Julia Mullaney | Showbiz Cheat Sheet Senior Writer

King Charles Could Be Reversing His Idea of a Slimmed-Down Monarchy After 1 Surprising Move

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 03:04:00 +0000

King Charles has been the monarchy’s ruler since immediately following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. By that time, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had already stepped away from the royal family, meaning there were very few working royal family members who could take on engagements.

In 2024, the monarchy became even slimmer as Kate Middleton took time away from the spotlight to focus on her health. Now though, Kate is back to work, but Charles and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, just made a royal appearance that could suggest Charles’ slimmed-down plan might be expanding.

Camilla Parker Bowles, King Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images For Buckingham Palace

King Charles just made an appearance with a surprising royal couple

Charles and Camilla recently held a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they honored a number of people and organizations who are making a difference around the world. The royal family is known for its charity work, so the event itself certainly didn’t come as a surprise. However, the royal couple that accompanied Charles and Camilla was definitely a lesser-known duo: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin. He’s 78 years old and married to Birgitte van Deurs, who is known as the Duchess of Gloucester.

The royal couple’s appearance suggests that Charles and Camilla are interested in working with other members of the royal family who fall outside of the typical working royal hierarchy. Right now, Charles’ siblings and one son, as well as their spouses, are the only working members of the firm. However, this recent appearance with Richard and Birgitte could suggest Charles recognizes the royal family can’t handle the work load with how few people are working royals.

The royal family’s slimmed-down monarchy might only get slimmer

Right now, Charles and Camilla are two important working royals. But once Prince William becomes king, the monarchy will be without the two of them, meaning the number of working royals will shrink even further. William only has one sibling, and everybody knows that Harry has no plans to make a royal family return — William probably wouldn’t even let him.

Charles might see the writing on the wall and be interested in recruiting other family members to take on the working royal status. While Richard and Birgitte are Charles’ age, maybe it’s a sign that other extended royal family members might eventually become working royals themselves.

Meghan Markle’s New ‘As Ever’ Website Sparks Backlash and Copying Accusations

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 01:35:12 +0000

Before Meghan Markle met her now-husband, Prince Harry, she was both an actor and a successful lifestyle blogger. The Duchess of Sussex previously owned a lifestyle blog called The Tig, where she showcased everything from food to travel and fashion. Now, Meghan is preparing to step back into that space with the launch of her new lifestyle brand, As Ever, but she’s already facing some backlash over allegedly copying the logo from a Spanish city’s coat of arms.

Meghan Markle | Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle is facing backlash over her ‘As Ever’ website logo

When Meghan launched the site, she shared a video on Instagram that explained she had changed the name from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever, which in her words means “as it’s always been.”

“This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish — food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday,” Meghan wrote alongside the Instagram video. She unveiled her website, asever.com, as well as a new Instagram account called aseverofficial, to welcome in her new brand.

However, it didn’t take long for people to find something wrong with it. According to Spanish media site Arabalears, a Spanish politician is reportedly considering sending a letter to Meghan about her logo. Xisca Mora, the mayor or Porrores in Mallorca, Spain, thinks Meghan directly copied the town’s coat of arms — which consists of two birds fluttering around a palm tree — for her own As Ever logo, which consists of a different style and color of the exact same thing.

“We are not angry … but we do not want there to be duplication with a historical image,” Mora told Arabalears.

The mayor of Porrores has ruled out suing Meghan Markle

Meghan can breathe a sigh of relief that she won’t be involved in a lawsuit with the small Spanish town. Mora says that the legal costs would be too much for such a small town, so it wouldn’t be worth the lawsuit.

Instead, Mora hopes to convince the Duchess of Sussex to change the brand’s logo without any legal debate. “We will explain where the history of the coat of arms comes from, that we have been using it for many years, that it is very old and what it represents so that, please, they change the brand image,” Mora says.

The plagiarism accusations are already putting a dent in Meghan’s exciting new launch, though it’s unclear whether the duchess will end up changing her own logo.

Ashanti Revealed What Really Happened the First Time She Met Nelly: ‘It Took Him a Long Time to Get My Number’

Julia Mullaney — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:44 +0000

R&B singer Ashanti was tied to rapper Nelly for more than a decade between the early 2000s and 2010s, and they were one of the music industry’s favorite couples. After what felt like forever, the two went their separate ways, but they always had strong chemistry. Ultimately, they wound up reconnecting nearly a decade after their split, and long story short, they’re married with a son.

Still, Ashanti once revealed what really happened the day she met Nelly, and she said the rapper seemed a little “sarcastic” at first.

Nelly and Ashanti in 2024 | Tommaso Boddi/FilmMagic

Ashanti once opened up about what it was like meeting Nelly for the first time

Ashanti and Nelly go back years, and their relationship pretty much defined the early 2000s. They were two of the biggest stars in their respective genres when they first met, and everyone wanted them to end up together. Still, the couple kept their relationship extremely private, only acknowledging it a handful of times and often referring to themselves as just friends.

Ashanti once revealed what it was really like meeting Nelly for the first time. Back in 2011, she spoke to VH1 about the couple’s initial interaction. “The first time I met Nelly, he asked me for my autograph, but I think he was being sarcastic, and I remember writing it down on the program,” Ashanti said of the couple’s 2003 Grammy Awards press conference meeting. “That picture has been in so many publications as something else, but it all started out as a joke.”

Ashanti also said that she and Nelly did not immediately go on a date — mostly because he didn’t have her number. “For the record, it took him a long time to get my number,” she added.”

Nelly and Ashanti reconnected in 2023

Rumors started to surface back in 2013 that Nelly and Ashanti were having problems and taking some time apart. By 2014, the couple’s breakup was confirmed. And suddenly, everyone’s dreams of their favorite early-2000s couple ending up together were shattered — or so people thought. Nearly a decade later, Nelly and Ashanti were married.

They first reconnected in 2021, but it wasn’t until 2023 that the two took their relationship public (it remains a little unclear whether they were dating during that time). But once they were public again, it didn’t take long for them to tie the knot.

Nelly and Ashanti confirmed their relationship in September 2023, and by December 2023, they were married. However, they kept it a secret for nearly six months, ultimately confirming the marriage in June 2024. The couple welcomed their son in July 2024.

Ja Rule Opens Up About Ashanti and Nelly’s Reunion, Says They Wanted ‘That Old Thing’ Back: ‘The Chemistry Was There’

Julia Mullaney — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:33:19 +0000

Rapper Ja Rule had a massive influence on the music industry back in the early 2000s, and he remains one of the defining musicians of that decade. But one person he often collaborated with was Ashanti, an R&B singer — the two complemented a lot of the other one’s songs.

Ja and Ashanti have been friends for decades, and he recently spoke about Ashanti’s reconnection with her former flame (and now husband), Nelly. Spoiler alert: He wasn’t surprised that she and Nelly got back together.

Nelly and Ashanti in 2006 | Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Ja Rule says the ‘chemistry’ was always there between Nelly and Ashanti

Nelly and Ashanti were certainly the “it” couple in rap and R&B in the early 2000s. The couple first met back in 2003, and there was an instant connection. The couple always kept pretty quiet about their relationship, and they never even truly acknowledged that they were dating; they often referred to each other as good friends. The two allegedly dated between 2003 and 2014, but after a long 10-year break, they reconnected in 2023. Today, they’re married with a baby.

Ja Rule has been close with Ashanti for years and has said that his wife and Ashanti have remained good friends. He recently spoke out about Ashanti’s reunion with Nelly and suggested that he wasn’t surprised the two ended up together.

“You can tell, sometimes, when women … They know they want that old thing back,” Ja told Tamron Hall. “I don’t want to blow sis up, but the chemistry was there. The chemistry was there. And I think, for both of them, it came back quick. So, I think they missed each other.”

Nelly and Ashanti even kept their wedding a secret for as long as they could; the two have since welcomed a baby boy.

Nelly once revealed why it took him so long to marry Ashanti

Back in 2010, Nelly opened up about why he did not initially marry Ashanti, and his reasoning made sense. “What people don’t understand is that I think you really have to be friends first, that’s the thing,” he said in an interview with Rap-Up TV. “It’s not about how long it takes; there’s no time limit on this.”

Nelly added that he’s “not a person who wants to be married more than once” and “not a person who wants to be in a relationship more than once.” Ultimately, though, he knew Ashanti was who he wanted — it just took him 20 years to lock it down.

The British Public Thinks 1 Royal Couple Is the Most Romantic — and the Reveal Might Surprise You

Julia Mullaney — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:23:00 +0000

The royal family has always been pretty serious and low key when it comes to public displays of affection. However, in recent years, the family members have become a little more open about sharing affection in front of a crowd. It could be a way for the family to seem more human and relatable, but either way, the royal fans have loved it.

Now, the public is revealing which royal couple they think is the most romantic and despite the frequent PDA, it isn’t Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Kate Middleton and Prince William | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Fans think Prince William and Kate Middleton are the most romantic royal couple

Prince William and Kate Middleton first met back in the early 2000s when they were both attending college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The two started dating during their sophomore year, but they kept it under wraps for nearly two years before finally taking things public in 2004. William and Kate previously didn’t show much affection while in public, but over the last few years, they have been spotted being more and more adorable in the spotlight. Constant touching, eye contact, and smiling at one another has led the public to say they’re the most romantic couple, according to Express.

Believe it or not, Harry and Meghan were not voted the second-most romantic. That was a less-advertised royal couple: Zara and Mike Tindall, who are Princess Anne’s daughter and son-in-law. Ranking third were King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, followed by Harry and Meghan. Harry and Meghan were very affectionate (compared to other royals) when they were members of the British royal family, and they remain that kind of couple now that they have separated from the royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be responsible for other royals’ affection

The royal family used to present themselves as incredibly professional with very little public affection. However, Harry and Meghan changed that when they joined the family. They were often spotted holding hands, or resting a hand on the other’s back, and it almost appeared other royal couples started trying to keep up — including William and Kate.

These days, William and Kate have become so used to showing each other a little love while they’re in public. The two can often be seen sneaking in romantic glances, which has made the public fall in love with them even more. And they just might have Harry and Meghan to thank.

Meghan Markle’s Recent Tribute to Prince Harry Subtly Revealed the Love He Still Has for the UK

Julia Mullaney — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 02:23:00 +0000

Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, moved to the United States back in 2020 after a volatile relationship with the royal family caused the couple to want to start over. They haven’t returned to the UK together since 2022, and Harry has said in the past that he has no intention of bringing his family over with the current security situation.

Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things Harry misses about the place he once called home. And in a sweet tribute, Meghan subtly hinted that the prince still has plenty of love for his country.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle called out Prince Harry’s love of fish and chips

Harry was born and raised in the UK, as everyone knows, and while he did move away five years ago, he has reportedly said that he dreams of one day being able to show his kids all around the place he once called home. Between the security issues and the tension with his family, Harry hasn’t brought his family to the UK in a while, but he still clearly misses some things about home.

On Valentine’s Day, Meghan paid a sweet tribute to her husband, where she shared one of his favorite things: fish and chips. “My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever. Thank you for you,” Meghan wrote in part of her Instagram caption. Of course, most people know that fish and chips is an iconic British dish consisting of battered and fried whitefish paired with fried (or “chips” as they’re called in the United Kingdom).

Although Harry isn’t making the trip home too often anymore, they say you can take the guy out of Britain, but you can’t take Britain out of the guy. And such is the case with Harry, who will likely never move on from those small joys he still loves about home.

Prince Harry has said he wants to bring his family to the UK

Harry has been working to get his security situation straightened out so that he can bring Meghan and the kids back to the UK. Although the Sussexes likely won’t spend much time with the royals, Harry still has friends and Princess Diana’s family over in the UK whom he would probably like to see from time to time. The prince has mentioned that he wants to show his kids the things he loved about growing up in Britain.

Until the security mess is cleaned up, though, Harry will have to continue to enjoy fish and chips in the United States — hopefully it stacks up against the UK version.

Meghan Markle Complained That Prince William and King Charles Were Too ‘Serious’ While in the Royal Family, Insider Reveals

Julia Mullaney — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 01:42:57 +0000

It’s not exactly a secret that Meghan Markle didn’t have the best relationship with most of the royals. The Duchess of Sussex was only close with a handful of members of the British royal family, one of whom was her husband, Prince Harry. Meghan and Harry both left the royal family in 2020, and the duchess hasn’t had much contact with her in-laws since.

It turns out Meghan didn’t love spending time with King Charles and Prince William, whom she claimed were both too “serious all the time.”

King Charles and Prince William | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Meghan Markle didn’t like the way King Charles and Prince William carried themselves

The royal family hasn’t always been known for their exciting, outgoing personalities. They carry themselves extremely seriously, though the younger generation (referring to the Sussex and Wales couples) have sort of changed that. But even Prince William and Kate Middleton only started highlighting their personal lives within the last couple of years.

Apparently, Meghan didn’t love this about the royal family. Yes, the royals serve a purpose, but that doesn’t mean they have to be “so serious.” At least, that’s how the Duchess of Sussex allegedly felt.

According to Express, royal expert Tom Quinn wrote in his new book, “Ma’am,” that Meghan felt William and Charles didn’t relax enough. “Why do William and Charles sound so serious all the time?” a royal staffer described Meghan as saying about the father and son while she was still in the royal family. The staffer continued, “She used to make jokes about Harry not having the same parents as William, claiming, ‘Harry isn’t pompous at all. He’s chill.’” Another staffer revealed that Meghan was serious about doing good for the world as a member of the royal family — something she has continued to pursue while leading a different kind of life in the United States.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don’t see much of the royal family

Harry and Meghan have not returned to the UK as a couple since 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California back in 2020, where they have planted roots and since welcomed a second child, Princess Lilibet (the couple moved with their son, Prince Archie, when he was 10 months old).

King Charles reportedly has no relationship with Archie and Lili, and Harry has said in the past that he doesn’t want to bring his children over to the United Kingdom until he feels they have adequate security, which he’s been fighting for a while. At this point, it’ s hard to say whether the family will ever reconcile.

Meghan Markle Subtly Calls Out the Royal Family For Not Supporting Prince Harry: ‘You’re His Family’

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been thick as thieves since they met back in 2016. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex only dated for a little more than a year before they became engaged, and they wed in 2018. Since then, Meghan has stuck by her husband’s side through thick and thin, but she has made it clear that she has no room in her life for the royal family.

During a speech at the 2025 Invictus Games, Meghan said one line that has some people thinking she took a subtle swipe at her husband’s family.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Did Meghan Markle take a shot at Prince Harry’s family?

Harry and Meghan risked a whole lot to leave the royal family, and in some ways, they’re still dealing with the fallout. The duke and duchess have remained one unit, though, and during Harry’s 2025 Invictus Games, Meghan gave a heartfelt speech acknowledging everyone who was a part of the successful competition and charitable week of events. However, it was one line of Meghan’s that gave some people pause. Meghan was speaking before introducing her husband to the crowd when she said, “[Harry will] be on his phone and Archie will say, ‘Papa, why are you on your phone? He’s like, this is Invictus. I’m getting ready for Invictus,” Meghan started to say. But she finished the line with, “It means so much to him. You’re his family, just as we are his family.”

It’s those last two sentences that have people thinking Meghan might have been making a subtle dig at Harry’s family, none of whom attend the events in Canada to support the prince. Instead, Meghan referred to everyone else there as the prince’s family. Of course, it’s open to interpretation, and it’s impossible to say whether she meant it in such a way.

Meghan Markle proved she and Prince Harry aren’t going anywhere

Meghan supported Harry during the Invictus Games, and there were plenty of moments where the two were showing their love for one another in the public eye. Meghan flew home early to be with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but she still shared a heartfelt Instagram post for her husband.

“My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever,” part of Meghan’s caption read. “Thank you for you.” Despite what the haters say, Harry and Meghan’s love appears to be going stronger than ever. And Harry seems to be doing just fine with his little family of four.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Are Taking a Different Approach to Their Relationship in 2025

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 13:23:00 +0000

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been together for more than 20 years. The Prince and Princess of Wales first met back in college at the University of St. Andrews. After dating for years (and going through one high-profile breakup), the couple tied the knot in 2011. For most of their royal marriage, the two have not publicly showed much affection.

However, over the last few years, that has started to change, as William and Kate have realized that the public wants to see them in love. And 2025 has brought a new attitude to the public side of the couple’s long-term romance.

Prince William and Kate Middleton | David Rowland/Pool/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton are showing love differently in 2025

The prince and princess used to be highly professional about their marriage to the point where they almost never shared any public displays of affection. However, things started changing when William and Kate began working alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were always quick to show their love for one another. Although the public heavily criticized Harry and Meghan, people did appreciate the Sussexes’ showing of love.

William and Kate followed suit, and they slowly began putting an arm on the other’s back, sneaking in a quick touch, and making much more eye contact during their royal appearances.

Now, in 2025, William and Kate are showing much more social media affection than they have in the past. On Kate’s birthday — the first birthday celebration since Kate underwent cancer treatment in 2024 — William posted a heartfelt public note to his wife that had followers misty-eyed. And on Valentine’s Day, William and Kate’s team shared a photo of the prince and princess with a red heart as the caption. It was a new kind of post for the prince and princess, who had not acknowledged Valentine’s Day in the prior year.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are showing more public love than ever

It seems William and Kate are working hard to show off the more human and positive sides of their relationship, and an easy way to do that is to show love for one another. The Valentine’s Day post was a new one, and in 2024, the couple’s official Instagram account did not acknowledge Kate’s birthday. This year, however, the personal note from William was a huge change.

William and Kate continue to grow their relationship in the spotlight, and it’s possible that Kate’s health situation in 2024 breathed new life into her marriage, as the difficult time might have brough her and William closer. Either way, we’re here for all the love.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Donald Trump’s Friendship Dates Back Decades as 30-Year-Old Photo Resurfaces

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:23:00 +0000

Hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs made plenty of friends throughout his high-paying career. However, most of them disappeared once Diddy was arrested in September 2024. He currently sits in jail on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, and his trial is set to begin in May.

There are a bunch of people who have been spotted with Diddy at his parties over the last few decades, but it turns out he spent quite a bit of time with President Donald Trump. Photos of the duo go as far back as nearly three decades.

Donald Trump with Sean Combs, Ivana Trump, Kim Porter, and others in 1997 | PL Gould/Images/Getty Images

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has spent plenty of time with Donald Trump through the years

When Diddy was at the height of his fame in the early 2000s, he was regularly throwing massive parties. The mogul spent as much as $500,000 on each of these white parties, which saw guests dressed in all white — and a select few were invited to the “freak off” after parties, which is now where a bunch of the allegations against Diddy stem from.

But Diddy was always popping up at different events, and it turns out he and current President Donald Trump might have been pretty close. Back in 1997, Diddy and Trump were in the same suite watching the US Open together. Trump and his first wife, Ivana, sat in the suite alongside Diddy and his longtime then-girlfriend, Kim Porter. The photo, which is 28 years old, suggests the two were friends for nearly 30 years before Diddy’s arrest. That same month in 1997, Trump was photographed with Diddy and Clive Davis at the exclusive opening of Diddy’s New York City restaurant, Justin’s Restaurant.

Then, in 1998, Diddy and Trump once again spent time together at a polo match in the Hamptons, where the two posed for photos. Over the years, more and more photos were taken of Trump and Diddy posing at various events, including some alongside Trump’s wife, Melania Trump.

Donald Trump once praised Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on the apprentice

Trump once publicized his friendship with Diddy during an episode of The Apprentice. “I love Diddy,” Trump can be seen saying in the resurfaced clip. “You know he’s a good friend of mine. He’s a good guy.”

The comments were from 2012 — 15 years after Trump and Diddy were first photographed together at the tennis match. “I think he’s a good guy; I’m going to stick up for him,” Trump also said in the clip after Aubrey O’Day, who previously worked with Diddy when she was a member of the band Danity Kane, didn’t want to say whether or not she thought Diddy was a good guy.

Kanye West recently called for Trump to pardon Diddy, though it doesn’t appear that Trump has acknowledged a potential pardon.