
Prince Harry is totally whipped by Meghan, even the King knows it – she'll hate his reduced status now, expert says
Writer and broadcaster Esther Krauke also added that the Duchess of Sussex, 43, will also hate her reduced status among the Royal Family.
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Ms Krauke, made the comments while appearing on the Royal Exclusive show with The Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, alongside co-guest royal biographer Phil Dampier.
She said: 'We know that King Charles said something about him being whipped.
'We keep hearing things consistently coming out from courtiers and people that are close to the Royal Family.'
It is stressed that the implication here was that Harry was under the thumb of his wife, rather than any suggestion of physical abuse.
Ms Krauke added that both the late Queen's and the country's opinion of Meghan Markle had evolved over time.
She said: 'The Queen's opinion of Meghan involved, and it's much like how the country's opinion evolved.
'And much like the public, I think the Queen thought Meghan was a breath of fresh air.
'Very intelligent, very well-spoken, obviously from her acting background.
'And she worked, she welcomed her. I think, like much of the country with open arms, I think where things went wrong was clearly the cultural clash.'
She added: 'And I think in some ways Meghan thought she was marrying a billionaire, but was marrying a millionaire with like sort of a reduced status.
'So that might have been not appealing eventually.
New Meghan allegations are dynamite, they prove she sees Prince Harry as a stepping stone
'But also I just I don't think she fully understood or was even interested in what the role was supposed to become.
'She hadn't earned enough brownie points to actually be able to choose the tools she wanted to go on in the way that she wanted to do or curate her image in the same way, you know, most people would just be like, oh, you have to kind of have skin in the game.
'You have to have, I'm sorry.
'Open schools in Wales on a rainy day for a number of years before you ingratiate yourself and garner that goodwill.
'But I don't think she had that approach or attitude. And you could say it's very American, you know, very can-do spirit.'
Mr Dampier previously gave his opinions on the views expressed by royal biographer Bedell Smith that Queen Elizabeth II had shared her alleged doubts over the new Duchess, and feared Harry was "weak".
Mr Dampier said the author was extremely close to Lady Elizabeth Anson, who was a confidante and a cousin of the Queen.
"And Liza Shockley, as Sally Smith likes to call her, she was speaking to the Queen on a regular basis right up until her death, spoke to her every day, even in lockdown," he continued.
Mr Dampier claimed, therefore, this meant information had come "right from the horse's mouth".
He also alleged "we can trust this information", which is "very, very telling".
In harsh comments, the expert shared his thoughts: "And to be honest, it confirms what we'd already suspected that you know, that at first the Queen was very keen on Meghan."
Mr Dampier further alleged the Queen's reported "doubts" about Meghan "ruined her close relationship with Harry".
Bedell Smith also claimed Meghan was rude to the late Queen for 10 minutes over wedding details.
"She remarked that Harry was perhaps a little bit too much in love, was possibly besotted and a bit weak and being manipulated by Meghan," he continued.
Sharing his own opinions, Mr Dampier added: "I think, unfortunately, that confirms what I've been saying or thought for the last few years that, sadly, Meghan never really had any intention of staying in the royal family.
"She saw as a stepping stone getting married to to Harry to to to new fame and fortune.
"And I think that's what initially Prince William was concerned about. And that's why they fell out. And now we are where we are. But to have this confirmed by somebody so close to the Queen is, is is really dynamite."
This comes as for the first time, the Queen's private concerns have been made public in heartbreaking detail — showing just how perceptive she proved to be.
This week Sally published 'explosive' revelations made to her by one of Her Majesty's closest confidantes, her first cousin once removed, Lady Elizabeth Anson, in several conversations in 2018 and 2019.
Lady Elizabeth claimed there were serious concerns in the upper echelons of the Palace, long before Harry and Meghan made themselves royal pariahs.
Just days before the wedding, she had told Sally: 'We hope but don't quite think [Meghan] is in love.
'We think she engineered it all.'
She added: 'It's worrying that so many people are questioning whether Meghan is right for Harry.
'The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both."
The observations by Lady Elizabeth, who died from lung cancer in November 2020 aged 79, show the warning signs were there from the start — and proved well-founded.
She said Meghan had initially appeared 'natural, intelligent and thoughtful' after getting engaged to Harry in 2017.
