CELEBRATIONS are in order for Princess Kate’s mum Carole Middleton who turns 70 today.
According to a royal expert, “party loving” Carole will ring in the day with a “themed event.”
The mum-of-three may live in the £4.7million Bucklebury Manor with a future Queen for a daughter, but she had humble beginnings.
Carole had originally planned on becoming a teacher, but was unable to when her parents couldn’t put her through university.
She subsequently worked as a shop assistant for John Lewis, before joining British Airways.
By her marriage to Michael in 1980, she was working as a flight attendant – and the couple are now parents to Princess Kate, 43, Pippa, 41, and James, 37.
Editor in Chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward told Fabulous: “Above everything else Carole Middleton is fun.
“She loves to party; she loves to have a few drinks, and she loves to enjoy herself.
“She will certainly have an amazing themed 70th birthday. She once told me that she had made a lot of money and was now determined to enjoy it.”
Carole changed her fortunes around in 1987 when she launched Party Pieces, after Carole realised she could make some money from creating party bags.
She grew the firm into a multi-million-pound business, which helped fund her kids attending the elite boarding school Marlborough College.
Ingrid added: “Her love of including everyone else in this inspired her to start her own party business, focused on children’s parties.
“She saw a gap in the market when she was looking for party plates for her own kids.
“She is very strong and determined and brave.
“Determined to bring her kids up to be able to do absolutely everything. From cooking and playing tennis to hiking up a mountain and skiing down.
She [Carole] will certainly have an amazing themed 70th birthday. She once told me that she had made a lot of money and was now determined to enjoy it
Ingrid Seward
“She is competitive like both her daughters and I somewhat insecure, which makes her more determined to win.
“She has managed to do what all mums secretly want to do – make sure her daughters have successful marriages – Pippa married a young millionaire and Kate married a Prince.”
It wasn’t such a fairytale ending for Party Pieces, however, which was badly hit by Covid restrictions.
In April 2023, the company called in advisers at restructuring firm Interpath to try to raise fresh funds for the business.
However, the family decided to move on from the company and in May 2023 the business sold in a pre-package deal to the Essex-based entrepreneur James Sinclair.
Carole is relentless in her efforts to support her family, and has been particularly pivotal in the last 12 months following Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent Katie Nicholl said: “The Middletons have been very, very welcomed into the royal fold.
She [Carole] has managed to do what all mums secretly want to do – make sure her daughters have successful marriages – Pippa married a young millionaire and Kate married a Prince
Ingrid Seward
“They have a very close relationship, and they had a lovely relationship with the late Queen.
“And I think there’s, I think there’s a good relationship between the King and the Middletons.
“The Middletons have been so pivotal and important this year.”
Despite playing a role largely behind the scenes, Carole has spoken about how family comes first for her.
IT may not be a royal palace, but Kate Middleton’s parents’ £4.2million home is also very impressive.
Carole and Michael Middleton bought the grand Bucklebury Manor in 2012 and it has a number of impressive features.
The grade-II listed Georgian property boasts seven bedrooms, five reception rooms – including a drawing room and library – and 18 acres of land complete with a tennis court and outdoor swimming pool.
Traditional log fireplaces, a kitchen with a large wooden dining table, and a conservatory with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows have previously been shown in rare pictures shared from inside the house.
With such a beautiful home, it would understandably be hard to pick a favourite feature, but Carole revealed that their kitchen is a focal feature.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Kate’s mum said: “It’s a kitchen/dining/sitting room and it’s the heart of the house. I love a kitchen supper.
“Where I have a small number of guests. I’ll cook something delicious and make it look lovely, then we’ll finish with a kitchen disco.”
Carole, who has seven grandchildren, previously told The Telegraph that her “family are paramount” and that they “come first”.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, she said she still feels young and wants to “run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground”.
She said: “As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing.
“I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”
Royal expert Phil Dampier previously told Fabulous: “Prince George goes out a lot with his grandmother Carole.
“They go to the beach there and they are very close.”
While William was just 15 when his mother Diana died, Carole has been able to nearly become the mother he lost.
