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“Looks so bizarre,” a royal pundit claims

he sight of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry twerking in video footage will only distance them further from the royal family, an expert claims.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has exclusively weighed in to Royal Insider on the controversial booty-popping clip featuring both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shaking their respective things.

He has revealed how he thinks the royal family will feel about the video.

The video, which portrays the heavily-pregnant Meghan and hubby Prince Harry awaiting the arrival of Princess Lilibet in hospital four years ago, has been condemned as “vulgar” and “unnecessary attention-seeking” by detractors.
How does Meghan Markle twerking fit in with her credo as an influencer, or a royal? (Credit: YouTube)

Verdict on Meghan Markle twerking video

Mr Fitzwilliams also feels the footage is at odds with the perception that Prince Harry and Meghan desire privacy.

He told Royal Insider: “The Sussexes howl about privacy, but come out with this. It’s a surreal to release a video which simply looks weird and I can’t see how it fits into the narrative they are supposedly trying to get across, where she is an important influencer.”

Mr Fitzwilliams also argued the Sussexes’ social media rules aren’t consistent with their actions.

“They knew the photos which show Princess Lilibet in close up would get worldwide attention. But it is unclear why they are usually reluctant to show their children’s faces unless they using them for promotional purposes,” he added.

 

‘Far too erratic to be trusted’

An unimpressed Mr Fitzwilliams also questioned the Sussexes’ strategy for sharing their brand messaging.

“The twerking video will become notorious,” he went on.

“They made great play of relaunching with a new [communications] team recently. I can’t believe they consulted their advisors before releasing something that looks so bizarre.”

Pondering the decisions that led the second son of the monarch and his wife to release footage of them gyrating their hips on social media, an incredulous Mr Fitzwilliams maintained any hope of a reconciliation would be squashed.

One has to ask, what planet do both of them exist on?

He reflected: “One has to ask, what planet do both of them exist on? The royal family will simply be confirmed in their view that both of them are far too erratic to be trusted.”

Meghan shared the clip to mark Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday (Credit: Splashnews.com)

What song are Meghan and Harry twerking to?

Meghan shared the previously-unseen clip on Instagram yesterday (Wednesday June 4).

It was released to celebrate daughter Princess Lilibet turning four.

The footage shows the parents-to-be making moves in front of a phone’s camera to viral song The Baby Momma Dance.

The tune was popular on social media in 2021 with pregnant women boogying on down with their bumps.

Meghan shared in her post’s caption: “Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… So when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!”

Bob had been on the show since 2014

Former Gogglebox star Tom Malone Jr has announced the death of the family’s dog, Bob.

He shared the news on social media last night (June 7), with mum Julie Malone also sharing a tribute to the Rottweiler, who was often seen sniffing at the family’s cakes as they watched the box on the Channel 4 show.

It comes 18 months after the family lost their other dog, Dave. He died in October 2023.

Tom Malone Jr announces death of Gogglebox dog Bob

Posting several snaps of Bob, Tom shared: “Good boy Bob. Rest easy big man.”

Julie also said: “Today we said goodbye to our beautiful protective Bobby. He spent his last day doing what he loved, watching over the grandchildren playing in the garden.

“We are heartbroken, RIP our beautiful Big Bob xx.”

‘Run free over the rainbow bridge’

Fans were quick to offer their condolences.

“Sending the family love,” said one. Another commented: “There are no words my fiend, seeing so much love to you all, I’m so sorry.”

A third also commented and said: “Sorry for your loss.”

The family’s Gogglebox pals also shared their sorrow at the death of Bob.

Mica Ven shared a love heart emoji. Ellie Warner added: “So sorry to hear about Bobby. Run free over the rainbow bridge.” Her sister Izzi also commented and said: “Sending you all lots of love.”

Co-star Georgia Bell added: “Sending you all so much love.”

The Malone family – Tom Jr, Tom Snr, Julie and Shaun – joined Gogglebox in 2014 (Credit: Splash News)

When did the Malone family join Gogglebox?

The Malones – Tom Snr, Julie, Tom Jr and Shaun – joined the show in series 4 in 2014.

Dave and Bob joined the family on the sofa each week as they settled down to enjoy the best of the box for the Channel 4 show.

Tom Jr left the series in 2021. Tom Snr was hospitalised earlier this year. And the family recently introduced a new member of the Malone family – Rottweiler puppy Tilly.

