Author: bang1

PRINCE Harry was backed by Princess Diana’s siblings at his Invictus bash yesterday — after being snubbed by his dad King Charles.

Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes joined him at the St Paul’s Cathedral ceremony.

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Prince Harry was backed by Princess Diana’s siblings at his Invictus bashCredit: Max Mumby

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Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes joined Harry at the ceremonyCredit: Splash

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The King was two miles away but too busy to meet his sonCredit: PA

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The King was just two miles away but too busy to meet Harry.

The Duke of Sussex hugged his late mum’s brother and sister Earl Spencer, 59, and Lady Jane Fellowes, 67, outside St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of a service marking ten years of his Invictus Games.

Three cousins — George McCorquodale, 39, Louis Spencer, 30, and Lara Spencer, 18 — sat in a row behind Harry.

Just down the road, the King, Queen Camilla and royals mingled among 8,000 guests on the Palace lawns.

Harry had been keen to meet his dad on a three-day UK visit, but on Tuesday his office said it was not possible due to the King’s busy diary.

A decade ago Charles, Camilla and Prince William had joined Harry at the first Invictus Games in London.

Yesterday, Earl Spencer and Baroness Fellowes supported him at the hour-long service followed by a drinks reception in the St Paul’s crypt.

Harry arrived at 5pm and greeted his aunt and uncle before taking his seat.

He gave a reading, as did actor Damian Lewis. Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine and friend of Diana, said the Spencers’ presence was significant.

She said: “They are very supportive of Harry and always have been.

“It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him.

“At his address at Diana’s funeral, Charles Spencer said he would look out for William and Harry in her place.

‘Sucked up by the Royal Family’

“He said ‘We your blood family will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering theses two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you had planned’.

“Charles Spencer wanted the Spencer family to be prominent above all others, but the boys were sucked up by the Royal Family.

“Now that Harry has left the Royal Family, the Spencers have laid claim to him again.”

The King, back to public duties despite cancer treatment, led the royals at Buckingham Palace from 4pm.

Prince Harry’s statement in full

A spokesperson for Prince Harry said:

“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week:

“It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

“The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

Also on the lawns were Princess Anne, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, plus the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The only working royals missing were the Prince and Princess of Wales.

William had conducted an investiture in Windsor earlier in the day, and Kate is not carrying out public duties due to her own cancer fight.

The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra were missing as they are carrying out less engagements due to their frailty.

It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him

Ingrid Seward

Applause erupted from the crowds as the royal party arrived on the Palace terrace.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla mingled among 8,000 guests at the Buckingham Palace Garden PartyCredit: PA

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Also on the Palace lawns was Princess AnneCredit: PA

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Earl Spencer with Wills, Harry and Charles at the 1997 funeral of DianaCredit: PA

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Princess Di’s brother ‘said he would look out for William and Harry in her place’Credit: Getty
The King then began greeting charity heroes with warm handshakes and big smiles. He was heard saying: “I’m not doing badly”. Asked ‘How are you feeling?’, he replied: “Not too bad.”

He chatted with Royal Commonwealth Society members plus Team GB’s synchronised swimming team — promising to watch them at the Paris Olympics.

In all, he spent around an hour with guests despite doctors “calibrating” his engagements.

This morning he will meet the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering (3RSME) at Gibraltar Barracks in Surrey.

He and Harry have not seen each other since February when the US-based Duke flew 5,000 miles following his father’s diagnosis.

WILLS ON DUTY AT WINDSOR

PRINCE William was just 25 miles away from Harry as he dished out gongs yesterday.

England goalkeeping heroes Mary Earps and Peter Shilton both picked up honours.

Shilton, 74, discussed England men’s Euros prospects with Wills as he was made a CBE.

He told reporters in Windsor: “I think we can win it. You just need a bit of luck . . . a bad referee decision.”

Earps, 31, was made an MBE for her services to football.

She said it will be the highlight of her season when she plays for Man United against Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday.

The pair then spoke for just 30 minutes. Today is Harry’s last in the UK before he and wife Meghan visit Nigeria for Invictus events.

He is currently appealing a decision to remove his automatic right to 24-hour armed police in the UK, stripped after Megxit.

One guard sat in the front row of the cathedral, while ex-Barack Obama bodyguard Christopher Sanchez watched on six feet behind the Duke.

 

Harry wore four medals on his chest including one awarded from his gran, Queen Elizabeth II for services to the monarchy.

