Royal Family news: Meghan Markle and Harry expand UK staff as Duke hopes to return in 2021 | Royal | News (Reports)

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made the decision to re-hire two former Buckingham Palace aides who had lost their jobs when the couple decided to relocate to the US. Clara Loughran and Beth Herlihy will work on a freelance basis with the pair handling the Sussexes’ charity projects in the UK for Archewell.

Both had worked for Meghan and Harry at their personal office at Buckingham Palace in London.

Ms Loughran worked as Meghan’s aide when she joined the British Royal Family after marrying Prince Harry in 2018.

Meanwhile, Ms Herlihy worked as a programme manager for the Sussexes from September 2018 until they quit as senior royals in March 2019.

In a sign the couple are keen to maintain ties to the UK despite living in the US, Prince Harry is also understood to be looking at returning to take part in celebrations for Prince Philip’s historic 100th birthday in the summer along with the Queen’s 95th.

The Duke of Edinburgh will become the first male member of the Royal Family to reach 100 when he marks the milestone on June 10 whilst The Queen turns 95 on April 26.

Reports over the weekend have also suggested the Duke of Sussex could to return to the country to speak face to face with Her Majesty for the so-called Megxit review in March.

The 36-year-old Prince hammered out a deal with his family at a Sandringham summit in January after he and Meghan, 39, said they wished to earn their own money.

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9:30am update: Prince Charles praises Canada for reminding Britons what we have ‘forgotten’

Prince Charles has warned that it is “high time we paid more attention” to indigenous communities around the world, such as the First Nations people of Canada, as they have managed to “really understand” the environmental issues that are plaguing the world.

Prince Charles has claimed that people around the world have been “brainwashed” into “forgetting” the importance of nature in our lives.

The Prince of Wales made the statement in an exchange with acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, who guest-edited a broadcast of BBC Radio 4’s Today show.

8:45am update: Prince Charles gives up beloved home in preparation for becoming King

Prince Charles is set to give up one of his beloved plots in 2021 as he prepares to become King, it has been claimed.

Charles has farmed at the 1,000-acre Home Farm near his country home Highgrove in Gloucestershire for 35 years.

It is understood he could not commit to a new 20-year-lease, as he is expected to become King at some stage.

A Clarence House spokesman said: “The Prince of Wales will not be renewing his lease on Home Farm but will continue to farm organically at Sandringham.”

8am update: Tony Blair accused of being gong-blocker by stopping former PMs being honoured

Royal officials are drawing up plans to reward Labour Party politicians with top honours amid fears the Queen’s dislike of Tony Blair is resulting in the “bed-blocking” of other former Prime Ministers.

The Times has reported that sources close to Buckingham Palace would like to address a political imbalance where Conservative Party figures outnumber Labour figures be more than five to one in being rewarded with the four most coveted honours. 

These are the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Order of Companions of Honour. From the 102 posts across these highest honours, Tories figures hold 22 and Labour counterparts just four – and only one more than the Liberal Democrats.

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