The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have displayed various tell-tale signs over the past year that they have long been looking to quit as senior royals.
Rumours of a rift between Prince Harry and his brother William first emerged last March when he and Meghan split from Kensington Palace to form Sussex Royal.
They also launched their own Instagram account in April, trademarked more than 100 products with their name in June and employed a new PR firm in September.
Meghan also revealed her struggles with royal life in an ITV documentary filmed in Africa last October, and they spent Christmas in Canada away from the royals.
In addition, the couple decided not to announce their newborn child Archie’s godparents after his christening last July in a break with royal tradition.
And last week, a portrait of the Queen with the next three heirs to the throne – Charles, William and George – was released, with no sign of Harry in the picture.
Here is a timeline of their past year as they said last night they will step back from royal duties and split their time between the UK and North America from now on:
February 2019 – Meghan makes a surprise trip to New York where she enjoys a two-day baby shower with close friends including Serena Williams and Amal Clooney.
March 14 – Rumours of a rift between Harry and William emerge after the Sussex’s split from Kensington Palace to form their own royal household.
April 2: Harry and Meghan launch their own Instagram account, saying it will be used for ‘important announcements’ and for sharing the work that ‘drives’ them. The account now has more than ten million followers.
Prince Harry and Meghan launched their own Instagram account on April 2 last year
April 4 – The couple move into Frogmore Cottage following taxpayer-funded renovations that reportedly cost around £2.4million.
The couple moved into Frogmore Cottage in April (pictured that month) following taxpayer-funded renovations
May 6 – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is born at the Portland Hospital in London after Meghan goes into labour in the early hours of the morning. It is a break from tradition with previous royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who have previously visited the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London to give birth.
May 8 – The duke and duchess present baby Archie to the world at a press briefing at St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. The couple later reveal they chose not to use the courtesy title Earl Dumbarton, which Archie was allowed to use, nor to style him Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, opting for plain ‘Master’ instead.
Harry and Meghan present baby Archie to the world at a press briefing at St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8 last year
July 7 – Archie is christened at an intimate ceremony attended by close family. Royal baptisms are traditionally private but Harry and Meghan went one step further by going against convention and deciding not to announce Archie’s godparents, with the couple facing criticism from some quarters.
A christening photograph shows Harry and Meghan with their son Archie and (left to right) Camilla, Prince Charles, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Prince William and Kate in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle last July
June 20 – Harry and Meghan confirm they are splitting from the Royal Foundation charity with William and Kate to start their own initiative, Sussex Royal. It is later revealed it will officially launch in 2020.
June 21: Harry and Meghan issue a trademark application for their Sussex Royal brand on more than 100 items, from hats to T-shirts and newspapers to gloves, as they appear intent on turning their brand into a global empire. The news is first revealed by the Daily Mail in late December 2019.
Documents published by the Intellectual Property Office show the trademark applications made by Sussex Royal last June
July 28 – It is announced Meghan is guest editing the September issue of British Vogue and she chooses to put the faces of 15 ‘changemakers’ – including activists, politicians and artists – on the cover rather than herself. Prince Harry also interviewed anthropologist Dr Jane Goodall and tells her he will only have two children for the sake of the planet.
Prince Harry interviewed anthropologist Dr Jane Goodall for British Vogue last July and told her he will only have two children for the sake of the planet.
August – The couple are heavily criticised in the press for using private jets to go on holiday with Archie to the south of France. In September, Harry defends the use of the transport and claims it was to ‘ensure their safety’.
September 3: Meghan hires top crisis PR firm Sunshine Sachs which once represented Harvey Weinstein in a bid to improve her public image following a series of damaging controversies.
September 23 – Harry and Meghan take Archie on a two-week Royal Tour of South Africa, while the duke also visits Botswana, Malawi and Angola alone. In Angola, Harry visits a minefield where his mother was pictured walking through 22 years previously while on charity work to call for an end to landmines.
Harry, Meghan and their baby son Archie in Cape Town, South Africa, on September 25, 2019
October 1 – Prince Harry issues a statement criticising the press for its coverage of his wife and confirm they will take legal action against a newspaper over a story.
October 21 – Meghan reveals her struggles with royal life in an ITV documentary filmed during the duke and duchess’s trip to Africa and says ‘It’s not enough to just survive something… You’ve got to thrive.’ In the same programme, Harry reveals he and brother William are on ‘different paths’.
November 14 – The duke and duchess confirm they will not spend Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal Family. It is later announced they are taking a six-week break and they spend the holidays in Canada.
December 31 – Harry and Meghan share a picture of the Prince holding Archie while standing by a lake in what is thought to be their Canadian Christmas hideaway of Vancouver Island. They accompanied the post with a message saying: ‘Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and thanking you for your continued support!’
The Duke of Sussex holding his son son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in Canada in December
January 3, 2020 – A portrait of the Queen with the next three heirs to the throne – Charles, William and George – is released by Buckingham Palace, with no sign of Prince Harry in the picture.
The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George pose on December 18 in a photograph to mark the start of the new decade in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace
January 7 – Harry and Meghan return from their break and visit Canada House in London to thank the country’s High Commissioner for the hospitality they received.
Prince Harry and Meghan smile during a visit to Canada House in London on Tuesday
January 8 – The duke and duchess announce in a statement released by Buckingham Palace they are stepping back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and are ‘working to become financially independent’. They also reveal they will split their time between the UK and North America.