Latest news with #JamesHolt
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Harry and Meghan's right-hand man appears to extend an olive branch to two senior royal household staff including William's aide Jason Knauf who exposed Meghan Markle 'bullying' allegations
He is the royal aide who Prince Harry suggested was part of a Buckingham Palace plot to 'gaslight' and smear his wife by publicly accusing Meghan Markle of bullying Palace staff out of their jobs. But after the Duke of Sussex said he wanted reconciliation with his family, MailOnline can reveal that Harry and Meghan's right-hand man James Holt has offered an olive branch to their apparent nemesis Jason Knauf. Mr Holt, a British communications expert, has liked several Royal Family-related LinkedIn posts over the past week including praising Mr Knauf's work with the Prince of Wales. He has also repeatedly celebrated the work of a senior aide to King Charles, Helen Cook, at a time when a deft diplomatic mission is needed to try to repair relations between the warring Windsors. MailOnline understands Mr Holt may have recently moved back to the UK from California for family reasons - five years on from Megxit when he moved to North America with Meghan and Harry. Jason Knauf, who is CEO of Prince William's Earthshot Prize, may have been surprised to see his Sussex counterpart saluting his work given what Meghan and Harry are said to think of him and his boss, the future king. Jason was once exceptionally close to the exiled couple. The New Zealander was one of just two people Harry told he was proposing to Meghan before they fell out over the Duchess' alleged poor treatment of staff. He has been dubbed the ultimate 'Sussex Survivor' and he quit the royal household after accusing the Duchess of Sussex of mistreating two colleagues and undermining their confidence. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has always denied the allegations of bullying, which she described as an orchestrated smear campaign against her. Mr Knauf, who made the claims and stands by them, took to LinkedIn to hail London Climate Action Week and trail how his boss Prince William, the future king, was bringing together 'visionary leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and investors to supercharge the rollout of solutions to our planet's urgent challenges'. James Holt was among those who 'liked' the post, which automatically shared it on his own feed. Days later James, Executive Director of The Archewell Foundation - the Sussexes' charity - liked two posts by Helen King, assistant private secretary to Harry's father King Charles III. He even 'celebrated' a post showing the monarch marking 25 years of the Royal Drawing School. MailOnline has asked Mr Holt to comment. He declined, as did a spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. But a source close to Mr Holt said that the King's aide Helen Cook is an old friend and colleague who worked with in Downing Street. With regard to Mr Knauf, James was one of the Royal Foundation team that helped design Earthshot and he was being supportive of a good cause. It came weeks after Prince Harry's High Court defeat over taxpayer-funded bodyguards where he went on the BBC and made a plea for reconciliation with his family. He claimed his father was not talking to him because of the legal battle. Meghan has been haunted by claims she bullied royal staff - and Mr Knauf has repeatedly stood by his claims. In February Jason insisted he 'wouldn't change a thing' and has 'no regrets' after he accused Meghan Markle of bullying staff 'out of the royal household'. In his first TV interview since Jason stood by his complaint about the alleged 'totally unacceptable' behaviour of the Duchess of Sussex that leaked just before the couple's Oprah interview in 2021. 'The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights', he had written in an 2018 email where he accused Meghan of 'bullying' and undermining the confidence of two staff. Harry later addressed the bullying claims in the Sussexes' Netflix docu-series, saying it was false and all the result of him and Meghan speaking truth to power. 'I can't think what my mum went through all those years ago by herself', he said. 'To see this institutional gaslighting that happens, it's extraordinary. And that's why everything that has happened to us was always going to happen to us because if you speak truth to power, that's how they respond'. Jason quit the royal household in 2021 but in April this year Prince William made him CEO of his beloved Earthshot Prize. Mr Knauf, a New Zealander who worked as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's press secretary, appeared in a new documentary for 60 Minutes Australia, Where There's A Will - broadcast four months ago. In 2018, he had sent an internal email raising concerns about Meghan's alleged poor treatment of staff in the royal family, which was later leaked after Megxit. 'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable,' he allegedly wrote. 'The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.' He also said the estrangement between Prince Harry and Prince William has been 'hard and sad' but added that William has chosen to be 'private' about it. Jason was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in 2023 - showing how good the relationship still is. And then he returned to work for William this year. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has always denied the allegations of bullying, which she described an orchestrated smear campaign against her. Harry and Meghan's spokesman said at the time: 'Let's just call this what it is-a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.' There was also a statement to the media calling the bullying claims defamatory. Buckingham Palace launched an internal review into the bullying claims, but the findings were never made public. Prior to their disagreement, Jason said he'd had 'great times' working with the Sussexes, and said their 2018 Windsor wedding was a 'magical experience'. He said: 'We had lots of great times, working on their wedding was an amazing magical experience and I wish them absolutely all the best with their lovely family.' Harry himself admitted in Spare that Jason was one of only two aides whom he told in advance that he planned to propose to Meghan. James Holt is one of Prince Harry's longest-serving team members, having led communications for the Royal Foundation from October 2017, when it was run by Harry along with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Mr Holt, who has previously worked for the Liberal Democrats, also acted as Harry and Meghan Markle's UK spokesman and took on the role of executive director of the Archewell Foundation in March 2020. He has a BA degree in journalism from the University of Lincoln, and became head of media for the Lib Dems in 2010, a role in which he stayed until 2013. Mr Holt also worked as special adviser to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg before becoming his head of communications. And he took on the voluntary position of communications director for Pride in London between 2016 and 2017. After Megxit he moved to the US with the Sussexes and had become their most trusted aide.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Air ambulance lands and police surround shopping centre after incident
