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THE late Queen was still her incredible self in the lead up to her death, a royal expert who met Her Majesty a massive 40 times has revealed.

Queen Elizabeth died “peacefully” on September 8, 2022 aged 96 – with her final days spent having fun at Balmoral with family.

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The Queen was still her incredible self in the lead up to her death, an expert claimsCredit: Getty

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Her Majesty died in September 2022 aged 96Credit: Getty

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Royal expert Hugo Vickers said he met the Queen 40 timesCredit: Getty
And in the months leading up to her death, the Monarch was the same she always had been, an expert says.

Royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers says he’s met the Queen 40 times between 1968 and 2022 and still remembers the first time like it was yesterday.

He also remembers the last just as vividly.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Hugo said: “I met the Queen 40 times between 1968 and 2022.

“The last time I saw her I was allowed to go and visit her in her opening of Windsor Castle in June of the the year she died.

“Now that was very special, I spent 15 minutes with her – she was firing on all cylinders, chatting away.

“We talked a lot about the fire restorarion and things to do with Windsor and St George’s Chapel and she was amazing.”

Hugo went on to relay the first time he met the Queen, when he was just a boy.

The expert told our Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “First time, when I was at school I used to show tourists around St George’s Chapel at Windsor on Sunday afternoons – it was open in those days.

“And one afternoon I was planted on a door where they were actually building the little tomb house for where the King and Queen Mother and where the Queen and Prince Philip are buried.
Prince Andrew needs to be kicked out of Royal Lodge – I’m sorry the Queen didn’t sort him before she died
“There was a construction around a wooden door and the Queen just came around the corner and there she was. And then the Queen Mother – I got two of them in the same day.”

Hugo also told The Sun what Meghan Markle did to the late Queen was “unforgivable”.

When asked what did he think had been the biggest crisis in the Royal Family over the past 50 years, the expert initially pointed to the death of Diana.

Hugo said: “Well, 50 years doesn’t take in the abdication, so I suppose the death of Diana in 1997 was the big crisis point.

“But, at the risk of being controversial, will the arrival of Meghan Markle prove to be a bigger one in the long run? Who knows.”

I spent 15 minutes with her – she was firing on all cylinders, chatting away.

Hugo Vickers

Picking up on the theme, Matt agreed adding the time between the arrival of the Duchess of Sussex, everything changing and Meghan and Harry leaving to start a new life in California was a “huge crisis in the Royal Family”.

Hugo said: “I think it’s quite interesting all that because I was in Windsor the day they got married and the popularity and good will towards them was enormous.

“I don’t think it was the press, she succeeded in evading that very, very quickly.

“What I find unforgivable, is the stress she put on the late Queen in the last couple of years of her life.”

It comes after a historic memo claimed the Queen’s final moments were “painless”.

 

The Queen’s most senior staff member Sir Edward Young has described the moment of her death in an extraordinary book.

The devoted private secretary: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”

PRINCE William is “steering Kate Middleton into Diana’s footsteps”, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.

The former staff member, who worked for the Royal Family for 21 years, added that the Princess of Wales has “never put a foot wrong.”

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Prince William is ‘steering Kate Middleton into Diana’s footsteps’, according to one of her closest former confidantesCredit: The Mega Agency

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Diana passed away when William was 15 years oldCredit: Getty
Speaking to Closer, Paul claimed: “He’s steering Kate into Diana’s footsteps.

“I see the way she dresses and the way she behaves, and if her mother-in-law could say anything, she would tell her that she’s doing an incredible job because she’s never put a foot wrong and the country adores her.”

The former butler claimed that Prince William is “fiercely protective” over Princess Kate, and it “absolutely” comes from losing Diana when he was aged 15.

Paul added: “With William by her side, Kate’s safe because he will take care of her and would never let anyone harm her.”

This follows Princess Diana‘s brother praising Kate’s “incredible strength and poise” after her shock cancer news.

The Princess of Wales, 42, revealed she is undergoing treatment for cancer in an emotional video message in March.

Kate spoke about the “huge shock” after tests identified cancer following her abdominal surgery and the “incredibly tough couple of months” her family have experienced.

Earl Charles Spencer has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share Kate’s touching video statement posted on the KensingtonRoyal account.

Reposting the footage, he penned: “Incredible strength and poise.”

Kate has remained absent from any official duties following major abdominal surgery in January.

