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Aug. 21 (UPI) — Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Liz Hurley and four others who accused the Daily Mail of improper reporting tactics and privacy violations have been ordered by the court to pay the publisher $13 million in legal costs by Aug. 28.

Judge Justice Nicklin ruled on Friday that the claims made by the claimants were “unreasonable to a high degree” and they should have to pay more than what was agreed upon previously. They have until Oct. 2 to file an appeal.

Nicklin dismissed the claims against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail, last month.

The claimants were insured to cover up to $22.1 million of ANL’s legal costs. ANL says it incurred about $47 million in legal costs.

Nicklin’s ruling on Friday means that ANL does not need to show that the costs it incurred were reasonable and proportionate.

“The claims, and the manner in which they were brought, pleaded, pursued, maintained and publicly advanced, involved a combination of circumstances and conduct which took the litigation outside the ordinary and reasonable conduct of civil proceedings,” Nicklin said in his ruling.

Nicklin did not put a limit on the costs that the claimants may have to pay to ANL, though this does not mean that ANL can recover all of its costs. Nicklin did say the costs reported to the court are “excessive,” “striking” and “largely unexplained.”

He explained that he came to this ruling, in part because of the “speculative and substantially inferential character of the claims at their origin,” the “exceptional breadth” of the cases and the “public presentation of allegations of serious criminality and impropriety which were not ultimately established.”

Nicklin added that the claimants did not reassess their allegations when evidence required them to do so.

“The truth is that these outrageous claims should never have been brought,” ANL said in a statement. “That they were pursued raises disturbing questions about the conduct of elements of the legal profession.”

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK – but that’s not the only tie they have to Europe.

The couple are rumoured to have a luxurious bolthole in what is called the ‘European Hamptons‘.

Found in Melides in Portugal, the luxurious CostaTerra is a 722-acre private community with high-profile and celebrity home-owners.

The royal couple reportedly paid £6.3million for a holiday home on the resort in 2023.

The golf and leisure complex is found between the coastal villages of Comporta and Melides which are 90 minutes south of Lisbon.

CostaTerra describes itself as ‘an ideal luxury getaway for families seeking an authentic lifestyle-focused coastal retreat.’

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It has an 18-hole golf course and offers lots of activities for its homeowners like yoga, surfing, sailing, horse riding and bike riding.

One Sun Writer who visited described it as a “well-kept secret” – and it’s also home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe called Galé Fontainhas Beach.

The materials contain iron oxide, which gives them their distinctive reddish-orange colour.

The beach cliffs, reaching over 50 metres in height, and the waters are often clear.

One visitor wrote on a Tripadvisor review: “A real hidden gem. Beautiful clean beach, crystal clear water, just about right waves to have fun in the water, magnificent views from the top of the rocks.”

Another is Gale Beach which has carved sandstone cliffs that one visitor said “could have been cut straight out of the Grand Canyon.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the only members of the royal family to be drawn to this part of Portugal.

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack split their time between the UK and CostaTerra where they also own a house.

Jack actually works in marketing and sales at a private resort itself.

Both Shakira and Madonna have reportedly both enjoyed stays at CostaTerra too.

When one Sun Writer visited the Alentejo coast, she discovered a flamingo-filled lagoon, beautiful rice fields and vineyards.

There are also charming village streets without a single tourist and, perhaps best of all, stunning secret beaches only the locals knew about

Melides has been in existence for more than 500 years and for much of that time it has been a quiet hamlet with a white-cobbled central square

Prince Harry and a group of six other high-profile figures have been ordered to make an initial payment of £9.54m to the Daily Mail’s publisher after they lost their High Court privacy case.

The seven claimants, also including Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley, must pay the initial figure by 28 August – and could potentially pay up to £25m more after that in a victory for Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

The group had sued ANL over allegations of unlawful information-gathering, which the publisher had strenuously denied.

On 7 July, Judge Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the claims and said the public figures had failed to prove the allegations.

It comes just days after the Duke and Duchess announced their plan to return to the UK, with their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, enrolled to start school in September.

The seven claimants who have been ordered to pay an initial £9.5m in the coming week are Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence.

