Meghan Markle LATEST – ‘Queen should have been told about Oprah’ claims royal expert as Harry ‘upset’ over losing titles

MEGHAN MARKLE TO BECOME A GREAT AUNT

Meghan Markle is to become a great-aunt after her cannabis-loving nephew has revealed his wife is pregnant, just days after the duchess’ own baby announcement, The Sun can reveal.

Tyler Dooley, who runs a legal multi-million dollar hemp farm in Medford, Oregon and is the son of Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Jr, announced he’s to become a dad on social media.

On Instagram, Tyler shared photos of his heavily pregnant wife enjoying a baby shower with friends.

She wore a sash saying “mommy to bee », while the room was filled with cakes, presents and a banner welcoming the « sweet little bee… on the way”.

It is believed the baby is due next month.

THIS IS HOW MEGHAN MARKLE KEPT HER PREGNANCY A SECRET

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have announced they are expecting their second child.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – who currently live in the US – shared a sweet black and white snap as they prepare to welcome a brother or sister for their one-year-old son Archie.

In the sweet snap, the couple were sat under a tree, with Harry resting his hand on Meghan’s head as she lay in his lap cradling her burgeoning bump.

It’s unknown how far along the Duchess is, however, the news has, no doubt, shocked many, particularly because Meghan’s shown no obvious signs she’s expecting.

From Zoom poses to loose clothing and limited public appearances, click here to find out how she kept her pregnancy under wraps.

MEGHAN AND HARRY WILL USE OPRAH CHAT TO ‘GET WHAT THEY WANT OFF THIER CHESTS’

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will use their tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey to “get what they want to say off their chests”, it was reported today.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will sit down with the chat show queen in a 90-minute interview to be broadcast next month – with pals of Oprah suggesting « nothing will be off-limits ».

It is believed the couple will use the interview to start a new chapter in their lives as the 12-month Megxit review is finalised.

The interview – to be aired on March 7 – has been billed as a prime time special that will see Meghan speak about topics ranging from “stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work, to how she is handling life under intense public pressure ».

And one source told the Mail the Oprah interview would give the couple the chance to « get whatever it is they want to say off their chests and move on ».

PRINCE HARRY ‘WON’T BE ABLE TO WEAR UNIFORM’ IF STRIPPED OF TITLES

Prince Harry won’t be able to wear his military uniform at official events if stripped of his honorary titles in the Megxit review.

The Duke of Sussex is said to be « upset » at the prospect of losing his titles and patronages.

Harry’s positions as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving were taken away when he left the Royal Family, pending the review.

And now The Sun understands they are unlikely to be restored in the looming Megxit talks now the couple are firmly on the US celebrity circuit.

If Harry does lose his honorary titles, this means he will not be able to wear the corresponding uniforms at any official events in the future.

MEGHAN MARKLE HAS TURNED HER ENTIRE LIFE INTO A ‘CHEESY HOLLYWOOD FILM’

Royal photographer, Arthur Edwards, said: “Meghan Markle is an actress and everything she does seems to me to be an act.

“And now she is choreographing her life with Prince Harry like a movie director.

“Their latest photo, stage-managed by Meghan to announce she is expecting in summer, is just like the moment Hugh Grant and a pregnant Julia Roberts sit in the sunshine at the end of Notting Hill.

“And now Meghan has announced she is to appear on Oprah Winfrey — working with the Queen of Chat Shows, rather than the Queen of England as it’s more glamorous.”

Read the full piece here.

WILLIAM AND HARRY REUNION

Harry is reportedly determined to be in the UK with his brother William for the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue, despite their royal rift.

Harry has pledged to be at Kensington Palace for the occasion, despite concerns over his wife’s pregnancy and Covid travel restrictions.

The unveiling will happen on July 1, which would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday.

The brothers reportedly agreed to put their strained relationship aside to come together and unveil the statue at their late mother’s former home.

CONTINUED

Mr Gabay said: « There is a well-documented phenomenon called the Oprah effect, whereby if Oprah literally just mentions a product, sales start leaping.

« As with Weight Watchers, it doesn’t leap forever but in most cases it leads to a spike in sales. In 2008 it was said the Oprah effect led to a million more votes for Obama, so it worked in the world of politics.

« In the world of personalities, Oprah has pushed people such as Dr Phil, who is a psychologist. From there he got his own show and became a personality in his own right.

