After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s proposal for an independent household at Buckingham Palace was denied by Queen Elizabeth, the British monarch is bringing in some reliable reinforcements. She has reportedly named Sir Christopher Geidt as her Permanent Lord in Waiting.

“Her Majesty values Lord Geidt’s wise counsel,” a courtier close to the royal family recently disclosed to the Daily Mail. “This new role gives him a formal status again.”

The 92-year-old allegedly chose to reappoint Lord Geidt’s title in a plan to “keep an eye” on Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, the courtier shared. Lord Geidt, who is the chairman of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, will be working very closely with the former Suits actress after Elizabeth named Meg the vice president of the organization.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex kisses Lord Christopher Geidt (former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II) as she arrives to attend a panel discussion, convened by The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, to mark International Women's Day
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“This was all part of the plan to introduce the Duchess to royal life,” the courtier further explained. “Lord Geidt will be Her Majesty’s eyes and ears.”

Last week it was revealed that Harry and Meg had originally wanted to set up a global “philanthropy brand” until the plans were squashed by the queen and Prince Charles. Instead, Elizabeth proposed the royal couple set up an official household of aides and staffers within Buckingham Palace — all under the crown’s discretion.

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“They wanted their household to be entirely independent of Buckingham Palace, but were told ‘no,'” the source dished to the Sunday Times of London. “The feeling is that it’s good to have the Sussexes under the jurisdiction of Buckingham Palace, so they can’t just go off and do their own thing.”

Last month, it was reported that Harry and his brother, Prince William, had plans to split their royal household before Meg gives birth to the pair’s first baby this spring. The British royal family even released a statement announcing that Elizabeth “has agreed to the creation of a new household for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” Meg and Harry will soon move from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, but their new office will be based at Buckingham Palace.