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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan 'clung' to Harry while pregnant so she wouldn't fall over at royal events
In the final episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan candidly opened up about why, during her pregnancies, she would 'cling' to Prince Harry to make sure she didn't fall over The first series of Meghan's podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, has come to a close, with the final episode seeing Meghan sit down with the founder of SPANX, Sara Blakely. Towards the end of the wide-ranging discussion, which saw the women discuss everything from manifestation to family, Blakely discussed her new venture with the Duchess: a company called Sneex, which makes a brand new kind of hybrid shoe that combines heels with trainers. During their chat, the Duchess discussed her own experiences wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes at royal events during her first pregnancy with Prince Archie, a period of time which also saw her seriously struggle with her mental health. Meghan also admitted that in both her pregnancies, she gained quite a lot of weight - 4.6 stone or 29 kilos - which made wearing stilettos even harder. "A friend just said to me the other day, 'I just saw this picture I had forgotten about when you were so pregnant with Archie'" Meghan explained in the candid discussion, "I mean I gained 65 pounds with both pregnancies, 'and you're in these five-inch' - I always wear my five-inch pointy-toed stilettos - they're like 'You have the most enormous bump, and your tiny little ankles are bracing themselves in these high heels'. "But all of my weight was in the front, so you're just going 'How on earth am I not just tipping, you know, face-planting, I'm always clinging very closely to my husband like 'Please don't let me fall!' "Well, you created the antidote," Meghan said. During her pregnancy with Archie, Meghan was still a working royal and had to attend a myriad of high-profile events. A royal tour in Australia meant she and Harry "had to" announce her pregnancy in October 2018, they revealed in their self-titled Netflix documentary. From the Fashion Awards to the Commonwealth Day service, there were many formal events where Meghan donned her trademark stilettos, but one in particular at the Royal Albert Hall, she revealed in 2021, was also the night that she shared with Harry that she was suffering from suicidal thoughts. Meghan admitted to Oprah that she was "haunted" by photographs of the pair at the Sentebale event, which took place at one of her lowest points, particularly when seeing "how tightly his knuckles are gripped around mine". For his part, Harry has expressed regret over how he handled Meghan's admission, "What took over my feelings was my royal role. I had been trained to worry more about 'What are people gonna think if we don't go to this event? We're going to be late.' Looking back at it now, I hate myself for it.' He said in the couple's documentary series, 'What she needed from me was so much more than I was able to give." During the episode, Sara dived into why she wanted to "invent a comfortable high heel" because she never bought into the common idea that "beauty is pain" and explained that after four years of trying to make a "traditional stiletto" that was ten times more comfortable than what we're all used to, she called it quits, and made a major pivot toward a totally new kind of shoe altogether. "It was more comfortable, Meghan," Blakely explained, "but it wasn't exponentially more comfortable, so I looked at my team, of just two girls that I absolutely adore, and I, through tears, said, we're going to pull like the plug. We tried, and it's not there. "Because as someone who invents and creates products, especially if I'm going to launch a new company or brand around it, I always say I have a mental check that it needs to be 10x better than anything else out there, and it was maybe 4x better, but to me, that wasn't a big to spend my time and energy". Sara then decided to see if it were possible to "merge a sneaker with a stiletto". Meghan then shared that when launching her recent lifestyle brand - As Ever - she herself had to "pivot" away from ideas to which she had been pretty wedded about how her jams would look, realising that as she wanted to scale the size of her company, her original "charming and darling" designs of "jam hats" wouldn't be possible to implement. Over the course of her podcast series, Meghan has made a series of candid admissions during her chats with impressive female businesswomen, including the revelation that she suffered from postpartum preeclampsia, a "rare and scary" condition, which is caused by high blood pressure after birth and can potentially result in serious health issues such as organ failure or strokes. "The world doesn't know what's happening quietly,' Meghan said. 'And in the quiet, you're still trying to show up for people, mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares." Her guest Whitney responded: 'I mean, life or death, truly.' Meghan also opened up about suffering from a miscarriage in 2020, saying to one of her guests, "I'll bring this up if you are comfortable talking about it... I have spoken about the miscarriage we experienced. And I think in some parallel way, when you have to learn to detach from the thing that you have so much promise and hope for and to be able to be OK at a certain point to let something go, something go that you plan to love for a long time." Confessions of a Female Founder is Meghan's second foray into the podcasting world. It follows her first show, Archetypes, which was produced by Spotify and cancelled after one series. Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The new podcast, produced by Lemonada Media, has received a pretty mixed response from critics. One called the series "sycophantic" and another said it was "45 minutes of platitudes." However, the first episode did make the Top 10 overall podcast charts and took the number one spot amongst business podcasts, though it has since dropped off.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Prince Harry-linked charity African Parks admits to human rights abuses in Congo
