Category Entertainment News

Meghan Markle has been accused of copying her sister-in-law Kate Middleton after making a big announcement about her and Harry’s plans for their future

Meghan Markle is facing fresh accusations she’s “copying” her sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, following their new TV deal with Netflix. The Duke of Sussex, 40, and the Duchess of Sussex, 44, announced a new “first-look” deal last week with the US streaming giant. As well as putting Meghan under fresh scrutiny, experts tell the Mirror that the details are clearly a “reality check” for the couple.

The deal includes a new festive edition of Meghan’s With Love show, where viewers can “join Meghan in Montecito for a magical holiday celebration”. It didn’t take long for some royal watchers to accuse Meghan of trying to steal the festive limelight from Kate, 43, who hosts her own annual Christmas event.

Kinsey Schofield, a podcaster and royal expert in the US, believes, however, that the Sussexes have shown a “pattern of choosing moments” that risk overshadowing other royal occasions – and Christmas might be no exception. “It’s become so noticeable it was reported recently that Harry had offered to share his schedule with the family as an ‘olive branch’ to avoid competing in the future,” she says. It comes as Royal couple secretly welcome second baby and reveal tot’s adorable name.

READ MORE: David Beckham speaks ‘as a father’ in ‘family’ announcement after latest Brooklyn snubREAD MORE: Holly Willoughby lets her hair down in white swimsuit on sun soaked holiday

Earlier this year, Harry was accused of “stealing the limelight” from his father and stepmother when he arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London just before King Charles and Queen Camilla began their state visit to Italy, which also coincided with their 20th wedding anniversary.

The release of the paperback edition of his explosive memoir Spare also hit the headlines worldwide – just as the King and Queen were touring Australia. Back in 2020, Meghan’s team came under fire after a stream of two-week-old photos were published on her Instagram account on the same day as Kate embarked on a UK tour.

And when Harry and Meghan dropped their so-called “Megxit” bombshell on the eve of Kate’s 38th birthday, they were accused of “overshadowing”. But when it comes to their festive plans, Kinsey suspects that Meghan is unlikely to successfully emulate Kate’s feel-good celebration.

The mum-of-three hosts an annual Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, an event which has become one of the biggest and most poignant in the family’s festive calendar.

Kinsey, who hosts the To Di For Daily podcast, doubts that Meghan’s show will hit the same notes, saying, “Catherine’s carol concert is about unity, love, and hope. Kinsey adds. “She arrives with her family, with a sense of togetherness and faith.

“In contrast, Meghan’s Christmas special feels more like a branding opportunity. She’s timed product launches from her lifestyle line, As Ever, to coincide with the release.

“Without the warmth of family or shared tradition, it plays less as a holiday celebration and more as a commercial venture. When placed side by side, Catherine’s feels authentic and meaningful, while Meghan’s risks seeming transactional.”

The Sussexes’ latest TV news comes five years after they signed a deal with Netflix said to be worth upwards of $100m (£74m), shortly after turning their backs on their life as senior working royals.

Their new arrangement – described as a “multi-year, first-look deal” – means Netflix will pay for the right to get first dibs on the couple’s work, but isn’t committed to taking it.

Dermot McNamara, a talent manager and PR crisis expert, believes the difference in terms sends out a strong message. “It’s not necessarily a humiliation, but it is a reality check for Meghan and Harry and also a reflection of the ever-changing entertainment world,” he tells us.

“Every network and streamers’ belts are tightening. Netflix wants to see sharper ideas and stronger delivery before committing to mega-budgets again. The upside is that this could help Meghan and Harry define what they actually stand for, creatively.”

The pair’s productions so far, including Harry’s polo documentary and Meghan’s With Love series, weren’t exactly record-breaking successes, with the latter failing to crack Netflix’s list of the 300 most-streamed shows of the year so far.

Dermot also suggests that while Meghan won’t take kindly to the “copying” comments, she will have been fully aware that comparisons would inevitably be made.

“Every broadcaster, charity and celebrity under the sun produces holiday specials. It’s a warm, family-friendly format that audiences respond to. That said, Meghan knows the optics. Wanting to be seen in the same aspirational light as Kate isn’t the worst strategy, but Meghan’s challenge is to make it feel authentic to her own brand, not a re-skin of someone else’s.”

* 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

Former Gardeners’ World presenter Alan Titchmarsh has shared a painful admission about separation as he opened up about his family in a brutally honest confession

TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh has confessed that “it’s pathetic” whilst delivering a poignant update regarding the distance he experiences from his two adult daughters.

