The Beginning of a New Chapter

On January 8, 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made headlines with their announcement to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. This decision emerged less than two years after their wedding on May 19, 2018, marking a significant shift in their public and private lives.

Final Royal Engagements

Before officially ending their royal duties on March 31, 2020, the couple participated in several key engagements in the UK. They attended the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5, and the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7. The Commonwealth Day service on March 9 at Westminster Abbey served as their last public appearance as working royals. This event symbolized not only a farewell but also a tense gathering with the royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Reflecting on this experience, Meghan noted in the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan that it was the first public meeting with the other royals since announcing their decision. Harry described the pressure of the event as akin to living in a soap opera.

A Year of Reflection and Final Decision

Following their exit, a one-year review period was instituted to allow all parties to reassess their choices regarding Harry and Meghan’s royal duties. On February 18, 2021, just before their interview with Oprah Winfrey, it was concluded that the couple would not return to their royal roles and would continue their new life in the United States.

A New Life in the U.S.

With this final decision, Harry and Meghan focused on settling in the U.S., where their daughter Princess Lilibet was born in 2021. A source mentioned in March 2020 that this transition was essential for Meghan and Harry to establish their own life path, finding relief in their decision to leave the U.K.