THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Meghan Markle Makes First Public Appearance Since Giving Birth to Baby Archie. Meghan Markle has emerged! The Duchess of Sussex has made her first royal and technically public appearance since giving birth to her and Prince Harry's first child, son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor one month ago. On Saturday, she joined her husband and his royal family members at the 2019 Trooping the Colour parade, an official belated birthday celebration for Queen Elizabeth II, who turned 93 in April. Meghan and Harry did not bring Archie to the event. Days after he was born, they showed him off in a brief and small, private press photo call at Windsor Castle. At the parade, Meghan wore a navy Givenchy dress and matching purse by the designer and Noel Stewart hat. She was also seen wearing a third ring on her wedding ring finger. (Eonline)
Prince Louis Makes Trooping the Colour Balcony Debut. Kate Middleton and Prince William's youngest son Prince Louis stole the show at the 2019 Trooping the Colour parade in London, which marked his Buckingham Palace balcony debut. The 1-year-old waved excitedly while in his mother's arms as he watched the festivities with his parents and siblings Prince George, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 4, as well as many more members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II. The event marks an official belated birthday celebration for the monarch, who turned 93 in April. Louis wore a blue and white outfit similar to ones George and William wore for their major debuts. Charlotte wore a blue and white floral smocked dress she has worn before in public and George was seen only from the waist up, wearing a white polo shirt with blue piping. This also marked a rare public appearance in general for Louis, who remained at home at about six weeks old during last year's event. (Eonline)
Meghan Markle is 'not really a tiara kind of girl,' says royal expert. Meghan Markle is the very definition of a modern royal. And despite recent rumors that the Queen had banned the Duchess of Sussex, 37, from borrowing jewelry from the Royal Collection, monarchy expert Emma Forbes insists there's a simple explanation for why we have yet to see the new mom in one of those priceless gems. "She's not really, to me, a tiara kind of girl," Forbes explained, "whereas Kate [Middleton] is more traditional. You know, the royal jewels, they're mind-blowing, but they are quite traditional. You have to be that sort of person." But just because Markle prefers classic diamond studs to the heirloom brooches 37-year-old Middleton wears doesn't mean she's averse to splashing out for designer duds, as her pricey maternity outfits proved. "I think she dressed beautifully throughout her pregnancy," Forbes said. "And I know she got a lot of flak because it was such an expensive wardrobe, but I love that about her. I think she's very much the new Princess Diana. Kate is the person who wears High Street, and I think she does it brilliantly. Kate in a Zara shirtdress -- everybody goes crazy." (PageSix)
Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Stood So Far from Kate Middleton and Price William on Balcony. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first joint appearance since introducing baby Archie to the world at Saturday's Trooping the Colour, they weren't front and center on the palace balcony. Just as it was for last year's Trooping celebrations, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex weren't as prominent on the balcony as Kate Middleton and Prince William -- and it all came down to a royal "pecking order" -- and a desire to have the kids be the focus. "She was not as prominent perhaps as some people might have expected, but there's a pecking order," Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, previously told PEOPLE. "There was no slight intended, but William being the older, more senior brother would go out [first] with his wife." Last year, a palace source told PEOPLE: "There's no one laying this out, telling her where to stand. And there were a lot of kids who everyone would want at the front." During the annual celebration, which honors Queen Elizabeth's birthday, the new royal mom arrived to the event alongside Harry. They were joined in their carriage by Kate and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The couple welcomed their son Archie Harrison almost five weeks ago, on May 6, and they have been settling into life as a family of three at their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor. Meghan and Harry likely left Archie in the care of a royal staff member during the event, as he's too young to take in the festivities, which includes a noisy flypast. One-year-old Prince Louis, however, made his official balcony debut alongside his older siblings. He's around the same age Prince George and Pincess Charlotte were at the time of their debuts. The little royal excitedly waved to the crowds below as he became the breakout star of the event. The day started with a grand military parade and the arrivals of the royals via carriages. Meghan and Harry shared a carriage ride (her second!), while the Queen arrived on her own. (People)
Why Queen Elizabeth wears the same brooch for her birthday every year. Every year, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday in style with a parade known as Trooping the Colour. This year, the event will be held on June 8, and while most of the royal family -- including Prince Louis, making his balcony debut, and potentially Meghan Markle -- will celebrate with the Queen, there's another element that's sure to be by her side throughout: the Brigade of Guards brooch. The special accessory honors the British and Commonwealth armies and relates directly to the event itself. The brooch design combines the badges of the five regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies -- Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards -- that troop their colours (or carry their flags) every year for the Queen. The symbols are joined into one oval under the Latin phrase "Quinque Juncta In Uno," which translates to "five joined as one." The Brigade of Guards brooch was originally created for Queen Mary, Elizabeth's grandmother, and was later passed down to her. (Perhaps one day Princess Charlotte will wear it on her own birthday.) And, yes, it's completely covered in diamonds. "The choice of this particular brooch represents the significance of natural diamonds to the Royal Family for life's most meaningful milestones, such as a birthday," diamond expert and gemologist Grand Mobley told Page Six Style. "The Queen often wears diamonds for special occasions mainly because they are rare, authentic and precious, and have a great deal of emotional value." (PageSix)
