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Former This Morning host Phillip Schofield made his heavily advertised return to screens on Monday night after he destroyed his own career with an “unwise” affair

Phillip Schofield has faced fresh humiliation as his big TV comeback landed with a damp squib – and a low viewership.

The 62-year-old former This Morning star has been hoping to relaunch his career with a Channel 5 documentary – airing more than a year after his historic “unwise, but not illegal” affair destroyed his career. Three part docuseries Phillip Schofield Cast Away began airing on Channel 5 on Monday night – attracting scathing reviews and dividing audiences.

However, the audience figures themselves have been low as ratings figures have shown just 1.4 million people tuned in to watch the fallen star mope around a desert island on his own. The documentary was aimed to help rehabilitate Schofield’s ruined public image, but saw audiences slam him online for appearing “narcissistic” and “unremorseful” over the origins of his self-inflicted career implosion.

Now it has been revealed that ITV outperformed Schofield’s heavily advertised TV return – as crime drama Joan, starring Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, attracted over 2 million viewers. A Channel 5 spokesperson refused to officially comment if the ratings for Phillip Schofield Cast Away were considered a success or flop.

ITV’s new drama, Joan, attracted almost double the audience of Phil’s Channel 5 show ( 
Image:
ITV)The second part of Phillip Schofield Cast Away is due to air on Channel 5 tonight at 9pm, while the third and final instalment will air at the same time on Wednesday. The show has been billed as “an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge” as Schofield was left on a deserted island for 10 days and left with a camera to film himself.

In the first episode, Schofield said to the camera: “In the last 18 months my life has totally unravelled. I locked myself away from the outside world. But now I want to see if the ultimate isolation can finally set me free.” He was shown looking for crabs to eat and battling against harsh winds, as he reflected on how the survivalist experience helped to empty what he calls his “toxicity tanks”.

He added that he wants people to “bugger off and let me get on with the quiet life that you’ve all given me”, before sharing how “dark” things became. Reflecting on his ruined career, he said: “I miss parts of it. I miss most of it. There are bits I really, really don’t miss. You learn a lot about people. You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that.”

A poll issued by the Mirror found that 54 percent of viewers were not impressed by Schofield’s return. Voicing their thoughts in the comments section, one person penned: “And he’s been paid a wage to do this program. It’s not like he needs the money, so this is purely a vanity project and a route back to the attention he so craves.”

Another posted on the Mirror’s Facebook page: “I personally don’t want him back on TV. He had a good career which is over all his fault,” while a third echoed: “Schofield is utterly shameless in his pursuit of celebrity status.” A fourth posted: “He doesn’t need to work again with the money he has. So to come back with his pity party ‘poor me’ pathetic attempt at getting back into to the limelight shows he has no shame. He’s not sorry for what he did. He abused his position in a big way. And now he throws the blame at everyone else. Tells you what type of person he is really.”

Temperatures were flaring during Tuesday night’s edition of E4’s Married At First Sight, and things are only set to get more dramatic this week as four new contestants enter the experiment in the hopes of finding love

Married At First Sight UK viewers are in for a treat this week as the E4 show is set to have three more surprise weddings – and the new contestants have been announced.

The new series of the hit reality TV show has arguably been one of the most dramatic yet, with one groom asking to leave after just one week, while another can’t get past the fact that his bride harbours the same mannerisms of his twin sister. But the drama is only set to continue as four brand-new contestants join the exhilarating experiment.

Earlier this week two new brides, Amy, 27, and Hannah, 33, and two grooms Luke, 30, and Ryan, 28, were revealed taking part in this series of MAFS UK, as they hope experts Mel Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson will help them find their perfect forever partner.

New bride Amy is on the hunt for her dream man

Hannah is hoping to find her forever love in the experiment
The first new bride is Hannah, 33, from Cheshire who works as a health and fitness business owner. The bio for Hannah describes her as: “Fun, fabulous, with big opinions but no filter, Hannah is quite the extrovert, who doesn’t stick to the norm. Straying away from how the rest of her family live, Hannah hasn’t gone down the route of settling down early and has focused on growing her business instead.

Kevin Hart caught up in on stage confrontation with Usher

“Beneath the tough and ambitious exterior, Hannah admits she’s put up walls but does have a softer side that she lets people see every now and again. Single for two years, she believes she’s only ever met boys and not men. She wants someone who is strong, keen and ready to keep up with her energy and give her the time and effort she deserves.”

