The Duke and Duchess of Sussex parted ways with Prince William and Kate to set up their own household less than a year after becoming a married couple, in a clear sign relations had become frayed behind the scenes. But after moving out of the London royal bubble and setting up a home in Frogmore Cottage, the pair were said to be frustrated by the palace's bid to retain control on their public relations.
Royal expert Camilla Tominey suggested Harry and Meghan had wanted to set up their own press office when they tried to strike out on their own but the monarch and Prince Charles blocked the move.
She said this may have been the final straw for the Sussexes who announced they were leaving their roles as working royals 10 months after going public about their new household.
She told the ITV documentary Harry and William: What Went Wrong?: "Rather than have their own press office established, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were told that they would be incorporated into Buckingham Palace.
"It's at that point that the Queen and Prince Charles sweep in and say no, we will manage your affairs.
"And in a way, that's the final straw because once again the Sussexes are saying 'why can't we have what the Cambridges are having? We should be on equal footing'."
Harry and Meghan's decision to break away from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's household was seen as a major indicator of a rift between the two couples.
After the announcement was made in March 2019, a source told Harper's Bazaar that the Sussexes had wanted to bring their own team to Windsor with them and set up an office there close to their Frogmore home.
But the insider said it "wasn't doable" and instead Harry and Meghan's staff remained at the palace.
Less than a year after the split was made public, Harry and Meghan announced they were quitting royal life to seek financial independence and a fresh start abroad.
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1.48pm update: Princess Anne 'gets hands dirty' with bizarre SEWER visit - 'Represents hard work'
Princess Anne was hailed by royal fans for "getting her hands dirty" as she travelled underground to visit London's "super sewer".
Princess Anne travelled deep below London to visit one of the tunnels of the new Thames Tideway Tunnel - nicknamed by the company building it the city's next "super sewer".
The Princess Royal was given the task to fix in the last bolt at Chelsea Embankment.
And she dressed for the job, wearing a turquoise hard hat, orange and turquoise fluorescent jacket, gloves and sturdy boots.
In one of the pictures released by Buckingham Palace on Twitter, Princess Anne can be seen laughing with Tideway staff.
She asked them how the lengthy project has been progressing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In another clip, she walked down a tunnel at Chelsea Embankment to learn more about how the new sewage will work and why it will be pivotal for London.
12.50pm update: Prince Charles drives green agenda with H20 car
Everything about this car is green and the Prince of Wales could not wait to take the hydrogen-powered machine for a spin.
Charles got behind the wheel of the lightweight Rasa when he visited eco-vehicle company Riversimple in Llandrindod Wells, Mid Wales, yesterday.
Taking the two-seater for a test drive, Charles heard how the Rasa emits nothing but pure water vapour.
It is also designed to minimise the pollution from tyres and brakes with its low weight, skinny tyres and efficient braking.
It has a range of 300 miles and is billed as being “light to handle, responsive and fun to drive” with a “nippy 0-60mph in 9.7 seconds”.
11.55am update: Meghan and Harry’s Netflix deal in doubt — experts question contract as ‘permanent income’
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix contract was questioned by experts over its longevity as a source of "permanent income" for the couple.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex amazed royal fans when they managed to secure a deal with streaming giant Netflix just months after their dramatic exit from the monarchy.
A contract of historic value, it is estimated to be worth around $100million (￡72million) even though the couple have little experience as producers.
Their deal was seen as the couple’s first major move into financial independence, although Harry told Oprah Winfrey that they only looked into streaming platforms after his family “literally cut me off financially”.
PR expert Mark Borkowski said: “It’s a fantastic deal for Netflix and a phenomenal deal for the ex-royal couple.
“If they get it right, if they surround themselves with the very best people… it could be the mother lode for them.”
10.52am update: Prince Harry's peculiar habit he got from Charles puzzled Meghan at start of relationship
Prince Harry admitted a peculiar habit he learned from his father Prince Charles puzzled Meghan after the pair tied the knot.
During his early years, the Duke of Sussex picked up the habit of switching off lights from his eco-conscious father.
Harry spoke of how after he and Meghan set up a home together he noticed she didn't share his desire to turn the lights out at every given chance.
In a BBC documentary in celebration of Charles' 70th birthday, which aired in November 2018, Harry said of his father: "He's a stickler for turning lights off.
"And that's now something that I'm obsessed with as well, which is insane because actually, my wife goes 'Well, why turn the lights off? You know it's dark'.
"I go 'we only need one light, we don't need like six', and all of a sudden, it becomes a habit and those small habit changes he's making, every single person can do.
