With a full-blown departure to Canada, the fallout over Harry and Meghan's decision to leave royal duties has been immense. Media on both sides of the Atlantic criticized the controversial move, but did they really know what was going on behind the palace walls?
The Truth Hurts, According to Meg
In a new interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan sat down with husband Harry to discuss the dirty details. According to the Duchess of Sussex, things were no fairy tale behind the scenes. What did she allege?
It's time to take a look at Meghan's journey from optimism to alienation — and see why she really stepped away from the royals so soon. Harry seems to back her claims, for now. But some wonder: Is there another side of the story?
Next: See what Meghan calls the final straw, and why she is speaking out now!
The Interview Heard Round the World
The drama continues, say critics. Buckingham Palace was surprised to hear about Meghan and Harry's latest move. Despite their busy lives as new parents, both took a break to sit down with Oprah for a heart-to-heart. What came next shocked both sides of the Atlantic!
On March 7, the video was released as a prime time special on CBS. Through tears at times, the Duchess revealed a lot of news. Bad news, mostly! What led to this heartbreaking rift on national TV, across the ocean? A few phases preceded this mess, but not everyone followed their story. It's time for a recap — and a big reveal!
Meeting Miss America
Everyone remembers when Harry actually stepped off the market for American actress Meghan Markle. Honest ladies admit they cried: Harry was officially taken!
But quickly, everyone saw how lucky the Prince was! After spending a lifetime under restrictive conditions, it looked like Harry was enjoying a liberating, real-world relationship with an interesting woman.
Meg became the Duchess of Sussex in 2018, revolutionizing the British Royal family with several firsts: American, divorced, and biracial. Did the public accept this trifecta?
A Beautiful Bundle
In no time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their royal duties had been fulfilled. An adorable little heir was produced!
Royal tours and visits around the world might have distracted other people, but these two kept their eye on the ball.
Declared Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor before a global audience, this boy was Meghan's first. Things seemed so peachy for a time. What could have possibly gone wrong from here?
Chatter Begins
Straight out of flashy Hollywood, Meghan seemed to adapt to classic British fashion and decorum in no time. Or so, she thought.
The new duchess carved out a niche in feminism and women's charities around the world, and many modern Brits liked her spin on the royal role. It wasn't universal, of course.
There were voices claiming she wasn't royal enough! Then, new chatter began. Always eager to sell papers and collect clicks, the press began to draw a narrative about a full-on family feud. Her father had been absent from the wedding! Was there any truth to this rumor?
Grandpa Who?
Reports soon surfaced that Mr. Markle hadn't met his grandson yet. In 2018, dad showed up on TV with some choice words!
Claiming his daughter had just ghosted him, he said: “I’ve still never met my son-in-law. Why couldn’t Prince Harry have got on a plane and flown to see me to ask for her hand?”
The press reported that Meghan had cut all ties with her father and that only led to more gossip about what had really happened. But that was just the beginning of the highly intrusive speculation. What would the papers explore next?
Primadonna Girl, Yeah
Meghan was soon branded a "diva" after some high maintenance reports came out. Allegedly, servers in the palace assigned to her had quit their jobs because of her behavior!
Was there any evidence of this at all? No video existed, but that didn't stop newspapers from around the world.
There was a narrative now, and this would form the basis of many new negative claims. For example, she was supposedly already in a conflict with another major palace figure already! But who?
Alleged Kate-Hate
Feuding with Kate Middleton, it seemed? Magazine covers said so, and it all stemmed from rumors no one could have really witnessed. For example, Kate was left in tears after a dispute in a bridesmaid fitting session. Or was she?
Publicly, the royals said that the two women were actually close. But tabloids throughout the Anglo-sphere kept saying otherwise!
Kate was totally sick of Meghan's high maintenance behavior, or so third parties claimed. What luxury items could they have been talking about, in theory?
Hollywood Invasion
As it turned out, Meg and Harry did like to use private jets. And that was true even commuting within England, something climate change activists did not like very much. But did Harry get the blame for it in the press, as the experienced royal of the pair? Nay, Meghan's movie star habits were at fault!
Then, £2.4 million were spent to redecorate their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage. Some British taxpayers were not pleased, and this was also attributed to Meghan’s trendy influence. But would this be the end of the nasty stories?
Petty Paparazzi
Soon enough, Meghan's parenting style came under fire too. Why, she had only been a mom for a few months at this point. What could she have already done wrong?
It was time for a bit of mom-shaming, and photographers published pictures of her holding her baby. People claimed her cradling method was awkward. The nerve of these people had no boundaries!
And that only punctuated the real story that went on and on. Mr. Markle would return with more to say very soon. What was his issue now?
Disloyal Dad
Meghan's family back in America was something that observers just couldn't get enough of, for some reason. Perhaps this lead to the next scandal: Despite lacking truthful context, a British tabloid published a private letter Meghan wrote to her dad!
The heartfelt words Meghan wrote were now on public display, and Harry was outraged on behalf of his wife.
Mr. Markle had provided it, of course. Seriously, how could dad do this to her? The Prince decided he could not tolerate this all around disrespect to his wife any longer, and decided to take action. What was the plan?
The Prince Strikes Back
Harry announced a lawsuit! While off enjoying a tour of Africa with Meg, he declared that his target would be the tabloid publisher for a variety of charges: infringement of copyright, breach of the Data Protection Act 2018, and misuse of private information. A major misuse it was!
Harry explained: “As a couple, we believe in media freedom and objective, truthful reporting. We regard it as a cornerstone of democracy and in the current state of the world – on every level – we have never needed responsible media more." What did he mean by this?
Miles of Vile
Harry explained further: “Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”
Some of those headlines had been spicy, indeed! Wasn't Meghan already used to this from Hollywood, though?
Nitpicking The New Girl
According to Harry, it had been relentless: "Up to now, we have been unable to correct the continual misrepresentations...something that these select media outlets have been aware of and have therefore exploited on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.”
He continued: “It is for this reason we are taking legal action, a process that has been many months in the making. The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months."
What had the press technique really been?
Maternity Leave From Hell
Harry claimed, "They have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave." Perhaps that was a golden opportunity to write whatever they wanted. Meg was too exhausted from the baby to respond!
Harry was evidently disgusted: "She is the same woman she was a year ago on our wedding day, just as she is the same woman you’ve seen on this Africa tour.” Soon, Meghan would directly respond during their Africa tour. What did she think about this wild year and a half as a duchess in England?
The Duchess Speaks Out
While on tour, Meghan participated in an ITV documentary. A journalist spoke to Meghan during the 10 day getaway with her husband and son, and the world finally heard her side of the story!
The clips that surfaced online were heartbreaking! How was Meghan really dealing with her portrayal in the media?
Tried So Hard and Got So Far
Meghan said that she tried to deal with the lack of privacy day by day, and that it was hard to understand what royal life really was from the outside. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but the level of scrutiny was a lot more than she expected.
Meg appeared to hold back tears, and revealed that her efforts to fit in had been a huge struggle all along: “I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper lip.’ I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging." And that wasn't all!
In The End, It Doesn't Even Matter
The duchess explained: “I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair. And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile."
She continued: “If I’d done something wrong, I’d be the first one to go ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that’...But when people are saying things that are just untrue and they are being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them — I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel like that’s okay.”
Yikes, what else would she reveal?
The Struggle Was Real
The interviewer asked her if she was doing okay as a person. She seemed to really be struggling!
Meghan responded that indeed, she had been struggling personally behind the scenes. She tried to put a positive spin on it, stating: “The good thing is that I’ve got my baby and I’ve got my husband and they’re the best.” But she admitted that not many people had asked her if she was even ok, thanking the interviewer.
Truthfully, this Africa trip was not their first break from the mainland. Hadn't the couple recently taken another break?
Enough is Enough
Indeed, Harry and Meghan had vacationed far away several months before. A 6-week-break from royal duties in North America was something they claimed the family really needed. Canada, for the win!
Sounds perfectly normal, and maybe even refreshing! But that move had been criticized as well. Canada is not usually known as a controversial place — Were they missing something they knew was important during this period?
A Very Canadian Christmas
It seems that the couple broke tradition with their holiday plans. Why, it was Christmas!
Meghan, Harry, and Archie wanted to spend the winter holiday with Meghan’s mother in Canada. Sounds perfectly normal — for most people. But for the royals, the cost was great.
This decision necessarily meant missing the Christmas events at Sandringham with the Queen. Was this a sign of more extreme future decisions, even then?
A Shocking Turn
In a stunning historical surprise, Harry and Megan did make an announcement heard around the world:
“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.
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."
What did they mean by stepping down, though? The public was confused! Were they actually throwing their titles away, forever?
Planning The Escape
The couple proposed a happy medium: “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."
