After enduring two storms in Britain, King Charles might have expected a Caribbean escape to bring brighter skies.

Instead, the King was drenched when a torrential downpour swept across Antigua and he was left without an umbrella.

His Majesty was attending celebrations for the Caribbean nation’s 45th anniversary of independence.

But moments after arriving at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket stadium, he appeared frustrated as the skies opened and rain began to fall.

Charles raised his arms and called for an umbrella, becoming increasingly agitated as the heavy rain continued.

Queen Camilla was swiftly given her see-through dome umbrella and escorted towards the nearby Royal seating, while her husband continued to signal for assistance.

She later appeared to see the humorous side of the unexpected interruption.

By the time an umbrella finally reached him, the King’s beige summer suit was soaked and rain was streaming down his face.

Charles also made light of the mishap, later quipping: ‘I’ve started growing watercress on my trousers.’

Once an umbrella was found and handed to him, the celebrations were able to continue.

He stoically carried on with the lengthy outdoor engagement, occasionally using his handkerchief to wipe his face.

Charles stood on a small dais while dozens of troops remained at attention on the former cricket pitch, which had been transformed into a parade ground.

His Majesty then took shelter beneath the umbrella as he inspected the service personnel.

When the King returned, the crowd greeted him with cheers, and he responded with a wave.

The downpour stopped as suddenly as it had started, lasting about five minutes before the programme resumed in dry conditions.

Last night, the King and Queen attended Antigua and Barbuda’s annual Independence Ceremonial Parade at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, commemorating 45 years since the country’s independence.

Held each year, the parade is the centrepiece of Antigua and Barbuda’s independence celebrations.

Later, the Governor–General, Sir Rodney Williams, presented Their Majesties with the National Honourees—individuals recognised for distinguished service to the country and its people in public life, culture, sport, education and community service.

The King and Queen then viewed the parade’s closing ceremonial sequence, before greeting students and four West Indies Cricketing Knights: Sir Viv Richards; Sir Richie Richardson; Sir Andy Roberts; and Sir Curtly Ambrose.

Cricketing legend Sir Viv – who on Sunday night was announced as a Sustainable Markets Initiative Ambassador, a movement founded by the King to make industry and business more environmentally friendly, said of the Commonwealth meeting and royal visit: ‘It’s just an exciting time for us as people. 

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‘It couldn’t be any better having the King and the Queen here. It means a lot to us. It’s a win–win situation.

‘I met him [the King] before at Buckingham Palace and meeting him on my home patch, that I think evens things out. 

‘So it’s just great to know that you are with such folks who would have played such a huge part, a part in the world and what they stand for, and having them on our shores. The weather’s good. Couldn’t be, couldn’t get any better than this.’

Cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards spoke of his ‘immense privilege’ to represent the King in Antigua and across the Commonwealth.

The West Indies World Cup winner was invited to meet the King and Queen at the National Stadium that bears his name, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.

Regarded as the most talented batsman of his era, winning the 1975 and 1979 World Cups and captaining the side from the mid–1980s until 1991, Sir Vivian appeared alongside fellow West Indies legends, Sir Curtly Ambrose,

Sir Andy Roberts, and Sir Richie Richardson, for a private meeting with Charles and Camilla, followed with an Independence Ceremonial Parade at the stadium.

Greeting Sir Vivian like an old friend, Charles said it was ‘so good to see you again’.

The King was then invited to toss a commemorative coin to decide which side took to the field first, in a cricket match between a selection of Heads of Government played against a team of Caribbean leaders.

The CHOGM match was followed by a game between Commonwealth Future Stars Under–23, showcasing emerging Commonwealth cricketers.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held every two years, has the theme, Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth, but talks were expected to be dominated by discussions of Andy Burnham’s offer to Commonwealth nations to discuss a slavery apology from Britain.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed ‘my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions’ but ruled out considering financial reparations. 

It came after Antigua’s Prime Minister said he personally wanted to see Charles removed as his country’s monarch and insisted reparations should be paid by the UK over slavery. 

Gaston Browne was speaking to ITV News after he attended a Sunday morning church service alongside the sovereign and the Queen.

The politician said he had great respect for the British Monarch, but repeated his view that Antigua should replace him as head of state.

‘I can say to you, I am a Republican. So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic… but I have to recognise and accept the fact that there are certain constitutional provisions to become a republic, and that, ultimately, it is the decision of the people to determine whether or not we become a republic,’ he said.

Mr Burnham announced on Friday that his government was prepared to talk about an apology – which no British prime minister has done before – but said the British public should not pay compensation for what happened in the past.

Mr Browne said: ‘I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that does not negate the need for reparations.’

He insisted that Caribbean nations were ‘not coming to Britain and making demands that you cannot afford’ but he argued the compensation money should be found in Britain’s budget for overseas development.

And he warned about the consequences for the world if Britain did not pay money for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

‘If there is no compensation, there’s likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future. And you can see what is happening globally already,’ he said.

The constitution requires more than two–thirds of Antiguans to vote to replace the British Monarch and change the constitution.

‘So until such time as the question is put to them, I have to accept that, you know, King Charles remains. I serve the King, and he will continue to benefit from, you know, all of the courtesies and respect as our King… but again, you know, from time to time we have to test the waters.’

Stephanie Rice is pausing her search for a full-time position after making more than 130 job applications over eight months, saying she sees her latest rejection as a sign from God.

The 38-year-old three-time Olympic gold medallist shared an emotional career update on Instagram, revealing that she will instead turn her attention to launching a business she believes was inspired by her faith.

Stephanie recently left a director-level position while considering an opportunity to become CEO, explaining that she felt God was telling her it was time to move on.

Although she expected another exciting role to follow soon, the former Australian swimming champion said she reached the final stage of about five recruitment processes without receiving a job offer.

She has now decided to take a different path.

Speaking to the camera in a cobalt-blue sleeveless top, with her dark hair tied back and a small microphone in her hand, Stephanie admitted it had been difficult to record the update.

‘The first time, I was just way too emotional. The second time, my camera cut out, so here we are with take three,’ she said in the Instagram video.

Stephanie said she had spent 15 years running her own business before taking what she described as her first formal employment role around 18 months ago.

She went on to secure two director-level roles in quick succession and, within eight months, was offered the chance to step into a CEO position.

However, she ultimately withdrew during negotiations after feeling that her time with the company had come to an end.

Stephanie had expected to find a new opportunity relatively quickly, which made the prolonged job search that followed even more challenging.

‘And to sit here eight months later and literally have nothing to show for all of this effort and emotion is so frustrating,’ she said.

In the accompanying caption, Stephanie said she had even remained at home instead of travelling to Australia several weeks earlier so she would be available for a follow-up interview.

She said she had advanced as far as fifth-round interviews and felt more experienced, educated and capable than ever, yet continued to face disappointment.

The decisive moment came during a prayer walk, when Stephanie resolved to treat the outcome of her latest application as an answer on whether she should continue seeking full-time employment.

‘Lord, if this job doesn’t come through, which on paper I am perfect for, I’m just taking it as the sign that you don’t want me pursuing a full-time job right now, because it does not make sense,’ she recalled praying.

Three hours later, she said, another rejection landed in her inbox.

Stephanie explained her emotional response was less about missing out on that particular position and more about accepting that her eight-month search had not unfolded as she had hoped.

But she said she also felt excited and hopeful about pursuing a business idea she believed God had given her six months earlier.

Initially intended as a side project alongside full-time work, the venture will now become her main focus for the remainder of the year.

Stephanie has yet to reveal what the business involves, promising to explain the concept in another video and document the process for her followers.

In a separate post, she appeared in a silver cowl-neck top and white trousers, standing behind a kitchen bench with her hands clasped and eyes closed.

Text over the footage encouraged followers to acknowledge the time and effort invested in a journey that had ended differently than what they had planned.

Alongside the clip, she shared a passage from Isaiah about leaving the past behind and embracing something new, adding that its references to the desert resonated with her life in Dubai.

The update follows a mixed response to Stephanie’s earlier account of leaving her job, with some followers questioning her decision to base such a significant career move on her religious beliefs.

Others offered encouragement and praised her commitment to her faith.

Stephanie acknowledged that criticism in her latest video, recalling comments telling her to get a real job, but thanking those who had supported her.

The former Olympian has increasingly shared her Christian faith online since relocating to Dubai in 2023.

Last month, she revealed she was starting a new Instagram account using her married surname, Lassey, and rebuilding her career with Jesus at the centre of her life.

Stephanie married pastor Mark Lassey at a vineyard in Perth in January 2025, following their engagement the previous September.

She rose to international fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning three gold medals for Australia.

Channel 4 had hailed Million Pound Shot as its next major game show after successfully luring Bradley Walsh away from ITV and the BBC.

For a week, the broadcaster had built anticipation around the programme, while speculation spread on social media and within the television industry over whether the format was genuine.

But on Tuesday night, Walsh, 66, revealed that Million Pound Shot was actually an elaborate publicity stunt designed to highlight the UK’s gambling problem — an issue he said he “feels strongly about”.

In the opening section, broadcast at 9pm, viewers and the studio audience were led to believe they were watching an authentic new game show in which contestants gambled with their own money.

Players wagered cash based on their confidence in answers to general knowledge questions. Each correct answer offered the chance to win Bet Balls carrying a monetary value.

The premise was straightforward: contestants could either cash out or take a risk in an attempt to increase the value of their winnings and move closer to a £1 million prize.

Although three “contestants” were introduced at the beginning, only one — a player named Reece — ultimately took part in the game. He said money was tight but claimed to have £1,700 available to gamble.

As the rounds continued, Reece became increasingly absorbed in the game and began taking larger risks. The mood in the studio turned to despair when viewers learned he had supposedly lost an astonishing £6,000 of his own money.

The fake game reached its most dramatic point when Walsh offered Reece the chance to go further into debt and “purchase” another Bet Ball. An audience member began heckling the presenter as Reece considered using his overdraft to pay for it.

“Is no one else here seeing what I’m seeing? Is there no one else who thinks this is wrong?” the woman shouted. She added: “The whole concept of this is disgusting. I’m worried about him — he shouldn’t be put under this kind of pressure.”

The unsettling scenes ended with Reece and his distressed girlfriend Leslie, who had been watching from the audience, being escorted from the stage.

Once the studio lights came up, Walsh told the audience that the “whole thing was a performance”.

He said: “Our contestant Reece has been played by an actor. So has his girlfriend Leslie, the other contestants, the floor manager and even our heckler in the audience.”

“Everything you have seen tonight draws on the techniques used by the gambling industry to manipulate its customers.”

He continued: “I can’t thank you enough for coming along, and I hope you take a lot of it on board.”

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“I feel strongly about this, which is why I’ve taken part in the show. I wanted to share with you how dangerous this industry can be.”

The 60-minute programme also revealed that Walsh’s language had been modelled on the familiar messaging used by major betting companies.

The Chase presenter went on to explain that the character of Reece was based on the real-life story of Patrick, a teacher who developed a gambling addiction while at university.

While hungover with his mates, Patrick placed £2 into a roulette machine in the local bookies. It was his £72 win that he attributes to kickstarting his problem.

Over the 13-year addiction, Patrick said his crippling addiction led to him asking the parents of the pupils he taught for cash, using excuses such as emergency dental treatment and issues with his car.

After accumulating £300,000 worth of debt, his final bet happened in 2018 during the Cheltenham Festival final.

‘If I win all the money back, life can continue. If that horse didn’t win, I was going to go and do the unthinkable and kill myself,’ he heartbreakingly told viewers.

After losing, he said he ‘felt nothing, I was just broken’.

The Daily Mail can now reveal the lengths producers went to prevent the stunt being uncovered before the broadcast – including gagging the audience.

An insider said: ‘The show was only recorded just over two weeks ago in a studio in Maidstone, which is an incredibly fast turnaround for a game show.

‘Members of the audience were under the impression they would be watching an episode of the new show with Bradley being recorded, but they were kept completely in the dark.

‘Once they arrived, they were handed a nondisclosure agreement and told if they didn’t sign it, they would not be allowed in.

‘To comply with broadcasting standards, they were only told the recording would contain themes of gambling.’

The Gambling Commission say they have implemented a wide range of consumer protections in recent years, including tightening rules on free bets. 

They say all operators are required to look out for and act on the warning signs of harm. 

