One thing Brits want from Harry and Meghan after Queen’s death

The Queen’s death has brought Prince Harry and Meghan back into the fold and Brits have loved seeing it – but they’re asking for one more thing.

Most Brits appear to be supportive of Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to step away from royal life – they just wish they would stop talking about it.

Speaking to locals over the past week, news.com.au has found many understood why the couple wanted to pursue a more private life given the experience Harry’s mother Princess Diana had in the public eye – and they had no problem accepting it.

But they have taken issue with the pair continuing to speak publicly – and negatively – about the royal family.

“If they want to be in America and have a lovely life that is absolutely fine but just keep quiet about what they think,” Patricia of Manchester, 82, said.

“We’ve all had problems in the family but we don’t go around sharing it with everyone. I hope they are very happy in the States but leave it as that.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as working royals in 2020 and their decision to live independently was supported by the Queen. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Elaine, 69, also from Manchester, said: “I’m just so surprised he would want to leave and live privately, and then not live privately.”

Tracy, 52, and Kevin, 49, from North Hampton, said they threw a garden party to celebrate Meghan and Harry’s wedding but thought it was “terrible” how they had spoken about the family since, especially in their famous interview with Oprah.

“When they said they wanted to step away, that was not a problem but you can’t have it both ways,” Tracy said.

Kevin added: “You can’t say you’re going to step away from royal duties, from publicity and then have photographers following you around all the time that you’re choosing. You don’t want the publicity or you do.”

Harry and Meghan left royal life in March 2020 and did their explosive interview with American media personality Oprah Winfrey the following year.

Harry and Meghan during their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Picture: CBS

The couple have not spoken negatively about the Queen directly and it was confirmed neither her or Prince Philip made the comment about Archie’s skin. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

In the globally televised interview, Harry said his dad had stopped taking his calls and Meghan said when she was pregnant with Archie there had been a discussion within the royal family about “how dark his skin might be when he’s born”.

She also said Catherine, the new Princess of Wales, had made her cry over flower girl dresses in the days before her wedding, and that while working as a royal she tragically reached a point where she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” and was refused help from the royal family.

Fast forward to 2022, less than a fortnight before the Queen’s death, Meghan gave an interview to New York-based magazine The Cut where she spoke further about leaving “The Firm” and suggested that Harry had “lost” his father.

Meghan and Harry attending the annual One Young World Summit in Manchester just days before the Queen’s death. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

The couple were in the UK on a tour focusing on their charity work when the Queen died.

It was reported the couple had rejected an invitation to join Charles at his home on the Scottish estate Birkhall and would not meet William and Kate, but after the Queen’s death they were side-by-side with the family.

The last time the brothers and their wives undertook anything similar to the unexpected walkabout they did at Windsor on Saturday was during the Sussexes’ final turn as working royals in March 2020.

Kate and Will, and Harry and Meghan pleasantly surprised Brits by doing an impromptu walkabout on Saturday. Picture: Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Tom, who has been a taxi driver in London for 37 years, and his wife Rita told news.com.au they supported Harry and Meghan’s decision to have their own life in the US but disliked that they had “become more (like) celebrities”.

Tom said he used to defend the couple and would even have arguments with his own family, but could no longer.

“I think basically what they were saying about the royal family was probably all to raise money and publicity in America because not all Americans like the royal family. They don’t need to, it’s not their royal family,” he said.

“I think money is involved and this need to be in the public eye, which I feel Meghan does have to be. They’re not my cup of tea now because pretty much what they’ve said about the royal family.”

The brothers and their wives, once dubbed the Fab Four, as the coffin of the Queen arrives at Westminster Hall to lie in state. Picture: Darren Fletcher – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Hannah, 47, and also from London, said she hoped William and Harry would be able to speak and clear the air, but Meghan and Harry needed to “stop giving interviews to the media in America”.

“It’s better to air grievances in house, not go on TV because everyone thinks she is making money whether she has or not,” Hannah said.

Not everyone has a problem with Harry and Meghan speaking out.

Max, 30, from Colchester, said while he wasn’t particularly fond of the interviews the couple had given so far, he respected that they were entitled to their opinions and to make money.

“If they’re not going to be paid royals then they need to make a living for themselves,” he said.

Chenille, 22, from Preston, said: “I think they are saying how they feeling and there’s nothing really wrong with that.”

Prince Harry was due to publish a memoir this year about “the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him”.

An upcoming Netflix documentary will also reportedly give a rare look into their lives in California.

Originally published as One thing Brits want from Harry and Meghan after Queen’s death