The stress caused by the row between Harry and Meghan and the royal family had an ‘adverse effect’ on the Queen’s health in the final months of her life, well-placed sources tell The Mail on Sunday.
The revelation comes days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex renewed their attack on the Royals in the final three episodes of their Netflix series.
Now, for the first time, insiders have revealed the true toll of the ‘Megxit’ family drama on the late monarch.
Leading up to the couple’s move across the Atlantic and in the years since, the royal family has had to deal with a flurry of claims from Palace briefings against Meghan and Harry, and even racism.
REAL TOLL: The Queen with Meghan and Harry at Buckingham Palace in 2018
The revelation comes days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex renewed their attack on the Royals in the last three episodes of their Netflix series (pictured shows Harry in his Netflix series)
Queen Elizabeth waits in the drawing room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience, where she invited her to form a government shortly before her death
The short-lived image of the ‘Fab Four’ – a united front between Prince William and Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan – was shattered as the brothers’ split grew increasingly heated
The short-lived image of the ‘Fab Four’ – a united front between Prince William and Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan – was shattered as the brothers’ split grew increasingly heated.
A well-placed source was clear that Her Majesty’s health was already declining for reasons unrelated to Megxit, but added: “It really affected the Queen’s health.
It had an adverse effect on her health. Yes, she was elderly and there were other issues with that, but none the less, all of Harry and Meghan’s claims certainly contributed to that.’
The source added: ‘I’m just so glad the Queen isn’t around to hear all about this latest programme.
“It’s the exact opposite of duty, unity, and sacrifice—everything she was raised to believe in and embodied.”
The late Queen’s death certificate stated that she died of “old age.” But those close to the monarch, who died on September 8 at the age of 96, believe her frequent “mobility issues” were influenced by the added stress of her grandson’s decision to separate from his family and criticized the institution to which she had devoted her life. .
It’s been almost three years since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down from their official royal duties.
After releasing a statement about their plans, the fine details of the break would be decided at a meeting in January 2020 – breaking into the Queen’s Christmas holiday at her private estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.
In their latest Netflix episodes – released on Thursday – the couple appeared to blame the royal family for deliberately timing the crunch gathering, known as the Sandringham Summit, after Meghan returned to California.
Harry claimed to be “terrified” when his brother “yelped and screamed” at him during the meeting. He also accused his father of “saying things that just weren’t true” and revealed that his grandmother, the Queen, was “sitting there quietly” and “taking it all in.”
It was previously reported that the late Prince Philip, furious with his grandson, made his feelings clear by apologizing for the meeting.
The Queen, meanwhile, decided there couldn’t be a ‘half in, half out’ deal. It meant that if the Sussexes wanted to be free to make their fortunes abroad, they would have to give up their official royal roles.
The stress caused by Harry and Meghan’s row with the royal family had an ‘adverse effect’ on the Queen’s health in the last months of her life. Pictured: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 in Widnes
Harry and Meghan in their Netflix docuseries
For Harry, the additional loss of his military titles was said to be particularly hurtful.
Now sources have revealed how badly the fallout affected the Queen too. Contrary to claims made in Harry and Meghan’s television series, palace insiders say it was the Queen’s decision not to see them on one of their few visits to Britain.
Harry revealed that the Queen said, “I’ve been told I’m busy all week.”
The monarch’s health then declined, with sources saying the last year of her life was particularly hard.
In October last year, she had a night in the hospital to undergo tests. Nearly a month later, she was said to be “disappointed” when a back sprain forced her to withdraw from the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph.
In her final weeks, the late Queen missed the Commonwealth Games and the annual Braemar Games in the Highlands, but she was determined to meet the outgoing and new Prime Ministers – Boris Johnson and Liz Truss – on September 6 this year.
The following evening, the monarch postponed her meeting of the Privy Council after being advised by doctors to rest and palace officials announced the following afternoon that she had died. Even after her death, Harry didn’t seem to be united with the rest of his family.
He did not fly to Scotland on the same plane as his brother and his uncles Andrew and Edward, arriving alone at Balmoral Castle later that day. He left early the next morning ahead of other members of the family.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.