Beauty

Kate Middleton’s New Hair Sparks a Midlife Hair Trend

Every time Kate Middleton steps out, women around the world take notice of her chic outfits, effortless grace and gorgeous hair. For years, she’s rocked long brunette hair. So when the 43-year-old Princess of Wales updated her hairstyle earlier this week, debuting gorgeous long, blonde waves, the world was stunned. Her new look has inspired […]

What to know about Queen Elizabeth’s pearl necklace 

In July 1947, Elizabeth was seen out with her soon-to-be husband Philip Mountbatten. She was wearing a below-the-knee gown, modest heels, a long jacket and a three-layer pearl necklace. It wasn’t exactly a new look, since the Queen favored these sorts of styles back then, but it was the first time she was spotted in her signature pearl necklace. 

“Pearls are traditional for Queens going back one thousand years—there has never been a Queen who didn’t wear pearls,” Leslie Field, author of The Queen’s Jewels, told People magazine in 2020. “They were rare, beautiful and lustrous and the more you wear them, the more lustrous they become.”

“It’s the necklace that she feels is appropriate—she wants to wear pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her,” the author continued. “She wouldn’t wear a diamond necklace to go to a charity lunch—it is simply traditional that a lady would wear pearls during the day.”

And it seems as though that tradition has continued, since at a recent party celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, both Princess Kate (Elizabeth’s granddaughter-in-law) and Princess Anne (Elizabeth’s daughter) were seen wearing a three layer pearl necklace. Queen Camilla (Elizabeth’s daughter-in-law) was also seen in pearls, but hers weren’t the same style as Queen Elizabeth’s signature strands. 

It’s unclear where exactly the pearls came from, but there are rumors that the source is the late queen herself, who was famous for gifting the jewelry to family members. 

“She gave each of her daughters and granddaughters a pearl every year on their birthday so that by the time they came of age at 18, they would have enough pearls for a necklace,” Field said. 

https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/royals/princess-diana-hairdresser-reveals-her-quirky-drugstore-hair-secret-exclusive

Princess Diana’s Hairdresser, Richard Dalton, Reveals the Secret Behind Her Iconic Hair—Including a Drugstore Favorite

As the most photographed woman of her era, Princess Diana’s style was widely reported on, and one of the most immediately recognizable components of her glamorous looks was her majestic blonde hair. Diana’s voluminous, sculptural hairdos defined the ’80s, and countless women attempted to channel her signature mix of contemporary charm and classic elegance. The […]

A look at Kate’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth 

When Kate married Prince William in 2011, she was welcomed into the family with open arms. The queen loved her, and the two could often be found smiling when they were around one another. 

“[Elizabeth] could see [Kate] had all the qualities of a future Queen,” Russell Myers, author of William and Catherine, The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, told People in February 2026. 

Kate and Elizabeth remained close until the latter tragically passed away in September 2022 at age 96. 

They did have a good relationship. Part of that relationship was mentoring and the Queen being able to pass on her advice, her values and her guidance,” journalist Katie Nicholl told The Royal Observer in 2022. 

Queen Elizabeth was also close with Kate’s children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. And according to USA Today, Louis offered great words of advice following Elizabeth’s death. 

“At least Grannie is with Great Grandpa now,”  he said.

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Entertainment

Kate Middleton Will Be Married 12 Years This Month — Here’s a Look at Her Life Before Becoming a Royal

Life before the crown.

How was the Duchess of Kent a royal?

Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley, she would go on to marry the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The duo met while he was stationed at Catterick Camp, military barracks in northern England. The couple got engaged in 1961 and married the same year. Over the years, they welcomed three children: George, Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor and Lord Nicholas Windsor.

