The first full-length trailer for Practical Magic 2 is here! I actually had to stop watching it halfway through because it feels like the trailer gives away the entire movie? [Pajiba]
Will Tom Cruise win an Oscar for Digger? [LaineyGossip]
Zendaya looked adorable in this Spider-Man t-shirt. [RCFA]
Jeremy Allen White braves the Paris heatwave. [JustJared]
Texas is still a horrific state for women. [Jezebel]
Donald Trump thinks “affordability” is a made-up word. [Buzzfeed]
Bailey Zimmerman was charged with a felony after trashing a hotel room. [Socialite Life]
Will Tayor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette season ever air? [Hollywood Life]
Dave & Buster’s version of a Freedom Tower. [Seriously OMG]
OMG, happy Pride to Olympian Rebeca Andrade!! [OMG Blog]

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For weeks/months, I’ve detailed my disbelief regarding the reporting around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding. I truly believed that Taylor and Travis were executing some kind of misinformation campaign to hide their real wedding plans. The reporting was just too absurd – a wedding in New York, at Madison Square Garden? On or around the Fourth of July?? Come on, that’s fake as hell, right? Wrong. That was actually the plan this whole time. The reporting was correct. It wasn’t a misinformation campaign. Mayor Mamdani had the inside scoop too, as it turns out. The NY Times confirmed that all signs are pointing to an MSG wedding on July 3rd. Good lord.

One of the biggest events of the summer is still a mystery: When and where are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting married? Some powerful clues are emerging.

A permit was filed with New York City to close the streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 to midday July 4 for an event on July 3, according to three people who have knowledge of the matter. Several members of the Kansas City Chiefs have booked hotel rooms for dates around July 3 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, according to a person told of the accommodations.

A fourth person, a city official who was briefed on the preparations, said it more bluntly: Madison Square Garden is planning to host the wedding festivities on July 3.

Winick Productions, a prominent event planning company that has helped produce major red carpet events including at Madison Square Garden, filed an application with the city’s Street Activity Permit Office in early June. The company requested authorization to set up a tent or canopy outside the arena for the event, which it said would include 500 to 999 attendees. It also said that trucks would need space to load and unload materials at the arena. A representative for Winick Productions, which is based on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, declined to comment when reached by a reporter on Tuesday.

But Amtrak police officers, who patrol the station beneath the arena, have been told to expect a Swift wedding the weekend of July 4. Such an event would bring a spectacle to Midtown Manhattan in the height of an already busy tourist season. On July 4, the annual fireworks show in Lower Manhattan will be bigger than usual for the nation’s 250th birthday, and a flotilla of tall ships from around the world will sail into New York Harbor. The city has also seen an influx of visitors for the FIFA World Cup, and a game is scheduled on July 5.

…Of course Ms. Swift could be undertaking an intricate ruse. But New York City agencies are proceeding with the expectation that a major Swift event will happen on July 3, said the people who have knowledge of the plans. While the sports arena might seem like an unusual wedding venue, it is popular for lavish events, including the 1974 wedding of the musician Sly Stone.

And there are obvious draws for Ms. Swift: The venue’s highly controlled and windowless environment provides security and privacy, and, with reports of plans for a custom stage, it would be an ideal setting should Ms. Swift or her celebrity friends want to perform. There is a discrete entrance and ramp to the arena that allows black cars to bring celebrities inside.

The couple would also be able to control images coming from the event in a way that would be difficult to do in an open air venue. There has also been speculation that the Garden might not be the site of the actual nuptials. The couple might exchange vows elsewhere ahead of time and could use the venue for a reception.

[From The NY Times]

The NYT is trying to hedge their bets and say that even with the permits and the city workers’ preparations, it could all still be a ruse. But I don’t think Taylor and Travis would do *that* much just to throw people off the scent. I think it’s actually happening at MSG. Taylor Swift is genuinely going to have her wedding at the Garden. It’s bonkers. I’ve already seen the Swifties swarm on anyone criticizing their queen’s taste level, but I think it’s totally legitimate to ask why in the world Taylor Swift would decide to RENT OUT THE GARDEN FOR HER WEDDING. It’s an admission that the whole thing will be a circus no matter what, I guess.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Taylor Swift’s Instagram.

