The Beckham family are still as estranged as ever – and that was made clear during a recent trip to Paris, as although Brooklyn was in the French capital at the same time as his family, he managed to swerve them entirely.

But now, sources say that Romeo and Cruz are planning to sit down with their older brother for the sake of their heartbroken mum, Victoria.

REACHING OUT

‘The boys are really worried about their mum and how broken she is about the whole Brooklyn split. They are trying to reach out to him, brother to brother – minus the parents – to try to broker some sort of meeting or peace summit.

‘They’re hoping Brooklyn will consider it, especially if parents are not involved. They hate seeing how upset their mum is about it all and want to talk to Brooklyn about the impact it has had and try to find a way forward,’ a source claims.

Tension among the Beckhams had been brewing behind the scenes since 2022, when Brooklyn married Nicola Peltz. At the time, reports of a feud between Nicola, 31, and mother-in-law Victoria, 52, were rife – but both parties put on a united front.

However, in January, the feud burst wide open when Brooklyn, 27, released a six-page statement on social media filled with accusations about David, 51, and Victoria, including that they prioritise ‘Brand Beckham’ over anything else. Brooklyn also accused Victoria of ‘hijacking’ his first dance at his wedding by ‘dancing inappropriately’ with him and said she pulled out of making Nicola’s wedding dress at ‘the eleventh hour’.

Rubbing salt in the wound, Brooklyn – who now lives in the US with Nicola – signed off his statement by declaring he didn’t want to reconcile with his family and proceeded to block them all on social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Despite his wishes, olive branches have been offered by the Beckhams. Posts including Brooklyn have been shared on social media, including old family snaps, and his sister Harper, 15, arrived on his doorstep earlier this year to hand-deliver a letter.

There has been no sign of relations thawing between the eldest Beckham son and his famous family. And now, it seems Romeo, 24, and Cruz, 21, are preparing to take control of the situation, as sources reveal that worries about Victoria are continuing to build as she struggles to cope with the situation.

The insider says, ‘They’re very concerned that Victoria is losing it, basically. She’s an emotional wreck, and they can’t face anymore of seeing their mum in tears and very emotional. So, Romeo and Cruz were just thinking what they can do to try to reach out to Brooklyn in a way that won’t backfire on the family. They’re trying to pull at his heartstrings and find a way that will have a good outcome. It’s going to be very difficult, but they can’t sit back and watch their mum being so distraught.’

She and husband, Joe Swash, have faced non-stop rumours about the state of their marriage over the past year. But now, insiders tell Closer that Stacey Solomon is feeling broody and is planning to build a nursery in their new £2m home.

‘Stacey has got her eye on turning one of the rooms into a nursery. She’s got a lot of stuff in storage and is making a list of all the sentimental items that would work in the space. But she is being coy about it,’ a source says.

‘She has said that she considers this house to be their forever home, and you never know what’s around the corner. When her eldest son Zach temporarily left home for the US, it gave Stacey early empty-nest syndrome and immediately made her feel broody for another baby. She’s told pals that having a nursery in their new home doesn’t mean she’s going to get pregnant tomorrow, but she is planning for the future.’

PERFECT LIFE

Fans will be surprised to learn that mum-of-five Stacey, 37, has more children on her mind, following months of speculation about her marriage. The launch of her and Joe’s BBC reality series last April thrust their relationship into the spotlight, as their everyday squabbles and fallouts over parenting were laid bare. Among the most talked about scenes was the pair’s first couples’ counselling session, which saw Joe, 44, claim that he felt like a ‘problem in Stacey’s perfect life’.

And in the months that followed, a string of other events only added fuel to rumours surrounding their four-year marriage. When Stacey was photographed without her wedding ring, it was seen as a sign that there was trouble in paradise. However, she brushed off the concerns during an interview on This Morning, joking she’d ‘probably took it off to go to the toilet or something’.

But the rumours didn’t die down and were only amplified by the revelation that their 2022 marriage at their home was never legally registered, as well as Stacey – who shares Rex, seven, Rose, five, and Belle, three, with Joe – admitting that she and Joe ‘love a good row’ and often sleep in separate beds.

Now, our source says that Stacey’s latest nursery ideas have left Joe feeling worried.

BUMPY TIME

‘The plans have been quite alarming for Joe,’ the insider continues. ‘He thinks that Stacey designing a nursery means that another baby is high up on their agenda. It’s something they have talked about, but not recently, given that they were going through quite a bumpy time. However, Stacey thinks a baby could be just what the couple need after everything that’s happened recently.’

Fans of the Solomon-Swash family – which also includes Stacey’s two sons, Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 14, and Joe’s son Harry, 19, from previous relationships – were left shocked when they moved out of Pickle Cottage in September. After purchasing the £1.3 million Essex mansion in 2021, Stacey documented the renovation of the property on her Instagram account.

But the family have now upsized to a sprawling £2 million property, boasting eight bedrooms and six reception rooms. Although Stacey – who is the sole owner of the new home – has kept the exterior of the house and location under wraps, she has begun sharing glimpses of the renovation, most recently unveiling a vibrant orange bathroom.

LUXE TASTES

And her plans for the nursery are nothing short of extravagant. Our source explains, ‘Stacey is going all out for the nursery. Left to her own devices, this could easily be a multi-million-pound renovation because it’s going to be a labour of love and she wants to keep adding to it, though Joe will definitely be telling her to rein it in. She’s willing to shell out at least £100k because she wants high-end architectural restructuring and custom luxury design to make something timeless.

‘While Stacey is super- relatable and loves doing her own hacks and DIY, she also does love looking at other celebrities like the Kardashians, who spend thousands on items like Louis Vuitton monogram teddy bears, Calvin Klein luxury blankets and the clear acrylic Nursery Works Vetro Lucite Crib, which costs thousands.

She wants it to be modern and sleek with neutral tones so it could be for a boy or a girl.'

Back in 2024, Stacey hinted she was keen to expand her family as she told social media fans, ‘My favourite thing in the world is being a mum. I get so much joy from watching our little ones grow and getting to be a part of their world. I would love more. Whatever will be, will be.’ She has also said she and Joe would ‘love to foster’ children when their kids are all grown up.

And pals are convinced that the new nursery is Stacey’s way of subtly hinting at another child. Our insiders add, ‘Her pals can’t help but feel she’s doing this because secretly she would like to expand her brood again. But she’s told them that it doesn’t mean she’s ready for another baby right now. Either way, Stacey thinks a nursery will come in handy in the long run, and she’s excited to get started on making her dream happen.’

She’s been in the spotlight for over three decades, but the past year has arguably been Lisa Riley’s best yet. After a stint on I’m A Celebrity! last November, she was awarded an MBE for her services to drama and charity in June, and celebrated her 50th birthday the following month – all while being at the centre of some of Emmerdale’s big storylines as the much-loved Mandy Dingle.

Describing this new decade as the ‘golden time’, Lisa tells Closer, ‘Being 50 has been one of the best things to ever happen to me. I keep pinching myself. Every day, something new and exciting seems to happen. Fifty is nifty – that’s what I keep saying!’

AMBITIOUS

And while some would see the milestone age as a time to slow down, Lisa is only speeding up, as she adds, ‘I am still very ambitious. I’ve got a lot of fire in my belly still.’

Off-screen, Lisa is super loved-up with partner Al, 55. But despite having been together for 13 years, she admits they have no plans to walk down the aisle – and she’s growing tired of the constant speculation. The actress defiantly tells us, ‘We are really happy. It’s boring when people ask if I am getting married. I am not. I have my forever ring. I am never going to change my name. Nothing would be any different if we did get married.’

Refreshingly honest, Lisa has never shied away from talking about the ups and downs she’s experienced. She has been open about her sobriety journey, having quit booze for good 10 years ago, and has also spoken candidly about her struggles with weight loss over the years.

But since embracing a teetotal lifestyle, Lisa has dropped an incredible 12 stone – with an additional 20lbs falling off during her time in the jungle. And after finding forms of exercise she loves doing, Lisa’s feeling better than ever.

‘I go to the gym because I want to go. I like doing classes like Zumba. But I do run around a lot too. When I am on set, I easily hit 10,000 steps,’ she reveals.

Her slimmer frame has even led to Mandy’s wardrobe needing a refresh. Lisa laughs, ‘I do feel good, and it’s funny because now when I put on Mandy’s clothes, they are too big for me! We are having to buy new clothes for her.’

It’s been over 30 years since Lisa made her debut as Mandy, initially starring in the role for five years. Aside from a brief return in 2001, she stayed away from the Dales until 2019, when Mandy made a long-awaited comeback.

SHOWBIZ PALS

And Lisa still loves her character just as much as she did in 1995. ‘I love playing Mandy. It’s such a fun soap to work on. I recently did an Emmerdale tour, and 900 guests attended. They all went, “OMG, I wanted you.” Who doesn’t want to hear that?!’

Appearing on I’m A Celebrity! gave the actress a chance to show fans another side to her away from the soap, and it certainly paid off. Finishing in fifth place, Lisa found a whole new audience – and made a new group of showbiz pals.

‘We were lucky with our clan. We didn’t have any egotistical politicians who wanted to save their reputation,’ she jokes.

While she struck up bonds with the likes of Jack Osbourne and Ruby Wax on the ITV show, it was Lisa’s unlikely friendship with YouTube star Angry Ginge – real name Morgan Burtwistle – that proved to be transformative.

She’s remained good pals with Ginge, 24, and has even joined him on his live streams. ‘Everyone is obsessed with us. We got 5.1 million views recently. It’s mad,’ Lisa says in disbelief. ‘I think people love us being together. I am 25 years older than him, but when we are together, there is this spark.’

And she’s hoping there’s plenty more TV to come. Lisa reveals the celebrity edition of The Great British Bake Off is high up on her list of goals, though she admits, ‘I can’t bake. I would make a sloppy mess.’ But meeting her ‘girl crush’ Nigella Lawson could make it all worth it. ‘I idolise Nigella. She is incredible,’ Lisa adds.

Soap fans need not fear though, as Lisa reveals she ‘definitely’ wants to stay at Emmerdale for the foreseeable. ‘I never take anything for granted,’ she adds. ‘Everyone is as good as their last scene. What if we had a new producer and they said, “Bye bye to the Dingles?” Hopefully they won’t, but you never know. I really enjoy my job – I am so lucky.’

Emmerdale airs every weekday on ITV1 and STV1 at 8pm. Episodes can also be downloaded on ITVX

She and her husband, Christian Horner, have had a rocky few years following his sexting scandal.

But now, after the former Formula 1 boss’ huge £67million payout following his sacking by Red Bull last summer, insiders say former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is focusing on their future together – with big plans to save their marriage.

‘Geri and Christian have been through an awful lot together – the damage to his reputation and the strain on their marriage were considerable,’ the source says. ‘They were in a very unhappy place for quite a while, and Geri was deeply upset by everything that happened. But she has forgiven Christian, and now they’re looking at what they can achieve together as a family.’

The insider adds, ‘The money changes things for them, but Geri’s looking at the bigger picture. She’s got all these plans for them, and one of their first priorities is to find a new home, with her heart set on another country mansion.’

Christian, 52, and Geri, 54, married in 2015 and share son Monty, nine – she’s also mum to Bluebell, 20, with ex Sacha Gervasi, while Christian has 13-year-old daughter Olivia.

Their marriage was rocked when the Red Bull F1 CEO and team principal was accused of inappropriate behaviour in 2024 – which he denied and was cleared of – and his subsequent sacking last year for reasons which have not been publicly disclosed.

The insider reveals that Geri, who has become a ‘momager’ to aspiring singer Bluebell and is wealthy in her own right, is now determined to focus on the family’s future.

The source adds, ‘She wants the next few years to be about the family achieving things, rather than being dragged through another scandal. She’s got big ambitions for all of them.’

It may seem hard to believe by looking at her, but this week marks a significant birthday for Cat Deeley, who turns 50 on Friday. While the presenter admits she’s not big on celebrating her birthday – ‘I don’t like being the centre of attention,’ she says – Cat isn’t fazed about getting older. ‘I feel good. I feel as though I’ve got loads of energy, my kids keep me young, I do something I love. Life doesn’t get much better than that,’ she says.

STRESS SPOTS

The This Morning presenter has a glow that women half her age might envy, and admits in many ways she feels better in her skin than during her time working on SMTV Live in her twenties. ‘I prefer my face now to back then because I’d get stress spots that were so big and so sore,’ she says. ‘I used to go first thing in the morning, and I’d arrive at the studio before anybody else because I didn’t like to not have my make-up on.’

As for the physical challenges that come in midlife, she’s one of the lucky ones without any significant perimenopausal symptoms. ‘I thought [I] would because my mum went through menopause really, really early. I get hot sometimes, but no HRT for me yet – not that I’m not open to that at some stage.’

But that’s not to say the former model has had an easy few years. Last July saw her announce her split from husband Patrick Kielty, 55, just weeks before their 13th wedding anniversary. The former couple, who met while co-presenting Fame Academy, share sons Milo, 10, and James, eight, and announced at the time that they would ‘continue to be united as loving parents’.

Cat, who claims to be a surprisingly strict parent, confesses that juggling her life as a working mum takes a village. ‘I have the most amazing nanny who is just incredible, and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do [without her]. It would be physically impossible,’ she says.

She’s also supported by her parents and brother, who were a major part in her family’s decision to move back from LA after 12 years of living and working there. ‘I wanted the kids to go to school here,’ Cat explains. ‘And my mum and dad are still alive, fit and healthy, full of life. And my kids love hanging out with grandma and grandad too. You have such a small window of time actually when those two things align. I didn’t want to miss out on that.’

That said, the transition back to British life has involved some adjustment – including giving up the horse that she co-owned and used to ride to a margarita bar and back! ‘It was probably highly illegal,’ she laughs, adding, ‘I miss LA for me – the sunshine, having a horse, walking on the beach. I miss all of that, but I think what I gain in terms of the boys and family and friends is huge.’

Cat, who joined This Morning as a permanent fixture alongside Ben Shephard in 2024, is undoubtedly busy, with live shows from Monday to Thursday, time spent researching and prepping and, of course, parenting.

SELF-CARE

So, self-care needs to be squeezed into the gaps. ‘It’s anything that is simple and easy to fit into everyday life. And something that delivers. I don’t have time to waste,’ she says.

She’s been taking collagen for years for her skin, nails and joints, and tries to do yoga every day, with a subscription to online platform Glo. But the presenter admits that relaxing doesn’t come easily, and she’s often plagued by late-night worries.

‘I’ve got that monkey mind brain when you lie in bed, and it starts off, “Oh, I must remember to do that tomorrow, then that, then that…” It starts off really useful, and then you just disappear into this abyss of inane chatter in your head,’ she explains, adding that she relies on list-making and regular exercise to help.

She never gets too long to ruminate, as her boys still want to climb into her bed in the night! ‘Soon they’ll grunt at me, and they won’t want to know me at all, so I’m quite enjoying that,’ she says.

It’s no wonder she has a lot on her mind, as life is all change at the moment. She is currently building a house, revealing, ‘I’m doing a big renovation, which is a massive project, and my brother is helping me do it.’ She is also rumoured to be dating Hollywood marketing executive Charlie Coleman after they were spotted cosying up back in July.

But whatever the future holds, the soon-to-be 50-year-old is happy to face any fears. ‘I like doing things that scare me a little bit. I always feel like if an opportunity comes up, or there’s something life-changing that you want to do, if you feel a little bit scared and you’re approaching it with a little trepidation, then you should probably do it,’ she says.

Cat Deeley is the new face of Gold Collagen (gold-collagen.com)

Fresh from his stint in prison, Lee Andrews sparked a social media frenzy last week after sharing a video of adult content creator Bonnie Blue taking aim at ex-wife Katie Price. Now, sources tell Closer that a furious Katie, 48, is convinced he’s trying to provoke a reaction and make her jealous.

OBSESSED

‘Katie is genuinely unsettled by it all,’ our insider says. ‘She feels like Lee just won’t let things go and is constantly looking for another way to get her attention. He’s obsessed with her, and she doesn’t know if she should love it or if she should be scared.’

The Dubai-based businessman, 43, set tongues wagging after posting a video of OnlyFans star Bonnie, 27, talking about Katie. She said, ‘I know my body count is high, but that girl goes through men more than I do. I actually think Katie Price has been married to more men than what I have slept with.’ Bonnie – who went viral for sleeping with over 1,000 men in 12 hours – has since claimed that Lee paid her for the video via Cameo, something he denies. Days later, he also posted a topless snap of himself alongside an OnlyFans link to his own profile.

And our source says Lee knows ‘exactly what he’s doing’. The insider continues, ‘Pushing the OnlyFans content on Instagram is all about getting a reaction and making Katie jealous. The Bonnie Blue cameo was apparently just the beginning.

DESPERATE

‘He’d love to meet Bonnie properly and wouldn’t say no to dating her. Another famous girlfriend would be the perfect way to get under Katie’s skin. It’s become a desperate game of trying to stay relevant.’

Katie and Lee’s whirlwind relationship kicked off in January after the pair met on social media, before tying the knot just weeks later. In the months that followed, Lee made several sensational claims about his life, including that he was kidnapped by a group of masked men – but was later found in Al-Awir prison.

He was released, but was sent back in July, where he remained until earlier this month. Katie had originally stood by her conman husband, but a lie about his wealth proved to be the final straw. She called it quits for good in September after he claimed to have £37 million tucked away in a Bitcoin wallet, but after Katie brought in crypto experts to check, they found it held just £2.22.

As the former glamour model attempts to move on, our source adds, ‘Lee wants people talking about him, and more than anything, he wants Katie to notice. It’s almost as though the more she ignores him, the harder he tries. Katie just wants to figure out her life. She feels she’s being dragged into another circus.’

She was back in good spirits as she made her return to the This Morning sofa following her health scare – and seemingly took a cheeky swipe at pal Holly Willoughby’s infamous ‘Are you OK?’ line in the process. But insiders tell Closer that while Alison Hammond feels she’s ‘earned the right to have the last laugh’ following her dramatic hospitalisation after a panic attack, Holly didn’t see the funny side.

BIT OF FUN

‘Alison would never want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and it was genuinely just a bit of fun. But she wanted to make light of a situation that was stressful for everyone,’ our source reveals. ‘Alison has always been encouraged by producers to be herself and make people laugh.

‘She knew making the cheeky gag that poked fun at Holly might get people talking, but Alison thinks it’s important for everyone to have a bit of a sense of humour. However, even if it wasn’t planned, it left Holly feeling hurt. She couldn’t help but feel it was a bit of a betrayal, as she was part of the This Morning family.’

Suffering an on-air panic attack the previous week, Alison returned to This Morning alongside co-host Dermot O’Leary on 9 October. And in her first live-link to Lorraine Kelly, the former Big Brother star asked, ‘Guys… are you OK? I hope you are’, leaving her colleagues in fits of laughter. The line seemed to be a nod to Holly’s memorable monologue following Phillip Schofield’s departure from the show in May 2023, when she said, ‘Firstly, are you OK? I hope so.’

Holly, 45, and Alison, 51, have been friendly in the past – with Alison even being invited to nights out with Holly and pals Emma Bunton and Nicole Appleton.

Beginning her career on This Morning doing live links around the country – once memorably pushing a crew member into the Liverpool docks by accident – Alison soon climbed the ranks to showbiz correspondent, interviewing some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Since then, she’s quickly become TV’s golden girl – a phrase that was once used about Holly. Earning a regular Friday spot with Dermot on the ITV flagship show, Alison also hosts the likes of The Great British Bake Off, For The Love Of Dogs and Your Song, and will also present the new rebooted series of Name That Tune.

IN DEMAND

The insider continues, ‘Alison’s never been so in demand, and doesn’t take it for granted. She’s grateful to be where she is, and more confident than ever – trusting her instincts and not dimming her light for anyone. She felt Holly would be able to take a joke.’

But while Alison’s career continues to soar, Holly’s has somewhat flatlined in recent years after she resigned from This Morning following a kidnap plot in October 2023. Further blows followed as Dancing On Ice – which she hosted for almost 20 years – was axed last year, while Celebrity Bear Hunt, her Netflix show with Bear Grylls, was not renewed.

In July, Holly made her big comeback with her YouTube series, Together, a magazine-style show similar to This Morning, produced by husband Dan Baldwin’s production company, Hungry Bear. But while she’s rebuilding her career, our insider says Holly is still feeling sensitive.

‘It left a sour taste in Holly’s mouth,’ the source adds. ‘She feels women should be lifting each other up. Holly’s going to take the high road and focus on YouTube, but she felt disappointed. TV can be so cutthroat – she didn’t see the funny side.’

They launched their respective YouTube series just weeks apart, but Vanessa Feltz tells Closer that she has no plans to team up with her former TV co-star Holly Willoughby.

‘A collab? I don’t know. I think that would be weird,’ Vanessa, 64 – who started her series, At Home With Vanessa, in August – admits. ‘But I wish her every possible success, and I know she feels the same about me, so that’s great.’

As the host of This Morning for 14 years, Holly worked alongside Vanessa, who was a phone-in agony aunt and regular guest on the ITV show from 2006 until last year. Off-screen, the pair struck up a close bond and have supported one another through various career milestones and achievements over the years.

And while Vanessa may not be keen to collaborate on a new project, the pair have stayed in touch – and are championing each other’s latest ventures from afar.

Speaking at the Attitude Awards, Vanessa reveals she’s got a dinner date booked in with Holly soon, and they’ve been exchanging encouraging messages.

‘She’s left me a voice note which says, “Sisters are doing it for themselves.” I thought that was absolutely great,’ Vanessa adds to Closer. ‘She’s a very good friend.’

For years, Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor prided themselves on being the friendliest exes around. They lived together long after their marriage ended, stood by each other through scandal after scandal and seemed determined to prove that divorce didn’t have to mean the end of a family.

But now, in what could be their most painful falling-out yet, we’re told the former Duchess of York has been frozen out by the one person she always thought would have her back – her ex-husband.

It’s been three months since reports emerged that Sarah, 66, was heading back to the UK, following seven months in which her whereabouts remained largely under wraps. Yet despite claims she has settled into a gated rental property on the outskirts of London, the so-called ‘disappearing Duchess’ has yet to make a public appearance.

Insiders previously told us that Sarah finally felt ready to rebuild her life after a year of chaos. But could the reason she’s keeping such a low profile be closer to home than anyone imagined?

Earlier this month, it was reported that Andrew, also 66, had completely iced Sarah out of his new life at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate. The pair spent 18 years living together after their 1992 split, before leaving Royal Lodge last year. Now, we’re told, Andrew has not only shut the door on his former wife but has even given her a rather unflattering nickname.

A source told The Times: ‘The red setter, as she’s known, is not welcome at Marsh Farm. She’s persona non grata as far as Andrew is concerned.’

For a couple who once dubbed themselves the ‘world’s most friendly divorced couple’, this is quite the fall from grace.

It’s unclear whether they have spoken since leaving Royal Lodge in early February. But an insider tells us Andrew now sees Sarah as a ‘traitor’, believing she deserted him as the public storm surrounding his long-time friendship with Jeffrey Epstein intensified. The release of emails linked to the financier ultimately preceded Andrew being stripped of his titles last October.

‘For a long time it was Sarah who was refusing to speak to Andrew, but now suddenly he’s the one that won’t take her calls. He’s complaining to everyone that she’s a traitor and says she turned on him the moment he really needed her,’ the source says.

‘Sarah finds all his accusations laughable. She can’t believe he’s got the audacity to lash out at her and block her from getting any support from his family; she’s furious and says the moment she sees him, he’s going to get an earful from her.’

And with the former couple seemingly at loggerheads, there are two people who could be feeling the fallout more keenly than anyone: their daughters, Princess Beatrice, 38, and Princess Eugenie, 36.

The sisters are believed to have maintained contact with their mother despite the upheaval. Insiders claim they travelled to Austria earlier this year to visit Sarah while she was staying at a ski resort, and that Sarah later jetted to Portugal to support Eugenie after she welcomed her third child, daughter Adelaide, in August.

Their relationship with their father, however, appears to have become more complicated. Beatrice and Eugenie were last reported to have seen Andrew in December, at the christening of Beatrice’s youngest daughter, Athena. Beatrice was then reportedly seen privately visiting her father for a horse ride with her eldest daughter, Sienna, in January.

Since then, the sisters are widely believed to have distanced themselves from Andrew, perhaps also in the wake of his February arrest under suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation continues, and Andrew denies any wrongdoing.

We’re told Andrew believes Sarah is partly responsible for the distance between him and his daughters - an accusation that has only added to the family tension.

‘He’s accusing her of turning the girls against him. And it’s true that they have seen her and they won’t visit him,’ the source says.

‘Poor Eugenie and Beatrice are stuck in the middle; they do not want to take sides, but if they have to, they will take their mother’s, no question. They do blame their dad for this whole nightmare and feel they have every right to.’

It’s a miserable position for the princesses, who are being pulled between two parents with seemingly very different ideas about who is to blame. And with Christmas approaching, the family may soon have to navigate an even more uncomfortable question: who gets invited where?

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly heading back to California for the festive season, attention is turning to whether the Yorks will spend Christmas at Sandringham.

According to an insider, Eugenie may be considering an escape of her own, with Portugal emerging as a possible alternative.

‘They are still discussing holiday plans, and it’s very likely they will see their father, but it’s also pretty much guaranteed to be terribly awkward when they do; they're dreading the holidays,’ we’re told.

‘There’s some talk that Eugenie and her family will spend the whole holiday season in Portugal this year; that’s how desperate she is to escape this whole mess.’

But opting out of the family festivities could bring its own complications. Beatrice and Eugenie spent last Christmas with King Charles, Queen Camilla, William and Kate, and an invitation this year would be seen as a sign that the sisters remain firmly part of the royal fold.

The trouble is, we’re told, that Sarah may not be included.

‘The catch for Eugenie is that she also needs to maintain her relationship with the King, William and Kate, and turning down an invitation to Christmas could be taken as a snub which could be a very fatal mistake,’ the source says.

‘Of course, that’s assuming she and Beatrice and their families are invited. If they are, Sarah almost certainly won’t be included, which creates another nightmare. Their mother will be terribly hurt if they spend Christmas with the royals while she’s left out in the cold.’

For Sarah, that could be another painful reminder of how much has changed. She was also drawn into the Epstein scandal after emails allegedly exchanged between her and the financier were released, including one in which she called him a ‘supreme friend’ and asked him, ‘Marry me?’ Sarah is not accused of any legal wrongdoing.

But an insider claims she has yet to fully acknowledge how the fallout has affected her daughters and their position within the family.

‘If she could acknowledge how precarious their position is, and the part she played in the whole awful situation, she might stay home without a fuss. But that isn’t how Sarah sees things, and it’s useless trying to get her to come around,’ the source says.

‘It doesn’t help things that Andrew’s suddenly acting very defiant. The girls are begging him not to do anything rash; they know it will only cause more trouble for him, and for them, but he’s in no mood to listen.’

And Andrew’s reported newfound confidence may be adding fuel to an already blazing row. Sources describe him as ‘very fired up’ after winning his legal dispute against Thames Valley Police last week over raids on his homes earlier this year.

We’re told the victory has left him feeling increasingly ready to fight back – and potentially less willing than ever to accept being sidelined by his family.

‘Winning that legal battle [over the police searches of his home] has him bragging about how he’ll soon clear his name,’ the insider says.

‘He’s very fired up and saying that he’s not going to tolerate any more poor treatment, not from Sarah, and not from his family. He’s even threatening to turn up on the doorstep on Christmas if he’s not invited.

‘He and Sarah are both oblivious to how their dreadful behaviour impacts the girls. Or they simply just don’t care because they’re both so wrapped up in themselves.’

We live in a world that has never been more obsessed with appearance. While women spend a fortune each year on beauty treatments, men have turned to 'looksmaxxing' to boost their attractiveness (which, if you believe influencer Clavicular, involves smashing an actual hammer into your jawline). Yikes!

And if that wasn't enough, there are now dedicated AI apps that will rate your looks in seconds. Upload a photo - your best angle, naturally - and you'll discover not just how attractive you are, but where you rank globally. (Full disclosure: you are currently reading an article penned by someone sitting proudly in the top 15% of attractiveness IN THE WORLD. Milan catwalk, here we come!)

If this all feels like mounting pressure to not just fit in but to actively excel, that's because it is. Those sky-high figures around poor mental health aren't purely down to the looming threat of an army of evil malfunctioning AI robots coming over the horizon.

And all this appearance anxiety may well be feeding into one of the latest - and strangest - dating trends.

In searching for true love, the trickiest situation can be pairing up with someone who sits higher on the attractiveness scale than you. You know the scenario - you introduce your new partner to friends, and one of them pulls you aside to whisper, 'damn, you are punching!' or 'they're out of your league!' It's equal parts compliment / total SLAP IN THE FACE.

Sure, landing an attractive partner feels great, but the creeping anxiety of keeping them, plus those baffling looks of 'why are they with YOU?', can take the shine right off things.

But anyway, back to that dating trend…

We're just going to say it, because it's about as blunt as it gets. Shrekking. Yes, we went there. This is a dating trend that essentially involves describing someone as having the appearance of a depressed green swamp-dwelling ogre.

In practice, Shrekking means deliberately dating down - choosing someone considered less attractive. But why on earth would anyone do that?

The logic, twisted as it is, goes like this: dating someone less attractive gives you the upper hand. You feel superior, more secure, and - crucially - you assume your 'Shrek' will be so grateful to have landed someone like you that they'll be endlessly loyal, try harder, and never cause drama. In short, they'll do ANYTHING to keep you happy.

Toxic? Yeh, we did try to warn you.

But beyond the obvious unpleasantness, there's a rather large problem lurking in the swamp for any wannabe Fiona (and if that reference means nothing to you, please do watch the film).

We'll let a couple of Reddit's wisest contributors take it from here. "Check yourself before you Shrek yourself - 'cause dating an uggo is no guarantee they'll treat you right!"

"[Shrekking means] you could end up with someone both unattractive and shitty as a person. Being less attractive doesn't automatically make people better; humans don't operate on stat points."

Yup, they nailed it. The bottom line is this is a pretty terrible foundation for any relationship - even for those who've been ghosted, dismissed, belittled and are simply craving someone who'll just be grateful to have them. This is definitely not the answer.

So what is? We’re glad you asked. Students, prepare for your lesson of the day.

Ditch the scorecard
Stop treating dating like a beauty league table. Focus on how someone actually treats you, rather than where they'd place in some imaginary attractiveness ranking.

Look deeper than the surface
Emotional availability, shared values, good communication - these are the things that make a relationship work. Forget the aesthetics. Are they kind? That matters more.

Back yourself
Invest time in things you love and are good at. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your worth. Confidence built from the inside out is far more attractive than any jawline-hammering technique.

Know your worth - and hold the line
Walk away from relationships built on manipulation or one-sided effort. Release the need to always hold the 'upper hand' and stop trying to 'keep up'. The right relationship shouldn't feel like a competition. Just be you.

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Christmas with the in-laws can be awkward at the best of times. There’s the forced small talk, the questionable Secret Santa presents and the battle over who gets the good bedroom. But when your in-laws happen to be the Royal Family, things can get a whole lot trickier – particularly when relations are already frosty.

And it seems Prince Harry may have to wave goodbye to his hopes of a royal Christmas, with Meghan Markle reportedly making her feelings very clear. Her four-word warning to her husband? ‘I won’t be humiliated’.

Earlier this week, People magazine announced that Harry, Meghan and their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, won’t be joining the Royal Family at Sandringham this Christmas. Instead, the Sussexes are expected to spend Thanksgiving on 27 November and the festive period in the US with Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland, with the location reportedly depending on her preference.

It’s quite a change of scene considering the couple only touched down in Britain in August. And while Meghan is said to be looking forward to Christmas with her mum, we’re told Harry had hoped to spend more time with his dad, King Charles.

According to an insider, however, Meghan isn’t prepared to risk an awkward festive gathering with the royals - invited or otherwise.

‘He’s very disappointed, because in his mind they could have brought Doria to the Cotswolds and perhaps still scored an invite to see his father or the Spencers as a back-up option, but Meghan wasn’t having any of it,’ the insider says.

‘Harry did his best to persuade Meghan [to stick around for Xmas], but Meghan wasn’t prepared to sit around being humiliated by the royals, even if they’d extended an invite. It gave her the perfect excuse to book a flight back to Montecito, and Harry ultimately didn’t have much of a choice.’

Harry was reportedly hoping for a little festive magic, while Meghan appears to have other plans. And given the family’s complicated history, a Sandringham Christmas full of crackers and forced smiles might not have been quite the cosy card moment it sounds like.

We’re told there may also have been relieved faces behind palace doors. Relations between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales remain strained, and one source recently claimed William has adopted a particularly frosty approach to his brother.

‘He’s stopped complaining about Harry and Meghan and is now acting like they don’t even exist instead,’ the insider says.

Meanwhile, we’re told palace figures had been caught between a rock and a hard place over whether Harry and Meghan should be invited. Leaving them out could have looked petty, but bringing everyone together for Christmas dinner might have made for a rather uncomfortable afternoon.

‘It doesn’t seem to dawn on him [Harry] that the royals are actually relieved they don’t have to officially turn him and Meghan down now,’ the source says.

‘This is something that is being welcomed by the King, by Queen Camilla and most of all by William. They are all breathing much easier knowing they won’t have to sit around a table with Harry and Meghan; it would have been such an awkward mess.’

‘They have enough on their plates without having to navigate a load of tension with the Sussexes over Christmas. And truth be told, they were feeling a lot of pressure to extend some sort of invite to them. Lord knows if they didn’t, the odds of Harry calling them out over the snub are very high; that was a big talking point among the courtiers.’

It’s been three months since Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, visited Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in July. The meeting was widely seen as a possible step towards repairing the family rift, but things have hardly been plain sailing since.

Harry recently spent time with his uncle, Charles Spencer, at Althorp House, Princess Diana’s ancestral home. The Earl’s subsequent memoir made headlines for its claims about Diana’s marriage and the events surrounding her death.

He alleged that the King appeared ‘giddy’ following the news of Diana’s death and discussed the breakdown of her marriage in detail, making claims about the roles he believes Charles and Queen Camilla played in his sister’s unhappiness. Piers Morgan later claimed the Palace were ‘spitting blood’ over the memoir.

According to an insider, Harry had hoped Christmas might provide an opportunity to build on his meeting with his father. Meghan, however, is said to have made up her mind.

‘The fact that he’s spent virtually no time with his father since arriving in the UK looks terrible, but Harry insists he’s tried and been rebuffed. His hope was that they would make some special Christmas moments with his father this year as a family, but Meghan’s not budging,’ we’re told.

‘She cannot bear the idea of struggling through a phoney Christmas with the Royal Family. She’s going home, and Harry has agreed to it to make her happy, since he did promise they could go home for plenty of trips; he’s not going to rescind on that, but it is with a heavy heart that this is happening.’

The Sussexes also made their first joint appearance in the UK on Thursday in Nottingham. But Harry’s reception at a rugby match over the weekend, where he was booed by some spectators, suggests winning back the British public may not be straightforward.

Heading back to California for at least a month so soon after arriving in Britain is also likely to raise eyebrows. We’re told Harry has been insisting the trip was always part of the plan, but behind closed doors, he’s still hoping Meghan might change her mind.

‘They are all about putting on a united front so he’s saving face and telling people this was always the plan, but everyone knows he had his heart set on an English Christmas,’ the source says.

The insider adds that Harry fears his father could interpret the early return to California as another sign that the Sussexes want to dip in and out of life in the UK on their own terms - something that won't bode well for the 'half-in, half-out' royal role Harry is reportedly after.

‘Harry’s fear is that his father will interpret this as them putting their noses in the air and heading back to Montecito in a huff. Harry’s worry is that this trip back to California so soon after arriving is going to reinforce the impression that he wants to flit in and out of royal life whenever it suits him,' the source says.

'Fact is, he’s still holding out hope Meghan will change her mind, but that’s just never going to happen. She’s already making plans; she wants to host a holiday party, and she can’t wait to see her mom. She is very excited.’

For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, family fallouts have become something of an unwanted speciality. But just when it seemed their relationship with Princess Eugenie was one royal bond they could count on, cracks have reportedly begun to appear, and an incredibly awkward story involving a very personal gift has only added to the drama.

After months of speculation about whether the Sussexes would spend Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham, it was reported earlier this week that they are instead heading back to California to celebrate with Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland.

Avoiding an awkward festive encounter with Prince William and Princess Kate is widely believed to be part of the appeal. But there may be another royal Harry and Meghan are worried about bumping into – or, perhaps more accurately, not bumping into.

Once one of their closest allies, Eugenie, 36, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, are reportedly keeping their distance. And with the Sussexes now back in the UK, we’re told Harry and Meghan are struggling to understand why their once close-knit friendship appears to be cooling.

An insider says, ‘There’s been nothing said directly, but there’s been a very obvious cooling off, and Harry isn’t willing to just sit back and pretend it’s not happening. He wants to sit down and talk about it.

‘He’s not looking to cause any stress for Eugenie, but he and Meghan are both pretty bewildered by how distant she and Jack have been, and he wants to have a heart-to-heart.'

They add, ‘This is unchartered territory for Harry and Meghan, as everyone knows that normally they’re the ones doing the ghosting! But the message has well and truly hit home at this point that Eugenie and Jack aren’t biting on their many invites to hang out, which is extremely hurtful as well as highly embarrassing.’

And then came the book saga. Earlier this month, a copy of Meghan’s children’s book, The Bench, appeared on eBay, complete with a handwritten inscription from the Duchess addressed to ‘Eug and Jack’. The London-based rare bookseller reportedly listed it for a staggering £20,000 before the listing was taken down.

For a gift that was clearly intended to be personal, the discovery was hardly ideal. Eugenie was said to have been ‘horrified’, with reports suggesting the book had been misplaced during house moves.

There’s no suggestion that the Princess deliberately disposed of the gift, but the whole episode was undeniably awkward. And with the friendship already said to be cooling, it was hardly the sort of headline either side would have wanted.

Still, our source insists Harry and Meghan aren’t holding the book incident against Eugenie. In fact, we’re told they’re keen to make sure she knows there are no hard feelings – and that they want to save the friendship before it drifts any further.

‘Everyone was aghast when her signed book from Meghan turned up on eBay, but there’s no hard feelings on Harry and Meghan’s part; they understand it was an accident and he wants to make sure Eugenie isn’t worried about that or feeling awkward in any way,’ the source says.

‘Harry and Meghan value Eugenie and Jack so much and they want to be proactive about making sure this relationship isn’t affected by the overall family drama. They certainly believe Prince William would like to see them isolated from everyone in the family, and Harry is determined not to let that happen.’

It’s a lot of emotion to attach to a book listing, but for Harry, this friendship reportedly represents far more than an occasional catch-up with a cousin. With his relationship with much of the Royal Family still fractured, Eugenie has long been seen as someone who understands his position – and who has remained close to him through some of his most difficult years.

The pair’s bond goes back to childhood, when they holidayed together and spent summers at Balmoral. And Eugenie and Jack were part of Harry and Meghan’s story long before the royal rift became international news.

In 2016, the four attended a Halloween party in Canada just before Harry and Meghan’s romance became public. Meghan later recalled, ‘The four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple.’

It was a glimpse of a happy, carefree friendship that seemed to survive even as the Sussexes’ relationship with the rest of the family deteriorated. After Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020, the couple appeared to maintain a more discreet alliance with Eugenie and Jack, who visited them in America in February 2022, months after the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

By 2024, the connection appeared stronger than ever when Harry and Meghan bought a property at the same luxury Portuguese resort where Eugenie and Jack spend much of their time. With the Sussexes’ relationship with William and Kate in tatters, the two couples looked to have found their own little corner of the royal world.

But more recently, the signs have reportedly been less encouraging.

When Harry and Meghan holidayed in Portugal over the summer, ahead of their return to the UK in August, Eugenie and Jack were noticeably absent from the carousel of photos Meghan shared on social media. Weeks later, reports emerged that Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, ‘are not in touch’ with the Sussexes, and that Eugenie and Jack had not met up with them during the trip.

Eugenie welcomed her third child in early August, which initially offered an obvious explanation for the lack of socialising. But three months on, we’re told Harry and Meghan are finding it harder to dismiss the growing distance as a simple case of new-baby chaos and busy diaries.

‘At first it seemed perfectly logical, given that Eugenie has her hands full with the new baby and they didn’t have a lot of spare time to socialise themselves whilst they were settling in, dealing with the drama of the kids having to switch schools and so on,’ the source says.

‘But the longer time’s gone on, the more apparent it is that Eugenie and Jack are clearly distancing themselves from them and that they’re uneasy about spending time together in the UK.’

For Harry, that apparent distance is said to be especially painful. He has spent years speaking about feeling isolated from his family, and Eugenie has often been viewed as one of the few relatives with whom he could maintain a genuine connection.

‘It’s very hard for them to process, Harry especially, because he’s always seen Eugenie as an ally and by far his most special friend in the entire royal family – since Megxit, especially,’ the insider says.

‘He and Meghan had a good rapport with Beatrice and Edo [Mapelli-Mozzi], too, but that’s kind of withered away naturally, and they’re not so fussed or hurt by that. It’s the relationship with Eugenie that means the most to them. Harry always believed their bond was totally unbreakable. That’s why he’s not prepared to give up on her or Jack, whom he likes a lot and always enjoys catching up with.’

And so, rather than accepting the apparent snub and retreating, we’re told Harry wants to tackle the situation head-on. With the Sussexes expected to return to California before Thanksgiving at the end of November, he is reportedly pushing for a face-to-face with Eugenie before they leave.

According to the source, Harry wants to get his cousin alone first, before the two couples sit down together and attempt to clear the air. But there’s one subject he is particularly keen to discuss: William.

‘It’s obviously a sensitive situation and needs to be handled carefully. In an ideal world, he’ll get a one-on-one with Eugenie, then they’ll be able to sit down and hash things out,’ the source says.

‘Harry plans on confronting her directly about the William situation, too. He’s 100 per cent convinced this is the main reason for the ghosting and that his brother has essentially got everyone scared to be friends with him and Meghan. And yes, he plans to look Eugenie directly in the eye and have that clarified officially.

‘Make no mistake, this is right up there as a priority for Harry, and he won’t rest until there’s closure either way. But ultimately, he’s confident there’s a solution to be had, and they’ll all be spending time again soon enough – preferably this side of Christmas.’

She may have interviewed a lot of A-listers in her career, but it’s the Princess of Wales who has made a memorable impact on Giovanna Fletcher.

The pair met for an episode of her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2020, where Kate candidly opened up about mum guilt, her pregnancies and her childhood.

Giovanna, 41, tells Closer, ‘I am in awe of Catherine. She’s absolutely incredible at what she does. She’s full of kindness and compassion, and she’s really, really smart. She knows what she wants to do, where she wants her legacies to lie, and she does all she can to change things within the early years and everything around it. I’m really excited to see what she does in the years to come.’

NEW GENERATION

And she thinks the future is bright with Kate and Prince William at the helm of the monarchy. She adds, ‘It’s so exciting. The King has done so much over the years but I think it’s going to get better and better with William and Catherine, being the new generation.’

Giovanna, who leads the CoppaFeel charity treks, says she’d love to have the Princess join them in future. Kate, 44, has been in remission since January 2025 after her diagnosis with an unspecified cancer in 2024. ‘Catherine would always be welcome on a CoppaFeel trek. Whenever she wants, she can give us a call,’ she says.

Life’s been non-stop for Gi – as her loved ones call her – recently. The podcaster, author and actress has just returned from China on the latest CoppaFeel trek, raising awareness for breast cancer, where she was joined by Vicky Pattison and Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Sara Davies.

‘It was absolutely amazing,’ she tells us. ‘We had in-depth chats, we sang, we cried. There were big drops and steep climbs on the Great Wall, so it was a really challenging trek. Thankfully, my body feels less achy now.’

Being away from husband Tom and their children, Buzz, 12, Buddy, 10, and Max, eight, was tough. ‘It’s never easy. And I have those wobbles of, should I be going away? But I need to go and enjoy it because when I get back, it’s back to normal life,’ she says.

Gi – who was crowned Queen of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity’s 2020 series – and her husband Tom Fletcher, 41, are showbiz royalty. Her brother is TOWIE’s Mario Falcone, while Tom, frontman of pop-rock group McFly, has been on Strictly, is the music brains behind Paddington: The Musical and was a coach on The Voice UK alongside bandmate Danny Jones.

‘Our diaries are actually crazy. Next year we’ve got our first clash in all the years of our juggle,’ she reveals. ‘I’m on tour with [stage show] Before I Go To Sleep, and Paddington opens on Broadway at the same time. But we can absolutely make this juggle work. We need life to be stable for the kids, so it’s really important to consult each other so we know who’s going to be there as and when.’

STAGE STRUCK

She can’t wait to return to the stage in the touring production of SJ Watson’s thriller Before I Go To Sleep next year, having starred in The Girl On The Train, 2:22 A Ghost Story, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. ‘I loved the book. As soon as I read it, I was like, “Can we do it?” But I’m awful watching psychological thrillers,’ she laughs. ‘Even on 2:22, knowing the script and what was coming, I’d still jump!’

Amid her busy schedule, Giovanna also says that being in her forties has given her a fresh appreciation for her body. ‘When I was younger, I thought how I felt about my body equated to self-worth. I thought I was worthy of people only if I looked a certain way, whereas now I don’t,’ she says.

‘Working with CoppaFeel and having children has changed my perspective so much. I feel so privileged to hit different milestones, to have a body that’s able to do these treks and take on different mountains. I feel so lucky because I know sadly too many friends who would have loved to have got to 40 and didn’t, so I feel truly honoured to age and to have a body that can do that.’ With so much going on, family time is important to Giovanna and husband Tom, who met as teenagers while at stage school before marrying in 2012.

The star – who is supporting Dolmio’s 40th anniversary campaign about family mealtimes – says, ‘Mealtimes is about us coming together as a family, being able to regroup and touch base with each other,’ she explains. ‘It’s a lovely bit of connection, with phones and toys away and distractions gone.’

When it comes to slowing down, she says that she’s still learning to embrace it. She tells Closer, ‘I am living my best life. Life is really varied – I get lots of time with Tom and the kids, and that’s my priority. If anything, I’ve got to learn to take a step back and to just sit. I’m not a very good sitter, so I’ve got to get comfortable in the slowing down!’

Giovanna has teamed up with Dolmio for their 40th anniversary. Before I Go To Sleep begins in January 2027 – see www.beforeigotosleep.com

From pumpkin picking to palace trails and fright nights, families can save up to 20% on days out across the UK with these amazing offers.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, right at the end of half-term, so there's a whole week of festivities to enjoy. The offers stretch from Devon to the Scottish Highlands and cover everything from pumpkin picking on working farms to full-blown fright-fests at theme parks, with savings of up to £7 per ticket.