Next up is Amy, 27, from Blackburn, who ironically works as a wedding planner. “Northern girl Amy has spent the last few years planning weddings at an events management company, where she’s been helping brides and grooms create the dream day she’s always wanted,” her introduction reads.

Luke is in search of his soulmate

Ryan is one of the new MAFS UK grooms“Looking at wedding dresses and venues, and tasting cake samples every day, Amy is constantly reminded of just how single she is. But might her luck be about to change? After having three serious relationships that have never felt right, Amy is happy to relinquish control and leave her love life in the hands of experts who can do the hard work for her. She’s hoping they’ll help her find someone who she can truly fall in love with.”

Ryan, 28, from Manchester is one of the brand-new grooms hoping to find his forever lady. Ryan now works as a bin man after packing in his career as a semi-professional footballer.

The hopeless romantic is a father to his six-year-old son, Leo, and is hoping to find someone who will be a role model to him. After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2017, Ryan is keen to live life to the fullest and raise awareness of the disease.

The final new addition to MAFS UK is Luke, who originally hails from Malta but now lives in Kent. The 30-year-old prison education manager is hoping to find his soulmate in the experiment. Describing himself as a ‘typical gentleman’, Luke is hoping his culinary skills will win over his new spouse.

Eve shared how Charlie was treating her to the group ( 
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E4)
“Ryan and Luke are new additions to Married At First Sight UK and they commit to their brides this week. It’s great to have new joiners enter the experiment and given their different stories and backgrounds, Ryan and Luke definitely make their mark on the series,” a source told Mail Online. “They’re both looking for their soul mate and to settle down with ‘The One’ so have put their faith in the relationship experts to hopefully find long-lasting happiness,” they added.

It’s set to be an even more explosive week on the E4 show as Eve is set to face the experts for the hardest commitment ceremony ever after viewers labelled the Irish contestant as ‘toxic’ due to her behaviour towards bride Charlie. Emotions were at an all-time high during the latest instalment as Charlie broke down after being branded a “bully” after Eve went behind her back and gave her side of the story as to why their marriage wasn’t working out – but left out her own downfalls in doing so.

There were a number of crossed wires on Tuesday night’s show as Eve expressed to her co-stars that things were not working in her marriage to Charlie.

The couple have got off to a very rocky start in the experiement ( 
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Channel 4)
After seeing how distressed Eve was regarding her broken relationship, Polly Sellman had plenty to say and targeted Charlie, putting all the blame on her as to why her marriage with Eve appeared to be failing rapidly.

Explaining to Eve that she should leave her situation if she’s not happy, Polly took it upon herself to confront Charlie not long after. Asking Charlie where things had gone wrong, Polly told her she was behaving like a “bully”. The situation ended in tears as both Charlie and Eve broke down – however, most of the brides were on Eve’s side.The commitment ceremony is set to be one of the most dramatic events to date as Charlie is set to reveal all about her relationship with Eve.

Speaking to the Loose Women panel this Wednesday, Olly Murs recalled a moment when Mark Owen walked in on his wife Amelia breastfeeding their daughter Madison while on tour.

Mark Owen once walked in on Amelia Tank breastfeeding – but Olly Murs revealed the Take That star had actually helped his wife cope with the anxiety that comes with becoming a mother.

Olly Murs, 40, welcomed his first child with bodybuilder Amelia, 31, earlier in the year and the former X Factor star shared the news of Madison’s birth with the world on his social media account. But shortly after, the singer had to leave the newborn behind to go on tour with Take That.

Luckily, Amelia and Madison were soon able to join him and during a chat with the Loose Women panel this Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Olly recalled the time his wife had tried to hide backstage to breastfeed her baby, only to be found by a hesitant Mark Owen, who didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.

Olly Murs went on tour with Take That just as he welcomed his first child with his wife Amelia ( 
Image:
Daily Mirror)

The singer told the Loose Women panel about Mark Owen’s approach to Amelia breastfeeding backstage ( 
Image:
Getty Images for the NTA’s)
At the time, Olly was supporting Take That on their UK tour, as he explained. “I got Amelia in to come and see the show”, he remembered, “she’s just there, it made me feel great to have her in the house.” But as he recalled, Amelia was then afraid of breastfeeding, most particularly in public.

