Shivon Zilis, the longtime partner of Elon Musk and mother of four of his children, says the billionaire ended their relationship suddenly and without warning. “It’s hard to go from in love to let go in a week,” the Neuralink executive wrote.

Zilis shared her emotional account in an extended post on X on Friday, describing herself as “hurting.” Her message came only hours after social media users noticed that Musk had unfollowed her on the platform he owns.

“I’ve loved him more than life itself,” Zilis, 40, wrote. She said Musk had given her “100 lifetimes of knowledge” and filled her life with meaning, making the breakup especially painful. Still, she added, the two had created “four beautiful little loves of my life.”

Zilis said she remains profoundly grateful for their children, who she described as making every day the best of her life. She also expressed hope that she and Musk could eventually maintain a strong friendship and successfully co-parent.

She said she was glad to have shown Musk what it felt like to be deeply understood, cared for and loved in a calm, stable and gentle relationship.

“I loved being that counterbalancing place of safety, sense of calm, and love,” Zilis continued, adding that she took joy in helping him smile when he was struggling. “I will miss him dearly.”

Zilis, who is the mother of four of Musk’s 14 children, appeared to suggest that the split caught her off guard. Alongside her statement, she posted a screenshot of affectionate text messages exchanged by the pair just one week earlier.

“I’m hurting, but care deeply about E and will always be cheering for his happiness,” Zilis wrote. “God speed, Elon. The world is lucky to have you.”

Musk, 55, has not publicly addressed the reported breakup.

A possible indication that tensions had emerged came on September 28, when Zilis posted the cryptic message: “New day, new life.”

Later on Friday, Big Tech Alert, an account that monitors the social media activity of prominent technology figures, reported that Musk had unfollowed Zilis.

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The Tesla founder follows only about 1,400 accounts on X, making the change particularly noticeable to online observers.

The reported split follows Zilis’s appearance as a witness earlier this year in Musk’s legal battle with OpenAI.

Born in Ontario, Canada, and a Yale University graduate, Zilis first met Musk through OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company he helped co-found in 2015.

During her testimony, Zilis said their relationship began with “a one-off” encounter at a corporate off-site event before developing into a friendship.

She later joined Tesla, working as a project director on the company’s Autopilot team from 2017 to 2019. She subsequently became director of operations and special projects at Musk’s brain-implant company, Neuralink.

Zilis told the jury that, after deciding to have children as a single mother, Musk offered to provide a donation as a platonic sperm donor.

Their twins, Strider and Azure, were born by IVF in November 2021. News of their third child, Arcadia, surfaced in June 2024. Their son, Seldon Lycurgus, followed in February 2025.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Zilis and Musk.

More to follow. 

A cryptic letter linked to Napoleon Bonaparte has been deciphered for the first time in more than two centuries.

The message was sent in 1809 to French general Auguste de Marmont by Napoleon’s stepson, Eugène, who served as Viceroy of Italy.

After an opening sentence in French, the following 24 lines descend into a jumble of two-digit numbers, isolated letters and unfamiliar symbols.

The original document would likely have been accompanied by a cipher key, but that guide disappeared long ago, leaving the letter’s contents undeciphered.

Carter Church, an engineer with cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, has now solved the puzzle with the help of artificial intelligence.

“I used GPT–6 Astra to break an unsolved cipher to one of Napoleon’s generals that had gone unread for 217 years. What makes this impressive isn’t actually the codebreaking, but that Astra completed the entire multi-modal workflow in six hours from a single image and goal,” he wrote on X.

On March 16, 1809, Napoleon wrote from Paris to Eugène, asking him to forward a letter to Auguste de Marmont, an ally of the Emperor whose forces were stationed in Dalmatia, across the Adriatic.

Because Austrian territory separated Marmont from the other French armies, his troops risked being cut off if war broke out.

The letter begins in French with the sentence: “Vous avez dû recevoir, Monsieur le Général Marmont, mes lettres des 8, 14 et 20 courant.”

The line translates as: “You must have received, General Marmont, my letters of the 8th, 14th and 20th of this month.”

But because the remainder was written in an elaborate code, the message behind it remained unknown.

Church enlisted GPT-6 Astra, an artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI, to investigate the cipher.

After six hours of analysis, the AI had reconstructed the hidden message.

“Astra cut the 1,202 by 1,836 plate into rows, read the signs, decided which of 175 hand–drawn marks were the same sign written twice, and only then began breaking the cipher,” Church wrote in a blog post.

