11 Moments That Might Explain Why Meghan Markle Is ‘The Most Unfairly Treated Person’ Of 2019

In February of this year, Meghan traveled to New York to attend a baby shower thrown by a few of her friends. While she went into the experience knowing she'd be criticized, the blowback still stung. In fact, she was so aware of the criticism that she might receive that she made an unusual request of the hotel staff: that they let her leave through the service entrance.

"The VIP [Meghan] explained that her intent was to change the literal optics of the departure, making it appear that she was at least attempting to sneak out of the hotel in photos rather than exiting through the main entrance and giving the potential impression that she was enjoying the media attention."

Critics were unbothered and still went after Meghan over the shower itself. Some claimed the shower was too expensive, and many were wondering why Meghan couldn't have had the shower in the UK, where she now lives. However, the first complaint doesn't ring true. While the shower did cost $200,000, the British taxpayers did not foot the bill — her celebrity friends did.

Meghan and Harry welcomed their son, Archie, in May 2019. As one might expect, there were some complaints mixed in with the celebrations. Reactions to Archie's name varied widely, with one person on Twitter saying, "a shame you can't hear Her Majesty's pitch perfect impression of Edith Bunker as she coos 'Oooh Archie' in a Queens accent."

Meghan was also accused of being "dishonest" about the birth itself. While in the post-birth glow of recently having had a baby, both Meghan and Harry made comments about how "amazing" the experience was. Radio host Kate Borsay took offense, saying, "'Parenting is amazing’ says Harry, well you have had two days at it. Calm down because it doesn’t stay amazing the whole way through. It’s generally amazing but we all know there are times when it is most definitely not amazing."

And of course, Meghan couldn't hold her baby correctly. Or so it seems! In July, Meghan delighted many by turning up at a polo match and sitting with her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, and Kate's children. Sadly, Meghan was nearly immediately criticized for how she was holding Archie as soon as photos from the event were out.

One person on Instagram wrote, "The multiple nannies ‘forgot’ to teach her how to best hold a newborn" and commenters blasted the duchess, claiming she "must not have any maternal instinct at all."

This summer Harry and Meghan also announced a plan to formally separate their house from that of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The step is a logical one for the families, as they are on different royal tracks, but the move was quickly used as evidence that there was a royal rift in the family.

Part of this separation meant that Meghan and Harry left the Royal Foundation to start their own charity. The official statement read, "Later this year The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation."

This separation also meant that the duke and duchess were branching out on their own on social media as well. Again, it's a logical move — it makes sense that they would want their own space for their own projects — but many were not pleased.

Eagle-eyed followers noticed that the account appeared to be run by someone who was often confusing British and American spellings of words, and guess who they blamed? You know it.

Meghan and Harry started refurbishing Frogmore Cottage last year, and they finally moved into their new home in 2019. However, the renovations fell under heavy critique when it was revealed that they cost the taxpayers over £2.4 million ($3 million).

Even though it was also revealed that Harry and Meghan paid for their own furniture and decor, people were displeased with the high dollar amount spent out of the Sovereign Grant. It's worth noting that in 2014, Prince William and Kate Middleton spent £4.5 million of taxpayer funds renovating their own home.

Meghan made waves again over the summer when she attended Wimbledon with two friends to watch Serena Williams. The reason? She allegedly didn't allow fan photographs. A BBC reporter alleged that Meghan's security asked an attendee, "Would you not take photographs of the Duchess? She's here in a private capacity."

Meghan turned 38 this year and decided to have a private family celebration. No big deal, right? Well, except for the fact that the celebration took place in Ibiza, Spain. The pair took a private jet (which is quite expensive) and allegedly celebrated at a private beach described as a "billionaire's playground." The trip came on the heels of the drama that unfolded after it was revealed that Prince Harry took a private jet to a climate change summit.

While the critique is valid, it's also curious: How else could a pair as famous as these two celebrate privately together?

One of the biggest dramas that has unfolded out of the House of Sussex this year happened when the duke and duchess announced their intent to sue the British tabloids. They released a powerful statement defending their choice:

“As a couple, we believe in media freedom and objective, truthful reporting. We regard it as a cornerstone of democracy and in the current state of the world — on every level — we have never needed responsible media more. Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences — a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”

However, this wasn’t enough for those who felt like this decision was a terrible one. Piers Morgan, who used to head the Daily Mirror, was especially biting when he tweeted, “Let’s all give them the privacy they purport to crave and spare them the ‘torment’ of having their myriad causes get huge beneficial publicity.”

Meghan and Harry again made huge waves when they opened up about the criticism they have experienced this year in a documentary called Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. While the documentary was about their royal trip to South Africa, it had a heavy focus on their descriptions of what this year has been like for them.

In one moving clip, Meghan says, "So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed, I guess, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I am OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

Reactions from the public and the media were, again, mixed. Royal experts weighed and in said the documentary would likely just feed into the "media machine."

In late 2019, the palace confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be taking a break from royal duties for six weeks, or the rest of the year. This, again, seems fair: The break also overlapped with Thanksgiving in the US and Christmas and means the trio can celebrate with Meghan's mother in the United States.

Hopefully, their time away from the public eye will allow the family to put renewed energy into the coming year.