Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accused of taking a swipe at the late Queen Elizabeth

According to royal author Tom Bower, senior palace officials and family members have long questioned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s determination to “make money for the monarchy“, even after formally leaving their royal duties. The couple were, he said, “resistant” to dropping their HRH titles, despite the terms of the Sandringham agreement, which was signed in early 2020.

Bower claimed the Sussexes’ lengthy “resignation” statement was written out of frustration and “resentment” after Buckingham Palace ordered them to close their Sussex Royal brand following Prince Harry’s $1 million speech at a JP Morgan event in Miami.

In what critics called an extraordinary show of defiance, the statement included a direct challenge to the monarchy’s authority, claiming that the late queen had “no jurisdiction abroad over the word ‘Royal'” and that “if they chose to use the word, the monarch – and the government – were powerless.”

“After all, they insisted, Harry was sixth in line to the throne and an HRH by birth,” Bower summarized, describing the tone as “hateful” and “unnecessary.” The message, which contained more than 1,100 words, reportedly reflected “simmering resentment” towards other senior royals, including Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.