When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, the world watched in awe as a Hollywood actress stepped into the glittering realm of the British royal family. Her fairytale wedding at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, complete with a Givenchy gown and a star-studded guest list, seemed to herald the beginning of a charmed life as a duchess. However, as of May 10, 2025, Meghan’s journey has been marked by a stark contrast between her dreams of royal grandeur and the challenging reality she encountered, leading to what many describe as a profound disillusionment.
A Hollywood Star’s Royal Dreams
Meghan Markle, then a 36-year-old actress best known for her role in the TV series Suits, entered the royal family with a vision of what her life might become. In her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan revealed that she had little understanding of what being a working royal entailed, admitting she “didn’t grow up knowing much about the royal family.” Yet, sources close to her, cited by The Mirror in April 2025, suggest that Meghan was captivated by the idea of a glamorous royal existence—state banquets, tiaras, and the global platform to champion causes she cared about, like women’s rights and racial equality. Her engagement interview with Harry in November 2017 painted a picture of optimism, with Meghan describing her excitement to “hit the ground running” alongside her husband.
Meghan’s early days as a royal seemed promising. Her first solo outing with Queen Elizabeth II in June 2018, attending engagements in Cheshire, was widely seen as a sign of the Queen’s approval. She launched initiatives like the Together cookbook with the Hubb Community Kitchen, supporting Grenfell Tower fire survivors, and her charm and modern approach won her many admirers. However, beneath the surface, cracks were already forming. In a 2019 ITV documentary, Meghan admitted to struggling with the intense media scrutiny, saying, “Not many people have asked if I’m okay,” a rare glimpse into the pressures she faced.
The Harsh Reality of Royal Life
Meghan’s dream of a sparkling royal life quickly collided with the rigid expectations and traditions of the monarchy. According to royal author Robert Lacey in his 2020 book Battle of Brothers, Meghan found the Palace’s hierarchy stifling. She reportedly clashed with staff over her desire to modernize certain protocols, such as her preference for a more hands-on approach to her work, which contrasted with the Palace’s formal structure. A former courtier told The Times in March 2021 that Meghan was “frustrated” by the lack of control she had over her public image, particularly as negative stories about her began to dominate tabloid headlines.
The media scrutiny was relentless. From accusations of being “difficult” to work with—claims of making staff cry emerged in 2018—to criticism over her spending, such as the £500,000 cost of her baby shower in New York, Meghan became a polarizing figure. Posts on X in early 2020 reflected the public’s divided sentiment, with some users branding her “Duchess Difficult,” while others defended her as a victim of racist and sexist attacks by the British press. Meghan later addressed this in her 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, revealing the toll it took on her mental health, including suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy with Prince Archie.
Her relationship with other royals also soured. In Spare, Harry’s 2023 memoir, he detailed tensions between Meghan and Princess Kate, including the infamous bridesmaid dress incident before their wedding, where Meghan claimed Kate made her cry—a narrative that contradicted earlier reports. Harry also wrote about a 2018 meeting where Meghan asked to borrow Kate’s lip gloss, a request that reportedly left Kate “taken aback,” highlighting their differing personalities. By the time Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in January 2020, their relationship with William and Kate was reportedly at an all-time low, with palace insiders telling Yahoo on May 5, 2025, that trust between the two couples remains “non-existent.”
A New Life in America—But Challenges Persist
After leaving the royal family, Harry and Meghan settled in Montecito, California, with dreams of financial independence and a platform to pursue their passions. They signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify, launched the Archewell Foundation, and welcomed their second child, Princess Lilibet, in 2021. Meghan’s vision of a new chapter seemed to take shape—she launched her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in 2024, with its first product selling out in 45 minutes, as she revealed at the TIME100 Summit on April 23, 2025. She told the audience she was “the happiest I’ve ever been,” a stark contrast to her struggles in the UK.
However, the reality of life post-royalty has not been without its challenges. A GB News poll on May 6, 2025, showed that only 41% of Americans view Meghan positively, compared to higher approval ratings for Kate, William, and King Charles. Her use of the HRH title in a letter earlier in 2025 drew criticism, with royal expert AN Wilson telling the Daily Mail on May 4, 2025, that it was “the straw that broke the back of the British public’s tolerance.” Some on X, like @foster__braxton on April 30, 2025, accused Meghan of isolating Harry, claiming he feels “imprisoned and purposeless” in the US.
Meghan’s attempts to maintain a public presence have also been overshadowed by the royal family. On May 8, 2025, People magazine noted that Kate’s inclusion on the TIME100 Health list for her cancer awareness work outshone Meghan’s TIME100 Summit appearance, with some fans on X accusing Meghan of trying to “steal the spotlight” by sharing a milestone about Archie’s first tooth loss shortly after Kate released a birthday photo of Prince Louis. These incidents have fueled perceptions that Meghan is still competing with the royals, even from afar.
A Dream Deferred
Meghan’s journey of disillusionment reflects the gap between her expectations and the reality of royal life. She entered the monarchy hoping to be a modernizing force, but instead faced resistance, media hostility, and familial tensions that ultimately drove her and Harry to leave. In the US, while she has achieved some successes—like her Netflix deal and lifestyle brand—the shadow of the royal family looms large. Posts on X, such as one from @unreMARKLEble on May 7, 2025, suggest that reconciliation with the royals is unlikely, with Meghan’s past actions, like allowing her supporters to attack Kate online during her cancer battle, seen as unforgivable.
Meghan has spoken candidly about her struggles, telling Oprah in 2021 that she felt “silenced” by the Palace and unsupported during her mental health crisis. Her dream of a glamorous royal life—filled with the sparkle of tiaras and the power to effect change—was replaced by a reality of scrutiny, isolation, and a fractured family dynamic. As royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News on May 1, 2025, Meghan’s experience underscores the monarchy’s “unyielding” nature, which she was “ill-prepared” to navigate.
As of May 10, 2025, Meghan Markle continues to carve out her own path in America, but the echoes of her royal disillusionment remain. Her journey serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of dreaming too big within an institution bound by tradition—a dream that, for Meghan, turned out to be far less glittering than she had hoped.
