As the future King and Queen, Prince William and Princess Kate's behavior is constantly scrutinized. In particular, onlookers are curious about the changes the Prince and Princess of Wales might implement once they're in power. According to several sources, the pair have already started ditching one aspect of Royal Family life.

According to a new article, Princess Kate and Prince William's new approach to the monarchy has already been unveiled in some respects.

"[T]hey're upping their game, as William and Kate continue to seek new and authentic ways to connect with people—from appearing on Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast to adopting a strategy of controlled openness as opposed to institutional secrecy that has guided the Firm's PR outreach," the Daily Mail reported.

The outlet also referred to a speech given by William about Sir Kevin Sinfield, a rugby coach whose charitable endeavors have had an extremely wide reach. According to the Daily Mail, the prince's own words about Sinfield could also be applied to the royal himself.

In a BBC documentary about Sinfield called Thank You Sir Kev, Prince William shared, "That lack of ego is really important in a world that everyone wants to show how amazing they all are...I think Kevin does it very quietly, very subtly and just doesn't want to be the center of attention but ultimately has a huge impact."

Prince William continued, "I think that's a really important lesson for the world to realize: you don't have to be all social media everywhere, loud, whatever. There are a lot of ways you can show leadership that still delivers the important things we care about."

The Daily Mail also highlighted the ways in which Prince William has reached out to the general public, from appearing in the AppleTV+ series The Reluctant Traveler to appearing on The Graham Norton Show.

"[O]ne of the things that William seems determined to change is the palace's figurehead reputation by rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck into the work he believes in," the publication explained.

In spite of any reluctance to be in the spotlight, Kate and William are slowly changing their approach to the monarchy and it shows.

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King Charles is currently on an international royal tour of the Bahamas, Antigua, Barbuda, and Guyana. While Queen Camilla is due to join The King for some of the royal tour, she hasn't accompanied him on the entire trip for an understandable yet tragic reason.

Sadly, Camilla might be limiting the amount of time she spends on the royal tour due to one of her biggest fears. According to the Express, "The official reason [for Camilla's absence] has not been confirmed by the palace; however, it is believed to be the result of one of The Queen's fears."

Per the outlet, "Queen Camilla is reportedly a nervous flyer, and may want to avoid getting on as many planes as possible."

The Queen is apparently planning to join King Charles for the final stops in his royal tour, which will see him visiting Antigua and Barbuda. The decision to simply accompany her husband during the final two royal tour stops is likely to be purposeful.

"By just going to Antigua and Barbuda, Camilla only has to deal with the flight there and back," the Express shared. Meanwhile, King Charles has been embarking upon multiple flights during the nine-day royal tour.

The publication also suggested that the tactical decision to cut down on plane travel would make sense for someone with a fear of flying.

While traveling between the Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua, and Barbuda, King Charles has likely needed to board "smaller planes," which "may have been too much for an anxious flyer like Camilla."

This isn't the first time that Queen Camilla's alleged fear of flying has been discussed. In April 2018, The Queen left her royal tour of Australia early, with a royal spokesperson revealing (via Hello! magazine), "[Camilla] does not like flying, but I think she has to sometimes embrace that fear."

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Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II tied the knot on November 20, 1947. The couple remained married for 73 years, until Prince Philip's death on April 9, 2021. One royal biographer has detailed Philip and Elizabeth's courtship, including an important revelation the prince once made to his then-future mother-in-law.

In his book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. Her Story., royal author Robert Hardman discussed the early days of The Queen's romance with Prince Philip.

Per Hardman, "By 1946, [Philip] was finally back...and a regular visitor at the palace. He took Lilibet [Queen Elizabeth II] to see Oklahoma!, a much-needed splash of excitement on the West End stage, and 'People Will Say We're In Love' became 'their' song."

Their romance only continued getting stronger. As Hardman wrote, "Invited to Balmoral as a house guest that summer, Philip was now as keen on Lilibet as she had long been on him." Per the author, at that time, Philip told a friend that he and Elizabeth had started taking their relationship more "seriously" and had begun talking about their future.

"In September [1946], Philip proposed," Hardman shared.

In a letter to his future mother-in-law, who would later become known as the Queen Mother, Prince Philip shared, "Lilibet's acceptance...had done 'more for me than anything else in my life.'"

As for why Queen Elizabeth's proposal acceptance was so significant in Prince Philip's life, Hardman noted, "He had finally found the sort of stability and contentment which had been woefully absent from his childhood."

As one of Prince Philip's colleagues shared with Hardman, "He had the most appalling childhood, which would explain a lot about him in later life...It was why he could be so brisk but also very sensitive to people from troubled homes."

Basically, building a life with Queen Elizabeth II was extremely consequential to Prince Philip.

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With the release of Earl Spencer's new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Princess Diana is making headlines once more. As a result, royal experts have been sharing their own insights into Diana's relationship with King Charles and how the princess really felt about her marriage.

During Hello! magazine's live episode of "A Right Royal Podcast," royal expert and editor Ingrid Seward opened up about her friend Princess Diana.

"He did love her," Seward said of King Charles's feelings for Diana. "He may not have loved her in the very beginning, and he may not have loved her by the end, but he felt so bad that he couldn't make the marriage work."

According to the royal expert, "[Charles] was plagued by guilt because he knew he was the one who should have made it work. But her intense jealousy and many, many other things...they were just not suited at the time."

According to Seward, Princess Diana allegedly believed that one particular thing could have made a huge difference in their relationship.

According to the royal expert, "But Diana also said to me she thought if they'd met when they were older, they probably would have made it work and conquered the world; that's what she loved to say."

Seward also noted, "She actually told me that she really loved Charles. He was the one she would always love."

The royal editor claimed that Diana told her, "It's very important to me, Ingrid, that my boys know that their father loved me. It's really, really important."

Seward also shared that Diana thought of Charles as "the one that got away."

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On September 17, Prince William and Princess Kate made their very first joint visit to Scotland's Isle of Bute. As usual, the Prince and Princess of Wales charmed just about everyone they met during the trip. And according to one report, a royal fan was particularly taken with Prince William and became a little flirty with the royal.

As reported by the Daily Mail, one video of Prince William, which was captured by a royal fan during the visit, revealed an especially cute moment. Per the outlet, one royal fan was overheard telling Prince William, "You're fit," a very British compliment suggesting they found the future King to be pretty handsome indeed.

In response, Prince William told the fan, "Stop, you'll make me blush." With wife Princess Kate nearby, this was likely quite a funny interaction for the Prince of Wales.

Meanwhile, another royal fan told the prince that he was very "cheeky" when they met him as a child. William replied, "With my mother? That was a long time ago." He also noted, "You have to pick and choose [being cheeky] when you're 44!"

During their visit, Kate and William met with members of a community group that keeps the beaches clean called Beachwatch Bute.

One group member told Hello! magazine that they offered Princess Kate a pair of gloves to wear while picking up trash from the beach. "She said, 'Actually, I do this all the time,'" the individual told the outlet.

According to the group member, Princess Kate seemed to be "a bit hesitant" about using a litter picker tool, and instead "was in there just picking everything up and saying, 'I'll get that one.'"

Still, it seems likely that Prince William's flirty exchange was the most memorable moment during the couple's Isle of Bute trip.

It's hard to believe that Princess Diana died almost 30 years ago, on August 31, 1997, following a devastating car crash in Paris. Following her divorce from King Charles, Diana's relationship with the Royal Family reportedly wasn't always straightforward. And according to one royal expert, Queen Elizabeth became "furious" with the former Princess of Wales after one particular conversation.

According to respected royal author and editor Ingrid Seward, the allegedly tense conversation between Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, and Princess Diana took place on February 28, 1996, before the divorce was finalized.

"The discussions were supposed to be private, but immediately afterwards Diana issued a statement saying she had agreed to the divorce, that she would continue to be involved in all decisions pertaining to William and Harry—and that under pressure she would be giving up her HRH [title]," Seward shared in the Daily Mail.

According to Seward, "The Queen was furious at Diana leaking details of their private conversation." As a result, the monarch decided to share her own version of events with the public.

"She immediately countered with a statement of her own," Seward noted. "Her press secretary, Charles Anson, announced: 'The decision to drop the title is the princess's and the princess's alone. It is wrong that [Queen Elizabeth] or [King Charles] asked her. I can state categorically it is not true."

The statement continued, "The palace does not say something specific on a point like this unless we are absolutely sure of the facts."

In spite of Queen Elizabeth's statement, Princess Diana "continued to insist she had been pressured into relinquishing her title," Seward wrote.

Unfortunately, this appears to have been one instance in which Diana and Elizabeth couldn't agree.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were both known for their wit, so it's completely unsurprising that the pair used to play practical jokes on one another. And according to two separate royal biographers, one such prank involved the late Queen wearing a fake beard.

In her book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, royal author Catherine Mayer revealed a hilarious moment in which Queen Elizabeth shocked Prince Philip.

