By Laura Sharman

Published: 12:56 EDT, March 20, 2024 | Updated: 12:56 EDT, March 20, 2024

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan fled the royal family and the United Kingdom to start their new lives in America, seemingly far from press interference and media attention.

But it didn’t take long for them to return to the public eye – in one of the most incendiary ways imaginable.

About 50 million people around the world watched as the duo took part in an 85-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021.

The surprising revelations still resonate three years later.

Chatting in the sun-drenched garden of a Californian mansion – which turned out to be owned by a friend of Oprah – a heavily pregnant Meghan described her time with the royal family as a nightmare she had barely survived.

She told how she had to give up her passport, driving licence, keys and other personal belongings when she moved into the cramped confines of Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

“I left the house twice in four months,” she told Oprah, adding, “I couldn’t feel lonelier.”

She remembered watching the Little Mermaid cartoon and dating Ariel, the mermaid who trades her voice for legs to marry her prince.

‘She falls in love with a prince and loses her voice because of it.’

Oprah asked the now famous question, “Were you silent or were you silenced?”

“The latter,” Meghan replied.

She claimed that the situation had deteriorated so much that she had even considered suicide.

“I didn’t want to live anymore,” she told Oprah. ‘It was a clear, real and frightening constant thought.’

Yet Meghan claimed that Palace staff offered her no help when she went to them to beg for support, even though she was six months pregnant with Archie at the time.

“I was told that wasn’t possible, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution,” she said.

She described an exchange with an unnamed but senior member of Palace staff.

“I remember this conversation like it was yesterday because they said, ‘My heart goes out to you because I see how bad it is, but there is nothing we can do to protect you because you are not a paid employee of the institution. ” Meghan recalled.

The other bombshell was the Sussexes’ suggestion that the royal family was collectively racist, pointing the finger at an unnamed member who, they alleged, had racially speculated about the color of the royal family’s skin. their son Archie when Meghan was pregnant.

“When I was pregnant,” Markle recalled family members having, “there were concerns and conversations about how dark his skin would be when he was born. People were concerned about how dark Archie’s skin would be.’

A tense-looking Harry confirmed this, saying that he was the one who heard these comments and told his wife.

Harry and Meghan said they would not reveal who made the statement, with Meghan saying: ‘I think that would be very damaging to them. [to reveal].’

But later – especially when Harry published his memoirs Spare – this particular controversy seemed to be forgotten

The Duke and Duchess also raised eyebrows by claiming they were officially married by the Archbishop of Canterbury three days before their actual wedding day in May 2018.

Whatever took place before the official ceremony at St George’s Chapel, the Archbishop of Canterbury denied it was a wedding. to an Italian newspaper:

‘The legal wedding was on Saturday. I signed the marriage certificate, which is a legal document, and I would have committed a serious criminal offense if I had signed it knowing it was false.

‘So you can make of it what you want. But the legal wedding was on Saturday. But I won’t say what happened at other meetings.’

Meghan used the interview to debunk reports that she made her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, cry over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid outfit in the run-up to her wedding.

In fact, the Duchess of Sussex said, the opposite was true: the Duchess of Cambridge was the one who made it happen her shout.

“It was a really rough week of the wedding, and she was upset about something,” Meghan explained to Oprah.

“But she owned it, and she apologized, and she brought me flowers and a note apologizing. She did what I would do if I knew I had hurt someone, by just taking responsibility for it.”

Harry was also unimpressed when it came to the royal family.

He accused members of The Firm of being jealous of Meghan because of the “effortless” way Meghan had captivated audiences during their tour of the Commonwealth and “how good she was at her job.”

And for the first time, he made it clear that he and Prince William were at odds, saying that “he loved him dearly” but that “we are on different paths.”

He also described the then Prince Charles and William as ‘trapped’. “They are not allowed to leave and I feel sorry for that,” he said.

What members of the royal family think about the interview is unknown, as most of them have remained silent in response, but Prince William’s own response to a reporter was simply the casual comment: “We are not a racist family at all.”

And the Queen only released a statement suggesting the Sussexes’ story might not be the same as hers.

“The whole family is saddened to hear how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

“The issues raised, especially those around race, are concerning. While some memories may vary, they are taken very seriously and discussed by the family privately.

