eveningstandard--2019-03-18--Paris Hilton celebrated her birthday with Kim Kardashian at a nightclub built in her own home

Though Paris Hilton’s birthday was technically a month ago, at the weekend the reality star hosted a big party to celebrate hitting the big... 38.  Hilton, who had a nightclub aptly named Club Paris built in her own home, threw a party which saw the likes of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, burlesque star Dita von Teese, music producer Diplo and her sister Nicky Hilton dancing the night away.  Hilton dressed up in a glitzy silver jumpsuit for the occasion, posting a series of videos and pictures of the star-studded night on Instagram. She also shared a cinemagraph of herself spinning around on the Club Paris pole, while her friend Larsa Pippen shared a video of Paris twirling around on it to the beat of Lana del Rey’s Young and Beautiful.  The party was held on Sunday night and even though it was Rob Kardashian’s birthday, Kourtney and Kim managed to squeeze in an appearance at Paris’ festivities. Years ago, before she became world famous, Kim was Paris’ assistant (her tasks included cleaning her closet) and the pair later fell out completely. It seems like it’s all water under the bridge, as the reality stars were also filmed together sledding down a hill at Kim's lavish Christmas party.  Paris posted a video of herself with Kim on Instagram, in which Kim said, “Happy birthday Paris, even though your birthday was months ago. This is how she celebrates...but she deserves it.”  She was also seen posing with Kourtney Kardashian for photographs, who recently launched her new lifestyle brand Poosh. Dita Von Teese was also spotted kissing a pillow with Paris’ face printed on it.  Paris previously shared pictures of her in-home nightclub, revealing the dark and decadent space on Twitter in 2017. Featuring a gigantic portrait of Paris, a Chanel logo painting and various images Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe and her pole, she wrote, “I love the night club I had made in my house.”  According to Wall Street Journal, her private club features a Bose sound system as well as laser lights and a smoke system. The cost of the space was apparently upwards of $500,000 (£376,800).  It turns out that Club Paris isn’t the first of its kind, as previously two unaffiliated nightclubs in Orlando and Jacksonville were named after her. However after she reportedly failed to “make scheduled appearances”, the owner Fred Khalilian “fired” the star and said, “Club Paris will still go on, even without Paris Hilton.” The Orlando club later shut down.


eveningstandard--2019-03-21--Stacey Solomon pays emotional tribute to son Zachary on his birthday aposWeaposve been through

Stacey Solomon pays emotional tribute to son Zachary on his birthday: 'We've been through it all together'

Stacey Solomon poured her heart out as she paid an emotional tribute to her eldest son Zachary on his 11th birthday.  The Loose Women panellist said she “cannot remember a life without [him]” as she shared a slew of snaps of her son over the years, including an especially adorable post of herself cradling him minutes after giving birth.  “Zachary, I cannot remember life without you,” she wrote. “I cannot believe you’ve been in my life for 11 years today. I remember and cherish every second of it.  “We’ve been through it all together.”  “Graduating college where you would come with me every day and be such a good little bubba in the college crèche while I studied, to the X Factor where you were the drive for every push I needed to give myself to go as far as I could.”  Solomon also hailed him the “best big brother that ever lived”.  She continued: “Kind, caring, loving, Leighton is a very lucky young man. To blossoming into the, incredibly thoughtful, compassionate, empathetic, strong, funny, happy, human you are today.  "You have no idea what you’ve done for me and brought to my life and you probably never will. I hope I can raise and guide you the way that you deserve to be and you continue to be a shining light in the world beaming with happiness. Happy Birthday Zachary! Here’s to the next 11 years of memory making! I love you to the moon and stars and back again."  The sweet post comes a month after Solomon announced she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Joe Swash, who she hinted she has no plans to marry.  Announcing the news, Swash shared pictures of Solomon sleeping and joked that he had been worried she had become “bored” of him, but was relieved to find out she “still loves me very much [and] has just been growing a baby”.  The pair are also parents to Solomon’s son Leighton, six and Swash's 11-year-old son Harry.


eveningstandard--2019-03-22--Princess Eugenie Birthday Best dresses outfits and style moments to celebrate the royalaposs 30t

Princess Eugenie Birthday: Best dresses, outfits and style moments to celebrate the royal's 30th

Congrats to Princess Eugenie, who hits the big 3-0 today. If her recent outfit choices (including her wedding dress) are anything to go by, the Princess will be celebrating in style.  Despite a few headline grabbing looks in her early twenties, in recent years the 9th in line to the throne has refined her sense of style, incorporating unexpected details the closer you look.  2018 was a particularly big year for her, full of Royal Ascot highlights, dresses by Erdem and, of course, the Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos wedding dress that came with a social message - proudly displaying her scoliosis scars in solidarity with those fighting the condition.  Here's eight of the Eugenie's best looks so far:  On her wedding day in October the royal wore a sweeping gown by British designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos.  The shape of the dress - which was worn without a veil - had a specific meaning. Eugenie has been open about her battle with scoliosis as a child, using her platform to raise funds for orthopaedic hospitals and charities which help those living with the condition.  She specifically requested that the design of her wedding dress would incorporate a low back to display her scoliosis surgery scar. “I believe scars tell a story about your past and your future and it’s a way of getting rid of a taboo. For me it’s a way of communicating with people who are going through either similar situations with scoliosis or having a scar of their own they are trying to deal with.”  The dress was a painstakingly crafted masterpiece, which was “developed layer by layer” to accommodate the vintage-inspired full pleated skirt and folded neckline. Given that Pilotto and De Vos are renowned for their fabrics, and the jacquard weave of her dress incorporated symbols which reflected Eugenie’s romantic and family history.  These included a Scottish thistle to represent her and Jack’s love for Balmoral, an Irish shamrock as a nod to Sarah Ferguson’s family, the White Rose of York as well as ivy to symbolise her home with Jack at Kensington Palace’s Ivy Cottage.  Eugenie's diamond and emerald tiara has also scored a spot on our best royal tiaras of all time list, officially named the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara. It was her something borrowed for the occasion as the Boucheron creation was on loan from Queen Elizabeth. It features a huge 93.7 carat centre emerald.  The tiara was also rumoured to be Meghan Markle’s first choice for her own wedding, but the Queen reportedly vetoed the choice as she felt that its design linked it too closely to Russia.  Photos taken by photographer Alex Bramall were released of the newly married Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and her structured Zac Posen dress stole the show.  More details about the dress were released on Royal Family website and revealed that Zac Posen was “inspired by the beauty of Windsor”, matching the delicate hue of the dress to the “blush of an English rose”.  Posen also revealed on Instagram that the dress featured a low back, which like her wedding dress displayed her scoliosis scar. He also shared a number of videos and posts of the dress while it was being constructed.  In contrast to the timelessness of her Pilotto gown, the Posen construction was fresh and modern.  The dress also featured embroidery inspired by the White Rose of York and Eugenie's diamond and emerald earrings were gifted to her by Jack. Although you can’t see it, she also apparently wore a hair slide which was loaned to her by her granny, Queen Elizabeth.  Perhaps as a nod to Meghan Markle’s American background, Princess Eugenie arrived dressed in an outfit she seemed to have pulled out of former First Lady Jackie O’s closet. Expertly channelling the best of 60s fashion, she stepped out in a pastel blue Gainsbourg dress and a white Stephen Jones pillbox hat. Her very modern accessories kept it grounded in the present day however, as she chose to wear a pair of rockstud Valentino heels and a geometric M2Malletier bag with an unusual gold handle.  It appears that Meghan Markle was a fan of the look, as the Duchess stepped out recently wearing a similar pillbox hat to a Commonwealth Service earlier this month.  Like other royal women Princess Eugenie tends to stick to formal wear - which made this striking outfit a break from the norm. For the Serpentine Gallery’s Summer Party, she chose a bold asymmetrical dress featuring electric blue and ultraviolet floral detailing.  The stylish look was completed with a pair of black cigarette trousers and cut out black heels. Very chic.  To announce the news of her engagement to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie wore a dress by one of her favourite designers, fashion house Erdem. With a high collar and ruffled hem detail, the dress, which the Princess wore previously in a photo shoot with Harper's Bazaar in 2016, was paired with a pair of sharp Jimmy Choos.  Naturally, the most striking part of the outfit was Princess Eugenie's engagement ring. Featuring a rare pink padparadscha sapphire, the stone was ringed by additional white diamonds on a gold band - similar in style to Princess Diana and now Kate Middleton's deep blue sapphire ring.  Princess Eugenie frequently wears red, and wore a cut-out Eponine dress in the shade as part of Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016.  She let the bright shade speak for itself and paired it with simple black accessories, including pointed court heels, a clutch and bow headband.  As Princess Eugenie isn’t technically a working royal, she’s one of the Royal Family members we’re less likely to see at high profile events throughout the year. However, she and her family do always make an appearance at Royal Ascot. On day three, Eugenie opted for a floral gown by one of her favourite designers, Erdem, who she also wore for her engagement photo shoot.  Drawing on the fabric’s beautiful florals, she also chose to wear an unusual hat by Sally-Ann Provan which featured white blossoms. The hat also featured an usual cut out detail on the brim.  Another Royal Ascot highlight from last year, Princess Eugenie stepped out for the races wearing a chic minimal outfit. In a nod to her upcoming wedding, she chose an all white outfit, which included a kimono-inspired Osman dress and tasselled hat by Emily London. She also chose to re-wear her M2Malletier bag.  You didn’t think we could write about Eugenie’s outfits and not bring this one up, could you? While the hats that Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice wore to Kate and William’s wedding were criticised by some, Eugenie pushed the fashion envelope in bold Vivienne Westwood - and you've got to give her credit for that.


