Blog

On what would have been her 88th birthday in January, Charles Spencer paid a loving tribute to his mother.

The historian, 60, remembered Frances Shand Kydd with ‘love and gratitude’ as he took to social media to post a selection of newspaper cuttings – including one announcing the birth of his sister Princess Diana.

But the life of Frances, who died 20 years ago today, was a particularly tragic and complicated one – not least the relationship with her daughter.

She had a troubled marriage with Diana’s father – the future eighth Earl Spencer –  which ended in divorce after she fell for wallpaper tycoon Peter Shand Kydd.

Her four children were left in the care of their father after a fierce custody battle when Diana was seven.

The bitter split led to a complex relationship with her youngest daughter. As her brother previously recalled: ‘Diana used to wait on the doorstep for her, but she never came.’

His mother was not, he said, ‘cut out for maternity’.

When Frances said in an interview months before her daughter’s death that it was ‘absolutely wonderful’ she had been stripped of her HRH title after her divorce from the then Prince Charles, Diana never spoke to her again.

Frances spent the last of her days living alone in Seil – one of Scotland’s Slate Islands – where she remained after her second husband left her for a younger woman.

+14

Princess Diana and Frances Shand Kydd, pictured in 1989, had a complicated relationship

+14

Frances (right) wed at just 18-years-old to to 30-year-old ‘Johnnie’ (left) in 1954 – with her daughter, Princess Diana, going on to eerily mirror this in her own marriage

Frances was born into the regal world of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on January 20, 1936.

Socialising in royal circles from a young age – her father, Maurice Roche, was friends with King George VI and her mother, Lady Ruth Remoy, was a lady in waiting to the Queen Mother.

In 1954, when she was just 18, she married 30-year-old Edward ‘Johnnie’ Spencer.

The couple had their first two daughters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, in 1955 and 1957 respectively.

Their desperate wish for a son was granted in 1960, but little baby John died just hours after being born.

By the time Diana arrived the following year, Frances’s marriage had become strained after her several pregnancies had failed to produce a male heir to Althorp.

The birth of Charles in 1964 failed to cure Frances’s relationship ills and in 1967 she fell for married wallpaper tycoon Peter Shand Kydd.

In 1969, her divorce was finalised and Frances went on to marry her lover. Having earned the nickname ‘the bolter’, a blazing custody battle commenced with John.

In the early days of the separation, Diana and her brother lived with their mother, whilst Sarah and Jane attended boarding school.

They eventually all went back to live with their father after Frances’s custody attempts proved unsuccessful and she moved to Scotland with her new husband.

+14

Earl Spencer walks behind his mother’s coffin at her funeral at St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban, Scotland

+14

Prince William (second left) and Prince Harry (centre) attending their grandmother’s funeral, June 10, 2004

+14

Frances (left) had a troubled marriage with Edward John Spencer (right), who she married in 1936

+14

The couple had two daughters within a few years, pictured here holding Sarah after her christening in Westminster Abbey in 1955

+14

However, the marriage between Frances and Johnnie (pictured) continued to break down and ended in flames in 1967 after she fell for the married Peter Shand Kydd

+14

Princess Diana did not speak to her mother after she did an interview with Hello! magazine before she tragically died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997

Earl Spencer previously opened up about the impact his mother’s absence had on his and Diana’s childhood – including how his sister would wait for her return.

He recalled: ‘While she was packing her stuff to leave, she promised Diana she’d come back to see her. Diana used to wait on the doorstep for her, but she never came.’

He added: ‘Our father was a quiet, constant source of love, but our mother wasn’t cut out for maternity… she couldn’t do it. She was in love with someone else, infatuated really.’

Earl Spencer still felt able to unveil a portrait of his mother to mark what would have been her 85th birthday in 2021.

+14

Princess Diana (left) and Frances (right) attending the wedding of Charles Spencer, Frances’s youngest child

+14

Frances with her youngest daughter Princess Diana at Wimbledon in 1993

+14

Frances pictured with Princess Diana, Harry and William in 1989

Princess Diana married Prince Charles in 1981 but Frances avoided the limelight that her youngest daughter brought and quietly ran a gift shop in Seil.

In 1988, her second husband left her for a younger woman after almost 20 years.

Frances found solace in religion. She converted to Catholicism at the age of 58 and devoted her life to the Church.

It was after Diana and Prince Charles divorced in 1996 that Frances returned to the spotlight with an interview with Hello! magazine.

+14

Frances pictured on holiday with Princess Diana (left), Prince Harry and Prince William on Necker Island in 1990

+14

Frances (left) pictured on a beach on Necker Island  in 1990 with her daughters Princess Diana, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale

She said in May the following year that it was ‘absolutely wonderful’ that Diana, now no longer a member of the Royal Family, had lost her HRH title.

The interview raised £30,000 which went towards building a prayer house on Iona, but this charitable act was not enough to repair the damage caused to the relationship with her daughter.

In a surprising twist through the grief, she went on to form a close friendship with the priest who kept vigil over Diana’s body after she was killed in a car crash in Paris.

Doctors at Paris’s Pitie-Salpetriere University Hospital had fought to save the Princess’s life but were unable to.

Father Yves-Marie Clochard-Bossuet was the duty chaplain on the night Diana passed away.

He watched over her body for ten hours before Prince Charles and Diana’s two sisters arrived.

He went on to write to Frances after his cousin had told him about her strong Catholic faith.

He previously told the Mail: ‘And so I wrote to her a very formal letter giving all the details [of the day of Diana’s death]. I wanted to tell her mother the nurses who had taken care of her had done things very well.

