Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today — 9 January 2025Entertainment News

Everything Kayla Nicole Said About Travis and Taylor on ‘Special Forces’

8 January 2025 at 19:01
Everything Kayla Nicole Says About Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on ‘Special Forces’
Kayla Nicole, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift Andrew Toth/Getty Images ; Matthew Stockman/Getty Images ; Aeon/GC Images

Influencer and model Kayla Nicole is one of 16 celebrities featured on Fox’s Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test — and it didn’t take long before her ex-boyfriend Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, became a topic of conversation.

At the start of episode two, which aired as part of the two-part premiere on Wednesday, January 7, Nicole, 33, informed surfer Alana Blanchard and Disney alum Kyla Pratt that her ex is Kelce, 35.

“He’s dating Taylor Swift,” she said. “I just get a lot of s— online because he’s dating such a mega superstar.”

Nicole and Kelce dated on and off for five years and before calling it quits for good in 2022. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end started dating Swift in summer 2023.

Later in the two-part premiere, the Special Forces soldiers pull up an article with the headline: “Travis Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole asks trolls to ‘leave her alone’ as Taylor Swift releases new album.”

Travis Kelce's Ex Unfollows the Mahomes Family After Taylor Swift Hang

The article was originally published by The Independent in April 2024. At the time, Nicole had tweeted, “There’s just no way I can fully digest all these new albums. I’m still on Cowboy Carter.”

The post was taken as a dig at the release of Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department a.k.a the first album that features tracks inspired by Kelce.

“I’m unproblematic. Mind my business. Never respond to the constant vitriol,” she fired back at the time?. “Solid as they come & don’t expect a pat on the back for it either. Just know everyone has a breaking point & would love for ‘yall’ (because you know exactly who you are) to leave me alone.”

On the show, one of the spiders told Nicole that they wanted to explore what happens “when social media becomes a battlefield.”

Elsewhere in episode two, the rest of the cast chatted about Kelce.

Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Tearfully Says She Regrets Podcast Honesty

“I didn’t know that that was her ex,” Pratt said before Blanchard asked, “Is he a football player?”

Wide receiver Golden Tate subsequently informed them that Kelce is “arguably the greatest of all time to play tight end.”

“OK we ain’t here to pump that f— up right now,” Pratt declared. “We’re just gonna say he good.”

Keep reading for more quotes from Nicole about Kelce and Swift:

The Public Breakup

“Going through a public breakup, just to be frank, is overwhelming,” she said in a confessional on episode two. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. Being reduced to a headline —to something so small as someone’s ex-girlfriend — I feel like if I complete this it will be a massive impact for myself.”

A Fan

“I really like, like, her,” Nicole told Blanchard and Pratt on episode two, referring to Swift. “I think she’s very talented.”

An Interrogation

Before calling Nicole into the interrogation room on episode two, the Special Forces soldiers learn how Nicole was dragged into Kelce and Swift’s relationship online.

“Yeah it’s pretty consistent [and] exhausting,” she told staff about the discourse. “It doesn’t matter — I could post about the sky being blue and people will have a response about an ex and their new situation. It’s inadvertently affected me to the point where it makes me question my overall value as a person.”

Travis Kelce and Ex-Girlfriend Kayla Nicole: The Way They Were

Nicole then began to cry. “It’s just the comparison. It’s just, like, on loop. I think I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with that.”

When she got back to her costars, Nicole explained what happened. “They pulled up an article about my ex. I didn’t think they were going to do that,” she said. “They’re just really good at, like, putting the pieces together to the feeling of me needing to prove myself to people.”

Carey Hart — a motocross champion who is married to Pink — replied, “Well, good. Well, move forward from that s—.”

Denise Richards' Husband Aaron Phypers Sued for Alleged Fraud

8 January 2025 at 18:55
GettyImages-DeniseRichardsAaronPhypers.jpg
Aaron Phyphers and Denise Richards. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for A+E Networks)

Denise Richards’ husband, Aaron Phypers, is being sued for alleged fraud and breach of oral contract.

