OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have sent thank you cards to fans who wrote to congratulate them on their engagement.
The couple admitted they were “incredibly touched” by people who penned letters to them after they got engaged in November 2017, and “greatly appreciated” the correspondence ahead of their May 19 wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
An Instagram user posted a picture of the card, which featured the pair on the front and a message inside which read: “Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle were incredibly touched that you took the trouble to write as you did in connection to their forthcoming Wedding.
“It really was most thoughtful of you and greatly appreciated. His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle send you their warmest thanks and very best wishes. (sic)”
The format of the card and message inside sparked comparisons to one sent by Duchess Catherine in February last year when she thanked fans for writing to her on her 35th birthday in January 2017.
The message read: “The Duchess of Cambridge was touched that you took the trouble to write as you did on the occasion of her birthday.
“It really was most thoughtful of you and Her Royal Highness sends you her warmest thanks and best wishes.”
Last month, Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, thanked their fans for their “generous messages” following the release of the pair’s engagement photos.
Alongside another picture, they said in a statement: “Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments following the release of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle’s engagement photographs.
“The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives.
“As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Meghan Markle’s father will be at her wedding to Prince Harry, her half-sister has confirmed.
Samantha Grant has insisted Thomas Markle Snr. will definitely be at the couple’s nuptials at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19 unless a “plane crashes through his roof”.
When asked if her father would be attending the pair’s big day, she told ‘The Wright Stuff’: “Yes he is, God forbid unless a plane crashes through his roof, he’ll be there one way or the other.
“So any rumour to the contrary is … my favourite new word is becoming ‘oh rubbish’. Yeah, so he will be there.”
Samantha’s comments come just days after Thomas praised Harry, 33, as a “gentleman”.
He said: “I’m very happy for them. I love my daughter very much – Harry’s a gentleman.”
Thomas also insisted the pair’s union is a “very good match”.
The 73-year-old former lighting director added: “I think it’s wonderful, I’m very delighted. I think they’re a very good match.”
In October last year, one month before Harry and Meghan confirmed their engagement, Samantha admitted she expected the pair to marry at some point but wasn’t sure if she would be invited to the nuptials.
Samantha – who hasn’t spoken to Meghan, 36, in nine years – said: “I don’t know if I would be hurt, and out of love and respect I would go; of course I would go.
“We’ll see if I get an invite.”
Samantha also insisted her half-sister – whose dad is Caucasian and mother is African-American – wouldn’t feel any pressure becoming the first bi-racial princess or duchess in British royal history.
When asked if her sibling might be affected by this, she said: “She is confident, not only in herself as a woman, but in her relationship with Harry and love that they have so that should speak for – and carry – them and everything else.
“And that being said, it seems a non-issue.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Princess Charlotte posed for photos on the steps of Kensington Palace as she headed for her first day of nursery on Monday (08.01.18).
The two-year-old daughter of Prince William and Duchess Catherine stopped on the steps of Kensington Palace for an impromptu photoshoot for her mother before she was taken to the nearby Willcocks Nursery School.
The pictures were posted on the Kensington Palace official Twitter account and were captioned: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share two photographs of Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace this morning.
“The images were taken by The Duchess shortly before Princess Charlotte left for her first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School.”
The location of Princess Charlotte’s nursery school was revealed last month in a post shared on the royal’s Instagram account.
Alongside a photograph of Prince William, Duchess Catherine, Charlotte and her four-year-old brother George, the caption read: “Their Royal Highnesses have also announced this morning that Princess Charlotte will attend the Willcocks Nursery School in London from January 2018.”
And the institution were equally “delighted” that the couple – who are expecting their third child together – have selected their nursery for Princess Charlotte to attend.
A spokesperson for The Willcocks Nursery School said in a statement: “We are delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen the Willcocks Nursery School for Princess Charlotte. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte to our nursery in January.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Elizabeth has admitted her Coronation coach journey was “not very comfortable”.
The 91-year-old monarch was crowned 65 years ago in the first televised Coronation, but she has recalled the Gold State Coach being “horrible” to sit in for two hours and four-and-a-half miles on the return journey to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey.
She said: “Horrible, it’s only sprung on leather. Not very comfortable.”
Elizabeth has also admitted not everything about wearing crowns is a positive.
With a smile on her face, the queen said: “There are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise, they’re quite important things.”
The queen’s Coronation was the second one she witnessed after she was at her father George VI’s service.
