Royal news live: King and Queen to host Stanley Tucci ahead of Italy state visit as Prince Andrew faces further blow
Charles and Camilla invited the renowned foodie and the Italian ambassador to the UK to enjoy a feast of sustainable food, ahead of their trip to Italy and the Vatican in April.
The major spring tour, which has long been trailed in the media, coincides with Charles and Camilla's 20th wedding anniversary.
Meanwhile, the Duke of York has faced another embarrassment, as a school named after him decided to rebrand to something less 'controversial'.
Prince Andrew School – the only secondary school on the remote British overseas territory of St Helena – is asking its students to suggest something more 'neutral'.
The decision stems from 'recent public controversy' and 'negative media coverage', a statement from the government of St Helena said.
Who is Lord Ivar Mountbatten? King Charles' cousin starring in the Traitors US
'If there's anyone who can keep a secret, it's a royal.'
That is the assumption Lord Ivar Mountbatten was met with after he arrived at a grand Scottish castle to play a game of lies and deception with a star-studded line up.
The King's second cousin, 61, has joined the cast of The Traitors US, in which a group of chaotically comprised celebrities gathered to play the game which has taken UK viewers by storm.
A direct descendent of Queen Victoria, fans can watch the British aristocrat try to beat the likes of real housewives, Selling Sunset stars and Zac Efron's brother to win his share of the $250,000 (£200,000) prize pot.
Read the full story here:
Who is Lord Ivar Mountbatten? King Charles' cousin starring in the Traitors US
The British aristocrat is battling to win his share of the $250,000 prize pot.
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 13:58
Watch: Prince Andrew sought £2.5bn with help from alleged spy
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 13:03
Team UK departs for Canada ahead of Invictus Games kick-off
British veterans and serving personnel who were injured during service have departed for Canada ahead of the 2025 Invictus Games.
The seventh edition of the games, established by the Duke of Sussex in 2014, will begin in Vancouver on February 8.
The 62 competitors – all veterans and serving personnel who sustained life-changing injuries and illnesses while serving in the UK Armed Forces – left the country from Birmingham Airport on Thursday.
Team UK's captain Steve 'Hoops' Hooper, an RAF veteran diagnosed with PTSD from his experiences in Iraq before being medically discharged in 2021, said: 'The pride the whole team feels representing their country is huge, this means so much to them.'
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 12:22
Full story: Prince Andrew School changes name to drop 'controversial ties'
A secondary school named after Prince Andrew is changing its name after the King's disgraced brother was mired in a string of scandals.
Prince Andrew School, the only secondary school on St Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the south Atlantic Ocean, says it is dropping its title to be free from 'controversial ties'.
The island's government said the school believed the change was a crucial step in ensuring its name embodied the values, aspirations, and identity of its students and the wider community.
'The school believes a neutral name will foster a positive and forward-thinking learning environment, free from contentious associations,' it said.
Read the full story here:
Prince Andrew School changes its name to drop ties with disgraced Duke
Prince Andrew School, the only secondary school on St Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the south Atlantic Ocean, says it is dropping its title to be free from 'contentious associations'
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 11:45
Queen Elizabeth II's personal Land Rover fleet hits the road for US showcase
Britain's longest-serving monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth II, will be honoured by Land Rover for her love of the iconic British motorcar in an exclusive exhibition across the pond.
Americans on the East Coast can catch a glimpse of a number of historic vehicles from the late Queen's personal fleet and that of the British royal household.
After a successful 2024 tour across the US, one more stop has been marked on the map with royal fans able to check out a specialised collection of Elizabeth II's own cars at ModaMiami in Florida in March.
The exhibition will showcase a specialised collection of five Series, Defender, and Range Rover models used by the late Queen during her 70-year reign.
The display will feature vehicles used by the Royal family, either in an official capacity or as part of the household fleet.
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 10:58
Edward tells new Gurkhas they are 'soldiers in British army but sons of Nepal'
The Duke of Edinburgh told new Gurkha recruits to be proud of being a 'soldier in the British army but a son of Nepal' as he attended their attestation ceremony.
