Prince Harry and wife Meghan with newborn son Archie after his birth in 2019. Getty
Prince Harry and wife Meghan with newborn son Archie after his birth in 2019. Getty
Prince Harry and wife Meghan with newborn son Archie after his birth in 2019. Getty
Prince Harry and wife Meghan with newborn son Archie after his birth in 2019. Getty

Prince Harry ate Nando's and used laughing gas to 'enhance his calm' during Archie's birth


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Prince Harry says he used laughing gas and ate Nando’s to “enhance his calm” during the birth of his son, Archie.

Writing about the scene at the private Portland Hospital in London in 2019, he says his wife Meghan was “so calm”.

He was calm too, he says. But he saw two ways of “enhancing” the state.

“One: Nando’s chicken. (Brought by our bodyguards),” he writes. “Two: A canister of laughing gas beside Meg’s bed.

“I took several slow, penetrating hits. Meg, bouncing on a giant purple ball, a proven way of giving nature a push, laughed and rolled her eyes.

“I took several more hits and now I was bouncing too.”

When Meghan’s contractions began to quicken and deepen, the nurse came and tried to give her some gas.

“There was none left. The nurse looked at the tank, looked at me, and I could see the thought slowly dawning: Gracious, the husband’s had it all.

“'Sorry', I said meekly,” he writes.

“Meg laughed, the nurse had to laugh, and quickly changed the canister.”

He did not use it during the birth of his daughter, he writes.

“This time I didn’t touch the laughing gas (because there was none.) I was fully present,” he writes.

Laughing gas, which is nitrous oxide, does not eliminate pain, but can dull it and reduce anxiety. It is used widely in medical settings, particularly during labour and for dental treatments.

But its use is also growing recreationally, prompting doctors to warn that regular ingestion can lead to nerve damage, including paralysis.

It occurs because the drug causes creates a deficiency in vitamin B12, which disrupts the production of myelin, a fatty sheath which encompasses nerves.

The process can lead to spinal cord damage, which can be irreversible if left untreated.

Prince Harry's book also reveals how he had “taken cocaine” during a shooting weekend in the summer of 2002 when he was 17 and did “a few more lines” on other occasions.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan leave a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022. AP
Prince Harry and wife Meghan leave a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022. AP

He says it was not “fun and it did not make me feel as happy as it seemed to make others but it did make me feel different and that was my main goal. To feel. To be different”.

He also acknowledges using cannabis and magic mushrooms — which made him hallucinate that a toilet was talking to him.

The book was leaked ahead of its official release on Tuesday. Details to have emerged since include the prince’s 15-minute shopping system in discount store, TK Maxx.

Prince Harry said he received an official clothing allowance from “pa” each year, but it was strictly for formal wear, such as suits, ties and ceremonial outfits.

Prince Harry's book is released — in pictures

  • The first copies of Prince Harry's new book Spare are unpacked during a midnight sale at a book shop in London. EPA
    The first copies of Prince Harry's new book Spare are unpacked during a midnight sale at a book shop in London. EPA
  • After months of anticipation and a sustained publicity blitz, Prince Harry's book is on sale in the UK. AFP
    After months of anticipation and a sustained publicity blitz, Prince Harry's book is on sale in the UK. AFP
  • Photographers surround a trolley containing copies of Spare. PA
    Photographers surround a trolley containing copies of Spare. PA
  • Caroline Lennon, the first customer to purchase a copy of Spare, poses for photographers at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London. PA
    Caroline Lennon, the first customer to purchase a copy of Spare, poses for photographers at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London. PA
  • There is no mention of royal family members in the foreword to Spare. AP
    There is no mention of royal family members in the foreword to Spare. AP
  • The book reveals that Prince Harry took cocaine and magic mushrooms. Reuters
    The book reveals that Prince Harry took cocaine and magic mushrooms. Reuters
  • Spare also lifts the lid on the prince's relationships with the royal family. EPA
    Spare also lifts the lid on the prince's relationships with the royal family. EPA
  • The book contains allegations of racism within the royal family and accounts of a fight with Prince William. AFP
    The book contains allegations of racism within the royal family and accounts of a fight with Prince William. AFP

For more casual clothes he would shop at the “discount store”, where he could snap up just-out-of-season clothes for bargain prices.

Writing in his autobiography Spare about the experience in some detail, he said he was “particularly fond” of its annual sale, when the shop would be flush with items that had just out of season or were slightly damaged from Gap or J.Crew.

He writes about his system to grab the best bargains, which involved him reaching the shop 15 minutes before closing.

“Grab a red bucket. Hurry to the top floor. Begin systematically working up one rack and down another,” he writes.

“If I found something promising I’d hold it up to my chest or legs, standing in front of a mirror.

“I never dawdled over colour or style and certainly never went near a changing room. If it looked nice, comfortable, into the bucket it went.”

At closing time he said he would run out with giant shopping bags “feeling triumphant”.

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United States

2.

China

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UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

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Canada

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Singapore

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Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Second Test, Day 2:

South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining

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The specs

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Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

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Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)

Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),

Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),

Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm) 

Benevento v Napoli (6pm) 

Parma v Spezia (6pm)

 Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)

Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)

Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)

 

 

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

Race card

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

Updated: January 10, 2023, 1:05 PM