‘There was nothing to complain about [even if] it was a hospital room and not in Buckingham Palace. And I told her that I had prayed and had stayed until the arrival of Prince Charles.’

Although he was not expecting a response, Frances replied a few days later.

‘She thanked me, because I was the first to give information directly to her,’ he said.

+14

Frances (centre) pictured at Princess Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey with her daughters Jane (left) and Sarah (right)

Frances came to Paris to meet him and the pair developed a bond.

She would return to the French capital twice a year to meet him and take him out to dinner.

Fr Clochard-Bossuet added: ‘Frances Shand Kydd] told me she often went for a walk at night in London [in the days after Diana’s death] to where there were flowers for her. She also spoke to me a lot about [William and Harry]. She adored them.’

Frances continued to live a quiet life after Diana’s death and developed Parkinson’s Disease and brain cancer.

She passed away aged 68 on June 3, 2004 at her home in Scotland. Her funeral on June 10 was attended by her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Prince Harry has agreed to stay away from the wedding of one of his closest friends for fear of his feud with his brother William overshadowing the event, it is claimed.

A phone call from Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, saw the Duke of Sussex invited to his nuptials with fiancée Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on Friday.

The event is set to be the high society wedding of the year, and there had been much speculation as to which of Harry and William would receive an invitation given the brothers’ ongoing estrangement.

However, it has been claimed that Harry will not be there after the California-based royal reached a ‘civilised understanding’ with Hugh to bow out of attending, The Times reports.

It means that the Prince of Wales is free to be an usher for Hugh, who has been friends with the pair since childhood, avoiding the potentially awkward situation of having to show Harry to his seat during the ceremony.

+20

Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson will get married on Friday at Chester Cathedral. Pictured: Hugh and Olivia posing for an official photo released to announce their engagement in April last year

+20

There had been much speculation about whether Princes William and Harry – both of whom a good friends with the duke – would attend given their ongoing estrangement. Pictured: Harry and William at the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana in Kensington Palace in July 2021

+20

Hugh has been close to William and Harry since he was a child. Pictured: Prince William stands in front of Hugh at the wedding of the duke’s older sister, Lady Tamara Grosvenor in Chester in 2004

+20

It is claimed that Prince Harry made a ‘civilised agreement’ with Hugh not to attend his wedding. Pictured: The Duke of Sussex at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the Coronation of King Charles III

William will have Prince George – who is Hugh’s godson, as is Harry’s eldest child Prince Archie – alongside him, with reports suggesting the 10-year-old is set to play a prominent role in the wedding.

It was claimed that month that Harry – who at one point had been earmarked as Hugh’s best man – was unhappy that his brother was due to be given the key role.

A well-informed source told The Mail on Sunday last month: ‘William was asked to have a prominent role in the wedding and that’s what triggered Harry to decline an invitation.

‘Apparently he [Harry] was put out by the request when he thought it should have been him.’

Last year, it was claimed that Harry had been ‘snubbed’ from the wedding, but a source close to the Sussexes was at pains to explain to US publication Page Six that both Meghan and Harry had in fact received invitations, but had jointly decided to decline.

Despite the awkwardness surrounding his wedding, Hugh – who is normally publicity-shy – remains good friends with both Harry and William and he could link up with his California-based friend if he fulfils his goal of representing Great Britain in clay pigeon shooting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Hugh, known as ‘Hughie’ to his friends, is one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners after inheriting his father’s £10billion estate at the age of just 25 in 2016 following the death of his 64-year-old father from a heart attack.

Once dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor, he was introduced to Olivia by mutual acquaintances in 2021 before announcing their engagement in April last year.

+20

The Duke of Westminster and his fiancée Olivia Henson were introduced to each other by mutual friends. Pictured: Hugh and Olivia visiting three charities supported by the Westminster Foundation in Chester last month

The schoolchildren who will sing at Duke of Westminster’s big day

+20

The event will take place at Chester Cathedral on Friday, June 7. Pictured: The outside of Chester Cathedral

+20

A total of 400 people are set to attend the wedding. Pictured: A view of the choir and central nave inside Chester Cathedral

+20

After the wedding service at Chester Cathedral, guests will then enjoy a grand reception at nearby Eaton Hall. Pictured: An aerial view of Eaton Hall in Cheshire

+20

Harry and Meghan have already been excluded from the wedding, even though Hugh is reportedly the godfather of their son, Prince Archie. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at the Armed Forces Complex in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11, during their tour of the country

+20

King Charles and Queen Camilla are not expected to attend the ceremony as the monarch recovers from cancer treatment and visits France the day before. Pictured: Charles and Camilla on HMS Iron Duke in September 2023

+20

Princess Catherine is also not expected to attend as she continues her recovery from chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Pictured: The Princess of Wales at the Christmas Day service in Sandringham, Norfolk, last year

A total of 400 people have been invited to the Cathedral ceremony which will be followed by a reception at Hugh’s 11,000-acre Eaton Hall estate, with the duke said to be ‘nervous’ but also ‘incredibly excited’ ahead of the big day.

The Times reports that among the those expected to be in attendance are members of the Van Cutsem family, who are close to the Windsors, and linked to the Grosvenors by marriage – Hugh’s sister Lady Tamara wedded Edward van Cutsem in the same venue in 2004.

Other attendees will include Lady Zoe Warren, the aristocratic yoga guru and youngest child of the 14th Earl of Galloway, and her husband, Jake Warren, a godson of Princess Diana and son of Queen Elizabeth II’s racing manager, John Warren.