Here's Why Prince Philip Was Missing from Trooping the Colour. Prince Philip is sitting out Trooping the Colour once again. Queen Elizabeth is usually joined by her husband in the carriage during the Trooping the Colour parade -- but on Saturday, she noticeably rode solo. Though Philip, who turns 98 on Monday, has also ridden on horseback in his younger days, he was absent entirely at the parade during this year's official celebration of the Queen's birthday. He also missed the event in 2018. Philip's last Trooping appearance was in 2017, just months before he officially retired from public life following 64 years of royal service. "The Duke of Edinburgh will no longer undertake his own program of public engagements," a statement from Buckingham Palace read. "The Captain General's Parade will bring His Royal Highness's individual program to a conclusion, although he may choose to attend certain events, alongside The Queen, from time to time." The early months of Prince Philip's retired life were plagued with health issues � he pulled out of attending Prince Andrew's appointment as the new Colonel of the Granadier Guards and abruptly cancelled his appearance at the traditional Maundy church service that he was scheduled to attend with Elizabeth in March 2018. Philip also skipped Easter Sunday services last year ahead of the announcement that he underwent hip replacement surgery. However, Prince Philip has been seen in public multiple times in the past year, often driving his car (despite a scary car accident in January that resulted in him voluntarily giving up his license) or carriage rides. Most recently, he joined the Queen at the May 18 wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston. (People)
Zachary Levi Serenades Children's Hospital Patient With Tangled Song. He's Zachary Levi, and he's a real-life superhero. On Friday, the Shazam! actor and several other celebs visited patients at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, one of several events for the annual Big Slick Celebrity Weekend aimed at raising funds for the facility. Levi got down on his knees and serenaded 15-year-old patient Sophia Linenberger by her bedside with the Tangled song "I See the Light." CNN host Jake Tapper shared a video of the sweet moment on Instagram. Levi played hero Flynn Rider in Disney's 2010 3D computer-animated musical film, which starred Mandy Moore as main character and his love interest Rapunzel. Other celebs who took part in Big Slick Celebrity weekend events included Samm Levine, Taran Killam and wife Cobie Smulders, David Cook, David Koechner, Modern Family's Ariel Winter and Eric Stonestreet, Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis and wife Olivia Wilde. The later four male actors grew up in the neighboring Kansas City, Kansas area. The stars took part in a celebrity charity softball game at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, as well as a bowling tournament. (Eonline)
Selena Gomez Spreads Love During Surprise Children's Hospital Visit. Selena Gomez continues to look good, feel good and do good. The 26-year-old star is using her celebrity-status for a great cause. On Friday, the "Fetish" singer visited patients at the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City for the 10th annual Big Slick Celebrity fundraiser. While at the hospital, Gomez appeared to enjoy a fun-filled day with some of the patients. Fan accounts on Twitter captured a few sweet moments between The Dead Don't Die actress and her fans. She posed for pictures, played board games, colored and signed a handful of autographs. Additionally, Missouri natives Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner visited the Children's Mercy Hospital with the "Same Old Love" star. The Modern Family actor and 56-year-old comedian are hosting the event with Kansas City natives Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis and Rob Riggle. What's more? This isn't the only appearance Gomez is making this weekend. She's hitting up more events to help the fundraising organization, including the legendary celebrity softball tournament. So, you can catch the 26-year-old beauty all suited up and ready to play ball. Many more celebrities are expected to attend the Big Slick events this weekend, including Ariel Winter, Adam Scott, Cobie Smulders, Zachary Levi and Kat Mcnamara. In the last 9 years, Big Slick has raised more than $8 million for pediatric research at Children's Mercy Hospital, according to a press release sent to E! News. Back in April, Selena opened up about self-love and taking a much-needed break from the public eye last year. "Last year, I took a lot of time off," the 26-year-old star said during an interview on Coach's Dream It Real podcast. "I think that I needed a moment to myself because I do feel like I was growing and changing." Early that same month, she made her first major public appearance after a year-and-a-half of shying away from the red carpet. There, she revealed to E! News that she was "excited" about the possibility of attending more events. As of late, she's attended high-profile events, including the 2019 Cannes Film Festival (where she also had a viral moment with Bill Murray), a surprise appearance at Coachella and The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment in Entertainment -- to name a few. (Eonline)
Attention all moon landing fans ... or even deniers -- this is your chance to own a piece of American space exploration history, via legends Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. An extremely rare 70 mm positive film roll from the camera of Apollo 11 -- the first spaceflight that put Neil and Buzz on the lunar surface -- will be up for grabs starting June 13. The Hasselblad cam film roll contains 126 iconic photos from the moonshot mission taken personally by Armstrong and Aldrin during their exploration. The color images include moments from inside the Lunar Module Eagle right before Armstrong stepped off the spacecraft, his first photo after taking his famous first steps, Aldrin standing next to the American Flag ... and his legendary "Moon Man" image with his mask showing a reflection of Armstrong. According to the auction house, RR Auction, the film roll was acquired from Terry Slezak, a member of the Manned Spacecraft Center's lunar receiving lab. He was in charge of processing the film brought back from the Apollo moon landings ... and here he is with moon dust on his hands from one of 11's film canisters. The roll goes up for auction June 13 and ends on June 20 ... and it's estimated to haul in around $8,000. That's one not-so-small bid for man ... (TMZ)
