Author: bang5

A host of Meghan Markle’s nearest and dearest feature on her new Netflix show including her close pal Abigail Spencer – and here we take a look at exactly how they formed their tight bond

Meghan Markle set tongues wagging when she announced her new Instagram account for her new eight-part cookery show. The Duchess of Sussex’s latest series, With Love, Meghan, features famous faces from the royal’s inner circle, including her former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer.

Abigail, who played Dana ‘Scottie’ Scott in the legal drama which put Meghan’s name on the map, is one of 11 guests to appear on the programme. In one clip, Abigail’s seen tucking into one of Meghan’s desserts while talking about their time together. But just how close are the two women, and how far back do they go? Here, we take a closer look at Meghan’s relationship with Abigail.

Netflix viewers have been looking forward to Meghan’s new documentary series ( 
ImageAbigail, 43, born in Florida, described Meghan, also 43, as “one of my dearest friends” in an interview with E! News at Michael Kors’ New York Fashion Week last year. She added: “She’s the most wonderful. One of my dearest friends.”

The actresses have known each other for almost two decades, having first met at an audition in 2007. During an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson show last March, Abigail revealed: “It was 2007, I was doing a pilot for NBC, and I went to read with the people who were supposed to play my best friend. They were testing other actresses. I walk in, I see this beautiful gorgeous creature at the end of the table and I’m like, ‘Who is that?’”

She continued: “We had an immediate something, you know? And her name is Meghan Markle.”

The two women worked alongside each other in the legal drama Suit ( 
Image:
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The star said she bonded with Meghan after soon realising they shared the same birthday – September 4, 1981. Abigail told ET: “We were born on the same day, hours apart, in the same year. [Meghan is] a trusted friend and one of the most glorious people I have ever met.”

The pair filmed Suits together from 2011 to 2019, with Meghan playing the character Rachel Zane. At that time, Abigail even contributed to Meghan’s former lifestyle blog, called The Tig.

Abigail, who has also starred in Mad Men, True Detective and Grey’s Anatomy, opened up about the moment she learned Meghan was dating Prince Harry during an interview for the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, titled Harry & Meghan. She said: “I was screaming because I could tell it was different. It was very clear… That they were going to go to the ends of the earth to be together.

Abigail at Harry and Meghan’s wedding ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Abigail has always voiced her support of Meghan in interviews ( 
Image:
Instagram/@abigailspencer)Being the supportive friend she is, Abigail has previously addressed how life in the British Royal Family has impacted Meghan. She said how well the couple’s 2018 royal tour had gone before their big day and how the public started to “tear” Meghan down afterwards.

Abigail explained on the Netflix show: “That was a really dark time, and I didn’t know what to do. I was not allowed to say anything. Anything that anybody was printing wasn’t coming from anybody who knew her. There’s all this untruth, there’s all these lies, and it just seemed to be getting worse.”

While it’s impossible to grasp what joining the Royal Family has been like for Meghan, Abigail has previously addressed having ‘royal roots’ herself. When she was asked if she was related to any British Spencers – like the late Princess Diana – Abigail quipped to Parade: “That’s so funny. My grandmother swears [we are], but I’ve never done any digging. I did meet a lot of Spencers [in England] and I am a Spencer, so who knows?

Sir Trevor McDonald has defended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a new article for Saga – and has said that Meghan ‘could have brought a new dimension to the monarchy’

Top former newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald has shared his thoughts on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and has claimed that Meghan Markle “never stood a chance” in the royal family.

Harry and Meghan famously quit royal life in January 2020, less than two years after their wedding. Since then they have made a series of public attacks on The Firm and are now all but estranged from the family.

Writing in Saga magazine, Sir Trevor claimed that Meghan could have brought “a new dimension to the monarchy”. “By having a different background, perhaps she could have changed how the Royal Family is perceived by those who had never before felt a strong connection,” he wrote.

