Archive August 10, 2025

According to an explosive royal book, Meghan Markle was accused of ‘abrasive’ behaviour towards staff members during her time as a working royal. Her team vehemently deny any claims of ‘bullying’

It’s no secret that Meghan Markle’s time as a working royal was marred by difficulty, as she struggled to accept the formalities and rigid structures of the monarchy.

In January 2020, less than two years after their much-celebrated wedding, the Sussexes abruptly stepped down as working royals, and relocated to California. Ever since the bombshell move, the couple have been locked in a sad feud with Prince Harry’s family, after making numerous swipes against the royals in interviews, TV shows and the Duke’s memoir, Spare.

And a royal author has shed light on the tense reality behind closed doors when Meghan and Harry operated as full-time royals. Tom Bower claims that behind the picture-perfect image the Sussexes potrayed on royal tours and at events, the mood amongst staff was ‘miserable’. It comes as Meghan’s ‘inappropriate’ living request ‘firmly denied’ by late Queen.

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In his explosive book titled Revenge, Bower alleges that Meghan was accused of “abrasive” behaviour towards staff members and diplomats.

Looking back at the Sussexes visit to Sydney, Australia, where they received an amazing reception, he writes: “Meghan was allegedly abrasive towards her four female staff and even towards the local British diplomats.

“According to one report, Meghan allegedly threw a cup of tea into the air. Her anger may have been partly fuelled by Harry.

“Every night he trawled social media, searching for snide comments on the internet. Every morning he and Meghan turned on their phones to surf the internet.”

Lawyers on behalf of Meghan have repeatedly denied that she bullied palace staff or aides.

It comes as another writer claims that the Duchess thought the royals “behaved like babies”. According to insiders, Meghan found it hard to get her head around the many protocols and traditions associated with The Firm – and she had a scathing assessment of the senior members.

In his latest book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, author Tom Quinn reveals what Meghan allegedly made of her new situation.

He writes: “Meghan really disliked the hierarchy’, a member of her former team said. ‘Many of the rules do seem pretty pointless and exist only so that the relative status of each senior royal is protected.

“And the senior royals are such a sensitive bunch — if one gets a gold pen or a new car, they all want one. Meghan thought they behaved like babies.'”

Meghan and Harry discussed her introduction to royal life in their six-part Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, and recalled Meghan’s first meeting with the Queen after they began dating in 2016.

“My grandmother was the first senior member of the family that Meghan met,” Prince Harry said in the show. “She had no idea what it all consisted of. So it was a bit of a shock to the system for her.”

Meghan then shared that while they were on their way to meet the Queen, Prince Harry asked her if she knew how to curtsy. “We were in the car, driving and he’s like: ‘You know how to curtsy right?’ and I just thought it was a joke,” the duchess admitted.

Prince Harry acknowledged the difficulty of explaining royal protocol to his American girlfriend, saying: “How do you explain that to people? How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? And that you would need to curtsy, especially to an American. That’s weird.”

Meghan also compared curtsying to Medieval Times, Dinner and Tournament, a dinner theatre featuring medieval-style games, and joked that “Americans will understand this”.

The New York-born actor has starred in a number of hit shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bones, and most recently SEAL Team. But where is he now?

David Boreanaz was a little-known actor when his life changed forever in 1997. The star had only appeared in a handful of small film roles and in a single 1993 episode of Married… with Children before landing the role of reluctant vampire Angel in the hit series Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

He instantly became a breakout star, and a household name when his character was given a spin-off series, Angel, which aired for five seasons from 1999 to 2004. But where is the New York-born star now and what has he been up to? We take a closer look at David’s life both on and off the screen.

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Acting gigs and health fears

David’s most recent high-profile acting job was starring in SEAL Team, an American military drama television series that follows an elite unit of United States Navy SEALs.

He starred as Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Jason Hayes a.k.a. Bravo 1/1B, the leader of the team, to much acclaim. The seventh and final season of the show premiered in August 2024.

