PRINCE Harry has broken his silence on his secret meeting with The Queen saying 'it was great to see' his 96-year-old grandmother during a quick stop-off at Windsor Castle.
The Duke of Sussex also met his father Prince Charles, reportedly for just 15 minutes before arriving in Holland for the Invictus Games.
Harry said Her Majesty 'had plenty of messages for Team UK' ahead of the Invictus Games.
He added he had passed these onto the team, telling the BBC: "So, it was great to see her and I'm sure she would love to be here if she could."
The news comes as the couple could make a shock return for the Queen's Jubilee but according to reports they 'can't play any formal roles'.
The Sussexes will however be "invited to join the Royal Family on the balcony" at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, sources have claimed.
The pair have been invited to attend the Queen's celebration of 70 years on the throne during a four-day party.
But if they do show up, they can't play any formal roles, sources told the Telegraph.
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest updates…
- Louis Allwood
Harry & Meghan Markle ‘exploited the Queen for NETFLIX’
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have “exploited the Queen for Netflix”, a royal expert has claimed.
Biographer Tom Bower reckons the couple’s secret meeting with Her Majesty on their way to the Netherlands was simply to please the producers of their imminent documentary.
Bower told MailOnline: “I have no doubt it was all done for their Netflix documentary.
“The Queen’s advisers failed to protect her from being exploited by the Royal Family’s worst traducers, while the Sussexes exploited an old, unwell woman to boost their credibility and coffers.”
Harry and Meghan last year signed a mega Netflix deal said to be worth £112million.
Their first project was announced as an Invictus Games documentary with an Oscar-winning production team.
- Louis Allwood
Queen’s meeting with Harry & Meghan could lead to Jubilee appearance
According to a royal expert, the Queen’s meeting with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor last week could pave the way for them to attend the Platinum Jubilee festivities in June.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-large of Majesty magazine, said: “The Queen is all about forgiveness – look at Fergie and Andrew – and she would certainly be happy to have Harry and Meghan around her for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
“Their meeting at Windsor on Thursday shows the olive branch has been offered to them and she will be hoping they accept it.
“She wants to present a united family on an occasion like the Jubilee, because an occasion like that certainly won’t happen again.”
- Louis Allwood
Golf buggies arrive at Windsor
TWO more golf buggies have been delivered to Windsor Castle for The Queen, sparking health concerns.
It comes after the Queen got one to help her move around the grounds.
Aides have been taking the monarch, 95, for spins in her private grounds — with her corgis next to her.
The 43mph electric cart, dubbed the Queen Mobile, has been teed up to transport her around at her Berkshire home after months of medical woes.
This follows news that the public must assume the Queen will not attend future events until confirmed by the Palace on the day, it is claimed.
Her Majesty‘s presence at public engagements will be a bonus but not guaranteed under alleged new Palace plans following several health scares, including a brush with Covid.
- Louis Allwood
‘Just when you thought Harry had done the right thing – in stepped Meghan’
This is a comment piece.
JUST when you thought Harry had done the right thing by flying in to see the Queen and his father, in stepped Meghan.
She immediately undid any goodwill their flying visit to Britain may have earned with a cheap jibe about their “service” during the Invictus Games.
It was an obvious shot at the expense of the Royal Family’s post-Megxit comment about dedication and duty.
For all the talk of olive branches, it is clear Meghan, at least, cannot let it go. Conflict, of course, is grist to the Sussexes’ PR mill. Netflix is not paying over £100million for scenes of happy families.
The more Meghan and Harry prick palace egos — even as they appear to be seeking to build bridges — the greater the drama for its documentary.
Read the article in full here.
- Louis Allwood
Camilla had ’empathy with Diana’
A journalist and royal biographer is expected to reveal the struggles which Camilla faced when “adjusting to royal life and Charles’ schedule”.
Tina Brown is writing ‘The Palace Papers’, which is due for released later this month.
Speaking on the latest episode of Royally US, about the book, hosts Christina Garibaldi and Christine Ross discussed how Camilla began to feel “empathy” for Diana, Princess of Wales.
Ms Garibaldi said: “She [Tina Brown] talks about how Camilla actually had a hard time adjusting to royal life and Charles’ schedule”
Quoting Tina Brown, she said: Punctuality had never been Camilla’s strong suit but Charles expected her to be ready for engagements at his own regimented pace”.
“When she [Camilla] asked him where they were going he would snap ‘haven’t you read the brief?”.
- Louis Allwood
Margaret’s rare £40k bow brooch is a ‘precious treasure’
Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret did not wear loads of brooches, but instead wore amazing pieces of jewellery, like the Poltimore Tiara she bought for her own 1960 wedding.