Speaking in the US trailer of an upcoming BBC documentary, ‘The Coronation’ – which airs on Sunday (14.01.18) – she added: “I’ve seen one coronation and been recipient in the other, which is pretty remarkable.
“It’s the beginning of one’s life really as a sovereign.
The documentary will tell the story of the crown jewels and the ceremony of crowning a new monarch.
In the episode, Elizabeth will be talking to royal commentator Alastair Bruce about her own experiences with her Coronation.
Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s director of content, said: “It is a real honour to have Her Majesty the Queen revealing her intimate knowledge of the Crown Jewels – and fond childhood memories from when her father was crowned King George VI in this very special film for BBC One.
“In her own words, the Queen will bring to life the enduring symbolic importance of the coronation ceremonies for modern audiences to enjoy.”
‘The Coronation’ airs on BBC One on Sunday at 8pm.

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OHMYGOSSIP — An onlooker collapsed yards away from the Royal Family on Sunday morning (07.01.18).
Police rushed to the aid of the unnamed person, who is thought to be in their 50s, after he fell to the ground near to where Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince William and Duchess Catherine were exiting St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate, Norfolk, eastern England.
According to Mail Online, the man was wrapped up in a thermal blanket and treated by medics.
The royals, who were also joined by Catherine’s sister Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews, didn’t appear to notice the incident.
The queen celebrated the new year at Sandringham and headed to church on New Year’s Eve (31.12.17) with her family, husband Prince Philip and their son Prince Edward, who was accompanied by his wife Sophie Wessex, and Princess Anne was also in attendance.
But Prince William and Duchess Catherine, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were present at the Christmas Day (25.12.17) service, were not there.
Elizabeth, 91, got the festive period underway on December 21 when she arrived at her Sandringham estate alongside her husband Prince Philip, 96.
The pair headed up to Norfolk from London via train, which took them to the nearby Kings Lynn station.
Philip was spotted carrying a bit of light reading in the form of a book entitled ‘Michaelangelo: The Complete Works’ by Frank Zollner, Christof Thoenes and Thomas Pöpper.
Ahead of their trip to Sandringham, the queen hosted her annual Christmas lunch for her family at Buckingham Palace, where Harry’s fiancee Meghan enjoyed her first festive experience with the Royal Family.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Meghan Markle bought Queen Elizabeth a singing toy hamster for Christmas.
The former ‘Suits’ star gave the comical gift to her fiance Prince Harry’s 91-year-old grandmother on Christmas Eve (24.12.17) – a nod to the Royal Family’s German ancestry tradition – and she barely had time to glimpse at it before her corgi dogs whipped the present off her.
A source said: “Meghan bought a little hamster that sings with a little rope for Her Majesty.
“It was so funny, especially when the corgis tried to take hold of the toy.
“She laughed and said, ‘They can keep my dogs company.’ ”
The Royal Family are said to have laid their presents out on a table complete with name tags on Christmas Eve ahead of the grand opening.
The source added to the Daily Star Online: “The gifts were on trestle tables in the white drawing room where the names were at each table for each family.”
Harry recently admitted Meghan had a “fantastic” time at his grandparents’ at Sandringham House, Norfolk, east England, over the festive period.
He said: “It was fantastic, she really enjoyed it. The family loved having her there. There is always that family part of Christmas and there’s that work element as well.
“And I think together we had an amazing time staying with my brother and sister-in-law. We were running around with the kids and Christmas was fantastic.
“As I said we are really looking forward to the new year and looking forward to 2018 because I’m determined to make sure that the pendulum is going to swing and 2018 is going to be a fantastic year.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Meghan Markle’s father has praised Prince Harry as a “gentleman”.
Thomas Markle admitted he loves the former ‘Suits’ star “very much” and gushed over his future son-in-law ahead of their wedding on May 19 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, south east England.
He said: “I’m very happy for them. I love my daughter very much – Harry’s a gentleman.”
The 73-year-old retired Hollywood lighting director also insisted the pair are a “very good match”.
In a video posted on The Sun Online, he added: “I think it’s wonderful, I’m very delighted. I think they’re a very good match.”
Last month, Thomas admitted he would love to accompany his 36-year-old daughter down the aisle on her and Harry’s big day.
When asked if he wants to give Meghan away at her nuptials, he replied: “Yes. I’d love to. I’m very pleased. I’m delighted.”
But he couldn’t divulge any details about the big day, adding: “I’m sorry. You know I can’t talk.”
