A marriage can't really work without support — and that support needs to come from within. Fortunately for their relationship, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry support each other all the time in all ways. They have a very "it's us against the world" attitude, which can seem closed off at times, but it's also a signal of how strong their bond is. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had each other's backs to the point where they could walk away from the monarchy and know that they would be OK — as long as they had each other.
Harry has always been protective of the women he's dated — likely in part because he wasn't able to protect his mother, Princess Diana — but the protectiveness comes from both sides in this relationship. Meghan is just as equally there for Harry as he is for her, and that's what makes this duo work.
Here are 15 times they proved that they'll always be each other's No. 1, no matter what life throws at them.
Prioritizing Each Other
It's so easy for a long-distance relationship to fail, so Harry and Meghan took precautions to make sure the distance between them didn't get in the way. Harry even prioritized seeing Meghan to the point that he broke protocol. Instead of flying home after a royal tour, Harry flew to see Meghan — mixing work and personal into one trip. Whatever it took to see his girlfriend, though.
Going to the Invictus Games
Their public debut as a couple came in fall 2017, when they were spotted together at the Invictus Games. Meghan was there to show her support for the cause that's near and dear to Harry's heart. In 2014, he created the games as a way for wounded soldiers to get together, compete, and for their communities to rally around them — just like Meghan did by showing up.
Defending Meghan in a Press Release
Once the press caught onto the romance, the stories began appearing everywhere — and not all of them were nice. Harry, breaking with royal tradition to ignore bad press, issued a statement in support of Meghan and asking the media to back off. He showed early on that he had every intention of protecting the woman he loves.
Meghan Opened Harry's Car Door
When the newly married Sussexes drove off to their wedding reception, Meghan got into the car first, and then opened Harry's door for him. First of all, royal protocol dictates that no royal should open their own door, and societal structure usually dictates that the man opens the door for the woman. We love Meghan flipping the script on its head and just looking out for her new husband.
Walking as Equals
In fact, Meghan and Harry seem to pride themselves on the equality of their marriage. As Express pointed out, the two often walk side by side, breaking with tradition that the royal wife is supposed to walk a step behind her higher-ranking husband. Sometimes, Meghan will even walk in front of Harry.
Public Displays of Support
Body language expert Patti Wood examined this photo and found that "it's not a grabby, clingy gesture," on Meghan's behalf, but "one of security and trust." The couple had just finished a photo shoot to introduce Archie to the world, and they were retreating back into their private, supportive bubble.
Giving Up Things for Meghan
In solidarity with Meghan while she was pregnant, Harry reportedly gave up drinking. (Meghan had to, so he did too!) That's just how supportive these two are of each other. He also reportedly quit hunting, because his wife is not a fan of the hobby. Marriage is about sacrifices, and Harry was happy to make some.
Holding Harry's Umbrella
We love everything about this photo. The Duchess of Sussex looks so enamored with her husband as she proudly shields him with the umbrella. Anyone would be so lucky to find a partner who looks at them they way Meghan looks at Harry. People can say what they want about the couple, but there's no denying their true love.
Harry Is Proud of Meghan
The prince was in awe of Meghan after she gave birth to baby Archie, and he let everyone know it. "I'm so incredibly proud of my wife," he said. "As every father and parent would ever say, your baby is absolutely amazing, but this little thing is absolutely to die for so I'm just over the moon … How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension."
It must have felt good for Meghan to be recognized in this way.
Helping to Honor Princess Diana
Losing his mother at a young age will always be something Harry struggles with, and the anniversary of Princess Diana's death no doubt brings up lots of feelings — but now, he has the duchess to lean on. In 2020, Meghan helped him honor Diana by planting the princess' favorite flower, forget-me-nots, in a local preschool garden. Diana would have loved being remembered via an act of service, and now, Harry has someone he can count on to be by his side during the hard times.
Attending Harry's Polo Match
This is also a way that Kate Middleton supports Prince William — attending the princes' polo games. Meghan most recently went to one in 2019 before she and Harry stepped down from royal life. She even brought baby Archie along with her. Harry hasn't played polo in a while, but if he picks up the sport in Los Angeles, trust that Meghan will be there cheering him on.
Stepping Down From Royal Life Together
It's hard to tell who benefitted more from leaving royal life: Meghan or Harry? Meghan didn't seem happy in her new role with increasingly negative media attention always on her — but Harry has expressed discomfort with being royal for basically his whole life. They both gained a lot of freedom by leaving, and they may not have independently been able to make such a big move. They needed each other's support, since the world was almost certain to have a negative reaction.
Relocating to be Near Meghan's Mom
At first, it was reported that Meghan and Harry planned to move to Canada, but that quickly shifted into them relocating to Los Angeles. That's where Meghan's mom lives, and undoubtedly, the duo felt that raising their child near his grandmother was a good idea. And if they couldn't be near Harry's family anymore, it's nice that they can be near Meghan's. LA doesn't seem to really be Harry's style, but he's making it work for his wife.
Harry's Parenting Style
Harry's not just supporting Meghan with his dedication to feminism, he's supporting all women. Meghan raved in a recent interview that Harry was a proud feminist and was bringing that into his role as father. "I look at our son and what a beautiful example that he gets to grow up with a father who is so comfortable owning that as part of his own self-identification," she said. "That there's no shame in being someone who advocates for fundamental human rights for everyone, which of course includes women."
Learning From Meghan About BLM
Just as the prince has made strides in learning about feminism, he's done the same for racial issues. He recently talked about how being with Meghan has opened his eyes to his privelege. "I've had an awakening as such of my own. I wasn’t aware of so many of the issues and so many of the problems within the UK, but also globally as well," he said. Now the duo is working together to help end systemic racism.
