Author: bang3

BBC executives joked that the Martin Bashir scandal would see them sent for a ‘ten-year stretch in the Tower’, newly released documents reveal.

In previously unseen internal messages, senior figures appeared to quip that the bombshell 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, would also cost them knighthoods.

Their ‘unguarded’ exchanges bore the subject heading ‘Hussy [sic]/Panorama’ and came after the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey had emailed the BBC over the affair. The emails are part of a trove of 10,000 pages of documents released by the corporation relating to the programme in which Diana famously declared ‘there were three of us in this marriage’.

Her interview was so explosive, the BBC’s then-chairman Lord Hussey was kept in the dark in case he told his wife, Lady Susan, who the BBC feared might tip off Queen Elizabeth. In 2020, as the scandal reared its head again, with the Mail revealing Bashir forged and lied his way into Diana’s trust, Lady Susan emailed the BBC’s head of history Robert Seatter asking why the BBC felt it was right to have given ITV footage of an interview her late husband had recorded for the corporation about the Panorama saga.

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BBC executives joked that the Martin Bashir scandal would see them sent for a ‘ten-year stretch in the Tower’, newly released documents reveal. Pictured: Princess Diana’s Panorama interview with Martin Bashir

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In previously unseen internal messages, senior figures appeared to quip that the bombshell 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, would also cost them knighthoods

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Their ‘unguarded’ exchanges bore the subject heading ‘Hussy [sic]/Panorama’ and came after the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey had emailed the BBC over the affair

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A few days later Mr Seatter engaged in a ‘reply-all’ email exchange with two BBC lawyers, Peter De Val and Elizabeth Grace, with the subject ‘Hussy/Panorama’ (sic). In one, Mr De Val wrote: ‘Get you a 10-stretch in The Tower… do they still have the Rack there? I expect so.’

In another, Mr Seatter joked: ‘Is my knighthood to follow after this?! I somehow think not…’, to which Ms Grace answered: ‘Can you do a deep curtsy?’ and Mr De Val replied: ‘I don’t think any of us will be appearing in the honours list for a while… And the Grenadier Guards do still work for Her.’

READ MORE: ‘He is a disgrace to the BBC’: Journalist trying to uncover the truth behind Martin Bashir’s infamous Panorama Diana interview blasts his ‘pitiful’ claims he’s being criticised because he’s ‘non-white’ on the Mail’s YouTube talk show The Reaction 

It is not possible to understand exactly what the trio were talking about, because the BBC has blanked-out several pages from the email trail. It argues these pages contain ‘legally privileged’ information. The gap in the correspondence means the precise context of their remarks has not been revealed. Last night the BBC categorically denied the distasteful jokes were about Lady Susan.

A spokesman insisted: ‘They were unguarded exchanges between colleagues working remotely during lockdown.’

The corporation has spent more than £200,000 of licence-payers’ money trying to prevent the 10,000 pages being made public, fighting a two-and-a-half year legal battle against journalist Andy Webb’s freedom-of-information requests.

It finally gave up on Tuesday night, handing the documents to Mr Webb – but many were swathed in censor’s black ink or were just blank pages. One of the emails that was not censored, from 2020, revealed Mr Bashir blamed his ‘non-white’ status at the BBC and ‘professional jealousy’ for the scandal erupting.

Last night another email showed that the BBC deliberately held back internal documents which Mr Webb had asked for in 2020.

Despite successfully finding the files he had asked for, an email from lawyer Miss Grace to a former BBC executive said ‘we are not releasing all of the internal investigations documents at this present time’.

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A handwritten note to the rogue reporter from Tony Hall (pictured), who went on to become BBC director-general, congratulated Bashir on ‘the interview of the decade’

Mr Webb told the Mail: ‘This is the first time we’ve seen an internal email indicating this was their thinking.’ And he told GB News: ‘Now, as we speak, people at the Information Commissioner’s Office are looking to see whether the BBC has, as I alleged, committed a criminal offence.’

The BBC rejects allegations it acted unlawfully by not revealing information. A spokesman said: ‘Far from attempting to conceal or cover up matters, the BBC commissioned Lord Dyson to conduct an independent investigation so that he could gain a full picture of what happened in 1995.’

The BBC‘s handling of the Bashir scandal is full of unanswered questions. One of the biggest is: ‘Who’s watching what the BBC bosses are up to?’

When a private company goes off the rails, the shareholders can march in and demand a halt. The closest we have to that with the BBC is the board.

This has 14 members, four of them the corporation’s topmost bosses, the rest outsiders. Academics, bankers, lawyers and media bigwigs. Three are knights, one a dame, and their job is to hold the executives to account.

So what do these outsiders make of the fact that board member, BBC director-general Tim Davie, has spent more than £150,000 to keep 3,000 documents linked to Martin Bashir‘s infamous interview with Princess Diana under wraps?

At an information tribunal last year, Judge Brian Kennedy KC made his judgment of the BBC’s conduct clear, registering ‘serious concern’. I immediately sent a copy to all ten outsider board members. The response? Absolute silence.

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The BBC ‘s handling of the Bashir scandal is full of unanswered questions. One of the biggest is: ‘Who’s watching what the BBC bosses are up to?’

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At an information tribunal last year, Judge Brian Kennedy KC made his judgment of the BBC’s conduct clear, registering ‘serious concern’

This is not the first time the board has remained markedly quiet on the subject. On April 25, 1996, the then board of governors were summoned to a meeting at Broadcasting House – days after The Mail on Sunday had reported how Bashir had deployed his forged bank statements to secure his interview with the Princess.

The board knew, then, that something unseemly had happened. They didn’t know, however, that four days earlier BBC bosses had reviewed the position in secret and determined a cynical course of action to cover up Bashir’s actions.

