Queen Elizabeth tried to 'steer' Prince Harry and Meghan onto right path before UK exit
Queen Elizabeth tried to 'steer' Prince Harry and Meghan onto right path before UK exit
Rebecca Russell, Charl Wright Thu, September 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM UTC
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Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
A former royal butler has claimed that Queen Elizabeth II attempted to "steer Prince Harry onto the right path," only to be thwarted by Meghan Markle.
The couple has remained estranged from the Royal Family since stepping back from their senior roles in early 2020, departing for the United States with their son, Prince Archie, now seven years old. The pair subsequently welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, now five, in 2021.
Speaking on behalf of Casino, former royal butler Paul Burrell previously told the Daily Express that the late Queen made every effort to guide both Harry and Meghan toward the "right path" during the final years of her reign. This comes as Piers Morgan dubbed the Sussexes grifters.
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He said, "I think the Queen tried to steer Meghan and Harry on the right path, the path that she thought they should take. I thought that they would stay within the Royal Family.
"I didn't want them to leave either. I thought they were a breath of fresh air, a force for good, and would do great work for the Royal Family and on behalf of the Royal Family. But they wanted their independence, and the Queen then tried to broker a deal."
Burrell, who served the royal household for 21 years, further stated, "She wanted Harry to stay as close to her as possible. But that couldn't be because the American in the equation wanted a different solution."
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"Meghan wanted change. The Queen herself tried to bend all the rules for Meghan. She tried to keep her within the fold, knowing that the institution could protect her better than she could be protected in the outside world."
Reflecting on the late Queen, he continued, "She was a very wise woman, the Queen. She said, 'If you want to continue with your acting work, then that's fine.'"
The late Queen, who passed away in 2022, reportedly told Meghan she could "continue her acting career" should she choose not to pursue royal duties before her marriage to Harry, according to a previously published claim by a royal author, reports the Express.
Queen Elizabeth tried to help Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
"Which is unprecedented for a member of the Royal Family. And then the Queen said, if you need someone to help you along the way, Duchess Sophie will help you."
This comes as a royal expert claimed that Meghan Markle deserved "permanent exile" from the United Kingdom amid her return.
Lee Cohen, a US-based columnist and royal and foreign policy commentator, addressed the Sussexes' arrival in England, telling the Daily Express, "She [Meghan Markle] brought endless drama, grievance and attention-seeking to an institution built on duty, discretion and service, casting a shadow over the final years of the beloved late Queen."
"Another chance? The only thing she deserves is permanent exile from the family she insulted so despicably," he added.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
