Meghan Markle accused of 'hypocrisy' after surprise Archie and Lilibet decision
Meghan Markle has been accused of "blatant hypocrisy" after sharing a sweet Father's Day video featuring Prince Harry and their children, despite previously vowing to keep them out of the spotlight.
The clip, which appeared on Meghan's newly launched Instagram account, was intended as a heartwarming tribute to Harry on Father's Day, showing unseen moments between the Duke of Sussex and their young children Archie, six and Lilibet, four.
While many fans have labelled the footage charming, royal insiders are questioning the couple's motives. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward, Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, blasted the Duchess of Sussex, 43, in a YouTube interview, accusing her of sending mixed messages about family privacy.
"They begged for privacy and now suddenly Meghan is flooding the marketplace with photographs of their children," Ingrid said.
She then went further, claiming the couple's online activity is motivated less by connecting with fans and more by profit. "Everything they do online is aimed at them being able to make more money - otherwise why on earth would they do it?" she added.
Since stepping back from their senior royal roles in 2020, Harry and Meghan have fiercely protected their children's privacy. They have also championed the importance of online safety through their charity foundation Archwell. Only now are they sharing photos of Archie and Lilibet's faces with the world on Meghan's new Instagram page.
And Ingrid suggests that the new Father's Day footage signals a sharp U-turn - one that Prince Harry may not be fully comfortable with.
The Instagram clip is part of a new digital rollout under Meghan's lifestyle brand, which has seen her launch a range of products and star in a new Netflix show.
Critics argue the couple are increasingly leaning into celebrity culture, despite having once seemingly tried to escape it.
While supporters say the video shows a softer, more relatable side to Harry and Meghan, others - like Ingrid- believe it risks undermining their past pleas for privacy.
Ingrid adds: "Remember, they have spoken about the media and how damaging it can be for young kids, and the next thing you know, Meghan is posting quite personal and charming photos of her husband everywhere. It just doesn't make sense."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have yet to respond publicly to the criticism. But with Meghan returning to social media and building a fresh brand presence, royal watchers believe this could be the start of a new - and very public - chapter for the couple.
It comes as Meghan spoke out about the 'public narrative' around her marriage in a new interview. The Duchess of Sussex was quizzed on her public image in an appearance on the Aspire by Emma Grede podcast, where she also discussed setting up her own As Ever lifestyle brand, as well as what drives her career goals.
On the episode, Emma tells the Duchess: "I wanted to ask you a little bit about the public narrative, because when you sign up to be an actress, you know that people are going to start recognising you, they're going to start speaking to you on the street. But that's very different from what you have now."
And Meghan replies: "It is, Emma! It's very different" before laughing. Emma follows up with: "If you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything that you would do differently?"
To which Meghan says: "Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth." The duchess gave no specifics about to whom who she was referring, but later refers to a 'lie' told eight years ago.
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Daily Mail
5 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Are David Beckham's parents the key to mending 'rift' with son Brooklyn? How 26-year-old's beloved grandpa and 'nanny' can help budding chef and his wife Nicola Peltz repair 'difficult' relations
When families suffer drifts, a cuppa at nan's house is often posited as the solution - and it may be no different for even the glitziest of A-listers. So as Brooklyn Beckham - eldest son of football and fashion royalty alike - shared a tribute to his grandfather Ted on his birthday on Thursday, it may well have marked a turning point in his and wife Nicola Peltz 's notorious bitter 'rift' with her in-laws. Sports legend David, 50, and ex-Spice Girl Victoria, 51, too shared a gushing post to the athlete's dad as he turned 77, making him a solid contender for uniting bridges between both couples. It's not the first time a quasi-olive branch has appeared from the budding chef's side - as he also commemorated his 'nana' Sandra's 76th just last month. The septuagenarian may know a thing or two about reconciliation, as he famously fell out with his superstar son in the noughties. However, now seemingly keen on building walls down, earlier this year, he called an end to