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Archive March 31, 2025

Prince Harry ‘sent unpleasant message to charity boss’ after Meghan request was refused

Prince Harry allegedly sent a direct ‘ unpleasant ‘ message to the chair of Sentebale – Dr Sophie Chandauka – after she refused to publicly defend his wife Meghan

Prince Harry sent an ‘unpleasant’ message to the head of his former African charity after she refused to publicly defend his wife Meghan, it has been claimed. The Duke of Sussex dramatically quit as patron of Sentebale, a HIV charity he founded almost 20 years ago and has become embroiled in a public spat with Dr Sophie Chandauka, the organisation’s chair.

She issued a blistering statement of her own, criticising the move by Harry, co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the trustees of the charity to step down. And in an interview yesterday, she claimed that after an awkward moment between her and Meghan was captured on camera at a polo match to raise funds for Sentebale last year, she was asked to issue a statement by Harry’s team defending the duchess.

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Harry and Meghan with Dr Sophie Chandauka and other polo players at a Sentebale fundraiser last year
Harry and Meghan with Dr Sophie Chandauka and other polo players at a Sentebale fundraiser last year (Image: PA)

She said she refused the request saying “we cannot become an extension of the Sussex machine”. Now it has been reported that after Dr Chandauka’s refusal, Harry allegedly sent her a direct message asking her to “explain herself”. Sources told The Telegraph that the message was “unpleasant in tone” and used ‘imperious’ language leaving the charity chair “taken aback”. The publication reports that this dispute is believed to have contibuted to the bitter row that has engulfed the charity. The Mirror has approached the Sussexes for comment.

The clip of the seemingly tense encounter between Dr Chandauka and Meghan resurfaced on the back of the explosive row being triggered. At the charity polo fundraiser in April in Florida last year, Harry and Meghan shared a kiss as the Duchess presented Harry’s winning team with a trophy.

Footage from the trophy presentation appeared to show Meghan asking Dr Chandauka not to pose next to Harry as he celebrated his win. Meghan awkwardly signalled for Dr Chandauka to move by repeatedly waving her hands towards the opposite side of the stage.

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As a result, others on stage moved up to make enough space and the charity chairwoman had to crouch under the trophy to move into the spot Meghan asked her to be in. In an interview on Sky News yesterday, Dr Chandauka addressed the event claiming that Meghan had only decided to turn up at short notice – bringing her “very famous friend” Serena Williams with her. Recalling the day to Sir Trevor Phillips, she claimed: “We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time]Meghan was coming], but we didn’t.

” And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage. The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me.

Dr Chandauka was gestured to move for the photo by Meghan
Dr Chandauka was gestured to move for the photo by Meghan (Image: sussexroyal_hm / Instagram)

“Prince Harry asked me to issue some sort of a statement in support of the Duchess, and I said I wouldn’t. Not because I didn’t care about the Duchess, but because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.”

Footage from the event also appeared in Polo – a Netflix documentary produced by Prince Harry that premiered on the streaming service last year. And Dr Chandauka also suggested that allowing his Netflix show to film a Sentebale fund-raiser almost wrecked the event.

Prince Harry and Dr Sophie Chandauka together last year
Prince Harry and Dr Sophie Chandauka together last year (Image: Getty Images for Sentebale)

She claimed: “We had a very generous family that was happy for us to use their polo grounds at a material discount. And then, about a month before the event was about to take place, Prince Harry called the team and said: ‘ I’m doing a Netflix show, and I would love to bring a camera crew”.

The charity chair alleged that no one involved in the fundraiser had agreed to appear on a TV show. Another problem was that the venue owners allegedly now saw the event as a commercial undertaking and named a high price, she said. She added: “We couldn’t afford it … so now we lost the venue”. However, the event did go ahead at what Dr Chandauka says was a different venue.

Since Dr Chandauka’s latest interviews, representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented. However, a source close to the former trustees and patrons of Sentebale dismissed her comments as a “publicity stunt”. They added: “They remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth”.

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Who is Man City FA Cup hero Nico O’Reilly?

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“He’s going to play in the semi-final, for sure”, said Pep Guardiola after Nico O’Reilly saved Manchester City’s FA Cup skins for the second round in a row.

The City manager may have been half-joking – with the words accompanied by a huge smile and laugh – but 20-year-old O’Reilly has certainly added to his growing reputation.

