A Great Start
During the course of her interview, Meghan broached the topic of their first-ever meeting. Just moments after her date, she told her closest friend Lizzie Cundy that Harry was surely a catch. While this marked the dawn of a new beginning for the ‘Suits’ actress, she didn’t know that many hiccups were also coming her way.
Harry and Meghan went on back to back dates in London and later took a break from each other for a brief period. Eventually, the duo made time from their respective schedules and went on a vacation to Botswana. A dreamy start indeed!
Breaking Rules
Within the first weeks of the couple going public with their relationship, it became clear that Meghan would not allow herself molded by anyone in the house or even a rule book. In what would be considered an act of disobedience, she broke the traditional protocol during the Trooping of the Color ceremony.
When the military band played the national anthem, Meghan turned around to speak for a moment with Harry. The Prince quickly pointed out that she wasn’t supposed to do that and asked her to face the cameras instead!
What About Archie?
The future of Archie was among the major concerns on Meghan’s mind. For starters, the little one’s great-grandmother, the Queen, and great-grandfather, Prince Philip, did not attend his christening ceremony.
While it is pretty odd, Meghan can find some solace in the fact that the Queen didn’t attend Prince Louis’ christening too. Instances like these gave her the impression that her kid’s future might not be all that great if raised as a royal. Besides, she wanted the toddler to learn real-life values from the outside world like any normal kid.
Giving Up Too Many Things
For a commoner, becoming a part of the royal’s bandwagon is no easy task, and that definitely took a toll on Meghan. She went on to make many sacrifices to keep everyone in the household happy, and in the process, started losing herself slowly.
Little things such as posting a candid selfie on social media, sitting cross-legged during an interview, and getting a bright and colorful manicure from a fancy salon became off-limits for her. It led Meghan to the conclusion that her marriage with Prince Harry wasn’t worth it after all.
The Ex-Factor
Prince Harry was a celebrated royal whose relationships were widely covered by the media. He was in the seventh heaven during his time with the businesswoman Chelsy Davy and was quite eager to marry her. Unfortunately for him, she got cold feet and opted out of getting into wedlock with him.
Chelsy and Harry remained friends even after he got together with Meghan. The former lover even flew down to London after the events that followed the Trooping of the Color ceremony, and the closeness between them certainly seemed to make Meghan very uncomfortable!
Goodbye Call
Phil Dampier, the author of numerous books on the Royal family, went on to state that Harry and Chelsy would have made a great couple and could have adapted to the household easily. There was one event that corroborated Dampier’s statement.
Just before Harry tied the knot with Meghan, he called Chelsy to inform her that he was moving on. It was reported that both wished each other best and acknowledged the fact that things were about to change for good. Furthermore, Chelsy even promised Harry that she would be there at the wedding without any grudge or bad blood.
Royal In-Laws
Like most traditional families, you end up marrying the entire royal household when you get married to someone with the stature of Prince Harry. As far as Meghan is concerned, her display of contempt and disagreements show that the struggle has been real for the duchess.
Even before Meghan and Harry’s marriage, there were stories of a rift between the former actress and Kate Middleton. After the showdown between the two women, Prince William even went on to raise doubts about his brother’s decision to make Meghan a part of the royal family.
The Mighty Sacrifice
Meghan had to pay a high price for turning into the ‘Duchess of Sussex’ from being a former Hollywood actress. For starters, she had to let go of all her career aspirations, be it acting or anything else.
Unsurprisingly, she wasn’t the first one to do it! Just a few years before her wedding, Kate Middleton was at the peak of her career as a web designer and photographer, but she too had to give up on her ambitions. In Meghan’s case, she is worried that her future options would also eventually become obscure.
Behavioral Changes
Duncan Larcombe, a columnist at ‘The Sun,’ suggests that Meghan went out of her way to change her beau’s lifestyle, and that isn’t going down well with those around him. There was a visible change in his public and private behavior, a radical transformation attributed to the influence of the Duchess of Sussex.
