From fairytale wedding to bitter royal exit, how Harry and Meghan changed the Windsors forever

LINKING arms with King Charles, Meghan Markle slowly stepped down the aisle of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle to meet her prince at the altar. Elegant and glamorous, the American one-time TV actress was now starring in her own fairytale — and a nation was enraptured. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning a return to the UK after years of exile abroad Credit: Netflix The interview with Oprah Winfrey was one of several moments where it appeared there would be no royal return Credit: AFP Harry and Meghan’s relationship was expected to signal the dawn of a new exciting era for the royals Credit: Getty Whispers soon grew louder that all was not well behind Palace doors for the newlyweds Credit: Getty Later, kissing Harry on the chapel steps, thousands of those lining the streets cheered ecstatically with an estimated two billion watching across the globe. That sunny May day in 2018 seemed to herald a new dawn for the stuffy House of Windsor. Sign up for the Royals newsletter Thank you! Meghan — a mixed-race woman with a social conscience and film star looks — was marrying a war hero prince who had long been one of the most popular royals. The Sun on Sunday’s splash headline the following morning read, KISSTORY: Harry & Meg’s historic change for monarchy. READ MORE ON PRINCE HARRY The Sun On Sunday’s famous KISSTORY backpage followed Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 Credit: News began to emerge of tensions behind the scenes between the so-called Fab FourCredit: Refer to source The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s star appeal looked destined to drag the 1,000-year institution into the modern world and provide a boost for Britain’s image abroad. That October the couple embarked on a 16-day tour of Australia and New Zealand where they were greeted by large and enthusiastic crowds. Meghan undertook 76 engagements — with 41 outfit changes — with a The Sun headline praising her as The Duchess of Success. Then-Royal Correspondent Emily Andrews wrote: “The Duchess is now very much a Republican’s nightmare; her natural charm and modern approach have set back their cause for a generation.” Most read in Royals The Sun first revealed Harry and actress Meghan were dating back in 2016 Credit: Harry and Meghan were first pictured together by The Sun when she visited London Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Yet, within days, whispers grew louder that all was not well behind Palace doors. A Sun exclusive revealed that the late Queen had warned Harry about Meghan’s behaviour before their wedding after the bride-to-be reportedly had a meltdown over which tiara she would wear. It emerged that December that three of the Duchess’s close aides had left since the wedding, and there were reports suggesting she had been unnecessarily rude to Kensington Palace staff and left some in tears. In November cracks were reported between the so-called Fab Four — the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Meghan gave birth to the couple’s first baby Archie in 2019 while they were still living in the UK Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd In 2020 we told how the couple were considering spending more time outside the country Credit: A Sun front page declared Meghan Made Kate Cry. It told how Kate was left in tears over the Duchess’s demands for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. Meghan would later insist it was her who had been left in tears. All was clearly not well. By April the following year — with the birth of son Archie imminent — The Sun reported Harry and Meghan were pondering whether to spend four months every year in South Africa. Meghan’s true feelings on her royal life emerged during an ITV documentary filmed in southern Africa. The couple were unhappy with royal life and decided to quit the UK – and their duties to the crown Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry and Meghan hit out at the royals in a series of television interviews including Oprah Winfrey Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Screened in October 2019, TV presenter Tom Bradby asked her how she was coping with the intense scrutiny of her new role. Close to tears, she said: “Not many people have asked if I’m OK.” When Bradby suggested that she was “not really OK” and that it had been a struggle, she replied: “Yes.” By December the Sussexes were holidaying in Canada for what was reported to be a six-week break. Meghan revealed some of her misgivings about royal life during a trip to South Africa Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd The couple spent several weeks away in Canada before deciding to quit their duties Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Six years ago in 2020, under the headline We’re Orf Again, we told how the couple were considering spending much of the year in the country and were considering their future role in the Royal Family. Then, in a bombshell Instagram post that day, the pair announced their decision to “step back as ‘senior’ members” of the British Royal Family”. In the following day’s paper, we described it as “Megxit”. The term soon went around the world and Collins dictionary named it one of the words of the year. On January 13 the Queen held the so-called Sandringham Summit with Harry, Charles and William to decide the terms of the Sussexes’ departure. Harry