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2025 is just around the corner, but before we ring in the new year, it’s time to toast the old one with the last of the Christmas cheese and the final turkey sandwich.

Our brilliant Mirror photographers were kept busier than Santa’s elves this year, bringing us the news from every corner of the globe – as well as closer to home.

Here, our snappers have picked their favourite shots of 2024, from the Princess of Wales’ triumphant return to the public eye after her cancer battle when she appeared at Wimbledon, to new Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s landslide Labour victory, and the devastating aftermath of the Stockport riots just weeks later.

Mel B’s scary life – taken by Adam Gerrard (March 7)

 

UK weather: Chilly and dry conditions forecast by Met Office

 

Spice Girl Mel B talks about her book, Brutally Honest ( 
Image:
Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

Spice Girl Mel B sat down with the Mirror’s Laura Armstrong shortly before Mother’s Day to discuss her book, Brutally Honest.

The singer, 49, admitted having some scary rows with her own mum after moving herself and her three children into Andrea’s bungalow following the breakdown of her abusive marriage to Stephen Belafonte.

Sunderland burns – taken by Andy Commins (August 2)

Riots broke out after three girls were stabbed to death in Southport ( 
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Riot police look on as a car burns at a demonstration in Sunderland city centre days after three girls were stabbed to death in Southport.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf at a hearing in October, ahead of his trial set to begin on January 20.

Olympics synchronicity – taken by Andy Stenning (July 29)

Tom Daley and Noah Williams won silver in Paris ( 
Image:
Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Tom Daley and his dive partner Noah Williams’ silver medal-winning 10m men’s synchro at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tom, 30, was supported by husband Dustin Lance Black and their two children who were watching on in the stands.

The champion diver announced his retirement after the Games, saying: “I want to be with my family. I’m really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days.”

Election night victory – taken by Ian Vogler (July 5)

Sir Keir Starmer is joined by wife Victoria at the election count for his London Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

His Labour party swept to victory at this summer’s General Election, putting an end to 14 years of Tory rule and returning 402 MPs, catapulting Starmer into No.10.

The return of Donald Trump – taken by Jonathan Buckmaster (November 3)

Donald Trump at an election rally ahead of his victory in November ( 
Image:
Jonathan Buckmaster)
It was quite the year for elections, as Donald Trump stormed to victory over Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in early November.

Convicted criminal Trump had previously been ousted by Joe Biden after a failed run at a second term in 2020, but his Make America Great Again movement proved more popular against Harris’ ‘We Are Not Going Back’.

Trump, seen here at a rally in Salem, Virginia, survived an assassination attempt during the campaign and successfully lobbied for sentencing in his hush money case – in which he was found guilty in each of his 34 felony counts – to be delayed.

Thea Valman remembered the terror of living through Kristalnacht and escaping the Nazis ( 
Image:
Philip Coburn)
Thea Valman cuddles her doll, Lily, the last memento of her childhood in pre-Second World War Vienna. Now 90 and living in London, Thea remembers the terror of living through Kristalnacht as a four-year-old Jewish girl and watching her father being captured by the Gestapo.

Lily – a present from an uncle who was murdered by the Nazis – survived her family’s lucky escape to the UK and was restored by a kind woman Thea met during the Blitz.

Welcome back, Princess Kate – taken by Phil Harris (July 14)

Kate stunned the crowds at Wimbledon ( 
Image:
Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)
The Princess of Wales stunned crowds at Wimbledon when she made a rare public appearance to present the winner’s trophy to Carlos Alcaraz after a thrilling men’s final against Novak Djokovic.

In March, Kate Middleton announced she had cancer and would be taking a step back from her royal duties to undergo treatment and recover.

Then in July, she was joined by daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Middleton for the Championships, and waved to the cheering crowds as she wowed in a purple Safiyaa midi-dress.

Stockport tributes – taken by Rowan Griffiths (August 2)

Floral tributes left for the three girls who ost their lives in the Southport stabbings.
Floral tributes left for the three girls stabbed to death in Southport on July 29.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the start of the summer holidays.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with their murders, and not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf at a hearing in October, ahead of his trial set to begin on January 20.

Actress Martine McCutcheon will be hoping 2025 is a happier year for her as she suffers another cruel blow following her split from husband Jack McManus.

The Love Actually actress, 48, and musician Jack, 40, called time on their romance over the summer after 18 years together, with Martine seemingly revealing she was against a separation and Jack was the one to pull the plug on their marriage.

And in another cruel blow for the former EastEnders actress, it’s reported that Martine has been forced to slash the asking price of her once happy marital home as she looks to sell up ahead of their divorce. Jack and Martine actually listed the £1.5million house in Surrey for sale in May, three months prior to announcing their split.