London and the South

• Blenheim Palace – Spooktacular Half Term (Woodstock, Oxfordshire): 20% off entry, with the Halloween event included in the standard ticket price. A spooky day out at a World Heritage Site.

• Hobbledown Heath – Pumpkin Festival (Hounslow, London): 20% off the adventure park's pumpkin festival.

• Hobbledown Epsom – Pumpkin Festival (Epsom, Surrey): 15% off pumpkin festival tickets.

South West

• Watermouth Castle – Pumpkins at the Castle (Ilfracombe, Devon): 20% off tickets to the castle's pumpkin celebrations.

Midlands

• Pumpkins at Lower Drayton Farm (Stafford): 15% off a family pumpkin patch visit.

North of England

• Lightwater Valley – Frightwater Valley (Ripon, North Yorkshire): tickets for £15 through Kids Pass, against £22 direct – a saving of £7 per ticket.

• Kenyon Hall Farm (Warrington): 20% off pumpkin picking.

• Farmer Ted's Farm Park – Pumpkin Village (Lancashire): 20% off.

Scotland

• Landmark Forest Adventure Park – Spookfest (Carrbridge, Scottish Highlands): Spookfest tickets from £27 via the app.

All offers are available now in the Kids Pass app. Families can browse the full range of Halloween deals and book directly through the app, subject to availability

Over a year after a terrifying break-in at Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s £3.5 million mansion, it has been revealed that police have shelved the investigation due to a lack of progress.

And now, sources close to the couple tell Closer that the news has left Michelle desperate to flee their Essex home.

TIED DOWN

‘Mark and Michelle don’t need an excuse to leave the country, but they’ve definitely found one with the burglary investigation being shelved,’ our source says. ‘It feels a bit like they would use any excuse at this rate, as they really don’t like being tied down to one place anyway; it’s just not how they like to live their life.

‘She knows it’s a decision that will change their lives, but she’s told friends that she’s been genuinely scared for her safety after the incident, and she feels much safer when she’s globe-trotting with Mark and daughter Palma by her side.’

Mark and Michelle, both 39, spent years transforming their countryside property into their dream home after buying it in 2020, documenting the renovation on social media along the way. Their sprawling mansion has five bedrooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a luxury home gym, with the pair even hosting a star-studded housewarming party dubbed ‘Marchella’ upon its completion in August 2023.

But it became the scene of a terrifying ordeal in February last year, when four masked men targeted the property. Mark was forced to lock himself and Michelle – who was eight months pregnant at the time – away as the intruders searched for valuables. The men eventually fled empty-handed, but the couple, who have been married since 2015, were understandably left shaken by the frightening incident.

Now that the investigation has been closed – with reports that CCTV and forensic evidence failed to identify the suspects – our insider says Michelle no longer feels settled in Essex.

‘Their home is huge and like a fairy tale, but she can’t help but feel like it’s become a bit of a target as crime is still on the rise. There are times she feels as though Britain has become quite unsafe and obviously neither she nor Mark are happy that there isn’t going to be more of an investigation into their case,’ the source explains.

JET-SETTING

Since welcoming their daughter Palma in March 2025 – just one month after the burglary – Mark and Michelle have enjoyed a string of getaways together, including their first holiday as a family of three to Mallorca in August 2025, where the couple own a home on the island. And the jet-setting continued this year: after a sun-soaked trip to Abu Dhabi in January, they took baby Palma on a dream holiday to Disney World in Florida, alongside Mark’s family, including mum Carol and sister Jess.

Meanwhile, actress Michelle – who has previously travelled abroad for work, including to South Africa – has been back on the road with filming commitments. With the success of ITV thriller The Blame behind her, she wasted little time getting stuck into her next project, and has been travelling up and down the country to film her latest Netflix series, The Woods.

Now, she is said to want to escape to somewhere completely new. ‘Michelle has recently been filming her latest Netflix role in Bolton. They just finished filming there recently, and she would really like a change of scenery now,’ the source continues.

‘Obviously Michelle grew up in Salford and loves being in the north whenever she can, but she’s really hoping that her next few acting roles could be in more exotic locations. She also feels that with autumn coming and temperatures set to get colder, this is the right timing for her and Mark to get moving.’

However, Mark – who co-presents his Saturday breakfast radio show alongside Olly Murs – has more ties on UK soil.

The source adds, ‘The only issue is that Mark is a bit more tied down with radio commitments, but he and Michelle always manage to make it work. Mark also doesn’t want Michelle to be scared about security when it comes to their main home in Essex. His family would certainly like for them to be spending more time there so they can have time with Palma, but Michelle is adamant that she and Mark should feel free to make their own choices when it comes to their lifestyle.

‘Her friends think Michelle would use any excuse to get away, but she sees it as them creating great memories together, and she never really wants it to stop. She can’t wait for Palma to get a bit older so she can also have memories of travelling with her parents.’

Two months after they sensationally returned to the UK, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were out in full force last week, making their first joint public appearance during a visit to Nottingham, where they were greeted by hordes of adoring fans waiting for selfies.

But their pseudo-royal appearance has created a lot of drama behind the scenes, with insiders telling us that the Princess of Wales is particularly fed up with the whole circus surrounding her brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

‘Kate has reached breaking point after Harry and Meghan’s Nottingham visit,’ a source tells Closer. ‘She’s spent years biting her tongue, trying to be the bigger person and putting William’s feelings ahead of her own, but she’s reached the point where she feels enough is enough and she’s finding it harder and harder to contain it.

RECOGNITION

‘What really gets to Kate is the idea that Harry and Meghan can come back to Britain, start doing all these performative appearances and somehow expect everybody to forget what’s happened – so they can just slip back into life in the UK when it suits them. She feels they’ve gone too far.’

In a trip steeped in royal history, Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, visited Nottingham, the city in which they made their first joint appearance to announce their engagement back in 2017. They spent time with a number of local charities, including Epic Partners, continuing Harry’s long history with the organisation, which began in 2013, when he was still a working royal. The couple were invited back to the Midlands city in recognition of their previous work and longstanding ties.

Their shock return to British soil in August was met with a firm response from King Charles. In a letter, the monarch made clear that his son and daughter-in-law – who returned from California with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, after six years away – would remain as non-working royals. He also reiterated that the couple are not permitted to use their HRH titles for work purposes.

Meanwhile, the couple have been getting settled into their new lives in the Cotswolds. As well as pub outings with US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi, and sharing glimpses of their new life in the countryside on Instagram, Prince Harry recently released a Masterclass, Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, for which he was reportedly paid $100,000. Meanwhile, Meghan – who is believed to be throwing herself into her As Ever brand full-time – enjoyed an afternoon tea with activist Malala Yousafzai.

For Kate and Wills, their return and subsequent joint engagements has caused some serious concerns. But the idea of having a face-to-face showdown with the couple is said to be triggering for Kate.

‘The trust simply isn’t there, and Kate would be incredibly wary of anything she said being repeated or twisted, so the last thing she wants is to give Meghan another conversation that could potentially end up in the public domain,’ the insider continues.

‘But equally, she can’t keep swallowing her anger and pretending everything is fine. The problem for Kate is that she doesn’t feel she can trust either Harry or Meghan with a private conversation anymore. Instead, Kate’s looking for a way to get her message across through somebody completely removed from the family drama.’

ROYAL RIFT

The now-fraught relationship between the royal sisters-in-law was once filled with goodwill and optimism. Prince William and Kate, both 44, were avid fans of Suits, the legal drama that former actress Meghan starred in, and were excited about welcoming the American actress into the family. But what began as a promising new chapter for the royals soon unravelled into one of its most closely scrutinised rifts.

After they sensationally quit their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a number of damning allegations towards the royals via their Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir, Spare. In their infamous chat with Oprah, the pair accused Kate of making Meghan cry in the run-up to their 2018 wedding during a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses. The Princess of Wales is also alleged to have once said to Meghan, ‘We’re not close enough for you to talk about my hormones’, and demanded an apology after the former Duchess of Sussex said she had ‘baby brain’.

While the couple have laid bare their grievances, Kate has maintained a dignified silence. But now, sources say that the Princess is adamant that she is ready to say her piece.

The source adds, ‘The message Kate wants Meghan to hear could be very simple – you can’t have it both ways. You can’t publicly criticise the family, walk away from royal responsibilities and then expect everybody to welcome you back without addressing what’s happened. Kate isn’t saying reconciliation is impossible. She’s kept quiet for years, but that doesn’t mean she’s prepared to keep doing so indefinitely.’

From backstabbing to betrayals, The Celebrity Traitors has been packed with drama. But insiders tell Closer that tensions also spilt over behind the scenes, with the cutthroat game proving too much for some of the cast – and a backstage feud rocking the show.

‘The tension was palpable both on and off screen. Producers were surprised at how difficult the atmosphere had become and were not expecting that kind of reaction,’ an insider says.

‘There were some seriously big personalities in that castle, and not everyone got along. Filming was far more explosive than anyone expected, with constant bickering, huge egos and plenty of clashes that never made it to screen. The drama didn’t stop when the cameras switched off either.

‘There were tensions in the cars, awkward journeys after filming and arguments that carried on long after the round table ended. Tempers were fraying, and the tension just kept building. Eventually, things reached boiling point.’

The second series of the hit show – fronted by Claudia Winkleman – has already delivered a number of standout moments. After Traitor Richard E Grant’s record-breaking banishment at the first round table sent the castle into a spin, viewers have watched on as Maya Jama and a reluctant James Acaster are feeling the pressure of their Traitor status.

TAKEN ABACK

Our source explains that both James, 41, and Maya, 32, were facing secret battles of their own. ‘James became so anxious that filming had to be paused. And Maya was going through a really difficult time in her personal life during filming,’ the insider adds.

‘She was dealing with the breakdown of her relationship with Ruben Dias while she was at the castle, and she couldn’t properly process what was happening because she’d already committed to the show. She had a lot going on emotionally, but there was very little opportunity to step away and deal with it.’

And the Faithfuls were struggling just as much with the pressure, as our insider says comedian Rob Beckett – who was ‘murdered’ last week – caused quite a stir, with the 40-year-old comedian clashing with his co-stars.

‘Rob really struggled with the whole experience,’ the source continues. ‘There were times when his behaviour rubbed some of the other contestants up the wrong way. They were quite taken aback by it, especially as he’s usually such a funny, easy-going character. He had even considered walking away from the show, prompting Claudia to push for a meeting with producers to try to resolve the problem.’

After fronting both the civilian and celebrity editions of the hit BBC series for four years, fiercely protective Claudia, 54 – who left Strictly last year after 11 years as host – was keen to not let off-screen feuds undermine the show she loves.

‘Claudia found herself caught in the middle of an increasingly fraught situation. She felt the best thing to do was get everyone together and thrash things out before the situation got any worse,’ the source says.

‘She didn’t want things getting out of hand, especially with filming still underway. She was also very aware of the problems that had gone on behind the scenes at _Strictl_y, with tensions between celebrities and their professional dance partners.

OVERSHADOWED

‘The last thing she wanted was another one of her shows being overshadowed by that sort of drama. She was determined to make sure everyone sorted out their differences amicably and got back to concentrating on the show.’

This year’s series has had big shoes to fill after Alan Carr stole the show last year, as he hilariously emerged victorious as a Traitor and stole all the money for his chosen charity at the jaw-dropping final round table. It came as no surprise that the BBC format scooped up two BAFTAs as well as a National Television Award.

And while the debut series of the show had plenty of moments of humour and long-standing friendships among the cast, it has been reported that when filming kicked off for this fresh batch of celebs, things got serious very quickly, with a source previously revealing they were ‘at each other’s throats’.

Our insider says, ‘The last series saw some really strong friendships develop, but it’s been a very different story this time around. A lot of the tension and bad feelings between contestants is still there, even though filming actually finished in June. It wasn’t quite what a lot of them thought they were signing up for. The reality of filming was very different from what they’d expected. What’s made things even worse is watching it all back. People are hearing what others really said about them, and it’s stirring up old tensions.’

The source adds, ‘It’s been a real learning curve for the production and welfare teams. There’s now a feeling that things need to be handled differently next time, with more thought given to how the contestants cope with the pressure. They’ll certainly be taking those lessons on board when planning the next series.’

Katie’s cryptic post after rumours

Eamonn Holmes’ girlfriend Katie Alexander has sparked further speculation about their relationship after sharing a cryptic post about ‘knowing her worth’. The relationship counsellor, 45, is seen posing in swimwear as she looks out into the distance in a series of pictures on Instagram.

‘There is a quiet kind of strength in becoming comfortable with who you are,’ she wrote alongside the photos, which she captioned ‘Starting with yourself. No longer needing to prove, explain or seek validation – just choosing peace, protecting your energy and finding beauty in the life you are creating.’ She added, ‘Softness is strength. Peace is luxury. And knowing your worth changes everything.’ Katie’s post follows reports she moved out of Eamonn’s rented flat in Surrey earlier this month, amid his continuing recovery. Eamonn, 66, has been in hospital since he had a stroke in April.

Eamonn and Katie started dating two years ago, shortly after his split from now ex-wife Ruth Langsford, and were first spotted together in August 2024, three months after his marriage breakdown was announced. The High Court divorce trial over Ruth and Eamonn’s assets, including an estimated £5m fortune and £6m marital home, is due to start next month.

There was also further heartbreak for the former couple after their beloved dog Maggie died last week. Loose Women star Ruth, 66, posted, ‘It is with a heavy heart that I tell you our beautiful Maggie has gone to sleep forever. We are so thankful to have had her in our lives for 15 years… she gave us so much joy & unconditional love. We will treasure our memories forever.’

Maggie’s death came after Ruth’s ‘dream’ holiday with her best friend Lucy Alexander.

Scarlett’s joy over baby No.2

TV favourite Scarlett Moffatt has welcomed her second child with fiancé Scott Dobinson – a ‘beautiful boy’ named Clark. ‘Arriving a little earlier than expected and not quite as straightforward as planned, our little family of four was made complete. Our hearts have never been so full,’ she said. Scarlett, 36, and Scott, 37, already have son Jude, three.

Ella’s shock split

It’s all over for TOWIE star Ella Rae Wise and her boyfriend Ricky Lawrence, who have split just two months after going public.

The couple – who were first spotted cosying up in Marbella in August – had even sparked engagement rumours after a pal called them ‘newlyweds’, while Ella, 26, was also seen with a gold band on her wedding finger.

But an insider reveals, ‘Ella and Ricky have decided they’re not compatible long-term and have ended things. Their romance was hot and heavy at the start, but it began to fizzle out and chemistry alone wasn’t enough.’

Ella’s romance with Ricky, 34, came following her split from Dan Edgar in April 2025 after a year-long on/off relationship.

Millie hard launches new hunk

Eight months after her split from Hugo Taylor was made public, former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh has gone Insta-official with her new man, fitness fanatic Matthew ‘Matty’ Tanner. She reposted a photo of them that he took, which he captioned, ‘This girl tho. Perfect Sunday feels.’ It came after the new couple, who are thought to have met on dating app Raya, made their first public appearance at a Boodles store opening.

Ex-MIC co-stars Millie, 37, and Hugo, 40, married in 2018 and share daughters Sienna, six, and Aurelia, four. He recently said, ‘While the past year has brought considerable sadness, I remain grateful for what matters most in my life.’

Halle’s agony over toxic claims

The legal battle between exes Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez has taken a nastier turn. While Monster’s Ball star Halle, who has been accused of allegedly abusing their 13-year-old son Maceo, claimed that the teen should not testify at a custody hearing as she alleged he would be ‘coached and manipulated’ by his father, it has been reported that he will be allowed to take the stand.

Olivier, 60, is seeking full custody of Maceo, claiming his ex-wife, 60, ‘physically abused our son by jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck and choking him’. A restraining order has been granted until the hearing starts.

The Oscar-winning actress, who is engaged to Van Hunt, strongly denies the allegations, saying, ‘I have never physically, emotionally or otherwise abused Maceo. I am not a perpetrator of violence. I would never hurt our child.’

Her daughter Nahla, 18 – whose dad is Gabriel Aubry – added that the allegations are ‘inconsistent with the mum I know’, saying, ‘I never observed anything abusive about her parenting.’

She’s the globally adored actress and singer, with a face to launch a thousand beauty campaigns…and an infamously tricky romantic past. He’s the brooding bodyguard whose one job is to protect her at all costs. He’s always there, just a few paces behind her until, one day, he emerges from the shadows and claims her heart.

OK, yes, this is the plot of the 1992 classic Whitney Houston rom-com The Bodyguard. But if you’ve been keeping an eye on Jennifer Lopez over the past few weeks, you might be thinking this is, in fact, her current reality that’s playing out in real time like a modern-day fairytale.

After all, the superstar has been setting tongues wagging after being pictured on multiple occasions looking very cosy with her loyally doting bodyguard. As of yet, the silver fox has not been named, but he’s been a mainstay by her side – both in press images and in pictures that Jen herself has shared to her own account, especially while charting her time in Italy during Milan Fashion Week.

In one particular image, the 57-year-old is seen holding said bodyguard’s hand as she emerges from a black SUV, before being greeted by a large crowd of fans. On another occasion – in a pic posted to Jen’s own Instagram – said hunky escort is placing a caring hand on her back as he leads her through a throng of well-wishers.

Is he just doing his job? Maybe. But, according to insiders, there really is chemistry between the two behind the scenes, prompting many to believe it’s only a matter of time before Jen takes things to the next level with her mystery protector.

‘One of Jen’s love languages is acts of service, so having a man protecting her, whether he’s on the payroll or not, is very attractive to her,’ says an insider close to the global icon, who’s been resolutely single – in public, at least – since ending her two-year marriage to Ben Affleck in August 2024

‘It doesn’t hurt that she always seems to hire very handsome bodyguards. She was very cosy with her last bodyguard too – the fact is, she loves having hot men to cater to her. This guy has been on the payroll for a while, but they only recently started getting really close.

‘People have noticed that it’s not a typical bodyguard-client dynamic, where he stays in the background. Sometimes when they’re on the private jet, it will just be the two of them huddled up talking for hours, so of course everyone is convinced that there’s something sparking between them. People are joking this is her Whitney/Kevin Costner moment, and it doesn’t seem far from the truth. It’s pretty ironic because she’s been so down in the dumps over Ben, and this guy has been right in front of her the whole time.’

Needless to say, seeing a celebrity flanked by his or her loyal bodyguard is nothing new. But there’s no denying there’s something more familiar about Jen’s escort – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by her watchful fanbase, either. Taking to the comments section on her Instagram last week, followers went wild with speculation. One wrote, ‘The bodyguard in every photo! She knooooows we knoooooow’, while another weighed in, ‘Marry your bodyguard @JLo that’s your man right there’. A third added, ‘I’m getting The Bodyguard vibes…OK Whitney…I mean JLo. That man takes good care of you’.

Admittedly, nothing yet has been confirmed when it comes to their ‘are they/aren’t they?’ romance, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time that Jen has fallen for someone who’s working closely beside her.

As a lovelorn romantic, she’s been married four times (and engaged an extra two times) and has rarely been single in the public eye. Indeed, the past two years might just have been the longest time we’ve seen Jen without a romantic partner – a conscious decision she made after her ‘happy ever after’ with Ben crashed and burned two years ago, two years after they got married and a whopping 20 years since they ended their first engagement in 2004.

Since then, as Closer has told you, the superstar has publicly insisted she’s remaining focused on being alone and prioritising her own career, health and happiness – while also apparently still pining for Ben behind the scenes.

But, as our source tells us, seeing Jen look so happy with her silver-haired bodyguard has got her loved ones convinced that he might just be the one to put a permanent smile back on her face. Sure, she’s coupled up with some very high-powered celebrities in the past – including singer Marc Antony, with whom she shares twins Max and Emme, 18, former baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and Ben – but she’s also fallen hard for less famous people who have worked for her, like her second husband, Cris Judd – whom she was married to from 2001 to 2003 – and who was her backing dancer, or her former backing dancer Caspar Smart, whom she dated from 2011 to 2016.

So, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if she now made things romantic with another man who’s part of J.Lo Inc.

‘No one will ever replace Ben, but she can’t sit around pining for him forever,’ we’re told. ‘She needs to feel alive again, and getting all this attention from another extremely attractive man definitely does the trick. If it happens to make Ben jealous at the same time, even better. But no one should assume this is all just a show for Ben; the spark between her and this guy is very real.

'And it’s definitely not out of the realm of possibilities that she could seriously date him. She’s a hardcore romantic, and she’s never ruled a man out based on what he does for a living or how much money he makes. Don’t forget, she married her backup dancer at the height of her fame. Her bodyguard is very handsome, and he’s with her all the time lately; even when he’s not on the schedule, he seems to be hanging around. Because she’s so busy all the time, Jen relies on her staff for a whole lot, and she lets her guard down with them - they see a side of her that most people never see.’

So far, this really does have all the makings of another Hollywood rom-com blockbuster. Don’t let us down, Jen.

He's pulled off what very few manage in the entertainment world, holding together what looks like a content, stable and surprisingly ordinary marriage for 21 years and counting. Yet as any committed workaholic knows, nailing that elusive work/life balance is near enough impossible – and, it seems, Matt Damon is now feeling the pressure. Sources suggest the actor is finding it hard to maintain harmony at home, having signed up to a punishing schedule that spares barely any time for his loved ones. True, Matt has forever been sought-after in Hollywood, but – by most accounts – his box office pull has reached dizzying new heights following the triumph of his latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, which so far has taken more than $1.685 billion around the globe, cementing the 55-year-old as the most wanted name in the business.

To be fair, the doting father-of-four has always maintained that his family comes first – and he's credited so much of his success to his wife, Luciana Barroso, 50, and their four girls. But nobody has failed to notice that he hasn't eased off at all lately, even after once sharing his vow to Luciana to regularly retreat from the limelight for proper family time. These days, we hear, Luciana (Lucy to those close to her) is beginning to run out of patience. She'd never make him abandon the work he adores, yet she struggles to grasp why, when the world is his and leading directors are happy to bend around his diary, he isn't being firmer about his downtime and ensuring his family still feels like his number one priority.

'Matt and Lucy are trying to find a balance in their lives at a time when a lot is being asked of him on an acting level alone,' says an insider close to the legendary actor, who – in an ironic case of life mirroring reality – is still winning praise for his portrayal of Odysseus, the Greek king who spent 20 years away from his family.

'He almost killed himself making The Odyssey and, after a not-very-long break, he's flung himself into another massive production – the offbeat superhero movie Thasnagar that he's shooting now. Both of those took Matt away from the family's East Coast home for weeks on end. 'Make no mistake, Matt absolutely adores Lucy and the kids; nobody questions that. They have a very passionate, loving marriage, and she's his soulmate, but there are long stretches when she barely sees him because he's completely consumed by work. That does get to her, especially because she's effectively the full-time parent whenever he's away. She's taking care of the house and dealing with everything that comes with raising the kids while Matt is off being a movie star.'

Whereas most of Matt's A-list peers have watched their romances crumble in the same fleeting manner as the majority of showbiz pairings, the enduring bond he shares with Luciana has always defied expectation.

Even the way they met reads like something lifted straight from a romantic comedy. The tale goes that Luciana was tending bar in Miami back in 2003 when Matt wandered in during the shoot for Stuck On You. He went on to say he 'saw her across a room' – and that was that. A couple of years on, the two wed in a low-key ceremony – and once Matt adopted Luciana's then six-year-old daughter, Alexia, they went on to have three further daughters, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15.

In the time since, they've established themselves as one of the steadiest family units anywhere in celebrity land – choosing to spend most of their days at their New York home, far from the madness of La La Land. And, through the years, Matt has opened up about the deal they struck around his relentless career: that he'd break regularly, and never be away too long. Back in 2021, he spelt it out: 'We have a two-week rule. I'm not away for more than two weeks. I think you need to be with the person you love as much as possible. My wife is my soulmate. I don't like being apart from her.'

Yet, a couple of years down the line – while doing press for Oppenheimer (his debut collaboration with director Christopher Nolan) – he confessed to bending their arrangement, admitting, 'The one caveat to my taking time off was if Chris Nolan called.' What he couldn't have predicted then was that, barely after finishing Oppenheimer, he'd find himself reunited with the celebrated director on The Odyssey – which has meant Luciana now having to tolerate that caveat across two films back-to-back.

What's more, even though The Odyssey wrapped in 2025, this year has hardly been quiet for Matt. Back in the Summer, he clocked up serious miles on the movie's promotional circuit, showing up to premieres in London, Paris, New York, Greece and China. And while his family managed to join him for a handful of the overseas trips, he'd have been entirely tied up with work obligations. In the months since, he's been snapped shooting the new sci-fi feature Thasnagar in Los Angeles, with sources revealing most of filming will happen in California, once more dragging Matt from the family's New York base. As our insider explains, it's stirring up plenty of friction back on the east coast.

'This is certainly nothing new for Lucy – Matt's always been very consumed by his work,' we're told. 'But there was this expectation that, by this stage of his life, he'd have stocked up enough cash and awards to pull back and make it less of a priority. But there always seems to be just one more project he has to do. That sadly means there are family moments he simply misses out on. He does his best to be there for the milestones, and he almost always is, but there's a lot to be said for those small day-to-day moments that he just isn't present for.

'Lucy is enormously proud of him and would never want him to stop doing what he loves, but it's no secret she wishes he would dial things way back. The problem is, she's not the type to demand what she wants, so it's very easy for Matt's needs to take priority, without him even realising. People are warning him not to take her for granted and telling him he needs to stick to his word and take a real break when he's done this next movie.'

So, Matt, if these words reach you – take a leaf from the errors of your alter-ego Odysseus and steer that ship homeward before it's too late.

Just a few months ago, it was widely assumed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was idling away his time at Marsh Farm, recently described as ‘down at Marsh’, walking his dogs and tending to his extensive collection of teddy bears – his only company since his banishment from the royal fold.

But now sources have described a very different reality, with one insider summarising, ‘Don’t believe that poor Andy crap. He’s having a very nice time, thank you very much.’

The disgraced former Prince has apparently been back shooting and socialising with a group of pals dubbed ‘the old guard’, who are reported to view the furore surrounding his February arrest under suspicion of misconduct in public office as a ‘storm in a teacup’ that will eventually ‘blow over’. Andrew himself has denied any wrongdoing.

And it’s now becoming clearer by the day that Andrew is ready to fight back after recently winning a legal dispute against Thames Valley Police over the raids on his home earlier this year. His decision to take the police to court would have been unthinkable just a few months ago.

A further insider claimed earlier this week, ‘Something of the old Andrew has returned. The spirit of the grand old Duke of York has been rekindled.’

Now, we’re told that Andrew, 66, is indeed feeling vindicated in light of this recent victory and is planning on using it to his full advantage – starting with a seat at the dinner table at Sandringham this Christmas.

And while on the surface, the idea of Andrew’s presence for the annual festivities seems a surefire way to plunge the royal family into further crisis, the source claims that three senior royals have instead been urging King Charles to extend the invitation.

A source says, ‘Obviously Andrew’s troubles are far from over; he’s still extremely worried about the ongoing case, but this latest win has definitely done wonders for his confidence and overall energy levels.

‘Right now, his biggest focus is forcing his way into the fold for Christmas, and it’s not out of the question. Camilla, Anne and Edward have all been telling the King that it would be both kind and prudent to show his brother a little more mercy. But Charles wants him at arm’s length, and William is totally opposed to the idea of his disgraced uncle coming anywhere near the family, on Christmas Day of all days.’

Of course, the glaring fact in all of this is that Andrew is living on the Sandringham estate, where the royal family traditionally gather for Christmas. So, unless the firm opt to break decades of tradition to relocate their celebration to the likes of Buckingham Palace or Balmoral, then the reality is that Andrew could show up like the ghost of Christmas past whether the royals like it or not.

He also has previous for this. In 2024, King Charles was unable to attend a thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece at St. George’s Chapel, and Prince William had needed to pull out at the last moment for a personal matter.

Taking the opportunity, Andrew was seen marching to the front of the chapel, making it appear as if he wasn’t just representing, but leading the monarchy. The whole saga caused such uproar that the Palace were forced to release a statement to clarify his standing as a non-working royal.

However, not to be deterred, he was accused of pulling off a very similar antic months later at an Easter Sunday Service at St. George’s Chapel. Royal author Robert Hardman claims that this time, Andrew went as far as to push past the Dean to stand behind Charles.

This, of course, is without forgetting the time that he reportedly rammed his Land Rover into the gates of Great Windsor Park to get to his former home of Royal Lodge – causing thousands in damage instead of taking a one-mile detour.

So it’s little surprise that we’re told the royals fear that Andrew could cause an ‘awful scene’ if he doesn’t get his own way.

The source says, ‘It is going to be extremely difficult to keep him away since he’s living less than two miles from where they all spend Christmas every year. It’s actually not out of the realm of possibility that he’ll show up even if he’s not invited and cause some awful scene.

‘He did that before for a church service, and right now he’s feeling pretty emboldened; he’s saying that he’s one step closer to being cleared and it’s time his family stop treating him like he’s this outcast; he’s had enough.’

It’s no secret that the dynamic of the royal family has undergone a huge shift over the past few years, and it was recently reported that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne, have visited Andrew at Marsh Farm to check on his wellbeing.

Perhaps most unexpectedly, a source recently told us that since he was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge last year, Andrew has also been working hard behind the scenes to form a better relationship with one royal in particular – Queen Camilla.

And we’re told that with so much upheaval behind palace walls right now, Camilla – who we were previously told has been acting as a ‘go-between’ for Charles - has surprisingly ‘softened’ towards her brother-in-law and is advising Charles that shunning him at Christmas could ‘do more harm than good’.

‘Camilla is warning Charles Andrew is a loose cannon who needs to be handled with care. She’s very much of the mind that they ought to keep him close to control him. She’s also softened a little towards him,’ the insider says.

‘She’s had to speak to him a whole lot more on behalf of Charles, who simply can’t stomach dealing with Andrew right now, and it has made her see a different side of him. She isn’t pushing for him to just be let back into their lives like everything is normal, but she thinks banning him from Christmas could do more harm than good.’

And the source says that while the King remains ‘furious’ with his brother, the tide may have turned in Andrew’s favour behind palace walls.

‘A number of the courtiers are saying the same thing, that he should be invited simply because it risks making the King look harsh if he shuts his brother out on Christmas,’ we’re told. ‘If the King were to decide to allow Andrew to attend the family holiday, he’d have to play nice with him, which would no doubt be difficult since he’s still so furious.’

One senior royal who we’re told isn’t willing to pop on a paper crown and play nice with his uncle, however, is Prince William, who the source says is ‘vowing’ to shun Christmas at Sandringham altogether if Andrew is in attendance.

‘For William it’s unimaginable that Andrew would attend. He was previously stressing about the possibility of running into Meghan Markle, but now it’s Andrew threatening to ruin the holidays with his mere presence,’ we’re told.

‘He’s threatening to take Kate and the kids away for the holidays if this is approved by his father. He’s vowing to avoid the whole mess if his uncle is going to be there.’

They add, ‘Of course, it would look terrible if William skipped Christmas when his father is ill, so there is hope Kate could talk him out of taking such a harsh stance, but who knows if she’d even try, since she’s by no means softened towards Andrew, either.’

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Next month will mark ten years since the first episode of The Crown hit our screens. Over the past decade, the sensational Netflix royal drama has transformed how the royal family are viewed globally, with its fictional story lines based on real-life events at times blurring the lines between TV and what really goes on behind-palace-walls.

The award-winning show also triggered a new generation of royal dramas, from Bridgerton’s historical Queen Charlotte spin-off to Prime’s 2024 A Very Royal Scandal, a fictional portrayal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis.

Now, it could be Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s time in the limelight, after it was reported that the late Queen Elizabeth’s close friend and confidante of 28 years, Angela Kelly, is set to be the subject of a brand-new film of her life.

With a reputation as the firm’s ultimate ‘gate keeper’, the late monarch's dresser and personal assistant has most recently hit headlines for her run-ins with Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45 - most notably 2018’s ‘tiara-gate’ scandal.

And we’re told that if Angela does opt to collaborate on this project and reveal exactly what happened in the lead-up to the scandal, the Sussexes – who have made millions from their own tell-alls – could find the tables have well and truly turned.

An insider says, ‘Harry has every reason to be afraid of this woman, he tore into her in his book [Spare] and it’s no secret she was absolutely furious; it’s hard to imagine she will pass up the chance for revenge. She was inseparable with Queen Elizabeth, she was privy to nearly everything that went on behind the palace walls, including the whole Megxit nightmare. It’s hard to imagine she will paint Harry and Meghan in a good light so the odds are this will be very embarrassing for them.

‘The project is still very hush hush. Apparently, it started as a documentary, but it’s now morphed into a scripted project, and the word is that Angela’s being consulted on the story.’

Alongside her previous two books – Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe and The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe – last month it was reported that Angela, 68, could also be set to take part in a documentary about working for the royal family, alongside 53 Degrees Global and Walt Disney.

Then earlier this week, the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden claimed a film by Fox Searchlight is in the making, with writer Jeremy Block, the co-creator of A Very Royal Scandal, reported to be behind the script.

One thing is clear – Angela’s story is one that is very much sought after right now, and there is little doubt that when documenting or fictionalising the dressmaker’s story, audiences will want to see ‘tiara-gate’ played out on the Big Screen.

So what happened? It’s alleged that in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018, Angela had declined the couple’s request to have access to the said tiara that Meghan would wear on her wedding day – Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau.

After it was reported that Harry had already ‘hit the roof’ when Meghan was denied access to another tiara she’d had her heart set on, Angela then blocked the new tiara being sent out without proper protocol. Queen Elizabeth reportedly agreed, allegedly saying the precious heirloom was ‘not a toy’.

Harry hit back in his 2023 memoir, Spare, describing Angela as a ‘troublemaker’ and accusing her of purposefully being obstructive when it came to Meghan’s access to the head piece.

He wrote, 'I considered going to Granny, but that would probably mean sparking an all-out confrontation, and I wasn't quite sure with whom Granny would side. Also, to my mind, Angela was a troublemaker, and I didn't need her as an enemy.'

To make matters even worse, Mail on Sunday’s Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths – who previously shared flirtatious banter with Harry when he was younger and single – further claimed earlier this month that Angela had been privy to another ‘incident’ which she claims the Sussexes will be ‘praying’ doesn’t come out.

She said, ‘Apparently there’s another incident from around that time that they are praying does not come out in this drama,’ adding that Harry will be ‘quaking in his boots’ over the prospect of this film.

Now our source adds, ‘This is an absolute nightmare for Harry, the fear of what someone might reveal about his private life is always hovering as this low-level anxiety. But now it’s more than just a potential threat, this is very real and he has no way of knowing how bad it will be at this stage because the information that’s out there is so sparse. He has no way of preparing himself, all he can do is hope there won't be anything too embarrassing that he hasn't already disclosed.’

And despite reports that he was left ‘sickened’ by a scene depicting the ghost of his mother in The Crown and was very much not a fan of the drama, we’re told Prince William may have a rather different viewpoint this time around.

‘Harry and Meghan are seething and trying to put a stop to it, but they won’t have any luck because William is all for this. He loves the idea of them getting a taste of their own medicine,’ the source says.
Meanwhile, since stepping down as a working royal in 2020, Harry’s life has appeared to be something of an open book, from his various interviews, TV projects, his memoir and even his recent sellable masterclass on grief.

But Harry could now be about to hear someone else’s ‘truth’ for a change, as the source claims he is ‘horrified’ by what elements of his past could be dragged back up.

‘He's a very different person now than he was in his younger days, he acknowledges he made plenty of mistakes but that doesn’t mean he wants them dragged back up again all these years later is horrifying,’ the insider says.

‘He already had that awful experience with the journalist [Charlotte Griffiths] spilling all these salacious details about a big party weekend he was on back in the day, but at least he’d already come clean about his previous antics. One of the reasons he was so candid about his drug use in his book was to take away that ammunition. He believed that if he put everything out there himself, nobody could use it against him later.’

But leading on from the famous quote from the late Queen’s statement following Harry and Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey: ‘Recollections may vary’, we could now be set to hear Angela’s own side of the story.

‘Of course, there's no way he could have covered everything that Angela would have seen over the years, she had such extraordinary access. The Queen used to say she was like a sister, that is how close they were,’ the source says.

‘Harry has got to be well aware that there are plenty of people who would love nothing more than to see him and Meghan humiliated so of course there’s a lot of worrying about who she could be working with and what their intentions will be. He can’t do a thing right now but wait on tenterhooks for the shoe to drop though, it's awful.’

Following a record-breaking West End residency, two sold-out UK & Ireland Tours and award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically acclaimed musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie RETURNS for the 10th Anniversary Tour with a brand-new song and you can win tickets plus a £200 Benefit BeautyBundle.

Featuring an all-star cast including, Eternal and Loose Women favourite Kelle Bryan, Strictly Come Dancing legend Joanne Clifton, and Drag Race UK royalty Divina De Campo, this funny, fabulous and feel-good musical is not to be missed.

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation.

Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight. This ‘funny, outrageous, touching’, musical sensation is to be experienced by all the family.

With an original score of catchy pop tunes that will ‘blow the roof off the Theatre’ by lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling, Dan Gillespie Sells and writer Tom MacRae (Doctor Who), this ‘Sparkling coming-of-age musical’ will have everybody talking about Jamie for years to come.

Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie is visiting over 25 cities between 15 January and 24 July 2027 including Leeds, Chester, Shrewsbury, Sunderland, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton, High Wycombe, Sheffield, Manchester, London, and Liverpool.

For more information, and to book your tickets visit Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Competition closes 23rd October 2026.

Terms & Conditions:

One winner will receive four tickets to see Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the tour venue of their choice, subject to availability. No cash alternative available. The prize tickets must be requested within 3 months of receiving notification of the win.

Please note, The role of Miss Hedge will be played by Kelle Bryan from 15 January to 8 May, and Joanne Clifton from 10 May to 24 July.

She’s gone from strength to strength over the past decade, cementing herself as one of the nation’s best-loved presenters thanks to her infectious laugh, hilarious one-liners and down-to-earth approach. From fronting This Morning to winning over viewers on The Great British Bake Off, Alison Hammond’s star has never shone brighter. But as she embraces life in her 50s, Alison insists the best is still to come, revealing she’s happier and more confident than ever.

‘Oh yeah, I’m in my prime, babe,’ she tells Closer. ‘Alison Hammond can’t change. She just gets older and wiser and she’s just been in the queue a little bit longer than other people. I’m enjoying this ride, this journey, what you call life. I’m loving it. I love being me, because everyone else is taken.’

Alison admits that 50 has brought a refreshing new freedom. ‘You know what’s nice about being in your 50s? You can just do what you want to do,’ she says. ‘If it doesn’t make you happy, if it doesn’t bring you joy, then guess what? Don’t do it. I’m really good at saying a polite “no” and that being the end of the sentence.’

SELF BELIEF

One thing Alison certainly isn’t saying no to is work, with slowing down seemingly a long way off. ‘I think I’ve got a good 40 years left,’ she laughs. ‘I feel strong, I feel good. I’m going to 90, I’m telling you that now. Maybe 100!’

Having first found fame on Big Brother in 2002, the national treasure isn’t shy about giving herself the credit she deserves. ‘I just look at myself sometimes and think, “Gosh, you are incredible,”’ she teases. ‘What you’ve achieved, what you’ve overcome. The graft that you have put into this situation. There’s no better person to look up to than myself, to be honest with you. I literally blow my own mind every single day at how incredible I am. I think it’s important to look inwards. The only person I’m in competition with is myself. I want to be better than I was yesterday and keep continuing to do that.’

Alison is feeling every bit as fabulous on the outside too. She's wowed viewers with her jaw-dropping transformation by losing 11 stone along the way. When Closer caught up with her previously, she was raving about her love of reformer Pilates and her grueling 6.30am circuit classes at Stephen Hensel’s Blue Zone gym. Now she’s found her latest fitness fix. ‘I’ve moved on to boxing!’ she reveals. ‘I like getting all my anger out and I gain a lot of energy from it. I’m working with a guy called Stuart [McCann] doing pad work. I can only last about five minutes, but that’s enough!’

Anthony Joshua can breathe a sigh of relief, though. ‘I’d be rubbish! I’m not really a fighter, if I’m honest. I just enjoy doing the pads. It’s so much fun and makes me feel brilliant afterwards!’

HOLIDAY MODE

Away from her hectic TV schedule, Alison’s favourite plus-one is her son Aidan, 21, who is a DJ - and has become Mum’s ultimate holiday wingman. ‘We have the best time,’ she beams. ‘We went to Vegas this year and we had an absolute scream. He’s the best travel partner in the whole wide world.’

Alison caught the travel bug long before fame, spending four years working as a rep in Tunisia - making her a fitting face for TUI’s new Smiles Rewards Club. Members collect ‘Smiles’ on bookings, unlocking exclusive deals, discounts, onboard treats, resort credit and chances to win a dream getaway.

Her passport won’t be gathering dust anytime soon though, as she's off to Armenia next week, with Caribbean sunshine booked for next year. ‘I’ve got Jamaica with TUI next year. I’m going to the Riu,’ she says. ‘I’ve always booked my Jamaica trips with TUI because it literally goes from Birmingham and I’m 10 minutes away. So it’s perfect.’

One non-negotiable in Alison’s suitcase? ‘I like my good old Yorkshire Tea and I won’t have anything less!’ she laughs.

FAMOUS FRIENDS

More than two decades on our screens have seen Alison build quite the star-studded contacts book. Comedian Rob Beckett has become such a firm family favourite that he always pops in when he's performing in Birmingham. ‘Whenever Rob Beckett is in town, he will always come and see me and my family,’ she reveals. ‘He’s a good egg. He gives great advice.’

The Bake Off tent has also brought some fabulous new friendships. After hitting it off with Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood, the trio dubbed themselves the ‘Salty Gang’ and even set up their own WhatsApp group. And having a domestic goddess in your inner circle certainly comes with its perks.

During filming, Nigella treated everyone to a cheeseboard night that was anything but ordinary. ‘She brought this big cool bag full of cheese, butters, crackers and wines. Oh my gosh. Honestly, stuff I’d never seen before,’ Alison laughs. ‘Obviously it’s Nigella. Of course she was going to bring the most quality cheese!’

HAPPINESS

Her CV may boast some of the biggest shows on telly, but Alison has another dream job in her sights - becoming the next Alan Titchmarsh with a gardening show of her own. ‘I love gardening,’ she says. ‘I want a greenhouse. I want to grow some vegetables. I love growing food.’

A former allotment devotee, Alison has grown everything from beetroot and potatoes to corn – although one garlic harvest remains hard to beat. ‘I did some garlic once and I couldn’t get my breath,’ she laughs. ‘From one clove, I got a whole massive bulb of garlic. That just blows my mind.’

In fact, she admits that embracing her green-fingered side brings her endless joy. ‘There is something about being out in the garden that does bring you happiness,’ she says. ‘Even just me sweeping up the leaves and tidying up, you feel like you’ve accomplished something. I love doing my pots, planting my bulbs. I’ll go out in the garden, have a little potter. I just love it!’

To celebrate the launch of TUI Smiles Rewards Club, Alison Hammond partnered with TUI to surprise and reward some of Britain's most loyal people.

If we thought shape-shifters were found exclusively in the realm of Hogwarts, Meghan Markle may have given us an education in how to completely overhaul your image in a matter of weeks, or even days, if her latest appearance is anything to go by.

Last week, Meghan, 45, was photographed outside of London’s Claridge’s with none other than Nobel prize winner and outstanding philanthropist Malala Yousafzai, with the duo having enjoyed an afternoon tea together.

Their renewed friendship, after having first met back in 2020, has now widely been viewed as the launch of a new version of Meghan – named ‘the charity queen’ and even ‘Saint Meghan’.

As is often the case with Meghan, however, something appeared a little out of place and inauthentic. It may have been the awkward hugging right outside the front door of one of London’s most exclusive stores where paparazzi are bound to be waiting, but her choice of outfit also appeared stunningly jarring.

Kitted out with a £16,000 necklace, a £7,000 handbag, a £1,700 coat, a £630 sweatshirt, £1,700 satin trousers and a £795 pair of shoes. The total? Around £28,000 – and this trip was reportedly very low key. It’s hardly the clobber of woman whose commercial appeal across the Atlantic is said to have been floundering, and with her husband Prince Harry’s impressive inheritance aside, royal watchers have still been left scratching their heads over one question: How on earth do Meghan and Harry afford it all?

According to US reports last month, the couple are leaning heavily on favours from very wealthy friends. One such ally is reported to be hedge fund billionaire, Ian Wace, who has been close to the couple for some time, with the Sussexes believed to have spent time at his private Scottish island with their children – Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five - in July.

Now, a source confirms that they are still grateful recipients of kind offers from their pals, but have become keenly aware that this can’t go on forever, meaning that they need to rake in more of their own money – and fast.

An insider says, ‘They’ve been relying a lot on the kindness of their uber-wealthy friends and, by all accounts, a whole lot of credit as well. The fact is they really need a break right now or things could get very rough because they’ve poured so many resources into As Ever [Meghan's lifestyle brand]. They have very high hopes for the wine, and for the new products Meghan has in the pipeline, but they need those things to start bringing in serious money, like, yesterday.

‘Harry wants Meghan to have the best of everything, so he never scrimps or tells her to watch her spending. They do consider themselves royalty, and in fairness, Harry is a Prince, so they can’t really go around looking like regular people. And Meghan definitely does not. Just look at the amount she spends on clothes and going out, it can run into thousands every week.’

Of course, this lavish expenditure has been going on since long before they moved back to the UK. Behind the gates of their sun-soaked Californian home, which they still own, Meghan has only shared glimpses of their farmhouse style kitchen and idyllic grounds. But if she were to pan the camera a little further, audiences buying into her ‘simple life’ ethos would see the nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a swimming pool, a play park and the expansive grounds and private rose garden the couple need to maintain.

Earlier this year, royal author Tom Bower made the shocking allegation in his book, ‘Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family’, that the Sussexes needed an income of at least $3 million annually to maintain their lifestyle in Montecito, with further US reports even speculating that the figure could even have reached $6 million.

This staggering number is said to have included a team of house staff, including security and a nanny, on top of key figures like PR advisers, management teams and travel costs – the list was seemingly endless.

