THE QUEEN has praised the heroic work of NHS volunteers as she carries on with her royal duties after being left “sad not angry” over Meghan and Harry’s bombshell interview.
The 94-year-old monarch took part in a video call with the Duchess of Cornwall to thank volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service.
The charity is marking the first anniversary of the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme and more than a million new helpers have signed up since last March.
The Queen told them: “Thank-you very much indeed, very interesting to hear what you (have) been doing, I think it’s wonderful work and I do thank everybody for, and all the others too, who have been volunteering it’s been a great, great help over this very difficult year.”
Camilla, who is the RVS president, added: “Thank-you all very much for all you’ve done throughout the year, throughout the pandemic.
“We couldn’t have done it without you.”
It comes after Prince Harry, 36, and his wife Meghan Markle, 39, stunned the royals with a series of shock revelations during a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Queen ordered a private family investigation into the claims which included accusations a unnamed member of the family raised “concerns” about the skin colour of their children.
The Sussexes denied they “blindsided” the Queen over Megxit and claimed they were cut off financially by the Royal Family.
Prince William and Prince Charles spoke to Harry at the weekend for the first time since the interview – but the peace talks have been described as “unproductive”.
The Queen is privately said not to be furious with her grandson and Meghan who she described in her statement last week as “much loved family members”.
An insider told The Celeb Report: “She is not angry, she is just sad.
“They have always worried about him (Harry) and the Queen feels very protective about him.
“They always tried to support him when Meghan came along.
“They all worried less about him when Meghan was on the scene as he seemed so happy.”
In a statement responding to the Oprah interview, the Queen said: “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
More than 1.6 million tasks have been carried out by NHS Volunteer Responders, the Queen and Duchess of Cornwall were told today.
A number of royal women have befriended elderly people as part of the scheme, with the Duchess of Cambridge regularly chatting to Len Gardner, 85, from Batley, West Yorkshire, while the Countess of Wessex speaks to Edna Farley, 89.
‘COULDN’T BE PROUDER’
During the video call, RVS chief executive Catherine Johnstone told the Queen and duchess: “I couldn’t be prouder of the way in which Britain has stepped forward to volunteer.”
Retired police officer Tracy Clarke, from Gateshead, told the royals how she worked at the RVS Gateshead Home Library Service delivering books to isolated people.
The Queen replied: “Rather different work from the police I should think.”
She went on to say: “Yes and books are very important to people.”
RVS volunteer Sue Cadwallader from Northumberland said helping out had brought her close to her son Sam and gave her “direction” and “purpose” after retiring.
She added: “I thought actually working with my son, actually (getting) to see him once in a while as well, which is quite nice.”
The Queen nodded and gave a huge smile after hearing Ms Cadwallader talk about being closer to her son.
Anderson Akponeware, an NHS Volunteer Responder based in Middlesbrough, dedicated his spare time to supporting his community whilst juggling studying for his PhD and home-schooling.
He said: “When the call was made by the NHS and the RVS to support the vulnerable and those who were shielding, I didn’t think twice before signing up – so for close to a year now I’ve been a check in and chat volunteer.
“People have been living in their own small bubbles, and I wouldn’t have known how isolated those small bubbles could be until I took on this role.”
