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The Queen made no reference to Andrew, Harry or Meghan, but praised Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in her Christmas message.
The 95-year-old monarch commended the Prince of Wales, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their climate activism, while not making even a tactic mention of her middle son or the Sussexes.
The House of Windsor was plunged into its most severe crisis since arguably Princess Diana’s death in 1997 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit royal duties last year.
Harry and Meghan proceeded to make a series of bombshell allegations against the Royal Family during their interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Accusations of racism forced the Queen to pointedly claim that ‘recollections may vary’ as she issued an unprecedented plea to deal with their issues privately as a family.
Though it is thought that Her Majesty has invited the couple to a service of thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh’s life, concerns remain over Harry’s forthcoming ‘tell-all’ memoir – due to be published next autumn after the Platinum Jubilee.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s middle son Andrew stepped out of the public spotlight over questions about his friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and Epstein’s ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell, who is on trial in New York accused of sex trafficking. She denies the allegations.
The Duke of York is currently battling a civil lawsuit filed in the US which alleges that Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Roberts was forced to have sex with the senior royal on three occasions in 2001.
Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied Miss Roberts’s claims, and his lawyers are trying to get the case thrown out.
The Queen’s middle son Andrew stepped out of the public spotlight over questions about his friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and Epstein’s ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell
Harry and Meghan posed for a photo with their son Archie and baby daughter Lilibet Diana
The 95-year-old monarch commended the Prince of Wales, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their climate activism, while not making even a tactic mention of her middle son or the Sussexes
She also spoke fondly of her eldest son Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and also of William and Kate, for their focus on climate change
During her broadcast to the nation, the Queen praised Charles, Camilla, William and Kate for their climate activism.
Speaking from Windsor Castle, she said: ‘I am proud beyond words that his (Philip’s) pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William – admirably supported by Camilla and Catherine – most recently at the COP climate change summit in Glasgow.’
Charles has long planned a slimmed-down Monarchy. Though full details have never been revealed, it has been speculated that only heirs to the throne and their immediate families will receive full titles, financial support from the public purse through the Sovereign Grant and police protection funded by the taxpayer.
Charles and Andrew have already been at loggerheads about what security Andrew’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, should receive in future, the Mail on Sunday previously reported.
An insider told the MoS: ‘Charles has never made any secret of the fact that he wants a slimmed-down Monarchy when he becomes King.
‘He realises that the public don’t want to pay for a huge Monarchy and, as he said, the balcony at Buckingham Palace would probably collapse.’
The Queen’s Christmas message was her emotional ever, paying tribute to her ‘beloved’ Philip following his death in April aged 99.
Charles and his wife Camilla, and William and his wife Kate exiting a vehicle. The image is taken from the Queen’s Broadcast
The Queen paid an emotional tribute to her late husband Prince Philip in her Christmas message, while sitting beside a framed picture of the royal couple (pictured). On her jacket is the sapphire chrysanthemum brooch which she wore in a photograph to mark her 73rd wedding anniversary with Philip in November last year
One of the images broadcast today showed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at one of their ‘happy places’ – the Coyles of Muick hills close to Balmoral, where they enjoyed walking and picnics throughout their long lives together. The head of state so loves the place that she named her new corgi puppy after it. The special photograph was taken by their daughter-in-law the Countess of Wessex in 2003 during one of their family summer holidays
The Queen has given permission for Buckingham Palace to release a small number of treasured images of the prince
‘Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,’ the Queen said. ‘This year, especially, I understand why.’
The monarch, with a sapphire chrysanthemum brooch pinned to her Christmas red Angela Kelly dress, said of Philip: ‘His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible.
‘That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him. But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings. And as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas.’
The Queen also acknowledged the impact of the Covid variant, having cancelled her regular trip to Sandringham in order to spend Christmas at Windsor. She was joined on the day by Charles and Camilla, Clarence House announced.
‘While Covid again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions,’ the head of state said.
‘I am sure someone somewhere today will remark that Christmas is a time for children. It’s an engaging truth, but only half the story. Perhaps it’s truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all.
‘Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things, where children do not.
‘And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.’
The Queen also hinted at the prospect of reuniting with loved ones in the new year.
‘February, just six weeks from now, will see the start of my Platinum Jubilee year, which I hope will be an opportunity for people everywhere to enjoy a sense of togetherness… and also to look ahead with confidence,’ she said.
’I wish you all a very happy Christmas.’
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