Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, continue to redefine their roles outside the monarchy.
Six years after stepping back from royal duties, the Sussexes are said to be mixing public service with commercial ventures.
During their recent visit to Australia, Harry and Meghan held events similar to a traditional royal tour. However, the tour also included paid appearances, brand promotions and ticketed events.
This approach has reportedly disappointed royals, including Prince William. According to People Magazine, Sally Bedell Smith said, “They are prolonging the case and making reconciliation more difficult.”
Furthermore, Valentine Low, author of Courtiers, said, “The monarchy is meant to be above politics and business imperatives.”
“This is what the late Queen wanted to avoid.” A source close to Harry insisted: “The idea that he is going against the Queen’s wishes by being half-in, half-out is nonsense. None of this is being done in the name of the institution,” Valentine said.
On the other hand, referring to William’s reaction, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Elsa Anderson said, “What Harry and Meghan are doing is non-negotiable for William.”
“He wouldn’t care for any acknowledgment of it,” said Ailsa.
While there has reportedly been renewed contact between Prince Harry and King Charles in recent months, distance remains with his brother Prince William.
However, Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, said that the Prince of Wales “dominates the entire play.”
Robert said, “He doesn’t need it, and he doesn’t want it. He’s too busy and focused on his family.”
Additionally, people close to the Sussexes say, “Meghan lets him take the lead on all royal matters and dictates everything that needs to happen. But that will never cause them to be at odds – they’re on the same team.”
Meanwhile another source said, “It’s very emotional. Harry and Meghan are both realistic. They’re not going into this expecting a quick fix. It’s about taking small, manageable steps and seeing where things go. Having Meghan’s support is very important to Harry.”
Despite constantly being at the center of controversy, insiders also pointed to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s resiliency, saying, “They both try to focus on staying as positive as possible.”
He added, “But people forget that they’re human, especially Meghan. A person can only handle so much.”
The same source added, “They focus on being the best parents they can be every day. No matter what comes their way, they pick themselves up and keep moving forward.”
After so many years of their marriage, a staff member said that Harry and Meghan are “each other’s biggest champions”.
“The more adversity they face, the more they come together,” he said.
