Author: bang5

Outnumbered stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner are said to have secretly married after appearing in the BBC sitcom together, with the pair reportedly dating since 2018

Outnumbered stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner are said to have secretly tied the knot – according to insiders.

The pair, who played Sue and Pete Brockman in the hit BBC comedy, allegedly took their off-screen relationship to the next level. After dating following the show’s wrap in 2016, they kept their romance private. However, it was later confirmed two years later that the couple had been seeing each other.

Hugh, 63, has been married twice before. His first marriage was to Miranda Carroll in 1987, but they divorced in 1993. His second marriage was to Kate Abbot-Anderson in 1996, but the couple split in 2015, though they share a son and daughter. Meanwhile, Claire’s ex-husband is Charles Palmer, with whom she has two sons. They separated in 2016 after 15 years of marriage.

While neither Hugh nor Claire has confirmed the wedding, eagle-eyed fans may have noticed Hugh sporting a wedding band on his left hand during his appearance on ITV’s Lorraine last month. Meanwhile, Claire was seen proudly wearing her engagement and wedding rings while promoting the upcoming Outnumbered Christmas special in December.

The duo plays cherished characters on the beloved BBC comedy.

It is understood that Hugh and Claire – who live in a £1.5 million London townhouse – walked down the aisle in the summer of 2022. A source close to the couple told The Daily Mail: “This is a real TV love story. They delighted fans when they fell in love outside of the show, having managed to keep it quiet.

“They are a low-key couple who wanted to keep this special for them. Only their family and close friends have known.”

It comes as the family sitcom returned to the BBC for the first time in eight years, with patriarch Pete revealing he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The hit series about the Brockman family ran from 2007 to 2014 on BBC One and returned to the screens in 2016 for a Christmas special.

The latest festive episode opened with Pete and Sue preparing to welcome their three children to the new family home for Christmas before he revealed he will be undergoing a prostatectomy – a surgery which removes the prostate gland. While some viewers were delighted by the special, others quickly branded it a “disappointment.”

“Expecting an all-timer for #Outnumbered but there’s a new house and a random cancer storyline and not one funny moment,” one wrote on Twitter, known formally as X. “My family watching the #Outnumbered special after my Dad (who had prostate cancer) died last year. seriously wtf was that we’re all sad now,” another added. However, a third person jumped at the defense of the show, saying: “How people can watch that #Outnumbered special and think it’s bad?! Karen’s f****** Gay and a protestor. The queen has risen.”

Former Celebrity Big Brother star Kim Woodburn has been forced to cancel work just weeks after revealing she had undergone emergency surgery on her eye

Kim Woodburn has sparked further concern after revealed she’s been forced to stop working because of ill health.

The 82-year-old TV personality, who shot to fame on How Clean Is Your House?, posted a statement on her social media page on which revealed she wouldn’t be able to record any personal videos for her fans “due to a health problem.”

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate posted a statement on her Instagram page on Sunday, March 2, which said: “We regret to tell you that Kim is unable to record any further videos for the foreseeable future due to a health problem. Kim sends her love to you all.”

The statement didn’t elaborate on what was wrong, but Kim’s fans were quick to send her their well wishes in the comments. “Oh Kim. Please get well soon ,” one person wrote, “Yikes, I hope she’ll be feeling much better soon. Sending kindness and good vibes,” added another.

Kim normally posts regular personal messages on her Instagram account ( 
Image:
Instagram/@kimwoodburn)

Kim finished third on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 ( 
Image:
WireImage)

The news comes just weeks after the I’m A Celebrity runner-up revealed she’d had to undergo emergency eye surgery. At the time, her management posted a similar statement, but didn’t provide any further details.

In late January Kim was one of hundreds of people who turned out for the funeral of The Vivienne, who died suddenly on January 5. She joined other big names from the entertainment world including Jade Thirlwall, chef Jameson Stocks and Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins.

Kim first became a household name on the Channel 4 reality cleaning series, How Clean Is Your House? which ran from 2003 to 2009. Alongside her co-cleanerAggie McKenzie, she visited some of the country’s dirtiest homes armed with a trusty mop and bucket.

