The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first podcast featured celebrity guests and one-year-old Archie speaking into the microphone. Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first podcast featured celebrity guests and one-year-old Archie speaking into the microphone. Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first podcast featured celebrity guests and one-year-old Archie speaking into the microphone. Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first podcast featured celebrity guests and one-year-old Archie speaking into the microphone. Getty Images

‘Happy New Year’: Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie, heard for the first time on their new celebrity-packed podcast


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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have ended the year by releasing their first podcast on Spotify – and it features their one-year-old son, Archie talking and giggling.

After inking a rumoured $40 million deal with the streaming giant, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released the podcast through their own Archewell Audio brand, in which they chatted to a host of stars, including Elton John, tennis star Naomi Osaka, British actor and US TV host, James Corden, author and alternative medicine pioneer Deepak Chopra, actor and producer Tyler Perry and US politician, Stacey Abrams.

But despite such A-list company, it was little Archie who stole the show. Heard giggling at the end of his parents' podcast, Harry and Meghan coaxed him into saying "Happy New Year", and he also said it was "fun" to speak into the microphone.

“You can speak into it,” Harry tells him. Meghan then asks: “Archie, is it fun?” and the little boy says “Fun”. His dad then says: “After me, ready? Happy.” Archie repeats, “Happy”, before Meghan and Harry together say “New”, and Archie says, “New Year”, making his mum and dad laugh.

‘Honouring compassion and kindness’

“It’s been a year, and we really we want to honour the compassion and kindness that has helped so many people get through it,” said Harry, 36, in his introduction. “As we come to the end of this year and look to the future… let’s hold onto the lessons we’ve learned about how important it is to take care of one another, and how meaningful our connections are… even when they're physically impossible.”

Meghan, 39, adds: “And, at the same time, to honour those who've experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss.”

The couple then showed the fruits of their extensive contacts book by chatting to an array of famous people who shared “their thoughts on what they learned from 2020”, with Meghan revealing the pair chose those who “inspire us”.

Interviewing their famous friends

Elton John talked about the impact the pandemic had had on his life. EPA
Elton John talked about the impact the pandemic had had on his life. EPA

Elton John, who was a close friend of Princess Diana and has known Harry for most of his life, was a guest on the podcast, revealing in his audio diary the effect the pandemic has had on him: "I'm 73 years old, and I'm a semi-diabetic so I'm in a risky area there, I have an underlying condition as they say. I've seen my immediate family – Zachary, Elijah and David – all the time. But my relatives, who I love, haven't been able to see much of them at all, and I've only stayed connected with them by phone, of course, and by Zoom."

And Gone Girl actor, Tyler Perry, whose house Harry and Meghan stayed in when they first moved from Canada to Los Angeles, shared an insight into the charity work he has been involved with during the pandemic.

“The lowest moment came right before Thanksgiving,” he told the pair. “We were feeding 5,000 people at the studio and I got in the car to see the line and I realised 5,000 was not enough. The need was so great there was thousands more cars and people than gifts and groceries we had. To see people hungry and starving and children in the cars and people sleeping all night just to get groceries was heart breaking on so many levels.”

Ending with a message and a memory

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ended their podcast with the song that was played at their 2018 wedding. Reuters
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ended their podcast with the song that was played at their 2018 wedding. Reuters

The 33-minute show, dubbed a "holiday special" ended with the gospel song This Little Light of Mine, which was played at the end of their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

Meghan then shared a quote from Martin Luther King, saying: “It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together. Because as we all know, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.’”

And the former Suits star appeared to allude to the busy year she and Harry have had, during which they stepped down as senior royals and left the UK for the US, telling listeners: "From us I'll say no matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say, love wins."

War and the virus
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Schedule:

Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)

Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)

Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four

Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai) 

Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)

Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 28: Final (Dubai)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Tips for SMEs to cope
  • Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
  • Make sure you have an online presence
  • Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
  • Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
    Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
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Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

The biog

Date of birth: 27 May, 1995

Place of birth: Dubai, UAE

Status: Single

School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar

University: University of Sharjah

Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Dubai World Cup factbox

Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)

Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)

Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)

Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets