WHEN palace aides came for Prince Harry, their revenge was served cold – and with clinical brutality.
Some two years after the wayward duke made wild claims about what his grandmother may or may not have told him in private, the royal machine is striking back.
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Royal family hits back at Prince Harry to defend late QueenCredit: Getty
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The row offers a fascinating look at the Queen’s relationship with the Duke of Sussex Credit: Getty
The royal row – over the naming of the Sussexes’ second child Lilibet – offers a fascinating insight into the late Queen’s relationship with her troubled grandson.
I saw a senior member of palace staff to tell author Robert Hardman that the Queen was “as angry as I’ve ever seen her” at suggestions that the appointment decision had her blessing.
The author also claimed Buckingham Palace had “declined” calls for Harry and Meghan to issue a statement “supporting their version of events”.
Hardman — who has made a series of behind-the-scenes royal documentaries — has impeccable palace sources.
Last night, Sun Royal photographer Arthur Edwards said: “Harry has had a pretty clear line of attack on his family and has made claim after claim through his documentaries and book, Spare.
“However, as we now find out, not only do memories differ, some of his claims were somewhat fanciful.
“They say revenge is a dish best served cold and that’s what Palace has done.”
The storm broke out in June 2021, after Harry and Meghan’s second child was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. Pretty cheeky
The Sussexes have announced that her name will be Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
Lilibet was the nickname of the late queen and was used only by a small circle of family and friends.
Carrying a unique name would ensure that the baby princess growing up in the famed enclave of Montecito on the Pacific coast would always be linked to her royal great-grandmother.
Indeed, some courtiers reportedly found the choice of name “confusing” and “rather impertinent”.
Royal watcher Arthur added: “Lilibet was a favorite name given to the Queen as a child when she couldn’t pronounce Elizabeth correctly.
“Her grandfather King George V affectionately called her Lilibet as he imitated her trying to pronounce her real name.
“Only a handful of people have ever used it, including her parents, sister and her beloved husband Prince Philip.
“So she was very fond of it and expected a member of her immediate family to ask her permission before using it.”
According to the Sussexes, they sought approval from the Queen before confirming Lilibeth’s name.
A spokesman for the couple said at the time: “The Duke spoke to his family before the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.
“During that conversation, he shared their hope to name their daughter Lilibet in her honor. If it wasn’t for the support, they wouldn’t have used that name.”
Apparently a calm woman, it would take something extraordinary for Elizabeth II to lose her temper.
Now, Hardman claims, she is furious.
The queen lived her life by the maxim “never complain, never explain” as a way of dealing with constant speculation about her private life.
Just three months earlier, she was forced to break that rule after Harry and Meghan used Oprah Winfrey’s prime-time TV show to make a series of accusations against the royal family.
They included suggestions of racism in relation to their son Archie.
Meghan said there was “concern and talk within the royal household about how dark his skin might be when he was born”.
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Harry and Meghan claimed the baby was named with the Queen’s blessingCredit: Alexi Lubomirski
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The dispute was over the naming of the Sussexes’ second child LilibetCredit: PA
In a palace statement that will go down in public relations history, the Queen was quoted as saying: “some memories may vary . . . “.
Then, after Lilibet’s birth, the monarch’s aides entered into another PR battle with her grandson and his wife.
The BBC reported that a palace source told them the Queen had not been asked by the Sussexes whether they could use the name.
Other sources told news outlets that while the couple called the Queen, she did not feel in a position to turn down the request.
Amidst the uproar, the Sussexes took off the gags of their lawyers.
Hardman writes in his new biography of the king that the couple “fired warnings of legal action against anyone who dared to suggest” that they did not have the Queen’s blessing. This included the BBC.
In Charles III: The New King. New court. The Inside Story author adds: “However, when the Sussexes tried to co-opt the Palace to support their version of events, they were rebuffed.
“Once again, it was a case of ‘memories may vary’ – the late Queen’s reaction to an interview with Oprah Winfrey – as far as Her Majesty was concerned.