‘The Diana story is probably dead – unless (her brother Charles) Spencer talks’, then-BBC executive Anne Sloman wrote in a memo. Briefing the board in that Thursday meeting was Lord Hall, later to become BBC director-general. He knew that Bashir had lied repeatedly about the forgeries, but, told the members that Bashir was ‘honest and an honourable man’. The board swallowed his story, whole.

Had just one member raised searching questions, the cover-up might have crumbled. History could have been different.

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When the Dyson Report was published in 2021, Sir Richard expressed his deep regret that he and the rest of the board had been lied to

Many who attended that meeting 28 years ago are no longer alive – but one of them certainly is. Sir Richard Eyre, 80, is a film director festooned with honours.

When the Dyson Report was published in 2021, Sir Richard expressed his deep regret that he and the rest of the board had been lied to. He said Lord Hall saw them as nothing more than ‘ineffectual, ignorant fools’.

Sir Richard is well informed on the current scandal. He was invited to direct the two episodes of Netflix series The Crown which cover Bashir’s activities. And while he doesn’t directly criticise the BBC now, he does urge current board members to reflect on what happened all those years ago.

So should they demand an inquiry? If so, the BBC’s incoming chairman, the veteran media executive Samir Shah, 72, will at least know his way around the dark corners of New Broadcasting House.

From 1987 to 1998, including that key period when Bashir preyed on Princess Diana, Mr Shah was very close to the top of the BBC. In fact, he was Lord Hall’s deputy.

Props from Netflix‘s TV series The Crown, including replicas of the Queen’s Gold State Coach and Diana’s Jaguar, have sold at an auction for more than £1.67 million.

Nearly 450 items from the hit Netflix show were sold in a white glove sale, meaning every lot was sold.

The top lot was a 1987 Jaguar, used to portray the car driven by Diana, Princess of Wales, which went for almost four times its estimate at £70,250.

A replica of the Gold State Coach used by the Queen, which Bonhams says is the world’s only reproduction, fetched £56,280, with a pre-sale estimate of between £30,000 and £50,000.

Two thirds of the size of the 1762 original, it was made by prop-maker Jason Szukalski, who took hundreds of photos of the real one on display at Buckingham Place to ensure every detail was copied.

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The world’s only copy (pictured) of the Gold State Coach fetched £56,280

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The top lot was a 1987 Jaguar, used to portray the car driven by Diana, Princess of Wales , which went for almost four times its estimate at £70,250

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Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki seen wearing a replica of Princess Diana’s revenge dress in season five

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The replica is based on the design by Christina Stambolian and sold for £12,800

A reproduction of the Queen’s coronation chair sold for £25,600.

Also sold were costumes worn by actors who portrayed members of the royal family across the six seasons of the show.

How much The Crown items sold for

Diana’s 1987 Jaguar – £70,250
Replica of the Gold State Coach – £56,280
Queen’s coronation chair replica – £25,600
Diana’s revenge dress replica – £12,800
Replica of Diana’s Harvard sweatshirt – £5,760
Diana’s engagement dress replica- £3,840
Diana’s engagement ring copy – £7,680
Ensemble modeled off Princess Margaret’s wedding – £2,560

A dress worn by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki, inspired by Diana’s revenge dress, sold for £12,800, and had a guide price of £8,000 to £12,000.

The outfit was named after the princess wore it to an event the same night the then-Prince of Wales confessed to infidelity on national television.

Another of Diana’s outfits was a Harvard sweatshirt ensemble, also worn by Debicki, which sold for £5,760 and had a pre-sale estimate of £500 to £700.

In series four the show recreated the dress Diana wore during the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles – a royal blue crepe skirt suit with pussybow blouse.

The replica, worn by actor Emma Corrin, sold for £3,840 and a reproduction of Diana’s engagement ring went for £7,680.

Another memorable dress from the series was Princess Margaret’s wedding ensemble, worn by actress Vanessa Kirkby in series two, which was sold for £2,560.

The 473-lot sale, which made more than £1,674,000 million after a pre-sale estimate of £525,000, followed an exclusive three-week exhibition at New Bond Street in London.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards scholarships at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

Charlie Thomas, Bonhams UK group director for private and iconic collections, said: ‘It has been an immense privilege to work with (production company) Left Bank Pictures on this incredible sale.’

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A reproduction of the Queen’s coronation chair sold for £25,600

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Claire Foy and Matt Smith pictured filming season two of The Crown in an episode where a ball has been thrown in their honour

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The bright blue gown Claire Foy wore for the scene sold for £3,200

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Pictured: Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles and Princess Diana in season four of The Crown

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The replica, worn by actor Emma Corrin, sold for £3,840

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Another of Diana’s outfits was a Harvard sweatshirt ensemble, also worn by Debicki, which sold for £5,760

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A replica of Princess Margaret’s wedding dress was worn by actress Vanessa Kirby in The Crown which was sold for £2,560. Pictured left, Princess Margaret on her wedding day on May 6, 1960

He continued: ‘The Crown Auction offered a unique opportunity to own pieces from the landmark show, the closest most of us will get to the real thing.

‘We are delighted with the result – a white glove sale in which everything was 100% sold.

‘It is without doubt testimony to the success of the series and the incredible talent that worked on The Crown.’

Jon Wardle, director of the NFTS, said: ‘We are thrilled with the result and enormously grateful to Left Bank Pictures.

‘The proceeds from the auction will play a crucial role in supporting life-changing scholarships at the National Film and Television School, ensuring the next generation of film and television makers are given the opportunity to benefit from our world-renowned training, paying forward The Crown’s legacy for many years to come.’

Andy Harries, chief executive of Left Bank Pictures and executive producer of The Crown, added: ‘It is a fantastically fitting end to The Crown to see the props and costumes raise such phenomenal amounts of money for the NFTS Left Bank Pictures scholarship at Bonhams this week.’

