As well as having to cope with damaging allegations made in television interviews,the late Queen was well aware that further revelations would be made in Harry’s book,Spare,which was originally due to be published last year.
Friends of the Queen have no doubt that it was playing on her mind in her final months. “This did have an impact on the Queen’s health in her final year. It did take its toll,” said one.
The prince,they say,was a “much-loved grandson” of the monarch,making the “almost weekly” attacks especially painful.
On Friday,royal sources accused Harry of wrongly blaming the Queen Consort for leaking a private conversation with his brother William,the Prince of Wales,saying it came via a member of her staff who resigned afterwards.
Royal insiders also accused him of “hypocrisy” for going into details about the personal struggles of King Charles and Catherine,the Princess of Wales,despite being a mental health campaigner.
Meanwhile,Harry faces a growing backlash from members of the Armed Forces,who believe hisdisclosure that he killed 25 insurgents in Afghanistan has put himself and serving personnel in greater danger.