The world was captivated by the royal wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

But what was once described as a fairytale romance between fiery redhead Sarah and the man of her dreams would ultimately end in heartbreak.

The couple first met when Princess Diana invited Sarah to dinner at Windsor Castle and sat her next to the prince.

A whirlwind romance followed and the two married at Westminster Abbey on July 23.

Sarah had only one request at the time: that they could always be together.

But Andrew, a serving naval officer, was sent back to sea just two weeks after their wedding.

It is thought that cracks began to appear early in their relationship.

Fergie revealed that they only saw each other 40 days a year during the first five years of their marriage.

“I spent my entire first pregnancy alone,” Sarah later told Harper’s Bazaar about Andrew’s absence. “When Beatrice was born, Andrew was given ten days’ shore leave.”

The couple legally separated in early 1992. However, they continued to present a united front with their daughters, who were pictured together at the Royal Windsor Horse Show a few days later.

In August of that year the situation became more complicated. Sarah was photographed on holiday in St Tropez with her financial advisor John Bryan.

While the pair went on holiday together, intimate photos were taken of the American businessman appearing to kiss the topless Duchess’s toes.

When the news broke, Fergie was on summer holiday at Balmoral Castle with the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew.

It was said that Queen Elizabeth was mortified and that Fergie’s relationship with father-in-law Prince Philip was forever destroyed.

The Daily Mail later wrote that Philip didn’t even want to be in the same room as Sarah anymore, insisting she had brought ‘shame’ to the whjole family.

Their divorce was officially finalized four years later on May 30, 1996, but by that point the Duchess was already estranged from the royal family following her scandal.

After the divorce, she told Harper’s Bazaar:

‘I wanted to work; It’s not right for a royal princess to be commercial, so Andrew and I decided to make the divorce official so I could go to work.”

Some reports at the time suggested she was waiting for a bigger divorce settlement.

However, Sarah denied these claims, stating that all she wanted was to be on good terms with Andrew’s family again, especially the late Queen.

Although it has been almost thirty years since their divorce, the Duke and Duchess have remained friends over the years.

They raised Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie together and Fergie still lives at Prince Andrew’s home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.

It seems like the couple spent more time together than they had in the ten years they were actually married.

And the couple regularly goes on holiday with their daughters.

Sarah previously told The Daily Mail: ‘We are the happiest divorced couple in the world. We are separated, not apart.”

Discussing their wedding day and their ongoing relationship, she added, “July 23, 1986 was the happiest day of my life. Andrew is the best man I know. What he is doing for Britain is incredible; no one knows how hard he works for his country.

“My duty is to him. I am so proud of him. I support him and always will. The way we are is our fairy tale.

‘Even though we are not a couple, we really believe in each other. The Yorks are a united family. We showed it.’

There are dresses, and then there are princess dresses. Dresses are nice enough and can make you feel like a rock star, but just a few dresses make you feel like you’re living in a fairytale land. When I find one of these dresses, I make it my job to buy it and live my best life in it, even if there’s no event to be found. And the latest one I found is an Amazon bestseller.

The Byinns smocked ruffle mini dress costs $42 at Amazon, and it could soon become your favorite new dress. From top to bottom, whatever color you choose, this is a dress that gives the complete Disney princess vibe. The puff sleeves? The mesh? Go away. And that’s neglecting the rest of this dress, which is airy and light in every sense of the word.

Grab the Byinns smocked ruffle mini dress at Amazon for $42! Please note: Prices are correct at date of publication, March 12, 2024, but are subject to change.

The dress features a fun shoulder design with ruffles, sheer puff sleeves, no back, a square neck and, most importantly, a flowy swing skirt with layers that you can move back and forth as you see how it twists and moves. close to you. Even if you choose a plain black dress, this dress is more than enchanting and will look great on anyone.

Grab the Byinns smocked ruffle mini dress at Amazon for $42! Please note: Prices are correct at date of publication, March 12, 2024, but are subject to change.

So if you need a visually appealing dress that will make you look and feel like you’re wearing the outfit of a fairytale princess, then you’ll have to head over to Amazon and grab yours for $42. It really is such a unique look, and one that everyone can appreciate. Don’t miss it while it’s still in stock.

Not what you’re looking for? View more Byinns products hereand don’t forget to check out Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Shop with us tip: Find the best gifts on Amazon, personalized based on your shopping history here!

