Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tour of Colombia begins today and the former working royals have a packed four-day itinerary.
Vice President Francia Márquez said the couple will visit local schools to encourage young people to improve their digital literacy and promote a greater awareness of mental health.
As part of the visit’s aim to “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”, they will also be immersed in the country’s arts and culture as they visit the capital city of Bogotá as well as Cartagena and Cali.
Harry and Meghan will also meet with the country’s Invictus Games team.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip comes as the timeline for the Princess of Wales’s ongoing cancer treatment has been revealed.
She will continue to receive “preventative chemotherapy” over the summer to treat an undisclosed form of the disease before spending some months recovering.
“The direction is positive [but] there will not be great change [in terms of her public appearances] and no one is giving a timescale for her return,” the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English said.
Key Points
- Harry’s chief of staff quits after three months
- Prince and Princess of Wales congratulate Team GB in video
- Harry and Meghan’s Colombia tour dubbed ‘a distraction’
- Queen Elizabeth’s flying habits revealed
Meghan Markle embraces Colombian Vice President
16:41
Emma Guinness
The Duchess of Sussex has been photographed embracing the Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez.
She and the duke arrived in the country today for a four-day unofficial tour designed to “illuminate” the country’s “role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in Colombia
16:01
Emma Guinness
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in the Colombian capital of Bogotá.
Harry and Meghan were greeted by Vice President Francia Márquez, who they enjoyed coffee, tea and traditional Colombian cheese bread with.
The two parties also exchanged gifts to mark the beginning of the couple’s four-day visit.
Royal family in Balmoral for ‘crunch talks'
16:00
Emma Guinness
The royal family are having more than just their summer break at Balmoral and are engaging in “crunch talks” about their future.
One of the most pressing topics of discussion is reportedly Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are beginning their second unofficial tour of the year in Colombia today.
An insider told the Daily Express: “What people don’t realise is that the Balmoral gathering isn’t just a summer holiday.
“The family also participates in pre-arranged meetings where they discuss the family’s current position and how they can best prepare for the future.
“Last year was very much about honouring the Queen, as it was the King’s first time hosting the gathering since her death - but this will be about how the family can best move forward without the Sussexes.”
Duke and Duchess of Sussex to have ‘full security’ on Colombia tour
15:00
Emma Guinness
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have full security on their tour of Colombia, a representative for the couple confirmed to The Independent.
This comes after Harry, 39, recently said that he will not bring Megan, 43, to the UK because he fears “an acid or knife attack” inspired by negative tabloid stories.
The couple lost their security in the UK after stepping down as working royals in 2020.
Harry and Meghan to attend Colombian music festival
14:00
Emma Guinness
Today marks the start of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s unofficial tour of Colombia and further details about the trip are being made public.
This includes the revelation that they will attend the Petronio Alvarez Festival on Sunday, 18 August.
Mayor Alejandro Ede told the Mirror: “They are going to come to Cali and spend a day in the city.
“They’re going to visit the Petronio Alvarez Festival in the city and they’re also going to visit other social initiatives.”
Despite being undertaken in the Sussex’s capacity as private citizens, the visit will have many of the hallmarks of a royal tour.
Harry and Meghan blasted by former staff member
13:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been blasted by a former staff member following the news that their chief of staff quit after just three months in the role.
According to reports, Josh Kettler was hired on a trial basis and his departure was a mutual decision.
A former employee of the Sussexes told the Daily Mail: “What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance.
“These aren’t employees they had just found off the streets. Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.”
Princess Anne turns 74
12:00
Emma Guinness
Princess Anne is celebrating her 74th birthday with the royal family in Balmoral today.
Widely considered one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, she has been praised the world over for her dedication to the role of Princess Royal.
The occasion was celebrated on the official royal family Twitter/X account with a series of pictures of the princess throughout the years.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s titles ‘up for discussion'
11:00
Emma Guinness
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s titles are “up for discussion” during the royal family’s summer break at Balmoral, an insider has claimed.
This comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle begin their second unofficial tour of the year to Colombia today (15 August).
“The Royal Family is meeting at Balmoral to discuss various issues, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” an insider told the Daily Express.
“What people don’t realise is that the Balmoral gathering isn’t just a summer holiday.
“Not only will Harry and Meghan’s tours and upcoming trip to Canada be on the agenda, but their titles and peerages will also be up for discussion.”
According to reports, Harry and Meghan were not invited to Balmoral.
Kate Middleton’s cancer recovery timeline revealed
10:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales’s ongoing cancer treatment plan has been revealed as the royal family enjoy their summer break at Balmoral.
Kate, 42, will continue to receive “preventative chemotherapy” over the summer before spending some months recovering from an undisclosed form of the disease.
The Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English said: “The direction is positive [but] there will not be great change [in terms of her public appearances] and no one is giving a timescale for her return.”
The princess has made just two public appearances this year after announcing her diagnosis in March.
Harry and Meghan’s packed Colombia itinerary
09:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s four-day unofficial tour of Colombia is packed with engagements that will “illuminate” the country’s role as “a beacon of culture and innovation”.
It will also give the former working royals a chance to expand upon their work with the charity, the Archewell Foundation, as they visit schools to promote the importance of digital literacy and mental health awareness.
Other engagements set to be undertaken as they visit the capital of Bogotá as well as the cities of Cartagena and Cali will promote arts and culture in the country.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to arrive in Colombia today
08:00
Emma Guinness
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to arrive in Colombia today (15 August) for their second unofficial tour of the year.
Designed to “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”, the visit will last for four days and see the couple protected by full security.
The couple will visit three different locations on the tour – the capital Bogota, Cali and Cartagena.
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no longer working royals, the trip is being undertaken in their capacity as private citizens.
King Charles ‘still unwell’ despite return to duty
06:00
Emma Guinness
King Charles is reportedly “still unwell” despite making an impressive return to duty after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
According to an insider, his appearances are being “fantastically well managed to give the impression that everything is fine.”
“Charles is doing a magnificent job fighting his cancer but he is still unwell,” a source told The Daily Beast.
“It is being fantastically well managed to give the impression that everything is fine, but it is noticeable to those of us who are aware of such things that the engagements are shorter and carefully scheduled; for example, he sometimes arrives by helicopter at the last minute before being choppered away and presumably collapsing in an armchair at home.”
Colombian residents dub Harry and Meghan’s tour ‘a distraction'
03:00
Emma Guinness
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s imminent tour of Colombia has been described as a “distraction” from the country’s problems by locals.
Harry and Meghan are set to arrive today (15 August) for a visit that will “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
“I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated,” a Colombian lawyer told the Mail on Sunday.
“Of course, their star power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago. They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad.”
The couple will have full security on the trip to Colombia, where issues like kidnapping are rife.
William and Kate hail Olympic success
Thursday 15 August 2024 00:00
Emma Guinness
The Prince and Princess of Wales have extended their congratulations to Team GB in the wake of the Paris Olympics.
Taking to Twitter/X, they wrote: “Well done @TeamGB, what an incredible journey! Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion.
“You made us all so proud! Here’s to celebrating every triumph at @Paris2024 and looking forward to more from @ParalympicsGB later in the summer”
This was accompanied by a heartfelt message from the couple that included celebrity cameo appearances from stars including David Beckham.
Harry and Meghan will visit ‘beacon of anti-colonialism’ slave town
Wednesday 14 August 2024 22:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit a former slave town on their unofficial tour of Colombia, it has been revealed.
Described as a “beacon of anti-colonialism”, San Basilio de Palenque was founded by escaped slaves in the 17th century, The Telegraph reports.
The former working royals are due to arrive in Colombia tomorrow (15 August) following the success of their unofficial tour of Nigeria earlier this year.
This month’s tour is designed to “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
Kate Middleton ‘very comfortable with royal family'
Wednesday 14 August 2024 20:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales’s relationship with the royal family has been praised as they enjoy their summer break at Balmoral.