Kim and Aggie tackled dirty homes in How Clean Is Your House? ( 
Image:
Channel 4)

After the show was cancelled, Kim was signed up to the series 9 of I’m A Celebrity, and finished as runner-up to Gino D’ACampo. Last year she revealed that she’d gone under the surgeon’s knife after seeing herself on screen during her jungle stint – saying her breasts were “hanging down to my waist” when she saw the shower scenes.

“I’ve had my breasts reduced, I’ve always had huge knockers, they were very big, they were hanging badly,” she revealed. “So when I saw this after the jungle, I thought, ‘Oh, God, Kim they look awful love.’ So I went and got them made smaller. So, now listen up, if I take my bra off they’re firm and pert just like an 18 year olds.”

Piers Morgan has announced he’s returning to Good Morning Britain for the first time in four years after he quit the show following comments about Meghan Markle

Piers Morgan is returning to Good Morning Britain.

The outspoken broadcaster sensationally quit his role as anchor on the ITV programme in 2021 after receiving 41,000 complaints to Ofcom after his comments about Meghan Markle. He told the programme that he “didn’t believe a word” that the Duchess of Sussex had said during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which she opened up about her mental health struggles.

Now, almost four years to the date, he’s announced he will be back on the show. Piers revealed earlier that he will join Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain tomorrow. Taking to X, he said: “BREAKING: It’s been nearly 4yrs (1,453 days to be precise!) since I departed ⁦@GMB rather hastily… but tomorrow morning, for the first time, I’m going back. I’ll be on with ⁦@susannareid100 & ⁦@edballs at 8.15am.” His former co-host Susanna has reposted his post.

Piers’ post on the micro-blogging platform has since been flooded with messages from fans who were overjoyed by the news. “They should start with you walking back in with that same suit & then taking one of the seats you used to sit in,” said one. A second went on to add: “Good luck, Piers.”

Piers Morgan has announced his return to Good Morning Britain ( 
Image:
ITV)

“It was actually better when you were on. Not going to lie. You have to say it,” typed a third. Another commented: “If you’re back, I’m watching.” Someone else wrote: “TV Gold.” Whilst one fan said: “Haven’t watched it once since you left but I will be watching tomorrow in the hope your return might be permanent.”

Not everyone seemed impressed though, with one person responding to his post: “I’ve watched for 1453 days straight! Thanks for the warning and letting me know I need to put BBC on tomorrow.” Another wrote: “Thanks for the warning, I’ll be sure not to watch.”

Piers, who has been criticised for his views in the past fronted the show from 2015 until his exit, alongside Susanna. The opinionated star clashed with GMB co-star Alex Beresford on the show, after his response to Meghan and husband Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah. Although his comments had sparked complaints to Ofcom at the time in 2021, the regulator later ruled that his remarks were not in breach of its broadcasting code.

Following his departure four years ago, Piers has reunited with Susanna on occasion, including at a Christmas party organised by him at the end of last year. Other former colleagues including Kate Garraway, Charlotte Hawkins and Laura Tobin were also invited by Piers to the festive occasion in December. And last year, Piers featured in a video montage on Good Morning Britain that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ITV show having launched in 2014.

The BRIT Awards returned this evening, with Jack Whitehall on hosting duties live from the O2 Arena in east London and Danny Dyer handed out the International Song of the Year award

Danny Dyer’s comments at the BRIT Awards have been revealed after he was muted by ITV.

There was chaos this evening at the annual music event – which was streamed live on ITV from the O2 Arena in east London – when EastEnders actor Danny Dyer presented the International Song of the Year award.

Chappell Roan was the one who won the award for her track Good Luck Babe! but she was not in attendance. Viewers at home watching the show on ITV heard multiple bleeps as they tuned in.

Now it has been revealed exactly what Danny had said to get him to be beeped. He told those in the O2 Arena tonight: “She couldn’t be f***ed to be here,” before introducing a video message from Chappell Roan.

Danny Dyer was muted by ITV for his swearing ( 
Image:
Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)

Danny posed with his daughters on the red carpet ( 
Image:
Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)
Danny Dyer also made a reference to his movie and described it as Bridget Jones, before using the word ****. He then said the world was being run by b*******, before Danny then said Keir Starmer wins “b******* of the year”.

