OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Elizabeth “loves” gymnastics, according to Olympic athlete Max Whitlock.
The 90-year-old royal has admitted to the British artistic gymnast she loves nothing more than watching flexible sportsman taking part in the discipline because she is always left stunned watching them move into positions that seem impossible.
Speaking to BBC News about the monarch and her thoughts on the specialism when he was awarded an MBE at an investiture ceremony at London’s Buckingham Palace on Thursday (23.02.17), the 24 year old said: “She told me she loved watching the gymnastics because the stuff that we do doesn’t seem possible.”
And Max – who won gold on the floor and on the pommel during the sporting extravaganza in Rio last year – thinks its “pretty cool” the Queen enjoys the sport.
He explained: “It was pretty cool to hear the Queen say she likes the sport.”
Although the star has received a number of medals for his ability on the mats and is proud of his “journey” to success, he has credited his meeting with the Queen and being personally awarded the honour the pinnacle of his career.
He said: “It’s been a really good journey, and the MBE actually tops it off.”
The Royal Family Twitter account has publicly congratulated the star on social media.
They tweeted: “Congratulations @maxwhitlock1, @TeamGB’s first ever @Olympics gold medallist in artistic gymnastics, presented his #MBE by The Queen today (sic).”
And Max is “truly honoured” to receive the accolade and has thanked the Royal Family for the “amazing day”, which he thinks will inspire budding athletes to embark on a career in the same industry.
He wrote: “I am truly honoured. Thank you so much for an amazing day. Shows what’s possible for young athletes #inspireageneration #MBE (sic).”

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OHMYGOSSIP — The Duke of Cambridge is set to launch the Skill Force Prince William Award at a school in Wales next week.
The 34-year-old royal – who has three-year-old son Prince George and 21-month-old daughter Princess Charlotte with his wife Duchess Catherine – will visit Llanfoist Fawr Primary School in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, on Wednesday (01.03.17) to set up the scheme, according to SouthWalesArgus.co.uk.
The programme has been set up to collaborate with education partners in the UK to encourage children aged between five and 19 years old to become more confident in themselves and to help them boost their resilience and character.
The Skill Force Prince William Award will see trained personnel carry out the services and help with the scheme.
William is currently visiting Blenheim Road Primary in a town in Wales named Cwmbran where he will be taking part in an educational programme ran by Size of Wales to discuss climate change and to help address the environmental issue.
And William’s visit comes one week after his 35-year-old wife visited the Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen (MIST), a project which helps support children and their families with mental health issues.
And during the brunette beauty’s visit Police had to keep a close eye on her for her own safety.
Speaking previously, a police spokeswoman said: “Using a drone will allow officers to gain vital information. As their capability develops they have been deployed for more general policing work.”
As well as the drone cameras, local police were also armed with tasers, the Mail Online reports.
Following Catherine’s visit to Torfaen, she went on to visit Caerphilly Family Intervention Team centre, which supports children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Elizabeth sent her well wishes to those who had gathered for the opening of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial.
The 90-year-old royal paid her respects to those who had died in the natural disaster as a memorial was opened to remember the victims and their families on the sixth anniversary of the Canterbury Earthquake in New Zealand.
She said: “As you gather today to dedicate the new Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, there will be difficult and painful memories, but also memories of many heroic and selfless acts, of the caring and creative nature of the Christchurch people, and of the help that came so readily from emergency and rescue personnel.
“I hope that the new memorial will provide a place to remember, to grieve for what is lost, and to give thanks for what remains. I am sure it will be a particularly special place for the families of those who lost their lives, and for those who were seriously injured in the earthquakes. They will be joined by many others, from New Zealand and around the world, who wish to pause and reflect on that difficult time. I hope that this national memorial is a place of solace and reflection for all who visit.”
The memorial wall – which was erected near the river by Oxford Terrace in the centre of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island – is made of stones, which have been inscribed with the names of those who died. There is also an acknowledgement of those who were seriously injured in the natural disaster and those who were the first responders to the emergency.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Police kept an eye on Duchess Catherine’s visit to Wales using drones.
The South Wales police force used the robot vehicle to watch over the 35-year-old royal as she visited the Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen (MIST), a project which helps support children and their families with mental health issues.
A police spokeswoman said: “Using a drone will allow officers to gain vital information. As their capability develops they have been deployed for more general policing work.”
