Meghan and Harry: Can royals reverse damage of 2019?
Insiders are hoping troubled royal couple Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, can return from their long Christmas break with a new outlook, otherwise Buckingham Palace will be forced to step in.
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It has, one has to admit, not been the best of years for the Royal Family.
While not quite as bad as the Queen’s famous “annus horribilis” of 1992, 2019 would have given the monarch some mighty headaches in the form of Prince Andrew’s fall from grace, Prince Philip’s car crash and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s disintegrating relationship with their family and the British press.
Harry and Meghan’s tour of Africa in September started strongly, but ended poorly when Harry released a statement saying he was suing some of the UK tabloids.
Yet even that was overshadowed by the implosion that was Andrew’s TV interview in November which saw him subsequently toppled from this throne.
Still, it wasn’t all bad – we also welcomed baby Archie in May and got the happy announcement that Princess Beatrice is getting married next year.
So what does 2020 and beyond hold for the House of Windsor?
BEATRICE’S LOW-KEY WEDDING
After the joyous occasion that was Harry and Meghan’s Windsor wedding in May 2018 and Princess Eugenie’s equally loved-up nuptials with Jack Brooksbank that October, now it’s the turn of older sister Beatrice. She announced her engagement to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in September, with a wedding reportedly planned for June.
The date and details are expected to be announced any day. However, it looks increasingly unlikely that Beatrice will have another big white Windsor wedding, following her father’s unfortunate new position as He Who Should Not Be Mentioned.
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His ill-timed TV interview around the Jeffrey Epstein allegations which earned him the royal boot means it’s probably best if she doesn’t parade through the streets in a carriage waving to the public – even if she had wanted to, which she reportedly did not. Royal experts say Beatrice was always expected to do something more low-key than her sister and now it’s almost certain.
“Ever since Beatrice’s engagement was announced I have assumed that it will be a more low-key occasion than that of her sister,” says Joe Little, Managing Editor of Majesty Magazine.
“I still think that will be the case, with no TV coverage of the ceremony and no carriage procession after the wedding.”
ROYAL BABIES GALORE
Next year is, however, expected to be full of baby news. And despite Eugenie and Jack being tipped as favourites to start a family in 2020, bookies are also slashing the odds on happy news coming from other couples. Bookmakers Coral have odds of 1-3 on Harry and Meghan announcing they are expecting again in 2020 and 5-6 that Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge go for number four.
There are even rumours Catherine is pregnant, due to her pulling out of the Tusk Conservation Awards in November at the last minute. Meanwhile, there’s even buzz around Beatrice not waiting for her wedding to start trying for a baby.
One thing’s for sure, there will be more babies coming – you can bet on it.
BIG BIRTHDAYS AND SMALL PARTIES
There will also be some big birthdays celebrated next year – with Philip turning 99 in June and the Queen 94 in April.
Princess Anne hits a milestone, celebrating her 70th in August and Andrew his 60th in February, although his party has officially been pooped. Slightly jollier will be Prince Louis’ second birthday in April followed by Archie’s first in May.
Surely the cousins will get together for those happy dates – even if their dads don’t get on. Meanwhile, Prince George will turn seven and Princess Charlotte five.
ANDREW AND HARRY TO START AFRESH
But the big news will be how the scandals of the past 12 months will play out. Having been forcibly retired, Andrew looks unlikely to make a return to an official role within the Royal Family.
With charities and organisations unwilling to associate themselves with him, it is expected he will continue to keep a low profile for many months. So toxic is he, even the Prince Andrew High School in Canada is considering changing its name.
“It seems unlikely Andrew will resume royal duties,” says Joe.
“He needs to co-operate with the legal processes of the Epstein investigation and only when his name has been cleared can he contemplate a return to life as a working royal, albeit in a much-reduced capacity.”
As for Harry and Meghan – it’s hoped that after their long Christmas break they will return to public life with a refreshed outlook, the anger and tension of 2019 behind them. Royal correspondents say the solution lies both with the UK press and the couple, offering William and Catherine as an example of how to manage the relationship successfully. If not, it’s tipped Buckingham Palace will step in.
“Hopefully 2020 will prove to be positive and upbeat for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the battering they have taken this year – some of which was self-inflicted,” says Joe.
A MORE MODEST OUTLOOK
Finally, as the Queen continues to work well into her nineties and Prince Philip enjoys his retirement in Sandringham – albeit in reported delicate health – the new year and decade will see changes in the Royal Family.
It is widely known Prince Charles wants to slim down the monarchy and it looks likely, with Andrew out, that he will implement this further.
There were reports the Queen would make him Prince Regent, to carry out official duties in her place, but insiders dispute this.
“I’m hearing from those in the know that such reports should be discounted,” says Joe.
The Queen has long maintained it is a job for life. In April 1947, on her 21st birthday, she said, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
And after all, she still has some unfinished business.
Originally published as Meghan and Harry: Can royals reverse damage of 2019?