Aside from William and George, it appears that royals will be few and far between, with the Princess of Wales, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla not expected to attend.

William’s wife Princess Catherine will stay away as she continues her own recovery from chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer following major abdominal surgery earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Charles – who is Hugh’s godfather – is still recovering from cancer treatment and will have travelled across the Channel to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings less than 24 hours before the wedding takes place.

There city of Chester itself is expected to see thousands of people flock into its walls to witness the occasion in scenes reminiscent of his sister’s wedding, where an estimated 4,000 people lined the streets.

Those who come this time around will be able to treat themselves – the duke has reportedly paid three independent business to give out free ice cream on the day of the wedding.

+20

Crowds are expected to line the streets on the big day just as they did for Hugh’s sister’s wedding in 2004. Pictured: Scores of people look on outside Chester Cathedral for the wedding of Lady Tamara Grosvenor in November 2004

+20

Lady Tamara Grosvenor, and Edward van Cutsem were betrothed to each other in the same venue that Hugh is getting married in this week. Pictured: Lady Tamara and Edward van Cutsem leave Chester Cathedral after their wedding in November 2004

+20

Lady Edwina Grosvenor and her husband, TV historian Dan Snow, will be in attendance and Edwina’s brother’s wedding. Pictured: Dan Snow and Lady Edwina at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018

He has also made a contribution to the city’s summer flowers, with a source close to him telling The Times that the duke was keen to pay back his ‘great personal connection to the area’.

It’s a stark contrast to the ceremonies of his other sisters – Lady Edwina is married to TV presenter Dan Snow, while Lady Viola is wedded to Dragoon Guards officer Angus Roberts – both of which took place in private.

Raised at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, Hugh Grosvenor was privately educated at Ellesmere College before obtaining a BSc in Countryside Management from Newcastle University.

After his graduation, Grosvenor worked in estate management at the food and agriculture company Wheatsheaf Group, an investment business based in the Eaton estate and owned by the Grosvenor Group.

Afterwards, he held an account manager position at sustainability company bio-bean, which turns coffee-related waste into bioproducts such as biofuels and logs.

The future Duchess of Westminster also comes from a wealthy background. Olivia descends from the Hoare banking family as well as the Marquesses of Bristol and the Dukes of Rutland, according to the Telegraph.

+20

Olivia and Hugh announced their engagement on April 23, 2023, after two years of dating. Pictured: The pair visiting charities in Chester in May

+20

After the death of his father, Hugh became the 7th Duke of Westminster and inherited a £10billion estate. Pictured: The late Queen is pictured with the late Duke of Westminster Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, who died suddenly in 2016

+20

PIctured: Prince Harry and Prince William at the wedding of Edward van Cutsem and their friend’s sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor at Chester Cathedral in 2004

+20

Pictured: Hugh Grosvenor attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle with Charlie van Straubenzee at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018

+20

A life-long friend for each of the brothers, Hugh Grosvenor is thought to be the only pal both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: At the wedding of Harry’s school friend Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks in 2018

The outlet also says her uncle is the Grand Master of Scottish freemasons and her father is stockbroker Rupert Henson.

READ MORE

Chester decorated with 100,000 flowers paid for by Duke Of Westminster

Olivia reportedly also has a 29-year-old brother who works in asset management and a 26-year-old sister who’s in a brand relationships role.

She is also said to speak Spanish and Italian after completing a Hispanic Studies and Italian degree at Trinity College in Dublin.

Much like the Princess of Wales, Olivia is understood to have attended the elite Marlborough College, and before that was at the equally revered Dragon School in Oxford along with fellow alum Emma Watson.

She worked at Daily Dose LDN and No1 Rosemary Water before landing a role at Belazu – a B Corp ingredients brand – where she is currently a Key Account Manager, in 2019.

Hugh previously dated property and recruitment consultant Harriet Tomlinson, but the couple, who met at £6,000-a-term day school Ellesmere College in Shropshire, split in 2020.

The Duke also supports the rehabilitation of wounded or injured members of the Armed Forces and donated £2.5million to the Health Service when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, but said he was so ‘humbled’ by the work of doctors and nurses he wanted to give another £10million.

MailOnline has contacted the Duke of Sussex’s representatives for comment.

Princess Diana‘s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a stunning photograph of his mother Frances Shand Kydd – and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance to the late royal.

Charles Spencer, 60, who lives at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, took to Instagram on Monday to share a picture of his late mother ‘looking rather glam’ as he remembered ‘happier times’ on the 20th anniversary of her death.

The black-and-white image shows Frances, who passed away in 2004 at her home in Scotland, posing on what appears to be a beach, while sporting a stylish pinstripe top and headscarf.

Charles captioned the photo: ‘Remembering my mother, who died 20 years ago today, aged 68. She had a wretched final few years, health wise, and I prefer to think of her in happier times; here, looking rather glam, in the ‘60s.’

Royal fans were stunned by the picture, with many saying Frances appeared the double of the late Princess.

+4

Charles Spencer , 60, who lives at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, took to Instagram on Monday to share a photo (pictured) of his late mother ‘looking rather glam’ as he remembered ‘happier times’ on the 20th anniversary of her death

Charles captioned the photo: ‘Remembering my mother, who died 20 years ago today, aged 68. She had a wretched final few years, health wise, and I prefer to think of her in happier times; here, looking rather glam, in the ‘60s.’

One person wrote: ‘You can see where Diana got her beauty.’ Another said: ‘Very glam indeed and Diana so very like her in this beautiful photo.’

A third added: ‘Wow, Diana looked just like her.’ A fourth wrote: ‘Gosh, I can see Diana in her beautiful eyes.