The house, where the former couple lived with nine-year-old son Rafferty, was purchased by Martine and Jack for £1.3 million in June 2022. Despite originally listing it for sale at £1.5million, the exes have since slashed the price by £250,000, according to the MailOnline- meaning they look set to lose £500,000 should it sell for the £1.25million they’re asking for.

In November, Martine opened up about her unexpected split from husband Jack in August, suggesting that the divorce has led to a loss of friends. Since the surprising news broke, Martine has experienced a dip in her social life, feeling rather “blah” about it all. But recently, one of her dearest friends encouraged her to go out, resulting in a lively night where they were the last to leave a local bar.

Jack McManus (L) and Martine McCutcheon announced their split over the summer ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The former couple are now looking to sell their Surrey home ( 
Image:
Instagram)
Despite this boost, Martine disclosed that she’s had fallouts with some friends who took sides post-divorce. On Instagram, alongside cheerful snaps from her night out, Martine expressed her gratitude: “About Last night… My darling friend @samanthajm managed to get me ‘Out Out’ for first time in months! ! ! ! ! Whoop whoop! “.

Martine gushed about her recent night out, admitting she initially wasn’t in the mood: “If I’m honest, I was feeling all ‘blah’ and not into it at all! But she wasn’t giving up on me and she was right not to! We had SO much fun! Whoop! Whoop! We were the last ones there (Oh yes! Turns out Martine’s still got it! )”

She found herself uplifted by the encounter with fans who’ve been following her journey: “A couple we met, were so lovely too and apparently, have followed my career and my insta for years (Great taste obvs! ) So a massive shout out to them – Thank you for the lovely compliments, care and for making my head swell to the size of Brazil!”

Reflecting on personal changes, Martine shared: “And Samantha, you know that any break up after 18 years isn’t easy, in fact there are some facets that can feel brutal… Mutual ‘friends’ have gone silent, or have clearly picked a side, when they were never, even asked to! But I’m so lucky to have you!”

She heaped praise on her friend for her support: “You are a gracious, fair, loving, thoughtful, friend and you show them all how it’s done darling! Thank you for being so wonderful to me and Rafferty and Jack and for taking the time to make me feel seen and heard. It means so much! I love you ‘Mate! ‘ #watchout #shesoutout #greatnight #neededitmorethanithought #greatfriends.”

Martine left her fans in shock when she announced her plans to divorce in August, posting online: “After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision. We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, nine-year-old son Rafferty, who’s happiness and welfare has always been, and will continue to be, our number one priority.”

She further added: “We both of course, still cherish and look forward to being parents together to our wonderful boy for the rest of our lives. Whilst this decision has evolved over a period of time, we are still finding our new way forward as a family and kindly ask for some privacy at this time… Especially for our little boy.”

Christian Horner says he has had “tremendous support” from his wife Geri despite the allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” made against him earlier this year.

On the eve of the 2024 season, it emerged that a female colleague had complained about Horner and that the Red Bull parent company had launched an investigation. The long-serving team principal and CEO strongly denied the claims and he was later cleared by an external KC hired by Red Bull to look into the matter.

Following that verdict, messages supposedly between Horner and his accuser were leaked to journalists and senior figures within the sport. The complainant was later suspended by the team and told it was because she had been found to have been dishonest.

She exercised her right of appeal but eventually, in early August, Red Bull Racing confirmed that it too had been dismissed by a second independent KC. The situation often overshadowed what was happening on track, even if Red Bull and Max Verstappen were still dominant in the early stages of the year despite it all.

Now, speaking to RacingNews365, Horner has paid tribute to the support he received which helped to make that happen, both within the race team and from his wife, Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell. He said: “You’ve got to stick to your own principles and beliefs.

“I had tremendous support from within the team. Whilst there was a lot of noise in the paddock, whenever you cross the red line into the garage, it was business as normal.

“You never give up, you find out who your friends are and 100 percent [I didn’t consider stepping down], but it is a year I wouldn’t like to repeat. I think sitting here in December with the results that we’ve achieved is testimony to the strength and depth that we have in the team.

“I just believed in myself and the process and and my focus was to ensure that we kept winning, and we kept kept delivering. I’ve had tremendous support from my family and my wife and at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing.

“It’s certainly been a challenging year, but we’ve seen our driver defend his fourth drivers’ world championship, have won nine Grand Prix, qualified first nine times – even though he didn’t start from pole position nine times – and have won four sprint races.

“It’s been a strong campaign from the team, and particularly from Max, to get those kind of results, which are more wins than any other team in the pit-lane. Sometimes in adversity, of course, others look to capitalize on it, but it does galvanize the team and I felt that’s what happened this year.”

Meghan Markle, and her attempts to land a role in Tyler Perry’s upcoming Netflix film, The 6888.

