In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the royal family and beyond, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, has publicly read the late Queen Elizabeth II’s final will during a memorial event marking the third anniversary of the monarch’s passing on September 8, 2025. The unexpected revelation, which took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, has reportedly left Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reeling, as the contents of the will appear to underscore the late Queen’s stance on their controversial exit from royal duties—a decision that continues to divide the House of Windsor.

A Public Reading That Broke Royal Protocol

The event was initially intended as a private memorial to honor Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96. Attended by senior royals including King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, the service was meant to reflect on the late Queen’s legacy of service and devotion. However, Princess Anne, known for her no-nonsense demeanor and deep loyalty to her mother’s values, stunned attendees by announcing that she would read excerpts from the Queen’s final will—a move that broke with centuries of royal tradition, as such documents are typically kept confidential within the family.

According to sources close to the royal household, Princess Anne’s decision was deliberate. “Anne has always been fiercely protective of her mother’s legacy,” a Palace insider revealed. “She felt that the ongoing tensions with Harry and Meghan, particularly their public criticisms and commercial ventures, were tarnishing the Queen’s memory. Reading the will publicly was her way of setting the record straight.” The Princess Royal reportedly prefaced the reading by stating, “My mother’s wishes were clear, and they deserve to be heard by all who claim to honor her name.”

The Will’s Contents: A Blow to Harry and Meghan

The excerpts from Queen Elizabeth II’s will, as read by Princess Anne, focused heavily on the roles and responsibilities of working royals, with a pointed emphasis on the importance of duty over personal gain. While the full details remain private, Anne highlighted a passage in which the late Queen expressed her “deep sorrow” over the Sussexes’ decision to step back from their roles in 2020, describing it as a “departure from the path of service” that she had dedicated her life to upholding. The Queen reportedly stipulated that any member of the royal family who chose to pursue a “hybrid role”—balancing royal duties with private commercial ventures—would not be entitled to the same privileges as working royals, including access to certain financial provisions and security arrangements.

This clause struck a particularly raw nerve for Prince Harry, who has been locked in a years-long legal battle with the U.K. Home Office over the downgrading of his security detail since stepping back from royal duties. Harry has argued that the decision left his family vulnerable, a concern rooted in the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. However, the Queen’s will appears to validate the royal establishment’s stance, suggesting that Harry and Meghan’s exit came with inevitable consequences. “It was as if the Queen herself was speaking from beyond the grave, reaffirming that you can’t have it both ways,” a royal commentator noted on BBC News.

The will also reportedly included a personal note to Harry, in which the Queen expressed her love for him and her hope that he would “find peace” in his new life, but urged him to “honor the values of the monarchy” in all his endeavors. While the message was tender, its public airing—alongside the broader context of the will—has been interpreted by many as a subtle rebuke of the Sussexes’ post-royal activities, including their Netflix docuseries, Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever, and their continued use of royal titles despite stepping back from duties.

Harry and Meghan’s Reaction: Shaken and Isolated

Sources close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say the couple was “blindsided” by Princess Anne’s actions. Harry and Meghan, who now reside in Montecito, California, with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, did not attend the memorial service, citing ongoing security concerns—a decision that had already sparked criticism from some royal watchers. “They had no idea this was coming,” a friend of the couple told People magazine. “Harry is devastated. He feels like his grandmother’s memory is being weaponized against him.”

Meghan, who has faced intense scrutiny for her commercial ventures, including the recent success of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, reportedly feels that the public reading of the will was a deliberate attempt to undermine their efforts to build a new life. “Meghan sees this as another example of the royal family refusing to accept their choices,” the source added. “She’s furious, but more than that, she’s hurt. They both feel increasingly isolated from the family.”

The Sussexes’ absence from the memorial event was already a point of contention, with some insiders suggesting that their decision not to attend was seen as a “snub” by other royals. Posts on X reflected a divided public opinion, with some users sympathizing with Harry and Meghan’s security concerns, while others accused them of disrespecting the late Queen’s memory by not showing up. One user wrote, “Harry and Meghan can’t have it both ways—cry about being excluded but then skip every family event. They made their choice.”

Princess Anne’s Role: The Queen’s Fiercest Defender

Princess Anne, often described as the “hardest-working royal,” has long been a steadfast defender of her mother’s legacy. Her decision to break tradition by reading the will publicly aligns with her reputation for bluntness and her commitment to the monarchy’s core values. Anne’s own history with royal tradition offers a stark contrast to Harry and Meghan’s approach—she pioneered the practice of royal mothers being photographed on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital after giving birth, a tradition that began with the birth of her son, Peter Phillips, in 1977. Harry and Meghan, however, chose to keep the birth of their son, Archie, private in 2019, a decision that marked one of their earliest breaks with royal custom.

Royal historian Robert Lacey, author of Battle of Brothers, commented on Anne’s actions in an interview with The Independent: “Princess Anne has always been the family’s moral compass. She saw the Queen’s final years marred by the Sussexes’ public criticisms, and she’s not one to let that slide. This was her way of reminding everyone—especially Harry and Meghan—what the monarchy stands for.”

The Royal Family’s Broader Strategy: A United Front

The public reading of the will comes at a time when the royal family is keen to project unity, particularly following Prince Harry’s recent legal setbacks and his bombshell BBC interview in May 2025, where he claimed that King Charles “won’t speak to me” over the security dispute. The interview, which coincided with the 80th anniversary of VE Day, drew criticism for fueling speculation about Charles’ health, as the King continues to battle cancer. Former press secretary to the late Queen, Ailsa Anderson, called Harry’s comments “incredibly unhelpful,” a sentiment echoed by Buckingham Palace’s efforts to ensure that nothing detracted from the VE Day commemorations.

King Charles III, who has had limited contact with Harry since a brief reunion following his cancer diagnosis in early 2024, reportedly supported Anne’s decision to read the will. A source close to the King told The Times that Charles “wants to honor his mother’s wishes while also moving forward.” The monarch’s upcoming visit to Canada later in May 2025, alongside Queen Camilla, is seen as an opportunity to focus on his duties and distance himself from the ongoing drama with his youngest son.

What’s Next for Harry, Meghan, and the Monarchy?

The fallout from Princess Anne’s revelation is likely to deepen the already significant rift between Harry, Meghan, and the rest of the royal family. Harry’s legal battles show no signs of abating—he is set to return to the High Court next week as part of a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers over alleged unlawful activities, alongside Elton John. Meanwhile, Meghan’s commercial ventures continue to thrive, with With Love, Meghan renewed for a second season on Netflix and her As Ever brand selling out within hours of its launch in April 2025. However, the couple’s use of their royal titles remains a contentious issue, with Prince William reportedly seeking to strip them of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, according to royal experts cited by Fox News.

For now, the royal family appears determined to move forward without the Sussexes. The image of Princess Anne standing firm at St. George’s Chapel, reading her mother’s words with unwavering resolve, may well become a defining moment in the monarchy’s modern history. As one royal watcher put it on Sky News, “Anne has drawn a line in the sand. The question is whether Harry and Meghan will ever find a way to cross it—or if they even want to.”

The late Queen’s final will, now partially laid bare for the world to see, serves as a stark reminder of the monarchy’s enduring values—and the steep price of straying from them. For Harry and Meghan, the path ahead looks more uncertain than ever.