It is believed that this is the furthest Kate, 42, has travelled since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to holiday at the estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
“This is a huge move. Not only because she is obviously not well yet, but it shows she feels very comfortable with the Royal Family,” royal family biographer Angela Levin said,Yahoo! Life reports.
“She is very happy with the king and the queen and she knows they will understand if she has to rest. She can say what she likes and be warmed. I think it’s wonderful she can do that. The children will be delighted also.”
Meghan Markle could ‘take the gloves off’
Wednesday 14 August 2024 18:00
Emma Guinness
Following the “ugly repercussions” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ongoing feud with the royal family, it has been claimed that the Duchess of Sussex is being put under pressure to write her own tell-all memoir.
“It’s not just about pride of hurt feelings, there are very ugly repercussions for them when this constant narrative that they’re family outcasts keeps getting fed. It impacts their brand as well as their morale, and it had the potential to put them more at risk,” an insider told Closer magazine.
“The talk among their friends is that it’s time to take the gloves off and do away with the diplomacy. Another tell-all would cause so much trouble, this feud would go nuclear.”
Royal family trying to keep holiday ‘as private as possible'
Wednesday 14 August 2024 16:00
Emma Guinness
The royal family are currently enjoying their summer break at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
A source close to the family has claimed they are attempting to keep the visit “as private as possible” amid rumours that Meghan Markle is writing a tell-all memoir.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly not invited on the trip.
However, it is unlikely that they would have accepted an invitation after Prince Harry said the UK is currently too dangerous for Meghan to visit.
A Palace source told the Daily Express: “There has been a gentle reminder that social media posts and photos from family events are to be avoided.
“It’s a private family holiday and due to extended members of the family joining this year, they are trying to keep everything as private as possible.”
Meghan Markle ‘under pressure’ to write memoir
Wednesday 14 August 2024 15:00
Emma Guinness
The Duchess of Sussex is considering writing her own tell-all memoir about her time in the royal family, an insider has claimed.
This comes as the royal family enjoy their summer break in Balmoral, Scotland, which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly not invited to.
“They’re now being forced to figure out a strategy to fight back, and one option on the table is to go all-out with a big tell-all from Meghan where she completely lays out her side of the story,” the insider told Closer magazine.
Thomas Markle GoFundMe raises over £56,000
Wednesday 14 August 2024 13:00
Emma Guinness
A fundraiser set up to mark the “rejected and abandoned” Thomas Markle’s 80th birthday has now raised a staggering £56,000.
Set up by British socialite Lady Colin Campbell, the GoFundMe is designed to “demonstrate to him that there are still people in the world with good hearts, good values, and good intentions.”
Ahead of the milestone birthday, Thomas, 80, said he simply wanted to reconcile with his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, and finally meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The pair fell out around the time of Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry over a staged paparazzi photoshoot.
Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates RNLI anniversary in Guernsey
Wednesday 14 August 2024 11:56
Emma Guinness
The Duchess of Edinburgh got her sea legs on to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI in Guernsey this week.
Sophie, 59, took to the captain’s wheel as part of the engagement, as announced on the official royal family Twitter/X account today.
“It was all hands on deck in Guernsey this week!” the post read.
“The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is Patron of @uksailtraining, took to the water to meet over 100 young people ahead of the small ship race from Guernsey to Poole.
“The race is to commemorate the @RNLI’s 200th anniversary. Her Royal Highness wished everyone participating safe and happy travels - and the very best of luck!”
Princess Beatrice could ‘initiate peace’ between Harry and William
Wednesday 14 August 2024 10:00
Emma Guinness
Princess Beatrice could help to heal the frosty relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William, an insider has claimed.
Their relationship has grown increasingly strained since Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020 and gave a series of tell-all interviews about his time in the royal family.
“[Princess] Beatrice could act as a peacemaker for Harry, William, and Charles,” King Charles’ former royal butler Grant Harrold told the Express.
“She would be someone to initiate peace in the family. She’s close to both William and Harry, as well as the King –and they trust her.”
