Meghan Markle, a name that has become synonymous with royal intrigue, philanthropy, and a groundbreaking departure from tradition, was once best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the popular legal drama, Suits. For seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018, Markle graced our screens as the ambitious paralegal turned lawyer, captivating audiences with her charm and acting prowess.
In this article, we delve deeper into the reasons behind Markle’s decision to leave Suits, exploring the challenges and considerations that led to her departure. From the demands of royal duties to the desire for a new chapter in her life, we examine the factors that influenced Markle’s decision to close the curtain on her acting career and step into the spotlight of royal life.
Why did Meghan Markle leave Suits? Everything to know
Meghan Markle was a series regular on the USA Network legal drama Suits for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018. She played paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane on the show, which centered around a fictional New York City law firm. However, Markle left Suits in 2018, shortly after getting engaged to Prince Harry, citing her royal duties as the reason.
Markle’s engagement and marriage to Prince Harry required her to take on full-time royal responsibilities in the United Kingdom. This meant she could no longer continue acting in a television series produced in Canada and the United States. Some key reasons why Markle left Suits after getting engaged to Prince Harry include:
Royal Duties – As an official member of the British royal family after her engagement, Markle had to devote herself full-time to royal life and representing the monarchy. This was incompatible with continuing her acting career in Toronto, where Suits filmed. The show required long work days and months of filming, which would be impossible alongside royal duties.
Also Read:TV Shows Similar To Suits&That You Must Watch
Move to the UK – Upon her engagement, Markle made plans to move to the UK permanently to live with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace. This cross-continent move made remaining a main cast member of a Canadian TV show impractical. Her permanent relocation to England and new role within the royal family meant leaving her acting career behind.
Also Read:Did Rachel Zane Cheat On Mike Ross In Suits? Explained
Public Profile – As Prince Harry’s fiancée and eventually wife, Markle became one of the most famous and closely watched women in the world. This intense public scrutiny and media attention was not compatible with starring in a television series. Markle’s public profile exploded after her relationship with Prince Harry went public, and it would be difficult for her to juggle that kind of fame with a busy filming schedule.
Royal Rules – The royal family has certain rules and protocols for members representing the Crown. One is that senior working royals typically cannot continue pursuits like acting careers. Palace guidelines indicate that working members of the royal family should focus their time and energy solely on official duties. So for Markle to take on a senior royal role, she had to leave acting behind.
Also Read: The Science of Kingdom Crew Craft Space Suits In Dr. Stone Chapter 223
Privacy Concerns – Starring in a popular television series while simultaneously being a member of the royal family raised potential privacy issues. Markle’s Suits role could expose aspects of her personal life in a way that would not properly align with being Prince Harry’s spouse in the public eye. This reality likely contributed to her decision to leave the show.
Schedule Conflicts – Markle’s royal duties, engagements, and travel as part of her new royal role would inevitably conflict at times with the filming schedules for Suits. It would be very difficult to balance priorities and manage her time between royal work and filming commitments in different countries. Ending her acting career eliminated this scheduling problem.
Desire for Change – Some sources close to Markle indicated that she was ready for a major change in her life and wanted to focus on new priorities when she met Prince Harry. After seven years on Suits, she was prepared to move on from acting and take on completely new challenges. Marrying into the royal family provided that opportunity.
New Chapter – Markle was 36 years old when she got engaged to Prince Harry – so she was likely ready for the next chapter in her life after achieving success on Suits. She had been acting professionally since 2002. Ending that career and embarking on a new one as a working royal allowed her to transition into the next phase of her life.
Also Read: Suits Season 10: When Will It Return On Netflix?
No Half Measures – Reports indicated that Markle recognized she could not realistically balance being a working actress and a royal. She knew it had to be one or the other. So she made the decisive move to fully commit herself to her new royal duties and leave her acting career behind entirely.
Leaving Suits was bittersweet for the actress. She had treasured her time on the show and the lifelong friendships she had formed with her castmates. But she was excited to take on new challenges and make a difference on a global scale as a full-time royal.
Meghan Markle decided to leave her long-running role on the hit show Suits shortly after getting engaged to Prince Harry in November 2017. The commitments and schedule required to continue acting on the series in Toronto were incompatible with becoming a working British royal living in the UK. Markle decided to close the chapter on her acting career and wholeheartedly embrace her new life and duties as the Duchess of Sussex.
