Former royal butler says the ‘Fab Four’ relationship soured in the months before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in January 2020

The “turning point” in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family occurred just before the couple announced they were departing for the US, an expert has claimed. It is believed “something must have happened” prior to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex making the shocking announcement in January 2020.

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, suggested the pair enjoyed a positive relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales until they stepped back from The Firm, when they were dubbed the “Fab Four”. However, it was reportedly during the months leading up to their announcement that their relationship appeared to deteriorate.

Mr Harrold explained: “We saw William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan do so many things together initially, but the turning point was a few months before the announcement that they were stepping away from royal duties. They were doing events in the summer prior to that, so something must have happened in between.”

Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Mr Harrold stated Prince William was “genuinely happy” his brother had found someone. Images captured of the four together in 2019, including a photograph at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, showed just how close they had been.

Nevertheless, he says “something must have happened” before Harry and Meghan departed the UK. In a statement issued when they made this choice, the couple said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

It’s understood that Harry and Meghan did not consult Queen Elizabeth or the then-Prince Charles before releasing their shocking statement in early 2020, reports the Mirror. Since then, the Duke of Sussex, 41, has told The Telegraph: “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.”

The startling announcement from Harry and Meghan prompted the Queen to release her own statement, confirming that the couple were no longer “full-time working members of the royal family”.

In her statement, she expressed that she would have “preferred” for the Sussexes to remain. She conceded that she understood their decision and supported their “wish to live a more independent life as a family whilst remaining a valued part of my family”.