Queen directs four-way crisis talks to find 'workable solution' for Harry and Meghan's future 'within days'

  • Royal aides have been instructed to liaise with Government departments
  • Palace source: “Everyone is pulling together to make this work."
Robert Jobson10 January 2020

The Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge have ordered their teams to find a "workable solution" over Harry and Meghan's future amid four-way talks to head off a royal crisis, the Evening Standard understands.

Buckingham Palace revealed they will work "at pace" to find an outcome for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a matter of "days, not weeks".

The Queen and Charles are said to be locked in “calm” conversations with Prince Harry amid a series of conference calls - Her Majesty from Sandringham and Charles in Birkhall, Scotland - over his and Meghan's decision to resign as senior royals.

Royal aides from across the households have also been instructed to liaise with Government departments. It is understood that the royal family will talk to multiple governments which suggests US and Canadian officials may be involved.

Palace sources say the directive is to sort it out "in days, not weeks".

The Queen has ordered all the royal households to work together to find a solution
Getty Images

The developments came as the Queen released a fresh statement on the issue, which was described on Wednesday as a "complicated issue".

It read: "The Queen, the Prince Of Wales and Duke of Cambridge have directed their teams to work together at pace with the government and the Sussex household to find workable solutions."

One source told the Standard: “Everyone is pulling together to make this work.

The Queen, pictured with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wants the solution with a matter of days, sources said
AP

“The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex have been in constant communication through out the day to find a sensible resolution to the issues.

“There has been no retribution. No finger pointing. The conversations have been calm, constructive and productive.

“Nobody is blaming anyone, it is all about making it work for all parties concerned."

Earlier on Thursday, senior sources said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ignored instructions from the Queen not to go public with their bombshell announcement to step back from their roles.

As reported earlier by the Evening Standard, the Queen is said to have made it clear to her grandson that he should not proceed with any announcement this week about his future after he requested a meeting with her at Sandringham.

But Harry and Meghan went ahead and released their personal statement on Wednesday evening, which was a "bolt from the blue" for Buckingham Palace, sources said.

In the announcement, the sixth in line to the throne effectively resigned from his frontline role “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”.

It also said the couple would work to become "financially independent" royals who will divide their time between the UK and North America.

Harry, Meghan, William and Kate - In pictures

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The Duke of Sussex’s apparent refusal to comply with an explicit request from the head of the royal family helps explain the unprecedented expressions of “hurt” and “disappointment” from the palace over last night’s statement .

The Queen, Prince of Wales and other senior royals were not consulted about the content of the couple's statement or knew it was to be issued, with Charles and the Duke of Cambridge only receiving it 10 minutes before it was released, sources said.

The Duke and Duchess, who have only recently returned from a six-week stay in Canada with eight-month-old son Archie, said in their statement: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen."

The statement - and a new official Sussexroyal.com website - have also thrown up important questions about funding for the couple's round-the-clock security, media access to their royal events and how they will pay for their future lifestyles.

Buckingham Palace said after the announcement: "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."

The latest developments reveal the divisions within the heart of the British monarchy which has already been rocked by the Duke of York's disastrous television interview about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Hear more from Robert on this episode of The Leader:

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