Month: July 2021

Meghan Markle struggled to ‘switch off’ the American dream’ and understand her ‘duty was to the Queen’, a US-born viscountress has claimed in a new documentary.

Meghan at 40: The Climb to Power, which airs on Channel 5 on Saturday ahead of The Duchess of Sussex’ landmark birthday on 4th August, explores the former Suits star’s life from being born in California to her relationship with The Firm today.

Speaking in the programme Julie Montagu, who was born in Illinois but moved to the UK 16 years ago when she married Luke Timothy Charles Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the son of the 11th Earl of Sandwich, explained that Meghan’s struggle with her in-laws came from an inability to ‘let go’ of American ideals.

Meghan Markle struggled to ‘switch off’ the American dream’ and understand her ‘duty was to the Queen’ as US-born viscountress has claimed in a new documentary. Meghan and the Queen are pictured in 2018 at Buckingham Palace

‘You can’t really be anything you want to be or do anything you want to do or say anything you want to say,’ Viscountess Hinchingbrooke explained.

‘Your duty is to the Queen and that’s very difficult for someone like Meghan.

‘To switch off that American dream off and accept “now you have to do what we say” is difficult.

‘It’s difficult to have love and duty work simultaneously and together and that’s what Harry and Meghan wanted in negations with the Queen, this synergy, that they can make work, but the Queen said no.’

Speaking in the programme Julie Montagu (pictured in London) who was born in Illinois but moved to the UK 16 years ago when she married Luke Timothy Charles Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the son of the 11th Earl of Sandwich, explained that Meghan’s struggle with her in-laws came from an inability to ‘let go’ of American ideals.

Who is  Viscountess Hinchingbrooke?

Born as Julie Fisher in rural Illinois, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke’s life in one of Britain’s grandest estates is far from what it once was.

Now 49, Julie was a single mother-of-two when she met her husband Luke Montagu – whose ancestor the fourth Earl of Sandwich gave his name to the popular lunch staple – at a party in 2003.

They married a year later at Mapperton, the family’s exquisite Jacobean family pile described by Country Life as the finest manor house in England, with Julie wearing the family tiara.

In 2014 she starred in the short-lived Bravo reality series Ladies of London.

She also manages the Mapperton Estate in Dorset with her husband and three sons aged between 20 and 14.

Because of a lack of visitors to the estate in lockdown, Julie had to embrace savvy new business ideas to keep her manor house and the family’s 15 acres of Italianate gardens afloat – including virtual tours and yoga classes.

Usually boasting 200 visitors a day in high season, the estate was only able to reopen its gardens on the weekend.

The documentary also claims that Meghan and Harry gave their ‘truth bomb’ interview to Oprah Winfrey because they ‘expected an apology’ from the royal family.

‘I think she felt it was an opportunity  for her to not only share it with the world, but she hoped the royal family was actually listening,’ Lady Julie added.

‘It’s difficult to pinpoint why she did it,’ Julie went on ‘ but I think it’s clear they were angry’.

Royal author Tom Quinn also told the documentary: ‘I think they were hoping for an apology, they were hoping they would phone and say, “We’re sorry we push you too far, we should have sat you down and spoke about your mental health issue”.

‘I think she was horrified that the reaction was so negative from the family and they didn’t respond in the way she wanted,’ he added.

‘Meghan thought when she entered the royal family she could shake things up and they would love it, they would do things Meghan’s way. 

‘And when that didn’t happen, and when she came up against what she sees as the forces of reaction, it made us so upset.

‘That that interview was her way to get revenge’.

During an explosive chat with Oprah Winfrey in March, Meghan claimed her sister-in-law Kate Middleton made her cry before she married Prince Harry as the couple, there was ‘concern’ over Archie’s skin colour from members of the royal family and that she was ‘silenced’ by The Firm.

‘Everybody jumped on that, Meghan was silenced, it’s awful,’ journalist Ashley Pearson told the programme, ‘but anyone that knows anything about royal history knows  all the royals are silenced. None of them can say what they think. They’re all silenced.

‘They can’t go and meet some head of state and later say “oh I didn’t like him”. They’re all silenced. That’s why they’re here. That’s why they never got beheaded.

‘For Meghan to be silenced is no different to how Prince William is silenced, so why is it ok for them not to be able to express an opinion but not for her?’

Royal commentator Emily Andrews added that the former actress doesn’t want to be ‘Mrs Mountbatten-Windsor’ and ‘staying at home raising her chickens’.