Olly had responded to her fears by insisting she’d be safe in the privacy of the dressing room. “And then Mark Owen walked in”, he summarised. But Amelia had a different reaction to what he expected as he remembered that her worries seemed to “go out of the window.”

This prompted him to praise Mark for his behaviour with Amelia at the time. “Because he’s had children, he was just so lovely. He was just like, you know, ‘am I okay to come in?’ I think it really helped Amelia, actually.”

The Troublemaker hitmaker and wife Amelia Tank welcomed their first child together, daughter Madison, in April, as mentioned. In more recent news, however, Olly and Amelia opened up on their first few months of parenthood on Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast. This led the singer to admit he was only able to spend one hour with his daughter before he had to leave her to perform a gig.

“Yeah, that was hard. That was weird”, he said. “I knew that Mila’s mum was there, which always gave me comfort. I knew Amelia was on her own. I think again, I just went, ‘I’m going to work’. And if I overthink this, I’m going to cry my eyes out all the way up to the gig. So, I was kind of like, ‘I’m really sorry, babe, but I’ve got to go.’”

Olly’s chat came after Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal, his Strictly Come Dancing professional partner, discussed their stint on the BBC One programme. But before then, Janet Street-Porter told viewers she was due to take a break from the daytime show as she said: “On Friday I am heading off to have a hip replacement operation at last and I can’t think about anything else.”

Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh was partnered with Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 before Amanda Abbington accused the Italian of inappropriate behaviour

Ranvir Singh has broken her silence after the BBC finally published the results of its investigation into Strictly Come Dancing.

Professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice, 34, was cleared of the most serious claims made against him by Amanda Abbington, 50, who was partnered with the Sicilian on the show last year. However six of the actress’ claims were upheld, resulting in the broadcaster issuing the Sherlock star an apology.Ranvir, who was paired with Giovanni on Strictly in 2020, previously told Good Morning Britain viewers she was “a bit scared of him”, adding: “Don’t be fooled by his angelic face! He is a fiery Italian, super strict.” It was also reported that the presenter met up with Amanda and Gio’s other celebrity partner, Laura Whitmore, to discuss their experience on the show, which was described at the time as as “a tearful summit”.

Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh was partnered with Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 ( 
Image:
BBC)
Now, Ranvir has made her feelings about the investigation into the dancer’s behaviour clear, telling GMB host, Susanna Reid: “I was pleased to see that the BBC investigation had concluded – it had been going on for some time – and that it ended with an apology to Amanda. I was pleased to see that.”

She continued: “I think that it can only be a good thing that these extra welfare measures have now been put in place on the back of this investigation because ultimately, Strictly is a show that everyone should be having a good time on. It’s entertaining, it’s joyful and everybody should be having a good time whether they work on the show, and the audience at home should feel comfortable that it’s what everyone is experiencing.”

After a nine-month investigation, Giovanni was cleared of the most serious claims made against him by Amanda, who accused the dancer of bullying and inappropriate behaviour before she quit the show with PTSD.

Taking to Instagram, saying “all the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld,” Giovanni told fans he was “glad it’s over”.

However, complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were acknowledged. The review said “he [Giovanni] was swearing and using what could be described as belittling language.” This amounted to bullying ­behaviour, it added. Another complaint upheld was that the dancer was using “too much negative feedback”.

One told how he grabbed his crotch and uttered a lewd remark, and also told his dance partner that he “wanted to f*** her”. But a source close to Giovanni claimed: “This was all done in jest and perceived in this way by Amanda. They were intended as jokes and compliments of her dancing style. Her language could be just as coarse back.”

Both Amanda and Giovanni have claimed victory after the BBC’s investigation. After the broadcaster issued an apology to Amanda, she said: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.”

Meanwhile, Giovanni thanked his fans for standing by him, as he took to Instagram, saying: “It’s over, it’s finished. Six months, seven months of all of this… reading everyday things in the newspaper and not be able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review, it was a difficult time.”

 

Back at the helm of This Morning, Ben Shephard discussed Gemma Atkinson’s choice to pinch her child as he delivered an unexpected confession about his own childhood.

Ben Shephard admitted that violence was prevalent during his childhood as he reacted to the backlash Gemma Atkinson has been targeted with.

