Queen Elizabeth's Heartbreak Over Sussex Departure Revealed
According to a prominent royal author, the late Queen Elizabeth II was profoundly distressed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from royal duties in 2020, perceiving it as a squandered chance for the monarchy. Robert Hardman, in his newly released book Elizabeth II: In Private . In Public . The Inside Story, details the monarch's private sorrow and decisive actions following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's announcement to leave the Firm.
The Queen's Private Anguish and Public Decisiveness
Hardman recounts that behind the Palace's public statement of support, Queen Elizabeth was enormously upset and terribly sad about what she deemed a wasted opportunity. She believed Harry and Meghan had been granted every privilege imaginable yet were determined to discard it all to distance themselves from the Royal Family. Her response was swift and firm; at the infamous Sandringham Summit, she ruled out any half-in, half-out role for Harry, ensuring a clear break.
Despite offering a cooling-off period, the Queen privately conceded that the couple were unlikely to reverse their decision, notably because they took the dogs, signaling their intent to relocate permanently. Hardman notes that while some Palace officials panicked over maintaining the status quo, the Queen remained calm and practical, steering the institution through unprecedented change.
Instinctive Sympathy for the 'Spare'
The author explains that Queen Elizabeth had an instinctive sympathy for Prince Harry, viewing him as a spare to his older brother, Prince William, the heir to the throne. This empathy stemmed from her own family experiences; her father, King George VI, was a spare unexpectedly thrust into kingship after his brother's abdication, and her sister, Princess Margaret, also occupied a secondary role. Hardman adds that she felt similarly for her son, Prince Andrew, recognizing that second sons like him and Harry faced less defined roles than their firstborn siblings, which concerned her deeply.
Aftermath and Estrangement
Since their 2020 exit, Harry and Meghan have grown increasingly estranged from the Royal Family, with the Duke meeting his father, King Charles, only sporadically as they attempt to repair their relationship. One event that briefly reunited the fractured family was the Queen's death in September 2022, when Harry and Meghan traveled to the UK to mourn. Harry stood alongside his brother and father at the funeral, which marked Meghan's last visit to the country, underscoring the ongoing distance.
Hardman's insights, published to coincide with the centenary of the late monarch's birth, reveal a monarch who, despite her personal heartbreak, acted with resolve to uphold the monarchy's integrity, leaving a legacy of practical leadership amid personal turmoil.