An ugly row between controversial Liberal MP Taylor Martin and his new wife as she left their marital home was the subject of a police report, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

Witnesses have told how a heated argument broke out between the couple at the front of the house they shared in Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast, in late January this year.

NSW MP Taylor Martin’s wife Brittany, who was just eight weeks old, carried her three-year-old daughter and rushed to a car parked on the street where she locked them, a witness claimed.

Mr Martin followed him and reportedly heard banging on the windows and doors of the car shouting and screaming.

A short time later, a woman, believed to be Brittany’s mother, arrived and picked up both Brittany and the toddler. “He was furious,” the witness claimed.

A formal police report was later lodged with NSW Police. Daily Mail Australia understands officers later attended Mr Martin’s speech.

However, no charges were filed and the case did not progress any further. It is also understood that Mr Martin privately disputes the suggestions he shouted to Brittany through the window.

On Wednesday, a day after Daily Mail Australia broke the story about the collapse of the relationship, Mr Martin was seen arriving at the NSW State Parliament for the week of sitting.

With a coffee cup in his hand and without his wedding ring, Mr Martin kept his head down as he walked down Macquarie Street.

At one point he appeared to duck behind a cleaner to prevent a photographer from taking pictures of him.

Mr Martin and his wife were married in December in a romantic, luxurious ceremony at Sydney’s Grounds of Alexandria, in front of about 110 guests.

At the time, Mr Martin was facing a Liberal Party investigation into his bombardment of an ex-lover with “ugly and undignified” text messages.

That story broke after the couple’s engagement.

That investigation is still ongoing, about eight months after it was first launched. Mr Martin’s former boss and partner, former federal MP for the Central Coast seat of Robertson Lucy Wicks, alleged Mr Martin verbally abused her over a five-year period.

Mr Martin publicly apologized for a series of text messages – leaked to the media – he sent Ms Wicks during that period in which he called her a “stupid s***” and a “bloody pig”. He pledged to assist in any investigation into the allegations.

He said at the time: ‘I was young and inexperienced and I became involved in a situation that was far beyond my ability. There were heated words during my attempts to break up, which I sincerely regret.

“It was an ugly and undignified divorce.”

The couple’s relationship soured in 2019, when Mr. Martin was 29 and Ms. Wicks was 46. Mr. Martin first worked as a staffer in Ms. Wicks’ office when he was 24.

A source close to the former couple said Brittany is now seeking help as the mother of one deals with the ugly split.

“I was shocked to hear that the marriage had ended so quickly,” says an insider.

‘Before the wedding he was nice to everyone, he had even been on holiday with her family.

“He seemed completely in love with Brittany and so happy… it all got annoying as soon as they got married.”

The 32-year-old MP still has photos from his wedding available on his private social media pages. It is clear that he did not inform his colleagues of the split.

“They only recently got married,” said a colleague, adding that they were “shocked” to hear the relationship was over.

State Opposition Leader Mark Speakman previously said he would not speculate on the young MP’s future until that investigation was completed.

Mr Martin has made his voice heard in Parliament in recent months.

At the end of November he campaigned for the introduction of ‘contact bans’ as an alternative to sustained violence orders.

‘I believe the time has come to look at making an option available to people below the severity of an apprehended violence order. [AVO]’ he said at the time.

‘It is clear that there are people in our community who are no longer safe when an intimate relationship ends.

‘A less serious course of action than an AVO, a restraining order would be a first point of contact that people could easily use to serve as formal notice to the other party that the next step will be an AVO if they breach these rules. the contact ban.

‘I can tell you from experience that applying for an AVO is not an easy task. It is an extremely confrontational and triggering experience.’

When Martin gave his inaugural parliamentary speech in 2017, he spoke out against both bullying and domestic violence, explaining how his upbringing was shaped by his own experiences of being bullied on the playground.

“Domestic violence strikes a chord with virtually everyone in our state,” he said.

“As we see the number of reported incidents increase and more people taking a stand, I’m sure every family has at least one story to tell close to home.

“I know I do that among my friends and family. I will be an advocate among young men.

“We must ensure that young boys who will become young men receive the guidance necessary to teach and emphasize the value of respect in all relationships, even if – and especially if – it is not modeled at home.”

