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:
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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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, 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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“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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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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“The Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge have directed their teams to work at pace with governments and the Sussexes’ office to find workable solutions, and this is expected to take days, not weeks,” a palace source told Us in January 2020.
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Samantha Markle, Meghan’s half-sister, slammed the royal couple during a January 2020 interview with Inside Edition. “It is a slap in the face,” she said. “I think what is shocking is the lack of consideration for the people involved, the British royal family, the promises that were originally made to honor royal duties and to lead by example.”
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Amid the hubbub, CNN reported that the former Suits star had traveled to Canada.
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The British monarch looked concerned while out for a drive through her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.
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Meghan reportedly signed a voiceover deal with Disney amid the royal drama. According to reports, the Suits alum’s contract requests that a contribution of her salary will be given to the wildlife charity Elephants Without Borders.
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“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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According to an insider, the queen was “furious” but “urging” the brothers “to put on a united front” as the situation continued to make headlines. “But right now, William and Harry refuse to make amends — they’re both being stubborn, especially Harry.”
The two princes, did, however, release a rare joint statement to deny The Times of London’s story that William’s “bullying attitude” led the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step down on January 13: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a U.K. newspaper today speculating about the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge. For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”
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British journalist Tom Bradby teased Harry and Meghan’s first interview after stepping down in an op-ed for the Sunday Times in January 2020.
“I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don’t think it would be pretty,” he wrote, noting that “a protracted war could be very bloody” if the royal family doesn’t broker a “meaningful peace deal” with the couple.
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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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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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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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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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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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Reports surfaced in February 2020 that Meghan was joining her bestie Jessica Mulroney on her new Netflix reality series, I Do Redo, but Ben Mulroney shut the rumors down. “@ctv_pr told you yesterday that your facts were inaccurate. You ran the story anyway. So I’ll say this as clearly as I can: Meghan Markle is not appearing nor was she ever set to appear on my wife’s show,” he wrote.
While other sites claimed that Netflix opted not to cover Harry and Meghan’s story on the popular royal drama The Crown, actor Jared Harris told Us that there were never plans to “go that far” into the monarch’s story.
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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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“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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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