It is not the first time the BRITs has seen some rather awkward moments. In 2021, things turned awkward when Lewis Capaldi’s constant swearing in his acceptance speech caused him to be muted by bosses.

The singer was presenting the Album of the Year award, where he was constantly swearing, saying: “Shut up, shut up, shush, shut up. Hello motherf***ers! Listen guys… I’m f***ing sweating – it’s like a swamp down there, I’m telling you. Sweaty boll***s.” It meant that his speech was unheard by viewers at home as it was constantly muted due to the swearing

In 2018, Stormzy hit back at the then-Prime Minister Theresa May when he slipped in a verse about the Grenfell Tower fire. Speaking for the people, he rapped: “Yo, Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell? What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell. You’re criminals, and you got the cheek to call us savages? You should do some jail time, you should pay some damages.”

For Kanye West, there was trouble in 2015 when almost every single line in his performance ended with the N-word. Because of the frequent use of the word, bosses tried to mute at the correct times but that meant most of the performance was muted out.

There have also been a number of falls over the year, including Madonna in 2015 when her cape got caught and she took a tumble down the stairs. Elsewhere, in 2022, Anne-Marie fell during her performance, but both pop princesses were quick to pick themselves up and carry on with their routines, thrilling viewers.

Sunday Brunch fans were let down as one guest of the show failed to make an appearance

Sunday Brunch got off to an awkward start on March 2nd after one of the celebrity bookings failed to show up for the Channel 4 programme.

Producers had secured Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi who was supposed to take a seat on the panel alongside former TOWIE star Megan McKenna, G’Wed actor Jake Kenny-Byrne, writer Liz Pichon, singer Antony Szmierek and Jon Ronson.

With Bre visibly missing but featuring on the show’s schedule, Tim interrupted the programme with a “breaking news” update on the whereabouts of the reality star.

The programme was more than half way into the episode when they finally addressed Bre’s absence, explaining she had attended the 2025 BRIT Awards last night.

Tim Lovejoy brought the programme to a halt for breaking news over missing guest

He confirmed to viewers: “Breaking news Bre from Selling Sunset is in the car and she’s at the hotel,” as chimes of praise could be heard all around the studio.

Tim added: “For anyone that doesn’t know Bre was supposed to be on the show this morning but she went to the BRITs last night and so she is going to turn up, when she turns up but she’s a friend of ours, so we don’t mind.”

“We just hope she manages to make it at some stage,” Tim hilariously added.

Bre had not shown up for her post on the show ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Abyss By Abby)
Bre found fame on the Netflix series Selling Sunset in 2022, starring on the hit programme as one of the real estate agents working at the luxury Hollywood Hills brokerage, The Oppenheim Group.

She is also mother to a son named Legendary Love who she shares with rapper and comedian Nick Cannon. In December last year, Bre spoke out to confirm on Sophie Habboo’s podcast that they were very much an item still.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the programme, Tim started to become nervous that Bre wouldn’t make it on to the show at all, requesting for his co-host Simon Rimmer to guess on whether she’d arrive.

Sunday Brunch chaos as just four guests remained on-airTurning to his co-star Tim asked: “What do you think. Do you think Bre’s going to make it on to the show?” Positively Simon estimated: “Yeah I’m going to go with 12:20pm,” indicating his estimation for her arrival.

It was at this point, Tim received a second update via his earpiece, airing: “Ohh I’ve just heard she’s in the taxi on her way down from Luton to London.”

There was further chaos to come as Tim also had to confirm why TOWIE and X Factor star Megan had now vanished from her seat half way through the show, leaving just four guests on-air.

Addressing her absence, Tim said: “Sorry Megan has just had to step away to feed Landon [her baby son], which is why she’s now missing.”

Bre did finally make it to show, arriving in the studio at 12:30pm, telling the hosts: “I am not well, sorry guys,” the Netflix star confessed she’d drank several tequila shots and got back to her hotel at 6am.

Sunday Brunch airs each Sunday on Channel 4, from 10am.

The 24th instalment of Celebrity Big Brother is set to return to ITV in a ‘brand-new secret location’ soon, with presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts

Celebrity Big Brother has reportedly signed on a huge Coronation Street star to join the new series.

