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\n\t\tPrince Harry left the royal family with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPrince Harry left the royal family with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Prince Harry had hoped to remain part of royal life before a make-or-break negotiation led him to sever ties, an expert has said.<\/p>\n
The Duke of Sussex<\/a>, alongside his wife, Meghan Markle<\/a>, stepped down as senior members of the \u2018firm\u2019 in January 2020. The couple cited a \u2018really difficult environment\u2019 as a key reason for their decision, alongside allegations of racism<\/a> and lack of institutional support.<\/p>\n Six years on, royal historian Hugo Vickers has shed light on the situation, claiming that Harry \u2018reluctantly left\u2019 after being given an ultimatum.<\/p>\n In his new biography, \u2018Queen Elizabeth<\/a> II: A Personal History,\u2019 he explains that the prince was \u2018keen to discuss a way forward with the Queen.\u2019<\/p>\n The conversation reportedly came after he and Meghan visited Africa in 2019 \u2014 the same trip where Meghan admitted to journalist Tom Bradby that she was \u2018not OK,\u2019 and was \u2018struggling\u2019 as a new mother within the royal family and under the intense public spotlight.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \t\t Upon their return, Vickers states that Harry went to Sandringham for a meeting to discuss his and Meghan\u2019s options.<\/p>\n \u2018He wanted a half-in, half-out arrangement, whereby he would be self-financing but could still work for the royal family<\/a>,\u2019 Vickers wrote.<\/p>\n \u2018In the new year of 2020, the three Private Secretaries, Sir Edward Young, Sir Clive Alderton and Simon Case, went into summit mode on the Sandringham estate and drafted their proposal.\u2019<\/p>\n There, Harry was reportedly told it was \u2018either all in or all out.\u2019 Which, according to Vickers, was why the Sussexes spent Christmas of that year overseas. \u2018He returned to Canada<\/a> \u2014 reluctantly out,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \t\t Harry and Meghan officially announced their departure from the royal family and started their new life in California<\/a> with Prince Archie<\/a> in June 2020. <\/p>\n A year later, their daughter, Princess Lilibet,<\/a> was born there.<\/p>\n Their official departure statement said: \u2018After 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.\u2019<\/p>\n The notice revealed that Harry and Meghan<\/a> intended to \u2018step back as \u201csenior\u201d members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, whilst continuing to fully support Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n \u2018It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.\u2019<\/p>\n Following the announcement, the late Queen Elizabeth publicly responded with her own statement.<\/p>\n The former monarch said that \u2018although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the royal family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t In 2023, after the release of Harry\u2019s best-selling \u2014 but explosive \u2014 memoir \u2018Spare\u2019, the couple were requested to vacate Frogmore Cottage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since stepping down, Harry has only returned to the UK a handful of times, including for his grandmother\u2019s funeral. His wife, Meghan<\/a>, was also in attendance.<\/p>\n As for Archie and Lilibet, the siblings have only visited their father\u2019s native country once since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated \u2014 together as a family in June 2022 to attend Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s Platinum Jubilee<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1170428768-006b.jpg\")
\n\t\tMeghan admitted that she was \u2018struggling\u2019 during a 2019 trip to Africa (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1145701136-d1d0.jpg\")
\n\t\tPrince Harry reportedly asked for a \u2018half-in, half-out arrangement\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1157658170-8faa.jpg\")
\n\t\tQueen Elizabeth wished Harry and Meghan well in a statement (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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