Royal author Andrew Morton explained that the late Queen had granted Prince Harry and Meghan a key new role within the Commonwealth, but they failed to see the kind gesture for what it was
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dropped a bombshell on social media, announcing their decision to step back from their roles as senior working royals. They planned to divide their time between the UK and the US, aiming to “work to become financially independent”.
The couple’s shocking move reportedly came after they felt that the “entire institution” was against them, with the monarchy and many senior staff members seemingly trying to prove that the institution could stand strong without Harry and Meghan. Despite this, leading royal author Andrew Morton revealed that the couple were given a significant honour within the Commonwealth but still harboured negative feelings.
Speaking on The Mirror’s podcast, Pod Save the King, Andrew discussed how early Harry and Meghan had started contemplating leaving The Firm, even though they were entrusted with one of the most crucial roles within the Commonwealth. Andrew shared: “Harry was having conversations in a London hotel with Oprah Winfrey back in November 2018, just six months after they’d been married.”
According to the author, Prince Harry viewed his marriage to Meghan as an opportunity to leave the Royal Family. Andrew believes that if the couple had taken a few years to consider their future roles, the late Queen would have been understanding and supportive.
Andrew revealed that the couple had even contemplated living in New Zealand and had discussed this with the Prime Minister. He stated: “They were thinking about living in New Zealand and they even spoke to the Prime Minister of New Zealand about this – so they had all kinds of plots and thoughts for their future.”
However, the expert believes that Prince Harry’s desire to escape his royal duties ultimately led to their departure from the Royal Family. He told the podcast: “It didn’t work out because when it actually comes down to it, Prince Harry is cursed with charisma but hates being a prince and I think that he saw Meghan as a way out. They didn’t have to leave the Royal Family in the way that they did, but they did.”
Andrew also highlighted the Queen’s understanding nature, citing her own experiences living in Malta with Prince Philip in the late 1940s. He explained: “Back in the late 1940’s after they married, The Queen and Prince Philip lived in Malta for a while as he was pursuing his career in the Royal Navy and many thought he would end up as First Lord of the Admiralty as he was such a star.”
The author added: “They never thought for a minute that George VI would die so soon and thought that they would have 20 years or so on the fringes of the Royal Family.”
The author concluded that the Queen would have been sympathetic to anyone wanting to take a step back from royal duties, having experienced it herself. Andrew said: “The Queen had always been very understanding of anybody who wants to step back for a few years and just enjoy family life because you’re a long time being a royal.”