O’Reilly, who has yet to start a Premier League game, came off the bench at half-time to assist two goals in Sunday’s 2-1 comeback win at Bournemouth.

In the previous round he scored twice as they came from behind to beat Plymouth 3-1.

O’Reilly also netted in the 8-0 win over Salford in round three.

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Scorpion kick and 12 years at City – who is O’Reilly?

O’Reilly joined City as an eight-year-old, having also been scouted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton.

He signed his first professional contract in July 2022, alongside 10 other players, including Rico Lewis.

In 2022-23 O’Reilly made headlines with two remarkable goals in the Under-18 Premier League – a stoppage-time scorpion kick winner against Middlesbrough and 40-yard strike against Manchester United – and ended the season as an unused sub for the first team against Brighton.

Last season his development was hindered by injury but he still scored from near the halfway line for City’s under-23 team against Nottingham Forest.

In the summer he impressed Guardiola on City’s pre-season tour of the United States – and started the Community Shield win over Manchester United.

O’Reilly has played in the Premier League and Champions League from the bench this season and started in the Carabao Cup – but his headline acts have been in the FA Cup.

Defence, midfield and attack – what position is he?

Nico O'Reilly's touch map against Bournemouth

Anyone coming through the academy at a Guardiola club would be best placed to be flexible – and 6ft 2in O’Reilly matches that description.

He is a midfielder – and an attacking midfielder at that – by trade. City’s website says he is “able to operate in a number of attacking positions”.

Yet in pre-season, with Rodri absent, O’Reilly featured as a defensive midfielder alongside Mateo Kovacic in a friendly against Barcelona – in which he scored – and against United in the Community Shield.

O’Reilly played as a centre-back against Salford and as a left-back when he replaced Abdukodir Khusanov at half-time against Bournemouth.

New City deal? Chelsea? What is his future?

BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone said: “He had his contract updated in 2023 but there are likely to be talks about an improved deal in light of recent performances.

” There was interest from Chelsea in the winter window but never close. “

Had O’Reilly, who is under contract until 2028, joined Chelsea, he would have followed fellow City academy product Cole Palmer.

‘ I’m just grateful for the opportunities ‘ – what he says

O’Reilly spoke to BBC Sport after his man-of-the-match performance on Sunday.

” My instructions were to get involved as much as I can – in the attacking phase and securing the defending phase, “he said.

” It was good to get the contributions with the two assists. I was buzzing.

“Towards the start it was a bit challenging because I’ve not really played there, but I know what I need to do there and I’m just buzzing I can play.

‘ He changed the game ‘ – what they say

After the Bournemouth game Guardiola said:” Against Plymouth he scored two goals. Today he made the assists.

“He’s a number 10, we cannot forget. But he has the pace, he is so intelligent and quality with the ball.

” In the final third he has vision. He played really good and had an impact. “

City midfielder Bernardo Silva said:” He was unbelievable.

Will O’Reilly play in the semi-finals?

City play Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at Wembley in late April.

It may not have been a serious promise from Guardiola, but it seems likely that O’Reilly will feature at some stage.

Related topics

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  • FA Cup
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Man-of-match rewarded for ‘eggs-ellent’ display

Svenn Olav Sele, Bryne FK
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It was once customary for Premier League players to be gifted a bottle of champagne as reward for winning man of the match.

Times have moved on since then, with players now receiving a small trophy in recognition of their display.

But Norwegian club Bryne FK – where Manchester City forward Erling Haaland started his career – have come up with a novel approach by awarding eggs to their player of the match.

The club, based in the south-west of Norway close to the city of Stavanger, were promoted back to the top-flight last season for the first time since 2003.

They were beaten 1-0 by Europa League quarter-finalists Bodo/Glimt in their first fixture back in the top division on Sunday.

But they were kept in the match by goalkeeper Jan de Boer, who pulled off a string of fine stops and saved a second-half penalty.

The Dutchman’s reward? Four trays of eggs, of course.

The prize is a nod to the club’s ties with local agriculture, which is dominated by meat and dairy production.

Such is the association with farming, supporters are often heard chanting “we are farmers and we are proud of it” at matches, and there are ‘ VIP ‘ tickets on sale for fans to watch games from a pitchside tractor.

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Ocean economy needs protection against wave of threats: OECD

The global ocean economy is at risk of major disruption without increased protection, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The global ocean economy had grown to a size of $2.3 trillion by 2020, the OECD said in a report issued on Monday, as it called for action to improve sustainability.

