Don’t worry Ma’am, Charles
SENIOR royals have pledged it is “business as usual” as they look ahead to life without Harry and Meghan on the frontline.
Prince Charles and Prince William have told the Queen they will take the reins after she brokered a peace deal to allow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to quit their roles and forge a life on their own.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will this year expand their work in climate change and early years development.
And the Prince ofWales will take on a central role with world leaders on the global stage in Israel and Palestine next week.
As round the clock discussions continue to find “workable solutions” to allow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to split their time between Canada and the UK, William was yesterday already back to work carrying out investitures on behalf of the Queen. Charities connected to
Harry and Meghan have already voiced their fears they will be left behind after the Sussexes’ bombshell announcement that they plan to step back.
It is understood that discussions are to take place to determine what role Harry and Meghan will have with any UK charities they have been involved in.
The Queen has told how the issues were “complex matters for my family to resolve”.
But despite the 93-year-old monarch suggesting solutions would be “reached in the coming days” it is understood “deep concerns” have emerged at organisations where the Sussexes hold patronages.
Last year, they carried out about 200 engagements but insiders fear that grassroots organisations will suffer if they are part-time royals.
One senior official at the National Theatre told how there is anger that Meghan visited artistic directors last Wednesday, just hours before announcing she and Harry would be stepping back from royal duties.
Meghan “carried on as if everything was completely normal” and gave no indication she would put in jeopardy the patronage given to her by the Queen last January after holding the role for 45 years.
One source said: “It’s fair to say there is a lot of worry about whether the Duchess will stick around after failing to tell the theatre bosses of her intensions, which were published on social media hours after her meeting.
“She was seen as the perfect advertisement for the organisation.
“She appeals to a cross section of ages and genders and it was hoped she would be a real force for change in the industry.
“We hope that she doesn’t abandon us.”
A spokesman for the National Theatre said: “The Duchess of
Sussex attended a private meeting with Rufus Norris and Lisa Burger on January 8, where they had very positive discussions about the NT’s upcoming activity and opportunities for the Duchess to engage with the work over the coming year. There was no discussion in the meeting about the subsequent announcement made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which was issued several hours after the meeting had concluded.”
Prince Harry is the royal patron of 14 charities and organisations, while Meghan has four. Meghan took on the patronages last January, including the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which the Queen had held for 33 years.
Harry and Meghan are understood to have not returned clear verdicts to the Royal Family on how long they intend to spend in the country as they forge a new path.
Speculation is mounting that they could lose or renounce their royal titles after the Queen referred to them by their first names in a statement issued yesterday. The
Queen said: “There will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
“These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
It is not known when or even if Meghan has any plans to return to the UK after travelling to Canada last week.
Meanwhile, William and Kate travel to Bradford today to visit some of the UK’s most deprived