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Coleen Nolan, who was married to the soap star for almost 10 years, was tormented by suspicions that EastEnders star Shane Richie was having an affair – until he confirmed her worst fears

Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan were one of the hottest showbiz couples of the Nineties, with a marriage that spanned almost the entire decade.

But behind the scenes, their once-idyllic romance crumbled under the weight of EastEnders star Shane’s infidelity, leaving Coleen heartbroken.

Both have spoken at length about the tumultuous and devastating ups and downs of their marriage, much like Shane’s soap character Alfie Moon’s on-off romance with Kat Slater.

Although Coleen and Shane have been over for over 20 years, Shane’s alter-ego is set to be reunited with Kat as he will return to Albert Square in autumn.

Here, Mirror Online explores Shane and Coleen’s romance and how love’s young dream turned to disaster…

A fairytale beginning

Coleen and Shane met in 1986 and planned to wed in a big ceremony in 1990 but ended up calling it off and eloping to Florida amid fears their plans had become over the top.

Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan eloped in 1990 ( 
Image:
Rex)Both have spoken at length about the tumultuous and devastating ups and downs of their marriage, much like Shane’s soap character Alfie Moon’s on-off romance with Kat Slater.

Although Coleen and Shane have been over for over 20 years, Shane’s alter-ego is set to be reunited with Kat as he will return to Albert Square in autumn.

Here, Mirror Online explores Shane and Coleen’s romance and how love’s young dream turned to disaster…

A fairytale beginning

Coleen and Shane met in 1986 and planned to wed in a big ceremony in 1990 but ended up calling it off and eloping to Florida amid fears their plans had become over the top.

Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan eloped in 1990 ( 
Image:
Rex)“Shane pulled me to one side and said, ‘I can’t do this. I feel like we’re just being told to turn up on the day and it’s nothing to do with us’ so we cancelled it all and eloped and didn’t tell anybody,” said Coleen on Loose Women.

They went on to welcome two children: sons Jake, 28, and Shane Jr, 31, and had a blessing at a church when Coleen’s father fell ill a few years later.

The first hints of a problem

In an extract from her 2009 autobiography, published exclusively in the Mirror, Coleen wrote she had an inkling something was amiss when she attended an industry party for one of Shane’s musicals in 1996 and spied a brunette woman in the room.

Coleen suspected Shane was playing away, but she couldn’t prove it ( 
Image:
Hulton Archive)

“At the after-show party I can distinctly remember examining this one girl. There were loads of people there but she just stood out. She had really long dark hair and was wearing a skin-tight white dress,” recalled Coleen.

“Well, it must have been female intuition because that turned out to be the girl Shane had an affair with.”

In his own autobiography, Rags to Riches, Shane admitted cheating on Coleen with the dancer and actress in question, Claire Taylor.

Coleen and Shane pictured at the National TV Awards in 1997, two years before their marriage ended ( 
Image:
Ken McKay / Rex Features)He said: “I was lying so much that I couldn’t remember which story I’d told to each of them. And I’d lie to cover up the lies.”

“All consuming” paranoia as she searched for answers

Shane and Coleen welcomed sons Jake and Shane after tying the knot ( 
Image:
Scope Features)Coleen said she would visit Shane in Manchester where he was working but claimed she often felt sidelined and started to wonder what was going on.

“I started to think, ‘Why?’” she said, admitting her fears became an obsession.

“I did trust my gut so many times. It became all consuming,” she added. “It was 24 hours.”

In a “happier place” afterwards

The couple eventually split in 1999, and Coleen went on to marry musician Ray Fensome and have daughter Ciara, 19, but they divorced in 2018.

Coleen has since found love once more with Michael Jones after meeting on Tinder. The pair hit it off as their first date lasted six hours.

Shane is set to reprise his role as Alfie Moon in autumn ( 
Image:
BBC)
Shane married actress Christie Goddard in 2007 and they have three children – Mackenzie Blue, 14, Lolita Bell, 12, and Romani-Skye Angel Shelley, nine.

And in 2012, Coleen told the Daily Star her divorce from Shane brought her peace.

“I’m in a much happier place now than when I was married to Shane – I don’t have to worry about what he gets up to any more,” she said.

“You forgive something like that but you don’t ever forget.”

Coleen has now found love with Michael ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
And for Shane’s part, he admitted that his actions were beyond the pale.

He told The Guardian of the media coverage: “I was crucified, quite rightly. There’s no excuse for a bloke cheating on his wife, much as I try to find one. What I did to Coleen was unforgivable and I could never apologise enough.”

In the same chat, Shane also credited Coleen for keeping things amicable between them. Their divorce was settled out of court and Shane later attended the christening of her third child.