“Yet it seems to me that precisely because of those differences, she never stood a chance of being accepted. To be blunt, she is a foreigner: an American, a divorcee, a former actress – and black. She was never given a chance to prove herself.”

Elsewhere in the article, Sir Trevor, 85, said: “To my mind, it is a great shame Prince Harry is no longer part of the working monarchy.” He noted that Harry’s presence would give the royals strength in numbers, noting that the past year has exposed how ‘slimmed down’ the monarchy has become, with both the King and Princess Kate taking time out for cancer treatment.

“From where we are today, it looks almost impossible that someone could persuade Harry and his family to come back to Britain,” he said, but added: “I sincerely hope it can be done one day; we cannot afford to lose someone so young, so full of energy and so imbued with the charitable instincts that are at the core of our Royal Family.”

While Sir Trevor has claimed Meghan ‘never stood a chance’ with the Firm, royal insiders have said she struggled with one major aspect of life within the House of Windsor.

In his new book, ‘Yes Ma’am’, royal author Tom Quinn cites a former member of the royal household who said that Meghan “hated” having to let people know her movements, and the timings of her comings and goings.

He quotes a former Kensington Palace staffer as saying: “Meghan quite rightly hated the fact that when she was in Nottingham Cottage, she had to agree well in advance what time she might leave for an appointment or an event and she had to make sure she didn’t leave at the same time as, or clash in any way with, a more senior royal leaving the palace.”

Another source – who is said to have worked for the late Queen Elizabeth – told Quinn that the hierarchical nature of the Royal Family meant that Meghan, alongside the other royals, had to work to support the monarch as the centre of the institution, rather than shining her own light – something that she “struggled” with. Outside the monarchy having your own path would be “fair enough” the source explained, but inside the institution things have to be “tightly controlled”.

Meghan Markle’s crunch new Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which features cookery and hosting tips and tricks will hit screens in days – but not is all as it seems when it comes to the home in the show

Meghan Markle will offer a glimpse into her world when her make-or-break Netflix series hits screens.

Titled With Love Meghan, the show, which drops on Tuesday, will see the Duchess of Sussex share some of her very own tips and tricks when it comes to cookery, crafting and hosting. And Netflix promises Meghan and her guests will be rolling up their sleeves and getting to work in the “kitchen, the garden and beyond”.

But it seems the kitchen and gardens that feature in the show are harbouring a secret – that’s because they do not belong to Meghan or husband Prince Harry – but to one of their extremely wealthy neighbours in the exclusive town of Montecito in California.

Meghan’s careful choice of timeless pieces and neutrals in her new show’s trailer isn’t surprising ( 
Image:
Netflix)
Filming took place at a £5million farmhouse sitting on a large private estate that is filled with beautiful avocado and lemon groves. The stunning property and land is owned by the wealthy Cipolla family, who rent it out for filming.

Owners Thomas and Sherrie Cipolla are in their 70s and are believed to be California philanthropists with a property portfolio worth $ 20 million. And the cottage featured in With Love, Meghan can be rented out for events, including weddings.

In the trailer for the show, viewers can see the home’s vast outdoor space, its vegetable garden, and the beautiful scenery of lemon trees and mountains. Meanwhile, inside, the kitchen has everything Meghan would have wanted while filming, including a £15,000 eight-hob Thermador oven.

Meghan in the kitchen with pal Delfina Blaquier
It comes as Meghan’s series, consisting of eight episodes, will be released on the streaming platform on Tuesday and will offer a glimpse into the duchess’ LA life. “Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected,” Netflix said in a statement.

“She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.” The show will feature appearances from Meghan’s friends including Mindy Kaling and former Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer. The former royal’s lifestyle series was due to be released in January, but was postponed due to the California wildfires.

Meghan explores the plants growing in the gardenAnnouncing the postponement, the duchess said: “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.”

