Assessing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Relationship with Every Member of the Royal Family Following Their Exit

Even the royal families have their share of drama, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's situation is no different. After their shocking announcement to step back from their senior royal duties in March of 2020, the couple has distanced themselves from their family in the U.K.

The news came as a big surprise to their loved ones when the couple, who tied the knot in May 2018, revealed their plans to take a break from their senior roles in January 2020. “William was blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s decision and statement,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “William is incredibly hurt, but at the same time he has his own family to focus on and is trying to move forward with his life.”

Before settling down in California with their son, Archie, the Duke of Sussex had a series of meetings with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and had a “heart-to-heart” moment about the situation. Despite leaving his position within the palace, Harry still adores the monarch, a source said.

“The last thing Elizabeth wants is for Harry to feel estranged from his family, and she made her feelings clear about this in the meeting,” the royal insider noted.

Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that Harry and the Suits alum were not returning as working royals, nearly one year after their initial step away. They aired their grievances during a no-holds-barred interview with CBS one month later, claiming that they felt “a lack of support and lack of understanding” from The Firm.

Harry asserted that he didn’t “blindside” his grandmother with the decision, noting, “I have too much respect for her.” However, his relationship with his father, King Charles III, became more complicated.

“I need to do this for my family. This is not a surprise to anybody. It’s really sad that it’s gotten to this point, but I’ve got to do something for my own mental health, my wife’s, and for Archie’s, as well, because I could see where this was headed,” Harry explained, adding that the Prince of Wales had “stopped taking” his calls.

Further shocking revelations came up, including the allegation that a family member made comments about the color of Archie’s skin before his birth in May 2019. The couple are also the parents of daughter Lilibet Diana, born in June 2021. However, Harry confirmed that neither the queen nor her late husband, Prince Philip, were involved in the conversations.

Most of the prince’s extended family members have stayed quiet about the situation, but both Charles and William have been hurt by Harry’s words. The monarch has tried to reconcile the situation, seemingly to no avail.

“With the way things are going, Charles may never forgive Harry, which hasn’t gone down well with Elizabeth,” a source told Us in May 2021. “She feels that he’s putting his pride before the best interest of the monarchy. … It’s drama she can do without."

The couple returned to England to visit the queen in April 2022 during their journey to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, and they made their first official royal event appearance in June 2022, at Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, a four-day event that celebrated her 70 years on the throne. “They wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” a source told Us at the time.

Both Archie and Lilibet were present during the event, and it was Lilibet’s first time meeting her great-grandmother. The late monarch passed away later that year in Scotland at age 96.