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First lady Melania Trump hosted children to the White House Monday as she walked through a fully-decorated executive mansion, unveiling her vision of a Trump Christmas - simple, yet elegant, with elements of Americana and nature. 'She's beautiful, like an angel!' one young boy remarked, as the first lady - who's cream-colored belted dress with bell sleeves could have been worn by a tree topper - walked into the East Room to help a group of kids make garland.

The redoubtable Dame Joan Collins (pictured this week left and right with her late husband) has never been one to mince her words or to ration her comments. So it seemed strangely out of character, to say the least, when she issued the briefest of denials to shocking claims made by her son, Alexander ('Sacha') that his late father - and her husband of seven years - Anthony Newley (pictured right and inset) 'was a paedophile . . . drawn to youthfulness'. In an interview with a Sunday newspaper to promote his own memoir, Sacha, 52, went further: his father 'thought innocence was an aphrodisiac. That was his sexual proclivity and it's a very dangerous and destructive thing'. His father 'had been honest with my mother about his appetite for young girls, and said he would change, but she married him anyway'. Dame Joan's response on Sunday ran to just 15 words: 'As far as I'm concerned this is absolutely untrue. I have nothing further to add.' As it turned out, Our Joanie had plenty more to add, WRITES MICHAEL THORNTON.

Hollywood producer Trevor Engelson (left) 41, was seen arriving at his Los Angeles office in the wake of ex-wife Meghan Markle's engagement to Prince Harry on Monday. Engelson waved briefly at cameras as he made his way into Underground Films, but refused to comment on his ex's royal engagement. Meghan was 23 years old when she met her ex-husband in 2004, with the couple going on to date for six years before getting engaged in 2010. Meghan's first wedding celebrations lasted four days - with parties including drinking games on the beach - and featured the traditional Jewish celebrations in mark of his heritage with the couple carried in chairs (right). The marriage did not last, however, and their divorce was finalized in August 2013, with the couple citing 'irreconcilable differences. He is reportedly planning to develop a series about divorced American who marries a British royal - a storyline which is likely to have been inspired by his ex-wife's life.

Doria Ragland, 61, was photographed exclusively by DailyMail.com outside her Windsor Hills home in Los Angeles this weekend ahead of her daughter Meghan's big announcement. The 61-year-old yoga instructor is said to have known about Meghan's engagement for 'several weeks' but spent days leading up to the announcement watering her plants. However, hours after the news broke, a security detail (right) was spotted outside of Doria's home on Monday. Speaking to DailyMail.com, the guard said he was unable to answer questions but did reveal that Doria plans to release a second statement later today.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their happy engagement news on Monday and the actress certainly dressed for the occasion with a stunning new beauty look to match, main. The 36-year-old actress showcased a natural new beauty look, age-defying brows courtesy of a £48 treatment and a glossy new blow-dry, with leading hairdressers noting she'd had hair extensions. Her look was a far cry to the more glossy look we've seen her adopt in the past, inset.

Harry had always been a bit of a wild child with a tendency to party harder than most. Whether it was playing a drunken game of strip billiards, with a bunch of pretty bikini-clad girls, in Las Vegas in 2012 (left) or the raucous behaviour of his late teens to mid-20s (right). But Meghan Markle (inset) is his ideal partner and their relationship has broken the mould. They make a beautiful couple, with much in common. They make each other laugh and, as we saw yesterday, are open about their deep love for each other. They will make a formidable double act, and their message will be all the louder because the cameras will love them wherever they go, writes PENNY JUNOR.