Meghan revealed that Netflix is not only the streaming platform for her forthcoming series With Love, Meghan, but a partner in her business which had been called American Riviera Orchard – but had hit trademark woes. But it was not just her U-turn that raised eyebrows, as her new logo on her newly-launched website, which features Princess Lilibet, also ruffled feathers.

However, fury has broken out as the Mayoress of Porreres, a town on the Spanish island of Majorca, claims the branding is strikingly similar their coat of arms. To add to Meghan’s brand headache, now the mayor of the town, Xisca Mora has gone as far as saying the logo is a “complete copy”.

America Riviera Orchard’s initial range of products will appear in new stores being opened by the streaming giant, as merchandise to accompany the show. As reported in the Daily Mail, Meghan’s new products will include olive oil, honey, and bread – and will be stocked in the brand new Netflix House stores opening in the US located in Philadelphia’s King of Prussia Mall and the Dallas Galleria.

“This is make or break for Meghan,” a source was quoted as saying. “Her new show is rolling out the same time as the Netflix stores open. The Netflix stores will offer products and merchandise from all their biggest shows like Squid Game and Stranger Things. This is a big move for Netflix. The first stores are in repurposed department stores inside two of America’s largest malls.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been more tactile in public in recent weeks and a royal expert has suggested that the couple have been taking a leaf out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s book

Prince William and Kate Middleton have adopted a more relaxed and intimate style of presentation, reminiscent of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, says Royal commentator Charlene White.

Speaking on the Talking Royal podcast, Charlene noted that the Prince and Princess of Wales appeared to be rather more tactile than usual during their recent visit to Wales, mirroring the openly affectionate behaviour displayed by the Sussexes at the Invictus Games.

Lizzie Robinson, a Royal expert who joined the Prince and Princess on their trip, believes this warmer approach is part of a new strategy from William and Kate. She said: “They posted these images on their social media of Kate and William going to the train station, and they were holding hands.”

The Prince And Princess seemed less formal than royals have been in the past ( 
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(Image: Getty))
She continued: “Recently we’ve had quite personal messages posted on social media. We had the Valentine’s Day post. We had a very touching post from Prince William for Kate’s birthday. And I think they’re sharing a little bit more of that intimate and personal side than perhaps we’ve seen in the past from them.

Charlene concurred, suggesting that this more open style represented a more “Americanised” way of presenting the Royal family.

She added that it seemed to have worked well for Harry and Meghan, so it wasn’t too surprising that William and Kate would be tempted to follow suit, reports the Express.

William and Kate’s behaviour seemed to echo The Sussexes’ more informal style ( 
Image:
(Image: Getty))
Charlene has observed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s public displays of affection, such as holding hands and being tactile, resonate well with American audiences, though the reaction in the UK might be different.

She suggested: “Ever since [Harry and Meghan] got together, holding hands, being very tactile, being very soppy with each other, we’ve seen a lot of that and that’s well, for an American market, it may not always play out so well here, but it does well in the American market

Charlene added that perhaps William and Kate are taking a leaf out of their book, noting: “So maybe they [William and Kate] are just following their footsteps, realising actually that …as lovers of the royal family, we like to see that.”

The royal couple seemed very relaxed in Pontypridd ( 
Image:Lizzie meanwhiel mentioned that after a challenging 2024, which included significant health scares for both King Charles and Princess Kate, the latter has gained a fresh outlook on life.

She shared: “The princess has spoken about how she has a new sort of view of the world,” and highlighted the importance Kate places on showing her affectionate side publicly, adding: “Perhaps she has decided that actually showing off that side is important to her

The King’s Guard are bound by strict protocol to not talk or interact with the public – and are often not afraid to shout at tourists who get too close and try posing for photographs

Heartwarming footage has captured the moment a King’s Guard breaks royal protocol when a young blind boy salutes him.

The King’s Guard carry out ceremonial sentry postings outside Buckingham Palace and St James’ Palace in London and are controlled by the British Army’s Household Division. Famously astute and unwavering, they are bound by strict protocol to not talk or interact with the public – and are often not afraid to shout at tourists who get too close and try posing for photographs.

