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Meghan Markle opens up about past trauma

<p>Meghan Markle has opened up about her mental health struggle in a new interview. </p> <p>In a joined interview with <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">her husband Prince Harry for <em>CBS Sunday Morning</em>, </span>the Duchess of Sussex admitted that she hasn't "really scraped the surface" on her struggle, as the couple launched their new project <a href="https://archewell.org/theparentsnetwork/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Parents' Network</a>. </p> <p>The Parents’ Network aims to support parents who lost or almost lost their child to cyberbullying and other traumas related to social media use. </p> <p>While speaking about online bullying and its effects on young children, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">the Duchess of Sussex spoke about her own experience and connection to the families, as she also had suicidal thoughts in 2021. </span></p> <p>“When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it,” she told Jane Pauley. </p> <p>"And you know, I haven't really scraped the surface on my experience. But I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way," she continued.</p> <p>"And I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans. And I would never want someone else to not be believed."</p> <p>"So, if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything's OK, then that's worth it.</p> <p>"I'll take a hit for that."</p> <p>In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that she had suicidal ideation while pregnant with son Archie due to the pressure of life as a royal and the way the British media treated her. </p> <p>“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” she said at the time.</p> <p>She also recalled reaching out to palace officials and said that she did not receive any mental health help. </p> <p>The initiative, launched with the couple’s Archewell Foundation, aims to make sure that no other families go through what they did. </p> <p>“Our kids are young; they’re 3 and 5. They’re amazing,” she told Pauley. </p> <p>“But all you want to do as parents is protect them. And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”</p> <p><em>Images: CBS Sunday Morning</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Sarah Ferguson makes first public appearance since skin cancer diagnosis

<p>Sarah Ferguson has made her first public appearance since her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/fergie-reveals-second-cancer-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skin cancer diagnosis</a> was announced almost two weeks ago. </p> <p>The Duchess of York made an unexpected appearance at the <em>Haute Living Celebrates The Haute 100</em> event in Miami, Florida on Monday. </p> <p>Fergie rocked a military-style black and white blazer over a black dress for the cocktail event, and appeared happier than ever as she posed for the cameras. </p> <p>The 64-year-old was pictured cuddling up to and interacting with fellow guests at the event. </p> <p>This comes just two weeks after the Duchess <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/fergie-breaks-silence-amid-second-cancer-battle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened up</a> on her second cancer diagnosis in a year. </p> <p>"I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year," she said in the Instagram post at the time.</p> <p>She also recently opened up on her recovery from breast cancer, following her mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.</p> <p>The Duchess expressed her gratitude to her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, for their constant support. </p> <p>"My two wonderful daughters are my wholehearted cheerleaders, my devoted champions and my soulmates, and they have been as supportive as can be, as they always are," she told <em>People magazine </em>at the time.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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First photos of new royal baby emerge

<p>Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg is every bit the proud grandmother as she took to Instagram to share photos of the newest royal family member, Prince Balthasar Felix Karl. </p> <p>Prince Balthasar is the third child of Prince Felix and his wife Princess Claire, and the Grand Duchess' seventh grandchild. </p> <p>"What a great joy the arrival of Balthasar, our seventh grandchild, born on January 7 in Luxembourg," she captioned the series of photos. </p> <p>The Grand Duchess, 67, was pictured with a huge smile on her face as husband Grand Duke Henri, 68 cradled Prince Balthasar. </p> <p>In another photo, Prince Felix and Princess Claire are pictured with their older children Princess Amalia, 9, and Prince Liam, 7, with Prince Balthasar fast asleep in his mother's arms. </p> <p>The third photo shows Grand Duchess Maria and Princess Amalia posing on the hospital bed as the Grand Duchess cradles her grandson. </p> <p>The Grand Duchess ended the series of photos with two pictures of her grandkids holding their new baby brother.</p> <p>The birth of Prince Balthasar was announced on Monday in a statement which read: "The newborn Prince will be named Balthasar Felix Karl. He weighs 3.220 kg (7lbs 1 oz) and measures 50 cm.</p> <p>"Prince Balthasar and Princess Claire are in perfect health."</p> <p>The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess share five children – Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry and Meghan named "2023's biggest losers"

<p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been crowned "the biggest losers of 2023" by highly influential entertainment magazine <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>. </p> <p>The publication released its annual list of winners and losers, with celebrities like Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig making the winners list. </p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the other hand topped this year's list of losers, which included Twitter/X/Elon Musk, and the streaming series <em>Yellowstone</em>.</p> <p>The publication wrote that this year's list reflected "some of the industry’s biggest success stories — and most embarrassing missteps." </p> <p>Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said<em> </em>that this is a huge blow for the royal couple, as <em>The Hollywood Reporter </em>is considered an "industry bible that people pay attention to".</p> <p>"It is humiliating in Meghan's home town and they refer to the couple's - and I quote this - 'whiney documentary', that 'whiney biography' and the horrible South Park episode," she said in an interview with Nine's <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>Despite being crowned this year's biggest losers, Arbiter said that the couple are looking forward to a better year ahead. </p> <p>"It is time to leave the royal family behind and really establish what it is they want to do and make positive steps forward if they plan to be successful in 2024," she said.</p> <p>"We've been promised a number of different things via rumours over the past year, with talk of Meghan's website The TIG relaunching and she was going to launch a lifestyle brand similar to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.</p> <p>"Netflix paid $3 million pounds for rights to a book Harry and Meghan said they would turn into a rom-com, however we haven't had further development on those plans."</p> <p>The royal commentator added that Harry and Meghan will need to build consumer trust and avoid "negative, scandalous headlines that follow them everywhere", as they approach the new year.</p> <p>"Hollywood doesn't do well with negativity," she said.</p> <p>Check out the full list <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-winners-losers-2023-1235712279/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

