EXCLUSIVE: Harry’s ‘disappointment’ over giving up royal life as doubt cast on Meghan’s loyalty

When the Duke of Sussex quit his position in the Royal Family and relocated to America in 2020, he was following the steps of another past monarch who also left his royal duties behind

Prince Harry and Meghan (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

When Prince Harry decided to quit his royal role and start a new life in America in 2020, he was not the only member of the Royal Family to choose love and a life outside the Firm over his royal duties.

King Edward VIII, who later became known as the Duke of Windsor, became the monarch in January 1936 after the death of his father, before he abdicated in December the same year. The Duke was known for his distaste of royal protocols and constitutional conventions. And while he was a controversial King, he later caused a crisis within the Firm.

Harry and Meghan quit their royal roles in 2020(Image: AP)

During his reign, the Duke of Windsor proposed to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. When the government expressed their disapproval of their union, the Duke abdicated when it became clear that he could not marry Wallis and remain on the throne.

In recent years, some have drawn comparisons to the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their decision to quit the Firm in order to live away from their royal duties.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers, author of the new book Behind Closed Doors: The Tragic Untold Story of Wallis Simpson, believes the comparison is more between Harry and the Duke, rather than Wallis and Meghan.

The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson in 1942(Image: Getty Images)

Hugo told the Mirror : “I think the only similarity [between Meghan and Mrs Simpson] is that they’re American and they’d been married before. The Duke of Windsor would do anything for Mrs Simpson, and I don’t know if Meghan would do the same for Harry.”

He continued: “There are probably more similarities between Harry and the Duke of Windsor, as they were both feeling the pressure of their royal standing. But before they both decided to step back from their duties, it seems they were very happy and they were good at what they did.”

The royal expert explained that both the Duke of Windsor and Prince Harry chose to follow their hearts rather than their birth right duties, as he believes their choices may not have been with the right intentions.

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Hugo Vickers has drawn comparisons between the Sussexes and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Image: PA)

“Obviously there’s a lot of pressure when you’re a royal,” Hugo said, “But I think when it comes between choosing the path of duty or the path of perceived happiness, the path of duty will light the way to happiness, and Harry seems a lot less fulfilled since choosing the path of perceived happiness to be with Meghan.”

When Harry and Meghan quit their roles, the number of working royals drastically decreased, as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also stood back from his duties at the time. Now, with Prince William speaking of his desire for a ‘slimmed-down monarchy’ when he ascends the throne, Hugo believes the future king may need to lean on other family members for help carrying out the work of the Firm.

The royal expert said: “Perhaps the only concerning thing is the idea of a ‘slimmed-down monarchy’, because I think we need more working royals. William has called on his cousins to show up alongside him at various events, and I think to see them in the capacity of a working royal would be a real boost, because the King simply can’t do it all. He needs other royals he can rely on to carry out his work.”

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Behind Closed Doors: The Tragic Untold Story of Wallis Simpson by Hugo Vickers(Image: Penguin)

While William continues to drop hints about what he sees his reign looking like as he ushers in a new era for the Royal Family, Hugo believes that despite the recent turbulent times for the Firm, the future holds much potential for the younger members of the Firm to continue the tireless work of the monarchy.

“I think the future of the monarchy is bright,” Hugo said, “Especially with William and Catherine at the helm, and their three lovely children to follow in their footsteps. I think despite what some polls might say, the King and Queen are well loved and a real beacon of hope for people, and I think there’s a real sense of pride for our Royal Family.”