The Queen has summoned Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Prince William to Sandringham for a family showdown on Monday, palace sources have revealed.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex is expected to dial in on the call “time zones permitting to talk things through,” and a number of senior aides and courtiers will also be present. However, neither Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge nor Prince Philip, who has retired from public life and was ill over the Christmas period, will be present.
It will be the first time Harry has seen his grandmother since his and Meghan’s bombshell announcement that they are stepping down as senior royals and plan to spend more time in North America. According to an aide the meeting has been called in the hope that the family can work out the next steps and resolve some of outstanding issues, specifically how the couple plan to be financially independent.
The summit comes after days of intense meetings between palace aides and government officials who were tasked with the job of coming up with a solution for Harry and Meghan that works for the couple as well as for the Royal Family. Last night a courtier said that the talks were progressing well.
Meghan is now in Canada, where she has been reunited with Archie, and it has been reported that the couple have already flown their dogs to the country suggesting that this is to be a long term move.
According to a senior palace aide, “There are a range of possibilities for the family to review [at the meeting] which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week.” The source continued, “As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions. The next steps will be agreed at the meeting. The request for this to be resolved at pace is still Her Majesty’s wish and the aim remains days not weeks. There is a genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented.”
Harry is expected to remain in the UK while the talks continue and is due to attend an official engagement on Thursday with the Rugby League.
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