Prince Philip was reportedly left “spitting blood” after discovering his grandson, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle’s plans to step back as senior royals back in 2020

The late Prince Philip was reportedly seething with fury, demanding to know “what the hell are they playing at? ” upon hearing about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell decision to step down from Royal duties.

In a move that stunned the world in 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their intention to resign as senior members of the Royal Family and set off to North America in pursuit of “financial independence”. The Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in 2021 after an impressive 74-year union with Queen Elizabeth II, allegedly had a fiery reaction to the Sussexes’ unexpected announcement, which caused quite a stir within the monarchy.

At the age of 98, Prince Philip is said to have considered his grandson’s actions as a slight against the Queen. According to reports by the Mirror, it’s believed that the Queen was only made aware of the couple’s plans when she saw them on an iPad before tuning into the news.

Prince Philip believed Harry and Meghan had disrespected Queen Elizabeth II (Image:(Image: Getty))
A palace insider claimed that Prince Philip was utterly baffled, questioning “what the hell are they playing at? ” upon being briefed about the Sussexes’ intentions. The source added: “To say that the Duke feels let down would be a considerable understatement. He is deeply hurt. But he was spitting blood when aides informed him what had happened. Philip has accused Harry and Meghan of lacking respect and he is weary of their behaviour.”

Meghan and Harry’s Instagram announcement read: “After 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. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages.”

“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”