The Royal Beat Podcast

Following King Charles III’s 77th birthday, this True Royalty Original delves into the plans the King is making for the future. Despite his cancer diagnosis nearly two years ago, King Charles has been busier than ever, travelling to Poland, Canada, Italy, and the Vatican, and making history by praying with Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel—the first public prayer between a British monarch and a p...

Six years on from Andrew Windsor‘s infamous BBC Newsnight interview, we tell the inside story of how the former prince defended his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent victims of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking ring. In this True Royalty Original, host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Ailsa Anderson, F...

The Prince and Princess of Wales have brought forward the move-in date of their new home, Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, but what does this choice of residence say about them and the life they wish to lead? In this True Royalty Original, host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by Hannah Fernando, Group Editor of woman&home and Dr Ed Owens, Historian and Author to reveal all the secrets of...

Why are Catherine and Meghan so often pitted against one another? This True Royalty Original delves into the comparison culture that has shaped their public relationship and asks whether media narratives helped fuel real-life tensions between the two duchesses. From expectations of sisterhood to the battle for headlines, we uncover how the ‘Team Kate vs Team Meghan’ mentality emerged and the toll...

Which royal residences are the most haunted? In this Halloween special, host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by royal historians, Professor Kate Williams and Gareth Russell to uncover the brutal murders, myths and mysteries that have haunted royal households for centuries - dusting off the ghosts of King Henry VIII’s wives, Catherine Howard and Jane Seymour as well as a servant called Sybil Penn...

What does it take to work in the house and gardens of a royal residence? In this True Royalty Original, host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined in the studio by Grant Harrold, Author of ‘The Royal Butler: My remarkable life of royal service’ and Jack Stooks, former Senior Gardener who both worked for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House and Gardens. Grant shares how...

How did the relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry deteriorate so dramatically? This True Royalty Original show explores the breakdown of their once-close bond. From Harry's childhood trauma to his departure from royal life, we examine the key moments that drove the father and son apart. Host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by the Mail On Sunday's Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths...

Over the course of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II was served by 15 prime ministers, meeting with them on a weekly basis. Although these meetings were confidential, the Queen was famously able to ‘encourage or warn’ whilst always remaining politically neutral. The unique relationship that she enjoyed with her prime ministers began with Winston Churchill in 1952 when she ascended to the thron...

How close did Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, remain to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein — even after publicly cutting ties? This True Royalty Original uncovers newly leaked emails suggesting that their connection may have lasted longer than she claimed. From her 2011 apology for accepting Epstein’s money to her later words calling him a “steadfast” and “supreme friend,” we explore whether the...

Three years after Queen Elizabeth II's passing, this True Royalty Original show reflects on that historic day and how it changed Britain forever. From the carefully orchestrated announcements to the nation's collective grief, we examine how the death of the longest-serving sovereign unfolded and its lasting impact on the royal family and the Commonwealth. On September 8, 2022, the world watched as...

Royal Beat is on a short break - so whilst we're away please enjoy this True Royalty Original. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said Princess Diana was "the most insecure woman" she'd ever met. This True Royalty Original examines the psychological struggles behind Diana's public facade, exploring her battles with self-doubt, eating disorders, and constant need for approval. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen h...

With Royal Beat on a short holiday - please enjoy this True Royalty Original Podcast. Who is the Real Meghan?  From Hollywood starlet to royal duchess and now global businesswoman, Meghan Markle remains one of the most divisive figures in the British Royal Family. But who is the real Meghan? In this explosive True Royalty Original, host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen digs beneath the glossy headline...

In this episode of The Royal Beat – Book Club , Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by royal commentator Afua Hagan, cultural historian Dr Benjamin Wild, and author Jane Eastoe ( The Times: British Royal Fashion ) for an in-depth discussion on royal fashion and style. Together, they explore how the fashion of the British Royal Family has evolved over the decades, from the Queen’s timeless wardrobe c...

