By Matt Wilkinson
DURING her reign and service, the Queen’s role was primarily that of head of state, whilst the Duke of Edinburgh was left as head of the family.
But when Prince Harry and Meghan revealed on Instagram that they were giving up royal duties to live in America, it was a crisis that required the Queen to be both.
At a hastily called summit in Sandringham in January 2020, their decision was swift and final; The Sussexes may leave the family business, but they don’t have the trappings inherent in royalty.
The unsuspecting couple were told there was no “half in, half out” role and that they could not have their cake and eat it as they wished them luck in their new life.
In her statement, the Queen thanked them for their “dedicated” work, saying she was “particularly proud of Meghan”.
She added: “My whole family hopes that today’s agreement will allow them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
This new beginning was anything but peaceful for the Queen. Because although the couple had abandoned royal service, they remained in the family.
As a palace source said: “They may no longer be working members of the Royal Family, but they are not in exile.”
Leaving royal life and service to the crown and state was never a consideration or choice for the Queen. She was catapulted into the succession when her uncle Edward VIII left royal service to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936.
Seeing the impact on her father marked the Queen’s early years, but she went on to dedicate herself to a life of service.
So in the mid-1990s – forced to isolate at Windsor Castle as Covid-19 spread – the Queen was asked to step up and deal with this transatlantic family crisis, over and over and over again.
Throughout the pandemic, the national sentiment has prevailed that Harry and Meghan would be better served in the United Kingdom by supporting the Royal Family rather than firing increasingly bitter shots from across the pond.
When the one-year review came, the Queen acted as head of state and head of household when the couple said they would not return.
Meghan was stripped of her patronage. Harry’s honorary military titles were formally removed.
They were replaced as President and Vice-President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust after stating that the former Empire “must right the wrongs” of the past.
In her final Megxit statement, the Queen explained: “Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that by stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that accompany a public life. service.
“While we are all saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family.”
The Duke of Sussex responded to the final Megxit deal – struck with Prince Philip in hospital – with an incendiary retort.
Their spokesperson said: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and the world, and have offered their continued support to organizations that represented, regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. The service is universal.”
Harry started the review two months earlier because the couple wanted to tell “their truth” to Oprah Winfrey. The “tell-all” chat that aired days after the exchange of Megxit statements sent shockwaves across the world.
The couple claimed there was a racist in the Royal Family and claimed that concerns about Meghan’s mental health were ignored.
Surprisingly, the Queen was not informed about what was planned, as palace sources revealed that “as non-working members of the Royal Family, they are under no obligation to inform the Royal Household of such plans”.
Faced with a barrage of accusations, many of which later turned out to be false, the Queen waited more than 38 hours to respond publicly. She ordered a family-led private investigation into the allegations but, tellingly, issued these words: “Some recollections may vary.”
She was civil in saying that the Sussexes remain “much loved members of the family.”
A source close to the Queen said: “She’s not angry, she’s just sad. They have always worried about him and the Queen feels very protective of him (Harry).
Two months later, Harry went further in a mental health podcast, criticizing his upbringing, saying he wanted to “break the cycle” of pain caused by his father.
This was a more personal attack on the Queen, Charles and the entire Royal Family.
Faced with overwhelming public sympathy, after the shock and horror of the first interview with Oprah, and mourning the loss of her husband, she remained silent.
Just a few years earlier, the Queen welcomed divorced Meghan and issued an Instrument of Consent for their May 2018 wedding, saying she was “delighted for the couple.”
She gifted Meghan a set of pearl earrings and a necklace for her engagement and introduced the couple to Frogmore Cottage.
The pair shared a tender moment as the Queen placed a blanket around Meghan’s knees at their first joint engagement in Cheshire. Meghan later told Oprah: “The Queen has always been wonderful to me.”
A source said: “She understood that Harry and Meghan wanted to leave, but it couldn’t happen to the detriment of the whole family.”
Because moving away from royal life never crossed the Queen’s mind during her reign. She remembered very well the enormous impact that Edward VIII’s abdication had on her own father and the royal family.
When Edward abandoned royal duty to marry American Wallis Simpson, the line of succession passed to his father.
George VI called this a “burden” as he was the second son and the spare and should therefore never receive the crown, much less pass it on to his eldest daughter.
But he was considered a successful king during the war, although he succumbed to stress and heavy smoking and died at the age of 56 – leaving Princess Elizabeth to become queen at the age of 25.
In a worldwide radio message on the 21st, she said: “I declare before you all that my entire life, whether long or short, will be dedicated to your service.”
The idea of abdicating or abandoning royal service to enjoy life elsewhere, even stepping down as head of state or family, was never an option she wanted or explored.
The Queen kept her word. And her service was universal to the family and the State.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
