Prince George’s Official 4th Birthday Portrait Will Instantly Melt Your Heart

1. She Had A Career In Hollywood Prior To Marrying Prince Harry

Before Meghan married Prince Harry, she was an actress in Hollywood. She appeared in episodes of 90210, CSI: Miami, and more notably, Suits. According To Business Insider, she was also one of the "briefcase girls" on Deal or No Deal. However, she didn't mind stepping away from her career once she and Harry got engaged.

While royals are born into their dynasty, Meghan worked to build hers. It almost feels like people have questioned, "How dare this silly American actress think she deserves to marry into the Royal family?" While she's a celebrity to us, they're treating her as less than because she had to earn it. Tell me how that makes sense!

2. Classism & Racism Give Way To Nasty Behavior

If you're still saying you "don't see color" in 2024 and refuse to understand race does matter, you're perpetuating a narrative that likes to ignore the reality of being considered a minority in the public's eyes. What's interesting is that Meghan is biracial — she's both black and white — and yet she's still subject to off-putting, racial comments about her.

Think about about it like this: British monarchy is incredibly antiquated (and some even think it should be abolished), where one (white) leader acts as a figurehead and inherits power over the whole country just because of the family they were born into. So, when Meghan revealed to Oprah that there were “concerns and conversations" about "how dark" their son's skin would be when he was born — it's both shocking and unfortunately unsurprising. Of course a system rooted in whiteness would seek to perpetuate that same whiteness.

Meghan's Blackness in a culture of white supremacy will always be problematic to those who haven't unlearned racism. And honestly? That's just the tip of the racist, classist iceberg.

3. The Media Treats Meghan Markle Differently Than Kate Middleton

BuzzFeed News actually put together a list of 20 headlines that showed a stark difference in how the media treats them and it had my jaw on the floor. I knew there seemed to be a pattern with how the media likes to look at them, but seeing it in black and white genuinely makes me sick to my stomach. Just look at these articles from Daily Mail and Mirror:

• Prince William & Kate were praised for creating companies in 2014 while Prince Harry & Meghan Markle were accused of trying to "cash in" on their royal titles
• Kate gets brownie points for coordinating with the Queen while Meghan is basically called incompetent for an alleged style faux pas

Let's get one thing straight: Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are two different women. There's nothing that indicates they're going to 100% mirror each other's actions, but people seem to love using Kate Middleton as an example of why Meghan Markle gets everything wrong. Not only is that unfair to Meghan, it's also tasteless to rope Kate into harmful opinions.

4. Prince Harry Chose To Publicly Protect Her

I still don't know why this is such a shock to people considering Prince Harry witnessed how awful the British media was to his mother. You know, Princess Diana? The same woman whose life was cut horribly short as she tried to get away from pesky paparazzi?

When it was apparent the media wasn't going to stop sharing harmful things about his wife, Prince Harry made sure to publicly speak out against it. He was quoted as saying, "I will always protect my family, and now I have a family to protect," and "Part of this job is putting on a brave face but, for me and my wife, there is a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue" (via BBC). Unfortunately, people took it as an "us or her" kind of thing, creating a narrative that Meghan Markle forced Prince Harry to defend her.

I may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but I always assumed it's common sense for romantic partners to protect each other in situations where unfair treatment happens. I'm nowhere near famous and my fiancé has spoken up several times when someone's done something disrespectful in public. However, I think because people are used to the old guard's 'rules' that Meghan should put on a brave face and deal with it, rather than be the real, raw human that she is.

5. Meghan & Prince Harry Left The Royal Family 

In an unprecedented move, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to leave the royal family in 2020. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," a portion of their official statement read.

According to BBC, the couple didn't talk to anyone prior to making their decision which is believed to have caused an uproar. Yet, another BBC article sheds light on how difficult it was for them to navigate with so much negative attention from the press. Although Meghan knew to expect some pushback, she at least hoped "it would be fair."

6. She & Prince Harry Aren't Afraid To Reframe Their Own Narratives

Still, Meghan and Prince Harry have been doing their best to take control of their own narratives despite the media's blatant attempts to paint them as villainous beings. In 2021, the couple finally opened up about life as royals during an interview with Oprah Winfrey— you know, where the famous "Were you silent, or were you silenced?" question comes from. After that, Meghan and Prince Harry decided to share their own documentary in 2022 to give their own perspectives about their lives with Prince Harry writing his own memoir, Spare, the next year.

