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Martine McCutcheon’s husband Jack McManus’ family have spoken out about their split after the actress made the shock announcement on Instagram on Thursday

Martine McCutcheon ‘s husband Jack McManus’ family have spoken out about the breakdown of their marriage.

A new report suggests that it was Jack that called time on their marriage two months ago with the “very sudden” split coming as a shock to both their families. Martine confirmed on Thursday that Jack, 40, had left her, telling fan s: “After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision.”

The Love Actually star, 48, originally told her friends in 2016 that the couple were going through a rough patch as she said: “Nowadays more than ever people just chuck in the towel – everything’s so disposable now.”

Martine and Jack announced the split on Thursday ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

The separation came as a shock ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Jack’s aunt opened up about the split as she admitted to MailOnline “it’s been hard,” adding that “a lot had been going on for the family.” When asked why the couple had split at the family home in West Wickham she replied: “I really can’t say. Jack’s mum is over there with him now. I am looking after the dog.

‘It’s been hard. There’s been a lot going on. My sister just lost her husband as well. It was very sudden. It was announced two months ago now.” Martine spoke about difficulties in their relationship in 2016 during an appearance on Loose Women.

She said: “I think actually my friends have saved my relationship a couple of times! There have been times without a doubt – I’ve been with Jack ten years now and of course we’ve had or ups and downs – a tough eight years out of ten bless him.

Martine and Jack were together 18 years ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

His family have spoken about the split ( 
Image:
FilmMagic)“But through the trials and tribulations, I think my friends – when I feel I can’t get through to him – have made me see sense. They’ve been like ‘calm down, you really love him, you two are meant to be together, stick at it’. Nowadays more than ever people just chuck in the towel – everything’s so disposable now.”

Jack has been staying at the couples £1.5 million marital house in Surrey, while Martine is currently on holiday in Marbella with the couple’s nine-year-old son Rafferty. Speaking to reporters who visited their home Jack said he had nothing further to add to his wife’s lengthy statement.

He said: “There is nothing more to add. I will not be saying anything more about this.” A neighbour admitted that they had no idea the relationship was struggling.

Exclusive: Loose Women star Coleen Nolan reveals she does daily checks for breast cancer and pays a specialist for regular tests – because she’s scared she’ll miss a lump and be like Bernie, Anne and Linda

Having inflicted hell on her family, the scourge of cancer haunts Coleen Nolan every day.

So much so that for the Loose Women star, it has become a daily ritual to check for signs of the disease – as she’s terrified she will be the sister it strikes next. Speaking exclusively, Coleen reveals: “We have had so much heartache… I’m always checking. I still have this thing when I think, ‘What if I have missed it?’

“Really, from Linda, it became a big thing for me.” Coleen’s sister and fellow Mirror columnist Linda, 65, first battled breast cancer in 2006, but it returned in 2017 when she was diagnosed with incurable secondary breast cancer in her hip, which has since spread to her liver and brain.

Coleen’s sister Anne, now 73, also battled breast cancer in 2000 and 2020, while sister Bernie died from the disease aged just 52 in 2013. It’s left Coleen scared. “Whenever I’m in the shower, I will have a good feel and check,” she says. “And if there is ever a time when I think ‘I don’t like that’, I will go to the doctor straight away. And they will say ‘It’s fine, it’s a little cyst or an infection’.

The Nolans at the start of their fame in 1974: From left, Anne, 24, Denise, 22, Maureen, 20, Linda, 15, Bernie, 14, and Coleen, nine ( 
Image:
Mirrorpix via Getty Images)

“But it’s obviously in our family. I hope I don’t get it, but I just want to think that if I do, I’ll get it early. Linda put off going way too long. And she admits that now. She didn’t go straight away, so by the time they found it… it was huge.” Coleen has become so adamant about catching anything early that she even pays for regular appointments with a breast specialist, in addition to her NHS mammogram every two years.

“Anne was the first in our family to get it,” remembers Coleen. “There was 20 years between the first and second time, [but] both times, she got it picked up the day she felt something. I remember her saying that it felt like a grain of rice. She never had a mastectomy, she always picked it up early, which proves the point really.

“My breast specialist is £225 a year. People say, ‘It’s all right for you, you’ve got money’. But you could probably spend that in a year on takeaways, down the pub or on cigarettes.” Coleen, who turns 60 next March, has never been one to sugar-coat reality. Her ability to talk honestly about difficult issues is what made her transition from The Nolans to a much-loved Loose Women panellist and Mirror agony aunt so effortless.

