Meghan Markle’s fairytale hopes of royal life didn’t last long after she married Prince Harry, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold. He believes Meghan became the biggest influence on Harry’s decision to step away from his role as a senior royal, sparking what the press dubbed ‘Megxit.’
Speaking to Radar Online, Harrold explained, “As soon as Meghan came into his life, everything changed.” He suggested Harry might have already been questioning his place in the Royal Family, but Meghan’s arrival seemed to accelerate those feelings. “It could be that Harry had his own awakening and suddenly decided he didn’t like the organisation, but the problem is that Meghan was with him when it happened,” he said.
Harrold described Meghan as the defining change in Harry’s life, noting, “The biggest change in Harry’s life is Meghan.” He went on to add that Meghan may have entered royal life with expectations that were closer to a fairy tale than the reality she faced. “I think the problem with Meghan is that she went into the organisation and she assumed that after watching all the Disney princesses that she thought it was going to be like that,” he explained.
The remarks tap into the ongoing debate about how much influence Meghan had over Harry’s choices and whether she was the cause or simply the catalyst for decisions he might have made anyway. Harrold’s comments highlight how closely Meghan and Harry’s actions have been tied together in the public eye, often overshadowing Harry’s personal feelings about his role in the monarchy.
From the beginning, Meghan’s arrival in the Royal Family was seen as a turning point. Her background, independence, and willingness to speak openly were celebrated by some and criticised by others. For Harry, though, she seemed to bring clarity to feelings he had hinted at long before meeting her.
He had often spoken about struggling with the pressures of royal duty and the legacy of his mother, Princess Diana. Harrold’s suggestion that Meghan became the tipping point adds another layer to the story.
For Meghan, the reality of palace life was far from what she might have imagined. The institution comes with rigid rules, centuries of tradition, and a level of public scrutiny few can truly prepare for. The notion that she may have expected something more romantic or storybook-like underlines the gap between fantasy and the weight of royal expectations.
While Harrold’s comments won’t settle the debate, they do echo what many have speculated. Meghan and Harry’s departure from royal life has been one of the most dramatic shifts for the monarchy in recent memory, and the question of who influenced whom is still a point of fascination. What’s clear is that Meghan’s arrival marked the start of a new chapter in Harry’s life, one that continues to divide public opinion.
