The sad passing of the Queen has meant many changes within the royal family. Not only has Charles become King, but William has become the Prince of Wales and Kate is now the first Princess of Wales since the late and much-loved Princess Diana, who tragically died in a car crash 1997 aged 36. During her time in the role, Diana became a worldwide icon, and was adored by supporters worldwide for her charm, her passion for her causes, and her fierce love for her children – earning her title “The People’s Princess”.
Meanwhile, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s titles have not changed, their children have become Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – although the couple were reportedly “furious” that they were not given HRH titles.
But for the first time since their dramatic departure in January 2020 and their subsequent public slander of the royals, Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, walked side by side with William and Kate, both 40.
Once known as “The Fab Four” – they also greeted mourners together outside Windsor Castle two days after the Queen’s death. Harry and Meghan had been in the UK carrying out a series of charity events, when it was sadly announced the Queen was under medical supervision at her Balmoral residence in Scotland. Just six hours later on 8 September, it was revealed she had died, and so the couple made the decision to stay in the UK throughout the week of mourning, while Archie, three, and one-year-old Lilibet remained at home in California.
And in his first speech to the nation as King, Charles announced, “I want, also, to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas” – marking the first time he has directly spoken of his youngest son since what he is reported to feel as his betrayal of the monarchy.
It was also reported William had extended an olive branch to his brother and invited Harry and Meghan to join him and his wife, despite their status as non- working royals.
Now Closer talks to three royal experts about what the future holds for the couple, as well as how Kate will forge her own path as the new Princess of Wales.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl: 'Kate won't live in Diana's shadow – she'll carve out her own role'
Royal expert Katie Nicholl, author of Kate: The Future Queen and new book The New Royals, has been reporting on Kate Middleton, the new Princess of Wales, for over a decade. Katie tells Closer how, by “staying true to herself”, Kate will carve out her own role within the dynasty, and one that isn’t encumbered by expectation to follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana.
She says, “Kate’s new role changes everything. The role of the Princess of Wales, which has years of history and heritage, is of course an ever- closer association with the late Princess of Wales, Diana. “Her role changes exponentially, as not only is there going to be more work, but more profile and more time in the public gaze. William and Kate are absolutely vital, essential and a high-profile support act to the King and Queen Consort. William and Kate both knew this moment would come. They are ready for it. In many ways, Megxit was a good rehearsal for where they find themselves today.
“The saying ‘behind every great man is a great woman’ could not be more true. Kate and William are a great team and she will continue to be William’s total support. But she will also carve out an independent role. Her success and popularity so far is that she’s not based her position on Diana. Kate is strong-minded and very passionate about the causes held dear to her. Of course, it’s hard not to be in Diana’s shadow, but she’s stayed true to her roots, while still honouring the late Princess.”
The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and The Future Of The Crown is out now on eBook, available in print in November
Diana's pal: 'Kate will guard her children like a tiger'
Royal expert and author Andrew Morton is most famous for his book, Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words, and was close friends with the late Princess. And he now tells Closer his thoughts on how Kate will step into the role and what Diana would have made of her successor.
He says, “Kate has had a long apprenticeship, it’s been 10 years since she became the Duchess of Cambridge, and she’s now a fully-fledged royal. The position of the Princess of Wales is one that she will make her own.
“When she joined the royal family, Kate had to find her own footing. But that’s what happens when you join the royal family – other new people that joined the royal family weren’t prepared to do that, as we’ve seen.
“Kate is very strong-willed, hardworking and involved with her work, and she’s also very glamorous. She’s a really dedicated mother – and I think the balancing act between her work and her family life is going to be hard. Having three school-age children and doing many overseas visits will be difficult.
“I think Diana and Kate have many similarities and would have got on very well. Diana had a real sense of humour, and so does Kate. They’re both sporty, both interested in the arts and they both went to similar kinds of schools. Above all, they both put their role as mothers first, guarding their young like tigers. I think despite the role change, for Kate, it remains very much family first – as it was with Diana.”
The Queen by Andrew Morton is out now (hardback, £20, Michael O’Mara Books)
Royal expert: 'This is a crucial time for healing the rift'
Their toxic feud has dominated headlines since the Sussexes stepped back from the royal family in 2020.
But while Harry and Meghan stood united with the royals last week, his upcoming memoir looms over The Firm, as does Meghan’s recent threat that she has not “signed anything” to prevent her from speaking.
Royal expert and author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, Duncan Larcombe says that this week will be crucial in deciding Harry and Meghan’s future relationship with the Palace – and believes that the couple, who have heavily criticised the royals in recent years – would be “bonkers” to continue on the warpath.
He says, “With Harry and Meghan, we’ve seen a mild ceasefire since the Queen’s passing and it has the potential to be a good thing.
“They have effectively spent a week in the same place as William and Kate. They’re so close now geographically that if there’s any chance of the rift starting to heal, it really is now. Now is the time for talks, for William and Kate to get things off their chest and air their grievances – but they’ll be very conscious that anything they say could end up in a Netflix show.
“When the Queen died there was always a question over whether having a family as heads of state would continue, or whether that too would die with the Queen. But that hasn’t happened. They appear to be the nation’s favourite institution, as proved by the public’s sway.
“Charles offered Harry an olive branch through his speech, and William reached out to his brother to invite him and Meghan to join them. So we know they are on good enough terms to at least see out the next few days before they return to California. But what happens after that? This is a crucial time if there’s to be hope of healing the rift.
“But can we expect the royals to forget comments [made by Meghan] about a senior member being a secret racist? Who knows what this means for Harry’s memoir? I don’t know what sort of deal Harry’s agreed to, but I think it may have passed the point of no return and become very problematic for him. His way out of it would be to focus on Diana and his journey and meeting Meghan, rather than revealing royal secrets.
“Meghan will no doubt be absolutely delighted that she’s going home to see her little Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with their new titles. But what happens with Harry and Meghan all hinges on their next few moves.”
