13 Ways Meghan Markle Actually Set The Stage For Her Own Controversial "Megxit"
Taking a closer look at the choices this non-traditional royal made as a Duchess, her exit from the royal family may not have been that surprising after all
Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been the talk of the town as of late, thanks to their surprise decision to step down as senior members of the royal family in order to live more privately and with financial independence.
Depending on how you feel about the young royals, you could praise them for the bold move and applaud their modernity, or like the most conservative royalists, question the progressive couple's opposition to centuries-old institutions and wonder just how many more changes they could bring about.
Well, regardless of which camp you're part of, it certainly doesn't look like Meghan and Harry are slowing down; in the two years that they've officially been a Mr. and Mrs. in the British monarchy, they've left behind a trail of tweaks and adjustments to Palace tradition as well as made thought-provoking statements with many predicting that more is yet to come.
As we gear up for the next chapter of their lives away from the spotlight, we take a look back at all the things they've done differently and the surprising revelations they've made as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the gallery below.
Are Meghan and Harry indeed ushering a new era for the royal family, or would it serve them better to toe the line and let things be as they have been for hundreds of generations?
Meghan's background
Let's take it all the way back to the beginning: the fact that Meghan was a bi-racial woman with African-American heritage and is a divorcee, was a massive eyebrow-raiser for those who have always believed that members of the royal family should marry, well, only fellow royals. She was also a Hollywood actress when she met Harry, making her background even more of a wildcard for the then eligible bachelor.
The royal wedding of the century
And in 2018, Meghan's wedding was the ultimate wedding to watch out for—it didn't disappoint. And just like her very relationship with Harry, it garnered mixed emotions for mixing the modern with tradition. It had all the elements of a classic royal wedding that you can think of (a tiara, an adoring crowd, beautifully dressed guests, a spectacular venue and whatnot), but it also honored Meghan's African-American heritage, which was certainly a first in all of British monarchy's wedding history. There was a Gospel choir that sang and a black pastor delivered an impassioned sermon, to say the least. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was also all the family she had present. Her estranged father, Thomas Markle, and her two half-siblings were absent from the ceremony. She walked down the aisle on her own, too, which made the moment another first for British royals.
Body language issues
Now we get to the small details, like Meghan breaking royal protocol when it comes to greeting members of the public. A royal is discouraged from making too much personal contact with others, and a handshake will more than suffice. Meghan, on the other hand, preferred to embrace people or kiss cheek to cheek which has actually been met positively; many saw it as a way for her to better relate to others and to show more openness, rather than stiffness, as a royal. Some have gone as far as comparing this to how the late Princess Diana also conducted herself among the public.
Ok to PDA
It wasn't only Meghan's body language with the public that was scrutinized; even the way she behaved around her own husband received flak and had been described as unbecoming of a royal woman. That's because Meghan openly holds hands with Harry, allows him to put a protective arm around her shoulders or waist, and the pair has even shared a public kiss or two after their wedding. Apparently, royals must keep their PDA moments to a minimum, with kisses on the cheek considered to be the most affection they can share when in the public eye.
Fashion faux pas?
This Duchess' fashion choices have also been getting tons of attention from the very beginning. Unlike Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (the royal set to ascend to the throne when Prince William takes over as king one day), Meghan has been photographed on official engagements in jeans, button down shirts, dresses that go above the knee, sleeveless numbers, and yes, even without stockings. These clothing items may seem nothing out of the ordinary, but there are those who insist that a royal of her status must always conform to strict dress codes, and they certainly didn't like her casual approach to dressing up. Although some appreciated her "realness" in this department, many saw it as a subtle way of (unwelcome) rebellion against royal tradition.
Mental health and emotional struggles
On the topic of Meghan's authenticity as a person, the fact that she's spoken openly about her struggles within the Palace, fitting in with the rest of the royals, and the state of her mental health have been shocking to many. The British public has been taught to assume that royals have it all put together anywhere, anytime, but Meghan's revelations have brought to light the difficulties that come with being a public figure in this setting. She's been criticized and praised for it at the same time. People were divided between labeling it a call for attention and understanding what it truly takes to be monarch for the very first time. Meghan's words in she and Harry's documentary called "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey" proved to be her tipping point; she got teary-eyed as she discussed the pressures of conforming to the rules of a life she didn't fully grasp until she was already living it.