Meghan Markle has released a new photo of herself wearing Princess Diana’s old watch to announce a podcast deal just hours after the couple launched their new website Sussex.com.

The Duchess of Sussex said she was ‘overjoyed’ to make a ‘dynamic’ new series after joining forces with female-founded US podcast network Lemonada Media, which aims to ‘make life suck less’ with shows around sex, grief and LGBTQ issues .

The move, which comes after the couple’s £18million Spotify contract ended early last year, will also see Lemonada distribute Meghan’s previous series Archetypes.

She made the announcement on Sussex.com just 24 hours after the website was launched, alongside a new portrait photo taken by her friend Misan Harriman.

Meghan wore a £310 Totem grey dress and a gold Cartier watch worth £17,800 which once belonged to her husband Prince Harry‘s late mother Princess Diana.

She also had a £5,000 Cartier Love bracelet, which she has worn many times in the past and is said to have been a gift from Harry in the early days of their romance.

The Duchess had her dark brown hair styled in large curls, and previously sported the look and dress at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last September.

Hinting that other projects could be in the pipeline, Meghan said the deal was a ‘fantastic way to kick off 2024’ and she was ‘eager’ to share the new podcast.

It comes as Harry and Meghan touched down in Vancouver yesterday to begin a three-day visit to Canada from today until Friday tied to next year’s Invictus Games.

Photographer Misan Harriman has tweeted the portrait photograph he took of Meghan Markle

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Misan Harriman and Meghan Markle are seen at an event in Montecito on November 15, 2023

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Harry and Meghan are pictured at the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event yesterday

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Work has already started on the new series which Meghan will host. The amount she has been paid has not been revealed – but given that Lemonada Media is a much smaller player in the podcast market, it is unlikely to be as big as the Spotify deal.

Lemonada Media was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer, an executive producer, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, co-founder of a theatre company.

Meghan said in a statement on Sussex.com: ‘I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting.

‘Being able to support a female-founded company with a roster of thought-provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.

‘Our plan to rerelease Archetypes, so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.’

The new deal comes after the Sussexes and Spotify ‘mutually agreed to part ways’ in June last year, three years after the contract began in 2020.

The audio firm said it would not renew Archetypes, which featured 12 episodes from August 2022, for a second series.

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Meghan was pictured beaming as she watched her husband in Whistler, Canada yesterday

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Harry and Meghan were pictured on Valentine’s Day in Canada

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Meghan wore the Cartier Tank watch, gifted by Harry that once belonged to Princess Diana

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Meghan’s watch was originally owned by Prince Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, who is seen wearing it on her wrist at an engagement at the British Lung Foundation in London in 1997

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Meghan also wore a Cartier Love bracelet, which is thought to have been a gift from Harry

Top Spotify podcast executive Bill Simmons then called Harry and Meghan ‘f***ing grifters’, adding: ‘I’ve got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It’s one of my best stories.’

Archetypes had around one million listens per episode and debuted as Spotify’s number one podcast in 47 countries around the world when it launched in 2022.

The series explored the labels that try to hold women back and included guests such as Mariah Carey, Serena Williams, Jameela Jamil and Pamela Adlon.

The series won a People’s Choice Award for The Pop Podcast of 2022 and Meghan won best entertainment podcast host at the Gracie Awards.

Under the new deal, Archetypes will now be rolled out to all audio platforms with Lemonada distributing.

Ms Kramer said: ‘We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratise access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon.

‘Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters.’

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Meghan Markle is pictured recording her Spotify podcast which launched in August 2022

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The end of the couple’s Spotify deal was announced in 2023, three years after it was signed

And Ms Wittels Wachs added: ‘As we’ve started development with The Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work.

‘The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together.’

Lemonada produces shows around sex, grief and LGBTQ issues to help ‘make life suck less’.

The company was launched in 2019 by Ms Kramer and Ms Wittels Wachs who bonded after both losing their brothers to overdoses.

In May 2016, Ms Wittels Wachs told MailOnline of her horror at how news of her late brother Harris Wittels’s death was leaked by TMZ before her mother had been notified.

Mr Wittels, who was best known for his work on US comedy TV series Parks and Recreation as a co-executive producer, died aged 30 of a heroin overdose in February 2015 after a two-year battle with drug addiction.

Ms Wittels Wachs said his death ‘the worst day of my life’ but she also found it strange to be ‘grieving privately and seeing all this public grief’ because he was a trending topic.

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Lemonada Media founders Jessica Cordova Kramer (left) and Stephanie Wittels Wachs (right)

Ms Kramer’s brother Stefano Cordova Jr died of a fentanyl overdose in October 2017, which she later described as the ‘worst f***ing thing that ever happened’.

Ms Kramer first got in touch with Ms Wittels Wachs in April 2018 after hearing her talk about her brother’s death in a podcast with humour, with the intention of booking her on a show she was helping to produce called ‘Pod Save the People’.

The two bonded instantly, having attended New York University at the same time and suffering similar family tragedies – and soon set up a podcast called Last Day.

This was a 25-part series, during which Ms Kramer spoke about the circumstances leading to Mr Cordova’s death.

Speaking about the show to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2019, Ms Kramer said: ‘Stefano might be a little p***ed. He was a very private person. But the choice of telling his story creates space for other people to feel less shame and celebrate the life he had. I think he’d eventually understand.’

The pair now work with a host of celebrities from Sarah Silverman to Julia Louis-Dreyfus and have big backers including Stephanie Hannon, who served as chief technology officer for Hillary Clinton ‘s 2016 presidential campaign.

Ms Hannon has joined Lemonada’s advisory council, which already includes former US Representative Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy – the nephew of former President John F Kennedy – and activist DeRay Mckesson.

Ms Wittels Wachs said in a interview in 2022 that they realised ‘people are struggling and feeling really alone’, adding: The mission for Lemonada was born. Our desire to make the hard things easier.’

