Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams believes the rift between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the royal family is irreparable due to their antics after quitting their roles as working royals.
Fitzwilliams emphasized the loss of trust within the family and the potential financial trouble the Sussexes would face if their Netflix contract expires next year and is not renewed.
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Expert Blames Royal Rift On Harry And Meghan’s ‘Royal Exposés’
During a chat with The Mirror, Fitzwilliams explained that Harry and Meghan’s “royal exposés” after they stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States have caused their relationship with the royal family to be permanently broken.
After their exit, which was infamously branded “Megxit,” the couple became vocal about their royal experiences, most notably in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, a 2022 Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s 2023 record-breaking memoir, “Spare.”
The royal expert stated, “After the Oprah interview, the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary, and the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare, as well as the interviews he gave promoting it, the popularity of the royal family suffered, and the Sussexes were considered to have gone rogue.”
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Fitzwilliams emphasized that “the biggest casualty was trust,” noting that “King Charles and Prince William no longer trust Harry and Meghan.”
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Will Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’ Resume Their Attacks’ On The Royal Family?
During the chat, Fitzwilliams suggested that, while it would be “unthinkable for the Sussexes to resume their attacks whilst both King Charles and Catherine are seriously ill, there is always the possibility that they might in the future.”
He noted the potential for future conflicts, questioning, “What, for example, was in the 400 or so pages that Harry claimed he cut from Spare? Might he write a memoir of his early years? Might Meghan write her story?”
Regarding the potential for healing the rift, the royal commentator remarked, “In the era of social media, with every owner of an iPhone a potential paparazzi and the appetite for royal stories being insatiable, the sheer global reach of instant news makes the healing of the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family extremely difficult.”
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Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Losing Their Netflix Deal Could Cause Problems For The Royal Family
Fitzwilliams also discussed the impending expiration of Harry and Meghan’s contract with Netflix, which is set to end next year.
He remarked, “It runs out next year and Netflix are no longer producing the series of The Crown, as they previously were. They might, therefore, have less interest in the Sussexes.”
The royal expert pointed out that losing this contract could pose financial challenges for the Sussexes, stating, “If they lost this contract, with Archewell, their business and charitable foundation, having so few donors, they might well be in financial trouble.”
Fitzwilliams added, “Since their exposés of royal life has made megabucks, but little else has made money, the Royal Family better hope that this unpredictable and ruthlessly ambitious couple stays with Netflix.”
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The Waleses Are Worried About ‘Secret Bonding’ Between Harry, Meghan, And Two Royals
According to Tom Quinn, Harry and Meghan seek to expand their influence. The couple has reportedly been forming closer ties with two unexpected royal family members, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who also feel like “virtual outcasts.”
While speaking to the outlet, Quinn noted that this “secret bonding” may be causing unease for Kate and William. “For William and Kate, an alliance between Harry, Meghan, Beatrice, and Eugenie is a huge worry,” he said.
The royal author explained that the Prince and Princess of Wales recognize that Beatrice and Eugenie share more in common with Harry and Meghan’s situation than with other royal family members, leading to worries among the senior royal.
Senior Royals Worry About Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Next Move
Quinn stated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s successful trip to Nigeria has caused a stir among senior royals, who now wonder what the couple’s next move will be.
“They sense that Beatrice and Eugenie feel like virtual outcasts themselves,” Quinn said, adding that the “situation is made worse by the fact that the senior royals’ main asset – Kate herself – is effectively out of action while she continues her treatment for cancer.”
He remarked, “The worry for the senior royals is that after their tour of Nigeria, Harry and Meghan will seize the initiative, reveling in positive publicity while Kate is forced to stay in the background.”