Royal Family: Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and More | Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Prince William Set to Be ‘the Toughest Ruler’ the Monarchy’s Ever Seen: Report

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:33:42 +0000

A new report reveals that Prince William is set to be “the toughest ruler” the monarchy has ever seen. This observation comes from a royal expert who claims William feels the House of Windsor’s future lies in his hands.

Prince William is ‘dedicated to duty’ like Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth understood Prince William’s place in the royal line of succession. Therefore, she took every opportunity to teach him the ways of the crown from a young age. He reportedly paid very close attention to her words.

“Prince William is dedicated to duty, as imbued in him by Queen Elizabeth II, who tutored him every Sunday regarding his royal duties,” Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “He’s also under huge generational pressure since the increasing public popularity of the monarchy ranks highest for both him and Princess Catherine.”

Thus, Prince William will likely be as close to a ruler as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who always put duty first. However, William also embodies some of his father’s spirit, including his love for conservationism and sustainability.

Anyone who pushes back against William will be ‘shown the door’

Prince William photographed in Dec. 2024 | Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images

Prince William is poised to be one of the longest-ruling monarchs since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who reigned for over 70 years. His father, Charles, was 73 when he became king.

Therefore, William has plenty of time to set the tone for the kind of ruler he will be. He has already shown he is a no-nonsense man who stands his ground.

A palace insider told In Touch that William doesn’t take kindly to pushback. They told the publication, “It’s no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door. He’s not willing to take any nonsense. The word is he’s already on his way to being the toughest ruler the family has ever seen.”

The source added, “He wants expenses to be monitored closely, and any fat trimmed straight away. He doesn’t want there to be any sense that special perks are being handed out to the royals.”

They concluded, “He’s all about the environment. So he’s pushing hard to be front and center in that respect and has put out this edict that the rest of the family needs to get on board with being as green as possible.”

“Private flights and that sort of thing are being frowned on. The days of wasteful spending and overconsumption are ending with William at the helm.”

William will continue to put family before the crown

In 2024, Prince William showed the type of ruler he would be when he put the health and wellbeing of his wife, Kate Middleton, and father, King Charles, ahead of his duties to the crown. He canceled several key royal appearances to be with both after each was diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.

Prince William backed out of the memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine II of Greece. The memorial took place on Feb. 27, 2024. He subsequently canceled two other royal engagements to tend to his and Kate Middleton’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis as his wife recovered from abdominal surgery in mid-January.

He also filled in for King Charles at state events. William attended the international commemorative ceremony at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France in June.

Currently, King Charles has resumed a regular schedule, and Kate Middleton will continue to take on as many engagements as allowed by her doctors. In the meantime, Prince William remains ready to step into his role whenever needed, while continuing to prepare for the day he steps into the role he was born to take, the United Kingdom’s king.

Prince Philip’s Sexy Remark About Queen Elizabeth Revealed TMI About Their Romance

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:03:08 +0000

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for 73 years. Their relationship was based on mutual love and respect for each other and their positions within the monarchy. However, that doesn’t mean Philip didn’t appreciate other elements of his relationship with Elizabeth. He once passed a sexy remark about his wife that revealed too much information about their romance.

Prince Philip once made a public, sexy remark about Queen Elizabeth

Philip and Elizabeth wed on Nov. 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. She was 21 and Philip was 26.

Together they welcomed four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. Philip and Elizabeth’s devotion to one another and their work for the crown was a testament to their bond.

But, that didn’t mean Philip didn’t admire other things about his lovely wife. Royal reporter Jeannie Bond told The Mirror that she once heard someone compliment Elizabeth, giving Philip the opportunity to share his own sassy comment about his wife’s beauty.

“I remember once, someone complimented the Queen on her beautiful soft complexion,” Bond recalled. “And Philip cheekily said: ‘Yes, and she’s like that all over, you know!’”

Prince Philip’s love and admiration for Queen Elizabeth was evident

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hold hands in 2015 | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth tended to keep their relationship private and instead, focused on their public duties. However, Philip’s love and admiration for Elizabeth were evident in the way he supported her throughout their 73-year marriage.

