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Meghan Markle’s ‘subtle digs’ at royal family in new TV venture

The Duchess of Sussex’s new Netflix series might have instantly become one of the most-watched new series of the year, but speculation about “subtle messages” about and to her British royal in-laws appear to have become the biggest takeaway. With Love, Meghan dropped on the streaming service last week and millions of intrigued viewers tuned in to see her swap lifestyle tips with celebrity friends such as actors Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer, and make-up artist Daniel Martin.

Branding expert Lynn Carratt, of Press Box PR, maintains that the show has been produced in such a way that it sends some very clear signals. “There are a few messages Meghan is clearly trying to convey in this documentary. She is trying to show herself as the perfect mum, the perfect and happiest wife, the perfect cook, the perfect host, the perfect friend. It’s all very carefully curated and aesthetically pleasing. Her subtle digs to the royal family, and to Kate and William perhaps in particular, seem to be, ‘ Look at me, I’m happy thank you very much, living my picture-perfect Californian life, Harry and I made the right decision by quitting the royal family. ‘”

Meghan Markle
The show was filmed in a multi-million dollar mansion near to Meghan and Harry’s Montecito home (COURTESY OF NETFLIX)

In the fifth episode of the wholesome show, with her best friend and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, Abigail says, “We’ve all been through a lot”, before turning to Meghan, in what’s been perceived by some as another dig at Meghan’s time with the royal family.

In the final instalment of the eight episodes, we see the duchess host a finale brunch for her friends, as well as husband Prince Harry, 40, and her mum, Doria Ragland. She uses the opportunity to officially introduce her new lifestyle brand As Ever, saying it marked a “new chapter”, which has been perceived by some as a very clear signal that she’s closing the book on her royal life. “And here we go, there’s a business”! she toasts. “All of that is part of that creativity that I’ve missed so much, so thank you for loving me so much and celebrating with me”.

While tasting her final dish, Meghan also comments, “It tastes like home, and I’ve missed California”, leaving viewers with no doubt about where she sees herself living, despite ongoing speculation about a possible return to the UK.

PR expert Lynn believes there are some very obvious links to be made between Meghan’s words and her experience as a working royal. “She says she likes having her creativity back, her freedom – perhaps that’s a secret message to the royals because of course, in the monarchy, her freedom would have been stilted”, she tells us.

Meghan Markle
Meghan toasted her ‘ new chapter ‘ in the final episode of the series (COURTESY OF NETFLIX)

“It’s all protocols and age-old traditions – and as we subsequently discovered, that didn’t sit well with Meghan. She had her creative side as an actress, she had her blog The Tig which she had to close down… She had to give up a lot of that old life to become a part of Harry’s life in The Firm”.

In an earlier episode, Meghan also talks about being broken, fractured and healing. Chatting to Vicky Tsai, the millionaire co-founder of a Japanese skincare brand, she appears to allude to her time as a working royal, when she was part of the so-called “Fab Four” with Kate Middleton and Prince William. “You gave me this idea, I think it’s so meaningful, that if you break something that is precious and valuable, it’s not broken”, she says to Vicky, as they talk about Kintsugi, the Japanese craft of repairing broken pottery.

“That fracture actually makes it more beautiful… I just think that it felt really symbolic of saying to anyone if you’ve been through something, you’re not broken. It can be fixed, it can be sealed and healed at the same time”.

The 'Fab Four' wave to members of the public at Windsor Castle
William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were once dubbed the ‘ Fab Four ‘ (PA)

The subject of Meghan and Harry – and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – keeping their royal titles has been hotly debated, since they stepped back as working royals and moved to the States in 2020.

Lynn suggests it’s telling that a comment on the topic of her Sussex name was kept in the final edit. “She seems to enjoy the idea of being a royal when it suits her. She is very swift to correct Mandy Kaling in the programme on her correct surname, saying, ‘ You know I’m Sussex now ‘ – a title bestowed to her by the English royal family.

” I think, were she to do more of this ilk, she needs to stay away from these depictions of the perfect idyllic life because that’s not real life for anyone – and viewers and critics are seeing through it, “Lynn says.

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Peter Andre proudly reveals baby Arabella has hit major milestone

Popstar Peter Andre has just celebrated his 52nd birthday, but the family’s attention has now turned to his youngest child, daughter Arabella, who celebrates her first birthday next month. Arabella is the youngest of Peter’s three children with NHS doctor wife Emily MacDonagh, and Peter has exclusively revealed that she is “adored” by her older siblings.

