Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Feud with the Royal Family Could "Topple" the Monarchy, Expert Says

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ongoing feud with the rest of the royal family could ultimately topple the monarchy, according to royal expert Anna Pasternak.

By
published
in News
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • It might be too late for the royal family to fully recover from the ongoing fallout of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit and their revelations about what prompted it.
  • According to royal expert and author Anna Pasternak, "The Sussexes have sparked something so fundamentally incendiary in this country that it is changing the face of Britain, and I think the monarchy as an archaic institution may well topple."
  • Pasternak also speculates that the changing views of the royal family could lead to Prince Charles being passed over in the line of succession in favor of his son, Prince William, who is seen by the public as "younger, more relatable."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ongoing issues with the rest of the royal family could have a huge impact on the future of the monarchy.

Speaking to Vanity Fair for its May cover story, royal expert Anna Pasternak, author of Princess in Love and The Real Wallis Simpson: A New History of the American Divorcee Who Became the Duchess of Windsor, predicted that Harry and Meghan's "feud" with the royals could lead to the end of the monarchy as we know it—at least once Queen Elizabeth II's reign is over, that is.

"I’m not 100 percent sure that we will see Charles ascend to the throne," Pasternak said. "The Sussexes have sparked something so fundamentally incendiary in this country that it is changing the face of Britain, and I think the monarchy as an archaic institution may well topple."

While she believes the monarchy will remain in place until the Queen dies, Pasternak predicts that the issues the Sussexes' have raised could result in a change to the current line of succession. "It may be that there is such a groundswell of public opinion against [Charles] that it’s deemed by the firm preferable for William to ascend then because he’s younger, more relatable," she explained.

As for the Sussexes' future with the monarchy, Pasternak said that "both sides are like wounded animals" and suggested that Meghan may never return to the United Kingdom after everything she's been through.

"I truly wonder if Meghan will ever set foot on British soil again," Pasternak said.

RELATED STORIES

topshot britains prince william, duke of cambridge l and britains prince harry, duke of sussex follow the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of britains prince philip, duke of edinburgh to st georges chapel in windsor castle in windsor, west of london, on april 17, 2021 philip, who was married to queen elizabeth ii for 73 years, died on april 9 aged 99 just weeks after a month long stay in hospital for treatment to a heart condition and an infection photo by alastair grant various sources afp photo by alastair grantafp via getty images

(Image credit: ALASTAIR GRANT)

Will & Harry Were Told to Put Their Feud on Hold

Kayleigh Roberts
Contributing Editor at Marie Claire

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.