Latest news with #FabFour
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry 'won't let Meghan go to England' as he 'bans' her from latest trip
The Duke of Sussex landed in Angola on Tuesday evening and is set to walk across a landmine field in the African state just as his mother Princess Diana did 28 years ago for the Halo Trust Prince Harry has "banned" his wife, Meghan Markle, from joining him on his recent trip to the African state of Angola due to safety concerns, with insiders likening it to him not letting her visit the UK. Meghan Markle has not returned to Britain since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, where she was pictured during an awkward walkabout with Prince William, Prince Harry and Princess Kate outside Windsor Castle. The once dubbed "Fab Four" haven't been pictured together since then. Now, an insider claims Harry refuses to let Meghan return to the UK along with join him on his latest trip. "The duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines," a source told the Daily Mail. The Duke landed at Luanda airport yesterday evening as he shook hands with President Joao Lourenco for his visit. The area on the southwest coast of Africa has been damaged by a 27-year civil war until 2002. There are still estimated to be 1,000 minefields that need to be cleared. Since the end of the war, the Halo Trust has cleared more than 123,000 landmines, with Harry being a patron for the organisation. Harry is said to have barred his wife from visiting alongside him due to safety concerns, with insiders likening it to his ban on her visiting the UK since their taxpayer-funded security was cut when they moved to the US. It comes just days after a secret meeting between the aides of King Charles and Harry that took place in London just months before his next visit to the UK. Harry is said to have given his father advance notice of his September visit, but sources claim Charles could "pull out" of a reunion at the last minute. The Duke has a series of British-based charity engagements that he is taking part in. It's unclear if this was related to the meeting that took place between the King's most senior communications official, Tobyn Andreae, and Harry and Meghan's newly appointed head of communications Meredith Maines. It was her first visit to the UK in her role. Harry had been in a battle with the government to regain taxpayer-funded police protection while visiting, insisting it put his family in harm's way. But in May, he lost the legal challenge, meaning his security will remain outside the automatic, high level of protection which is provided for senior royals. The court did not think there was a sufficient reason to reconsider the decision that had lowered his security. His lawyers had argued that he had been "singled out" for "inferior treatment", but the court ruling upheld that there had been nothing unlawful about how the decision had been reached. Meghan has not been back to the UK since her 2022 visit, with King Charles having last seen his granddaughter Lilibet, four, that same year during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Forget the Fab Four: Wimbledon's success shows tennis fans have already moved on
Surging stadium attendances and record Grand Slam viewership make one thing clear that tennis fans are ready to move beyond the Fab Four and embrace the sport's rising stars. read more Wimbledon 2025's viewership success has shown that the tennis fans have already moved on from the Fab Four. Images: Reuters The fading away of tennis' 'Fab Four' is having little impact on viewership for major tournaments, as Wimbledon 2025 proved a massive success for both ESPN and the BBC. The grass-court major concluded on Sunday with Jannik Sinner winning the men's singles title and Iga Swiatek claiming the women's crown. For both Sinner and Swiatek, it was their first Wimbledon title, as the tournament marked yet another edition where the influence of the Fab Four continues to fade. The last man standing from the iconic group, Novak Djokovic, lost in straight sets to Sinner in the semi-finals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wimbledon viewership rises despite no Nadal, Federer That, however, had little impact on the viewership numbers for the Gentlemen's final, which also included two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz. The summit clash that ended in four sets averaged 2.9 million viewers on ESPN, a 31% increase compared to 2024. It was also the most viewed final since 2019. It's not just the men's final, but other matches have also broken new ground. As per ESPN, the women's semi-finals, including USA's Amanda Anisimova beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, had the highest viewership since 2015. In 2015, Serena Williams was still a part of the top four. The men's semi-finals average 1.31 million views, again the highest since 2019. The Ladies' Championship was won by Swiatek in a lopsided contest against Anisimova as she won 6-0, 6-0. She is Wimbledon's eighth consecutive first-time women's champion since Williams won her seventh and final title in 2016. Nonetheless, her final match witnessed a rise of 18% in viewership as compared to 2024. Interestingly, the first day of Wimbledon 2025 set the record for the most viewed Wimbledon Day One on ESPN. Meanwhile, Wimbledon set a new record with 69.3 million online requests on BBC Sport between 30 June and 13 July, the highest digital engagement ever recorded for the tournament. 