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The Benefits of Megxit: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Departure Brought Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II 'Closer Together'

Megxit helped to bring a distant Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II 'closer together' before the latter's death in September 2022.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to leave the British monarchy and the U.K. in March 2020 was a colossal royal scandal, but it did bring with it one positive aspect.

"Harry and Meghan's departure brought Charles and his mother closer together," Robert Hardman, the author of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story shared.

The late Queen Elizabeth II and her then-heir had reportedly "grown apart" in the years leading up to "Megxit" that year, but the controversy the millennial royals' shocking decision brought with it was said to find the two bonding over the importance of royal duty.

"The whole kind of royal machine, if you like, is a team effort, and I just think it's very sad because Harry and Meghan had such potential," Hardman added. "Harry writes in his book Spare how no one will return his calls and he can't get through to anyone, and it's just all about me, me, me. And now, when we do tend to hear from them on a royal matter, it's just to say how miserable they were being royal."

The author pointed out how there is no question that Harry and Meghan will never be allowed to work for the Crown again. "I can't envisage a situation where they're back as part of the royal working unit, but I can certainly see it becoming a kind of normal thing for them to keep coming back."

Even though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's often acrimonious split with the monarchy led to royal and Sussex supporter divisions, some royal analysts, such as Hardman, feel that there is a bittersweetness to the parting. "It's a family at the end of the day, and they did have so much to give. I mean, when you look back on that sunny day in May 2018 and that sense of promise, all they were going to be doing for the Commonwealth."

Hardman continued: "That's very much what the King had in mind for the future, that there would be this sort of twin track — you'd have William and Catherine, and you'd also have Harry and Meghan. Fundamentally, I think everyone's so sad; I think they’re beyond being angry. Everyone would like to see some sort of rapprochement."

With the Princess of Wales being out of commission until possibly April, Hardman thinks "it's a reminder that we do have a slimmed down royal family now, but they will adapt, they'll make it work, and it is a quiet royal time of year. I think by the spring things will be back on track."

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People reported on excerpts from Hardman's book.