Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018.
Two years later, they quit the Royal Family and moved to California.
What they wanted: Privacy. Freedom from media. Normal life.
What they did:
- Netflix docuseries
- Oprah interview
- Harry's memoir
- Podcast deals
- Constant media appearances
The question: If you wanted privacy, why won't you shut up?
The Beginning: Suits Actress (2011-2017)
Meghan was working actress on USA Network's Suits.
The earnings: $50K per episode. Nice but not rich.
The fame: Moderately known. Not A-list.
The life: Normal actress living in Toronto.
The Blind Date: Meeting Harry (2016)
Set up on blind date July 2016 by mutual friend.
The courtship: Kept secret for months. Media eventually found out.
The difference: Harry was sixth in line to throne. Meghan was American, divorced, biracial actress.
The breaking of tradition: Royal family historically didn't marry "outsiders." Harry didn't care.
The Wedding: Fairytale? (2018)
May 19, 2018. Meghan married Harry at Windsor Castle.
The spectacle: 2 billion people watched worldwide.
The cost: $45 million (mostly security).
The message: Modern Royal family. American duchess. Breaking barriers.
The reality: Marriage was beginning of war with Royal family.
The Media War (2017-2020)
British tabloids destroyed Meghan from day one.
The attacks:
- Her family drama (father staged photos, half-sister trashed her)
- Her American-ness
- Her acting past
- Her race (thinly veiled racism)
- Her spending
- Everything she did
Harry's response: Compared it to Diana's treatment. Tried to protect Meghan.
The spiral: Meghan couldn't handle British press brutality.
The Oprah Interview: The Nuke (2021)
After leaving Royal family, did interview with Oprah.
The bombshells:
- Someone in Royal family questioned Archie's skin color
- Kate made Meghan cry (not other way around)
- Suicidal thoughts, Royal family denied help
- Felt trapped and unsupported
The reaction:
- Meghan sympathizers: "See? They're racist!"
- Royal defenders: "She's lying for attention!"
The damage: Royal family's reputation damaged. Harry's family relationships destroyed.
The Netflix Docuseries (2022)
Harry & Meghan got $100M Netflix deal. Made docuseries about... leaving Royal family.
The content: More complaints about Royal family and media.
The question: Weren't you leaving for privacy?
The response: "We're telling OUR truth."
The fatigue: Public getting tired of hearing same complaints.
Harry's Memoir: Spare (2023)
Harry published tell-all memoir.
The reveals:
- William physical fight
- Drug use details
- Lost virginity story
- Killed 25 Taliban (controversy)
- More Royal family complaints
The sales: Massive bestseller. Made millions.
The cost: Family relationships likely destroyed forever.
The Hypocrisy Problem
What they said they wanted: Privacy, normal life, away from spotlight.
What they've done:
- Oprah interview
- Netflix series
- Podcast
- Memoir
- Constant media appearances
The disconnect: Can't claim privacy while doing media tour.
The Business Failures
Spotify deal: $20M podcast deal. Cancelled after 12 episodes. Called "grifters" by Spotify exec.
Archewell production: Few actual productions. Mostly talk about themselves.
The pattern: Get paid for talking about Royal family. Produce little else.
The Children: Archie and Lilibet
Two kids: Archie (2019) and Lilibet (2021).
The titles: Fought for kids to be Prince/Princess after saying they didn't want Royal life.
The visits: Rarely see King Charles or William's kids.
The irony: Kids cut off from Royal family they use for relevance.
The Coronation Snub (2023)
King Charles's coronation. Harry came alone. Meghan stayed in California.
The message: Meghan done with Royal family. Harry still trying to have both.
The reality: Can't have both. Choose.
The Problem: Irrelevant Without Royals
The truth: Meghan and Harry are only interesting because they're Royal.
Without Royal connection: Just another celebrity couple.
The trap: Need Royal status to be relevant. But complain about Royal family constantly.
The Public Opinion Shift
2018: "Poor Meghan! Racist press!"
2024: "Enough already. Move on."
The fatigue: Even sympathizers tired of victim narrative.
The Kardashian Comparison
They wanted to be philanthropists. Became Kardashians—famous for talking about being famous.
The difference: Kardashians embrace it. Harry and Meghan pretend they don't want attention while seeking it.
The Future
Predictions:
- More books/shows about Royal family
- Kids grow up estranged from Royal family
- Harry regrets but can't go back
- Meghan never returns to UK
The tragedy: Could have been bridge between modern world and Royal tradition. Instead became tabloid fodder.
The Lesson
Meghan wanted:
- Royal title
- Fame
- Money
- Freedom
- Victimhood narrative
The reality: Can't have all of it.
She chose fame and money over family.
Now she has platform but no credibility.
The question: Was it worth it?
Meghan Markle married a prince.
Left the palace.
And can't stop talking about it.
That's the whole story.
