'Stress' Caused By Harry, Meghan's Book And Doc 'Broke' Queen's Heart, Media Psychiatrist Claims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interviews and media projects likely brought "stress" to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in their final days, a psychiatrist has claimed.

Following the premiere of the couple's Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan" last week, GB News host Mark Dolan interviewed Carole Lieberman, whom he described as "America's top psychiatrist," on his show, where she shared her thoughts on how Prince Harry and Markle's actions since leaving royal life affected their relationship with his late grandparents.

"I think that [Meghan] and Harry are responsible to some degree for the deaths of Prince Philip and the Queen because Prince Philip, [though] he was of a certain age and getting in frail health, died a month after the Oprah [Winfrey] interview. And then the Queen died in anticipation of this Netflix documentary and Harry's book," Lieberman claimed on GB News' "Mark Dolan Tonight."

"I think that stress broke their hearts. That stress I think literally led to or at least contributed to their deaths," claimed Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness for over 20 years who has "a track record of success" in civil and criminal cases for plaintiff and defense cases involving psychiatric issues, emotional distress and more, according to her website.

While Dolan did not agree with Lieberman's opinion, he acknowledged that the "mental anguish can't have been great" for Queen Elizabeth in her final days.

Dolan then went on to slam Markle for allegedly mocking the Queen in the docuseries and Prince Harry for not defending his grandmother.

In the first volume of "Harry & Meghan," Markle poked fun at her over-the-top attempt to show respect to Queen Elizabeth during their first meeting by performing an exaggerated curtsy. The moment has since sparked controversy on social media, with some suggesting that the former actress was mocking the Queen and royal protocol.

"You'd think that Harry's protective instinct toward his family would at least surface in relation to our great Queen Elizabeth II," Dolan claimed on his show. "He may have resentment toward his brother [Prince William] or his father [King Charles], fair enough, but as the Queen battled ill health in what turned out to be the final months of her life and as she grieved her beloved Philip, Harry was quite happy to do podcasts, slagging off his family and the monarchy itself and announcing a tell-all biography, which doubtless caused the Queen sleepless nights."

International Business Times could not independently verify Dolan and Lieberman's claims.

Prince Philip's hospital stay in the final weeks of his life coincided with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's March 2021 interview with Winfrey, in which allegations of racism and a lack of mental health support were leveled at the royal family. The Duke of Edinburgh passed away at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021, a month after the couple's bombshell interview aired.

More than a year later, his wife Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on Sept. 8.

While he and Markle have been rumored to be at odds with the royal family since announcing their decision to step back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, Prince Harry remained close to his grandmother after moving to California, People reported. The Queen reportedly also met his children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, when the Sussexes traveled to the U.K. in June for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

However, Lady Elizabeth Anson, a cousin of the late monarch, was quoted in Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl's recently released book "The New Royals" as saying that Queen Elizabeth never "truly understood" why Prince Harry had to quit royal duties and "very hurt" by her grandson's decision.

"'Megxit' was a source of particular pain to the Queen in the last years of her life," Nicholl wrote in the book.

Lady Elizabeth, who "spoke with the Queen frequently" around the time of Prince Harry and Markle's royal departure, reportedly told Nicholl, "I don't think the Queen ever truly understood Harry's decision to leave. Turning one's back on duty is completely alien to the Queen, and she has been very hurt by it all," according to the book.

Prince Harry and Markle's docuseries came more than two years after the couple signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to make TV series, films and children's shows in September 2020.

While the project had been rumored to be in the works since last year, Markle only confirmed that they were working on a docuseries in October in an interview with Variety.

Prince Harry announced that he was writing a memoir in July 2021. "Spare" will hit shelves on Jan. 10.

The second volume of the "Harry & Meghan" docuseries airs on Netflix Thursday.