Bernie (left) with Coleen in 2011. She died from breast cancer aged just 52 two years later ( 
Image:
FilmMagic)
She’s now using her own suffering to help others, with her new book, A Hand To Hold – All I’ve Learnt About Grief, out August 29 by HarperNorth. It’s inspired by her previous Mirror-backed podcast Let’s Talk about Grief and offers advice and wisdom on dealing with one of the hardest human emotions. She shares poignant stories of her own life – from dealing with her mother’s Alzheimer’s (Read your exclusive Daily Mirror extract here) to the Three Little Words which left her furious after losing Bernie (Read your exclusive Daily Mirror extract here).

It was 2010 when The Bill and Brookside star Bernie was diagnosed, leaving her siblings – including Denise, now 72, Maureen, 70, Brian, 69, and Tommy, 74 – distraught.

Coleen actually had a premonition Bernie wouldn’t get the all-clear like Anne and Linda at the time. “I remember being told,” reveals Coleen. “It’s really weird. When I put the phone down, I cried my eyes out. With Anne and Linda I was thinking they would have chemo and they will fight it.

“[Yet] I don’t know whether it’s because I thought we can’t be three times lucky… but [with Bernie] I had this impending sense that she wasn’t going to make it.” Coleen was sadly right. The cancer spread to Bernie’s brain, lungs, liver, and bones, before she passed away in her sleep three years later.

Before Bernie’s bombshell: Coleen Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Linda Nolan and Maureen Nolan (L-R) perform in 2009 ( 
Image:
WireImage)
Afterwards, Coleen battled depression. Eventually it was Bernie who saved her – Coleen remembered her sister making her promise: She could cry but only “for two weeks”, then she had to focus on the future. They were wise words – and Coleen wasn’t short of family to comfort her.

Coleen shares Ciara, 23, with second husband Ray Fensome and Shane Junior, 35, and Jake, 31, with first-husband-turned-”best-friend” Shane Richie. Having been through two divorces, Coleen believes a marriage break-up can be almost like another type of grief. Indeed for the TV star, her 2018 split with Ray was made even more difficult because they didn’t have a prenup – which she used to be against. “[Sorting out] who gets what – it’s horrible,” she says.

That’s why she’s already joked she’ll have one with her new boyfriend Michael Jones, 59, a supermarket logistics manager. The couple met on Tinder in 2021 and moved in together in Coleen’s Cheshire home earlier this year.

Coleen and Michael have taken the leap to move in together ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“I do sometimes think, ‘Oh, it would be lovely’. Michael is my calm and peace,” she says, when asked about saying “I do” again.

“[And] I’m a hopeless romantic, and I loved being married… [However] I’ve said ‘If we ever get married, trust me we’ll have a pre-nup! 100%’”. For now it’s all about family time. Daughter Ciara, 23, recently got engaged to boyfriend Max Innes and son Jake will be welcoming his own little Nolan this Christmas.

Jake had to move into his mum’s garage in 2022 when his once-successful boyband Rixton crashed and burned. But he’s now engaged to pregnant fiancee Georgia and doing stand-up at Edinburgh Fringe. “I’m so proud of him,” Coleen says. “As a family, we have a lot to be happy for.”

The family motto is “life is to be lived right up until the end”. Bernie used her final days to plan her funeral. “Bernie had everything in place – even what car people were going in. The stress it took off my family was immense,” Coleen reveals. “She said everyone can wear what they like, and wanted a party.”

Linda has different ideas apparently. “Linda wants everyone in black, weeping and wailing,” jokes Coleen. “Linda will probably have a list of people she doesn’t want at her funeral – there are a lot of people Linda doesn’t like! I want mine to end on a laugh as that is what I’m known for.”

Daily Mirror’s Linda Nolan fighting incurable secondary breast cancer – and got the whole family together for a holiday earlier this year ( 
Image:
Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Linda now lives with sister Denise in Blackpool and Coleen gets updates through the family WhatsApp group. “The two of them are always out, going for lunch, to the park,” says Coleen. “Linda gets scanned every three months and I hate it. I’m always thinking ‘Oh please God let this be a good phone call’. But she just takes it in her stride. She’s really grasping life by the horns and making memories. Her will to live and mental strength… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

A Hand to Hold – All I’ve Learnt About Grief By Coleen Nolan is available August 29 (HarperNorth). Hardback, ebook and audio all priced £20.

This Morning’s Ruth Langsford shared a peek at her skincare routine, which included her ‘favourite’ Liz Earle exfoliator that shoppers say leaves their skin ‘clean, fresh and young’

There’s nothing better than a night in giving yourself a pamper, and Ruth Langsford appears to be a big fan of taking some time for herself. The presenter shared a quick peek at her skincare routine on Instagram recently, writing: “Bit of pamper time this morning!” as she enjoyed a soothing face mask.

The Loose Women host also shared one of her go-to skincare product, with a snap of the Liz Earle Superskin Microdermabrasion Polish captioned: “My Fave skin polish.” Although plenty of beauty fans have heard of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, the lesser known Superskin Microdermabrasion Polish has also been racking up some impressive reviews from shoppers.

You can currently snap up the Superskin Microdermabrasion Polish at LookFantastic, where it’s on sale down from £32 to £25.60, or at Boots, where it’s still full price but you can use the code LIZEARLE10 to save £10 on orders over £35. The exfoliator combines both naturally derived chemical exfoliants with physical ones to give a deep cleanse, with a nourishing formula that leaves skin soft and smooth whilst still feeling gentle.

Ruth treated herself to a pamper at home ( 
Image:
Ruth Langsford/Instagram)

Ruth said the Liz Earle exfoliator was one of her ‘faves’ ( 
Image:
Ruth Langsford/Instagram)
It contains ultra-fine volcanic pumice crystals and AHAs that are naturally derived from fruit enzymes which work together to buff away dead skin cells and impurities that would leave your skin looking dull and dry. The shea butter and rosehip oil then not only intensely hydrate your skin, but create a luminous glow and smooth texture for super soft skin.

LookFantastic shoppers have praised it, with one saying: “Love this product, really feels like it’s doing its job, whilst still feeling gentle on the skin.”

Another added: “Worth the money – little bit goes a long way and your skin looks and feels incredible after. Not keen on smell though.”

Meanwhile over at Boots, one shopper praised: “This is a lifesaver. Works a treat and leaves skin smooth and bright. Some exfoliates are harsh on skin but this is gentle but does the job.”

Whilst another wrote: “I’ve been buying this product for several years & love it, using it once a week. It makes my skin feel clean, fresh & young. I wouldn’t be without it.”

For other gentle exfoliators, The UnScrub from Paula’s Choice, £32, has been specially designed for sensitive skin with natural dissolvable jojoba beads that gently cleanses and polishes skin, leaving it silky soft without any dryness or redness. Tatcha has also got a gentle version of its Rice Polish, £64, which is a water-activated exfoliant that transforms into a creamy foam for a non-abrasive exfoliation that doesn’t strip any of your skin’s natural moisture.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dazzled fans with their huge public displays of affection at the Invictus Games, but what are they really like behind the scenes? The Mirror’s Patrick Hill spent four days with the Sussexes and delivers his verdict

It was a moment that involved no speech, yet said more than a million words ever could.

After months of speculation about their marriage, Meghan leaned into Harry and tenderly put her head on his shoulder as they held hands. They may have been surrounded by more than 40,000 people at the Invictus Games opening ceremony, but despite the gaze of many being on them, it was clear they only had eyes for each other.

While enjoying a shared moment of satisfaction in what Harry, 40, has achieved to change the perception of injured military veterans worldwide, they were also sending a message of love, unity and togetherness about themselves.

The pair shared a loving kiss at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Vancouver on Saturday ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The Duchess of Sussex watches the wheelchair basketball match between the USA v Nigeria during day one of the 2025 Invictus Games ( 
Image:
Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Some may baulk at the former actress and Harry’s public displays of affection during these Games, including a kiss worthy of ending any Hollywood movie. But watching them together here in Canada I have absolutely no doubt every single one is absolutely genuine and heartfelt.

I have been lucky enough to see them up close, as an accredited journalist, at three previous Invictus Games, including the one held in Toronto when they were pictured together for the first time. I was sent to Windsor to watch as they blissfully paraded through the streets after getting married in May the following year.

And I also saw them at events during their royal style tour of Colombia in August last year. But in all that time, I have never seen them looking so happy and in-step with each other as they have here in Vancouver and Whistler.

Outside temperatures have at times plunged as low as -12, but everywhere they have been together they have radiated genuine warmth and happiness.

The couple were in good spirits despite freezing temperatures on Tuesday ( 
Image:
Humphrey Nemar)

They laughed together on stage in Whistler after Harry joked Meghan was about to sing ( 
Image:
Humphrey Nemar/staff Photographer.)Harry publicly addressed rumours about he and Meghan’s marriage in December last year, as well as speculation about why they had chosen to carry out some work independently of each other. He laughed as he said: “Apparently we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?’.

