Six years on from the seismic announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would step back as senior royals, a new documentary has shed light on the furious reaction it provoked from one key figure: the late Prince Philip.
The Sandringham Summit: A Family in Crisis
It was in January 2020 that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, then in Canada, declared their intention to quit their royal duties. The news sent shockwaves around the globe and triggered an immediate crisis within the monarchy. Within days, Prince Harry was summoned back to the UK by the late Queen Elizabeth II for urgent talks at the Sandringham estate. This gathering, which included the Queen, the then-Prince Charles, and Prince William, would become known as the 'Sandringham Summit'.
A Channel 5 documentary, 'Megxit: Inside the Sandringham Summit', has now explored the dramatic behind-the-scenes fallout of that meeting. According to royal experts featured in the film, Prince Philip's anger was so profound that he deliberately avoided confronting his grandson.
Prince Philip's 'Gruff Tenderness' Turns to Anger
Royal biographer Andrew Morton stated that Prince Philip, a man known for his no-nonsense attitude, was "horrified" that the family had reached a point of discussing a split. Journalist Emily Andrews provided further insight, revealing, "Philip was so angry that he refused to even be there. I was told that he just couldn't bring himself to see his grandson, he thought it was a huge dereliction of duty."
This stance was in stark contrast to the close relationship Philip had historically shared with his grandsons. He was a pillar of support for both Harry and William following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. Author Tina Brown noted his "gruff tenderness," highlighting how he used outdoor activities to help the young princes navigate their grief.
A Final Farewell and Lasting Legacy
The rift caused by the Sussexes' departure was never fully healed. Prince Philip passed away in April 2021, just one month after Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. Prince Harry returned to the UK for his grandfather's funeral, which was scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Sandringham Summit, which took place six years ago this week, marked a definitive turning point for the modern monarchy. The revelations about Prince Philip's intense reaction underscore the deep personal wounds inflicted by the crisis, wounds that extended far beyond the constitutional implications of 'Megxit'.
