Prince Harry Reportedly Thinks The Royal Family 'Didn't Welcome' Or 'Protect' Meghan Markle

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One of the biggest news stories of 2020 has been Prince Harry (or rather, just "Harry" now) and Meghan Markle stepping down as "senior royals," giving up many of their duties, and living part time in North America. They announced on Instagram:

"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. 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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."

Since that January announcement, the details are still being hammered out about what their new roles will look like and it appears that things are rather awkward in The Firm.

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One of the stipulations of this new arrangement is that Harry and Meghan will not be able to use "Sussex Royal" in their branding going forward. They released a statement about it on their website, saying:

"As The Duke and Duchess will no longer be considered full-time working Members of The Royal Family, it was agreed that use of the word 'Royal' would need to be reviewed as it pertains to organisations associated with them in this new regard."

However, a source told InTouch Weekly that Harry and Meghan are not so zen from being banned from using "royal" going forward.

"Being banned from using ‘royal’ has really upset Harry and Meghan. Not just because they spent a fortune on branding. It's the principle."

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According to the source, Harry is frustrated with the Royal Family's lack of concern about his wife's well-being, and the seeming double standard that they are being held to.

"Harry's accused the royals of treating him and Meghan differently [than] the rest of the family and says that they didn’t welcome her into the family with open arms or protect her enough. Harry thinks it's unfair that there's one rule for him and Meghan and another for his cousins. The way he sees it, [Princesses] Eugenie and Beatrice are allowed to have lives outside of the family and are still royals so why can't he and Meghan?"

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Harry expressed his sadness over breaking with the Royal Family in such a radical way while giving a speech at a charity dinner in January, claiming that they had "no other option."

"It brings me great sadness that it has come to this.

The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly … there really was no other option. I have accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life."