Entertainment

The Story Behind Prince William & Kate Middleton’s 'Forever Home' Move

If you’ve kept up with the royal family over the last few years, you know that they’ve dealt with their fair share of heartache. Back in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. In February of 2024, it was revealed that her son, King Charles III, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form […]

The Duchess of Kent was candid about her personal struggles

In 1977, the Duchess of Kent and her husband endured a personal tragedy when she delivered a stillborn son at full-term. In 1997, the royal opened up about her experience, showing a human side to her and providing women around the world with a sense of comfort, knowing they weren’t alone in such tragedies. “It had the most devastating effect on me,” she shared with The Telegraph that year. “I had no idea how devastating such a thing could be to any woman. It has made me extremely understanding of others who suffer a stillbirth.”

Entertainment

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana: 12 Kate Quotes That Are Just Like What the Late Princess Would’ve Said

They share more than just a great fashion sense — both women have also shared some beautiful words

The Duchess of Kent was an active member of the family—and had a career of her own

The Duchess of Kent never shied away from royal duties, and over the years, built quite a career for herself. For several years, she presented the Ladies’ Singles Trophy at Wimbledon. A staunch lover of music, it was back when when she was a child that she was first introduced to the craft, honing her piano, violin and singing skills. This love of music stayed with her most of her life, and throughout the 90s, the Duchess of Kent broke the royal mold when she got a job as a primary school teacher. She spent 13 years teaching music to children—an experience she held dear. She shied away from the fanfare associated with her royal title and was said to simply go by Katharine Kent, Kate or Mrs. Kent. She combined her love of music with her love of helping others with the creation of Future Talent, an organization that aims to provide children with the means to pursue their musical ambitions. She is remembered fondly by her husband, children and grandchildren.

The man behind Diana’s most famous hairstyles, Richard Dalton, first met her before she became the Princess of Wales, and worked with her for over a decade. Given Diana’s constant public appearances, Dalton styled her hair nearly every day, and became one of her closest confidants in the many years they spent together.

Dalton and his friend Renae Plant, the founder of the Princess Diana Museum and one of the foremost collectors of Diana’s clothing and accessories, just coauthored a coffee table book, It’s All About The Hair: My Decade With Diana, H.R.H. Princess of Wales. On August 30, just a day before the 28th anniversary of Diana’s tragic death, Dalton and Plant will take to the stage for a special event at Richmond, Virginia’s Dominion Energy Center at Mooney Hall, where they’ll share stories and show Diana’s beloved Black Sheep sweater, which has never been displayed to the public, and the Falcon Dress, a 1986 design that only Dalton saw her wear.

Ahead of their event, Richard Dalton and Renae Plant sat down with Woman’s World to discuss how some of Princess Diana’s iconic hairstyles came together.

Entertainment

The Story Behind Prince William & Kate Middleton’s 'Forever Home' Move

If you’ve kept up with the royal family over the last few years, you know that they’ve dealt with their fair share of heartache. Back in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. In February of 2024, it was revealed that her son, King Charles III, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form […]

Becoming Princess Diana’s hairdresser

Dalton was trained by Antoine de Paris, who was known as the first celebrity hairdresser and worked with Princess Grace, the Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, and he first met Diana when she was a teen. “I was the manager of a salon and her sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, would come in on a Friday and have their hair blown out, as Sloane Rangers did in those days,” he recalls. “Diana would come in when she was 17 and still in school. I asked my assistant to look after her and he would blow her hair out. He struck up a friendship with her and actually did her hair for her wedding, which had nothing to do with me, but I did tell him right till 4 in the morning what to do and how to put a tiara on.”

Dalton soon began working more frequently with the Princess. “After that, I went to Australia,” he says. “My assistant went for one week because his wife had just had a baby, and Diana was obviously very against him leaving the baby for too long. I went for five weeks. I’d leave the hotel at 5 a.m., and it would be an hour’s journey. I’d do her hair at 7 a.m., and once I did her hair, I’d go back in the car to the plane and we took off at 9 a.m. She was always close behind me, and everything was scheduled down to the second.”