“I wish I could take credit for it, but Coleen instigated most of that. The only people who lost out were the lawyers. They were gutted,” he said.

The Loose Women panel were surprised on Thursday, as they realised ‘Denise’ wasn’t co-star Denise Welch’s full name

Loose Women star Denise Welch left her co-stars in disbelief on Thursday’s show, when she revealed what her real name was.

Charlene White and Frankie Bridge couldn’t believe ‘Denise’ wasn’t actually her first name, as Denise dropped the news.

During a segment about baby names and which parent had the final say when choosing a name for their child, Denise confessed her real name has caused her problems her whole life.

She confirmed her real name was Jacqueline Denise Welch, but that she’d always been called Denise since she was a child.

Speaking to her co-stars, including Jane Moore, the actress and TV star confessed it’s “annoying” effectively having two different names.

Loose Women star Denise Welch left her co-stars in disbelief on Thursday’s show, when she revealed what her real name was ( 
Image:
ITV)
Despite everyone knowing her as Denise Welch, the star explained how this was not the name given to her when she was born, despite it being the name she goes by.

She explained: “My name… to be honest with the boys’ names, we both liked Max or Matthew, that was fine, he’s now Matty.

“And then Louis it’s just a name I’ve always loved, because mum and dad had a friend called Louis and their dad was very happy with that.”

Charlene White and Frankie Bridge couldn’t believe ‘Denise’ wasn’t actually her real first name ( 
Image:
ITV)
She then surprised her co-stars, as she said: “But with me, I’m Jacqueline Denise.”

Frankie went: “Oh…” as a surprised Charlene asked: “So is Denise not your first name?”

Denise went on: “No, but I was never brought up as Jacquline. So my mother, according to dad, was going through a French phase and loved the idea of Jacqueline Denise.

“She’d been there once on a ferry and she thought Jacqueline Denise flowed better than Denise Jacqueline, which is so annoying because I’ve been brought up with that.”

The Loose Women panel were surprised on Thursday, as they realised co-star ‘Denise’ wasn’t Denise Welch’s full name ( 
Image:
ITV)She went on: “I’ll be at the doctors or wherever, and I’m saying, ‘Oh it’s Denise Welch… hang on a minute, it might be Denise Townley, yep. Oh actually, I think it might be Jacqueline Denise.

“And it drives me mad. I have actually taken it off my passport but it is on certain things, and it is just really annoying. So don’t do that to your children.”

New L’Oréal ambassador Stacey Solomon has explained just why she wanted to return to her ‘natural’ roots ahead of her wedding next week – sharing the process of going from bright red to blonde at home with her Instagram fans on Friday

Stacey Solomon has unveiled a brand new hairstyle ahead of her wedding day at the end of the month.

The Loose Women presenter, 32, is known for sporting bright hair colours and frequently changing her style, but has plumped to return to her blonde roots in time for marrying husband-to-be Joe Swash.

Stacey and the former EastEnders actor are due to tie the knot in the grounds of their Essex mansion next week, following Joe popping the question to one-time X Factor finalist in December 2020.

Showing off her transformation on Friday, the mum-of-four said she “just wanted to be back to me” when explaining why she wanted to be a blonde bride, and confessed she “didn’t want anything crazy for the wedding”.

Stacey Solomon often sports super-bright hairstyles and frequently changes her look ( 
Image:
@staceysolomon/Instagram)

The Loose Women presenter shared these behind-the-scenes snaps before posting a stunning selfie ( 
Image:
@staceysolomon/Instagram)

She explained to her 5.4million followers on Instagram how the process of going from bright red to blonde had taken four days in total but was “sooo WORTH IT” – a nod to her new role as a L’Oréal ambassador and their famous tagline: “Because you’re worth it.”

“Wedding Hair Done,” Stacey began captioning a series of snaps of herself as a blonde once again.

“It feels so so lovely to be blonde again. For some reason I just wanted to be back to me and my (not so natural but natural for our special day.

Stacey explained her reasons for going blonde ahead of her wedding day

The TV star wants to feel like ‘herself’ when she walks down the aisle“As much as I love changing to fun bright colours I didn’t want anything crazy for the wedding and just want to feel as me as possible.”

She went on to add: “I love it so much. It was a process but it was sooo WORTH IT. Happy Friyay everyone. Not long to go.”

Over on her Instagram Stories, Stacey went into a little more detail about how she made the drastic change, and spoke of her pride at being a part of the L’Oréal team.

“They’ve watched me dye my hair over the last year always using their colour kits and I never in a million years thought they’d ask me to be a L’Oréal ambassador,” the bride-to-be explained to her Instagram followers.

