When the Queen visited Italy in October 2000, a team of journalists from La Republica was seconded to discover what exactly it is that lurks in the famous royal handbag.

Suffice to say they weren’t in for any shocks. The answer, delivered beneath a banner headline reading 'The Mystery Is Solved!' would have come as no surprise to the monarch's female subjects: lipstick!

Now comes the sale of a royal bag which, far from simply being hung on a queenly arm, was actually stitched by an equally celebrated monarch as Elizabeth II.

While the Queen is clearly very aware that the world is in the midst of a global recession, it might be wise if somebody reminded her son and heir of the seemingly dire situation.

It’s been revealed that Prince Charles is planning to stage his own ‘Great Exhibition’ in Hyde Park.

A court in America has heard how the ‘Queen of New York’ welcomed Camilla Parker Bowles into high society with the words: "You’re keeping this mistress business in the family."

The comment was allegedly made by one of America’s most famous and outspoken socialites, Brooke Astor as the then Mrs Parker Bowles attended a luncheon in New York in 1999.

Prince William and Kate Middleton regularly invite a select group of friends to join them at London’s most exclusive nightclubs. However, it appears the future king’s girlfriend may not have been so welcoming of a lady who has been digging into her private life...

I'm thrilled to say that Calyx TV has again come up trumps for us, for our friends and colleagues have once more driven many miles, this time to Windsor, where they were on hand to capture the happy family scene which played out a few hours ago as the Earl and Countess of Wessex made a very rare public appearance with their children.

As keen royal watchers will appreciate, this is the first time that 5-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and her brother, 17-month old Viscount James Severn, have been captured on film since their births in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

Sign-in or sign-up to The Royalist now to enjoy our lovely, world exclusive video - plus extensive, high quality photo galleries - of a family who are a true credit to the sadly divorce-ridden House of Windsor.

While Buckingham Palace prefers to suggest the decision was made solely by the monarch, just over a decade ago the Queen is believed to have been politely advised by her then Prime Minister, John Major, to finally begin paying taxes like the rest of the country.

Now it seems Her Majesty is laying down the law to her latest Prime Minister over the expenses scandal which has rocked the British Parliament.

Despite the presence of visiting tabloid newspaper editor Piers Morgan inside Kensington Palace, a teenage Prince William shared with Diana, Princess of Wales an off-colour joke he'd seen on the BBC’s Have I Got News For You about the then Camilla Parker Bowles.

How very different it is in Spain, where it appears nobody is laughing at the ongoing censorship of any remotely anti-monarchist sentiments in the national media....

He spends many of his weekends on the polo field and numerous evenings in London’s most exclusive and expensive nightclubs.

Nevertheless, a close friend of Prince Harry has told an American magazine that the third-in-line to the throne is "down to earth".

While the British electorate are fuming at the huge expenses claims of Members of Parliament, some sections of society are known to be equally angry about the cost of protecting junior members of the Royal Family from potential harm.

In a timely leak which has (surprise, surprise!) pushed the MPs themselves off the headline story, the London Evening Standard has been told by sources that a review is under way over the use of round-the-clock bodyguards by such royals as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Clarence House has today confirmed that Prince Harry will make an official visit to New York later this month.

The two-day trip will begin on Friday 29th May and is the first by the 24-year-old prince to the United States.