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  • How Princess Diana’s cigarette-loving big sister – who dated Prince Charles – found love with a farmer instead of the heir to the throne

    How Princess Diana’s cigarette-loving big sister – who dated Prince Charles – found love with a farmer instead of the heir to the throne

    As Lady Sarah McCorquodale celebrates 44 years of marriage today, onlookers may wonder if she is reflecting on how different her life could have been.

    Because Princess Diana‘s eldest sister once dated Prince Charles – she went out with the heir to the throne two years before her sister.

    In fact, Lady Sarah, 69, even introduced Diana to Charles and says she played ‘cupid’ for the pair.

    But it was 22-year-old Lady Sarah Spencer, a willowy red-head with a great sense of fun, who first caught Prince Charles’s eye at a house party at Windsor Castle for Royal Ascot.

    Prince Charles talks to Lady Sarah Spencer at a polo match in Windsor, 1977
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    Prince Charles talks to Lady Sarah Spencer at a polo match in Windsor, 1977

    Prince of Wales at polo with Princess Diana's sister, Lady Sarah, whom he dated in 1977
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    Prince of Wales at polo with Princess Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah, whom he dated in 1977

    ‘Prince Charles enjoyed Sarah’s sparkiness and irreverent wit and they made each other laugh,’ says Sarah Bradford, author of Diana: Finally, the Complete Story.

    Their romance involved polo matches and an invitation to Balmoral but it was after a skiing trip to Klosters in 1978, that Sarah made the mistake that would end their liaison.

    In an astonishingly frank interview with Woman’s Own, Bradford’s biography reports that Sarah declared: ‘I’m not in love with Prince Charles.

    ‘I’m a whirlwind sort of lady, as opposed to a person who goes in for slow-developing courtships.

    ‘I can assure you that if there was to be any engagement between Prince Charles and myself, then it would have happened by now.’

    Time magazine also reported that Sarah said, ‘Charles makes me laugh a lot. I really enjoy being with him,’ but she said there was ‘no chance’ of her marrying him.

    ‘I’m not in love with him. And I wouldn’t marry anyone I didn’t love whether he were the dustman or the King of England.’

    Princess Diana at Charles Spencer's 21st with Prince Charles and sisters, Lady Sarah (far right) and Lady Jane Fellowes
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    Princess Diana at Charles Spencer’s 21st with Prince Charles and sisters, Lady Sarah (far right) and Lady Jane Fellowes

    Sarah is known for her love of cigarettes, seen here at the Kensington roof Gardens in 1979
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    Sarah is known for her love of cigarettes, seen here at the Kensington roof Gardens in 1979

    Earl Spencer and his first wife with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Westminster Abbey after the christening of their daughter Sarah, 1955
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    Earl Spencer and his first wife with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Westminster Abbey after the christening of their daughter Sarah, 1955

    Sarah also described Charles as a ‘romantic who falls in love easily’ and revealed that despite their closeness, she always called him ‘sir’.

    Naturally upset by her revelations, Charles allegedly told Sarah that she had done something ‘stupid’ and their relationship met its end.

    Yet there were no hard feelings and Sarah later prided herself on being the matchmaker for Diana and Charles.

    The pair met at a dance at Althorp – the Spencer family estate – when Diana was just 16.

    ‘I introduced them, I’m cupid,’ Sarah is reported to have said.

    It seems that for Sarah, a more humble marriage to a wealthy Lincolnshire farmer – rather than toiling on the royal frontline – was the true path to happiness.

    Her husband Neil McCorquodale, now 73, is reported to be ‘solid, very steady, private, quiet, with a good sense of humour’, according to Sally Bedell Smith, author of Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess.

    The former officer with the Coldstream Guards was the perfect foil for Sarah, who Bedell Smith says, ‘was ebullient and enterprising, with an unpredictable streak.’

    So on May 17, 1980, the couple married in a modest ceremony at St Mary’s Church near Althorp, the Spencers’ ancestral seat in Northamptonshire.

    Lady Sarah, who wore a lace gown with a high neck and peplum detail, held a modest bouquet of seasonal white flowers, and topped off her look with the Spencer family diamond tiara.

    Princess Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (now Lady Sarah Chatto) was a bridesmaid.

    After marriage, Lady Sarah and Diana remained close – the sisters would go on holiday with their children, and Sarah even became one of Diana’s ladies-in-waiting between 1992 and 1997.

    It was a reversal of their childhood dynamic in which Diana hero-worshipped her big sister, even being a cleaner at a rental house that Sarah managed for their father.

    Lady Sarah with Neil McCorquodale, who she married in May 1980
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    Lady Sarah with Neil McCorquodale, who she married in May 1980

    Lady Sarah Spencer married Neil McCorquodale at St Mary's Church, near Althorp, on May 17, 1980. Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones (back row) was a bridesmaid
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    Lady Sarah Spencer married Neil McCorquodale at St Mary’s Church, near Althorp, on May 17, 1980. Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones (back row) was a bridesmaid

    The Christening of Emily Jane McCorquodale, in Lady Sarah's arms, in Lincolnshire
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    The Christening of Emily Jane McCorquodale, in Lady Sarah’s arms, in Lincolnshire

    Both sisters remained close after marriage and often holidayed together. Above: Lady Sarah (right) with her famous sister at Wimbledon, 1981
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    Both sisters remained close after marriage and often holidayed together. Above: Lady Sarah (right) with her famous sister at Wimbledon, 1981

    Princess Diana laughing with her two sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane Fellowes, 1995
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    Princess Diana laughing with her two sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane Fellowes, 1995

    Sarah’s support may even have extended to turning a blind eye to the ups and downs of Diana’s love life. In 1998 Princess Diana biographer Judy Wade told People magazine, ‘I think Sarah knew about Diana’s affairs.