Stacey shared the at-home process with her Instagram followers ( 
Image:
@staceysolomon/Instagram)

The star has been working on her hair all week ahead of her wedding
She then went on to share behind-the-scenes snaps of her “best friend and hairdresser of 6 years” helping dye her tresses with L’Oreal Paris Preference Hair Colour in shade Blonde 9.12 in the comfort of her own home, Pickle Cottage.

“I honestly love it so so much,” Stacey gushes after sharing some before-and-after pictures on her Stories. “It’s so soft and pretty.”

“And I just feel like me [laughing-face emoji]. Even though I’m always me [laughing-face emoji] but you know what I mean.”

Ahead of becoming a married woman at the end of the month, Stacey has been sharing how she’s been preparing for her at-home wedding.

Joe popped the question on Christmas Eve 2020 ( 
Image:
staceysolomon/Instagram)

Stacey unveiled her new engagement ring on Friday ( 
Image:
@staceysolomon/Instagram)
Prior to revealing her bridal hair on Friday, the TV star also unveiled something else new – her engagement ring.

Stacey showed off her new sparkler to her Instagram followers and explained her reasons for switching things up on her left hand.

Showing off a pre-wedding manicure, the Sort Your Life Out presenter explained how husband-to-be Joe had her “ring changed because I wear more gold than silver.”

Writing on her Instagram Stories, the star continued to explain: “It’s all the same stones but we moved them around abit [sic] so it was more dainty on my fingers.”

Stacey and Joe first met back in Australia thanks to reality TV show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Joe, who was crowned King of the Jungle in 2008, was hosting a spin-off show for the hit reality TV show when his future fiancée was a guest the following year. The pair hit it off and became good pals, before things eventually became romantic.

The happy couple share five children between them; including only daughter Rose who the pair welcomed into the world together on Stacey’s 32nd birthday last year.

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pete Wicks has teased a ‘wild’ impact that competing on the new series of the BBC show has had on his lifestyle ahead of his next routine

Reality TV star Pete Wicks has teased the “wild” impact that Strictly Come Dancing’s had on his lifestyle.

Pete, 36, has been paired up with professional dancer Jowita Przystał, 30, for the latest series of the BBC show. The former the Only Way is Essex cast member took to the dancefloor with Jowita for their first routine together last weekend, having performed a paso doble to the Prodigy’s song Breathe.

They are due to perform an American smooth in the second live show over the weekend. It’s been announced that the upcoming routine will be set to the song I Had Some Help, released by Post Malone and featuring Morgan Wallen.

Ahead of the routine, Pete – who has prompted rumours that he could be “in love” with his dance partner -shared an update on the experience with his followers on his Instagram Story. The contestant – who has previously teased that he used to have a “party boy life” some years – shared his surprise to be in bed by 9.30pm on a Friday night now, with him getting some rest ahead of being in the TV studio on Saturday.

He wrote in a post on the platform on Friday night: “In bed by 9.30 on a Friday. Wild.” Pete accompanied the message to his fans in the evening with a melting face emoji. He had teased just hours earlier in a previous post on social media that there’s just “one more sleep” until his return to the dancefloor.

Pete Wicks has teased that he’s gone to bed earlier than usual amid his stint on Strictly Come Dancing ( 
Image:
Instagram)

Pete (right) has been partnered with former winner Jowita Przystał (left) on the BBC show ( 
Image:
Guy Levy/BBC/PA)
Pete and Jowita were on the lower end of the leaderboard following the first live show of the series. It was announced to fans that he had been paired up with Jowita the week prior in Strictly’s pre-recorded launch episode.

Following the launch, Pete and Jowita addressed being paired up for the contest. She wrote in a post at the time: “I’m gonna celebrate the 20th anniversary of [Strictly] with this superstar. I’m so excited to share that experience with you.” Pete teased in response in the comments section: “Couldn’t have asked for a better partner. I’m sorry in advance.”

Pete is Jowita’s third celebrity partner on Strictly following her debut on the BBC show in 2021. She didn’t have a partner during her first series but then won in 2022 with presenter Hamza Yassin, before being partnered with cyclist Jody Cundy last year.

PRINCESS Diana is said to have opened up about Charles’ affair years before her bombshell Panorama interview, leaving Jennie Bond “gobsmacked.”

The former BBC Royal Correspondent revealed that she was invited to the palace to meet the late Princess of Wales, who candidly revealed intimate details about her marriage.

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Princess Diana shared revealing details about Charles’ affair to Jennie Bond, months before her bombshell Panorama interviewCredit: Getty

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Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie says she was ‘gobsmacked’ at what Diana told her, but she kept her secretsCredit: Getty
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Jennie told how she had written to Princess Diana asking if she could have a “cup of coffee” with her.

