Did Meghan Markle cut a royal visit to Fiji short over ‘snub’ by UN?

The Duchess of Sussex may have cut short an official visit to a feminist project in Fiji due to a perceived snub by its organisers years earlier.

At the time, aides blamed the heat, humidity and crowds for the then-pregnant duchess’s decision to leave after just eight minutes, disappointing market vendors who had waited to meet her.

But royal biographer Robert Lacey has now suggested it could have been due to the involvement of UN Women, which hosted the event.

The Duchess of Sussex may have cut short an official visit to a feminist project in Fiji due to a perceived snub by its organisers years earlier

In 2015, before dating Prince Harry, Meghan gave a keynote address on gender equality for UN Women in New York. 

Then an actress in the US legal drama Suits, she received a standing ovation from guests including Ban Ki-moon, then UN secretary-general.

Mr Lacey writes in Battle of Brothers, his book about William and Harry: ‘[Meghan] had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Hillary Clinton… and might have hoped to join UN Women’s distinguished roster of goodwill ambassadors that included celebrities such as Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson… but in those pre-Harry days UN Women only assigned the cable actress the lesser role of advocate.’

Suggesting that Meghan’s swift exit years later was down to what she’d seen as a snub, Mr Lacey quotes a Los Angeles screenwriter who told him: ‘Meghan does not cope well with what she perceives as rejection.

‘She’s nice and smiley as can be until you step in her way or don’t give her what she hopes for. Then she can be remorseless – heaven help you!’ 

Meghan was pregnant with son Archie when she and Harry embarked on a royal tour of Australia and Fiji in 2018.

She was due to make a 20-minute visit to the market in Suva, the Fijian capital, to see the work of Markets for Change – a project run by UN Women.

At the time, an aide said of her early departure: ‘It was hot, humid and uncomfortably busy and there were far larger crowds than expected.’

However, a source told The Times that her decision to leave was down to UN Women – and that Meghan had only agreed to visit the market if there was no branding for the organisation. 

Lawyers for the duchess denied she had left because of the organisation, and said she met with other leaders from UN Women later in the tour.

Mr Lacey also played down reports that Prince Charles’s pursuit of a slimmed-down monarchy could see him block Archie and his sister Lilibet from becoming a prince and princess.

He told The Times that Charles’s priority as king ‘will be to gain popular support for upgrading the status of Camilla from princess consort to queen consort… he is not likely to court unpopularity by removing HRH status from Archie and Lili’.

At the time, aides blamed heat, humidity and crowds for the then-pregnant duchess’s decision to leave after just eight minutes, disappointing market vendors who waited to meet her

Prince Harry may arrive back in UK in next 24 hours and is set to stay with Princess Eugenie at Covid-secure Frogmore Cottage ahead of Diana statue unveiling   

By James Robinson for MailOnline 

Prince Harry could arrive in the UK in the next 24 hours, and will stay at a ‘Covid-secure’ Frogmore Cottage with Princess Eugenie and her family, according to reports.

It is understood that the Duke of Sussex, 36, will stay in self-contained accommodation at the royal home in Windsor when he jets back from the US.

Harry is leaving wife Meghan Markle, who has recently given birth, back at their £11million California mansion to take part in the unveiling of a statue in honour of his mother, Princess Diana, next month.

He could make the journey within the next 24 hours, in order to serve out his ‘amber list’ quarantine at Frogmore ahead of the unveiling, on July 1.

Frogmore Cottage was initially gifted to Harry and Meghan by the Queen after the couple’s wedding.

But they gave up the property after dramatically quitting frontline royal duties and moving to the US.

The keys were later handed to Princess Eugenie, who is living there with husband Jack Brooksbank and their recently born first child August.

According to the Sun, the house has been divided into two parts to make it Covid safe for Harry’s arrival.

A source told the paper: ‘Eugenie and Jack were handed the keys last year and told they could use it while Harry and Meghan were in America.

‘The cottage is now literally split into two, meaning Harry can isolate in one half of the house without ever coming into contact with his cousin and her family.

Prince Harry will stay at a ‘Covid-secure’ Frogmore Cottage with Princess Eugenie and her family when he returns to the UK, according to reports

Frogmore is currently the home of Princess Eugenie, who is living there with husband Jack Brooksbank and their recently born first child August (pictured together)

Harry is reportedly due to stay at Frogmore Cottage – which was initially gifted to Harry and Meghan by the Queen before their move to the US – during his stay

The unveiling of the statue will be the first time the pair have reunited since Prince Philip’s funeral in April (pictured: Princes William and Harry at the funeral)

‘It has been set up for his return after last-minute plans seemed to work when he was back for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April.’ 

