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“There was a period of great love between them,” says Ingrid Seward

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world’s most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

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Then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in August 1981. Photo: Kent Gavin /Mirrorpix/Getty

Princess Diana hoped the world would know about the love that the future King Charles sent her through letters, a royal biographer claims.

Though Diana and Charles’ relationship ended in divorce in 1996, the late Princess of Wales wanted the public to see the love letters that the future monarch sent early in their romance so people would know that their affection had been genuine, The Times reported on July 23.

“Diana told me very shortly before she died that she wished people could see the love letters that she had from Charles,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward said at an Oldie magazine lunch, according to the outlet.

“She really wanted people to know that she loved Charles and he loved her. And I always remembered that. And she wanted the boys [Prince William and Prince Harry] to know that,” she continued. “There was a period of great love between them.”

Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their July 29, 1981 wedding day.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Relationship Timeline

Seward said that Princess Diana expressed the sentiment about the correspondence from the then-Prince Charles just a few weeks before she died following a car accident in Paris in 1997. Though Diana was then dating Dodi Fayed, who also died in the accident, the royal commentator claimed that she wanted “the early days of her romance with the heir to the throne to be properly reflected,” The Times reported.

It remains unclear which years the late Princess of Wales received the love letters that she was referencing. Diana and Charles married in 1981 following a short courtship (she said they only met 13 times before he proposed) and went on to welcome Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984.

Princess Diana reportedly told Andrew Morton, journalist and author of Diana: Her True Story, that she and the future King Charles “were very, very close to each other the six weeks before Harry was born, the closest we’ve ever, ever been and ever will be,” referring to the late summer of 1984.

Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Charles in the gardens of their home at Kensington Palace in London on June 12, 1984.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty

Sarah Ferguson Pens Tribute to ‘My Dear Friend’ Princess Diana on What Would Have Been Her 63rd Birthday

Retired British Army captain James Hewitt also claimed to have begun an affair with Diana around 1986, which he said lasted for the next five years. In a 1994 ITV interview with biographer Jonathan Dimbleby, the future King Charles said that he was faithful to his wife, “Until it became irretrievably broken down, us both having tried,” The New York Times reported.

By the time she sat for an interview with the BBC’s Panorama in 1995, however, Diana shared a harsher side of the story. A breakout revelation was her comment on the disintegration of her marriage to Prince Charles when she famously said, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” referring to his extramarital affair with the future Queen Camilla.

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Prince Charles and Princess Diana at a Presidential banquet at the Blue House in Seoul during their last official trip together in the Republic of Korea.Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty

Today, the whereabouts of the alleged love letters are unclear. Interest in the “People’s Princess,” as then-Prime Minister Tony Blair famously memorialized Diana following her untimely death at age 36, remains sky-high.

Some of her intimate letters to friends during her divorce from then-Prince Charles sold at auction last year for just under $170,000.

Beckham previously shared in his Netflix docuseries that he thought he had 88 tattoos but found out he had a few more

David Beckham shares look at his new tattoo. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/Getty;David Beckham/Instagram

David Beckham is adding some new ink to his ever-growing collection!

The former soccer player, 49, revealed that he recently got a new graphic tattoo from one of his go-to-artists — London-based Certified Letter Boy — and shared shots of the new addition inked on the side of a leg below his knee.

On his Instagram Stories, he showed a snap of the tattoo artist inking an outline of two hands pressed together in a prayer position. He wrote under the picture, “Thanks mate x.”

In a follow-up photo, he showed a closeup of the new tattoo, which featured several details including knuckle and palm lines, nails and shadow detailing. He tagged the tattoo artist and wrote a white heart emoji underneath showing some appreciation for him.

A close-up photo of David Beckham’s prayer hands tattoo on his lower leg.David Beckham/Instagram

Cruz Beckham Pays Tribute to His Famous Mom’s Spice Girls Past with a Posh New Tattoo

Certified Letter Boy posted more photos of Beckham, captioning his Instagram post with, “Praying hands tattoo for the main man. ”Thank you for the trust, DB 🫶🏻

The latest ink inches Beckham one step closer to 100 tattoos, as film director Fisher Stevens had previously shared in the Netflix docuseries Beckham that the British athlete had already been close to that number.

“At the time, I asked, ‘How many tattoos do you have?’ He said, ‘I have 88,’ ” Stevens recalled.

However, over the course of shooting the docuseries, Stevens said they discovered that Beckham had at least “six more” tattoos that he hadn’t included in his initial number. When he asked him about the reason behind “why” he had so many tattoos, the director recalled that Beckham told him, “I just like them.”

