By Marisa Laudadio
7:36pm PST, Mar 7, 2021
What a difference a year can make. Twelve months ago in early March 2020, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were in the midst of their final run of events as senior working royals. Now, after moving to Meghan's native California with son Archie as heartbreaking family drama played out behind the scenes, the couple are "thriving," Meghan — who's pregnant with a daughter due in the summer — told Oprah Winfrey during a candid, controversial and no-subject-off-limits bombshell interview that aired on CBS on March 7, 2021. Join Wonderwall.com as we take a look back at the best photos from the couple's final run of events a year ago before they embarked on their unprecedented new life outside the confines of palace life. Let's start with this shot of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrived at Westminster Abbey in London for the Commonwealth Day Service — their last public event before they exited royal life — on March 9, 2020.
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Duchess Meghan attended the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020.
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Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William, Duchess Kate, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan leave the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan spoke to choristers as they left Westminster Abbey in London following the Commonwealth Service on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020. The Commonwealth of Nations represents 2.4 billion people and 54 countries working in collaboration towards shared economic, environmental, social and democratic goals.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan spoke to young wellwishers as they departed the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan share a laugh as they're introduced to performers following the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan arrived at Westminster Abbey in London for the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020.
Duchess Meghan waved as she and Prince Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey in London for the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are seen walking inside London's Westminster Abbey to attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020 — their final official engagement before they exit royal life.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan entered London's Westminster Abbey to attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are seen driving out of Windsor Great Park after attending Sunday church services with the queen at The Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor, England, on March 8, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan arrived at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7. Harry wore his Captain General of the Royal Marines dress uniform for the last time, while Meghan matched him in a vibrant red caped gown by Safiyaa.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan joined veterans, serving members, world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines to help raise funds on behalf of the Royal Marines Charity at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7. The 2020 festival performance marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan flashed smiles at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020.
Duchess Meghan, wearing a caped red gown by Safiyaa, matching Aquazurra heels and dark red Simone Rocha earrings, is seen arriving at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020.
Prince Harry, wearing his Captain General of the Royal Marines dress uniform, is pictured leaving the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020.
Duchess Meghan spoke during a special school assembly at the Robert Clack Upper School in the East London town of Dagenham on March 6, 2020, ahead of International Women's Day.
Duchess Meghan and student Aker Okoye went in for a hug during a school assembly at the Robert Clack Upper School in the East London town of Dagenham on March 6, 2020, ahead of International Women's Day.
Duchess Meghan posed with student making the equality sign following a school assembly at the Robert Clack Upper School in the East London town of Dagenham on March 6, 2020, ahead of International Women's Day.
Duchess Meghan greeted rows of students at a school assembly at the Robert Clack Upper School in the East London town of Dagenham on March 6, 2020, ahead of International Women's Day.
Prince Harry and Britain's Formula One world champion driver Lewis Hamilton posed with one of Lewis's helmets during a visit to officially open the Silverstone Experience, the new home to the archive of the British Racing Drivers Club, at Silverstone motor racing circuit in central England on March 6, 2020.
Prince Harry and Formula One champion driver Lewis Hamilton checked out one of the vintage racing cars on display during a visit to officially open the Silverstone Experience, the new home to the archive of the British Racing Drivers Club, at Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northampton, England, on March 6, 2020.
Prince Harry and Formula One world champion driver Lewis Hamilton embraced as they left after a visit to officially open the Silverstone Experience at Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northampton, England, on March 6, 2020.
Prince Harry spoke during a visit to officially open the Silverstone Experience at Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northampton, England, on March 6, 2020.
Prince Harry arrived with Formula One world champion driver Lewis Hamilton to officially open the Silverstone Experience at Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northampton, England, on March 6, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, in a turquoise dress by designer Victoria Beckham, arrived at the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in rainy London on March 5, 2020. The annual event celebrates the achievements of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have taken part in remarkable sporting and adventure challenges over the last year.
And now in black and white! Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan arrived at the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in rainy London on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan arrived at Mansion House in London to attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan sat next to author, actor and journalist Ross Kemp, an Endeavor Fund ambasador, and watched as military veteran Danny Holland — the first winner of the night — used his opportunity at the podium to propose to girlfriend Lauren Price during the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan applauded as military veteran Danny Holland, the first winner of the night, proposed to girlfriend Lauren Price during the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020.
Duchess Meghan, sitting next to husband Prince Harry, got emotional as she watched military veteran Danny Holland, the first winner of the night, propose to girlfriend Lauren Price during the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020.
Duchess Meghan announced an award winner during the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020.
Duchess Meghan signed a guest book as she and Prince Harry arrived at the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan posed for a group photo with the 2020 nominees at the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London on March 5, 2020. The Endeavour Fund helps servicemen and women rediscover their self-belief and fighting spirit through physical challenges.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were photographed on March 5, 2020, as they arrived at Mansion House in rainy London to attend the Fourth Annual Endeavor Fund Awards.
Prince Harry carried an umbrella as he and wife Duchess Meghan arrived at Mansion House in London to attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan faced a wall of photographers at Mansion House in rainy London as they arrived to attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5, 2020.
Prince Harry and Jon Bon Jovi arrived to meet members of the Invictus Games Choir at Abbey Road Studios in London on Feb. 28, 2020.
Prince Harry and Jon Bon Jovi, along with members of the Invictus Games Choir, imitated The Beatles' famous pose on the zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios in London on Feb. 28, 2020.
Prince Harry and Jon Bon Jovi chatted at Abbey Road Studios in London on Feb. 28, 2020, as they watched the Invictus Games Choir record a special version of Jon's track "Unbroken" in aid of the Invictus Games Foundation.
Prince Harry spoke about his Travalyst initiative during a sustainable tourism summit at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre in Scotland on Feb. 26, 2020. It was his first event in a final run of appearances as a senior member of Britain's royal family.
