The Queen was desperate to keep Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the Royal Family, but her 10-word plea was not enough to prevent them from leaving, a royal expert has claimed

Queen Elizabeth II desperately attempted to prevent “Megxit” – even telling Meghan Markle: “You can go back to acting if you want to”.

However, the 10-word proposal proved insufficient to stop Prince Harry and Meghan from abandoning Royal duties for their fresh start in California in 2020.

Harry, 40, now holds American residency and has cut ties with the Royal family, the crown and the nation.

His grandmother, with whom he maintained a tight relationship, was reluctant to see Harry and Meghan depart, according to Paul Burrell, a former Royal household member.

He revealed: “There is no doubt in my mind that she didn’t want Harry and Meghan to leave. She did not want ‘Megxit’ as it was dubbed, as she knew they would be estranged from her world.”, reports the Mirror.

“The Queen even said to Meghan: ‘You can go back to acting if you want to.’ She was willing to bend the rules for Meghan, and offered to talk to her whenever she had any problems.”

Meghan, 44, had been a performer, featuring in television series including Suits, Fringe and Castle throughout her career.

She also appeared in movies such as Horrible Bosses before joining The Firm.

Despite the Queen taking Meghan on her inaugural official duty to guide her through Royal protocols and ensure she adapted to palace life, matters didn’t unfold as anticipated and she and Harry chose to step away. Mr Burrell continued: “She (the Queen) wanted them to stay but she was born into an Edwardian court and was nearly 60 years older than Harry. Her Majesty had lived in a different world from her grandson. How could the Queen understand all of Harry’s problems? She couldn’t.

“They did, however, have a special relationship – particularly because Harry was something of a joker. He didn’t always adhere to protocol. Everyone was very stiff and starchy around the Queen, which she disliked, but he was relaxed and funny.”

Harry is due to return to the UK for the first time in almost six months this week, with an awards ceremony pencilled into his schedule. Rumours of a potential meeting with his father King Charles – and therefore a possible return to Royal duties – are mounting.

However, in a piece for the Daily Mail today, Mr Burrell suggests the outlook appears grim.

He penned: “Harry is now in an exile of his own making… It is such a shame because William and Harry with their wives were the ‘Fab Four’ and certainly for a time Harry and Meghan were ‘the golden couple’. They had everything.”