From Harry & Meghan Markle's wedding to Megxit- a timeline of the royal exit

Year 2020 is coming to end. The year could easily be termed as dark and urprecendented. A year that saw shocking deaths, a pandemic and economic crisis and also the big royal exit. Britian's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle shocked the entire world when they announced their plans to leave the royal family on 8 January this year.

From the tabloid fight to 'Megxit', to their new life in America, here's a timeline of their much publicised exit from royal family. 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry love story is the one which has been more criticised and scrutinised than it has been loved. After years of dating, the couple announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, and after months the couple married in a traditional Royal ceremony held in London ion early 2018.

Meghan and Harry's marriage was also a talk of the world, From day one, the couple created buzz, as their official portrait from the wedding was released, which was a candid photo that stuck out in comparison to more formal standing portraits that the royal family had issued so far including that of Prince William and Katherine Middleton.

Before Meghan and Harry officially announced that they are saying goodbye to their Royal life, there were many events that hinted us about the shocking step. At the time, when Meghan was pregnant, the couple decided to live a private life, Instead of living in Kensington Palace with the rest of the royal family, the couple headed for the royal Frogmore Estate, in Windsor. 

After the birth of their first child, the couple took a major step and broke the tradition and chose to skip the post-birth photo time on the hospital steps. They did do a photo op but days later during a private ceremony in Windsor Castle. 

Throughout 2019, all the tabloids were after Meghan and Harry, as they hinted that the couple was eyeing a move outside of the UK. In most of the reports, Meghan became the target and called the 'home breaker'. Harry condemned the press for bullying Markle and released a  statement, promising to take action against UK media. The couple eventually sued certain tabloids. 

In October 2019, after announcing a six-week break from royal duties in the beginning ofNovember and the couple spent Christmas away from the rest of the royal family.  Shortly after their return from vacation, the Royal couple announced that they were working to become "financially independent" and will be taking a "step back" from the royal family.

In early 2020, Meghan left the UK and jetted off to Canada leaving all the situation unclear. A week after Queen Elizabeth released an official announcement supporting their decision and allowed the couple to split their time between the UK and Canada. ''Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family," she said in the statement.

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she wrote." Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

In January 18, its was officially announced that the couple will step back as senior royals in March 2020. A statement published by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II said that "many months of conversations and more recent discussions" had resulted in "a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family."

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," the Queen's statement read.

After numerous meetings, Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming that Markle and Harry would no longer be called His and Her Royal Highness. After giving up their title, the couple had to give up many luxuries and privileges as well. 

Post exit from royal family, the couple had to pay back taxpayers for the $3 million refurbishments of their royal residence, Frogmore Cottage.

The Queen would no longer pay for their staff.

Meghan would no longer be able to borrow the Queen's jewels

Their future children wouldn't be considered "royal babies" and will not be given any official royal memorabilia to mark the birth.

Ahead of their official exit, on 31 March, Harry and Meghan returned to UK for the final goodbye which ran from March 6 until March 9 and attended many Royal engagements. The couple kicked off their new lives as private citizens by announcing their first new project and plans for a charity named in their son's honour, 'Archewell'. 

Over the months, they have attended many charity events and given their hundred percent for the social work.