Blog

 

For Sophie, 57, the Queen’s death means not only a step up in the royal hierarchy, but the sudden absence of the maternal figure with whom she spoke most mornings.

 

Sophie saw the Queen as a maternal figureCredit: AFP
Sophie’s memories of being with the Queen this summer are particularly fresh.

Along with her husband Prince Edward, she took their daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and son James Viscount Severn, 14, to stay at Balmoral.

They enjoyed all the usual Highland pursuits with, says a friend, “not a shadow of what was about to happen a few weeks after they waved goodbye to the Queen”.

The suddenness of the sovereign’s death has hit Sophie hard. Her friend says she, along with the rest of the family, “thought they had plenty of time left”.

They “fully expected” to see the Queen at Windsor, where she was expected to return as normal in October.

Windsor formed the bedrock of Sophie’s relationship with the Queen.

Most Saturday afternoons Sophie would drive the 10 miles from her home at Bagshot Park to the castle, where the Queen would be waiting for a good catch-up over tea.

Denise Welch reveals pre-wedding details amid son Matty Healy’s engagement to Gabbriette

Loose Women star Denise Welch has shared pre-wedding details after travelling to California to spend some time with her son Matty Healy’s fiancée’s family

Denise Welch has shared some pre-wedding details after travelling to California to spend some time with her son Matty Healy’s fiancée’s family.

The TV star, 66, who is a proud mum to 1975 singer Matty, 35, spoke about her trip on Wednesday’s Loose Women. Matty proposed to Gabbriette Bechtel last month and Denise flew out to the US to meet and spend some time with her future daughter-in-law’s loved ones last month.

Speaking on Wednesday’s Loose Women, Denise’s co-star, Kaye Adams, said: “Now, Denise, you spoke a couple of weeks ago about your son Matty’s engagement to his fiancée Gabby. Very exciting, of course, you’ve been doing some pre-wedding schmoozing with the in-laws!”

Denise then explained: “We went over to LA to see Matty and Gabby and celebrate the engagement. Gabby is so busy modelling and she’s very hot right now, which is fabulous, so she couldn’t join us. So we went up to see her mum and dad, who we had met once before, Chayo and Gary, we absolutely adore them!”

Denise Welch has shared some pre-wedding details after travelling to California to spend some time with her son Matty Healy’s fiancée’s family ( 
Image:
ITV)

Denise spent some time in Laguna Beach with Gabbritte’s mum last month, and shared some sweet snaps of her extended family. It comes as Denise said she was feeling “blessed” after the announcement of son Matty’s engagement to Gabbriette.

Loose Women panellist Denise previously confirmed the news of her son’s engagement after Gabbriette posted a series of snaps on Instagram revealing the news to fans while she and Matty supported friend Charli XCX in concert. Gabbriette posted a picture of her black diamond engagement ring and tagged Matty’s Instagram account with the caption: “Marrying The 1975 is very brat,” in reference to Charli XCX’s new album.

After confirming the news on Loose Women last month, Denise shared a lengthy Instagram post revealing she feels “blessed” over the news. She wrote: “What a day!!! I wake up to find that @gabbriette and Matty had gone Instagram official on their engagement so I was able to tell everyone!!!

“I’m so happy to be blessed with a wonderful daughter in law to be and to share this news with @chayobechtel and @gary.bechtel . Then @robbiewilliams popped by @loosewomen to say hi to his wife @aydafieldwilliams and ended up joining the panel!! It was so lovely to see him as we go back years but he hadn’t planned on being on telly so hadn’t washed off his spray tan!!! Anyway, we ended up spooning in the corridor wearing our matching co ords!! All in a days work.”

Denise shared some wholesome photos ( 
Image:
Instagram)

The Loose Women star has been living it up in California ( 
Image:
Instagram)
On Loose Women, Denise was previously quizzed on the news that Gabbriette would soon become her daughter-in-law. She said: “I have known for a few weeks that Matty got engaged. They went over to see their friends Charli and George in New York. I woke up this morning to the fact they’ve put it on Instagram. Instagram official, he has got engaged to Gabbriette. Black diamond, he had it made for her and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

“She is from Los Angeles, she is absolutely gorgeous, she does have a rat. We couldn’t be happier, she is everything that I would want in a daughter in law.” Earlier this year, Matty was pictured introducing Gabbriette to his family. The couple supported Denise at her theatre stint in Manchester. The American singer spent time with Matty’s family at the show, including his younger brother Louis Healy, 22, their father Tim Healy, 72, and his wife Joan Anderton, 62.