“I go, ‘Is there some form of self-torture?’ And he said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ I thought so,” he added.

David and Victoria Beckham in 2018.Joe Maher/BFC/Getty Images

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In September 2023, he revealed he got the word “Posh” written in cursive inked in on the lower part of his middle finger, right next to the finger on which he wears a gold wedding band in honor of his wife, Victoria Beckham, who was Posh Spice in the Spice Girls.

He also has another tribute for his wife in the form of a “Victoria” tattoo on his arm, plus the names of the four children he and the fashion designer share: Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 19 and Harper, 13. He even had a tattoo design hand drawn by Harper, which he shared in 2017.

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He previously told The Sun that “any of the tattoos I’ve got are of the family.”

The rest of his tattoos are of inspirational messages including “Dream big, be unrealistic,” “In the face of adversity” and “Let them hate as long as they fear,” among others.

The designer had to make an excuse to leave her client during a fitting so she could share the exciting news with her team

By
Stephanie Petit

Princess Diana (left) and Elizabeth Emanuel (right) in June 1997. Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Princess Diana’s call to ask a big question to her wedding dress designer came at a slightly inconvenient time.

Elizabeth Emanuel, who with her ex-husband David designed the gown that Diana wore for her walk down the aisle in 1981 as she married the future King Charles, recalled the moment she realized her “life was going to change” at PEOPLE’s Styling Princess Diana panel at Fotografiska New York on May 21. Elizabeth was with a client for a fitting when the call came.

“The phone started to ring, and it rang and rang, and nobody was picking it up. I said, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m just going to have to take this call,’ ” the designer said. “And it was Diana. And she said, ‘It’s me,’ you know? ‘Would you do me the honor of making my wedding dress? You can’t tell anybody about this, there’s not going to be an announcement, so you’ve got to keep it very secret.’ “

She continued, “It was such a special moment because I thought, ‘My life was going to change, David’s life. It’s never going to be the same again.’ “

After hanging up, Elizabeth came up with an excuse for her client so she could tell her team the big news immediately: “My brother had a baby,” she fibbed.

How the Recreation of Princess Diana’s Backup Wedding Dress Is Helping ‘Preserve History’ (Exclusive)

Elizabeth added during the panel that Princess Diana didn’t “have any idea” about what she wanted for her bridal gown. The designer explained she did “lots and lots of sketches” and also had Diana try on some ready-to-wear dresses, including one that became the template for the final product.

“A lot of it was trust, and she liked our style,” Elizabeth said.

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles at their wedding on July 29, 1981.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty

Elizabeth plans to make a modern version of the late Princess of Wales’ iconic bridal gown.

“I’m going to try and capture the spirit of the original but through my eyes now,” she previously told PEOPLE. “I want to preserve all the sparkles and pearls but with a completely different vision.”

The designer added of the “sequel” to the original gown, “It’s a really exciting thing because I often get asked, ‘Would you do the same dress again?’ Well, I wouldn’t change a thing on the dress in 1981, but if I was looking at it through my eyes now, there’s so many possibilities.”

Elizabeth Emanuel (left) and Princess Diana prepare for a royal tour on August 6, 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images
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Unbeknownst to the 20-year-old bride and the millions watching on television in 1981, the Emanuels crafted a second wedding dress as a precautionary measure.

“I was a bit neurotic, and I thought, ‘What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there’s a fire or it gets stolen?’ ” Elizabeth said. “So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make a backup dress.’ “

Diana’s spare outfit was never fully completed and “disappeared” in the years following the wedding after going unused.

After searching through old sketches and thumbnail images from an old documentary, Elizabeth recently recreated the backup royal wedding dress to exhibit at the virtual Princess Diana Museum.

“We never got to see that dress on Diana and thought it would be lovely to envision it,” said Renae Plant, the museum’s director and curator, who acquired it for an undisclosed sum. “You cannot put a price tag on history.”

She’s a hands-on mother who enjoys a close-knit relationship with all four of her children.

So it’s hardly surprising Victoria Beckham has influenced the fashion choices of her sons’ past and present girlfriends.

Earlier this week, Jackie Apostel, 28, who is dating Cruz Beckham, 19, channelled the former Spice Girl at Paris Fashion Week.

Appearing to take fashion notes from her boyfriend’s mother, the singer donned a slinky white slip dress almost identical to one of Victoria’s designs and styled her brown hair in a chic up-do too.

And it’s nothing new, with Brooklyn’s ex-girlfriend, Chloe Grace Moretz having taken style tips from Victoria back in 2018, when she incorporated sharp tailoring typical of Posh Spice throughout the duration of her on-and-off relationship with Brooklyn.