AP photo African Parks , a non-profit organisation that manages protected areas in Africa, has admitted to human rights abuses under its watch in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo, reported New York Post. The charity, which had Prince Harry as its president until 2023 and still counts him as a board member, acknowledged incidents of abuse, including rape and torture, committed by park rangers. The abuses came to light following a detailed investigation earlier this year. In response, the charity commissioned a London-based law firm to conduct an independent review. The firm noted systemic failures within African Parks, especially in the early years of its operations. African Parks has accepted the findings, saying, 'In some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.' Operation Sindoor 'Did not want to...': Pak def min gives absurd excuse for army's failure to withstand Op Sindoor Blackouts, sirens & Pak's failed attacks: 10 things that happened in the last 36 hrs '1971 war was not remotely as terrifying': Residents of border areas shell-shocked The organisation also admitted to serious failures in its internal systems and promised to act on the recommendations. Prince Harry charity 'admits human rights abuses after claims rangers RAPED locals' Reforms reportedly include stronger safeguarding protocols and the appointment of an anthropologist to improve support for the Baka communities , who have long been marginalised. However, African Parks has refused to make the full report public. This has led to criticism from the indigenous rights charities. The development adds to growing scrutiny of Prince Harry's philanthropic work. In March, Harry stepped down as patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in honour of Princess Diana. Soon after, Sentebale's chairwoman accused the board of 'harassment' and 'bullying,' and claimed the Duke attempted to use the charity to boost his wife, Meghan Markle's public image.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry's African charity admits human rights abuses after rainforest families said their rangers raped and beat tribespeople
An African wildlife charity part run by Prince Harry has admitted that human rights abuses were perpetrated by its own rangers - but is not making the findings on the atrocities public - following an explosive investigation by the Mail on Sunday. Prince Harry, who was the president of African Parks for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors two years ago, is said be fully aware of the scandal and has been involved in bringing about change to deal with the issues. The findings are another blow to the Duke of Sussex after his Sentebale charity was engulfed by scandal when he resigned from the board and its chair Sophie Chandauka accused Harry of 'harassment and bullying at scale' - a claim that is denied. Last year an investigation by The Mail on Sunday discovered evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by the African Parks charity, including allegations of rapes and beatings. The MoS found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia. One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard. A community activist said a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries. African Parks then launched an independent review and the charity has now admitted that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park since December 2023. The results of the probe, carried out by London law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, has gone directly to African Parks. The charity said in a statement: 'The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process. 'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims. 'Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.' Omnia said its investigation has been 'thorough and proportionate without attempting to be exhaustive'. But there is anger that the findings have not been made public. Survival International, which supports indigenous people, has reportedly raised the abuse of the Baka people with Prince Harry. Director Caroline Pearce said: 'We still don't know the details of what they found, because African Parks has refused to allow the findings to be made public. 'It has committed to more reports, more staff and more guidelines, but such approaches have not prevented horrific abuses and violations of international human rights law in the decade or more that African Parks has known of these atrocities, and there is no reason to believe they will do so now.' African Parks was rocked by scandal in January 2024 when the Mail on Sunday went to Congo and discovered horrific abuses by its guards. It was the middle of the night when young mother Ella Ene was abruptly woken by someone knocking at her house. She assumed it was her husband returning from a neighbouring village – but it was a guard from the African Parks conservation charity demanding she got up immediately and followed him. 'The guy was wearing their uniform and had a gun,' said Ella Ene. 'He was threatening me, saying 'I'll shoot you' if I did not do as he said. He told me he wanted to take me to their camp.' She bundled up her baby Daniel – one month old and too young to leave at home – to follow the African Parks guard on the ten-minute walk to his base. With brutal but brave honesty, she described what happened next, and how the man raped her beside the road as she clung in terror to her child. She said the guard ordered her to the ground, tore off some of her clothes and assaulted her in the pitch-black night, ignoring her screams for help and the cries of her baby. 