She shared: “To my amazement, I was invited to the palace about three weeks later, and it was the first of two or three conversations – long, long conversations we had just the two of us – in which I asked everything I felt like asking her.

“All the stuff pretty much that she shared in Panorama five months later, she told me at the time.

“There were three of us in the marriage marriage, it was a bit crowded.

“She told me she thought Camilla had been loyal and discreet.

“She told me that she knew now at that stage that the love that Charles had for Camilla was stronger than any marriage he might ever have made.

“And she was very resigned and relaxed really about the situation, this was after the separation.”

The palace meeting with Jennie occurred in 1995, three years after Charles and Diana – parents to Prince William and Prince Harry – had separated in 1992.

She added: “We were pretty well aware of what the situation was but had not heard her true feelings about it.

“I was gobsmacked by nearly everything she told me.
Princess Diana ‘boldly’ confronted Camilla over Prince Charles affair and said she ‘didn’t want to be treated like an idiot’
“And she was so open, so incredibly open, and also so incredibly charming.”

Jennie shared how she had kept Diana’s secrets, upon request of the royal mum-of-two.

However, she had later watched as the Princess of Wales revealed numerous details on Panorama, which was her first solo interview since her marriage to Charles had ended.

Diana’s chat with Martin Bashir has gone down as one of the most controversial interviews seen on TV.

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Jennie said Diana told her ‘the love that Charles had for Camilla was stronger than any marriage he might ever have made’Credit: PA

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Diana ended up sharing her secrets in her famous Panorama interview with Martin BashirCredit: BBC

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Diana famously said ‘there were three of us in this marriage’ during the chatCredit: ITV

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Jennie spoke to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson on the latest episode of our Royal Exclusive showCredit: THE SUN
Her scandalous tell-all broadcast was kept a total secret from Buckingham Palace – and within a month of it airing the Queen wrote to both Diana and Charles personally advising them to divorce.

During his chat, Bashir asked Diana: “Do you think Mrs Parker-Bowles was a factor in the breakdown of your marriage?”

Diana, whose head had been pointing towards the ground, famously looked up and replied: “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

Speaking of her keeping Diana’s secrets, Jennie told The Sun’s Royal Correspondent Matt Wilkinson: “I thought ‘am I the most stupid correspondent in the world?’

She told me that she knew now at that stage that the love that Charles had for Camilla was stronger than any marriage he might ever have made

Jennie BondFormer BBC Royal Correspondent

“The reason I didn’t is because at the end of each conversation, as I was leaving standing on the landing, she’d say ‘oh, Jenny, it’s been lovely to see you, you do realise this is just between you and me and these four walls.

“You’ll know as a journalist if you go against that, you’re never going to get another story again.

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“So I didn’t but I used those conversations as a broad framework for understanding the woman and I hope it made my reports more informed.”

Diana’s marriage to Charles was dissolved in August 1996, and her tragic car accident occurred a year later on August 31, 1997 when she was 36 years old.

PRINCE Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh are celebrating a very special milestone today – their 25th wedding anniversary.

King Charles III’s youngest brother popped the question before their 1999 wedding with a £105,000 two-carat oval diamond engagement ring, which will come with “struggles.”

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaryCredit: Tim Graham – Getty

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The Duke of Edinburgh popped the question with a £105,000 two-carat oval diamond engagement ring from GarrardCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Princess Diana’s ring – which now belongs to Kate Middleton – also came from GarrardCredit: Tim Graham – Getty
Prince Edward enlisted the help of British royal jeweller Garrard when it came to Sophie’s breathtaking sparkler.

He popped the question after dating the PR executive for five years while they were on holiday in the Bahamas.

And it turns out the ring has a poignant tie to Princess Diana.

Her iconic sapphire engagement ring, which was surrounded by 14 round diamonds and set in white gold, was also from Garrard – and famously was used by Prince William when he proposed to Kate Middleton.

Caring for a royal ring can be tricky according to Ben Roberts, Managing Director of Clogau – the brand responsible for the Welsh gold that the royals have used to create their wedding rings since 1923 (when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became The Queen Mother, married the Duke of York, later King George VI).

Speaking about Diana’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring, he told Hello! magazine: “Even without any alterations, caring for an heirloom of such value comes with its own challenges.

“Kate and her team will need to employ careful maintenance, with regular inspections and in-depth evaluations, gentle cleaning to restore sheen, and, if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity.

“That way, she can continue to wear it every day and maintain a constant connection to the past while grounding her in the present as a beloved senior member of the Royal Family.”