One of his more heartfelt remarks came during a speech marking their golden wedding anniversary in 1997. As reported by the BBC, Philip said, “I think the main lesson that we have learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage. You can take it from me, the queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

In turn, Elizabeth said of Philip, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”

Elizabeth and Philip’s relationship wasn’t without its rocky patches

Prince Philip had to give up a lot to marry Elizabeth. He gave up his titles and his place in the line of succession to the Greek throne.

He became a British citizen and was confirmed in the Church of England. At the time of their engagement and wedding, Philip continued his work with the Navy, where he was named second-in-command of a destroyer and eventually, commandeered his own ship.

However, Philip took leave from his Navy post in 1951. He was needed by the royal family to fulfill key obligations after Elizabeth’s father, George VI, fell ill.

Just one year later, Elizabeth became queen and Philip was her consort. This shift change required some adjustment on his part, such as walking behind his wife in public and giving up his last name, Mountbatten, for Windsor as the family surname. To rectify this, Elizabeth decreed in 1960, that their descendants could use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married until Philip’s death on Apr. 9, 2021. Elizabeth died one year later on Sept. 8, 2022.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Blasted as ‘Disaster Tourists’ After Visiting Wildfire Wreckage — But Not Everyone Agrees

Julia Mullaney — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:29:15 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been living in California since 2020; it’s also the place Meghan was raised. So when the wildfires began tearing through homes in the Los Angeles area, Harry and Meghan wanted to be on the ground to help. While some people have been so appreciative of the couple, it hasn’t gone over as well with others.

Actor Justine Bateman just blasted Harry and Meghan for helping out, calling the couple “ambulance chasers.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle called out for surveying wildfire damage

When Harry and Meghan were royal family members, it wasn’t uncommon for them to tend to disaster. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s job was essentially to lend a helping hand, raise awareness around charities, and make royal appearances. However, things in the United States don’t work quite the same way, and while Harry and Meghan are determined to help those affected by California wildfires, not everyone is happy about it.

Harry and Meghan were recently photographed surveying damage to homes in the Pasadena, California area, a couple of hours from where they live in Montecito. But one actor, Justine Bateman of Family Ties, called out the couple on X for being present where she thinks they shouldn’t be.

“Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers,” Bateman tweeted. “What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved. They are ‘touring the damage’? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists.” The tweet was in response to a news video showing Harry and Meghan looking at the damage caused by the Palisades Fire.

The replies to Bateman’s tweet were mixed. Some people agreed with the actor, while others took the duchess’ side and understood that Meghan and Harry were only trying to help.

“You’re aware she was born and raised in LA, right?” one user replied, calling out Bateman for saying the couple doesn’t “live” in the LA area.

“Life is too short to be this nasty,” someone said in response to Bateman’s tweet.

Others took Bateman’s side, with one user saying, “You aren’t lying … It’s not their neighborhood,” and another person adding, “They had no business going to LA especially when other people couldn’t even tour their own homes to see if they were still standing.”

Meghan Markle has postponed her Netflix show release

In the wake of the fires, Meghan has made the decision to postpone the long-anticipated arrival of her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. The show was supposed to premiere on January 15, but Meghan has now pushed the launch date to March 4.

“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement about her decision. Meghan and Harry will likely continue to be on the ground, despite what haters say, and lend a hand where necessary to help people impacted by the fires.

Kate Middleton Receives Rare Royal Power Princess Diana Never Had

Lucille Barilla — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:27:15 +0000

Kate Middleton is the first Princess of Wales in almost a century to be granted a rare royal distinction. Although her mother-in-law, Princess Diana, was also Princess of Wales, she was prohibited from participating in one royal tradition.

Kate Middleton is the first Princess of Wales in almost a century to grant royal warrants

As Kate Middleton gradually returns to royal life, one of her new roles will be to grant royal warrants. Per the royal family website, “A Royal Warrant of Appointment is granted as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the Royal Household.”

