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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tony Jones & Danya Bazaraa

Harry and Meghan's 3rd anniversary - from fairytale wedding to feud with family

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are preparing to celebrate their third wedding anniversary - but a lot has happened in the last few years.

The couple married during a glittering ceremony on May 19, 2018 and are likely to mark their milestone privately at their Californian home.

Traditionally, a third wedding anniversary is celebrated with gifts made from leather.

The wedding heralded a new chapter for the monarchy as it was welcoming a person of mixed race into the family for the first time in centuries.

But just 18 months after exchanging their vows the Sussexes travelled to North America with their son Archie and have never permanently returned to their UK home.

They are celebrating three years since they wed (AFP via Getty Images)

Fairytale wedding

The sixth in line to the throne, Prince Harry announced his engagement to US actress Meghan Markle in November 2017 after a secret proposal.

The couple got married on May 19, 2018 in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in a star-studded fairytale wedding.

The stunning ceremony was followed by two glamorous receptions with their nearest and dearest.

Millions of people around the world tuned in to watch Meghan and Harry's wedding (AFP/Getty Images)

It really was the wedding of the year, with the royals mixing with Hollywood's finest to celebrate the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Millions of people around the world tuned in to watch the couple exchange their vows while their loved ones watched on from the church pews.

The couple launched straight into royal duties after their wedding, just days after making their first official engagement as a married couple at a garden party celebrating the Prince of Wales's charity work.

Royal baby

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated the birth of a boy on 6 May, 2019.

The 37-year-old former actress safely delivered the royal tot weighing 7lbs 3oz at Frogmore Cottage at 5.26am.

They named their baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Speaking hours after the birth, proud dad Harry, 34, said his son is "absolutely to die for" and he was "over the moon".

The Duchess of Sussex - pictured with husband Harry and son Archie a few days after the birth (Getty Images)

Struggles of the first year as a royal revealed

An emotional Meghan appeared to hold back tears as she admitted she's "not OK" in an interview about the pressures of her new role as a royal mum.

Speaking in a preview clip for their behind-the-scenes documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Duchess of Sussex said the past year had been "really challenging".

The programme followed Meghan, husband Prince Harry, and baby Archie on their 10-day Royal Tour of Africa in October 2019.

In a one-to-one interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Meghan is asked about the "true pressures of life in the spotlight and the toll it has taken on them both".

Tom Bradby speaking to Meghan and Harry (ITV)

Meghan and Harry's bombshell news

Meghan Harry announced they were stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family and planned to become 'financially independent' in January 2020.

The Duke and Duchess revealed the news in a statement on their Instagram page - saying they planned to make a move to North America.

Their statement read: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

"We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages."

Meghan and Harry in March 2020 (Getty Images)

The move to the US

Meghan and Harry fled to Canada after announcing they were stepping back as senior royals.

They then moved to LA, where they have been living with their son Archie since.

Initially when they announced they'd step down as working royals, it was understood they would split their time between North America and the UK, but that appears to have changed.

The Oprah interview

The past few months have been a tumultuous period for the couple following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan and Harry laid bare their brief life as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family made a racist comment about their son, and explained the duchess had suicidal thoughts but her approaches to the monarchy for help were turned down.

Meghan and Harry during their chat with Oprah (Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese v)

Armchair Expert podcast

In a separate interview Harry appeared to suggest that his father and the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had failed as parents.

Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast, the duke said he wanted to "break the cycle" of "genetic pain and suffering" for the sake of his own children.

He said of Charles: "He's treated me the way he was treated, so how can I change that for my own kids?"

Harry's mental health documentary

A few days after their wedding anniversary Harry and Meghan, who is expecting a daughter in the summer, will appear in the first episode of the duke's mental health documentary series with Oprah Winfrey.

In the Apple TV+ series that begins on Friday, Harry says in conversation with Winfrey: "To make that decision to receive help is not a sign of weakness. In today's world, more than ever, it is a sign of strength."

Footage of a young Harry during the funeral procession for his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, featured in a trailer for The Me You Can't See.

Meghan appears with Prince Harry to promote his new mental health series with Oprah, The Me You Can't See (Apple TV)

Should the couple still be a Duke and Duchess?

A YouGov poll carried out on Monday found 44% of 4,567 adults questioned thought the couple should no longer be a duke and duchess.

While 20% believed they should keep their titles but not use them, 17% said they should not lose their titles or stop using them and 20% did not know.

The poll came a day before Companies House documents showed a voluntary liquidator had been instructed to wind up the Sussex Royal company, which trades as MWX Trading Limited.

Information on the site shows that a special resolution to wind up the company was submitted on May 4, before a voluntary liquidator was appointed on Tuesday.

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