When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced in early 2020 that they were stepping back from royal duties, Britain watched in disbelief as the so-called “Fab Four” appeared to collapse overnight.
Publicly, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were said to be deeply saddened by the sudden decision,
which triggered the unprecedented crisis quickly labelled “Megxit”. Behind palace walls, however, a more complicated — and far less sentimental — reaction was quietly unfolding.
Shock, sorrow — and private relief
According to royal insiders and historians, William and Kate initially felt genuine pain at the rupture with Harry. The decision carried serious consequences for the monarchy and fractured what had been presented as a united new generation of royals.
Yet as time passed, sources suggest the Prince and Princess of Wales also experienced a sense of relief.
Royal author Tina Brown, in her book The Palace Papers, writes that William and Kate had long been unsettled by internal tensions linked to Meghan’s conduct after joining the family.
A clash of styles behind the scenes
Brown describes William and Kate as instinctively respectful toward palace staff, treating aides as extended family. That is why, she writes, they were “shocked” when Meghan was seen sharply reprimanding a junior staff member during wedding preparations.
While the incident was not formally labelled as bullying, sources say such behaviour was unheard of within the Royal Family. Harry reportedly intervened at the time, and Meghan later apologised — though, according to insiders, similar gestures of remorse became increasingly rare.
Allegations that would not go away
Since joining the Royal Family in 2018, Meghan earned an unflattering nickname among some insiders: “the difficult duchess.”
Former aides later alleged she sent angry emails as early as 5 a.m. and behaved, in one description, “like a dictator in high heels.”
Meghan has consistently denied these claims, calling them a “calculated smear campaign” based on misleading and harmful information.
Her spokesperson previously stated:
“This is a coordinated attempt to undermine the Duchess.”
Staff trauma and lingering fear
Journalist Valentine Low, who first reported allegations of staff bullying in 2021, later said the impact on palace employees was severe.
“Several people who worked for Harry and Meghan were left emotionally shaken,” Low said.
“They feared retaliation. Even after leaving, some remained traumatised by their experiences.”
William and Kate “felt lighter” after Meghan left
On 13 October, Daily Mail reported that sources close to the Palace believed William and Kate privately felt calmer once Meghan departed, as years of internal strain finally came to an end.
Royal author Tom Quinn, in Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, claims Meghan often criticised Kate for being “too obedient” and overly compliant with royal rules, while portraying herself as independent and self-directed.
Kate, by contrast, was seen as accepting the hierarchy — Meghan as challenging it.
The final appearance — and visible distance
The emotional distance between the two couples was evident at the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020, Harry and Meghan’s final official engagement before leaving Britain.
Observers noted the cold atmosphere. Meghan offered only a brief wave to William and Kate, who sat several rows ahead.
Later, Meghan reportedly expressed disappointment that Kate had not shown more public support during her struggles.
Advice ignored, tensions escalated
According to Tina Brown, Meghan had previously been advised by former US First Lady Michelle Obama to remain calm and use her royal platform to create positive social change.
Those efforts reportedly failed as tensions worsened — particularly after Harry and Meghan launched social media accounts that directly competed with those of William and Kate.
The Sussexes reached one million followers within six hours, setting a Guinness World Record, while William and Kate’s team worked to maintain their digital prominence.
Two paths after Megxit
After Megxit, the divide became unmistakable.
William and Kate focused on modernising the monarchy from within — launching a YouTube channel and sharing controlled glimpses of family life with their children.
Harry and Meghan, meanwhile, pursued commercial deals with Netflix, Spotify and Apple TV+, positioning themselves as global media figures.
Spare, coronation — and renewed relief
The release of Harry’s memoir Spare in 2023 further deepened the rift. Harry accused William of physically attacking him and described Queen Camilla as “the villain”.
When Buckingham Palace later confirmed that Harry would attend King Charles III’s coronation alone, one royal source told reporters:
“There was a sense of relief that Meghan would not attend. Especially for Kate — it would have been extremely uncomfortable.”
“Unity” that wasn’t
Journalist Robert Jobson previously revealed that the joint walkabout by the two couples following Queen Elizabeth II’s death was one of the most difficult moments Kate had endured — despite appearances of unity.
Behind the scenes, it was described as a “forced truce”.
A fracture that never healed
While public statements have repeatedly emphasised reconciliation, insiders suggest the emotional damage was long done.
For William and Kate, Meghan’s departure marked the end of a turbulent chapter — one that challenged palace stability, staff morale and family bonds.
For the monarchy, Megxit was not just an exit.
It was a line that could never be fully crossed back.