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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex‘s shocking exit from the royal family stunned those outside of the storied clan. The couple left their roles as senior royals in March 2020. Harry and Meghan’s star power was at one time an asset to the family. However, there are royals who reportedly feel their absence has since created a positive shift.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry snapped by paparazzi.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit a local farming family, the Woodleys, on October 17, 2018, in Dubbo, Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. | Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool/Getty Images

Why did Harry and Meghan leave the royal family?

Harry and Meghan first announced their intent to step back from their duties in a January 2020 Instagram post. They chose to pivot and carve out a progressive new role within the family. Harry and Meghan subsequently asked for space to focus on their next chapter.

NBC News reported on a comment made by a spokesperson for the couple. Subsequently, the outlet reported Harry and Meghan remained “committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world. They have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role.”

“We can all live a life of service,” the spokesperson added of the couple’s intentions moving forward. “Service is universal.”

However, a Buckingham Palace aid said to NBC the couple made their decision after conversations between the Duke of Sussex and other senior members of the royal family. 

Some royals ‘quietly welcomed’ Harry and Meghan’s exit

The royal family poses on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018, in London, England. | Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In 2018. Andrew Morton published a biography of The Duchess of Cambridge titled Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. He added new chapters where he revealed the position of some members of the royal family.

“It was clear that Meghan ruffled feathers in the family. They felt she and Harry were very difficult to deal with,” Morton claimed.

As a result Morton wrote, “For her part, Meghan found some of its members—not the Queen or Prince Philip—unfriendly and jealous. Their departure from Britain was quietly welcomed by some in the Windsor family and their courtiers. On an institutional level, it was a heavy blow.”

Prince Harry said the couple ‘tried to make it work’

Prince Harry speaks onstage during Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
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In May Prince Harry spoke of his family on his Apple TV docuseries The Me You Can’t See. He claimed the royal family ignored his request for help in navigating the deluge of media interest after their exit.

“It went to a whole new depth with not just traditional media but also social media platforms as well. I felt completely helpless,” Harry explained.

Subsequently, Harry explained, “I thought my family may help. Every single ask, request, warning, whatever it is, was met with total silence or neglect. We spent four years trying to make it work. We did everything we possibly could to stay and do the job, but Meghan was struggling.”

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