The Prince and Princess of Wales are 'making their presence felt' at a time that matters, according to a royal insider, as Harry and Meghan prepare for their first joint engagement since returning to the UK.
Packed schedule for the Waleses
William and Kate have had a 'packed' schedule recently, including red-carpet appearances ahead of an upcoming trip to India for the sixth Earthshot awards ceremony in Mumbai. Although the visit is yet to be officially confirmed by Kensington Palace, royals biographer Russell Myers has said the trip marks a significant milestone for the couple, who have purposefully been attending engagements together in recent weeks.
The author of William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story claims that it is 'no coincidence' the Prince and Princess of Wales are carrying out more joint engagements. He told Vanity Fair: “William and Catherine have quietly supported each other away from their public life over the last couple of years due to Catherine’s health crises and the king’s health woes, but what they have really missed is supporting each other in public. Now we are seeing a return to that.
Soft-power roles and diplomacy
“The palace and Foreign Office are planning various official engagements while the couple are in [India], highlighting the prince and princess’s soft-power roles. The British government will see this as a chance to secure some form of diplomacy, and they will be doing other engagements outside of Earthshot.”
The royal writer added that the couple "don't see life as a competition with the Sussexes", however an insider has noted how the pair are making their presence known. The source said: “It’s no coincidence that William and Catherine are doing more together. They want their roles to be very clearly separate from what Harry and Meghan are doing, and the brief from them is to stay focused on their work and causes and not be distracted by anything else. They are making their presence felt and at a time when it matters.”
Sussexes' first joint engagement
It comes as Harry and Meghan are to visit Nottingham on Thursday in their first joint engagement since moving back to the UK in August. The Sussexes will visit three charities that support young people and local communities in the city that holds memories for the pair. It is said to hold a special place to them, as they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds in Nottingham's Lace Market in December 2017.
According to a report in The Sunday Times: “They are looking forward to getting back out there, into the community, together.” Despite claims that William has been "derailed" by Harry and Meghan's return and plans for engagements, Myers added that the Wales' are "focusing on what they care about." He said: “They don’t see life as a competition with the Sussexes. The Sussexes are here doing their thing. William and Catherine are doing what’s in front of them and focusing on what they care about.”