“It’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls. Their hopes are just built and built, and it’s like, ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,’ and then it doesn’t happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do.”

During the same sit-down chat on stage in New York City, Harry also spoke of how he loves his life in Montecito, California, with Meghan, 43, and their two children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. He added: “I feel as though it’s the life that my mum wanted for me.

“To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK — it’s huge. I’m hugely grateful for that.”

Harry and Meghan watching wheelchair curling in Whistler on Monday ( 
Image:
Humphrey Nemar)
There have been recent negative headlines about Meghan’s upcoming Netflix TV show, titled With Love, Meghan, and she and Harry have been upset by a new book and a cover piece in Vanity Fair, which included a string of lurid claims.

And everyone it seems has an opinion about Harry and Meghan and the way they are publicly perceived, including a group of women linked to the Nigerian Invictus team, who refused to speak to British journalists at one Invictus event on Sunday due to their belief they are against Meghan.

Biographer Tom Bower, who wrote a best-selling book about the couple and their separation from the royal family and was sitting in the press seats at the opening ceremony, also came in for some tough treatment from a Harry and Meghan fan in Vancouver earlier this week.

But broadly, everywhere Harry and Meghan went during their five-day trip together, there was nothing but positivity. From the very first moment they were first spotted arriving here in a cavalcade of cars, they have been seen almost constantly smiling and laughing, while enjoying each other’s company.

Meghan enjoyed Harry’s impression of a Canadian moose ( 
Image:
Humphrey Nemar)
At the wheelchair basketball finals on Sunday night, Meghan couldn’t help bursting out laughing at Harry’s goofy impression of a Canadian moose. She chuckled heartily, before jokingly admonishing him, after he joked that she was about to follow in their close pal Michael Buble’s footsteps by singing on stage to a crowd of more than 1,000 people on Monday.

And she was also seen visibly amused at the thought of him racing ten-year-old Australian schoolboy Hamish Greenstreet down the slopes in Whistler, before celebrating with a triumphant “yes!” at the finish line on Tuesday.

Cynthia Phelps, whose husband James served alongside Harry at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2012, perfectly summed up the mood here about Harry and Meghan. She told me: “Meghan is always personable and very down to earth and just really cares about us. Every time she talks to us it’s very visible and genuine.

“They genuinely care about the healing journey of every single one of the competitors. It’s a blessing to be able to spend time with them.”

Former Suits star Meghan, who held Cynthia’s seven-month-old baby Laramie in her arms as she told how she was missing her own children, is now back in California on motherly duties.

For her, this year’s Invictus Games is over. But the memories she and Harry made here and the message it sent to the world will continue to be poured over and remembered for a long time to come.

Meghan Markle joined Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Canada where she was seen wearing a royal signet ring – and we want to hear your thoughts on the Sussexes rejoining the Firm

Meghan Markle was spotted wearing a royal signet ring during her visit to the Invictus Games in Canada, and we want to know if you would like to see the Sussexes rejoin the Firm?

The new piece of jewellery was sported on Meghan’s right hand, and boasts the couple’s joint cypher which was unveiled after their marriage in 2018. The personalised monogram consists of the letters ‘H’ and ‘M’ in cursive, with a coronet above featuring two cross pattées, four fleurs-de-lys, and two strawberry leaves.

The emblem starred on their previous Sussex Royal website and social media accounts until they stepped down from royal duties in 2020. It was also used on their letterheads until 2021, before being replaced by their Archewell logo.

Eagle-eyed royal fans have highlighted how the signet ring resembles the one worn by Harry’s father, King Charles. It comes as Meghan joined Harry for the Invictus Games, a tournament founded in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex to support wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.

The international multi-sport event will head back to the UK for the 2027 edition, but one royal expert is convinced Meghan will not attend. Speaking to The Mirror US, host of the To Di For Daily podcast Kinsey Schofield said: “I currently lean towards Meghan not attending Prince Harry’s 2027 Invictus Games in the UK because we have seen Meghan prioritise herself and her mental health over the last few years.

“I know that Meghan is currently not comfortable with the idea of returning to the UK. Prince Harry’s security concerns are a huge reason and compliment Meghan’s media insecurity. She fears returning and being rejected, booed. She feels vulnerable there.

