Author: bang5

RTE host Brendan Courtney said that he believed he was targeted for being gay after being attacked by three men near his home in Dublin

Irish TV star Brendan Courtney was brutally attacked near his home in Dublin and says he was targeted “because I’m gay”.

RTE host Brendan, who is openly gay, believed that his sexuality made him the “perfect fodder” for the three men who assaulted him in the brutal “homophobic” attack. He shared the horrific experience in a post on social media.”Last night, at nine o’clock on my way home with some food, crossing the traffic lights just outside my apartment… three lads pulled up in a car and jumped out of the car, and jumped on me and attacked me and punched me to the ground. Cut my f*****g ear, a load of blood.

“I’m lucky actually but I’m sore because they kicked me in the head a couple of times. An amazing American couple walking by started screaming and the manager from the place on the corner came out and the police were there in seconds, and they jumped in the car and drove off,” he shared on Instagram.

The RTE star – who has been attacked before – said he was just walking home with food when three men jumped on him, and ended up in A&E

Brendan swore, and then advised: “Anyway, that happened to me yesterday so be careful.” The fashion designer then asked: “Dublin, what’s going on?”

While in the first Instagram Story Brendan was sitting on his balcony at home, he followed up two hours later and filmed from a hospital bed. “So, I’ve had to come to A&E,” he said. He swore again, and then reassured: “I’m sure I’m fine, I just reckon I have a mild concussion. My head is thumping.”

The beloved star flashed his hospital wristband and again said that he was fine, before adding: “Thank you for the messages, and…”

Brendan then got more serious, and stated: “It’s not good enough. It’s not good enough to be set upon on the street where you live and end up on a Friday in f*****g A&E with a concussion. It’s not good enough. We can do better.”

The TV personality has long been an advocate of gay rights, and tragically it isn’t the first time Brendan has been targeted in his home city. Back in May 2011, he disclosed that he was assaulted on South Great George’s Street in what he suspected to be a homophobic attack,” with a man having shouted a slur before making his attack.

“I was walking home on George’s Street with a group of friends after a club night in Andrews Lane. It was about two or three in the morning. Some guy in his early 20s came up to me with a group of friends and punched me full force in the face. He ran off with his friends before we could get him,” he told the Irish Independent at the time.

Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo have starred in TV shows together – including the ITV series Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip alongside First Dates star Fred Sirieix

Gordon Ramsay has broken his silence on the allegations made against fellow chef and TV co-star Gino D’Acampo.

Earlier this month, TV fans were shaken when allegations about 48-year-old D’Acampo emerged – with suggestions he had acted in inappropriate and intimidating ways over the course of his TV career. The star himself has furiously denied the allegations made against him.

Among allegations were claims by a member of staff who worked on the ITV show Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip – which starred D’Acampo alongside fellow chef Ramsay and First Dates star Fred Sirieix. It was claimed the former This Morning star had made sexual comments in front of crew – and that a complaint had been made to the production company in 2018.

D’Acampo’s lawyers denied the allegations and claimed that email exchanges about the alleged comments had not been seen by the star or his team. Now co-star Ramsay, 58, has broken his silence over the scandal – which has rocked ITV as well as shaken troubled daytime show This Morning.

Ramsay and D’Acampo have starred in a string of shows alongside Fred Sirieix ( 
Image:
iamginodacampo/Instagram)

Speaking to the Evening Standard at the launch of his new London restaurant Lucky Cat, Ramsay revealed he has spoken to both D’Acampo and Sirieix since the allegations were made public. He revealed: “I have reached out to Gino, checked in to make sure he and the family were doing okay. Fred too.”

The F Word star’s comment comes after a source previously told the MailOnline: “Gordon was horrified with what had gone on and felt it was time to step in and stop it. He has three daughters and a wife, Tana, who he absolutely adores and felt it was disgusting. He wanted to change those ways but then it led to difficulties between them.”

In a report by ITV earlier this month, it was alleged that D’Acampo had described a crew member during the filming of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip as a “bitter middle aged woman who needed to get laid”, saying he was “so hungry I could eat somebody’s t***”, and describing mozzarella as “wetter than p******.” The chef slammed the suggestions in a statement issued by his lawyers.