"When the couple reunited ahead of a joint state visit to Portugal, [Philip] found [Elizabeth] and her entourage wearing false beards, mimicking the real one he had grown," Mayer shared. "Nothing says a relationship is on track like the ability to make each other laugh."

Broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth shared his own account of the incident involving the late Queen's fake beard in the book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.

"They were reunited at Lisbon's military airport," the author wrote. "The scene was a memorable one."

Brandreth continued, "During part of the tour, Philip had grown a full set of naval whiskers. Photographs of the bearded Adonis had found their way back to London."

Not missing a trick, Queen Elizabeth hatched quite the plan to surprise her husband.

Per Brandreth, "When Philip, now clean-shaven in anticipation of the state visit to Portugal, bounded up the steps of The Queen's plane in Lisbon, he was greeted by an extraordinary sight: his wife and her entire entourage, sitting in their seats, all sporting false ginger beards!"

The author shared that the Royal Family "is a family that is fond of practical jokes," and it seems Queen Elizabeth was often the ringleader.

Per Brandreth, "Minutes later, when the royal couple emerged from the plane, both were beaming, and an eagle-eyed reporter, with a sentimental streak, was sure he spotted a tell-tale smudge of lipstick on the duke's cheek."

Princess Anne is celebrating her 76th birthday on August 15, 2026. The Princess Royal has been married to her second husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, since December 12, 1992. And according to one expert, Anne's husband is the "perfect mixture" of two other royal relatives.

Speaking to Betfair Casino, body language expert Darren Stanton shared, "With Anne's brother King Charles, his wife Camilla is very similar to his character and they are both confident and outspoken. But Anne is a strong character who is better suited with someone like Sir Tim—who is quiet and reserved."

Stanton continued, "She needs someone who can stand back and let her shine. She also needs someone who understands the dynamics of being a working royal, and Tim gets that completely."

The body language expert also suggested that Laurence is "the perfect mixture" of two other Royal Family members: Anne's late parents.

As Stanton further explained, "Like [Prince] Philip, he's able to stand to the side and let his wife take center stage. And just like [Queen Elizabeth II], he has a lot of respect for royal tradition and following a sense of duty."

Basically, it seems that Princess Anne's marriage to Laurence continues to stand the test of time as the two royals complement each other so well.

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Princess Kate and Prince William had an exceedingly eventful weekend as the pair attended the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. From springing into "dad mode" to executing damage control, Prince William appeared to be on high alert throughout the event. But according to royal fans, the Prince of Wales was never far away from his wife.

One X user highlighted Prince William's seeming adoration of Princess Kate by sharing two photos. In the first snap, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George sit between Kate and William. In the second, the children have moved, leaving Princess Kate and Prince William to sit next to one another. The royal fan captioned the post, "How it started v. how it ended...Oh William."

Another commenter suggested that William was a "smart man" for moving closer to his wife. Meanwhile, someone else shared, "They can't live without each other."

According to the Express, another royal fan expressed excitement regarding Kate and William's appearance at the Commonwealth Games, writing, "Prince William wanted to sit next to Princess Catherine!! So sweet. The bond they have with each other and their children is amazing! I love it!"

After navigating some complicated family dynamics, it appears as though Kate and William always come back to one another.

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Princess Diana's marriage to King Charles has been well-documented, as has the monarch's relationship with Queen Camilla. Early in Diana and Charles's romance, the princess was photographed spending time with Camilla, leading many to wonder why the pair had been communicating with one another. According to one royal biographer, the reason might be more straightforward than many initially believed.

In the new book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, author Catherine Mayer explores Diana and Camilla's unexpected meetings.

"Diana interpreted her rival's overtures of friendship towards her during this period as intelligence gathering," Mayer writes. However, the royal biographer is sure that there is much more to the story.

"Camilla seems unlikely to have taken on such a mission unilaterally," Mayer explains. "A more plausible theory, suggested by sources with some knowledge of these events, is that Charles saw Camilla as the person best placed to induct his fiancée into his life."

Considering the illicit nature of Charles and Camilla's relationship during certain periods of time, the suggestion that The King might have orchestrated the meetings might sound a little scandalous. However, there might have been some common sense behind the alleged idea.

As Mayer notes, "After all, [Camilla] knew [Charles] and his ways intimately. If accurate, this is the detail among all others that comes closest to crossing the line from the disordered impulses common to such situations to something colder."

Per the author, "Even if Charles, at this stage, lacked the emotional intelligence to grasp how misguided the idea was, you might have expected Camilla to demur."

Of course, it remains unclear whether Charles did, in fact, ask Camilla to befriend Diana and teach her how to navigate royal life. Either way, it seems that Camilla remained an integral part of Charles's life from the moment they met.

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Princess Kate and Prince William's royal romance has gripped fans around the world since their relationship was first made public. Having tied the knot on April 29, 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have since welcomed three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and built a life together. And according to one expert, Kate and William are now entering the next "chapter of their marriage."

Speaking the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James said that Kate and William's recent appearances have shown "the honest intensity of their feelings for each other."

James continued, "Their rituals suggest there's been no real change in the intensity of their love for one another; what's happened is they have finally felt safe enough to trust enough (not each other but the public and the press) to show it."

James also referenced the moment Prince William hugged Princess Kate after she completed the Three Peaks Challenge for charity.

"It's a hug that suggests all inhibitions are being jettisoned as the desire to greet and cherish takes over," the expert noted.

The body language expert also dubbed the change "the latest chapter of their marriage," in which the couple will "feel free to show their levels of mutual love and adoration by more tactile behaviors in public."

According to James, William and Kate's newfound PDA is "still very much a part of their personal and generational royal brand now."

Royal fans will, of course, be happy to witness the next phase of Kate and William's royal romance.

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Princess Diana experienced both negative and positive press throughout her life, and endured a number of personal challenges in the public eye. Namely, the former Princess of Wales split from King Charles, an event which was voraciously reported on by the tabloids. According to her former butler, there was one particular thing that Princess Diana really wanted "people to understand" about her life.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed, "All she had ever wanted was for the British people to understand what she had gone through, how difficult it had been. And while she felt that [King] Charles had truly made her suffer, she had learned from her suffering."

According to Burrell, the princess's divorce knocked her confidence in a major way, after a lifetime of self-doubt.

"She felt her low self-esteem had taken root in childhood when she had acquired many of her ideas about herself," the former butler wrote. "She had taken that poor self-image into the marriage with [King] Charles."

Burrell continued, "In [Charles], she focused solely on deriving a boost to her ego, through his recognition of her achievements. When it was not forthcoming, she said she felt rejected."

According to the former Royal Family butler, Diana also had to learn to come to terms with the emotions she was experiencing.

"The princess also needed to realize, and I think many people told her this, that anger was a natural emotion, but she felt many women found anger distressing," he wrote.

Burrell further explained, "She even hired a boxer to come to [Kensington Palace] with his punchbag so that she could rid herself of her anger. Diana, Princess of Wales, could certainly pack a mean punch."

Ultimately, Princess Diana had to go through some incredibly difficult moments in her life, while navigating her role as a famous person, which can't have been easy.

Princess Diana lived her life in an international spotlight after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unfortunately, the couple endured a somewhat tumultuous marriage, which led to divorce. And according to one of Diana's former royal butlers, the princess wasn't entirely happy with the way her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, handled the divorce.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled Diana receiving a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II regarding the princess's separation from King Charles.

"It began, as always, 'Dearest Diana' and ended, 'With love from Mama,'" Burrell explained. "This letter, though, was different from any other I had read and, as The Queen's former footman, I felt uncomfortable as I read it."

Burrell continued, "I was talking to the back of the princess's head as she remained on the [couch] but I needed to express my discomfort. 'I'm not sure I should be reading this, it says 'in the strictest of confidence.'"

In spite of his reservations, Burrell reportedly read the letter aloud to Princess Diana, who "jumped up, agitated, and began pacing."

According to the former butler, Diana exclaimed, "The Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury! My divorce has been discussed with John Major and George Carey before it has been discussed with me."

Burrell continued, "The princess was infuriated that The Queen had consulted the government and the church first...'This is my marriage and it is no one else's business!' she yelled."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly "felt that her divorce, just like her marriage, was being handled as if it were a business matter," per Burrell.

Despite describing Queen Elizabeth's letter as "sympathetic, delicate, and devoid of anger," Burrell also suggested that the monarch was "a mother-in-law frustrated with the behavior of both parties, emphasizing that a divorce could not inflict further damage on the two sons who had suffered enough over the previous years."

Divorce is complicated, regardless of who you're married to, but it's clear that being a member of the Royal Family makes the entire process even more challenging for everyone involved.

When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.

Maybe there’s something in the air, or we’re deep in a Couples Therapy rewatch, but it seems like ethical non-monogamy is everywhere in pop culture. From Olivia Wilde’s new comedy The Invite and book-to-screen adaptations like Netflix’s Vladimir to plenty of polyamory podcasts, the topic of inviting a person(s) into a coupleship is proudly out in the open.

