Prince William and Kate’s kiss compared to Diana and Charles

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Although Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have won fans in the US with notable celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Melissa McCarthy, the Cambridges too have maintained a popular foothold in America. While the Sussexes have accused the Firm of a wide range of allegations, figures show the Cambridge’s Royal Foundation has soared in funding. Meghan and Harry had been earmarked as a big positive for the foundation during their time in the Royal Family but accounts have increased since their departure.

As the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reveals, accounts for the Royal Foundation have now increased to a staggering £11.78million since Harry and Meghan left the Firm – it stood at £6.68million in 2019.

Initially, the so-called ‘Meghan effect’ had created huge publicity for royal initiatives but Mr Eden reports accounts for the Royal Foundation have continued to rise in the last two years.

While some in the US may have been influenced by the remarks made by the Sussexes, the Foundation has benefited from a £2.59million grant from the American Friends of the Royal Foundation.

Mr Eden said: “When Prince Harry and Meghan quit the Royal Foundation they led with Prince William and Catherine, their cheerleaders predicted it would have a dramatic effect on the charity’s finances. And it has — they’ve soared!

“I can reveal that the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed a surge in income last year, to a staggering £11.78 million.

“That’s almost double the £6.68 million raised in 2019, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still involved.

“‘It’s the Meghan effect,’ one courtier jokes, somewhat unkindly.

“Newly published documents disclose that the 2020 total includes a £2.59 million grant from American Friends of the Royal Foundation.

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“Clearly, the California-based Sussexes haven’t won over all Americans.”

Harry and William have had a strained relationship since the former stepped back from the Firm.

Speaking to Oprah earlier this year, Harry admitted the pair needed space to let their relationship heal.

He said: “The relationship is space at the moment.

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“And time heals all things, hopefully.”

Since the bombshell interview, Harry did return to the UK in April to attend the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip.

It was the first public meeting between the two since the interview with Oprah and pictures showed the pair chatting on the day.

Harry also returned in July to unveil a statue of Princess Diana in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Gardens.

In a joint statement to mark the event last month, the pair said: “Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character.

“Qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.

“Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.

“Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive.”

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