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Victoria Beckham’s influence over Jackie Apostel’s fashion choices is clear to see, with the girlfriend of Cruz Beckham taking to Paris Fashion Week in a look previously seen on the mother-of-four

Today, Brooklyn’s wife Nicola Peltz Beckham has dutifully continued the tradition, trading her previous LA pop princess style for Victoria’s laid-back, monochrome aesthetic with masculine touches.

Speaking to The Times last month, Victoria, who founded her eponymous label in 2008, described her style as ‘pared-back, timeless, a masculine touch’.

It’s an aesthetic that is apparent in all her collections, with her recent Paris Fashion Week show revealing a string of boxy silhouettes, daring yet simultaneously sophisticated cuts and muted colours.

And her sons’ glamorous girlfriends often serve as the brand’s biggest advertisement.

When actress Chloe Grace Moretz, 27, became romantically involved with Brooklyn in 2014, she quickly started to share Victoria’s love of sharp tailoring, with side-by-side comparisons revealing strikingly similar looks.

For an event in Utah in January 2018, Chloe plumped for not one, but three different Victoria Beckham pieces, donning black Victoria Beckham trousers with a matching tuxedo coat.

The Kickass star also sported a pair of silver glittery heels from the designer, which Victoria herself has previously worn in public.

She finished the look with a high-collared blouse with ruffle detailing, which looked similar to one worn by Posh at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year awards just a few months before.

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Brooklyn Beckham’s ex-girlfriend Chloe Grace Moretz was seen in a number of looks inspired by Victoria during their on-off relationship

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The 27-year-old Kickass actress sported as series of looks favoured by Beckham, including tailored suits

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Nicola Peltz Beckham wore a custom Victoria Beckham outfit to the premiere of her latest project, Lola, – donning a white, corset top and low-waisted, white trousers with Victoria’s trademark flare

Chloe later flaunted her fashion insider status once again when she stepped out in an ensemble from the Victoria Beckham spring ready-to-wear collection in November 2018.

The two-piece pinstripe suit was not available to buy at the time, but actress Chloe was still given the green flat to wear to a jewellery event in New York City.

The baton was later passed on when Brooklyn started dating his now-wife Nicola Peltz Beckham, 29, with the couple officially announcing their relationship on Instagram in early 2020.

In those early days relationship snaps, Peltz was a vision of American style – casual tees, hoodies and thanks to her modelling work, the occasional show-stopping red carpet gown.

As the 29-year-old has grown ever closer to her husband’s family, her style has undergone something of a transformation – with her fashion designer mother-in-law seemingly influencing everything from her hair to her premiere attire.

The sartorial stars haven’t always aligned for mother and daughter-in-law. When Brooklyn and Nicola wed in 2022, the heiress – her mother and father, Nelson and Claudia Peltz, are said to be worth a cool $2.7billion – wore a stunning couture Valentino dress.

But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. It was widely expected before the wedding that the bride-to-be would glide down the aisle in a gown made by her mother-in-law to be – Mrs VB.

However, the dress didn’t materialise, with the pop star-turned-designer apparently too busy to whip up a bridal dress.

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An early Instagram photo of Brooklyn and Nicola, after they first started dating in 2019; Nicole’s sartorial style has been influenced by her fashion designer in-law

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David and Victoria Beckham famously donned matching leather in 1999 at the Versace party, and nearly a quarter of a century later, their daughter-in-law offered up her take

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Brunettes have more fun? Both Nicola and Victoria have experimented with blonde hair…but are currently firmly brunette

Two years on, however, the pair appear to have set aside their reported differences.

At the star-studded Lola premiere in Los Angeles in February, the family members posed in a stylish embrace for the awaiting paparazzi, with Nicola wearing an outfit by Victoria Beckham.

On Instagram, Victoria posted that she ‘could not be more proud’ – and referenced that Nicola was head-to-toe in ‘custom #VictoriaBeckham’.

Clearly putting any fashion fracas behind them, the pair’s close relationship is increasingly reflected in Nicola’s current wardrobe.

The actress, model and director has, in recent years, adopted some of Victoria’s trademark looks, including opting for a more monochrome wardrobe, sporting leather and wearing her hair in a shade of deep, glossy chestnut.

When she’s not rocking a sharp suit, Victoria’s casual attire often keeps to block colours, with simple accessories such as baseball caps.

The mother-of-four has been frequently seen through the decades in a Yankees cap, often teemed with lycra and a simple black vest.