eveningstandard--2019-04-11--Khloe Kardashian admits sheaposs feeling aposanxiousapos ahead of daughter Trueaposs first b

Khloe Kardashian admits she's feeling 'anxious' ahead of daughter True's first birthday

Khloe Kardashian has revealed that she’s “having anxiety” ahead of daughter True Thompson’s first birthday.  The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star told Twitter followers that she felt “sad” that “time is flying as fast as it is.”  “Is it weird that I think I’m having anxiety thinking True will be one on Friday?!?!” she wrote. “I’m sad Time is flying as fast as it is.  “I’ll be happy, of course, I simply can’t understand where the time goes. Thank you Lord for every moment.  Kardashian’s daughter, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson, will turn one on April 12.  The 34-year-old then responded to fans as they quizzed her over how she will react to future milestones in her daughter’s life.  When one follower suggested that she will be “an absolute mess at [True’s] kindergarten graduation,” Kardashian replied: “Graduation?! I’ll be a mess day one of preschool lol I can’t think about this.”  In answer to another fan who told her that parenting “gets better,” she wrote: “Please! I pray. Since when did I become such a mush?”  Yesterday, Kardashian revealed that her daughter will appear in the summer collection for her denim brand Good American.  The reality star told People that True is already “really comfortable” in front of the camera.  “We do Gymboree and art class, and she loves when everyone is staring at her,” she told the publication.  “And I’m always clapping for her. What am I creating?  “I want people to live a healthy and happy life, and that’s the message I want to project to my daughter,” she added.  Kardashian parted ways from Tristan in February, after it was reported that he had kissed family friend Jordyn Woods at a party in Los Angeles.  In a tell-all interview with Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk, Woods later confirmed that the basketball player did kiss her, but said that there was “no passion” and that she was “shocked” by his actions.


eveningstandard--2019-04-15--Holly Willoughby shares rare snap of daughter Belle on her eighth birthday

Holly Willoughby shared a rare photo of her daughter Belle as she marked her eighth birthday.  The This Morning presenter gave her Instagram followers a sweet insight into her family’s birthday celebrations as she posted a photo of the youngster walking on a sandy beach, looking at a rainbow in the distance.  “And then like that she was 8… happy birthday beautiful Belle… keep following that rainbow… love you so so much xxx,” she captioned the post.  The TV star’s famous friends commented with birthday messages, with her close pal Emma Bunton writing: “Happy birthday lovely little lady!”  Davina McCall wrote “Happy birthday belle!!!” while Willoughby’s This Morning colleague Rochelle Humes posted a string of heart emojis below the snap.  The 38-year-old, who also shares Harry (nine) and Chester (four) with husband Dan Baldwin, seldom posts photos of her children. When she does, the presenter chooses to keep their faces hidden.  Discussing her children’s interests in an interview with Hello! in 2017, Willoughby revealed that she will “encourage [the children] to go in whatever direction they want” in the future.  “Harry’s football mad,” she told the magazine. “He’s as bad as his father and Belle wants to be a rainbow. She’s a mix of complete tomboy and real girl. She keeps up with her brothers like you wouldn’t believe but loves dressing up as a princess and thinks, ‘Why wear one hairclip when I could wear all the hairclips I own in my hair?’”  Last year, the star opened up about the possibility of expanding her family, telling The Telegraph’s Stella magazine that she is “always broody."  “Part of me wants another baby but part of me thinks that’s not a good enough reason,” she said. “Would it make the kids all have to grow up that bit more because there was a new baby in the house? I don’t want to put that on them.  “I’ve almost decided not to – but not quite.”


eveningstandard--2019-04-17--Victoria Beckham tucks into birthday cake as she celebrates special day with Maria Sharapova

Victoria Beckham tucked into a birthday cake at dinner with friends and tennis ace Maria Sharapova.  The fashion designer started her birthday celebrations early as she dined with Sharapova and others on Wednesday evening.  In a video posted to Sharapova’s Instagram stories, Beckham took a picture of her tiered birthday cake before getting ready to crack into it and tuck in with the caption “donuts and Victoria Beckham breaking into her birthday [cake emoji]”.  Beckham, who turns 45 today, reposted the video and added: “Early birthday dinner with friends! Kisses @mariasharapova X.”  In another video, the former Spice Girl held her hair away from her face as she blew out the candles on the huge slab of cake.  Last weekend, Beckham celebrated Easter with her daughter Harper at a lavish event in Los Angeles, hosted by Eva Longoria.  The seven-year-old playfully “egged” her famous mum in a hilarious video, covering her with confetti.  In a slow-motion video, Victoria could be seen throwing her hands up as she was doused in colourful paper while Harper chuckled.  Beckham also shared a sweet snap of her youngest cuddling a bunny rabbit at the luxurious get-together.  She captioned the post: “Harper is getting ready for Easter. Kisses and thank you for a beautiful day @EvaLongoria.”  Harper also enjoyed snuggles with Longoria’s nine-month-old son Santiago, planting a soft kiss on his cheek as the tot looked around.  Beckham and her footballer husband David, 43, headed to LA for the Easter break with kids Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 14, and Harper.


eveningstandard--2019-04-18--David Beckham mocks wife Victoria with early morning birthday snap of her looking disheveled

David Beckham couldn’t resist teasing his wife Victoria Beckham on her 45th birthday.  The former football professional mocked his other half after she was woken up in the early hours of Wednesday morning by their children Brooklyn, 19, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 14 and Harper, seven, to kick off celebrations.  He shared a snap of Victoria looking exhausted as she pouted for the camera.  “When the kids wake you up at 6am on your birthday,” he wrote.  He then jokingly added an animation of a woman falling asleep while holding a cup of tea, for good measure.  David later shared a slew of clips of their children making cold rolled ice cream, with each writing personal birthday messages to their mum.  One clip showed him quizzing Harper on her flavour of choice, mint chocolate chip, before he prompted her to write “I love you daddy” instead.  After enjoying a day with the family David shared a sweet post in tribute to his wife, alongside a candid shot of her surrounded by candles.  He wrote: “Happy Birthday Mama @victoriabeckham ... Have the most amazing day because you deserve to be spoilt by the little ones @brooklynbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven & Me of course.”  Victoria also shared a stunning image of the whole Beckham family and Brooklyn’s girlfriend Hana Cross as they dined out.  Overwhelmed by the treats, Victoria wrote: “The most beautiful day with my favourite people in the world xxx I love you so so so much xxx Kisses from a very loved mummy and wife. X”  The former songstress and her brood enjoyed an evening out as they dined with tennis ace Maria Sharapova, who shared a sweet video of  her as she cracked into her layered birthday cake.  Stars sent the fashion designer birthday wishes including her fellow Spice Girl Geri Horner, who marked the occasion with a throwback snap from the group’s 2007 tour.


eveningstandard--2019-04-18--Kate Hudsonaposs Birthday Best quotes from the actress and entrepreneur as she turns 40

Kate Hudson's Birthday: Best quotes from the actress and entrepreneur as she turns 40

Happy birthday to Kate Hudson, the star who went from Almost Famous to A-list entrepreneur, who turns 40 today.  Kate intitially followed in the Hollywood footsteps of her actress mother Goldie Hawn and actor father Bill Hudson. She's since joined the growing band of A-list multi-hyphenates by branching out into more entrepreneurial activities, a rite of passage for popular early aughts actresses (see also Gwyeth Paltrow's Goop, Sarah Michelle Gellar's baking brand Foodstirs and Reese Witherspoon's Draper James) by embracing athleisure with her membership company Fabletics.  The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days star has also written two best-selling self help books (Pretty Happy and Pretty Fun) and launched a capsule collection to benefit the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up initiative.  And while she’s nothing like her Almost Famous character Penny Lane in real life, she has had plenty of high-profile relationships with musicians. She was married to Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson (the father of son Ryder), engaged to Muse musician Matt Bellamy (Bingham's dad) and was (extremely briefly) linked to Nick Jonas.  She gave birth to a baby girl, Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa, in October of last year. She also has two sons from previous relationships, Ryder Robinson and Bingham Hawn Bellamy.  Hudson has been dating Danny Fujikawa, the father of her daughter Rani, for about two years, though she's known him for more than a decade as he's her best friend's stepbrother - he's also a musician. He was formerly the frontman of the band Chief and he founded his own record label. His LinkedIn describes him as "Founder of Lightwave Records, Organizer of Energy, Musician of Honesty, Editor of Video."  To celebrate the superstar's birthday we've rounded up some of our favourite Kate Hudson quotes, about wellness, love, friendship and her famous mother.  On friendship: “No matter how far you take it with your friends, whether you're fighting with them or you hate them for two months, you just really need them, because they're the ones who teach you the most about yourself.”  On her love/hate relationship with working out: “You love to hate it. When I say I love it, it's because I hate it. For me, I can't stand doing squats and lunges, but for women especially, we have to just literally kill it on the squats and kill it on the lunges so you have to learn to love them."  On partnering with Weight Watchers: "My struggle is not in weight loss. Mine is about staying healthy, trying to stay focused and balanced.  On fashion: "People think we own all these dresses but we borrow them! I can't afford to buy that stuff. There are certain things I splurge on, but it's very rare, especially when you have two kids and school tuition. I'm not a big high-end fashion shopper. I wish I could but the truth is things are just so expensive. Before Isabel Marant was a million dollars and famous, I used to go to her store in Paris and go crazy, it was so affordable."  On raising her daughter: “I think you just raise your kids individually regardless - like a genderless [approach]. We still don’t know what she’s going to identify as. I will say that, right now, she is incredibly feminine in her energy, her sounds and her way. It’s very different from the boys, and it’s really fun to actually want to buy kids’ clothes. With the boys it was just like onesies… actually, I did pretty good with the boys. But with her it’s a whole other ball game."  On giving birth: “The best part was when mom called me when I was in labor and said, ‘I’m was about to take a swim and then I was going to have a massage. How long do you think you’re going to be laboring?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know, mom!’ I’m like calling the nurse going, ‘Do you know how long I’m going to be laboring? My mom wants to swim.’”  On relationships: "The reason I don't talk about anything like that is because I have kids. People ask that question as if, 'Oh yeah, it's really healthy to publicly talk about who I am or am not dating when I've got a tween.' [Ryder] can read, and he can hear. I'm not going to indulge in that kind of thing until there's someone in my life who I am introducing to my kids."  The best advice from her brother, actor Oliver Hudson: “Nobody cares! “There’s about 7 plus billion people in the world who don’t give a s**t"  On her mom, Goldie Hawn: “My mom never had — obviously as a parent you have certain expectations — but my mother never had unreasonable expectations. Her expectations were very simple: it was your kindness, and being present, and acknowledgment, and gratitude. Things that are really, I think, important to be raised with. But in terms of life expectations — what you do, or who you're with, or what you chose to be — she really allowed us the freedom to experience our own lives," Kate said. "Which doesn't mean that it didn't come with parenting!”  On co-parenting: "They all get along. It's funny, and we laugh about it. I never thought my life would look like that, but it is what it is. All I care about is happy kids, and we all make that the priority."  On happiness: “Happiness is not something that just comes to you. It's an active process.”  On her company, Fabletics: “For me, if I was going to start a company, I wanted to feel good about why I was doing it. If I’m going to use the platform to sell people something, then I want it to be meaningful, and I want it to be authentic, and I want it to be real, and I want to be passionate about it.”  Advice for becoming an entrepreneur: “Number one is authenticity. If you are doing something that is authentic to you and you are passionate about, then you are already successful. Then your drive will be there and no part of it will feel like grunt work. Authenticity is key so take your time with that and don’t get discouraged if something takes time.”