Even staff members of the palace claimed that their beloved Prince has turned into a high maintenance person ever since the wife came along. Duncan adds that Harry, who was known to be a fantastic and joyful man, was now branded as an aloof and grumpy one!
No Place for Actresses
A massive red flag for Meghan before the marriage was the fact that she wasn’t allowed to act after her wedding. She probably had to do a lot of thinking before saying ‘yes’ since she had a long way ahead of her in Hollywood.
Meghan could have taken a hint from the life of Sophie Rhys-Jones, a former actress who quit her profession after marrying Prince Edward. With Prince Philip not mincing words to express his contempt for the relationship, Sophie had a pretty rough start to her stint in the royal household.
Clash of Personalities
Many assert their stance that Meghan regrets tying the knot due to the massive difference in their personalities. Prince Harry might be a rebel according to the royals, but he can still be called an ascetic when drawing parallels with Meghan!
Whatever is said and done, Harry is known to perform his duties well and adheres to the protocol set by his ancestors. On the other hand, we have an outgoing and every-bubbly Meghan who has no inhibitions whatsoever. It was a warning sign for both Meghan and an emotionally reserved Harry.
Ghosts of the Past
History suggests that outsiders haven’t had the best experience in the confines of the monarch’s walls. Starting from Grace Kelly to Diana, there have always been stories of rifts and issues with the senior members. Meghan could have taken a lesson or two from their book regarding what it takes to be an interloper.
In fact, the late Princess Diana, who was Harry’s mother, had even developed an eating disorder owing to her misery. While Princess Grace wasn’t a subject of as much media attention, the speculations never stopped getting published.
Friends in a Zone
Meghan and Harry started getting convinced that they are probably misfits on the same boat and that they were too early in taking the plunge. Their respective social circles bore the brunt of the couple’s personal decisions.
A close friend of Harry claimed that Meghan was holding him back from his usual get-togethers. A strong case in point is the fact that he barely meets his pals Astrid Harbord and Tom Inskip anymore. But she isn’t better off either! The former star’s best friend, Lizzie Cundy, mentioned that they hardly spoke after things became serious between the couple.
The Defiant One
Somewhere amidst all the chaos, Meghan seems to be trying to find her true self, one who is strong and doesn’t bend other’s whims and fancies. In that vein, royal experts have expressed their dismay after seeing her wear sleeveless tops and dresses that show her legs.
While it isn’t clear if the royals are required to wear elaborate dresses during informal events, we can gather from this that she doesn’t mind toeing the line from time to time. Probably this is her way of keeping in touch with the old Meghan!
Lots of Lessons
It is pretty evident that Meghan has got into a fix since the royal union involves a lot of learning and unlearning for her. Had she married someone who is not a part of the monarch, life could have been much simpler!
Nick Ede, a famous PR pundit, suggests that Meghan gave herself the impossible task of adjusting to the royals’ code of conduct. He adds that this is way harder than memorizing dialogues for ‘Suits’ since she will be doing it for many years, and it might not even yield results!
I Know Who You Are
People struggle to believe Meghan Markle’s claim that she knew little about Prince Harry or the royal family before they met. Meghan may be American, but the US press is obsessed with the British monarchy, and Prince Harry is a popular subject!
One of Meghan’s oldest friends also insists that, like many Americans, she was always interested in the British royals. For thirty-one years, Ninaki Priddy was friends with Meghan, but the pair fell out when Meghan divorced her first husband. She says the Duchess of Sussex found the royal family ‘fascinating.’ Maybe Meghan knew more about her future husband than she is letting on!
Losing The Popularity Contest
The royal family is a reportedly close-knit bunch. Specific rules and requirements come with being a part of the British monarchy, that it can be difficult for those from different backgrounds to integrate. Meghan didn’t only have to deal with members of the royal family; she also had to deal with negative press and online haters.
Since Meghan is an American actress, she found the British press and public did not welcome a non-British ‘commoner’ as a potential wife for an heir to their throne. Bombarded with defamatory tweets, reports, and features, Kensington Palace has fought hard to maintain some balance.
