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The Royalist

The Daily Beast

They have glittering palaces, unreal fortunes, medieval crowns, and weird traditions. But what really makes the British royal family tick? Hidden secrets, unreal scandals, bitter feuds, wild rivalries, fantastic fashion… and, of course, corgis. Now Tom Sykes, the royal correspondent whose fearless reporting has delivered scoop after scoop on the Windsors is cracking open all the family’s secrets in an unmissable podcast: The Royalist. Nothing is off limits as Tom and his best-connected experts spill every drop of royal tea. From paranoid princes and disgraced dukes to haunted palaces and diva designers, this is insight into the royals people used to lose their heads to get. Make a royal appointment to join Tom in the throne room for The Royalist, every Wednesday.

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  • 33 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 58 min
  • English

Episodes 33

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  • S1 · E31
    Wednesday · 57 min

    Wild Truth About Ex-Prince Andrew's New Lover

    Prince Andrew’s bizarre new romance takes center stage as Tom Sykes reveals the wild story of how Andrew allegedly met his new girlfriend—including the shocking claim that she simply rang him up out of the blue. Tom and Paula Froelich ( @PaulaFroelich , https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) react to the unlikely “meet-cute,” and Tom reveals what this strange new relationship could mean for Andrew’s life in Norfolk. Plus, Tom sits down with Vogue contributing editor and novelist Plum Sykes to discuss Meghan Markle’s new British wardrobe, Harry’s style, and the royal fashion rules he thinks they should follow. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • October 9 · 51 min

    LIVE: How Ex-Prince Andrew Humiliated the Police: With Marcus Johnstone

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has just humiliated the police. The search warrants used to raid his homes on the Sandringham Estate and at Royal Lodge have been quashed. At the High Court on Thursday, Mr. Justice Hilliard confirmed that Thames Valley Police had agreed the warrants were unlawful. The force’s own explanation is that the decision to issue them “under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect.” In plain English: the warrants were issued under the wrong law by a judge at the Old Bailey, and it took a legal challenge from the former prince to expose it. This is the man who was arrested on his 66th birthday in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, over allegations that he may have shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while he was Britain’s trade envoy. He has not been charged and has always denied any wrongdoing. Now he has taken the police to court, and won. To make sense of it, I am joined once again by Marcus Johnstone of PCD Solicitors, one of the country’s leading criminal defense lawyers. What actually is a judicial review, and how hard is it to get one? How does a police force get something this basic so badly wrong in the most high-profile investigation in the country? What happens to everything the officers carried out of those houses (the police are now asking a court to let them keep it, at a private hearing next year)? Can evidence seized under an unlawful warrant still be used? And who is paying for all this (not, we are told, the King)? The judge was careful to say that quashing the warrants “does not bring an investigation to an end,” and the police insist their inquiry is ongoing. But has Andrew just moved a crucial step closer to getting off scot-free? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E30
    October 7 · 1 hr 5 min

    Why Harry and Meghan Are “Wildly Unhappy”

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making headlines again—and the latest royal drama could have major implications for their future. Former People and Us Weekly editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford reveals what he really thinks about the controversial photos of Harry and Meghan in a British pub, the possibility of a new Princess Diana documentary, and whether the Sussexes can actually win back the public. Tom Sykes and Paula Froelich ( @PaulaFroelich , https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) also break down Meghan’s expensive new cooker, her luxury lifestyle, and the growing questions about authenticity surrounding the Duchess of Sussex. Plus, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor takes legal action against police over searches of his homes. From Harry and Meghan’s UK return to Diana’s enduring legacy, this episode of The Royalist gets into the royal stories everyone is talking about. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code ROYALIST at https://www.oneskin.co/ROYALIST #oneskinpod Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • October 1 · 42 min

    LIVE: Palace Outrage Over Harry's Cynical "Terror" Link

    Royal insiders are furious after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attempted to link a routine paparazzi encounter outside a school to a major global terror threat. A former palace insider reveals exclusively to Tom Sykes that the Sussexes' alarmist narrative has gone down like a "cup of cold sick" behind palace walls. Plus: Meghan's bizarre $150 Christmas advent calendar launch, the mounting hypocrisy around their security claims, and why their latest PR offensive is causing pure exasperation among working royals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E29
    September 30 · 53 min

    Harry Humiliated by Boneheaded Blunder

    Harry and Meghan’s return to the public spotlight is raising eyebrows, and Harry’s latest appearance may have exposed just how badly their celebrity strategy is going. Tom Sykes and royal editor Robert Jobson (https://www.youtube.com/@Robert-Jobson-RE/videos) dissect the chaotic school visit that went viral, Harry’s increasingly awkward attempts to reestablish himself as a public figure, and the stark contrast between his events and Catherine and William’s polished royal appearances. Plus, Paula Froelich ( @PaulaFroelich , https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) reveals what Ari Emanuel’s brutal comments about Meghan really mean for her Hollywood future—and why the Sussexes may be struggling to find their place in the celebrity world. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • September 28 · 54 min