Denise shared a snap of them all together and wrote in the caption of the post: “Lovely to have the family in to see mum at work!!!” Matty, who is the son of Denise and Tim Healy, started dating Gabbriette last September. She is the lead singer of punk rock band Nasty Cherry while he is the frontman of The 1975.

Their romance came after the high profile fling between Matty and pop star Taylor Swift. Taylor has since gone on to enjoy a high-profile relationship with Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce.

Kate Garraway gives nod to Derek as she reveals sad reason she can’t vote

Brits are headed to the polling stations this Thursday, July 4, but Kate Garraway revealed she wouldn’t be voting in the General Election as she gave a nod to her late husband.

Kate Garraway admitted she wouldn’t be voting this Thursday, July 4, as she revealed finding her late husband’s polling card.

The Good Morning Britain presenter was hosting the ITV breakfast programme along with Adil Ray as the pair announced a massive change to their show.

But when chatting to election expert Alex Thomas, Kate admitted she and her 18-year-old daughter Darcey would not be able to vote as they hadn’t received their polling cards – but in a sad twist, the late Derek Draper did.

“What happens if you haven’t registered to vote?”, she first said, “I’m in a situation, I was very excited, I thought my daughter, who has turned 18 recently, and I could go and vote for the first time.”

The GMB host admitted neither she nor her daughter Darcey had received their polling cards ahead of the General Election ( 
Image:
@kategarraway/Instagram)

In a sad twist, the late Derek Draper received his own card through the post but he lost a lengthy battle with Covid-19 earlier this year ( 
Image:
PA)

The former lobbyist lost a lengthy battle against Covid-19 earlier this year, at the age of 56 years old. Kate then added, in reference to their teen daughter: “She’s now saying she doesn’t think she did properly register.”

“Polling cards have come through the door, I haven’t had one for myself or her. The only polling card that’s come through the door is for Derek, sadly, who’s passed away. Is there any way around that situation?”

Unfortunately for her, Alex Thomas let her know neither she nor Darcey would be able to vote this Thursday: “It’s too late now to register to vote.

Earlier in the programme, as viewers were preparing for polling stations to open this Thursday at 7am, Kate Garraway and Adil Ray announced their programme would be a “politics-free zone” due to regulations.

“You might be wondering why on the day of the election – because it is polling day today, by the way – we’re not actually discussing the issues related to the general election or interviewing the people that have a position on the issues,” Kate first said.

She then went on: “We can’t talk about the issues because we have to follow certain broadcasting rules which means today’s Good Morning Britain is a ‘politics-free zone.’”

In recent weeks, GMB hosts have focused their attention on various political leaders who agreed to endure their grilling – with the exception of Rishi Sunak who was called out for snubbing the programme. Instead, the prime minister was seen on the set of Loose Women and This Morning.

On Wednesday, July 3, however, Sunak’s appearance was overshadowed by a string of awkward moments and a plethora of critical comments over on X, otherwise known as Twitter.

Meghan Markle hints at reason she may have fallen out with Prince William and Kate

A resurfaced interview shows Meghan Markle suggesting what could be the real reason she and Prince Harry fell out with Prince William and Princess Kate.

The former ‘Fab Four’ appeared on stage together at the Royal foundation Forum in 2018 (Image: PA)

Meghan Markle hinted at a possible reason she and her husband Prince Harry fell out with his brother Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton – the Princess of Wales.

The two royal couples appeared close at first – and they were even nicknamed the Fab Four. However, in a resurfaced interview that the two couples gave together more than six years ago, the Duchess of Sussex made a revealing comment that seemed to suggest all was not well.

Back in February 2018 – during what was then dubbed as an appearance by the Fab Four at the Royal Foundation Forum – both couples shared the stage.

At this juncture, Princess Kate was expecting her third child, Prince Louis, and Meghan was gearing up for her nuptials with Harry just a few months down the line.

Meghan Markle wanted to be more famous than Princess Diana, controversial author Lady Colin Campbell claims

MEGHAN Markle wanted to hire the “best Instagrammers in the world” to make her the “most famous woman”, controversial royal author Lady Colin Campbell claims.

In her new book, Meghan and Harry: The Real Story, the outspoken socialite boldly claims that the Duchess of Sussex, 38, wanted to be more popular than Princess Diana.