TV

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Second “royal racist” accidentally named in new book

<p>A second member of the royal family has been accused of being "racist", after the bombshell royal exposé implied them in the scandal over baby Archie's skin colour. </p> <p>In Omid Scobie's new book <em>Endgame</em>, he discusses the comments that members of the royal family made to Meghan Markle when she was pregnant with baby Archie. </p> <p>Markle first shared the bombshell allegations in her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but she refused to name the royal family member who made the comments, saying, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”</p> <p>On Wednesday, reports emerged that copies of the book were being <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/books/new-royal-book-pulled-from-shelves-over-huge-legal-blunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulled from shelves</a> as the Dutch translation of the book accidentally named the person involved in the scandal.</p> <p>Omid Scobie admitted he does know who made the comments, but UK libel laws prevented him from naming them in the book. </p> <p>Now, as copies of the tell-all book have been flying off shelves, it seems another member of the royal family has been implicated in the book, which is now said to be frantically being pulled from shelves.</p> <p>It comes after Mr Scobie denied responsibility for the Dutch translation of his new book “accidentally naming” a member of the Royal Family.</p> <p>Publishers Xander Uitgevers yesterday said they were seeking to remove Mr Scobie’s work from bookshelves saying there had been an “error”.</p> <p>Speaking to Dutch TV on Wednesday night, Mr Scobie defended his book, saying, “The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch”.</p> <p>“But if there are translation errors, I’m sure the publishers will have it under control."</p> <p>“I wrote and edited the English version. There’s never been no version that I’ve produced that has names in it.”</p> <p>In the English version, Mr Scobie writes, “In the pages of these private letters [given to Oprah by Markle], two identities were revealed. UK laws prevent me from reporting who they were”.</p> <p>But the Dutch version reads, “In those private letters, an identity was revealed and confirmed” — before going on to name a senior royal.</p> <p>Dutch royal reporter Rick Evers says he was one of only two journalists to be given a manuscript of <em>Endgame</em> last Wednesday.</p> <p>Mr Evers said, “I was shocked that no one else in the world mentioned the fact that a member of the royals was named in the book as the racist”.</p> <p>“That was the main accusation in the book that I noticed and what I put in my (review) article, which was published with a photo of that royal."</p> <p>“I began to question if it was only my manuscript that had the name in it. I went to get the book from a store and it was exactly the same,” Mr Evers said.</p> <p>“A woman called from the publisher saying there was a legal problem and my article had to be removed.”</p> <p>It is unclear how the error occurred, but Mr Scobie confirmed that the first royal family member named in the book is not the one stated in the letters from Meghan Markle. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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New royal book pulled from shelves over huge legal blunder

<p>Copies of an explosive new book about the royal family are being pulled from shelves and destroyed after a translation error "accidentally named" the alleged "royal racist". </p> <p>Sales of the new book <em>Endgame</em>, written by Omid Scobie who also wrote <em>Finding Freedom</em> about Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family, were "temporarily" put on hold just days after its release after what has been labelled an error. </p> <p>According to Xander, the publishers of the Dutch edition of Scobie's book, a translation error led to a member of the royal family being identified as the person who made comments about baby Archie's skin colour. </p> <p>“[We are] temporarily withdrawing the book by Omid Scobie from sale. An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.</p> <p>Meanwhile, <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/24884315/royal-racist-accidentally-named-omid-scobie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em> claims that thousands of copies of the book are now being destroyed as a result.</p> <p>The "racist royal" scandal dates back to when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview in 2021, when Markle  alleged that while she was pregnant with their first child, Prince Archie, there were “concerns and conversations” from a member of the royal family about how dark his skin might be.</p> <p>The Duchess of Sussex stopped short of naming the person involved, telling Winfrey, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”</p> <p>In the original edition of his book, Scobie also declines to identify the royal, claiming libel laws prevented him from doing so – although he has confirmed he knows who it is.</p> <p>“I do know who made the comments about Archie’s skin colour,” he told UK program <em>Good Morning</em> during his book press tour.</p> <p>“The names were mentioned in letters between Meghan and Charles that were exchanged sometime after the Oprah interview."</p> <p>“We know from sources that Charles was horrified that that’s how Meghan felt. Those conversations were, and that he wanted to, sort of as a representative for the family, have that conversation with her.</p> <p>“And it is why I personally think they have been able to move forward with some kind of line of communication afterwards. Though they may not see eye-to-eye on it.”</p> <p>It’s understood the royal family member accidentally named in the Dutch edition was not the person Meghan had been referring to.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Harper Collins</em></p>

Books

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Duke and Duchess ordered to shorten their baby's name