It’s the third time the DIY SOS host has said ‘I do’

Nick Knowles is a married man after he tied the knot with fiancée Katie Dadzie in a stunning wedding over the weekend.

DIY SOS host Nick, 62, wed lingerie boss Katie, 34, at the luxurious Braxted Park Estate in Essex.

It’s thought the ceremony – which is the third time Nick has married – cost a six-figure sum. Now, as they nurse very sore heads, the first pictures of their big day have been shared.

The pair said their vows under a flower arch (Credit: Instagram)

Nick Knowles and Katie Dadzie’s wedding

Nick Knowles wore a dapper pale pink tuxedo with black lapels, as well as matching black trousers and a black bow tie to wed Katie.

The wedding looked to be a black tie event, with Nick’s pals and groomsmen all kitted out in black tuxeudos. Katie’s bridesmaids, meanwhile, also wore black dresses and carried pink bouquets that matched perfectly with Nick’s jacket.

The event appeared to be a black tie affair (Credit: Instagram)
Katie, meanwhile, dazzled in not one but two dresses. She married Nick in a full-length white gown with a sweetheart neckline. The unusual dress was emblazoned with blue flowers. They said their vows inside the country estate underneath an arch of stunning flowers.

The bridesmaids also wore black (Credit: Instagram)

Party time!

In the evening, Katie was clearly in the mood for dancing as she slipped into a white mini dress. She teamed it with trainers and a bejeweled hat with the word bride on the front.

Nick also kicked off his shoes, changing from his smart black ones into trainers – but not before he’d taken Katie for a Strictly-style spin around the dance floor for their first dance.

The pair could be seen dancing to a live band, with Nick tipping Katie backwards before going in for a kiss. He also picked his stunning bride up at the end of the routine.

Nick showed off some of the moves he learnt on Strictly for his first dance (Credit: Instagram)
The party looked raucous, with the bride and groom dancing the night away and downing shots.

Although it was reported that Nick invited his pals from Strictly Come Dancing, there doesn’t appear to have been any in attendance. His DIY SOS pals were also not seen in the pictures uploaded to Instagram.

Katie changed into a mini dress for her evening do (Credit: Instagram)

Relationship timeline

The happy couple met in 2021, after his youngest son Eddie befriended Katie’s daughters at a play centre. There’s a 27-year age gap between them.

He then popped the question in 2023.

This will be the third time DIY SOS star Nick has been married. He and first wife Gillian, who share children Tuesday and Charlie, divorced in 2000.

He then married Eddie’s mum Jessica Moor in 2012, but they split in 2016. Nick is also dad to son TJ from his relationship with dancer Paula Beckett.

‘I was ripped from the male gaze at 24,’ she told a festival recently

In an interview at Hay Festival in Wales last weekend, Katie Piper has compared the process of ageing to a bereavement: shocking, but not surprising.

The Loose Women panelist recently debuted her new glass eye. She suffered facial injuries after an acid attack in 2008. Since then, she has undergone over 250 operations in order to reconstruct her facial anatomy and reduce skin contraction.

The star – back with her Katie Piper’s Weekend Escape today (June 8) – spent a lot of time thinking she should have taken revenge on her attacker. Now, however, she’s thinking more about what it is like to grow older.

Katie has undergone many procedures following horrific acid attack (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Katie Piper compares ageing to a bereavement

The process of ageing has been somewhat different for Katie Piper, who has had hundreds of surgical procedures to repair damage to her face and eyesight since 2008.

Her ex-boyfriend had ordered an acid attack on her when she was just 24 years old. Now 41, she’s been writing about the relationship between age and beauty in her new book Still Beautiful. Piper has been reflecting on what it was like to be “ripped” from the male gaze, the moment she was attacked.

“I was ripped from the male gaze at 24,” Piper told an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales over the weekend, per the BBC. “I didn’t just become invisible – I became a target for people saying derogatory things.”

The concept of the male gaze views and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of masculine, heterosexual subjects. In Katie’s case, the acid attack made her immediately less interesting to that part of society that viewed her as a sexual being. But normally, she said, women gradually become less interesting to the male gaze, as they get older.

