Category Entertainment News

Following the announcement of the Duchess of Kent’s death earlier today, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid her a personal, heartfelt tribute.

The Duchess passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at her Kensington Palace residence surrounded by her family, according to a statement released at noon.

The 92-year-old was known for concocting the loss of Wimbledon finals, particularly a teary Jana Novotna in 1993, and for hosting awards at the championships for a long time. She opted to be known as Mrs. Kent and renounced her royal lifestyle to pursue a decade-long teaching career in music at a state primary school in Hull.

William and Kate also paid tribute to George, Helen, and Nicholas on social media by saying, “Our thoughts are with the Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George.”

The Duchess devoted her life to helping others and supporting numerous causes, including through her love of music. She will be greatly missed. W &amp, C. “

The Duchess, who is also the wife of the late Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, was last seen in public in October with her wheelchair alongside her husband. She had been the oldest member of the Royal Family since the late Queen’s passing, but she has since made a few infrequent public appearances and has not been to King Charles’ or the former monarch’s funeral in May 2023.

She became a well-known face at royal events, including Wimbledon, when she married Edward, the Duke of Kent, in 1961, and she transitioned to a low-key music teacher.

Buckingham Palace announced her passing in a statement, saying: “It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. Last night, her family surrounded her at Kensington Palace, where she was buried peacefully.

The Duke of Kent, his children, and grandchildren mourn their loss and remember fondly The Duchess’ lifelong devotion to all the organizations she was associated with, her love of music, and her compassion for young people, according to the King and Queen.

The Duchess’ Catholic funeral will be held in due course. The King and Queen are expected to be among the senior royals present. In modern British history, there will be the first Catholic funeral service for a royal family member.

On Thursday night, the King, who is at Balmoral, was informed, along with other members of the royal family. The duchess’s funeral will be held until the duchess’s funeral, according to Charles.

During the day of the duchess’ funeral, members of the Royal Family and household staff will wear black. Black armbands will be worn by those in Livery, the Royal Mews, and the Royal Military.

While the mourning period is in full swing, royal households will likely decide format and tone of engagements.

Although no further details have been disclosed about the duchess’s cause of death, it is believed that she had been unwell for some time. Any royal family members or the duchess’s close relatives who visit her coffin, which will be laid to rest at Kensington Palace, will keep their private affairs records.

Former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant Myles Stephenson had to take his young daughter to the hospital after realising she swallowed something harmful

Former I’m A Celebrity star Myles Stephenson has opened up about a terrifying parenting ordeal where he had to rush his daughter to urgent care after a bizarre accident.

The 33-year-old Rak-Su singer, who won The X Factor with his band in 2017, told fans on social media that little Sahara, who turns three in December swallowed an acorn.

The woodland seed may be harmless to squirrels and deer, but raw acorns can be unsafe for humans to eat as they contain tannins, which can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.

The shaken pop star uploaded a clip from A&amp, E where Sahara can be seen telling viewers why she is in the hospital. He captioned the video: “Yep… she ate an acorn &amp, now we are at urgent care! Having kids does keep you on your toes”.

In the footage, Myles can be heard asking: “Why are we at the doctors”? before adding: “Because Rara ate an…” The toddler then proudly announced: “acorn”.

In an attempt to teach her a life lesson, Myles proceeded to ask “And was that smart”?, to which Sahara cheekily responded: “Yeah, yummy acorn in my tummy”.

Thankfully, Sahara appeared to be in good spirits during the hospital visit despite the scare. Myles frequently shares the ups and downs of parenthood with his fans.

Alongside Sahara, he is also dad to three-year-old Shiloh, who has faced his own medical struggles. The singer previously revealed that Shiloh suffered a stroke as a baby, which left him with Hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

This condition has caused partial paralysis on Shiloh’s right side. As a result, the youngster wears splints to support his legs and frame.

Last year Myles spoke about his son’s treatment, telling fans: “Shiloh started with the ankle-high splint, which didn’t do its job. Then, after that, we upgraded to the knee-high splint in the hopes that his heel would be able to plant with the knee-high splint, which also failed.

In the hope that his leg’s muscles will relax, Botox injections are the next step. His legs are less flexible, which is difficult to accept because of the shorter range of motion. I really sat and digested it; it’s emotionally difficult for me.

Myles is a devoted father who continues to keep up with his fans on the journey of his family online despite the difficulties of raising two young children.

Rak-Su won The X Factor in 2017 and won the show’s first all-male contestant, making Myles the first to win. The band’s self-written songs, including Dimelo, have led to their popularity on the charts and a devoted following on social media.