During the trial, dozens of people gave evidence including Prince Harry and the other claimants. The Duke of Sussex flew in from the US to attend court in person.

Many current and former Associated Newspapers journalists and executives gave evidence denying illegal activity.

In a joint statement following the judge’s ruling last month, Prince Harry and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, another claimant and peer whose son Stephen was murdered in 1993, said: “We came to Court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither.”

“It is a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected”, the pair added.

ANL had asked for more than £9.9 million as an interim payment ahead of future hearings to decide its legal costs in depth.

However, lawyers for the claimants said the interim payment should be just over £7.9 million.

Mr Justice Nicklin previously said the claimants would need to pay the interim payment on August 28.

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Aug. 20 (UPI) — Belgium has a new prince after the 26-year-old former car salesman was recognized by the king’s brother as his son.

Clement Vandenkerkhove reportedly joined the royal family in February in a low-key town hall ceremony, which was disclosed Wednesday. The ceremony was required for him to become a prince.

Prince Laurent, King Philippe’s younger brother, last year publicly acknowledged Vandenkerckhove, who was born during Laurent’s seven-year relationship with Flemish former model turned singer Iris Vandenkerckhove.

The younger Vandenkerckhove now has a royal title and a claim to an inheritance after Prince Laurent, 62. He is not included in the line of succession and will not receive a royal allowance.

Vandenkerckhove told Belgian daily Nieuwsblad that he was unsure if he would adopt the royal name of van Saksen-Coburg. “I am proud of the name Vandenkerck­hove,” he said. “Sacrificing that surname would be a betrayal to everything my mother did for me.”

Vandenkerckhove said he suffered anxiety as a child over his identity.

“My whole childhood I struggled with the question, ‘Who is my father?’ When I knew, the secrecy weighed heavily on me,” he told the newspaper. “Imagine: You know who your father is, but you aren’t allowed to tell anyone. After school, I became a car salesman. I liked that job and did it well. But panic attacks were destroying me.”

He said the anxiety eased after he established a relationship with Prince Laurent.

“What matters most to me right now is that I am a son who is allowed to get to know his father,” Vandenkerckhove said, adding that the men share a love of cars.

Prince Laurent later married British-born Claire Louise Coombs, and they have three children.

Aug. 20 (UPI) — Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their two children are expected to leave their California home of the past six years to move back to Britain within days, British media reported Friday.

The family will move into a private residence somewhere outside London with Prince Archie, 7 and Princess Lilibet, 5, already enrolled in a British school for the start of the autumn term in two weeks’ time, according to The Telegraph, the BBC and Independent.

The surprise development comes six years-and-a-half years after the couple made their “declaration of independence” from the royal family in early 2020 and shortly after relocated to Los Angeles, eventually settling in Montecito in Santa Barbara County.

The couple will not be resuming their previous roles as working members of the royal family and their official status will be that of private citizens.

King Charles, who is living with cancer, was only informed about the move on Sunday but was understood to welcome the decision and with it the chance to spend more private time with the Sussexes, and in particular his grandchildren.

The heir to the throne, Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, have also been informed of the Sussex family’s plans. The brothers have been estranged for several years and last saw each other at the 2022 funeral of their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The reason for the move was not clear, but the family reconnected with the king at his Highgrove House residence in July during a visit to the United Kingdom that also saw Harry visit his acestral roots at Althorp in Northamptonshire where his mother, Princess Diana, was raised.

Other outstanding questions include what Harry and Megan will do in Britain. Both are involved in various charity projects, in particular, Harry’s mission for injured military personnel, the Invictus Games.

The other issue is that of security for the family, with Harry waging a long-running battle for state-funded protection for the family during visits to the United Kingdom.

That request was repeatedly denied with the result that the Sussexes never visited Britain as a family until last month, although Harry made dozens of trips for professional reasons and for various legal cases he was pursuing against the press.

PRINCE HARRY has given his royal seal of approval to 2024 Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas.

He told Syd he “felt every word in the back of his throat” after she performed Tomorrow from Annie and Frank Sinatra’s My Way in front of him at David Foster’s charity gala in Canada over the weekend.

