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The Fashion Central
The Fashion Central
Jenifer Jain

Prince Harry 'felt forced' to step back from royal duties for Meghan Markle

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A royal expert has reignited the debate around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal duties, claiming the Duke of Sussex was “forced” to step back primarily for his wife, Meghan.

Angela Levin, a long-time royal commentator and vocal critic of the Sussexes, offered a scathing response to Prince Harry’s recent statement submitted to the UK Court of Appeal. In the legal filing, Harry’s legal team argued that he and Meghan “felt forced to step back” from their frontline royal roles in 2020 due to concerns over their safety and a perceived lack of protection from the royal institution.

The couple officially stepped down from their roles as senior working royals in early 2020 and subsequently moved to California, where they now reside with their two children. Since then, they have become largely estranged from the royal family, making only brief and infrequent visits to the UK—something Harry says is largely due to unresolved security concerns.

In the written court submission, the Duke’s lawyers stated: “They considered they were not being protected by the institution,” and therefore felt they had no choice but to step away from their royal roles.

Reacting to this, Levin took to social media to share her pointed thoughts. “Harry felt forced’ to leave for Meghan, who hated Royal protocol. She felt and showed in several ways she knew better,” she wrote on Twitter.

She went on to defend the royal family, insisting they made considerable efforts to accommodate Meghan and her adjustment to royal life. “The family bent over backwards to be helpful, but you can’t expect any family, certainly not Royal, to cope with Meghan’s demands. Nothing would have been enough and hasn’t been since. Harry should know that by now,” Levin added.

The comments have further fueled the ongoing public and media discourse surrounding Harry and Meghan’s departure, with supporters and critics continuing to clash over the reasons behind their exit and the treatment they received from the royal establishment.

While Prince Harry maintains that his family’s safety remains a top priority and the lack of institutional support led to their decision, critics like Levin argue that internal friction and protocol resistance played a larger role.

As the legal proceedings regarding Harry’s security arrangements in the UK continue, the scrutiny over the couple’s departure from royal life appears far from over, with voices like Levin’s ensuring it remains firmly in the spotlight.

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