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Inside the royal family’s secret ‘Balmoral Test’ that makes or breaks potential brides
A stay at Queen Elizabeth II’s Scottish castle may sound like a fairy tale, but for a royal bride-to-be, Balmoral can quickly turn into a high-stakes audition where every misstep is remembered.
Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, who recently wrote a memoir, “The Royal Insider,” described the “Balmoral Test,” an unspoken assessment where senior royals size up newcomers to determine whether they truly belong within the family’s deeply private world.
“The ‘Balmoral Test’ was cruel,” wrote Burrell. “Outsiders, most importantly potential brides, were brought there like specimens to be inspected by the family to see if they came up to scratch and if they were suitable.”
He noted that the rite of passage has “been this way since Queen Victoria’s day, which is no surprise, as the castle hasn’t changed much either.”
Royal commentator Amanda Matta described it as a silent compatibility test.
“Most modern families would probably recognize that dynamic, where newcomers are vetted against the existing family structures,” she explained.
“The main difference between the ‘Balmoral Test’ and a barbecue at my family home would be the established, highly conservative standards of the extended family. Even in private family moments, hierarchy never fully disappears.”
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The royals aren’t just looking for impeccable manners, though that’s only the bare minimum. Guests are expected to roll up their sleeves and prove they can handle the grit of country life, with no exceptions.
“You were expected to shoot and hunt,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. “[In the past], there was the fox hunt, which involved foxes being chased on horseback, eventually being caught and torn to pieces by a pack of dogs, with blood everywhere.”
“Camilla was a regular fox hunter, while Diana would find these traditions barbaric,” he said. “I am quite sure both Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton may have been totally dismayed at the carnage, although Kate, being more used to country pursuits, may have endured some of the process. Fox hunting has been banned, but it is alleged that riding with hounds still exists.”
While hunting may no longer top the agenda, potential brides are still expected to tough it out and embrace the rougher side of country life.
“Balmoral remains the monarch’s most private sanctuary,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “It’s as remote and as private as it can be, and approval there by the family signals inner-circle status. It’s all about loyalty to the family and adaptability to their unique unwritten ways.”
“It’s totally country-oriented,” Fordwich stressed. “Those who do best are those who understand rural ways, such as Kate. Walking even in inclement weather came naturally to her. She was instantly at home. Being sporty and athletic, she enjoyed nature and hiking. She still relishes it. In contrast, Meghan reportedly took umbrage at hunting and wasn’t into any of the field sports.”
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“What’s being evaluated isn’t just manners, though ideas of comportment and deference do matter,” said Matta.
“But adaptability is another key point. Balmoral is famously informal by royal standards, but there are still schedules and rhythms that are observed. There are country walks, shoots, fishing expeditions and formal dinners. Newcomers will find themselves assessed on how they can ‘let their hair down’ and interact across generations, while still balancing the Firm’s unspoken rules.”
Matta said that despite Diana’s personal feelings, she ultimately passed the test “with flying colors,” thanks to her aristocratic upbringing. It meant she already knew exactly what the royals were looking for.
“She was perceived as an easygoing, ‘jolly’ presence who thrived in that country-house atmosphere,” said Matta. “Did that early success mask deeper incompatibilities that would later emerge in her marriage to Charles? Sure. Diana would eventually struggle because she was naturally more expressive than the senior royals. But in the beginning, the Balmoral setting rewarded her ability to perform the role expected of her.”
“Her experience highlights that passing the test doesn’t guarantee long-term success in the royal fold,” Matta warned. “The emotional realities of modern royal life can’t be summed up by a shooting weekend.”
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the “Balmoral Test” goes far beyond embracing the outdoors. For guests, especially love interests, it’s about fully grasping royal traditions and etiquette. Every move is quietly observed and silently judged.
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“You don’t simply click your heels three times and, by magic, happily blend in,” said Chard. “Believing in the monarchy is key, along with a dedication to royal duty, understanding hierarchy within the family, and realizing every member has their role to play. Yes, it is a learning curve and, at times, it may be challenging. However, it’s also a prerequisite to a successful, happy life within ‘The Firm.’”
