PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are still barely speaking to Prince William and Kate Middleton and face a "very awkward" encounter when the 'Frosty Four' reunite, royal sources claim.
The pair, who split from the Royal Family at the start of 2020, are rumoured to return to the UK this year to time up the loose ends of Megxit.
But they will also face a number of awkward run-ins with Kate Middleton and Prince William – not least the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana that Wills and Harry commissioned together, the Queen's 95th birthday and Prince Philip’s 100th.
The ‘Fab Four’ seemed frosty when they were last seen together publicly at the Queen’s Commonwealth Day Service in March, shortly after Megxit was confirmed.
Royal sources suggest the two couples are still barely talking – and if anything have grown further apart.
“I think it’s going to be very awkward if they do meet up,” Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words, told The Sun Online.
“From what I am told the rift is not a lot better at the moment – they are not talking a lot.
“I think they will put on a united front for the unveiling of Diana’s statue and I’m sure they will put on a united front for the birthday celebrations but behind the scenes I think there’s going to be a lot of tension."
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- Claire Hubble
MEG & HARRY SHARE TOUCHING POEM
The couple shared pictures of Harry with Diana and Meghan with her mum, Doria Ragland, alongside a short letter to 2021 as they launched their Archewell website.
The poem read: “I am my mother’s son. And I am our son’s mother. Together we bring you Archewell.
“We believe in the best of humanity. Because we have seen the best of humanity. We have experienced compassion and kindness.
“From our mothers and strangers alike. In the face of fear, struggle and pain, it can be easy to lose sight of this.
“Together, we can choose courage, healing, and connection. Together, we can choose to put compassion in action.
“We invite you to join us. As we work to build a better world. One act of compassion at a time.”
- Claire Hubble
HARRY AND WILLIAM SET FOR 'AWKWARD' REUNION
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are still barely speaking to Prince William and Kate Middleton and face a "very awkward" encounter when the 'Frosty Four' reunite, royal sources claim.
The Royal Family has a packed diary of big events in the coming year that the Sussexes would look rude to miss – not least the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana that Wills and Harry commissioned together.
“I think it’s going to be very awkward if they do meet up,” Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words, told The Sun Online.
“From what I am told the rift is not a lot better at the moment – they are not talking a lot.
“I think they will put on a united front for the unveiling of Diana’s statue and I’m sure they will put on a united front for the birthday celebrations but behind the scenes I think there’s going to be a lot of tension."
- Claire Hubble
MEGHAN SET SIGHTS HIGH BEFORE MEETING HARRY
BACK in January 2016, Meghan Markle shared her New Years resolutions on her lifestyle blog The Tig – but little did she know that her life was about to change forever.
Five years ago, the Duchess of Sussex – who was best known for her role as Rachel Zane in Suits – vowed to set her "standards high" for the New Year.
Meghan wrote: "For this new year, the only thing I aim to do is to approach life playfully.
"To laugh and enjoy, to keep my standards high but my level of self-acceptance higher."
- Claire Hubble
THESE ARE MEG’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Credit: Getty Images – Getty The former actress previously admitted that nail biting and swearing make her list of New Year’s resolutions every year without fail.
On her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, the Duchess of Sussex, 38, revealed her struggle to give up the two very un-royal qualities back in January 2016, according to the Daily Telegraph.
She wrote: “These make my New Year’s resolution list nearly (AKA actually every) single year.
“The swearing comes in lulls triggered by being overworked or feeling mighty cheeky after a couple drinks.
“And when it comes to the biting of the nails — well, it still happens with a turbulent flight or a stressful day.
“It’s unladylike. But then again, so is the swearing. Dammit.”
- Claire Hubble
SOMETHING IN COMMON
Meghan’s son Archie and Princess Eugenie’s baby could have something in common when the tot arrives next year.
If Eugenie decides to give birth in the same hospital that she was born in back in 1990, then the new royal baby and Archie Harrison will immediately share a similar story.
Meghan welcomed Archie, one, in London’s The Portland Hospital back in May 2019.
