In April 2021, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh,died while hospitalized, a death that Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says was compounded by the fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2021 Oprah interview. Fitzwilliams argues the interview, released while Philip was seriously ill, deepened a rift that had already been inflamed by the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties.

Philip’s Disapproval of Meghan Markle’s Role in the 2021 Step‑Back Decision

According to Fitzwilliams , the late duke “strongly disapproved” of Meghan Markle, citing the couple’s abrupt withdrawal from official engagements as a betrayal of royal protocol. The biographer claims that this disapproval was a key factor in the family’s reaction to the Sussexes’ decision to step back, a move that “blindsided Queen Elizabeth II” and plunged the monarchy into crisis.

The 2021 Oprah Interview: Timing and Family Tension

Fitzwilliams points to the timing of the interview—released while Philip was in the hospital—as a catalyst for the rift. He suggests that the duke never recovered from the strain, implying that the interview’s release during his final illness exacerbated already fragile family dynamics. The Sussexes’ friend, however, counters that the palace used Philip’s health to silence them, arguing there was no reason to postpone the interview.

Royal Retrospective: A Distant Relationship and a Bitter Legacy

The biographer notes that Philip’s rteirement and limited interactions with the Sussexes made their relationship distant. Yet the 2021 interview, according to Fitzwilliams, left a lasting legacy of bitterness that persisted until Philip’s death in April 2021. the account paints a picture of clashing personalities and profound familial discord during a period of royal turmoil .

Unanswered Questions: Who Truly Controlled the Narrative?

While Fitzwilliams presents a narrative of Philip’s disapproval, the Sussexes’ friend claims the palace used his health as an excuse to silence them. the source does not clarify who ultimately decided to proceed with the interview or how the decision was communicated within the royal household.