Now they’re back in the UK, having flown in on a whopping private jet, those costs are only likely to have risen, with the couple reportedly hunting for a home in the Cotswolds with a budget of £12 million upwards, while they are currently believed to be staying at a property of a rich pal locally. They also still need to pay for security, and their children’s schooling figures are likely to have increased with both Archie and Lilibet now attending a UK private school.

So, it comes as little surprise that both Harry, 42, and Meghan seem less afraid now to really push ahead publicly with their commercial endeavours.

In the past week alone, Harry has been heavily criticised for reportedly being paid up to $100,000 for his interview on grief in partnership with US tech platform Masterclass.

During the 99-minute film, Harry holds a discussion with American neuroscientist Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor over ways to explore and process grief, as well as ‘speaking from the heart’ with candid details of his own experiences after the passing of Princess Diana in 1997.

Of course, the topic is important and worthy, and Harry's personal experiences and memories are heartbreaking. But make no mistake – the lessons Harry is teaching do not come for free, with subscriptions costing £10-£19 per month, of which Harry could receive up to 30% payment.

Meanwhile Meghan has been shamelessly promoting a £112 advent calendar for her brand. But even still, the source says the couple aren’t yet making enough money to cover their growing expenses long term.

We’re told, ‘Apparently, Harry just made a hundred grand for a speaking engagement, which sounds great, but that's not going to go very far with the kind of expenses they've got. It’s no wonder people are saying it’s unsustainable. It's all very well having exciting prospects and a strong business model, but the bottom line for Harry and Meghan right now is cash flow. They've got enormous expenses going out and not nearly as much money coming in, so it's hard for them not to panic.’

The source adds, ‘Unlike the other royals, they don't have the luxury of having their day-to-day expenses covered, and there's tremendous pressure to keep up appearances and maintain the sort of lifestyle that's expected of them if they want to mix with the upper echelons of society and live up to their image.’

This, again, is another catch Meghan is facing. Because while the British public may want to see the Duchess actively indulging in a slice of humble pie and perhaps a dose of high street fashion to boot, the audience who Meghan hopes her brand will appeal to are the few for whom budgeting is not a big issue.

‘Meghan’s brand is all about selling luxury, people can scoff at the price points on certain items and say people can’t afford them and won’t buy them but the market she’s aiming for doesn’t include everyone; she is aiming this at people that can afford the extra cost, and actually want to pay more because it makes them feel the item has more cache,’ the source says.

'It’s the same audience Gwyneth Paltrow is trying to sell to, and a big part of what adds value is her aspirational lifestyle. Meghan needs to model that; she has to look aspirational every time she steps out of the house and that costs money.’

Meanwhile, Harry may have been able to throw critics off the scent of his wealth with his declaration that his favourite meal is home-roasted chicken and his partiality to a pint, but as the saying goes, you can take a Prince out of Buckingham Palace…

The source says, ‘The irony is that she actually tries hard to cut costs when it comes to her clothing budget, and Harry practically tries to talk her out of it. As stressed as he is, and should be, over the state of things, he doesn’t actually have a real concept of budgeting.

‘He grew up in a world where he never really had to think about money or what things cost so whenever Meghan says she wants something he encourages her to get it, without ever thinking of what the eventual consequences of all the spending will be.’

If you’re a regular single person just looking to find a reasonable other human to spend your days with, get a dog, maybe have some kids and grab a two-week Tui holiday in Spain together, chances are you’re on the dating scene.

And let’s face it - dating is hard! Just imagine if you’re a celebrity with that exact same problem: where on earth are you going to meet your match? Well, for some of these celebrities, dating has been more like an uber delivery service, and they’ve managed to hook up with fans delivered directly to them backstage, in the crowd or in a coffee shop.

And when we say hook-up, we do mean it, which basically means that if you’re in the right place, at the right time with your fave celeb, you could snog, bump uglies or even marry them, just like these guys…

HARRY STYLES

It was during an appearance on the Ellen show that global megastar Mr Styles admitted he had slept with fans. But while he didn’t elaborate any further, in 2015 he said that he stopped being ashamed of his behaviour and the stress of “kiss and tells saying, "I'm a 26-year-old man who's single; it's like, yes, I have sex". In 201 rumours swirled that Harry was seriously dating fan Alexis Allen (after she held up a sign at his concert) and that he had flown her to one of his other concerts- neither party ever confirmed or denied the story.

And then came the ultimate dream: Harry Styles went on a blind date with student Townes Adair Jones. Now, we can’t confirm if she was a fan, but let’s be honest, this is Harry Styles we’re talking about. The meeting made such an impression on Harry that he wrote a song about her. YES, HE WROTE A SONG ABOUT HER.

The song ‘Carolina’ from his self-titled debut album features the lyrics, “Townes, better swim before you drown”. While Harry said that Townes didn’t know the song was about her initially, her own Dad recognised the lyrics. But then why she didn’t immediately call him up and say, “Yes, I’ll marry you”, is frankly beyond us. It might’ve just been a date, but we’ll remind you that HE WROTE A SONG ABOUT HER.

JOE JONAS

Joe Jonas has admitted on multiple occasions that he has dated and hooked up with fans, even lamenting that sometimes fans would come backstage and prefer one of his brothers to him. Still, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t seen his fair share of fan action. In 2013, Joe revealed that he had taken a fan to the cinema and that they made out the entire time.

The pair were going at it so much that they missed the film entirely. Recalling the encounter, he said, “We just made out the entire time. I don’t even remember what the movie was about.” When discussing his fan romances with Vulture magazine, he said, “Yes, I’ve dated fans. I can’t say that I’ve never put a foot in that world; there were times when I definitely took advantage of the opportunities I had.”

JUSTIN BIEBER

In 2013, Justin Bieber made no official comment after Brazilian fan Tatiana Neves posted a photo of him wrapped in a blanket in bed. She then turned the camera on herself before blowing a sleeping Justin a kiss.

Within weeks, the viral clip had gained tens of millions of views, and Beliebers all over the globe finally believed that they had the potential to bag Bieber for themselves. Tatiana later discussed the night, saying that she had spent the night with Justin but initially had only sent the clip to a friend.

Then came British fan and model Laura Carter, who in 2015 publicly claimed to have had a threesome with Justin at a London hotel. Carter says Justin picked her out of a nightclub dance floor before she was whisked off to a swanky hotel where a game of truth or dare turned wild.

Carter said, “Any other time I’d have been like, ‘Hang on a minute,’ but it was Justin Bieber. I’d fancied him forever,” She continued. “I was taken to this huge room which had been kitted out with a massive sound system, and there was booze everywhere,” Carter explained. “There were four boys and a group of 10 girls, all really glamorous. The party was in full swing, and Justin was showing off his dance moves. I wanted to take a selfie to show all my friends, but security took my phone at the door and put it in a bucket.”

ISAAC HANSON

Talk about love at first sight! Isaac Hanson spotted his future wife in a crowd at one of Hanson’s concerts and swiftly asked his tour manager not to let the mysterious woman leave, saying, ‘Hey, that girl — I got to meet that girl.’

The year was 2003, and Isaac was so desperate to meet the woman with whom he thought he had an instant connection. Speaking of how love struck he was, Isaac revealed that during the concert he “sang the entirety of the show” toward her.

Fast forward to 2006 when Isaac married his woman in the crowd, Nicole Dufresne! They now share a blissful family life with their three children. But that’s not all! Taylor and Zac also met their fan, first wives, during a 2002 Hanson performance at a Macy’s in Georgia. It’s a fan trilogy… Mmmmmmbop!

DRAKE

Canadian rapper Drake has claimed that while he’s not one to discuss his romantic life, he has hooked up with fans while touring. But we would suggest that if he really wanted to remain tight-lipped, then maybe he shouldn’t have penned his 2021 song titled ‘Fucking Fans’

The lyrics, "You said I was fucking up when I was out here fucking fans, damn, and it made you look crazy / Made you seem, made you feel, it was crazy / While you sit in the house, I be out, and you stay worried about me.” Apparently refers to the committed relationship he ruined with his sexy antics.

He had previously revealed to talk show host Ellen in 2016 that he had hooked up with fans during a game of ‘Never have I ever’. During the segment where Drake held up the ‘I have’ sign in response to being asked if he had hooked up with a fan, he then said, "What is a fan? Like, someone that just enjoys your, like…"  Yes, Drake, someone who likes you naked.

JOHN MAYER

There aren’t many ladies in Hollywood that John Mayer hasn’t dated, so it’s any wonder that he managed to find time to hook up with his fans at all.

Still, he says that all his fan encounters were thankfully before the days of widespread camera phones and that he doesn’t sleep with his fans anymore and that intimate flings were a thing of the past.

But in 2008 he admitted, “I might have hooked up with people, but as soon as I hooked up, they weren’t fans anymore… The answer is, yes, I have. But not in a really long time.” Former flame Jennifer Aniston will be pleased to know.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

Robbie has never been backwards about coming forward with his sexual conquests. Once jokingly claiming to have slept with 2 of the 5 spice girls, the artist has said, "I am the only man who can say he's been in Take That and at least two members of the Spice Girls." Also adding,  "I haven't slept with that many women; it's just that I've slept with 40 women a week."

While performing in Hyde Park, he recounted the experience of sleeping with his fans in his younger days, saying, "I looked at the front row and thought, 'I've slept with her, I've slept with her, I've slept with her…' But then I looked further back and realised I couldn't possibly have slept with all of you."

Robbie also revealed on Graham Norton’s talk show that he’d once received a sexual act from a fan who snuck into his hotel room!

This might seem hard to believe for some of you, but before the whole smartphone/app stuff came along, dating was pretty easy.

Find someone you like – usually at a bar or at work – get chatting, and with a bit of luck you’d soon be playing ‘tonsil hockey’ with them and well on your way to forging a meaningful relationship.

If only it were that easy now. Because on top of about 3 million different platforms all promising to find you the love of your life using their uniquely complex algorithm (sounds sexy!), there’s also the small matter of dealing with new and distinctly weirdo type behaviours from potential dates.

Some of these are fun and quirky – who couldn’t smile when thinking about collabor-dating, where new couples bond over creating content together. (Btw, we’re laughing AT you, not WITH you, collabor-daters!)

But other types of dating trends would be better filed away under the ‘suspected psychopathic personality disorder’ file. And this one is certainly going to find itself in that category.

Welcome to the (un)wonderful world of Negging. Not to be confused with Pegging, which, to be frank, can also be a pain in the ass! And it’s also nothing to do with Nagging, which is also no fun for anyone.

The term Negging comes from negativity, which is what your prospective partner will be firing your way if you’re unfortunate enough to fall for this trend. It originally became a thing back in 2005, following the publication of a book with a snappy title, The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists.

In it, negging was described as a way of delivering a backhanded compliment that was just about inoffensive enough to get away with it, but nasty enough to undermine a woman’s self-esteem to the point that she became putty in her suitor’s hands.

What kind of thing are we talking here? Well, suppose you’ve been dating a guy for a couple of weeks, and he says something like, ‘Those jeans look great on you - they’re a bit tight at the waist, but they show off your butt!’

Could be genuine, but what’s with the waist comment? That’s the Negger getting at you…subtly introducing a weight issue.

Or what about something less subtle, like ‘You’re so beautiful with makeup on’? Hard to hit back when you’ve been told you’re beautiful but the Neg is there, working its magic.

At this point, you might be thinking, ‘Who’d put up with this s**t? I’d soon put him right!’

Well, yes, the truth is that Negging doesn’t work on everyone. But an experienced Negger will be able to spot a vulnerable Negee at 100 paces. Anyone who has self-esteem issues is in danger. Or as this brave Redditor admitted, ‘On people who have bad self-esteem like I used to, it makes the person want to "try harder" to get validation. I used to need external validation, and this would totally have worked on me!’

So how can you avoid falling victim to Negging – and what are the best ways to spot a horrible Negger?

1. HIS COMPLIMENTS LEAVE YOU FEELING ‘OFF’

Something about the things he says just doesn't sit right - you can't quite put your finger on it, but you feel vaguely insulted even though he seemed to be paying you a compliment. That's the whole point. A neg is an insult disguised as praise, carefully calibrated to chip away at your self-esteem just enough that you won't feel he's out of your league, but not so much that you walk away entirely.

2. HE MAKES YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO EARN HIS APPROVAL

The Negger will drop lines like, ‘I don't usually go for blondes, but you're pretty cute,’ or he’ll point out that ‘I guess not many guys are into girls with lots of tattoos like yours’. The goal is to flip the dynamic so that you feel like you're the one auditioning. By suggesting your look or personality is already working against you, he's trying to make you feel like winning him over would be an achievement.

3. HE OFFERS TO ‘FIX’ YOU WITH SMALL SUGGESTIONS

Rather than delivering an outright insult, he'll critique something he knows you can change - essentially saying, fix this, and I'll find you attractive. Think: ‘You’d be so cute without that piercing’. He also loves the compliment sandwich – ‘I love that top, it’s a little tight at the back, but your boobs look great!’ He thinks this is subtle. It isn't.

4. HE COMPARES YOU TO OTHER WOMEN

This is a sneaky one. He'll imply that a certain trait is unattractive in ‘other women’, but somehow you pull it off. ‘Nerdy girls are usually so weird, but you're really cool’. The idea is to make you feel like you're permanently on thin ice; you’re one wrong move away from becoming one of those ‘other girls’. It's designed to keep you constantly seeking his validation.

5. HE QUESTIONS YOUR APPEARANCE AND BUILDS HIMSELF UP

Expect comments that highlight your effort or ‘flaws’. ‘Is that really your natural hair colour?’ or ‘Your nails look nice, are they real?’ He also isn't shy about positioning himself as the prize: ‘One more drink, and I'll be ready to hit on you’. Whether he's poking at your insecurities or inflating his own ego, the goal is the same - to make you feel lucky just to have his attention.

If these are ticking boxes for you, we have just four words for you. WALK AWAY NOW, GIRL!!

When Shona McGarty made the huge decision to walk away from EastEnders after 16 years, she had no idea what the next chapter of her life would look like. Having grown up on Albert Square (she was just 16 when she joined the soap as Whitney Dean), leaving behind the cast she considered family and the security of a job she’d known for almost half her life was, she admits, terrifying.

NEW LOVE

But two years on, Shona, 34, is settling happily into life beyond Walford. Professionally, she starred on I’m A Celebrity! last year, she’s released her own music and is now preparing to make her mark on the West End stage.

And personally, she’s found love and is blissfully happy with former EastEnders co-star Tony Discipline, who played Tyler Moon and has since swapped acting for life as a firefighter.

She says, ‘I’m really happy. I’ve honestly found my One. Tony is the ultimate gentleman, and he treats me like a queen. He just makes me laugh, he compliments me all the time, and he genuinely wants me to do well. I just adore him.’

The pair remained in touch after Tony left the soap, but their attempts to meet up were constantly thwarted.

‘We’ve known each other for years, and we follow each other on social media,’ Shona says. ‘We tried to meet up a few times, but I think it was around Covid. Then I got busy, he got busy, and it sort of fizzled out.’

Eventually they went for a coffee – and this time the timing was right. ‘That was it,’ she smiles. ‘Straight away. We’ve always liked each other. I’ve always fancied him since I was young and we were on EastEnders together.’

And she has no doubt how serious she feels about Tony. Asked whether she’d like to marry him, she replies, ‘I’d marry him tomorrow! In my book of life, I’ve got all these chapters which happened and are part of my story, but now I’m at the chapter where I found my One.’

And she says past heartbreak – having previously dated her EastEnders co-star Matt Lapinskas and been engaged to Irish musician and actor David Bracken – has taught her valuable lessons.

‘I’ve learned what my boundaries are and how I want to be treated,’ she says. ‘As they say, you’ve got to kiss a few frogs. In my case, it was a few toads!’

While she’s most well-known as Whitney, Shona was on-screen as herself last November during her stint in the jungle. Her warm personality and cheeky banter won fans’ hearts, with viewers also hoping for a romance between her and rapper Aitch, who she grew close to on the show.

ANXIETY

And despite tackling rats, insects and gruelling trials, the thing that frightened her most was being herself in front of the cameras.

‘I think people expected to see Whitney in the jungle,’ she says. ‘But I’m so different. People assumed that because of the character I played, I’d be really confident, feisty and very much like her. But I’m quite shy.’

The jungle also gave Shona the courage to speak publicly about the anxiety she had kept private for years. ‘The anxiety was such a secret for such a long time,’ she says. ‘To be able to talk about it openly and honestly really did change the way my mind works. Now it’s not a secret anymore, so I feel like I’m able to say yes to things.

‘When I came out of the jungle, I was like, “Oh, people actually understand me.” The messages I got were so lovely. I’ve never felt so heard before.’

Viewers were also blown away by Shona’s voice after she shared her passion for singing with her campmates, and she’s since released the single Mr Anxiety and is now starring in West End Show From The Heart.

INTIMATE

‘It’s just a childhood dream to sing,’ she says. ‘Singing was always what I wanted to do before acting. Even when I was in EastEnders, I was constantly singing. I’m always writing, and I’m always in the studio.

‘Singing is a very intimate thing. Once you’ve done it, it’s like going on a roller coaster. You’ve got through that fear, and you want to do it again and again.’

That doesn’t mean she’s turned her back on Albert Square. She remains close to her former co-stars and wouldn’t rule out a return. ‘The door’s always open. I always say that Whitney left on the bus and not under it!’ she laughs.

Shona stars in From The Heart, Don Black’s acclaimed West End show, which returns to the Garrick Theatre from 8-18 October

They couldn’t be more distant from the Beckhams right now after brutally cutting all ties over the past year. But earlier this month, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz were geographically less than one mile
away from his estranged family as they all descended upon Paris Fashion Week.

While in the French capital, Brooklyn, 27, and Nicola, 31, skipped Victoria’s spring/summer show for her eponymous fashion brand. Instead, they attended the Messika show, held just two miles away from where Victoria was unveiling her collection.

And the close encounter hasn’t gone down well with Victoria, 52, who insiders say was left seething by her estranged son and daughter-in-law’s actions.

‘Victoria is convinced that Nicola is chasing headlines. She thinks Nicola and Brooklyn turning up in the same places as the family time and time again is more than coincidence. In her eyes, it’s become an obsession to keep herself in the spotlight.

POINTED SNUB

‘Victoria believes Nicola knows that much of the attention surrounding her comes from being married to Brooklyn. She thinks it’s the Beckham name that gives Nicola the level of notoriety she craves, and that keeping this feud alive guarantees she remains part of the conversation.

‘She just finds the whole thing incredibly strange. Brooklyn has made it clear that he doesn’t want a relationship with his family, yet they keep finding themselves in the same places. They’re close enough for everybody to write about the feud again, but never close enough for Brooklyn to visit his family.

‘Paris was particularly difficult because Victoria’s Fashion Week shows have traditionally been family affairs. She feels it was a very pointed snub. If Brooklyn had been in LA, that would have been one thing. But knowing he and Nicola were just down the road attending other fashion events made it hurt much more.

‘She feels Nicola is obsessed with everything she does. There’s very little incentive for her to let this feud die because every time something like this happens, it becomes another huge story,’ a source reveals.

The Beckham family rift dates back to Brooklyn and Nicola’s 2022 wedding. Rumours of tension behind-the-scenes were rife, though both parties continued to put on a united front. But fast-forward to January 2026, and Brooklyn released a damning six-page statement on social media which included several allegations about his parents, including that they had tried to ‘ruin his relationship’.

INCONSOLABLE

While both David, 51, and Victoria – also parents to Romeo, 24, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 15 – refrained from publicly responding to their son’s comments, they have subtly extended olive branches via social media through sharing old family photos and marking milestones.

And despite not showing it publicly, Victoria was left ‘inconsolable’ after her son’s public outburst, claimed Alison Boshoff, author of Brand Beckham: The Fame. The Feuds. The Fallout. ‘Victoria was in such a bad way that her mother, Jackie, started to worry she might harm herself,’ Alison penned in the tell-all book.

Distance has added further fuel to the feud, with the Beckhams primarily residing in the UK and Brooklyn having set up home in the US with the Peltz family. But the recent near miss in Paris is not the first time the warring relatives have come close to crossing paths.

SUSPICIOUS

Last year, Brooklyn and Nicola travelled to London during David’s 50th birthday celebrations but did not attend his party, and earlier this summer, Brooklyn and Nicola missed David’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles, despite being in very close proximity.

Both parties coincidentally visited Saint Tropez in August, with one evening seeing Brooklyn and Nicola heading out for ice cream at a venue just five minutes away from where his parents were dining.

This string of near-misses have toyed with Victoria’s emotions, insiders say, and she’s starting to become suspicious of her son.

‘To know your son is literally minutes away and still doesn’t want to see you is devastating for any mother. She believes it is deliberate. There seems to be this constant public reminder that Brooklyn and Nicola are nearby, happily getting on with their lives without them,’ a source adds.

Fans were convinced David had extended an olive branch to Brooklyn when he liked an Instagram video of his son and Nicola at the Messika show in Paris. But when the couple made a public appearance the following day, Brooklyn was sporting a tee emblazoned with ‘It’s not clocking to you’, which was interpreted as a dig at his famous father. The phrase refers to Justin Bieber’s 2025 meltdown over the paparazzi, where he complained, ‘It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business.’

But all this tit-for-tat is becoming too much for Victoria, as an insider tells us, ‘For Victoria, the anger is overshadowed by something much more painful. She can be furious one minute and completely heartbroken the next. Whatever she thinks about Nicola, Brooklyn is still her son. Every time they are in the same place, Victoria thinks there might finally be an opportunity for something to change.’

CHRIS & JOJO’S BABY JOY

Fans went into meltdown last week when Celebrity Big Brother couple Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa sparked pregnancy rumours. The former Love Island star, 33, shared a video clip on Instagram, showing Chris hanging up a teddy bear baby onesie on the door, ahead of their reunion. ‘And just like that, she has arrived,’ he wrote.

Fans were convinced that the loved-up pair, who have been dating since June 2025, were expecting their first child together. ‘Really thought this was gonna be a pregnancy announcement at the beginning’, one follower said, while another asked, ‘Is it a hint that he hangs a baby’s onesie on the door?’

Chris – who became an uncle earlier this year when his brother Ben and his wife Olivia welcomed a baby girl – has made no secret of his desire to become a husband and dad with JoJo, 23. ‘Of course I want to get married to her. And one day I’d love to have children; it would be an absolute dream for sure,’ he said last year. ‘We genuinely speak to each other about this; I would be lying if I said we didn’t. When you’re besotted with each other and in love with someone, I think it’s fun to look forward to those things.’

Dance Moms star JoJo, who has said her dream is ‘to be a mum’, added, ‘I love Chris so much. I need there to be a mini Chris.’

The couple, who bonded while in the CBB house last year, have even discussed baby names – with JoJo suggesting calling their kids Freddy, Eddy and Teddy. ‘Got a new name for children. And I think it’s Silver. Silver Siwa,’ she recently said.

Chris has been loving his new role as uncle since his niece was born in May. ‘Uncle Chris, reporting for DUTY!… This is the most magical and beautiful beginning! Such a special little soul has entered their world! So HAPPY for them both, she is amazing!’ he posted.

LISA’S SPLIT CONFESSION

Following rumours that she is single, Lisa Snowdon confirmed that she has split from fiancé George Smart after 12 years together. The This Morning presenter, 54, said, ‘People change, life changes, you just grow apart. And, you know, it was over 10 years together… And now what’s going to be my future? You can’t stay in a relationship that isn’t right.’

Lisa and businessman George, 47, began dating in 2014 and have been engaged for 10 years. The TV star, who famously dated Hollywood actor George Clooney for five years in the ’00s, said she’s happy to revel in her newfound single status for now.

‘I thought, “I don’t need anyone”. I’ve always been super independent,’ she said. ‘I’m feeling like maybe it’s even more in my second act now, being 54, because I’m single. I’m feeling strong. I’m feeling happy. I’m feeling excited about what the future is. If somebody comes into my life, then I’m open to it, but I’m not actively searching right now. I just want to do things. I want to see my girls, see my family and travel.’

She previously revealed she is ‘at peace now with not having children’, adding, ‘I feel like everything is as it is meant to be.’

MICHAEL’S AFFAIR DRAMA

He’s been married to Catherine Zeta-Jones for over 25 years, but last week, Michael Douglas dropped two bombshells about his secret affairs during his rocky marriage to model Diandra Luker. The Hollywood star, 82, came clean about the flings he had with his former co-stars Kathleen Turner and Jeanne Tripplehorn in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride.

Speaking of 72-year-old Kathleen, who he first met on Romancing The Stone in 1984, he said, ‘Kathleen was smart, funny and sexy with a deep, sultry voice that became her signature. We were immediately attracted to each other. We found each other first as friends, then as co-stars, and finally as lovers.’

As for Basic Instinct’s Jeanne, 63, he remembered, ‘People were so focused on a possible relationship between Sharon [Stone] and me, they missed the real relationship happening between me and Jeanne. We took great pains to hide the relationship from the cast and crew.’

He continued, ‘With Jeanne, the passion you see on-screen reflects the genuine passion of our brief affair. I was crazy about her. My relationship with Jeanne lasted through production, then we went our separate ways.’

Michael and Catherine, who celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary next month, have son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23. He also shares son Cameron, 47, with ex-wife Diandra.

DONNA’S NEW MAN

After quitting the UK for the US, Donna Air has sparked speculation she’s got a new man after she was spotted out on a date with property tycoon Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley. The former Byker Grove actress, 47, and multi-millionaire Paul, 59, were seen leaving the Chateau Marmont as they got in a car together.

‘They seemed really cosy. They were laughing and joking inside and then walked outside side by side. Donna seems to be having a blast enjoying single life,’ an onlooker said. And Paul apparently told a fan who came up to him, ‘I’m on a f***ing date, stop interrupting.’

Donna, who shares 23-year-old daughter Freya with conservationist Damian Aspinall, previously dated James Middleton.

For Meghan Markle, Hollywood was supposed to be the place where her post-Royal life really took off. Instead, after years of high-profile deals, A-list friendships and some very public setbacks, the Duchess has reportedly been handed another brutal reminder that Tinseltown can be a notoriously unforgiving place.

Her former agent Ari Emanuel has just delivered what can only be described as a pretty savage parting shot - despite the fact that his agency still represents the Sussexes’ Archewell organisation - and we’re told Meghan has been left furious.

The timing is particularly awkward. With Meghan, 45, now back in Britain alongside Prince Harry, she is reportedly hoping to use her time in the UK to kickstart a new chapter, potentially including a return to acting. So having one of Hollywood’s most powerful players publicly dismiss her career prospects is apparently the last thing she needed.

It’s a far cry from the warm welcome Meghan received when she and Harry stepped down as senior working royals in 2020. Hollywood’s biggest names appeared keen to associate themselves with the couple, while the likes of Spotify, Netflix and Apple all signed major deals with the Sussexes.

Meghan herself seemed determined to build a new identity in the entertainment industry. In 2023, she signed with WME and Ari, whose roster has included stars such as Ben Affleck, Adele, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson and Oprah Winfrey.

At the time, Meghan spoke enthusiastically about putting her relationship with Harry at the centre of their future projects.

She said, ‘So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story. I think that’s what people around the world connected to, especially with our wedding. People love love. I’m not excluded in that sentiment.’

But the fairytale partnership with Hollywood’s heavyweight agency lasted just three months, with Meghan subsequently disappearing from Ari’s client list. Her Archewell organisation remains under the WME banner, but the personal representation came to a remarkably swift end.

And now Ari has apparently made it very clear that he has no intention of getting involved in Meghan’s next career move.

Asked by The Times where he thinks Meghan’s career is heading, the 65-year-old responded with a quip that has reportedly caused quite a stir: ‘Here’s the great thing: I don’t have to think about that anymore.’
He offered no further explanation, but we’re told Meghan was left reeling by the remark.

An insider says, ‘It certainly doesn’t feel good; she’s only human. The way she’s being openly derided by this guy, who was once her agent, someone she’s made a substantial amount of money for and in fact whose agency still represents her, is almost unheard of. It has the whole town in shock and it would be understandable if it made her want to duck her head down and give up.’

But giving up, apparently, is the one thing Meghan has no intention of doing.

The Duchess has already faced speculation over another potential Hollywood setback after reports emerged in August that she had landed a role in Netflix’s The Gentleman, the Guy Ritchie comedy-action series filmed largely in the Cotswolds.

For royal watchers, the prospect of Meghan returning to acting in the very part of Britain she once described as an unhappy chapter of her life was intriguing enough. But the story took another dramatic turn just days later.

Former Vanity Fair editor and royal author Tina Brown claimed that the UK backlash to Meghan had been ‘so intense’ that whoever was behind the supposed offer had decided it was ‘untenable’ to continue, and that the role had subsequently been pulled.

The claim has not been independently confirmed, but if true, it would represent another frustrating blow for Meghan as she attempts to rebuild her career.

And yet, according to the source, the Duchess is viewing the setbacks as motivation rather than a reason to retreat.

‘She still has plenty of great connections in the industry and her game plan is to focus her energy on those people rather than wasting her time worrying about people that clearly don’t like or appreciate her,’ the source says.

'When she feels unfairly attacked, she uses it as fuel to come back stronger. She knows Hollywood is very fickle, all it takes is one flop and you are suddenly suspect, but she says the upside is that all it takes is one hit to put you back on top again and she’s confident that she will have that hit, either as a producer, or even better as the talent.’

And Meghan may not be quite as isolated from Hollywood as some critics would have us believe.

Although she has remained relatively low-key since the final episode of With Love, Meghan aired last Christmas, she was recently spotted enjoying a pub outing in the UK with Ellen DeGeneres, another celebrity who has experienced her own very public reputational crisis.

We’re told the friendship is just one example of the powerful network Meghan continues to have around her, despite being thousands of miles from Los Angeles.

‘She’s focusing all her energy on the people that are in her corner, who are supporting her. Obviously, Ellen is one of those people, but there are plenty of others,’ the source says.

‘She’s very close with Oprah, and there are lots of people that have gone under the radar like Sofia Vergara and Shonda Rhimes. There’s a very powerful little group of ‘wives of,’ like Ted Sarandos’ wife Nicole Avant and George Lucas’s wife Mellody Hobson, that are team Meghan.

‘She’s not nearly the outcast and as down and out as everyone seems to want to paint her as, and she intends to prove that to the world.’

Now, however, it seems Meghan wants to prove it in front of the camera.

Rather than simply accompanying Harry to his latest round of philanthropic appearances, we’re told the former Suits star is quietly putting feelers out for acting opportunities in Britain – with the ultimate goal of making a major Hollywood comeback.

And if she manages it, there may be a certain satisfaction in proving the doubters wrong.

‘She’s letting it be known far and wide that she’d absolutely love to get back in front of the camera,’ the source says.

‘She’s got feelers out for projects in the UK, but she’s not closing the door on anything and is more determined than ever to prove herself.

And, when she does, she will absolutely remember who was on her side and who was against her.

We're told, ‘The goal right now is to find something that films in the UK while she’s there but ultimately she wants to be a success in America, that’s what will bring her the most satisfaction. She says living a happy life is the best revenge and for her that includes continuing to follow her Hollywood dreams.’

Only last month, Katie ended her whirlwind marriage to Lee Andrews via WhatsApp after ‘coming to her senses’.

But after spending three months locked up, the conman is out of prison – and insiders tell Closer that friends are extremely concerned what this means for the former glamour model, 48.

The source says, ‘Lee isn’t letting Katie walk away from him, and she feels vulnerable. He love-bombed Katie the first time and he’s capable of doing it again. She knows Lee’ll come after her – he still thinks they have a chance to be together.

DISASTROUS

‘Katie confided she’ll go to Dubai to see him one more time to sign off on their marriage – she wants answers. But pals are concerned as Lee’s already targeting her via social media.’

They continue, ‘Katie was the first person Lee texted when he was released. The message from an unknown number contained Lee’s pet name for her, and it sent a chill down her spine.’

Earlier this month, Lee, 43, hinted to fans that he’d been released from Dubai’s Al-Awir jail – and later claimed he was going to ‘flee the country’. But bizarrely on 8 October, a photo on the conman’s Instagram Story appeared to reveal he had passed away. However, the picture was swiftly deleted and Lee claimed he’d been ‘targeted for the death hoax by sick individuals’.

His disastrous relationship with Katie began in January, when the mum-of-five announced she’d tied the knot for a fourth time with Lee – who she’d connected with via social media just 10 days before. But many of ‘manipulator’ Lee’s concerned exes soon came forward, with one claiming he hoodwinked her into handing over £123,000 to invest in his company, and he’s allegedly on a travel ban after being accused of defrauding another. Though Lee denies all allegations against him, he sparked an international manhunt after disappearing in May – later being found in Al-Awir prison.

WORRIED

He was released, but sent back in July, where he has remained until now.

As well as unfollowing each other on social media, Lee has also taken off his wedding ring, while Katie has swapped hers to the other hand as she ‘loves the ring’.

But friends are still worried, as the source continues, ‘Katie has a history of forgiving men who’ve treated her badly – she’d rather be in a bad relationship than single. But despite everything, Katie still has feelings for Lee. She’s emotionally invested, and pals worry he’ll talk her round.’

She’s renowned for her bubbly persona, so fans were understandably shaken earlier this month when presenter Alison Hammond was struck down with a heart issue live on air and rushed to hospital to seek treatment.

Alison, 51, was quick to reassure fans, posting a video from her hospital bed, saying, ‘I’m fine – I had a little bit of a palpitation’, before This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard later told viewers she’d been given the all-clear and was back home resting. But insiders say that after the terrifying ordeal, Alison’s boyfriend, David Putman, is begging the presenter to slow down.

A source says, ‘Alison’s health episode has shaken David. He was incredibly worried. If there was something seriously wrong with her heart, David doesn’t want her simply brushing it aside and carrying on at one hundred miles an hour. He loves her energy and ambition, but he also sees how much she has on her plate. His feeling is that something has to give and she needs to listen to what her body is telling her.’

Alison – who returned to the sofa last week – shot to fame on the 2002 series of Big Brother before working her way up as a presenter hosting some of the biggest shows on TV, including The Great British Bake Off, For The Love Of Dogs and This Morning.

And she’s found happiness in her love life too. The mum-of-one – who has son Aiden, 21, with taxi driver ex Noureddine Boufaied – met masseuse David, 29, in 2023 and the pair have gone from strength to strength.

But the source says that the health scare has caused contention. They say, ‘Alison wants to remain her energetic self. But David has urged her to put herself first for once and accept that slowing down occasionally is a good thing for her health and wellbeing.’

Over six months after his split from Jacqueline Jossa, Dan Osborne sparked concern when he took to social media to reveal he’s battling an ongoing ‘war in my head’.

Now, insiders tell Closer that Jac has been left worried about her ex – but her pals fear it could pull them back together.

‘Although they no longer follow each other on Instagram since their split, both Jac and Dan still keep tabs on one another through their friends. Dan’s recent posts about mental health have definitely caught Jac’s attention – at the end of the day, he is the father of their children and she does care about his wellbeing,’ our source says.

‘It seems as if Dan is really trying to work on himself at the moment, and it can take a lot to speak up about mental health, especially for men. Jac can’t help but feel some emotion about that because, ultimately, she wants the best for him. It’s also got her thinking what she would do if he were to turn up asking for help or to reach out to her again. The truth is she would find it hard to just turn him away. But pals are begging her to run for the hills if he does show up.’

TURBULENT

In an honest admission about his struggles, Dan, 35, shared a quote that read, ‘The true luxury is waking up without a war in your head, with your nervous system at peace and your body healthy.’ He then wrote alongside this, ‘Can’t wait for the day I wake up with this feeling.’

It comes after he and Jac, 33, called it quits in March following a turbulent 13-year romance. The actress began dating the former TOWIE star back in 2013, before tying the knot four years later. But the couple – who share daughters Ella, 11, and Mia, eight, while Dan is also dad to 12-year-old Teddy from a previous relationship – became notoriously on and off amid a string of infidelity allegations against the reality star. In 2019, Dan publicly admitted that he had ‘made mistakes’.

Since calling time on their relationship, Jac was reportedly left heartbroken earlier this summer when she discovered Dan was dating someone else, after he enjoyed a holiday romance with Brazilian model Etila Santiago.

RIGHT PATH

But now, as Jac moves on and is basking in career success, dominating storylines on EastEnders, our insider adds that pals want her to focus firmly on her future without Dan.

‘Her friends want her to remember all the things she was put through and how she felt when they were happening. It can be so easy to forget, especially when you miss someone and you romanticise the past,’ the source says.

‘They’ve tried telling her a leopard won’t change its spots, but it doesn’t seem to register with her. Jac still misses the good times and has her rose-tinted glasses on when she looks back at their time together.’

Our insider adds, ‘She’s definitely not saying she would get back with him, but she doesn’t see the harm in rooting for someone and hoping they get better and find the right path in life.’

Fans were left heartbroken when it was confirmed that Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid had split earlier this year. And now the Snow Patrol guitarist has gone public with his new romance – less than a year after his decade-long relationship with the Friends actress ended.

BLINDSIDED

While accepting the President’s Award at the BMI Awards last week, Johnny, 50, paid tribute to his ‘partner Rosie’ and publicly declared his love for her in his speech. He later appeared on the red carpet with his new girlfriend, revealed to be finance executive Rosanna Konarzewski.

And a source tells Closer that while the PDA has left Courteney devastated, her best pal and former Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston is ready to support her through the heartbreak – and get her a husband in the process.

‘Jen’s heart has been aching for Courteney and she has gone into full protective mode. She knows Courteney is incredibly strong, but this has knocked her sideways. It’s not just that Johnny has moved on, it’s how quickly and publicly it’s happened,’ the source says.

‘Courteney feels completely blindsided by Johnny. It’s like the last 13 years have just been erased, coupled with the utter humiliation of having the man she gave her life to for over a decade pronounce his love for another woman to the world so quickly.’

Jen, 57, has endured her fair share of public heartache. Her marriages to Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux both ended after only a few years, with the divorces both playing out in public. Past romances with the likes of John Mayer, Vince Vaughn and Tate Donovan – to whom she was once engaged – all fizzled out too.

NO RUSH

But Jen’s been happily loved- up with hypnotherapist Jim Curtis, 50, since early last year. After going Instagram- official last November, the pair haven’t hidden their love for one another – and it’s been reported that things are getting serious.

Now, having found her own happily ever after, Jen is keen to help Courteney find love again when she’s ready.

‘Courteney isn’t in a place right now where she feels ready to open herself up to another man,’ our source shares. ‘But Jen’s assured her that she doesn’t need to rush into anything. The focus needs to be on herself – love will come along naturally, when she least expects it, just like it did for her.

‘She’s talked about gifting Courteney time with Jim’s relationship coach because she feels that doing that inner work changed what she was open to. Her own relationship with Jim is proof that there’s a whole new chapter waiting for Courteney.’

There was a time when Queen Camilla and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could barely have been described as allies. Now, however, we’re told that one of the most unlikely royal relationships is undergoing a remarkable transformation – and there could be much more to Camilla’s newfound sympathy for Andrew than meets the eye.

The former Prince has once again found himself in the headlines this week after taking legal action against Thames Valley Police over the search warrants used to search his homes earlier this year. In a rare 'victory' for the disgraced Prince, Thames Valley Police has accepted that the warrants it used to search his homes at the time of his arrest in February were unlawful, the High Court has been told.

Andrew, 66, was arrested in February on suspicion of gross misconduct in public office and continues to deny any wrongdoing, with the investigation ongoing.

He has also been granted £302,000 in compensation after his lease on his former Royal Lodge home in Windsor was officially surrendered, a Crown Estate spokesperson said. Andrew was entitled to compensation because, as per the terms of his lease, he surrendered it within the first 25 years.

Yet while Andrew remains under intense scrutiny, we’re told that behind Palace walls he is far from being completely isolated. Princess Anne and Prince Edward were reportedly visiting their brother at Sandringham to check on his ‘welfare’ earlier this year, and now another royal has apparently done a U-turn on supporting him: Queen Camilla.

It’s a particularly surprising development given the history between the pair. Camilla, 79, and Andrew have reportedly had a deeply strained relationship for decades, with Andrew said to have questioned whether she was ‘aristocratic’ enough to marry Charles before their 2005 wedding. There has even been speculation that he appealed to their mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in an attempt to prevent the marriage.

Their relationship hardly appeared to thaw with time. In 2018, Camilla notably missed the wedding of Andrew’s daughter, Princess Eugenie, with the Palace explaining that she had a prior engagement at a primary school in Scotland.

But times have changed dramatically inside the Royal Family, and Andrew’s fall from grace has apparently prompted an unexpected rapprochement. Since being stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge last year, we’re told he has been quietly attempting to repair his relationship with Camilla – and, surprisingly, his efforts appear to be working.

An insider tells us that Camilla has increasingly found herself caught between Andrew and Charles, acting as an intermediary because the King is reportedly reluctant to communicate directly with his brother.

‘Camilla has found herself acting as a go-between more and more because Charles simply can’t bear dealing with Andrew directly and there aren’t many people he trusts to deliver messages properly,’ the source says.

‘It has put her in much closer contact with Andrew and, much to her surprise, he’s been incredibly respectful and contrite with her. She’s definitely softened towards him. They actually agree on quite a lot.’

And we’re told the Queen’s approach is increasingly becoming one of keeping Andrew close rather than pushing him further away.

They add, ‘What she is saying right now is that they ought to be looking at this as a ‘keep your enemies close’ situation. She says strategically it’s a much better idea to keep him as happy as they possibly can. It goes without saying they can’t openly support him, but like Anne and Edward have been saying, they can at least assure him that he’s still a part of their family.’

The reported change in Camilla’s attitude comes at an awkward moment for the monarchy, with divisions already appearing to be emerging between different members of the family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain largely estranged from most of the Royal Family, while Charles and his heir, Prince William, are reportedly at odds over the King’s approach to both Andrew and the Sussexes.

Now, with reports that Charles is providing Andrew with ‘in excess of £1m a year’ from his personal funds, the potential for another major family clash is only growing.

The Times reported, ‘He is not required to seek the King’s approval over how the money is spent.' Another royal source has claimed, however, that Andrew has been warned he’s not allowed to use the King’s money to fund his legal fight against Thames Valley Police.

And these recent reports, according to sources, could make the royal battle lines even clearer. We’ve previously been told that Palace insiders fear being ‘forced’ to choose between the King and the Waleses, while Andrew is reportedly making no secret of his own feelings about the next generation of royals.

‘Andrew thinks William is becoming far too controlling, and he doesn’t trust Kate. Camilla certainly has her own worries about what life will look like once they’re running the show. And, when it comes to Harry and Meghan, they both openly object to the King giving them so much leeway; in their view, they’re nothing but a pair of snakes,’ we’re told.

For Camilla, however, this isn’t necessarily about suddenly becoming Andrew’s biggest defender. Rather, we’re told she believes there could be a strategic advantage in keeping him close, particularly while the investigation continues and his future remains uncertain.

'Camilla is still very wary of Andrew, but she does increasingly feel there’s more to be gained by keeping him on side than continually kicking him when he’s down,' the source says.

'She’s urging the King not to pre-judge his behaviour until he’s proven guilty in a court of law. Andrew is incredibly grateful for her support, and naturally he’s hoping she will convince the King to show him some mercy.’

There could also be another, rather more personal reason behind the Queen’s willingness to listen to Andrew.

Camilla has spent decades rebuilding her reputation after being portrayed as the ‘other woman’ during Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana. She eventually became one of the most established and well-liked members of the modern Royal Family, but Harry’s criticism of her in Spare served as a stark reminder that her position within the family is still vulnerable.

In 2023, Harry famously described his stepmother as ‘dangerous’, accusing her of leaking and trading stories with the press in an attempt to improve her public image.

Now, the source claims Andrew has been using that vulnerability to reassure Camilla that he could be useful to her when the balance of power changes again – particularly once William and Kate become King and Queen.

‘Andrew is making sure Camilla knows supporting him will benefit her. He still has plenty of friends behind palace walls, and the fact is, when William takes the throne, she is going to need all the help she can get. He’s essentially told her that if she has his back, she can count on him being there for her,' the insider says.

‘Camilla is always looking out for herself, and there’s no denying that an alliance with Andrew could soon come in very handy for her. That is bound to be a big motivator for her, though she’d never admit to that.'

And apparently, their increasingly close contact has revealed more common ground than either expected.

They add, ‘That being said, people have certainly noticed how much Camilla has softened towards Andrew lately. She’s surprised by how much they have in common. They’re both such horse people for one thing, and they’ve both spent their lives in this very small aristocratic world, so there’s plenty they can talk about, and they have been.’

Then there’s another potential ticking time bomb: Sarah Ferguson.

Andrew’s former wife has recently returned to Britain following months away, amid reports that she could be considering a tell-all. Her team has insisted there is ‘no memoir’ currently being worked on, but the possibility of fresh revelations from the York camp remains a concern for the Palace.

And that, we’re told, is another reason Camilla would rather have Andrew close than completely alienated.

‘Camilla feels that is only wise, since it will mean he’s less likely to come after them all with some nasty tell-all; that is the last thing they need,’ we’re told.

‘She is by no means making excuses for Andrew, but she is reminding her husband that he’s got the potential to do real damage and should be handled accordingly for the sake of the monarchy and for their own legacies.

‘Charles may have thought he was distancing himself from Andrew by fobbing him off on Camilla, but his brother is a problem that’s clearly not going to go away.’

Okay, sing it with me, guys… "Thank you for being a friend, travellin' down the road and back again, your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant…" Lyrics that we can all agree sum up the very core of BFF-ness. When two people share in everything, divulging their deepest secrets and supporting each other through life's highs and lows. There really is nothing greater than finding someone who loves all the same things as you do, so you can talk endlessly about your fave stuff to do. And while we're on stuff to do, sometimes friends share lovers. Yes, these BFFs have all got more than their mutual love for each other in common - they also have loved the same person, although admittedly not at the same time. Bonus is, you don't have to imagine what they've talked about because some of them have literally told us!

Taylor Swift and Sophie Turner

In September 2026, rumours began to swirl in the fandom that Taylor's latest song, "Patient Zero" - a song about a woman calling up her ex's ex - was actually about Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas. Following Joe and Sophie's public split in September 2023, Sophie and Taylor were snapped in the streets of New York going to dinner together. Sophie had reached out to her good friend Taylor to ask if she knew anyone who had somewhere she could rent in NYC. Taylor, later hailed a "hero" by Sophie, immediately provided her Tribeca loft for Sophie and her two daughters. But the most intriguing plot point? Joe Jonas is widely known as one of Taylor Swift's famous exes, the two dating as teenagers in 2008. It all ended in bad blood when, as described by Taylor herself on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019, Jonas broke up with her after a 27-second phone call. Taylor would later pen the songs "Fearless" and "Mr. Perfectly Fine," reportedly about Joe. In response, the Jonas Brothers released the 2009 track "Much Better," which referenced Taylor's music. Three songs and a lasting girl friendship later, everyone seems to have calmed down a bit.

Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston

Perhaps the ultimate friends share happened between the two Friends alums Courteney and Jen. Their long-standing love for one another played out on screen and IRL, and Cox even made Jen (as her friends call her) godmother to her only daughter, Coco Arquette. But while they shared the screen for years, you might be interested to know they also counted a shared lover, Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz. In 1995, after meeting at Hollywood hotspot The Viper Room when the Crows were playing, Jen and Adam enjoyed a fling. Adam later recalled the romance, saying, "She was really nice, really funny, really pretty; those were pretty good requirements for me, and also she liked me. It didn't last very long, but she's a nice girl." The meeting had actually been a set-up by their mutual friends: "When I met Jennifer Aniston, my friends lied to me and her friends lied to her. They told us we both were really into each other." At the time they dated, he wasn't even aware of her work on Friends and said that because he was so busy when the show aired, he had never watched it! However, just a year later, in 1996, Jen's BFF Courteney Cox appeared in the band's video for "A Long December." "Courteney was probably my longest relationship, but I don't know whether we were really together for a lot of it," he remembered. "We were very, very different people. And there were moments that were absolutely wonderful together and there were moments where it was really hard. We just weren't on the same wavelength." While the " Adam Duritz Years" - as we're pretty sure Jen and Courteney call them - didn't endure, the ladies' friendship did, and thank goodness!

Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston

Gwyneth Paltrow has been delightfully vocal about her famous ex-lovers; calling Ben Affleck "technically excellent" in the sheets was a real high point. And what of her dear friend Jennifer Aniston's ex-husband, Brad Pitt? She was, of course, herself almost Mrs. Pitt, the two having been engaged after meeting on the set of the 1994 film, Seven. Disappointingly, Gwyneth declined to give a direct comparison between her A-list lovers and simply said that Pitt was a "good kisser." She went on to reveal that meeting Brad Pitt was a love-at-first-sight experience and that they had "major chemistry." Despite the over-two-decade scrutiny surrounding their "love triangle" divorce, in a 2025 Vanity Fair interview, Jennifer attempted to lay some of the rumours about her feelings toward Brad to rest, saying, "I love Brad [Pitt]; I really love him. I will love him for the rest of my life. He's a fantastic man. I don't regret any of it." During the same interview, Jennifer addressed her friendship with Gwyneth and their shared ex, revealing that the two do discuss him. Aniston said, "How can we not? We're girls."

Jennifer Lopez and Zoe Saldaña

The two Latina powerhouses share more than just crazy talent, beauty and a firm friendship. They also share a mutual lover in actor Bradley Cooper. It was late 2011 when photos emerged of Bradley and JLo enjoying some low-key date nights, and Mr. Cooper even hiding his head in a classic "we're-in-the-same-car-but-we-don't-want-you-to-know" shot. Cooper was fresh off his split with Renée Zellweger, and JLo was recently divorced from singer Marc Anthony. While their romance didn't last that long, after Bradley and Zoe Saldaña met filming and starred together in the 2012 movie The Words, the two began an IRL relationship. Zoe said the two shared an intense on-screen chemistry. The couple parted ways in January 2013, and shortly after, Zoe married artist Marco Perego. J-Lo and Zoe continue their friendship and are regularly pictured together at events.

Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez

Sharing more than their Disney alumni status, their lifelong friendship has weathered more than the heady highs and lows of fame. Both Selena and Miley shared a Jonas brother! Yes, step forward teenage Nick Jonas, who dated a teenage Miley back in 2006. Miley would later say that the two were genuinely in love and remained close even after parting ways. Roll on to 2008, and picture the scene: Selena Gomez, then girlfriend of Nick Jonas, on a double date with her other BFF, who is dating Nick's brother Joe Jonas. Yes, even these list entries are dating each other. WILD. So, neither of the Jonas bros had the staying power of these two ladies, who are not only supportive behind closed doors but also out in the world supportive of each other. When the singers released singles on the same day in 2023, they boosted each other on Instagram, sharing an old clip from their appearance in Hannah Montana together. Selena captioned, "@mileycyrus and I both have a SINGLE SOON and we are releasing on the same day." Selena wrote, referencing both of their song titles, "We have been friends since we USED TO BE YOUNG."

Cameron Diaz, JLo and Kate Hudson

Ok, ok, listen - there aren't many people that A-Rod hasn't dated, and let's face it, most of them are gorgeous A-listers. One of them being the absolute sweetheart that is BFFs with every Hollywood woman, Cameron Diaz. So, when Cameron's friend Kate Hudson started dating Alex in 2009, she knew her bud would be fine when she shacked up with him a year later. A year went by and Cameron parted ways with A-Rod, but her pal JLo took him in and they enjoyed an engagement until he turned out to be a bit of a bad boy (who knew?) and she ran back to the arms of Ben Affleck. Yes, we all know how that turned out, and maybe she spoke to her friend Gwyneth Paltrow about that, because obviously she was also engaged to Ben Affleck but notably did not marry him. Confused? So are we. BUT, the most important thing to remember here is that while the fellas have fallen to the wayside, ALL these women have remained friends. Girls before guys, right?

Drew Barrymore and Kristen Wiig

The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti and Drew Barrymore were once famously kicked out of the theatre after having sex in the toilets. The toilet being one of the many places that girlfriends like to go together, no doubt Drew has also shared a toilet trip with her good friend Kristen Wiig, although we're pretty sure they were not kicked out. The two actresses affirmed the friendship after working together on the film Whip It in 2009. No doubt when discussing past lovers, Drew mentioned to Kristen that cute drummer she dated from 2002 to 2007. It's no wonder, then, that in 2011, Kristen also started dating Fabrizio. At the time, Drew said their relationship wasn't surprising to her: "It seems fitting that they would find each other," she told Allure magazine. "I was like, 'Right, of course, that makes perfect sense.'" The boyfriend sharing did nothing to dampen their friendship, and while Kristen's romance with the drummer ended in 2013, she has remained firm friends with Drew, appearing on her talk show in 2021.

She has recently been linked to Love Island bad boy Harrison Solomon, after they were pictured looking extremely cosy with one another at two separate events.

And although she insisted there isn’t anything romantic between them, insiders say that Princess Andre’s new circle has left her famously protective dad Peter Andre wary.

PROTECTIVE

The source says, ‘Peter has been cautious to hear about who Princess is spending time with – especially as Harrison didn’t have the best reputation on the show. He knows he’s probably a nice enough guy, but she really is his princess and he’s still super protective.

‘They are denying they’re anything but good pals, but Pete worries it could turn into something more.’

Princess, 19, and Harrison, 23, were recently snapped sharing a hug at the VIP launch night of Shocktober Fest at Tulleys Farm, the day after they spent the evening together at Thorpe Park, which saw them ride the roller coasters and also hang out with Princess’ famous mum, Katie Price.

As the rumour mill churned, Princess took to social media to address the speculation. ‘Rumours are really funny. Firstly, we’re part of the same management, hence being at the same events. Also, just because a boy and a girl are laughing, doesn’t mean anything romantic.’

The young influencer was previously in a two-year relationship which ended last May, while footballer Harrison came under fire for how he treated Toni Laites and Lauren Wood on Love Island last summer – with Women’s Aid slamming his actions as ‘misogyny and sexism’.

And the source adds that Pete is worried about Princess following in the footsteps of her mum Katie – who has had a number of roller-coaster relationships, having been married four times and engaged nine times.

MISTAKES

The source reveals, ‘Peter knows Princess and her mum are totally worlds apart, but he’s still determined to ensure she won’t follow in her mum’s footsteps. He hopes that having lived through some of her mum’s mistakes with men, Princess will make better choices.’

And after Katie appeared to enjoy Harrison’s company, the source says the former glamour model doesn’t feel as concerned as Pete about Princess’ dating life.

‘Katie is more relaxed about it all – she is of the view that Princess has got to make her own mistakes and has said, “She’s like me and she goes for the bad boys.” Katie is adamant that it’s not worth trying to intervene – she knows Princess will be more likely to rebel and do it anyway if they do,’ the insider says.

Imagine if you will, a world where a teenage witch marries a foul-mouthed superhero of sorts. Sounds out of this world, right? Wrong. There was once a time when Ryan Reynolds AKA Deadpool spent a whole night making smoochie sounds with Melissa Joan Hart or Sabrina The Teenage Witch (depending on your TV era) and if the planets had aligned and that particular 'sliding doors' moment had slid the other way, there might not ever have been a Justin Baldoni lawsuit driving us all crazy for what seemed like 72 years. And there almost certainly wouldn’t have been a Blake and Ryan!

The actress revealed in 2023 that Reynolds who played her on-screen love interest in the 1996 film of the series wanted to take the love into real life. In what she called “a little thing”, Melissa who had a boyfriend at the time said that on the last day of shooting the pair shared a kiss. Ryan gave her a present – a Bulova watch and then it all went a bit teenage wild. Melissa said, "I chased him down, got in front of his car, and just kissed him and then made out with him all night. Then I had to call my boyfriend the next day and explain it." Sadly, in what paved the way for Blake Lively to swoop in, the budding relationship didn’t last as she revealed, "He came to New York to visit me. But I think he wanted something more, but I decided I was going to stick with my boyfriend."

Oh Melissa, just look at what you could’ve won? We don’t even want to think about the immense joy that a Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Deadpool crossover would bring. Maybe there’s still time? Maybe it would revive the fortunes in the Lively/Reynolds household as they make more attempts to close the chapter on a rough few years. A source tells Closer that the beleaguered power couple are moving on and making big plans following their high-profile legal battle with Justin Baldoni. Let’s be honest, the fall-out has been immense. Blake’s been dramatically losing friends and alienating people all over town over the past couple of years – having to eat some serious humble pie when it comes to both her social status and career.

But if there’s one area where Blake Lively, 39, knows she thrives, it’s in her home life with her very famous husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their four children. She and Ryan, 49, might keep their domestic bliss relatively quiet, but it’s clear in the few snapshots that they do share that the pair revel in their roles as mum and dad, and get no greater joy than spending time together as a family of six. So, now that her very public legal battle with Justin Baldoni is finally over – and the reality of her equally public falling out with former best friend Taylor Swift is setting in – we’re told that Blake’s taking stock of what she wants moving forwards. And, having spoken seriously to Ryan, it seems they’ve both got another baby on the brain.

‘Their family is what brings them the most joy, and they really are in need of a boost right now,’ says an insider close to the pair, who have recently seen their status on top of the Hollywood pile fall, thanks to Blake’s bitter feud with her former It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni, which in turn led to the breakdown of her friendship with superstar Taylor. ‘Not that this would be some sort of band-aid baby – their relationship is rock solid. The timing feels right. Blake is getting to that stage in life where it’s better to have one more sooner rather than later, and they both really want another child. There’s not some big sense of urgency, but the time to start trying is now.’

By all accounts, Blake and Ryan were invincible just a few years back. Thanks to Ryan’s massive success with the Deadpool franchise, and his infamous sense of humour and entrepreneurial enterprising behind the scenes, he was up there with the biggest movie stars on the planet. Meanwhile, Blake – despite her relatively modest film credits – was elevated to the big leagues not only thanks to Ryan, but also thanks to her position as one of Anna Wintour’s elite fashion darlings, as well as her rock-solid BFF friendship with billionaire superstar Taylor. Having been friends for over a decade, Blake was implicitly integral to Taylor’s innermost circle, and was even entrusted to direct the video for Taylor’s 2021 single I Bet You Think About Me. In return, Taylor was named godmother to all four of Blake and Ryan’s children – daughters James, 11, Inez, nine, Betty, six, and son Olin, three.

However, the proverbial hit the fan two years ago, when Blake – having just released the movie It Ends With Us – filed a complaint against her director and co-star Justin, accusing him of sexual harassment on set. In response, he denied the claims and countersued her and Ryan for defamation, civil extortion and media manipulation. From there, things snowballed, with bitter mudslinging on both sides, and reports pouring from in all corners of the internet that Blake was notoriously difficult to work with. That already took a damaging toll on her career – not least when it was revealed in uncovered legal documents that both Blake and Ryan had tried to exploit their Hollywood connections to gain the upper hand over Justin and seemingly ruin his career, while saving Blake’s.

But – amid all the ‘he saids’ and ‘she saids’ – one of the biggest casualties in the legal dispute was Blake’s close friendship with Taylor, who was unwittingly embroiled in the fray. As further emails and texts were discovered as evidence, it was revealed that Blake had seemingly used Taylor as a bargaining chip in her bid to disempower Justin, calling the superstar her Game of Thrones-type ‘dragon’. What’s more, we also saw texts and emails shared between Blake and Taylor, which showed that Taylor had initially tried to help Blake behind the scenes, but had grown distant after realising she was being used as a chess piece. With all that said, by the time the legal battle was settled in June this year – after most of Blake’s claims were thrown out, and with no financial damages awarded in either direction – Blake’s friendship with Taylor was seemingly damaged beyond repair. That fear was then confirmed in July, when Taylor married her now husband Travis Kelce in an A-list packed wedding at Madison Square Garden arena. Absolutely every celebrity worth mentioning was there, except for Blake and Ryan.

Needless to say, Blake was reportedly devastated, and has since been spotted trying to keep a relatively low profile while enjoying quiet family time with Ryan and the kids. Behind the scenes, she’s also been trying to sue Justin to pay an eye-watering $8m for her legal fees - but that too hit a roadblock, after a judge decided she’d actually receive just 5 percent of that, amounting to $400,000, a relatively paltry sum for the multi-millionaire. As our source explains, Blake feels as though it’s been a relentless few years. And though she hasn’t had the outcomes she would have liked – in the legal battle, the fees dispute, and the feud with Taylor – the upshot is that, at the very least, this dramatic chapter is closed. Ostensibly, it’s now time to move, and though it might take a minute to strategise just how she can re-climb the A-list social and work ladder, we’re told it only makes sense, in the meantime, to focus on expanding the brood.

As for Ryan, he is the perfect foil to her recent disappointments, proving their marriage and family life haven’t been broken by all the scrutiny they’ve faced.‘They take a lot of trips to the UK, because of Ryan’s football team in Wrexham, and Ryan always manages to make time to take Blake out, just the two of them,’ our insider reveals. ‘He’s always doted on her and treated her like a queen, but over the past couple of years he’s taken it to a new level because she’s needed so much cheering up. It’s been very difficult for her not to sink into a pretty dark place; but, fortunately Ryan always knows how to make her smile.

‘He proved that he will have Blake’s back no matter who turns on her, and she says seeing his loyalty to her and strength as a husband when the chips were down made her fall even more deeply in love with him. Ryan and her kids are the only thing that got her through this hellish time, so if there is any sort of silver lining for Blake, it’s that it really highlighted what matters most.’The big question is – if and when they do welcome baby number five – who will win the honour of godmother? Sadly for Blake, her obvious choice is no longer ready and willing. Perhaps Sabrina the Teenage Witch would like to step in?

He’s the ‘fun uncle’ to his sister Frankie’s four-year-old twins Logan and Luella, and Joey Essex reveals how his overwhelming love for them has made him even broodier to start his own family. ‘Being an uncle has really changed my life. I love those kids like they’re my own. It’s mad – I’ve never had that type of love in my life. I spoil them so much. For their birthday, I got them a mini Mercedes G-Wagon from Harrods,’ Joey, 36, tells Closer.

TIGHT-LIPPED

‘I’m quite broody, to be honest. I’ve always wanted kids, but now I need some children. I’d love to have my own family one day, I can’t wait. I’d love an Essex army! I know I’ll be a really good dad, too. But I need to find a wife first.’

The star is currently single – ‘Let’s put that out there’, he tells us – and is reportedly looking for love on celebrity dating app Raya after recently splitting from model and photographer Lella Soper. Joey was last linked with Love Islander Priya Jaswal, who he was seen cosying up to at the National Television Awards last month. His most high-profile relationship was with his TOWIE co-star and ex-fiancée Sam Faiers, whom he proposed to twice, while more recently, he has dated Love Island’s Grace Jackson and Jessy Potts.

And with a visit to the US coming up, he’ll be on the lookout for love on American shores. ‘They love the English accent – and I wouldn’t say I was under demand there,’ he laughs.

Joey was previously in LA in 2024, when he appeared on an episode of Selling Sunset, but is keeping tight-lipped over any A-list encounters he had then. ‘I met a few celebs out there that I got on with. I was very much single at the time, so, you know... But I don’t kiss and tell,’ he says.

Since shooting to fame on TOWIE in 2011, where he starred alongside cousin Chloe Sims, before leaving in 2013, Joey has become the king of reality TV. His public pursuit for love has seen him on dating shows Love Island, Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Ex On The Beach. He’s also appeared on I’m A Celebrity!, Celebrity SAS, Splash!, The Jump and Dancing On Ice, and is currently on The Box and Cooking With The Stars.

But he doesn’t want his legacy to solely be reality shows. ‘I want to show the world who I really am – Joey Essex uncut, the raw version of myself,’ he says. ‘I want to show that, whether it’s a real-life documentary or a film about my life. That would really open people’s eyes. I feel like my story is interesting enough to get the world watching.’

SHOCK THE WORLD

And he’s preparing to do so, as Joey – who is also a boxer and faced comedian Dapper Laughs in a match last week – makes his acting debut in a gritty short movie alongside MobLand actor and long-time family friend Geoff Bell. ‘I always wanted to act. When people see this, I know they’ll be very surprised,’ he says. ‘This is different to what I usually do. I’m very proud of it.

‘I’m really bigging myself up on this. People in the acting world are going to take me very seriously when this comes out. I’m going to shock the world. It’ll hopefully create noise, so, Hollywood, watch out!’

And asked what his dream role would be, Joey says it would be in The White Lotus. Leo Woodall famously said his character, Jack, in the HBO drama was inspired by the ‘reem’ star himself. Joey says, ‘I’m flattered that he copied me because he does a very good impression of his spin on Joey Essex. But I would love to get a part in The White Lotus.’

For now though, he’s focused on showing off his culinary skills on Cooking With The Stars. ‘There is someone special in my life right now – Nokx,’ he laughs, referring to Nokx Majozi, the South African chef he’s paired with on the show.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

‘It was intense. I’ve done all the reality shows – SAS and The Box – and boxing training, but being in that kitchen was something else. It was almost scarier than any of that,’ he says. ‘It’s a very stressful environment when you’re trying to do something so good under a time limit, and you’re putting your all into it.

‘But I was in good hands with Nokx. She was there for me and we really bonded. I couldn’t ask for a better chef. She was amazing, she’s one of a kind. We made a perfect team. We’ll stay friends for life.’

After a series of blunders on Celebrity MasterChef in 2019, Joey is determined to do better this time around. ‘I rate myself in the kitchen,’ he adds ‘I cook with love. I’m the spaghetti Bolognese cooking champion of the world. I’m also very good at making porridge. Maybe I could bring my own porridge brand out – Joey’s Porridge!’

Cooking With The Stars continues on Mondays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

They’ve been trying to rebuild a life on this side of the pond after making the jaw-dropping decision to move back to England from the States. But the Sussexes were dealt a fresh blow last week when it emerged that a signed copy of Meghan’s children’s book, inscribed to Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, appeared for sale on eBay – a revelation that sources say has left the Duchess of Sussex, 45, fearing she looks a ‘joke’.

‘Harry called Eugenie after they saw the story and wanted to know exactly what had happened. It was incredibly embarrassing for Meghan because this wasn’t simply a random copy of her book. It was something she had personally written in and given to Eugenie and Jack. To Meghan, it’s quite hurtful seeing something so personal from that period effectively discarded,’ the source says.

HUMILIATED

They add, ‘Harry sees his relationship with Eugenie as increasingly important. That’s why he reacted so strongly. They had been getting back into a good place and there was a feeling that she could be someone Harry could trust and rely upon in the UK. Now suddenly they’ve got this incredibly awkward situation. Meghan has said she feels humiliated and wants a cooling off period with Eugenie.’

An alleged copy of Meghan’s book, The Bench, was listed on eBay last week for £20,000 by Drive Easy’s Signed Books, owned by specialist bookseller Nicholas Joseph Greenwood. The inscription inside was dated 2021, seemingly in Meghan’s calligraphy, and read, ‘Dear Eug & Jack, Celebrating the special bond between father and son. I wrote this poem at Frogmore – I hope that Eug, you witness the same love there with your guys. All love, Meghan.’

MAJOR BLOW

The listing was viewed thousands of times but was then deleted. It is unclear if the book was sold or simply taken down, and it’s unknown how the book ended up on the global marketplace, although an insider claims it was accidentally given away when ‘Frogmore was cleared’.

It comes as Harry, 42, and Meghan have been settling into their new lives in the Cotswolds with children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, since moving back to the UK in August. The former actress has been spotted at Soho Farmhouse and enjoying a pub visit with friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, while she and Harry were pictured together publicly for the first time since leaving the States last week.

But the insider adds that the allies Harry and Meghan were most hoping to hold onto were Eugenie – who was close to the Sussexes during their early dating days in 2016 – and her sister Beatrice. But the book listing has been a major blow and split the camps.

The source says, ‘Eugenie was mortified. She explained that she hadn’t deliberately got rid of it and certainly hadn’t sold it. But from Harry and Meghan’s point of view, the whole thing has left a rather nasty taste. Harry and Meghan have been desperately trying to repair relationships with family members since their return to the UK. Eugenie was an important part of that rehabilitation.’

Harry and Meghan spent the past six years in California – where they moved in 2020 and proceeded to drop a string of bombshells about the monarchy after quitting royal life.

ADAMANT

One of the claims was that Prince William, 44, ‘knocked Harry to the floor’ during a confrontation in 2019, which reportedly escalated after the heir to the throne called Meghan ‘difficult’, ‘rude’ and ‘abrasive’.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales and Meghan have also had a strained relationship, with it widely reported in 2018, when the Sussexes tied the knot, that Kate was left in tears over an issue with her daughter Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress.

And while it has recently been reported that alleged peacemaker Kate, 44, will ‘always love’ her brother-in-law and ‘can’t switch her feelings off’, the insider now says that the former Fab Four are looking unlikely to reconcile any time soon.

‘William and Kate saw the funny side of the extraordinary story with the book, but also privately recognised its wider significance, particularly because Eugenie had been emerging as one of Harry and Meghan’s most important remaining royal allies in Britain. This shows it isn’t all going quite as smoothly as they might have hoped. Behind the scenes, Kate is still pushing for Harry to be welcomed back into The Firm. She’s adamant she’ll never turn her back on him, despite the fact she would never extend the same olive branch to Meghan,’ the source adds.

Salma Hayek

After declaring ‘it is good for me to be at this age. I am at my best, I feel young’, Salma proved she’s putting her money where her mouth is when she turned the big 6-0 in September. The Frida actress shared two photos of her enjoying a spot of skinny dipping in the ocean – one of her lying stomach-down in shallow water and another showing her from the back, waist-deep in water – with her 29.2million followers, captioned, ‘60 and grateful.’ She previously said, ‘I don’t want to look overproduced’, adding that she wants to embrace what ‘the years have gifted me’.

Donna Air

Former Byker Grove star Donna bared almost all as she posed on a sunlounger – with only a strategically placed newspaper – covering her modesty when she hit her 47th year in August. ‘It’s my birthday!! So, I thought I’d celebrate… in my birthday suit, of course,’ she said. The mum of one, who has moved to LA, added, ‘One of the privileges of getting older is that you stop caring quite so much about what people think, and you stop being so hard on yourself. I’m much more focused now on feeling strong, healthy and capable than on how I look. I want to have the stamina and endurance to enjoy my life for as long as possible.’

Elizabeth Hurley

Hitting 60 didn’t slow Liz down – if anything, it inspired her to ditch the wardrobe. Celebrating her milestone birthday in 2025, the actress wrote on Instagram, ‘Happy birthday to me! This year has already been a wild ride; my 30th year working with the Estée Lauder Companies, my 30th year as Global Ambassador of the @esteelaudercompanies Breast Cancer Campaign, the 20th anniversary of @elizabethhurleybeach and… I’m in love.’ With achievements and romance to toast, she clearly felt the occasion called for a garden photo au naturel – proving boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus isn’t the only one who gets the view.

Kendall Jenner

Supermodel and reality star Kendall celebrated her 30th birthday in 2025 the only way she knew how – holidaying on a private Caribbean island, partying at designer Tommy Hilfiger’s luxury villa and going naked on the beach. ‘Right where I’m meant to be,’ she said, sharing photos of her in the buff. Not to be outshone by her sister (see below), Kendall also went topless for the impromptu shoot, with only two strategically placed stones as she lay in the sand and striking green bikini bottoms.

Amanda Holden

For her 53rd birthday in 2024, Amanda quite literally found herself perched between a rock and… well, another rock. Sitting confidently on a large stone completely nude, she captioned the image simply, ‘Birthday suit… 53.’ The TV favourite showcased her impressively toned physique, leaving fans in awe. If this was 53, we can only imagine what she might plan for 60 – though we’re guessing clothes won’t feature heavily.

Gwyneth Paltrow

To mark her 48th birthday in 2020, Gwyneth headed into her picturesque garden, cleverly posing with one leg angled to preserve her modesty while her husband snapped the photo. The result? A striking full-length image of the Oscar winner completely nude. As for that famously sculpted figure? She’d likely point you straight to her Goop beauty line – body butter included.

Kourtney Kardashian

When she hit 38 in 2022, Kourtney celebrated by taking to the water, sharing a dramatic shot that gained over a million likes. Emerging from the sea with a flawless hair flip and perfectly arched back, she looked every inch the superstar. And while it might have seemed like a rare glimpse, the mum of four has never shied away from tasteful nude shoots for magazines like GQ and V – after all, those workout results deserve their moment.

Rosario Dawson

Just before turning 40 in May 2019, Rosario marked 39 with a carefully angled mirror selfie, rearranging her surroundings to keep things covered. She captioned it, ‘Happy birthday suit to me… 39 & feelin’ fine,’ and fans couldn’t agree more. When 40 arrived, she stepped it up with a topless outdoor video, playfully writing, ‘Here’s lookin’ at you 4D #BlissMore.’ Curious followers later learned she credits her glowing skin to natural remedies – including drinking food-grade clay to cleanse the system, alongside a skincare routine packed with vitamins and mineral-rich products.

She's been a firm favourite on our screens for more than four decades, becoming one of the nation’s most beloved TV favourites along the way. And, at 66, Lorraine Kelly is looking better than ever – telling Closer that she’s been on a fitness overhaul this year, which has seen her drop two dress sizes.

MILESTONE

Lorraine proudly says, ‘I was a size 14, and now I’m back in a 10, which is really good for my health. I’ve got back my waist thanks to the exercising and the walking. I do a lot of swimming as well. I’m always going to be somebody that’s got a wee bit of a tummy, because I’m a woman and we do have that. But thanks to all the exercise, I’ve definitely noticed a difference all over, really.’

She went from filling in on Good Morning Britain to becoming one of the most recognisable faces on breakfast telly, before landing her own flagship show, Lorraine, in 2010. And over the years, she’s been more than open about her weight struggles, admitting it’s been ‘so hard’ and has a past of being an ‘emotional eater.’

But it was daughter Rosie’s wedding that proved the catalyst for Lorraine and her husband of 34 years, Steve Smith, as they both wanted to look their best for the family milestone.

‘We both lost weight for the wedding,’ Lorraine tells us. ‘Because, back in April, we tried his kilt on and it wouldn’t fasten! So he said, “Right, the two of us need to do something.” I was chunky – I’d been comfort eating, and that was a wake-up call. So we both really got onto it. We stopped boozing and the chocolate plate at night.’

As well as making healthier choices, Lorraine reveals she’s been doing gruelling workout routines.

TONED UP

‘What has helped most of all is going to the gym twice a week and going for massive walks,’ she tells Closer. ‘We joined a local gym and started doing some classes that are specifically for people over 60. The classes are hard, but they’re for muscle toning and balance, all of these things that you need as you get older. I’m still of a certain age; none of us are completely happy when we look at our arms, but they are a lot better now, because I’ve been using weights a lot – which has definitely toned everything up!’

The Scottish broadcaster has also had another reason to get moving – after becoming a grandmother to Rosie’s daughter, Billie, now two. The presenter admits having a little one to keep up with has given her extra motivation to up her exercise regime.

‘Losing a couple of dress sizes is fantastic, but it is more about feeling fitter and having more energy because I’ve got a wee two-year-old to run after,’ she laughs. ‘When I do babysit her, I need to be really fit because they are fast! You need to be really, really on your toes.’

While many of her contemporaries have been candid about going under the needle – former Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has spoken openly about having Botox and facial fillers, while Ruth Langsford has admitted she’s considering a neck lift – Lorraine has no plans to follow suit. Instead, she says she’s grateful for her natural features and is happy to embrace what she’s got.

‘I still haven’t had anything done surgery-wise, and I don’t really want to,’ she admits. ‘I see too many people in the public eye who have had things done, and it can look a bit strange. I don’t mind lines; I call them laughter lines! I’m quite lucky because I’ve got quite a fat face, and I’ve got cheekbones, so I think that helps to make you look a little bit younger when you’ve got a lot of fat in your face!’

ROYAL DRAMA

And this year marks 16 years of her eponymous show. So, when asked who she’d most love to have on the famous sofa, Lorraine reveals she’s got her sights set on some royal blood.

‘I would love to interview the Princess of Wales,’ she gushes. ‘She comes across as a really decent person. Going through cancer and seeing her father-in-law having cancer, all of which must have been really hard, so someone like that would be great. And then dealing with all the antics of the Meghan Markle nightmare. Imagine putting those wee kids into school and then whipping them out two days later? I mean, it’s just ridiculous. They are in severe danger of being incredibly boring, so they’ll need to watch that people won’t be interested in them. I don’t wish them any harm, but I certainly feel sorry for their kids because it’s not going to be easy for them.’

REBEL: ‘I lost my virginity at 35’

Celebrity memoirs are packed full of dirty secrets – and Rebel Wilson’s novel is no exception. The Pitch Perfect star, 46, revealed that she lost her virginity to comedian Mickey Gooch Jr when she was 35 – but he had no idea. ‘Micks, I know this might be news to you if you are reading this, but, yes, I lost my virginity to you,’ Rebel wrote.

MEGAN: ‘I cut a hole in my outfit’

While in a relationship with Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox cut a hole in one of her red carpet outfits so the pair could have sex. The actress, 40, had to ask her stylist for advice after the spontaneous quickie, messaging her, ‘Was this blue outfit expensive because we just cut a hole in the crotch so we could have sex?’

JADA: ‘We missed the red carpet’

While en route to the Grammy Awards in 2009, Jada Pinkett-Smith couldn’t resist her husband Will’s advances. The duo got steamy in a limo, making them late for the event. ‘We started kissing passionately, and the next thing I knew, well, let's just say we missed the red carpet and I ended up with almost no make-up on,’ Jada, 55, said.

ARIANA: ‘Pete’s 10 inches’

When a fan asked Ariana Grande, ‘How long is Pete?’ they were referring to her song Pete Davidson – the name of her ex-boyfriend – on her Sweetener album. But the singer, 33, had other ideas in mind, cheekily responding on social media, ‘Like 10 inches? Oh f***…I mean…like a lil’ over a minute,’ referencing both the song length and her then-boyfriend’s package.

CHRISTINA: ‘Swallowing is really good’

You can count on Christina Aguilera not only for hit songs, but also for oral sex tips. Describing herself as ‘promoter of the swallow’, Christina, 45, said, ‘Swallowing is really a good thing. It’s got a lot of protein.’ She cheekily added, ‘There is something to be said [for doing so] after you put in the hard work.’

KOURTNEY: ‘We had sex in labour’

After being sent home from hospital while 3cm dilated, heavily pregnant Kourtney Kardashian decided to take matters into her own hands – getting intimate with husband Travis Barker in a bid to speed up her labour. ‘We went home, ate at Crossroads, showered, slept in our bed and then we had sex to get things going to see if that helped,’ the reality TV star, 47, said in 2023.

RICKY: ‘The shower is sexy’

Some people like to keep their sex life private, but Ricky Martin is not one of them. The singersongwriter, 54, once got very candid about his turn-ons. ‘I love giving the golden shower. I’ve done it before in the shower,’ he confessed. ‘It’s like, so sexy, you know, the temperature of your body and the shower water is very different.’

CAPRICE: ‘I schedule sex’

Caprice Bourret and husband Ty Comfort have mastered keeping the spark alive in their marriage. The model, 54, began scheduling ‘sex appointments with Ty’ after welcoming twins Jett and Jax in 2013. And the couple’s favourite thing to do? Add a festive spin to the bedroom. She previously told Closer, ‘There’s nothing better than a good romp while watching a Christmas movie!’

He has spent the past six months in hospital after suffering a stroke. And while Eamonn Holmes’ future on TV remains uncertain amid his ailing health, his ex-wife Ruth Langsford was living it up last week during a sun-soaked trip to Italy with close pal Lucy Alexander.

But insiders say that despite the Loose Women anchor letting her hair down and plastering smiles on social media, she has been feeling ‘trapped’ and anxious about her looming divorce court battle with Eamonn – whom she was married to for 14 years before their split in May 2024.

The source says, ‘Ruth does want Eamonn to get stronger because she knows how much work means to him. But she can’t help but brace herself for the bitter court battle. Ruth knows him. When Eamonn says he’s going to fight something, he means it. She hears he’s ready to fight her in court, and it’s, “Oh God, do we really have to do this?” She isn’t frightened of standing her ground, but she doesn’t want a fortune disappearing on lawyers or both of them spending months consumed by a court case.

£10M BATTLE

‘That’s why the holiday really was the calm before the storm. She wanted a few days where she could have some wine, laugh with her friends and not wake up thinking about what happens next.’

Former TV duo Ruth and Eamonn, both 66, shocked the nation more than two years ago when they announced they were splitting up after a total of 27 years together. The GB News broadcaster – who shares Jack, 24, with Ruth, and Declan, 37, Rebecca, 35, and Niall, 33, with first wife Gabrielle – swiftly moved on with relationship counsellor Katie Alexander. While it was reported last week that Eamonn’s 45-year-old girlfriend had moved out of his £1.3 million rented flat, a source said that the pair are ‘very much together and in love’.

In June, it was reported that Eamonn and Ruth would be heading to court in November for an estimated £10 million divorce battle. According to the report, issues at trial could include a personal fortune of around £5 million, as well as their marital home in Surrey, which they bought for £3.6 million in 2014 but could now be worth more.

FIRED UP

A source said that Ruth – who allegedly wants to keep the house in a settlement – launched proceedings for a ‘financial remedy’ after negotiations broke down.

‘It’s very sad, but they are both prepared to fight for what they feel is rightfully theirs,’ a source said last year.

The mum-of-one previously referred to their separation as a ‘huge shock’, bravely admitting, ‘I just didn’t think I’d find myself here, and I wasn’t strong at the start. I was broken. Broken heart. Broken dreams. We all have an image of how we think our life and future is going to be. This wasn’t mine. I was devastated.’

She went on, ‘I had to give myself a good talking to because I was catastrophising, “I’m going to be on my own, I don’t have a partner, what am I going to do?”’

And while Eamonn’s ongoing hospitalisation could complicate proceedings, an insider says the anticipation of it all has been hitting Ruth.

‘She knows reality is waiting for her. Eamonn is fired up and clearly isn’t going to back down easily. She just wishes they could find a way through this without spending a fortune and putting themselves and everybody around them through even more stress. But she does want to protect herself and her future,’ the source says.

As it stands, it is unclear when Eamonn will be released from hospital, but it has been reported that GB News – which the presenter joined in 2022 after quitting ITV – is planning for a future without him.

ADAMANT

Those close to him at the channel are understood to have insisted there ‘will always be a home’ for Eamonn there, with the dad-of-four himself saying this summer, ‘I can’t wait to be out of this gown and back in a suit and tie. Watch this space. I’ll be back after this break.’

The insider now says, ‘Eamonn’s absolutely adamant that he’s coming back. He has spent virtually his entire adult life working in television, and he simply cannot imagine a future where that part of his life is taken away from him. He wants to get fit, get himself back into a suit and get behind a television desk again. That’s what is driving him at the moment.

‘Ruth would be genuinely happy to see him walk back into a television studio. What she finds difficult is knowing that, at the same time, he’s digging his heels in over the divorce. Her feeling is: use that fight to get better and rebuild your career. We don’t need to use it against each other.’

If there’s one thing guaranteed to put a dampener on the festive season, it’s a family feud – and behind the gilded doors of Kensington Palace, Prince William and Princess Kate are reportedly facing one that neither can quite agree on how to solve.

With Prince Harry having now spent almost two months back in the UK, you might assume the brothers would finally be inching towards some sort of truce. But despite the Sussexes now being settled just a short drive from Windsor in the Cotswolds, William, 44, is reportedly still refusing to meet his younger brother, 42, face-to-face.

One source recently claimed William views Harry as a ‘traitor’ to the Royal Family and believes that he and Meghan ‘can’t leave [England] soon enough’.

And while Kate, 44, has spent years carefully supporting her husband from the sidelines, we’re told she’s now reached the point where she can no longer sit quietly and watch the rift continue.

The Princess has reportedly been willing to respect William’s decision not to reconcile, but with no obvious progress between the brothers, her patience is wearing thin. An insider tells us that Kate now feels something has to give.

‘Kate did her best to step back and let them work things out on their own, but there’s been zero progress, so she’s now saying that’s just not something she can do long term,’ the source says.

‘Her instinct is to do everything she can to fix this. She won’t go as far as meeting up with Harry behind William’s back, but she is very loudly voicing her opinion again, which is that this ugliness can’t go on.’

And with Harry and Meghan now back on British soil with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, the situation is arguably harder to ignore than ever. The brothers’ estrangement has stretched across almost seven years, with the Atlantic Ocean helping to keep them apart while the Sussexes built their new life in California.

Now they’re practically neighbours again; the tension is reportedly becoming impossible for the Waleses to sidestep.

There’s another looming date adding fuel to the fire, too: next year marks the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Harry and William’s relationship has inevitably become part of the legacy of their mother, and Kate is said to be deeply conscious of how painful it is that Diana’s only two sons remain estranged.

Harry and Meghan are reportedly working on a TV project honouring Diana, while William is said to have rejected approaches to become involved in his own tribute. For Kate, who is mother to Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, the prospect of the brothers marking such a significant anniversary separately is apparently heartbreaking.

‘As a mother, it pains her to think of how devastated Diana would be that her only two children have gone years without speaking and she’s not holding back telling William as much,’ the source says.

‘With the 30th anniversary of their mother’s death coming up, the expectation is that they will do something together and Kate very much wants them to honour that. Everybody knows Harry is planning his own thing, and Kate thinks it’s a terrible look for William to just sit this out, or even worse, do his own separate thing.’

For Kate, this isn’t simply about a private family squabble, either. The continued warfare between the brothers has repeatedly threatened to overshadow the work of the wider Royal Family, while every fresh development risks dragging the monarchy back into the Sussex drama.

And there’s a much more personal concern, too. Kate is reportedly worried about what the ongoing hostility could teach her own children about family, loyalty and forgiveness.

‘She’s also saying it’s bad for the public’s confidence in the Crown, not to mention a terrible example for the children,’ we’re told.

‘She says, sometimes you have to suck things up for the greater good, and right now the best thing for everyone in the family and for the Crown as a whole is for these two brothers to make peace; nearly everyone agrees on that.’

Ironically, the person most determined to keep the brothers apart may be William himself – and his anger is reportedly still closely tied to what Harry and Meghan have said about Kate.

Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, contained a series of revelations about the Waleses, and just months after its publication, Kate revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.

While Harry could not have known about her diagnosis when the book was published, the timing only heightened the sense that the Sussexes’ public disclosures had gone too far.

Now, with Kate in remission, she is reportedly keen to draw a line under the past and concentrate on her family and future. And, according to the source, she believes William should be able to do the same.

We’re told, ‘All Kate wants is peace, and she doesn’t feel that’s an unreasonable request, especially considering a lot of William’s anger stems from what was said by Harry and Meghan about her. If she’s willing to let it go and move forward, she feels that William ought to be able to follow suit.

‘She isn’t denying that Harry has changed, nor is she suggesting they all need to be best friends, but she’s very clear that things can’t go on as they have been; it’s untenable.’

Then there’s the King. Charles, 77, is approaching 80 and continues with a reduced regimen of cancer treatment, and his desire to see his family reunited has reportedly been no secret. He met Harry and his grandchildren in July, and with Christmas now approaching, another meeting could potentially be on the cards.

That has led to renewed speculation about the reported differences between the King and his heir over Harry. And if Kate is already pushing William to reconsider, we’re told the tension surrounding Charles’ wishes is making the situation even more difficult.

‘The King has repeatedly let it be known this is what he wants. He’s not going to force William, but the assumption was that William would comply out of respect. And as everyone can see, that has not happened, which is very disappointing for Kate, too,’ the insider says.

‘She really believed William would have the maturity to put his sick father’s wants ahead of his own stubbornness. Kate wholeheartedly believes making Charles happy should be a priority, especially at this stage of his life.’

For now, though, William appears as determined as ever not to budge. And with Harry’s Diana project potentially reopening old wounds, the prospect of a Christmas miracle between the brothers seems far from guaranteed.

Yet Kate may prove to be the one person capable of getting through that famously stubborn brick wall. She has always been William’s closest confidante and, unlike other family members, has the unique position of being both his wife and someone who desperately wants to see the wider family reunited.

But that doesn’t mean their private discussions are necessarily harmonious. In fact, we’re told Kate’s campaign for peace could itself be creating some serious friction behind palace doors.

‘William says Kate is asking him to forgive the unforgivable, and it annoys the hell out of him that she’s pushing him to do something he’s so against. He’s getting enough of that from his father,’ the source says.

'William has put up this huge brick wall and every time the subject comes up, he shuts down or gets angry. But the pressure is building; even his own wife isn’t willing to let this go on forever.’

Once the debonair duo of Hollywood, George Clooney and Brad Pitt were the silver screen heartthrobs that women swooned over and men admired. But in recent years, it hasn’t escaped anyone’s attention that the red-hot bromance between George and Brad has noticeably cooled. And insiders say it isn’t simply that they’ve been too busy to spend time together on- or off-screen – something more has shifted.

Apparently, George, 65, has taken drastic measures to distance himself from Brad, 62, who’s found himself in the eye of a reignited media storm in recent months over historic allegations of abuse.

Though George will have long been aware of the claims levied against Brad by his ex-wife Angelina, who’s been locked in bitter legal battles with the actor ever since they split 10 years ago, the accusations have taken on extra weight over the past few years as each one of Brad and Angelina’s six children has systematically taken public steps to disown and discredit their father.

Meanwhile, Brad has also copped flak at the very same time for publicly admitting he’s drinking again – despite admitting in the past that his alcoholism played a part in breaking up his family.

Sources suggest that this has left Brad increasingly on the outside, particularly with George and his wife, Amal. Since meeting Amal in 2013, George has thrown himself into supporting her work as a leading human rights lawyer, often championing causes focused on justice and protecting vulnerable people, especially women.

So, as allegations about Brad’s behaviour toward his ex-wife resurface, insiders say George has chosen to distance himself. That, reportedly, has extended to one of the year’s most high-profile celebrity charity gatherings: the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s annual Albie Awards this week.

Founded by George and Amal in 2022, the Albies have quickly become a major A-list fixture, attracting stars such as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Cate Blanchett while celebrating global champions of human rights. In recent years, the guest list has been a who’s who, with Brad previously expected to be included as a nod to his long friendship with Clooney, but according to sources, the Fight Club star has very clearly not made the cut this time for the ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum on 9 October.

‘The Albies are about celebrating brave defenders of justice, so having Brad appearing on the red carpet after being accused of domestic abuse is an absolute non-starter,’ one insider told The Sun. ‘Brad has strongly denied all the allegations made against him, but in reality, it still feels like it could overshadow the event – and that’s not what anyone wants to happen.

‘For now, [the Clooneys] have chosen to publicly put some distance between themselves and Brad. When it comes to the foundation, George and Amal will always do what they think is best. George had no choice but to freeze out his old pal.’

To be clear, the public mudslinging between Angelina and Brad has been ongoing ever since they split in September 2016 following reports of an infamous private plane altercation. At the time, details were hazy, but, in later court documents, Angelina’s camp claimed that – while Brad had long been abusive towards her - on this occasion, he’d also turned his abuse towards their children while drunk.

Both the FBI and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services subsequently investigated Brad – and, while he was cleared of all allegations, he later took some accountability for his destructive behaviours, saying he’d ultimately had to take away his ‘drinking privileges’ after they split. The actor joined Alcoholics Anonymous and also credited several sober friends – including actor Bradley Cooper – for helping him to see the light and seek help.

In the meantime, Brad’s career has gone from strength to strength, thanks to his Oscar win in 2020 for Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, and last year’s critically acclaimed action movie F1. He’s also found love again with his girlfriend of four years, Ines de Ramon, 33. Yet the one undeniable chink in his armour is the fact that – over the past few years – his children have distanced themselves from him in very public and statement-making ways.

First, his daughter Shiloh, 20, filed a legal petition to drop ‘Pitt’ from her surname, which was granted two years ago. Then his children, Zahara, 21, and Maddox, 25, followed suit, with Zahara’s legal requests approved while Maddox’s is still pending. Most recently, his youngest daughter, Vivienne, 18, made the same legal bid and is now due to have her own hearing in November, which just leaves son Pax, 22, and Vivienne’s twin brother Knox, 18, as Brad’s only two children who haven’t taken legal steps to remove their paternal surname.

That said, they have both made their positions clear: Knox listed himself as ‘Knox Jolie’ during his recent graduation, while Pax infamously ranted against his famous father in an Instagram message in 2020, shockingly branding him a ‘world-class a**hole’ and a ‘despicable person’.

Brad’s alleged mistreatment of his family – and his growing distance from them – and ongoing legal battle with Angelina puts further strain on his already fragile ties with the Clooneys. After all, George and Amal have built their public lives around protecting women and advancing human rights, so it’s hardly surprising, sources say, that they’re now keeping well clear of any show of support for Brad.

Plus, Brad hasn’t helped his own image with recent remarks about alcohol. In an interview with Esquire last month, he casually admitted he’d fallen ‘off the wagon’ after seven years sober, before insisting he now drinks in a ‘more restrained’ way. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t exactly read as someone fully owning the damage caused by past drinking.

