The other Royal summit: Camilla confers new honour on Anne
● Canada ready for talks on cost of security for duke and duchess after move
The Princess Royal has received an honorary degree for a lifetime of charity work – from her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla, chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, joked there would be ‘no talk of rivalry’ as she presented the honour to Anne, who is chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.
The Duchess of Sussex did not join the royal summit with the Queen and senior royals by phone and instead relied on her husband to put their case for a new independent life.
There has been speculation about whether Meghan, who is in Canada with baby son Archie, was able to participate in Monday’s discussions convened by the Queen at Sandringham.
A source said yesterday: “In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn’t necessary for the duchess to join.”
Meghan is reportedly the driving force behind the Sussexes wish to step back as frontline royals, become financially independent and live part of the year in Canada.
But it appears she was happy for Harry to conduct the faceto-face talks with his family about their wishes, without her direct input.
After the Sandringham summit, the Queen issued a statement that sanctioned the couple’s new “independent life” away from full-time royal duties and she said they would begin a transition period living in the UK and Canada.
The move has raised questions over the costs of the couple’s security during their time in North America and who would foot the bill.
Canada’s prime minister Justin
Trudeau said the costs, and what role Meghan and Harry would play in Canadian life, would be the subject of future discussions.
Asked during an interview with Global News whether Canadian taxpayers would have to pay, he replied: “That is part of the reflection that needs to be had and there are discussions going on.
“We’re not entirely sure what the final decisions will be, what the dispositions are and those are decisions for them.
“I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here, but how that looks and what kind of costs are involved, there are still lots of discussions to have.”
Harry and Meghan spent six weeks over the festive period based in the Canadian province of British Columbia, staying at an exclusive property on Vancouver Island.
The duchess, a former actress, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits and knows the country well, having lived there for seven years.
Mr Trudeau said the federal Canadian government had not been involved “up until this point” about what the couple’s move to the country will involve.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is “absolutely confident” the royal family can resolve the crisis.