Meghan and Harry Reportedly Discussed Leaving the Royal Family Before They Married

Leaving the royal family wasn't Meghan Markle's idea. She and Prince Harry had reportedly discussed it before they even got married or had Archie.

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  • As news about an upcoming royal biography continues to come out, there's a report that the book will cover Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal exit.
  • In particular, the book will talk about the long process to come to that decision—including an honest conversation before they got married.
  • Prince Harry had alluded to wanting to leave the Royal Family before he met Meghan, so this all makes sense.

If you're a royals superfan like myself, chances are you've already bookmarked the new biography Finding Freedom: Meghan and Harry and the Making of a Modern Royal Family. Coming out from the brilliant minds of royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the biography was reportedly made with the Sussexes' knowledge—and will offer some important insider details about their lives and decisions. And one of the big subjects? No surprise: It's their decision to exit the Royal Family as senior royals.

In a report in The Sun, a source says that the book will dispel the coverage of so-called "Megxit," which pinned all the decisions to leave the Royal Family on Meghan. It seems, instead, that this was in the works for a long, long time, according to the source. I quote:

"The book will explore the journey that Meghan and Harry went through in coming to the conclusion that they did. It will make clear that far from it being a snap decision that they took a long time to make it. The seeds of Megxit were sown before they even got married. The truth is that Harry had been deeply unhappy for a long time. And he and Meghan openly discussed going in a different direction well before they got married."

A publishing insider added, "That word 'Megxit' in particular has always angered Prince Harry. It gives the impression that the decision to walk away from the Royal Family was Meghan’s.

"The reality is Harry drove that decision. The book will make that clear and explain why it had to happen. The truth is Harry had been unhappy for a long, long time."

Harry even referenced Diana in his public remarks about the subject, which supports this narrative:

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)

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Also, this certainly isn't the first time this idea has been alluded to; royal reporter Rebecca English, who has known Harry for a long time, said he's made comments that he wished he could leave responsibilities behind. But this may lay things out in much starker, concrete terms. I'm excited to read it.

Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.