‘She wants to be superstar, she wants to be a changemaker, this disruptor’.

This content was originally published here.

Ciara celebrated her youngest son Win’s first birthday by sharing several snaps to her Instagram account on Friday.

The 35-year-old hitmaker was seen spending quality time with her third child in two of the four shots, and the remaining ones were meant to give her fans a better look at her kid.

The 1, 2 Step singer also wrote a brief message in the post’s caption to let her nearly 30million followers know how much she adores her youngest son.

Special occasion: Ciara shared several photos of her youngest son, Win, to her Instagram account on Friday to commemorate his first birthday

Ciara began the statement by listing some of her child’s most endearing qualities while noting that he had become very energetic in his first year of life.

She wrote: ‘The BIG 1!! WINning today and Everyday! You are the cutest and sweetest baby boy! Always dancing, smiling, and laughing…Always all over the place!’

The hitmaker went on to express that her son had a lot to learn in life and that she was ready to see him navigate through his coming years.

‘The worlds going to have to keep up! 🙂 I’m so excited and grateful to be celebrating you today! I love you so much My little Prince,’ she said.

Fun kid: The singer also wrote a brief message where she noted that her baby boy was ‘always dancing, smiling, and laughing’

On Saturday, Ciara shared a set of photos and videos to her account to give her fans a look into Win’s birthday party.

In one back-and-forth clip, the singer and her husband, Russell Wilson, were seen celebrating the occasion with her older son Future and daughter Sienna, aged seven and four, respectively.

The happy family notably sported custom-made baseball jerseys, as well as white shorts and sneakers, to the celebratory event.

Every member’s name was also printed on the back of their tops, as well as Win’s age.

Marking the occasion: Ciara also shared several photos that had been taken during Win’s birthday party to her account on Saturday

Dressed to impress: The singer and the rest of her family all sported custom-made baseball jerseys during the event

Ciara and her 32-year-old husband were first romantically linked in the early months of 2015 when she was spotted attending his games.

She was previously in a long-term relationship with rapper Future, with whom she welcomed her first son.

The former couple was engaged at one point, although they broke things off in 2014.

Ciara and Wilson went steady for roughly a year before they announced their engagement in March of 2016, and they tied the knot that same year.

Happy couple: Ciara and her now-husband were first romantically linked in 2015 and went on to become engaged and tie the knot the following year

The songwriter spoke about her relationship with the professional athlete during an interview with GQ, where she noted that his parenting skills made him much more attractive to her.

‘He’s obviously really beautiful to me in every way, but the father in him is by far one of the things that makes him the most sexy to me. Hot. To me it’s hot,’ she remarked.

Wilson also spoke about how watching his children and stepson interact continually inspire both him and his wife.

‘They all like taking care of each other…and we just smile from ear to ear in the kitchen because we realize that our family is a beautiful blended family,’ he said.

Proud parent: During an interview with GQ, Wilson expressed that he was happy to be raising what he described as a ‘beautiful blended family’.

This content was originally published here.

Britney Spears unleashed another furious expletive-laden Instagram post on Friday that called out her father Jamie Spears and her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears.

The 39-year-old pop superstar restated that she wouldn’t be performing at her Las Vegas residency again as long as her father was in charge of her conservatorship.

‘This conservatorship killed my dreams,’ she wrote among her list of grievances.

Bad blood: Britney Spears, 39, laid into her father Jamie Spears and sister Jamie Lynn in another angry Instagram post explaining that she wouldn’t perform in Vegas until her dad was off her conservatorship; seen with Jamie Lynn Spears at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards

Britney began by defending her many dancing videos posted to her Instagram account and explaining that her father Jamie was the reason why fans could only see her perform at home for now.

‘Look I’m not gonna be performing on any stages anytime soon with my dad handling what I wear, say, do, or think!!!! I’ve done that for the past 13 years,’ she said. ‘I’d much rather share videos YES from my living room instead of onstage in Vegas…’

She added that some guests were so inebriated that ‘they couldn’t even shake my hand,’ and she said others had smoked so much marijuana that she ‘ended up getting a contact high.’

The Toxic singer also wrote that she was ‘not gonna put on heavy makeup and try try try on stage again’ if she couldn’t perform the original versions of her songs that appeared on her albums.

Instead, she had been forced to do ‘remixes of my songs for years’ and hadn’t been allowed to ‘put my new music in my show for MY FANS… so I quit!!!’

