Connect with us

NewsBeat

Royal family news live: Earl Spencer accuses King of ‘gaslighting’ him after palace’s response to explosive book claims

Published

on

Royal family news live: Earl Spencer accuses King of ‘gaslighting’ him after palace’s response to explosive book claims

Earl Spencer accuses King Charles of ‘gaslighting him’ over book claims

Earl Spencer has accused the King of gaslighting him after Buckingham Palace pushed back against explosive claims that Charles said “we’ll forget her soon enough” after Diana, Princess of Wales, died.

The earl has made a series of damning claims about the King in a new memoir chronicling the life of his sister Diana that prompted the response from Buckingham Palace, which said “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”.

Now, the earl has accused the King of gaslighting him and called the response a “rather poor imitation of the ‘recollections may vary’ quote” – the late Queen’s response to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations in their Oprah Winfrey interview, The Mail on Sunday reports.

Advertisement

He said: “It is not every day you wake up to find you’ve been gaslit by the King.

“It was astonishingly provocative and below the belt because it was essentially trying to say I’d lied without the King being able to deny what I’d said.

“I also thought it was a rather poor imitation of the ‘recollections may vary’ quote, which was a much more elegant way of putting things, but in these circumstances entirely out of place.”

He also said “Diana would be cheering from the rafters at this book”.

Advertisement

Alex Croft19 September 2026 23:24

Charles Spencer’s book is Diana’s unfinished business – Harry’s documentary will finish it

As Buckingham Palace hits back at the claims of King Charles’s reaction to the death of Diana, Dan Wakeford, former People editor and founder of the Celebrity Intelligence website, looks at why her brother is publishing his tell-all now, and how the next 12 months will be about settling scores.

Alex Croft19 September 2026 23:01

Advertisement

Charles called Diana ‘chubby’ after engagement, claims Spencer’s memoir: recap

Diana suffered from an eating disorder which worsened after Charles called her “chubby,” Earl Spencer has claimed in his bombshell memoir.

In an extract from his book, serialised in the Daily Mail, the Earl claims that ahead of his sister’s wedding, Prince Charles had squeezed Diana’s waist and said, “Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?”

The earl said his sister found the comment “devastating,” later telling him that her “waist shrank from 29 to 23 and a half inches between her engagement and her marriage,” which were five months apart in 1981.

Advertisement

Alex Croft19 September 2026 22:00

Watch: Charles went ‘ballistic’ in phone call row over Diana funeral arrangements, claims Earl Spencer

Charles went ‘ballistic’ in phone call row over Diana funeral arrangements, claims Earl Spencer

Alex Croft19 September 2026 21:00

Advertisement

Queen says books have ‘life-enhancing power’ in speech after release of Earl Spencer’s memoir

The Queen has spoken of her love for books that have a “life-enhancing power” after a series of allegations were made about the King in extracts from Earl Spencer’s memoir about the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Queen was welcomed by Lord William Burlington, the chairman of The Chatsworth House Trust, who said it was “a huge thrill” to collaborate with The Queen’s Reading Room for a second consecutive year.

Camilla gave a speech in the Painted Hall and said being at Chatsworth House, which has a library of over 17,000 books, was “like coming home”.

She told the guests: “I created my Reading Room simply because, like all of us here, I love books and their life-enhancing power and I want to share that love with others.

Advertisement

“In those early days, I had no idea if anybody would be interested but six years on, we are a global community of millions from over 180 countries, swapping recommendations, undertaking research and donating thousands of books to women’s refuges and homeless shelters.”

Camilla’s speech about her love for reading comes after Earl Spencer made a series of damning claims about the King in a new memoir chronicling the life of his sister Diana that prompted an “unprecedented” response from Buckingham Palace who said, “the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason”.

Earl Spencer further claimed that the King sounded “giddily elated… like a lottery winner” when he rang the earl following the princess’s death.

(Getty)

Alex Croft19 September 2026 20:00

Advertisement

Diana contemplated ‘ending it all’, memoir claims – ICYMI

In passages of his bombshell book, Earl Spencer spoke of how his sister contemplated “ending it all” before her death.

He said she drove “more than once” to the cliffs at Beachy Head in East Sussex and was “contemplating ending it all”, adding that “her love for her sons stopped her from going further”.