Insiders claim that the outlook for Brad and George’s friendship is bleak. The two were last seen together publicly in 2024 while promoting their action-comedy Wolfs. But with allegations already circulating then – and with Brad’s children later making their feelings about him increasingly public – standing by him has become even harder. For now, it appears there’s little room left for any meaningful rekindling of their once-famous Hollywood bromance.

While the furore surrounding their parents continues, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie appear to have remained close.

Just days after their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was stripped of his royal titles last October, the sisters were photographed looking solemn as they walked side-by-side through London before sharing an affectionate embrace – widely seen as show of unity at what must have been an incredibly difficult time for them both.

However, in the months that have followed, the focus for both princesses has arguably been to keep their footing within the royal fold; a feat that hasn’t proved easy following the release of the Epstein files and further details of their parents’ long-standing friendship with the late convicted paedophile.

While the sisters are not accused of any wrongdoing whatsoever, their family drama has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the Royal Family and, as non-working royals, their own status and titles are alleged to have come under scrutiny, by Prince William in particular.

Now, with Christmas at Sandringham fast approaching and with their position within the Firm still precarious, a source tells us the princesses are out to prove themselves – and they are taking desperate measures to ensure they stay in the royal fold.

Both Beatrice, 38, and Eugenie, 36, appear equally determined to reinvent themselves, and our source says the duo have become unexpectedly competitive as they bid to outshine the other, with husbands Edoardo [Mapelli Mozzi] and Jack [Brooksbank] also pulling all the strings they can behind the scenes.

The insider says, ‘Beatrice and Eugenie both want to put some distance between themselves and their parents, and now they’re doing the same with each other. They love each other dearly, of course, but they’ve realised that always being seen as a package deal hasn’t necessarily helped them so they’re going their separate ways.

‘Beatrice and Eugenie are both doing a lot of schmoozing, trying to line up opportunities to keep them afloat should the worst-case scenario happen. Their husbands are both incredibly well-connected so they’re doing what they can to help open doors. You’d think they’d want to join forces in this and help each other but that is not the route they’re taking, it’s every woman for herself.’

It’s now been a year since Andrew, 66, and the girls’ mother, Sarah Ferguson, 66, were sensationally stripped of their royal titles and evicted from their family home of Royal Lodge in Windsor, but still the scandal engulfing the York family shows no signs of letting up.

The sisters themselves have faced questions from the public over what they may have known about their parents’ friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and Beatrice was further scrutinised when details emerged that she had allegedly played a role in Andrew’s disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview.

Then in June it was the turn of Beatrice and Eugenie to endure the eye of the storm once more when an audit by The National Audit Office (NAO) reported that King Charles covers the accommodation costs for non-working royals' homes, meaning that the sisters live rent-free in their properties within the Royal Family's London palaces.

These latest allegations have only intensified the scrutiny of the whole family, with Tina Brown, former Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair and a friend of the late Princess Diana, cruelly describing Beatrice and Eugenie as having come to ‘symbolise a rot at the heart of the whole royal system’, and further claiming that William is likely to have a ‘dim view’ of his cousins.

And the source says that both Beatrice and Eugenie are all too aware of how much is at stake right now, and hope that by following their own paths, they will be able to protect their families in the future.

Beatrice shares daughters Sienna, five, and Athena, one, with Edo, while Eugenie is mum to sons August, five, and Ernest, three, with Jack. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Adelaide, in August.

‘There’s a lot at stake right now, they’re both fighting to hang on to their place within the monarchy and that pressure has definitely got them feeling competitive,’ the source says now.

‘They’re both so worried about what happens when William takes over. They don’t want to suddenly be shut out of events like Royal Ascot, or Christmas at Sandringham. Or, worst of all, lose their homes. They know they can’t take their royal privileges for granted and they’ve both got children and husbands to protect, so that’s really what’s driving all this change.’

Meanwhile, marketing exec Jack, who married Eugenie in 2018, and property developer Edo, who married Beatrice in 2020, have always appeared to get along. But we’re told that while there is no animosity between the pair, the two men aren’t the best of friends, either.

The source says, ‘Another factor in all of this is the fact that Jack and Edo have never really gelled. They’re perfectly pleasant with each other, but they’ve never become close in the way you might expect after all these years of being in-laws.

‘When they spend time together it’s out of obligation and not because the two couples are this tight foursome.’

This alleged distance came to light last month when Beatrice and Edo were photographed sharing dinner in London with a powerful Spotify Executive, who is reported to also have a great reputation for crisis management.

It is not known if the dinner was just a night out or a more serious meeting, but the source claims Edo is trying to persuade Beatrice to at least consider a new direction away from her sister.

They add, ‘Edo in particular has been pushing Beatrice to take the bull by the horns and start building a life that isn’t so tied to her family.

‘He’s very pleased that she’s distanced herself from her parents and he’s encouraging her to do the same with Eugenie, not because there’s any bad blood but because he thinks it’s time she stands on her own two feet.’

The two sisters’ lives also look remarkably different. While Beatrice splits her time between the Cotswolds and St James’ Palace in London, where she works as a vice-president of a software company, Eugenie splits her time between London, where she works as a director at an art gallery, and Portugal, where she and her family reside for much of the year.

But the source says it isn’t just the distance and the fact they are both juggling busy family lives that have led to the Beatrice and Eugenie spending increasing amounts of time away from each other.

‘The sisters have always been this package deal, but they aren’t children anymore and the reality is they simply don’t spend as much time together as they used to,’ we’re told.

‘Some of that is because they’re both incredibly busy with their own families and lives, but they’re also not entirely on the same page these days. They love each other enormously, but the reality is they don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, even when it comes down to how to handle all the upheaval within their extended family.’

The royal elephant in the room is of course the increasing speculation that when William takes the throne, the girls may find themselves very much on the outside of the fold, with the likes of Duchess Sophie and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor already appearing much closer to William and Kate.

As for now, the source says the sisters are doing it for themselves – quite literally.

‘They want to make themselves valuable in their own right. There’s a lot of uncertainty ahead and they’re both determined to be in the strongest possible position when William takes the reins,’ we’re told.

‘The unfortunate reality is that they’re both fighting for the futures of their own respective families so, whether either of them wants to acknowledge it or not, they are in competition with each other. Their husbands both know that and they’re acting accordingly.'

Nearly two months on from their much-hyped UK return, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's comeback hasn't quite gone to plan. And now, with no real sign of any royal reunion and mounting financial pressures, we're told Harry is struggling – and it's putting a strain on his marriage.

'Getting Meghan to agree to this move was just the first battle. Now, Harry has to prove that it was the right decision for their family, which means a whole lot of hard work,' an insider tells Closer. 'He was adamant relocating would allow him to bring in more money, so he's running from one event to the next.

At the same time, he's working all his contacts to find actual paid opportunities, and not just for himself – he wants to open doors for Meghan, too, as he promised her he would.

'The hardest part is how much time they're having to spend apart. It looks fine on paper, but it's far trickier in reality. They're barely seeing one another – Harry is out late schmoozing and Meghan's in bed well before midnight, so she can be up early for the children's school run and then straight into work mode. On top of that, he's got the never-ending headache of trying to manage the situation with his family, which has proved even tougher than he expected.'

King Charles is not thought to have met the Sussexes since their fleeting visit to Highgrove in July. What's more, a rather brutal letter was issued on behalf of the King to make clear that Harry and Meghan were 'no longer working members of the royal family', but 'private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.

Prince William is also said to still be 'furious' with his brother, and questions have been raised over how much Harry knew about his uncle Earl Spencer's controversial book about Princess Diana. The new memoir painted an extremely unflattering picture of the King, so although Harry had hoped returning to the UK would help mend relations with the royal family, the rift seems wider than ever.

Meanwhile, Meghan has yet to appear beside her husband at any public engagements and has, until now, stayed tucked away at their home in the Cotswolds, where she continues to build her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and settle Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, into their new school.

It's a stark contrast to when Meghan last lived in the UK, when she was rarely more than a step from Harry's side. This time it's a completely different tale, one in which we're told she refuses to be painted as a 'Stepford wife'. Our insider says, 'Meghan's focused on the kids and her brand, she's not interested in following Harry around like some lapdog.

Her view is that they should take a divide-and-conquer approach, and Harry agrees, but it does mean a lot more pressure on his shoulders and zero time to himself. The moment he's free from work, he's rushing home to give Meghan a break from parenting duties.'

Alongside carrying out numerous public engagements across the UK, Harry has already jetted off to New York and Canada in the past month. We're told, 'The poor guy hardly had time to unpack his bags in England before he was back on a plane to New York to start hustling. He believes in what he's doing, so in that sense it's very gratifying, but it's still exhausting. If the bills weren't piling up, there's no way he'd have such a packed schedule.'

And with the pair increasingly living separate lives, our source adds that they're beginning to wonder whether the move was a huge mistake. 'They had all these romantic plans for what they wanted to do in England, and so far it's been nothing but work,' says our insider. 'There's hardly enough time in their calendars for a full night's sleep, let alone dates. They both say they've accepted this is how it needs to be for now, but that doesn't mean it's easy living such separate lives – it's bound to take a toll.'

But, for the time being, our insider says Harry has embraced the 'challenge' of making their return a success – even if it leaves him 'exhausted'. We're told, 'The responsibility to sort things financially rests on his shoulders. That was the deal he and Meghan made when she agreed to this move, and he's determined to live up to his side of things. As hard as it is to be taking all this on, he wants to prove to Meghan and his family that he can do this.'

Sadly, Meghan isn't feeling nearly as hopeful. We're told, 'It's no secret Meghan agreed to this move to make Harry happy, but it's already turning out to be way harder than she anticipated. She's very homesick – she misses her mum, her friends, and the beach. If she could go back tomorrow, she would, but that's not in the cards. She's focused on settling the kids in, and she does want to support Harry while he sorts everything out with his family.' The insider adds, 'There's just an overwhelming amount on her plate right now – she's really feeling the pressure.'

After celebrating her 55th birthday six months ago, Claire Sweeney is thriving – and she reveals she has never felt better.

‘I feel strong and in good shape. I’m really looking after myself. I’m embracing every age,’ she tells Closer. ‘I feel very lucky. I’ve got my boy Jaxon, I’m working, I’m healthy. I’m grateful and blessed for where I am now. It’s a gift to get older. Just enjoy it.’

After years of yo-yoing weight woes, Claire – who’s been the face of Weight Watchers and SlimFast – now eats in moderation and prefers to stay fit and healthy with hot yoga and Pilates rather than following diets.

BEING STRICT WITH HERSELF

‘I feel fit. I eat sensibly, and I rest, which is very important, too,’ she says. ‘I’m quite disciplined but I don’t deny myself. I used to be very, very strict about my diet when I was younger. But now, I’m all for the “one little treat”. The other night, at 11pm, we got a little Indian takeaway. It’s a bit naughty, really. But if I fancy something like that, I won’t deny myself.’

After experiencing perimenopause symptoms like severe anxiety, lethargy and headaches, the actress reveals that the menopause was kinder to her. ‘It’s all right. I’m absolutely fine,’ she says. ‘I might get a bit of anxiety, but that’s life, isn’t it? Juggling lots of balls. I haven’t had any hot sweats or anything. I try to get on with it and always try to see the good in things.’

Claire shares son Jaxon, 12, with ex-fiancé Daniel Reilly. The pair, who were friends before they started dating, got engaged in 2012, before they split in 2014. They reunited when they discovered she was pregnant, only to break up nine months after Jaxon was born.

Opening up about motherhood, she gushes, ‘I couldn’t imagine life without Jaxon – he brings pure joy into my life. He’s my best mate. He makes me laugh. He’s at an age now where I value his opinion. He’s a smart little kid. He’s great. I’ve been blessed.’

But she reveals he won’t be following in her showbiz footsteps, adding, ‘He’s a lovely singer, but he loves [fantasy role-playing game] Warhammer and is always building and designing. He says he’d like to be an engineer, but who knows?’

And while Claire has previously admitted being a single mum was ‘really hard’, she now says, ‘I do get a lot of help, so I’m lucky. I’ve got family, I’ve got people there to help me.’

HAPPILY SINGLE

Love is currently not a priority for Claire, who’s dated actor Tony Hibbard and theatre producer Adam Kenwright in the past. She tells Closer, ‘I’m just engrossed in work at the moment and with Jaxon. If I meet someone, great, but if not, that’s fine.’

As for marriage, she says, ‘I’ve not really thought about it much, to be honest. When you’re younger, you think about it, but I’m just busy being a mum and working at the moment and not thinking about it, and I’m single, so it’s not on the cards.’

Her last relationship was with world boxing champion Ricky Hatton. The pair enjoyed an eight-month romance after they met on Dancing On Ice in 2024 and remained ‘dear friends’ until his tragic death in September 2025, aged 46. ‘I feel very blessed that he was in my life. He was wonderful, [a] great man… He was a legend. A good, good man,’ she previously said.

While the loss has been devastating for Claire, she’s handled her grief by focusing on work. After stand-out roles in Brookside and Coronation Street, as well as theatre shows Chicago, Guys And Dolls and Legally Blonde, she’s returned to the stage as tyrannical orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in the touring production of Annie.

FUTURE PLANS

‘It’s a part I’ve wanted to play for years. She’s an iconic role,’ Claire says. ‘Miss Hannigan’s funny, she’s tragic, she’s vulnerable, she’s nasty. Corrie was a dream role as well. I’d grown up watching it and always loved it. That, for me, was always like The One, so I feel very lucky I managed to do that. I used to skip into work. It was wonderful. I laughed every single day.’

Claire is also the OG when it comes to reality shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing, appearing on their first series back in 2001 and 2004, respectively.

She approves of the new hosting line-up of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe – despite a dramatic backlash from viewers over the ‘awkward’ dynamic between them.

‘Emma’s gorgeous and a brilliant presenter, and Josh is very quirky. He’ll bring Strictly up-to-date,’ she says. ‘Johannes has a wonderful personality and is a great performer.’ And after more than three decades in showbiz, Claire’s hoping to show a different side to her in the future. She adds, ‘I would like to do a documentary and more acting, something gritty. I’d love to do a Guy Ritchie project like The Gentleman.’

She's been a mainstay on This Morning for over two years, after first making her debut back in January 2024. And while Siân Welby, 40, joined the show during a somewhat rocky period – following the dramatic departures of longrunning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield – she says the gig is as ‘fun’ as ever. In fact, it’s been even better since they downsized and moved studios in January, as she now gets to spend so much time with ITV’s stable of stars.

HAPPY FAMILIES

Speaking exclusively to Closer, Siân explains, ‘It’s a smaller studio now… You now share a dressing room with the Loose Women ladies, so you’re having all the goss with them, and then you see Lorraine [Kelly]. I like it, because I’m seeing and chatting to more of the team than I ever did before, and it is lovely.’

Back when Siân started, This Morning was still finding its feet post-Holly and Phil. All that changed two months later, when main hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepard came on board – and they quickly became like family.

‘Cat is like a big sister, and Ben is like a big brother,’ Siân tells us. ‘They look after you. Cat’s been so good. She gave me one of her children’s old bikes for Ruby [Siân’s twoyear- old daughter, whom she shares with fiancé Jake Beckett]. She was like, “I’ve got a balance bike for you”, and she brought it in, which was so nice.’

Would she love to follow in their footsteps one day and become main host? ‘It’s a great show, so of course,’ Siân quickly responds. ‘If you’re ever asked at any point, it’s a dream job.’ Likewise, the presenter – who also fronts a breakfast radio show with Jordan North and Chris Stark – wouldn’t think twice about sitting alongside the Loose Women ladies, admitting she’s more than partial to ‘a bit of goss’.

‘The thing is, I love a good rant,’ she laughs. ‘Honestly, I’m getting worse with age, but I think that show’s brilliant.’

UNDER PRESSURE

With big career aspirations, and her current schedule keeping her inordinately busy, Siân knows what it’s like to feel the pressure to do it all, especially since becoming a mum. She tells us she’s gone back and forth about having another child, as it would mean having to ‘let people down’, something she’s not very good at. ‘I toy with the idea [of having another baby] all the time,’ she reveals. ‘It’s hard having one and it’s hard when you are the woman and you have the career, because – actually – there is obviously pressure to come back to work, pressure to be at home. Pressure to be a good mum, pressure to not ever let anyone down. You spent years being a “yes woman”, and then you have to become a “no woman”.’

She adds that, while ‘you can’t count your chickens in this industry’, she did manage to find a good balance after having Ruby. ‘I only did mornings, and I spent all afternoon with her,’ she says, ‘So I never feel like I missed anything.’

With so much on her plate, it’s no surprise that some other life events have been put on the back burner. Take Siân and Jake’s wedding. The pair got engaged in 2023, after radio producer Jake surprised Siân with a diamond ring while on a boat trip. Taking to Instagram, the presenter told followers, ‘I didn’t think it mattered until he asked me, and then suddenly it meant everything.’

But finding the time – and the right vibe for the big day – is now the challenge.

‘I’m trying to work out what we can do,’ she confesses. ‘Could we do it big? Could we go to a small registry office and maybe do a pub? Again, the longer you leave these things, well, the more you’ve got time to think about it – and overthink – and also it’s a lot of money. Weddings are so expensive.’

STAYING YOUNG

Clearly it’s been a busy time for the star, and it’s only set to get busier – but Siân says turning 40 in September gave her a fresh start and a new perspective.

‘I was actually kind of dreading it,’ she admits. ‘It’s kind of like that big one – you think, “Oh God, I am an adult now” – and of course I am, but I was a bit scared. But I’m actually embracing it. It’s like 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40, it doesn’t matter, does it?’

Clearly not – especially when she’s looking and feeling better than ever. So, what’s her secret to eternal youth?

‘Blue VK!’ she jokes. ‘I’ve grown up on alcopops and binge drinking… I presume I’m preserved. However, the only thing I swear by is that I wear factor 50 every day in the UK, even in winter. I wear it as a fulltime base, but other than that, nothing. If you get too close, there are loads of wrinkles. It’s all there, but I’m just trying to embrace being older and not overthinking it.’

Prince Harry has now been in the UK for two months, and while he may have enjoyed a low-key lunch date with Meghan Markle at a country pub last week, his return has been anything but subtle.

His first public appearance for the Invictus Spirit Awards saw the Prince pose next to the Irish Guards in their full uniform – not forgetting their giant wolfhound Seamus – before jetting out again to Canada, but not before notifying the press that he was going to be jumping out of a plane.

But despite his one-man publicity blitz, we’re told that one royal in particular has deliberately remained completely oblivious to Harry throwing himself out of jets and grinning next to giant dogs – his brother, Prince William.

William, 44, is widely reported to remain adamant that he will not reconcile with his brother; a stubborn stance that was much easier to keep up when Harry, 42, was over 5000 miles away in Montecito.

And while King Charles, who himself reunited with Harry in July, appears to have been patiently waiting for his Heir to have a change of heart, we are now told that his tolerance of William's stubbornness is wearing thin – and fast.

So much so, that it was reported this week that Charles, 77, has raised ‘no objection’ to a Thanksgiving Service for Princess Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of her death next year.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reports that the service - likely to be held in a chapel -could include speeches by both William and Harry, meaning the brothers could be thrust together for the first time since the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in 2024.

But so far, we’re told William has flatly refused to reunite with Harry on anything.

An insider says, ‘The King has given the orders for this feud to be squashed, but as everyone knows, William is refusing to come to the table. He’s stopped complaining about Harry and Meghan and is now acting like they don’t even exist instead.

‘The courtiers are trying to get them together to talk about doing some sort of tribute to Diana, and Harry is all for it, but William’s refused. It’s not just Harry and Meghan that William is disrespecting; he’s openly going against the King’s wishes by continuing to act as though Harry and Meghan are banished when they’re clearly right there at his doorstep.’

Meanwhile, sources close to Harry and Meghan have confirmed that the Sussexes are working on a project to honour Diana.

And although specific details have not been provided, it was also reported that Harry had reached out to William in the hope they may work on something together. The brothers both previously took part in the BBC documentary, Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, to mark the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017.

However, we’re told William has become so ‘immovable’ that even courtiers fear they may be ‘forced to pick sides’ if he remains at loggerheads with his father over Harry and his place, if any, within the royal fold.

The source says, ‘Harry made no secret of his interest in doing some sort of film or TV series about their mother in honour of the coming anniversary, and it will be a terrible look if it’s done without any input from William. Almost everyone agrees they should be putting on a united front, not least because it’s what the King wants.

‘But William is immovable, to the point where people are feeling like they’re being forced to pick William or Charles’ side, and a lot of people are afraid to make the wrong choice and end up out of a job. That may sound dramatic, but the reality is emotions are running very high. There is a sense, especially with William, that he’s keeping score, and you are either with him or against him. That’s how intense this is for him.’

For many, it is hard to sympathise with Harry’s plight. While he has been open about wanting to reconcile with his brother for years, the estranged Prince has so far, at least publicly, not shown any remorse or taken any responsibility for the several tell-alls through which he and Meghan have aired their many grievances against the Royal Family.

Even still, the source says Harry is forging ahead in his bid for reconciliation, and we’re told he’s even attempting to arrange a secret meeting with William so that they can hash out their issues privately.

‘Harry is genuinely shocked and never thought for a second that his brother would still be this angry. He genuinely believed it would eventually be water under the bridge, so this extreme reaction is something of a shock,’ the insider says.

Harry certainly wishes there was something he could do to sort this out; that’s why he’s tried extending so many olive branches. But there’s not even been a shred of forgiveness on William’s part.

‘Harry insists he’s tried to find every possible way to say that he’s sorry, even down to telling William’s aide that he wants a sit-down to apologise, and it hasn’t made a dent in things.’

Of course, while he is said to be ignoring Harry, William was instead photographed laughing and chatting with Hollywood legend Tom Cruise at the London premiere of his new film, Digger, last week.

And for Harry, who has for years tried to ingratiate himself with the Tinsel Town elite, the source says William’s PDA with Tom risks leaving Harry ‘more wound up’. And the last thing the monarchy needs right now is another Sussex tell-all…

‘Harry is convinced that William is still actively undermining him and Meghan with the media and within Hollywood circles and says he has every right to be angry about that. Harry is known to be pretty impulsive, and the more wound up he gets, the more likely he is to follow through on his threats to make William regret this,’ we’re told.

‘If he’s pushed hard enough, it’s very plausible that Harry could unleash another tell-all delving into his childhood and his relationship with his brother. He’s not coming out saying that, but the possibility is looming, and it’s got a lot of people behind the palace walls pretty uncomfortable.’

Last week, we were also told how William is hoping that the Sussexes eventually decide to move back to the US of their own accord – whether that be if their current security review doesn’t go in their favour or due to their lack of popularity in the UK.

But the source tells us that any plan to oust Harry from his homeland will ‘backfire’ as he becomes increasingly more ‘hopeful’ that this situation will all right itself in the long run and that he and Meghan can make England their permanent home – whether William likes it or not.

We’re told, ‘He won’t be bullied. If William’s aim is to make life so unpleasant that Harry eventually leaves, it’s backfiring badly because, if anything, the more William freezes him out, the more determined Harry becomes to dig in and make this a permanent move.

‘There is no doubt he’s missed England terribly; he loves California, but he’s an Englishman at his core and thrilled to be back. He’s feeling very good about all the work he’s been doing, and he’s still very hopeful that things with the King can continue to improve, so he’s looking at all of that in very positive terms, aside from the situation with William, of course.’

Their electrifying chemistry on the big screen over the years has sparked rumours that they were more than just colleagues but over the past four decades, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner have always denied that there was anything more between them – until now. In his memoir One Helluva Ride, the two-time Oscar winner has spilled the beans over their relationship, which he said started on the set of Romancing The Stone back in 1984.

Michael, 82, wrote, ‘The chemistry I had with Kathleen Turner was so strong, audiences have been certain for years that we were in a relationship together while making the film. We both denied it through Romancing The Stone, Jewel Of The Nile, The War Of The Roses, and even while doing press a few years ago for The Kominsky Method.

‘The official story went as follows: Yes, we confessed, we had amazing chemistry. Yes, we were both, as Kathleen said, “terrible flirts”, and yes, we were both tempted, but nothing ever happened between us. That was a lie.’

The father-of-three said that the co-stars ‘fell hard’ for each other as sparks flew between their on-screen characters Jack and Joan in the comedy-adventure – at the time, he was separated from his then-wife Diandra Luker, the mother of his son Cameron.

‘Kathleen was smart, funny and sexy with a deep, sultry voice that became her signature. I instantly liked her and we were immediately attracted to each other. We found each other first as friends, then as co-stars, and finally as lovers,’ he wrote. He revealed how feelings grew ‘naturally’ between him and Kathleen, 72, and he was ‘knocked sideways’ by his co-star.

Michael – who recalled he would sneak into her hotel room in Mexico late at night – said that they hid their secret romance so well that director Robert Zemeckis and co-star Danny DeVito didn’t realise what was really going on. But their passionate affair ended when Diandra and Cameron visited Mexico and the estranged wife suspected that something was going on between the two stars.

Kathleen made light of his confession, saying, ‘Good heavens what a fuss about something 40 years ago! I love Michael and I look forward to enjoying the book.’

She previously said, ‘I think we might have been falling in love. But then Diandra flew down and made it clear that she did not consider Michael to be available. So that ended that because I can’t get involved with another woman’s relationship. But oh my, that attention is delicious!’

Despite the romance abruptly ending, Michael and Kathleen remained friends over the years. They reprised their roles in the Romancing The Stone 1985 sequel The Jewel Of The Nile, which she also helped him on the script, before reuniting for The War Of The Roses in 1989 and more recently, the third season of TV series The Kominsky Method in 2021.

Kathleen said, ‘He’s such a good friend. It made it very easy to play ex-husband and wife [in The Kominsky Method]. In a funny way, we were. Not that I ever married the man – never would have, never could have!’

Michael – who’s been married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones since 2000 – said he even asked her for permission to include their love story in his book. ‘You protect and cherish when you’ve got a good relationship,’ he explained.

One of the industry’s sexiest actors in the Eighties and Nineties with roles in Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction, the Hollywood star had a reputation for being a ladies man. He went to rehab for alcoholism in 1992, with rumours that it was also for sex addiction.

But he denied he was a sex addict, saying, ‘I don’t know if I slept with so many women, I don’t see it that way… I was a healthy product of the Sixties.’

He vowed to be a changed man once he met Catherine in 1998, where he famously told her ‘I’m going to be the father of your children’. After nine months of dating, she told him, ‘I’m not interested in dating you if you’re dating other people,’ to which he replied, ‘Wait here, I have to make five quick calls.’

In a new interview, Michael explained, ‘What Catherine said is, if we’re going to continue this then I want it to be monogamous. And so I therefore, that evening, you know, made some calls to some people I was seeing, and that was that.’

The couple, who share the same birthday, married in 2000, before welcoming son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23. They split briefly in 2013 but were back together within a year and will celebrate their 26thanniversary in November. ‘It was a mutual… You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know,’ he said. ‘Marriage is a lot of work, you know. And so, you know, we’re good. We’re in good shape.’

Michael revealed how it was love at first sight when he watched The Mask Of Zorro. He wrote in his autobiography, ‘I had never fallen in love on a movie screen before. Until I saw Catherine. She was magic, in a way that went beyond beauty. And I was certain, as much as I had ever been about anything, that she was the one.’

She looks set to expand her business empire after filing papers to trademark her name for use on beauty products. And now insiders tell Closer that Amanda Holden has big plans to conquer the wellness industry - and she’s plotting to dethrone her rival Holly Willoughby at the same time.

‘Amanda wants to go huge with this. She’s not interested in sticking her name on a moisturiser, flogging a few thousand bottles and calling herself a beauty entrepreneur,’ our source says. ‘She genuinely believes she has the personality, profile and following to build a multimillion-pound brand and become Britain’s answer to Gwyneth Paltrow – something that hasn’t yet been done. And Amanda, being Amanda, she wants it to be outrageous.

‘And after years of tension between Amanda and Holly, and the occasional very public dig, there’s undoubtedly a little extra satisfaction for Amanda if she manages to pull this off. She wants to create the blockbuster wellness business Holly once appeared poised to build with Wylde Moon and de-throne her in the wellness space.’

PUBLIC DIGS

The trademark application submitted allows Amanda, 55, to use her name on a string of products, including perfumes and cosmetics, as well as a website. A familiar face on TV, thanks to her role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and her travel show with Alan Carr, Amanda is also already well established in the beauty space, working with high street brands and serving as an ambassador for Sam Faiers’ Revive Collagen.

But she could be stepping on Holly’s toes with her latest venture. In 2021, Holly, 45, launched Wylde Moon, a wellness brand offering products like perfumes and candles. And earlier this year, her lifestyle YouTube series Together began airing, which sees Holly joined by celebrity guests – including Amanda’s best pal Alan – while hosting segments on fashion, cooking and beauty.

It’s no secret that Amanda and Holly have butted heads in the past. Tension has continued to simmer between the two stars for several years – and Amanda has even taken public digs at her rival.

When asked on live radio last year if she thought Holly could replace her on her Netflix reality show Cheat: Unfinished Business, Amanda said, ‘No, they want a proper presenter.’

FEUD

And in 2023, Amanda shared a clip to Instagram where she appeared to mock Holly’s widely ridiculed This Morning introduction, in which Holly asked viewers, ‘Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so,’ after her co-host Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal. Wearing an outfit similar to Holly, Amanda asked fans, ‘Hello, it is Tuesday. Are you OK?’

And our source adds that Amanda’s not afraid to reignite their feud as she strives to become the new face of the lifestyle world.

‘Amanda is incredibly competitive. While Holly went down the crystals, moon, spirituality and sanctuary route, Amanda wants to go in the opposite direction,’ the insider says. ‘She thinks this is the answer to building a multi-million-pound brand and will privately revel in the satisfaction when she’s crowned Britain’s new wellness queen, which would feel like the ultimate victory.’

Cast your mind back to simpler times and think about what you'd typically find sitting on the bedside table of the average couple.

A lamp; a decent book; a glass of water - and if you were really living the high life, one of those ancient teasmade contraptions that would jolt you awake by noisily churning out a thoroughly disappointing, barely warm cup of something vaguely resembling tea or coffee.

Fast forward to today though, and the modern bedside table tells a very different story. There's a charging hub with approximately seventeen cables snaking out of it in every direction. Phones, tablets and smartwatches are piled up like some kind of tech Jenga tower. The glass of water might still be there - but if it topples onto that charger, you're in serious trouble. BOOM!

The invasion of technology into our bedrooms has brought with it a whole host of problems nobody really asked for. Sleep quality has taken a real hammering thanks to all those late-night distractions, leaving us irritable and frazzled the following morning, which is hardly a recipe for romantic harmony with the person lying next to us.

Research from the National Sleep Foundation backs this up, revealing in a poll that couples were typically reaching for their phones less than an hour before lights out, at least five nights a week. The blue light that screens emit plays havoc with sleep quality, leaving both of you in distinctly unloveable moods come morning.

But disturbed sleep isn't the only intimacy-killer that comes with having a phone within arm's reach at bedtime. Oh no, there's something else going on that's causing very real damage in relationships up and down the country.

Enter 'Phubbing' - the not-so-charming habit of snubbing your partner in favour of whatever is happening on your phone screen at that precise moment.

Think of it as inviting an unwelcome third party into your bedroom - and definitely not in an exciting way! If your other half is busy phubbing away beside you, the emotional fallout can be surprisingly significant. Feeling ignored, unimportant and pushed aside isn't exactly going to set the mood, is it?

What makes it worse is the domino effect it tends to trigger. Watching your partner glued to their screen almost inevitably has you picking up your own phone in retaliation. And just like that, you have two people lying side by side in bed, completely absorbed in their devices and utterly disconnected from each other. Romantic? Hardly.

And while phubbing can - and does - rear its ugly head pretty much anywhere, relationship experts are particularly concerned about its impact in the bedroom specifically. The consequences there are considered so damaging that many therapists actively recommend a full tech ban in that space.

Therapist Tracy Ross says that it's understandable why people would reach for their phone at the end of a busy day but it's an urge that must be tackled. She says, 'Many of the couples I work with complain that their partner is constantly on their phone, distracted, and that it's hard to get their attention.

'While the need to unwind at the end of the day is completely understandable, it's hard to deny the damage it can do to a relationship. It's basically decreasing the chances of intimacy and affection.'

Right, so we've established that bedtime phubbing is very much a bad idea. But what do you actually do about it - particularly if your partner treats their phone like a vital organ that cannot be separated from their body, even at midnight?

The most straightforward starting point is an honest conversation. Let your partner know how much you'd value some proper, screen-free time together. Acknowledge that life is busy and the pull of the phone is real but make the point that the bedroom feels like the one space where you could genuinely switch off together.

From there, float the idea of leaving phones outside the bedroom altogether. If that feels like too big a leap, suggest a compromise - phones placed face down and switched to airplane mode could be a gentler first step.

If even that suggestion is met with wide-eyed horror, try a more playful approach to bring you back together. Propose a cosy scroll session… together! And if you're scrolling as a couple in bed, well, the natural direction of travel is towards something a little more spicy, right? You might be surprised to learn there are actually apps designed exactly for this - Coral and Blueheart are worth a look, or just hunt around for intimacy and connection apps on your device.

There's always the more direct route of suggesting something a little more adult in nature, of course - though tread carefully there. Announcing 'I'm sick of watching you constantly scrolling through textiles on Pinterest — log onto P*rnhub!' may not land quite as smoothly as you're hoping.

Honestly, the cleanest solution is still a straightforward agreement to keep all tech firmly out of the bedroom. Even if the romance doesn't immediately ignite, your sleep will improve dramatically - and with all that extra energy, who knows what might happen next? Sometimes the best kind of foreplay is actually a decent night's kip!

Listen, we definitely know what it feels like to be hungry on a flight… especially when the in-flight meal service is only starting at the front of the plane and we’re stuck back at row 44. But pop star Zara Larsson admitted to having some different mid-flight, ahem, cravings last week while posting to her Instagram Stories mid-flight.

Taking to social media, the 28-year-old told her 13.3m followers, ‘OK but what’s the science behind being hella horny on an airplane? I can’t be the only one. I’m about to bark.’ She then wrote, ‘Maybe it’s the peace and quiet that gives space for fantasising about…things…because idk [I don’t know] about you guys but when I’m bored my mind goes straight there like let’s play that back again and again and again THANK YEWWWW.’

She added, ‘Idk why I needed to make that a public announcement but it felt necessary. It felt like a feminist thing to do lmfaaooooooooo like “girls think about sex! Let’s destigmatize!”’

Needless to say, comments across the internet were mixed. Some fans fully agreed, with one armchair expert explaining, ‘The constant vibration of the plane stimulates nerve endings and can lead to physical arousal, while the detachment from normal routine and heightened emotions of airports/flying can be easily be turned into arousal signals by the brain.

Meanwhile, others weren’t so convinced, as one joked, ‘LMAO, I’m guessing she’s not flown economy class in a while because nope. I generally can’t get comfortable enough to sleep in those seats let alone think about sex.’

Either way – whether it was a feminist forward revelation or not – it was certainly in-keeping for the Midnight Sun singer, who’s proven in the past that she has no qualms about opening up and sharing all the dirty details with the masses. Back in 2018, she even partnered with Durex for a charity scheme to raise awareness for AIDS. During the promo trail for the campaign, she tackled topics like sexual fantasies and dating older men in an interview with Dazed, revealing, ‘It’s very hard to be madly in love or super turned on by your partner all the time. We all have fantasies, and I wouldn’t feel too bad about a dirty little thought.’

As for age-gap relationships, she said that – while it’s important to be cautious of power imbalances – ultimately ‘love is love and can travel through generations, you both just need to be on the same page’.

Then, in 2019, Zara started a pattern of getting very candid on her social media, posting to her X account, ‘Sex is an enjoyable, natural human activity. Women have the clitoris for one purpose only and that is pleasure. Stop being weirdos and telling women to abstain from sex just cause they don’t wanna carry and birth a kid PERIODDDDD.’

Since then, and with a career that’s been rocketing in recent years – especially after a video of a fan performing her song Lush Life’s choreography alongside her on stage went viral last year, landing Zara a number one in Australia, Czech Republic, Germany Norway and Lithuania – she hasn’t toned down her sex-positive declarations in the public eye.

Similarly, when it comes to her music, the star has been just as unfiltered. Just look at her 2017 hit Ain’t My Fault, which describes her lusting over another girl’s boyfriend, singing, ‘It ain’t my fault you keep turning me on’, or her 2025 song Hot & Sexy, in which she sings about having ‘PUSSPUSS97’ as a numberplate. By all accounts, it’s fair to say the girl puts her money where her mouth is – knitting a sex-positive message into everything she does.

It might be unchartered territory for some popstars – especially since only a few decades ago big names like Britney Spears and the Jonas Brothers were encouraged to emphasise their virginities and chastity – but Zara’s always insisted she doesn’t want to be considered just another butter-wouldn’t-melt, cookie cutter performer. Just this month, she posed for a very sexy photoshoot with Allure magazine – giving a nod to one of her biggest influences, Madonna, by wearing a conical bra on the front cover.

Speaking about her aesthetic, which is known globally as being larger-than-life and vibrant – or what has been described as a ‘mermaid Barbie’ – she doubled down on her disdain for the demure and clean-cut. She explained, ‘I’m slightly tacky. I love a little bit of tackiness. I love the sleazy [look]. Like Snooki, she’s on the mood board for sure. Paris Hilton, like night out when it’s five am, that s**t. I’ve never been drawn to the clean girl.’

As for her love life, Zara’s been happily loved up with her boyfriend, dancer and choreographer Lamin Holmén, for the past six years, after taking their friendship up a notch back in 2020. Speaking about the moment they got together on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this year, she said, ‘It was very cute because I’ve never really had that. I’m a very like, “Yeah we were f**king on the first date. Let’s just get it over with.” You know what I mean? And I couldn’t really do that with him because it just gradually…he’s always kind of been in my friend group…It was just like one day, like, “Wait, yeah, like wait a minute” and then he stayed over and he stayed over for like a week and we just got closer and closer every night.’

The couple spend long periods of time on the road together while Zara is touring, with Lamin acting as her back-up dancer on stage throughout Europe. However, unfortunately, he’s not permitted to accompany her to the US thanks to an old, minor criminal record he has for marijuana possession… which might go some way to explaining why Zara’s been left feeling horny on aeroplanes.

With all that being said, spare a thought for the singer if you ever see her on a plane mid-air looking antsy and frustrated… even after the in-flight dinner has been served.

It was supposed to be the great Sussex homecoming, but nearly two months on, the reality of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK return appears to be rather less glamorous and threatens to leave the couple more divided than ever.

Rather than stepping back into royal life united, Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, are reportedly taking increasingly separate approaches to their new existence, with the Duchess determined to concentrate on their children and her own business interests while Harry throws himself into work.

And, according to one source, Meghan has made it very clear she has no intention of simply following her husband from engagement to engagement.

‘She’s focused on the kids and her brand, and truth be told, she’s not interested in following him around like some Stepford wife,’ the source says.

It marks a striking departure from the couple’s first years in Britain, when Harry and Meghan were rarely seen apart and appeared to embrace the whirlwind of life as senior working royals together.

Now, however, we’re told the Duchess believes the only way to make their return work is to divide their responsibilities between them – leaving Harry with the considerable task of proving that their move across the Atlantic was financially worthwhile.

‘Her view is that they should divide and conquer and Harry agrees, but it does mean a whole lot more pressure on his shoulders and absolutely zero time to himself because the moment he’s free from work he’s got to rush home to give Meghan a break from parenting duties.’

For Harry, that pressure is reportedly already mounting.

His return to the UK was initially heralded as the homecoming of a prodigal son, particularly in the eyes of King Charles, with hopes that his presence would eventually help thaw the icy relationship between the brothers and allow the King to spend more time with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.

Instead, Harry has found himself juggling a punishing schedule of charity appearances, international travel, business opportunities and family responsibilities.

He has already travelled to Canada and New York this month, while also attempting to establish himself once again in Britain as a ‘private civilian’ rather than a working royal.

And we’re told that proving the Sussexes’ move was the right decision has become a personal mission for Harry.

An insider says, ‘Getting them all to England was just the first battle, now he has to prove that it was the right decision which means a whole lot of hard work.

‘He was adamant that this move would allow him to bring in more money so he’s running from one gig to the next and at the same time he’s working all his contacts to find other opportunities, and not just for himself, he wants to open doors for Meghan too, he promised her he would.

‘Plus, he has the constant headache of trying to navigate the situation with his family which has been even harder than he anticipated.’

Meanwhile, Meghan has taken a markedly lower-key approach to their return.

Rather than appearing alongside Harry at his public engagements, the Duchess has reportedly been based at an undisclosed location in the Cotswolds while the couple search for a permanent property in the area.

Her British social life, however, appears to be taking shape.

She has been spotted at the exclusive Soho Farmhouse and at an Oxfordshire pub with former Montecito neighbours Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi. More recently, her long-term friend Kelly Zajfen shared photographs from a UK trip with her family, including a country pub lunch with Meghan featuring fish, chips and mushy peas.

It’s a far cry from Meghan’s first stint in Britain, when her every move was played out against the backdrop of royal duty and her relationship with Harry.

Back then, the couple were almost inseparable. From royal engagements to official tours, their PDAs became a defining feature of their image as the monarchy’s glamorous new generation.

But six years after they walked away from royal life and moved to California, we’re told Meghan has returned to Britain with a very different mindset.

The Duchess is reportedly determined to establish an identity of her own, concentrating on As Ever while ensuring Archie and Lilibet settle into their new surroundings.

And that leaves Harry to do what he apparently promised he would: make the move work financially.

‘The poor guy hardly had time to unpack his bags in England before he was back on a plane to New York to start hustling. He believes in what he’s doing so in that sense it’s very gratifying, but it’s still exhausting. If the bills weren’t piling up there’s no way he’d have packed his schedule this way,’ the source says.

His most recent UK engagements have also presented a very different picture to his last visit in July.

On that occasion, Harry appeared to thrive while meeting children at a festival organised for Scotty’s Little Soldiers and during the One Year to Go event for the Invictus Games – a project that remains particularly close to his heart.

This time, however, his appearances have attracted attention for rather different reasons.

During a recent school visit, reports suggested some teenagers were not immediately aware of who Harry was and teachers had to explain that he was ‘the King’s son’.

For a man who once commanded huge crowds and global attention as one of the world’s most recognisable royals, it was an uncomfortable reminder of just how much his public role has changed since 2020.

And while Harry has insisted he is happy to be back, the workload required to establish their new life is reportedly taking its toll.

We’re told, ‘The hardest part is how much time they’re having to spend apart, it makes sense on paper but it’s much easier said, than done. They’re hardly seeing each other, Harry is out late schmoozing and Meghan’s in bed well before midnight so she can be up early with the children and as soon as the school run is done, she’s straight into work mode.

‘They had all these romantic plans for what they wanted to do in England and so far it’s been nothing but work. There’s hardly enough time in their calendars for a full night’s sleep, let alone date nights. They both say they’ve accepted this is the way things need to be for now, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to be living such separate lives, it’s bound to take a toll.’

Despite the apparent strain of their schedules, the source insists there are no signs of trouble within the marriage and this current situation is simply the price the Sussexes are currently paying for attempting to establish themselves in Britain once again.

Harry himself struck an upbeat note last week, declaring, ‘It’s great to be back on British soil’ and revealing that his children were ‘happy’ at their new school.

The family had been forced to move from their first UK school after just two days amid security fears, making their reported settling-in period particularly important.

For now, Harry appears determined to prove that the gamble was worth it – even if he is discovering that life back in Britain comes with considerably more work than he anticipated.

‘Right now, it’s on his shoulders to sort things out financially, that was the deal he and Meghan made when she agreed to this move, and he’s determined to live up to his side of things,’ the source says.

‘As tough as it is to be taking on all this responsibility, in some ways he’s enjoying the challenge, he wants to prove to Meghan, and his family, that he can do this.’

And while Harry concentrates on expanding their opportunities, Meghan is reportedly equally focused on making sure her own ventures succeed.

They add, ‘Meghan is plugging away on As Ever, she’s confident that with more time it will bring in the sort of profits they need to support their lifestyle, but in the meantime the pressure is on Harry to keep them afloat and he’s fully committed to doing that, regardless of how exhausting it might be.’

Coleen: 'I'll marry my toyboy in Vegas!'

As her romance with toyboy Ryan Brockbank goes from strength to strength, insiders tell Closer that Coleen Nolan is feeling ready to get married – and has plans to elope to Vegas.

‘They’re planning a wedding. It’s become a serious conversation between them now,’ a source says. ‘They’ve been talking about dates and looking at when they could fit into their schedules. There are two very different ideas being discussed.

SPONTANEOUS

‘Coleen loves the thought of them flying to Las Vegas, doing something spontaneous and fun and coming home married. But the other side of her wants the full shebang. She’s incredibly close to her family and loves the idea of having everyone together for a proper wedding in the UK next spring. At the moment, both options are very much on the table.’

Coleen, 61, and fashion lecturer Ryan, 41, went Insta- offcial in August after dating for a few months. And after vowing not to walk up the aisle again following failed marriages to soap star Shane Richie and guitarist Ray Fensome, the insider reveals that her new man has made her think twice.

‘Coleen has done a complete U-turn. For years, whenever anyone asked about marriage, the answer was basically, “Absolutely not”. She’d been there, done it twice and didn’t see any reason to do it again,’ the source says.

‘But Ryan has completely changed her outlook. She is absolutely besotted with him, and marriage has gone from something she dismissed to something they are genuinely talking about.’

The Loose Women star, who has shown off matching ‘Until the end’ tattoos with Ryan, recently stunned her daughter Ciara by saying that her attitude towards marriage had changed.

SECURE

‘I always said I wouldn’t get married again, but I hadn’t met Ryan. He’s what I have been looking for, for probably 50 years,’ she said on their Nolans Uncensored podcast.

The source says, ‘She feels incredibly secure with Ryan. The age gap worried her far more at the beginning than it does now. She wondered what people would think and whether, eventually, he might want something different. But he has consistently reassured her.

‘There’s a calmness about this relationship that she perhaps hasn’t always had before. She feels Ryan loves her exactly as she is.’

They add, ‘After spending years saying she would never marry again, she can now imagine herself standing there with Ryan. She really does believe he’s the man she was waiting for.’

Is it third time lucky for Maya & Stormzy?

After calling it quits in 2024, Maya Jama has sparked speculation that she’s rekindled her romance with ex Stormzy after they re-followed each other on Instagram.

The Love Island host – who split from footballer Ruben Dias in April after 18 months together – also set tongues wagging when she shared a video singing along to the rapper’s song One Second.

