Archive August 10, 2025

When the Duchess of Sussex reportedly set her sights on living in one particular royal home, the late Queen is said to have dashed her hopes, according to an expert

Despite being a senior working royal for only a few years, Meghan Markle lived like royalty during her time in the Firm, enjoying all the perks that come with being a member of the royal family.

After her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, the Sussexes called two royal residences home, despite it being less than two years between their nuptials and their dramatic exit from the royal family in 2020.

Before their star-studded Windsor wedding, Meghan moved in with Harry when he lived in his humble Nottingham Cottage home on the Kensington Palace estate, which is where he popped the question to his bride-to-be. It comes after Prince Harry’s devastating loss in royal rift was exposed as Meghan ‘holds the cards’.

READ MORE: William and Kate Middleton’s fears over move with kids after Royal Family ‘bad blood’READ MORE: King Charles’ Balmoral Castle forced to close as warning issued in statement

A few months after they tied the knot, the couple then relocated to Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor royal estate, having been gifted the property by Queen Elizabeth II.

While the Duke and Duchess ended up being very fond of Frogmore Cottage, The Times reported that the newlyweds originally had their sights set on another royal residence to call home.

As has been widely reported in the past, Meghan was said to have wanted to live at Windsor Castle, with the Sussexes asking if “living quarters could be made available after their marriage”.

The late Queen Elizabeth II apparently “firmly” rejected this possibility, as she found the request “inappropriate”, as at the time, only the Queen and Prince Philip had private apartments within the castle.

Royal author and historian Hugo Vickers previously told The Times : “There are empty bedrooms and suites in the private apartments which the Sussexes may have had their eye on, or perhaps some former living quarters in the castle grounds converted into other things.

“But I can see how it might not be entirely appropriate to have a young family living there.” The newspaper reported that according to royal aides, Windsor represents “a special place” for the Sussexes as that’s where they got married and where they held Archie’s christening.

In a book titled The New Royals, royal expert Katie Nicholl spoke of the late Queen’s decision to give Frogmore to Harry and Meghan. Quoting Lady Elizabeth Anson, who died in 2020, Katie penned: “The cottage was a big deal. The Queen’s entrance into the gardens is right next to their cottage. It is essentially her backyard, her solitude, and her privacy.

“She was giving that up in gifting Harry and Meghan Frogmore Cottage. We all thought it was very big of her. She said ‘I hope they’ll respect it’.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were very content in Frogmore, as Harry wrote in his 2023 memoir Spare: “We loved that place. From the first minute. It felt as if we were destined to live there.

“We couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning, go for a long walk in the gardens, check in with the swans. Especially grumpy Steve. We met the Queen’s gardeners, got to know their names and the names of all the flowers. They were thrilled at how much we appreciated, and praised, their artistry.”

We ask make-up artist and social media sensation Genevieve Turley about tips, trends and her new OK! Beauty Box – including a way for Mirror readers to get it for under £55

If you like looking at beauty content on Instagram or TikTok, the chances are that you will have seen some of Genevieve Turley’s videos.

At a time when beauty can seem to mostly be perfectly edited images and unrealistic standards, professional make-up artist Gen’s posts are refreshingly hilarious and down-to-earth – and they’ve drawn attention from A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston and the Kardashians.

Gen also worked on the ITV show Katie Piper’s Weekend Escape, helping to make over members of the public with inspiring stories to tell, and has just released her own limited-edition edit with OK! Beauty Box, containing 11 of her favourite products – and a huge saving for Mirror readers to be had, too (keep scrolling for an exclusive offer)…

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How did you get into doing make-up professionally?

I changed career in 2018. I had been a burns and plastics nurse in the RAF but make-up had long been a passion of mine, so once I had my daughter in 2017 I knew I wanted to leave the forces and start my own business. I had no idea what I was doing with social media at first, I just knew it was a free marketing tool and it was a great way to get my work out there.

What was the turning point in your career?

My presence on social media skyrocketed in 2024 when I started to do more comedy skits about make-up. My first one went viral on Instagram and both Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian commented on it. I went from 4,000 followers to 100,000 in weeks.

I like to make fun of trends but sometimes there is a serious undertone about the pressure of beauty standards.

How would you describe your make-up style?

