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In a poignant revelation, it has been suggested that in the twilight of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II declined to engage in private phone conversations with Prince Harry unless a member of her staff was present. This intriguing detail surfaces in Hugo Vickers’ latest book, “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” which sheds light on the late monarch’s cautious approach to managing family communications following Prince Harry’s significant life choices.
Prince Harry, now 41, alongside his wife Meghan Markle, made the groundbreaking decision to step back from their royal duties in 2020. Their departure from the royal fold was a defining moment, followed by their candid, tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey and the subsequent release of Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
Queen Elizabeth is said to have refused to take calls from Prince Harry without a member of staff present in her later years
According to Vickers, the Queen’s preference for monitored calls with Harry perhaps underscores the emotional toll and familial tensions that arose from the couple’s decisions and public disclosures. These actions, during her later years, likely prompted Her Majesty to adopt more formal communication measures to navigate the complexities within her family.
Harry, 41, and Meghan stepped back from royal life and later gave a televised interview to Oprah Winfrey, before Harry released his memoir Spare.
Hugo claims the Queen’s approach to communication reflected the strain caused by the couple’s actions during her final years.
His book, published in the UK on 8 April, also details interactions between the Queen and the couple during visits, including the introduction of their daughter, Princess Lilibet, now four, at the time of the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Hugo said: “Whenever Prince Harry called his grandmother, she asked her lady-in-waiting to stay with her.”
He added: “The distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated.”
According to reporting from Page Six, a palace insider described the tone of the calls.
The insider said: “There were lots of one word answers – ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.”
They added: “The Queen clearly wanted some kind of protection,” and said the monarch kept her lady-in-waiting present for “moral support and protection… to ensure there was a record of what was said.”
They also said: “I think the Queen was also on her guard with Harry because she was so hurt by what he had done.”
Harry relocated to California in 2020 after proposals for a “half in, half out” royal role were rejected.
During the 2021 interview with Oprah, Meghan alleged racism within the royal household, claims which prompted a response from the Queen stating that “some recollections may vary”.
Hugo also wrote the Queen did not meet Harry and Meghan alone when they introduced their daughter during Jubilee celebrations, noting a lady-in-waiting was present.
He said: “Prince Harry was at (his then-residence) Frogmore Cottage with his wife and two children, the gate adorned with balloons to celebrate baby Lilibet’s first birthday.
“They visited the Queen with the children, again with a lady-in-waiting present.”
Hugo further reported comments attributed to the Queen regarding Harry’s life in the US.
He said: “And now Harry has opted out, and for what? To be a carer for (his son) Archie?”
Hugo also detailed views within the royal household prior to the couple’s marriage in 2018, writing: “Prince Harry would never have been allowed to marry such a girl at an earlier time in the reign for obvious reasons, but the union was welcomed by a younger, more tolerant generation.”
Hugo added: “Prince Philip was not taken in,” and wrote he “referred to her as ‘The American.’”
He said: “Someone close to the Queen said her attitude to the actual wedding was: ‘You get on with it. It’s nothing to do with me.’”
Hugo also described an incident involving Meghan and staff, saying: “When they were living there, Meghan was rude to one of the under-gardeners – there are hundreds of gardeners.”
He added: “When one of the head gardeners mentioned this to the Queen she got in her car and drove over and ticked off Meghan for being rude to the staff.”
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