PRINCE Harry got the fright of his life one Halloween when palace aides told him, he and Meghan were about to be exposed, a royal author has revealed.
Harry had been over in Canada visiting Meghan on the set of her TV drama Suits on All Hallow’s Eve in 2016 when he got a call from Kensington Palace that their relationship was about to be exposed in a newspaper.
The pair had reportedly been together for four months at this point and were “madly in love”. They decided to go to a Halloween party in Toronto wearing Venetian mask so they could not be recognised when Harry got a call from his aides back in London.
The revelations come from Harry and Meghan’s ‘favourite’ biographer Omid Scobie’s revised Finding Freedom.
In an excerpt published in the Mirror, it said: “A cocktail or so into the party, they were both feeling relaxed, absorbing the Halloween spirit.
“It was possibly the perfect night out – until they received a call from one of Harry’s aides at Kensington Palace”
The secret was out.
Read our Meghan Markle live blog for the latest updates…
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Caught on camera!
THE Queen was spotted behind the wheel in Windsor this morning during a two-week break from duties.
The monarch looked chipper and well in a headscarf and dark sunglasses after she cancelled all public engagements on doctors’ orders.
She was seen driving her understated green five-door Jaguar – usually used to ferry her beloved corgis – earlier today.
Her appearance comes days after she was told by her private medics to rest after spending a night in hospital for ‘preliminary tests’.
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Fright night
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were apparently told they have been rumbled during a Halloween party in Toronto.
The couple had spending their witching weekend together during the early days of their relationship when an aide called from London to say a tabloid was about to publish the story.
The pair had reportedly been together for around four months at that point but were still keeping it under wraps.
They had reported attended the party at Soho House in Toronto wearing Venetian face masks in a bid not to be recognised, Royal biographer Omid Scobie says.
The couple would later partly blame press intrusion for Megxit.
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‘Minding the gap’
Meghan is due to speak at a half an hour online event with Mellody Hobson, the co-founder of Ariel Investments who is also the chairwoman of Starbucks.
Meghan has been listed under her ducal title and as the ‘co-founder of Archewell International’.
The talk is entitled: “How can women reach economic and professional parity? Two groundbreaking figures join us to discuss top-down solutions, and reflect on how their shared experiences influenced their thinking about creating opportunities for others.”
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Meghan Markle set to speak at glitzy New York online conference
Meghan Markle has been listed as one of the speaker’s at NYTDealbook Online Summit next week.
The Duchess of Sussex is due to speak about ‘women reaching economic and professional parity’ with men as part of her ongoing campaign to get paid parental leave through the U.S. Congress.
The USA is the only country in the OECD club of wealthier nations not to guarantee some sort of leave from work after the birth of a child.
Her name is listed alongside other big name speakers such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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Harry still has crucial royal role
Palace aides are facing a right royal headache – because Prince Harry still has one of the family’s most important constitutional roles.
The Duke of Sussex – and his disgrace Uncle Andrew – are still listed as ‘counsellors of state’ – meaning that, if the Queen is unwell or abroad, they can serve in her stead performing ceremonial duties.
It is not the same as being a regent – such as the later George IV was for his father George III in the early 19th century – because the monarch has no real power but it means they are the symbolic face of the Crown at that particular moment.
Only four such positions exist, with the other two filled by Charles and William.
Now, top aides are said to be concerned there’s a vacuum at the very top of the family – as one source labelled the problem a “constitutional headache”.
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What is the US parental leave campaign?
Meghan Markle’s bid to get paid family leave in the US has failed after Joe Biden dropped it from his $1.75trillion (£1.27trillion) spending plan.
The Duchess of Sussex wrote to members of the US Congress and Senate earlier this month calling for paid leave for new parents.
The U.S. is the only wealthy country in the world that does not guarantee paid parental leave. In addition to high medical bills that stem from giving birth in a country without an NHS – having kids in the U.S. is significantly more expensive than it would be in the UK.
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Strong as an oak
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York has managed to save a dozen old oak trees from Amazon power saws.
The duchess launched a petition to stop the US retail giant from cutting down the 130-year-old trees in her hometown of Dummer.
The proposal was for 220,000 square metres, 23.5 metre-tall distribution hub and had previously been greenlight.
Oak trees are a protected species in the UK so you must get special permission to cut them down.
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Taking the Meg
Meghan Markle has reportedly donated $25 – around £18 – to buy charity workers a coffee to “keep them going” in her fight for paid leave.
The mum-of-two, who lives in an £11million mansion in Montecito, LA and is believed to have a shared wealth of up to £250m, sent organisation Paid Leave US cash for caffeine.
