Author: bang7

After an online backlash to an emotional video she made following her BAFTA snub, a source claims TV’s sweetheart Stacey Solomon is ‘worried it could all end’

Stacey Solomon has battled with imposter syndrome before(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)

Just weeks ago, Stacey Solomon was on top of the world. With her hit BBC show Sort Your Life Out renewed for a sixth season and viewers lapping up her new reality series with husband Joe Swash, the mum-of-five seemed to be unstoppable. But in the space of a few days, the tide seems to have turned – and fans were left wondering if the cracks in her idyllic life are starting to show, as reports OK!.

It all began after the normally smiley Stacey, 35, took to Instagram the morning after the recent Bafta TV Awards to admit she was “devastated” that Sort Your Life Out didn’t win. Filming in her garden, Stacey got emotional while talking about missing out on a gong. “I’ll be honest, I’m devastated. I’m not handling it very well, not taking it very gracefully,” she confessed in a now controversial video. “I’m so gutted for our team.”

Stacey Solomon laid her feelings bare in an emotional video after missing out on a Bafta – but it divided fans.(Image: Instagram)

The Loose Women presenter added, “It’s not an easy show to make… the team works so hard to make it happen, and they so deserve a Bafta.” She explained, “People think making TV is really easy, and it’s not… We all pack up a house, and within seven days, that house is packed into vans, over to a warehouse, laid out on the floor. We go through it meticulously… We donate, we recycle, we resell, put it all back and try and put in systems to help families move forward.”

Some fans applauded her for being “refreshingly honest” and maintained she was simply just “disappointed for her team” and it was “hardly a rant”. Others, however, were left less than impressed, telling her to “get a grip” and to stop being a “bad loser”. Some claimed that Stacey is “showing her true colours” compared to her usual “wholesome” demeanour and said that she has “got too big for her boots”.

Stacey has not commented publicly since her Bafta post, but a source claims the star is worried “it could all be over”. “The negative comments really upset her, she takes them to heart. She never wants to be seen as ungrateful, because she’s not. She had a really humble upbringing and everything she does, she does to give her kids the best opportunities possible. They are what drives her.”

Stacey’s BBC show Sort Your Life Out missed out on a Bafta award, to which Stacey responded: “People think making TV is really easy, and it’s not”(Image: BBC/Optomen Television)

“She has a sort of inferiority complex, like imposter syndrome, partly because of where she’s come from. Don’t forget, she became famous on The X Factor and she’s seen so many other people from shows like that just disappear over the years. So the fear of ‘Could I lose it all too? Could it all be over?’’ is always there to some extent.”

“She’s a really hard worker and gives her all to everything, so it’s devastating when it doesn’t pay off, and it understandably makes her worry. But she’s one of telly’s biggest success stories who always wants to keep the wheel turning, so she won’t stop doing what she does best.”

Indeed, she has talked about battling imposter syndrome in the past. In January 2023, the star revealed her constant fear of “losing it all” amid the cost-of-living crisis, as she reflected on having “nothing”. She revealed at the time, “My dad is from a background where he had nothing, like literally nothing, so we could have nothing again. Even to this day I think, ‘Well, we’re comfortable now but something’s going to go wrong at some point, it won’t stay like this forever.’ It’s inherent,” explained Stacey.

Insiders say Stacey, pictured at the Baftas, now fears “it could all be over” after the online backlash – but with another series of Sort Your Life Out in the works, Stacey’s still one of TV’s biggest stars(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)

She added, “You’re constantly thinking, ‘I’d better hold on to that’ and ‘I’d better not waste that’ because in a few months’ time, I could be on the street.” To make matters worse, Stacey’s sister, Jemma, chimed in with an Instagram post slamming the Bafta judges, which many fans felt fanned the flames.

Jemma, 36, said, “If only it was a public vote, I think things would have been a little different.” And as if the backlash over her Bafta reaction wasn’t enough, Sort Your Life Out has come under fire, too. After a recent episode, some criticised the show for failing to acknowledge the emotional toll of hoarding, while others felt the team was “too harsh”. But Stacey insisted it’s about empowering families – not judging them. “It’s so hard to let someone into your house when you’re going through a difficult time,” she said.

And there are rumbles behind the scenes. In one episode of Stacey & Joe, Joe, 43, is shown in therapy, tearfully admitting he feels like a “huge problem” in their relationship. While the couple have long been known for their relatable – if sometimes chaotic – dynamic, some viewers worry they might be struggling with the demands of work, fame and family. With two toddlers and four older children between them, plus multiple businesses and TV commitments, it’s no surprise things might feel tense.