A fifth person wrote in the comment section of the post: ‘I see where Princess Diana got her beauty from.’

Frances, then 18, and the 8th Earl Spencer ‘Johnnie’, 30, married in 1954 before divorcing in 1969.

+4

Royal fans were stunned by the picture, with many saying Frances appeared the double of the late Princess (pictured)

+4

Reaction: One person wrote: ‘You can see where Diana got her beauty.’ Another said: ‘Very glam indeed and Diana so very like her in this beautiful photo.’

+4

Princess Diana and Frances Shand Kydd, pictured in 1989, had a complicated relationship

In 1968, Frances lost a custody battle for Diana, Charles and their sisters Jane and Sarah and tried in 1971 to regain custody from Johnnie Spencer, but lost once again.

The mother of Diana went to live with her new husband in Scotland after losing her first custody battle for her children, in which she was dubbed ‘the bolter’.

Diana and her mother had a rocky relationship and weren’t on speaking terms before the royal’s death in 1997.

Frances continued to live a quiet life after Diana’s death and developed Parkinson’s Disease and brain cancer.

She passed away aged 68 on June 3, 2004 at her home in Scotland. Her funeral on June 10 was attended by her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Tom Cruise has been branded a heart-throb by fans throughout his long-spanning career in cinema – and has been the subject of many moviegoers’ desires for decades.

But the action star, 61, appears to have had his fair share of crushes as well.

A-listers including Angelina Jolie, Shakira and even Ingrid Bergman are alleged to have won over affections of the actor.

And he has even gone on to date some of the women he set his eyes on – such as Penelope Cruz.

Here, FEMAIL looks at the leading ladies Tom – whose two-month fling with Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova ended in February – is understood to have had feelings for…

+8

Tom is known to be a big fan of the British royal family – so it is perhaps no wonder that there is understood to have been a potential spark between him and the late Princess Diana. In 1992, when he was married to Nicole Kidman, Tom invited Diana to another London premiere of Far and Away

PRINCESS DIANA

Tom is known to be a big fan of the British royal family – so it is perhaps no wonder that there is understood to have been a potential spark between him and the late Princess Diana.

In 1992, when he was married to Nicole Kidman, Tom invited Diana to another London premiere of Far and Away.

However, it has been reported that Diana might not have been quite so enamored with the actor as he was with the royal family.

Former royal chef Darren McGrady once recalled how Princess Diana said Tom was ‘off the list’ in terms of dating options because he was ‘too short’.

The royal had met with Tom again on the set of Mission: Impossible, and brought Prince Harry and Prince William along.

ANGELINA JOLIE

Tom reportedly insists that Hollywood star Angelina is his ‘perfect match’ – according to insiders speaking to Heat World.

‘Tom raves about Ange’s intellect and what a strong, impressive woman she is. He loves that she’s never really conformed in Hollywood,’ the source said.

‘Plus, they’re both such superstars, only a handful of people can truly understand the life they live. That in itself creates a bond.’

They also claimed that Angelina has ‘seemed more open to getting to know him socially, too’.

The insider added that Tom is understood to be taking it slow with the actress, who split from fellow A-lister Brad Pitt in 2019.

+8

Tom reportedly insists that Hollywood star Angelina (pictured in 2021) is his ‘perfect match’ – according to insiders speaking to Heat World

SHAKIRA

Last year, amid Shakira’s fresh split from Gerard Piqué, she and Tom were snapped themselves at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami.

And according to Page Six, sparks were flying, with a source talking to outlet claiming the action star was ‘extremely interested’ in pursuing the singer.

‘Shakira needs a soft pillow to fall on, and that could be Tom,’ they added, also joking that the 5ft 1′ performer ‘isn’t taller’ than 5ft 7′ Tom.

+8

Last year, amid Shakira’s fresh split from Gerard Piqué, she and Tom were snapped themselves at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami. Shakira and Tom pictured in March

PENELOPE CRUZ

Tom met Penelope Cruz on the set of Vanilla Sky in 2000 but he insisted the pair didn’t begin dating until after his divorce from Nicole the following year.

In a 2003 interview with Marie Claire, as reported by Entertainment Weekly, Tom opened up about the ‘little things’ he liked to do for the star.

He said: ‘She’ll come home, and I’ll have her favorite kind of food made, have a bath drawn. I like doing stuff like that. She likes my food, so I cook for her. It’s always the little things I like in a relationship.’

+8

Tom met Penelope Cruz on the set of Vanilla Sky in 2000 but he insisted the pair didn’t begin dating until after his divorce from Nicole the following year

And it’s clear that the beginning buds of romance were blossoming on set. Reflecting  on their relationship in a 2002  interview with Vanity Fair, Tom said: ‘As a person and on film, she invites you in, and she’s incredibly romantic,’ he says, quietly and seriously, furrowing his brow.

‘And yet you know? She’s beautiful. She’s a very skilled actress, but has an effortless quality about her. You look at Audrey Hepburn. She had that kind of elegance and yet was accessible.’

The pair eventually went their separate ways in 2004.

INGRID BERGMAN

Ingrid Bergman is known for her timeless talent and Old Hollywood glamour – and it would appear Tom thinks so too.

The actor has in past told People Magazine that the actress is his first ever crush, after seeing her in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Notorious.

In it, she plays the daughter of a German war criminal enlisted by a US government agent to help infiltrate a circle of Nazis who fled to Brazil after World War II.

+8

Ingrid Bergman is known for her timeless talent and Old Hollywood glamour – and it would appear Tom thinks so too. Pictured in the 1946 movie Notorious

… AND IT GOES BOTH WAYS!