The decoded letter maps the positions of French and allied forces and tells Marmont not to be “intimidated” by his isolated location.

“The Russians are marching against Austria, and the army [of] Friuli today numbers eighty thousand men,” the newly deciphered text states.

‘Add the Dalmatian corps, without counting the reserves being organised everywhere in the rear, and you see that Austria will be attacked at once on every side. 

‘She is consequently hastening toward her ruin. 

‘When you receive the order to march, you must not allow yourself to be intimidated by a few troops or a gathering of rabble.’

According to Mr Church, the cipher itself wasn’t actually difficult to crack. 

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However, he admits it would have taken humans much longer than the AI, which was able to whizz through it in just six hours. 

He added: ‘The cipher itself isn’t difficult, and cryptographers could have cracked this easily given the time/energy. 

‘But, the work to transcribe, catalog, translate, then crack is involved and multi-disciplinary.

‘Every field has an unsolved backlog of niche problems that specialists don’t have the bandwidth to tackle. 

‘The takeaway here is that the people shortening those lists will increasingly be outsiders who were simply curious.’ 

The Duchess of Sussex has expanded her luxury jewellery collection with several eye-catching pieces, including a diamond bracelet named for Princess Diana. Meghan Markle has now given followers the opportunity to shop the complete £75,000 ($100,000) outfit featured in her latest promotional images.

In photographs promoting her new £112 chocolate advent calendar, the 45-year-old was dressed in head-to-toe designer fashion and accessorised with three striking new additions to her jewellery wardrobe.

Among the most expensive pieces was a yellow-gold tennis necklace by Jennifer Meyer, valued at $61,250—approximately £46,000.

The full ensemble Meghan wore while browsing the calendar is now available to view and purchase through an online fashion advert.

Her look appears on Meghan’s OneOff fashion page, a platform that allows users to shop items worn by public figures. The Duchess earns a percentage of sales generated through the service.

Meghan is understood to receive a share of OneOff’s commission, which ranges between 10 and 25 per cent on each item sold. She is also an investor in the AI-powered fashion company.

The commercial approach drew criticism earlier this year after the clothing Meghan wore while embracing survivors of the Bondi Beach terror attack was promoted on her OneOff page. Fifteen people were killed in the attack.

In the latest images, Meghan appeared to honour her late mother-in-law with Logan Hollowell’s Diana diamond bracelet, a $32,550 (£24,645) design added to her collection.

She paired the bracelet with Logan Hollowell’s Reverse Water Drop Martini Studs, which are priced at $5,575, or about £4,200.

The Duchess also wore her wedding ring, a Cartier Love bracelet and Princess Diana’s iconic Cartier Tank Française watch. On her right hand was the unidentified pear-shaped diamond ring that experts previously told the Daily Mail represents “independence, self-love and personal power”.

Her accessories also included a glittering Oura Ring fitness tracker. The device was fitted with a £2,100 diamond-encrusted sleeve by Logan Hollowell, which Meghan was first seen wearing in July.

For clothing, Meghan chose a $695 cream cashmere sweater from Co and a khaki silk skirt by Argent Bias. The skirt originally retailed for $250 but is no longer available.

She completed the outfit with powder-pink ruched ballet flats by Aquazzura, priced at $1,369.

The images were shared on Instagram as Meghan launched the first advent calendar from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, in partnership with Los Angeles-based gourmet chocolatier Compartés.

Described as being “inspired by her Montecito home and garden”, the calendar features a festive illustration of the £11 million property where Meghan and Prince Harry lived for six years.

A press release said every element had been carefully considered, including countdown numbers hand-painted in Meghan’s own handwriting with edible gold lustre.

The limited-edition calendar contains 24 handcrafted chocolates. Flavours include strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade, along with a “special chocolate finished with Meghan’s own flower sprinkles”.

Compartés’ dark chocolate ganache truffle is also included, while Meghan’s handwritten details are intended to make each daily opening feel like “a small, personal moment”.

The product is priced at $148 (£112) and will be available to pre-order in the US on As Ever’s website from 5pm UK time today, with delivery from early next month.

Meghan’s business described this as the ‘latest chapter in an ongoing collaboration between the two brands’, after the $12 (£9) As Ever x Compartés chocolate bars.

As Ever explained that the box’s design was ‘inspired by Meghan’s Montecito home and garden’, and she worked on it with Compartés creative director Jonathan Grahm.

