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We all remember the royal bombshell of 2020— Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepping down from royal duties . At the time, it was painted as a dramatic escape from media intrusion and family tension. But according to royal biographer Valentine Low , there’s more to the story than meets the eye— and it’s not just about privacy or palace politics that made Prince Harry and Meghan to leave their royal life behind in Britain.


In his book 'Courtiers', Low sheds light on what he claims is the real motivation behind the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s big royal exit: freedom, money, and brand-building.


According to the New York Post , Low writes that Harry and Meghan's desire for independence was deeply tied to their ambition— not just to live a quieter life in California, but to create their own global identity, get involved in causes they care about, and yes, to make serious money.


As Low puts it, Meghan “wanted to make money”— and doing that within the constraints of royal protocol was practically impossible. Royal rules don't exactly allow for side hustles, Netflix deals, or lifestyle brands. So, to pursue their own ventures, the couple had to break free.


While the couple initially floated the idea of a “hybrid” model— still performing select royal duties while earning independently— the Palace quickly shut that down. Queen Elizabeth II reportedly insisted that being royal was an all-or-nothing commitment. Half-in, half-out just didn’t fly.


And so, the Sussexes packed their bags and made California home, where they wasted no time in turning their post-royal lives into a business empire . In 2020, they reportedly signed a $100 million deal with Netflix and have since launched various projects, including Meghan’s podcast and her soon-to-launch lifestyle brand. It’s safe to say they’ve swapped palace gates for digital platforms.


And it’s not just business. There’s been plenty of buzz about their growing presence in U.S. political circles too. Meghan’s well-documented connections— like her rapport with President Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens— have often fueled speculation that politics could be on the horizon, especially for Meghan.


So, was it really just about press pressure and palace drama for Harry and Meghan to leave the British Royal family? Or was it a smart power move to step out of the shadow of the Crown and into a global spotlight of their own making?


Either way, one thing’s clear: Harry and Meghan didn’t just leave royalty— they rewrote the rulebook.