Author: Mr Bang

  • Harry and Meghan bombshells in new documentary from bad neighbours to ‘corruption’ claims

    Harry and Meghan bombshells in new documentary from bad neighbours to ‘corruption’ claims

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been criticised over their reputations as activists in a new documentary, titled Harry – The Lost Prince, which airs on TV tonight

    Meghan Markle has been slated for ‘not being an asset’ to Montecito in a new bombshell documentary.

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the focus of a new film, titled Harry – The Lost Prince, which is scheduled to air on Germany’s ZDF network tonight. Award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald spoke to the couple’s Montecito neighbours, royal experts and former acquaintances to explore Prince Harry’s struggles within the Royal Family and his life now in California.

    The film touches on how Harry has “always struggled” with his role as a ‘reserve’ and why he remains in the spotlight despite quitting his royal responsibilities in 2020. Ahead of the prime-time special, the Mirror takes a look at the biggest bombshells to come out – from Harry making himself a ‘target’ to Meghan distancing herself from the local community…

    Harry
    Harry was told to pipe down about his family by a fellow veteran 
    Image:
    SplashNews.com)

    Harry blasted for ‘whinging’

    In the film, Harry is blasted by a former solider for ‘whinging’ about his family feud in his memoir Spare and his Netflix series, the Mail Online reports. Veteran soldier Ben McBean, who shared a flight home from Afghanistan with Harry in 2008, did not hold back from slamming the Duke over his choice to air his disputes with William and Charles in the public eye.

    McBean, who lost his left arm in a landmine blast and had his right leg amputated above the knee, says: “I just thought, with him kind of whinging about his family and he was saying something about his brother pushing him over or something like that, I was just like, ‘Mate, just leave it out’. You and your brother had a little fisticuffs…but family’s family, you know.”

    He went on: “If one of my friends fell out with his partner and started posting things on social media and saying my ex is this and that, I’d have told him to shut up as well.’”

    Bad-mouthed by neighbour

    One of the couple’s neighbours in Montecito, Richard Mineards, also features in the film talking about the expensive lifestyle the Sussexes enjoy. He says: “It doesn’t come cheap. I mean… most houses are about eight or nine million dollars.”

    Mineards went on to criticise Meghan for not being an asset to the local community. He says: “I personally don’t think that Meghan is an asset to our community… She doesn’t really go out or get involved with the community. Harry has to a certain extent, because he’s quite jolly… but Meghan doesn’t seem to get seen anywhere… And you don’t see him either.”

    Montecito
    One of the couple’s neighbours criticised Meghan for not being an ‘asset’ 
    Image:
    AFP via Getty Images)

    ‘Carefully orchestrated’ trips

    Dai Davies, a former Head of Royal Protection and a Divisional Commander in the Metropolitan Police, lashes out at Harry for only mixing with wealthy personnel on the couple’s ‘carefully orchestrated’ trips abroad. He says: “In Colombia, although there are very rich people there, the vast majority, 85 percent or 90 percent, are very poor.

    “And what I’ve noticed of these tours, he mixes with the upper classes. He doesn’t really, apart from carefree orchestrated areas where he mixes with so-called the ‘normal people’ – well they’re not. These are carefully orchestrated campaigns as far as I can see… I look quite dispassionately at the evidence and the evidence I’ve seen is, it’s all about Harry and Meghan.”

    Harry ‘made himself a target’

    Davies also accuses Harry of making himself and others a target by disclosing how many Taliban fighters he had killed. He says: “In his book, Spare, for him to disclose, as he did, that he had killed a number of Taliban was, in my opinion, totally unwise, because I was aware, as indeed he was, that the Taliban and various groups had put a price on his head.”

    “And really, I think that price still remains, which could form a basis for him saying, well, I need security. If you open your big mouth, as he has collectively, that book, not just on that, but given away all kinds of secrets, then it’s not surprising that some people might regard you as a potential target.”

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
    A former Head of Royal Protection dubbed the couple’s visits as ‘carefully orchestrated’ 
    Image:
    SplashNews.com)

    Royal expert Jack Royston, from the podcast The Royal Report, accuses the couple of ‘bordering on corruption’ in their dealings with Hollywood. He criticises Harry and Meghan for wanting to be ‘half in and half out’ of the Royal Family as he says: “If you have a situation where Harry and Meghan are earning huge amounts of money in Hollywood trading off their reputations, but then they’re also bolstering their reputations by working for the Queen – they’re able to present themselves on the world stage as being these working members of the royal family who are also available for a price.

    “That is a huge compromise to demand off the monarchy. If they were to be perceived to be promoting their commercial projects while representing the Queen, then that’s also… starting to border on corruption there because they should never be using the monarchy as a platform.”

