Royal Summit LIVE: Queen releases statement after talks and demands answers IN DAYS
THE QUEEN has released a short statement following crisis talks about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's future at Sandringham on Monday.
Meghan Markle: Queen is 'anxious' to help couple says expert
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future was discussed at an emergency royal summit in Sandringham on Monday. Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry all joined Queen Elizabeth II at her Norfolk residence to thrash out how Meghan and Harry's proposed plans for their withdrawal as senior royals may work. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step back as senior royals and split their time between Britain and Canada last week, a lot remains to be decided. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace the Queen described the day's talks as 'very constructive discussions' and said Meghan and Harry will now go through a 'period of transition.'
the UK.
decisions to be reached in the coming days."
7.18pm update: Charities defend Harry and Meghan’s decision
Community workers and charity organisers have defended Meghan and Harry on their decision to step down as senior royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accused of letting the country and their family down.
Marcellus Baz, a former gang member who set up the knife crime charity Switch Up in 2013, hosted Harry at a gym during a visit.
He told The Guardian the experience had been of great value to the young people who were involved: “He genuinely cared about these young vulnerable people and said really nice things to them that encouraged them.
“They are memories that have stuck with those kids and with me since then.”
6.40pm update: Big clue Meghan and Harry will lose titles
The Queen's latest statement after the summit at Sandringham has referred to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as simply “Harry and Meghan”,
This differs significantly to a statement released by the palace from before the Norfolk meeting that referred to the couple by their official titles, leading one leading royal expert to suggest that this was a “big clue” that they may have lost their titles.
Royal editor and Chief Investigative Reporter at the Daily Mirror Russell Myers has tweeted: “What is most remarkable about this statement, perhaps, is the Queen referring to them as ‘Harry and Meghan’ and not by their royal titles. Could be a big clue for the future.”
Read more HERE
- Sir Mark Sedwill - Cabinet secretary
- Sir Edward Young - Queen's top aide
- Clive Alderton - Principal private secretary to Prince Charles
- Simon Case - Prince William's private secretary
- Fiona Mcilwham - Meghan and Harry's private secretary
5.43pm update: Not clear if Meghan was part of talks
ITV's royal editor Chris Ship tweeted: "No confirmation yet forthcoming about whether Meghan did, or did not, dial into the meeting from Canada."
5.20pm update: What will Meghan and Harry do after the 'transition period'?
The statement released by the Queen suggests Meghan and Harry will now go through a transition period in which they split their time between Canada and the UK.
While nothing has been confirmed it seems plausible that following this transition period they will be based in Canada full time.
ITV royal commentator Chris Ship tweeted: "If the “transition period” means they will spend time “in Canada and the UK” ... is their life post-transition entirely to be spent in Canada?"
5.10pm update: Buckingham Palace releases statement on behalf of the Queen
Buckingham Palace has released the following statement following today's summit.
The statement reads: "Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.
valued part of my family.
the UK.
decisions to be reached in the coming days."
5pm update: Royals leave Sandringham
Royals have been spotted leaving Sandringham after several hours of talks.
ITV royal correspondent Chris Ship tweeted: The meeting is over. The senior Royals have been seen leaving Sandringham. We await news ..."
A statement from Buckingham Palace is expected to be released imminently.
4.30pm update: Recap
Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles are currently in talks with the Queen at Sandringham as they attempt to find a workable solution for Meghan and Harry's planned withdrawal.
The key topics being discussed by senior royals will include:
- Will Meghan and Harry keep their royal titles?
- How will they become financially independent
- The couple's living arrangements
- How they will honour their royal patronages while splitting time between UK and Canada
- Which commercial opportunities will they be able to pursue
- Will they continue to receive taxpayer funding?
- How will their security be paid for?
4pm update: Talks likely to continue through this evening
Talks at Sandringham have been underway since 2pm and are likely continue through to this evening.
Earlier today Prince William and Harry issued an extraordinary media statement unrelated to the day's talks.
The two brothers took issue with a newspaper story about the Sussexes being ‘bullied’ out of the Royal Family.
A joint statement by Princes William and Harry dismissing the story read: "Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex & The Duke of Cambridge
“For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”
3.30pm update: Royal talks underway
The royal talks are now underway and with members of the media gathered outside Sandringham, something unexpected and unrelated to the summit has happened.
ITV royal correspondent Chris Ship tweeted a video of what appears to be a man with a megaphone, standing on top of a parked black four wheel drive and talking to police.
Chris Ship tweeted: "Something rather odd has just happened at Sandringham. And it’s nothing to do with #HarryandMeghan. Given it’s a private estate, I suspect the man with the mega-phone will be sent packing soon."
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry shock reaction: What Prince William said
Royals arrive for crisis talks
According to reports, Prince Harry was spotted arriving at Sandringham at around 11.30am this morning.
Meghan Markle is currently back in Canada with baby Archie and while it has not been confirmed whether she will join the talks, it is expected she may phone in to take part.
Prince William was spotted arriving at Sandringham via a side entrance at around 1.45pm having spent the night as his nearby residence Anmer Hall.
The talks are reported to have begun at around 2pm.
What will be discussed?
Meghan and Harry released a joint statement outlining their future plans last Wednesday.
In it, the couple expressed their wish to become "financially independent" while stepping back as senior royals and splitting their time between the UK and North America.
They expressed their desire to continue to honour their current royal patronages and continue their duty to the Queen while carving out a new and unprecedented path for themselves.
The couple seem to want a one foot in one foot out approach to their royal roles and how this balancing act will be achieved while keeping all parties happy will be up for discussion.
The key topics which are likely to be up for discussion are:
- Will Meghan and Harry keep their HRH titles?
- Will their security costs still be met by the taxpayer?
- Will they still receive funding from Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall?
- How will they seek to become financially independent?
Sandringham: Police confront man with megaphone
How will Meghan and Harry become financially independent?
Full time working members of the royal family are not allowed to earn their own money.
Part of Meghan and Harry's decision to step down may be fuelled by their desire to accept more commercial opportunities.
However, the Queen may limit the type of jobs they can do in keeping with a set of rules she laid out in regards to Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward nearly 20 years ago.
The rules advise royals to first consult the Lord Chamberlain before taking on a new business activity, meaning Harry and Meghan would, under these guidelines, have to do the same.
This could create issues depending on how independent they wish to become.
The Lord Chamberlain - currently Earl Peel - is the most senior official of the Royal Household.
The stricter safeguards focused on allowing working royals to undertake official royal engagements alongside - but separately from - their professional careers.
As per the rules, the Lord Chamberlain has to approve new business activities.
He would have to recommend against a royal accepting an invitation to an official engagement which could not be kept entirely separate from any aspects of the business activities of that royal.