5 Things Prince Harry Has Lost Since Marrying Meghan Markle
A Prince in Exile
Prince Harry's life has changed in more ways than one since he married Meghan Markle in 2018. The couple stepped away from their roles as senior working royals two years later and built a new life in California with Prince Archie, and later welcomed Princess Lilibet. Along the way, Harry has left behind several parts of his old life. Here are five major things the Duke of Sussex has lost over the years.
A Royal Home
Harry's royal living situation actually got an upgrade after he married Markle. The couple moved out of his longtime bachelor pad at Nottingham Cottage and into Frogmore Cottage, which became their family home before Archie was born. But after stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California, they were later asked to give up Frogmore, leaving Harry without a permanent royal residence in the U.K.
Old Pals
Before marrying Markle, Harry was known for his close-knit circle of friends, but as their relationship grew more serious, reports suggested he drifted away from many of them. In his book Revenge, author Tom Bower claimed she clashed with parts of Harry's social circle over jokes and attitudes she found sexist or insensitive. He wrote, “Their jokes involving sexism, feminism, and transgender people ricocheted around the living rooms and dining rooms. Without hesitation, Meghan challenged every guest whose conversation contravened her values.” According to Bower, some of Harry's friends also felt he had changed after meeting Meghan, with one reportedly saying, “Harry must be f**ing nuts.”
His Family
Harry has suggested that cracks in his relationship with some members of the Royal Family had begun to appear even before he married Meghan Markle. But in Spare, he detailed Prince William urging him to slow down their romance, saying it was moving "too fast" and warning him about dating "an American actress." Harry claimed the disagreements continued throughout his courtship and in the lead-up to the royal wedding, creating distance between him and several senior royals.
No More a Working Royal
Harry has cited his family and the UK press's treatment of Markle as reasons for choosing a life in the US. When the couple chose to step back from their royal roles, Harry had to give up his official duties, honorary military titles, and several patronages, including his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines. While he has continued his charitable work through the Invictus Games and the Archewell Foundation, his days as a full-time working royal officially came to an end.
Public Favor in the U.K.
Harry was one of the Royal Family's most popular members when he married Markle, with many Britons celebrating the couple during their 2018 royal wedding. But that support slowly began to fade over the years. As the Sussexes’ relationship with the Royal Family played out in public and Harry became more outspoken about his experiences, opinions in the U.K. shifted. Today, YouGov polls show he's far less popular in Britain than he was at the start of his marriage