Surprisingly, Kate Middleton is the first Princess of Wales to be granted this distinction in a century. She was preceded by Queen Mary, who issued warrants before her husband King George V came to the throne in 1910.

King Charles began issuing royal warrants when he was still the Prince of Wales in 1980. But Princess Diana did not follow suit after the pair wed in 1981.

Although Princess Diana was a prominent member of the royal family, her primary role was as wife of Prince Charles. Therefore, that position did not automatically give her the power to issue royal warrants.

Other royal family members who held this role included Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother. It has been rumored that Kate’s husband, Prince William, will also begin to issue warrants this year.

What types of royal warrants could Kate Middleton issue?

Kate Middleton wears a gold Jenny Packham dress to the UK premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ in 2021 | Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Per GB News, new suppliers under consideration for a royal warrant must “demonstrate they have a sustainability policy to be eligible.” These warrants are issued for five years and King Charles decides who has the power to issue these grants.

The news outlet reports that Kate Middleton could potentially issue royal warrants to the fashion designers who have supplied her with some of her most memorable outfits over the years. These include Alexander McQueen, Catherine Walker, Jenny Packham, Holland Cooper, and Strathberry.

“We’ve seen the Princess of Wales have a huge impact on brands, often referred to as ‘the Kate effect’. What makes it so powerful is that it has always felt genuine she chooses brands she truly likes or wants to support,” said Nicola Pink, founder of PR and marketing firm We Are Pink to GB News. That means that any business or product that Kate puts her stamp of approval on will likely see an uptick in popularity for its owner.

Why is a royal warrant important?

The royal family website explains that once a royal warrant is granted to a company, they are entitled to display the Royal Arms on their product. The Legend must accompany the Coat of Arms.

The Legend shares which royal family member granted the warrant. Additionally, the company’s name, the goods or services provided, and the company address must be displayed.

Being granted a royal warrant implies the highest standards of quality, reliability, and service. It signals to the public that the goods or services are fit for royalty, boosting consumer confidence.

A royal warrant is initially granted for up to five years. There are currently 800 in place.

The royal family has not announced when Kate Middleton will begin issuing royal warrants.

Prince Harry ‘Stepped Back Into his Royal Shoes’ During LA Wildfires Visit

Mandi Kerr — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 01:45:00 +0000

Despite being five years removed from royal life, Prince Harry showed he can easily snap back into his royal ways while meeting with victims and first responders of the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles, Calif., area with Meghan Markle. Ahead, details on their visit and what a body language expert had to say.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Eaton Fire victims on Jan. 10, 2025

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025, to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eton Fire (via People).

The pair, who live in Montecito, Calif., about 90 miles north of L.A., served meals and spoke with victims. Harry and Meghan also thanked first responders with the city’s mayor, Victor Gordo, as well as Jennifer Siebel Newson, California’s First Partner.

Harry and Meghan’s LA wildfires visit also included meeting with World Central Kitchen founder, chef José Andrés, at food stations. Andrés has a longstanding partnership with the couple. He’s worked with Harry and Meghan as part of their Archewell Foundation, even writing about them for their Time 100 cover.

Meghan, an L.A. native, later announced her decision to postpone the release of her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Originally set to begin streaming on Jan. 15, 2025, it will now debut on March 4, 2025. “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement to Tudum.

Harry and Meghan have also opened up their Montcito mansion to loved ones who were forced to evacuate their homes. They’re also offering resources via their Archewell Foundation.

Harry returned to his old ‘royal role’ during LA wildfires visit

He may not officially represent the monarchy these days (the Sussexes left royal life in 2020) but Harry sure looked like it when he and Meghan met with families and witnessed damage from the LA wildfires, according to body language expert Judi James.

“It looks as though he has fallen into the kind of royal role he would have played after tragedies or disasters in the UK,” James told the UK’s Express examining images of Harry and Meghan during their visit. Across the pond—the Atlantic Ocean—she added, “this kind of photo opportunity would have been seen as a way of boosting morale and ensuring attention.”

