Category Entertainment News

Meghan Markle has returned to Instagram posting and publicly announced her and Prince Harry new deal with Netflix – but there is one issue she’s not spoken out about

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be toasting their new Netflix deal – but a war of words has still rumbled on in the background.

Earlier this year, the Duke of Sussex stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka.

Harry was said to be devastated by the row, which saw all sides rebuked by the Charity Commission for allowing the war of words to play out so publicly. Meghan was even dragged into the row earlier this year when Dr Chandauka claimed she caused a stir at a fund-raiser for the charity with little notice.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘split’ over roles but it’s good news for both of themREAD MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix projects revealed as they issue statement

But despite posting on Instagram and publicly announcing the new Netflix deal, Meghan has stayed silent on the row. And according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, there is good reason for this.

She told the Mirror : “This is a very sensitive issue all round. Sentebale was Harry’s charity from the start, along with his co-founder, Prince Seeiso.

“The allegations of misogyny and misogynoir – both discounted by the charity commission – make this an even more sensitive issue for Meghan to become involved with.

“So I think she has wisely taken a back seat on this and left it to her husband. I’m sure she has supported and comforted him in private, and I think Harry will completely understand that it’s not her place to get involved in a public row with his charity.”

Since the Charity Commission’s report, it has since been revealed that Harry might be set to start a new humanitarian charity. His spokesperson said: “The duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago. In what form that support takes — no decisions have been made.

“All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region.” But for royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop, Meghan’s silence on the issue has been notable.

She added: “Now that Meghan and Harry have signed a new Netflix deal (‘looser’ and apparently less lucrative than the previous $78m one but a deal nonetheless), might the Duchess find her voice?

“Not the one she volubly uses to hawk As Ever wares (in conjunction with Netflix) but rather the voice Meghan famously re-found after leaving the Royal Family, the one that talked her truth to royal power and surely could talk her truth to the Sentebale fiasco?

“No, really, why hasn’t Meghan come out batting for Prince Harry in his latest round of verbal fisty-cuffs concerning his former African charity?

After all, the Duke has consistently spoken out in support of his wife, establishing the precedent early on and against the wishes of his family when he condemned Britain’s media coverage and insisted he had never before witnessed such a ‘degree of pressure, scrutiny and harassment’ from the press. As it currently stands, Harry cuts a lonely figure.”

As Lauren Goodger gears up for the new series of TOWIE, a source reveals how filming the reality show while taking care of her young daughter on her own is leaving her “shattered”

Lauren Goodger says she’s “rebuilding” herself with the support of her “TOWIE family” – but a source claims her TV role is taking its toll elsewhere in her life. The reality star, 38, who first appeared on The Only Way Is Essex as the ex-girlfriend of Mark Wright in its first series in 2010, returned to the set as a permanent cast member last year after experiencing some devastating personal losses.

But according to our source, while the high-profile gig is doing wonders for Lauren’s confidence, the reality of juggling her life as mum to a four-year-old daughter with the demands of a job on a prominent reality show is “overwhelming” at times.

Lauren was “gutted” to pull out of a planned promotional appearance on This Morning last week because she couldn’t arrange childcare for Larose, whose father is builder Charles Drury. Instead, the interview featured fan favourite Harry Derbidge in the studio and fellow TOWIE original Amy Childs via video link. It comes after Katie Price reaches out to Harvey’s lookalike half-brother but fears ‘he’s too scared’.

READ MORE: Kerry Katona reveals devastating health condition after split from ex-fiancéREAD MORE: Andy Carroll ‘splits from Lou Teasdale due to her demands’ weeks after public row

“Lauren was devastated to miss This Morning last week because she’s really trying to get back out there with her career,” our source claimed. “She doesn’t think it looks good to miss things, but she also needs to be the best mum to Larose. She really hates letting people down but also doesn’t want to feel like she’s a bad mum if she leaves her daughter – especially after everything they’ve been through.”

Lauren has been vocal about her struggles with anxiety since her and Charles’s second daughter, Lorena, died in July 2022, just a few minutes after her birth. The tragic loss came only a week after Lauren’s ex-boyfriend, Jake McLean, died in a car crash on holiday in Turkey at the age of 33.

