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Noel Fielding claimed ‘Bob Geldof wanted to kill him’ over ‘chemistry’ with daughter Pixie

September 27, 2023 by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

Noel Fielding, pictured with Pixie Geldof in 2015, said the pair had 'chemistry'

Noel Fielding, pictured with Pixie Geldof in 2015, said the pair had ‘chemistry’ (Image: GETTY)

Noel Fielding once claimed Bob Geldof wanted to “kill him” over his and Pixie Geldof’s 17-year age-gap.

The Great British Bake Off host was rumoured to be dating Bob’s daughter when he was 33 and she was 16, after they were spotted out together.

He has denied ever being anything more than friends with the model and singer, now 33, but said they had “chemistry” at the time.

According to The Sun , Noel, now 50, said: “She’s incredible. There’s a chemistry between us and we liked each other but she’s so much younger.

“When I first met her I had no idea who she was and that she was so young. It caused a lot of problems because her dad wanted to kill me obviously.”

Read More… Strictly Come Dancing star Bobby Brazier dealt new crushing blow

Noel Fielding with his long-term partner partner Lliana Bird

Noel Fielding with his long-term partner partner Lliana Bird (Image: GETTY)

Noel added: “A lot of that’s my fault for getting tempted by different things.”

He also reportedly claimed “groupies” tried to get in his way and people pretended to be his friends.

Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for Noel and Pixie for comment.

In 2009, Noel addressed the rumours again, in which he claimed he and the model were “just friends”.

As reported by Daily Star, he said: “We’re just friends that’s all, but you can’t be friends in this country without someone booking a church and trying to get you married.”

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The presenter was last spotted publicly with Pixie in 2015, where they were joined by his partner Lliana Bird.

Noel has been with the radio presenter since 2010 after they met on The Mighty Boosh.

The couple welcomed their first child, Dali, in 2018 followed by their second daughter, Iggy, two years later.

Lliana shared details about their relationship on Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, last month.

Noel’s partner said he was a “magical” father who made “the silliest little moments”.

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She explained: “He makes having breakfast a real moment. I think I’ve just really leaned into that and just going like, ‘This is amazing. We’re getting to have porridge and it’s funny, and it’s fun. And we’re wearing silly hats, and we’re dancing. And that’s okay’

“Maybe someone else’s kids are going to have a few more spoonfuls of porridge because it’s going to be quicker, they’re eating it properly, and digesting it properly. But, you know, my kids are having a lot of fun.”

Meanwhile, Pixie has been married to George Barnett since 2017 and they have a two-year-old daughter together.

The Great British Bake Off continues Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.

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I had to go to marriage counselling and anger management because I was only getting three hours of sleep a night

May 5, 2023 by www.dailymail.co.uk Leave a Comment

Most new parents expect not to get much sleep in the early days or weeks of giving birth.

Wellwishers often jokingly scrawl ‘no sleep until the baby turns 18!’ in congratulatory cards.  But when ‘less sleep’ turns into ‘no sleep’, it’s no laughing matter; the effects can be devastating.

Sleep deprivation can lead to impaired memory, concentration and decision making abilities and has also been linked to postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis.

And there’s another side to sleep deprivation that remains largely taboo – maternal rage.

As part of this week’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (1-7 May), four brave women share their stories with FEMAIL – including one mother who broke her hand in a fit of fury.

Pictured: mother-of-two Nicole, 41, from Manchester, who sought anger management help as she battled extreme sleep deprivation

I had to go to marriage counselling and anger management because I was only getting three hours of sleep a night

Nicole Ratcliffe, 41, from Manchester is mother to two daughters Sofia, seven and Alyssia, three and is a baby and child sleep specialist.

She attended marriage guidance and an anger management course after becoming enraged that her seven-year-old would not sleep.

After experiencing severe sleep deprivation, Nicole set up a sleep consultancy business helping other families transition from pregnancy to parenthood.

She says: ‘I had a traumatic birth with Sofia, who was born via emergency c-section. I couldn’t establish breastfeeding, I was in terrible pain and Sofia had an infection – we were on the back foot from the beginning.

‘Sofia cried a lot at night time and was a terrible sleeper from the off. I had thought newborns slept all the time, but Sofia didn’t. I was only getting about three broken hours a night.

‘Lack of sleep caused my physical and mental health to take a dive. I was falling asleep on the motorway driving. My husband and I had to go to marriage guidance counselling because we were so lost and frustrated with each other.’

‘When Sofia was eight-months-old, I hired a sleep nanny and things dramatically improved. I was astonished by the change and when Sofia was 18 months old, I took a loan out, studied sleep training and set up my own sleep consultancy business Baby2Sleep.co.uk.

At her worst, Nicole and her husband sought marriage counselling as they adapted to life as parents

Nicole (pictured with her two children) found herself falling asleep while driving on a motorway

Nicole (pictured with her two children) set up a Facebook group to offer support to other parents struggling with sleep deprivation

‘Then Sofia’s sleep became problematic again and I began to experience mum rage.

‘I was teaching other people how to get their children to sleep- yet my own child didn’t sleep.

