Meghan Markle and Harry: Experts discuss one year review
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked fans around the world when they revealed they had chosen to “make a transition” away from their royal life. The pair said they wanted to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution” which would involve seeking financial independence away from the Royal Family. But Australian royal commentator, Daniela Elser, detailed how the Queen was “not amused” at how the couple had made the decision to step down without it being signed off by the palace.
She wrote in news.com.au: “Things had started to go off the rails days earlier, on January 8, 2020, when Harry and Meghan had shocked the world by announcing via Instagram they were quitting as full-time members of the royal family.
“Instead, they would be ‘starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution” and that they had “chosen to make a transition’.
“The palace was, seemingly, not amused.
“As the world later learned, when the Sussexes posted their historic revelation via every bikini model’s favourite social media platform, it had not been signed off by palace powers.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their bombshell announcement a year ago (Image: GETTY)
Ms Elser also claimed there were other “grave errors” that included Harry and Meghan returning from a six-week break in Canada with the impression the Queen was not willing to give them the option to play by their own rules.
She relayed how a palace source told Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand for their Finding Freedom book: “It was untenable.
“If Harry and Meghan had been semi-working royals, there would have had to have been oversight in everything they did in their independent sphere, a committee to approve events and deals.”
A senior courtier was also quoted as saying Harry had been “sorely mistaken” in thinking he was going to get his own way when he held crisis talks with the Queen, his father Charles and brother William,
READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle must be stripped of Royal Family titles
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals last year (Image: GETTY)
They said: “They totally misplayed the negotiations but then so did the palace.”
The couple has remained members of the Royal Family despite their new venture away from the royals.
They have also retained their HRH styles, although they do not use them.
But Ms Elser added Harry was “devastated” he was forced to give up his military titles when stepping down as the Sussex “fairytale had been shattered”.
She wrote: “Presented with having to choose between wholly committing to royal life or pursuing an independent existence, the Sussexes made their choice. Less than two years since their wedding, the fairytale had shattered.
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“For four days after the summit, aides from each of the four royals’ camps thrashed out the details before, on Saturday the 18th, the final agreement was made public: The couple would retain but not use their stylings as His/Her Royal Highnesses and Harry would give up his honorary military roles.
“And it was this second part that is reported to have been particularly hard for Harry, with the armed services having played a central role in his life.
“Not only had he earned the final rank of Captain during his 10 years of service, including two tours to the frontline in Afghanistan, he also held the honorary ranks of Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant at RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving in the Royal Navy.”
Before he stepped down as a senior royal, Harry held the titles Captain-General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.
Prince Harry was said to be “devastated” at giving up his military titles (Image: EXPRESS)
The Duke revealed his disappointment over the outcome of talks with the Queen in a speech a week later.
He told the crowd at a charity dinner: “The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly. Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
“I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
Mr Scobie and Ms Durand added in Finding Freedom: “Harry’s lifelong commitment to the military was why the Mountbatten Festival of Music three days later was a particularly difficult moment; he was set to wear his Captain-General of the Royal Marines uniform for the very last time.
Meghan and Harry wanted to carve out a new role for themselves in the Royal Family (Image: GETTY)
“During a conversation backstage, on arrival, Harry told Major General Matthew Holmes; ‘I’m devastated that I am having to step down.’
“‘It was so unnecessary’, Meghan later told a friend of the decision to strip Harry of his military honours.”
Since stepping down, Harry and Meghan have built a new life with their son Archie in Santa Barbara, in California.
They have also found financial freedom after signing multi-million deals with Netflix and Spotify.
They will face a 12-month review of their new roles with the Queen in March.
