When Prince Harry met Meghan Markle back in 2016, she was an actor, starring in a hit TV show, and he had recently left the army and was pouring much of his energy into his charity Invictus, which helps injured service people.
Fast-forward through their whirlwind romance, past the turbulence of Megxit and their new life in California, trying to earn money from reality shows and podcasts, and today it’s as if they’ve returned to the basics.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is acting again, while Harry is throwing his energy into supporting veterans. They’re both doing what they love, but is this a sign that after five turbulent years, they’ve found contentment, or are these moves – especially in Meghan’s case – to bring in more cash?
Meghan’s acting comeback
Meghan, 44, is back on set, reportedly playing herself in new film Close Personal Friends, alongside Lily Collins and Brie Larson. The news came as a surprise to many because when she stepped away from TV series Suits to marry Harry in 2018, it seemed like she’d closed the door on that part of her life.
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When asked in a 2022 interview if she’d consider acting again, she replied, “I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.”
A source from the film studio says making the rom-com is a “massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves. She has been swamped with offers, but this one felt right”.
The insider adds, “Prince Harry is really supportive and wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy.”
However, another source says her return to a film set is less about fun and more about financial gain.
“This was never in her plan. This confirms it. They are poor.”
The reality of royal expenses
The insider says they have expenses of more than $7 million a year, including the mortgage on their luxury Montecito home. And the failure of their deals with Spotify and Netflix to bring in tens of millions of dollars has meant looking elsewhere for income.
Royal commentator Sarah Vine says a pivot back to acting could be a good move for Meghan.
A chance to reshape her narrative
“If she pulls it off, this could well end up being a chance for her to reshape her narrative in a way she hasn’t quite achieved through all her interview confessionals, podcasts and TV shows. It’s also the first thing she has done since leaving the royal family that feels truly authentic. All that waffling around the kitchen arranging fruit just comes across as an act.”
Harry, meanwhile, has struggled to find his footing in his new life. The one thing he truly enjoys is his involvement with Invictus, the charity he founded, and he welcomes any chance to bring awareness to the challenges faced by people who’ve served or are still in the military.
Honouring veterans
Last week, he travelled to Toronto to attend several events honouring Canadian veterans. They were coordinated with Remembrance Day – November 11 – in the UK, and Harry mentioned his home country in a touching essay he wrote to mark the occasion.
He paid tribute to the stoicism and bravery of members of the British armed forces, and his words hint at how much he misses it himself.
A heartfelt tribute to his homeland
Harry, 41, who was in the army for 10 years, wrote, “Though currently I may live in the United States, Britain is, and will always be, the country I proudly served and fought for. The banter of the mess, the clubhouse, the pub, the stands, ridiculous as it sounds, these are the things that make us British. I make no apology for it. I love it.”
Longtime royal photographer Arthur Edwards wonders whether Harry’s words could open the door for him to return to being a working royal and representing his father, the King.
“His message makes me believe that he is, at last, after all that anger, remembering what he loved about being a prince,” says Arthur.
“What he wrote tells me he is missing the UK. “Are the duke and duchess, who are doing the things they are good at, paving the way for a return to the royal fold?”