Mr. Martin was elected to the Legislative Council in 2019 and is serving an eight-year term ending in 2027. He earns approximately $172,000 per year.

A Liberal MP’s new wife has left him just two months after their fairytale wedding and amid a party investigation into him bombarding an ex-lover with “ugly and undignified” text messages.

NSW Upper House MP Taylor Martin married his girlfriend Brittany in December in a luxurious ceremony at Sydney’s Grounds of Alexandria in front of about 110 guests.

But within eight weeks the relationship was over and Brittany and her three-year-old daughter left the home they had shared with Mr Martin on the state’s central coast.

A source close to the former couple said Brittany is now seeking help as the mother of one deals with the ugly split.

“I was shocked to hear that the marriage had ended so quickly,” says an insider.

‘Before the wedding he was nice to everyone, he had even been on holiday with her family.

“He seemed completely in love with Brittany and so happy… it all got annoying as soon as they got married.”

The wedding took place just five months after Mr Martin publicly apologized for past behavior when his former boss and partner, former federal MP for the Central Coast seat of Robertson Lucy Wicks, made a formal complaint to the NSW Liberal Party . She accused him of verbally abusing her over a period of five years.

Mr Martin publicly apologized for a series of text messages – leaked to the media – he sent Ms Wicks during that period in which he called her a “stupid bastard” and a “bloody pig” and promised to help in case of any problems. investigation into the allegations.

He said at the time: ‘I was young and inexperienced and I became involved in a situation that was far beyond my ability. There were heated words during my attempts to break up, which I sincerely regret.

“It was an ugly and undignified divorce.”

The couple’s relationship soured in 2019, when Mr. Martin was 29 and Ms. Wicks was 46. Mr. Martin first worked as a staffer in Ms. Wicks’ office when he was 24.

Daily Mail Australia has been told the Liberal Party’s investigation – which began eight months ago – is still ongoing and has been referred to external investigators.

Mr Martin remains in Parliament but is no longer in the Liberal party room while the matter is heard.

State Opposition Leader Mark Speakman previously said he would not speculate on the young MP’s future until that investigation was completed.

The 32-year-old MP still has photos from his wedding available on his private social media pages. It is clear that he did not inform his colleagues of the split.

“They only recently got married,” said a colleague, adding that they were “shocked” to hear the relationship was over.

Mr Martin has made his voice heard in Parliament in recent months.

At the end of November he campaigned for the introduction of ‘contact bans’ as an alternative to sustained violence orders.

‘I believe the time has come to look at making an option available to people below the severity of an apprehended violence order. [AVO]’ he said at the time.

‘It is clear that there are people in our community who are no longer safe when an intimate relationship ends.

‘A less serious course of action than an AVO, a restraining order would be a first point of contact that people could easily use to serve as formal notice to the other party that the next step will be an AVO if they breach these rules. the contact ban.

‘I can tell you from experience that applying for an AVO is not an easy task. It is an extremely confrontational and triggering experience.’

When Martin gave his inaugural parliamentary speech in 2017, he spoke out against both bullying and domestic violence, explaining how his upbringing was shaped by his own experiences of being bullied on the playground.

“Domestic violence strikes a chord with virtually everyone in our state,” he said.

“As we see the number of reported incidents increase and more people taking a stand, I’m sure every family has at least one story to tell close to home.

“I know I do that among my friends and family. I will be an advocate among young men.

“We must ensure that young boys who will become young men receive the guidance necessary to teach and emphasize the value of respect in all relationships, even if – and especially if – it is not modeled at home.”

Rakul Preet Singh shared the latest pictures from her wedding festivities, wearing beautiful rose gold kaleeras adorned with her initials. Look!

Rakul Preet Singh And Jackky Bhagnani married on February 21, 2024 in Goa. The couple announced their wedding with dreamy photos of the festivities. While fans rejoice over their union, the actress delighted everyone on Saturday with new adorable photos from the wedding. One of the many highlights that particularly caught everyone’s attention was the couple’s impeccably coordinated attire, crafted by designer Tarun Tahiliani.