“It only takes one black sheep to create havoc within a family or organization,” Chard continued. “Certain personalities may adapt to royal protocols more quickly than others.
“However, many believe that time and a supportive partner willing to educate, give clear guidance, and help settle the ‘newbie’ into royal family life are key. It also highlights the love and strength of the relationship, preventing the ‘fish out of water’ feeling from creeping in.”
In his book, Burrell pointed out that even men faced judgment behind closed doors.
“Diana wasn’t the first to be scrutinized,” he wrote. “Even Princess Anne brought a cavalry officer called Mark Phillips here to meet the family.”
Famously, Kate passed the test with ease, quickly winning the royals over.
“Her reputation for being down-to-earth and outdoorsy translated well at Balmoral, where comfort in the natural landscape is highly valued,” said Matta.
“She was so well-received that her parents were invited to a shooting weekend the following year. Unlike Diana, Kate’s ‘Balmoral Test’ and subsequent visits might reveal her more durable alignment with the family’s dynamics, both in private and public. She has long been viewed as a royal partner who is willing to ‘go with the flow.’”
These days, the “Balmoral Test” has relaxed. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died in 2022. But the senior royals of today still keep a watchful eye on their guests.
“Any introduction to royal in-laws will naturally become a check on whether you understand the modern monarchy’s need for unity and discretion,” said Matta. “I do really think that the ‘test’ is better understood as a very elevated version of ‘meeting the family,’ where you’re quietly assessed on how well you mesh. It’s not decisive on its own, but it carries the weight of an extended first impression.”
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US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba amid blockade as Trump says island ‘has to survive’
The U.S. government will allow a Russian tanker full of crude oil to reach Cuba, effectively easing a blockade that has pushed the island into an energy crisis, according to a report.
The Russian-flagged tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, was headed for Cuba on Sunday, carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of oil, The New York Times reported, citing a U.S. official who had been briefed on the matter.
The tanker Anatoly Kolodkin was just off the eastern tip of Cuba on Sunday, ship tracking data showed.
“We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need … they have to survive,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday when asked about the report.
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“If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not,” he added.
Trump had sought to restrict oil shipments to Cuba in an effort to pressure its government.
The U.S. government has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments to help stabilize global energy markets amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran that began last month.
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The Anatoly Kolodkin, which departed from Primorsk, Russia, could soon dock at the Matanzas port in Cuba if it remains on its current path, according to tracking services MarineTraffic and LSEG.
The oil would provide significant relief to Cuba, where President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said fuel shortages have persisted for months, forcing strict gas rationing and deepening the island’s energy crisis.
The U.S. capture of then-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January stripped a key Cuban ally who had been providing oil to the island on favorable terms.
The Trump administration then blocked all Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and vowed to impose punitive tariffs on any third country that supplied shipments to the island, forcing Mexico to stop its exports to Cuba.
Another ship, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, was also carrying about 200,000 barrels of Russian fuel to Cuba, but was rerouted to Venezuela.
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Lionel Richie issues warning to rude celebrities after Chappell Roan backlash
Lionel Richie knows the fame game can be a challenge, and issued a warning to rising celebrities after Chappell Roan faced backlash following a negative fan encounter.
During a sit-down with his son-in-law, Joel Madden, the Good Charlotte frontman admitted he hadn’t once heard his father-in-law complain about fans approaching him in public.
“I was invisible once,” Richie explained, before acknowledging that he has a difficult time ignoring fans. “They want to say something to you. And you can see it on their face. They want to say something. And for me to ignore them, would be the worst.”
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He added, “Sometimes you meet the person you idolize the most, and you’re sorry you met them.
The “All Night Long” singer said, “I made a promise to myself – I’m never going to be that. Never.”
Richie noted that star status isn’t for everyone.
“The thing that happens a lot of times is, I tell people when they get into the business, there’s one thing you didn’t calculate,” he said. “I hope you like people.
“Because if you don’t like people, here’s how it’s going to sound. You spend the first half of your career going, ‘Look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me.’ And then you finally get famous. ‘Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me.’”
He added, “The universe gave you what you asked for. Now what is it about people that you don’t like, or you want to be famous and rich without the people? It doesn’t work like that. You have to be able to engage.”
