.

A source told The Sun, “Harry is increasingly feeling isolated in California, which is why he’s been reaching out to old friends in the UK.

The trip to Colombia also emphasized how easily Meghan takes center stage, while Harry seems withdrawn and visibly unhappy in the background.”

When Harry Accused The Royal Family Of Treating Him As A ‘Spare’ In his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’, Harry openly criticized his family, alleging that William physically attacked him during a heated argument.

He also revealed that William had labeled Meghan as “difficult,” “rude,” and “abrasive,” while claiming Kate Middleton, William’s wife, was unwelcoming towards her. Those close to Harry have noticed that he prefers traveling to the UK by himself, while Meghan consistently chooses not to visit.

Harry married Meghan in 2018, after dating for two years. Together, they have two kids – a son named Archie, and a daughter named Lilibet. Together, they have hosted numerous projects, including Markle’s podcast ‘Archetypes’.

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Royal Family

Prince Harry changed his birthday plan due to Kate Middleton’s health concerns

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Prince Harry is preparing for a major celebration as he approaches his 40th birthday in just a few days.

The Duke of Sussex will mark the milestone on Sunday with festivities that include time spent with his wife Meghan and their two children, as well as a getaway with friends, Mirror.

This contrasts sharply with how his life looked a decade ago. When he turned 30, Harry was still a working royal, unmarried, and had not yet met Meghan or started a family.

He was also close with his now-estranged brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate.

In the lead-up to his 30th birthday in 2014, William and Kate planned a small birthday dinner for Harry, inviting family members like Princesses Beatrice, Eugenie, and Zara Tindall, along with close friends at Kensington Palace.

However, the event was cancelled at the last minute. Shortly before his birthday, Kate, now the Princess of Wales, began experiencing severe morning sickness during her pregnancy with Princess Charlotte.

Kensington Palace confirmed that Kate was unwell due to her second pregnancy. Out of consideration for his sister-in-law’s condition, Harry decided to call off the party.

A source told the Mirror at the time: “Harry was in no doubt that the party should be postponed, even though 30 is an important milestone. Kate had been very involved in organising Harry’s party, and once she fell ill he felt it wrong to let the event go ahead.”

However, according to Vanity Fair, the party did later go ahead – but it was at Clarence House instead of Kensington Palace. King Charles is said to have sent champagne for guests to enjoy.

When it comes to his big birthday on Sunday, it has been reported that Harry will head off on the trip with some of his “closest pals” after marking his day – but Meghan will be staying at home with their two children.

But despite the lads’ trip, Harry will also take some time to spend his birthday with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet.

According to PEOPLE, the trip for close mates will take place after he has marked the day with his family at home in Montecito. Just yesterday, ahead of his big day, he told how he has found happiness in fatherhood.

“The best gift I’ve ever been given is, without a doubt, my kids,” he said. “I enjoy watching them grow every single day, and I love being their dad.”

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Kate Middleton and Prince William’s uncommon sleeping arrangements at Kensington Palace revealed

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The Prince and Princess of Wales, who this week shared a heartfelt video where Kate discussed her cancer journey and announced the completion of her chemotherapy treatment, rarely divulge details about their private life.

However, their living arrangements at Kensington Palace are not quite what one might assume.

Unlike most couples, they don’t sleep in an upstairs bedroom – a floor plan of their residence in Apartment 1A of the iconic London building reveals the location of the bedrooms.

The Royal couple and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, moved to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate in September 2022.

Their former home, which remains listed as the family’s official residence, has always been somewhat enigmatic. The main bedroom they used was located on the ground floor of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace.

This apartment, previously inhabited by Princess Margaret, boasts 20 rooms, four floors, its own lift, gym, and nine staff rooms. Late Royal author Christopher Warwick clarified why it’s referred to as an ‘apartment’ on True Royalty’s Royal Beat, stating:

“All of these royal residences at Kensington Palace are called apartments, which of course makes people immediately think they are flats like the American term for an apartment.”

“They are not. If you think of Kensington Palace in a way, it is built around three courtyards. If you kind of think of them as being these wonderful red brick terrace houses. Because they are all joined, but separate houses.”

The much-loved couple who recently touched hearts with a glimpse into their family life in an adorable video have given up Anmer Hall in Norfolk for the quieter and more modest life at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Adelaide Cottage, steeped in history, is tucked away within the Crown Estate’s private 655-acre park and was originally constructed in 1831 as a getaway spot for the consort of King William IV, Queen Adelaide – a home rife with a blend of charm and scandalous tales from the past.

Duchess of Cambridge entertains former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama in the Drawing Room of Apartment 1A Kensington Palace

Kate Middleton once entertained former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama in the Drawing Room of Apartment 1A Kensington Palace (  Image:  Getty)

This quaint residence, also once a beloved retreat of Queen Victoria who took a fancy to enjoying her breakfast there, has another claim to fame for housing one of the most intriguing past occupants, none other than Group Captain Peter Townsend.

Townsend, an ex-RAF pilot who later became an equerry to King George VI, was involved in a notorious romantic escapade with Princess Margaret. Their affair raised eyebrows, marred by the fact that Townsend was both a divorcee and 16 years her senior.

William and Kate with pet dog Orla

 

In a major refurbishment completed in 2015, Adelaide Cottage’s interior was significantly enhanced, boasting some extremely opulent decor. Reports suggest that the master bedroom features an ornate ceiling adorned with gilded dolphins intertwined with rope ornamentation.

After Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2018 nuptials, whispers circulated that the couple might make the cottage their new Windsor abode. The pair were reportedly drawn to the property’s privacy and proximity to London.

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