King Charles will visit the Vatican next month but any hopes of meeting Pope Francis following his release from hospital appear to have been thrown into doubt.

Charles will travel to Italy for a trip to the Vatican alongside engagements in Rome and Ravenna from April 7 to April 10 but whether he will receive an audience with Francis remains to be seen.

Vatican officials have stressed the Pope will cut down his audiences, trips and public appearances as he recovers from a critical bout of double pneumonia which left him in hospital for 38 days.

Francis, 88, returned to the Vatican on Monday after being treated at Gemelli hospital in Rome.

Claudio Santini, the head of internal medicine at the Grassi hospital in Rome, said those with an infectious condition will be kept away from the Pope and added his health would ‘complicate’ any planned meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan’s upcoming podcast, was first announced on March 13.

Describing her venture at the time as ‘candid conversations’ with ‘amazing women’, Meghan wrote on her Instagram account that she was ‘so excited’ to share the news, describing recording the series as ‘absolutely eye-opening, inspiring…and fun!’

The former Suits actress added: ‘Because what’s the point if we can’t have some fun on this wild adventure?’

She said the women had shared their ‘tips, tricks (and tumbles)’ as well as ‘letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As ever’.

The duchess’ Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes in 2022 ran for just one series, and was part of the Sussexes’ previous £20million deal with Spotify, which ended the year after.

The podcast was created as part of a deal Meghan signed last year with Lemonada Media, which said listeners would hear ‘unfiltered stories behind the successes of notable female founders’.

Meghan also spoke about her own ‘entrepreneurial journey’ in a statement coinciding with the release of the podcast trailer, insisting she is ‘really, really lucky’ many of her female friends had already set up their own businesses

In a statement given to People to accompany the trailer’s release, Meghan spoke about the inspiration she has found from other female founders.

What’s been meaningful is being able to talk about my own entrepreneurial journey with other female founders who are either on their own trajectory of growth or have IPO’d, sold, or created high impact brands and gone through all of the learning curves that we all do at the start.

You’re just trying to figure out how to walk, then you want to learn how to run, and then you want to learn how to fly. All of those things take time. There’s also something very exciting and energizing about learning something new as we get older. The entrepreneurial journey, for anyone, is a lot, and I’m also really, really lucky that so many of my close friends are female founders that I can glean advice from.

Meghan has promised listeners savvy business advice plus ‘some girl talk’ in her new podcast when it is drops next month.

In a newly-released teaser, the Duchess of Sussex says:

I’m Meghan, and this is Confessions of a Female Founder, a show where I chat with female entrepreneurs and friends about the sleepless nights, the lessons learned and the laser focus that got them to where they are today.

We’re diving into the highs – and the lows – and the kind of advice that turns small ideas into billion-dollar businesses. And of course, we’re going to get some girl talk!

The preview also includes audio from the show, in which guests speak about their own business ventures.

The Duchess also asks one guest about their relationship status, saying: ‘Are you saying you’re not single now? Have I missed something in the past couple weeks? What’s happening?!’

She also says in the preview:

And through it all, I’m building a business of my own, and getting all sorts of practical advice along the way that I’m very excited to share with you. So join me for Confessions of a Female Founder from Lemonada Media, which by the way, is also female-founded. Launching April 8, wherever you get your podcasts.

Meghan Markle revealed the trailer for her new podcast today, telling listeners it will give them the ‘kind of advice that turns small ideas into billion-dollar businesses’.

The Duchess of Sussex adds in the preview for Confessions of a Female Founder, her new production with Lemonada Media: ‘We’re going to get some girl talk!’

Meghan also giggles about whether one of her business guests is single, in the one-minute preview ahead of the first of eight weekly episodes out on April 8.

The preview, first revealed by People at 7.30am, comes after the new podcast was announced on March 13 – following the Lemonada deal struck in February last year.

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live royal coverage.

Throughout the day we will bring you updates from the Royal Family with the latest on King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex along with many more.

Today, the first teaser for Meghan’s new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder will be released featuring the Duchess sharing ‘candid conversations’ with female entrepreneurs and the trials and tribulations of running a business.

It comes as the 43-year-old is accused of being ‘tacky and desperate’ following details of her new ‘ShopMy page’, an online shop selling fashion items she has personally endorsed.

Meanwhile, any plans for King Charles to visit Pope Francis when he visits Italy next month appear increasingly in doubt as the Pontiff continues his recovery from pneumonia.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest royal news and gossip.