Royal experts claim she’s attempting to forge a political career after making a plea for paid parental leave in America.
And today, charity comms boss Neil Sroka tweeted: “The Duchess of Sussex (aka Meghan Markle) bought everyone at Paid Leave US a few cups of coffee while we’re working overtime to save paid leave.
“Unbelievably classy… and necessary.
“Truly honoured to know she has our backs in the fight to win paid leave for all.”
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The Bench started as an ode to fatherhood
The Bench – Meghan’s first book – was published in June this year days after the birth of her second child, Lilibet Diana.
Meghan said previously: “The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born. That poem became this story.”
“My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make up, as much as it does with me.”
An ode to fatherhood may come as a surprise to Meghan’s own father – who is insisting she has cut him off and is desperate for her to get in contact.
He has even threatened to SUE the Sussexes to see his grandchildren.
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Harry cleaned up his act after launching Invictus Games
Prince Harry has spoken at length after his ‘lost’ years between losing his mum and meeting his wife.
He has described years of drinking, partying and drugs – while royal biographers have stated he was an ‘angry young man’ when he met the Suits actress in 2016.
But biographer Andrew Morton claimed the Duke of Sussex turned his life around when he found a “cause”. He launched the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women in 2014.
He continued: “He’d cleaned up his act, he’d gotten involved in the Invictus Games, he had found his cause in life.
“He stuck to that, helping disabled, mentally injured soldiers and servicewomen to find themselves and I think that was something that helped him find himself.”
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‘Panic mode’
Prince Harry is reportedly desperate to spend Christmas at Sandringham – so the Queen can finally meet baby Lilibet.
The source told US Weekly that Harry went into “panic mode” and has been “checking in non-stop” since the Queen took ill.
They alleged he “feels guilty about not saying goodbye” in person to Prince Philip, who died in April.
“He would never forgive himself if the same thing happened with his beloved grandmother,” the source said.
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Heirs and graces
Despite turning her back on royal life Meghan Markle apparently wants to still keep her airs and graces.
The former actress read aloud her kids book The Bench, filmed for Brightly Storytime, last week – but seemed to want to remind people her husband is still in line for the throne.
Meghan began by introducing herself by saying “Hi and welcome to Brightly Storytime.
“I am Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and today I am going to read you my book called The Bench.”
She then went on to read her popular story while showing viewers the illustrations.
Although the couple lost the HRH address when they left The Firm they still are entitled to use their ducal titles.
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Who did the illustrations on Meghan’s book?
Meghan Markle has praised Christian Robinson for doing the “beautiful and ethereal watercolour” on her debut children’s book.
She said: “Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolour illustrations that capture the warmth, joy and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life.
“This representation was particularly important to me and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens.
“My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make up, as much as it does with me.”
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All the Queen wants for Christmas
The Queen has an impressive 11 great-grandchildren – with the latest births of Princess Beatrice and Meghan Markle’s daughters earlier this year.
But it was reported earlier this year that the Queen has felt great “sadness” that she so rarely gets to see them.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said before Lilibet’s birth: “She has barely seen Archie since he was born, a source of sadness for her.”
Family rifts, Prince Andrew’s legal wrangling and the ongoing pandemic means the Royals are spread more than they ever have in the past.
But the Queen is reportedly hoping to change that with a large family Christmas at Sandringham – with Harry reportedly “panicked” enough to attend with his growing family.
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Are Harry and Meghan are COP26?
Despite the ecocredentials, the Sussexes are not appearing at the COP26 event in Glasgow during the next few weeks.
The Royal family has a long time commitment to environmental issues starting with Prince Philip – who has been honoured by the World Wildlife Federation for his commitment to saving animals and their habitats.
The Queen has been advised to rest and only attend virtually but Prince Charles opened the summit with Camilla by his side and the Cambridges are also there to ring hands and get world leaders on side.
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Diana nod (continued)
Originally, Prince William chose to keep the watch after his mother’s tragic death in 1997 while Prince Harry selected her diamond-and-sapphire engagement ring, according to Vanity Fair.
But before proposing to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in 2010, William reportedly asked his brother if he could have their mother’s ring and he would give him the Cartier watch in exchange.
Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell said in a 2017 interview: “Harry gave up his precious treasure.
“His one thing he kept from his mother, he gave to his brother. That’s selfless, kind, and exactly who Diana was.”
What’s more, the Daily Express reported that Harry then gave the watch to Meghan in 2017, weeks before their engagement was announced.
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Secret Diana nod in Meghan’s book reading
Meghan Markle sat down in the garden of her LA mansion and was filmed reading her children’s book The Bench for the YouTube channel Brightly Storytime.