Climate change, environmental degradation, lagging productivity, and slow digital transformation are intensifying pressures on marine ecosystems and economic potential, the report warns.

The oceans provide food security for more than three billion people, facilitate the transportation of 80 percent of global goods, and are home to cables that carry 98 percent of international internet traffic, the OECD notes.

From 1996 to 2020, the world’s ocean economy doubled in size, contributing to between three and four percent of total global gross domestic product (GDP). Tourism and offshore oil and gas generated almost two-thirds of that output during those years. Fishing and maritime trade were also important drivers of growth.

“If considered a country, the ocean economy would be the world’s fifth-largest economy in 2019”, the OECD said, highlighting that the blue economy supports more than 100 million full-time jobs.

Beachgoers dip in the Atlantic Ocean at Hollywood Beach, Florida, the United States]File: Wilfredo Lee/AP]

Published ahead of a high-level summit in Paris, the report adds that if historical trends continue, the ocean economy “could be nearly four times larger by 2050 than in 1995”.

However, sustaining this growth will require policy measures, it warns.

‘ Further action needed ‘

Oceans are struggling under the pressure of human population growth, increased environmental degradation, and increased territorial disputes, the OECD worries.

Elsewhere, the growth of illegal activities has given rise to a “dark ocean economy”.

“Further action is needed” to foster international cooperation and governance mechanisms to ensure a productive and sustainable economy, the report declares.

“Through science-based policy, improved management of marine spaces, and innovative digital solutions, we can protect the jobs, livelihoods, and food security of hundreds of millions of people who depend on the ocean” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said.

The report comes as the world’s oceans suffer a crisis of pollution, overfishing, and record-breaking levels of warmth that have harmed marine life and raised global temperatures.

The United Nations is hosting a major conference in the southern French city of Nice in June to specifically address these challenges and the sustainable use of the world’s oceans.

Boss £72 perfume that ‘smells like summer’ now £28 in limited time Amazon sale

Amazon shoppers are racing to snap up the last of the bargains before the Prime Spring Deal Days sale ends tonight, and this perfume deal is too good to miss. Usually the 75ml bottle of Boss Woman would set you back £72, but for a limited time only you can now get your hands on it for £28.50.

Amazon is currently the cheapest place to get your hands on the Boss Woman perfume, with The Perfume Shop still pricing it at £72 for 75ml, whilst Debenhams has it on sale down to £34. The fragrance is a big hit with shoppers who love its warm and fruity scent, with some saying it “smells like summer”.

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The Boss Woman perfume was designed to have an uplifting, free-spirited scent, which makes it perfect as we start to head into the warmer, lighter months. It combines light and oriental woody fragrances with sharp fruity notes.

It has an ambery fragrance profile, which opens with crispy apple, bergamot and white peach. The heart notes are plum, cinnamon stick and orange flowers, before finishing with base notes of creamy vanilla, olivewood and sandalwood.

Amazon shoppers have given it a 4.7 out of 5 star rating, with one saying: “This perfume is sweet, citrusy and smells like summer! It isn’t strong or overpowering. My favourite”!

The Boss Woman perfume ‘ smells like summer ‘ (Amazon)

Another agreed: “Was hoping this is Boss Orange then realised that Boss Orange has been discontinued. This smells just as good. Smells good. Durability is good. Smells fresh. I was given this as a birthday present. Bottle is cute”.

One did mention: “Good scent but will advice to do smell it in the shops first. does not last as long as was expecting”. With Boss Woman being an eau de toilette, rather than a eau de parfum, it does have a slightly lower concentration of perfume, which can impact the longevity of it.

However another chimed in: “One of my favourite perfumes. The smell lasts a while when sprayed on clothes. The bottle I received was the genuine brand and not a replica”.

If longevity is important, another great fragrance which combines fresh, fruity notes with more woody, earthy undertones is Marc Jacobs Daisy Ever So Fresh Eau de Parfum. The eau de parfum is usually priced at £59 for a 30ml bottle, it’s currently down to £35.40 in Look Fantastic’s sale, saving you an impressive 40%.

It’s touted as “An energising elixir of mandarin, mango and pineapple introduce the scent, uplifted by a floral bouquet of rosewater and orange blossom. Inspiring spontaneity with its youthful spirit, the fragrance settles onto a warm bed of cashmere woods”.

