Prince Harry DEFIED Queen’s request to delay quit plans – and ‘will be punished’
PRINCE HARRY defied the Queen's request not to make the explosive announcement that he and Meghan Markle are quitting senior royal duties - and the couple will now be "punished", it is reported.
The Queen, 93, ordered her grandson not to drop the bombshell decision this week after Harry, 34, asked for a meeting with her at Sandringham, the Evening Standard reports.
But it is understood rebel Harry ignored Her Majesty, with Prince William and Prince Charles only receiving a copy of the Sussexes statement ten minutes before it was published online.
Senior royal aides have warned that "Harry and Meghan will be punished for this” following their astonishing move.
What we know so far:
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quit as senior royals
- Harry and Meghan defied The Queen's order not to make their bombshell announcement this week, it is claimed
- Prince William and Prince Charles only received a copy of the Sussexes statement ten minutes before it went online
- The couple will be "punished" for the decision, sources have told The Evening Standard
- The Queen is said to be 'disappointed' at the statement
- The couple plan to live in both North America and the UK with their son Archie
- They want to be 'financially independent' but will still support the Queen
- Princes Charles and William are 'incandescent with rage' at the news
According to The Standard, Harry sent Charles a draft proposal before Christmas on his future royal role and how he and Meghan, 38 could spend more time in Canada and America.
Harry is said to have been told that that complex issues such as the couple's funding needed to be ironed out first.
The Queen reportedly refused to discuss the plans at a planned meeting in Sandringham with Harry before he had spoken at greater length with his father.
The Sandringham meeting was said to have been blocked by palace courtiers and the Queen told Harry not to announce the decision.
But the Duke defied royal protocol and went ahead with yesterday's controversial announcement.
Harry and Meghan have been pummelled by a barrage of criticism for the "shoddy" way they treated the Queen with their "deeply unfair" announcement that they are quitting as senior royals.
Harry and Meghan will be punished for this
Royal courtier
Royal aides and others flamed the rebel couple following last night's bombshell move, which the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William first heard about on television.
Despite quitting frontline royal duties, the Sussexes plan to keep their Frogmore Cottage home near Windsor Castle, which was given to Harry, 34, and Meghan, 38, as a gift from the Queen, 93.
The Grade-II listed property cost £2.4 million to renovate last year, with the taxpayer footing the bill.
"It is a shoddy way to treat her. The family understands that they want to do something different and is perfectly willing to help them.
A senior source told The Sun: “Their statement was not cleared with anyone. It breaks all protocol. This is a declaration of war on the family.
“There is fury over how they’ve done this without any thought for the implications for the institution. The Queen is deeply upset. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are incandescent with rage.
It's deeply unfair to the Queen who doesn't deserve to be treated this way
Royal source
“Courtiers can’t believe it. There are so many unanswered questions but they’ve just up and done it without a thought for anyone else.
“The plan was there to discuss it and work out a way that works for everyone in the family."
Veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards told Good Morning Britain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's move has "divided the royal family".
Mr Edwards said: "Stands up with the Diana interview, it's as big as that. Everything we thought of the royals came true, and this is the same."
No other members of the Royal Family were consulted before the shock statement was issued, the BBC reports.
Harry and Meghan's staff in the UK - who are likely to be made redundant - were not told before the announcement.
'SHOCKING WAY TO TREAT PEOPLE'
A source said: "It's a shocking way to treat people.
Buckingham Palace admitted discussions with the couple will be "complicated" as they "carve out" their new roles away from the Royal Family.
The pair posted on Instagram they plan to "step back" from royal duties and split their time between Britain and North America - with Canada expected to be their second home.
The couple say they will be "financially independent" in their new lives, but will still support the Queen.
The Duke and Duchess said in their surprise statement yesterday: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
"We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.
"We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”
It comes after The Sun revealed they were due to discuss plans to move abroad, and Meghan today visited The National's Dorfman Theatre in London.
ROYAL SPLIT
The couple had reportedly told close friends they want to spend some of the next two months working out of Canada after a six-week trial holiday over Christmas and New Year was deemed highly successful.
Friends of the couple in Canada and the US are supportive of the move, which they say comes after the couple have been sidelined by the monarchy.
Pals argued it has become clear to the couple that the monarchy is moving towards a future focused on Prince Charles and Prince William.
One said: “They are back to work. They have nothing to hide and have got so much good work to do.
"But it has been made very clear by the institution that the Sussexes are not central to the future plan.
“Just look at the picture released last week of the Queen with the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and George.”
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman this evening said discussions on their decision to step back from the royal family were “at an early stage”, adding: “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
MAKING A MOVE
Yesterday, as they returned to duties, the smiling couple held hands as they greeted well-wishers and met staff at Canada House.
They laughed and joked around, visibly relaxed after their break at a rented $14.1million home in Vancouver Island.
During their time off, the couple missed the Queen's traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace and the gathering of royals at Sandringham on Christmas Day.
They posted a Christmas card with an unseen picture of growing Archie online while on their break.
Canada has always held a special place for the pair - it was where they secretly dated for five months before revealing their relationship.
In March, they attended a Commonwealth Day event at Canada House celebrating Canadian culture with expats from the country in the UK.
And Harry held his Invictus Games for wounded soldiers in the Canadian city of Toronto in 2017, while the couple made their first public appearance watching a wheelchair tennis game.
In a growing sign of the importance of the country to the couple, their first official duty on their return to work was a visit to Canada House today to meet the High Commissioner Janice Charette.
Buckingham Palace said the Sussexes hoped to “thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada”.
The couple had intended to move to South Africa for up to six months a year. But that plan was scuppered for logistical reasons.