However, as much as the actor seems to have worn his heart on his sleeve, it appears that there has been no shortage of A-listers who have had a crush on him too.

As reported by Huffington Post, Tom’s ex-wife Katie Holmes had even once admitted that he was her childhood crush, who she thought she was ‘going to marry’.

Elsewhere earlier this year, Tom was said to be ‘flattered’ that Irina Shayk has placed him at the top of her list of potential new boyfriends – but dating the Hollywood star may be a mission too impossible for the supermodel, with insiders revealing he has no plans to date after splitting from his ex.

Cruise reportedly landed on Russian bombshell Shayk’s list of suitors following her on-off, six-month fling with seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady.

+8

As reported by Huffington Post , Tom’s ex-wife Katie Holmes had even once admitted that he was her childhood crush, who she thought she was ‘going to marry’

But while charmed by her apparent interest in him, an insider told DailyMail.com that Cruise is focusing his attention on movie making and is taking a much needed break from dating after his two-month fling with Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova ended in February.

‘Tom is flattered that someone as beautiful as Irina would consider him relationship material – but as much as he is flattered, Tom’s first love is making movies, and that is going to take up most of his time,’ they said.

‘Whoever he does eventually get involved with will have to deal with that.

‘Would he ever meet Irina and see if sparks were to fly? Anything is possible, but Tom and Irina ever dating would lean towards the impossible.’

+8

Meanwhile, in December, Rebecca Ferguson told The Times that she had a crush om him ‘by the time she saw him star in Interview with the Vampire’. Tom and Rebecca pictured together in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

+8

Rebecca, pictured in February, is among the celebrities who has admitted to crushing on Tom Cruise

DailyMail.com contacted reps for Cruise and Shayk for comment at the time.

Last week, it was also reported that Shayk had taken a shining to Cruise, with an insider telling Page Six: ‘Irina is looking in Europe and in the USA.

‘She is shopping, but her dating pool is a tiny group of people. She needs famous, good looking and money. How many of those are there? Five, 10?’

Meanwhile, in December, Rebecca Ferguson told The Times that she had a crush om him ‘by the time she saw him star in Interview with the Vampire’.

‘It’s certainly a weird film, and I told him when we worked together that I had a big crush. I’m sure he was delighted! Who wouldn’t be?’ she added.

The design for London‘s first permanent Aids memorial just metres from the site of the UK’s first specialist HIV ward opened by Princess Diana has been revealed.

Diana, Princess of Wales caused a shift in public attitudes towards the disease when she shook hands with patients on the former Middlesex Hospital ward in Fitzrovia – helping diminish the myth the illness could be transmitted via touch.

Anya Gallaccio has been picked to design the Aids Memorial with the Aids Memory UK project – aiming to raise awareness of the virus’ impact on four key groups, including gay and bisexual men and those impacted by the infected blood scandal.

A panel of representatives from the four groups affected selected Gallaccio’s creation from a short list of five London artists.

Gallaccio explained it was important her design ‘reflected all experiences of HIV and Aids’.

‘There was and is no singular experience of HIV and Aids,’ the artist told BBC News.

+6

Artist Anya Gallaccio has been picked to design the Aids Memorial. Her design is pictured

+6

Princess Diana shakes hands with an Aids victim as she opens a new Aids ward at the Middlesex Hospital on April 9, 1987 in London, England

+6

Anya Gallaccio’s design was chosen from a short list of five other London artists

‘So for me, it was about slightly redrawing that narrative to be more inclusive of those individuals and communities that may have been overlooked […].’

Gallaccio’s design portrays the rings of a tree trunk placed upright, with its hollow space made into a seating area, which the artist created to ‘invite visitors to interact and engage with the memorial’.

Today campaigners said the announcement presents a ‘major milestone’ in fighting the stigma still associated with HIV.

Jonathan Blake, one of the UK’s longest-surviving HIV patients, said the London site selected for the memorial was of huge importance to those still stigmatised for having the illness.

‘What Diana did – that was a complete game-changer,’ he told BBC News.

‘She undoubtedly changed peoples perceptions of HIV/Aids – and it was a real turning point.’

The campaign to build the memorial started in 2016, when Aids Memory UK founder Ash Kotak said it was an important part of making sure the virus’ affect on people was never forgotten.

+6

Princess Diana visiting the Broderie AIDS ward at the Middlesex Hospital in London, April 9, 1987

+6

Diana opening the Broderip Ward at the Middlesex Hospital, London

+6

Diana caused a shift in public attitudes towards the disease when she shook hands with patients on the former Middlesex Hospital ward in Fitzrovia

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has committed £130,000 funding from the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm towards the memorial.

Ash Kotak said: ‘The announcement is a major milestone for the already seven-and-a-half-year-long campaign to deliver The Aids Memorial in London.

‘The foundations have now been laid: a historically relevant site; a brilliant internationally recognised artist who was directly affected by HIV & Aids in London; and her beautiful and meaningful new public artwork.

‘Now is the time for Londoners, and friends of this great city, to come together to fundraise and build this important new public artwork. It will survive longer than all of us and remain a tribute to the epoch we are all living through, a time of HIV & Aids, as we fight on to its end.’

Mr Khan said: ‘I’m delighted that Anya Gallaccio has been commissioned to create The Aids Memorial in London, and I’m proud that funding from City Hall is helping to bring this project to fruition.

‘Anya’s proposal is a powerful symbol of solidarity and a fitting way to honour those who have lost their lives to the virus and highlight the impact it has had on our communities, as we work to end transmissions in the capital and build a fairer London for everyone.’