Meanwhile, Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, were also born in the American-owned hospital.
In fact, when Sarah Ferguson gave birth to eldest daughter Beatrice in August 1988, it made her the first member of the royal family to give birth in a non-NHS hospital.
- Claire Hubble
MONTHS AFTER MEGXIT WERE ‘DISMAL’ FOR MEGHAN AND HARRY
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sent shockwaves through the Royal Family when they stepped down as senior royals in January 2020.
And according to royal expert Andrew Morton, the months that followed the announcement were very difficult for the couple.
Describing it as a “pretty dismal” time, he said: “You could see the trauma etched on their faces. They were barely on speaking terms with William and Charles.
“If Harry had a real regret, it was how he handled the announcement of stepping back. He pushed the Queen and his father into a corner and it made the whole thing far more dramatic.”
- Claire Hubble
MEGHAN WORE £44,188 WORTH OF NEW CLOTHES LAST YEAR
Meghan Markle wore £44,188 worth of new clothes in 2020 according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The total is a drastic reduction on last year's staggering sum of £211,693.
The Duchess's most expensive new outfit was worth a whopping £14,000, while her fashion choices have prove more relaxed after stepping back from royal duties.
Meghan favoured high street brands like Massimo Dutti and Topshop as well as splashing out in high-end shopslike Jimmy Choo and Stella McCartney.
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN'S SUPERVET TRIP
Meghan Markle is famous for her love of dogs – having affectionately referred to her pooches as "her babies" and even acting as a Royal patron for animal rights charity Mayhew.
In 2017, the Duchess made the heartbreaking decision to leave her pet dog Bogart in Canada when she moved to the UK – shortly before her engagement was announced.
However, she did bring her second dog Guy with her to London – but not long after the move, the Duchess was left "distraught" when he broke both his legs.
According to the Mail, Meghan's pet beagle was involved in an accident not long after she got engaged to Prince Harry and was taken to Supervet star Noel Fitzpatrick for surgery at his practice in Surrey.
Luckily, Guy made a full recovery and is currently living out in LA with the family – along with the couple's new dog who is thought to be called Oz.
Earlier this year, The Sun exclusively revealed that Meghan Markle had left her beloved pet dog Bogart behind in Canada because "he didn't like Prince Harry".
- Lydia Hawken
'ONLY WILLS AND THE QUEEN KNOW' WHERE HARRY AND MEGHAN WENT ON THEIR HONEYMOON
Prince Harry and Meghan’s honeymoon location is one of the most tightly guarded secrets in recent royal history – with only William and the Queen knowing where they went.
A close royal source has revealed that even the most senior Kensington Palace staff were not told where the lovebirds went after the tied the knot in May 2018.
Rumours about where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex jetted off to flooded the internet and included plush locations in Canada, Africa and Ireland – but none are thought to be right.
The source said: "No one knows where they went, only his brother and the Queen were told at first and a few immediate family members know now.
"The most senior members of the royal household staff still have no idea where they went. They were completely frozen out of all plans and preparations.
"It was very important that the newlyweds had a private honeymoon where they could be alone together out of the public eye."
- Lydia Hawken
KATE WAS 'MORE SUITED' TO ROYAL LIFE THAN MEGHAN, FORMER ROYAL BUTLER CLAIMS
They may have both married into one of the world's most famous families – but a royal expert has claimed that Kate Middleton was "more suited" to life as a royal than her sister-in-law Meghan Markle.
Speaking to the Express, former royal butler Grant Harrold said: “When the Duchess of Cambridge married into the family, she was British, she went to St Andrews, she has a good education.
“She was up on that, dare I say it, royal way of life. She wasn’t a stranger to it, she understood what she was expecting. It wasn’t second nature but it wasn’t difficult.”
While Kate Middleton and Prince William had known each other for 10 years when they tied the knot in 2011, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a more whirlwind romance in comparison – after Prince Harry popped the question after 18 months.