On this episode of The Royal Beat Collection , we explore Meghan Markle’s new life and career five years after stepping back from the Royal Family. From Meghan’s podcast and television projects to her lifestyle brand ventures - including jam, flower sprinkles, and more. Our royal experts analyse how the Duchess of Sussex is building her business empire. Has Meghan and Prince Harry’s move away from...

In this episode of The Royal Beat - Book Club, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II Ailsa Anderson, the Mail on Sunday's Editor in Chief Charlotte Griffiths, and Craig Brown, the author of A Voyage Around The Queen, to turn the pages and uncover a different perspective of the late Queen. The Royal Beat presents the most seminal books on royalty! Led by...

With President Macron's State Visit to the UK just days away, on this episode of The Royal Beat - Collection, find out how King Charles has navigated politics and diplomacy on previous international visits. From banquets to gifts, highs to lows, diplomatic miracles to diplomatic disasters - the show also uncovers the ways the UK and other nations celebrate their ties and shared interests. Follow f...

In this episode of The Royal Beat - Back In Time, delve into the lives of two cousins who both became King - Richard II and Henry IV. Find out what drove King Richard's increasingly erratic behaviour and uncover how his upbringing left him woefully ill-prepared to rule, compared to his cousin Henry who had everything he needed to be a great King - except a claim to the throne. Sarah Hewson present...

This week we go outdoors to discuss royal gardens. From the educational and scientific realms of Kew, to The Castle of Mey’s more personal and intimate feel, we look at what makes these gardens so beautiful and discuss their importance when it comes to conservation. This show covers everything from the effects climate change is having on our royal green spaces to King Charles’s involvement at High...

This week on The Royal Beat - Back In Time our fabulous new presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by historians Professor Kate Williams, Gareth Russell and Lady Anne Somerset whose book ‘Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers’ casts a fresh light on Victoria's relationships with the 10 men who led the Government during her reign. We reflect on Queen Victoria’s ever-changing political journey...

The Royal Beat - Book Club is back with a new presenter! In this episode Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by two royal biographers - Ingrid Seward and Hugo Vickers - and historian Tessa Dunlop whose book ‘Elizabeth and Philip: The Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchy’ explores how their relationship shaped the course of British History. She was ''sugar pink'' innocence; he was a handsome wa...

On this week’s episode of The Royal Beat: Back In Time, we discuss royal figures around the world from their childhood up until their 18th birthday. From young Empress Matilda who shaped the fate of the nations, to Elizabeth I who exceeded all expectations, we explore the lives of some pretty notable teenagers. Presenter Kate Thornton is joined by historians Dr Elizabeth Norton, Professor Kate Wil...

On the Royal Beat - Book Club this week, the panel discuss the impact of Prince Harry's best selling memoir Spare. With the paperback version having just been released, Kate Thornton is joined by Royal commentator Afua Hagan, NBC’s Royal Commentator Daisy McAndrew, and Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston, to recount the details, drama and royal revelations in this blockbuster of a bo...

What if the monarch's eldest daughters - instead of their sons - had been crowned throughout history? This week on The Royal Beat: Back in Time we ask exactly that. Kate Thornton is joined by historians Dr Fern Riddell, Kate McCaffrey and author of 'Regina, The Queens Who Could Have Been' Emily Murdoch Perkins. From the wildly independent daughter of a medieval King to the woman who launched the T...

This week on The Royal Beat: Book Club, guest presenter Sarah Hewson is joined by Author Katie Nicholl, Royal Biographer Ingrid Seward, and former Spokesperson to Queen Elizabeth II, Dickie Arbiter, to discuss the legacy of Elizabeth II. Two years on from both the late Queen's death, and the publication of Katie's book 'The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown', the gue...

Kate Thornton is joined by historians Alison Weir, Nicola Tallis and Sarah Gristwood to discuss the dramatic life of England's first ruling Queen, Mary I - often known as 'Bloody Mary'. From her father Henry VIII's multiple marriages, to England's break from the Catholic Church, we discover how close Mary came to losing everything before finally winning the crown, and gaining her bloody reputation...