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Prince Harry and Meghan at the Bob Marley: One Love film premiere in Jamaica on January 23

One of Lemonada’s most popular shows is Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which spent 29 days in a row at the top of the Apple Podcast charts.

In the podcast she sits down with Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Amy Tan, Diane von Furstenberg, Isabel Allende and Fran Lebowitz ‘to get schooled in how to live a full and meaningful life’.

Another podcast, Being Trans, follows a group of transgender people navigating their daily lives and promises ‘over the season, you’ll get to experience what it’s like Being Trans.’

Also on Lemonada is Raised by Ricki which revisits the iconic 90s talk show, the Ricki Lake Show, hosted by Ricki herself.

Meanwhile Burnout, hosted by Connor Franta, looks at ‘how society reached a burning point and what we can do – really, actually do – to break the cycle.’

Ms Kramer and Ms Wittels Wachs have said before that they try to choose difficult topics that impact a lot of people and to offer solutions.

Before Lemonada, Ms Kramer worked as a Wall Street lawyer and then Teach For America, while Ms Wittels Wachs was working as a theatre director and writer.

Within their company, they focus on workplace culture, saying in a 2022 interview: ‘We want to make life suck less for our listeners but also for our staff. We lead with empathy.

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The new homepage of Sussex.com features an image of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023

‘We have a generous PTO (paid time off) and paternal leave policy along with bereavement leave.’

In 2021 the New York Times reported that ‘every production meeting begins with a round-robin mental health check-in.’

On Monday night, Harry and Meghan launched a new website – with their previous site, Archewell, now automatically redirecting to ‘Sussex.com’, which consistently refers to the couple by their official royal titles.

A picture of the couple dominates the main web page, overlaid with the text: ‘The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex’. It also features Meghan’s royal coat of arms.

In the ‘About’ section, the website states: ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy.

‘This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organisations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together.’

In individual biographies of the couple, Harry is highlighted as a ‘humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner’, while Meghan is described as a ‘feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity’ who has been named ‘one of the most influential women in the world’ across a series of rankings.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in June 2018

Archewell had replaced Harry and Meghan’s previous Sussex Royal brand after they quit royal duties.

The name was inspired by their son Archie – combining ‘arche’, the Greek word meaning source of action, and ‘well’ as ‘a plentiful source or supply; a place we go to dig deep’.

The new website links to the couple’s non-profit organisation the Archewell Foundation and their production company Archewell Productions.

The launch of the site comes as the King’s slimmed-down monarchy has been put under pressure in a way not seen before during his reign, with Charles postponing all public-facing duties due to his cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales out of action for the immediate future following abdominal surgery.

Harry, who lives in California with his wife and their two children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – flew to the UK last week to meet with the King following his diagnosis.

He made the visit without Meghan and their children less than 24 hours after the announcement about Charles’ health was made to the nation by Buckingham Palace.

But there was no meeting with his brother, the Prince of Wales, after Harry spent around 45 minutes at Clarence House seeing Charles.

King Charles is planning a ‘full programme’ of overseas tours next year following a new vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.

The monarch, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt ‘lifted’ by his trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day.

And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day round-trip, have explained it was all part of his ‘mind, body and soul’ approach to his cancer battle.

This attitude is one reason, they say, he has insisted on continuing his work since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in February, despite the gruelling physical toll of his illness.

Aides say Charles has allowed his doctors to concentrate on healing his body, while he has focused on his mental strength in dealing with such a ‘striking’ and unexpected blow, determined to keep his mind ‘in the right state’.

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Buckingham Palace also issued new photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoying a beach walk in Samoa, looking joyful and relaxed.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile during a visit to a beach in Apia, Samoa

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a farewell ceremony at Siumu Village on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa

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King Charles holds a bowl during a ceremony at Siumu Village, Samoa on October 26

They also revealed:

Charles had red boxes of official papers flown Down Under to work on once he has concluded his busy days of engagements
 At Queen Camilla’s urging, he has been taking some down time by reading a ‘great’ new book;
 The King feels closer to his wife than ever. The couple are a ‘remarkable unit’, courtiers say, and she has kept it ‘real’ for him;
While his cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock, Charles decided almost immediately to try to turn it into a force for good, sharing his story with millions of other sufferers and taking ‘comfort’ from their support;
His Australia and Samoa tour was seen by Buckingham Palace as a huge test of his reign – and surpassed all expectations, possibly putting the republican cause Down Under back by a generation;
The protest by an indigenous Australian in parliament left him unbothered. ‘He’s seen it all.’

So where will Charles go next?

News that King Charles is planning more overseas tours begs the question: where next?

Aides will be looking to the 14 Commonwealth realms where Charles is head of state, which include Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand, which were dropped from this tour due to the King’s health.

Charles was rumoured to be planning a spring tour to Canada last year, prior to his diagnosis, so this is likely to top the list.

William and Catherine visited the realms of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in 2022 on behalf of the late Queen, but the tour was overshadowed by protests and PR missteps.

There is a constitutional need for the King to visit countries where he is head of state, and there will be motivations to quell stirrings of independence, especially after Barbados became a republic in 2021.

Away from the realms, Buckingham Palace must also act on government advice. Since Charles ascended to the throne, diplomats have prioritised post-Brexit trade relations with Europe. Notably, his first overseas tours as monarch were to France and Germany.

Government priorities also influenced recent state visits in London from South Africa, South Korea and Japan, with a visit from Qatar in December.

But while his treatment is ongoing and he approaches his 76th birthday, flying long-haul will be a significant undertaking.

The positive health news comes as Charles and Camilla concluded their trip by hosting a ‘King’s Dinner’ for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, followed by a visit to a village to thank locals for their hospitality.

Buckingham Palace also issued new photos of the royal couple enjoying a beach walk, looking joyful and relaxed.

