Latest news with #ThePrize
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Visionary' sci-fi film to be axed from streaming in just a few days
Fans have one last chance to watch the 'extraordinary' cult classic A cult classic hailed as "visionary" and "extraordinary" is on the brink of departing from BBC iPlayer in mere days. This is therefore the last opportunity for aficionados of sci-fi and fantasy to either revisit or uncover for the first time one of the most audacious fusions of genres from the 1980s. The 1986 film Highlander, under the direction of Russell Mulcahy, has earned its stripes as a seminal piece that melds the aesthetics of sword-and-sorcery with contemporary urban action. Starring Christopher Lambert, the film follows Connor MacLeod, a Scottish Highlander from the 1500s who, after surviving a seemingly lethal wound in battle, comes to realise his immortality. Under the guidance of the enigmatic Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, portrayed by Sean Connery, MacLeod is schooled in the ways of the immortals, destined to duel to the death through the ages, with the sole survivor claiming "The Prize" - an enigmatic boon tied to absolute power and enlightenment. Spanning the medieval highlands of Scotland to the bustling streets of 1980s New York, Highlander weaves its narrative through a tapestry of flashbacks and clashing swords, delving into themes of love, bereavement, and the existential burden of eternal life amidst the mortality of others. The film's unique visual flair owes much to Russel Mulcahy's dynamic, music video-inspired directorial approach, reflecting his background crafting promos for iconic 1980s acts like Duran Duran and Elton John. Yet, it is the soundtrack by Queen that truly propels Highlander to greater heights, reports the Express. The band contributed a host of tunes to the film. These included 'Princes of the Universe' and the evocative 'Who Wants to Live Forever', both tracks cementing their place as anthems for Highlander enthusiasts and Queen's enduring influence. Over the years, Highlander has ascended to cult status. With a score of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, fans have taken to the platform to share their adoration. One critic wrote: "Highlander is a visionary action/sci-fi film which deftly explores themes of eternal life, the temptation of power, and true love." Another lauded its distinctiveness and audacity: "It's THE fantasy movie. No movie has ever done sword and sorcery in a modern day setting like Highlander. Not even close. I'm going to go ahead and call a spade a spade: this is the greatest action movie of all-time. "Queen's score, Clancy Brown, Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Roxanne Hart, Beatie Edney... Russell Mulcahy's revolutionary, music video-style directing; this is as good as movies get." Another person wrote: "Certainly better than anything else that's came out in the past decade." Some viewers also link its sustained allure to the fanbase of Queen: "An extraordinary cult classic movie that will endure for so many many generations. Not only with the cinema fans but also Queen fans." Despite its initial struggle at the US box office, Highlander has spawned a plethora of sequels, a television series, and graphic novels. There's been chatter about a reboot for some time, with John Wick's Chad Stahelski being recently attached to direct. Highlander (1986) is currently available on BBC iPlayer, but it will be taken off the platform on 9 June.
Metro
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'We wouldn't have survived as musicians without London's grassroot venues'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Grassroots venues are critical for encouraging and developing the future stars of music; without these spaces, we wouldn't have the huge icons we know and love today. This was the rallying cry from rising stars Prima Queen when they met Metro at London's Phoenix Arts Club, having just released their debut album, The Prize. The duo, consisting of best friends Kristin McFadden, 30, and Louise Macphail, 27, are not from London but found a home in the independent scene here in 2017 when they began to carve out their path into the music industry. 'London's grassroots venues have done so, so much to help start our career,' shared Kristin, who is originally from Chicago but moved here for a songwriting course, on which she met Louise. The Oats singer continued: 'One of our pivotal shows was playing at Windmill [Brixton], which is one of our favourite venues. 'We went on our first tour because the sound engineer became a fan from our set, and then told The Big Moon about us, and we got to go on tour with them.' Now, Prima Queen are following in the Mercury Prize nominees' footsteps with their own headlining tour this year, visiting independents like London's Islington Assembly Hall and the iconic Thekla in Louise's hometown of Bristol. Ticketing app DICE has put together a list of their 25 grassroots artists you need to see in London over the next six months. With tickets ranging from free to £27.50, these shows will ensure a great night to suit all tastes and budgets. Click HERE to catch the full list. Kristin continued: 'It literally goes back to these grassroots venues, [that's] how a band can build up from nothing to start making your way into the industry.' 'You'd never be ready to play the big shows without them,' Louise agreed. 'It's like a training ground, having all these venues around London. 