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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.

The Prince and Princess of Wales donned aprons at the Welsh Cake Shop in Pontypridd Market today and got the chance to bake some of the treats – with William crediting a TV cook with this cooking skills

Prince William joked how he had been taking secret tips from baking queen Mary Berry as he cooked Welsh Cakes with Kate.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were given cheers as they arrived in Pontypridd Market before donning aprons at the aptly named Welsh Cake Shop. The royal couple were in Wales today to speak to locals about how they are coping after devastating floods wrecked the area last December

William and Kate joined forces for a royal walkabout in the town and then took the chance to bake the treats before handing out their successful efforts to market traders and customers. Madison Conner, 19, said: “They were perfect, they were great, they were banging.”

William and Kate make Welsh Cakes in Pontypridd today ( 
Image:
AP)
The royals also first chatted to butcher Kevin Kidner, 61, of KMG Poultry, before posing for selfies and talking flowers from children and customers waiting to greet the couple. Arriving at The Welsh Cake Shop, Wills asked: “How dirty can you be? Flour everywhere?”

They were each given a mixture and handed a rolling pin and a demonstration by owner Theresa Conner. Once the mixture was flat they each cut 12 circles and placed them in a pile. Kate looked impressed at William’s efforts and said: “Those are so good. How did you do that?”

William joked: “Well I don’t know, my stunning bakery skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.”

William credited Mary Berry for his baking skills ( 
Image:
Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
The cakes were cooked for five minutes on each side and Kate and William went to Fountain Cafe to speak to local business owners who had been devastated by Storm Darragh. The prince then carried the entire tray to hand out to well-wishers including Kerry Williams, 64, who was wearing an Aston Villa shirt. William was heard saying: “Welsh Cakes made by us.” The whole tray was snapped up by locals.

Theresa Conner, 46, owner of The Welsh Cake Shop, said afterwards: “They were very good. I asked and they said they had never made Welsh Cakes before

They were surprisingly very good and both good bakers. I gave them a quick demonstration and they took to it like ducks to water. I should have taken the opportunity to get them in for St David’s Day. I can do with all the help I can get.

All the Welsh Cakes were taken away by the royals or handed out to people in the market. Theresa added: “Maybe we could have framed one.” She said: “It’s a real privilege they came to visit us. It’s massive.” Palace staff bought ninety Welsh Cakes to take away for lunch. The shop sells ten for £4.

Kate greets the crowds in Pontypridd ( 
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Ian Vogler / Daily MirrorIt was the couple’s first major ‘away day’ of the year for Kate’s “gradual” return to duty which will see her up and down the country – an their first joint trip to Wales since October 2023.

Outside they were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers who downed out the noise of a very small protest including one who shouted ‘Free Gaza’. Apphia Stokes, 9, and younger sister Freya, 4, handed Kate some daffodils. Their grandmother Lynn Sebury, 64, said: “They were lovely. We asked for a photo and they said yes. They got a good Welsh welcome.”

Queen Camilla hosted the finals of the BBC 500 Words competition at Buckingham Palace today and was introduced to BBC Gladiators star Nitro, who wore his famous costume, as well as Gladiator colleague Fire

Queen Camilla didn’t know where to look as she was introduced to muscle bound Nitro from Gladiators.

The Queen was hosting the finals of the BBC 500 Words competition today for young writers when she was introduced to the scantily-clad star – real name Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – in a formal lineup. “This is Harry, but you night know him as Gladiator Nitro,” she was told, leaving the Queen giggling. “It’s so lovely to meet you,” he said, with a small bow.

“The children were so thrilled to be escorted off by a Gladiator,” said Camilla, who seemed to have a rudimentary knowledge of the popular BBC programme, referring to how the competition’s winners were walked back to their seats by himself and colleague, Fire.

Nitro bows for Queen Camilla ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“We seem to have such a rapport with these young children, which is amazing,” he said. “They will probably remember that more than they will winning a medal,” quipped the Queen. “Well thank you very much indeed.”

She also spoke to his colleague and told her: “How are you managing to keep it going. You must be black and blue.” Fire replied: “We try to work as a team. Today was just about the children. It’s such an honour to be here.” Nitro revealed afterwards that it was actually the second time he had been invited to Buckingham Palace.

Camilla is introduced to female Gladiator Fire ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The first was when he was a competitive sprinter and he was asked to meet the late Queen Elizabeth after he became a British sprinting Olympian and member of Team GB at the European and World Championships. He said: “I met the late Queen as Harry here in this room. I was invited here in 2010-ish to highlight my achievements on behalf of the ethnic minorities.”

He joked that he was slightly differently dressed then and “had a few more clothes on”.