Edward and his wife Sophie met the two per cent of young Nepalis who passed the gruelling and highly competitive selection process to become part of the elite Brigade of Gurkhas.
The duke and duchess looked on as the 274 recruits – selected from more than 13,000 applicants – took the oath of allegiance, saluting a portrait of the King and touching the Union flag.
In a speech at the Gurkha base in Pokhara, Edward said: 'Thank you for choosing to serve in the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army, and thank you for swearing allegiance to His Majesty today.
'You are joining a regimental family with strong traditions and a reputation for loyalty, service and courage.
'Gurkhas have served the crown for over 209 years. This now becomes your heritage and your responsibility to uphold.'
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 10:05
Who is Stanley Tucci?
The King and Queen have invited Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci for dinner at Highgrove this evening.
The Italian-American actor and author is best known for his roles in the hit films Devil Wears Prada, Lovely Bones, The Hunger Games and Conclave.
He has earned numerous accolades, including six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Tony Award.
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 09:18
King and Queen celebrate Italian cuisine at Highgrove dinner with Stanley Tucci
The King and Queen will join Hollywood star Stanley Tucci for a black tie dinner to celebrate Italian cuisine at Highgrove on Friday evening.
The pair have invited the Italian-American Devil Wears Prada actor and well-known foodie and the Italian ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, to Charles's Gloucestershire estate to enjoy a feast of sustainable Slow Food.
The menu has been created by renowned Italian chef Francesco Mazzei and inspired by Tucci, who fronted the TV series Tucci – The Heart Of Italy.
Created using entirely British ingredients blended with Italian culinary traditions and local flavours, the dishes aim to embody the principles of Slow Food.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the King and Queen are to pay state visits to Italy and the Vatican.
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 08:47
Pictured: Royals on official engagements on Thursday
Athena Stavrou7 February 2025 07:00
Meghan thanks Billie Eilish for heartfelt gift to LA wildfire victim
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Telegraph
28 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The full Strictly line-up – and who will win
The final Strictly contestant for 2025 has been announced, giving the show a line-up that is the usual mix of actors, musicians, athletes, presenters and reality TV and (a fixture in recent years) social media stars. Karen Carney, the former England women's footballer, Kristian Nairn, a DJ who formerly appeared in Game of Thrones, and Ross King, a reporter on ITV's Good Morning Britain, were the final three names to be revealed on Friday morning. Here is the full rundown of contestants, and our critic Michael Hogan's thoughts on who will fly, who will flop and who might be in the running for the glitterball: Who is in the 2025 line-up? Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – ex-footballer The Dutch international has played for some of the world's biggest clubs, including Atlético Madrid and Chelsea. He has gone on to have a successful career as a football pundit and served as assistant coach for the England national team. He joined Strictly after his daughters introduced him to the show. 'I'm a father of only girls and Strictly is part of our home life,' he said. 'I've got into it. I like the show. Let's have a go. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I'm competitive I'm going to do my best. Otherwise, I'm going to get some serious stick at home.' Ross King – LA correspondent on ITV Scottish presenter Ross King made a surprise announcement during his Hollywood news segment on Lorraine: he announced the next Strictly contestant was himself. King appears daily on ITV1's Good Morning Britain and Lorraine as their Los Angeles correspondent, delivering all the showbiz news. The 63-year-old has also been a regular fixture on US television, winning four News Emmys for his red-carpet reporting. He was made an MBE in 2018. 'From the bright lights of Hollywood to the glittering ballroom, it's a dream come true to be part of such an iconic show,' he said. 'I can't wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes. Let's give this the best that I can. As my mum always said: 'You'll never know till you give it a go.' Chris Robshaw – former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw is very familiar with winning, having led the England rugby team to a Six Nations Grand Slam victory in 2016. He captained the side 43 times and played more than 300 games for his club Harlequins, becoming the only player to win the Aviva Premiership Player of the Year Award twice. He retired in 2022. Robshaw is the ninth rugby player to take part in Strictly, but none has ever lifted the glitterball trophy. Robshaw said: 'This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets. I'm hoping to take my dad dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can't wait to drag me along to her zumba class. Let's see if a rugby sidestep works in the cha cha cha.' La Voix – singer, entertainer and Drag Race UK finalist Drag Race fans will know Chris Dennis, aka La