But for the second time in recent weeks he failed to wear his King’s Coronation Medal.

Harry & the King can’t play happy families with such huge public attention, says The Sun’s Matt Wilkinson

By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor

Prince Harry is in London but he won’t meet his father The King.

The Duke of Sussex arrived from LA alone without Meghan or their children for a busy diary of events marking 10 years of his Invictus Games.

Before setting off from California it is understood Harry was said to have been “keen’ to see the King for only the second time since his cancer diagnosis.

It is rather telling that confirmation there will be no meeting has come from the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex rather than Buckingham Palace.

His team say “it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program”.

They add: “The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

Now, the word that jumps out is “priorities”.

The King, we understand, is busy as he returns to public duty.

For instance, on Tuesday while Harry was in London the King was carrying out his constitutional duty and meeting the Prime Minister of Fiji at the palace.

He is also set to host a palace garden party and weekly audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

And Harry’s diary is packed full for three days with Invictus. However, they will be at times just two miles apart and risk even driving past each other on London’s roads.

Some observers may see this as “sad” that father and son cannot find time.

Others may say that it’s understandable as both have work commitments and “priorities”.

But maybe there has just been too much water under the bridge for father and son to play happy families amid such huge public attention.

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Prince Harry waves as he leaves after attending the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of ThanksgivingCredit: Reuters

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Harry wore his military medals to the serviceCredit: AFP

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Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer seen at Harry’s serviceCredit: Getty

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Harry gave a reading during the service

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Harry hugged his uncle before taking his seat

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Harry was all smiles as he caught up with Diana’s brother

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Harry is in London for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus GamesCredit: Getty

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The Prince at an Invictus bash in central London yesterdayCredit: Getty

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly declined an invite to Archie’s godfather’s wedding to “avoid overshadowing the day”.

Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, will marry Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral on June 7.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly declined an invite to Archie’s godfather’s weddingCredit: Getty

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Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke of Westminster, 33, is marrying Olivia Henson next monthCredit: PA

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Prince William with General Timothy Granville-Chapman, Hugh Grosvenor and John PeaceCredit: AFP

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Hugh and William attend the wedding of Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor at Chester Cathedral in 2004Credit: Getty
But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not attend the wedding, the Sunday Times reported.

The 33-year-old aristocrat and businessman is godfather to Harry’s five-year-old son Prince Archie.

Their absence from the wedding is allegedly to “avoid royal tensions overshadowing the day”.

Reports emerged in December suggesting Harry and his wife Meghan were not on the guest list for the wedding.

Grosvenor was said to be concerned that the ongoing rift between Prince William and Harry could overshadow the day.

“It’s incredibly sad it has come to this,” a friend of the princes previously told the Sunday Times.

“Hugh is one of the very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both.

“He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding.

“He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any awkwardness.”

However sources close to the Sussexes claim the pair did receive a “save the date” card but thought attending would be “too awkward”.

The Sun has contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.

It comes after it was reported the Prince of Wales is to be an usher at the wedding of his close friend.

William will be among the groom’s party at the 400-person ceremony.

The Princess of Wales, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is not expected to attend.

The Duke of Westminster is a godson of the King and godfather to William’s son, Prince George.

A timeline of Prince Harry and William’s ‘feud’: Brothers ‘at war’

IN 2018, the Sun told how “simmering tension

The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace.

Once she’d returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat.

He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly.

The younger prince reportedly didn’t take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he “went mental”.

Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate.

The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours.

Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced.

The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign.

The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure – but added both couples will continue to work together in the future.

Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born.

The move further increased rumours of a fallout.

Harry, 39, also hinted in his ITV documentary “Harry and Meghan, An African Journey” that he and his brother had grown apart.

It came after Prince Philip called Meghan the “D.O.W” after the Duchess of Windsor — the American divorcee who led Edward VIII to abdicate.

And he warned the late Queen to be “cautious” of Harry’s then bride-to-be, a royal author claims.

Ingrid Seward revealed in new book My Mother And I that Prince Philip felt it was “uncanny…how much Meghan reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor”.

In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.

Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But sources claimed William didn’t want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift.

In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a “peacemaker” between the brothers.

Last year Harry claimed his brother “knocked him to the floor” during an argument about Meghan.

In his book Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan “rude” and “difficult” during a row.

Harry alleged William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor”.

He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time.

In January this year, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch’s shock cancer diagnosis.

Harry flew back to the US the following day – without seeing Wills.

