The Queen ‘caught off guard’ by Harry and Meghan’s public announcements

It is also understood the couple didn’t consult the Queen or Buckingham Palace about their decision to participate in the tell-all with Oprah, which will air on March 7.

While members of the royal family cooperate with media organisations when it comes to their public lives, it is expected Meghan’s interview will be more personal in nature, detailing her life since her split with the monarchy and the Sussexes’ efforts to forge their own paths.

Suffice to say, some of what she says may be uncomfortable for the monarchy, the situation bringing to mind Harry’s mother Princess Diana’s own controversial 1995 interview for Panorama.

Diana used the interview to tell her side of the story when it came to her time with the royals, accusing Prince Charles of having cheated on her for majority of their marriage and of the family failing to support her during difficult times.

While Diana’s interview was kept secret until approximately 10 hours before it aired, Harry and Meghan have at least shared their plans.

The couple has also launched their own organisation, Archewell, which will manage their commercial and charitable endeavours, after they were forced to stop using the Sussex Royal brand following their resignation in January 2020.

Shortly after the royal wedding in 2018, the duke and duchess began pushing the boundaries when it came to how they planned to live their lives.

This included a hastily-announced first pregnancy with son Archie shortly after landing in Australia for an official tour, and keeping details of his birth a secret; and how they chose to announce their royal resignation and now their second pregnancy and media plans.