‘The pressure is on Meghan and Kate to save the royals’
They’ll spend the festive period apart, but palace insider Katie Nicholls reveals why Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton need to pair up to support the royal family in 2020
THE QUEEN’S MOVE TOWARDS RETIREMENT WILL FORCE THEM TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER
After Prince Harry confirmed there are tensions between him and his brother Prince William by saying they’re on “different paths”, he and Meghan Markle will spend the festive period over 5,000 miles away in the US, while William and Kate Middleton will have a traditional royal Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham.
Harry and Meghan – who are on a six-week hiatus after their international tour of southern Africa – have been staying in her native Los Angeles with her mum, Doria, for their son Archie’s first Christmas.
SUPPORT
But royal expert and Harry and Meghan biographer, Katie Nicholls, tells Closer that, after Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal duties following his “car crash” BBC interview over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Queen has called on her grandsons and their wives to put their differences aside and support her in 2020 as she approaches 94. Katie explains, “It’s no secret Prince Charles has long wanted to slim down the royal family to only immediate heirs in order to save public costs, so his brother Prince Andrew being stripped of his duties is a catalyst for putting this into practice. But Andrew is affiliated to a lot of charities, so they will have to be distributed to other royals. With Prince Charles already at capacity, they’ll probably be handed over to William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan, which is likely to push them back together.
“The Queen turns 94 this year and there’s a plan in place to relieve her of her pressures, which is why she’s calling on the four to step up. Although the Cambridges [William and Kate] and Sussexes [Harry and Meghan] have their own charities, I think the Queen’s move towards retirement will force them to work closely with each other. We will definitely see more of the young royals putting on a united front.
“They’re very aware of the feud rumours and the divisions that have dominated the headlines for much of
2019, so the Queen taking a step back and Andrew resigning altogether may be an opportunity for the couples to team up on more generic work that isn’t directly connected to their own charity ventures.”
Reports of an upset between “The Fab Four” began in 2018 when Meghan, 38, allegedly made Kate, 37, cry in the runup to her and Harry’s wedding, during a “tense bridesmaid’s dress rehearsal for [Kate’s daughter] Princess Charlotte”.
By Easter this year, tension had reportedly heightened. William, 37, and Harry, 35, ignored each other during a service in Windsor, before the Sussexes officially split from the joint charity they shared with the Cambridges in July.
CRITICISED
Despite charming fans in the lead-up to their wedding last year, Harry and Meghan have been criticised for lecturing people about climate change while using private jets, and for refusing to reveal pictures of Archie’s christening despite taxpayers picking up the bill for the renovations to their home Frogmore Cottage.
In October, ITV’s documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, sparked concern in royal circles as Harry confirmed a rift, saying, “Part of this role and part of this job, and this family, being under the pressure that [we’re] under, inevitably, you know… stuff happens. But look, we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. And we’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I’ll always be there for him, as I know he’ll always be there for me.”
And according to Katie, William’s wife Kate will be at the forefront of smoothing any ill-feeling between the couples. The Duchess has a strong bond with Harry, with him previously calling her the “sister he never had”. Kate also attended Wimbledon with her sister Pippa and Meghan this summer to calm reports of a rift.
“Kate’s been in the royal family a lot longer than Meghan and she has a natural tendency for teamwork,” says Katie. “Behind the scenes, she’s known to play the role of peacemaker. She’s aware it’s not in anyone’s best interest to feud. If there’s a chance to make a secret pact with Meghan to team up more, she will want to do that.
“I think after a festive break, both Kate and Meghan will know that joint ventures to support the Queen are not only part of their duty, but also good for their public image. She knows the pressure is on her and Meghan to save the Royal Family, to an extent.”
Harry and Meghan have struggled with living life under the royal glare. Katie adds, “The Sussexes are having some much-needed time out now, so hopefully they return fresh, rejuvenated, and able to see how they can go forward, hopefully with William and Kate by their side.”
By Rebecca Greenow