lifestyle and culture

The whole world is talking about it – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
We all knew there were going to be some untold truths revealed in the interview, but what we didn’t expect was some of the downright jaw-dropping claims that came from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

If you happen to have missed the interview, don’t worry we’re here to break down eight of the most shocking revelations from the tell-all.
Harry and Meghan’s wedding
The Sussexes’ royal wedding was one of the biggest royal events of the decade and was watched by millions worldwide. However, Meghan revealed to Oprah the pair actually got married in secret before their big day.

They did it in their back garden with just them and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
“Nobody knows that,” the Duchess of Sussex revealed. “We called the archbishop and we just said, ‘Look ― this thing, this spectacle is for the world.”
The dark place Meghan went to during her time in the royal family
In the interview, Meghan made the harrowing admission she went to an incredibly dark place when she was pregnant with her son Archie.
“I just didn’t want to be alive any more. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought,” she said. “And I remember how he [Harry] just cradled me.”
In a bid for help, Meghan reached out to the palace for help, but was met with a lacklustre response.
“They said, my heart goes out to you because I see how bad it is, but there’s nothing we can do to protect you because you’re not a paid employee of the institution,” she said.
Racism allegations

Meghan Markle says several members of the Royal Family discussed with Harry concerns over what the color of Archie’s skin color would be.
Listen to the biggest bombshell so far of this entire interview with Oprah.#MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/CIQP6Q61pj
— Lynnette KhalfaniCox (@themoneycoach) March 8, 2021

One of the most bombshell revelations in the interview was when Meghan alleged there were conversations between Harry and other family members about how “dark” baby Archie’s skin would be when he’s born.
“In those months when I was pregnant all around the same time, we had in tandem the conversation he wouldn’t be given security, wouldn’t be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born,” Meghan said, which left interviewer Oprah shocked.
“What?” Oprah said with dismay over her face “And who is having that conversation with you?”
However, both Meghan and Harry refused to state who said this as “it would be very damaging to them.”
Prince Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls
Prince Harry joined Meghan and Oprah in the second half of the interview and revealed that his father, Prince Charles, stopped taking his calls.
The pair are now back in contact, but Harry admitted there’s “a lot to work through”.
“I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar,” Harry said. “He knows what pain feels like, and Archie’s his grandson.
“At the same time I will always love him, but there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened. I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship, but they only know what they know.”
Harry says his father and brother are “trapped”
Discussing brother and his father’s roles in the royal family – they are both direct heirs to the throne – Harry described them as being “trapped”.
“Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are. My father, my brother, they are trapped,” he said.
Meghan’s argument with Kate
Around nine months after she wed Prince Harry, various claims emerged in the tabloids that Meghan had made Kate Middleton “cry”.
However, “the reverse happened”, according to Meghan.

Meghan Markle debunks the reports that she made Kate Middleton cry, saying that it was the other way around:
“The reverse happened. She was upset about something. She owned it and bought me flowers.”#OprahMeghanHarrypic.twitter.com/oa0c4RTfzK
— Alexander Umeakubuike ✊🏿 (@AUmeakubuike) March 8, 2021

“A few days before the wedding she [Kate] was upset about something, pertaining to – yes the issue was correct – about the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings,” she explained. However, the pair resolved things and Kate sent a bouquet of flowers to Meghan to apologise.
A gender reveal
In some good news during the interview, Meghan and Harry revealed the gender of their baby – a little girl!
“To have a boy and then a girl what more can you ask for, we have our family,” Harry said.
But after the arrival of their baby girl, they’re done.
“Two is it,” Harry affirmed.
Praising the Queen

Despite their revelations about the royal family, which the Queen is the head of, both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they talk to her regularly and had nothing but praise for Her Majesty.
One touching sentiment which Meghan revealed was when they were on a train ride together the Queen offered to share her blanket with Meghan.
The royal family are yet to respond to the interview, but we have a feeling this is far from over.
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With summer now approaching, getting back into a good fitness regime to feel the best and healthiest version of ourselves will be on most people’s minds.
However, with so much information at our fingertips, it can be overwhelming of which advice to follow and what is the best practice to go about improving your overall health and wellbeing.

But when it comes to truly reaching optimum health, it all starts with diet, as Dubai-based fitness expert and personal trainer Ahmed Gaber who goes via @flyfitgabo on Instagram.
“Both are physical fitness and nutrition are very important in the aspect of achieving one’s body goals,” he tells EW. “But without having a proper nutrition plan your body will never change.”

Not having a proper nutrition plan is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to starting their fitness journeys.
“Most people start with a very strict diet,” Gaber explains. “They believe that having zero on carbs, no sugar and sodium will make them lose weight faster.
“When that turns out to be a failure, they do not see any changes, they stop believing in themselves. All this happens due to not having a good solid strategy plan nor basic knowledge in the first place.”
Ensuring he always advocates for his clients’ wellness and best interests, Gaber knows what it’s like to start from scratch when it comes to fitness after suffering a serious injury following his career as a water polo player.
After dislocating his shoulder, he was grounded for a full year, gained weight and became depressed. However, this is what then motivated him to start studying fitness and nutrition.
“I decided to study the recovery process from injuries, gain solid knowledge about nutrition and all the aspects of fitness in order to go back to my best shape,” he says. “I wanted to help people who gained weight due to stress, injuries and eating disorders, postpartum depression and hormonal imbalances.”

This is exactly what he’s gone on to do – helping his clients regain their confidence, health and overall wellbeing.
“My forever goal is to give people back their confidence and make them love themselves again and love their bodies,” he says. “I was once in that dark place myself so I’m empathetic to those in the same situation as I once had that difficult experience.”
Amongst this 360-degree approach, each client is considered as an individual and no one is ever given the same diet or workout routine as all bodies are individual.
While it can seem like a daunting process to start on a fitness journey, it’s all about controlling your mind and sticking to your goals.
“Control your mind and your body will just follow through,” Gaber says. “The first week is always the hardest. Trust my knowledge and expertise and do not give up. A strong mind always leads to bigger achievements.”
For more information follow @flyfitgabo on Instagram.
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Isra Wal Mi’raj, which is observed on the 27th day of the Islamic month of Rajab, is set to fall on Thursday, March 11.

In light of this, it’s been announced via a circular from officials in Dubai that a dry night will occur tomorrow night.
From 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 10 to 6.30pm on Thursday, March 11, all licensed venues must cease to serve alcohol for this stated period.
The day known as Isra Wal Mi’raj is also known as ‘the Night Journey’, is in reference to the Prophet Mohammed’s journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, which he did within one night.
While it’s a dry night in Dubai, there is no public holiday for public sector employees or private sector employees.
Want to know when the next public holiday is? Find out here.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature Image: @abdulazizbusaud Instagram More

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, is very well-known for supporting the F&B industry in Dubai.
One of his favourite havens to visit is Gaia in DIFC, the brainchild of Chef Izu Ani.

Continuing to show his support for the famous Dubai-based chef, Sheikh Hamdan paid a visit to Gaia’s sister restaurant Carine, located in Emirates Golf Club.
Documenting the visit, Chef Izu shared a photo to Instagram of himself and Sheikh Hamdan at Carine.

“Always an honour and great pleasure to have HH Sheikh Hamdan with us at Carine, ” he said.

In the launch issue of Emirates Man SS21, Chef Izu opened up about how it’s always an honour and privilege to welcome members of the royal family to his establishments.
“It is always so humbling and exciting to welcome members of the royal family of the UAE to our restaurants,” he said. “I am so thankful for their support and endorsement.”
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Images: Supplied More