New book claims the monarch became wary of Harry and Meghan Markle in her final years
A new book about Queen Elizabeth II claims the late monarch grew increasingly cautious during interactions with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, amid concerns their conversations might be secretly recorded.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, in his book Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, suggests the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle caused the monarch significant distress during her final years on the throne.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Vickers said the late Queen became uneasy about meeting the couple in person because she feared their conversations could be recorded and later used in media projects, including their Netflix documentary.
The concerns reportedly grew after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2021. Not long after, the pair took part in a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they alleged there had been instances of racism within the royal family.
According to the author, several members of the royal household were unsettled by the timing of the broadcast. The interview aired just six days after Prince Philip underwent heart surgery at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Vickers writes that the allegations left the Queen deeply hurt and contributed to a breakdown in trust with her grandson. At one point, he claims, the monarch became so cautious that she would not answer Harry’s phone calls unless a staff member was present who could note what was said.
“The distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated,” the author writes in the biography, portraying a monarch who felt increasingly wary as tensions within the family played out publicly.