'This year's record-breaking digital figures for Wimbledon are testament to the huge appeal of the sport amongst audiences and the power of digital innovation to bring both new and existing fans closer to the action than ever before. The way people are following Wimbledon is changing but that is exciting for us as we look to tell the best stories in different ways,' Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD French and Australia Opens witness similar growth The growing viewership numbers for tennis matches are not just limited to Wimbledon. The French Open final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka earlier this year was the most-watched women's final at Roland Garros since 2016. The men's final in which Alcaraz won a marathon five-setter against Sinner attracted 1.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched men's final since Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 finals (1.9 million). The Australian Open 2025 had also registered record-breaking attendance numbers, as 1,218,831 fans attended the tournament, the most in history. If anything, the rapidly growing stadium attendance and record-breaking Grand Slam viewership numbers point to one clear truth: tennis fans are ready to move on from the Fab Four and embrace a new generation of stars. For those who feared the sport would suffer in popularity after the retirements of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and with Novak Djokovic losing his grip, those concerns have proven unfounded.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Meghan and Kate: Feud that tore the ‘Fab Four' apart
Tensions between Princess Kate and Meghan Markle were apparent from their very first meeting. But as their husbands clashed, the inevitable rift deepened into a full-blown feud. A palace insider has recounted stories of the unravelling of the relationship between the so-called 'Fab Four', which began with statements made in the press by Meghan about Princess Kate's behaviour behind closed doors, and her lack of familiarity on social occasions between the couples. Royal biographer Tina Brown claims the media comparisons between the two women after Prince Harry introduced Meghan to Prince William and Princess Kate became a sticking point for the two women. 'Now that Meghan was a feminist hero, tensions with the more senior royal beauty, the (former) Duchess of Cambridge, offered an irresistible story to the tabloids, who always love to stoke a rivalry between women,' Ms Brown wrote in the Palace Papers.. The initial meeting was reported in the press to have gone well; however, in the Sussexes' Netflix documentary series, Meghan recalled that she felt uncomfortable about the level of formality that remained between the two. 'Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time, I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot. Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn't realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits,' Meghan said. 'I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and think, 'okay, we can relax now'. 'But that formality carries over on both sides, and that was surprising to me.' Ms Brown said Meghan became concerned that she had an immediate personality clash with Princess Kate and that she found her to be 'cool' towards Prince Harry's partner. 'Meghan later said she found Kate to be cool of temperament, but that's likely because Meghan is a 'gusher', who hugged even the guards outside Kensington Palace,' Ms Brown said via reports in the Daily Mail. 'Kate is not a woman given to spontaneous rapport. She'd avoided recruiting new girlfriends to her inner circle/slumber party list since Marlborough and St Andrew's. 'Preoccupied with two young children and public duty, Kate had no serious reason to see the latest and most glamorous of Harry's string of girlfriends as a potential threat'. Just as in the days when Princess Diana's new updo upstaged the Queen at the opening of Parliament, the increasing media comparisons of Meghan and Kate - invariably casting Kate as dull and dutiful - began to inject tension. Soon after Prince Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in 2017, the former actress spoke glowingly about her relationship with Princess Kate and her efforts to welcome her into the family. 'Catherine has been absolutely amazing, as has William as well, you know, fantastic support,' Meghan said. But as the wedding day approached, the pair were to clash over royal protocol, and the length of the bridesmaid dresses to be worn on the big day. Reports filtered out that the two had a heated exchange, and Meghan made Kate cry during the argument over the outfits in 2018. In his book, Revenge, Tom Bower claimed unnamed sources told him Princess Kate and Meghan disagreed over the length of Princess Charlotte's hemline and the fit of her dress. The Duchess of Sussex played down the disagreement during her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying 'she (Kate) was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised. And she brought me flowers'.