Rupert Perry filed a lawsuit on November 13 that accused Phypers, 52, of violating a verbal agreement concerning treatment at his wellness center, Quantum 360, in Malibu. Perry’s wife, Elina Katsioula-Beall, died of cancer in May 2024 and was allegedly treated by Phypers the year prior, per documents obtained by Us Weekly on Wednesday, January 8. 

According to the filing, Katsioula-Beall was diagnosed with Sarcoma — a rare cancer that develops in the bones and soft tissues — in 2019 and sought “a stem cell treatment for her cancer” that Phypers’ Q360 Club had provided. Perry claims that Phypers promised the treatment “would cure or at least ameliorate [Katsioula-Beall’s] condition.”

Perry’s suit alleges that Phypers had “claimed that the treatment had a 98 percent success rate and he was so confident in it that, if it did not work, he would refund” half of the money — $126,000 — that Perry and Katsioula-Beall paid him for the procedures. 

PDA Alert! Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers Kiss on Red Carpet

Katsioula-Beall was treated there between July and September 2023. That December, she learned that her tumors had grown, prompting her and Perry to reach out to Phypers with a written request for a $63,000 refund. 

“[Phypers] ignored her request and instead proposed that she undergo another round of treatment,” Perry claims in the filing. 

He alleges that Phypers had also ignored further requests for a refund. 

“On May 21, 2024, Ms. Katsioula-Beall succumbed to her illness and died,” the suit stated. “On June 28, 2024, Mr. Perry spoke with [Phypers] by telephone, who acknowledged the debt but proffered a series of excuses for his failure to pay the $63,000.”

Denise Richards Shares the Secret to ‘Great’ Marriage with Aaron Phypers

Perry, who requests a jury trial, claims that Phypers must pay Katsioula-Beall’s estate, as her illness became worse after treatment at his facility. 

“[Phypers’] aforementioned misconduct was intentional, willful, and done for the purpose of depriving Plaintiff of property and/or legal rights or otherwise causing injury,” Perry states in the documents. “This despicable conduct subjected Plaintiff to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of his rights.”

Us has reached out to Richards’ team for comment. Phypers, for his part, has not yet filed papers with an attorney in response to the lawsuit. His Q360 Club appears to have closed.

In late December 2024, his wife, Richards, gushed over her “great” marriage with her husband. 

Real Housewives’ Legal Troubles Through the Years

“I love being married. I love my husband. I know not everyone does,” Richards, 53, exclusively told Us at The Hollywood Christmas Parade on December 1. “I don’t understand them. But we like each other, and love being with each other.”

Richards noted that she and Phypers, with whom she previously appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, are “best friends” and always make time for themselves.

“I say this to other couples with children, I always say you have to have time for yourself. Don’t feel guilty,” she added. “If this ain’t working, it starts at the top and s— rolls down. If [your marriage] stays strong, your family is intact.”

Stephen Baldwin Exits 'Special Forces' Early After Bizarre Doctor Showdown

8 January 2025 at 18:07
Stephen Baldwin and His Headband Make Early Special Forces Exit After Wild Scene With Show Doctor
Stephen Baldwin. Pete Dadds/FOX

Stephen Baldwin’s stint on Special Forces was short but memorable — and we’re not just talking about his skinny black headband.

Hailey Bieber’s 58-year-old dad was the first star to leave during the Wednesday, January 8, premiere of the Fox show, which brings together celebrities from all genres attempting to pass training exercises led by a team of ex-Special Forces operatives. Season 3 takes place in North Wales and features Stephen, Bachelor Nation’s Trista Sutter and Ali Fedotowsky, Brody Jenner, Denise Richards and more.

“I’m the youngest Baldwin brother. I’m a thespian,” Stephen told the cameras. “I’ve trained twice with military technical advisers. Am I a Special Forces guy? No, but I’ve played one on TV.”

For the first task, the 16 celebrities had to jump from a speeding boat to a speeding helicopter and climb into the helicopter — and Stephen was actually one of the eight cast members who was able to complete the challenge. Before the end of the episode, however, the actor worried that he was injured and requested a medical consultation with the on-duty doctor.