The Prince of Wales was allegedly seen popping into a pub in Norfolk with Carole last April during the family’s Easter break at Anmer Hall.
Angela Levin, a royal biographer, told The Sun in 2021 that she believes that William’s “dysfunctional family background” gave him “barely a clue of what a normal family life was like”.
LUSH is famous for its luxurious skincare and haircare products as well as its incredible bath bombs and shower gels.
When it comes to making baths and showers an indulgent experience, the high street beauty chain is known as the place to go.
And their special, limited edition products always knock it out of the park.
But to really put it to the test, I tried a handful of their new incredible Valentine’s Day creations. Specifically, a few products from the deliciously sweet chocolate range.
The bag of treats included Posh Chocolate Body Scrub, Posh White Chocolate and Rose Body Wash, and Posh Chocolate Shower Gel.
After trying them all over the course of a few days, I found that one product left my skin silky smooth while another was super hydrating – but they all smelled absolutely delicious.
Everyone loves the heavenly scent of chocolate, and this Valentine’s Day Lush is going all out to add it to their already impressive product list.
One of these new items is the moisturising, exfoliating body scrub that leaves the skin feeling super hydrated.
I do love a good body scrub from Lush – they’re among my favourite products to pick up – but this one is super rich and indulgent.
And what makes it different from other body scrubs is that its ingredients include caster sugar, which is what gently exfoliates and draws moisture into the skin.
It also has a creamy blend of cocoa powder, illipe, cocoa and mango butters, but it’s the sugar that gives a firm marshmallowy texture.
Honestly, it feels a little bit like a super soft brownie when you open it and scoop it out – and it smells so delicious and rich that you’ll almost want to eat it.
As you scoop it out and smooth it over your skin, the warm water from your shower or bath helps disperse the sugar particles and the gorgeous butters melt across your skin as it does.
I loved this product, and I felt that the rich smell lasted on my skin all day afterwards. Just be careful you don’t use too much because it is so rich and you don’t want it to be overwhelming!
Rating: 8/10
With this body wash, experts at Lush have created a product that is a classic Valentine’s Day pairing of chocolate and roses.
While it doesn’t smell like your classic chocolatey scent, it is absolutely gorgeous with notes of rose, coconut and vanilla.
It is packed with aloe vera and glycerine which softens and hydrates delicate skin, leaving it silky smooth after using it.
It also has a soothing touch of cocoa butter which nourishes and conditions the skin.
It also bubbles up nicely and smells amazing in the bathroom even if you just take the lid off it.
Out of the three products, this one was my favourite – I loved how soft and buttery it was and how effortlessly it covered my skin.
I know this is a limited edition product, but I would absolutely buy this year-round.
And I hope in the future the team release a matching body lotion od mist/spray to pair with it – it just leaves me wanting more!
Rating: 10/10
A LUSH insider has revealed that the Cherry Pop shower gel is one of the favourite products among staff at the Glasgow store.
Those who work in the shop at Buchanan Galleries in the city centre love this product, which smells deliciously sweet.
It is a cherryade hit of nostalgia for those who love to reminisce about nights at carnivals with Ferris wheels, jukebox serenades and drive-in dates.
One thing that makes this shower gel a standout is that is actually changes colour.
While it wasn’t deliberately created to do this, green transforms into cherry-red at different points as you use it.
All you need to do is trust the process and embrace surprise!
It is also loved because it is packed with vitamins A, B, C and E, which has a brightening and toning effect on the skin.
While the zippy lime oil leaves you feeling bubbly and light as air.
Lush’s shower gels are always super indulgent – and this one is no different.
It is a true feat for the senses with notes of rich, cleansing hazelnut milk mixed with sweet cocoa powder, and warm and comforting vanilla.
It’s the perfect gift for chocolate lovers this Valentine’s with this rich shower gel leaving a delicious scent on the skin that lasts for hours.
What makes it different from the other chocolate products, however, is that it has notes of nuts through it.
To create this shower gel, the experts steeped ground toasted hazelnuts in water to create a sweet, soothing milk to care for your skin.
It also has cocoa powder which gives the gel its silky texture that softens the skin, while the glycerine hydrates it.
