Royal recap: Meghan Markle's Australian retreat, late Philip's fury, and more

Morning and happy Friday! 

Today, the British royals are once again out in full force. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue their Australia trip with sailing and rugby plans in Sydney, while the Duchess's highly anticipated “Her Best Life” gives fans the chance to spend an intimate weekend in her company. 

Back in the UK, Princess Anne quietly cracks on with her royal duties as she visits RAF Brize Norton for a special celebration.

We'll bring you all the best photos and biggest royal events as they happen today. Stay tuned...

Queen Mary of Denmark issued a personal message on Instagram to thank her followers for their support following the death of her father, John Dalgleish Donaldson, aged 84.

The post read: "My heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming number of messages, flowers and warm thoughts regarding my father's death. The enormous amount of empathy has touched us deeply and means more than words can say."

Mary's message comes just hours after her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, was spotted on camera giving her a stern warning after she reached down to pet the former monarch's dachshund.

The royals were attending a concert by the Royal Life Guards Music Corps for Margrethe's 86th birthday when Mary couldn't resist a quick cuddle. One Danish fan told HELLO! that Margethe told Mary: "Jeg tror ikke det er den rette tid til det", which translates to "I don't think now is the correct time for that". 

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It seems Princess Anne has had a very busy week! After meeting RNLI volunteers and unveiling a plaque outside Dart lifeboat station, she welcomed newly qualified officers to the Royal Navy at Dartmouth’s Passing Out Parade. 

The royal family shared new photos of the occasion and explained: "The ceremony marked the commissioning of 155 junior officers after their 29 weeks of training. Her Royal Highness has held the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy since 2012 and is the patron of several naval charities, including The Naval Children’s Charity and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity."

It may have been the last day of their four-day trip to Australia, but Harry and Meghan packed in as many events as possible! They started the day by meeting the survivors and first responders of the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack that occurred on 14 December 2025, which saw two gunmen open fire on a group of Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach.

"It means a lot," said lifeguard Jonathan Botts of Harry and Meghan's visit. "They've taken time out of their pretty brief visit to Australia to visit the site and meet with some of the people that were involved and a lot of the people who are affected."

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Next stop for the Sussexes was Sydney Harbour, where they joined members of the Invictus Games community on a boat ride. Harry founded the Invictus Games, a multi-sport event for wounded, sick or injured armed forces personnel and veterans, in 2014. 

"Having the Duke and Duchess return to Sydney Harbour, where sailing first joined the Invictus movement, is a full-circle moment," said Michael Hartung, chief executive of Invictus Australia. See all the best photos here.

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Finally, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent Friday evening at a rugby game between the New South Wales Waratahs and Moana Pasifika. Meghan changed out of her nautical striped blue shirt from Matteau and white 'Sailor' jeans from Rolla's Jeans, as identified by Royal Fashion Police, and into a trench coat for the sporting event.

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But that wasn't all for Meghan! The former Suits actress was pictured at the InterContinental Coogee Beach for the 'Her Best Life' podcast with Gemma O’Neil.

Gushing about Meghan's appearance alongside photos from the talk, Gemma wrote on Instagram: "We could not adore you more @meghan! Thank you for your vulnerability, honesty and joy."

Taking place from 17 to 19 April, the retreat is described as "an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences."

Although Meghan's part is now over, guests - who paid $2,699 for tickets (or $3,199 for VIP) - can still enjoy two nights of accommodation, a gala dinner, a session with therapist Dr Justine Corry, meditation and manifestation session with Gemma, yoga sessions, a sound healing experience and a disco celebration.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not the only royals to have jetted Down Under this week. 

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has returned to Sydney to resume her university studies after a two-week Easter break back home with her parents, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

There's no denying that Princess Madeleine embraced the Great Gatsby theme at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce's 120th anniversary party! The Swedish royal was pictured heading into a New York private members' club in an embellished blush pink gown with a heavily sequined bodice and an ethereal, flowing skirt, finishing her look with pearl accessories, a fur bolero jacket and a Valentino bag.

On the subject of fashion, it's common to see royal ladies wearing elegant evening gowns, such as Madeleine's, but it's unusual to see the likes of the Princess of Wales' wardrobe for her personal outings.

Want to see some of our favourite off-duty royal style moments? From low-cut summer dresses to trendy ballet pumps, take a look at when Princess Kate, Duchess Sophie, Queen Letizia and more weren't expecting to be spotted.

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Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece recently shared a health update about her 21-year-old son, Prince Odysseas, who fractured his skull over Easter. Ody was pictured underneath a blossom tree with his parents in the first photos since his "bad fall".

Reassuring her followers, Marie-Chantal wrote: "Thankfully, everything is under control now, but it meant a sudden change of plans... We had to give up our Orthodox Easter with the family and rush to Florence to be by his side and bring him home."

That's all from me! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Website Editor Kate Thomas will be bringing you more big royal updates this afternoon.

Signing on for blog duties!

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Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko are hosting the Spring Imperial Garden Party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo.

