Meghan Markle, a former American actress famously known for her role as Rachel Zane in the season Suits, transitioned from Hollywood to Royalty as she married Prince Harry. The two started dating in 2016 and 2 years later, in 2018, the Prince and Markle got married in a globally watched wedding ceremony.
Their marriage followed massive media scrutiny and mixed debate online because of deviation from strict traditional royal norms and Meghan’s mixed race heritage.
The severe public criticism took a toll on Meghan’s mental health and in 2020, the royal couple stepped down as senior royals and moved to California. Even after distancing themselves from the royal life, the couple more than often attract media attention and public eyes.
Just a year later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex found themselves again in the headlines and media coverage after their interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the couple revealed their time within the royal family, disclosing details about racism, lack of family’s support and their affected mental health.
In the interview, the Duke of Sussex, Henry voiced his frustration against the media’s coverage of Meghan Markle, which he perceived as biased and racially charged. He also expressed disappointment over his family’s lack of response and failure to address the racially insensitive media coverage, which Prince Henry describes as “colonial undertones”. He noted that even female members of Parliament voiced against the unfair treatment towards the new Duchess of Sussex, but his own family remained silent.
Meghan openly talked about how this treatment had affected her mental health and she even had suicidal thoughts during her first pregnancy. The couple openly criticized the royal family and media, reaffirming their decision to step away and live their lives with more independence and autonomy.
However, this public stance taken by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused tension with other members of the Royal family. King Charles and Prince William were reportedly upset as the interview has casted them in negative light for not supporting or not putting enough efforts to take a stance against media coverage.
And now, reports suggest Meghan Markle has taken “professional separation” from Prince Harry. The couple has long been a united team and remained supportive of each other. However, recently, they’ve been pursuing individual career paths and public engagements.
While Prince Harry was in Vancouver, Canada, fulfilling his commitments for the Invictus Game, Meghan Markle attended a Thanksgiving event organized by Southern California Welcome Project. Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to unite with the women from Afghanistan, resettled in US, Meghan said,
“This initiative, led by the partner organization Mina’s List, has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan. The evening included a shared meal that encouraged open conversation centered on gratitude and resilience.”
Along with pursuing their separate career goals, the royal couple made an appearance together on Veteran’s Day, showcasing their commitment to shared causes as well. They are expected to reunite for Invictus Games in coming February along with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
This shows that despite following their own individual career pathways, both of them have strong commitment to their families and are united in shared goals