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The top earner at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s charity Archewell has been revealed as a former actress who quit her career to brush shoulders with celebrities in California.

Shauna Nep, 38, from Canada, appeared in Survival on the Mountain and The New Addams Family as a child actress before turning her hand to philanthropy and now advises stars on how to splash their cash in the charity sector.Meghan also found fame as an actress, with her largest role in Suits, before she married into the Royal Family.

 

Nep, who has experience putting celebrities’ charity ideas into action, holds the position of co-executive director, treasurer and secretary at Archewell, bringing her total earnings to almost $300,000, the equivalent of more than five per cent of the charity’s revenue last year.

Her huge salary was revealed when Archewell released its tax return for 2023 after months of speculation over $4million that had not yet been declared.

The $4million donation was included in this latest return, called a 990 form, owing to Archewell’s tax year differing from that of its donors, which MailOnline repeatedly pointed out was to be expected.

At the same time as Archewell released its hotly anticipated tax return, it published its latest impact report, with a foreword from Nep and her co-executive James Holt that reaffirmed the charity’s grammatically questionable slogan ‘to show up, do good’.

The pair said they were ‘building a future of purpose, belonging, and joy’ and at Archewell this year had ‘witnessed the transformative power of human connection’.

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Former actress Shauna Nep, 38, (pictured) has been revealed as the highest earner at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s charity Archewell

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity Archewell pay the former child actress almost $300,000

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Archewell’s latest tax return, for 2023, revealed Nep has a salary of $272,241 with $26,356 added on, totalling $298,597

Nep earns $51,669 more than Holt even though he is Archwell’s president.

She has salary of $272,241 and made $26,356 added earnings in 2023, meaning she raked in a whopping total of $298,597.

Holt is on $246,928. He received a 1.6 per cent pay rise of $3,878, increasing his earnings from $243,050 to $246,928.

That is despite Holt being one of Prince Harry’s longest-serving team members, having led communications for the Royal Foundation from October 2017, when it was run by Harry along with Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Nep is a relatively new addition to the team, having joined in 2022.

The mother-of-two’s older sister Elana, 43, was an actress as well, who is most well known for her role as Erin Woodbridge in Canadian high school drama Edgemont.

After Shauna gave up on her dreams to be a successful actress at the turn of the century, she went to the University of British Columbia to study history and the philosophy of science and went on a year abroad to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

She then studied for a Master’s in bioethics at New York University, where she wrote about the ‘the moral right to healthful foods and the duty to re-vamp the American food system’.

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She also works for Hailey Bieber, who is married to Canadian popstar Justin Bieber (pictured together)

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Shauna Nep appeared as Mary in the 1998 TV series The New Addams Family when she was 12 (pictured)

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Meghan Markle’s biggest role was as Rachel Zane (pictured) in American TV series Suits

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She left the popular American legal drama after marrying Prince Harry in 2018. Pictured: Meghan on the show

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Meghan was seen alone at an awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on December 4

For the past decade, she has found success as a philanthropic advisor and executive at a series of charities, helping turn bosses’ ideas into projects on the ground.

Her former colleagues said she was especially gifted at using social media to drive projects forward.

As well as raking in hundreds of thousands at Archewell, she is currently employed by three other organisations, including as the Vice President of philanthropy at music mogul and Taylor Swift enemy Scooter Braun’s SB Projects and the head of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Futures Foundation.

She has been vocal about her desire for greater gun control and is passionate about ‘economic empowerment’ and ‘poverty alleviation’.

She regularly shares snaps of her jetset charity lifestyle with her 18,700 Instagram followers – recently travelling to Colombia with Harry and Meghan for their quasi-royal tour as well as to Deià in Mallorca, where English poet Robert Graves spent his final days.

Outside of work, she lives in Los Angeles with her award-winning film director husband Jacob Medjuck, 48, who she married in April 2011.

The couple have two children – Olive, eight, and Ruby (short for Reuben), four.