‘I was so angry at myself and at her. I was shouting, going crazy and so frustrated. Rage would bubble up inside me and I’d explode. I felt like I was failing. Why couldn’t I be the mum I had envisaged? I ended up going to anger management classes to learn how to control my anger.

‘Anger and sleep deprivation is a taboo subject but it shouldn’t be – this needs to be normalised. There are lots of angry and desperate mums out there and we need to be talking about this.

‘PND and postpartum psychosis have both been linked to sleep deprivation and I don’t believe sleep deprivation is covered enough in antenatal classes.

‘Vital support is missing. I want to fill this gap. After Covid hit, and my second daughter Alyssia was six days old, I set up a Facebook group, which now has 6,000 members, to offer support to parents when there was none and I run a YouTube channel offering free advice.’

I broke my hand hitting a wall in a sleep-deprived rage

Jane Scott (pictured with her two children) broke her hand after hitting the wall in a rage while struggling with sleep deprivation

Jane struggled in the early days of motherhood after her daughter Megan (pictured) had to be resuscitated at birth

Jane Scott, 41, a sports development professional from Stirling, Scotland is mum to Megan, five and Luka, 19 months and is having counselling for her sleep-deprivation rage.

She says: ‘Megan needed resuscitation at birth and went to ICU. She was two days old when a neonatal nurse first remarked that she was hard to get to sleep and things never improved.

‘I spent hours in a darkened room, going for 5km walks and 50 minute car drives in the middle of the night.

‘When Luka was born he slept a lot and I thought things would be different. But at four months old he stopped sleeping and I experienced sleep deprivation for the second time, averaging four hours sleep a night.

‘It’s soul destroying. The rage erupts out of nowhere. I can hit things, throw things, head butt doors because I can’t control the anger.

‘The rage builds up and I lose it. I can feel the heat rise but don’t realise how bad it is till it happens. I’ve broken my hand hitting a wall. I keep thinking something is wrong with me.

Jane says she would only average four hours a night when her son Luka was born and began struggling with anger

The mother sought counselling to help with her anger in the wake of her extreme sleep deprivation

‘I’ve experienced mum-shaming and judgement – tried to talk to friends but I ended up feeling even more isolated and alone. I discovered they were talking about me behind my back. I’ve now withdrawn from the group.

‘I really do think we need to be talking about sleep deprivation and the rage that comes with it. Postnatal depression is now accepted and normalised but anger linked to sleep deprivation is taboo. This is so wrong.

‘I am now getting counselling to help me cope with the anger I feel when Luka won’t sleep.

‘I’ve also undertaken a course on matrescence (the transition to and through motherhood) which has helped me understand the mum rage better.

‘I hope to set up my own business supporting mums through matrescence, helping them understand the changes that happen when you become a mum – when you are no longer who you used to be, but you are not yet sure who you are.

‘The transition to motherhood is huge and I want to help others.’

I flew into a rage at my partner over tea bags

Melissa Woods (pictured) said she would ‘explode’ at her partner over small things when she was raising a newborn

KEY STATS ABOUT SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN MOTHERS:

– Around 1 in 5 women experience a perinatal mental health problem during pregnancy or within the early postnatal years

– 70 per cent will hide or underplay their illness

– Suicide is the leading cause of direct maternal death within a year of having a baby

Melissa Woods, 33 from East Sussex is a teacher and writer. She is married to David and is mum to Clark, four-and-a half and Oliver, two.

She experienced severe sleep deprivation just before Clark’s first birthday.

She says: ‘Clark breastfed to sleep, wouldn’t take a dummy or a bottle and slept in our bed even though I never wanted to co-sleep.

‘I spent a fortune on bassinets and side sleepers but nothing worked. I was only getting a couple of hours sleep at best.

‘Sleep deprivation became this enormous issue. I’d feel so angry he wasn’t sleeping. I’d plead: “just go to sleep!” even though I knew he wasn’t doing it on purpose.

‘If I was sitting on the sofa and Clark asked me to play with him, I’d burst into tears. I became this crazy person, I was angry all the time, I felt trapped and overwhelmed. I exploded if my partner left a teabag in the sink!

‘I spent hours lying next to Clark, then when he was finally asleep I’d get up and he’d start crying. Waves of anger washed over me, a red mist descended and I was so cross I couldn’t think straight – I’d have to leave the room.

‘My mental health spiralled and I felt mum guilt for being so angry. I hated myself. I kept thinking: “What’s wrong with me?”

‘I tried to reach out to other mums but I was the only one getting no sleep and I ended up feeling very alone. I had impostor syndrome, I thought: ‘Maybe I’m not meant to be a mum.’

‘Every time I spoke about the sleep deprivation I always prefaced with: “Obviously I love him very much”…- but we shouldn’t have to justify being upset and being exhausted.

‘Sleep deprivation is literally a form of torture and it’s very dangerous – because you are unable to function or care for your baby properly and it’s linked to post-natal depression and postpartum psychosis.

‘If you are not getting any sleep you could end up hurting your baby either on purpose or accidentally. I’d be sitting in a chair with Clark lying in my arms and I’d start falling asleep – it really scared me.

‘The stigma surrounding this needs to go away, midwives need to talk about sleep deprivation more. There is a big difference between not getting enough sleep with a newborn and being sleep deprived.

