PRINCE Philip’s death 12 months ago today heralded a significant shift for the Royal Family.
The Queen, now 95, lost her “strength and stay” – with the Firm facing a year of drastic change.
From royal births to controversial court settlements, Philip’s wisdom, guidance and influence is likely deeply missed by the family.
As Her Majesty and the family privately mark the anniversary today, here are seven changes in royal life since the duke’s death.
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Meghan and Harry refuse to return to the UK
It’s understood Prince Philip will have had some “fruity words” to say about the Sussexes interview with Oprah in March 2021.
So one can only wonder how he’d have reacted to the couple’s decision not to return to the UK with their family amid a row over police protection.
Harry has returned twice since moving to the US back in 2020 – once for his grandfather’s funeral and a second time to unveil a statue of Princess Diana.
But Meghan hasn’t come back at all and Harry recently revealed it’s because he fears for his family’s safety.
The Duke of Sussex was stripped of all honorary titles and privileges when he decided to step back from frontline duties – and that includes his private security detail.
He later told Oprah he’d been forced to accept mega-deals with Spotify and Netflix to pay for security after father Charles cut him off.
Now Harry is suing the Home Office because it refused to spend taxpayers’ money on bodyguards.
He wants to fund his own Met Police armed bodyguards but the Home Office refused and insiders are saying police are not “guns for hire”.
The duke said he longs to return home, but feels unable to do so as his protection team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information.
He failed to attend Philip’s memorial in March, making him the only senior royal not to attend the service, although he will fly to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games later this month.
The event finishes on April 22 – a day after the Queen’s birthday. It’s not known yet whether Harry is planning to visit for the big day.
Kate Middleton and Prince William plan a move
Meanwhile, the Cambridges have stepped up their frontline work, recently carrying out a controversial tour of the Caribbean.
It’s understood the couple want to move to Windsor as soon as this summer so they can be nearer the Queen – and help dissuade Andrew from his attempts to return to public life.
The Cambridges are said to have checked out various royal mansions at Windsor, including Andrew’s Royal Lodge.
However, Andy is reportedly refusing to move.
So instead the couple, who split their time between Norfolk and Kensington Palace, are now looking at private homes.
A source said: “The need to move to Windsor is growing more and more. Andrew spends a lot of time with the Queen.
“He lives next door and is always there for her. During the Covid lockdown, the family were glad Andrew was always on hand.
“There is not a man, woman or child who would not say he had every right to be at Philip’s thanksgiving. But the family have been adamant there’s no way back.
“There are real fears that despite being banished from The Firm in January, he is using his closeness to the Queen as a springboard back into public life.”
Camilla will become Queen Consort
Her Majesty revealed Camilla will be made Queen Consort when Charles becomes King – in a stunning royal reversal.
Camilla had been given the lesser title Princess Consort after marrying Charles in 2005.
At the time royal officials believed there was too much public animosity towards Camilla — married to Andrew Parker Bowles from 1973 to 1995 — following the death of Diana.
Charles and Camilla are said to be “touched and honoured” at the decision.
Kate and William responded publicly by ‘liking’ the Queen’s statement on Instagram via their own Duke and Duchess of Cambridge account.
However, Harry and Meghan have so far made no public move to acknowledge the news.
It’s understood they were told privately in advance, and will likely have offered their congratulations then.
However, it’s feared Harry’s memoir – due for release later this year – will detail his true feelings about his stepmother.
A source said the duke “has got lots to say about it”, adding: “People think he’s keeping a low profile to respect the family but it’s not that.
“He’s writing a book. He’s got a multi-million-pound book deal and he’s keeping a lot of his opinions for that.”
Prince Andrew settles his sex assault case
The Duke of York was effectively banished from the Royal Family as he faced a civil sex abuse trial.
He vehemently denied any wrongdoing after trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre claimed he raped and abused her when she was 17.
However, instead of facing an embarrassing public hearing, Andrew decided to pay out to settle the case.
The surprise settlement, made just days before Andrew’s 62nd birthday, leaves many questions unanswered over Virginia’s allegations.
The sum of money agreed between the two parties may never be released, but had been speculated to be up to £12million.
Court documents show he agreed to make a “substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”.
Andrew has also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
Before the settlement, he was stripped of all titles by his mother during an emotional showdown at Windsor.
William was reportedly a key figure in the judgement, and helped his grandmother realise Andrew’s position was “grave”.
Both he and Charles were said to be in complete agreement that Andrew must go.
Despite that, the defiant duke appears to be attempting to make a comeback, appearing on the Queen’s arm at a memorial for his father.
Andrew walked Her Majesty down the aisle of Westminster Abbey after travelling to the cathedral in her car.
Full throttle for jubilee plans
The Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee this year – meaning she has reigned for an astonishing 70 years.
Public celebrations will take place throughout the year, with a long four day weekend in summer.
The Platinum Jubilee Celebration will take place between May 12 and 15 at Windsor Castle.
The three-day spectacular will feature 1,000 performers and 500 horses take a “gallop” through history.
The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday June 2, where a big celebratory parade will take place to honour the Queen’s birthday.
Members of the Royal Family will join 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, parading down The Mall on horseback, while the Queen watches from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
And the weekend will be extended with an extra day off on Friday, June 3.
Buckingham Palace said the extra long weekend will provide “an opportunity for communities throughout the United Kingdom to come together and celebrate the historic milestone”.
The birth of baby Lilibet
Meghan and Harry’s second child, Lilibet Diana, was born in June last year.
The tot shares Her Majesty’s family nickname – which some royal commentators say may have been an olive branch from the Sussexes.
However, the little one has never met her great-grandmother.
And it’s feared that Harry’s decision to sue over his security detail means she never will.
Expert Richard Fitzwilliams said it’s “increasingly unlikely” the pair will ever meet face-to-face.
“If they don’t bring Lili over, then obviously that won’t happen,” he daid.
“It’s all something that’s clearly not going to be resolved in the foreseeable future.
“And it doesn’t seem like they’re going to come over.”
Harry recently said he will see his grandmother “as soon as possible”.
He will be in the Netherlands on her birthday, April 21.
It’s not yet known if he’s planning a surprise return home for the celebrations.
The monarch is reportedly “desperate” to see both Archie and Lilibet.
The family speak via video chat, it’s understood.
However, Harry’s legal battle means the Sussexes are unlikely to return to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee either.
Royal author Britain Hoey said: “I have heard from people I know within the Royal Household, [the Queen] really would desperately like to see the baby in this way.
“I think she would love to.
“I wonder whether it is going to happen. I would love to think it could.”
William’s plans for the future of The Firm
Prince William is understood to be looking ahead following the Caribbean tour.
Sources claim the royal has laid out a “blueprint” for his future as the king – and believes the royals must be “agile” to survive.
He called a crisis meeting with top aides following criticism of the tour, which left the couple “bruised”.
The trip — the first of the Platinum Jubilee — was organised between Kensington Palace and the governments of Belize, Jamaica and Bahamas.
But it was mired in anti-royal protests and social media scorn.
It’s understood that even before the visit, Wills was planning a royal revolution that will see him tearing up the rulebook and running affairs “the Cambridge way”.
He will ditch the long-held policy of “never complain, never explain” and wield the hatchet as he cuts down the number of aides he works with.
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The Cambridges will also employ a small staff working on “comfortable and credible” good causes — five or six in total.
There will also be shorter solo trips such as Kate’s well-received recent visit to Copenhagen, Denmark.
