Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s chief of staff has quit just three months after taking on the role as it was decided he was not the correct fit.
The Duke of Sussex handed Josh Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, Mr Kettler has now parted ways with the Sussexes, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual.
His departure comes days before the duke and duchess begin their tour of Colombia on Thursday, which follows their first successful international trip to Nigeria in May.
Meanwhile in the UK, the Princess of Wales made a rare appearance as she congratulated Team GB athletes ahead of the Paris Olympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday.
Kate, who is undergoing cancer treatment, appeared alongside Prince William who was sporting a decidedly more rugged new look.
Key Points
- Harry’s chief of staff quits after three months
- Prince and Princess of Wales congratulate Team GB in video
- Harry and Meghan’s Colombia tour dubbed ‘a distraction’
- Queen Elizabeth’s flying habits revealed
Rare King Charles banknotes sell for 11 times face value
11:16
Athena Stavrou
New banknotes worth £78,430 have been sold for more than 11 times that at an auction for charity.
The notes, all featuring King Charles’ portrait, only entered circulation last June and were put up for bidding by the Bank of England.
The £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes were an attractive draw to collectors for their very low serial numbers. A single £10 note with the serial number ‘HB01 000002,’ sold for £17,000 at bidding.
The very first issues – which would feature the serial number ‘000001’ – were all presented to the monarch, leaving all the next in line to go under the hammer.
The single note that attracted the next highest bid was a £50 with serial ‘000003,’ selling for £14,000, followed by a £5 with the same serial, selling for £11,000.
Chief of Staff latest in long list of resignations handed to Sussexes
10:47
Athena Stavrou
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has left the role just three months after taking it on.
It is not the first time Harry and Meghan have had to navigate the loss of staff, with the couple having seen 18 senior figures leave since they married in 2018.
Nine or more have left since they moved to California in 2020, including key staff from Archewell Productions.
The manager of the company that makes TV programmes and films, Bennet Levine, quit in January after two years at the firm. He worked on the couple’s Netflix documentary before making his exit.
Another big loss came when Oscar-nominated producer Ben Browning left as the couple’s head of internal content in January 2023 - a month after Rebecca Sananes, who was hired to produce Meghan’s Spotify podcast Archetypes, quit in December 2022 as head of audio at Archewell.
That same month, the president of the couple’s charitable foundation, Mandana Dayani, stepped down after a year and a half at Archewell.
Harry’s chief of staff quits after three months as ‘not the right fit’
10:26
Athena Stavrou
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Chief of Staff has become the latest in a string of resignations handed into the couple - just three months after starting the job.
The Duke of Sussex handed Josh Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, Mr Kettler has now reportedly parted ways with the couple, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit.
Mr Kettler, who was previously chief of staff at communication platform Cognixion, began his role the week before the couple’s visit to Nigeria in May and also accompanied Harry to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
He leaves the couple days before they are set to embark on their second international working trip to Colombia.
Harry and Meghan’s Colombia tour dubbed ‘a distraction’
09:27
Athena Stavrou
Some residents of Colombia are claiming the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes tour of the country is being used as a distraction from corruption scandals dogging its government.
Harry and Meghan will begin a four-day tour of the country from Thursday where they will “engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress.”
However, some remain unconvinced. A lawyer based in Bogota told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated.
“Of course, their star power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago. They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad.”
Inside Queen Elizabeth’s royal flights as memorabilia up for auction
08:48
Athena Stavrou
An air hostess who served Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip has revealed the late monarch’s flying habits as memorabilia from her flights go under the hammer.
Notes from Elizabeth Evans, a British Airways air hostess from Birmingham, revealed that the Queen liked to drink a martini before meeting guests on royal flights and always requested a particular type of mint - sugar-free Velamints - during take off.
She also preferred to use her own pillows and enjoyed looking at route maps.
Ms Evans served many famous travellers during her 28-year career that began in 1970. She served the royals during their 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.
She collected mementoes from her time - including instruction cards and menus - serving the rich and famous which were found in her study after her death.
The memorabilia, inherited by Mrs Evans’s niece, Jo Smallwood, is expected to fetch between £400-£600 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Aug 20.
Prince William’s rugged new look sparks huge debate online
07:46
Athena Stavrou
Prince William stole the spotlight in a surprise video with Princess Kate as his new rugged look sparked a major online debate.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined Snoop Dogg and David Beckham to congratulate Team GB athletes as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an end this weekend.