a two-decade estrangement from ex-wife Sandra - the older generation could be monumental in tiding over troubled waters. David's parents divorced in 2002 following 33 years of marriage - with the process slow because the couple had not been able to agree a financial settlement. The pair were rarely seen together in the years that followed, and it became clear that David had taken his mother's side during the divorce - often pictured with Sandra at family gatherings and promotional events. Meanwhile, Ted was left on the sidelines, with David seemingly struggling to forgive him for printing an unauthorised biography on his England captain son without permission. Even after David and Ted made amends, his parents continued to keep their distance until the tragic death of a family friend in January brought the pair back together. The funeral of legendary Manchester United secretary Kath Phipps reconciled the family, and in a show of unity, David, Sandra, Ted and his wife of three years, solicitor Hilary, were all pictured walking into the church together. Kath had been at the club for 55 years, passing away at 85 years old, and had known David since he was a youth academy player, while Ted had been an ever present at his son's matches for much of his career. It's been suggested that Ted's wife Hilary has been instrumental in bringing him firmly back into the family fold, with the pair both included at numerous family events of late. In September 2023, Hilary was on the front row at Victoria's Paris Fashion Show and the whole family, including Victoria's parents, later posed for snaps in front of the Eiffel Tower. Hilary - who has taken the surname Meredith-Beckham - also posted on Instagram pictures from David and Victoria's Netflix premiere a month later in October. Ted, Hilary and Linda were also all in attendance for grandson Brooklyn's Palm Beach wedding to Nicola Peltz in May 2022, but no pictures were shared of the trio together. Brooklyn Beckham showed not all ties with his family have been severed as he shared a sweet birthday tribute to David's mum Sandra on Thursday Ted was said to have been a harsh taskmaster while David was growing up berating him for any tiny footballing mistakes on the training pitch and matches - and this tough love spilt into his marriage. David admitted as they were growing up, he never saw his father be tender to his mum. He wrote in his 2001 autobiography: 'He loves my mum but he's never been affectionate to her in front of my two sisters and me. He's quite hard-faced and can be sarcastic. 'He also gets fired up easily... The quality I like least in myself is my short temper. I think I get it from my dad.' Ted and David also struggled to bond when the former England captain moved to Real Madrid in 2003 - with Ted admitting the distance meant he feared he'd 'lost him forever'. This was compounded by the 2005 publication of his unauthorised biography David Beckham: My Son, which only deepened the rift. In 2007, Ted suffered a near fatal heart attack - but even then, years passed before a more official rekindling. By 2021 however, old wounds appear to have healed as David was the best man at his father's wedding to partner Hilary in December 2021. Now however, the former England captain may well be ruminating on lessons learned as he faces his own challenges with 26-year-old Brooklyn - who tied the knot with heiress and filmmaker Nicola, 30, in 2022. Tensions were felt in May, earlier this year, when the pair were no shows at any of David's 50th birthday celebrations - with The Mail revealing that Romeo's girlfriend Kim Turnbull had been made the 'scapegoat' in the feud. Since then, seeming snubs and exchanges have been felt between both parties - as well as the occasional hints at what may be peace offerings. Most recently however, Ted and Sandra offered an insight into a potential future peace which lies ahead. Earlier this week, Brooklyn wished his granddad Ted a happy 77th birthday on - after his estranged mother Victoria snubbed him from her family tribute. The eldest son - who despite remaining largely quiet on social media had also posted a birthday tribute to his little sister Harper - shared a phot with David's father, writing: 'Happy birthday grandad. I love you xx.' Meanwhile back home Victoria honoured her father-in-law with a family snap that did not include Brooklyn and Nicola. She captioned the post: 'Happy birthday @tedbeckham kisses' before going on to tag sons Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, as well as daughter Harper, 14. David's mother, too, proved to be a uniting element in June - after Brooklyn shared a sweet birthday tribute to his grandmother last month. 