Megxit is a diplomatic nightmare

The government has wisely kept away from the Harry and Meghan story so far. Despite that, no one should imagine that the latest royal farrago causes anything other than extreme concern for HMG, which will be worried at the potential for a rogue royal to upset the direction of government policy. There is still much to learn about how the Sussexes intend to conduct their lives, but the couple’s desire to pursue ‘a progressive new role’ will cause alarm in Whitehall. Anything that calls for interpretation risks going wrong.

To put this into context it is helpful to look at three examples, one extreme, the others less so.

For the first, historians would look to Edward VIII after the abdication. The deeply embittered Duke was a constant worry to the authorities. He was at the very least sympathetic to the Nazis, and his visit to Germany with Mrs Simpson and meetings with Hitler were diplomatic nightmares.