But in a rare touching display, a member of the Life Guards makes a young blind boy’s day. In a new video, Amin, 8, walks over to the guard while guided by a voice off-camera, before he stamps his foot to salute the guard. And in response the soldier, who is wearing his customary helmet, salutes the youngster back by stamping his foot.

The caption on the video, posted to Twitter/X reads: “King’s Royal soldiers, usually banned from speaking to visitors in England, bent the rules for a blind child. The guard responds to the boy’s foot salute by stamping his foot hard on the ground.” And in an adorable moment, the happy-go-lucky child then appears to say “have a good day” to the guard before walking off.

The post has been viewed more than 100,000 times and has more than 19,000 likes. One comment read: “What an unbelievably beautiful moment”, while another gushed: “Such a great moment, I’m sure he will remember this for the rest of his life.” Amin has a TikTok page where family members share videos of him out and about in London.

In July 2024, another video showed a King’s Guard horse craning its neck to lurch at a tourist – biting her arm before she falls to the ground after appearing to faint. The footage was captured by one man outside the Household Cavalry Museum in central London on, as one woman attempted to get a picture with a member of the King’s Guard, mounted on his horse

Amin saluted the King’s Guard ( 
Image:
Twitter/@ShamaJunejo)

However, she seemed to get too close for comfort for the horse, standing in front of a sign, clearly warning people not to touch or interact with the animals. In a separate incident, a man tried to grab the reins of a King’s horse, prompting a furious rebuke from the mounted soldier.

Members of the Life Guards and the other regiment that makes up the Household Cavalry, the Blues and Royals, are posted outside at Horse Guards Parade from 10am to 4pm each day. And, on very rare occasions, soldiers have been known to break royal protocol for exceptional cases. In July 2023, a King’s Guard was praised for posing with a man with Down’s syndrome in a rare breach in protocol. Mike van Erp, also known as YouTuber Cycling Mikey, said he had taken the youngster to get a photo at Buckingham Palace and had tried to stand close to the Guard.

In a video clip online, the sweet Guard moved nearer to the pair so they could capture their day at the Horse Guards Parade. “What a nice man. What a cool thing to do,” Mike said to the young man as they walked away.

The Duchess of Sussex has shared an adorable video clip of her three-year-old daughter Lilibet playing with her ‘auntie’. It comes just days before the release of Meghan’s new Netflix series With Love, Meghan

Meghan Markle has shared a rare glimpse of her daughter Lilibet playing with one of her celebrity pals, just days before the release of her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.

The eight-part series is set to hit our screens next week on March 4, which will see “friends and famous guests” join the Duchess of Sussex as she shares everything from her cooking, gardening and hosting tips. While the series had been set to air earlier this year, the show was postponed due to the devastating wildfires that spread across California in January.

In the latest countdown ahead of the show’s release, doting mum Meghan, 43, shared a series of clips and videos of Lilibet, three, playing with tennis legend Serena Williams, whom she described as ‘auntie’. In one adorable video, Serena could be seen cheering on Lilibet as they played a personalised game of Candy Land together.

The clip, which was shared on the Duchess of Sussex’s Instagram Story to the backdrop of Bill Withers’ Lovely Day, also included the caption: “When the aunties come to celebrate… and to play! Love you @serenawilliams.”

Meghan Markle shared a sweet clip of herself and Lilibet playing a board game with Serena Williams ( 
Image:
Instagram/meghan)

“Auntie” Serena could be seen cheering on as Lilibet took her turn ( 
Image:
Instagram/meghan)

As well as sharing the wholesome video, Meghan shared another snap of herself, Lilibet and Serena as they enjoyed the game. In the photo, the mum-of-two, dressed in a blue pinstripe matching set, leaned over Lilibet as they took turns to play.

Meanwhile, Serena, who opted for a pink co-ord, sat on a fabric footstool beside the pair. “Three days until the party begins. All are invited @netflix,” Meghan wrote as she excitedly counted down the days to the show’s release.

In response to the sweet upload, fans took to X to gush over the posts. “MEGHAN LILI AND AUNTIE SERENA Lilibet is already growing up surrounded by strong inspirational women,” wrote one. “These photos of Meghan with Princess Lilibet and Serena Williams are so heartwarming ! Meghan is surrounded by so much love, it’s beyond wonderful. She is thriving,” another added.

“Awwww, Auntie Serena with Princess Lili. I love this new era of joy for Harry, Meghan & their children,” a third wrote. A fourth commented: “Lili, Mama Meghan and Auntie Serena omg my heart the cuteness #WithLoveMeghan.”

While Meghan and Serena met in 2010 while at a Super Bowl party, it wasn’t until 2014 that their close friendship blossomed. In 2014, Meghan opened up about her friendship with Serena in a post on her former blog The Tig.

“We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff,” she wrote, reports Stylist.

The former Suits star also gave further details on their bond, adding: “We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations – our endless ambition.”

Over the years, the pair have publicly shown their support for one another. Back in 2017, Meghan gushed over her pal following the news that Serena was expecting her first child with husband Alexis Ohanian.

“She will be an amazing mum. The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity. Plus, given that she is pretty epic at karaoke, I think she’ll put her signature Serena spin on singing lullabies for the baby. I can’t wait for that!,” she told Vogue.

Serena too has reciprocated this support for Meghan. When news broke that Meghan was in a relationship with Prince Harry, the Wimbledon winner gave her some advice when it came to managing the increased attention. “I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide,’” she told Vanity Fair in 2017.

The sporting icon was also among the A-list guests at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018 and in 2022 she was the first guest on Meghan’s podcast Archetypes.

The Duke of York faces the prospect of new revelations emerging about his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when a legal battle involving a former Barclays Bank boss is heard in the High Court

Prince Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein may once again be thrown into the spotlight in a legal case.

The Duke of York was mentioned in High Court papers in a case involving former Barclays Bank boss Jes Staley who is appealing a ruling which bars him from holding senior UK financial roles over his links to Epstein.

Mr Staley was found by the Financial Conduct Authority to have given a misleading account of the nature of his relationship with Epstein and he denies doing so. His appeal will take place tomorrow in the Upper Tax Tribunal.

The FCA said that features of the relationship between Epstein and Mr Staley showed they were “close”, and that emails sent between the pair were “inconsistent with a business relationship”. These included Epstein making “numerous introductions and recommendations for Mr Staley”, including with a royal family member, believed to be Prince Andrew.

In 2023, Mr Staley was fined £1.8 million and banned from holding senior roles in the financial sector by the FCA after it found he misled the watchdog over his friendship with Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein died awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges ( 
Image:
getty)
The appeal is set to include details about Andrew’s relationship with Epstein who died in prison while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019. Andrew has strenuously denied wrongdoing

The extent of Andrew’s friendship with Epstein was also laid bare in hundreds of pages of unsealed court documents for proceedings in the US, with Andrew paying millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein whom he claimed never to have met.

Court documents from the FCA in the case involving Mr Staley showed that a “royal family member”, believed to be Andrew, was in email contact with Epstein as late as February 2011. The royal told Epstein to “keep in close touch” in an email, with the claim coming amid all the scrutiny placed on Epstein’s relationship with the Duke of York.

Andrew previously told the BBC that he broke off his friendship with the sex offender in December 2010. In an interview with BBC’s Newsnight, Andrew told Emily Maitlis: “I ceased contact with him (Epstein) after I was aware that he was under investigation and that was later in 2006 and I wasn’t in touch with him again until 2010.” He later said that in December 2010: “I had to show leadership and I had to go and see him and I had to tell him, ‘That’s it’.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, rose to fame during her tenure as an actress on the hit legal drama Suits, but before she became a household name, she had little known roles in quite a few films

Meghan Markle might now be one of the most famous women on the planet, but for a long time, she was a little-known actress working hard to build her professional reputation.

