The couple’s romance caused tensions among senior royals, staff, and courtiers.

Look back at times when Harry and Meghan caused controversy, including Meghan Markle’s pre-marriage interview that left the palace red-faced.

Meghan’s first interview with Vanity Fair in 2017 caused a stir at the palace. She details her relationship with the prince, stating, ‘We’re a couple. We’re in love.’

According to writer Tom Bower, the interview angered Queen Elizabeth  II, particularly the naming of their daughter Lilibet. 

Despite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s criticisms of the monarchy, they have never directly targeted Queen Elizabeth II. In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan even praised Elizabeth, calling her ‘wonderful.’ It’s possible that this positive relationship influenced the couple’s decision to name their youngest child, Lilibet. The queen was given the sweet moniker when she was young, so it paid homage to the late monarch.

According to the BBC, the couple did not ask Elizabeth for permission to use the name, causing a war of words after the 

release of Harry & Meghan on Netflix.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can tell their story on their terms. However, the palace was mistaken if they thought things would settle down after the Oprah Winfrey interview. Following their departure from the royal family, the couple signed a lucrative deal with streaming giant Netflix worth $100 million. They were under contract to produce several shows for the company. 

The palace was not pleased to have to defend itself again over the couple’s claims. The documentary’s title card claimed that producers had allowed the royal family to comment, but they declined. The morning after the show debuted, palace sources reportedly contacted royal reporters to set the record straight.

The disagreement persisted. A Netflix source reiterated the initial claim, stating that Prince William and King Charles III were informed but did not respond.

Palace insiders were angered by the alleged leaking of names about racism claims.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have publicly expressed their grievances with the royal family in recent years. During the Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry and Meghan revealed that some members of the institution expressed concern about the skin color of their firstborn, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. This revelation was one of the many reasons why the interview raised eyebrows. Meghan explained there were ‘concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.’ 

During an interview with Winfrey, Meghan was asked if her husband’s family was concerned about their son’s skin color. She responded, ‘If that is your assumption, that is pretty safe.’ The couple did not disclose which family members had discussed this, leading to speculation. 

Harry and Meghan’s biographer made controversial claims about the queen’s deathbed.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 marked the end of an era that had seen the British public through some turbulent times. 

Journalist and royal biographer Omid Scobie alleged that Harry tried to contact his brother several times on Elizabeth’s last day, but William ignored him. The palace was reportedly unhappy with Scobie’s claims, with a source telling the Mirror, ‘It appears that, no matter what happens behind closed doors, even in a time of such pain and grief, the Royal Family will one day emerge…’ The knives come out again, and wounds are reopened in just a few months.

While Harry and Meghan may not be responsible for Scobie’s claims, Meghan has previously provided information to Scobie for one of his books, so their connection is not entirely fictional.