When the possibility of undertaking a tour within just eight months of being diagnosed with cancer was first raised earlier this year, staff were not sure how the King would react.

Typically, however, they said the answer wasn’t ‘how dare you?’ but ‘why can’t I do New Zealand as well?’ A source said: ‘He didn’t even hesitate. We had to hold him back.’

A palace official said yesterday: ‘It’s great testament to the King’s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.’

As for the volume of engagements he took on each day, despite his evenings being kept free to recuperate, they made clear he had been bouyed by the challenge.

‘It is a great measure of the way the King is dealing with the diagnosis,’ they said. ‘He’s a great believer in mind, body and soul.

‘It is hard to overstate the joy he takes from duty and service and being in public and seeing those crowds. That really lifts the spirits. You can see that.’

Aides have told this newspaper about the deep concerns privately expressed about how the King’s visit to Australia, the first to any of his realms as monarch, would be greeted.

 ‘There was a lot to play for, it was massively important to us,’ they added. ‘A new King, a new reign and a new world.’

Having Camilla, 77, with him, helped immeasurably. A senior royal aide described the couple as a ‘remarkable unit’, adding: ‘The King gets great strength from the Queen being there, not least because she keeps it real.’

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave as they board an Royal Australian Air Force plane ahead of departing from Faleolo International Airport in Samoa

Charles and Camilla enjoy a traditional ceremony in the rain in Samoa

Charles was so buoyed by the past week – as were his doctors – that he is looking at a return to normality next year. ‘We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year,’ a senior royal official said, suggesting that the traditional spring and autumn tours will be back on the cards. Canada is likely to be high on their list. Of course, every decision made will be subject to discussion with the government, his ongoing treatment – the duration of which has not been revealed – and, ultimately, a sign-off by his doctors.

But sources say the future is ‘bright’, which could not always be said to have been the case after the King was diagnosed earlier this year.

After the initial shock of such a ‘striking’ diagnosis, he realised ‘in a heartbeat’ how much he had in common with so many millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.

It’s been a huge source of strength, they say, for him to talk to others about their shared experiences. And he hopes others have taken comfort from the fact that even ‘a king can get cancer’.

King Charles has emotionally said he ‘hopes he survives long enough to return’ to Samoa after a heartwarming ceremony.

The monarch, 75, and Camilla, 77, bid a fond farewell to the country in a colourful traditional Ava ceremony in the village of Siumu.

Charles was conferred with yet another honorary title – To’aiga-o-Tumua – as he and the Queen were offered garlands as they arrived in torrential rain.

In an impromptu speech in which the King appeared to make a pointed reference to his ongoing cancer fight, he said: ‘I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you.

‘We shall take away with us, I promise you, very special memories of our time here. We thank you for our wonderful gifts ‘

Charles, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt ‘lifted’ by his trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day.

The king will next year return to a ‘full programme’ of overseas tours following a new vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.

And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day round-trip, have explained it was all part of his ‘mind, body and soul’ approach to his cancer battle.

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King Charles has emotionally said he ‘hopes he survives long enough to return’ to Samoa after a heartwarming ceremony

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The monarch, 75, and Camilla, 77, bid a fond farewell to the country following a colourful traditional Ava ceremony in the village of Siumu

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Charles was conferred with yet another honorary title – To’aiga-o-Tumua – as he and the Queen were offered garlands as they arrived in torrential rain

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile during a visit to a beach in Apia, Samoa

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a farewell ceremony at Siumu Village on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa

King all smiles as he takes selfies with Samoans during royal visit

This attitude is one reason, they say, he has insisted on continuing his work since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in February, despite the gruelling physical toll of his illness.

Aides say Charles has allowed his doctors to concentrate on healing his body, while he has focused on his mental strength in dealing with such a ‘striking’ and unexpected blow, determined to keep his mind ‘in the right state’.

So where will Charles go next?

News that King Charles is planning more overseas tours begs the question: where next?

Aides will be looking to the 14 Commonwealth realms where Charles is head of state, which include Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand, which were dropped from this tour due to the King’s health.

Charles was rumoured to be planning a spring tour to Canada last year, prior to his diagnosis, so this is likely to top the list.

William and Catherine visited the realms of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in 2022 on behalf of the late Queen, but the tour was overshadowed by protests and PR missteps.

There is a constitutional need for the King to visit countries where he is head of state, and there will be motivations to quell stirrings of independence, especially after Barbados became a republic in 2021.

Away from the realms, Buckingham Palace must also act on government advice. Since Charles ascended to the throne, diplomats have prioritised post-Brexit trade relations with Europe. Notably, his first overseas tours as monarch were to France and Germany.

Government priorities also influenced recent state visits in London from South Africa, South Korea and Japan, with a visit from Qatar in December.

But while his treatment is ongoing and he approaches his 76th birthday, flying long-haul will be a significant undertaking.

They also revealed:

Charles had red boxes of official papers flown Down Under to work on once he has concluded his busy days of engagements
 At Queen Camilla’s urging, he has been taking some down time by reading a ‘great’ new book;
 The King feels closer to his wife than ever. The couple are a ‘remarkable unit’, courtiers say, and she has kept it ‘real’ for him;
While his cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock, Charles decided almost immediately to try to turn it into a force for good, sharing his story with millions of other sufferers and taking ‘comfort’ from their support;
His Australia and Samoa tour was seen by Buckingham Palace as a huge test of his reign – and surpassed all expectations, possibly putting the republican cause Down Under back by a generation;
The protest by an indigenous Australian in parliament left him unbothered. ‘He’s seen it all.’

The positive health news comes as Charles and Camilla concluded their trip by hosting a ‘King’s Dinner’ for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, followed by a visit to a village to thank locals for their hospitality.

Buckingham Palace also issued new photos of the royal couple enjoying a beach walk, looking joyful and relaxed.