And why shouldn’t it? Folks have been widening their romantic circle for decades (hello, key parties). Perhaps a holdover from that horny, halcyon post-COVID era, people are increasingly interested in experimenting to find what works for them. According to a 2023 YouGov survey, a third of U.S. adults consider an ideal relationship to be non-monogamous in some fashion.

Authors are also flocking to the topic. Recent hit novels have delved into the minds of romantic partners, and memoirs and non-fiction books are providing blueprints for entering such arrangements—or for whether they can actually work. Whether you’re a fiction or nonfiction fan, and no matter where you stand on ENM, there’s a book about polyamore for you. Below, check out the best books about entering, maintaining, and in some cases, leaving an open relationship.

On Saturday, June 6, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling became the latest bride to marry into the Royal Family when she tied the knot with Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips. A number of people without royal backgrounds or familial connections have married into the British Royal Family in recent decades. According to one royal biographer, one such royal bride was declared as being "the embodiment of a princess," despite not growing up within the Royal Family.

In the book My Mother and I, royal expert and biographer Ingrid Seward shared, "Prince William married Catherine Middleton [on April 29, 2011], who turned out to be the embodiment of a princess without having a drop of royal blood."

Seward continued, "Her very ordinariness made her perfect, and The Queen was pleased that the troubled childhood William had experienced was turned around with the support of the strong woman Catherine turned out to be."

According to Seward, Princess Kate was such a great fit for the Royal Family that she helped secure the institution's future when she married Prince William.

"The power of the monarchy may have been whittled away but it remains central to the British constitution, and it will be up to William and his father to keep it there," Seward shared. "King Charles, as The Queen knew, was the right person to keep the monarchy on track and, with the support of his wife Camilla, prepare it for William as she and Prince Philip had prepared it for him."

Essentially, Princess Kate's role as the future Queen makes her royal wedding more important than most.

Princess Diana quickly became a beloved member of the Royal Family after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unsurprisingly, the former Princess of Wales was inundated with gifts every year on her birthday—including from one unexpected royal.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell reflected on Princess Diana's birthday celebrations throughout the years.

"If the princess dreaded July 1, so did her butler," Burrell joked. "I would be running up and down those stairs for hours on end. A delivery from Selfridges, from Harrods, from the royal grocers Fortnum & Mason, from Harvey Nichols."

Despite announcing her separation from King Charles in December 1992, one member of the Royal Family always celebrated Princess Diana's birthday, according to Burrell.

"And then, without fail, a bunch of flowers from Prince Charles who addressed every letter and card he sent, every year until her death, 'Dearest Diana,'" the royal butler revealed.

Of course, King Charles wasn't the only person to send Princess Diana gifts every year on her birthday.

"24 long-stemmed yellow roses, boxed from Edward Goodyear, the florist in Mayfair, from a secret admirer the world never got to know about," Burrell revealed. "Red roses arrived from friends. Then white flowers—tulips from Elton John and more roses from Gianni Versace."

The former butler continued, "All her female friends sent flowers or presents. At the police box, well-wishers left cards, presents, and flowers. By the end of the day, [her apartment] resembled a florist's shop and every conceivable flat surface was covered with cards."

Basically, it sounds as though Princess Diana was shown a lot of love on her birthday from everyone around her.

King Charles and Princess Diana had somewhat of a tumultuous marriage. Having tied the knot on July 29, 1981, the couple went on to welcome two children together—Prince William and Prince Harry—before announcing their separation on December 9, 1992. The couple's divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996, and according to one former royal butler, Charles and Diana attempted to be civil during that time.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled a surprise visit Princess Diana received from The King following their split.

"The last person I expected was the heir to the throne," Burrell shared. "Charles had popped in, unannounced. 'Hello, Paul, may I come in?' he said. He had been due to catch a helicopter...but was early, so he had decided to visit his estranged wife."

Noting his own shock at Charles's arrival, the former butler wrote, "If I was surprised, I couldn't wait to see the reaction of the boss [Princess Diana]."

After climbing the stairs inside Diana's residence, Charles called out to his ex, and "was met by the rather stunned princess on the first-floor landing and they greeted each other with a kiss on both cheeks."

According to Burrell, Diana was every bit as surprised as he was.

"She looked over his shoulder at me and her eyes widened with mock horror," the former royal employee explained. "Then she couldn't resist breaking the ice with her usual humor."

Per the ex-butler, Diana reportedly remarked, "I suppose you've come to take the furniture away, then, Charles!"

Remembering the strange moment, Burrell wrote, "Husband and wife, in the throes of a rather awkward divorce, laughed together for the first time in an age. If only they could have done that more in public, I thought."

Surprisingly, even during their difficult split, there were occasional moments of levity between Charles and Diana, according to a former staff member.

Much has been written about the allegedly tumultuous nature of King Charles's marriage to Princess Diana. And according to a former palace employee, insults between the pair led to a depletion of confidence as the years went on.

Writing in the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell shared, "I saw the confidence-crushing effect [King] Charles had on her in Japan when she tried to win his approval."

Referencing Diana and Charles's royal tour of Japan, which took place in November 1990, Burrell recalled a particularly upsetting moment for the princess.

"Charles and his staff were checking their watches as they milled in the grand hallway ahead of an official function when the princess, looking radiant, came downstairs wearing a Catherine Walker red tartan coat dress with red velvet collar and cuffs," the former butler explained.

Discussing the striking outfit, Burrell wrote, "It was loud but elegant and she was smiling. I was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when she walked to the prince's side and said, 'So, do you like my outfit, Charles?'"

Unfortunately, King Charles allegedly made a joke about his wife's outfit, which completely changed her mood, according to Burrell.

"His reply was soft and devoid of bitterness, but its effect was brutal," the ex-royal butler said. "'Yes. You look like a British Caledonian air stewardess.'"

Per Burrell, after Charles delivered his quip about Diana's outfit, "he turned and walked out of the front door to an awaiting car."

The former royal employee's account continued: "The smile vanished from the princess's face and she looked down. Then she did what she became expert at: she mustered confidence from somewhere and followed him out of the door."

Burrell further alleged, "It was not the only time he crushed her confidence, intentionally or otherwise."

Despite growing up as a member of the nobility, Princess Diana wasn't totally prepared for life within the Royal Family. In fact, mere months before her royal wedding to King Charles, Diana reportedly got cold feet while attending Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.

Elton John famously performed at the glitzy event on February 19, 1981, and later recalled his memories of the evening. But according to one royal author, Princess Diana didn't have an entirely positive experience at the party.

"Charles was behaving as if he was on duty and insisted, to the despair of his fiancée, on working the room and making sure he spoke with as many people as possible," royal expert Ingrid Seward shared in her book, My Mother and I.

Seward continued, "The younger crowd congregated in the disco, where the music was louder. Diana, nervous, upset and emotionally drained, danced frantically with first one man, then another, and eventually by herself."

Unfortunately, the experience allegedly had a fairly negative impact on the 19-year-old royal bride-to-be.

One member of staff, Mark Simpson, reportedly grew concerned about the princess's well-being at sunrise "when he glanced out of the window and saw Diana in the quadrangle, cutting a gaunt figure in the half-light, looking exhausted, lost in her thoughts, but still moving in a slow, rhythmic time to the music that was now playing in her head."

In the early hours of the morning, Diana reportedly drove to her family's home in Northamptonshire, Althorp. "At that moment, she was distraught, flustered, and had no intention of ever going back," Seward explained. And according to the royal expert, Diana came close to calling off her nuptials altogether.

"Her wedding to Charles was mere weeks away," the royal expert wrote. "As far as Diana was concerned that morning, it was canceled. In her anger and despair, she had decided she was not going through with it."

Diana's father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, "calmed her down and pointed out it would have been an act of gross discourtesy to break off the engagement to the future King so close to the wedding," Seward shared.

Had Diana's dad not convinced her to remain engaged to Charles, life would've turned out very differently for the young princess.

Queen Elizabeth's love story with Prince Philip is one for the ages. The pair tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and remained married until Prince Philip's death on April 9, 2021. And according to those who knew the couple, there was heat between them throughout their long marriage.

According to royal author Ian Lloyd, in his book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, "The Queen lit up when [Prince Philip] was around, when he walked into a room or when he paid her a compliment." Basically, the couple stayed very much in love through the decades.

Per Lloyd, "Once, her dress designer, the late Ian Thomas, was making some adjustments to the hemline of her dress when Philip happened to walk past the open door and he said, 'Hmm, nice dress.'"

The royal author continued, "Thomas said The Queen 'flushed scarlet’ at the compliment. They never completely softened with old age."

Lloyd also shared that Queen Elizabeth looked to her husband for advice throughout her life.

"Elizabeth was to rely on [Philip] even more as the touchstone for the values she grew up with: duty, self-sacrifice, service to Queen and country," the biographer explained. "They spoke every day on the telephone from wherever they happened to be."

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were thrown together for an extended period of time during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

"Philip left Wood Farm and joined The Queen at Windsor and over the summer at Balmoral," Lloyd noted. "It was the longest the two had been together, apart from their early tours and their time in Malta as a young naval couple, and was no doubt a consolation to her following his death just 12 months later."