Voix, as a finalist from the 2024 series, but the performer has also been seen on ITV's Queens For the Night, Paramount's Queen of the Universe, and as a semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent. No doubt we're in for some spectacular outfits on the dancefloor. La Voix said: 'I've performed for royalty, RuPaul and Simon Cowell, but nothing fills me with more excitement (and quite a bit of terror) than the thought of dancing in front of millions on live Saturday night TV. Strictly is a national institution and I can't wait to get started. All that's left to say is: good luck to my partner. Here's hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.' Balvinder Sopal – EastEnders star The actress is best known for playing Suki Kaur Panesar (now Unwin) in EastEnders, but has had a 20-plus-year career spanning theatre, radio, film and television, with roles in Call the Midwife, Doctors, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. She joined EastEnders in 2019. 'Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen,' she said. 'Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I'm far too excited to put into words how I feel but I'm incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.' Stefan Dennis – Neighbours star Best known as Paul from Neighbours, 66-year-old Stefan Dennis first appeared in the soap in its very first episode in 1985 and has played the dastardly businessman on and off ever since (Neighbours is finally due to end in December after being cancelled by Amazon Freevee). Prior to Neighbours, he also appeared widely on Australian television, including Prisoner, The Henderson Kids, The Sullivans, Young Doctors and Sons and Daughters. He's only the third Neighbours star to appear on the contest, after Jason Donovan and Holly Valance, who came third and fourth respectively in the 2011 series. Dennis said: 'This is an opportunity for me to once again learn to step out of my comfort zone in the world of television. Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.' Alex Kingston – ER and Doctor Who star Born in Surrey, Alex Kingston achieved fame in the US as a star of 1990s medical drama ER, where she played Doctor Elizabeth Corday opposite George Clooney. She went on to play River Song in Doctor Who and to appear in superhero series Arrow and supernatural drama A Discovery of Witches. She was inspired to go on Strictly after her friend, the actress Sarah Hadland, gave it a twirl last year: 'I thought, 'My God, I'm in my sixties – just go for it. What have you to lose?'' Thomas Skinner – former Apprentice contestant Skinner came to fame on the 2019 series of The Apprentice, where he was fired by Lord Sugar in week nine. He's also appeared on shows such as 8 out of 10 Cats, The Wheel, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Good Morning Britain and Celebrity MasterChef. He made headlines recently thanks to his friendship with JD Vance, and is now mostly known for his presence on social media, where he signs off posts with the catchphrase: 'Bosh.' 'I'm beyond excited to be joining Strictly Come Dancing,' he said. 'I've tackled the boardroom and some big breakfasts in my time but stepping onto the dance floor under that glitter ball is next-level stuff. I've never danced in my life (other than at weddings) but I'm ready to graft and of course have a laugh. Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the bosh to the ballroom!' Karen Carney – former Lioness and sports TV presenter Now best known for being the lead female pundit for both men's and women's football, across TNT and ITV, Karen Carney was a professional footballer for 18 years, playing for Chelsea, Arsenal and Birmingham City. She also spent 14 years playing for England and, with 144 caps, is the national team's third-most-capped player. She co-hosts the Long Story Short podcast with fellow England alumni Jill Scott. In 2022, she began leading a landmark government review with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, into the 'Future of Women's Football' in the UK, and in 2024 was made an OBE. Carney said: 'It really is a dream come true to be a part of this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up. I'm such a huge fan of the show and I can't believe I'm finally getting the chance to take part. I'm so excited to meet everyone and get dancing.' Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Nitro from Gladiators Olympian and multiple-gold-medal-winning Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has taken on a new persona since retiring from athletics: as Nitro in the hugely popular reboot of Gladiators. He also took part in last year's Christmas special, where he was partnered with Nancy Xu. He said: 'After the Christmas special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice. I'm so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series, and I'm ready to give it all I've got. I'll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let's hope I'm as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.' Kristian Nairn – DJ and Hodor in Game of Thrones Alongside his famous role as Hodor ('hold the door!') in Game of Thrones, as well as appearing in pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, Kristian Nairn is also an internationally renowned house and trance DJ who has played in superclubs around the world. 'This will be a huge challenge for me physically, but I'm ready to rise to it,' said Nairn. 