Some people felt the couple wasn't doing a good job of escaping the press when they decided to publicly speak up, but it's important to remember two things can be true. The kind of privacy they requested stemmed from the invasive articles, opinions, and paparazzi photos — so it makes sense that they would use that same insatiable press to push their side of the story to the public at large. However, it feels like people assume this is the life Meghan earned by marrying into the royal family — one full of media and criticism and more — and it's upsetting when she actually addresses her perspective, shattering that illusion they've built about celebrity and royalty.

Also, it's not lost on me that one of their neighbors recently enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame by claiming Meghan doesn't provide anything to the Montecito neighborhood they live in (via Page Six). I'm not sure why people feel they're entitled to her time and energy so she can prove she's worthy of their positive opinions, but this feels seeped in "I need a real hobby." Her presence does not exist for your pleasure.

Yeah, Prince Harry finds the divorce rumors really confusing.

"No, [it's] definitely not a good thing," he says when asked if he considers the "interest" in his life positive. "Apparently we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it's just like, what?'"

Even celebs like Chris Evans and Alba Baptista have had to dodge divorce rumors recently but 10 to 12 different rumors?! That's insane. The most recent divorce rumors came when Meghan Markle showed up solo to both the Children's Hospital LA Gala on October 5 and the Highbrow Hippie haircare launch on November 14, while it was announced Harry will host a charity event without Meghan on December 10. Naturally, the internet had a field day.

And the public's obsession with Harry and Meghan's relationship has directly affected their health.

"It's hard to keep up with, but that's why you just sort of ignore it," Prince Harry continues. "The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls," he continued. "Their hopes are just built and built, and it's like, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,' and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do."

WHAT! That's a pretty positive outlook. I don't know if I'd be that generous, TBH. Anyone who kept up with Harry and Meghan's Royal Wedding will remember the consistent criticism around Meghan's skin and behavior, and in their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the couple revealed they went through so much stress surrounding the press, they believed it resulted in Meghan miscarrying a child.

"I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid. I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people," Prince Harry told Andrew. “And I think when you grow up within that environment, you do find yourself questioning the validity of the information but also what other people are thinking of that as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time."

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth — on Peacock January 2, 2025

This might be a January TV show, but the story opens on December 21. It's 1988 and Pan Am Flight 103 just exploded, killing 259 passengers and crew members. Dr. Jim Swire becomes the spokesman for the UK victims, despite the fact (or maybe because) he's grappling with the loss of his daughter Flora. But the more he fights for justice, the more he sees just how convoluted the justice system really is.

Lockerbie premieres on January 2 and stars Colin Firth, Catherine McCormack, Sam Troughton, Mark Bonnar, Ardalan Esmaili, Mudar Abbara, Guy Henry, Nabil Al Raee, and Jemma Carlton.

When Calls The Heart Season 12 — On Hallmark Channel January 5, 2025

The post-holiday blues won't get you down for long, because When Calls The Heart is returning on the 5th! Fans of the show will remember season 11 introduced Elizabeth, Nathan, and the rest of Hope Valley to the 1920s (meaning Elizabeth also got a fresh chop!). We'll have to tune in to see what challenges and excitement comes their way next.

When Calls The Heart season 12 premieres on January 5 and stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Melissa Gilbert, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Kavan Smith, and Viv Leacock.

Doc — On Fox January 7, 2025

We can never have too many medical dramas can we? Fox's newest addition to the genre follows Minneapolis Dr. Amy Elias who's chief of internal medicine — and who's dealing with eight years of memory loss thanks to a traumatic brain injury. Now she just has to navigate dealing with patients, betrayal, and divorcing her soulmate...none of which she remembers. And the craziest part is this new TV show is actually inspired by a true story!

Doc premieres on January 7 and stars Molly Parker, Omar Metwally, Jon-Michael Ecker, Anya Banerjee, Scott Wolf, Amirah Vann, and Conni Miu.

The Rookie Season 7 — on ABC January 7, 2025

There's a lot going on in the new season of The Rookie: John Nolan is recovering from a gunshot wound, two new rookies join the team, and two incredibly dangerous prisoners are still on the loose. It's never a dull day at the LAPD.