    ‘In a way, she even encouraged Diana to be wild and to have lovers.’

    In fact, Diana once called Sarah, ‘the only person I know I can trust’.

    The closeness between the sisters was evident even after Diana’s death, when Lady Sarah read a poem at Diana’s funeral, acted as co-executor of Diana’s will and became president of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund until it closed in 2012.

    Today Sarah and Neil live near Grantham, Lincolnshire, where, in 2009, she served a one-year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.

    And it seems that Sarah is in no hurry to relinquish her reputation for being a bit wild – her friends and family celebrated her 60th with a huge cake in the shape of a packet of Silk Cut in tribute to her love of cigarettes.

    Their three adult children, Emily, 40, George, 39, and Celia, 35, are close to their Windsor cousins.

    Sarah's daughter Emily married George Woodhouse in Lincolnshire with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amongst the wedding guests. Above: The special day in 2018
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    Sarah’s daughter Emily married George Woodhouse in Lincolnshire with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amongst the wedding guests. Above: The special day in 2018

    Neil McCorquodale and Lady Sarah McCorquodale attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, May 2018
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    Neil McCorquodale and Lady Sarah McCorquodale attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, May 2018

    Will and Harry kiss their aunts at unveiling of Diana statue

    And Sarah and her other sister Lady Jane Fellowes are regular features of William and Harry’s lives: Sarah was at both of their weddings, as well as the christening of Harry’s son Archie in 2019.

    In fact, Harry is thought to particularly identify with his Spencer family.

    Ingrid Seward, royal commentator and editor of Majesty magazine, says that Harry is ‘extremely proud of his Spencer heritage’.

    ‘Not only does Harry look very Spencer with his red hair, but he calls his aunts Sarah and Jane his “red aunts”.’

    She told the Telegraph’The Spencer family [is] known for being outspoken, all action, leading with the heart, not the head.’

  • LIZ JONES: The reason why I used to love Diana but now I’m Team Camilla…and it’s not what you think!

    LIZ JONES: The reason why I used to love Diana but now I’m Team Camilla…and it’s not what you think!

    It was the honeymoon photos of the new Princess of Wales that clinched it for me to join Camp Diana.

    I’d always disliked the Royal Family, what with their ethos of hunting, shooting and fishing. The bear skin hats worn for ceremonial duties. Their love of horse racing and polo. Fly fishing!

    But the sight of Diana at Balmoral, clearly itchy in scratchy, dowdy tweed, trying to mask her boredom, made the animal lovers among us cheer her to the rafters.

    We swiftly fell in love with her refusal to not only kill animals for pleasure, but to refuse to be stiff and formal, and to go on to champion unpopular causes such as campaigning for victims of Aids, eating disorders, and poor mental health.

    The the sight of Diana at Balmoral, clearly itchy in scratchy, dowdy tweed, trying to mask her boredom, made the animal lovers among us cheer her to the rafters
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    The the sight of Diana at Balmoral, clearly itchy in scratchy, dowdy tweed, trying to mask her boredom, made the animal lovers among us cheer her to the rafters

    Princess Diana announcing on Panorama that 'there were three of us in this marriage'
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    Princess Diana announcing on Panorama that ‘there were three of us in this marriage’

    The Welsh Guards alongside the gun carriage carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales
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    The Welsh Guards alongside the gun carriage carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales

    Camilla in 1999 sipping sherry and going out with the Beaufort Hunt at Didmarton
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    Camilla in 1999 sipping sherry and going out with the Beaufort Hunt at Didmarton

    Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005 still left Liz Jones unconvinced
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    Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005 still left Liz Jones unconvinced

    Camilla was of course the villain of the piece. When the taped conversations between her and Charles were released (I used to sit in my office, dialling The Sun phone line to pay to listen to them, open mouthed), not to mention the moment Diana, during her BBC interview with Martin Bashir, revealed ‘There were three of us in this marriage’, I and any woman who had ever been cheated on, lied to, humiliated by a man would forever hold Diana in the highest esteem for her courage to speak out. When she died in Paris in 1997, the grief was personal, genuine, overwhelming. I didn’t sob as hard when my own father died a year later: I had no more tears left to shed.

    When Camilla finally married the man she had always been in love with, I was unconvinced, unexcited. I simply did not want to know. How dare she have made Diana so unhappy, so cast aside? She wasn’t as young, nowhere near as beautiful. Yes, she and Charles had more in common, but they should have decided that sooner!

    I only really started to thaw towards Camilla, drip by drip, after Queen Elizabeth died. She seemed to possess quiet dignity. Other women suddenly seemed really strident, and loud. Remember the way Camilla calmed Charles down when he was annoyed by a pen and ink? As the culture changed, and women embraced MeToo, refusing to be victims, the fact Camilla had never whined, or looked bored, or bleated doe eyed to a camera, ‘I’m not okay’ was suddenly a beacon of strength.

