The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly knew that “disaster” would be ahead for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following one key word they used after quitting life as working royals.
This year marks the fifth year since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their lives as working royals and moved across the pond.
One word used by Sussexes sparked ‘concern for Queen Elizabeth’
Back in January 2020, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, shocked the world by announcing that they would be stepping back from life as working royals.
In their statement, they said that despite their change in circumstances, they would “continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties”.
Her Late Majesty was nobody’s fool and knew that the chances were, it would all end in disaster.
However, their statement reportedly caused some concern from the queen. Or, more specifically, their use of the word “collaborate”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source said that the use of the word raised eyebrows.
“No-one ‘collaborates’ with the Queen. This is not one of those ‘Kate Moss Top Shop tie-ups,’” the source reportedly said.
The source went on to claim that the queen had a dire prediction for Harry and Meghan’s life post-royalty.
‘Never going to work’
“This is exactly why Queen Elizabeth knew this whole half-in, half-out version of royalty they were lobbying for was never, ever going to work,” the source claimed.
“Harry and Meghan were a law unto themselves from the start, pushing and pushing the envelope to their own professional and financial advantage. Her Late Majesty was nobody’s fool and knew that the chances were, it would all end in disaster.”
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes’ representatives for comment.
Queen excluded Harry and Meghan from Trooping the Colour tradition
Two years after their royal exit, Harry and Meghan briefly returned to the UK for the queen’s platinum jubilee.
Taking place in June 2022, the Sussexes watched the queen’s final birthday parade; however, they were axed from a major tradition.
The royal family usually gathers on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the Trooping the Colour parade to watch the RAF flypast.
However, in 2022, the late queen decided that only working royals would be allowed to be on the balcony. Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were the exceptions.
This meant that Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew weren’t present alongside the rest of the family for the flypast.
In a statement at the time, the palace said: “After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the royal family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen.”
Harry and Meghan are believed to have watched the parade and flyover from a VIP area.
Trooping the Colour this weekend
This Saturday (June 14) will see King Charles attend the third Trooping the Colour since his coronation.
However, like last year, he will not be on horseback when taking the salute.
Instead, he will arrive at the parade via carriage, alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.
It’s believed that this decision has been made for his safety and comfort amid his ongoing cancer treatment.
