The decision for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to step back from their royal duties—referred to as “Megxit”—was, in hindsight, one of their biggest mistakes. While some may point to things like their Oprah interview, Netflix deal, or Harry’s memoir Spare, all of these developments stemmed from their initial, rash decision to distance themselves from the royal family. The couple essentially declared they would become financially independent, yet still continue to rely on financial support from Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and engage in pseudo-royal activities when it suited them. This move was nothing short of misguided.
Megxit, once believed to be a fresh start for the couple, has only led them down a downward trajectory. While they briefly found success with Netflix and Spotify, they’ve already lost their Spotify deal, and Netflix could soon follow. The idea that leaving the royal family would improve their lives—because it was too hard to fulfill their royal obligations—was simply untrue. It’s crucial to revisit this decision, and I’ll be diving deeper into it during the five-year anniversary of Megxit, but for now, let’s break down why this is one of the biggest blunders in their journey.
Now, let’s dive into Megxit. The decision was announced via Instagram—a platform Meghan has long been obsessed with. Despite TikTok and YouTube dominating social media, Meghan chose to announce their decision on Instagram. The picture they used was telling: it was from their engagement, long after they were married, and it clearly symbolized Meghan’s control over the situation. Harry is looking at her, while she gazes into the distance, a sign that this was Meghan’s vision for their future, and Harry was merely along for the ride.
Their Christmas trip to Canada was supposedly a family decision, but it was, in reality, a chance for them to plot Megxit away from the royal family. They claimed they were following royal precedents, but their plan didn’t fit the typical royal pattern. Instead of spending time with family in a more traditional manner, they chose to go to Vancouver, where Meghan had previously lived, signaling their future plans were more about escaping royal life than bonding with family. The whole trip reeked of deception, and it was clear their focus was on making Megxit happen, not enjoying family time.
The announcement they made later was full of misleading statements. They claimed they would become financially independent, but this was not true. They still relied on Prince Charles for funding, even if they publicly rejected the Sovereign Grant. Their plan was to work part-time as royals while becoming financially independent, which created an impossible conflict. They wanted to distance themselves from the family while simultaneously benefiting from the royal connection.
Meghan had always dreamed of a life in Hollywood, but her acting career had never taken off. When she married Harry, she saw an opportunity to leverage his royal status and her title to enter the celebrity world. Unfortunately, this hasn’t worked out as planned. Despite the headlines, success hasn’t followed. Their lives in Montecito, California, have been marked by continuous failure, especially as Harry’s role has dwindled to a symbolic, “cosplay” version of royalty.
The website they launched to announce their new roles was filled with lofty statements that simply didn’t hold up. They wanted to balance their time between the UK and North America, yet they immediately settled in California, ignoring the original plan of spreading their time between continents. Their claim to support the Queen while stepping away from the family never made sense. You can’t serve the monarchy while also serving your own personal interests.
Moreover, they tried to create their own “working model,” insisting that the media should operate according to their terms. This idea was as unrealistic as it was arrogant. Harry and Meghan mistook media attention for actual power. Headlines may grab attention, but they don’t translate into success. Their attempts to control the media have only led to more frustration, as Meghan continued to seek glowing coverage and refused to accept diverse perspectives.
In the end, Megxit was a disaster, driven by Meghan’s ego and desire for control. The couple misunderstood what royal life was about. It wasn’t about celebrity; it was about duty, service, and sacrifice. They were willing to turn their backs on all of that for the sake of Meghan’s vision, and now, years later, they are left trying to navigate the fallout of a decision that, from the very beginning, was based on faulty reasoning. The fallout from Megxit continues to unfold, and it’s clear that the decision will go down as one of their greatest mistakes.
Harry and Meghan want reporters who will follow their instructions and share only what they want them to report. They aim for a gradual shift as they adjust to their new life, engaging with grassroots media and up-and-coming journalists. However, the reality is, they’ve yet to engage with specialists or invite media to specific events to provide broader access to their cause-driven activities. Their approach has been selective and strategic, but they have not lived up to these promises.
They’ve also failed to provide access to credible media outlets focused on objective reporting to cover key moments and events. Instead, they seem to want control over the narrative. What they desire is not balanced, objective coverage, but complete domination of the story.
