Author: bang3

Costumes worn in The Crown go under the hammer at Bonhams next month – with a highlight being a copy of Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ valued at £12,000 and worn by actress Elizabeth Debicki who plays the role in the Netflix TV series.

Interest in celebrity couture is soaring as investors realise they not only capture a high fashion moment in the life of an iconic star but can also be linked to an historic event.

The real ‘revenge dress’ – which is worth perhaps at least ten times the value of the copy – was a black cocktail dress by Greek designer Christina Stambolian. It was worn by Diana at a Vanity Fair fundraising dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 – on the day Prince Charles admitted to an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles in a BBC television interview.

In 1997, it was bought at a charity auction in New York for $60,000 by Scottish collectors Graeme and Briege Mackenzie to raise funds for their children’s charity, Children 1st. Kerry Taylor, founder of fashion auction house Kerry Taylor Auctions, says: ‘There were only two of these dresses ever made to exactly the same specifications by the designer – the one featured in The Crown is only a copy of these.

‘We sold the other Christina Stambolian that Diana did not wear for £18,000 in 2011. The market has exploded since then as interest in collecting celebrity clothes is soaring. It would have been a shrewd investment and that dress might even fetch six figures now.’

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Another indication of how prices are on the rise can be seen from the pale pink crepe blouse with ruffle collar by British design duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel worn by Diana for her official 1981 engagement photo. It sold for £27,000 in 2010 and last month fetched £300,000.

Taylor also points to a dress that made for one of the most memorable and fun photographs of 1985, when Diana wore an off-the-shoulder midnight blue velvet gown for a night at the White House where Hollywood star John Travolta led her onto the dance floor for a twirl in front of delighted guests.

The dress from British designer Victor Edelstein sold for £220,000 in 2019. Today, says Taylor, that dress might fetch up to a million pounds. She adds: ‘A key part of Diana’s appeal is not just that she was royalty and died tragically young – but also that she wore fabulous couture. She shares this global appeal with iconic film stars who also have highly collectable wardrobes that may continue to soar in value.’

A Christian Dior dress worn by Elizabeth Taylor in 1961 when she won an Oscar for the film Butterfield 8 sold for £200,000 last month at Kerry Taylor Auctions. The same auctioneer sold a black Givenchy cocktail dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1966 film How To Steal A Million for £50,000 just 15 years ago. The auction house says this garment could now fetch £200,000.

You don’t need super-deep pockets to fall for a costume investment. An Elizabeth Taylor 1960s Christian Dior coat sold for £2,000 last month while a 1968 Ben Zuckerman outfit that Taylor once wore went for £600. In the same sale, a 2021 Vivienne Westwood ballgown worn by Brooke Shields in Netflix movie A Castle For Christmas was purchased for £4,200.

Although celebrity fashion is increasingly being appreciated as collectable pieces of history, experts believe they should not be seen as a practical garment. Rather they should be cherished as an investment work of art or museum piece.

Adrian Roose, founder of trading website Memorabilia Club, says: ‘Royalty and Hollywood stars are a particularly strong area for clothing as they have die-hard fan bases that cross generations. But other iconic figures – from politicians to pop stars – are also worth considering. You can still find relative bargains if you are willing to scour provincial auction houses and consider something unusual.’

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Followers of fashion: Elizabeth Debicki (right) wears the £12,000 copy in The Crown, and Audrey Hepburn in the 1966 film How To Steal A Million

Details of regional auctions can be found in the industry magazine Antiques Trade Gazette that lists hundreds of sale events across the country in a calendar.

In March last year, auction house Halls, in Shrewsbury, sold a grey Chaumet evening bag once owned by Margaret Thatcher for £7,000. Its estimate was £6,000. The former Conservative Prime Minister described her handbags as ‘her weapon’ and said they were the only ‘leak proof’ place for information in Downing Street.

An Asprey bag seen in photographs as Mrs Thatcher walked and talked with US President Ronald Reagan in a 1985 visit to the White House sold for £25,000 in 2012. Clothing from another political icon – former Speaker Baroness Betty Boothroyd – will be sold at Special Auction Services in Newbury on January 23. Garments include a couture silk silver chequered and green ballgown with an estimated price of up to £200 while her gold and diamond House of Commons brooch comes with an estimate of £2,000.

A collection of Queen Victoria’s underwear sold at Hansons Auctioneers in 2020 for a total of £16,570. A pair of bloomers fetched £650. Last September, Sotheby’s held a Freddie Mercury sale that included one of his famous on-stage accessories – a crown and red cloak. They went under the hammer for ten times their estimate at £635,000. A snake bangle worn in Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody video went for £698,500 – smashing a £9,000 estimate.

Roose says: ‘One of the key reasons the Freddie Mercury sale did so well was not only that he was such an important musician but the provenance was watertight. The clothing had previously been owned by his former fiancee Mary Austin.’

