Royal news live: Unseen Meghan Markle picture sparks debate as King Charles enjoys ‘holistic’ Indian Spa break

Queen Camilla made a keynote appearance earlier this week as she and King Charles toured the streets of Sydney, opting to remove her heels for a relaxed walk back to Admiralty House.

The 77-year-old monarch, fresh from a six-day visit to Samoa, embraced a more casual look, shedding her shoes and enjoying the warm pavement.

While this move may have surprised some, it aligns with a trend among high-profile royals.

Notably, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has also gone barefoot on several occasions, first making headlines when she did so in 2012.

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, affectionately dubbed the ‘hot equerry’, has announced his engagement to Olivia Lewis, his girlfriend of 18 months.

The announcement, first reported in The Times, has sent ripples through royal circles, as admirers of the dashing equerry come to terms with his impending nuptials.

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Meghan Markle reportedly turned down a “golden opportunity” that could have earned her millions, according to industry experts.

The Duchess of Sussex, who played Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama Suits from 2011 to 2019, previously earned nearly £40,000 per episode ($50,000) before stepping away from acting following her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.

The show recently gained renewed popularity, amassing 57.7 billion minutes of viewership on Netflix last year, and is set to expand into a "major franchise" with its upcoming spin-off, Suits: LA.

But Hollywood insiders have criticised Meghan's refusal to return for the new series, which was reportedly written with her in mind, suggesting that she may have missed a lucrative opportunity.

Media finance analyst Mike Raia said: "This could become the costliest decision of her life and one that she may bitterly regret in years to come."

Prince Harry has received a three-word ultimatum to repair his strained relationship with the royal family, according to royal commentator Rupert Bell.

Mr Bell suggested that the Duke of Sussex must "eat humble pie" after his brother, Prince William, extended an olive branch in his upcoming ITV documentary about homelessness, set to air tonight.

During a discussion with royal podcast host Kinsey Schofield on her YouTube channel, the royal expert claimed that it would be "odd" if William did not mention Harry in the context of the documentary.

Critics are debating whether any reference to Prince Harry represents a gesture of reconciliation from William, especially given their tense relations since Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020.

Mr Bell said: "They looked after each other, and that’s what’s so sad about it.”

Tom Parker Bowles, stepson of King Charles and Queen Camilla, has revealed that he and his children have yet to join the royal family for their traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham.

In a candid interview with People, he said: “We are married in; we are not the royal family.”

Despite his close ties to the royals, he explained that various commitments, including as his job and his children’s schooling, have prevented them from attending the festive celebrations.

“I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly, and we’ve known them all for a long time. It does seem natural,” he added.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have fostered a blended family since their marriage nearly 20 years ago.

Bowles added that his children, Lola, 17, and Freddy, 14, have grown fond of their step-grandparents, affectionately referring to them as “Gaga and Uppa.”

His younger son even participated in the coronation ceremony, serving as a page alongside Prince George.

Speculation is swirling around Meghan Markle’s potential next career move, with some royal experts suggesting she may release her own memoir.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said she could make new revelations about her time in the Palace to “monetise her truth”.

He told Talk TV: “A part of me wonders if, similar to Jada Pinkett Smith, Meghan’s going to wait to reveal her truth until she finds a way to monetise it.

“Jada did that with her book, and Meghan has technically already done that with the Netflix series.”

A new book investigates whether the scandalous stories surrounding Wallis Simpson’s time in China were the product of society gossip or an orchestrated effort by the British establishment to sabotage her relationship with the future Edward VIII.

Dubbed the “China Dossier”, this collection of rumours accused Simpson of affairs, connections to gangsters, and risque behaviours, but author Paul French argues in Her Lotus Year that none of these claims had any factual basis with Simpson.

Instead, they appear to have been drawn from unrelated incidents in 1920s China, and possibly amplified by figures in British intelligence.

French’s research suggests that the tales were carefully constructed to tarnish Simpson’s reputation, showing the lengths to which the establishment may have gone to block a royal union with a controversial American divorcee.

“They just wanted to scupper this relationship somehow,” French said.

With 21 deluxe rooms, private gardens and open-air showers, the SOUKYA spa resort looks to be the perfect stop-off for King Charles on his way back from his tour in Australia and Samoa.

The health care centre, spread over 30 acres of scented orchards, is a renowned resort for celebrity clientele, with the likes of Dame Emma Thompson and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu having stayed there.

It’s been reported that King Charles and Queen Camilla have enjoyed morning yoga sessions along with rejuvenation treatments at the £3,000-a-week site.

The Palace issued a statement on Sunday revealing that King Charles will return to regular overseas trips next year as he adapts to living with cancer.

An update about the state of the King’s health or his treatment has not been given but the news that Charles will take on more overseas trips suggests his cancer is being managed successfully.