Back to work for Charles after ‘Harry summit’
Duke of Sussex set to remain for Queen’s 95th birthday
PRINCE CHARLES has “got back to business” at his cottage in Wales because “it is what his father would have wanted”, sources said today.
The Prince of Wales travelled to Llwynywermod in Llandovery following his father’s funeral and talks with sons Prince William and Prince Harry in Windsor on Saturday.
He is “getting on with his work” and “taking the time to reply to the deluge of correspondence” he has received since the Duke of Edinburgh’s death on April 9, sources told the Standard.
It is also “all hands to the deck” at Clarence House, Charles’ official London residence, as his staff make their way through the thousands of letters of condolence from around the world.
Before leaving for Wales, Charles is said to have held talks in the grounds of Windsor Castle with his two sons who have been feuding since Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. There was no official wake after Philip’s funeral because of pandemic restrictions.
But the family are said to have taken the opportunity to talk and catch-up face to face properly for the first time since Harry moved to the United States with Meghan.
William’s wife Kate also attended parts of the talks, some of which took place at Frogmore Cottage,
Harry’s home within the grounds of Windsor Castle, according to The Sun.
After the talks, Charles left for his £1.2 million converted farmhouse in the Brecon
Beacons national park just 24 hours after laying his father to rest. Wife Camilla is believed to have remained in London, where she has private commitments. Harry flew to the UK on an “open-ended ticket” on April 11 and isolated at Frogmore Cottage before attending his grandfather’s funeral. He remains in the country ahead of the Queen’s 95th birthday tomorrow and is believed to want to stay for the occasion.
However, he will return to the home he shares with Meghan and son Archie in California as soon as his heavily pregnant wife needs him, a source close to the couple has said.
Harry’s extended stay could also allow him to catch up with friends or other members of royal family, including his cousin Princess Eugenie, who he is very close to and who recently gave birth to her first child, August.
He may also hold meetings with some of his UK-based charities, which include the Invictus Games Foundation and WellChild, before flying home.
Harry is expected to return to the UK again later this summer when he and William are due to unveil a new monument to their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at Kensington Palace. Insiders have said they hope the event on July 1, which would have been Diana’s 60th birthday, will help further “heal” their relationship following the duke’s breakaway from the royal family.
Celebrations for the Queen’s birthday would usually have entailed a number of events, but will be toned down to reflect a period of grief for the family.
Last year she spent the day with Philip and spoke to family on video calls because of pandemic restrictions.
Her official birthday is celebrated in June and marked by the annual Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, although that will not go ahead in its traditional form for a second year.