Fashion Month isn't Fashion Month without surprises on the runways, street style scene, and every step-and-repeat in between. Fall 2026 shows offered no shortage of shock value, especially once celebrities started arriving. I, for one, didn't expect to see Oprah Winfrey in one front row, let alone four, at Paris Fashion Week.

The media mogul first returned to Fashion Month last September, when she attended Ralph Lauren and Christian Siriano's Spring 2026 shows. For the 2026 circuit, Winfrey traded New York Fashion Week for Paris. Despite skipping Paris Fashion Week for seven years straight, she fit in with the front-row regulars at Stella McCartney's Fall 2026 show. Simultaneously, Winfrey also endorsed the cargo pants trend as seen on recent Spring 2026 runways. Instead of jetting home right after McCartney's showing, Winfrey scored invites to some of the season's buzziest soirées. Chloé, Zimmermann, and even Chanel welcomed the Golden Globe Award winner, all in a matter of days.

Winfrey attended her first fashion show as early as Spring 2003, but before now, her appearances were slim to none. It seems the author is eager to change that. Why the sudden return? According to her hairstylist, Nicole Mangrum, recent lifestyle changes helped her start "having fun with fashion," she told People last December. "When she goes shopping, she’ll come back and do a little fashion show," Mangrum added.

Keep scrolling for Winfrey's best looks at Fall 2026 shows. Then, join me in hyping her up, because I want to see Winfrey on more Paris Fashion Week front rows.

Oprah at Stella McCartney's Fall 2026 Fashion Show

It's only right Winfrey ended her PFW hiatus beside Stella McCartney's Fall 2026 catwalk on March 4. She was all smiles for her first Parisian showing since 2019. Perhaps it was her outfit's springy coral blazer that made her so cheery. She stacked it on top of a stark white button-down, tucked into balloon-cargo hybrid pants. To finish, Winfrey carried McCartney's Ryder Medium Woven Bag like a clutch, its elongated shoulder straps dangling freely.

Oprah at Chloé's Fall 2026 Fashion Show

The next morning, Winfrey watched Chemena Kamali's Fall 2026 show in head-to-toe Chloé. Each select was more boho-chic than the last. First, a ruffled pink blouse emerged from beneath an ultra-cropped suede jacket. Pleating along the puff sleeves volumized the jacket's hem ever-so-slightly. Plus, it emphasized the high-rise nature of her flared, mid-wash jeans. Similar to Olivia Rodrigo (who sat a few seats away), Winfrey carried her PFW essentials in Chloé's reissued Paddington Bag.

Oprah at Zimmermann's Fall 2026 Fashion Show

Winfrey had the weekend to sightsee around Paris before her next fashion show. On March 9, Zimmermann dressed the Selma actor in two Spring 2026 selects: a sleeveless leather jumpsuit beneath a matching bomber jacket. The label even loaned her the elongated yellow gold earrings seen in Look 7. Zimmermann's $850 Cloud 91 Clutch—crafted from ivory-and-brown patchwork diamonds—traded places with her Chloé Paddington.

Oprah at Chanel's Fall 2026 Fashion Show

Last but not least, Winfrey attended Chanel's Fall 2026 show on the second to last day of Fashion Month. Her black-and-white matching set mirrored motifs seen on various Spring 2026 designs. Two-tone, high vamp heels—which recently hit Chanel stores—continued her most classic color story of the week. Winfrey showcased a quilted Métiers d'Art Spring 2026 tote as thoughtfully as the models did.

Oprah Winfrey is proving that she can be a front row chic, too. Along with nearly everyone else in Hollywood, Winfrey is currently at Paris Fashion Week. On March 5, she was photographed at the Chloé F/W '26 runway show, where she wore wide leg blue jeans, a ruffled cream blouse, and a cropped, tan jacket. As for her glam, she kept things casual with light makeup that included a filled-in brow and a glossy lip along with an updo, specifically a sleek, high bubble ponytail that was equal parts elegant and relaxed.

No matter where you're going or what mood you're in, you truly can't go wrong by pulling your hair up into a ponytail, and throwing in a few extra elastics to give it the bubble look is an easy way to liven it up. Obviously, the ponytail has been a go-to hairstyle among women for ages, but last year, high-drama ponytails—from the Barbie ponytail to the messy ponytail to the braided ponytail—reigned supreme.

"The power of the ponytail is that it can give structural angles as well as a snatch," celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel previously told MC. "The positioning, whether high, low, or mid, can have a transformative effect on the silhouette of not just the face but the entire body and the fashion being worn."

Celebrity hairstylist Kellon Deryck has similar thoughts. “It works across textures and occasions, which is why it’s become iconic,” he says. “It’s universal. But when styled with intention, it feels like high art.”

Ready to get the look? Read ahead for tips on how to achieve the ponytail of your dreams.

Stella McCartney knew what she was doing, hosting her Fall 2026 fashion show in a French equestrian center: The British designer's venue all but dared front row guests to arrive dressage-ready. So the top-half of Oprah Winfrey's outfit would've looked right at home on horseback, while her take on the cargo pants trend added some early-aughts edge.

On March 4, the third day of Paris Fashion Week, McCartney transported Winfrey, Anna Wintour, and even her father, Paul McCartney, to Le Touring Club de France. Horses danced in the center of the venue, while models showcased Fall 2026 designs on the outer runway. Winfrey sat mere steps away in a white, collarless button-down, layered beneath a coral blazer. (Clearly, she's ready for Spring 2026 color trends.) Even her woven bag exuded winter-to-spring energy.

Signature cargo elements—including oversize pockets atop each thigh—confirmed an unexpected pant styling choice completed Winfrey's outfit. As demonstrated by Style At Large contributor Julia Gall, hems of classic cargos typically hang loose around each ankle. Winfrey's elasticized ends stuck to her ankles like a second skin, simultaneously inflating each cargo leg even more. That way, the cargo and balloon pants trends merged into one, ultra-wide-leg pair.

Cargos aren't just something Winfrey wore once, per McCartney's request. Two Septembers ago, the media mogul pulled off almost-identical pants in New York City, alongside a plum purple turtleneck. This circa-2024 pair featured additional, carry-all pockets, as well as baggy legs. The only difference? Each hem was noticeably a missing cinched elastic at her ankles. This first pair stretched so long, you could hardly see Winfrey's pointy, chestnut brown pumps.

On last season's runways, everyone from McCartney and Isabel Marant to Ferrari and Fendi covered oversize cargos in extra pockets. Isabel Marant and Fendi, in particular, debuted pairs with elasticized cuffs similar to Winfrey's. Cut to today's latest outing: McCartney saved cargo pants a spot on her Fall 2026 runway, verifying the Spring 2026 trend will return for round two.

Imagine this: Oprah Winfrey saying, "You get cargo pants! You get cargo pants! Everybody gets cargo pants!" to anyone within earshot after the Fall 2026 show. She can't dish them out like she would Pontiac Sedans back in '04, though. So shop the curated edit of runway-worthy cargo pants ahead.

Shop the Cargo Pants Trend

King Charles has had an extremely busy week. As well as attending Trooping the Colour alongside other senior members of the Royal Family, he also made time to attend a reception honoring the winners of The King's Award. It was there that The King shared his love of "block heels," much to the surprise of other attendees.

Lisa Kay, the founder of footwear company Sole Bliss, received The King's Award for Enterprise, on account of her services to women's fashion. As Queen Camilla is a known fan of Sole Bliss shoes, it's perhaps no surprise that King Charles knows his stilettos from his block heels.

While speaking to The King, Kay said, per a press release, "Her Royal Highness [Queen Camilla] has purchased our shoes, so hopefully she finds them comfortable." Charles gave some seriously detailed responses, proving he pays attention to his wife's likes and dislikes.

"She likes a heel that's not too narrow," the monarch replied. Kay confirmed that Queen Camilla's go-to shoe had a block heel, and The King responded, "Yes, a block heel!" He further explained, "It gets a bit harder to walk in heels as you get older," via the Daily Mail.

As well as getting The King and Queen's seal of approval, Dame Annabel Whitehead, a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II, told Kay, "We all love you here."

According to a press release, Queen Camilla has been wearing Sole Bliss shoes since June 2018, and her collection of the brand's footwear is worth more than $2,000.

Discussing her meeting with the monarch, Kay said in a press release, "Meeting King Charles at Windsor Castle was incredibly exciting! The whole experience was surreal!"

Sole Bliss was founded in 2017 when Kay decided to create footwear she could comfortably wear with bunions. "Women generally just need comfort, so you're not thinking about your feet, you're thinking about where you are and what you're doing," the founder explained. "It's for every job really—but especially royalty."

Kay continued, "Walking through Windsor Castle to receive this honor from The King, knowing that my shoes have walked these same corridors on Queen Camilla's feet dozens of times, felt like the ultimate full-circle moment."

Celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, and Helen Mirren are also fans of Sole Bliss.

She's been an actor, a duchess, a TV show host, and now, Meghan Markle is a jam maker. In early April, Markle launched As Ever, a line of food products, including crepe mix, tea, and jam. While going from British royal family member to a preserves seller seems like quite the jump, Markle explains that it was a natural move, one which was encouraged by her friend, her mentor, her one-time meme-worthy interviewer Oprah Winfrey.

On a new episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder—Markle is also now a podcast host—she spoke about deciding to launch As Ever.

"At the beginning, I just liked making jam. All I liked to do was just make jam and preserves," Markle said (via People). "And it went from, 'Okay, I'm gonna share this jam with lots of friends and family,' to 'People really like it and it brings me joy. So maybe I can share it more broadly.'"

If you've seen Markle's Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, you know that she actually does really like making jam—and really like using "flower sprinkles", which As Ever also sells.

Markle continued, "But even then, I was in so much fear of failure or opinion, that I wasn't thinking big enough at first." She thought she would just make small-batch jam at home, but she asked herself, "Am I playing small because I want to play small? Or am I setting in motion playing small because I'm scared?"

Winfrey's advice helped her move past this point. As she explained to guest Jamie Kern Lima, the co-founder of IT Cosmetics, "Oprah, who I know as a mentor and friend to you, same for me, she was the one that said, 'There are tons of things you could put your name on. But for you and how you like to show up for people, once you figure out how to encapsulate your essence, then you'll know.'"

It seems that the jams really encapsulated Markle's essence, because she decided to go full steam ahead. And it makes sense: Before she was known world-wide as Prince Harry's girlfriend and then the Duchess of Sussex, she wrote a lifestyle blog called The Tig. Food and hosting has been an interest for quite some time.

The 43-year-old explains on the As Ever website that the brand is "an extension of how I love. Through thoughtful gestures and small details, I hope this collection brings you as much joy as it does for those I hold close."

Currently, all of the items on the site are listed as "sold out" or "coming soon". But, there is more on the way. Markle also was a guest on Kern Lima's podcast, The Jamie Kern Lima Show, on which she said that more flavors of jam are coming. "Of course, more jam drops,” she said (via Vanity Fair). "Think of them like sneaker drops."

Markle explained, "Let’s say this: If it started with what I was just making on my stove, and it starts in your kitchen as these sweet offerings—actually sweet—and then the extension of what do you pair that with? For me, as we’ve talked about a lot today, what are these small gestures? What are these thoughtful details? What are these ways that you can show up for someone?" The answer? "Hostess gifts and hospitality is a big category that I’m really excited that we’re developing."

So... Markle's essence encapsulated in crackers? In candles? In peanut butter pretzels in a tastefully labeled bag? She'd be pretty funny for that one, to be honest.

Oprah's Favorite Things 2024 is here, and amongst the beauty, home, tech and foodie gift suggestions is an item from a brand that Queen Camilla has supported for years. You might not expect The Queen, Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey to share the same taste in shoes, but Sole Bliss—a celeb-loved footwear company focused on comfortable yet stylish shoes—has become the first British fashion brand to hit Oprah's list with its cozy shearling-lined Wonder Boots.

“Gayle and I love Sole Bliss shoes—and so do Julia Roberts and Viola Davis," Winfrey wrote on her Oprah Daily site, referring to BFF Gayle King. She added that the "shearling-lined boots are cute and, thanks to their unique pain-free design, sooo comfortable."

Winfrey continued that she'd would wear the style, which comes in both black or cream shades, "with pants or skirts.” Although it's not a concern for California-based Oprah, the boots feature retractable stainless steel studs for icy weather, a handy feature for us East Coasters (and The Queen).

Queen Camilla has been a serious Sole Bliss devotee over the years, rocking her favored $299 Ingrid pumps at least 80 times since 2018, per the brand. The premium leather shoes feature details like three layers of cushioned memory form, shock-resistant heels and a cushioned stretch panel—something The Queen probably missed after she was recently photographed removing her (non-Sole Bliss) heels and walking barefoot in Australia.

