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Queen rehires aide to ‘keep an eye’ on Meghan Markle

Two years after he stepped down as her private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, is reportedly back in the fold to ‘keep an eye’ on Meghan Markle. Photo: Getty Images
Two years after he stepped down as her private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, is reportedly back in the fold to ‘keep an eye’ on Meghan Markle. Photo: Getty Images

She’s already rejected their bid to break away from Buckingham Palace with their own household and now the Queen has apparently rehired a former aide to ‘keep an eye on Meghan Markle.

Two years after he stepped down as her private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, is reportedly back in the fold, with the Daily Mail claiming he has been given ‘formal status again’.

“Her Majesty values Lord Geidt’s wise counsel,” the publication reports.

Sir Christopher, who worked for the Queen for 10 years, is the chairman of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and has been tasked with working closely with the Duchess of Sussex, who was announced as vice-president of the trust at the beginning of this month.

He will also oversee massive events such as when heads of state visit Buckingham Palace.

“The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust is thrilled to welcome The Duchess of Sussex as its Vice-President. The support and encouragement which Her Royal Highness will bring to the young leaders with whom we work promises to have a profound effect,” Sir Christopher said in a statement at the time.

The pair were pictured together as Meghan arrived at King’s College in London before she
joined a panel discussion convened by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to mark International Women’s Day.

Disagreement with Prince Charles

In 2017, the Australian reported that Sir Christopher Geidt was forced out of Buckingham Palace in a power struggle with Prince Charles and Clarence House.

In 2017, the Australian reported that Sir Christopher Geidt was forced out of Buckingham Palace in a power struggle with Prince Charles and Clarence House. Photo: Getty Images
In 2017, the Australian reported that Sir Christopher Geidt was forced out of Buckingham Palace in a power struggle with Prince Charles and Clarence House. Photo: Getty Images

They claim it was the first time the Queen let her private secretary go, after Prince Charles complained about a speech Sir Chistopher gave to 500 royal staff, urging both houses to unite for the Queen.

“Charles was told about this, was furious, and went to see his mother,” the Australian reported.

“The message was: “This is just not possible, and Geidt has got to go.”

However, it looks like the Queen has rehired her former aide just two weeks after Harry and Meghan’s new household was announced.

Meghan and Harry’s new household

The household – which will include Hillary Clinton’s former campaign advisor – will be based out of Buckingham Palace and will directly report to the Queen’s communication secretary.

However, according to insiders, the royal couple were hoping to completely separate themselves from The Firm and set up their own brand.

“They wanted their household to be entirely independent of Buckingham Palace, but were told ‘no’,” a source told The Times.

“There is an institutional structure that doesn’t allow that kind of independence.”

“The feeling is that it’s good to have the Sussexes under the jurisdiction of Buckingham Palace, so they can’t just go off and do their own thing.”

Up until now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had the same communications team as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Sir Christopher worked for the Queen for 10 years. Here he is pictured with Kate Middleton in at Kings College London last year. Photo: Getty Images
Sir Christopher worked for the Queen for 10 years. Here he is pictured with Kate Middleton in at Kings College London last year. Photo: Getty Images

However, shortly they will split and while the Cambridges will remain at Kensington Palace, the Sussexes will make the big move to Frogmore Cottage.

It’s believed Prince William and Kate Middleton will keep the Kensington Palace Instagram account, which has racked up over seven million followers.

Harry and William grew up in Kensington Palace, with William now living in a large apartment at the palace with wife Kate and their three kids, while Harry and Meghan have been staying in a nearby two-bedroom cottage also on the palace grounds.

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