Why Prince William and Kate May Need to Co-ordinate With Prince Harry and Meghan in the Months Ahead
Prince William and Kate Middleton might have to take on a tough task as their estranged relatives Prince Harry and Meghan Markle return to the UK.
Although all four of them were senior working royals, Prince William and Kate Middleton ranked higher than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the monarchy. As a result, the latter had to give them priority for public engagements or keynote speeches. However, the Sussexes are no longer royals and are not part of the pecking order, but now, as they plan to return to the UK, they will still need to work with the Palace. Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales will also need to co-ordinate with their estranged relatives to avoid diary clashes.
Royal expert Richard Palmer believes the “media attention” surrounding Harry and Markle will “risk distracting from royal family duties” despite being private individuals. “While visiting a charity in Los Angeles may go largely unnoticed, there will be far more media attention when they carry out visits in the UK, especially if one of the working Royal Family is doing something similar and possibly trying to communicate a different message, sources said,” he wrote for the i-Paper.
William and Middleton will likely keep their distance from the Sussexes, as they did when the pair visited the UK last month. However, the Prince and Princess of Wales may need to set their indifference aside when it comes to coordinating dates. Palmer wrote, “Those close to William and Kate have so far suggested they will just carry on as normal and ignore the distraction. But after previous disruptions to their agenda caused by diary clashes with Harry and Meghan, they may need to think again.”
Harry had reached an agreement with Buckingham Palace last July to co-ordinate with the Royal Household as a courtesy, so that both camps could try to de-escalate tensions. Despite a few bumps and clashes, the agreement has had a decent run so far. The Sussexes and the royals’ engagements have been largely compatible, and will reportedly “play it by the ear for now”.
The risk of one party overshadowing the other will greatly increase once Harry and Markle are in the UK, as all of them will be carrying out charitable work in the same time zone. Another royal expert, Joe Little, said, “The goalposts have moved across the world. It would make sense to coordinate wherever possible.” The Waleses and the Sussexes are likely not even on speaking terms, and haven’t been so for years. So, avoiding diary clashes despite the strained relationships will certainly be a painstaking task for both parties.
Harry and Markle will be in the UK for an extended period. Their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled in schools as well. However, the family’s accommodation details are still under wraps.