Charlotte White, head of design at 77 Diamonds spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about Margaret’s mysterious brooch – an Art Deco sapphire and diamond bow brooch.
She said: “Princess Margaret was known for her glamour and great love of jewellery.
“In 2006, four years after her death, the Princess’s jewels went up for auction at Christie’s.
“Among her precious treasures was this early Art Deco bow brooch, with its openwork sapphire and diamond wheel design and calibré-cut sapphire accents set on platinum and gold.”
- Louis Allwood
Andrew ‘won’t leave’ £1million a year Royal Lodge
PRINCE Andrew won’t leave his Royal Lodge home after giving up his titles and settling his rape lawsuit for £7 million.
The Duke of York lives in the 31 bedroom Georgian mansion despite having not apparent means of paying its £1 million a year upkeep.
Despite speculation at the beginning of the year he would be forced to leave the Royal Lodge, he is now “very unlikely” to move, a royal source told the Mail on Sunday.
Andrew has spent £7.5million refurbishing the property, including the addition of an indoor swimming pool.
Royal Lodge, which would be worth at least £30million on the open market, is three miles from Windsor Castle and was the Queen Mother’s old home.
Prince Andrew’s representatives have been approached for comment.
- Louis Allwood
Queen ‘hid behind bushes’ to surprise staff during lockdown
It has been revealed that The Queen surprised members of staff who were isolating with her during the first lockdown by hosting “Bubble Olympics”.
Angela Kelly, the Queen’s dressmaker and loyal confidante, revealed in her new book that the Monarch gave out prizes during the games and also hid behind the bushes of the grounds to watch the games.
Ms Kelly said: “I had asked The Queen a few days before if she would mind hosting the prize-giving, to which she very kindly agreed.
“On the day, she came out very quietly and discreetly, and it was amazing to see the looks of surprise and delight when The Queen’s Range Rover pulled up by the golf course and Her Majesty stepped out.
“Little did the staff know that The Queen had actually arrived earlier and had been watching, hidden behind the bushes.
“The astonishment on their faces was so lovely to watch, and as The Queen drove away in her Range Rover afterwards, everyone was speechless.
“An amazing day that will be cherished by all those who were there.”
- Louis Allwood
Senior royals step up
PRINCE William and Kate Middleton stepped up on sunday as they lead the Royals in for the Easter Sunday service.
The couple beamed alongside Princess Charlotte and Prince George at St George’s Chapel in Windsor for the traditional Easter Mattins Service.
Adorable Charlotte, six, was a mini me of her mum in a sky blue dress.
Sadly the Queen, 95, was not in attendance after Buckingham Palace previously said she was “not expected” to join other royals.
She was instead expected to mark the day at a small chapel in Windsor Castle.
Royal biographer Angela Levin told Sky News: “I don’t know how difficult it is to get in and out of the Chapel at Windsor Palace but she does have her own very small chapel within Windsor Castle and I suspect she will go there.
“I can’t imagine that she will miss saying her prayers and feeling that it actually is Easter Sunday.”
- Louis Allwood
Fears Harry & Meghan could ‘overshadow’ Queen’s Jubilee
ROYALS fear the Harry and Meghan show could “hijack and overshadow” the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee if the couple return this summer.
The pair flew to the Netherlands for the event after Harry “instigated” clear-the-air talks at Windsor Castle last week.
Senior sources believe the hush-hush visit — revealed by The Sun — was a bid by them to pave the way for “places front and centre” at the Jubilee events in June.
And there are fears within the Royal Family that Netflix could apply pressure to film the Sussexes at the Queen’s celebration — although royal insiders point out the couple have always promised to “uphold the values of Her Majesty” in their new role.
A source said: “Charles wants the Platinum Jubilee to focus only on the Queen.
“Many are disappointed that Andrew overshadowed Prince Philip’s thanksgiving service and don’t want the Meghan and Harry circus to hijack the Jubilee.
“This is the Queen’s show and should be about her and her 70 years of service rather than Meghan’s fashion, the kids and Harry.
“They don’t want it to become the Harry and Meghan show. Charles and all the family are agreed on that.”
- Louis Allwood
Queen ‘locked herself away alone’ after Philip’s funeral
THE Queen locked herself away and spoke to nobody after Prince Philip’s funeral, her closest aide revealed.
Her Majesty returned to her private apartment in Windsor Castle, closed her sitting room door and was left alone, Angela Kelly said.
She wrote: “I helped her off with her coat and hat and no words were spoken.
“The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her own thoughts.”
Details of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral are revealed in Angela’s book The Other Side of the Coin, published next month and serialised in Hello! magazine today.
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