‘When you picture yourself as a mum, you imagine gentle parenting, having loads of patience and motherhood being serene and lovely.

‘But the lack of sleep showed me a more primal, animalistic side of myself which was scary because it was side to me I didn’t know I had.’

I was a volcano and started hitting myself in the head as I struggled to cope with sleep deprivation

Alexis Hallie-Reade (pictured with husband Tom and their son Orson as a baby) lost her father weeks before her son’s birth

Mum of two Alexis Hallie-Reade, 38 from South Manchester is married to Tom and is mum to Orson, four and Ottilie, 1.

Her dad Malcolm died suddenly from acute myeloid leukaemia six weeks before Orson’s birth, so Alexis was grieving for her father while transitioning to motherhood.

She says: ‘I was heavily pregnant when my dad died – three and a half weeks after being told he wasn’t going to live. It was a huge shock but I wouldn’t allow myself to cry in case I stressed my baby.

‘I tried to continue with the façade but everything started to build up. I hit breaking point when Orson was about four-and-a-half months. My partner Tom had gone to India with work and I was alone with a child that would not sleep.

‘He’d wake up every 45 minutes and I turned into this crazy person, I was so angry with my baby thinking: “Why are you awake again? I can’t do this…”

‘The rage would build inside me and I started hitting myself in the head in frustration. I was so exhausted I felt like I was going insane. I was like a volcano literally erupting with rage.’’

Alexis said she felt like a ‘crazy person’ when she got angry at her son for waking up every 45 minutes

Alexis says she feels as though she has been through a ‘huge emotional trauma’ as she adapted to motherhood

‘I’d been through huge emotional trauma before the life changing event of becoming a mum and the sleep deprivation tipped me over the edge.

‘I was putting so much pressure on myself and I felt like I was getting everything wrong. I literally fell apart at the seams.

‘I felt so much guilt whenever I shouted and googled: ‘Have I ruined my child’s life?’ and ‘What is going to happen now I’ve shouted?’ Mum guilt is horrendous, we blame ourselves for not being perfect.

‘More information about sleep deprivation needs to be available. Of course you know there is going to be a lack of sleep when you have a new baby but there is not enough information to show what is ‘normal’ – some babies sleep through the night from very early on, others like Orson, wake every half hour or so, but this isn’t really explained.

‘There is a lot of information available about gentle parenting and how to raise a well-rounded human, but it adds pressure on parents. Shouting is frowned upon.

‘I want mums to know there is hope – I started therapy and CBT to help me cope in intense moments of stress and I made contact with sleep-consultant Nicole. Within two weeks things improved.

‘It was my birthday present to myself and at first I felt embarrassed about using a sleep consultant so it was a secret. Now I tell everyone I meet to go to a sleep consultant. I urge anyone experiencing this rage to get help.’

Chartered psychologist Catherine Hallissey (catherinehallissey.com) says many mums are suffering in silence due to society’s rose-tinted view of motherhood.

Kirsty Ketley’s tips on keeping mum rage at bay:

Journalling can be really useful. Write down what triggers you and how you feel – it could help you see why and then how you can minimise your rage

Take some time out. Make time for you, without the children. This can be tricky, but even just a 30 minute walk alone after they have gone to bed can make all the difference

Exercise – preferably without the kids in tow, but all exercise boosts mood & can help you sleep better

Seek help. If your child isn’t sleeping at night, seek help, there is no shame in asking. Same goes for if you are juggling too much. Who can help you? What can you do to make things easier – which balls can you drop?

Eat right. Hard to do when you are knackered, but try and switch caffeine for decaf and keep sugar to a minimum.

Talk to someone. If you don’t want to chat with your doctor or a therapist, is there a friend you can lean on?

‘Mum rage is one of the taboos of parenting with the result that many mothers suffer in silence due to fear of judgment which greatly increases the isolation and loneliness,’ says Catherine.

‘While sleep deprivation is seen as part and parcel of new motherhood, there is little said about how it can impact a mother’s ability to regulate her emotions, leading to irritability and frustration, increasing the likelihood of experiencing mum rage.

‘Not getting enough sleep is linked with impaired cognitive abilities, negatively impacting memory, concentration and decision making abilities.

‘When a mother’s sleep is constantly disrupted, night after night, it’s much more difficult to cope with the demands of parenting, which, in turn, increases feelings of stress and overwhelm, increasing the risk of maternal rage.

‘The interruptions to sleep increase cortisol levels which make it harder to regulate emotions and increase the likelihood of anger and rage. While sleep deprivation is widely accepted, the resulting mum rage tends to be hidden as it does not tally with the rose tinted view of motherhood that abounds in popular culture.

‘The common advice to “enjoy every minute” can compound the guilt and shame felt by mothers who are struggling to regulate the intense feelings of anger, which make it harder to reach out for support.’

Kirsty Ketley – @kirstykparentingspecialist on Instagram – is a qualified early years and parenting consultant.

She says: ‘Sleep deprivation affects how we think, it causes brain fog, making it harder for us to make decisions and concentrate and it can affect our mood. This makes for unhappy relationships with our partners – we’ve all played the ‘who is more tired’ game with our partners at some part, and also with our children.