While Harry appeared “a little distracted at one point” and, perhaps, “at a loss to know how to react,” he “mirror[ed]” Meghan “by placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder.”

The 40-year-old father of two, she added, looked “more assured with the man, cupping the side of his face before offering a very close hug of what looks like sympathy.”

Prince Harry | Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

Harry and Meghan received criticism for their LA wildfires visit

Following the couple’s visit, Family Ties alum Justine Bateman took to X, formerly Twitter, lambasting Harry and Meghan in a viral post for being “disaster tourists.”

“Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved,” the actor and filmmaker wrote. “They are ‘touring the damage?’ Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire.”

Afua Hagan, a U.K.-based royal commentator had a different view on Harry and Meghan’s visit, calling it “more of the same” from the pair. “It’s typical. It’s more of the same,” Hagan told Newsweek. “The motto of Archewell is ‘show up and do good’ and that’s what they did and they’re panned for it.”

Harry and Meghan started their Archewell Foundation after relocating to California in 2020. Since then they’ve launched various charitable initiatives.

The commentator also noted Prince William and Kate Middleton have made similar visits. “The Prince and Princess of Wales have gone to many a food bank, many a soup kitchen doing the same, showing up and doing good. But only Harry and Meghan seem to get the criticism for it.”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.

The Close Link Meghan Markle Has With Prince Harry’s Cousin Zara Revealed in New Photo

Michelle Kapusta — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:58:33 +0000

After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals in 2020, the public watched as the Sussexes’ relationship with some members of the royal family changed.

What happened with Prince William and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) was obvious, but some have wondered about Meghan and Harry’s relationship with other royals. And one we don’t hear much about is the duke and duchess’s relationship with Harry’s cousin, Zara Tindall.

Many may remember that Princess Anne’s daughter is one of the only royals who spoke to the Sussexes following a service during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. And we now know that Zara and Meghan have a close tie when it comes to the company they keep outside of the family.

Here’s who Zara was just spotted with who is very close to Meghan.

Zara pictured with someone Meghan has been photographed with often

Zara and Mike Tindall have been spending time in Australia and that’s where the prince’s cousin was photographed with Meghan’s close friend, Delfina Blaquier.

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A post shared by valleyeyewear (@valleyeyewear)

The two women were spotted and posed together for a photo at the Women with Horsepower lunch at The Star on the Gold Coast. In a group snap for Valley Eyewear, they both sported stylish sunglasses.

Blaquier is the wife of Harry’s pal and polo teammate Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras and like Zara, she is a patron of the Magic Millions carnival. According to Hello! Magazine, the ladied have formed a friendship as they share a love for Equestrian sports having competed internationally for years.

Blaquier is also close with Meghan as they bonded thanks to their polo-playing husbands who have known each other since 2007. The duchess and Blaquier met prior to the Sussexes’ wedding in 2018 and have been tight ever since.

Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras and Delfina Blaquier pose for photo with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge | Yaroslav Sabitov/PA Images via Getty Images

Blaquier has referred to Meghan as her ‘sister’

Blaquier and Meghan are so tight that Figueras’ wife has previously referred to the former working royal as her “sister.”

Moreover, the Daily Mail noted that soon after the Duchess of Sussex launched her Instagram at the start of 2025, Blaquier shared an Instagram Story in which she reposted Meghan’s video and captioned it: “Hola M. Can’t wait to see more. Love you friend and so proud of you.”

Meghan Markle and Delfina Blaquier arrive for the Sentebale Polo 2018 held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

That isn’t the first time Blaquier publicly shared her support for Meghan.

During an interview with Hello! in 2022, Blaquier gushed over their friendship telling the publication: “She is so wonderful and strong. Stronger than she knows. I love being around my friends and I will always support her.”

Blaquier’s husband also praised the duchess and her relationship with Harry, saying: “I have known him for so long and he has always wanted someone to love and marry and have a family with, so it makes me so happy to see them happy and with two beautiful children.”

