How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Prepared for Their Royal Exit, According to a Biographer
It was well coordinated.
![Meghan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WbNHehUS9nxhStMZGoRLcP-415-80.jpg)
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry publicly announced that they were stepping down as senior royals in January 2020, they wrote in a statement, "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."
Now, royal biographer Tom Bower is shedding light on what those "internal discussions" may have looked like in practice—on the Sussexes' side and the Windsors'.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent the last few weeks of 2019 on Vancouver Island in Canada with their baby son Archie, and according to Bower, they weren't just relaxing there.
"Located in the same time-zone as Los Angeles, Meghan was in constant communication with Andrew Meyer, her business manager, Rick Genow, her lawyer, and Keleigh Thomas Morgan and others at Sunshine Sachs, her PR agency," he writes in an excerpt of upcoming biography Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors, published by The Times.
"Top of the agenda were continuing negotiations with Netflix and Spotify, and the re-registration in Delaware on October 22, 2019, of Frim Fram Inc, the company behind her discontinued blog The Tig. Their new Archewell Foundation—meaning 'source of action'—had already been registered in Delaware."
Yeah, I mean, that all makes sense so far. If you were moving to a different continent and had to, like, start your life over, you'd probably need to know where your income would be coming from.
Bower also claims in his book that the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were all basically clued into the situation, and prepared for the Sussexes' exit from their end as well.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
"The Queen, after consulting Charles and William, took control. Convinced that Harry and Meghan would never resume normal life in Britain, the trio agreed that the monarchy’s future should be focused on reinvigorating Brand Cambridge," Bower writes.
The author goes on to claim that all of this behind-the-scenes planning became visible during the Queen's Christmas broadcast in 2019. "As Harry watched his grandmother from Vancouver, he was staggered," he writes.
"Four silver-framed family photographs had been carefully placed behind her. They showed the Queen’s father George VI, Prince Philip, Charles and Camilla, and finally William and his family. To Harry’s fury, there was no photograph of himself, Meghan and Archie. The Windsors were airbrushing the Sussexes from history."
It's not the first time a royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry was hurt by the Queen's decision: Christopher Andersen said something to that effect in December 2021, too.
A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)
A photo posted by on
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Zendaya Delivers a Podium-Worthy Pre-Olympics Gown
She's shining brighter than the City of Lights.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
'Love Island USA' Star Kenny Rodriguez Is Not "Playing Around" with His and JaNa Craig's Romance Outside of the Villa
The prince and princess of season 6 have remained the cutest couple since filming wrapped.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
So Many Celebrity Beauty Favorites Are in Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale
Shop Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Markle, and Kaia Gerber's beloved picks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Critics Claim Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Tried to "Upstage" Prince George
"He wants to steal the thunder with his Invictus Games announcement."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Put “Her Own Neck On the Line” to Support Embattled Prince Harry at the ESPYs Earlier This Month
“She chose to be there for her husband.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Meghan Markle “Really Enjoyed Being Back In Front of the Camera” While Filming Her Forthcoming Netflix Cookery Show
“She was totally in her element.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
It’s Not In King Charles’ Nature to Upstage Daughter-in-Law Meghan Markle and Her Lifestyle Brand American Riviera Orchard with Competing Retail Products, Royal Commentator Says
Lest we forget the so-called “royal jam rivalries” earlier this year…
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Apparently Made a Joint Decision Regarding Prince Harry As They Are “Very Consciously Focusing on Positivity and Recovery”
Though Kate’s health is improving, in her own words, she’s “not out of the woods.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Meghan Markle “Feels Very Much Under Siege” As She Prepares to Launch Her Lifestyle Brand American Riviera Orchard, Royal Author Says
“She thinks that anything and everything she does will be unfairly criticized.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are “Drowning Out the Outside Noise” Surrounding Harry’s ESPY Award Backlash
The Sussexes are “very used to the criticism, given everything that’s gone on over the last few years.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry Sits Down for Documentary to Speak About His Mission to Continue His Fight Against the U.K.'s Tabloid Press
Harry is expected to discuss the phone hacking scandal he was involved in alongside other celebrities like Hugh Grant in ‘Tabloids on Trial,’ out later this month on ITV.
By Rachel Burchfield Published