"And I think that's one of the key lessons certainly that I felt that he taught us."
10.33am update: Queen sees Sophie Wessex ‘as another daughter’ as Countess ‘showed different side to her’
The Queen sees Sophie, the Countess of Wessex as "another daughter" and she has shown a "different side to her" since Prince Philip's death, according to a royal expert.
The monarch, 95, and her daughter-in-law Sophie, 56, are known to be close friends.
However, since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie has demonstrated just how trusted she is by being the one to relay the information about how exactly he died.
She also got very choked up in an interview talking about her father-in-law, highlighting how much he really meant to her.
Pod Save the Queen is hosted by Ann Gripper and features Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers.
Mr Myers claimed the Queen sees Sophie as “another daughter”, having only one blood daughter in Princess Anne.
Mr Myers said: “It’s no secret that the royals are happy to push them out in front.
“Certainly, Sophie ？ I think we saw a different side to her after Prince Philip’s death and she was the one who was breaking to the world the nature of him slipping away and saying that it was peaceful."
9.46am update: Queen reaches ‘milestone moment’ with 'first' visit to special place since Philip's death
The Queen has achieved a "first" since the death of her husband this year by managing to make a trip to a place that both she and Prince Philip loved visiting.
The Queen hit a "big pandemic milestone" with her recent country visit, according to royal commentators.
The monarch had been undertaking visits across Scotland as part of her annual 'Holyrood Week' tradition.
Royally Obsessed podcast host Roberta Fiorito pointed out that it was a "first" since Prince Philip's passing.
She told listeners: "This has been a big pandemic milestone in a lot of ways.
"Holyrood Week was cancelled last year.
"This year it's been done in a limited capacity.
"She couldn't have the garden party with 1000 guests that she typically hosts."
8.54am update: Royal backlash as Danish royal family accused of 'sneaking around rules' to attend game
Members of the Danish Royal Family have been accused of "sneaking around the rules" ahead of their attendance at the EURO 2020 semi-finals in London tonight.
Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and their son Prince Christian will be at Wembley Stadium tonight to cheer on Denmark against England, with a place in the Euro 2020 final on the line.
Their attendance was announced yesterday by the Danish Royal Household.
But the move was criticised by one of Denmark's biggest newspapers, Ekstra Bladet, which ran a story titled: "It looks a little unfortunate".
The article questioned how the future King and his family had "managed to sneak around the rules" to watch the match in person without undergoing quarantine.
It read: "UEFA should have moved the last European Championship matches so that not only royals and VIPs have access to the coveted and decisive showdowns."
8.01am update: Prince Harry had ‘reminder’ of Meghan during ‘stressful moment' at Diana statue unveiling
Prince Harry appeared to be "missing" his wife, Meghan Markle, during his short stay in the UK, according to royal commentators who explained why the Duchess of Sussex is a "strength" for the Duke.
"I just think he misses Meghan, for one.
"Being in Kensington Sunken Gardens is a reminder of his mum, but it's also a reminder of Meghan.
"That's where their engagement photocall was."
7.53am update: Pastry thrown on Charles and Diana's wedding day auctioneered 40 years later
A bun made 40 years ago has sold at an auction for ￡15. While many would hesitate to buy a clearly expired pastry, this bun tells an interesting story.
The bun was a part of the 400 year-old tradition in an Oxfordshire town - Abingdon-on-Thames’ famous Bun Throwing event.
And it was thrown on Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding day to celebrate the Royal newlyweds.
The bun, preserved in a coat of varnish, bears the label: “Abingdon Bun Throwing July 29, 1981 Wedding of Prince of Wales."
It was sold by Hanson Holloway’s Ross in Banbury, Oxfordshire for ￡15. It has been expected to sell for ￡10-20.
A mystery bidder bought the bun and it is unclear who owned it before the auction.
7.50am update: Queen still has her own astronomer who is paid ￡100 a year- role once held by Halley
The Queen has over a thousand people in her employment, including rather bizarre jobs - like staff who taste her food or wear in her shoes.
However, a historically high honour is the Astronomer Royal role. The role is awarded to a highly renowned astronomer and dates all the way back to June 1675.
Astronomer Royal's don't have any specific duties but are appointed for occasional consultation on scientific matters.
Nowadays, however, the role is mainly honorary, though the current Astronomer Royal is still expected to be available if Her Majesty requests a consultation.
Since 1995, astrophysicist Martin Rees holds the position.
The role has lead to many scientific discoveries. Astronomer Royal Edmund Halley is famous for predicting the return of the comet now known as Halley's Comet.