I’ve seen Kate and Wills up close, I don’t believe social media gossip – their marriage seems better than
Her diagnosis is the second cancer shock to hit the royal family in as many months after King Charles revealed he was also undergoing treatment.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the King was “so proud” of Kate for “speaking as she did” and remains in the “closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.

Kate said the family now needs “time, space and privacy” while she completes her treatment.

Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward explained Diana would have “recognised how good Kate is” for William if she had had the chance to meet her.

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Princess Kate recently returned to public duties at Trooping the ColourCredit: Splash

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She has recently been resting at home after revealing her shock cancer diagnosisCredit: PA

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Diana and Kate, both pictured at Ascot, have been known to dress alike – despite never meetingCredit: Getty
Speaking to the Daily Mail alongside several of Diana’s friends and close confidantes, Seward revealed: “I think she would have been very fond of Kate because she does everything right and looks gorgeous.

“And I think she would have recognised how good Kate is for William because William is emotional and difficult.”

The author also claimed Diana would have been a fantastic grandma.

“The Goddess Grandmother, definitely. I think she would have been a little bit wary of Kate’s mother though, she would’ve sized her up straight away,” she added.

Prince William is a pillar of strength for Kate Middleton

EXPERT analysis by author and royal expert, Ingrid Seward.

Steadfast when his family needed him, William has proved himself as a man and future monarch of strength and compassion.

While he might not have been present during Kate’s courageous video address — make no mistake, he has been by her side every step of the way.

William has stepped up with school-run duties and provided a “great source of comfort and reassurance” to his wife.

But he has also been a comforting and reassuring presence for the public.

From leading members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day Service to enjoying cheerful banter with youngsters on a youth centre visit, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Even then there were few chinks in his facade — but Kate was clearly on his mind.

“She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he smiled when the discussion turned to the challenges of young families.

But ultimately he is only human.

To have your father and your wife diagnosed with cancer in such quick succession is heart-shattering.

It’s a remarkable insight into the character of this young man that he has been so incredibly brave.

Theirs is a very private turmoil which has been brought into the public arena by the nature of their roles as future King and Queen.

William must feel the weight of enormous responsibility, both personally and for the monarchy, of which he is now the public face.

But he knows his most important role is that of dad and husband.

He will make that his priority.

This is a distinct difference from the ways of the past, where your royal role came before the role of spouse and parent.

Think back to when the Queen was young.

William’s priority is his family

It was a man’s world then — and she was forced to abandon her children in a way that William is determined not to.

William and Kate waited until the school term was over and their children were home before making their public announcement.

They needed to be prepared.

In this, they will have had the wholehearted support of Charles — who knows what it feels like to be brought up by nannies.

William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong.

In 1991, he was accidentally hit over the head with a golf club when he was at school and Diana was having lunch in her favourite restaurant San Lorenzo.

The call came through that William had been bashed on the head and they thought he might die so it was very serious.

Both Charles and Diana rushed down to Ludgrove.

William was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Diana went with him.

But ever a man of duty, Charles prioritised his engagements.

William is determined to do things differently.

Diana was tragically killed in a car accident in Paris, in August 1997, when Prince William was 15 and Prince Harry just 12 years old.

In the past, both Harry and Will have spoke out about their doting mum, with Harry revealing in 2010 that whatever he and William do, they wonder what Diana would be doing if she “was with us now”.

Speaking to ITV, the prince said: “Every day, I know I do and I’m sure William does as well, whatever we do, wherever we are and whoever we’re with I particularly always wonder what she’d think, what she’d be doing if she was with us now,” he said.

“If she’d be sitting here having a laugh, whether she’d be in the background sticking her tongue out or whether she’d be playing football with the children.

“That’s what keeps us going every day – that thought of what would she be like if she was around today.”

Prince William has previously spoken about how he would have loved Diana to have met Kate.

“Time makes it easier. I still miss my mother every day — and it’s 20 years after she died,” he said in 2016.

“I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won’t, that they will never know her,” he told GQ a year later.

The Prince of Wales has recalled playing chess and chatting with people during his first visit to The Passage homelessness charity with his mother, more than 30 years ago, in a new documentary.

William said he was “a bit anxious as to what to expect” before his first visit, and remembered his mother – Diana, Princess of Wales – “making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone”.

