Royal couple in city visit as controversy still rages
Harry put couple’s wishes to the Queen
THE DUKE and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Yorkshire today in their first joint engagement of the year, as controversy continues to encircle the Royal Family.
William and Kate will greet well-wishers in Bradford and visit supporters of projects which promote cohesion in one of the country’s most diverse cities.
The couple are expected to join a workshop run by Near Neighbours, an organisation which brings people together in communities that are religiously divided, in order to build relationships of trust.
Kate, who is passionate about supporting young mothers, will also join her husband at a group session designed to help grandparents with childcaring responsibilities.
The visit is expected to assume a higher-than-usual profile following the revelation that William’s brother, Harry, is to scale down his role within the family’s front rank.
Yesterday it emerged that the Duchess of Sussex did not join Monday’s summit with the Queen and instead relied on her husband to put their case for a new independent life. Meghan is currently in Canada with her baby son, Archie.
THE DUCHESS of Sussex did not join the Sandringham 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.
A source said: “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 face-to-face talks with his family about their wishes, without her direct input.
After the Sandringham summit, the Queen issued a statement which 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 for this in future.
Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau said the costs, and what role they will play in Canadian life, would be the subject of future discussions.
Asked 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 during that time.
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.