<p>In a world where baby names have become battlegrounds for parental creativity, one Spanish duke is learning the hard way that there's such a thing as too much of a good thing.</p> <p>Meet Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, the 17th Duke of Huéscar and heir apparent to the dukedom of Alba. He and his wife, Sofía Palazuelo, recently welcomed their second child into the world, and they didn't hold back when it came to naming her. In fact, they let their imaginations run so wild that they've run into a bit of a royal roadblock.</p> <p>Their darling daughter was bestowed with a grand total of TWENTY-FIVE NAMES.</p> <p>Yes, you read that right. It's like they were trying to set a new record for the world's longest moniker.</p> <p>The poor girl's full name is Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos.</p> <p>In English, that translates to "Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela of the Blessed Sacrament of Perpetual Help of the Holy Trinity and All Saints." Young Sofia would almost certainly need perpetual help writing that out on school and official documents were it not for the obstacle now preventing the 'normous name from sticking.</p> <p>Now, before you start thinking this was just a case of overly enthusiastic parents throwing every possible name they could think of at their child, hold on a moment. There's a method to this naming madness. Each of those 11 names was carefully chosen to honour important family members, including her mother, grandmother, father and great-uncle. The couple also included a nod to religious devotions, just in case little Sofía needed some divine intervention to carry her name around.</p> <p>However, the Spanish Civil Registry, apparently not a fan of name-related acrobatics, has thrown a royal wrench into the works. According to their rules, a child's name must contain "no more than one compound name and no more than two simple ones".</p> <p>In other words, they're putting a cap on the number of monikers a person can have, and Sofía's name blew right past that limit like a speeding chariot.</p> <p>So, the Duke and Duchess find themselves in a bit of a naming pickle. They need to trim their daughter's name down to size, and that's not a task for the faint of heart. After all, it's not every day that you have to decide which family member's name makes the cut and which one gets the royal snip.</p> <p>In the meantime, young Sofía will no doubt need a papyrus scroll just to keep track of all those names – and if she ever loses her way, she can simply follow the trail of syllables to find her identity again.</p> <p>This entire baby-naming escapade is reminiscent of the late Duchess of Alba, who for a time held the Guinness World Record for "most titled aristocrat", holding more than 50 titles in her lifetime. She passed away in 2014 at the ripe old age of 88, and w<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">hile the young Duke of Huéscar may not be aiming for the world record, he's certainly giving it a good-natured run for its money.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Meghan and Lilibet spotted in rare outing

<p dir="ltr">There has been a rare sighting of Meghan Markle and her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in California.</p> <p dir="ltr">The royal mother-daughter duo were spotted close to their home in Montecito, California, as they joined revellers to celebrate the Fourth of July in a parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Prince Archie, four, were also in attendance but in the short clip shared on social media, they are obscured by other members of the crowd watching the event.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video of the royal sighting was posted by a local hotel, which shows an Independence Day parade featuring a display of vintage and modern cars, along with local ambulances and fire trucks, making its way from the San Ysidro Road towards East Valley.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rosewood Miramar Beach (@rosewoodmiramarbeach)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Meghan can be seen crouching on the ground with her arms around Lilibet, who is waving an American flag pinwheel, as they both wave to the people in the parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry was also spotted, dressed in casual wear, carrying Lilibet through the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">The rare sighting comes just days after the Sussexes continue to sit out official royal events, as King Charles celebrated his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/not-my-king-second-coronation-marred-by-protestors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second coronation</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles celebrated his coronation a second time during a ceremony in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, just two months after being crowned King in London.</p> <p dir="ltr">The monarch was joined by Queen Camilla, and Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, for a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication held in his honour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the grand and emotional service, the ceremony was slightly marred by anti-monarch protestors outside.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protestors stood chanting "not my King" for hours on end so loudly, that the voices could be heard from inside the church during the quieter moments of the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Tragic end for pensioner struck by royal motorcade

<p dir="ltr">Helen Holland, the 81-year-old woman who was struck by a police motorcade escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh, has died. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/elderly-woman-hospitalised-by-royal-motorcycle-escort">Helen was hit on May 10 at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in west London’s Earl’s Court</a>, and was taken to hospital after receiving treatment from paramedics at the scene.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her family confirmed the news of her passing, telling the<em> BBC </em>that while she had fought "for her life for nearly two weeks”, tragically “irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Helen had suffered “multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries” in the crash, despite using the “safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing”, according to her son, Martin Holland. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the devastating incident, her family had announced that Helen was in a coma, with the police later revealing that she remained in a critical condition. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement reportedly shared with <em>Sky News</em>, the family had described Helen as a "beautiful, loving, kind, and caring lady who would always put anyone before herself.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The family are deeply saddened and shocked at the news Helen was involved in such a tragic accident.”</p> <p dir="ltr">They went on to share that while she had been 81 years old, she was “sprightly for her age and nothing stopped her living life to the full, spending precious time with her family, muddy walks with the dogs and lunches with friends is what she enjoyed most”, before asking that everyone keep her in their thoughts and prayers. </p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace had announced that Sophie - the Duchess of Edinburgh - had offered her “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” to “the injured lady and her family”, and that she was “grateful for the swift response of emergency services and will keep abreast of developments".</p> <p dir="ltr">An investigation was launched by The Independent Office for Police Conduct soon after the event, and it remains ongoing, with the police watchdog assuring Helen’s family that they would keep them “regularly updated as the investigation progresses".</p> <p dir="ltr">That investigation involved examining footage from neary CCTV as well as footage from police body cameras. Additionally, officers who were present at the scene were to be interviewed, while the organisation sought other witnesses to come forward with any more information they might have.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the family waits for answers, they are also coming to terms with their difficult loss, with Helen’s grandson - Joe Strutter Holland - sharing on Facebook, “rest in peace Nanny (Helen) Holland. One of the kindest and most joyful souls you'll ever of had the pleasure of meeting. Taken before her time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to note that he was glad his grandmother and his son had gotten the chance to meet, writing 'I'll ensure he knows who you are, till we meet again”. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook, Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Prince Harry’s "dangerous paparazzi pursuit" called into question