    LIVE: Princess Catherine's Triumphant Tea Party Is a Lesson to Harry After His 'Viral' School Visit Disaster

    At Windsor Castle, Catherine hosted an elegant tea party for some of the extraordinary young people who took on the same Three Peaks Challenge she completed in June for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Among them was 11-year-old Ted Haslam, left paralysed by a spinal tumour at the age of three, who conquered all three peaks in a wheelchair, pushed and carried by his father and a team of family and friends. It was the royal formula par excellence: a small, controlled event, people with real stories, one photographer, a good cause and not a whiff of self-promotion. Contrast that with Harry's visit to Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham to launch an Invictus Games schools programme. It went viral for all the wrong reasons after one pupil was filmed complaining, with disgusted astonishment, that there were "six cameras in my face." Another asked "Who is Prince Harry?" before the Duke walked in. Clips of pupils ignoring him as he gestured over their heads spread rapidly online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E28
    September 23 · 1 hr 3 min

    Charles' Plot to Smear Diana After Death Exposed

    On today’s episode of The Royalist with Tom Sykes, Tom is joined by journalist Paula Froelich (https://substack.com/@alisonboshoff) and legendary documentary maker Phil Craig for a deep dive into the latest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle drama, including Harry’s Invictus Games appearance, the question of his royal security, and whether he could return to official royal duties. Phil also revisits his explosive 2003 documentary Charles: The Battle With Diana, discussing the alleged palace campaign to reshape Princess Diana’s public image after her death, Earl Spencer’s new memoir Swan Song, King Charles III’s relationship with Diana, and how the royal family’s media strategy shaped the stories we remember today. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E27
    September 16 · 52 min

    Harry and Meghan's Dangerous Game Exposed

    Harry and Meghan’s royal comeback plans, security battle, and latest social media controversy take center stage on this episode of The Royalist. Tom Sykes is joined by gossip legend Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) to unpack the extraordinary story of Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth II’s longtime dresser, confidante, and gatekeeper—and the potential documentary that could finally reveal what she knows about life inside the royal family. Then, Daily Mail’s Editor At Large Alison Boshoff (https://substack.com/@alisonboshoff) joins Tom to discuss Harry’s apparent belief that he can return to the royal family, the palace’s alleged “Hawks vs. Doves” divide, his hopes for improved security, and Meghan’s revealing UK Instagram video that appeared to make their location surprisingly easy to identify. Plus, Tom and Alison examine whether Harry and Meghan are deliberately creating security risks, Meghan’s use of her children in her social media strategy, and the growing tensions surrounding the Sussexes’ relationship with the royal establishment. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E26
    September 9 · 53 min

    Why Harry is Already Dooming His Fresh Start

    Prince Harry is back in the UK, but according to royal journalist Charlotte Griffiths, he may be just as angry and resentful as ever. On this episode of The Royalist, Tom Sykes and Charlotte Griffiths examine Harry’s return, his ongoing feud with Prince William, his relationship with King Charles, and his increasingly close ties to Earl Spencer as the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death approaches. Plus, Tom is joined by Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) to discuss the departure of King Charles’ popular equerry Johnny Thompson and other senior members of the King’s inner circle, raising questions about what is really happening behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace. With the Diana anniversary, Christmas, and major royal events ahead, the tensions between Harry, Meghan Markle, William and the wider Royal Family could be heading for another explosive chapter. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E25
    September 2 · 54 min

    Harry and Meghan's Secret New Project Exposed

    What are Harry and Meghan filming? A new rumor swirling around their possible return to the UK suggests the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have a secret new project in the works. Tom Sykes and Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) investigate what sources are saying about Meghan’s potential film plans and reports of another documentary, while Plum Sykes shares the latest Cotswolds gossip about where Harry and Meghan could live, where Archie and Lilibet might go to school, and what their next move could mean for the royal family. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E24
    August 26 · 56 min

    Why Meghan Won’t Really Move To Hated UK

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading back to the United Kingdom—but is this really a royal reunion, or the beginning of a much bigger split? On this episode of The Royalist, Tom Sykes is joined by Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) to unpack the Sussexes’ return, Meghan’s rumored acting comeback, and what Harry’s move back to Britain could mean for their marriage and relationship with the Royal Family. They also discuss Harry’s departure from African Parks, the controversy surrounding the charity, Prince William’s increasingly difficult position, and whether Harry could eventually be welcomed back into the royal fold. Plus, Tom delivers a fiery Royal Roast of King Charles III over his handling of Harry and Meghan’s return, royal security, and the lack of clarity from Buckingham Palace. Is Harry really coming home for good—and could Meghan be staying behind? Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E23
    August 19 · 46 min

    How Harry Is Plotting His New Royal Future

    On this week’s episode of The Royalist, Tom Sykes is joined by Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) to unpack Prince Harry’s latest push to spend more time in the UK, his claims that he wants less “courtroom drama,” and what his renewed relationship with King Charles could mean for the future of the Sussexes—and the monarchy. They also examine David Foster’s defense of Harry and Meghan after their viral red-carpet moment, the growing divide between Charles and Prince William over reconciliation, the stakes for the Invictus Games, and why the King’s approach to Harry could be creating an even bigger royal mess. Plus, Tom goes inside Eton College as this week’s Royal Insider, sharing what Prince George can expect when he starts at the prestigious school—including its bizarre traditions, strict dress code, old-money culture, and what really happens on a new boy’s first night. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E22
    August 12 · 46 min

