Prince Harry was told he had to be 'all in or all out' of royal life at a crucial Sandringham summit in early 2020, leaving the 'reluctant' duke to return to Canada effectively forced out of the royal family, according to royal writer Hugo Vickers.
Tensions had been mounting for years over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's roles within the monarchy, culminating in their surprise January 2020 statement that they wished to step back as senior royals and pursue a 'half in, half out' arrangement. The couple proposed splitting their lives between the UK and North America, remaining financially independent while still undertaking some official duties on behalf of the crown.