Amazon MGM Studios is trying to get serious about James Bond. Last year, Jeff Bezos reportedly laid out $1 billion to secure the 007 IP with no strings attached. Since then, the Amazon team has been slowly trying to put together the first post-Broccoli-family James Bond movie. They have a director attached (Denis Villeneuve), but as far I know, they don’t have a script nor do they have a new James Bond. Well, Deadline has a big update on how the casting situation is going. August will be a big month where they narrow down a 007 shortlist. So far, the shortlist already includes Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner, who we already knew. But this is the first I’m hearing about Harris Dickinson being seriously in the mix?

Fans of the James Bond franchise are getting closer to finding out who will next play the iconic spy for future installments. Sources tell Deadline that producers and director Denis Villeneuve have begun informing talent who have made the next round of auditions, which will occur later this summer. Villeneuve has been calling talent directly and while Deadline has not been able to confirm any names at this time sources say the auditions are set to take place in August. Amazon MGM Studios, who is distributing and producing the pic, had no comment.

As for how many actors will test in August, while one source says they expect producers to cast a wide net, the exact number of actors is unknown with some sources saying between 5-7 while others said in the teens.

General meetings have been going on with talent all the way back to when Amy Pascal and David Heyman were tapped as producers in spring of 2025. Nina Gold, who closed a deal in April to be the casting director on the film, has been meeting with actors for the past several weeks, but sources say those meetings were for lesser known names to see if anyone should be added to the list of prominent actors expected to get a call for the next round.

With those auditions wrapping, insiders say Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman have started making contact with actors over the past week to inform them about the August auditions. Actors like Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi fit the prototype of who producers are eyeing for this next leg of auditions, but again no names have been confirmed at this time.

Though it still feels like we are a ways away from finding out who will play 007, the timing fits with the studio having their actor by the end of the year so that production can begin some time in 2027.

Since landing full creative control of the franchise this year, Amazon MGM has been thorough in its search for the behind-the-scenes talent that will be overseeing the development of this next pic in the series. Pascal and Heyman were first to be brought on, and after meeting with a number of directors the studio tapped Villeneuve to direct. The same steps were also taken before tapping Steven Knight last summer to pen the script, and, since then, the focus has been on getting the story in the right place before auditioning actors to play the role.

[From Deadline]

While I have little faith in this given Amazon’s involvement, I will give them credit for really taking their time, developing the script, hiring competent and knowledgeable people and refusing to rush. It looks like some people learned what NOT to do from watching Disney screw up the post-George Lucas Star Wars movies. We’ll see. As for the Bond casting calls… are they retaining anyone from the previous movies? Ralph Fiennes would still be welcome as M, and I loved Ben Whishaw as Q. Are they being replaced too? Hm. I also find Harris Dickinson’s inclusion fascinating. I’m a big fan, and I think he’s an underrated actor. He might be too realistic as a spy though? I’m pretty sure he’s probably what a real field operative would look like – a little bit sleazy/seductive, able to blend in, with a jolie-laide quality. All of which to say, he would be such an interesting choice, but I doubt he’ll be cast.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

My algorithm has been evil all week. All I’m seeing are fights between Americans and Europeans over air-conditioning. The Great AC Debate has been raging because much of Europe is experiencing yet another historic heat wave. France just experienced their hottest day on record. Spain and Italy are melting away. Tens of thousands of people will likely die of heat stroke, as they do every year in Europe. In England, it’s reaching 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoons. In the UK and Europe, the lack of AC in private and public spaces has become a massive public health issue. And yet Europeans still have enough (sweaty) energy to yell at gauche, air-conditioned Americans when we suggest “buying a window-mounted AC unit” or “investing in AC in all public spaces.”

Well, the UK is still trying to come up with other, non-AC solutions for their now-annual heat waves. Keeping a stiff upper lip and blaming Meghan Markle isn’t cutting it. England and Wales are shutting down their schools this week. And now King Charles has canceled the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. The last thing tourists need to see is a bunch of grown men in giant bearskin hats passed out in 100-degree heat in front of the palace.

It is so hot in Britain that the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been suspended for the rest of the week.

The decision is a rare move from The Household Division, which oversees the ceremonial duties of the British Army and comes during one of the busiest seasons for British tourism – with many spectators flocking to royal residences to witness the historic military handover.

The United Kingdom is under an extreme high-temperature warning, with the national weather service warning that temperatures could reach higher than 39° C (102.2° F). A red alert is rare and the warning from the national weather service cites a risk to life for even healthy individuals.

