Harry and Meghan news – live: Jeremy Clarkson apology over The Sun column accused of misogyny

Former Top Gear host said he was ‘profoundly sorry’ for language in column

Prince Harry shows Stephen Colbert the necklace William broke

Jeremy Clarkson failed to address his “long-standing pattern” of writing articles that spread “hate rhetoric” when apologising to Meghan for his Sun column, the Sussexes have claimed.

On Monday 17 January, the TV presenter apologised to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over a “disgraceful” piece he wrote about the latter in December last year.

But the couple said Mr Clarkson “wrote solely” to Prince Harry, who was not the subject of his piece. They also rejected his claims to have written the column “in a hurry”.

In the article, the former Top Gear host said he despised the duchess on a “cellular level”, adding that he dreamt of the day she would be made to parade naked through Britain while a crowd chanted “shame” and threw “excrement” at her.

Mr Clarkson, in his apology, said: “I really am sorry. All the way from the balls of my feet to the follicles on my head. This is me putting my hands up. It’s a mea culpa with bells on.”

Key points

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle respond to Jeremy Clarkson apology
• Ex-Top Gear host says he ‘felt sick’ over his column, in ‘mea culpa with bells on’
• Prince Harry describes Meghan Markle’s ‘flawless’ first curtsy despite seemingly mocking the tradition
• Iran says Harry killing Taliban ‘like chess pieces’ means UK in ‘no position to preach’ over execution
• Jeremy Paxman shares verdict on Prince Harry memoir Spare

[16 January 2023 19:20 · Andy Gregory]

Sussexes respond to Jeremy Clarkson apology over Sun column

The Sussexes have issued a response to Jeremy Clarkson’s statement of apology for his column in The Sun about Meghan Markle.

Appearing to contest a number of the former Top Gear host’s claims, the statement – reported by Omid Scobie of Yahoo – states: “On December 25, 2022, Mr Clarkson wrote solely to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. The contents of his correspondence were marked Private and Confidential.

“While a new public apology has been issued today by Mr Clarkson, what remains to be addressed is his longstanding pattern of writing articles that spread hate rhetoric, dangerous conspiracy theories and misogyny.

“Unless each of his other pieces were also written “in a hurry”, as he states, it is clear that this is not an isolated incident shared in haste, but rather a series of articles shared in hate.”

[18 January 2023 07:59 · Katy Clifton]

Thanks for following our live coverage, we are pausing updates for the day but you can follow all our latest coverage here.

[18 January 2023 07:50 · Peony Hirwani]

What Jeremy Clarkson said about Meghan Markle: 7 of the TV presenter’s controversial comments

[18 January 2023 07:10 · Peony Hirwani]

Jeremy Clarkson apology accused of misogyny

Jeremy Clarkson’s apology to Meghan Markle has been accused of misogyny.

The Independent’s Sean O’Grady writes: “Even as [Clarkson] dragged himself out of the mire he made things worse – half-hearted, unserious non-apologies culminating in emails to Prince Harry but not Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The wheels have fallen off for Clarkson, at long last.

“To a cynical eye, Clarkson’s uncharacteristic recent humility stems purely from a desire to hang on to whatever media gigs he has left.”

[18 January 2023 06:00 · Peony Hirwani]

Opinion: Jeremy Clarkson was already handed a second chance. He shouldn’t get a third

[18 January 2023 05:15 · Peony Hirwani]

Iran says Harry killing Taliban ‘like chess pieces’ means UK in ‘no position to preach’ over execution

Prince Harry’s remarks on killing Taliban fighters mean the UK “is in no position to preach” over the execution of a British-Iranian, Tehran has said.

Iran’s foreign ministry announced at the weekend that Alireza Akbari – formerly a high-ranking official in Tehran’s defence ministry – was hanged.

His death provoked widespread international backlash, with Rishi Sunak branding the killing “cowardly”.

[18 January 2023 04:30 · Peony Hirwani]

Prince Harry’s new memoir Spare has sold 750,000 copies across all formats in the UK, according to Transworld Books.

This makes it not only the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time but also the biggest-selling memoir.

[18 January 2023 03:45 · Peony Hirwani]

Prince Harry describes Meghan Markle’s ‘flawless’ first curtsy despite seemingly mocking the tradition

Prince Harry has described the moment Meghan Markle curtsied for the first time when meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In Spare, the Duke of Sussex writes about the moment his then-girlfriend met members of the royal family – including the British monarch – at the Royal Lodge in October 2016.

[17 January 2023 17:00 · Matt Mathers]

Prince William: I do a good steak

The Prince of Wales revealed his love of steaks when he joined a cooking class for young carers - but confessed his sauces need more work.

William met the young people supported by Together As One, a charity formed 25 years ago to help tackle gang violence in Slough, and now providing a wealth of services from sports activities to a Global Grub workshop.

“I do a mean steak. My sauces come out quite dry or lumpy - I’ve got to work on those."

(PA)

[17 January 2023 16:30 · Matt Mathers]

Prince Harry showing clear signs of happiness and joy - body language expert

Prince Harry shows “clear” signs of “happiness and joy” when he talks about wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, a body language expert has claimed.

Darren Stanton also claimed the duke’s non-verbal communication shows he is “loving life in California”.

"While speaking about moving to America, I saw genuine flashes of happiness and joy,” he said, on behalf of Betfair Casino.