Miranda Lambert is embracing her new life as a wife and stepmom! The country singer, who tied the knot with Brendan McLoughlin in January, recently opened up to Extra in honor of the CMA Fest and her annual MuttNation March about life as a newlywed and how the couple has managed to successfully blend their lives. Their compatibility would come as a surprise to some, seeing that Lambert, 35, has been based in Nashville, while McLoughlin, 27, is a New York City police officer. The city slicker cop is also a father and has a 7-month-old son from a previous relationship. "We have the best of both worlds," she told the outlet. "We spend time in New York, we get to see our adorable nugget, then we get to come back to the farm and have the quiet life. I'm enjoying the balance." Though Lambert does not have human children of her own, as a self-described "crazy dog lady" she's a mom to plenty of fur babies. "I'm loving that whole phase, and I've raised a million dogs, so I feel like I've got that part of my womanly/motherly thing is full, so this is a whole new journey," she told the outlet. "It's great... My stepson is amazing." "[Brendan's] a great guy and, bless his heart, he didn't have any dogs or any animals at all when he came into this relationship, so he inherited a whole barn full," Lambert jokingly added. "I was like, 'Hey, I got the dogs, you got the kid, we can mix and mingle.'" The couple met in New York in November when Lambert and her band, the Pistol Annies, performed on Good Morning America. McLoughlin was assigned to the South Midtown Precinct, which includes Times Square, where the morning show is filmed. In January, Lambert married the NYPD cop in a secret ceremony, only making her happy news public a month later. "I met the love of my life. And we got hitched!" she wrote on Instagram Feb. 16. "My heart is full. Thank you Brendan McLoughlin for loving me for... Me. #theone." They later made their red carpet debut at the 2019 ACM Awards in April, and have continued to split their time between Tennessee and New York City, where his work is based. Lambert and McLoughlin have managed to keep their romance largely under wraps, though the two were spotted leaving their Manhattan apartment together in May. She also showed off a rare photo of her spouse on Instagram last month in order to help find a home for rescue pups named Smoke and Bandit. "I think he provides for her a state of [normalcy] that balances with her life before she became Miranda Lambert," a music industry insider told PEOPLE after their wedding announcement. Keeping their relationship private, however, has come with its own set of challenges. Last week, Lambert's rep confirmed that the strong and that she had no intention of calling it quits on her four-month marriage after a tabloid story ran claiming otherwise. "[The report] is completely made up. Not one iota is true," the rep told PEOPLE. "They are happy and together!" (People)
Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie Seem Closer Than Ever at Pal Stassie's Birthday Party, Clammed for 'Handmaid's Tale' Theme. Running in the same circle. Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie had a blast celebrating their close pal Stassie Karanikolaou's 22nd birthday at a Handmaid's Tale-themed party on Saturday, June 8 -- though not everyone was happy with their decision. The Lip Kit maven, 21, celebrated alongside Richie, 20, who is currently dating her sister Kourtney Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. The two seemed to be closer than ever as Jenner referred to the model as her "girl" during one Instagram Story video. Jenner and Richie both posted a series of Stories from the bash, which included cocktails based off of the hit Hulu series, and all the guests dressed in head-to-toe red ensembles. Jenner isn't the only one in the Kardashian clan that Richie has become close with since she started dating Disick in the summer of 2017. The daughter of Lionel Richie has also developed a bond with Kourtney, 40, who shares three kids, Mason 9, Penelope 6, and Reign 4, with Disick. The trio along with the children have even happily vacationed together in recent months. "Sofia is 100 percent fine with Scott and Kourtney's relationship," an insider told Us in April. "They have no issues and all get along." Though the party appeared to be fun for the girls, many Twitter fans weren't pleased with the idea of Jenner and Richie glamorizing what the show stands for. "Can someone explain to me why Kylie Jenner is having a handmaid's tale themed party??? Like why??? How did anyone think it would be a good idea?" one Twitter user wrote. Another added of their disapproval: "Seriously this isn't even cute it's straight up disturbing and ignorant. @KylieJenner way to go on missing the point!" The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that replaces the United States of America and uses handmaids to carry children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving due to dangerously low reproduction rates. The costumes from the show have often been used in protests in places where women are fighting for their rights. (UsMagazine)
Wendy Williams isn't letting an ugly breakup and divorce get in the way of a beautiful, massive diamond ring ... and she's making sure everyone knows it. Wendy's out on the left coast and Thursday night we got her outside Craig's, where she was having a business dinner. Photogs quickly noticed her gajillion-carat wedding ring -- hard not to, it's blinding -- and asked her about it, point-blank. Watch the vid ... she doesn't speak much, but she says a lot by blatantly flaunting the ring to cameras. As you know Wendy filed to divorce Kevin Hunter back in April, shortly after he and his alleged mistress had a baby. It's been a nasty split ... with Kevin getting booted from his job as executive producer on her talk show -- and more recently getting into a fight with their son, Kevin Jr. Despite all of that, Wendy's continued rocking the rock, on and off TV. Don't read anything into it, though -- our Wendy sources say there's absolutely no reconciliation going down. Husbands come and go, but y'know what they say about a girl's BFF. (TMZ)
Wendy Williams' estranged husband is no closer to making amends with their son, Kevin Jr., after the father-son scuffle ... and Kevin Hunter Sr. feels Wendy isn't helping the situation. Sources close to the family tell TMZ ... Kevin Sr. has made no headway toward patching things up since the fight that ended with Junior's arrest. We're told he's getting iced out, despite several attempts to reach out and talk to his son. We're told Wendy's ex thinks he and his son should settle their differences on their own -- but he believes Wendy is behind the decision to go radio silent. We broke the story ... Kevin Jr. was arrested for assault for punching his father in the nose in a New Jersey parking lot after Sr. put him in a headlock. The fight allegedly stemmed from an argument over the divorce, and Kevin demanding spousal support from Wendy. Hunter told us afterward he loves his son and was not going to pursue the matter legally, and he's committed to fixing the relationship. We're told he understands their son is being protective of his mother through the divorce, but he still wants to make peace. Meanwhile, Wendy's looking happy to put her ex in her rear view. She was out in L.A. last week, flaunting her huge diamond flower ring and talking biz with TV execs. (TMZ)