I did enjoy this product, it was like pouring melted chocolate over the skin and watching it bubble.
But similar to the body scrub, be careful not to use too much because it is super-rich!
Rating: 7/10
ROBBIE KEANE led Ferencvaros to the knockout stages of the Europa League last night.
But he was made to sweat late on in his first home game in charge of the Hungarian giants as Troy Parrott’s AZ Alkmaar launched a dramatic late comeback.
Keane’s evening went to plan until the game’s final moments with his side 4-1 up.
Parrott gave AZ hope with a goal before Sven Mijnans netted a third.
And Ireland’s record goalscorer needed his keeper Adam Varga to hold firm with a last-gasp catch to preserve three points.
But Keane was thrilled as his side raced into a 3-0 lead before the break.
He spent most of the half prowling his technical area — issuing pointed instructions.
But given the noise the home fans made, it is unlikely that anyone heard him.
Adama Traore’s thunderbolt from 20 yards was the pick of the first half bunch.
And that hit was sandwiched between headers from Mohammad Ali Ben Romdhane and Mohammad Abu Fani.
Parrott was then brought on past the hour but his introduction was overshadowed by disorder in the away section — with riot police called in.
Mijnans soon reduced AZ’s deficit 14 minutes from time.
When Barnabas Varga netted a late penalty, it looked like that would seal a superb introduction for Keane.
But Parrott’s 90th-minute piledriver — his third Europa League goal of the campaign — was quickly followed by Mijnans’ second.
Netminder Varga then had to claim a late ball to seal the deal.
And Keane — whose side face a play-off next month against Roma or Viktoria Plzen — said: “I was pleased with 85 minutes.
“I thought we were in control and played some good football.
“In the last ten minutes you need to manage the game and be clever, that was the big thing.”
POKÉMON TCG Pocket has just had its first major update since the Mythical Island expansion.
However, while Mythical Island added just over 80 new cards for people to collect, Space-Time Smackdown brings almost 200.
This includes 40 full-art Pokémon cards across standard illustrations, Trainer cards, Rainbow Rares, and Immersive cards.
With the introduction of Space-Time Smackdown, Genetic Apex has disappeared from the home screen.
If you are still missing cards from Genetic Apex, then there is no need to worry, you can still grab these cards.
To do so, you can use the new TCG Pocket Trading feature with friends, and trade cards from any set.
You can also tap a Space-Time Smackdown pack and then tap “Select other booster packs” in the bottom right corner to switch to older packs.
However, if you have finished your Mythical Island and Genetic Apex collections, then it’s time to start collecting Space-Time Smackdown.
If you want to complete your new collection, we have the full set list for Space-Time Smackdown, including which cards are exclusive to each pack.
Here is the full TCG Pocket Space-Time Smackdown deck list broken down by booster pack.
There are 54 cards that are exclusive to Dialga booster packs, including 12 full-art cards, four Rainbow Rares, and one Immersive card.
Here are all of the cards exclusive to Dialga booster packs:
There are 58 cards that are part of Palkia booster packs, including 12 full-art cards, four Rainbow Rares and one Immersive card.
Here are all of the cards exclusive to Palkia booster packs:
There are 41 additional cards that can be found in either pack. You will have a chance to pull these cards no matter which pack you open, though the full-art versions are exclusive to certain packs.
Here is the full list of cards that you can find in either Space-Time Smackdown booster packs:
If you want to learn more about TCG Pocket’s previous card set, check out the Mythical Island deck list.
Catch up with one of the most popular mobile games
A WOMAN and teenage girl were reportedly sexually assaulted at a Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The pair were shopping at the store in Chertsey on January 23 when the incident took place between 1pm and 2pm.
A man who witnessed the scene stepped in and told the suspect to leave the store, and leave the 20-year-old and 15-year-old alone.
Since this time, a 38-year-old man from Chertsey has been arrested and remains in police custody.
However, police are appealing for more witnesses to come forward.
A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “This occurred between 1pm and 2pm on Thursday, 23 January, in Sainsbury’s on Guildford Road, when the suspect sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman while they were shopping.”