'Happy birthday nanny xx love you so much,' he penned. The 'feud', however, has seen social media posts swing between seemingly hinting at reconciliation to being perceived as snubs. In one instance this week, Brooklyn embraced his billionaire father-in-law in snaps from the family getaway to St Tropez. The eldest son of Posh Spice and David enjoyed a friendly beer with Nelson Peltz, 83, before packing on the PDA with his wife onboard the businessman's superyacht. Amid the trip the couple enjoyed a swanky lunch with Brooklyn's godfather Elton John, who sources claimed planned the dinner in a hopeful attempt to calm the family's feud. Nicola shared a slew of final holiday snaps from the couple's lavish trip before heading home to the US. Meanwhile in early July, Brooklyn appeared to make a very pointed remark as he referred to not feeling like he has the confidence to speak up - and finally feeling empowered in a social media post. As he shared a cooking tutorial for a chicken Caesar salad wrap, the chef dropped a new hint that there is no sign of the feud healing - with the video accompanied by Two Door Cinema Club's I Can Talk in a seemingly pointed nod to the row. The lead singer, Alex Trimble, previously explained the origin and meaning behind the story, which was about when the band first started talking with record companies. Alex claimed they grew sick of people telling them what to do so took initiative and talked for themselves. And last month, Brooklyn failed to acknowledge his father David's knighthood amid the apparent fallout. Friends of the Beckhams said that they were 'not surprised' to see the silence - especially as they 'blame Nicola for controlling him'. Tensions were felt in May, earlier this year, when the pair were no shows at any of David's 50th birthday celebrations - with The Mail revealing that Romeo's girlfriend Kim Turnbull had been made the 'scapegoat' in the feud. A close friend of David reportedly told The Sun: 'David and the family genuinely fear Brooklyn could be lost to them forever. 'The word "lost", here, is especially poignant as it was the exact sentiment used when David fell out with his dad. Ted believed his son would never speak to him again, and he was heartbroken. It was an extremely tense few years, and devastated the whole family.' David previously revealed he had to wait 'over two decades' before getting any approval from his father over his successful football career. Chatting to James Corden on his podcast series This Life of Mine in 2024, David admitted his ambitious drive came from the desire to please his father Ted - earning a 'you've made it boy' only after he won 100 caps. 'My dad never told me I'd done well really until my hundredth cap. That was the first time my dad turned around to me and said, "you've made it boy".' He said he didn't get the same recognition at any other point in his career despite six Premier League titles, two FA cups, four Community Shields and a Champions League title. David was said to be fearing that history is 'repeating itself' as he and Victoria have faced reports over a growing distance between themselves and Brooklyn. A source told The Sun: 'This is Victoria's worst nightmare. The thought of any of her children falling out gives her sleepless nights. 'It's been difficult with Brooklyn since he met Nicola, and there's no denying that there was a family fallout over their wedding. 'But Victoria and David have worked hard to get things back on track, so this is a real blow.' In May, Victoria's social media was filled with photographs from various parties held to celebrate David's 50th birthday, including a bash at their Cotswolds home. The fun-filled celebrations culminated with a massive party held at London's esteemed Michelin-star restaurant Core - andattended by A-list stars including Tom Cruise. David and Victoria's children Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 13, all attended - though Brooklyn was notably absent. It was claimed Brooklyn and Nicola pulled out of attending the Met Gala with the intention of attending David's birthday party, but were no shows at both events. Brooklyn was reportedly planning to attend David's 50th birthday party, but felt too uncomfortable to come after he felt Nicola was being blamed for the rift with his family. Claims that Brooklyn and Nicola were rebuffed when they asked David and Victoria to celebrate David's birthday privately were also said to be untrue. Sources close to Nicola told TMZ they wanted 'to get together privately' to avoid Romeo's girlfriend Kim Turnbull as the couple are said to 'have a problem' with her. Brooklyn missed out on David's early celebrations in Miami last month as well as parties in the Cotswolds, France and London this week. Following the birthday party snub, it was revealed Brooklyn also declined an invitation by his father to join him and his brothers on a 'boys' fishing trip to celebrate his 50th. The Mail revealed David invited Brooklyn on a short break months ago - when he began planning, yet his son failed to go despite arriving in the UK the day he went with Romeo and Cruz. Sources have suggested that Brooklyn's decision was influenced by his American actress wife Nicola, 30. 