When the possibility of undertaking a tour within just eight months of being diagnosed with cancer was first raised earlier this year, staff were not sure how the King would react.

Typically, however, they said the answer wasn’t ‘how dare you?’ but ‘why can’t I do New Zealand as well?’ A source said: ‘He didn’t even hesitate. We had to hold him back.’

A palace official said yesterday: ‘It’s great testament to the King’s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.’

As for the volume of engagements he took on each day, despite his evenings being kept free to recuperate, they made clear he had been bouyed by the challenge.

‘It is a great measure of the way the King is dealing with the diagnosis,’ they said. ‘He’s a great believer in mind, body and soul.

‘It is hard to overstate the joy he takes from duty and service and being in public and seeing those crowds. That really lifts the spirits. You can see that.’

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The couple, holding umbrellas, made their way up a sodden red carpet to a stage which had been covered in woven mats and garlanded with flowers

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King Charles holds a bowl during a ceremony at Siumu Village, Samoa on October 26

Charles and Camilla enjoy a traditional ceremony in the rain in Samoa

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Charles and Camilla during a farewell ceremony at Siumu Village on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa

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Charles and Camilla were offered seats on large golden thrones where they sat and listened to several extravagantly dressed village elders welcome them with honour

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They also watched intensively as villagers, soaked to the bone, but determined to continue with festivities undertook an ‘ava ceremony’ – the making of a special drink with the roots of the ava plant – which was handed to the king to drink in a highly polished coconut shell

Charles was so buoyed by the past week – as were his doctors – that he is looking at a return to normality next year.

‘We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year,’ a senior royal official said, suggesting that the traditional spring and autumn tours will be back on the cards.

Canada is likely to be high on their list. Of course, every decision made will be subject to discussion with the government, his ongoing treatment – the duration of which has not been revealed – and, ultimately, a sign-off by his doctors.

But sources say the future is ‘bright’, which could not always be said to have been the case after the King was diagnosed earlier this year.

After the initial shock of such a ‘striking’ diagnosis, he realised ‘in a heartbeat’ how much he had in common with so many millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.

It’s been a huge source of strength, they say, for him to talk to others about their shared experiences.

And he hopes others have taken comfort from the fact that even ‘a king can get cancer’.

Aides have told this newspaper about the deep concerns privately expressed about how the King’s visit to Australia, the first to any of his realms as monarch, would be greeted.

 ‘There was a lot to play for, it was massively important to us,’ they added. ‘A new King, a new reign and a new world.’

Having Camilla, 77, with him, helped immeasurably. A senior royal aide described the couple as a ‘remarkable unit’, adding: ‘The King gets great strength from the Queen being there, not least because she keeps it real.’

A sports shop serving celebrities such as David Beckham could be forced to shut up shop by Transport for London.

Euro Sports in Swiss Cottage, north London has sold football, cricket and golf gear to the likes of the Gallagher brothers and Sir Paul McCartney for nearly five decades.

However custom has come to a screeching halt – the owner claims – after the parking spaces outside the store were removed by Transport for London (TfL) last year.

Dip Patel, 67,  the owner of one of London’s oldest independent sports shop, says sales have plummeted since one-hour parking spaces outside the store on Finchley Road were removed last October.

The father-of-two has been working in the shop since he was 19 but now he says TfL has not responded to his complaints.

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Dip, Shilpa and Chan Patel. Owners of Euro Sports, Swiss Cottage, London on October 25 2024

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Dip Patel with David Beckham at Euro Sports in 2016

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Euro Sports in Swiss Cottage, north London has sold football, cricket and golf gear to the likes of the Gallagher brothers and Sir Paul McCartney for nearly five decades

‘We used to have proper parking bays, but the road became a red route back when Ken Livingstone became Mayor,’ Mr Patel said.

‘People could still park for an hour, do their shopping and go. Ours is an old business. We’ve been here for nearly 50 years.

‘People drop off their rackets and pick them up later. But since [last] October, the one-hour slots have been removed.

‘Finchley Road is six lanes wide. In the morning, I can understand keeping it as a bus lane. But now it’s a bus lane both sides and customers can’t stop.

‘At 10am the bus lanes stop being used – there’s nobody there, so why can’t it be used by shoppers?

‘I don’t know what the thinking behind it is. I don’t know who makes these decisions but they are unaccountable.

He added: ‘They are paid to do a job and whether it affects businesses, nobody cares.’

Mr Patel added that parking spots to back of shop are residential only, meaning shoppers have nowhere nearby to leave their vehicles.

A Waitrose store on the road boasts its own car park, but Mr Patel says several stores on the road have shut over the years due in part to a lack of parking.

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However custom has come to a screeching halt – the owner claims – after the parking spaces outside the store were removed by Transport for London ( TfL ) last year.

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Dip Patel, 67, the owner of one of London’s oldest independent sports shop, says sales have plummeted since one-hour parking spaces outside the store on Finchley Road were removed

The business owner adds that despite directing frequent complaints to TfL about the removal of the parking spots but he has so far had no response.

‘It has ruined our business to a certain extent, because nobody can drive here,’ Mr Patel continued.

‘We’ve lost business because of this and it’s becoming an increasing problem. We’ve seen a drop in turnover.

‘People can’t stop here. We have written to TfL and had absolutely no response. Now what you get here is restaurants. Retailers have been in steady decline.

‘It’s not good news for Finchley Road, which was always a buoyant street but these restrictions have really taken their toll on business.

‘As long as people are willing to work I want to keep going, but now I am thinking: do we have to shut down because of this?

‘Something has to change. I don’t know what to do.’

Mr Patel’s family moved to the UK from Uganda in the early 1970s, when then-Ugandan President Idi Amin ordered all Indians to leave the country within 90 days.