The Duchess of Sussex hit the acting big time with the role of Rachel Zane on the hit legal drama Suits, which saw her enter into a new level of celebrity – but all of this would pale in comparison to how well-known she would become after marrying Prince Harry.

When Meghan officially joined the Royal Family back in 2018, her fairytale wedding was watched by millions of people across the globe – but when she and Prince Harry made a surprise announcement that they were going to leave life as working royals behind, sending shockwaves across the UK and beyond, she was catapulted into an even higher level of notoriety.

Meghan has become one of the most famous women on the planet since marrying Harry – but for years worked to make her own name as an actress ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
But long before she reached the dizzying heights of fame she now occupies, with a bright spotlight constantly trained upon her, Meghan was simply another aspiring actress, making a name for herself with a myriad of smaller roles.

Many of which saw her perform in films that you may no have had no idea featured the Duchess of Sussex – the Mirror takes a look back at 11 films that she starred in over the years during her acting career.

Horrible Bosses

In 2011, Meghan had the opportunity to star in one of the highest-profile comedy films of that year – Horrible Bosses. The comic movie starring big names like Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, and Jason Bateman was such a success it spawned two sequels.

Meghan’s role in the first film in the franchise was a pretty small cameo, but it’s by far one of the highest-profile movies she starred in over the years. She played Jamie, a FedEx delivery person in the movie, who Jason Sudeikis’ character – Kurt – interacts with briefly in one scene.

When Sparks Fly

This movie saw Meghan take on a leading role, and if you love a cheesy romance and the Duchess of Sussex – you will want to check this one out.

Meghan played Amy Peterson, a journalist living in a big city who returns to her hometown to write a story about the Fourth of July, Independence Day in the US, and her parents who run a firework company, but whilst she is there find out that her best friend is engaged to her ex-boyfriend Hank.

Meghan hit the big time on Suits, but for years was in lesser known films ( 
Image:
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Meghan’s character on Suits was the romantic interest of one of the leads ( 
Image:
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The Hallmark movie see’s Meghan’s character Amy realise she isn’t quite as satisfied with her big city life and boyfriend as she hoped she might be, whilst feelings for her former love start to resurface amid the wedding planning.

A Random Encounter

Meghan scored a major role in another romantic comedy entitled A Random Encounter, which saw her take on the role of Mindy, a twenty-something who’s thrown herself headfirst into the chaotic LA dating scene. Meghan had the chance to flex her comedic muscles in this flick, as the roommate of the romantic lead, who searches for a man she met after the titular random encounter in a coffee shop.

Dater’s Handbook

Meghan landed another lead role in romantic comedy Dater’s Handbook, which was one of the last films she starred in before settling down with Prince Harry and giving up acting for good.

The Duchess played Cass, a successful businesswoman who might have it all down to pat professionally, but whose personal life leaves a lot to be desired. This cheesy Hallmark flick sees Meghan’s character decide enough is enough after endlessly picking the wrong guys, and use a self-help book from a dating expert to change her approach to her love.

While it didn’t massively impress viewers, scoring only 23 percent approval on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie will likely appeal to die-hard fans of the Duchess looking for a romantic movie to dive into.

Anti-Social

This thriler saw Meghan take on a darker supporting role, as Kristen the girlfriend of street artist Dee, who initially unbeknownst to Kristen is caught up in the criminal underground.

Set in London, this gangland movie didn’t much impress critics, but fans of the Duchess might get a kick out of seeing her explore her acting range in this crime thriller – and it’s quite the contrast to the royal life Meghan would later get to know in the UK’s capital city.