“Those vociferous threats of legal action disappeared and the defamation suit against the BBC never materialized.”
Hardman also describes palace staff as “interested” in Prince Harry’s purportedly comprehensive memoir, Spar, for “what was left out”.
The Sun’s Arthur — who spent almost 50 years on the royal beat for newspapers — revealed: “The whole episode makes me sad.
“Once upon a time, Harry was a great asset to the royal family. The Queen and Prince Philip were incredibly dear to him.
“The Queen gave him permission to serve on the front line in Afghanistan, where he fought bravely and honorably for his country. He was a man for all actions.”
The smiles and body language in the short film made in 2016 showed how close the Queen and her grandson were.
As founder of the Invictus Games for Wounded Soldiers, Harry joined the monarch to promote that year’s event – held in Orlando, US – alongside then-President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Grandmother and grandson were seen on the sofa at the Palace happily looking at pictures of the Invictus athlete.
By Christmas 2019, royal watchers suggested things had become a little icier.
Their own way
When the Queen gave her annual Christmas speech, there was no picture of the Sussexes or newborn son Archie on her desk.
Photos of Harry and Meghan shown for the 2018 Queen’s Address.
But a year later, she opted for photos of only her father, King George VI, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, and a shot of Prince William and his family.
Dickie Arbiter, former Buckingham Palace press secretary, said at the time: “Their son Archie was born this year. You’d think it could be a painting.
“It is a very clear omission. I’m surprised, but whether it sends a clear message, I don’t know.”
Just 14 days later, the so-called Megxit was announced.
Harry and Meghan would step down as senior members of the royal family.
When the book Finding Freedom was published in August 2020, it revealed that the Sussexes felt slighted by the omission of their images.
Co-author Omid Scobie – with input from Meghan through a third party – reveals that the couple already felt they had “been sidelined by the institution for a long time and were not a fundamental part of its future”.
When they weren’t among the photos of the Queen’s speech, they saw it as “another sign that they need to think about their own path”.
That path led to Montecito, California sunshine, and a lifestyle far from stuffy Windsor.
When the Queen died on September 8, 2022 at her home in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, Harry and Meghan were in London.
Harry later insisted he “wasn’t invited” on the plane which had a host of royals to be at the Queen’s bedside as she fled.
Harry would arrive just two hours later after traveling alone.
Last year, Harry told the US show 60 Minutes that he had texted his brother William about his arrival in Scotland, but had not received flight details.
Harry told host Anderson Cooper: “I asked my brother — I said, ‘What are your plans? How are you and Kate doing up there?’ And then, a few hours later, you know, all the family members who live in the Windsor and Ascot area got on a plane, a 12-, 14-, maybe 16-seater plane.”
Hostess Anderson asked him: “You weren’t invited on that plane?” Harry replied, “I wasn’t invited.”
Royal photographer Arthur said: “Look, I’m not surprised Harry wasn’t on that plane.
“The family probably feared that their words on that flight might end up in a podcast or documentary.”
Arthur says King Charles is desperate for his relationship with his younger son Harry to improve.
Little Lilibet – seventh in line to the throne – is thought to have only visited the UK on one brief occasion.
Her father seems to be as far removed from the royal flock as ever.
His books and television appearances made sure of that.
Judging by the comments in Hardman’s book, it seems the palace is ready to refute any disputed claims in further media appearances in Sussex.
For even a prince is not too powerful to be put to the sword.
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There were no photos of the Sussexes on the Queen’s desk during her Christmas addressCredit: PA
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The Queen and Philip were overjoyed to meet baby Archie Credit: PA: Press Association
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An interview with Oprah in Sussex contained a series of accusations against the royal familyCredit: AP
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The Queen and new wife Meghan Markle share a laugh together in 2018. Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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In happier times – grandmother and grandson were filmed happily looking at pictures of Invictus athletes on a sofa
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Charles III: The New King. New court. The Inside Story is available from January 18 Credit: Amazon
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Charles III: The New King. The New Court was written by Robert Hardman Credits: Rex
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education