<p>Photo agency Backgrid has spoken out against claims the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” with paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony in New York.</p> <p>"At BACKGRID USA Inc., we value transparency and ethics in journalism, which include providing fair and factual responses to claims," Backgrid's statement reads.</p> <p>"We are aware of Prince Harry's statement regarding an alleged 'near catastrophic car chase' involving himself, Meghan Markle, and her mother, in New York City on Tuesday night.”</p> <p>"We want to clarify that we have received photos and videos of last night's events from four freelance photographers, three of whom were in cars and one of whom was riding a bicycle,” the statement continues.</p> <p>"It is important to note that these photographers have a professional responsibility to cover newsworthy events and personalities, including public figures such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.”</p> <p>Backgrid went on to say that according to the accounts given to them by the freelance photographers, they were covering Harry and Meghan’s time in New York City, which included a potential dinner following the awards ceremony.</p> <p>"They had no intention of causing any distress or harm, as their only tool was their cameras. A few of the photos even show Meghan Markle smiling inside a cab," the statement says.</p> <p>"The photographers report that one of the four SUVs from Prince Harry's security escort was driving in a manner that could be perceived as reckless,” it says.</p> <p>"The vehicle was seen blocking off streets, and in one video, it is shown being pulled over by the police," Backgrid reports in the statement.</p> <p>"We understand that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's security detail had a job to do, and we respect their work," it continues.</p> <p>"We do, however, want to point out that according to the photographers present, there were no near-collisions or near crashes during this incident. The photographers have reported feeling that the couple was not in immediate danger at any point.”</p> <p>The alleged car chase occurred on May 17 after the trio attended the Women in Vision Awards, hosted at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.</p> <p>"Last night, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi," a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement.</p> <p>"This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.</p> <p>"While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone's safety.</p> <p>"Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved.”</p> <p>It was alleged the incident involved a half-dozen vehicles with blacked out windows and included some individuals driving the footpath, running red lights and reversing down a one-way street.</p> <p>The New York Police Department (NYPD) released a short statement, dubbing it a “transport challenge”.</p> <p>"The NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex," they said.</p> <p>"There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging.</p> <p>"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”</p> <p>New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was yet to receive a full briefing but labelled the pursuit as “reckless and irresponsible”, comparing it to Princess Diana’s 1997 death in a Paris car crash after being chased by paparazzi.</p> <p>"You shouldn't be speeding anywhere, but this is a densely populated city, and I think all of us, I don't think there's many of us who don't recall how his mum died," Adams told reporters when asked about the incident.</p> <p>"It's clear that the paparazzi want to get the right shot, they want to get the right story, but public safety must always be at the forefront," Adams said.</p> <p>A member of the Sussexes’ security team, Chris Sanchez, referred to the incident as “chaotic” in an interview with <em>CNN’s</em> Max Foster.</p> <p>"I have never seen, experienced anything like this," he said. "What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles.”</p> <p>He also said the couple were scared but relieved when they returned to the apartment where they were staying, which is believed to be a friend’s private residence.</p> <p>"The public were in jeopardy at several points. It could have been fatal," Sachez said.</p> <p>A local law enforcement source also corroborated some of the Sussexes’ reports to<em> CNN</em>.</p> <p>They said a group of paparazzi in cars, motorcycles and scooters followed the trio as they left the ceremony, where Meghan had accepted an award from the Ms Foundation, alongside Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown.</p> <p>Footage on social media showed Harry, Meghan and Ragland all leaving the Manhattan venue through the public exit, with lights flashing intensely as they got into a waiting SUV with cheering crowds behind barriers waving them off.</p> <p>Another video posted by <em>TMZ</em> saw the couple in a yellow New York City cab, stuck in traffic several blocks away from the venue, as photographers recorded them through the windows. The taxi was being escorted by NYPD vehicles with flashing lights.</p> <p>However, the taxi driver Sukhcharn Singh seemingly refutes the claims of a “near catastrophic car chase”.</p> <p>Singh told <em>The Washington Post</em> he drove "Harry, Meghan, an older Black woman and one security guard" for a brief period, believed to be about 10 minutes.</p> <p>“I don’t think I would call it a chase,” Singh said. “I never felt like I was in danger. It wasn’t like a car chase in a movie.</p> <p>“They were quiet and seemed scared but it’s New York – it’s safe.”</p> <p>Singh did confirm the trio were being followed.</p> <p>“They kept following us and were coming next to the car. They took pictures as we stopped and were filming us.”</p> <p>When asked by the <em>BBC</em> if there was a “near-catastrophic chase”, he said, “I don’t think that’s true. I think that’s all exaggerated.”</p> <p>Singh later spoke on Piers Morgan’s <em>Sky News Australia</em> program <em>Uncensored</em> and gave more insight into what happened when the royals and Ms Ragland got into his cab.</p> <p>He said they were about to inform him of their destination address before paparazzi surrounded his vehicle, which was being followed by a police escort.</p> <p>“Prince Harry and his wife and another lady jumped into my cab. And they seemed very nervous,” he said.</p> <p>“We went a block, we were blocked by a [garbage] truck and then all of a sudden paparazzi just came out of nowhere and flashes just went off.</p> <p>“They were just about to say the location where they were going to go but then the paparazzis came and the security guard said, ‘Hey listen – just circle back to the precinct’.”</p> <p>Singh said he spent about 15 minutes with the royals who paid him a $US50 tip on top of the $US17 fare.</p> <p>“I’ve had other celebrities in my cab as well but this one, they completely surrounded the car and just went crazy with the camera,” he said.</p> <p>“We just went around the block and two cars were tailing us, behind us, with the camera and that was it.</p> <p>“I don’t know what they went through, right, because I only had interaction with them for 15 minutes and they seemed very nervous when they were in my cab.”</p> <p>When asked whether it was a two-hour car chase, Singh responded, “That must have happened before me.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Elderly woman hospitalised by royal motorcycle escort

