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The Duke of York has decided not to join the rest of the royal family for a pre-Christmas celebration at Buckingham Palace this week after his connections to an alleged spy continue to make headlines

Prince Andrew has decided not to attend the royal family’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The beleaguered royal will no longer join some 70 royals for the festive celebration this week amid the ongoing furore over his relationship with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

Traditionally, each year the monarch invites extended family for a big festive meal at the Palace. And while the lunch itself is private, guests are photographed going in and out of the palace gates.

But Andrew has decided to stay away from the festivities this year in light of his latest scandal. According to the Daily Mail, it was Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who advised him to keep a low-profile and stay away from the Palace soiree.

Furthermore, the former couple have decided to remain at their home in Royal Lodge on Christmas Day, rather than travel to Sandringham with the rest of the family, to avoid further embarrassing the King.

Much has changed for Andrew and Sarah in the past 12 months. Last Christmas, along with their two daughters, they were invited to Sandringham for the festive celebrations and took part in the royal family’s traditional morning walk to church.

It was all the more poignant for Sarah given that it was the first time she had been invited since 1991. Many saw it as a return to the royal fold for the 65-year-old.

Despite the latest drama surrounding her ex-husband, Sarah remains incredibly loyal to Andrew. In a new interview with the Times , which took part “before recent revelations about Andrew” but published after the event, she gushed about her love for the Prince.

“I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today. I won’t let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He’s supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce. We agree on the three Cs — communication, compromise, compassion.”

Andrew and Fergie split in 1992, and divorced in 1996, but they still live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The furore over Andrew’s links with the Chinese businessman is the latest controversy to engulf him and put him back on the front pages of newspapers.

The Prince was forced to step back from public duties following his bombshell interview with the BBC about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , which aired in November 2019, just over five years ago.

His mother, the late Queen, then stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages in January 2022. And more recently, King Charles reportedly cut Prince Andrew’s allowance off this past summer while encouraging him to move out of Royal Lodge into a smaller residence.

John Torode’s wife has revealed her thoughts on MasterChef’s new presenter after Gregg Wallace’s stepped away from the long-running BBC series following allegations over his behaviour

John Torode’s wife, Lisa Faulkner, has spoken after Gregg Wallace’s MasterChef replacement was announced.

It was revealed Grace Dent will take over on the hit cooking show and John, who has presented MasterChef since 2005, said: “I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges.

“Expertise is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our wonderful production team, to us as judges. The love of food, the love of MasterChef, and that unquestionable expertise, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”

Sharing her congratulations with Grace after hearing the news that she will be taking over from Wallace, Lisa wrote: “Go Grace!!!!!!!”.

Lisa has shared her congratulations with Grace ( 
Image:
lisafaulknercooks/Instagram)

Grace is a well respected food and restaurant critic ( 
Image:
Instagram/@gracedent)

Grace, 51, had appeared on MasterChef regularly as a guest judge. She will now be a judge on the upcoming series of Celebrity MasterChef after Wallace stepped away from his BBC role amid an investigation into historical allegations of misconduct. Wallace has denied all allegations made against him and is said to be willing to co-operate with any investigation.

She also previously took part in a version of MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics. Following the new role announcement, she said: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa.

“My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent – and to have ended up in this position, is more than a dream to me. I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.”

Wallace’s exit comes after a number of women came forward to make claims about his actions. Among them were Newsnight star Kirsty Wark. As a result of the allegations, Banijay UK, the show’s production company, confirmed it would be launching an external review looking at historical allegations of misconduct.

Grace will be taking over from Gregg Wallace ( 
Image:
BBC)
Wallace’s lawyers have previously denied the accusations. Speaking to the BBC, they said: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”

Following the allegations, John had previously said: “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear.” He also revealed that he “fully supports” the investigation and said he “cannot make any further comment at this stage”.

At the cozy Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, Princess Kate shared some lovely things about her daughter while chatting with the ballet artists. Amidst the festive atmosphere, the Princess of Wales met with famous guests and ballet dancers attending the event. During the conversation, she revealed Princess Charlotte’s intimate nickname is “Char”, a little girl who is “passionate about ballet”.

Princess Charlotte has another nickname besides “Char.” In a rare family video taken at the 2019 Royal Chelsea Flower Show, Prince William called his daughter “Mignonette” while she was playing on a swing. “Mignonette” means “small, pretty and cute” in French, which fits Charlotte’s image very well.

