FOUR years ago Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left royal life and moved to California – and there was a key reason behind the move according to an ex-Vanity Fair editor.

Tina Brown, who was friends with Princess Diana, claimed that Meghan “persuaded Harry” of her Hollywood influence.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior working royals in 2020Credit: Getty

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Ex-Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown claims Meghan persuaded Harry she was a ‘savvy Hollywood wheeler-dealer’Credit: AFP
Tina, who had lunch with Princess Diana in New York two months before her death in 1997, said on The Ankler podcast: “He [Harry] was terribly impressed by Meghan.

“He thought that she knew all.

“She persuaded him that she was the savvy Hollywood wheeler-dealer who could come in and make them stars and all the rest of it. And he just sort of blindly followed her like a child, really.”

The author, who wrote The Palace Papers, a bestselling 2022 book about the royal family, claims that when Harry met Meghan in 2016, he became a “lamb to the slaughter.”

Tina added that despite being in the royal family, Harry is “so naive and really unschooled in the ways of the world”.

The former editor claimed Prince Harry would only be able to return to the UK without Meghan, but doubted it would happen due to the alleged rift between Harry and William.

However, Prince Harry is ‘keeping a door open’ to the Royal Family by buying a home in Portugal, as it “could be a very nice way in”, claimed a royal expert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly snapped up a luxurious property in Alentejo, Portugal, just a stone’s throw away from Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.

As reported by the Mail, the couple plan to set up a base there after being seen in the area last September following the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Royal expert Hugo Vickers told The Sun Harry’s close bond with his cousin should be “encouraged” and will ” keep these avenues of communication open”.

When Meghan had enough of royal life, we got Megxit – now it’s Harry’s turn to look fed up, her response is telling
The royal author suggested a friendship between Harry and Eugenie’s children “could be a wonderful route in” to royal life.

Mr Vickers hinted it may provide a way to form connections with Prince William and Princess Kate’s trio, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

The Sussexes share two children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

They are similar in age to Eugenie and Jack’s two sons – August, three, and Ernest, one.

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The former editor claimed Prince Harry would only be able to return to the UK without MeghanCredit: Reuters

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Tina claimed that when Harry met Meghan in 2016, he became a ‘lamb to the slaughter’Credit: Alamy
Mr Vickers told The Sun: “I think what you say about you know the connection between the Brooksbank children and Prince Harry’s children could be very significant as the years go on, because they will know their cousins as they grow up. And that could be a very nice way in.

“I have always thought that it’s very sad for Archie and Lilibet that that one day it’ll dawn on them that their cousin is going to be the King of England one day, and normally you’d really rather like to get involved with all that I would have thought, it could be a very interesting extension to life, and so that could be a wonderful route in.

“I think that’s a very significant point.”

Why did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back as senior working royals?

PRINCE Harry has always wanted out of the Royal Family and the repercussions will be felt for years, an expert has claimed.

The Duke of Sussex has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since 2020 after they dramatically quit their jobs as working royals and moved across the pond.

Katie Nicholl, who is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that Megxit did not come as a surprise to her.

Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the commentator explained: “Anyone who knows Harry is aware he’s always wanted a way out of the Royal Family.

“He’s said multiple times on the record that he wished he’d never been born a prince.

“I think he really is living the life he wants to now. It’s very, very sad that it’s played out the way it has.”

In a statement made on the Sussexes’ Instagram account as they stepped back in 2020, the pair wrote: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, 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.

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.

“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.”