Royal Family news: Queen shifts focus on Kate Middleton after Duchess was DWARFED by Harry & Meg's Time 100 cover shoot
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have "deprived" their kids Archie & Lilibet by not letting them meet the Queen, Meghan's dad has claimed.
Thomas Markle accused the couple of being "terribly unfair" to their children by keeping them away from relatives, including himself, the Queen and Grandad Prince Charles too.
Thomas, who is estranged from daughter Meghan and has frequently bad-mouthed the duchess in the media, said he is yet to meet Archie, two, and three-month-old Lilibet.
Speaking from his home in Mexico, he added that the only family member who sees the kids regularly was Meghan's mum, his ex-wife, Doria Ragland.
He told Channel 7’s Sunrise: "I think they (Archie and Lilibet) are being deprived of seeing all their grandparents and I think they are being deprived of seeing all their relatives and I think that's terribly unfair to them."
Follow our Royal Family blog below for all the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE’S BROTHER WRITES HER ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE OPEN LETTER
Meghan Markle’s brother has written another letter to her and Prince Harry, a trailer for Big Brother VIP has revealed.
The second teaser, released today, shows Thomas Markle Jr. sitting in the diary room of the reality show announcing plans to write to his half-sister.
“You know I’m famous for writing letters,” the 55-year-old Thomas says in the trailer sitting beside former Survivor contestant Luke Toki.
“I’m gonna write a letter to Meghan,” he explains as he leans down onto a table in the diary room and puts pen to paper.
“Dear Meghan and Harry,” he begins. “The first thing I want to say to both of you…”
His voiceover then trails off and a question appears on the screen that reads: “What’s in the letter?”
- Milica Cosic
A-LIST INFLUENCE
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also thinks Meghan’s string of celebrity pals also impacted the call to make her the Time’s cover girl.
“The reason I suspect is that they’re close to the Clinton’s, they’re close to the Obama’s, to Oprah, George Clooney, Serena Williams,” he said.
“The facts are that these are valuable contacts.”
Meghan was previously accused of taking a page out of Obama’s playbook with her ’40 x 40′ birthday initiative, after Barack’s ’60 for 60′ fundraiser.
And it wasn’t the first time Meghan has seemingly taken some inspiration from the former president and first lady.
Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan have taken career advise from the Obamas before the Sussexes’ lucrative book deals, podcasts, and a $100 million Netflix deal – not to mention their various charitable endeavors.
Meghan has also donned similar outfits to Michelle Obama: the yellow Jason Wu sheath dress Michelle wore in Italy in 2009 was extremely similar to Meghan’s Brandon Maxwell crepe midi dress the duchess wore in 2008.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE ‘TRYING TO BE LIKE THE OBAMAS’ WITH TIME COVER – AS EXPERTS SAY SHE’S ‘PRIMED’ FOR POLITICAL CAREER
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made waves with their appearance on the front page of the respected US mag that honoured the world’s 100 most influential people.
And royal experts think the powerful pictures alongside the detailed profile accompanying their entry under “Icons” marks the start of Meghan’s manoeuvres into politics.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said of the Sussexes: “This magazine cover has made it very very clear what’s in the couple’s mind – and especially Meghan’s mind – and that’s politics. It must be!
“I think there is absolutely no doubt that if they made the cover it’s not about what they’ve achieved, but what they could achieve.
“They’re going to become more and more visible. I think that they’re looking at politics.”
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
THRIFTY KATE MIDDLETON IS BRITAIN’S MOST FASHIONABLE ROYAL – DESPITE MEGHAN’S DESIGNER WARDROBE COSTING THOUSANDS MORE
The Duchess of Cambridge was found to be the most influential dresser out of the royal wives, according to hair and aesthetics experts at Vera Clinic.
When it comes to searches online for Kate Middleton, it seems her dresses are most sought-after – and have 114 per cent more monthly searches.
In the new study, “Kate Middleton dress” had 3,600 UK monthly searches and 5,400 in the USA.
Meanwhile, “Meghan Markle dress” which only has 1,300 UK monthly searches and 2,900 USA searches.
This is despite Meghan’s outfits on royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga in October 2018, costing a staggering £50,000.
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN AND HARRY’S AMBITIONS HAVE “BACKFIRED” AND THEY ARE MORE TRAPPED THAN EVER, ROYAL AUTHOR SAYS
Duncan Larcombe, the author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, says the couple moved to LA to try to forge their own path but their mounting unpopularity means it may have backfired.
He said:“If freedom is being able to say what you want, when you want, to whoever you choose to speak to, then Harry has found a degree of freedom. But if freedom is having good will behind you to live in peace, being able to live life as you want it or being at peace with the people you’ve rowed with, then freedom has not been achieved.
“It’s backfired. Harry and Meghan seem to have totally isolated themselves – they’re more trapped than ever in this new life they’ve created.”
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE IS THE ‘REAL POWER OF THE FAMILY’ AS SELF-CONSCIOUS HARRY IS HER ‘SUPPORT ACT’, BODY LANGUAGE REVEALS
Judi James said the Duke, who turned 37 today, and Duchess, 40, “adopted the ultimate City power-poses” in their shoot for Time Magazine’s top 100 most influential list of people.
Judi told Fabulous: “Looking more like a scene from Suits than your average royal-marries-actress couple, Harry and Meghan have adopted the ultimate City power-poses here, with most of the power signals coming from Meghan while Harry seems happy to endorse her as a wingman.
“Meghan’s leg splay suggests both power and confidence and that partial, one-arm barrier gesture with the other hand raised to the face is the classic ‘enquiring intellectual’ pose of business experts.
“Meghan is to the front of the pose and Harry stands beside and behind her with one hand placed rather self-consciously on her shoulder while she employs a slightly more tentative hand-touch at waist level.
“He seems to be directing us towards his wife in terms of the real power and brains of the family here.”
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
THE QUEEN ‘WON’T OVERRULE CHARLES’ PLAN TO KEEP ANDREW AWAY FROM PUBLIC DUTIES’, CLAIMS ROYAL BIOGRAPHER ANGELA LEVIN
The Queen won’t “overrule” her eldest, who reportedly wishes to keep the Duke of York out of the public eye after damaging sex assault allegations.
However, the monarch “adores” Andrew and “enjoys his company”, expert Angela Levin said today.
Ms Levin, who has written an authorised biography on Prince Harry, called Andrew “naïve and arrogant” as the royal faces a legal wrangle in a US civil court.
In an interview with Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkRADIO, she said the Queen had ruled out Andrew’s return to duties.
“She said he couldn’t be,” she said.
“She adores Andrew and enjoys his company.
“I think that she won’t overrule what Charles says. The rest of the royals won’t want him to do that.”
- Milica Cosic
PRINCE PHILIP'S WILL TO REMAIN SECRET TO PROTECT 'DIGNITY' OF QUEEN, HIGH COURT RULES
Prince Philip's will is set to remain a secret to protect the "dignity" of the Queen, the High Court has ordered. This is because of her constitutional role.
The Duke of Edinburgh died aged 99 on April 9 this year, just two months before he would have turned 100.
After the death of a senior member of the royal family, it has been convention that an application to seal their will is made to the President of the Family Division of the High Court.
What this means is that the wills of senior members of the royal family are not open to public inspection in the way a will would ordinarily be.
- Milica Cosic
EXPLAINED: WHO IS MEGHAN’S BROTHER THOMAS MARKLE JR?
Thomas Markle Jr, 55, shares the same father as Suits actress Meghan, who is married to Prince Harry.
He told Bild the last time he had seen Meghan was in 2011, claiming his family believe she is now a “changed person”.
When Meghan was born in 1981, Thomas Jr was living with his father, sister Samantha Grant, and step-mother Doria, Meghan’s mum.
