Royal Update: Diana's long-lost letter, new photos of a future King and more


New photos marking Prince George's seventh birthday, the story behind Princess Beatrice's wedding dress and a long-lost letter from Princess Diana: Here's all the royal news you may have missed this week...

HARRY AND MEGHAN FILE ANOTHER LAWSUIT: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have filed a lawsuit in California accusing unnamed paparazzi photographers of flying drones over their home in LA several times a day to take 'illegal' photos of their 14-month-old son Archie.

The couple claim photographers have also flown helicopters over friend Tyler Perry’s $18 million megamansion where they have lived since March - and even cut holes in a fence to take pictures.

Meghan and Harry say they expect to be followed when they go out in public, but state that 'certain paparazzi and enablers have crossed a red line’ when it comes to their young son.

NEW PHOTOS OF PRINCE GEORGE RELEASED: Kate Middleton has been behind the camera again - this time to take photos of her eldest son Prince George, which were released to mark the future British King’s seventh birthday on July 22.

In the new snaps, taken at the family’s Norfolk home Anmer Hall, George showcases a toothy grin and windswept hair, but looks to be growing up fast!

THE STORY BEHIND BEATRICE’S GORGEOUS GOWN: Princess Beatrice wasn’t actually supposed to wear the Queen’s dress on her wedding day to Edo Mapelli Mozzi, it has been revealed.

The Queen’s granddaughter, affectionately known as Bea, borrowed the vintage gown for her secret nuptials in Windsor on Friday, July 17 after she had a 'last-minute change of heart about the original dress' she had planned on wearing.

A source said: ‘Beatrice made a request to borrow a dress from the Queen, that was kindly granted - and it looked amazing. It was a last minute decision that was touching for both of them.’

PRINCE PHILIP MAKES AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE: The Duke of Edinburgh briefly came out of retirement this week to take part in a rare official public engagement as he transferred his role as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles to the Duchess of Cornwall. The 99-year-old, who has been rarely seen in public since he retired in 2017, made sure to observe social distancing. He was nearly 100 miles apart from his daughter-in-law Camilla, as they both carried out ceremonies to mark the historic occasion.

Philip, 99, looked sprightly and in better health than he has in years, and showed he’s lost none of his mischievous sense of humor when he joked with a soldier about his fitness levels.

THE QUEEN IS OFF ON HOLIDAY: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will travel to Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire for their annual summer break in early August, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Her Majesty, 94, has been self-isolating in Windsor Castle since March but is now set to travel to Scotland alongside husband Philip, 99, next month.

Other members of the royal family are set to join them for the traditional summer get-together, but this time they will not be able to be close to the monarch, who will be strictly observing social distancing rules.

LOST PRINCESS DIANA LETTER EMERGES: A letter written by Princess Diana as she turned 30 has revealed her then-hopes for the future before her untimely and tragic death in August 1997 at the age of just 36.

In the handwritten note to her friend Dudley Poplak, Diana wondered ‘what the next 10 years will bring,’ adding: ‘The last 10 I have learnt a great deal in an interesting way!'  

The letter, on Kensington Palace-headed notepaper, has emerged 29 years later after it was put up for public auction by a retired autograph and manuscripts dealer. It is being sold by David Lay Auctioneers of Penzance, Cornwall in the UK.