The Duke and Duchess of Sussex mark six years since quitting the Royal Family and the Express takes a look at 13 of their biggest bombshells since then.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reached a new milestone as today marks six years since their bombshell decision to quit the Royal Family. It was January 8, 2020, when Prince Harry and Meghan caused a media storm after announcing they would be stepping down as senior royals.

Following negotiations with the royals, the Sussexes carried out their last engagement in March of that year, when they attended the Commonwealth Day Service, before leaving the UK for good and unleashing a string of attacks against the Royal Family. Now, six years later, Harry and Meghan still reside in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but their once warm relationship with the Firm is frostier than ever.

Here, the Express takes a look at the biggest bombshells that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have dropped since their sensational departure in 2020.

1. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Winfrey interview

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s most significant revelation to date remains their infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harry and Meghan made a series of allegations against the Firm, which ranged from comments made on Prince Archie’s skin colour, the Duchess’s suicidal thoughts, how Princess Catherine made her cry instead of the opposite and the lack of support from the institution. The royals have never directly replied to any of those allegations; however, following the interview, which aired on March 7, Buckingham Palace released a short statement on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth, which read: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. 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. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members.”

(Image: Getty)

2. Harry & Meghan docuseries on Netflix

The next blow for the royals came a year later, when the Sussex couple released their explosive docuseries on Netflix, titled Harry & Meghan, on December 8. The six-episode series featured friends, family and acquaintances of the couple and followed their relationship from the early days of their courtship to their new life in the US following the royal exit. Harry and Meghan gave a rare glimpse into their life within the Royal Family, talking about how they were treated by the royals and how the Duchess was received, as well as the Duke’s rocky relationship with his brother. The series also showed rare clips of Archie and Lilibet. Neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace have ever commented on the series.

(Image: Netflix)

3. Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare

A few weeks after the Netflix docuseries was released, Harry’s explosive memoir, Spare, was published in January 2023. It contained fresh claims about the royals as he shared insights into his life behind palace walls, from his younger years to his new life in Montecito. Harry spoke about his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, a row between Meghan and Princess Catherine after a “baby brain” comment and made various comments about the royals, including King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales. The royals never commented on Harry’s accusations.

(Image: Getty)

4. Meghan Markle snubs King Charles’s Coronation

Meghan Markle raised eyebrows in May 2023 when she was notably absent from her father-in-law, King Charles’s Coronation. The Duchess reportedly decided not to attend after being unsatisfied with a reply she had previously received from the King. Meghan allegedly sent Charles a letter when he was the Prince of Wales, following the Oprah interview and told him about who made the remark about Archie’s skin colour. But according to The Telegraph, she was left unimpressed with his reply, and it became one of the reasons she did not make an appearance on his Coronation day.

(Image: Getty)

5. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dropped by Spotify

When Harry and Meghan quit the Firm in 2020, they signed a number of deals, including a lucrative one reportedly worth £18million with audio streaming giant Spotify. However, the couple were dealt a major blow when, in 2023, Spotify wanted to part ways. Harry and Meghan only produced one podcast show for Spotify, Archetypes, which ran for one season. A joint statement at the time said both sides had “mutually agreed to part ways”. Top Spotify podcast executive Bill Simmons blasted the couple, saying they only produced 12 episodes in two years and described the couple as “f****** grifters”, an Americanism for swindlers.

(Image: Express)