Yet, as the pair moved to California in March 2020, the Queen is still yet to meet her new great-grandchild, despite her taking her childhood name of Lilibet.
While coronavirus travel restrictions are at least partly to blame – UK travel has been severely restricted since the couple moved abroad in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus – fans are still speculating as to when exactly the great-grandmother will be able to meet the newborn.
She is also long overdue a catch up with two-year-old Archie, Harry and Meghan’s firstborn, who has lived outside of the UK for the majority of his life now and only met his great-grandmother a handful of times.
One Twitter user said: “Will the Queen get to meet her newest great-granddaughter, Lilibet Diana, anytime soon?”
Let’s hope that when she does, she steers clear of the below Royal family habit… because the family are, ahem, known for somewhat out-there comments when meeting the newest additions to the family.
Like? Well, it’s believed that when the Queen met Prince William for the first time, she made a rather funny comment about his appearance.
A hardly-seen-before article in The Daily Express claims that when Prince Charles and Diana welcomed their first born, Charles said: “The arrival of our small son has been an astonishing experience and one that has meant more to me than I ever could have imagined.”
“I am so thankful I was beside Diana’s bedside the whole time because I felt as though I’d shared deeply in the process of birth and as a result was rewarded by seeing a small creature who belonged to us even though he seemed to belong to everyone else as well.”
In response, it’s claimed that the Queen simply stated: “Thank goodness he doesn’t have ears like his father.”
Similarly, it’s believed that Philip thought Prince Charles looked like a ‘plum pudding’ when he met him for the first time – so the off-the-cuff comments certainly run in the family.
So… any thoughts on how the Queen might greet little Lilibet?
Harry's plans were up in the air when he returned to London for Prince Philip's funeral.
Credit: WPA Pool / Getty
Since spring of 2020, Prince Harry has lived in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their young family. Due to the COVID pandemic, his returns to the UK have been few and far between, but earlier this year that changed. Following the death of his grandfather, Prince Philip, in April, Harry was able to travel back to his homeland – but a new update to the biography Finding Freedom reveals that the Prince actually only booked a one-way ticket.
Just a month before the Duke of Sussex’s return to London for his grandfather’s funeral, he and Meghan did a very revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, which made waves in the Sussexes’ relationship with the royal family. The couple made accusations of racist comments from someone in the family (which were later denied) and claimed that the institution was unwilling to help Meghan Markle with mental health support following her mistreatment in the media.
In the interview, Prince Harry also described a fractured dynamic between he and his family; he said his relationship with brother Prince William was one “of space,” and detailed “a lot of hurt” between he and his father, Prince Charles.
And it seems this context was exactly why the royal only booked a one-way ticket back to the UK for the funeral – because he was unsure how everything would go.
In a newly-added chapter of the book Finding Freedom, which was written by royal correspondents Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand following in-depth interviews with numerous sources very close to Meghan and Harry, the authors wrote: “Not knowing how the [funeral] trip would pan out, Harry had booked a one-way ticket with a return to be planned later. All royal family members were united in their priority to support the Queen in the aftermath of Philip’s death.”
The biography continued: “It had been a year since Harry had seen his family, and there was a feeling that this trip might also present an opportunity to come together and talk without the filter of staff as go-betweens.”
As it happened, the trip did provide an opportunity for Prince Harry to begin rebuilding his relationship with his family. While there is clearly plenty of work still to be done, brothers Harry and William were filmed talking to one another as they walked from St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral took place, back to the castle.
Princes William and Harry at their grandfather, Prince Philip’s funeral
Prince Harry ended up staying in the UK for two days longer after the funeral, which he spent with various members of his family. “The following two days for Harry after the funeral were largely spent with Eugenie and Jack, who continue to be close friends of Harry and Meghan,” detailed the biography.
“It also provided another opportunity for the prince to spend precious moments with his grandmother, who continued life in a Covid-safe bubble at her Windsor Castle apartment. ‘To see each other after so long apart, the longest he hadn’t seen the Queen for, was very special,’ shared a Harry source. ‘Despite everything that has happened, he has the utmost love and respect for her. Her life of duty and service is one of the many ways in which she has inspired him to also serve.'”