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Shauna Nep and Chandni Sharma-Modi attend a fundraiser lunch on June 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California

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Shauna Nep and journalist Emily Ramshaw speak onstage during the Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen panel during the 2024 SXSW Conference and Festival at Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2024 in Austin, Texas

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Nep has had two children with her award-winning film director husband Jacob Medjuck, 48, who she married in April 2011

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The well-paid charity worker also advises music mogul Scooter Braun (pictured) about philanthropy

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Another of her four jobs is as the head of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Futures Foundation. Pictured: Justin and Hailey Bieber

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Fellow Archewell employee James Holt has worked for Prince Harry for seven years since 2017, but only received a 1.6 per cent pay rise of $3,878, increasing his earnings from $243,050 to $246,928 – more than $50,000 less than what Nep makes

In addition to Nep’s huge pay package, Archewell’s tax return also showed Harry and Meghan are directors but do not get paid a salary and work a nominal one-hour-per-week.

The return showed communications manager Deesha Tank was paid $140,000 plus $7,100 in ‘other compensation’.

Archewell also dished out $155,000 to Herlihy Loughran. The consultancy is run by Beth Herlihy, a former actress who once played a stripper in UK teen soap opera Hollyoaks and has been a loyal worker for the Sussexes after she was laid off by Kensington Palace following Megxit.

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The mother-of-two’s older sister Elana, 43, (pictured on the show) was an actress as well, who is most well known for her role as Erin Woodbridge in Canadian high school drama Edgemont

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She appeared in all 70 episodes of the show, which aired between 2000 and 2005

The charity additionally revealed last week a $250,000 partnership with Joe Biden‘s daughter Ashley.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent recent months focussing on more solo charity and business ventures, rarely appearing together since their joint tour to Colombia over the summer.

But despite reports of a ‘professional separation’, they are front and centre of a new behind-the-scenes video of Archewell’s major moments of the past 12 months with Coldplay‘s Sky Full of Stars as the soundtrack to the near-two minute film.

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Nep’s Instagram profile includes videos of her time in Colombia when she joined Harry and Meghan on their quasi-royal tour in August this year

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Meghan gave a speech at an Afro Women and Power forum, at the Municipal Theatre in Cali, Colombia, on August 18, 2024

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Though she divorced Prince Andrew nearly 20 years ago, the Duchess of York, known as Fergie, has stressed she will support Prince Andrew going forward amid the Chinese spy row

Sarah Ferguson insists she continue to support Prince Andrew in his scandal around his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Fergie, 65, said she “won’t let Andrew down” as her ex-husband faces scrutiny over his relationship with the Chinese businessman, known as H6, who has been banned from the UK over spying concerns.

“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,” the Duchess of York, who divorced Andrew in 1996, said in a tell-all interview published by The Sunday Times yesterday.

The chat also gave a glimpse into Sarah’s relationships with the Royal Family as well as the mum’s battle with cancer. It is believed the interview was conducted before the China revelations emerged.

The Duchess of York, who shares two daughters with Andrew, added: “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.”

Prince Andrew, pictured with his brother King Charles, is under scrutiny over his links with a Chinese businessman ( 
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Getty Images)
The Duke of York, 64, said he “ceased all contact” with the accused businessman when concerns were first raised about him in a statement from his office on Friday. However, he has now been ordered to “uninvite himself” from a pre-Christmas bash with The Firm on Thursday, it is understood.

His attendance would lead to fresh embarrassment over the scandal of his Chinese spy pal, insiders added. One said: “He is under pressure to step away.”

In her interview, Sarah also spoke about her cancer journey. In July 2023, the Duchess of York went under the knife for an eight-hour mastectomy – but during the follow-up surgery, dermatologists had to remove several moles, finding one to be malignant melanoma. Sarah and Jane’s father died of melanoma, and the duchess said the diagnosis was scary.

Fergie, a novelist and memoirist, continued: “I was sure I was going to die, then I looked up ‘mastectomy’ and faced it… When I got that diagnosis on New Year’s Eve 2023, I nearly fainted.”

In a heartfelt plea, she urged people not to wait to be themselves. Gran-of-three Sarah continued: “Otherwise I’ve got to live life, I’m lucky, it’s (cancer) freed me from the shackles of my heart. Before, I didn’t think it was okay to be myself. Don’t wait to get cancer to free yourself.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s youngest son, Prince Louis, is always having fun — whether he’s at a royal event or hanging out with his siblings, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 9.

