Queen Elizabeth II's Efforts to Guide the Sussexes
Queen Elizabeth II made significant efforts to guide Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the final years of her reign, but the couple's desire for independence ultimately prevailed, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family on January 8, 2020, via Instagram, stating they intended to become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America. The couple relocated to the United States with their son, Prince Archie, and later welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, making her the first British blood princess born in the United States.
Former Butler Reveals Royal Concerns
Speaking on behalf of Casino, Burrell told the Daily Express that Queen Elizabeth, who died on September 8, 2022, at age 96 at Balmoral Castle after 70 years on the throne, did everything possible to keep the couple within the royal institution.
Burrell, who began his royal service in the mid-1970s as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II and later became butler to Princess Diana in 1987, serving her until her death in 1997, said the monarch believed Harry and Meghan would be a positive force for the Royal Family.
I think the Queen tried to steer Meghan and Harry on the right path, the path that she thought they should take. I thought that they would stay within the Royal Family. I didn't want them to leave either. I thought they were a breath of fresh air, a force for good, and would do great work for the Royal Family and on behalf of the Royal Family. But they wanted their independence, and the Queen then tried to broker a deal.
At the time of the announcement, Buckingham Palace stated that discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were at an early stage and described them as complicated issues that would take time to work through, reflecting the complexity of the negotiations.
The Queen's Attempts at Compromise
Burrell, who served the British Royal Family for 21 years in various capacities, emphasized that the Queen wanted Harry, who is sixth in the line of succession after his father King Charles III, his brother Prince William, and William's three children, to remain as close as possible.
She wanted Harry to stay as close to her as possible. But that couldn't be because the American in the equation wanted a different solution. Meghan wanted change. The Queen herself tried to bend all the rules for Meghan. She tried to keep her within the fold, knowing that the institution could protect her better than she could be protected in the outside world.
According to Burrell, the Queen demonstrated unusual flexibility in her attempts to accommodate the couple. He claimed the monarch told Meghan she could continue her acting career if she chose not to pursue full-time royal duties, a move he described as unprecedented for a member of the Royal Family.
Offer of Royal Mentorship
The former butler also revealed that Queen Elizabeth suggested Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, could serve as a mentor to Meghan. Sophie, who married Prince Edward in 1999, has been described by royal commentators as a mentor to younger royals joining the family, particularly Princess Kate, with whom she has developed a close relationship over the years.
And then the Queen said, if you need someone to help you along the way, the Duchess of Edinburgh will help you,
Burrell stated, highlighting the support system the monarch attempted to put in place.
The couple's departure marked a significant shift in the modern Royal Family, as they pursued a new life in North America while maintaining their titles but stepping away from senior royal duties and patronages.