'Brooklyn was asked to join them ages ago,' one claimed. 'Then he came to London in time but he didn't go. Once again David made the best of things and had a great time with Cruz and Romeo.' David still offered an olive branch to his son as he shared snaps from the trip, as he captioned one of his posts: 'You were missed @brooklynbeckham.' Elsewhere, The Mail reported that Romeo's girlfriend Kim Turnbull was being made the 'scapegoat' in the feud between Brooklyn and David - with Nicola 'at the centre' of the rift. Kim and Brooklyn were undeniably close for a brief period – as photographs of them together in 2016 show - but suggestions that they were ever an item are wide of the mark, according to well-informed sources who spoke to The Mail. In fact, younger brother Cruz, 20, personally shut down the gossip recently when he responded to an Instagram post showing a picture of Romeo and Kim together. In a now-deleted message, one user commented: 'It's appropriate to date your brother's ex too? Cool.' Cruz replied: 'Brooklyn and Kim never dated.' One friend told the Mail's Katie Hind at the weekend: 'This is nothing to do with Kim and is all about Nicola. 'All David and Victoria want is their son back – and they will be there to welcome him any time.' Family friends claim Brooklyn's wife has a pattern of 'starting an argument' before family events and then preventing her husband from attending. Some believe that friends of Nicola have been behind the briefings about Kim being the cause of Brooklyn's rift with his family, some of which went so far to claim that he had told them he refused to come to any event at which Kim was present. A source close to the family told MailOnline: 'Brooklyn was close to Kim because she was dating Rocco and they all hung out in a tightknit friendship group. But that was years ago. Brooklyn and Kim were close, but there was never any romance. 'It seems Nicola doesn't like Brooklyn spending any time with the Beckhams full stop and is using his previous closeness to Kim and her getting in with the family as a reason to not be around them. 'She denies it, but Nicola has been controlling him since the wedding. The family - including the brothers - have had enough of it. 'This is the narrative that's been put out to other news outlets, that Romeo is dating his brother's ex-girlfriend - and that's really weird, so that's why they wouldn't want to be around the family when she is there. 'But none of this is true. And it's really upset Romeo and his parents because Kim is seemingly being used by Nicola as a reason to start the rift. Romeo is furious at the suggestion that he would bring an ex-girlfriend of Brooklyn into the family when there never was any romance.'
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
I went to the little-known roadside diner that feels like being in Stranger Things – the food takes you back in time
STEPPING into the diner, a warm glow of burnt oranges, rustic reds and mellow yellows surrounded me, along with 70s-style decor of rattan lampshades with giant globe bulbs. It really did feel like entering the set of Netflix's hit TV show Stranger Things - yet I was actually in a roadside cafe in the UK. 10 10 Brightside in Exeter, Devon, feels like a retro Little Chef, an iconic motorway cafe chain that sadly stopped trading by the end of 2018. Even the toilets at Brightside felt like a fun throwback with avocado-coloured sinks set against a mustard yellow tile backdrop. I often skip past roadside cafes and restaurants for fear that the food will be poor and the prices will be high. But Brightside wasn't like this. The menu features an extensive range of options through morning, noon and night. I opted for the 'Hot Honey Fried Chicken Burger' (£14.95) and my parents opted for the 'Chicken Caesar' pizza (£13.95) and the 'Dirty Brisket Burger' (£16.45). Whilst we may not have had Eggo waffles (made popular by Stranger Things' Eleven), the dishes we did order hit the spot. My chicken burger with honey offered a great twist on normal flavours. And for the brisket burger it was even a winner with my dad who is quite picky when it comes to burgers. The pizza was a good size as well, and really felt value for money. Inside Elon Musk's Tesla diner of the future staffed by ROBOTS with drive-in movie screens & burgers in Cybertruck boxes Along with our food we tried out two of the diner's mocktails - 'Strawberry Smash' and 'Pop Goes Summer'. Both mocktails cost £6 and were made with Ceder's non-alcoholic spirit. Pop Goes Summer had an extra layer of fun, with popping candy around the rim of the glass. As for Strawberry Smash, it was a great mix of strawberry, pineapple and lime. Moving onto dessert, we shared the 'Berry Ice Cream Sandwich' (£6.95) and a 'Banoffee Sundae' (£5.95). The berry ice cream sandwich was essentially a giant profiterole with soft serve ice cream, berries and meringue. 