But with another series of Sort Your Life Out on the way, a happy home life and legions of fans still cheering her on, Stacey’s future remains bright. Sure, it’s been a tricky time of late, but if anyone knows how to tidy up a mess with a smile, it’s Stacey.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz friends have claimed that David and Victoria Beckham are making it “impossible” for the married couple who just want to be “loved” and “supported”

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz want “nothing more” than to be “supported” by family amid claims that Nicola is “isolating” Brooklyn from his parents.

A source close to Nicola Peltz has claimed that both Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola want “nothing more than to be loved and supported”, but that his parents, Victoria and David, have made it “virtually impossible”.

The pals’ statement comes amid a long-standing family feud, which is showing no signs of dying down. Sources close to the Beckhams have branded Brooklyn and Nicola’s relationship “unhealthy” and have claimed that Nicola is “isolating” Brooklyn from his family and friends.

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz want “nothing more” than to be “supported” by family(Image: Getty Images for Airbnb)

Victoria and David Beckham’s oldest son appeared to slap back at claims and showed support for his wife, saying he would “always” choose her.

Taking to Instagram, Brooklyn shared a video where he is seen riding a red motorbike with Nicola on the back, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him. Brooklyn can be seen stroking her hand as he drives them down a road. Making his feelings about his wife crystal clear, he wrote: “My whole world x I will love you forever x I always choose you baby x you’re the most amazing person i know xx me and you forever baby.”

Sources close to the Beckhams have branded Brooklyn and Nicola’s relationship “unhealthy” (Image: Instagram)

Responding to the bombshell statement from Brooklyn, pals of his parents said it was “disappointing but unsurprising” if Brooklyn meant this as a dig at his family. The source added: “They feel Nicola is creating conflict that isn’t there – or at the very least ramping it up – in order to isolate Brooklyn from his family. Yes, Brooklyn is his own man…but Nicola is the one pulling the strings. It feels like she wants him to pick sides – and that’s what’s clearly happening.”

Sources say friends of the Beckhams are particularly concerned by the fact Brooklyn has more than 70 tattoos dedicated to Nicola dotted around his body.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A source claimed: “I think anyone can see that’s problematic to say the least, and it’s another facet of an unhealthy relationship. But he is totally besotted.”

Among the many tats, Brooklyn has a love letter from Nicola inked on his neck, with the note reading: “My forever boy. Read this anytime you feel anxious… I want you to know how deeply loved you are. You have the kindest heart I’ve ever met and I hope I never go a day without your love.”

The Duchess of Sussex has shared a sweet video on Instagram as she spent time with her daughter beekeeping – giving fans a glimpse into family life in California

Meghan Markle has given fans a rare glimpse into her family life as she shared a sweet moment with her daughter Lilibet.

The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram last night to share a new video with her three-year-old, where they both can be seen wearing matching beekeeping suits.

In the clip, the mother daughter duo hold hands as they walk towards a beehive, which also featured in her Netflix show With Love, Meghan. Lilibet turns to looked to her mum – giving royal fans a rare look at her face – and she even wore a pair of rainbow wellies to complete her look. Meghan, 43, then bent down and rubbed her daughter’s back as they approached the hive on their Californian estate.

The video gave a rare glimpse into Lilbet’s face

Beekeeping is a firm royal favourite, with Princess Kate also enjoying the hobby. Meghan has followed suit, diving into the past time alongside her daughter. The Princess of Wales has previously shared photos of herself with bees, while Queen Camilla is the president of Bees for Development, a charity that trains beekeepers and protects habitats in over 50 countries. Camilla is also known to be an avid beekeeper when at her country estate, Ray Mill House, in Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, Meghan shared her passion for beekeeping in the first episode of her cooking and lifestyle Netlix show, which released in March. Speaking to a beekeeper at her hives in the series, the Duchess became emotional and said “it’s beautiful to be this connected”.

Meghan Markle in her beekeeping get-up(Image: Netflix)

It’s not the first time the couple have shared snaps inside their home, previously sharing moments from their Mediterranean-style £2m pad that sits on a 7.4-acres of land. Prince Harry and Meghan have proudly shared their vegetable and fruit garden, rose garden, chicken coop, and fruit orchards as part of their broader mission of leading a mindful, sustainable lifestyle.

But sharing snaps of Archie and Lilibet is a new move for Meghan, as she’s been sharing more photos – usually without their faces shown. The Duchess’ personal family posts have become a hot topic with royal experts, especially after she posted her wedding anniversary celebration montage on Instagram last week. Rumours have swirled about the state of Meghan and Harry’s marriage since they appeared to be separate themselves professionally last year. But the couple have swiftly shut down any speculation.

Meghan’s post to mark seven years of marriage

According to one royal expert, the gushing posts are all strategic and Meghan has a plan. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told new she believes the duchess, 43, is no doubt aware of the ongoing rumours that her husband is unhappy and is keen to silence them. “I think Meghan is a fighter,” said Jennie.

“She will be aware that some people, particularly in the UK, believe rumours that Harry is unhappy, and she’s determined to show that they have a strong marriage and a happy family life.

“I hope that’s true, and there’s no reason to disbelieve her. I think she’s also determined to show that she is a strong character and, from relatively humble beginnings, she has become a successful actress, and now an influencer and entrepreneur.

“I think she’s anxious to be seen as a successful businesswoman in her own right – and not just because she has lived briefly inside the palace walls and has a royal title.”

It emerged that the Prince and Princess of Wales have landed themselves a spot on a prestigious list of the world’s best philanthropists, but there was no sign of Prince Harry and Meghan. Now, one royal expert has explained why this might be the case

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have been disappointed to not take a prestigious honour that was handed to the Prince and Princess of Wales, according to an expert. It emerged that William and Kate have been included in the Time 100 Philanthropy 2025 list, but Harry and Meghan were not.

Kate and William were included in the magazine’s Innovators category for “modernising royal philanthropy” and praised for being “less concerned with cultural preservation and more attuned to social issues”. But it was a different story for Harry and Meghan who were snubbed from this year’s list, despite being included four years ago.

Harry and Meghan at the TIME100 summit last month (Image: Getty Images for TIME)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who quit their royal roles in 2020 to pursue private ventures in the corporate world, previously secured a spot on Time’s roster of the most influential figures back in 2021, which included a cover feature on the prestigious publication.

However, the couple, who tout themselves as “shaping the future through business and philanthropy” on their website, did not make the cut this year. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the Waleses thoroughly deserve their place on the list, but believes not getting a mention themselves would have come as a blow to the Sussexes.

She told the Mirror: “I’m sure Harry and Meghan will be disappointed that they haven’t made the list, especially as they have emphasised their focus on philanthropy on their website. I wish them well with the work they do, but now, firmly outside the royal family, they simply do not pack the same punch as the prince and princess.”

William and Kate on a recent visit to the Isle of Mull (Image: PA)

William and Kate’s honour comes as the couple begin rolling out an ambitious project to transform community spaces across the UK, using a mixture of grants and donating personal time from their Royal Foundation.

They have identified several locations around the country which will benefit from financial backing and the creation of new task forces which will benefit from expert advice and guidance from their team. The aim is to create a network of businesses to invest in local projects to upgrade local facilities from community hubs to sports centres, which will be announced in the coming months.

And Jennie added: “There’s no denying that William and Catherine carry a lot of clout in whatever field they choose to get involved. And they have each made a significant impact in trying to help solve crucial social issues.

“I think they will be pleased that their efforts have been recognised alongside the likes of David Beckham, Oprah Winfrey, and Melinda French Gates.

“The Prince and Princess have focused their energy on causes like early development, the environment, homelessness and mental health. These are issues that affect large sections of society.

“Their brand of royal patronage is less about elitist cultural preservation and more, as William himself has said, about ‘impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people’.

“Time magazine cited William and Catherine as innovators for modernising royal philanthropy. It recognised that their strategy is to get corporate and expert support for the causes they are working to highlight. They want to be more than just figureheads: they want to bang heads together and get action going to help solve some of society’s many problems.”

Staff at ITV are said to be growing angrier as the row over cuts on key shows such as Loose Women and Lorraine continues, with insiders fearing a drop in standards

ITV staff fury grows over 220 job cuts and ‘death of daytime’ as CEO pockets £4million salary(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

ITV staff fury is growing as the row over sweeping cuts to Loose Women and Lorraine continues to rage. Recriminations are becoming increasingly bitter over the channel’s axing of 220 jobs, with insiders insisting viewers will notice a drop in standards.

