Last week, the royals formally known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle broke the British Internet after announcing that they would be taking a step back from their duties at Buckingham Palace to live a more peaceful, private life and we ain't mad at 'em.
The couple, who initially met in July of 2016, has been under a helluva a lot of scrutiny since their relationship began, even more so after jumping the broom two years later. From salacious headlines to egregious violations of privacy, Meghan has made it clear that her ascension to British royalty has taken a toll on her mental health and our boy Harry finally said enough is enough.
Effective spring of this year, Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and have been relieved of their responsibilities as working members of the royal family. In other words, when it comes to matters at Buckingham Palace, Harry and Meghan's name ain't Bennett and they ain't innit. On Saturday, Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement that showed her support for the couple's new chapter in life and emphasized that Harry and Meghan will remain beloved members of the royal family:
"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved members of my family. I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."
In his first address since what the Internet has deemed "Megxit", the Duke of Sussex opened up about his controversial decision and says that he and his wife had "no other option" but to step back from the spotlight. He explained that after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, he refuses to let the "powerful force" that is the media threaten his family any longer:
"When I lost my mum 20 years ago, you took me under your wing, you looked out for me for so long. But the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us."
While this couple may have decided to take a step back from their life as royals, here are 4 reasons why Meghan will always be a queen in our eyes.
1.Sis Is Fly AF
Meghan Markle is one of the most iconic style icons Buckingham Palace has ever seen.
I said what I said. Don't @ me.
Despite the extensive rules and regulations imposed on her wardrobe after becoming a member of the Royal Family, Meghan's outfits never fail to come through with all the style and grace Biggie talked about.
2.Sis Is Real AF
Last year, Meghan gave a us a potent reminder to check on our strong friends after a heartbreaking interview that revealed that she was not OK. As a new wife and mother, Meghan has been transparent about the fact that she has to check-in with her mental health just as much as the rest of us.
3.Sis Is Forever Giving Back
A true queen gives back––that's why you can always catch Meghan on a mission. From her work with women and children in South Africa to her recent trip to Vancouver to help with climate change, Meghan is forever giving back.
4.Sis Held Her Own
Giving up isn't always a sign of weakness and Meghan Markle is a proof of this fact. The media has been at the now-38-year-old mother-of-one's neck for nearly three years and no one deserves that kind of abuse. Despite her decision to step back from the spotlight, Meg has made it very clear that her mama didn't raise no punk.
Featured image by Samir Hussein/WireImage
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Megxit: A Breakdown of What ... ›
- Meghan Markle, Prince Harry post-Megxit: Are they happy now? ›
- Timeline: Prince Harry and Meghan - and 'Megxit' | Reuters ›
- Megxit Explained: Why Are People So Pissed at Meghan Markle? ›
- See New Photos Of Meghan Markle In Her First Outing Since Megxit ... ›
- Meghan Markle's 'Megxit' Scandal Proves This Terrible Rumor About ... ›
- “Megxit” Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means | Vanity Fair ›
- Meghan Markle's British citizenship could be jeopardized by Megxit ›
- How will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pay their bills after Megxit? ›
- Prince Harry Breaks Silence Following 'Megxit': Full Transcript About ... ›
RELATED
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
Just this week on Sunday, April 13, Aaron shared a shirtless selfie to his IG Stories, a classic thirst trap moment, complete with abs on display, and emitting just enough heat to get the timeline talking. Not long after, Teyana hopped on her own IG Stories with a three-word message that had the internet abuzz: “on di wey 😮💨.”
Aaron Pierre/Instagram via people.com
Now, maybe it was just a coincidence... but let’s be honest, it didn’t feel like one.
Especially considering Aaron’s West Indian roots and Teyana’s long-documented admiration for tall men she can climb like a tree (her ex-husband Iman Shumpert is 6'5" and Aaron's not far behind at 6'4"). That “on di wey” hit like a flirty green light. And fans caught it, quick.
Teyana Taylor/Instagram via people.com
This isn’t the first time these two have had us side-eyeing and doing double-takes to their timelines.
On March 3, Teyana posted a striking set of black-and-white photos on Instagram alongside Aaron. The two stood back-to-back, dressed to the nines and giving high-fashion, high-intensity energy. Her caption? “Oscar night in black & white, no grey area. 🤍”
Aaron posted the same photos, except his was without a caption, just vibes.
They also shared a table at the American Black Film Festival Honors back in February (where Teyana was also spotted holding his award that he won that night) and were spotted at the Vanity Fair Oscar party looking entirely comfortable in each other’s space. While they haven’t officially confirmed anything, the visuals have done most of the talking.
(L to R) Aaron Pierre, Teyana Taylor, Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts attend the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Dave Benett/VF25/WireImage for Vanity Fair
And if you're wondering whether Teyana fits Aaron’s type? First, how could she not be? But second, according to a 2024 interview on Buzzfeed’s Seasoned podcast, the Mufasa: The Lion King star had a thing for women like Ashanti and Foxy Brown growing up. "My first childhood crush was Ashanti, and my second childhood crush was Foxy Brown," he shared at the time, sending social media into a frenzy.
Black women who exude sex appeal, confidence, and boss energy, aka, everything Teyana walks with daily. She’s the moment, the mood, and apparently… the mirror selfie responder...
Since finalizing her divorce from Iman in June 2024, Teyana has been booked, unbothered, and flourishing on her own terms. Between starring in a Dionne Warwick biopic and starring in One Battle After Another, a star-studded film led by Leonardo DiCaprio and helmed by director Paul Thomas Anderson, sis is locked in.
Aaron, meanwhile, is fresh off voicing the title role in Mufasa: The Lion King and gearing up to appear in Lanterns, an upcoming Max DC series, as well as the new season of The Morning Show. Lowkey highkey, they’re both in their leading-role eras, on-screen and maybe, just maybe, in each other’s lives.
Or maybe it’s just vibes. Maybe it’s more. But from the flirty exchanges to the red carpet proximity, this pairing feels like the kind of slow burn romance that soft launches are made of.
And if it is what it looks like? We love this for her.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Vanity Fair