“He still has that cheeky streak that people adore, and he’s really starting to settle down,” the insider said of the 6-year-old tot. “He’ll probably always be a little mischievous, that’s a part of his personality, but there’s certainly been a noticeable shift. He’s doing his chores and does seem to be better behaved in public.”

Source: megaPrince Louis typically makes funny faces at events.

Though Louis has seemingly matured, “it’s too soon to say he’ll never get caught sticking his tongue out at the camera, but William and Kate are crossing their fingers that he’s reigned all that in,” the source said.

Fortunately, the pair can rely on Charlotte, who has “been a big help, too,” the insider dished.

“She’s the ultimate big sister, like a little mother hen with him. When he gets out of line she corrects him. That’s how William and Kate handle it, too. They don’t scold him too badly, they’re of the mind that he’ll grow out of it with the right guidance,” the source added.

Though the three kiddos are part of the royal family, Kate, 42, is all about making sure they remain humble.

“I think it would surprise people to see how ordinary things are at home,” another source told Daily Mail. “The children help with laying the table, clearing their plates when they’ve finished eating and helping with tidying up. There’s no preferential treatment.”

According to the source, Kate and Prince William “manage their busy working schedules” and spend time with their little ones “after school.”

Source: megaThe pair share three kids.

During Kate’s cancer battle, she still made sure to “make sure her children’s home life is not disrupted,” and that their routine remains as “normal as possible.”

“Catherine is very, very natural,” the source continued. “She keeps the family down to earth. Home is a safe haven. In a bid to keep things functioning as smoothly as possible, she has been keen for everything to carry on as normal for the children.”

Meghan Markle looked pretty in pink while attending a baby shower for her friend Samantha Stone, as the Duchess of Sussex was photographed in a Posse Alice midi dress smiling alongside Stone, Kelly McKee Zajfen and Markus Anderson.

“I love 💕 a theme,” Zajfen wrote in an Instagram post featuring the quartet. “Wear Pink she said! Celebrating our sweet baby girl coming oh so soon! Adore you @samanthamstone and can’t wait to meet baby Stone ✨💕. She’s a lucky little girl to have a mama like you.”

Stone was surrounded by her A-list inner circle — which included Blake Lively, Casey Wilson and Crystal Kung Minkoff.

Friends of the mom-of-two were excited to see her enjoying a night out.

“Gorgeousness overload,” one Instagram commenter wrote.

“Friendship goals,” another added.

Source: NETFLIXMeghan Markle’s friends defended her luxury baby shower in ‘Harry & Meghan.’

Although fans of Meghan were excited to see her celebrate Stone, the Duchess of Sussex’s 2019 baby shower wasn’t well-received. The Suits star traveled to New York during her first pregnancy to celebrate the milestone, but the former actress’ gathering was greatly criticized.

‘”My girlfriends surprised me with a really beautiful baby shower in New York,” Meghan recalled in Harry & Meghan, which took place in a luxury suite at the Mark Hotel. “They were like, we’re gonna shower her with love, we’re gonna shower her baby with love, and she’s gonna survive this.”

Serena Williams and Amal Clooney both commented on how amazing the shindig was. “It was just so cool, and so fun, to try to have an intimate moment,” Williams said in the tell-all series. “I don’t think I understood that there was no intimate moment that one could have.”

Publications in the U.K. deemed the event as “extravagant” due to the cost of the hotel room used to host it.

“Why are you taking such a beautiful moment and trying to ruin it?” Meghan said in defense of the party.

Source: MEGAMeghan Markle announced she was pregnant with Prince Archie in 2019.

Meghan’s bestie Abigail Spencer got emotional when discussing Meghan’s special moment being ruined.

“That was a really dark time, and I didn’t know what to do,” Spencer said. “They are in this complex organism that I don’t know anything about, or how to help, and I’m not allowed to say anything.”

Source: MEGAMeghan Markle accused critics of attempting to ‘ruin’ her ‘beautiful’ baby shower.

In 2019, Gayle King gushed over the controversial celebration.

“A good time was had by all,” King began. “I hope she won’t mind me sharing this because I’ve never seen anything like this at a baby shower. They did flower decorations.”