“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be beloved family members.”

Kate Middleton’s ‘black sheep’ uncle Gary Goldsmith has been scolded by the Princess of Wales’s parents after he reportedly signed up to Celebrity Big Brother amid fears he could reveal secrets about the royal family, sources claim.

The outspoken businessman, who is the brother of Kate’s mother Carole Middleton, was today spotted doing some last-minute shopping before the celebrity edition of the series returns to our screens after a six-year absence.

Goldsmith, 58, is rumored to have struck a substantial deal with ITV bosses to take part in the show which starts on Monday night.

His appearance in the Big Brother house is sure to cause The Firm another headache, amid speculation about Kate’s whereabouts as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery.

It also comes as King Charles continues treatment for cancer and the royal family mourns the loss of Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

An insider said The sun: ‘Gary said he had the riot act read by Kate’s mother Carole and her father Michael.

‘They’re not happy about him going on Celebrity Big Brother. It’s infuriating for them. Kate doesn’t need this stress.’

The source claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan – who Goldsmith has attacked in the past – could be in the line of fire.

The source said that ‘black sheep’ Goldsmith did not have his family’s permission to enter the house, but did so anyway. The businessman is said to have told friends that he will not do anything to hurt Kate or William.

In photos obtained by The Mirror, Goldsmith was seen trying on a selection of smart suits at chic tailor Kerrs in London’s Soho before leaving with them in a garment bag.

Possibly as a nod to his famous niece, the brand has previously created numerous outfits for the princess, the publication said.

The Sun also imagined Goldsmith arriving at the ITV studios in London on Sunday, ahead of his rumored entry into the house. He was seen leaving a black Audi with a suitcase and wearing a navy blue cap, jeans, a gray hoodie and a leather jacket.

He walked into the building with two silver suitcases and a suit carrier.

Goldsmith tried to land a place on I’m A Celebrity last year but was turned down because he feared it could embarrass William and Kate.

He previously spoke out against Harry and Meghan following the release of Spare and is known for his ‘strong’ opinions about the couple.

Royal experts have previously criticized the decision to welcome him to the Celebrity Big Brother house, calling the move ’embarrassing’ and potentially ‘dangerous’ for the royal family during a testing period.

Royal author Angela Levin told The Sun: ‘I find it cringe, very embarrassing, the problem is he doesn’t like Harry and Meghan at all, some of these comments are going to land on Catherine and she’s had a lot against her, she’s not well , she’s in the hospital.

‘I think when you come out of surgery you are quite vulnerable and this could upset her enormously. People who don’t like her could basically say that she encouraged him to do that, but she wouldn’t have done that.

‘It’s very embarrassing. It’s very difficult to be a royal, and I don’t know if this is a good idea.’

Show insiders say producers are happy to have secured Goldsmith as a contestant because of his ties to the royal family – and his tendency to speak his mind, especially about Kate’s brother-in-law, Prince Harry.

Goldsmith has reportedly signed up for the ITV reboot alongside Loose Women’s Linda Robson and X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

ITV bosses have reportedly been keeping an eye on Goldsmith – who a year ago, writing for the Mail, dismissed Harry’s autobiography Spare as ‘prickly, egotistical…fluff’.

His I’m A Celeb audition ended in failure, reportedly because bosses were concerned about his potential to embarrass the royal family, but CBB chiefs believe his brusque, shoot-from-the- hip’ style of candid talking suits the format of TVs. most infamous house.

Goldsmith was a guest at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. He made his money building an IT recruitment company but has been embroiled in scandals including a drug photo in Ibiza.

He was also arrested in October 2017 after allegedly attacking his fourth wife, Julie-Ann, outside their central London home.

Goldsmith punched her to the ground after she accused him of taking drugs during a drunken fight outside their home in the early hours of October 13, 2017.

The Met said at the time of his arrest: ‘Police in Westminster were called to an address at 1.24am on Friday October 13 following reports of a domestic incident.

‘Officers have arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of domestic violence.

‘He has been taken to a police station in central London for questioning.

“A woman who was found injured has been taken to hospital.”

He later pleaded guilty to assault by beating and was fined £5,000 and given a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation sessions.

