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 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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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.”
ICYMI: New book reveals how high society and British intelligence smeared Wallis Simpson
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.
Watch: Tom Parker Bowles full interview with Geordie Greig
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.
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.
Unseen picture of Meghan Markle posted by former Suits co-star
They played out the couple Mike Ross and Rachel Zane, now Suits actor Patrick J Adams has reminded us all of his friendship with Meghan Markle by posting an unseen photograph of her on Instagram.
The post is to promote the latest episode of his podcast with Sarah Raffery, who played Donna Paulsen in the legal drama series - but it’s also got fans hoping the Duchess of Sussex could be invited for a mini reunion.
One fan wrote: “Keeping my fingers crossed Meghan comes on, love those Suits days.” Another wrote: “I’d sign that petition.”
King to return to full schedule of overseas trips
King Charles is set to return to his normal schedule of overseas tours next year, amid his ongoing cancer treatment.
In an update given by a palace official, it was revealed Charles will fly abroad during the spring and autumn in 2025, provided doctors sanction the travel.
“We’re now working on a pretty normal looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms,” the official said.
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.
Sarah Ferguson claims Princess Kate and William’s wedding triggered ‘great regret’
Royal fans around the world celebrated the marriage of Prince William and Princess Kate during their lavish ceremony in April 2011.
However, a former member of the Royal Family who did not attend the ceremony, Sarah Ferguson, expressed “great regret” at the time.
In a resurfaced interview on the US TV show The Daily, the Duchess of York recalled her own wedding to Prince Andrew at Westminster Abbey on 23 July, 1986.
“I was that bride, and at 25 years old, I went down the aisle of Westminster Abbey,” she said.
Fergie explained that William and Kate’s big day triggered “great soul searching on regret”.
She added: “If I, being me now, could go back to that young girl when I was 24, I would say to her, ‘You know what? I will stick with you. I will stay with you. I’m with you…. You don’t need to run around trying to get everyone to love you. I love you, i.e. yourself, myself’.”
The Duchess continued: “You’ve got me. Listen to me. I will guide you. Listen to your instincts Sarah and be aware of your behaviour and be aware of how lucky you are.
“You’ve got the world. You’ve got the best-looking prince. You’ve got the world at your feet. Don’t blow it.”
Queen Camilla’s son reveals her kitchen secrets
Tom Parker Bowles has lifted the lid on the cooking of his mother, Queen Camilla, and the meals they ate at home while he was growing up.
Describing Camilla as a “good, basic cook”, he said she perfected slow-cooked scrambled eggs (always on the Aga) and roast chicken – but steered clear of all spice and curries.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent’s editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, the renowned food writer discussed everything from his fondest childhood food memories to the one meal that causes Buckingham Palace to grind to a halt.
You can read the full interview below:
Queen Camilla’s son reveals her kitchen secrets
Cooking expert Tom Parker Bowles also tells of his mother’s special way of scrambling eggs– and which meal still causes Buckingham Palace to grind to a halt
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’
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