Meghan and Harry: beyond repair

Shortly after Meghan Markle’s brother claimed her marriage to Prince Harry was “doomed”, royal experts are predicting more troubles ahead, with their relationship with the family described as “beyond repair”.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will regret alienating close relatives, insiders say.

Tom Bower, who is currently writing a biography of Meghan, said, “I believe Meghan is a very stubborn person, but I think eventually even she’ll realise that this isolated world she and Harry have built for themselves was a poisonous choice.”

Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, have Archie, two, and five-month-old Lilibet, who none of the royal family have met yet, despite being named after her great-grandmother the Queen’s personal nickname.

Tom says, “They seem so desperate to control the narrative that they can’t risk anyone else influencing it. But this will simply cause more damage to them in the future, when their children grow up with no family around them.”

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Aside from her mum Doria, the couple are estranged from Meghan’s side of the family, too, and she famously hasn’t seen her father Thomas Markle Sr since before their wedding.

Royal expert Penny Junor has said, “Harry and Megan have burnt some significant bridges that may be beyond repair. Right now, that doesn’t seem to bother them, and I can’t see Meghan ever wanting a way back.”

Fellow royal biographer Andrew Morton believes that the couple’s emphasis on their image could also have a detrimental effect on them. He recalled when they reportedly turned down the title of Earl of Dumbarton for Archie, because they felt the word “dumb” in “Dumbarton” would cause their son to be teased at school.

He said, “It shows you their sensitivity to image, which is something. You know, somebody was saying to me [that] the other day, they contacted team Sussex and the first question [the Sussexes] asked was, ‘What pictures are you using?’ And that person thought, ‘That’s everything you need to know about the Sussexes.’”

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Harry and Meghan moved to California in 2020, shortly after stepping down as senior royals, and she hasn’t returned to the UK since, with the duke only briefly coming back twice. He flew over for his grandfather Prince Philip’s funeralin April, and the unveiling of his late mother Princess Diana’s statue in July.

But with the Queen’s recent health scare, which saw her cancel several weeks of royal engagements, give up her beloved horse riding and start using a walking stick, Harry could want to be closer to home and to his grandmother.

When she was rushed into hospital for tests recently, a source said that Harry “felt helpless being 5,000 miles away in Montecito and has been checking in non-stop with her”.

And although Harry did make it back for his grandfather’s funeral, he apparently still “feels guilty about not saying goodbye” in person.

“[He] would never forgive himself if the same thing happened with his beloved grandmother,” said a source.

“[He] is hoping to go back home for Christmas with Meghan, if not before, so that she can finally get to meet [her great-granddaughter] Lilibet and see [great-grandson] Archie again.”

Royal commentator Daniela Elser also adds that “it makes sense” for them to cross the Atlantic during the festive season.

“It would give them a chance to introduce their new bub to Harry’s family, and the large family gathering – which usually sees the Queen’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gather en masse – would be a less pressured way for the Sussexes to re-enter the royal orbit.”

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However, some people felt Harry and Meghan’s return would be “too little, too late”. Russell Myers on the Pod Save The Queen podcast said, “Their relationship with the rest of the royal family is in the gutter, and whether there is any way back for them, I’m not sure.”

The Queen is hoping for a big, fun-filled family day at Sandringham on 25 December after such a turbulent 2021.

A palace source says, “This year, more than ever, it is incredibly important to Her Majesty to be surrounded by her loved ones. The Queen is totally committed to hosting everyone, as she hopes to make it back to full health in the coming weeks. Her Majesty is resting under doctors’ orders with the intention of being able to fully enjoy the company of her extended family over the holiday period. After being forced to cancel a host of engagements, the family get-together will be the perfect tonic.”

It’ll also be the first Christmas the Queen will be spending without her beloved Philip.

Last year, the Queen and Prince Philip had a quiet Christmas alone at Windsor Castle, away from the rest of their family due to lockdown restrictions.

The festive season is one of the Queen’s favourite times of the year, as Tom says, “Christmas at Sandringham has always been among the Queen’s most enjoyable weeks. Hosting her extended family of more than 20 people, she enjoyed the lunches, giving ‘silly’ presents and playing games.”

It wouldn’t be surprising if Harry and Meghan were hesitant to return to the UK, though. He’s already reportedly axed a decision to come back for a special training weekend for disabled military veterans in November.

And in their infamous Oprah interview, they didn’t hold back in criticising the royal family with Harry, saying, “I was trapped, but I did not know I was trapped,” and citing “lack of support and lack of understanding” as the reason for why they left.

Watch this space.

Read even more festive news story in the Christmas edition of Bella - out now.