“They had flower arranging, they brought in somebody to explain how to arrange flowers,” she revealed on CBS Mornings. “We all each made an individual vase. And then Meghan, at her request, they got in touch with an organization I’ve never heard of with, Repeat Roses, and they’re all donated to different charities. I thought that was a very sweet thing.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have seen another staff member step down from their charity Sentebale – and they are not the first high-flyer who has worked for the Sussexes to then quickly move on

A new team quickly formed around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they dramatically quit their royal roles and moved to the United States for a new life.

But the couple soon gained something of a reputation for being unable to hang on to employees as they forge ahead with their charitable and production ventures outside the Firm. In recent weeks, three top executives at Harry’s charity, Sentebale, have stepped down – taking the total number of staff leaving them to 21.

In a major blow, the London-based chief executive of the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped back after five years in the position – and isn’t set to be replaced. Instead, the Daily Mail reports, Richard Miller, aged 62, will be replaced by an “interim executive director” – Carmel Gaillard – who has been tasked with completing a “strategic transformation” of Sentbale and is based in Johannesburg.

The news comes only a few months after it was revealed that Harry’s chief of staff had left his role after just three months. Josh Kettler, a high-flying PR executive, took up the senior post working with Harry in May ahead of the Sussexes’ tour to Nigeria.

His departure came as Harry and Meghan were preparing for their working trip to Colombia in August. It is understood Mr Kettler was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit. These names are not the only staff members to leave in recent years…

Prince Harry, whose chief of staff has left his position ( 
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Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)

Josh Kettler, who has quit as chief of staff ( 
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Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation)

Stepping back from Sentebale

Since he co-founded Sentebale – which means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, a nod to the late Princess Diana’s favourite flower – Harry has been dedicated to the charity, which works with children and young people living with HIV/AIDS. The news that Richard Miller will be giving up his role as chief executive comes after two other major resignations within the charity.

Baroness Chalker – the overseas development minister – has stepped back from the board of trustees after 18 years, but despite leaving her official position has said through a spokesperson that “her commitment to the charity and the Duke of Sussex remains unwavering”.

The Mail reports that alongside Baroness Chalker and Richard Miller, Sentebale also recently lost another important figure: Andrew Tucker. Said to have been dubbed as ‘Tucks’ by Harry, Tucker had held a senior position at the charity for a decade, before stepping away.

Richard Miller has said about his exit from the charity: “It is the logical next step for Sentebale, and the time is right for this shift to local leadership. Carmel is an incredible asset to position Sentebale further as a leader in the region.”

For their part, cofounders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said in a joint statement: “This shift reflects our continued commitment to being guided by voices from within the region we serve. We sincerely thank Richard for his pivotal role in steering our organisation toward this important evolution.”

Royal exodus

After Harry and Meghan wed in May 2018, the couple, who were still working royals at this point, saw a string of staff changes with several leaving their posts. Among those leaving were senior communications secretary Katrina McKeever, Meghan’s personal assistant Melissa Toubati, a female royal protection officer and their assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill.

Melissa Toubati mysteriously handed in her notice after just six months with the Duchess of Sussex. A source said: “Her job was highly ­pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.

“She is hugely talented and played a pivotal role in the success of the royal wedding. She’ll be missed by everyone in the household. Melissa is a total professional and fantastic at her job, but things came to a head and it was easier for them both to go their separate ways.”

Meghan Markle with the late Queen and Samantha Cohen in 2018 ( 
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Getty Images)
In October 2019, their private secretary Samantha Cohen, who had worked for the late Queen also left. Former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low claimed in his book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, that fed-up Ms Cohen likened the job to “working with teenagers”.

In his book, author Low told how Ms Cohen organised the couple’s first official tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand but alleged she ended up being “screamed at”. “Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers,” Low claimed a source said. “They (Meghan and Prince Harry) were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.”

Ms Cohen left soon after, told Australia’s Herald Sun that she only agreed to a short secondment but was unable to leave as the palace couldn’t find anyone willing to replace her. She said: “I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa.” Meanwhile, after they left the royal lives behind, their director of communications Sara Latham also parted ways with them.

Archewell execs

When Harry and Meghan quit the UK for the USA, they quickly set up their charitable organisation Archewell, making several big appointments including chief of staff Catherine St Laurent.

