Meghan Markle and Prince Harry decided to step down as senior royals to concentrate on their family and charities. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their withdrawal in January and they bowed out two months later.
Channel 5's latest documentary Meghan and Harry: The New Revelations reflects on Markle and Harry's side of the story as discussed in their unofficial biography Finding Freedom. Royal commentators believe the couple wasn't happy their "wings" were "clipped."
"Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were told they had to be brought within the confines of the Buckingham Palace machine. That was when they realized their wings were being clipped. This meant they weren't actually going to realize the stardom they had set themselves up to be," Russel Myers said.
According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, Markle may have been frustrated by "not being able to give her side of the story." The duchess received a lot of criticism after joining the royal family and she wanted to defend herself but was prohibited from doing so.
Markle discussed this in an appearance at a virtual gender and politics summit. She promised she would be more vocal after quitting royal life. She said earlier she knew what it was like to have a voice and yet be voiceless. Markle plans to use her voice in the U.S. election and encouraged everyone to vote.
Meanwhile, Markle and Harry have been pushing boundaries as they try to show a different side. According to royal author Hugo Vickers, the couple had "chosen to work outside the system." They are also "more concerned about promoting their own agendas than the interests of the monarchy."
Vickers said Princess Diana's "independent way" may have rubbed off on Harry and Markle. However, he warned that this never ends well.
Author Jeetendr Sehdev has said Harry and Markle's brand had always been disruptive. The writer of The Kim Kardashian Principle: Why Shameless Sells (and How to Do It Right) said before the couples' withdrawal they were just known as part of the royal family - but were now "letting people into who they are."