Many are blaming chief executive Carolyn McCall for the “death of daytime” and have criticised her for pocketing a massive £4million salary, including bonus, last year. There is also widespread anger that the cost-savings, which will radically change ITV ’s daytime schedule from January, were not delivered by Ms McCall to staff gathered in London’s Television Centre, on Tuesday.

A Good Morning Britain source said: “She could have walked the 400 yards to the studio to explain to folk in person.” But a channel spokeswoman said ITV Studios MD Julian Bellamy personally wanted to deliver the news: “It was really important to him that he shared this news directly in the way he felt appropriate. This is also very much in line with best practice HR given the sensitivity of the situation.”

Loose Women will feel the effect of the changes(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

They said ITV boss Kevin Lygo made the decision to shake-up the schedules. It comes as the channel was rocked by a series of other developments including:

Claims that standards across Lorraine and Loose Women in particular will go into a “death spiral” leaving viewers short-changed.
Outrage over stars on shows such as This Morning keeping their well-paid jobs while hundreds are sacked.
Fears of strikes among heavily unionised GMB studio crew and technicians.

On screen, viewers will see huge changes to the daytime schedule. Lorraine is the worst hit. It will run for 30 weeks, not 50 weeks a year, and will be slashed from an hour to 30 minutes each day.

Loose Women will stay at the same running time but will also be cut to 30 weeks. This Morning will remain the same length and frequency. Meanwhile Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes, to run from 6am to 9.30am. For the 22 weeks of the year Lorraine is not airing, it will go on until 10am.

A source said: “It’s not a case of viewers seeing less of their shows… it’s impossible to see how the high standards will remain the same. Some staff believe Loose Women and Lorraine in particular will enter a death spiral… it’s just so sad. Just a handful of people will be working on each of those two programmes which has huge ramifications for how they are going forward.”

All the shows are now going to be made under one roof. An insider asked: “If that’s the case, will Loose Women really still have a live audience…will there be the capacity for that? Everyone doubts it, not least because of the manpower needed to oversee it. Also, there is a huge amount of background work which goes into securing guests… in the new climate how does that continue with barely any staff?”

ITV sources insist that they want “minimal change” for viewers. The source said: “It’s early days and we are currently consulting but we don’t want to alienate our viewers and it’s hoped there will be minimal change on screen. Daytime is hugely important to our viewers.”

The Loose Women panel, including Coleen Nolan, GK Barry and Frankie Bridge, are also expected to see shifts dwindle, especially those who live outside London and charge for travel and hotels. Glam squads are also expected to be axed with stars expected to use in-house make-up.

An insider said: “To be honest there is very little sympathy for stars having their glam squads cut among the rank and file staff, in fact there is a lot of anger that on the whole the channel’s biggest stars are all keeping their jobs – and their exorbitant salaries – while others suffer.”

They added: “It’s no secret that stars on This Morning such as Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley are on huge salaries. Many believe they should offer to take cuts, or at least when their contracts are next negotiated.”

On the whole, This Morning is unaffected by the sweeping cuts. It will remain in its 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays although questions remain over whether standards will be maintained.

The current Good Morning Britain team was particularly hard hit – of the 133 staff who currently make the early-bird magazine show, hosted by Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley and Ed Balls, just 38 will make the move to ITN which will now produce the show. The remaining 95 can apply for roles in the proposed new GMB structure.

One source on the show said: “Lots of the studio crew and technicians will be the hardest hit with ITN taking over their roles. A lot of them are unionised and there is a fear among ITV that industrial action could be an option.”

GMB will be re-homed within ITN’s Gray’s Inn Road headquarters in Central London. Staff working on all shows are expected to “carry on as normal” until the plans are formalised

A source said: “It’s a mutinous atmosphere to say the least and far removed from the happy, cheery image that ITV Daytime usually evokes.” The Mirror revealed this week staff on Lorraine were particularly worried their main host could quit.

Contrary to reports she was happy to see her hours cut “to spend more time with her family”, insiders say she is devastated for the team on the show being decimated. “They are a tight bunch on Lorraine and the agony is palpable,” said one.

Staff on Lorraine fear its much-loved host might choose to quit if the standard of the show falls due to sweeping ITV cuts – as the channel’s employees are left shell-shocked and in tears over the news

Staff on Lorraine fear its much-loved host could quit the show after it bore the brunt of massive ITV cuts.

The presenter has been left devastated by the scale of job losses set to hit the programme which is set to be slashed from an hour to 30minutes. It will also now only air for 30 weeks out of 52.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo has insisted that presenters will remain the same across all affected programmes.