The Garrard website states: “From Queen Mary’s consort crown to Princess Diana’s engagement ring, royal tiaras and Crown Jewels, our creations have become part of history itself.”

Prince Edward, 60, and his wife Sophie, 59, live largely out of the spotlight with their two children Lady Louise Windsor, 20 and James Viscount Severn, 16.
Sophie Wessex is the Queen’s ‘favourite’ and she’s ‘trusted’ in ways Kate and Camilla aren’t
The family live at Bagshot Park near Windsor and are a picture of domestic bliss compared to other royals – with Edward the only one of the late Queen’s children not to get divorced.

Unlike the prince, Sophie comes from a humble beginning.

The daughter of a tyre salesman and a secretary, she was working in PR at Capital Radio when they met in 1987.

Edward was dating her friend at the time, but six years later they got together after a charity event.

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Prince Edward and Sophie with their children Lady Louise and James, Viscount SevernCredit: Getty

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Sophie looked spectacular at the Order of the Garter service on MondayCredit: AP

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Sophie was working in PR at Capital Radio when she met Prince Edward in 1987Credit: PA

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Kate Middleton wearing late Princess Diana’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ringCredit: Getty

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The ring is estimated to worth an eye-watering amount, given its royal connectionsCredit: Getty
Sophie continued to work for a few years after they got married before finally becoming a full-time royal in 2002, but clearly believes in instilling a strong work ethic in their kids, with Lady Louise doing shifts at a local garden centre.

Edward and Sophie married on June 19, 1999 at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in 2018.

It was a far more low-key affair than the weddings of Edward’s older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

And instead of jetting off on a luxury honeymoon abroad, the couple spent it at Balmoral in Scotland.

Sophie and Prince Edward’s royal romance

When Sophie met Edward in 1987 she was a PR for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.

They then began a romance in earnest, but went to great lengths to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began staying overnight at Edward’s three-room apartment in Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie at her office, the Prince would use the name Richard — not that he fooled her colleagues for long.

Six years after they started going out, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jewellers Garrard.

Starting a family was not straightforward. In 2001 Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.

In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was similarly dramatic. The baby was a month premature and Sophie lost nine pints of blood, had a caesarean and was in hospital for 15 days. In 2007 she had another caesarean giving birth to son James.

Last summer, during the break before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.

Edward and Sophie decided not to use the HRH titles their children are entitled to – instead styling them as children of an Earl.

Sophie told the Sunday Times Magazine in 2020: “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.

“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think that’s highly unlikely.”

Kate and Prince William announced their engagement in 2010, with the royal proposing with his mother’s ring in Kenya.

At the time of its creation, the ring was worth £28,000, according to Marie Claire.

Vintage ring expert Sam Mee estimates that these days its value is more like £390,000.

For his proposal, Prince Harry used stones from Princess Diana’s collection to create a ring for Meghan Markle.

Prince Harry popped the question in 2017 with a classic gold band set with three diamonds, although Meghan later upgraded the ring to feature a diamond-studded band, valued at £150,000.

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Prince Harry popped the question to Meghan Markle using stones from Princess Diana’s collectionCredit: AFP

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Prince Harry proposed in 2017 with a classic gold band set with three diamonds

PRINCESS Kate was absent from last night’s glitzy State Banquet at Buckingham Palace – but Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh gave a touching nod to her.

Sophie, 59, looked regal in a £4,890 floor-length green Suzannah London gown, and wore the Lotus Flower Tiara for the occasion.

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, dazzled wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara at last night’s State BanquetCredit: PA

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Kate has often favoured the Lotus Flower Tiara for formal eventsCredit: Getty

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The two royal women are said to be close, and Sophie has previously been nicknamed the royal family’s ‘secret weapon’Credit: Getty
The glittering diamond tiara has been worn by the Princess of Wales in the past, at her first state banquet to welcome the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in 2015.

Kate, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, was also the last one to wear it for a 2022 Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace.

Like with many of the royal tiaras, this one was originally a pearl and diamond necklace which the Queen Mother had made into the Lotus Flower tiara in 1923 by British jeweller Garrard.

Princess Margaret inherited the tiara from her mother in 1959, just before she married Antony Armstrong-Jones and regularly wore it with a beehive in the 60s.

She also loaned it to her daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Margaret’s son, Viscount Linle in 1993.

It was the first time Sophie, once hailed the royal family’s “secret weapon”, has worn the Lotus Flower tiara.

For her 1999 wedding to Prince Edward, she dazzled in the Anthemion tiara.

The royal state visit had been postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic, but went ahead with the expected pomp and pageantry.

Yesterday, William welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako at their hotel before accompanying them to Horse Guards Parade.