Both tracks have poignant lyrics about overcoming difficulties and being beaten down, which is rather apt for Harry, who has endured setback after setback recently.

Speaking from Canada, Syd told me: “When I was on stage, I joked about meeting his dad before adding, ‘Sorry he couldn’t make it. He sent me instead’.

“Oh my god – I say such silly things when I’m nervous, but Harry started laughing.

“When I got down off stage he just came forward and gave me a big cuddle.

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“And he went, ‘Sydnie, I felt every word. I really felt that in the back of my throat’.”

Revealing how the fifth-in-line to the throne ditched royal protocol, Sydnie continued: “He just went in for the hug and I was like, ‘Why not?’.”

Next week, the singer drop her new single Spirit, taken from her second album The Artist, which is due out on October 2.

Teasing the record, Syd said: “This is going to be different from what people know me for.

“I’m just trying to progress and make music that hopefully people like.

“The dream is just to continue touring and making music.

“It’s sounds so simple, but it’s difficult in this day and age.”

Denise has a Tiny secret

DENISE WELCH has revealed that US band Tiny Habits soundtracked Matty Healy and wife Gabbriette Bechtel’s first dance at their wedding last month.

The folk-pop trio were joined by Matty’s mum, Loose Women star Denise, during their show at London’s St Pancras Old Church on Friday when she let slip the news.

Clearly she’s a big fan now too, as she stayed for the gig and posed for a photo with the group afterwards.

The band, made up of Judah Mayowa, Cinya Khan and Maya Rae are good friends with The 1975 frontman Matty, who provided background vocals on their recent single, Anything He Was.

It will feature on their second studio album, Keepers, which is due out on August 28.

Tiny Habits met while at university in Boston and have since gained more celebrity fans in Marcus Mumford, Noah Kahan and Phoebe Bridgers.

They’re clearly doing something right.

Madge and Kylie set for 102nd top ten hit

POP legends Madonna and Kylie Minogue are on course for a big hit with their new single, Love Sensation.

Official Charts has revealed the track is currently at No8 in the midweek update.

If its popularity continues, it will become the 102nd Top Ten that the pop stars have scored between them – Madge’s 65th and Kylie’s 37th.

They debuted the tune, a remix of a song from Madonna’s Confessions II album, at WorldPride in Amsterdam earlier this month, right.

Meanwhile, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean are set to stay at No1 for a 21st week with Rein Me In, with only Shakira’s Dai Dai challenging them for top spot.

Usher: ‘I don’t do doubles’

USHER has been forced to hit back at claims that he had a body double perform on stage for him during his MetLife Stadium show in New York.

The Burn singer’s fans were up in arms after his concert, claiming the man on stage singing was not Usher.

Posts about the claims started to go viral yesterday, with Usher forced to clarify it was him, writing: “How y’all come up with this? AI ain’t that advanced.”

It’s not the first time we’ve seen this recently.

Last month, a Blue fan got in touch to complain they didn’t think Simon Webbe had been performing with the band during a gig in London.

After a quick – and comical – conversation with their manager, we managed to clear up that it was the real Simon on stage.

Specsavers, anyone?

Taika moment to go offline

TAIKA WAITITI’S upcoming sci-fi film, Klara And The Sun, is set in a world with no internet.

But the Hollywood director admits he struggles to limit his time online – despite his best efforts.

Taika, below, told us: “When I’m writing, I tend to hang out too much on it, but you’ve got to really make an effort and go somewhere where there is no wi-fi – or just unplug the router and force it upon yourself.”

He added of the film, based on the best-selling book by Kazuo Ishiguro: “It’s set in the near future where we’ve ended up abusing our power with the internet and technology so much that they actually had to turn it off.

“No internet or AI – all the robots are analogue and not connected to anything at all. Basically, robots that are dumb.”

I’d love some internet breaks at times, but alas showbiz never sleeps.

Fans’ joy at long Weeknd

THE WEEKND has done a U-turn on his announcement early last year that he plans to retire – insisting he will keep performing “for ever.”