Although Elizabeth and Philip weren't big on PDA, they seemingly had a very flirty relationship in private, which is endearing.

King Charles and Queen Camilla appear to have an extremely happy marriage, but the road to everlasting love was far from smooth. In fact, according to one royal expert, Camilla was initially "frightened" by the idea of becoming King Charles's wife.

In her book, My Mother and I, royal expert Ingrid Seward shared, "The full implication of what it would mean to be Prince Charles's wife frightened Camilla, and she was strident in her refusal to be sucked into the vortex of royal life."

Seward continued, "She persuaded Charles it would not be a good idea to consider marriage, telling friends the prospect was 'farcical' and that it would never happen as he would always put his duty first."

However, King Charles was reportedly keen to marry Camilla and wanted her to find her place within the Royal Family.

"Charles desperately wanted Camilla accepted by his family, especially The Queen, and refused to contemplate her hiding away," the royal author shared.

Prior to Princess Diana's unexpected and tragic death in August 1997, Camilla and Charles had been gradually making their romance public. However, the devastating news of Diana's death shifted the focus and caused Camilla to retreat from publicly embracing her relationship with Charles.

"She realized she was a long way from being accepted as [King Charles's] consort, but she had to make the effort for his sake," Seward explained.

The royal author continued, "If it hadn't been for the fickleness of public opinion and the restraining hand of his advisors, Charles would have gone public with Camilla a good deal earlier."

As for why The King was so steadfast in his belief he should be able to have a public relationship with Camilla, Seward shared, "He was used to getting his own way and it was Camilla who persuaded him that she was quite happy with how things were."

According to the royal biographer, Camilla's caution won, with Queen Elizabeth agreeing that the pair needed to take any sort of public romance slowly.

Eventually, Camilla and Charles would tie the knot—on April 9, 2005. But it appears as though Camilla wasn't in a rush to get married again.

Just like other married couples, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were known to argue. In fact, the former Duke of Edinburgh once threatened to leave his wife "stranded on the motorway." However, Elizabeth and Philip were also known to share a sense of humor, with one royal aide witnessing a particularly funny moment between the pair.

In the book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "Chief Petty Officer William Evans recalled The Queen, then in her mid-thirties, screaming with laughter and shouting, 'Stop it! Philip, stop it, stop it, stop it!' as Philip ran after her, pinching her bottom repeatedly and growling, 'Get up there, girl, get up there!'"

As well as having a rather cheeky streak, Prince Philip seemingly wanted royal fans to know that he did, in fact, share a bed with his wife.

"Philip himself inadvertently gave a clue to their intimacy when he fact-checked a manuscript by biographer Tim Heald," Lloyd explained. "The author wrote, 'It was generally known that at the palace the royal couple had separate bedrooms.' In the margin the prince scrawled, 'wrongly.'"

Lloyd also reflected on Queen Elizabeth's growing confidence and why she seemed to appreciate Philip's candor.

"[T]he Queen was beginning to answer her husband back more," Lloyd shared.

The royal biographer continued, "Former private secretary Martin Charteris later commented, 'Prince Philip is the only man in the world who treats The Queen simply as another human being.'"

As Charteris noted, "And, of course, it's not unknown for The Queen to tell Prince Philip to shut up. Because she's The Queen, that's not something she can easily say to anybody else."

The normalcy with which Philip spoke to Queen Elizabeth apparently went both ways, and seems to have been what helped make their marriage so successful.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had one of the most stable marriages in royal history. After tying the knot on November 20, 1947, Elizabeth and Philip were married until his death on April 9, 2021. But according to one Royal Family friend, the pair occasionally had blazing arguments.

During an appearance on Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," broadcaster and Royal Family friend Gyles Brandreth said of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, "She wore the crown and he wore the trousers."

Noting that Prince Philip "was in charge" of certain decisions, such as where the couple's children went to school, Brandreth also reflected on the late royal's temper.

"You wouldn't want to argue with him," Brandreth said of Philip. "To be honest, you really, really wouldn't. But she did." And according to the broadcaster, there were several instances during which friends witnessed Elizabeth and Philip fighting.

Per Brandreth, "[Countess Mountbatten] and The Queen were sitting in the back of a car, and they were driven by Prince Philip at such incredible speed. It was terrifying."

According to the Royal Family friend, "The Queen was yelping" in reaction to her husband's driving. "Shut up, woman, or I'll turn you out," Philip allegedly told his wife. "Shut up! I'll turn you out on the motorway."

Recalling the story, Brandreth explained, "When they got out of the car, Countess Mountbatten said to The Queen, 'You really shouldn't let him speak to you like that. You know, you're The Queen. He shouldn't really be speaking to you like that.'"

Per the broadcaster, Queen Elizabeth replied, "But he meant it. And I really didn't want to be caught or stranded on the motorway."

It seems as though there was only one person who was allowed to shout at Queen Elizabeth, and it was her husband.

Prince William and Princess Kate appear to have a solid marriage, which has helped make them particularly popular amongst royal fans. But according to one report, Princess Kate was forced to respond after one royal fan "propositioned" Prince William in a slightly inappropriate way.

In 2021, Prince William visited Queen's Bay Lodge Care Home in Edinburgh, Scotland, "where he enjoyed an amusing exchange with 96-year-old Betty Magee," the Liverpool Echo reported.

According to the outlet, the Prince of Wales relayed the story to actresses Emma Thompson and Emma Stone during a video call, telling them, "I got propositioned by a 96-year-old lady called Betty who wanted to kiss me."

At the time, a number of rules were in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince William further explained, "She's in a care home with her daughter and I said, 'Betty, if I do that I'm going to get slapped on the back of the head for inappropriate social distancing.'"

According to William, the royal fan didn't seem to listen to his warnings, as he told Stone and Thompson, "She said, 'I'll have you afterwards then!'...She was a right character!"

Princess Kate was then quick to quip, "This is what happens when I'm not around!"

American-born Countess of Sandwich, Julie Montagu, recently opened up about what Princess Kate is really like, sharing in a social media post, "Contrary to expectations, meeting the Princess of Wales is often described as surprisingly relaxed and approachable." The countess continued, "Many find her calm, present, and genuinely engaging, dispelling the idea of an intimidating royal encounter."

As well as reportedly being extremely calm and welcoming, it's clear that Princess Kate has a great sense of humor, too.

When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.

The national divorce rate might be down, but you’d never know it. From TikTokers confronting their cheating partners and Bravolebrity breakups setting the internet on fire, divorce seems to be en vogue these days. Despite the fever-pitch that celebrity drama garners, break-ups certainly aren't reserved for the elite. In fact, commitment, divorce, and separation might be some of the most common topics bubbling up in your group chat—which may be daunting or comforting, depending on your sitch.

Like everybody else, authors aren’t immune to the spectacle or shock of divorce, either. As such, they’ve been recording the hideous and heart-wrenching details of marital collapse for years—nay, centuries (looking at you, Henry James). But recently, a crop of new books has pushed the subject into the heart of conversations and is, in the words of Bethenny Frankel, "mentioning it all." Whether these divorce books mine personal history or imagine fictional scenarios, many have shot to the top of best-seller lists, as readers can't seem to get enough of learning about what goes down when people part ways.

From thrillers about the divorce from Hell to hilariously unhinged novels and memoirs that require multiple boxes of tissues, these divorce books totally qualify as must-read material. Below, check out some of the best divorce books to add to your TBR.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married for 73 years, making their marriage incredibly successful. While The Queen reportedly had to deal with Prince Philip's "awkward habit," she allegedly had a special way to annoy her husband when he "was in a mood."

In the royal biography, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "As with many couples, they agreed on the big things but squabbled on the minor ones. One former courtier told biographer Graham Turner, 'He and The Queen have phenomenal rows' but they soon blow over, 'There's a terrific mutual tongue-lashing and then they end up the best of friends.'"

Over the course of their long marriage, Queen Elizabeth reportedly developed a special skill for dealing with her husband's alleged outbursts.

Per Lloyd, "[H]er technique was to throw up a smokescreen when he was in a mood. By changing the subject or talking in riddles, she confused him and threw him off guard, as he preferred straightforward arguing to such a cryptic approach."

The royal author continued, "Among those they trust, The Queen was often able to poke fun at her husband, whether he was there or not."

Another royal source suggested that The Queen would become exceedingly stubborn on occasion, too.

According to Lloyd, one source remembered a trip on the Royal Yacht Britannia, during which "The Queen declared, 'I'm not going to come out of my cabin until he's in a better temper. I'm going to sit here on my bed until he's better.'"

Judging by Lloyd's biography, Queen Elizabeth could hold her own with Prince Philip, regardless of whatever mood he was in.

Recent royal biographies have revealed funny stories about Prince Philip, including the night he ditched his nurses to steal a beer, much to his wife's chagrin. According to one royal author, the former Duke of Edinburgh was known for many things, including one particularly "awkward habit."

