Prince Harry, Meghan to be punished after Royal Family exit?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, rocked the British monarchy on Wednesday when they announced stepping back from royal duties. The Royal Family was apparently kept in the dark about this unprecedented move, which left Queen Elizabeth II "dismayed." However, this rogue separation is bound to have consequences, as reports now suggest that punishment is imminent for the royal couple.
Although The Royal Family claimed ignorance on its part after Harry and Meghan's announcement, sources told The Evening Standard that Prince Charles had warned his son Harry against his plans after the latter requested audience with The Queen. The Queen, too, instructed Harry not to go public at the moment while senior courtiers threatened that the Sussexes "will be punished."
However, the Sussexes defied the instructions, showing "little or no respect" to Queen Elizabeth II, the report added. On Wednesday, the duo announced that they will "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent." Prince Charles and Harry's brother, Prince William, received this statement 10 minutes before it was published, sources told The Evening Standard.
The Royal Family said in its statement, "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."
Quoting a senior royal aide, royal reporter Omid Scobie wrote in Harper's Bazaar that the family's reaction was "far from the dramatic emotional response described by some—nobody was 'incandescent with rage' and nobody is about to punish anyone." Scobie added, "This is not a 'crisis,' it's a case of helping the couple reach their goal." These reports were corroborated by Hello! magazine.
Since the announcement, Madame Tussauds London has decided to move the Sussexes' waxworks away from The Royal Family "to reflect the upcoming change." They will now be placed in the "A-List Party" room, alongside close friend Priyanka Chopra, the Kardashian-Jenners, Brad Pitt, and others.
As anyone paying attention would have noticed, Prince Harry and Meghan had been struggling for a while. Since their wedding in May 2018, the couple had faced a flood of vitriol from the media, which led to the Sussexes even suing a few tabloids. Meghan was also subjected to racism, with some describing her as "exotic," comparing her son Archie to a chimpanzee, etc.
Prince Harry and Meghan (formerly Meghan Markle) have been building a brand, Sussex Royal, with over 100 properties in the UK and a predicted revenue of over $500 million. Sources told Page Six that Hollywood celebrity Oprah Winfrey knew about their plans and has been advising them on building a brand. However, a representative for Winfrey declined to the tabloid's queries for comment.