The Blinding Lights singer, inset, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, had said he wanted to put his alter-ego to bed, but in Stockholm on Saturday, he made it clear his current tour has reinvigorated his love for music.

Ad-libbing during one of his tracks, he sang: “I’ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear.

“I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels. Imma be here for ever with you.”

That will be music to the ears of fans who didn’t manage to get tickets for his five Wembley Stadium shows and two concerts at Dublin’s Croke Park in the next fortnight.

Aug. 2 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Sunday night that negotiations with Iran toward ending the war will resume Monday, about a month after formal talks between the two unraveled and preceded a return to open conflict.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington after spending a weekend at his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, Trump said talks with Iran will begin Monday afternoon, claiming, as he has repeatedly throughout the war, that Iran wants “to make a deal.”

“We’ll see if it’s true,” he said. “I’d love to do that. Save a lot of lives. Save a lot of unnecessary power, to be honest with you.”

Trump had called off what he advertised as a massive attack on Iran over the weekend, stating it was at the request of allies and Tehran, which he said had agreed to “the parameters of a deal.”

Aboard his plane, he identified Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as the nations that had asked him to hold off.

“It would have been a massive attack. We were all set to go. But when the allies ask to call it off, you go to sort of say, ‘well, let’s see,'” he said. “And the reason they asked they think there’s a deal.”

Trump has long sought a deal with Iran to constrain its nuclear program, going back to his first administration when in 2018 he unilaterally pulled the United States from an Obama-era multinational accord in order to fashion a new one, and imposed sanctions on Tehran to force it to the negotiating table.

In late February, the United States and Israel attacked Iran with the aims of destroying its remaining nuclear capabilities and inciting regime change, instead igniting the five-month-long war, during which Tehran has laid military claims to the vital Strait of Hormuz.

An April cease-fire created conditions for a memorandum of understanding to be signed in mid-June that was to lay the foundation for ending the war. Amid negotiations on implementing the MOU, disagreements arose over its stance on the vital energy route, which led to a resumption in fighting last month.

Monday’s negotiations would be the first publicly acknowledged since early last month. Trump said the discussions will concern the Strait of Hormuz and led into nuclear talks.

He said that the three allies believe “a deal is imminent.”

Trump called off the attack after speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman over the phone. Trump said Sunday that bin Salman warned him that the consequences of the attack would be unpredictable.

“I mean, will they be flooded with people pouring into their country,” he said. “A lot of bad things can happen.”

Trump said it would have been “the biggest attack since World War II” and “disastrous” for Iran.

The United States is seeking to restore freedom of navigation through the strait, while Iran is trying to maintain some form of control over commercial vessels that pass through it.

According to the nonpartisan, Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Iranian negotiators may be willing to make what it called “limited compromises” with the United States over Tehran’s control of the strait, though what those concessions may be were not entirely clear.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince spoke to Donald Trump about the deepening crisis between Washington and Tehran, urging a renewed push for dialogue over further military escalation, hours before the United States president halted his latest attacks on Iran.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) spoke to Trump by phone and “stressed the need to prioritise dialogue to reduce escalation and the importance of making every possible effort to achieve calm that paves the way for diplomatic solutions”.

MBS also highlighted the need to preserve the Gulf’s security and stability and prevent a wider conflict “whose repercussions would affect regional and international security and stability”, SPA added.

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform early on Sunday that he would hold off on new strikes against Iran, citing the outline of a deal to end five months of war.

On Saturday, he had struck a very different note, declaring the US “locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran”, at levels of force not seen “since World War II”.

The reversal capped a day of dramatic swings in tone from Washington, after weeks in which the conflict has repeatedly threatened to widen into a broader Gulf confrontation.

Trump said he was calling off the planned attack only because Iran and other Middle Eastern governments had asked Washington to hold back, insisting “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to”.

That deal, he wrote, would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran’s “nuclear threat,” with Israel joining the US “in this commitment”.

Iranian state media quoted military officials dismissing Trump’s claim that Tehran had sought a pause as “nothing but a new lie”, insisting Iranian forces remained on high alert.

‘Keep the dialogue going’

The Saudi crown prince’s intervention, according to a person familiar with the call cited by US media, centred on concern that a major US strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure could trigger Iranian retaliation against Gulf oil and gas facilities.

The kingdom has already faced direct attacks in recent weeks, intercepting drones aimed at its eastern oil facilities and at Riyadh, while Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have separately struck Saudi crude infrastructure and threatened a Red Sea naval blockade.

The war began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes aimed at destroying Iran’s missile programme, preventing a nuclear weapon and cutting off support for allied armed groups.

A June ceasefire collapsed within weeks in a dispute over shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway carrying roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports, reigniting the fighting in July.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US strikes had destroyed much of Iran’s navy, air force and missile defences, leaving it without the “conventional shield” it once relied on. “That’s changed the whole dynamic,” he told Fox News, arguing that the US was now approaching negotiations with Iran “from a position of strength, not from a position of weakness.”

Marlin Hardinger, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, said direct Saudi involvement in mediation, alongside Qatar, Pakistan and Oman, appeared to have pushed Trump to reconsider, “letting some of the senior leaders in the region step forward and take charge of this”, as he put it.

Diplomats’ central task now, Hardinger told Al Jazeera, was simply to “keep the dialogue going”.

Mediators in Islamabad and Doha say they are cautiously optimistic that stalled talks could resume within days.

July 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said on social media Thursday that Saudi Arabia must sign the Abraham Accords as part of its nuclear deal with the United States.

Trump added that the nuclear deal will be approved but Saudi Arabia’s entry into the Abraham Accords is a required condition.

“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but it is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote. “The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement on Wednesday. The Department of Energy says U.S. companies will benefit from the deal with involvement in establishing nuclear facilities in Saudi Arabia to the tune of billions of dollars.

The nuclear deal is to last 30 years and will involve the United States supporting Saudi nuclear development.

The Abraham Accords are meant to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia’s entry into the Abraham Accords would be a step toward a diplomatic relationship with Israel.

Saudi Arabia has called for progress toward Palestinian statehood, a sticking point that has drawn Israel’s criticism of the nuclear deal with the United States.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have also voiced skepticism over the nuclear deal, fearing that it may ultimately lead to the enrichment of uranium and plutonium for the development of nuclear weapons.

“This agreement will set off a nuclear race in the region, further disincentivizing Iran from limiting its own program,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on social media.

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond caused quite a stir online after she met Prince Harry for the countdown of the Invictus Games

Things took an awkward turn during the latest instalment of This Morning as Alison Hammond called Prince Harry, “babes”.

The ITV show was back with another jam-packed show on Friday (July 10), as presenters Dermot O’Leary and Angela Scanlon took the reins in the studio. Meanwhile, Alison was in Birmingham for the countdown to the Invictus Games.

Founded by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is a global sporting competition that began in 2014 for military personnel and veterans who have been wounded, injured, or become ill during their service. The name Invictus, which means “unconquered” in Latin, reflects the resilience, determination, and strength of participants.

Trying her best to interview the founder, presenter Alison was thrown into a race. But she did manage to steal a hug from him wheh he spotted her and she referred to him as “babes” leaving viewers very unimpressed with one labelling it “a car crash”.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, in their droves, fans of the ITV show shared their thoughts. One viewer said: “I’m just waiting for her to call him ‘Babes’. She didn’t disappoint.”

Another fumed: “Alison, what on God’s Earth are you doing? Absolutely embarrassing behaviour! Are you 6 years old?!” A third viewer chimed in and wrote: “What a car crash and a bloody noise.”

A fourth added: “Hammond….just an embarrassment.” While another agreed, saying: “This is embarrassing.”

However, some viewers loved Alison’s approach, with one writing: “Howling at Alison. You go girl.” Another added: “Harry always has some spare time for Alison.”

Prince Harry’s appearance on This Morning came as rival daytime show Morning Live announced on Friday that it is now taking a break for the summer.

At the beginning of the live BBC broadcast, host Gethin Jones revealed that Morning Live would be taking a break and wouldn’t return for some time throughout the summer months.

It’s not yet known when Morning Live will be back on air, but from next week, the slot will be filled by fresh episodes of Animal Park, which will air straight after BBC Breakfast from 9.30am until 10.15am.

