King and Prince Harry's aides hold ‘secret peace summit'
The meeting at a private members' club was an extraordinary development in relations between the two households, which in recent years have had little interaction.
Meredith Maines, the duke's new chief communications officer based in California, was joined at the meeting by Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' UK-based PR operation, and Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years.
'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.'
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The meeting came weeks after the duke insisted in a lengthy BBC interview that he wanted to reconcile with his family.
But he admitted that his father would not speak to him and that he did not know how much longer the King had to live.
'There's no point in continuing to fight any more,' he said. 'Life is precious.'
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News.com.au
26 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Tennis world slams sight of controversial figure in Wimbledon Royal Box
The sight of a former tennis player with a very chequered past sitting in the Royal Box for the Wimbledon men's final has raised more than a few eyebrows. There wasn't a spare seat at centre court as a mix of royalty, celebrities and tennis legends turned out to watch Jannik Sinner defeat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4. A steely Sinner refused to give Alcaraz an opening, clinching his fourth grand slam title and exacting revenge after his gut-wrenching five-set loss to the Spaniard in the French Open final. Prince William and Princess Kate were there with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in the front row of the Royal Box, along with a host of celebrities including Anna Wintour and actors Keira Knightley, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Lithgow and Paul Mescal. A row of tennis legends and former Wimbledon champions featured Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert, Lleyton Hewitt and his wife Bec. But sitting next to Agassi was former tennis player Justin Gimelstob, who won the 1997 Hopman Cup, and Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles titles with Venus Williams in 1998. He reached a career high singles ranking of No. 63 in 1999 but is best known for a series of controversies in the 2000s. The American became a highly controversial figure in retirement after he made sexist comments regarding several female players in the 2000s. Gimelstob gave an infamous interview to radio program The Junkies, making inflammatory comments about Anna Kournikova ahead of an exhibition doubles match against the former No. 8. 'She is a b*tch,' Gimelstob said at the time. 'Hate's a very strong word. I despise her to the maximum level just below hate … I wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's a kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits.' He added of his plans for the match: 'I'm going to serve it right at the body about 128 (mph), right into the midriff. If she's not crying by the time she comes off court I did not do my job.' Asked if he would have an affair with Kournikova, Gimelstob said: 'Definitely not. I have no attraction to her. She has a great body but her face is a five. 'I really have no interest in her … I wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's a kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that,' he said. He also described French players Tatiana Golovin and Alize Cornet as 'sexpots', and called Czech player Nicole Vaidisova 'a well-developed young lady'. In 2018, Gimelstob was charged with the alleged violent assault of a former friend Randall Kaplan on Halloween. He denied the accusations later changed his plea to 'no contest' to a felony battery charge, and was sentenced to three years' probation and 60 days of community labour. Despite his past, Gimelstob appeared to be a guest of Agassi at Sunday's final — he works with Agassi and his wife, tennis legend Steffi Graff. Gimelstob and Agassi attended Wimbledon together last year too. The 48-year-old was animated at stages during the final, holding his head in his hands after one thrilling rally between Alcaraz and Sinner. The sight of Gimelstob sitting in the prestigious Royal Box didn't go down well with many viewers. Leading tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg wrote on X: 'There have certainly been better moments in Wimbledon Royal Box optics than sitting Justin Gimelstob directly behind Princess Kate …' One observer wrote: 'The one on the right is Justin Gimelstob? I haven't seen him in a long time.' A second said: 'Eww Justin Gimelstob, how'd he scam his way into the box?' A third commented: 'Why tf is Justin Gimelstob sitting on a row with Edberg and Hewitt?!?! Another said: 'Agassi's 'plus one' is … Justin Gimelstob. That's quite the comeback.' Gimelstob served on the ATP board for a decade, resigning from the player council in 2018 and quitting his commentary role on the Tennis Channel. It remains to be seen of Gimelstob intends on making a return to tennis administration in the future. Sports Illustrated tennis insider Jon Wertheim wrote in his Wimbledon wrap: 'For a thriving sport, there are still a striking number of big jobs in need of filling: WTA Chairman (Chairperson?), ATP CEO and, maybe above all, the head of the USTA, a highly fraught, highly-compensated position. 'A search firm has been retained (and several candidates showed up in London to angle for the job), but there will be no announcement until after the U.S. Open.'
