US President Donald Trump has claimed Queen Elizabeth II felt deeply “disrespected” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their dramatic departure from royal duties, according to a new book.
The claims are detailed in journalist Susan Page’s latest release, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History, which explores the late monarch’s relationships with thirteen US presidents, from Harry Truman through to Trump himself, prior to her death aged 96 in September 2022.
In the book, Trump recounts pressing the Queen on how she truly felt about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping back from royal life in 2020– and the wave of criticism that followed.
Since their exit, the couple have levelled serious allegations against the Royal Family, including claims of neglect and racism, most notably during their interview with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix docuseries, and in Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare.
“I asked her about it constantly,” Trump told Page. “I’d say, ‘Come on, tell me.’ ‘No, no. It’s very nice.’ Everybody was nice. She liked everybody.”
Despite the Queen’s measured public stance, Trump said he believed the situation affected her more than she let on.
“I couldn’t get her to say it. I’m good at that, too,” he said.
“She would always say, ‘No, no, would be lovely, lovely.’ But it wasn’t lovely, and I think it hurt her. I really think it hurt her. It was tremendous dissension, and I just don’t think they treated her with the respect that she should have, frankly.”
Trump continued: “I actually told her I couldn’t do what she does, because she was very cool on the subject.
“She would talk about it but never said anything bad about either of them, and I think she loved Harry, really loved Harry. But Harry’s been, I feel, led astray. I really do. I think he’s been terribly led astray.”
The US President added that the Queen did not deserve the “disrespect” and was ultimately taken aback by the unfolding situation.
“It’s just so disrespectful the way that happened, and she didn’t deserve that,” Trump said.
“This is a woman that everybody respected so much. I think she was stunned by what was happening, actually. She couldn’t believe it in real time.”
Trump has previously spoken warmly about the late monarch, describing her as an “extraordinary” and “sharp” leader with whom he shared “great chemistry” and an “unbelievable relationship”.
He stated that their 2019 meeting was his “most extraordinary honour” and even claimed she told him he was her “favourite president,” despite separate reports suggesting the Queen found him “very rude.”
At the same time, Trump has not held back in his criticism of the Sussexes, at one stage suggesting he was “ready to punish Harry by more than words”, including raising the possibility of deportation over alleged discrepancies in his US visa application.
However, after beginning his second presidential term in 2025, Trump appeared to soften his stance.
“I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible,” he told the celebrity.land.
The book’s release comes just weeks before King Charles III and Queen Camilla embark on a landmark state visit to the United States, where they are set to meet with President Trump.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit will run from April 27 to April 30, before continuing to Bermuda on May 1 and May 2, as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence during the reign of King Charles’ ancestor, King George III.
During their time in Washington, D.C., the King, 77, and Queen, 78, will be welcomed by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a private tea, followed by a garden party celebrating the ties between the two nations.
King Charles will also deliver an address to Congress- only the second time a British monarch has addressed a joint meeting, following the Queen’s historic 1991 speech.
The royal couple will later attend a state dinner at the White House and lay a wreath in honour of fallen service members, underscoring the long-standing military alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Their tour will also include visits to New York City and Virginia, where they will attend events marking America’s milestone anniversary.
The Sussexes are not expected to meet with the King and Queen during the visit.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.skynews.com.au ’
