Harry and Meghan have not even arrived in Britain yet, and already the familiar cycle of speculation, tension and palace drama feels wearyingly under way.
Only last week, reports suggested the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would travel to the UK on July 7 with their children, accept an offer of royal accommodation, and allow Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, to spend time with their grandfather, the King.
By Sunday, however, the picture had changed. Harry was said to be “reconsidering” whether to bring Meghan and the children after his request for taxpayer-funded police protection was turned down.
According to reports, he is deeply upset that what could have been a meaningful move towards repairing family ties is now in jeopardy.
On this occasion, I find myself agreeing with Harry. He should be given the security he is seeking, because the stakes are bigger than another round of royal point-scoring.
Like many people, I have been dismayed by the Sussexes’ conduct in recent years: the damaging interviews, the Netflix series, Harry’s unflattering memoir and Meghan’s perceived lack of respect towards our late Queen. Their actions have shaken the institution and caused obvious distress to the King, Queen, and to William and Kate, who remain committed to public service and to protecting the dignity of the monarchy.
But Harry’s visit is expected to last just five days, with the official aim of promoting support for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027. The unofficial purpose may matter even more: giving the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, the chance to see the grandchildren he has not been with for four years. As a taxpayer, I do not resent the cost if it helps make that possible.
Naturally, it would be welcome to see some form of thaw between the Sussexes and the Waleses as well, and for George, Charlotte and Louis to build a relationship with their young American cousins.
Last week we learned that the Duke, Duchess and their children would arrive on July 7, take up an offer of royal accommodation and that Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, would meet with their grandfather, the King
Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith is a four-times married, former hell raiser with a tumultuous love life and hosted the couple before they married at his luxury party villa in Ibiza
I admire Carole Middleton greatly, writes Nadine Dorries. She has worked hard to maintain cordial, if not ultra close relations with Gary (who now leads a less frenetic life) and her niece Tallulah
William is reportedly utterly resistant to the idea. Too angry and too hurt ever to forgive his errant brother and his wife for trashing the family, the institution and causing Kate so much grief.
But I wonder if William might consult someone close to him who has her own experience of a wayward sibling and family tensions. A matriarchal figure who is as trustworthy as she is wise and for whom family is everything… Step forward, Carole Middleton.
Readers may recall that Carole has a younger brother, one Gary Goldsmith, a four-times married, former hell raiser with a tumultuous love life who has faced unsubstantiated allegations of illegal drug use – in 2009, he was filmed cutting lines of cocaine for a sex worker at a party in Ibiza. He famously hosted William and Kate before they married at his luxury party villa in Ibiza, Maison de Bang Bang, was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother and has never been shy about talking to journalists about his ‘perfect’ niece Kate or offering his opinion on other members of the Royal Family.
The potential for embarrassment was enormous. He is our future queen’s uncle after all. But did Carole banish her only sibling from the family or forbid all contact with ‘Naughty Uncle Gary’ when William and Kate married in 2011? She did not – and Gary attended the nuptials alongside his then-wife Luan.
She has managed these difficult situations with skill and diplomacy. In 2017, for example, when Gary attended niece Pippa Middleton’s wedding, he was allowed into the church but not to the post-wedding reception at the Middleton family home, Bucklebury Manor. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but nor was it destructive and for this I admire Carole Middleton greatly. She has worked hard to maintain cordial, if not ultra close relations with Gary (who now leads a less frenetic life) and her niece Tallulah.
I know from personal experience just how corrosive and toxic a family feud can be. Following a row, my mother and her sister haven’t seen each other in 45 years. Neither even knows if the other is still alive.
Has this brought my mother joy? Is her heart at peace as she looks towards her 91st birthday. I doubt it very much.
There has always been a void in my own heart for the aunt I loved, and a sadness accompanied by the thought – if only. If only they could have moved on. If only they could have found a way back to each other and spent happy years sharing memories over a cup of tea as only sisters can.
This is the empty sadness that I fear awaits William. The anger that still burns bright towards the brother with whom he shared so much, will one day fade, leaving emptiness and thoughts of if only.
So, Wills, why not have a word with your formidable mother-in-law who knows a thing or two about family unity? Put your pride and hurt aside. You won’t regret it – and you may just get your brother back.