The couple announced their engagement at Eaton Hall in Cheshire in April last year after being together for two years.

The Duke of Westminster topped The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List this week, boasting a fortune of £10.1 billion.

He became an instant billionaire when he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate aged 25 following the death of his father from a heart attack in 2016.

His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre, and the duke is part of the royal inner circle.

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Hugh became an instant billionaire at 25Credit: Getty

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Prince Harry and Meghan attend a polo fundraiser event in Lagos, Nigeria, last weekCredit: Reuters

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Harry and Meghan have just completed a brief tour of NigeriaCredit: Getty

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Harry and William are said to have been feuding for several yearsCredit: AFP

MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are celebrating their wedding anniversary today, six years after their fairytale royal wedding in Windsor.

However, a royal expert has claimed the couple may be opting for a lowkey occasion this year due to one key reason.

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Today is the six-year wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of SussexCredit: AP

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The couple are thought to be celebrating in a lowkey way at the £12million Montecito mansion

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Ingrid Seward said they could celebrate in a pretty spot in the gardenCredit: AFP
Ingrid Seward, Editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told Fabulous: “Well, they’ve got the problem that they don’t want to be photographed and seen.

“Most couples will go out and have the most wonderful dinner somewhere.”

The royal expert said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may opt to celebrate at their £12million mansion in Montecito, California – but with a romantic twist.

Ingrid continued: “I think it’s possible, because Meghan is quite inventive, that she might maybe find a really pretty spot in their garden and decorate it. That would be an artistic thing.

“Make it all beautiful with candles and roses.

“She is quite like that. She loves putting candles everywhere.

“So instead of actually being in the house, they would be outside of it because the problem is being in your own home, you’re jumping up and down and getting things all the time.”

She added that Meghan may set up the romantic scene as a “surprise to Harry.”

She continued: “I think that she will still want to make a big deal of it because there’s so much focus on their state of their marriage.

“I don’t think they’ll do anything in public but I would have thought in private they might make just a sort of romantic gesture to each other.

“Harry’s very, very much in love with Meghan.

“Whatever else we say about him, he loves her very much and I think he’d want to do anything to make her happy.”

Former Royal butler Grant Harrold – who worked for King Charles for seven years – also predicted the Sussexes will celebrate in private.

As reported by the Mirror, he explained: “Celebrations will probably be behind closed doors, maybe a dinner party with some friends or maybe just the two of them.

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Meghan and Harry tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018Credit: Splash News

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We got a glimpse of their beautiful garden en in this photo released for Archie’s second birthdayCredit: The Duke & Duchess of Sussex / BEEM

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The family often make the most of their large garden, and Prince Harry previously took Archie on a slip n slideCredit: Netflix

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Meghan previously gushed about their home saying it is a ‘calm and healing’ abode to raise their kidsCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
“Maybe they’ll recreate that roast chicken dinner they had on the night they got engaged at their cottage in Windsor.”

He shared how Harry was “always very romantic” and on dates would be a “true gentleman.”

Grant also added that Meghan and Harry’s wedding anniversary could be an opportunity for an “olive branch” between them and Harry’s family.

Grant explained: “Typically, the Royal family do acknowledge wedding anniversaries, we usually see social media posts so it’ll be interesting to see if that happens this year. If they don’t, once again it goes to show the ongoing division. If it does happen, then I see that as an olive branch.”

MEGHAN MARKLE’S STUNNING GIVENCHY WEDDING DRESS

Meghan Markle stunned onlookers as she arrived at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, ahead of her nuptials to Prince Harry, in a stunning bespoke gown by Givenchy, created by British designer Clare Waight Keller.

The former Suits actress chose to work with Clare Waight Keller “for her timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour”.

Meghan wanted to “highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy”.

Meghan and Clare worked closely together on the design, which featured a graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasises Meghan’s slender waist.

Meghan and Harry tied the knot on May 19, 2018 in front of 600 guests at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

It’s estimated that the occasion cost £32m – covering everything from the cost of security and catering to Meghan’s stunning dress.

Watching on was a star-studded crowd of hundreds including the Clooneys, the Beckhams and Elton John – who performed at the lunchtime’s reception.

A gospel choir sang American soul singer Ben E. Kings 1960s hit Stand By Me to the couple, who had earlier been given their new titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

And they were later able to meet the rapturous crowds of more than 100,000 people as they were taken through Windsor in a carriage.

The Royal Wedding was not the first time Meghan has said, “I do”.