And sure enough, Nicole is also a fan of a vest and cap look, sharing a photo on her Insta recently showing her wearing just that, and holding the family’s adorable white chihuahua.

When it comes to colour, like Victoria, Nicola has become increasingly averse to it for everyday looks, sticking with reliable neutrals.

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Mia Regan and Romeo Beckham, pictured in 2023, were first snapped together in 2019

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After making their relationship ‘Instagram official’, Mia was catapulted into the limelight (seen in 2022)

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Mia Regan is photographed at the Victoria Beckham FW23 show during Paris Fashion Week last year

What’s clear is that both women are now on the same page when it comes to fashion, which is probably the secret to their increasingly warm relationship.

Meanwhile, when Romeo Beckham’s model ex-girlfriend Mia Regan took fashion cues from Victoria, it landed her modelling jobs across the globe.

Her family lived close to the Beckhams’ £12 million farmhouse in the Cotswolds and she and Romeo were first pictured together at Victoria’s fashion show in 2019.

But after making their relationship ‘Instagram official’, Mia was catapulted into the limelight.

She has since begun working with 50 of the world’s top brands including Gucci, Prada, Coca-Cola and fashion house Celine.

Mia’s influencer career started in June 2020 when she promoted Victoria’s clothing and beauty lines.

The impact of Victoria’s style on Mia’s career was clear to see and despite the pair’s split, the model continues to show enthusiasm for Beckham’s designs.

And three months after their break-up, Victoria Beckham announced a six-piece denim collaboration with Mia.

The fashion designer took to Instagram to reveal the collaboration, which saw them create a six-piece denim capsule collection together.

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Victoria Beckham announced a six-piece denim collaboration with her son Romeo’s ex-girlfriend Mia Regan, months after they ended their three-year romance

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In one look, Mia sported a vibrant green cropped jumper, which she styled with a pair of oversized flared jeans, while the model also sported double denim

And Victoria helped Mia secure her first design collaboration with their denim collection, which was available exclusively at VictoriaBeckham.com and 36 Dover Street.

The Spice Girl said the collection brought together ’70s and ’90s style with Mia’s own ‘signature Gen-Z flair’ as she shared a short advert showing Mia modelling their clothes.

Speaking about their new collection, Mia told Vogue she was given full creative freedom to design the six-piece denim capsule and said she felt Victoria ‘trusted’ her.

‘I felt that [Victoria] really trusted me,’ she told the publication. ‘To see her in full work mode was cool.’

Commenting on Mia’s influence on the collection, Victoria gushed: ‘I love that she’s fun and not afraid to try new things when it comes to her personal style, which is reflected in the capsule.’

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With her model looks, interest in fashion, and background in music, Jackie Apostel (pictured) has plenty in common with her boyfriend’s mother, Victoria Beckham

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Cruz and new girlfriend Jackie have a significant age gap it’s been reported, after she joined his famous family for Paris Fashion Week

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Like Victoria and David (pictured in Japan, June 2003), Cruz and Jackie both favour a ’90s-inspired style

While Mia and Romeo’s relationship appears to be well and truly over, Cruz has made headlines in recent weeks due to his newfound relationship with Brazilian songwriter Jackie Apostel, 28.

She received the ultimate stamp of approval from Victoria Beckham when she sat front row at her Paris Fashion Week show last week.

And with a string of similarities between the pair, it was no doubt an effortless transition into the fold for the Brazilian-German singer Jackie Apostel, 28, who is believed to have started dating the youngest Beckham son, Cruz, 19, in June.

While the age gap between Jackie, who turns 29 next month, and aspiring singer Cruz may raise an eyebrow, they do have a lot in common – given her very similar career background to former Spice Girl, Victoria.

It’s not just their old girl band days that Jackie and 50-year-old Victoria can bond over, but also their model looks and shared interest in high fashion.

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A sleek black outfit is a classic Posh Spice look (left). Victoria Beckham puts on a leggy display in a tiny black mini dress and £95 tights from her own fashion range

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The youngest Beckham son, 19, is believed to have been dating the Brazilian singer-songwriter since June, and appeared loved up as they supported his mother Victoria at her show

Despite her relationship with Cruz still being in its early days, evidence of Victoria’s influence is already evident.

For the glitzy VB fashion show in the French capital this month, Jackie appeared to acknowledge her likeness to Victoria when she donned a backless satin gown and topknot hairdo in a look typical of the fashion designer.

Jackie looked stunning for the show in a sleek white satin gown with her dark brown locks tossed up in a loose bun.