He lives in Grant’s Pass, Oregon, and works as a window fitter.
Thomas Jr was married for 11 years to Tracy Dooley, with whom he has two sons – Thomas and Tyler.
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE’S ENGAGEMENT DRESS DESIGNER ‘USED FASHION HOUSE TO FUND LAVISH LIFE INCLUDING £1,500 WEEKLY SALON TRIPS’
Tamara Ralph, 39, and her ex-business partner Michael Russo, 40, “personally enriched themselves” before their company Ralph & Russo collapsed, according to claims in documents released by the High Court.
Ms Ralph is being sued by the company’s administrators for £20.8 million in damages, but has denied any wrongdoing and is defending against the claim.
Ralph & Russo designed the Duchess of Sussex’s £56,000 engagement dress, as well as gowns for stars including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kylie Minogue.
- Milica Cosic
THOMAS MARKLE’S LETTER TO HIS SISTER (CONTINUED)
In May 2018, he wrote an explosive open letter telling Meghan to call off the upcoming nuptials, blasting it as a “fake fairy tale”.
However, he reportedly later backtracked on the letter, which he said was written in a “moment of madness”.
Meanwhile, in the first promo for the show, Thomas claimed he had warned Prince Harry about his half-sister before they married.
“I’m Meghan Markle’s brother, I’m the biggest brother of them all,” he said in the introduction video.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE’S BROTHER WRITES HER ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE OPEN LETTER
Meghan Markle’s brother has written another letter to her and Prince Harry, a trailer for Big Brother VIP has revealed.
The second teaser, released today, shows Thomas Markle Jr. sitting in the diary room of the reality show announcing plans to write to his half-sister.
“You know I’m famous for writing letters,” the 55-year-old Thomas says in the trailer sitting beside former Survivor contestant Luke Toki.
“I’m gonna write a letter to Meghan,” he explains as he leans down onto a table in the diary room and puts pen to paper.
“Dear Meghan and Harry,” he begins. “The first thing I want to say to both of you…”
His voiceover then trails off and a question appears on the screen that reads: “What’s in the letter?”
- Milica Cosic
BIRTHDAY MESSAGE SHOWS RIFT HASN’T HEALED, SAYS EXPERT
PRINCE William and Kate Middleton sent a “curt” birthday message to Prince Harry as he turned 37 today which proved the “ice hasn’t thawed”, claims a royal expert.
The Twitter tribute featured the Duke of Sussex standing alone with the simple message “Happy Birthday Prince Harry!”
Duncan told Fabulous: “William and Kate’s curt birthday message to Harry only serves as proof the ice between the brothers has still not thawed.
“Short of ignoring the Duke of Sussex’s 37th landmark completely, their social media post was the bare minimum from a couple who once welcomed Harry as their official Royal gooseberry.
“If anything, this year’s birthday wishes from the Cambridges are an indication of just how far relations between the two warring clans have deteriorated over the past 12 months.”
- Milica Cosic
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE TRANSFORM THEIR ARCHEWELL WEBSITE AFTER BEING INCLUDED IN TIME'S 100 INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have given their Archewell website a makeover after being included in Time's 100 Influential People.
The couple have since changed the site several times to update it, with the latest transformation coming hours after they were featured in Time magazine.
The Duke and Duchess ditched their tagline of Compassion In Action for a new phrase – 'Shared Purpose, Global Action'.
- Milica Cosic
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN ENJOYED 'LOW-KEY CELEBRATION’ FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
Prince Harry and Meghan were reportedly had a “low-key” dinner to mark the prince’s 37th birthday. Archie apparently also helped make a carrot cake for his dad.
They were said to be joined by a few friends and the Duchess of Sussex’s mother, Doria, on the day.
A source close to the Duke and his wife told DailyMail.com: “Meghan is planning a low-key birthday dinner for Harry. In light of what’s happening in the world – from Afghanistan to Covid – they both decided to keep it simple.”
