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Ahead of the Coronation, Zoe Delaney looks back on Stacey Solomon’s past comments about the Royal Family and explains how the Loose Women presenter has unwittingly become the People’s Princess for British republicans

As the United Kingdom prepares to foot the bill for King Charles’ Coronation, many stars have been taking advantage of the supposed jubilant mood sweeping the nation – cashing in with Instagram adverts flogging tatt to their fans looking to throw a Corrie Nash bash at home.

But Stacey Solomon, whose wholesome brand is ideal for brands looking to shift some Union Jack paraphernalia, has been ignoring the state-funded celebration of a man whose personal wealth is an estimated £1.8bn.

When Queen Elizabeth died last year, royalists got their knickers in a twist over an old clip of Stacey discussing the fact an entire nation has no choice but pay for palaces and pomp as millions struggle to make ends meet.

“I don’t get why we’re so obsessed with these humans that are exactly the same, it could be us sitting there,” Stacey mused during a debate on Loose Women back in 2018.

Stacey Solomon has never shied away from sharing her thoughts on the Monarchy ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“It’s freezing cold outside, and people are homeless, and these people have houses to spare, and it does sometimes become a little bit frustrating because I don’t see the purpose of all that money going to this entire family.”

The Sort Your Life Out presenter went on to discuss the resurfaced clip in September last year, telling The Guardian how she “has nothing against the monarchy and the Queen seemed like a lovely lady”.

“But I don’t understand why we pay a contribution to one of the wealthiest families in the world,” she added.

“Some of our kids weren’t even getting school lunches, and to know a huge amount of money is going to somebody who doesn’t need it, I just couldn’t get my head around that.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation is costing hundreds of millions ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The mum-of-five, 33, went on to sensibly suggest that a new system could be implemented which would allow British taxpayers to choose if they want their money to go towards King Charles and his family or to another cause.

“It would be cool if there was an opt-in opt-out version and you can opt to give it to somebody else,” the DIY guru mused.

Stacey is sadly only one of the few celebrities brave enough to stick their head above the parapet and ever so politely suggest the concept of the British Royal Family is outdated in the 21st century, particularly during a cost of living crisis.

King Charles inherited over £300m (tax-free) when his mother passed away, yet his subjects – many of which are choosing between heating or eating – are the ones having to pay for his £100 million work party this weekend.

I hope Stacey’s comments resurface over the Coronation weekend ( 
Image:
ITV)

It shouldn’t be deemed so controversial to suggest we could perhaps change how we fund one family’s lavish lifestyle.

But having a regional accent, coupled with the fact she was once a teenage mother, made Stacey an easy target for snobs looking to mock the former X Factor contestant for simply sharing her opinion last year.

Hardcore royalists would rather take aim at a young woman who seems perfectly pleasant for daring to have a different opinion to them, rather than maybe take a step back and examine why so many people are sickened by the concept of monarchy.

I hope Stacey’s iconic 2018 ‘rant’ does resurface once again on social media this weekend and prompts a few more people to take a second to really consider what exactly the country is celebrating this weekend.

But whether it does or not, Stacey still needs praise for being one of the only high-profile celebrities with the balls to tell Britain it’s time to ‘Sort Your Life Out’ when it comes to paying for the Royal Family.

Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards has sent a heartfelt message to her late son Jamal’s close friend Ed Sheeran after he won his copyright trial

Loose Women star Brenda Edwards has sent a sweet message to Ed Sheeran after he won his copyright case.

The hitmaker, 32, celebrated his victory on Thursday after spending almost two weeks in New York for the trial, where he was accused of copyright infringement for his 2014 track Thinking Out Loud.

He was sued by the heirs of the late Ed Townsend, who is credited as having written Marvin Gaye ‘s song Let’s Get It On, which was released in 1973.

The jury decided Sheeran hadn’t plagiarised the other tune’s harmonic progressions as well as melodic and rhythmic elements.

A joyful Ed took to his Instagram account to share his victory.