‘Ageing can be compared to a bereavement’

She told the festival: “Ageing can be compared to a bereavement. Sometimes we know we’re losing somebody or something, and it’s slow, it’s gradual, and when it’s ageing, we look down at our hands, we see they look different. We catch ourselves in the shop window, and everything’s changed.

“It was shocking, but not surprising. This was because I had been reminded at such a young age the currency and the power a woman holds when she is considered either beautiful or young, and now here I was going through the second phase of youth slipping away and feeling, once again, society’s judgement and the label that they were going to put on to me.”

Her book, therefore, is an attempt to explain what it is like to be told that you are losing your power as a result of waving goodbye to youth. But it’s also an effort to change tack.

Katie wants to reframe ageing (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Ageing is a ‘magic key’ to letting go of other people’s expectations

Society glamourises youth, says Katie Piper. There is a lot of pressure on 20-year-olds to have the best time of their lives. But many people are financially insecure during their younger years. And, without much experience of the world, it’s actually the time in a person’s life when they’re most likely to make mistakes.

She wants to reframe ageing as a “magic key” to letting go of other people’s expectations. Rather than a time to grieve our younger selves, we can see it as an invitation to take control.

Once you stop trying to hold onto something – ie, youth – you free yourself from the strictures of a capitalist economy that is constantly trying to make money from your insecurities, she argues.

“I’m going to be 42 in October. I’m still incredibly young to many, and old and past it to some. You realise, I know who I am. I have a strong sense of self and identity. This is the heyday. This is the time of my life. So I can only imagine what’s on [for the] 50s and 60s and the decades beyond. I feel excited by that second chapter,” she shared.

‘True evil in mankind’

At the moment of her attack, Katie saw “true evil in mankind”. But her work has exposed her to the vastly larger good side in humanity.

One message she would deliver to her younger self, if she could?

“If you’ve ever felt less than… you’ve hated yourself or felt ashamed, it was never you. It was society, consumerism and capitalism. It was beneficial to someone, somewhere, to hold you down.”

King Charles will be in “pain” at “missing out” on celebrating granddaughter Princess Lilibet‘s birthday, a royal expert has claimed.

The monarch, 76, has reportedly only met his youngest grandchild once and is no longer speaking to Prince Harry, the duke claimed during a BBC interview last month.
Charles reportedly doesn’t see his grandchildren (Credit: CoverImages.com)

King Charles’ ‘pain’ over granddaughter Princess Lilibet

June 4 marked Lilibet’s fourth birthday. The royal tot was born on June 4, 2021 in California.

However, despite now being four, she has only reportedly met her grandfather once, when she was one year old.

The meeting between Charles and Lilibet is believed to have come during the platinum jubilee back in 2022. Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet travelled to the UK for the first – and so far, only – time together to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne.

I can only imagine the pain that Charles must feel when he thinks about all he is missing.

However, since then, it’s believed that Charles hasn’t seen Harry’s children – and is now reportedly no longer in contact with his youngest son.

During his interview with the BBC, Harry claimed that his father is no longer speaking to him.

“He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer my father has.”

 

King Charles missing Lilibet’s birthday is ‘sad’

Speaking to The Mirror, royal correspondent Jennie Bond has claimed Charles will be upset not being able to spend Lilibet’s birthday with her.

“Her birthday is mid-week, so I assume it will be a school day for Lilibet, but I’m sure there’ll be time for a tea party or celebration of some kind. Kids’ birthdays are always fun and I think Meghan is the sort of person who will put a great deal of effort and care into making the day extremely magical for her little girl,” she said.

“I’m sure it will all be picture perfect. Having just celebrated the fourth birthday of my own granddaughter – the smiles, the laughter, the love and the fun – I can only imagine the pain that Charles must feel when he thinks about all he is missing. These are years and occasions that cannot be relived and, once passed, they are gone forever. It’s incredibly sad,” she then added.
Meghan shared some pictures of Lilibet to mark her birthday (Credit: CoverImages.com)

Meghan shares sweet Lilibet photo to celebrate her birthday

Wednesday (June 4) saw Meghan share a couple of intimate photos of Lilibet to celebrate her fourth birthday.

The first photo, which is black and white, shows Lilibet and Meghan on what looks to be a boat trip.

Meghan can be seen cuddling Lilibet, who is looking out at the camera from between her mother’s arms. It is one of the very few photos royal fans have had of part of Lilibet’s face.