He has since attacked what he sees as insults to his family, including his niece and William, including episodes of The Crown, royal biographer Omid Scobie’s book Endgame and Harry’s memoir Spare.

Last night The Sun reported that Osbourne will be paid £100,000 a day for the five days she is there.

The former X Factor judge, 71, reportedly won’t stay for the full 17 days, as insiders said for which her fee was too expensive ITV.

The publication claims that ITV struck a £500,000 deal with her to enter the house for a short period of time after they found her fee for the entire three-week series too expensive.

A source told the publication: ‘Bosses have done everything they can to get Sharon and have ultimately reached a deal she is happy with.

“Sharon will add plenty of drama, but without her original price tag it just wasn’t feasible.

“Producers can’t wait to see her reunite with Louis and know it will be TV gold.”

Representatives for ITV and Sharon have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

A spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother subsequently told MailOnline: ‘All names are pure speculation at this time and viewers will have to tune in to see who enters the Celebrity Big Brother house.’

Celebrity Big Brother starts on March 4 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

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MILLIONS of households will be hit by a huge rise in bills next year as major films reveal plans to increase broadband and TV bills.

Sky said this morning that the average customer will pay an extra 6.7% from April.

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The announcement comes as Brits struggle with the rising cost of living, with energy prices, food and tax bills all remaining at sky-high levels.

Sky is the latest company to announce bill increases, with mobile, TV and broadband customers all affected.

The company said that “it does not make these decisions lightly.”

The change depends on which Sky products you have and when you signed up.

If you currently pay £39 a month for Sky TV, Netflix and superfast broadband, you'll pay an extra £2.61, taking this up to £41.60.

Customers affected will be contacted at the end of February to let them know how the changes will affect their products.

If you're on a social broadband and mobile tariff, you won't see an increase in your bills because Sky has frozen its rates.

Social tariffs are broadband and mobile phone packages available to people with certain benefits

It comes after Sky announced that the average mobile customer without a contract will see their monthly bill rise by 3%.

While price increases are never welcome, Sky's increase falls below the level that broadband companies are allowed to increase their bills.

Providers typically increase their prices annually based on inflation plus an additional 3.9%.

The consumer price index (CPI) was 4% in December, so broadband bills could rise by as much as 7.9% in April.

Uswitch calculated that the increase could cost individual consumers around £27.19 more per year for broadband.

BT, EE and Three are among the companies that have confirmed to The Sun that they will impose bills of up to 7.9%

Ofcom is currently investigating inflation-related price increases during the contract, but has yet to publish a final decision on its proposals to ban the practice.

A survey by Which? found that 78% of consumers believe that mid-contract price increases are always unfair.

Alex Tofts, broadband spokesperson at Broadband Genie, said: “Each provider determines its price increase based on its chosen metric.

“In recent years, the unpredictable and volatile nature of inflation has left broadband customers in the dark about future price increases before signing a contract.”

Last year Sky increased its bills by an average of £67, after a £43 increase the year before.

How much will my bill increase by?

Your internet provider or mobile network will contact you to let you know how much your bills will increase in April.

There's also an easy way to find out how much you still have to pay.

Just find out what percentage of your current monthly bill will increase. You can use an online percentage calculator to calculate this.

Then add these two figures together to get your new monthly amount.

To calculate your annual costs, multiply that total by 12.

If you are not happy with the increase, you can try to negotiate a cheaper deal

You may be able to leave without paying any compensation, even if your contract is halfway through. So it's worth checking this out.

If you think your bills are too high and you want to pay less, the first thing you should do is find out what the cheapest deal on the market is.

You can use this rate as a negotiating tool to get a better offer from your provider.

Contact your provider to see if they can match this rate. If not, you might want to switch.

If you are halfway through your contract and want to leave, please note that you may be charged an exit fee. So contact your provider for any costs.

Additionally, these prices can be more difficult to negotiate as they come from all providers most years.

For more ways to reduce your phone bill, we have eight tips to reduce costs.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

King Charles stepping back from public duties could see other senior royals and non-working members of the Firm step up and take on extra work, it can be revealed.

The King, 75, has been diagnosed with cancer and will postpone public-facing duties while he is treated.