William recalls first visit to homelessness charity with his mother 30 years ago

He told the ITV1 and ITVX documentary – Prince William: We Can End Homelessness: “My mother took me to The Passage. She took Harry and I both there.

“I must have been about 11, I think probably at the time, maybe 10. I’d never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect.

“My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone.

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William and Diana, Princess of Wales during a visit to The Passage in London in 1993 (The Passage/PA)

“I remember at the time kind of thinking, ‘well, if everyone’s not got a home, they’re all going to be really sad’. But it was incredible how happy an environment it was.

“I remember having some good conversations just playing chess and chatting. That’s when it dawned on me that there are other people out there who don’t have the same life as you do.

“When you’re quite small, you don’t really, you just think life is what you see in front of you and you don’t really have the concept to look elsewhere and it’s when you meet people, I did then, who put a different perspective in your head and say like, well, ‘I was a living on the street last night’, and you’re like ‘woah’, you know.”

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William and Diana, Princess of Wales during a visit to The Passage in London in 1993 (The Passage/PA)

The prince was followed for the programme during the first year of his Homewards initiative.

The campaign is a major long-term focus for William, who has told how visiting shelters with his late mother when he was a child left a deep and lasting impression and inspired his work.

Homewards aims to develop a blueprint for eradicating homelessness in all its forms, “making it rare, brief and unrepeated”.

Previously unseen pictures, used in the documentary, which show the prince on his first visits to The Passage with his mother in 1993, have also been released.

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William and Diana, Princess of Wales during a visit to The Passage in London in 1993 (The Passage/PA)

In one image, William wears a red polo shirt and is playing chess during a visit on June 14 1993 and in the others he is in a suit and tie with Diana on December 14 of the same year seen holding presents in one image, in the kitchen in another and sitting down in the last.

During the past year, the Homewards teams in six UK locations – Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield and three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch – have been building collaborations between the public, private and third sectors.

The documentary will be broadcast on October 30 and 31 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, STV and STV Player.

David Beckham planted a kiss on his daughter Harper’s cheek as they attended a football game between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday.

The retired footballer, 49, who co-owns Inter Miami, was also joined at the game by his wife Victoria, 50, and their son Cruz, 19.

David put his arms around Harper as he gave her a kiss but the youngest Beckham child appeared to playfully grimace while watching the game with her family.

Victoria cut a casual figure for the outing as she sported a baby blue T-shirt and matching bracelets while chatting with a female pal.

Cruz also opted for a laid back look in a dark brown hoodie as he enjoyed the match alongside his father.

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David Beckham planted a kiss on his daughter Harper’s cheek as they attended a football game between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC in Fort Laurderdale, Florida on Friday

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The retired footballer, 49, who co-owns Inter Miami, was also joined at the game by his wife Victoria, 50

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Cruz, 19, opted for a laid back look in a dark brown hoodie as he enjoyed the match alongside his father

It comes after David was spotted strolling around his new $77million mega-mansion in Miami just days after purchasing the exclusive waterfront enclave.

The football legend was all smiles as he inspected the impressive nine-bedroom property in Miami Beach, Florida, which he acquired with Victoria.

Earlier this month a local property source claimed that the Beckhams’ offer on the property had been accepted, and they plan to move in early next year.

The Beckhams have had a base in Florida for years, and also spent about £18million on a full-floor five-bedroom penthouse in downtown Miami in 2020.

The couple already have a property portfolio which includes a £31million townhouse in London’s Holland Park and a £12million Cotswolds country pile.

Long-time celebrity columnist Jose Lambiet told the Mail earlier this month: ‘I don’t think people necessarily remember that David Beckham was a football player.

‘They now think of him as a society guy, and the ownership of the soccer team has made him a stalwart in South Florida.

‘Miami is a place where he and Victoria can be comfortable because people are used to famous faces here – there are hundreds of celebrities.’

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Victoria cut a casual figure for the outing as she sported a baby blue T-shirt and matching bracelets while chatting with a female pal

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Harper wore a black v-neck top along with a simple gold necklace

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Cruz shared a snap of himself alongside his mother  in a stylish black suit on Saturday

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Inter Miami co-owner David looked dapper in a navy blazer and a light blue shirt

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Victoria wore her brunette locks in a loose bob for the outing

Harper Beckham follows mum Victoria’s footsteps in dream reveal

It is understood that the whole Beckham family had already been to see the property before the latest visit by Beckham, with a source saying that ‘everyone loves it’.

