Meghan Markle, Prince Harry And Prince Andrew Photo Removed From Queen's Desk During Christmas Message

When Queen Elizabeth issued her annual Christmas speech on Monday, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s photos from the slew of keepsake photos on the desk staged next to her. While the omission of their photos at a time when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are rumored to be at odds with the rest of the royal family might have just been a coincidence, several watchers of the Queen’s recent speech believe that it is not.

The family feud involving the royal family’s Fab Four—Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan—has been in the rumor mill for months. For some, Queen Elizabeth’s unbreakable silence amid the ongoing feud rumors is a sign that she is not taking sides. Some point out, however, that if the obvious omission of Prince Harry and Meghan’s photos on her desk is anything to go by, it looks the monarch has a stand amid all these scandals after all.

In her speech, Queen Elizabeth acknowledged that the last 12 months have been quite bumpy for their family. She also emphasized the importance of reconciliation, saying that small steps taken in faith and in hope can “overcome differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.”

“The path, of course, is not always smooth, and many at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference,” she said. It remains unknown whether her words were in reference to the ongoing political turmoil over Brexit or something more personal like the issues involving members of her family, but speculations are rife that it had to do with Prince Harry and Meghan’s rift with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

It can be recalled that back in October, Prince Harry and Meghan opened up about their royal struggles in an explosive BBC interview. They revealed the struggles they constantly face under intense media scrutiny, admitting how it has taken its toll on their mental health. Prince Harry also subtly confirmed his rumored rift with Prince William when he said “there are good days and there are bad days” in their relationship. Weeks after the interview, they confirmed that they’re spending Christmas away from the royal family in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, watchers of Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas address also noticed the absence of Prince Andrew’s photo on her desk. Last month, the Duke of York made headlines following his catastrophic attempt to invalidate his rumored links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Days after the scandal broke, Prince Andrew was officially stripped of his royal duties.