According to Hugo Vickers’ book, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan began vetting Harry’s speeches almost immediately after their 2018 wedding, leaving him looking at times overwhelmed and out of depth.
Tensions at Frogmore Cottage
The biography details the couple’s years at Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor estate gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Within months of moving in, the queen herself reportedly stepped in over Markle’s treatment of the estate’s gardening staff, signaling early friction between the Duchess and the royal household.
Markle also made changes to the property’s surroundings, including banning cars from a nearby sports ground, which had long been part of royal life. The space had been used by Prince Philip, a young Prince George, and even a cricket team made up of household staff.
“The Duchess of Sussex refused to have cars on the sports ground because she could see them from nearby Frogmore Cottage,” Vickers writes.
Controlling Harry’s Public Image
Vickers also notes that Markle had a hand in shaping what Harry said in public. Observers reportedly noticed a Californian tone creeping into his speeches, with every word vetted by Meghan, even during high-profile tours such as their 2018 visit to Australia.
By 2019, Harry appeared increasingly diminished and uncomfortable. On public occasions like Easter, the biographer writes, he seemed unhappy and distant, giving the impression of a man who had “bitten off more than he could chew.”
The Africa Trip That Changed Everything
The couple’s pivotal moment came in October 2019 during a trip to Africa, when Meghan shared her unhappiness with journalist Tom Bradby. That interview triggered a series of events that culminated in the couple leaving for Canada at Christmas.
Despite the tensions, Harry initially sought a compromise, hoping for a half-in, half-out arrangement where he could continue some royal work while being self-financing.
“He was keen to discuss a way forward with the Queen. He wanted to remain partially involved with royal duties,” Vickers writes.
However, senior palace officials, including private secretaries Sir Edward Young, Sir Clive Alderton, and Simon Case, made it clear at Sandringham that there was no middle ground. Harry was faced with a choice: all in or all out. He returned to Canada, reluctantly leaving royal duties behind.
Life After Royal Duties
By early 2020, Harry and Meghan had officially stepped back from royal responsibilities and relocated to California. In the years since, they have maintained a private life across the Atlantic, sharing moments from their Montecito home with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, including Easter egg hunts and family updates.
The couple’s final appearance at Windsor together was in September 2022, joining Prince William and Kate Middleton for a castle walkabout shortly after the queen’s passing. The distance between the two households has become more apparent, with the British royals attending church services in England while Harry and Meghan share family life in the U.S.