« I don’t know if this is in Harry and Meghan’s thinking. If it’s stage-managed well enough and they say the right things with the right background music, maybe this will help with Netflix and their other independent projects. But that’s only in the short to mid-term.

« In the long term I think losing their royal titles will be more damaging than anything else. You can’t buy those titles in a tacky shop in Hollywood. »

COUPLE WARNED OF ‘OPRAH EFFECT’

Harry and Meghan have been warned of the ‘Oprah effect’ as they prepare for their prime time interview.

Marketing expert Jonathan Gabay told Metro the pair have reached the point of no return as they leave their British lives behind for ‘an LA zip code’.

He added they are taking a « pretty risky » decision in taking part in the sit-down chat, which airs in America on March 7.

‘WHY DIDN’T THEY STAY SCHTUM?’

Sun columnist Jane Moore welcomed Meghan and Harry’s pregnancy announcement as a « piece of joyful news amid the general gloom of the pandemic ».

But she said: « If their privacy is so precious to them, why didn’t they just stay schtum? »

She argued that the photo that accompanied the announcement is « yet another puzzling contradiction from a couple who persistently maintain they want privacy while their actions scream otherwise ».

Read the full article here.

WHERE DO MEGHAN AND HARRY LIVE?

The couple ditched their roles as senior royals and left the UK in January 2020.

They left for North America, first heading to Vancouver Island in Canada before moving south to California.

Meghan and Harry now live in a beautiful mansion in the Montecito neighbourhood in Santa Barbara which comes with huge lawns, a tennis court and an outdoor swimming pool.

Estate agent Brett Buschborn revealed that there is a « steam room, massage room, sauna, Jacuzzi, full bar, arcade and one of the most amazing wine cellars and that was just the basement. »

Although the couple took out a mortgage on the property, it is expected to cost them at least £30,000 a month in repayments, along with general utilities, cleaners and security.

COUPLE ‘SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE QUEEN’ ABOUT OPRAH INTERVIEW

Harry and Meghan should have told the Queen about their « explosive » interview with Oprah Winfrey, a royal expert has claimed.

Appearing on Lorraine yesterday, royal editor Russell Myers, said: « If you’re going to set off a nuclear bomb like this, doing a huge interview which will no doubt garner attention across global networks, the decent thing to do would be to tell the Queen, tell your granny you’re going to do it. »

Russell continued: « It’s absolutely horrifying news, I would say, for the royal family.

« The very fact Oprah has been given carte blanche to ask anything, will be making the royal family very, very nervous indeed.

« It’s a funny change of tact when you have been complaining about privacy and intense media scrutiny, to sign up with potentially the chat show queen of the world, to be streamed to millions and millions of people. »

WHEN IS THE OPRAH INTERVIEW BROADCAST?

The interview will air on March 7 on CBS News – one of the largest TV networks in the United States.

Brits will have to wait to find out if they can watch it in the UK as it has not yet been confirmed whether a British broadcaster will carry it.

HALF OF BRITS THINK OPRAH INTERVIEW IS ‘INAPPROPRIATE’

Nearly half of Brits think Meghan and Harry’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview is “inappropriate”.

According to a YouGov survey, 46 per cent of surveyed Brits said it was inappropriate for the couple to give the interview to discuss their experiences with the Royal Family.

Those in the 50 to 65 age bracket and 65+ bracket were most likely to say they believed the interview was inappropriate.

Another 29% said it was appropriate, with those aged 18 to 24 most likely to say it was OK.

Meanwhile, 25% of those surveyed said they “don’t know”.

MEGHAN’S DAD HOPES TO SEE GRANDKIDS

Meghan’s father Thomas Markle said this week he hoped to see his grandkids one day after his explosive falling out with his pregnant daughter and Prince Harry.

Speaking to CBS TV’s Inside Edition, the 71-year-old said: “I wish Meghan and Harry a successful, healthy birth and I hope some day I get to see my grandchildren.

“They’re all royal grandchildren.”

HARRY HAS ‘SLIPPED INTO TINSELTOWN WAY OF LIFE’

Harry has « quickly slipped into that Tinseltown way of life where everything has to be done in an over-the-top fashion », according to royal photographer Arthur Edwards.

He said: « When Diana announced 37 years ago that she was pregnant with Prince Harry, it came in a statement from the Palace press office, which is the proper, time-honoured way to do these things. »

Edwards added: « I just wish Meghan would not feel the need to outdo every other member of the Royal Family.

