Meghan MarkleandPrince Harry’s departure from their roles as working members of the royal family didn’t come all at once.
Buckingham Palace announcedon Feb. 18, 2021, that “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.” The statement came one year and one month after Meghan andPrince Harryinitially shared their plans to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”
Later, the couple made headlines when they spoke out about their experiences as working royals in aninterview with Oprah Winfrey, as well as in theirNetflix docuseries,Harry and Meghan.
In April 2023, Buckingham Palaceconfirmed that Prince Henry would attend King Charles' coronation, though Meghan would be staying behind in California with their children. Ahead of the ceremony, a source told PEOPLE that the father and son were having “positive conversations,” and that the King is “pleased” his younger son will be there.
That same month, Meghan’s friend and makeup artist Daniel Martinspoke about how the Duke of Sussex is enjoying life in the United States. “Harry has definitely found his vibe and is very settled in California. But he does miss home,” he told PEOPLE.
See how Meghan andPrince Harry’s step down from their royal roles unfolded.
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October 2019: Meghan and Prince Harry announce holiday “break”
The first hint of Meghan andPrince Harryleaving their working royal roles came in October 2019, when the couple announced they weretaking six weeks offto spend some valuable “family time” together and with sonArchie Harrison, who was born in May 2019.
The family of three spent the final weeks of 2019 inVancouver Island, Canada, celebrating the holidays privately.
January 8, 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry reveal intentions to “step back” from working royal roles
Just one day after theirvisit to Canada House in Londonto thank them for their warm hospitality and support during their stay on Vancouver Island, Meghan andPrince Harryannounced they intended to “step back as senior members of the Royal Family” and split their time between the U.K. and North America.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they said in a statement. “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.”
January 13, 2020: Sandringham Summit
Prince Harry, his fatherPrince Charlesand his brotherPrince Williammet withQueen Elizabeth’s at Sandringham, her country home, to discuss Harry and Meghan’s announcement in what became known as the “Sandringham Summit.”
After the 90-minute discussion, the Queen, 94,released a rare and emotional statement.
“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” she said.
“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family,” she continued. “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”
The monarch also announced there would be a “period of transition” as they fully fledged out their new roles. It’s later announced that there would be a one-year probational period, after which the royal family will revisit the agreement.
Royal historian and biographer Robert Lacey told PEOPLE of the Queen’s statement: “It was incredibly personal. I can’t recall a royal statement where one gets the sense so much of the Queen herself speaking. Using phrases like ‘my family and I’ is very moving. It clearly shows her wish to resolve everything.”
March 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry make their final round of royal engagements
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Commonwealth Day 2020.Chris Jackson/Getty
It’s announced that March 31 will officially mark Meghan andPrince Harry’s exit from royal life and the beginning of their one-year transitional period. In the first week of the month, the couple return to the U.K. for their final royal outings and visits to their patronages.
Harry and Meghan then joinedQueen Elizabeth,Prince William,Kate Middleton,Prince Charlesand other royals at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 8.
They also share theirfinal poston their @SussexRoyal Instagram page on March 30.
March 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry relocate to California
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson/Getty
The couple moved toMeghan’s hometown of Los Angeleswith son Archie, staying atTyler Perry’s Beverly Hills mansion.
“This is what Meghan and Harry have always wanted — to create their own life,” a royal insidertold PEOPLE. “It’s got to feel like an immense relief to get out of the U.K. and go down their own path”
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Meghan and Harry werespotted delivering mealsto those in need in their new hometown.
“What Meghan said is she wanted to show Harry Los Angeles through the eyes of philanthropy. It’s just beautiful,” executive director Richard Ayoub of Project Angel Foodtold PEOPLE. “There’s obviously a great deal of love and selflessness between them.”
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February 19, 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry confirm they won’t return as working royals
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s pregnancy reveal on Feb. 14.Misan Harriman
Less than a week after the couple announced that they wereexpecting their second child, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the couple will officiallynot be returning to their royal roles. The announcement came a few weeks shy of their 12-month review period.
Meghan and Harry will no longer keep their patronages (their royal involvement with numerous U.K. charities). Further,Prince Harrywill lose his honorary military appointments, which will subsequently be redistributed “among working members of The Royal Family.”
AlthoughPrince Harryand Meghan no longer use their coveted His/Her Royal Highness titles, they will retain them — along with their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
March 9, 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry reunite with royal family for first time since announcing they were stepping down
Prince Harryand Meghan joined other members of the royal family for the annualCommonwealth Day service, held at Westminster Abbey. The event marked the first time the couple publicly reunited withQueen Elizabeth,Prince William,Kate MiddletonandPrince Charlessince announcing they were stepping down as working royals and moving to Canada.
July 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry purchase Santa Barbara home
Over the summer, Meghan andPrince Harrymoved to a nine-bedroom mansion, purchased for a reported $14 million, in the Montecito neighborhood of Santa Barbara, about 95 miles north of Los Angeles.
“They were craving a smaller communityand a slower pace — Montecito is very mellow, a charming little town and the Santa Barbara [area] offers an ideal lifestyle that they’re looking forward to,” a source close to the couple told PEOPLE.
