By Chikamso Chukwuenyem for Mailonline

Published: 3:35 PM EDT, March 21, 2024 | Updated: 3:36 PM EDT, March 21, 2024

Aston Merrygold and his wife Sarah Louise shared a gallery of adorable snaps of their newborn daughter in hospital on Monday.

The JLS star, 36, and his professional dancer Sarah Louise, 40, announced on Sunday that they had welcomed their third child, a girl.

The couple, who revealed they have named their bundle of joy Riley Skye, beamed for a selfie as Sarah cradled their newborn while in her hospital bed.

In another photo, Aston held their daughter as she enjoyed shirtless skin-to-skin contact and planted a kiss on her cheek.

The proud parents also shared photos of Sarah watching their little girl sleep in a hospital bed.

She wrote: ‘Obsessed with you girl’.

Aston revealed on his Instagram Story that he took the mother and daughter home.

In the photo, the singer wore a beige cardigan and tweed flat cap while baby Riley slept on his chest, dressed in a cute gray striped baby romper.

He wrote on the photo: “Daddy is back to pick up his girls.”

Aston announced Sarah had given birth on Sunday and shared a sweet video of their bundle of joy sleeping, dressed in an adorable ‘Hello world’ baby romper and matching knitted hat.

He wrote: ‘Hello world, my name is Riley Skye Merrygold’.

Sarah also shared the same video and wrote: “We have someone who wants to meet you.”

Aston’s JLS bandmate Marvin Humes and his wife, This Morning presenter Rochelle Humes, were quick to congratulate the couple.

Marvin wrote, “I love you all…couldn’t be happier for you all…A GIRL!”

Rochelle added, “Aunties still aren’t over it. We love you, baby girl.”

I’m A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher said: ‘Congratulations everyone! Welcome to the world Riley!’

Kimberly Wyatt added, “Oh wow!!!!! Congratulations’

Aston and Sarah are already proud parents of two sons, Grayson, five, and Macaulay, three.

The couple announced they were expecting their third child in September by sharing a sweet video montage showing their two sons announcing they are going to be brothers, while also showing off their scan and positive pregnancy test.

A sweet video then showed the boys kissing on an ultrasound scan and then rejoicing over the happy news with their mum and dad, who got married in September 2022.

The couple previously shared a sweet video montage of their family and friends’ reactions to their pregnancy reveal in November.

The couple, who have started their own YouTube channel The Merrygold Family, shared their loved ones’ reactions, as Aston captioned the video: ‘The one with the reactions!! The nicest reactions to the best news!!!’

He added: “3rd child to capture the reactions of our friends and family for the first time! To enjoy.’

Sarah kept her Instagram followers updated throughout her pregnancy and also shared a slew of photos from a stunning photoshoot that showed off her bump.

The professional dancer sat on a chair in a black sports bra and unbuttoned jeans to show off her blossoming baby bump.

She also posed for a stunning black and white photo, wearing only underwear as she strategically placed her arm across her chest to maintain her modesty.

Other romantic snaps saw Aston hugging his wife as she was wrapped in pink organza as they cradled her growing bump.

The couple’s pregnancy news comes a year after Aston insisted he couldn’t handle more than two children and ruled out having any more – despite calling fatherhood “the best job ever” and claiming fatherhood would give him “a new purpose in life’.

He said: ‘[Being a dad is the] best thing ever. Best job ever. It gives me reason to get up.’

However, when asked if he plans to have more children, he replied: ‘No. I can’t chase three. Two is good for me.’

Aston and Sarah met on a JLS tour when Sarah was working as a backup dancer over a decade ago.

He popped the question on Christmas Eve in 2017, but the coronavirus pandemic forced them to postpone their big day.

They eventually got married in September 2022 and shared a photo of their wedding rings with the caption: ‘Husband and wife #MrandMrsMerrygold.’

Eternal sisters Vernie and Easther Bennett have revealed their new bandmate after former members Louise Redknapp and Kelle Bryan left the group.

Vernie and Easther want to continue with the band’s reunion and have enlisted the help of new singer Christel Lakhdar.

In September 2023, Louise, 49, and Kelle, 48, pulled out of an Eternal reunion tour after Vernie and Easther refused to play any of the LBGTQ+ gigs they had planned amid claims the community is being ‘hijacked’ by the trans movement.

Who exactly is Christel Lakhdar? Read on below for everything you need to know about Eternal’s newest member.

Who is Christel Lakhdar?

Although she joined a pop group that enjoyed great success in the 1990s, Christel Lakhdar has had a relatively quiet career in comparison.

The singer-songwriter and actor has just over 2,400 followers on her Instagram account, with only three videos on her YouTube channel, one of which was a showreel uploaded in March 2018.

Speak with The mirrorChristel said: ‘I’ve been singing these songs ever since [I was] at a young age and feel like pinching myself as I take it all in.”

On New Year’s Day, Christel welcomed 2024 by outlining her goals for the year in a post on her Facebook page.

She wrote to her followers: ‘May this year be gentle, soothing and healing [and] full of laughter despite the storms (because there are always many)’.

“Be thankful for those who are happiest among us. Let us seize happiness’.

In another previous Facebook post on August 4, 2023, Christel revealed that she had not smoked in a year.

She wrote: ‘In the beginning there was chaos, as is often the case before profound transformations.

‘Smoking was just a symptom…And today I’m so damn proud of myself’.

