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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were Meant to Be — See the Royal Couple’s Relationship Timeline

Throughout Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s relationship, the royal couple has embraced a plethora of changes. The Duke of Sussex and the former Suits actress married in May 2018, welcomed son Archie Harrison the following year, moved their family from the U.K. to California in 2020, and welcomed a second child.

Living in the spotlight was always difficult for Meghan, but she said the situation became almost unbearable after she gave birth to their first baby in May 2019. During a chat with ITV News at Ten anchor Tom Bradby months later in October, the former actress candidly opened up about how much she suffers from having to live every step of her life in the public eye.

“Especially as a woman it’s really — it’s a lot,” Meghan shared in the documentary titled Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. “So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom and trying to be a newlywed. … And also thank you for asking, because not many people will have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”

The brunette beauty also reluctantly responded, “Yes,” when Tom asked if it has been difficult adjusting to the royal life. “Look, any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable,” she continued. “And so that was made really challenging, and then, when you have a newborn, you know?”

Meghan’s struggles, on top of other personal issues for her and Harry, prompted the couple to announce their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family. The pair revealed their plan to split time between the U.K. and North America in a statement shared to their joint Instagram account in January 2020.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they announced in the lengthy caption. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”

Following the shocking news, Harry and Meghan were living a quiet life in Canada until they moved their family to Los Angeles in March 2020. The trio resided in the same city as Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, until they purchased a $14.7 million property in Santa Barbara in August 2020. “It’s beautiful and spacious, but not too over-the-top,” an insider told Closer Weekly about the couple’s new pad. No wonder Meg and Harry are happier than ever!

On Valentine’s Day 2021, the former royals revealed they were expecting baby No. 2 — and less than a month later, they announced they would be having a girl. On June 4, 2021, Meghan and Harry welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born in Santa Barbara, California.

Meghan and Harry brought their children to England in June 2022 for celebrations surrounding Queen Elizabeth‘s Platinum Jubilee, marking the former Suits star’s first time back in Britain since the couple officially ceased duties as working royals in March 2020. While they attended a service of Thanksgiving in the Queen’s honor among other royal family members, the pair held hands and continued to show off how deeply in love they are.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the royal couple’s ultimate relationship timeline.

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