William ‘sad and shocked by Harry’s Queen insult’
August in February! Eugenie shows off winter son
PRINCESS Eugenie introduced her newborn son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank to the world over the weekend.
Eugenie, 30, said he was partly named after Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, whose full name was Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel.
The name also includes a tribute to the princess’s grandfather Prince Philip, 99, who remained in hospital last night after being admitted for ‘observation and rest’ last Tuesday.
Prince Charles, 72, was photo
‘Our hearts are full of love’
graphed looking emotional after making a surprise 100-mile trip to visit his father at the King Edward VII’s hospital in Marylebone on Saturday.
Eugenie shared a photo on Instagram with husband Jack Brooksbank, 34, and their new arrival wrapped in a blue blanket almost two weeks after his birth on February 9.
The post said: ‘Thank you for so many wonderful messages. Our hearts are full of love for this little human, words can’t express.’
Baby August – the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild – will not have a royal title or role.
PRINCE William has been left ‘really sad and genuinely shocked’ by his brother’s behaviour towards the Queen after Harry and Meghan were cast out as working royals.
The Duke of Cambridge is said to be ‘very upset by what has happened’ and feels Harry has been ‘insulting and disrespectful’ to their grandmother.
The relationship between the two brothers was strained before Friday’s dramatic announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been stripped of their remaining roles after their 12month trial separation from royal life and move to the US.
The couple then issued a sharp rebuke, declaring they would offer ‘continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role’.
They signed off: ‘We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’
Sources close to the monarch told the Sunday Times the riposte was ‘petulant and insulting to the Queen’. A source told the Mail: ‘Their statement in response to the Queen’s heartfelt sentiment that the couple are still much-loved members of her family was considered highly disrespectful.’
The source added: ‘At the end of the day this was all their [Harry and Meghan’s] decision.
‘They asked to explore an “alternate way” but the only alternative, given the Queen’s view, is that you are either a public servant or you aren’t. She made her view clear from the start and hasn’t ever deviated from that.
‘People [in the household] would have liked a different outcome. Harry and Meghan clearly could have made a very positive contribution to public life in the UK. But from the start they made clear they were only ever interested in pursuing this quasi-royal role.
‘It seems Harry genuinely thought he could persuade Her Majesty of the merits of that. But she has always been clear on this point – you cannot pursue commercial interests while undertaking public duties. It is untenable.’
Another source suggested that there has been widespread exasperation at the ‘inflammatory’ statement and determination to ‘always have the last word’.
They said the Queen had no choice but to act because the situation ‘wasn’t fair’ on the charities and organisations that rely on royal patronage.
Sources said William, 38, felt under pressure over the potential increased workload following his brother’s decision to step back from royal life. They stressed to the Mail that relations between the brothers ‘were not good’, adding: ‘He’s genuinely sad his brother won’t be standing shoulder to shoulder with him.’
However, William, the Queen and the Sussexes are all said to be eager to ease tensions.
One obstacle to improved relations may prove to be the ‘tell-all’ interview Harry, 36, and 39-yearold Meghan have agreed to do with Oprah Winfrey.
It is thought they pre-recorded it at their home in California at the start of last week. On Friday Miss Winfrey – a friend and neighbour of the couple who attended their wedding in 2018 – was seen boarding her private jet near their £11million home in Montecito and just six hours after their statement was released.
It remains to be seen whether the couple will carry out any additional interviews with Miss Winfrey in light of Friday’s announcement to address developments.
The Queen was reportedly ‘blindsided’ by the interview, which will be shown on March 7.