BUSINESS AS USUAL
Senior royals step up amid charity woe over Sussexes
SENIOR royals have pledged it is “business as usual” as they look ahead to life without Harry and Meghan inside The Firm.
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 as the Prince of Wales takes 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 at work carrying out investitures on behalf the Queen.
Charities connected to Harry and Meghan have already voiced their fears they will be left behind after the Sussexes’ bombshell announcement they will be splitting their time between Canada and the UK.
It is understood discussions will take place to determine what role the Sussexes have with any UK charities they have been involved in.
Last year, they carried out about 200 engagements but insiders fear 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 director Rufus Norris and artistic director Lisa Burger at the London HQ 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 well placed 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 she doesn’t abandon us.”
Prince Harry is royal patron of 14 charities and organisations, while Meghan has four.
It’s understood the pair didn’t give clear verdicts to the Royal Family on how long they intend to spend in each country as they forge a new path alongside the senior royals.
Speculation is mounting they could lose or renounce their royal titles after the Queen referred to them by their first names in her extraordinary and historic statement yesterday.
It emerged yesterday that Meghan did not “dial in” to crucial talks at Sandringham to sort out her future with Harry.
William and Kate travel to Bradford today.
The couple will meet local people and look at projects working with early years development, with which Kate has had a long-standing and successful involvement. Charles travels to Israel and Palestine for his first official tour next week, when he joins world leaders to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
He will meet Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and later travel to Bethlehem to meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
A palace source said: “It’s business as usual for the rest of the family who are dedicated to the task ahead no matter what the journey.”