Industry Insider Praises Meghan Markle for Delaying Netflix Show

Megan Elliott — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:57:59 +0000

Meghan Markle made the right call when she decided to delay the release of her new Netflix show, an industry insider says.

With Love, Meghan was due to premiere Jan. 15. But the Duchess of Sussex and the streamer agreed it was best to push back the release date of the lifestyle series because of the ongoing wildfire disaster in the Los Angeles area.

Insider says it’s ‘sad’ people are criticizing Meghan Markle’s decision to delay her new show

On Jan. 12, Meghan announced the decision to delay the premiere of With Love, Meghan because of the ongoing crisis in Los Angeles. The eight-episode show, which Netflix describes as “a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of Southern California,” will now debut on March 4.

“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said.

The choice to hit pause on the new show was simply common sense, an industry insider told People.

“Delaying the release of With Love, Meghan was likely an easy decision for her. I don’t think she could imagine putting out a show centered on joy and hosting when so many people in her home state no longer have homes to host people in,” the anonymous source said. “I think it’s sad that critics are saying she’s only doing this to avoid the fires overshadowing her show. We’re all human, and we’re dealing with a catastrophe.”

Justine Bateman calls Harry and Meghan ‘disaster tourists’

Meghan Markle with two women at a home that was destroyed during the Eaton Fire | Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

While Meghan has earned praise for her decision to delay With Love, Meghan, others see her and her husband Prince Harry’s recent moves in a less charitable light. Some critics have suggested that the couple’s efforts to help fire victims are not sincere.

In a Jan. 11 post on X, Family Ties actor Justine Bateman slammed the royal couple as “ambulance chasers” and “disaster tourists” after they visited the World Central Kitchen location at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday. The duke and the duchess handed out food and spoke with evacuees of the Eaton Fire during their Pasadena visit, ABC News reported.

“It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected,” Pasadena mayor Victor Gordo said.

“In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life,” Harry and Meghan wrote in a statement shared on their website. The couple directed people to organizations supporting wildfire relief, including World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, and Baby2baby. The pair – who live in Montecito, about 90 miles north of LA – have also opened their home to friends who’ve had to evacuate the fires.

As of Monday, multiple fires around LA have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and burned more than 40,000 acres. Twenty-four people are confirmed to have died.

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What Queen Elizabeth Really Thought of Meghan Markle, According to Insiders

Lucille Barilla — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:59:24 +0000

When Meghan Markle entered the royal family, it appeared to outsiders that senior royals went out of their way to make her feel welcome. Knowing that the ways of the House of Windsor were completely foreign to Meghan, many of its members reportedly tried to help her assimilate as quickly as possible. However, there were still some things about the American actor that just didn’t sit right with the royals, including Queen Elizabeth, who quickly developed her own opinion about Prince Harry’s bride.

Meghan Markle painted a rosy picture of her relationship with Queen Elizabeth

During Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2018 engagement interview, Meghan was complimentary toward Queen Elizabeth, painting a positively rosy outlook on their relationship.

“It’s incredible, I think, you know, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honor and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother,” Meghan said (via BBC). “All of those layers have been so important to me that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her. She’s an incredible woman.”

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan shared that she and the queen had forged a good relationship. “We had one of our first joint engagements together and had breakfast together that morning. She’d given me a beautiful gift, and I just really loved being in her company,” Meghan explained.

“We were in the car going between engagements, and she has a blanket that sits across her knees for warmth. And it was chilly, and she was like, ‘Meghan, come on’ and put it over my knees as well. It made me think of my grandmother, where she’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming.”

Insiders reveal how Queen Elizabeth felt about Meghan Markle

Queen Elizabeth looks at Meghan Markle during her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 | Jonathan Brady/AFP via Getty Images

It is unclear how Queen Elizabeth really felt about Meghan Markle. Outwardly, she seemed to want her grandson Prince Harry to be happy. But did she have reservations about his marriage from the beginning?