Meet ‘Special Forces’ Season 3 Cast: Trista Sutter, Stephen Baldwin and More

“I smashed my meniscus on the helicopter today and my back is in knots and I can’t turn my head past there,” Stephen said before the doctor asked if he wanted him to look at his knee.

Things subsequently take a bit of a weird turn as Stephen becomes hostile. “It really, at this point, doesn’t matter,” Stephen said before asking the doctor, “Are you being paid to do this?”

Stephen Baldwin and His Headband Make Early Special Forces Exit After Wild Scene With Show Doctor
Pete Dadds/FOX

“I’m curious — if right after this gig you had another one that paid you 10 times what they are paying you know, would you do it?” he continued. When the doctor replied that he wasn’t sure “where this conversation is going” as he thought Stephen wanted a medical consultation, Stephen declared that he had a “decision to make.”

“OK, what’s your decision?” the doctor asked.

Stephen Baldwin Gushes Over 'Plump Potato' Grandson Jack Blues Bieber

“I have a gig right after this.The one condition for that gig is that I not get injured. It’s not worth it to me. It’s not worth it to have to go into a hospital for a couple of weeks,” Stephen said.

When the doctor asked if Stephen was aware of the type of tasks on the show, he responded, “Yes, but I didn’t know I would definitely get injured.” Stephen then appeared to get heated and spoke louder, repeating twice: “I cannot get injured.”

When the doc filled in the “staff” — a.k.a. the ex-Special Forces operatives who lead the show — they said they believed Stephen was looking for “an excuse” and subsequently dismissed him from the show, saying: “No. 5, you failed this course and you failed yourself. Go.”

Stephen Baldwin Reposts Video About Praying for Justin and Hailey Bieber

The voiceover then confirmed, “Just one day into selection, actor Stephen Baldwin is the first recruit to leave the course.”

Stephen previously spoke to Us Weekly about his filming the show, noting he had “multiple breaking points” during production.

“I had some challenges going in with asthma, and it just became very real, very fast,” he said.

Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Yesterday — 8 January 2025Entertainment News

In Maria, Angelina Jolie gives a career-defining performance as a haunted opera diva

9 January 2025 at 00:13

Chilean director Pablo Larraín concludes his thematic trilogy of 20th century biopics of famous women – after ‘Jackie’ and ‘Spencer’ – with this soft, restrained drama

© Pablo Larraín/Netflix

Christina Haack Says Josh Gave Her ‘Silent Treatment’ for Laughing at Tarek

8 January 2025 at 17:00

Christina Haack is recalling the alleged treatment she received from estranged husband Josh Hall on the set of The Flip Off before he parted ways with the show.

“Josh was very hard to film with,” Haack, 41, exclusively shared with Us Weekly in the latest cover story with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa. “He didn’t get it. He’d always get upset with me, like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you did this,’ or ‘You did that.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m making a TV show.’”

After Haack and Hall filed for divorce in July 2024, his role with The Flip Off changed. Us confirmed at the time that since the series was already “in production,” Haack, Tarek and Heather would be “moving forward with the show without” Josh.

“Ultimately, it was better that he left after episode 1 because the show would’ve sucked,” Haack told Us.

Christina Haack Would Get the Silent Treatment From Josh if She Laughed at Tarek on Set
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

When asked whether Hall voiced any concerns about her working with her ex Tarek, Haack replied, “If I would laugh at Tarek, I would get the silent treatment for a week.” Haack claimed that his reaction stemmed from “insecurity.”

Haack explained that filming The Flip Off “probably just sped [their split] up.” Haack noted that she and Tarek had “filmed together forever,” referencing Flip or Flop, which premiered in 2013. (Haack and Tarek, who share two kids, finalized their divorce in 2018 but continued to work together until the show’s final season in 2022.)

Christina Haack 'Did Not Enjoy' Filming With 'Insecure' Ex Josh Pre-Divorce

“Somebody with more confidence would be able to say, ‘This is my wife, but yes, she does this for TV. She was filming with Tarek when I met her,’” Haack told Us. “There was a rationale there that didn’t make sense. You know what you signed up for. I’m your wife, and I’m choosing you, but you’re choosing to make my life harder over insecurities.”