The look was reminiscent of a picture of Victoria in a similar backless satin gown and topknot hairdo as she looked over her shoulder by a mirror.

Jackie has been spotted numerous times with the Beckham’s during Fashion Week and even wore one of Victoria’s chic dresses to her runway show.

Following the catwalk presentation she took to Instagram writing: ‘The most beautiful show and the most beautiful dress. Congratulations @victoriabeckham’.

How Holly Willoughby is finally smiling again after ‘living in absolute fear & hiring body double’ following kidnap plot

Holly has relied on a group of three female celebrity friends to help her through her difficult year

SHE was the perfect combination of glossy blonde ambition and golden girl next door – so viewers were stunned when, a year ago this week, Holly Willoughby suddenly left This Morning for good.

The star had been the mainstay of ITV’s flagship daytime show for 14 years, but away from the cameras she was struggling to cope with the ordeal of ­discovering that a man had been plotting to kidnap, rape and murder her.

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After a nightmare 12 months, Holly Willoughby is finally ready to step back into the spotlightCredit: LP for The Sun

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Sicko Gavin Plumb was sentenced in court for a disturbing plot to kidnap TV star HollyCredit: sky news

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Holly is also close to fellow TV star Christine Lampard, and these friendships have been vital for herCredit: hollywilloughby/Instagram
But now, following 12 months of quiet reflection, Holly is finally ready to step back into the spotlight.

She has agreed to be the host of new Netflix reality competition show Bear Hunt in a deal worth close to seven figures — which means she will earn more in just a few weeks from that than she made in a year at ITV.

And she will return to front ­Dancing On Ice, alongside her pal Stephen Mulhern.

A source told us: “Leaving This Morning has opened up new opportunities for Holly.

“Being free from being a double act with Phil [Phillip Schofield] has been good for her as well.

Last month she returned to the National Television Awards for the first time since ­leaving This Morning, with people screaming that they love her as she walked the red carpet.

“A year ago she would have been up on stage with Phil.

“She will return to Dancing On Ice with Stephen this winter and has agreed to present a couple of shows of You Bet! with him — but she is very much doing her own thing, too.”

Deepfake porn images

Holly, 43, has also been carefully considering who she trusts in her inner circle, and has rekindled former friendships.

Having always relied heavily on her sister Kelly for ­support, recently she reconnected with Fearne Cotton.
Holly Willoughby’s Triumphant Return
The pair met when they were just teenagers starting out in TV and did Celebrity Juice together too, but had drifted apart for a while.

A source said: “Fearne started ­living holistically, concentrating on self-care while Holly was still on TV.

“But then Holly went down the same path and started meditating and appreciating and researching holistic ­therapies.

“When she set up her wellness brand, Wylde Moon, she and Fearne were back on the same page again.”

Holly was able to start getting her life back on track in July when the man behind the chilling kidnap plot, 35st ­security guard Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, was sentenced.

It was only then that the truly ­terrifying details of his sinister plans emerged — which Holly had known about for months.

He had a string of previous ­convictions relating to kidnapping and false imprisonment and took to the internet to recruit others to help him ambush Holly at her home.

He kept hundreds of photos of her, including deepfake pornographic images.

Chillingly, he had also bought cable ties and a folding knife as well as appearing to have sourced chloroform for his planned attack.

Plumb chatted online in graphic terms about his twisted scheme — not realising one person he was communicating with was an undercover cop in Minnesota who alerted the UK authorities.

He was eventually given three concurrent life sentences for conspiracy to kidnap and murder.

The case, which had dragged on for nearly ten months, took a heavy emotional toll on Holly and she quit This Morning on October 10 last year, exhausted and fearful, before turning down all work appearances.

That long wait had been excruciating for the presenter, with her life in limbo.

A source said: “Plumb was behind bars but she thought if it had ­happened once, it could happen again.

“She was scared. Not many people actually go through something that horrific and life-changing, but Holly has.”

For months Holly lived in absolute fear. She put the shutters down and concentrated on what was really important and that was the safety of her family

She paused her lucrative sidelines, including a £1million deal with M&S and another seven-figure partnership with L’Oreal to promote hair dye.

When she finally returned to TV, Holly needed body doubles to protect her.

Then she moved out of her home and left London with her husband, Dan ­Baldwin, and their three children.

Pal Fearne had also previously quit the capital when she had children.

TV producer Dan ­also increased security ­measures at their house in a bid to help the family feel safer.

A source said: “For months Holly lived in absolute fear.

“She put the shutters down and concentrated on her family’s safety.

“She didn’t take any risks and ITV even hired a body double for the run-throughs to help her deal with her fears.

