The Queen Elizabeth, who has passed away, was deeply saddened by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s choice to step back from their royal duties in 2020, viewing it as a missed opportunity, according to a royal expert. About six years ago, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused a stir worldwide by announcing their intention to distance themselves from the Royal Family and move to the United States.
While the Palace publicly supported Harry and Meghan’s decision at the time, royal author Robert Hardman reveals that behind closed doors, the late Queen was devastated by her grandson’s actions. In his recent book titled “Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story,” released in honor of the late monarch’s centenary on April 21, Hardman discloses that Her Majesty felt that Harry and Meghan had been given everything they could desire but were determined to walk away from it all to separate themselves from the Royal Family.
Describing the Queen as “enormously upset and terribly sad about a wasted opportunity,” Hardman notes that she took decisive action. This included determining at the Sandringham Summit that Harry could not have a partial role within the Firm. Consequently, Harry, Meghan, and their son Archie decided to leave their royal responsibilities behind and begin a new life in the United States. Even after offering the couple time to reconsider, the Queen privately acknowledged that she doubted they would change their minds because, as she put it, “they took the dogs.”
Following the unprecedented decision to depart from the Firm, Hardman portrays the Queen as remaining composed and pragmatic, while some Palace officials were anxious about maintaining stability amidst such significant change. Hardman also highlights the Queen’s affection for her grandson Harry, expressing that she had a natural empathy for him as the spare to the throne behind his older brother, Prince William.
Furthermore, the royal expert explains that the Queen sympathized with her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, noting that being second sons, both Andrew and Harry had less defined roles than their elder siblings, which was a matter of concern for her. Since their departure from the Firm, Harry and Meghan have become increasingly distant from the Royal Family, with Harry having only a few meetings with his father King Charles as they strive to repair their relationship.
Despite their strained ties, the royal family came together following the Queen’s passing in September 2022, with Harry and Meghan returning to the UK to mourn the monarch. Harry joined his brother and father for the funeral, marking Meghan’s final visit to the UK.