Editor Francies Louis to make feature directorial debut
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Should Keir Starmer remove Prince Andrew's titles? New Book lifts lid on York family, rekindles debate over royal position
The question of whether Prince Andrew should be stripped of his titles has resurfaced ahead of the publication of Andrew Lownie's new biography. The book, entitled The Rise and Fall of the House of York, has been exclusively serialised by the Daily Mail following four years of research and hundreds of interviews. Lownie revealed a series of the York family's secrets, ranging from Prince Andrew's unusual sexual habits to Sarah Ferguson's association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "There is very little that the Royal Family can actually do when it comes to Prince Andrew," said Daily Mail's Editor-at-Large Richard Kay on the latest episode of "Palace Confidential." "He's been effectively sacked. He's the only royal prince who has been sacked from public life that I can think of. "Short of sending him far, far away - and who would want him? - I think it's very insulting when I keep reading suggestions of sending him to the Falkland Islands. Do the people there particularly want Prince Andrew? I doubt it very much. "So it's difficult to know what to do with him. He's just going to be there. They have managed it fairly well. He doesn't have any kind of public role. "What about stripping him of everything? Well, he was born a prince, and he was given a dukedom. "The one thing they could possibly do would be to remove the dukedom, but I think it would have to come through parliament, and I can't see any government of any shade wanting to get involved in anything like this. It would open up a real can of worms." So far, just six per cent of readers have responded 'no' to the question. Richard stars on the hit YouTube panel show alongside Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden and Royal Editor Rebecca English. Rebecca, who has covered the royal beat for the Daily Mail since 2004, added: "It's a hugely tricky one for them because he is there and he exists. They can't airbrush him out - he is a member of their family." In an exclusive interview in the latest edition of the Daily Mail's royal newsletter, "Palace Confidential", Lownie stated he contacted over 3,000 former school contemporaries, staff, colleagues, and associates of the couple. "Of whom 300 spoke to me," Lownie said. "Some on the record, but most off. "They felt it was time to challenge the York family's carefully curated narrative. It is difficult because there tends to be a code of silence about the royals (no one wants to be cast out of the privileged circle). "Additionally, their staff have to sign NDAs, royals are not fully subject to the Freedom of Information Act and there are strict limits on what questions MPs can ask about them in Parliament. "I could also add the letters I received threatening to sue me, before a word of the manuscript had been seen. Charming people." In the "Palace Confidential" episode, Richard Kay pointed out that within the Royal Family, there is an instinct to "circle the wagons and protect one of their own". He added: "Their first response in all these cases is 'Oh, it's just the press, it's the media.' This is different. This is a graphic book written by a figure who has some substance in the writing he has done. "You can't just brush this away." Having covered the royal beat for more than 20 years, Richard Eden shared his views on whether Andrew should be stripped of his titles. He said: "Certainly, what the King could do, and something that I have advocated for a long while, is strip him of his role as a Counsellor of State. "He and Prince Harry still have the legal right to deputise for the King. That could easily be stripped from them, as well as his title of Duke of York or other things if they wanted to. "He is still in the line of succession. Yes, it would take an Act of Parliament, but that's no big deal. "The King did it recently when he extended the list of Counsellors of State to include Princess Anne and Prince Edward. It could be done very easily indeed. "That's something which I would strongly suggest he does." Elsewhere in the episode, the panel discussed the possibility of Prince William taking "decisive action" regarding aspects of the monarchy in the coming years.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Weapons movie review: This Josh Brolin, Zach Cregger film starts with chills, ends with a whimper