The second photo shared by Meghan shows the Duchess of Sussex cradling her daughter not long after her birth.

“Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it,” Meghan captioned the post.

“Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!”

Tom moved out a few months before his dad died

Comedian, actor and presenter Tom Allen has come a long way since winning a So You Think You’re Funny contest at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2005.

And an even longer way from his upbringing in Bromley, south London, which he insists was “very ordinary”.

His dad died from a heart attack at the age of 80, leaving Tom – on Blankety Blank this weekend (June 7) – in “total shock”. He shared the news with his social media followers when it happened a few years ago, but he’s since spoken more about how it changed his life.

Tom Allen grew up in Bromley, in south London, and moved out of his parents’ house in 2021 (Credit: Splash News)

Tom Allen describes ‘awful’ moment he found out his dad had died

The tragedy happened a few months after he moved out of the family home. Tom, 41, lived with his parents until May 2021. He explained in an interview with The Times in late 2023 that he always had a sense of foreboding whenever the had to leave them for anything. As a teenager, he resisted going to parties in case something bad happened to them in his absence.

After the pandemic, he finally moved out. He was in his first relationship, and things were moving along. He and his partner decided to go on holiday to Grenada, and before they left, Tom went to his parents’ house for Sunday lunch. Tom declined his dad’s offer of a lift home, telling him there was no need. He gave him a hug and went home to finish packing.

Just before he got on the plane, he texted his dad – it was his habit. He always liked to check in. But his dad still hadn’t replied by the time they were on their way to the beach on the first day of their holiday. When he got back to the hotel that afternoon, he noticed that he had a missed call from his mum. He called back and his brother picked up the phone.

“The rain was thrashing down and thunder was rumbling in the bay,” he said, which contains a flavour of the shock that was to come.

His brother told him their dad had just died – “suddenly, of a heart attack”. Just as suddenly, Tom’s “whole life changed”.

“The experience was like an awful prophecy and confirmed my worst fears. When I visited Tenerife the following year, I called my mum every five minutes to check she was all right.”

Allen’s whole life changed when his father died (Credit: Live At The Apollo/YouTube)

Tom’s tribute to late father after heart attack

From his hotel in Grenada, Tom announced the news to his social media followers.

“I’m so sad to report that my wonderful dad has died,” he wrote. “It was a total shock. He was with Mum and he had a heart attack last night. He grew up in one room in Penge and worked hard every day of his life.”

Tom went on to quote some of the things his dad used to say, such as ‘You can never run out of love’ and ‘Always go into everything with a good heart’.

“He was also inclined to write ‘shove it’ in a birthday card,” he added.

“It feels like part of the grieving process that I wanted to tell you: He was a wonderful kind man and we love him very much. Here he is on his 80th earlier this year with me and my brother.”

Friends and fans commiserated. Among them were Zoe Ball, who wrote in the comments that she was “so sorry” to hear the news.

Fay Ripley, Alexandra Burke and Jamie Redknapp added their voices to the chorus.

“When we met he was so charming, with a magic twinkle in his eye,” Zoe wrote. “Sending huge love to you Tom, your mum and family.”

He is a father to two children with Lynsey

Alex Brooker’s marriage reportedly turned rocky a few years back after it was alleged that he cheated on his wife.

The presenter, 41, shot to fame thanks to his stint on Channel 4’s The Last Leg – which started back in 2012.  Since then, he’s remained booked and busy, starring in the likes of The Jump and Deal or No Deal for Soccer Aid – which airs tonight (June 7).

Away from the TV shows though, Alex is loved-up with wife Lynsey – who he married in 2014. The pair are parents to two children – daughter Daphne, and another tot whose name they haven’t revealed.

However, a few years back, it was claimed that Alex had cheated on Lynsey – something he was reportedly “absolutely mortified” about.

Alex is a firm favourite on TV (Credit: ITV)

Alex Brooker ‘cheating’ claims

Alex and accountant Lynsey dated for a few years before getting married in 2014. They welcomed their first child, daughter Daphne in 2017. Their second child was born shortly after.

However, in 2019, it was alleged that Alex had an affair with a beautician, while he was in London filming his talk show.

A source at the time alleged to The Mirror that the previous year was “a really tough year for Alex and Lynsey”.

