Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step away from their senior royal roles in 2020 stunned the monarchy.
Choosing independence over duty, the Sussexes signaled that all was not well behind palace walls. According to royal author Valentine Low, the move left the royal family blindsided.
Secretive Trip to Canada
Low revealed in his book Courtiers that during the couple’s six-week stay in Canada in late 2019, Harry and Meghan went to great lengths to hide their location. “When the trip was announced, it was supposed to be ‘family time’ according to the Palace, and definitely should not be seen as a holiday,” he wrote.
Meghan was so worried about leaks that even their nanny, Lorren, was kept in the dark. A source told Low she only discovered the destination once the private jet was already in the air.
Growing Suspicion Among Staff
Once the Sussexes left, palace aides began to question their long-term plans. Low explained: “It had already occurred to them that the Sussexes might go and live in America. The fact that they had taken all their personal belongings with them to Canada, and their two dogs, seemed quite a big hint.”
He added that many staff felt abandoned, saying, “The rest of the team did not find out until the couple held a meeting at Buckingham Palace at the beginning of January. They found it hard to accept they were being dumped like that.”
The Breaking Point
The trip was later seen as the catalyst for the Sussexes’ royal departure. Before their return in January 2020, Harry reportedly sent an email outlining his dissatisfaction within the Firm and his wish to live in the United States. This prompted a family meeting on January 29.
Low described the strategy as “an attempt to pick the Queen off before Harry started talks with the rest of the family.” One insider remarked, “There was a danger that a private conversation could be interpreted very differently by two people.”
The Sandringham Summit
Harry himself recounted the tense meeting in his memoir Spare, calling it “just for show.” He claimed the family pressured him and Meghan to remain and resolve their issues, but the couple was determined to leave. Shortly afterward, the Sussexes announced they would step down as senior royals to pursue financial independence, while still pledging their full support to the Queen.