In the wake ofPrince HarryandMeghan Markle’s shocking announcement that they would bestepping backfrom royal life, palace insiders have denied claims that the couplefelt like they were being “driven out.”
“A lot of harsh things were said around the time of the wedding. And it’s gone a bit too far. And certainly the rest of the family find Harry and Meghan very difficult and, from Harry and Meghan’s point of view, they’re just being driven out as they see it. And it’s sad,“ he said.
“My impression is they’re pretty philosophical about it. [It’s] ‘We aremaking a break for independence and freedomhere. You wanted a slimmed-down monarchy. There’s no place for us in it. We need to learn to live on our own. We want to get on and do that,’ “ he added.
“I don’t think you could point to any evidence of them being forced out, or made to feel unwelcome,” one palace aid told U.K. newspaperThe Times. “The future of the monarchy always had the Sussexes very much at the heart of it, and perhaps still will depending on what structures they arrive at.”
“It is strongly disputed that the Sussexes are not at the center of any future slimmed-down monarchy,” another aide added.
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Another one of Harry’s close friends has said the royal, 35, made the decision in order to “protect his family.”
“He’s less the captain in the army I knew, and he’s more a father,” JJ Chalmers, who met Harry while they were both serving in the military, said during an appearance on the UK showThe One Showon Friday.
“And I think the decision that he has made, at the forefront of that is to protect his family, because that’s the number one rule is to be a father and to be a husband,” Chalmers added, noting thattensions with the mediaalso played a role.
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“And ultimately he grew up in the limelight and knows how it will end if this isn’t handled correctly,” Chalmers added, in reference to the 1997 death of Harry’s motherPrincess Diana.
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Since the announcement was made on Wednesday,Queen Elizabethand senior royals includingPrince CharlesandPrince Williamhave been inemergency discussions with royal aidesto find a solution to Harry and Meghan’s “desire to take a different approach.”
“There is a lot of hurt about this,” one royal sourcetold PEOPLE.
Since their historic announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept a low-profile. While Meghan, 38,flew back to Canadaon Thursday to reunite with their 8-month-old son Archie, Harry has stayed at their Frogmore Cottage home to work out a deal with his family.
source: people.com
