By Ashleigh Gray for Dailymail.Com

Published: 02:04 EDT, March 16, 2024 | Updated: 02:04 EDT, March 16, 2024

Prince William joked today that his wife Kate ‘is the arty one’, as he carried out a royal visit three days after she apologised for editing her Mother’s Day photograph.

The Prince of Wales was mocking his lack of creativity as he decorated biscuits with children in a training kitchen while opening a youth charity facility in West London.

In a comment likely to raise eyebrows amid the ongoing future at the Princess of Wales, William said: ‘My wife is the arty one. Even my children are artier than me.’

It comes as Kate was said to be distraught by criticism over the picture editing row, which has seen her criticised around the world and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency comparing Kensington Palace to North Korea and Iran today.

William also told youngsters at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham that his son Prince Louis ‘loves sprinkles, so I’m going to put some more on here’.

The Prince continued: ‘How’s that? Alright? It’s remotely edible. Not quite as good as yours, but it’ll do. In the couple of minutes I got to do it.’

And he played basketball and celebrated successfully shooting a hoop after four failed attempts at the site, which is called West (‘Where Everyone Sticks Together’).

William was escorted by Kevin McGrath, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who represents the monarch at official events locally.

Later, William and his estranged brother Prince Harry will both separately take part in a ceremony paying tribute to their late mother at the Diana Legacy Award.

William will attend the event at the Science Museum in London in person, where he is set to give a speech to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary and present awards.

Harry, 39, will then join a video call with the 20 winners – although it is understood that his involvement will only take place after William, 41, has left the ceremony.

Other royals on engagements today included Prince Edward and Sophie who attended the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham. 

It comes as William and Kate continue to face intense scrutiny after the Princess publicly apologised and confessed to digitally editing a family portrait taken by her husband and released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day last Sunday.

On Monday, Kate publicly took the blame for the manipulated family photograph released by Kensington Palace as she issued a personal apology for the ‘confusion’.

Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.

‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’

The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by William, was the first to be issued since the princess’s abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother’s Day.

It was issued in part to quell conspiracy theories about Kate, who had not been seen at a royal event since Christmas Day or after her surgery.

But it was withdrawn with a ‘Kill’ notice by international picture agencies hours later, and the UK’s PA news agency on Monday, because of suspicions it had been manipulated.

The saga intensified speculation concerning Kate, her health and her whereabouts, and raised questions over whether images released by Kensington Palace could be trusted.

Royal sources said the Princess made ‘minor adjustments’ and that Kate and the William wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother’s Day.

Kate was later spotted leaving Windsor in a car with William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service. The princess was not attending the service, but was understood to have a private appointment.

Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

The Palace has faced growing pressure over the debacle with the controversy branded damaging to the public’s trust of the royal family .

Concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte ‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip.

The picture was released to reassure the public amid escalating conspiracy theories online over the state of Kate’s health in recent weeks, but in an extraordinary turn of events sparked what is being dubbed ‘Kategate’ and even ‘Sleevegate’.

William and Kate have an established track record of issuing their own photographs, often taken by Kate rather than William, to mark special occasions including their children’s birthdays.

But the Princess’s confession has raised questions over whether – or to what extent – the images have been altered in the past.

Sky News said an examination of the photo’s meta data revealed it was saved in Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac on Friday and Saturday and the picture was taken on a Canon Camera.

Under the licensing agreement issued to photo agencies for use of official royal photos, Royal Households usually stipulate: ‘This image must not be digitally enhanced, cropped, manipulated or modified in any manner or form.’

Kate had surgery at the London Clinic on January 16, but details of her condition have been kept private, and she is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter .

While the fallout from the picture continued, William was back on royal duties today as he arrived in White City at 11am to visit West, the new purpose-built youth facility that will soon be available to young people in the area.

Kensington Palace said the site, which was given its name by local young people, will be staffed by youth workers who will ‘support young people from across West London to develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve their dreams’.

The West Youth Zone, which is a newly formed local independent charity, has facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, indoor climbing wall, teaching kitchen and a performing arts studio.

