The “Collaborate” Controversy: A Clearer Analysis

What Happened

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back from royal duties. In their statement, they said they would continue to “collaborate” with the Queen and other senior royals.

According to Rebecca English’s article, this single word caused a major uproar at the Palace. Senior courtiers were reportedly shocked. One insider allegedly said: “No one ‘collaborates’ with the Queen. This is not one of those ‘Kate Moss Topshop tie-ups.'”

The article claims this moment convinced the Queen that Harry and Meghan’s plan “would end in disaster.”

Why This Article Is Problematic

Weak Sources

The entire story relies on unnamed “palace insiders” and “courtiers.” We have no way to verify these claims or know if these sources have their own agenda. This is a common trick in royal reporting—it lets the Palace spread its version of events without taking responsibility.

Strange Timing

Why is this story coming out now, over four years later? There’s no new evidence or documents. It feels like the Palace is trying to control the narrative rather than report actual news.

Making a Mountain from a Molehill

The article treats one word as if it caused the entire royal rift. This ignores much bigger issues Harry and Meghan raised, like racism and mental health struggles. Focusing on “collaborate” makes their concerns seem petty and trivial.

One-Sided Story

The article assumes the monarchy is always right and never needs to change. It portrays the Queen’s reaction as wise and inevitable, while painting Harry and Meghan as clueless outsiders who didn’t understand “how things work.”

Missing the Real Questions

Instead of asking why Harry and Meghan felt they needed to leave, or whether the monarchy should adapt to modern times, the article just reinforces the Palace’s preferred narrative.

The Bottom Line

This article reads more like Palace propaganda than journalism. It uses the Queen’s reputation to shut down criticism and avoid serious questions about whether the royal family can handle change or diversity.

The word “collaborate” might have annoyed traditionalists, but turning it into the smoking gun that explains everything is both lazy and misleading. Real journalism would explore why two young royals felt so unwelcome that they chose to leave entirely.