On January 8, 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the British royal family, a decision soon dubbed “Megxit.”

By the spring of that year, they had fully transitioned out of their royal roles, no longer carrying out official duties.

Life After Royalty and the Oprah Interview

In a revealing 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the emotional and personal struggles behind their decision.

Meghan disclosed she sought help from palace officials due to serious mental health concerns, saying, “I went to one of the most senior people to get help… and I was told no.” She also described approaching the Human Resources department, only to be turned away.

The interview sparked major backlash, especially as it aired shortly before Prince Philip’s death. Among the most serious revelations was the claim that certain royal family members had expressed concern over the potential skin color of their then-unborn son. Harry compared the media treatment of Meghan to what his late mother, Princess Diana, experienced, stating that “history was repeating itself.”

Allegations of Bullying Within the Palace

Following the interview, The Times reported that former staff members alleged Meghan had bullied employees during her time as a working royal.

Jason Knauff, then the communications secretary at Kensington Palace, claimed Meghan “bullied two PAs out of the household” and seemed to “always have someone in her sights.” The allegations prompted an internal palace investigation. Harry and Meghan firmly denied the claims, calling them part of a “wholly false narrative.”