There will also be a café which will serve hot meals costing no more than £1. 

It is also part of an education hub known as EdCity, which was developed by education charity Ark alongside Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

This centre will also include a new school, nursery, adult education centre and affordable housing.

West has been developed by OnSide, which the Palace described as a ‘national youth centre charity whose mission is to empower young people to lead positive, fulfilling lives by providing access to state-of-the-art spaces and exceptional, life-changing youth work in areas where they are needed the most’.

There are 14 Youth Zones in the UK OnSide network including in Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and across London – with seven more set to open over the next two years in areas such as Bristol, Grimsby, Preston and Essex.

In 2021, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’.

During today’s visit, William spent time speaking to pupils from Ark White City primary school and West’ Young People’s Development Group who were involved in shaping the design and facilities in the new centre.

He toured the Youth Zone, meeting young people using the four-court indoor sports hall before seeing a teaching kitchen.

William also celebrated the launch of the Youth Zone with a plaque unveiling it ahead of its official opening next month on April 21, when it will be available seven days a week.

Later, Harry and William will both separately take part in the Diana Legacy Award ceremony.

It comes as the royal brothers have continued to distance themselves from each other in recent months.

The pair did not meet when Harry spent time with the King at Clarence House following news of his cancer diagnosis last month.

In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Harry said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend around 45 minutes with Charles when he flew back to the UK.

Harry published his controversial memoir Spare last year, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan Markle.

It was also claimed William teased Harry about his panic attacks.

Further tensions between the royal brothers can be traced back to the early period of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan, when his then fiancee had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.

The Diana Award was set up to promote the Princess’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better.

Both William and Harry presented the inaugural legacy awards at St James’ Palace in 2017.

Dr Tessy Ojo, chief executive of The Diana Award, told The Times: ‘It’s a privilege to have the support of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex – particularly as we mark our 25th anniversary year.’

A spokesman for the award also told The Telegraph that Harry will be a ‘key part’ of the celebration.

‘He is scheduled to speak with the award recipients, virtually, on the evening of the awards to celebrate their accomplishments,’ he said.

Yesterday, the King appeared full of cheer during an audience with Baroness Scotland at Buckingham Palace.

Charles, who has met the Commonwealth secretary-general on many occasions, welcomed his guest to the Private Audience Room for the in-person meeting.

The 75-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is continuing with his head of state duties including face-to-face audiences despite not carrying out official engagements in public. 

He was photographed chuckling and giving a wide smile as he shook Baroness Scotland’s hand.

The King is Head of the Commonwealth but this week missed the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, although his pre-recorded video message was played to the congregation.

Queen Camilla and William attended the service along with other royals including Princess Anne.

Also yesterday, Camilla spent a day at the races as she attended the Cheltenham Festival.

Anne was also among the royal party as were Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick.

Spotted in the parade ring before the start of a race was former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as Harry’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for him after the death of Diana.

 

CONOR McGREGOR has opened up about the “lack of transparency” surrounding his return fight with the UFC.

McGregor has been out since July 2021 when he brutally broke his leg in the first round against Dustin Poirier.

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But the Irishman, who has made a full recovery, has begged the UFC to get his comeback signed and sealed.

He remains ready to face American Michael Chandler, 37, but talks continue to drag on.

McGregor, 34, said: “We will still have discussions in the first quarter of this year, it’s a bit of a lack of transparency, a bit of long finger.

“I still have two fights left on my contract, I don’t think we both know what the transfer will be.

“I just want to get a little more consistency in my training. Am I flat now? No. But I am.

“I had a schedule planned for the beginning of this year, I had a schedule planned for January and I had a schedule planned for December even before that.

“I had set up camps, I had a camp in Cannes in the south of France. I also had a camp in Dubai, with some world champions with me.

“I set up a strong camp and I was well prepared for it. And then you get a lack of transparency. It’s like you’re just being strung along.”

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McGregor is promoting the release of his film debut, starring alongside Hollywood superstar Jake Gyllenhaal in a Roadhouse reboot.