Myles stepped away from the stage two years later and participated in the 2019 series of I’m A Celebrity. On the reality series, he lasted three weeks, finishing seventh overall.

Former Emmerdale star Kelli Hollis, who played Ali Spencer in the ITV soap, has bravely opened up about her father, who is a convicted drug kingpin and was jailed for 17 years

Former Emmerdale actress Kelli Hollis has bravely opened up about her father’s criminal past, after he was jailed for 17 years behind bars. The 49-year-old, best known for her role as Ali Spencer in the ITV soap from 2011-2015, has kept this part of her life private until now, despite attempts by some social media users to expose her family history.

In an exclusive interview with Manchester Evening News, Kelli decided it was time to share her story and move forward from the past. Despite her initial nerves about discussing such a personal matter, she made it clear that she felt no shame about her father’s actions following his conviction for supplying Class A Drugs.

Her dad, Gwynne Thomas Hollis, is no longer a part of her life, but this wasn’t always the case.

“My dad was my world,” Kelli said. “I will be honest, we haven’t spoken in almost ten years, but that is other normal family stuff.

“That is not because he has gone to prison. I absolutely adored my dad… massively. He used to joke and say I was the son he always wanted as I’m the only girl and the oldest and I have his personality and confidence. I loved him with all my heart. He is my dad at the end of the day.”

Kelli’s parents parted ways when she was just three, but her father Gwynne, a career criminal, remained a constant figure in her life. However, it didn’t take long for young Kelli to realise that her dad was not like other dads and was involved in the murky world of drug dealing.

“I have always known all my life what he does,” Kelli, who once broke down in tears in court when her father was sent down earlier in his life, said.

“But where I am from, this isn’t me saying it is OK because it is not, but I am from Beeston in Leeds. Everyone can relate to Shameless and the lifestyle and the council estate thing. So I suppose you just get on with it.

“But my dad, I will be honest, he was always supportive when I got an opportunity to be an actor because it came about very suddenly and he did nothing but encourage me to stay away from the life he has led. So I will always be grateful for that.”

As Kelli navigated through life, she found work at the local pub, a place where everyone knew everyone else’s business, so her dad’s shady activities were hardly kept under wraps.

She added: “I had suspicions as a teenager, just because of his persona and the way people were around him, that kind of thing. And then as I grew up, it was just what it was.”

Laughing, she continued: “I didn’t think ‘oh s**t my dad is a drug dealer’, do you know what I mean? It wasn’t like that. You just grow up and you only know what you know.”

However, by sheer coincidence, Kelli became an actress, with her major parts including Yvonne Karib in Shameless and Ali Spencer in Emmerdale.

Her father also dabbled in acting and they starred alongside each other in projects like Tina Goes Shopping, a drama that bagged a Bafta nomination.

Yet she revealed: “My dad got some opportunities and he loved it and he was really good. We had a conversation and he said, ‘I can’t be on the back of your coattails and I can’t risk your career because of what I am doing.'”

As Kelli rose to stardom, she remained constantly aware that her dad’s criminal activities could eventually resurface to damage her reputation.

That occurred in June 2023 when Gwynne was convicted of conspiring to supply class A drugs.

He formed part of a major drug manufacturing and distribution network in and around York.

But he failed to turn up to court for his trial, before officers eventually tracked him down. He was locked up aged 66 and handed a 17-year sentence.

Looking back on it, Kelli, who has children of her own, revealed: “We sort of knew it was coming. There had been a lot of stuff going on the previous years leading up to this. From my knowledge, they were trying to build a case for quite a few years.

“It wasn’t unexpected but what was unexpected was that he ran off and he didn’t go to court. The sad thing is that if he had just done it, he probably would have got less because they gave him more because he bolted.”

Throughout the chat, where Kelli spoke eloquently about her extraordinary circumstances, the ex-soap actress highlighted something that certain individuals might consider contradictory.

It’s widely known that Kelli relocated to Thailand where she operated a weed bar and resided there for two-and-a-half years before returning to the UK in November.

Nevertheless, she remarked: “The hypocrisy for me here is that people are going to say, ‘oh she went to Thailand and she ran a weed shop.’ But the difference is legal and illegal at the end of the day.”

She continued: “The bottom line is, it has nothing to do with me. I have not spoken to the man in ten years. He is a big grown man who has made his own life and made his own path and I have made mine.”

Despite their estrangement, we questioned whether Kelli felt compelled to contact her father when he received a lengthy prison term.

She revealed: “Me and my dad’s relationship now is pretty much done to be perfectly honest and that is on both sides. I think if I did reach out, I probably wouldn’t get the response I would get anyway.