'Most bands go through a time where you're just playing one or more every week and making loads and loads of mistakes, and then learning from them.' Prima Queen have joined the likes of Billy Bragg and Skunk Anansie to voice their support for London's grassroots scene following the launch of the London Grassroots Music Tube Map. It's part of a new campaign that Metro is running alongside the Mayor of London, Transport for London and organisations including the Music Venue Trust, Featured Artist Coalition, Outernet and Universal Music. The map will be screened for a month at the Outernet London, the largest digital exhibition space in Europe. The interactive display of the map will be shown in the Arcade space, which links the nightclub to The Lower Third grassroots music venue on Denmark Street. What sets these smaller venues apart of the sense of community you can feel in them, especially when you work behind the scenes as well as on the stage like Louise. She worked for the radical art and music space Matchstick Piehouse in Deptford and was there when it tragically shut down at the end of 2023. The venue was plunged into £36,000 of rent debt after the pandemic, but with the help of the Music Venue Trust and a huge fundraising effort, it has partially re-opened as Piehouse Co-op. 'The community brought it back,' Louise said of the space. 'The venues are crumbling, but the community is still there.' Kristin believes the online focus can distract from that community aspect, explaining: 'Some people go viral and they have all these followers, but they struggle to fill venues.' Neither is wrong or right, it's just totally different. 'It's sad that people are spending more time on their phones and not just going out and seeing who's down the street.' This echoes the 'best bit of advice' Louise ever got for starting a career in the industry: to just go out and find the music. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. 'The way that you become successful is filling up your local venue and having a queue down the street, and then that's what leads you to the next step,' she shared before pondering: 'I wonder now, is that the same advice because it's so online?' Prima Queen have recently played one of their biggest ever gigs at Hammersmith's Eventim Apollo, with a capacity of 5,000 standing. The contrast between this and their 'warm up' show at the independent London venue Omera, with a 320 capacity, didn't go unnoticed. 'Obviously it's fun being on a big stage in front of lots of people,' said Kristin before Louise, showing how in sync the pair are, finished her sentence and added: 'But you can't see their faces.' That 'magic' connection with the audience can get a bit lost, especially when the artist has in-ear headphones for the music, which almost completely mutes the crowd. 'When you're playing in smaller venues, you can really have that back and forth with the crowd,' Louise explained, sharing that their recent smaller gig became an accidental Q&A thanks to the intimacy. The Eclipse singers would love for larger artists to start doing small gig tours too, bringing their existing fanbase into spaces they may never have seen before. She added: 'The people that already care about music venues, really care. We just need more people who maybe aren't aware of them to be going to those spaces and putting value on them. Ultimately, responsibility falls on the gig-goers to keep the doors open rather than the artists – if you have nobody buying tickets and drinks, then the space cannot continue to function. More Trending 'This is a space where you can see music for affordable prices,' Kristin points out, with most venues only charging around £10 to £15 per gig (as opposed to £200). Rising electricity and daily living costs also impact the venue owners but in the face of the skyrocketing arena and stadium tour prices, going to grassroots venues could be the way forward. Kristin agreed: 'We feel so disconnected in society right now for so many reasons, and to have these spaces to come and be seen by our friends, neighbours, and community and feel supported and support other musicians. 'I think we forget how important it is to be in those spaces.' 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: Plans to save UK's most iconic grassroots music venues from closure revealed MORE: 'You might go to a show at the Windmill, fall in love and end up with a tattoo' MORE: Rocker stops concert to propose to girlfriend on stage in 'beautiful' moment
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William's public dig at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shows he ‘doesn't care' what they think: experts
Prince William is sending out an undeniable message to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Jason Knauf, the former royal aide who accused the Duchess of Sussex of bullying, was recently named CEO of The Earthshot Prize, William's key environmental organization. "Prince William's decision to make Jason Knauf, the former private secretary of the Sussexes, the CEO of his most prestigious project will infuriate Harry and Meghan," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed to Fox News Digital. "It is impossible to avoid feeling that this is precisely what William intended." King Charles Won't Hand Throne To Prince William As Monarchy Shake-up Could Spark 'Crisis': Experts "As far as the Sussexes are concerned, [Knauf] undoubtedly has pariah status," Fitzwilliams claimed. "[But] William is clearly showing he doesn't care about what his brother thinks, much less Meghan. "… The royal rift seems permanent," he added. Read On The Fox News App A statement posted on April 17 revealed that the organization's current CEO, Hannah Jones, will depart from the post this summer after four years. Knauf immediately joined Earthshot and will work with his predecessor in the coming months. "As the first CEO, Hannah has built The Prize into a world-class organization with an incredible team delivering an annual Prize, powering a platform for speeding solutions to scale, and catalyzing a movement to encourage young people, spark imaginations and infuse urgent optimism across the world," said William, 42, in a statement. "As we look ahead to the future of The Prize and the urgent work needed to scale more inspiring solutions to the world's greatest challenges, I look forward to working with Jason to chart the course for the next five years of the Earthshot Prize and beyond," he added. British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital this announcement is significant. "It [represents] Jason's stalwart support of the family during the bullying scandal," she claimed. "This is a clear signal as to the legitimacy of all the bullying reports, damning to Meghan Markle." Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "While every royal has had issues regarding those they can trust, Prince William, having been betrayed by his brother, is wary and has deeper trust issues," Fordwich claimed. "Jason remains one of his closest confidantes, a trusted advisor and a member of his inner circle due to his discretion during difficult times." In February, Knauf gave a rare, televised interview shortly before the Duchess of Sussex launched her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan." When asked by "60 Minutes Australia" about the sudden public attention he received after the bullying allegations went public, Knauf said, "I think it's tough, but it's probably quite good. You know, as someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye, you probably have to take your own medicine sometimes." "You can't choose just to take the fun stuff in any job, and that applies to the prince and princess as well as everyone else working for them," he said. "So, I wouldn't change anything." At the time, Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace and Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment about Knauf's interview. For seven years, Knauf, an American, worked at "the highest levels of the royal family," The Times UK reported. During his time at the palace, Knauf was in charge of communications for Meghan and Prince Harry, as well as William and Kate Middleton. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News The outlet noted that in 2016, Knauf was in charge of protecting Meghan from the relentless British tabloids once her romance with Harry came to light. Knauf described the couple's 2018 wedding as an "amazing, magical experience." However, the outlet noted that five months after the royal wedding, Knauf wrote an incendiary email accusing the former American actress of bullying palace staff. Knauf wrote to Simon Case, his boss and William's private secretary, that there were "some very serious problems" with Meghan's behavior. In the emails, Knauf claimed that Meghan bullied two palace aides out of the household "in the past year." There were also allegations that Megan "undermined the confidence" of a third staff member. "The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights," the outlet quoted him as writing. "She is bullying X and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior." The outlet reported that Knauf felt "it seemed possible" that Meghan could turn on him next. It shared that Knauf resigned a month later but was promptly rehired to work for William and Kate as a special adviser and chief executive of their Royal Foundation. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their offices split before Meghan and Harry made their royal exit. WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM 'PLANNING THEIR LEGACY AMID 'ENDGAME' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. They cited the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media, as well as lack of support from the palace, for their royal exit. In 2021, just days before Meghan and Harry's televised interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, Valentine Low broke the story of the bullying allegations. Meghan's team strongly refuted the claims. "The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma," a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital at the time. "She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." A spokesperson for the Sussexes also told The Times, "Let's just call this what it is – a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation." The Times reported that Knauf resigned from his job working for William and Kate in 2021. At the time, his husband had accepted a diplomatic post abroad. Still, King Charles gave him a rare honor that's bestowed only for "exceptional service to the monarchy." Before Knauf was appointed CEO of Earthshot, he was on the board of trustees. British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that "now more than ever," William "values and surrounds himself with professional and trustworthy people." "Trust is the integral glue in William's life," Chard explained. "… Prince Harry has repeatedly voiced grievances and leaked information about his family to the press, leading to a breakdown of their relationship and all trust. "Jason Knauf has proved himself as a trustworthy, professional, valuable team player and leader. He excelled working for the Prince and Princess of Wales… Jason's care, empathy and work ethic resonated with thankful William. It is hardly surprising that he has now been appointed CEO of The Earthshot Prize." In 2022, Buckingham Palace announced it had completed a review into the handling of the bullying allegations. However, they declined to share the results of the investigation. Chard believes that Knauf's latest role "also endorses that he was correct with the bullying allegations." "… Harry and Meghan may be looking over their shoulders, wondering what new information could be unearthed referencing the bullying claims," she said. "One thing is for sure, Prince William, surprised that blood isn't always thicker than water, champions trustworthy, supportive people." Prince Harry's 'Worst Fears' Realized In Uk Security Battle Low previously told Fox News Digital in 2023 that he stood by his reporting. "The important thing is we all know they're quite litigious," he said, referring to the Sussexes. "But despite getting several strongly worded letters from their lawyers before we published — after we published, we didn't hear a word from them. So that speaks volumes, too." Low's book "Courtiers" also alleged that "relations between the couple and some of their senior staff