    When Charles was diagnosed with cancer, she didn’t sit by his bed stroking his hand, she dusted herself off and got on with it, working hard, with a smile on her face. When her beloved brother, environmentalist Mark Shand, died, she took up the mantle, raising money to help with the conservation of Asian elephants.

    I always disliked the fact she enjoyed fox hunting, was pictured mounted, sipping sherry. When hunting with hounds became illegal, she gave it up even as many others carried on. That she no longer takes part in a blood sport she had been brought up to enjoy, and which seemed normal to her and her class (Charles loved it too), is a welcome step in the right direction. Yes, we can change, yes we can bend to the will of the people.

    The vegan Coronation scroll was a triumph for animal lovers
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    The vegan Coronation scroll was a triumph for animal lovers

    Camilla was seen calming the situation down when the King seemed annoyed by a pen
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    Camilla was seen calming the situation down when the King seemed annoyed by a pen

    Camilla wrote to PETA to announce that she would no longer buy anything using animal fur
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    Camilla wrote to PETA to announce that she would no longer buy anything using animal fur

    Earlier this week, Camilla wrote to PETA, the animal rights campaign group, to announce she would no longer buy anything using animal fur. It is a small step, as she might still wear vintage fur on occasion. Not quite as heart-warming as Queen Elizabeth, sat alongside a straight-backed rescued beagle called Guy in her car on the way to Meghan’s wedding rehearsal, not an Awwww moment, but welcome nonetheless.

    Camilla’s decision joins a long list of animal friendly actions taken by the Royal Family in recent months. Earlier this month, the RSPCA announced that King Charles is its new patron, saying, ‘His Majesty’s powerful voice for nature and regenerative farming will be vital in raising the profile of animal welfare and inspire more people than ever to create a better world for every animal.’ Foie gras is no longer served in the Royal Household, and the Coronation Roll, the official record of last year’s ceremony, was produced on paper not parchment, which is made from animal skin. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. A 2023 Guardian investigation reported that over the past two decades Sandringham ‘has been linked to the deaths and disappearances of a string of legally protected birds’.

    Animal Aid found that more than 7,000 mammals and birds were killed on Royal land in one year. Among that number, thousands of foxes and corvids were killed in order to protect the estate’s pheasants from predators. Snares are banned in Wales and Scotland, but not in England. In 2021, PETA wrote to the then Prince of Wales with a request to ban snares at Sandringham, but claims not to have received a response to this day. Balmoral is used to hosting ‘straightforward’ shooting parties.

    But I do think Camilla is listening to what the ordinary British public want. According to the RSPCA, 95 per cent of us disagree with wearing fur. Charles clearly takes note of her advice. I like to imagine her whispering in his ear, gently persuading and guiding. So, Camp Camilla it is. Non-bearskin hats off to her. I cannot wait to see what long-held tradition will meet a sticky end next…

  • Meghan Markle channels her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she recreates iconic blazer ensemble in Los Angeles

    Meghan Markle channels her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she recreates iconic blazer ensemble in Los Angeles

    Meghan Markle channeled the fashion prowess of Princess Diana as she recreated her late mother-in-law’s iconic blazer ensemble upon her return to Los Angeles.

    The Duchess of Sussex, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, arrived back in the US on Monday after an 18-hour flight home from their three-day trip to Nigeria.

    Mother-of-two Meghan sported a sophisticated, 90s-inspired outfit as she landed at Los Angeles International Airport, typing quickly on her phone as she walked.

    The actress-turned-royal donned a khaki linen and wool mix blazer from Loro Piana, called the Jamilla, which retails for around £2,900.

    Underneath her jacket, the Duchess wore a cashmere and silk mix sweater – the Takao Jumper – also from Loro Piana, which costs £990.

    Meghan sported a sophisticated, 90s inspired outfit as she landed at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday - similar to one Princess Diana wore
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    Meghan sported a sophisticated, 90s inspired outfit as she landed at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday – similar to one Princess Diana wore

    In the autumn of 1994, the late Princess of Wales was snapped shopping in Knightsbridge sporting a very similar ensemble
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    In the autumn of 1994, the late Princess of Wales was snapped shopping in Knightsbridge sporting a very similar ensemble

    Meghan co-ordinated the ensemble with a pair of £815 Chris canvas and leather slippers from Yves Saint Laurent in the gold brown colour way.

    She then tied it the ensemble together with pair of fitted, cropped white jeans – a style she has favoured multiple times in the past.

    But eagle-eyed royal fans may notice how similar the outfit is to one famously worn by Princess Diana while out shopping in London.

    In the autumn of 1994, the late Princess of Wales was snapped shopping in Knightsbridge sporting a chic blazer and white trousers.

    She opted to wear a pair of oversized sunglasses, a cream turtleneck with a jade green blazer and an ivory and brown back elegantly slung over her shoulder.

    She paired this with a brown belt and some white skinny jeans, along with shoes that look almost identical to the flats worn by Meghan.

    This isn’t the first time the Duchess has channeled her mother-in-law. During the tour in Nigeria, Meghan looked to her for inspiration when choosing her accessories.

    Meghan sported chunky gold earrings from Lanvin, her AURate collar necklace and an array of dazzling bracelets, as well as her wedding rings.