The documentary programme is also scheduled to air from the following Monday (July 20) as well.

Kate Humble and Ben Fogle will mark 25 years of Animal Park next week, looking back at unforgettable animal tales and their lasting bond.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

THE Prince and Princess Of Wales have paid tribute to singer Bonnie Tyler, describing her as a “proud Welsh icon” following her death aged 75.

Bonnie died on Wednesday night, months after being treated in intensive care and being placed in an induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery.

A post on William and Kate’s joint Kensington Palace account said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bonnie Tyler.

“A proud Welsh icon, her extraordinary voice and unforgettable music touched millions around the world and will continue to inspire generations to come.

“Our thoughts are with her husband, family, friends and all who loved her. Diolch am y gerddoriaeth (thank you for the music).”

Bonnie was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Prince Of Wales in 2023 for services to music.

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It comes after Chicago star Catherine Zeta-Jones said her “heart is broken” after the Total Eclipse Of The Heart singer’s death.

Catherine, 56, said Bonnie was a big part of her life after marrying her cousin Robert Sullivan and paid a heartfelt tribute to the Welsh singer, real name Gaynor Hopkins.

The actress shared a photograph of the pair together on Instagram which was taken the night before her wedding.

She said: “An extraordinary woman with vocals to match. A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met.

“Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady. We shall forever ‘Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides’ of Wales for you. Sending my love to Robert and the family.”

A statement on the singer’s official website said her family and team were “heartbroken” after she “unexpectedly passed away” on Wednesday night in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated near her home in Faro.

Catherine was among the stars who paid tribute to the singer including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Rod Stewart and rockstar Bryan Adams.

Sir Cliff, who sang a duet with Tyler on the 2019 song Taking Control, said she was a “wonderful friend gone too soon” in a post shared on Facebook.

He added: “Bonnie’s infectious zest for life entertained so many around the world, and to be a good friend to all, including me.

“It is shocking news to wake up to this morning and I send my love to her family at this very sad time.”

Bonnie was due to perform at the Sunshine Festival in Worcester this summer, along with a number of European dates, and was also booked to perform at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on December 17.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to the singer, who he described as “one of Britain’s greatest recording artists”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “An iconic figure, she leaves behind a catalogue of music – from Total Eclipse Of The Heart to Holding Out For A Hero – which continues to touch lives, flood dance floors and fill karaoke booths.”

He added: “The Prime Minister’s thoughts are very much with her friends and family.”

The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US.

Faster Than The Speed of Night, the album which featured the smash-hit track, was also a chart-topping success and landed the singer her only UK number one album.

Recognisable for her husky voice, Bonnie released many other hit songs over the years including Holding Out For A Hero, It’s A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man).

Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth led tributes on Thursday and said Wales had “lost a true icon”.

He posted: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bonnie Tyler.

“Wales has lost a true icon, whose music brought joy to so many.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fans across the world.”

She represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me finishing in 19th place.

Welsh broadcaster Carol Vorderman also paid tribute, writing: “I’m so very sorry to hear this. As a Welsh woman Bonnie and her music represented so much to us, it was about fighting and power and living life without apology.

“May you rest in Musical Glory Bonnie.”

The star, who was born in Neath in South Wales, continued to make music and perform until her death, having released her 18th studio album The Best Is Yet To Come in 2021.

Despite being a widely acclaimed and globally-renowned star, Bonnie never received a Grammy Award during her decades-long career but did receive three nominations.

Bonnie’s official website appears to have crashed since the news of her death was announced.

July 6 (UPI) — A confusing situation played out Monday in the British royal family, as a representative for Prince Harry first said the prince had accepted an invitation to stay at the royal residence for one night — only for royal authorities to announce that he was not welcome after all.

Representatives for both Prince Harry, the duke of Sussex, and Buckingham Palace had different stories about the events leading up to the about-face, BBC News reported.

Prince Harry arrived Monday for a weeklong stay in Britain, with his family possibly arriving later this week.