However, she only completed 11 months in the role before she moved on. In an interview with The Cut, she described working for Harry and Meghan as “an incredible experience”. She added: “They are incredibly talented and creative leaders. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, to be able to be with them on their journey. The time that I spent with them was incredibly fulfilling.”

Former Archewell executive Catherine St Laurent ( 
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Linkedin)Just months later, the couple’s global press secretary Toya Holness also left Archewell after just a year in the role. She had been tasked with overseeing the Sussexes’ PR on both sides of the Atlantic. Insiders at the time claimed she “wanted out” after finding herself “having to fulfil a great many functions for the couple”.

The in December 2022, just days before Harry and Meghan’s controversial documentary landed on Netflix, then president of Archewell Mandana Dayani left her post after just 18 months. At the time, it was understood that Harry and Meghan were to take on full leadership of the organisation, and a statement from Archewell was at pains to make clear they had not fallen out.

Meanwhile, last year, Fara Taylor, who was in charge of marketing at Archewell also left the organisation as Harry and Meghan looked to ‘streamline’ staff.

Production staff

However, it hasn’t just been from their charitable arm where Harry and Meghan have lost staff. They’ve also seen a high turnover from their production company. The couple set up the production arm in the wake of signing multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.

But in December 2022, the head of Archewell Audio, Rebecca Sananes, quit after being hired to work on Meghan’s Archetypes podcast. The podcast lasted one season on Spotify before the Sussexes’ deal with the streaming giant was axed.

Last year, Nishika Kumble, who was the senior vice-president of scripted television at Archewell, left after less than two years. She was closely followed by TV executive Bennett Levine, whose departure was described as a “serious blow”, after he moved to a rival organisation.

Also quitting was Oscar-winning producer Ben Browning, who worked on the Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan, who had been their head of internal content.

 

 

Before Prince Harry was happily married to Meghan Markle and a dad to two beautiful children, he was often the third wheel hanging out with older brother Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. It’s not like he didn’t date — he enjoyed the on-again, off-again company of Chelsy Davy for many years and had a serious relationship with Cressida Bonas, but no one as special as Markle.But if we look back on his dating history, there were rumored relationships (maybe a fling or two), but no one rocked his world the way his wife has. Harry certainly enjoyed his single years (and some of the stories were wild), but when he was ready to settle down, he knew Markle was the one “the very first time [they] met,” according to Harry at their engagement photo call, via Harper’s Bazaar. But it’s fun to take a look back at who was in the Duke of Sussex’s life before Markle — and it’s nice to see he is still friends with some of his exes, a few who even attended his wedding.

 

Take a look at the photos and see how many faces you remember — a few might have only been rumors — but he definitely had a thing for blonde singers and actresses back in the day.

Photo : Photo credit should read PAUL GROVER/AFP via Getty Images

Natalie Pinkham (2003)

Natalie Pinkham and Prince Harry go way back to another century — 1999 — when they first met at the Rugby World Cup, per US Weekly. It took a few years, but the sports reporter went on to date the royal in 2003. Their paths have crossed a few times over the years with her work and his charitable efforts and they reported remain friends to this day.

Photo : Photo by Rowen Lawrence/WireImage

Cassie Sumner (2003)

Well, the palace is happy this one-night stand doing going any further. A 19-year-old Harry met model Cassie Sumner at a nightclub during his younger, wilder days. They reportedly enjoyed an evening of canoodling, which Sumner happily blabbed about in an interview.

She joined him at his private table and that’s when the hijinks ensued. “It wasn’t long before he began cuddling up to me. He seemed fascinated with my breasts, because he spent more time looking at them than my face,’ she revealed to the Daily Mail. “At one point I could feel his hands running up and down my thighs, and I gave him a playful slap. I began giggling so he snuggled up close and starting whispering in my ear, telling me how sexy I looked.He asked repeatedly: “Is there somewhere we can go?” I said “Don’t be silly” – but it only seemed to encourage Harry more.”

And it’s no surprise this entire fling ended before it even began. The royal family probably still sweats about this moment.

Photo : Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Chelsy Davy (2004-2011)

Harry’s sweet, young relationship with Chelsy Davy was covered heavily in the press. They broke up as many times as they got back together, but the royal family welcomed her with open arms each time.