In an emotional disclosure made earlier this year, the cherished former Gardeners’ World presenter shared a family revelation concerning a memorable quote from a beloved children’s movie, which allegedly triggers a deeply moving reaction within him.

Alan, who shares two grown-up daughters, Polly and Camilla, with wife Alison, explained how the “Daddy, my daddy” quote from The Railway Children resonates profoundly with the TV gardener.

His comments indicated that the movie brings forth memories of his children, and in a tender acknowledgement, he admitted that he must actually “leave the room” whenever they screen the legendary film.

The Ground Force icon severely criticised his own response to the movie as “pathetic” before outlining his present family circumstances, reports Wales Online.

Nevertheless, one element has clearly remained constant since the gardener’s daughters’ younger years.

Alan revealed to the Times: “It’s pathetic, really. I’m a grown man and I have to leave the room if my girls put The Railway Children on.

“They’ve got their own houses now, their own husbands, their own children – the oldest is 13 and the youngest is 9. But their rooms are still here and they’ve still got their names on the door.”

In separate developments, Alan had previously revealed the “heartbreaking” question that he received from his daughter when he kissed her goodnight. It emerged during his appearance on James O’Brien’s Full Disclosure podcast in 2023, where he revealed that his career previously demanded lengthy periods away from the family home.

He explained: “I would go away on a Sunday evening and come back later in the weekend. I do remember the heartbreaking thing of kissing one of them goodnight and them saying ‘will you be here in the morning?'”

Alan, whose extensive broadcasting career has spanned programmes including Gardeners’ World and Songs of Praise, has been wed to his spouse for five decades, having initially encountered her during their twenties at an amateur dramatics society.

Previously discussing his partnership, Alan maintained that romance centres on being “thoughtful”, disclosing that he’d prepared Alison tea for an incredible 45 years.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that, reciprocally, his wife has pressed his shirts “every week for 44 years”, something he characterised as the “greater gift”. He remarked that he’s “lucky” owing to her being the “most unmaterialistic” individual he knows.

According to Hello!, the broadcaster has called the retired medic his “best friend”, and they currently divide their time between their Hampshire farmhouse or getaway residence on the Isle of Wight.

Polly represents the pair’s eldest daughter, born in 1980, whilst Camilla arrived in 1982. Grandfather Alan disclosed to The Mirror in 2020 that they resided nearby but were unable to visit them for months owing to lockdown restrictions at the time.

The presenter announced her separation from husband Patrick Kielty last month after 13 years of marriage in bombshell news nobody was expecting

The world was shocked to its core last month when much-loved couple Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty announced their separation after 13 years of marriage.

The presenters, 48, and 54 respectively, shared a joint statement on July 29 that read: “We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved.

“We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. There will be no further comment.”

Interestingly, the two decided to make their announcement while Cat is away on her Summer break from This Morning, which she usually co-hosts during term time with Ben Shephard.

READ MORE: Patrick Kielty’s ‘seething’ family reveal sad moment they realised Cat Deeley marriage was overREAD MORE: Patrick Kielty seen for first time since split from Cat Deeley after 13 years of marriage

Now reports have suggested that this was a conscious decision as she didn’t want to be in the limelight, and with her return to the ITV show looming, Cat is said to be hoping that viewers will have forgotten about it.

A source told Mail Plus: “There will be literally six weeks between Cat’s break-up announcement and her returning to work. There will be literally six weeks between Cat’s break-up announcement and her returning to work.

“Imagine if she had been on screen when it broke? I guess she didn’t want to have to deal with that. It was easier to go on holiday.”

After the announcement, the mum-of-two was spotted enjoying a break in the Spanish town of Sitges with her hairdresser to the stars pal, Ben Skervin, hoping to no doubt keep a low profile and wait for things to blow over.

She’s expected to return to the iconic This Morning sofa with co-host Ben, 50, on Monday 1 September and viewers will have to wait with baited breath to see if she opens up about her split.

The former couple met while hosting BBC’s Fame Academy together in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2011 that they finally decided to take their friendship to a romantic level.

They proceeded to get married in Rome in 2012 and are parents to two sons, Milo, 9, and six-year-old James.

Although Cat and Patrick didn’t reveal the reason why they decided to call it quits, reports have claimed that their equally busy work schedules got in the way and drove a wedge between their marriage.

Cat has hosted This Morning alongside Ben since early last year, and previously lived in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. Meanwhile, Northern Irish presenter Patrick is the host of RTE talk show The Late Late Show, having taken over from Ryan Tubridy in 2023.

