In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior members of the British Royal Family, less than two years after their fairytale wedding in Windsor in 2018. They moved to Montecito, California, and now live in an £11 million mansion with their two children. The reason given at the time was a desire for financial independence and a more private life. However, a 2022 Netflix documentary and Harry’s 2023 memoir “Spare” revealed many other factors behind the decision.
Reporter Rhiannon Mills said that in a private conversation with her in New Zealand in 2015, Harry had expressed his desire to “leave” but his responsibilities to the Queen prevented him. Ms Mills told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show: “I asked him, ‘Have you ever thought about leaving?’ He said, ‘Yes, I would. I would love to leave. But I can’t because I need to support the Queen.'” Ms Mills stressed: “That always stuck in my mind. He didn’t say it on camera, he just said it in a very candid conversation with me. So whenever anyone says to me that Meghan is the reason they’re leaving, that conversation comes to mind, because he’s always had that intention. I think Meghan comes and says, ‘take my hand and we’ll leave together’. “
However, other royal experts disagree, believing Meghan was the main driving force behind Harry’s decision. Royal photographer Arthur Edwards, speaking on The Sun’s first Royal Exclusive Live programme, believes the Duke changed when he met his wife. “Meghan said ‘we’re leaving’ and that was it. As we’ve seen, he made that decision and disappeared. It was his choice,” said Edwards .
Harry met Meghan in 2016 and proposed to her just over a year later. They married in 2018 and welcomed their first son Archie in 2019, before moving abroad less than a year later.