On May 19, 2018, the world watched a fairytale: Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in a ceremony that blended royal tradition with American modernity, featuring a Black bishop and a gospel choir in Windsor Castle.
Two billion people tuned in.
Less than two years later, Harry and Meghan shocked the world by announcing they were stepping down as senior royals and leaving the UK.
What followed was a war between the Sussexes and the monarchy—explosive interviews, tell-all books, documentaries, and millions made from exposing royal secrets.
This is the story of how a love story became a royal revolt.
The Fairytale Beginning: How Harry Met Meghan (2016)
In July 2016, Prince Harry was set up on a blind date with Meghan Markle, an American actress on the TV show Suits.
He had no idea who she was. She had seen him only in tabloids.
They met for drinks in London. Harry later said: "I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her."
Within two dates, he knew he wanted to marry her.
The Courtship That Made Headlines (2016-2017)
For the first few months, they kept the relationship secret.
But in October 2016, the tabloids found out.
What happened next was brutal:
- British tabloids published racist headlines about Meghan
- Comparisons to Kate Middleton (always unfavorable)
- Her family members selling stories to the press
- Harassment of her friends and co-workers
Harry took the unprecedented step of releasing a statement defending her, condemning the "racial undertones" of the coverage.
The Royal Engagement: A New Era for the Monarchy (November 2017)
On November 27, 2017, Harry and Meghan announced their engagement.
For the first time in British royal history:
- A senior royal was marrying a biracial American woman
- She was divorced
- She was older than him
- She had her own career
The monarchy presented it as "modernization." Behind the scenes, tensions were already brewing.
The Wedding of the Decade (May 2018)
The royal wedding was watched by 2 billion people worldwide.
What made it different:
- A Black American bishop gave a 14-minute sermon about love
- A gospel choir sang "Stand By Me"
- Meghan's mother was her only family member there (her father had a "heart attack" and sold paparazzi photos)
- The ceremony blended royal tradition with American culture
It seemed like the beginning of a new, inclusive royal era.
It was actually the beginning of the end.
The Cracks Start Showing (2018-2019)
Almost immediately, British tabloids turned on Meghan:
- Called her "demanding" and "difficult"
- Accused her of making Kate Middleton cry
- Reported "insider sources" claiming palace staff hated her
- Published racist cartoons and headlines
- Criticized everything she did—from closing a car door herself to touching her baby bump
The palace did nothing to defend her.
Harry watched his wife receive the same treatment his mother Diana had endured.
The Breaking Point: The Africa Documentary (September 2019)
During a tour of Africa, Harry and Meghan gave a bombshell interview.
Meghan admitted:
- She was struggling with the pressure
- British tabloids were destroying her mental health
- She was "not okay"
Harry said:
- The media treatment of Meghan mirrored what happened to Diana
- He was terrified of history repeating itself
The documentary aired, and the world finally saw their pain.
But the royal family's response? Silence.
Megxit: The Announcement That Shook the Monarchy (January 2020)
On January 8, 2020, Harry and Meghan released a statement:
"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent."
The palace was blindsided. The Queen was furious.
The media called it "Megxit"—a nuclear bomb dropped on the most traditional institution in the world.
Within hours, the palace issued a statement: "Discussions are at an early stage."
Translation: "They didn't ask permission."
The Summit That Exiled Them (January 2020)
The Queen called an emergency meeting at Sandringham:
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Prince Charles
- Prince William
- Prince Harry
Meghan wasn't invited (she was in Canada).
The outcome:
- Harry and Meghan could leave the royal family
- They'd lose their HRH titles
- They'd lose royal funding
- They'd have to repay £2.4 million for Frogmore Cottage renovations
- They couldn't use "royal" in their branding
Harry said it felt like being exiled by his own family.
The Move to California (March 2020)
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles, then to Montecito, California.
They bought a $14.7 million mansion and started building their post-royal life.
But the British tabloids followed them across the ocean, publishing drone photos of their property and stalking their neighbors for information.
The Oprah Interview That Broke the Internet (March 2021)
On March 7, 2021, Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview.