The tabloid battle
Meghan's anxiety over how to manage expectations of her would eventually worsen. Late last year, she and Harry became involved in a heated battle against British tabloids that they claimed to be treating her unfairly. Though these publications are known to be "merciless" in their portrayal of high society folks, it was noted that they were especially scathing in their portrayal of Meghan, often having racist undertones in their stories about her and continuing to characterize her as the woman who singlehandedly destroyed everything the British loved and admired about the royal family. Things came to a head when a tabloid illegally published a heavily edited letter Meghan had written to her father; it prompted her to sue them, and for Harry himself to pen a message posted on the Sussex Royals website pleading for offenders to stop. The legal cases are still ongoing, and it's the first time many have seen royals take open action against their harassers in the media.
A royal divide
But the press would never really leave Meghan alone. In several instances, they stirred rumors of Meghan starting a feud between brothers Harry and William, and being a coarse presence around Kate. The main reason behind this was Harry and Meghan's decision to move away from the property that made them literal neighbors with their in-laws and move miles away to Frogmore Cottage. They never directly explained this decision, but it was assumed it was because they wished to live more privately and have enough space to raise their growing family. Others, however, viewed it as Megan successfully putting up a divide between Harry and his family.
Breaking away
Changing addresses wasn't the only thing that Meghan and Harry did to set themselves apart from William and Kate. Although all four royals support the same charities and are engaged in charitable work, Meghan and Harry have actually established their own charity under the Sussex Royal name. That's never been done before; all royals' philanthropic work has been coursed through the same way, until now. Why Meghan and Harry felt the need to separate themselves in this regard was never directly addressed by them or the Palace.
Thunder-stealing
Meghan and Harry angered many when it was discovered that they had announced they were expecting when Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, was set to be married. The timing of their decision was seen as insensitive because of how it would eclipse the other royal event before them. Of course everyone would want to know everything about Meghan's first pregnancy—but what about the bride waiting to get her turn in the spotlight?
Baby Archie criticism
Sadly, Meghan's biggest detractors also found faults in the way she handled her pregnancy and birth. It has always been custom for female members of the royal family, when welcoming children, to announce the hospital they are staying at and share details about their plans for delivery. Meghan kept everything quiet. There was absolutely no word until her son, Archie, was born last spring and despite it being a happy occasion, many were disappointed in how secretive this first-time mom was about the event. The same can be said about Archie's christening; the media are usually allowed to film or photograph the occasion, but Harry and Meghan opted for an ultra-private day and once again, disappointed those expecting to get a taste of continuing royal tradition.
(Not) home for the holidays
Was it wrong for Harry and Meghan to choose to spend their first Christmas with their baby on their own? Should they have stayed in London where many members of the royal family convene with the Queen and go through the motions of Christmas Eve service and dinner together? People can't seem to decide, but the fact that Meghan has caused this much mixed reactions about an occasion that should have otherwise been heartwarming has left a bitter taste in many a Briton's mouth. Like many of her decisions, this too was perceived as another big no-no for a Duchess.
And then, the bombshell
And finally, here we are at the present. After all the things that Meghan and Harry have done differently from their contemporaries and family members, they announced that they were essentially resigning from their official duties as members of the royal family. This means that they can be more free to engage in all the behavior and more mentioned here, minus being criticized for doing so. However, they're not giving up their titles per se; Harry is still a Prince, and Meghan is still a Duchess and will continue to be acknowledged as such. Their terms of their resignation are still unclear at this point (this has never happened in the British monarchy in all its history), but they have also made it clear that they will continue to support all the activities that the Queen, William, and Kate will initiate, and will likewise still be patrons of the charities they support—just not as actively and visibly as they used to be as senior members of the royal family.
Photos from @sussexroyal @theroyalfamily
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