Opting for a more casual look, the 40-year-old paired her oversized blue shirt with jeans and styled her hair back in a low bun.
Royal jewelry watcher would have noticed however that the Duchess also wore a watch which once belonged to Princess Diana.
The dainty gold Cartier watch is believed to have been a gift from Diana’s father for her 21st birthday and is estimated to be worth £17,800.
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‘Three people in my marriage’
The Crown is set to recreate the ‘keystone’ moment when Diana, Princess of Wales declared there were “three people in my marriage” during a 1995 Panorama interview.
That interview, conducted by then-BBC journalist Martin Bashir, made global headlines as the princess spoke openly about her marriage to the Prince of Wales.
Prince William is said to be absolutely furious at the prospect of seeing his parents’ disintegrating marriage and public war dramatised.
An insider said: “The Crown’s creators see the interview as the keystone moment in series five.
“To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.
“They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family’s history they’d rather be left alone.”
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Who is Nick Collins?
In spring 2021 Meghan split from her adviser and ‘dream team’ confidante Nick Collins – but insiders say he is still involved from behind the scenes.
Collins is a partner at leading Tinseltown deal makers Gersh and aided Meghan during her TV career in legal drama Suits, as well as the Megxit drama.
She kept him on even though she vowed to quit show business when getting engaged to Prince Harry in 2017.
Insiders say Collins was also a “key adviser and independent voice” for the Sussexes as they plotted Megxit and focused on money making plans in the US.
Collins also was one of a handful of American guests at Markle and Prince Harry’s May 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.
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Who is Thomas Markle?
Thomas W Markle, the father of the actress and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is of Dutch-Irish origin and is 76 years old.
He was the son of Doris May Rita and Gordon Arnold Markle and has two brothers.
Thomas was raised in Newport, Pennsylvania.
He is a former television lighting director working on iconic US shows including Married with Children and General Hospital.
Thomas Markle married Doria Ragland in 1979.
The family settled down in The Valley, LA, but Thomas and Doria split in 1987.
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Time to talk
Royal author Tom Bower says Meghan Markle needs to talk to her dad and brother if she wants them to stop them slamming her by media.
Meghan has had a strained relationship with her father Thomas and the pair have not spoken for almost four years.
It is unclear how close she was with her sibilings from her father’s first marriage – who are much older – when she was young.
Her elder brother – Thomas Markle Jr – is currently taking part in Big Brother Australia and has told many stories about how ‘cold’ she has become.
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Queen Camilla
THE Duchess of Cornwall is being lined up to carry out duties on behalf of the Queen, it has been claimed.
Camilla, 74, is thought to be an ideal candidate to step in for the 95-year-old monarch, who has been ordered to rest for the next two weeks.
Officially, Princes Charles, Andrew, William and Harry — four royals nominated as Counsellors of State — cover if the Queen is too poorly to work
Dr Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Bangor University, said: “The Counsellors of State are a Plan B . . . but what happens when Plan B isn’t quite ideal?
“The Queen may look to add the Duchess of Cornwall, who would become a Counsellor of State when Charles is king anyway.”
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What is Meghan Markle campaigning for ?
Meghan Markle’s bid to get paid family leave in the US has failed after Joe Biden dropped it from his $1.75trillion (£1.27trillion) spending plan.
The Duchess of Sussex wrote to members of the US Congress and Senate earlier this month calling for paid leave for new parents.
The U.S. is the only wealthy country in the world that does not guarantee paid parental leave. In addition to high medical bills that stem from giving birth in a country without an NHS – having kids in the U.S. is significantly more expensive than it would be in the UK.
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Does Meghan want to be president?
Friends of Meghan Markle have spoken of her previous political ambition before she met Harry.
Meghan called out a sexist TV ad when she was just 11 and had been an active campaigner before she met Harry.
The Royals are supposed to be as uncontroversial as possible so she dropped her more overt political statements – such as her criticism of Donald Trump – when she married in but now she seems determined to pic up where she left off.
Despite the Founding Fathers overt criticism of George III there does not seem to be any technical reason a member of the Royal family could not run for president.
The only rules are that you have to be over 35 and an American citizen.
Though she may not go down well with voters if she continues to insist on being called Duchess.
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Queen ‘totally committed’ to Christmas at Sandringham
The Queen is said to be “totally committed” to hosting Christmas at Sandringham with her family after resting up following a hospital visit.
An insider said the Royal Family‘s gathering at the monarch‘s much-loved country retreat will be a “perfect tonic” after she was forced to cancel royal engagements due to her health this month.
The Queen is now recovering at Windsor Castle after having tests and spending a night in the hospital last week.
This will be her first Christmas without Philip – though Harry may make a surprise return.