It has been three years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step down as senior royals and live a more private life in the U.S. So, from the media scrutiny to lacking support from the firm, here is what everything has been said about the Sussexes' decision to leave the royal family.
The late Queen Elizabeth II herself seemed to understand her grandson and granddaughter-in-law's decision to leave, addressing the intense scrutiny they had suffered since they started their relationship in an official statement about their exit. But aside from that, what else made Prince Harry and Meghan decide to go?
Prince Harry Fears Meghan Markle May Have the Same Fate as Princess Diana
The Duke of Sussex likens his wife's situation to his mother, the late Princess Diana when it comes to public scrutiny and media attention.
As the world knows how his mom died—in a car crash while followed by the paparazzi—he's afraid the Duchess of Sussex may suffer the same.
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"My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person," he wrote in a statement referring to the People's Princess, published by The Guardian in 2019. "lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."
The Lack of Support and Understanding
In addition, in an interview with Oprah, via Marie Claire, Prince Harry revealed that another reason he had to leave the royal family was due to the "lack of support and understanding" the institution gave to them.
Sure, he knew the U.K. was his home, but he understood he had to remove his family from there as he could already see where this ordeal was coming.
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"I asked for calm from the British tabloids. Once as a boyfriend, once as a husband, and once as a father," he stated.
Oprah wanted Prince Harry to clarify his real motivation to leave by asking, "Was the move about getting away from the U.K. press, because the press is everywhere, or was the move because you weren't getting enough support from the firm?"
"Both," he replied.
Prince Harry Fears for His and Family's Lives
In another interview with ITV via CBC, Prince Harry revealed another reason for their infamous 2020 exit: he feared for their lives.
Sadly, he could no longer recognize his father, King Charles, or his brother, Prince William.
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"After many, many years of lies being told about me and my family, there comes a point where, going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get in the bed with the devil ... to rehabilitate their image," he said. "The moment that that rehabilitation comes at the detriment of others, me, other members of my family, then that's where I draw the line."
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