Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell decision to step back as senior royals in 2020 is said to have left Prince Philip ‘very, very disappointed’ and ‘irritated him hugely’
12:47, 29 Jun 2025Updated 12:47, 29 Jun 2025
Megan Markle at Windsor Castle(Image: Daily Mirror)
Tying the knot with a member of the Royal family is undeniably a task fraught with monumental duty and surrender, and none grasped this more deeply than the departed Prince Philip. Prior to his transition into the Duke of Edinburgh following his marriage to Queen Elizabeth in 1947, Philip relinquished his original nationality, curtailed his naval occupation, and forsook his family name.
Content to remain in the background alongside the late Queen Elizabeth, he continued his presence at Royal functions and dedicated himself to charitable pursuits, so it’s hardly surprising that he anticipated an equivalent commitment from those joining the Royal fold. Nevertheless, as Royal author Ingrid Seward notes, Philip was notably irked by Meghan Markle’s reluctance to forsake her entire existence to the monarchy upon her union with Prince Harry in 2018.
In discussions with Sky News back in 2020, Ingrid contended: “I think he’s very, very disappointed because I think he feels he gave up his naval career in order to stand by the Queen and help the monarchy.
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“And why can’t Meghan just give up her acting career, support her husband and support the monarchy? He just cannot understand why she couldn’t support Harry and help him rather than wanting to have her voice.”
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward revealed that when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step down as working members of the Royal family in January 2020, Philip chose not to participate in the subsequent discussions about their future, reports the Mirror.
Following the late Queen’s call for a summit at Sandringham to address the crisis, Philip opted not to attend the meeting, which included Prince Harry, Prince William, and the then-Prince Charles, with the late Queen Elizabeth presiding. Notably absent were Princess Kate, Camilla, and Prince Philip, while Meghan was prevented from attending as she was in Canada caring for baby Archie.
According to Seward, Philip, who had made numerous sacrifices in the name of the monarchy, including renouncing his Greek and Danish citizenship and relinquishing his naval career, harboured quiet resentment toward the couple for their perceived lack of dedication to the Royal family. She explained: “Of course, it irritates him hugely. And when they had the Sandringham Summit, Prince Philip was seen leaving the house very swiftly before they all arrived. He simply doesn’t want to get involved any more.”
Seward’s account provides insight into the tension between Philip and the Sussexes, suggesting that Philip’s feelings of disillusionment were rooted in the compromises he had made to marry the late Queen, including adopting a new surname and title, and surrendering his successful naval career to assume the role of consort to the late Queen.