United News of Bangladesh

No one stands above the monarchy — not even the king’s own brother. That principle has now brought an end to Prince Andrew’s royal status. As controversy surrounding Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to mount, and as lawmakers questioned his rent-free stay at the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, King Charles III took decisive action on Thursday to protect the institution’s reputation. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the king announced that Andrew had been stripped of all his royal titles and honors, including his birthright as “prince.” From now on, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has also been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-room residence he has occupied for more than two decades. Read more: Princess Kate says sorry for manipulated family photo, saying she was experimenting with editing “The monarchy needed to draw the thickest possible line between Andrew and the rest of the royal family,” said Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. “And that’s exactly what the king has done.” A Decisive Break The king’s move followed an earlier, less formal agreement that Andrew would cease using his titles — a step that failed to stem a surge of negative headlines. The continued media scrutiny and calls from Parliament for further sanctions threatened to trigger a public debate about Andrew’s conduct. Charles’s decision comes as he, at 76 and undergoing treatment for cancer, seeks to strengthen the monarchy and stabilize it for his heir, Prince William. “This was clearly about putting the royal house in order, both now and for the future,” said George Gross, a royal historian at King’s College London. “It makes things easier for Prince William — and it always felt inevitable.” Scandal Still Looms While the king’s actions may protect the monarchy’s image, they do not resolve Andrew’s legal and reputational troubles. Renewed attention to his past was sparked by the release of a memoir from Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and coerced into having sex with Andrew when she was 17. Giuffre, who had been living in Australia, died by suicide earlier this year. Read more: Prince Harry says William called Meghan “difficult, rude and abrasive” before physical attack Her brother, Sky Roberts, praised her efforts to expose both Epstein and Andrew, and called for the prince’s prosecution. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations. Historian Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told the BBC that he expects further revelations and possible investigations into Andrew’s conduct, including potential abuses of public office. “I don’t think it’s over — but at least the palace is taking firm action,” Lownie said. A Troubled Past Andrew, 65, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, served over 20 years in the Royal Navy before becoming a full-time royal in 2001. His career and reputation have long been clouded by controversy. In 2007, he sold a home near Windsor Castle for 20% above its £15 million asking price to Timur Kulibayev, the Kazakh president’s son-in-law, raising concerns about potential influence-peddling. His connections to figures linked to Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi also prompted his removal as the UK’s special trade envoy. Read more: Harry and Meghan slam British tabloids in new Netflix series Despite these scandals, Andrew was long protected by the queen, who was said to have had a soft spot for her son. That protection crumbled after his disastrous 2019 BBC interview, in which he failed to express sympathy for Epstein’s victims and offered implausible denials. Public backlash forced him to give up all official duties and charity roles soon after. Now, King Charles has completed the separation by severing Andrew’s remaining royal ties. He will be relocated to the king’s private Sandringham estate after vacating the Royal Lodge — a long-disputed residence he had refused to surrender. A Monarchy in Transition Experts say the decision reflects a broader shift in how the royal family is adapting to modern accountability. Craig Prescott noted that while public criticism of the monarchy was muted during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, Charles faces greater scrutiny and a more demanding public. “This marks a transition toward a monarchy that functions more like a public institution — subject to oversight and public expectation,” Prescott said. “There was both public and parliamentary pressure for the king to act, and he has done so.” Read more: Kate, Princess of Wales, says she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy

Following the Princess of Wales' statement that she had cancer, King Charles said he was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did." Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer following a treatment for an enlarged prostate, is still in "closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law," according to Buckingham Palace, reports CNN. Prince Harry, Meghan hope Kate and family can heal ‘privately and in peace’ "Both Their Majesties will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time," said the palace. The princess's health status was updated following her successful operation on her abdomen on January 16. She stayed in a London hospital for 13 days after the operation and, per the doctor's suggestion, has been away from the public eye during her recovery, the report said. What is known about Kate's cancer diagnosis Kate was seen in public for the first time since January, when she went to a farm store with her husband Prince William last weekend. Kate, Princess of Wales, says she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have wished Catherine, Princess of Wales, "health and healing" after she announced her cancer diagnosis. Prince Harry and Meghan expressed hope that Catherine and her family may heal "privately and in peace" in a brief statement, reports BBC. Catherine described the news as a "huge shock" after a "incredibly tough couple of months" on Friday. She stated that she was "well" and "getting stronger every day". The specifics of the cancer have not been disclosed. According to Kensington Palace, the princess is sure that she will fully recover, the report said. What is known about Kate's cancer diagnosis Catherine had abdominal surgery in January, although the presence of cancer was unknown at the time. Following testing indicated the presence of cancer. Harry and Meghan stood down as senior royals in January 2020. They moved to California in June, citing a need for more room to raise their son, Archie. Lilibet, the second child, was born the following year. King Charles was also recently diagnosed with cancer, and Harry went to London in early February to meet his father just one day after he began treatment. He did not meet his older brother during the trip. King Charles ‘proud of Catherine for her courage’ Harry's relationship with his brother is said to have deteriorated since he made the announcement that he was leaving his royal responsibilities, the report also said. Harry talked about his falling out with William in his book, “Spare”. In recent years, the brothers have rarely been seen together.