“Due to the forecasted excessive temperatures expected this week across the country the daily Ceremonial Operations will be slightly changed to take the hot weather into account,” The Household Division said in a statement, adding that there would be no ceremonial guard changes at Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace on Wednesday or Thursday.

The United Kingdom’s maximum June temperature record is expected to be broken this week, according to the Met Office, and authorities say the soaring temperatures could significantly impact health and public transport networks.

[From USA Today]

So it might not have been the king who canceled it, but I hope he at least approved of this. There really is no reason for it to continue. I know it’s a tourist thing, but for the love of God. Charles doesn’t even live at BP! He’s barely there!

Speaking of, the photos I’m including in this post are from Wednesday – Charles hosted a London Climate Action Week reception at St. James’s Palace. A military man, “retired Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Household,” was tasked with hovering behind Charles while holding a small electric fan and aiming it at the king alone. This is how BEYONCE does it, by the way. She has a fan guy too, only her fan is a lot bigger. It’s insane that Charles and all of these men turned up in suits and ties. In heat waves, it should be “business shorts and polos.” According to the Mail, Charles’ staff did set up other fans around the room and a nurse was on stand-by in case anyone passed out in SJP, which does not have even one air-conditioned room.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

This week, the Times of London published a piece about (what else) the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to the UK. Specifically, these horrible people have already started wringing their hands and screaming about whether Harry and Meghan will bring “Netflix cameras” into the sanctity of a castle and demand to take photos of King Charles with Archie and Lili. They’re calling it the “money shot.” It would not occur to these people that if Harry wants photos of his children with their grandfather, it’s literally the most normal family thing ever, especially given Charles still has cancer. Well, at least one royal commentator thinks her royalist brethren are being much too gross about all of this. Sort of. Jennie Bond wrote a piece in the i Newspaper about photos with grandfathers and more. An excerpt:

The vitriol that’s constantly spat out when Harry and Meghan are mentioned appalls me. And now, with their visit to the UK just around the corner, it has been suggested that they are looking for the so-called “money shot”: a picture of their children with their grandfather, the King.

Yes, of course that photo would be gold dust. It would probably break the internet. But in my view it’s unlikely to happen without a cast-iron assurance that it would remain private. If it were released by the Sussexes, it wouldn’t be just the internet that was broken. Any progress made towards reconciliation between the King and his younger son would be smashed to bits once and for all.

Trust between the King and Harry and Meghan is still on very shaky ground. The Oprah interview, the Netflix tell-all series and Harry’s scathing memoir blew a giant hole in the Palace ramparts. During decades of royal reporting, I’ve found that one truth remains unshakeable. Those in the royals’ inner circle who know what’s going on do not talk. Those who do talk are not really in that inner circle. But suddenly, shockingly, the family found it had two of its own spilling the beans. Feelings were hurt but, more importantly, trust was kiboshed.

Now, three years later, the Prince has said he wants his children to understand their heritage – and it’s a pretty amazing heritage for a seven-year-old and five-year-old to comprehend. It would therefore be perfectly reasonable to ask the King to be pictured with them. Any family would do the same. But this is not any family. I hope that, behind the scenes, there has been enough communication between father and son for the Charles to feel comfortable about seeing Archie and Lilibet and confident enough to pose for a family photo. But I’m not convinced.

And that’s a terrible shame. Because, at the heart of this long-running and bitter rift are two small children. I have grandchildren of almost exactly the same age and they take in more than we might sometimes realise. They can pick up on family tensions, and surely Archie and Lilibet must sometimes wonder why their friends have grandfathers and they apparently do not.

Which brings us to Thomas Markle. Just like Harry and Meghan, he too has caused hurt and sown mistrust. He admitted lying about staged paparazzi pictures of him preparing for his daughter’s wedding, and he repeatedly gave media interviews about the breakdown of their relationship. But he is now elderly and not in the best of health, having had his leg amputated last year. How about a family photo with him? As Harry said in an interview last year, life is precious and there’s no point in continuing to fight. The children surely deserve to know both of their grandfathers before it’s too late.