In the book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd revealed, "Philip's frustration with his subordinate role and his annoyance that, in the early days of her reign, his dutiful wife slavishly followed the wishes of the palace old guard and Winston Churchill, led him to occasional bursts of temper."

Royal sources shared their experiences of Prince Philip's outbursts. Per Lloyd, "These were witnessed by courtiers, friends, and relations. 'He could be brutal,' recalled a former member of staff who heard him berate The Queen with 'Don't talk such rubbish!' or 'You're completely wrong!'"

"[Queen Elizabeth II's cousin] Margaret Rhodes recalled Philip's awkward habit of jumping down people's throats," according to Lloyd.

Per the author, Rhodes shared, "He was like that with The Queen. He'd say, 'why the bloody hell?' 'what the bloody hell?' I think she did find it disconcerting."

"Deep down, the prince was aware he could occasionally make hurtful comments," Lloyd explained. "To a family friend, he once made the revealing comment, 'I don't seem able to say nice things to people, though I'd like to. Why is that?'"

The author continued, "In the early days, The Queen, aware of the huge sacrifice Philip had made, tolerated his outbursts."

Although onlookers were reportedly shocked by Prince Philip's alleged behavior, Queen Elizabeth apparently cut her husband some slack. After all, no-one's perfect.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were married for an incredible 73 years. Despite their enduring relationship, the late Queen and her husband rarely engaged in PDA. According to one royal biographer, there's a tragic reason why Elizabeth and Philip weren't overly affectionate with one another.

Writing in his book, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd shared, "When their relationship finally blossomed during the summer of 1946, the couple gave few clues away, even to those close to them."

Lloyd continued, "Peter Ashmore, [Elizabeth's father] The King's equerry, recalled Philip's three-week stay at Balmoral, when the couple came to what Philip called 'an understanding.'"

Per the royal author, Ashmore further revealed, "They certainly did not drool over each other...They scarcely held hands."

As for why Elizabeth and Philip's relationship lacked PDA, Lloyd shared, "It was hardly a surprise, since Philip had never been shown much affection from his parents."

The royal author explained, "[Royal courtier] Mike Parker recalled trying to encourage Philip to show some kind of public affection to his wife. 'He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve,' Parker commented in a 1992 interview."

Per Lloyd's book, Parker shared, "I always wanted to see him put his arms around The Queen and show her how much he adored her. What you'd do for any wife. But he always sort of stood to attention. I mentioned it to him a couple of times. But he just gave me a hell of a look."

Luckily, the late Queen reportedly appreciated her husband's stoicism.

"Elizabeth was emotionally controlled and the fact he wasn't all over her was something she quite liked," Lloyd explained.

Basically, it sounds as though Elizabeth and Philip were a match made in heaven.

Princess Diana and King Charles announced their separation in 1992, before finalizing their divorce in 1996. At the time, their two sons—Prince William and Prince Harry—were still young, and likely experienced a difficult transition when their parents split up. According to a new royal biography, Prince William even developed some "protective instincts" while witnessing his parents ending their marriage.

In the new royal biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers revealed that Princess Diana tried her best to prepare Harry and William for their futures.

"Diana smothered the boys with affection, equipping them with her sense of humor, her appetite for fun, and her appreciation for the privilege she enjoyed—the qualities that she became renowned for throughout the world," Myers explained. "Diana believed this sense of normalness, no matter how small the gestures, would equip these boys for what lay ahead when they became central figures within the institution."

However, the tumultuous nature of Charles and Diana's marriage reportedly influenced Prince William and Prince Harry in a major way.

"The brothers already shared a deep bond, with William forging the protective instincts he would display for decades," Myers wrote. "As an understanding of the slow death of their parents's relationship crept up on them, William made sure he was always accessible to Harry."

After moving to the boarding school Ludgrove School in Berkshire, England, "William would summon that same maturity to protect his younger brother from the realization that, after years of speculation, their parents's marriage was all but over," Myers shared.

According to Myers, "Despite the acrimoniousness of the breakdown, both Charles and Diana attempted to shield their children from the furious rows that were tearing them apart, often with little success."

In an exceedingly difficult situation, Prince William reportedly wanted to ensure his little brother was safe, which led to him developing his keen "protective instincts."

Having tied the knot on November 20, 1947, Queen Elizabeth II was married to Prince Philip for 73 years—until his death on April 9, 2021. Now, one royal expert has shared details regarding Prince Philip's "final night," and why Elizabeth was left "absolutely furious" at her husband.

In an extract from his new book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, published by the Mail on Sunday, royal expert Hugo Vickers shared, "He went back to Windsor Castle on March 16 [after leaving hospital], his return considerably delayed by the need to find nurses 100 percent free of possible COVID-19 infection. He never emerged from the castle again."

Vickers continued, "However, during those last 24 days at Windsor, he was up and about. One lady-in-waiting, ringing in, was surprised to get him on the telephone." The expert also noted that Prince Philip likely enjoyed "elements of tranquillity in those final days in the castle where his mother had been born." And according to one account, he managed to have some fun, too.

Detailing Prince Philip's final wild adventure, Vickers shared, "On the last night of his life, he gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his [walking] frame, helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room."

After managing to ditch his nurses in order to consume alcohol, Philip reportedly returned to bed. "The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away," Vickers explained. Basically, it sounds as though the prince just wanted one last drink before he died.

"By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years—far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis," the royal expert noted.

As was previously reported, Queen Elizabeth II wasn't at her husband's bedside at the time of his death.

"The Queen was not there when he died," Vickers wrote. "There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told, 'His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago.'"

As a result, The Queen was allegedly not best pleased that her husband checked out without speaking to her first. "She took the line, I was told, that she was 'absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye,'" per Vickers.

Following 73 years of marriage, Elizabeth was likely left with an insurmountable loss following the death of her husband—as well as an alleged annoyance that he left without bidding her farewell.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have likely had a challenging few months due to their parents's involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were forced to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and stop using their royal titles due to their association with the convicted sex offender. While the Royal Family seemingly embraced Beatrice and Eugenie throughout the saga, sources have detailed their "fears" regarding the royal sisters.

According to the Mail on Sunday, concerns have been raised about Princess Beatrice's marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. "Edo jetted 4,500 miles to the glorious elegance of Palm Beach," the outlet noted. "Yes, he was there to promote his design business, Banda, and speak at a conference, but the optics of not being there for his wife of nearly six years are not good." The publication further suggested, "Friends fear Princess Beatrice's marriage to Edo 'is in trouble.'"

The outlet continued, "While he supped wine in some of Palm Beach's most luxurious locations, Beatrice was coming to terms with the fact her name appeared hundreds of times in the Epstein files."

Sources alleged to the outlet that there had been "distance" between Beatrice and her husband, who is allegedly "keen to avoid his business being tainted by the scandal enveloping the House of York."

One source told the publication, "Things haven't been great for a while between them, but Beatrice has been determined to soldier on and forge a path through."

The source continued, "She wants to stay together, but he seems more and more distracted by work and travel. Just when she needs him most, he's been pulling away."

Meanwhile, an additional source claimed to the outlet, "He's really worried his in-laws will affect his business...He's all about himself at the moment. You have to feel for Beatrice."

Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, is reportedly taking a different approach to the situation. "Eugenie's husband is said to be standing by his wife amid the ensuing Epstein scandal—but refuses to allow disgraced Sarah Ferguson to move into the family home," the Daily Mail shared.

A source also claimed, "His first loyalty has to be to his wife and their two young children. The whole sordid affair has already brought them a great deal of unwarranted attention and he won't do anything to increase that."

According to the publication, Eugenie and Brooksbank are allegedly aligned when it comes to her mom. "Sarah is difficult to live with and they don't want the responsibility of looking after her at the moment," a source alleged. "That's not to say they are not concerned about her welfare—they just don't actually want her to be living with them, even temporarily."

For now, at least, Beatrice and Eugenie are likely hoping that there won't be any new revelations regarding their mom and dad's friendship with Epstein so their lives can return to some semblance of normalcy.

Much has been written about King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship, which has spanned decades and survived their respective marriages to other people. Now, a royal expert has suggested that Charles's "decision not to marry" Camilla during their initial romance had an inordinate affect on his son Prince William's relationship with Princess Kate.

Charles and Camilla first met in the early '70s and reportedly had a romantic relationship before going their separate ways. According to royal expert Russell Myers's new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, King Charles's long-term affair with Camilla would ultimately impact Prince William's own approach to commitment.

"Within weeks of his split from Catherine [in 2007], he was having second thoughts, mindful perhaps of his father's decision in his twenties not to marry Camilla Shand, the love of his life," Myers wrote. "William did not want to make a similar mistake and yet he was still wracked with doubt."

As well as not wanting to make the same mistakes his father had, Prince William was reportedly given some important advice from Queen Elizabeth II. "His grandmother's advice was also ringing in his ears," Myers explained. "Did he have faith that Catherine was 'the one'? Could he see a future with her?"

After realizing he wasn't ready to let go of his relationship with Princess Kate, Prince William reportedly took swift action.

