Following the shock announcement that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are quitting their roles as senior royals, the Duchess came out of hiding last week to make a surprise visit to a women’s shelter in Canada.
The couple, who have eight-month-old son Archie, have faced a growing backlash since the scandal erupted, with Meghan dubbed a "ruthless social climber", while a mortifying video surfaced of Harry "touting" his wife to a Disney executive at the Lion King premiere for voiceover work, with claims he’d snubbed a Royal Marines memorial service to be there.
In a shock twist, Meghan’s dad Thomas Markle was said to be preparing to testify against his daughter in a court case brought by her against a national newspaper that published a private letter between the pair.
Court papers reveal text messages between Meghan, 38, and her father, hinting at the breakdown of their relationship ahead of her wedding to Harry in 2018.
Meanwhile, there was speculation the couple might never live in a "meaningful way" in the UK again as staff at their home, Frogmore Cottage, were "let go", and last week Harry performed what was touted as his last-ever official royal engagement during the Rugby League World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace.
In another blow to the Queen, there were also claims that they felt they had to step down due to "bad blood" in the royal family, and felt "ostracised".
As scrutiny of the Sussexes continued, there was a very different reaction to William and Kate as they undertook their first royal engagement since the furore broke out.
Fans declared them "real assets to the royal family" – with one posting under pictures of the Cambridges on tour in Bradford, "Megxit crisis does not threaten the future of the monarchy. It threatens the future of Harry and Meghan."
Royal expert Katie Nicholl, author of Harry And Meghan: Life, Loss And Love – tells Closer that the scandal will have piled pressure on William and Kate to hold up the image of the royals, but that Kate in particular will have a big job on her hands to ease tension with Meghan and repair the rift between the princes.
Check out: the most shocking hook ups of the decade
Most shocking hook ups of the decade - slider
1 of 23Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden
Simon and Amanda have had THE FLIRTIEST relationship over their many series' presenting Britain's Got Talent together, with Amanda once calling him the "naughtiest man I know" and admitting "I'll always love him". "We've gone from having a massive laugh about things, to both going through very personal things that have been horrendous. But we've supported each other in that, and come out at the other end", she told Closer.
2 of 23Rihanna and Ashton Kutcher
Following his split from wife Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher hit the ground running on the dating market and in 2012 had "an eight week fling" with the year's hottest bachelorette, Rihanna. "The flirting began as soon as Rihanna and Ashton met and swapped numbers. That moved onto texts and arranging to meet. They snuck off to a santa Monica hotel a few weeks ago," a source told The Sun at the time. "They are two single people having a fling, so thought it would be best to meet in secret."
3 of 23Stephanie Davis and Zayn Malik
In news you may not have known about but will be pleased you do now, Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis dating a baby Zayn Malik for five months at the start of his career - and was still in contact with him during her pregnancy with Caben Albi four years later. "We dated for five months in 2011 just before he started seeing Perrie," she said."We actually broke up because I found out he had been meeting up with Perrie. It was just one of those things."Zayn is a good lad really, I don't have anything bad to say about him."
4 of 23Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford
This is the wonderful story of the Hollywood A Lister and humble folk musician who began as PEN PALS (yes, really) at Church camp as children, before reuniting as adults in 2012 and going on to marry and have a baby. And they say fairytales aren't real.
5 of 23Marc Anthony and Chloe Green
Topshop heiress and Chelsea royalty Chloe Green dated the world renowned restauranteur and ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, in 2013. At 22 years her senior, Marc was said to be taking style advice from Chloe, who was indeed down with the kids.
6 of 23Rita Ora and Bruno Mars
We liked this coupling, even though it wasn't to last. British pop sensation Rita revealed she'd dating funk-soul singer Bruno in 2015, admitting, "We were so happy together.""We met in 2009. I was 18 and starting out at Roc Nation. Bruno was unknown back then too," she said,"He was a struggling songwriter hired to write songs for me," the 21 year-old explained. "I thought, 'Wow, that's just the world's greatest guy!'"
