Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised the British public — and multiple royal relatives, apparently — by announcing in January 2020 that they intended to “step back” from their duties as senior members of the royal family.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they wrote in an Instagram statement released on Wednesday. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”
They stated that their new lives would involve relocation to North America — for part of the time, anyway — after leaving son Archie in Canada under the care of Meghan’s friend Jessica Mulroney and a nanny following the family’s Christmas celebrations there. “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” they added. “This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
Harry and Meghan said that they “look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course” and will “continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.”
The announcement, however, threw some of those “relevant parties” — including Harry’s older brother, Prince William, and grandmother Queen Elizabeth II — for a loop. One year after dropping the major bombshell, Harry asserted that he didn’t “blindside” the monarch with his choice to step down.
“I have too much respect for her,” he said during a March 2021 tell-all interview on CBS, one month after the pair’s departure from the royal family was made permanent.
During the sit-down, Harry explained that he and Meghan felt “a lack of support and lack of understanding” from The Firm, especially when it came to how they approached the British press and their takedowns of the couple.
“When you can see something happening in the same kind of way, anybody would ask for help, ask the system of which you are a part of, especially when you know there’s a relationship there, that they could help and share some truth or call the dogs off, whatever you want to call it. So, to receive no help at all and to be told continuously, ‘This is how it is. This is just how it is. We’ve all been through it,’” he said at the time. “It was like, ‘I need to do this for my family.’ This is not a surprise to anybody. It’s really sad that it’s gotten to this point, but I’ve got to do something for my own mental health, my wife’s, and for Archie’s, as well, because I could see where this was headed.”
Scroll down to read more about all the drama that ensued following the couple’s step back:
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal Drama: Everything to Know
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised the British public — and multiple royal relatives, apparently — by announcing in January 2020 that they intended to “step back” from their duties as senior members of the royal family.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they wrote in an Instagram statement released on Wednesday. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”
They stated that their new lives would involve relocation to North America — for part of the time, anyway — after leaving son Archie in Canada under the care of Meghan’s friend Jessica Mulroney and a nanny following the family’s Christmas celebrations there. “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” they added. “This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
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Harry and Meghan said that they “look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course” and will “continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.”
The announcement, however, threw some of those “relevant parties” — including Harry’s older brother, Prince William, and grandmother Queen Elizabeth II — for a loop. One year after dropping the major bombshell, Harry asserted that he didn’t “blindside” the monarch with his choice to step down.
“I have too much respect for her,” he said during a March 2021 tell-all interview on CBS, one month after the pair’s departure from the royal family was made permanent.
During the sit-down, Harry explained that he and Meghan felt “a lack of support and lack of understanding” from The Firm, especially when it came to how they approached the British press and their takedowns of the couple.
“When you can see something happening in the same kind of way, anybody would ask for help, ask the system of which you are a part of, especially when you know there’s a relationship there, that they could help and share some truth or call the dogs off, whatever you want to call it. So, to receive no help at all and to be told continuously, ‘This is how it is. This is just how it is. We’ve all been through it,'” he said at the time. “It was like, ‘I need to do this for my family.’ This is not a surprise to anybody. It’s really sad that it’s gotten to this point, but I’ve got to do something for my own mental health, my wife’s, and for Archie’s, as well, because I could see where this was headed.”
Scroll down to read more about all the drama that ensued following the couple’s step back:
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Harry and Meghan’s Announcement
After the royal couple announced their transition in January 2020, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that they were forced to share the news early because The Sun was prepping a story on the same topic. A source previously told Us that Harry and Meghan issued the statement without the blessing of the queen. “It’s not that they didn’t care — it was a miscommunication,” the source said.
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Buckingham Palace Responds
Hours after the announcement, Buckingham Palace issued its own statement. “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” the palace said at the time. “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
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Thomas Markle Is ‘Disappointed’
Thomas Markle, Meghan’s estranged father, expressed his dismay about the news exclusively to Us, noting, “I’ll just simply say I’m disappointed.”
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Prince William Is ‘Blindsided’
“William was blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s decision and statement,” a source exclusively told Us in January 2020, explaining the reaction of Harry’s older brother. “William is incredibly hurt, but at the same time he has his own family to focus on and is trying to move forward with his life.”
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Celebrities React
As the news unfolded, stars gave their take on social media. “And that folks, is what power looks like,” Jameela Jamil tweeted. Andy Cohen extended an “open invite for the Duchess to join #RHOBH,” meanwhile, and Ava DuVernay offered to direct a season of The Crown devoted to Harry and Meghan’s drama.