7

Meghan Markle wanted to create the ‘world’s number one Instagram account’, controversial royal author Lady Colin Campbell claimsCredit: Getty – Contributor
In her unofficial biography on the royals, Lady Colin wrote: “Meghan had flown to LA shortly after the baby’s conception with the specific objective of employing the best Instagrammers in the world.

“The brief she gave them was straightforward enough. I need you to create the world’s number one Instagram account for me.

“It needs to end up having more followers than any other Instagram account on earth.

“I want to be bigger than Diana, Princess of Wales.

7

Lady Colin Campbell said Meghan wanted to be more famous than Princess DianaCredit: Getty – Contributor

7

Lady Colin claims in her new book that Meghan wanted ‘more followers than any other Instagram account’Credit: Splash News

7

Lady Colin’s explosive new unofficial biography is out now, and makes a number of bold claims about the coupleCredit: The Mega Agency
“I need you to make me the most famous woman in the world.”

Lady Colin said that her source for the information was “Liz Brewer, socialite doyenne of the British aristocratic PR world, whose information came from someone at Buckingham Palace’s Press Office, and according to a European prince whose information came from a British royal.”

The Duke, 35, and Duchess, 38, of Sussex no longer use their SussexRoyal Instagram page, after stepping back as senior royals.

Their last post to their 11million followers was made on March 30, said: “Thank you to this community – for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You’ve been great!”

7

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched their joint SussexRoyal account in 2019, but have not posted since March 30, when they stepped down as senior royalsCredit: sussexroyal/Instagram

7

Meghan deleted her successful personal Instagram acocunt in January 2018, just before she walked down the aisle with Prince Harry
Former actress Meghan deleted her personal Instagram account in January 2018, just months before she walked down the aisle with Prince Harry in their May 2018 wedding in Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex later launched their record-breaking joint account SussexRoyal on April 2, 2019.

It became the fastest account to reach one million followers in less than six hours, Guinness World Records confirmed.

This was later beaten by Jennifer Aniston who reached a million followers in five hours 45 minutes, when she joined the site in October 2019.

Unsurprisingly, baby son Archie dominated the SussexRoyal’s top nine most liked pictures from 2019.

7

The SussexRoyal account racked up 11million followers, with the most popular shots involving their son ArchieCredit: AP:Associated Press
Meghan and Prince Harry are currently self-isolating in LA with baby Archie, and planning their first ventures in their quest to become financially independent.

It has been announced they are launching a charitable organisation called Archewell in due course, and have reportedly signed with an elite agency.

According to reports, the couple have joined the Harry Walker Agency – which also counts the Obamas, Clintons, Serena and Venus Williams, and TV legend Oprah Winfrey as clients – in their first career move since moving to Hollywood.

In 2015, the Clintons reportedly earned an incredible £20million in one year from public speaking.

It has not been confirmed when the couple will return to social media, and if they will launch a new Instagram account.

We shared how Meghan called a black teen ‘set on fire by four white men’ to offer ‘support and comfort’.

 

And Kate Middleton is following in Prince Philip’s footsteps & ‘doesn’t try to outshine William’ but ‘still has a lot to say’.

Plus Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘will never get the privacy they crave’, a security expert has claimed.

Meghan Markle’s makeup artist says she is ‘contemporary’ while royal family is a ‘one way, one perspective establishment’

Real reason Prince Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge exposed – and it’s not Fergie

A royal commentator pinpoints the exact reason why Prince Andrew wants to stay put in Royal Lodge row with King Charles.

Prince Andrew is determined to stay put on the Royal Lodge row because of ‘key’ reason, says expert (Image: Getty)

Prince Andrew’s persistence to stay in the Royal Lodge has a particularly “symbolic” meaning, according to a royal commentator.

The Duke of York has been refusing to leave the 30-bedroom property in Windsor, thought to be worth £30million.

But the royal has been struggling with the upkeep of the mansion, where he lives with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, as he is required to “repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and, where necessary, rebuild” the mansion, according to the 75-year lease agreement granted to him in 2003 by the Crown Estate.

It’s also specified that the walls of the mansion must be repainted every five years “with two coats of paint”, while inside the house, the duke is forced to “paint with at least two coats of paint and to paper, polish, decorate and otherwise appropriately treat” every seven years, starting from 2010.

However, Andrew is thought to be determined to stay put and now a royal commentator has claimed there’s a very particular reason as to why that is.

