EXCLUSIVE MAUREEN CALLAHAN: I'm told another 'livid' A-lister has now shunned Meghan... it may not even be the worst of this week's humiliations
Meghan Markle calls them 'learns'. The rest of us see them for what they are: failures.
Yes, this week caps a particularly inglorious run for our duchess, who has been furiously recasting her losses as wins, her fresh humiliations as triumphs, and her supply chain shortages as strategic business moves.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Katie Piper: 'Ageing can be compared to a bereavement'
Presenter and campaigner Katie Piper has told an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales that "ageing can be compared to a bereavement."The former model has had hundreds of surgeries to repair damage to her face and eyesight following an attack on the orders of her ex-boyfriend, which took place when she was 24 in latest book, which is published on Friday, is titled Still Beautiful: On Age, Beauty and Owning Your 41-year-old said: "Women age out of the male gaze. I was ripped from the male gaze at 24. I didn't just become invisible. I became a target for people saying derogatory things." She expanded on her description of ageing being like a bereavement: "Sometimes we know we're losing somebody or something, and it's slow, it's gradual, and when it's ageing, we look down at our hands, we see they look different. "We catch ourselves in the shop window, and everything's changed. Piper, who is also a presenter on the BBC programme Songs of Praise and ITV's Loose Women. said she had recently been asked if writers minded if they mentioned her age."It was shocking, but not surprising. This was because I had been reminded at such a young age the currency and the power a woman holds when she is considered either beautiful or young, and now here I was going through the second phase of youth slipping away and feeling, once again, society's judgement and the label that they were going to put on to me."She said: "I wanted to write this book... to really tell people where I have found myself, not just when I was no longer considered beautiful, but when I was told that I was losing my power because I was no longer a young woman. "Among my peers, I'm not the most beautiful, I'm not the youngest, but I'm one of the most powerful." In the book, Piper writes: "What if ageing is the magic key to letting go of other people's expectations and truly starting to live how we want to live."She told the audience: "It makes you in control of your own destiny. And that scares some people, because if we are no longer insecure if we're confident, if we're not chasing something unpaid, what can they sell to us? What overpriced cream and diet and contraption will we spend our money on? "We really glamorise youth. We talk about our 20s, [as] the time of your life, the best years. Okay, I had a very different 20s than most, because I was in the hospital, but your average 20-year-old, it's actually the time for mistakes... where you're least financially secure, you're least experienced. You don't really have as much confidence to put boundaries in." 'True evil' She said she felt positive about getting older."I'm going to be 42 in October. I'm still incredibly young to many, and old and past it to some. You realise, 'I know who I am.' I have a strong sense of self and is the heyday. This is the time of my life. So I can only imagine what's on 50s and 60s and the decades beyond. I feel excited by that second chapter." Piper, who mentors victims of acid attacks through the Katie Piper Foundation, recounted two stories when she had faced discrimination because of the way she one incident, some men in a van whistled at her when they saw her from behind but then threw a sandwich at her when they saw her face (she was wearing a plastic mask at the time following some treatment) and another time, a first date walked out on her in a London restaurant leaving her to pick up a tab that was more than £ she said: "You need to realise, on the whole, people are really good. Seventeen years ago, when I did that first cutting edge documentary (Channel 4's Katie: My Beautiful Face), what it did is it opened me up to the good side of society. Up until that point, I had seen true evil in mankind, but only in two people (her attackers)."She said if she had to give one message to her younger self, it would be: "If you've ever felt less than... you've hated yourself or felt ashamed, it was never you. It was society, consumerism and capitalism. It was beneficial to someone, somewhere, to hold you down. "Whether that was in a relationship, a corporate company or a brand, it was never you. You were always fine just as you are, and you always will be." More from the Hay Festival Sharon Horgan says she only found confidence after Bad Sisters series twoJacqueline Wilson says she wouldn't return to Tracy Beaker as an adultWhy Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is writing about rich people again
Scottish Sun
14 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Gary Lineker's bitter feud with BBC worsens as final interview with Mo Salah BLOCKED amid fear pair ‘would discuss Gaza'
