
Hugo Vickers' new biography claims Queen Elizabeth II insisted on having a lady-in-waiting present whenever Prince Harry rang her from California after his 2020 departure from royal duties, with palace sources alleging the monarch sought 'a record of what was said' to protect herself.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had stunned the world by quitting as working royals that year, relocating to Montecito after the Queen vetoed their bid for a part-time role. Prince Harry's subsequent memoir Spare and their Oprah interview where Meghan accused unnamed royals, later identified as King Charles and Kate Middleton, of racism only widened the chasm.