“He was filming in London and she was at home up north. It was a real strain on the marriage. He met this other woman while filming in London for The Last Leg. They had a real connection and became really friendly,” the insider claimed.

The pair have been married since 2014 (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Alex was ‘absolutely mortified’

The source added: “Things turned romantic in July and this lasted for about a month, before she is believed to have ended things in August.”

However, the insider also alleged that the couple were trying to work things out.

They want to make a go of it.

They claimed: “Lynsey is aware of it and she and Alex are trying to get their marriage back on track. They want to make a go of it. He’s absolutely mortified this happened because he’s a dad and he does love Lynsey deeply. He regrets it and wants to move forward.”

ED! has contacted Alex’s representatives for comment.

Alex on revealing his disability to his wife

Alex usually keeps his relationship private. But in 2020, he spoke about revealing his disability to Lynsey in the early days of their romance. The star has been disabled since he was born. He has hand and arm impairments and a prosthetic leg.

Speaking to Disability Horizons, Alex said: “When we first met, I never mentioned my prosthetic leg. Looking back, that was madness because, inevitably, if things went the way I wanted them to, I wouldn’t be able to hide it forever.

He told the publication that he was “nervous” the first time that he took off his prosthetic leg in front of her. Alex shared: “The first time I did she didn’t say anything and we never talked about it. The concern was more in my head than hers.”

‘I was ripped from the male gaze at 24,’ she told a festival recently

In an interview at Hay Festival in Wales last weekend, Katie Piper has compared the process of ageing to a bereavement: shocking, but not surprising.

The Loose Women panelist recently debuted her new glass eye. She suffered facial injuries after an acid attack in 2008. Since then, she has undergone over 250 operations in order to reconstruct her facial anatomy and reduce skin contraction.

The star – back with her Katie Piper’s Weekend Escape today (June 8) – spent a lot of time thinking she should have taken revenge on her attacker. Now, however, she’s thinking more about what it is like to grow older.

Katie has undergone many procedures following horrific acid attack (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Katie Piper compares ageing to a bereavement

The process of ageing has been somewhat different for Katie Piper, who has had hundreds of surgical procedures to repair damage to her face and eyesight since 2008.

Her ex-boyfriend had ordered an acid attack on her when she was just 24 years old. Now 41, she’s been writing about the relationship between age and beauty in her new book Still Beautiful. Piper has been reflecting on what it was like to be “ripped” from the male gaze, the moment she was attacked.

“I was ripped from the male gaze at 24,” Piper told an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales over the weekend, per the BBC. “I didn’t just become invisible – I became a target for people saying derogatory things.”

The concept of the male gaze views and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of masculine, heterosexual subjects. In Katie’s case, the acid attack made her immediately less interesting to that part of society that viewed her as a sexual being. But normally, she said, women gradually become less interesting to the male gaze, as they get older.

‘Ageing can be compared to a bereavement’

She told the festival: “Ageing can be compared to a bereavement. Sometimes we know we’re losing somebody or something, and it’s slow, it’s gradual, and when it’s ageing, we look down at our hands, we see they look different. We catch ourselves in the shop window, and everything’s changed.

“It was shocking, but not surprising. This was because I had been reminded at such a young age the currency and the power a woman holds when she is considered either beautiful or young, and now here I was going through the second phase of youth slipping away and feeling, once again, society’s judgement and the label that they were going to put on to me.”

Her book, therefore, is an attempt to explain what it is like to be told that you are losing your power as a result of waving goodbye to youth. But it’s also an effort to change tack.

Katie wants to reframe ageing (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Ageing is a ‘magic key’ to letting go of other people’s expectations

Society glamourises youth, says Katie Piper. There is a lot of pressure on 20-year-olds to have the best time of their lives. But many people are financially insecure during their younger years. And, without much experience of the world, it’s actually the time in a person’s life when they’re most likely to make mistakes.

She wants to reframe ageing as a “magic key” to letting go of other people’s expectations. Rather than a time to grieve our younger selves, we can see it as an invitation to take control.

Once you stop trying to hold onto something – ie, youth – you free yourself from the strictures of a capitalist economy that is constantly trying to make money from your insecurities, she argues.

“I’m going to be 42 in October. I’m still incredibly young to many, and old and past it to some. You realise, I know who I am. I have a strong sense of self and identity. This is the heyday. This is the time of my life. So I can only imagine what’s on [for the] 50s and 60s and the decades beyond. I feel excited by that second chapter,” she shared.

