Prince Harry has finally realised just how toxic Meghan Markle is to reconciliation hopes

In this week’s edition of Emily in Palace, our Royal Editor discusses reconciliation hopes, the Queen’s birthday and an unusual tradition.

Prince Harry took a solo trip to Angola last week to continue his mother’s legacy of raising awareness about the devastating impact of landmines. His wife stayed at home in Montecito with their two children, as the Duke believed it was too dangerous for her to join.

But there was another factor at play: Harry wants to keep his charitable projects to himself. Just as his work with Wellchild and Scotty’s Little Soldiers is done on his own, so too is his work with the HALO Trust, a charity that the late Princess Diana first supported.

Prince Harry walks across minefield during Angola visit

Such a trip was always going to draw significant media attention, and having Meghan along would surely detract from the real purpose of the trip. After seven years of marriage, perhaps Harry has realised that when it comes to serious charitable endeavours, he’s better off alone.

A picture of the Duchess walking through a minefield in body armour just isn’t worth thinking about – and just imagine Prince William’s reaction.

While Meghan focuses on promoting her new wine, flower sprinkles and jam, the King’s youngest son can turn his attention to issues he wants to make a real difference in. He largely avoids focusing the spotlight on anything his wife is wearing or saying and returns to what he was brought up to do: shine a light on and support charities.

Prince Harry listens during a visit to see the work of a landmine clearance charity (Image: AP)

We saw that on Wednesday when he said, “children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school”, as he spoke of the continuing threat of mines to the civilian population over two decades after the civil war came to an end.

The Duchess is simply too divisive to be included in visits of substance. However well-meaning she is, controversy follows her wherever she goes. And in a week dominated by talk of a royal truce between the Sussexes and the House of Windsor, perhaps Harry has started to realise that the first steps need to be taken between him and his father.

The King needs to see the real Harry, the one who spent 35 years as a hardworking senior royal, supporting the crown and his family, not the one so consumed by love that he forgot who he really was.

Queen Camilla turned 78 on Thursday (Image: Getty Images For Buckingham Pala)

Queen’s happy place

Many of us take the day off to celebrate our birthdays, so why shouldn’t the Royal Family? The Queen was on duty on her birthday last year when she attended the State Opening of Parliament with the King, following Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap summer election. But this year, as she turned 78, she spent the day privately.

The King, however, travelled to Oxford in the afternoon to undertake a solo engagement – hardly a surprise for the workaholic monarch who never takes a day off, even on his birthday and other public holidays.

Camilla knows the man she loves better than anyone, and while she might protest about his hectic schedule due to his ongoing cancer treatment, she knows he’s happiest when he’s doing the job he was born to do.

And the recent picture of the Queen released to mark her special day reflects a relaxed, contented spouse, happy and smiling in the summer sunshine.

Prince George joined his parents at Wimbledon last weekend (Image: PA)

Prince George’s future

We can look forward to a new portrait of Prince George this week, as the second in line to the throne turns 12. The eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales isn’t looking quite so young anymore, having had a growth spurt and growing into his royal role.

With his calm composure and commanding posture, he reflects the poise of a budding king.

George is clearly becoming increasingly aware of what lies ahead and exudes maturity beyond his years. It can’t be easy for someone so young to know his future has already been mapped out, but with the guidance of his parents and grandparents, he’ll be gently eased into the role as Kate and William seek to ensure he has as normal an upbringing as possible before being swept up in the palace machine.

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Swan uppers release mute swans back into the River Thames after checks (Image: AP)

A medieval tradition

The annual tradition of counting swans on the River Thames took place last week, which saw a crew of swan uppers dressed in traditional scarlet uniform travel along the river in rowing boats, counting the birds for five days.

The Princess Royal coin (Image: PA)

Happy Anne-versary

Happy Anne-iversary to the Princess Royal, whose 75th birthday is being celebrated with the release of a commemorative £5 coin. It marks the first ever official UK coin to honour the King’s sister and features a portrait of Anne wearing the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara with her hair swept up in her signature bouffant style.

The design is framed with the inscription “The Princess Royal – Celebrating 75 Years – Duty and Devotion”, in tribute to Anne’s steadfast royal duty over the decades.

Anne, often viewed as the hardest-working member of the royal family, turns 75 on August 15, but so far has insisted her milestone should only be publicly marked by a charities forum she hosted at Buckingham Palace in June.