Leaving Royal Life in 2020
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world by announcing they were stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British Royal Family. They wanted to become financially independent and support Queen Elizabeth II from afar.
Their plan was to split their time between the UK and North America, giving their son a taste of royal life while also exploring new opportunities.
Settling in California
After the big announcement, Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito, California. This marked the start of their new life away from royal duties. They began various business ventures, many of which still had ties to their royal background.
Tensions with the Royal Family
Leaving royal life wasn’t smooth sailing. Their decision caused tension with the rest of the Royal Family. They were even evicted from their UK home. Despite this, Harry expressed a desire to have a permanent place in his home country. The reasons for their departure were revealed in Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” where he detailed the challenges they faced within the royal family.
Reasons for Leaving
Royal experts and insiders have speculated on why Harry and Meghan chose to leave. According to Andrew Morton, they began questioning their roles in the royal family early in their marriage. Reports surfaced about Meghan’s behavior towards staff and tensions with other royals soon after their wedding.
Struggles with the Media
Meghan opened up about the intense scrutiny she faced from the British press, which affected her health and her relationship with the royal family. They suggested earning their own money to reduce the media frenzy, but their request to move to another Commonwealth country was denied. Meghan felt their presence disrupted the royal hierarchy, leading to their decision to leave.
Fear for Safety
In “Spare,” Harry shared that they left the UK because they feared for their mental and physical safety. They had spent a lot renovating Frogmore Cottage and agreed to repay UK taxpayers after stepping down.
Though they were initially allowed to keep Frogmore as their UK base, they were eventually evicted after Harry’s book came out.
Looking for a Permanent UK Home
There are reports that Harry misses his old life in the UK and is searching for a permanent home there. He misses his friends from the army and college, who haven’t visited him in California. Determined to find his place in the UK, Harry continues his legal actions to secure taxpayer-funded security.
Regret and Reflection
Some royal experts believe Harry regrets leaving royal life, especially given his military background and missing events like Trooping the Colour. Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal expert, thinks Harry misses the structure and purpose of his royal duties, while Meghan is less interested in returning to royal life.
“I think Harry really misses the sense of duty and belonging he had,” said Fitzwilliams. “But Meghan seems content with their new path.”
This dramatic shift in their lives continues to captivate the public, as they navigate their roles outside the royal family.
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