Julia Roberts, Rebel Wilson and Viola Davis have all stepped out in one of Sole Bliss's more daring styles, rocking the brand's Remy platform sandals on the red carpet. And Gayle King—who introduced her friend Oprah to Sole Bliss—sung the praises of their heels after first wearing them to the Mission Impossible premiere.

Per the brand, recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model King said she didn't have to "choose between style" and pain-free shoes for the event, adding, "I wore their heels and I was able to enjoy the evening in complete comfort."

Queen Camilla's favorite shoe brand isn't the only royally approved item on the 2024 Oprah's Favorite Things list. A Tatcha body gift set that Meghan Markle gave to her neighbor, Oprah, was also named as a "favorite Favorite Thing" by the media mogul.

As for Sole Bliss's shearling boots, a rep for the brand tells Marie Claire that one of the shades "sold out within 24 hours." Cheers, Oprah.

Thus far, Harris/Walz campaign rallies have been headlined by more celebrities than Coachella. Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, and more, have taken the political stage in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. Oprah Winfrey has campaigned for the Democratic candidate on more than one occasion and, last night, she was the final celebrity guest on the 2024 campaign trail.

On Nov. 4, one day before the US presidential election, the talk show host spoke in Philadelphia, PA, in an attempt to swing the battleground state. Her presence was meaningful (Oprah invited a group of first-time voters on stage) and her outfit, too, sent an important message.

Holding hands with VP Harris, Oprah wore a pearlescent power suit that positively glowed. She kept to the approachable fashion aesthetic often utilized by the Harris/Walz camp, styling her two-piece set with casual staples. Underneath, she wore a graphic tee emblazoned with the words "YES SHE CAN," sending a message of support for the country's first woman vice president.

In lieu of your typical high-heels, Oprah went for a more relaxed footwear option—one VP Harris herself favors. She chose a pair of cool white sneakers that matched her shimmering suit perfectly.

Vice President Harris has famously worn sneakers throughout her White House tenure and on the campaign trail, as well. The comfortable shoes signify a readiness for action and the desire to put boots on the ground and do the work.

“You have got to vote. And listen, I know some of you are feeling burnt out and bruised and maybe inconsequential. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every single vote, every one is going to matter,” Oprah told the Pennsylvania audience.

“If we don’t show up tomorrow, it is entirely possible that we will not have the opportunity to cast a ballot again," she said, referencing former president Donald Trump's statement that Americans “won’t have to [vote] any more,” if he wins.

"Deciding not to decide, that is most definitely a vote to let other people control your future,” Oprah continued. "We are voting to save ourselves from this precipice of danger where we now stand. All the anxiety and fear you are feeling, you’re feeling that because you sense the danger. And you change that with your vote.”

Now that Halloween is over, the holiday season is officially kicking off—and that means Oprah's Favorite Things is back for 2024. Oprah Winfrey launched her list of giftable faves on Friday, Nov. 1, and among them is an item that was given to her by none other than Meghan Markle.

The Duchess of Sussex has been a longtime fan of Japanese skincare brand Tatcha and its luxurious products, and it turns out she gave one particular gift set to her pal Oprah. “This is a favorite Favorite Thing—with the scent of a forest sent to me by my neighbor Meghan," Winfrey wrote on the Oprah Daily website, naming the brand's Hinoki Body Care Trio as a 2024 pick.

"If you were to come into my house, you’d see this body wash, body oil, and body milk right by the tub," the media mogul added. The moisturizing three-piece set was created "to awaken the senses and calm the mind," per Tatcha, but it also gives back to a cause that's very in line with the duchess's mission to empower girls and women.

Purchases from Tatcha's products support the brand's Beautiful Faces, Beautiful Futures initiatives to help child literacy and to make sure girls around the world are getting the educations they deserve.

The set isn't Meghan's only Tatcha go-to; in an interview with Allure during her Suits days, Markle praised the brand's cult classic Rice Polish, telling the mag "it just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation." And in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix documentary, a jar of Tatcha's Water Cream is visible in the background as she gets ready for an event.

As for Winfrey—who attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2018 royal wedding—she's long been a supporter of the couple, and of course, she famously sat down with them for a bombshell interview in 2021. Along with her royal neighbor's favorite skincare, Oprah included another celeb-approved beauty item on her 2024 Favorite Things roundup, listing Tracee Ellis Ross's Pattern Beauty blow dryer as the perfect cure for bad hair days.

Perhaps next year Meghan will stop by with one of her upcoming American Riviera Orchard products—we have a feeling they'll become one of Oprah's (and ours) Favorite Things.

Even with endless money in her 10-figure bank account, Oprah Winfrey still buys the same outfit over and over again. She's been doing it for years, essentially making the throw-on-and-go item her billionaire uniform.

The talk show host and mogul has worn a simple utility jumpsuit for her last two public outings. She was seen in a denim-inspired style in September and, over the weekend, reached for a one-piece yet again.

On Oct. 5, Winfrey hosted a discussion at Grandmother's Bookshop in Summerland, California, dressed in her usual get-up. She stepped out wearing a khaki utility jumpsuit with a paper bag waistband and ultra wide legs. Styled with oversized glasses and caramel-colored suede flats, she looked every bit the low-key rich auntie (her signature look).

But this look didn't just fall out of a coconut tree, it was proceeded by dozens of boiler suits before it. Her 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour, for example, was a months-long showcase of the best onesies fashion has to offer. January of that year, she wore a crisp, navy iteration, which she styled with chunky black accessories (read: a patent leather belt and thick-frame glasses).

Days later, on a different stage, the star chose a shiny olive-colored piece, complete with a belt and aviation-inspired zips.

And the flight suits just kept coming. A month after that, Winfrey went for a fabulous suede style the color of a creamy fall latte.

Basically, if you want to dress like a billionaire, there's only one thing you should be shopping. And right ahead, you can do just that. I've rounded up the chicest utility suits on the market today that would definitely get Oprah's stamp of approval.

Shop Jumpsuits Inspired By Oprah Winfrey

Oprah didn't just rally alongside Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 19. She matched the styling of the Democratic nominee's campaign trail outfits.

At the "Unite for America" virtual rally hosted in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Oprah Winfrey took the stage in a pumpkin spice power suit. The shade felt warm, accessible, and very fall—like Oprah was welcoming viewers into her living room instead of a studio viewed by thousands across the country. The tie-neck blouse, single-breasted blazer, and single-pleat trousers, however, all echoed the tailoring of Harris's presidential suiting.

Since taking over the Democratic ticket this summer, Kamala Harris has attended rallies, galas, and her first presidential debate in a range of power suits (and for one event, a LaQuan Smith sequin gown). On Sept. 18, she chose a powder blue suit that was equal parts feminine and strong. For the Sept. 19 rally, Harris instead opted for a deep aubergine suit with a black blouse underneath.

Exact credits for both Oprah and Harris's suiting haven't yet been made available. Still, it's clear that the duo was presenting a united front with their styling choices. Oprah's pumpkin spice suit referenced the pillars of Kamala Harris's campaign wardrobe—blazers, blouses, and no-nonsense footwear—showing her support for the candidate with her clothing and her presence at the event. It's significant: Winfrey is a registered independent and does not often publicly back candidates in major US elections. She did, however, endorse Harris at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

Over the broadcast—which was reportedly viewed by at least 200,000 people, per Reuters—Oprah asked Harris about her views on immigration and gun violence. She also observed that a "veil dropped" in Harris's persona after entering the race and accepting her nomination for president. Audience members and celebrity guests including Meryl Streep and Chris Rock also had a chance to question Vice President Harris's record and plans for office should she win.

Last night's rally is Oprah's first big political engagement since the DNC. She's been otherwise preoccupied with fashion month, taking a turn as LaPointe's Spring 2025 campaign star in early September. An Oprah endorsement is coveted in more ways than one.

Since the invention of TikTok, the fashion industry has been cycling through endless viral aesthetics—many of which are normal clothes with a whimsical name attached. "Quiet luxury," "old money," and "stealth wealth" are all just wearing neutrals, "cottagecore" is just existing in a white dress, and "coastal grandma" is really just liking linen.

And while the "rich auntie" look does have a more specific vibe, what it really boils down to is that big DINK energy. It's the way a grown woman dresses when she has a disposable income and no kids. She's comfy, she's stylish, and she's spending her money on designer bags, not diaper bags.

In the world of pop culture, there's no greater DINK than Oprah Winfrey. The billionaire talk show host is the embodiment of the genre, with her elevated but wearable personal style. (She's so iconic, fashion brand LaPointe recently released a collection in her honor, dressing the star in luxurious feathers and sequins and silks.)

Though everything she wears is a representation of the "rich auntie" aesthetic (given that she is, in fact, a rich auntie), Oprah's latest look is definitely one for the mood board.

While headed to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Sept. 17, she was photographed wearing the ultimate comfy-casual outfit, with a few luxurious details. Overall, her look was one of stylish functionality, featuring a denim-inspired flight suit that was cinched at the waist with a knotted belt.

Accessories, too, were along that same vein: gold statement earrings, a Brunello Cucinelli crossbody, and a pair of $850 Chloe sneakers. Hands-free and comfortable, her look was the ultimate for a wealthy woman on the go.

This is the DINK representation we deserve.

Shop Pieces Inspired by Oprah's Look

Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey proved that they're the kind of neighbors who actually hang out this weekend when they made a surprise appearance together at a bookstore near their Montecito, California homes.

The event that drew the high-profile pair was the grand opening of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, California on Saturday, Sept. 7. Markle and Winfrey joined author Shaka Senghor, astrologer Jennifer Freed and the new bookstore's co-founders, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson at the event, according to People.

Meghan went CEO chic for the surprise appearance, wearing a sleeveless, navy blue Club Monaco tuxedo jumpsuit, accessorized with a classic pair of diamond earrings—a fact those of us not in attendance at the opening know thanks to pictures from the event that were shared on Instagram.

Author Laura Lynne Jackson shared a picture of Markle speaking onstage at the event on her Instagram Stories that People captured for posterity, noting that Jackson captioned the photo, "Most light-filled evening of speakers..."

The People report on the event also included a second image from Laura Lynne Jackson's Instagram, featuring author Shaka Senghor speaking with Oprah Winfrey at the Godmothers grand opening.

Godmothers "celebrate[s] our hometown authors as if they were our hometown heroes, because to us they are," as co-founder Rudolph Walsh explained in a video promoting the bookstore—which makes it fitting that Markle and Winfrey spoke at the grand opening, since both women are authors and high-profile members of the store's local community.

This isn't the first time Winfrey's proximity to the Sussex family's California home has made headlines. Their status as new neighbors was buzzed about in 2021, when Winfrey interviewed Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, following their decision to step back from royal duties and move to the United States.

Icon and former television host Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance during Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention, and during her remarks gave a special shoutout to one particular group of women.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, while on stage at the United Center in Chicago, Winfrey gave a rousing speech, touching on everything from pervasive racism and sexism to reproductive justice and abortion access.

"I have actually traveled this country from the redwood forests, love those redwoods, to the gulf stream waters. I've seen racism and sexism and income inequality and division," Oprah said while addressing the crowd. "I've not only seen it. At times, I have been on the receiving end of it. But more often than not, what I have witnessed and experienced are human beings, both conservative and liberal, who may not agree with each other but who still would help you in a heartbeat if you were in trouble.

"These are the people who make me proud to say that I am an American," she continued. "They are the best of America. And despite what some would have you think, we are not so different from our neighbors."

But it was her shoutout to "childless cat ladies" that set the internet on fire.

"When a house is on fire, we don't ask about the homeowner's race or religion. We don't wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No! We just try to do the best we can to save them," she said.

"And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady…Well, we try to get that cat out, too."

Winfrey was speaking in direct response to comments made by Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, who has attacked women who by either chance or choice do not have any biological children.

"What I was basically saying is that we're effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies, who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made," Vance said during a recently unearthed Fox News interview from 2021. "And so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too."

The vice presidential hopeful then doubled down on his comments, telling former Fox News host Megyn Kelly in a recent interview that it was "obviously a sarcastic comment" because he has "nothing against cats."

Vance has gone on to call child-free women “psychotic,” “sad, lonely, pathetic” people, who “should feel like their life is inadequate" and who should pay higher taxes solely because they are not parents. The senator has also publicly agreed that “the whole purpose of the postmenopausal female” is to help raise grandchildren.

Winfrey is not the only Hollywood A-lister to respond to Vance's comments. Shortly after his 2021 Fox News interview went viral, actress Jennifer Aniston responded via her Instagram Stories, expressing her disbelief that such sentiments were "coming from a potential VP of the United States."

