SANTA BARBARA, California: The second baby for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is officially here: Meghan gave birth to a healthy girl on Friday.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan said Sunday the couple welcomed their child Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Their daughter weighed in at 7 lbs, 11 oz.
Her first name, Lilibet, is a nod to Her Majesty The Queen’s nickname. Her middle name is in honor of her grandmother and Harry’s mother. The baby is the eighth in line to the British throne.
No photos of the newborn or the Sussexes accompanied the announcement.
The birth comes after the Harry and Meghan’s explosive TV interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. The couple described painful discussions about the color of their first child’s skin, losing royal protection and the intense pressures that led her to contemplate suicide.
Buckingham Palace said the allegations of racism made by the couple were “concerning.” The royal family said the issue would be addressed privately.
Winfrey and Harry on mental illness have recently collaborated on the Apple TV+ mental health series “The Me You Can’t See.”
Harry and American actor Meghan Markle married at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son Archie was born a year later.
In early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They live in Montecito, a posh area near Santa Barbara, California.
Last year, Meghan revealed that she had a miscarriage in July 2020, giving a personal account of the traumatic experience in hope of helping others.
Months before the miscarriage, Harry said the royal family cut him off financially at the start of 2020 after announcing plans to step back from his roles. But he was able to afford security for his family because of the money his mother, Princess Diana, left behind.
In the interview with Winfrey, Meghan said she grew concerned about her son not having a royal title because it meant he wouldn’t be provided security. said digesting everything during while pregnant was “very hard.” More than the “prince” title, she was the most concerned about her son’s safety and protection.
Meghan said it was hard for her to understand why there were concerns within the royal family about her son’s skin color. She said it was hard for her to “compartmentalize” those conversations.
Harry, too, said there are lasting impacts about Meghan’s treatment and his relationship with his family.
Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties began in March 2020 over what they described as the intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the duchess.
Meghan and Harry welcome second child, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana
https://arab.news/r9af9
Meghan and Harry welcome second child, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana
- Her first name, Lilibet, is a nod to Her Majesty The Queen’s nickname
- Her middle name is in honor of her grandmother and Harry’s mother
L’Atelier Nawbar gains fans in Hollywood
- British star Cynthia Erivo wears label’s jewelry at Coachella
- Dima and Tania Nawbar head family business set up in 1881
DUBAI: Dima and Tania Nawbar, the sisters behind Lebanese jewelry label L’Atelier Nawbar, have added a new Hollywood name to their list of fans: Cynthia Erivo.
The British singer and actress was spotted this week wearing The Buoy Hoops from L’Atelier Nawbar’s latest Lot No. 91 collection during her Coachella debut.
Crafted from 18-karat yellow gold, the statement earrings were paired with a cream lace gown featuring wide bell sleeves layered over a black satin base. The look combined varied textures and was styled with over-the-knee black boots.
The sisters took to Instagram to share a picture of the star wearing the earrings and wrote: “In love!!!”
L’Atelier Nawbar was established in 2011. Dima and Tania are fourth generation jewelers. They are the first women to take over the family’s Beirut-based business which was founded by their great-great-grandfather in a gold souk in 1881.
Since establishing their own modern take on the brand, the sisters have gone on to see their designs worn by international celebrities including Queen Rania of Jordan and Joey King.
And they have their collection of rings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets stocked at major retailers including Harrods, Bloomingdales and Moda Operandi.
The designers previously told Arab News that they wanted trendy, multipurpose jewelry for every day and night. Their designs can be worn in various ways, with pendants serving also as rings, which reduces investment costs.
The sisters also decided to move away from the traditional business model and offer something new. “We didn’t want to traditionally follow the family business as it was,” Dima said.
So the sisters decided to embrace individuality by remodeling pieces and creating new bespoke jewelry for clients.
Clients are able to bring their own jewelry into the atelier, and the designers will upcycle and redesign the pieces into something fresh and modern.
Ramy Youssef stars in new film by ‘Succession’ creator
DUBAI: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman and Cory Michael Smith play four billionaires in “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong‘s HBO film, “Mountainhead.”
As they enjoy their trip, the world erupts in chaos with headlines such as “Sectarian Violence Escalates in India” and “President of Uzbekistan Forced to Move to Secret Location” interrupting their downtime.
In the trailer, the billionaires receive a call from the President of the United States. “What could he possibly have to say?” asks Smith.
Youssef responds: “That your platform has inflamed a volatile situation, circulating unfalsifiable deepfakes, massive fraud, market instability.”
Armstrong wrote and directed the film, which is a parody of the lives of the ultra-wealthy.
Filming began on “Mountainhead” in March, giving the crew a tight turnaround time before the film’s release on May 31.
In a recent interview with Variety, Youssef teased the film, saying it’s “funny in the same way ‘Succession’ is.”
Egyptian American comedian, writer, actor and director Youssef is known for creating and starring in “Ramy” on the US streaming platform Hulu, which won him a Golden Globe in 2020 in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy.
