Royal family deny ‘driving out’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their confidante Tom Bradby said they felt isolated – as aides insist the pair were always intended to be at the centre of a slimmed down monarchy
- Tom Bradby said couple were told of Palace plans for ‘slimmed down monarchy’
- Bradby claims the Duke and Duchess that they ‘weren’t really a part of’ new plan
- Palace aide said that idea that they wouldn’t be centre ‘is strongly disputed’
Palace aides have denied that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are being ‘driven out’ of the royal family and say the couple would be ‘at the centre’ of a potentially stream-lined monarchy.
This comes after the couple’s close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a ‘slimmed down monarchy’ and they ‘weren’t really a part of it.’
A palace aide told The Times: ‘It is strongly disputed that the Sussexes are not at the centre of any future slimmed-down monarchy.’
Palace aides have denied that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are being ‘driven out’ of the royal family and say the couple would be ‘at the centre’ of a potentially stream-lined monarchy
ITV News presenter Bradby yesterday insisted that it was ‘certainly not true’ to suggest the royal household was ‘blindsided’ by their decision to step down from senior roles within the monarchy.
Meghan has fled the fallout of their bombshell announcement and returned to Canada, where she will now be reunited with baby Archie, who she left in the country with a nanny and a friend. Pictured: Meghan with friend Jessica Mulroney who lives in Canada
Mr Bradby – who has known the prince for more than 20 years – said it was only the timing of their bombshell announcement on Wednesday that angered Her Majesty.
The couple’s statement followed a six-week trip to Canada during a break from royal duties.
Behind closed doors, officials are working furiously to draw up a blueprint for Meghan and Harry’s future role.
Meghan has fled the fallout and returned to Canada, where she will now be reunited with baby Archie, who she left in the country with a nanny and a friend.
Mr Bradby is considered to be close friends with Harry and Meghan and spoke to the Duke and Duchess during an ITV documentary where they told of their struggles of living in the spotlight.
The ITN News at 10 host’s claims of a ‘slimmed down monarchy’ – in which Charles is said to want to cut the number of working royals – is said to be one of the key reasons why Harry and Meghan decided to step down.
Bradby said: ‘It’s certainly not true to say the palace were blindsided by this. The couple’s view was they came back and wanted to talk to the family about their plans.
‘It had been made clear to them in their absence there was going to be a slimmed down monarchy and they weren’t really a part of it.’
He added that the couple were asked to put down their suggestions on paper – but initially declined to do so for fear of a press leak.
But when some details of their decision reached the press, the couple decided to go public without alerting the other Royals.
The couple’s close confidante Tom Bradby claimed the Palace told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that there were plans for a ‘slimmed down monarchy’ and they ‘weren’t really a part of it’
Bradby added: ‘Harry has been talking to his family for some weeks at least about all this and certainly my understanding of what happened is he was asked by some members of the family or at least their officials to put some of these ideas in writing.
‘He said “I really don’t want to do that because it normally leaks”, and they were very insistent in order to go forward and discuss it properly it had to be put in writing.
‘He did put it in writing and it did leak.
‘So I don’t think they got much heads up as to the actual announcement but they certainly knew what was going on.’
He continued: ‘There needs to be a peace deal really soon, this is so toxic, there is so much anger, it looks like it might get worse not better.’