But with Charles taking time away, and the Princess of Wales also being out of action until Easter as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, the question remains as to who will hold the royal fort for the time being. 

The monarch is known to be in favour of a ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy – with only half the number of working royals as there were in 2017.   

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the US, and Prince Andrew in the cold, there are only five senior royals to call on: Prince William when he returns to public duties this week, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, th Duchess of Edinburgh.

The King’s health update may even see the return of non-working royals, such as Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, while minor royals could play a greater role in day-to-day engagements.  

Here, FEMAIL reveals a list of the members of the royal family who could step in to help while Charles focuses on putting his health first. 

SENIOR ROYALS 

Prince William

The heir to the throne, 41, recently postponed his royal duties as the Princess of Wales recovers from abdominal surgery at home in Windsor. 

Prince William took time out of the royal spotlight to help look after their three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five. 

Kensington Palace has now announced that he will resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

William – a former air ambulance pilot, who is the charity’s patron – was last seen nearly three weeks ago leaving The London Clinic on January 18 after visiting Kate. 

His return to work is expected to be a hectic one, with the heir to the British throne likely stepping up to support the Firm more by undertaking some duties on behalf of his father, while the King undergoes treatment. 

Buckingham Palace said the King personally called both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales – as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh – to share news of his health. 

Princess of Wales 

Mother-of-three Kate Middleton, 42, is taking time to recover from planned abdominal surgery earlier this month and is not expected to return to royal duties until after Easter.

The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic – the same private hospital in Marylebone where the King underwent treatment – for a planned operation on January 16.

The future Queen left and returned to home in Windsor almost two weeks later on January 29, and is not expected to get back to official duties until after Easter.

While she recovers from the procedure, she will not carry out royal engagements in person, but may continue some work from home depending on doctor’s orders. 

After Easter, her return will hopefully mean that two out of the ‘big three’ royals will be actively taking part in public engagements. 

The exact details of the Princess’s condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Kate is now under the careful watch of royal doctors and is also benefiting from the London Clinic’s aftercare, with dedicated physiotherapists on hand with a personalised plan and a video check-up at home with a nurse specialist on offer.

Among the engagements Kate will miss over the coming weeks are the Baftas this month, the annual Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey, and the St David’s Day Parade at the start of March, as well as the St Patrick’s Day parade with the military later the same month.

Aides insist the Princess will be out of sight over the next few months but is likely to be working behind the scenes on her early years projects.

Official overseas tours for William and Kate are also off the table for the time being.

It is understood that Kate’s return to official duties will depend on medical advice nearer the time. 

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla will continue with a full programme of public duties following the shock health announcement. 

Camilla has had a busy week, carrying out various royal engagements while her husband recovered at home after leaving the London Clinic.

She has previously been described as the King’s ‘rock’ by her sister, Annabel Elliot, who gave her view of their marriage for a BBC documentary – Charles III: The Coronation Year. 

She accompanied Charles to The London Clinic in central London on January 26, where he underwent treatment.

The Queen visited her husband every day over his three-night stay in the private hospital, before appearing at his side again on January 29 as he left having been discharged.

She also stepped out nearly every day last week to cover while Charles underwent surgery.  

Princess Anne 

The late Queen’s only daughter is the hardest working royal in terms of annual engagements. 

The Princess Royal, 73, has in the past been dubbed the King’s ‘right-hand woman’ thanks to her reputation for having a busy work schedule 

She was the first royal to return to work after Christmas and soon embarked on a three-day tour to Sri Lanka. 

During Charles’s hospital visit for prostate surgery and with the Princess of Wales out of action, Anne was the one to lead the way in terms of royal engagements. 

Last week Anne visited a prison in Norfolk and opened a new sailing centre. She also stood in for her elder brother at an investiture ceremony at Windsor. 

She visited an equestrian centre for disabled riders to mark the official opening of its Platinum Jubilee stables. 

Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

The younger of King Charles’s two brothers, 59-year-old Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are the final major royals who could take charge.

Edward last week spent four days on the remote British overseas territory of Saint Helena, where he inaugurated a new international airport, planted a tree and met 191-year-old Jonathan, the volcanic tropical island’s resident giant tortoise. His wife Sophie stayed in Windsor and undertook several engagements.