In 2003, Gallaccio was shortlisted for the Turner Prize and she has recently been awarded the Kenneth Armitage Foundation fellowship 2023-2025.

The Aids Memorial in London is expected to be unveiled at the end of 2027.

The Royal Family has endured a tumultuous few years, with the deaths of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, and both King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales facing cancer.

Another blow to the family came in 2020, when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from their roles as senior royals.

Ever since the move, which saw the Sussexes move across the world to California, it is believed that Prince Harry’s relationship with his father has become somewhat complicated.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, as Charles has become monarch, and William has become the Prince of Wales, many royal experts have been speculating that the father-son bond has become closer than ever.

Harry’s decision to leave The Firm has certainly caused a strained relationship with the King.

+6

Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry, and the then-Prince Charles on holiday in the Scilly Isles in 1989

+6

The then-Prince Charles poses for photographs with Prince Harry and Prince William during the Royal Family’s ski break in Klosters in 2005

This was made worse after he and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.

During the chat, which was aired while Prince Philip was extremely ill, Harry and his wife made a series of claims against the monarchy and members of the family.

Among them, they accused unnamed members of showing concern about what colour skin their son Archie may have. It is unknown when exactly this conversation took place, with Harry saying it was at the beginning of the relationship, and Meghan saying it was after they were married and she was pregnant.

While Harry later said he doesn’t believe the Royal Family is racist, but rather, holds unconscious biases, the claims affected family relations.

The Duke of Sussex’s bond with his father were strained further when he released his memoir Spare in January 2023.

In the book, Harry claimed that William had physically attacked him, and that Charles was jealous of Meghan, fearing that she had the potential to ‘dominate the monarchy’.

Claiming that his father had said he couldn’t afford to maintain the Sussexes, the memoir said: ‘Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldn’t stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him.’

He also wrote about his father’s relationship with the now Queen Camilla, describing it as ‘not a prospect I relished’, and adding that he and Prince William had ‘begged’ him not to marry her.

+6

King Charles, pictured with Prince William last month, has reportedly grown closer to his oldest son in recent times

Another claim Harry made against Camilla in the book was that she ‘sacrificed’ him in order to improve her own public image.

While doing an interview to promoted his memoirs, the Prince admitted he had not spoken to his father for ‘quite a while’.

According to royal author Tom Quinn, following the publication of the book, the King told his son to stop divulging family information.

‘Harry has been asked directly by his father not to write or say publicly anything further about the family or his brother that might cause trouble,’ he told the Mirror.

‘And everyone knows that when a King asks you to do something, there are going to be consequences if you do not obey.’

Following the publication of Spare, Harry made a solo trip to the UK for his father’s coronation in May.

However, the Duke of Sussex, who was not invited to appear on the balcony following the ceremony, hopped on a plane back to America just hours after his father was crowned, reportedly eager to get back for his son’s birthday celebrations.

At the time, a well-placed source was reported to have said that the King seemed ‘genuinely quite disappointed that he didn’t stay’.

Prince Harry made another fleeting visit to the UK in February 2024, after the monarch revealed his cancer diagnosis.

+6

Prince Harry is pictured greeting his father during the 10th Anniversary Memorial Service For Diana, Princess of Wales in 2007

Harry reportedly met with his father at Clarence House for a mere 30 minutes in what was their first face-to-face encounter for 16 months.

According to royal expert Robert Jobson, the meeting may have been kept short to stop the monarch from experiencing unnecessary stress.

When the Duke came to the UK in May to attend a London service marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he did not meet with any of his family members.

Addressing this, a spokesperson for Harry released a statement saying: ‘In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

‘The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’

Meanwhile, in recent times, Prince William has grown closer to his father, according to royal author Robert Hardman.

+6

Reports suggest that while Prince Harry (pictured, right) has a strained relationship with King Charles, Prince William (pictured, left) has recently grown closer to his father (seen in Windsor after viewing the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022)

Writing about the father and son’s relationship in his latest book, Charles III, Robert said: ‘As has been noted earlier, the Prince of Wales’s relationship with the King has been strengthened by the twin burdens of their new roles and periodic broadsides from California.

‘Also, the more that the heir to the throne becomes involved in the running of the Duchy of Cornwall and the royal estates, the more he has come to appreciate his father’s dedication and his achievements over the years.’

It is a far cry from reports that the heir had a trickier relationship with his father in his earlier years.

According to royal expert Robert Lacey, writing in his 2020 book, Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, the heir reportedly felt ‘open disdain and aggression’ towards his father while he was growing up.

Robert Lacey alleged that William once shouted: ‘I hate you, Papa. I hate you so much. Why do you make Mummy cry all the time?’

Neither the King or Prince have disclosed whether Lacey’s claims are true.

The close bond shared by the two these days has been evident on a number of occasions, where the pair have interacted publicly.

+6

Prince William kisses his father King Charles on the cheek during the monarch’s coronation ceremony in 2023

One such moment was during the King’s coronation. After William gave an oath of allegiance to his father, he kissed him on the cheek as per tradition, and his father said: ‘Amen, thank you William.’

Many commentators noted how emotional the moment appeared to be, and how tenderly the father and son interacted with each other.

During the following Coronation celebratory concert, William gave a speech, in which he said: ‘My father has always understood that people of all faiths, all backgrounds, and all communities, deserve to be celebrated and supported. Pa, we are all so proud of you.’

The King was equally full of praise for his oldest son while giving his first address as monarch, saying: ‘Today, I am proud to create [William the] Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.

