Prince Harry has been seen for the first time since his interview, where he claimed his father, King Charles, won’t speak to him, and one expert believes the comments he made at his latest event were ‘quite telling’
Prince Harry at an event for the Diana Award(Image: The Diana Award )
Prince Harry’s remarks during his first public outing since his outburst against King Charles were “quite telling”, according to an expert.
Last night, the Duke of Sussex praised the empathy, truth, honesty and fearlessness of the younger generation amid “an apathetic world” as he travelled to Las Vegas for an onstage discussion to launch a new initiative for The Diana Award.
There, he heralded young leaders for standing up for themselves, just days after speaking out about his relationship with his father, the King. Also at the launch of the Pledge To Invest yesterday, he described how young people have an openness about mental health “that previous generations struggled to express”.
READ MORE: Prince Harry issues statement on ‘apathetic world’ days after explosive royal outburst
Harry with Dr Tessy Ojo, Sikander ‘Sonny’ Khan and Christina Williams at the Diana Award event (Image: The Diana Award )
The appearance came just days after he lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements in the UK. The duke gave a sit-down interview in which he said the King will not “speak to him”, and he does “not know how much longer his father has left”, who is being treated for cancer.
He expressed hopes of a reconciliation with his family and told the BBC his court defeat was a “good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up” and that he could not see how he could bring his wife and children safely back to the UK.
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And royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror how Harry’s words at the event were interesting. The former BBC royal correspondent said: “I’m sure he will continue to work hard on causes that were close to his mother’s heart. And the Diana Award is obviously one of them.
“Some of his remarks at the event were quite telling: he praised young people for their refusal to accept the status quo, for being fearless and determined to stand up for themselves. And that seems pretty much Harry‘s own philosophy – for better or worse.”
Harry helped launch the Diana Award’s Pledge To Invest drive(Image: The Diana Award )
Harry’s trip to Vegas came as his oldest son, Prince Archie, celebrated his sixth birthday. On Friday, he said in the TV interview he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”.
He also said the protection given to members of the monarchy was a form of “control”, saying: “I think what really worries me more than anything else about today’s decision, depending on what happens next, it set a new precedent that security can be used to control members of the family. And effectively, what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.”
Harry in his bombshell interivew with the BBC last week (Image: Pixel8000)
And Jennie added: “I suspect that Harry said more than he had perhaps intended because he was consumed with anger that the court decision had gone against him. When the court ruling went the opposite way, he was, in his own words, ‘ gutted and devastated’. And he was clearly seething with fury. And that is rarely the best time to air your thoughts.
“I think he might now realise that he went too far in talking about his father’s health. That was a clear invasion of the privacy that Harry himself so covets. And he might also realise that he has, in my opinion, now lost the support of the vast majority of the British public.”
The government’s preferred choice as chair of English football’s new independent regulator contributed money to the leadership campaigns of Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
David Kogan told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that he was being “utterly transparent” by declaring donations which “hadn’t been discovered by the press”.
The sports media rights executive said he had donated “very small sums” to the 2020 campaigns, as well as thousands of pounds to Labour MPs and candidates in recent years, but had “total personal independence from all of them”.
Nandy said Kogan – who also sat on the board of Labour news website LabourList – was the “outstanding candidate” to fill the position when he was announced as preferred choice in April.
Conservative shadow sports minister Louie French said the failure to disclose the donations when first put forward for the role was “a clear breach of the governance code on public appointments”.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Kogan had been appointed through a “fair and open competition”, while the BBC understands his donations were below the threshold that requires declaring.
The Football Governance Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament after being reintroduced by the Labour government in October, will establish a first independent regulator for the professional men’s game in England.
The legislation will hand power to a body independent from government and football authorities to oversee clubs in England’s top five divisions.
At a ‘pre-appointment hearing’, Kogan – a former BBC journalist who also previously advised the Premier League, EFL and other leagues on broadcast rights – said he wants to put “fans at the heart of the regulator” and help the football pyramid “survive”.