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The father-of-two has been working in the shop since he was 19 but now he says TfL has not responded to his complaints

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Mr Patel added that parking spots to back of shop are residential only, meaning shoppers have nowhere nearby to leave their vehicles

After spotting an advertisement in a local paper, his father got a loan from a friend and rebranded what was then called Lucas Sports as Euro Sports in 1976.

Mr Patel’s sister Shilpa, 62, began working at the store on Saturdays and their brother Chan, 71, later joined the business in the early 80s.

The siblings have since made a name for themselves in the capital, providing sports equipment to sports stars including England players David Beckham, Peter Crouch, and West Ham goalkeeper Alfonse Areola as well as members of the Indian national cricket team.

‘The Gallagher brothers used to come in and buy football stuff,’ Mr Patel said.

‘John Barnes’ dad used to bring him in when he was a kid, Damien Lewis comes in to buy cricket stuff.

‘I don’t think there’s an older sports shop in London still run by its [original] owners. There aren’t many other businesses on the road that have remained.

‘We have a loyal customer base but it’s becoming more and more difficult. There are people who come from far afield, but a lot of them drive.’

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A Waitrose store on the road boasts its own car park, but Mr Patel says several stores on the road have shut over the years due in part to a lack of parking

Mr Patel added that when he needed to get some stuff from the shop for his cricket team, he was unable to park his own car outside the shop, as only commercial and emergency vehicles can now stop on the road.

He insists that all he wants is for a representative of TfL to sit down and discuss the issue with him.

‘All we want if for somebody from TfL to come down and spend a few hours looking at the street and ask, ‘Does it really warrant taking away all of the parking?’.

‘Even one or two spots for 30 minutes would work.’

MailOnline has approached TfL for comment.

It looks like Cruz Beckham’s new girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, has the stamp of approval from the person who might matter the most – and that’s Victoria Beckham herself.

Cruz, 19, who is Posh Spice’s youngest son, recently went public with songwriter and producer Apostel, 29.

The two, who were first seen together in June, were spotted putting on a loved-up display in Beverly Hills this weekend, and Cruz even declared that he ‘loved’ his partner in an Instagram Story posted on Friday in honor of her birthday.

And, it looks like mom approves, as Apostel recently posed for a mirror photo on Instagram in a sexy, black lace dress that was seemingly given to her by Victoria.

‘Hot sauce and hotter outfits. thank u for the laciest dream piece @victoriabeckham,’ Apostel wrote in the caption of the Instagram post.

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Cruz Beckham’s new girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, 29, recently posed for a mirror photo on Instagram in a sexy, black lace dress that was seemingly given to her by Victoria

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Cruz, 19, who is Posh Spice’s youngest son, recently went public with songwriter and producer Apostel, 29

She also included a few other snaps of herself in the stunning, curve-hugging, cut-out outfit in the post, showing herself laughing and smiling while sitting outdoors.

The dress doesn’t currently seem to be available as a part of Victoria Beckham’s clothing collection, so it appears that Beckham may have picked it out just for Apostel.

During Paris Fashion Week in September, the producer also congratulated her boyfriend’s mom in another sweet post on Instagram.

‘The most beautiful show and the most beautiful dress. Congratulations @victoriabeckham,’ Apostel wrote in the caption, showing off a few slides of herself wearing a silky, white dress.

She sat front-row at Beckham’s Paris Fashion Week show, alongside boyfriend Cruz, and his siblings Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper.

Of course, Beckham’s husband, David, was also seated front and center to see her gorgeous new collection.

Apostel’s post came just a few days short of the weekend, before she joined his mom and dad, as well as his sister, Harper, 13, for a day in Miami.

On Saturday, the group supported football-club owner David as they watched Inter Miami play the New England Revolution at the Chase Stadium.

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Apostel sat front-row at Beckham’s Paris Fashion Week show, alongside boyfriend Cruz, and his siblings Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper

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During Paris Fashion Week in September, the producer also congratulated her boyfriend’s mom in another sweet post on Instagram

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Cruz even declared that he ‘loved’ his partner in an Instagram story posted on Friday in honor of her birthday

The couple appeared smitten with each other, as Apostel was snapped lovingly placing her hand behind Cruz’s head.

They also held hands as they sat together in a luxury suite at the game.

Cruz wore a casual gray t-shirt and gold chain around his neck, while Apostel stunned in a strapless black top and black pants.

Her hair was in a chic, slicked-back bun complete with light makeup.

Beckham’s seemingly positive stamp of approval comes after rumors that she had been feuding with her eldest son Brooklyn’s wife, Nicola Peltz.

Peltz addressed the feud during a 2022 interview with The Times.

She had previously confirmed that the rumors had begun after she didn’t wear Victoria’s wedding dress design when she tied the knot with the 48-year-old’s eldest son Brooklyn, doubled down on the claims.

But during the interview, she denied that the frosty tensions were a ‘feud’ and explained that the Victoria ‘s atelier simply hadn’t had time to make the dress, as she insisted: ‘No family is perfect.’

Now, however, it seems like things are pretty harmonious between the two of them, as Peltz gushed about how close she was to both of Brooklyn’s parents earlier this year.

‘I’m so close to mine and Brooklyn’s family and I think there’s no better feeling than knowing you have a strong support system,’ she told Byrdie. 

‘It’s such a blessing, and I never take it for granted. I go to Florida any chance I get, and we stay at my parents’ house,’ she continued.

Peltz also added that she was ‘inspired’ by both Victoria and David Beckham’s 24-year marriage, as well as her parents, who have been married for 40 years.

‘He’s [David Beckham] so amazing with Victoria, and Brooklyn is so amazing to me,’ she says. ‘I’m so thankful they raised such an incredible guy I got to marry.’

David and Victoria Beckham reportedly paid for their £55.6 million Miami mega mansion in cash.

The former footballer, 49, and the Spice Girl turned fashion designer, 50 – who are collectively worth an impressive £450million – purchased the sprawling nine-bedroom Florida home earlier this month.

