He added that many staff felt abandoned, saying, “The rest of the team did not find out until the couple held a meeting at Buckingham Palace at the beginning of January. They found it hard to accept they were being dumped like that.”

The Breaking Point

The trip was later seen as the catalyst for the Sussexes’ royal departure. Before their return in January 2020, Harry reportedly sent an email outlining his dissatisfaction within the Firm and his wish to live in the United States. This prompted a family meeting on January 29.

Low described the strategy as “an attempt to pick the Queen off before Harry started talks with the rest of the family.” One insider remarked, “There was a danger that a private conversation could be interpreted very differently by two people.”

The Sandringham Summit

Harry himself recounted the tense meeting in his memoir Spare, calling it “just for show.” He claimed the family pressured him and Meghan to remain and resolve their issues, but the couple was determined to leave. Shortly afterward, the Sussexes announced they would step down as senior royals to pursue financial independence, while still pledging their full support to the Queen.