A full-blown row was triggered over on social media when the Hollyoaks actress and TV star told her Instagram followers that she had once pinched her son Thiago to “teach him a lesson” and, most notably due to his young age, many failed to agree with her reasoning.

This Wednesday, August 2, Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley discussed the matter on the set of This Morning, aired on ITV, moments after celebrating Lorraine Kelly’s 40th anniversary on our screens.

But as he gave his view on the Gemma Atkinson row, the presenter, 49, said that physical violence was once a prominent part of family life, and he experienced it first-hand.

Ben Shephard admitted that violence was present in his childhood home – until he grew up ( 
Image:
ITV)

“It was a very different era when we were being brought up”, he first said while turning to Gyles Brandreth, “smacking was certainly very prevalent in my house. Until it got to the age where it became quite funny. Because it didn’t hurt and my mum couldn’t catch me.”

This comes after 39-year-old Gemma, who is engaged to Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Marquez, took to social media earlier this week to talk about the differences between the couple’s two children – son Thiago, one, and daughter Mia, four. In a post on her Instagram Story, she explained that her youngest child had even hurt his sister during one of his tantrums.

“Toys are just banged or slid across the floor and the tantrums are new as Mia didn’t have them. He pretend cries and throws himself on the floor. I stand and watch until he realises it’s getting him nowhere and they are slowly getting shorter. He pinches when he gets frustrated. I did it back to him on Wednesday as he did it hard to Mia. He’s not done it since”, Gemma shared at the time.

On Tuesday, after fans had been left shocked by their insight into her family life, Gemma decided to respond to critics with a scathing message: “I was on the radio tonight, and my agent emailed me. Well, she sent me an email from a journalist from the Daily Fail. Says it all.”

Gemma frowned as she recited the email, which read: “‘I’m writing a story on Gemma Atkinson, saying she’s done an Instagram post about pinching her son, but she’s removed the post because she’s been slammed. She hosts a podcast called Mum’s The Word and hosts a show on CBeebies.’” This left Gemma in a rage as she clapped back at the reporter’s claims.

Though he left with a degree and a girlfriend he would go on to marry, things could have gone very differently had Prince William fulfilled his desire to leave university.

After he spent his gap year travelling, the then 19-year-old’s time in higher education got off to a rocky start.

William began studying a degree in Art History at St Andrews in September 2001.

However by the end of his first term the Prince was having second thoughts.

Royal expert Robert Lacey told in his 2020 book Battle of Brothers how William only spent two of the 13 term-time weekends at the university and would often go home to London or Highgrove.

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The 19-year-old prince with his father Prince Charles during a visit to an education centre in Glasgow, shortly before he started university in 2001

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Prince William at St Andrews during the start of his degree after enjoying a gap year of travelling

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Charles and William greet crowds who have gathered to see him on his first day at St Andrews

When William first expressed doubts over his choice of course and institution, his grandfather Prince Philip responded with: ‘William needs to knuckle down and not wimp out.’

The young prince confided in his father, now King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, and told him how he wanted to leave the university and move elsewhere.

He found life in the small Scottish town of St Andrews to be quiet.

Mr Lacey described how the best part of his week was shopping at Tesco and playing sport on a Wednesday.

And for a prince who everyone instantly recognised, navigating student life was a challenge.

Though Charles originally agreed with his son, he changed his mind after speaking with his private secretary Sir Stephen Lamport, who also confided in deputy private secretary Mark Bolland.

Palace aides were concerned the situation could cause a ‘personal disaster for William’ and that the Prince ‘would have been seen as a quitter’.

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If William had not stayed at St Andrews, he may not have met Kate Middleton. Above: The couple on their graduation day

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Charles had a heartfelt discussion with his son about him wanting to move. Above: Charles and William greeting crowds after arriving for his first day at St Andrews

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Prince William shakes hands with people outside of St Andrews University

There were also concerns William’s departure could have caused problems for St Andrews’ image, as well as the politics behind a British monarch possibly being viewed as snubbing a Scottish university.

Palace officials had previously dealt with the criticism that followed Prince Edward after he decided to leave the Royal Marines part way through his training in 1987.

Kensington Palace and St Andrews managed to instead resolve the issue by liaising with one another and agreeing for William to switch courses to Geography instead.

Charles then spent the Christmas holiday having a heartfelt discussion with William, who eventually decided against the move too.