As well as the drone cameras, local police were also armed with tasers, the Mail Online reports.
Following her visit to Torfaen, Duchess Catherine went on to visit Caerphilly Family Intervention Team centre, which supports children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.
The mother-of-two spoke to those in attendance, where she told them how “pleased [she was] to meet everyone there and [how] brave for all of them to be sharing their stories”.
It was at FIT where Duchess Catherine met Sir Tony Hawkhead, the chief executive of Action for Children.
He said previously: “We are thrilled to welcome Her Royal Highness back to Action for Children, now as our new Royal Patron, and introduce The Duchess to the specialised work we do with families in Torfaen and Caerphilly to develop emotional wellbeing in children and give them the confidence and self-belief to fulfil their potential.
“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for her continued interest in the vital work we do, not just in Wales, but at our 600 services across the UK. It is challenging work but our passionate and dedicated teams make a profound difference to the lives of those who need it most in our communities.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Duchess Catherine showed off her “dreadful” pool skills as she visited a children’s mental health centre in Wales.
The 35-year-old royal joined 15-year-old Craig Davies in a game of pool at MIST, which works with young people, their families and their carers to provide support with their mental health needs.
Asked how the Duchess of Cambridge was as a pool player, he joked: “She was dreadful.”
And Craig admits he was incredibly nervous about speaking to Duchess Catherine – who has Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, 21 months, with her husband Prince William – but soon relaxed after they spoke about Catherine’s two children and their pets.
He added: “She was talking about how MIST helps us and stuff with life and school. She was really interested in what we were talking about.”
It marked the Duchess’ first visit to Action for Children projects after she took over the patronage.
Action for Children’s chief executive Sir Tony Hawkhead said: “We are thrilled to welcome Her Royal Highness back to Action for Children, now as our new Royal Patron, and introduce The Duchess to the specialised work we do with families in Torfaen and Caerphilly to develop emotional wellbeing in children and give them the confidence and self-belief to fulfil their potential.
“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for her continued interest in the vital work we do, not just in Wales, but at our 600 services across the UK. It is challenging work but our passionate and dedicated teams make a profound difference to the lives of those who need it most in our communities.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry spoke of the “vital role” teachers play in shaping young people’s lives as he introduced the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize.
The 32-year-old royal spoke highly of those teachers who are role models and prepare kids for the “ups and downs” they face in their life.
He said: “I’m delighted to be able to introduce the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize. Last year, my brother spoke about some of the qualities of those teachers who have had the greatest impact on young lives. He said the best teachers are those who can reach children early in their learning journey, supporting them, often through turbulent times in their lives to give them the best chance in the future.
“I would like to build on what William said by highlighting the vital role teachers play as our role models. In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, the very best teachers go beyond the pages of textbooks to teach young people about determination, aspiration, resilience and compassion. We will all face setbacks and challenges in our lives and our teachers play a vital role in preparing us for those ups and downs.”
And the flame-haired royal went on to congratulate the 10 finalists who had been shortlisted for the award as he spoke about the teachers who had an “impact” on his own life.
He added: “The finalists for this year’s Global Teacher Prize are from every corner of the world – from the Canadian Arctic to Kenya and Pakistan. But there’s one thing they all have in common – they spark curiosity within a child and nurture the dreams that can change our world for the better. I’m sure everyone can remember the teachers who did the same for us and those who helped us through our formative years – I can certainly pinpoint those who had an impact on my life …
“I’d like to end by congratulating all of the finalists. You’re not just exceptional teachers, you are the role models who support, inspire and shape young children’s lives. Your work is so important and I don’t believe it’s an exaggeration to say that you’re shaping the future. You’re all winners in my book, and more importantly your students’ books.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince William and Duchess Catherine don’t hold hands in public as they don’t need to “prove” their love.
The royal couple are regularly spotted at arm’s length from each other whilst out and about but body language expert Robin Kermode insists they are following in the footsteps of the Queen.
He said: “The Queen rarely holds hands with her husband in public and this seems to have set an unwritten precedent for the other royals.
“It is very clear that William and Kate are emotionally close, however, they do not seem to feel the need to prove their love – particularly when on official state business.
“They come across as a strong, independent couple and while they are always on show, they do not feel the need to ‘show’ their love for each other to the world.”
And he went on to reveal that when couples hold hands in public, it is often used deliberately to show unity.