Peter, 52, and Emily, 34, are also parents to Amelia (known affectionally as Millie), 10, and eight-year-old Theo. He also shares Princess and Junior with his ex wife Katie Price. Offering an update on his youngest, Peter told us: “Arabella is so adorable at the moment. She’s almost one and she’s crawling. She’s got four little teeth, two on the top and two on the bottom, which is cute –she’s very much like Millie was at that age”.

Peter and his wife Emily welcomed their third child together, Arabella Rose Andrea at the beginning of April
Arabella Rose Andrea was born on April 2, 2024 (Instagram/peterandre &amp, amp, amp, amp, dr_emily_official)
Peter is a proud dad of five after baby Arabella's arrival
Peter says Arabella’s older siblings adore her (Instagram)

He continued, “The whole family went out for my birthday dinner and all her brothers and sisters were passing her around for a cuddle – they absolutely adore her”.

Pete0, who has just finished a nationwide theatre tour, insisted after Arabella’s birth that she would be his last child, despite having previously wanted up to five or six. He admitted, however, that the lack of sleep in his 50s “feels a little different than at 31”.

He also opened up about getting his work-life balance right, saying: “I get to do so many wonderful things in my career but one of the things I’m learning when I’m at home is just to be present. I’m trying to put my phone down as much as possible and really switch off from distractions to give my family the attention they deserve”.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: (R-L) Peter Andre, Princess Andre, Junior Andre and Emily MacDonagh attend the Pride Of Britain Awards 2021 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on October 30, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Princess and Junior are huge names in their own rights now (Mike Marsland, WireImagevia Getty Images)

While his eldest children are very established on social media – 17-year-old Princess has around 740, 000 Instagram followers- Pete and Emily, who will celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary this summer, have chosen to keep the faces of their youngest three off their own channels.

Explaining their decision, Peter told us previously: “Like Millie and Theo, it’s unlikely Emily and I will show her face on social media. AI, for example, can be a scary thing in regard to stealing children’s identity and we don’t know enough about how these images can be used in future”.

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‘Cancel culture’ insurance – the quick reputation fix celebrities have been waiting for

The internet has the ability to find a reason to ‘ cancel ‘ someone by digging deep into their social media activity, resulting in full-blown scandals, never-ending backlash, lost opportunities, and even career ruin.

Many celebrities have experienced significant public backlash and have been ‘ cancelled ‘ due to their actions, comments, or past behaviour. Take BBC presenter Greg Wallace’s misconduct allegations, J. K. Rowling’s previous transphobic comments and the ongoing feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

But now, stars can access an unusual form of protection, called ‘ cancel culture insurance’. This policy comes with 60 days of crisis management communication services, including a 24/7 emergency hotline, security advice, and dedicated crisis PR support if they find themselves in a scandal that might affect their careers. It would be calculated based on their wealth, annual earnings and the risk of their past and social media use.

‘ Cancel Culture Insurance ‘ is available to all celebrities (PA Archive/PA Images)

Essentially, it’s a celebrity-specific form of therapy, but with being able to save their careers and avoid public scrutiny. Mark Borkoswki told MailOnline: “If Justin Baldoni and Gregg Wallace had this policy and found themselves in the situation they are in that they would have proper, comprehensive and fully professional care overnight”.

According to the Financial Times, the policy is being created by Samphire Risk, a Lloyd’s of London-backed independent underwriting agency that offers products focused on crime, hostage-taking, and kidnap risk, in partnership with Borkowski PR, a London-based crisis communication group.

Celebrities are highly susceptible to being targeted by cancel culture. The consequences can be long-lasting and severe and may carry a heavy emotional toll – which is where cancel culture insurance comes into play.

How does cancel culture insurance work?

Cancel culture insurance policies are tailored and customised to each celebrity’s situation, public image, and standing in the industry – and could be seen as a type of therapy designed just for celebrities. The process typically begins with a risk assessment, analysing the potential vulnerabilities of the individual.

This involves examining their past statements, social media presence, and any controversies that might arise in the future. Once the assessment is completed, the insurer will create a policy specifically covering the risks faced by the celebrity.

While cancel culture insurance is undoubtedly beneficial to celebrities seeking protection against online backlash, it also raises the possibility of allowing public figures to avoid the consequences of their actions or words. By purchasing insurance, some might even use it as a way to bypass accountability, which undermines the very idea of ‘ cancelling ‘ someone.