    Meghan Markle has seemingly paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she joined Prince Harry on a 'three-day royal tour' in Nigeria
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    Meghan Markle has seemingly paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she joined Prince Harry on a ‘three-day royal tour’ in Nigeria

    The jewels resembled those worn by Diana when she visited the country in 1990 with her then-husband Charles, just two years before they separated
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    The jewels resembled those worn by Diana when she visited the country in 1990 with her then-husband Charles, just two years before they separated

    The jewels resembled those worn by Diana when she visited Nigeria herself with her then-husband Charles, just two years before they separated.

    Meghan added a bit more glamour by wearing Diana’s gold Cartier Tank Française watch.

    The gold £17,800 watch was worn by Diana at a number of occasions, including a 1997 visit to London’s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple and an engagement at the British Lung Foundation that same year.

    Meghan is known to be a fan of the elegant timepiece and splurged on her own two-tone version back in 2015 when Suits was picked up for a third season.

    Meghan has been gifted several items from Diana’s collection. They include Diana’s butterfly earrings and gold bracelet which she wore on their Australian tour in 2018.

    Yet the watch is a favourite and she has been spotted wearing it often. The watch had been gifted to Diana by her father on her 21st birthday.

    On May 10, Meghan was spotted wearing the AURate collar necklace with a chic white suit
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    On May 10, Meghan was spotted wearing the AURate collar necklace with a chic white suit

    Harry and Meghan were spotted arriving in Los Angeles on Monday after a marathon 18-hour flight from Nigeria amid a row over their charity’s operating status in California.

    The couple, were pictured being whisked away by a car at Los Angeles International Airport’s ‘Private Suites’ facility.

    The Duke and Duchess have called the semi-royal tour ‘fantastic’ and said it will be the ‘first of many memorable trips’ – which included a moment where Meghan hailed Nigeria as ‘her country’ after a DNA test suggested she was part-Nigerian.

    They landed back in the United States a few hours before Californian authorities confirmed a ‘delinquency’ row involving their charitable endeavour, the Archewell Foundation, had been resolved following confusion over an unprocessed cheque.

    California’s Department of Justice listed the charity, which brought in around $9million (£7.1million) less in donations in 2022 than it did the year before, as ‘not in good standing’ because of an alleged failure to pay a $200 renewal fee.

  • Charles Spencer reveals the ‘most astonishingly beautiful gift’ he’s been given for his 60th that honours his sister Princess Diana – and admits he ‘cried on seeing it’

    Charles Spencer reveals the ‘most astonishingly beautiful gift’ he’s been given for his 60th that honours his sister Princess Diana – and admits he ‘cried on seeing it’

    Princess Diana‘s brother Earl Spencer has revealed he was left tearful after receiving an ‘astonishingly beautiful’ gift when celebrating his 60th birthday over the weekend.

    Charles, who reaches the milestone today, took to his social media accounts to share photographs of the thoughtful homemade present, explaining that it honours his sister, the late Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in 1997.

    Diana’s final resting place is situated on a private island in the middle of the Oval Lake on the Althorp Estate, in Northampton, where she grew up.

    Although there is a memorial for members of the public to pay their respects, Diana’s grave is completely remote and can only be visited by family.

    One of Charles’ friends decided to gift the author with an ‘astonishingly beautiful canoe’, handmade by her husband over many months, who explained: ‘I just thought it’d be useful, when you visit your sister.’

    Earl Spencer, Princess Diana, Charles, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale at Earl Spencer's 21st birthday party in 1985
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    Earl Spencer, Princess Diana, Charles, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale at Earl Spencer’s 21st birthday party in 1985

    Taking to Instagram today, Charles shared a selection of images of the touching present, placed next to the lake at Althorp.

    He captioned the photos: ‘Today I turn 60. I had 30 friends and family to stay over the weekend…

    ‘I was brought down to the lake at Althorp by a friend, on Saturday. Her husband handmade this astonishingly beautiful canoe for me, as a surprise, over many months. I cried on seeing it. It’s almost too exquisite to paddle.

    ‘The husband said: “I just thought it’d be useful, when you visit your sister”. Such an overwhelmingly beautiful thought.’

    He also shared the story and photos to X, formerly Twitter, writing: ‘Probably the most astonishingly beautiful gift I’ve ever received: I found this canoe, handmade by a friend over many months, by the lake at ⁦@AlthorpHouse

    ⁩’“Something for you to visit your sister in”, he said. Out of words, I could only cry at the beauty of that thought.’

    Fans were delighted by the gift, with one person writing in the comment section on Instagram: ‘What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! I had tears in my eyes when I read your message!

    Another said: ‘Happy 60th birthday, how beautiful is that canoe, and how lovely for you to visit your (and our) Princess Diana in it. What thoughtful clever friends you have. P.S I got emotional just reading your post.’

    Princess Diana 's brother Earl Spencer has revealed he was left tearful after receiving an 'astonishingly beautiful' gift (pictured) when celebrating his 60th birthday over the weekend
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    Princess Diana ‘s brother Earl Spencer has revealed he was left tearful after receiving an ‘astonishingly beautiful’ gift (pictured) when celebrating his 60th birthday over the weekend

    One of Charles' friends decided to gift the author with an 'astonishingly beautiful canoe', handmade by her husband over many months, who explained: 'I just thought it¿d be useful, when you visit your sister'
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    One of Charles’ friends decided to gift the author with an ‘astonishingly beautiful canoe’, handmade by her husband over many months, who explained: ‘I just thought it’d be useful, when you visit your sister’

    Diana's final resting place is situated on a private island in the middle of the Oval Lake on the Althorp Estate, in Northampton, where she grew up. Although there is a memorial for members of the public to pay their respects, Diana's grave is completely remote and can only be visited by family
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    Diana’s final resting place is situated on a private island in the middle of the Oval Lake on the Althorp Estate, in Northampton, where she grew up. Although there is a memorial for members of the public to pay their respects, Diana’s grave is completely remote and can only be visited by family


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    Taking to Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, today, Charles shared a selection of images of the touching present, placed next to the lake at Althorp

    Taking to Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, today, Charles shared a selection of images of the touching present, placed next to the lake at Althorp

    A third added: ‘Oh my lord, what an incredibly thoughtful friend, one of the most beautiful gestures I’ve heard of. You must be a great friend too for someone to make a gift like that for you.’

