Harry Allegedly ‘Regrets’ Blindsiding One Royal to Secure His Family’s Future in California
Prince Harry is believed to be regretful of how his departure from royal life unfolded. Six years after stepping back as a senior working royal, the Duke of Sussex is allegedly reflective about his bombshell exit statement, which was publicly released without consulting other senior members of the family. He is said to be particularly remorseful for how it affected Queen Elizabeth II, who, as per reports, learned about the announcement at the same time the public did. As per one source, the Prince now feels he should have handled the situation more carefully.
Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, as they leave after the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor to Thomas Kingston at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 18, 2019 in Windsor, England. (Image Source: Getty Images | Steve Parsons)Harry and Meghan Markle announced on social media in 2020 that they plan to step back from their royal duties in search of financial independence, a decision that came as a huge shock to the public as well as the royal family. Later, The Telegraph reported that Harry regretted having ‘blindsided’ his grandmother, with whom he shared a good rapport. A source close to the Duke told the outlet, “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.” This decision added another brutal blow to his already strained relationships.
Over the years, many royal experts have claimed the Queen’s final years were affected by sorrow linked to the Sussexes’ departure. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Hilary Fordwich suggested that the royals brand their departure as ‘unforgivable,’ suggesting “Harry was the cause of much heartbreak for Queen Elizabeth II.” She argued that the pain the couple has caused in the monarch’s final years can never be repaired, saying, “The family nor the nation will never forget it.”
Expert Katie Nicholl, who had a conversation with the late Queen’s cousin Lady Elizabeth Anson, had also previously addressed the fractured bond between the late Queen and Prince Harry. She quoted Anson and noted that the late monarch felt her relationship with her grandson had been permanently altered. “She couldn’t understand how Harry, who had loved his military career and been devoted to duty, could change the way he did,’ Lady Elizabeth told me back in 2020,” Nicholl noted. Anson had also told the expert that Queen Elizabeth was “deeply disappointed and hurt” after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to leave the UK.
Despite the regret, Harry does not question his broader decision to leave the royal fold. Since leaving the UK in 2020 and settling down in California, the Duke has, on several occasions, spoken about the sense of gratitude and freedom he feels while living in the US. While speaking at The New York Times DealBook Online Summit on December 4, 2024, Harry opined, “I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here.” He also suggested that providing a normal childhood to his kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would not have been possible in the UK, adding, “I feel as though it’s the life that my mum wanted for me.”
While Harry had no qualms about leaving the royal fold when he did, he now allegedly wants to reconcile with his family. With the Home Office said to approve his security needs in the UK, he might be back in his homeland sooner than many expect.