The Duke of Edinburgh hosted an elegant luncheon at Lancaster House on February 25, bringing together the foreign ministers of Central Asia in a rare gathering. 

The event saw ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convene under one roof, with HRH at the centre of discussions highlighting the UK’s ongoing engagement with the region.

The luncheon wasn’t also served as an inspiring platform for young Central Asian students, who were given the opportunity to meet the Duke and hear firsthand about the UK’s initiatives in education, cultural exchange, and international collaboration. 

Programs such as Chevening, El‑Yurt Umidi, and the Oxford Hub were spotlighted as pillars supporting talent, leadership, and global connections in the region.

Duchess Sophie’s husband engaged warmly with attendees, fielding questions from both ministers and students alike. 

Joining HRH were the five Central Asian foreign ministers alongside Lord Alderdice, adding an extra layer of gravitas to a luncheon that blended diplomacy, education, and international friendship.

The Duchess of Sussex’s latest literary accessory vanished from virtual shelves in under 24 hours, marking the second time in a month that one of her bookmarks has flown out of stock. 

Under her lifestyle label As Ever, Meghan introduced a fresh design stamped with the words “Hold that thought,” priced at £14.83 and fans  did just that before clicking “buy.”

The slim page-holder arrived alongside curated bundles themed around slow afternoons and cosy evenings. 

While the standalone piece is gone for now, shoppers can still snap it up as part of gift sets ranging from £35.60 to £129.05.

The speedy sell-out follows January’s debut design, which carried the handwritten phrase “fell asleep here” and was crafted in partnership with a female-led workshop in the New Forest. 

That first drop also disappeared quickly though once deliveries landed, not everyone was impressed.

Social media critics wasted no time dissecting the product, with some questioning its quality after a video circulated appearing to show it slipping from a page. 

Supporters praised the UK craftsmanship and snapped up the new release without hesitation, applauding the duchess’s flair for turning a simple reading tool into a talking point.

Bijou Phillips is facing one of the toughest battles of her life.

In a rare and emotional interview, the 45-year-old model and actress revealed she is “hanging on by a thread” as her urgent search for a kidney donor continues.

Phillips, who is currently undergoing dialysis at UCLA Health’s CORE Kidney program, admitted she has been waiting for a transplant for over a year.

“I’ve needed a transplant for a year. I’m sort of hanging on by a thread,” she told Us Weekly.

Born with underdeveloped kidneys, Phillips previously received a life-saving transplant from a friend in 2017.

But nearly a decade later, that kidney is failing.

“The medication you take when you’re transplanted is very toxic to the kidneys,” she explained.

“So when you get a transplant — heart or liver or kidney — within a decade, you’re probably going to need a kidney transplant.”

The Almost Famous star acknowledged the precariousness of her situation. “I could make it on dialysis for a couple of years, or I could get an infection in my line tomorrow and be gone in a few days,” she said.

“I’m really hopeful, [but] it’s an extremely urgent situation.”

Beyond her own health, Phillips says her fight is fueled by her devotion to her 12-year-old daughter, Fianna, whom she shares with ex-husband Danny Masterson.

“Now I’m a single mom, and things are different,” she said. “I want to be here for her, and I have to be here for her. The fight is back. I’m it. I’m all she’s got.”