Sibling Rivalry
Princes, William and Harry, have always been close, especially since they had to deal with the devastating loss of their mother, Princess Diana. The siblings did many things together, including setting up ‘The Royal Foundation,’ a philanthropic organization, in 2009. When it was announced the Foundation was to be split because Harry was leaving, people guessed that the brothers had fallen out.
Since then, there have been reports of a distance between Harry and William, and the blame has been laid at Meghan’s door. The Duchess is reportedly keen that she and Harry work as a couple instead of as part of a royal team.
Worlds Apart
When American actress, Meghan Markle, married Prince Harry, she didn’t just marry her partner. She married an heir to the British throne and a member of the aristocracy who had spent his life moving in society’s highest echelons. Meghan came from a ‘normal’ background and worked to become a famous actress. And don’t forget the vast cultural divide between the United States and Great Britain despite the common language!
Meghan and Harry had different nationalities, backgrounds, upbringings, lifestyles, and professions. The royal couple also lives under the spotlight of the world’s press; and that’s a lot of lifestyle clashes if you ask us!
Just Ticking The Boxes
British socialite and television presenter, Lizzie Cundy, met Meghan Markle at a party in London in 2013 where they immediately struck up a friendship. Lizzie claims the future Duchess of Sussex was looking for English men to date and was open about wanting to be famous.
With Harry, Meghan found a boyfriend who was rich, famous, British, and royal. No longer just an actress from the TV series ‘Suits’, Meghan Markle became an international household name as the prince’s girlfriend. So, when the celebrity met Prince Harry it’s fair to say that he ticked all the boxes!
What’s In It For Me?
It’s easy for us to assume that marrying into the royal family guarantees a life of unlimited luxury. First-class travel, expensive jewelry, fine dining, castles; we all think that the life of a fairy-tale princess is a gilded one. In reality, the wife of a British prince doesn’t even get to be a princess anymore.
As the Duchess of Sussex, we’re sure Meghan will have expected to be treated like other royal family members and to wear jewelry from the Royal Collection. If so, she must have been disappointed; the Queen reportedly refused to allow it!
Dealing With The In-Laws
While Meghan must cope with the intricacies of British royalty and the reported fallings-out with various family members, Harry is also struggling with his in-laws. Meghan’s parents divorced when she was young, and over the years, she split her time between her mother and father.
The world was shocked when, in the run-up to the wedding, Markle’s half-brother and half-sister gave hostile interviews about the future duchess. To make matters worse, her father staged photos with the paparazzi and, in the fallout, didn’t even attend the wedding! Prince Harry has tried to intervene but to no avail, and the families remain deeply divided.
A Special Treatment
It is an open secret that the Royals have loosened their supposed-to-be strict regulations, especially for Meghan Markle. Queen Elizabeth II once even let her attend the family Christmas party, even though it occurred right before her wedding celebration with Prince Harry.
Besides, the marriage itself was quite historical in the Royal family. Despite Meghan’s status as a divorcee, the Queen was eager to give the closing speech during the wedding, which was a first in the family records. Believe us – their ceremonial matrimony will appear in every history book after this!
Balancing Their Life
The royal life, albeit sounding majestic and convenient, isn’t that easy. One not only has to abide by the law of the Kingdom but also perform taxing tasks of social welfare being an aristocrat. Despite the smiles that Meghan and Harry always sport in public, it turned out that they also felt the same.
In a documentary film entitled ‘Harry and Meghan: An African Journey,’ the couple finally spoke up regarding those problems, mentioning that it was difficult to maintain the balance between private and royalty life. Yet, we still believe that they will eventually find the solution somehow.
Meghan Was Struggling
The status of a Duchess doesn’t make Meghan Markle a superwoman. During the early days of becoming a part of the Royal family, she admitted that the artist had difficult times, mainly due to the various strict regulations that the kingdom had imposed and the pressure of being a mother.
The confession led to a mixed response from the fans, as certain people would appreciate her honesty, while others tended to despise her. But one thing was for sure – it required courage to admit that you were not okay, and despite the difficulties, Meghan was finally able to pull it off.
