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Rift between Sussexes and Royals ‘impossible’ for the Queen to manage

The Queen and Prince Charles are struggling to contain the “poisonous” rift sparked by Meghan Markle, a royal author claims, as the Palace braces for Harry’s tell-all book.

Queen extends olive branch to Harry and Meghan amid tension

The Queen and Prince Charles have struggled to contain the “poisonous” rift with the Sussexes a royal author claims, as the Palace braces for the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir.

Royal biographer Tom Bower said the “toxic” situation between the couple and the royal family is “impossible” for the Windsors, Prince Charles, and the Queen to successfully manage.

However, Bower says the Prince of Wales and the Queen are “doing their best” to try to keep a lid on the row between Meghan and Harry, and the rest of the royals.

“I think it is really toxic, I think they do their best the Windsors, Prince Charles, the Queen to keep it cool but it is just impossible,” Bower told the Express.

“Especially with Harry‘s memoir about to come out.

“But ever since Meghan left Britain and then did the Oprah Winfrey it has been really poisonous.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may snub the Queen’s invite to Balmoral. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may snub the Queen’s invite to Balmoral. Picture: AFP

In June, the Sussexes flew back to the UK briefly to join celebrations marking the Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee, although the visit failed to produce a wider reconciliation.

However, despite the tensions, the Queen has reportedly invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Balmoral this summer, in an attempt to mend relations.

The offer would seemingly allow the pair to avoid senior royals.

Her Majesty, 96, arrived in the Highlands last week and is set to stay for ten weeks at seven-bed Craigowan Lodge.

“Staff have been told to expect the full list of royals including Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet,” a Balmoral insider said.

“They are preparing for the Sussexes.”

Another insider said: “Balmoral is the perfect place for them to spend a little bit of quality time with the Queen.

“They barely had 15 minutes with her at the jubilee.”

However, some sources believe the couple will reject the Queen’s invite.

“I would be stunned if they did turn up,” one source told the Sun.

HOW MEGHAN CAST ‘SPELL’ OVER HARRY ON FIRST DATE

A new bombshell book has accused Meghan Markle of “casting a spell” over Prince Harry on their first date while still living with her then-boyfriend, chef Corey Vitiello.

Meghan – who was acting on the US Network drama Suits at the time in 2016 – put into action a plan to befriend a group of well-connected Brits.

In his explosive book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors, Tom Bower claims among them were Harry’s childhood friend Violet von Westenholz, who was working as a publicist for Ralph Lauren.

Meghan had been hired to wear the designer’s clothing during the Wimbledon tennis tournament in the summer of 2016.

Meghan Markle and Violet Von Westenholz at Wimbledon, posted July 5, 2016. Picture: Instagram
Meghan Markle and Violet Von Westenholz at Wimbledon, posted July 5, 2016. Picture: Instagram

In a conversation with Ms Westenholz at Wimbledon, Bower writes that Meghan persuaded her to set her up on a blind date with the prince.

“Her problems were familiar to all unknown, unmarried actors in their mid-thirties – fear of loneliness and personal and financial insecurity,” Bower writes.

“Unsurprisingly, Meghan was preoccupied by her own financial security – and finding a husband.”

But the book claims that before agreeing to the set-up, Ms von Westenholz – whose father is an interior decorator and friend of Prince Charles’ wife, Camilla – sent Harry photos of the dark-haired actress.

And despite Meghan’s two-year romance with Vitiello, a Toronto-based chef, was in its last throes when she met Harry, Bower writes that the couple still shared a home together.

Sadie Mantovani, Meghan Markle, Violet Von Westenholz and Olivia Buckingham at Wimbledon, posted July 4, 2016. Picture: Instagram
Sadie Mantovani, Meghan Markle, Violet Von Westenholz and Olivia Buckingham at Wimbledon, posted July 4, 2016. Picture: Instagram

The book also claims that, two weeks after their first date on July 1, 2016, “Harry secretly flew to Toronto”.

“He stayed for about one week in the house of a friend of Meghan’s, probably Jessica Mulroney,” Bower writes.

“With Cory still sharing [Meghan’s] home, the situation for Meghan was tricky but manageable.

“At the end of the week, after he returned to London, Meghan was convinced that her spell was cast and the relationship with Harry would be sealed. She told Cory that their affair was over.”

According to the book, Vitiello “was relieved. The final months had been unpleasant.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations in New York last week. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations in New York last week. Picture: AFP

‘TOTALLY LOST’: SHARON OSBOURNE WEIGHS IN

Sharon Osbourne also weighed in on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's, saying the pair are “floundering and totally lost” following their move to America.

Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the 69-year-old said the couple had not “found their path yet” when it comes to carving out their own careers after stepping down from the royal family.

“I think they’re lost and I think that they’re trying to find their place in the world – I think they’re totally lost,” she said.

“I mean, one minute they’re making a cartoon and then they’re making a documentary on them and then they’re saving the world.

“They just haven’t found their path in life yet, I really believe that. They’re lost, they’re floundering.”

“I just don’t – I haven’t from day one been into the fact that talking about private things that went on in the royal family when they were a part of it.”

Sharon Osbourne says the couple seem “totally lost” since their move to America. Picture: AFP
Sharon Osbourne says the couple seem “totally lost” since their move to America. Picture: AFP

However, Osbourne agreed that the couple should be able to have their own opinion on subjects, although she would like to “hear the other side of the story” in some circumstances.

“And the thing is it’s just their point of view, we haven’t had the other point of view,” she said.

“And it’s like don’t bring it to the public, no one wants to know about it, every family has problems, keep it to yourself.”

Originally published as Rift between Sussexes and Royals ‘impossible’ for the Queen to manage

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/entertainment/meghan-markle-was-still-living-with-exboyfriend-corey-vitiello-when-she-met-prince-harry-according-to-bombshell-book/news-story/fe7ddb08f1f7ddf4af5374e5b8dd5f73