Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘made a mistake splitting from Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Royal Foundation’ despite rift rumours, royal expert claims
A ROYAL commentator has claimed it was a “mistake” for the Royal Foundation to split up with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and Kate Middleton and Prince William going their separate ways.
Last month it was confirmed the Royal Foundation would be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges, as the couples focus on separate charitable endeavours.
Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Phil Dampier said: “I think it’s a mistake for the Royal Foundation to not stick together.
“In terms of planning events and doing jobs it’s much easier if they are all under the same roof and they are coordinating it.
“You don’t want one of them to be launching an initiative on the same day as something else and taking away each other’s thunder.
“Whether they split up as they think it’ll work better or because of any tension, only they know.”
Royal author Katie Nicholl, author of Harry and Meghan, said the palace deliberately tries to “avoid diary clashes” between Harry, Meghan, William and Kate, to prevent “competition”.
Rumours of a royal rift have been circulating after it was announced Meghan, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, were to split royal households with Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 37.
The rift rumours were sparked after a source claimed that Meghan had made Kate cry during Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaids fitting last year.
These were further stoked when Kensington Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan Markle were moving to Windsor.
You don’t want one of them to be launching an initiative on the same day as something else and taking away each other’s thunder.
Royal expert Phil Dampier
Katie said that with the splitting of the royal households, and more recently of the royal foundation divide, it is likely that clashes will naturally occur.
She said: “With two very busy working royal couples, inevitably they will be away doing tours and engagements and official duties that will at times clash in the diary.
“I think that’s just the way it’s going to be.
“The whole point of splitting the household and splitting the foundations is so they can each pursue their own trajectories.
“What courtiers will be hoping is that aren’t going to be any future clashes or conflict of interest or the chance to pit one couple against the other.”
What is the Royal Foundation?
The Royal Foundation was established in September 2009 to help Prince William and Prince Harry support their charitable ambitions.
It was intended that the Foundation would be used as the main channel of supporting their charitable grants.
Kate then joined when she became Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and Meghan Markle became a part of it when she married Prince Harry in May 2019.
The First Royal Foundation Forum was held in Feburary 2018 with William, Catherine, Harry and Meghan Markle in attendance.
The Foundation has collaborated with two organisations to date; Fields in Trust and ARK.
Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced.
The three would often appear as a trio at events, and the Foundation had huge successes with projects such as the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign.
Over the years, the charity has focused on wildlife conservation and mental health as well as supporting the armed forces and young people.
The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure – but added both couples will continue to work together in the future.
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