When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked the world and announced they were quitting their royal duties – one major royal was apparently disappointed with Meghan’s lack of ‘commitment’
Meghan Markle became a member of the Royal Family when she married Harry in 2018(Image: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock)
It’s no secret that marrying into the Royal Family comes with a huge level of responsibility, with no modern royal understanding this sacrifice more than the late Prince Philip. Before he became the Duke of Edinburgh when he married Queen Elizabeth in 1947, Philip gave up his birth citizenship, his naval career and even his surname to marry into the Firm.
Philip was happy to live on the sidelines and support the late Queen Elizabeth in her royal duties, while focusing on his own philanthropic passions. After decades of service to the monarchy, it’s no wonder he expected the same level of commitment from others marrying into the Royal Family.
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Prince Philip spent his life supporting the monarchy from the sidelines(Image: Getty Images)
According to royal expert Ingrid Seward, Philip took particular umbrage with Meghan Markle and her unwillingness to fully devote her life entirely to the Firm when she married Prince Harry in 2018.
Speaking to Sky News in 2020, Ingrid said: “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.
“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.”
Philip was “disappointed” by Meghan’s lack of commitment to the Firm(Image: Getty Images)
According to Ingrid, Philip decided he didn’t want to be a part of the so-called ‘Sandringham Summit’, in which the late Queen called a meeting at the Norfolk estate to resolve the family crisis and discuss the Sussexes’ future outside of the monarchy.
The meeting was attended by the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry, Prince William and the then Prince Charles, while Princess Kate, Camilla and Prince Philip did not attend. Meghan was reportedly outraged that she was unable to go to the meeting as she was in Canada with baby Archie.
Seward claims that the late Duke did not want to be involved with the whole affair, as she said: “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.”
Philip’s quiet fury over Meghan and Harry’s lack of dedication to the Firm stems from his decades of sacrifices in the name of the monarchy. Before marrying Queen Elizabeth, Philip had to renounce his Greek and Danish citizenship to become a fully fledged Brit.
He also changed his full name from Philippos Andreou of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderberg-Glücksburg to Philip Mountbatten, and earned the title Duke of Edinburgh after his wedding to the late Queen. The Duke also had to leave behind his successful career in the Royal Navy to take up new royal duties as the consort to the late Queen.
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