Harry and Meghan convinced ‘royals were against them’ after New Year photo snub

Just days before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping down as senior royals, a photo released to mark the start of a new year upset them, a book claimed

It came following weeks of speculation they were unhappy with palace life and it has been claimed a photo released to mark 2020 was the catalyst behind their decision. At the start of that year, the late Queen released a stunning photo of herself standing proudly with her son now King Charles, grandson Prince William and great-grandson Prince George.

Taken in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, not only was it a snap for the family album, it also clearly laid out the future of the British Monarchy.

However, according to his unauthorised biography, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, author Andrew Morton claims the photo made Harry and Meghan question their position in The Firm.

He writes: “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.”

Just days after the photo was released, Meghan and Harry shocked the world by sharing a status on social media saying they were stepping back from their senior roles. Saying they had spent “many months” reflecting over the decision, they explained they planned to “carve out a progressive new role within [the] institution” while becoming financially independent.

They’ve since moved to California with their son Archie, where they have set up a new life and also welcomed a daughter Lilibet.