Queen Elizabeth was a wise woman. And when she needed to take decisive action, she did.
That is why he decided that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could not be allowed to combine royal duties with seeking their fortune abroad.
And why she ignored Prince Harry’s efforts to persuade her otherwise.
In his best-selling memoir, Spare, Harry attempts to convince readers that his grandmother was tricked by scheming courtiers into taking a hard line against him and Meghan.
In my opinion, however, His late Majesty knew exactly what he was doing and why.
Now, King Charles needs to follow his mother’s example and be decisive when it comes to his youngest son and his role as State Councillor.
As things stand, California-based Prince Harry could still be called upon to replace his father in some circumstances because he remains a State Councilor, which is surely now intolerable.
Since then, the situation has become even more urgent due to the King’s cancer treatment.
In today’s WhatsNew2Day, in my social diary Eden Confidential, I reveal that Harry has updated his records in this country to make it very clear that he no longer lives in Britain.
Documents published by Companies House for ‘Prince Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex’ record that his ‘new habitually resident country/state’ is now the United States of America. It was previously registered as United Kingdom.
It represents a sharp change for Harry, who shortly after announcing his decision to step down from royal duties in 2020 declared: “The United Kingdom is my home and a place I love.” That will never change.’
What might have helped bring about that unforeseen change is growing pressure on US President Joe Biden to release Harry’s visa records.
The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation has been pressuring the Department of Homeland Security to open its file on Harry under US freedom of information laws.
After admitting in his memoirs to using cocaine, the prince has faced questions about how he was able to move to the United States, where admitting drug use can block a visa application.
Now, activists have seized on comments made by the US ambassador in London that he would not be deported while Biden, a Democrat, was president.
The Heritage Foundation, which has gone to court to seek disclosure of the records, has submitted the ambassador’s statements as part of its case.
With this in mind, Harry’s new filing with Companies House (for his eco-travel company Travalyst) is a “fact on the ground”, a declaration that he is in California to stay.
However, this raises other questions for the prince, and serious ones.
If the United States is truly his home, how can he remain a State Councillor, one of seven members of the Royal Family who can stand in for the Monarch if he is abroad or unwell?
By law, Councilors of State must have a domicile in the UK, but Harry has no home here after King Charles asked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave Frogmore Cottage, a gift from the late Queen.
Harry, pictured with his wife Meghan, declared shortly after announcing his decision to step down from royal duties in 2020: ‘The UK is my home and a place I love. That will never change’
Until 2022, the State Councilors were Queen Camilla, William, Harry, Prince Andrew and their eldest daughter Princess Beatrice.
However, this situation was considered inappropriate by many as neither Harry, the Duke of York, nor Beatrice are royals.
Later that year, the king asked parliament to add his sister, Princess Anne, and his younger brother, Prince Edward, to the list.
It was reported that the King decided not to remove Harry and Andrew because he did not want to increase family tensions and believed it was unlikely that either of them would ever have to replace him.
However, it would be a mistake to imagine that the role is merely honorary.
Courtiers were especially keen to ensure William returned to Britain after last year’s solo trip to New York before the King and Queen left for their state visit to France on the same day.
Continuity matters.
Since then, the situation has become even more urgent due to the King’s cancer treatment.
Now, the King needs to take decisive action and remove Harry as State Councillor.
How on earth can someone who has officially left Britain be allowed to replace our country’s head of state?
Even the prospect of such an intolerable situation endangers the Monarchy.
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