Archive April 30, 2025

The King has spoken of the “daunting and at times frightening experience” of receiving a cancer diagnosis, in the most personal reflection of his own battle with the disease. Ahead of hosting a special reception for cancer charities at Buckingham Palace this evening, in a written message Charles told of his appreciation for the “profound impact of human connection”, observing how “the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion”.

In the personally penned message for the programme of the event, attended by champions of cancer charities and those who are living with cancer, including radio DJ Adele Roberts, TV personality Ashley Cain, actor Richard E Grant, and the parents of the late campaigner Dame Deborah James, the King highlighted the gravity of 1,000 people a day being handed a cancer diagnosis.

Revealing his own feelings of becoming “among those statistics myself”, he added: “I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.” Charles was diagnosed with cancer last February following a three night hospital stay at The London Clinic in Marylebone for an enlarged prostate procedure. Subsequent diagnostic tests identified a form of cancer.

The King has continued to have weekly treatment at a London hospital, returning to public duties last April. Since then he has taken on an extraordinary schedule of public work, telling aides he is intently “keen to make up for lost time”. In his message, Charles praised the selfless “care, comfort and reassurance” of all who work in the sector, acknowledging his own experience had led to “an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken”.

The King said: “My wife and I are delighted to host you here this evening to are, comfort and reassurance, celebrate and above all thank those who so selflessly give to the 390,000 people who, sadly, receive a new cancer diagnosis across the U.K. each year. That is over 1,000 new cases every single day.

“Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.

“It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years. And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits – that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.”

The King and Queen will tonight be joined by The Duchess of Gloucester, not only celebrating the work of the organisations but raising awareness of preventative action people can take to avoid cancer. Guests include representatives from the King and Queen’s patronages, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s and Children’s Hospice South West.

The King and Queen will also watch a performance by the ITV Change + Check Choir, made up of 26 women who all spotted their breast cancer symptoms after seeing the awareness campaign on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV1 programme Lorraine. Dame Deborah James, who also worked on the show, died from bowel cancer aged just 40 in 2022.

Prince William conferred a damehood on the campaigner weeks before she passed away, cementing her legacy raising awareness and helping save others from suffering the same fate. Her Bowelbabe Fund raised £17million to fund the work of scientists at the forefront of bowel cancer research.

The King noted that both he and the Queen continue to be patrons of several cancer focused organisations, often seeing for themselves the incredible work undertaken offering families “sanctuary, understanding and practical assistance”.

In his message Charles wrote: “What strikes us repeatedly is the profound impact of human connection – whether in the careful explanation from a specialist nurse, the hand held by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group. These moments of kinship create what I might call a ‘community of care’, one that sustains patients through the most difficult of times.”

In an extraordinary turn of events last year, doctors told the King of his plight just days before his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer. Royal sources say the two have “found great comfort” in confiding in one another as they faced their individual battles.

Kate underwent just over six months of preventative chemotherapy and was fortunately told in January that she is now in remission. A senior palace source said the King’s treatment continued to “move in a positive direction as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme” undertaken by the monarch in recent months.

The source emphasised that while progress has been made, his cancer remains in a “managed condition”. Both Charles and the princess have since used their profile to highlight the work of hospitals, medical staff and cancer sufferers. In his address tonight, Charles paid tribute to those working on the front line, saying their efforts meant “a cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support”.

He added: “So to all the researchers pursuing pioneering breakthroughs; to the healthcare professionals providing specialist treatment; to the volunteers offering comfort, or campaigning to raise awareness; and to the fundraisers enabling all this vital work – you have my whole family’s deepest admiration and gratitude.

“Your commitment to early diagnosis, evermore successful therapies and truly holistic care represents the very best our country can offer. This collective endeavour reminds us of what we can achieve when we are united with common purpose and uncommon determination.

“While every patient’s journey may be different, together you are ensuring that a cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support.