And once his film commitments and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are over, McGregor will aim for a June 29 return.

He said, “Then I start to lose interest myself, so I get caught up in other things that are going on, like this and that.

“I hope I can get this done, just a few more days and the film will be released in another ten days or a week.

“So once that’s done, my job is done and then I’ve got Paddy’s festivities with Forged Irish Stout and the Proper 12 to deal with.

“Once that happens, I’ll be locked up. I’m still in shape, I’m still training, like I said, I’ve had camps in the off time, so if they just give me a date I’d love to go on I want to go June 29 and that will be a goal for me.”

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Celebrity relationship experts shared their insights on the challenges Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may face in their high-profile romance.

Dr. Phil and Millionaire Matchmaker star Patti Stanger discussed the ‘biggest risk factors’ coming into play for the superstar couple during a teaser clip for the upcoming TMZ Investigates: Taylor & Travis: Ultimate Love Story released on Sunday.

The duo claims that hectic schedules and a long-distance relationship can pose problems, as Taylor, a globe-trotting pop star, lives primarily in New York and Los Angeles, while NFL player Travis works and lives in Kansas City.

“The biggest risk factor I see is that if they both have schedules that are so full, they fight to spend quality time together,” Dr. explained. Phil out in the video.

Patti interjected and said, “long distance is hard.”

“They don’t go to CVS to buy groceries, but remember what he said: ‘I like that she is like this,’” she continued.

“The others may have felt competitive and inferior.”

The “others” Patti was referring to were the long list of A-listers the singer has dated in the past.

The roster includes Joe Jonas, Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Mayer, Taylor Lautner and Calvin Harris

Her brief involvement with English actor Tom Hiddleston followed her divorce from Harris, which eventually led to a six-year partnership with Joe Alwyn in 2017.

Privacy is another challenge for the super-famous couple, as NBA owner and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban suggested in the TMZ Investigates: Taylor & Travis: Ultimate Love Story teaser.

‘There is no more privacy for them. It doesn’t exist,” he claimed.

“Having security and having people around you is such a scene wherever you go. So the first thing you have to understand is that they have no privacy whatsoever.”

The clip release follows reports that the 34-year-old pop singer needs to ensure the relationship stays on a positive track following Travis’ recent ‘missteps’

“Taylor has a huge reservoir of goodwill and even adoration that can withstand her boyfriend’s behavioral and reputational mistakes,” says brand strategist and messaging consultant. Adam Hanftwhich appears to reference Travis’ meltdown during the Super Bowl and his decision to party after a mass shooting during the Kansas City parade.

“What matters is the extent to which he stays on the straight and narrow – and doesn’t embarrass himself or her – and, relatedly, the way she deals with it should become a persistent problem,” he added.

Travis’ antics not only have the potential to tarnish the Reputation singer’s $1.1 billion net worth, but could also negatively impact his own brand — and even that of the NFL.

“When Travis is plagued by impulse control issues and demonstrates psychological resistance to taking a back seat to her celebrity status — which is programmatic given that football heroes typically compete for the Nobel Prize for testosterone — and she ultimately dumps him , his personal brand will be battered,” Hanft claimed.

“Should the relationship end like this, the NFL’s brand will also be bloodied because it will reinforce the perception of football players focusing on all the wrong things,” he added.

The warning comes as Travis faces waves of criticism for almost getting into a fight with his coach Andy Reid during the Super Bowl.

A few days later Travis arrived spectacularly insensitive decision to party hard after a mass shooting with him Super Bowl parade provoked even more anger from the public.

Just hours after 22 fans were shot – nine of them children, a young mother dead – Travis visited ‘Granfalloon Restaurant and Bar’ and took selfies with police while carrying an open beer bottle on the street, having previously walked to the stage of the parade had gone looking way too drunk to talk.

Outraged fans on social media used the terms “Caveman” and “douchebag” to describe the situation.

In the aftermath, Kelce matched Taylor’s $100,000 donation to the shooting victims.