Despite living in the UK, Patrick would travel to Dublin every week to present the show from the RTE studios. Due to their clashing schedules, it became difficult for Patrick and Cat to spend quality time together, according to insiders.

They told Mail Online: “Despite living in the UK, Patrick would travel to Dublin every week to present the show from the RTE studios. Due to their clashing schedules, it became difficult for Patrick and Cat to spend quality time together, according to insiders.”

EXCLUSIVE: Koo Stark became a household name thanks to her relationship with Prince Andrew in the ’80s and now she is hoping to become a wellness guru with the launch of her holistic brand

Prince Andrew’s old flame is launching her own wellness brand in a bid to become the next Gwyneth Paltrow. Koo Stark has applied to the UK government’s Intellectual Property Office to trademark a business that will sell products from crystal therapies to tarot card readings.

The 69-year-old also aims to market Koo Stark yoni eggs – stones used by women as a sex aid. Gwyneth markets her own version, a Jade Egg, for almost £50 on her Goop wellness site. Cancer survivor Koo, who dated Andrew for 18 months in the early 1980s, will also offer “therapeutic treatment of the body, meditation services, yoga, spiritual advice, aura photography and meditation training” as well as cosmetics.

The actress and photographer’s application has been filed under ‘Kathleen Norris Stark trading as Koo Stark’. Koo’s controversial relationship with Andrew began after they met at a party in February 1981.

READ MORE: Junior Andre makes sad admission about ‘overcoming challenges’ after Princess’ TV successREAD MORE: Maura Higgins’ defiant stance as she’s set for awkward Danny Jones run-in after kiss

The Prince was said to have considered proposing but the relationship faced intense pressure from the Royal Family because of Koo’s past acting roles in movies such as Electric Dreams, Marquis de Sade’s Justine and Eat The Rich. The couple split in 1983.

Earlier this year, Koo filed a lawsuit against Star Wars producers for £190million. She played Luke Skywalker’s friend Camie Marstrap in the 1977 movie A New Hope, but her scenes were cut.

However, they recently appeared online so Koo claims her intellectual property rights have been exploited. The news comes just one week after claims that Andrew “slept with more than a dozen women” in the first year of his marriage to Sarah Ferguson.

The biography of the Duke and Duchess of York by historian Andrew Lownie – The Rise and Fall of the House of York – alleges Fergie wanted to be “The One” but enjoyed several affairs of her own with “reckless abandon”.

Lownie, who has written several acclaimed books on the royal family, details claims the York’s troubled marriage was riddled with infidelity.

Andrew, who was forced to step down from royal duties over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly told his new wife early on: “I am a prince, then a naval officer, then a husband.”

Lownie claims a former driver who worked for the couple has stated that Andrew slept with more than 12 women before they reached their first wedding anniversary. The author also alleges Andrew has slept with more than 1,000 women in his life.

Lownie says the list includes adult film stars, political figures, and nightclub staff and bartenders. One 20-year-old model alleged: “He wanted me to engage in kinky sexual activity. He had no boundaries.

“He told me he had an open marriage arrangement with his wife. I felt like he used me for a few days, so he could live his wildest fantasies.”

Being the King comes with a whole lot of perks, and some royal fans have only just discovered one major advantage to being the monarch that makes travelling a breeze

Being the King comes with a whole lot of perks for King Charles, and some royal fans are only just realising the monarch has one major advantage when it comes to travelling.

Many people have probably never thought about it, but King Charles doesn’t have a passport or drivers license and is still able to travel freely throughout the world without the all important documentation that the rest of us need.

The revelation was recently posted on Reddit ’s ‘Today I Learned (TIL)’ forum, with the bemused social media user writing: “TIL that as the reigning monarch of 14 countries, King Charles III is allowed to travel without a passport and drive without a license.”

While Charles is head of the Commonwealth, he is able to travel to countries outside of the Commonwealth without a passport, and has never had to endure passport control or immigration officers when jetting abroad as King.

His lack of documentation was reported by National Geographic, which said in a profile on the King when he was first crowned: “As King, he’s also the only person in the UK who can travel without a passport and drive without a licence.”

The British passport contains a message from King Charles inside, with a request to other nations to allow the holder to pass freely into their country.

As a Reddit commentator elaborated: “As explained to me, the passport is the state saying ‘This is who this person is’. In the UK, that state is formulated to express the will of the Royal, so it’s the King saying ‘This is who this person is’. In the case of King Charles, it’d be like writing down ‘I am me’ on a sheet of paper.”