A Lot like Love

This movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet in the lead romantic roles is a firm favourite amongst romance fans, but back in 2005 it also saw the now-Duchess of Sussex take on a small role as ‘Hot Girl’ – her first ever film role.

While her appearance in the movie was a bit blink and you miss it, it marked an important new step in her acting career.

Other films where Meghan had a cameo or very small role include, Get Him to the Greek, starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, The Candidate, Dysfunctional Friends, and Remember Me.

The King has continually shown his support for the Ukrainian people during the war, and inviting Zelensky to Sandringham proves it, Royal Editor Russell Myers writes

If ever there were a demonstration of what purpose the King’s role holds, then look no further.

For here is soft diplomacy in action. The envy of nations around the world and a picture, or two, that spoke more words than were probably uttered in a meeting lasting an hour. In light of events in recent days, where US president Donald Trump and his cronies disgraced themselves on the world stage, this was a welcome befitting of the time and a country that everyone else is rooting for.

No suit required on this occasion, at least for the guest invited to spend time with the monarch after a week of bruising and emotional encounters. For the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, his request to see King Charles speaks volumes of the type of man the sovereign has shown himself to be throughout his life.

The meeting came just two days after Zelensky’s heated exchange with Trump ( 
Image:
PA)

SIMILAR ARTICLES TO THISA man who has demonstrated on countless occasions the ability to be a peacemaker in troubled times. Indeed he was the first to welcome Jewish and Muslim leaders to Buckingham Palace last month after the signing of an historic deal to try and achieve peace.

The King has continually shown his support for the Ukrainian people in the face of such adversity, marking each anniversary of the invasion in recent years. Last year he spoke of “the determination and strength of the Ukrainian people” labelling the invasion an “unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods”.

Charles added that “despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression”. Just days after inviting the US president to an unprecedented second State Visit, many will be hoping Charles can emerge as an unlikely broker of peace once more.

Dancing on Ice star Colin Grafton reveals Holly Willoughby’s kind gesture after she learned of the sudden death of his former skating partner and close friend, The Vivienne

Professional skater Colin Grafton reached the final with The Vivienne during his first series of Dancing on Ice back in 2023, and says the two formed an incredibly close friendship. The RuPaul’s Drag Race star passed away suddenly in January, and American skater Colin has opened up about learning of their death – and the support he received from his co-stars, including Holly Willoughby in the aftermath.

“She taught me so much about myself and life,” he told OK!. “When you go through something as strenuous and as history-making as we did, it creates a special bond that you can never repeat. It was so special on every level.” Colin and The Vivienne reached the final of the ITV competition in 2023, finishing up in third place. Colin paid tribute to his late friend on the most recent series, choosing to wear one The Vivienne’s outfits from their own time on the show.

Colin and The Vivienne finished third on Dancing on Ice ( 
Image:
WireImage)

Colin said he had invaluable support from his skating co-stars ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for YRDS Agency)

Opening up about returning to the rink following the news of The Vivienne’s death, which broke on January 5, Colin said his co-stars provided invaluable support. To be honest, it’s been very difficult. I was out to dinner with Mollie [Pearce, from Traitors] and her family when I found out, and I was in shock.

“It was two days before the press launch of the show and my family are in the States and were thinking of flying over, but I was lucky as I was surrounded by an incredible group of Dancing On Ice pros who took care of me. Holly was so lovely to me and she personally came up to me and asked me how I was doing about everything that happened at the beginning. It was really touching.”

The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, became an icon after winning RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and tributes poured in from the world of showbiz following their sudden death. An official statement released following the 32 year old’s passing read: “James was an incredibly loved, warm- hearted and amazing person

The Vivienne won RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2019 ( 
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“Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”

An inquest was opened into their death on 12 February at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington, and the coroner heard how the much-loved star was found dead in the bathroom of their home near Chester. After citing a post-mortem examination that revealed an “unnatural cause of death”, area coroner Victoria Davies adjourned the inquest until 30 June.