Prince Harry’s secret heartache behind UK exit following ‘huge sacrifice’ for Meghan

Prince Harry’s secret heartache behind UK exit following ‘huge sacrifice’ for Meghan
The Duke made a huge sacrifice to step away from life as a senior royal with his wife Meghan Markle, royal sources claim.

Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games 2023. (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry was forced to “give away” a major part of his life to protect his family when he stepped down as a senior royal, sources previously claimed.

When the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from frontline royal duties in 2020, it marked the beginning of a major shift from the duty and scrutiny of The Firm to the relative calm and obscurity of life in the US.

Harry, King Charles’ youngest son, made it patently clear that the pressures of royal life didn’t sit well with him in his bombshell memoir Spare, but royal sources said changing his relationship with the Royal Family would have brought a painful sacrifice for him – the loss of his military titles and appointments.

Back in March 2020, royal sources told People that the prince had sacrificed “10 years of his life that he gave to serve his country” in a bid to “protect his family”.

That month Harry and Meghan attended the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall where his red military uniform, which represented his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, for one last time.

Wearing the uniform at the 2020 event would have been ’emotional’ for the Prince, the insider said (Image: Getty)

Harry was given special permission by the King to wear military uniform at a vigil for The Queen. (Image: Getty)
The insider said it would have been “emotional” for Harry wearing the ceremonial outfit.

“That’s 10 years of his life that he gave to serve his country, and he basically has to give it away now because he’s choosing to protect his family,” they said.

The Prince was said to have been distraught when he was informed by the Queen that he would no longer be able to retain his military roles after stepping back from senior royal duties.

As part of the deal thrashed out between the Sussexes and the Queen, Harry has lost his official military appointments including Captain General of Marines, Honorary Air Commandant Royal Air Force Honington, and Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving, according to reports at the time.

However, in a touching moment, Harry was later given special permission by the King to wear a military uniform at a
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The royal undetook undertook two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry has strong ties with the military, having served as an officer in the Blues and Royals from 2006 until 2015.

But though the Royal Albert Hall event may have been bittersweet for the Duke of Sussex, it also gave an opportunity for the audience and military figures to thank him for his service, with the pair treated to a prolonged standing ovation as they attended one of their last public engagements.

Speaking about the standing ovation, the source said it was “an incredible moment,” adding: “It meant a lot to Harry.”