After the release of the Karasu and Corvida skins, fans have called out Fortnite for its “generic” designs of female characters.
Read More »
Fortnite players disappointed after years of “generic” skins for female characters
US schoolteacher Marc Fogel held in Russian prison since 2021 finally released after visit by Trump envoy
AMERICAN schoolteacher Marc Fogel has been released from a Russian prison after being hit with trumped up charges.
Fogel, 63, was arrested at an airport in 2021 for the illegal possession of a small amount of medical cannabis and slapped with a 14-year sentence.
Fogel was freed from captivity after a meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoy in Moscow.
The US and Russia agreed for the history teacher’s release as part of an exchange with Russia.
The move was announced by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff who said they were heading back to the US with Fogel.
He is yet to confirm what Russia gained in return.
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz later announced in a statement: “Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia.
“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the president’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.”
Fogel was officially designated as “wrongfully detained” by the US late last year.
High street bakery chain with 500 branches to give away FREE cookies tomorrow
FREE sweet treats will be up for grabs across the UK to celebrate the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
Pret A Manger will be giving away up to 10,000 cookies for to visitors who visit their stores from 3pm tomorrow (February 12).
In a gesture to “celebrate the season of love” the chain is offering the sweet treats, which normally sell for £3.60, for free. You don’t even need to be a paying customer to get one.
Customers can choose from a Dark Choc & Almond Butter Cookie or a Fruit, Oat and spelt Cookie by saying a secret phrase.
To get your freebie you just need to say the words ‘Cookie Crush’ at the till but beware, the offer is only available until stocks last.
Over 10,000 cookies are expected to be given away across Pret’s 500 stores with just two locations in Belfast, Donegall Square and Grand Central Station, not included in the giveaway.
The offer comes after actor Timothée Chalamet said the UK chain was “a top date spot” for romance.
Katherine Bagshawe, Pret A Manger’s UK Food & Coffee Director, said: “At Pret, we’ve always believed that great food brings people together, and what better way to celebrate love than with a freshly baked cookie?
“When we heard Timothée Chalamet mention Pret as a top date spot, we couldn’t resist marking the occasion with a little extra sweetness.
We hope our customers enjoy this special treat, whether they’re celebrating romance, friendship, or simply their love of cookies!”
The freebies are available from 3pm until close or until they’re all gone – and you’ll need to move quick to get your hands on one.
You can check the opening hours of your local store here.
The news comes after Pret today announced it would be keeping its £5 monthly loyalty scheme.
Put in place after the chain faced backlash for axing its free coffee deal in July last year, the new price has now become permanent since it was trialed from September.
Club Pret subscription saw customers pay £30 a month for 5 free barista-made coffees a day and 20% off all Pret A Manger food.
Changes to the deal, which cost loyal customers £360 a year, saw Pret announce it would be changing its scheme to £10 a month for 50% off coffee.
The 20% discount on the chain’s food menu also ended.
Club Pret members were shocked when the announcement was made in July, with one writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Have a word I will be cancelling as I think many others will be!!! Shame on you.”
Another added: “Pret changing their subscription to 50% off five drinks instead of it being free five drinks…. that just ruined my day.”
A third cried: “It’s a very sad day for coffee lovers.”
Pret said that given that the majority of its customers were not Club Pret subscribers, its priority was to “focus on better value for everyone”.
A reduced rate of £5 a month was going to be available only until the end of March 2025, but in a surprising twist Pret emailed its customers today to say the new lower monthly fee is here to stay.
“Our Club Pret monthly subscription fee will remain at just £5,” said Pret A Manger.
“You’ll continue to enjoy great savings on up to five Barista-made drinks per day,” with a link encouraging customers to see the chain’s new terms and conditions, here.
What are the alternative schemes?
Leon Roast Rewards
You can sign up to chain Leon’s Roast Rewards for £25 a month and, as with Pret’s original offer, get five barista-made drinks a day.
