Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn't take up the Queen's invitation to take Archie to Balmoral soon after he was born as it "didn't fit their narrative", a new royal book has claimed.
The late monarch would enjoy an extended stay at her Scottish Highlands estate each summer - and her beloved home there was where she died earlier this month. Throughout the course of her stay in Balmoral each summer, she would welcome her family members at various points over her break, with the end of August being a time she would often invite her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But according to a new book, Harry and Meghan did not take the Queen up on an invitation to go there in 2019 - just months after they welcomed their son Archie.
The couple had been expected at Balmoral that year with Archie along with the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales with their children.
But writing in her new book, The New Royals, royal expert and author Katie Nicholl says it was surprising that the Sussexes decided against going to Balmoral.
She writes: "There were raised eyebrows when Harry and Meghan declined an invite from the Queen to spend a long weekend at Balmoral in the summer of 2019 - when she traditionally hosts a weekend for her grandchildren and a special sleepover for her great-grandchildren - preferring to Archie to Ibiza and the South of France.
"'Playing happy families at Balmoral didn't really fit their narrative,' I was told by a source close to the Sussexes."
Reports in Spanish publications at the time claimed Meghan, Harry and Archie flew to the Balearic island on a private plane and were accompanied by their normal security team.
It then later emerged they also travelled to Nice shortly after for a short trip, where they stayed at Elton John's private villa.
Meanwhile, the book also claims the Queen had a heartbreaking reaction when she heard Harry and Meghan were stepping down as senior royals and moving to the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be leaving their roles as working royals in early 2020 - and a source close to Her Majesty claims she was hurt by the decision.
The couple were allowed to leave the Firm, but couldn't use their HRH titles in their quest to become financially independent.
At the time, the Queen thanked the couple for their "dedicated" work, adding: "It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
But the book quotes a source as saying: "She was very hurt and told me, ‘I don’t know, I don’t care, and I don’t want to think about it anymore.'”
It goes on to claim that the 96-year-old monarch saw very little of her great-grandchildren Archie and Lilibet.
It comes after Harry and Meghan were by the royal family's side during the Queen's funeral.
They extended their stay in the UK for the funeral and were seen side-by-side with Prince William and Kate as they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle.