“It was still tough and horrible but she needed some normality.

“She ­continued with some of her charity work too and in February she and Dan went away for the night for her 43rd birthday.

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Holly has been focusing on her marriage to TV producer Dan ­Baldwin, and their three childrenCredit: Getty

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Holly has always had a strong group of female friends, including Spice Girl Emma BuntonCredit: Instagram
“Mainly though, Holly just kind of nested in the safety of their home with her husband and the kids.

“She focused on herself and made sure that what had happened to her wouldn’t destroy her.

“Holly and Dan have always had a happy marriage and a wonderful family life but after nearly losing it all, she needed their security more than ever.

“She spent more time behind closed doors with friends and family, going to the theatre discreetly and doing fewer public events.”

Holly has always had a strong group of female friends — among them Christine Lampard, Nicole Appleton and Emma Bunton.

‘Just nonsense’

And comedian Leigh Francis, who worked with Holly on his show Celebrity Juice from 2008 to 2020 as Keith Lemon, spoke out about his friend at the time.

He said: “I don’t think she’s in a good place. She’s having a tough time.
“I just text her messages to cheer her up.

“I just go, ‘Hope you’re OK’, and tell her about things I’ve bought.

“Like, ‘I’ve just wasted my money on some Spider-Man Crocs, Holly. Do you like them?’

By the time Holly left This ­Morning, co-host Phillip had already been axed after it was revealed he had lied about having an affair with a much younger assistant on the show.

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Holly’s co-host Phillip Schofield had already been axed after it was revealed he had lied about his affairCredit: ITV

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Schofield recently appeared in three-part desert island documentary Cast Away on Channel 5Credit:
He and Holly are no longer on speaking terms, and this week he appeared in three-part desert island documentary Cast Away on Channel 5, ranting about the “three s**ts of showbiz”.

On the podcast The Rest Is ­Entertainment, host Marina Hyde said: “I suspect that one is Holly who, by the way, has gone through some horrendous, horrific stuff in the last year.

“As we know, Phillip Schofield was let go, fired, resigned from — there seem to be a number of conflicting narratives — from This Morning because he had a relationship with a much, much younger member of very, very junior staff, which he ­consistently lied about.

“And the ­relationship with his co-host Holly had broken down partly for that reason, but for other reasons as well, some of which can’t be discussed.”

But those close to the star say Holly doesn’t care about the sniping from her former friend.

Our source said: “After what she has been through, remarks like that are just nonsense.

“On Thursday — the anniversary of her leaving This Morning — she will undoubtedly reflect on the past year.

“Although it has been hellish for her, the future looks brighter now.”

Big Brother’s ‘most controversial’ star unrecognisable 17 years after racism row as she reveals very different job

Click on the video above to watch what she’s up to now

BIG Brother’s ‘most controversial’ star is unrecognisable 17 years after her racism row on the show.

Emily Parr, who is now known as Emily Valentine, shot to fame on the eighth series back in 2007.

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Emily Valentine looks unrecognisable after her stint on Big BrotherCredit: Instagram/@officialemilyvalentine

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Emily was ejected from the house nine days inCredit: Rex Features
Emily was a drama student from Bristol when she took part in the social experiment.

But on day nine she was ejected from the house after using a racial slur against her house mate Charley Uchea.

She was removed from the house at 3:30am after she said it during a discussion in the garden.

Emily took full responsibility and quickly apologised, saying publicly: “There’s no amount of words that can cover how sorry and how stupid I’ve been.

“But we’ve all got to move on now and all I ask from anyone reading this is that they understand what really happened and accept my apology.”

Speaking to OK! back in 2021, Emily reflected on her choices and said: “It’s a period in my life that I try not to revisit too much if I can.

“The media noise and intrusion was bad but what was worse and lasted for a while was the deep shame I felt about what I had said.

“The only way I’ve found I could move forward from my mistake was to educate myself and develop a much better understanding of what these racial slurs mean and why they are so awful.

“As well as having a better understanding of racism and how it manifests in our society today.”

Now Emily is a social media star and boasts 50k followers on Instagram.

Watch as Big Brother’s Will Best grimaces in pain after nasty injury puts show launch at risk
She has also changed her name to Valentine.

The star shares content about make-up, fashion and lifestyle.

Her bio states: “30-something ADHD girlie. Bride to be 2024.”

Emily has stated that she shares “short hair lewks”, style hacks and mini vlogs.

It states says that she is also a creator coach for Influencer Biz Academy.

Big Brother series eight was won by fan favourite Brian Belo.

