Prince Harry has privately acknowledged regret over how Queen Elizabeth II learned of his decision to step back from royal life, a belated reckoning that sheds new light on the personal cost of the Duke of Sussex's dramatic 2020 exit and the lasting strain it placed on the monarchy's most revered figure.
According to reporting by the The Telegraph, Harry later recognized that announcing his plans via social media without prior consultation left his grandmother blindsided. The realization has gained weight in hindsight, particularly given the Queen's role as both sovereign and family matriarch at the time of the announcement.
On Jan. 8, 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle disclosed on Instagram their intention to step back as senior working royals, a move that stunned the public and senior members of the Royal Family alike. Buckingham Palace had not been informed in advance, forcing Queen Elizabeth II to respond publicly to a constitutional and familial crisis she had not been given an opportunity to manage privately.
"I don't think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that," a source told the Telegraph. The admission points to a distinction Harry now draws between the substance of his decision and the manner in which it was delivered.
The episode placed the late monarch in an unusually difficult position. While she could not prevent her grandson's departure, she was compelled to issue a statement within days that balanced institutional continuity with personal restraint, underscoring the tension between family loyalty and royal duty.
Despite that regret, Harry has remained unequivocal about the life he has built since relocating to California. Speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit in December, he said: "I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It's a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live. I feel as though it's the life that my mum wanted for me."
He added: "To be able to do the things I'm able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn't be able to do in the UK-it's huge. That is a fantastic opportunity, and I'm hugely grateful for that." The remarks echoed themes Harry has emphasized in his memoir Spare and the 2022 Harry & Meghan series.
Since settling in Montecito in 2020, Harry and Meghan have pursued a markedly different public trajectory. Their commercial ventures-including bestselling publishing projects and streaming partnerships-have positioned them as cultural figures operating outside the traditional constraints of royal life.
Meghan, in particular, has expanded her public profile through media and lifestyle projects, while Harry has focused on advocacy, authorship and production work. Together, they are raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet far from the institutional environment that defined Harry's upbringing.