They added: ‘Although it’s David who has the work connection in Miami, the impression from the estate agents is that Victoria has been pushing for the move.

‘What we hear is she wants to have a sort of salon there where she can gather interesting famous and wealthy people. It’s going to be a social scene but the idea is she can turbo-charge her fashion and make-up brands by juicing those links.

‘It seems she wants to be the Queen of Miami and to lean into all the celebrity links which come from the football club.’

Former England captain Beckham exercised an option in his contract with his former Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy to buy an expansion franchise in 2014.

He launched the team in Miami in 2018, before confirming it would be called Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, or Inter Miami CF. It made its MLS debut in 2020.

The former Manchester United midfielder finished his playing career in 2013 with 718 appearances, 127 goals and 214 assists. He played 115 times for England.

A young Prince William has been pictured beaming alongside his mother Princess Diana in a never-before-seen images from a visit to The Passage in 1993.

The photos of the Prince of Wales, now 42, have been released ahead of his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, which airs next week.

In the pictures, a fresh-faced William joins his mother for a visit to homelessness charity The Passage, based in Westminster, in December 1993.

William, then aged 11, can be seen giving out Christmas presents, playing a game of chess and listening intently as his mother speaks to those at the shelter.

He also looked cheery after helping out with Christmas dinner, posing for a picture alongside the shelter’s cooks.

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A young Prince William has been pictured beaming alongside his mother Princess Diana in never-before-seen pictures from a visit to The Passage in 1993

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The images of the Prince of Wales, now 42, have been released ahead of his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness

In a preview clip for the new documentary, William revealed he was ‘inspired’ by his mother to campaign to end homelessness.

The heir to the throne said: ‘I’ve slowly tried to work out what I can bring to the role and platform that I have.

‘I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, particularly with homelessness.’

He has previously revealed his visits to The Passage, where he is now royal patron, as a young boy left a ‘deep and lasting impression’ on him, and praised the work they do as ‘life changing’.

The exclusive ITV documentary charts the first year of his campaign to end homelessness.

The future king has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary accommodation a thing of the past in his ambitious five-year initiative programme called Homewards, founded by the prince and the Royal Foundation.

It will involve stories from those who are currently experiencing homelessness or have previously been homeless.

Well-known advocates of the programme and individuals leading projects across the UK will also feature.

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William, then aged 11, can be seen giving out Christmas presents, playing a game of chess (pictured) and listening intently as his mother speaks to those at the shelter

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He also looked cheery after helping out with Christmas dinner, posing for a picture alongside the shelter’s cooks

Prince William talks about his project to combat homelessness

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Prince William says he has ‘no other agenda’ than to help people in a new clip for his ITV documentary

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The Prince of Wales has long been passionate about ending homelessness, selling the Big Issue with vendor Dave Martin in 2022

In a preview clip previously released by ITV, William said he has ‘no other agenda’ than to help people in his mission to end homelessness.

Dressed in a casually buttoned blue shirt, William addressed the question of whether he is the ‘right person’ to deal with the issue in a candid moment from the new show.

He was asked: ‘There will be some people who question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?’

The prince responded: ‘I think everyone having the right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.

‘And I see that as part of my role. Why else would I be here if not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?

‘And I like a big challenge! I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own.’

Director Leo Burley said: ‘Over the past year we have spent time following Prince William and The Royal Foundation through the first year of the Homewards programme.

‘We’ve heard some incredibly moving stories from people across the country facing homelessness.

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Prince William has revealed he took ‘inspiration’ and ‘guidance’ from his mother Princess Diana in his work to end homelessness

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The exclusive ITV documentary charts the first year of his campaign to end homelessness

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Speaking in a preview for his upcoming ITV documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, the Prince of Wales showed the behind the scenes journey of his campaign Homewards

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Pictured: The Prince of Wales during a visit to Tillydrone Community Campus, Aberdeen, to spotlight how joined-up community support services can improve early intervention and prevent homelessness, June 27, 2023

New ITV doc follows Prince William’s end homelessness campaign

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Pictured: The Prince of Wales during a visit to the East Belfast Mission at the Skainos Centre, Belfast, as part of his tour of the UK to launch the Homewards project

‘From street homelessness in Newport, to families living in temporary accommodation in Sheffield, and youth homelessness in Aberdeen, the documentary paints a picture of homelessness across the UK today, working with many people who never expected to experience life without a place to call home.

‘Everyone we’ve filmed with has welcomed the spotlight that Prince William and Homewards are placing on the UK’s homelessness crisis.’

Prince William has long been passionate about the issue of homelessness and is royal patron of charity The Passage, after visiting one of their shelters with his mother when he was 11.

In 2009 he spent a night sleeping rough to understand the plight of the homeless at Christmas and has joined a Big Issue seller at his pitch for the last two years in a row.

Homewards brings together a range of organisations to develop solutions in Newport, South Wales, three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, the south London Borough of Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield.

Ruth Langsford locked horns with a follower on Instagram who criticised her over a post featuring “ridiculous advertising” – before ultimately making peace with her fan

Ruth Langsford became ensnared in a spat with a social media follower who criticised one of her posts.

The 64-year-old Loose Women star shared a recipe on Instagram but then unexpectedly found herself under attack from negative comments. It has been a testing few months for Ruth as her once rock-solid marriage with 64-year-old TV host Eamonn Holmes came to a crashing end in May after 14 years of marital bliss.

On Tuesday, Ruth took to social media to share a video of herself preparing a meal for one in her impressive home kitchen. She was preparing a fish dish, following a recipe from a dinner she enjoyed while on holiday in Spain – which she washed down with a glass of nicely chilled white wine.

While the video and accompanying instructions made it easy for fans to follow along at home, some were less than impressed with her paid-for content. The post was in collaboration with Tesco and their Finest range of products, and some fans found the content too cringe to watch.

Ruth Langsford always wakes Eamonn up from a nap

The TV star shared a video of herself whipping up an impressive meal ( 
Image:
ruthlangsford/Instagram)

Ruth recently split from husband Eamonn Holmes ( 
Image:
@eamonnholmes/instagram)

One unimpressed follower hit out at the TV star to criticise the post, writing: “Ruth is better than this ridiculous advertising. Sad to watch.” But Ruth herself snapped back at the message, writing: “Feel free to unfollow if this is making you sad.”

The video showed Ruth looking pleased with herself after she made a dish from scratch. She said to camera: “I’m going to try to recreate a dish that I had on holiday in Spain. It was a baked fish under some olives and tomatoes and chorizo. It was absolutely delicious. And I have only the finest ingredients. Quite literally.”

After cooking the food, she then sat down to tuck in and was well impressed by her own cooking skills. She beamed: “The proof, of course, is in the taste. So here we go… if I say so myself. It’s good. It’s really good.” She also wrote in an accompanying caption: “I wanted to savour the last of summer with a Mediterranean-inspired dish, so I headed to @tescofood and selected some of their Tesco Finest products to recreate this Spanish-inspired dish I enjoyed during my holiday. It’s so easy to enjoy delicious, quality food!”

After snapping at her fan, the critic replied to beg forgiveness, writing: “I love your posts usually and as a QVC customer of yours just loved the behind the scenes 2 Parter. So much goes into the shows before you air. Your chemistry with Jackie Kabler is wonderful and I could watch you all night. For some reason these Tesco posts seem odd so I’ll stick to your other lovely posts. Sorry if I seemed harsh, as I wish you well and didn’t intend to offend.”

And Ruth again replied to the poster – and it seemed all was well at the end of the day. She typed: “No offence taken and good to hear you enjoy our shows on QVC….thanks for watching.”

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has revealed the full story behind a harrowing stalking ordeal that saw her family forced to move home and hire private security staff

Loose Women star Denise Welch has spoken of her fear and anger that a man convicted of arson on her property is due to be released in the next three months.

Toraq Wyngard was jailed for arson and stalking charges in 2022 but is soon to be released.

“The stalker who set fire to my property, who came to my house with knives – who could have killed me or a member of my family or the brave woman who came to help – is getting out of prison soon, and I am f***ing terrified,” she told the Daily Mail.

It’s still unclear why Wyngard, who also goes by the name of Todd Wyngard, targeted Denise and her family. She described how her ordeal began on one evening in September 2020

A neighbour knocked on Denise’s door to alert her to the fact that a skip on her driveway was on fire. It was very close to her car, and Denise’s husband Lincoln rushed out to move the vehicle before the fire could spread to its petrol tank.

