Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Exit from the Firm Has Reportedly Had “A Huge Impact” on Prince William and Princess Kate and Their Marriage
\201cAt times it can feel like they are cracking under this relentless pressure.\201d


When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as working members of the royal family in January 2020 and moved to the U.S., their lives were forever changed—but Harry and Meghan weren’t the only ones who felt the seismic shift. The Firm being down two working royals has trickled down to impact the Prince and Princess of Wales, The Mirror reports, and their exit has had “a huge impact” on William and Kate’s marriage, the outlet reports.
A source said, per the publication, that William and Kate harbor resentment because they were left “to pick up the work they dropped when they moved to the States,” they said. “The extra workload that’s been handed to them is huge.” William and Kate have taken on “even more responsibility” in the three-and-a-half years since the step back, and they said this has had a “huge impact on their marriage and family life.”
Add to the step back projects like Netflix’s Harry & Meghan docuseries and Harry’s memoir, Spare—both of which at times openly criticize members of the royal family—and William and Kate are feeling the strain: “At times it can feel like they are cracking under this relentless pressure,” they said. “With less time at home together and having to spend more time apart, they feel constantly torn apart in different directions and they insist that wouldn’t be happening if Harry and Meghan hadn’t abandoned their royal duties,” they said.
With the loss of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the past two years, as well as Harry, Meghan, and Prince Andrew no longer working as senior royals, King Charles’ longtime wish for a slimmed-down monarchy has no doubt come true. And it does seem like William and Kate are busier and more out front than ever these days, but not this past week—their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are on half-term break from Lambrook School, and William and Kate took the week off to spend quality time with them.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Princess Diana's "Favorite" Royal Photographer Has "Regrets"
"They didn't see me as I was hiding in the bushes."
-
The Beaded Bag Trend Just Reached Blake Lively's Technicolor Closet
It's so on-brand for her.
-
These $80 Leather Sandals Look Like The Row's Four-Figure Pair
29 pairs that give The Row vibes on a budget.
-
Princess Eugenie Has Allegedly "Formed an Alliance" With Prince William, Which Could Impact Her Future Within the Royal Family
A "shared passion" has "brought the cousins closer together."
-
Why Princess Diana Once "Canceled Lunch" at Kensington Palace to Take Prince William and Prince Harry to McDonald's
A former royal chef revealed the relatable reason Diana took her kids to the popular fast food chain.
-
The "Staggering" Drug Smuggling Shipment Prince William Helped Intercept With the Royal Navy in 2008
William experienced "a lot of excitement and a lot of danger," per a royal expert.
-
How Prince William and Princess Kate Are "Preparing" George, Charlotte, and Louis for "Their Future Roles" Within the Royal Family
"William takes his responsibilities...very seriously," a royal expert explained.
-
Prince William and Prince Harry Could Be "Tempted" to Secretly Bid on Their Mother's Outfits in New Auction
Who could blame them?
-
The Unexpected Attribute Kate Middleton Has Been "Teased" About by Other Members of the Royal Family
It turns out she takes after The King.
-
Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie Were Nearly Given Prince William and Princess Kate's Titles Until Edward Made Unusual Request
He's a theatre kid for life.
-
How a "Last-Minute" Message Called an Urgent "Ceasefire" Between Prince Harry and Prince William After Queen Elizabeth Died
"They are better and stronger together than they are apart."