‘Because of the rise in using the gentle parenting method, I think mums feel embarrassed to admit that they snap at their kids and do shout. Scrolling on social media makes many feeling like they are failing and while it is ok to let everyone know how hard you find parenting, it is becoming less acceptable to admit that you have shouted at your kids.

‘Nobody wants to be the shouty mum, but I think it is naive to think that you will never shout or lose patience with your children. With mum rage, that turns up a notch or two and it is very real affecting many, so why not talk about it?‘

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Major update into hunt for €157m cocaine haul ship bosses as cops probe Kinahan cartel link amid ’20 gang’ masterplan

September 27, 2023 by www.thesun.co.uk Leave a Comment

INVESTIGATORS believe up to TWENTY major organised crime gangs across Europe were involved in the plot to smuggle €157m worth of cocaine to Ireland.

And the Irish Sun can also reveal officers from the Joint Task Force suspect the transatlantic smuggling enterprise was masterminded in Dubai .

Gardai and Revenue officials confirmed that the 2.2 tonnes seized in a daring raid by the Defence Forces’s Army Ranger Wing on the MV Matthew off the coast of Cork on Tuesday was the largest drugs seizure in the history of the State.

Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau will now liaise with their counterparts in the UAE as they attempt to identify anyone connected to the huge haul found inside the cargo ship’s container .

They include those who financed the transport and those who provided logistical support.

KINAHAN LINK PROBE

Although Daniel Kinahan ’s mob will be investigated due to their links to Colombian narco terrorists, investigators suspect the shipment was arranged by a “network” of crime gangs across Europe.

One senior investigator told us: “This enterprise was all about criminal networks working together.

“The Kinahan organisation would not have been capable of organising this by themselves due to the recent law enforcement activity around them but they could have provided finance for the enterprise.

“Due to the size of the haul, there could be as many as twenty leading organised crime groups providing the support and finance to facilitate such a huge shipment.

“The belief that the origins of this enterprise lie in Dubai where many of Europe’s most senior organised crime figures are based.”

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ADDITIONAL ARRESTS

Gardai this evening arrested a further three men in connection with the haul – bringing the total number to six.

A spokesperson said: “Gardaí investigating the detention of the Panamanian registered bulk cargo vessel, MV MATTHEW and associated events have this evening arrested three men for alleged organised crime offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.

“All three are detained under section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda stations in the Southern Region.”

As investigators continue to undertake a “deep rummage” of the vessel, we can also reveal that the two men arrested earlier this week after a trawler hit a sandbank 12km from Rosslare, Co Wexford , arrived in Ireland last week.

And they were also under surveillance by GNDOCB teams when they bought the ‘Castlemore’ fishing trawler in Castletownbere days before it ran aground.

SURVEILLANCE OPERATION

Officers suspect the trawler was to rendezvous with the MV Matthew for the collection of cocaine which was due to be delivered to the south of England .

But their plans were foiled when the trawler hit the sandbank.

The two men – one from the UK and the other from Russia – remain in Garda custody.

The initial Garda plan was to monitor the pair receiving the drugs before arresting them as they transferred them.

But the focus changed to the MV Matthew when the fishing trawler ran into difficulties.

MAJOR CASH FIND

The captain of the cargo ship – who was caught with up to $100,000 – also remains in Garda custody on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Gardai confirmed that a medical evacuation of the ship took place and the man was now in custody.

It’s understood he was attacked by crew members as the authorities honed in on the ship and its illegal contents.

We can reveal that 20 crew members were on the ship at the time it was seized by Army Rangers and they will be interviewed by Gardai to establish if they knew anything about the massive shipment.

While investigators said that the 2.2 tonnes seized was worth €157 million based on a kilo of cocaine being valued at €70,000, senior Gardai and Revenue officials confirmed that the mammoth haul would be worth much more by the time it hits the streets.

At a press conference by the Joint Task Force, Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the seizure and the operation as “hugely significant”.

‘UNRELENTING DETERMINATION’

Asst Comm Kelly, from the Organised and Serious Crime Unit, said: “It shows our unrelenting determination to disrupt and dismantle networks, which are determined to bring drugs into our country.

“These groups are transnational groups. They are working all across the world and, because of that, we need to work with our international partners.”

He added: “This is a huge hit for the people involved in this.”

The senior Garda confirmed that the drugs originated from one of South America’s “murderous cartels” and a number of organised crime groups in Ireland and in the UK and Europe, with direct links to South America, came together to apportion the drugs.

He added: “There’s no large shipment like this coming into our ports or transiting our country without an Irish criminal group involved.”

He couldn’t confirm if any cocaine had left the ship, either by way of disposal or had been collected, prior to it being seized.

HARSH CONDITIONS

He also said that the conditions had made it impossible to board the Castlemore fishing trawler to carry out any searches as of yet.

The Fleet Commander for the Irish Naval Service described the seizure of the boat as an extremely complex military operation.

Commander Tony Geraghty said the impounding of the vessel was made more difficult by the poor weather and trying to predict the actions of the criminal gangs.

The Naval Service fired warning shots during the operation, he said, because the merchant ship refused to follow instructions and an escalated use of force was used.

He said: “The ship is 190m long with an exceptionally high free board, so it would have been very hard to get on board.

“If the weather had been better we would have been able to launch a boarding party. Instead, conditions dictated the necessity to call in the Army Ranger Wing who fast roped onto the ship.”

FIRST TIME USE

The Director General of Revenue and Customs’ Operations said provisions in the Customs Act 2015 were used for the first time to appoint Defence Forces personnel as customs officers to go on board and secure the vessel.

Gerry Harrahill said appointed customs officers can board a vessel at sea but because of the weather conditions and the movements of the ship, customs were not equipped to board.

The ship did not comply and he said it became obvious that force was required.

He added: “Our legislation provided for it. It was the first time we had to use it.”

The Army Rangers were appointed customs officers in less than an hour and seized the ship.

Mr Harrahill said that after they had taken control of the ship and escorted it to Cork, it took much of the night to off-load all the drugs that had been seized but that had been completed and the huge haul was now in “secure storage”.

‘PHENOMENAL WORK’

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar praised the “phenomenal work” of the agencies involved in the operation.

He said: “I want to commend the phenomenal work done by the Gardai, done by the Defence Forces and also the Revenue Customs service interdicting a vessel off Wexford.”

Investigators believe not all the drugs were destined for Ireland.

Members of the highly-trained Army Ranger Wing descended by fast-rope from a helicopter onto the ship on Tuesday, which became the focus point of the multi-agency operation which began on Friday.

The agencies said the seized MV Matthew is a Panamanian-registered bulk cargo vessel originating in South America.

The elite unit boarded the ship after the Naval Service’s patrol vessel, the LE William Butler Yeats, fired warning shots in its direction.

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Two helicopters and two planes were also involved in the operation.

The Air Corps and Naval Service had been tracking the container ship over a number of days.

DRUGS MORE PREVALENT THAN BOOZE

By Adam Higgins

DRUGS such have cocaine have become more prevalent than alcohol among young people in Ireland, Arts Minister Catherine Martin has claimed.

Green Party Minister Catherine Martin is currently working on a plan with Justice Minister Helen McEntee that will see nightclubs across the country allowed to open until 6am.

Asked about the €157m drug seizure, Minister Martin heaped praise on gardai and the Defence Forces for the incredible operation and said the Government are working on drug prevention as part of her Night Time Economy plans.

She told the Irish Sun: “I’d like to commend the gardai and the Defence Forces because it was quite a difficult operation and of course it is frightening to think of that quantity on our coast and where it was going to be distributed to and who was going to pick it up.

“I can see it, as a parent of children, it seems to have overtaken what in my generation was alcohol. It now seems to be that drugs are prevalent.

“We’re doing what we can as a government and I know Helen McEntee and I are working on the night time economy as well so it is trying to tackle that but also from a preventative point of view as well it is key.”

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris also urged people to realise that when they snort a line of cocaine in a pub at the weekend that they are funding violent drug gangs not only in Ireland but across the world.

He said: “There is that issue of needing to very clearly remind all of us of the link between what some people term recreational drug use and the fueling and funding of criminality both here in our own country, in the EU and in other nations.

“I don’t think we can forget that it’s not just students involved in drug use. I do think we have seen a growing acceptance perhaps in society in relation to what some people might call social drug taking.

“And I am not talking about people with drug addiction. I’m talking about people that might go out for the pint at the weekend and think its OK to snort a line.

“It’s not and I’m not talking in a moralistic sense. There is a direct link between that and criminality and I don’t think we can say that enough.”

Meanwhile, the incredible high seas raid will not deter gangs trying to smuggle drugs into Europe through Ireland as we are seen as “the weakest link” in terms of monitoring our waters, a former Army Ranger has claimed.

Former ranger turned independent TD Cathal Berry described the Army Ranger Wing, which dropped from a helicopter to take control of the ship, as “the Jedi knights of the army”.

But he warned that even their daring mission this week will not stop gangs targeting Ireland.

He said: “This is really an operation of international significance. It won’t have gone unnoticed in South America and Latin America.

“The cartels will see this and they will modify their approach to Ireland but it wont stop them because its well-known at this stage that Irish territorial waters are notoriously unprotected and they will tweak their procedures but continue as before.”

Ireland’s navy has eight ships but only enough sailors to enable two to go out to sea at any time due to a critical staff shortage.

This means that more than €300 million worth of ships are left sitting in a harbour instead of patrolling and protecting our waters.

Asked if this is leaving Ireland as weak link to Europe, Deputy Berry said: “Not a weak link, the weakest link. Drug shipments are like water – they move to the path of least resistance.

“Right now its like having a neon sign over Ireland saying ‘we’re here and we don’t really care about our territorial or sovereign waters you can come and use us as a playground and the back door to Europe is wide open.”

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Meghan accused of ‘taking on Charles Dickens’ after Netflix show axed

August 16, 2023 by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

GMB: Ice Cube talks about Meghan and Harry over ‘Compton’ remark

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has accused Meghan Markle of “taking on Charles Dickens” after recent news of their next project.

In his damning assessment, the royal expert said: “It is one thing for Meghan to narrate Elephant for Disney, another to take on Dickens!”

The couple are reportedly developing the show based on a feminist version of the famous classic.

