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Towards the end of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she faced an unprecedented challenge: how best to manage Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s desire to ‘step back’ from senior royal duties.
And while as a grandmother, Her Majesty ‘undoubtedly loved Harry, now 41, and the fun-loving side to his character’, her views as a monarch were of a much harsher tone.
‘She saw him as a maverick who had let her down,’ royal author Robert Jobson claimed.
Writing in his book Catherine: The Biography, Mr Jobson added that the Queen had told those close to her that Harry’s notorious royal exit was a ‘missed opportunity’.
‘She knew that he and Meghan had much to offer, but the idea of the couple earning millions by cashing in on their royal titles and status was abhorrent to her,’ he added.
According to the royal author, the Queen was abundantly clear in her views towards her grandson’s exit: ‘You were either working for the Firm fully, or not. There was no halfway house’.
When the Sussexes announced their plans to leave their senior royal duties in early 2020 and carve out a life in North America, the Queen did not ‘object’ to their decision.
However, she allegedly remained ‘adamant’ that the royal couple ‘must be stripped of their patronages and banned from using their HRH titles personally and commercially’.
While Her Majesty (left) ‘undoubtedly loved’ Harry (right), her views as a monarch were of a much harsher tone. ‘She saw him as a maverick who had let her down,’ royal author Robert Jobson claimed
Just one month after they publicly announced their plans to ‘step back’ from senior royal duties, the duke and duchess, were told that they must drop their ‘Sussex Royal’ label and ‘re-brand’.
It came following a notorious meeting hosted at Sandringham House on January 13 – with the late Queen gathering her son and then-heir Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry at the Norfolk estate to discuss the looming dilemma of Megxit.
Dubbed the ‘Sandringham Summit’ by the media, the meeting was said to have lasted 90 minutes, with much of its detail remaining shrouded in secrecy.
Ultimately, despite the Queen’s soft spot for Harry and initially positive views of Meghan, the final call on how best to tackle the family crisis fell on her shoulders.
In a statement issued shortly after the summit, Her Majesty’s sadness at the decision was made abundantly clear.
‘Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.’
Richard Kay wrote at the time of the announcement: ‘Not since 1997 in the aftermath of the death of Diana has the Queen issued such a personal bulletin.’
Meanwhile, a statement by Buckingham Palace added: ‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.’
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When Harry and Meghan made the decision to ‘step back’ from their royal duties in early 2020, the Queen believed ‘you were either working for the Firm fully, or not,’ wrote Mr Jobson. ‘There was no halfway house’
The Queen (pictured with Harry and Meghan in 2018) allegedly remained ‘adamant’ that the Sussexes ‘must be stripped of their patronages and banned from using their HRH titles personally and commercially’
Harry lost his military appointments and role as Commonwealth youth ambassador, while the pair also volunteered to forgo all access to the Sovereign Grant and public cash.
The £2.4million of tax-payer funds used to renovate the couple’s Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, would also be repaid by the Sussexes.
Desperate to ensure an outcome that protected a Royal Family in crisis, the Queen was uncompromising in her stance that neither Harry nor Meghan could be ‘half-in, half-out’ working royals.
According to royal author Tom Bower, the Sussexes’ initial plan to ‘carve out a progressive role’ within the institution despite relocating to the US, was seen by many as ‘an insult’ to the Queen.
The Queen was, Mr Bower claimed, rather ‘uncompromising’ and the Prince was soon given a clear ultimatum: ‘half-in, half-out was not possible.’
Harry was told, in no uncertain terms, that should the Sussexes leave the Firm, their financial support would be reduced, their honorary titles removed, and royal duties ‘sharply reduced’.
It appeared to be the most sensible outcome to a rather heartbreaking ordeal. For the sake of the future safeguarding of the monarchy, Her Majesty was determined there would be no ambiguity over Harry and Meghan’s roles.
But while Harry was said to have ‘expected some kickback’ from the Royal Family, he was allegedly ‘surprised at how unforgiving they were’, according to Mr Jobson.
On March 9, 2020, Harry and Meghan attended their final royal duty (pictured) before they relocated to North America. When the Sussexes arrived they soon ‘discovered they had been removed from the line-up without consultation’
‘Close sources said Harry was shocked and hurt. Yes, it was his decision to go, but it now felt like he was banished.
‘He could not believe the entire Royal Family almost in unison turned their backs on him,’ wrote Mr Jobson.
Reflecting on the notorious Sandringham Summit in Harry and Meghan’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry alleged that William had left him ‘terrified’ during the summit after he ‘screamed and shouted’ at him.
The duke also accused his father, Charles, of telling untruths to his face – while the Queen quietly sat there and ‘took it all in’.
During the explosive series, Meghan also spoke about her particular outrage that she was not able to attend the summit as she was still in Canada with then-baby Archie.
She said: ‘Imagine a conversation, a roundtable discussion about the future of your life.
‘When the stakes are this high. And you as the mom and the wife and the target, in many regards, aren’t invited to have a seat at the table.’
Harry added: ‘It was clear to me that they planned out so that you weren’t in the room.’
For the sake of the future safeguarding of the Monarchy, Her Majesty was determined there would be no ambiguity over Harry and Meghan’s roles. The Prince was allegedly ‘surprised at how unforgiving’ the Royal Family were
In the final few years of her life, Her Majesty was said to have been left devastated at Harry and Meghan’s bitter estrangement from the Royal Family
On March 9, 2020, Harry and Meghan attended the UK Commonwealth Service at London’s Westminster Abbey – their final royal duty before they permanently exited the royal fold.
But when the Sussexes arrived they soon ‘discovered they had been removed from the line-up without consultation’.
Instead, only Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were set to take part – a snub which was printed in the Order of Service for all 2,000 members of the congregation to see.
In the final few years of her life, Her Majesty’s personal love for her grandson never wavered as she was said to have been left particularly devastated at Harry and Meghan’s bitter estrangement from the Royal Family.
Indicative of her heartbreak at the entire ordeal, Lady Elizabeth Anson – Queen Elizabeth’s cousin and close friend – reportedly told royal biographer Katie Nicholl: ‘I don’t think the Queen ever truly understood Harry’s decision to leave.
‘Turning one’s back on duty is completely alien to the Queen and she has been left very hurt by it all.’
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