[From The i Newspaper]

Whoever had “what about Thomas Markle” on the royal bingo card, collect your prize. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next few weeks will bring some big new exclusive interviews with the one-legged Thomas Markle. It will probably be a big Daily Mail cover story: “Why Won’t Harry and Meghan Bring Their Kids to See Me Too??” Poor Archie and Lili, honestly – imagine having terrible grandfathers on both sides of the family. At least they have Doria though. As for the photos of the kids… this is yet another situation where the British royalists would do absolutely anything to see the kids or get photos of the kids, but they can’t admit that openly so they create these convoluted arguments about how the Sussexes want to show off their kids, therefore the tabloids will be completely justified in publishing ANY photo of the children.

Photos and screenshots courtesy of Avalon Red, GB News and Meghan’s Instagram.

This wins the prize for the most bonkers piece of royal commentary of the week. It was a tough battle, as it always is, but this one definitely takes the cake: “Harriet Sperling isn’t copying Princess Kate – she’s doing what Meghan never could.” That’s a column by Alicia Liberty in the Daily Express. She points out that Peter Phillips’ new bride is very obviously wearing Princess Kate-inspired fashion, but then Liberty takes it to a whole other place. Apparently, Harriet Sperling is better than the Duchess of Sussex because … MEGHAN copied KATE! We have not spent years creating side-by-side comparisons of Kate copying Meghan’s style for anyone to credibly make this claim.

The internet has finally found someone new to accuse of copying Princess Catherine. For years, Meghan Markle was the woman constantly measured against the Princess of Wales. Now, as the royal spotlight increasingly moves on, Harriet Sperling aka the new Mrs Phillips’ has found herself at the centre of exactly the same conversation. But there is one crucial difference.

The Meghan comparisons often felt rooted in rivalry. Harriet feels rooted in respect. One appeared to invite competition with the future Queen; the other looks more like admiration for the woman who has become the gold standard of modern royal style.

For years, royal fashion fans accused Meghan Markle of borrowing from her wardrobe. Every coat, every dress, every pair of heels sparked another round of social media debate. Was Meghan inspired by Catherine? Was it a coincidence? Was it a copy? The truth hardly mattered. Once the narrative took hold, it has become impossible to shake – even to this very day. Every appearance became a contest. Every outfit became a comparison. Every photograph was dissected as though it were evidence in a criminal investigation. Now, Meghan has seemingly left the chat.

In her place stands Harriet. Mrs Phillips has barely had time to settle into royal life, yet social media has already decided she is the latest woman copying Kate.

But here’s where I think people are getting it wrong. Harriet doesn’t strike me as someone trying to become the next Princess of Wales. She strikes me as someone trying to learn from her. And frankly, can you blame her? Let’s be brutally honest. If you suddenly found yourself dating into the Royal Family, attending society weddings, Royal Ascot, charity galas and formal engagements, who would you study? The woman who has spent more than a decade navigating every one of those occasions almost flawlessly.

Catherine has become the blueprint. Not just for royal women. For women generally. Women attending high profile events, women who are entering the work place, the list is endless. There is a reason the “Kate effect” still exists after all these years. There is a reason dresses sell out within hours of her wearing them. There is a reason every royal woman eventually ends up being compared to her. Whether people like it or not, she is the benchmark.

The difference between Harriet and Meghan lies in the optics. Fairly or unfairly, Meghan often appeared determined to position herself as Catherine’s equal. The media framed them as rivals. Supporters treated them as competitors. Every move became a battle for popularity. Who wore it better? Who looked better? Who was winning? The entire game has become exhausting.

[From The Daily Express]

“The entire game has become exhausting” because this person has twisted herself in knots to bizarrely claim that Meghan dresses like Kate. A huge reason why Kate was so deeply uncomfortable with Meghan is because Meghan was and is so effortlessly stylish, so chic and modern. That’s why Kate immediately began to adopt a more “inspired-by-Meghan” look in 2017-18. The reason why Kate-fans are exhausted is because the evidence has never been there to support their claims that Meghan wanted to dress like Kate. But sure, there’s plenty of evidence that Harriet has a Kate moodboard. What’s also funny about that is… Harriet wore it better.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

In 2024, Prince Harry hopped on a plane and made a grueling eleven-hour flight to England, just so he could see his father in person after King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis. Charles met Harry for less than an hour at Clarence House. It was a huge moment and there was a ridiculous amount of gossip about it, not least of which was because Queen Camilla couldn’t shut up about it. Camilla couldn’t keep her stories straight about the meeting between father and son. Either she was in the room or she wasn’t, either she listened at the door or she just made up lies about what was said, I still don’t know. But there was definitely a panicked air around Cam. My theory was that Charles told her to go away for an hour while he spoke to Harry, and Camilla decided to “punish” Harry for it by spreading lies about what happened in the meeting.