However, it was not the couple’s kind message that grabbed the attention of viewers as most seemed preoccupied by their appearances. Kate, who is undergoing cancer treatment, stood smiling in a striped long-sleeved top and a simple necklace. William sported a markedly more casual look, with a Team GB T-shirt and most notably a long stubble.
Royal fans immediately took to the facial hair, which marked a departure from his usual clean-shaven look.
“Love the beard on Prince William,” one social media commented as another pleaded: “William please keep growing that beard!’.
Another illustrated their approval with flame and heart eyes emojis as they wrote: “William with a tan and a beard!!!!”
Others took a more sarcastic approach to the new look saying: “Ohhh... William is really in vacation mode.”
“Someone got permission from the king to grow a beard,” another one wrote.
Why Kate Middleton’s ‘traditional’ Balmoral summer could be positive sign
07:00
Athena Stavrou
The Windsors are enjoying their summer break with an annual sojourn to their private estate at Balmoral imminent.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have already been joined in Scotland by Princess Anne and it is believed that they will soon be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as their three young children.
The journey to Scotland marks the furthest distance Kate is reported to have travelled since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “The fact that Kate is well enough to travel to Scotland and enjoy a holiday at Balmoral is a sure sign she is on the mend and a very positive step.”
Full story: Prince William revealed Kate romance during classic British drinking game
06:00
Athena Stavrou
Prince William’s ex-girlfriend “unwittingly” revealed his relationship with Kate Middleton during a fateful game of Never Have I Ever with friends, a new biography has revealed.
The now heir to the throne, 42, met his future wife while studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and the pair started out as friends.
However, over time, romance blossomed and it was initially “shrouded in secrecy” because of William’s position within the royal family.
But the cat was let out of the bag when William’s former flame, Carly Massy-Birch participated in a game of “Never Have I Ever”.
Read the full story here:
King congratulates Team GB
05:00
Athena Stavrou
The Prince and Princess of Wales were not the only royals who congratulated Team GB athletes as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close.
King Charles also released a heartwarming message from himself and the Queen as the pair sent their “warmest congratulations to the competitors and their support teams from Team GB and across the whole Commonwealth”.
“Your achievements, across so many disciplines, were forged from that invaluable combination of raw talent, true grit and hard toil over many years, burnished these past weeks by sportsmanship and team spirit in the finest tradition of the Games,” the message read.
“To those who missed out on the greatest prizes, you have most certainly not fallen short in the pride that you, too, have generated for your nations.
“As we thank France for hosting such a wonderful tournament and look to the Paralympics ahead, I can only say that you have all been an inspiration.”
Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand suffers new setback
03:00
Athena Stavrou
Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has suffered a setback ahead of its official launch following the discovery of trademark “irregularities”.
According to reports, several items intended to be sold by the luxury brandincluding yoga matts and picnic labels were incorrectly labelled and needed to be “corrected”.
The error, identified by the US Patents and Trademarks Office in July, will cost an estimated $11,382 (around £9,000) to fix.
News of American Riviera Orchard was first revealed earlier this year when the Duchess of Sussex, 42, set up a website and Instagram page for the brand.
While the pages did not reveal any of its products, it did reveal its logo and name “ARO” and the word “Montecito” – a reference to the California town where Meghan lives with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Queen Elizabeth II memorial garden gets planning approval
02:00
Athena Stavrou
A memorial garden in honour of the life of Queen Elizabeth II has received planning permission.
Reported to feature the late monarch’s favourite flowers, work will begin on the new space in London’s Regent’s Park later this year.
Andrew Scattergood, chief executive of The Royal Parks, said: “The approval of planning permission marks an exciting step forward in the creation of the new garden, which is designed to be a tranquil space for reflection, accessible to all.
“It provides a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. This site will add two acres of biodiverse parkland for everyone to enjoy and explore.”
The memorial garden is scheduled to open in 2026.
Canada paid for extra police during Harry and Meghan visit - reports
01:00
Athena Stavrou
Canada reportedly paid for police presence during Harry and Meghan’s visit to the country despite saying they would not use taxpayer money.
Vancouver police spent C$44,555 (£25,436) on 390.5 hours of security-related overtime during the couple’s visit in February for an Invictus Games event, CTV reported.
A representative for the Invictus Games said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security was paid for by private donors. It is also noted that the police overtime was not specifically used for Harry and Meghan as unrelated protests were also happening in the city.
“We didn’t specifically provide security for them,” a Vancouver police department spokesman told the outlet. “But we had officers in the area they were in [in] case any issues arose due to the ongoing protests in the city.”
A freedom of information request reportedly revealed the Invictus Games had paid $10,221 of the $44,555 security bill while the rest was paid for by the Canadian taxpayer.
Harry and Meghan’s Colombia tour dubbed ‘a distraction’
Monday 12 August 2024 23:00
Athena Stavrou
Some residents of Colombia are claiming the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes tour of the country is being used as a distraction from corruption scandals dogging its government.
Harry and Meghan will begin a four-day tour of the country from Thursday where they will “engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress.”
However, some remain unconvinced. A lawyer based in Bogota told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated.
“Of course, their star power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago. They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad.”
Why Kate Middleton’s ‘traditional’ Balmoral summer with Charlotte, Louis and George could be positive sign
Monday 12 August 2024 21:30
Athena Stavrou
The Windsors are enjoying their summer break with an annual sojourn to their private estate at Balmoral imminent.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have already been joined in Scotland by Princess Anne and it is believed that they will soon be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as their three young children.
The break will give the family a chance to take stock of a difficult first half of 2024, which saw them experience several health problems and ongoing tensions with the Sussexes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have not been invited to the estate, but it is unlikely that they would have accepted an invitation after the Duke of Sussex said the UK is too dangerous for his wife to visit.
The journey to Scotland marks the furthest distance Kate is reported to have travelled since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year.
Read the full story here:
Watch: Prince Harry recalls being ‘hit over the head’ with press cameras
Monday 12 August 2024 20:00
Athena Stavrou
Meghan Markle’s half sister sues her for defamation - ICYMI
Monday 12 August 2024 19:00
Athena Stavrou
Meghan Markle’s half-sister is suing the Duchess of Sussex for defamation, court documents have revealed.
Samantha, 59, claims the royal left her unable to secure employment after portraying her as a “lying, racist, fame-seeker.”
Court documents allege this had an impact on her image “publicly and on a global scale.”
“She has made it so Samantha cannot work, or even enjoy the most mundane of activities, like going to the grocery store without harassment,” the documents read, as reported by The Sun.
Queen Camilla was ‘initially against’ King Charles disclosing health troubles
Monday 12 August 2024 18:00
Athena Stavrou
Queen Camilla was against King Charles’s decision to publicly disclose his ongoing health concerns earlier this year, according to royal biographer Rob Jobson, who has written a number of books about Charles and other members of the royal family.
The monarch, 75, first announced that he was undergoing treatment for a benign prostate condition in January of this year.
Then, in February, it was announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, which had been discovered during the procedure.
Read the full story here:
Watch: Kate and William congratulate Team GB in surprise video
Monday 12 August 2024 17:00
Athena Stavrou
‘Vacation mode’: Prince William’s rugged new look sparks huge debate online
Monday 12 August 2024 16:00
Athena Stavrou
Prince William stole the spotlight in a surprise video with Princess Kate as his new rugged look sparked a major online debate.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined Snoop Dogg and David Beckham to congratulate Team GB athletes as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an end this weekend.
In the video posted to their social media, Kate said: “From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB.” William then added: “Well done on all you’ve achieved, you’ve been an inspiration to us all.”
However, it was not the couple’s kind message that grabbed the attention of viewers as most seemed preoccupied by their appearances.
Kate, who is undergoing cancer treatment, stood smiling in a striped long-sleeved top and a simple necklace. William sported a markedly more casual look, with a Team GB T-shirt and most notably a long stubble.
Read the full story below:
Full story: Prince William revealed Kate romance during classic British drinking game
Monday 12 August 2024 14:27
Athena Stavrou
Prince William’s ex-girlfriend “unwittingly” revealed his relationship with Kate Middleton during a fateful game of Never Have I Ever with friends, a new biography has revealed.
The now heir to the throne, 42, met his future wife while studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and the pair started out as friends.
However, over time, romance blossomed and it was initially “shrouded in secrecy” because of William’s position within the royal family.
But the cat was let out of the bag when William’s former flame, Carly Massy-Birch participated in a game of “Never Have I Ever”.
