HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MA’AM! ...and look who zoomed in for her big day
Privacy-obsessed Sussexes rush to tell favoured media of video chat (though Palace insisted all birthday messages should be kept discreet...)
IT has been months since she held her youngest greatgrandson.
So it was a real birthday treat indeed for the Queen to catch a glimpse of 11-month- old Archie yesterday – even if it was only over video call.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex called the monarch from their new home in California to wish her a happy 94th birthday.
But it was hardly an intimate affair. The privacy- obsessed couple were so keen to tell the world about the afternoon chat that they instructed their spokesman to email a selection of handpicked publications to share the news shortly afterwards.
It comes after the pair were forced to suspend their own Sussex Royal website and Instagram page after quitting royal duties.
Harry and Meghan’s rush to make the news public was at odds with the wishes of Buckingham Palace, which had expressly stated that details of any calls between the Queen and her family on the occasion of her ‘low-key’ birthday should be private. Last week a spokesman announced the monarch would – for the first time in her reign – scale down birthday celebrations such as the traditional gun salutes and flag-flying because of coronavirus, saying: ‘Her Majesty’s birthday will not be marked in a special way – and calls, video calls, with family will be private and kept so.
‘There will be no gun salutes. Her Majesty was keen that no special measures were put in place... as she did not feel it was appropriate in the current circumstances.’
And the Sussexes’ decision to confirm that their son – who they have stressed they wish to grow up out of the public eye – had appeared on a video link with his great- grandmother, was also rather curiously timed.
It follows the couple’s announcement they will refuse to speak to Britain’s most popular newspapers, including the Daily Mail, in protest at the way their lives have been covered. The couple believe they have been subject to unduly harsh criticism and, they claim, unfair and inaccurate reporting.
Back in the UK, however, there was cause for celebration as Prince Charles and Prince William led the nation’s tributes to the Queen.
On social media, both shared sweet family photographs and wished the monarch many happy returns. Buckingham Palace returned the gesture, thanking the public for its wishes and sharing private footage of the Queen as young princess. The Royal Family’s Twitter account added: ‘To those of you also celebrating your birthdays today at home, with or without your loved ones – we send you many happy returns.’
The warm wishes came as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge launched a mental health service for front line workers through their Royal Foundation charity. Concerned about the strain of the pandemic on NHS workers, carers and emergency service staff, William and Kate today launch Our Frontline, which will provide round-theclock support for key workers.
Set up with Samaritans, Mind, Shout and Hospice UK, it will enable key workers to call or text a trained volunteer and will help with access to specially developed online resources. ‘This work will be our top priority for the months ahead,’ Prince William said.