Grant added: “The positives for Meghan I think is the duty of royalty has to have an element of acting about it – you have to put on a brave face, put the best foot forward, smile, say the right thing.”
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN MARKLE STARRED IN CRISPS AD BEFORE SHE LANDED ROLE IN SUITS
Like many aspiring actresses, it took Meghan Markle years to hit the big-time.
Two years before she was cast in Suits, the Duchess of Sussex starred in a crisps advert in 2009.
In the ad, Meghan, is seen shopping for snacks in a supermarket as she prepares for a party.
Despite being the face of the crisps, producers hired another actress to provide the voice over.
She ponders another brand, thinking about the ingredients list as the voice over says: "Thirteen ingredients?That’s more people than I invited to the party."
She then opts for Tostitos as they only have "three ingredients" and looks satisfied as she heads to the checkout.
At the time she filmed the advert, Meghan was a little-known actress and was mainly landing bit parts in TV shows such as Fringe and CSI: Miami.
- Lydia Hawken
'IMPULSIVE' PRINCE HARRY ACTS 'WITHOUT THINKING THINGS THROUGH', EXPERT CLAIMS
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were slammed last year when they spoke out on the US election and urged the public to vote.
Speaking to Sky News, royal author Penny Juror said Prince Harry's actions were hardly surprising – despite the fact that the Royal Family never publicly weigh in on politics.
She said: "Harry has always been impulsive and instinctive and he's just done things without really thinking them through.
"William has always been incredibly measured, incredibly self-contained. He thinks everything through, possibly overthinks things.
"But the result is he's much more cautious and that is really what is needed at the moment as a member of the Royal Family."
- Lydia Hawken
KATE AND WILLIAM DIDN’T MEET ARCHIE FOR 8 DAYS, BOOK CLAIMS
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed baby Archie in May 2019, the couple decided to keep the details of his birth mostly private.
And now a new royal biography has claimed that the youngest addition to the Royal Family didn’t meet his aunt and uncle for over a week.
In his new book, Battle of Brothers, royal expert and the advisor for the TV show The Crown Robert Lacey claims the Sussexes' desire for privacy ruffled feathers behind palace walls.
He writes: “Prince William did not think too highly of Harry and Meghan’s ‘prima donna’ manoeuvres to conceal the birth of their son.
“He and Kate failed to visit the new arrival for a full eight days.”
- Lydia Hawken
WILLIAM AND HARRY 'TOOK OPPOSITE LESSONS' FROM CHARLES AND DIANA'S MARRIAGE
They might belong to the most famous family in the world – but according to royal expert Robert Lacey, Prince William and Prince Harry are completely different people.
In his new book Battle of the Brothers, the expert claims the brothers took "opposite lessons" from their parents' failed marriage.
He explained: "These young boys are the product of that marital turmoil, and they took two opposite lessons from it.
"William took the lesson of duty, as he went through these difficult times, the prospect that he was going to be King was inspiration and strength for him."
While Harry and Meghan married after less than two years of dating, Prince William popped the question to Kate after nine years to ensure she was "up to the job".
Robert added: "Harry took the opposite conclusion from the turmoil of his parents’ loveless arranged marriage. He was going to go for love, so we are looking at a clash between these eternal principles of love versus duty."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN MARKLE HAS 'USED THE ROYAL FAMILY', EXPERT SENSATIONALLY CLAIMS
Since season four of The Crown dropped on Netflix, royal commentators have criticised Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's deal with the streaming giant – reportedly worth £75m.
Speaking on True Royalty TV, author Angela Levin claimed it was the "biggest exploitation of the Royal Family in our lifetime" and questioned whether the controversial deal was in the works before their wedding in 2018.
She said: "I don't think this could have been done very quickly, that they've come out of the Royal Family and they've got all the PRs set up, they've got their agents set up, they negotiate with Netflix and wham-bam here's your $150m for your future.
"I think was plotted right from the beginning, from before the wedding even. We know that they set up their website before the wedding.
