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
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An unseen photograph of Meghan Markle has been shared by 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 an on-screen couple Mike Ross and Rachel Zane in the 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 Suits images on Instagram, including a black and white image of Meghan.
Fans began asking Adams on social media to invite Meghan, who quit Suits ahead of marrying Prince Harry, to the reunion.
It 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”.
Meanwhile, an ITV documentary aired on Wednesday night about a homelessness campaign led by Prince William, in which he shares an anecdote about visiting a homeless charity with his mother, Diana, and brother, Harry.
Meghan Markle to ‘give blessing’ for royal reunion
Meghan Markle may be open to letting Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie meet King Charles, but only if security concerns are addressed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have reportedly secured a new home in Portugal, have raised hopes for a closer relationship to the Royal Family without the pressure of UK visits.
Sources told Closer: “Now, if it is deemed safe from a security standpoint, it’s likely she’ll give her blessing for Harry to take Archie and Lilibet to see their grandpa, King Charles, at some point.
“And in terms of logistics, having a place in Portugal will make that easier, because Meghan can fly over with the kids without feeling trapped.”
Prince Harry speaks at Nato about Invictus Games charity
Prince Harry has addressed the Nato military committee to speak about his charity Invictus.
Appearing via video link from his Montecito mansion, the Duke of Sussex told members about “the breadth and development of the Invictus programme and the progress it is making to expand the scope of its mission”.
While Harry did not attend the conference in New York, a team from the Invictus Games foundation was sent.
The meeting comes a year after the Duke’s 2023 Invictus Games Netflix documentary ‘Heart of Invictus’ aired - which focused on wounded soldiers.
According to Nato, the delegation said: “The core purpose of Invictus is to support the recovery and rehabilitation of Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) Service Members through sport and adventure.
“The Invictus Games Foundation is working to continue establishing a global community where rehabilitation and recovery are better enabled and understood.”
Prince Harry urged to ‘eat humble pi’ to heal family rift
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.”
The £3,000-a-week luxury spa resort King Charles has visited
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.
Charles and Camilla loved Bengaluru food so much they ‘plan to bring royal chefs for training’
King Charles and Queen Camilla are said to have expressed such fondness for the cuisine at their recent retreat in Bengaluru that they are considering bringing their royal chefs to India for training.
Dr. Isaac Mathai, who runs the renowned holistic destination, revealed that the royal couple is eager to learn how to replicate the delicious dishes they enjoyed during their stay.
Dr Mathai said: “They love the food to the extent that they are ready to bring down their royal chefs to India and train them – and have often expressed their wish to do so.”
“One time, she wanted us to pack the soup we make here and take it with her on her private jet, we of course agreed!”, he added during an interview at the lush, 30-acre institution, suggesting that she loves the leek soup made at the premises.
Dr Mathai also extended an open invitation for the royal couple to visit again, allowing for the pair to disconnect from the trials and tribulations of leading a life in public.
“Of course, we are very excited to see them again at Soukya. They are our least demanding guests and soak in every bit of our retreat... Be it the morning yoga, the sattvic food – which is strictly vegetarian – [or] the ayurveda treatments,” he said.
King’s ‘hot equerry’ Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson is engaged
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.
The engagement announcement read: “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.”
You can read more about the King’s ‘hot equerry’ below:
King’s ‘hot equerry’ Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson announces his engagement
King Charles and Queen Camilla could be among the attendees at the wedding of the ‘hot equerry’
Meghan Markle could release ‘new memoir’ in next career move
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.”
Government to punish Russian agencies targeting Princess Kate
The government will sanction Russian agencies linked to a disinformation campaign that targeted Princess Kate following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The disinformation network, known as the Doppelganger group, was formed of six Russian agencies and individuals accused of spreading false rumors about the Princess of Wales in March - shortly after she revealed her health condition.
The Foreign Office described this network as a “vast malign online presence” designed to disrupt democratic processes and create confusion through the dissemination of fake news.
Condemning the actions, foreign secretary David Lammy said: “Putin is so desperate to undermine European support for Ukraine that he is now resorting to clumsy, ineffective efforts to stoke unrest.”
The Doppelganger’s operation was first detected by security experts at Cardiff University, who identified the methods used to push false narratives online about the Princess.
In response to the campaign, the Princess of Wales took a firm stance by publicly addressing her diagnosis, quelling the unfounded speculation that had spread across social media.
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.
Inside the no-frills health retreat Charles and Camilla can’t keep away from
It is a place where the Queen has brought a number of friends and relatives – returning a total of seven times.
Eschewing her hectic day-to-day schedule, it is at the Soukya health retreat in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru that Camilla is said to be a devotee of yoga, embracing the ritual and championing the food.
Arpan Rai reports from the Soukya retreat where the King and Queen have found a home away from home in Bengaluru, India.
Inside the no-frills health retreat Charles and Camilla can’t keep away from
Arpan Rai reports from the Soukya retreat where the King and Queen have found a home away from home in Bengaluru, India
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