The queen

After Princess Diana's tragic death, her butler and  close friend Paul Burrell was among a small group tasked with going through her belongings. Her Kensington Palace apartment was filled with beautiful dresses, expensive jewellery and her handwritten letters. But the princess' mum and sister were keen to destroy some of the items and ripped up much her correspondence - which Paul disagreed with. He believed everything should be saved for Princes William and Harry to go through when they were older. Diana's family didn't agree, but he decided to do it anyway - taking some of her things back to his Cheshire home and storing them in the loft. However in June 1998, 10 months after Diana's death, a police offer saw him pulling up at Kensington Palace at 3.30am, going inside, and coming out carrying two dresses and a wooden box. Three years later, an investigation was launched into the sale of some of Diana's private items being sold in the US. Police raided his Cheshire … [Read more...] about Queen saved man from jail by intervening in court case to share vital piece of evidence

The Queen tonight ordered an investigation into explosive claims that the Duchess of Sussex bullied her staff during her time as a working royal. Buckingham Palace will examine allegations from former aides who accuse Meghan of “emotional cruelty and manipulation”. The probe, launched while the Duke of Edinburgh is battling illness and infection in hospital, will revisit a complaint made about Meghan in 2018 by one of her closest advisers. According to The Times, Jason Knauf, the Sussexes’ then communications secretary, claimed Meghan “drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member”. Meghan’s lawyers hit back suggesting the newspaper was “being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative”, before the Sussexes interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey is broadcast on Sunday. What is your view? Have your say in the comments section Senior palace sources said aides were “incandescent” after … [Read more...] about Royal aides ‘incandescent’ over Meghan Markle smear claims amid all-out war at Palace

As the world rejoiced when Harry and Meghan beamed on the steps of St George’s chapel after their wedding, who could have foreseen the toxicity that lies before them today. The sheer escalation of events since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they were going ahead with a “tell-all” interview with chat show icon Oprah Winfrey signifies the extraordinary times we find ourselves in. The Queen moved with shrewd ruthlessness today in a last ditch attempt to stop the runaway train of daily developments that are threatening the very fabric of the monarchy. Claims of bullying, harassment, cruelty and manipulation as well as potential cover ups of serious complaints levelled at a member of The Firm do not look good - and that’s before one of the family has detonated a nuclear bomb from outside the camp. History does not bode well for the family in times like these. What is your view? Have your say in the comments section The scars of Princess Diana’s explosive revelations … [Read more...] about ‘Meghan Markle row shows fairytale start has turned toxic – the monarchy is in crisis’

Prince Philip has "slightly improved" and the Royal Family are keeping their fingers crossed, the Duchess of Cornwall has said. The Duke of Edinburgh is being treated at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection. He was moved there by ambulance from the King Edward VII's Hospital on Monday. Camilla was asked by a volunteer about the duke's condition as she visited a vaccination centre in Croydon, south London. She told Anne Sheehan, who works as a receptionist at the centre, that the duke "hurts at moments" but did not give any more details. Advertisement Buckingham Palace said after Philip was moved that the duke was comfortable, adding "doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition". The 99-year-old has spent 15 nights in hospital now - his longest ever stay. More from Duchess Of Cornwall 'Pure … [Read more...] about Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has ‘slightly improved’, Camilla says

Brits will be able to buy their local pub through a £150-million fund set to be announced in Rishi Sunak's budget this week. The 'community ownership fund' will also allow locals to take over endangered sports clubs, theatres, music venues and post office buildings. The pot of cash will become available this summer, with groups being encouraged to bid for up to £250,000 matched-funding. In 'exceptional' circumstances applicants will be able to ask for up to £1 million to save beloved local treasures, such as sports clubs or grounds. Chancellor Mr Sunak said: “Pubs and sports clubs are the heart and soul of our local towns and villages – they’re the glue that keeps us together. Sign up to our newsletter to get the day's biggest news straight to your inbox The Mirror's newsletter brings you the latest news, exciting showbiz and TV stories, sport updates and essential political information. The newsletter is emailed out first thing every morning, at 12noon and every … [Read more...] about Brits to get £150m fund to help locals buy their favourite boozers and sports clubs