The decision of Harry and Meghan Markle to leave their posts as senior royals is not a first in the history of the British royalty. There have been many attempts by family members to leave the institution. The history of the British monarchy has been full of abdicated Kings and Queens and many more.

Not too long ago, a similar story with Harry and Meghan Markle happened and this involved the Queen’s youngest child, Prince Edward. 

Edward and his wife, Sophie had plans to leave the royal family as well. Before their departure from the royal family, Edward and Sophie did claim that they were still going to completely support the Queen but they will have minimal royal obligations.

Prince Edward and Sophie, who are also known as Earl and Lady Wessex, had dreams of pursuing a different life from their respective posts as senior royals. 

Prince Edward dropped out of military school to pursue a life in the arts. The Prince also had dreams of being involved in the media world. 

Royal experts believe that history is repeating itself, this time around, its Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Experts compared the situation, wherein they found Edward to be the brighter royal due to his decision of coming back to the royal family immediately after he and Sophie failed in their commercial ventures.

Edward and Sophie also did not bat an eye when they decided to return to their posts as senior royals.

Royal expert, Rebecca English said, “In a way, Sophie and Edward were the Harry and Meghan of their day. They had decided that they could support the Queen with a limited amount of royal duties but also pursue lucrative commercial careers of their own. When things did go wrong for Sophie and Edward, they didn't storm out of the country or the Royal Family.

English continued by saying that Edward and Sophie just moved on from their failures.

Another royal expert, Richard Kay added that both Edward and Sophie did not have any second thoughts on coming back to the royal side after their failed ventures and was an eye-opening chapter to the couple.

Currently, Prince Edward has taken over some of the responsibility of his father, Prince Philip. After his 2017 retirement, numerous of his obligation fell on the lap of the younger royals.

Harry and Meghan are finding success in America after they signed a lucrative deal with Netflix. The two seem to be thriving in the United States and unlike the Wessex’s, the couple has a big advantage especially that Meghan Markle was an ex-actress.