Rakul Preet Singh looked like a dream in a blush pink full sleeve lehenga with embroidered floral motifs and fine thread work. She wore the sheer dupatta like a veil, as described by designer Tarun Tahiliani in his recent Instagram post: “Intricately hand-embroidered and decorated with three-dimensional floral motifs in captivating ivory and blush shades. Crafted over a few thousand hours by our master artists, the ensemble brought to life the inherent spirit and charm of TT Bride @rakulpreet. #TTBrides #Rakulpreet #Craftsmanship #TarunTahiliani”

Mrinalini Chandra designed Rakul Preet Singh’s wedding kaleeras

Moreover, what has caught the attention of fans is her custom-made Kaleeraas, which we have fallen in love with. The rose gold kaleeras from Rakul’s wedding were designed by Mrinalini Chandra. The beautiful accessory featured her initial R alongside charming embellishments such as hearts. Rakul complemented it with a pink bridal choda, which enhanced the elegance of her kaleeras. Her minimal glamour, opulent Kundan jewelery and traditional maangtika perfectly matched the pastel shade of the attire.

While the bride’s entire look displayed beautiful craftsmanship, the groom’s sherwani drew inspiration from the beauty, culture and artistry of Kashmir. The iconic porcelain leaf pattern of Kashmir was the central idea behind Jackky’s traditional outfit. The ivory sherwani paired with matching ivory churidar pants and a pastel colored turban complements the overall look perfectly.

Sharing the heartwarming post on Instagram, Rakul captioned it, “We always dreamed of a fairytale wedding and Thankyouuuu @taruntahiliani because you made that a reality.. you captured our personalities so beautifully through the essence of our outfits.. love and only love to you and your team special mention to mansha for all the warmth she gave us and our families .”

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani’s bridal outfits were truly breathtaking and a work of art. Is it not?

Looking forward to spring and a sunshine getaway?

It’s understandable if you are, but these beautiful images are a reminder that many destinations are actually even more enchanting when they’re besprinkled with snow, freckled with frost and draped in cheek-reddening cold mists. 

Our collection here includes iconic cities from New York to London via Paris and Madrid, all looking incredibly enticing in their winter finery.

This spellbinding portfolio will also whisk you to the village that inspired Frozen’s Arendelle, Slovenia’s iconic Bled Island and Cornwall’s Land’s End.

Our hope? 

That the images persuade you not to give winter the cold shoulder, but to wrap up warm… and embrace it. 

CANCER survivor Sebastien Haller completed a fairy tale story by steering Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory.

The former West Ham star, 29, staged a remarkable comeback to seal a 2-1 win for the hosts over Nigeria.

1

William Troost-Ekong had headed the Super Eagles ahead just before half-time to silence the home crowd.

But Franck Kessie leveled them just after the hour before Haller's big moment arrived with nine minutes to go.

Full report to follow…

THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT STORY..

The Sun is your destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, stunning pictures and can't-miss videos.Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

Set to take the throne in just a week’s time, Princess Mary of Denmark is certainly bringing a breathe of fresh air into the monarchy.

The Australian-born mother-of-four, 51, grew up in Tasmania, a world away from the opulence and extravagance of the Amalienborg Palace.

But her ‘common birth’, fashion sense, and displays of doting motherhood have drawn comparisons with another former outsider who has firmly secured her place in the Firm – the Princess of Wales.

The brunette beauties, both born to middle-class families, were dubbed ‘royal sisters’ by the late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld thanks to their strikingly similar appearance and comparable taste in fashion. 

Unsurprisingly, as Mary and Kate often wear very similar, if not identical outfits.

Both ‘commoners’ who married an heir to throne, parallels between the Princess of Wales and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark are numerous – including a somewhat tricky relationship with their sisters-in-law. 

Both transitioned into their roles as royals and mothers with grace and ease and have garnered a multitude of fans in their respective nations.

After both marrying into royal families, Kate to Prince William in 2011, and Mary to Crown Prince Frederik in 2004, the commoners-turned-royals have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into public life.

They are also both doting parents,  while the the Princess of Wales is mother to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, four, Crown Princess Mary has four children: Prince Christian,18,  Princess Isabella, 16,  twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.

Crown Princess Mary, as the former Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, came from a similarly middle-class start to life as Kate – but it was much more remote.

Born to a Scottish mathematics professor and his wife on the small island of Tasmania in Australia, thousands of miles from the spectacular Frederik VIII’s Palace of Amalienborg that is now her home in Copenhagen, hers was a completely different world. 