    Why This Royal Blunder Will Haunt William: Author

    Is King Charles making the same mistake with Prince Harry that Queen Elizabeth II made with Prince Andrew? On this episode of The Royalist, Tom Sykes is joined by Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) and legendary royal journalist Robert Jobson to unpack the latest royal drama, from Princess Eugenie’s new baby and Prince Andrew’s place in the line of succession to Meghan Markle’s controversial 45th birthday celebrations and her increasingly complicated relationship with the public. Robert Jobson also weighs in on whether King Charles could financially bail out Prince Harry over his legal battle with the Daily Mail, whether Harry’s return to the royal fold could create problems for Prince William, and the growing concerns over Charles putting family ahead of the monarchy. Plus, the latest on Meghan, Harry, the Royal Family, and the future of the British monarchy. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E21
    August 5 · 55 min

    This Is Why King Charles Is Now at Harry’s Mercy

    Did Prince Harry just make his boldest bid yet for a royal reconciliation? Tom Sykes and Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) break down Harry's reported push for King Charles to appear alongside him at the Invictus Games—and why they believe the move could be more about money, security, and public image than family healing. Then, bestselling royal author Valentine Low joins the show for an exclusive look at the retirement of Sir Clive Alderton, the King's powerful private secretary, revealing how the monarchy's most influential courtier shaped King Charles' reign, why he became one of Harry's biggest targets, and what his departure could mean for the future of the Royal Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E20
    July 29 · 56 min

    How Charles Is Jeopardizing William's Future

    Is King Charles making the biggest mistake of his reign? Tom Sykes is joined by Mark Dolan to break down whether Charles is enabling Prince Harry, what Harry's latest security battle really means, and why some believe it could create lasting problems for Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Then, Tom is joined by Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) as she explains Meghan Markle's surprising investment in the AI shopping platform OneOff and why it may be her smartest business move yet. From royal reconciliation to the future of the monarchy, this episode dives into the biggest royal stories, scandals, and debates shaping the House of Windsor. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E19
    July 22 · 1 hr 13 min

    Harry Given Shock Secret Path Back to Power

    Is Prince Harry quietly getting exactly what Queen Elizabeth II fought to prevent? Tom Sykes unpacks the royal drama surrounding Harry and Meghan's latest moves, why critics believe King Charles may be rewriting the rules, and what it could mean for Prince William's future. Plus, Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) joins the show to discuss Prince George's 13th birthday and the carefully crafted strategy behind the next generation of royals, before legendary royal journalist Robert Jobson delivers his unfiltered take on the biggest royal controversy of the year. Follow Tom Sykes on Substack: https://theroyalist.substack.com/ Follow Paula Froelich on Substack: https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@UCwTpOeo2LHGrPT4CUn_zmUw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E18
    July 15 · 1 hr 1 min

    This Is What The Royals Are Really Like

    After one of the wildest weeks in royal news, Tom Sykes is joined by veteran royal insider Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton for a rare and revealing conversation about his years serving the Queen Mother, Prince William, and Prince Harry. Jamie shares behind-the-scenes stories from planning William and Catherine's royal wedding, reflects on Harry's surprising tribute to him in Spare, explains why he believes the Princess of Wales has the same steady qualities as the Queen Mother, and discusses why he's confident in the monarchy's future. Plus, Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) breaks down Meghan Markle's latest fashion controversy, Prince Harry's legal troubles, and King Charles' headline-making reunion with his son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E17
    July 8 · 1 hr 1 min

    Harry’s UK Trip Ends In Disaster

    Prince Harry suffers a devastating legal blow as veteran royal correspondent Valentine Low joins Tom Sykes to break down the Duke of Sussex's crushing courtroom defeat, what it means for Harry's future, and why the ruling could reshape his battle with the British press. Plus, Tom reveals the inside story behind his new book The Dukes of Hazard, Paula Froelich (@paulafroelich, https://thescoopwithpaulafroelich.substack.com/) shares surprising new revelations about Prince Edward's secret five-year romance with actress Ruthie Henshall, and the panel dives into King Charles, Prince William, Meghan Markle, Buckingham Palace, and the latest royal drama making headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • S1 · E16
    July 1 · 49 min

    Why Meghan and Harry's Blackmail Scheme is Working

    Could King Charles be quietly rewriting Megxit? This week, Tom Sykes is joined by Daily Mail Editor-at-Large Alison Boshoff to unpack the reported plans for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the U.K., why their security dispute has thrown the visit into chaos, and whether the Palace is preparing to welcome the Sussexes back into the royal fold. Plus, Princess Catherine completes a remarkable charity challenge following her cancer recovery, Prince William shares touching memories of Queen Elizabeth II, and we discuss what Harry's rumored comeback could mean for King Charles, Prince William, and the future of the monarchy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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