Queen 'deeply upset' with Harry and Meghan for 'defying her order' and announcing decision to leave royal household
The Queen is said to be "deeply disappointed" with Prince Harry after the royal went ahead with announcing his and Meghan Markle's split from the royal family despite her asking him not to do so at this time.
As a consequence, the birthday celebrations planned for the Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace have been marred as well, it has been claimed.
Kate turned 38 today and several members of the royal family had been called to the palace for the occasion, though it will now be dominated by the Sussex's decision to step down from their royal duties.
The pair had taken to Instagram yesterday to say that, "after many months of reflection and internal discussions," they had "chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution."
"We intend to step back as senior members of the royal family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen," they continued. "It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."
However, the Daily Mail is reporting that the Queen had given her grandson crystal clear orders to not go ahead with the announcement.
Harry is said to have requested a meeting with the Queen at Sandringham as soon as he arrived back in the UK with Meghan and Archie this past weekend following their six-week-long vacation in Canada.
While the Queen's offer to meet her grandson was blocked by courtiers, she still asked him to discuss any plans of breaking away from the royal family and his future with his father, the Prince of Wales.
But despite this request, they went ahead and pressed "the nuclear button," with William and Charles reportedly receiving a copy of their statement just 10 minutes before it went live.
A senior source told the Sun that the decision had not sat well inside Kensington Palace, with many "shocked, saddened and downright furious'" with the couple.
"Their statement was not cleared with anyone. It breaks all protocol," the source said. "This is a declaration of war on the family. There is fury over how they’ve done this without any thought for the implications for the institution. The Queen is deeply upset. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are incandescent with rage."
"Courtiers can’t believe it," the source continued. "There are so many unanswered questions but they’ve just up and done it without a thought for anyone else. The plan was there to discuss it and work out a way that works for everyone in the family."