They said: “These allegations from six years ago are said to have been made in an email from December 2024 to Objective Media Group which Mr D’Acampo has not seen. The first time that Mr D’Acampo became aware of these allegations was via ITN’s request for comment and, even then, no context has been provided for any of these statements.

“No-one has ever made these complaints to Mr D’Acampo. Mr D’Acampo does not recall making any of these comments, nor does he accept that they were made. They include language that he would not use, such as the word ‘middle aged woman’”.

Objective Media Group told ITV when asked for comment that D’Acampo had been reprimanded over his behaviour. A spokesperson said: “As we made clear in our earlier statement, Gino D’Acampo was spoken to regarding his off-screen behaviour. Bespoke training was then provided and completed”.

Katie Price has revealed that despite falling pregnant over Christmas, she has been left heartbroken after scans discovered she had tragically miscarried

Katie Price has announced she’s suffered a miscarriage after falling pregnant.

The TV star and former model has made it no secret that she has wanted to extend her family of five children. Just last month, the 46-year-old appeared in a documentary, sharing her IVF journey with her former fiancée, Carl Woods. Katie had fallen pregnant over the Christmas period with her boyfriend, Married At First Sight UK star, JJ Slater. Tragically, it was discovered during scans that the couple had lost their baby, leaving them devastated.

Now, the star has teamed up with Tommy’s – a pregnancy and miscarriage charity to raise awareness for mums who have been through the same grief she’s endured. Katie has revealed she had just a 1 percent chance of conceiving a child naturally. “I was just really sad because we went from joy and relief that I could get pregnant naturally, to confusion, heartbreak and sadness,” she said.

Katie explained that she and JJ were not trying for a child after being told she was perimenopausal. However, on Boxing Day, she noticed she had missed a period – something which was unusual for her. Instantly, she started displaying symptoms including sore breasts, feeling nauseous, feeling moody and being bloated.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “I did loads of pregnancy tests because I wanted to be sure, and JJ kept asking me if it was real. He was so, so excited.” The model explained that the lines on her tests were not getting darker, which she knew from her previous pregnancies they should. “I started to worry,” she explained.

Former model Katie has revealed she suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Katie Price fell pregnant with JJ Slater over Christmas ( 
Image:
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“We went to a clinic for blood tests and a scan and the scan showed where the baby was, but that it wasn’t alive any more. It’s been devastating. Previously, Katie has suffered three miscarriages, as well as a devastating ectopic pregnancy.

Speaking about wanting more children, Katie revealed that she would explore IVF or a surrogate. Talking on the Netmums Podcast, Katie told hosts Wendy and Alison that she does want more kids, and specified how many. Sharing an update, the TV personality said: “I still want more.” She added: “I’m at that stage and I do want more kids. I want more. And I don’t want to be told by a doctor or something that I can’t have more. I know I’m not done. If I could have two more kids I would.”

Katie went on to explain that while she “might act young and look younger”, she may be pre-menopausal. “So I’m at that stage and I do want more kids,” she said, continuing: “I didn’t realise until I did the IVF that when you’re born, you’re born with a set of eggs, and every period you have, you know, you get rid of eggs. So mine are quite old now.”

Earlier this month, Katie revealed on her podcast with her sister Sophie that she could hit the menopause in a couple of years. She explained that she had been struggling to sleep as well as suffering from cold sweats. “I’m not sleeping at night and I’m normally a really good sleeper, so something’s going on,” she said.

She continued: “So I’m just going to get my blood test because maybe I’m having an early menopause, I don’t know how it all works, but I’m still having my periods.” She was seen on February 11 at the Agora Fertility Clinic in her hometown of Brighton, as she displayed the results of her latest cosmetic enhancements.

BBC Breakfast was halted on Friday morning as Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty announced some “breaking news” about a number of high street banks

BBC Breakfast viewers were met with an unexpected interruption on Friday (February 28) as presenter Charlie Stayt delivered some “breaking news”.

As the show neared its conclusion, Charlie disclosed that several high street banks, including Nationwide and First Direct, were experiencing difficulties with their online banking services.

“Just wanting to bring you news of a story that we’re just hearing about. Nationwide and First Direct are saying that some customers may be facing problems with online banking,” he said.