eveningstandard--2019-04-18--Khloe Kardashian gushes over aposincredible rare bondapos as she celebrates sister Kourtneyapos

Khloé Kardashian gushes over 'incredible rare bond' as she celebrates sister Kourtney's 40th birthday

Khloé Kardashian shared a series of snaps with sister Kourtney to celebrate her 40th birthday on Thursday, including some throwbacks.  Khloé posted a slew of images to her Instagram alongside a heartfelt caption about the “incredible rare bond” the duo share.  “Happy birthday sweet @kourtneykardash!!! I am completely obsessed with each and every one of my siblings,” Khloé wrote. “Still blows my mind how blessed we are to call each other sisters. You and I have an incredible rare bond that no matter what, it can never be broken.  “You’re my best friend, one of the rare few I can count on most in my life. I’m so thankful for that […] Honestly, without you my life would be boring and not as full.”  Khloé also told her sister that she “prays her soul is awakened” and that she finds happiness and “magical things” for the rest of her life.  Among the snaps were shots of the sister’s posing for photos and selfies as well as one of a teenage Kourtney next to a massive bouquet of balloons.  Famous matriarch Kris Jenner also used Instagram to share a special birthday tribute to her eldest child on her big birthday.  “Happy Birthday Kourtney!!! I can’t believe you are 40!! I love you more than you can ever imagine...you will always be my baby,” Jenner wrote. “I am so blessed beyond words to be your Mommy and have you by my side in this precious life. You are my heart and I am eternally grateful for all of the memories that we cherish. I love you. Mommy xoxo.”  The head of the Kardashian-Jenner clan posted a variety of snaps of the pair laughing and joking, even sharing some throwback snaps to Kourtney’s childhood and one with her late father Robert Kardashian.  Kourtney’s brand Poosh also paid tribute to its founder, creating a video of “hilarious and sentimental” stories involving the star.


eveningstandard--2019-04-21--Duke and Duchess of Sussex lead birthday messages to the Queen as she turns 93

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have led the Royal Family's birthday messages to the Queen as she turns 93.  In a post on their Instagram account, Meghan and Harry, who are expecting their first child any day now, said: "Happy Birthday Your Majesty, Ma'am, Granny. Wishing you the most wonderful day! Harry & Meghan".  The Kensington Palace Twitter account, which represents Kate and William, tweeted: "Wishing a very happy 93rd birthday to Her Majesty The Queen! #HappyBirthdayYourMajesty."  This year, the monarch, who is Head of the Church of England, sees her birthday coincide with Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian calendar.  Elizabeth II, who has a strong faith, usually celebrates Easter at Windsor Castle by joining members of her family at a service in St George's Chapel.  At Buckingham Palace, the Band of the Irish Guards will perform a rendition of Happy Birthday in her honour on the forecourt as part of the Changing of the Guard ceremony.  The Queen's great grandchild, Prince Louis, the son of Kate and William, will celebrate his first birthday on Tuesday and Meghan and Harry's first child is due any day now.  April 21 - the day the Queen was born - is the first of the monarch's two birthdays.  She also has an official one on the second Saturday in June each year, which is commemorated with the Trooping the Colour parade.  Gun salutes are also fired as a mark of respect to the Queen on her special day - but never on a Sunday, so this year they will be delayed by one day.  On Monday, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will ride their horses and gun carriages past Buckingham Palace en route to Hyde Park to stage a 41 Gun Royal Salute at noon.  A 62-gun salute will also be performed by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London at 1pm the same day.  The Queen traditionally spends a month-long residence at Windsor Castle, known as Easter Court, each year.  Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2.40am on April 21 1926, the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York, at 17 Bruton Street, the Mayfair home of her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.  She was never expected to be Queen when she was born, but the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII in 1936 put her father George VI on the throne, and changed her destiny.  Elizabeth II, who has been monarch for more than 67 years, is Head of State, the Armed Forces and the Commonwealth, and has been married to the Duke of Edinburgh for more than 71 years.  She became Britain's longest-reigning monarch, passing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria's record, in September 2015.  With the death of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2016, the Queen now holds the record for the world's longest reigning living monarch.


eveningstandard--2019-04-22--Prince Louis birthday pictures Adorable photos show royal playing in garden of Norfolk home

Prince Louis birthday pictures: Adorable photos show royal playing in garden of Norfolk home

Adorable new photographs of Prince Louis taken by his mother Kate have been released ahead of his first birthday.  The third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is pictured playing in the garden of the family's Norfolk home in the photographs taken earlier this month.  In two images, Louis' rosy cheeks match his red jumper, which is covered in bits of greenery as he plays in the garden. His broad smiles show off his two bottom front teeth.  In the third, Louis looks more serious as he wears a blue jumper with a dog motif.  In March, Kate revealed during a visit to a children's centre that Louis, then about 11 months old, was an active child who enjoyed "bombing around" on a walker.  "He just wants to pull himself up all the time. He's got these little walkers and is bombing around on them," she told a fellow parent.  Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born on St George's Day last year, April 23, at 11.01am, weighing 8lb 7oz.  He bears a clear resemblance to both his older brother, George, and his father, William, when they were a similar age.  Louis is fifth in line to the throne, a great-grandchild of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and a younger sibling of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  He made his debut in Kate's arms as his proud parents showed him off to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, just hours after he was born.  The name Louis was already one of George's middle names and pays tribute to the Prince of Wales's great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA.  William and Kate released photos of their son soon after he was born - including one of him being cuddled by his big sister Charlotte on her third birthday when Louis was only about a week old.  Louis was sleeping soundly, as Charlotte put a protective arm around her baby brother and planted a kiss on his forehead.  The prince was next seen fast asleep at his christening in July, and alert and smiling in family photographs released to mark the occasion.  Louis, who appears to have inherited the brown Middleton eyes from Kate's side of the family, was pictured with his wider family, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in photos released to mark Charles's 70th birthday in November.


eveningstandard--2019-04-23--Gigi Hadidaposs 24th birthday party had an interesting dress code

Gigi Hadid's 24th birthday party had an interesting dress code

How much denim is too much denim?  At Gigi Hadid's twenty-fourth birthday party the vibe was very much 'more is more.' Shunning the usual party dress code, the model opted for a low-key dress code: all denim everything.  Gigi aced a classic double denim look, pairing custom Levi jeans, which were subtly customised with '24' on the leg, with a frayed denim jacket, simple white crop top and Dr Martens.  The casual look may have seemed like an odd choice for the usually uber-glam model, but it all made sense when Gigi's celebrity guests started to arrive.  Younger sister Bella Hadid took a more nostalgic '90s approach to the theme, pairing blue jeans with a matching reconstructed corset and denim shirt. Very Britney Spears circa 2001.  Their mother, Yolanda Hadid, also opted for triple denim, putting her own chic twist on the dress code by wearing flares, a waist coat and fitted blazer.  Other denim-clad guests included models Ashley Graham and Olivia Culpo, who both wore oversized jackets as dresses and Hailee Steinfeld, who wore a two-tone tweed and denim co-ord.  Like at every themed party, some guests chose to ignore the dress code. Taylor Swift clearly hadn't got the memo and arrived wearing a floral Zimmermann dress and bargain £59.99 Mango jacket.


eveningstandard--2019-05-01--Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte The Cambridge daughteraposs sweetest royal waves as she turns 4

Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte! The Cambridge daughter's sweetest royal waves as she turns 4

At four years old, Princess Charlotte is a true master of a tiny royal wave.  The young royal, who was born on May 2, 2015 and is fourth in line for the British throne, is a natural with the crowds, even if behind the scenes her parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge aim to keep her life as normal as possible.  “As far as we are concerned,” Prince William told the BBC in 2016, “within our family unit, we are a normal family.”  “Hugs are very important" Kate told a group of schoolchildren in 2017, "I keep saying that to my children. My parents taught me about the importance of qualities like kindness, respect, and honesty, and I realize how central values like these have been to me throughout my life. That is why William and I want to teach our little children, George and Charlotte, just how important these things are as they grow up. In my view, it is just as important as excelling at maths or sport.”  When she was born Princess Charlotte made history as the first female royal to break the male-preference primogeniture – a rule which used to put all brothers ahead of sisters in line for the British throne. In 2011, the leaders of the Commonwealth made an agreement that birth order would determine the succession, rather than gender.  Unless George decides to abdicate before having children, Princess Charlotte is unlikely to succeed to the throne - but she's getting some pretty good practise in, just in case...


eveningstandard--2019-05-01--Kylie Jenner throws aposhubbyapos Travis Scott an epic birthday party

Kylie Jenner throws 'hubby' Travis Scott an epic birthday party

Kylie Jenner may have won herself girlfriend, or wife, of the year.  The 21-year-old billionaire, pulled out all the stops for her partner Travis Scott’s 27th birthday bash.  The dimly-lit party featured a running theme of rapper Scott’s Nike Air Jordan’s Cactus Jack range, with a number of the shoes even hanging from the ceiling.  Fans entered an indoor forest by walking through a giant inflatable of Scott's face.  Jenner, who shares one-year-old daughter Stormi with the rapper, also arranged for an on-site tattoo artist and “spinning” elevator to make the event that much more memorable.  Jenner’s older sister Kim Kardashian attended the “trippy” event as well as sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner.  The Lip Kit queen also marked the special occasion with a gushing post on social media in which she referred to Scott as her “hubby”.  She shared a string of loved-up snaps of the couple looking every bit in awe of one another, including one of Scott nuzzling into Kylie’s neck mid-way through a mirror selfie.  In a touching caption she asked her beau to “f*** around and have another baby”.  “Watching you evolve into the partner, friend, son, and father you are today has been so fulfilling,” she wrote. “My real life bestie & hubby all wrapped into one. I love you and I’m so so proud of you. Happy happy birthday. Let’s f*** around and have another baby.”  The lavish party marks the second celebration thrown for Scott as the couple previously hosted an Avengers-themed bash, with the pair dressing as Captain Marvel and Iron Man.  The superhero celebration, which was held on the day Avengers: Endgame was released, saw Scott honoured with a Marvel-themed cake featuring figurines of him, Jenner and Stormi all as their superhero alter-egos.


eveningstandard--2019-05-02--David Beckham shares aposamazingapos Game of Thrones birthday message from Brienne of Tarth

David Beckham shares 'amazing' Game of Thrones birthday message from Brienne of Tarth

David Beckham has shared an “amazing” birthday message from Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie in character as Brienne of Tarth.  The ex-Manchester United ace rushed to share a special message from Christie with his Instagram followers, posting the video on his story on Thursday.  In character, Christie boomed: “I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give me life for yours if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new.  “Happy birthday David from Brienne of Tarth,” she added as she beamed back at the camera.  Sharing the clip, Beckham wrote: “I can’t believe this. Thank you @ gwendolineuniverse @gameofthrones. Amazing!!”  Christie’s message was, of course, a reference to Brienne's solemn vow to Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) back in season six, three years ago.  Having met a few episodes previous, Sansa remained unsure she could trust Brienne but was placated when the warrior lowered her sword and swore her promise.  Beckham, who turns 44 today, has been showered with gifts for his special day – which were shown off by his wife Victoria on her Instagram story.  Posting a video of silver-wrapped presents, the couple’s daughter Harper can be heard excitedly telling the camera how they have prepared celebrations for the sportsman.  “It’s Daddy’s birthday!” she said. “Me and mummy have been wrapping these and putting these down. Happy birthday Daddy! Love you, bye.”  Victoria spun around the room to show off the decorations, adding the caption “Happy birthday daddy!!! We love u so much.”  Meanwhile, Beckham’s 16-year-old son Romeo chose to mark the special occasion by mocking his greying hair with a cheeky card.  The insulting greeting – which Romeo shared on his Instagram page - read: “Dad I got you this card because it matches your hair.”  Christie is currently on-screen in the final season on HBO hit Game of Thrones, which is just three episodes away from its finale. The show airs Mondays at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic, also available on NOW TV.


eveningstandard--2019-05-02--Victoria Beckham shares sweet birthday tribute to David with daughter Harper

The fashion designer posted a photo which showed her hand placed on top of the ex-sportsman’s at dinner, with the former Spice Girl’s square yellow diamond ring in clear view.  “Happy birthday @davidbeckham,” she wrote. “You are our everything xxx We love u so much x Kisses.”  The 45-year-old also shared an insight into the family’s celebrations, posting a short video which showed a pile of presents carefully wrapped in grey paper, with ‘Happy Birthday’ banners and silver balloons in the background.  In the clip, the couple’s daughter Harper can be heard telling viewers about the birthday preparations.  “It’s Daddy’s birthday!” she said. “Me and mummy have been wrapping these and putting these down. Happy birthday Daddy! Love you, bye.”  “Happy birthday Daddy! We u you so much,” Victoria’s caption read.  Romeo, 16, mocked his father with a cheeky card to mark the occasion, suggesting that the sports star is showing signs of ageing.  The teen posted a photo of a grey card with silver lettering on his Instagram story, with a message which read: “Dad I got you this card because it matches your hair.”  He later shared a heart-warming throwback snap of himself alongside David and Harper from their family trip to Bali last year.  “Happy birthday dad I hope you have an amazing day love you so much,” he wrote.  Cruz, 14, also joined in with an Instagram tribute of his own, sharing a photo of him and eldest sibling Brooklyn cooking on an outdoor grill with their father.


eveningstandard--2019-05-20--Future gives his and Ciaraaposs son Future a 28k Rolex for his fifth birthday

Future gives his and Ciara's son Future a £28k Rolex for his fifth birthday

Most five-year-olds aspire to dress as their favourite superhero rather than in the latest designer threads. But rapper Future just bought his young son a serious designer investment piece for his fifth birthday: a golden Rolex.  Future revealed the moment he gave his and singer Ciara’s son the timepiece on Instagram, posting a video on his Stories. As he popped open the box and stared at the arm candy, Future Jr. seemed nonplussed by the piece as he reached in, grabbed it and said a very neutral, “Thanks.”  The clip and Future Jr’s reaction quickly went viral, with many commenting on the moment on Twitter. One wrote that Future Jr. would probably have been “more excited about the box it came [in] than the watch itself.”  Another pointed out that Future Jr. might not even know how to tell the time on an analog clock yet, writing, “Couldn’t even hit young future with a digital clock face?? He gonna be learning analog clocks on some ‘Half-past Diamond’ sh*t.”  And then others pointed out that Future Jr. probably wanted something very different for his fifth birthday, based on his underwhelmed reaction.  The watch is estimated to be priced at $35,800 (£28.2k). In any case, the rapper shared a picture of his son rocking the Rolex on Instagram at his party. He captioned the post with a quote from Meek Mills which read, “‘It was somethin bout that rollie when it first touched my wrist’.”  Future Jr. isn't the first celebrity child to receive an extravagant gift from his parents. One-year-old Stormi Webster already owns a £16,000 Hermes Kelly bag and her aunt Kim Kardashian recently gifted her a £2,000 vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Ahead of her first birthday, Buckingham Palace also released a full list of gifts given to Princess Charlotte ahead of her first birthday which included a £30,000 gold rattle set with diamonds, rubies and sapphires.  Future Jr. is the son of Future and singer Ciara, who began dating in 2013 and got engaged in 2014.  They split in 2015 following rumours of Future’s infidelity and Ciara later began dating Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in July 2015. The pair married the following year.  Future and Ciara threw separate birthday parties for Future Jr., which were both superhero-themed bashes. At the party thrown by his father, Future Jr. was seen running around with some Flash-themed face paint and a gigantic pile of presents.  Ciara also shared a number of social media posts from the party she and Wilson threw for Future Jr.. There was a triple-tier Avengers cake and even a custom Avengers logo, with the A swapped out for an F.  She captioned a video of Future Jr. blowing out his candles, “Happy Birthday Sunshine! I can’t believe you’re 5 years old…Mommy’s so proud of you! I love you so much!”  Wilson also shared a picture of himself sitting in a go-kart alongside Future Jr. on Twitter, writing, “From the moment we came into each other’s worlds to 5 yrs later, you changed my life & my heart for the better. You are the greatest gift I could've ever asked God for! I will always love you, guide you, teach you, & care for you. Happy 5th BDay Future! Papa Russ Loves you!”  At the end of the party, Ciara shared a video on Instagram stories of Future Jr. heading home. He declared on camera, “Birthday boy come through!”


eveningstandard--2019-05-24--Happy birthday Lily-Rose Depp How Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Deppaposs daughter became a famous

Happy birthday, Lily-Rose Depp! How Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp's daughter became a famous face in fashion