But as their wedding approached, they both caused a stir with their poor behaviour — and blatant disrespect for the Queen.
Harry was reportedly 'rude to her for ten minutes' in one meeting and upset her by asking the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in May 2018, without first seeking permission from the Dean of Windsor.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they had chosen to 'transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution'.
At first, it seemed they wanted to keep one foot in the royal fold, while pursuing financial opportunities on the outside.
But after months of negotiations, the Queen and the then Prince Charles laid down the law — they were either fully in or fully out.
There was no in-between.
The couple opted for the latter and moved to the US later that year, infamously launching a crusade of Palace-bashing and com- plaints against the royals in the aftermath.
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne head back home for their last show
BIRMINGHAM, England, July 5 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of fans will rock out in Birmingham on Saturday as Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath reunite for what they have said will be their last live performance together. Nearly six decades after helping create heavy metal music with an eponymous song that enthralled and frightened audiences, Black Sabbath will return to their home of Aston for "Back to the Beginning" at Villa Park stadium. The one-off gig, with profits going to charity, has been billed as Ozzy's last performance, five years after the 76-year-old "Prince of Darkness" revealed he had Parkinson's disease. More than a dozen other acts including Metallica, Guns N' Roses and Slayer are set to perform in tribute to Sabbath in the once-industrial English city considered the birthplace of the genre. "The goal is a very simple one, and that is to create the greatest day in the history of heavy metal as a salute to the band that started it all," Rage Against the Machine member Tom Morello, the music director for the event, told Metal Hammer magazine. The gig will unite Sabbath's original lineup of bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward and frontman Ozzy for the first time in 20 years. Fans can expect performances of "Paranoid", "War Pigs", "Black Sabbath" and Ozzy's "Mama, I'm Coming Home". Hotel prices in Birmingham have sky-rocketed and Sabbath murals and banners have started appearing across the city, whose factories were one of the influences for the band's heavy sound of loud, distorted guitar and aggressive vocals. Lisa Meyer, who organised a Black Sabbath exhibition in Birmingham in 2019, said the band won over followers by offering a heavier alternative to the Beatlemania and hippy music of the 1960s. "That's what really resonated with fans, giving a voice to that rage, anger and frustration, but doing it in a really cathartic way," Meyer, co-founder of the Home of Metal project, told Reuters. Saturday's extravaganza will also feature performances by Lamb of God, Pantera, Anthrax, Tool, Gojira, Alice in Chains and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island's Harry and Helena rekindle their romance as they FINALLY couple up again after Shakira love triangle
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But before Harry could fully respond, Meg stepped in, calling him out in front of the group: 'You're telling two different girls two different things. Something's not adding up there.' Harry defended himself, replying: 'I think that I've been honest with you…' Shakira then cooled things down between them as she cut things off, and Harry wasted no time in flirting with Helena again. Harry chose Helena to join him in the Hideaway for a private moment together – away from prying eyes and the two plotted how to rekindle things. There was even more upheaval as a surprise recoupling text landed, which read: 'Islanders, today there will be a recoupling where the boys will choose which girl they'd like to recouple with…' As the girls stood nervously by the firepit, the recoupling shifted the power dynamics once again – with Harry deciding to try again with Helena. Harry made a very gushing speech about his affections towards Helena, despite spending the previous days denying their connection to Shakira. For his speech, he said: 'I'd like to couple up with this girl cos she's like the female version of me. He added that there was 'something undeniable' between the two of them with the pair always finding themselves drawn back together If that wasn't enough of a twist, at the end of the episode there was a teaser for Sunday's episode which sees six new girls enter the villa, much to the surprise of everyone As the girls walk onto the terrace and wave at the Islanders below, Harry was seen looking stunned as he exclaimed: 'Oh my god it's my ex!' causing viewers to comment straight away on X 'She makes me laugh, she's made me cry a few times. The last few days in the villa for me have been tough, but it's been tough for this girl as well, along with one other. 'There's something undeniable apparently and i'm starting to believe it myself and we seem to have found our way back to each other like we always do. 'So the girl I want to couple up with is Helena.' Shakira then ended up back in a couple with her ex Ben Holbrough, who left the Islanders open-mouthed with his awkward speech. If that wasn't enough of a twist, at the end of the episode there was a teaser for Sunday's episode which sees six new girls enter the villa, much to the surprise of everyone. Six female bombshells were seen strutting on to the terrace, much to the surprise of the boys and surprisingly, also the original girls - who were still in the villa. In an unexpected turn, Meg was the one to break the news as she read out the girls' names - Yaz, Lauren, Andrada, Lucy, Rheo and Emma. As the girls walked on to the terrace and waved at the Islanders below, Harry was seen looking stunned as he exclaimed: 'Oh my god it's my ex!' 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Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice. Megan Moore NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 25 FROM: Southampton OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits! NAME: Tommy Bradley AGE: 22 FROM: Hertfordshire OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? 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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Our Lionesses are underpaid unknowns no more! How little-known footballers have turned into national heroines - in journeys that have also transformed their lives off the pitch
Their triumph at the 2022 Euros turned England's Lionesses from little-known footballers into national heroines. And if the tournament made them famous, it also transformed their lives off the pitch. From lucrative brand ambassadorships with high-end fashion labels such as Gucci to turns on the red carpet in dresses worthy of a Kardashian, England's female footballers now enjoy more than a touch of glitz and glamour. Once badly paid and barely recognised – who could forget goalie Mary Earps complaining before the last Euros that Nike hadn't even bothered to print replica shirts with her name on them – the nation's female footballers now have a soaring commercial appeal. So as they prepare to face France at 8pm tonight in their first game of this year's Euros – and inspire a new generation of young women with their sporting prowess – Molly Clayton reveals which of our Lionesses enjoys the most luxurious lifestyle. The Gucci model Shoots for Vogue, GQ and Elle Magazine. Modelling for Calvin Klein. Gucci snapping her up as a brand ambassador. Clearly, as well as being an impressive England captain, Leah Williamson, 28, has a catwalk-worthy fashion career too. One of the biggest earners off the pitch after leading the Lionesses to victory at the Euro 2022 final, the blonde beauty has a deal with Nike and has collaborated with global brands such as Aston Martin, Pepsi, Walkers and Mastercard. With 1.1 million Instagram followers, she has new advert partnerships with Weetabix and Cadbury, along with six children's books, titled The Wonder Team. With the deals comes the gloss: her recent lavish Mallorcan holiday to an Ikos resort would have set her back in the region of £1,000 a night. She is rumoured to be dating former model and Miss USA Elle Smith – both have posted about each other on social media. Ella the business brainbox With her ever-present fake eyelashes and love of make-up, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, 25, often showcases her beauty routine on her own YouTube channel. And with a canny business acumen to boot, Ella has already shaped an enviable off-pitch career. The first England women's player to trademark her name, she's set up her own brand, ET7, which includes a football academy for young girls. The name is inspired by her childhood hero, Portuguese footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, whose own brand is called CR7. With some estimating her worth at more than £1 million, last month she set up her own creative agency, Amicizia, which aims to connect female athletes to commercial and marketing opportunities with top brands. Her sponsors include make-up company Charlotte Tilbury, orthodontic brand Invisalign and McDonald's, with her yearly earnings estimated as upwards of £200,000, fuelled by her popularity on social media. At one point, she was one of the top five most viewed athletes on TikTok. Ella has 737,000 Instagram followers and her own BBC podcast with best friend and fellow Lioness Alessia Russo, with whom she has appeared on the front cover of fashion and beauty magazine Elle. Ella loves nothing more than a red carpet bash. In a relationship with footballer Joe Bunney of Stalybridge Celtic FC, she regularly treats her fans to glimpses of their lavish holidays abroad and spa days at five-star hotels. Lauren's ooh la la lego Proving that every passion can be profitable, Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp, 24, has topped up her estimated £400,000 salary with a sponsorship deal with Lego. Devoted to creating Lego masterpieces in her downtime, saying it's 'the best way to relax', she's even made the Mona Lisa out of the bricks. Her