Many may not know that Canada still holds the Queen as a symbolic monarch. Yes, Canada technically has a Queen! Could Harry and Meghan really carry out their duties indirectly, way over there?
A Balanced Life
Well, Harry certainly hoped this would be a solution. He explained: “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.”
Perhaps the Christmas holiday over there had inspired him to break away. Or maybe the Prince had always secretly wanted to be normal! But wait — How did the royal family even find out about this unorthodox proposal, out of the blue?
Instagram Insult?
Harry and Meghan wrote: “We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.”
But apparently, they never told anyone ahead of time. The royals found out about this on Instagram, of all places!
The Queen was not consulted, not were other senior members of the family. The press reported that it was very hurtful at Buckingham Palace! Was the British public slighted by this move as well?
The Brits Weigh In
Social media is the modern town square of reaction, and opinions were mixed! Some supported the move, saying that the couple didn't seem happy. Why not step back for a bit?
Others focused on the financial angle. Was this young family planning on using taxpayer money to continue their lifestyle in Canada, but without any public duties?
Many expressed skepticism about the process of being financially independent, especially with the necessary security for royals. Why would the couple even do this, if the goal was to avoid more media scrutiny?
That History of Media Madness
As it turns out, the British press had a real history that could not be ignored. The car crash of the previous century had been Harry's mother, Princess Diana. Allegedly trying to escape the paparazzi in a tunnel with her boyfriend, things took a grisly turn.
If Harry had fears about what would happen to his new wife followed around every day, no one could really blame him on that one. Would the Queen herself be understanding when she reacted to the news of their departure?
Queen E Speaks
Naturally, a crisis meeting was called at the palace. In an official statement afterward, the Queen spoke out:
"Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family...My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.”
While that sounds very easygoing, it became clear that this was not really her real wish. Had she actually tried to change their minds?
Grandma Pled
Apparently, the couple had totally rejected her pleas to stay! Apparently, there was nothing she could say to change the plan.
The Queen phrased it modestly: “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."
This could not have been the outcome she wanted, so soon after banishing Prince Andrew for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The public hadn't forgotten that! What was her proposal for additional damage control here?
Crisis Management
The Queen 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.”
She went on: “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.” What would those final decisions end up being, though?
Fresh Start?
Harry and Meghan have been told to drop their royal titles. No more 'your highness' for them! They also cannot receive public money for any duties they perform, according to the palace. And finally, the pair will no longer formally represent Queen E.
Will all the gossip finally stop with a more peaceful life, way out there in the Canadian beyond? As it turns out, a new round of chatter has already begun. Now, a video has surfaced showing more about who Meghan really was before this short, royal chapter. And some might be surprised! What was discovered, exactly?
The Truth Comes Out
In March 2016, footage of an interview from Meg's past Hollywood life went viral. More than 395,000 people liked it on Twitter, and viewers claimed it showed the truth about what kind of person she really is!
The clip came from an AOL interview when Meghan abruptly stopped the live chat, realizing a longtime fan was in the audience. Emily Sorrells was her name, and she had been chatting with the actress on social media. What did Meghan do when she saw this familiar, un-famous face in public?
An Unlikely Friendship
Why, she went straight into the crowd for a big hug! Meghan began to explain that she loved social media for exactly this reason: "It's also been a great way for me to connect with people, like Emily who's right here, I only know her through Twitter and I knew she was coming because I saw it on social media...And she's going on a trip soon to Costa Rica to do some aid work because she said that my UN stuff inspired her."
Then, she revealed a handwritten letter for Emily! The world wondered: What was the story behind this friendship?
A Secret Softie
Emily explained: "In 2016, when I was in high school, we were like social media friends because I was one of her biggest fans and she noticed me from following her for a long time. There was actually a whole group of girls around the world that she was always really grateful for and posted about."
Who knew that Meghan cared so much about her early fans, and so personally? Now, some haters began to reconsider. What impact did she privately have on girls around the world, before it was her day job?
More Than A Duchess
Emily continued: "She is genuinely the most inspiring human I've met...through her social media and her blog she taught me to be a more confident and passionate version of myself...I'm posting this because although there's a lot of hate going around, I know her as the most genuine, passionate and caring human being who really had an impact on my life."
With all this PR in her favor, how did things recently unravel so badly? According to Meghan, there was a lot more going on than the public ever knew. What did she recently reveal to Oprah, and the world?
Deep, Dark Distress
When the duchess sat down with Harry by her side, many were surprised. Why was this interview happening, and why now? After a few minutes, Oprah's questioning yielded a shocker: Meghan said she became overwhelmed and even suicidal by palace life. And no one would help!
