The queen reportedly asked Prince Harry not to release statement
The drama surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's effective exit from the royal family just keeps getting juicer.
Harry and Meghan announced in a stunning statement Wednesday they "intend to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family" and will "work to become financially independent" while they "balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America." That was already shocking, but it was followed by an even more stunning development: a Buckingham Palace response saying discussions with Harry and Meghan are actually "at an early stage" and that these are "complicated issues."
That seemed to suggest the rest of the royal family was blindsided by the announcement, and BBC reported that "no other royal — including the queen or Prince William — was consulted." But if that wasn't enough drama for you, CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton is now reporting the queen actually was consulted about the statement, and she specifically asked Harry not to issue it. Harry, CNN reports, "went ahead with it anyway."
The Queen asked Prince Harry not to issue the statement on Wednesday announcing that he and his wife the Duchess of Sussex will be pulling back from royal duties, but he went ahead with it anyway, CNN understands.
— AnneClaire Stapleton (@AnneClaireCNN) January 9, 2020
Needless to say, anyone who thought future seasons of The Crown just stumbled upon a goldmine of material yesterday hadn't seen anything yet.