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Meghan Returns to Canada
Amid the hubbub, CNN reported that the former Suits star had traveled to Canada.
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Will’s Still Hurt
“William’s done everything in his power to help his brother over the years and feels totally let down by his ‘reckless’ and ‘selfish’ actions. The way he sees it, Harry’s thrown all the good advice he gave him back in his face,” an insider told Us. “When Harry was feeling low or had problems, William was always there for him, as was Kate. Kate’s incredibly hurt too. She acted as a mentor to Harry before Meghan came into the picture and hates seeing her husband so upset.”
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#SandringhamSummit
Harry and William met with their dad and the queen before the monarch broke her silence on the drama. “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” her statement read. “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.”
The statement continued: “Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
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An Agreement Reached
The queen announced in a statement that she and the couple had come to an agreement about their new roles, which will see Harry and Meghan lose their His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness titles and completely step down as working members of the royal family. “Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” the monarch said. “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved members of the 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.”
Buckingham Palace stared in a statement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they wish to repay the Sovereign Grant money that was spent on refurbishing Frogmore Cottage at the queen’s Windsor estate, which will remain their U.K. home.
The agreement will also see the couple keeping their patronages, except for Harry’s three military roles: Captain General Royal Marines, Royal Air Force: Squadron Leader, Small Ships and Diving, and Royal Naval Command: Commodore-in-Chief, ABC News reported.
Their transition period will be complete in spring 2020, but Harper’s Bazaar‘s royal correspondent Omid Scobie reported that there is the option for the agreement to be reviewed in 2021.
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Harry Speaks Out
Following the queen’s announcement regarding the couple’s new roles within the family — and the loss of their HRH titles — Prince Harry addressed his step back from senior royal duties for the first time at a dinner for supporters of his Sentebale charity in London.
“The U.K. is my home and a place that I love,” he told the room of supporters. “That will never change.” Harry, who is sixth in line for the British throne, then admitted that although he and Meghan were “hopeful” and “were here to serve” once they got married, things have changed. He admitted that the new arrangement “brings me great sadness” and the choice to step back was “not one I made lightly.”
The former military captain reassured the British people that his family is not “walking away” from them despite their change in duties and splitting time between two countries.
“Our hope was to serve the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible,” he explained. “I’ve accepted this knowing that it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to. That I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope will be a more peaceful life.”
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Harry Returns to Canada
Prince Harry returned to Vancouver Island, Canada, in January 2020 to reunite with Meghan and Archie, who’ve been in the country for more than a week without him. Harry was seen deboarding a plan that morning with a bag slung over his shoulder and dressed casually in cold-weather gear, including a beanie. The prince spent much of the day prior in London attending the 2020 U.K.-Africa Investment Summit while his wife was photographed out with Archie and their two dogs in Vancouver Island.
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Leaning on Their Wives
A source told Us that William and Harry are utilizing “different coping mechanisms” as they deal with the fallout of their rift. “Harry’s more sensitive and emotional than William – he takes everything so personally. He can be rather impulsive at times,” the source told Us in February. “Harry wants the world to know that no one should suffer in silence, which is why he opened up about [his late mother] Princess Diana and going to therapy. Meghan is his rock. He first opened up to Meghan about the trauma he went through dealing with his mom’s death shortly after they met — it was during their trip to Africa.”
The insider noted that William is “a more logical thinker.”
“He doesn’t let things get to him, like Harry does. That’s not to say William has a heart of steel — he’s actually an incredibly loving and kind man, he just has a different way of dealing with emotions and is more level-headed than his brother,” the source said. “If William has a problem, he’ll talk to Kate about it. William confides in her about everything.”
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Party in the USA
Harry and Meghan made their first joint appearance after their step down in Miami at a JPMorgan event in February 2020. Days later, the twosome secretly visited Stanford University in California to meet with professors about their new charitable foundation.
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Whole New World
“Harry and Meghan escaped the chaos back home and are genuinely happy,” an insider told Us in February 2020. “They’re really enjoying Canada; it’s a completely different world from what they’re used to in London. The locals don’t bother them, and they have the freedom to do whatever they want. Meghan endured a lot of stress in England. She’s happy to be away from all that. Right now they’re all about getting Archie settled.”
