Queen Elizabeth Prince Harry latest (Image: Getty)

Queen Elizabeth is said to have made a cutting remark about Prince Harry following his decision to step back from royal duties. The late monarch, who had long been a steady and reassuring presence in her grandson’s life, was initially thought to have warmly welcomed Meghan Markle into the fold when the pair first began dating.

She famously lent Meghan, 44, a tiara for her wedding, invited her on royal engagements and entrusted her with key patronages. But according to new claims, relations deteriorated significantly after the couple’s 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.

And the Queen reportedly made a bitter observation about Harry’s new path when he and his wife announced they would be stepping down as senior royals and moving to the US with their young son, Prince Archie.

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Before Prince Harry and Meghan’s royal rift it was believed he was close with Queen Elizabeth II (Image: Getty)

Queen Elizabeth allegedly described Harry, 41, as merely “a carer for Archie.” The claim comes from historian Hugo Vickers, who has written extensively about the Royal Family and says he met the Queen dozens of times over her 70-year reign.

In a newly published extract from his book Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, which was published in the Daily Mail ahead of the book’s April 9 release, he suggests the monarch privately questioned Harry’s decision to step away from royal life and relocate to California.

Vickers alleges the Queen viewed her grandson’s departure as a significant shift away from duty, reportedly expressing disbelief over what she saw as his new role.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot back in 2018 at Windsor (Image: Getty)

He claims she remarked on Harry stepping back from public service, instead focusing on family life in the United States.

The historian also paints a stark picture of the Queen’s later years, arguing that the strain caused by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s was deeply felt within the institution.

It was also suggests the impact of their decisions during this period was considerable, particularly given the timing of several key events.

One such moment was the couple’s high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. The broadcast aired just days after Prince Philip underwent a heart procedure, having been admitted to hospital weeks earlier.

Prince Harry and Meghan quit royal lift months after Archie was born for a life in the US (Image: Getty)

Just months later, Harry and Meghan shock the world when they announced they had named their daughter Lilibet – a deeply personal nickname once used privately by the Queen’s closest family members and largely unknown to the public for many years.

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In contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine opted for more traditional tributes, with their daughter Princess Charlotte carrying both “Elizabeth” and “Diana” as middle names in honour of her late great-grandmother and grandmother.

The decision to use Lilibet, rather than a formal version of the name – was seen by some as an a highly unexpected and controversial choice.