Prince Harry may have stepped away from royal duties years ago, but his ties to the monarchy continue to draw attention as new details emerge about the events that led to his departure.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals. At the time, the couple cited “a really difficult environment” as one of the key reasons behind their decision to leave royal life and eventually settle abroad.
However, a new biography about the late Queen Elizabeth II suggests the situation was more complicated. Royal historian Hugo Vickers claims Harry had initially hoped to remain connected to royal life while pursuing greater independence.
In his book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, Vickers writes that the prince was “keen to discuss a way forward with the Queen.” According to the author, Harry wanted a “half-in, half-out” arrangement that would allow him to support himself financially while still representing the royal family in some capacity.
But the proposal did not gain approval within royal circles. The book states that senior palace officials met at Sandringham to determine how to handle the situation.
‘In the new year of 2020, the three Private Secretaries, Sir Edward Young, Sir Clive Alderton and Simon Case, went into summit mode on the Sandringham estate and drafted their proposal,’ the biography claims.
During discussions, Harry was reportedly told that remaining partly within the institution was not an option. Instead, the decision was framed as a clear choice.
According to Vickers, the prince was told it was ‘either all in or all out.’ The author says this ultimatum ultimately led to Harry stepping away from official royal duties and returning to Canada. ‘He returned to Canada — reluctantly out,’ he said.
Since then, Harry’s relationship with his brother, Prince William, has faced increasing strain. Tensions escalated further following the release of Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, where the Duke described a physical confrontation with William and characterized their father, King Charles III, as “cold” and “distant.”
Reports suggest the two brothers have had little contact in recent years, last briefly speaking at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Despite the distance, some royal insiders still believe reconciliation may be possible one day. A friend of the royal family shared William’s feelings about the situation, saying: “He’s not heartless – part of him really misses how things used to be.”
The source added: “But too much has happened. They can ever truly rebuild that trust.”
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