Hugo Vickers: The Queen is disappointed by Harry

„Meghan Markle has got what she wants – global recognition.  I wonder what will happen next? I think in the end she will drop him” said Hugo Vickers, the author of many royal biographies. Interview by Magdalena Grzymkowska.

Copyrights: Northern Ireland Office

Do you think Her Majesty hates Meghan for her meddling (as some like to claim)? Can the Queen even be in a position of „hating” a member of Royal Family (especially her beloved grandson)?

We do not know what The Queen thinks, but she gave Harry and Meghan a great challenge and opportunity with their role in the Commonwealth, where they could have done – and had begun to do – immeasurable good.  She is obviously fond of Harry and she has left the door open for him to return. I am sure she is disappointed by their behaviour and please remember she had to deal with difficult politics – Brexit – a new Prime Minister and the problems of Parliament – the ill health of her husband – and Prince Andrew.  Harry and Meghan could have saved making things more difficult for her.

The authors of the book „Finding Freedom” blame courtiers and palace officials for putting too much pressure on Duke and Duchess of Sussex or even plotting against them. Do you agree? What is the role of courtiers and private secretaries in the Royal Family?

I explained this in my article (Prince Harry should have learned from Diana, you cannot compete with the Queen, Daily Mail, 25th July). The courtiers co-ordinate things, they advise.  What possible motive would they have for plotting against the Sussexes?  The trouble is that Meghan wants to do things her way, not to help The Queen, not to benefit the monarchy, but to promote her own causes.

Can the Sussexes’ exodus do any harm to the Royal Family heritage? Is the future of the monarchy in Great Britain safe? 

Recent actions, recent statements and this book will not harm the Royal Family.  They have harmed and will harm the Sussexes.  As you will have seen, The Queen and her family have been most supportive during the lockdown, and they are in consequence popular – and yes safe.  They serve the people.  The Sussexes serve themselves.

Do you think The Queen herself takes this whole situation personally? In your article, you wrote about the special bond between Her Majesty and her grandson. How about his father, Prince Charles? It looks like he is a bit out of the picture, isn’t he? How do you think the whole situation will affect their relations?

As I said above, I am sure she is disappointed, and The Prince of Wales has had to finance a lot of Sussex activity.  I am sure they are upset and also worried for Harry, who, frankly, is being manipulated.

What of the future?  In my mind, it ends badly.  Meghan Markle has got what she wants – global recognition.  I wonder what will happen next?  I think in the end she will drop him like she dropped her father, her family, her first husband, her chef boyfriend in Toronto and Jessica Mulroney.

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Hugo Vickers is an English writer and broadcaster. He has written many royal biographies, including ones of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark—which was approved by her son, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh—and Gladys Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. Over the course of his career, he has regularly participated in royal occasions, being a studio guest for both the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and Diana’s funeral in 1997. Moreover, he commentated on ITN with John Suchet in 1999 for the wedding of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie Rhys-Jones, for the Queen Mother’s centenary celebrations in 2000, and for her funeral two years later. He frequently appeared on CNN’s former programme, Larry King Live, and has also appeared on Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and television programmes in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Vickers was appointed chairman of the Jubilee Walkway Trust in October 2002, which had been founded in 1977 as a lasting memory of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and later refurbished and updated to commemorate her Golden Jubilee. Being in this role, he welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and her consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the Mall to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen’s coronation in 2003, and again on 19 November 2007, when the royal couple unveiled the Diamond Wedding panoramic panel in Parliament Square.