This works out at roughly 83p a day for five drinks – definitely not a bad deal if you’re buying even one coffee every day.
Under the terms of the off membership, you can only buy one drink every hour. So you can’t get a free drink for you and a pal at the same time.
As part of the scheme, you also get 20% off breakfast and the all-day food menu.
Starbucks
You can join Starbucks membership for free – a no-brainer if you’re regularly getting drinks there.
Customers get three stars for each partial £1 spent, then a free drink when they get 150 stars. It means spending around £50.
For a £2.95 small latte, it means buying 17 small lattes to get a free one.
Taking a leaf out of airline loyalty programs, Starbucks has a “gold level”.
This is reached once you have collected 450 stars – after spending £84.
It lets you claim perks like extra shots, dairy-free milk and whipped cream for free.
There is also a drink on the house for your birthday.
How it works:
- £1 spent = three stars (includes partial pounds spent), 150 stars = free drink
- Small latte cost: £2.95
- Number of drinks to hit target: 17
- Cost for a ‘free’ coffee: £50.15
- Reusable cup bonus: 25p off
Costa
Costa also runs a free loyalty scheme but also changed the terms last August
Customers must now buy an extra two coffees to get a free one at Costa, meaning you’ll get a freebie after buying ten, rather than eight.
As with Nero, you get an extra stamp for a reusable cup.
Stamps can be collected in any of the chain’s 2,800 coffee shops, as well as around 12,000 machines in petrol stations and convenience stores.
How it works:
- One drink purchased = one bean, 10 beans = free drink
- Small latte cost: £3.50
- Number of drinks to hit target: ten
- Cost for a ‘free’ coffee: £35
- Reusable cup bonus: Yes, one extra bean
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Britney Spears’ biopic in jeopardy as ‘directionless’ star keeps ‘changing her mind like the wind’
THE director of Britney Spears’s new biopic had already warned fans of a “long road ahead”.
Now insiders have said Jon M. Chu’s sentiment could be born out of the fact the singer has been struggling to make up her mind about what they will and won’t cover.
Universal won the bidding war to the rights for the film, which is based on Britney’s autobiography, called The Woman In Me.
But sources said Britney was “changing her mind like the wind” when it came down to the storyboarding.
An insider said: “Britney’s biopic is in the early stages of development and there have been a lot of ideas bandied around.
“As soon as it feels like they’re moving in one direction though, Britney will take it in another.
“Her manager is an executive producer on the film and is doing his best to put those ideas across, but it feels like it’s an ever-changing project at the moment with no clear direction.”
Bizarre first revealed plans for the biopic in October 2023, with Jon coming on board last year.
Jon said: “I want to do her justice and tell her story right. But we’ll see.
“We’re developing it now and it’s a long road ahead.
“She represents a generation of people growing up in the 2000s and late Nineties, and she has a story that deserves to be told properly.
“There’s a lot about us in it.
“In this initial conception, I think it’s a lot about how we treat people, young people, stars that we think we own, women, mothers.
“There’s a lot of things in there that I would love to explore.”
Sabrina’s curl power
SABRINA CARPENTER looked like a real Hollywood pin-up as she posed in a satin gown and red lingerie with Marilyn Monroe-style blonde curls.
The Espresso singer was photographed for the March issue of Vogue, although isn’t always as glamorous.
She revealed: “I dress like a little boy for most of the day, if I’m trying to hide. They don’t even know it’s me and I’ll be standing right behind them.”
Sabrina also revealed she secretly flew to London last month to start work on the follow-up to her hit album Short N’ Sweet.
She said: “I start every year just trying to go away and write, because I feel like I have a lot to say at the end of a year. I’m just kind of tucked away right now.
“It’s half writing and half relaxation, if that’s something I can even accomplish.”
For the full cover story, go to Vogue.com.
Leeds-Reading gone soft with yoga and jogging
SABRINA CARPENTER looked like a real Hollywood pin-up as she posed in a satin gown and red lingerie with Marilyn Monroe-style blonde curls.
