Royal aide says Sussex rift worsened before 2020 exit
A former royal butler has claimed the relationship between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the wider royal family began to deteriorate in the months before the couple announced they would step back from royal duties in January 2020. The comments revisit a period when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still appearing publicly alongside Prince William and Princess Kate.
The Mirror reported that Mr Grant Harrold said the “turning point” came a few months before the Sussexes’ decision, adding that the two couples had previously carried out many engagements together and were known as the “Fab Four”.
Mr Harrold, speaking on behalf of betting site OLBG, said Prince William was “genuinely happy” that his brother had met Meghan and that photographs of the four together in 2019 reflected how close they appeared at the time. He added: “We saw William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan do so many things together initially, but the turning point was a few months before the announcement that they were stepping away from royal duties. They were doing events in the summer prior to that, so something must have happened in between.”
The Sussexes’ January 2020 statement said they intended to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family” and work towards financial independence while continuing to support Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, tensions between the brothers have remained a focus of coverage, with Britpop News previously reporting that Prince William and Prince Harry’s feud was said to be unchanged despite reconciliation efforts.
The Mirror also said it has been widely reported the couple did not consult the late Queen or then-Prince Charles before releasing their decision publicly, prompting Buckingham Palace to issue its own statement confirming they would no longer be full-time working royals.