Before the First Meeting
The swirling falsehoods about Harry and Meghan Markle just won’t stop – this time, it is about the football legend Ashley Cole. The gossip mentions that the athlete asked Meghan for a date before she met the prince, which probably happened a couple of years ago.
Fortunately, the journalist Matty Cole, who is also Ashley’s brother, quickly waived the news for once and for all. When the media asked him for his opinion, he mentioned that the rumor was nonsensical and further described that his sibling wouldn’t be interested in the Duchess of Sussex.
Media Framing
Once, Meghan Markle made quite a statement towards British media, claiming that they were staining her reputation. The artist then explained further that the tabloids consciously tried to frame her whenever an event happened and blew it up to the frontpage headline.
Nonetheless, her bold statement only led to another comment by Lizzie Cundy, who was once among her closest friends. Instead of agreeing, she tried to remind Meghan about how hard the Duchess of Sussex wanted to obtain media exposure several years ago. Well, put the opinions aside – everything excessive will indeed be harmful!
Another Side of Meghan Markle
Somehow, a marriage can change a person, as both wife and husband usually try their best to understand each other. As expected, Meghan Markle’s case is kind of similar to other lovebirds. Since tying the knot with Prince Harry, many say that the Dutch of Sussex’s attitude has evolved, and even her bestie Lizzie Cundy feels the same way!
At that time, Lizzie commented on Meghan’s changes in her television program. Not only mentioning how the Duchess of Sussex had transformed, but this television personality also seemed to be confused with many sudden alterations.
Finances In Disarray
Meghan and Harry’s relationship has never been easy. Being in the limelight constantly and belonging to The Royal Family has certainly brought some issues to light that did not help the matters at all, one of them being – the incessant spending.
The couple has frequently come under criticism that they spend too much on frivolous things. There is also an issue of double taxation. As Meghan is also an American citizen, her royalties may also be subjected to tax in the US, making the entire matter much more complicated.
Delving Deep
With the early demise of his mother, Princess Diana, and a tumultuous relationship with fame, Prince Harry’s childhood has been anything but ordinary. From public interviews and the couple’s body language, many people have inferred that Meghan unjustly motivated her husband to open up and confront his past ghosts.
Since then, Harry has been a lot more open about Diana. Even Bryony Gordon, a journalist, revealed that the ex-actress nudged her then-boyfriend to attend a podcast about mental health. It is said that he has a lot of pent up emotions, which Meghan is trying to resolve.
Queen Is Disappointed
The Queen is a stickler for traditions and rules, and after becoming the longest ruling Monarch, she has a lot of responsibilities and public image of The Royal Family to keep in mind. Another one of the reasons why Markle may be regretting the marriage is because of disappointing the Queen.
According to sources, the couple’s attitude and revealing their state of mind has been an “excuse” for the slip-ups. While everyone has been concerned about the criticism received by the newly married couple, their overall behavior has led to some differences with the crown.
Spending Christmas Apart
Red flags in a relationship should not be ignored, and Meghan and Harry’s marriage has had plenty. One of the recent ones was her request to whisk him away on Christmas to Markle’s homeland – Canada. It is one of the most important holidays of the year, and instead of spending time in Britain, the family with their newborn son, Archie, was with their grandmother, Doria Ragland, in Vancouver Islands.
Publicly, the Queen put up a supportive front, but it was reported that she was disappointed by the decision made.
Life-Changing Decisions
When Prince Harry tied the knot with an American actress, everyone knew the transition would not be easy on either individual, and a lot of compromises will be required. Many of these decisions were not easy to make and required a lot of adjustment on Meghan’s part. Although it seems like the biggest change was the one that suited her the most.
The couple soon put out a statement via their official Instagram that they will be transitioning into carving a new progressive role within the circle. Apparently, the decision was made after a lot of deliberation and months of discussion.
No More Royal Duties!