7 of 23Channing Tatum and Jessie J
After his split from Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan, with whom he shares a daughter, Channing quickly hooked up with Jessie J - who fans were quick to point out was the very spit of his ex-wife, leading Jessie to release a statement. The pair are still going strong.
8 of 23Nick Cannon and Kim Kardashian
Long after Ray Jay but well before Kanye West, Kim Kardashian's world was rocked when Nick Cannon claimed they'd slept together. Nick made the claims about the historic encounter in 2014, thought to contribute to the break down of his marriage to Mariah Carey.
9 of 23Malin Andersson and Myles Stephenson
So the Love Islander and the pop star might not seem like the most unlikely pairing, but their illicit dalliance certainly caused controversy when it emerged that Myles had enjoyed a fling with Malin, before embarking on a relationship with another Love Island star Gabby Allen just months later.
10 of 23Robbie Williams and Cameron Diaz
Robbie's wife Ayda Field revealed on an appearance on Loose Women that a 'chance flirtation' with Cameron at a hotel lead to them actually giving their marriage another go, when they were on the verge of divorce. "He went to the Chateau Marmont and got talking to Cameron Diaz," she said. "While they were talking, she said to him, 'You obviously still love your girlfriend, you need to go home to her'."And he did. I always have a special place for her in my heart now."
11 of 23Emilia Clarke and Seth MacFarlane
Esteemed Game Of Thrones and Me Before You actress Emilia Clarke admitted in 2016 that she dated Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane in 2013.
12 of 23Simon Cowell and Carmen Electra
Simon Cowell's made something of a side hustle out of bedding eligible women - and former playboy model and lads mag pin up Carmen was no exception. After meeting on the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent in 2012, the couple went on to have a year long fling.Things reportedly ended when Carmen caught Simon with now-wife Lauren Silverman. "Carmen was at Simon's house in L.A. when she literally busted him with Lauren," a source told E! News. "Simon called her a friend, but there was nothing platonic about what was going on, if you know what I mean."
13 of 23Russell Brand and Katy Perry
We had high hopes for these two, but in hindsight, we've no idea why. Recovering alcoholic and drug addict Russell, who's been sober since 2002, wed all American quirky pop princess Katy in 2010. But it wasn't to last, with their marriage breaking down just two years later and Russell calling Katy "a vapid, vacuous celebrity". Ouch.
14 of 23Russel Brand, Geri Halliwell
AND THEN, Russell embarked on a two week fling with Spice Girl Geri Halliwell - before she married her super rich Formula One boss boyfriend Christian Horner in 2014.After getting heckled at a gig about their romance, Russell said, "Look, give me a year and I'll turn it into good material for you."
15 of 23Ollie Locke and Chloe Green
We've already mentioned the fact that Chloe Green is Chelsea royalty, so OBVIOUSLY she starred on Made In Chelsea. During her short time on the show, she dated long-haired lothario Ollie - who later came out at bisexual and is now engaged to a man with the same last name as him, which is weird.
16 of 23Cara Delevingne and Michelle Rodriguez
Actress Michelle went public with her relationship with supermodel Cara in 2014, with a source saying, "It's still really fresh and exciting for both of them. They're really happy and loved-up, and spending as much time together as possible."
17 of 23Harry Styles and Caroline Flack
You didn't think we'd forgotten about these two, did you? Caroline raised some serious eyebrows when she started dating teenager Harry during is One Direction days, when she was in her 30s. She said, "I'm not going to ever apologise for it because there was nothing at the time that was serious or bad and nobody was getting hurt."
18 of 23Michelle Rodriguez and Zac Effron
Considering Michelle made her career playing the sexy, bad ass female lead, it made us chuckle when she began dating squeaky clean teen heartthrob Zac in 2014, after the tragic breakdown of Zanessa. RIP.
19 of 23Konnie Huq and Charlie Brooker
In a similar vein of squeaky clean meets dark and edgy, Former Blue Peter Konnie presenter married Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker in 2010 after just nine months together. Speaking of their whirlwind romance, Charlie said, "'It was the best decision I ever made". Awh.