He’s a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter
Kogan has been a Spurs fan since 1964, although he admitted he seems to “run into nothing but Arsenal fans nowadays”.
He was at the 1967 FA Cup final to watch his team beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley.
He sees Club World Cup and Champions League as ‘risk’ to English football
The new Club World Cup and expanding Champions League are “risk factors” for the future sustainability of English football, according to Kogan.
Thirty-two teams will compete in Fifa’s inaugural Club World Cup this summer, while the number of games have increased in this season’s Champions League.
He thinks the growth of these competitions will have an impact on the money English football earns from broadcast deals.
Kogan said: “When you look at how Fifa is doing its world club competition, the way Uefa is developing its European competition, all of those are factors that directly impact on English football – things like broadcasting slots and broadcasting financing.
He believes Reading’s issues may not have occurred with regulator in place
Reading owner Dai Yongge was forced to sell the club last week after he was disqualified under the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
Kogan believes the regulator’s powers to evaluate owners and directors will be far more extensive with “access to much greater knowledge and much greater ability to intervene”.
He’s prepared for legal challenges from clubs and leagues
Legal disputes are becoming increasingly common in football.
The Premier League spent more than £45m last season on legal costs due to various disputes over its financial regulations.
The league has been embroiled in a series of investigations, disciplinary arbitration processes, and appeals. Cases have involved Manchester City, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Leicester City.
Kogan hopes the regulator won’t face any legal challenges but said it must be “prepared for the worst” and referenced “very wealthy clubs and a very wealthy league”.
The regulator won’t be setting ticket prices
Some fans, and even an MP, Labour’s Ian Byrne, want the regulator to help set ticket prices.
Kogan said “it’s not a matter for the regulator to set ticket prices for individual clubs”, but that “it is a matter for the regulator to allow fans to have a view”.
Five early concept designs for a new landmark memorial to the late Queen, who died in September 2022, in St James Park in the heart of London have gone on display
One of the shortlisted designs for a new memorial for the late Queen – this one features an equestrian-style statue of the monarch (Image: PA)
The final shortlisted designs for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II have been unveiled, including a bronze cast of a Windsor oak tree, a giant canopy of stone lily pads and a statue of the late Queen next to Prince Philip. The five early design concepts have been displayed as part of an online public exhibition which opened today.
Other ideas include audio installations featuring the late Queen’s voice, a “tranquil family” of romantic royal gardens inspired by the Georgian architect John Nash, “forest bathing in the heart of the city”, and a “graceful and strong” stone bridge with cascading water. The public is being encouraged to view the proposed designs for the competition run by Malcolm Reading Consultants and offer feedback by May 19.
The Mirror exclusively revealed last year that the national memorial will stand in St James’s Park in the heart of London, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer later said will provide “everyone with a place to honour the late Queen and connect with the shared history we cherish”.
READ MORE: Prince Harry issues statement on ‘apathetic world’ days after explosive royal outburst
Another design features a giant canopy of eight carved sculptural lily pads in honour of the late Queen, whose childhood nickname was Lilibet (Image: PA)
The late Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Elizabeth II, whose reign spanned 70 years, dedicated her life to her royal duty.
After a year of consideration by a specially appointed committee headed by Lord Janvrin, the late Queen’s former private secretary in the wake of her passing, St James’s Park has been chosen and approved by the King. The location of the memorial was chosen because of its closeness to the ceremonial route of The Mall, and Buckingham Palace, and its historical and constitutional significance, but also because of a poignant personal connection to the late Queen – the nearby statues of her beloved parents.
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A design showing a stone bridge over soil, tree roots and water, featuring a gentle cascade of water onto the lake, to represent the late Queen as the bedrock of the nation(Image: PA)
The bronze tributes to King George VI, who died at the age of 56 in 1952, and the Queen Mother, who died aged 101 in the Golden Jubilee year of 2002, stand just a short distance along The Mall. The announcement of the final design will coincide with what would have been the Queen’s 100th birthday year in 2026.
