Meghan Markle was first known for her role as Rachel Zane from the hit TV show Suits. She had a lifestyle blog, she had an acting career, she was recognisable to the public but had a level of fame that felt very manageable. She could potentially still move around the world in a pair of glasses or a hat and not be bothered. Then Harry entered the picture and her life drastically change.
Dating a member of the royal family comes with a level of fame that is incomparable even to the biggest Hollywood stars. She was constantly harassed by the media, to the point where Harry had to make a rare statement asking the press to leave his girlfriend alone, which is coincidentally how he confirmed their relationship. After that Meghan became his fiancée, then a duchess and half of the most famous and talked-about royal couple in modern history. Every single public appearance, or even a random paparazzi photo caused a stir in the press, everyone in the world suddenly had an opinion about her, which shifted back and forth all the time.
Let’s take a look at some of these moments that completely changed how people saw Meghan.
Harry’s 2016 Statement Made Their Relationship Impossible to Ignore
Rumors about Harry and Meghan dating were buzzing around since late 2016, but the first publicly defining moment for their relationship came in November 2016. Kensington Palace issued a statement condemning the harassment Meghan and her family were dealing with from the press. It was clearly meant to be a measure to protect Meghan, but it also confirmed that this wasn’t a fling and the relationship was serious enough that the royals made a statement.
The Engagement Turned Her Into a Future Duchess
The engagement was announced on November 27, 2017. The actual proposal happened a month earlier, but there was a classic photo call at Kensington Palace with cameras, engagement rings, etc. But what made this different than other royal engagements is that Meghan was American, biracial, divorced, an actress, and very outspoken.
This made it unusual and exciting for some and shocking and unheard of for others. The interview they did for the BBC introduced them to the public as a very normal, warm, and affectionate couple who met through friends and quickly realized that they had something special and were living their little fairytale love story. But as we know, British tabloids are in the habit of ruining all fairytales.
The Royal Wedding Made Her a Symbol of Change
Harry and Meghan’s wedding happened on May 19th, 2018 at Windsor Castle. It was a huge event full of the usual royal elements like uniforms, carriages, lots of famous guests all wearing various hats and fascinators, and a global audience of millions of course. But there were also unusual add-ons, like the bishop was African-American, there was a Black gospel choir singing “Stand By Me,” and Meghan walked down the aisle by herself before meeting Prince Charles halfway, who walked her the rest of the way.
This was already a huge deal and signaled a new chapter not only in her life, but also in the life of the British Royal family. Things were changing fast. After the wedding Meghan became a Dutchess, she was no longer just an actress doing her thing, she was now a working royal, entering a strange and strict system of the royal family. Her style had to change to fit what’s expected of the royals, she could no longer run her own social media, and she definitely could no longer be as outspoken as she was used to.
It was a waiting game to see whether Meghan or the royal family would change more. People were saying it’s a historical moment, but some were already prejudiced and thinking that Meghan just doesn’t fit into the old institution.
Her First Royal Tour Showed She Wanted to Do Things Her Way
Harry and Meghan went on their first major royal tour in 2018. They visited Australia and New Zealand, as well as Fiji and Tonga. They had over 70 engagements, and Meghan had an opportunity to show what kind of royal she was going to be. She met with crowds, made speeches, championed women’s education, and even baked a banana bread for the farmers they were going to meet (not something royals usually do) before one of their engagements.
The banana bread moment was significant because it demonstrated Meghan’s willingness to embrace her royal responsibilities while also attempting to be warm and personal, in contrast to the typically reserved nature of the royals. The tour was seen as very successful by the public, Meghan was very popular and likeable. She was great at working with the public. But apparently behind the scenes, the tensions intensified in the royal family.
Archie’s Birth Put the Privacy Debate Front and Center
Meghan’s first baby, Prince Archie, was born on May 6th, 2019. The usual protocol would be to then take photos on the steps of the hospital just hours after birth. But Harry and Meghan didn’t do that. They introduced Archie to the world 2 days later in St. George’s Hall in Wisdom Castle.
Some saw this as a refreshing change. Meghan has just given birth, she’s probably exhausted and needs time to rest, recover, and spend time bonding with her newborn. Why would anyone be expected to get camera-ready just hours after childbirth? Yet some people saw it as a step away from tradition and a way for Harry and Meghan to bend the rules while still receiving the benefits of being a royal.
This type of public reaction was very telling. A birth announcement that looked sensible and protective was dissected as a rebellious statement against tradition. But it was only one of the early signs of how the Sussexes were going to approach having children. They turned out to be fiercely protective, only showing their children to the public on rare occasions while being selective about exactly how, when, and what things to share.
