In a striking revelation from a new biography on the Princess of Wales by royal author Rob Jobson, it has been claimed that King Charles banned Meghan Markle from traveling to Balmoral with Prince Harry to be by the dying Queen Elizabeth’s side. This decision led to Prince Harry making a solitary journey to Scotland on the day of his grandmother’s death.
A Solitary Flight to Scotland
On September 8, 2022, Prince Harry, now 39, took a private jet to Balmoral, arriving just before 8 p.m., hours after Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96. Jobson’s biography sheds light on the strained dynamics within the royal family during this poignant moment, noting that Prince Harry chose to travel separately from his brother, Prince William, and other senior royals due to a disagreement over Meghan’s exclusion from the trip.
According to Jobson, “Close sources said he had elected not to fly with his brother and uncles after a disagreement over Meghan not being allowed to join him. It emerged that when he insisted that his wife accompany him to Balmoral during a phone call with his father, Charles told him she could not come.”
The tension resulted in Harry making the trip alone, while other members of the royal family, including then-Prince Charles, did not reach Balmoral in time to witness the Queen’s final moments. The only royal present with Queen Elizabeth as she took her last breaths was her daughter, Princess Anne.
The Shadow of the Past: The Sussex Departure
Jobson’s biography delves into the underlying issues that may have influenced King Charles’ decision. He explains that the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family had roots in the couple’s decision to step down from their royal duties in 2020. The Queen reportedly viewed their departure as a threat to the stability and clarity of the monarchy’s future, leading her to take firm action to protect the institution she had led for seven decades.
According to Jobson, Queen Elizabeth was adamant that the monarchy could not afford any ambiguity regarding its role and financial structure. He writes, “As far as she was concerned, you were either working for the Firm fully, or not. There was no halfway house.”
The Sussexes’ proposal to carve out a “progressive new role” within the royal framework was met with resistance from the Queen, who insisted on a clear demarcation between those working for the Firm and those who were not. This uncompromising stance resulted in the couple being stripped of their patronages and banned from using their HRH titles for personal and commercial purposes.
Harry’s Strained Ties with the Monarchy
Jobson claims that the Queen felt “let down” by Harry’s decision to leave and was determined to prevent him from financially benefiting from his former royal status in his new life. She was reportedly concerned about the prospect of Harry and Meghan capitalizing on their royal titles, stating that the idea of them earning millions by cashing in on their royal status was “abhorrent” to her.
Despite the firm stance, Queen Elizabeth acknowledged Harry and Meghan’s unique appeal to the younger generation, an aspect she believed no other royals could replicate. Jobson adds, “She did not object to their decision to leave, but she was adamant that it meant they must be stripped of their patronages and banned from using their HRH titles personally and commercially.”
The loss of his titles reportedly left Prince Harry “shocked and hurt.” While he and Meghan had chosen to step away from royal life, the subsequent actions taken by the Queen left him feeling “banished” from the family, according to the biography.
A Potential Catalyst for Change?
Jobson’s book not only highlights the internal family tensions at play during the Queen’s final days but also offers a glimpse into the ongoing challenges the royal family faces as they navigate their roles in a rapidly changing world. The exclusion of Meghan Markle from Balmoral may have been a reflection of deeper divides within the family, symbolizing the complexities of modern royal life.
