Harry’s departure from royal life has brought Charles and William together says royal commentator

Prince Harry’s departure from royal life has brought his brother Prince William and his father Prince Charles closer, a royal commentator has claimed. 

Speaking to OK! magazine, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said that the bond uniting Charles, 71, and William, 37, has only grown stronger since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals. 

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced on January 8 that they would be stepping back from their royal duties to split their time between the UK and Canada, hoping to carve a new indpendent role for themselves. 

Then, this month, the royal family suffered another blow when the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips announced he would be separating from his wife Autumn after 12 years of marriage. 

Since then, the Cambridges were pictured putting on a united front during a rare joint visit with Prince Charles and Camilla in Leicestershire, which Ingrid believes is proof they are closer than ever.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping back from royal duties on January 8 2020. pictured leaving Canada House on January 7 

‘They’ve had something to talk about,’ she said, hinting at their talks regarding royal life without Harry.  

‘Charles has been incredibly supportive of William in recent weeks because he has such a lot going on,’ the royal watcher said. 

She added that Harry’s withdrawal from royal life would also motivate Prince Charles to focus his attention on his firstborn. 

Ingrid Seward, the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said Prince Charles is making a bigger effort to fit William into his jam-packed schedule 

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‘Charles tends to jam-pack his diary but he’s now making a real effort to pencil in time for William,’ she explained, adding he would also try to make more time for his grand-children George, six, Charlotte, four and Prince Louis, one. 

During last Tuesday’s visit, Charles and William shared a classic ‘father and son’ moment on the basketball court, with the future king poking fun at his heir who had unsuccessfully tried to shoot a few hoops, before they celebrated by raising their hands up when William finally scored on the sixth try. 

This playful interaction, which was recorded on camera, highlighted the fact that William and Charles shared the same sense of humour, according to Seward. 

The fab four! Charles, Camilla, William and Kate came together to visit to the new Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Loughborough, in their first official outing as a foursome since 2011. Pictured, the royals at the centre last week

The Leicester visit also saw a relaxed Kate Middleton giggle with her father-in-law and the Duchess of Cornwall. 

Seward told OK! that the Queen herself was banking on the ‘strength’ of William and Kate’s marriage after a ‘tough’ 2019, which saw the forced retirement of Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Meghan’s withdrawal from royal duties and now Peter Phillips’s shock divorce announcement last week.

The Queen, who still struggles with the idea of divorce, Seward claimed, would have likely asked Peter and Autumn to give their union another shot, before pinning her hopes on William and Kate. 

‘If she didn’t have them, I think she might say to herself: ‘Goodness, after over 70 years on the throne, it’s come to nothing’,’ Seward said. 

The Queen’s eldest grandson Peter Phillips and wife Autumn have separated following 12 years of marriage, Buckingham Palace confirmed today. Pictured, Peter and Autumn leave St George’s Chapel, following their wedding in May 2008

Peter, 42, and Autumn, 41, informed their families of their ‘amicable’ decision to divorce ‘last year’ after deciding it was ‘the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship’.

The pair, who have not been seen publicly together since September, are thought to have been separated for several months.

The statement, released by a spokesperson on behalf of the couple revealed the former couple will remain in Gloucestershire to co-parent daughters Savannah, nine, and Isla, seven.

The statement issued by Gerard Franklin their official spokesperson reads: ‘After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate.

‘They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship. The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one.

‘The couple’s first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla.

‘Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children.

‘Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years. Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes.’

Peter and Autumn, who stay largely out of the media spotlight, were last seen publicly together when they joined the Queen and Prince Charles at the annual Highland Games Gathering at Braemar in September last year, pictured