Harry and Meghan: From royal romance to palace rift

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This wasn’t how the fairytale was supposed to play out. The beloved bachelor prince had finally found his perfect match, culminating in an elegant, star-studded castle wedding. Less than three years on, the intensifying row between the Sussexes and Britain’s royal family has captivated the globe. Never before have we seen the monarchy machinery exposed quite so publicly.

Sparring statements, incendiary quotes from unnamed sources and emotive teasers for the couple’s imminent Oprah Winfrey TV interview have only added fuel to the fire, making the family’s latest crisis worthy of a plotline in a future season of “The Crown.”

Harry and Meghan’s decision to write their own story has been praised by some and denounced by others. And while the pair are unlikely to attack specific family members in Sunday’s broadcast, the duo are now free from the shackles of royal protocols to disclose what led to their momentous departure.

So, how did it all go so horribly wrong? CNN looks back at the warning signs of trouble brewing between the Duke and Duchess and the rest of the royals.

July 2016 – A whirlwind relationship

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Endeavour Fund Awards in London in March 2020.

Harry and Meghan embrace at a polo match in May 2017. They were introduced by mutual friends in 2016.

Meghan and Harry made their first public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September 2017.

Meghan flashed her engagement ring to reporters during a November 2017 photo call. The ring, designed by Harry, featured a large diamond from Botswana and two smaller outer diamonds from the personal collection of Harry's late mother.

This engagement photo was released by Kensington Palace.

The couple meets well-wishers during an appearance in London in January 2018.

Harry and Meghan join Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, during a Royal Foundation Forum in February 2018.

The couple watches Coach Core apprentices take part in a training exercise in Birmingham, England, in March 2018. The Coach Core apprenticeship scheme was designed by the Royal Foundation to train young people to become sports coaches and mentors within their communities.

Markle walks down the aisle of St. George's Chapel during her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. She was unescorted in what was an unprecedented step for a royal bride in the United Kingdom. Her father was unable to attend the wedding because of health concerns.

Just after getting married, the newlyweds wave during their carriage procession in Windsor, England. Zoom in for a closer look.

The couple poses with family members after getting married in May 2018.

Meghan and Harry attend the Royal Ascot horse races in June 2018.

Members of the royal family watch a flyover during a July 2018 event marking the centenary of the Royal Air Force. From left are Prince Charles; Prince Andrew; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Queen Elizabeth II; Meghan; Harry; Prince William; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Meghan and Harry pose with the cast and crew of the musical "Hamilton" after a performance in London in August 2018. Harry gave those in the theater something to remember after breaking into mock-song at the end of the show. The show was held to raise money for his HIV charity, Sentebale.

The couple talks to members of OneWave, an awareness group for mental health and well-being, in Sydney in October 2018.

Meghan and Harry cheer on sailors during the Invictus Games in Australia in October 2018.

Meghan and Harry attend a Christmas Day church service in December 2018. With them, from left, are Prince Charles; Prince William; and William's wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. Harry and William are the two sons of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.

Meghan and Harry walk past tapestries during a visit to Rabat, Morocco, in February 2019.

Queen Elizabeth II looks at her new great-grandchild, Archie, in May 2019. Prince Philip is on the far left. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, is next to her at right.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone presents the couple with a jersey for Archie before a Major League Baseball game in London in June 2019.

Harry and Meghan greet singer Beyoncé and her husband, rapper Jay-Z, as they attend the European premiere of the film "The Lion King" in July 2019.

Meghan holds Archie during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019.

Harry and Meghan dance during the South African tour.

Harry and Meghan shared this image in February 2021 to accompany the announcement that they were expecting their second child. Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on June 4, 2021.

Meghan celebrates her son's first birthday with a reading of the children's book "Duck! Rabbit!" in May 2020. In a video posted online -- and filmed by her husband -- Meghan read to Archie from the popular book and encouraged fans to donate to a number of causes aimed at helping young people.

The couple attends the annual Festival of Remembrance in November 2019.

Meghan and Harry visit a community center in Windsor, England, in November 2019.

Meghan and Harry visit the Canada House in London in January 2020. The couple announced the next day that they would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.

Harry and Meghan attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at London's Westminster Abbey in March 2020. This marked the couple's final engagement as senior members of the royal family.

Harry and Meghan give an interview to Oprah Winfrey that aired in the United States in March 2021. It was their first sit-down appearance since leaving Britain. Meghan described herself as the victim of an image-obsessed Buckingham Palace, which weighed in on everything from how dark her son Archie's skin color would be to how often she went to lunch with friends.

Harry and Meghan depart St Paul's Cathedral in London after attending a service honoring Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022. They flew in from the United States to attend the Queen's jubilee celebrations, and they were warmly welcomed by a crowd outside the service.

Harry and Meghan are joined by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, as they greet crowds outside Windsor Castle and view floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The appearance was a surprise, not announced in advance. Screams erupted from royal fans as the four emerged, with many hoping the Queen's death would pave the way for a reconciliation between the brothers, whose tension is well-known.

Harry and Meghan are behind King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, during the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II.

Meghan and Harry laugh while on stage at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala, which was held in New York in December 2022.

Netflix released a documentary series, "Harry & Meghan," in December 2022. In the series, the couple defended their decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.

In pictures: Harry and Meghan's royal romance

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