The singer added that she was focused on ‘[rebuilding] on better foundations and [growing] with stronger roots.’

After planning an Eternal reunion last year with all four members, Vernie and her sister Easther had refused to play any of the LBGTQ+ gigs they had planned, claiming the community was being “hijacked” by the transmovement.

Shortly afterwards, Louise was accused of trying to get her former bandmates canceled by ‘misrepresenting’ their views.

Still, in a telling statement, Louise said: “I had always wanted to do a reunion with the girls. I have a lot of love for what we did together and me and Kelle are still the best of friends.”

Standing by her friend, Kelle added of her time in the band, “It changed my life. Obviously the music and the fans are so important.’

Louise Thompson was forced to rush home from Antigua after ‘losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes,’ she revealed on Monday. 

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, was admitted to hospital in London late last month following a series of health issues since giving birth to her son Leo, two.

In a shocking heath update, Louise broke her silence as she shed some light on her terrifying situation, adding that she is ‘alive and in good care.’

Sharing a photo from her hospital bed, she explained: ‘Bit of an unexpected turn of events, but gotta bridge the gap somewhere, so let’s start with some good news – I’m home after two and a bit weeks spent in hospital and I’m feeling very grateful for home and for life. ⁣

‘A quick blast recap as my brain is too tangled for full sentences, but hoping this might save some time in the long run…’

In the lengthy post she continued: ‘Flew to the other side of the world (Antigua). Survived. Just. Plastered myself in makeup. Rode the wave of steroid highs – if you know, you know… these are potent drugs. ⁣

‘Used up every iota of energy I could pretending I was going to be ok . But deep down inside I knew I was really sick I wanted the best for Leo and my family and memories ⁣ 

‘Holiday had been in the pipeline for yonks 2024 was ma YEAR… ⁣Had many exciting campaigns lined up and the announcement of one of the biggest and most transformative healing (and career) moments of my life: the announcement of my book, and other positive things to cling onto mentally. ⁣

‘I also thought that having clawed out of the mental health hell hole i’d been through that nothing could bring me down. Nothing would compare to that… right? ⁣

‘⁣Mental is worse than physical. No physical worse surely. Both are agony and can leave you powerless. Difficult to have one without the other. They’re intrinsically linked. 

‘Anyway, I thought I could handle anything. How shortsighted . My resilience had skyrocketed. And i’d become de-sensitised .

‘Most people would be in A&E day 1 with my symptoms, I have no qualms in saying that because I know what my symptoms were and they were not ok, I’ll spare you some of the grittier details, but I became a little ‘too used’ to my chronic condition . 

‘Whilst away I fell asleep lots randomly in the car and in the middle of the day and on the beach. Couldn’t really walk or pick up Leo . Poor Ryan had to compensate.’

Louise continued: ‘Was disorientated a lot. Pushed through. Thought my body would hold up. Revelled in bed when Leo would sleep at 7pm . Survived to make it through to see another day. That’s what it felt like anyway.

‘But the fear kept escalating when I was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cup fulls of blood.⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘My body was ‘surviving’, ‘masking’ and ‘compensating’ but probably only because I’m young and I’ve got a good ticker. Bit of a miracle really ⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘Raised alarm bells to my family. Especially given other things I’d been through⁣.

‘I couldn’t cope anymore. Nothing was getting better on its own. Way beyond the point of self healing, wellness, eating right bla bla bla ⁣.

‘⁣Too much inflammation. Things felt a bit dangerous I couldn’t risk deteriorating further in a foreign country with a lack of adequate health care and without my notes. I panicked. So we booked an early flight back to UK ⁣⁣

‘Made it… struggled on the way back but a small price to pay for making it home ⁣Went straight to A&E. Bloods taken. Admitted. Things got worse quite quickly. Thank goodness for safety. Thanks goodness for the NHS ⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘Fast forward… ⁣⁣I am alive and in good care. I have experienced some of the best care I have ever received, especially in ITU. I have cried over how compassionate and good the care has been. I will have quite some thanking to do. Lots of letters. Lots of things I can hopefully help with in the future. I’m nowhere near that place yet though. Let’s walk first. ⁣⁣⁣’

‘There have been several ups and downs and some scary stuff in-between. Cos hospital IS JUST scary when you’re lying on that side of the curtain ⁣

‘Being put to sleep is scary. Central and arterial lines are scary. Bags and balloons and drains coming out of your body are scary. ⁣⁣Gosh I have huge respect for medical staff. 

‘The fear creeping in… It’s only really until you’ve spent some decent time here under what feels like emergency circumstances that I would expect you to get the fear. ⁣⁣

‘PTSD doesn’t help. Further worsened by the feeling that things aren’t moving in a ‘linear direction’. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY BLOOMING BODY!!! Why do I keep forgetting my questions. Why are things getting worse before they get better? The fear of the unknown is arguably the worst part of recovery. The waiting. Especially when coupled with 10/10 pain. ⁣⁣

‘But I’m not allowing myself to slip back. ⁣⁣I am a STRONG COOKIE and I am working hard on a speedy recovery.⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘And there will be a silver lining. I promise I’m already searching for it. Already found a few nuggets. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘A nice little reminder that health is everything. It must always come first first first. Along with my family and my son.⁣⁣⁣

She concluded: ‘I want to continue with life ‘as normal’ as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head.⁣⁣ And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!’ 

