Kate’s Windsor trip with Harry and Meghan after the Queen’s death was ‘one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do’, an exciting new royal book revealed today.
The Princess of Wales has told a senior royal that it is very difficult for her because of the ‘bad feeling’ between the couple, says veteran royal correspondent Robert Jobson.
The new book, called Ours – serialized in The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday this weekend – reveals the inside story of the Royals’ war with the Sussexes before, during and after Megxit. It also shows how:
- Charles was frustrated by Harry’s “bad manners” as it overshadowed his 2016 Gulf tour by issuing the statement confirming his relationship with Meghan but demanding that they be left alone;
- The Queen was baffled by Harry and Meghan’s public criticism of the monarchy and members of the royal family – calling their behavior “absolutely insane”;
- Charles and William decided they could not risk being alone with Harry again after the Sussexes met Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 and no longer treated him as a trusted member of the family;
- There were fears that if Meghan was allowed to join via video link from Canada to the so-called Sandringham Summit to highlight details of the Sussexes’ future in January 2020, it would not be ‘safe’.
Kate and William’s appearance with Harry and Meghan to greet well-wishers and view flowers outside the gates of Windsor Castle came two days after the Queen’s death at the age of 96 in September last year.
For many, the couples joint tour — which was said to be William’s idea to make an offer of unity — may have sounded like a kind of reconciliation.
But Mr Jobson says sources close to the royal family have assured him it was an “illusion”.
‘Catherine later confessed to a senior member of the royal family, ‘It was the bad feeling between the couple, the joint touring was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do,’ he wrote.
It comes as relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family remain at an all-time low after a series of violent attacks over the past year.
The Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan in December blasted King Charles as a father before he criticized the choice of wives by the male members of the company.
Harry insisted his decision to marry Meghan set him apart from his family because it was “from his heart” and not because she “fits the mould”.
Meanwhile, the Duke’s bombshell memoirs, released in February, dealt more blows to the monarchy’s reputation.
Harry has accused his brother of assault, called his stepmother “evil” and has repeatedly spoken of the family’s “unconscious bias” when it comes to race.
A reconciliation remains to be effected and all eyes are on the King’s coronation on 6 May – and crucially whether or not the Sussex team will turn up.
Although the deadline for responding to invitations passed on Monday, it is understood that Harry and Meghan have not yet told palace aides whether they will be flying in from California to attend the service.
However, the New York Post reports that plans are being finalized for the couple to travel to attend the coronation.
A source said: ‘There were lengthy discussions between the Sussex and Palace.
There is a time crunch in this of course. It’s a historic event and we hope Harry and Meghan will be there.
Another source said: ‘All families are difficult but of course this is not an ordinary family.
“Harry has a lot of questions about how the event works.”