Tyler Perry, despite his past support of the Sussexes, has drawn a very clear line when it comes to serious filmmaking. His upcoming project, The 6888, is no small feat—it’s based on the powerful true story of an all-black, all-female battalion during World War II. This is serious historical filmmaking, with Kerry Washington attached to star.

Tyler Perry didn’t build his empire by making poor casting choices. The man knows talent when he sees it, and he definitely knows when someone doesn’t have it. So, let’s think about Meghan’s acting resume for a moment: a few small roles and seven seasons on Suits, where she basically played herself. Compare that to Kerry Washington’s impressive body of work, and it’s easy to see why Perry would want to protect the integrity of this important project.What really strikes me here is the stark contrast between Meghan’s perception of herself and reality. She apparently thinks she can step into a role meant for someone like Kerry Washington, an acclaimed actress with genuine talent. The audacity is almost breathtaking.

 

Now, here’s where things get even more interesting. Remember when Meghan showed up at Tyler Perry’s theater opening? Well, now we might be seeing the real motivation behind that appearance. It wasn’t just about getting some photos and headlines. Meghan may have been trying to leverage their past connection into a role in his new film. This is classic Meghan behavior—turning personal connections into professional opportunities, regardless of qualifications.

Imagine what it would have meant if Tyler Perry had cast Meghan in The 6888. First, the entire production would have been overshadowed by the circus of being associated with a controversial former royal. Constant security, paparazzi, and Harry hovering around would have turned this serious historical drama into yet another chapter of the Meghan and Harry show. And let’s not forget the rumored demands—private chefs, Michelle Obama flown in, a custom trailer bigger than everyone else’s… the whole thing would have been a spectacle.

But let’s not overlook the timing of this rejection—it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Meghan and Harry. Their Netflix projects are falling flat, and have you seen the reviews for Harry’s Polo documentary? Even polo experts are laughing at it. The reality is that Hollywood is waking up to what the UK figured out years ago—Meghan Markle may be great at generating headlines, but when it comes to actual talent, well, let’s just say there’s a reason she was doing cable TV guest spots before meeting Harry.

Think about it: what have Meghan and Harry actually produced since signing that massive Netflix deal? A documentary about themselves, mostly complaining about the royal family. A documentary about the Invictus Games that somehow managed to make it more about them than the veterans. And now, this Polo disaster. It’s all style over substance, and Hollywood is starting to notice.

What’s particularly telling about this Tyler Perry situation is that it shows even their supposed friends are starting to draw boundaries. Perry has been incredibly generous to them—letting them stay in his house, donating to their foundation—but when it comes to his actual art, his business, that’s where he draws the line. And that has to sting.

Remember when Oprah was Meghan’s biggest cheerleader? Have you noticed how quiet that friendship has become lately? Meghan wasn’t even at Gail King’s 70th birthday party, an event Oprah hosted. The Hollywood elite are slowly but surely distancing themselves, and this rejection by Tyler Perry is just the latest example.

Now, let’s talk about timing. This rejection comes right as Meghan’s trying to launch her American brand, “Sierra Orchard,” clearly attempting to reinvent herself once again—from actress to royal to lifestyle guru. But these constant rejections from Hollywood must be making that pivot look more like a retreat than a strategic move.

The irony here is almost delicious. Meghan walked away from royal duties, claiming she wanted the freedom to pursue her passions, including acting. But now, it turns out that when you burn bridges with the royal family, you can’t just waltz back into Hollywood and expect major roles, especially not in serious historical dramas alongside respected actresses like Kerry Washington.

This situation highlights a fundamental difference between earning something and expecting it to be handed to you. Kerry Washington has spent decades honing her craft, taking challenging roles, proving herself time and again. She’s earned her place in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Meghan seems to think that because she married a prince and generated a lot of headlines, she deserves to step into starring roles in important films.

And let’s not forget what this film is actually about—The 6888 tells the story of the 6888 Battalion, the only all-black, all-female battalion to serve in Europe during World War II. These were real women who faced incredible discrimination and challenges, serving their country despite everything stacked against them. The last thing this story needs is to become a vehicle for Meghan’s self-promotion.

The contrast between Meghan’s approach and the way working royals handle their duties couldn’t be more stark. Take Kate, for example. She’s focusing on her “Early Years” project, doing serious work and making real change, all while battling health issues. She’s not trying to leverage her position for personal gain or Hollywood roles. She’s quietly and effectively serving. Or look at Princess Anne—steadily doing her duty for decades, without drama or demands for special treatment.

What’s fascinating about all of this is that it reveals the flaw in Meghan and Harry’s post-royal strategy. They seem to think their royal connections would automatically translate into success in entertainment. But Hollywood, for all its faults, still requires actual talent and the ability to deliver. You can’t just show up with a title and expect to land leading roles, especially in films about important historical events.

