How devastating for the Sussexes after their return to Blighty.
Meghan is greeted with headlines that her father, Thomas Markle, is being investigated over ‘sickening child sex abuse images’.
Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr, claimed he discovered the stash at his father’s Philippines home and handed it to police.
Is this the moment we should actually feel sorry for Meghan?
Could it be that the ‘devoted’ Dad who raised her after her mother left, had a darker side?
And could this explain why she dropped him and refused to let him see her children? Had she, while being pilloried as a cruel uncaring daughter, been harbouring a deeply disturbing secret – that her father was a paedophile?
Certainly, her statement yesterday implied as much. She said: ‘In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father.’ She added that this explained her decision not to allow Markle to have any contact with Archie and Lilibet. It was, she said, ‘to protect them’.
'I have been among their harshest critics and yes, I have accused them – perhaps wrongly with the benefit of hindsight – of abandoning Meghan’s father,' writes Amanda Platell
Meghan as a youngster, with her father Thomas Markle, who is now being investigated over ‘sickening child sex abuse images’
Crikey, this extraordinary news raises so many more questions than answers. We know Markle is under investigation in the Philippines and the FBI is considering taking action. We know, too, that he is protesting his innocence.
What an unholy mess, and what an awful moment for the Sussexes as they try to relaunch themselves in Britain.
I have been among their harshest critics and yes, I have accused them – perhaps wrongly with the benefit of hindsight – of abandoning Meghan’s father.
Right now, I feel sorry for them, although given the new family turmoil, none of us should rule out another Netflix series.
Call me a traitor but was Thursday’s dreary episode of The Celebrity Traitors, when the outcome of the murder in plain sight was finally revealed after a few contestants sat for ages until someone yawned, a complete, er, yawn fest? I wouldn’t know. I fell asleep.
It's Sydney scary!
Sydney Sweeney wears a more modest outfit than her latest lingerie pictures at the Christy premiere in October last year
Ahead of Halloween, Sydney Sweeney promotes her lingerie line, in gothic bondage gear, replicating the ‘corpse bride’ from Tim Burton’s 2005 film of the same name. Too eye watering to print here but it inspired me to buy the kit. Nothing would better see off those pesky kids knocking on my door than being greeted by a woman like me wearing it. Talk about trauma for life!
Taylor Swift performs on stage during the Academy Museum 6th Annual Gala in California
Taylor Swift was mesmerising alongside fellow billionaire Kim Kardashian at the Academy Museum Gala to raise money for charities. The event was co-chaired by Steven Spielberg, himself worth more than $7billion. So why did it raise just $14million? That’s risible compared to their collective wealth.
As E.T. might have said, time for them to discover the true meaning of ‘be good’.
Lewis a no show for Kim
No sign of boyfriend Lewis Hamilton at Kim Kardashian’s 46th birthday party in Beverly Hills. He was preparing for Sunday’s US Grand Prix, but it was a lavish affair so his absence does invite one to ask if this really is true love – or an opportunistic relationship so they can both make even more millions.
As HMRC writes off £13billion in lost taxes after businesses collapsed under Labour, Andy Burnham appears on Gogglebox, has a flu jab (showing off his bee tattoo signalling solidarity with the Manchester Arena bomb victims), invites veterans to No10 North to make a contribution to the Poppy Appeal and goes jogging in shorty shorts. Jolly good, but is Eyelashes Andy becoming nothing more than a photo opp?
No worries chez Platell after the Government told us to stock up on essentials such as tinned baked beans, in the event of a national emergency. My attic is still stacked with supplies from the 2020 Covid lockdown.
Sweet snap or have we been ad?
The picture of Harper kissing her father entitled ‘Road trip with Daddy’, shared on Instagram
Weary as we may be after being presented with yet another ‘private’ Beckham Instagram photograph, the picture of Harper kissing her father entitled ‘Road trip with Daddy’ will strike a chord with many, given how precious is the relationship between a father and his daughter.
Yet, call me a cynic but I can’t help feeling this is also an advertisement for Brand Beckham.
UK riots? Not likely
Many fear the rioting in Paris will be replicated in Blighty. Not a chance.
Brits prefer to queue as has been calmly demonstrated by the thousands who have stood in the rain to see the Bayeux Tapestry.
Instead of riots, we have a few pro-Palestinian agitators putting a poster of a bomb strapped to a loaf outside a London Gail’s bakery in protest at the group’s links with Israel. Customers looked on bemused, chomping on their incomparable almond croissants.
Shocking footage ahead of the next series of BBC hit series Gone Fishing, with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, as Paul is attacked by a thug at an ATM while trying to get cash for his wife’s medication. Had the show’s trusty terrier Ted been at his side, Paul’s attacker would have lost his ankles. Sadly Ted turned up his toes in series nine.
Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse's trusty terrier, Ted, who died earlier this year
The law is to be changed so Valdo Calocane – who killed Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, in Nottingham – will be stripped of his benefits in psychiatric hospital, including his Universal Credit payment worth up to £800 a month. Yet Barnaby’s distraught mum fears that because he’s a patient rather than a criminal, he could be out as early as next year. Restoration of the death penalty anyone?
Ex-model Jerry Hall is hailed a feminist ‘icon’, leading to a fierce argument in my Traitors superfan club. I defended her as a strong, independent woman – only to be reminded she pocketed millions of pounds after her brief marriage to billionaire Rupert Murdoch.
A chap who stole a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel zoo after a 40-beer binge has been found guilty of animal cruelty. If nothing else Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, should offer his liver for medical research.
Writer Jack Barth claims he had the original idea for the movie Yesterday, about a world where only one person remembers The Beatles, and film-maker Richard Curtis and his wife Emma – who plan to stage it as a musical – haven’t given him enough credit. Curtis has previously said he wrote the film from scratch. Maybe Jack should let it be...