But a source said: “There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines. It’s hard to see how standards won’t fall….and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that. Lorraine and her team are perfectionists – it’s why the show is loved by so many.”

The source said the move was a “kick in the teeth” especially given ITV was crowing this week about the show amassing its highest ratings for four years.

Staff fear BAFTA winner Lorraine may walk if the standard of the show falls (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)

A second insider added: “This is a presenter who has just come back from having an operation, has won a BAFTA, is enjoying record ratings….and then ITV show their appreciation by yanking her off air half the year. Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly. It doesn’t make any sense given the trajectory the show is on.”

Lorraine Kelly: Staff are worried about her future

Altogether, ITV is slashing 220 jobs, as it aims for cost savings of up to £50million.

Insiders reported “collective devastation” after being ordered to a meeting of all daytime staff yesterday to be told that almost half of the 450 jobs in ITV Daytime were being cut.

The overhaul will see the money saved being “reinvested” into other programming with a focus on drama, sport, entertainment and reality programming.

From January 2026, Loose Women will also adopt a “seasonal” schedule of 30 weeks a year, a loss of more than 10 weeks on the current schedule but a return to the pattern it held for more than a decade before 2016.

ITV’s news provider ITN is to take over production of Good Morning Britain from next year as part of the major revamp of the channel’s long-running daytime brands. GMB will be re-homed within ITN’s Gray’s Inn Road headquarters and be extended by half an hour for 30 weeks of the year (6am – 9.30am), and by an hour for the remaining 22 weeks when Lorraine is now off air (6am – 10am).

The changes aim to allow GMB to benefit from “the journalistic and production resources already in place for national news bulletins”. The extra hours each week will be filled with extra regional news, investigations and analysis of the biggest stories of the day.

Staff reacted with widespread dismay to the huge number of job cuts. The current Good Morning Britain team was particularly hard hit – of the 133 employees who currently make the early-bird magazine show, hosted by Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley and Ed Balls, just 38 will make the move to ITN.

Lorraine recently had an op (Image: Lorraine Kelly/Instagram)

An insider said: “The devastation among the staff is palpable after the announcement. To say it blindsided them would be an understatement.

“There had been whispers going round for some time over a merger between ITV News and Good Morning Britain, but no indication that the Daytime shows would be affected.

“We still don’t know how many people are going to lose their jobs, but rumours around 50% of the entire staff from GMB, Lorraine and This Morning will be affected which is staggering. “All of the shows are produced by teams of super dedicated professionals, everyone is completely devastated.”

In terms of scheduling, This Morning has emerged unscathed and will remain in its 10am -12.30pm slot on weekdays. Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women, all made by ITV Studios, will move collectively to new studios within central London.

Presenter Lorraine, who last year celebrated 40 years in broadcasting and was awarded a special Bafta to mark the milestone, will now present her shorter show for five days a week, rather than four. Her regular stand-ins, Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh, will provide holiday cover and will “remain as part of the ITV Daytime family”. Ranvir also hosts GMB while Christine does stints on Loose Women.

ITV media and entertainment managing director Kevin Lygo said that the aim was to save cash amid huge hikes in costs without losing any of the on-air talent. “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust, as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

ITV will undergo major changes to their Daytime offerings – including Good Morning Britain(Image: RAY BURMISTON)

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

In a statement, ITV said the money saved would help to fund dramas like Mr Bates vs The Post Office and coverage of the biggest sporting events like next year’s football World Cup, plus reality and entertainment shows.

Lygo said that the changes would future-proof the much-loved daytime brands for decades to come. “Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”

Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on GMB(Image: ITV)

The changes will form part of a renewed five-year deal between ITV and ITN national, international, London and digital news provision.

They come just a few months after a major overhaul of the channel’s soaps, which will each move to a five-nights a week scheduling model from January.

In February it was announced that both Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be reduced by an hour a week to create a soap “power hour” every weeknight – but also to save money. One year ago, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall announced 200 redundancies would be made from departments including commercial, technology and operations.

ITV’s budget for programme-making has been steady at around £1.3bn for a number of years.

Brooklyn Beckham has made it very obvious where his loyalties lie when it comes to his family with a shocking new Instagram post alongside wife Nicola Peltz

Brooklyn Beckham has finally made his feelings crystal clear amid his ongoing feud with his family in a cutting Instagram post.