Meghan's revelations:
- A senior royal asked about Archie's skin color before he was born
- The palace refused to give Archie a title or security
- She had suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy
- The palace refused to let her get help
- Kate Middleton made HER cry (the opposite of tabloid reports)
- The "institution" vs. the "family" are different things
Harry's revelations:
- His family cut him off financially
- His father stopped taking his calls
- William and Charles are "trapped" in the system
- He felt let down by his father
- The royal family has an "invisible contract" with the tabloids
The interview had 50 million viewers in the US alone.
The palace's response: "Some recollections may vary."
The Deals That Made Them Millions (2020-2023)
Harry and Meghan quickly secured massive deals:
Netflix (2020): $100 million for documentaries and series Spotify (2020): $25 million for podcasts (Archetypes) Random House (2020): $20 million for Harry's memoir Spare
They went from royal funding to self-made millionaires in months.
Harry's Memoir "Spare": The Book That Crossed Every Line (January 2023)
In January 2023, Prince Harry published Spare—a memoir that exposed:
- Physical fight with William over Meghan
- Details about losing his virginity
- Killing 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan
- Drug use (cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms)
- His family's cruelty to Meghan
- Camilla's alleged PR manipulation
The book sold 6 million copies in the first week.
The royal family? Still silent.
The Documentaries That Told Their Side (2022)
In December 2022, Harry and Meghan released a six-part Netflix documentary.
It revealed:
- Behind-the-scenes footage of their relationship
- The racist abuse Meghan endured
- How the palace "leaked" and "planted" stories
- Harry's fear that Meghan would die like Diana
- Their actual love story vs. the tabloid narrative
The series was Netflix's biggest documentary debut ever.
Critics said it was self-indulgent. Fans said it was their truth.
The Royal Family Relationships: Destroyed (2023-Present)
As of 2025:
With the Queen: She died in September 2022, reportedly sad about the rift With King Charles: Minimal contact, strained relationship With Prince William: Reportedly not speaking, relationship "irretrievably broken" With Kate: No public relationship With Meghan's family: She speaks only to her mother
The bridges are burned. The family is fractured.
The Criticism: Are They Hypocrites?
Critics accuse Harry and Meghan of:
- Wanting privacy while doing tell-all interviews
- Profiting off their royal status while criticizing it
- Being ungrateful for their privilege
- Playing the victim despite their wealth
Their supporters argue:
- They wanted privacy from tabloids, not anonymity
- They had to become financially independent
- Speaking their truth isn't playing victim
- Calling out racism isn't divisive
The Business Empire They're Building (2023-Present)
Beyond the deals, Harry and Meghan are building:
- Archewell Foundation: Charity work
- Archewell Productions: Content creation
- Archewell Audio: Podcast production (though Spotify deal ended)
- Brand partnerships and speaking engagements
They're estimated to be worth $60 million collectively.
The Kids Growing Up Outside the Royal Bubble (2019-Present)
Their children:
- Archie Harrison (born May 2019)
- Lilibet Diana (born June 2021)
Both are being raised in California, away from royal life.
They have prince/princess titles but Harry and Meghan rarely use them publicly.
What the Future Holds (2025 and Beyond)
Possible scenarios:
- Reconciliation: Unlikely given the public statements
- Continued independence: Building their brand and family in California
- More revelations: Harry hinted there are stories he didn't include in Spare
- Next generation: How Archie and Lilibet will navigate their royal heritage
The Lessons from Harry and Meghan's Exit
Their story teaches us:
- Institutions resist change: The monarchy couldn't adapt to Meghan
- Mental health matters: Meghan's struggles were real and ignored
- Racism has consequences: The tabloid treatment was undeniably racist
- Family loyalty has limits: Sometimes you have to choose your partner over your birth family
- Speaking your truth costs something: They gained freedom but lost family
The Royal Revolt That Changed Everything
Harry and Meghan didn't just leave the royal family—they exposed its dysfunction to the world.
They chose:
- Mental health over duty
- Love over institution
- Freedom over tradition
- Truth over silence
Whether you think they're brave or ungrateful, one thing is clear: they'd rather be hated and free than trapped and celebrated.
They went from royal fairytale to royal outcasts. They burned bridges with the monarchy and built a media empire.
And they're not done talking yet.