Speaking about the physical toll it took on his body – and explaining why the season would be his last – David, 56, told People: “My body just can’t do it anymore!”

He added: “You learn from the SEALs how to push through pain — I’m talking guys who have had their arm blown off and are cracking jokes because that’s how they deal with it. It’s very intense.

“I take good care of myself, but it gets to a point where your body’s not moving like it used to… I think I’ve had four MRIs in the past four months, for my knees, hips, shoulders. It’s been quite a journey.”

READ MORE: SEAL Team star David Boreanaz ‘considering’ return to iconic role after series finale

Family life

David has been married to former Playboy model Jaime Bergman since November 2001 and together they share two children – son Jaden, 23, and daughter Bella, 15. Prior to finding love with Jaime, he was married to Ingrid Quinn from 1997 to 1999.

In May this year, David shared a post in celebration of Jaden’s birthday, sharing a series of photos and writing in part: “Happy Birthday son. You shine to the stars and reach for the moon in ways that light up rooms with love and laughter. You are my everything and my world. I love you…”

Scandals

In 2010, David admitted to having an affair with Rachel Uchitel, the same woman with whom Tiger Woods allegedly cheated on his wife with. At the time, his wife Jaime was reportedly pregnant with their second child.

In her statement to Access, Rachel said of their affair: “First of all I want to make it clear that he pursued me. Second, the authentic texts which I have reveal that David Boreanaz repeatedly expressed his deep love and affection towards me.

“Third, I broke off the relationship because I no longer respected or trusted him. Finally, I am deeply hurt and offended that anyone would think that I wanted to break up his family. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Speaking in October 2011, David told TV Week: “In a sacred ground like marriage, you find yourself out of it at certain times for reasons unknown that can be destructive. There could be a demon that kind of comes out and overtakes you.

“Do I believe in giving up? No, I don’t. I’m a fighter. I’m a lover,” he said. While Jaime said at the time of his confession that she was ‘angry’, the pair decided to work on their marriage.

It’s not the only storm the couple have weathered. In 2010, a co-worker on the set of Bones sued David for alleged sexual harassment, claiming he repeatedly attempted to kiss and fondle her.

David’s spokeswoman at the time called the allegations “fabricated and absurd”. In March 2011, The co-worker then dismissed the lawsuit against David, according to court records. She wrote in an email that it had been “resolved” but did not offer further details.

Future plans

David has hinted at some exciting future endeavours, telling People after SEAL Team ended: “I have plans. My work ethic is always head on a swivel, be in the now, don’t look back, don’t look far down the pipeline.”

Acknowledging at the time that he was ready for a break after starring in back-to-back series for nearly 30 years, he admitted he’s not good at sitting still.

“Vacations are good until, like, the second day, and then I’m bouncing my knees thinking about what we’re going to do next,” he said.

“My mind is always actively going. Work to me is relaxation, it fulfills me.” Work, he said, and spending time with his kids. “That’s it.”

Certainly, David seems to be embracing his role as a proud father. Speaking last summer, he told the publication: “I just helped my son move out of his apartment in New York. It was a test of patience!

“My son did most of the packing and setting it up for the new tenant while I helped from the outside, but it was a tornado. Parenting is such a journey. It never ends, and it never gets easier!”

The Bones alum continued: “He went to NYU, but he decided to take a break from it during the last year. He’s an artist and a musician so he’s staying true to his soul… you have to go with the beat of your heart.”

Olivia Fano says stunned strangers regularly stop her for selfies thinking she is the singer. The 20-year-old admits it’s an ‘amazing’ compliment to be likened to the pint-sized star

A retail worker looks so much like Sabrina Carpenter that she’s bombarded on nights out by punters who are desperate for selfies and to buy her drinks.

Olivia Fano, 20, from Southport, has been turning heads thanks to her uncanny resemblance to the Espresso singer, with starstruck men in awe of her looks.

Olivia admits that being compared to the pint-sized singer is an ‘amazing’ compliment and has led to a surge in male attention over the past year. It comes as Bonnie Blue sends Ibiza Final Boss Jack Kaye a cryptic message as he takes on his next Ibiza mission.