Lily-Rose Depp is quickly on her way to becoming a Hollywood superstar - of course, it helps that she already has a cool girl pedigree. Her parents are two famous faces and she splits her time between Paris and Los Angeles.  She was born in 1999 to parents Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. Even her godfather is famous, albeit unexpected. It's shock rocker Marilyn Manson.  She and her mother are both multi-talented fashion muses. And like her father, she's embracing acting. "I also think the way that fashion ties into cinema is really interesting. To me, the hair and makeup and costume of a character are so crucial to me," she said about the way her two worlds converge.  She became one of the hottest faces in fashion when she began working with Chanel at 15, who she's been loyal to ever since. Her first shoot with Chanel was at 15 but the brand has always been embraced by her family.  "My first memories of Chanel are really actually quite family-orientated. Digging around in my mum’s closet. You know, Chanel is really the first thing that comes to mind when I think of fashion because I would try on all of her dresses and shoes - even though I was in diapers at the time! There’s actually a picture of me in a diaper wearing Chanel pumps...Working with Karl is amazing too. I met him for the first time when I was eight. He’s somebody that I not only admire and respect so much for his work and his insane creativity and genius, he’s also such a kind and intelligent person that I feel so lucky to know and to work with," she told Vogue about her time as a muse to Karl Lagerfeld.  Now, the model is leaving her teen years behind as she turns 20 today. But don't expect her to hit the club to celebrate.  "I’m such a homebody. I feel like this is the age that everyone is going out to clubs. I like to hang out with my friends and watch movies and cooking shows. I cook a lot," she said in an interview with CR Fashion Book.  To celebrate her birthday, we've compiled some of her best looks (almost exclusively Chanel, of course).


eveningstandard--2019-05-29--Spice Girls share birthday tributes to Mel B ahead of Manchester reunion gig

Geri Horner led birthday tributes to her Spice Girls bandmate Melanie Brown as the singer turned 44.  The 46-year-old, who has repeatedly shut down reports of bad feeling between her and Brown following her claim that they had a fling in the 90s, shared a photo of the singer from a recent Spice Girls concert date on Instagram.  The shot showed Brown dancing in a shimmering gold catsuit, with the words “Happy birthday Melanie” placed over the photo along with a Spiceworld logo.  The pair’s other bandmates joined in with celebratory messages of their own ahead of their Manchester gig tonight, with Melanie Chisholm posting a photo of Brown headbanging on stage.  “Happy birthday to this absolute power house @officialmelb,” she wrote, adding: “Love you Scary. So happy to be sharing the stage with you on this special day #spicingupmanchester #birthdaygal #northerners.”  Emma Bunton also marked the occasion with a snap from the girl group’s recent Dublin tour date, in which she and Brown are holding hands on stage.  “Happy birthday @officialmelb I love you so much,” she wrote. “I’ll be squeezing you a little tighter today. Can’t wait to celebrate with you! Xxx.”  The Spice Girls reunion tour is set to continue with dates in Manchester, Coventry, Sunderland, Edinburgh and Bristol before culminating in three nights at London’s Wembley Arena.  Some fans have been left disappointed by the sound quality at the reunion gigs in Dublin and Cardiff, claiming that they struggled to hear the band’s hits despite experiencing few problems during support act Jess Glynne’s set.  Twitter users described the sound as “awful” and “atrocious,” claiming that they felt “disappointed” by the shows.  The band have not yet commented officially on the alleged technical difficulties, although Brown addressed sound problems in an Instagram Story shared over the weekend, promising them: “We will see you in Cardiff and hopefully the vocals and the sound will be much, much better.”


eveningstandard--2019-06-03--Rio Ferdinand praises aposbeautifulapos fiancee Kate Wright on her birthday

Rio Ferdinand praises 'beautiful' fiancée Kate Wright on her birthday

Rio Ferdinand paid tribute to his “beautiful” fiancée Kate Wright as she celebrated her 28th birthday.  The BT Sport pundit and former footballer posted a series of sweet snaps as he marked the special occasion with his bride-to-be.  “Wishing my [love] the happiest birthday,” he wrote.  “Inside and out, the most beautiful person I could wish to spend the rest of my life with.”  Ferdinand and Wright got engaged last November while on holiday in Abu Dhabi after almost two years together.  The sports star dropped to one knee in front of his three children Lorenz, 12, Tate, 10 and seven-year-old Tia, who had all managed to keep the proposal a secret.  Wright posted snaps of the tender moment, branding it the “perfect end to their holiday” with a series of heart emojis.  Earlier this year, Ferdinand marked shared a touching message to Wright on Mother’s Day, thanking her for helping to keep the memory of his late wife alive.  The ex-Manchester United ace’s wife Rebecca Ellison died in 2015 after battling breast cancer for the second time.  Ferdinand wrote: “Thank you for all you do for the little munchkins. From keeping their mums memory alive, to constantly putting smiles on their faces. Love u.”  The star previously told This Morning how his relationship with Wright had had a “positive” impact on his life and those of his children.  Ferdinand said: “I’m happy again, and in a relationship and it’s going well.  “The kids are also happy, they deserve to be after going through tragedy in the last few years of their life. There’s not been one stage of going into this relationship where they’ve not been involved.”


eveningstandard--2019-06-21--Happy Birthday Prince William Kate and Willsapos best jokes and funniest moments to celebrate the

Happy Birthday Prince William! Kate and Wills' best jokes and funniest moments to celebrate the Duke of Cambridge turning 37

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have come a long way since meeting in 2003 at the University of St. Andrews. There's been an engagement, a wedding, three children... and, for Kate, the minor life adjustments that come with marrying into one of the world's most famous families.  They say a shared sense of humour is the key to a successful relationship - and in Kate and Will's case, their 15 years as a couple (eight of them married) - has involved plenty of inter-couple bantz about, among other things, Kate's bad cooking and Will's hair loss.  In the filmed interview following their engagement announcement, interviewer Tom Bradby asked if it was true that Kate had once had a poster of Prince William on her bedroom wall.  “It wasn’t just one, it was like ten, twenty [posters]" Will joked.  "He wishes" Kate replied, adding “No, I had the Levi’s guy on my bedroom wall, not a picture of William. Sorry.”  The Duke and Duchess were at the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in October when Colombian fine artist Dario Vargas asked if they wanted to contribute to the painting he was creating. Tentatively, Kate added some paint onto the canvas, asking "Where can I hide it?"  Her husband said: "It’s pretty much ruined the picture."  Launching the Nursing Now global campaign at St. Thomas' Hospital in February this year, the then-pregnant Kate joked with a parent of one of the patients who told her, "Congratulations, best of luck with the third one."  The Duke and Duchess were at a Taste of Norfolk event in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice in 2016 when Kate told a group of chefs, "William has to put up with my cooking most of the time".  Her husband replied: "It’s the reason I’m so skinny."  Opening a recreation facility on a UK military base in Cyprus on December 5, Prince William warned the soldiers: "Keep the pizza off the sofas!"  "Do you want me to move out of the photo," the Prince joked. "My wife's camouflaged against the tree!"  Visiting a school to launch their Heads Together campaign in 2016, William spoke to the school children and their parents about his childhood.  "Sometimes I still feel like I am 16, to be honest sometimes I still act like I am 16," he said.  On a trip to Warsaw in 2017 Kate was presented with a cuddly toy used to soothe newborns. "We will just have to have more babies" she said, turning to her husband.  Prince William was abseiling down a 12-metre wall in an outdoor centre in North Wales, as Kate stood at the top holding onto his rope  "Are you holding me?" William asked. "I've got you," Kate responded, before adding, "I'm rather enjoying this actually - for once I'm in control."  With the Prince then well into his descent, Kate shouted down at him: "William - how much do you love me?"  The couple were at the Royal Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park in Australia in 2014. Watching a shearing demonstration, at one point they were handed a tuft of alpaca wool, which Kate suggested he put it on his head.  "You need it more than me" she said, pointing to his bald patch and laughing.  The two were answering phone calls to raise money for the ICAP charity day in December 2015.  William overheard Kate talking to a caller named Andrew, and he blurted out: "Catherine, I think you can stop flirting with them now" before turning to a broker, raising his eyebrow and muttering: "Sorry my wife is just embarrassing me"


eveningstandard--2019-06-27--Ariana Grande celebrates 26th birthday with 7 Rings cake and signature bunny ears

Ariana Grande celebrated her birthday with an exquisite cake, which featured a nod to her hit song 7 Rings.  The American superstar turned 26 on Wednesday, marking her special day with a two-tiered birthday cake, adorned with seven golden rings on the top of it.  Grande also joked about her signature “ears” as she dressed up for her lavish bash in a black halter-neck mini-dress and matching satin gloves – although she admitted she changed moments later.  “Another year around the sun n she still wearing these f****** ears,” Grande wrote. “Grateful for the love and for the people I get to share this life with. And thank u for the birthday wishes. :)  “P.s. I changed into an xxxl hoodie minutes after this was taken, don’t worry.”  Grande also celebrated her birthday on stage in Toronto and was presented with a birthday cake – another reference to her 7 Rings hit – as the crowd sang to her.  Around 20,000 fans at the Scotiabank Arena belted out Happy Birthday to the singer as she hugged her family.  “I love you all so much,” Grande shouted after the chorus had ended and erupted into applause.  The Canadian venue also decorated its main areas for a party, hanging Happy Birthday posters and bunting backstage in an “old school kids-themed party”.  Grande’s next musical move is set to be revealed today, as her collaborative track for the upcoming Charlie’s Angels reboot gets its first airing on a new trailer.  Teasing the song on social media, co-singer Miley Cyrus wrote: “WE ARE COMING! @CharliesAngels @ArianaGrande @LanaDelRey.”  All three stars shared a clip teasing the new release on their Instagram pages ahead of today’s big reveal.