His animated series “#1 Happy Family USA” had world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, in March.
Red Sea Film Foundation announces mentorship program with Spike Lee
DUBAI: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee – known for films like “Malcolm X” and “BlacKkKlansman” – is teaming up with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Foundation to launch the brand new Director’s Program.
The initiative will bring together 15 selected filmmakers for a “one-of-a-kind, intimate and inspiring mentoring experience” with Lee, according to an Instagram post from the foundation.
Taking place from April 30 to May 3, the program offers emerging directors from the Middle East and Asia a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most influential voices in cinema.
Applications are open until April 24.
Simone Biles wins Laureus award in Saudi design
- Saudi Arabia’s Eman Al-Ajlan designed Biles’ dress
- US gymnast won 3 gold, 1 silver at Paris Olympics
DUBAI: US gymnast Simone Biles took home the Sportswoman of the Year award at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards this week, wearing a black gown by Saudi Arabia designer Eman Al-Ajlan.
The athlete opted for a strapless dress with a structured corset bodice featuring nude and black embroidered detailing. It included a voluminous peplum-style layer at the waist and a floor-length, sheer black skirt.
She paired the look with simple diamond accessories and a black Tyler Ellis bag.
The American gymnast won three gold and a silver at the Paris Olympics.
Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis was named Sportsman of the Year. He had won a second Olympic gold medal and twice raised his own world record.
Al-Ajlan shared a photo on Instagram of Biles wearing her design, writing: “Congratulations @simonebiles on winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.”
This is not the first time Al-Ajlan’s designs have appeared on major red carpets.
Earlier this year, at the 96th Academy Awards, US social media personality Kristy Sarah wore a gown by Al-Ajlan.
The dress was a strapless, form-fitting gown in a soft nude tone. It featured a structured, ruched bodice that extended into a mermaid-style silhouette.
The skirt and train were embellished with three-dimensional floral appliques in shades of lavender and lilac.
In 2023, she dressed US actress, dancer, and social media star Tessa Brooks in an all-black ensemble for the MusiCares Persons of the Year event in Los Angeles.
The following year, British model and TV presenter Leomie Anderson wore a structured look by Al-Ajlan at the 2024 amfAR Gala in Cannes, featuring a mini dress layered with a net-like skirt.
Al-Ajlan, who launched her label in 2007, is based in Riyadh and specializes in couture, bridal and pret-a-porter designs.
She has dressed several regional celebrities for international events, including Saudi Arabia actresses Mila Alzahrani and Dae Al-Hilali at the 2019 Venice Film Festival.
In 2024, Riyadh-based TV host Ajwa Aljoudi wore a mustard gown by the designer to the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in Hollywood.
Japan’s Kaneko Masakazu explores memory, myth and nature in intimate Saudi Film Festival talk
DHAHRAN: Japanese filmmaker Kaneko Masakazu — known for his cinematic exploration of nature, memory, and myth — captivated audiences at the 11th Saudi Film Festival (SFF) with an intimate and insightful conversation about the deep connections between culture and storytelling.
Masakazu was joined on stage by Abdulrahman Al-Qarzaee, a fluent Japanese speaker from Saudi Arabia who served as translator with cultural commentator Showg AlBarjas acting as moderator.
The conversation delved into how landscapes, folklore and cultural identity shape cinematic storytelling, facilitating a thoughtful exchange of ideas that spanned cultural boundaries.
During this session, Masakazu shared his approach to filmmaking, particularly in “River Returns” (2024), his third feature film. It was shown just days earlier at the SFF, which is set to wrap up on April 23.
The film, a stunning blend of fantasy and drama, takes place in a rural Japanese village and tells the story of a young boy’s perilous journey to a seemingly haunted body of water. There, he hopes to calm the grief-stricken spirit responsible for devastating floods that have plagued the village. The story is set during the 1958 typhoon, which serves as a backdrop to the boy’s journey.
Masakazu revealed how his work has always been centered on the relationship between humans and nature.
“My work deals with the relationship between nature and humans as its central theme. It tells these stories in a poetic, almost mythical style,” he said.
In “River Returns,” the boy’s journey to the mountain pool is not just a physical one, but a spiritual and emotional quest, too.
The film captures how natural disasters can be viewed as manifestations of spiritual unrest, a concept in Japanese folklore that seemed to resonate with Saudi audiences.
The film’s breathtaking cinematography beautifully contrasts the serene landscapes with the looming, furiously violent storm, underscoring the dynamic between the gentle and the destructive forces of nature.
“The meaning of the narrative is ultimately left to the viewer — whether they experience sadness, love or the echo of an ancient tale,” Masakazu shared. “In the end, it becomes a transmission of culture, a passing down of folklore, all leading back to a shared emotional core. At the same time, I’m interested in how people respond — how a non-Japanese audience might engage with it.”