The Duchess hasn’t returned to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022, and has skipped a number of royal milestones over the past five years, including the King’s coronation. After stepping down from the Firm, the Sussexes moved to Montecito, where they now reside with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The expert added: “I do not believe that Meghan has any desire to return to the UK anytime soon. She felt freshly attacked after being asked to stay behind in the last few hours of the Queen’s life… then was furious months later when they received word that Frogmouth Cottage would no longer be their UK base. She feels defenseless in the UK and unwelcome.”

In his book Endgame, author Omid Scobie claimed that Meghan “never wants to set foot” in the UK again, adding that she “doesn’t want anything to do” with the Firm. Since being spotted donning her royal cypher, we want to know if you’d like to see Harry and Meghan rejoin the Royal Family. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

Meghan Markle has revealed her American Riviera Orchard brand name has been ditched in favour of new name As Ever – and brand experts have weighed in on the last-minute U-turn ahead of the launch of her Netflix series

Meghan Markle has been accused of rushing out her newly-named brand with an expert claiming “you wouldn’t catch Kim Kardashian doing this”.

Today, the Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to announce she is ditching her American Riviera Orchard brand name in favour of another name – As Ever. Its launch will tie in with the release of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which drops on the streaming platform in two weeks. A new website for As Ever has also been launched, featuring a picture of Meghan running hand-in-hand with her daughter, Princess Lilibet.

Meghan suffered a series of setbacks when it came to trademarking the name American Riviera Orchard, which could explain the switch to As Ever. However, speaking in a video on Instagram that appears to have been filmed by Prince Harry, she said: “Cats out of the bag. I’m shocked we’ve kept it a secret for so long.”

Meghan announcing her newly-named brand As Ever ( 
Image:
Meghan/Instagram)

Meghan announced the news on Instagram ( 
Image:
@Meghan/Instagram)
She added: “Last year, I thought you know what, American Riviera, that sounds like such a great name, it’s my neighbourhood [and] its a name for Santa Barbara. But it limited me to things that were just manufactured and grown in this area.

“Then Netflix came on, not just as my partner in the show, but as my partner in my business. Which was huge. So I thought about it, and I’ve been waiting for a moment to share a name that I had secured in 2022, and this is the moment, and it’s called As Ever. “

And it seems the move has divided brand and PR experts, with some pouring cold water on the U-turn move – but others saying the way that she announced it was the perfect way to get maximum publicity. One marketing executive who is critical of the rebrand is Warren Johnson of W Communications, who told the Daily Beast: “You wouldn’t catch Kim Kardashian doing this.”

While another expert told the outlet: “There are only so many relaunches you can do before you start to look ridiculous.” Meanwhile, another unnamed expert said that the launch and the Instagram video announcing it seemed a “total rush” even though Meghan says in the video she secured the name back in 2022.

The snap that features on Meghan’s new website featuring Princess Lilibet ( 
Image:
As Ever)
However, on the flip side, other brand experts have called the rebrand a “strategic move”, especially with the challenges she faced getting a trademark for American Riviera Orchard. Personal branding expert Mayah Riaz, of Mayah Media, told the Mirror: “While rebranding close to launch can be risky, addressing potential legal issues early on can prevent significant issues that may arise. The new name, ‘As Ever’, offers a broader appeal beyond a specific geographic reference – this aligns well with Meghan’s lifestyle themes.

“Meghan choosing to announce the change via her Instagram is a savvy approach, as she is leveraging her following to communicate directly with them. However, any rebrand carries the potential for confusion. It will be crucial for Meghan to offer clear and consistent messaging to ensure her audience seamlessly transitions to the new brand.”

The announcement on Instagram came after Meghan ramped up her posting on the site over the past week while she accompanied husband Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Canada.

A teaser for American Riviera Orchard, the previous name of Meghan’s brand ( 
Image:
americanrivieraorchard)Mayah added: “Throughout the Games, we saw Meghan effectively utilise Instagram, sharing personal moments and engaging content on her Instagram. This is also helping her to build a relatable and authentic brand image. I believe she used her Instagram as a testing ground to see how that was received before deciding to use Instagram for this announcement.”

Meanwhile, for PR guru Mark Borkowski, he said the U-turn could turn out to be a clever ploy for publicity for As Ever. He told MailOnline: “This isn’t an identity crisis. It’s a business model. Meghan isn’t floundering; she’s fluctuating on purpose. The perpetual reinvention, the strategic vagueness—it’s all by design.

“No, it’s a TV show. No, it’s jam. No, it’s a vague, atmospheric brand called As Ever. The more unpredictable she is, the harder it is to take her down.”

Since launching her new Instagram account on New Year’s Day, she has used the sign-off As Ever several times, including on the photo she shared of Harry and her kissing to mark Valentine’s Day.

