It was January 8, 2020 when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping down as senior members of Britain's royal family.
The move wasn’t perhaps quite as shocking as the British tabloids, which went into collective meltdown over the news, made out.
As far back as 2016, Prince Harry had indicated feelings of discontent, particularly with the treatment of his then-girlfriend at the hands of the media.
In November that year, Kensington Palace released a statement, saying: “[Harry’s] girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public – the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.”
And the couple followed up in April 2020 by writing to the editors of UK publications The Mail Online, The Mirror, The Express and The Sun, stating they would no longer work with them or allow them access to their schedules and tours.
“It is gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media, over many years, has sought to insulate themselves from taking accountability for what they say or print – even when they know it to be distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason,” the statement said.
After announcing their intent to step down in January, the couple officially parted ways with The Firm on March 31, 2020.
Here are some key events that have taken place in the past year.
Blindsided Palace scrambles over ‘complicated’ split
Taking to Instagram on January 8, 2020, Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, announced they were stepping down as senior royals, saying the decision had come “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”.
“We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they said, insisting that despite quitting the UK for North America, they were “continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages.”
However, it was believed that Queen Elizabeth II and other royals had not been expecting the announcement and were left blindsided by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s statement.
This led to Buckingham Palace rushing out its own statement the following day, declaring: “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
“I think it indicates a real strength of feeling in the palace tonight – maybe not so much about what has been done, but about how it has been done – and the lack of consultation I think will sting,” said BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.
From Canada to California
One month after their announcement, the pair were ordered to cease using the title “royal”, meaning they had to rebrand their SussexRoyal Instagram and rethink a host of initiatives under the name.
The pair, along with baby Archie, then moved to Canada in March 2020, opting to stay at a private residence on Vancouver Island, while diplomats from both Britain and Canada fought over who would be footing their security bill.
However, less than one month later, the couple quit the Commonwealth country for Los Angeles, holing up at the mansion of Hollywood actor and producer Tyler Perry. They then snapped up a nine-bedroom $14.7 million home in Santa Barbara, California, which Prince Charles is said to have helped them buy.
"They were always heading to LA, that was the master plan," Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, Katie Nicholl, said. "Meghan wants to be near her mum, which is understandable at this time, and they clearly have projects in the pipeline and wanted to get to LA as quickly as possible."
$135 million in endorsement deals and charity work
Before they quit the British royal family, together, Meghan and Harry were said to be worth around $30 million, with Harry bringing $25 million from his inheritance from Princess Diana and an annual allowance from Prince Charles.
The pair’s first step towards financial independence came in the form of a deal with streaming giant Netflix, which they signed in September 2020. Rumoured to be worth around $100 million, in a statement, the couple said: “Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.”
In between taking on new charitable endeavours for LA's baby2baby, as well as delivering food to vulnerable people during the height of the pandemic, the duke and duchess also signed a deal with Swedish audio streamer, Spotify, said to be worth $35 million.
Harry said the purpose of the podcasts and interviews he and Meghan will be releasing through their Archewell Audio concept will be “to bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you haven't heard before and find our common ground.”
Their first podcast, released at the end of last year, featured Elton John, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Tyler Perry and more, talking about the effect the pandemic had had upon their lives.
Paying back renovation costs
One criticism the couple drew when stepping down was the wasted cost of renovating Frogmore Cottage, their Windsor Castle residence, which had been revitalised in 2019.
In September 2020, Prince Harry repaid the £2.4 million in British taxpayers’ money that was used to renovate the property before he and Meghan moved to California.
Harry made a contribution to the Sovereign Grant, the public money that goes to the royal family, a spokesman for the couple said, adding that the donation “fully covered the necessary renovation costs".
The spokesman said Frogmore Cottage would remain the home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they visit the UK.
Developing their foundation
With charity at the heart of Harry and Meghan’s work, the pair have been busy building their Archewell Foundation, which they established after leaving the royal family.
Recently posting an open letter to the site, the couple wrote: “Together, we can choose courage, healing, and connection. Together, we can choose to put compassion in action. We invite you to join us. As we work to build a better world, one act of compassion at a time.”
Harry also shared a photo of himself as a child with his mother, Diana, while Meghan shared a sweet snap of herself with her mum, Doria. The Foundation has already entered into partnerships with the Centre for Humane Technology and the World Central Kitchen, among others, while the audio and studio arms focus on their various productions.
“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” said Harry in a speech shortly after the news about Megxit broke. “It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
And with foundations and institutes clamouring to work with Archewell, and a continued stream of Spotify podcasts and Netflix shows on the horizon for this year, the general feeling in both the worlds of business and philanthropy is that Harry and Meghan’s brand will go from strength to strength in 2021.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
More coverage from the Future Forum
More on Quran memorisation:
More on Quran memorisation:
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RIVER%20SPIRIT
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
More on animal trafficking
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The five pillars of Islam
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