“I was dressed well,” he said, laughing. “To be fair I did come [this time] dressed correctly and once I got here they told me [to put on his shorts and singlet]. I thought gosh, surely I must be the least dressed man in this room. I’ve added to the history.” He said the Queen didn’t “even blink” when she saw him.

“She wasn’t surprised. I guess it’s 2025 and we are welcoming all sorts into the house!”

Camilla’s encounter with Nitro and Fire came after she had earlier joined King Charles to help pack food donation boxes at an Indian restaurant ahead of Ramadan. The couple met a group of Muslim women at Darjeeling Express, a restaurant in Kingly Court in Soho, central London, on Wednesday, including professional rugby player Zainab Alema and author Hajera Memon.

The King and Queen also helped pack dates in small bags to be sent to hospitals during Ramadan. Ramadan is set to begin on Friday evening and will go on until March 30.

Meghan Markle marked the countdown to her new cookery show With Love, Meghan hitting Netflix next week by sharing a behind-the-scenes look at filming for the eagerly-anticipated show

Meghan Markle has shared a brand new teaser for her Netflix show that features her dancing barefoot and shows a glimpse of husband Prince Harry.

It is less than a week before Meghan’s new lifestyle show With Love, Meghan hits the streaming platform – and to ramp up publicity ahead of the launch, she took to Instagram to post a video showing a behind-the-scenes look at filming for the show.

Set to music, the trailer shows Meghan with her late dog Guy, whose death was announced earlier this year, as well as looking over notes with a producer. In one awkward moment, she can be seen dancing and singing without any shoes on as well as donning beekeeping equipment, something the Princess of Wales has been seen in, and putting a dish in the oven.

Meghan in a teaser for her new Netflix show ( 
Image:
@Meghan/Instagram)
The clip ends with a brief glimpse of Harry, who is seen walking with his wife as they leave filming. Accompanying the clip on Instagram, Meghan wrote: “Six more days until our show launches on @netflix! Celebrating the crew and everyone who helped make this happen! The countdown begins.”

With Love, Meghan is due to drop on Netflix on Tuesday after being postponed several weeks following the devastating wildfires that had engulfed California at the beginning of the year. It also comes after last week, when it was revealed that the Duchess of Sussex had renamed her lifestyle brand “As Ever”.

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

Harry makes a fleeting appearance in the clip
The logo features a palm tree, which is understood to be a nod to Prince Harry and Meghan’s home in California, as well as two hummingbirds, which are thought to be a favourite of the Duke of Sussex.

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

And not just that – a small New York-based clothing firm called As Ever NYC waded into the row, breaking its silence on the name – which one fan joked was “royally scandalous”.

Meghan dons beekeeping gear in the trailerWith Love, Meghan, meanwhile, will run for eight episodes on Netflix. The series was supposed to begin on January 15 but Meghan, who lives with Harry in Montecito, California, felt it would have been insensitive to screen it days after the LA wildfires broke out. She said last month: “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state.”

Mum-of-two Meghan “shares personal tips and tricks” in the programme, which is said to “barely mention” Prince Harry. His own Netflix show, which was called POLO, was panned in December.

A brand new book by Tom Quinn claims to lift the lid on what a whole host of royals, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are like behind closed doors – as told by those who work for them

A brand new royal book has hit shelves that claims to expose what the Firm is really like behind closed doors – as told by those who work at the palace.

Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn recounts the memories of staff working inside the royal bubble – and claims to lift the lid on a whole host of royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they sensationally quit royal life.

From Meghan’s apparent difficulty understanding how the palace machine worked to Queen Camilla’s alleged moans about protocol, The Mirror takes a look at some of the book’s biggest claims…

Meghan’s hug ‘outrage’

When it comes to Meghan trying to navigate life in the Royal Family, the book examines the hurdles she faced. And it claims that her “warm, friendly hug-everyone approach” caused tension to develop between William and Harry, with problems arising “fairly early on”.

The book contains claims about Meghan’s love of hugging ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Quinn claims Kate, William and Charles “tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug”, as they weren’t used to so much affection between royals. He says California native Meghan was “understandably hurt”. He also says that Meghan also left courtiers ‘outraged’ with her affection. He added: “The courtiers were almost as outraged when Meghan tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry. He flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye, as one staffer put it.

‘Goody two-shoes’

In another part of the book, Meghan’s approach to royal life is compared to that of her sister-in-law, Kate. Quinn quotes a palace insider as saying that Kate “doesn’t jump in straight away” and that she “bides her time” as she is “very intelligent and intuitive”.

Meghan with sister-in-law Kate
But another former Kensington Palace staffer claims that Meghan thought Kate was “just too eager to please, too much a goody-two-shoes girl.” They added that many at the palace did like Meghan’s feisty nature while others felt her making changes was “not an acceptable role for a complete outsider”.

