In a dramatic turn of events, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made the decision to step down as senior members of the British royal family in January 2020. The couple’s departure from their official duties has been a subject of intense media scrutiny and public interest.
The primary factors that led to Harry and Meghan’s royal exit were their frustrations with the media intrusion and their desire to forge their own path. The couple felt that Buckingham Palace was preventing them from developing their “Sussex Royal” brand, which they had hoped to use to pursue their philanthropic endeavours.
Despite their decision to step back, Harry and Meghan have retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, although they are no longer addressed as His or Her Royal Highness. Harry has also given up his military titles. With the accession of King Charles III, the couple’s two children, Archie and Lilibet, have become Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Since their move to California in June 2020, Harry and Meghan have established their own charitable foundation, Archewell Philanthropies, and have forged commercial partnerships with various companies. Meghan has also launched her own lifestyle brand, “As Ever,” and the couple has produced content for Netflix and Spotify.
The couple’s decision to leave the royal fold has not been without its challenges. Their security arrangements in the UK have been a point of contention, with Harry losing a legal case to have full police protection reinstated when visiting the country. The duke has expressed a desire for reconciliation with the royal family, but the dispute over security remains a “sticking point.”
Despite the ongoing tensions, Harry has continued to make trips to the UK, attending charity events, court cases, and even his father’s coronation in 2023. The couple’s return to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and her funeral in the same year were also closely watched by the media.
As the Sussexes continue to navigate their new life outside the royal fold, their story remains a complex and evolving narrative, one that continues to captivate the public’s attention both in the UK and around the world.