‘With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.’

King Charles cut a dashing figure as he arrived at the Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo on Sunday afternoon, where guests also including Princess Diana‘s twin nieces.

The monarch, 75, brought a regal touch to the final day of the prestigious tournament, which was held this year in Egham, Surrey.

Guests to the exclusive event also included Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, 31, the twin daughters of Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer.

Sponsored by Cartier since 2012, the Cartier Queen’s Cup is one of the world’s leading polo tournaments and features some of the sport’s top players and ponies.

The tournament takes place over three weeks, with the first trophy presented by the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1960.

+13

King Charles cut a dashing figure as he arrived at the Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo on Sunday

+13

The prestigious polo tournament takes place over three weeks, with the first trophy presented by the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II , in 1960

+13

Charles’s appearance came just a day after the much-anticipated Trooping The Colour ceremony in London, where he was joined by the Princess of Wales for his official birthday

+13

Charles wore his favoured Moscot sunglasses coupled with a lightweight beige suit, a dapper navy, red and gold striped tie and brown suede shoes

+13

Royal blood: The nieces of Princess Diana, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, attended the Cartier Queen’s Polo in Egham on Sunday

+13

Lady Eliza Spencer wore a summery white short-sleeved dress with a belt, matched by gold accessories

+13

Lady Amelia complemented her twin sister in a white silk shirt and lightweight trousers, with gold accessories

Now following in her footsteps, Charles seemed all smiles as he arrived at the glittering sports event, with even the otherwise unseasonable weather holding out for the occasion.

Charles wore his favoured Moscot sunglasses coupled with a lightweight beige suit, a dapper navy, red and gold striped tie and brown suede shoes.

His appearance came just a day after the much-anticipated Trooping The Colour ceremony in London, where he was joined by the Princess of Wales for his official birthday celebration.

Both the King and his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, are undergoing cancer treatment, with the monarch only very recently announcing he would make a return to public duties.

In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his ‘shock’ at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients during a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

For yesterday’s occasion, King Charles III rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a departure from last year’s ceremony because of his illness, and he inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.

At the polo today, Charles seemed on good form and engaging with guests around him.

The attendees included the glamorous Spencer sisters with Lady Amelia opting for a sophisticated white silk blouse and trousers, matched with gold accessories.

Her twin sister, Lady Eliza, complemented her in a white short-sleeved dress with a belt.

The siblings grew up in South Africa, but moved to the UK three years ago and have been enjoying the couture scene ever since.

Speaking to The Telegraph in 2021, the duo discussed their childhood in the wealthy suburb of Constantia in South Africa, admitting they don’t use their titles outside of the UK and had a ‘normal, happy childhood.’

+13

Pop Queen at the Polo: Songstress Mabel, 28, made an appearance at the prestigious event

+13

No Trippin today: Music maker Kara Marni wore a distinctive  and stylish polka dot outfit

+13

Golden girl:  Actress  and influencer Nikkita Chadha was among attendees at the polo event

When asked about what they like to do with their father Charles, the twins referred to childhood memories.

They explained: ‘Football, competitive croquet, hide-and-seek. Growing up, the house would always be busy, full of extended family and friends.’

Other attendees at the event included popular Swedish singer Mabel, Trippin songstress Kara Marni and actress Nikkita Chadha.

Charles’ attendance at the polo coincided with Father’s Day and came just hours after The Royal Family’s X account shared footage of the King and his late father, Prince Philip, sourced from the BFI archive.

The Prince of Wales also shared a photo of him playing football with the King. The photo of William and Charles together in the gardens of Kensington Palace was taken on June 12 1984.

‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa,’ the social media post, personally signed by William, said.

The photo shows an almost two-year-old William in short dungarees and a stripey blue top and the King in a grey double-breasted suit kicking a small football.

Later that same year William would gain a younger brother, with the Duke of Sussex born in September.

King shares throwback footage as he leads tributes on Father’s Day

+13

King Charles and Queen Camilla led the Father’s Day tributes this morning with a touching video montage of Charles and Philip (pictured)

+13

The Prince of Wales shared a photo (pictured) of him playing football with the King to mark Father’s Day

The photo, taken on June 12 1984 shows William and Charles playing together. ‘Happy Father’s Day, Pa,’ the post, personally signed by William, said

In the past few years, Netflix has had huge success with its authorised documentaries about an array of huge celebrities, including British stars like David Beckham and Robbie Williams.

And it seems another intriguing British celebrity is about to become the subject of their own doc with the streaming giant.

On Friday morning, Katie Price paid a visit to Hits Radio, where she revealed that she was about to open up her life to a camera crew once again, for a new Netflix documentary series.

“I’m doing a Netflix series about my life,” she revealed, claiming that filming is due to begin “at the end of the month”.

Katie added: “I can’t wait to have my life on Netflix as a three-parter.”

The Celebrity Big Brother winner also teased that a big-name producer was on board,

claiming: “I can’t tell you who the producer, director is but when my sister told me I said ’Are you joking? What? He even knows who I am?!”

HuffPost UK has contacted Netflix for comment.

Over the course of her almost 30 years in the spotlight, Katie has always been an open book, speaking candidly about her life in her autobiographies (the seventh of which is about to be released), as well as her numerous reality shows.

Katie began her career in glamour modelling in the late 1990s, and went on to compete in reality shows like I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother, as well as being the centre of many of her own fly-on-the-wall series.

She has also been a tabloid staple thanks to her relationships, including marriages to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler, as well as romances with footballer Dwight York, singer Dane Bowers and reality stars Kris Boyson, Carl Woods and JJ Slater.

