Prince Harry Is ‘Nervous’ About His Future With Meghan Markle After Their Royal Exit, Expert Claims

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex left their royal life behind for a chance to live out of the spotlight, but one royal expert thinks Harry may be “nervous” about his future. Find out why she believes Prince Harry may be struggling as they navigate their new life in Los Angeles.

Prince Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back

In a January Instagram post, Prince Harry and Meghan shared their intention to take a step back from their royal duties. Though they had hoped to split their time and have a half-in/half-out arrangement, the queen met with other senior royals and decided the best approach was for the Sussexes to fully leave their royal duties behind.

Prince Harry addressed their exit during a speech he delivered shortly after the details were finalized. “The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” he explained. “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.”

Prince Harry also remarked that he hoped to “continue serving the queen, the commonwealth and my military associations but without public funding.”

He noted that they accepted the arrangement that was given to them, adding, “I hope it helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”

They may not get the privacy they want

Royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET that she believes Prince Harry and Meghan might not get the privacy that they hoped for in the U.S.

“A lot of people might think that they have been naive in expecting a greater level of privacy in Los Angeles. America has different privacy rules to the U.K.,” she explained.

“While they were living in Britain, there were no paparazzi pictures of them. There was still a gentleman’s agreement between the press and the palace that when the principals -— the senior members of the royal family — were enjoying private time, that private time was respected. So if the couple were papped, then the British newspapers agreed with the palace that they wouldn’t use those paparazzi pictures.”

Nicholl further shared that had they stayed at Frogmore House in Windsor “there would not be this level of intrusion. It simply would not be tolerated.”

“If they had gone to L.A. hoping for a quieter life, where they could duck out of the spotlight, they were sorely mistaken,” she added. “I think the Sussexes have been a little bit naive to expect that they can move to Beverly Hills, where there’s clearly huge media attention on them, and not be photographed by the paparazzi.”

Is Prince Harry struggling with his new life?

Nicholl shared some concern over how Prince Harry is adjusting to this next chapter after his exit from the royal family. “He has the added pressure of now having to forge a new life for himself in a country without an infrastructure, and without the level of support that he enjoyed when he was a prince of England,” she explained. 

Nicholl added, “I think there is a great sense of trepidation for Prince Harry. As much as he is optimistic about the future, I think he’s nervous about the future as well. I think he is apprehensive. He doesn’t have the same support, he doesn’t have the same infrastructure. He doesn’t have a clear plan ahead of him. And I think it is probably quite daunting for him.”