Charles gave a speech at the Japanese State Visit welcome banquet and made a joke about Pokémon, saying: “I am only sorry to report that I haven’t had any better luck with more recent attempts at fishing — the Pokémon phrase ‘gotta catch ‘em all’ may resonate with my grandchildren, but for me, it is, perhaps, aspirational

He didn’t clarify which grandchildren he was talking about, which got Mansey’s attention.

She said: “You think of Charles talking about his grandchildren, the first thing you think of is the Waleses, because he doesn’t have that connection to the Sussex grandchildren.”

She added: “You don’t even think now, ‘Oh, wonder which grandchildren he’s thinking about?’”

Her colleague agreesed with Nikkhah, saying: “I think you’re right, your assessment is right, when he says grandchildren, people here think first and foremost he’s talking about the ones he’s seen with on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the big moments and that’s not Archie and Lilibet.”

She added: “We know that both sides would like that relationship to be closer and stronger, but the distance means it just isn’t.”