Meghan due to upstage Wills in royal diary clash

WHEN Prince Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle, some monarchists worried the glamorous American actress would overshadow more senior members of the Royal Family.

Well, it hasn’t taken long for their fears to be realised, owing to cackhanded scheduling by courtiers.

This Thursday, Harry and Meghan make their first joint visit to Wales, but it will take place on the same day as Prince William is due to carry out engagements elsewhere.

‘Mark my words, William will be furious,’ a source tells me. ‘He is carrying out these visits because he really believes in the projects.

‘Inevitably, Meghan will attract all the media attention. William understands that, so he will be very frustrated that the engagements were arranged for the same day.’

The clash seems unnecessary, as Harry has no other official engagements this week.

William is due to visit Evelina

London Children’s Hospital to draw attention to a scheme helping Forces veterans to find work in the NHS.

Although the Duchess of Cambridge is not scheduled to be there, she might decide to join her husband, as she’s a supporter of Evelina.

Kate has been known to turn up unannounced at William’s engagements, such as at Paddington station last October when she met a group of children helped by royal charities. She guaranteed positive headlines by dancing with a person dressed as Paddington Bear.

Meghan’s trip to Cardiff will be only her third public visit with Harry since they announced their engagement last November.

On her previous two visits, to Brixton and Nottingham, she attracted crowds of hundreds and media coverage around the world.

William is usually met just by a few polite onlookers.

A Kensington Palace spokesman is keen to play down the scheduling blunder.

‘I am not sure what you mean by “clash”,’ he says, loftily. ‘They will regularly be attending events on the same days.’