The update comes after Louise’s fiancé Ryan Libbey has confirmed she is returning home after spending over two weeks in hospital. 

Ryan, also 33, previously revealed he had ‘no idea’ when she would be well enough to be discharged.

But taking to Instagram on Friday he shared a snap of the couple’s immaculate kitchen writing:  ‘Louise is coming home.’

It comes just days after fans have flooded the MIC’s stars last Instagram post with concerned comments following her hospitalisation.

Before Louise’s latest health scare, she was posting photos from her family trip with Ryan, Leo and her father to Antigua And Barbuda.

Her last post from January 28 featured a carousel of snaps of herself with little Leo, alongside which she wrote an emotive caption about ‘learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever.’ 

Fans have now been commented on the poignant post, offering Louise ‘healing thoughts’.

‘Sending you and your beautiful family warmth and strength, hope you feel better soon dear Louise,’ wrote one concerned follower. 

‘What you are going through is tough, Louise, no doubt about that… However, you are Tougher young lady, just look at how far you have come and written a book. What an inspiration you are . Stay Strong, you’ve got this,’ another commented. 

‘I saw Ryan’s story. I truly hope you’re doing ok and are well. Look after yourselves,’ added another.

One fan wrote that they were ‘missing your presence! Sending healing vibes!’ 

Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, Ryan said he had taken Leo to visit Louise for the first time since she was admitted. 

The personal trainer, who has not disclosed why Louise is in hospital, wrote on Instagram: ‘We just got back from visiting mummy in hospital. 

‘That was the first time Leo has seen her for 13 days. It was a difficult, emotional, confusing experience for him but fortunately after a few minutes Leo was cuddling up in bed with mummy singing twinkle, twinkle little star. 

‘The video I took is probably the most precious thing I now own. Louise is recovering well. 

‘Thank you all again so much for the messages of support’. 

Louise has been open about complications with her health after she nearly died during her son’s birth. 

The reality star spent five weeks in hospital suffering with ‘serious complications’ in 2021.

She has contended with a myriad of physical issues since the traumatic birth alongside Ulcerative Colitis, which she was diagnosed with before falling pregnant. 

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, which can bleed.

Louise has also battled post-traumatic stress disorder and post-natal anxiety, admitting during one week in January 2022 that she cried up to 20 times. 

Ryan wrote on Sunday: ‘Louise has been in hospital for 12 days now. We don’t know when she will be ready to come home yet. 

‘But thank you to everyone who has sent messages of love and support to our family. It does help.’

Ryan also shared a selfie of himself and the couple’s son Leo, alongside the caption: ‘We’re missing mummy everyday.’

In December, Louise shared how she felt ‘slightly lost’ during the Christmas break after making herself ‘silly levels of busy’ in a bid to manage her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

And taking to Instagram to share a lengthy post, Louise admitted that in a bid to occupy herself she’s become ‘so tired she could keel over on the kitchen floor,’ and has struggled to slow down during the festive break.

The TV personality added that in 2024 she is focused on ‘getting well’ and ‘pausing’ is a ‘project she needs to sink her teeth into.’

Louise also reflected on a challenging period she endured last New Year’s Eve, when she had a ‘horrendous re-living state of total delirium,’ remembering the previous year, which she’d spent in A&E.

The couple welcomed Leo in November 2021 and they later revealed both Louise and their son nearly died during labour.

They did not announce the arrival of their child for five weeks after serious complications during the birth.

On December 23, 2021, Louise announced the birth of her son on her Instagram page and revealed she had been discharged from hospital to recover at home. 

She said: ‘5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn’t the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.

Louise said that Leo recovered quickly, but she had to deal with ‘many bad things’, saying: ‘To dance with death twice brings a whole new view of the world.’

In December, two years after Leo’s birth, she reflected on the time since the traumatic series of events. 

She said: ‘Here’s a reminder that a lot can change in a year. A lot can change in 6 months. Indeed a lot can change in a month but it’s hard to witness the change until you create some sizeable distance from it.

‘I’m crying writing this. I’m feeling very emotional today. I can’t lie it feels nice to purge my pain. I encourage you to try writing and crying too. 

‘Sometimes it helps. But the main reason I’m writing this is because I really want you guys to know that you must keep moving forward. Don’t give up. Because there will be a time when you will want to wear a pretty party dress again. You will shine again.’

The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience.  

 

By Pranav Harish for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 4:58 PM EST, January 8, 2024 | Updated: 6:23 PM EST, January 8, 2024

The shaman fiancée of Princess Martha Louise of Norway has been criticized for saying suicidal people are ‘possessed by evil spirits’.

The US-born bisexual celebrity healer shared a video on Instagram about the ‘suicide spirit’ in shamanism.

Durek, who counts Gwyneth Paltrow among his fans, added that children with tantrums are also “possessed by ‘entities.’

“When it comes to your children and they are acting out, yelling and being aggressive for no reason, entities can enter your children,” he said.

The only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, Martha Louise, 52, is fourth in line to the throne. She stepped down as a working royal in 2019.

Martha, a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who claims she can talk to angels, revealed in 2022 that she would not represent the royal family.

He added: “So the way to prevent this is to look your child straight in the eye, no matter how uncomfortable it makes him, and say, ‘You have no power here, you are a weak entity and I am sending you now in the light, deep in the light.”