    Reality of the Archewell Foundation

    Filmmaker Grunewald highlights how the amount of donations for the Archewell Foundation has fallen in recent years and criticises the organisation of the couple’s foundation. She says: “The amount of donations has fallen drastically in one year: from $13million in 2021 to $2million in 2022. According to their own documents, Harry and Meghan only work one hour a week for the Archewell Foundation.” Last year saw an increase of $3m to $5m (£4m), however it still sits at $8m (£6.4m) below the first year’s income.

  • Princess Diana’s lookalike nieces recreate iconic ‘revenge dress’ on the red carpet

    Princess Diana’s lookalike nieces recreate iconic ‘revenge dress’ on the red carpet

    Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer are the twin daughters of Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s younger brother. And they channelled their famous aunt at a major fashion event in London

    Princess Diana’s nieces, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, certainly turned heads as they walked the red carpet at the 2024 British Fashion Awards.

    The striking twins, daughters of Diana’s younger brother Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, and his first wife Victoria Lockwood, were perfectly coordinated on the night. But it was their choice of gowns that really got people talking.

    Both sisters opted for off-the-shoulder black sheath dresses, but with different necklines and accessories. Amelia’s gown featured a v-neckline and slim off-the-shoulder sleeves. She completed her look with a glittering diamond choker, matching diamond bracelet, diamond rings, and diamond drop earrings.

    Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer arriving for the 2024 Fashion Awards
    Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer both attended the 2024 Fashion Awards 
    Image:
    Dave Benett/Getty Images)

    Princess Diana wearing her 'revenge dress' as she arrives at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994
    Princess Diana wore her ‘revenge dress’ when she stepped out at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 
    Image:
    PA)
    Her twin, meanwhile, wore a velvet gown with a straight neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. Eliza also accessorised with an array of diamonds – including a choker, identical bracelet, a diamond ring and diamond cuff earrings – and just like her sister, wore her blonde hair styled up in a sleek bun.

    Royal fans were quick to point out similarities between the Spencer girls’ gowns and the infamous ‘revenge dress’ worn by their late aunt, Princess Diana. Style icon Diana stepped out for a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1994 wearing a fitted, black, off-the-shoulder dress with an asymmetrical hemline and chiffon train that flowed behind her.

    The revealing ensemble was unusual for a member of the royal family – but that wasn’t the only reason it made headlines. Diana wore the dress on the same night that then-Prince Charles confessed on national television that he had been unfaithful to her.

    Diana had actually commissioned the Christina Stambolian gown in September 1991, before her marriage had completely imploded. During a shopping trip in Stambolian’s boutique, Diana picked up a few pieces and then told the designer, “I want a special dress for a special occasion. It doesn’t matter if it is short or long. It has to be something special.” She also decided it would be black.

    Two dressmakers then crafted the hand-stitched gown with a flirty mini train, which would then sit in Diana’s wardrobe unworn for three years. Prior to her appearance at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994, it leaked that the Princess was going to wear Valentino. So instead, she wore the-soon-to-be-notorious revenge dress made by Stambolian.

    Royal fashion commentator Elizabeth Holmes told Town & Country that Diana used the dress to both assert herself and her new independence. “Diana was known for wearing pieces that would wow,” she explained.

    “She knew how a show-stopping piece could feel to wear — and watch. The revenge dress was both thrilling for royal fans and all but guaranteed her place in the newspaper, where space was finite. Embracing fashion-forward styles helped her get that spot on the front page time and time again.”

  • Prince William wraps protective arm around Kate Middleton as she makes return to spotlight

    Prince William wraps protective arm around Kate Middleton as she makes return to spotlight

    The Princess of Wales is taking part in her biggest and most significant royal event since she finished cancer treatment by joining Prince William to welcome the Emir of Qatar and his wife at the start of their state visit to the UK

    A beaming Princess of Wales has made her biggest appearance since her cancer treatment ended by playing a key role in the Qatar state visit to the UK today – with Prince William offering a supporting hand to his wife.

    Kate, 42, who recently finished treatment following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, joined William to welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher for the start of the huge royal event. The royals posed for traditional welcome pictures before William and Kate accompanied the guests to nearby Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall where the King and senior members of the Government were waiting and a ceremonial welcome was staged.

    The princess was pictured smiling in a fitted burgundy coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and a Sahar Millinery hat alongside William and the VIP guests inside the residence in London. Kate, wearing a pearl necklace that once belonged to the late Queen, and with her hair in a low chignon, was seen in conversation with Sheikha Jawaher.

    William places a protective hand on Kate's shoulder
    William places a protective hand on Kate’s shoulder 
    Image:
    Victoria Jones/REX/Shutterstock)
    But despite Kate being back for the ceremonial welcome, Queen Camilla was missing after suffering significantly diminished reserves of energy following her chest infection. Doctors have urged Camilla, 77, to take time to rest and recover fully because of the lingering effects of the illness, which she contracted a month ago following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa.