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Trademark Drama
While Harry and Meghan filed paperwork to trademark their personal foundation, Sussex Royal The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in December 2019, the palace announced they would not be allowed to use the term “Sussex Royal” after their decision to step back.
“Their non-profit organization, when it is announced this spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation,” the palace said in a statement in February 2020. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ in any territory post spring 2020. Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation, have been removed.”
Harry and Meghan responded with a statement of their own, which read in part, “While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word ‘Royal’ overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘Royal’ in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.”
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Unhappy Family
Amid a back-and-forth regarding their trademark rights, a source told Us exclusively that the queen wasn’t pleased with Harry and Meghan’s response. “She’s so disappointed that her own grandchild would heap so much embarrassment on the monarchy and bring all this unwanted attention on his family at the worst possible time,” the insider revealed in February.
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Commonwealth Day Clash
Meghan and Harry attended their final royal engagement in March 2020, returning to London for the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. The event marked the first time the couple saw Prince William and Duchess Kate since announcing their step down — and tensions were high between the two pairs. “Harry was holding his hands together as he walked in. That’s letting you know that he was feeling a little uneasy,” body language expert Blanca Cobb told Us at the time, noting that “Kate had zero acknowledgement when taking her seat near Harry and Meghan.”
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Making Moves
Following their last official engagement as senior members of the royal family, Harry and Meghan made the decision to move to Canada with son Archie, then 10 months old. An insider told Us exclusively in March 2020 that the prince had “snapped” after watching his wife face mistreatment in her role as duchess and that he hoped to “shield his son from the negativity and tension” of royal life. The family of three later settled down in Los Angeles.
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Big Changes
Before he officially moved stateside, Harry had a “heart-to-heart” discussion with his grandmother about his future with the royal family. Despite their disagreements, the queen still hoped Harry would consider the palace home. “The last thing Elizabeth wants is for Harry to feel estranged from his family and she made her feelings clear about this in the meeting,” a source told Us exclusively in March 2020. Later that month, a separate insider revealed that Harry felt “terrible about hurting his grandmother, whom he adores.”
While Harry hoped to maintain his close relationship with the monarch amid his royal exit, he couldn’t quite mend fences with William. “Publicly, they’ve stopped short of trash-talking each other,” a source revealed of the brothers in March. “But behind closed doors, they’re both filled with anger and resentment.”
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Travalyst Trouble
While setting up his eco-friendly tourism initiative, Harry ditched his royal title and surname on all official documents. The move raised eyebrows, but a source later confirmed that Harry “reassured” the queen that his choice to not actively use his royal title was “not a personal dig” and that he simply “prefers to keep it casual.”
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Final Straw?
Shortly before leaving L.A. for the quieter Montecito enclave of Santa Barbara, California, Harry’s relationship with his older brother took a sharp turn. “William is so tired and done with the drama of it all,” a source told Us exclusively in June 2020. “Seeing Harry cut ties with virtually every aspect of his English life and identity is so hard to fathom.” The brothers had previously been in touch, but amid Harry’s royal exit, the duo needed “space and time to breathe, then hopefully they’ll work it out.”
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Bombshell Book
In August 2020, Harry and Meghan found themselves back in the spotlight with the release of a new royal tell-all, Finding Freedom. New details of the couple’s engagement and wedding emerged, as well as shocking information about their decision to leave their senior royal duties. The book claimed that Meghan was “willing to do whatever it takes” to make Harry’s family happy and that she told friends she had given up her “entire life” for the British royals.
After revelations from the book made headlines, a source told Us exclusively that tensions were rising between William and Harry. “Finding Freedom has made things worse between them,” the insider said in August. Another source previously revealed that William thought the book was a “calculated way of controlling the narrative” surrounding the Sussexes’ exit.
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Holiday Snub
As they continue to adjust to life in their Montecito home, Harry and Meghan decided not to return to the U.K. with their son for the 2020 holiday season. “Everyone was so looking forward to catching up with them, as well as Archie,” a source explained that November. “They’re looking forward to making the most of things regardless.”
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Royally Refused
In honor of the U.K.’s Remembrance Day, Harry and Meghan paid a visit to the Los Angeles National Cemetery in California in November 2020. The former military pilot and his wife laid a wreath with the inscription, “In Memory of the Men Who Offered Their Lives in Defense of Their Country,” and Harry signed a note thanking fallen soldiers for their service. At the time, The Sunday Times reported that Harry’s request to have an offering made on his behalf at the Cenotaph memorial in London was denied by Buckingham Palace officials. William, Kate and the queen paid their respects at their own private Remembrance Day ceremony across the pond.