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Despite currently being single, Olivia insists her vintage-inspired hairstyle and make-up were part of her look long before Sabrina made her big break.

“I do see the resemblance, I noticed it two years ago and my sister mentioned it, and I thought ‘I kind of do look like her,'” Olivia said.

“Since then it’s been constant, especially over the last year. I’ve had it in club bathrooms, supermarkets, coffee shops, pretty much everywhere.

“People automatically think I did the hair to look like her, but I’ve had this hairstyle for years. I think that’s the first thing people notice. We have quite similar facial features, the eyes, the eyebrows, the nose, and the way I do my makeup. I do a blush lip-liner look,” Olivia added, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Her likeness to the performer certainly doesn’t go unnoticed on nights out, with eager blokes buying her drinks and begging for selfies.

Olivia said: “I was at a club in Manchester and this boy really thought I was her. He kept buying me drinks and was telling everyone so then everyone else started buying me drinks. I had to give some of the drinks to my friends because it was too much.

“When I was in Prague this guy turned around and gasped really loud because he thought I was her. I was in this yellow babydoll dress so it was very her style.

“I get a lot of people stop me in the street, just to say ‘oh my God’. I do notice people looking at me and then they have to explain themselves.

“I’ve had quite a few people ask me for photos, when I went to Leeds last year I got a lot of photos then. I don’t mind it, it’s an amazing compliment.”

The striking similarity to Sabrina has given Olivia’s self-esteem a massive boost and even transformed her love life. Olivia said: “It’s the first thing [men] bring up. It’s almost like the perfect pick-up line, because they just come up and say it.

“A lot more boys have asked me out in the last year and when I go on dates it’s the first thing they say. I did date a guy and one of the first things he said to me was, ‘has anyone told you look like Sabrina Carpenter?’.”

The I’m Like A Bird singer took to the stage at Boardmasters Festival in a quirky and colourful outfit as she performed some of her biggest hits

Pop icon Nelly Furtado wowed audiences with a quirky choice of outfit at the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall on Saturday. The 47-year-old made sure all eyes were on her as she stunned in a pair of high-waisted green ruffled hotpants.

She paired it with a matching green wrap-around top and some giant furry sleeves as she sang some of her greatest hits including Maneater and I’m Like A Bird.

Nelly wore a pair of white boots with a chain detailing and accessorised with some tinted green sunglasses and silver earrings, necklace and bracelets. The performer was all smiles as she interacted with her fans in the audience. It comes after an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK.

The singer is just one of the big-name acts performing at the sunny three-day festival, with several other huge names performing, including Raye, Leigh-Anne, Kaiser Chiefs, Krept and Kronan and The Prodigy.

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The Canadian songwriter’s colourful appearance comes after she revealed last year that her skin was often lightened in magazine photoshoots.

Nelly, whose parents immigrated from Portugal, told People: “”I have olive skin, and they’d kind of lighten my skin a lot in photos and kind of take my hips down all the time they would always cut off in editorials.”

She also mentioned that there was a “lot of airbrushing” during her peak fame years. This isn’t the first time she opened up about the worrying trend as her 2003 song Powerless had lyrics that stated: “Paint my face in your magazines, Make it look whiter than it seems, Paint me over with your dreams, Shove away my ethnicity.”

Reflecting on her experience, she continued: “”By my second album, I guess I was kind of angry about it.”

Despite these challenges, Nelly said she felt “so lucky and blessed” and had a good team around her who were looking out for her best interests.

She’s one of the most successful Canadian artists, having sold over 45 million records, including 35 million in album sales worldwide. Nelly first shot to fame when she released her trip hop inspired debut album, Whoa, Nelly! In 2000.

Her debut project was both a critical and commercial success, with two singles hitting the Billboard Top 100, namely I’m Like A Bird and Turn Off The Lights.

She released her second album, Folklore, in 2003 and this time around, she experimented with and explored her Portuguese heritage.