<p id=”par-1_47″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/”>Meghan Markle</a>’s journey from Hollywood actress to Duchess of Sussex has been anything but conventional. Since marrying Prince Harry in 2018, she has faced relentless scrutiny from both the press and the public. But is the controversy surrounding her justified, or has she become an easy target?</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-markle-is-both-fair-game-and-an-unfair-target”>Meghan Markle is both fair game and an unfair target</h2>
<p id=”par-2_37″>From the moment Meghan Markle entered the royal spotlight in 2017 as Prince Harry’s fiancee, media coverage has been relentless. Tabloid stories have ranged from critiques of personal family relationships to accusations of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/kate-middleton-and-meghan-markle-follow-strict-rules-when-it-comes-to-appearances-with-queen-elizabeth.html/”>breaking royal protocol</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-3_58″>In January 2020, <a href=”https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Buzzfeed</a> discussed the double standard Meghan faced in the media alongside Kate Middleton, Prince William’s wife. They compared everything from the women’s pregnancies (Kate holding her belly while pregnant was adorable while Meghan reportedly sought attention) to stories about their fashion choices, the way they held their children, and how they interacted with senior royals.</p>
<p id=”par-4_30″>It appeared Meghan would never do anything right while Kate, can’t do anything wrong. This perception continues as the royal women continue to be <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-just-proved-once-again-she-and-meghan-markle-are-held-to-different-standards-when-it-comes-to-royal-protocol.html/”>held to different standards</a> until today.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-markle-challenged-royal-expectations”>Meghan Markle challenged royal expectations</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/prince-harry-meghan-markle-kate-middleton-prince-william.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the first annual Royal Foundation Forum” class=”wp-image-3791014″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Prince William | Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_32″>Meghan Markle’s Hollywood background, independent career, and advocacy work set her apart from other royal family members. While these qualities endeared her to some, they also clashed with the traditional monarchy. </p>
<p id=”par-6_46″>Unlike royals who remain neutral on social and political issues, Meghan has openly discussed topics such as racial equality, women’s issues, politics, and mental health. This departure from the norm led some royal watchers to question whether Meghan ever intended to embrace royal life fully. </p>
<p id=”par-7_53″>It has been argued Meghan sought the prestige of a duchess title without adhering to the institution’s centuries-old customs. However, she also has her supporters, who believe Meghan was unfairly expected to conform to an outdated system even though other royal women, including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Kate Middleton, also did so.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-and-prince-harry-s-royal-exit-and-backlash”>Meghan and Prince Harry’s royal exit and backlash</h2>
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<iframe title=”Harry & Meghan | Official Teaser | Netflix” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1WJTwy8I7c?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-8_66″>In 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry announced their decision to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/meghan-markle-thought-royals-belittling-prince-harry-before-sussex-exit.html/”>exit their royal duties</a>, citing the relentless pressure from both the media and the royal family. Their move to the United States and their tell-all interviews—most notably with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and a Netflix tell-all <em>Harry & Meghan</em>—only fueled further backlash against Meghan, who was targeted by the media as the mastermind behind the controversy.</p>
<p id=”par-9_53″>On one hand, Meghan and Harry’s royal exit could be viewed as a bold step toward personal freedom and modernizing the royal family’s image. Others saw leaving royal life as a betrayal. They accused the couple of profiting from their royal status while distancing themselves from the responsibilities that come with it. </p>
<p id=”par-10_28″>The couple’s lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify have further divided public opinion. There have been questions regarding their criticism of the monarchy while still using royal titles.</p>
<p id=”par-11_47″>Meghan Markle remains a polarizing figure in the media. Her presence in the royal family challenged long-standing norms, sparking conversations about race, gender, and the role of modern royalty. While the debate over her intentions and impact continues, one thing is certain, her story is just beginning.</p>