EXCLUSIVE: How Prince Harry 'Drove Queen Elizabeth Mad With Paranoia' In Her Final Years
Prince Harry is said to have left the Queen stressing.
April 3 2026, Published 9:00 a.m. ET
RadarOnline.com can reveal Queen Elizabeth was said to have become so guarded in her final years she refused to take calls from Prince Harry without staff present – after his Megxit left her "paranoid" until her final breaths.
The claim is detailed by royal author Hugo Vickers in his new book Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, which paints a picture of a monarch seeking reassurance and oversight in her communications with her grandson following his departure from royal duties in 2020 alongside Meghan Markle, now 44.
Sussex Drama Took a Heavy Toll on the Queen
The 41-year-old Duke and his wife allegedly drove the late Queen mad with worry.
Harry, 41, and Markle's decision to step back from royal life – followed by their televised interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry's memoir Spare – is described as a source of considerable tension during the Queen's final years.
In the book, Vickers writes: "Whenever Prince Harry called his grandmother, she asked her lady-in-waiting to stay with her."
He adds: "The distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated." A palace source said the situation left the late monarch increasingly cautious and, at times, unsettled.
The Queen Was 'Personally Hurt' By Prince Harry’s 'Actions'
Queen Elizabeth refused to take calls from Prince Harry without staff present, according to the royal expert.
A palace source said the situation left the late monarch increasingly cautious and, at times, unsettled.
They added: "Harry literally drove the Queen mad with paranoia in those final years – she felt she had to protect herself in conversations and ensure there were witnesses to what was said."
Another insider described the tone of exchanges between the Queen and Harry as terse.
They noted: "Conversations between them had become noticeably restrained, often reduced to brief, clipped replies from the Queen, which reflected just how cautious things had become. There was a clear sense that the Queen felt she needed a layer of protection during these exchanges, which is why she insisted on having a trusted member of staff present at all times. She was paranoid Harry would leak or even record their conversations.
"It was not just about protocol – it was about reassurance, accountability, and making sure there was an accurate record of what was said. Above all, she remained deeply guarded with Harry because she had been so personally hurt by his actions, and that emotional impact shaped how she approached every interaction with him."
'Some Recollections May Vary'
The Queen drove to Frogmore to tick off Markle for rudeness, according to a source.
Another source familiar with royal dynamics during the period said the breakdown in trust had a profound emotional impact.
The insider added, "It was not just about protocol – there was genuine hurt there. The Queen was dealing with a family situation that had become very public and very difficult, and it inevitably affected how she approached even private conversations."
Harry relocated to California in 2020 after proposals for a "half in, half out" role were rejected.
In 2021, Markle alleged racism within the royal household during her interview with Winfrey, prompting a sarcastic response from the Queen stating, "some recollections may vary."
'Prince Philip Was Not Taken In'
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The Queen insisted a lady-in-waiting attend every meeting with the Sussexes.
Vickers also described interactions during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, when Harry and Markle introduced their daughter, Princess Lilibet, now four.
He says: "Prince Harry was at (his then-residence) Frogmore Cottage with his wife and two children, the gate adorned with balloons to celebrate baby Lilibet's first birthday." They visited the Queen with the children, again with a lady-in-waiting present."
Further reflections in the book suggest unease within the royal household about Harry's new life in the US. Vickers writes: "And now Harry has opted out, and for what? To be a carer for (his son) Archie?"
He also detailed attitudes predating Harry and Markle's 2018 marriage, writing: "Prince Harry would never have been allowed to marry such a girl at an earlier time in the reign for obvious reasons, but the union was welcomed by a younger, more tolerant generation."
He adds: "Prince Philip was not taken in," and wrote he "referred to (Markle) as 'The American.'"
Vickers further claimed the Queen maintained a pragmatic distance from aspects of the wedding, writing: "Someone close to the Queen said her attitude to the actual wedding was, 'You get on with it. It's nothing to do with me.'"
He also described an incident involving Markle and royal staff, saying: "When they were living there, Meghan was rude to one of the under-gardeners – there are hundreds of gardeners."
"When one of the head gardeners mentioned this to the Queen, she got in her car and drove over and ticked off Meghan for being rude to the staff," Vickers writes.