eveningstandard--2019-07-31--Emma Watson shares JK Rowling throwback photo for Harry Potter authoraposs 54th birthday

Emma Watson shares JK Rowling throwback photo for Harry Potter author's 54th birthday

Emma Watson has shared a "sexy" throwback photo of herself with J.K. Rowling for the Harry Potter author’s 54th birthday.  The 28-year-old actress posted the snap on Twitter of herself dressed as Wonder Woman alongside her Harry Potter co-star Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the film series, and Rowling herself.  Rowling wears a black halter neck dress and make-up that included a fake horn above her left eye.  In the tweet, Watson writes: “Sexy and scary! You smashed this. All the love to you @jk_rowling.  “Happy Birthday!!!! Extra points to @Evy_Lynch for being the most perfect cat [sic].”  The sweet photo comes 20 years after Watson first met Rowling at her screen test for the role of Hermione Granger at the age of nine.  After support from the author of the beloved books, Emma was cast as Harry's friend and Hogwarts classmate Hermione, with Daniel Radcliffe scoring the lead role and Rupert Grint completing the trio as Ron Weasely.  The lead cast worked on eight Harry Potter movies together from 2001 to 2011.  Rowling has gone on to write five more novels for adult readers and worked as a producer for the two part adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She has also scripted the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films.  Since then Watson, who is also a UN Women Goodwill ambassador, has combined her acting with studying and activism.  The 29-year-old is set to star in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women next alongside Meryl Streep and Timothée Chalamet later this year.


eveningstandard--2019-08-01--Fabricaposs 20th birthday Bicep Ricardo Villalobos and more to play clubaposs anniversary cele

Fabric's 20th birthday: Bicep, Ricardo Villalobos and more to play club's anniversary celebrations

Bicep, Ricardo Villalobos and Midland are among the artists set to play as part of Fabric’s 20th birthday celebrations.  The Farringdon institution, which threw its first party on October 21 1999, usually marks the occasion with an all-weekend party towards the end of the month.  This year, however, it will spread events across a number of weeks, with music from artists who've dropped landmark sets at the club during its history.  Villalobos will be joined in the booth by resident Craig Richards on Sunday October 20 for one of their classic B2B sets, which will run over into Monday morning, Fabric’s official birthday.  Bicep will be joined by Cromby on Sunday November 3, while Midland is part of a line-up which includes Richards, Terry Francis KiNK and others on Saturday October 5.  Other highlights include a 15-hour party led by Call Super and Objekt, as well as two live shows, featuring the likes of British Murder Boys and UNKLE’s AI project.  Tickets are on sale now and can be bought here.


eveningstandard--2019-08-09--Kylie Jenner does drunk makeup tutorial with sister Khloe Kardashian to celebrate new Birthday colle

Kylie Jenner does drunk makeup tutorial with sister Khloe Kardashian to celebrate new Birthday collection

There’s no doubt that Kylie Jenner is a make-up whiz, but even her skills were tested after taking several shots of tequila. The CEO of Kylie Cosmetics teamed up with her sister Khloe Kardashian for a hilarious beauty tutorial on Kylie’s YouTube channel, throughout which they took a mammoth 18 shots between them.  Kylie announced at the start of the video that the pair would be doing a drunken ‘Get Ready with Me’ - a popular beauty YouTube format where vloggers film themselves doing their make-up. Filmed at the Kylie Cosmetics office, she invited her sister Khloe to join her as they downed shots of Don Julio 1942 tequila and tested out Kylie’s brand new products from her upcoming Birthday Collection.  It doesn’t take long before the video is completely derailed after Kylie and Khloe are seen doing shots of tequila and Red Bull in the company parking lot. Before the pair had even taken a seat in one of the millennial pink makeup chairs, Kylie had already taken five shots while her older sister had taken four.  Khloe announced early on in the video, “I gotta keep up with you young h*es because listen, I used to do a Red Bull and alcohol too. But now that I’m 703 [years old], I don’t.”  They committed to the birthday-theme throughout the video, with Kylie wearing a diamond '1997' ring (the year she was born) and the pair swigging from a bejewelled 'KYLIE' branded bottle of tequila. The bottle was a gift that Khloe gave Kylie on her 21st birthday, but was never opened.  While Kylie is able to pull together a pretty impressive pink eyeshadow look without too much difficulty (barring one exceptionally thick lashing of cat eyeliner), Khloe struggles a little more as she has an epiphany and announces, “I don’t know how to draw.”  As she stares in the mirror at herself, Khloe has an existential crisis and asks, “Who’s face am I painting?”  Throughout the video, the pair called a number of their friends and siblings in an attempt to get them to join them. In fact, they FaceTimed their sister Kim Kardashian West who turned the camera around to reveal her children Saint West and North West. The pair said hello to their aunties and North West declared herself a massive stan of her Kylie’s YouTube channel, saying that she was “watching them on YouTube”.  Kim’s husband, who generally refrains from joining the Kardashian’s reality TV shows or YouTube videos, makes a rare appearance - telling the sisters over FaceTime, “We miss you guys.”  Shortly after Kanye spoke, Khloe hung up and told Kylie she ended the call because she “was bored”.  Kylie also unveiled products from her upcoming Birthday collection for her make-up brand Kylie Cosmetics, which recently garnered her the title of youngest self-made billionaire by Forbes. One of the most striking pieces from the collection is the pink and green You’re So Money Baby eyeshadow palette, which features dollar sign symbols in the centre of the shadows.  The billionaire was recently criticised for the money-focused Birthday Collection, which sees the brand’s iconic lip logo merged with dollar bills along with a recurring dollar sign motif across the packaging. Khloe at one point indicated she wanted a slice of her sister’s success, declaring, “Now that I’m in this office, standing here in your presence, may I be blessed with billions as well.”  As the video progresses, Kylie and Khloe seem to give up on sharing their make-up tips and are eventually joined by friend Sofia Richie and Kris Jenner’s boyfriend Corey Gamble. By the end of the video, Kylie and Khloe are seen giddily dancing and running around the studio after taking seven and eleven shots respectively - with make-up smeared on Kylie’s shirt and a bemused Sofia Richie watching on in the background.  Khloe declared at the end of the video, “This was the worst idea.”  The video has since garnered 2.5 million views on YouTube. The Birthday Collection is set to launch online at KylieCosmetics.com at 9am on Saturday, August 10 - Kylie’s 22nd birthday.


eveningstandard--2019-09-02--Romeo Beckham celebrates 17th birthday as dad David shares adorable tribute and throwback

David and Victoria Beckham shared sweet tributes for their son Romeo on his 17th birthday.  The pair’s second-born became a year older on 1 September and the couple marked the occasion with social media messages.  David shared a picture of Romeo as a toddler wearing a top hat and matching checked vest on Instagram.  In the caption, he wrote: “ Happy birthday my big boy ... 17 today I can’t believe how fast it’s gone . I’m so proud of you , growing from this beautiful boy into a handsome young man and still you are not as tall as dad just yet .. Happy birthday RoRo we love you @romeobeckham @victoriabeckham@brooklynbeckham @cruzbeckham#HarperSeven ♥ btw NICE OUTFIT [sic]”.  Romeo, not one to be embarrassed by the snap, commented: “Love you dad I actually think it’s quite a snazzy outfit.”  Likewise, Victoria posted on the social media site a snap of Romeo and his three siblings – 20-year-old Brooklyn, 14-year-old Cruz, and eight-year-old Harper, as she admitted she “couldn’t believe” that he was now 17.  The former Spice Girls singer, wrote: “Happy birthday Romeo, I can’t believe you are 17 today!!!’ she said. “We are so proud of you and love you so so much xxxx.”  Plenty of fans also sent Romeo birthday wishes in the comments of his parent’s posts.  “Perks of being a parent... embarrassing your child with their clothing choices,” one said in reference to David’s jibe about Romeo’s clothes.  “Happy birthday Romeo. You are a little grown-up young man now... Be happy and enjoy with your mom dad and Family,” one comment read, before another added: “They’re growing up so quickly.”  Meanwhile, another fan said Romeo looked a lot like his famous father, writing: “Handsome. Like his daddy."  Victoria also took to Instagram stories to share snaps taken at Romeo’s celebratory lunch, including which saw David’s arms wrapped around the 17-year-old before he was presented with a stack of doughnuts for a birthday cake.  The social media activity comes after the Beckham family enjoyed a luxurious family holiday in Italy, with all the family members – minus Harper - sharing highlights of the trip on their Instagram feed.  Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish also joined the Beckhams on their vacation, with Victoria and David joining the couple on a yacht.


eveningstandard--2019-09-10--Kendall Jenner Cara Delevingne and Halsey celebrate DKNYaposs 30th birthday party at NYFW 2019

Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne and Halsey celebrate DKNY's 30th birthday party at NYFW 2019

