Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed their plan to partially remove themselves from their royal duties in a statement made on Instagram, sharing that they will soon begin splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America. However, their explanation for taking a ‘”break” from royalty is all too vague. Yes, they do reason that this plan will best allow them to become financially independent and raise their son, Archie. But what they don’t acknowledge is the role that the tabloids have played in determining their future — both the damage they inflicted on the couple’s relationship and in Prince Harry’s past.

Markle’s father in particular, Thomas Markle, has a lot to say about the drama. He was uninvited to his daughter’s 2018 spring wedding after supposedly staging paparazzi photos that sold for almost £100,000, according to Daily Mail. Could his interest in the current drama be another ploy for attention and monetary compensation? This may not be far off from the truth. According to Fox News, Markle disagrees with his daughter and son-in-law’s decision to be part-time members of the royal family. He is only one of the many sources of negativity from the tabloids.

It is easy for the public to glamorize what goes on inside the palace’s walls, but no one but the royals themselves really has the inside scoop. The tabloids especially are quick to make assumptions about royal life, but unlike the public, they intrude on personal matters in a destructive manner — and this is not a new occurrence. The tabloids tried to rip apart Markle and Prince Harry’s relationship by scrutinizing her past and estranged family in an attempt to convince the public that she is unfit for royal life. Ball gowns, glass slippers and tea with the Queen do not sum up royal life for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and it may be hard for the public to understand the magnitude of their duties. And the tabloids will never learn — in 1997, Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash while trying to avoid the paparazzi in the car behind her. Prince Harry has been in the spotlight since, all the while knowing that the attention that he receives is largely due to the tragedies in his life, including his mother’s death. So I say that it is the tabloids that need to take a step back instead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The most surprising thing about this entire situation is Queen Elizabeth II’s support. According to the New York Times, while she would prefer that her grandson and Markle remain in the United Kingdom full-time as members of the royal family, she understands that they are seeking a more independent life. In her statement after meeting with son Prince Charles and grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry, she acknowledges that their time away from royalty will grant them the freedoms they deserve and a chance to raise their son as they see fit. With the queen on board, the public should have no reason to disagree with Prince Harry and Markle’s decision and should support them rather than allow the media to tear them apart.