The Queen is currently serving as the matriarch of the modern Royal Family, with several generations stretching out ahead of her. Prince Charles is next, followed by princes William and George, with the Duke of Cambridge’s other children, Prince Harry and his son scattered beyond them. The Duke of Sussex has no current aspirations for the throne, however, and has relocated to North America with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Some of the reasoning behind their decision to leave the UK may have related to the Queen’s lack of acknowledgement for her more distant heirs.
When the monarch made her 2019 Christmas speech, she included a nod to all of the incoming kings, with pictures of the Cambridge and Cornwall families.
But Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex made no appearance, despite the arrival of Archie Mountbatten Windsor the summer before.
In fact, according to one royal author, she had removed the picture, and then also failed to mention the Sussexes or baby Archie in the following speech.
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry: Adorable insight to Archie’s childhood exposed
The speech had an impact beyond the brand, however, as it allegedly contributed towards their final family decision.
Two more royal authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, also weighed in on the controversial speech.
Writing in their book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they said the process had left them feeling “sidelined”.
They wrote: “Harry felt as though he and Meghan had long been sidelined by the institution and were not a fundamental part of its future.”
“One didn’t have to look further than the family photos displayed during the Queen’s Speech on Christmas Day.
“In the Green Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, where the Queen delivered her address, viewers glimpsed photos of the Cambridges and their children, Charles and Camilla, Prince Philip and a black and white image of the sovereign’s father, King George VI.
“Noticeably absent was a photo of Harry, Meghan and their new baby, Archie.
“Palace sources insisted that the photos were chosen to represent the direct line of succession, but for Harry and Meghan, it was yet another sign that they needed to consider their own path.”