"All I can say is... Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day," she continued. "I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too."

And while not evoking Vance's rhetoric, country music star Miranda Lambert also recently waded into the "childless woman" conversation, sharing how her decision to forego motherhood has helped her better mentor the next generation of singers and artists.

"Since I don't have children of my own, I want to use that part of what I've learned for younger generations, especially of artists because nobody tells you how this goes," Lambert said during an interview for the latest Dumb Blonde podcast episode.

"Nobody sits there and gives you a handbook of, like, 'Well, when you make it to this level, this is what's gonna happen.'"

In recent months, reports have suggested Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry are ready to heal the royal family rift. Conversely, other sources have hinted at continued discord between the two couples. One article, for instance, alleged Princess Kate and Prince William felt "pettiness" and "jealousy" because of Meghan's popularity. Now The Sun is reporting that Kate and William are frustrated by Meghan and Harry.

Royal expert Phil Dampier spoke to the publication, and suggested that Meghan and Harry's absence from the U.K. had become more obvious in 2024. As Princess Kate and King Charles had stepped back from royal duties following their respective cancer diagnoses, there were few senior royals to stand in for their duties.

“All of a sudden, the slimmed-down monarchy by default is looking very slim, so they are thin on the ground," Dampier explained, "and obviously, were they still working royals, Harry and Meghan could have taken up a lot of the slack." He continued, "So it is frustrating."

According to Dampier, the royal family has little option but to remain patient until Kate and William's children are older. "But we are where we are, and in some ways, you know, we're going to have to wait until George, Charlotte, and Louis are another 10 years older before they can start performing duties," he explained. "And in the meantime, it's going to be difficult."

Dampier also noted that Harry and Meghan would have been the perfect people to stand in for Kate and Charles during their health crises. "Harry and Meghan could have taken a great weight off their shoulders, and certainly the late Queen had massive plans for Harry and Meghan," he told the publication.

Obviously, Meghan and Harry have started a new life in California, and they stepped back from their royal roles for a plethora of reasons. For instance, during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Duchess Meghan revealed she'd experienced heinous racism in the U.K., which was allegedly instigated by both the press and members of the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also plan to embark on another royal tour, this time to Colombia, and the Prince and Princess of Wales are allegedly wary of the couple's travel plans. "Now that they [have] set up as this kind of rival court, they will obviously hope that things they do don't overlap what William's doing," Dampier claimed. "But it's just tragic that it's come to this, that they're doing their own thing."

It often seems as though Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have the perfect relationship. However, the prince reportedly worries his wife gave up too much to become a member of the royal family.

Prior to marrying Harry and becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was a famous actor with a starring role on hit show Suits. She walked away from her Hollywood career after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry. The pair tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in May 2018, and have since welcomed two children: son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet.

In January 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping down as senior members of the royal family. Since then, they have started a new life in California, and the world has been made aware of some serious disagreements between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.

From facing alleged harassment from the British press to fearing for Meghan's safety in the U.K., Harry apparently carries some guilt about the way everything played out. A source told OK!, "Harry often feels guilty for Meghan having to give up on her dream life, and he knows how much she sacrificed to marry him and have a family with him, so he will support her no matter what."

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a life together, Meghan reportedly reminisces about how much simpler her life was before joining the royal family. "Meghan has made no secret of how much she misses her carefree life when she was an actress," the source told OK! magazine.

Despite missing her former life and career, Meghan clearly adores Harry and their children. As the source explained, "While she'd never change what she has with Harry and the kids, there is a big part of her that she wishes she could just get her old life back."

The source was also quick to note that Meghan has been planning a plethora of new business endeavors since moving back to the United States. "She has quite a few work commitments coming up but this is just the beginning of Meghan's big comeback and she'll be doing things on her terms," the insider explained.

According to OK!'s source, Meghan particularly enjoyed being a celebrity without being constantly criticized in the press. "She loved being in Suits and all the opportunities it gave her—she'd get invited to all the exclusive events and get to hang out with Hollywood A-listers but there was so much less scrutiny and attention and there was no pressure on her," the source noted.

Since moving to California, Meghan seems to have many more career opportunities than she did as a senior royal. While it's unclear the exact route Meghan will take, there have been rumors she's considering a career path similar to Oprah Winfrey. Regardless of what she decides, it seems likely Meghan's huge fan base will continue to support her new ventures.

Oprah Winfrey is opening up about some of her career regrets, including her decision to participate in "diet culture."

Recently, the daytime television icon hosted a WeightWatchers event titled "Making The Shift: A New Way to Think About Weight" attended by other A-list celebrities, including Rebel Wilson, Busy Philipps, and Amber Riley.

During the event, Winfrey told the audience she is "done" with diet culture and the shame it perpetuates.

“So many of us have internalized about diet culture and the body standards that have caused us so much shame,” Winfrey said. "We've been criticized. We've been scrutinized. We've been shamed, and we've been told that unless we meet a certain standard of size that we didn't deserve to be accepted or even to be loved. And what I know for sure is that I am done with it.”

Winfrey went on to say that the goal of the event was to help people break free from the scrutiny and pressure of unrealistic beauty standards, and to encourage people to "stop judging others for the way they choose to live."

She then admitted that one of her "biggest regrets" is perpetuating that judgment, stigma and shame as a former television host.

“I also want to acknowledge that I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years, through online,” she told the crowd. “I've been a major contributor to it. I cannot tell you how many weight loss shows and makeovers I have done, and they have been a staple since I've been working in television.”

The entertainment powerhouse went on to say that she's been candid in the past about the fact that her infamous "wagon of fat moment" on her Oprah show is "one of my biggest regrets."

During the segment, Winfrey wheeled out a literal "wagon full of fat" to represent how much weight she had lost.

Over a decade ago in an on-camera interview, Winfrey addressed that moment on air as well as the extreme lengths she went to lose over 60 pounds.

"There's a place here (in Chicago) called Moo & Oink," she said at the time. "So (I said): Let's go over to Moo & Oink and see what 67 pounds of Moo & Oink fat looks like and let's put it in a wagon.' That's why I did it.

"At the time I felt it was important to show it in that way because I had starved—literally starved —for four months, four and-a-half-months, and thought: 'Well, everybody is going to want to know how you lost the weight so you might as well tell them.'"

At the time, Winfrey told her studio audience that for six weeks she ate "absolutely nothing" before she eventually "cheated" on her diet, but described it as "controlled cheating."

"I want you to know that whatever diet you choose...you can do with the help of your family doctor and if you can believe in yourself and believe that this is the most important thing your life...you can conquer it," she continued.

“It sent a message that starving yourself with a liquid diet, set a standard for people watching that I nor anybody else could uphold and—I've said this before—the very next day, the next day, I began to gain the weight back,” Winfrey told the WeightWatchers event audience.

“I own what I've done and I now want to do better, so I know now that that ‘wagon of fat’ moment was set into motion after years and years of thinking that my struggle with my weight was my fault,” she continued. “And it has taken me even up until last week to process the shame that I felt privately as my very public yo-yo diet moments became a national joke.”

March 7 is three years to the day that Oprah with Meghan and Harry aired on CBS—the groundbreaking television special that saw Oprah Winfrey interview Prince Harry and Meghan Markle about their lives during their time in the royal family and after. (Harry and Meghan stepped back as working members of the royal family in January 2020.)

On the cusp of that anniversary, a recent dinner Meghan had in L.A. is stirring speculation that she might be collaborating with Winfrey again. Meghan—wearing gray jeans, a gray sweater, and ballet flats—had sushi at hotspot Asanebo with Terry Woods, the executive producer of Winfrey’s Harpo production company. Woods was behind Winfrey’s Apple TV+ mental health series, The Me You Can’t See, which Harry also collaborated on; Harry wasn’t present for the dinner at Asanebo.

Wood also worked with Winfrey on the Harry and Meghan special, and “the executive producer was reported to be possibly working with the Duchess on a second season of her podcast” after Rebecca Sananes, formerly head of audio at Archewell Audio, the podcasting portion of the couple’s Archewell Productions, left the company in late 2022.

“Their appearance together last night will undoubtedly spark rumors that Meghan and Oprah are planning to team up for a new venture in the coming months,” The Daily Express reports.

It was a busy day for Meghan socially, as earlier that same day, she had lunch at Cipriani Beverly Hills with Clare Waight Keller, the former creative director at Givenchy and also the designer of Meghan’s 2018 wedding dress when she married Harry that May.

After signing with talent agency William Morris Endeavor—and specifically powerful agent Ari Emanuel—last April, there has felt like something is in the works for Meghan. We now know that she has a podcast coming out at some point with Lemonada Media, which will also distribute Meghan’s “Archetypes” podcast more widely, not just exclusively on Spotify, where it has lived since its 2022 debut. Meghan has been out publicly more than ever recently, grabbing meals with high-profile folks like Woods and Waight Keller; rumors persist that Meghan is looking to foray into the lifestyle space, a content area she has deep experience with as the founder of “The Tig,” a lifestyle blog Meghan ran until she was preparing to marry Harry nearly six years ago.

When a celebrity has something to say, they go one place above all else: Oprah Winfrey. And Page Six reports that’s what Justin Timberlake wants to do to clear up misconceptions and rumors surrounding his former relationship with Britney Spears, specifically the fallout from her revelations in her memoir, The Woman in Me, released last October.

“Justin is really not happy how things have gone down,” a source said, per The Daily Mail. “He wanted [his new] music to speak for itself, but that’s clearly not happening.” 

Even after the temperature surrounding Timberlake had cooled following the tell-all’s release four months ago, he found himself in hot water yet again last week, when he introduced a performance of his song “Cry Me a River” (which is about Spears) by saying he needed to apologize to “absolutely f—king nobody.”

“His comments onstage have only added fuel to the fire,” they said. “The idea of a sit-down chat with someone like Oprah Winfrey was floated months ago and is now back on the cards.”

Two days prior to Timberlake’s onstage comments, Spears apologized to anyone she “offended” with her memoir, in which she wrote extensively about her relationship with Timberlake. “I am deeply sorry,” she wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake’s new song ‘Selfish.’”

But after she learned of Timberlake’s comments, she was back on Instagram, writing “Someone told me someone was talking s—t about me on the streets !!! Do you want to bring it to the court or will you go home crying to your mom like you did last time ??? I’m not sorry !!!” she wrote alongside a stock image of a basketball hoop.

Timberlake’s new record, Everything I Thought It Was, drops March 15; he’ll go on tour to support the album from April to July. Page Six reports that Timberlake is “seething” over the negative press he’s received a la the Spears feud and is upset that it is “overshadowing his new music”: “Justin had hoped the backlash would’ve blown over by now so that he could focus on his new album, which he’s very excited about, but every day is something new,” they said.

Flashback to the tail end of December 2023, and Rihanna made a huge statement with purple eyeshadow while attending a red carpet event for her Fenty X Puma Creeper Phattys. Fast forward a week, and Megan Thee Stallion rang in the new year at Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with a lilac cut crease that deserved every ounce of our attention. 

That brings us to this evening: The 81st annual Golden Globes, where not one, not two, but three celebrities hit the red carpet with stunning purple shadow. Amanda Seyfried, a presenter this evening, showed up with a gorgeous, smoky purple eyeshadow. The hues, which were likely Lancôme tones, had varying levels of intensity and were diffused well below the lower lash line. 

Despite Seyfried’s look signaling a trend in and of itself, Da’Vine Joy Randolph really drove home the purple eyeshadow proliferation. I didn’t quite catch the purple undertone on the red carpet, but the second she took the stage to accept her Golden Globe for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, the rich and regal violet hues popped out. 

Then, of course, Oprah Winfrey made her grand debut. It would seem, as an ode to The Color Purple, the former talk show host wore not only a purple dress, but a solid purple eye. It was easy to miss the pop of color behind her glasses, but if you zoom in (I highly recommend you do), a purple wash of color takes center stage. 

And let's be honest: If Oprah, Amanda, Da’Vine, Megan, and Rihanna say purple shadow is in, then I’m fairly confident purple eyeshadow is in. 

The cast of The Color Purple had less-than-ideal working conditions on set—until Oprah Winfrey intervened, The Daily Beast reports.

Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson and Grammy Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks “said they faced an uphill battle getting dressing rooms and security, among other amenities, during production,” the outlet reports. Brooks revealed during a Q&A with The Color Purple cast on Friday that she was stunned that the cast were initially made to share a dressing room: “I remember when we first came in and we were doing rehearsal and they put us all in the same space and we didn’t have our own dressing rooms at the time,” she said, adding that they were also not given food. 

