Archive December 6, 2025

Prince Harry slammed for ‘larking around’ in insensitive move as ‘painful truth’ exposed

By in Entertainment News, News

The Duke of Sussex has been criticised for a recent TV appearance which pointed out the cruel irony of his comedy sketch and his current celebrity lifestyle in the US

Prince Harry has been slammed for a surprise recent TV appearance, which exposed the cruel irony between his awkward comedy skit and his current celebrity lifestyle in America. The Duke of Sussex made an unexpected appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in which he featured in a sketch portraying himself as he tried out to become a Hallmark film ” Christmas prince”.

The talk show host questioned why an actual prince would wish to star in such productions, leading Harry to respond: “You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you’re clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?”

READ MORE: King Charles wrote ‘apology letter’ to royal staff member who lost his job after ‘scandal’

Author avatarEllie Fry

When Colbert challenged the notion of an American “obsession,” Harry wisecracked: “Really? I hear you elected a king,” in what appeared to be a nod to the “No Kings” demonstrations aimed at the Trump administration.

Harry has since received a wave of backlash for his brief appearance, with many wondering why the Duke opted to appear on the late night talk show in the first place. According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the appearance missed the mark entirely.

She told the Mirror : “I can’t for the life of me think why Harry chose to do this. What was in it for him? The result was an onslaught of criticism – for a rather stilted performance, for a political joke and for the timing (with his father in law in hospital and the State Banquet at Windsor).”

While some royal watchers found the joy in Harry’s skit, Jennie Bond believes there was a painful irony in the comedy sketch, in which the prince begged for a role in a fictional Christmas film.

She said: “I like Harry, and I rather admire the way he’s willing to laugh at himself, but this just seemed so unnecessary. It was also rather too painfully close to the truth: a Prince looking for a role and willing to do anything to secure one.”

With the TV appearance coming at the same time the Royal Family were hosting the German president for a historic state visit in Windsor, Jennie added: “The contrast between Harry larking around as a LA celebrity and the dignity of his family back home exercising their soft power at a glittering banquet was stark.”

Jennie’s comments were echoed by another royal expert, as Tom Sykes, editor of the Royalist newsletter on Substack, called for Harry to be stripped of his titles as a result of the TV appearance, to make it clear to the US public that his views and comments are his own, and do not reflect that stance taken by the Royal Family.

Harry’s comments about Trump just months after the US leader and First Lady travelled to the UK for a whirlwind state visit, in which both Trump and King Charles spoke fondly about each other and the relationship between the two nations.

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Jennie said that all in all, Harry’s appearance on the show was tone deaf, and he would be better off sticking to his other philanthropic efforts, instead of trying to pursue a career in showbusiness.

She said: “A bad choice, Harry: you are not an actor or a comedian. Stick to your charity work and campaigning on issues you care about. Or, indeed, just stick to being a great dad and husband – you seem to be wonderfully good at that.”

England in tatters after dismal day in Brisbane

By in News, Sports News

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Stephan Shemilt

Chief Cricket Reporter at the Gabba
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Second Ashes Test, the Gabba, Brisbane (day-night, day three of five)

England 334: Root 138; Starc 6-75 & 134-6 Crawley 44; Neser 2-27, Boland 2-33

Australia 511: Starc 77, Weatherald 72; Carse 4-152, Stokes 3-113

England trail by 43 runs

England’s hopes in the second Test – and the Ashes – are in tatters after a dismal and depressing third day in Brisbane.

On a Saturday that will sit alongside England’s long history of misery at a ground where they have not won since 1986, Australia tortured the visitors with the bat then applied overwhelming pressure with the ball.

To the delight of a baying Gabba crowd and in the intense atmosphere of the Queensland night, England were left in disarray at 134-6 – still 43 behind. Defeat inside three days was only narrowly avoided.

Faced with a first-innings of deficit of 177, England started their second innings in the twilight against the pink ball with promise – the visitors were 45-0 from six overs at the dinner break.

As ever, England are incapable of batting well enough for long enough, and mistakes were inevitable.

Ben Duckett can feel unlucky to be bowled by a scuttler from Scott Boland, yet Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley both played feckless drives to be caught and bowled by Michael Neser.

Even Joe Root was culpable of edging Mitchell Starc, Harry Brook nicked Boland and Jamie Smith became the umpteenth England player to fall trying to drive Starc.

Ben Stokes has engineered unimaginable Ashes escapes in the past. This will not be one of them and his team is crumbling around him. The captain remains unbeaten, with him and Will Jacks both on four.

Australia were earlier led by 77 from Starc – the pace bowler adding runs to his stellar series with the ball – to keep England in the field for almost two sessions and rack up 511.

England staring down the barrel

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Only five days into this series, England are at a point of no return. There would surely be no way back from 2-0 down, especially for a team without a win in this country for almost 15 years.

The intense frustration at England’s predicament is it is largely self-inflicted. They have been wasteful with the bat, wayward with the ball and have dropped catches.

This is not a great Australia team and the hosts are missing a number of key players. Still, the hosts are giving England a lesson in how to win Test matches. Their batting was ruthless, their bowling relentless and they have caught everything.

