Queen hosts crisis talks over ‘Megxit’
THE Queen will host crisis talks with senior royals and the Duke of Sussex today in a bid to find a solution to Meghan and Harry’s future roles.
The head of state will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by Prince Charles and Prince William for the crunch meeting – where “next steps” will be decided, a source told the PA news agency.
It will be the first time the four have met since the issue – dubbed ‘Megxit’ by the tabloids – engulfed the royals. It is thought William will be travelling from his Kensington Palace apartment and Harry from Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle.
Charles was in Oman yesterday to attend a condolence ceremony following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, and was due to travel back to the UK last night for the talks at Sandringham today.
Before them will be a range of options, and it is likely the royals will try to come to some agreement before the meeting ends to stop the immediate crisis causing lasting damage to the monarchy.
The Queen attended church at Sandringham yesterday, arriving by car dressed in a camel-coloured coat and hat.
Members of the public gathering near St Mary Magdalene Church said they felt sorry for Her Majesty, with some saying that Harry and Meghan should not receive any more taxpayers’ money.
Jean Acton, 70, from Fakenham, described the crisis as a “slap in the face” for the Queen.
“I feel desperately sorry for her. It must be horrible. For any parent. Let alone if you’re a royal or not,” she said.
On Harry and Meghan, she said: “I think they should give any monies back. You can’t have your cake and eat it. I just think they’ve done the dirty on the Queen.”
Members of the public clapped as the Queen left the church after the service.
Harry and Meghan are said to have left the Queen and senior royals feeling “hurt” by their bombshell announcement they plan to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America.
On Thursday, the Queen, Charles and William gave orders for their households to work with the Sussexes’ team to quickly find a “workable solution” to their desire to change the direction of their royal lives, but still support the Queen.
Meghan flew to Canada a few days ago where she spent an extended festive break with Harry and baby son Archie in the province of British Columbia.
She is with her child, but the source said it is likely she will be able to participate in the meeting by phone.
The Sunday Times reported William as saying: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any more; we’re separate entities.
“I’m sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and 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.”