Queen Elizabeth II tried to "steer Prince Harry onto the right path," but Meghan Markle got in the way, a former royal butler has claimed. The couple have been estranged from the Royal Family since they walked away from their senior roles at the beginning of 2020.
Former butler's claim
Speaking on behalf of Casino, former royal butler Paul Burrell previously told the Daily Express that the late Queen did all she could to guide both Harry and Meghan onto the "right path" during the final years of her reign.
He said: "I think the Queen tried to steer Meghan and Harry on the right path, the path that she thought they should take. I thought that they would stay within the Royal Family."
Queen's efforts to keep them close
Burrell, who worked for the royals for 21 years, added: "She wanted Harry to stay as close to her as possible. But that couldn't be because the American in the equation wanted a different solution."
"Meghan wanted change. The Queen herself tried to bend all the rules for Meghan. She tried to keep her within the fold, knowing that the institution could protect her better than she could be protected in the outside world."
Acting career offer
Speaking of the late Queen, he added: "She was a very wise woman, the Queen. She said, if you want to continue with your acting work, then that's fine."
The late Queen, who died in 2022, told Meghan she could "continue her acting career" if she did not want to pursue royal duties before she married Harry, a royal author previously claimed. "Which is unprecedented for a member of the Royal Family. And then the Queen said, if you need someone to help you along the way, Duchess Sophie will help you."
