While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Belgium for their first overseas engagement since returning to the UK, the Prince of Wales remained closer to home to honour a group of notable figures at Windsor Castle.

All attention was on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Tuesday morning as the Sussex branch of the royal family travelled to Brussels for their first joint overseas outing since returning to the UK.

While the Duke and Duchess unveiled a memorial to 50 children who lost their lives due to online harm, Prince William quietly continued with his royal duties in the UK, holding an investiture at Windsor Castle.

The ceremony saw athlete Paula Radcliffe, musician Cerys Matthews and broadcaster Carl Cox named Officers of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport and music.

Prince William appeared delighted to bestow the honour on the recipients, smiling broadly as he greeted each of them in turn.

Prince William’s Busy Week

The investiture’s close proximity to Prince William’s Windsor home likely pleased him, as he has an exceptionally busy week ahead, travelling in and out of London for various engagements.

Wednesday sees Prince William’s Tusk Conservation Awards take place at Raffles in Whitehall, which will likely be a significant night for the royal. Midweek also sees the release of the latest issue of Country Life, which His Royal Highness edited.

The prestigious role of working on the magazine sees the Prince of Wales follow in the footsteps of his stepmother, Queen Camilla, and his aunt, Princess Anne, who have both also had the honour of working on special issues.

Excitingly, the Princess of Wales had a hand in working on the magazine, too. Country Life teased her involvement on social media, sharing a side-eye emoji when one fan queried whether Princess Catherine would feature in the special edition.

Now that the front cover has been unveiled, eagle-eyed readers spotted that it reads: “HRH The Princess of Wales talks to Robert Macfarlane”, causing much excitement among royal watchers.

William’s Guest Edit of Country Life – What We Know So Far

While we wait for the magazine to drop, here is everything we know about the special edition, which will only be on sale for one week, making it a collector’s item.

In his editorship, the Prince shares rare insights into his public role and personal tastes, including his fondness for a visit to the pub for a pint of cider with ice.

He has spent the past six months working with the weekly publication, which celebrates rural life.

During the nearly 300-page spread, William is set to reveal his favourite view, alongside a glimpse into the gardens at his father King Charles’s home at Highgrove.

Paula Minchin, managing and features editor at Country Life, said: “Prince William’s edition champions a lot of causes close to his heart.

“Yet it also offers a real insight into his life: he likes wild swimming, he likes his dogs, he likes walking, and he loves being out in the countryside with his children.”

King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, twice guest-edited Country Life, firstly for his 65th birthday in November 2013, and then for his 70th in 2018.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “The Prince of Wales has a long-standing passion for the countryside and the vital role it plays in the nation’s life, culture and wellbeing.

“His guest editorship of Country Life reflects a desire to celebrate the people, places and innovative stewardship helping to secure its future for generations to come.”