The week of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend is finally here. A time to celebrate 70 years of Your Majesty’s reign, excitement for the weekend has been steadily building for months.
Initially, the pair were not planning on attending due to concerns over their safety – while the ex-Royal had requested the Met police provide security over the weekend, the request was swiftly denied. It is thought that this was due to fear that future celebrities would see the Met police as security for hire.
Whether or not they will stand on the balcony was confirmed a few weeks ago – neither Harry, Meghan, or Prince Andrew would appear with the rest of the Royals as they are no longer “official” or working members.
That said, Palace insiders are reportedly worried that Meghan and Harry may draw too much attention away from the Queen. According to an insider, Buckingham Palace officials fear the couple will overshadow the historic milestone.
This is the first time both Harry and Meghan will be back in the UK since they moved to the United States in 2020.
Insiders say that tensions have been growing ever since as a result of Harry and Meghan’s repeated “Sussex bombs.”
As Harry and Meghan are no longer officially Royals, they will not be joining the rest of the family on the balcony come the weekend – but that said, Palace officials are reportedly still concerned that the couple will try to make sure they’re the focal point of the weekend.
Any plans for the pair to film this weekend have already been shut down and there will be no footage taken of Her Majesty’s weekend. Aides have confirmed that the couple are here to attend events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and not “freelance.”
It is hoped that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – can be reunited with their cousins, Archie and Lilibet over the weekend. The Queen will be meeting her granddaughter Lilibet for the first time, too.
Celebrating The Queen’s incredible 70 years is what is most important, “Sussex bomb” aside.
Love it or hate it, Love Island will be returning to our screens in a matter of days. The ITV dating show which follows a bunch of young, sculpted contestants on a quest to find love, build relationships and get a good tan – all in a picturesque villa setting – is back for its eighth series.
The show has been criticised in the past for its lack of racial diversity, an absence of different body types and for inaccurately reflecting disability.
While the show has a long way to go – and some are already calling out the lack of diversity in the upcoming series – this year’s line up features Love Island’s first ever deaf contestant.
Dancer and model, Tasha Ghouri from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has sensory loss, due to the small hairs in the cochlear being damaged or missing when she was born.
Speaking about her upcoming stint on the show, Ghouri says that her friends and family think she is ‘inspirational’ because of how open she is about her cochlear implant.
In an explainer on her Instagram, Ghouri goes into detail about what she calls her ‘super power’, stating that visibility has always been her driving force.
She says that she and her whole family learned sign language when she was young, but that as she got older, she became less reliant on it because of the cochlear implant and learning to lip read.
Answering the question: ‘what is the difference between a hearing aid and a cochlear implant?’, Ghouri explains:
‘Hearing aids simply amplify sound, but if the brain can’t understand the noise, it’s just noise. The implant has small fibre optics pushed into the cochlear to replace the missing hairs that stimulate the fluid and send intelligent messages to my brain. The outer part is a computer that is programmed for the frequency of my loss.’
Another question she anticipates people asking is: ‘Can I hear anything and what do people sound like?’ – again, Ghouri has stepped in with an answer: ‘When the outer piece of my device is taken off I cannot hear anything. I feel beats and vibrations.
People sound a little robotic but my brain has adapted to it and I also rely on lip reading and body language.’
Commenting on why she’d chosen to go on Love Island, Ghouri said: ‘My dating life has been a shambles. This is an opportunity for me to find ‘the one’ and have a great summer at the same time. I’m definitely ready for a relationship.’
Ghouri’s involvement with the popular dating show has seen a wave of support towards the 23-year-old. Responding to the news of Ghouri entering the Love Island villa, Annie Harris, at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, said: ‘We are really pleased that another major TV show is featuring a deaf contestant. Representation matters.’
Love Island will return to ITV on Monday 6th June, 2022.
In the initial video, Barker begins by asking: ‘How are you? How are you really though?’ She then shared that she was in hospital, had started feeling better and would soon be discharged. Speaking candidly, she told the camera:
‘I’ve been really unwell for a really long time and I just want to be honest with everybody: I am struggling.’
During the five-minute video posted last week, Barker shares how she’s planning on taking a break and encourages others who are struggling to also do the same and not to be hard on themselves.