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Emily is now a content creatorCredit: Instagram/@officialemilyvalentine

Bake Off legend Sandi Toksvig bluntly reveals the former co-star she no longer speaks to and why she left the show

Sandi also revealed the surprising reason she never enjoyed Bake Off

BAKE Off legend Sandi Toksvig bluntly revealed the former co-star she no longer speaks to and explained why she ultimately left the show.

The 66-year-old hosted the show for three years alongside Noel Fielding, 51.

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Sandi Toksvig reveals why she truly left Bake Off behindCredit: Mark Bourdillon (Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way) CHANN

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Sandi admitted she had never watched the show before joiningCredit: Mark Bourdillon/ Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way. This pict
Sandi left the show back in 2020 and was replaced by Matt Lucas and later Alison Hammond.

The star has now revealed her real reasons behind leaving the show.

In an interview with The Times where she was asked if she was still friends with her former co-host Noel, Sandi bluntly said: “No.”

She then opened up about why she left the show saying: “It’s not for me. I walked away from the biggest paycheque of my life, but that’s fine.

“I’d never watched it. I still haven’t watched it. I didn’t understand it.

“Cakes are readily available in the shops. I didn’t enjoy the process. There was this showbiz thing you’d made it with Bake Off, it was a big show, getting a lot of attention.

“But my wife Deb said, ‘It’s not making you happy’.”

Sandi still speaks to Prue Leith but is barely is barely in contact with Paul Hollywood due to his busy schedule.

Earlier this year, Prue reacted to a comment Sandi made about the show where she joked that her brain was turning to mush from “watching meringues dry.”

Prue, 83 has dismissed Sandi’s comment, saying that they actually had a great time in the green room and she wasn’t ‘really bored’.
‘What is going on?’ beg Bake Off fans as TWO contestants collapse and another falls during incredibly stressful day in the tent
Prue shared that Sandi kept herself busy with knitting, writing scripts, and other hobbies during her breaks from filming.

“I don’t think Sandi was so bored because she and I shared a wonderful green room in this posh house, which was where we filmed Bake Off and which was in the library.

“And so we had this wonderful selection of books and she would knit little figures and dress them beautifully. Did you know she’s a knitter? She sells [them] for charity. So she made lots of those. She wrote a few scripts. She did a lot of other things,” Prue told Times Radio.

Prue added that Sandi’s comment about ‘watching meringue dry’ seemed ‘a little heavy’ but assured that it was only meant as a joke.

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Sandi co-hosted the show for three years with Noel FieldingCredit: PA:Press Association

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She also admitted to ‘not liking cake’Credit: PA

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Sandi revealed she didn’t enjoy the process of the showCredit: PA

Meghan Markle has sparked fan frenzy by sporting a recycled red dress to an event in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Meghan Markle stunned at an event in Los Angeles (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle has sparked a fashion fan frenzy after sporting a recycled £4,595 ($5,990) red Carolina Herrera dress to an event in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, who now resides in California, looked stunning as she took to the red carpet at the LA Children’s Hospital gala.

Appearing to take on the Princess of Wales’s style advice, Meghan chose to rewear a dress that she previously wore to a New York City gala to honour military personnel on the eve of Veterans Day and Armistice Day in 2021.

Princess Kate, 42, is often known for recycling her looks. She chose to rewear her £1,335 peplum-bodice, fit-and-flare frock that she first debuted at Wimbledon in 2022 to an engagement in Southampton last summer.

The glamorous event, held at LA Live’s event deck, featured performances by Demi Lovato and appearances from Hollywood stars like Kaley Cuoco and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Prince Harry was absent from the event last night as he has paid a visit to Lesotho for a series of engagements for his charity, Sentebale.

Express.co.uk revealed yesterday that the Duke has extended his solo trip abroad without Meghan Markle.

According to a well-placed source, the Duke of Sussex, 40, was due to head back to California this weekend to reunite with his wife Meghan, 43, and their two children, but has chosen to prolong his solo trip by an extra few days.

The source added that the Duke will likely head to Johannesburg and Cape Town for “private time” with family and friends. Another secret visit, which has bizarrely been kept out of his official diary, is also planned.

After seeing pictures of Meghan’s look from the LA event last night, Sussex fans took to social media to express their opinions.

Meghan sported the same dress in 2021 (Image: Getty)

One fan commented: “She looks young, beautiful and healthy. Her hair is lovely [pink-heart emoji].”

Another, noticing that it was the same dress she wore in 2021, wrote: “The way [Duchess] Meghan bought this red gown back but in such a simple but elegant way and then changed up her hair like she is that girl.”

