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Only senior royals were due to attend today’s meeting, but the talks have been shaped and directed behind the scenes by a group of senior aides who have provided briefings on the implications of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back from some of the duties and pressures of public life.

Sir Mark Sedwill

The palace reportedly consulted the cabinet secretary on the constitutional implications. The Times said Sedwill had been dragged into the row last week and that he and the prime minister would ultimately have to decide on the allocation of any public money to the couple in the future.

Sir Edward Young

The Queen’s top aide, who has reportedly come under increasing pressure since Harry and Meghan’s announcement. According to the Sunday Times, Princess Anne and Prince Edward are among the members of a faction who want to see him ousted, believing him to have failed to stop the situation reaching crisis point.

Clive Alderton

The principal private secretary to the Prince of Wales and a career diplomat. Alderton returned to work for Prince Charles after a spell as Britain’s ambassador to Morocco. He had previously served as an aide in Charles’ official London residence, Clarence House, and is reported to be popular with the prince’s family.

Simon Case

The Duke of Cambridge’s private secretary is a civil servant who formerly worked on solving the Irish border issue during Brexit discussions. He also served as principal private secretary to David Cameron when he was prime minister, having previously worked as GCHQ’s director of strategy.

Fiona Mcilwham

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private secretary is relatively new to the role. She is a top diplomat and became one of the UK’s youngest ambassadors when she was posted to Albania aged 35 in 2009. She impressed in the role, with the Albanian journalist Muhamed Veliu telling the Mail on Sunday she “quickly gained huge respect” at a time of mounting political tension over organised crime.