The Espresso singer was photographed for the March issue of Vogue, although isn’t always as glamorous.
She revealed: “I dress like a little boy for most of the day, if I’m trying to hide. They don’t even know it’s me and I’ll be standing right behind them.”
Sabrina also revealed she secretly flew to London last month to start work on the follow-up to her hit album Short N’ Sweet.
She said: “I start every year just trying to go away and write, because I feel like I have a lot to say at the end of a year. I’m just kind of tucked away right now.
“It’s half writing and half relaxation, if that’s something I can even accomplish.”
Free cheers for Becks
TELL us your dad has done a deal with Stella Artois, without telling us your dad has done a deal with Stella Artois . . .
Brooklyn Beckham posted no less than four Instagram stories of himself proudly drinking a bottle of the beer while watching the Super Bowl in the early hours of Monday.
The wannabe chef, who lives in the States with his wife Nicola Peltz, shared the posts as his dad David’s advert for the brand premiered on US telly.
He’s made a fortune from the team-up and it looks like he made Stella throw in a few crates for his son. Anything for a freebie, eh Brooklyn?
Drake up for $ome romance
HE’S known as Certified Lover Boy – and now Drake is living up to his reputation.
The rapper is dropping a new record on Valentine’s Day, and spreading love, not hate, following his feud with Kendrick Lamar.
The Hotline Bling star waited until his rival’s Super Bowl half-time show finished before teasing fans on Instagram about the project, which he hopes will silence critics and remind people of his talent.
He has teamed up with Partynextdoor for the project and spoke about it on stage this week while performing in Australia.
Drake, above, said: “It’s called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, but there’s some turned up songs for you on there too.
“And there’s some personal feelings on there for you.
“So hopefully whoever you’re with on Valentine’s Day, hopefully y’all can share that experience together.”
Glum One Like You, Adele
I’VE had to support boyfriends at work events in the past – and it can be a right bore.
But spare a thought for Adele. Clearly uninterested in basketball, she had photographers watching her every move while sitting through a game alongside fiancé Rich Paul, who is an agent to some of the sport’s top players.
She looked like she would have preferred to be at home watching trash TV than at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah Jazz.
The Someone Like You singer, who wore all black for the outing, is on a break from the music biz after her two-year Las Vegas residency ended in November.
Perhaps she will want to return to music sooner rather than later if it means she doesn’t have to go to the basketball.
SELENA GOMEZ has a big weekend on the cards, as she is dropping a new song hours before battling it out at the Baftas.
She is up for Best Supporting Actress for Netflix movie Emilia Perez and is expected to attend the event in London on Sunday.
And we’ve learned she will thank her fans for their support by releasing a secret single on Friday.
It will also be a first Valentine’s Day with her fiancé, producer Benny Blanco, since he popped the question last year.
Another reason to order in the champers.
Olly and ex back in love
OLLY ALEXANDER has a secret boyfriend after reconciling with a lover he split from a decade ago.
The singer, whose album Polari came out on Friday, talked about the romance in the March/April issue of Attitude magazine.
Sounding self-assured, he explained: “The reason for that is very simple. It’s because I got back together with my partner. We were together, like, ten years ago. We dated for a year and then broke up.
“We didn’t speak for a few years and ended up coming back together. So, this idea of returning to love was really on my mind.”
Olly, above, added: “And now we’re in a very domestic, grown-up relationship.
“I’ve never experienced that before. I felt like I had a bit of a different perspective to write from.”
Every Michelin-starred restaurant where you can get a luxury 3-course meal for less than £50 – as new list released
FANCY treating your Valentine to luxurious grub but put off by the hefty price tag?
We have good news – there are now 30 Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK serving up three-course meals for under £50.
Just in time for the most romantic day of the year, the 2025 Michelin guide for the UK has been published.
The cheapest by far is TV chef Tom Kerridge’s £15 two-course lunch deal at The Coach in Buckinghamshire.