Her Majesty the Queen may be one of the most famous figures in the world, but when it comes to her family, she’s still very much just “grandmama”. (At least, she is to her two youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.)
Having grown up at Bagshot Park, just a short drive away from the Queen at Windsor Castle, Lady Louise is thought to have a very close bond with her grandmother – so much so that, as their mother Sophie, the Countess of Wessex recently revealed, she and her younger brother James affectionately refer to the monarch as “grandmama”.
When she isn’t busy giving the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a much-needed helping hand with their three children, Lady Louise, who will turn 18 in November, is thought to regularly visit her grandmother at both Windsor and Balmoral, and is rumoured to have a very down to earth bond with Her Majesty.
So normal, in fact, is the Wessex children’s relationship with the monarch, that Lady Louise spent years in the dark about who her grandmother really was.
Speaking in an interview recorded ahead of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday, the Countess of Wessex told Sky News, “I mean Louise had no concept really that the Queen and her grandmother were one and the same person.”
She added, “It wasn’t until she was at school that other children were mentioning it and saying, ‘Your gran is the Queen’. And she’d come home and say, ‘Mummy they say that Grandmama is the Queen.’ And I said, ‘Yes,’ and she said, ‘I don’t understand what they mean.’”
She’s not alone, though.
Her father, Prince Edward, also admitted that he didn’t realise that his mother was the monarch until he was five or six.
“I can’t necessarily remember when that realisation was there,” he said. “When you grow up in that family and in that environment, that’s just what your parents do.”
He added, “It’s been much more interesting watching our children growing up, and watching our children trying to work out what that this, and how that works. It was probably not until five or six I think.”
How much do Love Island contestants get paid? Priya reveals her fee...
Getting cast on Love Islandmust be great for lots of reasons: you get to spend the summer sunbathing in a luxurious Mallorcan villa, you’ve got a decent chance of meeting someone you really like, and it’s pretty much a golden ticket to a career as an influencer. Plus, you get paid for the privilege. And on that topic, 2021 contestant Priya Gopaldas has just revealed exactly how much contestants get paid for starring on Love Island.
Taking to Instagram stories, the medical student shared a screenshot of her pay cheque for £750 from ITV following her 8-day stint as talent on the popular ITV2 programme. In previous series, it was reported that Islanders received £250 per week for taking part – and it seems the fee is the same this year, too. Despite the fact that Priya only featured on the show for just over a week, all contestants would likely have had to quarantine for two weeks prior, meaning they would likely have been paid for that time, too.
The fee of £250 per week might not seem a lot when you consider the Islanders are being filmed 24/7, but many of the contestants leave with tens, or even hundreds of thousands of followers, which enables them to earn money through lucrative brand partnerships. Popular couple Millie Court and Liam Reardon also pocketed a shared £50,000 by being voted winners of the show during the series finale, so their pay cheque will be even healthier than everyone else’s.
Priya Gopaldas, who is training to become a doctor, was dumped from the island with fellow Islander Brett Staniland one week before the show’s final. And it seems the NHS cause remains close to the 23-year-old’s heart, as Priya generously donated her entire fee to NHS Charities Together.
“Love Island pay cheque put to use,” wrote the student doctor on Instagram, along with a screenshot of her donation via Virgin Money Giving. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the NHS Charities Together umbrella cause has raised more than £150 million for 241 individual NHS charity members based within hospitals, mental health trusts, ambulance trusts, community health trusts and health boards across the UK. The money raised is used to fund projects to improve services for patients, enables additional emotional and practical support for NHS staff and volunteers, and allows the whole health service to go above and beyond what would otherwise be possible.
Priya will now return to her studies at University College London, where she is due to complete her final year as a medical student before becoming a junior doctor. We look forward to seeing a lot more of her in the media once she’s qualified, no doubt.
A vital part of being a Royal family member are the engagements, events and day-to-day Royal duties you’re invited too.
But did you know that one of the most well-known members actually did a three week stint undercover at MI5 and MI6 back in 2019?