Last year, Thomas’ son, Thomas Markle Jnr. – Meghan’s half-brother – claimed his father had become a “total recluse” since the retired actress and Harry, 33, announced their engagement.
He said: “Dad never liked the limelight but since the news came out about Meghan and Harry he’s become a total recluse. He hates the attention Meghan’s romance has brought on him.
“He loves her but hates the idea of being in the spotlight.”
Thomas Snr. Is living out his retirement in Rosarito Beach on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and also spends some time in Los Angeles.
He previously admitted Harry and Meghan’s engagement gave him “great joy” in a joint statement with his ex-wife Doria Ragland – Meghan’s mother – who he married in 1979, but they split in 1988.
They said: “We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.
“We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been advised against their first choice wedding reception venue.
The couple are to tie the knot on May 19 at Windsor Castle and were keen to hold their wedding breakfast in stately home Frogmore House, Windsor Home Park – a mile away from the castle – but royal aides are said to have vetoed the choice.
A senior royal source said: “They would have loved Frogmore for the party, particularly Meghan, who has called it ‘dreamy’, but they have been told St George’s Hall is far more practical.”
St George’s Hall is next to the chapel at Windsor Castle, but Frogmore was already said to be close to Meghan’s heart because they had their engagement pictures taken there and she took Harry for a romantic picnic at the venue last summer.
It is also thought Queen Elizabeth would’ve “readily approved” of Frogmore being Harry, 33, and 36-year-old Meghan’s reception venue.
The source added to the Sunday Express newspaper: “One person who would have readily approved of their choice was the queen, for whom Frogmore is a very special place.
“The queen would also have loved the family to see what had been done at Frogmore: the house has just been renovated by a group of friends as a 70th wedding anniversary gift to her and Philip.”
The royal wedding is expected to bring a huge boost to the UK economy in May when fans flock from all over the world to get a glimpse of the action.
Brand Finance’s chief executive David Haigh recently said: “We think approximately £200 million will come from tourism, travel, and hotels.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Zara and Mike Tindall are expecting their second child.
The 36-year-old royal – the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth – and the retired England rugby player are expecting a little brother or sister for their three-year-old daughter Mia, who turns four later this month, their spokesperson has confirmed.
It’s not known when the tiny tot is due to be born but it’s an exciting time for the royal family as Zara’s cousin Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine announced last year that they are set to welcome their third child into the world in April, while William’s brother Prince Harry is set to marry his fiancée Meghan Markle this spring too.
Zara’s pregnancy comes just over a year after she tragically suffered a miscarriage – one month after they announced their news – and Mike admitted at the time that their daughter Mia had been their “saving grace” throughout such a difficult time.
A spokesperson said at the time: “Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby. At this difficult time, we ask that everyone respects their privacy.”
Mike, 39, explained: “One thing you do learn is how many other people have to go through the same thing. The saving grace for us has been Mia, our daughter who is now three. However down we feel she will come running up in our faces. When I was playing [rugby] I hardly saw her; now we can see her grow up. I can take her swimming and I can take her to Ninja Tots. You’ll never be able to see her there because she disappears in a puff of smoke.”
And, seeing as both Zara and Mike come from sporting backgrounds, the couple – who got married in 2011 – are hoping their children follow in their footsteps.
Zara said recently: “We have always had sport in our lives and through our childhood. I think that really is important in every child’s life to have that opportunity. I think we got it off our parents and hopefully we can pass that on to Mia.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — George Michael once claimed Princess Diana was “very attracted” to him.
The late musical icon – who passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 – is having old interviews unearthed as part of a new book entitled ‘George Michael: Freedom, The Ultimate Tribute 1963-2016’, and in one excerpt obtained by DailyMailTV, the ‘Careless Whisper’ hitmaker talks about his bond with the late Princess.
George identified as gay but insisted women were still attracted to him as they found him “non-threatening”, and he believes Diana – who died in a car crash in Paris, France, in 1997 – was no exception.
In the interview excerpt, George is quoted as saying: “She was like a lot of women who have been attracted to me in my life. They see something non-threatening. There were certain things that happened that made it very clear that she was very attracted to me. There was no question.”
The pair became good friends after meeting backstage at an AIDs charity concert, and in one interview quoted in the upcoming book, George said they had “clicked in way that was a little bit intangible, and it probably had more to do with our upbringing than anything else.”
