The Royal Nightmare before Christmas
It’s been one of the worst years in living memory for the Royals – but the steady Duchess of Cambridge must give the Queen hope for the future…
It’s hard to imagine a worse 12 months for the Royal family, as they prepare to celebrate Christmas and New Year – if, indeed, ‘celebrate’ is the right word.
Last January, the Queen’s latest ‘annus horribilis’ began with husband Prince Philip’s involvement in a car crash. He escaped unhurt, but the other driver, Ellie Townsend, suffered injuries and then complained to the press that the Royal family had not even enquired about her ninemonth-old baby boy who was also in the car, but thankfully uninjured. To stop the bad feeling escalating further, Philip surrendered his driving licence and sent a personal apology to the victims.
In June, rumours of a ‘feud’ between the former ‘Fab Four’ – Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and Meghan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – intensified when they announced the separation of their joint charity, The Royal Foundation, after just 16 months.
Then, in July, American financier Jeffrey Epstein – already a registered sex offender – was re-arrested. Questions then resurfaced over his association with the Duke of York, Prince Andrew. Allegations were made against the Duke by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, 36, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager to have sex with the Prince. Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing, gave a TV interview in November in an attempt to defend himself. This was followed by the airing of an interview with Giuffre, who repeated the allegations.
This led to furious crisis talks between Andrew and Prince Charles, and an official statement then announced Andrew’s withdrawal from public duties. And with the allegations ongoing, it’s unlikely that 2019 will close the chapter on his woes.
There was also the apparent decision by Harry and Meghan to stop following the unwritten palace rule of ‘never complain, never explain’. While filming their documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Duchess admitted she was struggling to cope as a new mum. To be fair, it wasn’t so much her words, but where she chose to say, ‘Not many people
have asked if I’m OK’ – on a tour intent on highlighting poverty in Africa.
The Sussexes also chose the tour to announce that they were taking legal action against two newspapers: the Mail on Sunday for publishing Meghan’s letter to her father and The Sun for alleged past phone hacking offences. During his own interview on the programme, Harry also appeared to confirm a rift with his brother, William, when he said, ‘ We are brothers. We will always be brothers. We are certainly on different paths at the moment…’
And it now looks likely that Harry and Meghan will not be spending Christmas with the Queen in Sandringham, as is a tradition for the Royals, but with Meghan’s mother, Doria, in sunny California.
In the midst of such difficult times, the Queen might have felt that it would have been a show of unity for the Sussexes to join the rest of the Royals. Besides, at 93, and with Prince Philip being 98, the most senior Royals won’t have an infinite number of Christmases left to enjoy with children or grandchildren. Thankfully, there are family members the Queen can depend upon. Her daughter, Princess Anne and her children, plus Kate. But while Anne never puts a foot wrong, the Queen may breathe a bigger sigh of relief over Kate, as she is a younger family member who never seems to create any drama.
According to Royal insiders, the monarch ‘knows that the monarchy rests in good hands’ with Kate. She’s aware what her duties are and gets on with them graciously.
The 37-year-old is always there with a kind, dignified word, whether meeting wellwishers on the street, world diplomats, or Oscar-winning actors at the BAFTAs.
Right now, she could be the dose of positive PR the Royals so desperately need.
Let’s not forget, last month, it was doting mum-of-three Kate who was reported to be spearheading ‘peace talks’ with herself, William, Meghan and Harry, in a bid to end their rumoured feud. If anyone can broker peace, the level-headed Duchess can.
It was also great timing that Kate and William added to the charm offensive by taking part in A Berry Royal Christmas, a one-off charity programme with baking queen Mary Berry on Monday, which got rave reviews.
Let’s hope Kate can turn this Royal Nightmare before Christmas into something with a glitter of hope. She represents the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.