By JENNIE BOND
Commentator warns the Royals might be facing another turbulent 12 months
a high- profile public figure whose overriding wish is to be a private family man. There are also bumps to be ironed out in his relationship with his b ro t h e r, Pr i n c e William. In an interview this year, Harry acknowledged that “stuff ” happens and that he and his brother were on different paths. Their once close relationship is clearly under some pressure and William is said to have expressed concern about Harry’s fragile state of mind. But they are brothers and William is likely to be extra solicitous in the months ahead as he tries to protect his younger sibling.
As the Queen nears her 94th birthday in April, we can expect the younger royals to continue to take on more of her duties. Abdication is still a dirty word in royal circles and t h e Qu e e n re m a i n s determined to continue in what she regards as her Godgiven role but, increasingly, she is delegating the more strenuous engagements to other members of the family.
She also has Prince Philip’s delicate health to worr y about. He’ll reach the grand old age of 99 in June but, as Prince Charles commented after his father’s recent spell in hospital, things don’t work so well at that age.
Philip, however, is reported to have said that he is now quite keen to make 100. And he’s enjoying a quiet retirement in a relatively modest house on the Sandringham Estate, where he reads, paints and entertains a close circle of friends.
There’s no doubt the royal family have some ground to make up in 2020 after a year which rivalled the catastrophic events of 1992 which caused the Queen to label it her “Annus Horribilis”.
The time- honoured way in which they restore their reputation is through hard work. The more charitable causes they espouse and the more they fly the flag for the UK around the world, the more they are valued at home.
T h e r e ’s no question Charles, Camilla, William and Catherine will be leading the way ( with the Queen and the hard- working Princess Royal also doing their share).
But the bumps in the road ahead include what happens to Pr i n c e A n d re w, and whether Harry and Meghan feel they can withstand the pressure of returning to full-time royal life.