Beauty

Princess Diana Style: How to Get the Looks

There’s no denying that Princess Diana was—and still is considered to be—an icon and cultural phenomenon. From entering into the Royal Family at just 20 years old to her admirable advocacy and philanthropic work for AIDS, Princess Diana truly was America’s princess (despite the Royal Family being based in the U.K.). She was deeply beloved […]

During this trip, Dalton and Plant also unknowingly had their first encounter. “That trip to Australia that Richard went on in 1983 was such a coincidence, because I actually met Diana during that time,” says Plant. “I was a 12-year-old on a field trip, and I was enamored by the Princess. When I met her, Richard had done her hair that morning. She shook my hand, and I was awestruck.” After their fateful meeting, Plant picked up a small clay platypus that Diana had dropped on the ground, leading her to eventually start a charitable foundation called the Princess & the Platypus.

What Princess Diana was really like

“I saw Diana pretty much every day for 12 years, and every day was different,” says Dalton. “If she was in Scotland and William and Harry needed haircuts, I’d fly up to Scotland. William loved when I used to do his hair because he’d get to watch extra television,” he says with a chuckle. “He’d sit perfectly still, glued to the TV while having his hair cut.”

“Sometimes I’d only have 15 minutes to blow-dry her hair and I was out, like when she went to the British Embassy to see Ronald and Nancy Reagan. I had to plug in my equipment and get her hair done quickly, and that was the night she danced with John Travolta while wearing a beautiful midnight blue gown. It all depended on the occasion,” Dalton says. He even sometimes found himself doing her hair while on a plane. “There’d be turbulence, and I used to think, ‘I hope I don’t stab her with this hat pin!’”

The monarchy isn’t exactly known for big laughs, but Plant says, “She had a wicked sense of humor. Not many people talk about how funny Diana was.” Dalton recalls receiving hilarious letters from the Princess, and says, “She used to pull pranks when we were on the plane. Sir John Riddle, her private secretary, would be there, and she’d take fake vomit and put it in his hand or in his briefcase, or she’d put a fake poop in the middle of the aisle.”

He continues, “A lot of times she’d say, ‘Richard, you can’t go out tonight.’ I’d ask why, and she’d say, ‘Dynasty is on and you’ve got to tell me all about it in the morning, because I’ve got to go to a boring reception.’ We’d always play Dynasty. She’d ask me to pass her her jewel box, and she’d play Krystle Carrington. We had fun times.” Diana may have been a Princess, but she was also a modern woman who appreciated the pop culture of her time.

“There are thousands of pictures of Diana, but she was incredibly beautiful in real life,” Dalton says. “Some mornings I would look at her and think, ‘Oh, my God.’ She was beyond beautiful both inside and out. She was incredible.”

When Princess Diana upstaged the Queen

As the People’s Princess, Diana didn’t always follow Royal conventions, and this extended to her hair. “We did the State Opening of Parliament, and I had to laugh, because the Queen was very upset. She was upstaged, and people said no Princess of Wales had ever grown her hair that long,” Dalton says. “She wanted to wear it up and have a change, and it was the first time she had that style. I asked her how many times she had changed her hair in the last 10 years, and she went, ‘Oh, what’s the matter? Can the Princess not change her hair?’ It was a grand occasion. Where else would you wear a white evening gown and a tiara in the afternoon?”

“If we ever intended on doing something different, we cut her hair probably every other day, just a quarter of an inch, so she could have her hair shorter, but none of the press noticed it,” Dalton notes, adding that he also liked to occasionally put her hair in a French twist, a style he learned from Antoine de Paris.

Stolen flowers and unexpected jewels

One of Dalton’s favorite looks (seen on the cover of his book, no less!) was created on the fly. “We were in Bangkok. I asked what we were going to do. We always did something quirky, like when she wore a white dress with red spots to match the Japanese flag when we were in Japan,” he explains. “She wanted orchids in her hair and asked where to get them, and I said, ‘Leave it to me.’ I’d seen some beautiful arrangements in the foyer of the hotel, so I went down, and when no one was looking, I ‘borrowed’ them. I didn’t steal them! She was wearing a beautiful pink and purple Catherine Walker sash dress. I saw some footage, and from her face you can tell she felt amazed.”