    But she will join the royal party this afternoon at Buckingham Palace for a private lunch with the Emir and his wife and will also take part in all but one of the elements of the evening state banquet at Buckingham Palace, staged in honour of the Emir.

    It is also hoped that the Queen will be able to view a display of Qatari artefacts after lunch in the palace’s picture gallery with her husband, the Waleses and the Emir.

    William and Kate beamed widely at the state visit
    William and Kate beamed widely at the state visit 
    Image:
    Max Mumby)
    More than 900 soldiers, including nearly 200 Army musicians and 100 members of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery turned out at Horse Guards in honour of the guests. For this State Visit the format has been adjusted slightly to allow The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to play a more visible role, and for the Emir to both see the world class troops on parade but also to hear them from within Buckingham Palace.

    A Guard of Honour, formed by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with The King’s Colour and the Band of the Regiment waited to greet the royal guests, with William placing a supportive hand on Kate’s back. They were joined by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and a Sovereign’s Escort, under the command of Major Thomas Stewart, The Life Guards.

    William and Kate with King Charles and the Qatari guests during the ceremonial welcome
    William and Kate with King Charles and the Qatari guests during the ceremonial welcome 
    Image:
    Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

    The King, who arrived ahead of his guests, was received at the Royal Pavilion by Sir Kenneth Olisa, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London. The Silver Stick in Waiting, Brigadier Mark Berry, and the Field Officer in Brigade Waiting, Colonel Guy Stone, were also present.

    The soldiers performed a Royal Salute and a trumpeter played as the procession of the Emir passed through the grand arches of the ancient Horse Guards Building, travelling with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

    As they were welcomed by the King at the Pavilion gun salutes were fired across London. The 76-year-old monarch then made a number of presentations before inviting the emir to inspect the Guard of Honour as the Qatari national anthem is played.

    William was on hand to support Kate
    William was on hand to support Kate 
    Image:
    Victoria Jones/REX/Shutterstock)

    The event is part of Kate's gradual return to the spotlight
    The event is part of Kate’s gradual return to the spotlight 
    Image:
    PA)
    The royal party then departed Horse Guards in a spectacular carriage procession, accompanied by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

    Charles travelled in the Irish State Coach with the Emir and Sheikha, while Kate and William followed in the Australian State Coach with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Four other carriages carrying dignitaries formed the procession, which travelled down the Mall, past the Queen’s gardens and into the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. More pomp and pageantry awaited the Emir, as they arrived at the Palace to a second Guard of Honour and a rendition of both the British and Qatari national anthem.

    William and Kate were thrilled to greet fans
    William and Kate were thrilled to greet fans 
    Image:
    SWNS)
    State visits are considered the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between two sovereign states, and it is a huge honour for all those taking part.

    After lunch, visiting heads of state traditionally view a small exhibition of items associated with their country’s relationship with the UK and Kate will be among the royal party joining the Emir and his wife in the palace’s picture gallery for the event.

    However, Kate will not attend the state banquet hosted by the King in the palace’s ballroom that evening, although William and Camilla will be there. The princess announced in September the completion of her chemotherapy treatment in a deeply personal video with her family and said her focus was “doing what I can to stay cancer free”.

    Kate with Sheikha Jawaher, the wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
    Kate with Sheikha Jawaher, the wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani 
    Image:
    PA)
    The princess had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, with the King beginning his cancer care earlier that month following his cancer diagnosis after treatment for an enlarged prostate. She has made a few official appearances, joining senior members of the Royal Family for the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph and travelling with the Prince of Wales to Merseyside to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbings.

    William previously he was looking forward to getting back to royal duties with his wife by his side, after a ‘brutal’ year where the princess and his father the King were both diagnosed with cancer. In a wide ranging interview, William said they both wanted to evolve their roles with a focus on “helping people”.

    A royal source said: “The Princess is feeling positive about the future and very much looking forward to representing the royal family at the state visit and beyond. Her work has always been a great tonic to her as she continues to concentrate on her recovery moving forward to the end of the year and beyond.”

  • Exclusive: Prince William’s true meaning behind ‘flirty’ gesture to Kate Middleton decoded by expert

    Exclusive: Prince William’s true meaning behind ‘flirty’ gesture to Kate Middleton decoded by expert

    As the Prince and Princess of Wales joined together for a rare joint appearance today for the Qatar state visit to the UK, Prince William was seen placing a protective-looking arm on his wife’s back – but one expert believes it had a secret meaning

    The Princess of Wales was able to count on her husband Prince William for support as she made a striking return to royal duties today.

