Celebrity
Meghan Markle's Dad Says He's 'Hand-Delivered a Letter' to Duchess' Mom Asking Why She Shut Him Out

In a new interview, Thomas explains that he has been unsuccessful when trying to contact his pregnant daughter.

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas, is once again trying to publicly reconnect with his daughter.

The pregnant Duchess of Sussex has been on the outs with her dad for quite some time now, but the 74-year-old retired TV lighting director is done with being ignored, and has even asked his ex-wife, Doria Ragland, why Meghan is putting up "a wall of silence."

“I have been frozen out and I can’t stay silent,” Thomas told the Mail on Sunday in an interview published on Saturday. “I have made dozens of attempts to reach my daughter via text and letters, but she and Harry have put up a wall of silence.”

"Everyone says, 'Why don’t I just shut the f**k up? That Meghan can’t speak to me because I’ll give away secrets.' But that’s bulls**t. I’ve been accused of every terrible thing you can think of," he continued, adding that he's sent several texts. "Her number hasn’t changed and they haven’t bounced back."

Thomas, who says he hasn't spoken with Meghan since after her wedding, was involved in a staged paparazzi photo scandal prior to his daughter's nuptials. He then gave several negative and public paid interviews in which he bashed the royal family and Prince Harry. He later vowed to never disrespect his daughter and her husband by making any more negative remarks.

Now that the holidays are upon us, Thomas has even reached out to Meghan's mother, asking for her help.

“I’ve pleaded with her to pick up the phone. I wrote her a two-page letter and sent it by certified mail via her representative in Los Angeles. I asked her why she was believing the lies,” Thomas explained. “I even hand-delivered a letter to Doria asking her why our daughter won’t speak to me."

“If she would just speak to me, things could be different,” he continued. “I love Meghan very much. I want her and Harry to have a beautiful, healthy baby and a great life. But I want them to stop believing the lies.”

This new interview is the first one since October, when Thomas spoke about his daughter's pregnancy for the first time.

At the time, he explained how he didn't want "anyone to feel sorry for me" about finding out about the pregnancy on the radio. "Me not getting a call is most likely a misunderstanding about my two back-to-back heart attacks and me missing the wedding," he said at the time. "There has been so much misinformation and lies that perhaps made them mistrust me."

Prince Philip crash: Woman who broke wrist 'considering personal injury claim'

A mother who broke her wrist in a car crash with the Duke of Edinburgh is considering a personal injury claim, it has emerged, as she calls for the 97-year-old to stop driving.

Emma Fairweather, who was the passenger of a Kia Carens car which collided with the Duke’s Land Rover, said she felt “ignored and rejected” by the Royal Family after the accident.

Admitting she had hoped for an apology from the Duke and “a card and a bunch of flowers” from the Queen, she claimed the injury had affected her independence and may require surgery.

Ms Fairweather was one of two women in the Kia, which was left on a verge after colliding with the Duke of Edinburgh’s car.

Her 28-year-old friend, who was driving, suffered cuts to her knee, and a nine-month-old baby escaped unharmed.

The Duke, who has subsequently been photographed driving a replacement Land Rover into the Sandringham Estate without a seatbelt or the presence of his protection officers, suffered “no injuries of concern”, Buckingham Palace said.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror newspaper, Ms Fairweather, a 45-year-old mother-of-two, said: “I haven't had any contact from the Royal household. Maybe he [the Duke] should prioritise that over test driving his new car."

Having recently started a new job as a support worker, the newspaper, said, she is “now considering a personal injury claim after being told she could face two months off work”.

The aftermath of the crash, near Sandringham Credit: George Glass

Ms Fairweather said she was “really shocked” that the Duke had already been out driving, adding: “I very much hope he'll consider stopping.

"I think he should be treated the same as anyone else. How could you say no to prosecuting him if he's broken the law?"

Ms Fairweather also claims she has not been contacted by anyone at Buckingham Palace, instead received a message via a police liaison officer, saying: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would like to be remembered to you.”

“That's not an apology or even a well-wish,” she told the newspaper. "I love the royals but I've been ignored and rejected and I'm in a lot of pain.

"The police haven't given me any emotional support either."

A palace source yesterday insisted that a number of attempts had been made by at least two senior aides to contact both the driver and passenger to “see how they are and offer messages of goodwill and good wishes” from both the Queen and Duke.

The Duke of Edinburgh takes delivery of a replacement Land Rover Credit: Geoff Robinson

The source denied that the two women were being ignored by the palace, with a “full message of support” sent via a police officer on Friday while the permission of the women was sought for their contact detail to be passed on to staff.

It is understood that further attempts to contact the women at their respective homes to deliver a more personal message had been difficult, with both thought to be staying elsewhere temporarily.  A senior aide from the palace is now in touch with the driver. 

The Royal Family’s engagements will continue this week as planned.

UK police speak to Prince Philip about not wearing seatbelt

LONDON (AP) — British police have spoken with Prince Philip after the husband of Queen Elizabeth II was photographed apparently driving without wearing a seatbelt — just two days after he was involved in a serious car crash.

British media on Saturday published a photograph showing the 97-year-old royal driving a new Land Rover near the royal residence at Sandringham in eastern England.

Norfolk Police said "suitable words of advice have been given to the driver."

Police said the advice given to Philip was "in line with our standard response when being made aware of such images showing this type of offense."

Buckingham Palace didn't comment on the images.

Philip was driving another Land Rover when he was involved in a violent collision on Thursday in which two women in a Kia car were injured. A 9-month-old baby boy in the Kia was unhurt. Philip had to be helped out of his overturned vehicle but wasn't injured.

The palace said Friday that Philip and the queen had privately contacted the other people in the crash and exchanged good wishes.

But Emma Fairweather, who broke her wrist in the collision, told the Sunday Mirror newspaper that she had not heard from the palace.

"I still haven't had any contact from the royal household," she said. "Maybe he should prioritize that over test driving his new car."

The 46-year-old said "it would mean the world to me" if Philip offered an apology.

Police haven't disclosed who was at fault for the crash, which happened after Philip drove onto a main road from a side road near the royal family's Sandringham estate, 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London.

The queen and Philip have been on an extended Christmas break in Sandringham, their holiday tradition for many years.

Philip has been in generally good health and was photographed in December driving a horse-drawn carriage. He has largely retired from public life but still is occasionally seen at family occasions with the queen.

The accident — and Philip's subsequent driving apparently without using a seatbelt — is raising questions about his continued use of public roadways.

Buckingham Palace says Philip has a valid driver's license. There is no upper age limit for licensing drivers in Britain, although drivers over 70 are required to renew their licenses every three years and tell authorities about any medical conditions that might raise safety issues.

Philip passed a vision test Saturday as part of the investigation into the accident.

Prince William Has an Interesting Theory About Why the British Have Trouble Expressing Emotion

Prince William took to the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos this Wednesday, joining an impressive line-up of mental health advocates from around the globe. He used the opportunity to discuss his, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry's Heads Together initiative-a program that fights to erase the stigma around mental health issues.

William explained that Heads Together was a natural outgrowth of the "The work I’d been doing, the charities have to do with addiction homelessness, veterans' welfare, young disadvantaged people," he said. "And the work my brother and my wife was doing as well. We all sat down after quite a few years of doing this, and we started to realize that there was this elephant in the room that had never been grappled with, and it crossed between all the different sectors and organizations that we were working with. And mental health was the thing."

As for why it had never been grappled with, Prince William placed the blame squarely on British people's reticence to discuss their feelings-which, according to him, is the product of history. Read the future king's theory below.

    We’re very embarrassed about revealing our emotions. And I take it back as far as the war. And I think, you know, the wartime was very, very difficult for everybody. And people were dealing with their own ways, and losing so many loved ones, and dealing with such horrendous circumstances that no matter how much you could talk, you were never gonna fix the issue. It was so destructive and devastating that I think a whole generation just decided that this was the best way of dealing with it. They then, completely by accident, passed that on to the next generation. You know, we all learn from our parents. We all learn from how they deal with things. So a whole generation inherited that this was the way you deal with problems. You don’t talk about them. And I think now, there’s a generation here that are finally realizing that this is not normal, we should talk about it, we should get over it... This is a generational issue and we’ve got to start tackling it now so that our children and our grandchildren don’t have to go through this sort of process, and they can be more open about it.

Many people believe Queen Elizabeth II alluded to Brexit’s political turmoil after she made a comment about seeking “common ground” during an appearance.

In season two of The Crown, Claire Foy says as Queen Elizabeth II: “In an increasingly complex world, we all need certainty.” It’s a fictional quote, said on a fictional show, but in many ways, it’s real. For more than six decades now, the Queen of England has remained a steadfast, soothing figure through times of turmoil, conflict, and uncertainty.

Like right now, when the government of the United Kingdom is in crisis as it struggles to make a deal over Brexit. Theresa May’s leadership is uncertain, and the future of the U.K. is in question, leaving the country’s population polarized.

Now, the Queen isn’t allowed to take a political stance (nor are other members of the royal family). And when the Brexit vote was happening, she stayed mum. However, during a recent appearance at the Sandringham Women’s Institute in Norfolk, she made a comment that many believe was directed at the current discord.

“Every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities. As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture,” she said to the crowd. “To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”

Although she never uttered a political term, the British press was abuzz about the allusion. “Queen Calls for End to Brexit Feud,” read a headline on the The Times of London’s front page this morning, and the remarks were soon turned into a Twitter moment.

How Meghan Markle Is Making Ethical Jewelry Her Go-To Fashion Statement

Meghan Markle is choosing jewelry with a message in a way no royal ever has.

On a visit to Birkenhead last week, Meghan wore three different jewelry designers, all of whom share contemporary values of sustainability and giving back.

Among the brands the Duchess of Sussex, 37, debuted: Bar Jewellery, a sustainable label founded by London-based Sophie McKay, who uses recycled silver and avoids chemicals in the manufacturing process. The royal mom-to-be wore McKay’s chic gold-plated Wide Ripple Bracelet ($305). “It’s amazing that high-profile people like Meghan are promoting brands like mine,” McKay tells PEOPLE. “It’s so great that the royal family supports us.”

It’s not McKay’s first brush with royalty. When Queen Elizabeth attended London Fashion Week last February, she visited the jeweler’s stand and the pair chatted about another sustainable feature of the brand. “She said the designs were very nice and we spoke about local production, how everything is made in London – it was very cool and a complete surprise!”

Outland Denim Founder, James Bartle, Talks ‘the Meghan Effect’ on the Brand

• Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

In addition to the elegant bracelet, Meghan re-wore a pair of gold earrings from her go-to ethical jewelry brand, Pippa Small. Meghan’s Nosheen Stud Earrings ($60) are made by the artisans of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, an Afghanistan-based charity set up by Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles. The foundation trains and employs young people within the arts and crafts industry in Kabul, providing stability and income for many families in the war-torn country.

Lastly, the stylish royal wore a delicate gold ring on her thumb by contemporary jewelry line i+i Jewellery. The Crescent Moon Ring ($242) is handmade in 14-karat gold — and the founder, Kirsty Patterson, who trained under Mick Jagger’s daughter, Jade Jagger, donates 10% of all profits to the Indian charity Set Beautiful Free, an initiative that helps free women and children from sex slavery.

For much more on Meghan’s ethical fashion, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

“Even if people can’t afford to buy the exact same piece of jewelry, it’s making people think about not using plastic and buying less,” says McKay. “It’s about being more thoughtful in general.”

As ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, naturally the Queen gets only the best food around.
She picks from a menu book, and meals are created for her.
She basically has her own personal restaurant!

But as with any dining establishment, things can occasionally go wrong.
Once, the Queen even found an unwelcome, and slightly dangerous, guest lurking in her salad.

Celebrity
Prince Harry Is Ready for Fatherhood in This Swoon-Worthy Photo Alongside Pregnant Meghan Markle
Prince Harry can’t wait to meet his little one.

The royal dad-to-be, 34, couldn’t help but steal a glance at Meghan Markle‘s growing baby bump on a tour of the Old Vic theatre their snowy day trip to Bristol — about 120 miles west of London — on Friday. As the pair learned about the 18th century theatre’s history and links to the local community, Harry was spotted lovingly gazing down at his wife beside him with his attention on her baby belly.

Meghan’s bump was visible under her printed black dress by Oscar de la Renta. The soon-to-be mom often rested her hand on her bump throughout their busy day, which also included greeting well-wishers outside in the snow, visiting a charity that supports sex workers and meeting young people who have been helped through the sport of boxing.

The couple also gave a small preview of what they’ll be like as parents when they met a group of 3- and 4-year-olds from Abbeywood Tots kindergarten during their public meet and greet.

After one child adorably asked Meghan, “where’s Harry,” she called her husband over to share the special moment. However, the duo had to laugh when the little ones, bundled up in their winter jackets, were more interested in their mid-morning snack of cookies than their brush with royalty.

Nursery worker India Leachman, 25, told reporters, “The children beckoned them over, like, ‘We’re excited to see you,’ waving their flags. And as soon as they came over, they were interested in their biscuits.”

Harry and Meghan, 37, both share a love of kids. Harry can’t resist sharing a special moment with little ones at royal events — and the feeling is mutual. He also supports several charities that work to better the lives of children all over the world.

In April 2017, Harry revealed that he’s ready to start a family.

“Of course, I would love to have kids,” he said in an interview with The Telegraph‘s Mad World podcast.

Harry won’t have to wait much longer to meet his first child. During the couple’s visit to the town of Birkenhead in mid-January, the Duchess of Sussex told the crowd when she’s due to give birth.

“We asked her how her pregnancy was going and she said she was six months and she tapped her tummy,” well-wisher Carla Gandy from nearby Wallasey, who was there with her 4-year-old daughter Sofia, tells PEOPLE.

Meghan told others gathered in Hamilton Square that she’s due in late April.

Car and Driver
97-Year-Old Prince Philip Gives Up Driver's License a Month after Flipping His Land Rover Freelander

UPDATE 2/10/19: Prince Philip has "voluntarily" given up his driver's license, Buckingham Palace reported on Saturday. He had been seen driving with no seatbelt only days after the accident in which two people were injured. As in the United States, the United Kingdom has no set date by which anyone must give up a driver's license.

UPDATE 1/18/19: The U.K.'s Telegraph newspaper reported on Friday morning that a replacement Land Rover Freelander has already been delivered to the royals' Sandringham estate, inside a delivery truck under guard, to replace the same model that Prince Philip crashed on Thursday.

Prince Philip, the 97-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, was involved in a car crash outside the queen's Sandringham estate near Norfolk, England, today. The elderly patriarch, who retired from royal duties in 2017, reportedly was merging onto a highway and flipped the Land Rover he was driving after making contact with a Kia.

News photos show that the Land Rover flipped on its side; eyewitnesses cited by the BBC News said Prince Philip was "shocked and shaken" but not unconscious after the impact.

In a statement, Norfolk police said both Prince Philip and the woman driving the Kia were given a Breathalyzer test, and both test results were negative. The Kia driver and her female passenger were treated and released at a hospital, the driver for cuts and the passenger for an arm injury. BBC News is reporting that the royal was unhurt.

The investigation that is sure to follow should lead to much discussion about whether a person of his age and reported ill health should still be driving, but, as the BBC quoted the president of the U.K.'s AA driver organization as saying, "If driving restrictions based on age and safety were introduced, we would be more likely to restrict young drivers rather than older drivers."

Prince Philip was shown driving a vehicle carrying President and Mrs. Obama, along with the queen, as recently as 2016.