'It's a surreal and wonderful opportunity to shed one of my left feet.' Vicky Pattison – presenter, author and reality star She was crowned Queen of the Jungle on I'm a Celebrity… in 2015, but can she do the same on Strictly? Pattison first came to prominence on Geordie Shore but has since carved out an impressive career making documentaries, writing bestselling novels and memoirs and taking part in reality endurance challenges such as Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and Arctic Challenge for Comic Relief. She's also a radio and podcast presenter. 'I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of this year's line-up... but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified,' Pattison said. 'I am not a natural dancer. However, it's such an amazing opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and to challenge myself in a completely new way, and I just really hope I don't make too much of a fool of myself.' George Clarke – YouTuber and podcaster Not the Channel 4 presenter who loves a treehouse, but the successful social media content creator who is known as a collaborator of fellow social media stars the Sidemen, and has amassed millions of followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube with his comedy skits. He also co-hosts The Useless Hotline Podcast. He said: 'Honestly, I've got no idea what I'm doing, but I'm excited to get stuck in… and potentially fall over a fair bit.' Dani Dyer – reality star Actor Danny Dyer 's daughter, Dani Dyer rose to fame in series four of Love Island, where she finished first alongside Jack Fincham and has since gone on to be a guest reporter on the One Show and had an acting cameo on EastEnders, playing a taxi driver opposite her father who portrays series regular Mick Carter. Dyer recently married West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen. She said: 'It's just a fun magical show. To be asked to do it was such an honour. I'm just so excited. Picking up the routines… being on live telly petrifies me'. Ellie Goldstein – model and actress In 2023, Goldstein made history by becoming the first ever model with Down's syndrome to be featured on the cover of Vogue. As well as appearing on the covers of Glamour, Elle, Mission Mag and Euphoria magazines, she has partnered with Mattel to produce the first Barbie doll with Down's. She's also recently expanded into acting and is a series regular on CBBC's Malory Towers. She said: 'I'm absolutely over the moon to be joining the cast and pros of Strictly Come Dancing this year. It's a show I've loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream. I know it's going to be challenging, but I'm ready to do it with the glitter and glamour and make some magic on that dance floor. Let the Strictly journey begin.' When is Strictly Come Dancing? There's no confirmed date yet, but it usually begins on the second or third weekend of September. Who are the judges? Last year's judges will be returning for 2025. Alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas, former Strictly pro Anton Du Beke has become a permanent fixture. Who are the professional dancers this year? All the pros from last year will be returning. They are Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola. They will also be joined by two new recruits: Alexis Warr, who won the 2022 American series So You Think You Can Dance, and Australian ballroom dancer and physiologist Julian Caillon.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Comedian Gary Little dies as tributes pour in from peers
His death has brought tributes from the comedy community. Jo Caulfield said: "Gary Little was a great comic and an amazing person to spend time with. We are all poorer for losing you, Gary. Read More: "My love and sympathy to his family and loved ones. "I will truly miss not seeing you backstage and never hearing that big mischievous laugh. Too soon. RIP my friend." Neil Bratchpiece, AKA The Wee Man, said: "RIP the legend Big Gary Little. One of the best comedians to come out the country and one of the nicest guys to spend time with. Still absolutely reeling from the shock of this news, deepest condolences go to his family. Rest easy big man." The Some Laugh podcast said: "We're absolutely gutted to learn of the passing of the legend Gary Little. "Gary was one of the best stand-ups Scotland has ever produced, an absolute powerhouse of a comedian as well as a genuinely lovely guy with a heart of gold. "It was a pleasure to learn from someone like Gary as we were all coming up on the comedy scene, and his episode an appearance on our live show are up there with the all-time moments of the pod." Rob Kane wrote: "Scottish comedy and the world have lost a legend today. Gary Little I could rhyme off hundreds of stories of the times we've spent backstage and in car journeys together, the big man's stern gaze, his lack of tolerance for people over running on their time on stage, but most of all his warmth and empathy. "I remember when I first compèred Jongleurs and he was opening, I could see his silhouette pacing around at the back of the room whilst I thought I was 'smashing it'. He came up to after the opening section and 'what you dain?!' I was shocked and said 'what?' He replied 'what you dain talkin to the front row at a Jongleurs's gig? Nobody else can see them?!' "He brought me back to earth with a bang and he was right. I wish every gig I done had a Big Gary at it and I hope he's doubling up whenever he does his next gigs. RIP big man. Much respect and Love."