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No Going Back
Nearly one year after stepping back from their royals as senior royals and relocating to the U.S., the Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that Harry and Meghan would not be returning as working members of the royal family.
“Following conversations with the duke, the queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the royal family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service,” the statement read on February 19. “The honorary military appointments and royal patronages held by the duke and duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty before being redistributed among working members of the royal family.”
The queen added: “While we are all saddened by their decision, the duke and duchess remain much-loved members of the family.
A spokesperson for the couple told Us in a statement at the time, “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
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Telling It All
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave an explosive CBS tell-all interview in March 2021, detailing their time in the U.K. and issues with the country’s press and The Firm. During the sit-down, Harry claimed that his brother, William, and father, Charles, are “trapped” by the Monarchy and revealed that he felt “really let down” by his dad after the pair’s relocation to California. Meghan opened up about having suicidal thoughts while pregnant with their first child, claiming that when she reached out for help, The Firm did nothing. The couple also claimed that racism in the U.K. was part of the reason they moved and alleged someone in the family had “concerns” about Archie’s skin color.
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Royals React to Bombshell Claims
Buckingham Palace issued a public statement in the wake of the controversial March 2021 interview, stating, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
A source later told Us that Her Majesty has been in “constant crisis meetings” since the interview aired. “The queen has always had a soft spot for Harry and looked out for him, so [she] is incredibly hurt and shocked that it has come to this,” the insider said. “She’s trying to be understanding and see things from Harry’s perspective, but he allegations he and Meghan have made are hard for her to digest. The interview has wreaked havoc on the royal family.”
Prince William later denied that the royal family is racist while speaking with reporters, saying they’re “very much not a racist family.”
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Rocky Reunion
Harry returned to the U.K. in April 2021 for the first time since his family’s relocation to California, following the death of his grandfather, Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99. He reunited with his family at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral that month and was photographed talking and walking with William and Kate. The siblings were seen leaning in toward each other, which body language expert Elaine Swann exclusively told Us was a “very hopeful [sign] for these two young men” amid their rocky relationship.
“William did his best to open his body language toward his brother,” Swann explained of the brothers’ post-funeral walk. “You have to look at the fact that he turned it toward him. And so, in that opening, that’s saying, ‘Come on in. Let’s talk, let’s chat.’ He didn’t walk side by side, but he actually turned toward his brother.” Harry returned to the U.S. a few days later, but was able to meet with his grandmother, Elizabeth, ahead of her 95th birthday later that month.
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Harry Continues to Speak His Peace
In May 2021, Harry spoke out again about his upbringing and the hardships of growing up as a royal, saying, “It’s a mix between The Truman Show and living in a zoo.” During his appearance on the “Armchair Expert” podcast, the prince revealed he knew in his early 20s that he didn’t want to be a royal. “I was in space of, ‘I don’t want this job. Look what it did to my mum, how am I ever going to settle down, have a wife and a family, when I know this is going to happen again,'” he explained. “I’ve seen behind the curtain, I know how this operation runs and works. I don’t want to be part of this. Then once I started doing therapy suddenly the bubble was burst.”
The former military pilot also criticized his father’s parenting style during the interview while speaking out his approach to fathering. “When it comes to parenting, if I’ve experienced some form of pain and suffering because of the pain and suffering that perhaps my father or parents suffered, I’m gonna make sure I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on,” he said.
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Royal Rift Surges On
“The queen is unimpressed with Harry’s latest interview and found it hurtful. It hasn’t done their relationship any favors,” a source told Us in May 2021, noting that Prince Charles and Prince William are “livid too.” A second insider said that Charles is “hurt” and “disappointed” by his son’s comments.
“[Charles] feels tortured by Harry with his constant digs. He wishes he’d just let it drop,” the source explained. “The general consensus within the royal family is to ignore Harry’s behavior, to avoid fanning the flames, but Charles is finding it hard to hold back. He really wants to defend himself.”
The first insider noted that with the way things are going, “Charles may never forgive Harry, which hasn’t gone down well with Elizabeth.” The queen is “proud” of William, however, for “taking the dignified approach, unlike Charles, who still hasn’t forgiven Harry for dragging his name through the mud,” the source added.
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His Side of the Story
In July 2021, Harry announced that his no-holds-barred memoir would be hitting shelves the following year and would tell “a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.” He noted in a statement, “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become.”