Real Housewives of Cheshire star shocked over pregnancy news after throwing test in bin

Real Housewives of Cheshire star Eleanor “Ellie” Egar has shared the unexpected moment she discovered her pregnancy. Just two weeks ago, Ellie confirmed she was expecting her first child with Chris Lewis, who has a son from a previous relationship. The star first had an indication that she was pregnant after returning from filming in Thailand due to feeling sick.

She exclusively said: “It was a complete shock! I came back from filming in Thailand and wasn’t feeling well. I took a test, left it on the side while tidying, and threw it in the bin without checking. It was only when it hit the bin that I was like, ‘ Oh my God! ‘ It was a lot to take in, but in the best way. I told Chris that evening – he was over the moon”.

Ellie and the Real Housewives of Cheshire stars
Ellie stars on The Real Housewives of Cheshire

Ellie and Chris publicly announced their joyous news over the Valentine’s weekend. The couple shared a romantic photo from Venice, holding up a faux newspaper titled The New Baby Times with the headline, “Baby Lewis is on the way. Due July 2025”. Ellie captioned the post, “Complete”.

The couple’s announcement was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from Ellie’s Real Housewives of Cheshire co-stars. Lystra Adams commented, “Huge congratulations I’m so happy for you guys”, while Paige Chohan wrote, “The best news everrrrrrr!!!! so happy for you and Chris xxxx”.

In a follow-up Instagram story, the couple revealed they’re expecting a baby girl. The back page of their faux newspaper read, “We can’t wait to meet you baby girl. You’ve got the best big brother waiting for you”, referring to Chris’s son from a previous relationship and Ellie’s stepson.

Ellie and Chris
Ellie and her fiancé Chris are expecting their first child
Ellie and Chris
The pair got engaged last year

This exciting news comes on the heels of Ellie and Chris’s engagement in September 2024. The couple have been busy planning their wedding, with Ellie recently celebrating her hen party during a girls ‘ trip to a chilly destination, as hinted by co-star Rachel Lugo’s Instagram story captioned “HEN WEEKEND”.

Ellie joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire in its 18th series, which began filming in December 2024. The series, marking the show’s ten-year anniversary, kicked off with a lavish trip to Thailand which fans were able to see the first episode last week where arguments flew throughout the group, which came as a shock to Ellie.

The show will see the return of OG’s such as Leanne Brown and Ampika Pickston to celebrate 10 years on our screens.

The Real Housewives Of Cheshire continues Mondays at 9pm on ITVBe and ITVX

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Today’s horoscope for March 10 as Libra senses tension in a relationship

It’s Monday, and one star sign will make an exciting holiday reservation, while another can expect open and honest conversations.

There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.

These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From horoscopes/aries/daily/”>Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

A neighbour is being incredibly supportive. Just bear in mind that this level of generosity may not last and there could be underlying reasons for their behaviour. If they want something from you, you will soon know what it is. Later, several friends will gather to discuss their different perspectives on the same event.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

Thoughtful planning can lead to success, happiness and contentment. Make sure nothing is left to chance and keep everyone in the loop about the latest developments. Today’s events will give you a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

You’re curious about something someone is keeping quiet about. For the moment, refrain from asking too many questions as this will just get their back up. As it is, it won’t be long before you find out what is going on. An exciting travel opportunity is worth considering although this will depend on your financial situation.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

The buzz in the atmosphere is driven by the anticipation of what’s to come. As some great ideas are being shared, a desire for adventure is starting to increase. Regardless of the season, you are not going to be happy until you make that holiday reservation.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23)

A friend or neighbour’s new interests intrigue you. This could get you wondering whether this is something you might enjoy. If you’re needing information, be prepared to do some thorough research. A younger family member is looking for help with a project they are hoping to begin.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

You’re stretching yourself too far by trying to do too much at once. This is making it difficult to focus in any one direction. Rather than attempting to carry out a multitude of activities with little to show for your hard work, think about concentrating on one particular area. You will find this more rewarding.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