Meghan was previously married to film producer Trevor Engelson who is most famous for the 9/11 romance movie Remember Me, starring Robert Pattinson.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have just returned from a tour around NigeriaCredit: EPA

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We saw a sneak peek inside their office during their Harry & Meghan documentaryCredit: Netflix

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Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have their own fairy tale playhouse in the grounds of the family’s £12million mansion in CaliforniaCredit: Alexi Lubomirski

A NIGERIAN King who Prince Harry called his “in-law” is reportedly a conman and has been deported from the US twice.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a three-day visit to Nigeria last weekend.

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Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi was pictured shaking hands with Prince Harry

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His wife Queen Firdaus posed for a photo with Meghan Markle

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a three-day visit to Nigeria last weekendCredit: Getty
The Sussexes kicked off their “faux-Royal tour” with a visit to Lightway Academy, a primary and secondary school in the capital.

They then went to Nigeria’s defence HQ on Friday to meet military wives and senior officials.

The following day Harry was snapped playing volleyball, before Meghan referred to Nigeria as “my country”.

During their visit, the pair also met with the kings of four different states in Lagos on Sunday.

At the gathering, Harry playfully called the Nigerian royals his “in- laws” and said “I’ll skip the protocol because at this point we’re all family”.

Among them was the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi of Osun State.

‘FAUX-ROYAL TOUR’

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are desperately trying to be rivals to the royal family to save their image, a royal expert has claimed.

Gareth Russell says he believes “an alternative royal family is emerging”.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show with Matt Wilkinson, he said: “To all intents and purposes that is a real possibility.

“The problem for the Sussexes is that once you start doing anything like that, people become a lot more critical of what you do outside that – like commercial endeavours or quasi-royal tours.

“People will put them under more of a microscope because they’re calling it ‘The Office of Harry and Meghan’.

“It’s interesting. I wonder is it part of a plan to pivot from some harsh headlines they’ve had in the last year or two?

“Is it maybe a slightly more social conservative direction and have themselves as royals in exile for want of a better word?

“I wonder is that them acting on advice that people don’t want to hear them criticising the royal family.”

Mr Russell now believes Harry and Meghan could be plotting more “faux-royal tours” – including of the US.

He explained: “Their popularity at the moment is pretty low in America but that could change.

“Public opinion is always a bit of a rollarcoaster.

“But they absolutely could (go on a US tour) and there’s indications that they will.”

The 56-year-old, known as the “Funky King”, presented the Sussexes with several gifts and said to Meghan: “Thank God you are one of us.”

He also gave the Duchess, 42, the Yoruba name Adetokunbo – meaning “royalty from across the seas”.

His wife Queen Firdaus posed for a photo with Meghan and later posted on her Instagram account.

Akanbi, who drives a canary yellow McLaren supercar, was also pictured shaking hands with the Duke of Sussex, 39.

But the Nigerian royal is a convicted fraudster who was twice kicked out of America, according to the Mail on Sunday.

He was allegedly first arrested in Boston in 1998 after he tried to cash a stolen cheque for £247,000 from aviation company Boeing.

Akanbi posed as a successful businessman called Joseph Pigott but cops were alerted by a suspicious bank teller at BankBoston.

The conman was also charged for forging a cheque for £59,000 using the name Thomas Eyring.

He was reportedly jailed for 15 months and deported to Nigeria in April 1999.

His £1,500 fine was waived ‘”because of an inability to pay’”, the Mail reported.

Despite being banned from re-entering the US, he was then said to have been caught attempting to cross the border in March 2011.

Akanbi was with his then-wife Rakiya Saidu and young son and claimed they were going to New York to shop.

Facing the prospect of a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a £197,000 fine, Akanbi pleaded guilty.

He was sentenced to time served, deported and banned from the US for life for a second time.

It is not suggested that Harry and Meghan knew of Akanbi’s background.

The Sun has contacted the Sussexes for comment.

PRINCE Harry posed for a humiliating selfie with a German “prince

The Duke of Sussex accepted the Living Legend of Aviation award at a ceremony hosted by John Travolta in Beverly Hills, California.

At the ceremony, Harry was seen beaming in a selfie alongside Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

But it has been revealed that the Prince’s right to use that title is hotly contested, according to The Mail On Sunday.

Mario-Max, 46, has been accused of “harvesting the family name” with the Duke of Sussex warned to stay away from him.

