PALACE FEARS MEGHAN TELL-ALL INTERVIEW
Royal worry over her ‘nuclear option’ if crunch talks fail
THE Queen fears the Duchess of Sussex may air her grievances on royal life in a “no-holds-barred” interview.
A Palace source said it was a “nuclear” option if Harry and Meghan are still unhappy after crisis talks today at Sandringham.
ITV journalist Tom Bradby, a friend of the couple, said the result “would not be pretty”.
COURTIERS are terrified Meghan and Harry will “go nuclear” and give an interview as damaging to the royal household as the one given by the prince’s mum Princess Diana in 1995.
Diana told Martin Bashir she suffered the eating disorder bulimia and selfharmed while part of “The Firm”, during her marriage to unfaithful Prince Charles.
And courtiers fear Harry and Meghan will brand the royal household “racist and sexist” if they give an interview.
Journalist Tom Bradby said: “I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don’t think it would be pretty.”
Talk of an interview is seen as a serious threat to force the hand of the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William, who will meet Harry today for the first time since he and Meghan announced they were stepping down as senior royals.
The public yesterday showed their support for the Queen, applauding her as she left church at Sandringham.
Jean Acton, 70, from Fakenham, Norfolk, was among wellwishers and described the crisis as a “slap in the face” for the Queen.
Asked about Harry and Meghan, Ms Acton said: “They should give any money back. You can’t have your cake and eat it. They’ve done the dirty on the Queen.”
Today the 93-year-old monarch will take charge of the talks at Sandringham, bringing in advisers to give Harry and Meghan a “reality check”.
Prince Charles flew back from Oman, where he attended the official condolences following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, at the weekend.
Meghan is expected to dial into the meeting from Canada, where she is staying
Prince William with eight-month-old son Archie, after leaving the UK on Wednesday.
The Queen and senior royals have been “hurt” by Harry and Meghan’s bombshell announcement they plan to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and Canada. Prince Philip, 98, is understood to have exclaimed, “What the hell are they playing at?” when told of the couple’s defiant plans. Harry and Meghan are understood to have said they are “fully prepared” to lose their HRH titles to have the freedom they crave. But in what is described by courtiers as “a severe case of cherry-picking”, they expect to keep their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a wedding present from the Queen.
They will give up their income from the Sovereign Grant and launch themselves on to the celebrity circuit, expected to make “half a billion” in the first year – in deals officials fear might sully the royal brand.
A video from July emerged yesterday where Harry seemed to tell the head of Disney that Meghan was interested in doing voice-overs. She has since been given work with the company.
On the couple’s plans, ITV News anchor Bradby said: “If I had to guess – and I’m genuinely only guessing – I’d say Meghan might take on a few big roles as a brand ambassador.” He said she might also “do some work in television”, possibly as an executive producer on programmes promoting causes and charities she is interested in, like the series she did on mental health with Oprah Winfrey.
He said: “I imagine Harry will probably concentrate on the voluntary work he has done over the years – the Invictus Games, Sentebale.”
He added: “If he were to step into the commercial space, I suspect it would be an area that already interests him, such as eco-tourism.”
Palace sources say they feel the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have “run roughshod” over requests to take part in “phased and staged” organisation of new progressive roles at the centre of a modern monarchy, something that had
already been agreed in principle for some time. Bradby said the couple had been told that their roles would change at the centre of a “slimmed-down” Royal Family and were keen to get on with forging their path. But their action last week infuriated Prince Charles and left the Queen “saddened” that her grandson was listening to external advisers with no respect or thought for the
Crown. Bradby, who has been friends with Harry and William for almost 20 years, recorded a documentary with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their autumn tour in Africa.
In it, they bemoaned the pressures of royal life while visiting some of the world’s poorest communities. Meghan appeared to hold back tears as she thanked Bradby for asking if she was okay because “no one has asked”.
Since their big announcement, it has been claimed Meghan sought advice from former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who visited the couple at their home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, in November.
Before today’s meeting at Sandringham, all parties will be given written briefings, likely to spell out the punitive taxes that could be inflicted on Harry and Meghan if they press ahead with their plans.
A Palace source said: “There are a range of possibilities for the family to review which takes into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week.
“Making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussion. The aim remains for this to be in days, not weeks.”
The Queen’s eldest grandson, Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, was yesterday at church in Sandringham with his grandmother, who was seen wearing a hearing aid for the first time.
Asked how she was bearing up, he replied: “All right”.
If I had to
guess, I’d say Meghan may take on roles as a brand ambassador
TOM BRADBY JOURNALIST AND FRIEND OF HARRY AND MEGHAN
THE Queen and Prince Charles’s priority is keeping William and Harry united for the sake of the monarchy, insiders have revealed.
But they may be too late as the bond that was once so strong between the brothers now seems shattered.
The princes used to be a team, unified in supporting each other after their mother’s death and jointly backing causes such as Harry’s Invictus Games.
Ahead of today’s emergency talks at Sandringham, William told friends how sorry was over the situation. He said to a pal: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any more. We’re separate entities.”
A source said their rift stems from William warning Harry not rush into marriage early in his relationship with Meghan. Harry apparently saw this as an attempt to “clip his wings” and reacted with “typical petulance”.
Kate has since tried to play peacemaker by arranging visits to see Harry and Meghan at their home in Windsor.
And William has expressed hope that he and his brother might become closer again but it’s clear Harry is determined to seek a different life.
William reportedly also told his close friend: “I’m sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try to support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page.
“I want everyone to play on the team.”
One well-placed insider said: “Much of this situation stems from the breakdown in Harry and William’s relationship. From being so close and supportive of one another for years, they’re moving in such different circles it’s hard to see them repairing the damage. “Even before the split in their households in 2018 the cracks were there. “Harry was still trying to find his way after leaving the Army but also found it odd he was having to play second fiddle to William on so many things, especially when exploring his options for charity and patronage roles.” The insider said Meghan’s disregard for protocol had initially been seen as refreshing and exciting but is now largely regarded as discourteous. “This has unfortunately all contributed to the perfect storm, made worse by Harry and Meghan’s insistence on moving too quickly, in a bid to gain the upper hand. Now the senior members of the family are left to pick up the pieces, with the Queen and Charles agreeing that the brothers’ relationship must somehow be salvaged for the sake of the monarchy’s standing across the globe.”
Harry and Meghan are also understood to have told Sir Elton John and TV star Oprah Winfrey that they intended to step down before informing the Queen and Charles, further angering the senior royals and their staff.
They only alerted Her Majesty moments before telling the public they intended to divide their time between the UK and North America, and work towards being financially independent.
The royal household fears the couple could end up quitting for good, which would be an “utter tragedy” according to Charles. So senior royals are considering offering them a high-profile Commonwealth role in a bid to keep them as part of the team. But Harry and
Meghan are said to be “philosophical about the prospect of losing their titles” should it come to that. The Queen now hopes to hear a concrete plan which allows them to “step back” without further damaging the monarchy.
She appeared downcast as she arrived at church in Sandringham yesterday, while husband Prince Philip, who has not long been discharged from hospital, was said to be livid about the latest crisis.
Harry is expected to leave the UK on Thursday, after hosting the Rugby League World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace.
A source said of today’s crucial showdown: “This is a once-in-a-generation meeting and depending how it goes could have consequences which will echo for decades to come.”
I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives, I can’t do it any more
WILLIAM TO PAL ON DISTANCE FROM HARRY