Things About Meghan Markle's Marriage That Seem A Little Sad

The Duchess of Sussex, a.k.a. Meghan Markle, appeared to step into a real-life fairy tale when she wed Prince Harry in May 2018. From the televised ceremony at Windsor Castle to the glamorous reception, it was an affair to remember, but shortly after the glitzy nuptials, public opinion began to shift against Markle, with many spreading rumors about the supposedly unhappy state of her union. It's safe to say much of the gossip is simply that — gossip, which has made the whole situation even more depressing. Imagine how it must feel to battle relationship rumors as newlyweds!  

That said, there could be some truth to some of the speculation surrounding the royal power couple. Just one example? Look no further than a telling conversation Markle had with musician Pharrell Williams at the European premiere of the live-action Lion King in July 2019. We won't reveal the details of the convo just yet, but let's just say her comments about married life were a bit forlorn. There's also been negative buzz about Markle's alleged issues with her in-laws, particularly grandfather-in-law Prince Philip and sister-in-law Kate Middleton, and constant scrutiny from the press. Not to mention the fact that the Sussexes announced they were stepping down as senior members of the royal family in January 2020.

We don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but we can't help but explore the things about Meghan Markle's marriage that seem a little sad. Ready to take a look? Let's unwrap the drama.

Meghan Markle has rarely given interviews after becoming a royal, so it's no surprise people hang on to her every word at public appearances. When the Duchess of Sussex attended the European premiere of The Lion King in July 2019, reporters paid close attention to her conversations with the cast. One such convo reportedly involved music producer Pharrell Williams. 

"So happy for your union. Love is amazing. It's wonderful. Don't ever take that for granted, but what it means in today's climate, I just wanted to tell you, it's so significant for so many of us. Seriously. It's significant. We cheer you guys on," he said, per ITV News. Markle thanked Pharrell, of course, but she didn't end the chat there. "They don't make it easy," she told him — a possible reference to the press and the public scrutinizing her every move. 

One Twitter user summed up the Duchess of Sussex's challenges in one tweet: "She's referring to the press and tabloids. The dog whistling, Piers Morgan verbally attacking her, and the nitpicking from commentators talking about 'breaking royal protocol' and let's not forget having to deal with threats and racist comments from trolls towards the couple." Let's hope things get a little easier for the royal rookie soon. 

Newlywed life is supposed to be a happy time, but this wasn't always the case for Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex was soon inundated with reports detailing her husband's alleged unhappiness. "Something has changed, and no one can quite put their finger on it," a source told People in December 2018. Prince Harry "looks cross with the world." Mind you, this report was published seven months after he wed Markle. Ouch!

The public has also scrutinized the couple's interactions at every event. Check out this observation, per a February 2019 piece in Woman's Day: "He [Prince Harry] was there in body but not in spirit. He wasn't as tactile as he usually is with Meghan, which was a surprise given they're usually hand-in-hand at all times. He's even stopped laughing and joking with photographers like he used to as well. Harry seems distant, like he has a lot on his mind." Dealing with the all-knowing tabloids sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

Every year in Great Britain, a military parade called the "Trooping of the Colour" takes place at the beginning of June. The affair is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth's birthday, despite the fact she was born in April. "Over 1,400 soldiers take part in the parade, more than 200 of them mounted on horses," reported ABC News. "Ten military bands, made up of roughly 400 musicians, perform the marching tunes." Translation: The event is a big deal, especially when the immediate royal family members gather on the palace balcony to watch planes flyover. All eyes are on the family during this time, which is why a supposedly icy exchange between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2019 parade did not go unnoticed. 

Rumor had it that the Duke of Sussex told Markle to "turn around" when she attempted to join in on his conversation. There was no audio recording of the exchange, but supposed lip readers who watched video of the moment were convinced that was what Prince Harry sternly uttered to his wife. Of course, it's possible Prince Harry didn't want his wife to receive flak for not appearing engaged during this prestigious event. Imagine the field day haters would have had if Markle appeared to be chatting during the ceremonial flyover. For the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, there may be no winning at this point.

Not only has Meghan Markle had to deal with unfortunate rumors about her and her husband, but she's also been subjected to stories detailing her supposed feuds with other members of the royal family. A June 2019 article in The Sunday Times accused Prince Philip of trying to talk Prince Harry out of marrying Markle in May 2018. The Duke of Sussex's grandfather allegedly said, "One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them" — a possible reference to her time starring on Suits. 

Then there's the case of Kate Middleton, Prince William's wife and Markle's alleged nemesis. Numerous reports have surfaced about animosity between the pair. One report even claimed that Markle flipped out on the Duchess of Cambridge during son Archie's July 2019 christening. "Kate was very upset after and was visibly shaken," a source alleged, per New Idea. "She knows Meghan is emotional at the moment and was taking everything out on her at the rehearsal, but it didn't make it any easier to take."

We're crossing our fingers that these are all just silly rumors that die down soon.