This rejection also speaks volumes about their future in Hollywood. If Tyler Perry, someone who has been supportive of them, won’t cast Meghan in a significant role, what chance does she have with other producers? This isn’t just a rejection of one role—it’s a public signal to the entire industry about where Meghan stands in the Hollywood hierarchy.

And let’s face it: Meghan and Harry are learning the hard way that Hollywood is a much tougher nut to crack than they imagined. You can’t just trade on royal connections and expect to be handed serious acting roles or have your vanity projects succeed. This industry requires talent, skills, and the ability to deliver what audiences want to see.

Footy fanatic Prince George joined his dad Prince William on the pitch for the first time to play in a ­traditional pre-Christmas match.

The pair played in the same team during the annual game between Sandringham estate workers and nearby villagers, as the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, rallied at the sidelines to cheer them on.

According to an insider, William almost scored a goal as George ran around the pitch energetically in what onlookers called “healthy father-and-son bonding time”, The Sun reports.

The source added: “There were other children playing and it was all good fun and light-hearted. It is nice that they have returned to take part in the traditional game as they haven’t done so for years. But it was interesting to see that Harry has now been substituted for Prince George.”

William, 42, has previously taken George, 11, to Villa Park and was joined by the young prince to cheer on England at Wembley. The duo were snapped jumping up and cheering players on when Cole Palmer scored for England, who won 2-1 against Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin in July.

The Princess of Wales, 42, stunned in a deep purple polo neck, lilac waistcoat, beige trousers and a green cap as she watched William and George from the side of the pitch. She wore her hair in a stylish plait and held a pair of black leather gloves, with Prince Louis, 6, and Princess Charlotte, 9, standing beside her to show their support.

William said on the That Peter Crouch Podcast in 2020 that George is free to support whichever team he likes. He said: “I’m trying not to persuade him to be a Villa fan, I’m letting him choose his own way. It’s about finding what fits for him.”

Meghan Markle Loses People Close to Her Due to Poor Judgment.

Meghan Markle’s ability to lose people around her has been brought into the spotlight by a Royal expert.

Author Hugo Vickers has commented on former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown’s assessment of Meghan, indicating that the Duchess of Sussex has exhibited a “poor judgment” in her relationships.In an interview with The Sun Online, Vickers remarked, “Meghan does seem to have a capacity for losing friends and allies all around the place.

 

Tina Brown, of course, is a very intelligent observer of the scene, and she’s been doing it for a very long time.”

He added, “For what it’s worth, Meghan lost me as an ally too. When she first joined the Royal Family, I took the stance that she was the first member to have addressed the United Nations. There was so much she could accomplish, but she gradually managed to upset everybody, including Tina Brown, and that can’t be a coincidence.”

 

Vickers went on to explain, “I lost confidence in her during all that ridiculous nonsense surrounding the birth of Archie, when she wouldn’t share any details with us.

She was the first woman I’ve ever heard of who gave birth and subsequently went into labor later on.”

When I first started following the whole Sussex situation, I never imagined we’d end up here, talking about missing millions in tax filings like we’re in some kind of Hollywood crime drama.

But here we are, and the numbers just aren’t adding up, are they? Let’s break this down piece by piece because what we’re looking at here is absolutely staggering. We’re talking about over $6 million – that’s right, million – just seemingly vanishing into thin air.

Fidelity Charitable reports giving $6 million, TisBest Philanthropy says they handed over $1050, but somehow Archewell only reports receiving two anonymous $1 million donations. Something’s not adding up here, and it’s not just my bad math.You know what really gets me? The sheer audacity of it all. Here they are, constantly preaching about compassion, service, and making the world a better place, but they can’t even keep their charitable foundation’s books straight. It’s like watching someone claim to be a master chef while burning water.

 

Let’s talk about what this means in the bigger picture. Remember when they first launched Archewell, all those grand promises about changing the world? Well, my friends, it seems the only thing changing is their financial statements, and not in a good way – from $13 million in 2021 to just over $2 million in 2022. That’s not just a drop, that’s a plummet worthy of a skydiving record.

And here’s what really makes my blood boil. While they’re playing fast and loose with these charitable donations, think about all the genuine charities out there, the ones actually making a difference, struggling to raise every penny. The ones William and Catherine support, for example, who operate with complete transparency and accountability.

Speaking of our beloved Prince and Princess of Wales, isn’t the contrast just striking? While William and Catherine are out there making real, measurable impacts with their charitable work, consistently showing up, being transparent, and actually delivering on their promises, what are the Sussexes doing? Trying to explain away missing millions.

Let me share something personal with you, my dear viewers. In all my years covering the Royal Family, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, except the train is made of solid gold and somehow disappeared between stations.