Meghan's brother will probably toast the momentous news with a pint of Worker's Ale in the Cedar Tree Saloon, his rowdy local bar in Oregon. Her father, an altogether less gregarious character, will doubtless reflect on it quietly at his beach-house on Mexico's windswept Pacific Coast. For a maternal uncle, who runs his own church in Florida, it will be a time for joyful prayer. The unusual, out-of-the-way places where Meghan Markle's engagement to Prince Harry was being celebrated yesterday are a stark reminder of her unconventional background, which I uncovered during many weeks spent researching her family history. Much has also been made of her heritage, as the mixed-race descendant of plantation working slaves, a subject about which she has spoken movingly and insightfully, describing how she learned to cherish her roots - and overcome prejudice - with careful nurturing from her parents. Her Caucasian father, Thomas, and African-American mother, Doria, bought her a set of Barbie dolls with a black mother and white father, and she was advised never to tick boxes on school forms requesting her to declare her ethnicity, but to leave them blank, writes DAVID JONES.

Meghan McCain returned from her Thanksgiving holiday with a big announcement on Monday, as the newest host of The View is now a newlywed. The 33-year-old daughter of Senator John McCain had already broke the news about her wedding over the holiday, but brought along some new photos and details about the ceremony to share with viewers. Meghan's co-hosts all noted how beautiful she looked in the photos as she said: 'Me and now my husband. So weird to say, I have a husband Ben. We got married at our ranch in Sedona. It was real country. Like I wanted a western country wedding.' She went on to reveal there were some tears, some music and an inebriated bride.

Dame Angela Lansbury has said women 'must sometimes take blame' for sexual harassment. The veteran actress, 92, said females have always 'gone out of their way' to look as attractive as possible - and argued that this has 'backfired' for them. She spoke in the wake of a string of claims made about inappropriate behaviour in Hollywood, after more than 80 women levelled assault allegations against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Saoirse Ronan-starring Lady Bird has become the most universally well-reviewed film in the history of critical aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. The film, as of November 27, has a perfect 100% 'tomatometer' score, which indicates that 100% of polled critics enjoyed it. And with 170 reviews tallied so far, the Greta Gerwig-directed film has surpassed the 163 fresh reviews earned by fellow 100%-er Toy Story 2, the site reports. The Pixar film debuted in 1999. Gerwig, 34, told Rotten Tomatoes: 'This is completely amazing and so incredibly appreciated by the entire team that made Lady Bird.' Pictured together are Ronan, 23, and Gerwig, 34.

The reality star answered fans' requests for a room tour with her latest video, touring around her personal part of the Pittsburgh family home. Although the video was filmed before Thanksgiving, Maddie reveals that she has already fully decked her room out in snowmen, reindeer and garland. She also displays a number of photos of her boyfriend Jack Kelly.

These terrifying photos show massive lava flows surging down the rivers surrounding Bali's erupting Mount Agung (bottom right), as fears grow the volcano is set to blow. The mountain has been hurling clouds of volcanic ash 3km into the atmosphere since the weekend and red hot lava is welling up in the crater. Cold lava flows (top right), also known as lahar, have already flooded the rivers and canals of nearby villages, with many locals ignoring warnings to steer clear. Indonesia has raised the volcano to the highest level, as locals are told to flee for their lives and thousands of travellers are left stranded at the airport (inset).

President Donald Trump hailed the strength and bravery of World War II Navajo 'code-talkers' at the White House - where he also mocked Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren as 'Pocahontas.' Trump regularly mocks her for having claimed Native American ancestry, and decided to bring back the attack at an event honoring members of the 'Greatest Generation.' The president said as two code-talkers looked on: 'You were here long before any of us were here -
although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.'

The new mother, 35, took little Luke for a dip inside a swimming pool at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. She was excited for the little boy, who was born in September, to wade into the water for the first time, and joked that he 'nailed the backstroke'. Luke's father Eric (pictured inset with Lara, Luke and their two dogs), the 33-year-old younger brother of Donald Jr. and Ivanka, shared snaps of the moment (left and right) on his Instagram account on Sunday, with the hashtag #LittleSwimmer. The photos were taken as Eric and Lara enjoyed a break from the chilly New York City temperatures during a retreat in Florida.

Barron Trump may not have played host alongside mom Melania at today's White House holidays decorations reveal, but in a way, he is guiding Americans through this year's Christmas tour. That's because an illustrated version of the first son is featured in this year's White House Christmas booklet, given to the throngs of tourists and guests who visit the executive mansion during the holidays.