She was even Harry’s +1 to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011, so that’s kind of a big deal. But she didn’t think the royal life was for her because of the media attention and she knew the relationship had to end. “It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable,” she told The Times. “I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldn’t cope.”

Photo : Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Gucci

Astrid Harbord (2009)

This romance could have been really interesting had it held up because Astrid Harbord was a good friend of sister-in-law Kate Middleton. The duo was seen clubbing it up one night in London and a brief romance occurred while he and Chelsy Davy were taking a break (again).

Harbord stayed good friends with Harry beyond their fling and eventually became his PR representative. That partnership eventually ended after Harry became serious with Meghan and they changed their household communications structure.

Photo : Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage

Caroline Flack (2009)

TV presenter Caroline Flack was thrilled to meet Prince Harry through a mutual friend. They enjoyed each other’s company for some time in 2009, but once the press started to catch on about them dating — they had to call the whole thing off. “I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter,” she chronicled in her memoir, Storm in a C Cup, via the Daily Mail. “I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry’s bit of rough.”

Photo : Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage

Mollie King (2010)

The Saturdays singer Mollie King spent a lot of time denying she ever dated Harry, telling the Evening Standard, “No, I’m not going out with him – I’m serious. Everyone wants to believe it because he’s royalty. Everyone would like it to be true but it’s not. He’s very out of my league, come on.”

Well, the truth is she did date the royal and eventually fessed up to their relationship two years later to Closer magazine, via Digital Spy. “Yes, I have met Harry, and we did go out for a drink.”

Photo : Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

Camilla Romestrand (2010)

Prince Harry and singer Camilla Romestrand might have something along the lines of friends with benefits because she seemed to be the only one doing the talking about their relationship. She’s confided to a few people about her friendship with Harry,” a source told the now-defunct News of the World, via CBS News.”She talks about staying overnight at ‘the Palace.’ She says he was a ‘total gentleman’ but doesn’t divulge much else.”

The Eddie The Gun front woman and the royal eventually went their separate ways as she continued to focus on her music career.
Photo : Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images

Florence Brudenell-Bruce (2011)

Once Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy had broken up for good, he had a summer fling with model Florence Brudenell-Bruce. The romance didn’t last too long because there were apparently trust issues early on. “She felt he had a wandering eye all the time and she wasn’t really into not knowing who he was flirting with or talking to when they were apart,” an insider told the Daily Mail.

Photo : Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage

Cressida Bonas (2012-2014)

Actress Cressida Bonas was Harry’s last serious relationship before he met Meghan. And the reported reason for their split is rather heartbreaking because the two really were in love.

Pop star Katy Perry performed a series of her top hits at Capital Jingle Bell Ball which was broadcast on ITV as some viewers issued scathing comments on her singing

Katy Perry has faced fierce backlash over her performance at ITV Capital Jingle Bell Ball.

The pop star, 40, made a performance at the star-studded event where a string of huge performers took to the stage at London’s O2 Arena. It took place earlier this month yet aired to the nation on Sunday evening. Capital Radio hosts Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby hosted the glitzy event as Coldplay, KSI and Perrie Edwards were just a few performers on the line-up.

However, Katy’s performance on the night attracted plenty of attention online and for the wrong reasons. She took to the stage to perform a series of her early 2010s hits including California Gurls and Roar. The American singer also added in some festive numbers, including Cozy Little Christmas.

Fans inside the O2 seemed to enjoy Katy’s performance while many watching at home gave scathing verdicts. One viewer even went as far as calling for Katy to retire. They said: “”She should retire.” Another added: “Fun popstar but sounds terrible.” Someone else commented: “Weak vocals huh.”

Katy received harsh backlash for her performance ( 
Image:
instagram/capitalofficial)

The singer has recently launched her comeback ( 
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Billboard via Getty Images)

A fourth wrote: ” Katy Perry needs to stop trying to make Katy Perry happen again. Leave it in the 2010s girl #CapitalJBB.” Another viewer shared: “Katy, there’s no shame in miming. Yours sincerely, My Ears. #JingleBellBall.” Others came to her defence as one said: “Wow @katyperry you was amazing and I’ve got respect for you because you didn’t mime like some artists do. It’s not easy to sing and dance live so well done girl xx #CapitalJBB #JBB.”