Brenda Edwards sent a heartfelt message to Ed following his victory ( 
Image:
Getty)
The Shape of You singer shared a clip of his speech from outside the courtroom and wrote: “It’s all over, back to what I love doing.

“New album out tomorrow, USA tour starts Saturday in Dallas, love you all xxxx”.

Brenda Edwards, who is the mum of the late Jamal Edwards, commented: “I love you so much, and know how stressful this was for you sweetheart.

“Congratulations Ed, I’m happy to know that your creativity and songs will continue to help to build hopes and dreams for others.

“Keep Smiling in the face of adversity [blue heart emojis] #comon #nobodyownsthecolourblue.”

Ed was a close friend of Brenda’s son Jamal who tragically died in February 2022 at the age of 31.

Ed was found not guilty in a music copyright trial ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The entrepreneur founded the music platform SBTV in 2006 which helped launch Ed’s career.

Ed and Jamal were close friends and the Perfect singer opened up about losing him in his documentary series, Ed Sheeran : The Sum Of It All.

He admitted he “hadn’t experienced grief and loss” until Jamal’s death and said it “took over his whole life”.

Ed’s wife revealed the singer wasn’t able to process his death as it came weeks after her cancer diagnosis.

“I basically lived in his bedroom. His mum thought we were having a relationship,” Ed explained.

Ed and Jamal were close friends ( 
Image:
Jamal Edwards/Instagram)

Jamal helped to launch Ed’s career ( 
Image:
Jamal Edwards/Instagram)“Jamal died in the morning. I was at his mum’s house at midday. It’s Caribbean culture, you go to the family home for nine days and nine nights. On the ninth night, they throw a big party.

“Grief instantly ends your youth. The funeral was like 30 people but he knows like 10,000 people.”

A scene from the docuseries showed Ed attending a cookout in memory of Jamal and he sobbed as he sat in the back of a car while thinking about celebrating his birthday without him.

When Jamal died, Ed rushed to Brenda’s house to look after her and Jamal’s sister Tanisha for a whole week.

“There wasn’t anything that he wasn’t sorting out and doing if we needed anything, and everybody has been so so wonderful and so supportive,” Brenda previously revealed on Loose Women.

The TV star – who has been a panelist on the ITV show first from 2000 to 2013, then again from 2018 – has shared eyebrow raising views about the Covid-19 pandemic in the past

Carol McGiffin quit Loose Women after she made comments in public about the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been reported.

A disagreement is said to have broken out between 63-year-old Carol and ITV bosses over the question of free speech and expression.

It is alleged that an interview Carol gave to TNT talk radio prompted the disagreement due to comments she made to suggest that news organisations had been ‘brainwashing’ the public over the risks of Covid in order to spark widespread mental health breakdowns.

She also suggested the then health secretary Matt Hancock attempted to bring Covid patients from France to the UK to fill empty hospital beds while the pandemic raged.

Carol McGiffin has waved goodbye to ITV’s Loose Women ( 
Image:
ITV)

The Mail on Sunday suggests that ITV has been flooded with complaints following Carol’s radio interview and pressure had been mounting for her to be fired.

The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.

She told James Freeman’s The Freeman Report: “I always look back at when I started working in television and radio as the good old days because they were much less policed, I suppose. Much less restricted and it was a freer place to be.

“When I look back at the old Loose Womens I used to do from 2000 all the until I left in 2013, they’re completely different. There is so much offence. People take so much offence at so much and they never used to.”

It has been suggested Carol’s departure has come after she made controversial comments about the Covid-19 pandemic ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Last Thursday, Carole announced she would not return to Loose Women following a disagreement with ITV bosses over her contract which is said to have been in renegotiation since January.

She said: “The problem was ITV were insisting, for the first time since I went back in 2018, that if I wanted to carry on doing the show, I would have to sign a contract that was totally unjust and unworkable for me, so I had to say, ”No thanks”.

“No one in their right mind would have signed that contract.”

