5 Things Meghan Markle Gave Up to Marry Prince Harry

After a whirlwind romance and trans-Atlantic courtship, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at St. George's Chapel in 2018. However, their "modern-day fairytale" didn't come without its compromises. From her way of life to her career, the Duchess of Sussex had to sacrifice a lot to enter the royal fold. Here's a look at the 5 things Markle had to give up to marry her prince charming.

Royals do not have personal social media accounts, and as a future member of the monarchy, Markle had to close all of her social media profiles before the 2018 wedding. However, like most royals, she and Harry ran their institutional page, Sussex Royal, on Instagram. The last post on the account is from March 30th, 2020. Even after leaving the royal family that very year, the Duchess kept her distance from the digital world for years. It was only in 2025, with the announcement of her own lifestyle brand, As Ever, that she returned to Instagram. And she has been rather active on the page since then, giving a peek into her Montecito family life.

Before her royal wedding, Markle ran a successful lifestyle blog named The Tig. And like her personal social media accounts, she had to shut down her blog as well. "After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it's time to say goodbye to The Tig. What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity. You've made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being 'the change you wish to see in the world.'

Above all, don't ever forget your worth - as I've told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough," she wrote as her final message to her "Tig friends" on the blog page.

Before becoming a senior working royal, Markle was a successful actress with a thriving career. She was one of the lead cast members of the popular Netflix show, Suits. As working royals do not hold regular jobs, she had bid adieu to her acting career and moved to the UK to marry the Duke of Sussex. However, after stepping away from their roles, the Duchess returned to the screen through her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, and a docu-series about her and Harry. The former seemed to be an amalgamation of her blog and her experience in the entertainment industry.

Political neutrality is one of the most important aspects of being a royal. Before her wedding, Markle was outspoken about her political beliefs. She had to curb that after entering the royal quarters. However, during the 2020 US elections, she and Harry urged people to vote. "We’re six weeks out from election day, and today is National Voter Registration Day. Every four years, we’re told, ‘This is the most important election of our lifetime.’ But this one is. When we vote our values are put into action, and our voices are heard," Markle said as per Vogue.

In the run-up to Markle and Harry's dreamy 2018 wedding, the Duchess had a severe falling out with her father, Thomas Markle. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning lighting director reportedly staged photos for the paparazzi and lied to his daughter about talking to the media. Thomas eventually decided not to attend the wedding, leading to King Charles walking Markle down the aisle.