A protester was arrested Wednesday after hurling eggs and vitriol at King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, as they walked in the northern England city of York. The incident happened as the king and his wife were entering York through Micklegate Bar, a medieval gateway where monarchs are traditionally welcomed to the city. Video footage showed several eggs in motion and smashed on the ground. None appeared to hit the royal couple, who continued to greet crowds. Several police officers could be seen grappling with a man at a crowd barrier. Britain’s PA news agency reported that he booed and shouted “This country was built on the blood of slaves” as he was being detained. Read: First coins featuring King Charles III unveiled Other members of the crowd tried to drown him out by chanting “Shame on you” and “God save the King.” Charles and Camilla traveled to York as part of a series of engagements around the U.K. marking the start of the new king’s reign. They also visited the city’s cathedral, York Minster, and unveiled a statue of the king’s mother. Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September after 70 years on the throne.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday attended a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III at Buckingham Palace with other world leaders. King Charles and his wife Queen Consort Camilla hosted the reception for the presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs from around the world. Hasina was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana. Read: PM tells BBC: Free, fair elections are held only during AL’s tenure Around 500 guests attended the reception. New King Charles, joined by Queen Consort Camilla, hosted world leaders, foreign royals and dignitaries who have travelled to Britain for the state funeral on Monday. Other members of the Royal Family including Prince William, Kate, Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex, Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attended the event. Read: PM to leave London Monday after attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem while briefing the reporters said that the premier had a long parley with the new King and the Queen Consort. She said that they remembered the late Queen Elizabeth. Muna said, the prime minister said that Queen Elizabeth was not onLy the mother of the new King Charles, she was also a mother-like figure to her. Read: “It seems a guardian is gone”: PM pays last respect to Queen Elizabeth II Hasina congratulated the new King. Muna said the King and the Queen Consort both expressed regrets  that their scheduled visit to Bangladesh in October has to be postponed.  The high commissioner quoted Camilla as saying that she had a plan to visit Sylhet and the Sundarbans. Read Buckingham Palace calling: King Charles thanks PM Hasina, wishes Bangladeshis well She said that Bangladesh prime minister exchanged greetings with her counterparts of the UK, Canada and New Zealand, Queen of the Netherlands, Presidents of India and Nepal, and other world leaders. Earlier on Sunday morning,  Hasina along with her younger sister Rehana went to the Palace of Westminster to pay their last respect to the late Queen where the body of Elizabeth II was kept in the lying-in-state. Hasina arrived in London on an official visit to the United Kingdom on September 15 to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Read When Bollywood actor Padmini Kolhapure kissed King Charles

King Charles III has thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for personally attending his ‘most beloved mother’s’ state funeral, to be held on Monday morning. In a telephone call from Buckingham Palace this evening, the new King conveyed his gratitude to the PM. According to a press release, Charles, who long held the Prince of Wales title as heir to the throne, also thanked the President, as head of state, the Prime Minister, and also the people of Bangladesh for their sincere condolences and sympathies to the Royal family following the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Read: UK Awami League greets PM Hasina in London During the call, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Her late Majesty was like a mother figure to me and an extraordinary head of the Commonwealth. To pay my personal tribute to her, I decided to attend her state funeral.” The prime minister also informed the new monarch that in Bangladesh, her government observed three days of state mourning as a mark of respect to the late Queen, while special prayers were offered for her eternal peace. She also took the opportunity to personally felicitate King Charles III on his accession to the throne, and wished him a long and prosperous reign. Recalling his visit to Bangladesh in 1997, the PM conveyed that Bangladesh had been preparing to welcome him and Camilla, now the Queen Consort, again in just a matter of weeks, at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations. Read: PM felicitates UK’s new king, looks forward to excellent friendship King Charles III said, “The Queen Consort and I were so much looking forward to our visit to Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary. However, due to the recent turn of events, unfortunately we are having to cancel it.” The King also extended his best wishes for the people of Bangladesh and the British-Bangladeshi diaspora.  Buckingham Palace, official residence of the British monarch, arranged the phone call for the new King to personally speak to Prime Minister Hasina.        

It was a kiss that hogged media limelight in India and Britain in the early 1980s when social media was a distant dream. Bollywood actor Padmini Kolhapure posted the kiss on the cheek of King Charles, then a Prince and heir to the British throne, after garlanding him as the latter visited the sets of her 1981 film 'Ahista Ahista' in Mumbai. Read: After a lifetime of preparation, Charles takes the throne The kiss not only became the talk of the town in India and also made the Bollywood actor famous in Britain as the "woman who kissed Prince Charles". "It was just a peck on the cheek...the media took it somewhere else. It was no big deal," Kolhapure had later said in an interview with a local media outlet. Kolhapure began acting as a child artiste in 1972 at the age of 7. In 1976 and 1977, she acted in two hit flicks -- 'Zindagi' and 'Dream Girl', respectively. But she hogged limelight for her role in 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. Read: At age 73, Charles becomes King She became a sensation when iconic filmmaker Raj Kapoor cast her as the lead heroine in 'Prem Rog' in 1982 opposite his son Rishi Kapoor. Kolhapure went on to give box office hits with her performances in 'Vidhaata' (1982), 'Souten' (1983) and 'Pyar Jhukta Nahin' (1985). She later forayed into the regional Marathi films.