The head of the family, Prince Alexander of Schaumburg-Lippe, told The Mail on Sunday: “It’s very painful for me, this guy has been harvesting our name for his personal gain.

“Prince Harry cannot stoop lower than appearing with him. I would advise him to stay away from this man.”

Mario-Max – who claims he has the right to use the royal title after he was adopted by a member of the Schaumburg-Lippe family – has been dubbed “the King of Trash TV” in the German Press.

He gained his reputation after appearing on the local version of Big Brother, and hawking products on shopping channels including a so-called “wealth elixir”.

It comes as their Archewell Foundation is no longer listed as “delinquent” by California’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.

On Monday the charity was listed as “delinquent” and a delinquency notice letter was sent to the foundation on May 3 for “failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”.

But on Tuesday the status of Archewell Foundation had been changed to “current”.

The letter had warned that an organisation listed as delinquent is banned from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds” and “its registration may be suspended or revoked by the registry”.

On Tuesday, a statement from California’s Department of Justice said the Archewell Foundation is “current and in good standing”.

A spokesperson for California’s Department of Justice said: “After being in touch with our Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, the organisation is current and in good standing.”

It is understood the issue arose from a payment which was thought to have been sent but was said to have not been received.

However, new records show the required payment was sent last year and was delivered on schedule.

The Archewell Foundation said after investigating that it found payments were made “promptly” and all paperwork was filed “without error or wrongdoing”.

A spokesperson for the Archewell Foundation said: “We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that the Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing.

“Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures.

“Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the foundation without error or wrongdoing.”

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Prince Harry and Meghan attend a polo fundraiser event in Lagos, NigeriaCredit: Reuters

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu welcomed the Duchess of SussexCredit: AFP

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Harry beamed as he met youngsters at Giants of Africa at Ilupeju Senior Grammar SchoolCredit: Getty

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The statement released by the Sussexes on their three-day tourCredit: sussex.com

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Harry and Meghan pose for a photo as they attend the programme held in the Armed Forces Complex in AbujaCredit: Getty

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The royal couple arrive at the State Governor House in LagosCredit: AFP

MEGHAN Markle may “never come back to the country”, according to the royal author.

Phil Dampier told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that the Duchess of Sussex, 42, thinks she is “unpopular” in the UK.

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A royal expert has claimed Meghan Markle may never return to Britain over popularity fearsCredit: Getty

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The Sussexes were ‘booed’ by crowds in London at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022Credit: Alamy
The royal author said that Meghan and Harry have had the opportunity to bring their kids, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, over to the UK – but have declined to do so.

Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, Phil shared: “He had opportunity to recently, didn’t he, on his way to the Invictus Games event and Nigeria, Meghan didn’t want to know.”

During Prince Harry’s recent trip to the UK, he failed to meet up with dad King Charles and brother Prince William – and Meghan didn’t leave the airport.

Phil continued: “That’s twice now that she’s just stopped off at the airport at Heathrow, I think in the lounge there.

“She clearly thinks that she’s unpopular in this country.

“I don’t think she wants to come back to this country.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if she never came back to this country to be honest.

“And I think that’s where we are, it’s very, very sad.”

This follows the Duchess of Sussex’s popularity taking a significant hit with a recent poll unveiling she’s not that popular among Brits.

YouGov data found Kate to be the most popular royal with 76 per cent of people viewing her positively, which is an increase of six per cent since January.

Prince William is the second most popular royal with a 73 per cent approval rating, Princess Anne was third (71 per cent), with King Charles coming in fourth (63 per cent).

Prince Harry (31 per cent) and Meghan Markle (26 per cent) came below of the list, with only Prince Andrew (six per cent) below them in the table.

This follows the Sussexes being booed by crowds in 2022 at Westminster Abbey during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and have since relocated to California.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t fare well in a recent royal popularity pollCredit: YouGov

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Kate Middleton topped the list of royals’ favourability among the publicCredit: Getty

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Royal author Phil Dampier spoke to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson for our Royal Exclusive showCredit: THE SUN
Since leaving royal duties behind four years ago, the couple have made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their Netflix docuseries.

Meanwhile, in Prince Harry’s bombshell Spare memoir, he made a number of claims, including how William allegedly branded Meghan “rude” and “difficult” during a row at his then residence on the grounds of Kensington Palace, Nottingham Cottage.

Harry and William haven’t been seen together in years after their rift.

Phil, who is the author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in their own words, said Prince Harry may have some regrets about leaving behind royal life and his family.