An air ambulance landed in Ashton-under-Lyne on Monday afternoon (April 21) with police surrounding a shopping centre following an incident. Numerous ambulances and police vehicles were seen parked along Katherine Street, a dead-end road beside the Ladysmith Shopping Centre and Arcades Shopping Centre, at around 4pm. Witnesses reported that a car, which appeared to have been 'followed by police', then hit another parked vehicle and a bollard at the roadside. READ MORE: Call 999 if you see missing man thought to be driving his van READ MORE: Lorry driver fined £600 for driving too much Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE A number of witnesses also said a person was injured after being struck and was seen being taken into the back of an ambulance. An air ambulance helicopter was also scrambled to the scene, and was seen landing nearby, close to the Asda supermarket on Monday afternoon. This is the moment an air ambulance landed near an incident in Ashton-under-Lyne today @MENnewsdesk — James Holt - M.E.N (@jameshjourno) April 21, 2025 "It was outside the Costa Coffee," one person said. "The arcades were also closed. There was somebody carried away on a stretcher into an ambulance." Another said they heard a 'big bang' at around 4pm. "While walking through we heard a big bang, we were scared and ran into the Arcade," they said. "Police had been chasing a black car which hit a blue post. There was also a lady on the ground. I was really scared." Terence Thornton, who had been in the car with his friends going to Superdrug, told of the moment a BMW came 'speeding' past him at a set of traffic lights, followed by police vehicles. "Seconds before the lights went green, this BMW came beaming past me with the police behind," he said. "We looked further down and there must have been at least 20 cops and armed police. It looked like the car had crashed into the bollard. "I'm so glad the lights had been on red, or we could've been taken out by the high-speed pursuit." Pictures and videos from the scene showed a number of police vehicles and ambulances in attendance with a cordon put in place on Katherine Street. Further details have not been confirmed. Greater Manchester Police were contacted for a statement. --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Forensics at scene after man found with stab wounds and rushed to hospital
Forensics in white suits were seen scouring an area after a man was found with stab wounds and rushed to hospital in Tameside on Wednesday afternoon (April 2). Police and paramedics raced to the scene of the incident on Yew Tree Road in Denton at around 3.10pm. Witnesses reported seeing 'blood in the road' before a man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital for treatment. A scene was put in place with residents unable to leave or return to their homes in vehicles throughout the evening. The man's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Images from the scene showed a heavy police presence in attendance, with the residential road taped off in both directions. CSI teams in white suits were taking images and conducting fingertip searches. Here is a video of the police scene on Yew Tree Road in Denton this officers and police remain at the scene following a serious incident.@MENnewsdesk — James Holt - M.E.N (@jameshjourno) April 2, 2025 No arrests have been made in connection with the incident and enquires remain ongoing. Police said there is no wider risk to the public. A spokesperson for the force said: "At around 3.10pm this afternoon (2 April), officers responded to reports of a male with stab injuries at an address on Yew Tree Road, Denton. "A man in his 20s was taken to hospital, with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. A cordon remains in place and enquiries are ongoing. "There is no wider risk to the public. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 2142 of 02/04/25." --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Another moorland fire breaks out near Oldham after 'hottest day of year'
Another moorland fire broke out near Oldham on Sunday evening after the 'hottest day of the year' so far. Fire crews raced to the incident at around 6pm and remained at the scene throughout the evening. Pictures and videos taken off Holmfirth Road showed the scorched ground and fire raging on near Diggle and Dovestones on Sunday (March 9). The cause of the blaze has not been confirmed, but the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines were called to the moor to dampen the flames. READ MORE: Warning over rogue 'meet and greet' parking firms plaguing Manchester Airport READ MORE: Police issue warning after three people die in Blackpool Videos shared with the M.E.N show a moorland fire this evening near Diggle in Moore@MENnewsdesk — James Holt - M.E.N (@jameshjourno) March 9, 2025 The Met Office announced that Sunday had been the hottest day of 2025 so far in the UK, with temperatures reaching between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius across Greater Manchester. It comes just days after another moorland fire broke out in the same area on Wednesday (March 5), with local residents urged to keep their windows and doors shut as plumes of smoke covered the area. Dramatic pictures last week showed a huge wall of orange flames, with a sea of blue lights towards the bottom of the hill in the Huddersfield Road and Holmfirth Road areas. On Sunday, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'Just before 6.30pm this evening (Sunday 9th March), two fire engines from Mossley and Stalybridge fire station were call about reports of a fire near the moor off Holmfirth Road, Greenfield. 'Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighter are using fire beaters and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around forty minutes and are still at the scene.' The GMFRS wildfire campaign (Be Moor Aware) aims to prevent moorland fires and wildfires, and to reduce the impact which they have on the service, communities, businesses and the environment. Members of the public are asked to 'act responsibly' on the moors and not start fires, BBQs or use fireworks. People are asked to dipose of all litter and not discard used cigarettes. Consequences of starting a fire can result in a fine and/or prison