He adds: ‘Provenance is everything when buying. I sold a pair of Michael Jackson dance shoes worn at a Budapest concert for £5,500 four years ago. It included a detailed letter of their history and ownership from the tour manager. Without this guarantee the buyer would just be picking up a pair of black brogues.’

Kerry Taylor adds: ‘Treat clothing like fine vintage wine as it is an investment worth cherishing.’

She lived a remarkable life, marrying three times, flying over the Himalayas and speaking her mind with a candour quite beyond the more orthodox of her fellow aristocrats. Now, ten months after her death aged 88, Princess Diana‘s aunt, Mary Roche, has bequeathed a whiff of mystery in her will, which has just been published.

Mary and her younger sister Frances, Diana’s mother, came from a family which had been massively enriched two generations earlier when her grandfather, James, 3rd Lord Fermoy, married an American heiress.

But Mary did not leave an immense fortune. Far from it: after taxes and other costs had been paid, her total estate amounted to £425,983 – a decidedly modest sum for a woman who, at one stage, owned an airline taking passengers on safari around Kenya and who, early in the first of her three marriages, bought a house in Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, always one of London’s most punishingly expensive addresses, where houses today effortlessly sell for more than £20million.

But, more intriguingly, Mary, whose father, Maurice, 4th Lord Fermoy, was shooting with George VI at Sandringham the day before the King’s death, decided against leaving anything to two of her four children.

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Ten months after her death aged 88, Princess Diana’s aunt, Mary Roche, has bequeathed a whiff of mystery in her will

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Mary and her younger sister Frances, Diana’s mother, came from a family which had been massively enriched two generations earlier when her grandfather married an American heiress

Instead, she stipulated that her estate was to be shared equally by the eldest of her three daughters, Alexandra, and her only son, Edward.

The two younger daughters, Antonia – known as Anya – and Jo, were omitted. Until recently, both lived modestly in Frome, Somerset. Jo remains there, in a property on a 1980s housing estate which she bought for £170,000 in 2016; Anya was on a neighbouring estate but appears to have sold up for £220,000 in 2020.

Like Edward and Alexandra, Anya accompanied their mother, then married to her third husband, to Diana’s wedding.

Mary was already convinced that the marriage was ill-starred, after seeing her niece, with whom she’d formed a close bond during Diana’s childhood, looking ‘unhappy’ at a Buckingham Palace reception.

‘They were at very different stages of development,’ Mary later reflected. Describing her niece as ‘very natural and prone to giggles, a lot of fun’, Mary added: ‘Diana was young and had limited life experience, and Prince Charles was already a great thinker.’

Her son, Edward, tells me that his mother’s judgment about her will was similarly assured.

‘My mother gave various things to my sisters at different times and, in the interests of fairness, that’s how it ended up,’ he explains.

Home Office minister Chris Philp has grown a beard. Did he do so to keep up with his boss, James Cleverly, or perhaps to make himself look older? When clean-shaven, the 47- year-old Philp had a slightly gulpy, jejune look. He now resembles England football manager Gareth Southgate.

BBC man: Staff were told how to avoid tax

Michael Cole, the BBC reporter who became Mohamed Al Fayed’s PR mouthpiece, recalls the good old days at the broadcaster.

‘I was on the staff for 20 years,’ he writes in a new book, How Do We Pay For The BBC After 2027?

‘Throughout that time there was a whole department helping secretaries find affordable accommodation and another that was tasked with advising foreign correspondents and others working overseas for the BBC about how to hide their salaries from the taxman by opening bank accounts in Jersey and how to claim the maximum sums in allowances.’

Still a better use of licence-fee payers’ money than stuffing Gary Lineker’s mouth with gold, perhaps?

No Davina McCall or Lorraine Kelly-style mature bikini shots for TV presenter Anthea Turner, who believes more is more when it comes to clothing. 

The former Blue Peter host, 63, says: ‘As I’ve aged, I’ve come to the realisation that I look better with my clothes on than off, so the more clothes I need to wear, the merrier — especially those black opaque tights that make my legs look like they used to before something happened to my knees.’

Trinny’s made up as cosmetics firm turns tidy profit

Trinny Woodall may appear to have the blues — but she’s actually feeling rather pleased with herself.

For the What Not To Wear presenter- turned-beauty entrepreneur, 59, who is pictured beating the winter cold in an electric blue fluffy coat and crushed velvet trousers, is celebrating some impressive figures at her make-up brand, Trinny London.

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Trinny Woodall may appear to have the blues — but she’s actually feeling rather pleased with herself

Newly published figures disclose the company earned more than £153,000 a day last year as she sold more than £56 million worth of cosmetics.