And about suicidal people, Durek said: “In shamanism we believe that there is a suicidal spirit – a spirit that enters your consciousness and plays on your emotions with the burdens that you feel, that other people suffer because you are alive. , because of the things you think you can’t overcome, because of the pain of any situation or because of something you’ve done that you can’t forgive yourself for.

The comments were met with outrage, with many angry that Martha Louise’s first husband, Ari Behn, died by suicide.

Ari is the father of Martha Louise’s three children: Maud, 19, Leah, 17, and Emma, ​​14.

One person commented: ‘Aha! A suicidal spirit. Let me tell my two children who lost their father to suicide this year. I bet they’ll be impressed.

‘Of course the real problem, like Norway’s mental health system (or lack thereof), is not to blame. The suicidal spirit is. Right.’

While another wrote: ‘You should be ashamed! I lost my daughter to suicide, and your stepdaughters lost their father.

‘I am angry about the fact that you are going to become a member of the Norwegian royal family. You should be ashamed!’

People were also quick to condemn his views on “entities” invading children.

“Horrible how you demonize the completely normal emotions and behavior of children,” said one. “Telling them they have no power is terrible and insulting. Unfollow.’

While another said: ‘This would absolutely traumatise a child who only has big feelings.’

Durek and Martha got engaged in 2022 and King Harald said his daughter would not be allowed to use her royal title in any future commercial partnerships with its partner.

The princess, who describes herself as ‘spiritual’ and claims to be a clairvoyant, spoke to the BBC and admitted that stepping back from her royal duties had been a process fraught with ‘turmoil’.

After Martha Louise’s decision to abdicate, King Harald emphasized that his daughter remained a princess at his request. He said, ‘She is our daughter, and she will remain so. So she is Princess Märtha Louise.’

Shortly after mother-of-three Martha announced her engagement to Durek, a publisher in Norweigan dropped his book ‘Spirit Hacking’ due to pseudoscientific claims, including ‘children can get cancer if they are unhappy’.

Among his other claims, Durek says he once rose from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by “burning” his soul, and has also spoken about needing a kidney transplant from his sister as a child undergo.

It’s unclear why he needed the kidney or how he became wheelchair-bound as he has described. The illness that left him in a coma has also not been disclosed.

The groom-to-be, born Durek Verrett in Sacramento in November 1974, claims that he first became “aware” of his shamanic abilities at the age of five, but did not begin training until the age of eleven.

He adds that he is a “sixth generation healer.”

His father, David, was an engineer of African-Haitian descent; his mother, Veruschka, Indian-Norwegian. His aunt Shirley was a famous opera singer, an African-American mezzo-soprano. He calls on deceased relatives – his father, his aunt and his grandmother – to help him during healing sessions.

From Prince George’s godfather to the King of Norway’s daughter, a host of royals, well-connected socialites and aristocrats are tying the knot in 2024.

The next 12 months look set to be a bumper year for high-society nuptials, with Princess Märtha Louise, Hugh Grosvenor’s fiancée Olivia Henson and the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran all preparing to walk down the aisle.

Elsewhere, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, will wed his partner Anisha Isa Kalebic in an lavish 10-day ceremony in the New Year.

Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s half-brother Albemarle ‘Alby’ Shale, meanwhile, announced his engagement to partner Chelsea in September. The couple could be set for a 2024 wedding. 

From bona fide royalty to aristocratic socialites, here are the details of the weddings worth swooning over this year. 

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett

When: 31 August 2024

Where: Union Hotel in Geiranger

Princess Märtha Louise – the daughter of King Harald of Norway and Queen Sonja and fourth in line to the Norwegian throne – decided to step back from royal duties in November 2022 in a move labelled Norway’s ‘Megxit’.

The princess, who describes herself as ‘spiritual’ and claims to be a clairvoyant, quit her royal role to work alongside her self-proclaimed ‘shaman’ fiancé.

She is set to marry Durek Verrett at the Union Hotel in Geiranger on August 31 2024, the couple announced on Instagram in September.

Posting an identical professional snap of themselves on their social media accounts, the couple said they were ‘extremely happy’ to have found their wedding venue – while Verrett referred to the princess as his ‘goddess’.

The announcement comes after several years of difficulty for the Norwegian royals which culminated in Martha Louise’s decision to step down as a working member of the family – which she revealed has been filled with ‘turmoil’.

Eyebrows were raised when the princess first began dating Verrett, who holds some controversial and pseudoscientific views, including that cancer in children can be caused by ‘being unhappy’.

Announcing the wedding venue for next year’s ceremony on Instagram, Verrett posted a professional photo in which the couple look loved-up, with himself dressed in a pink tuxedo with a sparkling button, while Martha opted for a flowing white, Grecian-style dress.

He wrote: ‘My beloved Princess Märtha Louise and I are happy to announce our upcoming wedding at the Union Hotel in Geiranger in Norway on August 31st 2024. ‘

Verrett went on to explain the hotel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which ‘represents Norway’s rich culture and striking nature’.

He continued: ‘Märtha and I are extremely happy to celebrate our love in Geiranger’s beautiful surroundings. 

‘It means a lot to us to gather family and friends in a place so rich in Norwegian history and with such a spectacular nature surrounding our big moment. Geiranger is the perfect place to embrace our love.’

Princess Martha posted a near-identical announcement on her Instagram profile which accompanied the same photo.

As the couple plan their big day, the dust appears to have settled among the Norwegian Royal Family following Princess Martha’s decision to step down.

