‘Incredibly Hurt’ Prince William and Duchess Kate ‘Blindsided’ by Harry and Meghan’s Decision to ‘Step Back’ From Royal Duties

Not holding back. Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, candidly confessed how ashamed he is of his daughter and her husband, Prince Harry, for choosing to step back from their royal positions.

The royal drama is bound to loom and spill over every now and then. And in the latest happening, Queen Elizabeth just bestowed her grandson Prince William with a brand new title. Yes, amid Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit to Canada, Queen Elizabeth conferred the title of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Prince William. The 93-year-old monarch made the announcement on Saturday that the Duke of Cambridge will take upon this new role. 

More than a stiff upper lip. Prince William and Duchess Kate seemed to be in high spirits on Monday, January 20, as they hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II while the royal family grapples with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s decision to step back from their royal duties.

As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry "step back" from their royal duties, it looks like someone else will be stepping in -- at least for one event.

Prince Harry looked calm and happy while meeting with the Rugby Football League at Buckingham Palace on Thursday morning. The Duke of Sussex, who has been a patron of the league since 2016, hosted the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments at the palace, which was streamed live across the royal and rugby league Twitter and Facebook channels.

Not sugarcoating the truth? When Prince William and Duchess Kate attended their first royal engagement of 2020, the Duke of Cambridge seemingly alluded to his family’s current drama following Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s “step back” announcement.

Prince William and Duchess Kate did not show any signs of stress during their first joint engagement since Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan stepped down from the British royal family.

Prince Harry has not reunited with Duchess Meghan and their son, Archie, since the couple announced their plan to “step back” and “become financially independent” from the royal family on January 8. But there’s a specific reason the Army vet has been away from his family at this time.

Wondering how Kate Middleton is feeling about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell decision to step down as senior royals? Not great, friends! A source claims to Us Weekly: “When Harry was feeling low or had problems, William was always there for him, as was Kate. Kate’s incredibly hurt too. She acted as a mentor to Harry before Meghan came into the picture and hates seeing her husband so upset.”

The Queen has pushed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to arrive at a ‘final decision’ about stepping back from their royal roles ‘in the coming days’.

January 9, 2020 marks the Duchess of Cambridge’s 38th birthday, but unfortunately, the big day was overshadowed by other royal family news. Apparently, Prince William slammed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for quitting the royal family on Kate Middleton’s birthday, and it doesn’t sound pretty. A source told Us Weekly that William was “blindsided” by Meghan and Harry’s announcement that they plan to move to North America and take a “step back” as senior members of the royal family.

It appears that the Queen isn't the only one "disappointed" with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to “step back” from their royal duties.

Prince William says he is "sad" that he and younger brother Prince Harry are now "separate entities," in comments made public just before the two will  come meet together with the Queen and their father to discuss the Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan Markle's historic announcement that they intend to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family."

Insiders say the an emergency family summit with , Prince William, and Prince Charles on Monday at her estate in Sandringham, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's announcement that they planned to take from royal life.

Now, on day three of conversations between the royal households and government officials, a Buckingham Palace source tells BAZAAR.com that Prince Harry will join a family meeting on Monday afternoon with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Prince William at Sandringham "to talk things through."

Prince William is reportedly “desperately sad” that his close relationship with his brother Prince Harry has changed ahead of the news that he will step back from his senior role in the royal family alongside wife Meghan Markle.The Duke of Cambridge, 37, is said to have expressed his upset over Harry’s decision, branding their relationship as now being like “separate entities”.

Prince William, 37, has finally spoken about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s decision to “step back” from royal life — and it seems like he has his little brother’s back no matter what. “All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page,” William reportedly told a friend, according to The Sunday Times.

Not the birthday wish she was hoping for? Duchess Kate stepped out with a solemn look on her face on her 38th birthday the day after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan stepped down from their senior royal duties.

Rumors of a rift between royal brothers Prince William and Prince Harry have been going on for months. In the wake of Wednesday's announcement from Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, that they plan to step back as senior members of the royal family, Prince William isn't pleased, a source tells ET.