Tyler Perry pleads with actors to stop begging for roles with billboard ads. Filmmaker Tyler Perry admonished a New York actress this week after she took out ads on two billboards in a stunt to ask him for a role in a television show or movie. Actress Racquel Bailey, who had a small role in HBO's "The Night Of" in 2016, plastered her face on two billboards in Perry's hometown of Atlanta and addressed a message to the filmmaker. "Attention Mr. Perry, Racquel Bailey is your next leading lady," the billboards read. Perry responded to the stunt in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing it is not the first time someone has done this -- and it's not the way to get his attention. "If you're looking for a role in one of my shows. Please DON'T DO THIS, SAVE YOUR MONEY!!" he wrote in the post. "This is the third time that someone has done this. PLEASE STOP! To audition is FREE!! I'm sure you can use that money for a better purpose," he added. "I love that you want to work with me, and I love that you invest in yourself. But when you do things like this it puts my team on high alert and makes me look at you sideways," Perry said in the Facebook post. Bailey responded to his post, thanking him for posting about the billboard and saying it was a "leap of faith" in her bid to be cast by him. "This was my leap of FAITH and with faith you never know where it will land you or if it will even work," Bailey wrote. "Sometimes we have to step out the norm and do something unconventional. Not everyone is going to agree or think it's a great idea. That's the chance I took!" she added. (PageSix)
Usher doesn't have eyes on the back of his head ... but he DOES have a super sick work of art. The R&B superstar hooked up with famed L.A. tattoo artist Dillon Forte for his latest masterpiece that apparently required Usher to carve out precious real estate on his dome. The result's a beaut -- a tat inspired by sacred geometry and an ancient Berber stone that marks the cardinal points in the sky, which allows travelers to find their way across vast distances. World history, look it up. Usher and Dillon -- who has also worked on Chris Hemsworth and Kat Von D, among others -- met through Jennifer Love Hewitt's hubby, Brian Hallisay. It wasn't long before an introduction was made and the singer sat down for a 3-hour sesh last weekend at Dillon's Sri Yantra Tattoo Studio in Venice. Ya gotta imagine, given the tat's location, it had to hurt. Probs worth it ... when your head can now count as a masterpiece. (TMZ)
Andy Ruiz Jr. ain't one to let a little thing like a boxing title change up his dining preferences -- the dude digs authentic Mexican ... even if it means getting it from a hole-in-the-wall joint. The newly-minted heavyweight champ -- who recently stunned the world by defeating the heavily-favored Anthony Joshua -- was spotted chowing down at a low-key Mexican chain Friday with his girlfriend and the rest of his fam in El Centro, CA ... almost 2 hours east of San Diego. The restaurant of their choice ... La Resaca -- known for their seafood and with a nearly 5-star rating off a ton of good reviews. It's a modest joint, but it was perfect for Ruiz and co. You'd think after becoming the toast of the town everywhere he's gone since the upset last weekend, he MIGHT just treat himself to something a bit swankier in, say, L.A., maybe? Seems like that isn't his style though -- he'll stick to chips and salsa ... and live mariachis. We gotta say ... it's been a while since we've come across a guy like Andy Jr. here. He certainly doesn't fit the mold for what we've come to expect of a ringside champion but at the same time ... it's refreshing to see homeboy flip the script on everyone and their mom. Speaking of moms ... happy birthday to Andy's ma, Mrs. Ruiz! We're told they were all out there celebrating her 58th birthday. Never change, ARJ. (TMZ)
Don't call it a comeback, call it a payout -- LL Cool J's coming out swinging for Andy Ruiz Jr., saying if Anthony Joshua wants back the belts, he's gotta pay the guy who took 'em. We got LL at LAX Friday, and the famous fight fan wasn't just riding the "Pay Ruiz" train ... he was the freakin' conductor!!! We asked him about the new WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champ demanding $50 MILLION, if the Joshua rematch is held on AJ's turf in the UK. LL didn't hesitate, telling us ... "He should get more than that. Gotta get every dime you can get, baby!" Cool J says people gotta stop looking at Ruiz as the relatively unknown guy he was before he shocked the world by upsetting Joshua last weekend in Madison Square Garden. As LL put it, "He got the belts now and this is the price." He added you also have to take into account the kinda beating boxers take every time they step in the ring. He gave a shout out to Canadian boxer Adonis Stevenson, who was left in critical condition with a brain injury last year. That's why LL says, Ruiz is "supposed to charge. They work hard, they risk their lives." As for who would win the rematch -- LL isn't willing to lay a bet just yet -- but when it comes to a possible Ruiz-Deontay Wilder bout? He's 100% on that one. (Eonline)
The famed Four Seasons Restaurant is closing. The legendary Four Seasons Restaurant is closing, Page Six has exclusively learned. The institution -- which moved to a new location in August 2018 -- will serve its final souffle on Tuesday, we're told. Sources say that its managing partner, Alex Von Bidder, called a staff meeting Friday to break the news, and a rep for the restaurant confirmed the closure to us. In a statement to Page Six, Von Bidder said, "We have been privileged to work with one of the finest culinary teams and outstanding staff that has stayed with us through some challenging times over the course of our history." He added, "We thank our loyal guests for the opportunity and support over the years." Von Bidder -- who ran the restaurant since the mid-Nineties with Julian Niccolini until Niccolini was ousted last year amid sexual misconduct allegations -- also noted that the cost of running a restaurant in New York City has made it a challenge. The restaurant opened in 1959 in the famed Seagram Building on Park Avenue and became a symbol of Manhattan's wealth and power. The term "power lunch" was coined by Esquire magazine in 1979 to describe midday meals there which end "with the decisions and the deals that will keep you in books, clothes, wine, and ideas for the rest of the year." It served as the unofficial lunchroom for Conde Nast executives, and editors were said to be scolded for failing to be seated at the most desirable tables. James Beard pioneered seasonal cooking there, but it was almost as notable for its art and design as it was for its contribution to cuisine. The space was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, Mark Rothko painted original art for its walls and a curtain designed by Pablo Picasso hung in its entryway. Every president to serve since it opened, except Richard Nixon, dined there, and it had too many celebrity regulars to even begin to list them. In 2015, the Seagram Building's owner, Aby Rosen, declined to renew the restaurant's lease, and the space was taken over by the buzzy Major Food Group, which has run The Pool, The Grill and the Lobster Club in the space since July 2017. We're told that the relocated Four Seasons, which reopened on 49th Street and Madison in September 2018, had struggled to attract the same numbers of expense account clientele that it had been famous for in the old location. (PageSix)