In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, she praised her parents, King Harald an Queen Sonja, for keeping the dialogue open while she made her decision and they worked out the details about how the arrangements would work. 

When asked about her decision in comparison with Harry and Meghan, who also stepped down as senior royals, she spoke about her ‘amazing’ family, including King Harald and Queen Sonja, and how the dialogue between them has always remained open.

‘What I think has been amazing through this whole cycle has been the conversations we have had through it all,’ she said.

‘From a very young age I remember my mum and dad saying (the King and Queen saying) that we always have to stick together. We always have to talk things through even if it’s hard, we have to put all the cards on the table because we are family and we have to work things through.’ 

The Norwegian royal also discussed how her fiancé’s controversial ‘views’ had contributed to how the public viewed her position in the royal family.

She said: ‘The Norwegian people I guess… have decided it’s best for me to step down because of his views about things.’

Durek, who describes himself as a ‘Shaman’, was dropped by his publisher shortly after the couple announced their engagement in June 2022 over pseudoscientific claims he made in his book ‘Spirit Hacking’.

Among the claims were that children ‘can get cancer from being unhappy’.

Durek has also claimed he once came back from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by letting his soul ‘burn’ and he has also spoken of having to undergo a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

It is unclear why he needed the kidney or how he became wheelchair bound, as he has described. The illness which sent him into a coma is also undisclosed.

Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Henson

When: 7 June 2024

Where: Chester Cathedral

Billionaire aristocrat the Duke of Westminster, who is Prince George’s godfather, announced his engagement to his girlfriend of two years in April this year. 

Hugh Grosvenor, 32, who is thought to own more land than the King, proposed to Olivia Henson at his family seat, Eaton Hall in Cheshire.

The aristocrat, who inherited his title and estate from his father, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the sixth Duke of Westminster, upon his death in 2016 released a statement about the happy news.

 It read: ‘The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce they are engaged to be married. 

‘The couple, who have been together for two years, recently became engaged at the Duke’s family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news.

‘Hugh Grosvenor, The Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor’s Chair as well as Chair of the Westminster Foundation. Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B-Corp certified food company based in London.’ 

The Duke’s father Gerald Grosvenor suffered a sudden heart attack while out on a country walk, and died aged 64 in 2016.

Hugh succeeded his father, becoming an instant billionaire. As the 7th Duke of Westminster, he inherited a fortune of £9.3billion. 

He also inherited 300 acres across London’s Mayfair and Belgravia – two of the most expensive areas in the world – as well as estates in Oxford, Scotland and properties around the globe – including the 10,872-acre family estate at Eaton Hall in Cheshire.

Close friends with the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke is the youngest of Prince George’s godparents.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence from the guest list for the high society nuptials at Chester Cathedral attracted significant interest recently, not least because the Duke of Sussex and Hugh are childhood friends. 

Hugh, who invited the Prince and Princess of Wales, was said to have wanted to ask the Sussexes too but decided against it to avoid clashes on his big day between the warring royal brothers.  

He was also believed to be mindful of a row that complicated his sister’s wedding at the same venue in 2004, when Camilla Parker Bowles was invited but told to sit away from Prince Charles to avoid the Queen seeing them together. 

However, a different account later emerged in Page Six, with an insider claiming that Harry had been sent a ‘save the date’ for the wedding only for the prince to phone Hugh and tell him it would be ‘too awkward’ for him and Meghan to attend. 

‘Harry actually got a ”save the date” card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle attended, so he made his apologies and Hugh understood,’ the Sussex insider was quoted as saying. 

Hugh is to marry his partner at Chester Cathedral on June 7. The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George, who is the Duke’s godson, are all invited. 

But Hugh was worried about anything ‘overshadowing’ the day, a friend of Harry and William said.  

‘Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both,’ the friend told the Times. 

‘He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any awkwardness.’

A spokesman for the Duke said: ‘We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.’ Buckingham Palace also declined to comment.

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Isa Kalebic

When: January 2024

Where: TBC

In October, the Sultan of Brunei announced that his son, Prince Abdul Mateen, will marry Anisha Isa Kalebic in January 2024.

Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, is the son of The Sultan and his former second wife Hajah Miriam Abdul Aziz. 

He is the youngest of three siblings to get married, following his two older sisters Princess Fadzilah and Princess Azemah, who tied the knot in January 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

‘By the royal command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, the palace has announced the upcoming wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Isa Kalebic will be held from 7 to 16 January 2024,’ read an official announcement.

The celebration will start with the proposal of marriage ceremony to receive the Royal Command, followed by performances from royal court musicians to officially mark the beginning of the wedding.

The matrimony will be solemnised at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque on January 11.

After this, the royal wedding reception will be held, featuring an opulent banquet attended by guests from across the globe. 

Alby Shale and Chelsea Peters

When: TBC

Where: TBC

Earlier this year, Albemarle ‘Alby’ Shale – the godson of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York – got engaged to a woman called Chelsea Peters.

Alby is the son of Nicola Williams-Ellis, who is also the mother of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband of Fergie’s daughter Princess Beatrice.

Alby’s father, Christopher Shale, who died at Glastonbury Festival in 2011, was a close associate of former prime minister David Cameron.

‘I am so delighted and proud of my godson,’ the Duchess told The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden. 

‘His father would be skipping with joy and happiness. Alby and Chelsea are a superb couple. Chelsea is magical and I wish them all the happiness for their future.’