‘People always told me to stop being so hard on myself and I never really, really knew what that meant. What does that really mean? To stop being hard on yourself or to love yourself? You hear these terms, you hear these buzzwords…catchphrases…and the world can be such a confusing place.
Sometimes you just got to take a break and you got to say: “I can’t do this right now. I need support” – and that’s basically where I’ve got to.’
She stressed that she hadn’t hit ‘rock bottom’ but was instead on ‘new heights’, urging people to think about the linguistics used when talking about mental health. ‘We really need to change the dialogue…because people want to have these conversations but we don’t even know how to have these conversations.’
In a follow up video posted to her Instagram yesterday, Barker said the response to her sharing her mental health struggles had been ‘incredible’. Visibly moved, she said: ‘You’ve made me feel so happy to be alive and I’m so grateful for that.’
‘I really didn’t know what to expect when I put that video up. I didn’t expect so many people to reach out to me and let me know how they’re doing and tell me about their own mental health struggles.’
Barker goes on to say, the response and shared stories have made her feel less alone and she hopes that it has offered some comfort too to those also struggling with their mental health.
With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations fast approaching, many are looking forward to events across the country – from street parties to the Epsom Derby to a very special concert broadcast live from Buckingham Palace.
The Cambridge children are set to have a big role in celebrations, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis expected to join their mum, Kate Middleton, for the Trooping the Colour carriage procession on Thursday 2nd June.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will also be attending a select number of events, and while they won’t be standing on the Palace balcony with the working royals for the annual flypast, they are expected to be at St Paul’s Cathedral for a special service, as well as various other celebrations organised by charities.
The Sussexes will be heading back to the UK with their two children, Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana, and due to the fact that they’ve been living in the US since 2020, many royal fans are excited to get a glimpse of their little ones.
In fact, Lilibet will celebrate her first birthday while the family of four are in England – making this weekend extra special.
The tiny royal is expected to meet her great-grandmother, the Queen, on her birthday – Saturday 4th June. While the monarch was expected to attend the Epsom Derby, it has been reported that Princess Anne will be stepping in for her while she spends some time with her extended family instead. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly staying with Princess Eugenie at Frogmore Cottage, though it is unclear whether they’ll be hosting a party for her at the Windsor residence.
Harry and Meghan’s daughter was named after the monarch, so the fact that their first meeting will take place on Lilibet’s birthday while the Queen is also celebrating her 70 year reign makes it even sweeter!
Madonna‘s son, David Banda, just stepped out in a bright red dress from the Adidas x Gucci collaboration, and it’s safe to say that we love his look.
The 16-year-old was joined by his mum, who looked equally as cool in a black tracksuit from another stylish Adidas collaboration, this time with Balenciaga.
Madonna shared a series of pictures to her social media, captioning the post: “Family fight night”. The pair were off to watch the WBA World Lightweight Championship, and we think it’s fair to say that they stole the show with their matching outfits.
David styled his statement dress with a pair of yellow sunglasses, layered necklaces and a black bag which he wore over his shoulder. Madonna also opted for lots of layered necklaces, a pair of pink sunglasses, black leather gloves and platform heels.
Sadly, David’s dress is not currently available to shop. However, if you were hoping to recreate Madonna’s look for less, keep on scrolling.
Adicolor Classics Lock-up Track Top, £55 | Adidas
This Adidas track top comes in a regular fit, with a full zip, stand-up collar, side pockets and elastic cuffs.
Adicolor Classics Lock-up Tracksuit Bottoms, £45 | Adidas
The matching tracksuit bottoms are all about comfort, with an elasticated waist, side zip pockets and elastic cuffs.
The Adidas x Gucci dress is part of their new collaboration, that is set to be released this June, and we have no doubt that it will sell out in no time.
Jodie Turner-Smith was also spotted rocking the dress at the Met Gala afterparty just a few hours after walking the red carpet. The actress styled hers with platform silver heels and a statement necklace, as she walked hand in hand with her husband Joshua Jackson.
Will you be picking up the dress when the collaboration launches?
If you’re lucky enough to meet the monarch whilst celebrating this weekend, you’ve probably got a good idea of what and what not to do. Make sure to have your curtsey at the ready, address her correctly and keep conversation casual (the weather is always a winner).