According to royal reporter Ingrid Seward’s book My Mother and I, the queen had several issues with Meghan, beginning with her wedding to Harry. Seward reports that Elizabeth didn’t like the fact that Meghan wore a white gown, and she wasn’t happy with the idea of her son, Charles, walking his daughter-in-law down the aisle.

Reportedly the queen also wasn’t happy with the couple’s decision to leave the royal family and found allegations they made during their interview with Oprah Winfrey alarming. Subsequently, the couple left a sour taste in the queen’s mouth when they called their daughter Lilibet. Elizabeth didn’t confirm that she gave Harry and Meghan permission to use her childhood nickname for their little girl.

The Spectator‘s Kara Kennedy reported in 2023 that Elizabeth reportedly “saw through” Meghan. She cited a source who claimed the monarch called Meghan “evil” at a 2022 Balmoral event.

“At the drinks before the dinner, a small group was talking to the monarch and she explained that Harry meeting Meghan had become a complete catastrophe and described her as evil. By this point, we all knew the Queen’s health was in decline and she had months left, she seemed regretful about how things had panned out.”

When did Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth see each other before the monarch’s death?

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left the United Kingdom to live in the United States in early 2020. They left their duties as working senior royals behind.

It would be two years until Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The couple joined other senior royals at a service of thanksgiving honoring Queen Elizabeth at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Harry and Meghan sat in the second row alongside Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and their husbands.

Three months later, Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. to mourn Queen Elizabeth, who died on Sept. 8, 2022. They appeared alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton to tour to mourners outside of Windsor Castle.

Meghan Markle’s Netflix Series Debut Pushed Back: ‘The Timing Could Hardly Be Worse’

Lucille Barilla — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:57:01 +0000

Meghan Markle made waves when she announced a new Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, in early January. Now, she’s making a decision that’s causing even more waves by postponing the series debut. Here are the heartbreaking details as Meghan’s “timing could hardly be worse” for an industry comeback.

Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series has a new release date

On Jan. 2, 2025, Meghan Markle returned to Instagram teasing her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. The series focuses on content connected to cooking, homemaking, and lifestyle tips.

However, on Jan. 12, Netflix’s press department released a statement regarding the show’s debut. It revealed that With Love, Meghan‘s release date was pushed back two months due to a request from Meghan.

“At the request of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and with the full support of Netflix, the release of the show — a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of Southern California — has been moved from its previously announced January premiere date to March 4, due to the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires,” a Netflix statement read.

Meghan added her statement which said, “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.”

In a statement to The Daily Mail, royal author Phil Dampier shared his thoughts regarding Meghan delaying her series’ debut. “The timing of Meghan’s Netflix show could hardly be worse. Hundreds of people have lost their homes in the terrible fires.”

“The last thing anyone is interested in is a program about having friends round to eat canapés or arrange flowers when the city is going up in flames and people have lost everything,” he continued. “‘It’s not Meghan’s fault, of course, but I can’t see this show being a success in the current climate.”

Meghan Markle had ‘a lot riding’ on her Netflix series

Royal author and commentator Phil Dampier applauded Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for assisting those in their community who have lost their homes. He felt the couple “did the right thing” by allowing friends who lost everything to stay in their home.

Dampier believes pushing back the show’s debut depicts Meghan as not being tone-deaf about the tragedy around her. Displaying the beauty of Southern California when so many people have lost so much could be a double-edged sword in the future as the state begins the rebuilding process.

The royal expert says it would make more sense for Netflix not to debut the lifestyle series until the summer of 2025. Dampier shared that California’s devastation is so bad, it will take years to rebuild the affected communities.

“It’s not Meghan’s fault, of course, but I can’t see this show being a success in the current climate,” Dampier explained. “Some critics had already panned it and now it just looks totally out of place. She had a lot riding on it and had been planning for months, if not a couple of years, so it’s very unfortunate for her,” the royal expert concluded.

What does this postponement mean for Meghan Markle’s big industry comeback?

