Category Entertainment News

Explosive claims have described Prince Harry as having a rocky bond with his grandmother the late Queen in the run-up to marrying Meghan Markle – and royal expert Jennie Bond says they are very telling

They may have tied the knot more than seven years ago – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced new explosive claims about tension in the lead-up to their wedding.

It is well known that the run-up to their nuptials in May 2018 was not all plain sailing, with Meghan’s dad dropping out of attending the ceremony at the last minute. But now a royal author has laid bare claims that behind the scenes, Harry had left the late Queen ‘dismayed’ with some of the wedding arrangements – even saying that he almost ‘blew’ his relationship with his late grandmother.

Sally Bedell Smith claims that before her death, Lady Elizabeth Anson, a cousin of Elizabeth II and a high-society party planner, told her that the former monarch had become “very worried” about her grandson and that Meghan’s intentions had been questioned.

Lady Anson, who is said to have made the comments, died in 2020 – and of course, the events leading up to the wedding were more than seven years ago now. And even though a significant amount of time has passed since the nuptials, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror that in a recent move, it was Meghan who harked back to the past first.

She explained: “There have been too many reports about tensions in the weeks running up to Harry and Meghan’s marriage to discount them. I think the old saying ‘there’s no smoke without fire’ holds true.

“Lady Elizabeth Anson was certainly a very well-connected and informed source for these latest reports, which suggest that the Queen felt Harry was rushing into a marriage too quickly.

“Worse than that, it seems the Queen and other members of the Royal family doubted Meghan’s sincerity and found her very difficult to deal with.

“It’s extremely sad to think that the situation also soured the late Queen’s relationship with her very much loved grandson, Harry: a young man she had nurtured and guided through the very worst time of his life, the death of his mother.

“Is it fair that all this is being brought up so many years later? Maybe not, but then perhaps Meghan shouldn’t allude to lies being told about her eight years ago, which she did in a recent podcast.

“The fact is the royal story is always a source of curiosity and will sell books and papers, especially when there is a whiff of discord or scandal. “

One bombshell claim made in Bedell-Smith’s Substack is that the former monarch had been left shocked that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding ceremony without asking the Dean of Windsor first and that the now Duke of Sussex thought his grandmother could just “do what she wants”.

And according to Bedell Smith, Lady Anson said that due to this, Harry had “blown” his relationship with his grandmother. She writes that Lady Anson told her several months before the wedding: “She [the Queen] said she was really upset. I was shocked when the Queen told me this, how she was so saddened. I had no idea about the conversation, that he was rude to her for ten minutes.

“They had tea with her the day before yesterday. She was trying to find out about the wedding dress, and Meghan wouldn’t tell her. “

However, the author later claims that several weeks closer to the nuptials, Lady Anson told her that Harry and his grandmother had “patched things up” after he let her into the details of what they had planned for their wedding. Bedell Smith says Lady Anson described Harry as “besotted and weak about women. “

And now Jennie believes the claims show how much of a change there had been in Harry. She added: “It does seem quite out of character for Harry to disrespect his grandmother and, if he did, it is a sorry reflection of how his relationship changed him.

“He always claimed they had something special, and that she could confide in him in a way she did not with other family members. He suggested he was in some way her protector…making sure ‘she had the right people around her. ‘

“The late Queen was meticulous about including both Harry and Meghan in statements she made about the situation and made it clear she would always regard them as part of the family. Whether she would still feel quite so magnanimous today is something we shall never know. I just hope Harry now feels it was all worth it. “

Presenter, Fiona Phillips, has bravely spoken out about being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which she initially thought was menopause after suffering from ‘brain fog’

Fiona Phillips admits she had no idea she was suffering from Alzheimer’s before her diagnosis three years ago. The former Good Morning Britain star, 64, who shares two children with ex-This Morning boss, Martin Frizell, initially put her symptoms, including brain fog, anxiety and a lack of interest in her marriage down to menopause. However, three years ago she was tragically told that she had the neurodegenerative disease, which both her parents suffered with.