“And do you know what, if he reached out I would probably be as stubborn and do the same to be honest, which is sad and makes me sad.”

Coming from a tight-knit community, locals continue to voice their amazement to Kelli that she and her father remain estranged, particularly considering how devoted they previously were. However, Kelli disclosed that her father received support from other family members, including her own loved ones who visited him in prison.

She was informed that Gwynne is managing well behind bars and has taken on a mentor role, particularly assisting inmates grappling with mental health issues.

Despite having a strained relationship with him, and even blocking his name on her phone to avoid online exposure, she acknowledged that he possessed some commendable qualities.

She stated: “Even though he did the things he did, he is not a violent person. We are not talking about Kray twins where people are scared of him. To him it was just a job and it wasn’t a lifestyle.

“Everybody loved him and he was a good guy who would do anything for anybody. For instance, there was a lovely lady who ran the local pub and she lost her husband. She was going to lose the pub, so a few of them chipped in to make sure she could stay afloat and not lose her home and her business.

“This was not somebody who people were scared of. He was always life and soul and it is sad that it has come to this. But I think it was inevitable considering his life. At some point, it was going to catch up with him, and the huge sentence was inevitable I think.”

Concluding the interview, the relief on Kelli’s face was palpable, especially as she had wrestled with the decision to speak out for several days prior.

However, she concluded: “I already feel better saying it out loud and knowing it will be put to bed.

“It is just a personal thing for me to get ahead of, have my say, and then it be done rather than getting a text message to say ‘oh it is in the papers today.'”.

Displaying her trademark wit, she even cheekily suggested a potential headline: “Shameless star’s shameless dad.”

But on a more serious note, she concluded: “You have to be proactive and this is more stress and a worry thing for me because I am not ashamed. It is not my life, it is my dad’s, but because we are so closely connected, and he has been involved in some of the projects I have worked with over the years, it just makes sense to have this out now and put it to bed.

The Millennium Falcon Set from LEGO’s Ultimate Collector Series is available for 20% off.

Amazon has beaten LEGO by slashing almost £150 off a ‘rare’ and collectible Star Wars set. In a new ‘limited time deal, the retail giant has reduced the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon Set from £734.99 to £588.98.

This marks a discount of £146.01 or 20% and undercuts LEGO’s own £734.99 price tag. A similar deal is also available at Smyths Toys, where the set has been reduced to £588.99 and highlighted as a ‘rare’ product.

LEGO says the set is its ‘biggest ever’ Millennium Falcon, measuring 83cm x 60cm and comprising more than 7,500 elements including minifigure characters from the original and sequel Star Wars trilogies. It forms part of the iconic brand’s Ultimate Collector Series (UCS), which it says features hard-to-find, exclusive and impressively large Star Wars sets made specifically with adult collectors in mind.

Other discounted sets in the series are the LEGO Star Wars TIE Interceptor UCS Vehicle Building Set (£169.98) and LEGO Star Wars AT-ST Walker Building Set (£155.37). But the UCS Millennium Falcon Set is arguably one of the most sought after LEGO Star Wars sets, with removable hull panels offering access to its detailed interior and iconic Star Wars scenes.

A main hold with a seating area, a Dejarik holographic game, a combat remote training helmet, an engineering station with a turning minifigure seat, and a doorway construction with passageway decoration complete the ship. A four-minifigure cockpit with a detachable canopy, interchangeable sensor dishes, upper and lower quad laser cannons, seven landing legs, and a lowering boarding ramp are just a few of its exterior features.

Millennium Falcon LEGO Star Wars UCS Set

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There’s also a gunnery station complete with a minifigure gunner’s seat and a detachable hull panel with a fully rotating quad laser cannon, while an additional quad laser cannon is mounted on the underside. The LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon Set has achieved a 4.6-star rating from Amazon customers after more than 570 reviews.

One person referred to “the best LEGO set ever created” and “without a doubt, my favorite set ever created.” I have no fault with LEGO for allowing it to continue its active lifestyle and foravoiding retiring it for so long. Although it is enormous, the details and appearance are stunning. Although the construction takes a lot of time, the end result is perfect and overwhelming.

Another person referred to the item as “immensible and priceless.” It took more than a week to build, consuming both late at night and many hours.

However, the same buyer also offered some advice, saying that it was necessary to build the kit in a room that was at least as large as a dining table.

Emma Morgan, a Big Brother star, revealed her amazing before and after weight loss photos and revealed the one bad habit she broke to make her goal a reality.

Emma Morgan, a beautician and mum of five who shot to fame on Big Brother last year, has shown off her amazing before and after weight loss pictures after losing over a stone – and revealed the bad habit she ditched to make it happen.

