Meghan Markle was reportedly excluded from a pivotal royal meeting that determined her and Prince Harry’s future within the monarchy, according to revelations made in a new documentary. Inside the Sandringham Summit, the documentary sheds new light on the private conversations that led to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
One of the most startling claims is that Meghan was not permitted to attend the summit that ultimately decided the couple’s exit strategy. The meeting, convened by the late Queen Elizabeth II, was held at her private estate in Sandringham, Norfolk. Its purpose was to establish the framework for Harry and Meghan’s departure from official royal life.
Royal expert Emily Andrews offered insight in the documentary, saying: “They all knew that Meghan was probably smarter, brighter, had a more linear view of where she and Harry were going and what they wanted, and they probably thought they would get a better outcome with just Harry.”
This assertion suggests that Meghan’s exclusion may have been strategic, as senior royals believed they could better influence the outcome by negotiating solely with Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex married in 2018 and formally stepped back from their roles as working royals two years later.
Their move to California marked a dramatic shift in their lives, one that has continued to generate global media attention and public debate. Meghan herself has previously spoken about being shut out of the high-stakes meeting. In the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, she expressed her frustration at not having a voice during a moment that would shape the rest of her life.
“Imagine a conversation, a roundtable discussion, about the future of your life, when the stakes are this high, and you, as the mom, the wife, and the target in many regards, aren’t invited to have a seat at the table,” Meghan said. The couple now resides in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
They have since pursued various media ventures and philanthropic projects while continuing to share their side of the royal story through interviews, books, and documentaries. As the monarchy adapts to ongoing internal and external changes, the latest documentary serves as a reminder of the deep divisions that led to one of the most dramatic departures in modern royal history.