Megxit timeline: Key moments & how we ended up back where we started from Sandringham Summit to Oprah Winfrey bombshell

MEGXIT has come full circle as Harry and Meghan prepare to return to Britain after six years of bitter royal rows, bombshell interviews and bruising legal battles. The Sun’s World Exclusive revealed the couple are set to return at the end of this month for an “extended period” with their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are making a shock return to the UK The pair – pictured here on their wedding day – are set to come back to the UK at the end of August Credit: AFP Six years after the couple left for America, they are planning to come back to Britain – despite Harry saying last year he “couldn’t see a world” in which he would bring his family back to the UK. The saga began in January 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stunned the Firm when they announced plans to quit as senior royals and forge a new life in America. Sign up for the Royals newsletter Thank you! They wanted to earn their own money while still supporting the monarch, which prompted the Queen to call the now-famous Sandringham Summit. But their dream of a half-in, half-out royal role was quickly ruled untenable and it was either a matter of in or out. (MARCH 31, 2020) HARRY AND MEGHAN QUIT The Sussexes chose out, heading to California and formally quitting as senior working royals in March 2020 as the COVID pandemic took hold. Megxit became permanent in 2021 when the Queen stripped Harry of his military titles and royal patronages. Harry has been estranged from his brother and father since Megxit Credit: Getty Questions have risen over the ‘Fab Four’ feud Credit: Getty The couple insisted they would always live a life of service. That June, they welcomed daughter Lilibet Diana, a younger sister for Archie. Most read in Royals But another royal row erupted over her name. The Sussexes said the Queen had given them permission to use Lilibet, her childhood family nickname. An aide later claimed the monarch was “as angry as I’d ever seen her” over the suggestion. (MARCH 7, 2021) OPRAH BOMBSHELL Yet their departure did little to end the drama. Instead, the couple continued to cause issues for the Firm from their new home in Montecito, California. Harry and Meghan during their shocking Oprah interview in 2021 Credit: Reuters Back in the UK the couple will not be working royals but will continue with their business enterprises Credit: Getty In 2021, they sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview as Prince Philip was seriously ill in hospital. In this extraordinary interview, the couple made damaging claims about the Royal Family, while Spare revealed deeply private family feuds. The King is believed to welcome the chance to see more of his grandchildren, and his meeting with Harry and Meghan at Highgrove last month appears to have opened the door to a closer relationship. However, relations are clearly still strained between the Sussexes and the King since he was only made aware of their return on Sunday. Meghan claimed she had been left suicidal during her time as a working royal and said the Palace had failed to help her. The couple also claimed an unnamed royal had made a remark about how dark their future son’s skin might be. Meghan then revealed Kate had made her cry during a bridesmaid dress fitting ahead of the Sussexes’ wedding. She said the Palace had refused to correct reports which initially claimed the reverse had happened. The Queen refused to publicly fight the claims, saying the family would deal with the issues privately. But she added the now-famous line that “some recollections may vary”. Meghan was also accused of bullying Palace aides, claims she strongly denied. The Sussexes then struck multi-million pound deals with Netflix and Spotify after losing their royal funding. (DECEMBER 8, 2022 & JANUARY 10, 2023) NETFLIX AND SPARE The attacks continued after the Queen’s death and the start of King Charles’s reign. Harry and Meghan laid bare their grievances in their Netflix documentary before Harry went even further in his bestselling memoir Spare. Harry launched a string of accusations against his family in Spare – published in January 2023 Harry previously said he was unable to return to the UK with his family ‘because it is too dangerous’ without security The duke claimed William, whom he branded his “archnemesis”, physically attacked him during a row over Meghan. He said William knocked him to the floor and into a dog bowl. Harry also accused his father of putting his own interests above those of his son. He attacked Queen Camilla as “dangerous” and accused her of trying to rehabilitate her “image” through links with the press. Harry has also hinted there could still be more to come. After Spare was published, he revealed he had enough material for two books. “There are some things that have happened, especially between me and my brother, and to some extent between me and my father, that I just don’t want the world to know,” he said. “Because I don’t think they would ever forgive me.” It comes as… Harry and Meghan have already secured a home for their return King Charles only learned of return to Britain four days ago Questions remain over their royal roles and the Fab Four Feud Inside the five-year onslaught of attacks on