The news must have pleased the firm’s many investors — who include her ex- boyfriend Charles Saatchi as well as Unilever — as Trinny London turned a profit of £1.9 million, reversing a loss of £2.1 million the year before.

He is a top chef in the United Arab Emirates, where he cooked for royals and famous visitors at his restaurant, Gaia Dubai. Now, Izu Ani, who was raised in Tottenham, North London, has returned to the capital to run Gaia Mayfair, opposite The Ritz.

It’s already attracting stars such as actor Luke Evans and model Sabrina Elba.

However, Ani is alarmed by soaring crime in Sadiq Khan’s London.

‘I always leave my phone everywhere in Dubai and it always finds me,’ he tells me.

‘But, here, you never know.

‘My colleagues said to me, ‘Chef, can you just give us your stuff to keep in a locker?’

 Flower power for Prince on Sri Lanka trip

Princess Anne was praised last week for her typically no-nonsense visit to Sri Lanka, where she carried her own bags from a commercial flight. But she is not the only member of the Royal Family to visit the south Asian island this year.

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Prince Michael of Kent, 81, and his wife, Marie-Christine were welcomed in the capital, Colombo, where they were decorated with flowers at Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau

Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin Prince Michael of Kent, 81, and his wife, Marie-Christine, who turned 79 on Monday, were welcomed in the capital, Colombo, where they were decorated with flowers at Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau.

It’s not clear if they were on holiday or business. In 2008, Princess Michael, then reportedly charging £25,000 for public appearances, opened a villa in Sri Lanka.

The Princes of Wales is likely to miss out on a number of winter and spring engagements after undergoing surgery – including the BAFTAs, St Patrick’s Day and the Commonwealth Service – as she is not expected to return to public events until Easter.

Kate Middleton, 42, is being treated in hospital after a successful abdominal operation, Kensington Palace revealed today.

The royal was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

The future Queen will then return home to Windsor in Berkshire to continue her recovery with the support of her family. It is understood not to be cancerous.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

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The Princes of Wales is likely to miss out on a number of winter and spring engagements after undergoing surgery today – including St Patrick’s Day. Pictured at the St Patrick’s Day Parade last year

There are a number of events which are usually on Kate ‘s calendar this time of the year, which she will in light of recent news, seemingly not be present for in the coming weeks.

In February 2023, the royal – who is patron of Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Rugby Football League (RFL) – appeared in high spirits as she attended a Six Nations rugby match with her husband Prince William.

And next month, France and Ireland will kick off this year’s Six Nations Championship on February 2, for a game at the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille.

That weekend will also see games from England versus Italy in Rome and Wales versus Scotland in Cardiff – which the Prince and Princess of Wales are not expected to attend.

Last year Kate also made a glamorous appearance at the BAFTAs – where she chatted with Austin Butler following his win for his role in Elvis.

She looked every inch the Hollywood star as she joined William at the gltizy event at Royal Festival Hall in London.

The royal mother-of-three opted for an Alexander McQueen one shoulder gown for the occasion, which she first wore to the event in 2019.

Kate’s white one-shouldered gown has undergone some minor alterations, with the floral detailing on the shoulder swapped for a sweeping train of material.

WHAT ENGAGEMENTS WILL KATE LIKELY MISS OUT ON?

FEBRUARY 

February 2 (and onwards) – Six Nations Championship

February 13 – Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) 

February 18 – BAFTA Film Awards

MARCH

March 1 – St David’s Day 

March 11 – Commonwealth Day Service 

March 17 – St Patrick’s Day 

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Kate Middleton, 42 and her husband pictured attending the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey

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Last year Kate also made a glamorous appearance at the BAFTAs – where she chatted with Austin Butler following his win for his role in Elvis

The event had marked the first time the couple, who have made it their tradition to come to the biggest night in UK cinema each year, had attended in three years.

William has been the president of Bafta since 2010 and Kate first attended the event with her husband in 2017.

And we’re unlike to see any Pancake Day antics from the Princess this year either – unless she perhaps filmed anything for a segment in advance.

In 2023, Kate was left in hysterics as she attempted to flip a pancake during a visit to a care home on Shrove Tuesday.

She was all smiles as she arrived at Oxford House Nursing Home in Slough, sporting a floral face mask once inside.

WHAT ENGAGEMENTS WILL WILLIAM LIKELY MISS OUT ON?

FEBRUARY 

February 2 (and onwards) – Six Nations Championship

February 13 – Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) 

February 18 – BAFTA Film Awards

Investitures throughout February 

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In February last year, the royal – who is patron of Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Rugby Football League (RFL) – appeared in high spirits as she attended a Six Nations rugby match with her husband Prince William

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In 2023, Kate was left in hysterics as she attempted to flip a pancake during a visit to a care home on Shrove Tuesday

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Kate tried her best to flip the pancake – but was left in hysterics as she struggled with the hot plate

Kate also met with staff and residents and heard how delivering high-quality, patient-focused care is at the centre of the home’s work.