The prince’s camp said Buckingham Palace withdrew an offer that had been formally accepted. The palace, however, said it offered accommodation to the prince, who did not confirm if he would accept and then declined the offer, only to change his mind later that day. By then, the palace said, it was too late to make arrangements, The Guardian reported.

Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, live in California. The prince and his wife stepped back from the role of senior royals in 2020.

Tension between the prince (the younger son of King Charles III) and other members of the royal family has continued, although Harry and King Charles met last year for a conversation. This trip was expected to be the first time his children met their grandfather since 2022.

Harry is in Britain to promote various charities and the 2027 Invictus Games for injured military personnel and veterans around the world. The games are expected to take place in Birmingham, where the prince will travel later this week.

Originally, the duke of Sussex’s entire family was going to travel to both London and Birmingham, but the government declined his request for a security detail outside royal residences. Meghan and the children may meet the prince in Birmingham for the second half of the trip. It was not clear if they would meet the king.

Buckingham Palace says Prince Harry will not be staying at the palace for part of his visit to London this week, despite his team announcing this morning that he had accepted an invitation to do so.

Royal sources say the duke had not formally responded to the offer of accommodation at a royal residence by the deadline, which was the end of last week, and was told over the weekend that he could no longer stay at Buckingham Palace.

It is understood that the palace requires a minimum notice period to ensure a guest can be hosted and staff from the Royal Household provided.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry said that despite their earlier statement they understood that the offer to stay at the palace had now been “withdrawn” – a decision they described as “disappointing”.

In Buckingham Palace’s version of events, there was an offer for Prince Harry to stay at the palace, but the Sussex team had failed to confirm whether to accept and had then declined.

According to the Palace, the Duke’s team accepted to stay there later, but it was too late to make arrangements.

The Palace says that this decision was communicated to Prince Harry.

There were also concerns about the prince staying in the palace when a court result about his claims against Associated Newspapers was being published on Tuesday.

In response, a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex described the situation differently, claiming Buckingham Palace had withdrawn an offer that had been formally accepted.

The Sussex version of events said that the timing of the court case result was already known last week and rejected it as being a factor.

“It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” said the spokesman for the Duke of Sussex.

This acrimonious war of words is a row that shows how much distrust and poor communication exists between the two camps – the Sussex team and Buckingham Palace.

Both sides are putting out contradictory versions of the invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace – with no sign of either side accepting the other’s account.

This could make a meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry, which had been expected this week, even more complicated.

Prince Harry will not be joined by his wife the Duchess of Sussex and their two children when he visits London next week, it is understood.

Meghan, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will not travel to London as had originally been planned after it was confirmed that the family would not be provided with taxpayer funded police security during the visit.

There remains a possibility that they will join Harry later in the week when the trip moves from London to the Midlands.

Harry is in the UK on a five-day trip to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham.

Last month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex accepted an offer to stay in a royal residence with their two children during the visit.

He had previously said he wouldn’t bring his wife and children to the country without improved security arrangements.

Speaking to the BBC last year, he said he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point”.

The challenge over security has been over the rulings of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which decides on the security provision for senior royals and other public figures.

Prince Harry and Meghan were last together in the UK in 2022, at the time of the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He has since travelled to the UK alone – he met his father on a trip last September.

KATIE Price has made a rare sentimental remark about ex-husband Peter Andre in her new Sky documentary.

The reality TV star, 48, shared a sweet comment about ex Peter and how shy he used to make her feel in her latest series, Katie Price: Nothing To Hide.

In the documentary, Katie is sitting down watching her old I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! footage — the show on which she met Peter.

She then opened up about just how much she felt for Peter, calling him her “Prince”.

Katie said: “If I like someone like I liked him, I go all shy. I can’t look at them, and I go all like giddy. It’s pathetic, but that’s what I was like.

“You could see we were into each other and it is so cute to look at. By the end of it I was smitten with him.

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“Meeting Pete and being with Pete were the best times of my life, without a doubt.

“I had my prince, I knew I would be with him forever.”

Katie and Peter met in 2004 and started dating shortly after their time on I’m A Celeb ended.

They got engaged later that same year and tied the knot in 2005.

