THE Queen, Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Charles all wished Prince Harry a happy birthday today.
The Duke of Sussex, who turns 37 today, is marking the occasion in the US with wife Meghan Markle – and despite tensions, senior members of the Royal Family have paid tribute with touching photos.
Wills and Kate wrote on their Kensington Royal account: "Happy Birthday Prince Harry!"
The Queen also paid tribute to her grandson, saying: "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a happy birthday today!"
They shared snaps of the birthday boy alongside their well wishes – with Her Majesty including a picture of him stood proudly with Meghan Markle.
His father Prince Charles wished his son a "very Happy Birthday" with some touching pictures of him and a young Harry.
Read our Meghan Markle live blog for the latest updates…
- [email protected]
MEGHAN MARKLE’S PREFERRED NATURAL ALTERNATIVE TO BOTOX IS NOW ON AMAZON
Back in 2018, when Meghan was being welcomed into the Royal Family, she was rumored to be a fan of this product, which has been dubbed”Botox on a bottle.”
According to the brand, in just 60 minutes, your skin will have fewer wrinkles and have a visibly younger look.
Many have already tried it, taking to Amazon reviews to rave about the product.
One actually used it in place of Botox amid the Covid-19 pandemic: “This is working. Truly and honestly after a week of use, I woke up and looked in the mirror and didn’t see a riverbed of furrows.”
- [email protected]
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.”
- [email protected]
HARRY AND MAGHAN NAMED ONE OF TIME'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF THE YEAR – COMPLETE WITH AWKWARD PHOTO
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have been named in Time Magazine's top 100 most influential list of people.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were praised in the publication for "running towards struggle" in a world where "everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know".
But fans were quick to comment on how "awkward" their photo which accompanied the profile appeared.
A photo of the pair, shot by Pari Dukovic, appears alongside their entry in the magazine, with Harry wearing all black as he stands behind Meghan, wearing all white.
It appears on the cover alongside a number of other TIME100 cover stars, and follows on from the likes of Barack Obama, the first black US president, who has also been featured.
- [email protected]
SCOTTISH CHARITY WATCHDOG PROBES PRINCE CHARLES’ CHARITY
Scotland’s charity regulator has launched an investigation following claims the Prince of Wales’ charitable foundation accepted a six-figure sum from a wealthy Russian donor.
Charles wrote a letter thanking the businessman for his generous offer of more than £500,000 to the Prince’s Foundation last year, and suggested they could meet after the Covid crisis.
The charity initially received £100,000 but the total sum was reportedly rejected by the ethics committee of the foundation, whose headquarters are in Scotland, following concerns about its provenance, according to The Sunday Times.
The investigation launched by the Scottish Charity Regulator comes shortly after an alleged cash-for-honours scandal which saw Michael Fawcett temporarily step down as the foundation’s chief executive earlier this month.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Charity Regulator said: “We have been working with the Prince’s Foundation to better understand the use of the organisation’s funds, and to gain a full understanding of the work which is being undertaken by the charity’s trustees to investigate the range of issues which have been raised.
“We have written to the trustees informing them that we will investigate these matters under the powers set out in section 28 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and will follow up any additional queries as they arise.
- [email protected]
'UNFAIR'
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 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."
- [email protected]
ROYAL RIFT CONTINUED
Duncan compared William and Kate’s post to Harry this year, to their “happier” message last year in 2020.
He said: “On the same day in 2020, William and Kate posted a longer message complete with birthday cake emoji and a red balloon, above a picture throwing back to happier times.
“The image they chose showed the Fab Three – as they were then – racing each other on the track during a joint visit to a mental health charity. It showed them all in mid-sprint sporting huge smiles on their faces.
“And a year earlier the contrast with today’s post by William is even more telling.”
- [email protected]
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.”
- [email protected]
MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY’S EXPLOSIVE OPRAH INTERVIEW MISSES OUT ON EMMY TO STANLEY TUCCI’S FOOD SHOW
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey was up against Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy and My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, in the best hosted nonfiction series category.
The interview, which was watched by more than 49million people globally in the first three days after it aired, saw the couple raise a number of controversial issues concerning their life in the Royal Family.
They claimed a member of the family had spoken of their concern about the colour baby Archie’s skin would be.
And Harry spoke of the rift between him and his father, which at one point he said led to Prince Charles “not taking may calls”.
The couple also accused Buckingham Palace of playing down Meghan’s suicidal thoughts and said they decided to step away from royal life as a result of the issues.
But despite sending shock waves through the monarchy, the CBS interview was beaten by Tucci’s six part CNN series on Sunday.
- [email protected]
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.
- [email protected]
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.”
- [email protected]
‘DARK PLACES’ (CONTINUED…)
The royal, who wore a suit and white shirt with an open collar, says sport is vital to the rehabilitation of servicemen and women.
“The pride on your faces makes me incredibly happy to know how far you guys have come, the dark places you’ve been to, and where you are now – stronger than ever before, no doubt,” the royal told veterans.
“To see you guys smiling, when I know how much you’ve been through – it’s not just about you and your families.
“You have to remember, you’re doing this for your brothers and sisters in arms.
“And those people who are in a really dark place – you know what it’s like, you’ve been there yourselves, recovered for yourselves, and you’re leading them to their own recovery.”
- [email protected]
PRINCE HARRY TELLS OF ‘DARK PLACES’ AND HARD RECOVERY FOR WOUNDED VETERANS AT WARRIOR GAMES EVENT WITH JILL BIDEN
The Duke of Sussex, who served in the Army for a decade, paid tribute to servicemen and women as he spoke of “service” from his multimillion pound home in exclusive Montecito, California.
He was introduced by Dr Jill Biden, who saluted him for his “heart” in a speech live-streamed online.
She said the duke was among those to step forward and serve in the years after 9/11.
“I was reminded of the humanity that shines through the inhumanity of that day. There was a call to defend the values we hold dear,” she said.
“You’ve dedicated time, talent and heart to lifting up service members from around the globe.”
And the prince, who has told of his own battles with mental health, said the games are “so important” to those struggling.
“It is ultimately the reminder of service, both at home and overseas,” he said.
“As we know, once served, always serving.”
Read the article in full here.
- [email protected]
WHAT IS THE ROYAL FAMILY’S CLAIM TO THE THRONE?
The Queen derives her right to rule from the House of Hanover – whose head became King George I in 1714.
In 1688 James II, the last Catholic king in British history, was deposed in favour of his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William. They did not have children so the throne then passed to her sister Anne (of The Favourite fame) who also died childless.
There was concern that the throne would pass to James’ son, also called James, whose birth to a Catholic mother had prompted the deposition in the first place. Therefore Parliament passed the Act of Succession in 1701 which forbade any Roman Catholic – or anyone married to a Catholic – from ever taking the throne.
This mean when Anne died in 1714, Parliament offered the throne to her second cousin – the Prince of Hanover in Germany – over many of her closer relatives.
His descendants would keep the Hanover name – and the throne – until 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert and all their children became known under their father’s last name – Saxe-Coburg Gotha.
During the First World War, with anti-German feeling running high, King George V (the Queen’s grandfather) thought it wise to change it to the much more British sounding Windsor – after their favourite castle.
It goes to show that although royalties may claim they are chosen by God – sometimes they are chosen by Parliament.
- [email protected]
EXPLAINED: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PRINCE ANDREW SERVED STORY?
Lawyers acting for Ms Giuffre insist they have served papers on Prince Andrew for a sex assault lawsuit by leaving them with police at the gate of Windsor Royal Lodge on August 27.
But sources said the Prince’s team believe they had laid a trap for her lawyers and would argue the summons had not been properly served as it should be delivered via a British court official.
Yet lawyers for Ms Giuffre — now 38 but just 17 at the time of the alleged rape in the first degree — are certain they have followed the correct protocol.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, overseeing the case, will rule on whether he has been served. Ms Giuffre’s people have talked with Johanna Sjoberg and Steve Scully, said to be key witnesses, in recent weeks, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Her lawyer David Boies said: “We’ve spoken to a woman who saw them at the Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion and a man who witnessed them on the island.”
- [email protected]
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE ACCUSED OF ‘BREATHTAKING ENTITLEMENT’ OVER LILIBET’S CHRISTENING BY ROYAL EXPERT
Rumours suggest the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have requested a formal christening for baby Lilibet at Windsor Castle, Robert Jobson reports.
Lilibet Diana, who shares both the Queen’s pet name and Harry’s mother Diana’s name, was born in California in June.
It is not yet know where she will be christened, although royal commentator Robert Jobson suggests it would be “breathtaking” for Meghan and Harry to expect any kind of royal affair.
Writing in The Mirror, he said: “Now there is talk – as she is already older than her brother Archie was when he was christened – that they are pushing for a ceremony in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.
“To some, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s sense of entitlement might seem breathtaking.
“They seem to be blissfully unaware of the mayhem their behaviour has caused the Queen, the monarchy and the Royal Family.”
- [email protected]
MEGHAN MARKLE & PRINCE HARRY STILL OWE £78,500 TO CHARITY
The couple’s MWX Foundation, formerly Sussex Royal, is in liquidation but has not paid off the unnamed non-profit, papers released today revealed.
The report said a claim of £213,000 had been received from a creditor relating to a grant due to a “not-for-profit enterprise”.
A total of £134,500 has been paid off, according to the most recent figures, leaving £78,500 left to hand over.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began winding up MWX a year ago, declaring all of its debts would be paid in full within 12 months.