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Who is the best royal of the 21st century - and where do we begin with Harry?
Windsor Castle. June 21, 2000. It was hailed as THE party of the century. Hordes of the upper crust, hot and cold running grandees, titled Europeans and old fox hunting muckers gathered for the 'Dance of the Decades', a combined celebration of the Queen Mother's 100th birthday, Princess Margaret's 70th, Princess Anne's 50th, Prince Andrew's 40th and Prince William's 18th. The royal family that gathered on that night looked profoundly, nearly unthinkably, different from the one of today. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were still gathering for a lunchtime voddy. Prince William looked like a Disney dreamboat with a luxuriant full head of wavy blonde hair. And Queen Elizabeth had barely recovered from the greatest disaster of her 48 years on the throne. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. The monarchy had just - and only just - been pulled back from the precipice after Buckingham Palace's stony-faced handling of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Stunned by her shocking end in Paris and the Palace's frigid response, the people had turned on the crown with a shockingly un-British degree of emotion and on that night in 2000, the shadow of the princess' death still hung over The Firm. And in Bucklebury, Berkshire, a hockey-loving gel was packing her hipster jeans as she prepared for her gap year, without a clue what fate had in store for her - a crown rather than a lifetime of driving a Volvo station wagon to Asda. If you zipped back in a time machine to that June night in 2000 and told Queen Elizabeth on her third glass of Pol Roger how the royal family circa 2025 looked, you would have been liable to be sectioned: The next Queen is a middle-class art history graduate, William needs beanies and flat caps to keep the chill out, and Prince Harry now occasionally does bits on late night TV shows, cut irrevocably adrift from his family and doomed to a lifetime of gluten-free mimosa brunches with Kris Jenner. So, who is your favourite royal from the past 25 years? Queen Elizabeth II It would take years, decades, after the turn of the millennium for the late Queen to shake off the perception of her as the cold fish, icily distant monarch who had struggled to connect with her nation at a moment of crisis. One did occasionally smile and chuckle in public but One was largely known as the monarch whose spectacularly out-of-touch response to Diana's death had taken the monarchy to the brink. Slowly, the ship began to right itself and it would take the arrival of one fresh-faced Kate Middleton to usher in a new royal chapter. A key turning point came on July 27, 2012 when billions around the world watched, delegated agog, as she 'met' 007 at the Palace and then 'skydived' into the London Olympics' opening ceremony. It was a brief, wonderful moment of levity and cheekiness for a woman defined by a certain Easter Island-like blankness and stoicism in public. As the years passed, the ghost of Diana receded and as the 21st century got under way the late Queen morphed into a genuinely beloved figure, hailed for her implacable, unwavering devotion to duty, her signature Launer handbag in the crook of her arm as she Got On With It. Her late Majesty represented a certain dignity, a poise, a steadfastness and a chin-up-chaps-ness in the face of adversity, family crisis and having to have the fluorescent Mr Trump around for tea. Finally, the world came to respect what she had been doing all along. Paddington Bear said it best in 2022, doffing his red felt cap during her Platinum Jubilee: 'Thank you, for everything' Prince Philip And by Queen Elizabeth's side for 73 years was, of course, her 'strength and stay' Prince Philip. He was an unlikely choice for the young princess back in the 1940s, the penniless son of the deposed Greek King who had grown up being shunted around tiled relatives' houses in Europe and toughened up in a remote Scottish boarding school. However, from the first moment the young Princess Elizabeth clapped eyes on him, he was the only man ever for her. He had a valiant, courageous war battling the Germans sea and then in 1946 gave up smoking on his wedding day to devote his life to 'Lilibet' and shaking the hands of quaking Lord Lieutenants. Philip was most famous for his incurable case of foot-in-mouth-itis, managing to wheel out racially offensive quips from Glasgow to the Northern Territory to China, perpetually unperturbed by the diplomatic havoc he left in his wake. Again, today, Philip's image is one defined by devotion, to his wife and to doing his bit. It was only in 2017 - aged 95-years-old - he retired from royal work, saying 'the world's most experienced plaque-unveiler'. King Charles On September 8, 2022 the third Carolean age began when Charles Philip Arthur George acceded to the throne to finally fulfil his lifelong destiny to wear a crown and to install composting bins at the Palace. But in 2000 he was still the Prince of Wales, a man who was still slowly inching back from the greatest disaster of his personal and royal life, the death of Diana. 