The pub also charges an extra £7.50 to make the meal three course – quids in.
Diners will be treated to a celery soup with truffle and hazelnut pesto to start, followed by a beef, ale and onion pot pie and a pineapple savarin with coconut rum cream to finish.
The menu changes weekly and is only available throughout the week days.
According to the posh pub’s website, the kitchen offers a vegan option.
Heft in Newton in Cartmel, Cumbria, offers a set four-course lunch for £45.
The 17th-century village inn is run by a Cumbrian born-and-bred couple who are hugely popular with the locals.
If you’re planning a seaside trip this summer, check out Elephant in Torquay.
The restaurant looks over Torquay Harbour and the ingredients for the dishes come from owner Simon Hulstone’s 96-acre farm.
In Cheltenham, Gloucestershire is Le Champignon Sauvage, there are two-course lunch and dinner menus for £40 and three courses for £47.
As the name suggests, the chefs at David and Helen Everitt-Matthias’ restaurant offer French cuisine with a tres bien price tag.
Kent has three budget-friendly Michelin star eateries with meals for under £50: Bridge Arms in Bridge, Fordwich Arms, Fordwich and Hide and Fox, Saltwood.
The UK's 30 Michelin-starred restaurants under £50
Thought £50 wouldn't get you far in a Michelin-starred restaurant? Well you thought wrong. Here is the full list of budget-friendly eateries:
Buckinghamshire
The Coach, Marlow – set lunch, two courses for £15 and a third for £7.50
Cumbria
Heft, Newton in Cartmel – set four-course lunch for £45
Devon
Elephant, Torquay – two-course set lunch menu for £34.50 or three courses for £39.75
Masons Arms, Knowstone – three course lunch menu for £39.50
Gloucestershire
Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham – set two-course lunch and dinner menus for £40 or three courses for £47
Herefordshire
33 The Homend, Ledbury – lunchtime two courses £40 or three for £48
Kent
Bridge Arms, Bridge – three-course set menu for £35 available Wednesday to Friday lunchtime and Wednesday and Thursday dinner
Fordwich Arms, Fordwich – three-course set menu available Wednesday to Friday lunch and Wednesday and Thursday dinner for £45
Hide and Fox, Saltwood – set three-course lunch for £48 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Lancashire
Hambleton Hall, Hambleton – two courses for £48.50, but only until 28 February
The Barn, Aughton – three-course set lunch for £48 available Thursday to Saturday
Leicestershire
John’s House, Mountsorrel – three-course lunch menu for £49 between Wednesday and Saturday
London
Benares, Mayfair – two-course set lunch menu for £43 or three courses for £49
Chishuru, Fitzrovia – set lunch menu for £45
Galvin La Chapelle, The City – two-course set lunch menu available Monday to Saturday for £49
La Trompette, Chiswick – three-course lunch for £39.50 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Portland, Fitzrovia – two-course lunch menu for £49
The Ninth, Fitzrovia – set two-course lunch menu for £33 or three courses for £38 from Monday to Saturday
Trishna, Marylebone – three-course lunch or early evening tasting menu for £50
Veeraswamy, Regent Street – two-course lunch for £42 or three courses for £48 available on Saturday and Sunday
Elystan Street, London – three-course set menu at specific times between Monday and Saturday for £45
Wild Honey St James, West End – winter “working lunch” menu comes with three courses for £45 or £59 including a glass of champagne, coffee and canelé
Monmouthshire
Walnut Tree, Llanddewi Skirrid – set two-course lunch menu for £42 or three courses for £50
Somerset
Bulrush, Bristol – set lunch menu for £48
Wilsons, Bristol – three course for £35, set menu, Wednesday to Friday lunch
Suffolk
Pea Porridge, Bury St Edmunds – four-course lunch menu for £50
Surrey
Starling, Esher – Set lunch menu, £30 for three courses running from Wednesday to Friday
Tyne and Wear
House of Tides, Newcastle – Sunday feast menu for £50
Wales
Gorse, Cardiff – four courses for £45
Warwickshire
The Cross, Kenilworth – three-course lunch menu for £50
In London, there are a staggering 10 restaurants, serving a wide variety of cuisine from across the globe.