Another striking look came about in an effort to draw attention away from a beauty mishap. Dalton remembers, “She was sunburned on the back of her neck, and she had this beautiful emerald choker that was Queen Mary’s. I suggested we do a headband. She asked how I would do it, and I needed to get knicker elastic, which is like a quarter-inch elastic that grannies would put in their knickers to keep them up. I got a piece of the elastic and put it on that way, and she ended up wearing the emerald necklace on her forehead.” “No one in the Royal Family had ever worn jewels like that,” Plant points out. “It was such a sensational fashion moment.”

Surprisingly, Diana wasn’t a big fan of wearing tiaras. “The tiara used to hurt her. You see pictures of her holding her head because it killed her,” Dalton explains. After one too many cumbersome tiaras, the hairstylist realized knicker elastics would also come in handy for making them more comfortable on her head. Dalton experimented with the elastic and finally found a solution, recalling, “I put it back on her head, and she said, ‘I don’t know what you did, but that’s perfect.’ She never complained about it again.”“Sometimes when I see Princess Catherine in a tiara, I wonder if she has a knicker elastic in the back!” he says.

The drugstore staple Princess Diana relied on

You might think that Dalton relied on expensive products to create Diana’s hairstyles, but this wasn’t actually the case. “She loved Elnett,” he says, and this old-school L’Oréal hairspray has been an inexpensive drugstore staple since 1960. “I remember once we were in a boat, and she looked down and saw a can of Elnett bobbing in the canal and said, ‘I hope Richard hasn’t fallen in!’” he says with a smile.

“Normally we’d use heated rollers and then once I got the style in place, I sprayed it with Elnett,” Dalton says. “I did that for her first official pictures with Harry. She loved big hair, and the look got branded as ‘Dynasty Di.’” Dalton would also do treatments on Diana’s hair, and remembered young Prince William complaining about the chemical smell, but the stylist would do whatever it took to make Diana look as fabulous as possible.

Princess Diana’s legacy of service and style

Nearly 30 years after her death, Princess Diana seems more popular than ever, as she continues to be a frequent subject for movies and TV, and has won a new following of young fans on social media. “She had this magnetic gift that was so powerful. She had humanitarianism, kindness and compassion,” says Plant. “She was way ahead of the time when she took her gloves off to shake hands with AIDS patients. That was huge, because people thought that if you did that you were going to die. She took all these stigmas away from people, and it came from a genuine place. It wasn’t staged. She was only Princess for 16 years before she passed, which was a really short period of time, especially given the gravity of what she was able to accomplish around the world.”

“She truly was something else,” Dalton agrees. “I think her fashion is timeless, and it’s wonderful to see Princess Catherine doing a slight twist on her looks.” “I’ve seen a couple of pictures where she’s got the tiara and her hair looks absolutely perfect, and I’ll think, ‘Wow, I did that!’ Every morning, I’d say how fortunate I was to be doing her hair, and she’d just joke, ‘Shut up!’” he says. Clearly, the Princess and her hairdresser had a special relationship filled with humor and heart, and her hairstyles continue to inspire decades later.

Entertainment

The Queen Would Be 97 Today — Here’s What’s Happened for Kate and Will Since Her Passing

What the future holds.

Inside Forest Lodge: ballroom, tennis court and more

In 2022, the family settled down in Adelaide Cottage, which, in comparison to other royal lodgings, is a modest accommodation consisting of four bedrooms. While living in Adelaide Cottage, the family had no live-in staff, and their proximity to both the Queen at the time, as well as Kate’s parents, was a plus. Now, Prince William and Princess Kate are preparing to say their goodbyes to the home they lived in throughout the past few years and get ready for a fresh start in a new home they hope to be in for a while. Forest Lodge consists of eight bedrooms, as well as a tennis court and ballroom. 

Entertainment

Kate Middleton Will Be Married 12 Years This Month — Here’s a Look at Her Life Before Becoming a Royal

Life before the crown.

The emotional reasons behind the royal move

Being that their children are already 12, 10 and 7 years old, many have wondered why the family didn’t settle down somewhere sooner. However, sources have claimed that it’s the events of the last few years that have taken a toll on them, urging them to start fresh somewhere. 

“Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years, while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage, there have been some really difficult times,” a royal source said to NBC News. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind. This is a move for the long term. They see it as their forever home.”

Wellness

Kate Middleton Opens up About Life After Cancer: ‘It’s Really Difficult'

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, recently gave an update on her health journey following her battle with cancer, explaining that it’s been a difficult adjustment. The 43-year-old returned to her public duties on July 2 with a visit to the wellbeing garden at the Colchester Hospital in Essex, England. Here we reveal what she’s […]

Kate Middleton’s health update amid the transition

Juggling their responsibilities as royals, parents, spouses, as well as the stresses and fears associated with Kate’s cancer battle, it’s safe to say it’s been a difficult few years for the royal family. “It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” Kate shared on X at the start of this year. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”

In July, Kate visited the Colchester Hospital in Essex, where she got candid about her recovery. “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult,” said Kate, as reported by People. 

Queen Máxima and her husband King Willem-Alexander welcomed world leaders from 32 countries, including President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at The Hague’s World Forum on Tuesday, July 24. Máxima certainly made a splash with her look, but it wasn’t the first time she’s done things out of the ordinary for a world leader. 

The photo of the NATO leaders shows Máxima standing out in a bright color amongst a sea of blue and black suits, which has had people talking. However, she had a full smile on her face during the summit.

Entertainment

The Queen Would Be 97 Today — Here’s What’s Happened for Kate and Will Since Her Passing

What the future holds.

About Queen Máxima

The queen is often remembered for her style, as well as her charisma and personality and she was once dubbed Europe’s most interesting royal. She is also known not to shy away from the tough subjects like immigration and she was one of the earliest advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.

Her casual approach to royalty has received some wide eyes as well, as she and her husband chose not to have the typical coronation ceremony when crowned queen and king. They also chose to send their three daughters—Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane— to public school, rather than the usual choice of private schools.  

Máxima met her husband, King Willem-Alexander, back in 1999 at a party in Seville, Spain. At the time, she was working as an investment banker in New York City, and she had no idea that he was a prince, as he only introduced himself as Alexander—until later. They decided to meet again in New York, which is where he told her he was the heir to the Dutch throne and the rest is history.

Entertainment

70 Years On the Throne — How the Queen’s Coronation Made History In More Ways Than One

It was a remarkable feat for the Queen.

The couple married in 2002 after dating for about three years and they soon welcomed three daughters together. Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, was born on December 7, 2003, Princess Alexia of the Netherlands was born on June 26, 2005 and Princess Ariane of the Netherlands was welcomed on April 10, 2007. 

Máxima and Willem-Alexander eventually became the King and Queen of the Netherlands on April 30, 2013, after the abdication of Willem’s mother, Beatrix of the Netherlands. She gave up the throne at age 75 because she believed it was time for a new generation to lead her people.

Meghan Markle’s baby momma dance 

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, kicked off her four-year-old daughter’s birthday with two heartfelt Instagram posts. Meghan Markle shared a rare, front-facing photo of Lilibet and herself cuddling on a boat captioned, “Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all those sending love and celebrating her special day!”  

Meghan Markle also posted two touching photos of Prince Harry and their daughter, writing, “The sweetest bond to watch unfold. Daddy’s little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!”  

But the birthday shout-outs didn’t end there. The Duchess also released a video of a candid moment in Lilibet’s delivery room, captioned: “Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!” 

In the video, Meghan Markle is standing holding her bump until “The Baby Momma Dance” by Starrkeisha, a popular song on TikTok at the time, begins to play. In seconds, the Duchess drops it low, mouthing the words “Been pregnant for way too long.” 

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A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan)

Prince Harry joins in on the fun too, dancing while looking at the camera first and then at his pregnant wife before leaving the screen. Meghan Markle reels him back in, and he appears again with the hood of his sweatshirt on. The couple proceeds to put their moves on display, getting low and smiling while doing it. 

