Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have long been at odds with the British monarchy, but according to a royal expert, there was one particular incident that served as the “final straw” for Harry.
Relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family have been incredibly strained, with Harry and Meghan taking significant steps to distance themselves, including relocating to the US to forge a new life free from royal obligations.
After a series of public allegations aired during Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah and in Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” among other things, the Royal Family’s sentiments toward the Sussexes aren’t positive either. Reports indicate that the monarchy no longer trusts Harry and Meghan, with senior royals like King Charles and Prince William feeling particularly aggrieved.
The exact catalyst for Harry and Meghan’s departure from Britain is likely to remain a topic of debate for years to come.
While the precise trigger for their disillusionment may elude us, there are hints as to what may have been the final straw.
According to the Daily Mirror, royal expert and author Tom Quinn suggested that Harry was deeply unhappy with King Charles’s decision to require him and Meghan to leave Frogmore Cottage, their royal residence in the UK.
This decision came last year, three years after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties.
The necessity to vacate their home was bound to be painful, but Tom Quinn goes so far as to suggest that Harry perceived his father’s directive as “vindictive.”
Quinn informed the Mirror: “Although news of Harry’s change in primary residence only emerged recently, in reality, he quietly made the move as far back as June 29, 2023 – the very day he and Meghan were ousted from Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate. This date is indicated in newly filed business documents in the US this week.”
He continued: “At the time, the significance of the eviction from Frogmore went largely unnoticed, but for Harry, it was the ultimate insult.”
The royal expert disclosed that Harry was “deeply enraged and tearful over the eviction from Frogmore”. He believed King Charles “had overstepped” by forcing him and his family out of their home, interpreting it as an act of “revenge”.
“Harry was deeply enraged and tearful over the Frogmore eviction – he perceived his father’s actions as unjust and motivated by revenge,” Quinn shared with the Mirror.
“He saw it as a harsh rejection – a painful reminder of the turmoil he experienced when his parents were embroiled in their protracted, painful divorce.”
The future of Harry’s relationship with his father remains uncertain. The Duke of Sussex journeyed to the UK to visit Charles after the King disclosed his cancer diagnosis, yet their reunion was brief, lasting only a couple of hours.
Harry is scheduled to return to the UK in May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Reports indicate that Prince William and Kate Middleton have no plans to meet with him, though other sources suggest that King Charles desires more interaction with his grandchildren residing in the US, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Do you envision a path to reconciliation for Prince Harry? Share your thoughts in the comments.