The Duke of Cambridge put on a brave face as he stepped in for his 93-year-old grandmother at an investiture ceremony this afternoon after taking his three children to school and nursery this morning.
Despite the turmoil in his family and the rift with his younger brother, William grinned as he knighted Theresa May's Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins and former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss before sharing a joke as he gave gongs to rapper MIA, Scottish composer Anna Meredith and BBC golf expert Ken Brown.
And in a heart-warming moment William beamed as he signed 'congratulations' as he gave an MBE to sign language expert Alex Duguid, who has signed Emmerdale and Coronation Street for deaf ITV viewers for decades.
The third in line to the throne was back to work as Meghan Markle denied she was barred from 'dialling in' to the landmark Sandringham summit from Canada as the Sussex team continues to negotiate an abdication deal on money, titles and establishing their international commercial brand.
Palace officials working for the Queen, Prince Charles and William were said to have feared yesterday's talks could have been recorded or intercepted if the Duchess took part from Vancouver, where she is with Archie.
But today the couple's Kensington Palace spokesman insisted Meghan was not shut out and just left it to her husband, saying: 'In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn't necessary for the Duchess to join'.
Prince Charles' wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Princess Anne, were also carrying out royal duties with a visit to the University of Aberdeen this afternoon, where Anne received an honorary degree from her sister-in-law.
After the family meeting at Sandringham yesterday, Her Majesty released a historic and emotionally-charged statement regretting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell decision.
The 'big four' Windsors are not expected to meet again in person but will be consulted by phone as their private secretaries thrash out a deal over their titles, tax bills, royal duties, funding and living arrangements in Canada and the UK as well as who will pay to protect them.
Sir Edward Young for the Queen, Clive Alderton for Charles, Simon Case for William and Fiona Mcilwham for Harry have been ordered by Her Majesty to get a deal done within days.
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