In Mayfair, one of the swankiest neighbourhoods in the city, you’ll find Benares – an Indian restaurant where the decor is as decadent as the food.
Further up the country is John’s House in Mountsorrel, Lancashire, lining tummies with a three-course lunch menu for £49 from Wednesday to Saturday.
This comes after a vegan restaurant made history to become the first plant-based eatery to be awarded a Michelin star.
Plates London, located on Old Street, serves a fully plant-based menu and chef Kirk Haworth wowed judges by “taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet”, Michelin said.
Asked what he loved about cooking elevated vegan dishes at the ceremony, Mr Haworth said: “Trying to get rid of that word is everything that I love about it.
“It’s just about flavour, that’s all it’s about. Flavour, excitement, innovation, and trying to take it to a new space of deliciousness.”
‘I’ve scored a lot of goals’ – Man Utd idol Wayne Rooney rips into Man City after just THREE SECONDS of Amazon Prime job
WAYNE ROONEY set a cheeky new record just three seconds into his debut as an Amazon Prime Video pundit.
The Manchester United legend was at the Etihad for City’s Champions League play-off with Real Madrid.
And after just THREE SECONDS the grinning ex-striker announced it was: “A stadium I’ve scored a lot of goals in…”
Are Champions League knockout play-offs one or two legs?
CHAMPIONS League action is back with the knockout phase play-offs.
16 teams are gearing up to compete against each other, looking to join the eight teams that have already advanced to the last 16.
Manchester City and Celtic are among those who are playing this week and will be aiming to progress to the next stage – they’re up against current holders of the competition, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively.
This will be the fourth year in a row that City have faced off against Real in the knockout stage of the competition – and they will know they need nothing short of a perfect display across both legs to get passed the 15-time winners of the competition.
In the previous three meetings of these two footballing giants, City have only got past Los Blancos once and that was the year they went all the way to pick up their first Champions League title.
Similarly, Real Madrid have beat City twice in the last three years, and they picked up the trophy on both occasions, so fans will know they are in for a hell of a tie over the next week!
Are Champions League knockout play-offs one or two legs?
Just like any other knockout stage in the Champions League round, there will indeed be two legs.
The first legs of these play-off fixtures will take place on the 11th and 12th February, with the second legs the following week on the 18th and 19th February.
The eight winning teams will join the eight teams that have already qualified in the last 16.
Which teams are in the play-off round and when are they?
The full draw for the play-off round is as follows:
- Brest v Paris St-Germain – first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February
- Juventus v PSV Eindhoven – first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February
- Manchester City v Real Madrid – first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February
- Sporting v Borussia Dortmund – first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February
- Club Brugge v Atalanta – first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February
- Celtic v Bayern Munich – first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February
- Feyenoord v AC Milan – first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February
- Monaco v Benfica – first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February
Who’s already in the last 16?
The teams through to the round of 16 are:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa.
Man City vs Real Madrid live stream FREE: How to watch huge Champions League clash TONIGHT
MANCHESTER CITY host European heavyweights Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium for the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off.
Pep Guardiola‘s men clinched a playoff round place with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in their final league phase match.
The result was their only victory in their previous five European matches, losing to PSG, Juventus and Sporting CP in their poor run of form.
Real Madrid picked up their form in the competition towards the end of their campaign.
They have won three of their last five Champions League matches after a poor start saw them lose three consecutive games to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool.
Wednesday’s match will be the fourth time Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti’s sides have met in the knockouts of the competition in as many years.
Madrid have the slight edge over City, running out 2-1 winners across the last three ties.
When is Man City vs Real Madrid?
- Man City vs Real Madrid will take place on Tuesday, February 11.
- Kick off will be at 8pm GMT.