But when asked if he had ever considered sleeping with the Princess – who had Prince William, 35, and Prince Harry, 33, with her ex-husband Prince Charles – George reportedly said: “I knew it would have been a disastrous thing to do.”
It comes after George’s close pal Andros Georgiou previously claimed Princess Diana seemed attracted to the ‘Freedom’ singer.
Andros said: “She invited George to Kensington Palace for what she called ‘a chinwag’. He said she made a point of touching his arm and her hello and goodbye hugs lingered.
“George told me, ‘Nothing happened, but it could have. If I wasn’t gay, I would’.
“Instead they became very close friends. She often confided in him about how unhappy she was with Charles during their meetings.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Pippa Middleton has revealed she won’t eat pancakes with bacon.
The 34-year-old sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has admitted she “can’t start the day” without having something delicious for breakfast, but fans won’t catch her chowing down on pancakes topped with bacon and maple syrup – which is a favourite morning meal in countries including America and Canada – as she doesn’t find the combination appealing.
When asked to name one thing she would never eat for breakfast, Pippa said: “Pancakes with bacon and maple syrup – that certainly doesn’t do it for me.”
Pippa prefers to indulge healthier morning treats such as fruit and yoghurt or rye bread with eggs, and won’t start her day without making sure she has eaten properly.
She said: “I always have breakfast. I can’t start the day properly without it. My usual breakfast is either plain yogurt with chopped fruit and toasted seeds, oats and nuts or toasted rye bread with eggs or avocado.”
Pippa – who married James Matthews last year – also told the i newspaper that her all-time favourite breakfast experience was “up a mountain in the Trois Vallées ski region of France, with beautiful views, snow all around and crisp, fresh air to heighten the senses.”
The socialite supports the Magic Breakfast charity, which provides free, healthy breakfast cereals and bagels for children in disadvantaged areas of the UK who arrive at school too hungry to learn.
Alex Cunningham, general manager of Magic Breakfast, said: “It is fantastic to have Pippa’s support. She took part in a cross-country skiing race with her brother five years ago for us. It was really excellent – she quietly chose to support Magic Breakfast and raised a lot of money for the charity.
“She always has breakfast and can’t start the day properly without it, so like Magic Breakfast, she clearly values the importance of breakfast.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Elizabeth has become the UK’s most popular royal on the internet.
The 91-year-old monarch has seen her name garner more online searches than any other royal in 2017, including American ‘Suits’ actress Meghan Markle, who will join the household when she marries Prince Harry in May this year.
Queen Elizabeth came in third place in a list compiled by Wikipedia of their most viewed pages, with more than 19 million people wanting to find out more information on the UK’s longest reigning monarch.
The rise – which saw the royal move up 10 spots from her place at 13th on the leaderboard in 2016 – is believed to be partly down to the hit Netflix series ‘The Crown’, as searches for Queen Elizabeth reached their peak on December 10, when the second season of the programme was released.
Wikipedia’s list of the most viewed pages in 2017 has a somewhat royal theme, though, as coming in at fifth place was Prince Harry’s fiancée, 35-year-old Meghan Markle, whose engagement to the flame-haired royal saw online interest in her name soar.
Queen Elizabeth’s husband Prince Philip was also featured in the top 50 searches thanks to the Netflix show, as he made it to 44th place with 10.2 million views across the year.
‘The Crown’ also saw searches for the late Princess Margaret – who was the sister of Queen Elizabeth and who passed away in 2002 – increase, as she came in 37th place with 10.7 million clicks.
Speaking about the results, Wikipedia’s editors said of Queen Elizabeth: “It is phenomenal when you consider the fame and ubiquity of many of the entries which fall below her.
“As well as being testament to the terrific power of Netflix, I think that the continued strong performance should act to dispel the myth that no one cares about the monarchy.”
‘The Crown’ stars Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth and Matt Smith as Prince Philip, and follows the dramatised life of the monarch from the 1940s through to modern times.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been suffering from vertigo.
The 44-year-old Crown Princess of Norway has been forced to pull out of several royal engagements in recent months after she was left bedridden by the illness which is commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works inside the inner ear, and is categorised by a sensation of dizziness which can last anywhere from a few seconds to over an hour.
Mette-Marit admitted she was struck by the sensation that she’d “overindulged” on a ferryboat in November when she cancelled a royal visit to Denmark, and believed it to be the menopause at first.
Speaking to Norwegian radio station P3, she said: “I turned my head quickly, and it was like the whole world began to move. I began to sweat and felt nauseous – I thought I’d started early menopause.”
