Harry, William break silence over royal split

Prince Harry and Prince William release a rare joint statement to deny bullying claims.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in 2018. Picture: AFP

The Duchess of Sussex is determined to step away from the royal family but Prince Harry would be “heartbroken” if he had to sever links altogether, a source close to the couple has said.

The Queen is holding urgent talks at Sandringham on Monday night to decide the couple’s future after they announced a desire to step back from their roles as ­senior royals.

An insider has told The Times that the pair feels “tethered” by their responsibilities.

The source added that the couple regarded themselves as having been pushed away by what they saw as a bullying attitude from the Duke of Cambridge.

These claims have been strongly contested by sources close to the Cambridges, as well as some close to Harry.

“She wants to leave,” the source said of the duchess. “She thinks: ‘It’s not working for me.’

“He is under intense pressure to choose. It is sad. He loves the Queen. He loves this country. He loves all his military stuff. I think it will genuinely break his heart to leave. I don’t think that’s what he really wants. I think they want some halfway house.”

The princes released a joint statement late on Monday night (AEDT) dismissing a “false story” suggesting there was a severe strain on their relationship.

Queen Elizabeth arrives to attend a morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England. Picture: AP

The statement read: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge. For brothers who care so deeply about the ­issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”

The Queen and other members of the royal family were said to be hurt and disappointed by the couple’s announcement last week that they wished to scale back their royal work and divide their time between Britain and North America. They said they no longer wanted to receive taxpayer money and aimed to become ­financially independent.

The Queen has called the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Harry to the talks and has made it known that the Sussexes’ future should be settled within days, not weeks.

Meghan is expected join the discussion over the phone from Canada. Her determination to leave was underlined at the end of last week when it was revealed that after only a few days back in England at the end of their six-week sabbatical, she had already flown back to Canada.

Senior royal officials, including private secretaries, press advisers and Michael Stevens, who as keeper of the privy purse is in charge of royal finances, have spent two days locked in talks to work out various solutions to be put to the royal family.

The alternatives will cover central issues such as how much work the couple will carry out for the royal family and where they will live.

The Sussexes want to divide their time between Britain and Canada but their place of residence will have significant tax repercussions. Also on the table is Frogmore Cottage, the house in Windsor that was controversially renovated for at least £2.4m at taxpayers’ expense. The couple is said to be prepared to give that up, although it is possible that they will remain there but pay a commercial rent.

The question of how much royal work they carry out may have an impact on the extent to which the Prince of Wales continues to fund them with the money he receives from the Duchy of Cornwall. Security for the pair will also be addressed. It is thought unlikely their entire security bill for time spent in Canada would be picked up by the British taxpayer.

The couple want to become fin­ancially independent but the Queen will seek to ensure that their commercial enterprises do not damage the standing of the royal family.

The Times