So, what will happen if and when Charles meets with the Sussexes next month? Will Camilla be ordered to decamp to Ray Mill? Will she actually try to stagger her way into the reunion? Will she be sent out of the country? LMAO. Please allow the British tabloids to spin it any way they can:

Queen Camilla will be steering well clear of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their return to the United Kingdom, it is claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly set to stay in Buckingham Palace this July – but as King Charles prepares to open royal doors, The Queen is reportedly unconvinced by the pair’s crawl back into the UK spotlight.

Speaking with host JJ Anisiobi on an explosive episode of the Daily Expresso show, Daily Express columnist Carole Malone said: “Camilla is not going to be around when they [the Sussexes] arrive. I don’t blame her, because Harry slagged her off big time.”

The comments come after The Times reported Her Majesty is “unlikely to get involved” with any chats with Harry and Meghan, and plans to deliberately avoid them from her Ray Mill home in Wiltshire.

Carole went on to discuss the harsh remarks made in Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare about Queen Camilla, referencing it as a reason behind her reluctance to see her stepson this July. She said: “He used his entire childhood and his relationships with all of his family, and he sold them to people. He sold them to the highest bidder. That book is the most hideous thing you can do to betray your family in that way.”

[From The Daily Express]

“He used his entire childhood and his relationships with all of his family, and he sold them to people.” He told his own story after being neglected, abused, attacked and threatened into silence. Still, I find it interesting that we’re already hearing about Camilla being sent away or choosing to go away. Either Charles has found some kind of late-stage backbone or Camilla would genuinely prefer to just sit in her own garden and day-drink rather than scheme against Charles’ sons. Why not both, though. I imagine the phone lines at Ray Mill will be working overtime during the Sussexes’ visit.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

Olivia Wilde is currently promoting The Invite, which she stars in and directed. The Invite is the first film she directed since the extremely messy situation with 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling, which was her second film as director. Gossip nostalgia: during DWD’s production, Olivia allegedly left Jason Sudeikis for Harry Styles, fought with Florence Pugh and was so toxic to several actors, they later called her out on her lies and BS. Olivia’s behavior was so ridiculous and her lies so outrageous, she had Shia LaBeouf looking like a model of sobriety. One of the stories which I still find absolutely bonkers is that Olivia was so enamored with Harry Styles, she would go off with Harry and she wasn’t even on the set to direct several scenes. That was seemingly the root of Olivia and Florence Pugh’s beef as well. Why this trip down memory lane? Because Olivia referenced some of this in her cover profile in The Cut. Some highlights:

The rumors about Don’t Worry Darling: Tabloids revealed she was dating Harry Styles, her decade-younger co-star, and reported on alleged major friction between star Florence Pugh and Wilde. The buzz was bad. “I have never had a screaming match on my set. I was never not available on set. I wanted to be like, ‘None of this is true,’” she now says about those rumors.

The backlash hurt her: Still, the experience took its toll. Hollywood “has robbed me of my naïveté for sure,” Wilde says. “I deeply hate the feeling of being misunderstood, too.” Jennifer Garner schooled her early in her career, when they starred together in a 2011 indie film called Butter, about how actresses get categorized. “She said it’s like you get cast in a soap opera by the public,” Wilde remembers. “And they assign you an obvious archetype: the damsel in distress, the good girl, the pretty girl.” Wilde says she was initially cast as “an object of desire.” But in the past few years, she feels her character was rewritten: “I became the full-on villain. Like Cruella.”

She doesn’t regret her relationship with Harry Styles: She describes that relationship to me as “loving and wonderful and joyful.” (The pair dated for around two years until late 2022.) But she hates that she didn’t directly, publicly acknowledge the negative buzz around the film and her personal life. The studio and others involved wanted her to stay stoic. “I was told, ‘Don’t say a f–king word. Just go out there and smile,’” she recalls, shaking her head. “I resent that, but it taught me it’s not the way I want to handle things.”

Rebuilding: After Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde took a few years to rebuild herself and do some therapy. She read books by Eve Babitz and Carrie Fisher and started journaling. “I don’t think you know what you’re made of until you fall apart. I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t had their heart broken,” she says. “If you can push through the moment you have previously identified as the worst possible thing that could happen to you, whether that is divorce or the internet hating you or whatever, you are forged into something way better than you could have possibly imagined.”

