Harry to have 'emergency summit' with Queen, Charles and William as royals scramble to contain Megxit fallout
Queen Elizabeth II has called an emergency meeting with all the senior members of the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Monday, January 13.
This will be the first time that Prince Harry will face his family since announcing that he and his wife Meghan Markle will step down from the monarchy and work to become "financially independent."
Since the bombshell announcement, all the royals have been at different properties—Queen in Norfolk, Prince Charles at Birkhall in Scotland, Prince William at Kensington Palace, and Harry at Windsor.
A series of consultations have already taken place between palace officials and representatives of the UK and Canadian governments to determine ways in which Meghan and Harry will be able to achieve their “progressive” roles as hybrid royals.
Based on the discussions, some proposals have been drawn up which will be the main topic at the negotiation table at the summit.
The Duchess of Sussex, who is currently in Canada, was likely to take part in the meeting via conference call, provided that she has no issues with the considerable time difference.
“There are a range of possibilities for the family to review, which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week”, a source told the Guardian.
Apart from the senior royal members, the summit will also be attended by cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, who was the country’s most senior civil servant, as well as senior aides from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace.
The source added that making changes to the roles of both Harry and Meghan in the monarchy as well as their working life will require "complex and thoughtful discussions”.
“Next steps will be agreed at the meeting,” and there was “genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented,” the source continued.
Since Harry is set to appear at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, for an official engagement carrying out the draw for next year’s Rugby League World Cup, it was understood that the palace will have some workable deal on the table before he faces the public since the crisis broke.
There are rumors that, after the royal engagement, Harry will likely fly to Canada to join his wife and eight-month-old son Archie.