Natural to soft glam. A lot of my professional work has been bridal, so I have plenty of experience with different skin tones, skin types, ages etc. Online, I like to show my audience how to use products, as the beauty world can be very overwhelming. Most women want simple tips to enhance their natural beauty.

And what can people expect from your social media accounts?

It’s a real mishmash. Overall, I like to think my pages are relatable to women aged 35+. It’s life on the go as a woman with two young kids and a dog. I review make-up and skincare while sharing tips and tricks, but I also try to bring some fun.

Social media can negatively impact a person’s headspace, confidence and worthiness. I like to think that on mine, you will feel seen, empowered and upbeat.

What’s the most ridiculous make-up trend you’ve seen recently?

So many! The blush hacks have gotten out of control. Just whack it on and get on with your day! And putting make-up onto clingfilm so you can splat it on your face in the morning. Wild! Dangerous, too, as young kids are online and this has obvious risks. Not worth the clickbait.

What was the most inspirational story you heard from working on Katie Piper’s Weekend Escape?

There were so many. Michael [Douglas, celeb hair stylist] and I honestly had such a wonderful time with these incredible individuals who all had inspiring stories to share. One that sticks out was a lady whose young son died from type 1 diabetes. I was sitting in the room with tears rolling down my face. His mum had taken him to the GP and they said it was a virus. He could have so easily been saved. Just heartbreaking.

What was important to you when creating your OK! Beauty Box?

I’ve had so many beauty boxes over the years and always thought, “What would I put in mine?” So when this happened I was delighted! I wanted great products that will make a big impact. Medik8 C-Tetra Lipid Vitamin C Radiance Serum is a showstopper. The Rodial Blush Drops will also be popular.

This box is a great opportunity to try products you may not have heard of or been afraid to splurge on, but with the massive saving (it’s worth over £210 but costs £59.99), it takes away the worry.

What are your top tips for using the products inside?

Just have a play with them, feel the textures, and try different ways of applying them. Make-up and skincare should be a mix of TLC and creative play. I wanted products that were perfect for my ‘natural make-up’ women.

What’s a quick and easy make-up trick that not enough people know?

Setting spray. Spritz after foundation and then again after adding powder. It helps to bond the make-up so it looks natural and skin-like, but also adds longevity. You can also spritz throughout the day to rehydrate your skin while also refreshing your make-up.

What would you pick as your ultimate desert island make-up product?

How can you ask me that?! If I have to say just one, it would be the Dr PawPaw Shea Butter Lip Balm from the box because it’s so multifunctional. It’s great for the lips but also gives a lovely glow to your cheeks, or you can pop it on your brows to add some shape. It’s a great all-rounder and handbag essential.

Reader offer

Get £5 off the limited-edition OK! Beauty Box by Genevieve Turley – worth over £210 – and buy it for £54.99 instead of the usual price of £59.99 while stocks last. Click here or use the code MIRRORGEN at the checkout.

You might also be interested in a skincare-focused box like Lookfantastic’s The Skin Renewal Edit, which is valued at £210 but costs £45, or the Boots X Supergoop! Beauty Bag Edit, priced at £44 but worth over £90 (we’ve reviewed this one here).

The BBC’s Broom Cupboard, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year, was occupied by a number of famous TV presenters, one of them was Simon Parkin – here’s what he’s up to now

A tiny room at the BBC became infamous when the corporation started to use the space as a studio where bubbly, young presenters would introduce children’s programmes. Thanks to its diminutive size, it became affectionately known as the Broom Cupboard.

Former This Morning host Philip Schofield presented the first ever slot on September 9 1985 and other famous faces such as Zoe Ball, Andy Crane and Andi Peters also sat behind the little control desk for CBBC.

There were a couple of much-loved characters who popped up in the cupboard on occasion too – Gordon the Gopher and Edd the Duck, for example. It comes after Richard Osman reveals an axed Ant and Dec show was ‘expensive car crash’.

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Another cheeky chappy who became a regular feature in the live slots was Simon Parkin. He began hosting from the Broom Cupboard in 1987 after starting out as a DJ on Radio Tees , the local commercial radio station for Teeside. He hadn’t had his job there for long when he read an article in the Daily Star revealing Phil was leaving the afternoon cupboard slot to host new Saturday morning show, Going Live. He called up the boss at the time, was invited for an audition and got the job presenting the Christmas holiday morning links.