The South Africa Interview Revealed the Cracks
It was during the 2019 tour of South Africa that the public saw a much more vulnerable side of Meghan. In an ITV documentary she was asked by a journalist how she was doing and Meghan admitted that it was hard and she doesn’t think many people would understand and that not many people have asked her if she was ok.
It was a moment that showed us how Meghan was feeling behind the scenes of the polished royal image. She was a new mother, a new wife, a new royal and she was under a lot of pressure and the public scrutiny was relentless. Her answer made it clear that things aren’t as perfect as the royals would like to portray. For her fans and supporters, it was proof that she was struggling with royal life and that the pressure was getting to her. For critics, however, this was an opportunity to blame her for complaining despite leading a very privileged life. That divide in public opinion would only grow from this point on.
“Megxit” Rebranded Meghan and Harry as Royal Rebels
On January 8, 2020 Harry and Meghan did something unheard of. They announced that they’re going to step back from their royal duties and work towards financial independence. The move was immediately branded as “Megxit” and put all of the blame on Meghan, even though Harry and Meghan both repeatedly said that it was a decision they both made as a couple.
The Oprah Interview Changed Everything Again
When Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey, we knew it was going to send shockwaves through not only the royal family but the world in general. Meghan opened up about mental health struggles and alleged conversations about her baby’s skin colour and talked about how her experience with the press was not just regular royal criticism. One of the defining quotes from that interview was when Meghan said, ‘Rude and racist are not the same”.
It was one of the biggest turning points in Meghan’s public life. Some saw what she was doing and saying as brave and painfully human, while others considered her disloyal to the royal family that she willfully married into.
What was undeniable is that she was taking control of the story the way no royal has ever done before. There’s an unspoken rule, or even a motto, that monarchs usually live by that goes “never complain, never explain.” But Meghan and Harry did both, very publicly.
The Netflix Documentary Let Them Tell Their Side
The Netflix docuseries was perceived as a more significant event than the Oprah interview. Harry & Meghan was a six-part series that allowed the couple to clarify a lot about their life, their struggles, and the events that led them to making the decisions and choices that they made.
At this point it was obvious that the fans would see this as a much-needed “other side of the story,” while the haters would double down on calling them ungrateful and selfish and privileged and see this as an unnecessary airing out of inner royal drama.
But from the public image perspective, this was a proactive move. Meghan was building a new post-royal identity. She was no longer part of the royal institution, she was a mother, a wife, a producer, and a media figure.
Her Return to Instagram Signaled a Softer New Era
In 2025, Meghan came back to Instagram (@meghan), finally back in control of her narrative. Her first post was a simple video from the beach, where she wrote 2025 in the sand. Very casual, very California.
Some still found something to criticize, like saying that it was obvious that it wasn’t all one take. But the big picture was clear. Meghan was taking back control of her life, no more palace accounts, no official royal captions, or formal portraits. Just Meghan, the beach and a new beginning.
With Love, Meghan Made Her a Lifestyle Personality Again
With Love, Meghan launched on Netflix in 2025. The show was all about cooking, gardening, lifestyle, and small domestic rituals that Meghan saw as a way to make hosting feel more personal and bring a little more joy into their day-to-day lives.
It felt very reminiscent of Meghan’s blog The Tig, which she used to run long before she met Harry. It was all about food, travel, and wellness. So in a way, With Love, Meghan felt like a return to her roots, but in a slightly different format.
The reaction of the public was very divided, as per usual. Some saw it for what it was, a gentle and aspirational show. Others criticised it for being overly polished and tone-deaf, while compelling that Meghan is self-absorbed and a control freak. The show performed modestly on Netflix, but the critics called it a failed experiment. But despite all of that it was another shift of Meghan’s public image. She was no longer just a “former royal” talking about her past struggles, she was building something new, a lifestyle brand in the making.
As Ever Turned Meghan Into a Businesswoman
Then Meghan launched an actual lifestyle brand, “As Ever.” The first products became available in the spring of 2025. You could buy things like raspberry spreads, honey, tea, baking mixes, and flower sprinkles. The first drop sold out in under an hour.
There was a lot of talk about the products and a ridiculous amount of mocking the flower sprinkles, but it still sold out, which means that no matter what you thought of Meghan, there was clearly a commercial interest. And the product line connected with her Netflix show perfectly, you could watch her bake cookies and decorate them with sprinkles and then go buy the same exact things. By 2026, As Ever expanded their product line to include chocolates.
Meghan’s transformation was ongoing. She started out as an actress, then became a Dutchess, then left the royalty to escape the scrutiny and pursue happiness and rebuilt herself as a lifestyle entrepreneur and media personality.