The book reads: “It is a sad fact that, in her later years, Diana drove herself more than once to Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in England, while contemplating ending it all.

Advertisement

“Her love for her sons stopped her from going further.”

Alex Croft19 September 2026 19:01

Comment: Charles should have listened to his mother – ‘Never complain, never explain’

By ignoring the late Queen Elizabeth’s famous motto in the row over Earl Spencer’s new book about Diana, the King has been seriously wrongfooted, says Harry Mount.

Advertisement

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 September 2026 18:00

What King Charles said in first speech since ‘unprecedented’ response to Earl Spencer’s book claims

In his first public appearance since Buckingham Palace responded to claims made in a new memoir by Earl Spencer, King Charles spoke to tech industry leaders of the existential dangers posed by artificial intelligence.

Speaking at a summit at Dumfries House, the King urged executives from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Nvidia to ensure humanity remains sacred as AI advances.

Advertisement

He has declined to comment further after his initial statement, in which the Palace said the King is “mindful” of how grief can colour memory.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 September 2026 17:30

Watch: Royal expert questions timing of Earl Spencer book release

Royal expert questions timing of Earl Spencer book release

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 September 2026 17:00

Advertisement

When is Earl Spencer’s book due to be released?

Earl Spencer’s book titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is set to be released globally on Tuesday.

However, the pages have been serialised by the Daily Mail, leaking some of the most explosive allegations ahead of publication.

An interview with Diana’s brother and BBC broadcaster Laura Kuenssberg will also be released on Sunday evening, in which more revelations are expected.

Advertisement

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 September 2026 16:30

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

Earl Spencer claims future king Charles stamped his foot and told him ‘you’re lucky to be inheriting so young’ on day of his father’s funeral

Published

on

Earl Spencer and then Prince Charles during the official opening of a fountain built in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, in London's Hyde Park

Advertisement

The future king stamped his foot and behaved like a ‘petulant child’ during an extraordinary conversation with Earl Spencer more than 30 years ago, Princess Diana‘s brother claims.

The earl claims that on the day of his father’s funeral in April 1992, a frustrated Prince Charles told him that he was ‘so lucky’ to be inheriting the vast Spencer estate while he was still in his twenties.

The then Prince of Wales allegedly complained that, in contrast, his parents, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, were treating him ‘like a child’.

‘At this he stamped his foot in emphasis,’ Earl Spencer writes in his forthcoming memoir. ‘I have to say, very much like a child; and a petulant one, at that.’

Advertisement

The bizarre exchange took place after the death of John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer. 

At that point Charles Spencer, then aged 27, inherited the family’s 13,000-acre estate at Althorp, Northamptonshire, as the 9th earl.

Charles Spencer, now 62, recalls how after his father’s funeral service at a church in Northamptonshire, he, along with Prince Charles and Princess Diana gathered ‘rather awkwardly’ in Althorp’s oak-panelled tapestry sitting room.

He writes: ‘I shared that I had found it so moving to see my father’s coffin being borne into the church by his six longest-serving male members of staff that I had started to cry.

Advertisement

Earl Spencer and then Prince Charles during the official opening of a fountain built in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, in London’s Hyde Park 

Charles and Diana are seen visiting Venice during their trip to Italy in May 1985

Charles and Diana are seen visiting Venice during their trip to Italy in May 1985

‘Then Prince Charles suddenly said: ‘You’re so lucky!’

Advertisement

‘I was unsure if I had heard him right. ‘I’m sorry, sir?’

‘You’re just so lucky – you know, inheriting when you’re so young!’ ‘

Earl Spencer claims that, ‘warming to his theme’, Prince Charles then added: ‘You’re inheriting this place in your twenties. 

‘And, I mean, I’m 43…and I employ 50 people… but my parents insist on treating me like – like a child!’

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Katherine Ryan to headline Billingham’s Comedy Forum

Published

on

Katherine Ryan to headline Billingham's Comedy Forum

Katherine Ryan will headline the next Comedy Forum at Forum Theatre Billingham on Sunday, November 22.

The Canadian comedian, writer and television personality is the latest big-name act to join the theatre’s growing comedy programme, which has previously featured household names including Frankie Boyle and Nina Conti.

Katherine Ryan is heading to the Forum Theatre in Billingham in November. (Image: Tees Active)

The announcement comes ahead of another big night at the Forum Theatre, with Irish comedy star Dara Ó Briain taking the stage in Billingham this weekend.

Best known for appearances on programmes including Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Taskmaster, Ryan has become one of the UK’s most recognisable comedians.

Advertisement


Ryan has also enjoyed success with her Netflix stand-up specials and is known for her blend of fearless honesty, intelligent storytelling and observations on modern life, relationships and celebrity culture.

Danny McLoughlin, Faizan Shah and Scottish comic Mark Nelson will join Ryan on the Billingham bill.

Since launching, Comedy Forum has established itself as a regular stop for some of the UK’s biggest comedy names, while continuing to showcase up-and-coming acts.


Tickets for the November show are available from the theatre’s box office and website.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Patrick Clancy says he ‘did the best I could’ in supporting ex-wife before she killed their three children

Published

on

Patrick Clancy says he believes he did 'the best I could' in supporting his ex-wife Lindsay's mental struggles before she killed their three children in 2023

Patrick Clancy said he believes he did ‘the best I could’ in supporting his ex-wife Lindsay’s mental struggles before she killed their three children. 

The grieving father, 38, said he suffers with the heartbreak of his children’s deaths ‘every day’ in an interview with 60 Minutes, which airs in full on Sunday evening. 

In a snippet of the highly anticipated interview, CBS correspondent Ross Douthat asked Clancy if he feels that he could have prevented the tragedy if he had acted differently. 

‘I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time,’ he responded. ‘I live with the outcome. I live with it every day.’

Advertisement

Lindsay Clancy admitted to fatally strangling their three children – Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan – in their Massachusetts home in January 2023. 

She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and her high-profile murder trial ended in a controversial mistrial earlier this month, with jury deliberations concluding in an 11-1 deadlock. 

Patrick, who testified at her trial, has since remarried fertility doctor Rachel Danis, 37, and he relocated to New York City while Lindsay has been confined to a psychiatric facility. 

Danis joined Patrick in his 60 Minutes interview, and in a previously released segment, she said the true story of the children’s deaths became ‘twisted’ amid public scrutiny on the case. 

Advertisement

Patrick Clancy says he believes he did ‘the best I could’ in supporting his ex-wife Lindsay’s mental struggles before she killed their three children in 2023

Clancy faces a retrial after a jury of nine women and three men were unable to agree on whether she was guilty of the murders or manslaughter

Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial ended in a controversial mistrial earlier this month, with her jury ending in an 11-1 deadlock as one holdout juror refused to acquit her by reason of insanity

Patrick Clancy sat for the interview after he remained largely out of the spotlight during Lindsay’s murder trial, and Douthat told viewers that they should expect to see ‘a portrait of Patrick’s life in the aftermath of this incredible tragedy.’

‘I think from the beginning, he’s been focused on trying to make sure that the memory of his children stays alive and stays close to the center of this story,’ Douthat said.

‘Obviously, there’s been so many debates, so much controversy about all of the different issues around this story.’ 

Danis told Douthat in the interview that she met Patrick after the children’s deaths, saying she ‘was just a girl that met a guy running in Central Park on a really cold Saturday.’

Advertisement

Danis went on to hail Patrick, 38, as ‘the most selfless father and supportive partner.’

The couple married in April in an intimate ceremony at the historic Ladies Pavilion overlooking The Lake in Central Park before celebrating with family and friends at nearby restaurant Sarabeth’s.

In a previous promotional clip for the highly anticipated interview, Patrick told 60 Minutes that he talks to his late children in an attempt to find solace after their deaths. 

Asked what he says to them, Patrick responded, ”Help me’… All the time.’

Advertisement
Patrick Clancy sat for the interview with 60 Minutes after he remained largely out of the spotlight during Lindsay's murder trial

Patrick Clancy sat for the interview with 60 Minutes after he remained largely out of the spotlight during Lindsay’s murder trial

Patrick remarried in April and now lives in New York City with new wife Rachel Danis

Patrick remarried in April and now lives in New York City with new wife Rachel Danis

Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan in 2023

Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan in 2023

The interview comes after Patrick faced a barrage of sickening threats and accusations by online sleuths during the trial, including some who callously accused him of killing his own children despite Lindsay confessing to the crime. 

Advertisement

In a statement through his lawyer after Lindsay’s mistrial, he promised ‘consequences’ for true crime creators who made baseless and cruel allegations.

‘Over the past months, Patrick Clancy and his family have been subjected to a relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign,’ the statement read.

‘This campaign of misinformation has been launched and promoted by minor celebrities, so-called influencers and outright conspiracy theorists who appear intent on boosting their own social media profiles and potential profit by publishing what they know to be outright falsehoods that Patrick was somehow involved in the death of his young children and other vile claims.’

Patrick said at the time that the ‘insatiable media coverage’ had created a ‘fever pitch’ of allegations and scrutiny on him, while he continues to deal with the unimaginable loss of his children at the same time.

Advertisement

‘(This) has resulted in real-life threats to his reputation, livelihood, and life,’ his attorney said in his statement.

‘Patrick has no choice but to address this situation – with the clear goal of stopping injurious behavior, creating accountability for lies that are self-serving to the perpetrators, and being able to return his attention to what matters: preserving the memory of Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy and supporting other women facing perinatal mental health challenges.

‘Enough is enough – this spread of blatant and baseless falsehoods must stop.

‘Those responsible should understand that there will be consequences, and every appropriate measure will be pursued to hold them accountable, including legally. Law enforcement has been notified.’

Advertisement

After Clancy’s high-profile murder trial ended in a deadlock, prosecutors are yet to say if they intend to retry her for murder or offer her a plea deal.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Missing Lillia, 13, from Bolton found safe in Manchester after police search

Published

on

Daily Record

Lillia was first reported missing on Friday (September 11) and was later seen at 11pm in Piccadilly Gardens

Missing teenager Lillia has been located safe and well in Manchester city centre, officers confirmed on Saturday evening.

Advertisement

The 13 year old lass vanished from her Bolton home more than a week ago, sparking a substantial police hunt. She was initially reported missing on Friday (September 11) and was subsequently spotted at 11pm in Piccadilly Gardens.

Her next sighting came when she boarded the 247 bus at the Trafford Centre at 1.50pm on Saturday (September 12), followed by CCTV footage capturing her at the McDonald’s in Piccadilly Gardens at approximately 8.20pm on Sunday, September 13, reports the Express.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “Thank you to everyone who shared our missing appeal for 13-year-old Lillia, who has been missing since Friday 11 September 2026.

Advertisement

“We can confirm that she has been found safe and well in the city centre. She is currently with our officers, and her next-of-kin have been informed of this update. We will release more information in due course.”

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Reform would dodge any Labour ban on foreign donors by ‘setting up a crypto industry union’, senior aide claims

Published

on

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage (pictured) would bypass any Labour ban on foreign donors by setting up a trade union that would funnel the money, according to one of his most senior aides

Advertisement

Nigel Farage would bypass any Labour ban on foreign donors to his Reform UK party by setting up a trade union that would funnel the money, one of his most senior aides said on Saturday night. 

Andy Burnham’s Government reacted to last weekend’s unprecedented £72million donations from two cryptocurrency billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, by pledging to introduce new residency requirements which would retrospectively render the donations unlawful. 

Both men had previously been based overseas.

But on Saturday night, Reform UK’s Arron Banks claimed the party would respond by creating a new trade union – provisionally named the Allied Computer & Crypto Workers Union (ACCAW) – which would represent workers in the new IT, AI and cryptocurrency industries. 

Advertisement

It would be certified in the UK and therefore comply with Labour’s proposed new laws.

Under an alternative plan, the party would flood other trade unions with a ‘Red Wave’ of Reform supporters to engineer a ‘reverse takeover’ of the organisations.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage (pictured) would bypass any Labour ban on foreign donors by setting up a trade union that would funnel the money, according to one of his most senior aides 

Advertisement

The move would be inspired by the ‘blue wave’ campaign in 2018 in which Mr Banks flooded the Conservative Party with thousands of former UKIP members to push the Conservative Party towards a hard Brexit.

The party says internal polling shows a high level of support for Reform among trade union members.

Mr Banks said ‘the ACCAW would be the first union to politically support the views of its members’ and effectively ‘hoist Labour by its own petard’.

‘Our Red Wave campaign would remove champagne-swilling, socialist union barons who take home massive salaries. 

Advertisement

‘Huge numbers of trade union members support Reform, and we aim to mobilise them via a sustained campaign,’ he added.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Man Utd: Michael Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby blunder

Published

on

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scores against Manchester United

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick says he still has faith in the video assistant referee – but added that the apology for the error that led to their defeat in the Manchester derby does not mean much.

Referee’s body Pro Ref issued a formal apology to United within three hours of the end of Manchester City‘s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Neither VAR Matt Donohue nor his assistant Blake Antrobus have been selected for games this weekend after failing to spot City midfielder Enzo Fernandez clearly in an offside position and interfering with play before Erling Haaland’s matchwinner for City.

Carrick was livid after the game, saying it was a “worrying” interpretation of the rules.

Advertisement

And before his side’s Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday, the United boss was asked if he still had faith in VAR.

“One-off things can happen,” he said.

“At the time it was a pretty big one, we know that. I don’t think I need to go over that. But yes, I’ve got faith in it. It’s the system we work towards and that we use.”

Referee’s chief Howard Webb has been heavily criticised over general officiating standards in the game.

Advertisement

Analysing the incident on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’, Webb said he was “really disappointed” with the outcome, stating the officials had been too focused on a potential offside against Haaland and had failed to assess Fernandez’s position.

Webb has spoken to United about the situation in an effort to be more accountable.

“The apology doesn’t mean an awful lot,” said Carrick.

“I can appreciate and respect them putting their hands up and saying we got that wrong – it does happen. We just have to deal with it.

Advertisement

“Maybe we get one or two decisions on the law of averages or whatever but that one had a huge impact on the game and that’s why it was particularly tough.”

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Strictly is back with new hosts as celebrities discover pairings

Published

on

Left to right: Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe sit in a line on a sofa.

Here is a list of the pairings in full:

  • Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola

  • Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin

  • Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden

  • Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington

  • DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby

  • TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell

  • Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon

  • Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu

  • TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu

  • Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr

  • Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley

  • Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał

  • Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita

  • YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones

  • TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

One pair who won’t need to get to know each other are reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin.

Dyer is back to compete for a second time, having withdrawn from last year’s series due to a fractured ankle.

“I’m just over the moon. I’m so, so happy,” she said after the pairing, while Kuzmin added that he had “tears of joy” in his eyes.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, actress Bethany Antonia and professional Nancy Xu became the third two-woman couple to compete in the show.

In a poignant moment, Antonia revealed that watching boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones performing together in Strictly’s 2020 series was a “big part of my coming out journey”.

Among the other pairings were EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, former Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.

Also back on the dancefloor for a final spin was reigning Strictly champion, former Lionness Karen Carney.

Advertisement

Clad in the same diamante-encrusted football shirt, Carney recreated the Jive that first marked her out as a contender of her series, alongside dance partner Carlos Gu.

“I absolutely feel like I’m at home,” Carney told Willis after the routine, as she paid tribute to her pro partner.

In 13 weeks time, she’ll have to surrender that glitterball trophy to a new victor.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Darlington panto trio bringing Beauty and the Beast to life

Published

on

Darlington panto trio bringing Beauty and the Beast to life

Liv Newcomb will take on the role of Belle alongside Ollie Llewelyn-Williams as Prince Sebastian and Neisha-Yen Jones as the Enchantress.

With audiences already familiar with Beauty and the Beast in its many forms, Newcomb admitted there is some expectation attached to playing such a recognisable character.

However, rather than feeling pressure, she described stepping into Belle’s shoes as an honour.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

She said: “Everyone knows the traditional story and the Disney version of the fairy tale, so there’s pressure in terms of being the character that everyone loves.

Advertisement

“But it’s more like an honour to be able to have the tradition that’s associated with it.

“It’s stepping into something that you know everyone loves.”

While the traditional story remains at the production’s heart, the format gives its stars the opportunity to put their own stamp on the familiar characters.

For some of the cast, it will also mean adapting to the distinctive world of pantomime for the first time.

Advertisement

Llewelyn-Williams has come from more traditional theatre and said the freedom for performers and audiences to interact makes panto a very different prospect.

He said: “You get to interact with the audience, break fourth wall.

“They can have a sing-song, they can boo at me, they can cheer at me.

“It’s exciting and it is a new technique.”

Advertisement

(Image: Sarah Caldecott)

That unpredictability is something Neisha-Yen Jones is also looking forward to embracing, particularly after working in productions where performances are typically more fixed.

She said watching experienced comedians respond to audiences and change their performances on the fly offers an opportunity to learn a different theatrical skill.

The cast came together ahead of the production’s December opening, giving its members an early opportunity to see their costumes and discover the different skills among the company.

Llewelyn-Williams said: “It’s the first time that we’re seeing all the costumes together and seeing the energy all together, and we’re all bonding.

Advertisement

“It’s making it feel more real now.”

Despite working with one of theatre’s best-known fairy tales, audiences should not expect everything they see at the Hippodrome to follow the version they already know.

New characters will appear alongside familiar faces, while comedy and the conventions of pantomime will put a different spin on the story.

Newcomb said audiences can expect “the traditional story that everyone loves, but with twists and turns that we’re not expecting, and new characters and jokes”.

Advertisement

The cast is also looking forward to discovering the show’s musical side, with big dance numbers and songs forming part of the production.

Asked which pop songs they would choose themselves, Newcomb opted for Beyoncé’s Love on Top, while Llewelyn-Williams suggested music from Justin Timberlake or Bruno Mars and Jones pointing towards a Tina Turner classic.

But for now, the finer details of what awaits Darlington audiences remain under wraps.

What the trio can promise is a production which combines the heart of the original story with the freedom, humour and audience interaction of a Christmas panto.

Advertisement

Beauty and the Beast runs at Darlington Hippodrome from December 11 to January 3.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

I Started Dating Again In My 50s. I Didn’t Expect The Reaction I Got From Younger Men

Published

on

I Started Dating Again In My 50s. I Didn’t Expect The Reaction I Got From Younger Men

After my divorce settled, and following years spent raising my children and caring for my mother in her final chapter, I began to dip my toe back into the dating pool at 51.

Even though I felt ready to open up to the possibility of romance, I was also very aware of my emotional capacity – what I had the bandwidth to hold and what I didn’t.

I wasn’t looking for a soulmate, nor was I interested in future-tripping, making long-term promises or auditioning for a major role in a partner’s established life.

Before my marriage, my natural inclination had always been toward older men – men with established footholds, refined perspectives and the gravitational pull of maturity. But after a long marriage and years of caregiving, my needs had shifted. I simply did not have the emotional reserve to play a significant role in a partner’s existing domestic ecosystem.

Advertisement

Given that, and at the behest of my curious married friends who urged me to “take one for the team”, I manually adjusted my age preferences on the apps, sliding the scale far enough left that it could be framed as a cultural statement.

I widened those parameters not as a hunt but as an experiment in lowering the stakes. I assumed I was simply opening a doorway to casual conversation. What I didn’t expect was the immediate, enthusiastic response from men 10, 15 and 20 years my junior.

Unlike men in my own demographic, who often carried the weight of past domestic entanglements or rigid expectations, these younger suitors approached dating with refreshing candor, often addressing the age gap upfront with curiosity rather than hesitation, viewing it not as an obstacle but as a primary attraction.

I quickly realised this wasn’t an anomaly; I had stumbled onto a quiet, deliberate movement of young men actively seeking out older women.

Advertisement

Of course, it’s impossible to address this cultural wave without confronting the hyper-sexualised “cougar” or “MILF” tropes that are pervasive in the media. As a result, a not-insignificant portion of the messages in my inbox was inevitably fuelled purely by a fantasy that reduced an older woman to an erotic milestone rather than a person. Distinguishing genuine intrigue from fetishisation was the primary task of navigating this pool.

Still, a substantial segment of these younger men started surprisingly earnest conversations, and one young professional immediately stood out. He was 36 to my 51, but far more mature than his peers, intensely focused on his career, yet looking for adult female companionship.

What began as a series of engaging dinners turned into a meaningful, purposeful connection for both of us. For him, it offered a space to laugh, share and connect, entirely free from the biological clock and domestic pressure cooker of peer-group dating. For me, it served as a gentle, low-stakes step back into a dating landscape I hadn’t navigated in nearly two decades.

