In the weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's infamous "Megxit" from the royal
family, Harry is reportedly feeling the pressures of his monumental decision.
Harry and Meghan announced that they wanted to step down from their roles as senior members
of the royal family in January 2020.
Public backlash against the couple has been significant — and it hasn't been easy on
the prince.
Their transition to a more independent lifestyle got off to a rocky start, to say the least.
The couple was reportedly hoping to make the change more slowly, but the Duke and Duchess
of Sussex were pressured into breaking the news early when tabloid reporters caught wind
of their intentions.
Buckingham Palace and the queen then made follow-up statements confirming the news.
A flurry of press followed, and all that negative attention is exactly what Harry and Meghan
were trying to get away from.
According to new reports, Harry has suffered greatly due to all the recent tension.
An ABC News special called Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan, and the Crown explores Harry and Meghan's
decision to step away from their royal duties.
Featuring royal experts and correspondents, the documentary talks about what led to Megxit
and what may come next for the Sussexes.
As The Cut reported,
"The consensus is that Harry has long-desired to live a less royal life, but needed a push,
which Meghan gave him."
In fact, Harry may have foreshadowed his dramatic decision in a 2019 ITV documentary when he
spoke about the need to protect his growing family.
"I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum."
His mother, Princess Diana, died in a car accident in 1997, while being hounded by paparazzi.
Shortly after Meghan began dating Harry, she, too, was subject to a constant swarm of paparazzi
and harsh press.
The British tabloids printed articles about her that were often vicious and racist in
tone.
"My British friends said to me, I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the
British tabloids will destroy your life."
In 2016, Harry even made a rare statement imploring the press to stop.
According to the ABC News documentary, Meghan's treatment by the media was notably different
than her sister-in-law Kate Middleton's treatment by the tabloids.
The media often pitted the two against each other.
Perhaps in time, Harry and Meghan will achieve the more peaceful, independent life they so
desperately want.
In a way, the scrutiny Prince Harry has been subject to has been even more intense than
before.
Some royal fans and commentators have accused the prince of "betraying" his family, claiming
the royals are deeply upset over this turn of events.
One supposed insider told The Sun that Harry and Meghan's decision amounted to a, quote,
"declaration of war on the family."
A close friend of Harry's, polo player Nacho Figueras, participated in the ABC News documentary
about Megxit, and revealed that the whole process has been really tough on Harry.
"He has suffered a lot from all of the things that have happened to him.
He wants to live a normal life, as normal as his life is going to be, right?"
Figueras went on to say that his friend is simply a good husband and father trying to
protect his family, adding,
"[Harry] has become an incredible man, a man that his mother would be proud of."
Harry and Meghan have relocated to Canada with their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor,
and they've already resumed work both in the U.K. and Canada.
Now that they're financially self-sufficient and will no longer receive royal funds, they've
also trademarked the "Sussex Royal" brand.
In short, the Sussexes seem all set to start their new lives as an independent working
couple.
Despite speculation that Harry has deeply disappointed his family, Queen Elizabeth made
two public statements in January 2020 that adamantly supported the Duke and Duchess of
Sussex.
The queen acknowledged the challenges they faced in the public eye and insisted,
"[The Royal Family is] entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new
life as a young family."
Harry and Meghan's departure from royal family life is clearly anything but simple, but here's
hoping brighter days are on the way.
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