Queen Elizabeth‘s legacy lives on, but her mistake lives even longer, according to a royal author.

As the royal family prepares to celebrate the woman who reigned for seven decades, many insights are being drawn into the moves she made during her final years on earth. The monarchy she dedicated her days to has stretched over various angles due to the doings of her children and grandchildren.

Queen Elizabeth took the throne in 1952 at the age of 25 and died at the age of 96. Ruling for seventy years, she set her name in stone as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

One Decision Queen Elizabeth Made That Still Lingers 

As the days draw closer to what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, the royal family prepares to mark the special occasion while looking back at her life well lived. One choice that she made in her final years remains on talking lips, and deep thoughts surrounding her moves ensue. As powerful as she was as a monarch, she still had a mother’s heart.

Her instinct to protect the disgraced former Prince Andrew, whom many have described as her favorite son, continues to cast a long shadow, especially due to his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Many insiders remain perplexed at her decision to help fund his estimated $16 million civil settlement in March 2022, months before her passing.

The money was paid to the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused the disgraced royal od sexually abusing her in her teenage days. It should be noted that Andrew denied the claims but still settled with his mother’s support, without the admission of guilt. Robert Hardman, author of “Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story,” scheduled to be released next month, has said that the late queen’s decision “will go down as a mistake … and one that has outlasted her.”

The Late Queen Reportedly Put The Crown First

PEOPLE report that those close to the late queen have revealed that her decision to help Andrew out of that name-staining situation came after deep thoughts and internal battles. They noted that it remains a complicated part of her legacy, along with the breakdown of her children’s marriages, the tragic death of Princess Diana, and the exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Hardman, however, notes that the queen’s legacy goes beyond the trials facing the family she left behind. “She came into a man’s world, held that institution together and handed it on in far better shape than people expected,” he said after remarking that people ought to take a step back and analyze the full 70-year picture.

Speaking on the late monarch’s “mistake,” a source close to the palace shared that Queen Elizabeth forced her alleged favorite son to step back from public life after effectively sacking him. “I don’t think we should underestimate what it would take for a mother to do that. Throughout, she showed that when it came to the demands of family over the role, the role would win out,” the source added. 

Queen Elizabeth was one to put her royal responsibilities ahead, and her son seems to be doing the same thing. King Charles has reportedly drawn a clear line between his role and his personal relationships, even to family members. There is an existing rift between the King and his disgraced brother, former Prince Andrew, and as it stands, reconciliation sits on the back burner.

Sources close to the royal household have revealed that there is a high chance King Charles will never speak to his brother again following the revelations of Andrew’s association with the convicted sex offender. Andrew previously insisted that he had no ties to Epstein, but the recently released files show otherwise. An insider shared that “the King feels that he was lied to and that’s not easy to forgive.” 

The Blast also reports that Prince Edward and Princess Anne have reached out to their brother, showing concern for his well-being, but the King will not follow suit, not only because he feels betrayed by Andrew’s dishonesty but because of his status as the King. He has reportedly moved to set a clear distinction between his office and family bonds. “Charles is not just a brother in this situation but also the King – and in that capacity he has to protect the monarchy above all other considerations, even personal ones,” the insider explained. 

The Odds Seem To Be Stacked Up Against Ex-Prince Andrew

Amid the allegations connecting Andrew to Epstein, he was also arrested on his 66th birthday over claims of misconduct in public office. Andrew, who has been stripped of his titles and standing in the royal family and was living in exile, may be facing life imprisonment under U.K. laws if he is convicted.

Besides the links via the release of the Epstein files, the disgraced Duke of York’s former assistant, Charlotte Manley, who also served as his private secretary and treasurer from 1996 to 2003, has recently come forward to speak to law enforcement.

The Blast reports that Manley’s name has come up after swirling whispers that she signed a payment connected to Ghislaine Maxwell during the time she worked for Andrew. The claims are not far-fetched since she handled both administrative and financial responsibilities for the former Prince. Manley, however, insists that she will give her confession to the police rather than the press.

Queen Elizabeth Had Undisclosed Health Issues

Two years after her passing, former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson disclosed that the late regency ruler was diagnosed with bone cancer before her death. He detailed this shocking revelation in his memoir, “Unleashed,”  noting that she had battled with the cancer for over a year before her demise.

Between the pages, the former Prime Minister revealed that he knew she had a form of bone cancer for a year or more, adding that her doctors were worried that her health could sharply decline at any time. The Blast also reports that Johnson detailed his last meeting with the late monarch days before her death. He remarked that she “seemed pale and more stooped, and she had dark ­bruising on her hands and wrists, probably from drips or injections.” 

Queen Elizabeth passed away two days after she met with Johnson, and the official cause of death was linked to old age, with no detailed medical records released. Gyles Brandreth, a royal author, also echoes similar thoughts in his book “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.”  he noted that there were rumors about the queen suffering from a rare form of myeloma, which is a type of bone marrow cancer.

Is there more to the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth’s said mistake?

Anya Taylor-Joy has only starred in one movie so far this year, but it’s wasted no time in becoming the biggest film of 2026 at the worldwide box office. She can be seen reprising her role as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the 2023 video game movie that also recruited Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) and Donald Glover (TV’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith) for key roles. Taylor-Joy is far from done in 2026, though, even after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie flies out of theaters and inevitably begins what will surely be a successful run on streaming. She’ll make her long-awaited return to TV with a new Apple TV series, Lucky, which co-stars Timothy Olyphant. The show has been set for its premiere on July 15.

Anya Taylor-Joy has been in enough projects now that it’s tough to identify what she’s best known for, but one of her most notable movies, for better or worse, is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The 2024 sci-fi blockbuster was one of the most anticipated movies of the year, especially with the combined star power of Taylor-Joy and long-time Marvel veteran Chris Hemsworth (Crime 101). The Mad Max prequel boasts a $168 million budget, but it barely managed to gross this back, scraping out of theaters after totaling $174 million at the worldwide box office. Despite this woeful box office performance, Furiosa has spent the better part of the last two years redeeming itself on streaming, where it’s still one of the top 10 most popular movies in the world on HBO Max. The film is the perfect blend of Mad Max and Gladiator, guaranteed to please fans of sci-fi and large-scale action sequences.

What Happens in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’?

The official synopsis for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, reads as follows:

“After being snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, while the tyrants Dementus and Immortan Joe fight for power and control, the young Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.”

Furiosa earned immaculate scores of 90% from critics and 88% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, which made its flopping at the box office that much more surprising. The film was written and directed by Mad Max veteran George Miller, who has personally handled multiple generations of Mad Max movies starring Mel Gibson, Tom Hardy, and Charlize Theron.

Check out Furiosa on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Taylor-Joy’s future projects.

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Release Date

May 24, 2024

Runtime

149 minutes

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Director

George Miller

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Writers

George Miller, Nico Lathouris

Producers

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Doug Mitchell, George Miller

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Boston Blue is about to face the wrath of Blue Bloods usweekly fans after breaking up a beloved couple.

During the Friday, April 17, episode of the CBS series, Danny Reagan’s (Donnie Wahlberg) girlfriend, Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), returned to help with a case. Their dynamic, however, was off and Maria later revealed that she was struggling with her mother’s deteriorating mental health after a Parkinson’s diagnosis. She surprised Danny — and viewers — by hitting pause on their relationship.

“She’s in a crisis. She’s not sure what to do,” Wahlberg, 56, exclusively told Us Weekly at CBS Fest on Wednesday, April 15. “Danny is very stubborn [though so] he ain’t going down without a fight.”

Wahlberg, who has played Danny since 2010, urged fans not to worry too much yet, adding, “They must hold out hope for [them to] rekindle [their romance].” Wahlberg’s onscreen costar — and Danny’s partner — Sonequa Martin-Green weighed in on the twist.

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“I would love [to see them back together],” she gushed. “I love Marissa and I think that they’re lovely together.”

According to Wahlberg, there is a plan to “stretch” out the journey for Danny and Maria.

“I grew up watching General Hospital and All My Children and [I remember when] Laura disappeared,” he recalled “Laura disappeared and Luke was heartbroken and everyone’s like, ‘Oh man. Laura quit the show.’ Guess what? She came back and he ran and he hugged her. Then she left again. But that’s OK, it’s TV!”

Elsewhere in the episode, Sarah’s (Maggie Lawson) personal life was much more successful with Seth (Mike Vogel) popping the question moments before Danny and Maria’s split.

“One of the things I love most about our show is that’s life,” Lawson, 45, noted. “That’s human and that’s real. Sometimes when these beautiful celebrations happen, it’s a reminder of other painful things that people are going through and it can be a catalyst for something not so easy.”

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She continued: “I love that we showed that in the way that we did but it’s also really heartbreaking. So I would say, I’m sorry that we were the ones to bring on that really brutal conversation.”

Lawson told Us she was “always hopeful for love” when it came to Danny and Maria. Her costar Gloria Reuben, however, was “a little more jaded,” telling Us, “I always hope for a couple of days then I’m like no.”

Boston Blue airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.

Old Navy is a staple for year-round fashion, but if you ask Us, the retailer truly shines during the warm-weather months with breezy, vibrant pieces that demand attention. And if you want the latest and greatest in bold styles, Old Navy just collaborated with award-winning designer Christopher John Rogers to create a line filled with bright spring clothes that need to be in your cart.

Between the eye-catching colors, fun-loving patterns and body-flattering styles, we can’t choose just one piece to buy. It’s a good thing these tops, jeans, dresses and accessories are so affordable, starting at just $25. We know, it’s kind of hard to wrap our heads around that low price, too, since everything in the line looks so expensive. The only caveat? Pieces are already selling out as we type, so don’t wait long to shop these spring-ready finds.

Just-Dropped Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Collab Styles

1. Our Favorite: This one-shoulder number is going to be your new top for shopping adventures, dinner dates and beyond. We love the cool asymmetrical design with a twist detail that simply won’t roll up. And the bright red hue? Let’s just say compliments will find you constantly.

2. Going Viral: You may have noticed that drop-waist dresses are everywhere for spring 2026, and this poplin dress lets you lean into the trend. Similar to options on the runway, this pick has a flattering, elongating appearance that makes you look model-tall. Plus, the breezy appearance and fresh-looking hue beg to be worn on a European vacation.

3. Sporty-Chic: All the cool girls are replacing jeans with drawstring pull-on pants, and this high-waisted pair will make you want to do the same. They combine two trends in one — the pull-on design and the barrel leg that gives you a voluminous look in the best way.

4. Under-$30: Give your basics a major upgrade with this high-neck tank top that still lets you wear a bra — we love to see it. The top has a fitted appearance, which hugs your curves and looks great with baggy pant styles, like the pair above.

5. Everyday Essential: If your denim collection needs a little help, you can’t go wrong with baggy wide-leg jeans. Unlike your classic pair, this one has a subtle two-toned denim stripe detail on the side. It’s a small accent that levels up the ‘chicness.’

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6. Pop of Color: Neutral shades have no place in our spring wardrobes, not when we can don pieces in this olive-yellow hue, which dominates designer spring collections, per Vogue. This halter maxi dress is all about that attention-grabbing color, a flattering halter neckline and the slimming basque waist.

7. Pack It Up: You can practically stuff your entire life in this large canvas tote that has room enough to house your summer read, water bottle, headphones, sunnies and more. We love the chic color-block trim that gives it rich mom vibes. Plus, you can wear it as is, or cleverly push in the ‘wings’ for a more compact style. Read: It’s two bags in one.

8. Petite-Friendly: Women under 5’3″ know the struggle of finding a cute maxi dress that doesn’t drag on the floor. This halter drop-waist style is the solution. It cuts off near the shin for a midi dress style that fits just right. We also appreciate the V-neck bodice that shows the girls off.

9. Trending Find: Remember your peplum top from college? Well, this Old Navy pick is definitely not that. It’s classy and elevated, while still giving you the tummy-slimming look you love from the peplum hem.

10. Mix and Match: You’re not having déjà vu. The above top mixes and matches well with this drop-waist midi skirt. They’re both cut from the same cloth — literally — giving you the option to wear them as stand-alone pieces or as a matching set.

11. Same But Different: Get our favorite top in dress form when you select this date night-ready maxi. It has the same one-shoulder neckline and fitted bodice, but extends beyond the waist to give you a beautiful dress that will make you boo do a double-take. It’s available in solid red and striped styles.