According to Penguin Random House, the book will be “the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape” Harry into the public figure fans know and love. News of the tell-all came as a big surprise to the prince’s relatives — especially his father and brother — a source later revealed.
“The royal family is shaken up about the book,” the insider told Us. “They haven’t received a copy yet and don’t know what to expect. It’s making them nervous.”
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Royally Stuck
Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie revealed in August 2021 that “very little progress” had been made between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family. However, he told Good Morning America at the time that “some feelings have subsided,” leaving a door “very much open” for healing to begin.
The same month, Scobie’s updated version of Finding Freedom claimed that staffers who accused Meghan of bullying had rescinded their allegations.
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Flying Solo?
In September 2021, royal commentator Robert Jobson predicted that Meghan may not “ever” return to the U.K. following the duo’s exit, telling Us, “She’s not popular [right] now.” One month later, Us confirmed that Harry and the retired actress were not traveling overseas for William’s private event honoring Diana and the donors who helped fund her statue at Kensington Palace.
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Royal Shock
When the queen was hospitalized on medical recommendation in October 2021, a source told Us that Harry went into “panic mode” at home on the West Coast. “He felt helpless being 5,000 miles away in Montecito, [California,] and has been checking in non-stop with her,” the insider said, adding that the prince felt “guilty about not saying goodbye” to Philip ahead of his April 2021 death. “[He] would never forgive himself if the same thing happened with his beloved grandmother.”
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Misogyny in the Spotlight
Nearly two years after the couple announced their plans to step back from the palace, Harry took aim at the term “Megxit,” which became popular on social media and in the British press. “Maybe people know this and maybe they don’t, but the term Megxit was or is a misogynistic term, and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew into mainstream media,” he said at a November 2021 conference. “But it began with a troll. This problem did not originate on social media, and you don’t have to be online to be affected by it.”
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Communicating With Charles
After months of tension, a source told Us in December 2021 that Harry and Charles were “in communication,” but the father-son pair still had “a lot of issues the two of them need to work out and move forward.” Royal expert Stewart Pearce later claimed the same month that the drama had “absolutely” subsided between Charles and his son. “It’s just their style of managing that level of emotional intensity is completely different, you know?” he told Us.
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The Lawsuit
Harry filed for a judicial review regarding a Home Office decision about funding his personal security across the pond. “While his role within the Institution has changed, his profile as a member of the royal family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family,” a statement read in January 2022, noting, “The goal for Prince Harry has been simple — to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his country.” One month later, Harry’s lawyer claimed in court that the duke “does not feel safe” traveling to the U.K. with his children.
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Invictus Games and Beyond
Us confirmed in April 2022 that Harry and Meghan paid a surprise visit to the queen at Windsor Castle on their way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games. A source later revealed that William and Kate did not attend the family reunion. During a candid Today interview conducted at The Hague, Harry dodged a question about missing his royal relatives while gushing about his “special” bond with Elizabeth. “We talk about things that she can’t talk about with anybody else,” he said of his grandmother.
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Thomas Returns
Meghan’s dad spoke with GB News in April 2022 and alleged that he might be the only Markle at the queen’s Jubilee that summer. “I’m looking forward to it,” Thomas claimed. “I’m going to show my respect for the queen, and I’m going to make sure that the queen understands that my entire family respects the queen and the royals, and we admire them. … I really would like to meet Prince Charles and thank him for walking my daughter down the aisle. … I think we have a lot in common now.”
Thomas weighed in on Harry’s fight for security in the U.K. and slammed his decision to attend the “far more dangerous” Invictus Games. “I don’t understand half the things he says. … I think he’s an idiot,” he concluded. “To fly all the way over [there] and not bring the children? That’s ridiculous.”
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The Platinum Jubilee
In June 2022, the twosome returned for their first official appearance as a couple in the U.K. during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The duo didn’t join the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour event, instead viewing the parade from the Major General’s Office nearby. When they attended the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral later that week, Meghan and Harry didn’t sit with William and Kate.
“Senior members of the royal family were seated in the front row and non-senior members in the second row,” a source explained at the time, adding that the palace wanted “to keep them on opposite sides of [the] cathedral to avoid any unwanted attention.”
The Sussexes later skipped the “Platinum Party” concert, though other family members were in attendance.
