Princess Anne has finally broken her silence and responded to Prince Harry after months of tension between the royal siblings.
As many are aware, Harry and Meghan shocked the world last year when they announced their decision to step back from their senior royal duties and move part-time to North America. Since then, their relationship with the rest of the royal family has been notably strained. While the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William have all made polite public statements respecting Harry's decision, Princess Anne had remained silent on the matter until now.
Over the weekend, Buckingham Palace released an official statement on behalf of Princess Anne, addressing Harry directly for the first time since his departure from royal duties, often referred to as "Megxit." The statement is notably critical and marks a significant departure from the previously measured responses from other senior royals.
In her statement, Princess Anne criticizes Harry for causing damage to the monarchy and questions his commitment to his royal duties. She describes his decision to leave as selfish and asserts that it has tarnished his place in the family. This represents some of the harshest criticism from a senior royal regarding Harry's choice.
The statement begins by noting that Princess Anne had, until this point, chosen not to comment publicly on Harry's situation out of respect for the Queen and a desire to keep family matters private. However, she explains that recent interviews and media appearances by Harry have crossed a line, compelling her to set the record straight. She directly addresses Harry, labeling his actions in stepping back from royal duties as selfish and damaging, and questions his commitment to duty, honor, and service—core values of the monarchy.
Princess Anne implies that by prioritizing his personal desires over his responsibilities, Harry has turned his back on what it means to be a working royal. She criticizes his interviews, including his revealing sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in March, accusing him of undermining the Queen and the institution of the monarchy at a time when it is already facing unprecedented challenges.
The statement emphasizes that the monarchy does not benefit from internal conflicts being played out in the media, and that any issues should have been resolved privately within the family. It acknowledges that change within the monarchy is inevitable but stresses that such change should be conducted in a manner that respects long-held traditions and prioritizes duty to the Crown—something Princess Anne feels Harry has failed to do.
The statement takes a particularly harsh turn as Princess Anne effectively disowns Harry as a working royal, stating that his actions have rendered him no longer a key functional member of the monarchy. She strips him of his former titles, referring to him simply as Prince Harry rather than using his former honorary title of His Royal Highness. While she acknowledges that Harry will always remain a member of the family, she asserts that he can no longer be actively involved due to the irreparable damage he has caused to the monarchy's esteem and reputation.
In a stark conclusion, Princess Anne states that while the door may remain open for Harry to one day resume a role within the royal family, for now, he has been effectively cast out of the working ranks. She wishes him and his family well in their new lives but makes it clear that the monarchy must now move forward without them at the forefront.
In summary, Princess Anne's statement is a scathing rebuke, highlighting her view that Harry has betrayed and damaged the institution of the monarchy through his actions and interviews since moving to the US. This condemnation from his aunt is severe, and it sends a clear message that the wounds within the royal family regarding Harry's exit are deep. Known for her no-nonsense attitude, Anne's bluntness is surprising even for her.
It will be interesting to see if and how Harry responds, given that he has generally avoided directly criticizing or addressing individual family members. However, being called out in this manner may force him to respond publicly for the first time. For now, the palace shows no signs of backing down or seeking reconciliation, drawing a hard line and casting Harry out of the inner royal ranks he once held. It remains to be seen if there can be any reconciliation following such a public disowning by a senior royal like Princess Anne.