Brooklyn, 26, who is David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son, has been notably absent from their lives for months now after reports of a feud between him and his parents, wife Nicola Peltz and his younger brother Romeo. Now tearaway Brooklyn has vowed he will “always choose” his wife Nicola Peltz after claims that she has been the catalyst behind the mass fall out.

Sharing a video to his Instagram Brooklyn is seen riding a red motorcycle with Nicola, 30, sat behind with her arms wrapped around him as they travel along the road. He puts his hand up to hold and caress her arm in the clip which he shared alongside a telling caption.

He wrote: “My whole world x I will love you forever x I always choose you baby x you’re the most amazing person i know xx me and you forever baby.” Brooklyn and Nicola live in Los Angeles while David and Victoria are based in the UK.

Brooklyn was seen riding a motorcycle with Nicola(Image: INSTAGRAM)

The pair skipped David’s 50th birthday celebrations both in Miami and London, with them remaining silent on social media for both David and Victoria’s birthdays in a huge snub to both parents. Brooklyn also chose to ignore his mum publicly on Mother’s Day and didn’t join his siblings in posting tributes online.

In an apparent ‘us agains the world’ show of solidarity, Nicola posted Brooklyn’s ‘I choose you’ video to her own page. The heiress wrote alongside it: “I’ve always got you baby,” followed by a burning love heart emoji. Fans immediately reacted angrily to the stunt, with many telling the pair to ‘grow up’ and calling for Brooklyn to contact his mother before it’s too late.

After Brooklyn’s defiant post caused shockwaves his youngest brother Cruz waded into the row with an emotional response. Cruz stuck up for their famous parents and said he and his siblings were ‘blessed’ to have them in their lives.

Taking to Instagram to share a family photo, that notably included Brooklyn, Cruz wrote: “I love my family, I love you guys more than anything, mum & dad you gave us life and cared for us no matter what, I cannot tell you how blessed we all are to have you in our lives x.”

Cruz Beckham insisted he and his siblings were ‘lucky’ to have David and Victoria as parents

The disagreement between the family members was thought to have been triggered by Romeo’s relationship with Brooklyn’s former love interest Kim Turnbull. Reports suggested that Brooklyn did not trust her motives in dating his younger sibling and that he had refused to attend any family gathering or event where she would be.

Now, allegations have surfaced that Brooklyn’s wife Nicola behaved poorly towards his former girlfriend – a situation insiders say ignited a long-standing tension between the brothers.

While some have pointed fingers at Romeo’s current partner Kim, 24 – who once briefly dated Brooklyn in 2016 – as the source of friction, those close to the situation claim the seeds of discord were actually sown much earlier. Sources say the family’s trouble dates back to preparations for Brooklyn and Nicola’s extravagant wedding in Florida in 2022.

Brooklyn snubbed both David and Victoria’s birthdays recently(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

During the lead-up, and even at the wedding itself, Nicola is said to have completely ignored Romeo’s then-girlfriend, Mia Regan – despite her and Romeo having been together for three years at that point.

Guests were reportedly left perplexed by the bride’s attitude, describing it as “absolutely baffling.” Adding to the awkwardness, Romeo served as one of Brooklyn’s best men alongside their younger brother Cruz, now 20.

“Brooklyn and Romeo have been fighting for a significant amount of time,” a source told the Daily Mail. “They do not get on. It has been so difficult for David and Victoria.”

The brothers, once extremely close and known for doting on their younger siblings Cruz and Harper, 13, have grown apart, the insider added. “Things have been terrible for a long time. It has upset their mum and dad so much. All they ever wanted was a big, happy family.”

If Princess Diana were alive she’d have dragged her warring sons together to resolve their differences, says the Edward White, the author of a new book exploring her enduring legacy – especially with Gen Z

The question of what is Princess Diana’s true legacy and which of her sons embodies it best divides William and Harry to this day, says an author(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Although it’s been 27 years since Princess Diana died, her grip on the public imagination grows stronger with every year that passes as Gen Z teens and twenty-somethings become the latest devotees to fall under her spell.

Many see her complicated, emotional personality living on in Prince Harry, who recently made headlines with a BBC interview in which he said, “I would love reconciliation with my family”. It certainly begs the question of how Diana would have responded to the enduring tensions between her sons.

