The decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step down as working royals came as no surprise. It followed months of rumours and claims of family feuds behind the scenes - with many royal experts speculating they may leave the UK permanently.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced in January 2020 they would no longer perform royal duties, and would become financially independent instead, making it clear they weren't looking to return. It is thought that no other royal - including the Queen or Prince William - were consulted before the statement was released on Instagram.
At the time, the Queen released a statement stressing that the couple would remain "a valued part of my family”, and at a historic crisis summit, attended by the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, a transition period of 12 months was agreed.
In a statement, the Queen said the talks at Sandringham had been "very constructive", adding: "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family."
"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."
Now a new explosive book explores the negotiations behind the scenes by the royals, as they considered possible scenarios to keep Harry and Meghan within the Firm.
Sources have told author Valentine Low, who has written "Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown," that there were five scenarios suggested by aides, which would have allowed Harry and Meghan to move abroad while keeping some official duties.
If one had been agreed upon, it could have changed the lives of royals such as Princess Charlotte. She is third in line to the throne, after her father and older brother, so it is highly unlikely she will become Queen.
The book says: "The people sitting around the table went through five different scenarios, which ranged from Harry and Meghan spending most of their time being working members of the royal family, but having a month a year to do their own thing, to them spending most of their time privately, but doing a select number of royal activities.
"There was, according to more than one source, a positive atmosphere in the room: they wanted to find a solution. At one stage, Alderton [Sir Clive Alderton, an aide to the King] made the point that if they could get this right, they would be solving a problem for future generations of the royal family who were not in the direct line of succession.
"By the end of the week, the five scenarios had been worked through."
All the possible suggestions were rejected - with the Palace refusing to budge on the demand that the normal rules on royal behaviour must apply to Harry and Meghan, even when they weren't performing royal duties.
This would mean they couldn't do anything that would gain them financial benefit - which didn't match up with their wish to become financially independent.
A source told the book: "There was a very clear view: you can’t be in and out. Compromise was off the table. Removed by the Queen.”
Since then, they have struck up a number of lucrative deals - including streaming sites Netflix and Spotify, for a series of documentaries and podcasts.
Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, by Valentine Low, will be published by Headline on October 6