other sponsors include Nike and Sports Direct. Lauren also has the support of her girlfriend, former Liverpool midfielder Ashley Hodson. Together for two years, the pair recently enjoyed a romantic trip to Paris, where Lauren saw the Mona Lisa in her more traditional setting. Shy superstar with an ex on the team Growing up, Lucy Bronze lived on Lindisfarne – also known as Holy Island – off the windswept coast of Northumberland. Her grandmother was caretaker of Lindisfarne Castle and today the outline of that building is tattooed on Lucy's wrist. Shy into adulthood, she was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in 2021. But neither her isolated upbringing nor her neurodiversity held her back. Rather, she's said she uses the intense focus associated with her conditions to her advantage – and now the 33-year-old is one of the biggest earners in the game. She reportedly took home £200,000 a year while playing at Barcelona before her move to Chelsea in 2024. Big money deals followed her triumph at the last Euros, with Pepsi, EE, Klarna and Visa among her backers. Her former girlfriend is fellow Lioness Keira Walsh. Fashion week regular She earned almost £2 million in 2023 alone, according to Forbes magazine. That same year, Alessia Russo's transfer from Manchester United to Arsenal made her one of the most expensive female footballers on the planet. Her contract is said to be worth more than £500,000 a year and her commercial appeal is just as lucrative. She has deals with Gucci, Adidas, PlayStation, Beats by Dr Dre and last month was gifted an MGS5 EV car, which she proudly showed off on Instagram. A regular at London Fashion Week, Alessia, 26, has appeared on the cover of magazines such as Women's Health. The BAFTA TV Awards in May saw her in a £1,295 Roland Mouret dress, right. Revealing outfits... on pitch too! Hair scraped back and with braces on her teeth, Chloe Kelly scored that late winning goal against Germany at Wembley in 2022, famously taking off her top in celebration. Since then, she has revelled in her success with a glossy makeover. Gone are the braces, replaced with a sparkling smile worthy of social media. Her eyebrows have had the Ombre treatment – a £350 semi-permanent procedure where tiny needles put pigment in the skin. She's also turned heads in daringly revealing outfits (cut-out panels are very much Chloe's style) on red carpets that range from the MTV awards to the Baftas. From the latter, she shared pictures from her 'gifted' night at a swanky central London hotel, and her accompanying hair and make-up experience with her 962,000 Instagram followers. She's also done fashion shoots wearing Prada and Versace, looking every inch an accomplished model. Last year she married her long-term partner Scott Moore in a lavish ceremony at Merrydale Manor in Cheshire wearing a £15,000 Galia Lahav wedding dress, with see-through lace panels on each side. Little wonder, then, that Chloe's earning power has boomed: there's been a deal with Land Rover, Nike have made her a brand ambassador and she partners with The Gym Kitchen and Doritos. And this week, she signed a deal with Arsenal believed to be worth £150,000 a year. In 2023, Chloe was the only Lioness to make it onto the Women's World Cup highest paid list, with a claim she earns £933,500 a year. Burberry clad goalie Hannah Hampton – the long-haired goalkeeper with the girl-next-door looks – certainly has big shoes to fill after Mary Earps surprisingly announced her retirement from the squad last month. The 24-year-old Chelsea player has posed in Burberry for Elle magazine and counts Nike and Extra chewing gum among her corporate sponsors. She also works with Birmingham Children's Hospital after enduring numerous eye operations as a child to cure a squint. Hannah was told she would never be a professional sports player. 'I've gone through life proving people wrong,' she said recently, words that inspired devotion among her 228,000 Instagram followers. Her relationship status isn't known. Dubai devotee She never travels without her Louis Vuitton luggage, can often be seen posing in a Maybach car, and enjoys swanky trips to Dubai, staying at the luxury Five resort there. Chelsea star Lauren James, 23, has treated herself to some of the finer things in life since her key role in the Lionesses' 2023 World Cup campaign. While her relationship status isn't known, she's close to her older brother Reece, who plays for the Chelsea men's team. She has commercial deals with Nike, Google Pixel, Optimum Nutrition, Sure deodorant and Walkers. The superstar siblings often attend red carpet events together. But while she is reportedly on £350,000 a year at Chelsea, Reece earns £250,000 a week. Kooky style So devoted is she to tattoos that midfielder Georgia Stanway, 26, not only has around 100 of her own inkings, but she's also learned to tattoo other people. The Bayern Munich star's kooky style has won her sponsors including Nike and an advertising deal with Celsius drinks, who featured on her Instagram page, where she has 433,000 followers. Off the pitch, she's been with Toulouse rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott since 2022.