    It comes after Earl Spencer attended his nephew Prince Harry’s Invictus Games service earlier this month in London.

    The Duke of Sussex, 39, gave warm hugs to his uncle and aunt Lady Jane Fellowes at St Paul’s Cathedral before the event to celebrate the competition’s 10th anniversary.

    Princess Diana’s siblings were also joined by former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as Harry’s mentor after his mother’s death in Paris in 1997.


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    Reaction: Fans were delighted by the gift, with one person writing in the comment section on Instagram: 'What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! I had tears in my eyes when I read your message!

    Reaction: Fans were delighted by the gift, with one person writing in the comment section on Instagram: ‘What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! I had tears in my eyes when I read your message!

    Other notable guests at the service in London included his cousin Louis Spencer, lawyer David Sherbourne and the Prime Minister’s wife Akshata Murty.

    But there were no senior royals with Harry, as they instead put on a show of unity for King Charles who attended a Buckingham Palace garden party two miles away.

    Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole said it was notable that none of Harry’s royal blood relatives – including his father and brother William, who attended the inaugural Invictus event in London at Harry’s side in 2014 – were at St Paul’s.

    He told MailOnline that there ‘never was much love lost between the Spencers and the Windsors’, and the ‘divide was shown in its deepest and starkest form’ at the service.

    Prince Harry chats with his uncle Earl Spencer at Invictus ceremony

    Harry's uncle Earl Spencer and aunt Lady Jane Fellowes arrive at St Paul's in London on May 8
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    Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer and aunt Lady Jane Fellowes arrive at St Paul’s in London on May 8

    Prince Harry waves as he arrives to attend the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8
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    Prince Harry waves as he arrives to attend the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8

    Mr Cole pointed out that while Harry’s ‘birth family’ – led by Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes – went to St Paul’s to support the Duke, ‘the entire Royal Family stayed away’.

    He also recalled that when Princess Diana’s coffin arrived for burial on the Spencer family estate of at Althorp in Northamptonshire in 1997, Earl Spencer ‘whipped off the flag that covered it and replaced it with the Spencer standard’.

    Mr Cole said: ‘Nothing could have illustrated more clearly the gap that will always separate two famous families.

    ‘Words have power and actions have consequences, as Prince Harry – whose criticisms of his Windsor family have been harsh, cruel and wounding – is increasingly finding out.’

  • The luxurious lifestyle of David and Victoria Beckham may come to an end as auditors discover anomalies in Beckham’s business statements (video)

    The luxurious lifestyle of David and Victoria Beckham may come to an end as auditors discover anomalies in Beckham’s business statements (video)

    David and Victoria Beckham continued to live it up as they cruised down the Amalfi Coast on their £16million superyacht on Saturday.

    The couple have been travelling around Italy this week,

    sailing around the Aeolian Islands before heading to Nerano where they enjoyed a spot of lunch at renowned restaurant Lo Scoglio.

    Before heading to shore, David made the most of the sunshine as he stripped down to his blue swimming trunks to top up his tan.

    The former footballer, 49, showed off his muscular tattooed physique as he relaxed  on a sun lounger before descending the steps and launching himself into the water.

    After his refreshing swim, David lived up to his heartthrob status as he showered himself down.

    Posh, 50, wore her iconic look once again as she kept cool in a black minidress before changing into a black maxi dress for the lunch.

    The former Spice Girl, who was known in her pop band days for wearing a Gucci LBD, opted to go braless in the plunging number.

    The couple took a speedboat to shore with their group of friends to head to the restaurant where they have visited previously over the years and is a hotspot amongst stars.

    The restaurant overlooks Marina del Cantone and serves fresh local seafood and traditional antipasti.

    Victoria kept herself shaded in a large sun hat as they took a smaller boat to the mainland.

    Posh and Becks appeared to be thoroughly enjoying their holiday as they were pictured having a toast with their pals.

    The couple put on a rare display of affection during the meal, with David stroking Victoria’s head at one point, while she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

    Their children weren’t seen at the lunch, but Cruz, 19, Romeo, 21, and Harper, 13, joined them on the holiday earlier this week in Sardinia.

    After heading back to the yacht, David joined Victoria for some more food on the boat’s decking as they soaked up the sunshine.

    The couple traded in their £5million yacht for the much bigger vessel back in March and have been pictured on it sailing around Miami.

    The impressive looking vessel, understood to be worth £16million, was a significant upgrade on the comparatively modest 100-foot yacht reportedly purchased by Beckham in 2022.

    The football legend was said to have ‘treated himself’ to his original vessel in 2022 after being inspired by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish – who often holiday at sea.