Meghan Markle on the set of her new Netflix lifestyle series, ‘With Love, Meghan’ | Netflix

Since March 2020, Meghan Markle has tried to carve out an identity separate from her role within the royal family. Although she was only a senior royal for two years, during that time, Meghan found herself at a loss as to her place within the firm.

During this period, Meghan faced intense media scrutiny and challenges adapting to the demands of royal life. This significantly influenced her and Prince Harry’s decision to step back from their royal roles.

Since moving to California, the couple partnered with Netflix via a contract worth a reported $100 million. They launched a Spotify podcast that lasted one season, and Harry wrote a scathing royal tell-all, Spare among some of their projects.

Meghan and Harry founded the Archewell Foundation in 2020, focusing on global humanitarian issues, including mental health, gender equality, and social change. However, Meghan never quite made a splash in the industry, despite being signed by William Morris Endeavor in April 2023.

This Netflix series was a way to allow Meghan to show a different side of her personality. By delaying its debut, she displays a human side that could further revamp her image in light of the horrific wildfire tragedy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reside in Montecito, California. Their home was not impacted by the California wildfires as they live outside of the evacuation zone.

Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Biggest Confidante’ Besides Princess Anne Was This Royal Woman

Mandi Kerr — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 03:30:00 +0000

Queen Elizabeth II had a close relationship with her daughter, Princess Anne, but she had another “confidante” among the women in the British royal family. It wasn’t Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Kate Middleton, or Zara Tindall. It was–drumroll, please—none other than Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Ahead, details on Sophie and the queen’s relationship and what the late monarch “saw” in her.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was the queen’s ‘surrogate daughter’

Although Queen Elizabeth technically only had one daughter, the now-74-year-old Princess Royal, she counted her daughter-in-law, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh as a “surrogate daughter.”

“With the exception of her daughter Anne, the Queen was closer to Sophie than any of the other royal women,” Ingrid Seward, a royal expert and biographer told OK! Magazine. “It really was a genuine closeness, and Elizabeth was always Sophie’s biggest confidante. I think she saw Sophie as a bit of a surrogate daughter, too.”

Sophie officially joined the royal family in 1999. She married Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s youngest child and the now-Duke of Edinburgh, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, after six years of dating.

Queen Elizabeth rewarded Sophie’s ‘quiet enthusiasm’ with implicit ‘trust’

Queen Elizabeth II and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Royal expert Katie Nicholl also discussed Sophie and the queen’s special bond, telling the publication they “had a wonderful relationship.” The mother of two “never saw it as a chore.”

Instead, Sophie “was very willing to step up and provide support when needed, and she did it with quiet enthusiasm, and always with a cheerful smile.” That strengthened Sophie and the queen’s relationship because “in return, Elizabeth learned not just to rely on Sophie, but to trust her implicitly.”

According to the outlet, it was Sophie who convinced the queen to watch The Crown, the Netflix original series about her reign.

The queen liked Sophie’s ‘sensible’ nature

So, what did the queen see in Sophie? “I think she saw in Sophie a very sensible young woman, and she was quick to welcome her into the inner circle,” Nicholl said. “Sophie knew her place in the hierarchy of The Firm, and never caused any problems. Even in the early days, when there was a bit of drama surrounding her, the Queen stood by her.”

“The Queen found her very down to earth, because she refused to have expensive security and things like that, and she loved her lack of airs and graces,” Seward said. Additionally, they bonded over a “real love of military history.” So much so that Sophie called up the queen after a visit to France.

The now-59-year-old “went to the First World War battlefields and museums of northern France, which obviously the Queen wasn’t able to do,” according to Seward. “So Sophie rang her from there to tell her about it.”

Following the queen’s death on Sept. 8, 2022, at the age of 96, Sophie honored her late mother-in-law by including the queen’s favorite flower, Lily of the Valley, in the outfit she wore to the queen’s funeral (via People).

These days, Sophie is said to be a source of support for the Princess of Wales and a rising star in her own right.