Back in the U.K., there is discussion and some reflection about why the pair chose to leave. Now, an author is declaring it was likely because of how “horribly” the Sussexes were treated and the pressure that was put on Harry for no good reason.
There are several theories as to what led to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step down from their roles with the royal family. We know that Meghan was struggling with the constant media attention though as she revealed in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.
When it comes to the negative press, the former actress told journalist Tom Bradby: “I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair. And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”
Harry also explained how he and Meghan felt about being the subject of so many rumors. “For me and for my wife, of course, there’s a lot of stuff that hurts — especially when the majority of it is untrue.
But all we need to do is focus on being real, focus on being the people we are and standing up for what we believe in,” he said, adding, “I will not be bullied into carrying a game that killed my mum.”
A few months after that documentary aired, Meghan and Harry announced that they were stepping down and leaving the U.K.
Looking back now and discussing the couple’s decision, one British author and comedian said the duke and duchess were treated unfairly and there was too much pressure put on Harry.
“With the position he is in the royal family, he’s not the heir to the throne. We keep forgetting that,” Shappi Khorsandi said to TV host Jeremy Vine about the Duke of Sussex (per the Express).
Khorsandi continued: “I remember a million years ago when [Prince] Charles was younger, the spotlight wasn’t on Prince Andrew to step up the way it is on Harry. I don’t really know what people want from him. I don’t really know what they want from him. He was hounded out, we were horrible to them.”
Although it’s been a little while since the Sussexes moved to America and so much has happened since they left, Harry still has fans in the U.K. who hope he’ll return to Britain soon and can continue some of his duties with military veterans. One of those people is General Sir Richard Dannatt, who helped coordinate the plan to send the prince to Afghanistan in 2007.
“Harry and Meghan are very much involved in other things and that’s their life choice and I don’t criticize them for that,” the former army chief said. “But it means that he is not as available, not supporting in such a high-profile fashion, the work of charities and the needs of veterans… We miss him and I hope that in a change of circumstances, that I can’t envisage, he returns to take up more traditional royal duties in this country.”
General Dannatt stated that he wrote Harry a letter “pleading with him not to stay away from the U.K. for long because the veterans need him.”