Archive June 10, 2025

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle never intended to leave royal life altogether, but one word in their sensational statement lead to an ultimatum from the Palace, according to insiders

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle completely quitting their royal roles came down to the use of a single word, according to an insider. Now five years on from them sensationally stepping back as full-time working royals, the Sussexes appear to have left their former lives well and truly behind them.

The pair have both been focusing on their commercial endeavours with Meghan sharing more and more of her life behind the scenes on Instagram, including a recent video of her twerking alongside Harry as they awaited the birth of their daughter Princess Lilibet. However, when they first announced their intention for change more than five years ago, it seemed that they did not want to quit royal life completely, instead saying that they intended to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution”.

But it appears a throwaway, single word in that very statement paved the way for an ultimatum that there would be no half-in, half-out arrangement for them. In the statement announcing their stepping back, the Sussexes said at the time: “We will continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.”

And according to the Daily Mail, the word ‘collaborate’ is what raised eyebrows, with a source telling the publication: “No-one ‘collaborates’ with the Queen. This is not one of those ‘Kate Moss Top Shop tie-ups’.”

And with the Sussexes, most notably Meghan, forging a very different path compared to the one she had in the Royal Family, the insider added: “This is exactly why Queen Elizabeth knew this whole half-in, half-out version of royalty they were lobbying for was never, ever going to work.

“Harry and Meghan were a law unto themselves from the start, pushing and pushing the envelope to their own professional and financial advantage. Her Late Majesty was nobody’s fool and knew that the chances were, it would all end in disaster.”

In the dancing clip from last week, a heavily pregnant Meghan twerks to the Starrkeisha song Baby Momma, lifting her skirt above her knees, raising her hands in the air and wiggling low with her hands on her hips and legs. Meghan shared the clip on Lilibet’s fourth birthday, saying: “Four years ago today, this also happened.

“Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!”

And for royal expert Jennie Bond, she believes it is an “astonishing video on any level” and reveals what the King would have thought of it. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “The hours before you give birth are some of the most personal, intimate and private in the lives of any couple.

“And women are perfectly entitled to do whatever they feel like to get through the waiting, and the pain. Giving birth is a serious business, and anything to lighten the mood is welcome.

“However – to share those scenes with the world is utterly bizarre and, in my view, takes away all the magic of the moment. I cannot imagine why she chose to release it. Maybe show it one day to your nearest and dearest— but to anyone and everyone who wants to click on it?

“If the King has watched it, which I doubt, though he can’t have missed the headlines I’m sure he would be horrified. Royalty has to carry with it some measure of dignity.”

But she added: “Having said all that, there’s no doubt that videos like this connect in a very real way to young people. And perhaps that’s what Meghan is trying to do.

“My own daughter thought the video humanised both Meghan and Harry and was light-hearted and hugely relatable. It reminded her of her own pregnancies and labour and she thought it was rather charming.”

With a formal awards ceremony in the calendar, I turned to one of my favourite high street fashion brands to see if I could find the perfect dress without breaking the bank

Dressing for formal events such as weddings, graduations and evening ‘dos can be tricky – you want to meet the dress code yet still be fairly comfortable, and ideally don’t want to spend a fortune on an outfit you’re unlikely to wear very often.

And so when I was invited to a work awards ceremony and found myself with nothing to wear, I immediately clicked onto the Nobody’s Child website – a favourite of mine for pretty and flattering dresses for all occasions.

I bought five different styles to try on – including one with pockets and a £69 surprise hit – and the one I ended up wearing was a surprise last-minute addition to my basket; it was worth it though, as it received so many compliments from other guests that evening…

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Red Nova Midi Dress

£85 here

This colour was a real curveball for me, as I never wear red, and rarely stray from black, however I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I like this colour on me. The dress was super comfortable and gets bonus points for having pockets. I didn’t keep it in the end as I felt like it was more of an everyday dress than an evening one, but it has encouraged me to be a bit braver with colour.