    Kate wore an eye-popping maroon coat, with matching hat and heeled boots as she and the Prince of Wales welcomed the Emir of Qatar and his wife on a state visit to the UK today. Kate has been gradually returning to royal duties after she announced in September that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and her focus was “doing what I can to stay cancer-free”.

    After greeting the Qatari guests at their hotel, William and Kate accompanied them to Horse Guards Parade where they met King Charles for a ceremonial welcome before heading back to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession.

    William places an arm on Kate's shoulder
    William places an arm on Kate’s shoulder 
    Image:
    Victoria Jones/REX/Shutterstock)
    While carrying out duties at Horse Guards, William was seen tenderly placing a seemingly supportive hand on his wife’s back as dignitaries shook hands. However, according to body language expert Judi James, the gesture actually took on a “different slant”.

    She told the Mirror : “His hand on Kate’s back can be seen as supportive, but it actually looks more like a symptom of the affectionate and slightly flirty truncated hugs he’s been showering her with since their video update showed them as a truly tactile and flirty couple in private.

    “His touch on Kate’s shoulder is more about showing polite priority, which could in turn reflect her power and strength signals here. It registers full attention when she speaks, which means both love and respect.”

    William and Kate share a joke at Horse Guards Parade today
    William and Kate share a joke at Horse Guards Parade today 
    Image:
    Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    To mark the occasion today, Kate opted for a coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, a matching hat by Sahar Millinery and Gianvito Rossi boots. The colour was a nod to the national hue of Qatar and Kate also gave a nod to the late Queen by wearing a necklace and earrings once belonging to her.

    And according to Judi, everything about Kate’s look screamed “I’m back in business” as a “royal rock”. She explained: “The razor-sharp tailored shoulders are a power option, as are the killer boots that match her outfit, to create a solid block of burgundy, a regal colour associated with strength and a desire to stand out rather than stand back.

    “The brimless matching hat and the hair swept up into an immaculate chignon offers Kate no hiding place in terms of ducking behind her hair or a brim. This revealing option is clearly chosen to allow her to present what is a radiant smile to her fans and to the world, with not one micro-gesture of anxiety or nerves.”With the addition of the pearls Kate has perfected the same levels of regal presence and elegance as she did in the iconic photograph taken at Philip’s funeral, where she first emerged looking like the perfect future Queen. The slightly reflective eye expression we have seen since her illness has gone here and her eye smile, with one brow slightly raised, suggests a sense of fun and full engagement. Her poise in tailored coat dress involves her arms often hanging relaxed at her sides in a look of increased confidence.

    “She seems to want to make meeting her an upbeat experience and also a status one too as she looks every inch the warmly hosting future queen here. Like any good host, she seems to want to make the event go well rather than call too much worried attention to herself and her recovery.”

  • Exclusive: Prince Harry’s thawing relationship with Royals ‘put back a peg over new documentary’

    Exclusive: Prince Harry’s thawing relationship with Royals ‘put back a peg over new documentary’

    A new documentary, titled Harry – The Lost Prince, risks threatening the progress Prince Harry has made at mending his broken relationship with the Royal Family

    Prince Harry’s thawing relationship with the Royal Family risks going ‘back a peg’ amid the release of a new documentary, a royal expert tells The Mirror.

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the focus of a new film, titled Harry – The Lost Prince, which is scheduled to air on Germany’s ZDF network tonight. The documentary, produced by award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, promises to reveal fresh revelations about the couple’s lives in the US after they quit their royal responsibilities in 2020.

    Four years ago, Harry and his wife Meghan Markle relocated to California with the Duke telling Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview that he and Prince William were on ‘different paths’. Harry then shared potentially damaging stories about his older brother and father, King Charles, in his memoir Spare, further dividing the royals.

    royals
    The Royal Family’s relationship has been turbulent in recent years 
    Image:
    Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    But in recent times, there have been signs of their frosty relationship thawing, royal commentator Duncan Larcombe told The Mirror – and this new film has the potential to further divide them. Mr Larcombe said: “It’s hard to say if the documentary will impact Harry’s relationship with the royals because there are signs that things might be thawing.

    “It’s been quite a long time now since Harry and Meghan have dropped any bombshells. Since Harry’s book Spare came out in January, it’s been a relatively quiet time and he’s kept his mouth shut. Since then, he’s met up with his dad – albeit very briefly. It would be a real shame if the documentary put those possibilities of a thawing in the relationship back a peg or two.”

    Mr Larcombe went on: “I think any documentary that continues the criticism of Harry and Meghan’s modus operandi is going to be damaging. It’s in Germany so it’s probably not going to make a big storm over in the US. But it’s still a major blow for a couple who have seen their popularity plummet like a stone falling in a well since they left the UK.”