Henson—who almost had to walk away from the film over frustrations surrounding salary negotiations and working conditions—added “They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta,’” Henson said, per The New York Times. “This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car? So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for. I was on the set of Empire fighting for trailers that wasn’t infested with bugs.”

In addition to the pay issue, Henson was also forced to audition for the role of Shug Avery, despite being director Blitz Bazawule’s No. 1 choice, having success on Empire, and earning an Oscar nomination, among other accolades. “It wears on your soul because you fight so hard to establish a name for yourself and be respected in this town, to no avail,” Henson said, per Variety. “With Black films, they just don’t want to take us overseas, and I don’t understand that. Black translates all over the world, so why wouldn’t the movies? I have a following in China, of all places. Y’all not going to capitalize on that? Don’t everybody want to make money here? I’m not the person that pulls the race card every time, but what else is it, then? Tell me. I’d rather it not be race. Please give me something else.” 

So, with all of the issues on set, Henson spoke up about it and contacted the film’s producer Oprah Winfrey. Brooks called Henson a “guide” and “our voice box” on the set. “[Winfrey] corrected it for us,” Brooks said. “[Henson] was our voice. This was my first studio film. Sometimes you do come in saying, ‘Okay, I’ll take whatever they give me. I’m just happy to be here.’ But [Henson] spoke up for us. You showed me how to do that.”

Both Henson and Brooks credited Winfrey for stepping in to help—but also said things should have never gotten to that point. Henson called Winfrey once word got out that the cast didn’t have dressing rooms or food at rehearsals, telling the producer “We gotta fix this.” Winfrey had to step in a handful of times over the complaints; eventually everything got sorted out, “but it seems to have been an uphill battle for a while,” TMZ reports, adding as a reminder that Henson is a Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated actress.

“What else do I need to do to prove my worth?” Henson said. “Now that I’m signing and dancing for you, and I climbed up on the table 88 times with my knobby knees and had to ice my knees in between takes, what else do I need to do?”

To add insult to injury, naturally Henson and Winfrey were pitted against one another and were rumored to be locked in a feud (which is just so passé at this point and such a tired narrative—there can’t be two strong women anywhere without a feud of some sort). Winfrey shut that down on Instagram, per Entertainment Weekly: “I’ve long admired Taraji,” Winfrey wrote. “She can make you laugh, cry, cheer, and feel everything in between. But I had no idea she could SANG! Taraji the actress: A force. Taraji the singer? A complete revelation.”

Henson similarly sang Winfrey’s praises, specifically her ability to right wrongs on The Color Purple’s set. “Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!!” Henson wrote. “She has provided ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE and UNWAVERING SUPPORT to us all.” Henson added “She told me personally to reach out to her for ANYTHING I needed, and I did! It took ONE CALL… ONE CONVERSATION… and ONE DECISION MAKING BLACK WOMAN to make me feel heard.” 

Feeling heard is something Henson’s experience in Hollywood has lacked. “My prayer is that the work and the fight and the struggle is to make it easier for them [Black women], because I was the little girl that wished and saw these women, these incredible women, [and thought] ‘I want to do that one day,’” she said. “I don’t want to hear her talk about the same things that me and my sisters have been fighting for for so many years. If I’m not in a position to make it better for those coming behind me, what am I doing?”

Black actresses being underpaid and undervalued on set has persisted in Hollywood as long as there has been a Hollywood, and kudos to Henson for speaking out. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,” she said. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over…Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate I’m at the bottom again like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me, then what the f—k am I doing?”

The Hollywood Reporter broke news this weekend that Winfrey is eyeing the bestseller The Covenant of Water as her next film project, revealing plans to adapt Abraham Verghese’s novel—one of her book club selections—for the big screen. But even Winfrey, with as much influence as she has, admitted she’s going “to have a hell of a time getting that done because it’s also a story about people of color.”

The plot revolves around an Indian family who loses at least one person each generation due to a drowning. Though a bestseller, the subject matter is difficult. “There’s nothing we can sell in that, inside that,” Winfrey said. “There’s no dolls you can make and there’s no product you can conjure from it. So listen, I am here in the space of finding and creating stories as an offering to the world to show the world to itself and to try to do that in a way that lets in particular, not just exclusively, but in particular people of color see the reflection of themselves in the highest light.”

Hollywood—you can do better. We can all do better.

The red carpet for Warner Bros' upcoming film, The Color Purple, did not disappoint, with incredible looks from the entire cast and additional guests. We saw plenty of on-brand purple dresses and suits, as well as other bright shades.

The Color Purple is a musical adaptation of Alice Walker's novel of the same name, which was previously made into a film in 1985. It follows the life-long struggles of an African-American woman living in the South in the early 1900s, and is a beloved classic.

This adaptation of The Color Purple stars Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino. Among the producers of this star-studded film are some big names, including Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Quincy Jones. So, as you can expect, the red carpet was filled to the brim with celebrities last night!

But the true star of the night was Ciara, who saw her almost-due pregnancy bump as a chance to create a bold look. The singer wore a white suit with a cape, that opened around her stomach—à la Rihanna. Her exposed stomach was covered in gold dustings; a true masterpiece!

Ariana DeBose

Oprah Winfrey 

Chloe Bailey

Paula Abdul

Brandee Evans

Teyonah Parris

Andra Day

Deborah Joy Winans

Storm Reid

Dominique Fishback

Tyler Perry 

Fatima Robinson

Niecy Nash-Betts

Jay Hernandez

Quinta Brunson 

Aba Arthur

David Oyelowo

Sy'Rai Smith 

Jamaal Avery Jr.

Colman Domingo 

Nafessa Williams

Gabriella Wilson aka H.E.R.

Margaret Avery

Taraji P. Henson

Adetinpo Thomas

Fantasia Barrino-Taylor

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi

Halle Bailey

Ciara

Meghan Markle, talk show host? As ideas fly about what next moves Meghan and her team at William Morris Endeavor (WME) are dreaming up, one royal expert thinks becoming the next Oprah Winfrey might be on the table.

“If Meghan doesn’t end up hosting a daytime syndicated talk show, I’ll be surprised,” royal expert Christopher Andersen said, per OK. “She certainly seems well-suited to that role in particular, and I can easily see her pursuing a career path similar to Oprah’s in the media: a show, a magazine, producing, directing—the works.” 

Meghan does know Winfrey, after all—not only was Winfrey at Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018, but, three years later, the trio sat down for a conversation that became one of the most-watched television specials of all time.

Meghan “still has a sizeable chunk of the viewing public in her corner,” Andersen said, adding “Once all the controversy surrounding the Sussexes’ ongoing feud with the rest of the royal family dies down, assuming it ever does, I could easily see her launching a successful talk show. Meghan has always had her fingers in a lot of pies, and she has a knack for getting what she wants.” And if what she wants is mogul status, Andersen said “Becoming the next Oprah—a powerful and influential media mogul—does not feel far-fetched at all.”

Andersen still hasn’t ruled out Meghan’s return to acting, her former career before she married Harry: “Will she ever return to acting?” he said. “Why not? I think it’s interesting that Princess Grace of Monaco, who achieved stardom as Grace Kelly, was planning a return to acting just before she died in a car crash in 1982. And, of course, Oprah still acts occasionally. I’m sure the dream of winning an Oscar—either in front of the camera or behind it—has never been that far from Meghan’s mind.”

Oprah Winfrey, in her 35-plus years in the public eye, has been quite candid about her insecurities. But one she never felt? Imposter syndrome, aka “that feeling of self-doubt that perhaps you don’t belong in that good job or good school,” People reports. Imposter syndrome became a part of the lexicon in the late 1970s in an academic article about high-achieving women who felt dogged by the fear that someone would expose them as a person who doesn’t deserve the life she’s leading, the outlet reports.

Well, consider Winfrey unfamiliar, both with the term and with the notion, which she said was alien to her. “I don’t have any of that imposter feelings that so many have,” she told People. “I didn’t even understand it. I had to look it up.”

Winfrey said her upbringing—particularly her father’s influence—is to thank for that. “I remember as a young girl being a strong orator in the national competition for speaking and winning the local championships, then the state championships,” she said. “And then placing, I think it was No. 3 or something, in the nationals. And I remember after every contest, the families whose kids were just in the contest were going to celebrate, and their families were all excited. My father’s thing was, ‘Get your coat.’” She added “I learned, in all these years, every exciting thing that would happen to me, it was always, that’s good, get your coat. Get your coat. I don’t know if that was ingrained in my personality or I just learned that nobody’s going to be excited about it, so you might as well just get your coat and go. I don’t have high highs and I don’t have low lows. Which is a good thing, because no matter what I’m going through, I know I’m going to come out of it and be okay.”

She now said she values “the ability to live in the space of true appreciation for a life not just well-lived, but well-earned.” She’s courageous enough to say that she is “proud of myself,” telling People “I look around at the space that I’ve created for myself, and I recognize that I came from a great-grandfather who was a slave, and who for 10 years after slavery could not read, but 10 years after slavery could read. And who negotiated with a local farmer to pick 2,000 bales of cotton in exchange for 80 acres of land. And so, now that I sit on land that I own, land that I worked for, land that I earned, I feel the essence and presence of all that has come before me to allow me to be in this space.”

And none of it was given to her, she said. “I didn’t have a grandfather, a great-grandfather, who could give me land,” Winfrey said. “But now…I am able to have my own and to know that I work for it. And it wasn’t a husband that did it. It wasn’t a brother or an uncle, or whatever did it, but I did it.”

It is actually others’ low expectations of her that she credits for part of her success, including expectations surrounding The Oprah Winfrey Show—which helped make her a billionaire. (Yes, with a B.) “The real reason I was able to own that show and have the percentages of that show,” she told People, is because nobody expected it to become the success that it did. “They would’ve never agreed to it if they had thought that it would,” Winfrey said. “Never.”

Consider Oprah Winfrey a big fan of Beyoncé’s: After catching Queen Bey at one of her Renaissance World Tour’s East Rutherford, New Jersey stops with longtime BFF Gayle King, Winfrey lauded the performer, calling the show “transcendent.”

The media mogul, per Entertainment Tonight, shared a reel from her epic night out on Instagram, writing that she has never “experienced something as transcendent as @beyonce’s Renaissance Tour.” 

“That kind of talent, synergy, expression, and anointing is something that comes straight from a Source that creates the planets,” she wrote. “The dancers, the production, the musicians, and the team in front and behind the scenes all perfectly align to create a renaissance in today’s world. You must see it.”

But Winfrey wasn’t done with her effusive praise—in a video posted on Oprah Daily’s Instagram, she expanded on her concert experience this past Saturday, sharing “I’ve never in my life experienced anything like that.” 

“I couldn’t speak,” Winfrey added. “I couldn’t scream. I was in awe. I am in awe of that kind of talent, that kind of synergy, what it takes to do that, that kind of expression, that kind of anointing. I mean, that is a thing that is coming straight from a source that creates the planets, okay? That is, like, the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever seen.”

Later, she continued “My body was vibrating the whole night. I had Beyoncé dreams. And I woke up like, ‘What was that?’ It was transcendent to see all of that come together…And she’s at the helm of all of it, you can see, from every costume to every move. I bow to that. I bow.”

We could all be so lucky to have someone—anyone, not just the Oprah Winfrey!—speak of our work like this, right? 

King agreed with her best friend, saying “some things are worth staying up on a school night and it starts with B…BEYONCÉ!”

“I see @oprah got over her concern about standing on her feet for three hours at a concert,” King wrote. “Sister girl never sat down! Definitely going again. My jaw is still on the floor!”

King added to Oprah Daily that she “thought it was a visual feast for the eyes”: “It made me so proud because she’s a mother. She’s a wife. And she gets out and she does that. So in the daytime, she’s taking care of her children, like normal people [do]. Then she gets on stage and then she does that. Tina Knowles [Beyoncé’s mother] said to me years ago, ‘My daughter is one of the hardest working person I know.’ And to me, that was on full display yesterday. My jaw is still on the ground.”

In fact, Knowles hung out with the two at the show Saturday, captioning her own post “We partied till the wheels fell off!”

Winfrey and King met up with Beyoncé before the show started, something that happens because, you know, you’re Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King: “I was expecting to go directly to my seat, and then when we were brought back to say hello to her. That was pretty phenomenal,” Winfrey told Oprah Daily. “I would’ve been a pool of tears if I’d have seen her afterwards. I wouldn’t have even known how to express what I was feeling.”

The Renaissance World Tour kicked off in May and will end October 1 in Kansas City—but not before performing 22 more shows before then.

Prince William was apparently so spun up over the thought of what his younger brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle might say in their sit-down with Oprah Winfrey that he couldn’t eat for a week prior to the interview airing, The Mirror reports.