The product is ‘made to be enjoyed through December and treasured long after’ and ‘brings together the artistry of Compartés and the warmth that defines As Ever’.

An email sent to the As Ever mailing list last night said: ‘Created in collaboration with celebrated Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, our limited-edition Advent Calendar arrives tomorrow for holiday pre-order.

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‘Reserve yours beginning tomorrow for November delivery, just in time for the season of anticipation to begin. Some things are worth the wait.’

Compartés said it was also selling three other ‘ultra-giftable advent calendars’ at $120 (£91) each, including ‘Enchanted Castle’, ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Winter Forest’.

Ahead of today’s product launch, Meghan also shared a video of her and Mr Grahm zooming around an unidentified estate on a golf cart on her Instagram Stories.

The Duchess, who was behind the wheel, could be heard saying ‘Hang on!’ as Mr Grahm added ‘Stay tuned!’ and they enjoyed a laugh together.

The clip was set to Michael Bublé’s hit Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and captioned ‘Christmas planning in June’.

Meghan also included early prints of the box’s artwork and footage of her beloved black Labrador Pula carrying an As Ever plushie toy in her mouth while the duchess lovingly stroked her head.

She has continued promoting As Ever, which was launched in February last year, on Instagram since returning to the UK in August with the couple’s children Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet.

Ahead of launching the advent calendar, As Ever shared Meghan’s top hosting tips, which include having ‘as much prepped as possible before guests arrive’.

Meghan also advised saving one ‘simple task for the end’.

In an Instagram post labelled ‘Meghan’s Hosting Notes’, her As Ever firm suggested it should be: ‘Something you can finish in the kitchen while everyone settles in.’

It added: ‘A little preparation goes a long way toward making hosting feel effortless.’

The advice was accompanied by a picture of Meghan tying a white apron around her waist.

The duchess’ Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which offered recommendations for hosting, cooking and crafting, was panned by critics when it was launched alongside As Ever, which sells jam and flower sprinkles, in 2025.

Meghan welcomed her close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen to the UK last month, and Ms McKee Zajfen posted that the duchess has been given a ‘loving’ reception on her return, which has been ‘beautiful to witness’.

The Princess of Wales’s sister, the then Pippa Middleton, once wrote a book called Celebrate, about entertaining, but it was mocked for its over-simplistic advice and even sparked a parody social media account.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan’s spokesman said yesterday that international paparazzi who were seen looking into the grounds of Archie and Lilibet’s school were ‘extraordinarily reckless’ and accused them of an ‘unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children’.

Two young men with backpacks and using a white van are understood to have been spotted by private security and school staff walking the perimeter of the school and monitoring children.

A spokesman for the Sussexes called the actions ‘an extraordinary lack of judgment’ in the wake of the suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, with a number of American children with families connected to the base said to attend the school.

Harry and Meghan, who returned to live in the UK just over a month ago, are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security.

They pulled Archie and Lili out of their first-choice British school in September after just two days when heavy traffic in the area meant their private security team struggled to stay in a convoy during the school run.

The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California.

Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather King Charles, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile.

In the run-up to their return, Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.

Within two weeks of arriving, there was reported pushback from Harry and Meghan after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were ‘private citizens’ and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.

The duke and duchess were said to be ‘surprised’ by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term ‘public figures’ instead.

Donald Trump has withdrawn his threat to restrict diesel exports after European countries agreed to release part of their strategic reserves.

The US president said G7 allies would make “massive” volumes of fuel available after urging them to help lower energy costs ahead of next month’s US midterm elections.

However, French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 leaders had also agreed that there would be no “measures to restrict the exchange of energy and petroleum products between partner countries”.

The diplomatic push came as average diesel prices in the UK climbed above £2 a litre for the first time.

The RAC said the average price reached 200.01p a litre this morning, setting another record. Analysts had warned that prices could surge to £3 a litre if Washington proceeded with its export restrictions.

Still, concerns remain that drawing down reserves now could leave Europe exposed to further supply shocks in the months ahead, particularly if Houthi attacks disrupt Saudi production or shipping through the Red Sea.

Mr Trump said the release would start “immediately”, while Mr Macron said as many as 100 million barrels would reach the market “within four months”.

Ed Miliband represented the UK on the emergency G7 call this afternoon, standing in for Andy Burnham while the prime minister attended his father’s funeral.

Economists said curbing exports might have reduced US fuel prices in the short term, but warned that the policy would probably have produced the opposite effect over time.