After the double royal health scare last month, royal experts revealed it was the perfect time for Prince Edward and Sophie to step up their engagements. 

Speaking on the Mail+’s weekly talk show, the Daily Mail’s diary editor Richard Eden noted that ‘three out of four of the most senior members of the royal family [are] out of action’ at the moment.

‘So it is a great chance for, you know, the more junior members like Edward and Sophie to shine,’ he continued, ‘and hopefully this programme will feature their work over the next few months. 

‘And I think it has been great the way that they have taken on some of the less fashionable causes.

‘Sophie has been very much involved in women as a victim of war and sexual crime.

‘And obviously, Prince Edwards inherited the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme from his father, which is fantastic. 

 ‘So it’d be great if the general public gets to hear more about their good work.’

MINOR ROYALS 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester 

The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, now 79, and his wife, Birgitte, 77, are full-time working members of the royal family.

Richard of Gloucester met his Danish future wife, Birgitte van Deurs, who was studying at the Bell School of Languages, at Cambridge University in 1965. 

He was working as an architect but cut his career short when his older brother Prince William of Gloucester tragically died in a plane crash seven weeks after their marriage – instead devoting himself to a life of royal duty. 

For decades, they worked tirelessly to represent the late Queen, and now they are doing the same for her eldest son. 

The Duke is associated with over 150 charities and organisations.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent

The Duke of Kent, 88, the cousin of the late Queen, has been forced to scale back his public engagements in recent years. 

In November the Duke of Kent missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph due to ‘episodic mobility issues’. 

Coming just days after his 88th birthday, it sparked fresh concerns over his welfare. 

The Duke had a glittering career in his prime as an Army veteran, dare-devil driver and tennis enthusiast. 

Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy 

Although she and the Duke Of Kent are both officially still working royals, Princess Alexandra drastically reduced her workload last year. 

The 87-year-old is also the late Queen’s cousin and was a bridesmaid at her wedding in 1947. 

She has quietly attended hundreds of engagements for more than six decades. 

Lady Ogilvy was not only the late Queen’s cousin, but also one of her closest friends and was once referred to as the ‘unsung heroine’ of the Royal Family. 

One biographer also described her as ‘the most efficient working princess in the world’.

Throughout her adult life, Lady Ogilvy continued to be a hard-working and active royal, attending around 120 public engagements a year.

This included missions to Japan in 1961, helping to restore diplomatic relations following the war.

AND THE NON-WORKING ROYALS WHO COULD BE CALLED ON?

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice

In recent years, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice – the daughters of the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson – have stepped back from royal duties due to their jobs and young children.  

In 2019, Eugenie joined the late Queen at the Royal Maundy service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel, and both the York sisters attended the King’s Coronation last year.

In December 2013, the two princesses made an official visit to Germany to promote the UK abroad, most notable for the suggestion they drove through a red light at the Brandenburg Gate in their Union Jack emblazoned Mini Cooper. 

The trip was taken at the request of Number 10, and their travel expenses were paid for by Prince Andrew. 

But with the Duke of York exiled from public duties, and both Princesses busy with their young families and jobs – Beatrice at Afiniti and Eugenie at the art gallery Hauser and Wirth – it’s unlikely there will be a repeat. 

Eugenie too spends a lot of time abroad for her husband’s work in Portugal. 

Despite calls for Charles to bring the siblings further into the fold this year, their father Prince Andrew’s scandals would no doubt give Charles pause, even with news of his diagnosis. 

OUR beloved astrologer Meg sadly passed away last year, but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protector Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today.

RAM

March 21 to April 20

The full moon makes you even naughtier and a case of mistaken identity can lead to a teasing series of passionate proposals.

If you're already settled, this could mean a truce in an ongoing struggle for power.

The more personal an ambition is, the greater the chance that you will achieve it.

Get the latest Aries horoscope news, including your weekly and monthly predictions

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Your real Taurus power today is that poker face – because you can remain unreadable on the outside even when your mind or heart is racing.

And this gives a shy Pisces admirer the courage to take a bold step.

If you know what you really want at work, why would you settle for something you don't know?