William was physically sick with worry in the days leading up to the bombshell interview in March 2021, said Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large for The Mail on Sunday. 

“What I find quite surprising, and I’ve heard this for a long time now from many different sources, is that in the lead up to that Oprah interview, William was quite literally sick with worry,” she said on Dan Wootton’s GB News show. “He was not eating, and he became, not reclusive, but he definitely was hiding away. He went to a royal residence for a period of time to cut himself off from the world. He was just in bits, basically.”

Harry and Meghan, among other revelations, shared with Winfrey that a member of the royal family inquired about a not-yet-born Prince Archie’s possible skin tone; Meghan also revealed that she had suicidal thoughts while a working member of the royal family. Following the interview, the Palace released a statement two days later that included the now-iconic line “recollections may vary”; Marie Claire reported recently that Princess Kate in particular staunchly fought for that strongly-worded line to be included. The Mirror reports that it was William who coined the statement, but Kate that pushed that it be used in the final draft.

“And what Kate was doing was standing by her man,” Griffiths said. “Kate was like, ‘I’ve got to stick up for this guy and protect him. He’s being destroyed by this,’ and that probably made her quite steely even though she has this reputation for being shy. But when it comes to protecting her husband, she’s going to step in and protect him.”

Since the Oprah interview, the Sussexes have continued to speak out in various interviews, in their six-part Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, and in Harry’s memoir, Spare, which takes aim at William in particular. 

Almost two years ago to the day—March 7, 2021—Oprah Winfrey permanently entered the royal family conversation, specifically when it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That day, of course, was the airing of the famous/infamous (you decide) television special Oprah with Meghan and Harry, and she has been closely associated with the couple since. (In all fairness, she knew the Sussexes long before March 2021—she was even in attendance at their wedding in May 2018.)

Now, the conversation continues, with Oprah’s BFF Gayle King asking the media mogul on CBS Mornings this week her thoughts on whether Harry and Meghan should attend King Charles’ upcoming Coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.

“It’s been reported that Harry and Meghan have received an invitation to the Coronation,” said King—who herself was in attendance at Meghan’s baby shower in 2019, per People. “Do you think they should go? Do you think they should not go? Is it something you’d like to comment on?”

Oprah’s response? “I think they should do what they feel is best for them and for their family,” she said. “That’s what I think. That’s what the bottom line—it comes down to: What do you feel like is the best thing for you?”

She then added with a smile: “They haven’t asked me my opinion.”

Before Netflix’s Harry & Meghan, before Spare, before Spotify’s “Archetypes,” and before interviews with The Cut, Variety, Anderson Cooper, Stephen Colbert, et cetera, there was Oprah. The 85-minute CBS special was Harry and Meghan’s first joint interview since stepping back as working members of the royal family in January 2020; at the time of the step back, Oprah told TMZ that she supported their decision, telling the outlet “I support them 1,000 percent. You know why I support them? I support them because I believe, when you have thought about this as long as they have—and even in the Queen’s statement [she] says, ‘This has been going on for months,’ these discussions have been going on for months—and when Harry said in that charity statement the other day [that] he had to make the decision to move forward in peace with his new family, who doesn’t feel what that takes to make that decision to give up everything you’ve known your whole life to say I’m going to choose this new life or what I believe to be the truest vision for myself?”

Ultimately, the jury’s still out on what Harry and Meghan will do about their Coronation attendance, as the RSVP due date looms.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the U.S., they have done their best to protect their privacy in their own way—by only appearing at select public events and only revealing what they actually want to reveal in their various media projects (although, as it turns out, what they actually want to reveal is a lot).

But for one royal expert, it's not going to be as simple for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to do that moving forward, as public opinion towards them shifts, and as their relationship with the King and the Prince of Wales worsens.

"This rift with the Royal Family, which is extremely deep, has received vast international coverage," Richard Fitzwilliams tells Marie Claire on March 6. "Until now, with a series of interviews especially on Oprah and with the Netflix docuseries and the publication of Spare with its attendant interviews," the Sussexes have been able to "control the narrative."

However, Fitzwilliams continues, "The signs are that—especially since it is unclear what they want to do in the future and their obvious reliance on their royal status for their lucrative contracts—this is changing fast.

"Two recent polls in Newsweek point to a seismic shift in opinion in the United States after Spare was published. They were mercilessly mocked on South Park and have been taken less seriously since Harry’s badly timed revelations in his memoir about losing his virginity, penile frostbite and experiments with drugs."

For the expert, a full-blown reconciliation seems like a pipe dream right now, but he's not ruling out the possibility of the Sussexes attending the coronation regardless. (We now know they were officially invited.)

"They won’t get the apology they seek from the Royal Family for what they believe they suffered when they were senior working royals," Fitzwilliams says.

"It’s up to them if they attend the coronation and, if they do, talk with the other royals will be strictly about the weather. They will receive huge press attention before the coronation whatever they decide but, as we saw at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, they can be controlled during it."

The biggest royal news of the past couple of weeks has been the King's decision to evict his youngest son and his family from their English home of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, which Fitzwilliams says sends a clear and unmistakable message.

"King Charles’s eviction of them from Frogmore clearly showed the Royal Family’s distaste for their attacks," he says. Indeed, Charles reportedly made this decision directly following the publication of Harry's incendiary memoir Spare.

"It is obviously also part of a shake-up of royal properties and a move that no one anticipated. It is unfortunate for public relations for the Royal Family that it appears Andrew will be replacing them in Frogmore."

This last point has previously made the object of criticism from commentators. Royal expert and historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop previously said of the eviction, "A broad-shouldered confident monarchy would have weathered the storm. With a coronation around the corner, the King has bigger fish to fry.

"Instead, by evicting the couple from the Queen's generous gift of Frogmore Cottage King Charles is going directly against the conciliatory style of Her late Majesty.

"Worse, he has conflated the problem of the Sussexes with that of Prince Andrew by asking the latter to relinquish his larger home, the Royal Lodge, and move into Frogmore Cottage. Big mistake. The optics are terrible."

How did we get into this mess, eh?

Barbara Walters, a trailblazing pioneer who broke gender barriers in broadcast journalism, died yesterday at the age of 93.

Perhaps best known for her remarkable interviewing skills, her list of accolades is monumental and includes winning 12 Emmys for her work; becoming the first female anchor in evening news; launching The View and hosting the annual special Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People on ABC; and, as that network maybe put it best, being someone “who shattered the glass ceiling and became a dominant force in an industry once dominated by men.”

In 1974, Walters became cohost of Today—the first woman to hold such a title on an American news show. Two years later, in 1976, she became the first female co-anchor of a network evening news program, hosting the ABC Evening News alongside Harry Reasoner, and from 1979 to 2004, she produced and cohosted 20/20 on ABC. She also created The View for the network in 1997, which she also produced and cohosted, and on which she appeared until her retirement in 2014.

Upon her retirement that year, Walters said “I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I instead want to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women—and, okay, some men too—who will be taking my place.”

Walters was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 2000 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Oprah Winfrey presented her with the latter award and said of her “had there not been Barbara Walters, surely all of the other women who have followed in her footsteps, including myself, could not stand where we stand and do what we do in this industry today.”

And, despite her impressive resume, opening doors for women who came behind her seems to have been what Walters was most proud of. Speaking in 2014, she said, “people ask me very often, ‘What is your legacy?’ and it’s not the interviews with presidents, or heads of state, nor celebrities. If I have a legacy, and I’ve said this before and I mean it so sincerely, I hope that I played a small role in paving the way for so many of you fabulous women.”

Lest we forget, even as all the attention is currently focused on Harry & Meghan—the couple’s six-part docuseries on Netflix that was just released this month—there are even more bombshells scheduled to be dropped as Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, hits shelves in just over three weeks’ time on January 10.

And, to promote the tome, Harry will appear in an interview alongside veteran CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on January 8, part of a big U.S. media tour surrounding the tell-all.

“There are fears Harry will use the CNN interview to take aim at the royals and give viewers a preview of some of the more dramatic claims that are to come in the book,” reports The Mirror.

According to the outlet, the interview will be broadcast on CBS’ 60 Minutes, on which Cooper also appears.

“Mr. Cooper has won Harry’s trust,” a source tells The Daily Mail. “This would be a coup for Mr. Cooper, and it fits well with Harry’s campaign to promote mental health. It is a primetime Sunday show which hosts foreign leaders and presidents. It’s the one that all the politicians and decisionmakers watch.”

Cooper, like Harry, is also an advocate of mental health, and has spoken openly about losing his brother, Carter, to suicide. The Mirror also reports that Cooper has experience covering the War in Afghanistan, where Harry completed two tours with the British Army.

For his part, Cooper has told viewers that “I was at the royal wedding, covering it for CNN. Our correspondent Max Foster said, ‘You should wave at Harry, because Harry is going to look up at the bright lights and I bet he’ll wave at you.’ The carriage makes a turn. I start waving. Harry looks up at the tower, we make eye contact, and he waves. I almost died.”

Whether Spare will continue to strain family relations is as of yet unknown, but a Palace source says, “the hope is that once the dust has settled, the family will be able to move on and put the past behind them.” Of King Charles, a source says, “he loves both his sons and hope springs eternal for a happier future all ‘round, if some can stop fixating on the past.” 

Prince Harry could sit down for an interview with Gayle King in 2023 while promoting his memoir, Spare, apparently.

A senior source at CBS told the Mirror that the Duke of Sussex has "held talks" with the network, while another insider at CBS said these talks could result in an interview with King about Harry's life.

The outlet implies that if this interview were to happen, it would act almost like a sequel to Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, which also aired on CBS.

This news comes in the wake of the Harry & Meghan docuseries on Netflix, which was released in part last week and will drop its second half tomorrow, Dec. 15.

While the Sussexes might not be doing a press tour to promote the series (and indeed they don't need to, given the number of viewers it has already attracted), Harry's publisher—Penguin Random House—apparently expects the duke to conduct interviews about it.

"Prince Harry is not stopping talking when the Netflix series is released. In a month, he will be out on the promotional trail again," a source told the Mirror.

"Unlike now, where Netflix has let the show speak for itself, Random House has him on board for select promotion for the book.

"They invested more than $30m (£24m) in it, so they want it to appeal to as many people as possible.

"Putting Harry on a primetime special with King would be a major coup and attract millions of eyeballs.

"One advantage is that she and Meghan are close. Harry would know he has support from her."

King was notably invited to the Sussexes' wedding and to Meghan's baby shower for Archie, per Vanity Fair, and has defended their Netflix series from criticism.

Of course, none of this is actually confirmed so far. The source concluded, "Nothing can be secured really until the dust settles after the Netflix shows. So much could happen, and there could be reaction from the royals."

In the meantime, while we thought the Sussexes might be appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Dec. 15, it appears this was a misdirect.

Election Day is nearly upon us, but voting in the 2022 midterm elections is already well underway. People are voting not just for their U.S. representatives and senators, but also for state governors, state secretaries, city councilmembers, and more. Environmental issues, gun policy, LGBTQ+ rights, and abortion rights (just to name a few) are all on the table, so your vote in the midterm election matters. A lot. With so many important issues at stake, you're hopefully registered to vote and fired up about the election, just like your favorite A-listers. From Oprah Winfrey to Harry Styles to Cher, many celebrities have already gone public with their endorsements.

John Legend for Several Democrat Candidates

EGOT-winner John Legend has been vocal on his Twitter account in support of several Democrat candidates ahead of the midterm elections. So far, he's tweeted his support for Stacey Abrams (Georgia Governor), Julie Gunnigle (Maricopa County, AZ Attorney),  Pamela Price (Alameda County, CA District Attorney), Allison Miller (Florida State Attorney), Kimberly Graham (Polk County, Iowa Attorney), Rahsaan Hall (Plymouth County, MA District Attorney), Mary Moriarty (Hennepin County, MN Attorney), Wesley Bell (St. Louis, MO Prosecuting Attorney), Joe Gonzales (Bexar County, Texas District Attorney), John Creuzot (Dallas County, Texas District Attorney), and Leesa Manion (King County, WA Prosecutor). 

Paul Rudd for John Fetterman in PA

Ant-Man himself is showing support for Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, who is running as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. According to Fetterman's Twitter, the actor joined Fetterman in a grassroots fundraiser on October 18. 

Oprah Winfrey for Stacey Abrams in GA and John Fetterman in PA 

Oprah Winfrey has been a fan of Democrat Stacey Abrams since her previous unsuccessful campaign for Georgia Governor in 2018. On October 20, Winfrey joined Abrams for a chat on Abrams' campaign website, per the AP. “I’m wishing that the people of Georgia come out and make that a reality for you and the state of Georgia,” Winfrey said. Additionally, Winfrey endorsed John Fetterman for the Pennsylvania Senate, rejecting her protégé Mehmet Oz, aka Dr. Oz, per NPR.  