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Harry Potter director reveals struggle to get support from 'suspicious' crew
Harry Potter director Chris Columbus recalled the crew's initial suspicions of him and how much 'work' it took to get their support. The filmmaker helmed the first two movies in the franchise, 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and 2002 sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He most recently worked on the eagerly-anticipated adaptation of the Thursday Murder Club on Netflix, starring Pierce Brosnan, Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie During a Q&A session with the cast at the New York premiere, held at the Paris Theater, host Josh Horowitz asked how he managed being an American surrounded by a group of A-list Brits on set – and he compared the experience to his efforts on the wizarding series. 'I had already been through it with Potter,' the 66-year-old replied, explaining that he grew up with a 'love of everything British', stemming from the Beatles and watching A Hard Day's Night and Help! 'I'm pretty well steeped in the culture, and I dealt with all the jokes and the ridiculousness when I started Harry Potter – the first two weeks, the crew was completely suspicious of me. '[They] thought, 'What's this Yank doing here?' I heard all the Chris Columbus, Christopher Columbus jokes… But then you have to keep up. You have to keep up a certain level. 'The thing about working with the Brits is you have to keep up a certain level of humor. It's self-deprecating humor, and you have to be as sharp as f**k. 'You cannot ever, ever… If you lose your step, you lose your step for the whole shoot. 'For me, it was casting all of these incredibly brilliant, funny people and just keeping up with them. I hope that endeared me to the crew the second time. 'It was a lot of work on Potter to get that support from the crew – it felt a lot more comfortable going back for the second time on this movie. I'd do it again in a second.' Chris jumped straight into another book adaptation – with a mostly British cast – for the Thursday Murder Club, which is landing on Netflix in just a few weeks. The upcoming murder mystery film, based on Richard Osman's best-selling novel of the same name, follows retirees who spend their free time casually solving cold cases – but things take a murderous turn when they are thrown into a real crime. Naomi Ackie, Richard E Grant, Tom Ellis, David Tennant and Daniel Mays make up the rest of the line-up. Speaking of the star-studded cast, Chris revealed that they were all the first choices for their roles – which had only previously happened when working on Harry Potter. He continued: 'The interesting comparison, ironically, is that on Potter, we made a list of all of our first choices – Dame Maggie Smith, Richard Harris and Robbie Coltrane – and they all said yes, and that has not happened to me in 20 years, until this book.' 'And it was Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, and they all said yes. It inspires you to only want to work with British actors because they say yes,' he laughed. 'It was a labor of love … because when I walked in the first day of rehearsal, when we were reading through the script, the four of them were sitting there, and it was 160 years of British cinema, and it's very intimidating. More Trending 'I could hear my voice [shaking] and I had to get over that. 'They just set such a level of trust. I felt trusted, and I hope you all felt trusted. It was just this level of trust that we all had through the course of the film. I think you can see it on screen, definitely.' View More » The Thursday Murder Club is premiering on Netflix on August 28. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Home Alone director reveals why a reboot would be a huge 'mistake' MORE: The most iconic Fast and Furious villain is still 'waiting for a call' to appear in sequel MORE: The first 'feel-good' body horror left me thinking about its extreme scenes for days