Wild perception

The new book also says that Meghan’s American upbringing sheltered her from the realities of British royal life. Quinn writes that when Meghan discovered that Harry was only worth about £20million, she “quickly realised” that she needed to “reassess other assumptions she’d made about this strange new family”.

As one royal staff member put it, “She expected a billionaire and she got a millionaire.” A member of her former team is also quoted as saying that the actress “really disliked the hierarchy”. Giving an example of senior royals getting jealous of each other’s materialistic goods, the ex-staff member said: “Meghan thought they behaved like babies.”

Camilla’s request

As another newcomer when she married into the Royal Family almost 20 years ago, the book claims that Queen Camilla also found adapting to royal life tough. And ahead of her wedding to King Charles in April 2005, Quinn claims that Camilla asked her soon-to-be-husband: “Can’t we get away from all this protocol? “It’s all bo****ks.” Charles, who is said to hate swearing, allegedly replied: “You’re doing it [becoming queen] for me, darling.”

Queen Camilla with husband King Charles ( 
Image:
PA

Meghan’s nickname

The royals are known for their love of nicknames, and one that Meghan allegedly earned is detailed in the book. According to Quinn, “her nickname for a while was the Duchess of Difficult, but she had other, friendlier nicknames, including Mystic Meg, while came about because she was so new agey, so woke, about so many things”.

It was previously revealed that Charles had his own nickname for Meghan during her time as a working royal, with the King recognising her resilience. He affectionately called her Tungten, due to her being ‘tough and unbending’, it was claimed. Tungsten refers to a metal in the periodic table, which is known for its high melting point and core strength.

Part-time Diana

Meanwhile, members of staff for Meghan and Harry reportedly revealed to the author that Princess Diana was a big inspiration for Meghan when she entered royal life and that Meghan said she wanted to “finish” what her late mother-in-law “started”. They also noted that the Duchess of Sussex really would have preferred to undertake their royal duties only on a part-time basis – something that both Harry and Meghan have said themselves.

“Meghan once said, ‘What Diana started I want to finish,’ and we took that to mean she wanted to become a sort of globetrotting champion of the poor and the marginalised,” the insider claimed

Meanwhile, life was completely different for William and Kate growing up. While Kate experienced all of the normalities of an ordinary family, William grew up in the spotlight and his family dynamic was broken following his parents’ split and his mother’s tragic death. Quinn writes about William’s “needier side” in the book and reveals a heartbreaking admission a former maid allegedly made about his childhood.

The staffer claimed Kate had to explain many of the things parents do outside of the Royal Family and even showed William how to “give the children a piggyback”. They said: “William said very quietly, ‘My father never gave me a piggyback’.”

Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn is published today.

Meghan Markle has released a teaser for her new Netflix show that shows her taking part in an activity known to be a love of her sister-in-law the Princess of Wales – hours after Kate revealed she also shares another similarity with the Duchess of Sussex

Meghan Markle may not have always seen eye-to-eye with her sister-in-law the Princess of Wales.

But the Duchess of Sussex may have more in common with Kate than first thought if a video posted on her new Instagram account is anything to go by. It is less than a week before Meghan’s new lifestyle show With Love, Meghan hits Netflix – and to ramp up publicity ahead of the launch, she took to Instagram to post a video showing a behind-the-scenes look at filming for the show.

And once again, it shows Meghan donning beekeeping gear – similar to an earlier teaser video for the series that was shared several weeks ago. Kate too is known to be a fan of beekeeping and also once posted on her official social media accounts a photo of her in protective clothing tending to a beehive. It came in May 2023 as the princess marked World Bee Day.

Meghan dons beekeeping gear in the trailer
It is believed that Kate and Prince William keep bees at their Anmer Hall property on the Sandringham estate. Beekeeping is a hobby that Kate reportedly shares with her younger brother James. The new clip of Meghan in the beekeeping gear comes just hours after Kate also revealed she has a jam recipe and promised to send it to volunteers – just days after Meghan revealed she would be selling jam as part of her new As Ever business venture.

During a trip to Wales yesterday, 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.”

The revelation that Kate, 43, has been making her own jam follows Meghan Markle’s foray into the preserve market, sending pots of homemade 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’.

Kate attends to a hive in the gardens at Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk ( 
Image:
AP)

Meghan Markle has announced her lifestyle brand is now called As Ever ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The show With Love, Meghan is due to drop on Netflix on Tuesday after being postponed several weeks following the devastating wildfires that engulfed California at the beginning of the year. It also comes after last week, when it was revealed that the Duchess of Sussex had renamed her lifestyle brand “As Ever”.

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

The logo features a palm tree, which is understood to be a nod to Prince Harry and Meghan’s home in California, as well as two hummingbirds, which are thought to be a favourite of the Duke of Sussex.