He added to the Mail Online: ‘We have seen this gesture from politicians and celebrities who have had marital problems; they grab their partner’s hand in a bid to prove that things are fine.
“[President Trump] is holding onto the hands of world leaders too long and you can see people literally trying to pull their hands away. William and Kate are definitely not in that sphere!”
It comes after it was revealed the Prince doesn’t wear his wedding ring because it is “traditionally not the done thing for gentlemen to wear jewellery”.
Etiquette expert William Hanson shared: “It is not unusual at all for men from the upper sets in Britain to shun wearing a wedding band. This is not because of any intentions that they may wish to play away from home once married, but because it was traditionally not the done thing for gentlemen to wear jewellery.
“Years ago, this even included watches, but even hardened snobs have relaxed on that front. Not wearing a wedding band is one of those quirky British silent class indicators, like the colour of your shoes on a Thursday, or the way you fold your top pocket handkerchief.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry says he started the Heads Together campaign to end the “outdated prejudice” surrounding mental health.
The 32-year-old – who spearheads the charity with his brother Prince William and his sister-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – has spoken out about the importance of “speaking about” mental health, as he believes staying quiet about these issues can make them “quickly escalate”.
He said: “If you feel stressed or like a cloud is hanging over you, you cannot know how to fix that feeling unless you start speaking about it.
“William, Catherine and I started this campaign because we saw that fear of judgement, stigma, and outdated prejudice meant that too many people stayed quiet about their mental health challenges.
“And we saw that this fear of even talking about a problem often meant that issues could quickly escalate out of hand.
“How is it that for most, the first time mental health is talked about is when they’re already suffering?”
And Prince Harry – who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan – drew on his experiences with the armed forces to urge people not to face their mental health battles alone.
He continued: “Stigma cannot and must not be the reason we shy away from equipping ourselves and our families for the day that a dark cloud may appear.
“I have seen the threat that this fear and stigma poses in my work with veterans and my former Army friends.
“Guys and girls in the armed services often need to think they are invincible.
“I know first-hand from my time as an Apache pilot that you do not want anyone to question your ability to cope with pressure and stress.”
“When you are called on to assist with a rescue mission in a dangerous situation, you want everyone to know you won’t be fazed by the challenge.
“Questioning can bring about doubt, when you know the training will kick in. We all consider ourselves at the top of our game and strive for perfection.”
Prince Harry admits “no-one is invincible”, and some people can be desperate for help even if they “struggle to admit” it.
Speaking at an event for runners taking part in the upcoming London Marathon – for which Heads Together has been made the named charity – the royal said: “We all want to be as professional as humanly possible. What I’ve learned through my work with the Army’s Personnel Recovery Unit, is that this need to be seen as tough and invincible can follow you home from the battlefield.
“And when the truth is – no one is invincible and anyone who is repeatedly exposed to stress and trauma will need help with their mental health, this pride can become very dangerous.
“I have met too many people who waited too long to start having that conversation. I have met people who disconnected from their spouses and children rather than admit that they needed to speak to someone.
“I have sat with a man who struggled to admit he needed help even as he could not stop shaking and blinking as he fought post-traumatic stress.
“I have met people who considered taking their own lives rather than admit to anything that might make them look weak in the eyes of others.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry has praised teachers for their “compassion”.
The 32-year-old royal helped unveil the top 10 shortlist for this year’s Global Teacher Prize on Tuesday (21.02.17), where he congratulated those in the education system for playing “a vital role” in helping children prepare for the “ups and downs” of life.
In a video message to mark the unveiling of the names on the shortlist, Prince Harry said: “In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, the very best teachers go beyond the pages of textbooks to teach young people about determination, aspiration, resilience and compassion.
“We will all face setbacks and challenges in our lives and our teachers play a vital role in preparing us for these ups and downs.
“The finalists for this year’s Global Teacher Prize are from every corner of the world, from the Canadian Arctic to Kenya and Pakistan.
“But there’s one thing they all have in common, they spark curiosity within a child and nurture the dreams that can change our world for the better.
“I would like to end by congratulating all of the finalists; you are not just exceptional teachers, you are the role models who support, inspire and shape children’s lives.
“Your work is so important; I don’t believe it is an exaggeration to say that you are shaping the future.”
The shortlist of names only features one UK teacher, a computer science teacher from Corby, Northamptonshire, named Raymond Chambers.
