Why Harry and Meghan Have Ruined Every Chance at Reconciliation with the Royal Family

A new royal book claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sabotaged all hopes of compromise with the royal family during the era-defining “Megxit,” choosing instead to carve out their own independent path and explore new heights in business and politics.

Since their historic 2020 decision to step back from their senior royal roles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have repeatedly said they wanted financial independence and privacy away from the relentless glare of the media. Behind the scenes, however, the House of Windsor allegedly made every effort to convince the couple to change their minds.

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Valentine Low, author of Courtiers: Intrigue, Ambition, and the Power Players Behind the House of Windsor, reveals that the royal family tabled unprecedented offers to keep Harry and Meghan on board. Ideas ranged from a “one month per year” arrangement, where the Sussexes could pursue personal projects, to granting them the option to spend most of their time privately and only attend key royal events.

Yet, according to Low, each olive branch was rejected. The Sussexes reportedly wanted more than the monarchy could ever grant—including the freedom to pursue lucrative projects and political participation, both taboo for senior royals. The couple, the palace insisted, would need to follow strict royal protocols and abstain from any activity that might generate personal profits or embroil the royal family in politics.

“There was widespread suspicion that Meghan’s ultimate goal was to make money—and to do so, she had to step away from royal life and return to America,” Low writes.

This gap proved impossible to bridge. The Queen herself reportedly declared that if the Sussexes wouldn’t abide by the same codes as other working royals—including non-involvement in politics—they could not continue official duties.

Since moving to the U.S., Harry and Meghan have openly voiced their views on American politics, urging voter participation during the 2020 presidential election in a video that many believed favored Joe Biden over Donald Trump. This triggered backlash on both sides of the Atlantic: critics urged the monarchy to strip the couple of their titles, and former President Trump himself dismissed Meghan as not a fan.

Although Harry and Meghan have never confirmed all these claims, their subsequent actions have painted a picture of ambition and boundary-pushing rarely seen in royal circles. Meghan in particular has been accused of using her influence to sway U.S. voters in 2020, and since their split from senior royal life, she has launched several ventures, from podcasts and a media company to her own lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard (later renamed As Ever).

No longer shackled by royal protocol, Meghan’s aspirations seem higher than ever—with speculation swirling about her becoming the world’s next billionaire entrepreneur.

As the Sussexes continue to chart their new course, the rift with Buckingham Palace remains wide. According to palace insiders and royal authors alike, it was Harry and Meghan’s relentless pursuit of independence—and the riches, exposure, and political influence that came with it—that rendered reconciliation with the royal family all but impossible.