Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s strained relationship with the Royal Family could be worsened as a royal expert warns the Sussexes could christen their daughter Lilibet in the US. Richard Fitzwilliams told the Express the couple will “do things their own way”. He added: “It seems certain that her christening will be in Meghan’s home state and with the secrecy but without the controversy that surrounded Archie’s christening.”
It would represent another wedge between the couple and The Firm – especially the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In a book published in June, it was claimed that an “explosive argument” between Prince William and Harry led to the Duke of Cambridge initiating the split of their households and the ultimate breakup of the so-called “Fab Four”.
Historian and royal expert Robert Lacey made the claims in a new book “Battle of Brothers” – citing palace insiders. Mr. Lacey wrote: “William wished to be separated from Meghan on a day-to-day basis and that meant being separated from his brother as well.”
He also quotes a friend as saying that William “threw Harry out” of Kensington Palace.
The two wives, Kate and Meghan, have not seen each other in person in over a year.
William and Harry’s first in-person meeting in over a year happened in April when the Royal Family came together for the funeral of the brothers’ grandfather, Prince Philip. The brothers also met in July to unveil the statue of their mother Princess Diana in the gardens of Kensington Palace.
William and Harry made no speeches during the ceremony. In a brief joint statement, released after the unveiling, they said: “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength, and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.
“Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.”
Rank-Broadley said William and Harry had helped with photographs, reminiscences and anecdotes about their mother, which he drew upon as they visited his studio on a regular basis. Describing it as a “collaborative effort”, he said he had paid “the greatest heed to both princes in what they had to say”, and he hoped the statue might provide some “solace” for them.
While the brothers united for the occasion, Harry’s announcement that he will publish his memoir next year could derail any progress made in their relationship. Royal commentator and biographer Ingrid Seward claimed last month that William could come out worst of all from the book.
She said: “William is probably the one that will come out of this worst of all because there is a row between William and Harry and basically if Harry says things that are inappropriate about the monarchy, that is William’s future. “It’s not Harry’s future, he is out of it now, but it is William’s future.”
Announcing his deal with publishers Penguin Random House, Harry said he would reflect “the highs and lows” and be “accurate and wholly truthful”. He said in a statement: “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man, I have become.
“I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story – the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a first-hand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.”