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Life on the edge – GB freerider Bramwell chases Olympic dream

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As Cody Bramwell balanced on the summit of the Kakhiani mountain face in Georgia, it was not just the edge of his snowboard that was teetering over the precipice – his life’s dream was too.

The 30-year-old feared this could be his last chance to make it back to the top of his chosen sport of freeriding, after a season out with injury and subsequent poor form had put the brakes on a promising career.

With plans taking shape to include the daredevil discipline in the Winter Olympics in 2030, he knew this would be the perfect time to make his mark in a sport that rewards those who take the biggest risks.

Until recently, Bramwell had been one of the rising stars of freeriding – which combines the thrills and spills of freestyle skiing and snowboarding with the freedom of off-piste riding, with competitors judged on the tricks they pull and the difficulty of the route they take down a sheer, rocky mountainside.

But for the Swedish-born snowboarder, who has an English father and has chosen to compete for Great Britain, his career now looked to be fading fast.

After being given a wildcard to compete this season on the Freeride World Tour (FWT), Bramwell crashed out of the opening three events and was facing relegation from the top-tier as he prepared to “drop in” for his fourth run in Georgia.

“I was so down and disappointed and kind of thought ‘ oh well, my career is over I guess'”, he said.

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From fears of missing out, to winning the biggest prize

Bramwell was bottom of the overall standings with two events of the regular season remaining.

Only the top 60% of the field would retain their pro licence for the 2025-26 season and make it through to the FWT final in the Swiss resort of Verbier.

After claiming successive overall third-place finishes in 2021 and 2022, before missing the 2023 campaign with a broken ankle, he looked set to lose his place in the FWT top tier for what promises to be a transformative year for the sport.

The tour is joining forces with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which runs the World Cup programmes in alpine skiing, as well as freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

Developments planned for 2026 include the first Freeriding World Championships, while an application will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee today (Monday, 31 March) to request inclusion in the 2030 Winter Games in France.

Bramwell faced the prospect of missing out on the wealth of opportunities about to open up to the top riders, but he still had one more chance to redeem himself – and this time his stars aligned.

Throwing caution to the wind, he aced his run in Georgia to claim just the second win of his career and first in five years. A second-placed finish in the next event in Austria saw him jump to third place in the overall standings and qualify for the tour final.

Even better was to come in the sport’s spiritual home of Verbier, where Bramwell produced a jaw-dropping run to win FWT’s blue-riband event.

“I guess I just earned so much confidence from that win in Georgia”, he explained.

“Every time I am up at the start I am asking myself ‘ what am I doing here? ‘.

” Standing at the start gate is stressful, but as soon as you drop in I am like ‘ OK, this is what I love to do’.

Cody Bramwell lifts the Xtreme Verbier trophy, alongside Switzerland's Liam Rivera and France's Victor de Le Rue Levy Loye/FWT

‘ To be an Olympian would be the craziest dream ‘

With the shackles off, Bramwell began his descent of Verbier’s Bec des Rosses with an audacious backflip over an exposed rocky outcrop, then navigated a breakneck passage through a narrow gully, hurtling through a cascading shower of falling snow before ending with a soaring 360-degree jump.

Judges score each competitor on the difficulty of the line they choose down the mountain, the fluidity, control and technique shown in their run and the style of their jumps, as well as the amount of time they spend in the air.

Bramwell claimed victory in Verbier with an impressive score of 92.67 out of 100, and moved from rock bottom after three events to finish the season in second place overall.

“Winning the whole tour would have been amazing, but at least now we have some more chances”, added Bramwell. “The Xtreme Verbier is the most legendary freeride competition, so to win that for the first time is the biggest dream ever”.

The Briton is now looking forward to a much brighter future, and the potential to one day step on to an Olympic podium.

That possibility is by no means assured, but FIS told BBC Sport that it was finalising documents to put forward freeride as an Olympic discipline for the 2030 Winter Games, with the International Olympic Committee due to make a decision in December.

FIS secretary general Michel Vion said: “From FIS ‘ standpoint, freeride clearly meets all the evaluation criteria, including a strong position on promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. Freeride is ready to bring value to the Olympic movement”.

“To be an Olympian would be the craziest dream ever, that would be so cool”, added Bramwell, who switched to represent Britain in 2021 and says his father Peter and his family in Norwich love to cheer him on in GB colours.

Related topics

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