Meghan Markle rarely goes out solo, but when she does, it's often met with backlash. Case in point: Just a few months after Markle gave birth to her son, Archie, she received widespread criticism for an outfit she wore to a July 2019 Wimbledon match — jeans! The venue that hosts the event — the All England Club — supposedly has a "no jeans" policy, so Markle caused a bit of a stir when she showed up wearing blue jeans paired with a white blazer. Many were offended by her outfit choice or miffed that she was even allowed to attend the event! Consider this tweet: "@wimbledon sorry for the post but I have to ask why Meghan Markle was allowed into the royal box in 'JEANS' when other people have been refused just for not wearing a tie???? Double standards."

But wait — that's not all. Markle also received some heat for reportedly having her team enforce a no-photos policy. According to Sally Jones writing for The Telegraph: "Team Sussex's demands for ever more privacy are alienating even committed monarchists like me."

Markle apparently couldn't do anything right, which was a sad situation considering she was a new mom in a foreign land. 

In an especially unfair twist, Meghan Markle is seemingly blamed for everything, even when it comes to her husband's friendships. Want some proof? Look no further than the accusation that Markle was responsible for "pushing out" Prince Harry's pals. 

According to television personality Lizzie Cundy (via the Daily Express): "One thing I have heard is, because I'm friends with a lot of Harry's friends — one is a very close friend — is that she has pushed them all out." Cundy claimed that the duchess is "ruling the roost. This friend, I won't name him, he had Harry on his shoulders in Las Vegas when he got into that trouble. He was a really good, solid friend — covered for him, everything — he has been elbowed right out." Of course, we're going to take this report with a major grain of salt, but if this story had any truth to it, we assume Prince Harry had a say in it — he is his own person, after all. 

When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed in May 2018, they were gifted Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence near Windsor Castle. Similarly to other old buildings (it was built in 1801), it needed updates before the couple was able to call it home. In total, it took about $3 million of taxpayer money to renovate the property — a big sum at first glance. The couple personally paid for the interior furnishings, however, with a source telling People: "All fixtures and fittings were paid for by their Royal Highnesses. Curtains, furnishings — all that would be paid separately, paid privately."

As one might expect, the price tag on those renovations inspired many dissatisfied reactions. "It's disgusting," one critic tweeted, while another called the couple "sponging wasters." What's interesting? Kate Middleton and Prince William reportedly spent roughly $5 million converting offices into an apartment for them, and although articles were written about the costs, the chatter wasn't as negative. Hmm. Is it possible Markle and Prince Harry were facing a double-standard? We can't help but wonder.

It's probably safe to say Meghan Markle couldn't have anticipated just how different life would be across the pond, despite getting a glimpse of it before she and Prince Harry said "I do" in May 2018. According to one source, the Duchess of Sussex was "miserable" with her new life. "Meghan made a huge sacrifice by moving across the pond, away from her mom and friends," the source told Us Weekly. "Marrying into the royal family isn't anywhere near as glamorous as it seems, so in a lot of ways Harry feels responsible for Meghan being so miserable."

Apparently, Markle's so-called struggle revolved around her inability to speak out or clap back when things got rough. "She's always relied on her own voice to stand up for others, and for herself," a source told Us Weekly. "So not being able to say anything is a debilitating feeling. She's always been so independent, her entire life, and that's all been taken away from her. She's always been able to clap back on social media and now she can't."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had to combat an odd rumor when, in July 2019, its team was accused of delivering a list of rules to their neighbors around Frogmore Cottage. The list reportedly instructed neighbors not to ask about baby Archie, not to pet the couple's dog, and not to initiate conversations with the famous couple, according to The Sun. "It's extraordinary. We've never heard anything like it," said one neighbor. "Everyone who lives on the estate works for the royals and knows how to behave respectfully. We aren't told how to behave around the Queen like this. She's very happy for people to greet her."

Unsurprisingly, the report sparked lots of criticism against the duo, but as it turned out, the controversial list apparently had nothing to do with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's personal requests. "A well-intentioned member of estate staff offered guidance at a community meeting," a palace official told the Daily Mail. "Neither the couple or their household made any such request." See? This is just one example of the nonsense these two have had to deal with on a daily basis.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for Meghan Markle, some haters have criticized her parenting skills. Just two months after the Duchess of Sussex welcomed son Archie into the world, Markle was slammed for how she held the little guy. It all started when Markle brought Archie to a polo match — one of his first public outings. Although it should have been a fun day full of laughter and cheer, the new mom received countless negative comments about her supposed lack of skill handling a newborn.

"She is clearly struggling and not yet familiar with the best way to hold a baby that is covered by a blanket," tweeted one critic. "Her hand position is also awkwardly placed." Making matters even worse, another commenter referred to Markle as a "sociopath." Ugh. Can we just not, guys? It's safe to say this wasn't the only time Markle would be be mom-shamed, which is a sad reality. Hang in there, mama. We can only hope that with the so-called "Megxit" in the works, as of this writing, that this family of three will get some much-needed privacy.