KATE Middleton and Prince William have reportedly lost a key aide, who has quit working for the royals to join an £18billion private equity company.
Christian Jones, 31, has been working as the communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since April 2019.
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Former Brexit spin doctor Christian was previously head of news at the Department for Exiting the European Union, and is to reportedly join private equity group Bridgepoint as a partner.
Christian had replaced Simon Case as William’s private secretary, after Simon was poached by Downing street as head of the civil service.
A source told the Telegraph: “Whereas Simon was credited with making the Duke a statesman – Christian has really helped them to steer them through their public-facing role during the pandemic.
"He’s helped them to grow in confidence by gently pushing them out of their comfort zone.”
Christian is said to be remaining as an advisor for the royal couple.
The news comes as Kate and Will could be reunited with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in July, despite there being "unresolved issues" between the couples.
The Royal Family has a packed diary of big events in the coming year that the Sussexes would look rude to miss – not least the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana that Wills and Harry commissioned together.
CHRISTIAN JONES’S BACKGROUND
According to his LinkedIn, Jones has worked for the royals since December 2018 after almost seven years of experience working with two Government departments.
The Cardiff University graduate was the former Brexit speechwriter for David Davis at the Department for Exiting the European Union.
He was in the role from October 2016 to September 2017 before taking up the position of the department's press secretary.
Before that, he was chief press officer at the Treasury from November 2014 to October 2016 serving under George Osborne and Chancellor Philip Hammond.
In his royal role, which was advertised publicly, he liaised with British and international media as well support the royals' charitable work and engagements.
He was recruited by Kensington Palace as deputy communications secretary and worked for both the Cambridges and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Christian became communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2019, after Meghan and Prince Harry split households from Kate and Prince William.
The ‘Fab Four’ seemed frosty when they were last seen together publicly at the Queen’s Commonwealth Day Service in March, shortly after Megxit was confirmed.
Meghan gave Kate an awkward wave and the group barely spoke – with reports William was distraught by Harry's decision to set up a new life in America.
Royal sources suggest the two couples are still barely talking – and if anything have grown further apart.
William and Kate have continued their royal duties keeping Britain together through the coronavirus pandemic while Harry and Meghan pursued a mega-bucks TV deal with Netflix and championed causes close to their hearts, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I think it’s going to be very awkward if they do meet up,” Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words, told The Sun Online.
“From what I am told the rift is not a lot better at the moment – they are not talking a lot.
“I think they will put on a united front for the unveiling of Diana’s statue and I’m sure they will put on a united front for the birthday celebrations but behind the scenes I think there’s going to be a lot of tension."
It is not yet known which events Meghan and Harry will come back for – and all will depend on whether coronavirus restrictions allow.
We shared how Kate and William ‘hope for better 2021’ as they pay tribute to grieving families and NHS workers in Christmas message.
And Kate Middleton secretly volunteers during coronavirus with phone calls to lonely pensioner.
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