New Idea 23 July 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked proud and delighted as they celebrated their 11-week-old son Prince Louis’ christening alongside their older children, George and Charlotte. The Cambridges were all smiles during their first public appearance as a family of five, despite the surprise absence of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, who were unable to attend. But as planned, William and Kate ensured it was an intimate occasion, held at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, with just 30 guests. Included in the party were the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the newly-married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her siblings, James and Pippa, among others. Conducting the service was the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who greeted the…

Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, is one of William’s oldest friends who went to school with him at Ludgrove prep school and Eton. William was an usher at his wedding to Louise Stourton in January 2011. Guy Pelly has been a close friend of William and Harry since they were teenagers and once had a reputation as a hell-raiser who led the royal brothers astray. Lady Laura Meade is the wife of William and Kate’s friend James Meade who is godfather to Princess Charlotte. She and her siblings are close to the Middletons as well as to William. Lucy Middleton is Kate’s cousin on her father Michael’s side and the only family member among the godparents. She works as a solicitor specialising in media litigation. Nicholas van Cutsem is a childhood friend. A Major in the Life…

We’ve seen Prince George, who turns five this week, seem wiser than his age on many occasions and sources reveal to New Idea that the tiny royal is already receiving ‘king classes’. According to palace insiders, there are great expectations the tot will make a great monarch one day. Her Majesty believes George is mature for his years and has really high hopes for him. She is certain he will make a wonderful king one day. ‘She’s asked William and Catherine to start training him for his future role as king. After his fifth birthday, he will start sitting with The Queen for two hours a week to go through what’s expected of him as heir to the throne and future king. While she’s alive, she wants to pass on as much…

She has always had her heart set on making a career comeback but, after having her hopes of a Hollywood opportunity hampered, insiders reveal to New Idea that Bec Hewitt has now been left mortified by her husband’s ‘meddling’, which has since hurt her acting dreams. According to sources, with a list of demands her ‘jealous’ partner Lleyton took over negotiations for a leading role offered to the former TV star – leaving industry professionals ‘shocked’. Banning all ‘love scenes, intimate moments and nudity’, Lleyton insisted on daily set visits and vetoing fellow actors to play alongside his pretty wife. The source claims the tennis star would spend hours scouring the script and even had contracts changed to make it clear that his wife would have no physical contact with any other man. ‘There…

They’re the leading ladies of Australian TV, sporting megawatt smiles and unwavering professionalism as they present the news each day. But behind the scenes, presenters Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Sylvia Jeffreys are all battling private struggles of their own. CARRIE BICKMORE ‘MY PREGNANCY WOES’ They say third time’s the charm, but that hasn't been the case for Carrie Bickmore. The Project host has opened up about the harsh realities of falling pregnant for the third time at 37. ‘Because I’m older now, it’s harder!’ she told TV Week at the Logie Awards earlier this month. In fact, the presenter has had such a rough slog this time around that a fourth pregnancy may be out of the question entirely! ‘I can’t see myself as a mum-of-four,’ Carrie said. ‘Let’s see how this one goes first.’ This…

For years they were rumoured to be sworn enemies, but behind the scenes Prince Charles and Sarah Ferguson have been hiding a close friendship that goes back many years. But even more sensationally, a royal insider has revealed to New Idea that the pair were once romantically involved. ‘Fergie and Charles were incredibly close before her relationship with Prince Andrew started, and it’s been a closely-guarded secret for decades that they had a wild fling,’ says the source. In fact, the former brother and sister-in-law were so fond of each other that if circumstances had been different, they could have made a perfect royal couple. ‘The truth is that Fergie is absolutely someone that Charles could have married. ‘He’s always loved her cheekiness and fun, and back in the day she really reminded him…