Prince Harry allegedly attempted to set a meeting with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, while he was in Canada with Meghan Markle in December 2019. However, he didn't get what he wanted, leaving him frustrated, according to a new book.
Prince Harry 'Incensed' After The Courtiers Allegedly Denied His Request To Have A Meeting With Queen Elizabeth
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly already planning their future in the monarchy while they were in Canada. Prince Harry wanted to talk about it with the Queen and emailed the palace.
"Harry seemed to be under the impression that they could just sort it out by email before he and Meghan got back to London on January 6, [2020]," an excerpt of The Times' royal correspondent Valentine Low's book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown published in The Times Sunday read. "The reply they got, however, was that this would require a proper family conversation."
However, Prince Harry was told that he couldn't have a meeting with the Queen until Jan. 29. The response reportedly didn't sit well with the Duke of Sussex.
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"It fed into the narrative that they were not being taken seriously by the palace machinery, or by the rest of the family," Low continued.
So, Prince Harry tried to set up a meeting with Queen Elizabeth on his own. However, even his personal efforts reportedly failed.
"The message was conveyed to him that the queen had been confused about her diary, and was no longer available," Low continued. "Harry was incensed because it was not true: the courtiers had got in the way, it seemed, because they saw the meeting with the queen as an attempt to pick the queen off before Harry started talks with the rest of the family."
After his request for a meeting with the Queen was denied, Prince William's younger brother was reportedly so frustrated that he wanted to go straight to his grandmother. He reportedly planned to drive straight from the London airport to Sandringham. However, he later dropped the idea realizing that "it was a sign of his frustration that he even contemplated such a move."
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Announced Megxit
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the United Kingdom from Canada, they announced to the public that they were stepping back from their royal duties. The announcement even raised eyebrows as some sources claimed they made the announcement without telling the senior members of the royal family first.
"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they said in a joint statement released on the Sussex Royal Instagram account. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."
They continued, "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."
They concluded their statement, saying they were looking forward to collaborating with the late Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, and all relevant parties.
"Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through," Buckingham Palace responded.
The Queen released a statement supporting Prince Harry and Markle for their decision. However, according to Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl in her new book, The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown, the Queen didn't really understand her grandson's decision to abandon his royal duties. In fact, Prince Harry's decision reportedly hurt the late monarch.
"I don't think the Queen ever truly understood Harry's decision to leave. Turning one's back on duty is completely alien to the Queen, and she has been very hurt by it all," Lady Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, who regularly spoke to her, told Nicholl.
Prince Harry and Markle became estranged from the royal family after they stepped back from their royal duties and moved to the United States. Several sources claimed that despite the united front during Queen Elizabeth's funeral, Prince Harry's relationship with his family hasn't changed.
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Prince Harry.
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