It’s been five years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously stepped back from royal life, packed their bags, and moved to sunny California.
At the time, the big message was that they wanted more privacy and freedom from the relentless glare of the royal spotlight. But if you’ve been keeping up, you know that “quiet” and “private” haven’t exactly defined their post-royal journey.
From headline-making interviews to a high-profile Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan have stayed front and center in the media. And now, Meghan’s back with another splashy project—her new Netflix show With Love, Meghan. It’s safe to say they haven’t exactly disappeared into the background.
One royal commentator thinks that was the plan all along—at least for Meghan. According to Jane Barr, who writes the From Berkshire to Buckingham newsletter, Meghan wasn’t interested in a low-key life like other lesser-known royals. Instead, Barr says Meghan wanted to hold onto her royal title and use it to become a full-on global superstar.
“She would not have been happy with the ultimately quiet or truly independent/non-royal lives that William and Harry’s cousins actually live,” Barr wrote. And when you think about it, Harry’s not just any royal—he’s the son of the future king, which gave the couple even more visibility to work with.
Interestingly, Harry and Meghan still go by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a title they’ve retained even after stepping away from royal duties. And Meghan, who now prefers to be called “Meghan Sussex,” has said the name is deeply personal—it’s the one she shares with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
As for whether King Charles might strip them of their titles? That doesn’t seem likely, at least for now. So, while the Sussexes may have walked away from royal responsibilities, they definitely haven’t walked away from the spotlight—and maybe that was the real plan all along.