Meanwhile, an ITV spokesman said: “ITV will not comment on speculation around individual contracts.

“We understand Carol has decided to leave Loose Women and we wish her well in any future projects.”

Carol has received support from some of her Loose Women costars – who have rushed to social media to defend her.

Carol’s colleagues have commented on her departure ( 
Image:
ITV)

Brenda Edwards commented on Instagram : “Carol, I always enjoy when you are on as we have such a laugh, but you of course must always do what is best for you! I really hope I get to see you again love you lots lovely lady. Keep Smiling.”

While Denise Welch stated she was “gutted” to see Carol go.

And Nadia Sawahla wrote: “Miss you smelly poo! Even though we disagreed on most things you’ve always made me laugh my head off!”

Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan fumed at the ludicrous cost of the King’s Coronation after two of her family members waited hours to be seen in A&E.

Earlier last week, the Mirror revealed that a massive security operation pushed the cost of the Coronation into the realm of £250million.

A huge chunk – around £150million – was needed to deploy thousands of police officers and protection squads, insiders revealed ahead of the huge event.

After an extravagant coronation and a lavish concert at Windsor Castle, the Loose Women stars took to the panel to share their thoughts about the historical event.

Panellist Coleen said she is usually a royalist when watching weddings and events but felt ‘uncomfortable’ over the weekend.

Coleen said the money should have been spent on the NHS ( 
Image:
ITV)
“That’s because of the state that we’re all in and the economy and the fact that people are struggling to eat,” she said as the audience applauded.

Coleen added that it was “fantastically done” before continuing: “For instance this weekend, very sadly, two of my relatives ended up in A&E on separate occasions, one of whom is still in still in just a cubicle because there’s still no bed 24 hours later.

“My sister who is, as we know, very ill had to go to hospital and was in A&E for 20 hours before anyone saw her.

“And of course, I’m watching this spectacle and it’s all very well saying it brought 300 odd million for that sector but can we please bring that in for the NHS… People are dying because the NHS is broken right now.”

Coleen and the entire Nolan family have suffered through many family heartbreaks and losses throughout the years, with many bravely battling cancer.

Bernie, Anne and Linda Nolan have all battled cancer.

The Nolan family have suffered through a lot of illnesses ( 
Image:
FilmMagic)Linda recently revealed that her cancer had spread to her brain after first being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005 before getting the all-clear in 2006.

In March, Linda said: “I’ve always been hopeful with my treatment and what’s going on in my life.

“I just want to tell you unfortunately for me my cancer has spread to my brain that’s obviously frightening because there isn’t much treatment for brain cancer except for chemotherapy.”

Prince Harry was reportedly stunned by David Beckham’s alleged actions after inviting the ex-footballer to the Invictus Games

David Beckham and Prince Harry were once close friends (Image: GETTY)

Prince Harry reportedly unleashed a stinging three-word reply to football icon David Beckham after the star showed up to lend his support at the Invictus Games in Australia.

The two celebrities developed a solid rapport that even featured the Beckhams opening their expansive six-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion to Meghan Markle prior to her Royal nuptials. But the bond has waned amid perceived snubs and Beckham’s continued amicable ties with Harry’s estranged relatives.

Now, royal expert Emily Andrews has shared details of a particularly icy encounter back in 2018 during the prestigious Invictus Games in Sydney, an occasion extended by Harry himself.

Highlighting a tense chapter in their friendship, Emily recounted how Beckham had received a personal invitation from Harry, being a distinguished guesst at the couple’s wedding earlier that year, to witness the Invictus Gamesan international sporting event for injured military personnel initiated by Harry in 2014. This was supposed to be a prominent feature of the Sussexes’ inaugural Australian tour.

Yet things took an unexpected turn when upon reaching Sydney, Beckham was met with confusion as he noted Harry seemed to be dodging him. Writing for Woman magazine, Andrews explained a source told her: “Becks was personally invited and duly came, along with sons Cruz and Romeo. When he arrived in Sydney, he asked what Harry’s schedule was so he could attend the same events.”