    The documentary comes as Meghan and Harry’s professional distance has increased since they embarked on a joint tour of Colombia in the summer. Sources close to the couple say it shows their new “twin-track approach” with Harry focusing on his charity endeavours and Meghan on her entrepreneurial projects and business.

    It is a marked difference from just two years ago when Meghan once likened herself and her husband to salt and pepper as they always “move together”. Now, Meghan is gearing up to launch her brand American Rivieria Orchard next year, while Harry’s Invictus Games will take place in February in Vancouver and Whistler in Canada.

    Their solo public appearances are set to continue this week. Meghan is expected to appear at a glitzy Hollywood party honouring her celeb pal Tyler Perry tomorrow (December 4), meanwhile, thousands of miles away in New York, Harry will be at The New York Times DealBook Conference.

  • David and Victoria Beckham make surprise appearance at King’s State Banquet for Qatar Emir

    David and Victoria Beckham make surprise appearance at King’s State Banquet for Qatar Emir

    The former England player and his fashion designer wife were invited as guests to the glittering state banquet following Beckham’s role as an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar

    David and Victoria Beckham arrived at Buckingham Palace’s glittering state banquet this evening, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

    The former England player and his fashion designer wife were invited as guests following Beckham’s role as an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar. The Emir of Qatar, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, will join the the King to deliver speeches in front of dignitaries from both countries in the palace’s grand ballroom.

    Last year, Beckham opened up about his decision to sign the £125 million deal after questions were raised over Qatar’s human rights record. He told the Daily Telegraph: “I do a lot of research into partners that I’m going into business with. And I wanted to be involved in another World Cup.

    David and Victoria Beckham at Buckingham Palace this evening
    David and Victoria Beckham at Buckingham Palace this evening

    The pair were invited following Beckham's role as an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar
    The pair were invited following Beckham’s role as an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar
    “I knew there’d be questions, I knew there was going to be criticism, but I’ve always been a believer that football is such a powerful tool. I spent a month out there […] I was around the LGBTQ community, I spoke to people on the ground. So I was happy with my decision.”

    David and Victoria processed into the ballroom at Buckingham Palace alongside fellow guests at the state banquet. David, dapperly dressed in white tie and tails, chatted to Victoria as they made their way through the East Gallery.

    Victoria, dressed in a fitted dark floor-length evening gown with long fitted sleeves, wore her hair swept into a sleek pony tail and gave a small chuckle as they headed towards the ballroom. She slowed as she appeared to spot a photographer and moved closer to her husband to hold his hand.

    Charles and Camilla with the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Jawaher
    Charles and Camilla with the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Jawaher 
    Image:
    PA)
    David has developed a strong bond with the royal family over the years, recently becoming a celebrity ambassador for Charles’s charity The King’s Foundation, with fellow ambassador Sir Rod Stewart teasing him that his knighthood was “coming soon”.

    The former Manchester United midfielder also met Charles at Highgrove in the spring. He joined the Prince of Wales in October to celebrate smashing a £15 million target to replace London’s ageing air ambulance helicopters, and headed to the Palace in 2003 when he was made an OBE.

    The couple also attended the Sussexes’ wedding in 2018 and William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. In 2022, Beckham joined the long public queue to see the late Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall, waiting in line for 13 hours.

    The finishing touches are applied in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace
    The finishing touches are applied in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace 
    Image:
    POOL/AFP via Getty Images)The two-day visit by Qatar’s head of state is expected to celebrate and strengthen UK-Qatari ties both economically and strategically. Qatar’s reserve of natural gas makes the Gulf state one of the richest countries in the Middle East, earning it several high-profile investments in the UK. The Savoy Hotel, The Shard and Harrods are among these investments.

    His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, accompanied by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al Thani, flew to Stansted Airport yesterday afternoon.

    Today, following a full ceremonial welcome and carriage procession, they will attend the state banquet at Buckingham Palace as part of two days of events hosted by the King. Queen Camilla will only join for part of the event having suffered “lingering side effects” from a chest infection.

    The Ballroom of Buckingham Palace ahead of the State Banquet
    The grand ballroom was adorned with flowers ahead of the State Banquet 
    Image:
    POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

    Camilla donned a red velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare as she and Charles posed for a photo with the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Jawaher ahead of the banquet. She accessorized with a diamond kokoshnik tiara belonging to The late Queen, diamond earrings from a private collection and a diamond necklace, belonging to The late Queen.

    Human rights groups have since protested the visit, accusing the UK government of “royal washing Qatar’s troubling rights record”. The Peter Tatchell Foundation are among those who have criticised Qatar’s record on LGBT rights, women’s rights and the treatment of migrant workers.

    The UK government said in response that it regularly discusses human rights with its Qatari counterparts and is opposed to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender.

