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MEGHAN Markle is to blame for forcing Prince Harry to quit the UK, according to a royal expert.

Speaking on our first ever, legendary Sun photographer Arthur Edwards spoke about how he witnessed Harry change after dating the American actress.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020Credit: Getty
Sun photographer Arthur Edwards said 'everything changed' for Prince Harry after meeting Meghan Markle
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Sun photographer Arthur Edwards said 'everything changed' for Prince Harry after meeting Meghan MarkleCredit: Getty
Arthur Edwards and former Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond appeared on the Sun’s first Royal Exclusive live show
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Arthur Edwards and former Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond appeared on the Sun’s first Royal Exclusive live showCredit: David Dyson - The Sun

Arthur said that initially Meghan was “fantastic” and a huge asset for the royal family - but “suddenly everything changed.”

He told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “The first year with Meghan she was fantastic. I travelled everywhere with them.

“She was a star, engaging with the public, doing everything you'd expect a lady married into the royal family to do. 

“Then suddenly, everything changed.”

More on Meghan Markle

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond claimed on the show it was “rather short-sighted” how the Sussexes handled stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.

Matt said: “The problem was that Harry and Meghan were so impetuous they made that decision straight away.

“They posted on Instagram, didn't they, the very night they had decided it before they really discussed it with the Queen, they chucked it out there and said that they kind of made the decision that they were leaving.”

Arthur agreed: “There was no choice, he was going, wasn’t he?

“Meghan said ‘we are going’ and that was it.

“And as we say, he made that decision and disappeared. That was his choice.”

When Meghan had enough of royal life, we got Megxit - now it’s Harry’s turn to look fed up, her response is telling

The photographer said that decision was “fair enough”, but slammed the Sussexes for then “being really nasty about their family here, the pair of them, just to make money.”

Following stepped back from their royal duties, Prince Harry has released his bombshell Spare memoir, and the Sussexes debuted their Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary, which opened up about royal life.

Harry 'cut everyone dead'

The respected photographer recalled how Prince Harry “used to be so much fun” during public engagements, but this all changed following him dating Meghan.

He shared: “I remember when he met the Jamaican Prime Minister, instead of saying ‘hello ma'am, ‘pleased to meet you’ he just hugged her.

“And I said ‘what did you do that for’ and he said ‘because my father said she likes a hug so I thought I'd get in first’ and that's what he was like, it was so much fun.”

Prince Harry warmly greeting Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller
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Prince Harry warmly greeting Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-MillerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Prince Harry taking part in a Sport Relief Mile race wearing a mask of his brother William in Brazil
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Prince Harry taking part in a Sport Relief Mile race wearing a mask of his brother William in BrazilCredit: PA:Press Association

He added: “And then we went to Brazil and he playing football with the kids on the beach and he’s running a road race and as he finished the race he had a picture of William on his face.

“He was fun and he was surprising.

There was no choice, he was going, wasn’t he?
Meghan said ‘we are going’ and that was it

Arthur EdwardsSun royal photographer

“And he used to say ‘I'll do everything I can to make it good for you, and that's what shocked me when he just cut us all dead, that one time up in Manchester.

“I'll never forget and I was shocked and it was just the day he met Meghan or the day he fell in love with Meghan, and it's all changed since then.

“I feel sad about that because he was a fabulous person to work with.”

Watch the full debate now on The Sun's Royal Exclusive YouTube channel
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Watch the full debate now on The Sun's Royal Exclusive YouTube channelCredit: David Dyson - The Sun
Your pressing questions have been answered
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Your pressing questions have been answeredCredit: David Dyson - The Sun

Harry's UK plan

This comes as Prince Harry is said to be up for doing more work in the UK and has been reaching out to friends.

However, Arthur said he has his doubts as to whether life will be the same for the Sussexes if they do ventures across the pond from their £12million Californian home.

That's what shocked me when he just cut us all dead

Arthur EdwardsSun royal photographer

He added: “I don't think at the moment it's possible here.

“There's so much bad feeling with the book, the Oprah Winfrey interview, and some of the Netflix things they have in the pipeline, maybe that’s even more damaging. 

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“I don’t think she could turn up here with him and do a visit, she may do.”

Jennie added: “I don’t think she wants to.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California with Archie and Lilibet
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California with Archie and LilibetCredit: Getty

Megxit timeline

  • November 2016 - Harry formally reveals he is in a relationship with Suits actress Meghan Markle.
  • September 2017 - Meghan tells Vanity Fair the couple are in love and happy together.
  • September 2017 - The couple make their first public appearance together holding hands at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
  • November 2017 - Prince Charles issues a statement revealing Harry and Meghan are engaged.
  • May 2018 - Harry and Meghan tie the knot, becoming Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
  • October 2018 - The couple announce they are expecting their first child while on their first overseas tour in Australia.
  • March 2019 - Harry and Meghan set up their own household, splitting their joint operation with Prince William and Kate.
  • May 2019 - Meghan gives birth to a baby boy named Archie.
  • October 2019 - Harry reveals his rift with his brother William in a bombshell documentary.
  • January 2020 -  The couple stun the Queen by announcing plans to quit senior roles and settle in North America. After ten days of talks at Sandringham,  it's agreed the couple will no longer be working royals and will give up their "Royal Highness" titles.
  • March 2020 - Harry and Meghan carry out their last official engagement and move to California.
  • September 2020 - Netflix announces a huge deal with the couple.
  • February 2021 - Buckingham Palace announces the couple's split as working members of the monarchy is permanent and they will lose their royal patronages.
  • March 2021 - The palace says it is "very concerned" about allegations of bullying made by former staff of Harry and Meghan, launching a probe.
  • March 2021 - Meghan tells Oprah Winfrey Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born. She claims Kate "hurt her feelings" and made her cry before her wedding. Harry says Charles has stopped taking his calls and he has been "cut off" financially.
  • January 2023 - Harry publishes his tell-all memoir Spare, launching scathing attacks on William, Kate and Camilla. He says he and William once got into a physical fight over Meghan.
  • April 2023 - Harry has a "heart-to-heart" talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London.
  • September 2023 - Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
  • February 2024 - Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.
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