Scots mum sheds seven stone after being too embarrassed to take photos with daughter

The Royal Family has links to countries across Europe, with royal relatives in Spain, Monaco, the Netherlands, Sweden, and beyond.What is less well-known, however, is that The Firm have family in Romania and that the UK's new King is a direct descendant of the real-life Dracula and loves Transylvania.Yes, really. Formerly known as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Charles III actually owns several properties in Transylvania, and is the heir to Vlad the Impaler's bloodline.READ MORE: Ukrainian model swaps the catwalk for camo and brands Putin an 'old fart motherf*****r'The ruthless prince, also known as Vlad Tepes and Vlad III Dracula, is known for his cruelty towards his enemies and impaling them on stakes.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Iran’s Asghar Farhadi, who directed the Oscar winners “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” U.S. producer Christine Vachon, whose credits includes Oscar winner “Boys Don’t Cry,” and Oscar nominees “Far from Heaven” and “Carol,” and Romania’s Alexander Nanau, the director of the Oscar nominated “Collective,” are among the jury members at the 18th edition of the Zurich Film Festival, which takes place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 2.  Farhadi will head the jury for the International Feature Film Competition. He is joined by the U.K.’s Clio Barnard, who directed the BAFTA nominated “The Arbor,” “The Selfish Giant” and “Ali & Ava”; L.A.-based Brazilian Daniel Dreifuss, a producer on the Oscar nominated “No” and “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Germany’s Oscar entry; Swiss/Italian screenwriter and director Petra Volpe, whose credits include Tribeca prizewinner “The Divine Order”; and  Sweden’s Peter “Piodor” Gustafsson, the producer of Ali Abbassi’s “Border,” which won the main award in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Listen up: Podimo, the Denmark-based subscription service for podcasts and audiobooks, said it secured €58.6 million (about $58.4 million) in funding, as it seeks to grow its market footprint and content lineup. The funding was led by previous investors 83North, Highland Europe and Saban Ventures, with continued participation from Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, Heartcore and Headline. The latest round brings Podimo’s total raised to date to about €162 million ($161.5 million), the company said. Podimo did not disclose valuation but said the new capital represented an “up round,” meaning its valuation increased. Founded in 2019, Podimo said it has doubled its headcount in the past two years and currently has about 225 employees. The company plans to step up hiring with the new funding.

Al Roker and Deborah Roberts are a veritable power couple in journalism, and while the two had to spend some time apart this week, they're finally back together.MORE: Deborah Roberts looks back on family loss during emotional periodDeborah shared photographs on social media from her first major outing as she returned to New York, that being a Diana Ross concert.VIDEO: Al Roker shares 'nerves' with fans amid New York weather warningWhat made it even more special was that Al had made it a surprise night for the two in the lead up to their wedding anniversary this week."When @dianaross is in town during your anniversary week…and your sweetie organized the surprise.

Tributes have been paid to a 'kind' and 'amazing' dad who tragically died.

Vogue Williams recently enjoyed a summer holiday in Spain with her husband Spencer Matthews and their children Theo, four, Gigi, two, and five-month-old Otto. But while it was a great break for the family, Vogue, 36, spoke of how she often feels she always had something on her plate with the busy schedule she has. "It was so good, honestly.

This Morning held a tribute programme in honour of the Queen and touched upon her moment of bravery whilst on the Emmerdale set. Soap expert Sharon Marshall was welcomed to the show by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield and spoke about her numerous visits to some of the nation’s favourite soaps.

The family of a man who was placed into an induced coma after falling ill while on holiday are faced with raising £34,000 to fly him home. Daniel Bowman, 32, is in a coma on life support in an intensive care unit in Bulgaria after he contacted sepsis.

Scotland's islands offer an escape for thousands of tourists every year, but how would you like to own your own? Well, one stunning and remote Scottish isle has just gone up for sale.

