The Queen has ordered all four royal households to find ‘workable solutions’ to the crisis with Harry and Meghan ‘within days not weeks’.

A Buckingham Palace source said the royal family was working ‘at pace’ to sort out the couple’s new situation after yesterday’s shock announcement.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a bombshell statement last night saying they would be ‘stepping back’ as senior royals.

They said they wanted to become financially independent royals who would divide their time between the UK and North America.

But the Queen and other members of the family were said to be ‘hurt’ by their decision to make a public statement, saying last night that discussions were still at an ‘early stage’.

Harry and Meghan reportedly ignored instructions from the Queen not to go public with their announcement yesterday.

The statement – and a new official Sussexroyal.com website – have thrown up important questions about funding for the couple’s round-the-clock security, media access to their royal events and how they will pay for their future lifestyles.

The Duke and Duchess, who have only recently returned from a six-week stay in Canada with eight-month-old son Archie, said in their statement: ‘After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

‘We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen.’

Meghan received a public boost from her close friend Jessica Mulroney, a Canadian stylist and TV star, who posted a quote attributed to Gina Carey, which said: ‘A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.’

But a series of commentators have strongly criticised their decision with public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski saying about the Sussexes: ‘It does feel like a royal couple in exile’.

According to the Evening Standard, Charles and the Duke of Cambridge only received the statement 10 minutes before it was released.

Over the festive period the newspaper stated Charles told his son to come up with a thought out plan for his wish to spend more time in Canada and America, and when he put forward a draft proposal was told time was needed to consider its implications, particularly funding.

The Queen agreed to Harry’s request to meet when he returned from Canada but the duke was told his grandmother would not discuss his proposals before he had talked them through with his father.

Despite the request not to make any announcements, the Sussexes published their statement.

Buckingham Palace would not comment on the latest developments in the Harry and Meghan saga, but it is likely royal aides are organising the duke’s showdown meeting with his father and the Queen.

The Sussexes have outlined their future plans in their statement and it will be for royal household staff and aides to work together to make them a reality.

Buckingham Palace has said in a statement: ‘We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.’