« The Duchess decided to create a life for her and Harry in America with all her posh showbiz friends, but when it comes to making an announcement she just wants to upstage everybody. »

MEGHAN HAS ‘TURNED HER LIFE INTO A CHEESY FILM’

Royal photographer Arthur Edwards has described Meghan as an « actress » who is « choreographing her life with Prince Harry like a movie director ».

He said their pregnancy announcement photo was stage-managed by Meghan just like the moment Hugh Grant and a pregnant Julia Roberts sit in the sunshine at the end of Notting Hill.

He added: « Every aspect of her world has literally been turned into a cheesy Hollywood film. »

Edwards said although he is « thrilled » that the couple are expecting and wishes them the best, he wants Meghan to « stop trying to turn everything into a big act ».

OPRAH CHAT IS START OF A NEW ERA

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will use their primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey to mark the start of a new chapter in their lives.

Harry and Meghan will sit down with the world’s best known chat show host to discuss life in America, but speculation that the interview will be negative or openly criticise the royal family is likely to be misplaced.

The couple are believed to have been organising the interview for a considerable period and wanted to have their say after seeing thousands of newspaper column inches devoted to their lives.

CURRENT LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE BRITISH THRONE

1. The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles)
2. The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William)
3. Prince George of Cambridge
4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
5. Prince Louis of Cambridge
6. Prince Henry of Wales (Prince Harry)
7. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
8. The Duke of York (Prince Andrew)
9. Princess Beatrice of York
10. Princess Eugenie of York

WHAT NATIONALITY WILL MEGHAN AND HARRY’S SECOND BABY BE?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby will be of dual nationality – British and American.

Meghan gave birth to baby Archie at the Portland Hospital in London in May of 2019.

Her current due date and planned place of birth is unknown, but it is thought to be in California in early spring.

HARRY ‘RISKS LOSING HIS WAY’ WITH OPRAH CHAT

Prince Harry « risks losing his way » after « blindly » agreeing to an interview with Oprah, according to a royal expert.

Writing in the Telegraph, royal commentator Camilla Tominey said: « While Meghan may choose to ignore the couple’s plunging popularity ratings over here, it is much harder for Harry to turn his back on a Blighty. »

She added that Britain « still, somewhat grudgingly, sees him as part of the Windsor establishment and remembers his undoubted contribution to British life with genuine fondness ».

She continued that Harry « risks losing his way completely » if he « blindly follows » Meghan’s ambitions and « forgets where he came from ».

TOP CHOICES FOR BABY NUMBER TWO

Here are the top five best odds available for the name of Harry and Meghan’s second-born baby, according to Gambling.com.

• Diana 10/1
• Thomas 10/1
• Spencer 12/1
• Albert 16/1
• Elizabeth 16/1

DIANA AMONG POTENTIAL BABY NAMES

Experts from Gambling.com have released the latest odds on Harry and Meghan’s potential baby names.

Top of the charts for most popular baby girl name is Diana with odds at 10/1.

If the baby is another boy, Thomas – the name of Meghan’s father and half-brother – currently holds the highest odds at 10/1.

THE COUPLE’S NET WORTH

When Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family they vowed to be financially independent.

Prince Harry’s net worth comes in at £30,500,000.

And before she tied the knot with Harry, Meghan was worth an estimated £3.5million, thanks to her role in American drama Suits.

She pocketed a reported £500,000 pay-check for her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama.

Marriage to a royal has certainly boosted her finances though – and her assets: she now has a 91-piece jewellery collection worth £600,000.

PRINCE PHILIP TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Prince Philip, 99, has been taken to hospital after feeling unwell, the Palace confirmed yesterday.

The Duke of Edinburgh is said to be in “good spirits” after being driven to the King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, on Tuesday evening. It is understood the illness is not Covid.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, on Tuesday evening.

“The Duke’s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’s Doctor, after feeling unwell. 

“The Duke is expected to remain in hospital for a few days of observation and rest.”

MEGHAN AND HARRY ‘WON’T BE PAID’ FOR THEIR 90-MINUTE SPECIAL WITH OPRAH

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry won’t be paid for their appearance on Oprah, it’s been claimed.

The pair, who scored multi-million deals with Netflix and Spotify, will be sitting down for a bombshell 90-minute special with the chat show queen – where they are expected to reveal details about their new life.

According to the Telegraph, the couple will not be paid for the interview which will be aired on March 7.

It has been billed as a prime time special that will see Meghan, 39, speak about topics ranging from “stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work, to how she is handling life under intense public pressure”.