Charles returns to duty as Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith blasts Meghan – live

During Tuesday night’s episode of Celebrity Big Brother, viewers heard Kate Middleton’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, talk about the royal family in detail for the first time.

The 58-year-old businessman is expected to cause a stir in royal circles after entering the house for the relaunched show this week.

And Mr Goldsmith was quick with criticism for Meghan Markle. He told housemates: “So I have an opinion that Harry was really, really really loved and when they were a threesome, so Kate, William and Harry they got really comfortable together.

“And then suddenly there’s an extra dynamic that comes in, puts a stick in the spokes and creates so much drama that I don’t genuinely think is there, and rewrites the history, saying they’re unhappy with us and I just don’t think that’s fair.”

The King has sent a written message expressing his deepest sympathies following the death of former president of Tanzania Ali Hassan Mwinyi, calling him a “true friend” of the UK.

Charles praised Mr Mwinyi, who died last week at the age of 98, for being a “leading figure” in Tanzania’s economic and political development.

He recalled his mother the late Queen hosting the president for lunch at Buckingham Palace with then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1988.

Charles said in his message to the president of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan: “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Mwinyi.

“He was a true friend of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and a leading figure in Tanzania’s economic and political development. I can only offer you my deepest sympathy at his passing.”

He added: “The United Kingdom was delighted to invite President Mwinyi to London in 1988, when he was hosted by my mother, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for lunch at Buckingham Palace, and met prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

“I understand that this was his first official visit to Europe and he was able to make great strides in cementing the United Kingdom-Tanzania relationship.

“My special thoughts and prayers are with former President Mwinyi’s family and the Tanzanian people at this time.”

King Charles has held a virtual audience with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today.

Pictures from Wednesday show the leader appear on a screen via videolink while Charles sits at his desk at Buckingham Palace.

Gymnasts Becky and Ellie Downie have said being appointed MBEs after speaking publicly about abuse in the sport has shown they “100% did the right thing”.

Ellie, 24, retired at the age of 23 because of concerns about her mental health and the way she was treated in the sport.

The sisters were recognised for their services to the sport of gymnastics and also for their services to gymnasts at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on Wednesday.

Speaking about the honour, Ellie said: “It definitely makes it feel that we 100% did the right thing, and we’re pushing the sport in the right direction.

“I’m a year post-retirement, I definitely wasn’t expecting anything to come like this.

“Now that we’ve done the ceremony and got the award in our hands, it’s definitely mind-blowing and an honour to be recognised in such a remarkable way.

“Speaking out was a hard thing for us to do and say what we needed to say. To make everybody feel like they have a voice in this world is super important.”

Becky, 32, said the pair spoke to the Princess Royal during the ceremony about how they got into the sport before she wished them both luck.

“This (MBE) is something that is forever and that means more than any medal could,” she continued.

“It still feels a bit surreal, to be honest. Just a massive honour.”

The diplomatic audiences were the King’s first this year, and the first since his diagnosis.

He was pictured in a smart morning suit – his customary attire for the traditional face-to-face meetings with new ambassadors.

Charles smiled broadly as he greeted and chatted with his guests in the Palace’s grand 1844 Room.

The King also sent a written message expressing his deepest sympathies following the death of former president of Tanzania Ali Hassan Mwinyi, calling him a “true friend” of the UK.

TMZ published a picture of the princess wearing dark sunglasses in the black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.

The photo – understood to have been taken by unauthorised paparazzi on Monday – is the first of Kate since she was pictured during a Christmas Day walk in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic for a planned operation on January 16 and left the hospital on January 29 – almost two weeks later.

The 42-year-old returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her three children, Kensington Palace said.

Details of the princess’s condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private.

A week after she left hospital, the King announced he had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment.

Kate is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter, and William, 41, temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children.

Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, were expected to be hands-on in helping the Waleses.

Gary Goldsmith, who is the younger brother of Kate Middleton’s mother, Carole, made his much-anticipated debut on the revived Celebrity Big Brother.

Gary said he was incensed at racism claims against Kate after writer Omid Scobie alleged that King Charles and the Princess of Wales had asked Meghan and Harry what colour son Archie’s skin might be in a dutch translation of his book Endgame.

Gary added: “It’s absolute bull***t and I didn’t hide my feelings very well when I was offered the opportunity to say something, I just thought I’d say it as I saw it. I did think I caught the tone of nation.

“Kate is 100 per cent not racist, neither is Carole. My family is not racist and for Kate to be portrayed as that is just so far removed from the truth, it’s ridiculous.”

Penny Mordaunt has said that she will be selling the “iconic” caped teal dress she wore to King Charles’s coronation.

The leader of the House of Commons, 51, was the first woman to present a British monarch with the Sword of Offering at the ceremony last year, and the first woman in history to proclaim a new monarch.

For the occasion, Mordaunt wore a show-stealing teal caped gown, embroidered with a fern motif in a nod to the privy council, designed by luxury ready-to-wear brand Safiyaa. The teal colour, called “Poseidon”, is a reference to her Portsmouth constituency.

She arrived at the ceremony wearing ballerina flats with studded bows, and later changed into a pair of nude stilettos.

The look went viral on social media with royal fans admiring her ensemble. “Who had ‘Penny Mordaunt overshadowing everything’ on their bingo card?” wrote one person on X/Twitter at the time.