Responding to the rumours, Maya, 32, posted, ‘We’ve been friends this whole time I was just appreciating the song.’ But many fans are still rooting for the former couple, with one saying, ‘Third time’s the charm!’

Maya and Stormzy, 33, dated for four years until 2019, but reunited in 2023, only to split a year later.

Billi's new divorce heartache

Former TOWIE star Billi Mucklow has been dealt another fresh blow amid her ongoing divorce with footballer Andy Carroll.

The pair, who split in 2024 after 11 years and share children Arlo, 11, Wolf, eight, and Marvel Mae, six, sold their mansion for £7.5m, making a £3.4m profit.

But a source has now revealed, ‘She’s definitely not going to cash in. People think she’ll make loads from the divorce but there’s not that much to take in the first place.’ It comes after Andy, 37 – who is now in a relationship with Lou Teasdale – called his marriage with Billi, also 37, ‘a car crash’ in his new memoir Owning It.

Lee's joy over baby no.7!

Lee Ryan is set to become a dad for the seventh time, after announcing that his wife Verity is pregnant again – a year after welcoming their sixth child. The Blue singer, 43, dropped the baby news in a video on Instagram, where the couple and their kids are seen dancing to Five’s song Everybody Get Up as Verity holds up a sonogram scan of their unborn child.

‘I am blessed by God for the family I have,’ Lee said. His bandmate Antony Costa congratulated him, writing, ‘Yes bro little 5 a side going on.’

Lee and singer Verity, who have been together since 2019 and married in 2022, have four children – three daughters aged five, four and 12 months, and a son, born in 2022. He also has daughter Bluebell, 19, with Jessica Keevil and son Rayn, 17, with Samantha Miller.

‘Verity is a beautiful, strong and loving woman who I treasure. And I’m a lucky man to have such a wonderful mother for my child, and now wife, in her,’ Lee has said. ‘I’ve never been more calm and grounded and I have Verity to thank for that. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life because of the wonderful family life I now have.

He’s never been shy about speaking his mind, and now former Strictly pro Brendan Cole has shared his straight-talking verdict on the new series.

‘I really liked Johannes [Radebe] in the first week, but I wasn’t as enthralled this weekend,’ Brendan, 50, says, speaking on behalf of Sky Vegas. ‘There were bits where he was talking but the camera wasn’t on him, which was weird to watch. It seemed a little all over the place.

‘I’m still not convinced about the double act of Josh [Widdicombe] and Emma [Willis], though I like what Emma’s doing. Hosting Strictly is a massive job and they’re filling massive shoes, so I don’t want to be unduly unfair. It’s very early days.’

Brendan – who worked on the BBC show for 13 years until his exit in 2018 – won the very first series in 2004 with Natasha Kaplinsky. The pair became the original subjects of the infamous ‘Strictly curse’, after their on-screen chemistry coincided with Brendan splitting from then-fiancée Camilla Dallerup.

Opening up about what it’s really like behind the scenes, he adds, ‘Once the cameras stop rolling in January, they’ll all go about their business, and the celebs will be forgotten. I wouldn’t call it a family exactly. I’d call it a great TV show that’s an amazing thing to be part of.’

CREDIT: Brendan spoke with us on behalf of Sky Vegas.

She's preparing for her new ‘dream’ job on The Voice UK, where she’ll appear as a co-host alongside Alesha Dixon. And ahead of her upcoming appearance, sources tell Closer that Stacey Solomon wants a new makeover to spruce up her image – but pals are begging her not to do anything too extreme.

‘Stacey has told pals that she wants a full-on transformation for The Voice. She has always said she would never get plastic surgery and embraces her natural appearance, but she’s been looking into some non-invasive procedures like chemical peels and microdermabrasion,’ an insider says.

‘Her pals would hate for her to feel too much pressure trying to compete with Alesha, and coach Cheryl, too, and they’re hoping it’s nothing too extreme like going under the knife. Her friends have urged her not to do anything drastic that changes the way she looks because they feel she’s already a great role model.’

Stacey, who turned 37 last week, has previously spoken out about her surgical desires. In 2017, she said she ‘hated her side profile because of her nose’, and candidly shared, ‘I’d love to get my nose done and make my face a bit shorter as it’s quite long’.

The star later vowed not to have surgery, saying, ‘Sometimes the things we are most insecure about can become our best friends. Now I feel like I’m unique with lots of different bits and bumps that make me, me.’

Despite this, Stacey – who’s mum to Rex, seven, Rose, four, and Belle, three, with husband Joe Swash, as well as Zachary, 18, Leighton, 14, from previous relationships – set tongues wagging after sharing a recent video, which left some fans questioning whether she’s already gone under the knife. ‘Looks like she’s had a boob job?’ one follower wrote.

Our source adds, ‘Stacey is open to seeing what new treatments are out there. She wants to switch things up with this exciting new era for her.’

For over 20 years, she’s put her role as a mum above all else – dedicating her life to her six children and patiently waiting for the day they’re all happy and independent, so that she could spread her own wings yet again.

And, by all accounts, that day has finally arrived for Angelina Jolie, following news that she’s now sold her family mansion in Los Angeles – two months after her youngest children, twins Vivienne and Knox, turned 18.

The actress has always been open about the fact that she was forced to stay living in LA while her children were underage, as per custody arrangements with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. So, selling the house is a big and symbolic milestone, heralding a brand-new era for the devoted mum. But sadly, Angelina’s new chapter isn’t panning out to be as liberating as she’d hoped – and it’s all down to her ongoing legal battle with Brad.

By any metric, Angelina, 51, and Brad, 62, have been at war for far too long, ever since splitting in 2016 and becoming embroiled in one of the most bitter break-ups in showbiz history. They finally finalised their divorce in December 2024. But their ongoing issue is the ownership of their former shared winery, Miraval. While Angelina sold her stake in 2021, Brad sued her the following year – arguing that she’d sold her interest without his consent.

The battle has been waging ever since, and it’s now gotten fiercer, as Brad’s team has requested documents showing Angelina’s earnings from 2017 to 2019, after having already demanded her financial documents from 2020 to 2021. So far, Angelina’s refused to comply – but, with a trial date pending, any hopes she’d had of getting a fresh break are fading fast. And according to insiders, the stress is only making her feel extra vulnerable as she begins this new chapter in her life.

‘The case with Brad is set to go to trial in February, but – in the meantime – he’s pushing aggressively for all sorts of documents,’ says an insider close to Angelina, who should be celebrating right now, after selling her LA mansion for £24.75m. ‘The whole thing is still causing her piles of stress. She’s trying to kick the trial date down the road, which a lot of people are taking as proof that she’s worried about the outcome. There’s no doubt there’s a ton on the line here financially; if she loses, it could really sink her. It’s scary.

‘And on top of that, she’s going into this whole new chapter. For the past twenty-some years, her world has completely revolved around her kids, and that won’t ever really change, but her life is certainly going to look different after she moves.’

Over the years, Angelina has hinted that – though she’s based in LA – her heart belongs elsewhere. Two years ago, she spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her desire to move abroad, explaining, ‘I am here because I have to be here from a divorce, but as soon as [the youngest children turn] 18, I’ll be able to leave.’

She added, ‘I have a house now to raise my children, but sometimes this place can be…that humanity that I found across the world is not what I grew up with here. I’ll spend a lot of time in Cambodia [when she leaves LA]. I’ll spend time visiting my family members wherever they may be in the world.’

So, now that Vivienne and Knox have turned 18, that dream is more in reach than ever. But, as our source explains, the reality is more unnerving. Not only does Angelina have the ongoing legal battle with Brad to deal with, but she’s also now facing the realisation that leaving LA will mean saying goodbye to her children for long periods of time on end.

That is a tough pill to swallow for someone who’s mapped her entire life for the past two decades based on her proximity to her kids. As our source explains, she wants all six children – Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and Vivienne and Knox, to follow their dreams – without feeling guilty about leaving her behind. But she can’t help but feel some separation anxiety at the very same time.

‘The hard part is that most of her kids will not be coming with her,’ we’re told. ‘Shiloh and the twins want to stay in LA, and Maddox, Pax and Zahara all want to be on the East Coast. She’s happy that they’re making their own lives, and she will, of course, come back to the States to visit them, but it’s still going to be a huge adjustment - she’s very emotional about it. Angelina would absolutely love it if one or all of them wanted to come with her, and she’s told them as much, but she’s also very conscious of not smothering them or holding them back.

‘As a mother, her ultimate goal is to see them follow their own path, so she’s putting her own wants to the side to encourage that. Wherever she is, there will always be room for them, but she doesn’t want to hold them back. She’s very proud that they’ve all got their own passions and their own dreams that they’re following.’

The irony is that, as much as Angelina worries about smothering her children, they’re now feeling just as worried about her…which can’t help the vicious cycle of worry and guilt. All six mini Jolies are clearly devoted to their mum, and have made their allegiances to her known in very public ways – especially after each dropping the surname ‘Pitt’ and ostensibly disowning their dad for good (amid historic allegations that Brad was abusive to Angelina while they were married).

We’re told that, as much as Angelina doesn’t want to be a burden to her children, it’s more than likely that they – of their own accord – will want to be with her as she moves into this new phase of her life, especially as she faces yet another legal battle against Brad.

‘They are all extremely protective of her and very attached, so this is not going to be easy for them, either,’ our source reveals. ‘It won’t surprise anyone if the kids get together and arrange some sort of schedule so that at least one of them is always with her, because they really worry about her getting lonely.

'With everything that’s still going on with this trial and how ruthless Brad is being, there’s no doubt she’s going to need support, but she won’t want her kids to step into that role. She’s very clear that this is their time to soar - the last thing she wants is them worrying about her.’

While Prince Harry has been making himself almost impossible to miss since returning to Britain, Meghan Markle appears to be taking the exact opposite approach.

The Duchess was notably absent when her husband stepped back into the UK spotlight at the Invictus Spirit Awards last month, with Harry arriving suited and booted at London’s Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich for one of the biggest events in his philanthropic calendar.

There was certainly no shortage of royal-style spectacle. The Irish Guards were photographed alongside Harry in their military finery, accompanied by their mascot Seamus, the majestic Irish Wolfhound, who appeared to steal some of the attention.

But one very familiar face was missing. Despite the Sussexes’ long-standing reputation for appearing together and displaying their affection publicly, Meghan, 45, remained at home with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.

And while a source close to the Duchess confirmed that she was looking after their children, we’re now told there was another reason behind her decision to stay firmly out of the spotlight – Meghan is reportedly deliberately making herself scarce.

An insider says, ‘Meghan was advised a while ago to be less accessible because it creates more interest, so that’s the strategy she’s leaning into. She is deliberately biding her time and staying out of sight intentionally, but she’s also got plenty of things keeping her busy.

‘Between unpacking, getting the kids settled into their new routine and keeping her brand and all her other projects moving, she’s going from morning until late at night.

‘When she does start stepping out more, the hope is that she’ll have built up enough anticipation that people will be excited to see her, rather than having her everywhere right away and the public getting sick of her.’

It is certainly a calculated approach. After all, Meghan’s relationship with the British public has remained complicated since she and Harry stepped down as working royals and relocated to California in 2020.

Yet we’re told the Duchess has no intention of allowing that history to dictate what happens next.

Indeed, her father-in-law King Charles reportedly once nicknamed her ‘Tungsten’, after the metal known for its strength and high melting point, and according to the source, Meghan is approaching her return with a similarly determined mindset.

‘Meghan is very competitive, she loves taking on a challenge, and she’s coming back to the U.K. with the mindset that she can turn things around and win people over,’ the source says.

‘She’s heard all the predictions that she’ll never be welcomed in England again, but she’s refusing to just roll over and accept that as the truth. There was a time when all the hostility she’s facing across the pond would have taken her down, but she’s stronger than she was six years ago, and she’s insisting that she’s ready to stand up and fight back.’

Harry, meanwhile, appears to have adopted an entirely different strategy. Since arriving back in Britain, the Duke, 42, has thrown himself into a string of public appearances before travelling onwards to Canada and New York, creating the impression of a one-man publicity blitz.

And rather than questioning Meghan’s decision to stay out of the limelight, we’re told Harry is encouraging her to eventually step forward too.

In fact, he reportedly believes she could generate the same level of excitement as one of the most popular members of the Royal Family – Princess Kate.

‘Harry understands why she wants to wait, but he’s convinced she’s worrying for nothing, that once she gets out there she’ll get a fantastic reception and could easily generate the same kind of excitement Kate does,’ we’re told.

‘And make no mistake, that is the goal. Meghan knows she and Kate are always going to be compared, and she wants to prove she can make just as much of an impact, if not more. The first time around, she wasn’t prepared for the constant comparisons, but this time she knows what to expect, she’s ready.’

The comparison between Meghan and Kate has followed the Duchess ever since her relationship with Harry became public in 2017.

Their final reported face-to-face encounter came at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022, but before that, the pair had been repeatedly compared as the two women who married into the younger generation of the Royal Family.

Meghan initially enjoyed a huge amount of public attention after her engagement to Harry and their 2018 wedding, but the relationship between the Duchess and the British establishment later became increasingly strained.

Among the most widely discussed flashpoints was the so-called ‘bridesmaid dress gate’, surrounding claims that Meghan had made Kate cry over Princess Charlotte’s dress.

During her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan disputed that version of events, saying it had actually been Kate who made her cry.

Harry subsequently addressed the incident in his memoir, Spare, claiming he had found Meghan crying on the floor following the disagreement over the bridesmaids’ dresses and tights.

Now, six years after Megxit, we’re told Meghan believes she has an important advantage she did not have the first time around: she is no longer operating inside the Palace system.

Rather than being bound by a royal diary or expected to attend official engagements, she can reportedly choose exactly how and when she wants to reintroduce herself to the British public.

‘She’s very aware that Kate has the advantage, but she’s still convinced she can give her a run for her money, the insider says.

‘The fact that she’s not working within the Palace system this time around means she gets to do things entirely on her own terms, so she can decide where she goes, who she works with and which causes she wants to support, and she says that’s going to allow people to see a very different side of her.

They add, ‘She plans to start small and only go where she knows she’ll be comfortable and welcomed. She’s going to test the waters, see what gets the best response and build from there. If something works, she’ll do more of it. If it doesn’t, she can pull back and recalibrate without making a huge spectacle of it.'

And Meghan’s low-key return has already begun. She has been spotted at the exclusive Soho Farmhouse and at an Oxfordshire pub with her old friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, who also live in the area where she and Harry are reportedly looking for a home.

Then last week, Meghan’s long-term friend Kelly Zajfen shared a carousel of photographs from her family’s visit to the UK, including a country pub lunch with Meghan where the pair enjoyed fish, chips and mushy peas.

But these appearances are unlikely to be followed by a sudden flood of high-profile engagements.

Instead, the source claims Meghan is carefully waiting for the right moment to make her return to the British public eye – and that Harry’s very public approach is not necessarily one she intends to copy.

We’re told, ‘This isn’t a situation that can be changed overnight, and every appearance has to be considered so carefully - she’s playing the long game.

‘But Meghan loves proving people wrong, and she genuinely believes that once people start seeing her out there doing good things, a lot of the negativity will die down.

‘Harry is cheering her on every step of the way in this; he’s so proud of her strength and determination, and he would love nothing more than to see the British public embrace her the way they have Kate.’

A week after Earl Spencer’s Swan Song: My Sister, Diana landed on shelves, the controversy surrounding the memoir shows little sign of dying down – and now one of its most sensitive claims has thrust an old chapter of the Royal Family’s history back into the spotlight.

The book has already prompted an unusually pointed response from Buckingham Palace over Spencer’s recollection of King Charles’ alleged reaction following Princess Diana’s death in 1997. But attention has since moved to another deeply personal claim: that Diana herself allegedly told her brother she was ending her marriage because, allegedly in her words, ‘My husband is in love with his valet’.

Spencer does not identify the alleged valet in the book, and the claim remains unsubstantiated. However, it has inevitably revived long-standing rumours about the then Prince Charles and a former member of his household, allegations which have previously been denied by the Palace.

Now, amid the renewed scrutiny, a source claims Charles, 77, is ‘enraged’ by the fallout from the memoir and that the atmosphere behind Palace walls has become increasingly tense.

An insider says, ‘All the King can talk about right now is this book and everything it’s dredged up. He’s enraged and can’t believe that there was nothing that could be done to stop this.

‘The worst part is that he’s now having to worry about who will come after him next, and what they might say; it’s left him totally on edge. He can’t sleep, he’s hardly eating, and he’s so short-tempered, which is making him very hard to live with.

‘Camilla is trying to be sympathetic, but she doesn’t have a whole lot of patience because she’s going through her own turmoil with all of this; she feels attacked, too. The whole atmosphere is very toxic.’

The most explosive claims in Spencer’s book concern Charles’ alleged behaviour in the immediate aftermath of Diana’s death.

According to the Earl’s account, Charles was full of ‘contempt’ for his former wife’s popularity and allegedly told him, ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!’

Spencer also describes Charles as ‘giddily elated’ following Diana’s death, comparing the alleged mood to that of a ‘lottery winner’.

Buckingham Palace responded with an unusually direct statement, which read, ‘While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.’

Spencer has stood by his recollection of the alleged conversation, while the Palace statement has been interpreted as challenging the reliability of his memory rather than directly addressing the precise wording he attributes to Charles.

And now the spotlight has turned to the claims surrounding Charles’ marriage to Diana.

One of the most striking allegations in the memoir is Spencer’s account of a conversation he says he had with his sister about her decision to divorce Charles. According to his recollection, Diana allegedly attributed the breakdown of the marriage to her belief that her husband was in love with an unnamed member of his staff.

The claim is also not presented as an independently established fact, with Spencer writing that Diana did not tell him the identity of the member of staff and that he never asked her who she meant.

However, rumours concerning Charles and a former aide have circulated since the 1990s. At the time, allegations were reportedly made by another valet, George Smith, who was later described as having struggled with depression and alcoholism. The claims were denied by the Palace.

Spencer’s memoir has now brought that old speculation back into public discussion, adding another layer to a book which has already reopened painful memories surrounding Diana’s marriage.

And Camilla has inevitably found herself pulled back into the story. Although she is not the central focus of the memoir, Spencer makes clear that he believes Diana’s marriage to Charles was deeply affected by Charles’ relationship with Camilla.

Among his recollections is an alleged conversation between Diana and a friend on the eve of her wedding, in which Spencer claims his sister said Charles was ‘very happy to marry her’ but was not actually in love with her.

Elsewhere, Spencer recalls allegations of a secret ‘rendezvous’ on the royal train in 1980, just weeks before Charles married Diana.

He writes, ‘As it was not Diana, then who was the blonde? After her marriage took the direction it did, Diana became convinced that she must have been Camilla Parker-Bowles.’

For Camilla, we’re told, the renewed focus on the past is particularly unwelcome after years spent attempting to move beyond the most difficult period of her public life.

‘Earl Spencer doesn’t directly take jabs at Camilla in his book, but he certainly alludes to her involvement in his sister’s divorce. The reality is that Camilla was the other woman, so with everybody dissecting Charles and Diana's marriage, there’s simply no way she isn’t going to be in the conversation,’ the source says.

‘It’s very difficult for Camilla to have everyone talking about her this way again. She’s worked so hard to distance herself from this narrative; she’s horrified that it’s back in the headlines.

‘She’s complaining that he’s so wrapped up in his own misery that he’s forgetting that she’s getting dragged through the mud as well. In her view, as her husband, he should be looking after her right now.’

And the timing could hardly be more uncomfortable for the King.

Charles is continuing to receive cancer treatment while also dealing with the ongoing complications surrounding Prince Harry’s return to Britain, reported tensions with Prince William and the continuing situation involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested in February under suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Sarah Ferguson has also recently been the subject of reports suggesting she could be considering a tell-all of her own, although her representatives have denied that she is writing a personal memoir.

Against that backdrop, the source claims the latest Diana revelations have left Charles feeling as though there is yet another royal storm to contend with.

The source says, ‘Every day there seems to be a new drama with Harry, he’s got Andrew’s mess with Epstein and the potential for legal proceedings still looming, and now Sarah Ferguson is back in the scene threatening her own tell-all, it’s no wonder he’s at his wits' end. It’s just one crisis after another.’

And there may be more to come following reports that a three-part documentary, Diana Unheard, is already in production have raised the prospect of further scrutiny of the late Princess, with the programme reportedly involving intimate recordings made by Diana during the breakdown of her marriage.

Those recordings are said to contain material relating to Charles, Camilla and Andrew, potentially meaning that some of the most painful chapters of the family’s past could once again be examined publicly.

Now the source confirms, ‘Unfortunately, there is no end in sight because this has opened the floodgates; it seems like every day there’s some old dreadful story from the past being recycled, all thanks to Lord Spencer and his horrible book full of what they both insist are poisonous lies.’

And while Camilla has traditionally been portrayed as one of the people best able to calm Charles when pressure mounts, we’re told the latest controversy has left both of them struggling under the weight of renewed scrutiny.

‘Normally, Camilla is the person who can snap him out of a bad mood and get him to calm down, but she hasn’t got the patience for it right now. Charles is short-tempered at the best of times, and he’s even worse under this kind of pressure, and she’s not exactly the type to pull punches when she’s upset; they’re both miserable at the moment.’

They shockingly quit Strictly Come Dancing last October, saying their final goodbyes during the series’ finale two months later.

But sources tell Closer that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are still closely watching the newly revamped BBC show at home – and they’re finding it difficult.

‘Tess and Claudia are watching, and there have been moments where they’ve both thought, “What on earth is going on?” They gave Strictly more than two decades between them, so seeing such a huge change in tone has been quite a shock,’ our insider reveals.

‘Neither of them wants to see the new presenters fail, but they’re not blind to the reaction either. They know when something isn’t quite landing, and some of the criticism has been impossible to ignore. There have been conversations between Tess and Claudia about how different the programme feels. They’re incredibly loyal to Strictly, so having viewers and critics pick it apart makes it so hard to watch.’

MIXED REACTION

The source adds, ‘Tess has found it more emotional than she expected. She thought she was completely ready to walk away, but seeing someone else standing in what was effectively her home for 20 years has brought up feelings she wasn’t prepared for.’

Just weeks into last year’s series of Strictly, Tess, 57, and Claudia, 54, posted a joint announcement sharing their plans to leave. The duo – who had fronted the show together since 2014 – told stunned fans, ‘We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time’, adding that they were ready to ‘pass over the baton’ to a new set of presenters.

Months of speculation about Tess – who had hosted Strictly since its inception in 2004 – and Claudia’s replacements followed, with potential hosts facing ‘chemistry tests’ and auditions. Bosses decided upon Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe as the new faces – a decision that sparked a very mixed reaction from fans.

While Emma, 51, is one of TV’s most seasoned presenters and Johannes, 39, is a former Strictly professional dancer, comedian Josh, 43, was a less likely contender for Saturday night telly’s biggest job.

But behind the scenes, the Strictly cast are said to be more concerned about the drama erupting between some celebrities and their professional dancer partners.

After the first live show saw certain performances receive harsh criticism from the judges, our source says some of the celebs paired with new pro dancers are feeling the pressure — including Love Island star Cach Mercer, who’s partnered with Maddie Ingoldsby.

FRUSTRATED

‘There are already a couple of celebrities feeling pretty deflated because they came into Strictly thinking their professionals would know exactly how to get the best out of them and, right now, they’re questioning whether that’s happening,’ the insider continues.

‘When the judges start pulling apart the routine, naturally, you begin wondering whether you’ve been taught the right thing in the first place. Cach has been frustrated. The judges weren’t just telling him his feet or posture were wrong; they were questioning the actual content of the routine.

‘That is much harder for a celebrity because choreography isn’t really something they control. He wants to stay in the competition, but he knows that if the choreography gets hammered again, ultimately, it’s his name that ends up near the bottom of the leaderboard.’

And with celebs complaining and the new presenters dividing viewers, Strictly bosses are said to be running out of patience.

‘Some contestants are jealous they haven’t been paired with other, more experienced and popular pros, but frankly, producers have had enough of the complaining,’ an insider adds.

After recently admitting that she’d had the ‘worst year of her life’, things took another dramatic turn for Gemma Collins last week when it emerged that a woman has been arrested for allegedly stalking her.

NIGHTMARE

Now, sources tell Closer that the former TOWIE star has turned to her new pal Coleen Rooney, who famously turned detective to solve her own snooping nightmare during the Wagatha Christie case against nemesis Rebekah Vardy – for support.

‘Gemma’s been living with this nightmare over a year, and it has affected almost every aspect of her life,’ a source tells Closer. ‘This didn’t feel like some random troll who disliked Gemma from watching her on TV or social media. Gemma had always been heavily convinced that this could be someone who knew her or had access to people around her.

‘That was why she opened up to Coleen when they became friendly while filming a Paddy Power advert. There was an irony to them joking about Wagatha Christie because, behind the scenes, Gemma was dealing with her own mystery over whether somebody within her circle was deliberately targeting her. She knew if anyone understood what she was going through, it was Coleen.’

Gemma, 45, previously shared that she had been receiving threatening letters – one even containing rat poison – from an anonymous source over the past year.

JUSTICE

After opening up in her new Sky documentary, Everything. All At Once, about the ordeal, she wrote on Instagram, ‘I’ve been receiving some truly nasty and deeply personal letters, and what makes it even more shocking is believing they may be coming from someone very close to us.’

A woman in her 30s has now been arrested and bailed by police investigating the alleged abuse.

It’s just one of the blows that Gemma has been going through in recent times. Her relationship with fiancé Rami Hawesh has faced difficulties after he turned to alcohol, while the couple have sadly been unable to conceive. And in July, her beloved mother, Joan, passed away following a battle with pneumonia.

But Coleen, 40, has been a shoulder to lean on. Having experienced her own public legal battle in 2022 after accusing Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories about her to the press, our source says that Coleen can empathise with Gemma.

‘Coleen’s told Gemma she needs to stay calm and not jump ahead of the investigation, but to continue documenting everything and allow the police and legal process to run its course,’ the insider continues.

‘Once Gemma is legally free to speak, she wants to take back control and expose the full truth about what she’s been through. That would be her ultimate Wagatha moment: unmasking the person behind her nightmare, getting justice and finally having the last word.’

It’s that time of year again - the TV Choice Awards are back, and voting is now open for 2027! With 18 brilliant categories to choose from, it’s the perfect chance to celebrate the shows and stars that have kept us glued to our TV screens this year – Cast your votes here!

From edge-of-your-seat dramas and must-watch comedies to reality TV moments we couldn’t stop talking about and of course, our favourite soaps, there are so many unmissable shows to pick from. But which programmes will scoop the trophies? That’s completely up to you.

We’ve seen some amazing wins in past years. Emmerdale was the big winner last year, taking home three awards, including Best Soap, while Gavin and Stacey received two awards, including Best Comedy.

The Best Lifestyle Show category celebrates the programmes that have entertained, inspired and kept us coming back for more. From heartwarming home makeovers in Sort Your Life Out and DIY SOS, to adorable dogs in Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake and The Dog House. If property makeovers are more your thing, Renovation Rescue and Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job have showcased some stunning transformations, there’s something for everyone!

The TV choice awards have 18 exciting categories to vote in including Best Drama Series, Best Comedy Show, Best Talent Show, Best Daytime Show and the ever-popular Best Soap. Plus awards like Best Drama Performance and Best Soap Newcomer make sure the stars delivering the most unforgettable TV moments get their time to shine.

It doesn’t stop there - factual hits, challenging game shows and foodie favourites also feature, while a special award for Favourite Channel/Streaming Service highlights the platforms and channels creating top TV shows for us to enjoy.

Voting is open now and will close at midnight on Tuesday 20th October. The winners will then be revealed at a glamorous London ceremony on Monday 8th February 2027. Even better, everyone who votes is entered into a prize draw to win tickets to the star-studded event, plus an overnight stay in the capital.

So what are you waiting for? Cast your vote in the TV Choice Awards 2027 today - and help crown this year’s winners!

VOTE HERE

T&Cs: This competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over. The prize draw opens twice – midday on Tuesday 6th October 2026 until midnight on Tuesday 20th October 2026 during the longlist voting phase, and reopens on midday Friday 6th November 2026 until midnight on Sunday 22nd November 2026 during the shortlist voting phase. Entries from both the longlist and shortlist phases of the voting will be eligible.  Whilst you may vote more than once, you will only be allowed one entry into the prize draw. The prize includes one pair of tickets to the 2027 TV Choice Awards taking place at The London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday 8th February 2027 and one night’s accommodation in a standard twin room at The London Hilton on Park Lane on a bed & breakfast basis. Both attendees must be over the age of 18 at the time of the event. ID may be required as proof of age as alcohol may be served at the event. The winners will have access to the awards ceremony, dinner and after-party. Travel to and from the venue and any other food and drink is not included.  The winner will be the first name drawn at random after the closing date. The winner will be notified by email within 10 days of the closing date and has 10 days to respond before an alternative winner is chosen. This prize may be offered in a limited number of other promotions. No purchase is necessary, to enter for free visit www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/vote. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html

It’s been a turbulent time for the royals following the release of Earl Spencer’s tell-all book about his late sister, Princess Diana.

But now, even more bombshell revelations could be on the way, as sources tell Closer that Prince Harry is planning to reveal further secrets via his aunt, Sarah Ferguson.

‘While Sarah is insisting she’s not going to write a tell-all book, she is apparently in talks, and if the money is right, she is definitely considering a memoir,’ an insider says.

‘But while they want to keep the disgraced former royal out of their official circle, Harry and Meghan have been in touch with her, as they have been with Earl Spencer. They’re trying to keep her on side to make sure that, if she does do something, they may have some sort of control over what comes out.

HIDDEN ALLEGIANCE

‘They are keeping this allegiance firmly behind closed doors, but it’s clear Harry is going all-out to ruin his brother, Prince William.’

The former Duchess of York, who was one of Diana’s best friends, was reported to be ‘days away’ from a ‘seven-figure’ deal to pen a book about the Royal Family, but has since denied the rumours, saying she has ‘no plans to write any tell-all memoir’.

As Closer previously reported, Sarah, 66, has been inundated with requests to speak out after her return to the UK, where she has kept a low profile following the fallout from her links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It was reported that Fergie– who had relocated to a Swiss chalet after her eviction from Royal Lodge – wanted to ‘set the record straight’ on her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, her friendship with Epstein, the King and the Sussexes in the rumoured autobiography, which came a year after she was stripped of her titles and charity patronages.

While Harry, 42 – who has previously hit out at his family, including in his controversial memoir, Spare, has kept his distance publicly after the scandal, it’s also been reported that he is in talks to make a documentary about his mother Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of her death in August 20207. It’s thought he’s already reached out to family members and friends to take part – and Fergie could be among those.

If Sarah does decide to speak out in any capacity, it’ll no doubt be another worrying time for the Royal Family, given her four-decade history with them since she started dating Andrew, 66, in 1985. And our insider says senior royals, including King Charles, 77, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 44, are bracing for another crisis. ‘For Charles, William and Kate, it’s another potential ticking time bomb,’ the source continues.

RELENTLESS

‘In fact, William is convinced that Harry and Meghan have been encouraging Sarah and stirring things up. Sarah knows a lot of family secrets, was very close to Diana and feels they were both badly treated by the monarchy. They also have no idea what she might say about Andrew. It feels like it is relentless at the moment.’

It comes following the release of Earl Spencer’s controversial memoir about Diana. In Swan Song, he claimed that the then Prince Charles sounded ‘giddily elated like a lottery winner’ over his wife’s death, before saying, ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ Buckingham Palace quickly hit back, saying the King was ‘mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss’.

The book came just weeks after Harry and Meghan’s visit to Althorp, Earl Spencer’s ancestral home, shortly before they announced their return to the UK.

And since arriving back in Britain in August, their return has been anything but uneventful. The couple, along with their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have settled in the Cotswolds after six years in the US. However, they had to move the children into a different school only days after they started over security concerns on the school run. Meghan’s personal number was also leaked after she joined the WhatsApp group for Archie’s class.

SECURITY SCARE

And last week, Harry and Meghan, 44, were faced with fresh concerns following another security scare at the children’s new school, when two paparazzi photographers were seen walking around the grounds.

While Harry has been out and about with charity engagements, Meghan has largely been keeping a low profile. The duchess has been spotted on a few occasions at Soho Farmhouse with Harry and was seen with friends and former Montecito neighbours Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at a pub in Oxfordshire.

Our insider reveals that Meghan is taking her time to plan her future projects, which potentially include introducing a British slant for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and more TV.

‘She has been thinking very carefully about what her next chapter here could look like,’ the source adds. ‘The UK is very much part of the plan for As Ever. Meghan thinks there is an opportunity to expand the brand and give it a slightly different British identity, playing on the English countryside and the Cotswolds lifestyle.’

He may be fierce in the arena, but any mention of his daughter and Harry Aikines- Aryeetey – aka Nitro from Gladiators – melts into a big softie. ‘I’ve got three sisters so, with my mum, I grew up with four women in my life,’ Harry – who is a hands-on dad to Aubreé-Isla, six, with wife Lauren – tells Closer. ‘I was born to be dressed up in pink polka dot dresses, learn Backstreet Boys dance choreography, everything you can think of.

OBSESSED

‘Being raised by the strongest, most powerful women in the world is the best gift. Being able to impart that onto another young woman is something I’m really grateful for.’

Harry, 38, and Aubreé-Isla share a close bond, and she is growing more aware of his celebrity status. He says, ‘She absolutely adores me being on TV. If she sees a queue of people waiting for my signature, she’ll join it. I’m like, “What are you doing?” I’m mindful that she’s having to share me with the nation in some capacity so, as her dad, my job is to make sure that she feels super special.’

Having a Gladiator for a dad certainly adds a bit of glamour to the school run. When asked if he’s the coolest parent doing drop-off and pick-up, Harry laughs, ‘Yes! I don’t want to brag, but I am Nitro. The older kids probably appreciate who I am more. Obviously, I get cooler over the show’s run.’

The former medal-winning Team GB sprinter joined the rebooted Gladiators in 2023, fast becoming one of the show’s standout stars. Revealing it’s a childhood dream come true, Harry explains, ‘I was obsessed with the show when it came out in 1992. Gladiators was the first real thing that I was like, “Wow”. They were superheroes and I could envision myself being one. Often when I’m on the show, the mindset I have is that I’m performing to my eight-year-old self. Ultimately, I’m the kid that’s never grown up. I wear Lycra and run around in a playground.’

The star – who married wife Lauren in 2019 – adds of his love for the show, ‘Maybe Jet [Diane Youdale] might have had something to do with it too! It’s no coincidence that I’m married to a tanned brunette.’

The fourth series of Gladiators will return in 2027, following the celeb version later this year starring Big Brother host AJ Odudu, comedian Chris Ramsey, YouTuber George Clarke and comedienne Sara Pascoe.

Who else does he think would do well? ‘I’d love to see Angryginge in the arena because I feel like he’d have a good go. Alan Carr would be a right laugh. Alan running the Gauntlet would be absolutely hilarious. Or Alan Carr and Jimmy Carr in a battle of the Carrs!’

EXCITED

Since Gladiators, Harry has made his mark on reality shows like Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Gogglebox, alongside fellow Gladiator Matt Morsia [Legend], and Strictly Come Dancing, where he was paired with Karen Hauer. ‘I’ve spoken to her a few times,’ he says of their contact post-show.

He’s tuning in for the new series, featuring Gladiator Tabby Stoecker [Gold Star], ‘It’s going to be really good,’ Harry says. ‘I’m excited for a few people on there. I think everyone’s just got to embrace their journey and have a good time.’

And he’s still dancing. ‘I’m always on the dance floor! Aubreé is very slowly embracing the salsa. My wife, not so much,’ he reveals, with a chuckle.

Next, Harry has I’m A Celebrity! in his sights. ‘The jungle’s always been something that I thought would be fun. And I love The Traitors,’ he says. But first, he’s got Cooking With The Stars to contend with, where his rival is none other than his former dance partner Karen. ‘It was definitely a shock seeing Karen there. I was expecting to grab her hand and start dancing, but instead she immediately grabbed someone else’s hand and started cooking!’ Harry says.

Talking about his partnership with Rosemary Shrager, Harry tells Closer, ‘This felt like the perfect opportunity to refine my skills, learn from a world-class chef and, at the same time, make a complete fool of myself!’ He adds, ‘There were definitely moments when having big biceps wasn’t exactly an advantage when I was trying to do something delicate.’

While he may exude high energy and lightning-fast reflexes, Harry reveals he’s not a natural early bird. ‘I’m not a morning person, but I do have a routine to help myself get motivated and moving,’ he shares. ‘A shower with Original Source Tropical Coconut and Shea Butter Shower Gel, followed by a coffee, really does supercharge my mornings.’

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is partnering with Original Source to help people get supercharged. Cooking With The Stars starts at 7.30pm on ITV on 5 October.

It was an A-list filled week for the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they presented a united front at the premiere of new film, Digger alongside Tom Cruise. But behind the glitz and glamour, it proved a tumultuous week for the royal family, in the wake of Earl Spencer's explosive allegations in his new book. And while the Palace has been left shaken, insiders tell Closer that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be turning the drama to their advantage, and attempting to secure a meeting with the Waleses.

However, we're told, William and Kate aren't interested. 'Harry and Meghan feel it's time they made peace with William and Kate. They think it's a good opportunity to have a productive and healing conversation,' says a royal source. 'Now that Earl Spencer's book has drawn attention to the family's apparent failings, Harry and Meghan feel vindicated. They think it must be time for William and Kate to take them more seriously.'

The insider goes on, 'They also believe that, now they're back on British soil, they're entitled to have a foot back in the door. Harry genuinely wants to have a better relationship with his brother, and Meghan is eager for them to start being welcomed back into royal circles. They feel Earl Spencer's book backs their experience with the family, and how it can be a very cold and unforgiving institution.

Meghan, in particular, feels exonerated and she thinks now is the time to have a dialogue with the Palace. This isn't about dragging up petty grievances, she just wants Harry to be in a room with his brother.'Earl Spencer's memoir Swan Song came out last week and centres on his bond with his late sister Princess Diana, who was tragically killed in a car crash in 1997, aged just 36. Within it, he levelled a string of shocking allegations about 77-year-old Charles – who's undergoing ongoing treatment for cancer, following his diagnosis in 2024 – among them that he told Diana he didn't love her shortly before their wedding.

The Earl, 62, also remembered two phone calls he shared with Charles soon after Diana's death. Of the first, the Earl writes that the then-prince 'sounded giddily elated, like a lottery winner', adding, 'I suspect the prince's first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved [Camilla Parker-Bowles], rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not.'

But the second call was seemingly more alarming. While disputing whether William and Harry should walk behind their mother's hearse, Charles Spencer claims that the now-King 'hissed' at him, 'Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough.' The Earl went on, 'I was so stunned that it took me a few seconds to reply. "I can't believe you just said that," I said flatly, before hanging up.'

In the wake of these bombshell revelations, the Palace took the rare step of confronting the accusations head-on. 'His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss,' said a spokesperson. Earl Spencer responded, saying he was being 'gaslit by the King'. He then reinforced the claims in a BBC interview, maintaining, 'Those are exactly the words [Charles] said. I don't hear hims aying he didn't say that. What else would have made me hang up on the King?'

The memoir arrives just weeks after Harry andMeghan's visit – along with their two children Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet – to Althorp, the Earl's ancestral home, shortly before they revealed their return to the UK. And our insider says that Kate and William, both 44, consider the timing 'suspicious'.

We're told, 'William and Kate have no desire to get involved with Harry and Meghan. They believe no good can come from it. What they're most suspicious of is how much they knew about what was in Earl Spencer's book. William finds it hard to believe Harry didn't discuss the memoir with his uncle on their summer trip. If they did know about it, it's going to drive William and Harry even further apart. It's caused the King so much frustration and pain at a time when his health issues are serious.'

Formerly dubbed the Fab Four, the Sussexes and the Waleses haven't been pictured together since the late Queen's funeral in September 2022. Harry and Meghan – who left the royal family and relocated to the US in 2020 – have repeatedly discussed their time as working royals. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry, 42, wrote of 'an awkward moment' at a royal engagement in February 2018, when Kate 'grimaced' as Meghan, 45, asked to borrow her lip gloss. Relations deteriorated further ahead of the couple's wedding that May, over a disagreement about a bridesmaid's dress that reportedly left Kate in tears, though Meghan says it was actually the reverse.

Harry also described a physical altercation with William after he called his wife 'rude' and 'abrasive'. Our insider says the latest drama is the final straw for the Waleses. We're told, 'They haven't forgiven the Sussexes for their earlier revelations, so the idea they could be responsible for more agony just shows they cannot be trusted. William and Kate feel their presence just brings drama and controversy.'

The source adds, 'There's a worry that if Harry or Meghan start speaking up about William and Kate's refusal to communicate, it could create another drama that will only cause the King more worry. Kate and William think the Sussexes' interviews are unforgivable and it seems they haven't changed. They can't envisage a time they will ever forgive them for what they've done.'

It was the celebrity friendship we didn’t know we needed, but when Tom Cruise waltzed on to the red carpet with the Waleses last week, taking Princess Kate’s arm to lead her down the steps, we may have had just a little swoon.

Attending the premiere of Tom’s new film, Digger, in London's Leicester Square last week, the trio appeared every part old buddies as they were photographed talking with each other before making that entrance to the screening.

To make matters even better, Top Gun legend Tom, 64, then all-but confessed to having a crush on Kate, 44, describing her in an interview earlier this week as having a ‘great sense of humour’; being ‘very intelligent’ and praising her dress as ‘stunning’. He then added, ‘William did well. Will, way to go. Smart choice. I’ve got to give it to William, smart choice.’

However, while we are thrilled by this unexpected, perhaps a little flirtatious banter between the King of Hollywood and England’s future Queen, we are told that not so far away in the Cotswolds, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are ‘furious’.

An insider says, ‘They are both convinced that William and Kate made an extra big show of their friendship with Tom Cruise to try and upset them, and it worked. They would love to have Tom kissing up to them the way he does with William and Kate.

‘It’s no secret they had very high hopes of being a part of the Hollywood in-crowd when they moved to America and that just hasn’t happened. Instead, they’ve gone back to England with their tails between their legs and they’re now having to watch William and Kate parading around on the red carpet like a couple of Hollywood stars - the irony is infuriating.’

Of course this isn’t the first time William, 44, and Tom have crossed paths. At a gala in February 2024, Tom – who has previously called himself King Charles’ ‘wingman’ – received personal thanks from William for donating millions to the London Air Ambulance Service. The Oscar winner also attended the Queen’s Jubilee and King Charles’ Coronation celebrations.

Meanwhile, William has also built up several other celebrity friendships with Hollywood stars who have shown their support for his environmental charity, The Earthshot Prize, including Cate Blanchett, Stella McCartney, Gisele Bundchen and Robert Irwin.

And the source says William’s schmoozing is irking the Sussexes even more, especially at a time when they themselves appear to have been shunned by the A-listers who once so warmly welcomed them.
‘William has been on this huge push to gather as many big Hollywood stars as he can for his charity and if you ask Harry and Meghan, that’s his way of trying to one-up them because he thinks it somehow proves he’s better,’ we’re told.

‘They’re also very paranoid about what William and Kate are saying about them to all of these stars. In some ways that’s even more upsetting because they feel like William and Kate are running a smear campaign against them and its working.’

Perhaps the biggest showbiz snub of all has been the Sussexes' ill-fated friendship with David and Victoria Beckham. Meghan, 45, and Victoria, 52, previously had a history of friendship after first being introduced to each other by their husbands, David and Harry.

Unlike many of Meghan’s own pals and former Suits co-stars, former Spice Girl Victoria and football legend David even managed to bag an invite to the couple’s wedding back in 2018, with reports suggesting that Victoria had gone out of her way to support and befriend Meghan.

In turn, Meghan supported Victoria’s own fashion line, opting to wear her designs to some of her most public engagements within the Royal Family, including her 2017 engagement announcement with Harry.

But it wasn’t to last. In 2018, just months after the wedding, David, 51, is said to have been left ‘furious’ after reportedly receiving a call from Harry, 42, who is alleged to have accused Victoria of leaking stories about Meghan to the media. The Beckhams have never spoken out about this publicly.

There were suggestions that Meghan had later wanted to extend an olive branch to her former friend when she wore a VB design during her ‘tour’ of Columbia in 2024, but Meghan’s apparent gesture of goodwill proved to be too little, too late.

However, despite the rift between Harry and Meghan and the Royal Family, David and Victoria are believed to have remained loyal to the monarchy, in particular Kate and William, with David receiving a knighthood from King Charles as part of his birthday honours list last year.

And we’re told the Sussexes suspect that Kate and William may have ‘played a part’ in the breakdown of their once-close friendship with the Beckhams.

The source says, ‘They’re absolutely convinced William has played a part in turning Victoria and David Beckham against them. Both Harry and Meghan insist that they have no idea what went wrong between them and the Beckhams. They say they’ve tried so many times to get to the bottom of it and mend fences, but every attempt has been shut down or ignored completely.

‘Instead, David and Victoria are practically a part of William and Kate’s inner circle these days so of course Harry and Meghan are going to see that as proof that they’ve pressured the Beckhams into taking side and they can’t help but worry that the same thing is happening with Tom and anyone else William gets close to.’

Meanwhile, the insider says Harry is unsurprised that his brother is getting away with ‘cosying up’ to celebrities while he and Meghan were publicly ‘mocked’ for doing exactly the same thing when they moved to California in 2020.

‘It may sound paranoid, but Harry says he knows his brother well enough to know exactly how petty and manipulative he can be so he’s not that surprised that this is happening,’ the source says.

‘He’s also not surprised by the huge double standard when it comes to how William and Kate’s big Hollywood push is being perceived, versus the reaction he and Meghan get for the same sort of thing.
‘They’ve been mocked endlessly for being ‘too Hollywood,’ yet William can cozy up to Tom Cruise and every other huge star he can find and somehow that’s perfectly acceptable, it’s such a double standard.’

And for Meghan, who grew up in Hollywood and was an actress in US legal drama Suits for years before he met Harry, we’re told Tinsel Town’s new affection for William and Kate has hit particularly hard.
The source says, ‘For Meghan it’s especially hard to take because Hollywood is her world and she’s still got a lot of dreams she would like to make happen when it comes to her career. Having to watch Kate, who she is constantly being compared to, walk the red carpet on the arm of one of the biggest movie stars in the world is triggering a lot of jealousy.