“Doubtless, she’d have been horrified,” says author Edward White, who has explored her enduring appeal in his new book Dianaworld. “But her sons are arguing about what their mother’s true legacy is. Diana said that she was trying to raise a future king that would ensure the monarchy survived into the 21st century – and William is trying to do a Diana reboot of the monarchy, combining the best of his mother and his grandmother.“

But the other faction of Diana-ists could say that Harry is the real defender of her true legacy. “There’s something about Diana that encourages people to read whatever they want to read into her. The way people can look at Diana as embodying totally differing sides of an argument even applies to her sons,” he says.

Author Edward White says William and Harry don’t agree about their mother’s true legacy – is it William’s attempt at rebooting the monarchy or is Harry the true defender of what she stood for?(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

But Edward is confident that Diana would have got the brothers in the same room to thrash out their differences. And, though he considers Diana and Meghan to be “extremely different people”, he believes that Diana would have warmed to her daughter-in-law.

“Meghan has this preternatural force to advance herself, she’s got strategies and plans. With Diana, it was all improvised and haphazard. But I think if Diana felt that Meghan made her son happy, she’d have been well disposed towards her. And Meghan and the two children seem to have brought Harry much more happiness than being a member of the Royal Family did.”

It has been almost three decades since Diana’s untimely death left a gaping hole in the lives of her loved ones. But her legend endures online – and Edward says it’s not so surprising that Diana is a poster girl for fans who weren’t even born in her lifetime.

“The internet is drenched in Diana,” he says. “The way she would talk about her mental fragilities, her problems with eating disorders, the struggle she had after her children were born… She was a trailblazer, and the godmother of a younger generation who talk about their interior lives a lot.

“There’s something about Diana that encourages people to read whatever they want to read into her,” says Edward White, about the Princess of Wales, pictured here with William and Harry on Harry’s first day at Eton in 1995(Image: WireImage)

“And she would cry in public. Even before she got married, there were a couple of instances where she was crying in front of photographers. This was astonishing at the time. She also emerged at a point when there was lots of new technology, like VHS and VCR, so there are videos and documentaries about her.”

This footage all plays out online, where Diana is also a posthumous influencer and style icon. “She liked experimenting with the way she looked so there are loads of Instagram accounts set up to document her looks – ‘Diana’s revenge looks’, ‘Diana’s lesbian looks’, ‘Diana’s sporty looks’. There are loads of Instagram accounts because there are so many paparazzi photographs of Diana.”

But perhaps there’s a more fundamental reason for her enduring legend. “Her story is astonishing,” says Edward. “You couldn’t write a more extraordinary melodrama.”

Edward, who was 15 when Diana died, is by no means an obsessive fan. But, when lockdown struck, he felt that the national atmosphere echoed the mourning period that followed her death, and he began to research Dianaworld. How did the Diana who emerged from his deep dive differ from his initial perception of who she was?

Although she had style and glamour, Diana also made people laugh and had a sharp sense of humour(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

“She was probably funnier,” he says. “Almost everybody says she’s very smiley. The word giggly comes up all the time in books about Diana. But she made people laugh. She had quite a sharp sense of humour. That’s surprising because in public, she’s completely sincere about everything. But in private, she was able to laugh at herself. She had more irony and self awareness than sometimes we give her credit for.

“It’s difficult to meet anybody who met her and had a bad word to say about her. People just instantly liked her. She had amazingly good social skills, she seemed to be very, very likeable, and I think sincerely cared about people. So there’s a huge amount to like about her.”

He found her contradictions fascinating. “She’s got this incredible mixture of being bashful, and being unbelievably bold to the point of sheer recklessness. She seemed to think that if she wasn’t taking the most extreme course of action to remedy a problem, then she wasn’t actually taking any action at all.”

He gives an example of her legendary Panorama interview, where she secretly smuggled a TV crew into Kensington Palace and spoke with unprecedented candour about her personal life. “I think she came to regret that because it caused upset and aggravation and genuine hurt to people around her. Supposedly Prince William in particular was very upset by it.”

Dianaworld author Edward White says, “She was only 19 when she got engaged to Prince Charles and she wasn’t a worldly 19-year-old at all. So it came as a shock to her”(Image: Getty Images)

Diana’s instinctive impulse to speak her mind made her the Royal Family’s worst nightmare. “She was only 19 when she got engaged to Prince Charles and she wasn’t a worldly 19-year-old at all. So it came as a shock to her. To this day, the monarchy rests on twin principles of secrecy and deference. But her approach to being a royal paid no heed to secrecy or deference.

