THE SUSSEXES WERE ‘FROZEN OUT’
Diana, which he wrote with her help. Extracts in yesterday’s Times also tell how Harry emailed the Queen and Prince Charles to say he and Meghan “had come to the decision to change the way they worked — to step back and spend more time abroad”.
The authors claim Harry made repeated requests to his father’s private office to nail down a time in January for the two to meet the Queen then at Sandringham for the Christmas holiday. But the astonished Prince was allegedly told she would not be available until January 29, leaving him feeling “he was being blocked”.
A source in the book adds: “At this point they felt like they had brought up the subject enough times with family members over the past year and they were fed up of not being taken seriously.” Hitting back at the claims, a separate Palace source told us: “One thing which won’t be made clear is how Harry and Meghan were happy to use all the power and privilege at their disposal while secretly planning to leave.
“It’s now clear they were using Meghan’s connections in America to set up their new life way beforehand.” Meghan and Harry, who had son Archie in May last year, broke with royal tradition to spend last Christmas in Canada instead of Sandringham.
They eventually moved to Beverly Hills on March 27 to an $18million mansion owned by an actor and producer friend.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan last night said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. It is based on the authors’ own experiences as royal press corps members and their own independent reporting.”
A royal source told us: “I don’t think there would be a person working here now who believed Meghan was happy to do whatever it takes to make royal life work.
“I can assure you hand on heart everyone bent over backwards to help them. But the couple didn’t want to know. It was clear they wouldn’t be happy to stick with the way it works around here.”
PRINCE Harry was fed up of playing second fiddle to William and Kate – and felt the pair were given better roles than him and Meghan, the book claims.
But a source close to the royals said Prince Charles included both
Wills and Harry in his plans for a “slimmed-down monarchy”.
They said: “His vision included both his sons.
William will always be
JOINING the royals was tough for Meghan as a mixed-race American, it is alleged.
Author Omid Scobie hints at racist attitudes within the household, saying of Meghan arriving on the scene: “That was going to ruffle feathers.”
The book does not accuse the royals of racism, but Mr Scobie told The Times: “There are individuals who may like to take a look at how they view the world.”
Harry and Meghan have been
The Duchesses’ relationship never moved past “distant politeness” – and had turned distinctly frosty by this year, the book claims.
The strain between Kate and Meghan was evident at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day last year.
“While the doting
Harry had long struggled with royal life but wanted to find a “happy place” within the monarchy, the book claims.
“It wasn’t just the press or online trolls getting to Harry,” it says. “It was also the institution of the monarchy.
“Barely a week went by without internal affairs or matters of private discussions being twisted and leaked.”
They wanted to continue due to Harry’s “love and respect for his grandmother,” it
Senior royal staff feared that Harry and Meghan’s fame would “eclipse that of the Royal Family”, the book claims. Courtiers – described by Princess Diana, below, as “men in grey suits” – reportedly felt the Sussexes must be “reigned in”.
The authors write: “As their popularity had grown, so did
Harry and Meghan’s difficulty in understanding why so few inside the palace were looking
THE couple’s announcement detailing their departure and launch of their Sussex Royal website left the Queen “devastated”, Finding Freedom says.
An insider said: “The element of surprise, the blindsiding of the Queen, for the other principals who are all mindful of this, rightfully, it was deeply upsetting.”
It had been agreed the couple and Her Majesty would release a joint statement announcing the decision, but Harry and more important than Harry but that’s a fact only because of birthright.”
The book also says William was not impressed when he first heard Harry was stepping down but left it to aides to sort the details. William reportedly told a friend: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that anymore. We’re separate entities.” outspoken on the subject of racial injustice, addressing the topic a number of times since George Floyd died during a police arrest in the US in May.
This month they called on the UK to confront its colonial past during a video conference with young black leaders from across the British Commonwealth.
Harry told them: “There is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.” mothers were photographed next to each other with their children, the two appeared to barely exchange a word,” write the authors.
Tensions peaked at their final joint engagement, the Commonwealth service at Westminster, in March. It’s adds, but also because Meghan felt she had given up so much “to take her life down a path of service to the monarchy.”
But the couple allegedly felt “blocked” after requesting a meeting with the Queen during a UK visit on January 6 – and it being pushed back to the 29th.
The authors add: “Harry felt he and Meghan had long been sidelined by the institution and were not a fundamental part of its future.” out for their interests. They were a major draw for the Royal Family.” A friend of the pair referred to the old guard as “vipers”. After Harry and Megan decided to leave the UK, negotiations over logistics and their finances created a “headache for everyone”, one aide reportedly complained.
The authors write: “Courtiers viewed Harry’s position as completely unrealistic.”
Meghan broke ranks on January 8 after their plans were leaked to the media.
A source told the authors: “The private offices don’t like that type of behaviour. It is deeply unhealthy and unwelcome.” The Queen and Harry settled their differences over a roast at Windsor Castle on March 1.
The authors write: “The Queen made it clear to Harry she would always support him.” They claim that he can return to the fold if he changes his mind.