Several adaptations have already been made, including one this year which featured award-winning actress Olivia Colman.

The news comes after speculation heightened over what the couple planned to do next following a string of recent blows.

Royal Family

Meghan has been accused of ‘taking on Charles Dickens’ (Image: GETTY)

Mr Fitzwilliams said: “Meghan’s animated series, Pearl, was cancelled by Netflix and Spotify were far from pleased with Archetypes.

“Harry’s documentary, Heart of Invictus is reportedly due out soon – but it’s reasonable to ask why have they done so little despite their high profile and expectations that their brand would have huge international appeal.”

Speaking of another of the couple’s recent releases, he added: “Harry’s judgement about what to include in his memoir, Spare, was badly flawed too.”

Earlier this month, rumours circulated that Meghan and Harry had been inspired to create an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s Meet By The Lake.

The couple even reportedly went as far as buying the rights to the novel, although this has not been confirmed.

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1 month ago 07:00 Lauren Welch

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THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED – FIND THE LATEST ROYAL NEWS HERE .

1 month ago 22:05 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Prince Harry and Meghan remain silent as they snub his aunt Princess Anne on her birthday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not publicly wished the Princess Anne a happy birthday today, as the Princess Royal turns 73 just a couple of weeks after Meghan’s own birthday.

The Sussexes have remained estranged from the rest of the Firm since they stepped down as working royals in 2020 and relocated to Montecito in California.

As such there were no royal well-wishes on social media for Meghan when she turned 42 on August 4, however there may be another explanation for the silence from Harry’s family.

Royal correspondent Danielle Stacey explained to Hello! magazine : “In recent years and certainly since King Charles III’s reign began in September 2022, we have only seen public messages from the royal family’s social media accounts for working members of the royal family, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, and no longer carry out royal duties. Similarly, the palace doesn’t typically share messages on the likes of Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall’s birthdays nor their children’s special days.”

Read the full story here

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Princess Anne

Anne received no public birthday wishes from Harry and Meghan (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 21:18 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Meghan Markle to use new project to ‘redefine her identity’ and reclaim Hollywood role

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were confirmed earlier this month to have acquired the rights to adapt the hit novel Meet Me at the Lake for the screen.

The project marks a significant step away from their earlier production attempts for the streaming giant Netflix and could seal the complete departure from their royally-inspired blueprint.

And entertainment expert Mark Boardman argued the adaptation could help the Duchess of Sussex show off her experience in Hollywood .

Boardman said: “The reported acquisition of film rights suggests that while both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are involved, this project could particularly shine a spotlight on Meghan’s Hollywood career.

“Given her background in acting and her prior familiarity with the entertainment industry, the adaptation could provide her a platform to demonstrate her talents and redefine her identity in this new context.”

Read the full story here

Meghan Markle

Meghan once starred in Suits (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 20:25 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Princess Kate hailed as ‘master of royal protocol’ in sweet unearthed video clip with Anne

Princess Kate has been hailed as a “master of royal protocol” by fans after a video re-emerged of her on a joint engagement with the Princess Royal , who celebrates her birthday today.

In April last year Kate, who was then better known as the Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Anne visited the Royal College of Midwives for their first joint royal visit together.

Footage of the occasion showed Kate allowing the Princess Royal to walk ahead of her in accordance with royal protocol, which saw her praised for her “classy” behaviour.

In the clip the pair can be seen arriving to the location in London, and after they both leave the car Kate remains still to allow Anne to walk around the back of the car and take her place ahead of the Duchess.

The video was shared on TikTok by Francis Page Media, with legions of fans commenting underneath in praise of the royal women.

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Princess Kate and Princess Anne

Kate and Anne on a royal engagement together (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 19:01 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Princess Kate ‘making late-night calls to Prince Harry’ claim pulled apart by insider

Princess Kate is not making any late-night phone calls to Prince Harry in an attempt to mend his relationship with Prince William , a royal commentator has said.

Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have become gradually more and more distant from his family, particularly his older brother, after a a turbulent few years which saw the Sussexes leave royal life behind and set up home in California.

The couple have shared their more negative experiences of being royal through interviews, their Netflix series and Harry’s memoir Spare, in which he alleged William physically attacked him during arguments, and that he and Kate did not warm to Meghan.

Despite claims that Kate had been trying to contact Harry , Kinsey Schofield has blasted these rumours as completely untrue in an interview with Fox News.

She said: “My contacts at Kensington Palace have told me that this story has no truth to it…The Princess of Wales is not making late-night calls to Prince Harry .”

Read the full story here

Princess Kate and Prince Harry

Kate and Harry have reportedly not been chatting on the phone (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 18:11 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Meghan Markle’s flawless make-up style – how to achieve her perfect look

Since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle has won over beauty fans across the world for her natural yet flawless approach to her make up.

The Duchess of Sussex is known to favour a paired-back look, letting her natural looks shine through, particularly her famous freckles.

Her go-to look is gorgeous dewy skin, which is never overdone, a brown smoky eye with lashings of mascara and nude or pink-tinted lips, although on rare occasions she will favour a bold lip.

Here Express.co.uk takes a look at some of Meghan’s favourite beauty products and how she achieves her stunning everyday look.