Just before her big TOWIE return last year, Lauren revealed she was “realising who I am again” after spending the last few years in a “mum bubble” as she learned to navigate her grief.

Larose was born in July 2021 after Lauren became pregnant early into her relationship with Charles, 28, and the pair are widely thought to have had an on-off relationship ever since. Rumours they had reunited circulated when the two were photographed with Larose at an airport last month, reportedly jetting off on a family holiday.

Regardless of her relationship status – Lauren has yet to publicly confirm or deny that they are back together – our source said she’s struggling to find a healthy balance when solo parenting.

“Lauren is overwhelmed – she’s overwhelmed with mum duties and with work,” said the source. “It’s so hard to find that balance of taking care of Larose and also making sure she stays healthy and happy herself. TOWIE is her main job so it has to be a priority, but she’d never put it before being a mum to Larose, so it’s a really difficult balance for her to find.”

Lauren spoke out earlier this summer before jetting off to Portugal – without Larose – to film for the hit ITV2 programme. She revealed it was the first time she’d left her daughter “to go away or do anything for me” and had been kept awake most of the night by doubts about going on the trip.

The reality star also confessed that she felt “lonely”, but had to stay strong all the time for the sake of her daughter. “I haven’t got anyone to lean on and that’s really sad,” she said.

The sun-soaked trip to Portugal, where the cast celebrated 15 years of the series, clearly did wonders for Lauren’s confidence, however. Sharing a sunset snap of herself with her 945,000 Instagram followers, she wrote, “What a rollercoaster but an amazing achievement for me personally. Here’s to rebuilding me. Thank you @itvxofficial @towie thank you whole of TOWIE production and my TOWIE family.”

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Lauren since visiting Portugal in June, as she revealed to her followers last week that she was feeling “absolutely shattered”.

“I’m so tired, I don’t know how I’m doing it at the minute,” she said. “It has been absolutely hectic.”

Lauren put her exhaustion down to Larose’s six-week summer holidays and travelling back and forth to London to film, adding, “I’m going to do bath, do bedtime and do work again. I haven’t stopped working. I wish I could have a nap but never. You know how it is being a mum.”

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

READ MORE: Nadine Baggott shares ‘gold standard’ alternative to Kim Kardashian’s ‘turkey neck’ face wrap

Handy Andy – real name Andy Kane – was a hugely popular member of the Changing Rooms team with viewers. But what has he been up to since he left the show in 2004?

Popular 90s DIY show Changing Rooms was a firm favourite on our screens, but the cast look very different to nowadays.

Viewers of the BBC show tuned in weekly to see the team take on some major home transformations, making the stars of the show household names in the process.

Hosted by Carol Smillie, Changing Rooms drew in a whopping 10 million viewers at its peak on BBC One and created some iconic moments – who can forget when a £6,000 teapot collection was destroyed in one fell swoop by a floating shelf in series 8?

Designers Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Linda Barker, and Anna Ryder Richardson were the ones tasked with helping members of the public transform a room in someone else’s house – be it a friend, family member or neighbour. And then to help them make it a reality, the show’s handyman, Handy Andy (Andy Kane) swooped in.

READ MORE: Where is Heartbeat’s Nick Berry and the rest of the cast now? From tragic deaths to co-star romance

DIY expert Andy appeared on the show from 1996-2004 and was a key player in the transformation process. But what has he been up to in the years since?

After the show ended, Andy landed a role on the American version of the programme, named Trading Spaces, and he also presented three shows for UK Style, Room Rival , Garden Rivals and Streetcombers.

READ MORE: Dancing on Ice’s biggest scandals – from headbanger horror to bullying allegations

One of his biggest programmes was Increase Your House Price By Ten Grand, which saw Andy work with a team to increase a house’s value by £10,000 in just three days with a £1,000 budget.

Andy has also appeared on I’m Famous And Frightened, Cirque de Celebrite and The Adam And Joe Show, and he has hosted a number of BBC Primary Geography programmes since 2008. He is happily married to his wife Geraldine and together they have four children.

Andy was a popular member of the team and the chatty Cockney proved to be a big hit with viewers too. While he frequently impressed with his DIY, it didn’t always go to plan, and he later spoke about his most major mishap – when the teapot collection was destroyed.

