Meghan Markle had a difficult transition to royal life after her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, contending with negative press from the British media, intense scrutiny from the public and drama with her own family. However, the former Suits star has plenty of friends to lean on when the going gets rough.
More than a year after she tied the knot with the prince, the California native admitted that some of her closest pals had warned her about sparking a romance with such a public figure.
“It’s hard,” she told ITV News at Ten anchor Tom Bradby for the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, which aired in October 2019. “I don’t think anybody could understand that. … But when I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy but my British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great, but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life.’”
In the same interview, Meghan admitted that she had “no idea” that things would get so complicated when she first fell in love with Harry. While she didn’t think it would be “easy” to date a member of the royal family, the retired actress still hoped that she would receive “fair” treatment from the press.
Following a number of ups and downs, Meghan and her husband announced in January 2020 that they would be stepping down from their senior roles in the royal family. Two months later, they made their official exit and moved to California after a brief stay in Vancouver, Canada.
Despite taking time away from the royal spotlight, Meghan’s personal life hasn’t been free from drama. In June 2020, a source told Us Weekly exclusively that she was “done” with former BFF Jessica Mulroney, who had been a close confidant even before her days in the royal family. After Mulroney got caught up in a scandal with influencer Sasha Exeter, Meghan made it clear that she was trying to “distance herself” from her old pal.
“Of course Meghan is supportive of Jessica, as she is with all of her friends, but it’s a bit off-putting when Jessica seemingly uses their friendship for headlines,” the source said at the time.
In February 2021, Meghan and Harry announced that they were expecting their second child together just days before Buckingham Palace confirmed that the pair were no longer working members of the royal family. One month later, the Tig founder got caught up in a major controversy as former staffers came forward with allegations of mistreatment at Meghan’s hands. While her team denied the reports, a statement from the palace revealed that an investigation into the bullying claims would be taking place.
“It’s OBSCENE that the Royal Family, who’s [sic] newest member is currently GROWING INSIDE OF HER, is promoting and amplifying accusations of ‘bullying’ against a woman who herself was basically forced to [flee] the UK in order protect her family and her own mental health,” Suits alum Patrick J. Adams wrote in a scathing Twitter thread in March 2021, calling out the “seemingly archaic and toxic” environment within the palace. “Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.”
Scroll down to learn more about Meghan’s closest friendships!