Meghan Markle Criticizes ‘Silly’ Royal Rule She Was Forced to Follow

Meghan Markle did not hold back when she talked about the “silly” rules she had to follow as a senior royal, and honestly, it sounds exhausting just hearing it.

After marrying Prince Harry in 2018, they stepped down in 2020, but the damage was already done. In a recent interview, Meghan described feeling pushed into being “inauthentic,” stuck performing a version of herself that did not match who she was, even as she tried to find her voice. And it gets worse, because she also admitted there was a stretch where she and Harry were away from their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for nearly three weeks, saying she “was… not well.”

That combo, rigid royal expectations and painful time away from Archie and Lilibet, is where her frustration really lands. Samir Hussein

Before the “silly” rule talk, Meghan was already describing how those years with Harry forced her to question what counted as being herself.</p>

Finding Her Own Voice

Meghan and Prince Harry first went public with their relationship in 2016, married in 2018, and stepped down as senior royals in 2020. She said those years taught her a lot about self-expression and how important it is to embrace authenticity.

“Of course, I have had different chapters in my life. But right now, I don’t feel I need to prove anything,” Meghan told Chang.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals back in 2020

Max Mumby/Indigo

Then she dropped the gut punch detail about almost three weeks apart from Archie and Lilibet, which many connect to the chaos around Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.</p>

Separation From Her Children

In the interview, Meghan also spoke candidly about a difficult period when she and Harry were away from their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for nearly three weeks.

“The longest I went without being around our kids was almost three weeks. I was… not well,” she admitted.

Though she did not specify when this separation occurred, many believe she was referring to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022, when she and Harry returned to the UK and remained for the mourning period.

In his memoir Spare, Harry also recalled the relief of returning to California after the funeral, writing that the couple “couldn’t let them [Archie and Lilibet] out of their sight” once reunited.

This is similar to the 70-year-old man whose mattress alerted him to a major heart condition, before it was too late, in this mattress discovery.

The Duchess of Sussex opened up about adjusting to royal life in a new interview

YouTube/Bloomberg Originals

And once they returned to California, Harry’s memoir even frames that relief as something they could not ignore, because they “couldn’t let them out of their sight.”</p>

Meghan Markle's experiences as a senior royal illuminate the complexities of adapting to new roles, particularly in the context of the British monarchy's rigid traditions. Her recent comments about feeling “inauthentic” reflect a profound struggle with the expectations placed upon her. The article details how these archaic customs, which she labels as “silly,” contributed to her sense of disconnection from her true self. This highlights a broader issue many face when navigating significant lifestyle changes; the pressure to conform can often overshadow personal identity. Meghan's candidness about these challenges invites a deeper examination of how such expectations can impact an individual's sense of self within the constraints of royal life.

A Life Beyond Royal Expectations

Since leaving their roles as working royals, Meghan and Harry have focused on building independent projects, from their Netflix series to philanthropic work through the Archewell Foundation. Her latest comments reflect an ongoing theme of reclaiming her identity after years of navigating the strict expectations of the monarchy.

So when Meghan calls the royal expectations “silly” and admits she felt “inauthentic,” it reads less like drama and more like a breaking point.</p>

Meghan Markle's revelations about the pressures of royal life highlight a profound issue affecting mental health. The stringent traditions and expectations she encountered often left her feeling “inauthentic,” echoing the findings of research that indicates that such societal pressures can lead to heightened stress and depression. Her willingness to share her struggles not only illuminates her personal experience but also serves as a poignant reminder of the psychological toll that rigid roles and expectations can exact on individuals, particularly in high-profile positions like hers in the royal family.

Meghan Markle's insights into her struggles with royal life reveal the complex interplay between personal identity and societal expectations. The traditions she found “silly” illustrate the profound impact of culture shock on mental well-being, particularly in high-pressure environments like the British monarchy. Her feelings of inauthenticity resonate with anyone who has navigated the challenges of role transition, highlighting how societal pressures can exacerbate anxiety and uncertainty. By sharing her journey, Markle sheds light on the often invisible psychological toll that accompanies such dramatic changes in life circumstances, inviting a broader conversation about the mental health implications of conforming to rigid norms.

Nobody should have to choose between being authentic and being a good parent, but Meghan Markle says she was asked to do exactly that.

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