Read the full story here:
Why Kate Middleton’s ‘traditional’ Balmoral summer could be positive sign
Monday 12 August 2024 13:57
Athena Stavrou
The Windsors are enjoying their summer break with an annual sojourn to their private estate at Balmoral imminent.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have already been joined in Scotland by Princess Anne and it is believed that they will soon be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as their three young children.
The journey to Scotland marks the furthest distance Kate is reported to have travelled since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “The fact that Kate is well enough to travel to Scotland and enjoy a holiday at Balmoral is a sure sign she is on the mend and a very positive step.”
King congratulates Team GB
Monday 12 August 2024 13:27
Athena Stavrou
The Prince and Princess of Wales were not the only royals who congratulated Team GB athletes as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close.
King Charles also released a heartwarming message from himself and the Queen as the pair sent their “warmest congratulations to the competitors and their support teams from Team GB and across the whole Commonwealth”.
“Your achievements, across so many disciplines, were forged from that invaluable combination of raw talent, true grit and hard toil over many years, burnished these past weeks by sportsmanship and team spirit in the finest tradition of the Games,” the message read.
“To those who missed out on the greatest prizes, you have most certainly not fallen short in the pride that you, too, have generated for your nations.
“As we thank France for hosting such a wonderful tournament and look to the Paralympics ahead, I can only say that you have all been an inspiration.”
Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand suffers new setback
Monday 12 August 2024 12:58
Athena Stavrou
Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has suffered a setback ahead of its official launch following the discovery of trademark “irregularities”.
According to reports, several items intended to be sold by the luxury brandincluding yoga matts and picnic labels were incorrectly labelled and needed to be “corrected”.
The error, identified by the US Patents and Trademarks Office in July, will cost an estimated $11,382 (around £9,000) to fix.
News of American Riviera Orchard was first revealed earlier this year when the Duchess of Sussex, 42, set up a website and Instagram page for the brand.
While the pages did not reveal any of its products, it did reveal its logo and name “ARO” and the word “Montecito” – a reference to the California town where Meghan lives with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Thomas Markle’s birthday fundraiser reaches £55,000
Monday 12 August 2024 12:32
Athena Stavrou
A birthday fundraiser set up for the “rejected and abandoned” Thomas Markle has raised over £55,000.
The GoFundMe was set up by British socialite Lady Colin Campbell to show the Duchess of Sussex’s father that “there are still people in the world with good hearts, good values, and good intentions.”
Mr Markle, 80, has been estranged from his daughter Meghan, who recently turned 43, since around the time of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. He has never met Prince Archie and Lilibet.
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised £71,977 from almost 3,000 supporters.
Royal fans praise William’s new rugged look
Monday 12 August 2024 12:10
Athena Stavrou
William’s new rugged look has sparked a huge debate online as he congratulated Team GB on their Olympic effort in a new video.
In the short clip, Kate says: “From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB,” before William adds: “Well done with all you’ve achieved. You’ve been an inspiration to us all.”
While her surprise appearance delighted royal fans, it was William’s new beard that stole the show with some viewers praising the look.
One social media user wrote: “William please keep growing that beard!!”
Another wrote “unshaved William” followed by two flame emojis.
Canada paid for extra police during Harry and Meghan visit - reports
Monday 12 August 2024 11:40
Athena Stavrou
Canada reportedly paid for police presence during Harry and Meghan’s visit to the country despite saying they would not use taxpayer money.
Vancouver police spent C$44,555 (£25,436) on 390.5 hours of security-related overtime during the couple’s visit in February for an Invictus Games event, CTV reported.
A representative for the Invictus Games said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security was paid for by private donors. It is also noted that the police overtime was not specifically used for Harry and Meghan as unrelated protests were also happening in the city.
“We didn’t specifically provide security for them,” a Vancouver police department spokesman told the outlet. “But we had officers in the area they were in [in] case any issues arose due to the ongoing protests in the city.”
A freedom of information request reportedly revealed the Invictus Games had paid $10,221 of the $44,555 security bill while the rest was paid for by the Canadian taxpayer.
Duchess of Edinburgh on royal visit today
Monday 12 August 2024 11:15
Athena Stavrou
The Duchess of Edinburgh is carrying out some royal duties today as she visits the island of Guernsey.
Sophie will attend the Association of Sail Training Organisation’s Guernsey to Poole Small Ships Race on Monday to support the organisation of which she is a patron of.
Harry and Meghan’s Colombia tour dubbed ‘a distraction’
Monday 12 August 2024 10:45
Athena Stavrou
Mome residents of Colombia are claiming the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes tour of the country is being used as a distraction from corruption scandals dogging its government.