He added: “There must be some moments in the middle of the night where Harry’s lying there thinking to himself, has this really been worth it?

“Is there something I could have done differently?”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter Lilibet is turning three today but has barely met her UK family, including her grandfather.

The royal expert said the birthday celebrations are tinged with an “underlying sadness” due to the “rift” that divides the family.

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Since leaving royal duties behind four years ago, the couple have made a number of accusations against the Royal FamilyCredit: AP

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Harry visited the UK in May for an Invictus Games event but didn’t meet up with Charles or WilliamCredit: Alamy

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Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have barely met their UK familyCredit: Alexi Lubomirski

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes remain one of the strongest couples in showbiz

Skinny jeans are making a comeback and on Friday, Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha tried her own pair. But the trousers left her in a tough spot and her co-stars in hysterics.

Nadia Sawalha was challenged to try on a pair of skinny jeans – but the segment spiralled out of control (
Image: ITV)

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan, 59, announced the happy news on Instagram alongside a sweet photo of Ciara with her fiance Maxx Innes

Coleen Nolan has revealed that her daughter Ciara is engaged.

The Loose Women star, 59, announced the happy news on Instagram alongside a sweet photo of Ciara, 22, with her fiance Maxx Innes. Gushing over her “beautiful” daughter, Coleen said that she “loves them both so much”.

She wrote: “Well what can I say… I’m so so delighted that @maxxinnes has asked my beautiful girl @ciarafensome to marry him. I love them both sooooo much. Miss them even more! Can’t wait to see them. Off to buy a hat.”

Among those to pay their congratulations was Coleen’s ITV co-star Denise Welch, who wrote: “Congratulations @ciarafensome.” While another commented: “Good news Coleen congratulations to them both.” A third wrote: “Great news Coleen you must be delighted for them. Was good seeing u bk on @loosewomen today.”

Ciara shared the happy news on her Instagram Stories earlier today with a picture of her hand adorned with a huge diamond on her finger as she held Max’s hand. She wrote: “This happened last night xxxxx.”

Coleen Nolan shared the happy news on Instagram
The couple are currently enjoying the sights of Vietnam as they make their way through the country and celebrated their engagement on a boat in picturesque Hoi An surrounded my lanterns. “It was like a fairytale and I can’t wait to spend forever with you @maxxinnes I love you xxxx,” she wrote as she shared a video of the river lit up with lights.

Ciara went on to share reactions from her friends to the engagement, with one writing: “Congratulations @ciarafensome @maxxinnes, you two were made for each other and I’m so pleased for you both. Living the dream! So happy for you xx.”

Coleen’s daughter Ciara Fensome and Maxx Innes are engaged ( 
Image:
coleen_nolan / Instagram)
It comes after Ciara’s mum Coleen previously revealed that she was struggling with empty nest syndrome earlier this year after her daughter decided to go travelling. Admitting she “can’t stop crying”, she told her ITV co-stars Ruth Langsford, Janet Street-Porter and Linda Robson that her daughter has booked a one-way ticket out of the UK.

Coleen, who is also a mum to Shane, 35, and Jake, 31, explained her daughter has been planning this trip for two years with her partner, but the couple have not agreed a return date. She said: “They’ve worked really hard and saved up and I’m so proud of them both and her, but honestly, I just can’t stop crying.”

She continued: “But I’m trying not to do it in front of her because I’m thrilled and I’m proud because what an amazing thing to do. But it’s like losing my best friend.” Ruth teased Coleen that she will find it particularly difficult as Ciara helps “run her life”.

Coleen agreed, adding: “She is the mother of the house. My son text me the other day and went, ‘This is going to do you good mum because you need to grow up’.” The singer and Loose Women panellist explained that Ciara helps her out around the house and does a lot of the cooking, helping to ease the pressure at home while Coleen prepares for her upcoming one-woman tour.

“It’s just very stressful,” she said, before adding: “Empty nest syndrome is real.” Janet remarked: “Just speaking for her, she’s got to be allowed to live her own life.”

Coleen replied: “Oh she is being allowed. I don’t have to like it, Janet,” with Janet hitting back: “I know you don’t like it but you have got to grow up a bit Coleen. I never thought I’d say those words. But you have got to manage by yourself.”

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The Loose Women star, 36, revealed the sad news on Instagram as she said her nan was ‘finally at peace’ and had ‘got her angel wings’

Loose Women star Christine, 36, revealed the sad news on Instagram (
Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)