They provided glimpses inside their new home through virtual calls with various charities, including theQueen’s Commonwealth Trust.
During this time, they also announced partnerships withNetflixandSpotify.
March 7, 2021: Meghan and Prince Harry’s Oprah interview
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey.Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions
Meghan andPrince Harrysat down with Winfrey to discuss theirtime as working royalsand their experiences since stepping down. In the interview, Meghan said that, within the royal family, there were “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born.”
“That was really hard to reconcile because it was only once we were married and everything started to really worsen that I came to understand that not only was I not being protected, but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family,” Meghan told Winfrey. “They weren’t willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband.”
June 2-5, 2022: Meghan and Prince Harry attend Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee
September 10, 2022: Meghan and Prince Harry are seen greeting mourners with Kate Middleton and Prince William
Alberto Pezzali/AP/Shutterstock
While the former working royals' two children, Archie andLilibet Diana, became entitled toroyal titlesafter King Charles became monarch, no name changes were announced.
December 8, 2022: Meghan and Prince Harry’s Netflix docuseries premieres
Harry & Meghan.Netflix
Meghan did her best to blend in during the early days, opting to wear more discreet neutrals to avoid standing out among the other royals. “Most of the time that I was in the U.K., I rarely wore color. There was thought in that,” she said.
The pair also got candid about their experiences with the U.K. paparazzi, with Harry revealing he tried to coach Meghan after their relationship was made public. However, the “wave of abuse and harassment” Meghan faced was unlike anything the prince had experienced.
December 15, 2022: Prince Harry says Prince William screamed at him over his decision to step back from royal duties
During the final three episodes of Netflix’sHarry & Meghan, the couple talked in detail about their decision to take a step back from their royal duties — and the reactions from senior family members.
Harry shared that he had a"terrifying" confrontation with Williamand now-King Charles during the infamous Sandringham Summit.
“It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me, and my father say things that simply weren’t true and my grandmother quietly sit there and sort of take it all in,” he said.
Harrydescribed his final engagementswith the family in March 2020, particularly the Commonwealth service, as “cold” and “distant.”
Unfortunately, the family tension was still very apparent atPrince Philip’s funeral a year later.
“I’ve had to make peace with the fact that we’re probablynever going to get genuine accountabilityor a genuine apology [from my family],” the Duke of Sussex said. “My wife and I, we’re moving on. We’re focused on what’s coming next.”
January 2, 2022: Prince Harry says he won’t return to a working royal role
John Lamparski/Getty
Ina trailerreleased ahead ofPrince HarryandAnderson Cooper’s60 Minutesinterview, Anderson asked Harry if he would ever return as a full-time member of the royal family.
“No,” Harry said simply, shaking his head.
“There’s a lot that can happen between now and then,” Harry said. “But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There’s a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they’re willing to sit down and talk about it.”
February 9, 2023: A source says King Charles wants Prince Harry to attend his coronation
A source close to the royal household told PEOPLE that King Charles wantsHarry to attend his May 6, 2023, coronationat Westminster Abbey.
“It is such a momentous occasion for Charles, and he would want his son to be at the coronation to witness it. He would like to have Harry back in the family,” the source said. “If they don’t sort it out, it will always be part of the King’s reign and how he has left his family disjointed. He has had a reputation as a distant parent, and it would be awful for him for that to continue.”
March 1, 2023: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are evicted from Frogmore Cottage
A spokesperson for Meghan andPrince Harry’s Archewell Foundation confirmed to PEOPLE that the couplewere asked to vacate their residenceatFrogmore Cottage.
The following week, a source told PEOPLE that the Duke and Duchess of Sussexaren’t trying to fight the decision, adding that the pair are happy to raise their children in California.
However, those close to the former working royals say the decision is “unfortunate” as Harry, Meghan and their kids utilized Frogmore Cottage when they visited the U.K.
April 12, 2023: Buckingham Palace confirms Prince Harry will attend King Charles' coronation without Meghan Markle
Buckingham Palace announced thatPrince Harry will be presentfor his father and Queen Camilla’s crowning ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey on May 6. However, Meghan and their children will not attend.
“Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May,” the statement read. “The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
A friend of Harry’sspoke to PEOPLE about the decisionfollowing the announcement. “At this point, it’s become so personal,” the insider said. “Maybe what they wanted wasn’t achieved, but at the end of the day, he’s going there to support his dad.”
May 6, 2023: Prince Harry attends King Charles' coronation
Prince Harry.Andy Stenning - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harryattended King Charles' crowning ceremonyat Westminster Abbey, where he sat in the third row to watch the service.
While the Duke of Sussexreturned home to California directly after the ceremony, the King was reportedly happy to have his younger son in attendance.
Colleen Harris, a former press secretary to the King and his sons, talked to PEOPLE about Harry’s choice to attend the event. “He would have personally regretted it if he wasn’t there to support his father. Speaking as a mother, [I believe] it was the right thing . . . and the King [was] delighted,” she said.
June 2023: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry officially vacate Frogmore Cottage
At the annual Sovereign Grant account briefing on royal finances, Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry haveofficially moved outof Frogmore Cottage.
source: people.com