While we don’t know for certain if it was “The Baby Momma Dance” that helped send the Duchess into labor, it’s safe to say that the fun moment between the couple brought joy to the delivery room, and our Instagram feeds! 

Entertainment

Meghan Markle Stuns in a Reworn Red Dress—Check Out the Side-by-Side!

Meghan Markle made a surprise public appearance at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Gala on Saturday, October 5—and if that wasn’t enough to catch the attention of the public, her dress choice certainly was. The Duchess of Sussex opted to recycle a former red dress of hers, causing the internet to go into a frenzy. […]

What Meghan and Harry are up to now in Montecito

Today, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry live in Montecito, California with their two children Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.  

On Mother’s Day this year, Meghan Markle posted a photo of her holding her kids, captioned “Happy Mother’s Day! Cheers to juggling it all with joy! And to these two gems – who still attempt to climb ‘mama mountain’, smother me with kisses, and make every day the most memorable adventure… being your mom is the greatest privilege of my life.” 

Along with being “mama mountain” to Archie and Lilibet, Meghan Markle also launched her own company, As Ever, and Netflix show “With Love, Meghan” this year. On her show, Meghan Markle talks about the importance of having her children in the kitchen, teaching them about her passion for cooking: “It’s so much a part of what I want them to learn and have these great formative memories of being there with me, and, ‘Oh, mama used to make this!”

Meghan certainly is “juggling it all with joy,” and maybe even some dance breaks!

Given the past scandal that has surrounded the royal clan, keeping an eye on what each member shares with the outside world is important, as they need to follow a strict code of conduct (they are the Royal family, after all). But on New Year’s Day 2025, the Duchess of Sussex made a return to the Meta-owned platform, sparking a major question: Why did Meghan Markle delete her Instagram and why has she decided to return?

Entertainment

Royal Family Crops Meghan Markle From Birthday Photo: See the Full Image

In March, the royal family faced scrutiny over a photoshopped image featuring Kate Middleton and her children.  It appears as though  they have done it again, but this time –  instead of adding elements to a photo – they decided to remove them, namely Prince Harry’s wife of six years, Meghan Markle. Keep scrolling for […]

Why Meghan Markle left Instagram and why she returned

On January 1, 2025, Markle returned to the social media platform and shared a sweet video of her running on a beach near her home in Montecito, California, captured by her husband. In the video, Markle is all smiles as she draws ‘2025’ in the sand with her finger. Since activating the account, Markle has amassed 808K followers and counting.

Prior to her engagement to Prince Harry, Markle was an avid social media user, often sharing updates on her life and acting career. But once her relationship became more serious and public, she stepped back from Instagram.

But despite her royal duties taking up most of her time, there was another reason Markle pulled back from the social spotlight: She was heavily bullied online by millions of people.

Entertainment

Meghan Markle Stuns in a Reworn Red Dress—Check Out the Side-by-Side!

Meghan Markle made a surprise public appearance at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Gala on Saturday, October 5—and if that wasn’t enough to catch the attention of the public, her dress choice certainly was. The Duchess of Sussex opted to recycle a former red dress of hers, causing the internet to go into a frenzy. […]

In a 2020 appearance on the podcast Teenager Therapy, Markle shared a disturbing statistic. “I’m told that in 2019 I was the most trolled person in the entire world, male or female,” she explained. “Now, eight months of that I wasn’t even visible, I was on maternity leave or with a baby. But what was able to just be manufactured and churned out, it’s almost unsurvivable, that’s so big, you can’t think of what that feels like.”

Markle continued, “The digital age has almost created a culture where if you don’t have anything cruel to say, don’t say anything at all. And that is fundamentally changing how we move through the world, how we connect with each other.”

Meghan Markle joins the royal family

The Duchess’ new account handle is simply @meghan, but everyone knows exactly who Meghan is. The former Suits star made waves when she and Prince Harry became engaged back in 2017, as everything about the Duchess seemed to spark a debate.