In addition to revealing her nickname, Princess Kate also shared an interesting story about how Prince Louis, 6, kept a ballet-related surprise from his sister Charlotte, 9. She asked Louis to keep it a secret to surprise Charlotte, who loves ballet. Louis agreed and kept it a secret for nearly two weeks. Singer Paloma Faith, who performed at the event, commented that this was “very difficult for a 6-year-old.” Princess Kate recalled that that morning, Louis begged to tell Charlotte because he was “about to burst.”

Princess Charlotte is known to take private ballet lessons every week at a dance school in South London. Charlotte’s passion for ballet was evident as the dancers performed right in front of her at the event. This shows that Louis has kept his promise to his mother. The recent event marks an important milestone for Princess Kate after a difficult year of treatment for cancer, which she was diagnosed with in March.

Meghan Markle is currently in the final stages of her pregnancy. She is enjoying the happy moments of being a mother for the second time. Recently, she has been extremely private and let her husband appear more in public.

Prince Harry not only has a job and a stable income, he also caused a lot of controversy when he made negative statements about the royal family. His criticism of Prince Charles and the Queen’s parenting style has angered many people. An American journalist has hoped that the United States will soon send this Prince back to his homeland. Another journalist has even started a petition to ask for signatures to strip Harry and Meghan Markle of their royal titles. Currently, the number of signatures has reached more than 40 thousand.

Meghan Markle is determined to keep her title for her own benefit.

Faced with the hatred and boycott of her husband, the public is also interested in Meghan Markle’s attitude. Specifically, on June 1, the Daily Star reported that a close friend of Meghan spoke up on her behalf to respond to this incident. Accordingly, Meghan Markle decided to try her best to keep her title. Needless to say, everyone knows that even though they separated from the royal family, they still kept their title, so they benefited a lot.

During their time as Dukes and Duchesses, they have published books, appeared in large-scale events and campaigns without doing anything for the British royal family. This is what makes royal fans feel offended.

So they decided to make things clear and boycott the couple. Currently, Buckingham Palace has not commented on stripping Harry of his royal title. However, according to many experts, the Queen is in a “stuck” position.

If she decides to strip them, she will be accused of “taking revenge” on her grandchildren, and if she does not strip them of their royal titles, she will be criticized by the people as a weak Queen.

Attending Samantha Stone’s (Director of Soho House) baby shower recently, Meghan Markle became the center of attention with her elegant pastel pink Barbie-style dress. The Duchess of Sussex looked charming in Posse’s “Alice” linen dress, with a square neckline and straight fit. Meghan’s choice of pale pink, which is quite rare in her wardrobe, has made fashionistas curious about the hidden meaning behind it.

Image consultant Marina Thomas (of Mantis) told HELLO!: “Wearing pastel pink makes people feel caring, warm and supportive. These are the traits that Meghan wanted to show the world as a royal.” Indeed, Meghan has worn pastel pink on a number of occasions during her time as a royal. A notable example was her asymmetrical peach Carolina Herrera outfit at Trooping the Colour in 2018, and when she attended the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace that same year.

However, since moving to Montecito (USA) in 2020, Meghan seems to have limited the use of this color. Fashion expert Oriona Robb said that although it suits Meghan very well, pastel pink “does not bring the strong and bold energy of the gemstone tones that she often favors” . Meghan often chooses colors such as navy blue, emerald green or burgundy red, colors that show solemnity and power, suitable for the image of someone who often speaks out for social issues. Pastel pink, while lovely, may not be suitable for the message Meghan wants to convey, especially in formal or professional events.

In the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan , the Duchess shared how she deliberately chose neutral outfits during her time working with the British Royal Family because she was afraid of being seen as overshadowing other female members. According to expert Marina Thomas, “pastel pink represents nurturing, compassion, love and self-care. However, it can also represent fragility and weakness .” Studies have shown that pink has a calming effect, reduces energy and reduces aggression.

Pastel pink is soft but somehow reflects Meghan’s true self. Oriona Robb commented that: “Pastel pink can evoke femininity and gentleness, which is associated with her public image of empathy and warmth .” Although Meghan now favors brighter colors, her recent appearance in a pastel pink dress proves that this color can still be a useful choice in the wardrobe.

” People with warm undertones will look good in ballet pink or peach, while those with cool undertones will look good in ice pink or dusty pink. Pastel pink is a great option if you’re not sure what your color is, as it will suit everyone,” concludes expert Marina Thomas.

On June 11, Princess Kate became the focus of British media attention when she took on an important role at the meeting between senior royals and G7 leaders. Princess Kate was radiant and worked well with US First Lady Jill Biden when they visited a school and had a discussion related to education. These images show that Kate scored points with her confident demeanor and bright smile.