The 24th instalment is set to return to ITV in a “brand-new secret location” soon, with presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best returning as hosts. A teaser aired during the live finale of Love Island : All Stars last month, when narrator Iain Stirling was interrupted by CBB voice Marcus Bentley, who unveiled the show’s iconic eye logo.

While fans wait for the return of the programme, it has been claimed Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd – who is best known for his role as Gail Platt’s son David Platt – will be taking part in the reality series. Last series, fellow Corrie star Colson Smith entertained fans in the Big Brother house.

An insider claimed of Colson and Jack: “The two lads are great mates, and Colson no doubt told Jack he’d have the time of his life on the show. Jack will be making the most of a gap in appearing on Corrie, which comes as he’s about to be at the centre of a huge storyline on the ITV soap.”

Jack is reportedly taking part in the new CBB

The source went on to tell The Sun Jack’s Corrie character will be seen ‘getting left for dead’ on the soap. The Mirror have reached out to ITV and Jack’s reps for comment. A spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother said, “Any names suggested for Celebrity Big Brother are purely speculation.”

Other names going around as potential contestants on the ITV show include former Love Island and sports pundit Chris Hughes, and EastEnders actor James Bye (who played Martin Fowler). Professional boxer and Molly-Mae Hague’s ex Tommy Fury, 25, was also said to have been eyed up by producers at the end of last year. It was reported in October that “big money offers” were circulating, with it suggested that he would be a ratings winner

Former I’m A Celebrity and WAG Rebekah Vardy has also been mentioned by bookies, as has Married at First Sight’s Ella Morgan, and TV personality and comedian Paul Chuckle. The reboot made its debut last March, with David Potts winning the first series on ITV2 and Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin finishing as runner-up.

According to a recent release from the channel, there’s “a new batch of VIPs” ready to “embark on the original social experiment,” promising “tense tasks, nail-biting nominations and gripping gossip”.

Conan O’Brien has addressed the controversy surrounding Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon’s unearthed tweets during his opening speech at the 97th Academy Awards

Oscars host Conan O’Brien addressed the scandal surrounding Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon in his opening speech amid controversy over a number of tweets she posted prior to the film’s release.

After the posts, which made comments about Islam, the death of George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars, were brought to light, the actress apologised and maintained that she had not been “racist” in Instagram posts.

Opening the event, O’Brien, 61, said: “I am excited to be here. Welcome to the 97th Academy Awards. It’s Hollywood’s biggest night. It starts at four in the afternoon. Everyone here just had brunch, I don’t understand it.”

Addressing the controversy, he added: “Little fact for you, (film) Anora uses the F word 479 times. That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon’s publicist.” He continued: “Karla Sofia Gascon is here tonight, and Karla if you are going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”

Karla Sofia Gascon is not at the Oscars this evening ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

Emilia Perez has faced criticism from those in the Mexican film industry for focusing on the country’s drug problems and for its few cast members from the country.

The film stars the first transgender actress to be nominated for a Golden Globe and to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, Gascon, singer and Only Murders In the Building actress Gomez as the crime boss’s wife Jessi, and Saldana, who plays Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar film series and alien assassin Gamora in the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise.

Mexican actress Adriana Paz features as Epifania, a love interest of Emilia whose husband is among the missing people in Mexico, and Zero Dark Thirty actor Edgar Ramirez plays Jessi’s former lover. In an interview with US outlet Deadline, director Jacques Audiard said he was “shocked” by criticism, and claimed the movie’s critics either “haven’t seen the film properly or they haven’t seen it at all and are acting in bad faith”.

Gascon has also faced criticism for a number of tweets between 2019 and 2024, which saw her make comments about Islam, the death of George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars. After the tweets were brought to light, the actress apologised and maintained that she had not been “racist” in Instagram posts.

Audiard told Deadline the remarks were “absolutely hateful” and said they made it “very hard” for him to think back to his “exceptional” time working with her. After his interview, Gascon announced she would “let the work talk for itself”, and said she was “hoping my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is”.

MasterChef is reportedly looking at a huge TV chef as the replacement for Gregg Wallace

MasterChef is reportedly looking to sign up Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt as Gregg Wallace’s replacement.