“And to those who may be receiving such upsetting news today, tomorrow or at any point in the future, I can only echo the departing words of the late Dame Deborah James, whose parents I am delighted to have with us here this evening, and whose example stands as an inspiration to us all, in sickness and in health: Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope. I am so very grateful for all that you do.”

Following the breakdown of her marriage to James Haskell, Chloe Madeley has “made a commitment to staying single.” As James moves on, the personal trainer and the daughter of TV legends Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley declared her support.

Following the release of Chloe’s own reality TV show, they split in 2023 amid rumors of trouble in paradise. Bodhi, the couple’s daughter, and Chloe and James were married for five years.

She has openly discussed their breakup and how difficult it was for them to end their relationship, calling it “one of the worst years of my life.” Since splitting, the TV star has remained single and has not yet returned to the dating scene.

However, James’ breakup with Chloe has drawn him to two women. Sara McLean and James recently posed for a photo at the Cheltenham Festival while Sara McLean was playing the game.

Chloe made the decision to reveal her own love life to fans as James’ new romances became public. In a candid Q and A session with fans, she insisted that she was not seeking a new partner.

What qualities do you seek in a man, asks a question? “I don’t [laughing emoji] I’m very happily committed to being and staying single,” Chloe responded, “I don’t [laughing emoji] I’m very happily committed to being and staying single.”

Chloe shared a very cryptic post on social media after catching James and Sara at the horse racing competition. A sheep was captured on video with a huge bucket covering its head.

Me:” was the title of the video’s caption, which implied that she was represented by the sheep. Additionally, the title read, “It’s so nice in here.” She’s at a place in her life where peace is a top priority and negativity cannot exist, according to the audio’s subtitles above the video. She no longer has the same level of energy.

She is merely removing herself from any circumstance that doesn’t resonate with her soul. She’s moving on, then, if you start moving funny.

Chloe later stated in her Stories that she is “more joyful than I’ve been in years and I’m not emotionally involved in anyone else’s love life in any way, shape or form.”

James recently thanked her for making a lasting impression on him while speaking on the podcast Spooning with Mark Wogan.

He said, “Chloe is an amazing woman, very talented, and she has greatly improved my life since we have split.” You split primarily because you want to ensure your daughter’s life is the best it can be.

And he continued to stress the importance of their daughter Bodhi’s well-being and ability to work together as parents: “And I think when you have a child, all of your other wishes go out of the window.”

Chloe is more vocal because she wears her heart on her sleeve, she says, “because it’s important for us to co-parent and do things.”

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Although carpet cleaners are frequently regarded as rental items from hardware stores like B&amp and Q, purchasing one might be more affordable than you might think. The SpinScrub Power Plus is one of several models available from Vax, a company renowned for vacuum and carpet cleaning equipment.

It’s a good investment, but thanks to Amazon’s spring sale, it’s now reduced by £108.83, even at its attractive price tag of £249.99. The cleaner is being offered for a limited time for £141.16, which seems to be a bargain hunter’s delight.

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With this wardrobe classic, Kate Middleton borrows from Meghan’s stylebook. Shop styles starting at £35.

This cleaner, which uses five rotating brushes, effectively cleans carpets from all angles, giving you deep cleaning. As if that weren’t enough, Birmingham Live reports that it comes with a six-year guarantee when you sign up with Vax.

If you’re short on space, consider using a compact spot cleaner. The StainStriker Stain and Spot Cleaner is priced at a reduced price of £149.99 on Shark’s official website. If that doesn’t appeal to you, Curry’s sells BISSELL’s SpotClean Pet Pro for £149.

Vax’s SpinScrub Power Plus is gaining 4.5 stars on Amazon, surpassing 1, 000 sales in the month of August, and is growing in popularity. A satisfied customer exclaimed, “Absolutely fantastic. Carpets are instantly revived thanks to it. It is simple to use and set up. Use of the hose attachment on stairs is simple. It offers excellent value for money.

This cleaner is fantastic, and it is very user-friendly, according to a third buyer! It’s a little loud, but not intolerable, like all carpet cleaners! Easy to set up and to change the dirty water. Overall, a fantastic cleaner.

