Latest news with #DukeAndDuchess
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Meghan Markle shares never-before-seen footage for Lilibet's fourth birthday
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released never-before-seen footage from a maternity ward to celebrate their daughter Lilibet's fourth birthday. Meghan Markle shared on Instagram that Lilibet was past her due date, and she was trying to dance her along. In Meghan Markle's Instagram post, she wrote: 'When spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work – there was only one thing left to do.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Meghan shares new photo of Lilibet to mark fourth birthday
The Duchess of Sussex has shared new family photos of her daughter Lilibet to mark her fourth birthday. Meghan posted a black and white picture of herself holding her daughter on what appears to be a boat. A second image showed the Duchess cradling the newborn princess in 2021. She wrote: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it. 'Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) In the picture, Lilibet's eyes and top half of her face could be seen, in a departure from the Duchess's usual rule of only showing the children's backs in order to preserve their privacy. Since moving to the US in 2020, the Duke and Duchess have fiercely guarded their children's privacy. But the Duchess has increasingly posted photographs of them on her Instagram feed. Last month, she shared previously unseen images of the children in a post to mark the couple's seventh wedding anniversary. In April, the Duke and Duchess called for stronger protections for children online after unveiling a memorial in New York City to young people who lost their lives due to the harmful effects of social media. The couple joined a vigil and met families who believe social media played a part in the deaths of their children. The Duke told BBC Breakfast that ' life is better off social media ' and said 'enough is not being done'. He added that he was 'grateful' Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were still too young to be online.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How the hasty planning of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson's calamitous wedding made it so miserable - marked by the 'sad' looks in the wedding photos
Throughout British history, royal weddings have been extravagant affairs full of pomp and grandeur, but there has been one major exception to this tradition. Hundreds of miles away from the Royal Family, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were married in a low-key wedding ceremony 88 years ago today. It was highly unusual, taking place in the shadow of Edward's abdication crisis, less than a month after the coronation of King George VI. The wedding was hastily planned, taking place a month and a day after Wallis's divorce from Ernest Simpson was finalised. Straying further from tradition, Wallis opted for a long, finger-hugging white wedding dress in the style of the period while Edward wore a civilian suit instead of a military uniform. Despite the opulent setting of the wedding in the Chateau de Cande in France, the couple looked far from happy in their official pictures. Royal photographer Cecil Beaton, who was behind the camera for the event, remarked that Edward had an 'essentially sad' look in his eyes. Meanwhile, royal author Jane Marguerite Tippett, in The Lost Memoir Of Edward VIII, wrote that Wallis and Edward looked back on the wedding without much fondness. The Duke and Duchess are seen on their wedding day alongside Edward's best man, Edward 'Fruity' Metcalfe (right) and businessman Hermann Rogers, whom Wallis later had an affair with In the memoir it was revealed that Wallis said that preparations for the wedding 'were not very gay'. Which is unsurprising considering the royal wedding was in stark contrast to those before it, taking place in a small ceremony with no one from the Royal Family present. Among the guests were Edward's best man, Major Edward 'Fruity' Metcalfe, along with his chauffeur and equerry. Businessman Hermann Rogers, whom Wallis fell in love with and had hoped to marry, also attended. Reverend J.A. Jardine officiated in defiance of Church of England rules surrounding divorcees with living former spouses. He was later defrocked and would go on to open the tacky 'Windsor Cathedral' in Hollywood. Edward had also been left furious by King George's refusal to grant Wallis the status of Her Royal Highness. He bitterly joked that it was a 'nice wedding present'. When his mother, Queen Mary, did not send him an actual gift, he told her that he was 'bitterly hurt and disappointed that you virtually ignored the most important event in my life.' The royal wedding was in stark contrast to those before it, consisting of a small ceremony with no one from the Royal Family present A Faberge box that was sent as a gift by his younger brother Prince George, the Duke of Kent, was rejected by Edward, on the basis that his sibling had not shown any desire to deviate from the family's official stance towards him. Edward and Wallis's wedding venue was owned by millionaire Charles Bedaux, who was later frowned upon by the British and French intelligence services. The chateau boasted modern comforts that included a pipe organ costing $40,000 and a $15,000 telephone system. On the day itself, Wallis wore a blue wedding gown which she twinned with silk gloves made from the same material and a straw hat. She also wore an impressive diamond and sapphire brooch alongside a glittering sapphire wristband and earrings. Her second divorce - from shipbroker Ernest Aldrich Simpson - had been finalised only a month earlier. The Duke had originally wanted a royal chaplain to officiate at his wedding, but this desire was rapidly torpedoed by his brother, the King. His second choice had been the Reverend Martin Andrews, who presided over a parish in the Duchy of Cornwall. The couple looked less than jolly in the official photos that were taken to mark their wedding In the end he had little choice but to go with Reverend Jardine, who was described as 'turbulent' by Edward's biographer Philip Ziegler and later stripped of his duties. Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang - who had been instrumental in sealing Edward's abdication - described Jardine as a 'seeker of notoriety'. He questioned how Edward - who had been King of England just months before - could have 'lost his dignity' to the extent that he asked 'a man of this sort to celebrate his marriage'. Jardine officiated in defiance of the Church of England, which until 2002 would not perform weddings of rulers to divorcees who had living former spouses. While Edward believed that in Jardine he had chosen well, this idea was somewhat punctured by the priest's subsequent tour of the United States, where he revealed all about the ceremony. The altar was what Ziegler described as a 'bogus renaissance chest adorned with plum caryatids'. Beaton took official photographs of the couple after they tied the knot. In his diary he described Edward's expression when his photo was taken as 'essentially sad, tragic eyes belied by impertinent tilt of nose.' He added that the former King had 'common hands - like a mechanic - weather-beaten and rather scaly and one thumbnail is disfigured.' Beaton had talked to Wallis at length and decided that she was a 'strong force', and 'intelligent within her vast limitations'. 'She has obviously a tremendous admiration for the Duke and considers him one of the greatest brains… of our times. 'She admires his character, his vitality and is determined to love him, though I feel she is not in love with him.' As well as his best man, chauffeur and equerry, guests also included the Duke's hairdresser Charles Topper and Mrs Buchanan Merryman, Wallis's aunt. The service itself was composed of a French civil ceremony and then an Anglican counterpart conducted by Reverend Jardine was carried out ten minutes later. In both versions, Wallis promised to obey her husband. Incredibly, the Duke failed to kiss his bride in either the civil or religious ceremony, although there were tears in his eyes when he put Wallis's ring on her finger. Despite the controversy that surrounded the wedding at the time, the Duke and Duchess received more than 3,000 telegrams and 30,000 letters of good wishes after their wedding. In a statement, the Duke said: 'The Duchess and I would like to thank all those who have so kindly sent us presents and good wishes on the occasion of our wedding. 'We shall never forget their friendly messages, which mean so much to us on this day.' Following their wedding the couple eventually settled in France in the so-called Villa Windsor on the outskirts of Paris. Here they led the life of the idle rich, attending parties in France and America and going on lavish holidays with close friends. Though she lacked the status of an actual queen, it was the kind of high life that American Duchess had always sought. But when the Duke died aged 77 in 1972, Wallis was left alone, bereft of the man who had worshipped her. The Queen, with whom she had had minimal contact in the decades since her husband's abdication, hosted her at Buckingham Palace when she arrived for his funeral. The two had previously met when Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip visited the Duke in Paris in his final days. Wallis was buried next to her husband at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. The burial was attended by only the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Diana and eight of Wallis's aides and friends It was a sign of the Queen's willingness to put differences to one side for the sake of the greater good. When Wallis died over a decade later, her funeral service at Windsor's St George's Chapel was attended by senior royals including the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother. Her name was not mentioned during the service. The service lasted for less than half an hour and, in scenes strikingly similar to her wedding, it was stripped of nearly all the pomp and ceremony that usually marks a royal death.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The 'quietly devoted' royals who are setting an example for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Much has been made about the implications of being a 'spare' in the Royal Family - and Prince Harry's explosive memoir made everyone aware of the concept. Harry, of course, isn't the only 'spare' - a family member who isn't poised to be a direct heir to the throne in the line of succession. From Princess Anne to now Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, there are plenty. And it doesn't have to be seen as a negative. Something two dedicated royals are setting an example for Charlotte and Louis to follow, according to a royal expert. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were two senior royal family members who stepped up and stepped in after the Royal Family's tough year in 2024, with Kate Middleton and King Charles both battling highly publicized illnesses. And although they have been working royals since 2002, the BBC's former royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, believes that the couple are finally getting the "recognition" they deserve, stepping up to the plate when they were needed more than ever before. The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown by Katie Nicholl | Was $18.99, Now $15.19 at Amazon Katie Nicholl provides an intriguing and insightful look at Queen Elizabeth's extraordinary reign and draws on stories from Palace courtiers and aides, as well as family members. She reflects upon where The Firm could be headed now and how the Royal Family must react in the ever-changing modern Deal According to Jennie, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie proving themselves and taking on more duties also helped set an example on how to flourish as a "spare", something that could influence their great-niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Speaking to OK!, Jennie stated that the Edinburghs "thoroughly deserve the recognition they are now getting... They have always been quietly devoted to their various causes, but their work has been overshadowed by other royals," she continued. "I suppose every cloud has a silver lining… and as the King calls on them to take a more prominent role, Edward and Sophie are showing they are very much up to the task." Jennie then reflected that the couple are "serving as excellent role models to their great nephew [ ] and niece" as they are "showing that you can be a 'spare' or even a 'spare to the spare' and make a real success of working as a valued member of the Royal Family". Not only will the Duke and Duchess be a good example, it's been rumored that Sophie enjoys a great bond with Charlotte, and they offered a rare glimpse into their dynamic during the 2025 VE Day celebrations. The Duchess no doubt stepped in to help with Princess Charlotte and her brothers after Kate completed her cancer treatment in 2024. Sophie being an asset to the family has other benefits, according to another royal expert. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl has previously claimed in her book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown, as per that the Princess of Wales is "said to admire" Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's approach with their own children. She apparently appreciates how they're raising Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex "in the bosom of the Royal Family but prepared for life in the real world." Whether or not Princess Charlotte and Louis go on to become senior working royals or pursue separate careers, it seems Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie and their family are setting an example of "success" that could inspire them.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are SAVAGED on SNL in UK trade deal joke
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were mocked on Saturday Night Live yesterday as host Colin Jost made a brutal joke about the couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared happier than ever this weekend as they attended a Beyoncé concert to see the singer's Cowboy Carter tour in Los Angeles - with Meghan posting loved-up snaps of the pair. But they were put at the centre of an SNL quip last night as Jost delivered a breakdown of the latest major news stories. Speaking on the show, the presenter addressed the current UK-US trade deal between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, in which he said: 'President Trump also announced a new trade deal with the UK that will reopen British markets for American companies. 'All that Britain demands in return is that we keep these two,' he added as a photo of Harry and Meghan appeared on the screen behind him. The joke comes after Trump announced an agreement with the UK, which Sir Keir attended via phone call to the White House. The Duke and Duchess danced the night away this weekend at the fifth night of Beyoncé's tour in California. The pair were among thousands of fans who crowded into the SoFi Stadium on Friday as the artist performed her last show in LA before heading to Chicago. Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che! — Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) May 11, 2025 Afterwards, Beyoncé shared a photograph of the royals on her website, capturing the grinning couple as they cosied up inside the luxurious VIP lounge to watch the Crazy in Love singer perform. The Duchess of Sussex also took to her own Instagram, sharing a glimpse of her and Harry's night on the town among the crowds of adoring fans, with the Duke planting a kiss on her cheek during the show. Meghan shared a series of smiley snaps of herself, Harry and friends, sporting cowboy hats, in keeping with the tour's theme, as they swayed to various hits from the Cowboy Carter album. Another short video showed the Duchess appear emotional while she cheers on the superstar songstress as she sings her hit song 16 carriages, while sitting on a floating American-style car. Alongside the series of jubilant photos, she penned: 'About last night... Thank you Beyonce and team for an amazing concert (and a very fun date night) All love.' Fans also snuck footage of Prince Harry from nearby seats, with the Duke shuffling around as his wife danced in front of him. Following Beyonce's cowboy dress code, Meghan sported a tight denim dress, while Harry wore a dark green cowboy hat with 'My Love', Lili and Archie inscribed inside alongside a US and UK flag. She wore her hair up for the night, and was later spotted wearing her husband's hat as the concert amped up with a remixed rendition of Texas Hold 'Em. The Halo singer - who kicked off her tour just over year and a half after she wrapped up her whirlwind Renaissance World Tour - has welcomed Harry and Meghan to her shows previously. In 2023, the royals attended the Renaissance World Tour, also at the SoFi Stadium, where Prince Harry once again appeared less than impressed - and more interested in his phone.