The Beckhams attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding (Image: Getty Images)

Harry reportedly exclaimed in disbelief: “What the f**k? He should be coming to support the games, not have his pictures taken with me.”

The insider revealed: “When we pointed out that having a picture of them together would be great for Invictus coverage, he then said he never wanted to be in a picture with him. That then meant a ridiculous two-step to try and ensure that they were never pictured together.”

The source detailed an incident at the wheelchair basketball event where Beckham was seated among dignitaries, and Harry and Meghan were supposed to join.

“So a whole area on the other side of the court had to be cleared of spectators and filled with Australian military, so Harry and Meghan could sit there instead,” the informant disclosed. Speculation arose that the Royal ‘snub’ may have been due to the new duchess’s aversion to any limelight shared with Victoria during her first Royal tour.”

It has been rumoured that the Sussexes’ rift with the Beckhams stemmed from Meghan’s suspicion that they were leaking stories to the media.

A source told The Sun in 2020: “Harry was very polite, but obviously it was a pretty awkward exchange and David was mortified. Inexplicably, [Meghan] feared Victoria was behind it – I mean, the idea that Victoria Beckham would be personally ringing journalists to give them a scoop is ridiculous – and spoke to Harry about it.

“Harry is very protective of Meghan, and decided to deal with the matter head-on, by directly contacting his good pal, David. He quickly put Harry right, and the two men agreed to move on – but it certainly made things awkward for a while.”

Meghan Markle took Prince Archie on ‘secret holiday’ instead of annual Balmoral trip
In 2019, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did not join the Royal Family at the Scottish Highlands estate and instead reportedly flew to Ibiza.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with newborn Archie

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a newborn Archie (Image: Getty)
The customary tradition for the Royal Family to reside at Balmoral for the summer was shunned by Meghan Markle when she’d just given birth to Prince Archie. The Scottish Highlands estate was a firm favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles appears keen to continue the traditions associated with the summer getaway.

However, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly skipped the Balmoral break one year shortly after Prince Archie was born. Royal author, Tom Bower claimed in his explosive book about Meghan and Harry, called Revenge, that Meghan felt Archie was “too young at three months to travel by plane to Scotland”.

But he was not entirely shunned from a summer holiday, as in August 2019, when Archie was just a few months old, reports claimed the royal duo flew with Archie to the Balearic island of Ibiza on a private plane with their security team, as reported in the Mirror and Spanish publications.

It later emerged they also travelled to Nice shortly after the trip, where they stayed at Elton John’s private villa. Sir Elton is known to have an extensive list of A-list pals, which previously included the late Princess Diana, who died in 1997, and was described by the musician as one of his “dearest friends”.

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Prince Harry speaking with Elton John

Meghan and Harry had a holiday at Elton John’s home in Nice, France (Image: Getty)
In Ibiza, they are believed to have stayed at the Vista Alegre, a residence facing the sea whose apartments are usually rented by A-listers such as DJ David Guetta and Sir Paul McCartney, according to The Sun.

Some of the most expensive villas at Vista Alegre come at approximately £20,000 a week, but the price of others available on enquiring can skyrocket to as much as £120,000 a week.

Locals who claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stayed at Vista Alegre said they noticed security measures dialling up ahead of their arrival.

One told The Sun: “The area has been built to a high specification and is a billionaires’ playground so the security staff know what they are doing.”

 

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Balmoral Castle has taken on a new poignancy since the late Queen died there in September 2022 at the age of 96.

However, the King broke with tradition last year by not spending the summer at Balmoral Castle. Instead, Charles and Queen Camilla chose Birkhall as their main base, leaving Balmoral without a monarch physically in residence for the first time since the 19th century.

As reported in OK! Magazine, former BBC correspondent, Jennie Bond said the King might be looking forward to a peaceful summer this year after a “difficult few months”, following King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses.