  • Lady Gabriella breaks silence on husband Thomas Kingston’s tragic death at 45

    Lady Gabriella breaks silence on husband Thomas Kingston’s tragic death at 45

    Lady Gabriella said Thomas Kingston’s death was “likely provoked” by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun, though a coroner ruled the financier took his own life

    Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston yesterday spoke out for the first time since her husband Thomas Kingston took his own life.

    Lady Kingston, 43, warned about the effects of drugs used to treat mental health problems as a coroner ruled Thomas stopped taking his medication in the days leading to his death. The coroner said Mr Kingston, 45, then used a shotgun to end his life, and was discovered dead at his parents’s house in Gloucestershire.

    The financier, who married Lady Kingston on May 18, 2019, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, died of a head injury on February 25 and the inquest on Tuesday in Gloucester was told he had struggled with stress and with sleeping in the weeks before his passing.

    He had initially been given sertraline, a drug used to treat depression, and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace used by royal household staff. Mr Kingston returned to the surgery saying they were not making him feel better, and his doctor moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug.

    But Lady Kingston, a freelance writer, told the hearing she believed his death was “likely provoked” by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun, and subsequently stopped. She said: “The lack of any evidence of inclination, it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life.

    “I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.”

    Thomas Kingston
    Thomas Kingston’s death has left Lady Gabriella Kingston heartbroken 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    Toxicology tests had showed caffeine and small amounts of zopiclone was in Mr Kingston’s system when he died. Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, recorded a narrative conclusion of suicide.

    In her statement, read out by Ms Skerrett on Lady Kingston’s behalf, the grief-stricken widow added: “(Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.

    “If anything had been troubling him, I’m positive that he would have shared that he was struggling severely. The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse.”

    In his final weeks, Lady Gabriella said, her husband had “seemed normal”, apart from early in the day after previously taking zopiclone, which she said made him seem “almost hungover”.

    In her statement, the royal described their marriage as “deeply loving and trusting” and said he had never expressed any suicidal thoughts to her or others. She added that he had been deeply affected by the suicide of a friend and the “devastating impact it had on other people’s loved ones”.

    The coroner said said she intended to draft a prevention of future deaths report, which would be sent to medical bodies. Mr Kingston’s father, William Martin Kingston, broke down in tears as he described finding his son in the locked bathroom of a detached annexe, having used a crowbar to break down the door.

    He married Lady Gabriella in St George's Chapel in 2019
    The financier married Lady Gabriella in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    He told the court his son had always had a strong, resilient character, having previously suffered from a pain condition which left him needing help to get up the stairs.

    He told the coroner that leading up to his son’s death there did not appear to have been any searches for suicide, and no will or note was left, describing the method as “very ragged” which was simply “out of character”.

    Dr David Healy, a psychiatric medical expert who gave evidence to the hearing, said zopiclone could also cause anxiety, while sertraline and citalopram were both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and essentially the same.

    Dr Healy said Mr Kingston’s complaints that sertraline was continuing to make him anxious was a sign SSRIs “did not suit him”, and he should not have been prescribed the same thing again.

    He said the guidelines and labels for SSRIs were not clear enough about going on the drugs in the first place, or what the effect could be when moving from one to another.

    “We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldn’t have otherwise,” he said.

    Addressing the coroner, Martin Porter, counsel for the family, said: “The family don’t blame (his GP) Doctor Naunton Morgan, she was acting as good doctors do. But the question is whether there is sufficient advice to doctors on SSRIs.”

  • Meghan Markle breaks silence after professional ‘separation’ from Prince Harry

    Meghan Markle breaks silence after professional ‘separation’ from Prince Harry

    Meghan Markle has spoken out after attending a recent Thanksgiving event, without her husband, Prince Harry following reports that their work relationship is strained

    Meghan Markle has broken her silence following reports hers and Prince Harry’s work relationship is “strained”.

    In recent weeks, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who now reside in Montecito, California, have been attending events without one another. Former Suits actress Meghan, 43, last week attended a Thanksgiving event without her royal husband, 40. It comes following reports that their professional relationship is “in a very bad state.”

    Attending an event for the Southern California Welcome Project in partnership with hers and Harry’s Archewell Foundation, Meghan was all smiles as she got stuck in. Meanwhile, Harry was not in attendance with her. Now, the mum-of-two has spoken out in a statement shared on their joint foundation website.

    She opened up about the “heartfelt dinner” held for Afghan women with the organisation, Mina’s List. “This initiative, led by the partner organisation Mina’s List, has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan,” the statement read.

