Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused the late Queen “distress” in her final years, a royal author has shared.

Meghan and Harry pictured with the late Queen in 2018 (Image: GETTY)

The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly has one major fear over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a new book has revealed. The couple stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020, just two years before the late monarch’s death aged 96.

Hugo Vickers, author of Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, has suggested that Meghan and Harry caused the late Queen great “distress” in her final years on the throne. The late monarch celebrated 70 years on the throne in 2022, with her death taking place just a few months after her Platinum Jubilee.

In 2021, Harry and Meghan marked one year since their royal exit with a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey – a move that is said to have “sickened” the Royal Family due to the timing.

The interview took place just days after Prince Philip underwent heart surgery at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

Mr Vickers revealed that the late Queen was left “deeply hurt” by Harry’s attacks, which led her to become “distrustful” of her beloved grandson.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he elaborated on the late monarch’s anxieties, even suggesting that she feared the couple would record their discussions.

He said: “Trust had been broken, basically. So I think, as far as having somebody in the room, it was… to stop them taking photographs or being wired or God knows what.”

Meghan and Harry stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 (Image: GETTY)

Questioned whether the late Queen was likely fearful that the conversations would be recorded for their Netflix docuseries.

He said: “Yes, wired for recording. It’s always a possibility. I’m not saying it happened.”

Meghan and Harry have previously denied accusations of leaking information from private family gatherings.