The timing of all this couldn’t be more interesting, could it? Just when their Netflix deal is supposedly up for renewal, just when Meghan’s trying to launch her new lifestyle brand, suddenly we’re hearing about missing millions and unfiled reports. Coincidence? I think not.

And let’s talk about this incompetency excuse that’s being floated around. Really? This is a couple who managed to negotiate multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify (rest in peace, Spotify deal), but they can’t manage to file proper paperwork with the State of California? They can’t keep track of millions in donations? As my grandmother used to say, “That dog won’t hunt.”

You know what’s particularly fascinating? The silence from their usual defenders. Where are all those vocal supporters now? Where are the Twitter warriors who usually rush to explain away every Sussex misstep? The silence is deafening, isn’t it?

Let’s remember something crucial here. This isn’t just about money. This is about trust. This is about integrity. This is about everything the Royal Family stands for. When Harry was a working Royal, he understood the importance of accountability. The Queen’s famous motto, “need to be seen to be believed,” wasn’t just about public appearances; it was about transparency and trustworthiness.

And now, look where we are. Millions missing, reports unfiled, explanations lacking. It’s like they’re running their foundation the way they’ve run their post-Royal life – making grand announcements and promises but delivering confusion and controversy instead.

Think about the irony here. They left the Royal Family claiming they wanted financial independence, claiming they wanted to do things their own way. Well, congratulations. They’re certainly doing things their own way, just not in the way anyone would have hoped or expected.

The impact on their reputation is going to be massive. I mean, who’s going to want to donate to a foundation that can’t account for millions of dollars? Who’s going to partner with an organization that seems to have such loose financial controls? This isn’t just bad PR; this is potentially catastrophic for their future endeavors.

And let’s talk about Harry for a moment. This is a man who grew up in one of the most disciplined and well-organized institutions in the world. The Royal Family has centuries of experience managing charitable foundations. How did he go from that to this? It’s like watching someone who trained at Le Cordon Bleu decide to run a hot dog stand and then somehow lose the hot dogs.

The most heartbreaking part of all this? The missed opportunity. Imagine if they had actually used their platform, their connections, their resources to create real, meaningful change. Imagine if they had focused on doing the work instead of just talking about doing the work. They could have built something truly remarkable. Instead, we’re left with this mess – missing millions, unfiled reports, and excuses about incompetency.

Is this really the legacy they wanted to create? Is this really what they left the Royal Family for? You know what really gets me? The way this affects all the causes they claim to care about – mental health, gender equality, environmental protection. All these important issues now tainted by association with this financial scandal. It’s like they’ve managed to turn gold into lead, the opposite of alchemy.

And let’s not forget about their staff, or what’s left of them. Imagine trying to do your job professionally while all this is going on. It’s like trying to arrange deck chairs on the Titanic, except the deck chairs are made of million-dollar donations that nobody can find.

The timing of their next financial report being due in November 2024 is interesting, too. That’s almost a year away – a year of questions, speculation, and doubt. A year of their reputation potentially crumbling even further. A year of William and Catherine continuing to show how real charitable work is done.

Speaking of our future King and Queen, isn’t it remarkable how they just keep going from strength to strength while this financial drama unfolds in California? They’re out there making real differences in people’s lives – no missing millions, no unfiled reports, just solid, dependable, transparent work for the good of others.

You know what this reminds me of? Those people who spend more time posting about their workout on social media than actually working out. The Sussexes seem to spend more time talking about their charitable work than doing it, and now we can’t even be sure where the money for that work is going.

The reaction from the charity sector is going to be fascinating to watch. Professional charitable organizations operate with incredible transparency because they understand that trust is everything. What message does this send to other foundations? What message does this send to potential donors?

And let’s talk about their future projects for a moment. Who’s going to want to partner with them after this? Netflix might be reconsidering that contract renewal right about now. Would you want to be in business with an organization that can’t account for millions in charitable donations?

The silence from their PR team is deafening, too. Usually, they’re so quick to respond to any negative press, but on this, cricket chirping. It’s like they know there’s no spinning this one. You can’t manifest your way out of missing millions.

Let’s consider the legal implications. The IRS doesn’t exactly have a sense of humor about these things, and California state law – they take their charitable foundations very seriously. This isn’t just about bad PR anymore; this could have serious consequences.

You know what’s really telling? The way the story is being reported, even in traditionally Sussex-friendly media outlets. When you’ve lost the support of your media allies, you know you’re in trouble. It’s like watching your best friend finally admit that maybe, just maybe, you’re not the victim in every situation.

And what about their core supporters, the ones who’ve defended them through everything? How do you defend missing millions? How do you explain away unfiled reports? It’s like trying to explain why the dog ate your homework, except the homework is worth millions of dollars and the dog is wearing a designer collar.