George Clooney slams ‘frustrating’ coverage of Meghan Markle, compares it to treatment of Princess Diana

Sarah Ferguson calls for end of toxic social media trolling pitting Kate and Meghan

Sarah Ferguson calls for end of toxic social media trolling pitting Kate and Meghan

Actor, businessman and activist George Clooney has seen enough.

Speaking on a panel for his new show, “Catch-22,” he took time out Monday to comment on the “frustrating” media coverage he’s witness lately with Meghan Markle, the now Duchess of Sussex.

Related Articles

(MORE: Sarah Ferguson calls for end to toxic social media bullying pitting Kate Middleton against Meghan Markle)

When asked about him being godfather to her upcoming child, Clooney denied the report, but added, “She’s a woman who is seven months pregnant and she is being pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that [Princess] Diana was, and it’s history repeating itself,” according to the Associated Press, who was at the Television Critics Association panel on Monday.

Clooney, who did attend Markel’s wedding to Prince Harry last year with his wife Amal, was referring to Diana’s death in 1997 after she was being pursued by paparazzi and her car was trying to evade them.

Clooney added about Diana’s death and the now coverage of Markle, “we’ve seen how that ends.”

She’s a woman who is seven months pregnant and she is being pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that (Princess) Diana was, and it’s history repeating itself.

“I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to see that,” he added, according to E! News and other outlets at the panel. “She’s getting a raw deal there. It’s irresponsible.”

Clooney’s comments come after British tabloids have labeled Markle “Duchess Difficult,” several also reporting on a private letter from her to her estranged father, as well.

Related Articles

(MORE: Meghan Markle’s friends speak out, say Duchess of Sussex is being bullied)

The actor added about being godfather to her baby, “No, I’m now a father of twins, I’ve got enough.”

Clooney is not the only public figure to speak out about what’s happening.

Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson also weighed in, sharing similar sentiments of concern, though not directly connecting the online bullying to the Duchess of Sussex and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Ferguson wrote a candid letter in Hello! magazine on Monday, taking aim at what she calls the “sewer” of social media.

“It’s time to confront head on the fact that much of social media has become a sewer,” she wrote. “Women, in particular, are constantly pitted against and compared with each other in a way that reminds me of how people tried to portray Diana and me all the time as rivals, which is something neither of us ever really felt.”

Certainly there are parallels between the relationship that Kate and Meghan have and Diana and Fergie had.

“She absolutely is referring to the treatment of Meghan and Kate,” royal contributor Imogen Lloyd Webber told “GMA.” “Certainly there are parallels between the relationship that Kate and Meghan have and Diana and Fergie had.”

Also, a handful of Markle’s closest friends spoke out to People magazine recently about the “global bullying.”

“We worry about what this is doing to her and the baby,” a former co-star of Markle’s said. ”It’s wrong to put anyone under this level of emotional trauma, let alone when they’re pregnant.”

Prince William pushes King Charles to take action against Prince Andrew

Prince William reignites longterm feud with Prince Andrew

Prince William pushes King Charles to take action against Prince Andrew

Prince William is said to be instrumental in King Charles’ decision to evict Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge over his longheld grudge.

Writing for the Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Kay suggested the Prince of Wales forced the 75-year-old monarch to put his foot down against his disgraced brother.

William has been at odds with Andrew over his unwelcoming attitude towards wife Kate Middleton during the early days of their romance.

“Differences between monarch and heir do remain, especially when it comes to the Prince Andrew scandal,” wrote Richard in his piece for the outlet.

“William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced the then Kate Middleton to the Royal Family and feels that his father has been too soft on him.

“It has led to speculation that it is William who is pushing his father to evict the Duke of York from Royal Lodge, so the Waleses could move in,” he explained.

The Duke of York was stripped off his working royal status as well as military titles after a disastrous interview with BBC Newsnight, that underscored his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It has been alleged that heir to the throne, Prince William has been a voice of reason in instrumental in ejecting Prince Andrew from his office at Buckingham Palace and unequivocal about keeping Andrew out of official Royal functions.

Now, the King has demanded his younger brother vacate Royal Lodge for a modest residence at Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

However, Andrew is reluctant to give up the 30-room mansion, citing the 75-year lease signed under his name following Queen Elizabeth II’s demise.

Prince William holds ‘grudge’ against Prince Andrew due to THIS unkind gesture towards Kate Middleton

Prince William and Prince Andrew’s bond has deteriorated over the years as Royal family members are having a hard time maintaining unity among themselves.