William later said he felt he was ‘daunted’ rather than homesick.

He said at the time: ‘My father was very understanding about it and realised I had the same problem he had probably had.

‘We chatted a lot, and in the end we both realised – I definitely realised – that I had to come back.

‘I think it was the new surroundings. When I was with Raleigh International in Chile during my gap year, it was the same sort of thing. You’re thrown into completely new territory.

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Kensington Palace and St Andrews agreed for William to switch courses to Geography instead

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William later said he felt he was ‘daunted’ over the situation rather than homesick

‘I don’t think I was homesick. I was more daunted.’

Leading journalist Andrew Neil, who was Lord Rector at St Andrews at the time, put the scenario down to William having ‘the blue’, something that he said was a common problem with ‘public school boys’.

The decision to stay paid off, as it was at St Andrews that William met and fell in love with Kate Middleton.

It was at a charity fashion show in St Andrews where William exclaimed, ‘wow! Kate’s hot’, as his future wife walked down the catwalk in a see-through dress.

Strictly Come Dancing fans are convinced there’s a feud between two of the show’s pro dancers as they’ve spotted a ‘tension’ growing between the pair, with one looking ‘unimpressed’

Strictly Come Dancing is no stranger to controversy, and the latest series of the beloved BBC dance contest is causing a stir among viewers who sense the emergence of fresh drama.

Some eagle-eyed fans have detected what they think is a simmering tension between two of the show’s professional dancers, even identifying the exact moment they believe this became evident on the screen.

The apparent rift was picked up by fans during last weekend’s live show. Following Tasha Ghouri of Love Island fame and her Strictly dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec’s routine, they spoke with host Claudia Winkleman about their performance.

However, it was pro dancer Katya Jones, standing in the background, who caught viewers’ attention with her stone-faced expression that sharply contrasted with the surrounding smiles. This led to quick speculation online that she wasn’t too thrilled about Tasha and Aljaz’s segment with Claudia.

Strictly Come Dancing fans spot ‘feud’ between pro dancers as ‘tension’ rises

According to The Sun, a web forum was buzzing with theories, with one fan remarking: “I noticed Katya didn’t look very happy when Tess was talking to Aljaz and Tasha in the auditorium.”

Another chimed in, adding: “I noticed that too. I wonder if Katya is the female pro who Aljaz ‘fell out with’ on the tour? Or I could just be reading too much into things as usual.”, reports OK!.

After whispers of disquiet among the Strictly dance troupe regarding Aljaz Skorjanec’s return, it seems there’s more to the story than meets the eye. The fan-favourite previously bowed out in 2022, amid rumours of an offstage spat with a fellow dancer during that year’s live tour only to make a comeback for the shiny new 2024 season.

Gossip from The Sun suggests discontent in the ranks: “They actively recruited a dancer who left under a cloud. Aljaz was touted as an unproblematic, returning legend but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Most were relieved to see him go back then and are aghast he’s been given a free pass back.”

Strictly Come Dancing viewers think they’ve spotted a feud on set

Yet, Aljaz’s representation swiftly hit back with a rebuttal saying: “Aljaz has the utmost respect for everyone he works with. He chose to leave the show in 2022 of his own accord but he has always loved Strictly and was delighted to be asked back. It is untrue to say or suggest he was forced out or that he acted in an aggressive manner at any time. He is excited to make his return to the dance floor this year.”

Meanwhile, in a juicy tidbit from an OK! exclusive, Tasha and Aljaz get candid about the judging panel. Tasha admits feeling under the microscope with Shirley Ballas in the room, divulging: “Hmm… Shirley? ! When she’s watching the dances you feel she’s got laser beams on your feet your posture…” Aljaz chimes in with a touch of nostalgia over his break from the spotlight: “Oh, how I’ve missed those judges..”

As a universally famous princess who is mother to the future King, Kate Middleton has more than a little bit in common with the late Princess Diana.

Kate, the first Princess of Wales since the tragic death of Diana in 1997, has strived to emulate her late mother-in-law’s passionate work for charitable causes.

And another shared trait is their love for their children and other youngsters, as videos filmed decades apart reveal.

In a clip from 1984, Princess Diana can be seen holding her youngest son Prince Harry during his christening party at Windsor Castle.

