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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Meghan Markle pulls out of glitzy LA gala and postpones podcast following Queen's death

Meghan Markle has pulled out of attending a glitzy LA gala today out of respect for the late Queen.

She had been due to attend the Variety Power of Women gala, which would have seen her rub shoulders with the likes of former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea. It comes after Meghan was named as one of the women that was being honoured by the publication this year alongside Oprah Winfrey and Malala. She had been due to feature on a cover for the magazine, but this too has been postponed in light of the Queen's death.

Meghan Markle in the days after the Queen's death (PA)
Meghan meets wellwishers at Windsor Castle with Prince Harry (PA)

Yesterday, it was also revealed that Meghan's Spotify podcast Archetypes would not be returning until next week - despite royal mourning officially ending on Monday.

Archetypes was put on "pause" following the death of the Queen earlier this month and only three episodes had been released before the whole of the Royal Family went into mourning.

A message on the Archetypes Spotify page says: "Regularly scheduled episodes will resume Tuesday, October 4.”

Meghan and Prince Harry signed a lucrative deal with the audio streaming giant Spotify to host and produce podcasts, estimated to be worth around £18 million, in late 2020.

Meghan's podcast will return next Tuesday (Spotify)

Archetypes was launched with the aim of investigating "labels that try to hold women back" through conversations between Meghan and historians, experts and women who have experienced being typecast.

In the first episode with tennis star Serena Williams, Meghan revealed of how her and Harry’s son Archie narrowly escaped a fire in his bedroom when he was meant to be sleeping, during the Sussexes' tour of South Africa in 2019 - and how she had to go out after to do another official engagement.

Guests in the other two episodes of the podcast so far included pop singer Mariah Carey and comedian and actress Mindy Kaling.

Meghan and Harry with Prince William and Kate Middleton (PA)

Both Meghan and Harry returned to California last week in the days after the Queen's state funeral, where they would have been reunited with their children Archie and Lilibet.

The couple were in the UK by chance at the time of the Queen's death and took part in several services and processions in the days after she passed away.

Despite a turbulent relationship over the past few years, the couple and other members of the royal family had been united in grief.

Meghan with the late Queen in 2018 (Getty Images)

This had prompted questions over the possibility of a reconciliation between Harry, his brother the Prince of Wales and their father King Charles III.

Despite reports of a rift between the two brothers, William and Harry remained cordial to each other and were seen speaking regularly during the visit.

It came after the King acknowledged the couple in his address to the nation the day after his mother died, saying: "I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."

Prior to the Queen’s funeral, Harry and Meghan attended her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June but kept out of the limelight for the majority of the weekend.

It is as yet unclear whether they will attend the coronation of Charles and it remains to be seen whether differences will be put aside in a bid to heal the rift for good and if this would signal a return to them becoming a more permanent fixture once more in future royal events.

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