Harry and Meghan will begin a four-day tour of the country from Thursday where they will “engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress.”
However, some remain unconvinced. A lawyer based in Bogota told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated.
“Of course, their star power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago. They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad.”
Kate and William congratulate Team GB in surprise video
Monday 12 August 2024 10:21
Athena Stavrou
William and Kate appeared in a video message congratulating Team GB, with a compilation of messages from celebrities including Snoop Dogg and David Beckham.
Congratulating Team GB’s heroes in a short video clip, Kate says: “From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB,” before William adds: “Well done with all you’ve achieved. You’ve been an inspiration to us all.”
Prince Harry thought King Charles would ‘forgive him and make amends’
Saturday 10 August 2024 06:00
Emma Guinness
Following the claim that King Charles is ignoring Prince Harry’s calls, a royal expert has said that the Duke of Sussex “assumed he would be forgiven”.
Royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror: “Despite all his criticisms Harry always assumed he would be forgiven by his father.
“He thought Charles would make amends for the hurt that – in Harry’s view – justified the criticisms.”
The Duke of Sussex, 39, has been a vocal critic of life as a working royal after stepping down in 2020 and his relationship with his family has worsened as a result.
Kate Middleton’s trip to Balmoral ‘a very positive step'
Saturday 10 August 2024 04:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales’s decision to travel to Balmoral as she continues her cancer battle has been described as “a very positive step”.
Kate, 42, will travel to the Aberdeenshire estate to spend some quality time with her family as the royals enjoy their summer break after a difficult first half of the year.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “The fact that Kate is well enough to travel to Scotland and enjoy a holiday at Balmoral is a sure sign she is on the mend and a very positive step.”
Meghan Markle was ‘screaming’ after latest interview
Saturday 10 August 2024 02:00
Emma Guinness
The Duchess of Sussex was “screaming” after her latest interview when she was unexpectedly asked about her mental health.
Royal author Angela Levin said that Meghan, 43, had a “meltdown” when she was asked about her previous suicidal thoughts, which she admitted in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“After the interview was over, she was apparently screaming at the producers, very, very annoyed at what they had asked,” Levin said, as reported by OK! magazine.
“You mustn’t do that with Meghan because she’s in control. But you could see she couldn’t contain her anger, her fury.”
In response to the question, Meghan said that she had not yet “scratched the surface” of her mental struggles in the royal family.
People want Prince Harry to give back his £7 million inheritance
Saturday 10 August 2024 00:00
Emma Guinness
A new poll has found that the majority of people think Prince Harry should give back the £7 million he will receive from the late Queen Mother when he turns 40 next month.
Carried out by the Express, 75 percent of respondents said that the Duke of Sussex should return the money.
However, not everyone was against his receipt of a portion of her estimated £70 million fortune and 22 percent of respondents said Harry should keep the money.
Three percent of respondents were undecided about what he should do.
Prince William praises success of air ambulance fundraiser
Friday 9 August 2024 22:00
Emma Guinness
Prince William has praised a successful fundraiser by London’s Air Ambulance Charity, which raised an impressive £15 million to replace its helicopters.
This is a role close to the heir to the throne’s heart as he previously piloted an air ambulance.
Taking to Twitter/X, he wrote: “Fantastic news! This is going to have a life-saving impact. A huge thank you to everyone who donated. W”
Meghan Markle’s latest interview ‘a real car crash'
Friday 9 August 2024 20:00
Emma Guinness
The Duchess of Sussex’s latest interview has been described as a “car crash” after she and Prince Harry shared their fears for Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet growing up in an online world.
The interview, which aired on Meghan’s 43rd birthday, saw the duchess unexpectedly asked about feeling suicidal when she was a wroking royal.
This prompted her to admit that she had not publicly “scratched the surface” when it came to disclosing the experience.
Many viewers have now said they believe that the duchess was angry that the issue had even been raised by CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley.
Broadcaster Dan Wooton said on his podcast: “I imagine that’s the sort of question, she wasn’t there for that, because she said ‘I did not expect this’. But you could see she couldn’t contain her anger and fury.”
Prince William ‘completely crestfallen’ about Kate’s cancer
Friday 9 August 2024 18:00
Emma Guinness
Prince William was “completely crestfallen” when Kate Middleton was