The TV chef is said to be in advanced talks with the show’s producers and could also be in talks to host the MasterChef: The Professionals spin-off. It comes after Gregg was taken off as host of the show while telly bosses continue to probe allegations of his misconduct.

Thirteen women accused him of sexually inappropriate behaviour over the space of 17 years. Wallace has largely stayed quiet on social media after issuing an apology for branding his accusers “middle-class women of a certain age” in a video rant. He later apologised for his remark, saying: “I want to apologise for any offence caused… and any upset I may have caused.” He added: “It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now, while this investigation is under way.”

And now, an insider has claimed Matt has been in talks become the host of the cooking contest. “He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was — now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef,” the insider said.

Matt is reportedly in talks to be the new host ( 
Image:
Chris Terry photography)

They added to The Sun: “Nothing is set in stone, of course, and the result of investigations into Gregg’s behaviour have yet to fully conclude.” The Mirror have reached out to the BBC for comment. After Gregg stepped down from his role as host on MasterChef, food critic Grace Dent stood in as John Torode’s co-host.

When Grace was first announced as the new host, she admitted she was ‘drunk on power’. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning about her role, she said: “I am absolutely over the moon. Honestly, I’m already drunk on power.” The critic said she may have had some worries about it for “10 seconds” but they disappeared after she took over the reins.

Gregg stepped down as host while the production company conducted an investigation into his conduct ( 
Image:
PA)

Grace has been standing in for Gregg on the show ( 
Image:
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“It’s one of the most wonderful shows on British TV and, when you go out into the public, you feel that warmth,” she said. “You can’t eat anywhere in privacy ever again. You can’t even go into a supermarket without people looking in your trolley (saying) ‘I can’t believe she’s bought that’.

“So it is lovely. It was a dream come true to move to this role, and it’s a very different role, because now I’ve got a lot.” In her previous role on the show, she provided feedback on the contestants’ cooking but did not have the responsibility of eliminating anyone.

“Now I am that person. Now I am the baddie, and I don’t enjoy doing that,” she said. “I think that people think that I go out for dinner and want it to be bad so that I can write horrible things. I absolutely don’t. I want the best for these people, and sending people home is horrible.”

Dancing on Ice insiders have opened up about the huge cost of the show, revealing that its large budget can no longer be justified amid dwindling ratings for ITV

Fans should make the most of next weekend’s Dancing on Ice final – because it could be the show’s last ever episode.

Judges Torvill and Dean have now hung up their skates after giving a tearful live performance on the ITV programme last month… And channel insiders say the Sunday night series, presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, is likely to be dropped for next year after sinking to its lowest ever ratings – a far cry from its heyday when 12million tuned in.

Last year, the show scored its smallest live audience of all time when 2.9 million tuned in to one episode, a drop of 700,000 on the 3.6 million who’d watched the opener a few weeks earlier. This year, the show could only manage 2.9 million for the launch, and by the fifth episode another half a million viewers had melted away, leaving just 2.4 million.

This year’s line up of intrepid celebrity contestants might be the last to take to the rink in Dancing on Ice ( 
Image:
ITV)
It means that over the past two years Dancing on Ice has lost more than a million viewers, with the 2023 launch watched by 4.1million but this series never making it above 3million, according to official overnight ratings from BARB.

This year’s line up of intrepid celebrity contestants might be the last to take to the rink in Dancing on Ice ( 
Image:
ITV)
It means that over the past two years Dancing on Ice has lost more than a million viewers, with the 2023 launch watched by 4.1million but this series never making it above 3million, according to official overnight ratings from BARB.

Channel chiefs believe the only way to justify the huge costs involved in making Dancing on Ice going forward is by attracting a blockbuster audience, which just isn’t happening. One source said: “There are very real fears this is the end of the road for Dancing on Ice. It’s had a good run for nearly 20 years and has a very loyal set of viewers who really love it but the sad truth is there’s just not enough of them. We need bums on seats but the ratings have dropped to a point where it’s difficult to justify the cost.”