Opening up about her early symptoms, Fiona said she had frequent anxiety attacks, “which became almost hourly”. She also suffered from brain fog, a lack of confidence when driving and confusion, over the “simplest thing like opening a bank account”.

She writes in an extract of her book, Adapted from Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, which is published in the Mail: “For me it was the sense of brain fog and a sense of anxiety that I could rarely shake off.

“The simplest thing, like going to the bank to ask about my account, would send me into a total panic, and there were mood swings too, which meant even I was finding my behaviour unpredictable. “

Meanwhile, Fiona’s marriage was coming under increasing strain. Blaming Alzheimer’s for “at least part of it”, she said: “I’m sure the disease was at least partly responsible, but at the time neither of us could see it. I just became more and more disconnected from Martin and the boys.

“‘You’ve totally zoned out of our family and our marriage,’ he [Martin] would say to me. “

Putting her symptoms down to menopause after a leading expert appeared on This Morning, Fiona was taken in for tests.

Martin said: “Dr Newson was lovely. She had a long chat with Fiona and took blood tests. She also put her on a course of hormone replacement therapy. If it was the menopause, then within a couple of months the brain fog and anxiety symptoms should start to ease.

But when Fiona’s condition failed to improve after a few months of the HRT treatment, the doctor read through Fiona’s notes again and then, says Martin, “said the words I’d been hoping for so long never to hear” – that it may be something more than the menopause.

After a series of tests, including simple subtraction and being asked to draw intersecting rectangles, Fiona had an MRI, which was inconclusive. But, after she had a lumbar puncture she was told she had early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Revealing that she and Martin went to the pub for a much-needed drink after the devastating news, Fiona writes stoically: “That afternoon in the pub it had seemed extraordinary that we could continue to live life ‘as normally as possible’, but that’s exactly what we did from that moment on. “

* More information and advice about Alzheimer’s can be found at the Alzheimer’s Society

Fiona Phillips has sensationally revealed that she had secretly split from her husband Martin Frizell as tension grew in their marriage before Alzheimer’s diagnosis

To the outside world, Fiona Phillips’ marriage was nothing short of perfect. But now, the former breakfast TV presenter has revealed that her relationship was anything but a happy one as Alzheimer’s disease was starting to take its toll on her and her family – unknowingly.

The relationship between Fiona, 64 and her husband – former This Morning producer Martin Frizell – had broken down beyond repair as she recalled the moment he announced he was moving out of their family home.

In a first person piece for the Mail On Sunday, the TV star, who was one of the main presenters of GMTV, opened up on the fact she was not aware she had developed the disease which had taken both her parents.

In the run up to their secret separation, Fiona explained that she was in denial over the fact she was experiencing the initial symptoms of the disease and put it down to the menopause instead.

Their marriage became more and more fractured as Martin felt Fiona was becoming increasingly distant from him and their children and their arguments were becoming far too regular.

Fiona explained: “Was I worried that there might be something sinister lurking beneath the surface? That Alzheimer’s could one day be coming for me too? “

She added: “On one level I did think I would get the disease, but there was also another part of me that was in a strange sort of denial about it all. This illness has devastated so much of my life already, surely it’s not going to come for me too? ‘ I’d tell friends. “

Fiona went onto reveal that she’s sure that the disease was “at least partly responsible” for her marriage breaking down but that neither she nor Martin could see that. She became “more and more disconnected” from her family, with Martin accusing her of zoning out of their marriage.

She said: “But, if I’m honest, I think he was right. I just didn’t seem to have the energy for any of it any more. I didn’t realise quite how seriously Martin felt about it all until one evening he announced he was moving out. “

In that moment, Fiona did not believe that her marriage was completely over, in fact she said that she felt he was simply “trying to shock me into behaving differently”.

They had separated for three weeks before they started to exchange text messages between each other and then arranged to meet at a hotel in Hampshire, in a desperate bid to save their marriage.

