New photos have emerged of Meghan Markle co-hosting a 'power of women' charity benefit as William and Kate head to the US for their first trip in eight years – and hours after the Royal palace made attempts to stave off new allegations of racism.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, jetted into the Midwest from California to be interviewed on-stage in the event billed 'The Power of Women: An Evening with Meghan'.

The 'moderated discussion' took place alongside Rabbi Sandy Sasso - the first woman ordained by the Reconstructionist Judaism movement at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis.

While guests were banned from taking any pictures, Meghan's friend Omid Scobie shared several snaps from the crowd to Twitter this evening - in what some have labelled a strategic PR move in the wake of Buckingham Palace's racism debacle, which is threatening to overshadow the Prince and Princess' of Wales tour of the United States.

Guests were banned from taking photos, the media was not allowed to attend, so where did Omar get the photos? There's no copyright info on them.