Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family four years ago, and while many assumed they would retreat from the public eye, the opposite happened.

Their departure sparked ongoing controversy, with their revelations about the royal family keeping them in the headlines and straining their relationships with senior royals, including Kate Middleton.

Their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 marked the beginning of their public criticism of the monarchy. Meghan revealed that King Charles had refused Harry’s calls and claimed there had been discussions about how dark their son Archie’s skin would be.

The couple continued their critique through interviews, a Netflix series, and Harry’s memoir Spare, which further damaged relations with the royal family.

One of the most notable rifts involved Meghan and Kate Middleton. In their Netflix series, Meghan recalled an awkward first meeting with Kate, emphasizing cultural differences in formality.

Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand noted that while the two duchesses were not hostile toward each other initially, their relationship never developed into a close friendship. Meghan had hoped for Kate’s support but was disappointed.

Tensions escalated ahead of Harry and Meghan’s wedding when a disagreement over flower girl dresses reportedly left Meghan in tears. While Meghan claimed Kate later apologized, Harry’s book provided further details, revealing private texts between the two women about Princess Charlotte’s dress being too big.

Harry also criticized his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, in his memoir. He accused his stepmother, Queen Camilla, of being cruel and claimed Charles failed to comfort him after Princess Diana’s death. William, in particular, remains deeply upset over how his wife has been treated and has reportedly refused to apologize or mend ties with Harry.

Following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, Harry made a brief visit to see his father, sparking speculation about a potential reconciliation. However, reports suggest William strongly opposed any return of Harry to royal duties, and Camilla was reportedly angered by Harry’s visit, viewing it as a PR move.

Despite these tensions, a royal expert claims the fallout with Harry and Meghan has strengthened the bond between King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton. Lady Colin Campbell stated that the four are now more united than ever, working together in the monarchy’s best interests. She also dismissed the possibility of Harry and Meghan regaining royal roles, describing it as “drinking poison from a chalice.”

Lady C further argued that Meghan harbors no regrets about leaving the royal family but is frustrated by her lack of success outside of it. She suggested that Meghan entered the monarchy expecting wealth and influence, which have not materialized as she had hoped.

While some may wonder if Harry and Meghan will ever reconcile with the royal family, for now, it seems unlikely.