"At first, he texted and asked to speak, wondering if Catherine would even reply," Myers shared, explaining that Kate was on vacation with her family at the time. "With Catherine unsure of William's motives and unwilling to let her guard down just yet, the initial exchanges were tentative, if a little frosty."

Princess Kate seemingly felt the same way as Prince William, and she eventually "agreed to a call," the royal expert revealed. "William explained that he was missing her and floated the idea of them still attending a party that had been in their diary for months."

Luckily, the Princess of Wales decided to give William another chance, and the pair have been together ever since. But King Charles's decision to marry Princess Diana instead of Queen Camilla appears to have caused Prince William to exercise caution in his own romantic relationships.

Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011 in a fairytale royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. Having met while attending the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Kate and William dated for several years, and even endured some brief splits from one another. According to a new book, one particular breakup impacted the Princess of Wales greatly.

In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales's temporary breakup in 2007.

"Catherine had presented William with a simple choice: if he couldn't commit, their relationship would have to come to an end," Myers shared. "To her, the response that followed from Clarence House had been definitive. Catherine told friends that, although she was not ready to move on, she would not wait around for William."

At the time, William and Kate were in their mid-twenties, a crucial time in both of their lives. "If he wasn't ready, she couldn't put her existence on hold," Myers noted. "She needed to get on with her life, and if that was to be without William, she was fully prepared to move in a new direction."

Despite being the instigator of their separation, 24-year-old Prince William "was struggling to process the breakup, as well as the concept of his own identity as a soldier and the expectations of him as a future monarch," according to the royal expert. With such a huge destiny ahead of him, it's understandable that the Prince of Wales might have had doubts about several aspects of his life.

While Princess Kate was reportedly against the split, she allegedly threw herself into a busy social life, attempting to find her own interests without the prince. "Although equally heartbroken, Catherine had decided to stick to her guns," Myers shared. "Throughout the most testing times of her relationship, Catherine had leaned on a group of close school friends, and now she did so again."

Even though Kate seemingly knew she needed to forge ahead, that didn't mean she found the change easy. "She told [her friends] of her lack of direction and how she felt she had been cheated by putting her life on hold for William," Myers explained. "If William wasn't ready to commit, then she was ready to explore her options as a beautiful, young single woman, who by now was known throughout the world."

Their decision to spend some time apart before they made the ultimate commitment seems very sensible, particularly as William would one day become King.

"The breakdown was not caused by infidelity, confrontation, or embitterment, but rather was the result of two young people navigating their first serious relationship at the same time as being thrust into a spotlight whose power had been magnified beyond comprehension," Myers shared.

After reportedly finding their split to be akin to "torture," Kate and William eventually reunited, and the rest is very much royal history.

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have faced some huge changes in 2026. The former couple's association with Jeffrey Epstein hit the headlines once again following the release of new information from the Epstein files. Subsequently, King Charles removed Sarah and Andrew's official royal titles and evicted them from their shared home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. Now, a new report is claiming that the ex-Duchess of York's current location is "unknown." Meanwhile, the Royal Family has been accused of "shielding" the former Duke of York.

Per People, "Sarah Ferguson's whereabouts remain unknown following the arrest of her ex-husband." Calling the former duchess's location a "mystery," the outlet explained "that the former Duchess of York planned to spend time overseas as she mulled her next moves." However, she "has not been seen in public since December 2025," which raises "questions about where the former Duchess of York will live when she returns to the U.K.," the publication shared.

While the former Prince Andrew has been given a new property on the Sandringham estate, Ferguson has been left to her own devices.

As the scandal regarding her association with Epstein simmered, Ferguson reportedly traveled to Switzerland, where she allegedly checked into a luxury wellness clinic, per People. According to the Daily Mail, the former duchess allegedly also spent time at Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa in Donegal, Ireland.

As for Ferguson's ex-husband, the Sun reported that "massive security gates" have been "thrown up outside disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home to shield it from public view."

The new barriers were erected at Andrew's future home, Marsh Farm, which is being renovated ready for the ex-duke. As a result, it's been suggested that the Royal Family is "shielding" Andrew "from public view" with the move.

As fans await news of Taylor Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce, the NFL star has hinted that a potentially huge and life-changing decision could be in the works.

Amid rumors that Swift and Kelce have already set their wedding date, Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes seemingly shared some major news on Instagram. Mahomes posted two photos taken with Kelce on the field, and the post was quickly flooded with eye-opening comments.

The Instagram account for Kelce's podcast, "New Heights"—which he hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce—was one of the first to react to Mahomes's post. A simple GIF of Travis nodding his head while saying, "Let's go," appeared to suggest the NFL player was far from done with football, just yet.

The NFL's official site appeared to confirm Kelce's decision to keep playing. "The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is expected to return to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th NFL season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported," the outlet shared. "Kelce will turn down more money from other teams in free agency to stay with the Chiefs."

The publication also revealed, "Kelce's decision not to retire is a product of weeks of discussion," and suggested that the potential announcement was "a surprising turn of events."

Per the NFL, Chiefs coach Andy Reid previously alluded to Kelce's future with the team, telling reporters on February 20, "As long as there's communication, I'm good. That means people want to move forward." He continued, "I think that's where Trav is. I'm not trying to put words in his mouth at all and I try to give him some space here."

For now, at least, fans of the couple will be awaiting confirmation regarding Kelce's future in the NFL. Regardless of what Kelce decides, Swift will presumably be there to support him.

Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married since April 29, 2011. Due to the public nature of their relationship, royal fans have followed the couple's romance since the very beginning. As a result, even their brief breakups and separations have become public knowledge. Now, a new book is exposing even more details about some of the Prince and Princess of Wales's most tense moments.

In forthcoming book William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal editor and expert Russell Myers described a brief breakup the couple went through in 2004—two years into their college romance.

During a summer break from The University of St Andrews, Prince William reportedly had a "sudden change in attitude" towards his relationship with Kate. "He was thinking about going to Sandhurst, joining the army, maybe some traveling and what that would lead to," Myers explained, in an excerpt published by Hello! magazine. "It certainly gave his head a wobble, wondering how much time he would have to dedicate to that and what that would mean for other things in his life, such as a serious relationship."

According to Myers, "[I]t wasn't clear that Catherine would remain a priority for William after university. He was still just 22, and friends suggested he was afraid both of losing his independence so young, and of the mounting media speculation about a possible engagement."

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Princess Kate was reportedly "left in shock at his sudden change of direction." But she also "did not doubt the burden of responsibility" the Prince of Wales was facing as the future King, Myers explained.

The pair allegedly had little contact during the summer of 2004, and rumors started swirling about new romantic prospects for Prince William. According to Myers, "[H]e was torn about whether he wanted to continue his relationship with Catherine. On the one hand he missed her, and on the other the attention from the media had left him so incensed." Having a so-called "normal relationship" allegedly seemed all but impossible to the prince.

When Kate and William returned to The University of St Andrews in the fall of 2004, the prince allegedly "broke down and apologized," per Myers. According to the royal author, William's dad, King Charles, influenced the prince's decision to reconcile with Kate.

"William told Catherine he wanted to make a serious go of the relationship and in a peacemaking gesture he invited her to his father's 56th birthday celebrations at Highgrove," Myers wrote, via Hello! magazine. "[U]nbeknown to Catherine, it was Charles who had insisted on William having an honest conversation with her."

Luckily, it sounds as though King Charles worked his magic and ensured Kate and William were able to reunite, in spite of any stresses they were both experiencing.

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to reflect on important relationships and romances. For instance, according to one royal expert, Princess Kate and Prince William's "partnership and love story" is integral to the future of the British monarchy. And judging by the couple's Valentine's Day post in 2026, their relationship is stronger than ever.

Writing for Hello! magazine, royal expert Emily Nash reflected on Kate and William's decision to share a previously unseen photo for Valentine's Day. "The image, which was shared alongside a Happy Valentine's Day message, shows that, unlike generations before them, they are leading the charge in demonstrating their love following a difficult year for the future Queen."

The photograph of Kate and William was taken by Josh Shinner, and shows the couple posing outdoors in the countryside in Norfolk, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales own a home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, close to the Sandringham estate.

As noted by Nash, Kate and William's decision to be more public with their affection for one another is a huge shift from the Royal Family's previous policy. "William and Kate's partnership and love story are central to the future of the monarchy, and they are not afraid to show their affection for one another," the expert wrote in Hello! magazine.

"Traditionally, the royals have tended to avoid public displays of affection," Nash explained. "...But William and Kate clearly mean the world to one another, so they are happy to celebrate their love story with the world."

With their romantic 2026 Valentine's Day social media post, Kate and William are further confirming just how solid their relationship really is. As the future King and Queen, it appears as though Kate and William are prepared for whatever life throws at them.

The general public loves to witness a royal wedding. However, romance isn't always smooth sailing, and the same can be said of many of the Royal Family's unions. In fact, one famous royal couple faced pushback from their parents regarding their intention to marry.

In the book Queen Elizabeth II: A Concise Biography of an Exceptional Sovereign, royal historian David Cannadine revealed that, according to a well-connected courtier, Queen Elizabeth II's parents weren't enamored with Prince Philip at first.