Coparenting with Jason Sudeikis. “We’re very, very, very different people who are certainly much better as friends and co-parents,” Wilde says matter-of-factly of Sudeikis. The children alternate weeks between Mom and Dad, and according to her, the arrangement is “flexible and fluid.”

She’s probably dating art dealer Caspar Jopling: She’s been cautious about how to refer to her relationship in public. “When you’re with someone who’s not in the entertainment industry or isn’t a public figure, I have a sense of, I want to protect this person as much as I can.” But she’s excited. “I’m in a really lovely relationship now. I adore him, and I feel completely whole and intact as a person,” says Wilde, flashing a grin. “I think it’s only possible after spending a couple years alone. If you haven’t ever been single for a few years, how do you even know who you are?”

[From The Cut]

What’s funny about the “they advised me not to say anything” is that it was probably her publicist trying to do damage-control on all of Olivia’s lies. I even wrote that in my coverage at the time, that her publicist needed to sit on her to get her to stop talking, such was the steady stream of BS coming out of Olivia’s mouth. As for the “Miss Flo” situation… while there were rumors that Olivia and Florence had a loud fight during DWD’s production, the bigger story (and the rumor which stuck around) was that Florence had huge issues with Olivia’s unprofessional behavior, and that Florence went to the studio to complain (and the studio took Florence’s side). Florence came out of that mess completely unscathed, and she probably won a lot of new fans for how she handled herself. All of which to say, I’m not really buying Olivia’s comments now.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red. Cover courtesy of The Cut.

Yet another conspiracy about the Duchess of Sussex is brewing, and Tom Sykes’ Royalist Substack is here to throw gasoline on the fire. The conspiracy? Per Sykes, “Meghan Markle’s UK Visit Coincides with Baffling ‘As Ever’ Summer Marketing Push.” In other words, “why is Meghan promoting As Ever in the same way she has since she started the brand last year?” They find it “baffling” that a successful brand… sends out bi-weekly emails and posts cute Instagram reels. Shock, horror, capitalism!! If I’m being honest, I thought As Ever’s “Summer Hostess” email blast last week was a magnificent troll, but the pearl-clutching royalists are appalled at the very idea that Meghan’s jam might taint the homewrecker queen consort, the tampon king and the incandescent heir.

As headlines swirl around Meghan Markle’s proposed return to the UK for the first time in four years, the Duchess has taken the opportunity to promote her lifestyle brand, As Ever, with a distinctly strange new Instagram video.

In the clip, Meghan is seen strolling through a garden carrying a wicker basket overflowing with carefully arranged fruit and vegetables, before posing with a cup of tea, presumably one from her As Ever collection, where tea bags retail for $14.

It’s all very odd: Hand in her pocket and glancing back with a smile as she sips her tea, the one thing for sure is that Meghan is very much the star of her own carefully curated scene. But hey, while everyone else is debating why/whether she has chosen to return to Britain next month, after years spent putting as much distance as possible between herself and the Royal Family, the Duchess is using the moment to keep the spotlight firmly on her products and her brand.

The Instagram clip, posted on Tuesday and captioned “A basket full of summer,” appears to be a careful piece of marketing. While Harry and Meghan have struggled with their popularity in Britain since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, even criticism can translate into clicks, and clicks are something the Duchess of Sussex needs.

According to estimates cited by Newsweek, As Ever had attracted just under 400,000 U.S. visitors since January, as of the beginning of this month, making the renewed attention surrounding her return to Britain a potentially valuable opportunity to drive interest in her brand.

Meghan’s dip in popularity with Americans appears to have coincided with a slowdown in traffic to her As Ever online store, suggesting that a warm royal homecoming could help reverse that trend. But while renewed royal associations may boost interest in her brand, many remain uncomfortable with what they see as the commercialization of royal status.

[From The Royalist Substack]

The Windsors and their defenders lack imagination. Anyone with a business/PR background would have advised the palace to lean into Meghan’s “commercialization” and go tit-for-tat. The Buckingham Palace gift shop should have updated their site with a “Summer Hostess” special highlighting similar products. They could have even made a cheeky comment about jam or wine or flower sprinkles. Anything to show that the Windsors aren’t actually this priggish, dull and bum-clenching. Anyway, as I said, Meghan and the As Ever team are just adhering to their promotional strategy which was already in place before all of the news about the UK trip. But but but Netflix cameras! OneOff! Jam! She’s broke! She’s profiting from her royal association! Expiration dates! Commercialization! It’s always going to be something.

