A look back at how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle changed the royal family as their two-year wedding anniversary approaches
Two years on from their wedding, Harry and Meghan are royal escapees, living in exile in Beverly Hills. Take a look back at how it has come to this.
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The honeymoon was over almost before it started.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were set to become a new face of the royal family, with a small screen star breathing new life into The Firm.
They were such high hopes when the couple tied the knot in front of a global audience of almost two billion people on May 19, 2018.
But two years on this Tuesday, Harry and Meghan are living in exile in actor Tyler Perry’s Beverly Hills mansion having divorced themselves from the royal family.
And while billions watched the fairytale wedding, some already had their doubts.
“Insiders were saying that she would go back to America in five years, but I don’t think anyone thought she would be going back to America with him,” royal expert Ingrid Seward said.
The couple have packed in a lot into their two years – a baby, a wildly successful royal tour of southern Africa, a recording session with Jon Bon Jovi at Abbey Road Studios, a war with the press involving a lawsuit that has been billed as the trial of the century over a bitter feud with Meghan’s dad Thomas, guest editing an edition of British Vogue, voiceover work for a Disney documentary, split from a charity, started a charity, had Christmas in Canada and a permanent move to the United States.
Meghan, the star of legal drama Suits, on paper appeared to be best placed to cope with the press attention but she underestimated the role and the restrictions.
And taking a seat at the Christmas dinner table with the royal family as an in-law comes with more baggage, and rules, than most celebrations.
“People thought it was going to be very tough for Meghan, no one had predicted it would happen this quickly,” Ms Seward, editor-in-chief of royal bible Majesty magazine, said.
Fast forwarding two years from the wedding at St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, it feels almost like a different world.
In much the same way as the coronavirus has pulled the rug out from under the world, Harry and Meghan have irrevocably changed the royal family.
The Kingdom Choir touched the hearts of those in the chapel as they sang an a cappella version of Stand By Me.
That a gospel choir was given such prominent billing, and that United States preacher Michael Curry delivered the sermon at their wedding, appeared to be a sign the royal family was changing.
“Love is the only way,” Bishop Curry said in his energetic speech, that had some members of the royal family not knowing where to look.
But the royal family, who awkwardly sat through the sermon, did not change enough for them.
Meghan told a documentary made during the couple’s tour of southern Africa that no one had asked her how she was, in what was seen as a swipe at the royal family for not making her feel welcome.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and former editor of the International Who’s Who, said he was stunned at the speed of the split.
He pointed out that Prince Harry and Meghan had been planning their escape from royal life as early as April last year.
“Harry was clearly unhappy although no one saw it,” Mr Fitzwilliams said, adding that his anger was deep seated.
Prince Harry claimed in a speech at a Sentebale charity dinner at The Ivy in London in January the couple’s plans to leave the royal family were his decision.
He took the words of Stand By Me to heart and has backed in his wife above everything else that the royal family had to offer.
A new book called Finding Freedom, due out in August, threatens to pour petrol on the royal bonfire.
The couple co-operated with the book, written by Meghan loyalist Omid Scobie and experienced royal reporter Carolyn Durand.
However, Ms Seward said Meghan would save the best stories for her own autobiography.
“Absolutely she will want to write her own book. Michelle Obama got $10 million, she would get $20 million,” she said.
“Meghan would hold on to it for that and she could still write it and not diss the royal family.”
Mr Fitzwilliams wished for the sake of the Queen, 94, that no books were written.
“The book was unwise,” he said.
And he hoped that one day, when travel restrictions were lifted that Prince Harry and Meghan would be back in the UK so that the Queen could spend more time with Archie.
A planned trip to Balmoral, Scotland for the European summer was now in doubt.
“Harry spent four hours with the Queen (recently) and she has said he can always come back so anything is possible but being in the royal family is not in the future that she sees,” he said.