Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were ‘Frustrated’ With the Royal Family and Felt They ‘Took a Backseat’ to Other Royals, Book Claims

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex were reportedly frustrated with the royal family, a new biography about the couple claims, and their attempts to have conversations about the matter “didn’t lead anywhere.” The internal goings-on prompted Prince Harry and Meghan to seek an escape from the family and their royal duties.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were growing frustrated, book claims

In the new biography, Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand share their insight into what the Sussexes had to deal with within the royal family.

Given Scobie and Durand’s account, it’s not surprising that Prince Harry and Meghan found themselves getting more frustrated with their royal lives.

“Since getting married, Harry and Meghan had enjoyed calling their own shots,” the book excerpt published in The Times explained.

“Harry and Meghan liked being in control of their narrative,” a source shared with the authors. The couple found that “agreeing to fold their household into Buckingham Palace, instead of creating their own independent court, had proved a big disappointment to them,” according to the Scobie and Durand.

The Sussexes reportedly felt like they weren’t supported

While the Sussexes’ popularity grew after their wedding and “made the monarchy more relatable,” according to the authors, they struggled with feeling like they were not supported.

The authors shared that “there were concerns that the couple should be brought into the fold; otherwise, the establishment feared their popularity might eclipse that of the royal family.”

“Increasingly Harry had grown frustrated that he and Meghan often took a back seat to other family members,” the book explained. When the Sussexes “wanted to focus on a project,” the authors wrote, they “were told that a more senior ranking family member, be it Prince William or Prince Charles, had an initiative or tour being announced at the same time — so they would just have to wait.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s issues weren’t addressed because of the royal communication system

Prince Harry and Meghan hoped to resolve some of these issues, but the book claims they couldn’t get anywhere because of the way communication works in the palace.

“For months the couple tried to air these frustrations, but the conversations didn’t lead anywhere,” the authors explained. “Highly emotional and fiercely protective of his wife and son, Harry was drained by the unique circumstances of his family.”

A source shared that aides are typically involved with the communication so Prince Harry and Meghan’s frustrations weren’t addressed. “Every conversation, every issue, every personal disagreement, whatever it may be, involves staff,” the source explained.

They added, “It creates a really weird environment that actually doesn’t allow people to sort things out themselves.” As a result, the source said, “They felt under pressure. They felt that they were alone.”

When they couldn’t resolve these matters, Prince Harry and Meghan decided that stepping back from their royal duties was the only option. “He and Meghan didn’t want to walk away from the monarchy; rather, they wanted to find a happy place within it,” the authors explained.