Prince Harry and Meghan’s brand ‘founded on never-ending multi-verse of family misery’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s brand is founded on a “never-ending multiverse of family misery”, according to an expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have given around 40 hours of interviews since leaving the Royal Family, many of which have seen them launch a series of attacks against their estranged relatives – and the tactic isn’t doing them any favours, writes Daniela Elser for news.com.au.
“One Washington Post writer worked out that the Sussexes have given and undertaken approximately 40 hours of interviews and media engagements since arriving in the US,” she said.
READ MORE: Charles to ‘invite Harry and Meghan to coronation to minimise chances of TV tantrum’
“For the duke and duchess in 2023, their brand is not founded on them as humanitarian leaders but on the never-ending, multiverse of family misery that is Harry and Meghan versus the House of Windsor.
“I suppose it comes down to the fact that their charitable work does not feel like the defining force in terms of their public image.
“Maybe part of the reason why that is is because of sheer necessity given his dear pa [King Charles] no longer picks up their bills and they have a reported $13.4 million mortgage. (A first for Aitch after a lifetime of living in grace-and-favour homes.)”
Elser added that with Prince William and Kate Middleton stepping up their own charity work, the contrast between the two couples was becoming increasingly stark.
She added: “As the public shadow cast by Kate and husband Prince William’s charitable work grows, it is impossible not to compare the two royal charitable outfits on both sides of the Pond.”
Both Harry and Meghan pride themselves on their philanthropic efforts, launching their Archewell Foundation (AWF) and appearing as speakers at a number of promotional events for various charities.
The pair scooped up a prestigious Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organisation last year, a coveted prize previously given to the likes of Barack Obama, Al Gore and Anthony Fauci.
Meghan even gave the keynote speech at the One Young World summit in Manchester in September last year, an event where she hoped to inspire some of the greatest young minds from around the world.
And a new report released on Monday (January 30) shows that the pair’s good deeds are having a real impact.
“This week’s Impact Report details the extent to which Archewell has been making tangible, significant differences in thousands of lives, including rescuing 7,468 people from Afghanistan via a partnership with the Human First Coalition and helping serve 50,000 meals in partnership with World Central Kitchen,” Elser wrote.
“It’s bloody impressive stuff, not least of which is the fact that until now they have not been loudly shouting about their efforts.”
But, she argues, the pair’s charitable moves have been “overshadowed” by their spate of allegations against the Palace.
The Duke and Duchess have repeatedly made headlines for their recent swathe of tell-all interviews, their Netflix documentary, released in December, and Harry’s memoir, Spare, which finally hit shelves after delays earlier this month.
Their various media engagements often see them take aim at the Royal Family and over the past two years the pair have not shied away from making wild accusations against their relatives across the pond, including that William was physically violent towards Harry, and that King Charles lied to protect his family at the expense of the Sussexes.
“While this may well be a clear-eyed strategic choice on the part of the Sussexes, their humanitarian work remains truly overshadowed by their energetic potshot-taking at his family,” Elser added.
“AWF might have helped people around the world but thanks to Harry and Meghan’s repeated strikes against his tweedy family and The Firm, their names are not synonymous with charity but the sort of corrosive family feuding and sniping that would have kept Will Shakespeare in material for decades.”
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
READ NEXT: