Meghan Markle reportedly wanted two things from the Royal Family – but they were things that she couldn’t have. The 44-year-old officially joined the Royal Family in May 2018, less than two years after her first date with Prince Harry in London.
The couple’s stint together in the Firm didn’t last very long, however, with the pair releasing a statement in January 2020 sharing that they wanted to step back from royal duties and work to become financially independent. The couple then moved to California with their son, before welcoming their daughter in the US the following year.
Despite their desire for a private life away from the Firm, some experts believe that Meghan’s decision was due to the fact that she couldn’t have two things from the Royal Family.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!: “I have always held the view that Meghan failed to understand that she would never be the top dog in the Royal Family…or even the deputy top dog.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be in complete control and charge of your life.
“There’s nothing wrong with seeking the limelight. It’s just that the Royal Family was the wrong vehicle for her ambitions.”
Experts have also speculated that Meghan didn’t intend to stay in the UK for long.
Phil Dampier telling The Sun: “To be honest, I don’t think she ever intended to stay in the Royal Family.
“Unfortunately, I think she was prepared to have a wonderful wedding costing millions of pounds, but I don’t think her heart was ever really in it, and I think she always planned to leave, so the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and that’s what we’re seeing now.”
Meghan now resides in Montecito with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Although they spent Christmas in California with their children, the couple reportedly welcomed in 2026 in Tromsø.