"On active wartime service in the Royal Navy, he was soon spending some of his shore leave at Windsor, staying in the castle over Christmas 1943," Cannadine wrote. "Not long after, according to one account, Philip told his cousin, King George of Greece, that he wished to marry Princess Elizabeth, and urged him to ask George VI, on his behalf, if he was an appropriate spouse for his daughter."

Unfortunately for Philip, Elizabeth's parents allegedly weren't excited about the idea of their daughter's prospective suitor. "But according to Tommy Lascelles [private secretary to King George VI and later Queen Elizabeth II], The King and Queen thought Prince Philip to be 'rough, ill-mannered, uneducated, and would probably not be faithful,' views that Lascelles undoubtedly shared," the royal historian wrote.

Per Cannadine, Elizabeth's father, King George VI, tried to put a stop to a romance between Philip and his daughter. In fact, he apparently warned Philip that he "had better not think any more" about getting married to Elizabeth.

In spite of the warnings, Philip and Elizabeth reportedly continued to write to one another, and "Elizabeth kept a photograph of a bearded Prince Philip on her desk in the suite of rooms she had recently been assigned in Buckingham Palace," per Cannadine.

In 1946, Elizabeth's parents "invited Philip to spend three weeks at Balmoral, and while staying there he proposed to Elizabeth, and she accepted," per the royal historian. However, Elizabeth's father "urged delay before any formal announcement was made, fearing his daughter was still too young, unworldly, and inexperienced to know her own mind or be clear about her feelings."

Luckily, Elizabeth's choice of spouse appears to have been the right one. Philip and Elizabeth tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and they remained together until the former Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, 2021.

The latest batch of Epstein files has seemingly implicated Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor even further in Jeffrey Epstein's affairs. While the former Prince Andrew can be seen crouching on all fours in eyebrow-raising photographs, Ferguson seemingly sent some fairly inappropriate emails to the convicted sex offender.

In an email sent by Ferguson in January 2010, the former Duchess of York allegedly told Epstein (via the Daily Mail), "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me."

As noted by the publication, "Epstein had been released from Palm Beach County Jail in July 2009, having served 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14." Hence, Ferguson's email seems to have been sent following Epstein's initial conviction and prison sentence.

Per the Daily Mail, Ferguson allegedly sent an email to Epstein in September 2009, telling him to marry a woman with a "great body," before reportedly writing, "Ok well marry me and then we will employ her."

Along with her ex-husband Andrew, Ferguson was demoted by King Charles in 2025. As well as no longer being allowed to use any official royal titles, the former duchess has been forced to vacate her home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie—who recently released Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York—suggested that the royals should've acted much quicker when it came to Andrew and Ferguson. Lownie told the Daily Mail, "[The Royal Family] had plenty of opportunities to discipline Andrew, to remove him from his posts in the past to deal with him, but they've only done so because of public pressure and media pressure."

The release of another batch of Epstein files has seemingly implicated a plethora of high-profile and famous people all over the world. For instance, Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are both facing further allegations regarding their connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has apologized for her own association with the disgraced financier.

In a statement to Norwegian broadcaster NRK (via Hello! magazine), Mette-Marit explained, "Jeffrey Epstein is responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background better and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was." She continued, "I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take. I showed poor judgment and regret ever having any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing."

Emails between Epstein and Mette-Marit were included in the Department of Justice's latest release of files. In an email dated October 21, 2012, the Norwegian princess referred to a recent royal wedding, allegedly telling Epstein (via Hello! magazine), "Boring wedding. Was like some kind of old movie. Where you know the characters are not hanging around for much long[er]."

The suggestion that Mette-Marit didn't have any knowledge of Epstein's criminal background was also brought into question by the content of some of her alleged emails. For instance, in October 2011, Mette-Marit seemingly emailed Epstein saying, "Googled u after last email. Agree didn't look too good."

A year later, Epstein told the princess that he was embarking on a "wife-hunting" expedition to France, while reportedly joking that he preferred "Scandinavians," via the Times. Mette-Marit apparently responded by saying, "Paris good for adultery. Scandis better wife material."

Sarah Ferguson previously praised her relationship with ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. However, following the ex-Duke of York's demotion and eviction from Royal Lodge, Ferguson has reportedly reevaluated her "friendship" with her former husband.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams spoke about the status of Sarah and Andrew's relationship, telling GB News, "It will be a very substantial change from the image of this idea that they were the world's most friendly divorced couple."

Fitzwilliams suggested that Ferguson will "almost certainly try some sort of comeback, but in what form and how" is unclear at present. As the former Duchess of York has reinvented herself on multiple occasions in the past, another rejuvenation seems entirely possible.

But following revelations regarding Ferguson's connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a "comeback" will be extremely challenging. "I can't see it working," the royal expert told GB News. "Her charities have cast her adrift."

Noting that nobody knows what Ferguson's future plans might be, Fitzwilliams told the outlet, "And of course, from the point of view of the Royal Family, a horrifying prospect that there could be television."

It has also been alleged that the former Duchess of York is "carefully considering" offers, the publication reported. "Andrew has had his chance to tell the story," a source reportedly told the Sun (via GB News). "Now it's Fergie's time."

An additional source reportedly told the Sun, "There's a danger of her going rogue and saying things that could cause embarrassment for King Charles and Queen Camilla, or other members of the Royal family. But there's not much they can do to stop her."

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged in August 2025, and fans of the couple are understandably excited for the future wedding. However, a new report has claimed that Swift is actually worried about the "life-altering" decision her fiancé will soon be forced to make.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Kelce is reportedly weighing up his future as an NFL player, after the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from the competition and won't make it to the Super Bowl.

A source told the outlet, "Travis is a bit defeated right now." The source continued, "He is used to still be playing, and he is missing not being on the field, which might bode well for his fans and the Chiefs if he decides to play another year."

Now, Kelce is left with the heavy decision regarding whether or not he will retire, or return to play in the NFL for another year. "Travis will make the Chiefs well aware of his future plans by early March [2026]," a source told the publication.

The source continued, "We will know a few weeks after the Super Bowl if he will be returning or not. That is his timeline that he has set to make a decision to play one more year or not."

Per a source, the "Shake It Off" singer is apparently trying to support her partner following his NFL loss. "Taylor is trying to put him in a better mood by spending more time with him and not bombarding him with wedding plans," an "insider" told the Daily Mail.

The source further explained, "She would want him to focus on [the wedding] after he makes his career decision because she knows how important that is to him."

A source told the Daily Mail that Kelce isn't handing the "stressful and life-altering" decision of whether or not to retire from football very well. "Taylor understands that this is the first real test of their relationship," a source claimed.

The source suggested that, following much mutual success, Kelce has a much more difficult period ahead of him. "Travis hasn't been in this position before where he is staring at his future with complete 20/20 vision," the insider alleged.

Importantly, Swift "doesn't want the stress of planning their wedding to 'come between them,'" the publication explained. "She is focusing on positivity right now, but she wants him to be in a place where he is happy because at the end of the day, that will make them happy."

Prince William is reportedly extremely protective when it comes to his wife, Princess Kate.

As reported by Cosmopolitan, Prince William's protective nature was explored in royal author Robert Jobson's book Catherine, the Princess of Wales. When French magazine Closer published nude photographs of the Princess of Wales during a private vacation in Provence, France in 2012, Prince William "could barely contain his fury," Jobson explained.

Horrified by what Cosmopolitan described as a "shocking breach of privacy," Jobson shared that William "believes that if anyone oversteps the mark regarding Catherine...it is his duty to step in and protect her." Per the author, William's "stance was clear from the start of their relationship: he would not tolerate the media crossing the line."

Princess Kate was eventually awarded €100,000 [approximately $116,000] for the intrusion of privacy. During the trial, Prince William said in a written statement, per the BBC, "My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy. We know France and the French, and we know that they are, in principle, respectful of private life, including that of their guests. The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy."

The Prince of Wales also noted that the media intrusion was "all the more painful" due to his mother Princess Diana's death in Paris in 1997. Tragically, Diana was involved in a fatal car crash while she was being chased by paparazzi photographers. As a result, William appears to have dedicated himself to ensuring his wife's safety, wherever they are in the world.

Some might consider Princess Kate and Prince William's romance to be idyllic, particularly as they tied the knot in a fairytale royal wedding on April 29, 2011. However, the Prince and Princess of Wales have overcome some significant obstacles during their relationship, according to one royal author.

Royal correspondent and author Katie Nicholl told OK! magazine (via the Mirror), "William and Kate look more united today than ever." Nicholl continued, "They are a proper partnership, and theirs is a marriage based on friendship, love, and mutual respect. They've been to hell and back in the past year or two, but they look very, very strong together and they are clearly very in love."

Discussing some of the difficulties Kate and William have faced in recent years, Nicholl told the outlet, "It's been challenging...They have stuck together through awful times, and have become even more tight-knit."