Denise’s husband Lincoln had installed CCTV at their home – without it they might never have connected the disturbing incidents ( 
Image:
Loose Women’s Denise Welch/Instagram)

Later, examining CCTV footage revealed a man running away from the skip towards a nearby churchyard. Police managed to trace the man, who could be seen wearing a distinctive baseball cap in the CCTV footage, and detained Wyngard.

Denise recalled: “He was told he couldn’t come near our home for a month while the police investigated. But after a month we heard – and only because I demanded to know – the CPS wouldn’t be bringing charges.”

Wyngard was jailed for seven years and seven months at Chester Crown Court ( 
Image:
PA)

Some months later, Wyngard was again seen on CCTV scrawling offensive graffiti on Denise’s front gate. But when she attended her local police station and presented officers with the evidence, they told her their hands were tied, because it required three incidents to trigger an inquiry into stalking.

It was only later, after Denise and her family managed to connect the two chilling incidents with a note marked with satanic imagery that had put through her door, that police were able to launch an inquiry.

In April 2022 ­Wyngard, 64, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to stalking, arson, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage. He was ordered to spend seven years and seven months in prison.

Denise has said she’s lucky that her job has given her the profile to speak out about the issue ( 
Image:
ITV)

At that point his parole eligibility date was listed as October 2025, but Denise has since learned that he has been considered for early release. Her legal action to oppose his release was rejected, and Denise has been told that the authorities will notify her of which week Wyngard will be released, but not the actual day.

Denise says that she’s lucky enough to have a second home, and to be able to afford CCTV and private security guards – but that many women in similar positions don’t have those resources.

Even so, Denise says, the impact of the whole ordeal has been “devastating,” both for her and for her husband. “It isn’t over for us,” said Denise. “In December he will be free. But what about us?”

The Hollyoaks star appeared on Monday’s episode of the ITV show to discuss his exit from the soap and the difficult topic of Frontotemporal dementia – but viewers were left complaining about only one thing

Hollyoaks star Gary Lucy angered Loose Women fans when he appeared on the panel during Monday’s episode.

The 40-year-old actor was a guest on the ITV lunchtime chat show – and sat alongside stars Carol McGiffin, 62, Jane Moore, 60, Katie Piper, 38, and Linda Robson, 64.

During his time on the show, Gary discussed his upcoming exit from Hollyoaks which will see his character, Luke Morgan, struck down with early onset dementia – or Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – ending his time on the soap after more than 20 years.

Gary also opened up about his own heartbreaking experience of dementia as he has close loved ones who have been affected by the cruel disease.

Gary Lucy enraged Loose Women fans on Monday ( 
Image:
S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Addressing his exit from Hollyoaks, Gary said: “It was really emotional. I started [Hollyoaks] when I was 17. It was my second job after Dream Team…

“And the director who worked on my last every episode on Hollyoaks was the second assistant director on Dream Team back in the day. So all these years later it was just really emotional, really amazing.”

He added: “It was amazing, I can’t say how amazing that place is. I’ve made friends for life there and I’ll never ever forget the experience I had and the opportunities it gave me.”

While those tuning in were touched by Gary’s stori

Another remarked: “I think Gary Lucy could have removed the chewing gum before appearing on LW. Doesn’t seem on his A game today does he? #LooseWomen.”

Another commented: “How did they let on Gary Lucy with gum in his mouth. Big no-no for a TV interview. #LooseWomen.”

A further fan lashed out, tweeting: “@loosewomen please tell Gary Lucy to get rid of that chewing gum. Its very rude and not nice to see it floating around in his mouth when he speaks, let alone chewingit inbetween talking.”

es – many were left fuming over the fact he had been chewing gum throughout his interview.

Fans took to social media to blast the actor as rude and unprofessional for chewing away while fielding questions from the panel of ladies.

One viewer fumed on Twitter : “Distracted by the important topic he’s talking about because I keep spotting the chewing gum he could have ditched before being interviewed!!

A further fan lashed out, tweeting: “@loosewomen please tell Gary Lucy to get rid of that chewing gum. Its very rude and not nice to see it floating around in his mouth when he speaks, let alone chewingit inbetween talking.”

While another desperately urged: “@loosewomen tell Gary Lucy to spit his gum out. No one wants to see it going round his gob!!”

Gary previously explained to DigitalSpy that he agreed to return as Luke on Hollyoaks for a final stint on the condition that they be allowed to explore Frontotemporal dementia through his character.