The Duchess prefers a ‘no make up’ make up style and it never looks obvious, she reportedly even has a ‘foundation rule’ with make up artists to ensure it does not look too heavy.

Read the full story here

Meghan Markle

Meghan prefers a natural make up look (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 17:10 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Inside Duchess Sophie’s family life and her father and mother who she misses ‘very much’

It has been 30 years since the Queen’s youngest son began dating the Duchess of Edinburgh , who was then Sophie Rhys-Jones.

The 58-year-old has since blossomed into one of the most popular members of the Royal Family, carrying out 138 engagements last year, exceeding that of the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as Queen Camilla.

Here, Express.co.uk takes a closer look at the popular royal’s family life and her parents.

The mother of two’s father Christopher ran an import-export business which sold tyres to Hungary but he is now retired.

Originally from Ireland, Sophie’s mother Mary worked as a secretary part-time and was also involved in charity work.

Read the full story here

Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie

Duchess Sophie with the Princess of Wales (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 16:16 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Harry and Meghan dragged into horrific WhatsApp messages sent by ex-Met Police officers

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were named in vile racist messages sent by six former Metropolitan police officer on WhatsApps, it has been revealed.

The men, all of whom were at some point attached to a unit offering protection to the Palace of Westminster, have all been charged with sending grossly offensive racist messages via the social media platform, the force said.

The charges come follows a BBC Newsnight investigation in October 2022 which prompted a probe by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

Some of the racist messages shared in the chat were allegedly about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, according to the BBC .

Read the full story here

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Harry and Meghan (Image: Getty)

1 month ago 15:17 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

‘Blissful’ Caribbean island surrounded by rainforest was loved by Princess Diana

Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean Sea which is separated from bustling St Kitts by a two-mile channel.

The destination forms part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies and is renowned for its secluded location.

Despite being somewhat of a hidden gem amongst hundreds of islands in the Caribbean, Nevis has long been popular with the Royal Family and famed for its aristocratic links.

Princess Diana was just one royal that visited the idyllic spot in December 1992, along with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry , and it’s easy to see why.

Read the full story here

1 month ago 15:01 Catherine Meyer-Funnell

Good afternoon

Good afternoon from London, I’m Catherine Meyer-Funnell and I’ll be bringing you the very latest royal updates into this evening. Feel free to get in touch [email protected]

1 month ago 14:50 Lauren Welch

George, Charlotte and Louis carry on sweet habit that Diana started

Due to her death in 1997, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis never met their much-loved paternal grandmother.

Prince George , Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are carrying on a sweet habit that their late grandmother encouraged Prince William and Prince Harry to do when they were growing up.

Young royals are encouraged to learn the importance of manners from an early age, with Prince William making this a staple lesson in his own household.

READ MORE HERE

George, Charlotte and Louis (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 14:23 Lauren Welch

Prince William and Princess Kate’s ‘private parenting lessons for Prince George’

The royal couple are said to have attended a series of special lessons carried out by an expert at her West London home.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were given private parenting lessons in a conservatory before Prince George was born, it has been revealed.

The lessons were reportedly carried out by the late obstetric physiotherapist, Christine Hill, who died last year, in the conservatory at her West London home, OK! reports.

READ MORE HERE

George was born in 2013 (Image: PA)

1 month ago 13:50 Lauren Welch

Princess Kate ‘goes to a festival’ with Rose Hanbury at her 1,000-acre home – see inside

Kate, Princess of Wales reportedly attended an upper-class music festival over the weekend with her friend Rose Hanbury. Express.co.uk has taken a look at the Marchioness of Cholmondeley’s home.

According to reports, Kate, Princess of Wales , 41, attended the Houghton Hall music festival over the weekend with her friend Rose Hanbury, 39.

Rose is known as the Marchioness of Cholmondeley and a neighbour of Kate’s. The Marchioness lives in the Houghton estate, just up the road from the Princess of Wales’s Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

READ MORE HERE

Princess Kate (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 13:12 Lauren Welch

Kate labelled ‘clever, smart, determined’ as true role behind the scenes laid bare

Princess Kate has been lauded for her smart approach to royal life by a commentator.

The Princess of Wales has been described as the “power behind the throne ” by a royal commentator as she inches ever closer to becoming Queen.

True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen described Kate’s remarkable rise to power, from being a “young bride” to “key player” in Britain’s most influential family.

READ MORE HERE

Princess Kate (Image: getty)

1 month ago 12:29 Lauren Welch

Princess Anne compared her start in royal life to ‘pressure’ now faced by Princess Kate

Princess Anne shone a light on life within the Royal Family, seemingly comparing her start to the one faced now by the younger royals.

Princess Anne has opened how the start of her own royal life compares to the one faced by the younger, modern-day royals.

During an appearance in the documentary, “Anne: The Princess Royal at 70,” in August 2020, Anne offered a view into how life has changed for the newer generation of royals – for example, the Princess of Wales .

READ MORE HERE

Kate pictured with Anne (Image: getty)

1 month ago 11:29 Lauren Welch

Anne’s five grandchildren will ‘distract her’ ahead of first anniversary of Queen’s death

Princess Anne is celebrating her 73rd birthday today, her first one since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

In the lead-up to the first anniversary of the late Queen’s death next month, Princess Anne ‘s grandchildren will provide a perfect distraction from her “grief”.