However she was left in fits of giggles as she tried to use a hot plate at the care home to cook pancakes – with little success.

Staff, led by head chef Anna Wright, had already been serving up plates of pancakes laden with whipped cream and fruit.

Taking her place behind the table, Kate took up a pan and said: ‘OK, so am I just pouring it straight in here? How much? Very thin? Ok. Is that good? I am really nervous. So are pancakes popular? Does everyone know pancakes are on the menu today? And what sort of toppings have you got? So it’s always a thumbs up day!’

She started pushing at the mixture – which didn’t appear to be cooking very quickly – with her metal flipper, which didn’t seem to have much effect.

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Last year Kate accompanied her husband, who was making his first visit to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Barracks in Windsor as their newly appointed Colonel of the Regiment

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It is also understood that the Princess is unlikely to attend any engagements for St David’s Day in March. Pictured at the event in 2023

‘This is where I go wrong, I always try to turn them too quickly,’ she said.

Anne re-assured her: ‘They can stick. There’s no pressure.’

The pressure was clearly getting to the princess as she laughed: ‘I wish there as some music playing or something! I am trying. That is not working! This is not going anywhere. I am going to have to ease it off. Ok, it’s getting there. I wish I could watch everyone else doing this. ‘

Kate tried shaking the pan but the pancake clearly wasn’t budging. ‘Maybe my children won’t want me to make pancakes with them when they come home from school now,’ she giggled.

It is also understood that the Princess is unlikely to attend any engagements for St David’s Day in March.

Last year Kate accompanied her husband, who was making his first visit to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Barracks in Windsor as their newly appointed Colonel of the Regiment.

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Also usually on the calendar for March is the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Pictured, the service last year

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Last year Kate looked elegant as ever for the engagement in a £3,000 Erdem outfit and a diamond Prince of Wales Feathers brooch – a sweet gift from the King

Events King Charles could miss while being treated for an enlarged prostate

18-19th January:  Meetings and events at Dumfries House with foreign dignitaries and Cabinet members

25th January: Burns Night

27th January: Holocaust Memorial Day

It was a position King Charles had held since 1975, with his son and heir taking over in December 2022.

The Prince and Princess went on to meet many of the families of the Welsh Guardsmen, as well as men and women from the Australian Army who are based in the UK to help train Ukrainian soldiers.

Kate was presented with a bouquet of flowers from Royal fan seven-year-old Elsi-Haf Cunningham, who was wearing traditional Welsh dress while her father took part in the parade.

Her mother, Krystal Cunningham, said her daughter will remember the moment for the rest of her life.

‘It was a very proud moment, she absolutely loves the Royal family but has only ever seen Kate on TV,’ she said, adding: ‘It was a big moment for her.’

Also usually on the calendar for March is the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey.

Last year Kate looked elegant as ever for the engagement in a £3,000 Erdem outfit and a diamond Prince of Wales Feathers brooch – a sweet gift from the King. The mother-of-three chose a glittering pair of two-tiered flower-shaped earrings, which were previously owned by Princess Diana.

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Another important date for the Princess in March is the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Last year, she and the Prince of Wales were guests of honour at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, where William officially stepped down from the honorary regimental position in favour of Kate

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After delivering a speech to the Irish Guards, the mother-of-three took time to meet with families and young royal fans attending the event

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Kate (pictured in October) is being treated in hospital after undergoing a successful abdominal operation, Kensington Palace revealed today

At the service, the King paid tribute to his ‘remarkable’ mother as he delivered his Commonwealth Day message for the first time.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – Edward and Sophie – and Princess Anne were also in attendance, as well as Spice Girl Geri Horner, who is an ambassador for King Charles’ charity The Prince’s Trust and is a regular at the event.

Another important date for the Princess in March is the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Last year, she and the Prince of Wales were guests of honour at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, where William officially stepped down from the honorary regimental position in favour of Kate.

After delivering a speech to the Irish Guards, the mother-of-three took time to meet with families and young royal fans attending the event.

Kate looked radiant in a bespoke turquoise coat by Catherine Walker which matched the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards’ blue plume.

During her emotive speech, the Princess said: ‘I really couldn’t be prouder to stand in front of you here today. It really is a true honour to be your Colonel.

‘I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do – this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.’

Meanwhile William said that being Colonel of the Irish Guards has been one of the ‘great honours of my life’.

As part of the parade, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrocks to officers and guardsmen, which were then distributed among the ranks – and, of course, the Irish Wolfhound mascot for the regiment, Seamus, received one too.

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Last month, The Mail revealed that talks were under way at the highest level about William and Kate’s first trip to Italy and a date had been ‘pencilled in’. William and Kate pictured with their children during Christmas

Elsewhere, William and Kate were set to be making a high-profile visit to Rome in the spring as part of a European charm offensive.