The Crown Princess – who has Princess Ingrid, 13, and Prince Sverre, 12, with her husband Crown Prince Haakon, as well as 20-year-old son Marius from her previous relationship with Morten Borg – was undergoing a rigorous week of exercise when the condition struck her.
She added: “I’d been incredibly good at training this fall. We used a program that changed from week to week.”
Vertigo usually goes away on its own, but it can come back at any time, and Mette-Marit will no doubt be keeping her eye on her condition in the future.
Her comments come after Norway’s royal palace said the Crown Princess was suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), which can cause a loss of balance, dizziness and nausea.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding is set to be a “massive boost” for the UK economy.
The 33-year-old royal and his fiancée are set to tie the knot in a lavish ceremony on May 19 this year, and Brand Finance has estimated that the nuptials will generate around £500 million for UK businesses, with fans from all over the world flocking to witness the event.
Brand Finance’s chief executive David Haigh said: “We think approximately £200 million will come from tourism, travel, and hotels.”
David also estimates that £150 million will be accumulated from people buying supplies for their own post-wedding celebrations, whilst the remaining £50 million is expected to be made by merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and other commemorative items.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the marriage between Harry’s older brother Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in 2011 led to an increase of 350,000 visitors to the UK compared to the same month the year before, and Brand Finance has predicted a similar rise in numbers for May’s big day.
The wedding is set to take place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and businesses in the Windsor area are already gearing up to make the most of the increased foot fall that May’s wedding will bring.
Andrew Lee, manager of the Harte and Garter hotel opposite Windsor Castle, said: “It’s going to be a massive boost for the economy, it’s going to be great to see so many people here for the wedding and actually to host the wedding itself.”
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this week that the planned nuptials have already caused a spike in tourism, as queues to visit Windsor Castle over the festive period were “huge”.
A spokesperson said: “Windsor is high on many people’s ‘must see’ list but the news of the royal wedding is only helping to elevate it even further.
“It will be a while before we can evaluate the full impact of the royal wedding on tourism to Windsor but we do know hotels locally have already taken a lot of bookings in the lead up to and during the weekend of the wedding.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Princess Charlotte has had her first ever pub named after her.
The two-year-old daughter of Prince William and Duchess Catherine – who is due to start her first day at Willcocks Nursery in London today (04.01.18) – has been honoured by having the drinking hole, The Princess Charlotte, in Colchester, Essex, run by McMullen Brewery opened with her moniker.
The boozer’s owner Heydon Mizon says everyone who visits the establishment is treated like a royal, and that he’s looking forward to the day the tot is old enough to come down and have a drink.
According to the Daily Star newspaper, he said: “We aim to treat every guest like royalty at The Princess Charlotte and this would, of course, include the youngster herself.”
It follows Charlotte’s four-year-old brother having The Prince George opened in Milton Keynes by the brewery previously.
The Princess Charlotte was originally set to open when the royal was born in 2015, however, planning was delayed.
Mizon laughed: “Thankfully the baby wasn’t at the mercy of a lengthy planning delay and so arrived on time.
“But the pub was significantly overdue.”
Asked how they choose the titles for their pubs, he said: “We try to select names that are interesting, relevant to the time or place that a pub is built and that will stand the test of time.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry has been “thanked” for his support by an amputee veteran looking to set a world record by rowing unaided across the Atlantic.
Lee Spencer, who served in the Royal Marines for over two decades, lost his leg whilst fighting in Afghanistan, but he’s determined to make the trip with the help of the 33-year-old royal’s charity the Endeavour Fund.
Speaking to Harry, Mr. Spencer said: “When you go outside [leave the military], you think I’m going to miss the lads, miss the laughs, the camaraderie and everything that goes with it. But actually, it’s the sense of service, sense of doing something that matters.”
The royal joked that after completing the challenge last year, but with three other people, he wouldn’t have to make small talk this time.
He smiled: “This is a massive task you’re taking on, but you’ve already done it once.
“You’ve got three less people but you won’t have to make conversation and you will get to sleep when you want to sleep.”
Thanking Harry for his support and for changing lives with Endeavour, which he help set up in 2012 with his brother Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine to help the recovery of the wounded and sick servicemen and women, Lee said: “The work he and the Endeavour Fund do has made a very big difference to many people’s lives and in a very real way.
“I will carry with me his words of support across everyone one of the 3,500 Atlantic ocean miles I am about to face.”

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