He told thebroomcupboard.co.uk how it felt to be on national telly so soon after starting out: “I really couldn’t believe that I was there. I really didn’t have any training,” he recalled. “But it was a very relaxed, friendly place in which to be and learn. And you know, to look back, I had BBC1 to play with for three minute chunks at a time – it wouldn’t happen now. There I was, and only five months previously I was on hospital radio.”

Simon revealed that it wasn’t until Andi Peters, who he got on with immediately, started working there too that he honed his TV presenting skills. He said it was thanks to Andi’s visual brain and expertise that he learnt the ropes.

Describing his time in the cramped studio as “the best few years of my life”, he remembers going out to lots of parties and having loads of fun despite not earning an awful lot. “We just genuinely had a really good time, on screen and off,” he said. “Myself and Andi, and Stephanie Lowe and later Philippa Forrester, we all got on really well. We’d do a Sunday show and then all go out for lunch. I remember my flatmate used to moan at me for being on the phone at length to Andi. We’d just be chatting and coming up with ideas. It was just a really good, energised period of my life. I was very happy!”

Simon stayed at the Beeb for the next five years working on shows such The Ozone, But First This, CBBC2 and Top of the Pops. He also kept up his DJ work at the BBC ’s London station GLR and nationally on BBC Radio Five.

In 1992 he was tempted over to rivals ITV to present for its new breakfast telly station, GMTV where he was to be the children’s presenter. He went on to host programmes across the ITV network for Yorkshire Television, Granada and Westcountry. He ended up on Meridian in a slightly surprising slot – fronting the weather reports.

Despite knowing nothing about meteorology, he was relieved when he was assured he didn’t need to know about the science and was hired to cover maternity leave. He presented the nightly reports during the news until 2017.

Simon has lived in Somerset with his wife Celina, their two children, Emily and Charlie and dog Pebble since 1998. He has returned to his first love of radio and now presents the weekday news and magazine show Simon Parkin in the Morning on BBC Somerset.

Yungblud, who performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell gig just days before his death, says he had “a lot in the works” with the late Prince of Darkness

He has been hailed the new Prince of Darkness thanks to his close friendship with the late Ozzy Osbourne.

And as he takes his explosive live shows on a world tour, rising star Yungblud, like his rock mentor, seems more than ready to shake things up.

The 28-year-old – real name Dominic Richard Harrison – says: “I want to achieve what Ozzy did. He was a great inspiration to me.” It comes after Sharon Osbourne breaks down in tears at Ozzy’s funeral in heartbreaking scenes.

And the Doncaster-born singer adds: “British rock music needs a bit of a kick up the a***.”

Ozzy and Dom, who burst on to the music scene in 2018, became friends after the Brummie rocker appeared in the video for Yungblud’s song The Funeral in 2022.

The pair bonded over their shared love of music and their rebellious nature, with Ozzy gifting Dom one of his famous crucifix necklaces.

Yungblud was among huge bands such as Metallica and Guns N’ Roses who performed at Black Sabbath’s final gig at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5.

He gave a heartfelt rendition of Changes, the No1 hit Ozzy recorded with daughter Kelly in 2003, to the 45,000-strong crowd.

Speaking before Ozzy’s death, Dom hinted he was working with Sabbath star and at a possible secret recording with his mentor, saying: “There is a lot in the works as me and Ozzy are friends.”

The wild man of rock died aged 76 on July 22 at home in Buckinghamshire after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Dom was among big names from the music world, such as Sir Elton John, James Hetfield of Metallica and Marilyn Manson, who attended Ozzy’s funeral in Birmingham on July 30.

It is established singers like Ozzy and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury that Yungblud can thank for paving the way for his soaring success.

He says: “People like Freddie Mercury and Elton John, they are huge. When I released my first single, Hello Heaven, Hello a few months ago, Brian May actually sent me an email to say how he loved it as the song is over nine minutes long – longer than Bohemian Rhapsody.

“The old boys of music have been such a source of inspiration for me as that was when pure emotion was injected into music.