<p dir="ltr">A pensioner in her 80s is in critical condition after a collision with a police motorcycle that was escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.</p> <p dir="ltr">The rolling motorcade, manned by motorcycle outriders, was escorting the Duchess when the collision happened.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Duchess was being escorted by the Met Police‘s Special Escort Group, who provide armed escorts for Royal Family members, VIPs, protected members of the Government, visiting royals, heads of state and other visiting dignitaries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Met Police released a <a href="https://news.met.police.uk/news/woman-injured-following-collision-with-police-motorcycle-in-west-london-466651#:~:text=A%20woman%20has%20been%20injured,Road%2C%20Earls%20Court%2C%20SW5." target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that said: “A woman has been injured after being involved in a collision with a police motorcycle in west London.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At approximately 15:21hrs on Wednesday, 10 May a police motorcycle on escort duties was involved in a collision with a member of the public on West Cromwell Road, Earls Court, SW5.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended and a woman, aged in her 80s, was taken to hospital.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She remains there in a critical condition. Her family have been informed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Road closures were in place and two bikes – one with King Charles‘ cypher – were seen inside the cordon after the collision happened.</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace has said: “The Duchess’s heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She is grateful for the swift response by the emergency services and will keep abreast of developments.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Further comment at this time would not be appropriate while the incident is being investigated.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

News

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Meghan Markle celebrates Mother's Day with heartwarming gesture

<p>The Duchess of Sussex has celebrated <a href="https://www.innovations.com.au/p/gifts/mothers-day-gifts?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=nativearticle&amp;utm_campaign=MothersDayGifts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mother's Day</a> by donating baby supplies to women in need.</p> <p>Meghan marked the occasion from her home in Montecito with Prince Harry and son Archie.</p> <p>She is expecting her second child - a daughter - in the coming months.</p> <p>Mother's Day took place on Sunday, May 9.</p> <p>Through the Archewell Foundation, Meghan donated a number of baby supplies to Harvest Home LA, a charity helping homeless pregnant women and their children.</p> <p>"As a mum, and an expectant mum, I deeply appreciate the significance of community support, safe and accessible pregnancy resources, and trusted guidance in a nurturing setting," the Duchess of Sussex said <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COqCe8mANe4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a letter to the organisation</a>.</p> <p>"These ingredients are essential to not just our physical health, but our mental well-being, and I commend you for leading a compassionate community that lives these values.</p> <p>"Thank you for all you do for the women and mothers who are turned away elsewhere, at no fault of their own.</p> <p>"When we consider how vulnerable any mother feels during the fragile time of pregnancy, we gain perspective about how especially difficult it can be for pregnant women of colour and those who come from under-resourced and vulnerable communities.</p> <p>"I hope you will accept an offer of support to help further uplift Harvest Home's residents."</p> <p>The donation included nappies, cleaning supplies, and other essential items.</p> <p>Meghan is understood to have celebrated Mother's Day privately at home.</p>

Beauty & Style

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King Charles Coronation: Harry is in, Meghan is out

<p>Prince Harry has finally confirmed that he will be present at the coronation of his father, King Charles III. </p> <p>It was confirmed that an invite was sent to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on March 4, with an answer still to be seen as of RSVP cut-off on April 3. But now, the prince has revealed that he has accepted, though Meghan will remain at home in California with their two young children. </p> <p>“Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service,” a spokesperson for the palace said. </p> <p>“The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”</p> <p>A close friend of the couple has since explained that their son Archie was a major factor in their decision, as he will turn four on May 6 - the day of his grandfather Charles’ coronation. </p> <p>Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family, went on to warn fans - and critics - of the family to “expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I understand that Archie's fourth birthday (also on May 6) played a factor in the couple's decision. Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>— Omid Scobie (@scobie) <a href="https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1646152884218650626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>As <em>Page Six </em>have reported, the pair made the choice that felt “genuine in authentic” in the wake of what has transpired since the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare. And while Meghan will not be in attendance, she “fully supports” her husband doing so. </p> <p>“The words that Harry and Meghan have said about the importance of their family are lining up with their actions,” a source told the publication. </p> <p>“They care about their family, so Meghan is going to stay and Harry is going to support his dad.”</p> <p>Still, it wasn’t an easy decision for the Sussexes to make as a family, with that same source revealing that it had nothing to do with any alleged “controlling” within the relationship. As they explained, if Meghan was “super controlling” - as many critics choose to label her - then “she would have made sure that Harry didn’t go.</p> <p>“She’s all good, she supports Harry - they both have nothing more to prove.”</p> <p>BBC’s royal correspondent Nicholas Witchel had another point to make on the matter of the royal family’s rift, explaining that “the bad feeling that that has undoubtedly been caused within the royal family towards him, a strong sense of betrayal ... this is a moment perhaps of some reconciliation.”</p> <p>And for those still questioning their intentions, another source had more to add, noting that there “is not one right answer”, something the couple must have been well aware of while weighing up all the different - and significant - elements of accepting or declining their invite.</p> <p>“Prince Harry is going to support his dad,” they confirmed, before going on to add that he would then be coming straight home to spend time with his son for his important day, too. </p> <p>“For all the people who say they want to be half in and half out of the royal family,” they surmised, “this proves just the opposite.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Fergie reveals Queen’s tender personal advice before passing