Elsewhere, property mogul Edo, 39, took to Instagram to celebrate the happy news of his New York-based, half-brother Alby’s engagement to his fiancée Chelsea.

The caption also hinted towards Edo’s feelings for Beatrice as he wrote: ‘Finding that special someone is truly the greatest blessing in life.’ 

Edo’s post showed Alby as he smiled behind his partner while donning a shirt with the top buttons casually undone. Chelsea shared a big grin while leaning on the shoulder of her fiancé. 

She sported a metallic strappy top with a pair of tortoise-shell shades. Alby, who maintains a low profile, is a social entrepreneur and founder of Life is Meeting. 

In the caption, Edo gushed over his ‘little bro Alby’ and said: ‘Your engagement news fills my heart with so much happiness.’ 

The caption read: ‘So happy for my little bro Alby and Chelsea! Finding that special someone is truly the greatest blessing in life. Your engagement news fills my heart with so much happiness. 

‘Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless adventures!’ 

Iman Pahlavi and Bradley Sherman

When: TBC

Where: TBC

This year, Princess Iman Pahlavi – the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran – got engaged to her boyfriend of three years. 

In loved-up photos shared in August, the royal, 29, appeared full of joy with her fiance Bradley Sherman, who seemed to have organised a romantic beach proposal. 

Shots of the tender moment showed Bradley down on one knee, surrounded by torches and flower petals, as a visibly emotional Iman covered her face in surprise. 

Other snaps pictured them embracing by the shore, and posing with family members including her parents Yasmine Pahlavi and Reza Pahlavi – the former Crown Prince of Iran – and her sisters Noor and Farah. 

‘Our sweet Iman got engaged this weekend,’ Yasmine wrote in a joint Instagram post with her husband.

‘She and Bradley have been dating for three years. We’ve watched their relationship blossom and are so happy that they have made a commitment to share their lives together.’

According to Town&Country Magazine, Iman is currently understood to be working at American Express and both reside in New York City. 

The couple first met in 2017 through mutual friends, EUROdayFR reports, and are understood to have moved in together during the Covid-19 pandemic. The outlet also says Bradley is originally from Chicago.

While details of the upcoming nuptials are yet to emerge, Iman’s family has a history of elaborate celebrations.  

In 1959, her grandfather Mohammad Reza Shah – the last Shah of Iran – had a lavishly memorable wedding to the 21-year-old Farah Diba, while he was 40. 

As a young Queen of Iran, Farah’s December 1959 wedding was the object of much curiosity and received worldwide press attention. 

Her gown was designed by Yves Saint Laurent, then a designer at the house of Dior, and she wore the newly commissioned Noor-ol-Ain Diamond tiara. 

Louisa Wentworth-Stanley and Ludovic de Ferranti

When: TBC

Where: TBC

Louisa Wentworth-Stanley is engaged to Ludovic de Ferranti, the founder of a gold mining business.

‘The whole family is thrilled,’ one of their friends told The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden in January 2023.

The couple could exchange vows at the Hampshire estate of Ludovic’s father, businessman Adrian de Ferranti.

He once caused a stir when he erected a 9ft-tall nude sculpture of the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes in the grounds. Some neighbours claimed it was offensive and could cause a car crash.

When you buy as many gifts for people as the King certainly has to, chances are you can count on similar (or even the same) gifts for more than one person.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that Charles has apparently gifted some of his loved ones with a Highgrove Heritage scarf worth £115, available thanks to a partnership between the King’s Gloucestershire estate, The Prince’s Foundation and Johnstons of Elgin.

In a sweet display, several members of the royal family were pictured wearing the navy blue and beige accessory as they attended the annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.

Princess Anne, Lady Louise Windsor, the Earl of Snowdon and Samuel Chatto, Princess Margaret’s grandson, all proudly wore the scarf, made from 100 percent ultra-fine RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) merino wool from Australia.

Ten percent of retail sales of the scarf will be donated to The Princes Foundation by Johnstons of Elgin, according to the Highgrove Gardens website.

The scarf was launched in early October, in time for the 11th anniversary of The Campaign for Wool and to coincide with London Craft Week, where it made its debut.

The design features the Prince of Wales check woven over an enlarged Shepherd check.

Princess Anne made her scarf a statement piece to her ensemble and wore it over a white coat, which she paired with a matching beige hat.

Her husband Timothy Laurence also wore the garment while attending the service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Lady Louise, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, paired her scarf with a navy blue coat and a matching hat.

Samuel, meanwhile, looked dapper in his navy blue trousers and black jacket, which had the accessory tucked into it.

The royal festivities usually start when everyone arrives on Christmas Eve. The family opens presents, some of which are gag presents – one of the royal family’s traditions.

The family then attends services at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning. Once they get home, a Christmas lunch is served, followed by games in the afternoon.

Last Christmas the royals experienced their biggest change in decades as they celebrated their first festive period without Queen Elizabeth II, who had died just a few months earlier.

King Charles was seen waving to the crowds gathered outside Norfolk Church to wish him and his family well this Christmas as he walked alongside Queen Camilla.

The Princess of Wales smiled broadly as she walked to the church wearing an elegant blue coat and matching hat, holding her daughter Princess Charlotte’s hand.

Charlotte’s younger brother, Prince Louis, joined the rest of his family and held Mia Tindall’s hand as they prepared to attend the service.