She met Prince Frederik, now 55 and a fourth-cousin of King Charles,  in a pub called The Slip Inn in Sydney. She was then a 28-year-old sales director for a luxury estate agent, and he was visiting Australia for the 2000 Olympic Games.

Kate of course, famously met Prince William while the pair were studying at St. Andrews University.

Prince Frederik was famous for dating Scandi models and even a pop star, it was apparently love at first sight for the prince, nicknamed ‘Fred’. 

William had less of a rake reputation, but had been linked to a string of society beauties before proposing to Kate. 

Mary and Fred married in 2004 and Mary was taken under the wing of Frederik’s mother, the formidable Queen Margrethe II, herself a graduate of Cambridge and the Sorbonne. 

Similar to Kate, Mary quickly knuckled down to the job, was soon fluent in Danish and has established herself as a hugely popular figure within Denmark, where she is still held in high regard by the country’s inhabitants. 

The parallels between Kate and Mary extend further. There’s a clear style synergy between the two women that have seen their royal wardrobes – both casual and formal – mirror each other. Whether it’s relaxed clothes perfect for more rustic outings, or donning historic jewels and gowns for public occasions, both women appear assured in their sense of style.  

And each has acclimatised to the accompanying scrutiny of royal life with aplomb, both with a somewhat awkward relationship with their brothers-in-law.

While William and Kate were no doubt rocked by Megxit, Mary too has a tense relationship with her in-laws.

Just like William and Harry, Frederik and brother Joachim, 54, haven’t had the smoothest of relationships.

In particular, there was tension between them when Joachim, who like Harry is a former Army officer,  married second wife Marie Cavallier, now 47, in 2008.

Marie and Mary wore near-identical clothing and the Danish press claimed the sisters-in-law were at ‘serious war’ with Marie growing ‘jealous’ of playing second-fiddle to Mary. 

Of course Kate’s relationship with sister-in-law Meghan also hasn’t been smoothest sailing, with Meghan claiming Kate ‘made her cry’ during her bombshell interview with Oprah in 2021.

While Meghan has done various magazine profile and TV interviews full of ‘truth bombs’, Marie too spoke to glossy Danish magazines to spill royal secrets.

Like Meghan and Harry’s move to the US, Marie and Joachim have moved abroad. 

The pair first moved to Paris in 2019, and have now settled in Washington DC.  

Princess Mary will become Queen on January 14, her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe dramatically announced her abdication live on TV in her traditional New Year’s Eve speech.

After more than half a century on the throne, Margrethe is the longest-sitting ruler in 1,200 years of the Danish monarchy. As the country’s 54th sovereign (but only its second queen), her heritage stretches back more than 1,000 years to King Gorm the Old. With the passing of our late Queen, she also became the world’s longest-serving monarch.

In 2022, Margrethe sparked a public rift with her youngest son Prince Joachim after stripping his four children of their royal titles. She subsequently apologised about the timing of the announcement but stood by the edict.

Joachim had spoken out against his mother’s decision in the days that followed – claiming that his children born from Joachim’s first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg – and Henrik and Athena had been ‘harmed’ in the process.

Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that ‘communication was missing’ within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement.

Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: ‘There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.’

Vanessa Hudgens said “I do” to MLB player Cole Tucker in Tulum, Mexico on December 2, and was reunited with High School Musical co-stars Monique Coleman and Lucas Grabeel on the big day.

The new bride, 34, welcomed 100 guests to her romantic wedding as she married the professional baseball star, 27, in the scenic Azulik City of the Arts.

Coleman, 43 — who most notably played Taylor McKessie in the hit Disney franchise — uploaded a video Thursday to send her congratulations to Hudgens.

The actress also included special moments from the wedding, such as posing with Grabeel, 39 – who played Ryan Evans in the films.

The beginning was a clip of both Monique and Vanessa excitedly jumping up and down on a sandy shore of a beach as the sun set in the distance.

The Princess Switch star wore a flowy, white strapless dress with fabric tied in bows below her shoulders.

Monique donned a black bikini top tied with a string wrapped around her shoulders, as well as black shorts.

After showing some of their excitement at the reunion, the pair shared a friendly hug, which was also caught on camera.

The clip then transitioned into a slideshow of images, such as Coleman posing to show off her wedding outfit.

