Everything Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done five years since stepping back from senior royal roles
They stepped back from their royal roles in 2020Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their senior royal roles five years ago – but what have they done in the years since then?
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, 43, announced their decision to step back from duties.
They have since relocated to the United States and live a life away from the Crown with their two children. Let’s take a look at what the couple has been up to since making that life-changing decision.
What Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done since stepping back from royal life
2020
On January 8, 2020, Harry, 40, and Meghan announced their decision. They said they wanted to become “financially independent” while still supporting Queen Elizabeth II.
They also said they would divide their time between the UK and America – where Meghan is from.
Later in January, a statement from the queen read: “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.
“I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.
“It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan said they would step back from royal duties and official military appointments, as well as would not use their HRH titles.
It was also revealed that their final royal duties would take place in March 2020. In late March, the couple relocated to America with son Archie – who was born in May 2019.
In the summer of 2020, reports claimed the duke and duchess bought a lavish mansion in Montecito, California.
During this year, Harry and Meghan also inked deals with Spotify and Netflix for future projects said to be worth millions.
Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview in 2021
In early 2021, it was announced that a tell-all interview would air in the US with Harry and Meghan.
Around this time, Harry and Meghan were required to give up several military, honorary and charitable titles and positions as they wouldn’t be returning as working members of the royal family.
Weeks before their Oprah interview aired, Prince Harry made a return to the UK to attend his grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral. Philip had died on April 9 at the age of 99.
Then in early March, their interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in both the US and the UK.
In the interview, they discussed their experiences within the monarchy and made some explosive allegations against the royal family.
One of the most explosive saw the couple claim that there were “concerns and conversations” within the family about “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be when he was born.
The Duchess of Sussex also said she had suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, Harry said he felt “trapped” within the monarchy and claimed his family cut him off financially in 2020.
Buckingham Palace responded to the interview, saying that although “recollections may vary” the issues raised, particularly that of race, would be “taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately”.
Later in 2021, the duke and duchess welcomed their second child together – daughter Lilibet Diana.
Harry and Meghan’s Netflix show in 2022
At the start of 2022, reports revealed that Prince Harry had been in a legal fight since September 2021. He challenged the Home Office’s refusal to allow him to pay for police protection when in the UK.
In April of that year, Harry and Meghan made their first joint visit to England since stepping back from their duties.
Then in June of 2022, the couple attended Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee service of thanksgiving.
Just months later, Harry and Meghan were back in the UK to attend the queen’s state funeral in September 2022.
Later in the year, the couple released their six-part Netflix show – Harry & Meghan – in December. In it, they again discussed their experience as working royals.
They also delved into their childhoods and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland featured.
Earlier in the year, Meghan released her first and only series of her podcast – Archetypes. Spotify said the podcast sees Meghan and guests “investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back”.
It ran for 12 episodes, featuring guests such as Mariah Carey and Serena Williams.
Prince Harry released tell-all memoir Spare in 2023
In January 2023, the Duke of Sussex released his tell-all memoir Spare. In it, he – once again – made a string of allegations against the royals.
Harry had said of the book in 2021: “I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story – the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think.”
He claimed in the memoir that his older brother Prince William physically attacked him at his home in Kensington Palace in 2019 in a disagreement over Meghan.
He also opened up about his childhood in the book and how he struggled with the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997 when he was 12.
Meanwhile, in May 2023, Harry attended his father’s coronation. While Meghan remained in America with their children, Harry visited alone in a show of support for his father’s new role as monarch.
Later in 2023, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan’s deal with Spotify podcast deal had ended.
What are Harry and Meghan doing now?
In 2024, the duke and duchess have remained in the States. However, in February, Harry flew back to the UK to see his father King Charles after the monarch announced his cancer diagnosis.
In an interview with ABC News, Harry said: “The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go to see him, and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
In March, Harry and Meghan released a public statement after Kate, Princess of Wales, announced her cancer diagnosis. They said: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
In the summer of 2024, Harry and Meghan embarked on a tour to Colombia.
Then, at the end of the year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their Christmas card. It featured a sweet family photo with Archie and Lilibet. They spent Christmas in America rather than join the royals at Sandringham in Norfolk.
In early 2025, Netflix released the trailer for the Duchess’ new series, With Love, Meghan. It’s a cooking and lifestyle show where the royal will be sharing her culinary and crafting skills to decorate the home.
What will the future bring for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex?
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