Despite Prince Harry’s
decision to step back as a senior royal and move to California, Queen
Elizabeth’s love for her grandson remained strong until the end.
After more than seven decades
on the throne, the British monarch passed away on Sept. 8 in Balmoral Castle in
Scotland. She was 96.
Robert Hardman, royal
historian and author of “Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth
II,” told People magazine in this week’s issue that she “adored Harry
right to the end, and Harry adored her.”
“I think she was one of
the conduits between Windsor and California, and it would have been one of her
dearest wishes that [the family] patch things up,” he told the outlet.
The Duke and Duchess of
Sussex’s departures from royal duties began in 2020 over what they described as
the British media’s intrusions and racist attitudes toward former
“Suits” star Meghan Markle, 41. The family now resides in the coastal
city of Montecito with their two children.
Following the couple’s
decision, Elizabeth issued a statement in support of her grandson,
38.
“My family and I are
entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a
young family,” she said at the time. “Although we would have
preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we
respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family
while remaining a valued part of my family.”
“It was awkward,” an
insider claimed to the outlet. “Both couples found it hard. They were in a
stoic spirit of just getting through it for the queen.”
“It’s such an
extraordinary historical moment and also a deeply personal one for the family
that you’d hope and think that all members of the family would unite and
support [King Charles III] especially,” said one palace insider. “And
perhaps some of those wounds can be healed in the process.”
A close source also insisted
it would likely have been Elizabeth’s dying wish to have her family amend their
differences.
“She knew that conflicts
were a part of life, and she didn’t hold grudges,” said the insider.
“Most of all, she wanted to see her family happy.”