Dubbed 'the most beautiful man cave you'll ever see' by Zillow, the $950,000 Seattle, Washington, floating abode (top left) is styled to the nines on all 1,100 square feet of the property. It offers a natural vibe with lots of windowed lighting and matching wood floors and ceilings (top right). The two-bedroom and two bathroom home (bottom left) is packed with shelf space and even has a roof patio for pure relaxation (bottom right).

A New Jersey woman was rescued after becoming stuck for hours when she fell 10 feet into a septic tank behind her home. Tami Camp's son called 911 on November 16th after hearing his mother's screams from their backyard in Mullica Township. The 57-year-old woman had already been at the bottom of the septic tank for at least 30 minutes until her son heard her calling for help. She apparently fell 10 feet to the bottom when a rotted tank cover gave way.

People from around the world have been sharing images in an online gallery that requires a double take - including some very rude optical illusions. Pictured clockwise from top left: The two-headed dog, the father who seemed to be having a wardrobe malfunction, the store with a rather rude play on words, the perfectly timed dog picture, the rude looking sand sculpture and the student with a tiny head.

Four members of one family were killed on Saturday night after a repeat DUI offender from, Sacramento, California, was allegedly driving drunk in his Mercedes and slammed into their car. The crash, which took place around 8.11pm on Highway 80 at the San Pablo Dam Road off-ramp, killed Napa residents Daryl Horn, 50 (inset middle), and his 14-year-old son Joseph (inset left) . Also killed were 52-year-old Troy Biddle (inset right) and his 12-year-old son Baden (not pictured). The fifth person in the Horns' vehicle - and the only survivor - was Jared Horn, 19, Daryl's son and Joseph's older brother. Fred Lowe, 47, of Sacramento was arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, and felony DUI. Lowe's blue Mercedes collided with the Horns' white Nissan sedan (pictured), which flipped over the median, crashing into three vehicles. At the time, Lowe was driving with a suspended license. He is currently being held at the Contra Costa County Jail on $1.15million bail.

Silvio Berlusconi, 81, looked frozen in time, with an orange tan and wrinkle-free forehead, as he appeared at a Forza Italia party meeting (pictured) and an Italian chat show on Sunday night. Billionaire Mr Berlusconi was ousted from the country's top job in 2011 amid Italy's burgeoning Eurozone debt crisis. Undeterred, he is currently involved in a legal battle to overturn the ban with some suggesting he could become prime minister again if his political career can be resurrected. Speaking on the show on Sunday, Mr Berlusconi said he was looking still at other candidates to become prime minister, presumably in case his bid fails.

An American college student has become an overnight sensation after he was mistaken for a footy club's young star. Jack Higgins, a 20-year-old student from Indiana, received an unusual number of new Twitter followers on Friday - all coincidentally from Australia. That same day, the AFL Premiership winning Richmond Tigers selected an 18-year-old named Jack Higgins in the draft. Fans immediately took to social media to greet their new recruit, but their welcomes were misdirected, instead finding their way to the Ball State University sophomore. 'To the 14 followers I just gained from Australia, I do not play rugby for the Richmond Tigers. I understand you're excited but I'm 5'7' and have limited athletic ability. Thank you for the love tho,' the American student tweeted.

Mikayla Holmgren, 22, from Stillwater, Minnesota, might not have won the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, but she came away with special honors. The blonde beauty not only made history at the event, but also walked away with the Spirit of Miss USA Award and the Director's Award after a standing ovation from the audience.

From US president Donald Trump greeting a young boy who offered to help with the White House's gardening to North Korean soldiers honouring the birth of their country's founder (pictured, top left), these are the stunning shots crowned Pictures of the Year. The images selected by Reuters news agency in London show protests that have dogged Venezuela (pictured, top right) alongside model Elsa Hosk (pictured, bottom right) posing on the 70th Cannes Film Festival's red carpet in France. After a year that has seen increased controversy surrounding Russian president Vladimir Putin's relationship with his Washington counterpart, one of the photographs summing of 2017 is a nod to Soviet history, as a monument of Yuri Gagarin appears against a backdrop of power plant steam in Moscow (pictured, bottom left).