Harry and Meghan were handed the keys to Frogmore, on the royal owned Windsor Home Park estate, as wedding gift by the Queen.

But, after spending £2.4million in taxpayer-funded renovation, which they later agreed to pay-back, the couple quit the UK and jetted off to America.

Eugenie and husband Jack then moved into the five-bedroom home in November last year. The couple welcomed their first child, August, in February.

Harry recently quarantined at Frogmore when arriving from the US for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip.

He will, subject to any changes, have to quarantine at the house again for 10 days on his arrival in the UK, because the US is currently on the amber travel list. 

The unveiling will take place on July 1, which means he will need to arrive at Frogmore within the next 24 hours in order to see out the full 10-days.

However he could take the option of a five-day quarantine if he has a negative Covid result in the Government’s ‘Test and Release’ scheme.

The voluntary test, which is funded by the person taking it, allows people to cut the quarantine time to five days if they have a negative test on the fifth day. 

It comes as it was reported that Harry and his brother William will put differences aside to attend the unveiling of the new statue dedicated to Diana.

The unveiling of the statue could help thaw frosty ties between her sons who are both due to be at the July 1 ceremony in the gardens of Kensington Palace.

The princes are due to walk together to unveil the statue they commissioned to mark what would have been their mother’s 60th birthday.

It will be the first time the pair reunite since Prince Philip’s funeral in April. The pair have failed to reconcile since the Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, sources claim. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Harry and William have only communicated by text since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. There have not been any personal chats or proper talks, just a very brief and minimal exchange of text messages.

‘The relationship is still very much strained and there’s no sign yet that there will be any sort of coming together any time soon.’ 

Prince Harry’s arrival at Frogmore comes as current occupant Eugenie shared an adorable set of photos of her husband with their baby son August to mark Father’s Day.

The proud mother, 31, took to Instagram today to reveal the four images.

One showed a tired Jack with August, who was born in February, lying on his chest as he slept. In another, the proud father smiled for the camera while holding his son.

Jack was also seen smiling widely as he pushed August’s pram, whilst the fourth image showed the husband and wife posing together for a photo with August in the countryside.

In the caption she wrote: ‘Happy Father’s Day to you my love… you are the ultimate father to our boy!!’

Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their son – his full name August Philip Hawke Brooksbank – on February 9 at the Portland Hospital in London.

Within an hour of Eugenie sharing the images, she had racked up nearly 50,000 likes and nearly 400 comments.

Eugenie’s post came after the Duke of Cambridge spent Father’s Day with his two eldest children, who helped him kick off a half marathon event on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.

Prince William, who recently turned 38, was joined by Prince George, seven, and Princess Charlotte, six, at the beginning of the event in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Prince Harry’s arrival at Frogmore comes as current occupant Eugenie (pictured with husband Jack) shared an adorable set of photos of her husband with their baby son August to mark Father’s Day

Princess Eugenie has shared an adorable set of photos of her husband Jack Brooksbank with baby son August to mark Father’s Day today

Kate and Prince William did NOT talk to Prince Harry after Prince Philip’s funeral because they feared details would ‘go straight back to Meghan to be leaked out via Oprah Winfrey or some other tentacle of the Sussex network’ says royal historian 

By Harry Howard and James Robinson and James Gant and Mark Duell for MailOnline 

Prince William and Kate Middleton did not have a sit-down conversation with Prince Harry after Prince Philip’s funeral because they feared details would be leaked, a royal historian has claimed.

The trio were seen walking and chatting together for a few minutes as they left their grandfather’s funeral service at Windsor Castle in April. 

It was believed at the time that the brothers then spoke to each other and to their father Prince Charles for around two hours afterwards.

This was said to be in the hope of repairing relations following Prince Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

However, leading royal historian Robert Lacey has said in an updated version of his book Battle of the Brothers that the conversation did not take place because the Cambridges were worried their conversation would be leaked. 

In the book, which is being serialised in The Times, Mr Lacey wrote: ‘They told friends that they could see no point in talking to Harry since any discussion of substance would go straight back to Meghan to be leaked via Oprah [Winfrey] or some other tentacle of the Sussex network.’ 

Prince William and Kate Middleton did not have a sit-down conversation with Prince Harry after Prince Philip’s funeral because they feared details would be leaked, a royal historian has claimed

Instead, Prince Charles is said to have gone back to his Wales home whilst Kate and William went home to Kensington Palace to put their children to bed.

The Cambridges’ alleged fears came after Meghan’s friend Gayle King revealed on US news channel CBS that while Prince Harry had had talks with his brother and father after his interview with Oprah, these discussions were ‘not productive’.

