New Book Reveals The Royal Family Member Who Was Most Upset About Harry And Meghan's Exit
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step back from their official royal duties in 2020.
Ever since they stepped back from their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been in the headlines constantly. In their new life in California, the couple attracted new fans as well as criticism after high-profile interviews, documentaries, and public appearances. Talking about the reaction of the Royal Family members at the time of 'Megxit', King Charles and Prince William were reportedly more concerned about the image of the monarchy. In his new book, a Royal author has now revealed that Queen Elizabeth II was 'enormously upset' by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision.
The book titled "Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story," by royal author and commentator, Robert Hardman, revealed, "The Queen always adored Harry," before mentioning that in Harry she saw all the qualities needed to serve as an effective working royal. Giving an example for this, Hardman highlighted Elizabeth's choice to send Harry to Jamaica in March 2012, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and said, "The Queen recognized what a modernizing force Harry was." During his time there, Harry engaged warmly with Jamaica’s prime minister, raced Usain Bolt, and even won through some hilarious tactics.
With this, Harry successfully resonated with modern audiences, especially in a way that formal royal protocols often struggled to match. Additionally, Elizabeth’s warmth wasn't just for Harry; it even extended to her granddaughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, with their public appearances often marked by friendly exchanges that made the Duchess feel welcomed. Therefore, when the couple decided to step down from their royal roles, the Queen was the most affected. Speaking of this, Hardman stated, "As far as the Queen was concerned, Harry and Meghan had everything handed to them but wanted to throw it all away."
He added, "The Queen was enormously upset and terribly sad about a wasted opportunity." Before him, another royal expert, Hilary Fordwich, had spoken about how Harry and Meghan's decision broke the Queen's heart. She said, "The pain they caused in the queen’s waning years can’t ever be repaired. Neither the family nor the nation will ever forget it." As reported by Fox News, she further added, "It has been said that she verbalized it [Megxit] was a complete catastrophe." It was one of the most difficult and emotionally testing phases for the queen.
Meanwhile, in his book, Hardman has even mentioned that Elizabeth had deep empathy for royals who took the role of spares, reportedly resulting from her father’s unexpected rise to the throne after his brother's abdication. She was also often seen supporting her younger sister, Princess Margaret, as reported by GB News. Similarly, Elizabeth was concerned that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Harry did not have the same clarity of direction within the royal framework that came with being the eldest sibling.
