Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s secretive six-week retreat before their dramatic departure from royal life caught their nanny off guard, leading to emotional reactions from some staff members, according to a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time in Canada in late 2019 before returning to the UK and announcing their decision to step back in early 2020. During their stay in Canada, they shared a Thanksgiving message with a maple leaf emoji, hinting at their location. It was later revealed that their son, Archie, stayed with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, during this period.
Archie did not return to the UK until 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The couple, however, came back to the UK in January 2020, with Meghan departing shortly after to care for their son.
While Buckingham Palace remained silent on their whereabouts in late 2019, it was confirmed that they would not be present at Sandringham for Christmas, sparking speculation about tensions within the royal family, which escalated when Harry and Meghan made their surprising announcement later.
According to royal author Valentine Low, the couple’s trip to Canada was shrouded in secrecy, with Meghan even keeping their destination unknown to their nanny until they were airborne on a private jet. There were growing suspicions among staff about the couple’s long-term plans, with some fearing a permanent move to the US.
The revelation that Harry and Meghan took their personal belongings and dogs with them to Canada hinted at their intentions, but confirmation only came when Meghan informed a staff member at the end of the year that they would not be returning. The rest of the team learned of their decision during a meeting at Buckingham Palace in early January, leaving some staff members distraught.
On January 8, 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked the world by announcing their intention to step down as senior working royals. A few days later, the “Sandringham Summit” was held to discuss the matter, with Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and Prince William present, while Meghan was notably absent.
Following the summit, the Queen issued a statement expressing support for Harry and Meghan’s desire to lead a more independent life, even though she would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family.