Meghan Markle and Prince Harry marked their sixth wedding anniversary, celebrating a milestone that began with their picturesque ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding, watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people globally, featured a star-studded guest list, including Oprah Winfrey, David Beckham, and George Clooney.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are commemorating their ‘sugar anniversary,’ a traditional celebration symbolizing the sweetness and richness of their enduring love story. However, their joy is tempered by ongoing public and familial tensions that continue to capture global attention.
The couple’s departure from their roles as senior working members of the royal family in 2020 marked a significant shift in their lives. Shortly after stepping down, they relocated to Montecito, California, with their son Archie, who was born in London.
In June 2021, they welcomed their daughter Lilibet Diana, named in honor of Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who was affectionately called Lilibet by close family members.
Despite their efforts to build a new life in California, the couple’s relationship with the royal family remains strained. Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from royal duties and their subsequent move to the United States has been a point of contention. Their publicized rifts with the royal family, highlighted by several high-profile interviews and media projects, continue to provoke discussions and scrutiny.
Most recently, the Duke and Duchess undertook a three-day quasi-royal tour to Nigeria from May 10 to 13. During this visit, they met with charities and officials at the Lagos State Governor’s Office and participated in various engagements.
Meghan spoke at an event on women in leadership in Abuja, revealing her pride in discovering through a genealogy test that she is 43 percent Nigerian. The couple’s tour meant they missed celebrating American Mother’s Day with their children, further highlighting their ongoing commitment to international causes and advocacy.
Prior to their trip to Nigeria, Prince Harry made a brief visit to the UK for an Invictus Games event in London. However, despite being in close proximity to his father, King Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, Harry did not meet with him. This absence underscored the lingering tensions within the family.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams remarked, “It’s sad, things have gone very badly wrong with Harry not seeing his father. It seems to me that relations between the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace couldn’t get much worse.”
Harry had hoped to meet his father during the visit, following a previous attempt in February after Charles’s cancer diagnosis.
A spokesman for Harry noted, “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme. The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
The Sussexes have made numerous claims about the royal family over the years. Their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, a month before Lilibet was born, was particularly explosive, with Meghan and Harry making several shocking allegations about their experiences and treatment within the royal institution.
Their Netflix docuseries, released in December 2021, further detailed their struggles, with Harry acknowledging the sacrifices both he and Meghan made to be together.
Since their departure from royal duties, Harry and Meghan have forged new paths, securing lucrative deals with major companies like Spotify and Netflix. In 2023, Harry released his memoir, “Spare,” which included candid accounts of his life within the royal family, including an alleged altercation with his brother, Prince William.
As they celebrate their sixth anniversary, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to navigate the complexities of their roles as public figures and their personal lives. Their enduring love and commitment to each other remain a central theme, even as they face ongoing challenges and public scrutiny.