Mr Chambers – who teaches as Brooke Weston Academy – will face competition from nine other teachers working in countries around the globe, including Pakistan, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Jamaica, Canada, Australia, China and Kenya.
The winner of the Global Teacher Prize – who will receive a whopping $1 million prize – will be revealed at a ceremony held at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai next month.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Meghan Markle is reportedly planning on quitting ‘Suits’ in favour of moving in with her boyfriend Prince Harry.
The 35-year-old actress currently stars in the legal drama as paralegal Rachel Zane, but could be looking to throw in the towel as her relationship with the 32-year-old royal – whom she has been dating since last summer – becomes more serious.
So far, Meghan and Prince Harry have had to endure a long distance relationship, but if the brunette beauty quits her role on the drama series she will be free to move in with her beau, who currently resides in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
Meanwhile, the loved-up couple may get a trial run of living together later this year as Prince Harry is set to head off to Canada – where ‘Suits’ is filmed – for the Invictus Games, and could stay with Meghan whilst he’s there.
A source said recently: “Harry has a lot on his agenda over the coming months but will be very hands-on with organising the Invictus Games. He will be working with the local organising committee to ensure that everything goes smoothly. He’s a huge fan of Toronto and has had nothing but support from everyone involved. Of course it will also give him a legitimate reason to spend more time with Meghan, he’s truly smitten.”
Harry and Megan initially kept details of their relationship under wraps but they’re now willing to share it with the world after they were spotted walking hand-in-hand in London.
A source said: “An engagement is certainly one possible outcome … They are really just enjoying spending time together.”
It comes after it was claimed the pair have been pretty “inseparable” since the beginning of the year.
An insider shared: “They are really just enjoying spending time together … It just feels very natural for them both. It feels easy – like they’ve known each other for a long time.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Queen Elizabeth held a party for female civil servants at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday (21.02.17)
The 90-year-old royal welcomed past and present female permanent secretaries at the Queen’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace, in celebration of diversity within the civil service.
Queen Elizabeth met with the ten female permanent secretaries, who come from a total of 39 senior civil servants who hold the position, which involves heading the day-to-day running of a central government department and acting as an adviser to the relevant secretary of state.
One woman, Antonia Romeo – who is set to take up the role as permanent secretary for the Department of International Trade in March – believes the increase of female civil servants comes as a response to being able to have flexible working hours.
She said at the event: “I joined the Civil Service in 2000 and at the time there was much less opportunity to do things like job sharing, which meant that if you wanted to do the really tough jobs, you had to work full time unless you had a particularly understanding boss.
“I was lucky because I worked with some supportive and very understanding diversity-friendly bosses early in my career when I was having children.
“If you look around now, you see loads of really powerful people in job shares, loads of really effective women at senior levels in job shares.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Civil Service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, has said the service aims to become “the most inclusive employer in the UK”.
He said: “Currently, over 40% of the Senior Civil Service are women. But there is still more to do, which is why we are determined to build on our progress to date by removing any remaining barriers for women and other under-represented groups in the Civil Service.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry has met with runners training for the London Marathon on behalf of mental health charity Heads Together.
The 32-year-old royal – who spearheads the campaign along with his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – visited the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside on Tuesday (21.02.17) to cheer on competitors who will be running for the organisation when they take to the streets of London for the long distance race in April.
Whilst there, the royal teamed up with teamed up with retired track and field athlete Steve Cram and former triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, who later praised the Heads Together campaign – which has been named as the official charity for the marathon – for its work tackling the stigma surrounding mental health.
Olympic gold medal winner Jonathan, 50, said: “Mental health preparation is incredibly important.
“I think to have Prince Harry and his brother is fantastic for this.
“I think lots of people struggle with mental health issues, but I think if you can talk to someone about your struggles like I would with my old coach, it’s so important and something we need to do.”
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry had visited an event in Gateshead hosted by Walking With The Wounded, where he met with veterans who have received mental health support from the military charity.
He said whilst at the event: “What you guys are doing here is truly fantastic.
“There are guys and girls who, because of you, have been taken out of an incredibly dark place and offered a train track heading in one direction.
“They have turned their lives around and can be recognised for the service that they gave and the people that they are, rather than the mistakes they made.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Princess Diana used to refuse to wear a hat.
