TALK OF THE TOWN: It’s off! No reunion for the Royal ‘Fab Four’ as Palace insiders confirm there will be no big charity event featuring both the Cambridges and the Sussexes
It was all set to be the wonderful annual affair that would leave us in no doubt that the Cambridges and Sussexes could ‘make a difference together’.
So I am disappointed to reveal that there will be no repeat of last year’s appearance by the ‘Fab Four’ at this year’s Royal Foundation Forum.
Last February, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were given The Beatles’ famous nickname as they appeared on stage together to discuss their ideas for the organisation, which was set up to move forward their charitable ambitions.
Last February, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were given The Beatles’ famous nickname as they appeared on stage together to discuss their ideas for the organisation, which was set up to move forward their charitable ambitions
The decision will do little to convince Royal fans that all is well between the brothers and their wives, following months of speculation that relations are tense. In fact, the four have been working separately on different parts of the charity
The Palace has confirmed that it is now accepted procedure that the couples will meet the charity at alternate board meetings
The Royal Foundation website press release still states that the forum will be an ‘annual’ event, but a Palace source told me: ‘There will be no forum like last year with the four of them together.
‘The timing isn’t great. They should be putting on a united front.’
The decision will do little to convince Royal fans that all is well between the brothers and their wives, following months of speculation that relations are tense. In fact, the four have been working separately on different parts of the charity.
Last month, the Duchess of Cambridge, 37, had a meeting with Lorraine Heggessey, CEO of the Royal Foundation while Prince Harry, 34, recently met Ms Heggessey alone, as did Prince William, 36, and the Duchess of Sussex, 37.
In December, Harry and Meghan attended a board meeting of the Foundation before heading out to the Christmas party with staff – while William and Kate did not appear.
The Palace has confirmed that it is now accepted procedure that the couples will meet the charity at alternate board meetings.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the event.
PS Royal watchers will be interested to learn that Harry and Meghan will soon not have a base in London.
They are renovating Frogmore Cottage, their ten-bedroom home in Windsor, and plan to move out of their two-bedroom berth in Kensington Palace’s Nottingham Cottage – near Prince William and Kate’s apartment – once the work is completed in the next few weeks.
Nottingham Cottage will no doubt continue to hold happy memories for Harry and Meghan – it is where he got down on one knee and proposed while cooking a chicken supper.
But, as they prepare for their first child in April, they seem determined Windsor will be the family home.