While in town last week to perform at Lollapalooza Brazil, the “Pink Pony Club” singer allegedly directed security to scold his daughter after she spotted Chappell having breakfast at the hotel in São Paulo, according to professional soccer star Jorginho Frello.
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Chappell, 28, addressed the incident on Instagram stories and later denied the fan encounter after the “very upsetting” situation caught the eye of Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere.
In a statement shared on X, Cavaliere said that Chappell was no longer welcome to perform in his city.
“I mean that as long as I’m in charge of our city — this young lady @ChappellRoan will never perform at Todo Mundo No Rio,” he wrote in a statement translated from Portuguese. I doubt that Shakira would do that! By the way, @FrelloJorginho, your little one is already the guest of honor from the organization in May!”
The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer jumped on social media Sunday morning to explain her “half of the story” while lying in bed.
“I didn’t even see. I didn’t even see a woman and a child. No one came up to me. No one bothered me,” the musician confided in her followers while lying in bed. “I was just sitting at breakfast in my hotel, I think these people were staying at the hotel as well.”
“I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child. They did not come up to me. They weren’t doing anything.”
She added, “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children. Like, that is crazy.”
“I am sorry to the mother and child that someone was assuming something, that you would do something and that if you felt uncomfortable, that makes me really sad. You did not deserve that.”
Jorginho, a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo, wrote on Instagram stories that his family went through a “very upsetting situation” involving Chappell prior to her Lollapalooza Brazil set.
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He claimed online that his 11-year-old daughter was reprimanded by Chappell’s security for looking at the singer.
“The worst part is she didn’t even approach her,” he wrote. “She simply walked past the singer’s table, looked to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum. She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything.”
Jorghino wrote that after his daughter walked by, “A large security guard came over to their table while they were still having breakfast and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter, saying that she shouldn’t allow my daughter to ‘disrespect’ or ‘harass’ other people.”
He added, “It’s sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans. At the end of the day, they are the ones who build all of this. I sincerely hope this serves as a moment of reflection. No one should have to go through this, especially not a child.”
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‘Lion King’ composer sues comedian for $27M over ‘Circle of Life’ joke
Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi faces a lawsuit for $27 million after making a joke about the lyrics to the opening song of the Disney film “The Lion King.”
While appearing on the One54 Africa podcast last month, Jonasi jokingly claimed that “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” the opening African chant to the song “Circle of Life,” translates to “Look! There’s a lion! Oh my god!”
South African composer Lebohang Morake, otherwise known as Lebo M, the vocalist behind the opening chant, accused the comedian in a legal document on March 16 of making “false statements of fact about the meaning of the ‘Nants’ingonyama’ composition” which he insists translates to “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
He claimed Jonasi was diminishing the song’s value, which could have a negative impact on Morake’s reputation and estate, and is seeking more than $27 million in damages.
In an Instagram video on March 13, Jonasi acknowledged speaking to Morake about the joke, which reportedly led to a harsh confrontation.
“When this man first approached me, he approached me with the attitude of saying that I am disrespecting his work, right?” Jonasi said. “And I was like, ‘No, actually, I am a big fan of yours. I actually love the song.’ And therefore, this was just a joke, and comedy has always had a way of starting a conversation. I told him this. This is now your chance to educate people because now people are listening.”
Jonasi claimed that Morake referred to him as a “self-hating” Black man and “idiot” for telling the joke.
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“I realize I’m not actually having a conversation with someone who wants to do that. This person is literally not attacking the joke but my character,” Jonasi said.
Jonasi revealed that he was later served with the lawsuit days later during one of his comedy shows at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.
“I now have a gluten allergy, anxiety. I got served. I am now American,” Jonasi joked in a video of the performance.
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Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Jonasi and Morake for comment.
In an interview with the New York Post on Friday, Jonasi, who has launched a GoFundMe page for legal support, denied the allegations in the lawsuit, arguing that the joke has built up more interest in the film and song.
“I’ve actually gotten a lot of messages saying, ‘Hey that joke actually made me wanna go back and watch the movie again.’ It has revived people’s interest in the song. It actually made it more relevant,” Jonasi said.
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