Our relationship spanned roughly 18 months – a fluid, unhurried arrangement anchored in complete transparency, mutual discretion and shared pleasure, deliberately unburdened by demands for formal exclusivity or traditional milestones. We remain friends today, and while he still occasionally gives a quiet wink asking to return to that season, we mostly laugh about our time together.

Advertisement

Recently, on a getaway to an upscale Southern California suburb, I overheard a hotel concierge advising guests on a few local restaurants – playfully referred to as “cougar bars” – where younger men gather specifically in hopes of meeting women their senior. Who would have thought? What I quietly discovered on the fringes of dating app filters had spilled into everyday public life.

For generations, the older-man-younger-woman dynamic wasn’t just tolerated; it was the default social blueprint. When high-profile men married partners decades their junior, culture treated it as a standard perk of status and wealth. Society rarely questioned their motives or demanded they defend their choices.

Meanwhile, when the gender roles were reversed, we coined the term “cougar” to paint older women as predatory or desperate, and the younger men who dated them as novelties or “boy toys”. High-profile exceptions, like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, were usually treated as tabloid anomalies or public spectacles.

Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images

Advertisement
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, who started dating in 2003, have roughly a 15-year age difference.

Today, that archaic framework is fracturing, largely driven by the cold mechanics of modern dating technology. According to Pew Research, 63% of men under 30 report being single, compared to just 34% of women in the same age bracket. Furthermore, 64% of men report feeling insecure due to a staggering lack of incoming messages on apps. On platforms like Tinder, where the average match rate for men sits at a dismal 5%, young men face a brutal numbers game.

To survive the feed, younger men have learned to game the system. On Bumble and Hinge, a 26-year-old man has to manually slide his age preferences upward to appear in a 50-something or 60-something woman’s queue. Widening his age bracket may partly be a numerical calculation to expand his reach, but it is also a deliberate tactical shift. Rather than chasing low response rates among his peers, he may recognise that mature women operate with far greater clarity, efficiency and directness, making an interaction not only more statistically probable but also of higher baseline quality.

Bumble’s global data shows that nearly 60% of women are open to dating younger men. Meanwhile, Hinge Labs reports that 65% of young men want deep emotional intimacy early on, yet nearly half hold back, perhaps for fear of failing to meet the intense life-stage expectations of women their own age.

This brings us to the core of the dynamic. As The New York Times recently highlighted in its exploration of why younger men are seeking out mature women, featuring commentary from writer Emily Leibert and psychoanalyst Jamieson Webster, this phenomenon sits at the intersection of female liberation and male risk-aversion.

Advertisement

A mature, established woman may act as an oasis for a younger man, offering high-value connection, emotional composure and engaging conversation without demanding that he immediately step into the role of provider, husband or father.

In a culture where young men are overwhelmed by economic instability and shifting relationship expectations, seeking out an older woman may function as a shortcut to low-pressure connection. If she has her own financial stability, her own home and her own identity, she probably isn’t asking him to build a life with her. Her life is already built.

Yet that’s where the friction lies.

Some younger men are drawn to an older woman under the naive assumption that her self-sufficiency will make her “low maintenance”. Younger men may mistake an established woman’s independence for a lack of standards, assuming that because she doesn’t need his financial support or a traditional commitment, she requires minimal effort.

Advertisement

The reality, of course, is the exact opposite. True self-sufficiency comes with firm boundaries, high standards and zero tolerance for playing a supporting role in someone else’s unwritten script. An older woman who has raised children, built a career or cared for ageing parents knows the exact value of her time and emotional investment.

Today, at 62, I look back on that chapter of my life with gratitude, but also with clarity. As a single woman now, my desires have shifted once again, and so has my capacity.

While I still open dating apps occasionally, mostly while travelling, my criteria have evolved. I’ve reopened my bracket to men in their early 50s and beyond, seeking the sharp, intellectually vibrant partners I’ve always aligned with best. I am no longer seeking the low-bandwidth, transitional space that post-divorce life required. Now I’m looking for someone ready for 30-plus years of shared curiosity and real depth.

While Kinsey Institute survey data shows that older women report higher levels of relationship satisfaction and commitment when dating younger men, I believe that satisfaction relies entirely on mutual transparency.

Advertisement

Hilary Rubin is an essayist and model examining performance, physical autonomy, and modern cultural dynamics. You can follow her work on Instagram @hilaryrubin or at hilaryrubin.com.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor living ‘in exile’ awaiting police investigation outcome | News UK

Published

on

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor living 'in exile' awaiting police investigation outcome | News UK
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly ‘in exile’ (Picture: AP)

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is believed to be living ‘in limbo’ at his home in Norfolk following his arrest.

On February 19, the former Duke was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office, allegations relating to his time as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, a role ultimately terminated over mounting controversy surrounding his connection to associates like Jeffrey Epstein.

He was later released under investigation without being charged, as emails that were part of the Epstein files suggested he may have shared confidential information with the convicted child sex offender about his official work.

It’s understood that the ex-Duke of York has been advised to keep a low profile as the probe continues.

Advertisement

As a result, he reportedly feels like he’s ‘in limbo’ at the Sandringham Estate, having moved to the property upon leaving Royal Lodge in Windsor at the start of the year.

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.

He was not legally required to surrender his passport and is, technically, still able to travel abroad; however, he has been advised not to by royal officials, who believe such a move would be ‘unwise’.

FILE - Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, looks round as he leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
The former Duke was arrested earlier this year (Picture: AP)

A source close to Mountbatten-Windsor told The Telegraph: ‘While Andrew remains under investigation after being arrested by Thames Valley Police seven months ago, he has effectively been living in limbo.

‘Although there are no formal conditions which prevent him from travelling while this drags on, he cannot really stray far beyond his home.

Advertisement

‘He cannot live his normal life as the police investigation goes on.’

The insider added that, in the meantime, police seem to be ‘no nearer being able to prove an allegation of misconduct in a public office’.

Mountbatten-Windsor is thought to be ‘making the most’ of his current situation, according to friends, as he focuses on his new life in Norfolk.

It’s believed he also feels a sense of ‘relief’ now that he’s out of the royal ‘bubble’.

Advertisement
FILE PHOTO: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, younger brother of Britain???s King Charles, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaves Aylsham Police Station on a vehicle, on the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after the U.S. Justice Department released more records tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Aylsham, Britain, February 19, 2026. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo ATTENTION EDITORS: UPDATING HEADLINE
After 12 hours of questioning on alleged misconduct in public office, he was released without being charged (Picture: Reuters)

Police enquiries are likely to continue for several more months.

For now, Mountbatten-Windsor is keeping his social circle small, and while he is thought to be in touch with his other siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, he has not spoken to King Charles ‘for some time’.

When police came knocking for his younger brother (on his 66th birthday), the King later expressed that the authorities have his ‘full and wholehearted support and cooperation’, insisting the Royal Family would ‘continue in [their] duty and service’.

The monarch also voiced ‘deepest concern’ upon hearing the news, stating clearly that ‘the law must take its course’.

Mountbatten-Windsor was interrogated for around 12 hours that day, and he has had no contact with Thames Valley Police since.

Advertisement

He has also ‘barely left Sandringham’ for the remainder of the year, having denied previous claims that he had holidayed in the south of France, a stark contrast to the jet-setting lifestyle he once enjoyed.

(FILES) Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York (L) and Britain's King Charles III leave following a Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral service, for the late Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London on September 16, 2025. King Charles will strip his younger brother Andrew of his royal titles and long-term residence on the Windsor estate, the palace said on October 30, 2025, the latest fallout to hit the scandal-plagued royal over the Jeffrey Epstein affair. "Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," the palace said, adding that Charles had begun the formal process to strip the titles from his brother. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
King Charles previously vowed to cooperate with the police probe after his brother’s detainment (Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

In May, biographer Andrew Lownie described Mountbatten-Windsor’s reality as ‘bleak’ and his life as ‘very empty’.

He told USA Today that the former prince had been ‘obsessively playing video games late into the night’ and that he was ‘prioritising gaming over work, health, and hygiene’.

Meanwhile, Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last October, faces fresh legal strife, as a congressman accused him of perpetrating ‘sex crimes in the United States’.

At the beginning of September, Thomas Massie, a Republican representative from Kentucky, called for Mountbatten-Windsor to be ‘investigated and prosecuted’ in the wake of the Epstein files’ revelations.

Advertisement

This follows existing allegations that he abused Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, having paid her a settlement in 2022 without admitting any liability.

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or having committed sex offences. He also denied ever meeting Giuffre.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025