Britain's Queen Elizabeth wants the UK and Ireland to "live together as neighbours and friends".
The monarch hosted a banquet for 160 people in honour of Irish President Michael D. Higgins at Windsor Castle yesterday (08.04.14) and spoke of the "regrettable pain" and urge to move beyond the "chequered history" between the two countries.
In her speech, she said the goal of the nations was simple, adding: "It is that we who inhabit these islands should live together as neighbours and friends. Respectful of each other's nationhood, sovereignty and traditions. Co-operating to our mutual benefit. At ease in each other's company.
"After so much chequered history, the avoidable and regrettable pain of which is still felt by many of us, this goal is now within reach."
In her speech, the monarch also recalled the historic visit she and her husband Prince Philip made to Ireland three years ago, and praised the contribution of Irish people to British life.
She added: "My visit to Ireland and your visit this week, Mr President, show that we are walking together towards a brighter, more settled future. We will remember our past but we shall no longer allow our past to ensnare our future. This is the greatest gift we can give to succeeding generations."
Mr. Higgins also addressed he assembled dignitaries, which included Taoiseach Enda Kenny, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
He told the queen: "We valued your apt and considered words when you addressed some of the painful moments of our mutual history and we were moved by your gestures of respect at sites of national historical significance in Ireland."
Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine got over their jet lag at a £480-per-night cottage.
The couple and their eight-month-old son Prince George - who arrived into New Zealand on Monday (07.04.14) for a three-week tour of Australasia - spent yesterday (08.04.14) relaxing at the property in the grounds of Edwardian country house Wharekauhau Lodge in Palliser Bay, a 90-minute drive away from the capital Wellington.
They were joined by a group of their closest staff, and took in total three of the 13 cottages on the working sheep and cattle farm, as well as a number of rooms elsewhere in the luxury resort.
The royal couple's cottage boasted a super king size four-poster bed, heated marble floors and a double spa bath.
However, the bad weather meant it was likely they experienced many of the outdoor attractions on the estate including a croquet lawn and petanque field, and a tour of the sheep farm, though they did get to enjoy the use of a swimming pool, spa and gymnasium.
The £12 million resort, which is owned by American billionaire William Foley, has previously hosted stars including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Meg Ryan, and Jack Black.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "The Duke and Duchess and Prince George are currently staying at a private location at the recommendation of the New Zealand Government, who have secured the accommodation at a substantially reduced rate.
"For the rest of the tour of New Zealand, except for one night, the Duke and Duchess will stay at Government House in Wellington at the invitation of the Governor General."
Anne Hathaway says Duchess Catherine "makes her happy".
The 'Princess Diaries' actress is a big fan of the British royal - who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage to Prince William - and enjoyed watching her nuptials in 2011.
Asked by a six-year-old fan who her favourite princess was, Anne said on 'Good Morning America': "My favourite princess is Kate Middleton, but she's a duchess. She's a princess too, right? I'll go with Kate Middleton.
"I think she's lovely. She makes me very happy and that royal wedding just could not be beat."
Meanwhile, controversial TV personality and social commentator Katie Hopkins has also revealed herself as a fan of Catherine, hailing her the "new face of feminism", and admiring her apparent calmness in the face of a three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia with her husband and their baby son Prince George, eight months.
She tweeted: "Kate Middleton is fabulous. I love her. Lovely baby - no worries. Packing for 30 gigs - no drama. Long haul flight fresh as a daisy - nailed.
"Kate does not have an army of support. She has assistance enabling her to do her job. She is the new face of feminism. And she rocks it."
Patsy Palmer has quit 'EastEnders' to pursue a Hollywood career.
The flame-haired actress, best known for playing Bianca Butcher in the BBC One soap, will leave the show in the autumn in order to move her family out to Los Angeles.
Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said in a statement: "We are so sad that Patsy has decided to leave us, but completely understand that it's the right time for her.
"Bianca won't be leaving Albert Square until the autumn, so there's still a lot more to come from her on screen this year - and the door will be left wide open for her return. We won't be getting rid of Bianca's puffa jacket just yet."
Patsy's spokesperson added: "Patsy is really sad to be leaving the show as she loves playing Bianca and working with Dominic. But she knows it's the right decision at this time in her life."
