In March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, sat down for an explosive interview with veteran talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey that will air Sunday on CBS. The royal pair broke with generations of tradition when they stepped away from “The Firm,” as the British monarchy is informally known, and announced they would forge their own professional paths across the pond.
Since their first public outing as a couple, Meghan and Harry have steadily made headlines, and not just for their very public wedding in 2018. Here’s a look at their most memorable moments so far — and some of the decisions that set them apart from typical royals.
An early outing
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were a couple in 2016. Here, they watch Wheelchair Tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada.
Sealed in wax
On November 27, 2017, the royal family announced that Prince Harry would marry Markle in the spring of 2018. Britain reacted accordingly. Here, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on display as wax figures at Madame Tussauds in London, May 9, 2018.
Ready the royal tchotchkes
Britain, and the world, got ready for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and American Meghan Markle with a slew of collectibles, plastering their faces on mugs and other objects.
Royal titles as gifts
Ahead of their wedding, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed new titles upon Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
They quickly made it clear that they would break from royal tradition in many ways; instead of mainly using children from the royal family as bridesmaids and page boys, the couple said those roles would be filled by the children of Meghan and Harry’s closest friends.
Breaking new ground
In marrying Harry, Meghan became the first woman of mixed-race heritage to join the royal family. Here, Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his new wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave from the West Door of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Keeping some tradition
In preparation for the wedding, in March 2018, Meghan was baptised and confirmed into the Church of England at St. James’s Palace. Although Markle was divorced, the Anglican Church has permitted marriage to divorcees since 2002.
Getting social
During their first official visit to Scotland, the couple stopped at the Social Bite, an Edinburgh cafe that supports the homeless, on February 13, 2018.
Breaking another tradition
This off-the-shoulder dress made news on June 9, 2018, when Harry and Meghan attended the annual Trooping The Colour celebration on the Mall in London.
According to some British outlets, such a “revealing” look is technically a no-no for royals.
Everybody on the balcony
This shot marks Meghan’s second appearance on the storied balcony at Buckingham Palace. The occasion: the centenary of the Royal Air Force on July 10, 2018 in London. Cramming onto the balcony along with them were Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who, technically, was on maternity leave.
First visit to Ireland
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, meet Walter Cullen, 3, during their visit to Dublin, Ireland on July 11, 2018.
Pulling back?
In August 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the wedding of Harry’s childhood friend, Charlie van Straubenzee, and Daisy Jenks.
Around that time, stress from relentless press coverage reportedly spurred the royal couple to pull back somewhat from the spotlight.
Greeting a cast
Meghan and Harry meet the cast and crew of “Hamilton” backstage after the gala performance at Victoria Palace Theatre on August 29, 2018, in London.
Meeting some kids
Two days after they announced Meghan’s first pregnancy, Meghan and Harry made this public appearance. Two children present the Prince and Duchess with local flowers at the Taronga Zoo on October 16, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. They received their first baby gifts while there.
Overseas travel
Harry and Meghan greet members of the public on October 18, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. During their tour of the country, they stayed in a Victorian regency manor, built in sandstone.
The baby bump is here
Meghan is seen holding her baby bump while she and Harry walk along a wharf in Kingfisher Bay on October 22, 2018, in Fraser Island, Australia.
Eggs and chicks
Harry and Meghan visit the National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs on October 31, 2018, in Rotorua, New Zealand. Perhaps fittingly, they met some newly hatched chicks.
Back home in London
In November 2018, the couple joined Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at a service marking the centenary of WWI armistice at Westminster Abbey.
A royal Christmas
This was Meghan’s second Christmas with the royals, but her first as a royal.
Here, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, in eastern England, on December 25, 2018.
A new year
The couple’s first public appearance of 2019 happened in Birkenhead, England, with Markle trading her usually dark clothes for something brighter.
Another trip to the theater
During the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem” at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, in London, the couple skipped the red carpet and went right to the show.
Off to Africa
Harry and Meghan are welcomed by officials as they arrive at Casablanca Airport on February 23, 2019, in Casablanca, Morocco.
Meeting another royal
Harry and Meghan arrive at the home of King Mohammed VI of Morocco ahead of an audience with him in Rabat on February 25, 2019.
“Super Meg”
Meghan and Harry drink from bowls as they visit a cooking demonstration from a foremost chef at the Villa des Ambassadors on February 25, 2019, in Rabat, Morocco.
“That’s ‘Super Meg’ for you-giving it her all,” a friend told Harper’s Bazaar at the time. “Her energy levels have never failed to impress me.”
Visiting a horse
Harry and Meghan pet a horse at the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports in Rabat on February 25, 2019.
An exotic garden
A cat joins Harry and Meghan in Morocco’s Andalusian Gardens, which has exotic plants, flowers and fruit trees.
Pregnant in London
Meghan and Harry attend a reception to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on March 5, 2019, in London.
Meeting a “Clean Bandit”
Meghan and Harry talk with British musician Grace Chatto, part of the group “Clean Bandit,” who performed during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 11, 2019.
Ready to go
Harry and Meghan leave after attending a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in central London, on March 11, 2019.
More baby gifts
Meghan and Harry are given baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Janice Charette at Canada House in London during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, on March 11, 2019.
Archie arrives
The Duchess of Sussex gave birth at 5:26 a.m. on May 6, 2019.
Here, they pose two days later with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Windsor Castle.
Back at work
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrive at Trooping The Colour, the Queen’s annual birthday parade, on June 8, 2019, in London.
Sharing a look
The pair arrives on the field prior to the start of a game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, on June 29, 2019.
With the Red Sox
Harry and Meghan join the Boston Red Sox in their Clubhouse and receive gifts for Archie ahead of their match against the New York Yankees at the London Stadium.
Charity polo, plus Archie, in Wokingham, England
Archie joined Harry and Meghan at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Match, in which Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Harry, Duke of Sussex, were competing for the Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Polo Trophy.
Another day, another premiere
Harry and Meghan attend “The Lion King” European premiere at Leicester Square on July 14, 2019, in London.
Famous friends
Meghan and Harry meet cast and crew, including Beyonce Knowles-Carter and her husband, Jay-Z, at the premiere.
Headed to South Africa
The royal couple set out for a tour of South Africa on September 23, 2019.
On their way to a museum
Meghan and Harry visit District 6 Museum on September 23, 2019, in Cape Town, South Africa. When asked where Archie was, the couple replied that the baby was sleeping.
Archie out and about
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, hold their baby son, Archie, as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town on September 25, 2019.
Meeting an icon
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and baby Archie, sit for tea and cake with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town, South Africa, on September 25, 2019.
Little onesie
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, view a gift for their son Archie as they attend the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Discussing the issues
The pair attends a round table discussion on gender equality at Windsor Castle on October 25, 2019.
Making waves in London
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back from many of their royal roles.
Here, the couple arrives at Canada House in London on January 7, 2020.
Outside Canada House
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave Canada House in London after a visit on January 7, 2020.
Soon to Megxit
On March 5, 2020, the pair attended the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London.
The couple soon entered a year-long trial separation from “The Firm.”
Still royal… sort of
The royal couple arrived at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020.
Winding down as royals
Harry and Meghan meet children at the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020, in London, England. Meghan’s final solo engagement as a royal happened two days earlier at a local school.
Pregnant again
On February 14, 2021, it was announced that Meghan was pregnant again.