Co-host Naga Munchetty chimed in, highlighting the impact on individuals: “Now, it is affecting some incoming and outgoing payments, leaving many without access to funds on pay day at the end of the month,” before passing the baton to correspondent Ben Boulos.

Ben elaborated on the situation, noting the timing’s significance: “[It’s the] last Friday of the month, a lot of people will be wanting to check, wanting to access their money to pay bills and so on. What we’re hearing, this news breaking in the last few minutes, is that Nationwide, First Direct, Lloyds and Halifax all confirming issues with their online banking systems,” reports the Express.

BBC Breakfast host Charlie Stayt announced breaking news on Friday (February 28) ( 
Image:
(Image: BBC))
He continued by addressing the recurring nature of these disruptions: “This is the second month in a row that major banks have been hit with some sort of IT issues around pay day. The experts are saying that often these systems struggle with the sheer demand on them, the transactions, the number of people trying to log in… Wages going in, bills going out, that sort of thing.”

Ben took a moment to provide reassurance to viewers who might be facing difficulties with their banking apps, stating: “So, if people are, this morning, struggling to log in to any of those banking apps, they’re not alone. It’s not an issue with their own phone or their computer, this is a system with the bank apps themselves.”

He went on to stress the lack of clarity regarding the cause: “There’s no indication about what’s behind this, but obviously people will be concerned.”

He added a helpful tip for those seeking the latest updates: “It’s worth saying, keep an eye on the BBC News Channel, keep an eye on the app and our website. That story will be followed throughout the day with any updates that people need, they can find them there.”

Several banks have confirmed issues with their online banking systems ( 
Image:
(Image: BBC))
According to Downdetector, a platform outage monitor, reports of technical difficulties shot up to over 4,000 for the Lloyds Bank app on Friday morning. Additionally, Halifax customers lodged 3,600 complaints, while TSB and Bank of Scotland users reported 900 and 600 issues, respectively.

Following a mobile banking outage at Barclays in January, which left UK customers unable to carry out transactions around pay day, the recent technical snags add to growing concerns.

In response, the Treasury Committee has approached the heads of nine banks, requesting details on the extent and impact of such IT disruptions on consumers.

Friday night will see Claudia Winkleman step in to host Graham Norton’s Friday night chat show – but why is The Traitors host stepping in?

Claudia Winkleman is stepping in for Graham Norton on his BBC talk show tonight. The penultimate episode in the series will see The Traitors host welcome Chris Pratt, Toby Jones, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Rob Beckett to the red sofa.

But where is Graham Norton and why is Claudia taking over? Earlier this month, Graham announced his planned time off, when he told viewers he’d be taking a one-week break from the show as he toured Australia.

The announcement was made while he had Claudia as a guest on the sofa. “Claudia does have another little job coming up,” he explained. “At the end of this series I’m popping off to do a tour of Australia and my seat is going to be filled for one week only by none other than Claudia Winkleman.” Claudia then joked: “I apologise in advance.” As well as hosting The Traitors, Claudia also hosts BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly.

It’s not the first time Claudia has ‘replaced’ Graham. In 2021, she took over from his BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning show. Speaking on the appointment at the time, Claudia said: “I’m not often speechless but the chance to be with the wonderful Radio 2 listeners every Saturday has left me, quite frankly, gobsmacked.”

Claudia is stepping in for Graham on Friday night ( 
Image:
PA)

Graham’s visit to Australia comes as he’s headed Down Under in ahead of his Australian live tour. The star will be visiting Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne throughout March, for An Evening with Graham Norton. The show sees Graham share fun stories and career highlights with the audience, before taking part in a Q&A session.

This means Graham will also be away for the final episode, on Friday, March 7. The show will feature a compilation of highlights from the recent series, featuring a host of stars including Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet, Cher, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Dwayne Johnson, Zoe Saldaña and Hugh Grant.

Reacting to the announcement on social media, one fan penned: “Been looking forward to this ever since it was announced, Claudia’s gonna ace this,” as another wrote: “The queeeeeeeen.” Another excitedly wrote: “Looking forward to it.”

“rachel chinouriri and claudia, oh i am tuned innnnn,” wrote a fourth excited fan while others were calling for Claudia to become a guest host on Lorraine when she was unavailable.