“Everything was on the surface with Diana. It was like it was impossible for her to not communicate what she was thinking or feeling, even when she was saying nothing. The newspaper coverage of her from the early Eighties has so much discussion about her facial expressions. Everybody was convinced they could tell what she was trying to tell them with the tilt of her head or those big expressive eyes.”

Poignantly, in the last year of her life, Diana was exploring what the rest of her life might look like, and how she could channel her extraordinary public profile. “There was a suggestion that she’d used Mohamed Al Fayed’s money to open an international chain of hospices. So I suppose she was inching towards something that Prince Harry tried to do with the Invictus Games – those globe-trotting, jet-setting, international philanthropy projects.”

It’s difficult, Edward says, to generalise about who Diana was. “She was a very complicated figure. She was quite a capricious person. And she changed a lot during the 15 years that she was in the Royal Family. “But she became aware of and valued her personal agency. By the end of her life, her guiding precept was that she was no longer a Spencer or a Windsor or a princess, really – she was Diana.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still very much estranged from their royal relatives and no longer speak to King Charles or Prince William. However, according to one royal expert, the Prince of Wales allegedly shielded his younger brother and sister in law from a ‘very public insult’

Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Image: Getty Images for W+P)

They may be leading a very different life in California from the one they sensationally quit as working royals in the UK. But one thing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have continued to use, despite no longer being part of the working monarchy, is their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.

The subject of the pair’s royal titles has created controversy in recent weeks, and there has been speculation about whether Prince William might decide to strip them from the couple once he becomes king. While the former working royals are no longer supposed to use their HRH titles for commercial reasons, Harry and Meghan still very much present themselves as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, titles which were gifted to them by Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day in 2018.

The couple were given their Sussex titles on their wedding day (Image: REUTERS)

There have been repeated calls from the anti-Sussex camp to strip them of the titles, but no indication that King Charles has any intention of doing so. Yet with William, 42, next in line to the throne, rumours have circulated that he might take a different stance, especially since he and Harry, 40, are no longer on speaking terms and, according to royal expert Jennie Bond, could be estranged forever.

But she warned that it might not be something we ever see happen, especially given the complexity of taking away titles. She told the Mirror: “Granted, there seems to be a public appetite for stripping them of their titles, but I think it’s unlikely that William would choose to do this. It would seem, and in fact would be, quite vindictive. There is also the question of whether a monarch can indeed do this.

“Some titles could be removed on the will of the Sovereign, but the universal view is that to strip someone of their Peerage demands an act of Parliament. Harry became Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron of Kilkeel when he married in 2018.

“And it would be a brave government to venture into that field when there are, in all honesty, so many more pressing issues. King Edward VIII remained a Duke for the rest of his life, even though he lived in exile.

Prince William on a trip to Leith earlier this week (Image: Getty Images)

“William may remain estranged from his brother forever, even though this would be a very sad state of affairs. But, if he does, I think he will continue to regard Harry simply as irrelevant to his life and to this country. And I don’t think he would trouble himself with taking away either of their titles.”

Harry and Meghan’s children – Archie, six, and Lilibet, who turns four next week – were not automatically prince and princess at birth because they were not the grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch at the time.

But they earned the right in September 2022, when Charles acceded to the throne, and they’re now officially Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, sixth and seventh in the line of succession.

The couple with their children Archie and Lilibet (Image: ARCHWELL)

Following a backlash from those questioning the decision, given the couple’s earlier move to distance themselves from the royal family, the Sussex camp released a statement which said: “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.”

Meghan also stirred up another title debate last month, when a podcast video revealed she had sent a gift basket with an accompanying card to a friend, which read: “With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.” Sources from the Sussex camp insisted it wasn’t a breach of the agreement, as they are still entitled to use HRH in private.

When they stepped back from royal duties in 2020, a statement from Buckingham Palace said: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family.”

Jennie suspects, given the evidence that Meghan still uses the HRH title, that the couple would be “hurt and angry” if William were to remove them completely. “For Harry and Meghan, it would, of course, be a very public insult,” she said.

“Curiously, even though they have turned their backs on rejoining the working royals, they seem very wedded to the idea that their children should use their royal titles. And Meghan is clearly not averse to using her HRH, even though she was expressly told not to.

“So I’m sure they would be hurt and angry if theirs were taken from them. It would, inevitably, reduce their standing, particularly, perhaps, in the eyes of the American public, who seem to adore royalty. But I simply do not think this is going to happen.”