Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly convinced that the “entire institution” was against them during their time working in the Royal Family owing to an “unspoken code”.
While there were a number of causes that ultimately contributed to their departure, royal author Andrew Morton believes the release of one picture served as a “wake-up call” for the couple.
Before they announced that they were stepping back from their roles as senior royals, Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly believed The Firm were “conspiring against them”.
This sentiment allegedly reached boiling point after the Royal Family released an official photograph that showed the late Queen and her heirs, King Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
The happy image was taken in the throne room at Buckingham Palace and was shared publicly at the beginning of 2020, just days before Harry and Meghan made their earth-shattering announcement.
On the face of it, the picture simply lined up the future of the monarchy and mirrored many historic portraits which have shown the monarch with his or her direct heirs.
Despite the precedent, royal author the Queen claimed it caused upset behind palace walls.
In his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Morton wrote: “The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. As they saw it, the evidence was all around them.
“The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry.”
