Royal Family Reportedly Keeping Close Watch on Meghan Markle Years After Megxit

Years after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped away from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family, a royal commentator has suggested that the institution continues to monitor Meghan’s public activities carefully.

The Duchess of Sussex’s life changed dramatically after she met Prince Harry during a blind date in London in 2016. The couple married two years later and initially became two of the most internationally recognised members of the Royal Family. Their popularity grew quickly, and they appeared to represent a modern image of the monarchy.

However, in early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced that they intended to reduce their official royal responsibilities and move away from their positions as senior working royals. The decision became widely known as “Megxit” and marked one of the biggest changes within the modern Royal Family.

The couple explained that their decision was influenced by intense media attention, constant public criticism and disagreements over the limitations placed on their ability to build their own public identity. One major issue was their desire to develop the “SussexRoyal” brand, which was ultimately not allowed after discussions with senior members of the Royal Family.

Following the Sandringham Summit in 2020, an agreement was reached that allowed Harry and Meghan to keep their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. However, they were no longer permitted to use the style of “Royal Highness” or represent the monarchy in an official capacity.

Several years after their departure, former royal butler Grant Harrold believes the Royal Family remains cautious about Meghan’s future decisions, particularly regarding how she uses her royal connection in business and public projects.

Harrold, who worked for King Charles between 2004 and 2011 and also had professional connections with Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry, explained that anything Meghan does publicly could still influence the reputation of the Royal Family.

He suggested that the monarchy would continue paying attention to Meghan’s choices, especially if she uses her royal title in commercial activities. According to Harrold, such actions would likely be viewed negatively because of previous agreements made during the process of stepping away from royal duties.

However, Harrold explained that using her title in connection with charitable work would likely not create the same concerns. The main issue, he suggested, would be if the title was used as a tool to promote personal businesses or increase commercial value.

He pointed out that the late Queen Elizabeth II had been very clear about this matter during negotiations over Harry and Meghan’s new arrangement in 2020. The agreement was designed to separate their private business interests from their former official royal roles.

Harrold also warned that Meghan could risk damaging the already fragile relationship with her royal relatives if she used her title in ways they considered inappropriate.

He questioned how many disagreements could occur before the relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family became impossible to repair. According to him, rebuilding trust would require careful decisions from both sides.

The former royal staff member also suggested that Prince William may be particularly concerned about future developments. He claimed that the Prince of Wales could be watching carefully and waiting to see whether further controversies emerge.

Harrold said that William may feel uncertain about what Meghan and Harry could do next, especially given their previous interviews, public statements and commercial projects since leaving the UK.

Despite these concerns, Harrold does not believe Meghan would intentionally risk her relationship with the Royal Family simply for financial benefit. He argued that the value of using a royal title commercially may not be significant enough to justify creating further conflict.

According to Harrold, Meghan and Harry are already internationally recognised, and their connection to the monarchy is well known. Therefore, using their titles in business ventures may not provide enough additional advantage to outweigh the possible damage to family relationships.

He added that recent signs of improved communication between Prince Harry and King Charles made it especially important not to allow disputes over business projects or titles to create new problems.

Harrold pointed to Harry’s recent visit to the UK as a positive development and expressed hope that both Harry and Meghan would consider the importance of maintaining progress when making future decisions.

The former royal employee previously suggested that Meghan had initially been given a genuine opportunity to succeed as a working member of the Royal Family. He explained that she may have discovered that royal life was very different from what she expected.

According to Harrold, the monarchy is a highly structured institution that requires long hours, strict responsibilities and a significant level of commitment. While Meghan may have struggled with the reality of the role, he believed she had the opportunity to build a successful position within the family.

After leaving royal duties, Meghan and Harry relocated to California in 2020, explaining that they wanted greater privacy and space to raise their son Archie. Their daughter Lilibet was born in the United States in 2021.

The couple no longer maintains an official residence in the UK after being asked to leave Frogmore Cottage, the historic property on the Windsor estate where they had previously lived.

Following their departure from royal duties, reports stated that King Charles provided them with financial support to help establish their new life outside the monarchy.

Since moving to America, Meghan and Harry have created several independent projects. They launched the Archewell Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on areas including mental health support, community initiatives and social equality.

They have also produced major media projects through their Netflix partnership, including the documentary series Harry & Meghan and Meghan’s lifestyle programme With Love, Meghan.

In addition, Meghan introduced her lifestyle brand As Ever, which focuses on personal interests connected to food, wellness and home life.

However, their transition away from royal duties has not been without controversy. Reports have suggested that Meghan privately regrets certain public statements made after leaving the Royal Family, particularly comments that created significant debate.

One of the most controversial moments came during the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, when Meghan and Harry discussed their experiences within the monarchy. They claimed that concerns had been raised about the possible skin colour of their future child before Archie’s birth.

The comments led to worldwide discussion and became one of the most significant controversies involving the Royal Family in recent years.

Some commentators have claimed that Meghan’s original intention was to focus on issues such as her mental health struggles, but that certain interviews created additional criticism instead.

Despite the challenges, Meghan and Harry have continued building their independent public identities. Their business ventures, charitable work and media projects have allowed them to establish a new life away from royal duties.

As their relationship with the Royal Family continues to evolve, observers believe that future decisions regarding titles, public appearances and commercial activities will remain closely watched by both supporters and critics of the monarchy.