Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have posted new pictures of their secret visit to Grenfell kitchen four days ago, shortly before they plunged the Royal Family into crisis by announcing they were ‘stepping back’ from their roles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke with members of staff and were pictured showing their support during their first few days back in the UK following their North American break.
The post to their 10.4million Instagram followers came amidst crunch talks in the upper echelons of the Royal Family, with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William ordering Palace officials to thrash out a ‘workable solution’ to the Sussexes’ would-be role in the future.
They couple posted images on Instagram revealing how they returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen and ‘Together, Our Community Cookbook’ earlier this week.
Since the trip to the Grenfell kitchen, they revealed their intention to become ‘financially independent’ and balance their time between the UK and North America, sending shockwaves reverberating to the very top of the Royal Family.
Meghan has since fled the storm to return to Canada, where she left Archie, while Harry bunkers down in the UK before hosting the Rugby League World Cup draw next Thursday.
The Queen broke cover at lunchtime when she was pictured driving her Land Rover in Sandringham, in a move designed to allay fears the Family had been rocked by the Sussexes announcement.
This was followed up by Harry and Meghan’s Instagram post of their visit to the Grenfell kitchen – the first one since Wednesday night’s announcement.
In a snapshot of what their future role could entail, the couple, wearing casual clothes, embraced and laughed with staff who cooked a meal.
The six pictures were accompanied by the caption: ‘These women came together in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy to cook meals for their families and neighbours who had been displaced from the fire.
‘With funds from the successful cookbook, they have now been able to share their spirit of community with so many more.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have posted new pictures of their visit to Grenfell kitchen four days ago
The couple posted images on Instagram saying: ‘Earlier this week, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen and ”Together, Our Community Cookbook”
‘These women came together in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy to cook meals for their families and neighbours who had been displaced from the fire,’ the couple wrote
‘With funds from the successful cookbook, they have now been able to share their spirit of community with so many more,’ they continued
‘The Hubb continues to work with local organisations to build hope, bring comfort and provide not simply a warm meal, but with it, a sense of togetherness,’ the post reads
‘The Duke and Duchess were so happy to reconnect with the women and hear about the projects they continue to develop to help those in their community and beyond,’ they said
‘The Hubb continues to work with local organisations to build hope, bring comfort and provide not simply a warm meal, but with it, a sense of togetherness.
‘The Duke and Duchess were so happy to reconnect with the women and hear about the projects they continue to develop to help those in their community and beyond.’
Harry and Meghan announced through a bombshell Instagram post on Wednesday that they would ‘step back’ from their senior roles to become financially independent and spend more time together in North America.
The Queen is now embroiled in a full-blown crisis as senior royals – including Princes Charles and William – ordered their teams to find a ‘workable solution’ to Harry and Meghan’s future roles.
Harry is now expected to follow Meghan Markle back to Canada within a fortnight after she fled across the Atlantic to be with Archie having left him with their nanny and her best friend following their Christmas break.
Her Majesty was pictured leaving Sandringham in Norfolk in her Land Rover at lunchtime, before driving along local country roads to a shoot in a field which was attended by guests including her grandson Peter Phillips.
The decision to break cover on public roads is was a choreographed move to play down fears that Harry and Meghan’s announcement had shaken the Firm to the extent that she was forced to bunker down and cancel prior engagements.
But despite her efforts to convey it is business as usual, the Sussexes decision to quit has sent shockwaves reverberating to the very top of the Royal Family.
The Queen is seen today for the first time since the Duke and Duchess revealed they were stepping down as senior royals
The Queen, pictured today, is embroiled in a full-blown crisis as senior royals ordered their teams to find a ‘workable solution’
The Queen is pictured leaving Sandringham before driving along local country roads to a shoot in a field this afternoon
Behind closed doors, senior royals including Princes Charles and William ordered their teams to thrash out a ‘workable solution’ to Harry and Meghan’s future roles.
The Duke and Duchess have remained silent except for posting pictures on their Instagram of a secret trip to Grenfell this week, before Wednesday night’s bombshell announcement.
Meghan has fled the chaos and flown back to Canada, where she left her eight-month-old son Archie. Harry is expected to join her within the fortnight, but not before he is forced to break cover when he hosts the Rugby League World Cup draw next Thursday.
Charles and William were both said to be left ‘incandescent with rage’ after learning about the Sussexes’ announcement just 10 minutes before it was published on the couple’s own Instagram page.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have left Archie in Canada after their six-week trip and the eight-month-old is being cared for by their nanny and Meghan’s best friend, Jessica Mulroney.
Ms Mulroney lives in Toronto but it is not known if she was with them in the £10million waterfront mansion in Vancouver they occupied between Thanksgiving and the new year.
It comes as Harry and Meghan’s close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the couple that there were plans for a ‘slimmed down monarchy’ and they ‘weren’t really a part of it.’
The ITV News presenter insisted that it was ‘certainly not true’ to suggest the royal household was ‘blindsided’ by their decision to step down from senior roles within the monarchy.
But blaming the decision to walk away from royal duties on the issue of a ‘slimmed down’ royal family may be seen as just a convenient excuse to leave their life behind in the UK and start a new life in North America.
Her Majesty, who was wearing a headscarf, was seen driving away from the Sandringham estate in her Land Rover today
The Queen drives away with three passengers after lunch at a shooting party near Sandringham this afternoon
The Queen drives through Sandringham today in the aftermath of the announcement by Prince Harry and Meghan
The Queen is pictured at Sandringham today for the first time since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they were stepping down as senior royals