Lord Janvrin, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said: “Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life of service profoundly touched countless individuals, and she was a figure of great respect and admiration. Memories of her long reign are still fresh for so many of us and we need to capture the essence of them for future generations”.
He added: “In recognition of this, it is only fitting that we invite the public to express their views on these design concepts.
“We are delighted to be working with some of the best architects, artists and designers in the world to produce a landmark memorial of outstanding beauty that celebrates and honours the life of Queen Elizabeth II.”
Another shortlisted design features an exact bronze cast of an “awe-inspiring” ancient oak from Windsor Great Park(Image: PA)
Hailed as one of the most significant design initiatives in modern British history, the memorial in St James’s Park, close to Buckingham Palace in the heart of London, will provide the public with a permanent memorial to the country’s longest-reigning monarch, who died in 2022.
A panel of committee members will select the winning concept and work with the team on the final design, which is expected to be unveiled in 2026, which would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday year.
The committee will also select an artist, through a separate process, to create a figurative representation of Elizabeth II for the site on The Mall in central London.
The five design concepts are:
1. A” tranquil family “of royal gardens inspired by John Nash’s original landscape of the park, linked by a natural stone tessellated path by Lord Foster of Foster + Partners with artist Yinka Shonibare, ecologist Professor Nigel Dunnett and landscape architect Michel Desvigne Paysagiste.
Other elements include a statue of the Queen alongside Philip on Birdcage Walk next to a Prince Philip Gate and, on the other side of the park, an equestrian statue of the Queen in a new civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place at Marlborough Gate. The plans also incorporate a contemporary wind sculpture for reflection, audio installations of the Queen’s voice, a digital conservatory and a translucent Unity Bridge.
The final shortlisted design by WilkinsonEyre and Malcolm Reading Consultants showing a series of pathways and landscapes(Image: PA)
2. Bridge of Togetherness – A memorial walk inspired by the idea of” togetherness “with 70 lily pad stepping stones by Heatherwick Studio with sculptor and ceramicist Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates and Arup. At the centre of the bridge is a limestone sculpture of the late Queen, whose childhood nickname was Lilibet, protected by a giant canopy of eight carved sculptural lily pads, with the stone chosen because it will” age with dignity”.
3. An innovative stone bridge over soil, tree roots and water, featuring a gentle cascade of water onto the lake, to represent the late Queen as the bedrock of the nation, has been designed by J&, L Gibbons with production designer Michael Levine, and William Matthews Associates. It aims to capture a” meandering flow of geology carrying people through an ephemeral choreography of blossoming and colour beneath the high tree canopy “and includes glades to invite” forest bathing in the heart of the city”.
4. The Queen’s Oak – An exact bronze cast of an” awe-inspiring “ancient oak from Windsor Great Park, representing the late Queen’s strength and endurance and symbolising the monarchy, is the central focus of a design by Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects and artist Adam Lowe of Factum Are. The digitally scanned replica tree would stand on a plinth in the lake, with a curved stone bridge as a viewing platform. There would also be a serpentine memorial path, for all ages and abilities, which incorporates inlaid bronze casts of significant objects from the late Queen’s life and a” sonic soundscape “of memories from those she impacted.
5. A thread of pathways and landscapes” gently woven through the natural fabric “of the park with a pair of” elegant bridges “have been suggested by Wilkinson Eyre with artists Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clarke. Aiming to impose the” lightest footprint “on the park, the thread, with symbolic spaces for reflection, focuses on seven themes of the late Queen’s life – reign, faith, Commonwealth, values, nature, family, and Prince Philip.