In 2024, Princess Kate revealed that she'd been diagnosed with cancer and subsequently underwent chemotherapy.

"Going through cancer can make or break a couple, but we've heard William speak so movingly and openly about his love for his wife, and his admiration for everything she's been through and navigated," Nicholl told the publication.

The expert continued, "He's spoken very candidly about 2024 being the toughest year of his life. He didn't know if he was going to lose his wife and the mother of his children, and that is an awful place to be."

Since revealing she'd completed chemotherapy in September 2024, Princess Kate gradually returned to work in 2025. Having recently moved into their "forever home"—Forest Lodge in Windsor—the Prince and Princess of Wales appear to be stronger than ever.

Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot in a fairytale royal wedding on April 29, 2011. Since then, the Prince and Princess of Wales have built a life together and welcomed three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But according to one royal expert, Kate and William's relationship hasn't been without its rough patches.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, former royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner explained, "There were ongoing rumors at one time that the marriage between William and Kate may not have been as blissful as publicly portrayed."

He continued, "William has been known for his outbursts and Kate has found ways of calming the situation down but personally, I feel after the cancer diagnosis and the threat of losing her, the closeness was rekindled."

Pelham Turner also discussed the couple's decision to leave Adelaide Cottage for a bigger property: Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. "And that is why decisions were made such as their quieter living accommodation rather than a palace to try and lead a normal family life have become their focus," the photographer noted.

Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich also spoke to the outlet about the ways in which Kate and William's relationship might have changed in recent years. "Adversity either destroys a marriage or brings couples closer after shared adversity," Fordwich told the publication. "Certainly, their marriage has resulted in the latter not the former...They never stoop down to ghastly gossip, which is most admirable."

Reflecting on the couple's decision to leave Adelaide Cottage, Fordwich said the move to Forest Lodge "is really focused primarily on their family stability as well as ever treasured privacy." It appears as though the Prince and Princess of Wales are looking ahead to the future in their new home.

Having grown up within the British Royal Family, and then moved to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has had a more dramatic life than most. Luckily, the Duke of Sussex has a sense of humor when it comes to his surprising life path, and he knows it has a little in common with Downton Abbey.

At a networking event celebrating relationships between the U.S. and the U.K., Prince Harry delivered a keynote speech, which included some pretty funny jokes. "People sometimes ask if growing up with the Royal Family was a bit like Julian [Fellowes]'s Downton Abbey," Harry told the audience (via Hello! magazine). "Yeah, but only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans, and the other is a TV show."

The Duke of Sussex also referenced the fact that much of the FIFA World Cup would be taking place in the U.S. in 2026. "Next year, we are all welcoming many more fellow Brits from across the pond, provided they behave, and that they make it through customs, past ICE," he said. He then noted his surprise that "both England and Scotland have qualified" for the competition, calling it "a Christmas miracle."

The prince also referenced his time serving in Afghanistan, and the crucial relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. "That partnership is deeply personal to me," he noted. "Not only because my family and my life are here today, but because of the extraordinary American servicemen and women I've had the honor of serving alongside in Afghanistan. Our two nations's bond rests on centuries of friendship, shared values, innovation, and mutual prosperity."

Basically, as a Brit living in America, Prince Harry was perfectly placed to deliver the keynote at an event honoring both countries.

Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, recently appeared on Gyles Brandreth's podcast, "Rosebud. During his appearance, Spencer discussed how harrowing it was to have "total strangers" trauma dump on him about his sister's death. He also reflected on the "awful feeling" he had prior to delivering Diana's eulogy. Now, royal fans are questioning whether Earl Spencer actually shaded King Charles in the candid interview.

During the podcast appearance, Spencer reflected on all of the elements that went into writing a eulogy for his late sister. This included an important responsibility Princess Diana had bestowed upon Spencer in the event of her death. "[I]t had no legal standing—but I knew she'd left me as guardian of her sons [Prince Harry and Prince William]," he explained, via People. "Obviously, the other parent being alive, that meant nothing, but it meant something to me...That sort of duty."

As reported by the Express, some royal fans interpreted Spencer calling King Charles "the other parent" as a diss. "I just love Charles Spencer calling Charles Windsor 'the other parent' hahaha," one commenter wrote on X. "He has such a way with words to show his feelings."

In response, another royal fan wrote, "His shade, is unmatched!" They continued, "From day one he hasn't taken nonsense from those Windsors!"

Someone else who believed Spencer's words were an intentional diss replied, "I noticed that too, I had a giggle. I bet Charles Spencer heard a lot more of how the ex Charles was towards Diana, stuff the public won't know."

Of course, it's impossible to know whether Spencer meant anything by his comment about King Charles. Still, it's clear that Princess Diana's brother took his responsibility towards Prince William and Prince Harry very seriously as he prepared her eulogy.

Meghan Markle's Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, is officially returning for a second season. While the lifestyle series featured several cameos and surprises in its first season, season 2 promises even more revelations about the Duchess of Sussex and her husband, Prince Harry. In fact, one of Harry's unexpected food dislikes has already been revealed in the new With Love, Meghan trailer.

During the trailer for season 2, Duchess Meghan is shown talking to chef José Andrés. "You know who doesn't like lobster?" Meghan asks him. "My husband." Andrés makes the Duchess of Sussex laugh by replying, "And you married him anyway?"

It was previously reported that members of the Royal Family tend to avoid eating seafood, which might have influenced Prince Harry's aversion to lobster. "When dining, the Royal Family has to be careful with shellfish due to shellfish poisoning due to their work schedules," former royal butler Grant Harrold told the Daily Express in 2022. "Therefore, you will not normally find this on the royal menu."

During an interview with People, Duchess Meghan discussed the process of filming her lifestyle and culinary series. "It feels as though we're just spending time together, which is what it ended up being," the former Suits star explained. "I'd make a recipe and say, 'Everyone try this,' and there are certain dishes where you just watch everyone flock in. I'd say, 'We've run out of spoons!' It ended up feeling so communal, and that's the spirit of the show."

The As ever founder also revealed that With Love, Meghan is simply an extension of her love of entertaining others and preparing delicious meals. "You have to imagine my friends's experience through the past few years," Meghan told the outlet. "They spend all this time with me at home and at their houses or out at dinners. For them to see who they know to be reflected onscreen, it brought them a lot of joy."

Tracee Ellis Ross has had a dextrous life and career to date, but that doesn't mean she's totally without regrets. Like any woman, Ross has made difficult choices, some of which involved her romantic life and whether she'd start a family. In a new interview on Michelle Obama's IMO podcast, Ross got candid about "grieving" certain aspects of life she didn't experience, and revealed why she prefers dating younger men.

During her appearance on IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the 52-year-old Blackish actress explained (via People), "A lot of men my age are steeped in a toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks." She continued, "Anything that starts to smell of that for me—I did enough of it where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession or a prize—I just have no interest in it. And I will not do it again."

Ross also praised what she perceived to be an "openness" in younger men, saying, "I have long been past the age where I feel like it's my job to teach somebody or grow them up. That, I'm not interested in."

The Black Mirror star noted that, despite loving her life, she also "grieved" certain milestones she didn't reach—something many people contend with as they age. "I grieve the things that I thought would be and that are not," Ross said during her podcast appearance. "I'm not married. I don't have children, and I think I grieve that at times."

However, Ross refuses to settle, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. "As much grief does surface for me around not having children and not having a partner, I still wouldn't want the wrong partner," she noted. "I'm not interested in that."

As for what she is looking for in a romantic relationship, Ross told the hosts, "You have to make my life better. It can't just be, 'I'm in a relationship to be in a relationship.' So even though the grief does emerge and that comes and I hold that, I think of what I've done." She continued, "I wake up every morning trying to do my best. I didn't wake up one morning and be like, 'I'm going to mess this day up.' So I must be where I'm supposed to be."

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have both been candid about the challenges their relationship endured while they lived in the White House. Now, Barack is discussing how he fought for his marriage after his presidency ended.

On April 3, Barack spoke to Hamilton College President Steven Tepper about the state of his marriage following two terms as POTUS. "I was in a deep deficit with my wife," the author of Dreams From My Father said, via The Daily Beast. "So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things."

The Obamas tied the knot on October 3, 1992 in Chicago, and subsequently welcomed two daughters—Malia, born in July 1998, and Sasha, born in June 2001.

In December 2022, Michelle was similarly open about experiencing troubling periods in her marriage to Barack. "People think I'm being catty by saying this—it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband," she revealed during a roundtable conversation with Revolt TV. "And guess when it happened? When those kids were little."

While Barack pursued his political career, Michelle seemingly found her own professional dreams stalling. "And for 10 years while we're trying to build our careers and, you know, worrying about school and who's doing what and what, I was like, 'Ugh, this isn't even,'" the author of Becoming said at the roundtable. "And guess what? Marriage isn't 50/50, ever, ever."

Barack previously shared that Michelle didn't initially want him to run for president. "Her initial response was, 'No,'" he said during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2020. "What I said to her, 'We still need to think through all the different elements of it and if at the end of that you still say no, then it's a no.'"