That’s all for now: Britney said her fans could only look forward to dance videos from home until her father wasn’t making her financial decisions for her in his role as conservator

Not her choice: She also complained that she wasn’t allowed to sing her new material and had to perform remixes of her classic tracks; seen in 2018 at the announcement of her Vegas residency

Britney reserved some special fury for her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, who made a surprise performance at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards to cap off a tribute with a performance of her sister’s song Till The World Ends.

In video of the performance, the songstress joins her mother in standing and clapping along with the song, but she appears to look less than enthused.

‘I don’t like that my sister showed up at an awards show and performed MY SONGS to remixes!!!!!’ she admitted. ‘My so-called support system hurt me deeply!!!!

‘This conservatorship killed my dreams,’ she continued, ‘so all I have is hope and hope is the only thing in this world that is very hard to kill … yet people still try!!!!’

Wasn’t a fan: She reserved special fury for her sister Jamie Lynn , who made a surprise performance at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards with a performance of her sister’s song Till The World Ends

Awkward: Britney hugged her sister after the show and was seen clapping, but she looked less than enthused in video of the event

Britney also reiterated how uncomfortable recent documentaries, including the New York Times Presents documentary Framing Britney Spears, had drudged up painful memories.

‘I didn’t like the way the documentaries bring up humiliating moments from the past… I’m way past all that and have been for a long time!!!!’

The entertainer even defended her love of fairy tale endings and told ‘women’ who ‘say it’s weird’ to ‘go f*** yourself.’

‘As I said … hope is all I have right now … you’re lucky I post anything at all,’ she added.

‘People try to kill hope because hope is one of the most vulnerable and fragile things there is!!!! I’m gonna go read a mother f***ing fairy tale now!!!!’ she concluded on a confrontational note, adding the postcript, ‘Psss if you don’t want to see my precious a** dancing in my living room or it’s not up to your standards … go read a f***ing book!!!!!’  

Betrayed: Britney lambasted ‘people closest’ to her who didn’t speak out about her treatment under her conservatorship until it became a source of public outrage in a cryptic Instagram post on Friday; seen in 2016 in LA

The day before, Britney had shared her outrage at the ‘people closest’ to her who had failed to help her in her time of need.

The 39-year-old pop superstar lashed out in a lengthy Instagram post at people in her orbit who had only started speaking out in support of her after her conservatorship received heavy public scrutiny.

Despite her angry tone, she avoided mention any specific names, simply writing that they ‘know who [they] are,’ though she may have been referring to her father and sister based on her most recent post.

Spears posted a short text snippet summarizing her position.

‘Never forget who ignored you when you needed them and who helped you before you even had to ask,’ it read.

She went into more specifics in her lengthy caption and sounded notably more upset than she usually allows herself to be on social media.

‘There’s nothing worse than when the people closest to you who never showed up for you post things in regard to your situation whatever it may be and speak righteously for support … there’s nothing worse than that!!!!’ she wrote.

Furious: She called out people she cared about who ‘never show up’ when she needed them. ‘Did you put your hand out when I was drowning???? Again … NO,’ she wrote angrily

Though she didn’t name names, Britney indicated they were part of her closest inner circle by calling them ‘the people you love the most.’

‘How dare you make it public that NOW you CARE … did you put your hand out when I was drowning????’ she continued. ‘Again … NO …’

The Toxic singer added that the people she was targeting likely knew she was mad at them.

‘If you’re reading this and you know who you are … and you actually have the nerve to say anything about my situation just to save face for yourself publicly!!! If you’re gonna post something …. Please stop with the righteous approach when you’re so far from righteous it’s not even funny,’ she added, before adding, ‘And have a good day!!!!!’

After airing her grievances, Britney added words of encouragement to others who were dealing with a lack of support: ‘If you’re reading this today and you can relate …. I’m sorry because I know what it’s like … and I send you my love!!!!’

The entertainer’s post arrived a day after her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, 30, posted a message to her Instagram Stories reading: ‘Dear Lord, can we end this bulls**t once and for all? Amen.’

The 30-year-old Zoey 101 star took to Instagram a day after her older sister won the right to appoint her own lawyer and moved one step closer to ending her 13-year conservatorship.

