Prince Harry’s transformation after falling in love with Meghan Markle has been a topic of discussion among royal experts, with some claiming her influence led to his decision to leave the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to the US, seeking a life away from the intense media spotlight and the constraints of royal life.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards and editor Matt Wilkinson recently discussed Meghan’s impact on Harry during a conversation on the Royal Exclusive Live show. Wilkinson explained, “The problem was that Harry and Meghan were so impetuous they made that decision [to step down] straight away.”
Arthur Edwards added that while the couple’s decision to leave the Royal Family was “fair enough,” he expressed disappointment over their subsequent actions. He criticized the pair for “being really nasty about their family here, the pair of them, just to make money,” referring to their public criticisms of the Royal Family, which included the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry’s memoir Spare, and their Netflix series Harry & Meghan.
Reflecting on Harry’s earlier days, Edwards shared stories of the fun and carefree nature Harry once exhibited. “I remember when he met the Jamaican Prime Minister, instead of saying ‘hello ma’am, pleased to meet you,’ he just hugged her,” Edwards recalled. When asked why, Harry said, “Because my father said she likes a hug, so I thought I’d get in first.” Edwards noted that Harry had always been full of surprises and was a joy to work with.
He reminisced about Harry’s trips abroad, including one to Brazil where he played football with children on the beach and even participated in a road race. “He was fun and surprising,” Edwards said, adding, “He used to say ‘I’ll do everything I can to make it good for you,’ and that’s what shocked me when he just cut us all dead, that one time up in Manchester.”
Edwards concluded by expressing his sadness over Harry’s transformation, stating, “I’ll never forget, and I was shocked. It was just the day he met Meghan or the day he fell in love with Meghan, and it’s all changed since then. I feel sad about that because he was a fabulous person to work with.”
This perspective offers insight into how some members of the royal circle view the profound changes in Prince Harry’s life since his marriage to Meghan Markle.