The King’s unique benefit is further explained on the royal family’s website, which clarifies that the rule only applies to Charles, meaning Queen Camilla, Prince William and all other members of the Firm need passports to travel.

It says: “When travelling overseas, the Sovereign does not require a British passport. As a British passport is issued in the name of His Majesty, it is unnecessary for The King to possess one. All other Members of the Royal Family, including The Queen and The Prince of Wales, have passports.

“The first page of British passports contains a representation of the Royal Arms, together with the following wording: ‘His Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary’.”

It then adds: “In Realms (Commonwealth countries where The King is Sovereign), a similar formula is used, except that the request to all whom it may concern is made in the name of the Realm’s Governor-General, as The King’s representative in that Realm. In Canada, the request is made in the name of His Majesty by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

Within the Reddit comments on the post, many began to speculate on what other random perks come with being King, to which one person cheekily claimed: “The monarch is also permitted to send letter mail within the UK without needing to affix a stamp. But that is more a matter of how awkward it is to lick the back of one’s own head.”

Katie Price and Peter Andre’s son Junior, 20, first made his music debut three years ago with track Slide, which went viral on TikTok and launched him into the spotlight

Junior Andre has candidly opened up about the “challenges” he has faced as he desperately tries to launch his music career.

Katie Price and Peter Andre’s son, 20, first made his music debut three years ago with track Slide, which went viral on TikTok and launched him into the spotlight. Yet despite signing his first record deal just months after the song, he’s been hit with a number of delays as he attempts to release further songs.

It comes as his sister Princess has seen huge success with her ITV2 reality show while launching her career as an influencer.

Junior admitted that he has been “overcoming a couple of challenges” and “isn’t putting pressure” on himself.

READ MORE: Katie Price slapped with new legal row as exes Kieran Hayler and Alex Reid team upREAD MORE: Peter Andre shares united family snap as Katie Price hits back with ‘sinners’ statement

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “It’s nothing that I can’t beat but it will be good in due time. Don’t sleep on me – trust me, it’s coming hot!”

It’s unsurprising that Junior has gone down the music route considering dad Peter rocketed to fame for his hit single Mysterious Girl. Katie also dipped her toe into the singing world when he auditioned for Eurovision in 2005 with her song Not Just Anybody.

But she didn’t stop there and went on to release a duet album with Peter, who she was married to at the time, called A Whole New World. In 2010, she released Free To Love Again and then a 2017 song called I Got U and another titled Hurricane. Since then, she has also regularly performed at various events across the country.

It comes as Princess spoke out after her dad Peter Andre unleashed a scathing statement towards ex-wife Katie Price. The statement came as the fallout between the pair intensified as Princess, 18, released her debut solo TV project.

The teen shared her life on screen in ITV documentary The Princess Diaries. And while dad Pete, 52, featured throughout, Katie was fuming that the producers opted to go ahead without input from her.

Now, after her dad’s outburst, Princess has broken her silence on the feud. Princess addressed the feud as she answered a question about her parents on Snapchat.

One fan asked her on the platform: “Does it affect you even now when your mum and dad don’t get on?’

Princess then said in a video on the platform: “To be honest it doesn’t affect me. At the end of the day, they broke up when I was two years old so I don’t even have any memory of them being together.”

Writing on top of the clip, she added: “I love my mum and dad and that’s all that matters xxx.”

It comes after her dad Peter Andre shared an Instagram post in which he raged: “For sixteen years, I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones, but staying silent has been incredibly frustrating. That ends today.

“The latest comments about my children’s welfare and living arrangements compel me to set the record straight.

“For well-documented reasons, and for their safety, Junior and Princess came into my care in 2018 and remained with me until they reached adulthood. In 2019, the family courts issued a legally binding order to enforce this arrangement.”

He went on: “I have never made this public before, out of respect for my children. In 2011 and 2015, publicly documented court cases, found my ex-wife had made false claims.

“She was ordered to pay substantial damages and legal costs, and to apologise, to me and my management. The same falsehoods are being repeated today.

“Unfortunately, there are many more lies and baseless accusations I have yet to address. Those will now be dealt with in the coming months.”

Following his claims, a spokesperson for Katie told the Mirror: “Kate is in a much better and clear headspace and is at peace with the situation, this was in the past and she doesn’t feel the need to bring up tit for tat comments, but more importantly she’s dealing with this the right way and it’s now in her lawyers hands. Kate will no longer be gaslight [sic] and bullied as she once was…”