Royal biographer Hugo Vickers claims Queen Elizabeth II was deeply distressed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's actions in the last years of her life. According to Vickers, the Queen asked her lady-in-waiting to stay with her whenever Prince Harry called, a practice that underscored her need for support during these interactions. An insider described to Metro - Main that the Queen gave monosyllabic answers like 'yes' and 'no' during phone calls with Harry, indicating a strained communication dynamic.
Vickers also reports that Queen Elizabeth II judged Prince Harry's life choices, questioning his departure from royal duties. According to Metro - Main, the Queen described Harry's decision by saying, 'And now Harry has opted out, and for what? ' This skepticism reportedly reflected her concerns about his new role outside the monarchy.
Whenever Prince Harry called his grandmother, she asked her lady-in-waiting to stay with her. The distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated.
A major controversy emerged over the naming of Harry and Meghan's daughter, Lilibet, with conflicting accounts about the Queen's approval. Robert Hardman reports that Queen Elizabeth II was outraged by the couple's claim they had received her blessing to use the name, a private childhood nickname. The Queen's reaction highlighted tensions over the use of personal family terms.
During the family's visit to the UK in June 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee, Harry and Meghan requested a private photographer to capture Queen Elizabeth II's first meeting with Princess Lilibet. Major media reports indicate the Queen politely declined this request, with concerns that personal photographs might end up on US television networks if taken by the couple's own photographer. This refusal was reportedly due to fears about media exploitation and privacy breaches.
There were lots of one-word answers, 'yes' and 'no'.
That June 2022 visit marked the first and only time Princess Lilibet met Queen Elizabeth II, coinciding with the child's first birthday celebration. Major media sources confirm the family traveled to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee, where the meeting occurred in a private setting. The visit was a brief opportunity for family connection amid ongoing strains.
Before their 2018 wedding, a 'tiaragate' incident further strained relations, with Robert Hardman reporting that Queen Elizabeth II told staff to ignore phone calls from Harry and Meghan. Hardman claims the Queen was not pleased that Harry had been calling around the Royal Household demanding that Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara be dispatched for Meghan to practice with. According to Daily Express - Royal, the Queen described the tiara as 'not a toy' and suggested Meghan and her hairdresser practice with a plastic tiara instead.
The Queen clearly wanted some kind of protection.
This firm response underscored her view on proper handling of royal artifacts. In his memoir 'Spare,' Prince Harry offered his perspective on conflicts with palace staff, confirming a row with Angela Kelly. Harry claimed Kelly was being obstructive and a troublemaker, detailing his frustrations with palace dynamics.
Harry and Meghan have not commented on the new claims about the tiara incident, according to major media reports, maintaining silence on the allegations. Broader context includes details about Prince Philip's final moments, with Hugo Vickers reporting that Philip was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in 2013. On the final night of his life, Vickers claims Philip gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his Zimmer frame, helped himself to a beer, and drank it in the Oak Room.
And now Harry has opted out, and for what? To be a carer for Archie?
' This incident added to the Queen's personal distress during her later years. Currently, Harry and Meghan have been sharing rare glimpses of their family life on social media recently, as noted by major media, showcasing their activities post-royal departure. The unverified nature of these claims raises questions about potential biases, as they come from authors like Hugo Vickers and Robert Hardman, who may have specific agendas or limited access to firsthand information.
Key unknowns include whether the Queen's reported distress and guarded behavior were directly confirmed by her or based solely on insider accounts. The exact reasons behind her refusal to allow a photographer for the Lilibet meeting, beyond reported concerns about media exposure, remain unspecified. The full context and accuracy of the 'tiaragate' incident is also unclear.
Archie making his deep bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch's shins.
Additionally, it is unknown how Harry and Meghan currently view their relationship with the late Queen and the royal family in light of these new allegations. The extent to which these book claims are verified by independent sources remains uncertain.
Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused. She'd expected them to be a bit more ... American, I think? Meaning in her mind, more rambunctious.
It's not a toy.
She [Ms Kelly] was being obstructive … To my mind, Angela was a troublemaker and I didn’t need her as an enemy.
She took the line, I was told, that she was 'absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye.'