She wore a strapless bandeau top made from a dazzling sequined material, teamed with a matching maxi skirt with a thigh-high slit on the left side for a sultry flare.

The beauty styled her locks into a sleek bun, easily revealing a pair of large gold hoop earrings that she wore to accentuate the striking look.

Coleman then shared another photo as she paused for a photo with Lucas, who wore a dark purple suit and patterned shirt.

The two smiled happily for the camera as they supported Vanessa on her special day.

In the caption of the post, Monique wrote, “Congratulations @vanessahudgens & @cotuck. Your love is magical.’

An instrumental version of Maile’s song I Got You played in the background of the reel throughout the clip.

Social media users took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the reunion, including Hudgens himself, who wrote, “I love u.”

Vanessa’s sister, Stella, also added: ‘Beautiful angel!!!! Loved seeing you ,” while one fan typed, “Throwback to our childhood, Queens.”

Another wrote: ‘Literally so sweet and a dream come true that you are all still friends and so there for each other.’

Lucas later reposted the video to his own Instagram Stories, adding the caption, “Congratulations Vanessa! Thanks for sharing Mo! I love you both so much! What a special journey!’

After tying the knot with Tucker — who she started dating in 2020 — Hudgens opened up to Fashion about the lavish wedding, admitting, “The planning process was absolutely overwhelming.”

“I knew I had never been to a wedding the way I wanted my own wedding to look, so I had to think outside the box,” she said, later adding, “…I wanted to be surrounded are by nature, greenery and foliage.’

However, she found the perfect location in the Azulik City of the Arts, in the middle of the Mayan jungle.

On the big day, the Hallmark Channel star wore a Vera Wang gown with a low back that clung to her gorgeous body.

Her hair was tied back in a tight bun, with a light ivory tulle veil on the back of her head. The words: ‘Mrs. T December 2, 2023’ were embroidered onto the material for a unique touch.

Cole wore a white double-breasted suit jacket and tan pants. He also opted for a white shirt and brown leather shoes to complete his look.

Vanessa’s bridesmaids all wore long, bronze-colored dresses, while the groomsmen wore a similar color scheme to Tucker’s outfit.

The happy couple met for the first time during a Zoom meditation hosted by Jay Shetty, who also officiated the wedding.

After the ceremony, the bridal couple enjoyed a tasty dinner with the guests, followed by a reception.

For the festivities, Hudgens changed into a second Vera Wang ensemble, a strapless dress made from both lace and silk.

Reflecting on the day, the star offered one piece of advice: “don’t do first looks because seeing each other for the first time at the altar is the most emotional moment of my life.”

“I literally fell over when I saw Cole and had to take a deep breath and force myself to keep walking because I could have fallen to the ground.”

The actress then said: ‘It was truly the most magical weekend of my life.’

“I’m so grateful we got to have a private wedding, and it helped that I took everyone’s phones away.”

The beauty added: ‘Seeing that and bringing everyone together and celebrating us, it was just so magical. When I literally talk about it now, it brings tears to my eyes.’

‘I couldn’t have dreamed it would be better. I knew it was going to be magical, but it exceeded my expectations.”

Other celebrities were also in attendance, including Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland and Barbie star Alexandra Shipp, both of whom also happened to be bridesmaids.

Shipp recently mentioned this Entertainment tonight that the wedding was “so beautiful,” adding, “I cried the whole time.” She and Cole have the right stuff.”

Shane MacGowan’s hit Fairytale of New York has risen to the top of the iTunes chart amid a campaign to make it Christmas number one after his death.

The classic Christmas carol, released by Irish rock band The Pogues with singer Kirsty MacColl in 1987, has topped the charts every year, but has never reached the coveted festive top spot.

Fans of the band are pushing to give it the title they feel it deserves following MacGowan’s death last week at the age of 65, and it looks like things are off to a good start with the song topping the iTunes charts today UK chart position.

The song has also reached number six in the UK Spotify charts, while reaching number 18 in the weekly Official Charts chart on Friday.

The national anthem is over behind hits from Wham! and Mariah Carey, but chart bosses say the 36-year-old anthem will be a ‘real contender’ on the last Friday before Christmas.

The late Irish rocker’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, has thrown her support behind the campaign, saying she is “strongly in favor” of an attempt to reach the top of the charts.

