Queen put foot down on Sussexes’ plan to avoid Wessex-like ‘disaster’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are believed to have proposed adopting a half-in half-out arrangement but the plan was rejected by the monarchy. Speaking on the latest episode of the Daily Express’ Royal Round-Up, royal correspondent Richard Palmer claimed their plan was stopped by the late Queen and King Charles, then Prince of Wales, as they were fearful of a repeat “disaster” after a negative scheme attempted with the Earl and Countess of Wessex.Mr Palmer told host Pandora Forsyth: “The key thing is the Queen, supported by the then-Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and then Duke of Cambridge, and other members of the family, took the view that you can’t be half-in half-out.”Edward and Sophie tried it years ago and it ended in disaster for them really, well, embarrassment, anyway.”He noted that the approach was also rejected as “you are always to be accused of cashing in on your royal connections”.Mr Palmer noted that Meghan and Harry’s “choice to quit” also “faced criticism” because they “dished the dirt on the Royal Family.READ MORE: ‘Keep calm and carry on’: King Charles left unfazed by egg protest, lip reader says Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with the late Queen (Image: PA) Prince Edward, the late Queen’s youngest son, and his wife Sophie (Image: PA)He made reference to the couple’s 2021 bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where they “made accusations” which didn’t seem to “reflect the facts”.Ms Forsyth also made a point that, unlike Sophie and Edward, the Sussexes were “senior royals” and “very much at the forefront of the Royal Family”.Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex have grown to become much-loved members of the Royal Family.Despite not wanting to be full-time working royals, Edward and Sophie have become integral members of the Firm.READ MORE: Royal Family LIVE: Meghan accused of ‘showing off’ as new crown cypher emerges on letterDespite their growing popularity, royal commentator and PR expert Kinsey Schofield previously told Express.co.uk recalled one earlier misstep whereby the couple got “in trouble” for mixing their business with royalty. Edward and Sophie had initially planned to pursue their own careers, alongside being royals.Ms Schofield said: ‘They [Sophie and Edward] attempted to half-in half-out.”Sophie wanted to continue with her PR firm and Edward wanted to be a producer – he wanted to produce content.’And when they kind of got in trouble for mixing that royal element in with their day-to-day monetised businesses”, which led to the couple being “humiliated”.DON’T MISSMeghan Markle hits back at ‘unflattering’ two-word nickname [INSIGHT] Meghan Markle shares ‘I voted’ sticker on day of midterms [REPORT]    Meghan admits she must ‘rethink parenting style’ in latest podcast [REPORT] Meghan and Harry now live in the US with their two children, Archie and Lilibet (Image: GETTY)