Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s sudden act left late Queen ‘devastated’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family in January 2020 had profound emotional repercussions within the monarchy, especially for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to royal expert and historian Robert Lacey, the Queen was left “devastated” by the suddenness of the couple’s announcement, which came just after they returned from a six-week holiday in Canada. The couple’s announcement, made via their website sussexroyal.com, expressed their intention to “carve out a progressive new role” within the institution and become financially independent, while also suggesting they would split their time between the UK and North America.

The abruptness of the decision, revealed with only ten minutes’ notice to the royal household, reportedly caused significant dismay and anger within the royal family. Prince Charles was caught off guard, having just returned from an official trip to the Middle East, and both the Queen and Prince Philip were said to be deeply upset by Harry and Meghan’s unilateral action.

Despite the affection and respect that Harry and Meghan have consistently shown towards Queen Elizabeth in public statements and interviews, this event marked a significant rupture within the family. Harry, in his memoir *Spare*, later refuted claims that he had blindsided the Queen, dismissing such accusations as “hogwash.” He explained that the decision to make a public statement was driven by the impending publication of an article in *The Sun* newspaper, which was about to reveal their plans to move overseas. Harry claimed he had informed the Queen of their intention to release a statement, but time constraints made it impossible to align on wording that would have been acceptable to the monarch.

In response to the situation, Harry and Meghan, with the help of their staff, drafted and released their statement, notifying the private secretaries of the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William only after the statement was finalized. According to Harry, the reaction from William’s aide was that the announcement was going to have explosive consequences.

This episode is a crucial moment in the ongoing narrative of Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties, which has been marked by a series of public and private tensions. Their decision to step back and the subsequent fallout reflect broader themes of autonomy, family loyalty, and the challenges of navigating life within the royal institution, themes that have been explored in their interviews, their Netflix documentary series, and Harry’s memoir.

The emotional toll on the Queen, as described by Lacey, underscores the personal impact of the couple’s choices on the family, beyond the public and institutional ramifications. Despite the couple’s intention to maintain a positive relationship with the Queen, their actions evidently had a profound effect on her, adding a layer of complexity to their departure that goes beyond the public discourse of independence and freedom from royal duties.