'I was holding my baby while being raped and trying to protect him,' she said. 'My first reaction had been to protect my baby. It was very violent.' The fast-expanding charity manages huge swathes of forests and national parks in 12 African countries in partnerships with governments, and boasts that it saves wildlife by working with local communities. One man, who claims his head was forced under water while his hands were cuffed and his back whipped repeatedly with a belt, said: 'Some guards are bad people and their activities should be stopped. What they are doing is cruel and inhumane.' A community activist told the MoS a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries. One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard. There are claims that medical staff were subjected to intimidation to cover up abuse. The raped mother also says she has not received the majority of the £1,300 compensation a court ordered her attacker to pay after he was briefly jailed. The disturbing revelations came as Prince Harry was promoting his global mission as a social justice campaigner and fighter for equality. The weekend before the Mail on Sunday's investigation emerged, his leading role with African Parks was championed when he was given a Living Legends of Aviation award as 'a humanitarian, military veteran and mental wellness advocate' at a ceremony in Los Angeles. A citation praised him as an 'environmentalist', saying he 'has dedicated his life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that bring about permanent change for people and places... including African Parks.' But one Baka man who says he witnessed a brutal attack by African Parks guards told the MoS that he wished Harry would use his power to intervene in order to 'stop the pain and suffering caused to our community'. Harry, who has said Africa is the place 'where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world', announced his appointment as president of the charity around eight years ago while guest-editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme. His involvement began with a trip to Malawi to assist an elephant project in 2016 and his role changed last autumn when he joined the charity's board of directors. 'What I see in the African Parks model is exactly what conservation should be about – putting people at the heart of the solution,' he has said. 'Conservation can only be sustained when people living closest to nature are invested in its preservation.' When we put the findings of our investigation to Harry, a spokesman for his foundation, Archewell, said: 'When the Duke became aware of these serious allegations, he immediately escalated them to the CEO and chairman of the board of African Parks, the appropriate people to handle next steps.' Harry was warned about 'appalling human rights abuses' being committed by its rangers in a letter from Survival International, a campaign group fighting for the rights of indigenous people, in May 2023. The letter stated: 'The scale and volume of violent intimidation and torture make clear that this is not aberrant behaviour by a few individuals.' It called on the Prince 'to use your influence and position to stop these abuses being committed by an organisation to which you have lent your name' – and was backed by a direct video appeal to Harry and Meghan from a Baka tribesman. The Baka communities live in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, an area of rainforest bigger than Yorkshire that is home to gorillas and forest elephants. One Baka man said: 'The forest was left to us by our parents and ancestors. Everything we have is found in the forest – our food, our medicine. We suffer so much without it. They are destroying our heritage and our people.' The park has been managed by African Parks since 2010, when it signed a 25-year deal with the Congolese government. The charity is funded by the European Union, US and rich philanthropists. It has been given British aid and the People's Postcode Lottery, based in Edinburgh, has handed it £8.2 million since 2015.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Living Nostradamus' makes chilling prediction about Prince Harry & the move that'll do ‘irreversible damage' to Meghan
PRINCE HARRY lives a routine apparently far removed from British pomp. Now living in California with Meghan Markle and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the Duke of Sussex has been described as a "symbol of rebellion, vulnerability and public crisis". 3 Athos Salomé, a renowned psychic that has made numerous accurate predictions over the years, thus often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus', explained: "Since resigning from the official duties of the British monarchy in 2020, Harry has lived under a constant hurricane of family tensions, legal battles and public controversy. But beyond what you see in the headlines, there is a deeper energetic layer." He shared his unprecedented predictions for the prince's future, outlining an unexpected and disturbing story. Athos exclusively told The Sun: "In the midst of a legal dispute with the British Home Office over personal security, rumours of a marital crisis and recent allegations of inappropriate conduct involving the NGO Sentebale - which he co-founded - the Duke seems trapped between his new life and the ghosts of royalty." And there are six areas in which change is expected to come... 1. A Royal Target Between July and September 2025, Harry had to postpone his engagements and avoid a serious security incident during a humanitarian mission in Africa, even though he was already away, or turn down an offer to go on a humanitarian trip. The situation, although unhurt, will be serious enough to provoke a public reassessment of his vulnerability. "I see secret documents coming to light, revealing negligence on the part of the UK," the expert claims. 