As per an article in Tatler, one senior Royal spent time ‘undercover with British spies, becoming au fait with the dealings of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.’
The Guardian shared that, while the engagement was ‘kept under close wraps’ – obviously – the Royal in question ‘worked exceptionally hard’ to make sure they were accepted like any other team member.
Wondering whether the Royal fit in or stood out like a sore thumb? The newspaper shared that they held their own ‘comfortably’ among some ‘highly skilled analysts and operators.’
We know that the Queen is thought to carry a penknife and be versed in her own handbag signalling, just in case of emergency… but which Royal actually went undercover as a spy?
It’s reported that the Duke spent twenty one days at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ – seven at each – over the course of three weeks.
At the MI6 headquarters, he worked with the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) who deal with foreign threats and collect valuable information from overseas. Buckingham Palace confirmed that William observed officers navigating threatening situations to ensure the UK came to no harm.
Next up, he spent the week at MI5, where it’s reported he shadowed counter-terrorism agents as they carried out their day-to-day surveillance.
To wrap up his three weeks undercover, The Guardian report that he completed an ‘assignment at GCHQ in Cheltenham.’ That’s the UK’s intelligence and cyber security agency, FYI. We wonder what that could have included then…
Representatives from Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke spent time being trained on all the latest technology and further understanding how it can ‘identify, analyse and disrupt threats.’
Prince William said on his time undercover: “Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience.”
“These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe.
“They work in secret, often not even able to tell their family and friends about the work they do or the stresses they face. They are driven by an unrivalled patriotism and dedication to upholding the values of this country. We all owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do.”
Speaking to The Guardian, one GCHQ spokesperson said: “His Royal highness asked some probing questions and demonstrated a real grasp of our mission.”
“This was a rare opportunity to expose, in detail, the technical ingenuity and problem-solving skills needed on a daily basis to help keep the UK safe.”
So what do you reckon – has the Prince got a new career as a spy just waiting to happen?
The Cambridges are undoubtedly the most talked-about family in the world, with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis entertaining the public on the regular.
Yes, from Princess Charlotte’s signature sass and Prince George’s surprising nickname to Prince Louis’ love of interrupting zoom calls, these miniature royals never fail to make viral news.
It is the Duchess of Cambridge and her ‘aura of perfection’ that makes the most headlines however, from her multiple public appearances to her candid words about motherhood.
This week, it was her pre-royal days that made news as it was revealed that she was given a royal privilege during her first time at Balmoral.
The Queen’s Scottish residence is a holiday destination for all royal family members over the summer months, with Kate Middleton allowed to visit during the early days of her and Prince William’s relationship.
In order to make her feel welcome, the Queen reportedly even gave Kate a sweet royal privilege, allowing the Duchess – a keen photographer – to take pictures of the residence, something that is usually banned.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl opened up about the gesture in her book, Kate: The Future Queen, explaining: ‘Until now the Queen had met Kate only fleetingly at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips, but she went out of her way to make her feel welcome, giving her permission to take pictures at Balmoral. ‘
Today marks the 24th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997. Beloved by the public for her iconic style and humane approach to royal duty, the world was plunged into grief following news of the Princess’s fatal car accident in Paris on this day 24 years ago.
Princess Diana believed that young people have the power to change the world.
Today, on the anniversary of her death, we remember everything that Princess Diana gave to the betterment of society. We are proud to continue empowering young people to enact positive change. pic.twitter.com/TbwtMCtZkh
William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, were on holiday at Balmoral with the Queen at the time of their mother’s death. It was agreed that the Royal Family should stay at Balmoral to grieve the princess in private – but the royals’ delay in addressing the Princess’s death began to anger the public, and eventually lead to the Queen breaking royal protocol in one very significant way.
Prior to Diana’s death, it was established royal custom that the Royal Standard flag would be flown over Buckingham Palace only if the monarch was present. As a result of the Queen’s absence at her London residence following Diana’s death, no flag was on display over the palace.