Prince Louis Makes Trooping the Colour Balcony Debut. Kate Middleton and Prince William's youngest son Prince Louis stole the show at the 2019 Trooping the Colour parade in London, which marked his Buckingham Palace balcony debut. The 1-year-old waved excitedly while in his mother's arms as he watched the festivities with his parents and siblings Prince George, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 4, as well as many more members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II. The event marks an official belated birthday celebration for the monarch, who turned 93 in April. Louis wore a blue and white outfit similar to ones George and William wore for their major debuts. Charlotte wore a blue and white floral smocked dress she has worn before in public and George was seen only from the waist up, wearing a white polo shirt with blue piping. This also marked a rare public appearance in general for Louis, who remained at home at about six weeks old during last year's event. (Eonline)
Meghan Markle is 'not really a tiara kind of girl,' says royal expert. Meghan Markle is the very definition of a modern royal. And despite recent rumors that the Queen had banned the Duchess of Sussex, 37, from borrowing jewelry from the Royal Collection, monarchy expert Emma Forbes insists there's a simple explanation for why we have yet to see the new mom in one of those priceless gems. "She's not really, to me, a tiara kind of girl," Forbes explained, "whereas Kate [Middleton] is more traditional. You know, the royal jewels, they're mind-blowing, but they are quite traditional. You have to be that sort of person." But just because Markle prefers classic diamond studs to the heirloom brooches 37-year-old Middleton wears doesn't mean she's averse to splashing out for designer duds, as her pricey maternity outfits proved. "I think she dressed beautifully throughout her pregnancy," Forbes said. "And I know she got a lot of flak because it was such an expensive wardrobe, but I love that about her. I think she's very much the new Princess Diana. Kate is the person who wears High Street, and I think she does it brilliantly. Kate in a Zara shirtdress -- everybody goes crazy." (PageSix)
Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Stood So Far from Kate Middleton and Price William on Balcony. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first joint appearance since introducing baby Archie to the world at Saturday's Trooping the Colour, they weren't front and center on the palace balcony. Just as it was for last year's Trooping celebrations, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex weren't as prominent on the balcony as Kate Middleton and Prince William -- and it all came down to a royal "pecking order" -- and a desire to have the kids be the focus. "She was not as prominent perhaps as some people might have expected, but there's a pecking order," Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, previously told PEOPLE. "There was no slight intended, but William being the older, more senior brother would go out [first] with his wife." Last year, a palace source told PEOPLE: "There's no one laying this out, telling her where to stand. And there were a lot of kids who everyone would want at the front." During the annual celebration, which honors Queen Elizabeth's birthday, the new royal mom arrived to the event alongside Harry. They were joined in their carriage by Kate and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The couple welcomed their son Archie Harrison almost five weeks ago, on May 6, and they have been settling into life as a family of three at their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor. Meghan and Harry likely left Archie in the care of a royal staff member during the event, as he's too young to take in the festivities, which includes a noisy flypast. One-year-old Prince Louis, however, made his official balcony debut alongside his older siblings. He's around the same age Prince George and Pincess Charlotte were at the time of their debuts. The little royal excitedly waved to the crowds below as he became the breakout star of the event. The day started with a grand military parade and the arrivals of the royals via carriages. Meghan and Harry shared a carriage ride (her second!), while the Queen arrived on her own. (People)
Why Queen Elizabeth wears the same brooch for her birthday every year. Every year, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday in style with a parade known as Trooping the Colour. This year, the event will be held on June 8, and while most of the royal family -- including Prince Louis, making his balcony debut, and potentially Meghan Markle -- will celebrate with the Queen, there's another element that's sure to be by her side throughout: the Brigade of Guards brooch. The special accessory honors the British and Commonwealth armies and relates directly to the event itself. The brooch design combines the badges of the five regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies -- Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards -- that troop their colours (or carry their flags) every year for the Queen. The symbols are joined into one oval under the Latin phrase "Quinque Juncta In Uno," which translates to "five joined as one." The Brigade of Guards brooch was originally created for Queen Mary, Elizabeth's grandmother, and was later passed down to her. (Perhaps one day Princess Charlotte will wear it on her own birthday.) And, yes, it's completely covered in diamonds. "The choice of this particular brooch represents the significance of natural diamonds to the Royal Family for life's most meaningful milestones, such as a birthday," diamond expert and gemologist Grand Mobley told Page Six Style. "The Queen often wears diamonds for special occasions mainly because they are rare, authentic and precious, and have a great deal of emotional value." (PageSix)
