Was that the trigger? In 2020, Prince Harry (39) and Duchess Meghan (42) turned their backs on the royal family and moved to the USA to live a life away from the royals. But they never tired of harshly criticizing the palace. The difficult relationship within the family had already become visible in 2019 when the photo of the Sussexes was missing during Queen Elizabeth’s (✝96) Christmas speech. Was the missing photo the reason for Harry and Meghan’s exit?
This thesis is now at least put forward in the book “Brothers and Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan”. Author Christopher Andersen claims that the Queen only asked for the photo of Harry and Meghan to be removed shortly before her speech was recorded. According to the writer, the Queen pointed to the picture and said: “That one, I guess we don’t need that.” The two are said to have not only been angry, but above all also snubbed – and only because they were spending the holidays in the USA. That is said to have been the impetus for the couple to get out.
When the removed photo made headlines, voices from within the palace took a stand. Expert Ingrid Seward told The Mirror at the time: “It seems to represent the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy. All the media reports with Harry and Meghan must have worried them.” She considers a deliberate snub to be unlikely.
