During her time as a senior member of the British royal family, Meghan Markle dedicated herself to several charitable causes and initiated some important projects. Her focus was on mental health, women’s rights, animal welfare, and community building.
Given her passion for charity work, many experts were surprised that Meghan didn’t remain part of the royal family for a longer period. It’s often said that her decision to step back was influenced by a lack of understanding of her royal role.
Why did Meghan Markle Leave the Royals?
Many, including the Prince of Wales, reportedly offered advice to both Meghan and Harry on navigating their roles, both together and individually.
However, their decision not to follow suggestions on balancing their private and public lives is seen by some experts as the beginning of their departure from royal duties.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared her perspective with OK! Magazine, saying:
“I’m not convinced that Meghan imagined she could shake up the Royal Family. I just think she had no idea about how it worked and what life married to Harry would be like.”
Bond continued, “And that’s why I think William was entirely correct to advise his brother to take things a bit more slowly and give Meghan the chance to make a judgement on whether this was the life she wanted. Rightly or wrongly, the Royal Family is a hierarchy, and Meghan was never going to be either the chief executive or even the managing director of the firm.”
Jennie Bond also commented on how transitioning from a life of freedom to a more restricted royal lifestyle could have impacted Meghan:
“I completely understand that it must have been anathema to a strong-minded, independent, and successful woman to be told what to do, how to do it—and what not to do or say.”
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a strong-minded, independent, and free-thinking woman,” Bond added, “but life is all too often about making compromises, and I’m not sure that Meghan had contemplated that.”
Bond expressed her hopes for Meghan’s future, saying, “I think she probably has a very clear idea about her public image now and she has set up her website and her interests to reflect that. I hope she’s happy in her Californian life and that she makes Harry and their children equally happy.”
Reflecting on Prince Harry, Bond shared:
“Having watched him grow up and reported on him through so many of his most difficult years, I really have only one wish for the Prince: that he should be happy in love and enjoy the family life he has always wanted. And if that means remaining estranged from his family in the UK, then it’s very sad, but so be it.”
Prince William’s alleged concerns about the speed of Harry’s relationship with Meghan were highlighted in Tom Bower’s book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors.
Bower claimed that after Harry introduced Meghan to his uncle, two aunts, and his late mother’s best friend, Julia Samuel, they felt Meghan might not fit in with the royal family.
Bower wrote, “Their unease was voiced by Charles Spencer. At William’s request, Spencer weighed in. Three times married, Spencer cautioned his nephew to reconsider his haste towards marriage. His advice provoked a bitter reaction. ‘This was going to be really hard,’ Harry would later reflect on establishing Meghan’s place in the family.”