How a behind-the-scenes advisor handpicked by Queen Elizabeth quietly transformed William and Harry into modern royals... and the two unusual conditions he demanded from the late monarch
Indeed, while the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive she reportedly believed it was essential to help the young Prince William and Harry grow into their roles as overseas ambassadors for the crown.
At the helm of this mission was the former British ambassador to the USA Sir David Manning who was handpicked for the role by the Queen and went on to work with the royals for a decade.
According to royal expert Valentine Low, writing in his book Courtiers, Sir David came to a rather unorthodox agreement with the Queen.
'Manning agreed to take on the job of adviser on two conditions: that he could do it part-time and that it was unpaid,' Low wrote.
Sir David did not want a full-time paid role so that he did not become 'embroiled in the formal palace machinery'.
But the Queen was happy to agree to his wishes. Having met Sir David on a number occasions she was certain he would be the perfect advisor to the young royals.
Elizabeth was proven right with both William and Harry developing a close relationship with their advisor.
Harry and William's former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to, they could joke with.'
'He had enormously good judgement about people. I think they trusted him. They knew he would be very discreet. And they knew he would fight their corner,' He added.
What made Sir David so good at his role was not only his friendship with the boys but his understanding that the best way for Harry and William to find their footing in their life as working royals was to allow them to 'develop in ways that felt natural to them'.
Meaning, if they can find their passion within the institution they could really thrive.
'These are real people. They are not cyphers,' Low said.
Under Sir David's guidance Harry and William created the Royal Foundation which was a 'leaner, nimbler way of working, and avoided being weighed down by long-term commitments'.
'Through the foundation, they would work out what they wanted to achieve and how best they could achieve it.'
And therefore they could also build up their confidence and understand what they can do within their privileged roles
Since its creation in September 2009, the Royal Foundation has worked on numerous projects close to the princes' hearts including mental health, environmental issues and homelessness.
Before he worked for the royals Sir David was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War. He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow
Prince Harry helped set up the Invictus Games with £1million worth of funding from the foundation.
In 2011, Kate Middleton joined the foundation as did Meghan when she married Harry.
When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020 they both left the organisation and instead founded their own company - Archewell.
Sir David himself stood down from his role as an advisor to the princes a year earlier.
A spokesman for the royals at the time said: 'Their Royal Highnesses are incredibly grateful for the guidance and support that Sir David has provided over the last 10 years.
'His wise counsel has been central to the success of their international tours and the early stages of their official work as members of the royal family.'
Not only did he help the princes find their roles within the Firm but he also joined them on numerous royal tours across the world from Kate and Wills first joint trip to North America in 2011 and Harry and Meghan tour of Fiji and Tonga.
While Meghan was a working member of the family it is understood that Sir David likely offered briefings on the British constitution to the American.
Low's bestseler Courtiers. Harry and William former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to,they could joke with'
Sir David was the UK ambassador to the United States from 2003 until 2007. Before that he was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War.
He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow.
Between 1995 and 1998 he was also the British ambassador to Israel.
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