Writing on Truth Social this afternoon, Mr Trump said: “Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately.”

Mr Macron later issued his own account of the discussion, saying the leaders had “agreed to work in a coordinated manner to help bring down the prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel”.

The French president added that member states would make production more flexible so refineries could operate at maximum capacity.

Under the plan, up to 100 million barrels of oil will be released from strategic reserves over four months, with the International Energy Agency coordinating the operation.

The US was understood to have asked the European Union to release 120 million barrels of diesel during the next six months.

Crucially, the meeting concluded that there would be “no measures to restrict the exchange of energy and petroleum products between partner countries”.

Mr Trump had said he was “very seriously” considering limits on diesel exports, with the US currently the world’s largest exporter.

Mr Burnham had previously said he was lobbying Mr Trump against imposing such an embargo.

Around a quarter of the UK’s supplies typically come from America. 

Diesel has been particularly hard-hit by the chaos in the Middle East. 

Even before that Europe had become increasingly dependent on US fuel after banning Russian imports over Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said this morning: ‘This is a pump price threshold that no-one wanted to cross – the average price of a litre of diesel has risen to a record 200.01p and is showing no signs of slowing, heaping more misery onto motorists.

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‘The cost of filling up an average family car is now £110, almost £32 more than it was at the start of the US-Iran war.

‘This will be very challenging for households and companies that drive a lot of miles, from commuters, haulage and delivery firms, businesses with large fleets all the way through to sole traders.

‘In a cruel twist, it’s diesel vehicles, which were once considered the most cost-effective option for lengthy journeys, that are now burning a hole in people’s pockets.’

The separate RAC Foundation found that average diesel prices on the Government’s Fuel Finder site were over £2 a litre earlier this month. But this is the first time the mark has been reached on the most-followed measure.  

UK officials spoke with their counterparts in Germany, France, Italy and Ireland yesterday as well as at the European Commission to consider using stockpiles of the fuel.

Britain holds only 40 days worth of diesel reserves, whereas some other nations have more than 200 days. 

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters yesterday that the US administration expected announcements soon from Europe about new diesel supplies.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said European states should release diesel reserves ‘immediately’, adding: ‘Our European partners should accelerate delivery on their existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available to address ongoing disruptions.’

A Whitehall source said that Washington was deploying ‘brazen negotiating tactics’, telling the Times that bowing to US demands could lead to a ‘really, really bad’ supply shortage this winter.

There are concerns that the Red Sea could be effectively closed by Houthi action, sparking another wave of energy shocks.

‘These reserve stocks are there to act as a buffer against supply shortages,’ the source said. ‘They are not there to bring fuel prices down.’

Motoring organisations have urged the Government to extend the current 5p cut in fuel duty beyond the end of this year, when it is currently scheduled to be reversed.

A decision on what happens to fuel duty is due to be announced by Chancellor John Healey in his Budget speech on October 28.

Mr Burnham admitted earlier this week that the UK is on track for an ‘energy crisis’ this winter, as costs surge on international markets. 

A 4 per cent hike to Ofgem’s energy price cap took effect yesterday, and there are warnings that household bills are set to soar by another £300 from January.

Mr Healey has insisted he will try to help families at the Budget on October 28, but the Government is facing a desperate struggle to balance the books as debt interest costs rise.  

Campaigners urged the Government to make plans now to support all households with energy costs this winter because of the severity of forecast bill hikes.

Transport minister Keir Mather insisted the UK had a wide-range of sources of fuel.

Mr Mather told Sky News: ‘I want to reassure people this morning that the United Kingdom has got a diverse range of supply when it comes to diesel.

‘We have resilience built into our system for that reason. We are working very closely with our US counterparts to stress the importance of that relationship, and the importance of sustaining flows of diesel around the world, but also working through international fora in the International Energy Agency and partners in Europe from whom we get a proportion of our diesel imports as well.’

He added: ‘Although prices have gone up at the pump, the Government is aware of that and the freeze in fuel duty is still in place. People shouldn’t be concerned about shortages because of the inherent resilience that is built into that system.’

Pressed on LBC whether he agreed with President Trump about European diesel reserves, he said: ‘We’re working closely with our European partners on diesel supply. It means we’re continuing those discussions about how we retain our resilience and robustness of our supply chains.

‘President Trump is welcome to make those comments, we’ve got to focus here at home about ensuring that we have diversity of supply into our economy. Our European partners are absolutely central to that, particularly the flows of diesel coming through the Netherlands.’