20 of 23Zayn Malik and Rebecca Ferguson
With the spotlight firmly on Caroline and Harry, Zayn and Rebecca's age gap relationship went largely unreported at the time. Zayn was thought to have dumped his pre-X Factor girlfriend Geneva Lane for her, who later branded him a "massive cock".
21 of 23Chloe Green and Jemery Meeks
Jeremy rose to fame as Hot Felon after his mug shot for armed robbery went viral. Cue his imminent signing to a top modelling agency, overnight superstar status and the fairytale marriage to millionaire heiress Chloe with whom he now has a baby boy named Jaden.
22 of 23Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence
After Coldplay singer Chris "consciously uncoupled" from his wife of more than ten years Gwyneth Paltrow in 2014, he hooked up with Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence. They went on to have an on-off relationship over the next couple of years, with a source telling People magazine, "Chris doesn't really want the relationship to end, but he needs to be flexible so he can see his family as much as possible with his own work schedule."He's crazy about Jen but wants to keep his own schedule and be able to do what he wants when he wants to do it."
23 of 23Avril Lavigne and Brody Jenner
Californian heartthrob - and son of Caitlyn Jenner - Brody dated brooding Canadian Sk8r girl Avril in 2011, but reportedly split due to their opposing views on marriage. "She wanted to settle down, but he wasn't exactly ready," said a source. "They had been having problems starting in the summer with her tour because she was on the road all the time."It put a strain on their relationship."
She says, "Obviously, Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back will put more pressure on Will and Kate – not only will they be taking on extra work, they will also be left as the primary focus of the royal family’s public image.
"Clearly there has been a complex fall-out between Harry and William, and I believe this will have really upset Kate.
"She and Harry were once so close that she almost played a big sisterly role to him. I think Kate has already been involved in simmering things down. She’s always had a really good relationship with Harry – particularly in the later years. I think she’ll be genuinely sad at the brothers’ rift and to see this chasm between them."
Though there had been an admission of trouble between the princes, with Harry confessing last October that they were "on different paths", there has also been tension between the duchesses, who reportedly once had an explosive row over the way Meghan had spoken to Kate’s staff.
There were also reports that Meghan had made Kate cry at Princess Charlotte’s dress fitting for the royal wedding.
Katie adds, "Kate has been a peacemaker between them in the past, so she’ll be hoping to help smooth the way perhaps a little bit further down the line. She’ll be instrumental in bringing them all back together.
"There is absolutely a chance that they will all reconcile. Once Harry and Meghan have a blueprint for their new life and they settle into it, it’ll get better. In the same way that William and Harry’s relationship got better when Harry had his own household and moved out of Kensington Palace and into Frogmore.
"When they had this space and this distance, things did get better. Hopefully, once everything has calmed down, there’ll be an opportunity for things to improve."
Katie believes that a key part of doing that is by Kate and William appealing to Harry’s dream of having Archie and his cousins George, Charlotte and Louis grow up with a close bond. She says, "At some point in the future, there will be a closeness between the four of them, if not for themselves, then for the royal cousins, because it’s emerged that the Cambridge children have only met Archie a handful of times.
"Harry grew up very close to his cousins. It was always his intention for his children to be close to William’s.
"Everyone’s hoping that they can move on from this difficult period, put the warring behind them and actually allow for the royal cousins – when they’re all in the same country at least– to get to spend quality time together."
WATCH: 10 of the most EXPLOSIVE celebrity breakups of 2019
READ MORE
Victoria Beckham’s shame as she’s dragged into royal scandal
Katie also says that Harry and Meghan are keen for another child soon – but adds that now is not the right time. She reveals, "It’s always been on the agenda to have a second child and they don’t want too big an age gap between Archie and his siblings – although that would be a lot to throw into the mix right now with so much going on, not least working out their future roles and the forthcoming court case."
But Katie also believes baby news could help mend their relationship with the British public, and adds, "Harry is so loved in Britain. He’s putting on a brave face, but deep down it must have been the hardest decision of his life. He is deeply loyal and deeply in love and he is standing by his wife, but at the cost of losing his family."