10 10 Both desserts felt like the ultimate childhood throwbacks. It might be just me, but I don't see banoffee desserts around much anymore, so this treat really did transport you back in time. When the bill came I was pleasantly surprised, as all of that came to around £68. The price was less than I had expected thanks to their Thursday offer that lets you buy a dessert for £1 alongside any adult main meal. 10 This wasn't the only great offer the diner had - on Tuesdays, you can buy one pizza get one free after 3pm. And on Wednesdays, kids eat free after 3pm, making it an affordable option for families needing to take a break on the motorway. Outside the diner there is also a brightly coloured seating area, with large parasols so you can get some fresh air too. Dogs are welcome too, and there is plenty to keep the kids entertained with Brightside branded merch to peruse and a number of books available to borrow whilst you sit and eat. Whilst the diner isn't your typical American-style joint, Brightside definitely mixes the best of British 70s/80s culture with retro American diners. I personally think Eleven would love it... as well as everyone else in Hawkins. There are three Brightside diners located across Devon and Cornwall, and a fourth location can be found in Rutland, just under an hour from Leicester. The diner in Exeter was the first location to open, opposite from Exeter Racecourse, back in 2023. There is also a 'Karen attraction' in the UK that Brits can't get enough of. Plus, the best pubs in the UK have been revealed – is your favourite boozer on the list? 10
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Christina Aguilera sets pulses racing as she shows off her sensational figure and flashes her bottom in sexy see-through lingerie
Christina Aguilera set pulses racing as she showed off her sensational figure in sexy see-through lingerie. The Genie In A Bottle hitmaker, 44, took to Instagram on Friday to share an array of racy snaps from a hotel room. She drove fans wild as she stripped down to black lingerie featuring a sheer polka dot wired bra with a pair of skimpy briefs. Christina completed the daring ensemble with high-waisted sheer tights featuring a thick waistband and patent stilettos. She posed on a white table holding onto a huge gold chandelier as well as draping herself across a black and gold cabinet. Further heating things up, Christina flashed her bottom as she posed with her back to the camera while up against a mirror. Top shelf,' she captioned the racy snaps. It comes just days after she was a vision as she attended the world premiere of Burlesque: The Musical at The Savoy Theatre in London on Tuesday. Christina left little to the imagination as she showcased her underwear beneath a daring black string mini dress. She teamed the striking look with black stockings and elevated her slimmed-down frame with a pair of sleek black heels. The pop legend completed her head-turning ensemble with silver jewellery and a bold red lipstick. Christina posed up a storm on the red carpet before joining producer Steve Antin. The pair appeared in high spirits as they smiled for photos, with Steve planting a sweet kiss on Christina's cheek. Also at the starry event was Michael Marouli, Georgina Castle, Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Matt Goss, Jess Folley, and Nick Collier. Following a sold-out run in Manchester, Burlesque The Musical is now playing at the Savoy Theatre for a strictly limited season until 6 September 2025. Christina swapped the spotlight for a seat in the stalls on Sunday 20 July, when she slipped into London's Savoy Theatre to watch a preview of Burlesque The Musical. The musical reimagines the 2010 screen hit that first turned her into an on-screen star. Christina previously displayed her thin appearance and sparked concern among fans who discussed rumours she might have undergone plastic surgery on her face to achieve her transformed appearance. Her frame has also sparked rumours among fans who wondered if she may have turned to Ozempic-like drugs to help her impressive weight loss. Although Christina has not directly responded to the claims, she recently said she no longer feels the need to 'give a f***' about the public scrutiny on her body. Following the speculation, she has since commented on the years-long 'obsession' over her weight in an interview with Glamour from August. She teamed the striking look with black stockings and elevated her slimmed-down frame with a pair of sleek black heels 'When you're a teenager, you have a very different body than when you're in your 20s,' she said. 'I started to fill out, and then that was unacceptable because it was like, "Oh, she's getting thicker." Then I had industry people: "They liked your body and how you were as a skinny teenager."' However, as she has grown older, she revealed that she does not let comments about her weight affect her anymore. 'I have a maturity now where I just don't give a f*** about your opinion. I'm not going to take it on,' she stated.
