Meghan Markle Misses Her Chance To Qualify for a British Passport

Now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex worked tirelessly together to fulfill their royal duties...

Since their highly-publicized wedding in 2018, the couple took part in many royal tours and visits all around the world.

Naturally, the world fell in love with the new duchess.

Her beautiful looks and elegant demeanor captured hearts all around the world, and her work for feminism and women's charities has set an excellent example within the royal family.

Cracks began to show early, however...

Meghan was quickly criticized upon her entrance into the royal family, and not all the complaints were because she "wasn't royal enough." A family feud with her father, Thomas Markle, was quickly made very public and, when he didn't attend the wedding, the heat was turned onto Meghan.

Meghan was branded a "diva" by numerous sources...

Reports came through that Meghan was extremely high-maintenance in the palace and servers who worked for her had reportedly even quit their jobs due to her behavior. Of course, none of these reports are reliable, but they certainly made their way through newspapers around the world.

Meghan's parenting style was also criticized.

She was repeatedly mom-shamed after paparazzi snaps emerged of her "awkwardly" holding baby Archie - a struggle that any new mom can totally relate to. Shaming a new parent is completely uncalled for, and this made it very obvious that the press were desperate to stir hate.

But last year, it seemed like it all finally became too much for the pair.

The royal couple announced via their joint Instagram page in January 2020 that they were stepping down as senior members of the royal family. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. 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," the post read.

This was a huge deal.

And, obviously, their decision shook things up. "We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties."

Twitter exploded with reactions to the news, and they were certainly mixed.

Some were outraged, claiming that Meghan and Harry shouldn't be able to rely on the taxpayer while they become finically independent.

Apparently, the pair didn't tell anyone about the news, instead opting to break it through Instagram.

According to the BBC, no other senior members of the royal family were consulted - including the Queen - and Buckingham Palace was "disappointed." The report also claimed that senior royals are said to be "hurt" by the controversial announcement.

But can they really blame Meghan and Harry for making this decision?

The couple, especially Meghan, have received an unbelievable amount of negative press and comments over the years - which is enough to drive anyone mad.

Meghan and Harry are currently living in Los Angeles where they have been raising baby Archie together...

And they've been reportedly living in Beverly Hills while they ride out the global pandemic.

And, thanks to the move, things have changed for the better.

"Meghan’s thrilled to have escaped the chaos of London. She feels like a new person," a source close to the pair said shortly after their move. "On top of not being hounded by the British press 24/7, Meghan reportedly likes that she doesn’t have to worry about following outdated royal protocol anymore. She can go out in yoga pants and not be criticized for not following a dress code. She feels more relaxed and loves walking around fresh-faced with barely any makeup on."

And not only are their lives now more relaxed...

The couple has also been embarking on some major career ventures, including signing a huge Netflix deal for a rumored reality show and even launching their own podcast.

But despite the move back to the US providing the pair with many positives...

It does now mean that Meghan has failed to qualify for a British passport

Applying for a British passport and citizenship is a process that takes years.

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Something the Palace announced Meghan would do during her early days in Royal Family.

Those who wish to apply for a British passport can do so after living in the UK for 3 years...

And are required to have not spent more than ninety days outside the UK in the twelve-month period before making the application.

But as the couple returned to the US in March 2020, the opportunity has now passed.

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After moving from the UK, the couple spent a brief period in Canada.

They then moved onto Los Angeles, where they have remained to this day.

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So should she wish to apply in the future, Meghan will have to start the process all over again.

Perhaps one day, we will see the couple move back to British soil.

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Though, personally, I'm not holding my breath.

If you're in the mood for more news about the royals, then keep scrolling to see the wild transformation that the Queen's home undertook for the festive period...