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2019 was quite the year for Queen Elizabeth II. Though the long-reigning monarch has seen her share of strife and turmoil across the globe and within her own family, things had been fairly calm in the British royal family until it all came apart at the seams.

The queen was trying to manage the tension between her beloved grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry which began brewing in 2016. Then things exploded in November of 2019 when her favorite son, Prince Andrew did an explosive interview with BBC News Night about his troubling relationship with the late sex offender and financier Jeffery Epstein. As a result, and the prince’s refusal to cooperate with the FBI — he stepped away from his royal duties completely.

Then on Jan. 8, 2020, the royals were thrown into chaos again when Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex decided to resign their positions as working members of the royal family. There have been tons of rumors about how the queen actually feels about Megxit. However, it appears that she really does support her grandchildren and their decision to live their own lives.

This was Queen Elizabeth’s public statement about Megxit

One of the main things that people like Markle and even the late Princess Diana found trouble about the British royal family is that you could never express your true feelings. Still, despite the fact that their resignation came as a shock — the queen appeared to publicly support the Sussexes.

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the queen wrote in a statement “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”

However, that hasn’t stopped her from rewarding those who have remained loyal to her.

Queen Elizabeth rewards loyalty

After nearly 70 years on the throne — Queen Elizabeth II knows how to manage a crisis. However, she has also blatantly rewarded Prince William and other senior royals who have remained loyal to her. She named the Duke of Cambridge, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Essentially this role gives him the license to make opening and closing speeches at the Assembly while carrying out official royal duties of the role.

Additionally, there have been whispers that the queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie Countess of Wessex will be stepping up to stand in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s roles. The prince and the countess have long been beloved, scandal-free, and uncomplaining members of the royal family.

Despite their father’s disastrous scandal — the queen has also shielded her granddaughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie from the firey press. She even upgraded Princess Beatrice’s wedding venue.

Queen Elizabeth just paid tribute to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Though she would have preferred the Sussexes to remain working royals, it appears that the queen also understands where they are coming from. This past Sunday morning while attending church in Sandringham — the queen wore a blue coat and matching hat. However, royal fans noticed her shimmering accessory.

Queen Elizabeth wore her Canadian sapphire jubilee brooch, designed in the shape of a snowflake. It’s made up of 48 Canadian sapphires surrounded by diamonds. The queen was gifted the brooch in 2017 by the former Governor-General of Canada, David Johnson. Now royal experts are saying that the brooch is a subtle side of support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Sali Hughes, author of Our Rainbow Queen once wrote that the queen often uses fashion to state the things she cannot say. She said, “Truly, Elizabeth II’s quiet, devastating trolling through fashion could inspire an assassin.”

In a statement following the Sussexes’ move to Canada the queen said,

 Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

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