    Meghan Markle recently enjoyed an outing without Prince Harry
    Meghan Markle recently enjoyed an outing without Prince Harry 
    Image:
    The Archewell Foundation via Get)

    Meanwhile, Prince Harry was in Canada at an Invictus Games event
    Meanwhile, Prince Harry was in Canada at an Invictus Games event 
    Image:
    Getty Images)

    The statement added: “The evening included a shared meal that encouraged open conversation centered on gratitude and resilience. The Duchess expressed her deep appreciation to the attendees for sharing their personal stories and cultural experiences, underscoring her excitement for future gatherings that continue to strengthen these connections.

    “The dinner was hosted at Our Place, founded by Shiza Shahid, where the participants were gifted with new cookware for the upcoming holiday season. The Archewell Foundation remains committed to uplifting women and fostering community through shared experiences, reinforcing the importance of unity and support during challenging times.”

    The Duchess of Sussex is known to be a fan of Thanksgiving but says the celebrations for her and Harry are always “pretty low-key” and told Marie Claire magazine that “being close to my mom is great” suggesting Doria will also be spending the day with the Sussexes.

    Would you like to see Harry and Meghan working together again? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

    However, Meghan revealed that one year the couple had a special unexpected guest at Thanksgiving – the feminist activist, Gloria Steinem. She added: “I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure there’s room at the table for your friends who don’t have family, which is really key.”

    Last week, Harry who stepped down from royal duties in January 2020 and no longer uses the style His Royal Highness attended several Invictus Games events in Vancouver, Canada. But the couple put on a united front as they teamed up to honour those who fought for both the US and United Kingdom on Veteran’s Day earlier this month.

    Meghan and Harry are set to make public appearances in February 2025 attending the Invictus Games in Canada. Meanwhile, the Duchess previously hinted that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who rarely appear in public may make an appearance. Harry and Meghan are said to be considering working separately from one another.

  • Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘professional split’ as double act ‘shift apart’

    Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘professional split’ as double act ‘shift apart’

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been making increasingly more separate public appearances and next week they will be coasts apart as they make solo outings on the same day thousands of miles apart

    Meghan Markle once famously likened her and Prince Harry to “salt and pepper” as they always “move together”.

    But next week, rather than the inseparable force they’ve come to represent, the couple will be thousands of miles apart once again as they both make big public appearances at opposite ends of the United States. Next Wednesday (December 4), Meghan is expected to appear at a glitzy Hollywood party honouring her pal Tyler Perry.

    Perry is receiving The Paley Honors Award in Beverley Hills, with both Harry and Meghan named on the hosting committee for the award. However, despite being on the committee, Harry is set to be thousands of miles away in New York City, where he is set to speak at The New York Times DealBook Conference.

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear virtually on the first day of the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia
    The couple during a rare joint public appearance in a video message last month
    It comes as the pair have set tongues wagging with a string of increasingly separate public appearances over recent months since they embarked on a joint tour of Colombia in the summer. In fact, Harry was away from Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for at least two weeks with public appearances in New York, London, as well as Southern Africa in late September and early October.

    During his travels, Meghan was barely seen, however, she did attend a star-studded gala in aid of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, wearing an eye-popping red gown as she posed for photographers.

    Then just last week, Harry embarked on a solo trip to Canada to promote his Invictus Games taking place in February 2025 in Vancouver and Whistler. Meanwhile, it emerged that Meghan hosted a holiday dinner without her husband for Afghan women who have relocated to California and also let her hair down at a launch party for her pal Kadi Lee’s new haircare brand.

    The apparent pursuit of separate careers has also seen rumours swirl about their private life, with one report alleging Harry spent the night of his 40th birthday with pals on a hiking holiday instead of his wife.

    Prince Harry embarked on a solo trip to New York earlier this autumn
    Prince Harry embarked on a solo trip to New York earlier this autumn 
    Image:
    Getty Images)

    Meghan Markle on the red carpet at the Children's Hospital LA gala
    Meghan on the red carpet for a charity gala in LA 
    Image:
    Variety via Getty Images)
    However, sources close to the couple have explained away the separate appearances saying one of them always stays behind for their children. One pal told People: “What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary.”

    Meanwhile, another source also told the magazine that it shows the couple’s new “twin-track approach” with Harry focusing on his charity endeavours and Meghan on her entrepreneurial projects and business.

    However, experts have also weighed in on why this ‘professional separation’ may be happening. And PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Telegraph that the Sussexes’ “separation of work” has been ongoing for a while now, especially as Meghan works on her new American Riviera Orchard brand.

    He believes the reason behind their solo appearances is because the “star power” they believed they might have had as a couple when they dramatically quit their royal roles simply “didn’t work”.

    He explained: “They had to change the narrative. They need a venture that deflects from the failures. The charity aspect impresses upon everybody that he [Harry] does have value beyond the controversial stuff. It has the effect of separating them from the bad press and the failed content ideas. The punters still have time for Harry.”

