Did Trudeau know about 'Megxit' before the Queen? Evidence suggests Harry and Meghan confided in Canadian PM
According to a latest report, there is a distinct possibility that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might have known that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were planning to move to Canada after announcing their wish to step down as senior members of the royal family even before the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom.
The re-elected prime minister filled a long-vacant role of secretary to the Queen in November last year - a role had been left vacant for three years, National Post reported. He appointed Donald Booth to the role, which entailed acting as the primary link between the federal cabinet and the Crown - at the end of last year.
Booth told the National Post after his appointment that his role involves "supporting the prime minister in his unique relationship with the Queen and the palaces, and to serve as a single point of contact with the palaces to ensure that things run efficiently."
The move prompted rumors that Trudeau probably had some knowledge of the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were planning to become financially independent - as they stated in an explosive announcement on January 8 - months before they officially informed the Queen of their decision. In the statement, they said that they will be splitting their time between Canada and the UK.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the appointment.
The Queen was reportedly left in "a mood of deep disappointment" after the royal couple announced their historic decision because the monarch had reportedly told Harry not to issue the public statement till they had time to work out the details of the transition.
Harry and Meghan have a friendly relationship with Trudeau ever since their meeting in 2016 through their commitment to the One Young World summit. Hours after Trudeau was re-elected as Prime Minister of Canada in October 2019, the Duchess of Sussex shared a throwback photo of him, which was seen by many as a subtle congratulatory nod to him. Royal members are encouraged not to publicly endorse political figures.
Meghan is also thought to have become friends with Trudeau's wife, Sophie while living in Toronto during the shooting of 'Suits.'
Trudeau said Tuesday that there was still "much to discuss" over the royal couple's move to North America.
"We're not entirely sure what the final decisions will be, what the dispositions are and those are decisions for them," he said. "There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family, by the Sussexes themselves, as to what level of engagement they choose to have."