“Freddie and Brian were always such massive influences. Brian told me to keep evolving as he watched Freddie evolve and he loved my music. It was an honour.”

And as well as being close to Ozzy, Dom also counts Queen’s lead guitarist as a pal.

He says: “Brian May and I are friends. I would love to do a song with Brian and I have been working with Joe Perry from Aerosmith. It is my dream, man.

“That is why I named my new album Idols as I have looked at people my whole life, but it is time to look to myself. I guess we always look back, but it is time to look forward.”

In homage to Queen, Dom included the We Will Rock You style “clap-along song” Ghosts on his new album.

He says: “I’m gonna make you all clap and imagine that I’m in the O2 next year. It can’t come quick enough!”

The hope is that his Idols tour – which starts last this month with 21 dates in the US followed by Canada, Europe and a string of UK gigs next spring – will help cement him as one of Britain’s biggest male solo stars.

Timed with this is the release of a documentary, Yungblud: Are You Ready, Boy?, which hits cinemas later this month.

The feature-length film, directed by Bafta-winner Paul Dugdale, charts Dom’s early life growing up in Doncaster and shows him performing at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, the birthplace of David Bowie’s album Heroes, and U2’s Achtung Baby.

Ever proud of his northern roots, Dom made his new album in Leeds so it could have an authentic vibe.

He says: “I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud to stand by anything I’ve ever made. This album was made with love by four people in the North of England.”

The album features Yungblud singing a ballad, which Dom reveals he was inspired to include by pop star Lewis Capaldi.

Dom says: “When I was making this album, I was really close with Lewis… I’ve always been shouting a lot, and he just said, “Just sing, man” and so I am.”

To get ready for his tour, the rocker cut back on the beer and got into shape through boxing training.

He says: “I like the new physique. I will take it if people say I look like Iggy Pop any day, or Bowie during the Thin White Duke era.

“They were big inspirations to my body and I am just trying to be like them. I am ready to work and kick ass.”

And ready to conquer the globe…

He adds: “The whole world is f***** up right now and we have to find a sense of unity. We have to find a sense of common ground and means of co-existing and compromise.

“We need to look at each other; we are all human and we have that in common. My new album has a nod to Britpop and British music.

Influencer and Big Brother star Joja Siwa seems to be bringing back a beloved fashion trend as she was spotted wearing this iconic footwear – and we know how to shop Jojo’s exact pair

Joja Siwa is certainly one for bringing back old-school fashion trends, and this week, she’s at it again. Photographed playing tennis with Chris Hughes, Jojo Siwa was seen sporting a pair of Nike high-tops that were all the rage back in the 2010s. But could the iconic footwear be making a comeback?

Jojo was wearing the Nike Jordan 1 Retro High ’85 in what appears to be the black-and-white colourway, though due to the lighting, she could have been wearing the navy-and-white or indigo-and-white options.

And if you’re keen to revive the decade-old trend with the exact pair of shoes Jojo opted for, the good news is we’ve found one place to shop the Nike Jordans in all sizes from UK 4 to 17.

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Coming in a huge range of shades and combinations, the Nike Jordan 1 Retro high tops are an ode to the original Air Jordan 1s from 1983, emulating the iconic style that’s been a firm favourite in footwear collections for decades.

Jojo’s sneakers have been designed with a luxe leather upper and revolutionary Air-Sole unit inside. They come armed with lightweight cushioning and a premium feel that ensures your feet are comfortable no matter what, whether you’re partaking in casual gameplay over a weekend or taking to the court like Michael Jordan himself.

This retro version features the same cupsole profile and thick stitch detailing as the original, ensuring you match the age-old trend, with all of the support and durability from a modern-day shoe.

The stable and supportive Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG is finished with a textile tongue for soft, breathable comfort and a lace-up fastening that keeps your high-tops in place and secure, ready to face all activities.

Jojo’s Nike high tops are available to buy for £149, though Stock X does allow you to place a bid. Depending on your budget, you may be able to secure your own for less.

If you’re happy to shop an alternative style high-top, Nike offer these Nike Dunk High Retro in black and white, and they’re currently for sale for £71.99.

For those looking to ditch the Nike brand, Adidas have a similar look with these Rapid Court Mid High-Top Trainers, which cost £34 at Sports Direct.