‘True evil in mankind’

At the moment of her attack, Katie saw “true evil in mankind”. But her work has exposed her to the vastly larger good side in humanity.

One message she would deliver to her younger self, if she could?

“If you’ve ever felt less than… you’ve hated yourself or felt ashamed, it was never you. It was society, consumerism and capitalism. It was beneficial to someone, somewhere, to hold you down.”

Katie Piper’s Weekend Escape airs on Sunday at 8:25am, on ITV1.

Meghan Markle raised eyebrows with a video of her twerking trying to bring on labour – and royal expert Jennie Bond has revealed how those at the palace would have reacted to the clip

Meghan Markle would have left King Charles ‘horrified’ with her “utterly bizarre” decision to share a video of her twerking to bring on labour, a royal expert has claimed. The Duchess of Sussex astonished royal watchers and fans by posting the video of her dancing in a hospital room alongside Prince Harry while waiting for the arrival of their daughter, Princess Lilibet.

In the clip, a heavily pregnant Meghan twerks to the Starrkeisha song Baby Momma lifting her skirt above her knees, raising her hands in the air and wiggling low with her hands on her hips and legs. Meghan shared the clip on Lilibet’s fourth birthday, saying: “Four years ago today, this also happened.

Meghan Markle dances around her hospital room (Image: Meghan/Instagram)

“Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!”

And for royal expert Jennie Bond, she believes it is an “astonishing video on any level” and reveals what the King would have thought of it. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “The hours before you give birth are some of the most personal, intimate and private in the lives of any couple.

Meghan dropped low in the video (Image: Meghan/Instagram)

“And women are perfectly entitled to do whatever they feel like to get through the waiting, and the pain. Giving birth is a serious business, and anything to lighten the mood is welcome.

“However – to share those scenes with the world is utterly bizarre and, in my view, takes away all the magic of the moment. I cannot imagine why she chose to release it. Maybe show it one day to your nearest and dearest— but to anyone and everyone who wants to click on it?

Was Meghan right to share twerking video? Take our poll below. If you can’t see it, click here

“I can hear the voice of the late Queen’s former private secretary, Lord Charteris, repeating the comments he once made about Fergie: ‘Vulgar, vulgar, vulgar’.

Harry joins in with the dancing (Image: Meghan/Instagram)

“If the King has watched it, which I doubt, though he can’t have missed the headlines I’m sure he would be horrified. Royalty has to carry with it some measure of dignity.”

Since sharing the clip many have questioned why she posted it, given the couple’s supposed desire for privacy. And Jennie added: “I’m glad they were so happy before the birth, I’m glad Harry was there to support his wife in every way, I’m delighted to hear that he’s such a great dad. But they really can’t have it both ways.

“They can’t demand privacy and be so coy about sharing images of their children and then show us all these intensely intimate scenes. And she cannot expect to be treated as if she’s royal whilst behaving like a click-hungry social media influencer.

The King at an engagement earlier this week(Image: PA)

“Having said all that, there’s no doubt that videos like this connect in a very real way to young people. And perhaps that’s what Meghan is trying to do. My own daughter thought the video humanised both Meghan and Harry and was light-hearted and hugely relatable. It reminded her of her own pregnancies and labour and she thought it was rather charming.

In many ways, I agree with her. I just don’t think it sits happily with trying to cling to the vestiges of being ‘royal’.”

Everyone thought Ant & Dec were retreating to the countryside. But instead, they turned the land into a rescue sanctuary for disabled farm animals, giving pigs with prosthetic legs and blind goats a second chance. And when they livestreamed the first animal rescue… 2.3 million people tuned in to watch something no one expected….

The Sanctuary of Second Chances

In the rolling hills of Northumberland, where the air carried the scent of heather and history, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly—Ant & Dec—were beloved beyond their TV fame. At 49, the Geordie duo had won hearts with their humor and authenticity, but their roots in Newcastle’s working-class ethos kept them grounded. In early 2025, rumors swirled on X that Ant and Dec had bought a sprawling 50-acre plot in the countryside, assumed to be a lavish retreat or investment. Fans speculated about luxury cabins or a private getaway. But the truth was far humbler and more extraordinary: they’d turned the land into “Geordie Hooves,” the UK’s first rescue sanctuary for disabled farm animals, giving pigs with prosthetic legs, blind goats, and lame sheep a second chance. And when they livestreamed the sanctuary’s first rescue, 2.3 million people tuned in to witness something no one saw coming.