- Milica Cosic
THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX PRESENTED WITH THE FIRST BAR TO THE SERVICE MEDAL
Yesterday The Countess of Wessex, Grand President of St John Ambulance, was presented with the First Bar to the Service Medal, marking HRH’s 15 years of service to the Order.
The Countess signed a copy of a portrait photograph taken in early 2020, in which Her Royal Highness wears the robes of a Dame of the Order of St John.
- Milica Cosic
PRINCESS MARGARET’S FORMER BRACELET SELLS FOR ALMOST £400,000
A diamond and pearl bracelet once owned by the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret has sold at auction for almost £400,000.
The art deco piece was famously worn by Margaret for her 19th birthday photograph taken by celebrated photographer Cecil Beaton in 1949.
It was bought by an undisclosed private bidder for £396,800, including buyer’s premium, during the sale at auction firm Dix Noonan Webb’s Mayfair saleroom in central London.
Frances Noble, the company’s associate director and head of the jewellery department, said of the sale price: “It not only reflects the strength of the current auction market but also the overriding importance of provenance.
“Princess Margaret was photographed wearing this bracelet on numerous occasions which certainly added to the appeal of the piece, attracting international interest and extremely competitive bidding – an exceptional result for the vendor.”
- Milica Cosic
‘WHY DID I HAVE TO LEAVE?’ (CONTINUED…)
Following Ofcom’s verdict, ITV said Piers’ co-star Susanna Reid, as well as “programme makers”, had provided the “balance and context” that was “key in mitigating against the potential for harm and offence caused by Piers”.
But the 56-year-old said in a furious tweet: “Hmmm, ITV have just put out a statement saying I only won the Ofcom case against Princess Pinocchio because my colleagues expressed different opinions to mine.
“That’s not what the Ofcom report says in its conclusion. I suggest ITV reads it again.”
And he hit out again in a column for the Mail Online.
He wrote: “I was reliably informed recently that Meghan Markle wrote directly to my ITV boss, Dame Carolyn McCall, the night before I was forced out, demanding my head on a plate.
“Apparently, she stressed that she was writing to Dame Carolyn personally because they were both women and mothers, a nauseating playing of the gender and maternity card if ever there was one.
“What has the world come to when a whiny, fork-tongued actress can dictate who presents a morning television news programme?”
- Milica Cosic
ITV BOSS ‘VIGOROUSLY’ DEFENDED PIERS MORGAN TO OFCOM IN THE WAKE OF MEGHAN MARKLE COMMENT STORM
The TV firebrand faced an Ofcom investigation after telling Good Morning Viewers he didn’t believe the duchess – and labelling her “Princess Pinocchio”.
Now chief executive Carolyn McCall says ITV fought for Piers – despite the presenter blasting his old employers after he was cleared by Ofcom.
In their verdict, the watchdog warned: “The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, Dame Carolyn defended ITV’s response to the drama.
“I will just say that we vigorously defended both the programme and Piers to Ofcom, and the reason we didn’t get pulled up by them is because of the programme making,” she said.
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE IS THE ‘REAL POWER OF THE FAMILY’ AS SELF-CONSCIOUS HARRY IS HER ‘SUPPORT ACT’, BODY LANGUAGE REVEALS
Judi James said the Duke, who turned 37 today, and Duchess, 40, “adopted the ultimate City power-poses” in their shoot for Time Magazine’s top 100 most influential list of people.
Judi told Fabulous: “Looking more like a scene from Suits than your average royal-marries-actress couple, Harry and Meghan have adopted the ultimate City power-poses here, with most of the power signals coming from Meghan while Harry seems happy to endorse her as a wingman.
“Meghan’s leg splay suggests both power and confidence and that partial, one-arm barrier gesture with the other hand raised to the face is the classic ‘enquiring intellectual’ pose of business experts.
“Meghan is to the front of the pose and Harry stands beside and behind her with one hand placed rather self-consciously on her shoulder while she employs a slightly more tentative hand-touch at waist level.