William and Kate From fairytale wedding to royal exit, how Harry and Meghan changed the Windsors Arthur Edwards: I know why furious William may never forgive them Harry seen for first time since move revealed (2019-PRESENT) HARRY’S LEGAL WARS His battle with the Home Office over security in Britain has also added to tensions. When Charles was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, Harry rushed back to London to see him. Prince Harry smiles and waves as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in a fight over security Credit: AP Harry and Meghan lost their security after Megxit Credit: Getty Their meeting lasted less than 45 minutes before the King left for Sandringham. Harry’s legal war with the British press also rumbled on. He secured substantial damages in his case against the publisher of The Sun, along with a “full and unequivocal apology”. In an ITV documentary, Harry said his campaign against the tabloids had become a “central piece” in the destruction of his relationship with his family. Harry later lost a High Court case brought with a group of celebrities against the publishers of the Daily Mail over alleged unlawful information-gathering. Meanwhile, Meghan has faced years of online abuse and described herself as the most trolled person in the world. The couple also launched the Archewell Foundation, focusing on humanitarian relief, child online safety and community projects. Harry later walked away from Sentebale after almost 20 years following a bitter dispute with its chair of trustees. The move was described as “emotionally absolutely devastating” for the duke. Their Spotify deal ended in 2023 after just one season of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, with executives branding the couple “grifters”. The Sussexes signed a scaled-back first-look deal with Netflix in 2025 after Meghan’s lifestyle series With Love, Meghan was panned by critics. (MARCH 2020-PRESENT) LIFE IN LA Away from the rows, Harry settled into life in Montecito. He has walked his dogs on the beach, surfed, spent time with his children and made comedy appearances on US chat shows. Meghan and Harry at a children’s event at the 2023 Invictus Games Credit: AFP Harry and Meghan returned this summer while the Duke promoted the Invictus Games Credit: PA Meghan has concentrated on her As Ever lifestyle brand, selling products including jam, wine and flower sprinkles. Harry has also continued fighting the Home Office over his UK security. After losing his Court of Appeal challenge in 2025, he told the BBC he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”. But reports later claimed the duke wanted a “refuge” in Britain where he could enjoy summers and see friends without the “circus” surrounding his visits. (JULY 2026-PRESENT) BACK TO BRITAIN Over the last few months the Sussexes have made several allusions that their UK ties are stronger than ever. From snaps of Archie in an England football shirt to saying his job is still “Prince of England”, it seems the pair have been dropping hints for some time. Meghan posted a photo of Prince Harry with Archie in an England football shirt Credit: Instagram Harry and his kids at Althorp Estate earlier this summer Credit: Instagram The clues begin in November 2025, mere months after shutting down a return, Harry wrote a love letter to Britain ahead of Remembrance Day. In July, the Sussex family returned to the UK for the first time since 2022 as the Duke marked one year until the 2027 Invictus games in Birmingham. Alongside appearances on This Morning – including a memorable hug with Alison Hammond – Harry found time to reconnect with his family as King Charles saw Archie and Lilibet for the first time in four years. Harry also mentioned plans to take his children to visit his mother’s grave, implying he was hoping to strengthen their ties to the UK. The visit was later confirmed by photos of the family at the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, Diana’s family home. Megxit timeline May 19, 2018. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry. March, 2019. The palace announces Harry and Meghan will set up their own household. January, 2020. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce their plans to step back from their roles as senior royals and reach the Sandringham Agreement – dubbed “Megxit” – which rules the Sussexes cannot be half-in-half-out royals. March 2020. Meghan and Harry attend their last official engagement as working royals at Commonwealth Service Day before moving to California. March, 2021. Harry and Meghan’s notorious tell-all Oprah interview airs. December, 2022. Harry and Meghan’s bombshell Netflix documentary is released with the duo branding the Commonwealth “Empire 2.0.” January, 2023. Harry releases his tell all memoir Spare, heavily criticising the British press and making startling revelations about his family. February, 2024. Charles is diagnosed with cancer after the disease was spotted during his prostate operation. September, 2025. Harry is reunited with his father in their first face-to-face meeting since Charles was diagnosed with cancer. June, 2026. Harry, Meghan and the children visit the UK including Diana’s childhood home. August, 2026. It is announced Prince Harry and Meghan are moving back to the UK — six years after leaving for the US.