Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth explained that Philip believed “people have to lead their lives as they think best.” He also considered Harry a “good man” and understood his desire to carve his own path.

Philip’s Reported Response to “Megxit”

According to the Daily Mail, Brandreth claimed Philip responded to the couple’s exit by saying, “It’s his [Prince Harry’s] life. I’ll soon be out of it and not before time.”

Despite disagreements, Philip was said to have been welcoming to Meghan when she joined the royal family. “He was very welcoming to Meghan because, of course, she was a newcomer and a very different newcomer,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward told Us Weekly in 2021.

Limited Contact With Meghan

However, Seward noted that Philip didn’t spend much time with Meghan, explaining that by the time she and Harry began their romance, he had already retired from public duties. “He didn’t see very much of Meghan at all [and] he didn’t really have a chance to form a relationship with her,” she said.

After Philip’s passing in April 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex honored him with a tribute on their Archewell Foundation website. “Thank you for your service … You will be greatly missed,” the message read. It ended with: “In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021.”