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

Meghan Markle’s co-star on Suits, Patrick J Adams, has shared an unseen image of the Duchess of Sussex while promoting a podcast with another star of the legal drama

Salma Ouaguira
Wednesday 30 October 2024 12:19
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King Charles heckled by Australian senator: ‘Give us our land back’

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An unseen photograph of Meghan Markle has been shared by her former Suits co-star Patrick J Adams, triggering a debate on social media on whether she’ll join a mini reunion of the show’s actors.

Adams and Markle played out an on-screen couple Mike Ross and Rachel Zane on the long-running legal drama series - and had a strong friendship away from the cameras with Adams invited to the Sussexes’ royal wedding in 2018.

Now, Adams has posted 10 behind-the-scenes images from the filming Suits, including a black and white image of Meghan, in a post on Instragram promoting a podcast episode.

The Sidebar podcast is co-hosted by Adams with Suits actress Sarah Rafferty, who played character Donna Paulsen.

The social media post immediately got fans asking Adams to also invite the Duchess of Sussex, who quit Suits ahead of marrying Prince Harry onto the show. One person commented: “Invite Meghan please!”.

The online debate comes as King Charles enjoyed an Indian spa break while on his way home from his tour of Australia and Samoa.

The King, who is receiving treatment in his battle with cancer, stayed at the SOUKYA resort in Bengaluru in India which describes itself as a “holistic health destination to restore your body’s natural balance of mind, body and spirit”.

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Were Wallis Simpson rumours orchestrated by the British establishment?

Were 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?

This is the question discussed by author Paul French in his new book Her Lotus Year.

Dubbed the “China Dossier”, the collection of rumours accused Simpson of affairs, connections to gangsters, and risque behaviours, but French argues 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.

Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 23:00
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Voices: The royal family’s finances are shrouded in mystery – it’s time to open the books

The view of the monarchy in the UK remains overwhelmingly positive, writes Alan Rusbridger. But the public deserve full transparency on the family’s staggering wealth.

Read the full story:

The royals’ finances are shrouded in mystery: they need to open the books

The view of the monarchy in the UK remains overwhelmingly positive, writes Alan Rusbridger. But the public deserve full transparency on the family’s staggering wealth

Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 22:30
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King takes great strength from Camilla as she ‘keeps it real’

The King “genuinely loved” and “thrived” on his tour tour of Australia and Samoa as it lifted “his spirits, his mood and his recovery, a Buckingham Palace said.

“In that sense, the tour, despite its demands, has been the perfect tonic,” a palace official said.

He went on to say the monarch takes great strength from the Queen being there, not least because she “keeps it real”.

Australia was a significant visit for Charles as it was his first to the country as King and in Samoa he opened a major Commonwealth summit.

Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 22:00
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Pictured: Cameraman and Marine Conservationist Douglas Allan given OBE

Cameraman and Marine Conservationist Douglas Allan poses after being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Princess Royal
Cameraman and Marine Conservationist Douglas Allan poses after being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Princess Royal (Getty Images)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 21:30
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Inside the King’s ‘holistic’ approach to his cancer diagnosis

Details of the King’s “holistic” approach to his cancer diagnosis have been revealed by the palace.

The King has been receiving treatment as an out-patient for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February, and initially postponed all public-facing duties, continuing to work behind the scenes, and returned to events with the public in late April.

Maintaining a work schedule after his diagnosis has been an important part of Charles’s holistic approach to his cancer, and during the recent trip with his wife he maintained a busy schedule for the benefit of “mind and soul” while the doctor on the trip looked after the body.

A palace official said about the large number of events the King attended during the recent tour: “It is also a great measure of the way that the King is dealing with the diagnosis.

“And he’s a great believer in mind, body and soul, and this combination works very well on a visit like this, because he feels that sense of duty so strongly that to keep his mind and his soul engaged and then the doctor is here to make sure that his body is properly looked after, you’ve got what makes for very successful visit in in these circumstances.”

Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 21:00
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Pictured: Princess Anne gives OBE to children’s book author Joseph Coelho

Joseph Coelho, from Musselburgh, Children's Laureate is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Princess Anne
Joseph Coelho, from Musselburgh, Children's Laureate is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Princess Anne (Getty Images)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 20:30
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Pictured: Princess Anne gives OBE to BBC presenter Nicholas Owen

Nicholas Owen, from Kinver, is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Princess Anne
Nicholas Owen, from Kinver, is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Princess Anne (Getty Images)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 18:30
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Kate Middleton sends touching letter to actor with cancer

The Princess of Wales recently connected with Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, both of whom are cancer survivors.

Koirala, who has overcome stage IV ovarian cancer, received a heartfelt letter from the Princess of Wales congratulating her on her recovery and return to work.

She said: “I wanted to reach out to HRH The Princess of Wales to send my good wishes. I am deeply heartened to receive such a warm response from her.

“I want to use my voice to not only support cancer patients but also to raise awareness about the need for equitable healthcare access and the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Having faced cancer myself, I know how isolating and challenging the journey can be, and I believe it is essential that we all play a part in changing that reality for others.

Kate, now cancer-free and back to her royal duties, has not revealed the specific type of cancer she faced, which needed major abdominal surgery earlier this year.

The Princess of Wales recently announced she had completed her course of chemotherapy (Mike Egerton/PA)
The Princess of Wales recently announced she had completed her course of chemotherapy (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 18:00
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Prince William breaks silence on Harry in touching tribute to their mother Diana

Prince William has mentioned Prince Harry publicly for the first time in years, as he recalls a childhood memory in his upcoming documentary.

The Prince of Wales recounted the time his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him and his brother to visit a homeless shelter more than 30 years ago.

He said: “My mother took me to The Passage. She took Harry and I both there. I must have been about 11, I think probably at the time, maybe 10. I’d never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect.”

The mention of Harry is believed to be the first in six years. The last time William spoke about hus brother publicly is thought to be in 2018 when the pair were interviewed at Royal Foundation Forum.

Previously unseen pictures have also released as part of the documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, showing William as a child on the visit.

(AP)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 17:00
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King’s ‘hot equerry' Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson is engaged

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, known as King Charles’ equerry, is engaged to Olivia Lewis.

Thompson gained attention on social media following King Charles’ accession in September 2022, particularly with a viral TikTok video.

He was also featured during the coronation in May 2023, where a video of him assisting the King garnered significant views.

The Times announced the engagement, saying: "The engagement is announced between Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thompson of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Olivia Rose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Lewis OBE of Primrose Hill, London."

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, equerry to King Charles III,
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, equerry to King Charles III, (Getty Images)
Salma Ouaguira29 October 2024 16:44

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