A whole slew of A-listers turned out in Brooklyn to celebrate the iconic brand DKNY's 30th anniversary on Monday night. Stars including Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Ashley Benson, Nina Agdal, Charlie Puth and Suki Waterhouse gathered at DUMBO's St. Ann's Warehouse, clad in their best DKNY looks for the red carpet and party.  Because it's New York Fashion Week, there were plenty of top models to be found, including Victoria's Secret Angels Sara Sampaio Alessandra Ambrosio, who posed together with Instagram-worthy balloon fixtures.  After a bass-heavy DJ set from The Martinez Brothers, Halsey played an intimate concert featuring some of her biggest hits.  Delevingne announced the popstar, saying, "I’m very very grateful to be on the stage right now to introduce a friend of mine who’s going to give you the show of a lifetime.”  Halsey opened with Bad at Love, wearing white boots, flare legged jeans with a double zip, white suspenders and a tank top. She played a punk rock-inspired set for the fashion crowd and at one point, her mic stand hit someone in the front row. At the end of her show, she apologized to the fan with a quick hug.  “It’s good to be in Brooklyn, I’ll tell you that much," the artist said before launching into Now or Never. Halsey, born Ashley Frangipane, chose her stage name based on a Brooklyn subway stop.  "It’s really cool to be here," she announced before saying, "All of you motherf****rs would’ve been way too cool to talk to me," about the high fashion crowd.  She thanked DKNY and said, "It’s a company that I’m really f***ing proud to be representing right now."  "My 25th birthday is in two weeks [but] it turns out DKNY is a lot older, today is their 30 anniversary," she told the rapt audience.  She closed the show with Without Me, the emotional single she penned about ex-boyfriend G-Eazy. Her next single, Graveyard, comes out this week.  Conor Kennedy, Just Drew designer Andrew Warren and YouTube star Jackson Krecioch were seen dancing the night away after the Halsey performance. Victoria's Secret Angel Winnie Harlow was also spotted dancing in the audience.  The fashionable night out ended with a nostalgia-inducing vegan ice cream truck as well as party favors from Milk Bar, including their famous compost cookies.  Guests picked up merchandise on their way out, showing off hats and t-shirts that are sure to remain mementos for the next 30 years.


eveningstandard--2019-10-10--Bella Hadid's birthday party saw her sister Gigi and Dua Lipa do arts and crafts, wear tiny hat

Bella Hadid's birthday party saw her sister Gigi and Dua Lipa do arts and crafts, wear tiny hats and lots of pizza

Model Bella Hadid celebrated her 23rd birthday in New York on Wednesday, surrounded by her sister Gigi Hadid, singer Dua Lipa, her mother and close friends for a pizza-filled day of arts and crafts.  Although Bella leads a pretty high-flying lifestyle as an international model, her festivities were a refreshingly low key affair.  In Instagram stories shared both by Bella and her friends, Hadid started off her day with tens of fancy floral bouquets delivered to her room.  One of the most unusual gifts was a pizza-themed birthday cake from designer Alexander Wang (junk food was a recurring theme).  Bella shared a picture calling him an “INSANE HUMAN BEING” and added that she was “freaking out” and that she needed to “frame this”.  The model dressed for the day in an all-black outfit of chunky Doc Martens, sheer socks and large golden hoops.  From there, she was swept off by her friends to a meal which included a large mimosa.  Her friend Liv Perez shared a picture of how her friends had put extra effort in and decorated the restaurant for Bella, ahead of her arrival. In one Instagram story, a gigantic pizza balloon could be seen alongside party hats, junk food stickers and ‘happy birthday’ headbands.  Bella’s mother, Yolanda Hadid, was also photographed on her way into the venue holding a number of rainbow balloons which made an appearance in the birthday set up.  Dua Lipa, who is currently dating Bella and Gigi’s brother Anwar, also turned up for the meal wearing a wraparound top from Jacquemus and layered necklaces; smiling alongside Bella as they were shielded from the rain.  Bella’s sister Gigi, who posted a sweet Instagram tribute to her sister which included throwback pictures of the pair, was also at the party in a sky blue tie dye co-ordinated tracksuit and white denim jacket.  After that, they were then seen wearing tiny birthday hats and heading to Colour Me Mine, a pottery painting studio where they all painted random objects. Her sister Gigi somehow managed to rock a tiny Happy Birthday cake hat and make it look chic.  Bella took a break from the pizza-inspired festivities and instead decided to paint a ceramic burger piggy bank, with featured disconcerting blue cheese slices.  There were also cupcakes and a massive brown birthday cake that read 'Happy Birthday Princess Bella.'  The day didn’t end there, as Bella later staged an outfit change for a more glamorous event. She was photographed stepping out for dinner in a red and yellow patterned velvet dress, complete with black knee high boots and a very 90s baguette bag. She was taken to a restaurant called Miss Lily’s, a Caribbean eatery specialising in modern takes on classic Jamaican fare.  Bella also regrammed plenty of birthday messages from her celebrity friends, which included Virgil Abloh, Hailey Bieber, Halsey, Ricardo Tisci and Luka Sabbat.


eveningstandard--2019-11-11--Kiernan Shipka and Jon Hamm celebrate her 20th birthday with Mad Men reunion photo

Kiernan Shipka celebrated her 20th birthday in style surrounded by her celebrity pals.  The Mad Men and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star had an enviable birthday bash attended by The Office actor BJ Novak, YouTube star David Dobrik, actress Inanna, and Santa Clarita Diet star Liv Hewson.  She also had her co-stars, both past and present, by her side. Her Sabrina boyfriends Ross Lynch and Gavin Leatherwood stopped by - and so did her IRL boyfriend, Christian Coppola.  She was first spotted with Coppola, a 26-year-old director, over the summer in Rome (and yes, he's a distant relative of iconic director Francis Ford Coppola).  But the best picture she posted to Instagram to commemorate the big day was the one with her former Mad Men co-star and TV dad Jon Hamm.  She captioned the post, "Dad showed up!!!" Some fans in the comments section called for a Mad Men reunion while others asked for him to make an appearance on her current show, Sabrina.  Unfortunately, her Mad Men mom, January Jones, wasn't able to make it but she paid tribute on her own Instagram with a glamorous photo of the pair in Rodarte.  Jones, who played her mother Betty Draper, wrote, "I'm so proud of you @kiernanshipka I feel somewhat responsible for you little one. You have become such a success in life and in this silly world we call work. I couldn't have asked for a better on screen daughter/partner in crime. Known you since you were 6! Happy 20th!!! Love Mom."  So it looks like while she might have had a contentious relationship with her Mad Men parents onscreen, offscreen they're still a tight-knit bunch. Perhaps that means it's time for a Mad Men reunion...


eveningstandard--2019-11-26--Tina Turner sends health update to fans on 80th birthday: 'I have a second chance at life'

Tina Turner is extremely grateful for “having a second chance at life” as she celebrates her 80th birthday.  The star has been overcoming several illnesses recently but is “happy’” to be able to record a special message for her fans.  She shared a joyful video on her Twitter page saying: “Yes, I am 80.  “What did I think – How did I think I would be at 80? Not like this! How is this?  “Well, I look great. I feel good. I have gone through some very serious sickness that I am overcoming. So it is like having a second chance at life.  “I’m happy to be an 80-year-old woman.”  Missy Elliott also wished Turner a happy birthday, writing on Twitter: “We Celebrate your 80th today!  “It’s so IMPORTANT for us to KNOW OUR HISTORY in music because of artist like #TinaTurner who KICKED DOWN DOORS & left them open for artist like MYSELF & MOST of your FAVS.”  Earlier this month, the music icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stopped by the opening night of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway in New York, surprising the audience with an emotional post-show speech.  “This musical is my life but it’s like poison that turned to medicine,” Turner said. “I can never be as happy as I am now.”  She also opened up about her health issues in her 2018 memoir, My Love Story.  “I know that my medical adventure is far from over,” she wrote “But I’m still here — we’re still here, closer than we ever imagined.”  The 80-year-old added: “I can look back and understand why my karma was the way it was. Good came out of bad. Joy came out of pain. And I have never been so completely happy as I am today.”  Turner suffered a stroke in 2013 – three weeks after her wedding to music executive Erwin Bach – and had to learn how to walk again and three years later, in 2016, she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.  She turned to homoeopathic medicine to treat her high blood pressure but that resulted in kidney failure.  The star considered an assisted suicide before her husband offered to donate his kidney for her transplant surgery in 2017.


eveningstandard--2019-12-12--Taylor Swift's greatest quotes to celebrate her birthday, from 'two-faced Kanye West'

Taylor Swift's greatest quotes to celebrate her birthday, from 'two-faced Kanye West' to advice for young women