became so fractious that William's private secretary had to step in to help keep the peace." Low also claimed that some former staff still had difficulty discussing their experiences. Some would even refer to themselves as members of "The Sussex Survivors' Club." WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY ACTED LIKE A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS, PALACE SOURCES ALLEGE IN EXPLOSIVE NEW BOOK When Low's book was published in 2023, reps for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital they generally do not comment "on such books." The Times noted that Knauf remains close to the Prince and Princess of Wales. "If anyone knows where the Megxit bodies are buried, it's a fully paid-up member of the Sussex Survivors Club: Jason Knauf," the outlet article source: Prince William's public dig at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shows he 'doesn't care' what they think: experts
Fox News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Prince William's public dig at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shows he ‘doesn't care' what they think: experts
Prince William is sending out an undeniable message to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Jason Knauf, the former royal aide who accused the Duchess of Sussex of bullying, was recently named CEO of The Earthshot Prize, William's key environmental organization. "Prince William's decision to make Jason Knauf, the former private secretary of the Sussexes, the CEO of his most prestigious project will infuriate Harry and Meghan," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed to Fox News Digital. "It is impossible to avoid feeling that this is precisely what William intended." "As far as the Sussexes are concerned, [Knauf] undoubtedly has pariah status," Fitzwilliams claimed. "[But] William is clearly showing he doesn't care about what his brother thinks, much less Meghan. "… The royal rift seems permanent," he added. A statement posted on April 17 revealed that the organization's current CEO, Hannah Jones, will depart from the post this summer after four years. Knauf immediately joined Earthshot and will work with his predecessor in the coming months. "As the first CEO, Hannah has built The Prize into a world-class organization with an incredible team delivering an annual Prize, powering a platform for speeding solutions to scale, and catalyzing a movement to encourage young people, spark imaginations and infuse urgent optimism across the world," said William, 42, in a statement. "As we look ahead to the future of The Prize and the urgent work needed to scale more inspiring solutions to the world's greatest challenges, I look forward to working with Jason to chart the course for the next five years of the Earthshot Prize and beyond," he added. British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital this announcement is significant. "It [represents] Jason's stalwart support of the family during the bullying scandal," she claimed. "This is a clear signal as to the legitimacy of all the bullying reports, damning to Meghan Markle." "While every royal has had issues regarding those they can trust, Prince William, having been betrayed by his brother, is wary and has deeper trust issues," Fordwich claimed. "Jason remains one of his closest confidantes, a trusted advisor and a member of his inner circle due to his discretion during difficult times." In February, Knauf gave a rare, televised interview shortly before the Duchess of Sussex launched her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan." When asked by "60 Minutes Australia" about the sudden public attention he received after the bullying allegations went public, Knauf said, "I think it's tough, but it's probably quite good. You know, as someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye, you probably have to take your own medicine sometimes." "You can't choose just to take the fun stuff in any job, and that applies to the prince and princess as well as everyone else working for them," he said. "So, I wouldn't change anything." At the time, Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace and Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment about Knauf's interview. For seven years, Knauf, an American, worked at "the highest levels of the royal family," The Times UK reported. During his time at the palace, Knauf was in charge of communications for Meghan and Prince Harry, as well as William and Kate Middleton. The outlet noted that in 2016, Knauf was in charge of protecting Meghan from the relentless British tabloids once her romance with Harry came to light. Knauf described the couple's 2018 wedding as an "amazing, magical experience." However, the outlet noted that five months after the royal wedding, Knauf wrote an incendiary email accusing the former American actress of bullying palace staff. Knauf wrote to Simon Case, his boss and William's private secretary, that there were "some very serious problems" with Meghan's behavior. In the emails, Knauf claimed that Meghan bullied two palace aides out of the household "in the past year." There were also allegations that Megan "undermined the confidence" of a third staff member. "The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights," the outlet quoted him as writing. "She is bullying X and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior." The outlet reported that Knauf felt "it seemed possible" that Meghan could turn on him next. It shared that Knauf resigned a month later but was promptly rehired to work for William and Kate as a special adviser and chief executive of their Royal Foundation. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their offices split before Meghan and Harry made their royal exit. WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM 'PLANNING THEIR LEGACY AMID 'ENDGAME' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. They cited the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media, as well as lack of support from the palace, for their royal exit. In 2021, just days before Meghan and Harry's televised interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, Valentine Low broke the story of the bullying allegations. Meghan's team strongly refuted the claims. "The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma," a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital at the time. "She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." A spokesperson for the Sussexes also told The Times, "Let's just call this what it is – a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation." The Times reported that Knauf resigned from his job working for William and Kate in 2021. At the time, his husband had accepted a diplomatic post abroad. Still, King Charles gave him a rare honor that's bestowed only for "exceptional service to the monarchy." Before Knauf was appointed CEO of Earthshot, he was on the board of trustees. British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that "now more than ever," William "values and surrounds himself with professional and trustworthy people." "Trust is the integral glue in William's life," Chard explained. "… Prince Harry has repeatedly voiced grievances and leaked information about his family to the press, leading to a breakdown of their relationship and all trust. "Jason Knauf has proved himself as a trustworthy, professional, valuable team player and leader. He excelled working for the Prince and Princess of Wales… Jason's care, empathy and work ethic resonated with thankful William. It is hardly surprising that he has now been appointed CEO of The Earthshot Prize." In 2022, Buckingham Palace announced it had completed a review into the handling of the bullying allegations. However, they declined to share the results of the investigation. Chard believes that Knauf's latest role "also endorses that he was correct with the bullying allegations." "… Harry and Meghan may be looking over their shoulders, wondering what new information could be unearthed referencing the bullying claims," she said. "One thing is for sure, Prince William, surprised that blood isn't always thicker than water, champions trustworthy, supportive people." Low previously told Fox News Digital in 2023 that he stood by his reporting. "The important thing is we all know they're quite litigious," he said, referring to the Sussexes. "But despite getting several strongly worded letters from their lawyers before we published — after we published, we didn't hear a word from them. So that speaks volumes, too." Low's book "Courtiers" also alleged that "relations between the couple and some of their senior staff became so fractious that William's private secretary had to step in to help keep the peace." Low also claimed that some former staff still had difficulty discussing their experiences. Some would even refer to themselves as members of "The Sussex Survivors' Club." WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY ACTED LIKE A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS, PALACE SOURCES ALLEGE IN EXPLOSIVE NEW BOOK When Low's book was published in 2023, reps for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital they generally do not comment "on such books." The Times noted that Knauf remains close to the Prince and Princess of Wales. "If anyone knows where the Megxit bodies are buried, it's a fully paid-up member of the Sussex Survivors Club: Jason Knauf," the outlet added.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William Trolls Meghan Markle and ‘Rewards' Aide Who Called Her a Bully With Plum Job
Prince William has 'rewarded' Jason Knauf, Meghan Markle's former press secretary who denounced her as a bully, with a new job as boss of his Earthshot Prize. A colleague of Knauf's, who worked with him at the palace, told the Daily Beast: 'Jason has proved his loyalty to William and has been rewarded. He was caught in the middle of a very nasty situation with Meghan and he just told the truth. Jason is one of the good guys.' The move will be seen in some quarters as yet further evidence that William could care less about reconciling with his brother and his wife, who have always denied Knauf's allegations of bullying, and denounced them as a smear. The allegations that Meghan had 'bullied' staff were originally made by Knauf in a 2018 letter to his boss, Simon Case, who worked for William. Knauf said Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third staff member, writing: 'The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights.' 'She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence,' he continued. 'We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.' A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said at the time that Meghan was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.' The letter surfaced in the public realm just days before Meghan and Harry gave an interview to Oprah in which they accused members of the family of selling them out to the press and asking bigoted questions about the likely skin color of their unborn children. The Sussex camp made clear they saw it as an attempt to harm Meghan's credibility ahead of the interview. In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia in February, Knauf doubled down on his actions, saying he had 'no regrets' over his conduct. Prince William, 42, said in a statement on Friday, 'As we look ahead to the future of The Prize and the urgent work needed to scale more inspiring solutions to the world's greatest challenges, I look forward to working with Jason to chart the course for the next five years of the Earthshot Prize and beyond.' Knauf said: 'I am honored to be appointed as the next CEO of The Earthshot Prize and look forward to working with our exceptional team and incredible Earthshot community to advance our mission of urgent optimism for our planet.' 'The Prize has already achieved so much and the future potential is vast,' he continued. 'I can't wait to get started.'