Someone else gushed: “She’s so perfect.” Capital Jingle Bell Ball also took issue with DJ Joel Corry, who opened up the show. The Ibiza favourite took off his top and used a flame thrower in front of the 20,000 strong-crowd who appeared to enjoy the hot moment. However, some were left unimpressed by his decision to strip off.

Taking to X, one fan penned: “Look at me. Look at me. I’ve got a six pack and light a flame thrower.” Another added: “Is taking your T-shirt off to use a flame thrower a health & safety thing Joel Corry? #jinglebellBall.” A third person said: “Joel Corry is making me cringe like no tomorrow.”

Ahead of hosting the show, former BBC Radio One host Jordan opened up about making his Jingle Bell Ball debut. The former I’m A Celebrity contestant said: “I’m absolutely buzzing! I cannot wait for Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard, especially because it’s two nights. I did Summertime Ball, which gave me a little taster of what to expect, but Jingle Bell Ball is two nights, and I can’t wait.

“It’s at the most perfect time of the year, just to get everyone in that festive spirit. And we’ve got some great acts as well! I was so nervous for Summertime Ball. It’s probably the most nervous I’ve ever been about anything. It’s funny, because I’ve seen a mate recently and she said to me in the pub, just before Summertime Ball, ‘I honestly thought you were going to be sick!’ So, it was enjoyable, but also very nerve wracking.”

 

The Duchess of Sussex created her own landscape in Royal fashion but often sparked debate when it came down to the tones she would wear. The 43-year-old allegedly went against the late Queen Elizabeth’s beliefs when it came down to protocol.

It is no secret that the Royal Family has strict dress codes and etiquette for their clothing. This includes mourning attire, hats, and hosiery, which are just some of the items Meghan initially struggled with.The American actress was used to dressing up in Hollywood. However, there are two things that the monarchy does not stand for.

 

Women are expected to represent the crown and be well respected within society. Before Meghan Prince Harry stepped down as a working Royal member, she ruffled the Queen’s feathers by breaking many rules.

The first was deciding not to wear nude tights under dresses and skirts. Mehan did not adopt the trick that her sister-in-law, Princess Kate, has always followed.

Meghan Markle claimed she preferred to blend in opposed to standing out. (Image: Getty )
This was the Queen’s most important rule, shocking fans that she went against the late monarch – who was Head of State for 70 years.

Royal expert Victoria Arbiter said: “I would say that’s really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen requires.”

She also wore muted tones and shades of black, which members of the royal family, known as the Firm, choose to do only for funerals and periods of mourning.
The Duchess followed in the footsteps of Princess Diana and wore black. (Image: Getty )

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Meghan stunned fans when she stepped out on her first solo royal engagement with the Queen wearing a pale ensemble.

The brunette beauty looked breathtaking in a sophisticated Givenchy dress. She accessorised with a thin leather belt to cinch in her tiny waist and completed the look with black court heels, which quickly became her signature look.

The Duchess has since become known for her distinctive fashion sense, making it her mission to look a world away from Kate, 43, who embraces colour and formal dress.

But Meghan claimed that her style was so she blended in with the family as she wanted to avoid “embarrassing” the Firm. In the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan, the Duchess, she said she never felt comfortable wearing colour.

“When I was in the UK I rarely wore colour. I wore a lot of muted tones. I also wore it so I could just blend in. I’m not trying to stand out here. I don’t want to embarrass the family.

“To my understanding, you can’t ever wear the same colour as Her Majesty if there’s a group event. But then you also shouldn’t be wearing the same colour as one of the other more senior members of the family,” she continued.

Among the many scenes sparking heated debate in the “Harry & Meghan” docuseries, one moment stood out in particular for many viewers: when the former Meghan Markle demonstrated how she curtsied when she first met the queen.

In the clip, the Duchess of Sussex recalls preparing to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.

“I didn’t know I was going to meet her until moments before,” Meghan said in a joint interview with Prince Harry in the second episode of their six-part Netflix docuseries“We were in the car and we were going to Royal Lodge for lunch. And (Harry) was like, ‘Oh, my grandmother is here. She’s going to be there after church,’” she continued. “I remember we were in the car, driving, and he’s like, ‘You know how to curtsy, right?’ And I just thought it was a joke.”