‘William and Kate insist that this is just business as usual. They’ve been going to premieres and mixing with movie stars for years, so in their view, the fact that Harry and Meghan can somehow take this personally just goes to show how self-centered they are.’

Following in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Sarah Ferguson was widely reported to have returned to UK shores in August after eight months in hiding, during which time she was photographed just once at a chalet in the Swiss mountains.

Now back on British soil, we were told earlier this month that a return to the bright lights of London is on the agenda for the disgraced former Duchess, 66, who a source revealed is in the process of attempting to ‘salvage some sort of life for herself’ following months of fighting one crisis after another.

And last week, it was reported that Sarah is ‘just days away’ from signing a seven-figure deal to publish an autobiography, following months of speculation that the former Duchess of York could be set to lift the lid on her ex, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and her life within the Royal Family.

Meanwhile, the reports of what is bound to be a bombshell memoir came just days after the release of another royal tell-all – Earl Spencer’s Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. And we’re told this is no coincidence, as a source claims the book has been a reminder for Sarah of the ‘chaos’ she could cause the royals if she were to put pen to paper and tell her own story.

‘No one knew this book from Charles Spencer was coming until the last minute, so it’s taken Sarah by surprise, although for her it’s been a very good surprise because it’s got the King and everyone else within the Firm completely on the ropes,’ the insider says.

‘It's a good reminder of the sort of chaos someone can cause with a tell-all like this. And, considering how close Sarah has been to the family over the past five decades, odds are she could do a lot more damage to the King’s legacy than Earl Spencer has.’

Just hours later, a spokesperson for Sarah declined the claims, saying, ‘She is not writing a personal memoir’. The denial, of course, comes as little surprise given that it has been widely speculated that Sarah would like to rebuild her relationship with the Royal Family.

She and her ex-husband Andrew were stripped of their royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge last year, but their daughters – Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie – remain part of the royal fold.

But there’s a catch to Sarah’s seemingly sentimental intentions. After months of speculation that cash flow is running tight (something that won‘t have been helped by her decision to stay at a £2000 wellness resort in the Swiss alps for months), Sarah is alleged to need money – and fast.

So while there have been no discussions for now, we’re told it could be only a matter of time before she’s unable to resist the temptation of a juicy memoir – an offer she may not be able to refuse if the Palace continue to ostracise her completely.

‘Sure, she’s loudly denying any talk about signing a deal of her own, but that’s very much a part of her strategy. She wants the King and the rest of the family to know that this is a choice that is ultimately up to her,’ the source says.

‘Sarah is holding off on a book deal for now because she’s convinced there’s still a place for her within the royal family. She figures that by showing loyalty or at least keeping her mouth shut it’s only fair that they cut her a break and at least help her with a path back towards respectability or at the very least a place to live – just like they did with Andrew.

‘If this doesn’t happen then she’s still got the tell-all up her sleeve, plus other money making ops like reality shows or reinventing herself on social media using her former royal status as the springboard. So she continues to put out these feelers and messages, essentially imploring William and Charles to throw her a bone and pointing out that she doesn’t want to go against the family if she can help it.’

The Palace have not made any statements regarding Sarah directly, but senior royals have distanced themselves completely from the senior Yorks.

Prince William is widely reported to have been intolerant of his uncle and pushing for his titles to be removed long before King Charles was forced to take action just months before the release of the Epstein Files, which shone further light on the former Duke’s ties to the late paedophile.

And now we’re told that behind palace walls, William remains convinced that Sarah is a ‘scheming wretch’ who has no place within the Firm. But for his father, the matter may not be quite as simple…
‘For William it’s all so calculated and proof that Sarah is a scheming wretch who mustn’t be allowed to darken their doors ever again,’ the source says.

‘Charles tends to agree but it’s not that simple. The family is in such a vulnerable state right now, especially with the Charles Spencer fiasco. They don’t need any more enemies, so Sarah may yet get some type of compromise on that basis.’

Meanwhile, we’re told that if Sarah is unable to be publicly welcomed back into the fold, she could be willing to agree to a financial settlement instead, to replace the millions she could have banked for a book.

‘The offers are on the table and she’s made sure they know that if they want to keep her from going down that route, they are going to need to take care of her and cover her expenses,’ the insider says.

‘She’s not asking for some huge payout, and she insists she isn’t out to blackmail them, she says she simply wants them to show her a little mercy. Fact is, she’s in a terrible financial mess, she needs help and she’s not going to stop asking for it.’

However, we’re told that in the background, Beatrice and Eugenie are strongly advising their mother not to poke the royal bear – not that Sarah is heeding any of these warnings.

‘Beatrice and Eugenie hate being caught in the middle of all this. They’re convinced it’ll wind up backfiring on the whole family including them and are begging her to let this redemption quest go,’ the source tells us.

‘They’re very worried that this is only going to make things worse, but Sarah doesn’t see it that way. She says she could easily go off and make a fortune trading on all the family secrets she knows and instead she’s showing restraint, she thinks that ought to count for something.’

It’s time to dust off your black suit and prepare to pay your respects to a dear departed old friend.

That’s right folks, the dating app is apparently dead. RIP swipe right; fly high swipe left and rest easy swipe up. It was nice knowing you. (Well, apart from the bit where you didn’t introduce us to one single, fully-functioning, normal member of society - instead just giving us a constant flow of misfits and catfish).

A recent poll conducted in the USA found that two-thirds of singles are no longer using apps, and a full 80% of people polled said they find the idea of meeting a partner IRL is ‘cute and cool’. Sounds like good news for the owners of bars and coffee shops then!

But wait a minute! Is there still some hope for the determined daters who are still using the apps in the belief that Mr or Ms Right is out there somewhere, lurking in cyberspace and just waiting to be whisked off their feet via a complex algorithm?

If the latest dating trend takes off, there is now a very real chance that the apps could thrive once more. And this is a trend that we can get right behind, because it involves VERY little effort. In fact, the less effort, the better!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Goblintimacy (Yeah, we know that sounds kinda filthy, but we’re talking goblin and not gobblin’, and they are very different, so stop being so juvenile about this!)

It’s a play on the slang term ‘goblin mode’ which has been around for years and refers to a kind of slacker existence of living in pyjamas, snacking from the fridge and basically rejecting any social pressure. This really hit a peak post-Covid, when goblin mode was adopted as a rejection of returning to the demands of day-to-day living, instead opting to remain on the sofa with a laptop, a phone and a family-sized bag of Doritos. Bliss!

Anyway, Goblintimacy follows the same vibe, albeit with some slightly more sophisticated attitudes to give it a bit of appeal on the dating circuit.

So how does it work? Firstly, Goblintimacy is a strictly no BS zone. So forget trying to portray your best side. This is the literal opposite of catfishing, so don’t bother with all that fancy photoshop, or even stealing a picture of a supermodel to use as your profile.

This trend involves presenting the rawest version of yourself. And we’re not just limiting that to your photos.

If you really want to give this trend a go, it involves paring down your profile to the facts. Just the facts! And if you get a date, then you really do have to turn up as your true self. No airs and graces!

Dating coach Amy Chan, author of ‘Unsingle: How to Date Smarter and Create Love that Lasts’, says, "Goblintimacy is the dating cousin of 'goblin mode’. It's a rebellion against showing up on dates performing a curated version of who you think someone wants and, instead, showing up as your real, authentic, actual self − quirks, flaws and imperfections included."

Of course, being your true self right from the get go is risky. But dating experts report that is exactly the point. No more spending weeks/months trying to work each other out. You go straight in as your actual self and there’ll be no sense of wondering if this is going to work. If it gets to a second date, you already know there must be something real here, because you’re being REAL!

This also means appearances. Now don’t be showing up having not showered for three days as that’s just NASTY! But don’t be obsessing in front of the mirror for hours. A quick wash and you’re ready to go. Same with the wardrobe – throw on a favourite outfit that you’d usually wear to catch up with a good friend. This isn’t a catwalk – you’re just fine as you are!

But as with everything in the dating world, there are limits. Oversharing too early could be unwise. Remember, this is a potential partner, not a therapist. Bringing ALL of your past traumas to the table on that first date isn’t going to serve anyone well.

It’s also important to state here that we’re saying ‘be real’ but we’re not saying ‘be blunt’ – this requires some tactful behaviour. If you’re naturally on the shy or reserved side you are still going to have to come out of your shell a bit and be prepared to make convo, you can’t just sit there with arms folded, saying ‘this is the real me!’

But this is your chance to be bold about your non-negotiables in a gentle way. And when we say gentle, we basically mean appropriate. See where the conversation naturally goes but just keep in mind to be natural and honest about your responses.

So for example, the conversation turns to your date talking about how they spent the previous evening on the dancefloor of a nightclub ‘til 3am. Your idea of hell? Then you could be honest and say that it’s not for you. Doesn’t mean there can’t be a romance between you.

Or your date talks about their family in loving terms, saying they see each other all the time. You haven’t seen your family for two years because they’re dysfunctional? Might be worth just saying that right now… what have you got to hide?

The thing about Goblintimacy is that you’re not trying to be this perfect, Instagram-ready everyman or everywoman. You are just going to be YOU and if that’s a gloriously messy, unprepared you then that’s just fine.

Just promise us you won’t actually turn up to the date in pyjamas!

To celebrate the home entertainment release of series 8 - the final season of Outlander – now available on Blu-ray and DVD – we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of their choosing on Blu-ray or DVD!

Based on the best-selling book series, Outlander follows Claire Randall, a WWII nurse who is mysteriously transported from 1945 to 1743 Scotland. Forced by circumstances to marry Jamie Fraser, an outlawed Highlander, she finds herself torn between loyalties to two men in different centuries.

An epic journey follows as Jamie and Claire navigate clan rivalries, betrayal, political intrigue, and even the American Revolution while they fight to change the course of history, build a home and protect their loved ones.

Competition closes 13th October 2026.

Outlander series 8 is out now to buy on Blu-ray and DVD

© 2026 Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For a couple who have not been photographed in public together since their return to the UK, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle certainly appear to be causing a whole lot of drama behind Palace walls.

It’s been just weeks now since they left their Montecito home for a new life in the English countryside, but it’s been widely reported that their Hollywood demands have travelled with them.

While the Sussexes house hunt in the Cotswolds with a rumoured budget of £12 million, Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, are also awaiting the outcome of their security review, which will decide whether the couple are granted automatic police protection from the Metropolitan Police – a service paid for by the UK taxpayer.

Harry’s bid for security for his family in the UK has been well-documented for years, but at the weekend, it was reported that the Sussexes had shockingly been confiding in friends that if police protection wasn’t granted, they could look to moving back to the US.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden described the alleged move as ‘akin to blackmail’, especially given that it has been widely reported that King Charles is keen on spending more time with his grandchildren – Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five – over the coming months.

Meanwhile there is one royal who we’re told will not be roped into the Sussex circus - Prince William – who a source claims would like to see his brother and sister-in-law pack up their suitcases and head back to Montecito. And we’re told he’s depending on those in power to show Meghan and Harry that they cannot just stomp their feet and get everything they command.

The insider says, ‘William doesn’t believe they’ll even last another six months. He’s counting on them giving up and moving back to America as soon as they realise they can’t just bulldoze their way into getting everything they want.

‘He’s staying out of this security battle because he knows anything he does will be used against him by Harry, so he’s giving that a wide berth and counting on the powers that be to do the right thing.'

Meanwhile, we're told that William has his own cutting five-word view on Harry and Meghan: 'They can't leave soon enough'.

While Harry’s UK homecoming had for some been viewed as a chance for him to heal his rift with William, so far it appears only to have deepened following reports that Harry remains close to his uncle Earl Spencer, despite his recent attacks against Charles in his new Diana memoir.

Not only did the Earl reveal during an interview that Harry had been ‘fine’ about the book’s release, it was also confirmed by The Telegraph at the weekend that Harry and Meghan are working on their own film to commemorate Diana, which will be released on the 30th anniversary of her death next year.

So far, William has kept a dignified silence, but royal author Tom Sykes has reported on his The Royalist Substack that, to close confidantes, he appears ‘dismayed’ and unsurprised by his brother’s actions.

However we’re told that when it comes to his relationship with the King, William still struggles to understand why their father would be so forgiving following the Sussexes’ numerous, very personal, takedowns of the Royal Family.

‘It’s very hard for William to watch his father being so soft on them. He truly cannot understand why Charles is giving them so much latitude after everything that’s happened,’ the source says.

‘He just has to accept that there’s no changing the King’s mind, which is incredibly aggravating. He thinks Harry is being so blatantly disrespectful by cosying up to Charles Spencer right when he’s putting out this dreadful book, and then of course he is going off on his own to do this Diana documentary.

They add, ‘The fact his brother is trying so hard to work his way back into the King’s world and at the same time he’s making a big show of his alliance with their traitorous uncle completely baffles William.’

Over the past few years, the royals have increasingly had to ditch the late Queen’s mantra of ‘Never complain, never explain’ but in William’s current predicament, silence may just win out.

Already Harry appears not to have received the attention that he had hoped for back on UK soil and as far as Meghan’s reputation in Britain goes, the Duchess doesn’t appear to be making any moves whatsoever to win over the public.

In fact, the only three sightings of her have been at the swanky Soho Farmhouse, meeting with her old Montecito neighbours Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi at a pub and hosting her US bestie, Kelly Zajfen, who shared snaps from her trip on social media.

Now the source says William believes Harry and Meghan’s move back to the US is ‘inevitable’. So much so, we’re told he is already taking bets that their return to Montecito is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.

The insider says, ‘William doesn’t see how the UK is sustainable for them long term, especially with Meghan facing so much backlash all the time, and he’s very quick to point that out anytime someone suggests they might dig in and make this move permanent.

‘He doesn’t doubt that Harry would prefer they stay in the UK for good. He knows he’s been homesick the past six years but ultimately it’s going to be Meghan who has the final say and William says he doesn’t see her sticking it out longer than a few months. He’s just waiting for the inevitable news that they’re heading back to America.’

In the meantime, we’re told William plans to ‘continue avoiding them at all costs’ and has ‘no intention’ of accepting any olive branches that may be extended to him whatsoever.

‘As far as he’s concerned nothing is forgiven and it’s not likely it ever will be, because he doesn’t see them changing their ways. In his view, they are just as self-serving and manipulative as they’ve always been,’ the insider says.‘He maintains Harry is proving yet again that he’s completely disloyal and should be exiled.’

But the source warns that as Charles continues to walk a tight rope between his role as a father and grandfather and his responsibilities as the King, William could be facing a very delicate situation ahead and may risk shattering his own bond with his father.

‘Ultimately it [Harry and Meghan’s future in the UK] is up to the King and he’s simply not yet willing to drop the hammer. William is having to walk a fine line or risk getting in his father’s bad books, himself, but he’s not letting this go,’ the source says.

‘He intends to do whatever it takes to stop them from weaselling their way back into some sort of insane half-in half-out arrangement. He’s very clear that they will not get away with that on his watch. He intends to make things as difficult for them as he can because the sooner they leave, the better.’

It's a truth universally acknowledged that the smartphone in our pocket is what brought most of us together with the love of our life.

After all, with so many apps at our fingertips, well over half of all couples today first connected online before riding off into the sunset together.

But every silver lining has a cloud. Because the very same technology that played cupid can just as easily play the villain - and when someone develops a wandering eye, their phone becomes the ultimate partner in crime.

Armed with little-known privacy settings and a handful of clever third-party apps, it has never been simpler to cover your tracks and maintain a convincing double life. Gone are the days of furtive late-night phone calls - today's tech-savvy cheat has a whole arsenal of digital tricks to keep their secret well and truly buried.

Now, we're absolutely not encouraging you to try any of this yourself. We're upstanding, law-abiding types! Just consider what follows a handy eye-opener - a guide to help you recognise the signs of infidelity hiding in plain sight. It’s time to play detective!

WHEN TWO CALCULATORS DON'T ADD UP

Here's a simple one to start with. Take a look at your partner's phone — how many calculator apps can you count? If the answer is more than one, it's time to do the maths, because one calculator app plus another calculator app equals something that doesn't quite compute. Even a single calculator app that isn't the standard factory-installed one is worth a raised eyebrow. Why? Because some of these so-called 'calculator' apps are number-based wolves in sheep's clothing, concealing hidden photo galleries and private chat logs behind an innocent-looking interface. Apps like Calculator Pro+ and Secret Calculator are prime examples - unlock them with a PIN and you could find a stash of private photos or a secret call history. It's the oldest trick in the book: hiding something very naughty somewhere incredibly dull.

NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T

No smoke and mirrors required here but you will want to pay attention. Let's kick off with a question worth asking: why would anyone need to permanently delete an entire message thread? Sure, some people are genuinely obsessive about keeping their storage tidy - but that's a stretch. Check whether they've activated auto-delete by heading to settings > apps > messages > keep messages. If it's set to 'Forever', that seems straightforward enough. But '30 days'? That's where things get murky. And don't forget to check any synced devices - tablets, laptops and smartwatches can all retain conversations and images that have been wiped from the main phone, potentially giving you a window into exactly what's being erased.

IS SOMETHING UP ON WHATSAPP?

WhatsApp is another happy hunting ground for suspicious activity. The app has its own disappearing message feature that can be set to wipe entire conversations in as little as 24 hours, which begs the obvious question: why would anyone need their chats deleted that fast unless they had something to hide? You can check by tapping on a contact's name within a chat and selecting Disappearing Messages, or on Android, look for Vanish Mode at the top of the conversation. Either way, it's a red flag worth noting.

And while you're in there, keep an eye out for any locked chat threads. A padlocked conversation sitting at the top of the main screen - accessible only via Face ID or a secret passcode – might set alarm bells ringing. What exactly is in there that needs to be so carefully protected?

THE APP THAT ISN'T THERE (BUT REALLY IS)

Brace yourself, because this one is genuinely mind-blowing. Did you know it's entirely possible to have a fully functioning app on your phone that is completely invisible on the home screen? It sounds like something out of a spy thriller, but it's very real. By pressing and holding an app icon, selecting 'remove app' and then choosing 'remove from home screen', the app vanishes - yet it continues to run in the background and can even send notifications. To uncover any hidden apps lurking on your partner's phone, head to the App Library or check iPhone storage under the general settings tab. Every app installed on the device will appear there, visible or not - no disappearing act can fool that.

SILENT BUT DEADLY

For anyone attempting to conduct a secret affair, a phone that lights up with racy notifications at the wrong moment is a disaster waiting to happen. So it's no surprise that a seasoned cheat will take steps to make sure their device stays quiet and discreet. The most basic version of this is switching off all notification previews - check by going to settings > notifications > show previews and seeing whether it's been set to 'never'. But a more experienced operator will go a step further, silencing alerts from specific contacts only, so everything else appears perfectly normal. This can be done via settings > focus > + icon (create a custom focus) > next > customise focus > people > select 'silence notifications from' > add the relevant contact. If your partner has gone to that much trouble just to mute one person's messages, we think you already know what that means… and it might be time to make a very different kind of phone call. To a solicitor!

And finally… a quick but important note that we have to add here just to keep things clear. Privacy means different things to different people, and not every one of these features is automatically a smoking gun pointing to cheatsville.

There are plenty of perfectly innocent reasons why someone might use some of these settings. But if your gut is telling you something isn't right, and you've noticed a change in how your partner behaves around their phone, the best first step is always an open and honest conversation. Good luck!

Guys, it’s time to get an air conditioning unit for your TV or at the very least a regular dose of the electric fan because trust us – it’s hot. No, we’re not talking regular hot, we’re talking insane levels of heat because TV has been experiencing its steamiest year ever. We’ve seen threesomes galore, all manner of sexy cosplay and let’s not even mention the sex positions we had no idea existed. See for yourself and for God’s sake grab yourself a fan!

DTF St. Louis

Fresh off its domination at the Emmy Awards, as the show’s title suggests it’s characters are very much, “Down to F&*k”. While the central relationship between Floyd and Clark played by David Harbour and Jason Bateman respectively is what the series revolves around, it’s Clark’s illicit affair with Floyd’s wife Carol (Linda Cardellini) that delivers some of the most outrageous sex scenes in what essentially depicts a world of suburban swinging. Carol and Clark not only engage in the Amazon position (a complete inversion of the missionary position which frankly just looks painful) but they also delve into sex robot roleplay. In one of the most outlandish sexual fetish requests, Clark asks Carol to sit on his face while she conducts her daily to-do list of menial tasks. Dubbed multi-tasking intimacy, the show’s bold take on sex garnered best supporting actor Emmy’s for both Cardellini and Harbour. And to be perfectly honest they really put the work in.

Off Campus

If you haven’t seen Prime’s most talked about show this year, then honestly just stop reading and go and watch it right now. Unless you’re at work because honestly the amount of NSFW content in this college sex and relationship drama is off the chain. Now, we could talk about the mutual masturbation, the cunnilingus, the locker room penis scene but you need to see those for yourself. The truth is the show which is about SO MUCH MORE than sex went stratospheric for a reason. The sexual encounters feel authentic as well as super-hot. Midway through season 1, Hannah and Garrett treat us to a sexual montage that perfectly encapsulates their unbridled desires for one another. At the end of the scene, where we see the couple engage in multiple sex positions, Hannah orgasms just before answering a call from her Mum – as you do…

Industry

In another realm he’s Jon Snow but don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing ice cool about his role as Henry in Industry. Perhaps quite rightly it was during the third episode of season 4 that fans were treated to a jaw-dropping threesome. Marisa Ablela’s Yasmin asking her assistant Hayley played by Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka if she wants to kiss her husband and then frankly it just gets WILD. The three going at it like crazy in the most graphic way had stunned viewers questioning if they were really doing it! Kiernan told W magazine of the explicit scene, there aren’t many scenes that I read where I go, “Oh, the Internet’s going to react to that,” but obviously, this is one where you do have the thought. She added, ‘That scene’s so important to the plot because it means a lot for each character. Going into it, that was the main conversation. Having an intimacy coordinator, the choreography worked out, and it felt comfortable and planned in a way that allowed us to show up and explore what our characters were going through.’

Euphoria

When Sydney Sweeney’s character Cassie decides to join OnlyFans in the final season of Euphoria – everyone knew it was going to be a wild ride. But none more so than in episode 5 with perhaps one of the shows most surreal and explicit scenes. As Cassie continues to break the glass ceiling with her ascent to OnlyFans superstardom, she literally shatters the glass of a model skyscraper with the power of her own boobs. It’s not as strange as it seems given the context that is Cassie has transformed into a mash-up of a giant Godzilla-like goddess and Alison Hayes, Attack of the 50-Foot Woman. Wearing a leopard print ensemble, she tears through a miniature LA set until she peers into an office block window and finds a man pleasuring himself to her OnlyFans account. She then removes her top and the rest is history.

Margot’s Got Money Troubles

When Elle Fanning debuted her OnlyFans centric comedy in early 2026, the stellar cast list was one of the main talking points. Not only did it star Fanning herself (who also produced the show) playing Margot - it also featured Hollywood legends Michelle Phieffer and Nicole Kidman. But while the stellar line-up caused a stir, as the first episode aired the term, “milk squirt” became a much talked about water cooler moment. Margot who begins a sexual relationship with her married professor, played by Michael Angaro engages in no holds barred intense sex sessions everywhere they can. The result of the constant bumping uglies is a pregnant Margot and a non-committal professor. Now, a new Mum needing cash, Margot realises that her body is capable of things that people might just pay to see – cue breast milk squirt. What begins as a tentative exploration quickly becomes a money maker and what started as sex against a wall soon turns into OnlyFans cosplay extraordinaire.

Bridgerton

Shonda Rimes season four of Bridgerton promised to supply a raft of heavy bosomed breathing and naked bottoms galore and it did not disappoint. As viewers watched the love story between Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha) unfold, they also got to see a lot of other things unfold. Like Sophie’s dress when she is met on the staircase of Bridgerton House by her secret lover. The two go at it like, well you’d expect for a forbidden tryst between a housemaid and a Bridgerton. The full-on nakedness gets even better and Luke Thompson’s requisite lake scene lets us know that the man is not a fan of boxers or briefs. Oh and PS. the naked bottom grasping is unsurpassed.

Fake Profile

It’s the third season of Colombian drama Fake Profile and it’s jam-packed full of lust, sex and a web of deceit. The erotic thriller centres around the dangerous pitfalls of online dating. When dancer Camila sets up a dating app profile, her dreams appear to be answered when she falls in love with surgeon Fernando. After she travels to Colombia to meet him, everything begins to unravel with murder, extreme steamy sex scenes and the kind of chaotic twists you’d expect from this tele nova inspired series.

The Royal Family has endured a brutal run of headlines in recent weeks – and with Prince Harry back on British soil, Charles Spencer’s explosive new memoir hitting shelves and fresh reports surrounding a Diana project, the Palace may be bracing itself for yet more fallout.

Earlier this week saw the publication of Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer’s memoir, ‘Swan Song: Diana, My Sister’, and extracts from the much-anticipated book have already caused a storm, with the Earl Spencer making a series of claims about his late sister’s marriage to King Charles.

One allegation in particular prompted an extraordinary response from Buckingham Palace.

Recounting an alleged conversation with Charles before Diana’s funeral following her death in 1997, Earl Spencer claims the King told him, ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!’

Spencer says the comment was rooted in what he describes as Charles’ ‘contempt’ for Diana’s enormous popularity.

The Palace subsequently broke with its usual position of not commenting on books, issuing a statement which read, ‘While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.’

And according to our source, the extraordinary intervention has only heightened Prince William’s concerns about the impact the latest controversy could be having on his father.

The Prince of Wales, 44, is said to remain deeply protective of King Charles, 77, particularly as he continues to receive treatment for cancer.

‘This is the absolute last thing that the King needs right now. His health is already precarious, and he’s been told to keep his life as stress free as possible to help in his cancer fight,’ the insider says.

‘Instead of respecting this advice, his former brother-in-law and his youngest son are on the attack and kicking him when he’s already down. William knows it has sent the King’s blood pressure sky high; it’s affecting him terribly.’

It comes at a time when the late Queen’s famous ‘Never Complain, Never Explain’ mantra appears increasingly difficult for the Palace to follow.

After months of damaging stories surrounding the monarchy, Buckingham Palace took the highly unusual step of responding directly to Spencer’s claims, highlighting just how sensitive the latest controversy has become.

And while Earl Spencer’s allegations remain disputed, the source claims William believes his uncle’s decision to revisit such painful family history publicly has crossed a line.

‘William may have had his difficulties with his father in recent months, but he’s still extremely protective of him and worried about his overall health,’ we’re told.

‘He would privately concede that [King Charles] was no saint and that his mother was treated terrible at various points in the marriage and after. But to air these details so publicly and paint him as this heartless monster who celebrated [Diana’s] death is totally beyond the pale, from William’s perspective, he can scarcely believe that his uncle has gone there.’

Adding another layer to the story is Harry, 42, whose relationship with his uncle has come under renewed scrutiny following a visit to Althorp House earlier this year.

Harry, Meghan Markle and their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, stayed at the Spencer family estate during their UK visit in July.

Althorp is, of course, steeped in Diana’s history, having been her childhood home and the place where she was laid to rest following her death. Her grave sits on a private island in the middle of the estate’s lake.

The visit came only weeks before the publication of Spencer’s memoir, prompting speculation about whether Harry had any prior knowledge of its contents. There has been no confirmation that he did.

But according to the source, William is said to be increasingly suspicious of their apparent closeness, particularly given Harry’s own history of highly publicised revelations about the Royal Family.

‘He says this is proof that he was right all along and Harry cannot be trusted. He knew about this book and did not give the King any warning. For William, this just proves that he is a rotten apple who’s been banished from his personal universe for very good reason,’ the source says.

‘[Earl Spencer] may be trying to downplay his support for Harry and Meghan but William’s not buying that for a second. He’s convinced they’re in cahoots and that Harry has no doubt been telling their uncle what a magnificent, courageous job he’s done by forging ahead with this book.’

They add, ‘It’s all making sense to him now, the fact that their uncle offered the Sussexes a place to stay right when they first arrived in the UK, plus the timing of them touching down just a few weeks before this bombshell was due to drop. Harry can play dumb or try to duck the topic all he wants, but as far as William’s concerned his brother’s fingerprints are all over this and he’s clearly looking to use their uncle to his advantage.’

Whether Harry knew about the memoir ahead of publication, or how close his relationship with Earl Spencer remains, is not known. But the source claims William regards the situation as a serious betrayal – and one he ‘never forgive’.

‘William is adamant that the shock and stress of this humiliation is taking a toll on their father’s health and he says he will never forgive Harry or his uncle for putting the King through this,’ the insider says.

‘What William hates of all is how the palace has been caught totally off guard but yet Harry may have been in on the plot. It’s just all so devious, like his brother and uncle are playing some twisted game that reflects terribly on the monarchy and could be delighting in the misery and stress it’s causing the King.

‘He’s already had to battle through so much. The whole mess with Andrew, the hell of his son disparaging the family in print, and of course cancer, which he’s still fighting. And now, he’s got his late wife’s brother coming after him - it’s truly his worst nightmare and the worst possible time for his past to be coming back to haunt him this way.’

And there could be little respite for the royals, with Diana’s 30th anniversary approaching next year.

The late Princess remains one of the most enduring figures in the Royal Family’s modern history, and any major project marking her life is likely to attract enormous global attention.

Reports that Harry and Meghan could be working with Netflix on a film celebrating Diana, potentially for release around the 30th anniversary of her death, have therefore raised fresh questions about what might come next.

Harry is also said to be looking for ‘talking heads’ who can share their memories of his mother, although there has been no confirmation of the project’s final form.

For William, the prospect of yet another major Diana-related project involving his brother is reportedly causing concern.

'There’s not a shred of doubt in William’s mind that they’ll be colluding on whatever documentary or movie that Harry has in the works, we’re told.

‘In fact, it wouldn’t surprise him in the slightest if he pulls a good deal of the material from their uncle’s book for that project, even though he would surely incense the King and that would be a highly risky strategy in terms of [Harry’s] on-going peace efforts.

‘And of course, it makes him even more irate to imagine Meghan in the background, pulling strings like some type of glorified puppet-master and doubtless loving every bit of pain that he and other senior royals are going through.’

After some time away from the spotlight, attending this year’s National Television Awards marked Megan McKenna’s return to showbiz – and she looked incredible for the occasion. But behind her polished exterior, Megan, 33, has been going through a difficult period after recently opening up about the terrifying burglary at her family home.

Two years on from the horrific ordeal, she tells Closer that she still finds it hard to speak about. ‘It’s a difficult situation to talk about, but I just want to get back to myself. It’s going to take time,’ Megan says.

TOUGH TIMES

She reveals she never got her engagement ring back from the thieves, before candidly admitting, ‘It’s been really hard these last two years.’

But the reality TV star is happy to be back on the showbiz circuit. ‘I took a few years off, I had a baby and I’ve been away in Germany. I feel like I really enjoy the TV world,’ Megan adds.

Through the tough times, she’s had her husband, Ollie Burke, and son Landon to keep her going. After connecting with Scottish footballer Ollie, 29, on the celebrity dating app Raya in 2022, sparks flew. Just five months later, Ollie popped the question, and the pair’s wedding took place last summer in Yorkshire.

‘From the moment we sat down on our first date, we just clicked and it was so lovely,’ she explains, adding that she thanks Raya ‘for everything’.

But it was the arrival of their son Landon in October 2024 that completely changed Megan’s world. She gushes, ‘I am really embracing motherhood. He’s the best in the world and I love him so much.’

And she tells Closer that she’s hoping to make Landon – who was conceived with the help of IVF – a big brother one day.

‘At some point, I am going to have another baby. Fingers crossed,’ the mum-of-one says.

But she isn’t bothered if her second child is a girl, having fully embraced being a ‘boy mum’. ‘I don’t care. I always thought that I was going to have a girl, and then I had Landon and I just think, “Wow, he is the best thing in the world”,’ she says.

WHOLESOME

And if becoming a mum and getting married wasn’t enough of a change, Megan began splitting her time between the UK and Germany in 2024, after Ollie signed for Bundesliga club Union Berlin.

Now living in Germany permanently with Landon, the star says of her new life, ‘It’s very wholesome. It’s got parks and beautiful areas to walk in and coffee shops. I love it.’

But she admits her German could do with some work. ‘I know the basics, but I don’t think it’s going to get any better! It’s a really hard language. It’s very abrupt and to the point,’ she laughs.

Finding love has undeniably changed Megan’s life – but she had to kiss her fair share of frogs to find her happily ever after. Her dating history includes fellow reality TV stars, such as Ex On The Beach’s Jordan Davies, who she was briefly engaged to at the beginning of her TV career. But it was her tumultuous romance with TOWIE’s Pete Wicks that saw Megan hit the headlines, with the ups and downs of their relationship being documented on the ITV show.

UNBELIEVABLE AURA

While her past relationships left her with her ‘guard up’, Megan admits that husband Ollie swept her off her feet – and they’re happier than ever.

‘You don’t always hear the best stories surrounding footballers. But Ollie just had an unbelievable aura about him. I felt like I could put my trust in him, and he’s not let me down,’ she says. ‘I love married life.’

Happiness looks good on Megan, who reveals that a combination of good fake tan, hair extensions and a full night’s sleep is the secret behind her polished red-carpet look.

But she’s not opposed to the odd dose of Botox. She confesses, ‘I have had a little bit of Botox since having Landon, but I think why not? It’s a prevention, so why not have a little bit.’

Despite time away, Megan is still a natural in front of the cameras – and we can expect to see plenty more of her going forward. She teases that a country pop album is currently in the works, excitedly adding that she’s collaborating with a team of ‘amazing producers’.

Away from music, Megan can be found sharing incredible recipes on Instagram, where she’s built up a loyal following of three million. Her videos – usually featuring 23-month-old Landon – have become a major hit, and with her sights set on living on a farm one day, we’re sure fans can expect even more family content.

‘At some point Ollie and I want to settle down with a farm, loads of vegetables and loads of space and land,’ Megan says. ‘But that’s not going to be for a while. I need to wait for Ollie to come home and then we can build our dream place.’

Closer chatted to Megan at the NTAs

She's soaking up motherhood after welcoming son Brody with boyfriend Jordan Brook in June. And after a difficult two-and-a-half-year fertility struggle, becoming a mum has been all the more special for Sophie Kasaei.

‘It is the best feeling in the world. I waited a long time for this and went through so much,’ the star gushes. ‘Some days, I look at him and think, “Is this real?”’

After struggling to conceive for over a year, Sophie, 36, and Jordan, 31, sought medical advice. But when all tests came back clear, the couple were faced with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. However, they eventually discovered Sophie suffers from chronic endometritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the uterine lining.

WINGING MOTHERHOOD

The reality TV stars – who documented their fertility journey on TOWIE and Geordie Shore – exhausted every resource, including a trip to Athens for specialised care and undergoing lymphocyte immunotherapy.

Sophie admits that it took its toll, as she tells Closer, ‘There was a part of me a couple of years ago that thought it would never happen. Now that I’ve got him in my arms, it’s everything I could imagine and more.’

As smitten as she is with Brody, the new mum doesn’t shy away from sharing the ups and downs of parenthood. ‘I’m not going to sugarcoat it – motherhood is hard. No one gives you a manual. We’re absolutely winging parenthood,’ she says.

And Sophie admits that she and Jordan – who are working on their own ITV spin-off show to document their journey as first-time parents – haven’t managed to squeeze in much romance since their son’s arrival.

‘Let me tell you now, your sex life is out the window when you have a baby. You ain’t got the time for that,’ she says.

Expanding their family isn’t at the forefront of Sophie’s mind. She says, ‘I am so blessed I’ve got Brody, and if I am ever blessed again with another baby, then absolutely. But we don’t know what we’ve got to go through.’

At 36, Sophie found herself in the ‘geriatric’ category in medical terms – an outdated label she’s not keen to embrace. She says, ‘How awful is that? I think we need to stick together, us geriatrics, and say that’s not OK!’

But having children later in life isn’t something that bothers Sophie. She notes how other celebrities, such as Paloma Faith, have acted as a source of inspiration after having children in their mid-to-late 30s and beyond. ‘It makes me feel hopeful and better. I want to be an example to women – don’t worry it can happen, it will happen, and it’s never too late,’ she says.

WRONG ATTENTION

After years of mingling in similar social circles, Sophie and Jordan started dating in 2022, quickly cementing themselves as one of reality TV’s most popular couples. Sophie eventually swapped her native Newcastle for Essex to live with Jordan, and she joined the cast of TOWIE in 2023.

But while she’s certain Jordan will propose one day, Sophie admits she’s in no rush to walk down the aisle. She reveals, ‘I always joke about the engagement thing. I know that it’s going to happen but, for now, Brody is absolutely my main priority.’

Alongside their difficult journey to parenthood, the couple faced further turmoil when Jordan – who works as a barber – was hospitalised with viral meningitis and encephalitis in March, leaving him unable to walk or talk and fearing he may die. Thankfully, he recovered fully and was discharged before Brody’s birth.

‘Jordan is doing very well. I’m so proud of him,’ she says, beaming. ‘He’s an incredible dad and I’m very lucky that he’s here. We’re loving every minute of parenthood.’

Motherhood has undeniably transformed Sophie’s life – and has even led to her developing a new love for her physique. ‘I think you love your body more once you become a mum. I’m proud of what it did. It might not look or feel the same, but it carried my baby and that’s what I always wanted,’ she says.

But Sophie regrets dabbling in plastic surgery in her younger years. The TV star had a BBL when she was just 24 years old, which led to life-threatening complications, including an infection and severe abscess.

‘If I could go back in time, I would have never had that done,’ she reveals. ‘It causes the wrong attention. I’ve got a baby now. I don’t want people looking at my bum. I’m conscious about it.’

Will.I.am plays cupid for Cheryl and Aitch!

She's gearing up for her long-awaited TV comeback on The Voice alongside fellow coaches will.i.am, Kelly Rowland and Aitch. And Cheryl has already set tongues wagging behind the scenes on the ITV show, with insiders telling Closer she’s taken a shine to rapper Aitch – and her pal will.i.am is playing matchmaker.

‘will.i.am has been instrumental in the casting of the new coaches on The Voice and he’s the one who secured Aitch and Cheryl,’ our source says. ‘Cheryl finds Aitch quite easy on the eye too! So she's really excited about working with him. Friends think they have a lot of similarities and the age gap isn't an issue for her either.’

The 43-year-old Girls Aloud singer has been single for eight years, following a string of high-profile romances. She previously married English footballer Ashley Cole, 45, in 2006, before their divorce four years later. In 2014, she tied the knot to French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 46, but the pair separated two years later.

Her most recent relationship was with late One Direction star Liam Payne, who tragically died in October 2024 aged 31. The pair welcomed son Bea in 2017 before calling time on their romance in 2018.

But now, Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, 51, is keen to get Cheryl back in the dating game, and thinks Aitch, 26, is the perfect match. ‘will.i.am has seen the potential there and is going to play cupid,’ our source adds.

Lauren: 'Always the bridesmaid, never the bride!'

She’s set to be a bridesmaid at her best pal Junaid Ahmed’s upcoming wedding to Joe Blackman. But while it’s an exciting time for the TOWIE crew, sources say Lauren Goodger can’t help but feel upset about her own love life.

‘Lauren is over the moon to have been asked to be bridesmaid for their wedding,’ our insider says. ‘She feels honoured and her daughter Larose is also going to be a flower girl. However, part of her is sad because she feels like she’s always the bridesmaid and never the bride.’

Lauren, 40, split from Charles Drury – who is the father to her five-year-old daughter Larose – after a turbulent romance in 2022. She also endured an infamously rocky, decade-long relationship with former fiancé Mark Wright.

Our source adds, ‘She'd love nothing more than to meet someone and get married. She’s ready to find her Mr Right and finally feels like she knows what she wants.’

Brad's ready to take the next step with Ines

They looked every inch the loved-up couple as Brad Pitt stepped out on the red carpet with partner Ines de Ramon at the San Sebastian Film Festival. And now, insiders reveal the pair are stronger than ever – and an engagement could even be on the cards.

‘The way they’ve been packing on the PDAs lately and spending nearly every moment together is only adding to this feeling that he’s ready to take the next step with her. Friends are predicting he’ll put a ring on her finger very soon,’ a source tells Closer.

The pair have been dating for nearly four years, with 33-year-old jewellery designer Ines standing by Brad, 63, through his messy divorce from Angelina Jolie. The actor shares six children with his ex – Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 18 – four of whom have taken legal steps to drop his surname. And our insider adds that the support from Ines has meant more than ever.

‘That loyalty means everything to Brad and it’s a huge reason why he’s so certain she’s the right person for him,’ the source reveals. ‘They’ve been living together for a couple of years now and it’s been very smooth. Everyone agrees that she’s an asset to his life. He’d be a fool not to hang on to her.’

Dolly's family feud explodes!

Her death sent shockwaves across the world last month, and now a fresh feud has erupted among Dolly Parton’s family as a dispute brews over her estate.

It was revealed last week that the late singer’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, has been dismissed from his role of guarding her properties. Bryan – who was Dolly’s head of security and had been chosen to announce her heartbreaking death on social media – was reportedly told in writing that his security company was no longer required.

The former military officer – who had been responsible for protecting Dolly’s home in Nashville, as well as her museum and other properties – released a statement in the wake of his dismissal. ‘We remain unshakably resolved to fulfil her final directive to protect her family,’ he explained. ‘We refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith.’

Dolly – who died in August aged 80 – had an estimated net worth of over $450 million.

Now, the company that manages Dolly’s businesses and properties, She’s Alive, is seeking a temporary civil restraining order against Bryan. In court filings, She’s Alive alleged that he mounted ‘an obscene, deliberate and escalating campaign of threats’, claiming he said that he would ruin her empire if the estate did not pay him. He has denied the claims.

They may be one of the UK’s most famous families, but one thing Coleen and Wayne Rooney make very clear in their new Disney+ series, The Real Rooneys, is that they have exactly the same disagreements and drama at home as the rest of us.

Just before they launched their new show, Closer got a front row seat at the premiere, where Coleen, 40, and her former England footballer husband Wayne, also 40, gave a very candid interview.

CHAOTIC

Opening up about their chaotic life with their boys – Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and Cass, eight – Wayne even managed to start a tiff with his wife as he complained about how much homework the kids get.

‘Don’t mention homework,’ Coleen warned, as Wayne moaned, ‘Last week, I was keeping track of it. Last week Monday, all the way through to Sunday, the kids are doing homework, which I disagree with. I just think it’s too much homework’, to which Coleen replies, ‘I agree, but you say that to me every night! You told me this last night and the night before. It’s not me giving it to them!’

With four boys at home, former Closer columnist Coleen reveals that there’s never a dull moment in their Cheshire home and jokes that she’d even like to head back into the I’m A Celebrity! jungle for some peace and quiet, two years after her victorious stint on the show.

‘We don’t get a bit of peace in the house, honestly,’ she says. ‘I now respect being in the jungle, because that was peace. I’d love to go back in there just for a little bit of quiet time!’

The eight-episode series follows the family across a year in their lives, shortly after Wayne was sacked as the manager of Plymouth Argyle in December 2024, leaving him in ‘a rut’. Meanwhile, fresh off her successful stint on I’m A Celebrity!, Coleen got to design her own range for Primark.

‘I didn’t know how involved she was,’ Wayne admits. ‘When I was watching it, I was like, “Oh, I was really surprised she was that involved” and it was really good.’ Coleen retorts, ‘He just thinks I put my name to things and I don’t actually work!’

EXTRAORDINARY

Wayne also reveals how he gets a kick from embarrassing his kids while on the school run. ‘I’ll wind the kids up when we get near the school. I play Chocolate Salty Balls [from US comedy South Park] with the sound up on full blast and wind down the windows to embarrass them,’ he says, laughing.

Above all, Coleen and Wayne – who’ve had their fair share of ups and downs over the years, with rumours of wild partying and infidelity on Wayne’s part – promise fans relatable chaos throughout the series. ‘We are people. We are real. We live in this extraordinary world, but we are normal at the end of the day,’ Coleen explains, with Wayne adding, ‘There’s arguments between us, there are kids fighting. There’s a bit of everything in there, so we’re very pleased with the outcome.’

For years, Princess Eugenie was the one royal Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could seemingly count on.

While the Sussexes’ relationship with the rest of the Royal Family descended into an extraordinary public feud, Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank appeared to occupy a rather different position: close enough to understand the Sussexes’ side, but still firmly connected to Harry’s family.

Now, however, that final royal bridge may have been pulled up.
We’re told Eugenie and her older sister Princess Beatrice have significantly cooled their once-close relationship with Harry and Meghan, with reports claiming the York sisters are now ‘not in touch’ with the Sussexes at all.

More strikingly, Eugenie and Jack are said to have failed to meet up with Harry and Meghan when the couple holidayed in Portugal over the summer, despite the two families owning properties on the same luxury resort.

For Harry and Meghan, who have only recently returned to life in the UK, we’re told the apparent snub has been a ‘huge disappointment’ - particularly for Meghan, who had reportedly hoped their Portuguese connection would bring them closer together.

An insider says, ‘They’re in disbelief right now because Eugenie is suddenly pulling away. It’s a huge disappointment because Meghan expected them to spend loads of time together. She wants to take weekend trips to Portugal and expected some excitement to be shown over that suggestion but apparently, she didn’t get much reaction at all.

‘Eugenie just had a baby so people are telling Meghan not to take this personally but it’s hard not to feel like something happened to spur this on because the switch has been so noticeable. They don’t want to accept that the plans they have made may now be history.’

And the source claims the distance is particularly difficult to understand because Eugenie had once been such an important source of support.

They add, ‘It’s very confusing because Eugenie was so supportive at first and suddenly, she’s distancing herself. When Harry and Meghan were all the way over in America and their friendship was mostly over the phone it was very easy to navigate, but things have gotten much more complicated now that they’re on U.K. soil.’

The pair’s bond stretches back long before Megxit. In 2016, Eugenie and Jack were among the select few to share in the early days of Harry and Meghan’s romance, with the foursome attending a Halloween party in Canada just before the relationship became public.

Meghan later recalled, ‘The four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple.’

Eugenie and Jack then travelled to the US in February 2022, just months after Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, while their friendship appeared to survive even as the Sussexes’ relationship with the wider family continued to fracture.

By 2024, the connection seemed stronger than ever when Harry and Meghan bought a property on the same Portuguese resort where Eugenie and Jack spend much of their time.

It looked like the perfect solution: a royal friendship that could exist away from the pressures of palace life, but close enough for regular family time.

Yet now, with Harry and Meghan back on British soil, that seemingly easy arrangement has become much more complicated.

And there’s plenty of reason why Eugenie, 36, and Beatrice, 38, may currently be treading carefully.

