Meghan Markle’s choice of dress for her second wedding, to Prince Harry, is said to have caused Queen Elizabeth to raise an eyebrow.

The late Queen is reported to have thought her gown was ‘too white’ for a divorcee.

Prince William’s cousin has, however, defended Meghan’s choice and explained why she, too, wore an ivory gown for her own second wedding.

Maddison May Brudenell, whose great-grandfather was the cherished great-uncle of King Charles, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, wed Canadian welder Bret Kapetanov last November.

And Maddison reveals that she had to overcome the opposition of her mother, Edwina Hicks.

The 31-year-old model shares: ‘The monarch felt it was unsuitable for a divorcee remarrying in a church setting to present herself in an excessively traditional virginal manner. My mother, our late Queen’s goddaughter, had expressed the same sentiment, noting that other family members would likely concur.’

Maddison, who previously eloped to marry a DJ, Olaoluwa Modupe-Ojo, donned a custom white gown by Laura Green of Modern Bride for her wedding to Kapetanov.

Of her frank conversation with her mother, she says: ‘I was sad to think about the painful past during what I wanted to be a joyful, future-focused time of my life. But I understood the notion. My mum was speaking out of love. I didn’t let my feelings overcome me – we talked about it.

Meghan and Harry pictured outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on their wedding day in 2018 

Maddison reveals that she had to overcome the opposition of her mother, Edwina Hicks, when exchanging vows with Canadian welder Bret Kapetanov last November

‘However, as I told my mother, we may as well splash muddy water, drip some blood, sweat and tears on it for good measure.

‘As it happens, my dress did have a lot of unique components, but these were because of what I chose and not in any way what I felt I must choose. My mother listened to my wisdom and respected my style.’

Gallagher boy’s barking mad about new love 

Some might say things are hotting up between Oasis star Liam Gallagher’s son Gene and Neve Maya.

The pair, whose rom-ance I disclosed in March, have gone to Ibiza, where Neve has shared steamy photos of them kissing at a beach party.

When Neve, 20, who is thought to be a student, posted this photograph, aspiring musician Gene, whose mother is former All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, commented: ‘I’ve got the zoomies.’

For those unfamiliar, the slang term refers to ‘an outburst of frenzied activity in which an animal, typically a pet dog, runs around’. Woof woof!

Gene Gallagher and Neve Maya pictured kissing while on holiday in Ibiza

Hungry for a scrap, Nigel? 

Screen smoothie Nigel Havers has shamed British Airways after it failed to provide him with an in-flight meal when he flew business class. ‘Travelling on British Airways to Nice recently, I thought, f*** it, we’ll go club class because people don’t say, “Can I have a photo?” At Gatwick, the steward says, “I’m really embarrassed, but we have got absolutely no catering”. A week later, on the way back, they had no catering again.

‘So I emailed BA and got an automated reply saying that it will take 28 days to reply, and they have never responded.’

Despite his ordeal, the actor, 73, adds: ‘The stewards are really nice, though.’

Emilia longs to swap bodies for ballroom 

More used to examining corpses on Silent Witness, Emilia Fox now wants to show off her footwork.

‘I really love watching reality TV,’ says the actress, who turns 51 next week.

‘I’d love to do Strictly. I’d love the rehearsal process, but the thought of live shows is nerve-racking.

‘I’m not sure I’d be very good at that, but I’d definitely consider it.’ Are you listening, BBC?

Silent Witness star Emilia Fox has revealed a secret desire to take part in Strictly

Royal Ballet star Lauren Cuthbertson revealed earlier this month that she was left in ‘horrendous pain’ after becoming ill with meningitis. Now, she’s been re-admitted to hospital. ‘I couldn’t sit up or stand without nausea and dizziness,’ Lauren, 41, says online. ‘Turns out I’d had a leak from the lumber puncture. I had a procedure that will hopefully fix that.’ 

Petula’s pop tales 

More than 60 years after her pop classic Downtown became a hit, Petula Clark is to publish her ‘first and only’ autobiography.

Due out in October, Is That You, Petula? will frankly address the star’s unconventional marriage to her late

husband of 63 years Claude Wolff.

Prior to his death in 2024, mother-of-three Petula had acknowledged they’d long been living separate lives and that she had a mystery ‘younger man’.

The singer, now 92, will also recount how she once ‘rebuffed Elvis Presley’s advances in Vegas’, turning down the offer of a ‘threesome’ after the King of

Rock ’n’ Roll took a shine to her and the late singer Karen Carpenter.

He brought Back To The Future: The Musical to London’s West End, but director John Rando is worried about theatre back in his native New York. ‘Shows became fan obsessed – the cost is so high – the only way to succeed was to hire someone like George Clooney,’ the Tony Award-winner tells me at an event given by publicist Moira Niu. ‘Broadway changed post-Covid – it’s survival of the fittest. London’s an easier place to create things financially.’