She claimed that when she asked for therapy, she was dismissed. It would look bad to get outside help for the family, apparently. According to Meghan: “They said, ‘My heart goes out to you, but there’s nothing we can do to protect you because you’re not a paid employee of the institution.’” Could that really be true?
The Truth About Kate
As the interview went on, more and more started to come into focus. Meghan revealed some of the events leading up to her mental health crisis. Finally addressing the wedding day rumors about Kate Middleton, she shared that everyone was stressed. Kate didn't cry. Kate made her cry!
But the media was making too much of it, causing even more pain. According to Meg: ''She brought me flowers and a note, apologizing. And she did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone, right, to just take accountability for it.” Why did the press demand so much tension in the family?
Denied Princehood
On to the matter of baby Archie. Meghan was probably expecting that by marrying a prince, her son would have a royal title. But in an odd turn of events, that did not occur. According to the duchess: “While I was pregnant, they said they want to change the convention for Archie. It’s not their right to take it away...They didn’t want him to be a prince or a princess. He wasn’t going to receive security.''
Some in the press have disputed that royal protocols were abandoned as Meghan claims. The methods of the palace are complicated, ancient business. But through it all, she says never received an adequate explanation. Why was her son being denied his royal status?
Complexion Confusion
The next claim had Oprah making faces on camera. It was surprising for viewers at home, too! Meghan claimed that the royal had concerns about the way Archie would look during her pregnancy. Conversations about how dark his skin would be made her feel very uncomfortable. But skeptics around the world couldn't believe this really happened!
When pressed, neither she nor Harry would provide specifics. Who said it? According to the prince: “I’m never going to share, but at the time it was awkward and I was a bit shocked.'' Was the palace really that unprofessional?
Palace Politics
Meghan revealed a lot about daily life with the royal family, too. When the press made her life difficult, she thought she would have PR experts on her side to make things go away. But that didn't happen, and she couldn't understand why. 'No comment' was the main strategy she was asked to employ.
According to Meghan: “It was when everything started to really worsen that I came to understand that not only was I not being protected, but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family...They weren’t willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband.” Why the hands-off approach?
Dad Disappears
Then there was the matter of independence for their young family. At some point during the decision to leave royal duties, Prince Charles went AWOL. Harry's father stopped talking his calls altogether. It was a sad break, especially since Harry had already lost his mother long ago. Why the distance, Charles?
He requested only written communication with his son. Harry explained: ''I [had] 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.” Today, Harry is still working on his relationship with dad. But how could this not affect the mood in their home?
Great Expectations
Meghan shared reflections on the royal experience with Oprah. The duchess explained: “My regret is believing them when they said I would be protected. I believed that...And I regret believing that because I think had I really seen that that wasn’t happening, I would have been able to do more. But I think I wasn’t supposed to see it. I wasn’t supposed to know. And now we’re actually on the other side, we’ve actually not just survived but are thriving.''
Perhaps seeing how the sausage was made traumatized Meghan. Maybe she had an idealized view from the movies. But in the end, she felt the truth was stranger than fiction — and for the worse! What is their plan B, at this point?
Bun in the Oven
During the interview, viewers could see that the duchess was visibly pregnant. The couple revealed they were expecting a girl, due in the summer. And coming up, they had big plans to share a lot more about themselves with the public. Harry and Meghan were becoming podcasters!
Their first-holiday special involved some of their famous friends for inspirational talks. Names included Stacey Abrams, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Sir Elton John, and more. And Archie the toddler made a cameo, too! Why did they decide to make this a full time job, going forward?
Venture Adventure
Perhaps it was the money. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed an exclusive deal with Spotify, reportedly paying out $20-30 million over a few years. But that wasn't their only business move, in recent months. They also signed a $100 million deal with Netflix. Then, they became investors with Oprah's favorite coffee brand!
Allegedly, Meghan was the main mover and shaker behind it all. Her experience in Hollywood helped her negotiate with executives, and now her family was reaping the rewards. What do the pair want to communicate with these opportunities?
Introducing Archewell Audio
Naming their main production company after their first son, Archewell Audio was founded. The mission is to ''build community through shared experience, narratives and values.” On the podcast, they had big plans. It had been a hard year. Their aim was to bring a little inspiration and joy!
In a joint statement, Harry and Meghan shared: ''What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction...With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other's stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.'' Here's to a better 2021, they say. Cheers!