Despite Travis’ public expressions of contrition, as brand expert Hanft argued, Taylor must be careful about her future with the athlete to protect her brand. Bloomberg totals $1.1 billion, thanks in part to her massive 146-date global Eras Tour and subsequent tour film.

It comes after Forbes estimated Swift had a net worth of more than $740 million in July.

When her romance with Travis first broke out last year, the footballer said he knew he had to be on his best behavior.

“That was the biggest thing for me,” he said WJ. “Make sure I don’t say anything that will push Taylor away.”

Jason Kelce has no misconceptions about his running ability after completing a 5K to raise money for autism.

Kelce, 36, participated in the Mike's Seafood Run Walk for Autism in New Jersey on Saturday, February 17. Fans attending the event took out their cameras to watch the NFL star complete the run at Excursion Park, later taking to social media to share the captured footage.

In one video, posted by Fox Sports via X, the Eagles player could be seen crossing the finish line drenched in sweat as people cheered. “Jason Kelce ran a 5K to raise money for autism,” they captioned the clip.

Kelce retweeted the post on Wednesday, February 21, adding: “'Ran' is a generous verb for what happened. But we had a blast.”

The charity also posted photos from the fundraiser and thanked Kelce for coming out for a good cause. “JASON KELCE WE LOVE YOU!” They wrote via Facebook on Tuesday, February 20. “Thank you for coming and supporting us!”

Kelce has a long history of philanthropy, especially in raising autism awareness. He and his wife, Kylie Kelcehave worked closely with the Eagles Autism Foundation since Jason entered the NFL in 2011. The organization focuses on “research, advocacy, empathy and unity” in an effort to raise awareness and funds for people in the autism community.

For years, Kylie volunteered for the foundation before taking on “a more official” responsibility and Jason has since joined her. In addition to participating in various events and 5Ks, the couple led the way at the nonprofit's annual auction in November 2023 by donning a throwback Kelly Green Eagles jacket that was ultimately awarded to Rob McElhenney and woman Kaitlin Olson for $100,000.

While talk of Jason's departure from the NFL has become increasingly prominent during the 2023-2024 season, his and Kylie's work with the EAF will last a lifetime.

“Ran” is a generous verb for what happened. But we had a blast

— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) February 22, 2024

“EAF knows they can't get rid of me,” Kylie said The Philadelphia Inquirer in January 2023. “Even though I'm not officially there, I just keep volunteering. Once football is done, but let's be honest, I don't think football will ever be done. But once Jason is done playing football regularly, I don't see us ever not playing a role in EAF again. We have that personal connection and we could never distance ourselves.”

Outside of his efforts in the EAF, Jason is currently “figuring out” how he and his brother can work together Travis Kelce can best support victims following the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl parade, which left one person dead and several injured. The couple spoke about the tragedy during the Feb. 21 episode of their podcast “New Heights.” (Travis, 34, has donated $100,000 to the family of two children who were injured during the parade.)

“We just wanted to say that our hearts go out to all the victims, their families, the Chiefs kingdom and really all of Kansas City, who was there on a day to try to celebrate the community. It is unfortunate and deeply tragic what happened,” Jason said at the top of the episode. “We also wanted to thank the local law enforcement officers who responded, the first responders on the scene and everyone who was willing to help those affected by this tragedy.”

I come, to quote Men At Work, from a country Down Under. I emigrated to Britain 16 years ago in search of easy access to Europe (ahem) and cultural education. And I'm a fan by and large.

There's a lot to love about Britain: its witty humour; the bracingly inventive swearing. Opening a crisp packet in the pub and putting it down as if it were a rich reward, instead of 26 Kettle crisps divided into eight parts. The NHS. Claudia Winkleman's pony.

But this country is mind-boggling. Sometimes so astonishing.

Of course, it is indecent to complain about an adoptive family. “Why don't you just leave then,” might choke up the comments section, as people understandably recoil at a foreigner giving a royal thumbs down to certain customs.

But just like spending the day at work with spinach between your teeth, sometimes the brief incentive to hear the truth is better than toiling in ignorance.

