By now, you've probably heard that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are stepping away from their duties as senior royalty. They announced this decision shortly after their first royal engagement of the year. It took everyone by surprise — even Queen Elizabeth II.
People can't help but speculate as to why Meghan and Harry made this decision. Since Harry lost his mom largely in part to relentless paparazzi interest, it's very possible that he didn't want his wife to suffer the same fate. While Meghan was fully aware that she'd be getting a lot of tabloid attention after marrying into the royal family, it's always hard to envision how stressful it can actually be. Ever since word got out that the former actress was dating Prince Harry, people wouldn't leave her alone.
Meghan Markle is interesting for plenty of reasons. For one, she's an American girl. Secondly, this isn't her first marriage. Meghan was married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, after dating since 2004. But one of the biggest reasons why people might turn their heads is because from the very beginning, Meghan made it clear that she'd be doing things her own way. And people feel as if this move may have been part of the plan all along.
Kaiser from the website Celeb*tchy posted a story saying that it's possible that Meghan and Harry planned this move to bait the Queen. As you know, Queen Elizabeth can be very particular about a few things. She has a list of demands when it comes to the food she eats (like, no onions or garlic) and is very particular about proper royal etiquette.
That may be because she's the longest-reigning British monarch in history. She's been in the position for well over 65 years, meaning she's a force to be reckoned with. If Queen Elizabeth II is still queen in 2022, she'll reportedly have a Platinum Jubilee to celebrate the occasion.
She also is capable of stripping Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their royal titles. The two are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and according to their statement, they'd keep the titles but take their jobs in a different direction. "We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," Harry and Meghan wrote.
"It occurred to me as I read all of those pieces on SussexRoyal… could this be a bait?" Kaiser wondered. "On its face, this is Harry and Meghan telling the Queen how it’s going to be. But so much of it will depend on the Queen, from whether their HRHs are taken away, whether their Sussex titles are removed, whether they will continue to get money from Prince Charles, whether they’ll be allowed to 'keep' Frogmore Cottage, and whether they’ll still get police protection."
Kaiser then states that either direction the Queen takes would still benefit Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in some way. "If the Queen cancels some or all of their privileges, that makes it even easier for them to walk away with clean hands, do what they want and not owe the Windsors anything," Kaiser pointed out.
Even without the royal titles, the couple is set for life. Everyone will always be interested in Prince Harry, especially if this scandalous scenario occurs. Harry, on the other hand, could pick and choose his opportunities to speak out while still raising his family. He doesn't even have to live in the United Kingdom — the two could just find a place in the United States, closer to Meghan's family.
But if the Queen abides, it shows that Meghan and Harry still have control in the family and end up getting exactly what they want. They can keep their titles and privileges, yet live life the way they see fit. And since Harry is very far away in line from getting the crown, it makes sense for him to want to tackle less responsibility than his brother Prince William, who's next in line for the crown after Prince Charles.
Tabloids have gone crazy about a rift between William and Harry, and this news might explain why. While Prince William is in line for royalty, Prince Harry is the one who's getting scrutinized the most based on his choice of partner. Both Harry and Meghan chose to celebrate Christmas outside of the UK, which was another indicator that they're more interested in following their own path.
It's hard to figure out how Buckingham Palace is handling the news. It's rumored that the Queen had no idea that Harry and Meghan would release such a statement. They reportedly went behind everyone's back, which is somewhat of a scandal when it comes to royal etiquette.
It's unclear if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had this plan all along from the very beginning, but it's safe to say they've been thinking about it for a long time. As Kaiser noted, Meghan Markle is a planner. With this particular plan in motion, she'd be set for life. Bringing a child into the equation makes it even tougher. Would the Queen risk ostracizing the couple when it means she may not have any sort of relationship with baby Archie?
It makes sense as to why people idolize the royals. They live a life that many of us will only get a hint of by watching The Crown on Netflix. But aside from the glamour and the ability to go on tours and travel to support missions and organizations, it can be extremely stressful. Kate Middleton had a lot of attention when she first joined the family, but her press has been mostly positive.
She seems to be an award-winning mother, a wonderful home cook, and the perfect figure to help keep William in line. The royal protocols that she's managed to break are things like shaking someone's hand first. Some people may be shocked, but at the end of the day, it's just a handshake. Kate also seems to have a good rapport with the Queen.
Meghan, on the other hand, is constantly being criticized for her own choices. Even her messy bun hairstyle is supposedly against royal protocol. All of the PDA she and Prince Harry have is also considered a no-no. If you look at William and Kate, there's much more distance between them while they're out for publicized events.
Every single thing Meghan does is under the microscope — and that can be a lot of pressure, especially for an outsider. What Meghan and Harry did probably isn't being viewed lightly by Buckingham Palace — or royal insiders — but they did what they had to do in order to live their best life. It'll be interesting to see if this brings about changes in Buckingham Palace.
