It’s business as usual for royals as Harry gets ready to pack
PRINCE Harry may be preparing to rejoin his wife Meghan in Canada after carrying out his official engagements this week but other members of his family were knuckling down to the day job yesterday.
The Duke of Cambridge presided over an investiture at Buckingham Palace and congratulated Alex Duguid, a deaf MBE recipient, using sign language.
He was seen spelling “Congratulatons Alex” to TV interpreter Mr Duguid, who replied “Thank you”.
Thrilled
William, 37, also handed awards to former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss, who picked up a knighthood, and former FA vice-chairman David Gill, who collected a CBE for services to football.
Mr Gill revealed that the future King, an Aston Villa fan, was worried about his team being relegated.
“I’ve been lucky enough to meet him a few times and talk about football. He was more worried about Aston Villa and how they’re going to finish this season,” he said.
Rapper and singer M.I.A. – real name Mathangi Arulpragasam – was thrilled to be made an MBE .
In Scotland, the Duchess of Cornwall presented Princess communities. Charles travels to Israel and Palestine for his first official tour next week, breaking new ground when he joins world leaders to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau. Charles, who is one of only five international figureheads who have been asked to address the historic gathering, will honour the memory of all those who were killed in the Holocaust.
A royal source said: “It’s business as usual for the rest of the family, who are dedicated to the task ahead no matter what the journey.”
Anne with an honorary degree for her charity work.
Camilla, chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, joked there would be “no talk of rivalry” as she presented the honour to her sister-in-law, who is chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.
Camilla, known as the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, said: “I am not sure if there is a collective noun for chancellors but my sister-in-law is, of course, also chancellor of another great Scottish university, the University of Edinburgh.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we shall have no talk of rivalry today. But I might just casually observe that, while we are to celebrate our 525th birthday next month, the University of Edinburgh is comparatively youthful – a mere 437 years old.”
The University of Aberdeen was founded in February 1495 – which Camilla said “by happy coincidence” was the year of the earliest written record of the distillation of Scotch whisky.
The Duchess later attended the official opening of Banchory Sports Village on Royal Deeside, where the royals traditionally spend a summer break at Balmoral Castle.
Camilla presents honorary degree to Princess Royal
William honours the FA’s David Gill