Meghan Markle's Emotional Farewell: Her Tearful Response Revealed

More than four years ago, in a move that seemed straight out of a Netflix drama, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a *daring* announcement that left the world reeling. They were stepping back from royal duties—yes, you heard that right. The couple decided to trade in their tiaras and royal engagements for, well, something much less stuffy. It was almost as if they were saying, "We’d like to opt out of this royal circus, please." After months of whispers and speculation that painted a picture less *Cinderella* and more *The Real Housewives of Windsor,* the stage was set for their grand exit from the royal scene—and from the UK altogether.

But before they could hop on a plane to their new lives, Meghan had some last-minute royal engagements to wrap up. And if her last solo outing was any indicator, the occasion was not without its teary moments. During a heartfelt speech at a private meeting with the Association of Commonwealth Universities scholars, she delivered a poignant farewell that included seven soul-stirring words: “It didn’t have to be this way.”

Omid Scobie, a journalist who was lucky enough to be invited, later described the scene in the book he co-authored. Picture it: Meghan hugging Scobie and uttering those words like a punchline that wasn’t quite funny, yet somehow encapsulated all the sadness and simplicity of the situation. “Staff who had been with the couple from day one were mourning the end of what was supposed to be a happy story,” he wrote. The kind of story where two star-crossed lovers fall in love, get married, have a baby, and serve the Queen—roll credits! Instead, they were packing their bags and leaving the country. This left a bitter aftertaste, like that last sip of lukewarm tea.

Harry's last royal hurrah with Meghan came during the 2020 Commonwealth Day service. Imagine the tension in Westminster Abbey—family squabbles playing out like the most awkward family reunion you’ve ever attended. Harry later reflected on the nerves that wrapped around him like a Victorian corset: “We were nervous seeing the family because all the TV cameras and everybody watching at home and in the audience.” He painted a picture of his family life like a soap opera, only this one had far fewer happy endings and a lot more cold shoulders. “I felt really distant from the rest of my family,” he confessed, a statement that left many nodding in sympathetic understanding. “It looked cold. But it also felt cold.”

In the grand tapestry of royal narratives, this saga—filled with love, heartbreak, and what-should-have-beens—felt like a masterclass in dramatic irony. The audience couldn’t help but watch, captivated by the rollercoaster of emotions, as Harry and Meghan tucked away their dreams of royal bliss and opted for something a tad less *royal*, but perhaps a bit more authentic.