As she holds Harry, Diana is seen trying to beckon over her three-year-old niece Zara Phillips.

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In a clip from 1984, Princess Diana can be seen holding her youngest son Prince Harry during his christening party at Windsor Castle

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As she holds Harry, Diana is seen trying to beckon over her three-year-old niece Zara Phillips. Seen left is her older brother, Peter Phillips

She shouts, ‘Zara!’, and asks someone nearby, ‘can you get Zara?’, before saying her name again as she beckons her over with her hand.

Princess Anne’s daughter then goes over to admire Harry, who was only three months old at the time.

She appears to hold Harry’s hand and chat to Diana, who was wearing a deep blue dress and matching hat for the special day.

Zara’s brother Peter, who was seven, also stands by the Princess’s side and peers at his cousin.

The video was released as part of the documentary, Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute, produced by the BBC to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.

When Prince William and Harry watched the footage together, Harry turned to his older brother and said: ‘Mummy looks great in blue. I’m still not convinced about the dress I’m in!’

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Prince William and Kate brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Canada with them for their tour in 2016. At at a party for military families, Kate was filmed petting a dog. The clip shows her turning around and calling out: ‘Look Charlotte, Charlotte look,’ in almost identical phrases to Diana to try and get her daughter’s attention

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The young princess giggles as she pets the poodle-golden retriever cross

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Princess Kate laughing with Princess Charlotte at a children’s party for military families during the Royal Tour of Canada in 2016

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Prince William and Princess Kate in Canada with George and Charlotte

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Kate holding Charlotte on her first Royal tour at just 16 months old

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Charlotte with therapy dog, Moose, who is a poodle-golden retriever cross, September 2016

Harry’s christening made the front page of the Daily Mail at the time. It was noted that Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were oddly absent.

Three decades later, Prince William and Kate brought their children George and Charlotte – only three years old and 16 months old at the time – on an eight-day royal tour of Canada.

At at a party for military families, Kate was filmed petting a dog.

The clip shows her turning around and calling out, ‘Look Charlotte, Charlotte look,’ to try and get her daughter’s attention.

Charlotte then toddles over to her mother to look at the therapy dog, who was called Moose.

The young princess giggles as she pets the poodle-golden retriever cross.

The garden party marked Charlotte’s first public appearance with her brother George.

Mohamed Al Fayed made an ‘indecent proposal’ to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, her ex-butler Paul Burrell has revealed.

The disgraced ex-Harrods owner is said to have told Diana he wanted to sleep with her, leaving her ‘shaking’ in disgust, it was reported today.

Diana, who died in a Paris car crash with Al Fayed’s son Dodi in August 1997, dubbed the older man a ‘creep’ and also ‘Yoda’, after the Star Wars character, Mr Burrell said.

The former butler. who worked for Diana between 1987 and 1997, told of being ‘disgusted’ by Al Fayed’s behaviour – and said that, if still alive, she would support the women now accusing the late tycoon of sexual assault.

A BBC investigation last week revealed five female ex-employees have accused Al Fayed of raping them – and MailOnline revealed yesterday another 23 women have come forward with allegations about him.

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Mohamed Al Fayed, pictured with Princess Diana at a charity dinner at Harrods in February 1996, has been accused of making an ‘indecent proposal’ towards her

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The late tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed (right) is seen here with the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana at a Harrods-sponsored polo event in Windsor, Berkshire, in July 1987

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Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell has been speaking about how she was left ‘shaking’ after Al Fayed’s comments towards her

The Egyptian-born businessman – who died in London aged 94 in August last year – is alleged to have carried out the attacks during his time in charge of the outlet between 1984 and its sale in 2010.

The corporation says more than 20 female former workers at Harrods have come forward to accuse him of sexual abuse and presiding over a ‘culture of fear’ at the department store.

Some of those involved claim they were coerced into undergoing invasive medical exams in which they were tested for sexually transmitted diseases, with the results being sent directly to Al Fayed himself.

Harrowing details of the accusations, including vivid descriptions of the alleged rapes by the women, were shown on a new programme called Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.

The store’s current owners have now told of being ‘utterly appalled’ by the accusations and have apologised to the women affected.