However, after news of the Princess’s surgery, could her first working trip abroad in over a year be cancelled?

Last month, The Mail revealed that talks were under way at the highest level about William and Kate’s first trip to Italy and a date had been ‘pencilled in’.

It is not yet clear whether the short visit was set to include a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

While Kensington Palace has not officially announced the trip, the charm offensive was set to mark the couple’s inaugural trip on behalf of the Government as the new Princess and Princess of Wales.

This is because, although they travelled to Boston in the US this time last year, the trip was for Prince William‘s Earthshot Prize, which is a personal initiative.

It was understood at the time that negotiations around the couple meeting with Pope Francis were still ‘very much on the table’ and ‘nothing has been decided yet’.

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Kate was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports. Pictured last month

King Charles and Queen Camilla have visited Rome twice in recent years and on both visits they made a point of going to meet the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 and Pope Francis in 2017.

But 87-year-old Pope Francis is in worse health, and cancelled a trip to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai at the last minute.

A source said a possible meeting had yet to be discussed at embassy level. Kensington Palace would not comment on the Rome trip directly but a spokesman said: ‘We look forward to announcing the Prince and Princess’ travel plans in due course.’

Separately today, Buckingham Palace said King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated with a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate’s return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Waleses’ home in Windsor.

Los Angeles FC bosses could be making a sensational move fro Athletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, as he enters the last year of his contract with the Spanish giants.

If it were to happen, it would be a significant coup for LAFC bosses, who would be pulling one over on MLS rivals, David Beckham-owned, Inter Miami.

Griezmann, now 33, is known to be keen on a move to the United States, after long being the subject of interest to several MLS clubs in north America.

Reports in French daily, L’Equipe, said the World Cup-winning forward was likely to reunite with old Barcelona teammates, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Florida,

but this has been thrown into doubt after LA chiefs want to put an audacious move for the Frenchman, together.

Griezmann is entering the final year of his contract with Atletico Madrid,

and is believed to have no interest in staying in the Diego Simeone-managed team, after a second stint at the club that has lasted three years.

The versatile forward would be able to leave as a free agent upon the expiry of his current agreement, which comes to an end in June 2025.

For MLS clubs interested, Griezmann wouldn’t come at an extravagant cost, with a relatively low release clause of £8.4million ($11million).

LAFC have already brought major European talent to the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California – albeit it players in the latter stages of their career.

This includes compatriots Hugo Lloris and Oliver Giroud, who have both left European leagues to join wind-down their careers on the US’s west coast.

Griezmann also has been clear about his love for American sports and that he envisions himself playing Stateside. Last year, he was quoted as saying: ‘My target is to end up there.

‘With everything that I like about American sports, playing in MLS and enjoying myself, being able to win things and be at my best level.

‘First I want to make history here and win trophies at Atleti. After that we’ll see… I think the arrival of Leo [Messi], ‘Busi’ [Sergio Busquets] and Jordi [Alba] is good for the league.

That and signing younger players, especially from South America, it’s the best thing the league can do.’

Victoria Beckham is reportedly considering sending Princess Kate a “pamper package” in a bid to raise her spirits after she underwent preventative chemotherapy.

However, news of the kind gesture is unlikely to be well received by Meghan Markle if the reports of their alleged “feud” are true.

It was claimed that her once cordial friendship with the Beckhams is now “frostier than ever”.

She had allegedly feared that the British power couple could have leaked stories about her to the press.

Meanwhile, a source recently told Heat World about Victoria’s gesture of support in Kate’s time of need.

They stated: “Victoria has really been concerned about Kate, and she and David have sent her lots of messages of support.

But Vic wants to do something more and would like to send Kate a pamper package with some of her favourite bits from her own range, as well as other treats that she knows Kate will like.”

The source continued: “There are a lot of rules around sending gifts to royals, so Vic is keen to make sure it’s done as friends and not from her business, but she just wants to help keep her spirits up.” They went on to suggest that Victoria felt she could relate to some of the “pressure and scrutiny” that Kate is under.

“She’s on a mission to really cement their friendship, especially as David is getting closer to the royals.

“Once Kate has fully recovered, Vic would love to work with her, as well as help style her and see her use her products. It would be the ultimate seal of approval.”

Some have interpreted the gesture as an insult towards Meghan as well as an indication of where Victoria’s loyalties may lie.

However, it has also been suggested that Victoria and Meghan merely had a “purely transactional” relationship, focused on getting more publicity for Brand Beckham.

According to celebrity biographer Tom Bower, who wrote The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power, things began when Meghan reached out about the possibility of getting complimentary products from Victoria’s fashion line.