Despite her separation from Hall, Haack shared that she didn’t think about calling it quits on The Flip Off.

Christina Haack Would Get the Silent Treatment From Josh if She Laughed at Tarek on Set
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

“This isn’t Josh’s show,” she said. “No one’s going to miss that he’s not in it. Josh is not a TV host, he’s not a house flipper, he’s not a designer. He was just my husband in it. With Tarek, we built everything together, and I still have respect for him. I have no respect for Josh.”

While the breakup between Haack and Hall will play out on camera, Haack told Us she’s “not nervous” to watch any part of it. “There are definitely some very emotional scenes,” she said. “It’s different than anything I’ve ever shot for television — it’s very real and raw.”

Christina Haack Reveals Her Kids 'Asked' Her to ‘Leave' Josh: ‘He’s Not Nice’

Now, as she navigates her life after parting ways with Hall, Haack said she’s “been very busy, which is probably a blessing.” She added, “It’s really been a big growth period.”

Tarek and Heather, for their part, always tried to be “very friendly” with Hall. “He was our kids’ stepdad, so we wanted a positive environment,” Heather, who welcomed son Tristan with Tarek in January 2023, explained.

Christina Haack Would Get the Silent Treatment From Josh if She Laughed at Tarek on Set
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

However, since Hall left the show, Heather called the dynamics “better.” She added, “Not to be mean, but he definitely didn’t have the best personality. So it’s like a breath of fresh air. And [Christina is] in a really good place.”

The Flip Off premieres Wednesday, January 29, at 8 p.m. on HGTV.

For more on The Flip Off, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

© Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

💾

©

Meghan Markle Exited Royal Family 5 Years Ago: A Timeline of the Drama

8 January 2025 at 16:59

It’s been a rocky road for Meghan Markle and the British royal family since she fell in love with Prince Harry and the pair’s exit in 2020.

The Suits alum started dating the prince during the summer of 2016. While she gushed about Harry to Vanity Fair during her September 2017 cover story, the couple spoke about their relationship — and preparing Meghan for royal life — for the first time during their engagement interview in November 2017.

“I think I can very safely say as naive as it sounds now, having gone through this learning curve in the past year and a half I did not have any understanding of just what it would be like,” Meghan said at the time.

Harry replied, “I had tried to warn you as much as possible. … I think you can have as many conversations as you want, trying to prepare as much as possible but we were totally unprepared for what happened after that.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wed in May 2018. Despite the alleged tension between the brothers over how quickly Harry and Meghan’s relationship moved, the pair teamed up with Prince William and Princess Kate and the foursome launched a charity together. In June 2019, news broke that the group effort was already done and the two couples were splitting their charities.

In October 2019, Harry and Meghan spoke to ITV’s Tom Bradby and hinted that they were unhappy. Harry also confirmed reports that there was a rift between him and William.

“I have said for a long time to H, that’s what I call [Harry], ‘It’s not enough to just survive something. That’s not the point of life. You have to thrive. You have got to feel happy,’” Meghan said during the special, admitting she was “not OK.”

She continued: “I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper lip.’ I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging.”

Less than six months later, Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back from their senior royal duties in January 2020. The pair subsequently relocated, first to Canada and then to Los Angeles. They ultimately put down roots in Montecito, California.

​One day after the queen‘s death in September 2022, King Charles III shared his “love” for Harry and Meghan in his first speech as the new monarch.

“I want … to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” he said in the address.

Scroll through for a complete timeline of the ups and downs:

© MEGA

© Shutterstock

Meghan’s official introduction as Harry’s girlfriend was when the first sign of trouble began as the palace released a statement condemning the “wave of abuse and harassment” the actress received in the press.
“Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm,” the November 2016 statement read. “He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his.”
The following month, reports surfaced that the palace wasn’t happy Meghan sported an “H” initial necklace during a December 2016 outing as it perpetuated additional headlines about their romance.

© Alan Davidson/Shutterstock

While sources told Us that things went well when Harry introduced Meghan to William and Kate in January 2017, things took a turn when the eldest brother felt they were moving too fast. Royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claimed in their book, Finding Freedom, that Harry was “pissed off” when William suggested he was “blindsided by lust.” William reportedly told his brother to “take as much time as you need to get to know this girl,” which upset Harry.
“Some felt it was an overreaction,” the book read. “But then, this sums them up as people — William, the calm and rational one, and Harry, who can’t help but take things far too personally.”

© Shutterstock

Before Harry and Meghan got engaged, there was reported tension between the couple and the Middleton family over her potential attendance at Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’ May 2017 nuptials. In the end, she only went to the reception.

© Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Elizabeth, Prince Philip,Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, William and Kate all celebrated Harry and Meghan’s engagement in November 2017. Harry and Meghan also confirmed in their engagement interview that she met the queen — and the two women hit it off.
“It’s incredible, I think, you know, a) to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honor and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother, all of those layers have been so important for me,” she said at the time. “So that when I met her, I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her. … She’s an incredible woman.”
Meghan subsequently became the first “fiancée” to have Christmas with the royal family in December 2017.

© Shutterstock

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were all smiles at their first — and only — event for the Royal Foundation in London in February 2018.

© David Fisher/Shutterstock

When Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, opted not to attend her May 2018 nuptials after he was caught staging photos with the paparazzi, Prince Charles stepped in to walk her down the aisle.  
There were conflicting reports, however, about Meghan and Kate’s relationship at this time, with some outlets claiming the women fought about Princess Charlotte’s outfit for the wedding.
According to Meghan, Kate was the one who made her cry during a disagreement about dresses. “That was a turning point. … The narrative with Kate, it didn’t happen,” Meghan said during an interview on CBS in March 2021. “A few days before the wedding she was upset about flower girl dresses and it made me cry. It really hurt my feelings. … She was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologized. And she brought me flowers and a note, apologizing. And she did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone, right, to just take accountability for it.”
There were also reports that the queen didn’t approve of Meghan’s tiara choice. The Finding Freedom authors suggested that Queen Elizabeth’s official dressmaker, Angela Kelly, was the one who had issues with Meghan’s pick — the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara.

© Shutterstock

Meghan attended her first solo engagement with the queen in June 2018. A source told Us at the time that “enthusiasm toward living a life of service and humanitarianism excites the queen and it’s just the type of vim and vigor she likes to see in someone.”

© Shutterstock

While the duchesses appeared to be on good terms in July 2018 when they attended Wimbledon together, Meghan hinted in March 2021 that things were tense between the two women.
“I know you say, 'Was it what it looked like?’ — my understanding and my experience for the past four years is that it’s nothing like what it looks like,” she said during her CBS tell-all when asked about the Wimbledon outing.

© Shutterstock

Harry and Meghan announced they were expecting their first child together in October 2018. Three days before they confirmed the news, the duo attended Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank. The princess was reportedly unhappy with the twosome for discussing the pregnancy at her nuptials. “It didn’t go down particularly well with Eugenie, who a source said told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news,” Scobie and Durand wrote.

© Robert Kitchin - Pool/Getty Images)

In November 2018, Harry and Meghan made headlines for moving to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Sources told Us in December 2018 that Meghan struggled with royal rules regarding the press after she made headlines when her personal assistant, Melissa Toubati, and secretary, Samantha Cohen, quit six months after the pair’s nuptials.
“It’s just been frustrating and stressful to have no voice,” a royal insider told Us. “She’s always relied on her own voice to stand up for others, and for herself. So not being able to say anything is a debilitating feeling. She’s always been so independent, her entire life, and that’s all been taken away from her. She’s always been able to clap back on social media and now she can’t.”
There were also reports at the time that palace staff didn’t “trust” Meghan. While one staffer reportedly said she “comes with a lot of baggage,” another employee was allegedly overheard referring to the Suits alum as “Harry’s showgirl.”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

While 2018 was plagued with on and off rumors about Meghan and Kate’s relationship, a source told Us that the queen influenced the two women to bury the hatchet over the holidays.

© Paul Grover/Shutterstock

Meghan revealed in March 2021 that she hit her lowest point when she was five months pregnant with Archie.
"One of the things that still haunts me is this photograph that someone had sent me, we had to go to an official event at the Royal Albert Hall," Meghan recalled of the January 2019 event. "A friend said, 'I know that you don't look at pictures, but oh my God, you guys look so great' and sent it to me. I zoomed in and what I saw was the truth of what that moment was. Because right before we had to leave for that, I had just [told Harry that I didn’t want to be alive anymore] that morning.”
Meghan went on to claim that she told the family that she wanted to seek treatment but was told that "it wouldn't be good for the institution."
As for the event, Meghan noted that she went because she warned Harry that she couldn’t be “left alone.” She explained: “And that picture, if you zoom in, what I see is how tightly his knuckles are gripped around me. You can see the whites of our knuckles because we are smiling and doing our job, but we are both just trying to hold on."

© Paul Marriott/Shutterstock

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex split their royal household from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in March 2019. Several months later, the two couples officially split their charity too.
 

© Domic Lipinski/PA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

According to Harry and Meghan, the pair weren’t asked to take the iconic photo outside of the Lindo Wing when Archie was born in 2019. During their CBS sit-down in March 2021, the couple also shut down reports that they opted not to give Archie a royal title, claiming that they were given “no explanation” as to why their son wouldn’t receive a title or the subsequent security that comes with it.
Meghan also revealed that there were “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born … and what that would mean or look like.”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

While sources told Us that Meghan and Kate were “civil,” noting that they would “never be best friends” because they don’t have a lot in common, Harry confirmed he and William had a falling out. During the same interview, Meghan got candid about royal life.
“If things were fair … If I’d done something wrong, I’d be the first one to go ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’” she said on ITV in October 2019. "But when people are saying things that are just untrue and they are being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them — I don't know anybody in the world who would feel like that’s OK.”

© Matt Dunham/AP/Shutterstock

Us confirmed in November 2019 that Harry and Meghan were opting not to have Christmas with his family. While Buckingham Palace’s official statement said that the twosome had “the support of Her Majesty the Queen,” a source told Us that Queen Elizabeth II was actually “disappointed” by their choice.

© Frank Augstein/AP/Shutterstock

Harry and Meghan announced their plans to stop working for the queen in January 2020. Reports suggested that the queen wasn’t happy with the pair going public with their announcement so quickly.
“The website took everyone, even their communications team, by surprise. Aides and family members knew the couple wanted to step back, but the public website, which laid out the details of their new half in-half-out model as if it were a done deal, put the Queen in a difficult position,” Finding Freedom claimed.
The couple subsequently went back and forth with the queen over the use of the “Sussex Royal” name as the pair initially tried to trademark their then-charity, Sussex Royal The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word ‘Royal’ overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘Royal’ in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020,” the couple said in a statement in February 2020.
A source told Us at the time that the queen was “so disappointed that her own grandchild would heap so much embarrassment on the monarchy and bring all this unwanted attention on his family at the worst possible time.”

© Shutterstock

Sources told Us in March 2020 that William and Kate were blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s announcement, noting that the brothers had only spoken “a couple times” about “business matters” in recent months. During Harry and Meghan’s final engagement as working senior royals in March 2020, William and Kate appeared to snub the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they arrived.
 

© Shutterstock

While Harry and Meghan didn’t travel to the U.K. after March 2020, due in part to the coronavirus pandemic, sources told Us that the couple FaceTimed with the queen, Philip and Charles so they could see Archie. When the couple announced they were expecting baby No. 2 in February 2021, the family — with the exception of William and Kate — sent a public congratulations.  

© MEGA

Later that month, things took a turn again when the twosome announced their royal exit was permanent.
“Following conversations with the duke, the queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the royal family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service,” the palace said in a statement in February 2021. “The honorary military appointments and royal patronages held by the duke and duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty before being redistributed among working members of the royal family. While we are all saddened by their decision, the duke and duchess remain much-loved members of the family.”
The couple subsequently fired back in a statement of their own: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Leading up to the interview, The Times reported accusations that Meghan mistreated her palace aides and staff prior to the 2020 exit. While Meghan denied the allegations, noting in a statement to Us in March 2021 that she was “saddened” by the “latest attack on her character,” the palace revealed they were investigating the claims.
“We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the statement read. “Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”
According to an insider, the twosome’s inner circle believes that Buckingham Palace’s statement was a direct response to the upcoming interview.
“The assumption from friends close to Meghan and Harry is that the palace has released this statement to strike back at Harry and Meghan for doing the [tell-all] interview,” the source said. “The palace knows that they will not be cast in the best light by Harry and Meghan on Sunday and doesn’t want Harry and Meghan coming off as victims.”

© YouTube

Harry and Meghan filmed a sit-down interview with CBS for March 2021.
“I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us,” Meghan said during a sneak peek of the special. “And if that comes with risk of losing things, there is a lot that has been lost already.”
Sources told Us that William and Kate were “appalled” by their decision to do the interview, especially as Philip remained in the hospital amid his ongoing heart condition.  

© CBS; Shutterstock

During their CBS tell-all in March 2021, Harry and Meghan gave an update on their status with his family, noting that she checked in during Philip’s health scare.
"This morning, I woke up earlier than H., and saw a note from someone on our team in the U.K. saying that the Duke of Edinburgh had gone to the hospital," Meghan said during the special. "I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check in. I just called, that’s what we do." 
Meghan added: ”So, there's the family, and then there's the people that are running the institution. Those are two separate things. It's important to be able to compartmentalize that because the queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me."

© Facundo Arrizabalaga/PA Images/INSTARimages.com

One year after their royal exit, Meghan and Harry welcomed their second child, naming their daughter Lilibet in honor of the queen. “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” they said in a statement on their website.  
A source told Us at the time that Lilibet was the couple’s “favorite” name option, but it “was important for them that the queen signed off” on the moniker. “They both agreed it would only be right if Her Majesty gave her approval, especially with something so personal,” the insider added.

© Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock; Maureen McLean/Shutterstock

Meghan returned to the U.K. for the first time in two years when she and Harry stopped in England to visit the queen on their way to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands. One month earlier, the twosome skipped a memorial for Philip, who died in April 2021.  

© Robin Utrecht/Shutterstock

Meghan traveled with Harry and their two little ones, Archie and Lilibet, to England to attend their first royal event since stepping down from their senior duties in March 2020 — the queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 
A source told Us at the time that the couple “wouldn’t miss it for the world” and kicked off the weekend activities by attending Trooping the Colour in honor of the monarch’s historic 70 years on the throne. While the couple did not stand alongside Elizabeth on the Buckingham Palace balcony, they weren’t far away, instead taking in the parade from the Major General’s Office. 

© MEGA

The royal family sent their standard social media messages to Meghan on her 41st birthday.
“Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex,” William and Kate’s official account tweeted alongside a photo of Meghan at the queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Charles and Camilla’s account opted for a picture from the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, writing, “Happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

In an interview with The Cut, Meghan further detailed the reasons she and Harry left royal life behind. The duchess pointed to the strict rules about releasing family photos as one example of what made life in "The Firm" so difficult.
“There’s literally a structure by which if you want to release photos of your child, as a member of the family, you first have to give them to the Royal Rota,” she explained. “Why would I give the very people that are calling my children the N-word a photo of my child before I can share it with the people that love my child?” the podcast host asked. “You tell me how that makes sense and then I’ll play that game.”

© MEGA

A spokesperson for Harry revealed the prince was traveling to Balmoral, Scotland to see the monarch before her death at age 96.
Though Meghan remained in London (the couple was in town for an engagement), she paid tribute to the queen after her passing was announced. “In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022, the duke and duchess of Sussex's Archewell website reads.

© Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

“I want ... to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” Charles stated in his inaugural address as king.