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A post shared by @aseverofficial

Photos courtesy of As Ever’s Instagram, As Ever’s promo emails and Meghan’s Instagram.

Last week, Kensington Palace announced that Prince George will attend Eton, starting in the next school year. It was a three-year ordeal to come to that decision, as the Princess of Wales threw everything she had to somehow force George to go to a different school. Kate lost that battle, and it’s super-interesting to me that she failed at maybe her sole passion project in the past three years. As it turns out, Prince William always wanted George to go to Eton, so that’s what happened. I suspect that William wants George away from all of the Middleton influences, but it’s more than possible that William’s train of thought was more like “I loved Eton, so George will too.” Well, all of this is discussed ad nauseum in this week’s People Magazine cover story. Some highlights:

Why George will go to Eton: “Eton was a much-needed haven for William,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role.”

The Wales kids have been out of the spotlight: “They have been very careful not to pressure any of them to appear on the public stage too often,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson tells PEOPLE. “It’s been a gentle introduction to royal life, which has let Prince George build his confidence.”

Researching schools: “Both William and Catherine carried out a lot of research to make the right decision,” says Anderson.

George wanted to follow his dad’s path: Plus, a source close to the family tells PEOPLE, “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.” Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton costs about $80,000 a year and has educated generations of leaders, including 20 prime ministers. Prince Harry, 41, also attended the school, where his experience differed markedly from Prince William’s. Come September, George will become the latest royal to don Eton’s iconic black tailcoat, waistcoat and pin-striped trousers.

A diverse student body?? “Yes, Eton stands for tradition, but it has moved with the times and now has a more diverse student body than it had—even in William’s day,” says Bedell Smith. “I think their decision hinges on the school’s academic excellence and the many ways it develops its students for leadership roles.”

A posh circle of friends: “George will benefit from a group of friends who will remain close and loyal,” says Bedell Smith. Adds Anderson: “William loved his time at Eton, but he would have thought about what school would be the best for George’s strengths, qualities and personality.”

Kate’s health stuggles: Adds Bedell Smith: “George’s great advantage is that he comes from a stable and loving home that appears to have become even more so as a result of Catherine’s illness. For George, it had to be a maturing experience that has given him an extra measure of empathy.”

[From People]

Speaking of Kate’s health issues in 2024, I always wondered if part of the “Kate’s comeback” deal involved certain things for the kids. As in, did the Middletons try to negotiate the kids’ future schools? And if so, did William just renege on part of the 2024 deal? I guess my larger question is this: is Kate’s nose out of joint about George going to Eton? Given her barely-there schedule in recent months, I think it’s very likely that she’s pouting because she didn’t get her way. Anyway, despite these claims that Eton has a more diverse student body these days, it feels like George is simply going to Eton because he’s being trained to be a posh colonizer, just like his dad.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images. Cover courtesy of People.

The woman in these photos is Emma Thynn, also known as the Marchioness of Bath. She’s gotten a lot of heat and attention in the past year because she signed up for a tacky Bravo reality show called Ladies of London: The New Reign. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s ex-fiancee and baby-mother Dara Huang was also briefly on the show, until she quit in a scandalous blaze of glory amid rumors of inter-cast beef, not to mention the rumors that she’d worked (at one point) as a madam. But Dara was a side-story compared to Emma Thynn’s attempts to break into international stardom. Within the show, Emma’s introduction was very heavy on the “comparison” to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Emma and her associates have dutifully pushed storylines about how Meghan has “copied” Emma (by being Black and selling jam), and the British press has fervently promoted Emma’s A-list status, unlike Emma’s “rival” Meghan. Well, funny story. Ladies of London is being soft-canceled.

The new reign of the Ladies of London has been cut short as Bravo has hit the pause button on the reality TV series.

Bravo premiered Ladies of London: The New Reign in March of this year and it will not move forward with a new season, for now. The network rarely outright cancels a show and instead puts shows on an indefinite “pause.”