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The Queen Meets Lili
When the Archewell cofounders were in the U.K. for the Platinum Jubilee, Us confirmed they introduced their daughter to the queen for the first time. Royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti later claimed that the meeting was likely kept brief amid concern for Elizabeth’s health. “She was working very hard to maintain her strength,” he told Us in June 2022. “I think it’s totally understandable that she was saving her energy as best she could for all the events that she wanted to be at if she possibly could.”
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Tension Grows With William
The Duke of Cambridge “doesn’t know who [Harry] is anymore and the trust between them is strained,” a source exclusively told Us in June 2022, adding that the brothers’ relationship was “doomed” and “irreparable.” At the time, a separate insider added that Kate was the siblings’ best chance at achieving a reconciliation, telling Us, “She can sense that despite everything that has happened, William still feels the loss of Harry.”
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Meghan’s Bullying Investigation Ends
The palace concluded its investigation into allegations made by Meghan’s former royal staffers but did not make the findings public. “Meghan is a fair boss and never bullied anyone who worked for her at the Palace in the first place. She’s happy that her name has been cleared from the defamatory claims,” a source told Us in June 2022. “She and Harry are looking forward to putting the incident behind them and are happily moving on with their lives in Montecito.”
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Another Return to the U.K.
The couple’s presence at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit was confirmed one month before the September 2022 event. “The Duchess will be delivering a keynote address at our Opening Ceremony. The Duke and Duchess will also be meeting with a group of Summit delegates doing outstanding work on gender equality,” the charity’s official Instagram account announced. In addition, the pair planned to attend the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 One Year to Go event in Germany and the WellChild Awards in the U.K.
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Rush to Balmoral
While already overseas with Meghan in September 2022, Harry rushed to the queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland to be with her before her death. The Duke of Sussex — along with his brother, uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and aunt Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, did not make it in time to say goodbye, Us confirmed.
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An Unexpected Shout-Out From King Charles III
While delivering his inaugural speech as king of England in September 2022, Harry’s father — who assumed the throne upon the queen’s death — shared his “love” for the Sussexes.
“I want … to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” Charles stated in his address.
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Coming Together for the Family
Following the death of the queen in September 2022, a source shared with Us that William organized for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and Princess Kate to greet well-wishers near Windsor Castle.
“William invited Harry and Meghan to join them,” the insider explained. “They were delayed in arriving while they arranged the plans.”
Harry also gave his first public statement about losing his grandmother while speaking with mourners. “It’s a lonely place up there now without her,” he said, pointing to Windsor. “Every room she was in, you felt her presence throughout.”
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Military Uniform Drama
On September 13, 2022, Harry was present to pay his respects to the queen’s casket at Buckingham Palace. One day later, he walked in a procession with members of the royal family to Westminster Hall for a service.
While his uncle, Prince Andrew, was granted special permission to wear his military uniform for the final vigil, Harry was notably not wearing his uniform, as he was not given the same exception.
“[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother.” he said in a statement via a spokesperson at the time. “His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
A backlash ensued following Harry’s statement, and he was subsequently given permission to wear his uniform on September 17 for the final vigil. Two days later, he wore a morning suit for the state funeral, walking alongside his family in the processions and attending the services with Meghan.
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Netflix Docuseries
In the couple’s December 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the Archewell founders opened up about their relationship and Meghan’s experience with the royal family.
The second episode, the pair shared that the royal family biggest problem with Meghan was her acting career. “There’s a big idea of what that looks like, from the U.K. standpoint, Hollywood, and it’s just very easy for them to typecast that,” the Bench author said.
The couple also revealed that their first joint interview for their engagement was “rehearsed” noting that they “weren’t allowed” to tell their story.
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The Royal Family’s Thoughts on ‘Harry & Meghan’
After the docuseries’ release in December 2022, an insider told Us that Harry & Meghan wasn’t likely to help the couple repair their relationship with The Firm. “The general consensus amongst the royals is that Harry and Meghan aren’t doing themselves any favors by speaking out about the family, and that they’re digging themselves into a deeper hole with these tell-alls,” the source explained. “They’re hoping that once Spare is released, Harry and Meghan will focus on the future and not the past.”
Us also reported that William was “disappointed” with his brother over the Netflix show. “William was hoping they could move on after the CBS interview [in March 2021], but Harry airing his dirty laundry has only heightened the conflict between the two brothers and resulted in them taking a step backwards,” an insider said. “Kate feels hurt and betrayed that Harry would do this to her too, especially as the pair used to be so close.”