The new launch comes as Meghan struggled with her trademark application for previous brand name American Riviera Orchard. Last September, it emerged her application to have her brand trademark had been rejected. She was then given three months to respond to the “nonfinal officer action” issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She was also warned that failure to do so could result in her application being abandoned.

She then encountered another stumbling block as a protest against trademarking the brand was lodged with the USPTO by the owners of the ‘Royal Riviera’ trademark. The ‘Royal Riviera’ trademark is owned by Harry & David, a US-based premium food and gifts retailer, for its ‘Royal Riviera Pears’, which are grown in the state of Oregon. The letter of protest, seen by The Mirror said there was a ‘likelihood of confusion’ and the case was referred to Marco Wright, the Trademark Office’s examining attorney.

The Duchess of Sussex shared the ‘secret’ that her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard would now be called As Ever – though eagle-eyed fans spotted hints that the change was coming

Meghan Markle has revealed that her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has been renamed As Ever – though the change wasn’t entirely a surprise.

In an Instagram video, Meghan, 43, told her followers that she was ditching the American Riviera Orchard brand name in favour of As Ever, and that its launch would tie in with the release of her highly-anticipated show With Love, Meghan. But while she admitted that she was “shocked” that she’d managed to keep the change a “secret for so long”, for some the change in title had long been hinted at.

However, eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the Duchess of Sussex appeared to hint at the name change prior to making the big announcement. Following the launch of her Instagram account at the beginning of the year, Meghan has used a very specific sign-off in all but two of her posts.

Fans spotted a sign that Meghan had hinted at the new name change ( 
Image:
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Since joining the social media site, Meghan has given fans a peek inside her life. In two months, she has shared seven posts on her grid including a video promoting her new Netflix show as well as a sweet Valentine’s Day tribute to her husband Prince Harry.

Alongside the posts, Meghan has become known for her lengthy captions. When it comes to signing off her posts, the Duchess of Sussex has ended the captions with “As ever, Meghan” five times out of seven. Besides being an endearing way to round off things, it just so happens to be the new name of her brand, As Ever, too.

Following the big reveal, fans took to social media to share that they’d spotted that Meghan had been hinting at the name for months.“When launching a new brand, memorability is key. ‘As Ever’ really works because she’s been using it consistently and will continue to do so, making it a recognisable part of her identity with the way she signs off her post. The roll out started in January in many ways!,” wrote one on X.

Meanwhile, another pointed out that Meghan has been using the sign off for years and had even signed off episodes of her Archetypes podcast, which ran from August to October 2022, with “As ever, I’m Meghan”.

They commented: “Meghan has been using the phrase “As ever” like ‘for ever’, to sign off. E.g., on all her Archetypes podcast episodes (As ever, Meghan), and going back in history, on her “The Tig” and IG posts. There is no one so consistent as Duchess Meghan.”

Meghan has used “as ever” as a sign off over the years, including on her recent Instagram posts ( 
Image:
As Ever)
As well as appearing to drop hints about the new brand name in plain sight, Meghan has opened up on the meaning behind the choice of As Ever. Having previously created the lifestyle blog The Tig prior to tying the knot to Prince Harry, she noted that the project would be an “extension” of things that have long been her passions.

“’As ever’ means ‘as it’s always been’ or some even say ‘in the same way as always’. If you’ve followed along since my days of creating The Tig, you’ll know this couldn’t be truer for me,” she wrote in the caption of her announcement post.

“This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish — food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the every day.

“I will keep sharing behind the scenes tidbits with you here as we ramp up to launch, and I can’t wait for you to get your hands on everything we’ve been creating. Sending lots of love… As ever, Meghan.”

Besides opening up on the change in name, Meghan gave fans a further taste of what they could expect from the brand. When American Riviera Orchard was launched last year, jars of jam were sent to different famous faces – though that’s just one of the things that people can expect from As Ever.

“I’ve always loved cooking, crafting and gardening. This is what I do and I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years but now I can,” she said.

“Of course there will be fruit preserve. I think we’re are all clear at this point that jam is my jam. There’s so many more products that I loved [and] use in my home. It’s time to share it with you. So I can’t wait for you guys to see it. Thanks guys.”

Prince Andrew marks a landmark birthday today as he turns 65 – and it seems the plans for any celebrations will be very different to the ones that had been lined up for him five years ago…

As Prince Andrew approached his 60th birthday five years ago, he was seemingly looking forward to a huge celebration.