However, in the days after Diana’s death, there was a growing feeling that a flag should be flown over Buckingham Palace at half-mast as a mark of respect. Her Majesty eventually decided to break with royal protocol entirely, by agreeing that the Union Flag could be flown at half-mast over Buckingham Palace on the day of Diana’s funeral.
This significant change wasn’t just a temporary measure, though. Since Diana’s death, the Union flag flies at Buckingham Palace when the Queen is not in residence. When she is there, it is replaced with the Royal Standard.
The Union Flag has been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect on several occasions since – including the death of the Queen Mother in 2002, the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the July 7 London bombings in 2005.
The flag was also flown at half-mast on the first anniversary of Diana’s death on this day in 1998.
Though William and Harry reunited earlier this summer to unveil the much-publicised statue paying tribute to their mother at Kensington Palace, it’s thought that the brothers will this year miss out on their long-held tradition of marking the anniversary together.
I think it’s fair to say that we’re all Zara addicts to a certain degree, so you might already know all the Zara shopping hacks in existence. However, if you don’t, please carry on reading.
Zara notoriously never does discounts, just sales, but there are a few tips that could save you a bit of £££. These aren’t new, but you might have missed them as they’re not mega obvious.
Zara sizing hack
This TikTok Zara size hack went viral in summer, explaining that each label has a symbol on it which indicates whether it’s true to size or not. You can find these symbols on both the purchase tag (at the top) and the inner label, and it’s believed a circle symbol means the item runs large, while a square means that it’s true to size, and a triangle indicates that it runs small. This way, you can skip the queues as you’ll already know whether to get your normal size, or go one up or down.
The best days to shop at Zara
The best days to shop online are usually Monday and Thursday for the main drops, but there are odd new pieces added on most days.
The best time to shop at Zara
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that shopping at Zara in the morning is the best time of day to go. Fresh stock will be put out and everything will be ordered nicely, plus there won’t be many people around. As soon as 1pm hits though, the queues will snake around the shop as people on their lunch breaks try to buy something.
How to find the best discounts in the sale
Apparently, Zara employees are told to put the most expensive sale items at the front of the store, in the hope that these will go first. So if you want to grab a real bargain, head to the back of the store or rack.
How to get faster shipping at Zara
Ok, so this doesn’t necessarily work every time, however I’ve noticed that if I get an item shipped to a store, it’s usually available much quicker for pickup (usually the next day) than it would if I chose normal delivery. Plus this way you get free delivery, and it’s more environmentally friendly as it’ll likely be delivered with other stock or orders.
Zara secret sale
Although it’s not advertised as a sale, the Zara Special Prices section is essentially one. You’ll find it right a the top of the womenswear section, written in pink, so you can’t miss it.
In there, you’ll find clothing from every category, from dresses to coats and shoes, some of them reduced by as much as 50% off. Although it used to be Zara’s more basic pieces, now it seems to even include current collections, just reduced.
Zara sold out items
Missed out on an item? There are Zara shopping hacks for that. I’ve noticed that a lot of the best-sellers often get restocked, and even brought back the following year if they’ve been extra popular. Usually if an item is on the verge of being re-stocked, it’ll have a ‘coming soon’ message with an envelope next to the sold out size. Click on it to add your email address, then you’ll be alerted by email as soon as it gets re-stocked.
Zara has also started adding new products before they launch, as a kind of ‘sneak peek’ so this is a good way to ensure you don’t miss out on new launches.
Be quick though, as there’s no way of knowing how many people have signed up to the alert, and it might have sold out again by the time you log in.
You can also check the availability of the item in store, but I’ve found that the tool isn’t always accurate, as it can take a few hours for the store’s stocks to align with the online ones.
Zara discount codes
Sadly, Zara famously don’t do discount codes (I mean they don’t need to, do they?), nor do they offer student discounts, so if you’re after a bargain, you’ll have to wait for the sales. Employees do have a 25% off store discount though, which is said to also work on sale items.
Zara sales
It used to be that the Zara sale fell in line with the major winter sale and summer sale periods, so Boxing Day and June. But this year especially, there have been loads of extra surprise ones, like the Zara Black Friday sale.