Josie Gibson has revealed that she sustained a nightmare injury while on holiday in Dubai with her son Reggie as she returned to presenting This Morning on crutches

TV host Josie Gibson is presenting This Morning on crutches today, following a ‘nightmare’ injury sustained on holiday.

The presenter hobbled onto the set on crutches, with one foot in a medical boot, and revealed she was injured while in Dubai with her son Reggie. She shared that a bathroom cabinet in her hotel room fell from the wall and landed on her foot.

“It was the second day of the holiday, I have always wanted to take my little one to Dubai. I was brushing my teeth when the vanity unit came down on my foot,” she explained, as co-host Alison Hammond gasped. She shared a photo of the smashed cabinet, and said it cracked over her foot.

Josie shared her holiday disaster with Alison ( 
Image:
ITV)
Keen to make her feel comfortable, Alison revealed the This Morning team had got her a special gift. She drove onto the set in a mobility scooter that had been blinged up with gold fringing and silver side panels, and a ‘Gibson’ number plate.

Earlier this week, Josie, 40, had posted on social media that she had made a dash to hospital with an undisclosed health issue. It is likely it was her foot injury she was having treated, as she told co-presenter Alison Hammond that while she was diagnosed with a fractured foot in Dubai, a British doctor she saw on her return had said she had suffered soft tissue damage.

Josie’s photo shows the unit that smashed onto her foot ( 
Image:
ITV)
She shared a photo that showed directions for the Fracture & Orthopaedic Clinics and a Trauma Assessment Unit on signs visible on a wall on the site. Over the photo, she wrote in the caption: “You couldn’t even make it up”. Josie’s post had background music as rock band Mazzy Star’s song Cry Cry was heard playing.

Josie previously jetted to Dubai as part of her new travel series, The First Class Travel Show. She stayed at the luxurious Anantara at the Palm, which boasts personal infinity pools and a private beach, and in an interview revealed that she planned to return with six year old Reggie.

The presenter later zoomed around the This Morning set in her mobility scooter ( 
Image:
ITV)“I think he would quite like Dubai because it’s geared up for kids,” she said, noting that he would be especially impressed with the place she stayed. “I was in a villa on the water with a glass floor, so you can look down at the sea while you’re having your breakfast.”

The series took Josie to high end hotels in Scandinavia, the Middle East and the Caribbean, but after so many first class experiences, she said: “I don’t want to see another glass of champagne for as long as I live.”

“I know this is going to sound so bad, but there was so much luxury that I just wanted a glass of water,” she said. “There was champagne everywhere. I’m one of these people because I didn’t grow up with it, I’ve got to have it. You make the most out of everything. If there are any freebies to take, I am taking them. Any drinks to be had or food to be tried I am trying it all. First World problems, but I am totally champagned out!”

TV star Lorraine Kelly explains her family comes first as she no longer works Fridays on her ITV show

Lorraine Kelly has admitted her beloved mum has “not been well” and she has reduced her workload to spend more time with her.

The ITV host has stopped working on Fridays and says it has given her more time to be a granny and to spend time with her mother, who she credits for making her so inquisitive. Lorraine was born in Glasgow on November 30, 1959 to teenage parents, mum Anne and dad in the tough Gorbals area of the city. She says mum Anne taught her to read before she even went to school which gave her a head start in life and he love of books.

Now it is Lorraine’s turn to be around for her mum when she needs her. Speaking to woman&home magazine she explained: “Not presenting on Fridays gives me a chance to breathe and brings me in line with everyone else. Phil and Holly used to do four days, lovely Ben and Cat do four.

“Susanna does four and three. I wasn’t sure about it at first because I’ve been working five days a week for 40 years. It was a wee bit of a wrench. Sometimes you’ve just got to take a step back in order to appreciate what you’ve got, and it has certainly made life a lot easier with my mum not being well. She has this horrible kidney problem, but is doing OK now. As far as looking after her goes, also with Billie and then the writing, it has been a good change.”

Anne appeared in an ITV documentary last year to celebrate Lorraine’s 40 years on screen. She recalled how she was all set to go to university until she went to work as a junior reporter at East Kilbride News. Her mum Anne remembered: “She did that and liked it and that was it, university out the window. She thoroughly enjoyed it and she was good.” Anne also still gives Lorraine constructive criticism about her interviews on TV too. Lorraine also used the magazine interview to explain why she no longer really used X, formerly twitter anymore.