“He seems to be directing us towards his wife in terms of the real power and brains of the family here.”
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
A-LIST INFLUENCE
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also thinks Meghan's string of celebrity pals also impacted the call to make her the Time's cover girl.
"The reason I suspect is that they’re close to the Clinton's, they're close to the Obama's, to Oprah, George Clooney, Serena Williams," he said.
"The facts are that these are valuable contacts."
Meghan was previously accused of taking a page out of Obama's playbook with her '40 x 40' birthday initiative, after Barack's '60 for 60' fundraiser.
And it wasn't the first time Meghan has seemingly taken some inspiration from the former president and first lady.
Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan have taken career advise from the Obamas before the Sussexes' lucrative book deals, podcasts, and a $100 million Netflix deal – not to mention their various charitable endeavors.
Meghan has also donned similar outfits to Michelle Obama: the yellow Jason Wu sheath dress Michelle wore in Italy in 2009 was extremely similar to Meghan's Brandon Maxwell crepe midi dress the duchess wore in 2008.
- Milica Cosic
MEGHAN MARKLE ‘TRYING TO BE LIKE THE OBAMAS’ WITH TIME COVER – AS EXPERTS SAY SHE’S ‘PRIMED’ FOR POLITICAL CAREER
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made waves with their appearance on the front page of the respected US mag that honoured the world's 100 most influential people.
And royal experts think the powerful pictures alongside the detailed profile accompanying their entry under "Icons" marks the start of Meghan's manoeuvres into politics.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said of the Sussexes: "This magazine cover has made it very very clear what's in the couple's mind – and especially Meghan's mind – and that’s politics. It must be!
"I think there is absolutely no doubt that if they made the cover it's not about what they've achieved, but what they could achieve.
"They're going to become more and more visible. I think that they're looking at politics."
Read more here.
- Milica Cosic
BLINGED UP
MEGHAN Markle showed off a staggering $384,000 (£277,929) worth of jewellery as she posed on the cover of Time’s 100 most influential people.
The 40-year-old Duchess of Sussex’s bling included two new $525 (£379) diamond pinky rings and Princess Diana’s $23,000 (£16,642) gold cartier watch.
Diana was spotted with the classic timepiece during a number of events, including a visit to London’s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in 1997.
It’s not the only Cartier watch Meghan owns, as she previously splashed out on one when working in Suits.
- Milica Cosic
ITV BOSS ‘VIGOROUSLY’ DEFENDED PIERS MORGAN TO OFCOM IN THE WAKE OF MEGHAN MARKLE COMMENT STORM
The TV firebrand faced an Ofcom investigation after telling Good Morning Viewers he didn’t believe the duchess – and labelling her “Princess Pinocchio”.
Now chief executive Carolyn McCall says ITV fought for Piers – despite the presenter blasting his old employers after he was cleared by Ofcom.
In their verdict, the watchdog warned: “The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, Dame Carolyn defended ITV’s response to the drama.
“I will just say that we vigorously defended both the programme and Piers to Ofcom, and the reason we didn’t get pulled up by them is because of the programme making,” she said.
Read more here.
- [email protected]
NO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO MARTIN BASHIR’S PANORAMA INTERVIEW, SAY POLICE
Police will not launch a criminal investigation into BBC journalist Martin Bashir’s Panorama interview with Princess Diana.
The decision comes after the Metropolitan Police assessed the Lord Dyson report into the 1995 documentary.
Scotland Yard said: “In March 2021, the Metropolitan Police Service determined it was not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful activity in connection with a documentary broadcast in 1995.
“Following the publication of Lord Dyson’s report in May, specialist detectives assessed its contents and looked carefully at the law – once again obtaining independent legal advice from Treasury Counsel as well as consulting the Crown Prosecution Service.
“As a result, the MPS has not identified evidence of activity that constituted a criminal offence and will therefore be taking no further action.”
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