There have since been claims that she was “snubbed”, but the Beckhams are thought to have now bonded with Princess Kate, with David enjoying making sushi and Prince William apparently being keen to learn.

Meanwhile, Meghan has been tipped to be endorsing Kamala Harris as the next US leader of the Democrats, as US President Joe Biden has stepped down.

TikTok is turning into a destination for dating tips and relationship advice, as the platform allows therapists to share their views on signs a partner is cheating

and ways to spice up a relationship – including explaining the benefits of practices such as tantric sex.

But as well as legitimate advice from relationship experts, the video-sharing platform is also a hotbed for viral trends and tests

that promise to reveal whether a pairing is meant to be. And the latest of these doing the rounds is the ‘Beckham Test’, inspired by David and Victoria Beckham’s relationship.

After watching the Beckham documentary that aired earlier this year on Netflix, couples have been putting their partners to the test

by seeing if they will dance with them unprompted to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Islands in the Stream’.

Viewers were left swooning when David joined in with Victoria’s spontaneous dancing to the song, and for some it’s become the marker of a happy relationship.

The hashtag #BeckhamTest on TikTok has amassed over 42.4 million views as couples try to replicate the scene with their partners, who ‘pass’ the test if they join in with the dancing.

What is the ‘Beckham Test’?

In the Beckham documentary, Victoria is seen doing a two-step to ‘Islands in the Stream’ when the family are spending time at their Cotswolds home. David quickly joins in with his wife and the pair start dancing together in synchronisation.

The episode then cuts to a clip of Victoria saying to David, “Why I feel happy now is I feel really content now, and I get that sense you feel really content now.” Viewers have branded the scene ‘relationship goals’.

The clip prompted viewers to replicate the couple’s dance moves, which then became a ‘test’ as users waited hopefully to see if their partner would join them.

And David Beckham himself has gotten involved with the trend, commenting on TikToks with #BeckhamTest to reassure them that their partner had passed. Under one video posted to the platform, he wrote, “Definitely a pass”.

The trend comes after the documentary got viewers wondering where David Beckham lives, as several of his stunning homes were on show in the Netflix series, while others wanted to know where Rebecca Loos is now, after her rumoured affair with the footballer was briefly touched on in the series.

Looking for more relationship advice? we’ve spoken to the experts about why you might have gone off sex, and one relationship expert has revealed the six small things happy couples do. For another viral test, we’ve looked into the 12 questions that promise to reveal if your partner is really ‘the one’.

No pressure, their baby name is only going to be with them throughout their time at school and on every official document until they are of the legal age to change it

– but did you know it could make a difference to whether they will be successful or not? according to these most successful baby names.

And as David and Victoria Beckham give fans an insight into their family life including where they live, with the release of the new Beckham Netflix documentary,

they also shed some light on the baby naming dilemma they faced like most couples – and where they took inspiration from to get some of the most unusual baby names.

Firstly, if you’re wondering how many kids do David and Victoria Beckham have, then there are four – three sons, Brooklyn, 24, Romeo, 21, and Cruz, 18 and daughter Harper, 12.

Brooklyn Beckham

In the docuseries, Victoria reveals the real reason they chose to name their first child Brooklyn. She tells viewers that she chose to name him that because she was in Brooklyn, New York when she called her partner David to tell him she was pregnant.

Recalling the moment, which took place before England’s World Cup game against Argentina, where David was given a red card and sent off the pitch for kicking out at opposition player Diego Simeone, Victoria, explained, “I told David the night before the game. He was so, so happy, we both were and there was never any doubt in my mind that I should tell him. I mean, it was what we wanted and he could not have been happier.”

Brooklyn was born on 4th March 1999 and according to Bump, the name Brooklyn in its original form means “broken land” yet Brooklyn’s English spelling associates it with “water” or a “small stream” while globally it is recognised as the hip waterside neighbourhood in New York.

Romeo Beckham

Next up, son Romeo, was born on 1st September 2002, at Portland Hospital, London like his older brother Brooklyn. Despite sounding like a Shakespeare character, David admitted they chose the moniker because “it’s just a name we love”. He also commented at the time that the baby already had “Brooklyn’s nose and Victoria’s chin.”

According to Nameberry, the name Romeo is a boy’s name of Italian origin meaning “pilgrim to Rome, Roman.”

Cruz Beckham

Victoria and David’s third son Cruz was born on 20th February 2005 but instead of being born in England, he Victoria gave birth at the Hospital Ruber Internacional in Madrid, of which David almost missed the birth.

Cruz is a boy’s name of Portuguese origin, yet traditionally it’s used as a surname, derived from the Latin word crux, meaning “cross”. Cruz can also be known as a religious name due to its association with Jesus on the cross, according to The Bump.