By opting not to participate in the Royal Rota system, they’ve cut themselves off from a longstanding method of media access established more than 40 years ago. The Royal Rota system was designed to provide exclusive inside access to the royal family’s official engagements for UK print and broadcast media outlets. It was a necessary system, as it restricted coverage to a select group of journalists rather than allowing unlimited press coverage at each event, ensuring coverage could be handled effectively.
The outlets included in the Rota, such as The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, The Evening Standard, The Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun, aren’t inherently problematic. Sure, some, like the Daily Express, may sometimes take odd turns in their coverage, but on the whole, their reporting is solid and credible. The problem is that these are outlets Harry and Meghan can’t control.
The Royal Rota system allows select media access to cover events with the understanding that they share factual material with other members of the media who request it. This is a system that works, and it has been in place for years. Harry and Meghan tried to replicate it during their time in Colombia, but they struggled when they placed their trust in a reporter who was essentially a sycophant, offering nothing for the media to work with. When the BBC said they couldn’t use the material because it lacked substance, Meghan took offense, not understanding that the issue wasn’t with the BBC, but with the lack of factual content.
What Harry and Meghan really want isn’t facts; they want to control the narrative. They want glowing, positive coverage at all times, but they can’t rely on independent media outlets to deliver that. This, they can’t accept.
The Royal Rota system, though predating the digital transformation of news, still functions effectively in today’s media landscape. While Harry and Meghan want to claim that the system is outdated, the truth is that they are still using traditional media methods for their communications. If they were smart, they would embrace more independent, non-traditional media channels, like the ones that cater to a more diverse audience. But instead, they still want to engage with mainstream publications, seeking control over them.
The restriction on media access isn’t about exclusivity for its own sake; it’s simply a practical measure. It would be chaotic to have too many journalists at every event. This is why the system works—it controls the flow of coverage while still allowing for broad reporting. The royal family remains the primary source of information for media outlets worldwide, and this structure is functional.
So, why did Harry and Meghan choose to revise their media policy? They want to reshape their public image as financially independent individuals and to redefine their relationship with the press. However, their goal isn’t to promote fairness or transparency, but to ensure they’re the ones driving the narrative.
Harry and Meghan claim they want to provide access to their work, but have they actually done so? The answer is no. In fact, they have become more restrictive and controlled, refusing to allow any meaningful transparency. This lack of openness is exactly why platforms like mine still exist — to call them out when they won’t allow others to do so. They actively block anyone who challenges them, preferring to surround themselves with people who will cheer them on without question.
Now, how does this relate to the UK? British royal correspondents are widely regarded as credible sources for information on the royal family and their private lives. This isn’t a misconception; it’s a fact that Harry and Meghan are clearly upset about. The international media often amplifies misreporting, which is a result of this very approach.
Since moving to the U.S., has their situation improved? No. There’s no evidence to suggest that things have gotten better for them. In fact, stories filed by royal correspondents, which may have been accurate, are often edited by media editorial teams to create misleading impressions.
Harry and Meghan claim they want a free, strong, and open-minded media industry that fosters accuracy, diversity, and tolerance, but this is far from true. What they actually want is a media environment that reports exactly what they want, when they want it. That’s why they work with magazines like People, Marie Claire, and Town & Country—because these outlets are willing to print glowing reports without asking tough questions. When was the last time Harry and Meghan were asked a hard question? I’d argue that when Jane Pauley tried asking tough questions, Meghan didn’t handle it well. They don’t want difficult questions; they want their narrative to be unquestioned.
They also claim to value privacy as individuals and as a family, but this is contradicted by their constant sharing of personal details, including about their children. What they truly want is control over their narrative, not privacy. They would continue to have a social media presence, but the British royal family wisely decided against it. Why? Because Harry and Meghan mishandled their exit, losing all their leverage. The crown retained its power, and it was used to maintain control.
The Royal Rota system, which once offered structured media access, has changed over time, especially with events like Catherine’s photoshopped image controversy. Now, the royals are releasing their own photos via social media. While I believe the royals should embrace social media more, Harry and Meghan are far behind the times. They were focusing on Instagram, while platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok are where the media landscape is moving. Their current strategy makes it hard for them to share personal moments without going through the filter of the Royal Rota, but the system has evolved to offer more direct communication.
So, have they fulfilled their promises? Not at all.