If you haven’t thought about your health recently this is a good time to reflect on your emotional and physical well-being. You might sense some tension in a close relationship but remember: every issue has a solution. There is no problem you won’t be able to solve.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The last time you got together with someone you’re seeing today, you came to blows. This will not be mentioned and in fact knowing everything is now forgiven will lift your spirits. After a recent misunderstanding you’re finding it easier to talk to a loved one. It’s a great day for open and honest conversations.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Chatting with someone who has a knack for understanding things could lead to some intriguing discoveries. You have no idea how they do it but they always seem to have the information you are looking for, or need. There’s some stubborn energy around you tonight. Keep an open mind for the best outcomes.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

You’re happy to turn your attention to your main responsibilities. You’ve never been against putting in the effort. Even so you could face some major delays so be patient when frustrations occur. Issues relating to finances will come under discussion, later.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

A colleague’s methodical way of managing their life will cause you to reflect on your own daily activities. It will be worth considering existing arrangements and exploring alternatives. You usually prefer to avoid a rigid routine but you can see how establishing some structure at this time could enhance productivity.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

While it may be hard to resist, you need to approach an unexpected offer or position with caution. Consider the possible consequences of your decisions and actions. Remember, too, that if an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be guided by logic.

Little girl, 5, temporarily paralysed from waist down after mum spots odd flu symptom

A five year old girl experienced temporary paralysis due to a rare complication of the flu, which her mother, Kota, initially detected when she observed her tiptoeing. Following a bout of flu, Aurora Burden-Schott complained of muscle pains, prompting Kota to seek advice from a paediatrician.

Initially, the recommendation was for Aurora to stay hydrated; however, when she awoke from a nap with no movement in the lower half of her legs, Kota immediately took her to the hospital. Aurora spent three days in the hospital receiving fluid treatment and regained her ability to walk after two days, having contracted rhabdomyolysis, a serious complication of the flu.

This condition occurs when damaged muscles release proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream. Aurora is currently recovering her strength, and Kota aims to raise awareness about the symptoms of this potentially life-threatening condition.

READ MORE: Michael Jackson’s son Prince makes rare public appearance to celebrate late dad

Aurora Burden-Schott , five, got diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (SWNS)

Kota, a nail technician from Lima, Ohio, US, recalled: “She was struggling walking and complaining of really bad leg pain. I noticed she was tiptoeing around. She was having so much pain in her legs and couldn’t lay her foot flat. “

Aurora contracted influenza A in late January 2025. Kota described the progression of symptoms: “The symptoms first started as typical flu. She had nausea and vomiting and headaches. It lasted for four days. We had two days where it seemed her symptoms were alleviating. I thought we were at the tail end. “

Aurora began experiencing muscle pain and her mum, Kota, quickly sought medical advice. The pediatrician suggested keeping her hydrated and, if the pain persisted, to take her to the hospital. Kota recounted the alarming events: “Later on we had taken a little nap and when woke up that’s when she was unable to use her legs. “

Aurora with her mom, Kota, 27
Aurora with her mom, Kota, 27 (SWNS)

The reality of the situation was daunting, as Kota described: “She had no motion in the bottom half of her body. ” Kota noted Aurora’s inability to move, stating, “She couldn’t wiggle her toes. ” Describing her fear, Kota said, “It was really scary. “

It appeared the young child was losing control of her lower body: “It was almost as if she was paralyzed from the waist down. ” Aurora even expressed how heavy her legs felt.

In the emergency room, tests including blood work and an X-ray revealed dangerously high muscle enzyme levels, leading to a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis, a severe flu complication where muscles begin to break down. Explaining the situation, Kota said, “The virus is attacking the muscles and they deteriorate.

Thankfully, after IV treatment and hospital monitoring, Aurora gained back some mobility. Kota said: “After the end of the first day she was bale to get some movement in her legs. She was able to walk after the second. “

Her mom, Kota, 27, noticed she was tiptoeing around and consulted a pediatrician.
Her mom, Kota, 27, noticed she was tiptoeing around and consulted a pediatrician. (SWNS)

She returned home just three days later. Doctors speculated that her recent tonsillectomy, adenoid removal, and ear tube placement might have weakened her immune system, increasing vulnerability to complications like rhabdomyolysis.

Kota reflected on what could have been a tragic outcome, “It could have caused some pretty serious permanent damage. “

But fortunately, Aurora is on the mend and Kota is now on a mission to raise awareness, urging folks not to dismiss muscle aches as they are a typical sign of the flu. She stressed: “I’m glad I trusted my gut and realized something wasn’t right. People assume kids are going to have muscle aches when they get the flu. “