Lorraine Kelly as baby with mum Anne growing up in ScotlandShe said: “I don’t do X any more. It’s too toxic and life’s too short. I’m 65. It doesn’t bother me if somebody says horrible things about me, but if I was starting out in my career, the kind of person I was in my late 20s and 30s, I’d be destroyed.” Lorraine met her husband Stephen Smith when working on TV Am when he was a cameraman and the pair married in 1992 and have remained inseparable ever since. Their daughter Rosie has now had a child of her own too.

And Lorraine has vowed to be a granny with an attitude to the baby girl born in August last year. She said: “Billie is the light of my life. I really miss Billie when I’m not with her. They’re an hour away [in north London], and I babysit as often as I can, but I don’t interfere. I’m just there. I love the fact that I’m Granny Smith!

Lorraine doesn’t skirt around the issues in new interview ( 
Image:
[C] DAN KENNEDY www.danielkennedy.com www.futurecontenthub.com)

Lorraine spoke to woman&home
“I’m a mischievous granny. As Billie gets older, we’ll get up to all sorts of nonsense. I want to take Billie travelling everywhere on adventures, like to see the penguins [in Antarctica]. When you’re a grandparent, you see the world through their wee eyes and rediscover everything.”

She also told the magazine she is against cancelling people and they should instead be called out, having recently criticised Gregg Wallace herself on screen. She also urged people to try to stand up for themselves if they are being mistreated.

She said: “If somebody is misbehaving, being inappropriate and making anyone feel uncomfortable, they have to be called out so they can apologise. I object strongly to people enabling that sort of behaviour, and that happened in the past [like with] Gregg Wallace. You’ve got to be strong as a boss and say ‘No’.”

She added: “I’m against cancelling people. You’ve got to hear their point of view, so you can go, ‘They’re being an absolute t**t, what a load of old twaddle.’ You should never be cancelled for something that you believe, unless it is something heinous. I may think you’re the biggest w***er that ever roamed the earth, but you should be allowed to express your opinion.

“If we only talked to people that we agreed with, we’d be living in an echo chamber, all patting each other on the back saying, ‘How smug are we?’.”

The 66-year-old had just returned from an idyllic Caribbean holiday when she was rushed to hospital and put on a drip

Denise Welch has opened up about her recent diagnosis, after 24 hours in emergency care. The Loose Women star, 66, had only just returned home from a dream trip to the Caribbean when she was rushed to hospital almost two weeks ago.

Here, she was put on a drip and diagnosed with two interlinked conditions with potentially life-threatening consequences. On the show, she said: “I got back from a lovely holiday in the Caribbean last Saturday. All bronze, looking forward to coming on here last week and showing off my sun tan and ‘I’m back’ and all this.

“And I got rushed into hospital on the Saturday with acute peritonitis – a perforated diverticulitis,” she revealed. “So, I’ve been in hospital on a drip for a b***** week! Excuse me. Anyway, they didn’t have to do surgery, they got it with antibiotics, thank you… As my mother said, ‘Take me to the knacker’s yard’.”

Denise Welch has opened up about her recent diagnosis, after 24 hours in emergency care ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The NHS explains that acute peritonitis is an infection of the inner lining of the stomach, covering organs like the liver, kidneys and bowel. This usually results from a burst stomach ulcer, appendix or, in Denise’s case, complications of ‘diverticulitis’.

A perforated diverticulum specifically refers to a tear in the bowel wall which, left untreated, can be fatal. “In rare cases, an infected diverticulum (pouch in your colon) can split, spreading the infection into the lining of your abdomen (perforation),” NHS Inform explains.

“An infection of the lining of the abdomen is known as peritonitis. Peritonitis can be life-threatening, and requires immediate treatment with antibiotics. Surgery may also be required to drain any pus that has built up, and it may be necessary to perform a colostomy.”

The most common symptoms of peritonitis include persistent stomach pain, a high fever, rapid heartbeat and unusual changes to your urination patterns. Other patients also report a lack of appetite, nausea and a swollen stomach.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to immediate medical help. Critical complications like sepsis can take place if the infection spreads. NHS advice adds: “If you’re diagnosed with peritonitis, you’ll need treatment in hospital to get rid of the infection.

