Queen Elizabeth reportedly sat down with her grandson Harry this weekend and had a four-hour "heart-to-heart" chat where the two presumably discussed every detail of the royal split and what the future might look like.
A royal source told The Sun,"The Queen had a lot to talk to Harry about and this was the ideal time for them to both say their piece. When Harry and Meghan announced they wanted to quit it all happened very quickly and it was very stressful for all concerned. Sunday was the first time the Queen has had the chance to talk to Harry on his own and really find out what his plans are. It was a much more relaxed environment and they were both able to speak their mind."
It's also believed that the 93-year-old monarch ended the chat by saying, "You are much loved and will always be welcomed back."
This is truly where anyone with a vested interest in the royal family should want them to end up. Everyone loves one another, even if it's a little sticky right now. Royals: They're just like us!
As reported on Monday, it's believed that the two also discussed the Queen's desire to see Archie more. The source also said, "It’s fair to say she is very upset about him and Meghan leaving and she would love to see more of Archie, as would Prince Charles and the rest of the family. But she accepts at the moment that his mind is made up and he intends to live in North America."
Furthermore: "However she also wanted to make it clear that the arrangement can only work if they do not exploit their royal status and try to ‘cash in’ — that’s why she wouldn’t let them use the word ‘royal’ for their foundation. The Queen is protecting the institution and she is also aware of the cost of security. That is something that still needs to be resolved."
These are probably all terms that Harry and Meghan more or less knew were coming. While it seems they were hoping to continue to use "royal" in their branding, the idea is a nonstarter as far as the Queen is concerned. However, it's clear that Harry always has been, and will always be, very loved by his family.
The source added: "But Harry is also a much-loved grandson who she has always doted on. She made it very clear to him that he and Meghan are always able to come back if they change their minds and she will welcome them with open arms. Hopefully the chat cleared the air and the way forward is looking more positive But she wanted to make certain Harry knew there were limits and the whole set-up is subject to a review after 12 months."
Meanwhile, the other royals are continuing on with life as normal. In fact, Prince William spent Sunday at the Aston Villa versus Manchester City football game. He even went down to the Aston Villa locker room and gave the team a pep talk. Coach Dean Smith shared, "He just came and told the players about the history of the football club and why he was a supporter. I was at an unveiling on Wednesday and managed to get two minutes with him and he told me he was coming to the game, so I invited him down."
Though he threw his support behind them, sadly William's favorite team did not win. He was asked why he supports Aston Villa, even though he's not from the region. He said the answer is due to his childhood: "A long time ago at school I got into football big time. I was looking around for clubs. All my friends at school were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans and I didn’t want to follow the run of the mill teams. I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments."
Today, William and Kate embark on a three-day tour of Ireland. The last time a royal visited the Republic of Ireland was in 2011 when Queen Elizabeth went, and prior to that it was 1911 when King George V paid the country a visit.
The goal of William and Kate's visit is to continue to nurture relations with Ireland. The two have said they hope to "build a lasting friendship with the Irish people."
Prince Charles and Camilla are also keeping very busy! The two are scheduled for a staggering 51 engagements in nine days. They will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Jordan between March 17 and March 25. The details of their specific visits have not been revealed, but the math works out to at least five events a day. That's pretty intense for anyone.
Of course, all of this is happening before and after the royal family will step out in full force for Commonwealth Day on March 9. The holiday is always one of the Queen's favorites, and she's spoken about her love for the Commonwealth and her desire to keep it together. The Commonwealth is described as "a voluntary association of 54 independent countries, almost all of which were formerly under British rule."
"The origins of the Commonwealth come from Britain's former Empire. Many of the members of the Commonwealth were territories which had historically come under British rule at various times by settlement, conquest or cession. The administration of such colonies evolved in different ways, to reflect the different circumstances of each territory.
"After achieving independence, India was the first of a number of countries which decided that, although they wished to become republics, they still wanted to remain within the Commonwealth."
All eyes will likely be on the royal family that day, as this is a celebratory day and it will mark the first time the Harry and Meghan have rejoined the family in public since their January announcement to step back as senior members of the royal family. Much is being said about the reunion of the "Fab Four" and whether or not we'll discern any tension between Harry, Meghan, William, and Kate. My bet? Definitely not. On with the show!