Get the latest Taurus horoscope news, including your weekly and monthly predictions

GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

The sun focuses your travel goals on long distances.

Even if a trip seemed so out of reach, just one casual conversation today can put the trip back on the map.

More important is looking for ways to make your hopes come true.

If someone tries to put you down this time, stand firm and refuse.

Get the latest Gemini horoscope news, including your weekly and monthly predictions

CANCER

June 22 to July 22

The full effects of a money full moon can be felt all day long.

It will encourage you to work out a series of numbers well, and perhaps get some expert or sage advice from “C”.

But you can also have sudden flashes of certainty related to choosing numbers or names.

Receive the latest news Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

LION

July 23 to August 23

Your passion and fashion mystique are so strong, and you have such an original sense of style.

Strike while the iron is hot and get to that workplace you've always wanted to work at.

When you're in love, keep the words simple.

If you're single, the second time you meet a “D” Scorpio could be the deciding factor.

Receive the latest news Horoscope news about Leo including your weekly and monthly predictions

VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Pluto is charting a career path for you that may never seem straight.

But it will always be exciting, so today's challenge is to accept this. Instead of resisting a change, make it work for you.

Also in terms of love, the future can be far from what you initially imagined, but in a way that deepens the passion.

Receive the latest news Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Assuming you know everything about your friends and family is such a mistake.

Sit back and be surprised all day today as the full moon mixes up some great conversations.

When lovers take turns listening to each other, they can say so much more than they expect.

Receive the latest news Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Major changes at home may have been on the horizon for a while, but a deal could be sealed very quickly.

So make sure you know what the final price is.

Thanks to the full moon, your ambition zone is flying freely and goals you inherited from an older person can become reality.

Receive the latest news Horoscope news about Scorpio including your weekly and monthly predictions

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

You could be on your way today before you even realize it because a restless streak draws your attention to just the right line of a news story.

There is a truth that is only for you.

And this time you won't miss it.

Drawing a line between money and love can give partners space to find mutual solutions.

Receive the latest news Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

The sun makes buying and selling extra exciting.

You can make money with almost anything because you have something special.

But be realistic about the value, and this includes what your own time is worth.

Passion is emotionally cool and physically hot – and this is a winning combination.

Receive the latest news Horoscope news about Capricorn including your weekly and monthly predictions

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AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

The full moon focuses on partnerships, as they could be.

This is the day to cherish your greatest hopes for love and make some practical plans for it.

Start with how you see yourself – by being 100 percent positive.

The luck factor works its way through the colors of the rainbow in order.

Receive the latest news Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

PISCES

February 19 to March 20

A kind of career with a significant element of instinct can come closer if you decide to trust your own inner voice.

You know yourself better than anyone, and now is the time to use this knowledge.

A wedding or other travel-themed event can bring you new happiness.

Receive the latest news Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: 12:29 EST, January 18, 2024 | Updated: 12:46 EST, January 18, 2024

Princess Anne’s warning not to slim the Royal Family down further was ‘right’ and with the ‘big three’ royals now off work the ‘desertion’ of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has put The Firm ‘in trouble’, royal experts told MailOnline today.

The Princess of Wales is in hospital after an abdominal operation, Prince William has taken time off to care for his family and King Charles has revealed he needs a procedure on his enlarged prostate next week.

Experts have pointed to Princess Anne’s words from last May, where she told a Canadian broadcaster: ‘I think that “slimmed down” was said in a day when there were a few more people to make that seem like a justifiable comment’, adding: ‘It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing.’

Royal biographer Phil Dampier has said that the absence of Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew means ‘the slimmed down monarchy looks a bit too slim’. 

He said that it ‘must raise the question of whether some minor royal jobs could be carried out by others like Princess Beatrice or Eugenie’. There have also been calls for Zara and Mike Tindall to do more.

But royal expert and investigative journalist Tom Bower says despite Kate and Charles’ health problems, the King must stay the course and not reverse the trend by relying on minor royals such as the Duke of York’s children.

Mr Dampier said: ‘Princess Anne said in an interview last year that she thought the monarchy was already slimmed down enough and she’s been proved right.

‘The events of this week also put into sharp focus how much the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to leave has rocked the monarchy when originally they promised so much.