Harry Styles for Beto O'Rourke in Texas

During a concert in Austin, the singer showed his support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, by flashing his guitar with a sticker that read "BETO FOR TEXAS."

Mark Ruffalo for Kathy Hochul and Antonio Delgado in NY

Another member of the Avengers is getting vocal on social media about the midterms. Over the last couple of weeks, Mark Ruffalo has shared a ton of information on the elections on his Twitter account. In one post, the actor wrote, "Vote like tomorrow may be the last time your vote is ever counted again! #VoteBlue." He's personally endorsed New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, and New York Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado, as they both seek re-election.

Cher for Kathy Hochul in NY and Catherine Cortez Masto in NV

Cher has also taken to Twitter to show her support for New York Governor Kathy Hochul. In a video, Cher spoke out against Trump supporter and Hochul's opponent, Lee Zeldin, and encouraged viewers to vote for Hochul. In a separate video posted to her Twitter account, Cher endorsed Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who's seeking re-election. 

Chelsea Handler for Lina Hidalgo in Texas

Chelsea Handler is typically vocal about her political stance, and this year is no different. The comedian has been encouraging people to vote Democrat across the board in several tweets. According to one post, she's donated to the campaign of Lina Hidalgo, who's running for Harris County, Texas Judge. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda for Beto O'Rourke and Rochelle Garza in Texas, Raphael Warnock in GA

The musical mastermind has been working hard to encourage young Latinos to show up at the voting booths this November. Miranda proudly showed his support for Beto O’Rourke and Democratic Attorney General candidate Rochelle Garza, while speaking at a rally in Houston. “I’m here because I believe Latinos can change this country,” Miranda said. “We are our brother’s keepers and our sister’s keepers, and we are supposed to have each other’s back. It always seems impossible until it is done.” Additionally, Miranda attended a rally back in October for the re-election of Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Kacey Musgraves for Beto O'Rourke in Texas 

Texas native Kacey Musgraves hilariously supported Beto O’Rourke while performing at the Austin City Limits music festival. When Musgraves turned to the crowd and asked for a drink, O'Rourke came to her rescue with a beer in hand. As he walked off stage, the crowd began a "Beto!" chant.

Barbra Streisand for John Fetterman in PA

Singer and actress Barbra Streisand took to Twitter to endorse John Fetterman's bid to the U.S. Senate. "John Fetterman deserves credit for debating while still recovering from a stroke," she wrote. "He will recover and make a fine Senator while Dr. Oz will always be the man who wants a 'local official' in the room when a woman discusses her own healthcare with her doctor." 

Kerry Washington for Several Democratic Candidates

On a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, actress Kerry Washington said, "No matter what you think, your vote matters. I want your vote to count. That's what a democracy is." Since then, she's been across the country attending rallies and encouraging people to vote. She teamed up with Camila Cabello at an event in Las Vegas and made a timely TikTok on several Democrat candidates in Arizona. So far, Washington has endorsed Mark Kelly (AZ Senator), Katie Hobbs (AZ Governor), Adrian Fontes (AZ Secretary of State), Jocelyn Benson (MI Secretary of State), Gretchen Whitmer (MI Governor), Kyra Harris Bolden (MI Justice), and John Fetterman (PA Senate). 

Leonardo DiCaprio for Kathy Hochul in NY

Environmentalism is near and dear to Leonardo DiCaprio's heart, so for the 2022 midterm elections, he's supporting Kathy Hochul. He tweeted, "New Yorkers - vote early for Democratic Governor @KathyHochul. She will protect NY's fracking ban & our climate." 

Selena Gomez for Beto O'Rourke in Texas

Singer, actress, and Texas native, Selena Gomez has endorsed Beto O'Rourke's run for governor in Texas. “I had the pleasure of meeting @betoorourke a few years ago and was so impressed by him," she wrote in her Instagram stories. "For those of you in my home state of Texas, please vote for him!”

Jessica Alba for Rick Caruso in CA 

The Honest Company founder reposted an interview with restaurant owner Christy Vega and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso. In the video, the two discuss LA's homelessness problem, a cause Alba is a strong supporter of. "Let’s get people off the streets and make sure they get the proper mental health care and shelter needs." She then goes on to say that Caruso is the candidate that will make a positive difference to LA. Rick’s plans and policies through his approach of listening, learning and building in collaboration with those most affected will make the impact we need for our city. I’m proud to support Rick Caruso for Mayor," she writes. 

Padma Lakshmi for Kathy Hochul in NY and John Fetterman in PA

Author and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has used her Twitter account to drill users on getting out there and voting. Aside from resources on voting rights, polling locations, and how to register to vote, Lakshmi tweeted out her distaste for New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. "As a New Yorker, the idea of being governed by Lee Zeldin, a Trump supporter who wants to ban abortion without exception, defund Planned Parenthood, and who supports 'Don't Say Gay,' is insane. He doesn't represent us," she writes. Additionally, Lakshmi tweeted, "Team Fetterman getting out the South Asian vote in Philly!" while at a rally encouraging South Asian women to vote. 

Sarah Silverman for Several Democratic Candidates

Comedian Sarah Silverman has taken to Twitter to encourage her followers to vote for several democratic candidates in her signature crass way. "VOTE STACEY ABRAMS. She’s the shit and Brian Kemp is garbage," reads one tweet. Outside of retweets supporting different candidates, Silverman has tweeted out her support for Beto O'Rourke (Texas Governor), Marcus Flowers (GA Democrat U.S. Rep.), Josh Shapiro (PA Governor), Charlie Crist (FL Governor), Mandela Barnes (WI Senator), Val Demings (FL Senator), and Karen Bass (Los Angeles Mayor). 

LeBron James for Raphael Warnock in GA

In a short and sweet video, LeBron James endorsed Raphael Warnock, the Democratic U.S. Senator seeking re-election in Georgia. "Obviously, tomorrow is Election Day and there's only one choice when voting for senator and that's Raphael Warnock," he said. 

Jimmy Kimmel for Catherine Cortez Masto in NV

In a video, Kimmel called Nevada Senatorial candidate Adam Laxalt the "creepy cousin in every family no one wants to sit with at Thanksgiving." Instead, Kimmel endorsed Catherine Cortez Masto, adding, "She's a good person, hard worker."  

Elon Musk for Republican Congressional Candidates

Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk used the platform to urge users to vote for Republican congressional candidates. He writes, "To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic." In following tweets, Musk clarified that he has voted Democratic up until last year and he's "open to the idea of voting Democrat again in the future."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Karen Bass in CA

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is backing Karen Bass for Los Angeles' new mayor. In a Twitter thread, she listed several reasons to vote for Bass that include her plan on homelessness, endorsements, and experience fighting for women's rights. 

The Chicks for Beto O'Rourke in Texas

Country girl band The Chicks shared a clip of their performance at the Austin City Limits festival, in which lead singer Natalie Maines got revved up for Beto O'Rourke. “Do you have a mother? Do you have a daughter? Do you have a sister? Do you have a girlfriend? Vote Beto! If there is a female in your life that you care about, vote for Beto,” she yells to the crowd. 

Following conversations with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Meghan Markle is more determined to keep her Duchess of Sussex title than ever, according to The Daily Express.

Royal commentator Neil Sean cites a source as pointing out that Meghan had previously disregarded the importance of titles, but after seeing how useful Beatrice and Eugenie’s titles have been for them, she is now determined to cling onto hers.

During Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, she appeared to dismiss the importance of having a royal title, saying “all the grandeur surrounding this stuff is an attachment I don’t personally have. I’ve been a waitress, an actress, a princess, a duchess—I’ve always still just been Meghan, right? I’ve been clear on who I am, independent of all that stuff, and the most important title I’ll ever have is mom. I know that.”

These days, Sean says, Meghan has had a “dramatic change of heart regarding titles,” adding “Harry and Meghan are very, very keen to cling onto those royal titles. After much deliberation, Meghan decided that the titles would be a good thing, not just for her, but for both her children, too. Meghan became very friendly with senior members of the monarchy, predominantly Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. After this, Meghan realized how useful a title can be, particularly when you want to move in the correct circles. That is the reason why they want to clutch hold of titles.”

Sean also pointed out that Harry and Meghan are often billed as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at events.

“It’s really down to the fact that, after befriending Beatrice and Eugenie, she saw how useful those titles are to them,” Sean says.

Meghan’s decision comes amidst chatter from multiple outlets that King Charles could not only remove Harry and Meghan of their titles but also stop their children, Archie and Lilibet, from receiving titles if the couple’s forthcoming Netflix docuseries hurts the monarchy in any way. Royal author Tom Bower tells OK “he [Charles] has made various threats to Meghan and Harry and warned them that if they go ahead, they will find themselves ostracized in a way they cannot believe. And so they are worried.”

Bower also adds, “I do not think their children will get titles if they go ahead and slander the royal family. But they have also got to consider their own titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, could be taken away by Charles if they misbehave.”

Prince Harry's memoir may be the new Oprah interview, in terms of its ensuing raging debates and factions.

It was announced yesterday, Oct. 27, that the Duke of Sussex' long-awaited book would be released on Jan. 10 under the title SPARE. This, royal expert Jennie Bond says, doesn't bode well in terms of Harry's relationship with the Royal Family, especially with King Charles and Prince William.

"After the Queen's death, there were reports that he would be toning things down," Bond said on BBC Breakfast (via Express).

"But from the publicity and the cover, it looks like that is very far from the case."

The host then said that perhaps the book release would get the whole controversy around it "done" and dusted, but Bond disagreed.

"Is it done? I don't know. These things go on and on," she reminded viewers.

"Once it's there, it will be all over social media as well as the 16 countries it is being published in.

"In some countries, the title is even more damning. I think the Spanish title is not SPARE, but In the Shadows." (Gulp.)

Bond further explained her interpretation of the title and publicity materials.

"All through it, it seems to be saying, 'I have been marginalized, I have not been allowed to live the life I wanted because of the way I was born,'" she said.

"Well, William probably doesn't want to be King either.

"Charles probably didn't want to be King. But you know what, they get on with it."

Sadly, Bond believes that SPARE "can do nothing to heal the rift, particularly between Harry and his brother.

"I don't think it will get much better after January."

Sigh.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 was a shock to the system for most royal followers—so imagine the Queen’s reaction. According to a new book, Her late Majesty wanted to “sleep on” her response after the interview and refused to be rushed into making a statement, and that courtiers struggled to respond to the Oprah interview because of the myriad of allegations made during the television special.

In his new book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Valentine Low—royal correspondent for The Sunday Times—writes that staffers were left struggling to craft a response to Harry and Meghan’s sit-down, during which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a handful of allegations against members the royal family.

“The courtiers faced another massive challenge: how to deal with the Oprah interview,” Low writes in the book, per Insider. “There had been so many allegations made by the couple—about racism, about security, about Meghan’s mental health—that it was hard to know where to start.”

In particular, the allegations of racism within the royal family were a source of contention, the book continues.

“The private secretaries and communications secretaries had long debates about how to deal with the issue, especially what one of them awkwardly called ‘the R word,’” Low writes. “That had come up because of remarks that a member of the royal family supposedly made about the color of Harry and Meghan’s future baby’s skin.”

Staffers created an official statement around 2 p.m. the day after the interview aired in the United States, but Buckingham Palace chose to remain silent.

“And then precisely nothing happened,” Low writes. “The Palace stayed completely silent because the Queen decided that she wanted to sleep on it. She was not going to be rushed into saying anything precipitate. It was a reminder that, while the courtiers might do all the groundwork, the final decisions are made by the royal family.”

Ultimately, the four-sentence statement was released just before 5:30 p.m. the following day and included the memorable line “While some recollections may vary,” speaking to the dissonance in opinions between the Sussexes and other members of the royal family of what occurred behind the Palace walls.

Her late Majesty’s decision to wait to release the statement proved, Low writes, that “at the age of 94, the Queen was very much still in charge.”

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle swapped the U.K. and royal life for California and traditional celebrity, they have appeared all set to speak freely about their time as senior royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave *that* bombshell Oprah interview (which I have no doubt we'll be talking about for decades to come, see Princess Diana's Panorama interview for reference); he spoke his mind on docuseries The Me You Can't See; she revealed damning tidbits on her podcast and in her interview with The Cut.

But the balance has shifted since the Queen's sad passing on Sept. 8. For months, royal watchers have been anticipating the release of a) Prince Harry's memoir and b) their joint Netflix docuseries about their life behind the scenes. Both media projects were expected to be released in the latter months of 2022, but according to sources, the Sussexes are stalling.

