Was Meghan Harry's Excuse To Finally Get Out?

Much has been made about the bombshell announcement from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a few days ago.

It's not every day that a member of the royal family chooses to step down from their duties, and we haven't seen a scandal comparable to this since Edward VIII abdicated the throne for his wife, American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

While many royal commentators have pointed the finger at Meghan, assuming she is the force behind the decision, is it possible it has been Prince Harry all along?

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The Public Has Assumed Meghan Is Behind The Decision

Meghan Markle seems to be the one getting the majority of the criticism thrown at her, with most of the public assuming she was the brains behind the operation.

And, from an outside perspective, it does look like this. Prince Harry appeared to be happy and joking all the time on official engagements, he was close to his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate, and he was carving out a place for himself within the royal fold that was more than just a spare part.

Prince Harry Changed Drastically After They Married

However, when Meghan Markle came on the scene, things changed drastically. Prince Harry is barely speaking to his brother and Kate, he has looked sullen and serious on his royal engagements, complained about media criticism while on an official tour in Africa, and has gone from one of the most beloved members of the royal family to one of the most disliked.

But, is Meghan really to blame? Sure, the timing looks way too coincidental and she has garnered her fair share of deserved backlash, but did she tear Harry away from the royals?

Prince Harry Has Made No Secret Of His Desire To Be Normal

At the end of the day, Prince Harry wants to protect his wife and child, and would clearly do anything to make them happy. But, he has also made no secret of the fact that he wouldn't mind being just a normal person, without the royal title and responsibilities that come with it.

In an article for the Daily Mail, Sarah Vine writes, "The truth is, Harry has been very damaged by his upbringing. Even before Meghan came on the scene, it was clear there was a part of him that was very angry about what happened to his mother."

She continued, "When he and William released an HBO documentary about Diana back in 2017, on the 20th anniversary of her death, he, in particular, expressed very mixed emotions, not only towards his father but towards the institution of monarchy itself."

This is an excellent point. While his brother Prince William appears to have moved on in a healthier manner, especially considering the fact that he knows exactly what path he is on, Harry has always appeared more fragile.

Prince Harry May Actually Be The Driving Force Behind The Drama

During his time in the army, Prince Harry recalled, "I wasn’t a Prince, I was just Harry." And, it's these words we must remember when we look at the explosive drama that is happening now within the royal family.

Many point the finger at Meghan, however, she may have just been the catalyst that made Harry finally say he was done being a 'senior royal' and done with everything that entails.

It may be time we finally realized that Prince Harry is as much a part of this decision as Meghan is.