And it appears that the couple are so well off that it’s said that they didn’t need a mortgage to obtain the property, with paperwork revealing they splashed out for the home in cash, according to reports.

David and Victoria reportedly signed the deeds for the property on October 3.

A source told The Sun: ‘David and Victoria are loaded but buying a £55.6million house with cash is impressive.

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David and Victoria Beckham reportedly paid for their £55.6 million Miami mega mansion in cash

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The former footballer, 49, and the Spice Girl turned fashion designer, 50 – who are collectively worth an impressive £450million – purchased the sprawling nine-bedroom Florida home earlier this month

‘They adore it and want to spend as much time there as possible.

‘It’s their dream property and the culmination of all their hard work.’

MailOnline have contacted representatives of David and Victoria for comment.

The couple are thought to have purchased the home in order to be close to David’s team Inter Miami.

Built in 2018, the vast property which overlooks Biscayne Bay, comes with a range of stunning features, including a huge number of bedrooms, four half-bathrooms and a chef’s kitchen.

David and Victoria can also enjoy their own private cinema, a gym, a spa and a pool.

Outside, the property boasts an outdoor kitchen, a rooftop lounge and 124-feet of frontage on Biscayne Bay.

Overlooking the water and surrounded by trees, the home offers stunning views of the luxurious bay.

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It appears that the couple are so well off that it’s said that they didn’t need a mortgage to obtain the property, with paperwork revealing they splashed out for the home in cash, according to reports

David and Victoria have long been settled in the Sunshine State, and previously splashed out $20million on a full-floor 10,000-square-foot penthouse in downtown Miami in 2020.

In the heart of Miami, among the towering skyscrapers that rise above the Bay of Biscayne, the eye-catching luxury condo building by late star architect Zaha Hadid dominates the skyline.

The unique curved ‘exoskeleton’ design of the One Thousand Museum building has created buzz and is the only residential space in downtown Miami with a helipad.

The building houses 82 separate units, a Sky Lounge for residents use, an Aquatic Center, infinity-edge pool, 24-hour security and a private cinema.

Some of its quirkier features include, customised ‘scenting’ throughout the common areas, fresh flower deliveries and event planning services.

The residence, which is now said to be worth £22.6million, after the Beckhams bought it for £17.15million, is part of David and former Spice Girl Victoria’s £73million worldwide property portfolio. 

David reportedly netted a £10million mortgage for the home three years ago.

It is claimed the former footballer will have to pay back more than £40,000 per month, with the repayment being bumped up to nearly £48,000 to include taxes.

He purchased property through his firm Beckham Brand Ltd when he was setting up his Inter Miami football club, according to The Sun.

The penthouse is used as a base for the family when David works with his football team Inter Miami, their eldest child Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz also live in the US, allowing the family to spend time together.

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David and Victoria have long been settled in the Sunshine State, and previously splashed out $20million on a full-floor 10,000-square-foot penthouse in downtown Miami in 2020 [pictured]

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The couple bought their swanky London mansion in 2013 for £21.4 million at the height of the London market, nestled in posh Holland Park

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David and Victoria snapped up their country retreat in the Cotswolds for a reported £6.15 million in December 2016

This mansion also adds to the Beckham family’s already-vast property portfolio, which includes their £6million ($8 million) home in the Cotswolds.

The Grade II-listed property includes a plunge pool and tennis court as part of its eye-catching list of features.

Beckham has previously shown off their garden at the home too, even revealing the vegetables he has grown.

The couple are also in the process of renovating their £31 million London mansion, which has been dubbed ‘Beckingham Palace II.’

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The couple are thought to have purchased the home in order to be close to David’s team Inter Miami

David Beckham describes what he would cook for date night

David and Victoria purchased their London mansion in 2013 for £21.4 million at the height of the London market, nestled in posh Holland Park. 

They had spent months looking for an ideal family home after David retired from football and the Beckhams were looking to make the UK their base again.

David and Victoria spent around £8 million renovating the property but despite this, it was revealed last year that the home needed urgent structural repairs to stop the raised roof terrace from collapsing. 

The 9,000 sq ft house has eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms and features a playroom, gym and spa.

Messi and Suarez’s absence from the MLS All-Star game (taking place at 7am on July 25 and accompanying events) gives them valuable time to enjoy a well-deserved vacation,

after playing continuously from the beginning of the year until the Copa America that just ended recently.

During this time, Inter Miami, after a series of 7 consecutive matches, winning 6 and losing only 1, to continue to lead the MLS Eastern Conference rankings

with 53 points after 25 matches, will also have a short break before returning to play the Leagues Cup group stage matches from July 28.

Messi and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, along with Suarez’s family and friends, had a much-needed break and relaxation in Florida (USA).

The images of Messi enjoying his days off, posted by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo on social network Instagram, have recently caused a stir among viewers.

Many people were surprised to see Messi still wearing protection on his injured right ankle while on vacation, despite his rapid recovery. According to Marca (Spain): “The fact that Messi is still wearing protection on his ankle does not mean that his injury is more serious than expected. It is just a precautionary measure, to avoid collisions and will help the injury recover on schedule”.

Messi and Suarez are expected to return to play for Inter Miami from early August, possibly in the Leagues Cup group stage matches.

Meanwhile, Messi’s long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, is also having a long vacation with his family in an area on the Red Sea, before returning to focus on Al Nassr Club to compete in the Saudi Pro League (Saudi Arabia).

Ronaldo and the Portuguese team said goodbye early in the quarter-finals of EURO 2024. The 39-year-old player determined that it would be the last EURO of his career, but left open the possibility of retirement. He will still play with Al Nassr in the 2024-2025 season, and is ready to negotiate a contract extension until June 2026. It is likely that Ronaldo still intends to play for the Portuguese team in the 2026 World Cup, when he is 41 years old.