But more than 12 months later and the outstanding amount on the Companies House document remains.
It reads: “The charity has sufficient funds to settle the claim in full and a final dividend is to be made shortly to pay the remaining balance.”
- [email protected]
EXPLAINED: HOW IS PRINCE ANDREW LINKED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN?
The Duke of York said he first met Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire financier, in 1999 with the now dead banker once describing him as his “best friend.”
That was also the year the UK press reported on the pair’s friendship.
The pair are thought to have flown together on Epstein’s private jet to the US Virgin Islands.
And in June 2000, Epstein and his Brit “madam” ex, Maxwell were both guests at a party hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew also became close with Maxwell – pictured together that same year at a Halloween party hosted by Heidi Klum in New York.
Just over a month later, in December 2000, the then 40-year-old prince, threw Ms Maxwell a surprise birthday party at Sandringham, with Epstein among the guests.
- [email protected]
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.
- [email protected]
EXPLAINED: WHAT WILL HARRY’S BOOK BE LIKE AND WHEN IS IT BEING RELEASED?
A blurb from the publisher Penguin Random House reads: “In an intimate and heartfelt memoir from one of the most fascinating and influential global figures of our time, Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him.”
Promising “an honest and captivating personal portrait” the book will detail Harry’s life as a member of the Royal Family, his relationship with wife Meghan Markle, Megxit and raising his children.
It is set to be released next year – as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
- [email protected]
MEGHAN MARKLE’S BROTHER THOMAS JR WRITES HER AND PRINCE HARRY ANOTHER BOMBSHELL LETTER ON BIG BROTHER VIP
Meghan Markle’s brother has written another letter to her and Prince Harry, a trailer for Big Brother VIP has revealed.
The second teaser 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?”
In May 2018, he wrote an explosive open letter telling Meghan to call off the upcoming nuptials, blasting it as a “fake fairy tale”.
- [email protected]
EXPLAINED: WHAT WILL HARRY’S BOOK BE LIKE AND WHEN IS IT BEING RELEASED?
A blurb from the publisher Penguin Random House reads: “In an intimate and heartfelt memoir from one of the most fascinating and influential global figures of our time, Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him.”
Promising “an honest and captivating personal portrait” the book will detail Harry’s life as a member of the Royal Family, his relationship with wife Meghan Markle, Megxit and raising his children.
It is set to be released next year – as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
- [email protected]
EXPLAINED: WHEN DID THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH PASS AWAY?
On April 9, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away “peacefully” at Windsor Castle.
Her Majesty, 94, shared a poignant photo of Philip in a heartfelt tribute to her “strength and guide” at the time of his death.
The tragic news was a huge blow to the Queen, with the Duke widely known to be the backbone of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry returned to the UK for the funeral but Meghan, who was pregnant with Lilibet at the time, stayed in LA.
- [email protected]
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRINCE ANDREW?
Virginia Roberts — who now uses her married name Giuffre — launched a legal battle against Prince Andrew on August 10, 2021, accusing him of sexually abusing her at Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion.
She said it was “past the time for him to be held to account” for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.
But Prince Andrew has previously strenuously denied her claim he had sex with her.
Lawyers for Ms Giuffre filed the civil suit seeking various damages at a federal court in New York, where the court documents claim she was “lent out for sexual purposes” by convicted sex offender Epstein including while she was still a minor under US law.
The lawsuit specified that that Ms Giuffre was “forced to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will” and lists offences including “rape in the first degree.”
Read the article in full here.
- [email protected]
WOLF HALL AUTHOR HILARY MANTEL SAYS SHE ADMIRES THE QUEEN’S DETERMINATION
Speaking of Queen Elizabeth,95 and Prince Charles she said: “I think they do it as well as anyone possibly could take it as seriously as anyone could.”
However, she then went on to say that she predicted the monarchy would only last another two generations due to modernisation.
“It’s very hard to understand the thinking behind the monarchy in the modern world when people are just seen as celebrities,” she said.
She predicted that Prince George, third in line to the throne after his great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth 95, grandfather Charles 72, and father William 38, would never be anointed, king.
- [email protected]
MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY’S EXPLOSIVE OPRAH INTERVIEW MISSES OUT ON EMMY TO STANLEY TUCCI’S FOOD SHOW
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey was up against Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy and My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, in the best hosted nonfiction series category.
The interview, which was watched by more than 49million people globally in the first three days after it aired, saw the couple raise a number of controversial issues concerning their life in the Royal Family.
But despite sending shock waves through the monarchy, the CBS interview was beaten by Tucci’s six part CNN series on Sunday.
The program sees the actor travel around Italy trying various dishes and unveiling guarded secrets about the land.
Neither Harry nor Meghan attended Sunday’s low-key ceremony for creative arts, which precedes the main Emmy Awards show next week.
Read more here.
Source: Read Full Article