The impact on their brand is going to be fascinating to watch. They’ve been trying to position themselves as global philanthropists, as leaders in the impact space. Well, they’re certainly making an impact now, just not the kind they were hoping for.

You know what really strikes me? The complete lack of self-awareness. They’re still out there making announcements, still trying to launch new ventures, still acting like everything’s fine. It’s like watching someone try to sell beachfront property during a tsunami.

The contrast with other charitable foundations is stark, too. Look at the Royal Foundation under William and Catherine’s leadership – clear reporting, transparent operations, actual measurable impact. That’s how it’s done, folks. That’s what professional charitable work looks like.

And what about their future plans? They’ve got this cookbook coming out, this lifestyle brand launching. How does all this affect those ventures? Would you buy cooking advice from someone who can’t keep their books straight? Would you trust lifestyle tips from people whose lifestyle seems to include losing track of

 

Prince Harry’s role at mental health firm BetterUp is to ‘advocate for mental fitness’ and ‘guide the company’s social mission’.

The Duke of Sussex is also a vocal champion for its app, described as ‘life coach Tinder for millennials’, revealing that he used it to find his own ‘truly awesome’ mental health trainer when he joined in 2021 post-Megxit.But past and present employees suggest there is much work to be done after describing the US-based business as a ‘toxic train wreck’ and ‘psychologically unsafe place to work’ where ‘everyone is uncomfortable and living in fear’.

 

There are also choice words for BetterUp’s ‘elitist club of leaders’, who according to one worker ‘have no moral compass’ and ‘lack self awareness’.

And a company chief executive who used their services recently vowed never to use them again, claiming: ‘I had concerns about the confidentiality of my discussions and privacy during coaching calls with coaches’.

Another described the sales team as ‘predatory’. ‘I am glad I backed out because I read reviews by former employees and it didn’t look good and also highlighted the poor pay pressure to sell and lay offs and that they pay Prince Harry over a million dollars a year’, they said.

Since 2021 the Duke of Sussex has been working as ‘Chief Impact Officer’ at the US-based professional coaching and mental health app.

He has made regular appearances for the company on stage and on livestreams over the past three years, including last month with a former NBA star and friend of Kobe Bryant to discuss mental fitness and helping people ‘find their flow’.

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The Duke of Sussex has held the role of chief impact officer at the US coaching and mental health firm, BetterUp since 2021. Some claim it earn him $1million-a-year

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Harry’s job at BetterUp was one of the first he secured after emigrating with Meghan in 2020 after they quit as frontline royals and seek financial independence

Harry has also been a visitor to its buildings in San Francisco, California, and Austin in Texas, where staff have office dogs to pet, yoga studios, and armchairs to unwind in during their working day..

Despite these trappings, several employees, however, past and present have been critical via Glassdoor, which publishes company ratings and reviews by employees with the aim of increasing workplace transparency.

BetterUp has a 2.8 out of five stars rating on the site based on more than 600 reviews. Just 35% of people would recommend working there to a friend.

There are complaints about ‘too much ego at the top’ – and staff under pressure to hit targets.

The most recent review is 5-stars from five days ago, where an existing account manager says is a ‘great place to work’.

But in October a former employee called BetterUp a ‘literal circus’.

‘The company is a mess. Executive leadership is so detached from everyone else, engages in weird trips and spending, constantly shifts strategy and shuffles team functions.

‘As others have mentioned, there is a rampant favoritism with select employees being able to use the company as a open playground: sidestepping any process, being put into multiple VP roles across org functions regardless of qualification, escalating (often via text) to the founders the second they don’t get what they want, never being at risk of layoffs. This often results in one person being able to single-handedly derail an org-wide project at a company of 700+ people’.

In September one current employee called the firm a ‘toxic train wreck’. ‘You work your a** off but if you’re not in the inner circle, good luck to you’, they said.

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Less than glowing Glassdoor recent reviews by past and present employees of BetterUp

BetterUp is a place ‘where people dry up and shrivel’, one former account manager said in August,

‘I am not saying this figuratively. Literally every person at BetterUp hates their job’.

In the same month a current account manager said: ‘Their existence is based on lies, no moral compass and an elitist club of leaders (if you can even call them that) that lack self awareness’.

Another person who reviewed working for the company said: ‘It’s keep your head down… do your work, don’t get on someone’s bad side. No one will go to HR as HR is close to the leaders’.

‘Cult-like facade management out of touch. Toxicity. Everyone out for themselves High burn out’, another review reads.

MailOnline has asked BetterUp to comment.

The start-up’s co-founder and CEO Alexi Robichaux has repeatedly praised Harry, citing his ‘incredible attitude’ and claiming he has been ‘energised’ by Harry’s ‘model of inspiration and impact through action’.