<p>Sarah Ferguson has shared that she is reminded of Queen Elizabeth II’s advice when she walks the late monarch’s infamous corgis.</p> <p>Sarah, the Duchess of York, 63, appeared on <em>The One Show</em> to promote her latest book, A Most Intriguing Lady, and she has revealed that the dogs make her think about the “values” upheld by her late mother-in-law.</p> <p>“One thing I really love when I'm with them actually, cause I really think about HM and I just really think about the value system that she supported in this country,” the duchess told presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas.</p> <p>“And I remember she used to say, "Sarah there needs to be more kindness in the world, which would disarm malice".”</p> <p>The Duchess feels that everyone should “stop to remember those words with respect and affection for a great leader, who has now passed it to another great leader in her son”.</p> <p>“It's so funny to say that...straight off the corgis,” she continued. "But when I look at them I think "yes come on”.”</p> <p>She also mentioned she believes that the late Queen’s message can, and should be followed more broadly across the country.</p> <p>“And I think - so important - for the whole country to unite and uphold the values that for 72 years the monarch gave us all, really.”</p> <p>Sarah also admitted to feeling frightened that something could happen to the dogs as she walks them.</p> <p>“Because they're national treasures I'm terrified when they go out running," she told <em>The One Show</em>. “They chase everything. Straight into tress, bang, like that! I go "no, no, no, the nation loves you, stop, stop, stop chasing the squirrels”.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry and Meghan finally confirm their kids’ titles

<p>Harry and Meghan have reportedly confirmed the royal titles of their children, Archie and Lilibet, in a statement.</p> <p>The pair also revealed that young Lilibet had been christened in a quiet ceremony at home in California, and it was one glaring detail that caught the attention of eagle-eyed readers. </p> <p>“Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor,” a statement to <em>People </em>read. </p> <p>The same publication reported that the ceremony was attended by around 20 to 30 people, and that Meghan’s mother - Doria Ragland - and actor Tyler Perry - who is Lilibet’s godfather - were there. The British royals, despite the Sussexes having “extended an invite to King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton” did not attend. </p> <p>Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the line of succession list on its website would be updated to reflect this. </p> <p>Archie and Lilibet had been awarded the title of prince and princess when Harry’s father, King Charles III, had inherited the throne. However, Buckingham Palace’s website had listed them as “master” and “miss” respectively, and their true titles had remained a widely debated issue upon the Duke and Duchess’ move from the United Kingdom to the United States.</p> <p>And in 2021, during an interview with Oprah, Meghan even claimed that the palace “didn’t want him [Archie] to become a prince.” </p> <p>She went on to explain that while the titles weren’t important to her, through her pregnancy she and Harry had the same concerns for their son should he not be recognised as a prince.</p> <p>And before Archie’s birth, he had allegedly been offered the courtesy title of ‘Earl of Dumbarton’, but his parents turned it down.</p> <p>“They didn’t like the idea of Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton,” a source told<em> The Telegraph</em> at the time, “because it began with the word ‘dumb’ [and] they were worried about how that might look.” </p> <p>Under rules established by King George V in 1917, prince or princess was a title only given to the monarch’s grandchildren through the male line, and one other family member - but not the great grandchildren. The only other family member in the direct line of succession entitled to the title is the eldest great grandson. </p> <p>George, William and Kate’s eldest, holds the title of prince through this ruling. And in 2012, the late queen changed the rules so that the couples’ youngest children, Charlotte and Louis, might also carry the titles of princess and prince. </p> <p>However, upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Archie and Lilibet became the acting monarch’s grandchildren, and questions over what titles they would bear began anew. </p> <p>Questions that have now, apparently, been answered. </p> <p><em>Images: Netflix </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry and Meghan’s eviction confirmed

<p>Harry and Meghan have been asked to vacate their British residence, Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of King Charles’ Windsor Castle estate, a statement has confirmed. </p> <p>“We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage,” said a spokesperson for the couple.</p> <p>Charles’ decision comes as just another stage in the fallout of Harry’s memoir, <em>Spare</em>. In the book, Harry made numerous revelations about the royal family, and none have taken too kindly to it, especially not when considering the couple’s Netflix documentary and TV interviews. </p> <p>While Buckingham Palace has not yet publicly addressed the report, many have begun to speculate, and <em>The Daily Mirror</em>’s royal editor Russell Myers told <em>Today </em>that King Charles III did in fact come to his drastic decision because of the book. </p> <p>“Apparently the King has had enough,” Myers began, ”and whether he asked them to leave or told them to leave, the result is still the same.”</p> <p>As with most recent discussions involving the royals, the question of whether or not Harry and Meghan would attend Charles’ coronation quickly arose. Myers seemed to be of the opinion that Harry wouldn’t dare, as this latest rejection seemed likely to be “the final nail in the coffin.” </p> <p>“I have always said that Harry and Meghan have to have this big currency,” he added, “all they talk about is their relationship with the royal family, and you can bet your bottom dollar that relationship is in the gutter now.</p> <p>"I can't imagine any of the family would want to see them, but you never know with them, they might turn up for a couple of days."</p> <p>It was reported by <em>The Sun</em> newspaper that King Charles has offered the house to his brother, Andrew. However, they added that Andrew would prefer to stay in his current home. </p> <p>"There are a lot of royal residences and pretty much not enough royals to put in them," Myers said of the situation. </p> <p>"Andrew can't afford it, he’s having his wings clipped, and he's not going to get the big allowance he had when the Queen was still with us,” he went on. “Everyone has to tighten their belts.</p> <p>"Andrew is still digging his heels in. He says <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/prince-andrew-s-eviction-fears" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he doesn't want to leave Royal Lodge</a>, but I don't think he will have any choice at the end of the day."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Real Estate

