Placeholder Content Image

Thomas Markle slams Meghan and Harry’s memorial absence

<p dir="ltr">Thomas Markle has hit out at his daughter, Meghan, and son-in-law Prince Harry, for their “unforgivable” absence from Prince Philip’s memorial service.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Markle - who has never met Prince Harry or seen his daughter since before her 2018 wedding - said their decision not to fly to the UK to attend the service was “a slap in the face for the Queen”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Attending and giving respect and giving God’s grace to Prince Philip for a lifetime of service was very important to the Queen, and for them not to show up was a slap in the face to the Queen,” he fumed in a video posted to his YouTube channel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was unforgivable. The British people won’t forgive them for that, and they shouldn’t.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t know what the reason was, but there’s no excuse at all. It’s a slap in the face for the Queen and the British people.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His remarks come as Prince Harry takes legal action against the Home Office for no longer providing him with armed police protection or allowing him to pay for that himself, according to the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/thomas-markle-blasts-meghan-and-harry-for-absence-from-philips-memorial-unforgivable/MKSV7W5YN6X7BPD3S2CF34V4VY/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lack of police protection was cited as <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/arrogant-selfish-brat-ben-fordham-calls-out-prince-harry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the reason</a> Harry didn’t join the rest of his family at the service celebrating Philip’s life last week.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c749cba-7fff-1e12-62ac-e39398b7d9ee"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Channel 5</em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

How Prince William and Prince Harry are stepping up in the Queen’s absence

<p>With the new coronavirus pandemic, it appears that Prince William is on the brink of facing his biggest test to date as the future King of England.</p> <p>The 37-year-old prince is likely to step up and take over some of the duties that are usually undertaken by the Queen in the coming months as her and Prince Charles go underground.</p> <p>According to royal expert Nigel Cawthorne, the prince will likely become the main physical presence for the British Monarchy while the Queen and Prince Charles continue to socially isolate for their own safety.</p> <p>"There has to be a physical presence to the monarchy, not just a virtual one. He's third-in-line to the throne and in robust health like his brother, and COVID-19 is unlikely to be any serious threat for him or his wife or children. He will do a great job," the biographer told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8129735/Prince-William-step-Queen-Prince-Charles-amid-coronavirus-crisis-plan-say-experts.html" target="_blank">the Daily Mail</a>.</em></p> <p>The seriousness of the situation might see Prince Harry stepping back into his royal role as Prince William and Prince Harry help to maintain the British Institution.</p> <p>"I am sure he would come back and be delighted to help out, too, and do anything to protect his father and grandmother," the royal expert added.</p> <p>The news came after the Queen shared a sweet message in support for the world during this unsettling period, after confirming that her and Philip are at Windsor.</p> <p>"At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation's history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B97Au1YnjDm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B97Au1YnjDm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A MESSAGE FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty. We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them. At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal. We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months. Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part. ELIZABETH R</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Royal Family</a> (@theroyalfamily) on Mar 19, 2020 at 9:32am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She continued: "We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months."</p> <p>She ended with an empowering message, writing: "Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part."</p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

“Absence of empathy”: Donald and Melania Trump under fire over photo with El Paso shooting victim

