Latest news with #Balmoral
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Plea for ice queen Gillian to break her Salt Path silence: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE
As the King prepares to head to Scotland for his summer break, my mole reports Prince Andrew is still on the guest list for a Balmoral holiday. Andrew had been feeling chipper when the White House announced Jeffrey Epstein didn't keep a little list of 'clients' and the FBI has closed its investigations. But, with Trump's second thoughts about releasing documents, Andrew's anxiety continues. It hasn't helped that he has received a reminder from the King that events don't allow him to return to royal duty. Is there no redemption for the disgraced duke? Why the delay in elevating Nigel Farage to the Privy Council? Elected to lead a party of five MPs (now down to four) the honour would normally have followed fairly swiftly as with the leaders of Plaid Cymru (four MPs) and the DUP (five). The last dither was when Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader. He got the nod in the end because doing otherwise would risk the King appearing to snub a particular party. With Farage being touted as a potential next PM, the Palace is feeling similarly jittery. Membership carries the right to be briefed on confidential 'Privy Council terms' at times of national importance. You have to turn up of course. Kemi Badenoch missed a briefing about the Afghan data breach in March and so knew nothing about it until last week. Might Trump remember old pal Farage when visiting the King? The US embassy will, as is customary, have the right to suggest names to the state banquet guest list which could see Nigel don the nosebag at Windsor Castle. He didn't make the cut last time and will be hoping for better now he's an MP. And if Farage does get in, will he be seeking Queen Camilla 's guidance about boltholes for a sneaky Woodbine? Muteness from Gillian Anderson, pictured, about her role in The Salt Path, with author Raynor Winn disputing claims it has misleading details about her life. 'Were [Gillian] to break her silence,' writes The Spectator's Alexander Larman, 'it would be a rare chink in the armour of this ice queen, sex therapist and, it would appear, all-round Renaissance woman. Just a tinge of vulnerability... would make the Magnificent Anderson that bit more human, and therefore likeable.' Expressing sympathy for married Andy Byron, 50, forced to resign after he was caught on camera cuddling his company's HR chief Kristin Cabot, 52, at a Coldplay concert, writer Flora Gill remarks: 'Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of refreshing, seeing a man publicly cheat with an age-appropriate woman for once? I know this means the bar is absurdly low, but she's not in her twenties, so that's something.' Her late journalist father, AA Gill, famously left Flora's politician mother Amber Rudd after his affair with South African model and journalist Nicola 'The Blonde' Formby, over a decade his junior. , who famously bit a bat's head off on stage believing it was a rubber toy, later stipulated what he wanted on his gravestone: 'Bats taste like sh*t.'
Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Need an instant update? Wear a silk scarf
Stop scrolling sundresses, put down the palazzos — the quickest way to update any outfit this summer is by adding something you most likely already own: a silk scarf. From Lauren Sánchez Bezos's Hermès square wrapped around her hair à la Sophia Loren the day before her Venice wedding, to Charli XCX draped in Alexander McQueen skull print at Glastonbury, this slightly fusty accessory has taken centre stage in recent weeks. Across social media, there are reels and TikTok tutorials devoted to the perfect tying of them — so that yours, like Lauren's, might survive a trip on a vaporetto, rather than being whipped off by the wind like Bridget Jones's. (The key is to loop the ends round and knot behind your head, rather than under your chin, which gives a more Balmoral aspect.) At Liberty — where silk foulards have long been a stalwart, if not exactly heat-seeking, item — sales are already up 45 per cent on last year. John Lewis has had searches for them increase by 50 per cent in 12 months too. The second-hand resale app Depop links its spike in interest directly to sightings of Alexa Chung and Kylie Jenner wearing theirs. The elite personal shopping and styling platform Threads is calling 2025's a 'Silk Scarf Summer''. They're synonymous with chic already, of course, but usually with the twinset and pearls/Upper East Side variety, which can just as often feel ageing rather than elegant. So just what has happened to make such a must-have of something that looked soon to be obsolete in the era of hoodies and low-key hair? It's the new and easily copied fashion insider tweak of the season, as spotted on Instagram and the beau monde's favourite beaches alike: the waist wrap. You can barely move for vintage silk scarves in Ibiza, where stylists are using their colourful patterns to break up otherwise plain black linen dresses or tops and shorts by folding a silk scarf corner to corner into a triangle, then knotting it loosely around their hips. • The story of the Gucci silk scarf It might sound affected — and admittedly this-old-thing nonchalance is somewhat undermined once everybody starts doing it (see also: winter's woollen neckerchief trend). Yet here is a way to give definition at your waist or hips, while the dangling pointed end adds an illusion of length to your legs too. It's a bit boho, yes, but the thin end of the wedge, quite frankly, and won't necessarily lead to you buying a tasselled poncho next. Plus — and I particularly like it for this reason — doesn't everybody have a little stash of silk scarves (inherited or simply scavenged from the £1 basket in charity shops) that they