Speaking to The Mirror, Debrett’s etiquette advisor Liz Wyse says: “If you were lucky enough to be introduced to the Queen, you’ll keep your conversation light and general, you wouldn’t make provocative remarks, you wouldn’t enter into discussions about contentious subjects.”
Making sure your small talk is just right whilst tackling what’ll probably be some pretty big nerves is just the start of it. You should also steer clear of picking your nails, touching your face or covering your mouth.
Wyse puts it simply: “Try and stand up straight, look straight ahead of you. Keep your hands as still as possible, down by your side.”
One of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re face to face with the Queen is to resist any urges to cross your arms. It’s thought that the Queen (and lots of other people!) think this gesture is “aggressive”.
Now that you’re armed with the expert-approved etiquette tips, you can celebrate the long weekend without worrying what might happen if you meet Her Royal Highness. In fact, Wyse says, “all of these things will make you look much calmer and that’s good advice in general.”
The royal siblings will be celebrating their great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee in style.
Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty
A four-day weekend, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, is fast approaching and there are a whole host of royal events planned.
One that is sure to get royal fans excited, is seeing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three children during Thursday’s Trooping the Colour.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who have all appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony during previous versions of the event, are set to take on a more starring role this year. Hello! Magazine reports that the trio will be joining their mum, the Duchess of Cambridge in the carriage procession.
During the ceremony, Prince William usually rides on horseback, while Kate shares a carriage with the Duchess of Cornwall, but this year, we might very well be spotting her alongside her children: eight-year old Prince George, seven-year-old Princess Charlotte and four-year-old Prince Louis.
In 2019, Prince Louis made his first appearance at Trooping the Colour by joining his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast by the Royal Air Force.
A ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army, Trooping the Colour marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign and has done so for more than 260 years.
The event sees 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians in a display of fanfare to mark The Queen’s official birthday.
The 95-year-old monarch, who is celebrating 70 years on the throne this weekend, will arrive at Horse Guard’s Parade in Whitehall by carriage. In her younger years, the Queen used to ride in on horseback.
The final preparations for Trooping the Colour are complete.
The Duke of Cambridge, in his role as Colonel of the @irish_guards, took the salute at the Colonel’s Review – the last rehearsal ahead Trooping the Colour on Thursday as part the #PlatinumJubilee celebrations. https://t.co/mN8mvq2y6S
Once the Queen arrives at Horse Guard’s Parade, there is a Royal salute and the monarch carries out an inspection of the troops. There’s a whole number of highly regimented steps that then take place, culminating in Her Majesty being joined by other members of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast. A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the event.
It’s certainly going to be a busy weekend for the royal youngsters; The Telegraph reports that the Cambridge children will also be joining the Duchess of Cambridge at the Tower of London moat for the Superbloom flower show.
A camera crew won't be following the Sussexes during their UK visit.
Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty
It’s going to be a long weekend full of celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and eagle-eyed royal watchers are here for all the ins and outs of the historic event.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to the UK – the first with their children since they stepped down as working royals – is certain to make headlines.
Responding to a question about whether the couple would be planning to film whilst in the UK, a royal source told entertainment website, PageSix: ‘I highly doubt they would even think about that. It would be such a bad look.
Even if they could sneak a camera in, they wouldn’t be able to use any of the footage. I guess they could do home video on their phones, but I honestly don’t think they would.’
They also said that there’s a ban on the couple filming in any of the palaces or royal residences, as part of the “Sandringham agreement” made when Harry and Meghan formally left their royal roles in spring 2020.
Harry and Meghan, who signed a multi-year deal, rumoured to be worth as much as $240 million, with Netflix back in 2020 after leaving the royal family are reported to be working on an at-home docu-series.
A film crew were spotted following the pair during their time at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands last month and reportedly, during a trip to New York last September. It’s believed that the footage in the Netherlands was captured for a documentary series Heart of Invictus, which will also air on the streaming service.
While we don’t know all the details of what Harry, Meghan and their children: three-year-old Archie and 11-month old Lilibet, will get up to whilst visiting the UK, some information has trickled out. The couple are said to be staying at Frogmore Cottage, their first marital home and nearby to Windsor Castle.