West Australian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Princess Kate, Meghan Markle's disagreements that drove Prince William and Prince Harry further apart
Tensions between Princess Kate and Meghan Markle were apparent from their very first meeting. But as their husbands clashed, the inevitable rift deepened into a full-blown feud. A palace insider has recounted stories of the unravelling of the relationship between the so-called 'Fab Four', which began with statements made in the press by Meghan about Princess Kate's behaviour behind closed doors, and her lack of familiarity on social occasions between the couples. Royal biographer Tina Brown claims the media comparisons between the two women after Prince Harry introduced Meghan to Prince William and Princess Kate became a sticking point for the two women. 'Now that Meghan was a feminist hero, tensions with the more senior royal beauty, the (former) Duchess of Cambridge, offered an irresistible story to the tabloids, who always love to stoke a rivalry between women,' Ms Brown wrote in the Palace Papers.. The initial meeting was reported in the press to have gone well; however, in the Sussexes' Netflix documentary series, Meghan recalled that she felt uncomfortable about the level of formality that remained between the two. 'Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time, I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot. Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn't realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits,' Meghan said. 'I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and think, 'okay, we can relax now'. 'But that formality carries over on both sides, and that was surprising to me.' Ms Brown said Meghan became concerned that she had an immediate personality clash with Princess Kate and that she found her to be 'cool' towards Prince Harry's partner. 'Meghan later said she found Kate to be cool of temperament, but that's likely because Meghan is a 'gusher', who hugged even the guards outside Kensington Palace,' Ms Brown said via reports in the Daily Mail. 'Kate is not a woman given to spontaneous rapport. She'd avoided recruiting new girlfriends to her inner circle/slumber party list since Marlborough and St Andrew's. 'Preoccupied with two young children and public duty, Kate had no serious reason to see the latest and most glamorous of Harry's string of girlfriends as a potential threat'. Just as in the days when Princess Diana's new updo upstaged the Queen at the opening of Parliament, the increasing media comparisons of Meghan and Kate - invariably casting Kate as dull and dutiful - began to inject tension. Soon after Prince Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in 2017, the former actress spoke glowingly about her relationship with Princess Kate and her efforts to welcome her into the family. 'Catherine has been absolutely amazing, as has William as well, you know, fantastic support,' Meghan said. But as the wedding day approached, the pair were to clash over royal protocol, and the length of the bridesmaid dresses to be worn on the big day. Reports filtered out that the two had a heated exchange, and Meghan made Kate cry during the argument over the outfits in 2018. In his book, Revenge, Tom Bower claimed unnamed sources told him Princess Kate and Meghan disagreed over the length of Princess Charlotte's hemline and the fit of her dress. The Duchess of Sussex played down the disagreement during her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying 'she (Kate) was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised. And she brought me flowers'.
India.com
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Not Rohit Sharma, Or Joe Root, Kane Williamson Calls This Star Greatest All-Format Player In Past 15 Years
Kane Williamson has paid the ultimate tribute to Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, calling him the 'greatest all-format player' of the past 15 years. The former New Zealand captain, who shares a long-standing mutual respect with Kohli, reflected on their careers and friendship in a recent conversation with Sky Sports. Often compared for their consistency and leadership during a golden era of modern cricket, Williamson and Kohli have been part of the so-called "Fab Four" along with Joe Root and Steve Smith. However, Williamson ended the debate with his clear opinion. According his the Kiwi there is no player who has been this consistent since 2010 and also reflected on his friendship with Virat. 'Virat is probably the greatest all-format player we've seen in the last 15 years,' Williamson told Sky Sports. "Probably the greatest all-format player we've seen for the last 15 years" Kane Williamson Virat Kohli — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 12, 2025 He acknowledged Kohli's ability to thrive in India's intense cricketing environment, stating, 'He had his own challenges in an absolute cricket-obsessed country, and he was at the top of the tree.' Williamson also emphasized the bond the two share beyond cricket. 'It's a great relationship in slightly different ways. We've stayed in touch in a lot of ways as well. But, yeah, it was not really a competitive thing. You're just in the team and you want to compete as a team.' The New Zealand batter elaborated further on their personal rapport, saying, 'It was quite funny, just a full circle. That's the other part. We're not just playing cricket but you are living lives in a parallel way in a huge percentage. It's the different things you experience as you get older, so you do connect on similar levels.' Kohli, who retired from Test cricket in May this year, remains a towering figure in the sport. Williamson, meanwhile, continues to play internationally across formats, though he stepped down from New Zealand's white-ball captaincy and opted out of a central contract last year. Despite these changes, he has reiterated his commitment to the international game. Their careers have been defined not just by statistical milestones but by the way they've handled immense expectations and continued to evolve both as players and individuals.