2. A rapprochement with the King The psychic explained: "In the midst of King Charles III 's health crisis, due to take place in the first half of 2026, a silent reconciliation will take place between father and son. "It will be intimate, away from the cameras, and motivated by a sense of urgency and finitude. " Prince William, however, will remain distant - bound by duty and resentment." 3. A Painful Truth Salomé adds: "A former employee of the Sussex family intends to reveal compromising recordings and documents in the second half of this year or next, negotiations are underway. "According to Salomé, this material will suggest Meghan exerted a strong influence over his decisions, often in conflict with his values. "This revelation will bring a new wave of empathy to the prince, but also an irreversible reputational loss for Meghan." 4. The Warrior's Legacy "At the end of 2026, Harry will dedicate himself to a humanitarian project aimed at the mental health of war veterans," the expert suggests. Salomé describes it as "his life's mission" and adds: "Curiously, the project will have the informal support of the monarchy, signalling a subtle and strategic rapprochement. "It will be, according to the paranormal, 'the beginning of redemption.'" 5. Spiritual exile "The prince will leave California," Salomé claims. "Neither Hollywood nor Buckingham: his new home will be a third country." Salomé sees South Africa, New Zealand or elsewhere as likely destinations for spending some time. "At 42, a number that symbolises Kabbalistic maturity, he will find a new purpose in life," they add. 3 6. The Book of Transformation " Harry is writing a new book - completely different from the controversial ' Spare '. Due to be released in 2027, the book will be more introspective, philosophical and critical," Salomé believes. "It won't be an attack on the monarchy, but a profound reflection on identity and mission. The book could be the turning point for him to regain global respect as an individual - not as a royal figure." In summary, Salomé says: "The future holds intense trials, but also the chance of rebirth. Every two years, Harry experiences momentous events that redefine his trajectory. And 2026 will be no exception. "The Duke of Sussex may have walked away from the Crown - but the weight of the throne apparently still haunts him."
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Prince Harry's African charity Sentebale dealt new blow weeks after duke's shocking exit
Sentebale, the African charity Prince Harry founded in 2006 before he resigned in March, has been dealt a fresh blow as one of its new board members has shockingly quit just weeks after being appointed. Nerissa Naidu's abrupt departure has contributed to the ongoing internal turmoil the youth-focused organization has faced in recent months. She decided to leave her post just weeks after being appointed on March 25, leaving just three trustees in place — the minimum recommended number of board members, Daily Mail reports. 5 Sentebale, the African charity Prince Harry founded in 2006 before he resigned in March, has been dealt a fresh blow as one of its new board members has shockingly quit just weeks after being appointed. Getty Images for Sentebale The charity has since told the outlet that it has been 'a particularly difficult time to have joined the organization,' though Naidu, who hails from South Africa, declined to comment. The entrepreneur has 'chosen to step down out of respect for her other professional commitments,' Sentebale said in a statement, adding that it has appreciated 'her tremendous support and insights in recent weeks and her interest in Sentebale over a long period of time.' Her shock departure leaves Iain Rawlinson, Dr Bhakti Hansoti and Dr Sophie Chandauka as the remaining three trustees in place. The Post has reached out to Sentebale and Harry's reps for comment. Naidu's resignation follows hot on the heels of the Duke of Sussex's departure, which came to light on March 26. 5 Nerissa Naidu's abrupt departure has contributed to the ongoing internal turmoil the youth-focused organization has faced in recent months. World Economic Forum 5 Naidu's resignation follows hot on the heels of the Duke of Sussex's departure, which came to light on March 26. Getty Images for Sentebale Harry, 40, said he was devastated and 'in shock' to have stepped down from Sentebale, the organization that he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Days later, Sentebale chairwoman Chandauka raised alarming allegations and accused the charity's board of 'harassment,' 'bullying' and 'misogynoir.' The trustee, who became leader of the organization in 2023, also claimed Harry had tried to use the charity as 'an extension of the Sussex PR machine' to support his wife's public image. As a result, the organization — which was set up to help AIDs patients in Africa — is now being investigated by the Charity Commission. Harry and his fellow charity co-founder said last month that their relationship with Chandauka was broken 'beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.' Chandauka — who first raised concerns in February — welcomed the investigation and revealed that Sentebale had launched an internal review last year and would soon present its findings. 5 Harry founded the organization with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Getty Images for Sentebale 5 Dr Sophie Chandauka claimed Harry had tried to use the charity as 'an extension of the Sussex PR machine' to support his wife's public image. Hello UK Last month, a Lesotho government official claimed that Harry had 'lost interest' in Sentebale after marrying Meghan Markle. The duke's waning attention had 'killed the spirit' of the charity after he and the 'Suits' alum quit royal life in 2020 and hightailed it across the pond, Chief Khoabane Theko sensationally claimed.