Zara hardly ever reveals when its sale will happen, so the best way to know in advance is to sign up to the newsletter, because you will usually get notified in advance. Last time there was a sale, I got an email telling me exactly what time the sale would start.
My top tip: create an account if you haven’t already and bookmark any items you’ve got your eye on. This way you can easily see which items have been reduced and add them to your shopping basket quickly.
If you want extra discounts, it’s worth being patient. Historically, although Zara sales start with an ‘up to 50% off message’, not all items are reduced by that much. If you can wait a week or two, more lines will be added to the sale and discounts will increase. There is a risk of the item you want selling out though.
Zara free delivery
The cheapest way to get your Zara order delivered is to get it sent direct to a store of your choice, for free. Sometimes my order is even available the very next day in store so it can be super quick.
But if you’re spending over £50 (which let’s be honest, is pretty easy to do at Zara), then it’s free anyway.
Zara beauty hack
If you’re looking to stock up on some makeup now that we’re allowed out, you have to check out the new Zara Beauty section. It features stunning eyeshadow, lipstick, nail polish and accessories in cruelty-free formulas, beautiful refillable packaging and over 130 dreamy colours. With prices starting at just £5.99, the Zara beauty section is well worth it.
Zara home hack
This tip doesn’t actually involve the main site, but Zara home. Did you know that as well as homeware, it sells some amazing loungewear too? It’s not all cheap but there are some great pieces like trousers and tunics for under £30.
The Cambridges are undoubtedly the most talked-about family in the world, and with their roles elevated this past year over the coronavirus pandemic, it’s hardly surprising that Prince William and Kate Middleton are making even more news.
Kate Middleton tends to make the most headlines, from her candid words on parenting and the royal privilege she was given at Balmoral to her ‘aura of perfection’. But this week, it was her husband Prince William who got the world talking.
The Duke made news for his ‘messy’ home habit, with Kate Middleton’s words about her husband resurfacing this week, explaining that he is ‘a nightmare for it’.
The revelation came about during a tour of an RAF base in Cyprus back in 2018 to open a new recreation facility.
Prince William jokily warned the service personnel to ‘keep the pizza off the sofas’, something that prompted Kate to dob her husband in as the worst culprit of all.
‘You’re a nightmare with that’, she responded according to The Mirror.
During a controversial interview with TV chat show host Oprah this year, the couple spoke about how they were ‘thriving’ in the US and Meghan spoke about her relief at ‘finding her voice’ again after years of being unable to defend herself from the onslaught of negative press she received during her time in the royal family.
Last summer, royal writers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand released a biography about the Sussexes, titled Finding Freedom, which documents their time within the monarchy and their lives following their departure.
In a new epilogue, the authors claim that the Duke and Duchess are ‘proud’ of their decision to step away from royal life and have ‘no regrets’.
Referring to an updated chapter of the book, Town & Country reports: ‘As difficult as recent years have been, sources close to the Sussexes say that neither Harry nor Meghan have any regrets about the decisions they have made.
‘[These accomplishments are] another sign that [Meghan and Harry] had made the right decision to step back from royal roles, not only for their family but for their focus on social issues and helping the world.’
According to those close to Meghan, she ‘is “proud” to see how far she has come and what she and Harry have been able to build in the brief twelve months of their new financially independent lives.’
People reports that Harry and Meghan are looking forward to resuming in-person events again in a post-Covid world, with Scobie telling the outlet: ‘They’re a couple who do very well in those moments of human interaction. They need to be on the ground.’
Finding Freedom is set to be released in paperback today.
The Cambridges are one of the most talked-about families in the world, and while the Duke and Duchess spend the most time in front of the cameras, it’s their children that really steal the limelight.
The family of five has made the most news with regards to their location this past few years, as the Cambridges have moved between their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk and their London residence.
Yes, while the Duke and Duchess moved their family to Norfolk to spend the coronavirus-induced lockdown, they are now back in Kensington Palace’s Apartment 1A.
It has recently been reported however that the Cambridges are considering a move out of London, with Kate and William apparently weighing up a relocation to Windsor to be closer to the Queen.