Many of the 12 celebrity contestants earn six-figure sums because of the months of training needed to get them through the routines. ITV also pays big fees to presenters Holly and Stephen, the 12 professional ice-skaters and four judges – comprising ice-skating legends Torvill and Dean plus Strictly star Oti Mabuse and fellow dance expert Ashley Banjo. They also have to maintain the purpose-built studio rink at Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire.

An ITV spokeswoman told The Mirror: “The Dancing on Ice team is fully concentrating on the much anticipated series finale this coming Sunday and therefore no decision has been made.” She said that when catch-up viewing was included, the series had averaged 3million viewers across the current run, thanks in part to 3.6m streams on ITVX.

Michaela and Mark are the favourites to win this year – but will they be among the show’s last ever contestants? ( 
Image:
Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Michaela Strachan, who dances with Mark Hanretty, is the firm favourite to take the trophy next Sunday, with bookies putting her at evens. If she does, it would make her the first female winner since gymnast Beth Tweddle triumphed in 2013. The BBC wildlife presenter is the last female in the competition, skating against Corrie star Sam Aston, TOWIE’s Dan Edgar and former footballer Anton Ferdinand,

Torvill and Dean have now officially stopped live performances, having completed their final tour. Announcing their planned retirement from the rink a year ago, the pair insisted: “We have no plans to step back from Dancing On Ice and hope that the series continues for years to come.”

The show launched in 2006 but ended after its ninth run in 2014, when Torvill and Dean said they wanted to leave “on a high” following the 30th anniversary of their Bolero win. “I think there comes a time when you know we’re not spring chickens any more,” Christopher said at the time. “We’re still able to do it, to a certain degree we feel good about it, but that will go.”

Four years later the show returned with the pair swapping their role as mentors to the contestants for the judging panel – where they have been ever since. At least if the show does not return in 2026, it’s not all bad news for Stephen and Holly, who are set to make more episodes of rebooted gameshow You Bet later this year.

It has been exactly two years since it was revealed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Archie and Lilibet had been given royal titles despite their parents previously railing against royal life

Meghan Markle is facing a crunch week with the release of one of her biggest projects.

On Tuesday, her make-or-break Netflix show With Love, Meghan will hit screens – and it promises to see her share tips and tricks when it comes to cooking and hosting. No doubt, she will be relying on the support of Prince Harry and her family as viewers finally get to see the eagerly-anticipated show.

It comes as Meghan also prepares for the launch of her lifestyle brand As Ever, which she has been promoting on her new Instagram account. And in many of her videos, she’s had the help of her children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, whether it be while making Valentine’s Day treats or watering the garden.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ( 
Image:
ARCHWELL)
This week is also significant for the youngsters as it will mark two years since it was revealed that the children had been given royal titles. Archie and Lilibet automatically became a prince and princess upon their grandfather’s King Charles accession in September 2022.

But it was several months later, in March 2023, after Lilibet’s christening, that Harry and Meghan confirmed that the youngsters were now prince and princess as they announced their daughter as Princess Lilibet. The couple were keen not to deny them their birthright, but the move raised eyebrows, especially as the Sussexes had railed against royal life in several bombshell interviews since quitting the Firm.

Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that several years on, it does still seem a ‘odd’ move. The former BBC royal correspondent explained: “I can understand Harry and Meghan wanting their children to have their birthright, even though they have turned their backs on life in the UK.

Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with their children Louise and James ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“What I find rather odd is their public use of these titles while the children are so young – and so estranged from their family and heritage. Both Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they found royal life deeply uncomfortable, so it’s hard to think they would ever want it for their children. But they are probably right to keep all options open for them.”

Jennie compares the youngsters to the children of Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with their titles left up to them on whether they will use them. Jennie added: “I think it might have been better for them to keep the titles private as Edward and Sophie kept their children’s HRH status private until and unless the children decide to use them.

“There’s no doubt that a royal title carries a good deal of kudos, especially in the States, and has a commercial and social value. So they are protecting their children’s interests – even if it does seem a touch cynical.”

It comes as Harry is known to be extremely protective over his children – and both he and Meghan have said in the past that they want to keep them out of the spotlight. Last year, a friend of the Sussexes told People how Harry wanted to protect his children by keeping them out of the limelight. They said: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.

“He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.” The friend added: “Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” referring to the death of Princess Diana.