A new biography has made the startling revelation that Buckingham Palace seriously explored the possibility of appointing Prince Harry as the governor-general of Canada. This was part of a concerted effort to keep both Harry and his wife Meghan Markle within the Royal Family structure, rather than seeing them depart entirely.
Five Options Presented Before the Sandringham Summit
According to the book, which focuses on the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were presented with five distinct options ahead of the crucial Sandringham Summit in January 2020. This summit ultimately set the definitive terms for their departure from frontline royal duties. Author Russell Myers quotes a former senior courtier who stated that these proposals clearly demonstrate the couple were not abandoned or left to fend for themselves in an unsupportive environment.
The Canadian Governor-General Proposal
One of the most striking ideas under serious discussion was a plan for Prince Harry to become the monarch's official representative in Canada. As a Commonwealth realm and former British colony, this role is a significant constitutional position. The proposal emerged as a potential way to provide the Sussexes with a formal, prestigious role that kept them within the royal orbit while allowing a degree of distance.
However, this ambitious plan ultimately collapsed due to a fundamental legal obstacle: the role of governor-general can only be held by a Canadian citizen. A senior palace source recalled the immense frustration of these protracted negotiations, stating, 'We'd spent months trying to work out a role for them and every time we thought someone had cracked it, there would end up being several reasons why it couldn't work.'
Palace Insiders and the Sussexes' Demands
Mr. Myers also cites another palace insider who claimed that 'nothing was ever good enough' for the Sussexes, who would later relocate to Montecito, California, to pursue financial independence away from 'the Firm'. The book details that Meghan reportedly left Harry 'to face the music alone' during the final stages of the negotiations, returning to Canada with their son Archie amid her growing unhappiness with the situation.
Regarding the Sussexes' preferred 'half-in, half-out' model of royal service, the palace source expressed exasperation. They claimed the institution 'got nothing in return' from the couple, adding, 'We already knew they were intent on signing commercial deals and that just wasn't going to work within the model. So we kept saying to them, 'How do you want this to work? Do you actually have a tangible plan that could help us?', but we got nothing in return.'
Public Support and Failed Negotiations
At the time, a poll indicated surprisingly strong Canadian backing for the idea of Prince Harry taking on the governor-general role, vacated by Julie Payette, with 61 percent of respondents in favour. Meghan had previously lived in Toronto while filming the television series 'Suits', and the couple initially moved to Canada after first stepping back from royal duties, giving the proposal a personal connection.
Despite extensive discussions involving senior aides to the late Queen Elizabeth II, the then-Prince Charles, and Prince William, no workable or mutually agreeable solution was found. The Sandringham Summit, held on January 13, 2020, and dubbed as such by the media, brought together the Monarch, Charles, William, and Harry to navigate the so-called 'Megxit', but it concluded without a compromise that would keep the Sussexes as working royals.
Life After the Royal Family
Since their departure, the couple have successfully built a lucrative independent life, earning tens of millions through high-profile commercial deals. These include a multi-year production agreement with Netflix, Prince Harry's candid memoir 'Spare', and Meghan's lifestyle venture, American Riviera Orchard. Their path stands in stark contrast to the proposed governor-general role that was once on the table.
Russell Myers' book, titled 'William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story', which contains these revelations and further insights into the royal dynamics during this period, is scheduled for publication on February 26.
