Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, admitted on her podcast that her hopes for royal motherhood were derailed by external pressures and unforeseen challenges, prompting renewed scrutiny of the Sussex family’s decisions from royal experts and commentators.
According to Fox News, Markle shared that her carefully laid dreams for raising her children within the royal family did not materialize, while experts debate the impact of the couple’s choices on their children’s future ties to the monarchy.
During the Tuesday episode of "Confessions of a Female Founder," Markle, 43, spoke candidly about the stark contrast between her expectations and the reality she faced. She reflected on wanting to embrace motherhood publicly but said “external things” disrupted her vision, especially during her pregnancies. Her comments have reignited a fierce public discussion about the Sussexes’ break from royal life, their ongoing rift with the British royal family, and the implications for their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan Markle told listeners that she always wanted motherhood to be a central and visible part of her royal role. She described an image of herself “giving a speech with a baby on my hip,” a scene she hoped would symbolize a modern, hands-on approach to royal parenting. Instead, Markle said, “It was not the way I envisioned it,” citing the stresses of public life and the couple’s eventual withdrawal from royal duties.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, speaking to Fox News Digital, said the royal family had their own expectations for Harry and Meghan’s children, hoping they would be immersed in their British heritage and maintain strong ties to their royal relatives. Fitzwilliams noted that the Sussexes’ public criticisms and their decision to step back from royal duties have made it difficult for Archie and Lilibet to have regular contact with members of the royal family.
Markle and Prince Harry’s exit from royal life began in 2020 when they announced they would no longer serve as senior royals due to what they described as unbearable press intrusion and a lack of institutional support. The family relocated to California, and since then, the couple has fiercely guarded their children’s privacy, rarely sharing photos or taking them to public events.
Markle’s reflections on motherhood arrive amid ongoing criticism of the Sussexes’ approach to privacy and media relations. Fitzwilliams recalled that Markle’s initial desire for privacy during Archie’s birth led to tension with the British press, souring relations that have only worsened in the years since. As the couple became more vocal in their criticism of the royal institution—most notably in their interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry’s memoir "Spare"—the public rift deepened.
Hilary Fordwich, another British royal commentator, told Fox News Digital that the distance between the Sussex children and their English roots “didn’t originate with the royal family.” Fordwich argued that the monarchy has consistently chosen the “high road” despite ongoing criticism from Harry and Meghan, and recent polls have shown both at the bottom of public approval rankings in the U.K.
Hilary Fordwich said:
[The royal family] have done their utmost to take the high road, despite a constant bombardment of criticism. Over time, the ‘proof is in the pudding,’ as the British say. The dedication to duty by all the senior royals has won over the public.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has spoken openly about his desire to reconcile with his family, especially after losing a legal battle over taxpayer-funded security. He told the BBC that security concerns have made it impossible to safely bring his family back to the U.K., and he expressed frustration that palace officials—rather than independent experts—control decisions about his protection.
Some royal experts believe the Sussexes’ grievances with the royal institution were inevitable, pointing to longstanding tensions and cultural differences within the family. Ian Pelham Turner, a commentator interviewed by Fox News Digital, said sources told him they were not surprised by Markle’s decision to leave the royal fold, suggesting it was only a matter of time.
The couple’s critics argue that their repeated public airing of grievances—through interviews, documentaries, and memoirs—has made reconciliation with the royal family nearly impossible. Harry’s memoir, in particular, included blunt criticism of royal courtiers and has been cited as a significant factor in the ongoing estrangement.
Despite these challenges, Turner suggested that it is now up to King Charles III to find a way to allow the Sussexes and their children to reconnect with the royal family. The king, currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, has not publicly commented on Meghan’s latest statements or on the family’s strained relationship with Harry and Meghan.
With Prince Archie being raised in California and Princess Lilibet born in the United States, questions remain about how closely the Sussex children will be connected to their British heritage. Markle has chosen to share only selective glimpses of her children, keeping them largely out of the public eye and away from royal events.
Both Harry and Meghan have said they want their children to know their homeland and family, but security and personal safety concerns have made regular visits to the U.K. unlikely. Harry told the BBC he now only returns for funerals and court cases while expressing hope for a future reconciliation.
As the Sussexes continue to raise their children in Montecito, California, experts and commentators remain divided on whether the family will ever mend its fractured ties with the royal institution. The implications for Archie and Lilibet’s place in royal history remain uncertain, with both sides blaming the other for the ongoing estrangement.
