Prince Philip 'couldn't bring himself to see' Prince Harry at Sandringham Summit
The summit took place in 2020
Prince Philip was so “horrified” over the prospect of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping away from royal duties that he “refused” to take part in the Sandringham Summit, it has been claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in January 2020 they intended to “transition” from life as full-time working royals. The controversy around their decision, and the impact it had upon the royal family, has ensured they have remained in the headlines ever since.
But as senior royals massed at the late Queen’s Norfolk country estate to meet with Prince Harry and discuss options for the Sussexes’ future, it is alleged his grandfather wanted no part of the proceedings.
Prince Philip ‘angry’ at Prince Harry meeting
According to Channel 5 documentary Megxit: Inside The Sandringham Summit, Prince Philip was infuriated at the Sussexes’ split from The Firm.
It is believed Queen Elizabeth II called a secret sit-down to consider options and devise any strategies that may be required before her grandson and his wife headed off to the US.
However, pundits claim her husband was less keen on participating. And Prince Philip was reportedly observed leaving Sandringham in his Range Rover.
Royal author Andrew Morton reflected in the documentary: “Prince Philip is someone who doesn’t take fools gladly. And he was horrified that they’d come to a situation where the royal family were deciding whether to split up or not.”
Philip was so angry he refused to even be there.
Meanwhile, royal correspondent Emily Andrews also recalled: “Philip was so angry he refused to even be there. I was told that he just couldn’t bring himself to see his grandson. He thought it was a huge dereliction of duty.”
Did Prince Harry and Meghan both participate in the Sandringham Summit?
According to the documentary, Meghan Markle was not present at the behind-closed-doors meeting either.
That’s because she was believed to have returned to Canada to be with baby Prince Archie.
But it is also suggested she wasn’t permitted to dial in, or assist her husband as he made his case.
Ms Andrews claimed, as reported by the Mirror: “They all knew that Meghan was probably smarter, brighter. Had a more linear view of where she and Harry were going and what they wanted. And they probably thought they would get a better outcome with just Harry.”
Meghan, meanwhile, indicated her position on not being involved during an episode of the 2022 Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries.
“Imagine a conversation, a roundtable discussion, about the future of your life. When the stakes are this high, and you as the mum, the wife, and the target in many regards aren’t invited to have a seat at the table,” she said at the time.
Read more: ‘Why’ Meghan Markle didn’t join Prince Harry at Prince Philip’s funeral amid ‘bad taste’ gesture
However, in the Channel 5 programme, royal pundit Richard Kay claimed those on the other end of the call “would have no way of knowing who else would have been in the room with Meghan, would there have been someone making notes”. He added: “They simply couldn’t allow that”.
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
Megxit: Inside The Sandringham Summit is available to watch on Channel5.com.
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