    Meghan Markle at a holiday dinner for the Welcome Project in California
    Meghan at a holiday dinner for the Welcome Project in California last week 
    Image:
    The Archewell Foundation via Get)

    But despite the separate outings, there has been one joint appearance by the pair that came in a video message about the importance of protecting children online. The clip shows the Sussexes in their first public appearance together in months, delivering a message that was played at a United Nations conference in Colombia on ending violence against children.

    In the clip, Harry says: “We are at a crossroads”, adding: “The urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it’s now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”

    Meghan gazes at her husband while he talks before she explains: “My husband and I recognise that today’s reality is marked by greater connectivity and advanced technology, which, of course, has many positives. However, it also compels us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself in this age.”

    Prince Harry during a visit to the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver
    Prince Harry during a visit to the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver on a solo trip to Canada 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    And analysing all of these latest appearances, body language expert Judi James told the Mirror there has been a definite shift between the Sussexes. She explained: “Harry and Meghan’s relationship seems to have evolved from a totally twinned one, where their body language was confined to appearances as a matching, complimentary and very royal-looking double act, to one that resembles the shape of a letter Y; joined and twinned at the base but also separating into two individuals moving into two rather separate professional directions.

    “The newly ‘sole trader’ body language performances need to be interspersed with appearances that describe and emphasize the base of the ‘Y’. Theirs has always been laid out as a love story with a romantic core and seeing them alone still tends to create a look of a lost limb, thanks to their previously constant love of touch, tie-signs and other PDAs to provide a touching narrative that the world enjoys watching.

    “The recent ‘base of the Y’ appearance was a rather formal and regal video appearance where Meghan threw Harry constant affectionate-looking glances to register besotted encouragement while he spoke, and Harry, more formally, failed to respond in kind apart from one rather rigidly extended arm placed around his wife’s back on the cue of the word ‘together’.

    “The message was clearly one of ongoing bonds and togetherness but for fans of the Harry and Meghan passionately romantic body language rituals it was rather thin gruel. It will be sad for their fans if, despite their marriage being enduringly strong and loving, they have made a decision to tone down the PDAs.” But despite the shift, Judi believes both Harry and Meghan look “happy, confident and comfortable” despite spending so much time apart.

  • Real reason Prince William kept his rugged look – and what it means for future King

    Real reason Prince William kept his rugged look – and what it means for future King

    Royal fans have noticed a shift in Prince William’s style in recent months with the future king rocking a beard and more casual attire. His new look contains a hidden message, according to an expert

    Prince William caused a stir back in August when he debuted a new beard in a video message alongside his wife Princess Kate to celebrate Team GB’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Since then, the future King has continued to embrace his rugged new look, and royal watchers have also noted a change in his personal style. For his most recent outings, William has opted for a more contemporary wardrobe, opting for slim-fit blazers and crisp white trainers to strike a balance between comfort and style, all the while still looking smart.

    Body language expert Judi James believes that William’s evolving style reflects his increasing confidence, with both his choice of footwear – and his facial hair – signifying a shift in attitude.

    She told the Daily Mail: “William’s recent change of style and his much less cautious-looking and less formal body language seems to indicate both a growing confidence in terms of his stepping up to the throne and maybe an update in his priorities since Kate’s and his father’s illnesses.”

    She further suggested that William’s children, George, Charlotte and Louis, might have influenced his style decisions, too. “William has three children that are getting to the age where they will often make comments or jokes about any out-of-date dad clothing and start to quietly revolutionise his look, especially as he seems to have been spending more time with them recently,” Judi noted.

    By his own admission, 2024 has been the “hardest year” of William’s life following both his father and his wife’s cancer diagnoses. Buckingham Palace revealed the King had cancer in February and would begin treatment. Just six weeks later it was announced the Princess of Wales was undergoing chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis.

    The King has since returned to public duties and Kate has finished chemotherapy treatment.

    Prince William recently said: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”

    The Prince’s new look does seem to symbolise a growing sense of self-assurance in the wake of his ‘annus horribilis’, and suggests what sort of king William hopes to be when the time comes. According to Judi, William’s recent outings reflect the fact that he now feels “more in control of his own destiny” than ever before.

    “William has feared being too spontaneous or even ‘giving’ with his body language for most of his life thanks to the way he witnessed his mother’s life become an ongoing soap opera, but he seems more trusting with the press now. He might have seen how he can open up a little without inviting rabid scrutiny and retain an element of privacy for his family to have a more normal life.

    “Perhaps the key quality being shown with this more relaxed and open body language then is that slow-learned trust. So many of the barbs in his life have come from within his own closest family group, and perhaps he finally sees, feels and appreciates the strong support and affection he can enjoy from the public.”