They went on to have two children, Princess and Junior, before divorcing in 2009.

Earlier this year, Katie married for the fourth time, tying the knot with self-proclaimed millionaire Lee Andrews.

The pair’s whirlwind wedding came after just a week of speaking online.

Recently Katie and Lee reunited after Lee was imprisoned in Dubai under accusations of fraud.

June 18 (UPI) — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to visit Britain in July with their children for the start of the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, sources say.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to bring their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, according to reporting by the BBC, ITV and The Telegraph.

Harry hasn’t been assured that there will be a security detail in place, and it isn’t clear if King Charles III will be able to meet the children, The Telegraph said.

The prince has said that he wants to bring Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to England to meet his friends and family and teach them more about British culture. The children haven’t seen their grandfather in person since they were last in England in 2022 for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

A Los Angeles business associate told The Telegraph that there was a “warming of the frost” between Harry and Charles in recent months. Harry had fallen out with his family after his memoir, Spare, made several accusations against them.

The unnamed source said, “Harry says he’s coming back before the end of the year with the children with the express intent to reunite with his dad.

“The way in which he said it seems to make it clear that he believes that this is happening and will pave the way for a longer-term peaceful relationship between them.

“He has wanted to have his kids meet their grandfather, especially after their summit in London last year.

“While there have been deep-seated trust issues around Harry, there is a sense now that all parties want peace.”

The source said that there was still distrust of Harry among the king’s friends but that Charles wants to find a way to reconcile.

Harry lost an appeal last year challenging the dismissal of his claim against the Home Office over the decision that he should have a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.

Harry and Meghan moved to Canada then California after they decided they no longer wanted to serve as senior royals.

June 16 (UPI) — Britain’s Prince George will attend Eton College, the same school as his father, starting in September, Kensington Palace announced Tuesday.

Eton is an elite private school in Berkshire with students from ages 13 to 18. In Britain, “college” refers to pre-university education. George, the oldest child of the prince and princess of Wales, will turn 13 in July. William, prince of Wales and heir to the British throne after his father, King Charles III, also attended Eton.

Prince George attended Lambrook School in Berkshire with his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, BBC News reported. That school accepts students up to age 13.

Prince Harry, Prince William‘s brother, also attended Eton, as did many other prominent politicians, including 20 of the country’s 58 prime ministers, CNN reported. Celebrities including Tom Hiddleston and Eddie Redmayne are also alumni.

The school, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, is considered prestigious — and expensive, with yearly fees nearly $85,000 in U.S. dollars. It’s a full boarding school, meaning Prince George will live and study there.

Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of “The Good Schools Guide,” said Eton has “spectacular facilities and spacious grounds” and that “despite its ancient buildings, it is a modern school with a progressive outlook,” BBC News reported.

“Most 13-year-old boys arriving there in September cannot possibly know what adult life holds for them,” she said. “Prince George, however, faces a very particular future and his parents, with an unrivaled choice of schools available to them, have decided that an Eton education represents the best preparation for life as a modern working royal.”

June 5 (UPI) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was taking in undisclosed rental income by subletting cottages on royal property, the National Audit Office reported Friday.

Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate while the king paid rent for royal palaces for him and his daughters. The report by the National Audit Office, a public spending oversight organization, is the first on royal residences in 20 years.

Mountbatten-Windsor did not pay rent at the Royal Lodge because he paid $10 million, or about $8.67 million, for repairs in 2005. He also paid about $1.35 million when he took over the least in 2003.

The report said Mountbatten-Windsor was allowed to sublet property at the Royal Lodge due to a provision in the lease. Other royal properties allow sublets to generate income with the permission of the Crown Estate.

His daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, have properties in Kensington Palace and St. James’s Palace, respectively. Neither pays rent for their properties, as it is paid by the king’s “privy purse,” the monarchy’s personal money. Their palaces are maintained with public money.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s home at Royal Lodge spanned 30 rooms. He lived there until February when he was stripped of his title and removed over his connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“In the case of the Royal Lodge, three cottages on the estate were sublet with income generated payable to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” the National Audit Office report said. “We do not know what rent was charged.”