“Treatment usually involves being given antibiotics into a vein (intravenously). If you have regular kidney dialysis, your doctor might discuss a different way of doing it until the peritonitis has been treated.

“…It can be difficult to digest food if you have peritonitis. A feeding tube might be passed into your stomach through your nose or placed inside your stomach using keyhole surgery. If a feeding tube cannot be used, liquid nutrients can be given directly into one of your veins.”

The star is certainly grateful to be on the mend now and even joked about the whole ordeal ( 
Image:
Mike Marsland/WireImage)

While Denise assured she was well cared for by doctors, she took a moment to highlight another especially negative part of her hospital experience. “I was rushed into hospital. I was alright, but I was in A&E for 24 hours,” she said.

“Now, they were looking after me and there was no bed, they kept saying, ‘There’s no bed for you’. They wanted me on the surgical ward. [They said,] ‘There’s no bed, there’s no bed, there’s no bed.’ Somebody had spotted me and phoned the press – and I was in a bed in 15 minutes.”

However, the star is certainly grateful to be on the mend now and even joked about the whole ordeal. “I’m eating and believe you me, what’s going on down there, I’m a loose woman – believe me!” she quipped.

Penny Lancaster opened up about the start of her relationship with Rod Stewart as they navigated through life as a blended family

Penny Lancaster made a candid admission about her family life as she detailed a difficult start to her romance with Rod Stewart.

During Friday’s (February 28) episode of Loose Women, Penny was joined by fellow panelists Kaye Adams, Linda Robson and Jane Moore as they discussed the day’s trending topics.

However it was on one segment, where family life was the heartwarming topic of conversation, that Penny opened up about the start of her relationship with Rod, who she tied the knot with back in 2007, as they navigated through life as a blended family.

The couple have two children together, Alastair and Aiden, born in 2005 and 2011, however Stewart also has eight children in total from his former wives and ex-partners.

Penny opened up about the start of her relationship with Rod as they navigated through life as a blended family ( 
Image:
ITV)

Diving straight into the segment Kaye asked: “Is there a peacemaker in your family?” to which Penny admitted: “I would probably point the fingers at myself. When I first met Rod it wasn’t the case of being involved with the man I love, it was a case of bringing in the whole family including everybody.”

She continued: “I tiptoed in and said it’ll be alright in the end.” Kaye jumped in: “In fairness to that they [Rod’s children] all probably thought you were not going to be around forever, they weren’t going to know that you’ll stick around.”

Penny replied: “Exactly, they thought ‘this is the next girlfriend, what does she want’ so it was understandable so I took the stance of being empathetic and trying to look at life from different perspectives and put myself in their shoes.”

Penny was joined by fellow panellists Kaye Adams, Linda Robson and Jane Moore on Friday’s Loose Women ( 
Image:
ITV)
She added: “Just slowly, slowly they got to recognise the truth and that I was the good guy and now ten years later they know who I am and we have formed a family bond but they do all come to me because of my honesty and they know they’ll get the truth and it all works out in the end.”

Elsewhere in the show, Penny spoke out about how she supports Rod’s older daughters, who have had children, on suffering from mum guilt.

She said: “I’ve always said to Rod’s girls that have had babies now, don’t feel bad if you feel guilty because it is a very normal feeling for a lot of mothers. All the pressures of what you should and shouldn’t do, do you give them enough attention, are you strict enough and the list just goes on and on.”

Speaking about her own battle, she added: “For me I always doubt myself whether it’s enough and I have to remind myself that ‘you are enough and you have done the right thing’. I sort of battle with it sometimes and I know there isn’t a perfect out.”

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX

The Princess of Wales was heard telling volunteers at a community garden in Wales today that she has been growing her own plums and that she would send them her recipe for plum jam

The Princess of Wales has promised to send her recipe for plum jam to young gardeners.

Kate heard how young volunteers at a community garden in Wales were growing their own plums and turning them into jam, and promised: “I’ll send you my plum jam recipe so you can try it.” She also revealed that she is learning to forage in Norfolk, with her three children left impressed by a “huge” puffball mushroom she had found near their home. “The children thought it was fascinating,” she said

The Prince and Princess of Wales made a joint visit to Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland, near Pontypridd in South Wales, where they were given a tour of the woodland walks and homegrown produce. The garden, which was badly flooded in 2024 and has bounced back with the help of volunteers, is intended to be a welcoming place for the local community to enjoy nature.