Per Page Six, Harry's memoir has been pushed back to 2023, and the Netflix show could suffer the same fate. Apparently, the Sussexes want to make edits to the show before it airs, most notably to remove or modify tidbits relating to King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate.

"A lot of conversations are happening," a Hollywood source told the outlet. "I hear that Harry and Meghan want the series to be held until next year, they want to stall."

They added, "I wonder if the show could even be dead in the water at this point, do Harry and Meghan just want to shelve this thing?"

Honestly, I've been asking myself the same question for a while now.

"Netflix has been keen to have the show ready to stream for December," a Netflix insider told Page Six. "There’s a lot of pressure on [Netflix CEO] Ted Sarandos, who has the relationship with Harry and Meghan, to get this show finished."

There are multiple possible explanations for why the royal couple is looking to avoid ruffling feathers with these projects. The first, simplest, is that they simply want to be respectful of the late Queen and her surviving family members, especially Charles as he begins his reign, and William—who has seemingly been the most hurt by Harry's departure.

I'm sure this is part of it, but the more cynical among us can't help but point out that, as the rumor mill has it, Charles is holding out on whether to let Archie and Lilibet use their "prince" and "princess" titles until after the book and show are released, presumably so he knows how damaging they might be to the Royal Family.

In what can only be interpreted as a mark of disapproval, he and his advisors recently moved the Sussexes down on the Royal Family website, where they are now just above the disgraced Prince Andrew, down from just below Princess Anne.

So if the Sussexes want the titles for their children—and if they want to repair their relationship with their royal relatives—they certainly need to be careful what they reveal.

The foursome formerly known as the "Fab Four" may have been physically reunited in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, but that doesn't mean all is forgotten.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the U.K. to settle down in Southern California, their relationship with other royals—and especially with Prince William and Kate Middleton—has been frosty at best. Jarringly, the elder brother reportedly wouldn't even spend time alone with the younger during the Jubilee celebrations in June.

Things have come a long way since then, as the Waleses and the Sussexes were reunited in grief for the late Queen. The U.S.-based royals were invited to join William and Catherine on a walkabout in Windsor, then shared a private dinner with them. Prince Harry then played a key role in most of the funeral proceedings for the Queen, though he wasn't allowed to wear military uniform for the majority of it.

But for royal insiders, there's a reason that the distance between the couples is still clearly visible in the uncomfortable way they interact in public.

"[William and Catherine] feel that [the Oprah interview] crossed a line and that someone should acknowledge the motives behind it and the pain it caused," a source close to the Waleses told The Telegraph.

"They feel they’ve had to be steely to send a message that you cannot just say this hugely upsetting stuff without there being consequences."

Following the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, they have also released and announced a podcast, a memoir and a couple of Netflix documentaries (one has yet to be confirmed), not to mention Meghan has also given an internet-breaking interview in recent weeks.

For another inside source, the knowledge of the Sussexes' relationship with the media necessarily means treading with caution for the U.K.-based royals.

"It’s really hard to spend time with someone, or even to speak openly, when you know they’re writing a book about you and giving interviews," the source said. "The trust is gone right now."

Well, let's hope they can find it.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in May 2018 with Oprah Winfrey among the guests, the TV host has played an unlikely role in the Royal Family's lives.

Despite having aired in March 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' tell-all interview with Winfrey is still fresh in royal watchers around the world's minds, so it's only natural that she be consulted when something as big as the Queen's sad passing happens.

At the Toronto Film Festival, an interviewer with Extra asked the media mogul, "You sat down with Meghan and Harry. We're seeing the four of them together now in London. Is there a hope out there this, in some way, her passing would be a way to unify the family, maybe heal some wounds?"

Winfrey responded thoughtfully, "Well, this is what I think, I think in all families—you know, my father passed recently, this summer—and when all families come together for a common ceremony, the ritual of, you know, burying your dead, there's an opportunity for peacemaking… And hopefully, there will be that."

Here, the legendary interviewer is of course referring to the seemingly growing rift that has existed between Harry, Meghan and the U.K.-based royals since the Sussexes decided to step down from their royal duties in early 2020. This rift was, arguably, in part driven by their decision to sit down with Winfrey and reveal shocking inside information about their life as royals. Family members such as Prince William were reportedly less than impressed with this, but the Sussexes had said they felt compelled to tell their truth.

While we saw the Waleses and Sussexes come together at a walkabout in Windsor this past weekend, and further while receiving the Queen's coffin at Buckingham Palace, royal expert Christopher Andersen is less optimistic than Winfrey about a reconciliation. We'll just have to see how this all unfolds, as per.

In 1995, Princess Diana gave an interview to the BBC's Martin Bashir, basically her era's answer to the Harry and Meghan Oprah interview.

The interview was viewed by millions around the world and has continued to cause controversy in the many years since it aired.

But among the more shocking statements Diana made during the interview ("There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded" comes to mind), she also very respectfully offered some advice to the Royal Family.

In a clip featured in upcoming HBO documentary The Princess, Bashir asks the late royal, "Do you think you'll ever be queen?"

She answers, "No, I don't. No."

When pressed, she goes on, "I don't think many people would want me to be queen. Actually, when I say 'many people,' I mean the establishment that I married into, because they've decided that I'm a nonstarter."

For her this was "because I do things differently."

This prompts Bashir to ask, "Do you think the monarchy needs to adapt and to change?"

Diplomatically, Diana proposes the following: "I understand that change is frightening for people, especially if there's nothing to go to. It's best to stay where you are. I understand that.

"But I do think that there are a few things that could change, that would alleviate this doubt, and sometimes complicated relationship between monarchy and public. I think they could walk hand in hand, as opposed to being so distant."

Significantly, the documentary played this conversation in voiceover on footage of royals including the Queen partaking in the annual Ghillies Ball at Balmoral Castle, during which "the servants are allowed to dance with the upper class," according to ELLE UK.

While the dance is a nice way to keep traditions alive and celebrate Scottish dancing, it also exemplifies the distance royals keep with the public—not least because the Queen is seen dancing in the middle of a circle while wearing an elaborate gown and tiara.

Younger royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton have heeded Diana's advice, however, and are often seen having heart-to-hearts with members of the public.

Things are getting (even more) complicated in the Netflix arena—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have signed a multimillion-dollar deal with the streaming service, the same streaming service that carries a little show you may have heard of called The Crown, which details the (sometimes unflattering) inner workings of the royal family and its members. Season four introduced viewers to Emma Corrin’s Princess Diana, and season five, set to premiere later this year, will star Elizabeth Debicki as the late Princess of Wales—and Harry will “not approve” of the show’s portrayal of his beloved mother, according to royal expert Tina Brown.

“I don’t think that the next season of The Crown is going to be something that Harry is going to seriously approve of in the sense of the way it depicts his mother,” says Brown, per The Daily Express. “We don’t know how it will depict his mother. But right now, there’s really nothing that’s come out about their mother that they like.”

Season five of the show will bring forth the later years and tragic death of Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997. Netflix, The Daily Express reports, has already faced resistance from the Palace, and Debicki’s forthcoming portrayal could make this season its most controversial yet.

Corrin’s portrayal of Diana earned the star an Emmy nomination, in which Diana’s eating disorder and relationships with the royal family were dissected. Brown says Harry—who admitted to watching some of the show in his interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021—will be especially uncomfortable with his mother’s role in season five. The royal family even beyond Harry, she says, are “very unhappy” about The Crown going ahead, and have made attempts to disrupt filming whenever possible.

“Whenever they can, they stop The Crown filming in locations where they have an influence,” Brown says. “For instance, [Eton College] refused to let them film there, which was undoubtedly about recognizing William’s feelings that, you know, they weren’t going to have it. So, they’ve shown their displeasure by making it quite clear that they are not happy, and we’ll give it no help.”

The fifth season of The Crown will largely focus on the late 1990s, and season six will wrap up the show in the early 21st century. 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited Oprah Winfrey's home in their new hometown of Montecito over the weekend, and the rumor mill is—predictably—having a field day.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted making the five-minute drive to the media mogul's $100 million (!!!) mansion on Saturday afternoon.

In paparazzi pictures published by the Daily Mail, the duke can be seen at the wheel of a black Range Rover, next to a woman who appears to be actress Janina Gavankar (a close friend of Markle's). He is wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses and staring sternly at the photographer, while his wife sits in the backseat. A second black Range Rover trails behind them, presumably carrying the couple's private security detail.

The Sussexes reportedly spent an hour chatting with Winfrey in her home, prompting a theory that they may be planning a second interview with the TV host after their bombshell broadcast in March 2021.

Personally (and yes, I know nobody asked me), it seems to me that if you were in fact planning what would be one of the most disruptive television events of the decade, you would meet at—say—the CBS headquarters, rather than at the interviewer's private home. But what do I know?

Additionally, it seems important to note that the Sussexes are at least tangentially friendly with Winfrey, who notably attended their 2018 wedding in Windsor. Given that they live five minutes away from her, it wouldn't be completely ridiculous to assume they went over for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat.

I'm not saying it's not possible that they may be planning a second interview (after all, it's not the first time that this theory has been put forth); I just think we should weigh up all the facts before we jump to any hasty conclusions.

The California-based duke and duchess gave Winfrey an exclusive tell-all interview last year, in which they revealed a number of shocking details, such as the discussion from a Royal Family member of what color Archie would be when he was born, and the fact that Markle suffered from suicidality while she was a working royal.

Tina Brown’s newest book, The Palace Papers, has apparently touched such a nerve with the Sussexes that they are looking to do a second sitdown interview, OK! reports.

“These latest claims have really gotten under Meghan’s skin,” reports from Heat, per OK!, claim. “She’s told her team that something needs to be done. She’s so sick of the negative headlines and she’s desperate to come out fighting with some major damage control. Meghan feels as though doing another chat with Oprah is the best way to change the narrative and counter all the negative claims she’s read about herself recently.”

Specific claims the source pointed to from The Palace Papers that Meghan wanted to refute include Brown’s writing that when Prince Harry and Meghan visited Australia and the South Pacific in 2018, Meghan “apparently hated every second of it,” Brown writes. “She found the itinerary of engagements ‘pointless,’ a former Palace employee told me. She didn’t understand why things were set up in that way. Instead of being excited when thousands of people showed up at the [Sydney] Opera House, it was very much like, ‘What’s the purpose? I don’t understand this,’ the ex-staffer said.”

Brown continued “The ‘this’ being the representational role of the British monarchy and its traditional agenda, rather than the focus on causes she wanted to spotlight. Such engagements are old school, yes, but create classic royal ties that bind.”

Brown said that once Harry met Meghan, it motivated Harry—who had always wanted to leave the Firm—to get out once and for all.

“Meghan certainly saw the deals that were there to be made because they were royals,” Brown said. “It’s as though she couldn’t resist everything that was on offer on the celebrity buffet. I actually think there is a Harry-shaped hole in the royal family now. And Harry was beloved, actually, by the British people. And people adored Meghan when she came into the mix. So it was actually very, very sad for everybody that it went so wrong.”

Can we expect a dissection of Brown’s new book in Harry, Meghan, and Oprah, part deux? We’ll have to wait and see, but the source told Heat that “she’s [Meghan] been in contact with Oprah’s people already.” 

Meghan Markle's family relationships sound like a reeeal bundle of fun (I hope the sarcasm was apparent).

In the latest development, the duchess' half-sister Samantha is now suing her for defamation, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Samantha, who shares father Thomas with Meghan, is accusing the royal of allegedly lying in her Oprah interview in March 2021.

The 57-year-old published a tell-all autobiography in 2021, titled The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister — Part 1. In her lawsuit, she's now claiming that some of the things Meghan said about her have "hurt sales of her autobiography, prevented her from getting jobs and caused emotional and mental distress," per TMZ.

As for the alleged lies in question, Samantha cited the "rags to royalty" narrative that the duchess has described about growing up in "virtual poverty." She claimed Thomas paid for Meghan to attend "elite and expensive private schools," while the duchess said she worked to pay for her Northwestern education herself.

Samantha also called Meghan's assertion to Oprah Winfrey that she is an "only child" a lie—although I'm fairly certain the duchess meant it as a figure of speech, considering it's common knowledge that she has a half-sister, and considering that she directly referred to Samantha during the interview.

The duchess also said that it had been "at least 18, 19 years ago and before that, 10 years before that" since she'd seen her sister, which Samantha claims is untrue.

Speaking to Winfrey, Meghan said that Samantha "changed her last name back to Markle, I think she was in her early 50s at that time, only when I started dating Harry. So I think that says enough."

