Prince Harry did not make enough effort to keep Meghan Markle in the Royal Family, according to royal expert Tina Brown. The Duke of Sussex, Brown suggests, was already eager to leave when the Duchess began facing difficulties in the United Kingdom.
Their departure, later branded “Megxit,” has been one of the most debated turning points in recent royal history. Brown, the author and former editor known for her commentary on the monarchy, explained that Harry’s disillusionment with royal life meant he was less inclined to push back when Meghan Markle encountered criticism.
“Their new complicity required Meghan to fight all the norms he had kicked against for so long. She was now his comrade in arms,” Brown said. Her remarks draw attention to how the couple’s dynamic played a role in their decision to step away from their senior royal roles in 2020.
Rather than trying to smooth Meghan’s transition, Brown argues, Harry found solidarity with her in their shared dissatisfaction with the institution. Brown also addressed the ongoing feud within Meghan’s family, noting that her half-sister, Samantha Markle, publicly criticized her even before the royal engagement.
“Samantha had called Meghan ‘narcissistic and selfish’ as early as November 2016, before Meghan and Harry were engaged, but she was stirred again by Harry’s insensitive remark on BBC Radio 4’s Today show about the royals being ‘the family, I suppose, that [Meghan’s] never had,’” Brown said.
The comment from Harry sparked backlash not only from Meghan’s relatives but also from critics who felt it overlooked the complex relationships within both families.
“This seems rich, given what Harry has since told the world about his miseries as a misfit in the royal cage… But in a contest of dysfunctional families, the Markles versus the Windsors is probably a toss-up,” Brown observed.
Her analysis underscores the continuing debate over whether Harry could have done more to help Meghan adapt to royal life or whether his own resentment toward the monarchy made that impossible.
The couple, who now reside in California with their two children, have since built a new public life centered on media projects, philanthropy, and advocacy. Yet their move remains a subject of scrutiny among royal commentators, with many still questioning the balance between Harry’s personal struggles and Meghan’s challenges as a newcomer to the monarchy.
Brown’s remarks add another layer to the ongoing discussion about the couple’s exit, reinforcing the idea that Harry’s desire to leave played as much of a role as Meghan’s struggles in the UK.