Prince Harry and William: Expert on relations following ‘Megxit’
The Duke of Cambridge will soon be back in the negotiation room with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince Harry to discuss the Sussexes’ post-royal life. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their departure from the Royal Family suddenly through social media a year ago, giving the Firm very little notice. The senior royals were forced to scramble and quickly establish a blueprint for the rebellious couple’s new life, while trying to deal with the emotional fallout of such a shock move.
It was agreed in the Sandringham Summit that the Sussexes would have to deal with a “hard Megxit” — meaning almost all ties to the Firm were cut, to the surprise of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and many royal watchers.
They did not formally leave the Royal Family until March 31 but tensions continued to simmer behind the scenes in this time.
William reportedly did not speak to his brother for two months and their exchange at the Commonwealth Day service — Harry and Meghan’s last royal engagement — was anything but cordial.
As the 12-month Megxit review looms, royal fans are wondering if Harry and Meghan’s commercial ventures with Netflix and Spotify could put their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in jeopardy.
Royal commentator Howard Hodgson told Express.co.uk that William and the Queen took a particularly hard line with the rebellious couple last year — implying they may do so again this year.
Prince William set to be ‘cold’ in Megxit review as Duke shares Queen’s ‘hard edge’ (Image: Getty)
William is expected to take a firm stance with Megha and Harry during the Megxit review (Image: Getty)
He explained: “Charles is easily the softest on Harry.
“The Queen is very annoyed and his brother William is very very annoyed.
“There is that sort of hard-cutting edge to William that is with the Queen in so far that they believe there is no room for any feelings [in the monarchy].”
He said this trait often runs through the Royal Family and claimed it was evident in the famously determined King Henry VIII, who ran through six wives in his desperation for a male heir.
The Queen is known to prioritise the needs of the monarchy above those of her family.
Mr Hodgson said: “She [has always] put her personal feelings, and even the feelings of her family, behind her absolute devotion to keep the constitutional monarch on course to support the Government of the day.”
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry warned Queen may BANISH them if they break more rules
Senior royals Charles, William and the Queen will be part of the Megxit review (Image: Getty)
However, there are mixed reports regarding William’s rift with Harry, with some claiming Charles’ positive coronavirus diagnosis brought the brothers closer together again — meaning he may go easier on the Sussexes.
Yet, the pro-Sussex biography ‘Finding Freedom’ could also have scuppered any chances of William being more lenient in the upcoming Megxit negotiations.
The unauthorised book, which was released in the summer, claimed William had advised Harry to take his time to get to know “this girl” when first dating Meghan — which the Duke of Sussex took as “snobbish”.
The biography also alleged that the Duke of Cambridge was cold and unwelcoming towards the new Duchess of Sussex.
When the book was published, Vanity Fair’s source claimed: “It’s going to open old wounds at a time when everyone wants to move on.
“I think the person who will be most upset about it all is the Queen.”
With these old wounds reopened only in the summer, the Queen may yet again choose to take a firm stance over the Sussexes.
DON’T MISS
Prince Philip’s brutal take on Cenotaph move amid Harry request [INSIGHT]
Meghan wanted to handle family drama ‘on her own’ without Queen’s help [EXPLAINED]
Royals avoiding awkward Christmas as ‘Megxit will leave huge gap’ [EXPOSED]
Harry and William seemed to have a frosty relationship at the Commonwealth Day service (Image: Getty)
Meghan Markle and Harry: How Queen decided on a ‘hard Megxit’
The Megxit agreement meant the Duke and Duchess of Sussex no longer represent the Queen and are now financially independent.
However, they retained their Sussex dukedom and many critics have credited their success in their lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify to their royal links.
This has been denounced as profiting from their Royal Family ties — which goes against the very nature of the constitutional monarchy, and could result in harsh punishment during the Megxit review.
Harry and Meghan’s decision to speak out on political topics, such as voting in the US Presidential election last year, also brought swathes of criticism for compromising the Royal Family’s neutrality.
The couple still have their HRH statuses but cannot use them for work — they may be stripped of these in any upcoming negotiations — and have maintained their patronages alongside their roles as the President and Vice President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge allegedly did not make Meghan feel welcomed when she first joined the family (Image: Getty)
However, Harry and Meghan may find more flexibility with the Prince of Wales even if William and the Queen adopt a hard stance again.
Mr Hodgson said: “Prince Charles is very disappointed that this has happened.
“[But] he has been helping them through the Duchy of Cornwall, and he has been extremely supportive of the couple, financially.”
The couple allegedly no longer receive support from Charles but are still thought to be on good terms with him.