The alleged attacks are said to have happened not only in London including at his Mayfair flat in the capital but also in Paris, at the Ritz hotel which he owned, and St Tropez in France as well as Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Now Mr Burrell has shared details about what he says Diana told him of her encounters with Al Fayed, who she first met at a Harrods-sponsored polo match in 1986 when she was married to then-Prince Charles.

The ex-royal butler told the Sun On Sunday: ‘I was in the car when she came running out from his office shaking and told me, and these are her exact words, that he said, “I want you to marry my son because in Egyptian tradition, the father goes first”.

‘He said, “I’m going to sleep with you”. She then said in shock, “Can you imagine making love to Yoda?” That’s what she called him. I was disgusted by his behaviour.

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Mohamed Al Fayed, who died in August last year, has been accused in a new BBC investigation of raping and sexually assaulting female employees

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Former royal butler Paul Burrell says the late Princess Diana (pictured) called Mohamed Al Fayed ‘creepy’ and ‘slimy’

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Diana also likened Al Fayed to Star Wars character Yoda (pictured), according to Mr Burrell

BBC documentary accuses Harrods tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

‘Diana was repulsed by the thought of having to surrender to him. By making that comment, he was setting the stage for that encounter and he was serious.

‘He thought that was his right and that it would actually happen – that he would actually sleep with the Princess of Wales. And that was always in her mind all through her romance with Dodi.’

Mr Burrell described how Al Fayed lavished Diana with gifts including gadgets and computer games arriving at Kensington Palace only for her to send them back.

He also allowed her to use a secret entrance to his Harrods store in Knightsbridge, west London.

Diana and movie producer Dodi started dating after Al Fayed invited her and her sons William and Harry to his 30-bedroom mansion in 1997.

The couple were photographed kissing that summer on board the luxury yacht owned by Dodi’s father, the Jonikal.

Mr Burrell last night said: ‘We all concentrated on Dodi and the Princess. But, really, the puppet-master was Fayed.

‘What he wanted above everything else was to be related to the Royal Family. Fayed bought the boat before that holiday for Dodi to be able to entertain her in private.

‘He spent millions trying to court her and his son was just a pawn in his game.’

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Princess Diana and Mohamed Al Fayed’s son Dodi are pictured in the French Riviera resort of St Tropez on August 22 1997, nine days before both died in a Paris car crash

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Mohamed Al Fayed (right) with son Dodi at a party for the film Hook in 1992

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Mohamed Al Fayed with the Queen in 1997. His business connections and charity work saw him mixing with high society despite his complaints about what he saw as establishment bias

Mr Burrell also said he witnessed Al Fayed touching women inappropriately, adding: ‘His hands would wander. He would literally put his hands on ladies without asking.

‘With Diana, he couldn’t go too far. She always had the upper hand because he could not afford to lose her. Unfortunately, most of the ladies that worked for him didn’t.

‘She would say how Fayed was always putting his hands on her. People don’t touch members of the Royal Family but I saw him stroke her arm and linger too long, kiss her hand almost like a pet, and put his arm around her waist.‘

Mr Burrell added: ‘I don’t think she would be surprised by these allegations because she knew he was creepy towards women.

‘If Princess Diana was here, she’d have stood with them, united, and said: “Well, it could have happened to me. It didn’t. Thank God. But I’ll be with you all the way.”‘

In the new BBC documentary some women claim they were coerced into undergoing invasive medical exams, in which they were tested for sexually transmitted diseases with the results sent to Al Fayed himself.

The corporation said it heard testimony from 13 women who say they were sexually assaulted at Al Fayed’s 60 Park Lane property in London, four of whom allege they were raped there.

Harrods began settling claims with women who came forward alleging to have been sexually abused at his hands in July last year.

Harrods said in a statement to the BBC: ‘The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010.

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A BBC documentary says the Egyptian-born businessman – who died in London aged 94 in August last year – carried out attacks while Harrods boss between 1984 and its sale in 2010

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The corporation says more than 20 female former workers at Harrods have come forward to accuse Al Fayed (pictured) of sexual abuse

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Current owners of the Harrods department store (pictured) in Knightsbridge, west London, have been settling claims made by women alleging they were assaulted by Al Fayed

‘It is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.

‘Since new information came to light in 2023 about historic allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, it has been our priority to settle claims in the quickest way possible. This process is still available for any current or former Harrods employees.

‘While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future.’