Another customer, who gave it three stars, said, “My carpet wasn’t too dirty yet; it took me several attempts to clean it; it’s just good enough.” The hand tool is not powerful enough, and the machine’s weight is a lot, as well as my dirty stairs. The hand tool had to be removed and inserted repeatedly for the water pressure to return if the pressure was interrupted between cleans.

Maintaining clean carpets is always a challenge, according to a fourth shopper, who elaborated in length, but this machine has been a game-changer. In the past, I’ve used other carpet cleaners, and it’s always annoying to have to stop and refill the tank. This one saves me a lot of time because it allows me to clean large areas without having to stop. Although the machine is heavy, the setup and use is simple.

According to them, “SpinScrub technology removes stubborn stains and ground-in dirt. I was completely shocked by the amount of dirt it removed from my carpets! My carpets immediately appeared to be much brighter and more refreshed after using it, almost like brand-new. The quick drying time is a feature that I adore. Although I was concerned that the carpets would take hours to dry, they turned out much more quickly than I had anticipated. Since I have animals around, this is particularly important to me.

The 6-year guarantee gives me more security, they added. Vax has a strong product support system, which is admirable. This investment will last me a long time, in my opinion. The only drawback is that the machine is a little heavier, if I had to pick one. Given the powerful cleaning it provides, I believe that’s a fair trade-off. Additionally, it’s not too cumbersome to use because of the large wheels’ ease of maneuverability. I highly advise trying Vax SpinScrub. It has made a fantastic addition to our home.

Andrew Johnston, a former Britain’s Got Talent finalist, has denied rape and sexual assault charges, describing his sex as “fast, energetic, maybe a little passionate.”

A former Britain’s Got Talent finalist has described his sex as “fast, energetic, maybe a pit passionate” while in court as he is accused of raping two women. Andrew Johnston, 30, cried at London’s Southwark Crown Court as he denied two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

He claimed to never be aggressive, never engage in sexual activity, and that the sex was consensual. Johnston, who won third place in the ITV talent show in 2008 with his rap and sexual assault assault, is accused of raping and sexually assaulting both women.

He claimed to have been messaging and dating frequently at the time of the alleged crimes. Johnston, who signed a record deal with Simon Cowell, admitted to having depression.

He added that his mental health is “terrible” and he has broken up with a girlfriend. While in court on Wednesday, he said: “I was in a bad place. I was just in a really bad place.”

When asked how his life had changed, he said, “I had lost everything over this time, both my girlfriend and my career.” I quickly entered a terrible state. Since then, I have never sung a note. I am unable to control myself.

He shook his head before dropping his head, saying, “I just can’t bring myself to.”

During sex, Johnston’s alleged victims allege that he continued to have the relationship. One of them claims that when she saw him at a club, he kissed and groped her.

The charges are “on my mind every single day,” Johnston, who is now a full-time roofer, told the court. Rupert Kent, the defense attorney, posed the question, “Are you guilty of these three charges?” Johnston responded, “I’m not at all.”

Mr. Kent inquired about the first rape allegation when he could determine whether he could reasonably assume that she wouldn’t consent. In response, Johnson said, “It was always consenting.” Johnston responded, “no, never,” when asked if he had touched her.

Johnston stated earlier, “I have waited to have my say on this. Although it’s difficult for me to provide evidence, I have waited.

He went on to say that the situation was “awful,” adding, “It is not me.” I was raised differently than I was. It doesn’t sound like me at all, and it’s not something I would do.

Johnston placed third on his British Got Talent contest and signed a record deal with Simon. His mother had given him access to the talent show where he performed his rendition of Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton and Pie Jesu.

He released a record that reached the top four of the charts. Johnston’s early fame came to an end as his voice changed as he adapted his signature.

He claimed before the court that “it continued for a few years until my voice started to change.” The songs I was singing in the show eventually became a little challenging to sing.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999