"I think Meghan has been brilliant in her strategy but very unkind as a human being. She's used the Royal Family and maybe even used marrying Harry to be the big step she needed to make to go from being a C-Lister on Suits to one of the most famous women in the world."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN 'WANTS TO KEEP ARCHIE WELL AWAY FROM LONDON', EXPERT CLAIMS
They may have relocated to California for a more private life – but if Meghan Markle and Prince Harry return to the UK, an expert has claimed they'll do their best to avoid London.
Appearing on Talk Radio, royal expert Angela Levin said: "I don't think Meghan would dare come back to London.
"She would have to bring Archie and they want to keep him well away from London."
What's more, the expert claimed that the couple were trying to avoid spending Christmas with the Royal Family.
She added: "It is just Harry and Meghan are making all sorts of excuses not to come and share Christmas with the Queen.
"I think that Meghan feels that if she comes to London the atmosphere will be so terrible that she wouldn't be able to take it."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN'S EX-IN LAWS 'EMBRACED HER LIKE A DAUGHTER' AND WERE 'SHOCKED BY BREAK-UP'
Long before she met Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was married to television producer Trevor Engelson – who she was in a relationship with for nine years before their split in 2013.
In his biography Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, royal author Andrew Morton wrote: "The sad news [of their divorce] in the summer of 2013 came as a bolt from the blue.
“Everyone in their circle was genuinely shocked, none more so than Trevor’s parents David and Leslie who, according to a member of the Markle clan, had embraced her like a daughter."
What's more, the author claimed the divorce came as a complete surprise to Trevor too.
He continued: "It was such a surprise for Trevor that even at a distance of five years, he can barely contain his anger ‒ the normally laid back New Yorker switching gear from his usual ‘hi bro, how’s it going’ to a cold fury when her name comes into the conversation."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S ABILITY TO REMAIN POLITICALLY NEUTRAL WILL BE 'TESTED' IN FUTURE, EXPERT CLAIMS
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped down in March, the couple pretty much ripped up the royal rulebook.
But while Duke and Duchess may no longer be senior working royals, an expert has claimed the Royal Family would still want them to remain politically neutral.
Speaking to the Express, royal expert Bob Morris said: "The situation is unprecedented in the sense that the part of the Royal Family taking off in the way they have done.
"And the Palace would hope they would remain political impartiality that the Royal Family aspires to undertake.
"But this will be tested, no doubt, as there are rumours, as I understand it, that Meghan may have political ambitions in the United States."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S NEW YEAR'S EVE TRIP REVEALED
Five years ago, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship had only just been made public knowledge when the Duke decided to take his Suits actress girlfriend on a romantic New Year's trip to "get away from it all".
In their biography Finding Freedom, royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claimed the couple spent their first New Years together in Norway.
Harry reportedly asked his friend adventure guide Inge Solheim for help organising the trip – after he oversaw Harry's holiday to Kazakhstan with ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas in 2014.
They wrote: "Inge arranged for Harry and Meghan to spend a week in a cabin in Tromsö at the very tip of Norway in the Arctic Circle, where there was absolutely no chance of being bothered by photographers.
"There, Harry and Meghan enjoyed seven days of dog sledding, whale watching, dining on local delicacies, and snuggling to watch as the aurora borealis lit up the skies."
- Lydia Hawken
THROWBACK PHOTO OF MEGHAN FROM UNIVERSITY DAYS
An old university photo of Meghan Markle has resurfaced online – showing the Duchess of Sussex taking part in a dance marathon for charity.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Meghan (fan page) (@_duchess_of_sussex)
In 2000, Meghan was a 19-year-old student at North Western University – where she got a double major in theatre and international studies.
For the Royal Wedding in 2018, her former dance group Gilda's Club Chicago shared a throwback photo of the Duchess at a charity dance marathon from 20 years ago.
The cancer support group captioned the picture: "In honour of the Royal Wedding, we'd like to share this photo from the 2000 North Western Dance Marathon supporting Gilda's Club Chicago, featuring her Royal Highness."