It’s also reported that the Queen will miss the Epsom Derby on Saturday and instead meet her 11th great-grandchild, Lilibet, who was named after the monarch’s beloved nickname.
It looks like virtual job interviews are here to stay. So if you're looking to hire for your small business or pitch to potential investors, you will likely be doing so from home. How can you appear professional when making the video call from your kitchen? These Zoom interview tips should help...
Netflix
You might assume that recruiting is far less stressful than going through the hiring process yourself. But actually, interviews are hard work for everyone involved, with the interviewer having to put in just as much work as the interviewee.
This is especially true for small businesses, with the pressure on for entrepreneurs to give a good first impression, spread their company messaging and of course bag the most talented candidates out there in the process.
Brushing up on your interviewing skills is therefore essential, because even though you may technically be in the control seat, you too are being analysed as a prospective employer, and it’s well worth your time to get it right.
Given the fact that more and more businesses are opting to work remotely in the new post-pandemic era, it is likely that you will be conducting the interview over Zoom. And this more often than not means from home, with a lack of IT support and the kitchen table as your base.
Whether pitching to potential investors or interviewing prospective employees, it’s always worth refreshing your interviewing skills and etiquette. This way, you can ensure that you don’t get caught wearing pyjama bottoms or encounter a huge technical hitch, and in turn avoid any poor reflections on your company or missing out on some great hires.
As part of our Passion Pioneers campaign with GoDaddy, we asked Asana’s Global Head of Talent, Kayla Vatalaro, to give her advice on conducting virtual interviews and making a good first impression.
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Zoom interview tips to help you recruit with confidence:
1. Set the stage and frame your shot
Give a great first impression to future employees by making sure you find a clutter-free space with a tasteful or neutral backdrop ahead of time. Position your webcam so it sits at eye level and make sure to have ample light. Proper camera angles and lighting not only up your selfie game, but they’re also essential for high-quality video interviews. On the big day, clear the room of anything distracting such as laundry and pets, so your potential employees or investors will be able to focus entirely on you – not what’s behind you.
2. Do a mock run through and check your tech
One of the benefits of conducting a Zoom interview from your home is that you will likely have family, friends or housemates within earshot. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of their presence to practice your remote interviewing skills. Even if you share a home, ask them to hop on a video call to not only run through mock questions, but also test how you come across on video in the absence of non-verbal cues, in addition to testing your lighting, sound quality, and camera angle. It may be uncomfortable but now is the time to get used to seeing yourself on video!
3. Ditch the sweatpants and dress like a boss
Even though you are the one conducting the interview, it’s still important to communicate professionalism by dressing the part from head to toe. Although it can be tempting to stay in your pyjama bottoms, prevent those unnecessary embarrassing bare legged moments (we’ve all seen the videos). The general rule with recruiting is that you should dress as you would want your employees to, because your appearance will be used as a reflection of your company’s dress code. So, dress like the boss you are.
4. Have your questions and relevant information close to hand
One of the draws of a virtual interview is that you can have notes and question prompts to hand – documents that can actually be quite awkward to refer to when interviewing in person. Make sure you have your questions on a different screen or on a printout beside you, and crucially prepare more questions than you think you’ll need – just in case. It’s also important to have other relevant information to hand, whether it’s the CV of the person you’re interviewing or the business documents of the investor you’re pitching to. There are few things more embarrassing than being underprepared as the interviewer, and this way you won’t be caught off guard and will always be able to refer back to their most up to date information.
5. Bring self-awareness and lean into your communication skills
It’s important to remember that tech troubles and internet lags can make things trickier, particularly for your interviewee. So in the absence of non-verbal cues, being self-aware and showing empathy helps make the experience feel more comfortable for everyone. It can be tough to know when someone is done talking, so give your interviewee an extra beat to complete their thought and use subtle gestures like head nodding to indicate you’ve finished your question. Showcase your communication skills by referring back to your interviewee’s answers, asking follow-up questions based on what they’ve said and turning the interview into more of a conversation.
Above all, remember to enjoy yourself. If you’re interviewing candidates to hire for your business, you’re clearly moving in the right direction as an entrepreneur and it must have taken you a lot of work to get to this point. Remember that and make a point to enjoy the milestone.
The Duke of Cambridge, in his role as Colonel of the 