The 54-year-old used to consume six cans of coke per day. She struggled to lose the weight she wanted, especially because she found fad diets to be “soul destroying” and had low energy and motivation because of her menopausal status and busy schedule.

But she started to feel more confident and slim down after switching from the fizzy drink to the water and working with an online habits coach. She’s now finally self-assured enough to go bikini again.

Emma reached out to Coach Adam Wilson for help losing weight. He shared on Instagram: “She came to me to tone up, build muscle, drop fat and feel confident in a bikini again.”

He claimed to have replaced her six cans of Coke per day with “2.5L of water (hello energy, focus, and better moods)”. Adam also provided weekly check-ins and a simple plan to follow.

After losing more than a stone, Emma and Adam posted her amazing results on Instagram. She continued, “Just wanted to say a huge thank you Adam for helping me achieve what I set out to achieve.” You did it all right, in my opinion.

Just the right amount of everything, really! Knowledge, responsibility, compassion, and encouragement. I could go on. Just the necessary amount of everything to succeed, not too much.

You ought to be very self-assured. “Thank you xx”

READ MORE: Cleaning expert shares 24p way to make old school uniforms and P.E kits smell brand new

Emma is currently an aesthetics practitioner and was a glamour model for 12 years. She also appeared in Coronation Street as an extra twice before she went on Big Brother in 2024, where she became a fan favourite thanks to her bubbly personality.

In the end, she placed third, and she expressed her gratitude for being a part of the show on Instagram.

She wrote in the post’s title, “To come out third and feel so much love and support is beyond words.” I’ve made some lifelong friends and traveled the world with them, forming unmatched bonds.

“This has been the most crazy experience but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve made the best memories which I’ll cherish forever.

“Thank you Big Brother for having me and to everyone who voted along the way. I still can’t believe I made it to the final!! My heart is with you.

A new popular celebrity relationship dubbed the “Cougar Curse” by a renowned expert who claims misaligned life stages and public scrutiny from the beginning doom them.

Celebrity pairings featuring older women and younger men – often dubbed “toyboy” relationships – make for glamorous headlines but a relationship expert has warned against the so-called “Cougar Curse”.

These relationships, from Shirley Ballas, 64, and Danny Taylor, 51, to Kerry Katona, 44, and Ryan Mahoney, 36, spell trouble according to Gemma Logan, a relationship expert at The Foxy Hen. She credits issues like misaligned life stages, emotional disconnects, and invasive public scrutiny for often derailing them.

“Celebrity toyboy relationships rarely last because they start with intensity but face challenges: life-stage differences, public scrutiny, energy mismatches, and emotional gaps,” Gemma told Fabulous. “Society often scrutinises older women dating younger men more harshly than the reverse,” she added.

READ MORE: I’m a Celebrity star forced to work in coffee shop after spending all their moneyREAD MORE: Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel share unseen wedding pic after cryptic statement

Public reaction can be brutal to these kinds of relationships. Actress Kym Marsh faced scathing comments when her romance with a man 19 years her junior became public, receiving messages comparing him to her son.

She condemned the online trolling and called it a shame on society. Kerry Katona, Kelly Brook, Kym Marsh and Tamzin Outhwaite have all had toyboy romances that haven’t worked out.

Emotional compatibility is also a crucial factor. Kristina, who allegedly cheated on emotional neglect, said he “wasn’t there for me emotionally.”

Another common age-gap issue was the timing, according to Shirley Ballas’ celebrity. She acknowledged ignoring initial “red flags” and eventually realizing that she and her younger fiance were heading in different directions despite being protective of the relationship.

Additionally important are physical condition, nightlife habits, and career priorities. Gemma claims that younger partners bring excitement and novelty, but that a romance can become strained by inconsequentials in routines, lifestyle choices, and priorities over time.

The relationship either evolves or disintegrates as the novelty fades, she continued. Beyond deeper emotional and practical contradictions, the power of passion alone was insufficient.

Kelly Brook’s high-profile romance with former Wasps rugby ace Danny Cipriani, who was eight years her junior, admitted it was a “nice ego boost” to attract someone in their 20s.

Kelly stated in a 2010 interview with The Times: “It’s nice ego booster that someone in their 20s finds you attractive when you’re 30.

When you reach the age of 30, you realize that a young toyboy is a nice one. It is fantastic.

Not all age-gap relationships are destined to fail, though. After becoming official in 2014, Kris Jenner, 69, and Corey Gamble, 44, continue to excel.

Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley, 37, and Jason Statham, 57, the actor, wed in 2016, and the couple have since welcomed their first child.

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