A royal expert who met the late Queen Elizabeth more than forty times has revealed a brutal comment she made about Prince Harry following his departure from the Royal Family. The Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle relocated from the United Kingdom to Montecito, California, six years ago, marking a significant shift in their lives.
Harry's Royal Exit and Military Titles
In 2021, it was officially announced that Prince Harry would relinquish his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines and all other military titles as he stepped back from his royal duties. Since then, Harry has authored an explosive memoir and participated in numerous Netflix projects, further distancing himself from traditional royal engagements.
Queen Elizabeth's Reported Remark
Author Hugo Vickers, who wrote the book Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, shared insights on the Palace Confidential podcast. He recalled the Queen's reaction, stating, "One minute he's captain general of the Royal Marines and the next minute he's just a childminder." Vickers noted that these might not be her exact words, but they capture the essence of her sentiment.
Vickers expressed strong criticism towards Harry and Meghan, saying he can "never forgive" them for the stress they caused the Queen. He elaborated, "One thing I will never forgive the Sussexes for is the stress they caused the Queen." He believes the Queen felt Harry "could have done more" and had "deserted the ship," despite acknowledging that Harry was performing well in his roles before leaving.
Meghan Markle's Struggles with Royal Life
Meghan Markle has openly discussed her challenges with the intense media scrutiny as a royal. In the 2019 documentary, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, she described the transition as unfair, saying, "I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair." She highlighted the difficulty of dealing with false narratives that persist despite corrections, calling the coverage a "different beast" that her friends warned could destroy her life.
Harry's Hopes for Family Reunions
Recent reports indicate that Prince Harry hopes King Charles will invite him to Sandringham this summer to spend quality time with his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. An official invitation from the King would ensure Harry receives a security package. A friend of Harry's told the Sunday Times, "If he was invited by the King, he would get a package of security that automatically kicks in." Harry's attendance would depend on the guest list, but he would welcome such an opportunity for family bonding.
This revelation adds to the ongoing narrative of tensions within the Royal Family, shedding light on the late Queen's personal views and the lasting impact of Harry and Meghan's decisions.
