Prince Harry says royal family were stunned 'a ginger' could land such a beautiful woman


Paul Carey
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Prince Harry speaks about his family's surprise and reticence when he first introduced them to Meghan Markle, soon to be his wife, in the couple's new Netflix series.

In six-part series Harry & Meghan, the first three episodes of which were streamed on Thursday, the prince says the fact that the future Duchess of Sussex was an American actress “clouded” his family’s view of her.

He also talks about the couple's treatment by the press ― claiming his wife suffered racism from the outset ― his troubled childhood after his mother Diana died, and the Duchess of Sussex falling out with her family.

The Duchess of Sussex, talking about meeting Queen Elizabeth II, in episode two of the documentary, said: “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Prince Harry added: “I remember my family first meeting her and being incredibly impressed. Some of them didn’t quite know what to do with themselves.

“Because, I think, they were surprised. They were surprised that 'a ginger' could land such a beautiful woman and such an intelligent woman,” the red-haired prince said.

“But the fact that I was dating an American actress was probably what clouded their judgment more than anything else at the beginning. ‘Oh she’s an American actress; this won’t last’.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex through the years – in pictures

The Duchess of Sussex added: “The actress thing was the biggest problem, funnily enough. There is a big idea of what that looks like from the UK standpoint ― Hollywood ― and it’s just very easy for them to typecast that.”

The prince's appearance was also referenced by Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who tells of her first impressions.

“He was this 6ft 1in handsome man with red hair and great manners,” she said. “He was just really nice. They look really happy together.

“He was The One.”

Prince Harry said there is a temptation in the royal family to marry someone who “fits the mould”.

Three episodes of Harry and Meghan have been released by Netflix. AFP
Three episodes of Harry and Meghan have been released by Netflix. AFP

In the first episode, he said: “I think for so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould, as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with.

“The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart. And my mum certainly made most of her decisions — if not all of them — from her heart.

“And I am my mother’s son.”

American film writer, producer and director Silver Tree said her friend the Duchess of Sussex was crazy about Harry after meeting him.

Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras, a friend of Prince Harry, told the show: “Right after they met, my wife, me and him, we had dinner together, and he sat like that, he looked at us and he said: ‘Guys, I’ve met a girl. We’ve just met, but I think this may be the one.'

“You could tell right away that those were the eyes of someone who had fallen in love.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

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Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer

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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

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

Sheffield United 3

Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90

Manchester United 3

Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79

Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars

ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon

For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.

Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site

The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

The essentials

What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

When: Friday until March 9

Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.

Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.

Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
 

Manchester City transfers:

OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)

INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m 

ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho

ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
 

Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

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The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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TALE OF THE TAPE

Floyd Mayweather

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Conor McGregor

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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

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Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Updated: December 08, 2022, 1:29 PM`