On May 19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked their sixth wedding anniversary — a milestone that feels a world away from the optimism of their royal union in 2018. Their wedding at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle was celebrated across the globe, hailed at the time as a modernizing moment for the monarchy. Alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Sussexes were once seen as the “future of the royal family.”

But in the years since, the picture has changed dramatically. What began as a rift between the brothers grew into a full-scale feud between Harry and Meghan and the wider royal institution. Today, the relationship remains at its lowest point, with experts openly questioning whether reconciliation is possible.

The Wedding That Captivated the World

Harry and Meghan’s May 2018 wedding was the most high-profile royal ceremony since William and Kate’s seven years earlier. While both were grand affairs, their differences reflected the distinct paths the two couples would later take.

Kate arrived with her father, Meghan with her mother — a poignant signal of her estrangement from Thomas Markle. The ceremonies themselves also contrasted: William and Kate’s was traditional and formal, while Harry and Meghan’s had a relaxed tone, highlighted by gospel music and personal touches.

The guest lists spoke volumes. William and Kate’s was filled with world leaders and dignitaries. Harry and Meghan’s, by contrast, drew Hollywood stars — including George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams. Some reports suggested certain A-list guests barely knew the couple, sparking questions about Meghan’s “celebrity court.”

Despite the glamour, cracks appeared quickly. Within days of the wedding, royal reporters noted tensions between Meghan and palace staff, as well as friction between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. By the time their son Archie was born in 2019, the couple was already questioning whether life inside “the Firm” could truly work.

Leaving the Royal Fold

In interviews since, Harry and Meghan have described how relentless media scrutiny and internal resistance pushed them to the breaking point. Meghan told The Cut that the couple had asked to relocate to another Commonwealth country, such as South Africa or Canada, while remaining part of the royal structure. The request was denied.

“Just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy,” Meghan explained. Their decision to step down and pursue independence was met with criticism from the press and disappointment from within the family.

Their final departure in 2020, captured in their Netflix docuseries, included what Harry called their “freedom flight” to California with Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and baby Archie. What followed was a reinvention: new careers in media, lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify, and a life in Montecito with Archie and their daughter, Lilibet.

Six Years On: Success, Strain, and Speculation

From the outside, Harry and Meghan appear settled. Meghan has launched her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, while Harry remains involved with Invictus and other projects. Their Nigeria trip earlier this year even carried the air of a quasi-royal tour, though it was billed as private.

Yet experts say the fairytale has its cracks. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward told The Sun that while the Sussexes’ life in California looks picture-perfect, public perception has soured. “We loved them for a while, and then we didn’t much anymore,” she said, adding that the couple had “let the Queen down” and are now viewed with pity in Harry’s homeland.

Historian Gareth Russell suggested the Sussexes may be forming “an alternative royal family,” but warned that such a move could draw even more scrutiny to their commercial ventures and public appearances.

As royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted, the couple remain unpredictable: “They can always do the unexpected.”

Six years after their Windsor wedding, Harry and Meghan’s story is far from settled. They are financially independent, publicly active, and still deeply polarizing. Whether their path leads to reconciliation with the royals — or toward building a permanent alternative identity of their own — remains one of the monarchy’s most compelling open questions.