 

It was not a joke, however, and the duchess recalled quickly learning how to curtsy before meeting the monarch for the first time.

“Now I’m starting to realize this is a big deal,” the duchess said. “I mean, Americans would understand this.”

She also compared the experience to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, an American dinner theater production with Medieval-inspired events like jousting and sword-fighting.

Then, in a moment that has been dividing viewers, the duchess gave a deep, exaggerated bow, as if to demonstrate how she curtsied before Queen Elizabeth, before rising and saying with a wide smile, “Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”

The scene has been making the rounds on social media, with some Twitter users calling the duchess “disrespectful” and accusing her of mocking the queen and royal tradition.

“Is that meant to be funny? Gosh the lack of respect,” one person tweeted, with another calling the moment “nasty and unbecoming” and comparing the duchess to a “school bully.”

Others commented on Prince Harry’s reaction to the moment, saying they thought he looked uncomfortable.

“Meghan Markle’s mocking of the curtsey, and Harry’s reaction is just cringeworthy,” one person wrote on Twitter.

On the other hand, other viewers thought critics were missing the point of Meghan’s exaggerated curtsy, arguing the duchess was actually mocking herself with the gesture.

“She’s not mocking the Queen. She’s saying she didn’t realize she’d have to curtsy in private,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“Surely it was obvious when watching, #MeghanMarkle was making fun of herself!” another person tweeted. “How it’s turned into her making fun of the Queen and so on is beyond me.”

Writer Erin Vanderhoof echoed this view in a piece for Vanity Fair.

“Meghan is theatrically exaggerating her own unfamiliarity with the realities of being around the royals,” Vanderhoof argued. “She is the butt of the joke here, not the queen or even royal protocol.”

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden is set to make a shock comeback to the show after she was forced to withdraw from this year’s series through injury

Fans of Strictly Come Dancing will be elated after the news Amy Dowden will be returning for the arena tour next year.

Professional dancer Amy was forced to pull out of this year’s competition through injury, but is set to take to the dance floor once again. It’s been revealed Amy will be back dancing with JB Gill for the tour.

The JLS man will dance with both Amy and Lauren Oakley throughout the 30-show tour.

The full line-up for the eagerly anticipated shows has now been confirmed. As well as Lauren, Amy and JB, the couples performing will be Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, Montell Douglas and Kai Widdrington, Wynne Evans and Katya Jones; Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola and Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu.

The full line-up has been announced

Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystal plus Robbie Kmetoni and Jake Leigh, will also be on hand to entertain the crowd for the live tour. As too will judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, with Motsi Mabuse making her tour debut. It Take Two’s Janette Manrara completes the bumper line up.

Speaking of the upcoming tour and Amy’s inclusion, Janette said: “Wow – what an incredible line-up of couples we have on the tour next year! Arena audiences around the country are in for a real treat. It’s going to be a blast to be back with all the pros and, as an extra special treat, it will be a joy to welcome back the lovely Amy Dowden. Get ready for an evening of pure Strictly entertainment for the whole family – bigger and better than ever before!”

JB Gill will perform with both Lauren Oakley and Amy Dowden

Amy had to withdraw from the TV series due to injury ( 
Image:
PA)While the bumper line-up is sure to please fans, there is one noticeable absentee. Winner Chris McCausland won’t be joining the tour and detailed the “emotional toll” the show had taken on him while speaking to ITV’s Lorraine. The comedian told stand-in presenter Ranvir Singh: “It’s been a really emotional Saturday night and I’m still feeling quite worn down by it. It’s been three and a half months; it’s relentless. It’s consuming – physically and mentally it takes a toll. This is what the show does, it wears you down physically and mentally and then it pokes you with a stick until you cry in front of everybody.
He added: ” I started my tour in January this year and I did the first leg until May and I was meant to be back out in September. We moved the dates to accommodate Strictly, so we just moved them to January. We had to move these dates to accommodate Strictly and it just wasn’t a consideration at the time…
“I don’t think anybody thought I would be any good at it. I don’t think they thought it, I don’t think I thought it. And in terms of going on tour in January, I didn’t think I’d be going on tour on the back of Strictly. I thought I’d have about two months off.”

The 2025 Strictly tour opens at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on January 17 before touring the UK.