Let’s revisit their official statements, because there’s a lot of misinformation here. They claim they want to transition to a new working model, yet their stated goal of earning income from reality TV shows — some with questionable content like “dirty sweaty boys riding” — seems far from admirable. This is supposed to be their big vision for financial independence? It's hard to take seriously.
They also stated they would continue their duties for the monarchy while achieving financial autonomy. However, the contribution from the Sovereign Grant, which covers just 5% of their costs, is misleading. They say it’s used for their royal office, but the truth is, their financial separation from the monarchy isn’t as clear-cut as they imply.
Harry and Meghan claim their structure mirrors that of other royal family members who have jobs outside their royal duties. This is a flat-out lie. They reference Beatrice and Eugenie, but these two have never been working royals. While they may have had brief stints in roles outside the monarchy, they were never full-time working royals, and their patronages were personal, not official royal engagements.
What’s more, the royal family has tried the "half-in, half-out" approach with Sophie and Edward, and it failed miserably. In the end, Sophie and Edward had to drop their private endeavors and fully embrace their royal roles. But Harry and Meghan have refused to follow suit, continuing to frame their situation in a way that fits their narrative, even if it isn’t true.
The idea that Harry and Meghan have achieved true financial independence is not only misleading but also false. Despite claiming a desire to be autonomous, they still rely heavily on the financial support of the monarchy, particularly from Harry's father, Prince Charles. This is evident in the fact that their income is largely derived from the Prince of Wales' Duchy of Cornwall, covering nearly 95% of their expenses. The notion that they are financially independent is simply not true—they are not free from royal funding and have not severed all ties with the monarchy, despite their claims to the contrary.
Harry and Meghan's push for privacy is another area where their actions do not align with their words. While they continually express a desire for privacy, they have made a habit of sharing details about their lives, including their children, in the media. They claim to value privacy as individuals and a family, but their actions suggest they seek control over their narrative, not privacy. They work with select journalists and media outlets, such as People magazine and Town & Country, to ensure their stories are told the way they want them to be. They avoid tough questions and want the media to cater to their preferences, a stark contrast to their statements about valuing transparency and accountability.
Their desire to control their image is also evident in their reluctance to engage with hard-hitting questions. When faced with difficult questions, especially from seasoned journalists, Harry and Meghan have often responded poorly, demonstrating that they do not want to be held accountable or answer tough questions. Instead, they prefer a media environment where everything is carefully controlled, avoiding scrutiny and criticism.
Regarding their financial independence, their decision to distance themselves from the royal family and their desire to support themselves through entertainment ventures raise serious questions. If they truly wanted financial autonomy, they should have pursued it more strategically, without relying on family funds or the protection afforded by their royal status. Their move to California, while initially painted as a pursuit of independence, ultimately seemed like an attempt to secure fame and wealth through deals with streaming services like Netflix and Spotify.
Moreover, their request for government funding to support their security is another area of contradiction. They wanted to remain internationally protected, but once they left their royal duties, this protection should have been reassessed. The government’s responsibility to provide security for individuals who are no longer part of the royal family or fulfilling official roles is debatable, and yet they continued to demand it. This has led to confusion and controversy, especially considering that their personal finances should support such expenses if they are indeed financially independent.
The truth is, their plan was poorly executed and mismanaged from the start. Despite their claims of wanting to serve the monarchy and support the Commonwealth, their actions have shown that their primary focus was always personal gain. If Harry and Meghan truly cared about their role within the royal family, they would have negotiated a more sustainable path forward, one that involved collaboration with the family rather than an abrupt break. Instead, they burned bridges, alienated family members, and failed to achieve the independence they sought.
In hindsight, their decision to step back from royal duties has been nothing short of disastrous. It has strained their relationships with their family, led to public backlash, and left them in a much more precarious position than they likely anticipated. Despite their claims of being spiritually aligned with Princess Diana, their actions have not followed in her footsteps in a positive way. Instead, they have made decisions based on misunderstandings and inflated perceptions of their own importance.
As for Harry, it’s clear that the decision to follow Meghan’s lead has not brought him the happiness or fulfillment he expected. While he may enjoy moments with his family, it’s hard to imagine that he doesn’t question whether the path they’ve chosen was truly the right one. The sacrifices he’s made have cost him dearly, and it’s unlikely that Meghan is any happier with the outcome. Ultimately, this whole venture has been one of the most poorly executed decisions of their lives, and its impact will continue to haunt them for years to come.
