The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family earlier this year. The couple then moved to the US before the country went into coronavirus inspired lockdown.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry reflected on the “tough year” during a virtual discussion for the launch of the environmental WaterBear platform.
He said: “It has been a universally tough year for everybody.
“Someone said to me at the beginning of the pandemic that it’s almost as though Mother Nature has sent us to our rooms for bad behaviour, to really take a moment and think about what we’ve done.”
Writing in Vanity Fair, royal author Katie Nicholl said: “Harry’s comments also seemed deeply personal in the wake of what’s been a particularly tough and challenging year for the Sussexes— one a friend of the couple has appropriately described as a rollercoaster.”
She added how “2020 is one the Sussexes will likely look back on with mixed emotions”.
A close friend of the couple told Ms Nicholl: “It’s been a big year for sure and one that has been a rollercoaster.
“2020 has seen them leave the royal family, leave Britain and move to LA to their dream home where they are finally able to lay down new roots.”
Relations between the Dukes and Duchesses of Sussex and Cambridge reportedly broke down this year.
Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as senior members of the Royal Family is thought to have triggered the royal rift between the brothers.
READ MORE: Prince Harry and William’s rift edged towards ‘constitutional crisis’
The couple are expected to be making more detailed announcements about their new charity Archewell.
The launch of their charity venue was delayed but the Sussexes still managed to get involved with other charitable causes throughout the pandemic.
According to Ms Nicholl, Mr Scobie said: “The pandemic has affected their plans but it hasn’t changed things as dramatically as one might think.
“I was told that the best part of the year was going to be a listening period for them and a chance to get to know key players in the philanthropic sphere in the US, research social issues and to then make smart decisions for what will be their life long legacy.”
Last month, the Duchess of Sussex revealed the devastating news that she had a miscarriage in July.
She wrote an emotional article in the New York Times about her and Prince Harry’s experience of losing the child.
The Duchess wrote: “This year has brought so many of us to our breaking points.”
Mr Scobie added: “I think being so open about what happened to them is their way of getting through the experience and hopefully helping others.
“The tragedy of losing a baby is something that takes people time to move forward from but they are doing that together.”