After completing the formalities to welcome the First Lady of the United States, she changed into an elegant white Alexander McQueen outfit worth around £3,000 (nearly 100 million VND). Kate attended a community event with the Queen and her mother-in-law Camilla. In the evening of the same day, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen and Prince Charles and his wife moved to the Eden Project to meet the G7 leaders and their wives attending the reception.

Princess Kate’s constant appearances have led many to comment that she is increasingly gaining a voice in the British royal family. Some experts even commented that Kate will be jealous of Meghan Markle because she is so prominent.

Daniela Elser, a royal reporter for News AU, said she stood by Princess Kate and claimed Meghan was trying to “put down” her sister-in-law out of jealousy after Kate’s excellent performance last weekend.

Kate Middleton got what Meghan had always wanted after she had a private meeting with US First Lady Jill Biden on June 11. Princess Kate coordinated well with Jill Biden from outfit to action.

Princess Kate made a very special appearance with the First Lady of the US President.

She was very elegant with her grandmother and mother-in-law.

2024 is a challenging year for the British Royal Family, with major health events for King Charles and Princess Kate.

However, 2024 also marked more positive moments as the year progressed. There were high-profile visits to Nigeria and Colombia by Prince Harry and Meghan, and more appearances by some members of the family, such as Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

Here are some memorable images of the British Royal Family – one of the most followed royal families in the world – in 2024:

Front pages of a series of British newspapers reported on the health of King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales in January 2024.

In just a few weeks of the year, it was revealed that King Charles and Princess Kate were both facing serious health issues that required hospital stays. Statements from the Palace did not specify the exact diagnosis of either, which led to much speculation, but it was confirmed that both prominent British royals would be out of action for several months.

February

Prince William attends the London Air Ambulance Charity Dinner on 7 February.

Prince William – faced with his father’s cancer and his wife recovering from an unspecified abdominal operation – was asked to take on some of the responsibilities of the King. He found himself thrust into a larger role. Queen Camilla and Princess Anne also took on more duties.

March

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits John Martinez, the nephew of Irma Garcia, a teacher killed in 2022 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas (USA).

Across the Atlantic, Prince Harry and Meghan visited Uvalde, Texas, to spend time with the family of a teacher killed in a school shooting there in May 2022. The couple has been in touch with the victim’s family since the massacre. Within days of the tragedy, Meghan traveled to Uvalde to pay her respects after two teachers and 19 children were murdered by a gunman.

April

King Charles III holds flowers as he leaves the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital in London on April 30.

In April, King Charles looked cheerful as he made his first public appearance since announcing his cancer diagnosis in early February. The king took the opportunity to visit a cancer treatment centre in London run by the UK charity Macmillan Cancer Support, of which he has been a patron for nearly three decades.

May

Queen Camilla, artist Jonathan Yeo, fifth from left, and family watch as King Charles unveils his portrait in the drawing room of Buckingham Palace on May 14.

The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation was unveiled, and caused controversy due to its striking red hue. Soon after its unveiling, the painting became the target of attacks by radical environmentalists.

Taylor Swift shared a photo with Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Travis Kelce at her concert in London on June 21.

Prince William celebrated his 42nd birthday in style as he attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium in London. He was spotted dancing in the crowd and even posed for a photo backstage with the singer, along with his two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Taylor Swift later posted on her official X account: “Happy Birthday M8!”.

Newly revealed images of the Sussexes’ first son are said to look quite similar to Meghan when she was 6 months old.

Meghan at 6 months old (left) and Archie at 2 years old (right). Photo:  Twitter/Apple TV.

On May 25, a photo of the Duchess of Sussex when she was just 6 months old being held by her half-sister Samantha Markle was shared by royal fan Julieth on Twitter. Next to this photo was an image of baby Archie sitting on a swing featured in Prince Harry’s new Apple TV mental health drama –  The Me You Can’t See .

In the photo, Archie (2 years old) seems to be very happy as he is pushed back and forth on a swing in the garden of the mansion worth nearly 15 million USD in Montecito, California. Both Archie now and Meghan when young have curly brown hair, sparkling black eyes and chubby cheeks. This resemblance has led fans to call the Sussexes’ first son a mini version of his mother Meghan.

“Archie looks so much like Meghan,” Julieth wrote on Twitter. Her comment quickly received approval from internet users. Many Sussex fans said the boy looked more like his mother than his father, especially his smile.

One user wrote: “I think his features are changing, gradually shifting from his father to his mother. Can’t wait to see who Archie’s face will resemble more in the future.” Another user commented: “He looks like both his father and mother.” A third person praised: “Just like Meghan, so handsome!”

