Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent the last few years creating a life that feels freer and independent. They no longer follow the usual royal rules and their relationship has stayed in the public eye through all of it. When they stepped away from their royal roles, they spoke honestly about their struggles in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. They talked about feeling unsupported and about serious mental health concerns. That interview became one of the biggest moments in recent royal history and people discussed it everywhere.
After that, Harry and Meghan moved to California with their two children. They started growing their work in media, charity, and business. They have continued to stay in the news because of their new projects and their personal appearances. People remain very curious about what they will do next.
As they keep shaping a future away from royal life, here is a simple and complete look at their journey as a couple. It covers everything from the moment they first met to where they are in their lives today.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first public date
Rumors started spreading in the summer of 2016 that Prince Harry was seeing someone new. People noticed he was spending time with an American actress. Fans connected the dots when they saw Meghan Markle, the star of Suits, walking around London even though her show was filmed in Toronto. The two of them tried to keep things private for a while. They avoided attention and stayed quiet. But on Nov. 8, Kensington Palace finally confirmed that they were together. The announcement also asked the media to treat them with more kindness.
The palace statement said that Harry had always appreciated the love the public showed him. He knew he was lucky and he knew his life came with privilege. But it also said that he never felt comfortable with the world digging into his personal life. He was especially worried about how the media was reacting to his new relationship.
The statement explained that Harry usually ignored false stories and rarely took official action against them. He always tried to keep a professional relationship with the press. But things had crossed a line. Meghan had been dealing with harsh abuse and harassment.
Some of that abuse was out in the open. There were insulting headlines, articles with racist hints, and awful comments online filled with sexism and racism. Some of the harassment was hidden. There were late night legal fights to stop lies from being printed. Meghan’s mother was chased by photographers. Reporters tried to break into Meghan’s home. Papers offered money to her ex. Almost everyone close to her was contacted and bothered.
The statement made it clear that Harry was scared for Meghan’s safety. He asked for the statement to be shared so the press would pause and think before causing more harm. He knew it was unusual to speak out like this, but he hoped people would understand why it mattered.
In September 2017, Meghan joined Harry at the Invictus Games. This event was close to Harry’s heart because he created it in 2014 to support veterans.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal engagement
Only two months after appearing together at the Invictus Games, Meghan and Harry made everyone’s hearts melt. They confirmed through Kensington Palace that they were officially engaged. The palace statement said that Prince Charles was thrilled to share the news and that the wedding would happen in Spring 2018.
Photos from that day showed both of them glowing with happiness. Harry gave Meghan a beautiful ring. It had two diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection. It was his way of keeping his mother close during such a special moment.
During their first interview after the engagement, Meghan shared that Harry proposed while they were trying to roast a chicken at home. She said it was a complete surprise and felt very sweet and natural. Harry got down on one knee, and the whole moment was simple but romantic.
Meghan also talked about the harsh media attention she faced once their relationship became public. She said people assumed she was used to this because she worked in entertainment. But she explained that she had never been involved in tabloid culture. Her life before this was very quiet. The sudden change was shocking. She said that both she and Harry decided not to read anything negative and instead put all their energy into protecting their relationship.
Because of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, Harry needed the Queen’s permission to get married. The rule had been updated in 2013, but Harry was still fifth in line to the throne at the time, so he needed her approval. On March 15, 2018, Buckingham Palace released a formal statement saying that Queen Elizabeth had given her consent for Harry and Meghan to marry. It was written in the traditional style, officially confirming her blessing for their union.
Meghan Markle’s first royal Christmas
After getting engaged, Prince Harry and Meghan immediately stepped into their royal roles as a couple. They started appearing at events with the rest of the royal family. In December 2017, Meghan spent her very first Christmas with them at the Sandringham Estate. Everyone was there, including Prince William and Kate Middleton. Fans even saw Meghan curtsy to Queen Elizabeth for the first time in public, which felt like a big moment.
