Was Meghan Markle making a big sacrifice by giving up her past life when she married Prince Harry? The Duchess of Sussex had to quit her job as an actress and her life in Hollywood, and according to one of Prince Harry's closest friends, Nacho Figueras, she had to "give up everything" just to be with the man she loves.
Figueras was defending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex amid their recent move against the press, where Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan lodged legal action against three news outlets. The duke said in a statement that he could not sit by and watch the British media bully his wife, thus the lawsuits.
Critics, however, said that Duchess Meghan didn't give up a lot to be with Prince Harry. She wasn't a big star with a lucrative career in Hollywood when she met her future husband. She also didn't have a family to miss when she had to uproot her life to London.
A royal observer said on Twitter that Duchess Meghan "embark[ed] on her social-climbing to a greater extent" by marrying Prince Harry. She didn't have to give up something greater for this privileged life she now enjoys.
However, a defender of Duchess Meghan pointed out that the Suits actress lost her "freedom and privacy" when she married Prince Harry. Those things are too extreme ever to give up.
Meanwhile, a royal insider revealed to People that Prince Harry was "protecting his nest" when he and Duchess Meghan filed a lawsuit against the Daily Mail for publishing contents of the letter addressed to Thomas Markle, the duchess' estranged father. The insider said that Prince Harry is always looking for ways to protect his wife and child, and this legal action was his best choice.
Prince Harry said in his statement that he fears history repeating itself with the press attacking his wife. He compared this to how his mother, Princess Diana, was commoditized in the media.
Royal experts, however, think that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's lawsuit were ill-timed because they had just been on their South African tour. The worry was that the legal controversy could overshadow whatever success they have achieved during the tour. Per royal historian Robert Lacey, the lawsuits could sabotage whatever good things they have accomplished.
Prince Harry, reportedly, didn't seek advice from senior royal aides, Prince Charles and Prince William, before making the statements. The Queen, however, was notified of his plans to announce they were suing some news outlets.