Kate greets the crowds in Pontypridd ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
It fits in with one of the Princess’s passion projects, encouraging people into the outdoors, with nature activities for children. The couple laughed as they were shown “Bug-inham Palace”, an insect conservation area, and joined a group round a fire to make balms out of plants.

The revelation that Kate, 43, has been making her own jam follows Meghan Markle’s foray into the preserve market, sending pots of home made jam under the name of her American Riveria Orchard brand. Meghan was forced to ditch the name after running into a catalogue of trademark issues, choosing to rename the venture ‘As Ever’. Meghan has been marketing the new brand on her personal Instagram account which has so far amassed two million followers.

The garden overlooks the River Taff and the A470, with volunteers describing it as a haven in an otherwise urban community. The Prince and Princess, who had changed into a brown jacket, long skirt, and high-heeled boots, both wore daffodils, celebrating their first joint away-day in Wales since the Princess’s cancer treatment. They were greeted in tha garden by Helen Williams, community development manager, and Dawn Parker, a volunteer.

William and Kate at the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland ( 
Image:
PA)
Helen admired the daffodils, and Prince William joked of his wife: “Her one is bigger than my one.” They were given a history of the garden by Kaci Pucknell, a volunteer, and a short walking tour taking in raised beds, polytunnels, and natural landscaping. Introduced to a group of young volunteers, the Princess asked: “What sort of things to do you get involved in?”

One young woman told her that they were growing plums on a tree, pointing it out behind them, with the Princess exclaiming: “I just saw it!”

Prince William asked about the flooding during Storm Bert last year, which covered the garden and left furniture floating away, and whether there are many similiar outdoor projects in the area. “Do you like getting outdoors?” he added. “It’s so good isn’t it.”

“Do you think there is enough access to nature,” the Princess asked.

Kate offered to send volunteers her jam recipe ( 
Image:
PA)
“We were just hearing that this isn’t just about nature it’s also about wellbeing. Do you feel that?” The Prince asked whether they were “bringing their friends down”, adding: “You have a few hands on deck now!” Before moving to the next area, the Princess remarked on the changing seasons with talk turning to plum jam-making once again.

William said it was “amazing” and Kate offered to send her recipe, leaving young volunteers delighted. The couple were then introduced to adult volunteers, including Vanessa Matthews who made Prince William laugh by telling him she had seen him as a young boy – on the television.

“This morning I’ve had a number of people say they met me [when he was very young] and I had to say I’m sorry, I don’t remember!” he replied.

The couple were given a tour of the woodland walks and homegrown produce ( 
Image:
PA)

Martin Phillips, who has done dry stone walling on the site, joked that he would build the Prince and Princess a castle for next time they visited, with William joking that he hoped it would be on higher ground. The garden had flooded again last week. The couple paused to sit in an ornate wooded sculpture with seating inside, which Kate declared “so creative”.

They then joined a group around a fire, with potato and leeks boiling in a pot over it. The Princess spoke to Jody James, from charity Coedlleol (which translates as “small woods”), about foraging. “We both love the smell of a fire,” said William, as Kate put her hand on his back. As thick smoke wafted over them, the Princess joked: “Until you’re in it.”

The couple were shown the plants used to make balm including plantain, smelling them and asking where they come from. The Princess told Jody that she had been foraging in Norfolk, recently finding a mound of puffball mushrooms, which can be edible and are known for their meaty texture. “She said she was interested in that kind of sustainability,” said Jody afterwards. “She’s been doing her own foraging in Norfolk.”

The Waleses, who travelled by train, finished the engagement just a few minutes late, with encouragement from their security team. “I’m sorry, we’ve got to catch a train,” William told volunteers as they left. “They’re getting a bit panicky!”

Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland was established in January 2021, when work began to clear a site that was overgrown and full of debris from flooding. Together with Pontypridd Town Council, volunteers rejuvenated the site where it is now used for activities including gardening, woodwork and weaving. After floods in December left it completely underwater, members of the community restored the garden from near-devastation.