The Prince has settled into his role at the company, which claims to use artificial intelligence to deliver personalised coaching sessions designed to nourish ‘the whole person’.

The company’s app – dubbed ‘life coaching Tinder for millennials’ – focuses on performance and wellbeing at work and is designed primarily for corporate use as an employee benefit.

BetterUp, founded in 2013, provides professional coaching, counselling and mentorship to your mobile phone, and is one of a handful of apps which promise to improve employee happiness, retention and – all importantly – productivity, through counselling and behavioural psychology.

Its co-founder and CEO Robichaux, a former Walt Disney employee and University of Southern California graduate, says he is on a mission to turn self-improvement into a science and ‘improve human existence’.

Its network of thousands of coaches serves a reported 100,000-plus members and offers coaching services to its own staff, including talks on ‘how to beat burnout’ and ‘build mental fitness’. There are sessions on ‘taking bold action for inclusive leadership’ and what to do if you want to ‘be you at your best’.

According to its own outcome surveys, its confidential, on-demand coaching sessions can reduce stress by 24 per cent. Some companies, says BetterUp, reported increases of performance of up to 26 per cent and a reduction in burnout of 15 per cent.

All of this comes at a hefty price for companies.

Corporate access to the app, including virtual classes and coaching sessions, reportedly costs around £2,600 per person for 12 months’ membership.

Harry himself has given the app his royal seal of approval, describing how he has found working with a ‘truly awesome coach’ to be ‘invaluable’.

He said his coach had given him ‘sound advice’ and ‘a fresh perspective’ and, explaining why he was joining BetterUp, added that ‘focusing on and prioritising our mental fitness unlocks potential and opportunity we never knew we had inside of us’.

The Duke of Sussex has held the role of chief impact officer at the US coaching and mental health firm,

When Prince Harry dramatically quit the Royal Family and moved to California with Meghan Markle in 2020, The Firm lost one of its most high-profile workers.

Royal expert and biographer Tina Brown claimed the departure means there is now a ‘Harry-sized hole’ in theAfghanistan veteran and his American wife.

 

And although the absence of Harry is having a profound effect on the professional capacity of the Royal Family, it’s also impacting them privately.

Ms Brown, who had lunch with Princess Diana just weeks before her death, claims the person who needs Harry back most is someone who now gets on with him the least: Prince William.

The former editor of Tatler and The New Yorker, 71, claims William surrounds himself with sycophants but his younger brother was good at keeping him grounded.

Writing on her Substack blog, Fresh Hell, she slammed an interview the heir did for his environmental award, the Earthshot Prize, at the end of his South Africa trip in November.

She opined: ‘William’s comment that his plans for a caring, sharing monarchy also include “throwing some empathy in there” made him sound like a performative pinhead.

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Diana’s old confidant Tina Brown has claimed the person who needs Harry back most of all is someone who now gets on with him the least: Prince William

‘In happier years, it was the irreverent Harry (or Harold as William lugubriously used to call him) who could tease the Prince of Wales and take him down a peg.

‘There are too many people around William now who, in Kara Swisher’s inimitable phrase about those who live in a gilded bubble, “lick him up and down all day”.’

Here MailOnline looks back at all the times Harry kept William in check by putting him in his place.

Showing his sporting prowess by whizzing past him in a foot race

One of the most photographed moments of Harry keeping William in check was when he trounced him in a race in 2017.

The two brothers went head to head in a sprint at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park alongside Princess Kate in front of dozens of well-wishers from the sidelines.

Harry won the race by a few metres, cheekily turning his head to look back at his brother who was grimacing as he struggled to keep pace while Kate finished last.

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One of the most photographed moments of Harry keeping William in check was when he trounced him in a race in 2017

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Harry won the race by a few metres, cheekily turning his head to look back on his brother who was grimacing as he struggled to keep the pace in second place

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The trio raced at a London Marathon Training Day for their charity Heads Together at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on February 5, 2017

The royal trio were there to spearhead the training day for their charity Heads Together, which focuses on mental heath.

The public example of Harry’s sporting dominance could have come as a shock to William, who as the elder brother was used to winning.

In a 2009 interview with BBC Newsround, he boasted that an arm-wrestling contest between them would ‘obviously’ end in his victory as ‘it’s not even a contest’.

But as William and Harry aged, the latter seemed to excel at their shared sporting hobbies, including boxing and polo – with him playing the elite sport at a professional level since moving to California.

Having digs at his baldness in an interview showing brotherly ‘banter’

Another memorable occasion when Prince Harry burst the heir’s bubble was during a joint interview in 2009 while training to be helicopter pilots.

In the ten-minute chat they traded several jibes about living together, which was seen as good-natured banter.