A source said the plug was pulled by director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski BLOCKED BY BEEB Gary Lineker's bitter feud with BBC worsens as final interview with Mo Salah BLOCKED amid fear pair 'would discuss Gaza' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BBC chiefs delivered a final snub to Gary Lineker when they axed his last interview without warning — just before his final Match of the Day. He was due to talk to Liverpool goal hero Mo Salah, but there were fears Lineker — involved in an online row over an antisemitic post — would say something controversial about Gaza. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Gary Lineker had an interview with Mo Salah axed without warning — just before his final Match of the Day Credit: AFP 3 There's 'no love lost' between Lineker and the BBC's director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski Credit: BBC A source said the plug was pulled by director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who got the job last summer. The Sun has revealed there was 'no love lost' between Lineker and Kay-Jelski — with the ex-England hero allegedly giving him the cold shoulder at the FA Cup final. An insider said: 'The plan was for the interview to be shown across the BBC the weekend of Gary's final Match Of The Day. 'That would include on Football Focus the day before as well as online and on social media. 'Out of nowhere, it got cancelled. "Some people think they didn't want Gary and Mo to talk about Gaza. 'Salah has spoken out in his support for Palestinians living in Gaza and Gary has made his feelings clear too. "It felt like it may have come up naturally in conversation. 'It seems they axed it rather than risk possible editorial issues. "They'd only just overcome one storm so to face another would have been a nightmare.' Eagle-eyed fans spot awkward Match of the Day gaffe on Gary Lineker's farewell show The Sun revealed Gary, 64, was leaving the BBC after 26 years following his sharing of an Instagram post which criticised Zionism. It included an illustration of a rat — historically used as an antisemitic slur. With the BBC coming under increasingly intense pressure, Lineker issued two apologies, then agreed to step down from his £1.3million-a-year job The ex-Spurs star is understood to be focusing on his Goalhanger Podcasts business, as well as considering rival broadcasters' offers. He had been suspended from Match Of The Day in March 2023 after a post about the small boats controversy, but was reinstated after a boycott by his co-stars. The BBC said: 'The interview was cancelled because it was planned to air after Gary's last Match of the Day. 'It would be wrong to suggest anything else.' However a source insisted: 'A cross-platform interview with the Champions' star player could have aired anytime. "Salah wanted to speak to Gary so to axe it entirely seems short-sighted.' 3 Gary and Mo have both spoken out in support for Palestinians living in Gaza Credit: Alamy Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Popular chain with more than 1,600 stores to ‘close high street branch' in blow to shoppers
SHOPPERS were saddened to hear a popular chain with more than 1,600 stores is set to close a beloved branch. Holland & Barrett are reportedly shuttering a once-thriving site imminently, in yet another blow to the high street. 1 Residents in Inverness, Scotland, were disappointed to see a "closing soon" sign taped to their local store. "We're sorry this store is closing soon but you can still shop at it read. Holland & Barrett is one of the UK's leading health stores and is known for selling a range of vitamins, vegan food and beauty products. The company have not given an official shut down date as of yet, as reported by the Inverness Courier. It is understood the lease on the shop may be up for renewal soon, which may have led to decisions being made around potential closure. However, it is not known whether Holland & Barrett could re-open at a new site nearby. This comes after the company announced plans to roll out more than 30 new UK stores as part of a three-year mission. It will also be transforming 320 existing sites, as well as launching new brands both in the UK and internationally. And, in its annual report, Holland & Barrett recorded double-digit growth for the second year running. The firm boasted a 10 per cent year-on-year sales growth in the last financial year, and £524.2million in profit. Scottish vintage clothing store launches huge closing down sale with 80% off It added: "As a result, confidence is high that the company will see a third consecutive year of strong growth driven by the significant acceleration of online in fiscal year 2025." Holland & Barrett were contacted for comment This comes follows the closure of a branch on Hanley's high street in Stoke on Trent bit the dust. They were forced to relocate, and ahead of the move, Holland & Barrett said: "We can confirm we will be closing H&B Hanley later next month and opening our new, bigger and better store in The Potteries Centre. 'We are delighted to be opening a larger store with an even wider range of products and an increased store team of experts to support the community on their wellness journeys. 'We look forward to welcoming our customers from our Hanley store soon.' Meanwhile, not long ago the company confirmed its shops in Chard, Somerset, and Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, would be closing their doors. This comes ahead of more closured from major retailers this month as the high street continues to face difficulties. This year businesses have faced increased costs due to Government changes announced in the Budget. An increase in employer National Insurance contributions, energy and rent costs and lower customer footfall have all piled on pressure. As a result, some retailers have been forced to hike prices, review expansion plans and reduce the number of stores they have. But remember, retailers regularly close shops for a number of reasons, not just because they are struggling. For example, they may have a nearby store that is performing better or may want to move to a location that will have a higher footfall, such as a retail park. Here is a full list of the shops we know are shutting in June 2025. They include, but aren't limited to, The Original Factory Shop, Poundland, and The Works. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