Designer Linda had commissioned a floating shelf to house them but weighed it down with heavy books, causing the shelf to collapse overnight.

Andy told the Metro: “It went wrong because they put too much weight on it. The shelf was obviously just for show and just the teapots on it would have been fine, but then they started loading up with books at the bottom.

“I did say at the time that books are very heavy but they carried on and you know, it’s one of them things. When it happened, it was really, really awful, everyone felt really bad, but now you just laugh about it. But it was good entertainment, wasn’t it?

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were invited to a movie premiere in Jamaica, a seating mix-up led to a very awkward situation, which has now been decoded by a body language expert

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are used to receiving celebrity treatment, a seating mix up at a movie premiere prompted an awkward reaction from the Sussexes, with Harry’s “lack of experience” at Hollywood events making for a cringeworthy moment – according to an expert.

Back in January 2024, Harry and Meghan were invited to the premiere screening of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic, making a surprise appearance at the glitzy event at the Carib Theatre in Jamaica.

After posing for photos on the red carpet, Harry and Meghan mingled with fans and dignitaries alike, including anti-monarchist Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness, before making their way inside for the screening. It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix deal could cause ‘concern’ for Royal Family.

READ MORE: Brits call for ‘terrified’ Prince Andrew to pay ultimate price for scandalsREAD MORE: Meghan Markle sends Khloe Kardashian huge gift as Prince Harry struggles in row

While the Sussexes made their way to the front row to sit with the other VIPs at the event, it appears they couldn’t conceal their shock when they were asked to move a few rows back, leaving them seated in the third row.

According to body language expert Judi James, it was Harry more than Meghan who was surprised at the request to sit further from the state.

She told the Daily Mail : “While [Meghan’s] smile suggests her expression of utter graciousness was unflinching, Harry clearly hangs back, performing several gestures of reluctance, discomfort and even indecision.”

Judi analysed the rest of Harry and Meghan’s appearance at the event, noting that Meghan appeared to see it as a “full-blown Hollywood” event as they both pulled moves “A-list celebrity couples perform”.

She explained: “Meghan seemed to treat this red carpet appearance as a full-blown Hollywood one. She looked regal and gracious in her elegant ballgown and pulled the kind of moves A-list celebrity couples perform, like the romantic gesture of ownership as she places a hand on Harry’s chest.”

Judi added: “Meghan was fully in charge of the steering on the night, gently nudging Harry around and at one point pulling his hand out of his trouser pocket so that she could hold hands with him to walk into the venue.”

“Harry was showing body language signs of anxiety as they posed for their red carpet photos, but these increased and peaked once the couple were inside the venue and being ushered to their seats.”

Judi further explained Harry’s discomfort at the event as she said: “For Harry, public functions in the Royal Family have always meant top billing, the best seats in the house and preferential treatment.”

“But here there is a more unilateral look, where they were expected to take their own seats and maybe even buy their own popcorn. Harry’s lack of experience in this kind of scenario seems to show through here.”

According to Ms James, this is not the first time that the couple have appeared to view themselves as “A-listers”, as she said at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf in September 2023, the pair presented themselves as a “celebrity power couple” during a rock star welcome.

Millie Mackintosh hailed her flared 70s-style jeans the ‘comfiest jeans ever’ and they hail from the same brand that Kate Middleton buys her favourite jeans from

Trying to find a pair of jeans that are comfortable, well-fitting and look great can be one of the biggest struggles when it comes to shopping. After countless hours spent sweating in changing rooms trying to find a pair that make you feel great, it’s no surprise many of us find shopping for denim one of our least favourite jobs.

However Millie Mackintosh might have cracked the code, as she posed in a pair of & Other Stories’ High-Waist Flared Jeans on Instagram last week. She praised them as “The comfiest jeans ever”, and it seems the brand might be a winner when it comes to denim as they’re also the go-to for Kate Middleton.

