Prince Harry and Meghan Markle created quite a stir when they announced their royal exit in January 2020. The British media’s harassment of Markle and the Royal Family feud influenced the couple’s decision to leave. Since then the couple has settled into life in California with their kids and their new career paths. But if things had gone as initially planned, the couple’s exit could’ve happened much sooner.
According to Express UK, royal author Andrew Morton claims Harry and Meghan began planning their exit shortly after their May 2018 wedding.
In his book, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Morton wrote:
Harry was having conversations in a London hotel with Oprah Winfrey back in November 2018, just six months after they’d been married. So they were thinking about a different direction of travel pretty early on.
Royal Family Photo Snub Led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Exit
Although talks of leaving began in 2018, it’d be another year-and-a-half before the Sussexes officially departed. During that time the rift between the couple and the Royal Family continued. The family’s mistreatment of Harry and Meghan were contributing factors to the feud.
But the final straw came with a photo snub.
The photo, which was released in January 2020 had the late Queen Elizabeth II posing with her three heirs: King Charles, Prince William, and Prince George. The four were all smiles as they posed together in the throne room of Buckingham Palace.
Yet, not everyone was happy with the picture. According to Morton, the photo solidified Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave.
The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. As they saw it, the evidence was all around them. The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry.
Days after the portrait’s release, the couple announced their plans to step away from their royal duties.
Although the couple made several trips to London, the estrangement with the royals continues. However, Charles’ cancer diagnosis in February 2024 seems to be building the gap between father and son. After Charles made his announcement, Harry flew to London to see his dad, and the meeting reportedly went well.
Yet, the rift between Harry and his brother Prince William shows no sign of ending. William reportedly has no intention of reconciling with Harry, whom he feels betrayed him and the family.
