By Katherine Tinsley
11:05am PST, Jan 23, 2026
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The Sandringham Summit was the notorious family meeting that resulted in
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle no longer being working royals, and Prince Philip reportedly refused to attend.
"Prince Philip is someone who doesn't take fools gladly, and he was horrified that they had come to a situation where the Royal Family were deciding whether to split up or not," royal author
Andrew Morton said in the documentary
Megxit: Inside the Sandringham Summit.
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"Philip was so angry that he refused to even be there. I was told that he just couldn't bring himself to see his grandson; he thought it was a huge dereliction of duty," royal expert Emily Andrews said.
There were rumors that the former Duke of Edinburgh, who was a devoted consort, was angry at Meghan Markle for not adjusting to royal life.
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When
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first left the U.K., the duo hoped to continue working for
Queen Elizabeth II from Canada, but things quickly changed.
"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," the Sussexes said in their initial statement.
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"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity,"
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continued.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's vision to become part-time royals quickly unraveled, as the pair was left on the outskirts of the royal fold.
Harry later claimed he "felt forced" to leave the U.K. in his security lawsuit.