- The Etihad Stadium will host the first leg.
How to watch Man City vs Real Madrid for FREE
This season’s Champions League sees a new broadcaster enter the UK scene.
Amazon Prime Video is showing the top Tuesday match in the iconic European competition each week at no additional cost to Prime members.
Should you not currently hold a subscription, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial, which will give you access to all the benefits of being a Prime member, including access to watch Man City vs Real Madrid.
Alternative, SunSport will blog all the action as it happens.
What other games are on this round?
Brest host PSG in the earlier kick off on Tuesday. The all-French tie begins at 5.45pm GMT in the first of four matches on the day
Juventus face PSV Eindhoven at 8pm GMT while Borussia Dortmund meet Portuguese league leaders Sporting CP at the same time on Tuesday.
There are four more fixtures in the Champions League this week which will all be played on Wednesday, February 12.
Club Brugge host Serie A dark horses Atalanta in the early kick off at 5.45pm GMT.
Wednesday’s 8pm GMT matches see Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich travel to Celtic Park to face the Scottish giants.
Meanwhile, Feyenoord face AC Milan and AS Monaco go up against Benfica.
Jason Tindall wound up Aston Villa with WHAM! hoodie reveals official report into 20-man tunnel brawl with Newcastle
NEWCASTLE coach Jason Tindall found a bizarre way to have a ‘pop’ at Aston Villa amid a mass tunnel brawl.
The FA have revealed incredible inside details as they confirmed big fines for both clubs following the flare-up on Boxing Day.
Jhon Duran saw red for a foul on Fabian Schar before Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joelinton sealed a 3-0 Newcastle win at St James’ Park.
An independent Regulatory Commission have now broken down the events – revealing a surprising throwback to a 1980s’ pop duo from Tindall.
The 47-year-old’s antics loomed large in the reports received by the commission
Referee Anthony Taylor explained he sent off Tindall for aggressive behaviour.
Taylor said fourth official Leigh Doughty informed him of a half-time bust-up “caused by Victor Manas (Aston Villa head of analysis)”
Manas was “shouting aggressively” leading to an “aggressive verbal altercation”.
Taylor added: “This caused a further confrontation to take place of approx 20 players and staff. I was also advised that Mr Tindall had to be prevented from becoming involved further.”
But it was what came near the end of the match that stood out – with the ex-Bournemouth defender said to have escalated the matter by winding up Villa… with a WHAM! hoodie.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Villa’s club secretary Sharon Barnhurst emailed the commission to say Tindall “shushed” their manager Unai Emery three or four times in the first half, leading to Manas intervening in a heated exchange during the interval.
Trouble exploded again before the final whistle.
The Telegraph report that Barnhurst submitted: “Mr Tindall on the 85th minute reappeared within the tunnel wearing a WHAM! jumper, joking around with other members of Newcastle United’s staff. “
Tindall was then said to have stayed in the tunnel area until full-time before being “involved in a tense exchange of words” with a Villa coach.
Both clubs admitted improper conduct.
The Commission fined Villa £30,000 and Newcastle £20k, as well as warning them both about their behaviour.
Manas landed a two-match ground ban and £4k fine – but Tindall was cleared.
An FA spokesman said: “The Regulatory Commission found the charge against Jason Tindall to be not proven, and he will face no further action.”
Prince Harry’s old hairdresser begs him to ‘let it go’ & either shave his head or get a transplant in a scathing post
PRINCE Harry’s former hairdresser is begging the royal to follow in Prince William’s footsteps and to ”let it go” and shave his head.
Sam McKnight MBE, who worked with the late Princess Diana, took to Instagram to urge the 40-year-old to learn from his big brother and go for the chop.
The hairdresser, whose clients include A-listers such as Lady Gaga and Kate Moss, said he remembered Prince Harry from his younger years when the prince had ”thick healthy crowning glories, just like mum”.
Sam wrote: ”It’s time Harry! Many moons ago, when you and your brother were young boys, you both had the most magnificent, thick healthy crowning glories, just like mum.
”Many an afternoon was spent with me thinning and shaping the topiary!
”However, just like myself, the lush hedging is no more, a mere wisp or two of its former self.”
The hair guru went on in the brutal post and urged the California-based dad-of-two to make a drastic change that would make him appear younger than his years.
”All is not lost, however, a good short clip at the barbers (like your big brother has done recently) would look sharp and clean, and take years off that handsome face.”
According to Sam, who was awarded an MBE in 2023 for his services to the fashion and beauty industries, Prince Harry should also consider getting a hair transplant if he wants to keep his signature ginger mane.
The hairdresser wrote: ”If I were your age I’d go for a transplant, so much more natural these days, unlike the plug plants of yore.
”And no need for a quick EasyJet trip to Turkey, you’re in California where they have the best!
”So Harry, from one baldy to another, it’s time. As they say in Disneyland, “Let It Go”.
”Sent from your old hairdresser, Sam, with love, a wink and a smile,” he joked in the caption.
The 40-year-old, like his brother William and dad King Charles, has struggled with hair loss.
One expert, Dr Asim Shahmalak from Manchester’s Crown Clinic, claimed that his bald patch has almost doubled since he married Meghan Markle in 2018.
Harry always loved mocking his brother for his hair loss, once quipping: “I think he definitely is brainier than I am, but we established that at school, along with his baldness.”
Hair Loss 101
HAIR pro Samantha Cusick has revealed everything you need to know about hair loss.
Why Does Hair Loss Happen?
Hair loss can be influenced by so many factors, from genetics and hormone changes to lifestyle choices.
Stress, diet, and even hair care habits can all impact hair strength.
It’s perfectly normal to lose some hair each day, but sometimes the body can shed more than usual, responding to things like hormonal shifts or even life stressors.
Why It Happens More This Time of Year
Have you ever noticed your hair seems to shed more in autumn? That’s seasonal shedding!
During summer, we hold onto extra hair to protect our scalp from the sun.
As the weather cools, it’s like our body recalibrates and lets go of those extra strands.
Dry, cooler air can also make hair more brittle, making it easier to lose a little extra volume during these months.
Hacks and Affordable Buys to Treat Hair loss
The great news? You don’t need to spend a fortune on pricey treatments to support your hair.
Try daily scalp massages—they’re so simple but really help boost blood flow to the follicles.
Castor oil is another fantastic, budget-friendly option that’s rich in nutrients to strengthen your strands.
Adding a bit more protein to your diet and a biotin supplement can also work wonders for overall hair health.
Products to Avoid
Steer clear of products with high levels of alcohol, sulphates, and parabens – they can be drying and damage hair over time.
Heat styling and chemical treatments can also cause breakage, so try to use them sparingly.
Instead, look for gentle, hydrating formulas to support your scalp and keep hair healthier through the seasons.
Following his balding head, the royal was even spotted undergoing a thickening treatment at the prestigious Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in London’s Mayfair in 2020.
At the time, a source said: “Harry’s visit caused a real stir.”
“This company is so prestigious. It’s one of the best places in the world. It’s got a whole range of different treatment plans.”
“The richest, most famous and well-connected use it. The meeting with Harry went well.
“It would be very expensive. It’s the place to go in London and it’s right in the heart of Mayfair.”
Nearly seven million Brits experience baldness or hair loss – and even A-list celebs like Wayne Rooney, Gordon Ramsay and David Beckham are rumoured to have had treatment to combat their thinning thatches.
The NHS states that hair loss is “not usually anything to be worried about”, and can be triggered by factors such as stress, after an illness, weight loss or iron deficiency.”
In mid-life men most hair loss is hormonal and not linked to these conditions.
Harry cruelly called his brother William’s hair loss “alarming” in his controversial autobiography Spare – but Wills seemingly embraced his baldness by forking out £180 for a No1 buzz cut back in 2018.