LONDON, Jan 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Queen Elizabeth II will host a showdown
meeting with Prince Harry on Monday in an attempt to solve the crisis
triggered by his bombshell announcement that he and wife Meghan were stepping
back from the royal frontline.
Other senior royals including Harry’s father Prince Charles and brother
Prince William, with whom he has strained relations, will join the monarch at
her private Sandringham estate in eastern England, according to British
media.
Meghan will join the meeting via conference call from Canada as they
attempt to work out the “next steps” towards a compromise and nip the growing
crisis in the bud.
Issues up for debate include how much money the couple will still receive
from Charles’s estate, their royal titles and what commercial deals they can
strike, according to the Sunday Times.
The newspaper reported that William believes he and Harry are now
“separate entities”, breaking the bonds forged following their mother’s
tragic death.
“I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any
more; we’re separate entities,” the Times reported he told a friend.
Harry, Meghan and son Archie spent Christmas in Canada, with the American
former actress returning there this week.
The Queen on Thursday demanded that staff work with the couple to find
urgently a “workable solution” that would take into account their demands for
more freedom.
Several Canadian media reported Meghan had returned to Vancouver island
off the country’s Pacific coast, where the family spent the year-end holidays
and where baby Archie had remained with his nanny.
Senior royals were caught off guard by Wednesday’s announcement that the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to seek a “progressive new role” and divide
their time between Britain and North America.
– ‘Toxic mix’ –
The Queen’s office issued a terse statement the same evening, saying there
were “complicated issues that will take time to work through”.
Harry and Meghan said they intended to continue to “fully support” the
queen and “collaborate” with senior royals.
They also want to keep their home on the queen’s Windsor Castle estate as
their British base, while aiming to become financially independent.
But their desire to live as both members of the monarchy and private
individuals making a living was described as a “toxic mix” by David McClure,
an investigator into royal finances.
“The history of senior royals making money — the two is a toxic mix. It
hasn’t worked well in the past,” he told the Press Association.
“How can you be half-in, half-out — half the week perform public duties
and the other half earn your own income with TV, lectures, books? It is
fraught with dangers.”
The younger prince, who has struggled with his role, last year revealed he
has been growing apart from his brother, who as second in line to the throne
is increasingly pursuing a different path.
Harry has been open about his mental health issues and he and Meghan last
year admitted to struggling with the spotlight following their wedding at
Windsor Castle in May 2018 and Archie’s birth a year later.
The couple have also lashed out at negative news coverage — some of which
Harry says was racist — in light of Meghan’s biracial heritage.
The British public currently appears to be siding with the family, with a
Daily Mail poll showing that a majority believe Harry should give up his
right to the throne and be stripped of cash support from the royals or
taxpayer.