Prince William and his uncle Prince Andrew’s bond has deteriorated over the years as Royal family members are having a hard time maintaining unity among themselves. Following the demise of Queen Elizabeth, her disgraced yet most beloved son Andrew suffered a major blow since he is being sidelined by the Royal family. In the most recent setback, he is facing eviction from King Charles over his struggle to pay off $503K bill to maintain the £30m Royal Lodge. Prince William holds a ‘grudge’ against Andrew fur to his unkind gesture towards Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, as per a report.(Getty)

According to a report, The Prince of Wales holds a ‘grudge’ against Andrew fur to his unkind gesture towards Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.

After his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in which he revealed his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew was compelled to resign from his position as a Royal Family’s working member in 2020. He has maintained a low profile since then, supposedly at the request of King Charles’ and his son William.

What is Kate connection and is Prince William making moves against Andrew?

It is believed that Prince William had a major involvement in the decision to have Andrew ejected from his offices at Buckingham Palace. He has been vociferous in his demands that the Duke must be prohibited from attending official royal gatherings.

William is reportedly pressuring the monarch to force the Duke of York out of Royal Lodge. “William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced the then Kate ­Middleton to the Royal Family and feels that his father has been too soft on him,” according to Richard Kay of the Daily Mail.

According to reports, Charles is now pressuring Andrew to leave the expansive Royal Lodge estate and move to Frogmore Cottage, a smaller property that was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Andrew is apparently unwilling to move, escalating ongoing tension with King Charles.

Will Kate and William move to Royal Lodge?

According to Royal expert Tom Quinn, if Andrew moves to Frogmore, it will send a message that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will never be allowed back to their old residence, reported the Mirror.

Moreover, the move will convey the message that Andrew can no longer anticipate relishing a lavish lifestyle after embarrassing himself. With this, William and Kate can move into an appropriately opulent mansion. “Charles is determined that Royal Lodge is the only residence on the royal estate at Windsor that is big enough and regal enough for his heir,” Quinn stated.

It would be interesting to see if Kate and William move to Royal Lodge in case Andrew steps out.

Meghan Markle ‘no longer pals’ with George Clooney as he is seen to be ‘linked’ to King Charles

Meghan Markle is reportedly no longer close pals with actor George Clooney amid reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been snubbed by their former A-Lister friends

George Clooney and Meghan Markle aren’t close pals anymore

George Clooney has reportedly joined the list of Hollywood stars that are “ditching” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Oceans 11, 12 and 13 star used to be “bosom buddies” with Meghan Markle sources say, but apparently their close friendship came to an end shortly after Meghan and Prince Harry ‘s wedding in 2018.

George and his wife, Amal reportedly used to visit the royal couple’s homes in LA and Oxfordshire, but it’s said the Hollywood duo are “more linked to King Charles” now and even appeared at a Prince’s Trust event in London in May.

Adding more fuel to the fire, when asked whether he knew Meghan recently, George simply replied: “I don’t,” despite having attended the Windsor Chapel wedding, according to the Mail.

George and Amal are no longer “bosom buddies” with Harry and Meghan, say sources ( 
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)
The reports of the fallout between the Clooney’s and the Sussexes comes after Harry and Meghan are said to be getting “ignored” by Hollywood A-listers as the Duchess eyes up becoming a “power player” in Tinsel town.

The former Suits was recently reported to have signed with renowned Hollywood talent agency William Morris Endeavour, with her said to be looking to rub shoulders with the LA elite.

But now it has been revealed that the the couple have been ignored by some of the very people they want to be on the right side of, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg said to have blanked the couple. With Oprah Winfrey also seemingly snubbing the couple when she is reported to have left them off of the invite list for her 69th birthday party.

The couple are reportedly closer to King Charles ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan have been snubbed by Hollywood A-Listers ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
According to The Express US, Paula Froelich, who is a senior story producer and contributor for NewsNation, revealed that as well as Steven and Oprah, other movers and shakers in the industry such as Rob Lowe and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, have blanked the couple. It is also reported that those who have blanked the couple all have homes in Montecito, with their pads likely a stones throw away from the Duke and Duchess’ mansion.

Speaking to the paper, Paula explained that the “big power players” in Hollywood don’t want to jeopardise their businesses for Harry and Meghan. With many “deliberately keeping their distance” so they don’t upset the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate.