Entertainment
Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward reveal reason for skipping important service
- Royals gather at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day service
- Prince Edward, Duchess Sophie quietly leave UK for key mission
- Representatives of couple share details for Sophie, Edward new trip
King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by senior members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey on Monday for an important date on the royal calendar: the Commonwealth Day service.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were present along with the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. However, in a surprise turn of events, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were notably absent.
Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are considered to be key players in Charles’s reign, hence it was odd for them not to be present at the event, unless they had another quiet assignment.
Representatives of The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh confirmed to GB News that they had travelled to Italy to support Team GB at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games.
However, the news has not been officially announced by the Palace for the couple.
The update comes after the Duke of Edinburgh, who is a patron of the British Paralympic Association, shared an uplifting message for the team, not only wishing them good luck but also encouraged them to enjoy their competitions.
“The Olympic team surprised so many of us, and I know that you’re going to go out there and surprise many as well, and you’re just going to be able to show them exactly what you can do,” he said.
“So, good luck, have fun, and however you’re involved in the team, I hope you really enjoy the experience.”
Entertainment
Queen Camilla makes stunning confession in interview with Jenna Bush Hager
Queen Camilla sat down for a surprise interview with former US President George W Bush’s daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, who’s a renowned journalist.
The Queen, 78, made a stunning confession in chat with Jenna during her visit to the New York Public Library on Wednesday.
The conversation, recorded on day three of the King Chares and Camilla’s State Visit to America, focused on the Queen’s dedication to promoting literacy and her experiences during the trip.
The Queen reportedly spoke of her reading habbits, nature and personal choices during the chat.
NBC’s TODAY programme announced the interview on Instagram, stating: “In a TODAY exclusive, Jenna Bush Hager spoke to Her Majesty Queen Camilla about her visit to the U.S. and the Queen’s passion for reading.”
Vicki Perrin, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, also accompanied the journalis at the library event.
The reception attracted impressive gathering of literary and cultural figures, with approximately 100 guests from the publishing world in attendance.
Among those present were Vogue editor Anna Wintour, author Harlan Coben, and actress Sarah Jessica Parker, herself a prominent advocate for reading initiatives.
Parker remarked: “Every time you shine a spotlight on reading and the relationship between a reader and a book and how it changes lives and enriches lives and cultivates empathy and curiosity, I’m so grateful.”
The Queen was all excited as she presented a special gift to the institution’s famous collection of Winnie the Pooh teddy bears, which originally belonged to author A.A. Milne’s son.
She donated a replacement Roo doll, crafted by British toymaker Merrythought, as the original character has been missing from the collection for some time.
Entertainment
US top commander to brief Trump on new military options against Iran, says report
- Possible strikes may focus on key Iranian infrastructure sites.
- Another plan involves securing Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
- Operation could include ground forces to reopen key oil passage.
President Donald Trump will receive a briefing on Thursday from the leader of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, on new plans for potential military action against Iran, Axios reported on Wednesday.
The report cited unidentified sources. The White House and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Centcom has prepared a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iran, likely including infrastructure targets, Axios reported, citing sources.
A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war began three weeks ago.
The war began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and the Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
Trump has previously threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure. International law experts say such strikes may amount to war crimes. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.
Another plan expected to be shared with Trump is focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping, the report added, saying such an operation may involve ground forces.
The Iran war, which remains unpopular in the US, has shaken markets and raised oil prices. The war has brought traffic through the strait, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, close to a standstill.
Washington hopes to make Iran more flexible at the negotiating table on nuclear issues, Axios reported.
Another option that might come up in the briefing is a special forces operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Axios said.
Trump has cited Iran’s nuclear programme as an imminent threat. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons but says it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine is also expected to attend Thursday’s briefing, Axios reported.
Entertainment
Why did Goldie Hawn go on an acting hiatus?
Goldie Hawn has no plans to rush back in front of the camera, and she has been remarkably clear-eyed about why.
The 80-year-old spoke to PEOPLE in an interview published on 29 April, explaining that after a career full of beloved performances, she simply hasn’t found anything worthy of bringing her back.
“It’s about the content,” she said.
“Acting for acting’s sake, taking things… I’ve read a lot of shows, a lot of scripts that I didn’t like or I didn’t think I’d fit. The one thing about acting is that I’ve done it, and I had a great career, and I honor that.”
Hawn last appeared on screen in The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020, alongside her longtime partner Kurt Russell.
The decision to step back began long before that, however, she traced it to her mid-fifties.
“I think ultimately every life has to have its sections. Doing the same thing over and over again for your whole life is not as interesting to me. And I decided at probably 55 or something, ‘What are you going to do for this next part of your life?’ And I knew that there was more out there to learn and to do.”
The right script could change everything.
“I would love to get a material that could actually be like, ‘Oh my God, I want this so bad. This is so funny. She’s so crazy. She’s so interesting.’ But I haven’t come across it.”
She also floated the idea of a project with her famously talented family, children Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell, with characteristic openness.
“It’s such a great idea because we have so much talent. Never say never, because that could happen at any time.”
Hawn and Russell have also stepped back from Hollywood geographically, spending much of their time at their home in Colorado.
Russell has described waking up each morning looking at the mountain, riding horses and sitting by the living-room fireplace as the rhythm of their life there, a far cry from the pace of the film industry they both helped define.
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