No, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have Not Bought Mel Gibson’s $14.5 Million Malibu Home

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No, Harry and Meghan Markle have not bought Mel Gibson’s home

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exact whereabouts in Los Angeles are unknown, but there has been intense speculation that, when they re-emerge, it will be on the Malibu side of town.

However, sources told The Daily Beast Sunday that a rumor circulating that they had bought Mel Gibson’s, five-bed, $14.5 million Malibu home is “a complete fabrication.”

The couple were linked to the sale of the controversial Mad Max star’s mansion after an L.A. real-estate agent, who was not connected to the property, shared an industry rumor online, and then swiftly deleted it. However that did not stop British newspapers picking up on the story.

British newspaper The Sun claimed that a source said the property had sold recently, telling them, when they asked if the Sussexes were the buyers: “Non-disclosure agreements have been signed. But you’re very warm.”

Not warm enough, it seems, with our sources not holding back when it comes to pouring the coldest of water on the claims.

William and Kate send Easter greetings

After a month of Sundays, you'd be forgiven for forgetting today is Easter Sunday. To remind us, here’s an Easter Instagram from William and Kate.

Queen: “Coronavirus will not overcome us”

After her stunning, widely-acclaimed speech last weekend, the queen has staged a fast return to the royal Covid-19 frontline with another brief and forthright speech—this time for Easter. 

And the baseline theme of this weekend’s speech echoes last week’s: for goodness sake, stay home.

Photographs of Brits at shops and outside, enjoying the warm sun, show that the message about staying in and social distancing isn’t entirely getting through.

Set around the themes of faith, and the symbolism of candles and light, the queen—as head of the Church of England—noted that, “By keeping apart, we keep others safe. But Easter isn’t canceled. Indeed we need Easter as much as ever.”

The resurrection of Christ should give us all “new hope and fresh purpose,” the queen said. “We know that coronavirus will not overcome us.”

“As dark as death can be, particularly for those suffering with grief, light and life are greater,” the queen said, referring to the “living flame of Easter” acting as a “steady guide as we face the future.”

Meanwhile, in his role as Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland, Prince William wrote a letter to the Right Reverend Colin Sinclair, the outgoing moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (which he was due to attend next month), noting how “difficult a time” the church was experiencing, with Easter approaching. William congratulated the church for “reinventing” itself digitally to provide worship, support, and guidance. 

Prince Andrew’s Easter surprise

Prince Andrew’s latest PR howler comes at a time when nobody wants to see Prince Andrew, let alone see him shamelessly publicizing coronavirus-related good works, which—surprise, surprise—appears intended more to burnish his scandal-tainted image than do any good for anyone else.

Antonia Marshall, the Duchess of York’s assistant, posted a series of images on Instagram showing Andrew and his ex-wife packing care packages for the Thames Hospice in Windsor—just three months after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, in which he talked himself into a royal career-killing hole over Jeffrey Epstein. He now won’t help the U.S. authorities with its investigation into Epstein after previously saying he would.

Marshall merely noted in the images of Andrew and cupcakes, “The York Family are a wonderful and steadfast unit and through this crisis, are continuously helping others. So proud of them all...”

Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, and the legal system, would be even prouder if Prince Andrew helped the authorities with their inquiries.

This week in royal history

On April 17, 1983, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and an adorable 10-month old Prince William landed in New Zealand for their tour of the island nation. The young William was presented to the press, with maximum cuteness.

Unanswered questions

Harry and Meghan feel very M.I.A. these days. Are they going to take any kind of role in the fight against coronavirus? And how do they feel that their old digital communication supremo David Watkins has just been poached by William and Kate, and how will Watkins transform the Kensington Palace Instagram account?