In Harry’s memoir Spare, he wrote that he and ‘Willy’ – who were in their mid-20s at the time – shared a cottage ten minutes away from RAF Shawbury in their first time living together since attending Eton College.

During the free-flowing chat, Harry complimented William by saying: ‘I think out of both of us, he’s definitely got more brains than me. We’ve established that from school.’ William then rolled his eyes jokingly.

Harry then teased about his brother’s ‘baldness’, but William laughed and snappily replied: ‘Pretty rich coming from a ginger.’

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The brothers traded several jibes about living together during a 2009 interview

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Although it was regarded as good natured at the time, Harry later wrote that William was perhaps feeling frustrated he would be unable to see combat like him

William also claimed he had to ‘cook and feed him every day’ and said Harry ‘leaves washing up in the sink’ and ‘snores’, but the younger brother responded by saying ‘oh, the lies’.

He continued: ‘The first and last time we will be living together, I can assure you of that,’ before William sarcastically interjected ‘it’s been a fairly emotional experience’.

But the friendly sibling rivalry displayed in the interview seemed to have been covering up a more deeply rooted resentment, according to Harry in his memoir Spare.

He wrote: ‘When I look back on it now, I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t something else at play.

‘I was training to get to the front lines, the same place Willy had been training to get, but the Palace had scuttled his plans.

‘The Spare, sure, let him run around a battlefield like a chicken with its head cut off, if that’s what he likes. But the Heir? No.

‘So Willy was now training to be a search and rescue pilot, and perhaps feeling quietly frustrated about it.’

Pushing back on how best to manage wildlife conservation projects in Africa

The brothers reportedly had a falling out over their differing approaches to wildlife conservation in Africa.

A source told The Times in February that, despite sharing a passion for preserving protected species, William is said to support community-led initiatives to help locals conserve the land while Harry favours a more interventionist approach.

The firm-handed approach favoured by Harry is better for ensuring habitats are protected quickly, but it requires generous donations.

The method has also fuelled tensions with communities who have been cut off from age-old grazing and herding routes.

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Prince Harry also disagreed with his brother over the best way to conserve locations in Africa

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The Duke of Sussex’s hands-on approach is reliant on funding from donors

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Prince Harry (pictured with armed rangers) was African Parks president for six years until moving to its governing board last year

The disagreement over wildlife seems to go back a long way, with Harry describing ‘almost coming to blows’ with William in front of childhood friends in his autobiography.

In response to a question about why the two brothers both worked in Africa, the Prince of Wales is said to have replied ‘Because rhinos, elephants, that’s mine!’.

Prince Harry once exposed the infamous text message argument between Kate Middleton and his ‘sobbing’ wife, Meghan Markle.

Writing in his bombshell memoir, Spare, which came out back in 2023, the Duke of Sussex opened up about the chaos surrounding his and Meghan’s wedding day which took place in 2018.

At the time of the wedding, there were tabloid reports that Meghan made Kate cry in the run-up to the ceremony.In her infamous Oprah interview, Meghan insisted it was the other way around, but added: “I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details, because she apologized. And I’ve forgiven her.”

 

Harry, however, was more than happy to get into the details.

In his book, the father-of-two claimed that his wife-to-be and sister-in-law had a falling out over bridesmaid dresses for Kate’s second-eldest. Princess Charlotte.

Prince Harry opened up about the infamous bridesmaid dress debacle in his 2023 memoir, Spare (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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With Kate and William’s daughter, Charlotte, set to be part of their big day, Harry claimed that there was a spat over the fit of her dress.

He recalled Kate contacting Meghan just four days before the wedding to say that the ‘French Couture’ dresses needed remaking.

He writes that Kate became frustrated because Meghan didn’t get back to her immediately.

“Meg didn’t reply to Kate straight away,” says Harry. “Yes, she had endless wedding-related texts, but mostly she was dealing with the chaos surrounding her father. So the next morning she texted Kate that our tailor was standing by.”

The text message exchange took place just four days before Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding (WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images)
“This wasn’t sufficient,” he adds.

Meghan’s father Thomas Markle Snr had to undergo heart surgery back in 2018, and was ultimately unable to attend the wedding.

Harry says that Kate later complained: “Charlotte’s dress is too big, too long, too baggy. She cried when she tried it on a[t] home.”

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To which Meghan replied: “Right, and I told you the tailor has been standing by since 8am. Here. At KP. Can you take Charlotte to have it altered, as the other mums are doing?”

However, Kate reportedly disagreed, saying: “No, all the dresses need to be remade.”

The tiff was apparently over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress (WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images)
Harry says: “Meg asked if Kate was aware of what was going on right now. With her father. Kate said she was well aware, but the dresses. And the wedding is in four days!”

To which Meghan snapped back: “Yes, Kate, I know… “