A NAB employee fears they may have spent three years training their own replacement in India, highlighting growing anxiety over the impact of low-cost overseas labour and artificial intelligence on Australian office jobs, while skilled trades are increasingly seen as a more secure career path.

Offshoring was once associated mainly with factory closures and the loss of blue-collar work. Now it is moving up the corporate ladder, with skilled positions in finance, technology and cybersecurity increasingly being transferred overseas.

The pandemic demonstrated that many office-based roles could be performed from anywhere, giving employers the opportunity to replace Australian staff with lower-paid workers overseas.

One NAB employee now fears that three years spent training a colleague in India could ultimately lead to their own role being eliminated.

‘I’ve spent three years training a NAB India colleague to do my role and now my job is at risk,’ they said.

‘We’re still expected to train NAB India staff and pass on everything we know, even though we’re worried about losing our own jobs.

‘We’re handing over years of experience while trying to save our own careers.’

NAB has announced plans to eliminate up to 2,500 positions by the end of the current financial year, including as many as 1,500 roles before the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, the bank continues to recruit employees in India and Vietnam.

Job advertisements reviewed by the Daily Mail indicate that NAB, ANZ and Commonwealth Bank are recruiting for positions in cities across India.

NAB employs more than 5,000 people in India and a further 2,000 in Vietnam. ANZ has about 9,000 employees in India, while Commonwealth Bank reported almost 7,000 full-time-equivalent workers there as of June 30.

The cost difference can be substantial. A junior software engineer in Vietnam may cost NAB about $20,000 a year, compared with $80,000 or more for an equivalent employee in Australia.

The trend is not limited to banking. Officeworks and Woolworths have also announced plans to transfer some Australian work overseas.

Finance Sector Union national president Wendy Streets told the Daily Mail that, from the perspective of Australian employees, offshoring was effectively another term for redundancy.

‘When an Australian job goes overseas we all lose,’ Ms Streets said.

‘The remaining “onshore” workforce is left to deal with job insecurity stress, extra workloads and bear the brunt of customer frustrations.’

She also criticised the employment conditions facing some overseas workers.

‘Unfortunately, offshore workers are often employed on contracts that allow arbitrary dismissal or pay cuts – so it’s not difficult to see why employers, including our richest banks, are seduced by such practices that have long been outlawed in Australia.

‘Meanwhile, Australia’s economy is also left to deal with the fallout of another livelihood thrown on the scrapheap.’

University of Sydney international business professor Vikas Kumar said the damage to Australian workers was clear, but the danger to Australia’s economy could be just as profound.

‘The concern is not simply that jobs are moving overseas. It is what Australia might miss out on if this trend continues,’ Prof. Kumar said.

‘If more of this work moves offshore, Australia risks retaining the brands and customers, but gradually losing expertise needed to underpin long-term competitiveness.

‘There is also a talent pipeline issue. Many of these positions are entry points for graduates and early-career professionals. They are where people acquire skills and prepare for more senior leadership roles.’

Offshoring is only part of the uncertainty facing Australia’s office workers, with advances in artificial intelligence allowing the technology to take on more analytical and administrative tasks that few could have foreseen just a few years ago.

Deloitte Access Economics has identified 82 occupations facing a heightened risk of weaker employment demand as AI takes on more work.

These include bank workers, accountants, law clerks, secretaries, systems analysts, payroll clerks and graphic designers.

Deloitte Access Economics partner David Rumbens said: ‘To date, AI has not yet had a significant structural effect on Australian employment. However, the impact of AI on the labour market is likely to occur where automation and augmentation affect specific tasks within jobs.

‘Overall, white-collar workers are expected to experience the greatest disruption from AI implementation, with most clerical and administrative occupations involving tasks that are readily automatable with current AI solutions.

‘However, these effects are unlikely to be uniform. Administrative and clerical roles are expected to face weaker employment demand, while occupations in which AI primarily augments cognitive work may benefit from improvements in productivity, output quality and service delivery and see stronger employment growth.’

His comments come as a recent Victoria Government report revealed the occupations less exposed to the impacts of AI, and which appear better bets for those seeking secure employment.

‘Manual occupations are less exposed to AI due to their physical and service-oriented nature,’ the report said.

‘These include non-routine manual occupations such as ageing and disability carers and education aides, and skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers.’

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