Reports by fandomwire claim David admits being so star-struck by movie star Tom Cruise that he suggested to his wife that they should name their youngest son after him. “Cruise is a great name, but we could spell it different,” he suggested to his wife, Victoria Beckham.

He added that ‘Cruz‘ is the Spanish spelling, so they decided to go with Cruz Beckham. “Also, living in Spain, Cruz is spelled the way it is in Spanish. So that’s why we got it,” he explained.

Harper Beckham

And finally Harper Beckham name inspiration came from author Harper Lee – who famously penned To Kill A Mockingbird.. Harper was born on 10th July 2011 and David ended days of speculation over the name choice by confirming that the baby girl was named after the author. He said, “Victoria’s favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird, it’s a very strong, passionate book and the author was Harper Lee, and that is where Harper came from.”

Ryan Reynolds and David Beckham had the ultimate #lads #banter #nsfw exchange on Instagram, and fans are absolutely loving it.

The bromance has been around for a while, with the pair sharing social media exchanges since 2018 and starring in a Deadpool 2 trailer later that same year.

And now, some might even say they’re flirting on Instagram in new comments, after David made a tongue in cheek remark on Ryan’s latest post.

The actor was telling his 36.9million followers about the 100 bottles of his Aviation Gin that he had recently signed.

“I signed 100 bottles of @AviationGin for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario,” he put in the caption.

“Weird name for a person but tbh if that were my name, I’d drink that much too. #LCBO.”

David commented on the post, “Wow that’s a sore wrist if ever I saw one 😂.”

Ryan then responded, “I’ve intensely trained my wrist since I was 15. Wait… what are we talking about?”

Can we get a ‘hell yeah’ for the lads lads lads?

This isn’t the first time David Beckham has communicated with a famous friend on Instagram recently. Back in June 2020, he wore a Friends t-shirt out on a walk with wife Victoria, and Matthew Perry posted about it.

The scene was from the episode The One Where No One’s Ready from season three, where Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes. Chandler aka Matthew Perry spotted the picture and re-posted it to his own account, alongside the caption, “This guy has really good taste. Whoever that is.”

It didn’t take long for Beckham to reply, commenting on the Perry’s post, “Yes @cruzbeckham got me the shirt but could I be wearing anymore clothes 😂”.

Malgré les embûches concernant sa santé, Florent Pagny va de l’avant. Alors qu’il sera coach dans “The Voice” en 2025, le chanteur reviendra en novembre avec un livre partagé avec sa fille Ael, photographe.

Crédits photo : Bestimage
Comment va Florent Pagny ? Depuis la médiatisation de son combat contre le cancer, l’état de santé de l’artiste préoccupe ses très nombreux fans, lui qui a déjà été touché par deux récidives ces derniers mois. L’échec des différents traitements a poussé le chanteur à prendre la décision d’arrêter les soins, comme il vient de le révéler dans le podcast “Addiktion”. « Là, il n’y a plus de traitement. Même l’immunothérapie. On s’est rendu compte un jour que ça ne marchait pas, il y avait des rechutes, on a laissé tomber » explique l’interprète de “Savoir aimer”, qui s’est tourné vers « la médecine chinoise » pour atténuer les symptômes et douleurs liés à la maladie. Le chanteur vit désormais avec « des perspectives de trois mois », rythmées par des examens médicaux pour suivre l’avancée du mal qui le ronge. Pour autant, Florent Pagny ne veut pas mettre sa carrière entre parenthèses. Après le beau succès de l’album “2bis”, écoulé à plus de 200.000 exemplaires, et son retour surprise sur scène, il reviendra siéger dans le fauteuil rouge de “The Voice” en 2025, dont il sera l’un des coachs avec Zaz, Vianney et Patricia Kaas.

Sortie le 6 novembre

En parallèle des tournages de l’émission, Florent Pagny assurera très prochainement la campagne promotionnelle d’un projet inédit réalisé avec sa fille Ael, âgée de 25 ans et fruit de ses amours avec l’artiste peintre argentine Azucena Caamaño. Un an après l’énorme succès de son autobiographie arrachée à plus de 200.000 unités, le musicien dévoilera le 6 novembre un nouvel ouvrage en libraires. Intitulé “Pagny par Ael”, il s’agit d’un livre de photographie retraçant les trois dernières années de la vie du chanteur, vues à travers l’oeil de sa fille. L’idée est née en 2021, alors que Florent Pagny débutait sa tournée des 60 ans. Sauf qu’un événement imprévu est venue bouleverser les contours du projet : la découverte de son cancer des poumons. S’en est suivi des mois de combat, d’apparitions médiatiques scrutées, l’enregistrement de “2bis”, une tournée des festivals… Autant de moments « aussi rares que précieux » immortalisés par l’objectif d’Ael. « Pudique, elle trouve le moyen, grâce à ses photos, de rester auprès de son père à chaque instant et de lui dire tout son amour » indique un communiqué des éditions HarperCollins, qui publiera ce livre préfacé et légendé par le chanteur lui-même.