Samantha also said in her suit that Meghan allegedly lied so she and Thomas "could not interfere with or contradict the false narrative and fairytale life story concocted by" the duchess. Oh, brother. Or... sister, I guess. (Sorry.)

"This baseless and absurd lawsuit is just a continuation of a pattern of disturbing behavior," came the response from the Duchess of Sussex' lawyer, Michael Kump. "We will give it the minimum attention necessary, which is all it deserves."

FYI, this is not the first time Samantha has tried to come for her younger sister—not by a long shot. Consider that one time she suggested some New Year's resolutions for her, or when she—ahem—timed the release of her book around Meghan's due date. She did apologize to the duchess on live TV once in 2018, though, so there's that?

In order to portray Princess Diana in Spencer, Kristen Stewart fully immersed herself in the late royal's existence to embody the role. She once even said she felt like she had gotten a "sign-off."

But as for the princess' living relatives, Stewart isn't fully up to date. In a new profile for Vanity Fair, it became clear that the actress had no idea Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lived in California like her.

"That’s so funny. I wonder where," she said, after the interviewer told her about the Sussexes' move. "I’m no better than anyone! Of course I want to know."

After learning that they live near Santa Barbara, Stewart seemed to think that was a good idea. "That makes sense," she said. "It’s really nice up there."

And the actress didn't realize the Sussexes lived in California despite being fully aware of their Oprah Winfrey interview (but having only watched bits of it). "It was almost too hot to touch in terms of how personal it was for me at that time," she explained.

Aside from discussing Spencer, for which Stewart was nominated for an Academy Award, the actress spoke about her recent engagement to partner Dylan Meyer. "I love being engaged, she said. "It’s different.… I just feel so happy and lucky."

Stewart and Meyer are currently collaborating on a TV project, something which made the Twilight actress nervous. "You don’t want that to affect this beautiful relationship you have," she said, adding that everything thankfully turned out well in the end. "Like we discovered a superbrain," she said. "She’s a really genuinely brilliant f***ing screenwriter." Daw :)

In a somewhat surprising move, Prince Charles name-checked his younger son Prince Harry in his recent essay on climate change for Newsweek—even as the Queen left the Duke of Sussex out of her Christmas broadcast.

For Jack Royston, royal correspondent for Newsweek, this decision is significant. "Prince Charles giving Prince Harry credit for his work on climate change shows he does not want Oprah to be the end of their relationship," Royston tells Marie Claire, referencing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

"A lot has happened between them and it must have been very hard for the Prince of Wales to hear some of the things his second son has been saying about him publicly. From 'total neglect' to 'genetic pain' to 'my family literally cut me off financially,' Harry gave his father both barrels in 2021," Royston continues.

But the royal expert doesn't think the king-in-waiting wants to open a further rift between himself and his second son. "However, the point when Charles becomes king is nearing," he says. "Such clear and public praise for Harry shows he wants to move past the acrimony and look to the future, not the past.

"The Queen twice recently praised the contributions of different members of the royal family to the fight against climate change without mentioning Harry. Charles, clearly, feels more comfortable ensuring his son gets the credit for the work he has done and is not forgotten, in spite of everything."

Although it's hard to know what exactly the Duke of Sussex' relationship with his father—and with other relatives in the U.K.—looks like since he moved to California with his family, it has been understood to have become strained in recent months.

It feels like the whole world watched with bated breath as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's sit-down with Oprah Winfrey was aired on television back in March, revealing much more than anyone had anticipated.

Now, according to one royal biographer, it's possible that the Sussexes may be planning a second interview with the TV personality—though this is only a rumor at this time.

"Harry and Meghan have caused chaos and I suspect there’s no stopping them," Duncan Larcombe told Closer. "I can totally see more of these high-profile, Hollywood-style interviews with A-list TV hosts happening." (Markle recently appeared on the Ellen Show.)

"Especially if there’s lots of money being offered for it," Larcombe continued. "Harry will need a promotion for his memoir, due to be released next autumn, too. Another Oprah interview, if it’s anything like the last, would surely push the royals to breaking point."

Larcombe explained that Prince Harry's royal exit back in 2020 surely hurt his relationship with the Queen, though they are likely still close.

"The Queen and Harry have always had a special relationship," he said. "At royal events, we’ve seen them exchange smiles and knowing glances. Although they’re obviously not as close as they were, given the drama Harry and Meghan have caused. No doubt Harry’s memoir will criticise the royals again. And that will hurt the Queen.

"But any homesickness or longing to see someone is heightened when someone’s ill. So I expect, with these recent reports, it’s dawning on Harry that he may not have long left to see his grandmother. As heartbreaking as it is, maybe if the Queen does become ill it would be a major wake-up call for him."

The Queen has canceled a series of events amid health concerns, but will still be hosting the annual royal Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. The Sussexes will not be attending.

Adele and her father, Mark Evans, were estranged for most of the singer's life. Evans left Adele's mom when their daughter was a toddler, and the star suffered greatly as a result.

Speaking to Oprah Winfrey as part of the Adele: One Night Only special, which aired on Nov. 14 on CBS, Adele said her father's "absolute lack of presence and effort" was her "biggest wound" from childhood (via BBC).

Heartbreakingly, Adele credits this wounded relationship with her difficulty in romantic relationships over the years. "I had absolutely zero expectations of anybody, because I learned not to have them through my dad," she told Winfrey. "He was the reason I haven't fully accessed what it is to be in a loving, loving relationship with somebody."

Evans' behavior towards Adele also influenced her ideas of marriage, love and family, and explains why the idea of divorcing felt like such a failure for the singer. "I've been obsessed with a nuclear family my whole life because I never came from one," she said."From a very young age [I] promised myself that, when I had kids, we'd stay together. And I tried for a really, really long time."

But the singer realized she wasn't happy in her marriage to Simon Konecki, with whom she shares son Angelo, and it eventually became clear that they needed to separate, however painful that would be. "I take marriage very seriously... and it seems like I don't now," she said. "Almost like I disrespected it by getting married and then divorced so quickly. I'm embarrassed because it was so quick." The divorce was finalized in 2021, but Adele and Konecki had separated in 2018—the year they got married.

Happily, Adele was able to bridge some gaps in her relationship to her father in the last three years before his death earlier in 2021. He even got to listen to her new album over video chat. "His favorites were all of my favorites, which was amazing, and he was proud of me for doing it," she said. "So it was it was very, very healing [and] when he died, it was literally like the wound closed up."

The National Television Awards—basically England’s Emmys—happened this week, filmed at London’s massive, 20,000-capacity O2 Arena and broadcast live on ITV. But what viewers at home didn’t see was a moment involving a clip of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that shocked some audience members.

The royals weren’t in attendance to the star-studded awards (though there’s speculation that they’ll attend the Emmys in the U.S. as Oprah's dates this year), but their presence was very much felt. During a compilation of the year’s biggest TV moments, a clip of the pair’s infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey got some air time. But, according to the Daily Mail, people watching the TV broadcast weren’t privy to what was happening in the stadium: That the audience reportedly started booing when Harry and Meghan appeared on-screen.

Speaking to two sources—one of whom the Mail describes as “a celebrity who asked not to be named"—the site reports that there were jeers from the crowd directed toward the couple’s images. “Some shouted out and there was laughing,” said the unnamed celeb source. “There were a few embarrassed faces but sadly Meghan was obviously not too popular on the night.”

Another source, described as someone in attendance in the audience at the NTA show, said that when the clip appeared, “Immediately, there was audible booing throughout the arena. It was as though they were pantomime villains.”

The Harry and Meghan sit-down interview with Oprah earlier this year, in which the couple revealed allegations of racism, in-fighting, and family tension about Meghan’s role in the royal family, sparked controversy and conversation all over the world. The Daily Mail article suggests the reported NTA booing incident reveals Harry and Meghan’s waning popularity in the UK, as the couple remain lightning rods for controversy across the pond. In the U.S., though, they remain rather beloved, so it seems unlikely that their presence at the Emmys (if it happens) would be met with any kind of vitriol.

And besides, even if some people didn’t like the revelations the interview unveiled, Prince Harry reportedly doesn’t regret taking part in it in the slightest.

• Royal experts seem to agree that members of the royal family are worried about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaking details from private conversations they have.
• Battle of Brothers author Robert Lacey said Prince William and Kate Middleton avoided talking to Harry after Prince Philip's funeral this spring for that reason, according to The Sun.
• Royal author Phil Dampier previously said, "One of [Prince] Charles and Williams’ big fears is that whatever discussions they have with Harry are immediately leaked."

Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship is still strained, by all accounts.

According to royal historian Robert Lacey in a new update for his royal biography Battle of Brothers, the tension between the brothers is having very real-world implications. Lacey says that fear of "leaks" to media actually stopped William and his wife, Kate Middleton, form hanging out with Harry when he was in the United Kingdom this spring for Prince Philip's funeral.

"They told friends that they could see no point in talking to Harry, since any discussion of substance would go straight back to Meghan to be leaked out via Oprah [Winfrey] or some other tentacle of the Sussex network," Lacey explained, according to The Sun.

This isn't the first time that reports have surfaced that the royal family is worried that the Sussexes will leak details from private conversations to the media. The Sun report also includes a statement from another royal author, Phil Dampier, on the topic.

"One of Charles and Williams’ big fears is that whatever discussions they have with Harry are immediately leaked," he explained. "They will be worried that if they get into any great detail, the next thing they know it will be out in the public domain, which makes it extremely difficult to heal the wounds long-term."

Here's hoping the lines of communication open up next time Harry visits the royal family—which is expected to be soon, for the unveiling of a new Princess Diana statue at Kensington Palace.

• One of the most shocking revelations from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah interview was the fact that a member of the royal family (who the couple refused to identify specifically) had raised concerns about the color of their son, Archie Harrison's, skin before he was born.
• At a Foreign Press Association event in London Friday, royal correspondent and author Omid Scobie reportedly told attendees that it was actually a "much bigger issue" and that multiple people in the royal family had participated in such conversations.
• "To Harry I can see how it is one conversation, to Meghan who would have been involved in the follow up conversations I can see—because there were other people aware of this conversation within the family and within the institution, that did also speak about it, some not so sympathetically," he explained. "So you then are in a position where you start to feel, 'Well, it's not just this one person, it's others as well', and it becomes a much bigger issue."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked many royal fans during their sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey when they revealed instances of racism they experienced during their time in the royal family. One claim in particular—that an unnamed member of the royal family has a conversation with Harry in which they expressed concerns about the couple's then-unborn son's skin color—was especially upsetting.

Now, however, royal correspondent and author Omid Scobie (who co-authored Finding Freedom about the Sussexes' decision to leave the royal family and who The Sun describes as the couple's "preferred reporter") is delivering another shock with claims that there were actually multiple conversations about Archie's skin color leading up to his birth.

According to The Sun, Scobie claims that the royal family actually had "several" conversations about the subject and that members of The Firm were "unsympathetic" when Harry and Meghan complained about the discussion taking place and that it was a "much bigger issue" that involved more than one member of the family.

"There was one conversation that took place that affected them massively, when it came to someone within the Royal Family sharing concerns over the color of Archie's skin," Scobie reportedly said during Foreign Press Association event in London Friday. "To Harry I can see how it is one conversation, to Meghan who would have been involved in the follow up conversations I can see—because there were other people aware of this conversation within the family and within the institution, that did also speak about it, some not so sympathetically. So you then are in a position where you start to feel, 'Well, it's not just this one person, it's others as well', and it becomes a much bigger issue."

When asked by someone at the event if he knew the identity of the royal who first raised a concern about Archie's skin color, Scobie apparently declined to comment, simply saying, "Pass."

• Two members of the royal family have officially weighed in on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.
• In a new interview with The Telegraph, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, were asked about the Sussexes' interview and had a humorous response to the controversial royal moment. Prince Edward kicked things off by responding, "Oprah who?"
• "You know, if you’re not into chat shows, there’s no reason why you should know who she is. Certainly not in this country, anyway,” Sophie, said, doubling down on the joke that Oprah isn't a well-known figure in the United Kingdom.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has a sense of humor about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

In a new interview with The Telegraph, Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, were asked about the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes' high-profile sit-down interview with Oprah. Edward's response? "Oprah who?"

Sophie kept the joke going, doubling down on the idea that Oprah isn't necessarily a well-known figure in the United Kingdom.

“You know, if you’re not into chat shows, there’s no reason why you should know who she is. Certainly not in this country, anyway,” the Countess of Wessex said in the interview.

In the interview, Sophie also weighed in on some specific points raised by Harry and Meghan during their chat with Oprah—specifically, their allegations of racism within the royal family.

In response to the allegations, Sophie presented a united front, saying simply that they are "still a family no matter what happens."