No one denies that marrying Prince Harry has forced Meghan Markle to make some big decisions. Interestingly, there were many resolutions that the former Hollywood star has not been making comfortably. One such was to step back from their royal duties and become financially independent. Even though it seems to be a mutual commitment by the couple, several people have speculated that Harry took a lot to persuade his wife.
Despite their announcement to step back, the decision ultimately means that the Duchy of Cornwall will still cover nearly 95 percent of their expenses.
Relocating to North America
Meghan and Harry’s decision to step back from their royal duties also meant that they would also be moving to the other side of the planet. Probably, somewhere close to where Meghan spent her childhood. But not everyone liked her decision as they felt bitter at the possibility that she has taken her husband away from his family so that the lovebirds can live peacefully in North America.
Only a few months ago, the duo moved to a house in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. But it still remains clear whether they have decided to dig their roots here or plan to relocate once the pandemic is over.
Meghan Has “Hurt” The Queen.
When the newly married Prince Harry and his stunning wife announced that they would be backing out from their royal duties, many people said that Meghan should never have married Harry, primarily because of how her actions have directly or indirectly hurt several members of the British royal family.
But it seems that Queen is one of the family members that were hurt the most by their decision to distance themselves. Interestingly, during her annual Christmas speech to the nation, she even alluded to the couple’s actions that left her saddened.
A Normal Upbringing for Archie!
People across the world adore the royal family, and they care what is happening with them, and upon hearing that Harry and Meghan would be taking their son away from the palace and family, many did not like the idea. Most of them believe that the royals would have loved nothing more than having the cute and adorable Archie in their lives, day out, day in.
But considering the recent decisions, it is very unlikely to happen. Meghan wants to give her son a “normal” childhood and upbringing, while experts say that Archie might potentially have an identity crisis later in life.
Legal Troubles for Meghan
Since Meghan Markle tied the knot with the Royal family’s youngest, her legal battle with the media houses has worsened in the last few months. Not long ago, the former ‘Suits’ star sued a local British newspaper for illicitly publishing a private letter that the Duchess wrote to her father.
Experts believe that had the former actress never married Prince Harry, Meghan probably never would have faced these legal challenges. Besides, their decision to step back from their royal duties might make it a little hard for British tabloids to invade the couple’s privacy for their news items.
Meghan Feeling Trepidation
With the royal family moving forward, Meghan is inevitably going to have awkward reunions, and many consider it reason enough that Harry should not have married her in the first place. A local newspaper reported that when it comes to returning to England and finalizing their preparations to formally step down from their royal duties, Meghan is believed to feel “trepidation” about the idea.
Experts have said that the Duchess of Sussex is feeling sad about it and is trying to put on a brave face to face the challenges ahead.
No More Security Expenses by Queen
Given that Meghan and Harry have now decided to step down from their senior royal duties, it is believed that the Queen is now putting her foot down, too, especially when it comes to some of the pair’s expenses.
Omid Scoobie, a senior royal correspondent from the ABC, reported that her majesty Queen Elizabeth II recently had a chat with the duo, telling them that the palace would eventually stop paying for their security and other expenses. Experts suggest that their security protocol costs more than 25 million dollars. Well, that is a huge amount.
Her Short-lived Marriage
The fact that Meghan recently came out of a short-lived marriage is arguably the most prominent red flag suggesting that she should not have married Prince Harry. Previously, the Duchess of Sussex was married to her long-time boyfriend, Trevor Engelson. In 2004, they met for the first time, and after spending a few years together, they decided to tie the knot in 2011.
But just eighteen months into their marriage, the couple decided to part their ways as they realized that it was not working out for them. By 2013, Meghan had already filed for divorce.
Too Famous for Meghan’s Wellbeing
We all know how things went between Harry and his previous romantic relationships, but many believe that Meghan could have done well by learning from them. Reportedly, Harry’s former girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, decided to part ways with the heir to the throne, primarily because she did not like being judged by strangers and the amount of public scrutiny that she had to go through.
In an interview, Cressida described the attention she received during her time with Harry as “uncomfortable” and “scary.” Although before tying the knot with Harry, Markel was already famous as a star in her own right!