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The final design will be submitted to the King and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for approval. The proposed designs are available to view at competitions.malcolmreading.com/queenelizabethmemorial/gallery
Gymnastics star Claudia Fragapane forced to relocate after alleged repeated harassment from a teenage stalker, despite a prior restraining order
Strictly star ‘ forced to flee house after teenage stalker turns up at door ‘
Olympic gymnast and Strictly Come Dancing alum Claudia Fragapane was forced to move out of her home after enduring a prolonged stalking ordeal at the hands of a teenage girl, a Bristol court has heard.
The 27-year-old athlete, renowned for her accomplishments in gymnastics and her 2016 Strictly semi-final run with partner AJ Pritchard, found her privacy disrupted when a 15-year-old girl allegedly tracked her down and appeared at her doorstep.
Fragapane photographed the teenager after she arrived unannounced, having reportedly located her address through independent efforts described as “detective work”.
Magistrates were told that Fragapane’s sense of safety was shattered. The incident left her gripped by “fear and anxiety”, as detailed in a previously submitted victim impact statement.
Olympic gymnast and Strictly Come Dancing alum Claudia Fragapane was forced to move out of her home(Image: Getty Images)
The teenager, whose identity remains protected due to her age, violated a restraining order that had already been put in place the previous month. On May 5, she once again allegedly tried to initiate contact, further escalating the situation.
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District Judge Lynne Matthews commented on the distress the actions had caused: “Claudia has no idea how]the defendant] found her. She left her own home because of her actions. She’s turned Claudia’s life upside down”.
The court heard the girl is currently not enrolled in school and is awaiting an educational placement.
The athlete previously been honoured as the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year and claimed four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games(Image: Getty Images)
In response to the breach, she was issued an 18-month rehabilitation order, which includes a requirement to live with her father, supervision for the full duration, and an extended restraining order prohibiting her from approaching Fragapane at any location, including her known address.
Judge Matthews concluded the hearing with a firm warning, saying: “I’d really like it if this was the last time you see me. Stay away from her]Claudia]”.
She emphasised that any further violations would likely result in detention, noting the seriousness of the continued harassment.
Claudia appeared on Strictly in 2016(Image: BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)
Fragapane, who was not present in court, has previously been honoured as the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year and claimed four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games – a record-equalling feat in British gymnastics history.
Born in Bristol, Claudia began gymnastics at age six and trained at Bristol Hawks Gymnastics Club under coaches Helen Potter and Rory Weavers. She announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in February 2024 at age 26, expressing plans to continue in the sport as a coach and choreographer.
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Friends of Victoria and David Beckham rally around the couple saying they went to great efforts to support their daughter-in-law
Victoria Beckham supports her daughter-in-law at her movie premiere(Image: FilmMagic)
David and Victoria Beckham are “deeply sad” about the rift which has emerged between them and their daughter-in-law as pals insisted they “pulled out all the stops” to make it work.
Sources close to son Brooklyn’s wife Nicola Peltz have suggested that her in-laws have not been supportive of her career, and have been unwelcoming.
But friends close to the couple say they have backed Nicola “at every opportunity” and that there was “no anger but just a deep sense of sorrow about how things have turned out.”
The source added: “They have gone above and beyond to help Nicola with her endeavours.”
Victoria, 51, attended the premiere of Nicola’s film Lola in Los Angeles last year and posed on the red carpet arm in arm with her. She was also at the London screening to promote the film, along with the rest of the family: David, 50, Harper, 13, Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20.
“Victoria was even on crutches after injuring her foot but wouldn’t miss it for the world as she knew how important it was for Nicola, and her son,” a friend says.
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Victoria Beckham and the family support Nicola at her film premiere(Image: FilmMagic)
After the LA premiere, Victoria wrote: “We could not be more proud of you. Congratulations on your incredible film……kisses.” In another post, she said: “We’re so proud of you and all your hard work.”
David was equally supportive of his daughter-in-law on social media to help promote his daughter-in-law’s film, friends said.