Ladies of London originally premiered in 2014 and ran for three seasons before a “pause” of almost ten years. In 2025, Bravo ordered a new season of the franchise with a whole new cast, which premiered earlier this year.

Season 4 of the franchise was dubbed “The New Reign” and featured Lady Emma Thynn, Martha Sitwell, Mark-Francis Vandelli, Lottie Kane, Missè Beqiri, Kimi Murdoch, Myka Meier, and Margo Stilley.

Ladies of London: The New Reign is produced by BBC Studios. Ryan O’Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Craig Turner, Bill Fritz, and Kathleen French executive produce.

[From Deadline]

All that hype just for one season? I thought Emma Thynn was an A-lister? I thought she was a worthy “rival” to Meghan? I was told that if you have a title and you stay on the Windsors’ good side, that’s all you need for fame and fortune? You mean the self-promoting Emma Thynn was doing all of that just to get canceled after one season? Fascinating.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.

When is it too hot to walk your dog? The RSPCA says … there is no “safe” temperature for walks, as it depends on your dog’s breed, age, health and temperament. The charity also recommends the pavement test: if you can’t comfortably hold your hand on the ground for five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. … The charity says these signs could mean your dog is suffering in the heat: limping or refusing to walk, licking or chewing at their feet, their foot pads are darker in colour or damaged, they have visible blisters or redness.

Signs of heatstroke: Some dogs are more at risk of heatstroke than others. This includes those with underlying health conditions or thick coats which can trap heat. Puppies or older dogs may also struggle to regulate their temperature. Dogs pant to keep themselves cool, but the shorter snouts of certain flat-faced breeds like bulldogs and pugs make this difficult. … According to the PDSA, symptoms of heatstroke include excessive panting, drooling or foaming, confusion, shaking, weakness and collapse, vomiting or diarrhoea, seizures.

How to treat heatstroke: First try to cool your dog down as quickly as possible. Move them to a shaded area and slowly pour any available water that’s cooler than the dog’s temperature over their body, avoiding their head in case they are struggling to breathe. Do not cover them in damp or wet towels as this can trap heat. The faster you can bring their temperature down, the lower the risk of serious injury. Once your pet has started to cool down, contact your vet for guidance and possible further treatment.

Cool tricks: Provide plenty of clean water — you can add ice cubes to their water bowl. Pets may also enjoy frozen edible snacks. Put wet or damp towels underneath their body — but don’t place them directly on top. Several pet cooling mats and jackets are available, but make sure you follow the instructions. Products that need to be kept constantly wet can actually make your pet hotter if they dry out. Some animals may enjoy playing with frozen toys, or cooling off in a paddling pool — although you should always supervise pets around water.

Sunscreen for Spot? Dogs and cats can get sunburnt — especially if they are light-coloured or have thin patches of fur. Ears, noses, eyelids and bellies are also vulnerable. Sunburn can be painful for pets, and in extreme cases can lead to skin cancer. Some active ingredients in human sun cream are toxic to pets so vets recommend using a pet-safe waterproof sunscreen, with an SPF rating of 30 or higher. … Gently apply a thin layer of sunscreen on the exposed white and light patches of skin, plus their nose and ears. The PDSA warns pet owners to look out for the following symptoms of sunburn: blisters, crusting, itching, redness.

[From BBC News]

Woof, I guess I’ll be shopping for doggie sunscreen tonight, because My Guy is just as pale and pink-skinned as his mama. Even some of his paw pads are pink! I haven’t noticed in him any of the symptoms they mention — blisters, crusting, itching, redness — and I keep us in the shade as much as possible, but we do live in a city so he’s trotting on pavement. We’ve actually been seeing a lot more of our friends stepping out in little booties, but My Guy thinks everything that size is a toy and I can just see him gnawing them off. But back to sunscreen… The BBC article suggested trying out just a little bit of sunscreen and observing for 24 hours to see if your dog has any bad reactions. They also said some lotions are made bitter-tasting on purpose so that dogs won’t lick it off. Or another approach is to apply the sunscreen and sit with your pup and keep them from licking for about 10 minutes to make sure the sunscreen sets in.

Also, I didn’t excerpt it but the article did bring up perhaps the most important rule for being a pooch parent in the summer (or any season, really): never ever ever EVER leave your dog in the car! Just ask Kelly Ripa.

Photos credit: Christina Brik, Kampus Productions, Jorge Zaldívar Marroquín and Graham Ellis on Pexels