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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have moved on from their royal lives to greener pastures, but some critics believe that Meghan heavily influenced Harry’s decision to break from the royal family. One royal expert worries that, in making Meghan happy, Prince Harry may actually have done himself a disservice.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visit Bondi beach on October 19, 2018 in Sydney, Australia
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision was not made lightly

The Sussexes announced in January that they wanted to take a “step back” from their royal duties, which came as a surprise to many. After suffering from living in the spotlight, the couple felt they could best find a peaceful solution by leaving the royal family. Queen Elizabeth met to discuss the plan and finalize the details, giving her blessing to the couple.

Prince Harry spoke of the decision, noting in a speech given at a dinner for supporters of Sentebale in January: “I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard, or perhaps read, over the past few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me. As much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the past 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective.”

He also shared why they felt this drastic move was so necessary. “The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option,” he explained.

Did Meghan influence the decision?

The Sussexes shared that this was a decision they made together and Prince Harry noted in his speech they felt they had no other options. There are critics, however, who believe the decision was driven by Meghan and that Prince Harry could suffer because of their plan.

“As he said before the wedding, ‘What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.’ He’s very, very keen on making her happy, I think to the detriment of [Harry],” royal biographer Angela Levin explained on the Australian news program 60 Minutes.

Meghan ‘wears the trousers’ according to royal expert

Levin went on to discuss why Meghan has been so heavily criticized, noting, “I think it is very unfair to say that criticism is actually racism because of course, it is not. I think a lot of the criticism has come about because she sort of lectures the public on how they should behave but not do it herself.”

She pointed to the couple’s use of private jets while they preached about environmental concerns, sharing, “We shouldn’t fly but she can go off on private jets to Elton John or to see the Clooneys and all that sort of thing.”

Levin also believes that Meghan “wears the trousers” in their relationship, noting that before meeting her, Harry wanted a “spiky woman” when he was looking for love. Levin shared that he was seeking “someone with strength and opinions of their own” but she believes that Meghan is “too spiky,” adding, “I don’t think she finds it very easy to bend a bit and come to a compromise.”

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