READ MORE: S Club's Jo O'Meara opens up on secret battle with 'dangerous' gambling addiction “As you may well know I have had some health issues with my back recently, and it has resulted in me needing surgery to remove the disc and fix the problem.“The pain has been unbearable and I have been advised surgery is now my only option and being told this is something that needs doing urgently to prevent further damage to my back.”The star added: “So I will be going in for the procedure tomorrow (September 15).“I am beyond upset to be missing out on such a special day and I am so so sorry. I hope you all understand that this decision was very hard, but I must put my health first at this time.“Sending you all so much love and please make sure to Reach for those Stars! Lots of love, Jo.”Her fans soon rushed to support Jo in the comments, with GB News star Eammonn Holmes writing: “Dear Jo, I feel your pain.

crocodile which he branded a "man-eating dinosaur" after he trapped the 15ft beast. Garrett Wales was on a 10-day hunting trip when he was told the tale of a mysterious crocodile that supposedly lurked in a local lake in the Savé Valley of Zimbabwe.The hunter, from Brock, Texas, had made several kills before he set his sights on the "monster" croc at the Humani Ranch. READ MORE Woman discovers 'shark with wings' only to find it's sex-mad 'Jurassic Park' moth He recalled: “As we were getting ready to head out, they had been talking to some other locals in the village.“They came back and said ‘hey, these guys are saying there’s this crocodile out in an irrigation pond’."Now, when we say irrigation pond, it’s full of vegetation.

"The Crown" has resumed filming after the Netflix series paused production on Thursday, the day Queen Elizabeth II died at 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Elizabeth Debicki, the 32-year-old actress who portrays Princess Diana, was seen on a set in a small town near Barcelona, Spain dressed as the late princess.The scene is set during Diana’s trip to Bosnia in 1997 where she met with children and landmine victims. Debicki was seen in a pink button down, with black slacks and gold studded earrings, a spitting image of the late princess.  Elizabeth Debicki was seen on set of "The Crown," dressed as Princess Diana from 1997.

BRITAIN'S Got Talent's Stavros Flatley dancer Lagi Demetriou has revealed he's MARRIED to his fiancee Annika Crawford. The couple - who welcomed their first baby six months ago - tied the knot in Cyprus in a stunning sunset ceremony by the sea.

BAKE Off champ John Whaite has warned the latest batch of wannabe bakers to be careful what they wish for - after winning the show derailed his life. The star, 33, appeared on the series in 2012 - when he was 23 - but struggled to deal with his new-found fame. The cake-maker turned dancefloor star on Strictly Come Dancing where he finished runner-up to winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice in the series' first same-sex couple.

Katie Price set pulses skyrocketing once again after she showcased her voluptuous assets in tiny lime green underwear. The 44-year-old gave her 2.6million Instagram followers a glimpse of her latest OnlyFans shoot which took place in sunny Spain this week.

S Club 7's Jo O'Meara is in hospital for emergency back surgery after she suffered "unbearable pain". The singing star, 43, who injured her back in 2002, first let her followers know that she was in hospital a week ago after 'horrendous pain', and now she's given an update that she requires surgery.

BBC Breakfast viewers spotted one of the show’s presenters break royal protocol on Wednesday as they decided not to wear a black suit and tie. Black uniform has been required as the outfit among TV hosts across the UK following the Queen’s death, as the country has entered a national period of mourning for 10 days. Correspondent Tim Muffett opted out of that rule as he appeared wearing a grey blazer and blue tie, while interviewing mourning fans of the Queen on BBC Breakfast.

Some fans argued that the swelling wasn't hugely noticeable after her dental emergency, but she addressed that point in a subsequent slide."Remember, things can always get worse..." she warned, before posting a photo of the next problem she encountered - a heavily bandaged finger."Accident prone Soph strikes again," she groaned, adding: "Icing on the cake: A fractured finger."There has been plenty of proof in the past of poor Sophie's tendency to inadvertently have accidents, including a moment on Outlander when she accidentally almost set herself on fire.She spilled all during an Instagram Live Q&A, when she and her on-screen mother Claire Fraser, played by Caitriona Balfe, shared their most dramatic moments from series six."I nearly set myself on fire.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp laughed at suggestions that his players could play alongside those from Manchester United and Manchester City after Chelsea owner Todd Boehly floated the idea of a Premier League north versus south all-star game.