On his other side, Prince William also held his son’s hand, while Prince George, dressed in a navy blue suit, walked next to his sister.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined the rest of the royal family on their way to church.

Lady Louise Windsor led the glamour as she joined her cousins at Sandringham today.

The student, 20, looked effortlessly chic in a navy ensemble as he headed to the St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate.

Wrapping up warm in a festive ensemble, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh tucked her back behind a navy trilby and matched her cousin-in-law Kate Middleton in navy tones.

Louise, who is currently studying at the University of St Andrews, paired the look with nude heels as she walked alongside her brother James, Viscount Severn.

 Her cousins Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were also in attendance, alongside the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. 

The Princess of Wales looked effortlessly chic as she joined Prince William, the King and the rest of the royal family at Christmas Day Church service in Sandringham in today.

Kate, 41, beamed alongside her children Prince Louis, five, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince George, 10, in a blue Alexander McQueen coat and customised Gianvito Rossi ‘Glen 85’ boots as she made her way to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate.

Holding hands with Princess Charlotte, Kate beamed as she walked past well-wishers

Adding a touch of glam to the festive look, Diana paid a sweet tribute to her mother-in-law by wearing a pair of Princess Diana’s earrings.

She has been worn the dazzling earrings on a number of high profile occasions. 

A wedding present from Crown Prince Fahd, Princess Diana’s ‘The Saudi Suite’ set includes a sapphire watch, earrings, bracelet, ring and necklace.

Diana, who famously loved sapphires, wore the entire set to a Brisbane state reception in 1983, but also experimented with each item separately.

The earrings contained detachable sapphire drops, which Diana removed before wearing the resultant chunky studs, each surrounded by ten round diamonds, to mark Harry’s birth in 1985.

 

When William gave them to Kate after their engagement in 2010 she too put her own stamp on them, refashioning them into modest drop earrings.

Kate, who is known to wear the same clothes in several colours, also owns a green version of the Alexander McQueen coat, which she wore on a trip to Boston.

She paired the look with a festive fascinator, navy polo neck and midi crimped skirt.

Hundreds of well-wishers have been queuing since the early hours to catch a glimpse of the royals, and waved excitedly as Charles and Camilla made their way to the church.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has remained in the US with Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet – despite recent hopes of a thaw in relations between King Charles and his youngest son.

The royal festivities usually start when everyone arrives on Christmas Eve. The family open presents, some of which are gag gifts – one of the Royal Family’s traditions. 

The family then attend services at Saint Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning.  Once they get home Christmas lunch is served, followed by afternoon games. 

Last Christmas the royals experienced their biggest change for decades as they celebrated their first festive period without Queen Elizabeth II, who had passed away just a few months earlier.

Elsewhere, Prince Louis sweetly held hands with his second cousin Mia Tindall, nine,  as he joined the rest of the royal family at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Little Louis, five, was joined by Prince George, 10,  Princess Charlotte, eight, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham for Christmas.

Mia’s sister Lena, five, walked behind the Wales’ holding hands with her parents Zara and Mike. Her younger brother Lucas, two, stayed at home.

Holding hands with her mother, Princess Charlotte looked festive in a bottle green coat with her hair tied back into plaits.

Meanwhile, George, walking solo, appeared very grown up in a smart suit.

Louis meanwhile held hands with both Prince William and Mia Tindall, the daughter of William’s cousin Zara. 

Adorable Prince Louis – who often steals the limelight with his cheeky displays – took part in his first ever Christmas Day walkabout last year. 

Today, he opted for tweed trousers and a navy coat.

Joining the king and queen was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Zara and Mike Tindall and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed in California. 

The Princess of Wales beamed with happiness as she walked to the service alongside her husband, ahead of the other members of the Royal Family. 

She looked elegant in her festive get-up as she waved to the well-wishers who have travelled to Norfolk today. 

Hundreds of well-wishers have been queuing since the early hours to catch a glimpse of the royals, and waved excitedly as the King and Queen Consort made their way to the church.  

Prince Harry has remained in the US with Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet – despite recent hopes of a thaw in relations between King Charles and his youngest son. 

The royal festivities usually start when everyone arrives on Christmas Eve. The family open presents, some of which are gag gifts – one of the Royal Family’s traditions. 

The family then attend services at Saint Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning.  Once they get home Christmas lunch is served, followed by afternoon games. 

Last Christmas the royals experienced their biggest change for decades as they celebrated their first festive period without Queen Elizabeth II, who had passed away just a few months earlier. 

The King and Queen, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, waved to well-wishers while attending a Christmas Eve service at the church on Sunday.

Royal Christmases traditionally feature the greeting of people outside the church, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

For the second year in succession the disgraced Duke of York walked from Sandringham to church with the family.

Andrew’s alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will come under further scrutiny in the new year with the release of hundreds of files from a defamation case, after a ruling by a US judge.

His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York appeared in public at Sandringham for the first time in years, walking beside her ex-husband and smiling broadly at the press.

Andrew’s daughters were with their husbands, Princess Beatrice with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Prince Eugenie with Jack Brooksbank.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined the rest of the royals on their way to the church. The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a bespoke version of the Claire Mischevani Kristen coat.

Charles’s second Christmas message as monarch will be broadcast at 3pm, and this year it was recorded in the Centre Room in Buckingham Palace which leads on to the royal residence’s iconic balcony.