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Harry and Meghan break their silence on "boring and baseless" South Park episode

<p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken their silence after being portrayed in an episode of <em>South Park</em>, in which they were ruthlessly mocked and ridiculed. </p> <p>The animated TV show released their newest episode, titled <em>The Worldwide Privacy Tour</em>, which depicted the royal couple embarking on a promotional tour for the Prince's new book titled "Waaaah". </p> <p>After the episode aired, reports emerged that Meghan Markle was left "upset and overwhelmed" by their merciless slating on the show, while a royal commentator speculated that the couple's lawyers were "casting an eye" over the cartoon series.</p> <p>Despite these claims, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has debunked rumours that they would be suing <em>South Park</em> over the episode, blasting the claims as "boring and baseless" in a statement given to <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/why-prince-harry-meghan-markle-will-not-sue-south-park-lawsuit-1782414" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Newsweek</a>.</p> <p>The statement did not mention Harry and Meghan's personal feelings towards the episode, nor did it address claims that the couple's lawyers will be monitoring the show in order to see whether <em>South Park</em>'s creators launch any fresh attacks on the pair in the future.</p> <p>U.S. royal commentator Kristen Meinzer also told Newsweek that is was easy to see why the couple were not taking legal action.</p> <p>She said, "I highly doubt Meghan and Harry are suing a satirical cartoon that famously ridicules everyone."</p> <p>"If anything, they'll know they're in good company with other decent people who've been raked over the coals by the show."</p> <p>"For example, <em>South Park</em> has repeatedly ridiculed Al Gore and his efforts to combat climate change. They made fun of Steve Irwin for being killed by a stingray just a few weeks after his death."</p> <p>"They turned Rob Reiner into a punchline because of his weight. They've never been a bastion of good taste, and they've absolutely been offensive, but again, they're also a cartoon, not a news outlet—and Harry and Meghan are unlikely to take a cartoon to court."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

TV

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Nat Barr and Kochie take aim at Harry and Meghan

<p><em>Sunrise </em>hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch have voiced their thoughts on reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are considering legal action against animated satirical comedy series <em>South Park</em>. </p> <p>Last week, the episode 'The Worldwide Privacy Tour' aired, and poked fun at the royal pair’s requests for privacy while on a publicity tour for the prince’s autobiography with their ‘Prince and Princess of Canada’. In the show, the autobiography is titled 'Waaaah', but viewers wasted no time in drawing a line between the fictional 'Waaaah' and Harry’s own <em>Spare</em>. </p> <p>Since the episode went to air, insiders have reported that Meghan has been upset over how the show chose to portray them. Meghan in particular is depicted as being a “sorority girl, actress, influencer, victim.”</p> <p>However, Natalie and Kochie had no sympathy for either Harry or Meghan, with the former unable to wrap their heads around the idea that the royals could “take themselves so seriously.” </p> <p>The hosts spoke to <em>The Daily Mirror</em>’s royal editor Russell Myers on <em>Sunrise</em>, and while Barr’s amusement at the entire situation won out as she admitted that it would be “such a funny lawsuit if it went ahead”, Kochie had a few more thoughts to share. </p> <p>“Is this actually true, that their lawyers are thinking of taking action?” he asked. “They couldn't be that stupid. Oh, for God's sake!”</p> <p>“Everyone will turn,” continued the outspoken critic of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “If you haven't turned on them, you will now, because you just think, ‘what a bunch of tossers not being able to laugh at themselves’.”</p> <p>Russell Myers shared his agreement, before explaining that the British public had grown “exasperated” with the couple’s sensitive history of handling criticism, and sharing his opinion that Americans would have a hard time with their “freedom of speech” being challenged.</p> <p>“You can’t take yourself too seriously,” Barr contributed, speaking of Harry and Meghan’s stories about their experience with the royal family, “and you can’t trash your family publicly.” </p> <p>Royal commentator Neil Sean has revealed in the fallout from the episode that the couple will be keeping track of South Park for any further appearances, and spoke to <em>Fox News </em>about the possibility of legal action. </p> <p>“According to sources close to the ex-royals, it appears that - like so many things with Meghan and Harry - this may have legal ramifications attached,” he said. </p> <p>“Their legal team are casting an eye over the episode to see what is wrong, and what could be turned into something more sinister.”</p> <p>He also reported that despite the rumours, <em>South Park</em>’s creators have not yet received any legal correspondence from the Duke and Duchess. </p> <p><em>Images: Seven</em></p>

TV

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Is Kyle too cruel even for Australian Idol?