Speaking out: Britney’s post arrived a day after her sister Jamie Lynn Spears prayed on Instagram that ‘the bulls**t will end’ amid her family’s ongoing conservatorship drama

Touching: The Zoey 101 star, 30, posted a message on her story reading: ‘Dear Lord, can we end this bulls**t once and for all? Amen’, as Britney battles to have their father Jamie’s control on her life relinquished; Britney and Jamie seen in 2003

Speaking out: Jamie has previously spoken out about her sister’s situation, saying last month: ‘I’m so proud of her for using her voice. If ending the conservatorship… or whatever the hell else she wants to do to be happy — I support that’

Jamie Lynn has previously spoken out about her sister’s situation, saying last month: ‘I’m so proud of her for using her voice. If ending the conservatorship… or whatever the hell else she wants to do to be happy — I support that…

‘I am so proud of her for requesting new counsel like I told her to do many years ago. I’m not my family, I’m my own person. I’m speaking for myself.’

Britney’s mother Lynne Spears also shared a cryptic biblical post after the news of her daughter’s court victory.

She shared a Bible verse from the Gospel of John to her Instagram on Friday, telling her 41k followers: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’

Others who are further removed from Britney’s inner circle, including the rapper Iggy Azalea and her childhood friend Jason Alexander, whom she was married to for 55 hours, have recently spoken out about her conservatorship.

Optimism? Britney’s mother Lynne Spears, 66, also shared a cryptic biblical post from the Gospel of John after the news of her daughter’s court victory: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’

After Britney shared her celebratory video on Wednesday, her boyfriend Sam Asghari shared a message of support for the star.

Showing his love for Britney and the #FreeBritney movement, Iranian–American personal trainer and actor Sam Asghari, 27, wrote underneath: ‘Internet is about to explode!’, amid her bid to have her father Jamie relinquish control of her life.

Britney had earlier addressed the court by phone in an emotional plea for freedom, and the right to chose her own legal representation.

She then posted the video which first showed her horse riding in an arena on a lead rein. The video then showed her cartwheeling for joy beside a pond.

Britney captioned the clip: ‘Coming along, folks… coming along!!!!! New with real representation today… I feel GRATITUDE and BLESSED!!!…

‘Thank you to my fans who are supporting me … You have no idea what it means to me be supported by such awesome fans !!!! God bless you all !!!!!’

Happy days: On Wednesday, Britney shared a clip on Instagram of herself doing cartwheels and horseriding as she celebrated winning the right to appoint her own lawyer and move one step closer to ending her 13-year conservatorship

Sweet: Showing his love for Britney and the #FreeBritney movement, Iranian–American personal trainer and actor Sam Asghari, 27, wrote underneath: ‘Internet is about to explode!’, amid her bid to have her father Jamie relinquish control of her life

Reaching out: Sam was throwing his support behind his long-term girlfriend

She then added: ‘Pssss this is me celebrating by horseback riding and doing cartwheels today!!!! #FreeBritney’.

Sam — her boyfriend of three years — then added his Internet comment, in his latest loyal show of display for the star he has supported through the case.

Hours before, the singer told a court in LA that she wants her father charged with conservatorship abuse, during a hearing in which a judge agreed to her appointing her own lawyer, to bring about an end to the arrangement.

Speaking on the phone, an emotional Britney said: ‘I would like to charge my father with conservatorship abuse. I want to press charges against my father today. I want an investigation into my dad.’

Happy couple: Britney is seen with her boyfriend Sam at the 2019 Daytime Beauty Awards in September 2019 in Los Angeles. On Wednesday he also posted (right) ‘Free Britney’

Joyous: On Wednesday, Britney posted an Instagram clip of her cartwheeling with joy after her court hearing

She described once again the torment of her conservatorship, in a repeat of her explosive June 23 testimony.

Britney claimed her father and others involved in the conservatorship had threatened her, and added: ‘There should be no threats to me at all, ever. I have serious abandonment issues.’

She said that her car keys, hair vitamins and coffee had been taken from her.

She tearfully told Judge Brenda Penny, according to Sky News: ‘Ma’am, that’s not abuse, that’s just f****** cruelty. Excuse my language but it’s the truth.’

Britney then told the court: ‘I thought they were trying to kill me. If this is not abuse, I don’t know what is.’

Lost: Britney’s parents Jamie and Lynne are seen in November 2012. They had divorced in 2002

Britney’s boyfriend shows his support

Britney Spears’ boyfriend posed in a ‘Free Britney’ message on Instagram on Wednesday, as the pop singer celebrated winning the right to choose her own lawyer.