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

With Love, Meghan, meanwhile, will run for eight episodes on Netflix. The series was supposed to begin on January 15 but Meghan, who lives with Harry in Montecito, California, felt it would have been insensitive to screen it days after the LA wildfires broke out. She said last month: “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state.”

Mum-of-two Meghan “shares personal tips and tricks” in the programme, which is said to “barely mention” Prince Harry. His own Netflix show, which was called POLO, was panned in December.

The Prince and Princess of Wales enjoyed a day out in Wales ahead of St David’s Day – and the pair were caught in a rare PDA as they headed home after a busy day in Pontypridd

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been caught in a rare public display of affection after a busy day of engagements.

The couple headed to Wales ahead of St David’s Day to visit Pontypridd, where they dropped by the town’s market, had a go at making Welsh Cakes and also met volunteers at a community garden. After a long day of duties, the couple then went to catch their train back home. And in a rare moment, the couple were caught holding hands and chatting to each other as they made their way through the railway station to their platform

William and Kate rush to get the train home after a day out in Wales

The couple were caught holding hands

Kate can be seen in the heartwarming clip posted to their official social media accounts holding her Mulberry tote bag as she clutches her husband’s hand as they make their way up to the platform. And fans were delighted with the loved-up display and rushed to comment on the PDA.

One wrote on X: “Oh my heart” while another said: “I love how they are holding hands, still looking after each other.” And one fan said: “So lovely to see you holding hands, supporting each other. Bless you both.”

It comes after the couple went head to head in a Welsh cake-making challenge earlier in the day. William and Kate took off their coats, put on aprons and picked up large rolling pins as they tackled the task, to keep up with orders at a market trader in Pontypridd, South Wales – and the future king thanked Mary Berry for his baking success.

William and Kate make Welsh Cakes in Pontypridd ( 
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APThe prince and princess rolled out the dough, made ahead of time, as William asked shop owner Theresa Conner, who had shown the couple the process: “Is it thick enough?” William and Kate’s skills were honed when they appeared with TV baking queen Mary Berry on A Berry Royal Christmas show, and William praised her influence.

With flour stuck to the sleeve of his maroon sweater, William smiled and said: “Well I don’t know, my stunning baker skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.”

The couple cooked their cakes on a hot plate, keeping a watchful eye on them and turning them after five minutes, and Madison Conner, daughter of the shop owner, gave them the seal of approval. She said: “They’re perfect, they’re great – they’re bangin’.”

Ms Conner praised the couple’s efforts with the rolling pin, saying: “They were very good at baking. I asked them if they had made Welsh cakes and they said they had never actually made them before.

The couple tours the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland in Pontypridd ( 
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POOL/AFP via Getty Images)“They were surprisingly good, they both were, you could tell they were good bakers. For us ahead of St David’s Day, it’s a real privilege to meet them and have them visit us.”

Some of their cakes were served up when the prince and princess sat down in the neighbouring Fountain Cafe and chatted over a mug of tea with market traders and other businesses about Storm Bert, which struck in late November bringing widespread flooding to Pontypridd when the River Taff burst its banks.

In an unprecedented move, King Charles invited Trump to attend ‘a historic second state visit to the UK’ so the two can work together and enhance their ‘special relationship’

Donald Trump was handed an unprecedented invite from King Charles for what the PM said was a “really special” second state visit.

Sir Keir Starmer revealed the heartwarming letter to the US President during a press conference in the White House’s Oval Office as the pair were snapped by reporters. A second state visit would make Trump the first elected president in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch.

As he handed him the letter, Starmer said: “This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented. It is my pleasure to bring from His Majesty the King, a letter. He sends his best wishes and his regards, of course, but he also asked me to bear this letter and bring it to you. So can I present a letter from the King.” Mr Trump accepted the invitation immediately.

The King said a second meeting with Trump would further enhance their ‘special relationship’ ( 
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AP)
The full contents of the King’s letter read: “Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom.

“As you will know this is unprecedented by a US President. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content. In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud.” The note was signed “Yours Most Sincerely, Charles” at the bottom.

‘This has never happened before’ Starmer said as he handed Trump the letter ( 
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Getty Images)
Keir Starmer presented Trump with the invite whilst on his first visit to Washington since the US President returned to the White House. His trip comes shortly after he announced an increase in UK defence spending, ostensibly as a signal to Trump that the UK is prepared to bolster Europe’s security, and as he aims to broker a fair peace deal for Ukraine amid Trump’s warming relations with Russia.

Trump said at the White House earlier today: “We’re going to be discussing many things today, we’re going to be discussing Russia/Ukraine, we’ll be discussing trade and lots of other items, and I think we can say we are going to be getting along on every one of them. We’ve had a tremendous relationship and, frankly, the Prime Minister and I have met twice before, and we get along very famously, as you would say, and I look forward to it very much.”