They reconciled their differences but Fiona recalled that she was still suffering with the same symptoms. In 2023, at the age of 62, Fiona revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

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An Oasis fan who attended the opening night of their reunion tour in Cardiff has been criticised online after she was caught searching up a hit song on her phone

As Oasis fans around the world who were unsuccessful in getting tickets to their Live ’25 tour enviously watch the much-anticipated reunion gigs kick off in Cardiff on Friday (July 4), one fan who was in attendance was criticised for not knowing one of the biggest hits of the 90s.

Liam and Noel Gallagher treated Oasis fans at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on both Friday and Saturday (July 5) to a setlist full of smash hits including Wonderwall, Supersonic, and Don’t Look Back in Anger. They were supported by Cast and Richard Ashcroft, who were tasked with warming the audience up before the brothers took to the stage for the first time in 16 years.

But one fan in the crowd was caught on camera having to use the app Shazam to find out what a hugely popular hit from the 90s actually was – leaving some furious commenters on social media wondering why she bought a ticket.

A TikTok account dedicated to both Oasis and Richard Ashcroft shared a video of The Verve frontman performing the band’s biggest hit, Bitter Sweet Symphony, during the opening night of the tour on Friday.

The video then pans across the crowd, most of whom were singing along to the well-known track, before settling on one woman who had the Shazam app open on her phone. Shazam can tell you the name of a song just by listening to it and is widely used by people to find details about tracks playing in shops or even on adverts.

But social media users were left baffled at the woman’s apparent lack of knowledge of the 1997 hit, especially given her presence at an Oasis gig. Several even referred to Bitter Sweet Symphony as so well-known that it should be the “national anthem” of the UK.

The TikTok account wrote on the video: “Did they just Shazam the national anthem? “

And they added in the caption: “Imagine not knowing the greatest song of all time. “

Most commenters were in agreement, with many disgruntled fans claiming they “deserved” tickets to the sold-out shows more than others who don’t know the words to some of the biggest tracks performed on the night.

One person said: “There’s no way I lost tickets to someone Shazaming one of the most popular songs of the Britpop era. “

Another added: “How are you going to an Oasis gig not knowing Bitter Sweet Symphony? “

Even the official Jedward account posted: “If you don’t know Bitter Sweet Symphony, we can’t be friends. “

But others were on the woman’s side, pointing out that she bought tickets to see Oasis and shouldn’t be expected to know the support acts, no matter how famous other people might think they are.

Someone pointed out: “Concerts were originally made for people to discover new music, not for die-hard fans who know every song; this is actually really valid of her. “

Another declared: “Going to a concert and not knowing all of the songs is normal, calm down. “

Following their 16 year rift that broke the band apart Oasis’ management placed Liam and Noel Gallagher in separate hotels half an hour away from each other to protect relationship

When Liam and Noel Gallagher took to the stage in Cardiff walking out hand in hand, it was a sight many of their original fans thought they would never see in their lifetime. And so in order to maintain their amicable reunion, it has emerged that the brothers were advised to stay in separate hotels for the first gig of their world tour, in a desperate bid to avoid a clash.

The brothers, who are famed for their volatile relationship, were placed in hotels half an hour away from each other. According to The Sun on Sunday, the famous duo skipped partying after their first night in the Welsh city and were driven away from the Principality Stadium at approximately 10.30pm.

A source told the publication: “The atmosphere was absolutely electric and Liam and Noel were delighted with the first night. They were a bit shell-shocked. “

They added: “It went better than anyone could have imagined. The lead up has all been ­carefully orchestrated, as everyone knows how delicate and fragile Liam and Noel’s relationship is. “

The insider close to the band continued: “They don’t want to over-expose themselves to each other. Having separate residences is the best option so they can relax in their own space. “

They explained: “They stayed in separate locations outside the city around half an hour away from each other. “

“They’re happy families at the moment and they want to keep it that way. Liam has been off the booze for a while and sounds better than ever,” they added.

According to the source, Liam is determined to get eight hours sleep a night and is steering clear of alcohol and partying.