and Meghan are now planning a shock return to the UK Credit: AP Meghan and Harry released a six-part documentary on Netflix about their post-royal lives Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry’s book Spare became another vehicle to vent frustrations against royal life Credit: Their deal with Netflix signalled a desire to cash in on their status and was criticised Credit: Harry and Meghan wanted a half in, half out deal. They said on their website that they wanted to “continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty the Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally”. But the Queen wasn’t buying it and days later delivered a Hard Megxit. The pair were stripped of their HRH titles and were told they were no longer working royals. The couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey created headlines around the world Credit: A major dispute emerged following Meghan and Harry’s accusations against the royals Credit: Harry’s decision to appear on Oprah came after he was stripped of his titles Credit: Harry and Meghan have also met up with David Beckham’s estranged son Brooklyn Credit: chall11 Already, bristling with resentment, it may have been the final straw that pushed them into speaking out publicly. By March the following year — after moving to a nine-bedroom mansion in Montecito, California — the Sussexes were holding hands on comfy chairs as they vented to chat show queen Oprah Winfrey. It would rock the Royal family to its foundations. Meghan said she found life within the Royal Family so difficult that at times she “didn’t want to be alive any more”. And she said Harry was asked by an unnamed family member before Archie’s birth “how dark” his skin might be. Harry and Meghan are now planning a shock return to the UK Credit: AP Harry and Meghan’s disputes with the royals rumbled on and on Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry added: “That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked.” In a famous statement, the Queen responded saying: “Recollections may vary.” Harry also told Oprah he was “hurt” by the Hard Megxit, and that his father and brother were “trapped within the system” of the Royal Family. It was only the beginning, with a torrent of devastating accusations and personal revelations in the coming months that threatened to make the rift with his family permanent. Harry’s explosive memoir Spare even included criticism against his dad Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Amid the fallout, Harry and Meghan had their second child while living abroad Credit: In December 2022 Netflix released Harry & Meghan, a six-part documentary in which they placed their lives in the House of Windsor under a microscope. Discussing the Sandringham Summit, Harry said: “It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me.” He added that his father allegedly said things that “simply weren’t true” and that his late grandmother the Queen “quietly sat there” to “take it all in”. And the Duke claimed William’s communications team broke a promise by leaking negative stories about the Sussexes to deflect from negative press about William. The couple made a flying visit to see The Queen in 2022 at Windsor Castle Credit: King Charles evicted the absent couple from their UK residency at Frogmore Cottage Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry and Meghan’s dream life abroad has also had some complications Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry and Meghan named daughter Lilibet after the Queen Credit: He also alleged that William had chosen his royal institution over their relationship as siblings, saying: “The saddest part of it was this wedge created between myself and my brother.” People were still fascinated by the Sussex’s revelations. The documentary received the highest UK ratings of any Netflix show in 2022. There was more. In January 2023 Harry released his explosive memoir Spare. There had never been a royal book like it. Over 416 pages, it veered from the toe-curlingly confessional to damaging insights into royal life. Harry had a brief meeting with King Charles in 2024 following his cancer diagnosis Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry had a longer meeting with the King last September at Clarence House Credit: Harry and Meghan’s relationship was supposed to be a beautiful chapter for the Royal Family Credit: Harry and brother Prince William’s relationship has been tense for years Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Harry told how he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a Wiltshire pub: “I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my ass and sent me away.” He admitted taking cocaine and killing 25 Taliban fighters while serving in Afghanistan. The Duke said he and William had begged their father not to marry Camilla and that his brother had knocked him to the ground during an argument about Meghan. He claimed that William and Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a fancy-dress party — and that Charles takes his teddy bear “everywhere” with him. The Sun recently reported how Harry plans to bring his children to the UK Credit: Harry is now attempting to repair bridges that were previously thought to have been burned Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd There appeared to be no way back. Bridges had so much been burned but incinerated. Megxit was done. Then came last night’s bombshell. The Sussexes were coming back. Comment now