She said in March: ‘Well, I did actually call them to see how they are feeling, it’s true, Harry has talked to his brother and his father, too.

‘The word I was given was, those conversations were not productive. But they are glad they at least started a conversation.’

Mr Lacey also said in his updated book that it was ‘not by accident’ that neither Princess Anne nor the Countess of Wessex – Prince Edward’s wife – spoke in public with Prince Harry on the day of Prince Philips’ funeral.  

He wrote: ‘People felt incensed by what they saw as the calculated and focused cruelty of the TV interview and by the hypocrisy of Meghan — relating so brightly to Oprah how she had phoned the Queen to show her concern about Philip’s condition without even considering, apparently, the impact that their televised catalogue of grievance might have upon the invalid’s morale and health.’ 

Leading royal biographer Robert Lacey has said in an updated version of his book Battle of the Brothers that the conversation did not take place because the Cambridges were worried their conversation ‘would go straight back to Meghan (pictured) to be leaked via Oprah’

The Cambridges’ alleged fears came after Meghan’s friend Gayle King revealed on US news channel CBS that while Prince Harry had had talks with his brother and father after his interview with Oprah, these discussions were ‘not productive’

Ms King, who attended Meghan’s baby shower in 2019, said on CBS she had been told by the Sussexes that they had been keen for the ‘royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant’.

Ms King, 66, who is also close friends with Oprah, failed to give any examples of the stories she was referring to, but added that Meghan has ‘documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah’s interview’.

She added: ‘And I think what is still upsetting to them is the palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.

‘No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time. 

‘And I think it’s frustrating for them to see that it’s a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant. 

‘And until you can acknowledge that, I think it’s going to be hard to move forward. 

‘But they both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that is Harry’s family.’  

Prince Harry rocked his family with bombshell accusations during his and his wife’s interview with Ms Winfrey in March.

They 36-year-old claimed his 38-year-old brother and 72-year-old father were ‘trapped’ in ‘The Firm’.  

Harry and William were seen talking after Prince Philip’s funeral after they made an impromptu decision to walk back to Windsor Castle rather than use the state cars which were waiting for them.  

Harry was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate but she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her. 

Prince William (left) and Prince Harry (right) walk either side of Peter Phillips and behind Prince Andrew at Windsor during Prince Philip’s funeral in April

Prince William and Kate Middleton (left) sit on the opposite side of St George’s Chapel to Prince Harry (right) who sat alone

The Sussexes accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview with Oprah. 

They claimed one member of the family – not the Queen or Prince Philip – questioned what colour their son Archie’s skin would be.

‘They are still very upset,’ the source added. ‘They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.’

The Duchess of Sussex did not fly with Harry to the UK after doctors advised her not to travel due to her pregnancy. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their bombshell interview with Oprah

The siblings maintained stony expressions as they walked behind their grandfather’s cortege before the funeral service. 

The Duke of Cambridge strode ahead of his brother as they entered the 15th Century chapel and inside the atmosphere remained frosty.

William sat with Kate directly opposite Harry but did not appear to make eye contact, instead preferring to focus his gaze towards his grandfather’s coffin.      

The new revelations in Mr Lacey’s book were revealed after it was reported yesterday that Harry and Meghan’s son Archie could be allowed to choose whether or not he becomes a prince when he turns 18.   

Mr Lacey said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could follow in the footsteps of Earl and Countess of Wessex – who have not styled their children ‘prince’ or ‘princess’.

The couple’s children, James and Louise, are instead known as Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor.

The siblings, who are 13th and 14th in line to the throne, will get a choice on whether to take royal titles or style themselves as HRH when they turn 18.

It comes amid claims, first reported in the Mail on Sunday, that Prince Charles will ensure that Archie will never be a prince as part of his plan for a slimmed-down Monarchy.

However, Lacey, told the Times that such a move does ‘not seem likely’.

He said: ‘It is possible that Prince Charles may try to remove royal status from the Sussex children when he comes to the throne but that does not seem likely.

‘His priority then will be to gain popular support for upgrading the status of Camilla from princess consort to queen consort, and he is not likely to court unpopularity by removing HRH status from Archie and Lili.’

Meanwhile, palace insiders have reportedly told the Times that the Prince of Wales does not have the power to stop Archie from becoming a prince.

According to the paper, under the current system, Archie will automatically become a prince when the Queen dies and Prince Charles ascends to the throne.

Therefore, the only way that Archie could be prevented from becoming a prince is if the Queen decides to change the rules.

However, Lacey told the Times: ‘It is clear to me that the Queen and her advisers have discussed this issue at the highest level, and that the future royal status of Archie and Lili is not in jeopardy in her lifetime.’