© Kirsty O'Connor/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

Meghan joined Harry for a rare public reunion with William and Kate as they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle. An insider told Us at the time that the appearance was the new Prince of Wales' idea. “William invited Harry and Meghan to join them,” the source explained. “They were delayed in arriving while they arranged the plans.”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Meghan remained in London for the queen’s funeral events and was one of the members of the family waiting to greet Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at Buckingham Palace on September 13. One day later, she rode with Sophie Wessex to Westminster Hall and was seen curtsying at the monarch’s casket inside the service led by Archbishop of Canterbury and Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.

© Photo by Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Meghan was spotted getting visibly emotional at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022. She also looked somber leaving the Committal Service at St George’s Chapel with Harry.

© Shutterstock; Inset: Netflix

While reflecting on her wedding to Harry, the duchess revealed in Netflix's Harry & Meghan that she was "guided" by others not to invite her half-sister's biological daughter, Ashleigh, to the nuptials.
"I don't think anyone understands what that very small comms team was dealing with. They just couldn't wrap their heads around it. And I have compassion for it. How do we explain that this half-sister isn't invited to the wedding, but that the half-sister's daughter is? And so with Ashleigh, the guidance at the time was to not have her come to our wedding," she recalled. "I was in the car with H. I had her on speaker phone and we talked her through what guidance we were being given and why this assessment was made and that's painful."
The couple also looked back on what went down with Thomas before the big day — and the father-daughter duo's subsequent estrangement. "Of course, it's incredibly sad what happened," Harry said. "She had a father before this. And now she doesn't have a father. And I shouldered that. Because if Meg wasn't with me, then her dad would still be her dad."

© Stefan Jeremiah/AP/Shutterstock

Meghan remembered the first holiday season she spent with her royal in-laws. "I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham. Calling my mom, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going?’ and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing. It’s just like a big family like I always wanted,'" she said of the 2017 Christmas during an episode of Harry & Meghan. "There was just this constant movement and energy and fun."
Her mood only got better when she was seated next to the late Philip for the celebrations that year — but things didn't go as planned. "At dinner, I was sat next to H’s grandfather and I just thought it was so wonderful," she added. "I was like, ‘Oh, we chatted and it was so great and I talked about this and talked about this.’ [Harry] was like, ‘You had [his] bad ear. He couldn’t hear anything you were saying.’ I was like, ‘Oh, well I thought it went really well.'" 

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Buckingham Palace confirmed that Meghan would not be joining Harry at the king’s coronation the following month. “The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” the statement read.
A source exclusively told Us that “Meghan is a mom first,” so while she “appreciates the invite,” she “wouldn’t miss her son’s birthday for the world.” The Archewell cofounder’s son Archie’s fourth birthday is the same day that Charles is being honored in the U.K.
“She feels very grateful to be included in such a special occasion by the royal family and is glad that Harry can go and show support on behalf of their family,” the insider added.
A second source told Us that the monarch is “thrilled” his youngest son will watch him get crowned, but Meghan will be missed. “Charles is sad that Meghan will not be in attendance,” the insider explained. “Charles was hoping the coronation would be a chance to better connect and maintain healing between them.”

© Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

When Charles was officially crowned king, Meghan stayed at home in California with the kids while Harry attended the coronation. “As much as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldn’t miss her son’s birthday for the world,” an insider exclusively told Us, referring to the fact that Archie's 4th birthday was the same day as the ceremony. “Despite being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan is a mom first.”
Another source told Us that Charles was "sad" his daughter-in-law wouldn't be present at the event. "Charles was hoping the coronation would be a chance to better connect and maintain healing between them,” the insider explained. 

© Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock

Harry, Meghan and her mother, Doria Ragland, were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase in New York City following the 2023 Women of Vision Awards, a spokesperson for the Sussexes said in a statement at the time. The trio were chased by a "ring of highly aggressive" paparazzi, the rep said.
"This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers,” the spokesperson stated. “While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety."
One day later, Buckingham Palace told Us they wouldn’t be making a statement about the incident. “This is not something we’re commenting on,” the palace told Us at the time.
The NYPD later reported that no injuries or collisions occurred.

© Chris Jackson/Getty Images

After news broke of Kate’s cancer diagnosis, both Harry and Meghan sent the princess their well-wishes. 
“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” Harry and Meghan said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time. 
❌
❌