The Sussexes vs The Crown

Two years ago on May 19, 2018, an actress named Meaghan Markle had her real life fairy tale wedding at Windsor Castle, as she married Prince Harry, the youngest of Lady Di's two boys. I an avid watcher of Suit and I had seen Meagan Markle on the show, but I really did not know too much about her as she as known as a B list actress. She was no Grace Kelly!

Living in the greater Toronto area where Meaghan was living and shooting Suits, it was a big deal when Harry hosted the Invictus games here, coincidentally. It was a media frenzy and it wasn't too much longer that the couple were engaged to be married. The wedding was celebrity filled, who knew that Meaghan knew Oprah and the Clooney's. It was pretty spectacular and as I watched while on a trip to NYC, all I heard that weekend was America's Princess, Meaghan Markle. This unknown actress, was now married to a Prince and hanging out with A listers. But was it all too good to be true?

The honeymoon period didn't last too long. Within Meaghan's first year at Kensington Palace, the stories started to come out and where there is smoke there is fire. The Sussexes chose to move to Windsor, away from the Cambridge's, maybe they wanted to create their own identity? But then came the stories of Meaghan speaking down to staff, being too demanding or of her staff quitting. Insiders reported that Harry had stated before the wedding, that what Meaghan wants Meaghan gets, referencing Meaghan wanting a certain tiara for the wedding. There was speculation about her father's health and his absence from the wedding and her half sister and half brother and what appeared to be a riff and lack of communication between them. Within the first year of Harry and Meaghan's marriage, the media was very interested in the Sussexes and at times it appeared that Meaghan was enjoying the attention.

Leading up to the birth of baby Archie, Meaghan flew to NYC for a celebrity filled glitzy baby shower. This would not sit well with the British, who were already suspicious of Meaghan's intentions. Meaghan was now very much under a microscope and with a dark cloud hovering above her. The birth of baby Archie was kept very hush and hush with limited photos. The couple seemed to want some privacy, but this only fuelled more speculation amongst the British press. There was a visible strain between Prince William and Prince Harry, two boys who were once inseparable who leaned on each other as they grieved for their beloved mother Diana.

The couple went on a tour in Africa, where Harry had not too long ago proposed to Meaghan. The tour seemed to have been going well, until a reporter travelling with the couple interviewed the two about life as senior royals and now parents. Meaghan's response of royal life being hard and how no one had asked her how she was doing was heard all over the media. There were those who felt bad for her but many who saw an entitled women who thought life as a Princess would be easier. Things would only get worse for the Sussexes.

After spending Christmas in Victoria, the couple returned to London to inform the Royal family the would be stepping down as senior royal. Many were comparing this to King George's (David) abdication from the Crown, so he could marry American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. There was a media frenzy, as the world awaited to hear what would the Queen do, how will this all end? What Harry and Meaghan were probably not expecting, yes they could step away but the Queen, in consultation with Prince Charles and Prince William would take away many of their privileges, allowances and she even had them pay back the millions that it cost to renovate Fragmore Cottage. Clearly the Crown had the upper hand.

The Crown and its monarch Queen Elizabeth, has tactfully overcome the negative press and personal family drama. But what does the future hold for the Sussexes in La La Land? Does this fairy tale have a happy ending?