READ MORE: Wrangler launches new autumn-ready cowboycore collection with Yellowstone’s Lainey Wilson

READ MORE: I copied Emma Willis’ This Morning style for work with a £36 version of her £165 stripe shirt

Princess Kate is a known fan of & Other Stories’ Slim Jeans (formerly known as the Favourite Jeans), which are notoriously tricky to get your hands on. The closest style available on the website right now is the Cropped Slim Leg Jeans (£77) which have a similar slim fit that The Princess of Wales favours.

Millie’s pair, thankfully, are much easier to get your hands on. Her High-Waist Flared Jeans are currently available directly from the & Other Stories website, over at ASOS, and at H&M, where they’re priced at £87.

The jeans have a classic 70s-inspired fit, with a high waist and flared bootcut leg, and the addition of two patch pockets on the front seals the deal on the retro design. The high waist keeps them comfortable and helps elongate your legs, and the wider legs makes them perfect for wearing with anything from sandals to boots, so you can wear them in every season.

They’re also made with plenty of stretch, which is what makes them so comfortable that Millie can’t stop raving about them. You can pick them up in dark blue, as well as a light ecru colour, which is currently on sale at ASOS down from £87 to £69, and several other colours ways if you shop them at H&M.

Other brands have also launched their own version of the 70s-style jeans, with White Stuff’s Frankie Flare Jean now on sale for £52, down from £65 and available in sizes six to 24. Marks & Spencer also has the ultra-affordable Patch Pocket Flare High Waisted Jeans for £39.50, with a choice of three different colours and sizes six to 24.

For a slimmer fit that keeps the same shape and style, New Look’s Blue Patch Pocket Flared Denim Jeans are £39.99 and have a tighter fit around the hips and thighs, before flaring out from the knee. They come in sizes six to 18, with all sizes currently still in stock.

Ben Unwin played Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and then again from 2002 to 2005, with the role being written specifically for him – he sadly died six years ago

Australian soaps have undoubtedly churned out a host of international superstars over the years. Two of the most prominent being Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue, who portrayed Charlene and is the top-selling Australian recording artist of all time with over 80 million albums sold globally, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna and starred in the blockbuster film Barbie, which has smashed box office records.

Other stars who’ve transitioned from Aussie soapland to greater fame include Home and Away’s Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon) and Chris Hemsworth (Kim), as well as Neighbours’ Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike) and Jesse Spencer (Billy). Some actors have continued to thrive in their original soap roles for years, such as Home and Away’s Ray Meagher (Alf), who holds the record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene), along with Neighbours’ Ian Smith (Harold) and Stefan Dennis (Paul).

Stefan is now lined up to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, alongside names including Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison and TV presenter George Clarke. In other soap news, a Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys actor has died after a short illness.

READ MORE: BBC Death in Paradise’s Kris Marshall admits ‘will never leave me’ as he opens up on being sackedREAD MORE: Kathy Griffin looks completely unrecognisable as she reveals latest facelift

Regrettably, not all Aussie soap stars have been as fortunate, including actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005. The role was specifically written for Ben, earning him a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards.

After his acting career, he ventured into the music industry, directing videos for bands like Culture Club and Chumbawamba, including their massive hit, Tubthumping.

Later, he earned a law degree and became a solicitor in Newcastle, New South Wales. Tragically, six years ago Ben was found dead at the base of a ‘cursed’ waterfall – he was only 41 years old, reports OK!. Local Aboriginal tribes in Australia believe the secluded 300ft Minon Falls in Whian Whian are “cursed” and harbour “bad spirits”, having claimed numerous lives.

Upon hearing the heartbreaking news of his death on 14 August, 2019, co-star Ada Nicodemou, who portrays Leah, wrote: “I just woke up to the tragic news of Ben’s passing, my heart goes out to his family.”

Just two years later, another tragedy befell the Home and Away cast when Dieter Brummer, who played the soap’s heartthrob Shane Parrish in the early 1990s, was found dead at his parents’ Sydney home.

The actor had been excited to be starting a new job as an aerial window cleaner, but his life had been disrupted by the onset of Covid-19.

In a similar vein, Neighbours’ original Scott Robinson, portrayed by Darius Perkins before Jason Donovan took over the role, sadly passed away in 2019 following a battle with cancer.

Home and Away has now graced our TV screens for 37 years, while Neighbours ran for 40 years before being cancelled – final episodes will be on our screens this December.