The late royal – who tragically passed away in 1997 in a car crash in Paris, France – put loads of thought into her outfits and told her staff that she didn’t want a hat and gloves when she paid visits to children because she couldn’t “cuddle” with the accessory and liked to hold hands with people.
Eleri Lynn – who is in charge of the Diana’s fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace, London, later this week – told Vogue magazine: “She often wore the same happy floral dress for hospital visits (memorable from a 1991 visit to a Sao Paulo shelter for abandoned children, many of whom were suffering from AIDS)… She called it her caring dress. You’ll notice she is not wearing gloves. That’s a royal protocol that she ditched because she liked to hold hands with people and make skin-to-skin contact. The original sketch came with a hat, but she didn’t wear a hat because she said, ‘You can’t cuddle a child in a hat.’ ”
‘Diana: Her Fashion Story’ was commissioned to commemorate Diana’s life on the 20th anniversary of her death in August 1997, at which time she left her now-grown-up sons Prince William and Harry without a mother.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Princess Madeleine is writing a children’s book.
The Swedish royal – who now lives in London with her husband Christopher O’Neill and their young children Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas – may suffer from dyslexia but she’s not letting that stop her pursue her dreams as she currently in the process of penning her own little novel aimed at young kids.
She said: “I’m working on a separate project, my book project. It’s a children’s book. You’ll see what is is soon. At the moment I can only say that it will be fun. Books are important. They open up your imagination and you learn a lot.”
The 34-year-old beauty was inspired to write a book by her children.
She explained to the Expressen: “Previously Leonore had not really had the patience, but now we read more and more books, which is great fun.
“It is a cosy moment you have together. There will of course be Pippi in the beginning, but it has been mostly picture books until now.
“Nicolas has always loved books! So when you cannot find him, then he’s sitting with a little book himself, up and down, like he was trying to look into it. It’s very fun, so he will probably be a bookworm!”
Although details on the project are few and far between, it’s expected to be released sometime next year.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Zara Tindall didn’t wear rings until her husband Mike proposed in 2010.
The 35-year-old royal – who is the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip – has admitted the first ever jewel to sit on her finger was the diamond sparkler her now-spouse popped the question with seven years ago.
She told Town & Country magazine: “I didn’t appreciate jewellery until I got a bit older and started going to events. I never wore rings. My engagement ring was my first. Mike found it – I hinted what I liked, but he did it all himself.”
Despite not wearing jewellery when she was growing up, the blonde beauty – has now launched her own collection with Australian jeweller John Calleij, inspired by her love for equestrian.
She explained of her partnership, which started in 2015, and the collection that costs up to £26,800: “I felt strongly that each piece had to be wearable from morning to night. I’m sure John would like to go all out and have a horse galloping across your hand, so sometimes I have to rein him in.”
This isn’t the first time Zara has worked with a brand though as she has previously worked with Rolex, Land Rover and sportswear label Musto.
She and Mike – who got married in 2011 – also agreed to a six-figure magazine deal when their daughter Mia was born in January 2014.
Despite her royal status, Zara’s mother Princess Anne refused a Royal title for her children, meaning they do not receive money from the Civil List.
Mike said previously: “We look after ourselves – we don’t get anything for free. They’re [the royals are] separate from us; we run our own life.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry will pay a visit to North East England on Tuesday (21.02.17).
The 32-year-old royal – who is the grandson of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip – will stop by numerous towns in the region as he meets volunteers and ex-servicemen as part of his charity work for Walking With the Wounded.
Upon his arrival in the North East, the flame-haired hunk will gain a better understanding of how Walking With the Wounded – a charity set up in 2010 that aims to provide vulnerable veterans independence through employment – is working with the local council and police in Gateshead to support ex-servicemen.
Harry will then make his way to Newcastle Quayside to meet runners and Heads Together supporters from across the region who are taking part in the 2017 London Marathon to raise awareness and cash for the mental health charity.
He’ll get stuck in to training with Tyneside Olympic legends Steve Cram and Jonathan Edward and discuss Heads Together – the campaign that aims to change the stigma attached to mental health which was set up by Their Royal Highnesses – which is the official charity for the Virgin Money London Marathon.
His trip will be wrapped up with a visit to the Heads Together charity day at Virgin Money HQ as he meets staff and its supporters.
The London Marathon will take place on April 23, 2017.

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