The Irish Mail on Sunday

It’s off ! No reunion for royal ‘Fab Four’

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IT WAS all set to be the wonderful annual affair that would leave us in no doubt that the Cambridges and Sussexes could ‘make a difference together’.

So it’s disappoint­ing to learn that there will be no repeat of last year’s appearance by the ‘Fab Four’ at this year’s Royal Foundation Forum.

Last February, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were given The Beatles’ famous nickname as they appeared on stage together to discuss their ideas for the organisati­on, which was set up to move forward their charitable ambitions.

The Royal Foundation website press release still states that the forum will be an ‘annual’ event, but a palace source said: ‘There will be no forum like last year with the four of them together.

‘The timing isn’t great. They should be putting on a united front.’

The decision will do little to convince royal fans that all is well between the brothers and their wives, following months of speculatio­n that relations are tense. In fact, the four have been working separately on different parts of the charity.

Last month, Kate Middleton, 37, had a meeting with Lorraine Heggessey, CEO of the Royal Foundation while Prince Harry recently met Ms Heggessey alone, as did Prince William and Meghan Markle.

In December, Harry and Meghan attended a board meeting of the foundation before heading out to the Christmas party with staff – while William and Kate did not appear.

The palace has confirmed that it is now accepted procedure that the couples will meet the charity at alternate board meetings.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the event.

PS Royal watchers will be interested to learn that Harry and Meghan will soon not have a base in London.

They are renovating Frogmore Cottage, their 10-bedroom home in Windsor, and plan to move out of their two-bedroom berth in Kensington Palace’s Nottingham Cottage – near Prince William and Kate’s apartment – once the work is completed in the next few weeks.

Nottingham Cottage will no doubt continue to hold happy memories for Harry and Meghan – it is where he got down on one knee and proposed while cooking a chicken dinner.

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