The idea was born during a rare day off, when Ant and Dec visited a local farm to film a segment for Saturday Night Takeaway. There, they met a three-legged pig named Mabel, saved from slaughter but struggling to move, and a blind goat called Rosie, who navigated by sound but had no proper home. The farmer, stretched thin, admitted many disabled animals were euthanized, as sanctuaries lacked space or funds. The story hit Ant and Dec like a gut punch. They remembered childhood summers mucking about on relatives’ farms, where every animal had a name and a purpose. “These creatures deserve a shot,” Ant said. Dec nodded. “Let’s make it happen.”

They quietly purchased the Northumberland land for £1.8 million, transforming it into a sanctuary with accessible barns, soft pastures, and specialized equipment. They funded prosthetic legs for pigs like Mabel, built sensory trails for blind animals like Rosie, and installed heated sheds for lame sheep. Working with vets and animal welfare experts, they hired a small team, including a former farmer, Ellie, who’d lost her own livestock to debt but had a gift for rehabilitation. Through their foundation, “Ant & Dec’s Community Fund,” they committed £500,000 to start-up costs, ensuring every animal had medical care, food, and love. They kept the project under wraps, wanting the focus on the animals, not their fame.

The sanctuary’s first rescue was set for May 2025, and Ant and Dec decided to livestream it on their foundation’s new YouTube channel, hoping to raise awareness. They expected a modest audience—maybe a few thousand fans. But when the stream went live, 2.3 million people tuned in, glued to a sight no one anticipated: Ant and Dec, in muddy wellies, gently coaxing a one-eyed cow named Daisy from a cramped shed on a struggling farm. Daisy, malnourished and skittish, had been deemed “useless” after losing her eye to infection. As Ant knelt beside her, whispering, “You’re safe now, lass,” and Dec guided her onto a padded trailer, the chat exploded with heart emojis. The unexpected moment came when Daisy, sensing safety, nuzzled Dec’s shoulder, and he choked up, saying, “This one’s for every animal who’s been written off.” Viewers wept, flooding X with #GeordieHooves, calling it “the purest thing on the internet.”

The livestream raised £200,000 in donations in hours, but the real shock was the global reach—viewers from Australia to Canada shared clips of Daisy’s rescue. “Ant & Dec in wellies saving a cow? I’m done,” one X user posted. Another wrote, “They gave a blind goat a home? Heroes.” Reporters, expecting a celebrity vanity project, were stunned by the sanctuary’s scale and the duo’s hands-on role. At a Britain’s Got Talent press event, Ant shrugged off the hype. “It’s about the animals,” he said, scratching mud off his sleeve. Dec added, “Daisy’s braver than us. We’re just her taxi service.”

By autumn 2025, Geordie Hooves housed 40 animals—pigs waddling on prosthetics, goats navigating with bells, and sheep resting in warm barns. Ellie reported Mabel now led the pig herd, while Rosie trailed her with a jingle. The sanctuary became a community hub, with local schools visiting to learn about compassion. Volunteers, inspired by the livestream, mucked stalls and built ramps. Ant and Dec’s foundation pledged ongoing funding, raising £300,000 more in public donations. They visited often, helping with feedings and joking with Ellie, always deferring to the animals’ stories. A thank-you letter from a schoolchild read, “You saved Daisy, and you made me want to help animals too.” They kept it in their office, next to a photo of Daisy’s first day in the pasture.

The ripple effect grew. Sanctuaries across the UK adopted Geordie Hooves’ model, focusing on disabled animals. Farmers, moved by the livestream, donated equipment, and a vet school offered free check-ups. The sanctuary’s YouTube channel, now regular, drew millions for each rescue, with kids worldwide naming new arrivals. At their next Saturday Night Takeaway taping, Ant and Dec wore pins with a tiny hoofprint and “G” for Geordie Hooves. The audience roared, knowing the story. Somewhere in Northumberland, a one-eyed cow grazed under open skies, proof that two lads from Newcastle could turn a muddy field into a haven for second chances.