Through her two children, Anne has five grandchildren – her son Peter’s two daughters and her daughter Zara’s three children.

READ MORE HERE

Anne has five grandchildren – including Mia (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 10:57 Lauren Welch

Meghan Markle slammed as ‘misleading’ for wearing diamonds grown in lab on royal trip

Jeweller Eddie LeVian is “concerned” people think it’s the same as a mined diamond when people see the Duchess of Sussex wearing its lab-grown alternative.

Meghan Markle has been criticised by a jeweller for wearing diamonds grown in a lab while on a royal jaunt.

Jeweller Eddie LeVian is “concerned” people think it’s the same as a mined diamond.

READ MORE HERE

Meghan Markle (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 10:19 Lauren Welch

Sussexes dealt blow after Kate and William trounce them in new figures

New data compiled via TikTok has found that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are by far the most talked-about royal couple – but it is not all good news.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex , have been dealt a crushing blow in new figures pitting them against the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The couple recently became two of the most talked about figures on the social media platform TikTok , where videos covering them as a subject have racked up millions of views.

TikTokers have pitted the couples against one another, with tens of thousands of posts seeing people pick sides in heated debates on the Royal Family .

The figures showed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are by far the most talked about of the four, with billions of views on posts where they were the subject.

But that popularity is not all good, with Eileen Kwok, a social marketing specialist at Hootsuite who helped compile the research alongside Newsweek , noting that people are “highly critical” of the American royals’ relationship.

On TikTok , the number of posts over a 30-day period regarding the royals was nearly neck-and-neck for both couples, with 6,000 for the Duke and Duchess and Prince William and 5,000 for the Princess of Wales.

TikTokers posted 140,000 times about Prince Harry , and these posts received 13 billion views, with Duchess Meghan close behind on 115,000 and 11 billion views.

While they lead the UK-based Prince and Princess of Wales – who managed 79,000 and 65,000 posts and 11 billion and 10 billion views respectively – the discussion around them was, on average, more negative.

Ms Kwok said that terms associated with Princess Kate were “tennis”, “rude”, “paparazzi”, and “coronation”, while Meghan Markle was associated with “divorce”, “ Prince Harry ”, “being rude”, “narcissistic”, and “awkward”.

Ultimately, she said, the data shows the TikTok crowds are “searching for negative behaviour”, which bodes poorly for the couple with the most active searches.

The two couples pictured last year (Image: PA)

1 month ago 09:29 Lauren Welch

Prince Harry snubbed from award shortlist after he fails to win over Brits

The Duke of Sussex’s explosive tell-all interview was expected to receive a nod for the TV interview category of the National Television Awards.

Prince Harry has been dealt another blow as his explosive 95-minute interview with journalist Tom Bradby has failed to land a spot on the forthcoming National Television Awards shortlist.

The Duke of Sussex’s televised interview — ‘Harry: The Interview’ — had been longlisted to win a spot for the TV interview category, but failed to make it onto the viewer-decided shortlist.

READ MORE HERE

Harry’s interview hasn’t appeared on the NTA shortlist (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 08:42 Lauren Welch

Princess Anne ‘suited’ to royal life as ‘hardworking nature extends from her very heart’

EXCLUSIVE: The Princess Royal is marking turning 73 today, and she is often praised for being one of the most hard-working of all the royals.

Princess Anne is celebrating her 73rd birthday today (August 15), and after several decades in public service she is often lauded for her tireless dedication to the Royal Family .

Celebrity astrologer Inbaal Honigman explained how the Princess Royal’s star sign, Leo, makes her ideally suited to this role as she is “practical” but also heartfelt in her mission.

READ MORE HERE

Anne is turning 73 today (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 08:08 Lauren Welch

Princess Anne ‘admires Prince Harry’s primary goals’ but not his ‘tactics’, expert claims

Princess Anne is celebrating her 73rd birthday today, and a body language expert spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to analyse her relationship with Prince Harry .

Princess Anne , who celebrated her 73rd birthday today, is a beloved member of the Royal Family, renowned for her stoic nature and hard work ethic.

Her nephew Prince Harry , 38, stepped back as a working royal in January 2020, but was often photographed with the Princess Royal smiling and laughing.

READ MORE HERE

Harry and his aunt, Princess Anne (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 07:17 Lauren Welch

Princess Anne’s life in pictures as Princess Royal celebrates birthday

The Princess Royal is celebrating her 73rd birthday this week.

Princess Anne is celebrating her 73rd birthday no doubt surrounded by her family, including her five grandchildren.

Since the age of 18, the Princess Royal has dedicated her life to her royal duties , evidenced by the fact that she frequently carries out the most royal engagements out of all the royals each year.

But the mother of two has a lifetime of firsts under her belt, from becoming the first royal to appear on TV to competing in the Olympics.

Here, Express.co.uk takes a look back at Anne’s extraordinary life so far.

READ MORE HERE

Princess Anne turns 73 today, August 15 (Image: GETTY)

1 month ago 06:50 Liam Doyle

Good morning

Good morning from London. I’m Liam Doyle, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the Royal Family. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email: [email protected]

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