The prince has stepped up to lead the royal family while his wife Princess Kate undergoes treatment for cancer.

Inside Sophie Wessex’s ‘struggles’ with £105k two-carat oval diamond engagement ring that has a bittersweet Diana connection
Kate, 42, made her public comeback at Trooping the Colour earlier this month but will not yet resume full-time royal duties.

She delighted fans by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the King, Queen, Prince William and her three children.

However, royal sources have insisted that despite her appearance, she is not yet returning to a full schedule of public engagements as her preventative cancer treatment continues.

But, she is expected to attend more events this summer when she feels able to and with the support and guidance of her doctors.

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Sophie pictured falling into Kate as she entered their carriage at Royal Ascot in 2017Credit: Jasonpix

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The Duchess of Cambridge and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are said to have a ‘naughty’ and ‘cheeky’ friendshipCredit: AFP
We previously shared how Princess Kate is said to have a “tower of strength” in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been supporting the princess through her cancer diagnosis.

Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “Interestingly, while Meghan rebuffed Sophie’s offer to mentor her on life as a Royal, Kate gracefully jumped at The Queen’s suggestion – she saw her as a ‘solid and trustworthy member of The Firm – and the women have become close as Kate adapts to her new role as Princess of Wales.

“She has found that Sophie is a true confidante and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and an unbreakable bond.”

Following the death of Prince Philip, the late Queen even referred to dependable Kate and Sophie as her “strength and stay.”

One thing that binds the two women together is their “sense of humour” and they have an “enormous amount in common”, claims Claudia.

She added: “Whether they are the Trooping the Colour ceremony or Royal Ascot, they are often pictured in each other’s company in fits of laughter.”

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The Prince of Wales greets Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako of Japan at their hotel in London, on behalf of the KingCredit: PA

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Camilla and King Charles with Emperor Naruhito at the State BanquetCredit: PA

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Camilla stepped out wearing the diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband

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The Princess of Wales was absent from the State Banquet as she is undergoing cancer treatmentCredit: PA
Yesterday evening, King Charles and Camilla greeted the Emperor and Empress of Japan at a State Banquet as the Queen wore a new badge for the first time.

The King’s new Family Order has been worn for the first time by the Queen at the Japanese state banquet.

Family Orders badges are worn at formal evening occasions by female members of the royal family and personally bestowed by the sovereign, and are a sign of the importance of the wearer within the royal household.

Timeline of Kate’s health battle & recovery

JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery

JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery

JAN 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside

JAN 23: The princess’ hospital stay passes one week

JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital

FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health

MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate

Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out ‘kill notice’ on photo

Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William

Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor

Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport

Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior

Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis

April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos

June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel’s Review but letter she penned to Irish Guards reveals she said: “I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon”

June 14: Kensington Palace announces the princess will attend the King’s Birthday Parade

Camilla stepped out wearing the diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband topped with a tiny gold and enamel Tudor crown.

It was suspended on a pale blue silk bow on her left shoulder for the glittering event in the Buckingham Palace ballroom.

It comes nearly two years after Charles, the longest serving heir to the throne, acceded as monarch following the death of his mother.

Also in attendance was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 44, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, 58, and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, 61.

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We last saw the Princess of Wales at Trooping the Colour on June 15

PRINCE Harry has been seen for the first time in a month – speaking about how grief “eats away at you” in a heartwrenching video.

The Duke of Sussex said children who have lost their parents can’t “suppress” their pain forever.

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Prince Harry said grief ‘eats away at you’ in a heartwrenching videoCredit: ScottysTV/YouTube

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Prince Harry with Diana in 1987. He opened up about facing grief as a childCredit: Anwar Hussein

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He joined campaigner Nikki Scott for a conversation about children losing parentsCredit: ScottysTV/YouTube

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Nikki founded Scotty’s Little Soldiers after her husband Corporal Lee Scott was killed in AfghanistanCredit: ScottysTV/YouTube
Harry was just 12 when his mum Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in 1997.

He made the remarks while joining Scotty’s Little Soldiers founder Nikki Scott for a heartfelt conversation about children losing parents.

In the clip, Harry said: “That’s the hardest thing, I think, especially for kids – I don’t want to talk about it, it’s going to make me sad.

“But then realising that if I do talk about it and I’m celebrating their life then actually things become easier.

“You can’t suppress it for too long, it’s not sustainable. It will eat away at you inside.

“You convince yourself that the person you’ve lost wants you to be sad for as long as possible to prove to them that they are missed.

“But then there’s this realisation of, no, they must want me to be happy.”

