A royal historian has claimed that Meghan Markle “had no intention of pulling her weight” as a working member of the British royal family before she and Prince Harry stepped down from their roles in 2020.
Author Hugo Vickers told Page Six that he believes the Duchess of Sussex “surely had a little plan from the start, which did not include being a hard-working supportive member of the royal family.” He suggests Meghan did not truly want to dedicate herself to the rigours and responsibilities that come with being a full-time royal.
As reported by Daily express, Vickers’ comments come amid renewed criticism of Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave royal life and move to California. The accusations have surfaced this week after it was announced that Harry’s father, King Charles III, will undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate while his sister-in-law Kate, the Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery in a private London hospital.
Some have urged Prince Harry to return to the UK and support the royal family during this difficult period. Royal expert Robert Jobson said Harry “could have been very useful” if he and Meghan had not abandoned their duties two years ago. However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes said the couple have been in touch with King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales to offer their support.
Senior Royals Temporarily Out of Action
On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace confirmed 73-year-old King Charles would soon have an operation to treat his enlarged prostate – a common, non-threatening condition in men of his age. The surgery means the monarch will have to take a brief break from official events as he recuperates.
Meanwhile, his daughter-in-law Kate is facing up to three months of rest after undergoing abdominal surgery this week. The 41-year-old mother of three is expected to remain in hospital for up to two weeks before convalescing at her Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.
With his wife out of action, Prince William has cleared his diary for the coming weeks so he can care for their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and support Kate in her recovery. Royal aides have postponed the Prince and Princess of Wales’ scheduled visit to Australia and New Zealand, which was due to take place in the spring.
Criticism of Harry and Meghan Resurfaces
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020, moving first to Canada and then California to pursue financial independence and personal freedoms unavailable to them as full-time members of the royal family.
Harry’s decision to walk away at a time when the monarchy was already diminished by the loss of Prince Andrew – mired in a sexual abuse lawsuit – and the retirement of Prince Philip was considered a betrayal by some. However, the Sussexes argued they were driven out by racist media coverage and a lack of support from the royal household.
While Harry and Meghan now live thousands of miles away and have no constitutional role, some argue they could still be supporting Harry’s family back in Britain. Royal author Angela Levin accused the Sussexes of “always thinking about themselves,” telling Sky News: “It’s always ‘me, me, me’ isn’t it, really? Will they ever think about anybody else?”
Could This Be Harry’s ‘Moment’?
Some commentators believe the current royal troubles may present an opportunity for Prince Harry to step forward and demonstrate his commitment to duty above all else.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson said that with Charles recovering from surgery and William focused on his young family, Harry’s unique perspective and profile could be an asset to the monarchy right now.
“This could have been Harry’s moment,” Jobson said. He suggested the Prince could have visited charities, filled in for his father on investitures or represented the King overseas.
Instead, Harry and Meghan remain ensconced in their Californian enclave, attending glitzy showbusiness events and endorsing commercial ventures that enrich them personally. For a prince who once claimed he just wanted an “ordinary life”, he seems to have embraced rather an extraordinary Hollywood lifestyle alongside his American wife.
As senior royals in Britain are temporarily missing in action, the gulf between the Sussexes and the family they left behind appears wider than ever. Harry’s relatives may be disappointed the spare heir is not there to help share the load. But with lucrative media deals and A-list friends to call on, the runaway Prince shows no sign of looking back.