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Today, the King is a man hailed for his lifelong, dogged commitment to climate action and relentlessly turning lights off, whose nearly 60 years of hard work, public service and dedication are finally being recognised and valued. Just don't give the man a fountain pen. Queen Camilla The King's greatest, formerly unthinkable achievement: Bringing Camilla in from the cold. The story is not true but telling nonetheless - in the 90s it was claimed that such was public hatred towards Camilla that someone had chucked a bread roll at her in the supermarket. In 2000, the UK and the world was truly buffeddled - how could Charles have chucked over dazzling, orphan-hugging Diana for Camilla, a woman who permanently looks like she had just come in from doing the horses or field dressing a pheasant? Diana's labels said 'Versace'; Camilla's said, '100 per cent viscose'. Back then, the idea that this woman would one day be Queen and crowned alongside Charles at Westminster Abbey would have been ludicrous. However, Camilla has shown us all. Since marrying Charles in 2005, the Queen's main charitable focus has been on fighting domestic and sexual violence, doing everything from persistently giving speeches, filming a moving documentary and spearheading a campaign to provide toiletry bags to rape victims in hospitals. She is the first royal patron in history of a rape crisis centre. Also, finally the world is appreciating that she and Charles are a great love story. Their chemistry, the fizz, their devotion to and adoration of one another is abundantly clear. Prince William Adios Eton, hello world. In 2000 the prince finished high school and trundled off to enjoy a gap year that included training with the Welsh Guards in Belize, scrubbing toilets in a remote village in Chile while teaching English and 4am starts helping out a British dairy farm. In 2001 he would finally go to university, at St Andrews in Scotland, and there not only managed to get a very average degree but to woo the woman who has, and will, save the monarchy from themselves and those recessive Hapsburgh genes. As the world watched William grow up, he proceeded to do the unthinkable and actually get a paying job, piloting a search and rescue chopper and then later an air ambulance, responding to unthinkable accidents and quite literally saving lives. Over the last decade he and Kate, The Princess of Wales, have quietly done away with the nearly century-long model of royalling - of ribbon cuttings and tree-plantings and their presence simply being seen as enough - to replace that with highly dynamic and forward-looking doing. William is currently in the midst of his decades-long handing out of nearly $100 million to fund innovative solutions to the climate crisis and has relentlessly worked on destigmatising mental health, especially for men. Kate, The Princess of Wales It does not bear thinking about: where the royal family would be today if William had ended up with the sort of aristo gal he had dated in his teens who could trace her lineage back to the Norman Conquest and had never eaten a Tesco sausage roll. Thank god. There have been plenty of bumps on the road to this point, like Kate's years of being harassed by the press and paparazzi, perpetually mocked as 'Waity Katie' and more recently was alleged to have been the 'royal racist' who commented on her unborn nephew's skin colour. Still she persisted and the Princess of Wales has evolved into a widely adored figure who, like William, has locked onto her legacy issue and is indefatigably plugging away, fundamentally changing early childhood in the UK in the hope of dramatically moving the dial on mental health and addiction for future generations. The Kate of 2025 is a woman who has, like the late Queen, just gotten on with it and in doing so has overturned all scepticism about how a girl pejoratively labelled as 'normal' would do having to carry the weight of a thousand-plus years of royal history on her shoulders. Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex Oh Harry. Where do we even begin? If you plotted his story in a novel it would seem too outlandish - the two tours on the frontline in Afghanistan, the naked billiards, the troubled, sozzled lost boy made good who found love with a stunning American with, of all outrageous things, a career, only to chuck it in and burn every bridge in exchange for psychologically unburdening himself and big fat pay cheques. Has any figure in the 982 years since William the Conqueror ditched Normandy to go to the UK and to boot out the Anglo-Saxons ever had such a precipitous and stunning change in public opinion as Aitch? The most recent stats show that 27 per cent of Brits have a positive view of him - and 63 per cent negative. The figure the Duke of Sussex cuts in 2025 is a man unmoored from his former job, identity and homeland as he fumbles around trying to build a new one. Photos shared by his wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex show a man whose personal life is filled with the joy of fatherhood and family but how will he fill the next 50 or 60 years of his life? Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex Imagine going back to the Dance of the Decades in 2000 and telling the Queen Mother and Margaret that Harry would marry a divorced actress from Los Angeles who had never heard of the Windsor Horse Show. But the story of the royal family is one indelibly shaped and changed by the Sussexes' love story. In 2016 she and Harry were set up on a blind date and only 18 months later, giddily, the couple announced their engagement to the world. It was all so fairytale and it was all over so fast. The stardust barely lasted two years and by January 2020, the Sussexes were out, done with following the long established script and playing ball and off to borrow a private jet to point towards California. It is hard to think of a more lightning rod figure than Meghan, a woman who attracts such vehemence of opinion there is a PhD thesis in unpicking it all. The Duchess of Sussex is a woman who, for better or worse, must be hailed for always following her own star and charting her own path, one that has taken her back to her home state and is unlikely to ever see the Clarence House drinks trolley again. More Coverage Meghan and Harry cut staff to 'save cash' 'Big illusion': Meghan's brand shattered In 2025, the duchess is a woman busy making her own mark and trying to convince the world of the life changing power of flower sprinkles as her entrepreneurial push with her As Ever brand continues. Next up, the launch of a rosé.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
This box office flop is the best film of the 21st century
Director Alfonso Cuarón's 2006 dystopian thriller Children of Men starts with a bang – literally. As the film opens, actor Clive Owen's character Theo pops down to the corner cafe to grab a cup of coffee in grimy, inner-city London. It's 2027, two decades since worldwide infertility pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. The cafe is packed, as people crowd to watch a TV announcing that the youngest person in the world – a man named Diego, who was the last known person to be born 18 years earlier – had met a violent end, stabbed by an autograph hunter in Buenos Aires. Theo takes his coffee back out to the street. And then the cafe blows up, with everyone inside. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. It's a startling opener to a film that, despite rave reviews, struggled to even make back its budget at the box office in 2006, but has emerged as one of the most prescient films of the 21st century. Based on P.D. James' 1992 novel The Children of Men, the film follows the cynical, world-weary Theo as he's commandeered by a refugee liberation group run by his old flame Julian (Julianne Moore). They need his help to get refugee Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety, because she's carrying a huge secret: She's the first woman to fall pregnant in 18 years. The film unfolds as the sort of dystopian chase movie that'll be familiar to fans of shows like The Handmaid's Tale and The Last Of Us. But the world-building in the film is something else. We're never told why humanity suddenly became infertile, we only see what damage it's caused, how nihilistic humanity has become knowing that they'll be the last generation on earth. Theo passes by scenes of devastation, violence and hopelessness throughout the film, and they don't appear to register because it's just how life is now. Danger abounds – one incredible one-take shot sees Theo and the refugee group travelling by car through the apparent safety of a forested area, all breathing a sigh of relief that they've made it out of the chaos and violence of the city. Within seconds, an armed gang emerge from the forest, ambushing them for reasons unknown. They manage to escape, but not without the shocking, violent death of one key character. It's harrowing, edge-of-your-seat viewing as the camera pans around the car to capture the action – and now considered one of the best one-shot scenes in the history of cinema. The film ends on an ambiguous note, a final scene which some viewers interpret as a 'happy ending', while others aren't so sure. Perhaps that ending, coupled with the grim tone of the film, would go some way to explaining why C hildren of Men wasn't a box office hit upon release. But word spread among those who did see it, and in recent years it's appeared on many critics lists of the best films of all time. Multiple rewatches over the past two decades have affirmed my initial impression of Children of Men: It's my favourite film released so far this century. Don't agree with me? Vote in our poll below. As part of our 25@25 series celebrating the biggest and best of the past 25 years, the entertainment team at has collated a shortlist of the 10 best movies of the 21st century, from Oscar winners to family favourites to a mind-bending romance and an iconic Aussie road movie. The Dark Knight (2008) A cinematic masterpiece that redefined the superhero genre. Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is nothing short of legendary, earning him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His performance, coupled with Christian Bale's nuanced depiction of Batman, elevates the film to a level of dramatic intensity rarely seen in superhero films. Christopher Nolan's direction, alongside Hans Zimmer's haunting score, creates a dark and immersive atmosphere that captivates audiences. Avatar (2009) A groundbreaking achievement in filmmaking, renowned for its revolutionary use of 3D technology and visual effects. The film's immersive world-building transports audiences to the lush, alien planet of Pandora, showcasing James Cameron's visionary direction. 'Avatar' became a cultural phenomenon, holding the title of the highest-grossing film of all time for nearly a decade, with a worldwide box office gross of over $2.8 billion. Children of Men (2006) A dystopian masterpiece that combines a thought-provoking narrative with stunning cinematography. The film's screenplay, based on P.D. James' novel, presents a bleak yet compelling vision of the future, where humanity faces extinction due to global infertility. Clive Owen delivers a powerful performance as Theo, a reluctant hero navigating a world on the brink of collapse. Cuarón's direction is marked by innovative long takes, particularly the intense single-shot action sequences that heighten the film's realism and urgency. Interstellar (2014) Christopher Nolan co-wrote the screenplay for his second entrant on our list - an epic science fiction film that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the survival of humanity. Matthew McConaughey's performance as Cooper, a pilot on a mission to save humanity, is both heartfelt and compelling. The film's visual effects, which earned an Academy Award, create a breathtaking depiction of space travel and distant worlds. Hans Zimmer's evocative score further enhances the film's emotional depth. Parasite (2019) A genre-defying film that masterfully blends elements of thriller, drama, and dark comedy. The film's screenplay, co-written by director Bong Joon-ho, offers a sharp social commentary on class disparity and the human condition. Bong's direction is meticulous, with each scene crafted to build tension and suspense. 'Parasite' made history as the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Departed (2006) A gripping crime thriller that showcases director Martin Scorsese's mastery of the genre. The star-studded cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, delivers powerful performances that led to critical and commercial success. It earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The Social Network (2010) A compelling drama that chronicles the creation of Facebook and the ensuing legal battles. The film's screenplay, written by Aaron Sorkin, is a masterclass in dialogue, offering a sharp and insightful look into the complexities of ambition and betrayal. Jesse Eisenberg delivers a standout performance as Mark Zuckerberg, capturing the character's brilliance and social awkwardness. 'The Social Network' was both a critical and commercial success, earning three Academy Awards. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) A poignant exploration of love and memory, distinguished by its inventive storytelling and visual style. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet deliver exceptional performances, and Michel Gondry's direction, marked by creative visual effects and non-linear storytelling, enhances the film's emotional impact. 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' has received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, solidifying its status as a modern classic. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) A high-octane action film that redefines the genre with its relentless pace and stunning visuals. 'Mad Max: Fury Road' was a critical and commercial success, earning six Academy Awards and grossing over $375 million worldwide. Its groundbreaking action sequences and visionary direction have established it as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Finding Nemo (2003) An animated masterpiece that combines heartwarming storytelling with stunning animation. The voice performances, particularly Albert Brooks as Marlin and Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, bring humour and emotion to the film. The animation, which vividly captures the beauty of the ocean, set a new standard for visual storytelling in animation. 'Finding Nemo' was a box office sensation, grossing over $940 million worldwide, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
