EXCLUSIVE: The Queen and Prince of Wales allowed Prince Andrew to write his own statement in an attempt to allow the Duke of York to bow out gracefully.

Andrew will fly to the Gulf to try to save his beloved Pitch@Palace charity - 72 hours after he had to quit public life - as a slew of big businesses pulled their sponsorship to avoid being associated with him.

A question put forward during the ITV leader's debate (shown) by a viewer called 'Sue from Leeds' was the catalyst that saw Prince Andrew sacked from public duties, it has been revealed.

EXCLUSIVE: Sue Hepworth has claimed she put the question - 'Is the monarchy fit for purpose?' - forward to be used by host Julie Etchingham as she grilled Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson.

The Queen's longstanding private secretary Christopher Geidt was known for helping to smooth over grievances between the brothers before his departure in 2017.

The unnamed source told Vanity Fair the Queen, 93, has no intention of stepping down or transferring powers to Prince Charles when she turns 95, despite reports to the contrary.

The Queen, 93, was joined by Prince Charles and Camilla who earlier today had tea with Donald Trump at Clarence House before arriving at the palace in Westminster, central London.

Princess Anne, 69, was said to be closer to her father, but a royal expert has said that since the Queen's mother passed away in 2002 their relationship has grown.

The job listing, shared on LinkedIn with a salary of £45,000 - £50,000, revealed that the Queen needs a new Head Of Digital Engagement, based at Buckingham Palace.

Princess Charlotte, four, attended her first Christmas Day service in Sandringham. The young royal was praised by fans after 'sweet' footage showed the moment she curtseyed to the Queen.

The @RoyalFamily and @ClarenceHouse accounts posted birthday messages today, while Kensington Palace released a new photograph of Kate to mark the occasion.

If I were Her Majesty the Queen, I would unceremoniously strip Harry and Meghan of all their titles with immediate effect and despatch them back into civilian life, writes PIERS MORGAN.

Courtiers say 'Harry and Meghan will be punished' for ignoring orders from the Queen not to go public until it was finalised by his father - but it was rushed out on the eve of Kate's birthday (pictured today)

Popular comedian Jordan Shanks has called on the Queen to sack Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his handling of the bushfire crisis.

The Duke of Sussex, who announced the couple's plan in a statement over Instagram last week, is 'behaving like a teenager,' an insider told Vanity Fair magazine.

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured this afternoon) has remained in London while Prince William faced his brother at the Norfolk estate with the Queen and Prince Charles.

The couple's spokesman insisted Meghan was not shut out of the discussion and just left it to Harry, saying: 'In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn't necessary for the Duchess to join'.

Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel were among the late night hosts poking fun at Harry and Meghan after crunch talks at the Queen's Sandringham estate over the future of the royals.

The Duke of Sussex wants his 93-year-old grandmother, father and brother to let him and his wife keep their royal titles while living in Canada while grabbing 'financial independence'.

The Duke of Cambridge put on a brave face as he stepped in for the Queen at an investiture ceremony this afternoon, beaming beamed as he signed 'congratulations' and gave an MBE to Alex Duguid.

The Good Morning Britain presenter vented his anger on Twitter after Buckingham Palace released their statement about the Sussexes no longer being Royal Highnesses.

PATRICK JEPHSON: Three little letters. H. R. H. Their absence as a prefix to Duke and Duchess will pass unnoticed in most of the world, but be in no doubt: To Harry personally, they will sting.

In the negotiations, the monarch was keen for her grandson to retain a comfortable home in this country so that he remains a part of the Royal Family. Frogmore Cottage sits in an estate in Windsor.

Her Majesty was unable to attend the meeting today, which she goes to every year at West Newton village hall.

British royal author Penny Junor told Hello! that the Queen understands the significance of the situation but is also dealing with Harry, 35, whom she recognises is 'in crisis'.

CHRIS MULLIN: Her Majesty signed away the life of killer Sir Richard Sharples. She remarked to the Counsellor handling it: 'Fancy appealing to me for mercy. Do you know he even shot the dog?'

Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer and the Co-op may see disruption to the supply of taramasalata and other chilled dips, the Unite union claims.

Supermarket Tesco have released a teaser of their upcoming Christmas advert, which stars a time travelling delivery driver meeting Winston Churchill on Downing St and Jim Bowen on Bullseye

The UK's largest supermarket has kept its festive advert closely under wraps and sent social media into a frenzy when a Tesco van was spotted on top of a house in Cheshire two days ago.

Anna Burns, 33, can only enter the Tesco Metro in Swindon town centre. She appeared in court yesterday where she was set to be sentenced for thefts from stores including Mothercare and Boots.

Sales at the UK retail giant's clothing and homeware section slumped by over 5 per cent in the past six months, prompting a shake-up at the top of the management.

Customers on the British supermarket's priority delivery saver scheme waited patiently to reserve drop-offs or collections on December 23 and 24, with bookings going live at just after midnight.

Gaynor Marshall, 45, looked lost for words when partner Mike Ogden serenades her with a Stone Roses song before proposing in front of the Tesco store in Warrington where she works.

Karen Eaton, from Dudley, told BirminghamLive her incredible hacks on how to cut the costs of the festive feast, which include buying products like cranberry sauce months in advance.

The desperate plea from inmates of Shanghai's Qingpu prison says they are forced to work against their will. It was found by Florence Widdicombe, from Tooting in south London.

DOMINIC LAWSON: Florence Widdicombe opened a pack of Tesco charity Christmas cards and found on one a note from a prisoner in China declaring that he had been forced to do this work.

Photos shared on social media show long lines of festive shoppers all over the country waiting to pick up their turkeys, cakes and other festive treats ahead of the big day tomorrow.

Customers from Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons were left disappointed with their Christmas dinners after claiming that poultry they bought was mouldy and rancid.

The man, named only as Antoine, who got out the prison two months ago, heard one of his notes had been found by Florence Widdicombe in London (pictured) after he returned home to Nigeria.

Half wheels of Stilton are now 50% reduced in Tesco at £1.50, while you can even get your hands on a whole cheeseboard with five varieties for £1.75.

German retailer Lidl led the way for festive profits, with year-on-year sales growth of 10.3 per cent, while Aldi's sales went up by 5.9 per cent over the Christmas period.

Price hike is being blamed on a shortage driven by contamination concerns. Sacla recalled 19 products in December after discovering they may have contained peanuts.

Quaker oats were slid into sachets before being wrapped in bags with an English-language leaflet at Shanghai's Qingpu prison, four prisoners released within the last year have said.

Tesco and Cow & Gate said that 15 varieties of baby food sold nationwide may have been tampered with - though no other product from either company appears to have been affected.

Hannah Rowe was left terrified when a woman 'came out of nowhere' in Fareham, Hampshire, and told her daughter, Alice, to 'come with me' just days after a man was spotted loitering outside a school.

Footage shows dozens of parcels strewn across the ground (pictured) as the men sort through them one by one outside a Tesco store in Neasden, north-west London.

Gene Gallagher was pictured with the All Saints star and his half brother Lennon on a London street this afternoon after his court appearance where he pleaded not guilty to affray.

World-class quality is on our doorstep and our home-grown bubbly is setting pulses racing. It's time for your cork to pop!

Video recorded by another cyclist riding on Millbank, near Vauxhall Bridge in London, shows a Tesco delivery van turning into a cul-de-sac at the same time a bike is passing and knocking the rider off.

Ofer Deshe, 50, was pulled out of the sea by surfers after getting into difficulties off spectacular Famara Beach.