Brave mum Nikki founded Scotty’s Little Soldiers after her husband Corporal Lee Scott was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

I watched Prince Harry grow up – I know why he won’t EVER return to royal life
Harry is an ambassador for the charity, which supports children who have lost their parents in the Armed Forces.

He spent the afternoon with 50 bereaved military children and young people at an event organised by the charity in May.

In the clip, Harry told Nikki: “What you have done is incredible. I mean, it is truly inspirational.”

He added: “I’m really honoured and privileged to be part of Scotty’s now.

“And I really look forward to us doing everything we can to bring in more people, more interest, raise more funds.

“To be able to get the message out there to get more kids the support they so desperately need.”

Harry comforted Nikki as she bravely recounted how she found out Lee had been killed while serving in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.

Nikki said: “As I walked down the road, I saw two cars drive past me – I knew instantly something had happened to Lee.

“As I got to the door, I said ‘Are you looking for me?’ They said ‘Are you Corporal Lee Scott’s wife?’

“I said ‘Yeah I am’ – and my first thought was ‘Oh my God, the kids’.”

You can’t suppress grief for too long, it’s not sustainable. It will eat away at you inside

Prince Harry

Harry asked: “How did you tell the kids?”

Nikki said: “It was the worst. Later that night, I sat my son Kai down on his bed.

“He was five. How do you tell a five-year-old this? I literally just shattered his world.”

Tearing up, she added: “He knew that life was never, ever going to be the same.

“It sounds so corny, but I started to think ‘How many children have had a parent who’s died?’”

Harry said: “There’s nothing corny about that.”

Nikki said: “We almost want to bring that military community back so you haven’t lost it.

“People still care – we can’t fix what’s happened, we can’t bring your parent back, but we can make sure you have the very best support.

“Because that’s what you guys deserve. Your parents served their country.”

The full version of Harry’s chat with Scotty’s Little Soldiers founder Nikki Scott can be found on the charity’s website here.

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Prince Harry pictured last year

MEGHAN Markle saw herself as the royal family’s “new Princess Diana”, according to a celebrity biographer.

Tom Bower’s explosive new book claims the Duchess of Sussex was unhappy to be “subservient” to sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

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The Duchess of Sussex was allegedly unhappy to be ‘subservient to Kate Middleton’, according to celebrity biographer Tom BowerCredit: AFP

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Tom also claimed Meghan Markle thought she was the new ‘Princess Diana’Credit: PA
The biographer’s book, House of Beckham, focuses on Victoria and David Beckham’s relationship and careers, but also touches upon their friendship with the royal family.

Tom claims Meghan saw herself as the “Royal Family’s new Diana”, following the success of the Sussexes’ first foreign royal tour to Australia.

During the whirlwind visit, the Duchess of Sussex announced she was pregnant with Prince Archie.

However, the celebrity biographer claims Meghan was discontent that “in the royal hierarchy she was subservient to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and the future Queen.”

Previously, Meghan discussed how unusual she found it to have to curtsy to the late Queen, saying it was like “medieval times” in their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan.

Prince Harry said that he had reminded a stunned Meghan in the car on the way their that she would have to curtsy to his grandmother, given that she was the sitting monarch.

At that point she demonstrated the exaggerated curtsy and seemed to chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all.

Online commenters were quick to slam her for appearing to mock the institution of the monarchy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as working royals in 2020 and now live in a £12million Californian mansion with their two kids, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

The House of Beckham also alleges Meghan was also “irritated” that Victoria had “considerably more wealth” than her.
Victoria Beckham looks tense as she’s spotted for the first time since ‘fall out’ with Meghan Markle was revealed
Tom claimed that Meghan “put on airs” around Victoria when they first met, due to her status within the royal family and also as the Californian actress felt she had “little in common” with the former Spice Girl.

The biography states: “In Meghan’s celebrity world, ranking depended on wealth and fame.

“As a seasoned operator, Meghan deluded herself that her status in the Royal family placed her above Victoria in the social pecking order.

“She was irritated to discover that the Beckhams had considerably more wealth than herself.

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Tom claimed Meghan was discontent that ‘in the royal hierarchy she was subservient to Catherine’Credit: Getty

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Meghan seemed to make light of having to curtsy to the QueenCredit: NETFLIX

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She demonstrated an exaggerated bow, before straightening with a chuckleCredit: NETFLIX

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Tom’s book, House of Beckham, mentions the rumoured ‘rift’ between the Beckhams and the Sussexes, despite their royal wedding invite in 2018Credit: Getty
“They owned five homes, had constant access to private jets, invitations to sail on yachts and much more money. And she was soon to be a duchess.”

According to the book, Victoria reportedly made an effort to befriend Meghan, due to her family’s long-standing friendship with Prince Harry and Prince Wiliam.