Weapons movie review & rating: There's something so eerie about a little girl calmly narrating the events of a horrific night during which, exactly at 2.17 am, seventeen children from the same class got out of their beds, walked out into the dark streets, and vanished, that you don't want 'Weapons' to let you off the hook. Not even for a moment. Writer-director Zach Cregger, anointed the new horror-meister with the 2022 'Barbarian', returns with a small-town-mystery-disappearance which could feel like a trope– so very Stephen Kingian in its thematic concerns- which manages to stay fresh and compelling, but only up until a point. It's the kind of suburban American town where everyone seems to be connected to each other. One fine morning, teacher Justine Grady (Julia Garner) walks into her empty classroom, with the exception of a solo boy sitting in the last row, angry parents gather to sling mud. How is it, demands Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), father of the missing Mathew, that the class teacher is as equally at sea as the parents? How can Ms Grady claim that she knows nothing? What is she hiding? We do get some answers, and in the way the plot unfolds, with different characters becoming the focal points of their 'chapters', we see Cregger's skills in keeping things tight, with jump scares showing up just where they should. Justine herself is shown to have flaws. She likes her drink, and is to be seen spiking her juice as she stakes out the home of Alex (Cary Christopher), the little boy who has been left behind by his mates. All she wants is to ask some questions, she protests, when questioned by policeman Paul (Alden Ehrenreich) who has history with her. The latter too is no noble cop, coming down harder than he should have on vagrant-druggie Anthony (Austin Abrams), who in turn may have seen more than he should in the basement of a darkened home he breaks into, in search of loot he can sell for his next fix. Concerned school principal Andrew (Benedict Wong) is steered towards asking some questions of his own from the hollow-eyed Alex: did he hear any of classmates planning the dash-at-night? Could Andrew speak to Alex's parents? They are unwell, declares a visiting aunt (Amy Madigan), and she is taking care of Alex till they are better. At this point, things could have gone anywhere, but a twist takes 'Weapons' into a oh-no-we've-seen-this-before direction. Also Read | Freakier Friday movie review: Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis film raises racial-ethnic-mix bar, serves a bit of Karan Johar You could be left searching for metaphors and meanings in this tale, especially when it comes to gunmen stalking primary school classrooms in the US, shooting to kill innocent children. What did this town and its people do to deserve such punishment? After a point, though, it all starts feeling empty: monsters without motives are no longer interesting, and the big reveal takes away the much-needed suspense. Where initially you couldn't move from the edge of your seat, the bloody fallout leaves you underwhelmed. Weapons movie cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan Weapons movie director: Zach Cregger Weapons movie rating: Two and a half stars
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 days ago
- First Post
Harry takes legal action against ‘defamatory' Prince Andrew and Meghan Markle fight claims
Prince Andrew-Meghan Markle fight story decoded; Prince Harry calls lawyers. Harry and Meghna are pursuing legal action over claims from Andrew Lownie's book 'Entitled'. read more Harry takes legal action against 'defamatory' Prince Andrew and Meghan Markle fight claims | Decoding the case According to reports, the book Andrew Lownie's book Entitled alleges there was a 2013 physical altercation between the duke and his uncle, Prince Andrew, and offensive remarks about Meghan. The Sussexes have, however, denied all claims. The book has also portrayed Prince Andrew as entitled, socially awkward, and difficult, with strained ties to his nephews, Prince Harry and Prince William. Harry and Meghan's letter According to Newsweek report, e have sent legal letters to the Daily Mail over allegations of a fist fight with Prince Andrew and derogatory comments about Meghan, Newsweek can reveal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andrew Lownie's new book, Entitled, paints a scathing portrait of Andrew as sex-obsessed, boorish and privileged. What the statement says According to Newsweek report, what the statement says is, 'I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Anqdrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry.' In a follow-up statement to Newsweek, Harry and Meghan's team confirmed legal action: 'Such are the gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory remarks made in the Daily Mail's story, I can confirm a legal letter from Prince Harry's counsel has been sent to the Mail.' What the biography has to say Newsweek report states, 'At a family gathering in 2013," Lownie wrote, 'Harry and Andrew had got into a heated argument, and punches were thrown over something Andrew said behind Harry's back. 'Andrew told Harry his marriage to Meghan Markle would not last more than a month,' the book reads, 'and accused his nephew of going 'bonkers' and not doing any due diligence into her past. (With inputs from Newsweek and agencies)