    A source told The Sun at the time: ‘David had a look around some yachts in the summer, and decided to treat himself. He helped design the boat himself, and has been incredibly hands-on with everything.

    ‘It’s not an oligarch-style super-yacht, but it’s still pretty plush by anyone’s standards. He was inspired after holidaying with Elton and David on their boat – and loves life on the water.

    ‘There will be an area for the kids to snorkel, and the boat will be a brilliant base for the whole Beckham clan to have magical holidays abroad.’

    It comes after Victoria hilariously called out her husband David for apparently making her look ginger in one of their latest snaps together.

    The couple enjoyed a romantic meal together at a stunning vineyard in France on Tuesday.

    The fashion designer looked incredible in a little black dress, while accessorising with a silver bracelet and her dazzling wedding ring.

    However, Victoria couldn’t help but notice her hair looked a little different than usual in the photo which David uploaded to his Instagram account.

    Taking to the comment section, she wrote: ‘What? Why is my hair ginger??? What filter is that David?’

    Several other Instagram users commented on the post, with one jokingly referring to Victoria as ‘Ginger Spice’, her bandmate Geri Horner’s nickname.

    Others added: ‘It looks beautiful to me’… ‘Very beautiful ginger!’… ‘You look fabulous’.

    David shared the loved-up snap to Instagram and wrote: ‘We have eaten in many beautiful places but WOW Domaine De Peretti Della Rocca’.

    Victoria also shared sweet images of their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper posing on a mega yacht in Sardinia.

    It comes after David and Victoria reacted to their Emmy Awards 2024 nominations.

    The couple have been nominated in a whopping five categories for the 2023 Netflix documentary BECKHAM.

    The series gave an unprecedented look at David’s career journey and a glimpse at the start of their romance and marriage.

    The four-part series was nominated for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 2024 Emmy ceremony, going up alongside Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Telemarketers and The Jinx – Part Two.

    It was also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing and Outstanding Music Composition.

    In reaction David told HELLO!: ‘It’s a real honor for me and the whole creative team for BECKHAM to be recognized by the TV Academy.

    ‘Making this series was such a personal journey, a love letter to football and my family. It has been overwhelming for me and Victoria that we have had such a warm and positive response to the series.

    ‘I’m so grateful to the incredible team led by Fisher Stevens and also to all those people from my life and career who took part and who have played such an important role in my story.’

  • Nicola lost the wedding gift Victoria Beckham gave her, causing Victoria to be so angry that she hasn’t spoken to her for the past three months (video)

    Nicola lost the wedding gift Victoria Beckham gave her, causing Victoria to be so angry that she hasn’t spoken to her for the past three months (video)

    We always knew that the wedding of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz – the eldest son of music,

    fashion and football royalty and the actress and billionaire heiress – would be a big deal.

    From Victoria Beckham’s mother-of-the-groom slinky silver couture dress, to all the famous wedding guests,

    the glamorous Florida wedding has already shaped up to be one of the biggest celebrity events of the summer.

    But despite the gravity of such a big event, the wedding wasn’t without its symbolic and significant moments.

    One of which was Victoria Beckham’s mother-of-the-groom luxury accessory.

    The fashion designer paired her bias-cut silver dress with the simplest – yet most significant – accessory: a 21.5 carat diamond necklace.

    The famous family are known for their extravagant, and often expensive gifts – David Beckham gifted Brooklyn and Nicola a £500,000 vintage jaguar as a wedding present – so it comes as no surprise that the huge 21.5 carat pear diamond necklace was originally a gift from David to Victoria.

    The 21.5 carat pear-shaped diamond, mounted in platinum with a full diamond-set collet, was given to Victoria by her husband David on the day of Brooklyn’s christening almost 20 years ago, but was given a modern makeover for her eldest son’s nuptials.

    The pear-shaped diamond is now suspended from a “French 18 carat yellow gold handmade filigree link guard chain”, according to British Vogue. The diamond, and its mount, was crafted into a pendant made from an English chain, originally made circa 1870.

    The gold pendant features an intricate wild bee motif that leads to a fist symbol, known as a figa. The figa is a talisman symbol worn to protect against the evil eye, and is said to bring good luck when given as a gift.

    Against her simple, yet intricate, lace slip dress, and Victoria Beckham’s glowing skin, the diamond pendant necklace was front and centre of her mother-of-the-groom look.

  • Inter Miami faces the risk of losing their spot in the World Cup as Messi’s injury worsens (video)

    Inter Miami faces the risk of losing their spot in the World Cup as Messi’s injury worsens (video)

    Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are eyeing off a cup tie vs. Cruz Azul as his debut game for the MLS club according to owner Jorge Mas.

    The imminently watershed moment could come in the Leagues Cup match against the Mexico City-based club on June 21 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

    Messi has already shown he still has magic in his boots, scoring the fastest goal of his career – a beautiful one, at that – vs. Australia in last week’s friendly.

    He played the full 90 minutes and speaking after the game, outlined his plans for a vacation after international duty before then heading to start a new life in the United States.

    The cheapest ticket for the Cruz Azul match, at the time of writing was $1,387 via SeatGeek.

    Despite comparisons to David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007, Messi’s deal with Inter Miami will not be subsidized by MLS.

    ‘No rules are being changed to incorporate Messi on to Inter Miami’s roster,’ he told local reporters.

    While that may not be the case, Mas does feel some sense of responsibility — individually and collectively — to capitalize on the presence of perhaps soccer’s greatest-ever player.