Complementing Meghan’s look, another fan wrote: “She stepped out so beautifully.”

Another commented: “What a woman [heart-eyed emoji]”, whilst another wrote, “She looks great!”

Whilst Harry recently undertook solo trips to New York City and London, Meghan is said to have remained in California with their two children.

The Duchess of Sussex stunned in a glamorous red dress at a star-studded gala event in Los Angeles – she’d previously sported the gown at a 2021 event she attended with husband Harry

Meghan Markle has re-worn an eye-catching dress she’d previously been seen in alongside Prince Harry – but he was nowhere to be seen this time.

The Duchess of Sussex sported the red Carolina Herrera gown for a star-studded night at the LA Children’s Hospital gala on Saturday evening.

And she was noticeably without Harry, who has also been on several trips recently without his wife. Since moving to the United States, the Duke of Sussex has usually been seen at official events with Meghan at his side and yet in recent weeks he has been without her for engagements including in New York, the UK and South Africa.

This time it was Meghan flying solo as she met with children at the event in Los Angeles, presented by Kaley Cuoco, Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Hanks. Photos from the event showed her smiling and chatting to the kids while sporting the dress she had previously worn at a 2021 gala in New York on the eve of Armistice Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US.

Meghan attended the event without Prince Harry ( 
Image:
Variety via Getty Images)

The Duchess of Sussex was dressed in a red Carolina Herrera outfit ( 
Image:
Variety via Getty Images)

Harry has attended 10 engagements without Meghan in the last couple of weeks, as she reportedly skipped one charity event she’d been expected to attend with her husband because she was unwell.

Harry was at a central London hotel at the end of September as he attended the WellChild Awards ceremony to honour some of the country’s bravest children, while supporting a charity he has been a patron of for 16 years.

He then headed off to Lesotho and South Africa for his Sentebale charity with again no mention of Meghan. Dressed in a white shirt, dark blazer and slim-fitting jeans, Harry smiled as he stood with Princess of Lethoso, Senate Seeiso for a snap she posted to her Instagram page. The 22-year-old wrote: “Had a pleasure of hosting a lunch today”, as she shared the image in a reel.

She previously wore the dress at a 2021 gala in New York ( 
Image:
Getty Image

During his visit, Harry is believed to have met with world business leaders and philanthropists in the region to work towards fostering prosperity in Southern African communities, specifically for young people. But the lack of Meghan’s presence has led to plenty of debate and one source in California told the Daily Mail that it is the new “solo Harry” who “wants space”.

And another insider based in London told the outlet it was because he wanted to be taken more seriously. They stated: “This definitely feels like he is upping his game to cement his position as a serious player on the international stage. He’s always been desperate to be taken seriously and people I know say his fall from grace will really have got to him.”

The source added: “It is a surprise that he went to Lesotho without Meghan. There may be a good reason she can’t leave the kids, but she’s never been to Lesotho and that surprises me – it is like a second home [to Harry]. He first went there as a teenager and the royal family there is like his second family.”

Maggie and Judi were good friends

Yesterday saw Dame Judi Dench break her silence on the death of Maggie Smith – just days after the actress passed away.

Dame Maggie Smith sadly passed away on September 27. She was 89 years old.

Judi Dench teared up yesterday (Credit: CoverImages.com)

Judi Dench tears up as she talks Maggie Smith death

Yesterday, Dame Judi Dench, 89, was at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

During a Q&A with the legendary actress, Dame Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt’s deaths were discussed. Both actresses have died within the last month.

Speaking to Judi, the interviewer remarked that “the last week has been tricky for you”. He then encouraged Judi to explain what she meant when she had previously compared grief to petrol.

Tearing up, Judi said: “I suppose the energy that’s created by grief.”

Maggie died last month (Credit: CoverImages.com)

Judi Dench and Maggie Smith

Judi and Maggie first met back in the 50s, whilst backstage at the Old Vic Theatre in London.

Their friendship, which lasted over six decades, saw them star in several films together.

These included 1985’s film A Room With A View, 2004’s Ladies in Lavender, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

“What I remember mostly about that time, it was the beginning of a friendship, and I remember laughter more than anything in the world,” Maggie said of their friendship once.

There were so many tributes for Maggie (Credit: BFI / YouTube)

Tributes pour in for Dame Maggie Smith

On September 27, Maggie’s family announced that she had sadly passed away.

In a statement, they said: “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

Tributes poured in, with King Charles even penning some heartfelt words for the late actress.

“My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage,” he wrote.

Read more: Dame Maggie Smith’s final public appearances months before her death