Support: Sam Asghari wore a ‘Free Britney’ T-shirt on June 23, and posted the message again on July 14

Asghari, 27, a personal trainer and actor, has previously voiced his dislike of Britney’s father, saying in February this year: ‘In my opinion, Jamie is a total d**k.’

He posted his thoughts on Instagram at the time, adding: ‘I have zero respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way.’

The pair met in 2016, when the Iranian-born actor was cast in the video for her song Slumber Party.

In February, he told People: ‘I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves.

A month later, he told Forbes he hoped to become a father soon.

‘My priorities in life are to remain humble and understand where I came from and where I’m going. I want to take my career to the next step when it comes to acting.

‘I want to take my relationship to the next step, as well. I don’t mind becoming a father. I want to be a young dad.’

Spears has two teenage sons, 15-year-old Sean and 14-year-old Jayden, whom she shares with ex Kevin Federline. The two were married from 2004 to 2007.

Breaking down, Britney then requested a short break to compose herself. She called for her father be removed from the complex legal arrangement and be charged with ‘conservatorship abuse’.

She wants the conservatorship terminated without the need for a medical assessment, but said her priority was ousting her father from his role while allowing co-conservator Jodi Montgomery to remain in the meantime.

Britney said: ‘My dad needs to be removed today and I will be happy with Jodi helping me’.

During her testimony, the judge asked Britney to slow down so the court reporter could take it all down: ‘I’m here to press charges. I’m angry and I will go there.’

Before she spoke, supporters of the #FreeBritney movement gathered outside Los Angeles Supreme Court for the hearing, where the star’s hand-picked attorney Mathew Rosengart was appointed to take over her case.

Judge Penny approved his request, meaning that for the first time since the conservatorship was brought in in 2008, Spears has a lawyer of her own choosing representing her.

On June 23, Spears told the court: ‘I haven’t really had the opportunity by my own self to actually handpick my own lawyer by myself. And I would like to be able to do that.’

Rosengart told the court on Wednesday he would be filing paperwork in the next few week to end the arrangement that has been in place since 2008.

Once the hearing concluded, Rosengart told a press conference on the steps of the courthouse that Jamie Spears should voluntarily step down as conservator.

He said: ‘We will be moving promptly and aggressively for his removal. The question remains, why is he involved? He should step down voluntarily because that’s what’s in the best interest of the conservatee.’

Rosengart praised Britney’s ‘courage, passion, and humanity’ for speaking out in court, and called her testimony ‘clear, lucid, powerful, and compelling.’

‘My firm and I will be taking a top to bottom look at what’s happened over the past decade,’ said Rosengart.

Rosengart’s argument was that the singer ‘is entitled to due process, which includes the right to a competent lawyer’, TMZ reported.

The argument was feared to present a challenge because the terms of the conservatorship mean Spears is prevented from signing any legally binding contracts without her father’s permission.

Rosengart argued against this, saying that Jamie should not have the power to reject her choice of lawyer – given that her lawyer is representing her in a case against Jamie himself.

Rosengart is well known as an attorney to the stars having represented a number of high-profile Hollywood clients, including Steven Spielberg, Ben Affleck and his brother Casey, Sean Penn and director Michael Mann.

Britney’s new lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, is seen on Wednesday speaking outside a Los Angeles courthouse where he was appointed as her legal representative

Judge Penny also agreed a petition filed by wealth management firm Bessemer Trust to remove itself as a co-conservator of Spears’ multimillion-dollar estate.

This comes after her longtime court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham resigned in the wake of Spears’ bombshell court appearance on June 23 where she pleaded for the ‘abusive’ conservatorship to end.

Britney on June 23 told that she believed she was not allowed to choose her own attorney.

She said: ‘I was on tour in 2018. I was forced to do… My management said if I don’t do this tour, I will have to find an attorney, and by contract my own management could sue me if I didn’t follow through with the tour.

‘He handed me a sheet of paper as I got off the stage in Vegas and said I had to sign it. It was very threatening and scary. And with the conservatorship, I couldn’t even get my own attorney. So out of fear, I went ahead and I did the tour.’

She gave explosive testimony in last month’s hearing where she accused her father of controlling her life and fortune for the last 13 years and likened her situation to that of a sex-trafficked person.

#FreeBritney fans have gathered outside Los Angeles Supreme Court (above) for Britney Spears’ latest conservatorship hearing where the star’s hand-picked attorney Mathew Rosengart will argue to take over her case