In early 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stunned the world by announcing their decision to step back from their roles as senior royals.

While they kept their HRH titles, they ceased official royal duties and lost palace financial support. Relocating to the U.S., they settled in Montecito, California, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

Since then, the couple has launched their own brand, Archewell. Meghan hosted a podcast, Archetypes, exploring stereotypes that hold women back, while Harry authored his memoir, Spare, described as a deeply personal account of grief, insight, and love.

Their six-part Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan documented their journey—from their secret early relationship to their 2018 wedding—highlighting their life under intense scrutiny and the toll it took on their mental health and family ties. The series also offered an unfiltered look at their strained relationships within the royal family, particularly with Harry’s brother, Prince William.

Growing up, William and Harry shared a strong bond. Born just two years apart to Princess Diana, they experienced royal life together and leaned on each other after her tragic death. But as they entered adulthood and started families, their paths began to diverge.

Paul Burrell, Diana’s former butler, told OK! Magazine in May 2022 that she would be devastated by the rift. “She’d be heartbroken. It wouldn’t have got as bad as this if she was still here. She’d have banged their heads together.

She’s probably the only person that could have done that,” he said. Reflecting on their once-close relationship, he added, “I saw those boys grow up and they were tighter than you can possibly believe. When Diana died, I thought they would be inseparable.”

In Harry & Meghan, the couple shares emotional footage and commentary about their struggles as royals. In a trailer for the second volume of episodes, Meghan recalls their safety being compromised: “Our security was being pulled… everyone in the world knew where we were.” Harry adds, “I wonder what would’ve happened to us had we not got out when we did.”

The trailer also features Harry speaking of “institutional gaslighting,” and Meghan saying she “wasn’t being thrown to the wolves,” but rather “being fed to the wolves.”

An unidentified speaker alleges that people were being recruited to spread disinformation. Then, Harry delivers one of the series’ most provocative statements: “They were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us.”

The line sparked widespread speculation online. Some Twitter users believed Harry may have been referencing long-standing rumors about Prince William’s alleged infidelity with family friend Rose Hanbury—rumors the palace reportedly worked to suppress. While Harry never explicitly confirms this, his words stirred controversy and drew significant attention, effectively ensuring high viewership for the documentary.

Though no clear resolution between the brothers seems in sight, Harry and Meghan’s story continues to unfold on their own terms—no longer in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.