rarely use but are too pretty to part with? Consider the waist wrap a zeitgeisty oomph to whatever you're wearing, holiday garb or no — Chung's algorithm-boosting version was with a plain T-shirt and jeans. It suggests you've put some effort in but not too much, which is what everyone is looking for at this time of year, whether you've already blasted through your time away, have just set off or are counting the days until the August bank holiday. There are other things to do with your scarf too, though I wonder how universal the Gen Z festival bandana trend really is. As one sceptic said to me at the weekend, 'If you're not beautiful, a bandana just highlights how ordinary your face is,' a statement that, while caustic in its truth, is hard to disagree with. If, however, you're still tempted to try it, position the flat edge of the scarf's triangle along your forehead, then tie the points underneath your hair. Avoid wearing too far back, or the look becomes more Plymouth Brethren than beach babe. • Read more fashion advice and style inspiration from our experts Then there are all the neck ties you can do — though I realise many of you will file this advice under 'stating the obvious'' or even 'egg-sucking tutorial''. I don't want to sound like Pippa Middleton's party book but, yes, you can tie a silk a scarf around your neck this summer to add some interest to plainer tops or shrug around your shoulders when the weather is not quite warm enough. For the former, roll it into a thin sausage from its longest edge to the point, then wrap and tie; I also like wearing mine point forward, like a cowboy, then wrapping and knotting at the front — perfect with a plain black camisole for now, or a jumper and peacoat in the autumn, just like American Vogue's Tonne Goodman. Finally, there is one more option that I feel duty-bound to mention but which I'm not sure will work for many. If any of you attempt to wear your scarf as a strapless (usually bra-less) 'handkerchief'' top, I'm afraid The Times can take no responsibility for what happens after that.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Your Midgesty! King launches own beard grooming products - made from a midge-repellant plant grown on Balmoral
The dreaded Highland midge is no respecter of rank – and not even a thick beard can stop them going after your Royal blood. But now King Charles has launched a product that could help high-born and commoner alike battle the twin scourges of biting insects and untidy facial hair. The Monarch's range of beard grooming products are made from a midge-repellent plant found on the Balmoral estate. The King's 50,000-acre residence in Aberdeenshire is selling the collection of oils, washes and balms, made in collaboration with local beard care firm Hairy Highlander. They have been infused with wild bog myrtle, hand-foraged from the estate grounds. The plant has long been used for centuries by Highlanders to keep midges away. Its leaves and twigs, when crushed and rubbed on the skin, release a fragrant oil that acts as a natural insect repellent. Balmoral Castle and Estate also said that the shrub 'has long been valued in Highland tradition as part of skin-soothing botanical care – especially in harsh, weather-exposed conditions'. The beard care products feature two signature scents. They are Laird – a bright, citrus-spiced blend of pink grapefruit, lemon verbena, and cinnamon leaf – and Chieftain – a grounding mix of Norwegian fir, cedarwood, and patchouli, inspired by Highland forests. For 30ml of the Chieftain Organic Beard Oil the Balmoral online store charges £25 while a 200ml bottle of the Laird Organic Beard Wash costs £32. A 50ml tub of Chieftain Organic Beard Balm is £27. In a statement, Balmoral Castle and Estate describes the products as 'Expertly crafted in the Highlands by Hairy Highlander. Now available as part of the Balmoral Exclusive Collection.' Family firm Hairy Highlander crafts organic grooming products from wild-harvested botanicals and donates 10 per cent of its profits to rewilding northern Scotland, helping restore native habitats and support long-term ecological regeneration. The company said it was 'a real honour to create this bespoke grooming range for Balmoral Castle'. Balmoral estate set up an online shop to sell merchandise last year and other products include a tartan throw priced at almost £1,000. The store features a range of gifts inspired by the Royal residence including socks, dog leads, baby clothing and beanie hats. The centrepiece of the collection is items made using the newly launched Balmoral hunting tartan which was created by leading designer Araminta Birse-Stewart. They include a £962 cashmere tartan throw, a tartan scarf priced at £385 and a shawl made using the fabric which costs £140. Balmoral has been used as a holiday getaway for the Royal Family since the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II passed away there aged 96 in September 2022. The King is due to travel to Balmoral for his traditional summer holiday next month and the estate closes to the public on August 10.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Prince Andrew was asked to honour Jeffrey Epstein in special 50th birthday album
The Duke of York's close pal, Ghislaine Maxwell, contacted Jeffrey Epstein's rich and powerful friends, asking them for handwritten notes wishing the billionaire a happy 50th birthday Prince Andrew was asked to contribute to Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday album in which Donald Trump told the paedophile, 'May every day be another wonderful secret', it is claimed. The Duke of York's close pal Ghislaine Maxwell asked the sex offender's rich and powerful friends to write messages for the billionaire's 50th in 2003. The British socialite, 63, who is serving 20 years in a US jail for trafficking girls for Epstein, bound the tributes in a leather album. The gift was discovered by US Justice Department investigators probing the financier's inner circle. A US source told this newspaper: 'Ghislaine was the driving force behind the birthday tributes. She wanted it to be a who's who of Epstein's inner circle, and she leaned on a lot of people to write something. It wasn't just casual greetings. Ghislaine wanted messages that were personal, meaningful. 'Jeffrey... always saw Andrew as the pinnacle of his pals, and Ghislaine made sure he was asked to contribute. 'She framed it as a celebration of Jeffrey's brilliance, his generosity, his supposed unique mind. She made it sound like an honour to be included.' It is not clear if the prince did send a message. At the time, Prince Andrew was a regular fixture at social gatherings with his pal, who was convicted of a sex offence with a minor in 2008. The Duke has said he was not aware of Epstein's crime. Andrew, 65, was introduced to Epstein in 1999 by Maxwell. He visited the financier in New York, Florida and the US Virgin Islands, and hosted Epstein at Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Royal Ascot. Each time Maxwell was also present. In a 2014 court filing, Virginia Giuffre claimed she was loaned by Epstein to Andrew for sex three times as a teenager. Andrew repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims. She later sued him in New York for sexual abuse, which he settled out of court for a reported £12million. He continued to deny any wrongdoing, telling BBC Newsnight he had no recollection of meeting her. In April, Giuffre, 41, took her own life in Australia. Epstein, 66, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. The birthday album came to light after it was reported that Donald Trump had contributed a signed note. The Wall Street Journal claimed to have seen a 2003 typed letter featuring a permanent marker sketch of a naked woman. Trump allegedly wrote: 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,' and also: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.' Trump's links to Epstein stretch back to the 1990s. In a 2002 interview, Trump said: 'He's a lot of fun to be with… he liked beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' The US President said the Journal story was faked, adding that he never drew pictures of women. However, some of his city skyline sketches have been sold at auction. Last month Elon Musk claimed the President was named in Epstein-related material. Trump called the claims a Democrat'scam' but he and key Republicans have since demanded the Epstein files be unsealed.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Princess Diana "Gave Up" Prince William and Prince Harry During their Childhood Summers
Princess Diana willingly "gave up" her summers with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry for a heartbreaking reason, her former butler says. Paul Burrell, who served as Princess Diana's butler from 1987 to 1997, said Princess Diana only had two weeks each summer with her sons. He revealed that the last summer of her life, Princess Diana spent two weeks with her sons in the Mediterranean before bringing them back to Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles separated in 1992 before filing for divorce four years later, they shook up the British monarchy—and, according to the late Princess of Wales's longtime butler, their dynamic with their sons. In an interview with Marie Claire published on Tuesday, July 16, Paul Burrell— who served as the late royal's butler from 1987 to 1997—revealed the heartbreaking reason that Princess Diana 'willingly gave up' her sons Prince William and Prince Harry during the summer. Following her split from Charles, Diana began to see much less of her boys during the summer months, with Burrell sharing that she 'only ever had the boys for two weeks every year because she gave them up.' He explained. "Summer was fun for her, but she realized that the rest of the year and the time away from boarding school, that they would be with their father and their friends.' This decision was a particularly difficult one in the years before her death, as both her sons started attending boarding school when they were just 8 years old—at the time of Diana's passing, William was at Eton while Harry went to Ludgrove Prep School. Despite wanting more time with her sons, Burrell said Princess Diana knew what was at stake if they didn't fully integrate in the royal fold. 'She said it's important for them to grow up with her cousins, with the Royal Family at Balmoral,' he shared, adding, 'She realized that they were growing up and they had to be integrated into the Royal Family because William one day will be King and Harry will be there to support him." Burrell also said that Princess Diana had to get creative with planning summer vacation activities with her sons, usually choosing a beach destination like 'Necker Island, or somewhere remote' rather than Kensington Palace. The former butler revealed that Princess Diana's last summer with Prince Harry and Prince William in 1997 was a brief one before the boys headed to Scotland to spend the rest of the season with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their dad Charles. 'They'd been to the Mediterranean, and they played on jet skis, and they'd had fun. Then she brought them back home so that they could go to Balmoral,' he explained. While Princess Diana might have felt this decision was the best thing for her sons, it didn't make the lack of time together any easier. Describing the late royal as a 'devoted mother,' Burrell revealed that this arrangement took a toll as Harry and William's boarding school schedules already cut into their limited time together. 'She began to lose them to the outside world and to the Royal Family. Not emotionally, but physically, which was very sad,' he said. Read the original article on InStyle