The royals have been pictured chatting to Japanese medalists of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during the special event.

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Princess Diana will be remembered for her simply iconic beachwear looks - and her niece is following in her footsteps.

Lady Amelia Spencer posed in a chic swimsuit during an escape to Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk. The 33-year-old niece of the late Princess of Wales stunned in a butter yellow swimsuit as she posed poolside at the picturesque Sibton Park Estate.

We'll be taking style notes for summer! 

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Meghan Markle concluded her Australian tour with a brief appearance at the 'Her Best Life' women's retreat in Sydney, reportedly earning £130,000 for a two-hour engagement.

Attendees at the event - which is now being dubbed 'Megstock' - paid up to £1,700 for the chance to photograph the Duchess and participate in a Q&A session where she spoke about the difficulties of her life.

According to reports, guests began arriving at the InterContinental Coogee at 3pm to clear intense security, but the official program did not begin until 5pm.

The Duke of Edinburgh made a low-key visit to Brading Youth & Community Centre on the Isle of Wight on Thursday, with the aim of meeting DofE's Award participants.

He also presented the centre with the King’s Award for Volunteering Service.

To celebrate the vital role reservists play in front-line underwater missions, submariners were hosted for a special dinner with HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

The event took place at London’s prestigious Naval and Military Club (famously known as the 'In and Out Club'). As the Commodore-in-Chief Maritime Reserves, His Royal Highness met with members of the RNR Submarine Operations Specialisation to be briefed on their recent achievements and operational successes.

As King Charles III prepares for a high-stakes visit to the United States, tensions behind the scenes are raising serious questions about diplomacy, media strategy, and the monarchy’s role on the global stage.

Meanwhile, across the world, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making headlines with their Australia tour mixing royal-style engagements with unexpected appearances, including a surprise turn on MasterChef.

Then, in a fascinating conversation, Gyles Brandreth shares rare and deeply personal stories about the late Queen from her love of horses, dogs and even pigeons, to her hidden sense of humour, private shyness, deep Christian faith and extraordinary bond with Prince Philip.

From the story of Emma the pony to the Queen waving at Concorde, this episode is filled with remarkable moments that reveal the woman behind the crown.

Throughout her historic 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II was renowned for her unwavering composure. However, a new biography by her longtime friend, Gyles Brandreth, reveals a deeply personal heartbreak the monarch once endured in private.

In his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Brandreth discloses that the late Queen suffered a miscarriage, a detail he recently discussed during an appearance on Best Quality Designer Handbag ’s A Right Royal Podcast.

We recommend listening to the full episode, it's fascinating! 

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Are you more royal than King Charles or set to be executed for treason? Take our new quiz to find out!

I'm Duchess worthy just like the Duchess of Edinburgh - the finer things in life, but without the glitz and glamour of the spotlight, after all! 

Sarah Ferguson has resurfaced in a small Austrian village known for its high-end ski resorts, marking a rare public appearance captured in new photos published by The Sun this Thursday.

And now, according to a new report by the Daily Mail, the former Duchess of York has been relying on the financial backing of wealthy friends to maintain a life away from the spotlight. 

Sources suggest she is currently "desperate" and deeply concerned about potential pressure from "police and politicians" to testify regarding her past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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Queen Mary and King Fredrik of Denmark are preparing for a big weekend: their twins, Vincent and Princess Josephine, are being confirmed this Saturday. This will mark a bittersweet moment for the Danish royals as the happy celebration comes just days after aged 81. 

The family shared a sweet collage of family photos to mark the occasion. The translated caption reads: "A Life in Glimpses: On the occasion of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine’s confirmation on Saturday, April 18, a digital photo album is presented here."

How sweet is this photograph of Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at King Charles' coronation? It was plain to see the adoration on little Louis' face as he gazed up at his big sister. 

We love seeing the pair's special bond - it's plain to see that Charlotte is the boss of her brothers and their sibling dynamic is so lovely to witness on the public stage.

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Logging off here at the London office and handing over to our Los Angeles correspondent, Rebecca Lewis, to keep you abreast of all the day's royal news, live as it happens. 

One of the most enduring love stories was that of the late Queen and Prince Philip, who were married for 73 years before the late Duke of Edinburgh passed away on 9 April 2021.

However,  author Gyles Brandreth has now revealed how "frustrated" Philip was over rumors that he cheated on his wife, and detailed how the late royal initially wanted to take legal action.

Find out more on this week's episode of A Right Royal Podcast.

As King Charles III prepares for a high-stakes visit to the United States, tensions behind the scenes are raising serious questions about diplomacy, media strategy, and the monarchy’s role on the global stage...

For HELLO's take on all this, and more, don't forget to listen to the new episode of our podcast, A Right Royal Podcast.

Elsewhere on the episode, Andrea, Emmy, and Emily discuss Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's headline-making Australia tour, where they have been mixing royal-style engagements with unexpected appearances, including a surprise turn on MasterChef!

Don't forget to send your own hot takes in the comments....