The Queen Just Stepped Out in Sandringham Amid the Meghan-Harry Drama
As the Royal Family hashes out a plan for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to step down as senior royals, the Queen has been spotted in Sandringham.


- As the Royal Family hashes out a plan for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to step down as senior royals, the Queen has been spotted in Sandringham for the first time since the news.
- It's interesting that she hasn't traveled to London, but there's a practical reason why she's still there.
- The Queen called an emergency meeting to find a "workable" Harry-Meghan solution, but her aides are acting in her stead in London.
In this interesting newsy tidbit, Queen Elizabeth is still in Sandringham after her charge to the Royal Family (namely Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) to find a "workable solution" in the wake of Meghan and Harry resigning from their roles as senior royals. Her aides are assisting in the challenge, but the Queen herself has remained where she is during this fraught time. As a matter of fact, she was just spotted driving off the property (pictures here) on the way to a shoot, according to the Daily Mail. She looks very serious (DM calls it "steely-eyed") but that might just be from concentration. This is the first time we've seen her since the big announcement.
Also, to be fair, there may be a practical and historical reason for the Queen remaining where she is for the moment:
Her Majesty usually remains at her Norfolk estate until 6 February – a date which is of poignant significance for her. The Queen's father, King George VI, passed away in Sandringham on 6 February 1952. The then Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were in Kenya at the time of the King's death and following the sad news, they immediately returned to the UK. Elizabeth ascended the throne and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953.
Also, we now know that Meghan and Harry had to rush their announcement because the British tabloids had realized what they were up to, and that the Queen had previously asked Harry and Charles to work out a proposal and obtain Charles' blessing. So this is just a really, really condensed/rushed/tense version of that original plan.
Again, NO judgment of the 93-year-old queen, but it is interesting. I wonder if the fact that she hasn't rushed to London is an indicator that these conversations are perfectly productive without her there. If she does travel to London, it might be a bad sign.
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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
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