<p>Kyle Sandilands, known across Australia for his controversial no-filter commentary, has once again caused a stir with his take on one<em> Australian Idol </em>contestant’s audition. </p> <p>Kyle, the only original cast member to return for the show’s reboot, was joined by Meghan Trainor, Harry Connick Jr, and fellow Australian Amy Shark.</p> <p>Ali Morriss, a 27-year-old aged care worker from Brisbane, kicked off her audition with an unusual technique - handing out copies of her young adult novel Outside to the judges. The book is published under the pen name RA Bissmire.</p> <p>Kyle’s inappropriate remark came after Ali informed the judges which song she’d be performing for her audition, <em>Untouched</em> by The Veronicas. </p> <p>“Is it because you are untouched?” Sandilands asked. </p> <p>Ali replied, “I don’t know if I can answer that.” </p> <p>Kyle’s comment, which had nothing to do with Ali’s singing ability and everything to do with his “shock jock” approach to commentary, drew varied reactions from his fellow judges. </p> <p>“Oh my god,” Meghan Trainor exclaimed, waving a hand in Kyle’s direction from her position next to him on the panel, “oh my god. It’s a family show.”</p> <p>Amy Shark managed an uncomfortable laugh, leaning away. </p> <p>Meanwhile, Harry Connick Jr did not dignify Kyle’s jab with a response, keeping his gaze down and locked on Ali’s gifted book. </p> <p>Ali’s situation wasn’t set to improve, with her rendition of <em>Untouched</em> falling short of what the judges were searching for. </p> <p>“This is a hardcore singing show,” Harry Connick Jr told her in a bid to soften the rejection, “and as lovely as you are, you’re just not ready for that.”</p> <p>Amy Shark agreed with Harry’s take, telling Ali that she’d selected a difficult song in the first place, even adding, “I feel like it’s a song only the Veronicas can crush.”</p> <p>It was then that Kyle chose to follow up on his initial approach to Ali’s audition, holding her book up as he told her, “I think you should go outside.” </p> <p>Kyle’s attitude has left a bad taste in the mouths of many viewers, especially given the show’s approach to “respecting” their talents this season. </p> <p>In a pinned tweet from January 30, producers invited the audience to join them for a “respectful season”. It appears Sandilands missed the invitation. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here's your golden ticket to a respectful season of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianIdol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianIdol</a> 💙 <a href="https://t.co/t1R2gZk0XO">pic.twitter.com/t1R2gZk0XO</a></p> <p>— Australian Idol (@AustralianIdol) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianIdol/status/1619954465641234432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>People were quick to share their take on that, given Kyle’s presence on the panel, and the fact that <em>Australian Idol </em>was choosing to broadcast the less-than-ideal auditions in the first place. </p> <p>“Lol lol lol lol lol,” began former journalist and reporter Mark Kearney, “says the show that’s platforming serial misogynist Kyle Sandilands?”</p> <p>“So why put them up for public ridicule?” asked one fan. </p> <p>“Except the judges are reacting and comment some terrible stuff,” wrote another, “and being straight up rude- it’s not even funny.”</p> <p>One commenter took the opportunity to point out the show’s hypocrisy, posing the question to the <em>Australian Idol</em> account, “aren’t you using people as a platform knowing they are terrible?”</p> <p>It appears that <em>Australian Idol </em>is shaping up to be a bumpy ride, with some noting that it hasn't changed in the 14 years since its previous seasons, surmising that it’s “back to its old ways of humiliating young people.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Meghan Markle’s “gentle concerns” over Harry’s memoir

<p>Meghan Markle expressed concern over the release of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, a royal insider has revealed to The <em>Telegraph</em>. </p> <p>The source, who declared Meghan to be “media-savvy”, claimed the duchess had previously raised “gentle concerns” over the bombshell publication, and had questioned whether or not it was the right time to go ahead with its release.</p> <p>The couple have moved as a united front since revealing their engagement to the media in 2017, and so it raised some eyebrows when Meghan was noticeably absent from Harry’s press tour for <em>Spare</em>. </p> <p>The insider reports that Meghan kept her distance to avoid anyone assuming she was “trying to steal the limelight” during Harry’s big moment. And a big moment it was, with <em>Spare </em>shattering sales records across the globe on its release as readers sought to learn more about the royals. </p> <p>Despite its success on a sales front, the fallout from the book has seen Harry’s popularity slump across both the United Kingdom and the United States. </p> <p>Some suspected that Meghan was somehow behind all of it, but as Camilla Tominey wrote for <em>The Telegraph</em>, this “could not be further from the truth.”</p> <p>“No stranger to taking on her enemies,” it was said of Meghan, whose every move has been dissected and commented on for years, “she is understood to have been more wary than the Duke about this particular project.”</p> <p>Despite Meghan’s concerns, it is reported that once Harry had made up his mind to go ahead with the project, the duchess offered him “her full support and is immensely proud of his achievements.” </p> <p>As a source confessed to Camilla Tominey, “is this the way she would have approached things? Possibly not. But she will always back him.</p> <p>“This was about his own life, his journey and his own perspective,” they added. </p> <p>Although Harry has his wife’s support, the same cannot be said of his father and brother, who reportedly did not take well to some of the bombshell revelations and allegations made in the book. As another source told <em>Vanity Fair,</em> King Charles was left “deeply hurt”, and Prince William “cannot speak to his brother”. </p> <p>Only time will tell what this means for the royal family, but with experts predicting that Harry and Meghan will be in attendance at King Charles’ coronation in May, it is certain that fans and critics from all over will be watching to find out. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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