Here's Why Prince Philip Was Missing from Trooping the Colour. Prince Philip is sitting out Trooping the Colour once again. Queen Elizabeth is usually joined by her husband in the carriage during the Trooping the Colour parade -- but on Saturday, she noticeably rode solo. Though Philip, who turns 98 on Monday, has also ridden on horseback in his younger days, he was absent entirely at the parade during this year's official celebration of the Queen's birthday. He also missed the event in 2018. Philip's last Trooping appearance was in 2017, just months before he officially retired from public life following 64 years of royal service. "The Duke of Edinburgh will no longer undertake his own program of public engagements," a statement from Buckingham Palace read. "The Captain General's Parade will bring His Royal Highness's individual program to a conclusion, although he may choose to attend certain events, alongside The Queen, from time to time." The early months of Prince Philip's retired life were plagued with health issues � he pulled out of attending Prince Andrew's appointment as the new Colonel of the Granadier Guards and abruptly cancelled his appearance at the traditional Maundy church service that he was scheduled to attend with Elizabeth in March 2018. Philip also skipped Easter Sunday services last year ahead of the announcement that he underwent hip replacement surgery. However, Prince Philip has been seen in public multiple times in the past year, often driving his car (despite a scary car accident in January that resulted in him voluntarily giving up his license) or carriage rides. Most recently, he joined the Queen at the May 18 wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston. (People)
Zachary Levi Serenades Children's Hospital Patient With Tangled Song. He's Zachary Levi, and he's a real-life superhero. On Friday, the Shazam! actor and several other celebs visited patients at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, one of several events for the annual Big Slick Celebrity Weekend aimed at raising funds for the facility. Levi got down on his knees and serenaded 15-year-old patient Sophia Linenberger by her bedside with the Tangled song "I See the Light." CNN host Jake Tapper shared a video of the sweet moment on Instagram. Levi played hero Flynn Rider in Disney's 2010 3D computer-animated musical film, which starred Mandy Moore as main character and his love interest Rapunzel. Other celebs who took part in Big Slick Celebrity weekend events included Samm Levine, Taran Killam and wife Cobie Smulders, David Cook, David Koechner, Modern Family's Ariel Winter and Eric Stonestreet, Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis and wife Olivia Wilde. The later four male actors grew up in the neighboring Kansas City, Kansas area. The stars took part in a celebrity charity softball game at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, as well as a bowling tournament. (Eonline)
Selena Gomez Spreads Love During Surprise Children's Hospital Visit. Selena Gomez continues to look good, feel good and do good. The 26-year-old star is using her celebrity-status for a great cause. On Friday, the "Fetish" singer visited patients at the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City for the 10th annual Big Slick Celebrity fundraiser. While at the hospital, Gomez appeared to enjoy a fun-filled day with some of the patients. Fan accounts on Twitter captured a few sweet moments between The Dead Don't Die actress and her fans. She posed for pictures, played board games, colored and signed a handful of autographs. Additionally, Missouri natives Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner visited the Children's Mercy Hospital with the "Same Old Love" star. The Modern Family actor and 56-year-old comedian are hosting the event with Kansas City natives Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis and Rob Riggle. What's more? This isn't the only appearance Gomez is making this weekend. She's hitting up more events to help the fundraising organization, including the legendary celebrity softball tournament. So, you can catch the 26-year-old beauty all suited up and ready to play ball. Many more celebrities are expected to attend the Big Slick events this weekend, including Ariel Winter, Adam Scott, Cobie Smulders, Zachary Levi and Kat Mcnamara. In the last 9 years, Big Slick has raised more than $8 million for pediatric research at Children's Mercy Hospital, according to a press release sent to E! News. Back in April, Selena opened up about self-love and taking a much-needed break from the public eye last year. "Last year, I took a lot of time off," the 26-year-old star said during an interview on Coach's Dream It Real podcast. "I think that I needed a moment to myself because I do feel like I was growing and changing." Early that same month, she made her first major public appearance after a year-and-a-half of shying away from the red carpet. There, she revealed to E! News that she was "excited" about the possibility of attending more events. As of late, she's attended high-profile events, including the 2019 Cannes Film Festival (where she also had a viral moment with Bill Murray), a surprise appearance at Coachella and The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment in Entertainment -- to name a few. (Eonline)
Attention all moon landing fans ... or even deniers -- this is your chance to own a piece of American space exploration history, via legends Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. An extremely rare 70 mm positive film roll from the camera of Apollo 11 -- the first spaceflight that put Neil and Buzz on the lunar surface -- will be up for grabs starting June 13. The Hasselblad cam film roll contains 126 iconic photos from the moonshot mission taken personally by Armstrong and Aldrin during their exploration. The color images include moments from inside the Lunar Module Eagle right before Armstrong stepped off the spacecraft, his first photo after taking his famous first steps, Aldrin standing next to the American Flag ... and his legendary "Moon Man" image with his mask showing a reflection of Armstrong. According to the auction house, RR Auction, the film roll was acquired from Terry Slezak, a member of the Manned Spacecraft Center's lunar receiving lab. He was in charge of processing the film brought back from the Apollo moon landings ... and here he is with moon dust on his hands from one of 11's film canisters. The roll goes up for auction June 13 and ends on June 20 ... and it's estimated to haul in around $8,000. That's one not-so-small bid for man ... (TMZ)