The Rookie season 7 premieres on January 7 and stars Nathan Fillion, Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Jenna Dewan, Shawn Ashmore, and Lisseth Chavez.

Picture this: you're trapped in a Scottish castle playing a crazy murder mystery game with a dozen of your closest friends — all for the chance to win $250 thousand. That's the plot of this reality show, hosted by Alan Cumming, and we can't wait for the third season!

The Traitors season 3 premieres January 9 and stars Alan Cumming, Wells Adams, Sam Asghari, Chanel Ayan, Bob the Drag Queen, Dolores Catania, Jeremy Collins, Robyn Dixon, Dylan Efron, Nikki Garcia, Bob Harper, Britney Haynes, "Boston" Rob Mariano, Dorinda Medley, Ciara Miller, Royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Danielle Reyes, Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause, Tony Vlachos, Carolyn Wiger, and Gabby Windey.

On Call — on Prime Video January 9, 2025

Pretty Little Liars fans will be happy to see Troian Bellisario onscreen again! This police drama pairs up a veteran officer with a rookie for patrols around Long Beach, California — and just like the Liars had to deal with A time and time again, this show promises to present Troian's Traci with plenty of challenges. And any fans of Freeform's Party of Five reboot will recognize Brandon Larracuente!

On Call premieres January 9 and stars Troian Bellisario, Brandon Larracuente, Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting, and Eriq La Salle.

All Creatures Great & Small Season 5 — On PBS January 12, 2025

If you want something cozy to keep you company amidst all the mayhem, tune into All Creatures Great & Small! The show starts out following veterinarian James Herriot in 1930s Yorkshire, but it's evolved into a multi-generational drama that's one to remember. And in season 5, our favorite characters are dealing with a whole new challenge: World War II.

All Creatures Great & Small season 5 premieres on January 12 and stars Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Callum Woodhouse, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, Matthew Lewis, Tony Pitts, Imogene Clawson, and Patricia Hodge.

We're in for another semester at KISS in Seoul, and Kitty is more than ready to date casually for once. But when she finds a letter from her mom's past, she's faced with new adventures and new relationships. This is one January TV show I can't wait to see.

XO, Kitty season 2 stars Anna Cathcart, Audrey Huynh, Sasha Bhasin, Joshua Lee, Minyeong Choi, Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Anthony Keyvan, Peter Thurnwald, and Regan Aliyah.

Adam Scott running around his office, and running from his problems, in the Severance season 2 teaser trailer is the most relatable thing I've seen all day. After a full season of his work and personal lives being, well, severed, Mark is in for a lot of surprises this time around. Completely separating your career from the rest of your life might sound ideal, but this January TV show is going to show us why that's simply not the case.

Severance season 2 premieres on January 17, and stars Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, Gwendoline Christie, Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and John Noble.

Prime Target — On Apple TV+ January 22, 2025

Okay I'm definitely not a math girl (like, I still count on my fingers sometimes), but this show definitely has my attention. It follows Edward, who is about to make a breakthrough that could get him access to every computer in the world. Now he just has to team up with a National Security Agent to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Equal parts terrifying and intriguing.

Prime Target premieres on January 22 and stars Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell, Stephen Rea, David Morrissey, Martha Plimpton, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jason Flemyng, Harry Lloyd, Ali Suliman, Fra Fee, and Joseph Mydell.

The Night Agent Season 2 — on Netflix January 23, 2025

Oh we are so back! I put on season 1 of this spy show while making my Eras Tour outfit (shameless plug for the 'fit here) and I was so engrossed I watched the entire thing in just over a day. It's got literally everything: danger, excitement, thrills, romance. And in season 2, low-level FBI Agent Peter Sutherland is finally an official Night Agent — and he's in for a lot more than he bargained for.

The Night Agent season 2 premieres on January 23 and stars Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Sarah Desjardins, and Enrique Murciano.

Watson — on CBS January 26, 2025

Sherlock basically raised an entire generation of Tumblr users (Superwholock, anyone?) and we're finally in for another amazing adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes books. But this time, we're following Dr. John Watson, who jumps back into medicine after Sherlock's death. And while treating mysterious medical ailments is enough for any doctor, Watson also has to deal with evidence that Moriarty is actually still alive.

Watson premieres on January 26 and stars Morris Chestnut, Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Inga Schlingmann, Ritchie Coster, and Rochelle Aytes.