The Ritz hotel in Paris, formerly owned by Fayed, told the BBC it ‘strongly condemns all forms of behaviour that do not align with the values of the establishment’.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on Mr Burrell’s claims.

THE ROYAL children are watched by millions of fans when they step out for public events and they are often on their best behaviour.

This is partly down to the fact that the Princess of Wales is a very hands-on parent and uses a number of clever tricks from the late Princess Diana and her own mum Carole Middleton.

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Kate Middleton is said to prioritise kindness with her childrenCredit: AP

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The Princess of Wales is said to crouch down to be at the same level as kids, which is something Princess Diana didCredit: AP
Kate Middleton’s golden rule for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis is about kindness.

According to HELLO! Online’s Royal Correspondent: “Based on observations of photographs of Princess Diana at the time, and the current Princess of Wales, they are both very affectionate with their children.

“Kate is often seen holding her children’s hands or picking them up for cuddles when they were smaller.

“There are often lots of comforting gestures, such as a pat on the back or stroking their hair. When interacting with other children on her public engagements, Kate often crouches down to their level to engage with them – something that Diana would often do.”

When she’s at the family’s home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, despite her royal status, insiders say Kate is just like any other “normal mum”.

A friend explained that behind closed doors, the 42-year-old is “very chilled at home” but definitely not a pushover and will tell the kids off when needed.

They told PEOPLE: “It’s a normal, busy family home with kids running around and knocking things over. There’s no airs and graces.

“She is doing that to help her children be more grounded and keep their reality in check. That’s what really matters to her.”

As a result of Kate’s ‘no pushover’ parenting style, it turns out that she also has a strict rule around the house that she and the children must follow – no shouting.

An insider previously told Fabulous: “Shouting is absolutely ‘off limits’ for the children and any hint of shouting at each other is dealt with by removal.”
The secret meaning behind the daffodils brave Princess Kate surrounded herself with when she revealed her cancer
But unlike many households, where children are sent off to their bedrooms or to the naughty step when they misbehave, the royal couple have a different technique – the sofa chat.

The source added: “The naughty child is taken away from the scene of the row or disruption and talked to calmly by either Kate or William.

“Things are explained and consequences outlined and they never shout at them.”

When interacting with other children on her public engagements, Kate often crouches down to their level to engage with them – something that Diana would often do.

Danielle StaceyHELLO! Online’s Royal Correspondent

Not only does Kate employ discipline techniques at home, it’s been reported that she also has a secret code she uses if she feels she needs to calm her children down when in public.

Author Tom Quinn wrote in his book Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up In The Royal Family: “When Prince Louis misbehaved at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, for example, by sticking his tongue out at his mother, Kate’s reaction was praised by teams of expert commentators.

“She apparently used a secret code to calm the children, as she does on occasions – she simply says, ‘Let’s take a break’.

“But as a former staffer explained, the children know these few words carry far more weight than we might imagine.”

Kate Middleton’s down-to-earth school run look

Whilst we have previously seen stunning images of Kate dropping the children off at Lambrook School, it turns out, on a day-to-day basis, things are much less glossy than you may imagine.

A friend told the Daily Record: “There are no blow-dries – it’s always hair up in a ponytail.

“She’s either in her gym clothes, or a dress and sneakers, very little makeup, apologising as she’s late for the school run before dashing off.

“It’s the life of a working mum with three young children – just a different sort of day job to most.”

In fact, when George and Charlotte attended their previous school of St Thomas’ in South London, it was reported that parents barely gave Kate a second glance during drop off and pick ups.

One parent told the Daily Mail : “No one really gives Kate a second glance when she does the school drop-off.

“We have a Victoria’s Secret model doing the school run, too, and the dads are far more interested in her.”

Prince William, Kate and their three kids spent the Easter holidays at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, with the future king being seen in the pub with Carole.

Kate has taken a break from royal duties following planned abdominal surgery in January, and her announcement that cancer has been found.

She was last seen on public duty on Christmas Day, and has been unable to carry out official engagements since having her operation.

She is unlikely to return until after April 17 when her children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter holidays.

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Diana was great with children, and Kate also has skillCredit: Getty

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When she’s at the family’s home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, despite her royal status, insiders say Kate is just like any other ‘normal mum’Credit: AP

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While some children are sent off to their bedrooms or to the naughty step when they misbehave, the royal couple have a different technique – the sofa chat