Queen 'upset' Prince Harry 'terribly' with Christmas photograph removal

The Queen offended Prince Harry after refusing to include his photograph in her televised Christmas speech, a new book has claimed

Queen 'upset' Prince Harry with Christmas photograph snub
(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen left Prince Harry 'terribly upset' after removing a photograph of him from her Christmas broadcast, a new royal book has claimed. 


The Queen's relationship with Prince Harry was reportedly damaged by her alleged decision to erase him from her Christmas speech in 2019, according to a new royal book. 

In 'Brothers And Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan', bestselling author Christopher Anderson claims that Her Majesty instructed a royal aide to remove a photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their baby, Archie, from the frame of the annual television address in retaliation to their refusal to spend the holidays in the UK. 

It's no secret that Harry broke royal tradition in December 2019 by ditching the Sandringham House Christmas banquet for lowkey celebrations in Canada with Meghan and her mother, Doria Ragland. The snub reportedly didn't go unnoticed by the 95-year-old monarch, who is understood to have clapped back at her grandson in her own subtle way. 

Queen's Christmas speech 2019

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are nowhere to be seen in the Queen's Christmas speech in 2019 

(Image credit: Getty)

Anderson's book quotes a source who claims that the Queen "looked over the tables where the photographs she had so lovingly selected were arranged" and singled out the Sussex couple to say "I suppose we don’t need that one". 

A still from the Christmas speech in question shows that, while portraits of the Cambridges and Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are in view, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are nowhere to be seen. 

Andreson's insider goes on to claim that Prince William was stunned to see the absence of his younger brother's photo when the speech aired and even raised concerns to his wife, Kate Middleton, that Harry would be "terribly upset" by the move. 

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on stage during the first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony

Prince William reportedly told Kate Middleton that Harry would be "terribly upset" by the Queen's removal of his photograph 

(Image credit: Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

A royal spokesperson has responded to the book's statements, telling the New York Post, "We don’t comment on books of this kind as to do so risks giving it some form of authority or credibility.” 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their withdrawal as senior members of the Royal Family the following month, before abruptly relocating to the US with their eight-month-old son Archie. They moved into a $14m Santa Barbara mansion in March 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Lilibet Diana, the following year. The couple has not returned to the UK as a family since their stateside emigration and with the Queen's fragile condition shedding doubt over plans for the royals' Christmas this year, it's unlikely they'll be making a trip back any time soon. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.