Clarke, 57, who first met MacGowan when she was 16 and was by his side when he died on Thursday, has given her approval to the bid to give the song the chart position fans think it deserves in memory of the raucous folk star .

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Irish journalist Clarke said: ‘It would be nice, wouldn’t it? It should be Christmas number one. You absolutely should. I’m a big supporter of that.’

Clarke also told the program that behind closed doors, MacGowan was a very different man to his very cynical and vocal public persona.

She added that the staunch Irish republican enjoyed watching documentaries about the royal family and cried when Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Diana died.

She said: ‘He was always buying flowers and he was just a very romantic man.’

It comes as a baby boomer radio station pledged to play the original version of the song for its listeners over the festive period, following controversy in previous years over the BBC’s ‘censorship’.

Boom Radio said that despite the classic Christmas song containing the homophobic slur ‘f****t’ and MacGowen’s character calling his lover ‘an old sl*t on junk’, listeners would not be offended and thus released the version would take place in 1987.

A survey on the station’s website found that 91 percent of respondents thought it should be played uncensored.

In recent years, some radio stations have gone to great lengths to hide the word, with BBC Radio 1 muting it in 2007 because ‘members of the public might find it offensive’.

Although the decision was later reversed due to public outcry, the same channel said in 2020 that it would play the censored version of the song, while BBC Radio 2 pledged to continue playing the original.

The Pogues themselves released a new version of the song the same year, replacing the words ‘you cheap lousy f****t’ with the more PG ‘you’re cheap and you’re feral’.

Phil Riley, co-founder of Boom Radio, told the Telegraph: ‘These decisions are always a challenge and they all have to be taken in context.

‘Our adult audience recognizes the potential for offense and that language and attitudes have evolved over their lives.

‘In a sense, texts from the past illustrate the degree of welcome change. They like to hear songs in their original form wherever possible.’

The version that reached the top of the iTunes chart and the upper reaches of the Spotify chart is the original, including the controversial lyrics.

MacGowan, 65, died at home in Dublin on Thursday, surrounded by his family, after developing pneumonia. He and Clarke married in Copenhagen in 2018 after being engaged for 11 years and dating for decades.

He had been released from the hospital just over a week earlier after months of treatment for viral encephalitis, a condition that causes swelling in the brain.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from around the world and launched a renewed campaign to get Fairytale of New York to number one in Britain for the first time.

And on Friday, a poll by bookmakers Ladbrokes again named the song Britain’s favorite party song of all time.

Bookmakers have lowered their odds on the song – a drunken lament by an Irish immigrant in America as he reminisces about a former lover – to reach first place.

It’s a firm favorite to be number one at Christmas, ahead of both competing festive songs and hits from the likes of Taylor Swift.

Spotify chart data from November 29, the day before MacGowan died, shows the song was the 23rd most streamed song in Britain that day, with 190,288 plays.

But on November 30, when news of his death emerged, the number of streams more than doubled to 390,657, and the song was the sixth most listened to song in the UK that day.

It also recorded 694,571 listens as of December 1, becoming the fourth most played song on the platform.

Martin Talbot, CEO of Official Charts, said of the song: ‘It’s a real contender for this year’s Christmas Number 1 – a chart position this classic has never achieved before. What a fitting tribute to Shane that would be.”

Following his death, the creative director of stage show Fairytale Of New York has redoubled his efforts to get MacGowan’s best-known song to the top of the UK charts for the first time.

Ged Graham told the PA news agency that although Fairytale Of New York has never topped the charts, it is the most played Christmas carol in Britain.

“It’s a great Christmas story,” he said. “It’s honest and real, and honest and real music lasts forever.

“It’s not a Merry Christmas. It’s a realistic, true Christmas story. Everything about Christmas isn’t all fun and bells and whistles and sweetness, it has an earthiness and a wonderful atmosphere that just speaks to people, especially the Irish people in Britain.

‘Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl… are just two real people. They don’t look like movie stars, they don’t look like George Michael and Wham! This is what my friends look like.”

In the past, the lyrics have been changed for both live performances and radio play. Official Charts does not distinguish between versions when collecting sales data to determine the Official Top 40.

The results are announced on the last Friday before Christmas, December 22, with sales and streams from the Friday before until 11:59 PM on Thursday counting towards that week’s charts.