According to The Sun, the Cambridge couple has been ‘eyeing up’ Ford Belvedere, a huge property in Windsor Great Park owned by the Crown Estate.
‘Anmer Hall made sense while William was a helicopter pilot in East Anglia and it was useful for Christmases at Sandringham, but it doesn’t really work any more,’ a source added via the Daily Mail. ‘It’s a little too far away for weekends, but Windsor is a perfect compromise. They are eyeing up options in the area.’
This comes after reports that the Duke and Duchess were scouting residences and schools in Berkshire.
If the royal couple do decide to relocate, it is thought that they will keep their Kensington Palace home, but it will remain for work purposes only.
The Duke and Duchess have not responded to the speculation.
From the moment the former Suits actress was rumoured to be dating Prince Harry, she was hounded by the press and public alike, with Harry forced to release an unprecedented statement asking for her privacy.
Since becoming a royal family member it only got worse. The run-up to the couple’s wedding was overshadowed by Thomas Markle drama and cruel reports of Meghan making Kate Middleton cry, pitting the royal sisters-in-law against each other.
Then, during her pregnancy, the speculation got even more vicious, with even George Clooney stepping in to voice his shock at the unprovoked abuse aimed at her, from body shaming to constant slander against her in the tabloids.
The Duchess of Sussex was certainly one of the biggest royal victims to the dreaded rumour mill, with false (and harmful) reports about the former Suits actress surfacing each day.
The element Meghan Markle reportedly found particularly hard to deal with however, was her inability to defend herself, with the Palace having a ‘no comment’ rule.
According to reports, Meghan felt ‘unprotected’ during her time in the royal family, something a source opened up about to People.
‘The go-to position was “no comment” or to ignore stories, and people actively prevented her from responding to stuff that we knew to be untrue,’ a source explained to the publication. ‘That is what she is taking issue with.’
The source continued: ‘The palace teams are faced with the difficulty that when things go wrong – particularly on private life matters – quite often any action taken with the media makes it worse. It’s not that the royal household doesn’t want to help — more that they don’t want to make it worse by giving a gossipy story more oxygen.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were eventually forced to step down from their royal family roles, become financially independent and relocate to California for the sake of their mental health.
Meet the single most important product in your skincare regime...
A lot of people think that the cornerstone of a good skincare routine is the moisturiser. Wrong. The wunderkind of the skincare world is in fact the best face serum.
What this little bottle of joy can do is unrivalled. Even the very best moisturiser can’t do what a powerful serum can.
However, serums can be quite tricky to get your head around. Cleansers cleanse; moisturisers moisturise, but serums? Not so obvious. In short, serums treat. Everything from dehydration and wrinkles, to dullness and pigmentation.
Skin experts agree it’s the single most important product in your skincare regime and the one you should invest the most money in. Here’s everything you need to know…
What is face serum?
Serums can be water-based or more of an oil. They’re applied after your best toner and before moisturising.
Due to their high concentration and potency, serums are the most effective way of delivering active ingredients into the skin.
‘With a much lighter consistency than your face cream, serums are made up of tiny molecules that absorb into the skin on a deeper level,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk.
Moisturiser is thicker and sits on the surface of your skin where, among other things, it seals in moisture and all the goodness from a serum into your skin.
How often should you apply face serum?
Twice daily is the golden rule, but the serum you apply in the morning should differ from the one you use before bed. You’ll find some work best whilst you’re sleeping, like retinol serums, and others, like vitamin C, are ideal during the day.
‘During the day, the priority is protecting against inflammatory and oxidising elements,’ explains Dr Barbara Sturm. ‘This means anti-pollution protection, UV protection, and using a hyaluronic acid-based serum. At night, it’s essential to use active ingredients that assist the body’s repair processes while you sleep.’
How to choose the best face serum for your skin type
‘Make a list of goals for your skin – for example brightening or hydrating,’ says Kluk. ‘Focus on the top one or two priorities and select ingredients that tackle these first. You can always adjust them as your needs change.’
And be sure to always start with the hyaluronic acid serum first, then your treatment one second.
Marie Claire’s edit of the best face serums on the market
