This is Part 2 of our coverage of this epic story from Rebecca English at the Daily Mail. As I said, I think the piece started out as a “how do people feel, one year post-Sussexit” story and the answers English found were… interesting. The Queen grows more contemptible by the day, but what of Prince Charles and Prince William, not to mention poor Keen Kate? Luckily, Becky English has sources deep within Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace. Honestly, this DM piece had the feel of a coordinated hit by different camps working towards the same goal: bullying, shaming and maligning Prince Harry. Some highlights:

They’re still mad about a crown emoji: Meghan’s recent link up with her friend Oprah Winfrey to publicise her new range of vegan lattes — which led to the entertainment legend shamelessly plugging them on Instagram with a crown emoji — was seen in the opinion of many in the Royal Household as not just clumsy, but arguably a direct contravention of her and Harry’s promise not to bring the monarchy into disrepute.

The Sussexes cannot return (not that they want to): Last March, it was agreed with the Palace that Harry and Meghan should enter a 12-month probationary period before a review of what future part in the Royal Family they might play. Despite rumours that the couple are angling for another 12-month extension to their probation, the fact is any chance of future royal roles is now ‘dead in the water’, according to sources.

A nail in the coffin: ‘It’s solely down to the choices they have made. There is no anger or animosity [on behalf of the Royal Family]. But every commercial deal that has been done by the Sussexes has been a nail in the coffin of any kind of return to royal life.’ Another source explained: ‘To come back would mean they would have to undo all the commercial tie-ups they have already done, and clearly Harry and Meghan don’t want to do that. That is absolutely their choice and the Queen has agreed they can pursue these new carers. But to cap it all, they have bought a house 6,000 miles away, which is an unmistakable statement of intent on their behalf.’

Strip them of their royal titles? Sources also emphasise it is unlikely Harry will be able to get back any military roles that might have been left open for him. For a proud serviceman, it is likely to be one of his most bitter regrets. But there are categorically no plans to strip them of their titles, despite much public conjecture. After Edward VIII’s abdication, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor retained theirs until the day they died. To strip Harry and Meghan of their titles would just be punitive and, whatever else the Royal Family are, say insiders, they are not petty.

Meghan DGAF about her title though: Intriguingly, I understand that Meghan — possibly flippantly — told friends at one point that she would ‘happily’ hand back her title, which was a wedding gift from the Queen. There is no suggestion she wishes to do so, however. It seems that being a duchess (or a duke, for that matter) carries a useful cachet in the U.S., for the time being.

William feels Harry’s absence keenly (there’s no other way!): It is William, however, who has felt Harry’s decision to leave the family most keenly. He has forfeited not just a beloved brother, but someone he expected would stand shoulder to shoulder with him and share the burden of responsibility when he becomes king.

The lies!! William was also deeply hurt by suggestions from the Sussex camp that he, and particularly his wife, had cold-shouldered Meghan. In fact, I have been told that Kate — and the Countess of Wessex — both repeatedly ‘reached out’ to the Duchess, particularly after she voiced her unhappiness on a television documentary. But they were rebuffed.

William & Charles get along now: The flip side of William’s deep disenchantment, however, is that at 38 he has built bridges with his 72-year-old father, with whom he has not always had the easiest relationship. ‘William has realised that if he is going to make it work, he needs to be more aligned with his father and they need to work as a team,’ my source says.

William & Kate are stronger: He and Kate are also said to have become stronger as a couple than ever. They have become a lot less risk adverse — William taking part in a well-received Comic Relief sketch and allowing their children to be filmed on their doorstep during the weekly ‘clap for carers’. ‘He’s loosened up a lot,’ says a friend, ‘they both have, in fact. As a couple William and Kate are quite cautious. People expect them to be very confident, but they aren’t, not naturally anyway. Everything that’s happened this year has changed that. They have done a really sterling job.’

[From The Daily Mail]

“William was also deeply hurt by suggestions from the Sussex camp that he, and particularly his wife, had cold-shouldered Meghan.” OMFG. William and Kate waged this f–king asinine campaign openly in the press to exile Harry and Meghan and now William is playing it off, while basically suggesting that the Sussexes blamed Kate more than him?? LOLZ. Harry always knew who put the knife in his back. That’s all I’ll say about that. As for “As a couple William and Kate are quite cautious. People expect them to be very confident, but they aren’t, not naturally anyway.” Of course they’re not confident. Kate is lazy and button-obsessed and William is a lazy, cheating fool with anger issues. They don’t have much to be confident about.

Also: “It seems that being a duchess (or a duke, for that matter) carries a useful cachet in the U.S., for the time being.” Americans literally do not care at this point. Most of the time, the press uses her maiden name and Meghan introduces herself to everyone as “Meghan” anyway. They’re basically trying to, like, shame her into “giving up” her Sussex title of her own accord.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.