Not only that but he was also expecting a grand honorary Navy promotion that would have seen him elevated to the rank of Admiral. But just weeks before his big day, he was forced to step away from royal duties after his car crash Newsnight interview. The sit-down chat with the BBC sent shockwaves around the world with Andrew declining to say he regretted his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, memorably recalling a visit to Pizza Express and claiming he was medically unable to sweat.

And in the weeks after the interview, the big birthday bash was cancelled and the Navy honour was ‘deferred’. Now five years on as he turns 65 today, Andrew has been dogged by yet more scandal due to his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Andrew has recently been dogged by scandal ( 
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PA)
He is also said to be embroiled in a row over his crumbling Royal Lodge home in Windsor, which he shares with ex-wife Fergie, and how he intends to pay for its costly upkeep. But one expert believes despite his seemingly reduced life now, the Duke of York will still mark the landmark birthday.

Biographer Andrew Lownie, who has spent years researching Andrew for a new book, told The Sun he imagines he will have a small gathering at Royal Lodge to mark turning 65. According to the publication, the disgraced duke still has loyal pals from high society who have stood by him and despite appearing to live a reclusive life, he still manages to have outings in London and lunches with pals at a luxury hotel near his home.

Before the Newsnight interview, Andrew had a full diary of royal duties. In the year before the disastrous chat, he carried out a total of 394 engagements – more than his nephew Prince William.

Andrew’s main tasks included promoting British businesses abroad as well receiving foreign dignitaries visiting the UK on behalf of the late Queen. He also helped to set up and run the Dragon’s Den style initiative Pitch@Palace, which saw start up business owners connected with potential investors during special events at Buckingham Palace.

But just days after the interview, Andrew sensationally quit public life “for the foreseeable future”. In a statement, approved by the late Queen, he said it had “become clear” to him that his “former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work.” He expressed sympathy for the victims of the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, saying he “hoped they could rebuild their lives.”

Andrew with his older brother King Charles ( 
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Getty Images)
He was also noticeably absent from the official photos from his oldest daughter Princess Beatrice’s lockdown wedding. Beatrice wed husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a low-key ceremony in Windsor under Covid restrictions.

However, he did make fleeting appearances at royal events that have been deemed family occasions. These have included the late Queen’s funeral, the King’s Coronation and a memorial for the former King Constantine of Greece earlier last year. However, he was forced to skip royal Christmas at Sandringham in December when his links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo emerged. In a High Court hearing it was heard that Mr Yang, who has been banned from the UK had been a ‘close confidant’ of Andrew’s.

But it’s not the only problem he’s had to contend with. Last month it emerged Andrew is facing a £1million bill for urgent repairs after an inspection on his crumbling mansion. The Mirror’s exclusive pictures showed the residence in a dire state, with large cracks in the masonry, peeling plaster and discoloured paint around the main house and staff quarters. Andrew is understood to have given assurances he would be able to meet the financial obligations needed for essential repairs.

As recently as 2019, the house had been painted and showed no signs of dilapidation. But in just over five years, the 19th century Grade II listed property, estimated to be worth around £30million, has fallen into immense disrepair, with increasing levels of damp and mould both inside and outside the buildings.

A royal source said: “The house is in a dire state and is in desperate need of repair. The Duke has been told in no uncertain terms that extensive and urgent repairs are needed to ensure the long term viability of the property before it falls into irrevocable decay.”

The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of copying a Majorcan town’s coat of arms after announcing she was renaming her lifestyle brand, formerly known as American Riviera Orchard

Meghan Markle has been told to remove the logo for her new lifestyle brand with the mayoress of a small Mallorcan town claiming it is the “exact copy” of their coat of arms.

On Tuesday, The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to rename her lifestyle brand “As Ever” while posting a rare image of her young daughter Lilibet.

The logo, with palm tree and two birds, is strikingly similar to that of the coat of arms of the town of Porrerers with the town’s mayoress describing the situation as “surreal”.

Xisca Mora told EL PAÍS that, although they are not in a position to sue for plagiarism, they are calling for the logo to be removed. The mayoress said that the town’s heraldic coat of arms dates back to 1370 and its reproduction is “part of the idiosyncrasy of Porreres, of its heritage and cultural identity”.

She said: “To sue for plagiarism is complicated and costly, and a small town council like ours is not in a position to fight against the English crown.

Meghan Markle faces ‘legal action’ by Spanish village for ‘plagiarism’ ( 
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As Ever)

The Porreres coat of arms ( 
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WikiCommons)
“At first, we took it as a bit of a joke because we didn’t really understand where it had come from and what their objective was in copying our coat of arms,” she explained to Vanitatis.

