Meghan Markle has been called the “only” reason Prince Harry is now living a completely different life in California, far from the royal traditions he was born into, according to royal historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop.
Speaking to The Mirror, Dr. Dunlop reflected on a recent video Meghan shared from her birthing suite, noting how it starkly highlighted the contrast between Harry’s past life as a working royal and his present existence on the American West Coast.
In the clip, Prince Harry’s demeanor stood out to Dunlop. She described his expressions and body language as “wooden,” calling them “a reminder of the stiff royal world he has left behind.” She added that the Duke of Sussex looked “caught in limbo, somewhere between his full-on Californian earthmother and a former life riddled with institutions.”
Dr. Dunlop went further, drawing attention to the differences in how both Harry and Meghan spent their formative years. “While his wife was working on her rhythm at university in Illinois, Harry was languishing at Eton College, where lessons were of a very different kind,” she said, suggesting their contrasting upbringings may still shape their perspectives today.
The historian also commented on Meghan’s growing digital presence. After recently joining Instagram and achieving enormous viewership with a single video, Dr. Dunlop warned that “nothing is out of bounds as long as she controls the clicks.” This, she said, marks a clear departure from the rigid boundaries of royal life.
She speculated that Meghan’s approach may hinge on what she called “oversharing,” and hinted that it could be her “unique selling point” moving forward. “Only a matter of time before we get a proper peek at Lilibet and Archie,” she added, predicting that the couple’s children may soon be part of this carefully curated public image.
While some may view Meghan’s strategy as empowering, others like Dr. Dunlop believe it positions her as the architect behind Harry’s current lifestyle. As debate continues over the couple’s role outside the royal fold, one thing seems clear: Meghan’s influence, for better or worse, is central to the narrative.