Prince Harry decision to step down fueled by Christmas footage

Prince Harry’s decision to step down from Royal duties has been strengthened after a touching family video on Christmas shared by the royals.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back from royal responsibilities, a move that occurred mere weeks after Buckingham Palace shared a heartwarming video featuring the late Queen alongside her grandson, Prince George.

Published on official social media channels, the video captured the Queen with her three successors—Prince George, Prince William, and Prince Charles—gathered at the palace on Christmas Eve.

The footage showcased Prince George energetically participating in stirring a Christmas pudding.

Read also: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to skip Duke of Westminster's wedding amid family drama

Later that day, the late monarch delivered her traditional Christmas TV address, and in the background, photographs were visible, prominently featuring her with William and Kate but notably excluding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

As per the royal correspondent Daniela Elser from news.com.au, "The excising of Harry and Meghan from the tableau had been a last-minute change, according to Christopher Andersen's Brothers And Wives.”

She added, "According to Andersen, just before Her late Majesty was due to begin filming, she 'looked over the table where the photographs she had so lovingly selected were arranged. 'That one,' said the Queen, surveying the other images of past and future monarchs and their families. 'I suppose we don't need that one.'"

In their book Finding Freedom, royal commentator Omid Scobie and co-author Carolyn Durand also mentioned that "for Harry and Meghan, [the video] was yet another sign that they needed to consider their own path".

Elser continued, "The message coming out of the SW1 postcode crystal clear: Harry did not matter, all of these instances dangerously pointed reminders of his hierarchical irrelevance. The takeaway: The Sussexes were unneeded, peripheral, secondary."

The connection between Harry and Meghan and the royal family has dwindled to near non-existence, reportedly limited to their relationships with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

According to royal commentator Michael Cole, Meghan and Harry's backing within the royal family is purportedly limited to the daughters of Prince Andrew, as stated on GB News, "We have a situation where Meghan is hardly on speaking terms with any member of her family apart from her mother and one niece.

"Prince Harry is not on speaking terms with any member of the royal family apart from Prince Andrew's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie," he added.