They added: “We are now interested in speaking to any individuals who may have witnessed the incident, particularly the male member of the public who helped the victims.
“If you have any information which may help our investigation, please contact us via 101 or direct message, quoting PR/45250008927.”
THE MASKED Singer’s finale date has been confirmed – and it promises to be the most dramatic yet, with three celebrities battling it out for the crown.
ITV has announced that the final episode of the hit guessing game will air on Saturday, February 15, where the remaining three contestants will perform one last time before being unmasked.
With the show’s biggest stars still under wraps, fans are eagerly speculating about which famous faces will be revealed – and who will follow in the footsteps of previous winners such as Charlie Simpson and Natalie Imbruglia.
Judges Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan will be on hand to give their final guesses before the masked celebrities take off their elaborate disguises.
Fans are convinced a huge show star will return to perform on the final after spotting a clue.
Viewers believe McFly’s Danny Jones, 38, who won last year’s series as Piranha, will take to the stage once again for a special duet.
Their theory stems from the fact that Danny is set to appear as a guest judge on the final episode, leading many to speculate that he will slip into his costume once more.
Fans also suspect he could perform alongside this season’s Pufferfish, playing into the idea of a “two fish” duet.
The show often brings back former contestants for the finale, making the theory even more plausible.
Taking to Reddit, one fan asked: “Who do you want think is going to come back for duets in the final ?”
Another replied: “Pirhana and Pufferfish would be amazing.”
Someone else suggested: “I want pirhana and snail.”
A fourth said: “Monster and Dressed Crab would be heavenly, Piranha and Pufferfish is incredible and Snail paired with Robobunny maybe?”
During last year’s series, Piranha was revealed as noughties legend Danny as he was crowned the winner.
He told host Joel Dommett at the time: “I’ve had the most amazing time, I can escape behind here and just be Piranha and sing these songs.
“I’ve learnt so much, I’m able to sing higher now just from being on this show. I am so happy, thank you!”
Reacting to the win, one fan said: “Danny Jones……What an amazing voice, congratulations what a worthy winner.”
A second wrote: “Danny Jones solo album as soon as possible please. A voice like that and it was hidden in McFly’s music (which I still loved obviously). Insane.”
“Wow! Danny Jones! Didn’t realise how good he is,” said a third.
While a fourth commented: “Anyone that has seen Mcfly live was in no doubt the moment Piranha opened his mouth that it was Danny Jones.”
Much to the delight of telly fans, The Masked Singer is back in 2025.
Twelve celebrities have been hidden behind intricate costumes, with their identities concealed.
Sadly, not all of this year’s whacky and wonderful characters can make it to the end of the show, as there can only be one winner.
Here’s who has been unmasked so far:
Teeth – this character baffled judges and viewers with their changing voice. They were finally unmasked as former Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc. None of the panel managed to guess it was her
Tattoo – despite Davina McCall saying “you sound the same” after this character was unmasked, none of the judges guessed it was 80s singer Carol Decker, whose hit China In Your Hand was a No1 hit for five weeks
Toad In The Hole – a massive diva strop saw the character storm off the stage after the judges voted them off. They later returned to be unmasked as singer Macy Gray
Pegasus – the mythical horse was revealed to be Prue Leith, with judge Jonathan Ross correctly guessing her identity
Spag Bol – this character was first to be unmasked and was none other than Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway.
Plus there was one extra unmasking this season, with Giant Joel – a caricature of host Joel Dommett – unveiled as double-double Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah.
RESIDENTS of a village which could be partially demolished to make way for a third runway at Heathrow Airport have backed the plans.
Hundreds of homes could be demolished in the west London villages of Harmondsworth and Longford if the expansion gets the green light.
The airport wants to build a third runway to raise capacity and boost resilience.
In a speech on Wednesday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves highlighted the scheme among a throng of major projects she said the Government would support.
Ms Reeves later said she wanted to see the expansion completed by 2035 and added the whole Cabinet is “united” behind the plan.
Ashley Price owns and plumbing business and is from generations of Harmondsworth villagers.
He and his parents “welcomed the news” of their home being demolished.
He told The Times: “I feel good. Knock it down. My parents are retired and this has been in the works for two decades of my life.