- Lydia Hawken
PIERS MORGAN LABELS HARRY AND MEGHAN 'GINGE AND CRINGE' IN LATEST INTERNET RANT
The Good Morning Britain host slammed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's call for "compassion" as they launched their new website for Archwell.
Piers took to Twitter to brand the pair "Ginge and Cringe" and accused them of "airbrushing" their dads, Prince Charles and Thomas Markle out of the picture.
The poem, titled A Letter for 2021, begins: "I am my mother’s son. And I am our son’s mother. Together we bring you Archewell," before going on to describe how they witnessed "the best of humanity" from their "mothers and strangers alike".
But taking to Twitter, Piers Morgan said: "Sadly, Ginge & Cringe’s ‘compassion’ and ‘humanity’ doesn’t extend to either of their fathers, both of whom have been airbrushed out of this nauseating bilge."
He also accompanied the scathing tweet with three sick-face emojis.
- Lydia Hawken
PRINCE HARRY WANTS TO MEET 'FACE-TO-FACE' TO AGREE MEGXIT EXTENSION
The pandemic may have prevented him from returning to the UK much in 2020 – but Prince Harry hopes he can meet "face-to-face" to settle on a Megxit extension, a royal expert has claimed.
Andrew Morton said: “Although they will do some of it by Zoom, Harry wants to meet face to face to tie it all up.
“Things seem to have calmed down. Harry has been in contact with the Queen more often than you would think. But certain things you need to be there in person to sort. They will need a few weeks. That could be done after April, depending on Covid.”
Harry and Meghan angered royals in January by announcing on Instagram they would “step back as ‘senior’ members” of the Royal Family.
A deal was subsequently agreed at Sandringham, including this 12-month review.
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN PLEDGED TO 'SET STANDARDS HIGH' WITH NEW YEAR RESOLUTION SHE MADE MONTHS BEFORE MEETING HARRY
Five years ago, the Duchess of Sussex – who was best known for her role as Rachel Zane in Suits – vowed to set her "standards high" for the New Year on her lifestyle blog The Tig.
Meghan wrote: "For this new year, the only thing I aim to do is to approach life playfully.
"To laugh and enjoy, to keep my standards high but my level of self-acceptance higher."
In July that year, Meghan was set up with Prince Harry by a mutual friend.
The biography Finding Freedom claims the couple enjoyed their first date at Soho House's Dean Street Townhouse – where they reportedly spoke about making “change for good” while sitting on plush “velvet chairs”.
- Lydia Hawken
OPRAH'S INVOLVEMENT IN MEGHAN'S START-UP INVESTMENT LABELLED 'TACKY'
Last month, Meghan Markle reportedly "angered the Palace" by getting her A-list pal Oprah Winfrey to flog her new coffee investment on Instagram.
Writing in The Sunday Times this weekend, expert Roya Nikkhah claimed that the celebrity endorsement has raised a few eyebrows in royal circles.
She wrote: "The manner of last week’s coup induced a bout of queasiness in royal circles, where Oprah’s involvement was considered 'tacky' and 'clumsy'.
"Harry and Meghan had pledged their future activities would 'uphold the values of Her Majesty'.
"An almighty plug from a talk-show host flagging her royal connections has stretched the elastic contours of the 'Megxit' deal to snapping point."
- Lydia Hawken
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S SWEET CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO ARCHIE REVEALED
This time last year, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were enjoying the festive season in Canada when they shared an adorable photo of their son Archie in a sweet bobble hat.
For Christmas 2020, the Duke and Duchess reportedly bought 100 hats from the New Zealand-based social enterprise Make Go Live in their son's name.
The organisation's founder Claire Conza told the New Zealand Herald: "As Make Give Live operates on a buy one, give one model, this will allow the group to make an extra 200 hats to distribute to families in need next winter through the various charities it supports."
What's more, the publication reports that Harry and Meghan wrote a personal letter to Make Go Live which Claire said was a "wonderful gift to the organisation."
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