Harry & Meghan have won – and the monarchy has lost

The ‘third way’ of being a senior royal – representing the Queen one day, earning serious money the next, was always untenable. When Harry and Meghan first made public their desire to change the status quo they described it as a ‘progressive new role’. Critics, better versed in the workings of an ancient institution than some of those advising the couple, dismissed it as a ‘having your cake and eat it’ approach.

Given that the idea was never a runner, it’s striking that it has taken those who are still active royals more than a week to accept the inevitable. They clearly didn’t want this outcome but now they have it. They want to keep Harry and Meghan on-side. This is evident in the warmth of the Queen’s statement when she talked of her pride at how Meghan had ‘so quickly become one of the family’. Such a sentiment may prompt a wry smile on the part of the duchess.