The 41-year-old actress is said to be plotting a move to Los Angeles for a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "She has lots of exciting offers lined up and feels the time is right to say goodbye. Her children are at the age where they can be moved across to the States relatively easily.
"And it has always been her big ¬ambition to crack Hollywood."
Patsy first joined 'EastEnders' as Bianca in 1993 and first quit the show in 1999. She later returned for a one-off episode in 2002, and rejoined the show full-time in 2008.
Simon Cowell says Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole wouldn't have been compatible on 'The X Factor'.
The 'Boomerang' singer - who mentored James Arthur to victory in 2012 - quit the show in February after two years on the judging panel, and head judge Simon, who is returning to the panel with Cheryl at his side, feels the two pop divas would have clashed.
He said: "I didn't think the two of them would work well together."
Simon, 54, also says veteran judge Louis Walsh has earned his place on the panel after staying loyal to the show for 10 years.
He added to The Sun newspaper: "I would find it difficult to do it without Louis. I tried it without him once and it didn't work. He does make a long day fun. I hope I don't have to talk ITV round. After 10 years he deserves a spot."
Meanwhile, Simon has also weighed in on speculation about who will join the panel, admitting he is leaning towards Spice Girls star Mel B for a judging role.
He said: "I like Mel B. We have got about a month to decide and we are meeting a lot of people. A lot of it actually depends on how much work they are willing to put in during the week."
'Call the Midwife' is entering "a new era" following Jessica Raine's departure.
Ben Caplan, who plays Police Constable Peter Noakes, claims the popular period drama's move towards the 1960s marks a new start for the show after Jessica, who played lead character Jenny Lee, quit the series after three years.
Ben told Digital Spy: "It will be different not having her around, but I'm excited to see how it changes ... particularly as we're moving into a new era, we're moving into the '60s.
"The show's going to change a lot moving into a different decade, and if there's going to be a big change, I think it's the right time to do it."
Jessica left the drama in the third series finale last month as Jenny quit quit midwifery to begin working in a Marie Curie cancer hospital and started a new life with future husband Phillip Worth (Stephen Ashfield).
Ben claims the cast were supportive of Jessica's decision to leave and insists the departure of such a central character will not hinder the show's success moving forward.
Ben mused: "It was sad to see her go, but she wanted to move over to pastures new. I also respected her decision that she'd done the show and got what she needed to get out of it, so it was time to move on.
"It'll be interesting to see how we progress, but it will progress! The show is obviously bigger than one element of it."
'Call the Midwife' will return for a Christmas special this year and a fourth series in 2015.
Laura Whitmore will host the Eurovision Song Contest for BBC Three.
The 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! NOW!' presenter thinks it's "cool" she will join Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills to co-host the channel's coverage of the semi-finals in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Laura said: "I am going to be in Copenhagen doing some bits for BBC Three for Eurovision so that will be pretty cool. It's a tough life!"
Laura's new role follows the departure of last year's BBC Three co-host Ana Matronic, from US band Scissor Sisters, who is away touring in May.
Scott - who has been presenting BBC Three's coverage since 2011 - says he is happy to show Laura the ropes during what will be their "most fun" week.
He said: "I'm very excited to be presenting with Laura and showing her Eurovision for the first time. She has no idea what she's let herself in for. It's the most fun and surreal week ever."
The semi-finals takes place in the week before the BBC One's TV final on May 10, which will continue to be hosted by Graham Norton.
The UK has a guaranteed place in the final as it is one of the main funders of the event and will be represented by Leicester-born singer Molly Smitten-Downes.
'Game of Thrones' has been renewed for two new seasons.
The hit fantasy drama, which achieved record ratings for its fourth season premiere in the US on Sunday (07.04.14), will return for a fifth and sixth season, HBO has confirmed.
HBO's programming president Michael Lombardo said: "'Game of Thrones' is a phenomenon like no other. [Producers] David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with their talented collaborators, continue to surpass themselves, and we look forward to more of their dazzling storytelling."
The fourth season kicked off with a huge 6.6 million viewers on Sunday, marking HBO's most watched drama since 'The Sopranos' finale in 2007.
