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Prince William, Kate forced to take action for Forest Lodge amid royal blunder

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Prince William, Kate forced to take action for Forest Lodge amid royal blunder


Prince William and Princess Kate moved into their ‘forever home’ in Windsor last November, signalling a major shift in not just their personal lives but also in their royal duties.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have already taken some unconventional steps for how they conduct their affairs, but the couple had to give into pressure as they revealed a crucial detail about their living arrangement.

It was revealed in a report by The Times that the future King and Queen are paying £100,000 more than the previous tenants for their annual rent (around £300,000).

According to the official documents filed with the Land Registry, William and Kate have signed a 20-year lease on the property back in July. However, this is the first time the details have been made public, an unprecedented step for the royals.

One royal commentator believes that William and Kate would not have liked to reveal this particular detail about their home, but were forced into taking this step after ‘peppercorn rent’ of the many royals was exposed.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh also pay peppercorn rent. However, the most infuriating fact, which had triggered the tax-paying Britons, was that the disgraced ex-prince Andrew was also not paying any rent on Royal Lodge.

Meredith Constant pointed it that the reports put pressure on William especially as the profits from the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall, which go straight into the pockets of the King and his heir respectively, were exposed in a documentary.

She claimed that after the reports, it sparked many changes in how the royals present their portfolios. It is all “designed” to make William look like a “more transparent ruler who listens and learns”.





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Stanley Tucci reacts to years of hilarious celebrity mix-ups

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Stanley Tucci reacts to years of hilarious celebrity mix-ups


Stanley Tucci reacts to years of hilarious celebrity mix-ups

Hollywood may finally need a “Bald British-Adjacent Men Identification Guide.”

During a recent appearance at New York’s 92NY, Stanley Tucci once again addressed one of the internet’s favourite celebrity mysteries: why everyone thinks he’s Mark Strong.

And honestly? Even Tucci has stopped fighting it.

“Mark Strong, always,” the actor admitted when asked which celebrity he’s constantly mistaken for. “We get complimented on each other’s performances. It’s really great.”

The Devil Wears Prada star had nothing but praise for his accidental celebrity twin, calling Strong “such a nice person” and “such a great actor.”

When moderator Josh Horowitz joked, “All attractive bald men do not look alike, folks,” Tucci instantly fired back with: “Apparently, we do.”

At this point, the confusion has become so legendary that even Mark Strong has leaned into it. Speaking previously on BBC’s The One Show, Strong revealed a fan once demanded he autograph a Stanley Tucci poster.

“She wouldn’t take no for an answer. So, I just signed it as him,” Strong confessed.

Plot twist? Tucci has apparently done the exact same thing.

Somewhere out there, there are probably dozens of signed posters nobody can fully verify.

Strong also admitted the comparisons may have intensified after his glasses-heavy Kingsman era, saying, “I suppose we look similar,” before adding that the mix-up unexpectedly turned them into friends.

Despite years of fan confusion, the two actors still haven’t shared the screen together – something the internet now seems emotionally invested in fixing immediately.

Until then, audiences will continue doing what they do best: confidently saying “Wait… which one is that again?” every time one of them appears onscreen.





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Megan Thee Stallion shares how she’s getting ‘magic back’ into her life

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Megan Thee Stallion shares how she’s getting ‘magic back’ into her life


Megan Thee Stallion reveals some of her favourite anime

Megan Thee Stallion is enjoying some well-deserved down time — just in time for hot girl summer.

The Grammy-winning rapper has been laying low ever since her sudden exit from Moulin Rouge! on Broadway following her breakup from NBA star Klay Thompson, who she accused of cheating. But on Friday, May 15, Megan broke her social media silence to share an update with fans.

“What’s up y’all? It’s your girl Megan Thee Stallion AKA the Hot Girl coach,” the 31-year-old said to her 32.7 million Instagram followers.

The WAP hitmaker then turned the camera to her fur babies as she celebrated being “reunited” with her “sons,” i.e., her cat and dog.

“So finally, after Broadway, I am home and I am ready to have some me time,” she shared as she finally got around to answering one of the questions she would get asked the most by devoted fans she would run into outside of the theatres: What is Megan Thee Stallion watching right now?

Longtime hotties would know that Megan is an avid anime fan. In honour of the month of May, AKA Ani-may, the rapper shared that she is rewatching Black Clover and plans to begin rewatching Inuyasha — her “comfort anime.”

“Right now, on my downtime, I’m definitely feeling nostalgic. I’m feeling like I need a little bit of magic back,” she reflected. “So I think I’m finna start rewatching Black Clover… I’m definitely gonna start rewatching Inuyasha again, because it makes me feel like I’m at home.”

Some of Megan’s honorary mentions also included classics like Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, and Yu Yu Hakasho





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Eurovision reaches its grand final in Austria clouded by politics and protests

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Eurovision reaches its grand final in Austria clouded by politics and protests


The Eurovision Song Contest reached its sequin-drenched final on Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn’t be invited to the party.

After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries are taking to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.

The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – boycotting in protest.

The show opened with a performance by last year’s winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who have just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.

 Noam Bettan, representing Israel with the song ‘Michelle’ performs on stage during the Grand Final.

Christian Bruna / Getty Images


A variety of performers 

First up was Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the contest favorites for the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany’s Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” the first of doubtless several performances to make liberal use of jets of flame.

Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium’s Essyla.

Ukrainian singer Leléka offered the ethereal, beautiful “Ridnym,” and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse” – and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.

Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angsty “Kraj Mene.”

Newcomers looking to grasp the eclectic essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites to emerge during a week that saw two semifinals ahead of the grand finale.

Grand Final - 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Sarah Engels representing Germany with the song ‘Fire’ performs on stage during the Grand Final.

Christian Bruna / Getty Images


Rapper Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” is a bouncy, pro-European song from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.

Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.

Finland is the favorite in betting odds with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.

Eurovision can produce surprises

“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”

Street protests opposing Israel’s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden, and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.

Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday’s final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”

“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.

The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year. This year’s field of 35 contestants is the smallest since 2003.

Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.

Grand Final - 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Søren Torpegaard Lund representing Denmark with the song ‘Før Vi Går Hjem’ performs on stage during the Grand Final.

Christian Bruna / Getty Images


Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show” that is the competition’s grand final.

Vuletic says political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969, ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.

“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said, including the 2009 contest in Russia, Azerbaijan’s turn as host in 2012, and the 2024 competition in Sweden, marred by protests and the expulsion of a competitor after a backstage altercation.

“All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues,” he said.

Eurovision is airing on national broadcasters in participating countries, on Peacock in the United States and on the Eurovision YouTube channel in many territories.

Viewers in participating countries can vote up to 10 times by phone or text message during and for a short time after the show, but aren’t allowed to vote for their own country’s act. Viewers in the U.S. and other nonparticipating countries can vote online at www.esc.vote.



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