MEGHAN Markle is hiring Oprah Winfrey's party planner for her lavish 40th birthday bash for 65 guests, a report says.
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly tasked Colin Cowie with planning the milestone birthday at her and Harry's £11million mansion in Santa Barbara, California.
Cowie is known for his extravagant work and has organised bashes for big-name celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian.
Harry has reportedly ordered a cake from local baker Posies & Sugar with guests set to enjoy "grazing tables" with locally sourced foods and wines.
A source said: "Megan wants a small gathering. About 65 people are invited, her closest friends and family. Colin was recommended to her by Oprah who always puts on fabulous parties."
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog below for the very latest updates...
- Joseph Gamp
QUEEN VISITING BALMORAL FOR FIRST TIME SINCE PRINCE PHILIP'S DEATH
The Queen will spend her first summer in Balmoral without her husband Prince Philip, who died in April.
It was a special place to the couple and is where she and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon in 1947.
However, it is unlikely she will spend much time on her own there as enjoys hosting members of her family every summer.
- Joseph Gamp
KATE MIDDLETON SET TO REPLACE PRINCE HARRY IN HIS BELOVED ROLE AS ENGLAND RUGBY PATRON
SPORTY Kate is set to replace Prince Harry as patron of his beloved England rugby teams.
Harry, 36, was stripped of all his patronages by the Queen when he quit his royal duties to live in America.
Read more here.
Kate Middleton is taking on some of Prince Harry's patronagesCredit: Richard Pohle – The Times - Joseph Gamp
PRINCE HARRY’S BOOK DEAL COULD UPSET PRINCE CHARLES’ ASCENSION TO THE THRONE
THE royal family have “very real fears” that Prince Harry’s book deal could destabilise the Monarchy and upset his father's ascension to the throne, according to a source.
Harry, 36, is set to publish his explosive memoir in four books which he vows will examine the "highs and lows" of his extraordinary life. The book will be put out during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next year.
But the second of those books is due out only after the Queen has died – which is causing fears within the firm that this could hinder the transition of power to Prince Charles.
A source told MailOnline that there is “anger and disappointment” within the palace and that the Queen is facing anxiety over the books contents.
They said that senior Palace officals made the decision not to respond publicly to the Duke of Sussex’s announcement because they feared it would “fan the flames” of his already strained relationship with Prince Charles.
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN MARKLE ‘HUMILIATED HER CRITICS & HUMBLED ROYAL FAMILY – HER NEXT STEP IS TO CONQUER THE WORLD’, SAYS BIOGRAPHER
MEGHAN Markle “humiliated her critics and humbled the Royal Family”, according to a biographer.
Tom Bower believes Meghan’s next step is to “conquer the world” ahead of her 40th birthday on Wednesday.
He wrote in a column for The Sun: “She has humiliated her critics and humbled the Royal Family.
“Her next steps are to conquer America, then the world.
“Critics carp that Meghan’s megalomania has no limits. Her admirers retort that she is purposely fulfilling the American Dream.”
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN ‘RIGHTLY FEELS SHE IS AT THE HEIGHT OF HER POWERS’
Tom Bower told The Sun: “Unlike many women who fear toppling over the cliff edge at 40, Meghan stands in the global spotlight as one of the world’s superstars, convinced her destiny will soar towards greater fame and fortune.
“Within just 18 months of snubbing the Queen and abandoning Britain, Meghan and Prince Harry are enjoying an enviable lifestyle in their £11 million, nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom palace north of Los Angeles.
“Financed by multimillion-dollar contracts with Netflix, Spotify and a four-book publishing deal, she is sitting in the sunshine beside a huge swimming pool in a five-acre, manicured garden, plotting how to realise her breathtaking ambitions.
“At 40, Meghan rightly feels that she is at the height of her powers, the master navigator of her own narrative, and Prince Harry’s fate.
“At her milestone age, the Duchess of Sussex can congratulate herself on defying all the odds.”
- Joseph Gamp
HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY PLANNER ORGANISING BIRTHDAY BASH FOR MEGHAN MARKLE
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly tasked Colin Cowie with planning the milestone birthday at her and Harry’s £11million mansion in Santa Barbara, California.
Cowie is known for his extravagant and was one quoted saying that “the equation for the gold standard of service isn’t 1+1=2. It’s 1+1=3. What can you do to stay ahead of the curve?”
He’s organised bashes for big-name celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian.
Harry has reportedly ordered a cake from local baker Posies & Sugar and the party is supposedly going to be low-key, according to the Mirror. Guests on the day will enjoy “grazing tables” with locally sourced foods and wines.
A source said: “Megan wants a small gathering. About 65 people are invited, her closest friends and family. Colin was recommended to her by Oprah who always puts on fabulous parties.”
- Joseph Gamp
WHEN DID HE AND PRINCESS EUGENIE ANNOUNCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT?
In a statement on January 22, 2018, Buckingham Palace announced the pair were engaged to be married in the autumn of 2018.
The couple got engaged while on holiday in Nicaragua earlier in January.
Buckingham Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr Jack Brooksbank.
“Her Royal Highness and Mr Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month.
“The wedding will take place in the autumn of 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course.”
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN ‘HUMILIATED HER CRITICS’
Meghan Markle “humiliated her critics and humbled the Royal Family”, according to a biographer.
Tom Bower believes Meghan’s next step is to “conquer the world” ahead of her 40th birthday on Wednesday.
He wrote in a column for The Sun: “She has humiliated her critics and humbled the Royal Family.
“Her next steps are to conquer America, then the world.”
- Joseph Gamp
PRINCE HARRY MOCKED IN NEW HBO SHOW THE PRINCE
Prince Harry is ripped to shreds in a hilarious first look at adult cartoon The Prince.
Created by Family Guy writer Gary Janetti, a teaser clip of the HBO show sees the Royal looking around Hollywood apartments with his wife Meghan, voiced by Condola Rashad.
Making fun of the lifestyle Harry left behind in the UK, Harry tells Meghan: “This might be the smallest palace I’ve ever been in.”
“Well, it’s an apartment,” replies Meghan.
To which Harry says: “Yes, an apartment palace, I know that.
“Lots of tiny palaces inside one big palace.”
- Joseph Gamp
BIRTHDAY PARTY
Meghan Markle is hiring Oprah Winfrey’s party planner for her 40th birthday bash which will host 65 and not break Covid rules, according to reports.
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly tasked Colin Cowie with planning the milestone birthday at her and Harry’s £11million mansion in Santa Barbara, California.
Harry has reportedly ordered a cake from local baker Posies & Sugar and the party is supposedly going to be low-key, according to the Mirror.
Guests on the day will enjoy “grazing tables” with locally sourced foods and wines.
- Joseph Gamp
‘HYPOCRITICAL’
Friends of the duke could be prepared to retaliate by revealing their own secrets about Harry after years of refusing to gossip about him to the media.
A pal said: “It feels very hypocritical given Harry chucked people out of his friendship group for talking to the press.
“There is a fear that he’s going to reveal details of his hedonistic youth which some worry will play havoc with their careers and personal lives.”
- Joseph Gamp
HARRY’S FRIENDS ARE NERVOUS
Another source said: “If Harry slams any of his old school and military buddies in his new book they have pledged to break ranks to tell their story.”
Harry’s friends are also reported to be nervous after their “friendly emails” went unanswered.
Tensions reportedly began when the Duke left a number of his military pals off the list for his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018 to make room for celeb friends such as George Clooney.
- Joseph Gamp
CONTINUED
Another source added: “There may be a provision given to staff members to respond to any claims that they consider to be inaccurate.
“Maybe a blind eye could be turned if staff members used friends or family members to correct the record on their behalf.”
“Legal remedies could also be available if the book “smears any individual staff members unfairly”, the source claimed.
- Joseph Gamp
CONTINUED
A royal insider told the website: “Harry and Meghan’s former staff members are convinced that this book is being written to settle scores and will likely include a lot of detail about their time within the Royal Family.
“Based on the Oprah Winfrey interview, some of these ex-workers simply do not trust that a full and accurate picture will be presented.
“Conversations have already started about what steps they might be able to take to protect their own reputation and that of the monarchy post-publication.”
- Joseph Gamp
HARRY’S MEMOIR
That book will be published next year. Harry vowed that it will examine the “highs and lows” of his extraordinary life.
Two publishers reportedly flew out from London to Harry’s home in California and took part in an ‘auction’ for the rights to his book.
And it’s claimed the royal conducted his own negotiations – with a source telling the Daily Mail: “Those involved were actually very shocked by his approach, which was to look at them coldly and state his demands: $25million.”
- Joseph Gamp
THE PRINCE
Harry and Meghan are also part of HBO’s new show The Prince.
Meghan is portrayed in the show as a gold-digger while Harry is depicted as stupid.
One episode revolves around him popping out to a supermarket to get milk in LA.
He says to wife Meghan: “The most incredible thing happened.