The first episode was also a hit in the UK, drawing more than a million viewers across two airings on Sky Atlantic on Monday (08.04.14).
The premiere garnered 537,000 viewers for a simulcast with the US broadcast at 2am.
Some 675,000 fans tuned in later for a primetime screening of the episode at 9pm.
The show's producers have previously hinted 'Game of Thrones' will last seven seasons, matching the number of books published in the series on which it is based.
WWE legend Ultimate Warrior has died aged 54.
Wrestling fans have been left reeling following the death of the iconic grappler - real name James Hellwig - yesterday (08.04.14), just days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday night (05.04.14).
WWE announced the news on its official website, posting a statement which read: "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior.
"WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior's family, friends and fans."
The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Ultimate Warrior made his return to WWE television after an 18-year absence over the weekend, leading the WWE's Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
He also appeared on the company's hit TV show 'RAW' on Monday (07.04.14) - just hours before his death - and at 'WrestleMania XXX' on Sunday night (06.04.14).
Tributes have poured in from the wrestling world, many of whom are in deep shock over Warrior's sudden death as they had just spent time with him over the weekend.
WWE owner Vince McMahon wrote on Twitter: "We are all so sad that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters."
Fellow WWE icon Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson tweeted: "Loss always has a way of reminding us to live and love as greatly as we can. My prayers and strength to his family. RIP Ultimate Warrior."
Fellow Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan - who hosted 'WrestleMania XXX' - also took to Twitter to write: "RIP WARRIOR. only love. HH (sic)"
Mickey Rooney has left his modest estate to one of his stepsons.
The late actor - who passed away on Sunday (06.04.14) aged 93 from natural causes and complications due to diabetes - signed his will on March 11 and called for his stepson and full-time carer Mark Aber and his wife Charlene to be the sole beneficiaries of his estate, which is valued at only $18,000.
Despite starting his iconic acting career aged just 18 months, the star claimed he had lost most of his fortune because of elder abuse and financial mismanagement by another one of his stepsons, according to USA Today.
Mickey's will also disinherited his eight surviving children and his estranged wife of 35 years, Janice Rooney. The 'Night at the Museum' actor argued that Jan receiving his Social Security benefits and some of his pension earnings would be adequate compensation, and said that his children were in a better financial position than himself.
His attorney Michael Augustine also revealed Mickey had no intention of quitting show business and had been looking forward to upcoming film roles at the time of his death.
The 'Andy Hardy' star, who was one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors in the 30s and 40s, asked Michael to act as sole executor of his will and insisted he didn't want his relatives handling his final affairs.
Plans are still being made for Mickey's funeral and a possible public tribute, the attorney confirmed, revealing that the actor had recently expressed his desire to be buried in a veteran's cemetery.
Meanwhile, the New York Daily News is reporting that Janice and her son Chris Aber - who Mickey also sued in 2011 for supposed mistreatment - were trying to remove the actor's remains from Forest Lawn mortuary "against the decedent's express wishes."
A hearing has been set for Friday (11.04.14) and the superstar's body will stay on the premises in the meantime.
Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi is hoping to have another son.
The former 'Jersey Shore' star and her fiancé Jionni LaValle are expecting their second child together, and while she insists they will be "happy" whatever gender the baby is, they would be particularly thrilled to have a brother for their 19-month-old son Lorenzo.
Explaining they will "definitely" find out the gender, Snooki told 'Extra': "If it's a boy or it's a girl, as long as the baby's healthy we're gonna be very, very happy, but me and Jionni would like to have two boys, you know, another boy."
The 26-year-old star admits she doesn't feel "ready" to have a "diva" daughter, and thinks having two sons would set her apart from the rest of the family.
She explained: "Everybody in our family has a boy and then a girl, or a girl and a boy, so we kind of want two boys to switch it up and make it different.
"Plus, I'm not ready to have a miniature me. I don't need a diva telling me what to do. I'm not ready for that."
The reality star also admitted Lorenzo is "driving her crazy" with his naughty habits, but she loves being around the little boy.
She said: "He runs around naked and pees everywhere. He's a boy, he eats his boogers, does all that stuff... he's driving me crazy, but I love it."