If you’re looking for an alternative, New Look’s Red Puff Sleeve Midi Dress is £29.99.

Black Ruffle Tiered Cassidy Midi Dress

£89 here

This is the one that I thought would be my favourite it reminds me of an old favourite Reformation dress I own, but it actually didn’t suit me as much as I though when it was on; again, it was too casual for the occasion, and the waistband sat too high on me – under my bust rather than on my waist. It was very light and breezy for summer though, and again, loved the pockets!

New Look does another alternative to this here too, the Black Multiway Tiered Midi Dress, priced at £55.99.

Black Balloon Sleeve Zola Mini Dress

£99 here

Something slightly different from the others, but I really loved this one. I loved the flattering balloon sleeves, and how cute it looked with chunky heels. There were two reasons why I didn’t pick it, however: one, I thought the hem was a bit short for a work event, and two, I’d be getting ready by myself in a hotel room, and would have no one to tie up the bow on the back for me. This would be great for Christmas parties, though.

Topshop clean trapeze mini dress in black, £55, is a similar shape.

Black Tiered Clara Midi Dress

£69 here

I thought I would hate this one as I dislike anything that clings or skims the body, but this was a surprise hit. It’s way more flattering and slimming than I thought, plus you can wear a bra with it (unlike most of these other options), and it folds up very small in a suitcase (like this £39 Next dress). It was a close contender, pipped only to the post by…

Black Puff Sleeve Zora Midi Dress

£130 here

…the Zora dress, which was the one I wore, and which got me so many compliments. I loved the flattering shape, the statement sleeves and the little flash of skin from the slash neck and low back (you can probably still get away with wearing a bra though). Although more expensive than the others, I felt so comfortable in this, and know I’ll get loads of wear out of it.

King Charles once revealed the poignant and emotional last conversation he had with his father Prince Philip just hours before he died. Philip, who was born on this day in 1921, passed away in 2021 at the age of 99, seeing out his final peaceful days surrounded by his family in Windsor Castle.

In a BBC documentary film celebrating the life of the late royal, King Charles reminisced on the last conversation he had with his father the day before he died, highlighting his quick wit and cheeky sense of humour. During the intimate interview, Charles recalled how he gently broached the subject of Philip’s upcoming 100th birthday and suggested a party, knowing it was something his dad was not that excited about.

Knowing his elderly father was hard of hearing, he clarified what he was talking about as he spoke loudly to Prince Philip, emphasising: “We’re talking about your birthday! And whether there’s going to be a reception!”

To which Charles said Philip replied sharply, without missing a beat: “Well, I’ve got to be alive for it, haven’t I?” Charles then said: “I told him ‘I knew you’d say that!'”

Despite Philip’s morbid sense of humour and candid comments about his morality, King Charles said the conversation made for an unforgettable and happy memory with his dad.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl and her 2022 book, The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, the father and son shared another touching moment before his death in April 2021.

Nicholl said that it was during one of their last visits together that Philip made a special request of the heir, as she wrote: “Charles got time with his father as well and Philip told him, ‘Whatever you do, promise me you will take care of your mother.’ Charles was very emotional.'”

Following Philip’s death, then-Prince Charles paid a loving tribute to his father, telling reporters outside his Gloucestershire estate of Highgrove: “As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously.”

He described his father as “a much-loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also, I think, share our loss and our sorrow”.

He said: “My dear papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time.”

In the days after his death, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, also spoke to parishioners outside a church service, making her own comments about the death of Prince Philip, while assuring the congregation that the royal passed away peacefully.

She told the members of the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor: “It was right for him. It was so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went. Very, very peaceful and that’s all you want for somebody isn’t it? So, I think it’s so much easier for the person that goes than the people that are left behind.”

Today marks what would’ve been Prince Philip’s 104th birthday, with the royal born on June 10th 1921 in Corfu, Greece. In February 1947, Philip took his mother’s maiden name of Mountbatten while renouncing his rights to the Greek and Danish throne.

In November the same year, Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, with the royal couple going on to have four children: King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.