Harry's Friend Says "Really Bad Personal Splits" Forced the Sussexes to Step Down

"A lot of harsh things were said around the time of the wedding."

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As a reminder, the royal family are in a state of absolute chaos, thanks to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell (and completely understandable) decision to step down as "senior" members of the royal family. But what remains unclear is exactly why they came to this decision, and Harry's friend Tom Bradby—who filmed the Sussexes' royal tour documentary—is shedding some light on the situation.

Speaking to ITV News, Bradby said that aside from media drama, the reason behind the couple’s decision to step back from royal life “is just really bad personal splits—that’s the honest truth.”

He added: “There’ve been a lot of fallouts; a lot of harsh things were said around the time of the wedding. And it’s gone a bit too far. And certainly the rest of the family find Harry and Meghan very difficult and, from Harry and Meghan’s point of view, they’re just being driven out, as they see it. And it’s sad.”

This honestly is sad, and the fallout from their announcement isn't exactly making things easier. “There are going to be so many complications, so many controversies. There needs to be a peace deal really soon because this is so toxic, there’s so much anger and, to be honest with you at the moment it looks like it might get worse, not better," he said.

As for how Meghan and Harry are handling things, Bradby says: “My impression is they’re pretty philosophical about it. ‘We are making a break for independence and freedom here. You wanted a slimmed-down monarchy. There’s no place for us in it. We need to learn to live on our own. We want to get on and do that.’"

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Mehera Bonner
Entertainment Editor

Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.