12. Get It Fast: This multi-striped sweater is on the cusp of selling out, but we still had to include it. We love the bright hues and keyhole detail in the back. Not into stripes? It’s also available in a chic golden olive hue, which is fully in stock.

13. Year-Round Staple: While we love a denim jacket, sometimes it’s a little too warm on an 85-degree Fahrenheit day. Your next best bet is a button-down denim shirt that still gives you that street style vibe without the extra weight.

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Natalie Portman is entering a new chapter in her personal life. The Oscar-winning actress, best known for roles in “Black Swan” and “Star Wars,” has confirmed she is expecting her third child. The baby will be her first with partner, French music producer Tanguy Destable, and comes as Natalie Portman continues to balance motherhood with her high-profile Hollywood career.

Natalie Portman Calls Pregnancy A ‘Privilege’ As She Announces Baby No. 3

Portman didn’t hold back when opening up about how meaningful this moment is for her, especially given her upbringing. “Tanguy and I are very excited,” she shared with Harper’s Bazaar. “I’m just very grateful. I know it’s such a privilege and a miracle.”

As the daughter of a fertility doctor, she said she grew up with a deep understanding of how difficult pregnancy can be for many. “I grew up hearing about how hard it is to get pregnant,” she noted.

“I have so many people I love who’ve had such a hard time with it that I want to be respectful around that as well. It’s such a beautiful, joyous thing, and it’s also not an easy thing,” she continued. “And so I know how lucky it is. I’m very aware, and I’m very grateful. I have deep appreciation and gratitude.”

Portman Opens Up About Motherhood As Life Enters New Phase

Portman is already a mom to two children, son Aleph, 14, and daughter Amalia, 9, whom she shares with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied. Her latest pregnancy marks a new chapter in her personal life following that relationship.

She reflected on how her perspective has shifted over time, especially as a parent. “There is a gratitude that when you’re young, you don’t necessarily grasp,” she shared. “And there’s a calm and knowing myself: who I want to spend time with, what kind of energy I want around me that makes the experience so beautiful every day. And knowing it’s probably the last time, I cherish every moment.”

Despite the pregnancy, Portman says she’s feeling energized and focused on staying healthy. “I have more energy than I thought I might,” she said, adding that she’s been swimming and practicing gyrotonics to “keep strong,” while also prioritizing time with her children, “which is always the best.”

While many new parents turn to the internet for guidance, Natalie Portman is taking a different approach this time around. The actress, who is preparing to welcome her third child, revealed she’s relying more on experience than outside opinions, having already gone through motherhood twice.

“I’m not really looking at social media that much,” she said. “I think maybe just having done it twice before… I read so many books the first time, and now I’m like, ‘Oh, we know what to do.’ It’s okay. You figure it out. We’re going to make lots of mistakes, no matter how hard we try. And also, we’re going to do a lot right without having to do research. I feel like if you’re just present and loving, that’s the best thing possible.”

Portman Quietly Moved Forward After Divorce From Benjamin Millepied

Before stepping into this new chapter, Portman closed the door on a long-term relationship. The actress finalized her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in February 2024 after 11 years of marriage. The split came roughly eight months after she quietly filed in 2023, following reports of an alleged extramarital affair.

At the time, a source shed light on the situation, saying, “He knows he made an enormous mistake and he is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together.”

The insider also emphasized how Portman chose to handle the situation behind the scenes, adding, “Natalie is incredibly private and has no intention of playing this out in the media. Her biggest priority is protecting her children and their privacy.”

Natalie Portman Proudly Supports Son’s Fashion Venture

Natalie Portman is also celebrating a major milestone for her teenage son. During a January appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the actress looked back on her viral summer moment joining Role Model on stage, revealing it had a deeper meaning behind the scenes.

Her 14-year-old son Aleph has launched his own clothing line, Vanté, and Portman made sure to show her support in a big way. “My son, my 14-year-old, started a clothing line called Vanté. I’m very proud of him,” she said. “He really just did it all on his own. And so I wore one of his shirts on stage. So I just kind of felt like a banner for him. It was very exciting.”

Prime Video has no shortage of glossy thriller shows, but Scarpetta has arrived with a hook that’s a little more forensic and a little less generic than usual. Adapting Patricia Cornwell’s long-running novels was already a smart move on paper, especially with a lead as durable as Kay Scarpetta. What’s helped the show pop is that it feels like the kind of series viewers can settle into fast: crime scenes, procedural detail, strong personalities, and just enough family mess around the edges. That formula seems to be working, because Scarpetta is currently sitting at No. 3 on Prime Video’s worldwide TV chart.

Scarpetta stars Nicole Kidman as Dr. Kay Scarpetta, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Rosy McEwen, Jacob Lumet Cannavale, Hunter Parrish, and Ariana DeBose. The show follows a brilliant forensic pathologist using advanced investigative tools to unravel murders, with settings spanning Florida, Virginia, and Charleston. That’s a very solid spine for a crime thriller, and the names involved give it obvious weight.

Is ‘Scarpetta’ Worth a Watch?

Collider’s review stated that Scarpetta is a compelling but occasionally uneven crime procedural that succeeds largely because of its outstanding performances and ambitious storytelling structure. Aidan Kelley was of the opinion that, although the show took some odd turns out of place in a straightforward detective drama, its strong cast and engaging mystery make it a worthwhile addition to Prime Video’s growing lineup of prestige crime adaptations.

“Scarpetta is an interesting beast. Its performances are captivating, and the chemistry between all the actors is electric. That said, while its murder-mystery storyline is competently spooled out, its bizarre detours into unfamiliar territory lead to mixed results. Given the amount of time it’s taken for any streamer to successfully adapt Cornwell’s books, it’s going to be very interesting to see how discourse among hardcore fans differs from that of Prime Video subscribers looking for their next crime series fix. It’s a tough case, but Scarpetta is still worth exploring to see what secrets might lie beneath its surface.”

Scarpetta is now streaming on Prime Video.

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Release Date

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March 11, 2026

Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Elizabeth Sarnoff

Directors

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David Gordon Green, Charlotte Brändström

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One Tree Hill star James Lafferty and his wife Alexandra Park have welcomed their first baby together.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, April 17, Lafferty, 40, and Park, 36, announced the arrival via a joint post.

“Love has new meaning. River Jay Lafferty – 12/4/2025,” they captioned the post, which featured a black-and-white image of the newborn’s hands grasping his parents’ hands.

Lafferty first met the Australian actress in 2015 when he was directing an episode of The Royals, which she starred in as Princess Eleanor from 2015 to 2018.

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Us confirmed in May 2022 that Lafferty and Park said “I do” in Oahu, Hawaii, surrounded by family and friends, including OTH alum Stephen Colletti and Park’s former Royals costars Tom Austen and Merritt Patterson.

After meeting on set, the couple later continued their working relationship by creating and starring in their own series, Everyone Is Doing Great. In the comedy, they play married couple Jeremy and Andrea Davis.

“James and I met working together. That’s one of the things we love about our relationship together is that we are both so passionate about what we do and we actually met on The Royals where James was directing me back in season two so yeah it’s really not that strange [to play fictional love interests],” Park told Who magazine in August 2021.

Lafferty shared a similar sentiment in June 2023, exclusively telling Us Weekly that while “it’s been tough and challenging” to juggle work and their marriage, working side-by-side has also had its benefits.

“The first year of our marriage has been crazy because we’ve been working on season two of EDG,” Lafferty told Us. “It’s been a wild ride.”

He added, “This is sort of where we thrive. This is how we get closer when we both do what we love together.”

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Related: James Lafferty and Alexandra Park’s Relationship Timeline: Photos

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Talk about a meet-cute! James Lafferty and Alexandra Park’s love story began on a TV set — and they have since played a small screen couple in 2021’s Everyone Is Doing Great. The One Tree Hill alum first crossed paths with Park when he directed a 2015 episode of The Royals (which shared a created […]

In February 2024, Park gushed over her husband to E! News and admitted she felt fortunate to have him in her life.

“We’ve been together for such a long time—we’re on our ninth year of being together now — so James took his time proposing,” Park joked to the outlet, adding of her marriage, “I don’t know if it surprised me, but it’s better. I feel like it was just the right thing for us to lock it down — because we’re best friends.”

Park continued, “I mean, every day is a surprise with James. We’re just really lucky to have each other.”