A royal expert has claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth II was left heartbroken when her grandson Prince Harry made the decision to leave his senior royal role and move to the US

A royal commentator has claimed that Queen Elizabeth II had a heartbreaking two-word response when Prince Harry decided to step back from his royal duties and relocate to the US.

Robert Jobson, a seasoned royal reporter with twenty-five years of experience and the Royal editor of the London Evening Standard, has recently authored a new biography of Kate Middleton, titled Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

In 2020, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, made the controversial decision to move to America with their children, Archie and Lilibet. This move, known as ‘Megxit’, left royal enthusiasts in shock.

In his book, Mr Jobson has now revealed the late Queen’s reaction.

He penned: “As a grandmother, Queen Elizabeth undoubtedly loved Harry and the fun-loving side to his character, but as a monarch, she saw him as a maverick who had let her down,” reports the Mirror.

Robert Jobson wrote that Queen Elizabeth viewed Harry as a maverick who had let her down (Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
“His departure, she told those close to her, was a ‘missed opportunity’. She knew that he and Meghan had much to offer and certainly appealed to the younger generation in a way none of the other royals could.”

He added: “But the idea of the couple earning millions by cashing in on their royal titles and status was abhorrent to her.”

The author alleged that the late Queen “did not object” to the Sussexes’ decision to leave but was “adamant” they be “stripped” of their patronages and prohibited from using their HRH titles.

This follows other remarks from a royal expert who suggested that Harry and Meghan “didn’t realise” how “powerful” they were and how much assistance they could have provided to the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth undoubtedly loved Harry and his fun-loving side, according to a royal commentator (Image: Julian Simmonds – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
Bonnie Brownlee, speaking to True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could have brought about “fairness and change”, hinting that Meghan might have been a key player in this.

Previously, Harry had shared his reasons for stepping back from Royal duties in his explosive memoir, ‘Spare’. Reports surfaced this month suggesting that he may have been grappling with his role for at least three years prior to their departure.

In a 2017 interview, later covered by the Mail On Sunday, the Duke confessed that he once “wanted out” and yearned for an “ordinary life”.

However, the couple has been embroiled in controversy since their surprising exit, with several incidents exacerbating the divide between them and the Royal family. This includes a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey where they levelled accusations of racism and bullying against the royals.

This was followed by a revealing Netflix docuseries titled ‘Harry and Meghan’ and the release of Harry’s eye-opening 2023 book ‘Spare’.