Eight years ago today, a seismic announcement from Kensington Palace set in motion a chain of events that would fundamentally alter the modern British monarchy. The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on November 27, 2017, was a moment of public jubilation that belied the private tensions and eventual schism to come.
The Fairytale Announcement and Its Hidden Truths
The world was introduced to the newly engaged couple through an official interview, accompanied by stunning photographs taken in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared deeply in love, speaking candidly about their relationship and their fortune in finding one another, while also sharing initial plans for their forthcoming nuptials.
A central focus was Meghan’s engagement ring, a deeply personal piece featuring one diamond from Botswana, a location significant to their early romance, and two stones from the personal collection of the late Princess Diana. However, the couple later revealed a more complex picture of this period. In their 2022 Netflix docuseries, Meghan characterised the engagement interview as an "orchestrated and rehearsed reality show".
They also confirmed that Harry had actually proposed several weeks prior to the public announcement. The delay was strategic, waiting until they had officially established a home together in the UK before sharing their news with the world.
Royal Reservations and Family Tensions
While public excitement was immense, not everyone within the royal circle shared the unbridled joy. The couple faced caution from senior family members from the outset. Harry’s late grandfather, Prince Philip, allegedly offered the Duke a stark warning after the proposal, reportedly stating: “One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them.”
Further concerns came from within the direct line of succession. In his memoir, Spare, Harry wrote that his brother, Prince William, was worried that he was "moving too fast" with his bride-to-be. These early reservations highlighted the initial friction between the Sussexes' modern approach and the traditional institution they were joining.
The Path from Windsor Wedding to Californian Exit
Following their fairytale wedding in May 2018, the situation for the Sussexes deteriorated rapidly. The pressures of royal life, intense media scrutiny, and reported conflicts within the institution, often referred to as "the Firm", culminated in a monumental decision.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back as senior working royals. This led to their eventual relocation to California, where they now reside with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Their engagement, therefore, was not just the prelude to a wedding, but the beginning of a journey that would see them redefine their relationship with the monarchy and establish a new life across the Atlantic.
The eight-year anniversary of their engagement serves as a significant milestone, marking the start of a period of profound change for the couple and the royal family they left behind.