“I found this place — you’re not going to believe it. Stacks and stacks of food as far as your eye could see and people just roaming the corridors taking it.”
- Joseph Gamp
SARAH FERGUSON DEFENDED HARRY AND MEGHAN
Sarah Ferguson has defended Meghan Markle and Prince Harry saying “there should be no judgement of race”.
The Duchess of York, who is the ex-wife of Prince Andrew jumped to their defence, saying: “There should be no judgement on race, creed, color or any other denomination.
“I wish Harry and Meghan so much happiness.
“I know Diana would be so proud of her sons and their wives.”
- Joseph Gamp
CONTINUED
A royal insider said: “Harry and Meghan’s former staff members are convinced that this book is being written to settle scores and will likely include a lot of detail about their time within the Royal Family.
“Based on the Oprah Winfrey interview, some of these ex-workers simply do not trust that a full and accurate picture will be presented.
“Conversations have already started about what steps they might be able to take to protect their own reputation and that of the monarchy post-publication.”
- Joseph Gamp
LOUIS PORTRAYED AS THUG AND QUEEN AS MAFIA BOSS IN NEW HBO ANIMATED SERIES
In the show, Prince Louis is portrayed as a thug who smashes a cup of tea on the floor.
In another scene, Prince George turns to a royal aide and asks: “Excuse me, do you have any tea that doesn’t taste of p***?”
The cartoon Queen, shown as a mafia-style boss who reads The Sun, shoots dead an aide who startles her. An admiring George then says: “She’s such a bad b*tch.”
It also jokes about Prince Philip, who died in April aged 99, being near death, and shows him struggling to breathe.
Prince Harry is also in the show — voiced by Orlando Bloom, his real-life neighbour in Montecito, California — and depicted as stupid. One episode revolves around him popping out to a supermarket to get milk in LA.
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL FAMILY NEWS ROUND-UP: THE LATEST
- Harry is following in his mother footsteps by writing a memoir, says Princess Diana’s voice coach
- Meanwhile, the Duke and wife Meghan reportedly ‘forced aides to keep commercial deals a secret’ to pave their way to making millions in LA
- And the couple’s ‘heartbreak’ over Prince Philip will feature in an updated book on their lives
- Their daughter Lilibet has also finally been added to the royal line of succession – almost two months after her birth
- Royal fans were left in hysterics after a video emerged of the Queen saying ‘nah’
8 WAYS MEGHAN MARKLE COULD CELEBRATE HER 40TH BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK
There is a landmark royal birthday on the cards, as Meghan Markle celebrates turning 40 next week.
But exactly how will the Duchess of Sussex choose to mark the milestone on August 4th?
Her New York baby shower, ahead of giving birth to two-year-old son Archie in 2019, suggests that the mum-of-two is a fan of marking special occasions in a significant way.
Then again, she was spotted spending her 37th birthday, shortly after her 2018 wedding, at the marriage of Prince Harry’s friend Charlie van Straubenzee to Daisy Jenks.
While the details of how the duchess will choose to welcome in her 40s are being kept under wraps, here’s how we think the royal birthday girl might spend her special day…
Read the full story here.
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR ANIMATED COMEDY THE PRINCE ON HBO MAX
Official trailer for animated comedy The Prince on HBO Max
- Joseph Gamp
‘EXPERIENCES, ADVENTURES, LOSSES AND LIFE LESSONS’
Royal courtiers are reportedly braced for a string of bombshell allegations in the Duke of Sussex’s book, which is due to be published next year.
Harry will recount “experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons” he had as a royal.
But a small band of staffers who worked for the Duke and Duchess are now said to be concerned that the book could paint a false picture of the couple’s life in the Palace.
- Joseph Gamp
‘HEART OF INVICTUS’
At Archewell, she is likely to play a key role in the production of ‘Heart of Invictus’ – the first series announced by Harry and Meghan.
On the website, it is described as “a multi-episode production that will spotlight a group of extraordinary Invictus Games competitors from around the globe on their road to Invictus Games The Hague 2020.”
The event is set to take place next year after being rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL AIDES COULD LAUNCH LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MEGHAN AND HARRY
Royal aides could launch legal action against Meghan Markle and Prince Harry if the Duke’s forthcoming memoir is inaccurate, a source has claimed.
Last week Harry announced he would be releasing a memoir next year – as Her Majesty celebrates 70 years of service – in which he will recount “experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons”.
A small band of staffers who worked for the Duke and Duchess are now said to be concerned that the book could promote a false narrative of how they were treated while living in the UK, reports Mail Online.
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