She explained: “It’s been one heck of a year for the Royal Family so far and nothing would please the King more than to have his close family gathered together in the peace of Balmoral for a time to take stock together, mark the passing of an incredibly difficult few months and look to the future.”

She added: “Like Catherine herself has said, cancer treatment brings with it a large measure of uncertainty and that must extend to whether she is able to spend part of the summer holidays at Balmoral.”

GQ’s “The David Beckham Look Book” solidifies David Beckham’s status as a certified fashion icon, especially with his passion for watches adding to his cool factor.

Beckham’s role as Tudor brand ambassador elevates his appeal, aligning perfectly with the watchmaker’s individualistic charm.

Witnessing Beckham’s affinity for timepieces, as seen during the Tudor Glamour Double Date global premiere, is an unforgettable experience.

Beckham’s appearance at The Murray in Hong Kong generates palpable excitement, a testament to his A-list status.

However, it’s his genuine connection with timepieces that truly resonates.

In an interview, Beckham shares the sentimental value of a watch gifted by his late grandfather, highlighting the emotional significance watches hold in our lives.

His passion for watches extends beyond sentimentality; Beckham desires to continue a family tradition by passing down timepieces to future generations.

As much a watch enthusiast as a style icon, Beckham acknowledges his evolving fashion sense, crediting his wife Victoria’s expertise while aiming for a classier look at 43.

Beckham’s partnership with Tudor reflects authenticity, unlike typical celebrity endorsements.

Moody photographs of Beckham sporting Tudor timepieces feel natural and genuine, complementing his lifestyle and personality.

The launch of the Tudor Glamour Double Date further emphasizes this authenticity, showcasing a blend of classical aesthetics and contemporary features.

The Glamour Double Date, powered by Tudor’s new in-house movement, combines elegance with functionality.

Its diverse dial options and generous case size make it a standout in the dress watch category.

Equipped with a COSC chronometer-certified movement, the watch boasts precision and reliability, while its exhibition caseback allows admirers to appreciate its craftsmanship.

Although initially available in Hong Kong and Asia, the Glamour Double Date’s global release is highly anticipated.

For Beckham and watch enthusiasts alike, the arrival of new timepieces is an event worth celebrating. In Beckham’s words, it’s a (double) date to remember.

Friends reunion celebrity guests have been revealed, along with new details about the show.

Friends fans try to stay calm, but new details of the reunion special have been revealed.

On Thursday evening, a brand new teaser clip was shared on social media, showing the stars of the show walking side by side from behind.

And now a list of special guests has been unveiled, including the likes of David Beckham and Lady Gaga.

Elsewhere on the star-studded list of celebrities, is Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga and Kit Harington.

Other A-listers include Mindy Kaling, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, and Malala Yousafzai.

Obviously, the iconic characters – Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow)

Joey Tribbiani (Matt Le Blanc), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), and Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) – will be taking centre stage.

They will feature alongside other supporting stars including Maggie Wheeler (Janice), James Michael Tyler (Gunther)

Reese Witherspoon (Jill) and Tom Selleck (Richard), as well as Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles, who played Ross and Monica’s parents, Jack and Judy.

Even grumpy neighbour Heckles (Larry Hankin) will be making a special appearance.

A trailer for the reunion shows the six actors walking together to a stripped back version of the show’s iconic theme-tune of I’ll Be There For You by The Rembrandts.

A caption then teases the special as: “The One Where They Get Back Together”.

Jennifer Aniston shared the video on Instagram, writing: “It’s official! The #FriendsReunion premieres May 27th on @HBOMax — could we BE any more excited?! 😝❤️”.

While we don’t yet have confirmation on when the reunion will be available to watch in the UK, hopefully it will be announced soon…

Coutenay Cox also shared the video on Instagram, writing: “This kind of thing doesn’t happen every year, or even every 10, or 15 years.

“I feel so blessed to have had a chance to reunite with my Friends…and it was better than ever.”

This comes after rumours of a reunion started circling all the way back in November 2019.

But while the show was originally due to air in May 2020, filming was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Beckhams are having fun on vacation!