No team has made as many as England’s 334 in the first innings of a day-night Test and lost, yet Australia put England’s effort into context.

The pitch is showing signs of uneven bounce and there are showers forecast for Sunday night. England will not make the Test last long enough to use either to their advantage.

Tourists wilt once more

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So often England insist their batters can read situations, adapt to conditions and “absorb pressure”. It is a wonder they can make such statements with a straight face.

Was this Bazball? It was just awful cricket. Even when England started well, Australia had the comfort of knowing a chance would arrive. When it did, the hosts pounced, carried by the energy of the expectant Gabba crowd.

Duckett was genuinely unfortunate, bowled off the bottom of his bat for 15. Pope and Crawley were anything but unlucky, gifting return catches to Neser for 26 and 44 respectively.

Both tried to drive balls that were not there for the shot. Neser gleefully clung on in his follow-through. England were on the way to losing five wickets for 38 runs.

The usually dependable Root was sucked into driving Starc. Brook overturned being given caught behind off Boland, then edged the next ball anyway.

Smith looks increasingly rattled and his rabbit-in-the-headlights drive gave Starc his 18th wicket of the series.

This is Starc’s Ashes

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In the absence of Pat Cummins – who is set to return for the third Test – Josh Hazlewood and, by choice, Nathan Lyon, Starc is having the series of his life. His bowling has made batting difficult for England and, on Saturday, he found batting simple against England’s bowling.

This was his highest score in a home Test for nine years. Not only did it heap more miles on to weary English bodies, it delayed Australia’s opportunity to bowl until the crucial twilight hours.

After Australia began on 378-6, leading by 44, England needed the final four wickets as swiftly as possible. Though Neser edged Stokes and Carey fell to the second new ball to give Gus Atkinson his first wicket of the series, Starc and Boland showed the flatness of the pitch.

Stokes had a poor day as captain. He bowled only seven overs, Jofra Archer just five. Jacks bowled one over in the first 97. Brydon Carse barely bowled in the batters’ half for his 4-152.

England could not stop Starc farming the strike. Any time England bowled full, he whacked through the covers or straight. The Starc-Boland partnership lasted 27.2 overs, the longest of the series by either side.

Starc eventually miscued Carse to mid-off, but England’s torture continued with seven overs of Boland and Brendan Doggett together. Every Australian reached double figures for only the third time in Tests before Doggett finally edged Jacks to slip.

‘Gabbatroopers’ revel in another day of Australia dominance

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Inside Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright’s first Christmas in £3.5m mansion with baby Palma

By in Entertainment News, News

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan are looking forward to their first Christmas with their baby daughter, Palma, nine months, in their mega mansion in Essex

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright are pulling out all the stops for baby Palma’s first Christmas at their lavish £3.5 mansion in Essex.

The proud parents, who welcomed their daughter in March this year, bought the palatial pad in the countryside six years ago and have it all decked out for Christmas already in show-stopping style.

From an enormous Christmas tree, to dazzling lighting displays, the couple have reportedly spared no expense for their daughter’s magical milestone. So, as they count down to the 25th, here’s a sneak peak at their preparations, including their enormous Christmas tree, which boasts decadent velvet bows…

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Lavish Christmas decorations

Mark and Michelle are known for going all out at Christmas but this year is extra special because of Palma.

The couple have shared pictures of their lavish decorations for the festive period on Instagram, which include an enormous Christmas tree in their grand hallway, which is decorated with giant red velvet bows and lights.

Entering the house, there are two elegant garlands strewn with lights and red baubles, which are also entwined up the stairs. Complimenting this are silver baubles hung from the ceiling, which gives the mansion a magical feel.

Sources say the Wrights plan on making this festive season “one to remember”, with “no expense spared” as they go all out. An insider close to the couple told OK!: “Mark loves Christmas and he’s wanted a family for a long time, so for him it couldn’t get any better.

“He’s like an excited puppy dog and cherishing every minute of it. It means the world to him.”

Select guest list

Mark and Michelle are both working parents, but family is their priority according to the source, who confirmed that the actress’ family will be coming down from Manchester for Christmas.

Explaining that the Wright family will also be joining in with the celebrations, they said of Michelle: “She’s been really busy but family is her priority. It’s lovely to have some special time together, especially because at one point she and Mark were practically living separate lives because of work.

“Her family are coming down from Manchester but it’s very much a Wright Christmas – family comes first and it’s very important for them to be all together. It’ll be lovely seeing all the kids together.”

Baby Palma’s first Christmas

Although only nine months old, Palma, looks like she’s already sorted for Christmas after her mum, Michelle, uploaded an adorable snap of the tot.

Proudly posing in matching Christmas pyjamas with her daughter, the Fool Me Once star, told fans the sweet set was ‘available for all the family’. “Matching with my girl,” read the Michelle’s post caption with a white heart emoji. It’s been a busy year for the celebrity couple, who became parents for the first time in March.

Michelle and husband Mark welcomed Palma and announced the happy news with a black and white photo of the their bundle of joy, snuggled in a crochet blanket.

The couple shared: “Together we have a new love to share. Our little girl. Palma Elizabeth Wright, 06.03.25.”

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