On May 19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked the sixth anniversary of their wedding, a moment that now seems a world away from the hope and optimism that surrounded their union in 2018. Their wedding at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle captivated audiences worldwide, seen as a pivotal moment in the royal family’s modernization.
Together with Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Sussexes were once regarded as the “future” of the monarchy, symbolizing a new era of royal duty and engagement. Yet, as the years have passed, the narrative surrounding their relationship has shifted dramatically, evolving from a simple family rift to a full-scale feud, with the royal institution now an adversary rather than an ally. Today, the relationship between Harry, Meghan, and the rest of the royal family is at its lowest point, and many are left wondering whether reconciliation is even possible.
Their 2018 wedding, though still fresh in the public’s memory, was marked by stark contrasts with that of William and Kate seven years earlier. While both weddings were grand spectacles, they reflected the very different paths these couples would soon embark on. Kate arrived with her father, and Meghan walked down the aisle with her mother, signaling her strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. The tone of the ceremonies themselves also diverged—William and Kate’s was steeped in tradition, while Harry and Meghan’s was notably more relaxed, with gospel music and personal touches that resonated with their shared vision for the future.
The guest list, too, revealed much: William and Kate’s was filled with world leaders and dignitaries, while Harry and Meghan’s featured Hollywood celebrities, including George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams. Some reports even suggested that certain A-list guests barely knew the couple, sparking intrigue over Meghan’s so-called “celebrity court.”
Despite the glamour of the occasion, cracks began to show almost immediately. Reports of tensions between Meghan and the palace staff, as well as growing friction between the Sussexes and the Cambridges, surfaced quickly. By the time the couple’s first child, Archie, was born in 2019, their doubts about their place within the royal family were becoming clear. The relentless media scrutiny, along with internal resistance from the palace, began to weigh heavily on the couple, and their once-promising role within the royal fold started to look increasingly untenable.
In interviews following their departure, Harry and Meghan have candidly discussed the toll that royal life took on them. Meghan revealed in The Cut that the couple had initially asked to relocate to another Commonwealth country, like South Africa or Canada, while still remaining part of the royal family. When that request was denied, they began to question the very system they were expected to uphold. As Meghan put it, “Just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy.” Their decision to step down from royal duties in 2020 was met with intense media backlash and disappointment from certain members of the royal family. Their departure was captured in their Netflix docuseries, providing an intimate look at what Harry referred to as their “freedom flight”—an escape to California with Meghan’s mother and baby Archie, setting the stage for their reinvention.
Over the past six years, Harry and Meghan have crafted new lives for themselves, particularly in the realms of media and entertainment. They have secured lucrative deals with companies like Netflix and Spotify, launched new ventures, and settled into life in Montecito, California, with their children, Archie and Lilibet. Meghan has also started her own lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which reflects her evolving public persona. Harry, for his part, continues to champion causes close to his heart, such as the Invictus Games. Their recent trip to Nigeria, despite being billed as private, even carried the air of a royal tour, further blurring the lines between their new identity and the traditional royal family.
However, experts caution that beneath the surface, cracks in their public image remain. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward noted that while the couple’s life in California may appear picture-perfect, public perception has soured. “We loved them for a while, and then we didn’t much anymore,” she said, adding that many now view them with pity, especially in Harry’s home country. Historian Gareth Russell speculated that Harry and Meghan may be positioning themselves as an “alternative royal family,” a move that could invite further scrutiny of their public appearances and commercial ventures. As royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams pointed out, the couple remains unpredictable—“They can always do the unexpected,” he said, acknowledging the uncertainty that continues to surround their every move.
Six years after their wedding, Harry and Meghan’s journey is far from settled. They have achieved financial independence and continue to remain in the public eye, though they remain deeply polarizing figures. Their future remains uncertain, with some wondering if a reconciliation with the royal family is still possible, while others believe they are charting their own path, separate from the monarchy’s traditional structure. Whatever direction they take, their story will continue to captivate and challenge the public’s understanding of modern royal life, and the question of whether they will build their own legacy or return to the royal fold remains one of the monarchy’s most compelling unresolved narratives.
Leave a Reply