The room is decorated with a living Christmas tree which will be replanted after the broadcast.

From its branches hang natural and sustainable decorations including hand-turned wood, dried oranges, glass baubles, pine cones and paper.

Charles, like Queen Elizabeth II, writes his Christmas broadcasts and last year he followed his mother’s well-established template, a personal reflection on the year, touching on current issues and with a Christian framework.

The King will give his second annual King’s speech, with a focus on the environment.

It marks a turn away from typically apolitical speeches given by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth. 

Louise Thompson has opened up about her struggles with her physical and mental health in a candid new post.

The TV personality, 33, shared on Instagram on Wednesday a photo of herself in the hospital, hooked up to an IV, as she discussed her struggle with ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic intestinal condition in which the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers may develop on the lining of the colon, which may bleed.

In a post to mark Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, Louise described her struggles with the condition since her diagnosis in 2018 and wrote about her ‘difficult time’.

She bravely shared how her symptoms got worse amid her mental health struggles because she “didn’t really care if she died.”

Louise wrote candidly: ‘Hi, my name is Louise and I have ulcerative colitis. This week is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.

‘I was diagnosed in 2018. I became concerned when I noticed there was quite a bit of blood in my poo, which came out of nowhere.

‘I didn’t know much about inflammatory bowel disease, but my biggest concern was the fact that some of my close relatives had suffered from aggressive bowel cancer.

‘I thought my symptoms would go away with time (given that I had never struggled with my health before, on the contrary, I had been the model of health), so I left it off for a month or so, but when my symptoms didn’t get better, I told my relatives.

‘I was diagnosed via a colonoscopy and luckily I was treated with medication which worked quite quickly and put me into remission.’

After outlining her diagnosis, Louise admitted that she has been having a “difficult time” recently due to her struggles with her physical symptoms and her mental health.

‘Unfortunately, I’ve been having a hard time lately. When my mental health was really bad, I lost control of bodily functions and didn’t prioritize my physical health because I didn’t really care if I died,” she continued.

‘I couldn’t comprehend what was happening around me at the best of times, so when I left the house and pooped myself repeatedly it was just another nuisance I had to deal with, but it didn’t even come to the surface compared to all my internal suffering and my other neurological symptoms.

‘I was so disconnected from my body that I couldn’t feel anything, which often took me completely by surprise.

“It was much more horrific for the people around me who had a more rational head on their shoulders and ended up taking me to the emergency room where I was admitted and treated with intravenous steroids, a TNF, iron infusions and other things. Unfortunately I got a response.’

Louise said she has now started medication called Vedolizumab – used to control Crohn’s disease or Colitis – in an attempt to control her symptoms, as she outlined her next steps.

She shared: ‘Anyway, I’ve achieved remission for months, but unfortunately I’m struggling again, so I’m about to start a new drug called Vedolizumab, which sounds useful as I can give injections at home (after an initial period of intravenous administration). infusions in the hospital for outpatient care).

‘I’m grateful that my body has responded to some mediation so far and that I am not losing weight drastically like some of my fellow IBD warriors. My thoughts are with you all.

‘The next steps are x-rays and blood tests to make sure I don’t have any underlying nasty conditions that could make the treatment dangerous.’

She concluded her post by encouraging other people to discuss their struggles with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and colitis in an effort to “break the stigma.”

‘Let’s break the stigma around poop and get to the bottom of this miserable disease! More research is needed, especially as the prevalence of this autoimmune disease appears to be increasing,” she said.

“Let’s cut the c**p and start talking about our experiences/symptoms and what the diagnosis was like for you, so that those who feel isolated and stuck can feel less alone. Love, Lx.”

It’s not the first time Louise has spoken about inflammatory bowel disease, as she has previously shared posts on social media about her health problems.

The former Made In Chelsea star is also suffering from PTSD and postnatal anxiety after almost dying while giving birth to her son Leo in November 2021.

She has battled numerous physical problems since the traumatic birth, in addition to ulcerative colitis, which she was diagnosed with before becoming pregnant.

Last November, Louise opened up about her health when she told how she had experienced two years of extreme weight fluctuations.

‘I feel my body coming back to itself. It’s always been there, but it feels more like my old body,” she said at the time.

‘My body hasn’t felt like my body for two years. There are still things I haven’t done in two years since pregnancy, which is so strange. I haven’t had alcohol in two years.’

‘There are certain things I haven’t eaten, I only recently started exercising. I haven’t actually lived for two years and now I’m going to start living.’

Louise went on to explain how her weight has ‘been loco in recent years’, revealing that she had ‘gained almost half my body weight during my pregnancy’.

During her extended hospital stay after her traumatic birth, Louise explained how she “couldn’t eat or exercise much for the better part of a month, causing me to lose all my muscle and fat.”

Shortly after she “gained weight due to being put on mental health medication early this year, we switched medications and I lost my appetite.”

In mid-2022, her battle with colitis also became “really bad” and Louise was readmitted to hospital, leaving her “malnourished and very thin.”

She gained the weight back when she got home and was put on steroids, saying: ‘I started eating like an absolute pig, my face and body were swollen.’

Louise almost died giving birth to her son Leo, who she shares with husband Ryan Libbey, and spent five weeks in hospital with ‘serious complications’.

She has since struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum anxiety, and admitted to crying up to 20 times during a week in January 2022.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritan chapter. See www.samaritans.org for details.