“Just get it done.”
But campaigners said the expansion could “smash our community”.
Richard Young is the vicar at the St Mary the Virgin church in Harmondsworth.
He said the plans “cut very deeply” for residents living in what he described as a “tight-knit community”.
He added: “If it went ahead, it would have a devastating effect on the place. The vast majority of it would disappear.
“The church would stay but the community around it would go.
“(The plans) have been talked about for decades and has been a blight hanging over everyone’s heads.
“People can’t move because no one wants to buy their homes. People love living here. It’s their home.
By RICHARD TICE, Reform MP and LEE ANDERSON, Reform MP
For all his talk about being the son of a toolmaker, Sir Keir Starmer couldn’t tell a screwdriver from a spanner. The bloke hasn’t got a clue how the construction industry works.
This week, you heard the government’s big plan—1.5 million homes and even a third runway at Heathrow. It might sound great, but Labour’s policies are driving the very workers we need into the ground.
Britain urgently needs more homes, hospitals, schools, and roads. Yet instead of equipping workers with shovels and tools, the PM has handed them pencils and clipboards.
In Sir Keir’s reckless race to climate targets, the construction industry is drowning in skyrocketing costs and endless red tape. The result? Job losses, delayed projects, and a construction industry crumbling under the weight of its own regulations.
Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves – Labour’s resident maths wizard – thinks hiking employer National Insurance is a great idea. Because nothing screams “economic growth” like strangling family-run businesses. These firms, the backbone of Britain’s construction industry, are being crushed under Labour’s anti-growth agenda.
And the workforce? It’s vanishing faster than new houses are appearing. Over the past five years, UK construction has lost 70,000 workers annually, with the average age of those remaining now over 50. Apprenticeship starts have averaged just 31,000 per year, with nearly half dropping out.
If ‘Rachel from Accounts’ did the maths, she’d see this adds up to a net loss of 50,000 people leaving the jobs market every year. Yet Sir Keir expects these dwindling ranks to deliver his Soviet-style building targets. It’s laughable.
Industry leaders like Steve Mulholland of the Construction Plant-hire Association have warned the PM his policies are hammering the sector. But Sir Keir thinks he knows best.
His forensic expertise has already left pensioners freezing at Christmas and farmers blockading his front door. Now, Britain’s builders are next in line for his dose of wisdom.
Labour’s solution? Import more workers. Why bother training Brits when you can call for a quick fix from overseas? At this rate, we’ll have more brickies arriving at Heathrow than passengers on Starmer’s third runway.
As the benefits bill balloons and borrowing hits record levels, Labour continues to prioritise the workshy over the hardworking like they always have done. This madness has to stop.
At Reform UK, we believe blue-collar workers are the backbone of this country. They should be cherished, not punished. And for too long, our education system has funnelled teenagers into pointless degrees that saddle them with lifelong debts and no real job prospects.
Keir Starmer’s promises might look good on paper, but they’re as flimsy as the clipboard he’s handed Britain’s builders.
If this government is serious about growth, it needs to trade soundbites for real blueprints and start listening to those who actually know which end of a hammer to hold.
If not, Britain’s building dream will collapse faster than Jeremy Corbyn’s allotment shed in a storm.
“There’s anxiety, fear and anger. But there’s also tension because some people hold different views.”
Justine Bayley, who lives in Harmondsworth and is chairwoman of the Stop Heathrow Expansion group, said the scheme risked wiping most of the village.
She said: “It’s inevitable that demolishing hundreds of homes will smash up a community.
“We have two pubs and two shops that would become unviable because of a lack of customers.
“There’s a bus route that would have to disappear because there’s a runway in the way.
“You’d end up with people being left behind … (but) the community would be gone.”
Ms Bayley, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said her home would not be demolished but would be roughly “50 paces” from the boundary of the new runway.
She added: “There is some disbelief that it will actually go ahead.
“It’s not the first time we’ve been here and this is the last in a series of proposals.
“There are many different views in the village and some, particularly those who can’t sell their houses at the moment, are just wanting clarity.
“Some people think any decision is better than no decision.”