    ‘I think there will always be a “before and after Messi” when we talk about the sport in the United States,’ he said.

    ‘I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States… Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference.

    ‘I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment.’

    On the pitch, Messi is set to be joined by at least one former Barcelona teammate in Sergio Busquets.

    It comes despite interest from Saudi Arabia, who have been able to lure the likes of Karim Benzema — with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante also likely to make a switch to Al-Ittihad.

    Talks with Inter Miami have entered the final stretch and the signing could be made official this week, according to Catalan radio station RAC1.

  • David Beckham excites fans by sharing a video revisiting the Spice Girls’ rehearsal for their 30th-anniversary album (video)

    David Beckham excites fans by sharing a video revisiting the Spice Girls’ rehearsal for their 30th-anniversary album (video)

    David Beckham thrilled fans by sharing a video of all five Spice Girls performing together again during his wife Victoria’s boozy 50th birthday party.

    Victoria Beckham had an extra special surprise at her 50th birthday bash, with all five Spice Girls in attendance and giving an energetic performance of their 1997 hit ‘Stop’.

    Proud husband David couldn’t help but capture the magic moment.

    Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel C, Victoria and Mel B came together for a glamorous reunion as they sang their heart out to the gathered crowd, reports the Mirror

    The clip also shows David, clearly delighted, filming the nostalgic spectacle.

    David posted the video on his social media with eight heart emojis, captioned:

    “I mean come on x @victoriabeckham @melaniecmusic @officialmelb @emmaleebunton @gerihalliwellhorner.”

    The video sparked joy amongst fans, with one stating: “David you are the best social media manager out there, thank you for giving the people CONTENT.” Another said: “The moment the entire planet has been waiting for.”

    While someone else humorously added: “I am crying cause David’s the groupie here.”

    “Spice Girls I really need you to do a tour or something,” another begged. While one commented: “The way a whole generation is SHAKING.”

    A fan wrote: “Literally would give my first born to be doing the STOP choreography with the girls.”

    The iconic group, the Spice Girls, formed back in 1994 and quickly soared to global fame, leaving fans heartbroken when Geri Horner (then Halliwell) departed in 1998 amidst the Spiceworld Tour. Despite her exit, the remaining members carried on and pursued solo projects, eventually taking a break from the group in 2000.

    In a nostalgic reunion, the Spice Girls came back together for a worldwide tour in 2007, each reportedly pocketing £10million for their return. Following the triumphant tour’s conclusion in 2008, they took a step back until their stunning performance at the 2012 Olympics, delivering a medley of hits including ‘Spice Up Your Life’ and ‘Wannabe’.

    Fast forward to 2019, and we saw Mel B, Mel C, Emma, and Geri hit the stage once more for the massively popular Spice World 2019 Tour, sans Victoria. Now, with Mel B hinting at another possible reunion this year, could Victoria Beckham’s recent party be the biggest clue yet that all five might grace the stage together soon?

  • Nicola’s father suspects the Beckham family was involved in organizing the wedding, causing a loss of $20 million in wedding gifts for his daughter (video)

    Nicola’s father suspects the Beckham family was involved in organizing the wedding, causing a loss of $20 million in wedding gifts for his daughter (video)

    It’s been almost a year since Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz were married during a lavish Palm Beach wedding last April,

    but the drama surrounding the nuptials continues to unfold.

    Now, Nicola Peltz Beckham’s billionaire father – Nelson Peltz – is suing one of three sets of wedding planners who failed to meet the “scale” of his daughter’s high-profile guest list.

    New documents obtained by The Daily Mail show Peltz and Beckham went through three different wedding planners ahead of their big day

    – the second of whom Nelson Peltz is suing for refusing to refund him his $159,000 deposit.

    According to the lawsuit, Peltz is suing Nicole Braghin and Arianna Grijalba of the Miami-based firm Plan Design Events,

    whom he and his wife allegedly hired six weeks before the wedding.

    The couple hired the duo after firing their first planner, Preston Bailey – who planned Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s wedding.

    The Peltz’s eventually landed on Michelle Rago to carry out their wedding plans, but the father reportedly had to pay a “substantially higher fee than what Rago Destinations would have charged” due to the last minute time frame.

    In the lawsuit, Peltz claimed that Braghin and Grijalba couldn’t handle the expectations of the VIP guestlist, which “included more than five hundred people, including numerous celebrities, athletes, dignitaries and other influential individuals, who travelled from all around the globe to attend.”

    His daughter is also described in the lawsuit as a “world-famous actress who has starred in blockbuster movies and television shows, including, among others, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Bates Motel, and The Last Airbender.”

    “The celebrity of the wedding couple combined with the anticipated attendance of many high-profile guests required that the wedding planner have the expertise and staffing to plan, coordinate and execute a wedding event of the expected caliber and complexity,” Peltz’s lawyers claimed.

    The Peltz family says the owners of Plan Design Events oversold their abilities “regarding their experience, expertise, and capability of planning the wedding.”

    “During their nine days of negotiations, PDE failed to book a single new wedding vendor, failed to finalise the terms of any agreements with any of the vendors that had previously been selected by Peltz and his family and failed to attend previously scheduled meetings with Peltz,” it read. “Peltz had presented them with the opportunity of a lifetime – to have their names associated with the wedding of two world-famous celebrities, which would undoubtedly propel PDE into wedding planning stardom. In reality, however, it later became clear that PDE viewed this as an opportunity to take advantage of Peltz by making material misrepresentations on both their website and in person regarding their experience, expertise, and capability of planning the wedding.”

    On 4 March 2022, Peltz informed Braghin and Grijalba they had lost the gig, a phone call which his attorneys described as “a day of reckoning”.

    Peltz claimed he asked for the $159,000 deposit back from Planned Design Events multiple times after the pair were fired, but alleged they refused to return it.

    The lawsuit also revealed several text messages between Nicola Peltz Beckham and the wedding planning duo, one which said that Nicola was “tired of catching” their repeated mistakes.

    In one exchange, Nicola texted Braghin and Grijalba about British racing driver Lewis Hamilton, who was invited to the Palm Beach wedding but did not attend.

    “Lewis Hamilton did NOT RSVP. So explain why his names on the list please,” Nicola wrote in the group text chain. “We spoke to him. He can’t come so explain why you said he rsvpd yes”.

    In response, one of the wedding planners said she was still familiarising herself with the virtual guest list system they were using, and needed to “take a moment to learn the app”.

    “I need time to do this,” she said. “I’m going to take a moment to learn the app and send you the information, I hate looking like a fool but I hate the most not giving you what you need ASAP. I will be back soon”.

    She added, “By mistake we sent you everyone that entered the link today, I’m learning now how to filter the exact information you need to explain to my assistant and she can dedicate from now on to do this with undivided attention.”

    Nicola replied: “That’s not true. He didn’t rsvp At ALL.”

    The wedding planner explained that she must have pulled from the wrong database, adding: “I’m a wedding planner not a tech lol.”

    The 28-year-old actress said in response, “I’m tired of catching mistakes on this rsvp list honestly.”

    On 9 April, Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham were married in a Jewish ceremony held at Nelson Peltz’s $76 million Palm Beach estate. The nuptials, which reportedly cost more than $3 million, were attended by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, actor Eva Longoria, and Victoria’s former Spice Girls bandmates, Mel B and Mel C.

    Nicola wore a gown designed by Valentino, overseen by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, which is thought to cost in excess of $100,000. The couple reportedly signed a prenup in the week before the wedding, intended to protect the fortunes of both families. The Beckhams are thought to be worth at least $380 million and Nelson Peltz is worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

    Amidst the wedding drama, rumours swirled of a “feud” between Nicola and her now husband’s mother, Victoria Beckham. Tabloid reports claimed the rift began after she didn’t wear a wedding gown designed by her mother-in-law. A source also claimed to Page Six that the Transformers: Age Of Extinction star and former Spice Girls member “can’t stand each other and don’t talk”.

    In an interview with The Sunday Times, Nicola shut down any rumours of a feud and admitted she doesn’t know why the allegations began. “It’s not a feud! I keep seeing everywhere that word, ‘feud, feud, feud’. I don’t know why they say feud. I mean, maybe they picked up on something? And now they’re labelling it ‘feud’?”

    Brooklyn also called the perceived drama between his wife and mother “ridiculous”.

    “To be honest, my wife is obviously my first priority and I never want to see her upset ever,” he said. “When people do say ridiculous things, we just talk about it and we just move on. We have each other’s back 100 per cent and we just move on together.”

  • Victoria Beckham reveals about the Spice Girls’ farewell tour for fans following rumors of a rift between the members (video)

    Victoria Beckham reveals about the Spice Girls’ farewell tour for fans following rumors of a rift between the members (video)

    Victoria Beckham has spiced up our the start of the week with a brilliant video of herself singing – yes, actually singing – one of the Spice Girls’ biggest hits.

    Nowadays, Victoria prefers to be known as a fashion designer rather than a popstar and famously skipped the group’s most recent reunion tour in 2019.

    However, in a brand new video shared on TikTok, Posh Spice can be seen belting out Say You’ll Be There on karaoke with the help of her husband, David.

    The clip sees the couple performing at a private party held to celebrate David’s football team Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi.

    The caption reads “Warming up the vocals in Miami! More to come!” and has sent fans into overdrive.

    “Yeeeeeees! We need this comeback!!!!” wrote one TikTok user, before another added: “This is AMAZING!!! Posh is back!!”

    A third said: “Now can you do that on tour please.”

    Victoria also posted a shorter clip from the duet on Instagram, where she added the caption: “Just a casual night out in Miami.”

    “No really I did not drink that much,” she quipped, followed by a string of drink emojis that suggest the opposite might be true.

    Rumours of another Spice Girls reunion have been swirling for years and Mel B added fuel to the fire earlier this month, when she suggested they could be getting back together as a five-piece.

    She told Australia’s The Daily Telegraph: “We are doing something together as the Spice Girls and it has always been me kind of championing everybody together. But this time it was actually Victoria that was saying, ‘come on, let’s all do something’.

    “So we have got something in the works, which will be announced soon. It is about fucking time.”

    The Spice Girls last performed as a five-piece in 2012 at the London Olympics Closing Ceremony, and it has been claimed all five members could be set to come together again for a headline set at next year’s Glastonbury.

    Despite previously deciding against touring, Victoria has remained close to her former bandmates with Mel B and Mel C both attending her son Brooklyn’s wedding in Florida last year.

    Victoria, Emma Bunton and Mel C then showed up at Geri Horner’s 50th birthday bash in November 2022, where they danced the night away to their own tracks.