Royal author Duncan Larcombe hit out at the Duchess of Sussex's birthday initiative to mentor women returning to the workplace after the pandemic. Mr Larcombe claimed Meghan, who is living in California with Prince Harry after quitting royal duties, should instead be "trying to build bridges" with the Royal Family.

       Speaking to True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Mr Larcombe said: "It's great, she's doing that, she's just had a baby, and it's all about Meghan, and it's all rubbish frankly. It's gone down so badly in this country.

       "She has left behind her a trail of devastation, on the Markle side, and now on the Windsor side.

       "I don’t want to see her lecturing young mums having to go back to work from inside her ￡11million LA mansion.

       "This initiative is nonsense, she should be spending her time trying to build bridges with the very people that she and Harry have betrayed.

       "That's what I think most people in this country believe."

       Meghan revealed her 40x40 project earlier this month to mark her 40th birthday.

       In a short video with Hollywood actress Melissa McCarthy to launch the initiative, the Duchess said: "Because I'm turning 40 I'm asking 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help mentor a woman who is mobilising back into the workforce.

       "Over two million in the US alone and tens of millions around the world have lost their jobs due to Covid, and I think if we all do it and all commit 40 minutes to some sort of act of service we can create a ripple effect."

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       7.45am update: Fergie says Queen was 'more of a mother' to her than own mother

       Sarah Ferguson has said the Queen has been ‘more of a mother' to her than her real mother was.

       Speaking on the Tea with Twiggy podcast, the Duchess of York said: “I absolutely admire the incredible way Her Majesty is so modern？.？.？.？and how flexible, and how understanding, and how forgiving and how generous.

       “My mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother.

       “I absolutely think there is no greater mentor because, from a little girl to now, the consistency of Her Majesty has been a great honour, it’s a huge honour — makes me want to cry.”

       7.40am update: Beatrice says dyslexia diagnosis would be a ‘gift’ for royal baby

       Princess Beatrice has opened up about her and her husband's dyslexia diagnoses and how she considers them "a gift".

       Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Beatrice said: “If any child, any bonus son, or future babies that are on their way, are lucky enough to be diagnosed with dyslexia, I feel incredibly grateful to have tools such as the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity to be able to tap into, to give them that extra support.”

       “My husband’s also dyslexic... but I really see it as a gift.”

       7.30am update: Harry breaks silence on Afghanistan with message to veterans

       Prince Harry has weighed in on the current situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over control of Kabul.

       Former soldier Harry, who created the Invictus Games Foundation for wounded servicemen and women, spoke out on the crisis in a joint statement with senior figures from the organisation.

       The statement read: “What’s happening in Afghanistan resonates across the international Invictus community.

       “Many of the participating nations and competitors in the Invictus Games family are bound by a shared experience of serving in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and for several years, we have competed alongside Invictus Games Team Afghanistan.

       “We encourage everybody across the Invictus network – and the wider military community – to reach out to each other and offer support for one another.”