Happy birthday to Taylor Swift , who turns 30 today. The popstar has been in the spotlight for nearly half of her three decades, releasing her very first album back in 2006 at the age of 16.  Since then, Swift has shifted from wholesome country singer to fully-fledged popstar, putting out seven studio albums and picking up countless awards along the way.  She's also weathered some public fall-outs, including with musician Kanye West and Katy Perry, who she reconciled with in her music video for 'You Need To Calm Down.'  In the 14 years following the start of her career, Swift has grown personally, sharing the wisdom she’s learned along the way - and quite a few memorable quotes.  Advice for young female artists: “There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday, when you get where you’re going, you will look around and you will know that it was you, and the people who love you, who put you there. And that will be the greatest feeling in the world."  On learning to stand up for yourself: “Being sweet to everyone all the time can get you into a lot of trouble. While it may be born from having been raised to be a polite young lady, this can contribute to some of your life’s worst regrets if someone takes advantage of this trait in you. Grow a backbone, trust your gut, and know when to strike back.”  On life’s ups and downs: “In some of the worst times of my career, and reputation, dare I say, I had some of the most beautiful times - in my quiet life that I chose to have. And I had some of the most incredible memories with the friends I now knew cared about me, even if everyone hated me. The bad stuff was really significant and damaging. But the good stuff will endure.”  On double standards in music: “If a guy shares his experience in writing, he’s brave. If a woman shares her experience in writing, she’s oversharing and she’s overemotional or she might be crazy. Or ‘Watch out, she’ll write a song about you.’ That joke is so old and it’s coming from a place of such sexism.”  Worth the fight: “A lot of the best things I ever did creatively were things that I had to really fight - and I mean aggressively fight - to have happen.”  Regarding *that* phone call with Kanye West: "I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative, one that I never asked to be part of, since 2009."  Why she held back on promoting Reputation: “As a songwriter, I enjoy communicating about what I made, but I also just feel like with my career, I want to do what feels right at the time. At that time, I coined this phrase, ‘There will be no explanation, there will just be Reputation,’ because I am dramatic.”  On songwriting: “A lot of songwriting is things you learn, structure, and cultivating that skill, and knowing how to craft a song. But there are mystical, magical moments, inexplicable moments when an idea that is fully formed just pops into your head. And that’s the purest part of my job. It can get complicated on every other level, but the songwriting is still the same uncomplicated process it was when I was 12 years old writing songs in my room.”  Problems with Katy Perry: "For years, I was never sure if we were friends or not. She did something so horrible, I was like, 'Oh, we're just straight-up enemies.' And it wasn't even about a guy! It had to do with business. She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me."  On the pressures of social media: “I learned to block some of the noise. Social media can be great, but it can also inundate your brain with images of what you aren’t, how you’re failing, or who is in a cooler locale than you at any given moment. One thing I do to lessen this weird insecurity laser beam is to turn off comments. Yes, I keep comments off on my posts. That way, I’m showing my friends and fans updates on my life, but I’m training my brain to not need the validation.”  Why she doesn’t plan ahead: “When I zoom out too far, I freak out. Do I know where I’m going to be or even want to be in 20 years? Absolutely not. But I’m not taking a single day for granted.”  On her feud with Kanye West: “I realized he is so two-faced. That he wants to be nice to me behind the scenes, but then he wants to look cool, get up in front of everyone and talk sh*t.”  Ending her feud with Katy Perry in her ‘You Need To Calm Down' video: “All that needs to happen is one false move, one false word, one misunderstanding, and a match is lit and dropped. That’s what happened with us. It was: Who’s better? Katy or Taylor? Katy or Taylor? Katy or Taylor? Katy or Taylor? The tension is so high that it becomes impossible for you to not think that the other person has something against you."  On the art of apologizing: “Apologizing when you have hurt someone who really matters to you takes nothing away from you. Even if it was unintentional, it’s so easy to just apologize and move on. Try not to say 'I’m sorry, but...' and make excuses for yourself. Learn how to make a sincere apology, and you can avoid breaking down the trust in your friendships and relationships.”  Taking a very public stance against Scooter Braun: "New artists and producers and writers need work, and they need to be likable and get booked in sessions, and they can't make noise - but if I can, then I'm going to. I know that it seems like I'm very loud about this, but it's because someone has to be."  On unexpected success: “The reason I was so driven was that I didn't expect that anything would just happen for me. But that doubt fueled me to work harder. I never expected anything to be given to me.”  Regarding her fans, the Swifties: “It’s honestly the most amazing feeling knowing there’s this group of people that has my back, and that they always show up.”  On learning not to take her job too seriously: “We’re just entertaining people, and it’s supposed to be fun.”


eveningstandard--2019-12-16--Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West attend P Diddy's lavish 50th birthday party

P Diddy ensured his own brand vodka was flowing on Saturday night, as stars including Beyonce, Jay-Z , Kim Kardashian, Kanye West , Usher, Cardi B, Leonardo DiCaprio and more celebrated the rapper’s belated 50th birthday.  According to Vanity Fair, guests were invited to the party with a voice message from Naomi Campbell which declared “there ain’t no party like a Diddy party” - and judging from the details, she was right on the money.  Held at his mansion in Beverly Hills, the party included a black tie dress code , performances from the likes of Usher, Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige (who sang happy birthday) and free flow bottles of Ciroc and Jay-Z’s Armand de Brignac champagne.  Stars came dressed to impress as photographer Carlos ‘Kaito’ Araujo was on hand to take portraits. Many stopped by to have their pictures snapped, including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who attended wearing a golden dress and black suit respectively.  Diddy revealed he and Araujo have a long standing relationship as he shared a gallery of pictures taken by him and wrote, “Last night was one of those nights I’ll never forget. But something that sticks out to me is what my young creative @kaito put together with @vanityfair. All I can say is wow!! I’ve watched you grow from just a photographer to someone who captures beautiful art. Looking at these images makes me so proud. Thank you King."  The portraits he posted included one of him and Jay-Z (where the '99 Problems' rapper popped his foot up to reveal a Louboutin under sole), Kim and Kanye, Mary J. Blige, Chadwick Boseman and Lizzo.  Kim was joined by her family members Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, who came in contrasting sequined outfits. They posed for a picture with the birthday boy, who was dressed in a sleek silver tuxedo jacket. Their mother, Kris Jenner, was also in attendance with her boyfriend Corey Gamble.  Kanye West was also seen laughing and chatting with fellow musicians Pharrell, Diddy and Mr Beyonce: Jay-Z. In fact, one of the biggest grins we’ve ever seen on Kanye’s face was captured when he and Jay-Z shook hands.  Speaking of Jay-Z, Beyonce accompanied him to the party dressed in an elaborate sculptural black gown with elbow-length gloves and emerald accessories. Beyonce posted a number of pictures to her Instagram to show off her look and glossy make-up.  Her husband was filmed snatching a phone off someone at the party, where he glared down a man on the dance floor for reportedly trying to sneak a picture of the 'Halo' singer.  Cardi B and her boyfriend Offset were also there, both decked out in matching all black outfits. They were seen dancing together and holding hands, as well as posing for a quick picture with Mary J. Blige. Last week, she was criticised for giving Offset $500k in cash for his birthday.  Snoop Dogg was nothing short of quintessential Snoop Dogg, dancing around in a large jacket and sunglasses as he puffed on a cigar.  Janelle Monae arrived in a sequined dress and literally let her hair down, at one point undoing her updo to whip her hair around as she danced the night away.  She attended with actress Regina King, who was the most colourful person on the night in a rainbow plaid outfit with body chains.  She wrote on Instagram that the night was “trippy” and continued, “Love vibrations were high. Love you @diddy.”  Actress Kate Beckinsale also proved that she is well and truly aging backwards, as she attended in a black mermaid tail lace gown. She revealed the dress was by Georges Chakra on Instagram and posted, “All ready for amazing @diddy’s amazing #diddy50 party."  It was also a big family affair for Diddy, whose children were also in attendance to celebrate with him and even give a speech onstage.  Diddy also had not one, but four birthday cakes which spelled out LOVE. Servers were also seen carrying around McDonalds apple pies and burgers on golden trays. A number of CBD products were also seen laid out on a tray, which appeared to include a roll on, glow drops, gummies and more.  If that wasn’t extra enough, a gigantic silver statue of a woman’s body was also erected outside the house - making the mansion impossible to miss.  Diddy obviously had a lot to celebrate that night, but he was seen at one joyously throwing his hands up in the air as the likes of Post Malone raised a glass to him.  Other stars in attendance included Paris and Nicky Hilton, G-Eazy, Machine Gun Kelly, Kevin Hart, Kobe Bryant, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and more.


newsweek--2019-01-18--Michelle Obama 55th Birthday The Former First Lady in Pictures

Michelle Obama 55th Birthday: The Former First Lady in Pictures

Barack Obama celebrated his wife's 55th birthday by sharing a picture of them together in Kenya in 1991, the year they got engaged.  Barack Obama has given the world another reason to miss the former first couple. For Michelle Obama’s 55th birthday on January 18, he tweeted an adorable throwback photo of the pair in the Kenyan city of Mombasa in the early 90s.  He captioned the picture: “I knew it way back then and I’m absolutely convinced of it today — you’re one of a kind, @MichelleObama. Happy Birthday!”  The post was retweeted by the former first lady: “Feeling so incredibly thankful for my South Side roots, my soul-affirming partner and daughters, and every unimaginable twist and turn over these 55 years,” she captioned the retweet. “Can’t wait to see what becomes of the next one!”  In contrast to the guarded, stilted appearance of the current first couple, the Obamas continue to be extremely open about the difficulties, as well as the enduring affection, in their 27-year marriage. In her 2018 memoir, Becoming, Michelle wrote candidly about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago’s South Side, her journey to becoming a Princeton and Harvard-educated lawyer and then a campaigning First Lady.  The book also details her struggle with infertility, and the subsequent difficulty of being a working mother to daughters Malia and Sasha, as well as a wife to a man with presidential ambitions. She credits couples counseling for allowing the pair to loosen the “knot” of resentment, and allowing Michelle to carve out a space for her own needs in the marriage.  Since Barack’s presidency ended, Michelle has continued to come into her own. Becoming spent the longest time at No. 1 on Amazon’s best seller list for any book since 2012’s Fifty Shades of Grey. In December 2018, she was voted as America’s most admired woman in a Gallup poll, ending Hillary Clinton’s 17-year run at number one.  Yet it looks unlikely that Michelle will use this cultural capital for political gain. "I've never had the passion for politics," she told a leadership conference in 2018 when asked if she would consider a presidential run in 2020. "I just happened to be married to somebody who has the passion for politics, and he drug me kicking and screaming into the arena."  Read more: Michelle Obama Birthday: Quotes From the Former First Lady  What she decides to do next is open for debate, but her previous form suggests it will be nothing short of excellent. To celebrate Michelle’s incredible life and career as she turns 55, Newsweek has chosen some of her best moments, from her youth to her life after the White House.