Prince Harry to miss uncle’s funeral over ongoing security concerns
Wednesday 14 August 2024 08:58
Emma Guinness
The Duke of Sussex will not attend the funeral of his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes in the UK.
Harry, 39, will be absent from the event due to “many challenges”, including a lack of security, The Telegraph reports.
This comes after the duke recently said that he will not bring his wife Meghan Markle to the UK anymore because he fears a “knife or acid attack” inspired by negative tabloid stories.
Harry has been fighting to have his taxpayer-funded security reinstated after losing the protection when he stepped down as a working royal in 2020.
Lord Fellowes passed away at the age of 82 on 29 July.
Who is Josh Kettler? The latest member of staff to leave the Sussexes
Wednesday 14 August 2024 06:00
Athena Stavrou
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has left the role just three months after taking it on.
The Duke of Sussex handed Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, he has now parted ways with the couple, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit.
Kettler is a seasoned public relations professional and was previously chief of staff at the communication platform Cognixion.
Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff to the CEO at Better Place Forests, Strategy, Operations, and Executive Support at Patagonia and Business and Legal Affairs at Lions Gate Films
Chief of Staff latest in long list of resignations handed to Sussexes
Wednesday 14 August 2024 05:00
Athena Stavrou
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has left the role just three months after taking it on.
It is not the first time Harry and Meghan have had to navigate the loss of staff, with the couple having seen 18 senior figures leave since they married in 2018.
Nine or more have left since they moved to California in 2020, including key staff from Archewell Productions.
The manager of the company that makes TV programmes and films, Bennet Levine, quit in January after two years at the firm. He worked on the couple’s Netflix documentary before making his exit.
Another big loss came when Oscar-nominated producer Ben Browning left as the couple’s head of internal content in January 2023 - a month after Rebecca Sananes, who was hired to produce Meghan’s Spotify podcast Archetypes, quit in December 2022 as head of audio at Archewell.
That same month, the president of the couple’s charitable foundation, Mandana Dayani, stepped down after a year and a half at Archewell.
Full story: Prince Harry’s chief of staff quits after just three months leaving Sussexes in limbo before Colombia tour
Wednesday 14 August 2024 03:00
Athena Stavrou
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Chief of Staff has become their latest senior employee to quit - just three months after starting the job.
The Duke of Sussex handed Josh Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, Mr Kettler has now parted ways with the couple, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual and both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit.
Mr Kettler, who was previously chief of staff at communication platform Cognixion, began his role the week before the couple’s visit to Nigeria in May and also accompanied Harry to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Read the full story here:
Inside Queen Elizabeth’s royal flights as memorabilia up for auction
Wednesday 14 August 2024 01:00
Athena Stavrou
An air hostess who served Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip has revealed the late monarch’s flying habits as memorabilia from her flights go under the hammer.
Notes from Elizabeth Evans, a British Airways air hostess from Birmingham, revealed that the Queen liked to drink a martini before meeting guests on royal flights and always requested a particular type of mint - sugar-free Velamints - during take off.
She also preferred to use her own pillows and enjoyed looking at route maps.
Ms Evans served many famous travellers during her 28-year career that began in 1970. She served the royals during their 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.
She collected mementoes from her time - including instruction cards and menus - serving the rich and famous which were found in her study after her death.
The memorabilia, inherited by Mrs Evans’s niece, Jo Smallwood, is expected to fetch between £400-£600 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Aug 20.
Rare King Charles banknotes sell for 11 times face value at charity auction
Tuesday 13 August 2024 23:00
Athena Stavrou
New banknotes worth £78,430 have been sold for more than 11 times that at an auction for charity.
The notes, all featuring King Charles’ portrait, only entered circulation last June and were put up for bidding by the Bank of England.
The £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes were an attractive draw to collectors for their very low serial numbers. A single £10 note with the serial number ‘HB01 000002,’ sold for £17,000 at bidding.
The very first issues – which would feature the serial number ‘000001’ – were all presented to the monarch, leaving all the next in line to go under the hammer.
Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reveal fears for Archie and Lilibet in latest interview
Tuesday 13 August 2024 22:00
Athena Stavrou
Full story: Prince Harry’s chief of staff quits after just three months leaving Sussexes in limbo before Colombia tour
Tuesday 13 August 2024 20:00
Athena Stavrou
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Chief of Staff has become their latest senior employee to quit - just three months after starting the job.
The Duke of Sussex handed Josh Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, Mr Kettler has now parted ways with the couple, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual and both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit.
Mr Kettler, who was previously chief of staff at communication platform Cognixion, began his role the week before the couple’s visit to Nigeria in May and also accompanied Harry to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Read the full story here:
Chief of Staff latest in long list of resignations handed to Sussexes
Tuesday 13 August 2024 19:00
Athena Stavrou
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has left the role just three months after taking it on.
It is not the first time Harry and Meghan have had to navigate the loss of staff, with the couple having seen 18 senior figures leave since they married in 2018.
Nine or more have left since they moved to California in 2020, including key staff from Archewell Productions.
The manager of the company that makes TV programmes and films, Bennet Levine, quit in January after two years at the firm. He worked on the couple’s Netflix documentary before making his exit.
Another big loss came when Oscar-nominated producer Ben Browning left as the couple’s head of internal content in January 2023 - a month after Rebecca Sananes, who was hired to produce Meghan’s Spotify podcast Archetypes, quit in December 2022 as head of audio at Archewell.
That same month, the president of the couple’s charitable foundation, Mandana Dayani, stepped down after a year and a half at Archewell.
Who is Josh Kettler? The latest member of staff to leave the Sussexes
Tuesday 13 August 2024 18:00
Athena Stavrou
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has left the role just three months after taking it on.
The Duke of Sussex handed Kettler the prestigious title earlier this year as it was believed he would be the ideal candidate to “guide” the couple through their “next phase”.
However, he has now parted ways with the couple, with it understood he was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit.
Kettler is a seasoned public relations professional and was previously chief of staff at the communication platform Cognixion.
Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff to the CEO at Better Place Forests, Strategy, Operations, and Executive Support at Patagonia and Business and Legal Affairs at Lions Gate Films
Rare King Charles banknotes sell for 11 times face value
Tuesday 13 August 2024 17:00
Athena Stavrou
New banknotes worth £78,430 have been sold for more than 11 times that at an auction for charity.
The notes, all featuring King Charles’ portrait, only entered circulation last June and were put up for bidding by the Bank of England.
The £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes were an attractive draw to collectors for their very low serial numbers. A single £10 note with the serial number ‘HB01 000002,’ sold for £17,000 at bidding.
The very first issues – which would feature the serial number ‘000001’ – were all presented to the monarch, leaving all the next in line to go under the hammer.
The single note that attracted the next highest bid was a £50 with serial ‘000003,’ selling for £14,000, followed by a £5 with the same serial, selling for £11,000.
Prince William’s rugged new look sparks huge debate online
Tuesday 13 August 2024 16:02
Athena Stavrou
Prince William stole the spotlight in a surprise video with Princess Kate as his new rugged look sparked a major online debate.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined Snoop Dogg and David Beckham to congratulate Team GB athletes as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an end this weekend.
However, it was not the couple’s kind message that grabbed the attention of viewers as most seemed preoccupied by their appearances. Kate, who is undergoing cancer treatment, stood smiling in a striped long-sleeved top and a simple necklace. William sported a markedly more casual look, with a Team GB T-shirt and most notably a long stubble.
Royal fans immediately took to the facial hair, which marked a departure from his usual clean-shaven look.
“Love the beard on Prince William,” one social media commented as another pleaded: “William please keep growing that beard!’.
Another illustrated their approval with flame and heart eyes emojis as they wrote: “William with a tan and a beard!!!!”
Others took a more sarcastic approach to the new look saying: “Ohhh... William is really in vacation mode.”
“Someone got permission from the king to grow a beard,” another one wrote.