Tea

Why do we always have to make tea, drink tea, offer tea as if it were a salve for all ailments, whether it's a mild hangover or having your arm ripped off?

It's a drink so offensively tasteless that it hits you around the chops with nothingness. A brown crayon dipped in hot water.

How the British flirt

I'm going to stir up controversy here and say, 'You don't do that.'

The British don't have a great game when it comes to seduction. When flirting does occur, it is teasing, a way to let someone know you are interested. I thought it lost its cachet after high school.

More often, though, couplings seem to rely on knocking back one too many in the pub and then mashing mouths together on a vaguely sweaty, flailing walk home.

What works, I think? I'm just saying: compliments can be nice.

Place fish and chips under heat lamps

This is a sin. Fish and chips are manna from a higher power. But then British chippies take this edible heaven and sweat it under heat lamps until someone comes to claim it, like a sad orphaned puppy.

What should be a feather-light batter turns into a soggy sarcophagus for a fish that honestly deserved a better ending.

Bad Supermarket Tomatoes (and the Easy Acceptance of Bad Tomatoes)

Like a soured red blancmange somehow possessed by the concept of defeat.

Newspapers speak of a heat wave when it is 25 degrees in July

Or what we in the Antipodes affectionately call 'summer'.

The railway system

The efficiency (or lack thereof) and cost of train travel makes you somewhat long for Mussolini.

'Was fascism that bad?' you wonder, two hours into a supposedly short trip home.

The popularity of M&S sandwiches

People go crazy for an M&S sandwich. I've seen WhatsApp threads light up with delight when new flavor combinations hit those fluorescent refrigerators.

All (deliberately?) ignoring the fact that cold kills the flavor and those sad little sammies are boring pabulum.

The worst comes at Christmas, when suddenly every sarnie is filled with some form of congealed pork and entirely TOO MUCH cranberry. I wouldn't mention it if the locals weren't completely evangelical about their quality.

Reader, they are not good. They are not cheap. It's mass production of nonsense and the sooner we stand up to the propaganda, the happier our tummies will be. To paraphrase Douglas Adams, a tasty sandwich is not something sinful that only foreigners do. You deserve better.

Washing machines in kitchens

When I think of “fresh laundry,” I don't jump into the room with a lingering smell of fried garlic and burnt toast.

Scottish pronunciation of place names

I now live in England. I lived in Scotland for ten years. The Scots language is beautiful, as are the regional dialects, from the inscrutable cadences of Aberdonian Doric, the gruff glottals of Glasgow, to the fascinating Dundonian use of vowels, stretched and contorted like verbal mozzarella.

But I would swear that the pronunciation of place names is a trick to embarrass foreigners. Milngavie is a mull man? Culross is coo-riss? Kirkcudbright is somehow kir-coo-bree?

It was purely confusing, buddy.

Arguing about whether to put jam or cream on a scone first

This is a nation of Shakespeare and Austen; of Hume and Locke; by Jesse Armstrong and Armando Iannucci. It is full of thoughts, humor, insight and philosophy. There is so much to discuss. But no.

Instead, let's do six rounds AGAIN, with the smooshy gloop going on top of sweet bread first, as if it were somehow sparkly. Or matters. It's all getting chewed up, folks.

See also: arguments about the best cookies or the right tea strength.

Football chants

I attended my first football match in Edinburgh in the biting cold, enduring a cup of hot Bovril for warmth (it tastes like old bull sweat).

Some guy with a nice hip on the field did something stupid with the ball.

A wildly rude chant rang out through the crowd. Not focused on the away team, on the home team.

It boggles my mind that a crowd of people who probably hadn't put on their sneakers in years felt it right to abuse fit young men who they claimed to be into.

British people complain about foreign influences infiltrating their culture

The Beatles and the Rolling Stones drew their musical inspiration from black American blues and rock. Ska started in Jamaica. Fish and chips come from Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch culinary traditions. Tea comes from Asia.

So let's not clutch our pearls when someone who just watched Friends says “garbage” instead of “crap.” British cultural identity is not slowly being corrupted. We have always been a global village.