A pal said: “Lets not forget that David has 88million Instagram followers, and he was repeatedly promoting Nicola’s film, and expressing his love for her and the project. Privately, too, he was of course very supportive as well.”
David even sent his love to Nicola when her dog died and shared a post written by Nicola talking about her heartache.
The friend said: “Again, does this strike you as someone who is uncaring and not accepting of Nicola into the family.”
David Beckham posts his support towards Nicola
The Mirror told this week how a rift had opened up after Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30 snubbed David’s 50th bash at the swanky Core restaurant in London’s Notting Hill. Sources close to Nicola insist that the reason for the no-show was because Romeo’s girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 25, and Brooklyn once had a “brief romantic connection” and didn’t approve of her. They claim the Beckhams instead “chose Romeo’s girlfriend over family.”
But a friend of the Beckhams said: “Kim and Brooklyn did not date and she has nothing to do with any of this. In any case, why did Brooklyn not go to the Cotswolds party where Kim wasn’t there…or the Scottish fishing trip with his dad and other brothers. It doesn’t make sense.”
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One source connected to the family said earlier this week of the Brooklyn no-show: “It was a real blow to David. Brooklyn was close with his dad growing up but he is married now…things have escalated in recent months and there is a very obvious rift that David and Victoria would love to heal.”
A clip from 1996 has resurfaced showing a fresh-faced Claudia Winkleman, who has been presenting Strictly Come Dancing since 2010, and fans can’t believe how different she looks
Claudia Winkleman attends the BAFTA Television Awards 2024(Image: Getty Images)
Claudia Winkleman’s fans have been left gobsmacked after a throwback clip from 1996 resurfaced, showing the star long before she became a familiar face on Strictly Come Dancing. The now 53-year-old joined the Strictly results show as a co-host with Tess Daly in 2010, and ascended to the main show in 2014 after Bruce Forsyth stepped down.
Known for her iconic fringe and heavy eyeliner, Claudia’s signature style has become synonymous with her TV persona. But viewers were astonished to see how different she appeared as a youthful 24-year-old in vintage BBC archive footage.
The Instagram post, featuring the clip, was captioned: “Claudia Winkleman on how to improve your pulling power. OnThisDay 1996: Claudia Winkleman had some top tips and choice chat-up lines to help men and women alike, to improve their pulling power. Clip taken from Good Morning with Anne and Nick, originally broadcast 3 May 1996.”
In the snippet, a young Winkleman, dubbed a “chat up connoisseur”, dishes out flirting advice aimed at both sexes.
Fans didn’t hold back on their reactions to her pre-fame look, with one commenting: “She’s a beautiful lady – she doesn’t need to hide behind a fringe and eyeline.”
Another remarked: “Wow. Looks so different but her voice and mannerisms give it away.” While a third admirer noted: “Lovely woman inside and out, then and now.”
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Another user remarked: “Her accent has changed quite a bit, she’s definitely not as posh as she is in this clip. I think she’s fab.” One also commented: “I would never have recognised her.”
A different user noted: “Her hairstyle suits her so much more than having a fringe 1⁄2 way down her face. The natural colour looks better too.”
Winkleman’s television journey began in 1992 with an appearance on the BBC series Holiday. In the mid ’90s, she even featured on This Morning as a reporter, getting the scoop on lots of celebrity news.
Her breakthrough TV role came in 2001 with Central Weekend, a regional debate show. Subsequently, she went on to present Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and later joined the main show.
In recent times, Winkleman has been at the helm of several shows including The Great British Sewing Bee, The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, Britain’s Best Home Cook and The Traitors UK.
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Tech Advisor reports that recording for season 4 of The Traitors UK is set for this spring or summer, teasing a potential return to our screens in early January 2026.
Meanwhile, the BBC excitedly announced on Instagram: “The time for talk is over… The Traitors has been commissioned for a fourth series as well as a nine-part celebrity version for iPlayer and BBC One – and series three has already been filmed in the Scottish Highlands.
