The Duke of Edinburgh was due to attend a special engagement with his older brother King Charles at St James’s Palace today
16:07, 24 Feb 2026Updated 16:08, 24 Feb 2026
Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, did not appear alongside the King today(Image: Getty Images)
Prince Edward has pulled out of a major royal event with King Charles. The Duke of Edinburgh was due to join his brother, King Charles, sister, Princess Anne, and sister-in-law, Queen Camilla, at St James’s Palace today. The prestigious ceremony saw King Charles present the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.
However, Prince Edward was unable to attend after coming down with a cold, reports The Mirror. The Prince’s most recent royal duties took place in Italy, where he attended several events at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and watched the snowboarding competition.
Today’s event at St James’ Palace was the largest gathering of royals since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest last Thursday, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attending the awards ceremony.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
The former prince spent 11 hours in custody on his 66th birthday while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and his former Windsor home in Berkshire before he was released under investigation. Andrew denies any allegations of wrongdoing against him.
Today’s event today saw 19 universities and colleges from across the UK recognised for their innovation and excellence across a range of subject areas.
London Metropolitan University was rewarded for its world-leading research unit dedicated to ending violence against women and girls nationally and internationally – through interdisciplinary research, police intervention, criminal justice reform, and improved support of survivors.
At a reception after the ceremony, Camilla – who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse – met with members of the unit and shared a brief conversation with Professor Fiona Vera-Grey, co-director of the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU), and senior research fellow Jo Lovett.
Mingling with around 200 guests at the awards reception, Charles, Camilla, and Anne appeared relaxed following a turbulent few days for the monarchy.
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