More recently, Katie has also made headlines thanks to a series of legal and financial issues.

Los Angeles FC bosses could be making a sensational move fro Athletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, as he enters the last year of his contract with the Spanish giants.

If it were to happen, it would be a significant coup for LAFC bosses, who would be pulling one over on MLS rivals, David Beckham-owned, Inter Miami.

Griezmann, now 33, is known to be keen on a move to the United States, after long being the subject of interest to several MLS clubs in north America.

Reports in French daily, L’Equipe, said the World Cup-winning forward was likely to reunite with old Barcelona teammates, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Florida,

but this has been thrown into doubt after LA chiefs want to put an audacious move for the Frenchman, together.

Griezmann is entering the final year of his contract with Atletico Madrid, and is believed to have no interest in staying in the Diego Simeone-managed team,

after a second stint at the club that has lasted three years.

The versatile forward would be able to leave as a free agent upon the expiry of his current agreement, which comes to an end in June 2025.

For MLS clubs interested, Griezmann wouldn’t come at an extravagant cost, with a relatively low release clause of £8.4million ($11million).

LAFC have already brought major European talent to the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California – albeit it players in the latter stages of their career.

This includes compatriots Hugo Lloris and Oliver Giroud, who have both left European leagues to join wind-down their careers on the US’s west coast.

Griezmann also has been clear about his love for American sports and that he envisions himself playing Stateside. Last year, he was quoted as saying: ‘My target is to end up there.

‘With everything that I like about American sports, playing in MLS and enjoying myself, being able to win things and be at my best level.

‘First I want to make history here and win trophies at Atleti. After that we’ll see… I think the arrival of Leo [Messi], ‘Busi’ [Sergio Busquets] and Jordi [Alba] is good for the league.

That and signing younger players, especially from South America, it’s the best thing the league can do.’

An explosive new biography about the Beckhams has claimed Meghan Markle “deluded” herself into thinking she was higher in social ranking than Victoria.

The claim was made by the celebrity biographer Tom Bower in his tell-all The House of Beckham,

which details Posh and David’s allegedly tumultuous relationship with each other and other celebrities.

Reflecting on the relationship between the couple and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the biographer claims that Meghan initially “put on airs” around Victoria.

This was allegedly the result of two things: Meghan, as a Californian, “felt little in common” with the former Spice Girl and because of her status within the Royal family.

“In Meghan’s celebrity world, ranking depended on wealth and fame,” Bower wrote. “As a seasoned operator,

Meghan deluded herself that her status in the Royal family placed her above Victoria in the social pecking order.

“She was irritated to discover that the Beckhams had considerably more wealth than herself. They owned five homes, had constant access to private jets, invitations to sail on yachts and much more money. And she was soon to be a duchess.”

But despite Meghan’s alleged decision to place herself above Victoria in her internal social ranking, the Beckhams reportedly made an effort with the former Suits star.

This was claimed to be a result of their long-standing friendship with Prince Harry and William.

Bower claimed that after Meghan became a resident at Kensington Palace “a member of Victoria’s staff offered Harry’s fiancé advice on the best facials and hairdressing in London.”

The soon-to-be Duchess allegedly also asked Victoria if she could give her free clothes and handbags, but this was “vetoed by the Palace for being against their rules.”

Meghan reportedly took the Beckhams up on their hospitality during a private trip to Los Angeles where she stayed in their Beverly Hills residence.

“Her excuse was to avoid the paparazzi. At no cost, all her needs were secretly provided for by the Beckhams’ staff,” Bower wrote.

“If there was a hint that Meghan was taking advantage of her new status, the Beckhams pushed their gripes aside.”

However, while the two women managed to find common ground, or at the very least a way to exist in the limelight together, their relationship allegedly soured as a result of a story in The Sun.

“Only after The Sun reported how Victoria had given Meghan make-up advice did the relationship between the two ambitious women crash,” Bower explained.

“Sensitive to the media’s probing into her unusual past, Meghan was outraged by The Sun’s report. This was the latest of a series of nasty revelations by London’s newspapers.

“Harry was ordered to complain to David Beckham.”

The fifth in line to the throne’s alleged complaint saw the former Manchester United star ask his wife how The Sun had got a hold of the information.

That’s when Victoria reportedly denied having a hand in the tabloid story and instead blamed a beautician “although the culprit was probably a boastful publicist employed by Beckham.”

The biographer then claims that a further issue soured the relationship between the two couples – Prince William’s ongoing friendship with the Beckhams.

“Ever since the World Cup bid in 2010, the two had enjoyed a good relationship,” Bower wrote. “For the Sussexes, who were already complaining about their unequal status and wealth compared to the Cambridges, the sight of Becks with William was annoying.”

Bower claims that in a bid to “punish” the couple, the Sussexes chose not to invite them to their wedding dinner, despite inviting other big names like George Clooney, who Meghan did not personally know.

The relationship between the two couples is now described as “frosty” by commentators.

An anonymous insider told The Mail on Sunday that there was “unlikely” to be a reconciliation after David was left “bloody furious” by the accusation that the Beckhams had leaked information about the Sussexes to the press.

In his previous book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the WindsorsBower claimed the duchess had failed to return a pair of Aquazzura shoes to a fashion photoshoot sparking a social media storm.

The book also suggested Meghan complained about the size of her hotel room at the 4-star Place d’Armes, and that she be registered under an alias to avoid being photographed before her relationship with Prince Harry hit the headlines.

The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power is set to be released on 20 June. The Independent has reached out to representatives of the Sussexes for comment.