Prince Harry's decision to step down as a senior royal was not solely about Meghan Markle's difficulties adapting to royal life, but also about his own deep-seated struggles, according to a royal commentator.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in January 2020 that they would be transitioning away from their roles as senior working royals. In a joint statement, they said: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen."
Harry's 'Escape Route'
Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine argues that Megxit was as much about Harry's trauma as it was about Meghan's. She said: "The truth is, Megxit was never just about Meghan and her struggles to adapt to royal life; it was just as much about Harry's trauma, finally coming to a head after all those years. He wanted out as much as she did – and she was his escape route."
Vine claimed that Meghan "represented freedom" for Harry, away from his father and stepmother, the King and Queen, who he allegedly blamed for his "mother's unhappiness" and away from the overall royal "curse".
Searching for a Way Out
According to Vine, Harry was looking for an escape even before he met Meghan. She said: "Even before he married Meghan, he was searching, whether consciously or unconsciously, for a way to escape his 'generational curse' and construct a narrative of his own."
Unlike his older brother, Prince William, who married someone deeply respectful of the institution, Harry "didn't need to worry about the succession. So Harry chose someone for whom none of it had any significance, who viewed it as just another role, and a faintly absurd one at that."
Harry's Own Words
Harry has previously spoken about his unhappiness as a working royal. In his memoir, Spare, he detailed his emotional isolation, conflicts with the press, and friction with his brother. In his 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he said: "I was trapped, but I didn't know I was trapped. My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don't get to leave. And I have huge compassion for that."