Miranda Lambert is embracing her new life as a wife and stepmom! The country singer, who tied the knot with Brendan McLoughlin in January, recently opened up to Extra in honor of the CMA Fest and her annual MuttNation March about life as a newlywed and how the couple has managed to successfully blend their lives. Their compatibility would come as a surprise to some, seeing that Lambert, 35, has been based in Nashville, while McLoughlin, 27, is a New York City police officer. The city slicker cop is also a father and has a 7-month-old son from a previous relationship. "We have the best of both worlds," she told the outlet. "We spend time in New York, we get to see our adorable nugget, then we get to come back to the farm and have the quiet life. I'm enjoying the balance." Though Lambert does not have human children of her own, as a self-described "crazy dog lady" she's a mom to plenty of fur babies. "I'm loving that whole phase, and I've raised a million dogs, so I feel like I've got that part of my womanly/motherly thing is full, so this is a whole new journey," she told the outlet. "It's great... My stepson is amazing." "[Brendan's] a great guy and, bless his heart, he didn't have any dogs or any animals at all when he came into this relationship, so he inherited a whole barn full," Lambert jokingly added. "I was like, 'Hey, I got the dogs, you got the kid, we can mix and mingle.'" The couple met in New York in November when Lambert and her band, the Pistol Annies, performed on Good Morning America. McLoughlin was assigned to the South Midtown Precinct, which includes Times Square, where the morning show is filmed. In January, Lambert married the NYPD cop in a secret ceremony, only making her happy news public a month later. "I met the love of my life. And we got hitched!" she wrote on Instagram Feb. 16. "My heart is full. Thank you Brendan McLoughlin for loving me for... Me. #theone." They later made their red carpet debut at the 2019 ACM Awards in April, and have continued to split their time between Tennessee and New York City, where his work is based. Lambert and McLoughlin have managed to keep their romance largely under wraps, though the two were spotted leaving their Manhattan apartment together in May. She also showed off a rare photo of her spouse on Instagram last month in order to help find a home for rescue pups named Smoke and Bandit. "I think he provides for her a state of [normalcy] that balances with her life before she became Miranda Lambert," a music industry insider told PEOPLE after their wedding announcement. Keeping their relationship private, however, has come with its own set of challenges. Last week, Lambert's rep confirmed that the strong and that she had no intention of calling it quits on her four-month marriage after a tabloid story ran claiming otherwise. "[The report] is completely made up. Not one iota is true," the rep told PEOPLE. "They are happy and together!" (People)
Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie Seem Closer Than Ever at Pal Stassie's Birthday Party, Clammed for 'Handmaid's Tale' Theme. Running in the same circle. Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie had a blast celebrating their close pal Stassie Karanikolaou's 22nd birthday at a Handmaid's Tale-themed party on Saturday, June 8 -- though not everyone was happy with their decision. The Lip Kit maven, 21, celebrated alongside Richie, 20, who is currently dating her sister Kourtney Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. The two seemed to be closer than ever as Jenner referred to the model as her "girl" during one Instagram Story video. Jenner and Richie both posted a series of Stories from the bash, which included cocktails based off of the hit Hulu series, and all the guests dressed in head-to-toe red ensembles. Jenner isn't the only one in the Kardashian clan that Richie has become close with since she started dating Disick in the summer of 2017. The daughter of Lionel Richie has also developed a bond with Kourtney, 40, who shares three kids, Mason 9, Penelope 6, and Reign 4, with Disick. The trio along with the children have even happily vacationed together in recent months. "Sofia is 100 percent fine with Scott and Kourtney's relationship," an insider told Us in April. "They have no issues and all get along." Though the party appeared to be fun for the girls, many Twitter fans weren't pleased with the idea of Jenner and Richie glamorizing what the show stands for. "Can someone explain to me why Kylie Jenner is having a handmaid's tale themed party??? Like why??? How did anyone think it would be a good idea?" one Twitter user wrote. Another added of their disapproval: "Seriously this isn't even cute it's straight up disturbing and ignorant. @KylieJenner way to go on missing the point!" The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that replaces the United States of America and uses handmaids to carry children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving due to dangerously low reproduction rates. The costumes from the show have often been used in protests in places where women are fighting for their rights. (UsMagazine)
Wendy Williams isn't letting an ugly breakup and divorce get in the way of a beautiful, massive diamond ring ... and she's making sure everyone knows it. Wendy's out on the left coast and Thursday night we got her outside Craig's, where she was having a business dinner. Photogs quickly noticed her gajillion-carat wedding ring -- hard not to, it's blinding -- and asked her about it, point-blank. Watch the vid ... she doesn't speak much, but she says a lot by blatantly flaunting the ring to cameras. As you know Wendy filed to divorce Kevin Hunter back in April, shortly after he and his alleged mistress had a baby. It's been a nasty split ... with Kevin getting booted from his job as executive producer on her talk show -- and more recently getting into a fight with their son, Kevin Jr. Despite all of that, Wendy's continued rocking the rock, on and off TV. Don't read anything into it, though -- our Wendy sources say there's absolutely no reconciliation going down. Husbands come and go, but y'know what they say about a girl's BFF. (TMZ)
Wendy Williams' estranged husband is no closer to making amends with their son, Kevin Jr., after the father-son scuffle ... and Kevin Hunter Sr. feels Wendy isn't helping the situation. Sources close to the family tell TMZ ... Kevin Sr. has made no headway toward patching things up since the fight that ended with Junior's arrest. We're told he's getting iced out, despite several attempts to reach out and talk to his son. We're told Wendy's ex thinks he and his son should settle their differences on their own -- but he believes Wendy is behind the decision to go radio silent. We broke the story ... Kevin Jr. was arrested for assault for punching his father in the nose in a New Jersey parking lot after Sr. put him in a headlock. The fight allegedly stemmed from an argument over the divorce, and Kevin demanding spousal support from Wendy. Hunter told us afterward he loves his son and was not going to pursue the matter legally, and he's committed to fixing the relationship. We're told he understands their son is being protective of his mother through the divorce, but he still wants to make peace. Meanwhile, Wendy's looking happy to put her ex in her rear view. She was out in L.A. last week, flaunting her huge diamond flower ring and talking biz with TV execs. (TMZ)
