Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (opens in new tab) shocked everyone when they announced their decision to step down from their roles as active royalty earlier this week.

If the news seemed to come out of the blue, it may be because it was announced earlier than planned. According to the Daily Mail, Harry may have announced the news early (open in new tab), at least out of concern for Meghan's mental and emotional health.

A second source also told The Sun on Sunday that Meghan's mental state played a major role in the timing of the decision (open in new tab).

"The statement was made in haste, partly because Harry knew he needed to act quickly," the source said.

By The Daily Mail (open in new tab):

"Prince Harry, worried that Meghan Markle's staying in the UK would cause her to have a 'meltdown,' hastened plans for both himself and Meghan Markle to quit as senior members of the royal family. It is claimed that she has moved forward with the plan.

"The Duke of Sussex is said to have become increasingly worried about his wife's health as life at Buckingham Palace has pushed her "to the brink"," the Sun on Sunday reported.

The Daily Mail also quotes courtiers as saying that Meghan chose to return to Canada (opens in new tab) early rather than deal directly with the fallout from the decision. Harry will attend a summit (opens in new tab) with the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William on Monday to discuss the impact of the announcement.