The new website for the venture features a picture of the duchess and her three-year-old daughter photographed from a distance, walking hand-in-hand across a sunny lawn with palm trees in the background.

It is understood that the the logo incorporates a palm tree as a nod to The Duke and Duchess’ home in California, along with two hummingbirds—a favourite of Prince Harry’s.

The distinct shape enclosing the birds and tree was reportedly, intentionally designed to create a unique and personal emblem. The Mirror understands that, as part of the process, comprehensive global searches of registered trademarks were conducted.

Meghan joked about the first product released by her business last year, a limited edition jar of strawberry jam, saying: “Of course there will be fruit preserves, I think we’re all clear at this point that jam is my jam.

“But there’s so many more products that I just love that I use in my home and now it’s time to share it with you, so I can’t wait for you to see it.”

The Duchess of Sussex has renamed her lifestyle brand “As Ever” ( 
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@Meghan/Instagram)Pointing out another similarity, Ms Mora said that jam is also one of the town’s typical products. She said that Porrerers has “the best jam in the world” and stressed that “the farmers will be happy” if Meghan wants to market it.

Ms Mora said that she was happy with the free publicity as a result of Meghan’s rebrand but pointed out that the coat of arms was not the only thing similar with the rebrand.

She explained that the brand’s promotional image belongs to the Mallorcan landscape. “On the front page of the website there is a palm tree that is typical of Mallorca because it doesn’t grow anywhere else,” she pointed out.

The mayoress has admitted that she will not be able to afford a legal battle but stressed she is happy with the “free publicity” and has invited Meghan to her small town

“Tracking them down would be unfeasible. It would be a very complex process, and we cannot afford it,” she argued, basing her argument on the advice of the council’s team of lawyers.

“If she wants, we can invite her to the patron saint’s fiestas and let her be the hostess.”

Prince Andrew could be celebrating his final birthday in Royal Lodge today as a property expert suggested he could come under increasing pressure to meet the costs to pay for the upkeep

Prince Andrew is celebrating his 65th birthday today (Wednesday, February 19), and it might just be his final one at the Royal Lodge according to a property expert. The Duke of York is locked in a battle with his brother King Charles who want him to vacate the property.

Andrew is under increasing pressure to sort out repairs at the residence he leased for 75 years in 2003. Under the strict terms of the lease with the Crown Estate, he’s obliged to maintain the property and foot the bill for any damages. Since King Charles cut off his £1million yearly allowance last year, meeting these costs has likely become a struggle.

Terry Fisher from We Buy Any Home has weighed in on the potential fallout if Andrew fails to make the necessary fixes. He said: “While it’s unlikely that he’ll be forced out immediately, the pressure is certainly mounting. If he doesn’t carry out the necessary renovations, his position at Royal Lodge could become increasingly unstable over the next year.

“Whether he faces legal challenges over the lease, or is gradually edged out due to financial or royal pressures, there’s a real possibility that this could be his last birthday at the property.”

Reports suggest the Duke might be staring down a £1million bill for urgent repairs after a recent inspection revealed his 19th-century Grade II listed home is falling apart, reports the Express.

Prince Andrew’s £1million yearly allowance was cut off by King Charles last year ( 
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Getty Images)

Last year, images surfaced showing parts of the estate looking rather worse for wear. If the place ends up in “significant disrepair”, the Crown Estate might step in to take back the Lodge, the property guru warns.

He further stated: “Beyond the legal implications, there’s also the wider royal context – King Charles has reportedly been pressuring him to step away from the Lodge, and continued financial strain could make maintaining the estate increasingly difficult.

“If he doesn’t take decisive action to fund and complete these urgent repairs, he may find himself left with little choice but to vacate the property within the next year.”

As for King Charles, while he may have had the authority to strip Andrew’s pay, Terry says he may not be able to overrule the lease of the property. “King Charles may be unable to overrule the lease outright, but he could apply pressure through legal or financial channels to ensure the necessary work is done,” he added. For now, Prince Andrew remains at the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who he divorced after 10 years of marriage in 1996.

A royal expert recently hinted at the ‘real’ reason Andrew wants to stay at Royal Lodge. Royal expert Bronte Coy however believes Andrew and Sarah should consider moving to the four-bedroom Frogmore Cottage, but reckons there is one thing stopping the couple from moving.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive podcast, she said: “It is the case that it’s a 30-room building and they don’t need it. I think it is just a case of pride and he doesn’t want to be kicked out.”