Queen Elizabeth was 'sad' but not surprised about he and Meghan stepping back from royal life

Prince Harry says Queen Elizabeth II was "sad" but not surprised about he and Meghan's decision to step back from their royal roles.

Their drastic move was dubbed 'Megxit' and saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex resign from their places as senior working royals in March 2020, three months after revealing their plans on Instagram.

Speaking to American breakfast television program Good Morning America, Prince Harry says his grandmother had never told him she was angry with him for wanting to change his role.

Watch the video above.

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Harry told host Michael Strahan he thought the Queen was "sad" it had reached that point but was powerless to do anything, likely believing senior palace aides called the shots.

It was Harry's third television interview in promotion of his memoir Spare, following sit-downs with ITV and CBS.

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Strahan asked Harry about the Queen's reaction to Megxit: "Did she ever express that she was upset at you?"

Harry said: "For what?"

Strahan replied: "For wanting to change your role."

Harry answered: "No. My grandmother and I had a very good relationship.

"I had many, many conversations with her both in the UK over the years and in the run-up to the point of this change, so it was never a surprise to anybody, least of all her.

"She knew what was going on. She knew how hard it was.

"She never said to me that she was angry. I think she was sad that it had got to that point.

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"I don't know whether she was in a position to be able to change it."

Harry said there had been no compromise over his half-in half-out plan offered when they announced their intention to step back.

Strahan suggested Harry and Meghan would be seen as hypocritical by some of their critics "because if you get out there's no hypocrisy?"

"I can't ever get out and I'm incredibly aware of my position," Harry said.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the life that I've had and continue to live.

"But there's no version of me being ever able to get out of this. I was stunned that my family would allow security to be taken away, especially at the most vulnerable point for us."

Harry was asked whether he and Meghan would ever be able to return to Britain to resume their lives as working royals.

He dismissed the idea but appeared open to supporting the Commonwealth in some form, an organisation that was one of the late Queen's proudest achievements.

"I don't think it's ever going to be possible," Harry said about resuming his former role with Meghan.

"Even if there was an agreement or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that that isn't possible," he said, with that third party believed to be the British press.

"If there was something in the future where we can continue to support the Commonwealth, then that's of course on the table".