In January 2020, amidst a storm of controversy, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made the bold decision to step down as senior working members of the Royal Family.
Despite this acrimonious departure, their full profiles remained prominently displayed alongside those of the rest of the royals—until this morning, that is. In a surprising turn of events, their pictures and biographies abruptly vanished from the official royal website.
Within the span of just thirty minutes, the once-prominent profiles were replaced with a significantly condensed joint biography tucked away at the bottom of the page, even below that of the Duke of York.
Previously, Harry's detailed biography chronicled his journey from being fifth in line to the throne as the younger son of King Charles and Princess Diana, to his notable work with the Invictus Games, children affected by HIV/AIDS, and various conservation efforts in Africa. His extensive contributions to mental health initiatives, including the Heads Together campaign alongside his parents, were also highlighted. Notably, there was a dedicated section underscoring his support for Queen Elizabeth during his tenure as a working royal, representing her at numerous events both domestically and abroad.
Meghan's individual profile, though slightly shorter, showcased her career as an actress and her charitable endeavors during her time within the royal fold. However, conspicuously absent from her biography was any mention of her family, including her estranged father, Thomas Markle. This omission, alongside the truncated nature of her profile, hinted at a subtle downgrading of their status within the royal ranks.
Now, however, the couple's once-separate narratives have been condensed into a mere 577 words in a joint biography. Harry's section barely touches on his upbringing and military career, while Meghan's mentions her acting career and briefly acknowledges her past patronages and titles as a working royal. This consolidation marks them as the only married members of the royal family without individual profiles on the official website.
In a perhaps less-than-subtle move, the royal website now features a photo of Meghan from her acting days in the hit show "Suits," specifically from the episode where her character admitted to infidelity. The choice of this particular image, titled "123 Go," carries a clear message, seemingly urging Meghan to move on. Additionally, Buckingham Palace has included a link to Harry and Meghan's new website, sus.com, redirecting visitors for information on their current endeavors—a move that highlights the couple's departure from traditional royal protocols.