He said: “I said I’d absolutely love to and so we talked about it, and basically I suggested a young dementia story – frontotemporal dementia is the medical term for it. ”

“It had never been done before and that is what Hollyoaks is all about. It is leading the pack in regards to groundbreaking and heavy stories. Luke’s male rape being another one obviously back in the day, which was huge and so important. This was a great opportunity to come back and to ultimately finish with another story that is a first basically – young dementia, especially.”

“I know other shows have done dementia stories and I know Emmerdale had a story with Ashley’s character, which was amazing. But it happens to young people as well. For instance, one of the guys I went to school had it and no-one really understood what was going on. It’s just heartbreaking.”

 

This time, we’re flashing back to October 2023 when King Charles was out doing his royal duties, participating in a historic ceremony dating all the way back to 1689. He’s carrying this pearl sword, a gift from none other than Queen Elizabeth I herself, symbolizing authority and responsibility. Sounds like a typical royal affair, right? Well, not quite. Hold on to your crowns because according to royal expert Angela Levin, this wasn’t just any royal speech. This was King Charles playing 4D chess and sending a not-so-subtle message to his estranged son, our favorite royal rebel, Prince Harry. 

Let’s break down what Charles said. There he was, decked out in his royal regalia, with that signature squinty-eyed look, and he drops this line: “Do we pause instinctively and unerringly before speaking or acting to ensure we are affording equal weight to both sides of the balance? Our society would be a kinder and gentler place for it.”

Whoa, Your Majesty, are you about to start a royal rap battle? Because those are some serious words. But here’s where it gets juicy. Angela Levin, the Sherlock Holmes of royal watchers, decoded the speech like it was *The Da Vinci Code*. According to her, this wasn’t just a generic call for kindness. Oh no, this was Charles serving up a piping hot plate of shade, with a side of “Sit down and be quiet, son.”

Let’s dissect it. When Charles talks about pausing before speaking or acting, he might as well be holding up a neon sign that says, “Harry, for the love of everything royal, please think before you speak!” Can you blame the guy? His son has been out there spilling more tea than the Boston Tea Party, and Charles is probably thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this when I became king. Where’s the reset button on this parenting thing?”

And then there’s the line about affording equal weight to both sides of the balance. Even if you’re not a royal expert, it’s pretty clear what Charles is hinting at. It’s like he’s saying, “Harry, I know you think the world revolves around you and Meghan, but there are two sides to every story.” It’s the royal equivalent of saying, “There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.”

But here’s where it gets really interesting. Angela Levin, bless her, says this is Charles basically telling Harry, “Don’t come in here demanding apologies years later.” And I’ve got to say, I am *living* for this royal drama. It’s like *The Crown* meets *Jerry Springer*, and I am here for it.

Now, let’s pause to appreciate the masterclass in passive-aggressiveness that Charles is serving. This man has been waiting longer to do his job than most of us have been alive, and he’s dropping bombs in the most polite, most British way possible. It’s like he’s saying, “I’m not angry; I’m just disappointed,” but with a royal twist.

The kicker? Angela Levin doesn’t think Harry’s going to notice at all. And honestly, she’s probably right. Harry, bless his ginger heart, has been so wrapped up in his own narrative that he probably wouldn’t recognize an olive branch if it smacked him in the face. And don’t even get me started on Meghan. She’s probably in their Montecito mansion, practicing her “I’m listening intently” face in the mirror while internally planning their next move. This whole “Harry and Meghan vs. the world” saga has her fingerprints all over it.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “Friendly neighborhood critic, aren’t you being a bit harsh on Harry and Meghan?” And I hear you, but let’s break this down. Here we have two incredibly privileged individuals who had the world at their feet. They were beloved members of one of the most famous families in the world. They had wealth, status, and the ability to make real, meaningful change. And what did they do? They threw a royal tantrum, packed up their toys, and moved to California to become… professional victims?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure life in the royal family isn’t all tea and trumpets. I’m sure the pressures and expectations would crack most of us faster than you can say, “God Save the King.” But the way Harry and Meghan have aired their grievances—it’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. Only the car is made of solid gold, and the driver insists they’re the victim.

And what about this vacation to some exclusive island? They’re out here complaining about being cut off financially, and then they’re jetting off to places most of us couldn’t even point to on a map. It’s like they’re living in an alternate reality where actions don’t have consequences, and cognitive dissonance is a fashion statement.

