Her Majesty dubbed 2019 a “wobbly” year in her Christmas speech, after Prince Philip’s health scare, Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ Newsnight interview and the ongoing rift between Harry and Prince William. Yet further difficulties lay in store for the monarch in the New Year. Aside from the announcements of two royal divorces, Meghan and Harry declared their intention to separate from the Royal Family just days into January, in the hope of becoming financially independent. Although some reports claim the Queen was “blindsided” by the announcement, she quickly called a Sandringham summit with Prince Charles, William and Harry to discuss how the Firm could move forwards. 

Although a conclusion was reached, her most recent decision to forbid the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from using the brand name ‘Sussex Royal’ has caused a new wave of frustration from Meghan and Harry.

The couple released a furious statement on their website where they said the monarch had no “jurisdiction” over the word royal “overseas”. The Palace is yet to comment, but according to a report by the Daily Express, the Queen is deeply saddened by the turn of events.

Royal sources said yesterday: “She’s just extremely disappointed that it’s turned out like this. I think she is upset and saddened by it all.”

According to royal commentator Katie Nicholl in Vanity Fair last week, the Queen does not want to discuss the crisis anymore.

An insider told Ms Nicholl: “She generally doesn’t want to talk about it.

“The Queen has been keen to get this resolved because she sees it is damaging to the monarchy and, on a personal level, I think this has been rather hurtful for her.

“She has got to the point where she doesn’t want to think about it anymore, she just wants it over and done with.”

Some critics believed the Queen has actually been much kinder to the rebellious royal couple than she could have been.

She and Charles considered stripping Meghan and Harry of their titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, meaning Harry would have to resort to his lesser title of Earl of Dumbarton.

Yet, according to the Evening Standard back in January, the two did not want to appear “petty” and therefore let them retain the Sussex name.

It is also widely believed that the Queen let the two keep their HRH titles so the couple can always come back to the Firm if necessary. For now, she has simply ruled they cannot use the styles as Meghan and Harry are no longer working royals.

Her decision to prevent the two using the brand Sussex Royal is allegedly based on a consultation between the Queen’s advisers and royal lawyers. It is widely perceived as a move to stop the commercialisation of the Royal Family.

As former courtier Patrick Jepson told Ms Nicholl: “The Queen’s disciplinary power within her family is seldom mentioned and seldom used.”

He added: “She does what’s necessary.”

Still, the Queen appeared to be entirely behind Harry and Meghan shortly after the Sandringham summit.

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In a surprisingly personal statement, the monarch explained: “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.

“Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”

Royal author Penny Junor described the Queen’s statement as “friendly and warm”, which intended to “take the pressure off them”.

The biographer added: “My reading from that statement is that the family has been sensitive to their vulnerability.”

The backlash from the Sussexes over their brand is surprising, too.

As a source told Ms Nicholl last week: “[Harry] went into this knowing that he could lose his title, but his freedom is more important than any of that.

“He and Meghan have a back-up plan in place.”

A source close to the couple explained: “As part of the process to transition the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into their new chapter, planning has been well underway around the launch of their new non-profit organisation.”

The two first set up their brand name after their split from William and Kate’s foundation, the Royal Foundation, last year.

Harry and Meghan then set up an Instagram account in the name as well as a website and their own foundation. 

They are reported to have spent a small fortune on establishing Sussex Royal and will now have to pull all of the branding work they have done to date.

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