Tyler Perry pleads with actors to stop begging for roles with billboard ads. Filmmaker Tyler Perry admonished a New York actress this week after she took out ads on two billboards in a stunt to ask him for a role in a television show or movie. Actress Racquel Bailey, who had a small role in HBO's "The Night Of" in 2016, plastered her face on two billboards in Perry's hometown of Atlanta and addressed a message to the filmmaker. "Attention Mr. Perry, Racquel Bailey is your next leading lady," the billboards read. Perry responded to the stunt in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing it is not the first time someone has done this -- and it's not the way to get his attention. "If you're looking for a role in one of my shows. Please DON'T DO THIS, SAVE YOUR MONEY!!" he wrote in the post. "This is the third time that someone has done this. PLEASE STOP! To audition is FREE!! I'm sure you can use that money for a better purpose," he added. "I love that you want to work with me, and I love that you invest in yourself. But when you do things like this it puts my team on high alert and makes me look at you sideways," Perry said in the Facebook post. Bailey responded to his post, thanking him for posting about the billboard and saying it was a "leap of faith" in her bid to be cast by him. "This was my leap of FAITH and with faith you never know where it will land you or if it will even work," Bailey wrote. "Sometimes we have to step out the norm and do something unconventional. Not everyone is going to agree or think it's a great idea. That's the chance I took!" she added. (PageSix)
Usher doesn't have eyes on the back of his head ... but he DOES have a super sick work of art. The R&B superstar hooked up with famed L.A. tattoo artist Dillon Forte for his latest masterpiece that apparently required Usher to carve out precious real estate on his dome. The result's a beaut -- a tat inspired by sacred geometry and an ancient Berber stone that marks the cardinal points in the sky, which allows travelers to find their way across vast distances. World history, look it up. Usher and Dillon -- who has also worked on Chris Hemsworth and Kat Von D, among others -- met through Jennifer Love Hewitt's hubby, Brian Hallisay. It wasn't long before an introduction was made and the singer sat down for a 3-hour sesh last weekend at Dillon's Sri Yantra Tattoo Studio in Venice. Ya gotta imagine, given the tat's location, it had to hurt. Probs worth it ... when your head can now count as a masterpiece. (TMZ)
Andy Ruiz Jr. ain't one to let a little thing like a boxing title change up his dining preferences -- the dude digs authentic Mexican ... even if it means getting it from a hole-in-the-wall joint. The newly-minted heavyweight champ -- who recently stunned the world by defeating the heavily-favored Anthony Joshua -- was spotted chowing down at a low-key Mexican chain Friday with his girlfriend and the rest of his fam in El Centro, CA ... almost 2 hours east of San Diego. The restaurant of their choice ... La Resaca -- known for their seafood and with a nearly 5-star rating off a ton of good reviews. It's a modest joint, but it was perfect for Ruiz and co. You'd think after becoming the toast of the town everywhere he's gone since the upset last weekend, he MIGHT just treat himself to something a bit swankier in, say, L.A., maybe? Seems like that isn't his style though -- he'll stick to chips and salsa ... and live mariachis. We gotta say ... it's been a while since we've come across a guy like Andy Jr. here. He certainly doesn't fit the mold for what we've come to expect of a ringside champion but at the same time ... it's refreshing to see homeboy flip the script on everyone and their mom. Speaking of moms ... happy birthday to Andy's ma, Mrs. Ruiz! We're told they were all out there celebrating her 58th birthday. Never change, ARJ. (TMZ)
Don't call it a comeback, call it a payout -- LL Cool J's coming out swinging for Andy Ruiz Jr., saying if Anthony Joshua wants back the belts, he's gotta pay the guy who took 'em. We got LL at LAX Friday, and the famous fight fan wasn't just riding the "Pay Ruiz" train ... he was the freakin' conductor!!! We asked him about the new WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champ demanding $50 MILLION, if the Joshua rematch is held on AJ's turf in the UK. LL didn't hesitate, telling us ... "He should get more than that. Gotta get every dime you can get, baby!" Cool J says people gotta stop looking at Ruiz as the relatively unknown guy he was before he shocked the world by upsetting Joshua last weekend in Madison Square Garden. As LL put it, "He got the belts now and this is the price." He added you also have to take into account the kinda beating boxers take every time they step in the ring. He gave a shout out to Canadian boxer Adonis Stevenson, who was left in critical condition with a brain injury last year. That's why LL says, Ruiz is "supposed to charge. They work hard, they risk their lives." As for who would win the rematch -- LL isn't willing to lay a bet just yet -- but when it comes to a possible Ruiz-Deontay Wilder bout? He's 100% on that one. (Eonline)
The famed Four Seasons Restaurant is closing. The legendary Four Seasons Restaurant is closing, Page Six has exclusively learned. The institution -- which moved to a new location in August 2018 -- will serve its final souffle on Tuesday, we're told. Sources say that its managing partner, Alex Von Bidder, called a staff meeting Friday to break the news, and a rep for the restaurant confirmed the closure to us. In a statement to Page Six, Von Bidder said, "We have been privileged to work with one of the finest culinary teams and outstanding staff that has stayed with us through some challenging times over the course of our history." He added, "We thank our loyal guests for the opportunity and support over the years." Von Bidder -- who ran the restaurant since the mid-Nineties with Julian Niccolini until Niccolini was ousted last year amid sexual misconduct allegations -- also noted that the cost of running a restaurant in New York City has made it a challenge. The restaurant opened in 1959 in the famed Seagram Building on Park Avenue and became a symbol of Manhattan's wealth and power. The term "power lunch" was coined by Esquire magazine in 1979 to describe midday meals there which end "with the decisions and the deals that will keep you in books, clothes, wine, and ideas for the rest of the year." It served as the unofficial lunchroom for Conde Nast executives, and editors were said to be scolded for failing to be seated at the most desirable tables. James Beard pioneered seasonal cooking there, but it was almost as notable for its art and design as it was for its contribution to cuisine. The space was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, Mark Rothko painted original art for its walls and a curtain designed by Pablo Picasso hung in its entryway. Every president to serve since it opened, except Richard Nixon, dined there, and it had too many celebrity regulars to even begin to list them. In 2015, the Seagram Building's owner, Aby Rosen, declined to renew the restaurant's lease, and the space was taken over by the buzzy Major Food Group, which has run The Pool, The Grill and the Lobster Club in the space since July 2017. We're told that the relocated Four Seasons, which reopened on 49th Street and Madison in September 2018, had struggled to attract the same numbers of expense account clientele that it had been famous for in the old location. (PageSix)
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