The hypocrisy. They preach environmentalism while taking private jets. They demand privacy while doing tell-all interviews and Netflix specials. They complain about royal life while clinging to their titles. It’s enough to make your head spin.

Meanwhile, poor King Charles. He finally gets the throne after waiting longer than some small countries have existed, and instead of basking in the glory, he’s stuck playing royal referee. It’s like he’s trapped in a bizarre game of keep-away with the crown, only the other player is his own son.

But credit where it’s due—Charles’s approach here is masterful. He’s not stooping to Harry’s level by airing dirty laundry in public. He’s not giving explosive interviews or writing tell-all memoirs. He’s using the very institution Harry’s rebelling against to send his message. It’s like he’s saying, “You want to play this game, son? Two can play that game.”

The irony is rich. Harry claims he left the royal family to protect his own family and break the cycle of “genetic pain” or whatever New Age philosophy he’s quoting these days. Meanwhile, Charles is using centuries-old traditions to try and knock some sense into him. It’s like watching a chess match, except one of the players flipped the board and declared themselves the winner.

But here’s the real tragedy. The collateral damage. Think about little Archie and Lilibet, growing up in the middle of all this drama. Think about William and Kate, trying to carry on with their duties while their family is being torn apart. Think about Queen Elizabeth, spending her final years watching her family implode. For what? So Harry and Meghan can play the victim card and rake in millions?

It’s exhausting. It’s unnecessary. And frankly, it’s getting old.

But let’s circle back to King Charles and his pearl sword speech. This moment perfectly encapsulates the royal family’s current situation. Tradition vs. modernity. Carefully chosen words with hidden messages. A father trying to reach out to his son the only way he knows how. And what does Harry do? According to Angela Levin, he ignores it completely.

Charles isn’t just Harry’s dad, though—he’s the King of England. Sooner or later, Harry’s going to have to realize that his actions have consequences, not just for him and his family, but for the entire institution he’s still a part of. Strip away the royal titles, and who is Harry? A middle-aged man with a Netflix deal and a tendency to overshare.

Harry and Meghan want all the perks of royalty without the responsibilities. They want the spotlight without the scrutiny. They want to be both victims and heroes. But that’s just not how the world works.

A former girlfriend of Prince Harry has admitted she feels “lucky” that the split up and that their relationship did not last beca…

A former girlfriend of Prince Harry has admitted she feels “lucky” that the split up and that their relationship did not last because of the lifestyle it brought.

Florence St George, a former model who dated Prince Harry in 2011, said she struggled with the media attention their relationship received.

She also said that she “takes [her] hat off to people who can cope with that lifestyle”, potentially referring to the Duke of Sussex’s wife Meghan Markle, who he married in 2018.

“My privacy ended abruptly, and the scrutiny began,” she told Stella magazine.

“A new story would appear almost every day in the press, my school friends were interrogated and there were photographers outside my front door.

“I take my hat off to those people who can cope with that lifestyle, but I knew I couldn’t. Although it was sad at the time, I feel lucky that the relationship was short lived.”

Mrs St George ultimately married Henry St George, the vice-president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, in 2014 and the couple now have two children, Iris and Jimmy.

Another of Prince Harry’s high profile relationships was with Zimbabwean lawyer Chelsy Davy, whom the Duke had known since his school days.

However, she also ended their romance after realising she wasn’t cut out for royal life, with the realisation reportedly coming after she watched the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tie the knot in 2011.

Royal biographer Robert Lacey explains in his book Battle of Brothers that shortly after the wedding, where Harry had been his brother’s best man, Chelsey finally ended their long romance.

He writes: “In 2011, after more comings and goings, she finally decided to go – and it was, ironically, Kate and William’s grand and glorious wedding that spring that did it for her.

“According to a friend, she told Harry that she could never make the sacrifices she had witnessed Kate making, particularly when it came to moulding her life around the unremitting attention of the press.”

It wasn’t just Chelsy who decided against royal life – his next girlfriend Cressida Bonas did too.

The Burberry model met Harry in 2012 and the pair dated on and off until 2014.

MrLacey added: “A rising actress, Cressida did not enjoy the critical remarks that she could hear people making behind her back when she walked down the street in London – she felt that the fame of her relationship put her ‘in a box’.”