Un projet commun à travers duquel « une histoire se raconte » entre Florent Pagny et Ael. Père et fille prennent d’ailleurs la pose côte à côte sur une publication de Mathieu Johan, ancien candidat de la “Star Academy” devenu agent artistique et attaché de presse dans le monde de la littérature. Le livre “Pagny par Ael” est d’ores et déjà disponible en précommande.

« Si on ne fait rien pour lui, l’humanité va avoir des problèmes », déclare Florent Pagny à propos de Paul Watson. Boyer David/ABACA

L’interprète de Ma Liberté de Penser a enregistré une chanson afin de soutenir le militant écologiste détenu au Groenland depuis juillet 2024.

Passer la publicité

« La cause est bonne, le mec est dans un traquenard ». Dans une interview donnée au Parisien , dimanche 13 octobre, Florent Pagny a annoncé avoir prêté sa voix dans une chanson en soutien à Paul Watson. Le fondateur de Sea Shepherd est en détention au Groenland depuis juillet 2024 et sous le coup d’un mandat d’arrêt international émis par le Japon.

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« Si avec ma petite voix je peux être utile, je le fais », déclare le chanteur. À l’image de We Are the World en 1985, qui avait réuni des artistes contre la faim en Afrique, ou de l’hymne des Enfoirés, Florent Pagny serait accompagné de plusieurs artistes, dont le chanteur Cali, formant ainsi un véritable groupe de musique caritatif. L’objectif est clair : faire la pression sur les autorités afin d’obtenir la libération du militant écologiste Paul Watson. Fin juillet, l’homme de 73 ans a été arrêté par les autorités danoises alors qu’il était en route avec son navire, le John Paul DeJoria, pour intercepter un nouveau navire-usine baleinier nippon. Il est désormais maintenu en détention au Groenland jusqu’au 23 octobre dans l’attente de son extradition et son arrestation a depuis fait l’objet d’une forte vague de soutien. « Ce mec-là, il se bat depuis les années 1970 pour défendre les baleines. Si on ne fait rien pour lui, l’humanité va avoir des problèmes », soutient le chanteur de 62 ans.

« Je m’engage rarement, parce que je ne suis pas un militant, je ne fais de politique », souligne Florent Pagny. Cette fois, la cause lui tient à cœur. Au large de la Patagonie, où il vit depuis une vingtaine d’années, le chanteur va parfois observer les baleines. « C’est à 250 km de chez nous, à Puerto Madryn. Entre les jets et les nageoires, je me suis déjà retrouvé à compter soixante baleines autour de moi. Magique », raconte-t-il.

Le chanteur Francis Lalanne est à l’initiative de cette chanson. Ce dernier a connu le succès au Groenland il y a dix ans avec son titre Suli Avunga. Il s’est envolé pour le territoire de la couronne danoise il y a deux semaines pour soutenir Paul Watson et « mobiliser un maximum de personne dans le monde artistique ». Proche de Dieudonné et figure de la sphère complotiste pendant la crise sanitaire, Francis Lalanne est depuis plusieurs années un personnage qui suscite la controverse mais cela n’a visiblement pas freiné Florent Pagny: «Je n’ai jamais adhéré à ses délires. Mais je le connais depuis trente-cinq ans et quand il m’envoie cette chanson, je fais abstraction de tout ça ».

Selon Le Parisien, d’autres artistes seraient prêts à enregistrer leur voix. Parmi eux : Véronique Sanson, Anne Sila, Arielle Dombasle, David Hallyday, Manu Lanvin, Fabienne Thibeault, Yannick Noah, ou encore le groupe Tryo. D’après l’avocat M^e Emmanuel Ludot, l’un des piliers de ce projet, une version japonaise de la chanson a également été enregistrée « pour la diffuser auprès de l’opinion publique là-bas ». Aucune date de sortie de la chanson n’a été précisée.

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« Un héros qui a passé sa vie à défendre les baleines contre les Japonais. »

Brigitte Bardot

Depuis son arrestation, Paul Watson a reçu le soutien d’un grand nombre de personnalités de la culture. «C’est un scandale, je dirai même que c’est une infamie » s’est indigné Pierre Richard dans une vidéo publiée sur les réseaux sociaux. « C’est un type extraordinaire, un héros qui a passé sa vie à défendre les baleines contre les Japonais, contre les harpons japonais », a déclaré Brigitte Bardot. Joe Duplantier, cofondateur du groupe Gojira, était dès le 12 août à Copenhague pour manifester devant le Parlement danois. La pétition créée par le journaliste Hugo Clément, a été signée par plus de 300.000 personnes, dont Pierre Niney et Stéphane Bern.