Todd Excell lost his battle with cancer on Mother's Day 2001 when his daughter, Emily, was just eight-years-old. Growing up, brave Emily, of Liverpool, New York, lived out her adolescent years without the presence of her father. Still wanting to be there for his daughter, Mr Excell decided to prepare a letter for each milestone Emily reached in life - but he knew he did not have enough time. Instead, the doting father chose to write a letter to be read out on Emily's wedding day.

When no one showed up to his seventh birthday party, Holden, who is autistic, began to cry. His mother and father were devastated that none of his classmates arrived. Amanda Bridges, his mother, said his entire class was invited. Thankfully, the Ware County, Georgia fire department came to the rescue in heartwarming style. Bridges described on Facebook how her husband flagged down a fire truck and asked if the firemen inside might help his little boy celebrate. She wrote on Facebook: 'It was beyond our wildest imagination.'

A legendary Thanksgiving mix-up involving a grandmother inviting the wrong teenager to dinner has blossomed into a holiday tradition. Last year, Wanda Dench accidentally sent a text message to Jamal Hinton inviting him to her house for Thanksgiving dinner which became an overnight internet sensation (inset left). When the confusion was cleared up, the then 17-year-old cheekily asked if he could still reserve his spot at the dinner table, and the grandmother from Mesa, Arizona, was true to her word. They sat down for dinner after he travelled the short distance from Tempe back in 2016 (left and right), and this year, they kept the convention alive.

From Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen defying age with their stunning looks (pictured, top right) to worshippers taking part in a Naked Man Festival, these are news agency AFP's pictures of 2017. Thousands of men brave freezing temperatures to fight for lucky charms thrown by a priest at Japan's annual nude festival (pictured, top left) in the collection of photos the new provider believes best sum up the past year. Also pictured are 10,000 male dancers taking part in the rehearsal of a mass Saman dance performance in the Gayo Lues highland district of Indonesia's Sumatra island (pictured, bottom right). American firefighters are pictured removing their country's flag from a luxury home in California as flames from a wildfire close in on the property during this year's record-breaking heatwave (pictured, bottom left).

This is the curious moment a group of schoolchildren emerged from a hidden passage behind a wall of mattresses in a Walmart superstore. A video shows a member of staff approach a row of mattresses and remove one to reveal a secret opening harboring a group of school kids. The exact location of the store is not known.

A bobcat miraculously survived being hit by a car after becoming lodged into the vehicle's grill (main) for 50 miles as the driver headed to work. Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) said on Facebook that a woman was driving on Thanksgiving Day when she struck 'something'. 'When she parked at VCU she found that 'something' was a Bobcat still stuck in the grill of her car,' the center said. A represtentative from the RACC and a police officer were then able to 'sedate and free' the bobcat from the car. The adorable creature (top right) was taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia for treatment and release.

A little dog has tried to bite off more than he can chew after becoming obsessed with a set of windscreen wipers. The excitable pup was driven to distraction by the window cleaners when he was riding in the driver's seat of his owner's car on a farm in Brazil.

This is the shocking moment when a lorry crashed into a walkway over a busy dual carriage way, bringing the whole bridge down over the road. Video footage of the dramatic accident shows the vehicle colliding with the footbridge and the structure crashing down around traffic and pedestrians. Miraculously, no one was hurt during the accident which took place last week  on 23rd November in Guayaquil, a port city in Ecuador.

A female customer in Brazil was paying for her products when a bird swooped down and stole her cash right in front of her face. The comical moment was captured on video as both women stared on in bewilderment at the situation.  In the video uploaded Saturday the bird is merely seen perching on the counter for quite some time before picking up the money with its mouth and scuttling off.