Their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, remain at the centre of an ongoing storm of scrutiny, while the sisters themselves have faced questions over how much they knew about their parents’ relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and, more recently, criticism surrounding their royal residences.

Last month, the sisters were branded ‘a rot at the heart’ of the monarchy as scrutiny intensified, while reports about their living arrangements prompted further debate about their position within the Royal Family.

At the same time, their relationship with Prince William appears particularly delicate. He has been widely reported to want them excluded from public-facing royal events and potentially stripped of their royal titles, yet both sisters were photographed being warmly greeted by William at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in June.

For Eugenie, then, the stakes may feel considerably higher than they did when Harry and Meghan were thousands of miles away in California.

‘The word is that she’s not wrong because Eugenie is pretty anxious about upsetting William and the King,’ the source says.

‘It’s hard to have a private relationship with Meghan, there are always people watching, and Meghan also likes to put things on social media. Eugenie does really care about Meghan and she wants to be supportive, but she also has to think of her own standing and she’s on thin ice right now thanks to her parents. She’s in a very tough spot but for her own survival she needs to preserve her relationship with the royals.’

The timing is particularly awkward for Harry and Meghan, because only weeks ago there appeared to be genuine hope that their relationship with the Royal Family was finally thawing.

King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, to Highgrove in what was widely viewed as an important step towards reconciliation.

But since then, reports that the Sussexes could potentially team up with Netflix on a film commemorating Princess Diana ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death next year have once again raised questions over how their return to the UK fits alongside their commercial ambitions.

The Palace has also made its position clear, describing Harry and Meghan as ‘akin to private citizens’ and confirming that they remain ‘non-working royals’.

Against that backdrop, we’re told Eugenie may be acutely aware that being seen too publicly alongside the Sussexes could be interpreted as taking sides.

‘Meghan is very unpopular in the social circles that Eugenie and Jack move in, there’s no doubt that will be weighing on Eugenie’s mind,’ we’re told.

‘She and Jack can’t afford to be ostracized right now, their reputations have already taken a hit thanks to her parent's association with Epstein. To now align themselves publicly with Harry and Meghan is genuinely a risk because it would be seen as making a statement and essentially siding against the future King.

‘The majority of the people in London’s high society set are team William so Eugenie certainly won’t be doing herself or Jack any favours is she’s seen as being team Sussex.’

There is also a major new priority in Eugenie and Jack’s world. The couple welcomed their daughter Adelaide at the start of August, joining their sons August, five, and Ernest, three.

With a newborn baby, intense scrutiny surrounding her parents and her own position within the Royal Family under discussion, Eugenie may have more than enough on her plate without becoming embroiled in the Sussexes’ complicated royal story.

Now, we’re told Harry and Meghan are attempting to give the situation some breathing room rather than pushing for a face-to-face reunion.
‘This really should not come as a shock to Harry and Meghan, they know how tricky this all is, but it’s still very hard to accept that Eugenie could go so cold on them,’ the insider says.

‘For the time being they’ve agreed to let the situation breathe and they’ve stopped trying to push for anything face-to-face because they don’t want to make her feel pressured. They’re continuing to call and check in and just hoping and praying that she’ll find the strength to stand with them.

‘But there’s no denying it’s upsetting for Harry and he’s also very sympathetic to Meghan, who’s feeling pretty lonely and isolated, so not having Eugenie there to guide her through this is hitting her hard. She’s very disappointed right now and fearing the worst.’

There are days when the idea of dressing in anything other than a hoodie and some comfortable joggers just seems pointless. Who can really be bothered? You’re only going to the supermarket and crocs and pjs are like high fashion now, right? Well, think yourself lucky that you’re not a celebrity because these poor guys are constantly required to make an effort. The red carpet can make or break an image, the wrong outfit can see you relegated from A-list to No-list. With that in mind, these stars have taken the classic naked dress trend and run totally wild, WILD! We thought we’d seen everything and thanks to their celeb stylists – now we really have.

Kylie Jenner

The youngest Jenner is no stranger to a revealing gown and with her killer curves – who can blame her? The beauty mogul decided not only to get rid of some clothes at the Met Gala but also her eyebrows. After giving them the high fashion bleached treatment she then made the top of her dress disappear. Ok, ok it was Schiaparelli gown and the nipples were on the outside. Still depending on your vision, she looked like she was totes naked except from her voluminous skirt. The star who attended sans boyfriend Timothee Chalamet told her followers en route, ‘I don’t have any brows – wish me luck’

Chappell Roan

We know what you’re thinking, “Ouch”. When singer Chappell Roan graced the Grammy red carpet in Jan 2026, she might have thought her burgundy dress would help her blend in a little. Who are we kidding? Of course, she didn’t and nor did she want to. Nominated for song of the year, a category win she lost out to Billie Eillish, all eyes were on the sheer Mugler dress. Taken from the designers Spring/ Summer 1998 collection, you might think Chappell was concerned that those nipple rings had been doing the rounds for nearly three decades. Chappell it seems was unconcerned and plastered the images all over social media despite their strict rules banning nudity. Rumour has it, the dress showed just the right amount of nip to bypass the censors – a lesson for us all.

Sydney Sweeney

Yes, she has quite possibly the most talked about boobs in the history of chest chat, so who are we to quieten the noise? The actress has been living her best life while attending the Venice film festival with her beau, record exec, Scooter Braun. Attending the Armani Beauty dinner, Sweeney popped on a black thing to wear under her see- through Giorgio Armani gown. While the sequins did their best, they were overwhelmed when it came to covering Sweeney’s ample assets. If you’ve got it, flaunt it or smatter it with sequins and be prepared to collect those compliments.

Irina Shayk

Sometimes you can just forget to put on your bra but not our Irina, she forgot to put on the top over the bra. And not only that, clearly all her underwear was in the wash because she had to construct a whole new bra out of the random watches she found in her house. So as it turns out not only did she look amazing, she was 100% on time and also able to let everyone else know just be looking at her if they were also on time. The truth is the creation was the brainchild of designer Alexander Wang who noticed that a watch face was perfectly sized to cover Irina’s nipples. Wang said, "She's such a knockout, so I was like, 'Let's just put her in the most decadent jewels and watches, and, yeah, it's all about the body. Fashion Is Art." There are unconfirmed reports that Alexander is working on a range of knickers that double as phones.

Doja Cat

It was more Doja Cat Nip at the 2026 Met Gala when the singer donned a completely sheer dress covering just her nipples. The design, a custom Saint Lauren gown no less revealed Doja’s incredible figure and the star described her look as, “grand, extravagant, and fun.” The talented rapper has previously spoken about the importance of staying true to yourself, she said, “If your only intent is to be seen, you'll never be seen. If your intent is to be happy, comfortable, genuine, and true in craft, you're destined to be noticed.”

Lena Mahfouf

Ever felt like you could use an extra pair of hands? That exactly what influencer Lena known widely as Léna Situations thought when she donned a daring Burc Akyol look for the Met Gala. You’d think with that extra help she would’ve been able to grab a pair of knickers but alas nobody wants that panty line showing so she thought there’s only one way this is going and it’s commando!

Sabine Getty

Wearing a custom Ashi Studio gown, socialite and jewellery designer Sabine Getty really painted the town and her dress in 2026. Hailed as a true masterpiece, the gown featured a hand painted corset using 18th century tecniques. While we don’t advise you grab your felt tips and try and replicate this look, we think you can achieve the same by just not wearing a corset at all. But in Sabine’s own words, her dress signified, "tension between control and fragility, between classical craftsmanship and something more instinctive, almost undone," which is weirdly, exactly what we were thinking.

Jessica Lupe

Jessica Lupe, actress and star of Nobody Wants This tried her very best to camouflage herself at the Golden Globes. While we could’ve been fooled into thinking she was wearing absolutely nothing the fleshy frills finally gave her away. The stunning Armani Prive dress had everyone guessing if this was a real case of the emperor’s new clothes. Turns out that honour is reserved for our fave clothes hating celeb - Bianca Censori.

She’s always been a lightning rod – courting praise and outrage in equal measure thanks to her envelope-pushing antics, no holds barred ambition, and overtly sexualised persona. But Sydney Sweeney might just be facing her biggest reckoning yet, as backlash soars following her recent ad campaign for sports betting company Novig. In the promo video, the 29-year-old is seen posing naked, telling users they can bet on ‘just sports’, while using various pieces of sports equipment to barely cover her privates.

Granted, Sydney’s no stranger to controversy thanks to her very sexy TV and film roles, and even spicier (and some might say offensive) promotional work. But this time, she’s seeing the ramifications in real time, as she’s been haemorrhaging thousands of Instagram followers in the wake of the ad, while copping flak from incensed female athletes who have accused her of cheapening and sexualising women’s sport. She has even been labelled the ‘most hated women in Hollywood’ in one YouTube video which listed her controversial moments. Meanwhile, the implications of her actions don’t stop there, as her lingerie business, Syrn, which launched at the beginning of the year with a whopping $1bn investment from Jeff Bezos, is now said to be suffering in the wake of all the outraged lobbed against her.

All this – sources tell us – has left the actress and would-be business mogul feeling uncharacteristically shaken. But rather than begging for forgiveness, she is instead questioning why she’s the one getting so much online scorn. As far as she’s concerned, she’s not the first female celebrity who’s put her body front and centre, and she won’t be the last. So, why should she be burned at the stake?

‘Sydney puts on a brave face, but – behind closed doors – there have been plenty of tears,’ says an insider close to the Euphoria actress, who has built her entire personal brand over the past few years on her larger-than-life sex appeal. ‘She is sensitive and doesn’t want to be the one everyone is coming for. Yes, she’s been capitalising on her sex appeal, but nearly every other woman in Hollywood does it, so it feels very unfair that she’s on the receiving end of so much hatred. Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, J.Lo – all the women at the top show off their figures for a paycheck. Sydney literally can’t understand why she’s always a target.’

If Sydney’s Novig ad was made to make a splash, it certainly delivered, but perhaps not wholly in the way that was intended. Since going live two weeks ago, the video – in which Sydney poses naked with footballs, basketballs and other sports equipment – has been liked 1.3m times and was viewed more than 22 million times in the first two days of its release. But while it was in-keeping with Sydney’s history of provocative ad campaigns (she famously posed naked for soap brand Dr Squatch last year while selling soap supposedly made out of her own bathwater), this one didn’t clean up quite so nicely. As well as promoting thousands of angry comments on Instagram, outrage came from all corners of women’s sport.

British sprinter Amy Hunt said in a post-race interview last week, ‘Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like. 21.4 [seconds of sprinting], muscles, hard work, sweat, blood, tears. This is a beautiful evening.' Meanwhile, former Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus also weighed in, saying: 'I can't describe how infuriated I feel when I watch [the video]. Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is – teamwork, friendship, dedication, excellence, unity. How do we live in a world where monetising a woman's body and sexualising women's sport is still a thing?' British Olympic cycling gold medallist Sophie Capewell added, ‘Imagine a world where sexualised representation isn’t the most popular way of seeing women in sport.’

In response, Sydney posted pictures of famous female and male athletes posing naked for magazine shoots, including Serena Williams, footballer Megan Rapinoe, and basketball player Sue Bird. But she didn’t comment further on the backlash, which has come just a year since she last divided the internet with her very controversial American Eagle jeans commercial. As readers will remember, the ad campaign was slammed for its tagline ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans’ – prompting complaints that it promoted racism and eugenics. The fact that an unapologetic Sydney refused to backtrack only sent outrage soaring – yet it also won her swathes of fans from the ‘anti-woke’ brigade, including Donald Trump. At the time, the actress did say she found the public interest in the ad ‘surreal’ – but, just a year later, it seems she wasn’t afraid to light another match. This time, however, she feels she’s being held to a different standard than her fellow sexy starlets.

Meanwhile, as outrage soared last week, it was Sydney’s beloved lingerie brand Syrn that seemed to be suffering the most in light of her public reckoning, as sources said the company was struggling to make enough sales. ‘It’s been a disaster,’ one insider claimed. ‘They thought it would be a sellout based on Sydney’s brand but clearly her saleability is waning rapidly.’

All this has, of course, rocked the star’s confidence. But in the wake of all the public fury, we’re told, she’s been leaning more than ever on her boyfriend Scooter Braun, 45, who’s been a massive source of comfort and business savvy. The controversial businessman and investor, who famously acquired Taylor Swift’s early master recordings back in 2019 without her approval, has apparently been encouraging his girlfriend to ignore the noise, hold her head high and prove her haters wrong.

‘Her saving grace has been Scooter - he’s always there to build her up,’ our insider reveals. ‘Scooter thrives on this kind of underdog energy too, and he keeps telling her that the worst thing she could do now is panic and start changing who she is to please people who probably wouldn’t support her anyway. He wants her to channel all that anger into the business. As uncomfortable as all this controversy is, Scooter’s view is that in the long run it will all be money in the bank for Sydney because it’s keeping her in the conversation. He keeps reminding her that plenty of hugely successful women have gone through periods where they were counted out, only to come out stronger and richer on the other side. Sydney’s trying to hold onto that. Ultimately, this is all just making her more determined to prove herself.’

They may have only returned to UK shores a matter of weeks ago, but life has been anything but calm for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Amid their continuing security concerns – their state funded protection is currently being reviewed – the pair took the decision to switch their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to a different school after just two days.

That's not all, either. Their standing within the royal family was spelled out plainly when King Charles confirmed via a public letter that they remain 'private citizens', who cannot use their HRH titles, leaving Harry, 42, and Meghan 'surprised' by the manner in which the announcement was made. Now, sources claim that, in the wake of the Sussexes' explosive 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan is weighing up whether to seize back control with another TV tell-all echoing the late Princess Diana's Panorama sit-down back in 1995.

'Meghan knows her interview with Oprah caused an uproar, but it she felt it was necessary after the onslaught of negativity they faced, an insider tells Closer. 'Now, she thinks it's time for her to speak out again. She wants a Diana moment – in the same way that she shocked everyone with her Panorama interview.' The source goes on, 'Some of the Sussexes' PR team are worried about the backlash they could receive, but Harry seems to be up for it. He remembers what his mother had to go through when she felt she was being gagged by the royal family, and that's not what Harry wants for Meghan. He doesn't want her to feel silenced – he wants her to speak out.'

Such an interview would land as yet another hit for the royal family, who only last week were grappling with a fresh memoir from Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, in which he alleged Charles told him, 'We'll forget her soon enough', during a fraught phone call. In a rare step, the Palace hit back to reject the claims.

Harry and Meghan are finding their feet in their new Cotswolds home after six years spent in Montecito, California. Throughout their American chapter, the couple levelled a string of explosive accusations at Harry's relatives. In his memoir Spare Harry alleged his brother Prince William 'knocked' him 'to the floor' during a 2019 clash, after William branded Meghan 'rude' and 'abrasive'. Meanwhile, the bond between William's wife Kate Middleton and Meghan has also been fraught, with the Duchess revealing to Oprah that it was in fact the Princess of Wales who had reduced her to tears over a row about a bridesmaid's dress, rather than the reverse, as had been reported.

Despite the bumpy beginning to their new UK chapter, the Duke of Sussex is staying positive and has confirmed several appearances at charity events across this month. Whispers also suggest he'll lead a documentary about Diana to mark next year's 30th anniversary of her death. As for Meghan, our source says she's hopeful this interview can win the British public over. We're told, 'Meghan is doing her best to make this UK move work, but she already feels as though the public have been given the wrong narrative. She's not afraid to speak her mind and tell the world how Kate and William have made them feel. She hopes that it can be a teachable moment for other women, so they can speak their minds like she has.'

Although Harry and Meghan took their children Archie and Lilibet to visit the King and Queen at Highgrove back in July – before news of their UK return broke – a complete reconciliation still seems some way off. The Sussexes are thought not to have seen any other royals, and the sole word from the Palace has been King Charles' letter.

The source adds, 'Harry is hitting the ground running and has lined up all sorts of engagements. The letter from Charles was a kick in the teeth, but it's made him more determined to show everyone what he can do.'

The Royal Family had undoubtedly been bracing themselves for the release of Charles Spencer’s Diana memoir this week, but what the Earl has alleged will still have shocked them to the core.

'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' is billed as a recollection of the childhood Earl Spencer shared with his late sister, Princess Diana, but between the nostalgic reflections, it’s the less-than-subtle allegations about King Charles that have caused the biggest stir.

In one passage, the Earl, 62, recalls a conversation he alleges he had with the King, 77, around the time of his sister’s tragic death in 1997.

He claims Charles cruelly remarked, ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!’, before going on to accuse the monarch of sounding ‘giddily elated – like a lottery winner’ in the hours following the road accident that claimed Diana’s life.

The Palace swiftly hit back at the claims, with a Buckingham Palace statement reading, ‘While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.’

But while Charles may have been a target - something the Earl has denied - it’s the book’s portrayal of Queen Camilla, 79, that could prove particularly painful. She is only mentioned in passing in some sections, but the allegations position her firmly at the heart of Diana’s unhappy marriage – and we’re told the Queen is absolutely furious.

An insider claims, ‘Camilla is absolutely livid and demanding to know why the King and all the lawyers they pay through the nose to have on retainer couldn’t have stopped this. As far as she’s concerned this was avoidable and she’s furious that more wasn’t done.’

The source adds that those around Camilla are ‘walking on eggshells’, claiming she is angry not only about the allegations themselves but at the fact that Charles Spencer’s memoir has dragged her back into a chapter of her life she has spent decades trying to move beyond.

And, perhaps most awkwardly of all, we’re told Camilla has now ‘zeroed in’ on Harry and Meghan. A source claims she believes the Sussexes may have known more about the book than they have let on – particularly given the timing of their reconciliation with the King at Highgrove in July.

At the time, Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, had travelled to the UK with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, and spent time at Althorp, Diana’s childhood home and final resting place, before heading to Highgrove to meet Charles and Camilla.

There is no indication that Harry knew about the specific claims concerning his father or stepmother before the book was published. However, following its release, a US source alleged that the contents ‘didn’t come as a shock’ to the Prince.

Now, our source claims Camilla is questioning the timing of the Sussexes’ apparent rapprochement with her and Charles.

'Most of all she [Camilla] has zeroed in on Harry and Meghan. She is convinced they will have been encouraging this all from behind the scenes at the exact same time as she and the King were so graciously welcoming them and turning the other cheek,’ they claim.

‘She says the absolute duplicitousness of it all shouldn’t come as a shock after what Harry and Meghan have done and she’s furious that Charles ever convinced her to play nice with them.’

The source says Camilla is particularly upset that the memoir has reignited the long-running narrative surrounding her relationship with Charles and Diana.

‘She’s worked so hard to move past the whole narrative that she was the evil ‘other woman,’ and now here she is, being dragged right back through the mud,’ they claim.

And there are certainly passages in the book that could explain why. Among the Earl’s recollections is an alleged conversation between Diana and a friend on the eve of her wedding, during which he claims she told her confidante that while Charles was ‘very happy to marry her’, he was not actually in love with her.

Elsewhere, Spencer recalls allegations that Charles had a secret ‘rendezvous’ on the royal train in 1980, just weeks before his wedding to Diana. He writes, ‘As it was not Diana, then who was the blonde? After her marriage took the direction it did, Diana became convinced that she must have been Camilla Parker-Bowles.’

But perhaps the most pointed passage comes when Spencer reflects on Charles’s reaction to Diana’s death. Looking back, he writes that he suspects the then-prince’s first reaction ‘must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not.’

For Camilla, we’re told, the fact that she is not directly attacked throughout the memoir does little to soften the impact. ‘Camilla may not have been heavily mentioned in the book, at least not directly, but there are still plenty of references and hurtful anecdotes that make her a central character, and obviously not in a good way,’ the source says.

‘He still made countless passing references and leaves the reader under no illusion that she was the reason his sister’s marriage was so miserable and why it was doomed to fail from the start – even if he didn’t make a big point to call her out directly.’

The source adds, ‘For Camilla that’s just typical of Charles [Spencer]. He knows she and her allies wouldn’t take kindly to her being savaged or called out directly as this wicked witch who ruined Diana’s marriage. So the sense is that he decided to unload on the King for the most part, then lets Camilla’s behaviour speak for itself.’

With all of this swirling around the Palace, what had already been a delicate relationship between the Sussexes and Charles and Camilla could now be facing another major test. Harry and Meghan’s July visit to Highgrove had appeared to signal a thaw with the King, but the memoir has introduced a potentially explosive new complication.

We’re told Camilla is now ‘hammering home’ her concerns that Harry and Meghan remain a risk to the monarchy, while also worrying about the effect the latest controversy could have on Charles.

‘It’s left her feeling pretty vulnerable, especially as she believes Harry is encouraging his uncle. That just sickens her to the core, and she’s been hammering it home to Charles that the Sussexes are clearly in on this plot,’ the source claims.

'And of course she worries about the impact all this stress is having on her husband. To Camilla, it beggars belief that Earl Spencer would choose this time, of all times, to unload on the King when he needs serenity and support above all else.’

And with the Sussexes now back in Britain, the question is whether their tentative new relationship with the King can survive yet another Spencer-shaped storm. Because if Camilla’s suspicions are anything to go by, the peace at Highgrove may prove to have been very short-lived.

With the British weather turning and the evenings drawing in, all royal observers will know that the royal calendar will now lean towards one main event – Christmas at Sandringham.

So much so that, just days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK in August, The Telegraph had already begun to wade in on the question on everyone’s lips: Will Meghan and Harry receive a personal invite from the King?

According to sources, Harry, Meghan and their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will ‘not automatically be included’ on the guest list for gatherings of the Royal Family.

And while King Charles may want to include all his grandchildren at such a family-oriented and magical time of year, we’re told the sentimental monarch could sadly see his family divided.

A source previously told us that Prince William – who is widely reported to remain ‘furious’ with his younger brother - could even pull out of the special family event to avoid Meghan and Harry.

But in a royal bombshell we hadn’t expected; we’re now told he wouldn’t be alone in his reluctance to play nice to appease his Pa, as a source reveals that for Meghan, a royal knees up is the last thing on her Christmas wish list this year.

An insider says, ‘Meghan can’t think of anything worse than hanging around hoping the royals might squeeze them in somewhere over Christmas.

‘She knows they’re not going to be sitting down at Sandringham like everything’s suddenly fine, and frankly she doesn’t want to spend the holidays making uncomfortable small talk with William and Kate and a bunch of other people who’ve made it pretty clear how they feel about them.

‘That would mean having to endure days on end faking it with the Waleses and that’s a pretty grim prospect; there’s no doubt it would ruin Christmas for Meghan.’

It’s now been two months since the Sussexes visited Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House - a meeting that was largely interpreted by royal observers as a sure sign that the King was ready to welcome his son and daughter-in-law back into the royal fold.

But fast forward to this week and Harry’s recent closeness to his uncle, Charles, the Earl Spencer, has thrown yet another barricade in the way of Harry and Meghan’s path to reconciliation.

Just weeks after the Sussexes' stay as guests of Harry's uncle at Princess Diana’s ancestral home of Althorp House, the Earl released a memoir earlier this week that was so sensational in its claims, that Piers Morgan claimed the Palace were ‘spitting blood’.

The Earl alleged that the King appeared ‘giddy’ following the news of Princess Diana’s death and documents in excruciating detail the fallout of their marriage; strongly alluding to the roles that he alleges both Queen Camilla and the King played in his sister’s misery.

And now Harry’s own head appears to be in a Christmas wonderland, as we’re told the largely estranged Prince remains hopeful that he and Meghan may be able to flit between spending the festivities with the Spencers before popping over to Sandringham and pulling crackers with the royals.

‘Harry hates the idea of leaving England over Christmas, it’s one of his favorite times of year and he worries that if they travel back to the US, it will look like they’re giving up and choosing to miss out on time with his father,’ the source says.

‘He’d like them to spend the holiday with Charles Spencer and Diana’s side of the family and hopefully pop in for a visit with Charles and Camilla and the children. There’s also the chance, however slim, that they could end up being invited to the family Christmas celebrations.’

Meanwhile, we’re told Meghan – who has already been forced to change their children’s UK school over security fears - is refusing to stay, and after just weeks in the UK, is already ‘very homesick’ and desperate for their family to spend Christmas with her mum, Doria Ragland, back in Montecito, where the couple have kept their family home.

‘Meghan’s heart is back in California, she wants to spend the holiday there with her mom,’ the insider says.

‘At the heart of this is the fact that Meghan is very homesick. She misses her friends, she misses her day-to-day routine and she really misses her mom. She talks to Doria every day, usually multiple times but it’s not the same as spending every weekend with her.’

With the Sussexes now at loggerheads over their Christmas plans, the source warns that the couple could be heading for a festive bust up with neither Harry nor Meghan willing to change their plans.

On one hand, we’re told Harry, 42, is adamant that they must ‘stick it out’ to show that they mean to stay in England. But on the other, the source says Meghan, 45, is only willing to ‘tough it out’ in the UK if they can make regular trips home with their children – Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.

The source says, ‘With the kids in school, they can’t keep bouncing between California and the U.K. whenever they feel like it, so they’ve got some difficult decisions coming up because they are not on the same page.

‘She’s willing to tough it out in England but it will be a lot more bearable for her if they can make regular trips back. If she had her way they would go back for Thanksgiving and just stay through Christmas but Harry is very much against that; he would like them to stay put at least until Spring.

‘People have suggested they compromise and go back for Thanksgiving and spend Christmas in England but that didn’t seem to appeal to either of them.’

Meghan has, historically, embraced the spirit of Christmas, showcasing her own homemade gifts on her Netflix show, as well as recipes, decorations and bespoke touches as shown in sepia-hues to promote her lifestyle range.

Last year she shared how she and Harry had ensued they had left carrots and cookies out for Santa and the reindeer, adding, ‘Anything to maintain the morning magic of Christmas through our children’s eyes.’

And the source says that after building such special traditions over the past six years, Meghan is ‘digging her heels in’ and insisting they fly home for Christmas; even earlier for Thanksgiving [on November 26th] if she truly gets her way.

‘Meghan loves Thanksgiving and all the traditions but Christmas at home with the kids is really special to her. They’ve created all sorts of traditions and she would like to be home for it,’ we’re told.

‘And, to be fair, when they agreed to make this move, the understanding was that Meghan could go back to California whenever she needed to. That was a big part of what made her comfortable taking the leap in the first place, so it’s easy to understand why she’d be frustrated that Harry’s now trying to put the brakes on it.

‘Meghan truly doesn’t understand why taking a month back in America would be such a bad thing so this is something she’s digging her heels in on.’

She's already one of TV’s busiest presenters, with a list of hit TV shows to her name, but Davina McCall is reportedly being lined up to present ITV’s latest offering. The show – allegedly called Eat, Cook, Move – bears a striking resemblance to Holly Willoughby’s YouTube offering, Together, and has even been described as ‘ITV’s retort’ to Holly’s lifestyle show. Sources tell Closer that amid mixed reviews for her YouTube series, Holly is not happy to hear that there will be a copycat show.

UPSET

‘Holly is quite jealous in all honesty, and obviously a bit upset,’ a source says. ‘She was definitely confused when Davina landed the new ITV show, especially because the format feels awkwardly similar to Holly’s YouTube show. That’s the bit Holly finds irritating.

‘It’s less about Davina personally and more about seeing ITV invest heavily in another female presenter with a show that feels adjacent to something she could easily have fronted herself. There’s a feeling Holly would never publicly admit to being bothered, but privately she’s very competitive and absolutely notices who is getting which opportunities.’

Davina’s ten-part lifestyle series, which will be on ITVX, will see her chatting to celebrities, chefs and other guests in a kitchen setting – much like Holly’s Together and This Morning – in each 30-minutelong episode. It comes after she battled a benign brain tumour and breast cancer. The source continues, ‘Holly’s team are particularly conscious of the comparison. The last thing they want is another narrative that she’s being replaced or that ITV has found somebody else for the kind of shows she used to dominate.

UNCOMFORTABLE

‘The irony is that Davina probably isn’t thinking about Holly nearly as much as people assume, whereas Holly is very aware of how every new ITV commission gets interpreted around her career. There’s respect there, but there’s also competition, and neither of them is naive enough to pretend otherwise.’

While Holly, 45, and Davina, 58, have known each other for years and may be all smiles as the faces of Garnier, sources say they don’t hang out in each other’s social circles.

‘Holly and Davina have always been friends on the surface, but they’ve never been that close,’ the insider explains. ‘It’s always been very cordial, very professional and slightly distant.

‘There’s an unspoken rivalry there because they’ve spent so many years operating in similar television spaces and naturally get compared.

‘Davina has always had that ability to reinvent herself and keep landing big formats, and that can be slightly uncomfortable for Holly when she’s trying to rebuild momentum of her own. There’s respect between them but also an element of competition.’

Following months of drama, fans were over the moon when Katie Price announced her plans to divorce alleged conman Lee Andrews.

But it seems like he’s not going to go quietly after sources told Closer that Lee is already planning on releasing private information about the model that could threaten her career.

‘Lee is refusing to divorce Katie. He says he’ll never let her leave until she gives him what he wants,’ our insider reveals. ‘He’s in jail hatching plans to destroy her. She’s worried he has private stuff on her that could ruin her.

‘Friends told Katie this would end in tears but, as per usual, she didn’t listen and now she’s faced with more than she bargained for.’

After connecting on social media in January, Katie, 48, and Lee, 43, tied the knot just weeks later in Dubai, where the self-proclaimed millionaire resides. Uncertainty about Lee’s authenticity has been rife from the very start, with his social media profile filled with AI-generated content and claims about his past – such as studying at Cambridge University – not adding up.

ISSUES

While Katie publicly backed her husband for a while, she announced in September that they had officially split after eight months of marriage. Having deleted all traces of Lee from her Instagram account, she then appeared on Good Morning Britain to set the record straight.

The mum-of-five said her fourth husband – who is locked up in Al-Awir prison in Dubai over unpaid debts – had ‘scammed her heart’ and left her feeling ‘stupid’ for ‘falling in love’. She added, ‘I love the man I met, but I just can’t take it.’

A voice note from Lee was then played on the show, where he said the break-up is ‘for the best’ but insisted he hasn’t tried to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.

He also criticised his wife for airing their issues publicly, adding, ‘I’ve got my own issues, obviously, but I have my own thoughts on everything.’ Katie – whose exhusbands include Peter Andre and Alex Reid – said she couldn’t look past his ‘lies’ anymore, leaving her seeking a divorce. However, Closer has been told that things aren’t so simple behind the scenes, and now she faces another trip to the Middle East to confront Lee face-to-face.

FINAL TALKS

‘Katie thinks she’ll have to fly out to Dubai to have some final talks with him, but she knows it could turn nasty,’ our source continues. ‘He could expose things about her she would never want known. But if she pays Lee to keep quiet, what’s to say he won’t stop asking for money?

‘She always over-shares when she falls for someone, she tells them her deepest, darkest secrets about everything – from money, family, exes, things she regrets. Lee knows the only way to hurt Katie is by hitting her in the pocket. They are both highly driven by money and crave the attention of the spotlight, good or bad. This is not going to end well for her.’

Lies about money proved to be the tipping point for Katie. When Lee claimed he had £37 million in a bitcoin wallet, she enlisted the help of crypto experts to unlock it, only to discover it contained just over £2. Katie said, ‘Now this isn’t about the money, but it adds to it. He hasn’t scammed me for money, but I feel he has scammed me because he fabricated a person that doesn’t exist.’

Lee has insisted that Katie is simply not ‘crypto savvy’ and claimed he does have the funds – but his track record with money doesn’t provide much reassurance. Since his relationship with Katie went public, several of his exes have spoken out against him.

One claimed that Lee – who has denied all allegations against him – scammed her into handing over £123,000 to invest in his company. Another claimed he fraudulently forged her signature on a £200,000 mortgage application, which led to an alleged travel ban preventing him from leaving the UAE.

REVELATIONS

So while he remains locked up for the time being, fears are now mounting for Katie over what he could do when he is eventually released from prison.

‘Katie’s greatest fear is that Lee will give an interview about her,’ the insider says. ‘She isn’t proud of some of the things she’s done in the past. She’s mixed with some wrong’uns and bragged about some of the things she’s got away with.

‘There’s a risk that he could throw her under the bus if she doesn’t give him what he wants. Katie knows there could be some very uncomfortable revelations if Lee decides to speak out, and that’s understandably worrying her.’

There was a mixed reaction from Strictly Come Dancing fans when Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe made their hosting debut. While many praised veteran TV presenter Emma, others branded comedian Josh and former pro Johannes ‘awkward’.

And now Closer can reveal that Emma is starting to feel the pressure – and it’s causing chaos behind the scenes.

‘Emma feels like she’s carrying the show at the moment. She’s suddenly being treated like the safe pair of hands and that naturally creates a hierarchy, even if nobody is saying it out loud,’ an insider reveals.

‘There’s a bit of awkwardness because Emma doesn’t want to look like she’s holding it all together. But equally, she’s experienced enough to know when she has to step in and steady things.'

Emma, 50, Josh, 43, and Johannes, 39, took over the Strictly reins from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who quit the BBC programme last year after more than a decade as hosts. While there had been plenty of speculation about who would take over the biggest job on Saturday-night TV, bosses ultimately settled on the trio, thanks to their immediate chemistry.

FRICTION

And in mid-September, Strictly finally returned, with a fresh batch of celebrities – including Dani Dyer, Lacey Turner and Chris Appleton – as well as some new faces among the professional dancers. Shirley Ballas retained her seat as head judge, joined by Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

But away from the cameras, tension has been brewing. And our insider says there are growing fears Emma has already had enough and is dreading the prospect of any backstage rows erupting.

‘The pressure has started spilling over, with a few tense exchanges and bruised egos as everyone fights to find their place in the new set-up. It’s not a full-blown feud yet, but there’s definitely been more friction backstage than the glossy smiles on camera suggest. Emma’s already had enough of the feeling that rows are looming – she’s dreading that,’ the source continues.

THREE’S A CROWD

‘Nobody is falling out just yet, but they’re definitely conscious of who gets the big moments, who lands the jokes and whose sections get talked about afterwards. Nobody wants to be the presenter that viewers decide they can live without.’

There are also worries that three may be a crowd when it comes to sharing presenting duties.

‘There’s already a sense that every interaction is being picked apart for chemistry. If Emma and Johannes have a great moment, Josh notices. If Josh lands something brilliantly, the other two notice. They’re all human,’ the insider continues.

‘Producers wanted three very different personalities, but that also means three very different egos learning to share one of the biggest jobs on television. Tess and Claudia made it look effortless, so there is pressure to try to emulate that. The new trio are discovering very quickly that chemistry cannot be manufactured just because everyone is standing behind the same desk.’

The source adds, ‘The brutal truth is that nobody wants to be remembered as the experiment that didn’t work. That fear is probably driving all three of them harder than anything viewers are seeing on screen.’

With mounting scrutiny on the monarchy, Earl Spencer’s tell-all book about his late sister, Diana Spencer, has come at a very tense time for the Royal Family. And as first in line to the throne, sources tell Closer that no one is feeling the pressure more than Prince William.

Despite being all smiles at the Digger premiere last week – where the future King and his wife, Kate Middleton, were seen laughing with the film’s star, Tom Cruise – there is said to be tension and tears behind the scenes, with the Princess of Wales feeling that all the scandals are tearing William apart.

‘William is a man on the edge right now. You can practically see the stress vibrating off of him and he’s breaking down. It’s terrible,’ an insider says. ‘He’s worried about his father, he’s worried about the future of the monarchy, and he’s worried about what his brother Harry is going to do next.

‘He’s seeing this alliance that Harry has formed with their uncle and it’s got him incensed. He feels that his brother is using Earl Spencer to drive the knife into their longrunning feud. But Charles won’t do anything – he’s too afraid of the Sussexes’ wrath.’

WORST NIGHTMARE

In his memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which was released last week, Earl Spencer alleged that the then-Prince Charles sounded ‘giddily elated’ like a ‘lottery winner’ over Diana’s untimely death in August 1997 and told him, ‘We’ll forget her soon enough’ in a heated phone call discussing whether her sons, then aged 15 and 12, should walk in the funeral procession behind their mother’s coffin.

Buckingham Palace quickly fired back with a statement, saying the King was ‘mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss’. But the Earl, 62, insisted, ‘Those are exactly the words he said. I’m telling the truth.’

Charles Spencer also said that his nephews, William, 44, and Harry, 42, were aware of his claims within the tome, saying, ‘This will not be a surprise to them.’

The latest bombshell allegations come just weeks after William’s estranged brother Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, made their shock return to the UK amid Charles’ continuing cancer battle, which has made Kate really concerned for William.

The insider says, ‘Kate is begging William to follow his father’s lead and keep the peace. She says they can’t get caught up in this ugly mess, they need to stay focused on protecting the Crown and remaining dignified representatives.’

The source reveals that the mum-of-three, 45, has even turned to spiritual practices to help William manage the stress. ‘She’s trying to do everything she can to help William calm down. She’s got him listening to guided meditations and doing breathing exercises with her. She’s even trying to get him to do yoga, anything to relax a little.’

The insider continues, ‘It’s a wonder how Kate is coping with this – it’s an awful lot for her as well. There have been tears but, as always, she’s putting her own stress to the side and focusing on what needs to be done. Right now her priority is William because he’s in such a terrible state and there’s no end in sight.’

The insider says that Harry’s ‘close alliance’ with their uncle is ‘only making things that much more upsetting for William’.

‘William believes very strongly in keeping a tight lid on family affairs, so having his uncle dragging his father through the mud like this is his worst nightmare. Not to mention, it’s putting the monarchy in a terrible light at a time when the King is still sick and the whole institution is already under enormous pressure.’

HARROWING

Asked about his family’s return to Britain, Harry recently told reporters that it had been ‘eventful’ but his family are ‘happy’. Their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, moved schools after just two days amid safety concerns, as the argument over their security rumbles on.

As Closer previously revealed, it was reported last week that Harry and Meghan are in talks to work on a documentary about Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of her death next year, potentially for Netflix, which they had an estimated $60 million deal with. But the thought of this, on top of the book scandal, has been very painful for William – who previously shared his memories about his mother alongside Harry in the 2017 documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life And Legacy.

‘It’s harrowing for William to have all this horrible stuff about his mother in the headlines again,’ the insider says. ‘He’s spent years trying to put the painful memories to the side. He doesn’t like going over old ground, much less having it aired publicly.

‘At this stage there isn’t much William can do, and Kate has been trying to remind him of that. Her stance is that there’s no point dwelling on things he simply can’t control. Her advice is to stay busy, focus on the work in front of them and trust that eventually this will pass.’

They add, ‘Kate is also taking on as much of the emotional load as she can herself. It sounds clichéd, but she really is the glue holding everything together right now. William is leaning on her enormously and so is Charles.’

Chaos and the real life stories everyone’s talking about

Kate’s Heartbreak as Royal Tensions Continue

The Princess of Wales is reportedly facing one of her toughest emotional periods yet, with fresh claims that ongoing family divisions are taking a toll on Prince William. Insiders suggest that new tensions involving Prince Harry have left the couple struggling to move forward, with concerns that old wounds continue to resurface.

Strictly in Crisis?

Backstage drama is reportedly rocking the latest series of Strictly, with claims that tensions behind the scenes are reaching boiling point. One of the show's biggest stars, Emma Willis, is said to be struggling with ongoing rows and frustrations.

Also in this week’s issue:

• Katie Price opens up about her determination to "silence" Lee amid fresh personal drama

• Brooklyn Beckham's latest money-making move leaves Victoria Beckham heartbroken.

• The awkward feud rumours surrounding Holly Willoughby and Davina McCall.

• A 15-page real life special, featuring...

• One woman reveals how she hired an escort for her 70th birthday.

• A shocking story from a woman who lost 7st on weight-loss jabs to keep her relationship on track.

• And many more must-read stories!

Grab your copy today from all leading magazine retailers.

Demi, 63: ‘Getting older doesn’t mean life is less’

With her children all grown up and a newfound independence, Demi Moore has described this period of her life as ‘an amazing time’, adding, ‘Anybody who thinks that getting older means life is less is sadly mistaken.’ And staying youthful is something that is important to the actress, who has a rigid skincare routine. ‘No matter how late it is, when I get home, I take the time to clean and moisturise my face,’ she said.

Elle, 62: ‘It’s important to listen to my body’

Whether it’s Pilates or boxing, model Elle Macpherson never misses a workout. But she has admitted that her routine has evolved with age. ‘What worked for me in my twenties doesn’t necessarily work for me now,’ she said. ‘I used to think I had to reach a certain intensity at each workout, but I’ve come to realise the importance of listening to my body.’

Melanie, 69: ‘I’m more relaxed now’

Her successful acting career has kept her on the go for years. And now, as she approaches her seventies, Melanie Griffith has revealed that she’s ‘determined’ to stay fit. The star – who looked incredible as she shared snaps from a wellness getaway in Austria – also said, ‘I’m more relaxed about life now that I’m older. I like it – despite the wrinkles. It’s what I feel inside that’s precious.’

Liz, 61: ‘I’m loving my life’

She’s no stranger to sharing sizzling bikini snaps on Instagram, and Liz Hurley continues to wow fans with her incredible figure. Opening up about how she stays fit, the actress and model said, ‘I haven’t set foot in a gym for decades and don’t work out per se, but I’m very active by nature and rarely sit still.’ And she’s embracing every moment of ageing, admitting, ‘ I am LOVING my life today.’

Salma, 60: ‘Surround yourself with good friends’

Salma Hayek has been glowing for decades, and her secret has nothing to do with skincare or a strict regime. ‘Surround yourself with women, good friends and working together towards meaningful things in life,’ she simply said. And after recently celebrating her milestone birthday, she’s clearly feeling more confident than ever. Sharing a string of carefree snaps as she posed nude, the actress said she was ‘60 and grateful’.

Sharon, 68: ‘I’m enjoying the ageing process’

For Sharon Stone, ageing gracefully is really just about embracing it. ‘I am ageing, but I’m enjoying the process. My secret is no secret. I just do all the things you’re supposed to do,’ she shared. Her routine for staying fit is pretty simple, too, saying, ‘All you have to do is move.’ And she gets it in wherever she can, with the actress previously admitting she fits in workouts during shoots.

Yasmin, 61: ‘Feeling ageless is a state of mind’

Yasmin LeBon believes age is just a number, explaining, ‘No person who gets older thinks of themselves as old. We have an age that we kind of retain in our minds.’ The model – who enjoys strength training – added, ‘I really don’t know what ageing gracefully means. There is no right way to grow old. Growing older happens – fact. But feeling ageless is a state of mind.’

They were recently spotted enjoying the London sunshine, with Kim Kardashian and her Formula One boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, 41, renting Lime bikes for a cycle around the city. And now, our insiders say Kim is considering putting down UK roots with her four children – but she’s torn, with her entire life, including baby daddy Kanye West, still in LA.

‘Kim is completely swept up in this new chapter with Lewis and she’s telling friends that she’s ready to make some really big changes to make it work,’ our insider tells us.

‘She’s spent her whole life with LA as her base and, until now, the expectation has always been that anyone she’s with fits into that world. But she doesn’t want that to happen with Lewis. Kim knows he has this huge, successful life of his own, so she has been talking about having a proper home in the UK.

PROPERTY HUNT

‘She doesn’t want to simply stay at Lewis’ place and feel like she’s visiting his life. The dream would be to find somewhere that belongs to them as a couple, but that she can also really put her stamp on and make feel like home.’

After her wholesome UK getaway, sources say Kim, 45 – who is mum to North, 13, Saint, 10, Chicago, eight, and Psalm, seven – may even be eyeing up the idyllic Cotswolds, which is already home to A-listers including Ellen DeGeneres and Meghan Markle.

The source continues, ‘They’ve talked about the appeal of being outside London and having a home in the countryside where they can have the benefits of lots of land and privacy while being a stone’s throw to the city.

RELOCATE

‘Kim knows Lewis isn’t someone who is going to give up his entire world and relocate permanently to Calabasas just because he’s dating her. Nor would she want him to. He has his family and roots in Britain, so Kim understands that if she’s serious about him, compromise has to work both ways.

‘She’s not talking about abandoning LA or uprooting the children. Their lives are there and that isn’t suddenly disappearing. It’s much more about creating a genuine second base.

‘Ultimately, Kim feels like Lewis is worth compromising for. She’s had relationships in the past where she’s questioned whether she was giving too much or trying too hard. With Lewis, friends say she feels differently. She wants to give this every possible chance – and if that means spending far more of her life in Britain, she’s prepared to do it.’

Over eight months on from Brooklyn Beckham’s bombshell statement confirming he’d cut ties with his famous family, he’s dealt another major blow to his parents – following reports he’s turning to his father-in-law Nelson Peltz for business advice.

SUCCESS

And insiders tell Closer he has big plans to outshine David and Victoria. ‘Brooklyn adores Nicola’s parents. He looks up to Nelson and loves how the family seem to enjoy their success without having to constantly be promoting themselves like he feels his parents did,’ our source says.

‘Nelson is telling Brooklyn and Nicola they could be America’s next huge power couple, if they play it smart, align themselves with great business products and campaigns, and cash in on their famous profiles. Brooklyn’s family is now the Peltzs. He trusts Nelson and feels he has his best interests at heart.’

Boasting a combined net worth of £1.185 billion, the Beckhams have built an impress business empire since finding fame in the ’90s. Victoria, 52, has founded her own high-end fashion and beauty brand, while David, 51, has several business pursuits, including being a majority stake holder in Salford FC and the co-owner of Inter Miami CF.

ALARM BELLS

Meanwhile, Nelson, 84, is worth around £1.2 billion and built up his fortune through various businesses and investments. And our source say he’s now advising Brooklyn, 27, and Nicola, 31 – who tied the knot in 2022 – to aim big with their own empire.

‘Nelson and his wife secretly think that Victoria and David’s fame is a little on the trashy side. They are encouraging Nicola and Brooklyn to create their own identity and align with big, classy brands, to take on the likes on the Beckhams and the Kardashians,’ the insider claims.

But the news has left alarm bells ringing for the Beckhams. Our source adds that Victoria and David are unhappy about Nelson’s influence on Brooklyn, who has explored several career paths over the years including cooking, photography and modelling.

‘News that Brooklyn is being guided by Nelson is a huge worry for Victoria – she’s heartbroken. While they want Brooklyn to succeed in his own right, they fear about what it could mean for them,’ the insider goes on.

‘Nelson is ruthless when it comes to business and if he wants something, he gets it. He’s willing to use his wealth and connections to help his daughter and Brooklyn become their own super brand if that is what they want. Hearing all of this is a fresh nightmare for Victoria and David. It’s bad enough to hear that Brooklyn is now like a son to Nelson.’