After the holidays, Harry couldn’t stop praising Meghan. He spoke about her on BBC Radio 4 on December 27. He said the whole experience was wonderful. Meghan enjoyed being there, and the family loved having her. He explained that Christmas always has two sides for them. There is the family time and there is also the royal duty side. But he said they had an amazing time overall. They stayed with William and Kate and played with the kids. Harry described it all as fun, warm, and truly fantastic.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding
A few months after spending the holidays together, the moment everyone was waiting for finally arrived. On May 19, the whole United Kingdom buzzed with excitement as Prince Harry and Meghan got married. Millions of people watched them say their vows. The wedding mixed classic royal traditions with touches that honored Meghan’s African American heritage. After the ceremony, the couple walked out of St. George’s Chapel and greeted the huge crowd gathered outside. They shared a sweet kiss on the chapel steps, and it became one of the most iconic moments of the day.
But the wedding also came with its share of drama. Meghan’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, fell apart in the days before the big day. He had been caught staging photos for the paparazzi after telling Meghan he hadn’t done anything like that. Then he had a heart attack shortly before the wedding and ended up not attending at all.
There were also rumors that Meghan made Kate Middleton cry over Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress. In their interview with Oprah in 2021, Meghan explained what really happened. She said that Kate was actually upset about something related to the dress and that the situation made her cry, not the other way around. Meghan said it hurt her feelings at the time but she didn’t want to add more stress to the already chaotic days leading up to the wedding. She felt it would have made more sense for everyone to try to support each other instead of letting tensions grow.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry become parents
Almost exactly one year after their wedding, Harry and Meghan stepped into a brand new chapter of their lives. They officially became parents. Their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on May 6, 2019. A few days later, the three of them appeared at a photocall. It was the first time Archie faced the cameras, and everyone was eager to see him. He even met his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and his great-grandfather, Prince Philip. Prince Charles was there too, meeting his new grandson.
Harry and Meghan were glowing with pride. Meghan said it felt amazing and that she was so happy to have the two best boys in the world by her side. She described Archie as a total dream and said the first days with him were incredibly special. Harry added that becoming a father was the most amazing experience he could ever imagine. You could see how much love and joy they felt as new parents.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry step back from royal duties
Even though Meghan and Harry’s life looked perfect from the outside, the reality was very different. Behind the scenes, they were struggling. Meghan faced constant attacks from the tabloids, many of them racist and cruel. The pressure and nonstop media attention became too much. In January 2020, they announced that they would step back as senior working royals.
They later moved to North America to be closer to Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Harry said the decision was not easy for him. But he also felt he had no real choice if he wanted to protect his family. On March 9, 2020, they made their final official appearance as senior royals at the Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey.
In February 2021, the Queen released a new statement. She said that since Harry and Meghan had stepped away from royal duties, they could not continue holding the roles and responsibilities that came with public service as working royals. Their military titles and royal patronages would return to her and then be given to other working members of the family. The palace added that everyone was sad about the couple’s decision but still saw them as much-loved members of the family.
On February 20, 2021, Meghan and Harry shared their own response. They said they were still committed to helping and serving others in the UK and around the world. They explained that their dedication to service did not depend on having an official royal title. Their message was simple. Anyone can serve others. Service belongs to everyone.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcome another child
On Valentine’s Day in 2021, Meghan and Harry shared some of their happiest news yet. They announced that Archie was going to be a big brother. They told HollywoodLife that they were overjoyed and expecting their second child. This came only a few months after Meghan wrote an emotional Op-Ed about the miscarriage she had suffered earlier, so this news felt especially meaningful for them.
They released a beautiful black and white photo taken by Misan Harriman. In the picture, Meghan is lying comfortably on the grass with her head resting on Harry’s lap. She has her hands on her baby bump, and both of them look peaceful and full of joy.
Meghan & Harry’s relationship today
In a November 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Meghan spoke very openly about her marriage and the bond she shares with Harry. She said that he loves her in a way that feels bold and complete. She explained that he sees things in the media that she might never come across and that he always protects her from anything harmful. She said no one in the world loves her more than he does, and because of that, she feels safe knowing he will always stand by her side.
Meghan also talked about the part of Harry’s personality that first pulled her toward him. She described him as someone with a bright, childlike sense of wonder and a playful spirit. She said that this side of him made her feel alive and brought out that same playful energy in her. She explained that this feeling touches every part of their life now. Even in their work, she wants them to stay curious, have fun, try new things, and be creative together.