Fans were left in awe as the band, who were once synonymous with the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle, belted out their iconic hits including Wonderwall, Stand By Me, Live Forever and Half The World Away.

And it seems a contributing factor in Liam’s clean living lifestyle is his partner Debbie Gwyther.

The source continued: “Debbie ­protects him from all the hype so he doesn’t get carried away. They’ve swapped out Guinness for zero per cent alcohol beers and keep the vibe backstage as chilled as possible. “

Partying in the crows were Noel’s daughter Anais, 25 and her mum Meg Matthews, 59. Liam’s sons Lennon, 25 and Gene, 24, were also at Friday’s gig.

It has been reported that the Cardiff gig was emotional for their children who never thought the day would arrive when they would see their dad on stage as Oasis.

And Anais was reportedly a “driving force in helping to reunite the brothers who at the time showed no intention of making the peace.

The Mirror has contacted reps for Oasis for a comment.

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Shopping Writer Meghan recently had an outfit dilemma as she needed a bra that wouldn’t be visible with the dress she was wearing to a summer wedding – and this Boux Avenue one that worked a treat

Is there anything worse than not having a bra that can seamlessly hide under awkward outfits? I recently had this issue, as the backless halterneck dress I planned to wear to a summer wedding meant none of my bras would be discreet underneath it. The previous strapless bra I owned was visible at the back, and the straps of normal bras would have been visible (and ruined the halterneck style). That’s where this Boux Avenue bra came in clutch.

Unlike some strapless bras that come unwired or feature an unstable all-over adhesive, this Boux Avenue strapless and backless stick-on bra is underwired to help create some lift, whilst the silicone gel adhesive wings help keep the bra in place and leave you feeling secure all day. The silicone adhesive is also transparent, meaning the bra can be fastened and go unnoticed, no matter what strap style you’re opting for with your top or dress.

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Coming in two shades, light nude and black to best suit your wardrobe, this bra comes in a range of sizes to comfortably fit and support your bust. Ditching the front clasp that some strapless adhesive bras have, which can be visible or cause bumps in tight-fitting clothes, this bra is seamless and smooth to easily hide under any ensemble without drawing attention to its presence.

The bra conveniently slipped under the halterneck dress I was wearing, offering plenty of support while being completely invisible at the front, sides and back. What’s more, the bra remained comfortable all day and stuck in place without constant readjustment from the start of the day to the end of the night (nearly 10 hours); plus, this summer wedding was during the heatwave when temperatures were racked up to 28 degrees Celsius, and despite sweating and moving around a lot through the course of the very hot day, the bra didn’t budge.

The adhesive wings located at the sides not only keep the bra exactly where you want it but they can also be pulled tighter to provide as much lift as you like, unlike bras where the adhesive is located on the inside of the cup. Completely reusable and washable, I had no trouble sticking the plastic covers back onto the adhesive wings once I was done using the bra, so that I could store it with the rest of my underwear without the adhesive sticking to other items or getting lint and fluff stuck to it, reducing its effectiveness.

I’ve since worn this bra under other dresses and tops I haven’t been able to wear so far this summer, as any other bras would be visible and ruin the look, and the bra continues to live up to its promises. The only thing I will note, for all those who use fake tan or gradual tanner, the adhesive may lift the tan in places where the adhesive is stuck to the skin once you remove it, so be prepared to need to redo your tan or place the bra in the same place next time you reach for it.

Retailing for £25, this strapless and backless bra is part of Boux Avenue’s summer essentials collection, which also includes a Stick and Clip Bra (£24) which is sure to solve the same outfit woes as this dress, so long as the neckline doesn’t come deep enough to see the clasp. Boux Avenue also stocks silicone nipple covers for £10, for those outfits where you don’t need or want a full bra. If you want to ditch the adhesive, Boux Avenue has this viral Strapless Microfiber Multiway Bra (£32), which also promises to solve strapless outfit dilemmas, without the need to stick anything directly to your skin.