Once she became involved in royal duties and continued to experience significant online hate, Markle left social media. The criticism didn’t end once she left the platform, however. Markle and Prince Harry dealt with their own struggles as a new couple in a public light, with Markle undergoing mental health issues, causing them to pull back from their official royal duties in 2020.

Following their controversial decision, Markle and Prince Harry began to take on more commercialized projects, including their 2022 docu-series, Harry & Meghan.

If you’re interested in keeping up with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, check out her new Instagram page @Meghan!

Entertainment

Kate Middleton Wrote a Rare Public Letter as She Continues Her Cancer Recovery: What She Wrote

 The Princess of Wales addressed her absence from Trooping the Colour and offered a glimmer of hope about her cancer condition

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A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)

Royal Family health issues

Both Charles and Camilla have faced a series of health issues head-on over the last year, forcing them to step back from a handful of their duties throughout 2024. Early in the year, it was revealed that a form of cancer was identified in Charles after he underwent a procedure addressing an enlarged prostate, a condition that was reported to be benign. Though the specifics of his diagnosis and treatment were not publicly revealed, he took time away from his duties before resuming them in April. 

Entertainment

Royal Tensions: Aussie Senator Tells King Charles, ‘Not Our King!’

On his first Australian visit in 13 years, King Charles faced backlash from an outspoken senator who accused the monarch of not being her country’s king. Keep scrolling to read her shocking speech, the motivation behind her heckling and what it means for the future of Australia and the Commonwealth.  Why an Australian senator protested […]

Also facing her own series of health setbacks this year was Camilla, who dealt with a chest infection in November that forced her to miss a series of public engagements as well. However, despite still experiencing some remaining symptoms, the Queen has since shared that she’s been gradually recovering. “I’m on the mend,” she shared with author Percival Everett in a video shared to X. “These things always take a bit of time to get rid of. You think you got rid of it, they just sort of hang on for a bit.”

In addition to Charles and Camilla, Princess Kate made waves when after a long period of seclusion from the public eye, she revealed that she was battling cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery. The announcement came after much public speculation and the reveal shocked the world. The form of cancer she faced was not revealed to the public, but as of September, her treatment concluded. 

Entertainment

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana: 12 Kate Quotes That Are Just Like What the Late Princess Would’ve Said

They share more than just a great fashion sense — both women have also shared some beautiful words

Kate recently gave a glimpse into the year she’s faced in a video shared to X by The UK’s Channel 5 News. Hosting the “Together at Christmas” carol service over the weekend, the princess was seen chatting with singer Paloma Faith, saying, “I didn’t know this year was going to be the year that I just had,” emphasizing the “unplanned.” She continued, “But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times.”

Royals at Christmas

With the reveal of Charles and Camilla’s Christmas card, many are anticipating that of William, Kate and their three children. Though theirs has yet to be revealed, we look forward to seeing their lovely family during this holiday season!

Entertainment

Prince Harry Pays Tribute to Princess Diana During NYC Climate Week Events

New York City hosted its annual Climate Week in late September, and Prince Harry attended multiple events in Manhattan. The Duke of Sussex participated in several events across Manhattan, two of which were dedicated to honoring his late mother, Princess Diana.To learn more about these events and the kind words Harry said in regards to […]

Why an Australian senator protested King Charles’ visit

While on a trip to Australia to address the country’s lawmakers with his wife, Queen Camilla, King Charles was accosted by Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe. 

“You are not our king. You are not our sovereign. You committed genocide against our people,” Thorpe said during his visit to the Parliament House floor. “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people! You destroyed our land!” 

The senator was then escorted outside by security, but she continued to shout her message to anyone who would hear it. 

“We’ll continue to resist the colony until we have a peacemaking treaty where we can celebrate this country together,” Thorpe told reporters outside. “We don’t need a king from another country to dictate to us what we do here.”

The King’s trip to Australia marked the first time in 13 years that a reigning British monarch had visited the country. It was also the first time King Charles had traveled internationally since his cancer diagnosis. 