Archie and Meghan play on the beach in the US. Photo:  Apple TV.

The comparisons come after Harry shared a new video of his son in a documentary series he co-produced with media mogul Oprah Winfrey. In the film, Harry only shows his son in the frame for a few seconds so that his face is not shown.

The 36-year-old prince said his motivation for moving from the UK to the US was for his wife and children. The Duke of Sussex has been highly critical of the way the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles raised their children. His grandparents and father were the ones who led him into a cycle of misery and Harry was determined not to let his children suffer the same.

Harry also admitted that he had mental health problems and had sought treatment. However, it seems that the Duke of Sussex has no intention of examining whether the problem originated from himself or not, but only focuses on blaming the royal family for the series of tragedies in both his life and his mother, the late Princess Diana.

It is a long-standing tradition of the British Royal Family to walk from Sandringham House to St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day for morning service, greeting well-wishers along the way. In 2011, the same year that Princess Kate married Prince William in a fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey, she had her first royal Christmas walk.

This moment marked an important milestone for newlyweds Kate and William, as they celebrated their first Christmas as husband and wife. The streets of Sandringham were filled with people waiting to catch a glimpse of the Princess. Even though it has been more than a decade, Princess Kate’s style has not changed much, exuding her signature elegance.

For her first royal Christmas Day appearance, Kate opted for a burgundy coat paired with black tights and heels. She teamed it with a Jane Corbett millinery dark red velvet hat and a matching clutch bag to complete the festive look. Kate wore her wavy brown hair in a half-up bun. Her makeup was darker than usual, with thick eyeliner and black eyeliner, similar to her wedding day makeup. The princess completed her radiant look with blush and lip gloss.

Prince William is said to have given his wife a pair of green quartz earrings from Kiki McDonough on their first Christmas as husband and wife. Princess Kate wore the earrings during the annual royal walk to church on Christmas Day. Green quartz earrings are a romantic choice for the Prince of Wales, as the stone symbolizes inner vision, strength, and self-love. Green quartz, also known as prasiolite, is said to connect the wearer to the earth element and their heart.

King Charles is said to be extending a generous olive branch to his scandal-plagued sibling.

Charlotte Griffiths, the Mail on Sunday’s editor-at-large, claimed that the monarch is the secret source who paid Prince Andrew’s rent, allowing the disgraced Duke of York to stay at his palatial Royal Lodge home.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of “My Mother and I,” agrees with Griffiths’ scoop. Buckingham Palace didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

According to reports, King Charles is the secret source who paid Prince Andrew’s rent, allowing the disgraced Duke of York to stay at his palatial Royal Lodge home. (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)

“There’s absolutely no doubt that Charles is the one who is providing the money for Andrew because the [late] queen wouldn’t have left Andrew bereft,” Seward explained to Fox News Digital.

“She would’ve made a provision for him, and maybe that provision came through his elder brother as monarch,” she shared. “When the king dies or the queen dies, the money goes to the next monarch. Everything goes to the next monarch. So, she either would have made provisions for Andrew before she died, or she would’ve made provisions through Charles.”

“I believe that Charles is helping him,” Seward continued. “I don’t see who else would. I’m sure [Andrew’s ex-wife] Fergie would help him. I know Fergie does very well with her books, but I [can’t] imagine she would make enough to run Royal Lodge on her own.”

WATCH: QUEEN ELIZABETH ‘REMAINED INCREDIBLY CLOSE’ TO PRINCE ANDREW ‘RIGHT UP UNTIL HER DEATH,’ ROYAL AUTHOR CLAIMS

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“… I certainly think that the only person who could really be doing this is either monies from the queen or monies from the king,” she said.

Griffiths claimed that, according to “multiple sources,” the king “has personally cleared his errant brother’s bills for his upkeep and promised his Royal Lodge woes would be taken care of, enabling him to stay there for the foreseeable future.”

The editor also claimed that someone at a “glamorous — and usually ultra-discreet — dinner table” told her that “Charles has paid for it all.”

King Charles III arrives for a reception at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 6, 2024, in London. (Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“The King has cleared it. It’s all done,” the source claimed.

The palace insider, “who’s been a guest at Royal Lodge in years gone by,” claimed that not only did Charles handle the finances, but none of the funds came from taxpayer money.

The Sunday Times previously reported that Andrew, 64, raised enough money to live in Royal Lodge. The estate is worth a reported $38 million. According to the outlet, the prince’s funds were approved by the Keeper of the Privy Purse as coming from “legitimate sources.”