<p>A backlash is building over Donald and Melania Trump after the US first lady posted a photo on Twitter showing the couple smiling broadly while holding a two-month-old baby whose parents were killed in the El Paso mass shooting.</p> <p>On a visit to the Texan city last week, the president could be seen flashing a thumbs-up when posing with the infant as well as hospital staff and first responders.</p> <p>The child, named Paul, lost his parents Jordan and Andre Anchondo after they attempted to shield him from the bullets in the August 3 shooting. The boy was discharged from University Medical Center, but reportedly brought back at the request of White House for Trump’s visit.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I met many incredible people in Dayton, Ohio &amp; El Paso, Texas yesterday. Their communities are strong and unbreakable. <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> and I stand with you! <a href="https://t.co/SHzV6zcVKR">pic.twitter.com/SHzV6zcVKR</a></p> — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1159511786695069697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The pictures have been widely slammed, with many people describing the Trumps’ gesture as insensitive. “Your husband is grinning like a game show contestant and giving a ‘thumbs up’ next to a baby orphaned during another mass murder,” one wrote in response to the first lady’s post. “If you had normal human empathy you’d realize how horribly odd this is.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 374.867px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829452/trumpselpaso.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/283bb8aeae9d445fa7a6841180934a99" /></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Your husband is grinning like a game show contestant and giving a "thumbs up" next to a baby orphaned during another mass murder.<br /><br />If you had normal human empathy you'd realize how horribly odd this is.<br /><br />Then again, if you did you wouldn't be married to him.</p> — John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1159846976399298561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I can’t look at this. I am just stunned &amp; horrified. How did this happen? Who thought releasing a photo of these monsters holding a newly orphaned infant, whose parents were killed thanks to their racist vitriol, with a grin &amp; thumbs up was somehow acceptable? They are heartless.</p> — Amie Wexler (@am_wex) <a href="https://twitter.com/am_wex/status/1159718367516712961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">THE THUMBS UP. I’m nauseous. Bringing an orphaned baby back for a photo op. It’s all horrible. <a href="https://t.co/0Ls8jaRREt">https://t.co/0Ls8jaRREt</a></p> — Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1159883673102979072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>A hospital official told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/08/politics/trump-el-paso-victims-hospital-visit/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a></em><span> </span>there was a general assessment among patients that the president acted with “an absence of empathy” during the visit. “Some people didn’t want any visitors. Some didn’t want to meet [Trump],” the official said.</p> <p>The president did not meet with any of the eight survivors still receiving treatment in the hospital. Five declined to see Trump, while three were in poor condition or do not speak English.</p> <p>According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/09/trump-el-paso-melania-orphan-baby-thumbs-up" target="_blank"><em>Guardian</em></a>, doctors at the Del Sol medical center also said Trump appeared to “lack empathy” after he boasted about drawing a larger crowd at a January rally in the city than “crazy” 2020 Democratic presidential contender Beto O’Rourke.</p> <p>Tito Anchondo, the uncle of the baby, told The Associated Press on Friday that Trump “was just there to give his condolences and he was just being a human being”. He told the <em><a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/08/06/el-paso-texas-family-grieves-parents-who-died-protecting-newborn-son-walmart-attack/1937865001/">El Paso Times</a> </em>that his late brother supported Trump.</p> <p>He said, “We should be coming together as a country at this time instead of threatening each other with hate messages.”</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Where is Melania Trump? US First Lady responds to conspiracy theories about her absence

<p>US First Lady Melania Trump hasn’t been seen in public for nearly three weeks and speculation about her lengthy absence was mounting online.</p> <p>To shut down the theories about her whereabouts, Melania has confirmed that she is indeed still at the White House.</p> <p>She tweeted: “I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am &amp; what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, &amp; working hard on behalf of children &amp; the American people!”</p> <p>Melania’s last public appearance was 21 days ago on May 10, when she joined her husband to welcome three Americans who had been detained in North Korea back to the US.</p> <p>On May 14, she underwent kidney surgery at Walter Reed National Military medical centre.</p> <p>She remained at the medical centre for the remainder of the week to recover and her communications director, Stephanie Grisham, said “there were no complications”.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Grisham told Business Insider that the First Lady “is doing great” despite her long absence from the public eye.</p> <p>However, official statements did not stop the stream of conspiracy theories about her absence, suggesting that she may have undergone a more serious medical procedure or fled back to New York after her surgery.</p> <p>Grisham told Politico that the White House “deals with conspiracy theories all the time” and reiterated that “she was hospitalised for almost a week and is now home recovering”.</p> <p>At the end of June, Melania will attend a summer picnic for members of Congress and their families. </p>

News