Britain’s Prince Harry declared he was “thrilled” as he and bride-to-be Meghan Markle made their first appearance in public since the announcement of their engagement.

Prince Harry designed Meghan Markle's engagement ring himself, using diamonds which belonged to his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Queen's private secretary has confirmed he is leaving but says he is confidently handing on the job, knowing the monarch's "unwavering commitment as sovereign" has the "full and active" support of her family.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have formally welcomed the King of Spain to the UK with a military spectacle full of pomp and pageantry.

Latest: The Duke of Edinburgh, who is 95, will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

"Thankfully, the crocodile didn't affect our operations at all."

Tributes have been pouring in for the actor who played R2D2 in the Star Wars films, who died at the age of 81.

The Queen has celebrated her 90th birthday by greeting well-wishers outside Windsor Castle.

Ahead of today’s President’s Cup match in Cork, President Michael D Higgins sits down to talk football with Liam Mackey and the result is a conversation encompassing the League of Ireland, Fifa, Roy Keane, Jose Mourinho and Kofi Annan, as well as Seamus Coleman meeting the Duke of Edinburgh, that Jon Walters selfie and how he’d like to see Ireland play at Euro 2016.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

OUR unionist neighbours in Northern Ireland and the overwhelming population of the UK as a whole yesterday celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s milestone in becoming Britain’s longest serving monarch.

ENGLAND: A London skyscraper that made headlines for reflecting sunlight at an intensity that melted parts of a Jaguar car in the street below has been awarded the annual Carbuncle Cup that highlights perceived architectural horrors.

Footage showing the Queen of England performing a Nazi salute as a child could have been accidentally leaked by Buckingham Palace, it has been reported.

Disgraced PR guru Max Clifford has failed to block a privacy claim brought against him by former royal butler Paul Burrell.

Britain’s Duke of Edinburgh is courting controversy for apparently using some fruity language as he seemed to lose patience with a dithering photographer.

Princess Charlotte was christened in front of the Queen and close family and friends at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Norfolk.

Britain’s Princess Charlotte will be christened tomorrow in front of Queen Elizabeth II and close family.

Proud father, England's Duke of Cambridge, said he was “very happy” following the birth his newborn baby daughter.

Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has brought forward a challenge to his leadership to tomorrow in the interests of ending uncertainty about his government’s direction.

The fight over conservative Australian prime minister Tony Abbott’s leadership broke out into the open today, with a member of his party triggering a potential challenge next week.

The Australian prime minister has defended his decision to honour the Duke of Edinburgh with a knighthood, despite a social media backlash in which many said they thought the news was a joke.

The Queen led Britain in honouring members of the armed forces killed in conflict as Remembrance Sunday services took place around the country yesterday.

The Queen led Britain in honouring members of the armed forces killed in conflict as Remembrance Sunday services took place around the country and in former war zones today.

Burberry shareholders have staged a major revolt in protest at a multi-million pound pay package for the luxury brand’s new chief executive.

The Queen has resisted the urge to interfere in a bloody power battle on her trip to the North.

Belfast should be an example to the world of people overcoming differences, Britain's Queen Elizabeth said during her tour of the city.

The public nature of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh’s latest visit to the North reflects changing times in the region, Stormont’s First Minister has said.

It was a state visit that changed the state of relations between Ireland and Britain for good. Here are some things we noticed along the way.

IT WAS a historic week: Michael D went to meet the Queen; Martin Mac went to meet the Queen; Tommie Gorman went to meet the Queen.

The Queen will bid farewell to the President Michael D Higgins today, drawing to a close an historic four-day state visit to the UK.

President Michael D Higgins has hailed his “memorable” historic state visit to the UK as “so positive, so uplifting and so hopeful”.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is expected to attend a reception hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle today.

A return to Ireland by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is looking increasingly likely after the success of President Michael D Higgins’ visit to London.

Northern Ireland deputy first minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness has rebuked Norman Tebbit for saying he hopes he is shot in the back for attending a State banquet at the invitation of the Queen.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has angrily accused the UK's the former Conservative chairman Norman Tebbit of publicly encouraging the assassination of Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness has rebuked Norman Tebbit for saying he hopes he is shot in the back for attending a State banquet at the invitation of the Queen.

The Queen has said that Britain and Ireland shall “no longer allow our past to ensnare our future” at a historic state banquet in honour of President Michael D Higgins.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has said that Britain and Ireland shall “no longer allow our past to ensnare our future” at a historic state banquet in honour of President Michael D Higgins.

Irish President Michael D Higgins begins an official state visit to Britain today with the head of state heralding a new era of relations between the two countries.

President Michael D Higgins has said it would be wrong to wipe the slate clean over historic conflict which affected relations between Britain and Ireland.