In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced their intention to step back as senior members of the British Royal Family, a move that shook the foundations of the monarchy and sparked a global conversation about the roles and responsibilities of modern royals. This decision led many to question whether the couple had ever truly desired to be part of the royal establishment or if their departure was inevitable.
Meghan Markle, an American actress, and Prince Harry, the second son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, met in 2016. Their relationship, from the beginning, was subjected to intense media scrutiny, which only magnified after their fairytale wedding in May 2018. The wedding was viewed by millions around the world and was seen as a breath of fresh air for the British monarchy, incorporating modern touches and heralding a more inclusive era for the royal family.
However, the reality of life under the royal spotlight was far from the idyllic image portrayed at the wedding. Meghan, new to the royal duties and the British press's unrelenting scrutiny, faced a myriad of challenges that seemed to compound after the birth of their son, Archie, in May 2019. Reports of rifts within the family, coupled with what Harry and Meghan described as an intrusive and often hostile media environment, painted a picture of a couple at odds with the life they were expected to lead.
In their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Meghan revealed that she had experienced significant mental health challenges, including thoughts of self-harm, and felt unsupported by the institution of the monarchy. Harry, too, expressed his dissatisfaction with the traditional roles and responsibilities expected of them, particularly criticizing how the media treated his wife and recalling the paparazzi's relentless pursuit of his mother, Princess Diana.
The term "Megxit," a play on "Brexit," was coined by the media to describe the couple's departure from their roles as senior royals. This decision was not made lightly; it was the culmination of months of discussions with the royal family about finding a way to step back but still support the Queen. The idea was to carve out a progressive new role within the institution that would allow them greater freedom and control over their lives while maintaining their duties and patronages.
However, the negotiations did not go as planned. In their statement released in January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their intention to become financially independent and split their time between the United Kingdom and North America. The response from Buckingham Palace was swift and somewhat cold, highlighting the complexities and protocols of the royal institution that perhaps did not align with the couple's expectations or desires.
Since their departure, Harry and Meghan have settled in California and have embarked on numerous commercial and charitable endeavors. They have signed deals with Netflix and Spotify to produce content that promotes their values and interests, and they have intensified their involvement in activism, particularly around issues of social justice, mental health, and media reform.
Their activities suggest a desire to leverage their considerable public profile in a more controlled and personally fulfilling way than was possible within the confines of the royal family. This shift indicates that while they might not have wanted to leave the royal family entirely, they certainly sought to redefine what public service could look like for them.
It appears they initially embraced their roles with the hope of using their positions for positive impact. However, the realities of royal duties, coupled with intense media scrutiny and personal challenges, led them to seek an alternative path that afforded them more independence and control over their lives and the narrative surrounding them.
Their departure from royal duties was less about a rejection of the institution and more about redefining their roles on their terms. While they have stepped down from being senior royals, they have not stepped away from a life of public service, demonstrating that one can contribute meaningfully outside traditional frameworks and expectations. As such, their story continues to evolve, reflecting broader conversations about the role of monarchy in modern society and the right to personal autonomy within public life.