Tom added that “a member of Victoria’s staff offered Harry’s fiancé advice on the best facials and hairdressing in London.”

Meghan is also said to have asked Victoria if she could provide her with free clothes and handbags, however this was “vetoed by the Palace for being against their rules.”

Due to her wish to avoid paparazzi, Meghan allegedly stayed at the Beckham residence in Beverly Hills during a private trip, and it meant her “secretly provided for by the Beckhams’ staff.”

Prince Harry’s ‘snub’ of David Beckham in Australia

AFTER flying for 22 hours from London to Sydney at Prince Harry’s request, David Beckham was puzzled why the prince had not met him.

But the prince had had no plans to see the former England football captain, nor even of being pictured with him, claimed Tom Bower.

It was October 2018, and Harry was hosting the Invictus Games.

Since David had played a prominent role bringing the 2012 Olympics to Britain and an important part in the 2010 unsuccessful bid for the football World Cup, it seemed natural for Prince Harry to ask David to join him at the celebrated competition for injured servicemen.

As a man who loved the royals, David would never refuse such an important request.

But having flown half-way around the world, he was perplexed why officials after he arrived at the sporting venue were playing a dance to keep him happy, but away from Harry.

She wanted no competition in the media from David, and especially not from his wife, Victoria.

The reason for the distance was Meghan, the newly married Duchess of Sussex.

When it was reported that Victoria had given Meghan make-up advice, the relationship is said to have soured.

The Duke of Sussex allegedly called David to accuse him and his wife Victoria of leaking stories, leaving David ‘furious.’

The Beckhams did secure an invite to Harry and Meghan’s 2018 royal wedding, however Tom claims that in a bid to “punish” the Beckhams, they were not invited to the wedding dinner, despite welcoming other big names like George Clooney, who Meghan did not know personally.

David was also “snubbed” by Harry after flying for 22 hours from London to Sydney at the royal’s request, for the 2018 Invictus Games.

Cracks first started emerging in the pair’s friendship in spring 2022 when the former footballer invited Prince William and Kate to his son Brooklyn’s wedding – and not Harry and Meghan.

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It seems the Beckhams’ loyalty to the other members of the royal family has paid off, with David being given a top charity ambassador role by King Charles after the pair bonded over love of nature.

Ex-Manchester United ace Becks, 49, surprised the King, 75, last year with a jar of his homemade honey then chatted about their passion for beekeeping.

It’s been nearly two decades since David Beckham was accused of having an affair with Rebecca Loos, an accusation he continues to deny today.

But with the release of his and Victoria’s Netflix documentary earlier this year, it’s spurred renewed interest in the scandal.

The intrigue has been further compounded by a new book that sheds light on the intimate details of the alleged affair, including why Rebecca reportedly ended it.

In his recent book, The House of Beckham, Tom Bower alleges that Rebecca’s decision to publicize her accusations was triggered

by an incident involving David and a Spanish waitress.

David’s Mistress Was Allegedly Angry He Didn’t Tip

According to Bower, Rebecca observed David neglecting to leave a tip, which seemingly minor event served as the tipping point for her to go public with her claims. Bower details how this seemingly trivial occurrence was the spark that led Rebecca to share her story.

“The turning point for Loos was realising Beckham’s double standards. After a meal for SFX employees at Madrid’s Hard Rock Cafe, Beckham did not leave a tip,” Bower wrote. “The following day, the waitress gave Loos a note for Beckham. Explaining that she survived on the tips, she expressed her anger that someone as famous and rich could be so mean.”

“After reading the note, Beckham was alarmed. ‘Give her this,’ he said handing over a thick wodge of euros. Reflecting in February about how Beckham had played her and lied to her, Loos was angry,” he continued.

Rebecca Loos Still Claims The Affair Did Happen

Bower’s accusations remain unproven, especially since the Beckhams continue to deny the affair ever took place. But Rebecca, who’s a non-celebrity, did speak out to affirm her claims from decades earlier after the couple’s Netflix documentary released, which revisited the affair accusations.

Rebecca is married to Norwegian physician Sven Christjar Skaiaa. According to her social media profiles, they reside on a quaint farm with their two children, living life largely out of the spotlight.

In the doc, Victoria elaborated on how the affair speculation hurt her as a young mother. She and David were living separately while he had to go abroad for his soccer career, while she remained in the U.K. with their kids.

“The world was attacking us and we were against each other,” the Spice Girl said on camera. “Even in Madrid, we were together, but we didn’t feel each other’s support. I can’t describe how it affected us. I have never been so unhappy in my life.”

Victoria and David have been married since 1999. Rebecca first went public with her affair accusations in 2004.