Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been living a new life in sunny Montecito, California, ever since they left the royal family in 2020. After a brief stay in Canada, they decided to step away from their royal duties and start fresh. While they’ve taken on several business ventures, many of these still have ties to their royal past.
Their relationship with the UK’s royal family has taken a hit, especially after they were evicted from their UK home. Despite this, Harry seems interested in finding a permanent place back in his home country.
Leaving the Royal Life
Harry and Meghan’s departure from the UK, often referred to as their “freedom flight,” marked a significant change. The true reason behind their decision wasn’t clear at first, but Harry’s memoir Spare shed light on their motives, revealing some heartbreaking details.
Moving to the US meant leaving behind royal duties and starting anew. For the family of three, this was a monumental decision. Since then, they have welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, who recently turned three.
Despite their wish for privacy, Harry and Meghan have stayed in the public eye, especially after their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix series, and Harry’s memoir. Their accusations against the Royal Family have kept them in the headlines.
New Ventures
The couple has also ventured into new business projects. Meghan launched her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchid, which has had a mixed reception. She was criticized recently for launching a new jam flavor just hours before Kate Middleton’s return to royal duties at Trooping the Colour.
Harry and Meghan’s ties with the Royal Family are strained. Harry isn’t in contact with his brother, Prince William, and Meghan and Kate Middleton are said to be archrivals.
The Start of a New Chapter
On January 8, 2020, Harry and Meghan shocked the world by announcing their decision to leave royal life. “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they said.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
Their plan was to balance their time between the UK and North America, raising their son with an appreciation for his royal heritage while focusing on new ventures.
Reaction to Their Departure
At the time, the BBC reported that neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince William had been consulted before the announcement. Buckingham Palace was said to be “disappointed,” and senior royals felt “hurt.”
The decision wasn’t made overnight. Royal expert Andrew Morton suggested that Harry and Meghan might have considered leaving the royal family early in their marriage.
Jonny Dymond, the BBC’s royal correspondent, noticed tensions soon after their wedding. “Within days, there were stories about how Meghan behaved towards staff,” he said.
Struggles with the Royal Life
Harry and Meghan have explained their reasons for leaving. Meghan told The Cut that British press scrutiny took a toll on her health and their relationship with the royal hierarchy.
“We were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy,” Meghan said. They suggested earning their own money instead of being taxpayer-funded, hoping it would reduce media scrutiny. They also proposed moving to another Commonwealth country like South Africa or Canada, but their request was denied.
Harry’s memoir Spare revealed more about their reasons. He recalled their fear for their sanity and physical safety, which led them to leave the UK. “When my wife and I fled this place, in fear for our sanity and physical safety, I wasn’t sure when I’d ever come back,” Harry wrote.
After stepping down, they settled at Frogmore Cottage and renovated it for around $3 million. They agreed to repay the renovation costs to UK taxpayers. However, after the release of Harry’s book, Charles decided to evict them from Frogmore Cottage.
Harry’s Longing for the UK
Despite their new life in California, Harry seems to miss aspects of his old life. Royal expert Tom Quinn suggests that Harry misses his UK friends, who haven’t visited him in California due to their strained relationship with Meghan. Quinn believes Harry is now looking for a permanent home in the UK.
“As time goes by, Harry misses some aspects of his old life in the UK,” Quinn told the Mirror. “He misses his Old Etonian and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they don’t get on with Meghan.”
Regrets and Reflections
Another royal expert, Richard Fitzwilliams, says Harry might regret leaving royal life, though Meghan is not interested in returning. The couple wasn’t invited to Trooping the Colour for the second year in a row, which Fitzwilliams believes has made Harry reflect on his actions.
“We know they wanted an apology from the Royal Family for how they were treated,” Fitzwilliams told The Sun. “The military has been a very important part of his life, and I would have thought he would feel some regret [not being at Trooping the Colour].”
He added, “I think Meghan would be indifferent to a ceremony like Trooping the Colour. If it had meant something to her, she would have found a role within the Royal Family where she could have been of use.”
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2 thoughts on “The heartbreaking reason why Harry & Meghan ‘fled’ the UK after royal exit”
I think Harry misses his old life…I probably would too !
He needs to make a very serious decision that will affect his US family.
Megan only cares about herself so if he leaves her she will get over it in no time at all.
He needs to take his kids, bring them up in London where Harry will be happy.
Dragging this one is not good for any of them.
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I think he needs to go back to the UK with the 2 children. Be happy. Forget Meghan she only thinks of herself.