None of that mattered to Thorpe, though, who continued: “There are thousands of massacre sites in this country from invasion, and someone needs to answer for that. If he is the successor, then he needs to answer.”

She also emphasized that she did not interrupt King Charles’s speech and instead “respectfully waited till the end.”

King Charles did not respond to Thorpe’s comments, instead opting to remain silent.. 

Australia’s strained relationship with the British monarchy

Like much of the world, Australia was once a British Colony from 1788 to 1901. During that time, British colonists have been accused of killing thousands of members of Australia’s Torres Strait Islander—or Aboriginal—people. 

Today, the Aboriginal people still stand and are often very vocal about being the earliest known settlers in Australia. In 2021, they made up 3.8% of Australia’s total population, a 23.2 percent  increase from 2016. 

Thorpe herself is Aboriginal and often speaks out about the discrimination and racism her people face.

In October 2023, all six of Australia’s states voted against a referendum that would recognize First Nations Aboriginal people and create an advisory body for them in the government. Meanwhile, very few Indigenous Australians have seats in the government. 

After becoming an independent country in 1986, Australia remained a constitutional monarchy, meaning the British Monarch would always serve as the country’s head of state. 

Currently, that person is King Charles III, who took time to comment on the country’s traditions during his recent visit. 

“Throughout my life, Australia’s First Nations people have done me the great honor of sharing so generously their stories and cultures. I can only say how much my own experience has been shaped and strengthened by such traditional wisdom,” the king said while addressing the Parliament. 

Despite remarks like that, though, people like Thorpe still oppose the idea of Britain being involved in their political decisions. Instead, they want Australia to become its own independent republic, meaning they would fully cut ties with the British government. 

It remains unclear if or when that will happen. 

What to know about Meghan Markle’s famous red dress 

Originally worn for the first time at a November 2021 veterans event, the Carolina Herrera dress features a front slit and a plunging neckline, but this time instead of wearing the poofy train, Markle opted to make the gown a bit more fitted. She also wore open-toe heels instead of closed-toed ones and decided that since she no longer had the train, her hair would look better down instead of up in a high pony like before. 

Perhaps the biggest difference between the gowns, though, is Markle’s choice of accessories. When she debuted the dress back in 2021, the former Suits actress was accompanied by her husband, Prince Harry, but when she reused the gown just a few days ago, the prince was nowhere to be found. 

This could be because Harry was just out and about in New York City a few weeks ago for NYC Climate Week—which Markle did not attend—but the real reason remains a mystery.

Meghan Markle comments on her children

The Duchess took time to reference her own children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, while talking to a mother outside of the event. 

In a video released by the Daily Mail, Markle is seen talking to a little boy and his mother, saying, “Hi sweetheart, how are you? Past your bedtime, for sure,” she said to the mother and son. Markle then asked the mom for his age and responded, “Oh, so really close to our kids: three and five.”

She also took the time to praise the hospital for everything it has done to work with sick children, saying “Oh my goodness, the work they do at Children’s Hospital L.A. is otherworldly, and I think from my standpoint as a mother, no one wants to be in a position where you need to go to a place like this, but if you have to, the best place in the world you could go would be Children’s Hospital L.A.,” The Duchess shared at the event. 

“The staff is incredible, and the amount of work they do for families that really could not afford this level of care is something that I think should never be overlooked.” 

The mother of two has also commented on her personal connection to the hospital, saying, “I have close friends who still have their children there, going through treatments—either from high school [or] close mom friends now—that are having their children really have that experience.” 

The Duchess of Sussex’s history with the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital

Another thing Markle is choosing to reuse is her platform to try and promote the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. 

In March of 2024, The Duchess hosted a healing session at the hospital, with attendees of the event praising the former royal for the amount of joy she was able to bring the kids. 

“Children were laughing and singing as The Duchess turned into a character with every page. She read patient favorite books like Rosie the Riveter, Pete the Cat, and I Saw a Cat,” said one attendee in a statement.