Prince Harry and Meghan’s Six-Year California Journey and Royal Issues
Timeline of Key Events and Royal Family Challenges
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will soon move back to Britain after six years of living in the U.S.
Below is a timeline charting the family's issues since 2020.
2020: Stepping Down and Relocation
2020
January: Stepping Down as Working Royals
January - Harry and Meghan announce they are to step down as working royals.
June: Move to California
June - The couple moves to Meghan's native California.
2021: Revelations and Family Statements
2021
March: Oprah Winfrey Interview
March - Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on CBS. Meghan says a member of the royal family had made a racist comment and she had been pushed to the point of considering suicide, while Harry reveals King Charles no longer takes his calls.
Royal Response
The late Queen Elizabeth issues a statement in response. "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately," the statement says.
June: Birth of Lilibet
June - The couple's second child, a daughter, Lilibet, is born. Lilibet is a family nickname for Elizabeth.
2022: Legal Battles and Loss
2022
August: Security Lawsuit
August - Harry files a lawsuit against Britain's Home Office and the Metropolitan Police over his security arrangements in the UK since he stepped down as a working royal.
September: Queen Elizabeth's Passing
September - While Harry and Meghan were in London on a visit, Queen Elizabeth dies. They stay in Britain for her funeral.
2023: Memoir and Coronation
2023
January: Publication of "Spare"
January - Harry publishes his memoir "Spare," detailing his relationship with his family.
Notable Revelations
Among the most notable revelations, Harry says his brother William, now heir to the British throne, knocked him to the floor during a 2019 argument at his London home over Meghan. William called Meghan "difficult," "rude" and "abrasive," Harry writes. He also says he and Prince William had asked their father not to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now Britain's queen.
May: Coronation of King Charles
May - Harry attends his father's coronation without Meghan. He does not sit with other senior royals.
2024: Health Challenges in the Royal Family
2024
February: King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis
February - Buckingham Palace announces King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment.
Harry is photographed arriving at his father's London residence for a brief meeting.
March: Kate's Preventative Chemotherapy
March - Kate, William's wife, says she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
2025: Security Appeals and Calls for Reconciliation
2025
April: Appeal Over Police Protection
April - At an appeal over the changes to his police protection, Harry's lawyer warns his "life is at stake."
May: Legal Challenge Outcome
May 2 - Harry loses his legal challenge over his security arrangements.
Desire for Reconciliation
Later that same day, he says he wants reconciliation with the British royal family, explaining that his father King Charles no longer speaks to him due to the security row, adding he does not know how long the monarch has left to live.
2026: Planned Return to Britain
2026
August: Family Move and School Plans
August - The couple plan to move with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, from California to Britain for an extended period. The children will begin school there in September, but the couple will not return to royal duties, according to media reports.
(Compiled by Sarah Young and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
