Prince George portrait 'confirmed Harry's fears' about monarchy

Prince Harry’s decision to step down as a senior royal was reportedly solidified after one particular photograph of Prince George served as a “wake-up call,” according to a royal expert.

In January 2020, just days before Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were leaving royal life, Buckingham Palace released a striking image of the monarchy’s future. 

The photo featured Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Prince William, and a young Prince George, then six.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton revealed in Meghan: A Hollywood Princess that the Sussexes felt sidelined after seeing the portrait. 

“The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry,” Morton wrote.

Harry’s fears reportedly deepened when a planned private meeting with the late Queen was suddenly postponed. 

According to Morton, palace insiders worried that anything the monarch agreed to informally could later be used by Harry in negotiations.

Days later, Harry and Meghan issued a statement confirming their decision to step back, citing the desire for financial independence and a “progressive new role.”

The move, finalized after the Sandringham Summit, saw the couple step down permanently from royal duties.

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