David and Victoria Beckham spent the day aboard a yacht with their sons Romeo, 19, and Cruz, 17, and a bunch of friends on Thursday afternoon (July 21) in Sardinia, Italy.

During yacht outing, Victoria, 48, donned a red bikini and black baseball hat as she did some sunbathing with a friend while

David, 47, showed off his tattoos going shirtless while dipping his feet in the pool.

Later in the day, David and Cruz hopped out a couple of jetskis for some fun out at sea before the family got all dressed up and made their way ashore for lunch.

Earlier this week, Victoria took to Instagram to share a photo of David posing in a pair of very short swim trunks!

“YOU’RE WELCOME!!!!! Kisses from Positano @davidbeckham 💕” Victoria captioned the below post.

If you missed it, Victoria and David bumped into this British Royal while out to lunch in Italy.

Victoria Beckham has one busy life, we can hardly keep up! The former Spice Girl is currently in New York City and hosted a beauty event for her sister brand – Victoria Beckham Beauty.

VB fronted the plush bash and invited a host of influencers and content creators, including former beauty editor Jenna Rennert, who shared a snap of herself and the fashion mogul.

In the picture, the recently turned 50-year-old looked stunning in a baby pink halterneck dress from her forthcoming SS24 collection.

She teamed the look with sky-high heels and wore her famous mane extra long and flowing.

Mother-of-four Victoria does not normally wear pink – that was more her Spice Girl bandmate Emma Bunton’s vibe. But we are loving the change!

Jenna, who used to work for Vogue US, captioned the shot: “Chatting all things spring, smoky shadows & spice. Always lovely to see @victoriabeckham in NYC, and the coolest glam squad around.”

The content creator also had a selfie with Ken Pavés, Victoria’s bestie and hair stylist, who was also at the event.

The British designer’s fashion brand is hugely respected and has been a part of mainstream fashion culture for so long now. Her label is famed for its smart tailoring and flattering draping, as well as stylish eyewear and structured coats.

Even the royal family has recognised Victoria Beckham’s work; in 2017 she was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her services to the fashion industry. Duchess Sophie and the Duchess of Sussex have stepped out in VB’s designs plenty of times, and we all know there is nothing like a royal seal of approval for sales.

Other celebrities who have worn pieces by Victoria Beckham include Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Kate Winslet. Plus, who could forget the recent wedding of Victoria and David Beckham’s eldest son Brooklyn to heiress Nicola Peltz? The mother-of-the-groom wore a silver satin dress by her own label, and also dressed various members of the wedding party including model Mia Regan, the girlfriend of her son Romeo, and journalist Zanna Roberts Rassi.
Victoria Beckham is a powerhouse in the fashion and beauty industry, constantly on the go and making waves with her brands. Recently, she hosted a beauty event in New York City for her sister brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty, where she dazzled in a stunning baby pink halterneck dress from her upcoming SS24 collection. Known for her impeccable style and sophisticated designs, Victoria Beckham’s fashion label has become a staple in the industry, admired for its smart tailoring and elegant draping.Not only is Victoria Beckham a fashion icon, but she has also earned recognition from the royal family for her contributions to the industry. In 2017, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her services; a true mark of her influence and success. Her designs have graced the likes of royalty, with both Duchess Sophie and the Duchess of Sussex flaunting her creations on numerous occasions.Celebrities around the world have also fallen in love with Victoria Beckham’s elegant pieces, with stars like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Kate Winslet showcasing her designs on the red carpet. Even her own family has been seen rocking her clothing, with her eldest son Brooklyn Beckham recently tying the knot with Nicola Peltz in a lavish ceremony where Victoria dressed both the wedding party and herself in her own label.Victoria Beckham’s influence extends beyond just fashion; she is a symbol of empowerment and success in the industry. By staying true to her unique style and continuously innovating, she has built an empire that stands the test of time. Keep following us for more updates on the latest in fashion and beauty trends, as we continue to bring you valuable and trustworthy information.