Prince William shows Harry how it's done as he returns to royal duties after gruelling Queen's summit
PRINCE William showed his younger brother how it is done as he returned to royal duties today after gruelling crunch talks with the Queen.
The Duke of Cambridge spent hours last night discussing Prince Harry's decision to step down as a full-time royal.
He was earlier snapped looking exhausted as he drove in London this morning – but it was business as usual hours later at the investiture at Buckingham Palace.
Princes Charles, William and Harry all left Sandringham yesterday after the key talks with the Queen.
It was expected Meghan Markle would phone in from Canada for the meeting, she was ultimately left out.
A Palace spokesperson said: "In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn't necessary for the Duchess to join."
Instead, it is understood Prince Harry spoke to the Queen before the summit – then keeping his wife in the loop during the meeting with his grandmother, dad and brother.
Harry and Meghan last night got their way at the Royal Family's crisis summit at Sandringham – leaving the royal family to live in Canada and become financially independent.
It comes as…
- The Queen said she wanted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to remain full-time members of the Royal Family but accepted their decision
- Princes Charles, William and Harry all left Sandringham separately last night after the gruelling two hour talks
- The Duke of Sussex had arrived at the Norfolk estate early to reportedly speak to the Queen before the summit
- Meghan Markle had been expected to phone in from Canada during the talks but it was eventually decided it "wasn't necessary"
- Harry and Meghan insisted they wanted to become financially independent
- The couple will split their time between the UK and Canada as aides thrash out the finer details
And while the Queen stressed the importance of family in a strikingly personal statement, Prince William was seen driving out of the Norfolk estate separately from Harry yesterday.
The four royals, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, are not expected to meet again anytime soon in person – with future discussions to be held on the phone.
Last night it was revealed William and Harry's relationship is “tense and deeply damaged” following a series of furious rows.
The brothers’ bond has not recovered since a falling-out just before the two families appeared together in public with baby Archie for the first time last year.
They were all pictured at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day — in which William and Harry both played — held at Billingbear Polo Club in Berkshire in July 2019.
Tensions between the pair have grown since, with Wills accusing Harry of “changing” and “speaking rudely to staff”.
A senior royal source said: “It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see just how damaged William and Harry’s relationship has become.
“They’ll always love each other as brothers, but right now things have never been so bad. William feels betrayed and let down by Harry.
“Harry feels like William and Kate never gave Meghan a chance. And now they’re leaving the country in this state.”
The brothers had yesterday put on a united front – denying claims "bullying" by Prince William had driven out Meghan and Harry.
They sat down in crunch talks with the Queen and Prince Charles yesterday at Sandringham to thrash out what the Sussex's decision would mean.
Her Majesty has directed decisions to be made in the coming days – addressing living arrangements, titles and funding.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton and Meghan have not spoken for six months, it was reported.
STATEMENT FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.
My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.
Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.
It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.
It has been claimed the women clashed after Meghan was rude to one of Kate's staff – leading to a confrontation between the brothers.
Since the crunch summit, the royal family has continued to put on a brave face, with princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank pictured leaving Kensington Palace.
Meanwhile, Camilla is expected to present an honorary degree to her sister-in-law, Princess Anne today.
Last night, the Queen said she was “entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family”.
But she made her sadness at their decision clear in her statement, saying: “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life.”
The couple will now go through a "period of transition" that will see them "create a new life as a young family" and spend time in both Canada and the UK.
And while Meghan and Harry will initially stay in Canada, they are understood to then want to make Los Angeles their home.
But the outcome is that “what Meghan wants, Meghan gets” — the line Harry infamously uttered in a row after the Duchess was stopped from wearing an emerald tiara at her wedding in May 2018.
Echoing Harry and Meghan’s statement last week, the Queen said there would be a “transition period” while the details are being hammered out. It is hoped that will be “within days”.
Although she said the Sussexes did not want to accept any public money, it was unclear last night whether this just referred to an end to the Sovereign Grant — handed to Her Majesty from the Government to pay for the royals’ work.
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