‘If Harry and Meghan hadn’t left for California and Prince Andrew hadn’t ruined his life by getting involved with sleaze, there wouldn’t be a problem. But without them the Firm is in trouble when the unexpected happens’.

He added: ‘You do wonder if in quiet moments Harry feels some pangs of guilt for deserting his family and the institution, but so far he has not shown any public signs of regret.

‘With Kate in hospital being looked after by William and the King going in next week, we are down to The Queen, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as full time working royals. Two of them are over seventy and the ancient institution looks painfully thin on the ground’.

Tom Bower also believes the health problems at the top of the Royal Family shines a spotlight on Harry and Meghan, but says it will soon be business as usual.

He said: ‘Our hearts go out to the King and Princess of Wales. Their absence from our daily lives will make us appreciate them and the monarchy even more. However, this is not the moment to reverse the trend to slim down the monarchy.

‘Any suggestion that Beatrice and Eugenie should step in should be firmly quashed. Neither has done anything to deserve our respect. Harry had a marvellous opportunity to serve his country but disloyally not only deserted us but betrayed his countrymen and his family.

‘In a few weeks it will be back to “business as usual” and we will appreciate all the more how lucky we are to have the Royal Family to represent the best of British values’.

The Princess of Wales has spent a second night in hospital after major abdominal surgery as William, her parents and siblings cleared their diaries to support her recovery and care for George, Charlotte and Louis.

Kate is said to be ‘doing well’ as she recovers following the procedure at the London Clinic in Marylebone revealed on the same day King Charles announced he was taking a short break for treatment for an enlarged prostate.

With Prince William also taking leave to care for his wife and children, the so-called ‘big three’ royals will be away from duties over the coming weeks with experts saying that with Harry and Meghan in the US, and Andrew in the cold, there is only Princess Anne and her brother Prince Edward to call on.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband will combine being by his wife’s and children’s side throughout.

Any royal tours William and Kate had in the diary for the coming months will also no longer take place amid speculation they would visit Italy together in March. 

Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are already rallying round and help support her recovery at her home in Windsor, which is close to their own homes.

The Royal Family’s ‘big three’ are out of action because Buckingham Palace also revealed yesterday that  King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated with a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports. 

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate’s return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

It is unclear what the exact nature of the surgery, with The Palace unwilling to reveal any details in respect of Kate’s ‘medical privacy’. However it did not rule out the prospect that she may choose to speak publicly about it herself in the future.

Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams told The Sun: ‘This might be something that has been bothering her for her whole life which she has not got round to resolving, or an issue that has come to light more recently.

‘Two weeks in hospital is longer than we would normally expect, but she doesn’t have a normal life. She’s the future queen so the doctors will be erring on the side of caution.

‘We all hope it is something minor and the surgery is straightforward, but precaution is wise. With anything medical you can never be completely certain how things will go.

‘The most important thing is that she gets enough recovery time and it’s not too stressful for her and her family.’

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Express: ‘For abdominal surgery, most people stay in the hospital for four to seven days. After laparoscopic surgery [a type of keyhole surgery], this is reduced to two to four days.

‘It very much depends on what exactly has been done. If a patient needs to go to ITU, it’s likely their hospital stay would be considerably longer.

‘It can take two months or more for the patient to feel comfortable and be able to move around normally afterwards.’

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months.

William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt. Another scheduled foreign military engagement could be affected. 

Kate will almost certainly be forced to miss a number of high-profile events she might otherwise been expected to attend. 

She and William have regularly turned up for the Baftas, the biggest night in British cinema, held in central London this month, but this would be too soon for the recovering princess. 

She is also likely to miss out on a long-standing royal tradition in March – handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in her role as the regiment’s honorary colonel. 

The annual Commonwealth Day Service, also held in March, is likely to have to go ahead without her. The princess, patron of English rugby, is also unlikely to be well enough to attend the Guinness Six Nations, which kicks off next month. 

The Princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy’s official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King’s coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum – severe morning sickness.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery.

‘The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

‘The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

‘Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.

‘The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. 

‘She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.’

Royal expert Phil Dampier said: ‘Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don’t know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.’

And the Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: ‘I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.’