Five years after that “Megxit”
When the bomb burst – and the Royals slid into a crisis
Escalation with an announcement: Five years ago, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced that they wanted to be financially independent. A decision that led to a break with the family.
It was the beginning of the end and painful for all those royal fans who had pinned their hopes on the quartet of Prince Harry, Prince William and their wives Kate and Meghan: Five years ago, on January 7, 2020, the British newspaper “The Sun” drop a bombshell with an exclusive story. Dan Wootton – one of Harry and Meghan’s most vocal opponents – wrote that the two were planning to emigrate to Canada and give up their titles. From the dream of the Fab Four. The “Megxit” was born, inspired by Brexit. But what was the story? Much. But not everything.
Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry: five years after “Megxit”
A day later, on January 8, 2020, Harry and Meghan released a statement clarifying their plans. “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have decided to make a transition this year and take on a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to retire as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work towards becoming financially independent, whilst continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen”the two announced. “We now plan to divide our time between the UK and North America, continuing to fulfill our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages.” Her statement confused many fans: What does financial independence mean in this case?
From number girl to duchess: This is how Meghan has changed over the years
Before Meghan Markle got a taste of Hollywood and later became a duchess, she had to start small on TV in 2006: as a number girl on the game show “Deal or no deal”. An experience she later looked back on with mixed feelings. “I was grateful for the job, but not for how it made me feel. Namely…not smart. By the way, I was surrounded by smart women who were on stage with me”she said on an episode of her podcast “Archetypes”. “But that wasn’t the reason we were there. And at the end I went home with a sinking feeling in my stomach because I knew that I was so much more than what was objectified on stage.”
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At the time, Harry and Meghan planned to continue working as representatives for Queen Elizabeth II, just in their own style. But why? To understand this, one must understand the royal family’s connections with the British press. On their newly launched website, Meghan and Harry explained how they envisioned dealing with the press in the future. They were referring to this “Royal Rota”-System. As the two explain, the system was founded more than 40 years ago, “to give the British print and broadcast media exclusive access to the official engagements of members of the Royal Family”. However, Meghan and Harry noted that the agreement was made 40 years ago – before the internet and social media – and was therefore no longer relevant.
Members of the “Royal Rota”-System, and therefore present at all royal appearances, are: “The Daily Express”, “The “, “The Daily Mirror”, “The Evening Standard”, “The Telegraph”, “The Times” and “The Sun”. Meghan and Harry should have this meeting of British media “The cartel” baptized – a meaningful nickname.
That the two wouldn’t turn green with parts of the “Royal Rota”system, could have been foreseen months earlier. Because in October 2019 it was announced that Duchess Meghan was suing “Mail on Sunday” (the Sunday edition of “Daily Mail”). The paper published a private letter from Meghan to her father. Almost at the same time, Prince Harry again complained about the unscrupulous reporting and spoke of smear campaigns. So Harry and Meghan didn’t primarily want to get out of the royal family, but rather away from the British press and their obligations to it.
Prince Harry turns 40: from rebellious rascal to royal superstar
On September 15, 1984, Prince Henry Charles Albert David, better known as Prince Harry, was born in London as the second child of the then Prince Charles and Princess Diana. As per royal tradition, Diana posed with her newborn on the steps of the Lindo Wing of London’s St. Mary’s Hospital shortly after giving birth. At the time, no one suspected that Prince Harry would break this tradition together with his future wife Meghan 35 years later
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But it wasn’t that easy. A few days later, on January 13th, Queen Elizabeth II, the then Prince Charles and Prince William met with Prince Harry at Sandringham. Duchess Meghan was not there. With the so-called “Sandringham Summit” The four parties wanted to clarify how Harry and Meghan could work in the future and how both sides would get what they needed.
Last appearance as Senior Royals in March 2020
Buckingham Palace then released a statement from the Queen. “My family and I fully support Harry and Meghan’s desire to start a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their desire to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family”said the monarch. “Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they do not want to be dependent on public money in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a transition period during which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the United Kingdom”she explained.
Princess Kate is back: her fateful year in pictures
2024 started turbulently for Princess Kate. In January, the wife of heir to the throne William had to undergo planned abdominal surgery. The palace said at the time that recovery would continue. It was said that she would withdraw for three months. And although the palace announced that the popular princess would not appear in public, her absence sparked conspiracy theories. The rumors were fueled by Kate herself, of all people, when the palace posted a photoshopped family photo of the princess. It shows Kate with her three children Louis, George and Charlotte
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In her Netflix series “Harry & Meghan” the two spoke in detail about the time. And Harry went to that in particular “Sandringham Summit” a. He said that both his brother William and his father Charles had freaked out. “It was frightening to have my brother yelling and screaming at me”said Harry. “And my father said things that just weren’t true, and my grandmother sat quietly and kind of accepted it all”he remembered.
Before the two finally said goodbye to life as senior royals, they had one last appearance together before emigrating. At Commonwealth Day 2020 in Westminster Abbey, the mood was icy between Meghan and Harry on the one hand and William, Kate and Co. on the other. It is said that the brothers have not reconciled to this day.
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
