Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, may finally be able to circle a date on her calendar for her return to the UK after four years away. She could be joining husband Prince Harry, 41, at an event to promote the Invictus Games – due to be held in England next year – on July 10, if a review of their taxpayer-funded security finds that they are entitled to armed police guards whenever they visit Britain.
The lack of police protection – withdrawn after the couple stepped back as working royals – means Harry has refused to take his wife or children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, to his home country from his new home in California. That could all change if the review finds in his favour.
Meghan’s last visit to the UK
Meghan, 44, was last in Britain in September 2022, when she attended the funeral of Elizabeth II. Her children haven’t been since June of that year, when they travelled to London for the late Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
But there’s a chance Archie and Lilibet may see their grandfather in just three months. British media are reporting that Charles is “highly likely” to visit the US in April as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, and if he does, Harry will do his utmost to arrange a meeting between his father and his children.
“Harry has made it clear he’d love his dad to come and visit him and the family,” says a source, adding the rift with the Sussexes has meant the King, 77, barely knows Archie and Lilibet.
“Harry acknowledges the strain in their relationship but has repeatedly expressed hope that his father will build a bond with his grandchildren.”
William hires
Prince William has a new member of staff – an expert in dealing with crisis management. Liza Ravenscroft, known for helping clients weather tough times—one former boss calls her ‘bulletproof sunshine’—will join William’s communications team at Kensington Palace in a non-crisis role, the palace says.
However, a palace source says having someone on his team with vast experience in helping clients cope with turmoil will be a comfort to William, 43, who has had plenty of dramas to deal with lately, including his Uncle Andrew’s demotion from Prince.
Liza may also prove helpful if the ongoing conflict between him and his brother Prince Harry, and his sister-in-law Meghan escalates. In her CV, Liza says she has experience in telling clients “how to get past an issue as quickly as possible with minimum dents”, and what she deals with is often “front page stuff, from boycott campaigns to sexual allegations to serious safety issues, geopolitical and ethical risks”.
William’s silence on ‘spare’
Meanwhile, royal author Robert Hardman says he believes William has followed good advice by never commenting on allegations his brother made in his memoir Spare.
He says the Prince of Wales refused to read the book, fearing the hurt it caused his family, though staff briefed him on its ‘key points.’
He has resisted pressure from the media to “respond to some of the more incendiary charges”, including claims about Kate, and has also decided to stay quiet to uphold the royal family’s values of staying stoic and keeping their opinions private.
Admired for restraint
“You can imagine how he feels about the book, especially regarding what has been said about his wife,” says Robert.
“But he is being admirably grown-up.”
Report back to daddy!
Andrew insists on Christmas attendance
Banished royal Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor insisted his daughters attend the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham – so they could “spy” on his behalf.
Royal writer Ingrid Seward says Andrew, 65, was keen for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to join the royal family’s traditional festive gathering so they could report back to him about what was said.
“I don’t think Beatrice and Eugenie had a choice,” says Ingrid.
“Andrew said to them, ‘You have to go.’ He wants to know what’s going on and what people are saying about him. They are Andrew’s only passport into the royal family now.”
The disgraced former prince spent Christmas alone at Royal Lodge in Windsor, while Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, stayed at Sandringham with the rest of the royals. They mingled with their relatives on the steps of St Mary Magdalene Church, where the family attends the Christmas Day service together.
Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, were noticeably absent thanks to the ongoing scandal of their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
